New York Day #1

So I recently attended the Broadway Teacher's Conference in New York City. Basically teachers (from elementary to high school) come from all over the world (this year Switzerland and Australia were the furthest) to attend workshops from Broadway professionals and attend shows.

I arrived a day early so I could do my own stuff. Here is Day #1.

After a lovely red eye flight (thanks Jetblue) seated next to an elderly woman who was as still and silent as a stone- even though her tv was set to wrestling the entire flight. Even when everyone else turned off their tv's to try and sleep, her tv stayed on watching wrestling- even though she slept the entire flight.

After arriving bright and early (6:20am) at JFK, and grabbing my shuttle (30 minutes later), me and 6 other passengers were headed to Manhattan. I was next to a really nice couple from Australia who were in NYC for the first time. hey asked a lot of questions about Broadway shows and I hope whatever I recommended to them, they liked. Otherwise, it could sully their entire opinion of Americans.

I was dropped off at my hotel (the Wellington) on 55th and 7th where I got a room upgrade (to the top floor, with a balcony overlooking Times Square). The room wasn't ready so they held my bags and I was off to check out The Book of Mormon musical.

It was 8:20am and already pretty warm. When I got to the O'Neill theatre, there was already a line formed for Standing Room tickets. I sat down next to a film student from Columbia (cinematography emphasis) when the stage manager (or someone official) asked me to continue the line on the other side of the sage door. I was lucky because when I sat down, I was protected from the sun from a street barricade.

I sat down and read the new James Bond book, listened to my Ipod as I made friends with other people that joined the line behind me (a teacher from Canada attending the same conference as me, a mother of 2 teenage girls from Southern California, a guy from mid-town Manhattan who wanted a ticket for his birthday...etc). Around 10:00am there were over 50 people in line.

Since this was a Wednesday, they were doing standby for both the 2:00pm matinee and the 7:o0pm evening show. They came out and told us that they didn't know how many standing room tickets would be released at 1:00pm but if you didn't get a ticket then, you could stay in line until 6:00pm to get a standing ticket for the 7:00pm.

At noon they had all of us fill out papers for the lottery- around 100 people entered the lottery with 12 names being drawn for $27 front row seats. I didn't get them but at 1:00pm, I got my standing room ticket.

After grabbing a gross turkey sandwich, drinking a Coke to stay awake during the show, watching a homeless woman grab bread out of the garbage can to feed pigeons, I saw The Book of Mormon musical at 2:00pm.

I really liked the show (I'll do a separate entry for it)- and it was definitely worth the $27 I paid- but to pay $477 like someone did in the cancellation line? No.

After that, I checked into the hotel, showered and went off for a nice dinner.

After dinner was War Horse at Lincoln Center. I had gotten a seat on the 3rd row, but the way the theatre is, I was right next to the stage- so close that I got brushed with some of the horse's tails.

In short, the play was breathtaking with amazing puppets and a great story. The man next to me was uncontrollably sobbing at the end of the show.

I then went and grabbed some cheesecake from Carnegie Deli and it was off to sleep.

Summer Fun

So in June, the fam packed their bags and made it to Disneyland- barely. I underestimated how long the security lines would be and got on the plane (Southwest) with only individual center seats available. I went to the back of the plane with Millie and loudly said, "OK Millie, sit between both of those nice business men and I'll sit right behind you." I knew I would be successful when Millie starting crying and one of those nice business men stood up and gave me his seat so I could be next to my 6- year old. Jackie was more direct. She stood in the middle of the plane and said, "Who's getting up so I can sit by my 4-year old daughter. She can't sit by herself." Her plan worked as well and we were off to Los Angeles.

We arrived late Thursday night to our nice room at the Howard Johnson (free upgrade- thank you!)

Over the next 4 days we did:

Friday- Magic Kingdom (normally not supercrowded this time of year- however, people had spent the night outside to get on the grand re-opening of Star Tours). We avoided that side of the park- but could not talk Ellis into going on Splash Mountain- esp. after Millie and I got off it SOAKED.

We played in the park til lunch, ate at Ralph Brennens, stayed up late for fireworks- had fun.

Saturday- Early entry. Ran like mad to get Star Tours fastpasses- not open at 7:00am- just rode it alone while Jackie and the girls hit Fantasyland. Met up with Jackie's parents and siblings and got to go on tons of rides because there were lots of us. We even ran over and (after waiting tons) rode the new Ariel ride at California Adventure. That night, came back for Fantasmic. Ellis fell asleep before the show and woke up just in time to see the Dragon. She was a little concerned.

Sunday- Did California Adventure- including getting SOAKED at World of Color (but in my opinion, worth it- amazing show). Had the picnic lunch which included our Fastpasses for the show. Got to ride Tower of Terror with other people- which is rare because I usually ride it with strangers because Jackie refuses to ride it with me. Even talked Ellis and Millie into riding on Grizzly River Rapids- and had fun.

Monday- Back in Magic Kingdom for Toontown Madness (pretty much had Toontown for ourselves for a while) and hit our favorite rides. Also had preferred seating for the new parade which was fun because we were the only people in preferred seating that had kids- so the cast members had fun with them.

Back in Utah on Tuesday so Jackie could be in class.

One thing: What was with all of the normal healthy looking people riding jazzies all over the park (and getting line passes?) Literally saw a family of 4 all pull up to City Hall all on jazzie while the dad went in to get line passes for the family. The dad came back out to tell everyone they needed to come inside, but the mom said, absolutely not. Jazzies were EVERYWHERE- and I don't mind if you are elderly or frail or have visible damage, but really, it was like the ship on the movie WALLE. They were obnoxious.