mndsm answers questions about life, love and tourism

Nick (Bo) Comstock wrote:

Jay wrote: These threads are the equivalent of my grandma calling to tell me she sent me a text.

The PM system here has been known to not send messages through to some people. It had been several days and I hadn't heard anything back. I'm not a psycho clingy chick, I promise

You wouldn't even be the first grmer to stalk me down at disney. It's all good. I did reply though, so there is that.

Come to think of it, ive met grmers while in Maryland, illinois, Florida, Minnesota and Indiana. I'm doing pretty good!

Well, I've now got a new goal if I ever make it to disney.

In reply to EastCoastMojo:

Hey I didn't even plan to go to Disney while I was staying with mndsm and I still went there!

Nick (Bo) Comstock wrote:

Jay wrote: These threads are the equivalent of my grandma calling to tell me she sent me a text.

The PM system here has been known to not send messages through to some people. It had been several days and I hadn't heard anything back. I'm not a psycho clingy chick, I promise

LOL I know, Ive been on the receiving end of that too. I think the way the pm-to-email system spoofs the 'sent from' address triggers people's spam protection. I just thought it was funny.

EastCoastMojo wrote: Well, I've now got a new goal if I ever make it to disney.

I'm easy to spot. Especially when you text me and tell me to meet you on main street across from thr blown glass shop.

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: In reply to EastCoastMojo: Hey I didn't even plan to go to Disney while I was staying with mndsm and I still went there!

Yeahbut that doesn't count. We didn't even go to a park or downtown disney. We went to art of animaton. While neat, thats a hotel. Not an attraction.

mndsm wrote:

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: In reply to EastCoastMojo: Hey I didn't even plan to go to Disney while I was staying with mndsm and I still went there!

Yeahbut that doesn't count. We didn't even go to a park or downtown disney. We went to art of animaton. While neat, thats a hotel. Not an attraction.

True, but it was an attraction enough for me.

Disney depresses me. It's where I learned people from all over the world are more rude than Americans.

patgizz wrote: Disney depresses me. It's where I learned people from all over the world are more rude than Americans.

True Story. No one is at their worst more than when they're at wdw and the kids aren't having as much fun as their thousands of dollars say they should. Tourists are the bane of my existence, and the source of my income all at the same time.

Few things make me desire the services of a quality blown glass shop more than watching the everyday public at large.

patgizz wrote: Disney depresses me. It's where I learned people from all over the world are more rude than Americans.

It's not my ideal vacation, but it's something the wife has wanted and been working towards since the boy was born. Plus all of the in-laws are coming for Thanksgiving. Kinda have to make an appearance.

Nick (Bo) Comstock wrote:

patgizz wrote: Disney depresses me. It's where I learned people from all over the world are more rude than Americans.

It's not my ideal vacation, but it's something the wife has wanted and been working towards since the boy was born. Plus all of the in-laws are coming for Thanksgiving. Kinda have to make an appearance.

BIL lives on Grove Street - um - in groveland. The hood of suburbia, and works at Universal. I have grown to hate the greater orlando area since he moved there and we visit. My wife is amusement park person. I hate the general public and get sick on most rides, so i get to suck it up once a year and get dragged to a park. This year was sea world, i got sick on the helicopter simulator.

Enjoy disney. Actually screw disney, enjoy your family.

patgizz wrote:

Nick (Bo) Comstock wrote:

patgizz wrote: Disney depresses me. It's where I learned people from all over the world are more rude than Americans.

It's not my ideal vacation, but it's something the wife has wanted and been working towards since the boy was born. Plus all of the in-laws are coming for Thanksgiving. Kinda have to make an appearance.

BIL lives on Grove Street - um - in groveland. The hood of suburbia, and works at Universal. I have grown to hate the greater orlando area since he moved there and we visit. My wife is amusement park person. I hate the general public and get sick on most rides, so i get to suck it up once a year and get dragged to a park. This year was sea world, i got sick on the helicopter simulator. Enjoy disney. Actually screw disney, enjoy your family.

Qftmft there. The single biggest problem anyone makes on this, or any vacation, is trying to enjoy disney too much. Granted it's pushing 600 bones to get 4 people through the gates these days, so theres a lot to be demanded. You wanna ride every ride, get every autograph, and highost five every mickey. That just doesn't happen. I've been to mk/epcot at least a dozen times since moving here. I love me some theme parks, and I love me some disney. I still haven't ridden and seen it all. Hell, i went to a closed gate cast member only party last year at Hollywood studios and only got two rides in. It's just not possible to do it all in one go. And people try, fail, and get pissed because they're not having enough fun. They forget that they're making what are potentially once in a life time memories. Don't worry about riding all the rides. If your kid is stoked as berkeley on teacups, hit the teacups. If your kid doesn't wanna do haunted mansion, you know what? Skip it. Nothing kills a day at a park faster than a sad child. It sounds like Nick has a pretty good idea that this isn't for him, its for his kid. Just make sure it stays that way. Enjoy your kids reactions. Be into what they're into. Buy some ears if they want, but for the love of God don't cake them in disney swag. It's all about moderation.

mndsm wrote: Tourists are the bane of my existence.

I dont know how you live in that area man.

Thats exactly how I felt staying in kissimmee for a week several years ago. I didnt Disney but was around that area enough for one lifetime I think. Pigeon Forge TN also had a similar tourist trap feel. It just completely rubs me the wrong way.

Also I think you now officially have your own thread. Thoughts? Advice for your loyal listeners?

Just watch out for that strawberry milk.

failboat wrote:

mndsm wrote: Tourists are the bane of my existence.

I dont know how you live in that area man. Thats exactly how I felt staying in kissimmee for a week several years ago. I didnt Disney but was around that area enough for one lifetime I think. Pigeon Forge TN also had a similar tourist trap feel. It just completely rubs me the wrong way. Also I think you now officially have your own thread. Thoughts? Advice for your loyal listeners?

I don't mind tourists outside of the attractions themselves. Other than the absolute lack of ability to drive, no turn signal use, complete and total disregard for motoring laws, and inability to drive and tourist at the same time, theyre mostly harmless. Watching then at walmart or target is hilarious, especially during British tourist season. Redder than a firetruck and desperate for some aloe? Tourist! Additionally I live in a gated complex that is almost all cast members of various parks, so it's pretty quiet. No one wants to be loud after making magic all day. Now, when I'm trying to get my space mountain on and i see someone dragging their poor kid to country bear jamboree because it has no line and all the poor kid wants is a nap and some water, that gets me, and the driving, and the belligerence of certain cultures....ok they suck. But, I'm here for a lot of reasons and they all outweigh tourists. And telling a person that you're local while they're helping you always makes them feel a bit more relaxed.

As far as advice.....um...don't eat yellow snow? I'm better when presented with a problem. Ask and reply mebbe.

So, just to make clear, you're not dead, right?

mndsm wrote: Watching then at walmart or target is hilarious, especially during British tourist season. Redder than a firetruck and desperate for some aloe? Tourist!

Hehehe we call them lobsters around here, doesn't take them long to cook, and they seem universally oblivious to that fact

(My own cousin became a lobster last year...again, just didn't realize how much more powerful the sun is here).

In reply to Appleseed:

Unless I've been talking to his spirit over text and on the phone, I'm pretty sure he's alive.

Can we get the thread title changed to " mndsm answers questions about life, love and tourism"?

Done.

Appleseed wrote: So, just to make clear, you're not dead, right?

Not last I checked. If i was, I would have to change my stance on ghosts...and I'm not quite sure I can handle any earth shaking revelations today.

A good friend of mine has a sister that makes the trip to Disney 10-15 times a year. Plus the occasional Disney cruise. That just blows my mind.

I went when I was a kid and don't remember most of it, and since I hate amusement parks, fairs, rides, people, crowds, and tourists, there is a good chance I won't ever make it back. My kids will just have to suffer through live without it.

Toyman01 wrote: A good friend of mine has a sister that makes the trip to Disney 10-15 times a year. Plus the occasional Disney cruise. That just blows my mind. I went when I was a kid and don't remember most of it, and since I hate amusement parks, fairs, rides, people, crowds, and tourists, there is a good chance I won't ever make it back. My kids will just have to suffer through live without it.

Some people are really, really into disney. I'm into it, but not the same as others. The show, the spectacle, the behind the scenes, thats what gets me. The little things that come together to make it what it is. And it's even more amusing when you can take it at a leisurely pace. I haven't gone for more than a few hours but maybe twice since I've been here. Normally it's "let's go ride______". We pull fast passes, grab a few beverages and go. We hit those rides and whatever is a 15min wait or less (generally considered walk on, they overestimate wait times) and when we're done, we go home. Half the time I'm looking for the mechanisms and stuff to see how the ride operates, or I'm trying to focus on whatever I missed the last time. Like the time there was a projection on a wall of mIst in pirates and I turned around expecting to see the back of Davy Jones head, not the reverse of the projection....which it obviously was. I'm a dummy.

Also, I totally don't blame you for not taking your kids to disney. More parents take their kids thinking thats whay the kid needs to...be a kid or whatever, then kids that actually want to go. And then the kid gets overheated, mom and dad raise a E36 M3 fit, and the kid pukes in the car. Disney is a multi day thing, and an overheated 4 year old all full on sugar and popcorn is a nightmare.

I'll say it though, I will gladly tour guide for any grmer that comes through. I know that someone with the knowledge without the magic attitude can be a blessing to many.

I accidentally discovered the best Disneyland experience is on a rainy day. California rain is the weakest, most pansy-ass rain I've ever experienced. Umbrellas don't blow inside out, your hat does a good job of keeping your glasses dry, and all the Californians are stocking up on bottled water and toilet paper. In two rainy days, we rode every ride in the park, and hit the good ones at least half a dozen times.

Third day was sunny, and it sucked.