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Moonliner · 11-10-2005, 07:01 PM

... Continued

Did you pick up on the problem yet? Main Street? About 8:00pm? Ring any bells? Yup, parade time. The street is blocked, the sidewalks are mobbed and I now have less than 45min for a “relaxing” dinner. So do I freak out and storm down Main Street? Nope. In this case the DL magic is just too strong, how could I possibly stress out here off all places? It’s freaking Main Street USA. OK all I have to do is think: Crowds, Main street, avoid, Yes! The rope drop. I remember a board message about the rope drop that said you can avoid the crowds on Main Street by going through the connected shops on the left side of the street. No problem, I enter the shops, which are mostly empty and make my way towards the hub in good time. I pass through adventure land, get tempted by Indy but press on up to the Blue Bayou. The couple ahead of me apparently has just been turned away and given priority seating for the next day. Not a good sign, but hey this is the happiest damn place on the planet and sometimes you just have to trust in the magic. So I do. “Hello, any chance of getting a table for one? Anywhere you can fit me in, near the kitchen, in the kitchen, where ever.” I say. This earns me my first cast member smile of the day. Not 5 min later I’m sitting in the calming environment of the Blue Bayou sipping a mint julep. Yummy.
After a relaxing dinner if somewhat hurried dinner of salad and prime rib I’m totally at ease and head out the door whistling a happy tune just like Jiminy Cricket. Fantasmic is about to start but I don’t have the time to watch it tonight. What to do, what to do. Think, think, think.. Ahh yes another board memory comes back to me. It’s Sunday and “the AP regulars” meet at the hub at noon and at the end of the day wind up at the café just off the hub. Full of happiness and Disney magic I decide what the hell let’s give it a shot. So I stroll in like I own the place and give it the once over. Families here, Older couples there, humm, I move on to the back. There at the back I spy a long table with about a dozen people. No kids, no balloons, no Mickey ears. Definitely a potential target. I move in for closer surveillance. Yep primarily 20 something’s chatting loudly like old friends. Definitely NOT day trippers. So I pick the big guy on the end close to where I am standing, lean over and say “excuse me, is this a mouse pad group?”. He get’s a surprised look on his face, “Yes! Or rather no it’s not, it’s an Ex-mousepad group” he says. Ex-mousepad? Ohh Ohh. In any case I have my first face-to-face meeting with a padder or in this case an ex-padder. It’s KevyBaby but I decide to stick it out anyway.
A quick round of introductions starts with the entire group giving a rousing rendition of “hey Moonliner!” Followed by individual introductions of the people at the table. Turns out to be a virtual who’s who of the boards (Cadaverous, Nirvanaman, MickeyLumbo, Grumpy4, KevyBaby and many more). Pay dirt! I know it’s a bit stupid but seeing all these names I’ve know from the boards I can’t help feeling a bit like a kid meeting Mickey for the first time. I should have brought one of those autograph books! I suppose I came off as something of a dorky uber-geek but what can you do. It was nice to meet everyone.
What followed was a nice 10min chat where I learned the awful truth behind the mass defection from mousepad and about the existence of Fab. (Note to everyone: Someone fricken email me next time that happens ok? Thanks.)
At about this point the collective group is subjected to some uncomfortable mental imagery when the subject of risqué photos of “Moonliner in the moonlight” somehow comes up.
I listen for a bit, make a few pithy comments and then sadly my time is up. A quick round of handshakes around the table and I’m out the door. I finally get my walk down Main Street and exit the park. Stop by the Disney store pickup a few things for the kids (a tinkerbell journal and a “Nightmare Before Christmas” baseball cap) hit the tram and get to my car just as the first of the fireworks starts. I wish I could stay to watch them but the plane won’t wait. So it’s out through the structure and onto ball. Exit stage left.

Side note: Ball and the garage is a GREAT place to see the fireworks. I don’t know if there is an open top deck to the structure but if there is it would make an awesome spot to watch from.

11-10-2005, 07:01 PM	#42
Moonliner 8/30/14 - Disneyland -10k or Bust. Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 9,022	... Continued Did you pick up on the problem yet? Main Street? About 8:00pm? Ring any bells? Yup, parade time. The street is blocked, the sidewalks are mobbed and I now have less than 45min for a “relaxing” dinner. So do I freak out and storm down Main Street? Nope. In this case the DL magic is just too strong, how could I possibly stress out here off all places? It’s freaking Main Street USA. OK all I have to do is think: Crowds, Main street, avoid, Yes! The rope drop. I remember a board message about the rope drop that said you can avoid the crowds on Main Street by going through the connected shops on the left side of the street. No problem, I enter the shops, which are mostly empty and make my way towards the hub in good time. I pass through adventure land, get tempted by Indy but press on up to the Blue Bayou. The couple ahead of me apparently has just been turned away and given priority seating for the next day. Not a good sign, but hey this is the happiest damn place on the planet and sometimes you just have to trust in the magic. So I do. “Hello, any chance of getting a table for one? Anywhere you can fit me in, near the kitchen, in the kitchen, where ever.” I say. This earns me my first cast member smile of the day. Not 5 min later I’m sitting in the calming environment of the Blue Bayou sipping a mint julep. Yummy. After a relaxing dinner if somewhat hurried dinner of salad and prime rib I’m totally at ease and head out the door whistling a happy tune just like Jiminy Cricket. Fantasmic is about to start but I don’t have the time to watch it tonight. What to do, what to do. Think, think, think.. Ahh yes another board memory comes back to me. It’s Sunday and “the AP regulars” meet at the hub at noon and at the end of the day wind up at the café just off the hub. Full of happiness and Disney magic I decide what the hell let’s give it a shot. So I stroll in like I own the place and give it the once over. Families here, Older couples there, humm, I move on to the back. There at the back I spy a long table with about a dozen people. No kids, no balloons, no Mickey ears. Definitely a potential target. I move in for closer surveillance. Yep primarily 20 something’s chatting loudly like old friends. Definitely NOT day trippers. So I pick the big guy on the end close to where I am standing, lean over and say “excuse me, is this a mouse pad group?”. He get’s a surprised look on his face, “Yes! Or rather no it’s not, it’s an Ex-mousepad group” he says. Ex-mousepad? Ohh Ohh. In any case I have my first face-to-face meeting with a padder or in this case an ex-padder. It’s KevyBaby but I decide to stick it out anyway. A quick round of introductions starts with the entire group giving a rousing rendition of “hey Moonliner!” Followed by individual introductions of the people at the table. Turns out to be a virtual who’s who of the boards (Cadaverous, Nirvanaman, MickeyLumbo, Grumpy4, KevyBaby and many more). Pay dirt! I know it’s a bit stupid but seeing all these names I’ve know from the boards I can’t help feeling a bit like a kid meeting Mickey for the first time. I should have brought one of those autograph books! I suppose I came off as something of a dorky uber-geek but what can you do. It was nice to meet everyone. What followed was a nice 10min chat where I learned the awful truth behind the mass defection from mousepad and about the existence of Fab. (Note to everyone: Someone fricken email me next time that happens ok? Thanks.) At about this point the collective group is subjected to some uncomfortable mental imagery when the subject of risqué photos of “Moonliner in the moonlight” somehow comes up. I listen for a bit, make a few pithy comments and then sadly my time is up. A quick round of handshakes around the table and I’m out the door. I finally get my walk down Main Street and exit the park. Stop by the Disney store pickup a few things for the kids (a tinkerbell journal and a “Nightmare Before Christmas” baseball cap) hit the tram and get to my car just as the first of the fireworks starts. I wish I could stay to watch them but the plane won’t wait. So it’s out through the structure and onto ball. Exit stage left. Side note: Ball and the garage is a GREAT place to see the fireworks. I don’t know if there is an open top deck to the structure but if there is it would make an awesome spot to watch from. __________________ - Taking it one step at a time.
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