Disney Trip 2016 - day 9 - Epcot/Hollywood Studios - part 2

At Epcot, Cheryl went to ride the Test Track. I went to buy my Figment shirt and would catch up with Shan and the kids by the China pavilion.

The cast members really seem to have a fondness for Figment. I got a lot of compliments about my hat and shirt when I wore it on Tuesday.

I popped into the Mexican pavilion and rushed over to China to meet them. They weren't there yet so I worked my way back. We met and got a picture with fiesta Donald.

We went over to China. Shan finally got to see two of her terracotta warriors. We got pictures with Mulan and saw some displays for Disney Shanghai.

We had lunch at the Chinese Pavilion and I picked up some coins at the gift shop.

At Germany, I got some daytime pictures of the outdoor train set, took a couple shots at Italy, and then we made it back to Japan for Gabrielle.

While waiting, we sat by the kids area listening to Aoi welcome the kids. She had a lovely Australian accent due to going to school in Oz.


We took a water express over to Hollywood Studios, where I was again randomly chosen for the metal detector. That was three-for-three today. I think that I was only not chosen once during all our visits.

D3 parted from us and went back to the room while we went in. Gaby and Cheryl went off to ride the Aerosmith Rocking Roller Coaster as single riders while Shan an I found a spot for the fireworks display. They made it back in time.
The show jumped around a bit but was awesome - with fire, lasers, as well as projection and fireworks.

On the bus back to the resort we were packed in pretty tight. We were up at the front with some British kids and we all sang along to the music on the ride back. The bus driver encouraged us and even flashed the lights.


Getting drinks at the resort, after being at the arcade, Gaby overheard some kids talking about meeting Stitch the next day. We went to the concierge and checked - there are character meets with Stitch - including a breakfast at the Polynesian.

Back to the room we went with my daughter in tears that she had missed Stitch. We rushed back to the office to book it but it was too late. It was after 11pm and the concierge desk was closed.
On a mission, Gaby rushed back to the room so that Shan could book it, and then we packed as much as we could in preparation for heading home. In packing, I found my pool shoes which I thought that I hadn't packed, but I did.

Disney Trip 2016 - day 9 - Magic Kingdom - part 1

On the Monday we went back to the Magic Kingdom.

We had a character meeting with Tink, who was adorable.

Then we went through to Cinderella's Castle Royal Table for our big character breakfast. We got to meet Cinderella in her throne room before brunch, and saw Snow White, Aurora, Ariel, and Jasmine during the breakfast. Shan and I had the beef tenderloin and egg frittatas - it was amazing.
It's a pricey experience - the princesses were also available to meet next door where Cheryl saw them. Outside the castle they have the sword in the stone so we tried our luck.

We made our way around to meet Merida - being stuck outside by the rain before finally meeting her. I had some concerns. They swapped out the one with the crazy eyes just before us, but the one that we met was lovely.

All of us but D3 used Cheryl's Fast Pass and rode the 7 Dwarfs' Mine Car roller coaster. Shannon always closes her eyes on the coasters, so to her they are all dark rides.

We then finally rode the carousel. It's a big one - 5 horses deep. Shan had worries that the belt might not fit but adults didn't need to wear them.

We didn't see Gaston's statue, but went back around and rode the Haunted Mansion again. The gift shop is across the street from the mansion but we never did make it inside this trip.

We just missed the paddlewheel and almost went on the Bear Country Jamboree but decided to get the Riverboat first.
After finally riding the Riverboat, we waited about 10 minutes and watched the Bear Country Jamboree.

We made it around in time to catch the parade again, before making it around to the Tiki Room, which only had a 10 minute wait.

We were going to do Splash Mountain, but we were Cheryl-ed again, as all outside rides were shut down due to lightning within 7 miles. We couldn't even finish our train ride around the park.

We made it back to the front of the park and took the Monorail over to Epcot.

Figure Painting Total - May 2017

Knight Models also seems to have stopped selling their Watchmen figures for the Batman Miniature Game so I picked up some of those.
A few more of the figures from the Marvel Universe miniature game came in.

BM – Watchmen – The Comedian – 1
BM – Watchmen – Rorschach – 1
BM – Watchmen – Silk Spectre – 1

May figures bought - 3, figures painted – 0
Running total 2017 – figures bought 75, figures painted 0

Disney Trip 2016 - day 8 - Disney Springs

On Sunday we had a slower day. We had breakfast at the resort and then took the ferry to Disney Springs - a shopping mall/street. They have boat/cars that you can rent but it was too wet for the hot air balloon, so Shan missed her chance.

We popped into a few stores, D3 got some Star Wars books, a Boba Fett overshirt, as well as some Lego at the Lego store. I got an Imperial soldier hat, but was unable to find any Tron cycles.

D3 and I went to the Coke store while the girls shopped and they joined us at the Coke Experience restaurant to try an International tray - 16 beverages from around the world. Some were quite vile.

We did make it to the arcade but didn't do the whole experience. They did have a Mario Brothers game that I was able to play by myself, with my daughter, and again with my son. I was able to put up a decent high score.

We went to Blaze Pizza for supper. You could order a personal pizza with a variety of individual toppings. We went back to the resort on the ferry.

Marvel Universe buyer issues and buying short list

One of the sellers that I had bought the Emma and Jean figures from flaked on me so I still need to get those two to complete my key figures for the Marvel Universe miniature game. I need others as well, but the rest are much more pricey.

Knight Models also seems to no longer be producing their Watchmen figures for the Batman Miniature Game so I picked up some of those as well. I got the Comedian, Rorschach, and Silk Spectre figures. The first two are the main ones I had wanted from the Watchmen and the third will be harder to get later. I’ll probably try to get Nite Owl and Ozymandias to complete the set if I don’t have to chase them down.

On the top of my list right now is the Kill Team set from Warhammer 40K, and the last three codices I need in hardcover. I’m particularly looking for Imperial Agents in hardcover, but also need the revised Tau, and Dark Angels to complete my set and might settle for those in sofcover.

Figure Painting Total April 2017

A few more of the figures from the Marvel Universe miniature game came in.

SM/MU – Punisher – 1
MU – Nightcrawler – 1
MU – Deadpool – 1
MU – Nova – 1
MU – The Thing – 1

Apr figures bought - 5, figures painted – 0

Running total 2017 – figures bought 72, figures painted 0

Books read - January to April 2017

Jan
Silver Screens on the Prairie by Russ Gourluck
Doctor Who Miniatures Game 2nd edition by Graeme Dawson
In Her Majesty’s Name – Steampunk Skirmish Wargaming Rules by Craig Cartmell & Charles Murton
Heroes, Villains and Fiends by Charles Murton & Craig Cartmell
Sleeping Dragon, Rising Sun by Craig Cartmell & Charles Murton
The World’s Great Religions: Volume 1: Religions of the East by The Editors of Life
The Smart Approach to Kid’s Rooms by Megan Connelly
John Hughes: A Life in Film by Kirk Honeycutt
The World’s Great Religions: Volume 2: Religions of the West by the Editors of Life
The Flash and the Arrow by Knight Models
Honours of War by Keith Flint

Feb
The World’s Great Religions: Volume 3: The Glories of Christendom by the Editors of Life
Tabletop Wargames by Rick Priestley & John Lambshead
Time/Life Books: The Epic of Flight: Knights of the Air by Ezra Bowen
No Strings Attached: The Inside Story of Jim Henson’s Creature Shop by Matt Bacon
Always Fresh: The Untold Story of Tim Hortons by the Man Who Created a Canadian Empire by Ron Joyce with Robert Thompson

Mar
Codex Dark Angels (6th edition) by Jeremy Vetock
The New Dinosaurs: An Alternative Evolution by Dougal Dixon
Assassin’s Creed Unity: Abstergo Entertainment Employee Handbook by Christie Golden
The Making of Dune by Ed Naha
Walt Disney Imagineering – A behind the Dreams Look at Making MORE Magic Real by the Imagineers

Apr
Walt Disney World: The First Decade
Watchmen – The Art of the Film by Peter Aperlo
Watching the Watchmen by Dave Gibbens, Chip Kidd, Mike Esel
DK Star Wars Character Encyclopedia: Updated and Expanded by Simon Beecroft and Pablo Hidalgo
The Disney Book: A Celebration of the World of Disney by Jim Fanning
Beautiful Creatures: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion by Mark Cotla Vaz
Kirby: King of Comics by Mark Evanier
Sorry, Wrong Answer: Trivia Questions That Even Know-It-Alls Get Wrong by Rod L. Evans, Ph.D.
Codex Tau Empire (6th edition) by Jeremy Vetock