Amazing Race: Disney world

The time was 3.25. I had just come out of the learning center and went to the bus stop at Vista Way after doing an assignment; which was not finished, but i had to go to catch the 3.29 A bus to work. the bus would actually arrive at the magic kingdom at least half an hour before my shift at 4.30. but it happens that the next A bus to is during the shift-change period, so the next bus would take a long break at Vista Way before heading to MK and if i were to take that bus, i would be late.

So i turned up at the bus station on time. a few minutes spare of 3.29. but i did not see any A bus docked there like it usually would before leaving in a few minutes. i did however, see a bus in the A bus spot which had the sign "not in service" put up. i decided to honor the notice and did not board the bus. i saw another A bus behind, and i tried to board. the driver told me to wait a few minutes as checks was ongoing. when it was done, it went over to take the A bus spot where the bus supposedly 'not in service' was and just left. i tried going up the bus again, and this time the driver told me, "you wont wanna go up now. this bus aint leaving till another 40 mins time..."

i was shocked and confused. after a whole load of query and explainations, i discovered that the 'not in service' bus was actually the 3.29 A bus, and it was well in service! i ought to be so pissed with that stupid driver who doesnt even know how to display the correct signs. now i would have to take the next bus in 40 mins which would surely get me late.

or maybe not. i had to take the chance on an alternative tedious route which i had never tried before, but seemed feasible and get me there on time. the plan was to take the C bus to the Epcot, then take a shuttle bus from there to the magic kingdom.

So off i went in the C bus, arriving at Epcot at 3.55. not as time effective as i thought... 35 minutes remaining to get to my workplace. and i was only at the cast member entrance. from there, i had to run to the main entrance of Epcot to supposedly take the bus. that was when i realised that i could take the monorail instead which would be much faster! a blessed relief.

at 4.05 i boarded the monorail at Epcot. but it was not going straight to MK; it would stop at TTC near MK, and i would have to change monorail. aint sounding so good now. the minutes felt like hours as i watched the monorail make its way across, and wishing it would speed up.

as i arrived at TTC at 4.15, i noticed the monorail headed for MK had just arrived too. it was just a few metres away, but to get inside, i would have to go down the station, and up the other entrance.
the doors opened and everyone got out. as i rushed out towards the other monorail, i found my path being blocked my a fat american and his kid, walking slowly and totally oblivous to the people behind him. i shouted 'excuse me!', and it took him a few seconds to make way. then i dashed over to the MK monorail and just as i was a few metres away, the doors closed and it went off! frustration level was extremely high now.

taking a minute to cool down, i then decided to give up and intercept the A bus which would get me late; from TTC. but just as i was going out of the station, the next monorail arrived. revert to original plan. so at 4.18, i was on the monorail to MK.

i was totally not confident of making it in time. after reaching MK, i would still have to make my way to Pecos Bills, somehow within 12 minutes time.
monorail reached magic kingdom at 4.24. 6 minutes remaining. i ran from the monorail station to the main entrance, swiped my card, passed through security check, and by then the time was 4.26. i ran as fast as i could, breezing my way down main street USA, past the crowd of more fat americans but somehow maneouvering my way past and between them, then into liberty square and then frontierland. dashed into Pecos Bills and the onstage entrance where i am not allowed to be without my full costume but i just couldnt be bothered.

and at exactly 4.30, i reached the CDS terminal and clocked in.

I MADE IT! JUST ON TIME!!

whew. what an unforgettable adventure.