Sharon Burcie - November 2001 - All Star Movies, Coronado Springs

Time of Year: Fall
Travel Method: Plane, Shuttle Service
Resort: ASMoR, CSR
Accommodations: Standard Room
Ages Represented in Group: Teen, Adult
WDW Experience Represented in Group: Frequent
Comments: Sharon and her son Evan thoroughly enjoyed their trip to WDW in mid November. In addition to enjoying the parks, attractions, and shows, the twosome enjoyed meeting up with several friends that they've met online over the years. This is a great play-by-play report!

Sharon Burcie -- November 2001 -- Walt Disney World (ASMoR, CSR)

November 14 - 18, 2001

Cast of Characters:

Myself, Sharon (mid-30s), trip planner, information gatherer, Tigger fan. This will be my fourth trip to WDW (1978, 1998, 2000). My hobbies include scrapbooking and playing taxi driver to my son. I'm a Taurus and have blonde hair and amber eyes ... oh wait ... that's another introduction.
My son, Evan (teen), Mickey fan. This will be Evan's third trip. Evan is the all-American teenage boy. He's into Boy Scouts, girls, band, girls, acting, girls, basketball, girls, video games, ... well ... you get the picture.
PRE-TRIP REPORT

History:

Shortly after our 1998 trip, I found myself desperately seeking ways to keep the magic alive. In doing so, I was consumed with reading Disney trip reports. I came across a novel-like report written by a gentleman named Kevin Stringer. Kevin and his family travel from the U.K. to WDW each year and usually stay for a couple of weeks each visit. I was so entertained by his writing style (if you've ever read his reports, you know why), that I sent a note, thanking him for his wonderful report. A friendship ensued and we have been in regular contact ever since. When our 2000 trips did not coincide, we decided to make a concerted effort to meet in 2001. The fall is the best time for the Stringers to visit, so I had to make a concession of sorts and that is to pull Evan out of school for a couple of days.

The Plan:

Knowing I'd have to pull Evan out of school for a couple of days, I figured this would be a very short jaunt (4 days, 2 of which are on a weekend). We initially thought we'd go in October, but that changed (at some point) to November. Darn the luck - we'll miss both MNSSHP and MVMCP as our trip dates fall right in between! Nevertheless, it's WDW! And we're happy just the same!

In looking at Southwest Airlines' flight schedules, I was disappointed to see the earliest we could arrive on Thursday would be 6:00 p.m. and we'd leave on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.. Not enough time, that's for sure! So ... I set about to add an extra evening to our trip, arriving at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday and leaving at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday.

At some point, I realized I was going to fall short of obtaining a free flight voucher from SWA and was hesitant to rely on SWA miraculously running a special which would coincide with our trip. So ... I began my search for other airfares which would (1) be less expensive than SWA and (2) possibly give us more time at WDW! My search was over when I found flights on Delta for about $100 less than SWA. We arrive at 2:30 on Wednesday and depart at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday! woo hoo!

Touring Blueprint:

Wednesday - Disney Quest & Downtown Disney
Thursday - MGM; meet with Kevin at family at 5:30 for drinks at the Boardwalk; dinner at Jiko
Friday - MK until Share a Dream parade (lunch at Columbia Harbor House); Epcot for the Food & Wine Festival, Tapestry of Dreams, and Illuminations
Saturday - AK; MGM for Stars and Motor Cars, then Fantasmic (lunch at 50's Prime Time Cafe)
Sunday - MK (lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern) ; depart for home :-(
What we are looking forward to:

Meeting Kevin and his family. Seeing as this is the primary reason for us to detour from our "WDW every two years" plan, I think this fits right at the top of our list.
Visiting The World during value season. In 1998, due to the limited duration of our trip and our need to "see everything, do everything", we toured like commandos (and obviously didn't get to see and do everything.) In 2000, we had more time, took advantage of Fastpass, and took some time to really soak up the atmosphere. I envision that shorter lines will allow us a happy medium of fitting a lot in and soaking up the magic.
Coronado Springs. This will be a new resort for us (having stayed at PO-FQ and ASMo before). We are both looking forward to the pool (hopefully it won't be too chilly). Both of us really like the look of this resort. If it can't be AKL, I suppose CS will have to do. :-) Additionally, we've heard tale that there is a bus that runs directly between CS and the Boardwalk (where Kevin and his family will stay). Perfect!
New attractions. I'm looking forward to taking Evan on some of the attractions which he hasn't yet experienced (especially the Hall of Presidents). He's also coming out of his roller-coaster phobia and has given Space Mountain a "must do" and is fairly certain he'll ride RnRC (I'm thrilled!!!!!). I have to work up the courage to do Alien Encounter and we're both looking forward to our first ride on Splash Mountain (okay - pick your jaw up off the ground - yes, it's true - we've never been on Splash Mountain).
Seeing old friends. Okay, so they're not really old. And we've only known them for about a year and half. But I'm looking forward to seeing some Orlando locals who we met during our 2000 trip. Linda used to be a Test Track CM. And Jim & Lisa et. al., who we met during a mini-meet.
Simply being immersed in the magic. In light of the events of September 11th and work being what work generally is (busy, busy, busy), I'm very much looking forward to escaping to that magical place we all know and love. Additionally, I could not think of a better reward for Evan, who is having a FANTASMIC school year thus far.
What we are not looking forward to:

Coming home. 'nuff said.
Day 1 - Wednesday, November 14, 2001

"We're Baaaaack"

As the alarm went off at 4:30 a.m., we were "up and at 'em" in no time at all. This day was 13 months in the making and it had finally come. We were going to Disney World (literally)! Arrived at the airport at 6:45, check-in was uneventful and so was sitting at the gate as we waited and waited and waited for our 8:30 flight. Our layover was in Atlanta, where we had enough time to grab a couple of burgers from Chili's too. Upon our on-time arrival (2:30) at MCO, we were greeted by Leo from Tiffany Town Car. He was most attentive - and ladies, not too bad on the eyes either (hey! it's my trip report!) - leading us to the luggage carousel and actually carrying our luggage for us (last year, we had quite a different experience). It was gray and cloudy out with intermittent drizzle and we were afraid our entire trip would see this kind of weather. Leo assured us it was supposed to clear soon.

Check-in at All Star Movies went smoothly as well. After arranging for credit charges, obtaining park maps, and buying our Disney Quest tickets, we were off to our room in the Dalmatians section (which we had requested). The first thing we noticed as we walked to our room was that the courtyard was missing the large TV and Dalmatian pup which sat on the rug in front of it. In its place were two large planters. Upon entering our room, we both felt that it just looked well-worn. Couldn't really put a thumb on the disappointment until the next morning, when I realized the outside of the buildings were orange (I personally think red would be more appropriate) and the inside of the room was primarily blue/teal - with a red/white/black Dalmatians border. Because I'm not an interior designer by profession, I simply decided to let it go - no really, I did! After all, it was only for one night, the sheets were clean and the pillows were comfortable.

After getting settled, we caught the next bus to Downtown Disney. The wind was really kicking up and we hurried into Disney Quest as fast as our legs would take us. First stop, Pirates of the Caribbean. Evan and I both loved this attraction. Simply put, it was good clean fun. Next up, the virtual Jungle Cruise. My tip: do not do this unless you have more than two people in your raft. The CM jumped in on two different occasions to help get us out of the current. This was a real workout (and why would I want to work out - I'm on vacation!). Onto Aladdin's Magic Carpet Ride, which was neat as it allowed you to work as a team. We didn't find the Genie, but had quite a bit of fun trying. Next up was Cyber Space Mountain. Evan wasn't too sure about putting in any loops and concentrated heavily on avoiding anything that was red in color and marked "Danger". I did manage to sneak in a corkscrew. Our "Atomic Shredder" was rated a measly '2' and off we went to ride it. Much to my surprise, he really enjoyed it - even the corkscrew. This was a good sign of things to come.

Next, we headed upstairs (or was it downstairs?) to ride Buzz Lightyear's AstroBlaster. Evan was the driver and I was the cannon master. We managed to avoid being anyone's target and had a good time all around. Upon exiting, I found the vintage video games ... oh wait ... that may make me 'vintage' as well. How about ... original video games? All of my old favorites were there: Millipede, Qbert, Tempest - and Ev had to drag me away. I soon found that Sid isn't the only one with a whacked imagination as Evan was very intrigued with Sid's Create-a-Toy. He made several attempts before developing the toy he would eventually purchase. It's a nasty little creature with a skeletal body, dinosaur legs, some sort of varmint-like arms and a disgusting little head. Naturally, as any 13-year old boy would, Evan thought it was very cool. Since we were in the area, we also spent some time playing with the Magic Mirror.

It was time for dinner and we were having too much fun to leave the sanctuary of DQ. Up to the 5th floor we went for pizza and garlic rolls. The food was actually very good. And we enjoyed watching Buzz Lightyear's AstroBlaster just below. We then rode the Comics where our team of three battled villains large and small. This would've been great fun had I not kept whacking myself in the head with my light sword. ouch! We decided we needed to work off the pizza and headed for the Mighty Ducks Pinball slam. I'm proud to announce I somehow managed to earn 2nd place with over 139,000 points. Don't ask me how I did it - I really don't know. Finally, with the line for Pirates of the Caribbean not getting any shorter, we did a last ride on Buzz Lightyear and headed out to do some shopping.

We began to stroll through the West Side since we'd never been there before. At the pin cart, we heard that World of Disney had just put out a some of the U.S. flag Mickey pins - so we bolted. With the Disney Club card in hand, we headed in to World of Disney to do the bulk of our souvenir shopping (and on a quest to find the pin!). Evan picked up a couple of t-shirts for himself, a few things for friends back home, I also picked up a couple of gifts and a sweatshirt for myself. So much for my money-saving move of having bought sweatshirts for each of us as they did winter close-outs last year at TDS. :-) As it turned out, buying myself a new sweatshirt was a good move as Evan's sweatshirt didn't fit him by the time we arrived and so, he ended up wearing the one I had originally bought for myself. No Mickey pin though. :-( After a peak through the Christmas store, we headed back to ASMoR.

We brought our refillable mugs from last trip and couldn't wait to get hot chocolate and go for a walk around the resort. After noticing the missing TV and accompanying pup from the Dalmatians courtyard, I was concerned what might have been done with the Toy Story courtyard (where we stayed last year). We were very happy to see everything was in place and we spent some time taking a walk down memory lane. Next, we walked by the pool to see large walls built up around part of the pool - apparently, they're rehabbing part of the deck. Down to the Love Bug section where we see that Herbie has been removed from the Winner's Circle. This was all very sad to see. Hopefully, all missing pieces are simply being touched up and will return soon. Because we have always visited during peak times before, we weren't used to seeing things being rehabbed.

A short walk back to the room, packed up for the move to Coronado Springs the next day, and we were off to Neverland sometime around 12:30.

Day 2 - Thursday, November 15, 2001

"The Day Evan's World Turned Upside Down"

Our day started at 6:30 with our first wakeup call from The Mouse. After showering and preparing the daily backpack, we were off to the food court for breakfast. I had brought Poptarts from home and not surprisingly, I was the only one who was interested in eating them. A Poptart and a piece of fruit for me, an egg croissant sandwich for Evan, some breakfast potatoes for us to share, and hot chocolate for both of us. After taking our bags to bell services, a trip to the front desk was necessary. Even though we had express check-out, a refrigerator had mysteriously appeared in our room the night before and the accompanying charge showed up on our bill as well. After having the necessary adjustments made, Evan was anxious to partake in the excitement which filled the lobby. The character caravan had arrived. Initially undecided about the great character hunt, Evan finally decided he could not break with "tradition" and had to have an autograph book. We met with Mr. Smee and Minnie (and took our visiting Flat Stephanie for pictures too) before I convinced Evan we should move along to the park instead of waiting in the long line to visit with Captain Hook.

First, a bit about the weather. Let me just say that Leo (from Tiffany Town Car) should keep his day job and leave weather forecasting to the "professionals" (I realize that may be a bit of a misnomer). It remained cool, cloudy and drizzly yesterday, and today we woke up to much the same. Not to worry, we will not allow it to dampen our spirits - and headed out into the parks sans sweatshirts (yes, a move we would later regret as we found we did get a little chilled throughout the day).

Upon first waking, Evan had announced he was ready to ride Rock 'n Roller coaster. I was ecstatic, but a little cautious. While on the bus to MGM, I kept asking if he was okay and ready to ride. My enthusiasm was met with "If you keep asking me that, I'm going to be so nervous that I'll chicken out." My mouth sufficiently zipped, we enjoyed the short ride to MGM, simply soaking up the sights of WDW. We were through security in no time and waited for rope drop. We walked briskly to RnRC where Evan began to show signs of weak knees. I anxiously grabbed fast passes in the event Evan took the chicken exit once inside, all the while cajoling, bribing, and threatening :-). He agreed to join me and we were inside G-Force Studios in no-time flat. We passed the marble doors and ceremoniously ran our hands across the marbles. Evan loved the pre-show. We walked into the alley where I shuffled Evan past the launch area in fear that he would still bug-out. He handed me his cap, we jumped into our super-stretch and were on our way to the Aerosmith concert. I had forgotten how much fun this ride was and upon exiting, with my knees like Jell-O, I stepped onto the red carpet to hear Evan explain how "totally cool" that was. My mother's intuition told me this would not be our only ride on RnRC. We looked at our picture (Evan's face was one of pure horror and my eyes were actually closed). A quick zip through the gift shop (where Evan picked out his RnRC souvenir I had promised him if he joined me - a replica of the ride vehicle). (and you thought I was only joking - I'm not above resorting to bribery!) Back we headed into the queue for another basic walk-on. Again, we loved our fast-paced ride through the streets of LA and my knees had actually stopped knocking.

It was time for a break from RnRC and I headed to Tower of Terror while Evan waited outside. He wouldn't even walk the pre-show with me - it creeped him out last year. I had a good laugh when two brothers walked into the library and one asked "is this it?" The other responded with "yeah - you've got to hold on to whatever you find - like this lamp here." I couldn't contain my laughter any longer and the rookie finally caught on. As it turned out, I took my turn in the elevator seated next to the rookie, who began the ride with an expletive and ended it with roaring laughter. Upon my exit from ToT, Evan asked if we could ride RnRC again. A smile on my face, we returned for one more ride this morning before my stomach said it needed a break. With three rides on RnRC under our belts, we saved our Fast Passes as souvenirs.

A stroll down Hollywood Blvd. found us in front of The Hat. And what a big hat it is. Excuse me while I put on my flame-retardant suit ... okay ... just ... another ... second ... the zipper's stuck ... okay ... there we go. I certainly don't mind it much. After all, Evan's favorite Mickey is the Sorcerer's Apprentice - and while I do miss seeing the Chinese Theatre, I think the hat gives the park a festive feel (talk to me later about the "Epcot" sign above Spaceship Earth though ...). After snapping some pictures and an encounter with Cruella Deville, we visited the kiosks under the hat and Evan was in search of a porcelain Sorcerer's hat (aka The Hat). Because we were so close to the Great Movie Ride, we decided a look back into the history of the movies was necessary. It was here that we encountered our first real wait of the whole trip - about 20 minutes for this attraction. We were sufficiently bored and began to question our own judgment. Good thing I still have my flame retardant suit on I guess. I'm taking it off now.

Unlike GMR, we always love Star Tours and headed to Endor next. After our journey, we found it was nearing lunch time (or at least that's what our stomachs were saying) and we have a difficult time leaving MGM without having a meal at 50's Prime Time Cafe. We ask to be seated in Mom Barbara's section - and are pleased to see she's still here. She was our waitperson on our first trip in '98 and we had a blast with her then. She seemed a bit distracted and/or inattentive - it seemed she was spending a great deal of time in the kitchen. But when she was around, she was great! Evan, of course, had to ask if she remembered us from the last time we "visited" and she says she does! (what can I say - sometimes I think Evan is truly his mother's son - blonde hair and all!) After filling up on a hamburger, fries, and a shake (Evan) and fried chicken (Sharon), we waddle out of the cafe and back past The Hat where we find more characters out. While I am still surprised that Evan will stand in line for autographs and such, I find it entertaining that we are seeing many characters on this trip that we have not seen in the past - the White Rabbit, Tweedle Dee, Queen of Hearts, Frollo. Our favorite had to be the Queen of Hearts, who we watched summarily dismiss a young boy who had not waited in line (poor thing was in tears and all I could wonder was "where were this child's parents?") and then would not sign Evan's autograph until he bowed before her (which he dutifully did).

Next up was a visit through the exhibit, "Walt Disney, One Man's Dream". While a yawn or two did manage to escape, I was particularly interested in the models of the attractions and parks. The film at the end was worth the walk-through and I had to dab my eyes before heading outside ... "no really, Evan - I don't care if it's drizzling outside - please hand me my sunglasses out of the backpack".

By now, Evan had decided that lunch had settled enough and informed me another turn on RnRC was due. And 3 more times, we ran our hands across the marble doors, were seated in row 6 (or 7) of the super-stretch (always have to ride in the middle) and we were zooming through LA. Evan declares RnRC to be his new favorite ride (I know - you hadn't figured that out just yet. lol.) Afterwards, we were in search of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire - Play It! but found we just missed a new show and we weren't going to be around for the next Fastpass time. A-ha! We now have a reason to return to The World - just because we missed this attraction! We headed back to RnRC to try for one more ride before Stars & Motor Cars (something I was told was not to be missed). Apparently, we had been quite spoiled before with having walked-on to RnRC all day - the line was now outside the building (oh - the horror!) and we decided to find our parade-watching spot instead. As luck would have it, there was room enough for Evan on the curb and me behind him just across from Sunset Blvd.. Roman Holiday entertained us all until the parade reached us. I thought this parade was cute, but I think Evan would've rather spent the time riding RnRC (and I would have gladly joined him). Cute - that's the overall rating I'd give it.

Afterwards, we gave RnRC one more try, but I think we heard the dogs barking when we saw the line (about a 30 minute wait) and decided to head to Coronado to get settled in, rest our weary toes, and freshen up for dinner. What my feet did not know is that I would wait in yet another line today while waiting to check in at CS.

While waiting in line, Evan asks if he can go visit Panchito's (the gift shop). Sure! The next thing I know, he is by my side, handing me a small bag, "Open It Mom!" he says. Much to my surprise, my darling son has found my U.S. flag Mickey pin and bought it for me. Afterwards, standing inline to reach the front desk didn't seem so bad after all. :-) It is also while I'm inline that I realize my credit card, etc.. is tucked away in my bags which came over from All Star Movies - and thus I won't be able to arrange credit card charges just yet. We are placed in Ranchos section, building 7B (just as our fax requested - thanks to the room controller!). A quick zip to bell services and off to our room. We absolutely loved our room! The design, the colors, the cacti out front - everything! We unpacked, got settled in and took a short walk around the Ranchos section. Then, as Rafiki says, "it is time".

Time to get ready and celebrate the whole reason for this trip - it was time for dinner with the Stringers from England. The bus system at Coronado Springs is pretty efficient - even though I had to read the (bus system) instructions each time. So we sat at bus stop #3 and waited. And waited. A Magic Kingdom bus came (not our bus). An Animal Kingdom bus came (not our bus). An Epcot bus came (not ... you get the picture). Another Animal Kingdom bus. MGM - nope, not our bus. Finally ... Downtown Disney/Disney's Boardwalk bus arrived. We walked into the Boardwalk and noticed the Christmas decorations were up - very pretty. We head to the lounge where we immediately recognize the Stringer clan. Not to anyone's surprise, Kevin already has a beer in hand. Introductions all around - Kevin's wife, Tammy, their oldest daughter, India and the younger daughter, Georgia. Tammy's mom, Julia and Kevin's mom, Dorothy. This meeting was 3 years in the making and was almost a bit surreal. In fact, it didn't seem like a first-time meeting at all.

What can be said about the Stringers - except they were everything we thought they'd be. Friendly, warm, genuine. It was very easy to sit and talk with them. The girls were very sweet and very talkative (even Georgia, who Kevin had previously described as quiet and reserved until she warms up to people). Granny Julia, who was on her first visit to the U.S., seemed to be taking it all in. I was anxious to find out how she was enjoying her first visit. And Grandma Dorothy - I believe Kevin had described her as a fireball - and she was every bit of that. I surely hope to have her energy when I reach my golden years. Evan instantly bonded not only with the girls, but with Grandma Dorothy as well.

While sharing a round of drinks and discussing their trip to date, we exchanged gifts. Evan, now an honorary Brit, received a British flag, which now hangs proudly on the ceiling of his bedroom, next to a U.S. Flag. I received a water-color print of their town (which will go into the study/office after it's framed), an English calendar and some lovely bath salts. Kevin and the girls provided us with a tour of their accommodations at BWV and let me just say that plush has a whole new meaning. Not Grand Floridian plush, not Mickey beanie plush. Just plain nice, crisp, clean. Next, we were off to Jiko via the Friendship to MGM, then the bus to the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Some nervous moments for Kevin when Tam and I ended up sitting together on the trip to MGM. You know how we women are. ;-) I might add that it didn't take long before Kev and I were verbally jousting much like two siblings. All told, I think Kev must be my long lost brother. :-)

Upon arrival at the AKL, we were in awe of the beauty of the place. Very similar to the Wilderness Lodge in structure, the Disney touch was evident in every aspect. I was especially intrigued with an African carpet which had been pieced together and stood towards the back of the lobby. We briefly walked outside to the viewing areas, where nary an animal were found. We were told to return at 10:00, when the animals would be fed. After a stroll by the pool and the fire pit, we walked inside to visit ... of all things ... the gift shop. This was Evan's idea and the only explanation I have is that there was a hole burning in his pocket. I found a very interesting bowl which had been carved out of some sort of tree - thought it might make an interesting Christmas gift for my sister. But was still undecided, so I pondered the decision over dinner. After a quick phone call to some friends who we were meeting the next day, we arrived at Jiko at approximately 8:05 for our 8:15 PS. While waiting in the lounge, we noticed the extensive wine collection and very interesting wine racks. Much to our surprise, these were not simply displays. After a few minutes, we were seated at our table. We took note of the wonderful decor - simple, yet exotic. After selecting beverages (I tried the Zambezi lager - very light) and an appetizer (Smoked Bacon and Onion Flatbread), the kids went to the large ovens to watch the chefs prepare the various fixin's. Eventually, we all ended up at the ovens, watching and talking with the young cast member who hailed from Zimbabwe and had been here for only a few months. The CM kept asking Evan if he wanted to cook - and Evan was chomping at the bit to get behind the counter. But what I think the CM was referring to was a Junior Chef's program in WDW. It sounded intriguing and if Evan is so inclined, maybe I'll sign him up during our next trip.

For dinner, Evan surprised me and decided to be adventurous. He tried the Fire-Roasted Papaya and I ordered the Chermoula Roasted Chicken. After a few bites, Evan decided his stomach wasn't as adventurous as his eyes thought. We were in the midst of exchanging plates when our server asked if he would rather have some chicken fingers instead. Evan jumped at the chance - and we all had an opportunity to sample his dish. It was very different, but also much sweeter than I think beef should be. I could see having this as an appetizer, but not sure I could finish off a whole plate of it myself. The roasted chicken was absolutely wonderful. The spices were not too strong and the chicken simply fell off the bone. About this time, Tammy noticed that the colors on the walls had changed since we arrived. Our waitperson explained that the colors represented the different times of the day. A lively debate over whether the rosy/peach color represented sunrise or sunset ensued (it was sunrise as the next colors were more golden). Nice touch, Disney! Next, it was time for "pudding" (as the Stringers called it) .... dessert to us Texans. Tammy tried the Cardamom Chocolates (yummy!) and I tried Walt's Apple Crumble (different, not as yummy as the chocolates, but yummy in it's own right). Naturally, both desserts were passed around the table and enjoyed by all. Tammy is a person after my own heart - pudding after every meal! The best part of the whole meal had to be the sorting of the check. Luckily, Tam has calculator, will travel. And much to my surprise, I was not charged for the Roasted Beef Papaya.

After dinner, I wanted to purchase the African bowl for my sister, but it was not meant to be as the gift shop was closed for the evening. The kids had excused themselves from the table earlier (right around feeding time - for the animals, that is), so we went out to gather them. Two CMs were out with night vision goggles which they let us use to search for animals that were towards the back of the savannah. We saw zebra and wildebeest. Everyone was excited to see the animals here. Again, nice touch. We sat for a few minutes by the fire pit before leaving the Animal Kingdom Lodge. We decided to have taxis take us back to our respective resorts (since park busses had stopped running long before). The Stringers' van came shortly and for ours, we waited. And waited. And waited. We finally called again and the cab company stated they had dispatched a taxi already - "yes", we said, "you dispatched one, but not the other". Another cab arrived and we asked him for a ride instead - don't know if the other ever showed up.

Back to Coronado Springs where I needed to arrange credit charges before we could sleep. We walked to our room (ouch - yes, our feet were tired!) - about a 10 - 15 minute walk from El Centro. Somewhere around 1:30, we turned off the lights and drifted off. What a wonderful Disney day!

Tomorrow: The Magic Kingdom with the McKinleys, then joining the Stringers at Epcot.

Day 3 - November 16, 2001

"The magic behind the castle"

We woke bright and early (6:30) - but only because Mickey told us we needed to. We journeyed to the Pepper Market on foot. Stopping along the way to explore the Dig Site (which we never got to swim in - not enough time and a bit on the chilly side) and snap some pictures of this beautiful resort. Have I mentioned yet how much we enjoyed this resort? Breakfast consisted of a platter of eggs, potatoes, bacon, and a biscuit along with a cinnamon roll - all of which we split. With drinks and 10% gratuity, I didn't think $12 for two for breakfast was all that bad.

The character caravan had arrived and Minnie, Capt. Hook and Pluto (I think) were playing happily at bus stop #1. Evan enjoyed the chance to see Capt. Hook without the crowds we saw at ASMoR the day before. Within a few minutes, our Magic Kingdom bus arrived and we were off for our first glance of the castle. After a brief wait at security, we found Alice in Wonderland greeting guests. We counted down to the opening of the Magic Kingdom and happily entered the happiest place on earth. A MK photographer took our picture in front of the flowers (near the train station) - unfortunately, one of them came out very blurry - otherwise, it would've been the perfect picture to place on our Christmas cards this year.

Today we were meeting the McKinleys, who live in Orlando. Jim, who works part-time on Main St., USA; his wife Lisa, who home schools their children; Tara, age 12; J.P., age 9 and Serena (who has grown so much in just a year and a half), age 4. Our first attraction in the Magic Kingdom is the WDW Railroad. The kids hopped in the back in order to help the conductor - great fun was had in blowing the whistle. It was very interesting to have Jim serve as our tour guide - he shared with us the ins and outs of the Magic Kingdom. After exiting the train, our first stop was Splash Mountain - this was mine and Evan's first ride on this Mountain. Evan was a bit terrified - especially of "the drop". Now ... mind you ... this is a child who, just the day before, had ridden RnRC a total of 6 times. Go figure. With him worrying about the drop and me worrying about getting wet (I hate getting wet - unless I'm purposely jumping into a pool - or, of course, taking a shower!), I have to say this was a very fun ride. Even the drop was fun. We survived the drop, I survived getting wet, but I was not prepared to smell like mildew afterwards. ick! This would have to be my only complaint. A quick trip to the restrooms to at least wash the smell from our hands and we were off to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. This was Evan's first roller coaster ever (during our '98 trip) and he loved every minute of this ride. We laughed and screamed our way through the entire ride.

We headed for Hall of Presidents, but diverted to Aladdin's Magic Carpet Ride when we noticed the line was short. This was a cute little ride and Jim took great pains in trying to have the camel spit on me with each spin. He was unsuccessful until the end, when we were no longer able to control our carpet - when *splat* - I was hit in the leg. Next stop: The Hall of Presidents. I vaguely remember this from my first visit in '78 and Evan had not seen it at all. But before we could go in, a CM was outside quoting presidential facts and was very entertaining - good show! Evan sat next to me and the whole time kept nudging me, asking when the animatronics were going to appear - I had completely forgotten about the pictures and film. A loud round of applause rang out when George W. Bush was introduced. With the tragedy of Sept. 11th still fresh in our minds, I couldn't help but get goose bumps during his speech. Wow!

While in the vicinity, we decided it was time for lunch at Columbia Harbor House. Ev had chicken strips and I had the clam chowder. All I can say is ... mm - good. Jim and Lisa were also kind enough to share their CM coupons with us and our lunch was discounted a bit. Thanks guys! We got separated on the way out of the restaurant, but eventually found each other - they should not allow me to lead the group when I do not know my way around the place (just a note: Columbia Harbor House has more than one door! lol.) It only made sense that while in Liberty Square, our next ride would be the Haunted Mansion. This has been one of my favorites on every visit and Evan likes it too. I shared a doom buggy with Evan and Tara, though I suspect they would have preferred to have one on their own. :-) The ride stopped momentarily while we were in the area just past the dining room (with the spirits floating around). It was kinda cool - literally. It was brrr-cold inside the ride. Must be all those spirits. When we exited, Serena took great pride in pointing out the wedding ring to us. Good job, Serena!

While on the way to Tomorrowland, we discover we're just in time for Cinderella's Surprise Celebration in the castle forecourt. This was a very fun little show with a lot of characters and a lot of action. I especially liked Peter & Hook battling in the castle towers and the fact that many of the villains were included. We cheered, we boo-ed, we clapped and in the end, good won over evil. And during the show, Lisa ran to get Fast Passes for Space Mountain. woo hoo! In case I haven't said it by now, we've had an incredible day so far in the Magic Kingdom - mostly thanks to our hosts! Jim, JP and I decide we wanted to ride Alien Encounter, while Lisa and the other kids rode TTA. I had my fears about this and it didn't help much that Jim confessed to getting the heebie-jeebies each time he rode Alien Encounter. But ... here goes nothing. A tip which Jim shared which helped greatly: for those with any amount of claustrophobia, sit up high when your shoulder harnesses are lowered, just until they're locked in - this will give you a little wiggle room. This was very intense and not recommended for young children. I did not get to experience that horrid thing "licking" on my neck and suspect it was because I was wearing a hooded sweatshirt. I think I would've been sufficiently freaked out! We survived this too and headed out to the bright sunlight (by the way - the clouds cleared sometime overnight and the weather this day was absolutely perfect!) Next up was Evan's first ride on Space Mountain. He was a bit concerned over this and wanted to be sure Lisa was sitting in front of him, with me sitting behind him. The theory being that if something happened to our car, Lisa would get it first and if he tossed his lunch, I would be the beneficiary ... uh ... well ... you get the picture. We rode the right side this time out and Evan really liked it. Somehow, we managed to have enough baby swap tickets and Fast Passes to get a second ride through - this time with Jim and the kids. I really like this baby swap thing! We rode the left side the second time and I couldn't really tell a difference - I was too busy holding on!

It was nearing time to line up for the Share a Dream parade. This was old hat for the McKinleys and they had the perfect viewing location picked out for us - right in front of the plaza. We laid out blankets, the kids got out books and magazines to read - no doubt about it - they knew how to do this. We ran into the Gallery and the Emporium, still in search of a porcelain figurine of The Hat - once again without luck. We jumped into the Confectionary for snacks (a Tigger cookie and a Mickey-shaped rice krispie treat - yum!) and settled in for the parade. While waiting, the Dapper Dans appeared and began their show right in front of us. This was a treat as we had never seen them before. Not too long after that, the Main St. Marching Band came down and we loved listening to them too. It was nice to see both of them back in action after the attacks and cut-backs at WDW. A neat little surprise came when Jim jetted backstage to check his schedule and returned with a copy of some great Disney news for me to read. Very interesting stuff!

The parade finally arrived - right in front of us - with the castle as a backdrop. Folks, it doesn't get any better than this. This parade was everything I dreamt it would be (pun intended). :-) It was very fanciful. It was made particularly special by Jim arranging for the kids to be a part of the parade. They participated on two different occasions - once with the dancing brooms and the other time ... well ... I can't recall. And ... because my camera BROKE right in the middle of this parade, I have no pictures to jolt my memory. Luckily, Evan's camera is in perfect working condition - so we do have a camera to use throughout the rest of the trip. My favorite parts of this parade had to be the Mickey globe (with the spinning reel) and the villains float. Very nicely done! After the parade, we took a quick trip to the camera center to see if the camera could be fixed (it couldn't), then it was off to the TTC via Monorail yellow. Tara, Serena, Evan and I were the co-pilots for this trip - and we even have co-pilot licenses! Then off to Epcot via Monorail lime. Again, Ev and I rode up front (thanks Lisa!) along with JP and Tara (or was it Serena?)

Evan is excited to be meeting with the Stringers again and tries to contact them from the monorail platform via the walkie-talkies I had brought from home. No luck. Just inside, we do manage to make contact with Kevin et. al., and they are in Germany headed to see the American Adventure. We agree to meet them once the show is over. We take a ride on Spaceship Earth and this appeals to me more so than on our first trip. We head over to World Showcase, bypassing Ice Station Cool because we'd never get Serena to leave the place! lol. This is our first visit during the Food & Wine Festival and we are both anxious to try something new and exotic. Surprisingly, Evan passes up the opportunity to try sushi (which he has been asking to try ever since last year's trip). We get a golden shrimp from the Japan tent, along with a lager for me. Both were very good. We head to American Adventure, which has not yet finished, but somehow, when the crowds do come out, we miss the Stringers. Good thing for our handy-dandy walkie-talkies. We eventually meet, introductions all around.

The McKinleys stop for a bite to eat at Liberty Inn while the rest of us head to the U.K pavilion to see the British Invasion. On the way, we stop at the Morocco tent for Lamb Kabsa. This has a very distinct taste, but we found it to be filling. The British Invasion were great, with all of us dancing and singing by the time they wrap-up. We had hoped to catch Off Kilter as well, but the stage was dark. A-ha! Yet another reason to return to The World! :-) We stop for Beaver Tails in Canada - Cinnamon & Sugar for me, Maple & Chocolate for Evan. Evan was ready to throw half of his away before it was split among the rest of us for sampling. I, on the other hand, had no problem in finishing off mine. The first show of Tapestry of Dreams was cancelled due to the high winds, and we held out hope for the next show. We reached Norway, where we met the McKinleys, who had picked out a prime viewing location for both ToD and Illuminations. Unfortunately, the 2nd show of ToD was cancelled also. With more waiting to do, our next chore was to keep everyone entertained. I took the kids on El Rio del Tiempo. They then played on the Viking ship, while Tammy, Dorothy and Julia were off to shop and Kevin was off to find another beer. ;-)

My next set of goose bumps emerged when Illuminations began. This is an absolutely fantastic show - made even better by the music. This was a great ending to an even greater day! We bid a fond farewell to the McKinleys (who promise to see us next year - despite my determination to save my pennies for a trip to England, they're confident we'll be back soon!). While waiting for the crowds to disperse, we head to the fountain to watch the last show of the evening. We then decide it might be easier to catch a bus back to Coronado from the Boardwalk and so make our way towards the International Gateway. But first ... the girls have found the talking water fountains and we all have a bit of fun getting a drink. Also of interest is that the other fountain lights up. What can I say ... we are easily amused.

Back to Coronado with lights out sometime around 11:30 (hey - we're early!). Tomorrow: Animal Kingdom and MGM for Fantasmic.

Day 4 - November 17, 2001

"Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!"

We awake at 6:30 again, quite exhausted and not really sure we want to get out of bed. A rub of the eyes, a look around the room, and we remember where we are - no problems in jumping up after the brain cells are activated. Once again, we do breakfast at the Pepper Market: 2 kids' waffle plates, a biscuit for Ev, hash browns for me and hot chocolate for both. On our way out to the buses, we make the traditional stop at the gift shop where Evan decides to buy gifts for India and Georgia: Tigger and Minnie beanies, respectively.

We meet the Stringers at the entrance to Animal Kingdom where we are off for a day of exploring. Evan presents the girls with their gifts and they carry them around all day. Our first stop is Kilamanjaro Safari, where we see many more animals than in visits past - even the cheetah. Afterwards, Evan and I zip through the Pangani Forest Trail before meeting our friend Linda in Harambe at the Tusker House pavilion. Linda is a former Test Track CM who we met during our 2000 trip. As it happens, a group of acrobats are performing and Evan wastes no time in volunteering to be a part of the show; he jumps rope and does the limbo and has a great time! These guys were absolutely fantastic - if you have a chance to see them, take it! She brings bubble-gum flavored candy canes for all of the kids (Thanks Linda!). We chat briefly before she goes to rejoin her daughter (an AK CM) and we rejoin the Stringers.

Next up: Kali River Rapids. I have decided I would ride this with one concession - that I sit next to Kevin - whereby if I get soaked, he gets soaked. We remove socks and shoes, placing everything into the center bin. As it turns out, I am seated directly next to Tammy instead and she and I are the only ones to come off absolutely drenched, drawers and all! I'm sure Kevin is loving every minute of it. The others ask if Tam and I would like a second ride and we pass (I've already had two showers today, thank you). The rest return - and every one of them are soaked to the bone. Sweet revenge, if I do say so. Tam and I relish in this. ;-) A trip to "the loo" (i.e., the restroom), where everybody rings out before heading to the Maharajah Jungle Trek. The tigers are out and about and we especially enjoy seeing the bats - a little creepy, but we marveled in their immense wing span. We wind through the trunk of the Tree of Life and into It's Tough to be a Bug. India and Georgia sit this one out, but the rest of us are made honorary bugs, get stung and once again, enjoy this attraction.

Lunch consisted of grilled chicken sandwiches at Tusker House (it's no surprise we have some sort of chicken dish, right?), where we meet with Trish and Kevin, friends of the Stringers. We lunch outdoors, where the entertainment consists of keeping everything from being carried away by the wind. We make our way to the Festival of the Lion King, which, with the last show of the day, is standing-room only - literally. Just when I think this show is old hat, a wave of goose bumps and watery eyes take hold as I believe this is true Disney magic. We part ways with Trish and Kevin, then stop for treats - a frozen banana and a Mickey bar. yum-yum! (Mind you, we're not having treats just because Trish and Kevin have left.) We're on our way to Dinosaur, stopping first to deposit the girls in The Boneyard. This is a bit of a rough ride, but I cannot help but giggle throughout. Afterwards, we notice Triceratops Spin is open (surprise! as I had heard it was not supposed to open until December). The kids (India, Georgia, Evan and Kevin) take a spin on the Dumbo-like attraction, which seems a bit out of place. We are about done with Animal Kingdom and are determined to escape the park before being blocked in by the parade. We manage and are on our way to MGM.

Evan decides to seize this opportunity for another ride on RnRC, but can't convince anyone else to join us (though we almost had India!) :-) The Stringers set off for a possible ride on The Great Movie Ride before staking out a seat for Fantasmic. Evan and I squeeze in 3 more rides on RnRC (including the use of Fast Pass) before joining the Stringers in the perfect spot for Fantasmic - Mickey section (center), about half-way up. Perfect! Thanks guys! This is probably Evan's single favorite show in all The World and a good time is had by all. We wait for the crowds to thin out, Evan finds his now most prized possession (no - not the porcelain Hat), but a rather large Maleficent plush. Much to our surprise, the park is open until 7:00 this evening and we could not resist one last ride on RnRC. The Stringers join us through the pre-show before ducking out in the launch area. As we step onto the red carpet, Aerosmith has a new fan in Evan, who has asked for "all of their CDs" for Christmas.

Next stop was dinner at Beaches and Cream (another first for Evan and I!), where burgers were consumed by all. Afterwards, with the kids distracted by air hockey in the game room, the adults attacked an ice cream sundae - which the five of us could not finish. We strolled to the Boardwalk, when Evan and I avoided speaking the dreaded four-letter word - PACK. Tomorrow is our last day; to say we are depressed is probably an understatement. We catch the bus back to CS, where we somehow manage to get everything into our suitcases, and lights are out at 12:30. Tomorrow: Magic Kingdom, with the last glance of the castle.

Day 5 - November 18, 2001

"All Good Things Must Come to an End"

We sleep in this morning, with the alarm set for 7:00 a.m. - wow - 30 extra minutes. We call for Bell Services to pick up us and our bags around 8:00. We make a final run through the gift shop and are out to the Bus Stop, headed for the MK. We zip quickly through security and are inside with Roy and Minnie, waiting for the Stringers. We snap some pictures and I watch a small girl walk into the park for what appears to be her first visit - the look on her face was absolutely priceless when she saw the castle - eyes wide with the most magical sparkle I've seen in quite some time.

When the Stringers arrive, we stroll right down the middle of Main Street, where we have our picture taken in front of the castle. We head to Tomorrowland, where we see picking up Fastpasses for Buzz Lightyear would be advantageous. Next, we make our way to Fantasyland, where Evan, India and I take a spin on the tea cups, followed by a short wait for Winnie the Pooh (maybe 5 minutes). This is enjoyed by all - especially the bouncy parts. We squeeze in a quick ride on Snow White's Scary Adventure before meeting up with Karen (Poohfriend), her husband Ralph and their boys Dan and Sam. We take flight on my all-time favorite Fantasyland ride, Peter Pan. Our party of 12 heads to "It's a Small World", despite grumblings from Evan and Tammy. I loved watching little Sam's face as we passed through the ride - this was his first visit and again, watching a small child's face was true joy. We nearly manage to escape with the hope of not having that song in our heads all day, when the unthinkable happens - the boats are backed up in the loading area and we are stuck! We finally manage to get out and snap a group picture before heading our separate ways.

By now, our FP time for Buzz has opened and we make our way to Tomorrowland. Kevin, in his attempt to be the dominant male, makes high score. I vow to challenge him as both Evan and I have a measly score of -0-. Yep, our car was completely broken - we couldn't shoot, we couldn't spin. And we are allowed to have another ride. I fall miserably short of toppling Kevin from his pedestal with a score of 53,000. What can I say - my head was out of the game after the miss with the first car. :-) Next up - TTA, with a sad look in the direction of the Carousel of Progress. We make our way across the park to Adventureland, where we stop for coffee and hot chocolate (which really amounted to little more than scalding hot water. oh well.). Fast Passes for Jungle Cruise were acquired before a ride on Pirates of the Caribbean, where we all have great fun in singing "Yo Ho! Yo Ho! A pirates life for me!" I think even Granny Julia was singing! Back to the Jungle Cruise, where Captain Kathy spouts the spiel. Many of the jokes go over the kids' heads, but the adults could only moan.

Somehow we end up in Frontierland where we take a look at the line for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (too long). As we walk towards Liberty Square, the clouds open up and we are forced to run for shelter. Fortunately, it is nearing our PS time for Liberty Tree Tavern, so we duck in (not without a sufficient dousing, you understand). The Burcie family from the territory of Texas and the great country of England are announced. Grandma Dorothy, forgetting where she is, requests an adult beverage, while Kevin sobs uncontrollably at the thought of a whole day without a beer. Because it is nearing Thanksgiving, I order the Pilgrim's feast and Ev has "the grown-up Hamburger". While not exactly Mom's Turkey Dinner, it would suffice.

In an attempt to stretch out every last ounce of our vacation, we take a look at both the lines for Haunted Mansion and Big Thunder Mountain, before realizing we simply must make our way down Main Street. We stop for several pictures in front of the partners statue, before making our way to the front gate. With a lump in my throat and tears welling up in my eyes, I ask Kev why leaving this place is so difficult. His response, "You're asking the wrong person, Sharon". Enough said. We stop in the confectionary to pick up some treats for the flight home. At the camera center, we decide that we would each like a copy of our picture - a perfect memento to mark the occasion. Then we stand at the train station, where we begin saying our good-byes. Evan and I take one last glance at the castle before going underneath the train station. The Stringers go with us - all the way to the turnstiles. When they turn to leave, we both turn several more times, waving a good-bye and they disappear from sight, back under the train station.

The bus ride to Coronado was uneventful, as was the ride to the airport, and the flight home. With, of course, the exception of two children who took turns in a contest of who had the loudest, shrillest scream. ugh. We land on time and are home sometime around 11:00.

Final Thoughts

The Good:

Meeting the Stringers. This was an incredible experience and both Evan and I are looking forward to a lifelong friendship with them. When good times are shared, it is always difficult to leave - it was as difficult to leave the Stringers as it was to leave WDW.
Our magical MK day with the McKinleys. They surely spoiled us as we had provided them with a list of our "must do's" and they developed a personal touring plan for us. I loved not having to think of "what to do next" - as they had it all planned out. Thanks for making this a very special day ya'll.
Fitting in a visit with friends. Even though it seemed a bit rushed (we were only there for five days and managed to see 4 different sets of friends), we enjoyed spending the time with others.
The crowds. With the low crowd level, we really had an opportunity to fit a lot in, while not being commandos.
New restaurants. With the exception of 50's Prime Time Cafe and the food court at All Star Movies, I believe that every other place where we dined was a new experience for us.
Coronado Springs. Despite not having the chance to really enjoy the Dig Site, we loved this resort and would not hesitate to stay there again.
Evan tackling his fear of looping roller coasters. This was a huge milestone. Although ... when asked if he would ride any of the looping roller coasters at the local Six Flags, Evan's response was "only if it's in the dark". Perhaps I can convince him to keep his eyes closed.
The Bad:

Taking Evan out of school. Before we left, all of Evan's teachers were cooperative in giving him his homework ahead of time. Evan worked diligently to complete his assignments before we left, but this was so incredibly stressful on both of us (particularly, the math homework), that it caused me to re-think my decision. I'm not totally sure we'd do this again, but I'm not ruling it out either.
Our room at All Star Movies. I will always have a soft spot in my heart for All Star Movies. After all, we spent a whole week there on our last trip. If we choose to stay there again, we will simply request to stay in the Toy Story section.
The Ugly:

Coming home. This never seems to be easy and in fact, I think with each successive visit, it becomes more difficult to leave.
Evan's Magical Moments:

Meeting the Stringers and every minute we spent with them. Aside from the male bonding between Kevin and Evan (they were out-numbered - what else is there to say?), he really enjoyed spending time with India and Georgia.
Rock n' Roller coaster. Evan says conquering his fear was a major thrill.
Fantasmic. The Sorcerer Mickey and now Maleficent fan just can't get enough of this show.
Sharon's Magical Moments:

Evan's reaction to Rock n' Roller coaster. While I maintained all along that once I got Evan on the ride, he would be hooked, it was pure joy to see his face when we exited the ride the first time. And music to this mother's ears each time he asked to ride it again. And again. And again.
Viewing the animals at Animal Kingdom Lodge with night vision goggles. This was such an incredible Disney touch. I'm amazed.
Illuminations. I could not help but get goose bumps while watching this show.
Seeing the British Invasion and having a Bass Ale with our friends from England.
Watching Evan, India and Georgia together. I realize that kids generally click. But there's something about seeing my son become so attached to these two adorable little girls that made my heart smile.
Our magical day in the MK with the McKinleys. Okay - so I'm repeating myself. But I have to say the whole day was just wonderful.
The many English lessons which Evan and I were subjected to, all the while trying to teach the Stringers how to say "ya'll" properly. (yes, there is a proper way to say it!)
Amazingly, this was a near perfect trip. We weren't in commando mode and thus, weren't on edge. We took in a variety of attractions, both classic and new. We're not sure when we will return to WDW as our next big trip will take us across the Atlantic to visit the Stringers. Until we do return, we have many magical memories to hold onto.

Sharon Burcie