Trip Reports
02-20-2007, 09:07 PM
Bill Martin – September 2002 - Port Orleans Riverside, Animal Kingdom Lodge
Time of Year: Fall
Travel Method: Plane, Shuttle
Resort: POR, AKL
Accommodations: Standard Room
Ages Represented in Group: Toddler, Elementary, Adult
WDW Experience Represented in Group: Frequent
Comments: With the submission of his first trip report, Bill had this to say: "I was really glad to do it since I've read and garnered just so much information from those that others have written and that were featured on your website. Now it is my turn to pay back a bit! I also have an extra appreciation for what it takes to compile one of these as when you want to do it as best you can, it is no quick feat (especially
when you're doing it all from memory as I did!)." That expresses our appreciation for all you report writers pretty well.
Bill Martin -- September 2002 -- Walt Disney World (POR, AKL)
Cast:
Bill (me) 42 years old, wife Pat (no age listed!), Daughter "Ariel" (7) and Son "Buzz" (2)
Goal: To enjoy the parks in a much less crowded atmosphere during Value Season and at a relaxed pace (i.e. no commando style, taking time to "smell the roses"). Also eagerly anticipating our first on site stay with all the accompanying amenities.
Background:
The origin of this trip was decided upon - as I've decided is always the case now - while finishing up our previous trip in March, 2001. The 2001 trip was specifically embarked upon in March as we decided we could do it all - utilize Ariel's kindergarten early spring break, enjoy WDW when it was less crowded and a bit less hot and last , but not least, catch an Astros spring training game at Osceola County Stadium! While we had a great trip as always, the expected results were not quite as anticipated - the crowds were a little larger than expected, it was a very warm week in March and the noontime sun at the game was so direct, everyone abandoned me before the game even started (a wise decision, since the kids would have cooked and been miserable). As things then turned out, I did get to just sit back and enjoy the game in the laid back atmosphere that is Spring Training, so I really can't complain at all.
Before we returned home, we decided our next trip would be when it was less hot and less crowded (wasn't that our plan last time?). And most importantly, to stay on-site! The 2001 accommodations at Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Disney were pretty nice - and comped for that matter as a result of our '99 trip, but then that's a whole 'nother story - but the numerous bus stops on each park run got to be a bit tiresome, especially for mid day breaks. To do all this and have it fit in our budget, we picked the last week of September for this trip, which was also the last week of Disney's Value Season. We would have to take Ariel out of school for a week, but since they had a holiday Friday, that dropped it down to four days that she would miss. And being in first grade, it would not throw her off kilter - no pun intended - too much. The final icing on the cake was that Buzz would turn three in October, so that meant he could get in under the wire as far as going to parks for free! Nothing like those zeros when preparing your trip budget. And he'd also get to eat free at the buffets. Now that's a deal!
At this point, through daily checkings of Bruce's awesome MousePlanet site for ideas and tips and the excellent Mouse Savers for price breaks, the mission was on to get all the best deals possible which turned out to be: flights on Southwest using the "Friends Fly Free Promotion" and accommodations at Port Orleans Riverside (5 nights) and Animal Kingdom Lodge (two nights) using a Texas residents special rate ($79 and $169, respectively). After (18) months of planning, it was now time to go!
Preparation:
Week of September 16th
Getting ready for Disney is a lot like the anticipation you feel for Christmas. You have so much to do, yet the adrenaline level helps you get it all done. All the checklists that have been made for over a year are now being packed away and it is neat to see how these things will come in handy. There is no way whatsoever that we'd even come close to remembering them if we had to do it by memory at the last minute. Every day, something else was readied and by midnight on Friday, it was packed and readied to go. We were a little tired, but propelled by the Disney adrenaline rush that you get right before vacation. Walt Disney World - here we come!
Time to Go!
Saturday, September 21st. Our plane left at 11:15 and we were out the door at 8:00. We'd have over two hours at the airport, but after 9/11, just wanted to make sure any delays could be accommodated. Everything went perfect as we left on time, switched planes in New Orleans and landed in Orlando right on time at 4:15.
I called Happy Limo as soon as we got to baggage claim and the driver appeared shortly thereafter. We were now off to the hotel (Port Orleans - Riverside)! On the way, we utilized the 15 minute grocery stop that Happy Limo provides. I had a list which Pat had compiled leading up to the trip as we went along and it was now pretty varied, so with a 15 minute time limit, I'd really have to hustle! I then went on warp speed around the store - really freaking out a couple people - and endured a couple real slow poke employees when asking a couple questions (and they say us Texans are laid back?). I did eventually find everything though and made it back to the van 15 minutes later - whew!
As we had a nice drive to the hotel, I really began to feel relaxed - no driving and fighting commuter traffic in Houston for (7) days! We then drove into the hotel and the fact began to soak in that we going to actually be staying on site with all the Disney perks. I was so happy for all of us and the days ahead. We were given Mardi Gras beads when we disembarked and it was now time to check in. As we went in the lobby, I was checking it all out while Ariel and Buzz bolted to the television showing the classic Disney cartoons (Note: They were so mesmerized by this little area. As parents, it continued to be such a happy site throughout the days seeing them and the other kids just sitting there in the little chairs quietly watching cartoons for a few minutes each time we went to the lobby - so peaceful). We then got our room assignment which was exactly what we had requested - Magnolia Terrace, first floor (thanks whoever wrote that trip report!). It was now time to go to the room.
Ugh. One of just a couple downers of our trip. Right when I opened the door, I noticed that "smell". Being accustomed to beachfront hotels in our nearby Galveston, I recognized it right away - mildew. Yecch!! I didn't say anything though, but Pat then immediately noticed as well (unfortunately, I was kind of ready for the possibility of this from again, more trip reports!). While I then got the food iced down, Pat went to check about getting another room. Alas, no other rooms in Magnolia Terrace, but they would "spray the room" and put an ionizer in for three hours the next morning while we were out. What to do ...
We then went and ate at the food court (Colonel's Cotton Mill). I had the ribs and chicken and Pat got a baked potato. The kids split one kids meal and ate some of my chicken as well. The less fried, the better. The food was pretty good and the area was not crowded at all, especially for a Saturday night. We also bought two refillable mugs, which was a no brainer considering how we each drink coffee and Diet Coke (make that LOTS for me). Two different types were offered - one was a really big one and the other a tapered bottom one. We opted for the latter since it would fit into the drink holders in our vehicles when we returned; the others while bigger, would not be very practical when we got back home. We also discussed what to do about the room situation, and decided that we would really like to move as having a stinky room on our Disney dream trip was not an option!
I went up to the desk and the particular associate I talked to was very accommodating (Note: it really is a crap shoot when you come out of your cue and go to the next available clerk, some are soooo helpful, while others just do the basics). She told me that there were a couple of rooms available in Magnolia Terrace and that someone would drive us to them. We were then driven to and checked out two rooms that smelled nicer, but were not nearly as scenic (pretty gardens we now had versus a parking lot). However, we decided on one of them and then decided to go back to our room one more time. Guess what? The spray helped, at least enough to make us happy. We then drove back to the lobby and told her what we'd decided, which I'm sure by then she thought we were nuts. We were now set, but the downside to all this was that it ate into our evening quite a bit and by now we were getting tired, so we had to pass on swimming. Dang. We did not want to be exhausted for our first day at the parks tomorrow, so we reluctantly called it an evening.
Disclaimer: For the summaries of the days ahead, you may come away with the feeling that we just didn't do a whole lot of rides. If that is your thought, then you are correct! We pretty much went on the rides we really wanted to, but after three visits in four years, we've really covered a lot of ground. This trip - with two very tired parents - was all about doing what we wanted to at everyone's pace, whether it be rides, eating, shopping or just hanging out. No "commando mentality" here for sure, but we did exactly what we planned on doing, which resulted in a good time for all.
Sunday, September 22nd
Magic Kingdom
Our first full day! The phone rang with the 6:00 am wake up call and I picked it up and handed it to Ariel. She smiled, but she was so tired, I don't think she really got the full effect of hearing Mickey's voice. Everyone then went back down for a few more winks, but I pulled from within and stayed up. I then walked down to get our coffees and was so glad I stayed up. It also was really starting to sink in that we were really back at "the World". The walk to the food court was so peaceful. The air was fresh and cool, the birds were singing and a few folks were walking and even jogging (I wish I had that much energy and motivation to match) . I then crossed the bridge and walked in to the lobby. The lobby at this hour is very "Twilight Zonish", but in a good way. It was pretty deserted, but the rustic music loop played on. Only a couple cast members were at the windows and didn’t even have any guests to accommodate. The cartoons were playing as well, but all the little chairs were empty now (Bill's note: Again, the little area by the TV was to me, one of the most peaceful remembrances from the trip. It was so cute to see all those little - and bigger ones - sitting in the chairs glued to the TV. With the harmonic music in the background, it always brought a smile to my face. Guess I'm getting older, but I do appreciate these little - and finer - things in life). I then got the coffee's and headed back to find everyone slowing stirring.
We had an 8:05 priority seating for the character breakfast at Tony's Town Square in Magic Kingdom. Would we make it? As Buzz's hero Bob the Builder says, "Yes, We can!". With an adrenaline rush, we were out the door at 7:30 and off to the West bus depot. A bus came by within about five minutes and we were off! We then arrived at Magic Kingdom and right at the front no less (I will never stay off site again!). We went through security and it was still only 7:45. We then had to wait a few minutes before we could go through the turnstiles (and after our name was checked off the priority seating list, I might add). At 7:55 we were in the park. This allowed us ten minutes of some awesome photo ops. I whipped out the 35 mm while Pat used the digital to take some shots with basically no one around. I didn't get as many keepers as I'd hoped, but a few were hit right out of the park. With Pat strongly urging me to "come on!", I snapped a couple more and we went on in to Tony's.
The waiting area for Tony's was excellent. Tigger showed up while we were waiting and Buzz followed him right on in the restaurant. I got him back and then Eeyore walked through (is this great or what?). We were then seated, ate and enjoyed all the characters - Eeyore, Piglet, Pooh and Tigger - coming by. Of course the kids ate very little - so frustrating with the prices you pay - but I think I picked up their slack!. They did love the cinnamon rolls though. We thoroughly enjoyed Tony's beautiful atmosphere, but it was now time to go. It kind of worked out well that the Crystal Palace was closed as it steered us toward yet another great place. It was now on to the show!
Main Street USA. God, I love it! I could stay here all day and just hang out. On our way to Fantasyland, the motor car was empty, so we hopped on (amazingly, this was the first time we had ridden in one). Then it was off to Fantasyland where our "fantasies" of an off peak trip were coming to fruition. Rides? We hit just about all of them - Cinderella's Carousel, Dumbo, Mad Tea Cups, , Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan, and Snow White - with little or no waits. Awesome. Truly awesome. This is why we came in Value season in September! We then saw the Merlin at the Sword in the Stone as we hoped to get one of the kids picked as the official sword puller. Alas, neither was - maybe next time. We then shopped some - boy did we do a lot of that this trip - and then headed for Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. This ride turned out be Buzz's #1 and Ariel's #2 favorite rides of this trip. Using the tips I'd read in the Disney magazine, I tried to nail the left arm of the orange robot as soon as we entered for 100,000 points, but I couldn't do it. And as it turns out Ariel beat me on this ride as well - was she ever excited! (Note: with my hints, I still lost to my seven year daughter not once, but twice! As I really was trying to get a high score, I asked what her secret was. The answer? "I just closed my eyes and pulled the trigger!")
We then went for a late lunch at Cosmic Rays. Pat was pooped and Buzz was hitting full meltdown stage, which included bolting who knows where every couple of minutes and being generally uncontrollable (remember: naps are good!). So we ate a burgers lunch and decided to head back to the hotel for a mid afternoon respite. Whoops, forgot the haircut for Buzz! (Note: The Harmony Barber Shop was being moved on our previous visit which caused us to miss out on Buzz's first haircut being at Walt Disney World. That would have been great, with a certificate and all. Oh well.) After a short wait, Buzz proceeded to have his hair cut by the man featured in the recent Disney magazine article. Buzz was so cute - and well behaved, I might add - and the pictures and video were super as well. Now it was time to head back to PO-R for a few hours of needed rest. (This mid day break strategy - as recommended by many - was a must for us with great results. By doing this, we returned to the parks each evening with some renewed energy).
We all proceeded to crash, but I woke up after one hour and had to get up (it was Sunday, so I had to get a quick check on all the games). I don't miss NFL games on Sunday for much ever, but WDW is definitely one of those very rare exceptions! With everyone sleeping, I couldn't turn on the TV in the room, so it was off to the lobby. On the way, I encountered what was to be our frequent unwelcome companion this trip - RAIN! I loaded up on some Diet Coke and hung out by the bar TV to check out the halftime report (and let me say again, I just love this lobby). It was then back to the room where I made just enough noise to get everyone stirring! :)
At 5:00 we left the hotel and headed back to Magic Kingdom (this is one downside of Value Season - short nights, with the park closing at 8:00 tonight (which is better than 6:00, which was the previous schedule). Upon entering, we headed straight to Adventureland. The rain didn't affect us tonight though as while the grounds were soaked, there was at least none falling from the sky! We then rode Aladdin (first time for us), Pirates of the Caribbean and Splash Mountain (which by the way was Ariel's #1 ride this trip). (Bill's comment: This was amazingly my first time on Splash Mountain, also due to short lines. I loved the ride as well as it is arguably one of the best themed at the park (and as we all know, based on "Song of the South", which as a 42 year old I've never seen). (Note: I know it has some perceived and not arguably "old school" racial tones, but is it really THAT bad? Is it bad enough that it couldn't be released on video so that everyone could enjoy these wonderful characters? Is there no middle ground at all here in this politically correct world of ours? Hey Brian, looks like a topic for someone to pontificate on!). I had to wait with Buzz in the switch area since he wasn't quite tall enough, so we couldn't ride anything while waiting (he did get a front of the line certificate for next time though). I wanted to hit Big Thunder Railroad afterwards, but since they let Ariel and I ride twice in a row when I got on, the 8:00 hour had been reached. I will definitely hit this one for sure on our other Magic Kingdom day!
On the way out, we saw the SpectroMagic parade as it curled through Frontierland and thoroughly enjoyed it with absolutely no one in front of us. Super. We then meandered down Main Street and it was back to the hotel to ready for tomorrow's journey to Animal Kingdom, starting off with Donald's Breakfastsouras. Another great Disney day on the horizon!
Monday, September 23rd:
Animal Kingdom
Well, we didn't make it out the gate as quick as we did yesterday. I got up later as well and dashed to the food court to get our coffee fill ups (saw the Character Caravan while walking through - I'll have some surprisingly positive comments on this later in my report). When I returned, everyone was still passed out. We finally got going, made it to the bus pickup and then had to wait a while - probably the longest wait of our trip. When we then got on, half the bus was going to Blizzard Beach and there were a lot of folks - including me - standing for the ride. It was nice to see Blizzard Beach though, hopefully we can check it out sometime.
We finally made it to the gate, but not till 10:50. With a priority seating reservation at Donald's Breakfastsouras at 10:45, we were already five minutes late. I then took Ariel and made just an awful mad dash to Asia - no shortcuts that we saw - and arrived at 11:00. Luckily, they were still going to seat us and we just had to wait until Pat and Buzz arrived which was at 11:05 . Glad to be here, but that was too much rushing for me! Whew!
Donald's Breakfastsouras turned out to be simply great and had arguably the best breakfast buffet we enjoyed at Walt Disney World. Lot's of food and a few different items as well. The characters were great – featuring Donald, Goofy and Mickey - as they all stopped by as they were getting us accommodated before they closed shop for lunch. We got some really great photos here; unfortunately, those taken with the new digital camera all had red eye. Dang.
After leaving breakfast, we rode Chester and Hester's DinoRama, Dino Dig and Primeval Whirl. On the subject of the latter two, several trip reports have opined that they felt these attractions were hoaky and cheap looking. I can see where they might think that, but overall I thought the attractions were fine (although I hope they don't add any more of this variety to Animal Kingdom). Then came the rain, which we dodged all day today. We then made our way to "It's Tough to be a Bug" and then the Pocohantas show (this was really neat, although you don't hear much about it. I was very well done). With even more rain fast approaching, it was on to the safari, which was good as usual. We then got even more rain and by then, had had enough. It was now back to the hotel now for hopefully, some swimming.
And the rain, rain, rain came down, down, down (just like the Winnie the Pooh song!), so no swimming just yet. We all took naps with plans of venturing down the river to Port Orleans French Quarter and it's King Neptune slide. When we woke up, the rain was as bad as ever. We could not believe it! We went down the river anyway, praying for a respite. When we arrived, the pool was closed for the evening and Ariel broke into big crocodile tears, which she hardly ever does! She was simply devastated about not getting to go swimming at the pool with the slide we had been talking about for months. We then ate at the Sassagoula Float Works food court and checked out the lobby as the skies were really opening up. Dejectedly, we decided to call it a night and wished for better luck tomorrow when we headed to EPCOT.
Tuesday, September 24th:
EPCOT
The day dawned warm and overcast with thankfully, no rain. After a quick breakfast in the room, we headed out for EPCOT and entered around 10:00. This was also the day Ariel "discovered" pin trading - which she was into the rest of the trip - as we bought her fist lanyard and pin before even entering the park. After some pictures, getting a stroller and a locker, we were finally making a move (I wonder how much total time is spent doing these tasks each day, I suspect it really adds up and is the answer to the oft wondered question of "where did the day go to?"!).
We purposely avoided the natural inclination to "go right" and instead opted to go left around World Showcase (we'd hit up Future World later in the day). This was decided upon due to the fact that we always stopped around Germany each trip and never made it all the way to Mexico; this trip, that would change. First though, I wanted to take everyone through Ice Station Cool for some Coke sampling, especially that delicious "Beverly" :) After reading about it in numerous trip reports, I had a real game plan for this (and the kids). I asked the cast member where the "yummy" drink was and she smiled, shook her head and said "right there". With the camcorder rolling, I caught Ariel realizing just how bad Beverly's taste was and then her getting mad ("play mad", I call it) at me. I then let Buzz sample and he made a contortionist face that I'd never seen as he proceeded to spit it out! The video on this is simply hilarious! We also sampled a lot more Coke and Ariel really liked the others - excluding "Beverly", of course - and we would have to return again
By this time it was almost lunch, so we opted for the San Angel Inn located in Mexico, where we had not eaten since our honeymoon in 1989. Coming from Texas, we are used to good Tex Mex cuisine, but thought having it at WDW again would be fun. I had the fajita nachos and Pat had soup and it was all pretty decent. The kids got hamburgers (again) and picked (as usual). It's really dark in there as well, but that's just something you have to work around. After eating we milled around the shopping area - for a long, long time - and then rode on the El Rio del Tempo. Unfortunately, Buzz was starting to melt down a bit already, so we did a u-turn and headed back towards Future World.
A "must" on this trip was Test Track and using our FastPass, Ariel and I boarded in five minutes! I was a bit worried about it being a bit too much for her, but she loved it! It really is a good ride, especially the straight-a-way portion. We then met back up with Pat and Buzz and decided - reluctantly - to head back for the midday break. A few dark clouds were also starting to appear and when we left a cast member was telling folks that a "severe storm line was headed our way". Just great. By the time we exited the park, the skies let loose big time and we all ran to the PO-R bus area (at EPCOT, this can definitely be a bit of a haul especially at evening's end or when, of course, it's raining). This was a real Florida downpour, I must say, well on par with those we have frequently in Texas.
We now wondered how long would THIS rain would last? Would it be just for awhile or another all night affair? And we just HAD to go swimming today - and still waiting for the first time - at a WDW resort hotel. When we woke, the rain had let up, but not totally. And the pools were still closed, but we were told they'd be open at 5:00, so we all crossed our fingers. Everything luckily held true to form and we hit the main pool at our hotel (Port Orleans - Riverside) this time. FINALLY - SUCCESS! The pool was nice and warm and the kids just loved the slide, which had several twists in it. I also discovered the great hot tub, for the first of several visits! It was very hot and very clean - all the things a hot tub should be. We had to leave at 6:00 though as we wanted to get back to EPCOT to see a few things before IllumiNations began. And it couldn't rain again - could it? Unfortunately, it did.
We first checked out Planet Earth and walked in with no waiting. This is such a great ride and the kids were mesmerized. Where to go now? When we exited, the rain began again. And yet again, it was hard; no sprinkle here. We then made a determined walk to America where we ate at the Liberty Inn and reluctantly had the usual burgers and tenders for $25. We then went out to seize a spot for IllumiNations which was getting pretty packed. We watched the show in the rain (as for the show, I personally did not like this version as much as the one prior (Pat disagreed). I think I just liked the music - from each country - better than what was played here). We then meandered back to the front and hit up Mickey's Gear on the way (bought more stuff!). Park Day #2 was now complete - definitely frustrating at times - but all in all, not a bad day.
Wednesday, September 25th:
EPCOT / MGM
After a slow get away the past two mornings, we were determined to make a quick departure today - at least that's what we planned. I mentioned that on Monday I saw the "Character Caravan" in the lobby. The kids were all ready and Pat wasn't quite yet, so I took them on to the lobby. Today's characters were Pinnochio, Geppetto, The "cat"? (bad guy), Mickey and Minnie Mouse. I got some great photos of the kids, asked a couple of other guests to take one with me and the kids as well and then anxiously waited for Pat to arrive as she had the digital camera. We then got even more great pictures! (Bill's comment: The "Character Caravan" took a lot of heat when it replaced Early Entry and I guess, rightfully so. However, I must say, this feature did personally provide us with possibly the best pictures of the trip - so good, in fact, that we used one for our Christmas card - as the kids were relaxed and the lobby wasn't just totally overloaded. "Character Caravan" may be a thing of the past now, but for us, it was neat while it lasted, at least for this trip).
The time in the lobby delayed us for about 45 minutes, but we finally got on our way, arriving at EPCOT at 10. We then concentrated on Future World, first spending a lot of time at Innovations (about an hour). This really set us back as far as hitting a lot of things, but as I said earlier, the purpose of this trip was to go at the kids pace. After leaving, we headed for "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids". We did a few more things as well, but I now forget exactly what! Like I said, I am relying on my memory for this trip report ....
For lunch, we decided to branch out a bit and check out another on site Disney hotel, which we like to do as well (it's fun to window shop!). This day, we took the monorail to the Grand Floridian to have lunch at Gasparilla Grill. What a culture shock! While drop dead gorgeous, a different kind of cat does seem to inhabit this hotel. The staff - sans one gift shop person in particular - are as nice as can be, but some of the clientele definitely seem to be a wee bit snooty. Just my take. We had an assortment of the usual fast food - plus some fruit and salad - at Gasparilla and it was pretty good. It was quite amazing to see too just how small the food court was as compared to that at our hotel (Port Orleans - Riverside). Disney definitely does their homework in tailoring each resort to their type clientele.
On the way back, we finally did it - after three trips, we FINALLY got to sit in the front of the monorail! (Note: when trying to do this, I discovered that the route from the TTC to the hotel - and back - is your best shot due to the lessened crowds. At least that's what I found). There was a little dispute with another lady who actually seemed to have dibs on it, but for some reason, she yelled something at the rest of her party and then went into another car and disappeared. Have no idea why, but who cares! It was neat to sit in the front cab, although I think I liked the challenge of getting in there as much as anything. I also proceeded to tip over my Diet Coke - which wasn't supposed to be in there to begin with, so I did some fancy foot work as well in trying to cover up. Ariel was excited too as she got a certificate saying she was the captain or something and I got some great footage on the camcorder as well. Now it was back to EPCOT.
Upon arrival at EPCOT, it became obvious that Buzz had "hit the wall". He was done. I thought he could have kept on going, but as we all know, mom knows best! Ariel and I were still raring to go though, so Pat and Buzz went on back to the hotel after we all ventured on to MGM via the water canal - something new for us. As a side note, we had intended to hook up later in the day - however, Buzz not only went down for a nap, he conked out from 5:30 pm to 7:30 am THE NEXT DAY! Was he tired or what!
The ride from EPCOT to MGM was real nice as we saw lots of things - hotels - from different angles. While I had a pretty good idea as to where all these hotels were, I didn't realize how intertwined they all were. While the ride was nice, it was a time muncher as later in the day, we took the bus to return to EPCOT. At MGM, the sun was shining and the streets were packed as we entered right during the "Stars and Cars" motor cars parade. That was our cue to boogie though, as we then made a mad dash to hit up Rock-n- Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror. This was a great move as there were little lines for either. On R&R, I was worried that 1) Ariel would be too short and 2) too scared to finally board. Neither was an issue though as she made the height requirement by about and half an inch and was not scared one iota. In fact, she wanted to ride it again, so we did! Same thing for Tower of Terror.
Things were going real great and then - guess what- the rain was back. This was a hard rain and it really poured for a while, so we had to decide what to do now. Ariel decided she wanted to get an Icee, so I agreed. When getting it, I noticed some fudge that had my name on it, so I got it along with a Diet Coke. We then proceeded to sit on the bench by the "100 Years of Magic" hat and eat our stash. This could definitely have been a Master Card moment - you and your daughter sitting on a bench at WDW eating junk and just hanging out while watching the world go by. You just can't beat it!
After a couple photos of us by the hat, we went to see the Walt Disney exhibit. I absolutely loved this, but 7 year old Ariel was quickly bored. She did like the film though. We the went on the Great Movie Ride which we both enjoyed. Yes, it's a bit dated, but still enjoyable. The park was now closing and since we did not want to fight the Fantasmic! Crowd - plus the fact we saw the show the last two visits - we returned to EPCOT where we hoped to see Illuminations sans the rain. You guessed it though - the rain returned and again we watched the show in a downpour. On the way back, Ariel's feet gave out, so I carried all 60 pound of her, sore back and all, around the lagoon circle. It was now definitely time to go back to the hotel!
When we arrived back at Port Orleans - Riverside, Ariel told me she was starving which made sense since we never really ate dinner! We then went to the food court where I pigged out on an Italian Sausage sub while she ate a cheeseburger combo. It was almost midnight now, but who cares - we're on vacation! And no tummy aches either which is pretty good considering what I ate. It was now time to look towards tomorrow which would be a non park day, starting with swimming and then the switch from Port Orleans Riverside to Animal Kingdom Lodge, with something to do in between.
Thursday, September 26th:
Swimming at Port Orleans French Quarter
Hotel switch to Animal Kingdom Lodge
Swimming at Animal Kingdom Lodge
This day dawned partly cloudy as we made our way down the river to Port Orleans French Quarter and the infamous King Neptune slide, preceded with a quick breakfast first of breakfast bars and juice in the room. We swam for about an hour and a half and found this pool to be quite enjoyable although the King Neptune slide was actually not as long as the one at Port Orleans - Riverside. We all loved it though and I personally liked all the additional Mardi Gras touches it had, such as the giant jester at the pool's entrance.
After swimming, we went back to the room and quickly packed up for the move to Animal Kingdom Lodge. In the interim, we went to Downtown Disney to shop and to seek out a good meal that wasn't a hamburger or a chicken nugget! We did just that as we ate at Captain Jacks where we had some really good seafood at a fairly reasonable price. I personally had a shrimp Caesar salad that was to die for. After eating, we hit the World of Disney store for pins, shirts and a few other things that we "had to have". After a while though, I started to get real fidgety as the meter was now running on our Animal Kingdom Lodge time. We then caught the bus and were at the hotel at 3:30.
First Impression of Animal Kingdom Lodge? WOW! The place is just as good as advertised and we could hardly believe we were actually staying there! The rate we got was pretty good as well - $169 for a Savannah view room - which in my opinion is the only place to go if you are staying here. We then checked into our room where the bellman practically gave us a tour himself. He had been with Disney for several years and was moved to Animal Kingdom Lodge due to his great experience. We then hung out and looked off the balcony for a while before making a move to explore the rest of this magnificent hotel.
On the way down, we stopped in Simba's Cub House to see what it was like. It was very nice and only $10 an hour (since our trip though, the price has gone up slightly, I believe). Big surprise here - with all the wonderment of the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Ariel decided she wanted to stay here for a few hours watching TV and playing with the other kids. This blew our minds! Anyway, she had a meal too (and did not want to leave when we returned several hours later!). Oh well, that gave us some one on one time with Buzz who often times gets overshadowed by his omnipresent big sister. We again bought us a couple of the refillable mugs and went for the big ones this time. We wouldn't be using them much since we'd only be here two days- but what the hey, we're on vacation, we drink lots of coffee and soda and they look cool too. That plus the fact they provide such nice Disney memories when you drink from them back home!
After looking around some, it was time to eat!! We opted for the buffet at Boma and would keep our fingers crossed that Buzz would not get out of hand (we got lucky here - he didn't). The food at Boma was really great as there was a lot of food that we'd never eaten that was really good to boot. My wife would tell you though that the "Zebra Dome" dessert was the highlight and it would be hard to disagree. All in all, a great meal and experience. We then picked up Ariel and explored some more - story telling at the fire pit and a hand's on session in the lobby. Everyone was pretty well done by this point, but I did dash down to the pool area for a quick dip in the hot tub. It too was big, clean and just the right temperature. Ahh! Another perfect ending to a perfect Disney day. Now it was time to hit the rack with expectations of our last park day at Magic Kingdom tomorrow.
Friday, September 27th
Magic Kingdom
Swimming at Animal Kingdom Lodge
We got off to a bit of a slow start, no surprise what with the incredible views from our balcony. I then somehow managed to misplace my glasses - long story and at least I can see ok without them - but we managed to eat breakfast in the food court and get to the park at 10:15. Oh well. Upon arriving, we went left - instead of instinctual right - to visit Frontierland and Adventureland. On the way we milled about the Liberty Square area and took some neat pictures (and hit up the shops, as was the norm for this trip!). In Frontierland, we saw the old standby Country Bears Jamboree. The same show as always, but everyone enjoyed it nonetheless. We then meandered towards Adventureland, where on the way we experienced one of those magical Disney moments. While walking, the banjo band was walking towards us while playing and Buzz took right to them. They said "lets play Toy Story for the little fellow" (his favorite movie too!) and then he and Pat danced together in the street. It was a great moment which I captured both on tape and film. Memories like these stay with you forever!
On to the rides. After just missing on Sunday, I first wanted to go to Thunder Mountain, but since there was a long line, so we went ahead and got FastPasses instead. Ariel was still excited over her Splash Mountain, so it became our first ride of the day as we wound up riding it twice. I do see her point on this ride - it so cutely decorated, has lots of different twists and to me, seems like one of the longest lasting rides at Walt Disney World. Never doubt the wisdom of those kids! After disembarking, we then rode Thunder Mountain RR which was pretty good. Now it was on to the Haunted Mansion.
The Haunted Mansion has always been one of my favorite rides, one which I first rode back on our family trip to WDW way, way back in 1972. We saw it late at night then and I have vivid memories of the hour long wait we endured that hot and humid July evening. It seemed scary to me then a bit, but of course now it's just quirky. Ariel first went on in 1999 as she convinced us she was not scared; in fact, we rode it twice. However for a few months afterwards, she kept telling us she was scared, so we figured out her "I'm not scared" declarations were really intended to convince herself. Accordingly, we did not ride on it on our 2001 trip (Comment: There for sure is no truer advice than not making your kids go on rides that scare them). For this trip though, we all were pretty sure she was ok again and we were right. The wait - as with all the other rides - was very short at ten minutes. We also took Buzz and at two years old, this didn't faze him at all! Not one bit.
Now it was time for lunch! I had read on some of the trip reports about how Columbia Harbour House had some different sandwiches from the standard fare of burgers and chicken strips, so we sought it out. I had a tuna salad sandwich on fresh baked bread that was really great. The kids had baloney sandwiches (I think) and Pat a salad and we left feeling a little lighter on our feet than normal. As this was our final park day, we decided not to take a mid day break - now it was time to make the best of final hours for this trip to WDW.
We ventured to Adventureland and as luck would have it, encountered more rain. However, we were in luck this day as the shower was brief. While waiting, we got the Dole Cool Whips that folks have been raving about. I must say they are quite good and fairly affordable. We then milled about in the Adventureland shops and for a change, talked ourselves out of buying various things. The rain now stopped, we went to an oldie but goodie, the Adventure Cruise. This was Buzz's first time on this ride and he really enjoyed it. As for the rest of us, it was more nostalgic than anything as after Animal Kingdom's rides and the Animal Kingdom Lodge that have the "real deal", it's hard to get too excited about this ride. Next was Pirates of the Caribbean which as has been the case lately, was a walk on. We always enjoy this ride and I especially enjoy the dark and coolness of it, especially after the Florida heat. Upon exciting, we went to the "market" gift shop outside Pirates for a while. We wanted to leave right away, but I then spotted Peter Pan, Buzz's favorite, so we couldn't leave still. Peter stayed around only for a few minutes though and since they said he'd be back in 20 minutes, we hung around. We then got Buzz's picture with him and shortly thereafter with Captain Hook and Mr. Schmede(?) as well. Great, great pictures, but all this really ate up the time.
We then went through Frontierland and actually found two rockers on one of the porches empty. Couldn't resist this, so we just sat for spell and watched the world go by. The next Hall of President's showing began at 5:00, so we decided to go there next. We especially wanted Ariel to see this so it would have some relevance when they discussed history at school. We were just about in when Buzz had to go do "that". Yes, that. Of all times, but what do you do. (Note to potty training parents: try to "close the deal" on your kids potty training before you to WDW or postpone the process until you return home. Buzz was just about trained on #1 before we left, but all the varieties of toilets, including the "v-roooom" ones at Port Orleans really threw him off. We're sure he was still confused about toilets for a good month or so after we got back!). Pat then took him to the restroom and Ariel and I waited and watched the minutes go by. Finally the doors were about to close, so we had to go on in without them. When we came out, all was well, but we could see Buzz was beginning to run out of gas. It now was obvious we would be leaving before my planned time of 7:00.
On the way back, we went by Cinderella's Castle for one last look. We then waited at the entrance for the flag drop with the honorary veteran and the marching band. This was a very touching ceremony and we are hopeful we can get Pat's dad selected when we return next year. Now at the end, we picked up our Main Street pictures (that we always splurge for) at the camera store and Ariel "strong armed" me :) into one more pin. It was now time to go. I wanted a couple more pictures, but by then Pat was truly ready to go, my protestations notwithstanding. Back now to the Animal Kingdom Lodge for a quick bite at the Mara and some swimming in their awesome pool.
This pool was something as well as it really befitted everything else about the hotel. A walk up area for the little ones, a slide and a poolside bar (maybe next time). The kids had a blast and did not want to leave, but it was about that time. I got one more dip in the hot tub and our final full day at WDW was just about done. We did find a cleverly made up room upon our return as the housekeeping staff here did some "extras" for their "Mousekeeping" tips. The kids really enjoyed that as well as the bunk beds which they are still talking about.
Saturday, September 28th
Well, today is the return flight home :( that begins with breakfast at the Mara. We had planned on a quick swim, but time just did not safely permit. And a melancholy day it is as we reminisce about the fun we have had while - for us adults, that is - realizing that Monday brings the return to the real world and the daily hectic pace it brings. While we are blessed for what we have, it is just so sad to leave the Magic Kingdom and the common happiness we all shared for a magical week. However, I will now refer to what I said at the beginning of my report in that the next trips are often planned before you even leave your current one. Groundwork was then set for our next trip, tentatively planned for Thanksgiving of this year which will also include the big step of bringing my in laws with us! It definitely be a different change of pace for us, but will make us "zero base" a bit for them and see some things at Walt Disney World that we have missed the last couple times around. And we'll catch "Mickey's Magical Christmas Party" on it's very first day too, another first for us that should hopefully be awesome as well.
Overview / Trip Summary:
Here is quick list of some of my tips and final thoughts from this trip:
I had read several accounts of where folks had commented on how they felt the upkeep of the parks had slipped and cited several examples. I then expected to see this myself, but pleasantly found this not to be the case. Everything appeared to me to be in impeccable shape with "chipped paint" rarely seen. About the only place I did witness this was on the Dumbo ride and it was very minimal at that (barely even mentionable).
Staying on site is really the only way to go and it will be hard for me to ever stay off site in the future. The amenities, the wall to wall Disney atmosphere and for the most part the staff, make it a truly magic experience.
The hotels are resorts, not just hotels. Allow a day or two to enjoy all the amenities they offer and get refreshed for your next park visit.
Port Orleans- Riverside was to us the perfect fit. Not too expensive, not too pared down and the landscaping was truly Southern antebellum (see comment above). For our family and needs, it just right.
Animal Kingdom Lodge was awesome and I was glad we stayed there a couple nights. However, with the cost involved, it seems hard to justify staying there again if we are away at the parks all day.
For the toddlers and first graders, plate sharing works. Find something everyone likes and by eliminating a meal from the tab, it makes it much more economical.
Getting to ride in the front of the monorail was finally achieved and was great! Now we can just relax and get on from now on without stressing about this (only I did this as I must admit, as it became a competitive thing after missing out so many times!).
The 35mm vs digital camera debate was easily resolved once the photos were developed. While the digital camera does offer immediacy, it's wide variance of quality and delayed processing time do detract from it's usefulness. 35mm simply "kicked butt" as the difference between the two mediums was dramatic, although I'm sure some of this is probably user error what with the digital being camera still being new to us. Combined though, we filled a whole photo album and wound up with lots of great ones. You can never take too many photos at WDW even though at the time it may seem as though you may have. So looks like we'll be carting both cameras along next trip as well and this time I'll have my new Christmas present as well - a zoom lens for the 35mm - with me to hopefully take some even better pics.
A final thought about photography: don't forget about getting the cast members in some of the shots. In costume, these folks - such as the bellcap at "Tower of Terror" are great and they often try and look their part in the photo.
As for video taping, I am just amazed at how much better each trips videos turn out (another benefit of repeat visits). Whereas is trip 1 you tape shows in their entirety (and find out that the "Legend of the Lion King" is great in person, but seems three hours long when you get back home!), subsequent trips reflect the taping of little things that are "out of the park" when you get back home. This includes taping the family when the camera is not in their face and just watching them behave naturally. This trip, I happened to do a couple Q & A's with the kids while waiting in the lines and the answers were priceless and hilarious. As a follow up, I also like to do a quick trip wrap up Q & A as well asking the kids what they like best with the park in the background. I will definitely do even more of these type things on the next trip!
Next trip, we will first up hit up some attractions that we missed this time: the River Cruise, Mickey's Toon Town, Space Mountain (amazing, but with R& R Roller Coaster being a must, we just didn't make it a big priority this trip), Tom Sawyer’s Island and a few of the lands in EPCOT that we always seem to miss. MGM as well as this park always seems to be the one that we pare down as our trips progress.
Finally - have fun!
Bill Martin
Time of Year: Fall
Travel Method: Plane, Shuttle
Resort: POR, AKL
Accommodations: Standard Room
Ages Represented in Group: Toddler, Elementary, Adult
WDW Experience Represented in Group: Frequent
Comments: With the submission of his first trip report, Bill had this to say: "I was really glad to do it since I've read and garnered just so much information from those that others have written and that were featured on your website. Now it is my turn to pay back a bit! I also have an extra appreciation for what it takes to compile one of these as when you want to do it as best you can, it is no quick feat (especially
when you're doing it all from memory as I did!)." That expresses our appreciation for all you report writers pretty well.
Bill Martin -- September 2002 -- Walt Disney World (POR, AKL)
Cast:
Bill (me) 42 years old, wife Pat (no age listed!), Daughter "Ariel" (7) and Son "Buzz" (2)
Goal: To enjoy the parks in a much less crowded atmosphere during Value Season and at a relaxed pace (i.e. no commando style, taking time to "smell the roses"). Also eagerly anticipating our first on site stay with all the accompanying amenities.
Background:
The origin of this trip was decided upon - as I've decided is always the case now - while finishing up our previous trip in March, 2001. The 2001 trip was specifically embarked upon in March as we decided we could do it all - utilize Ariel's kindergarten early spring break, enjoy WDW when it was less crowded and a bit less hot and last , but not least, catch an Astros spring training game at Osceola County Stadium! While we had a great trip as always, the expected results were not quite as anticipated - the crowds were a little larger than expected, it was a very warm week in March and the noontime sun at the game was so direct, everyone abandoned me before the game even started (a wise decision, since the kids would have cooked and been miserable). As things then turned out, I did get to just sit back and enjoy the game in the laid back atmosphere that is Spring Training, so I really can't complain at all.
Before we returned home, we decided our next trip would be when it was less hot and less crowded (wasn't that our plan last time?). And most importantly, to stay on-site! The 2001 accommodations at Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Disney were pretty nice - and comped for that matter as a result of our '99 trip, but then that's a whole 'nother story - but the numerous bus stops on each park run got to be a bit tiresome, especially for mid day breaks. To do all this and have it fit in our budget, we picked the last week of September for this trip, which was also the last week of Disney's Value Season. We would have to take Ariel out of school for a week, but since they had a holiday Friday, that dropped it down to four days that she would miss. And being in first grade, it would not throw her off kilter - no pun intended - too much. The final icing on the cake was that Buzz would turn three in October, so that meant he could get in under the wire as far as going to parks for free! Nothing like those zeros when preparing your trip budget. And he'd also get to eat free at the buffets. Now that's a deal!
At this point, through daily checkings of Bruce's awesome MousePlanet site for ideas and tips and the excellent Mouse Savers for price breaks, the mission was on to get all the best deals possible which turned out to be: flights on Southwest using the "Friends Fly Free Promotion" and accommodations at Port Orleans Riverside (5 nights) and Animal Kingdom Lodge (two nights) using a Texas residents special rate ($79 and $169, respectively). After (18) months of planning, it was now time to go!
Preparation:
Week of September 16th
Getting ready for Disney is a lot like the anticipation you feel for Christmas. You have so much to do, yet the adrenaline level helps you get it all done. All the checklists that have been made for over a year are now being packed away and it is neat to see how these things will come in handy. There is no way whatsoever that we'd even come close to remembering them if we had to do it by memory at the last minute. Every day, something else was readied and by midnight on Friday, it was packed and readied to go. We were a little tired, but propelled by the Disney adrenaline rush that you get right before vacation. Walt Disney World - here we come!
Time to Go!
Saturday, September 21st. Our plane left at 11:15 and we were out the door at 8:00. We'd have over two hours at the airport, but after 9/11, just wanted to make sure any delays could be accommodated. Everything went perfect as we left on time, switched planes in New Orleans and landed in Orlando right on time at 4:15.
I called Happy Limo as soon as we got to baggage claim and the driver appeared shortly thereafter. We were now off to the hotel (Port Orleans - Riverside)! On the way, we utilized the 15 minute grocery stop that Happy Limo provides. I had a list which Pat had compiled leading up to the trip as we went along and it was now pretty varied, so with a 15 minute time limit, I'd really have to hustle! I then went on warp speed around the store - really freaking out a couple people - and endured a couple real slow poke employees when asking a couple questions (and they say us Texans are laid back?). I did eventually find everything though and made it back to the van 15 minutes later - whew!
As we had a nice drive to the hotel, I really began to feel relaxed - no driving and fighting commuter traffic in Houston for (7) days! We then drove into the hotel and the fact began to soak in that we going to actually be staying on site with all the Disney perks. I was so happy for all of us and the days ahead. We were given Mardi Gras beads when we disembarked and it was now time to check in. As we went in the lobby, I was checking it all out while Ariel and Buzz bolted to the television showing the classic Disney cartoons (Note: They were so mesmerized by this little area. As parents, it continued to be such a happy site throughout the days seeing them and the other kids just sitting there in the little chairs quietly watching cartoons for a few minutes each time we went to the lobby - so peaceful). We then got our room assignment which was exactly what we had requested - Magnolia Terrace, first floor (thanks whoever wrote that trip report!). It was now time to go to the room.
Ugh. One of just a couple downers of our trip. Right when I opened the door, I noticed that "smell". Being accustomed to beachfront hotels in our nearby Galveston, I recognized it right away - mildew. Yecch!! I didn't say anything though, but Pat then immediately noticed as well (unfortunately, I was kind of ready for the possibility of this from again, more trip reports!). While I then got the food iced down, Pat went to check about getting another room. Alas, no other rooms in Magnolia Terrace, but they would "spray the room" and put an ionizer in for three hours the next morning while we were out. What to do ...
We then went and ate at the food court (Colonel's Cotton Mill). I had the ribs and chicken and Pat got a baked potato. The kids split one kids meal and ate some of my chicken as well. The less fried, the better. The food was pretty good and the area was not crowded at all, especially for a Saturday night. We also bought two refillable mugs, which was a no brainer considering how we each drink coffee and Diet Coke (make that LOTS for me). Two different types were offered - one was a really big one and the other a tapered bottom one. We opted for the latter since it would fit into the drink holders in our vehicles when we returned; the others while bigger, would not be very practical when we got back home. We also discussed what to do about the room situation, and decided that we would really like to move as having a stinky room on our Disney dream trip was not an option!
I went up to the desk and the particular associate I talked to was very accommodating (Note: it really is a crap shoot when you come out of your cue and go to the next available clerk, some are soooo helpful, while others just do the basics). She told me that there were a couple of rooms available in Magnolia Terrace and that someone would drive us to them. We were then driven to and checked out two rooms that smelled nicer, but were not nearly as scenic (pretty gardens we now had versus a parking lot). However, we decided on one of them and then decided to go back to our room one more time. Guess what? The spray helped, at least enough to make us happy. We then drove back to the lobby and told her what we'd decided, which I'm sure by then she thought we were nuts. We were now set, but the downside to all this was that it ate into our evening quite a bit and by now we were getting tired, so we had to pass on swimming. Dang. We did not want to be exhausted for our first day at the parks tomorrow, so we reluctantly called it an evening.
Disclaimer: For the summaries of the days ahead, you may come away with the feeling that we just didn't do a whole lot of rides. If that is your thought, then you are correct! We pretty much went on the rides we really wanted to, but after three visits in four years, we've really covered a lot of ground. This trip - with two very tired parents - was all about doing what we wanted to at everyone's pace, whether it be rides, eating, shopping or just hanging out. No "commando mentality" here for sure, but we did exactly what we planned on doing, which resulted in a good time for all.
Sunday, September 22nd
Magic Kingdom
Our first full day! The phone rang with the 6:00 am wake up call and I picked it up and handed it to Ariel. She smiled, but she was so tired, I don't think she really got the full effect of hearing Mickey's voice. Everyone then went back down for a few more winks, but I pulled from within and stayed up. I then walked down to get our coffees and was so glad I stayed up. It also was really starting to sink in that we were really back at "the World". The walk to the food court was so peaceful. The air was fresh and cool, the birds were singing and a few folks were walking and even jogging (I wish I had that much energy and motivation to match) . I then crossed the bridge and walked in to the lobby. The lobby at this hour is very "Twilight Zonish", but in a good way. It was pretty deserted, but the rustic music loop played on. Only a couple cast members were at the windows and didn’t even have any guests to accommodate. The cartoons were playing as well, but all the little chairs were empty now (Bill's note: Again, the little area by the TV was to me, one of the most peaceful remembrances from the trip. It was so cute to see all those little - and bigger ones - sitting in the chairs glued to the TV. With the harmonic music in the background, it always brought a smile to my face. Guess I'm getting older, but I do appreciate these little - and finer - things in life). I then got the coffee's and headed back to find everyone slowing stirring.
We had an 8:05 priority seating for the character breakfast at Tony's Town Square in Magic Kingdom. Would we make it? As Buzz's hero Bob the Builder says, "Yes, We can!". With an adrenaline rush, we were out the door at 7:30 and off to the West bus depot. A bus came by within about five minutes and we were off! We then arrived at Magic Kingdom and right at the front no less (I will never stay off site again!). We went through security and it was still only 7:45. We then had to wait a few minutes before we could go through the turnstiles (and after our name was checked off the priority seating list, I might add). At 7:55 we were in the park. This allowed us ten minutes of some awesome photo ops. I whipped out the 35 mm while Pat used the digital to take some shots with basically no one around. I didn't get as many keepers as I'd hoped, but a few were hit right out of the park. With Pat strongly urging me to "come on!", I snapped a couple more and we went on in to Tony's.
The waiting area for Tony's was excellent. Tigger showed up while we were waiting and Buzz followed him right on in the restaurant. I got him back and then Eeyore walked through (is this great or what?). We were then seated, ate and enjoyed all the characters - Eeyore, Piglet, Pooh and Tigger - coming by. Of course the kids ate very little - so frustrating with the prices you pay - but I think I picked up their slack!. They did love the cinnamon rolls though. We thoroughly enjoyed Tony's beautiful atmosphere, but it was now time to go. It kind of worked out well that the Crystal Palace was closed as it steered us toward yet another great place. It was now on to the show!
Main Street USA. God, I love it! I could stay here all day and just hang out. On our way to Fantasyland, the motor car was empty, so we hopped on (amazingly, this was the first time we had ridden in one). Then it was off to Fantasyland where our "fantasies" of an off peak trip were coming to fruition. Rides? We hit just about all of them - Cinderella's Carousel, Dumbo, Mad Tea Cups, , Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan, and Snow White - with little or no waits. Awesome. Truly awesome. This is why we came in Value season in September! We then saw the Merlin at the Sword in the Stone as we hoped to get one of the kids picked as the official sword puller. Alas, neither was - maybe next time. We then shopped some - boy did we do a lot of that this trip - and then headed for Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. This ride turned out be Buzz's #1 and Ariel's #2 favorite rides of this trip. Using the tips I'd read in the Disney magazine, I tried to nail the left arm of the orange robot as soon as we entered for 100,000 points, but I couldn't do it. And as it turns out Ariel beat me on this ride as well - was she ever excited! (Note: with my hints, I still lost to my seven year daughter not once, but twice! As I really was trying to get a high score, I asked what her secret was. The answer? "I just closed my eyes and pulled the trigger!")
We then went for a late lunch at Cosmic Rays. Pat was pooped and Buzz was hitting full meltdown stage, which included bolting who knows where every couple of minutes and being generally uncontrollable (remember: naps are good!). So we ate a burgers lunch and decided to head back to the hotel for a mid afternoon respite. Whoops, forgot the haircut for Buzz! (Note: The Harmony Barber Shop was being moved on our previous visit which caused us to miss out on Buzz's first haircut being at Walt Disney World. That would have been great, with a certificate and all. Oh well.) After a short wait, Buzz proceeded to have his hair cut by the man featured in the recent Disney magazine article. Buzz was so cute - and well behaved, I might add - and the pictures and video were super as well. Now it was time to head back to PO-R for a few hours of needed rest. (This mid day break strategy - as recommended by many - was a must for us with great results. By doing this, we returned to the parks each evening with some renewed energy).
We all proceeded to crash, but I woke up after one hour and had to get up (it was Sunday, so I had to get a quick check on all the games). I don't miss NFL games on Sunday for much ever, but WDW is definitely one of those very rare exceptions! With everyone sleeping, I couldn't turn on the TV in the room, so it was off to the lobby. On the way, I encountered what was to be our frequent unwelcome companion this trip - RAIN! I loaded up on some Diet Coke and hung out by the bar TV to check out the halftime report (and let me say again, I just love this lobby). It was then back to the room where I made just enough noise to get everyone stirring! :)
At 5:00 we left the hotel and headed back to Magic Kingdom (this is one downside of Value Season - short nights, with the park closing at 8:00 tonight (which is better than 6:00, which was the previous schedule). Upon entering, we headed straight to Adventureland. The rain didn't affect us tonight though as while the grounds were soaked, there was at least none falling from the sky! We then rode Aladdin (first time for us), Pirates of the Caribbean and Splash Mountain (which by the way was Ariel's #1 ride this trip). (Bill's comment: This was amazingly my first time on Splash Mountain, also due to short lines. I loved the ride as well as it is arguably one of the best themed at the park (and as we all know, based on "Song of the South", which as a 42 year old I've never seen). (Note: I know it has some perceived and not arguably "old school" racial tones, but is it really THAT bad? Is it bad enough that it couldn't be released on video so that everyone could enjoy these wonderful characters? Is there no middle ground at all here in this politically correct world of ours? Hey Brian, looks like a topic for someone to pontificate on!). I had to wait with Buzz in the switch area since he wasn't quite tall enough, so we couldn't ride anything while waiting (he did get a front of the line certificate for next time though). I wanted to hit Big Thunder Railroad afterwards, but since they let Ariel and I ride twice in a row when I got on, the 8:00 hour had been reached. I will definitely hit this one for sure on our other Magic Kingdom day!
On the way out, we saw the SpectroMagic parade as it curled through Frontierland and thoroughly enjoyed it with absolutely no one in front of us. Super. We then meandered down Main Street and it was back to the hotel to ready for tomorrow's journey to Animal Kingdom, starting off with Donald's Breakfastsouras. Another great Disney day on the horizon!
Monday, September 23rd:
Animal Kingdom
Well, we didn't make it out the gate as quick as we did yesterday. I got up later as well and dashed to the food court to get our coffee fill ups (saw the Character Caravan while walking through - I'll have some surprisingly positive comments on this later in my report). When I returned, everyone was still passed out. We finally got going, made it to the bus pickup and then had to wait a while - probably the longest wait of our trip. When we then got on, half the bus was going to Blizzard Beach and there were a lot of folks - including me - standing for the ride. It was nice to see Blizzard Beach though, hopefully we can check it out sometime.
We finally made it to the gate, but not till 10:50. With a priority seating reservation at Donald's Breakfastsouras at 10:45, we were already five minutes late. I then took Ariel and made just an awful mad dash to Asia - no shortcuts that we saw - and arrived at 11:00. Luckily, they were still going to seat us and we just had to wait until Pat and Buzz arrived which was at 11:05 . Glad to be here, but that was too much rushing for me! Whew!
Donald's Breakfastsouras turned out to be simply great and had arguably the best breakfast buffet we enjoyed at Walt Disney World. Lot's of food and a few different items as well. The characters were great – featuring Donald, Goofy and Mickey - as they all stopped by as they were getting us accommodated before they closed shop for lunch. We got some really great photos here; unfortunately, those taken with the new digital camera all had red eye. Dang.
After leaving breakfast, we rode Chester and Hester's DinoRama, Dino Dig and Primeval Whirl. On the subject of the latter two, several trip reports have opined that they felt these attractions were hoaky and cheap looking. I can see where they might think that, but overall I thought the attractions were fine (although I hope they don't add any more of this variety to Animal Kingdom). Then came the rain, which we dodged all day today. We then made our way to "It's Tough to be a Bug" and then the Pocohantas show (this was really neat, although you don't hear much about it. I was very well done). With even more rain fast approaching, it was on to the safari, which was good as usual. We then got even more rain and by then, had had enough. It was now back to the hotel now for hopefully, some swimming.
And the rain, rain, rain came down, down, down (just like the Winnie the Pooh song!), so no swimming just yet. We all took naps with plans of venturing down the river to Port Orleans French Quarter and it's King Neptune slide. When we woke up, the rain was as bad as ever. We could not believe it! We went down the river anyway, praying for a respite. When we arrived, the pool was closed for the evening and Ariel broke into big crocodile tears, which she hardly ever does! She was simply devastated about not getting to go swimming at the pool with the slide we had been talking about for months. We then ate at the Sassagoula Float Works food court and checked out the lobby as the skies were really opening up. Dejectedly, we decided to call it a night and wished for better luck tomorrow when we headed to EPCOT.
Tuesday, September 24th:
EPCOT
The day dawned warm and overcast with thankfully, no rain. After a quick breakfast in the room, we headed out for EPCOT and entered around 10:00. This was also the day Ariel "discovered" pin trading - which she was into the rest of the trip - as we bought her fist lanyard and pin before even entering the park. After some pictures, getting a stroller and a locker, we were finally making a move (I wonder how much total time is spent doing these tasks each day, I suspect it really adds up and is the answer to the oft wondered question of "where did the day go to?"!).
We purposely avoided the natural inclination to "go right" and instead opted to go left around World Showcase (we'd hit up Future World later in the day). This was decided upon due to the fact that we always stopped around Germany each trip and never made it all the way to Mexico; this trip, that would change. First though, I wanted to take everyone through Ice Station Cool for some Coke sampling, especially that delicious "Beverly" :) After reading about it in numerous trip reports, I had a real game plan for this (and the kids). I asked the cast member where the "yummy" drink was and she smiled, shook her head and said "right there". With the camcorder rolling, I caught Ariel realizing just how bad Beverly's taste was and then her getting mad ("play mad", I call it) at me. I then let Buzz sample and he made a contortionist face that I'd never seen as he proceeded to spit it out! The video on this is simply hilarious! We also sampled a lot more Coke and Ariel really liked the others - excluding "Beverly", of course - and we would have to return again
By this time it was almost lunch, so we opted for the San Angel Inn located in Mexico, where we had not eaten since our honeymoon in 1989. Coming from Texas, we are used to good Tex Mex cuisine, but thought having it at WDW again would be fun. I had the fajita nachos and Pat had soup and it was all pretty decent. The kids got hamburgers (again) and picked (as usual). It's really dark in there as well, but that's just something you have to work around. After eating we milled around the shopping area - for a long, long time - and then rode on the El Rio del Tempo. Unfortunately, Buzz was starting to melt down a bit already, so we did a u-turn and headed back towards Future World.
A "must" on this trip was Test Track and using our FastPass, Ariel and I boarded in five minutes! I was a bit worried about it being a bit too much for her, but she loved it! It really is a good ride, especially the straight-a-way portion. We then met back up with Pat and Buzz and decided - reluctantly - to head back for the midday break. A few dark clouds were also starting to appear and when we left a cast member was telling folks that a "severe storm line was headed our way". Just great. By the time we exited the park, the skies let loose big time and we all ran to the PO-R bus area (at EPCOT, this can definitely be a bit of a haul especially at evening's end or when, of course, it's raining). This was a real Florida downpour, I must say, well on par with those we have frequently in Texas.
We now wondered how long would THIS rain would last? Would it be just for awhile or another all night affair? And we just HAD to go swimming today - and still waiting for the first time - at a WDW resort hotel. When we woke, the rain had let up, but not totally. And the pools were still closed, but we were told they'd be open at 5:00, so we all crossed our fingers. Everything luckily held true to form and we hit the main pool at our hotel (Port Orleans - Riverside) this time. FINALLY - SUCCESS! The pool was nice and warm and the kids just loved the slide, which had several twists in it. I also discovered the great hot tub, for the first of several visits! It was very hot and very clean - all the things a hot tub should be. We had to leave at 6:00 though as we wanted to get back to EPCOT to see a few things before IllumiNations began. And it couldn't rain again - could it? Unfortunately, it did.
We first checked out Planet Earth and walked in with no waiting. This is such a great ride and the kids were mesmerized. Where to go now? When we exited, the rain began again. And yet again, it was hard; no sprinkle here. We then made a determined walk to America where we ate at the Liberty Inn and reluctantly had the usual burgers and tenders for $25. We then went out to seize a spot for IllumiNations which was getting pretty packed. We watched the show in the rain (as for the show, I personally did not like this version as much as the one prior (Pat disagreed). I think I just liked the music - from each country - better than what was played here). We then meandered back to the front and hit up Mickey's Gear on the way (bought more stuff!). Park Day #2 was now complete - definitely frustrating at times - but all in all, not a bad day.
Wednesday, September 25th:
EPCOT / MGM
After a slow get away the past two mornings, we were determined to make a quick departure today - at least that's what we planned. I mentioned that on Monday I saw the "Character Caravan" in the lobby. The kids were all ready and Pat wasn't quite yet, so I took them on to the lobby. Today's characters were Pinnochio, Geppetto, The "cat"? (bad guy), Mickey and Minnie Mouse. I got some great photos of the kids, asked a couple of other guests to take one with me and the kids as well and then anxiously waited for Pat to arrive as she had the digital camera. We then got even more great pictures! (Bill's comment: The "Character Caravan" took a lot of heat when it replaced Early Entry and I guess, rightfully so. However, I must say, this feature did personally provide us with possibly the best pictures of the trip - so good, in fact, that we used one for our Christmas card - as the kids were relaxed and the lobby wasn't just totally overloaded. "Character Caravan" may be a thing of the past now, but for us, it was neat while it lasted, at least for this trip).
The time in the lobby delayed us for about 45 minutes, but we finally got on our way, arriving at EPCOT at 10. We then concentrated on Future World, first spending a lot of time at Innovations (about an hour). This really set us back as far as hitting a lot of things, but as I said earlier, the purpose of this trip was to go at the kids pace. After leaving, we headed for "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids". We did a few more things as well, but I now forget exactly what! Like I said, I am relying on my memory for this trip report ....
For lunch, we decided to branch out a bit and check out another on site Disney hotel, which we like to do as well (it's fun to window shop!). This day, we took the monorail to the Grand Floridian to have lunch at Gasparilla Grill. What a culture shock! While drop dead gorgeous, a different kind of cat does seem to inhabit this hotel. The staff - sans one gift shop person in particular - are as nice as can be, but some of the clientele definitely seem to be a wee bit snooty. Just my take. We had an assortment of the usual fast food - plus some fruit and salad - at Gasparilla and it was pretty good. It was quite amazing to see too just how small the food court was as compared to that at our hotel (Port Orleans - Riverside). Disney definitely does their homework in tailoring each resort to their type clientele.
On the way back, we finally did it - after three trips, we FINALLY got to sit in the front of the monorail! (Note: when trying to do this, I discovered that the route from the TTC to the hotel - and back - is your best shot due to the lessened crowds. At least that's what I found). There was a little dispute with another lady who actually seemed to have dibs on it, but for some reason, she yelled something at the rest of her party and then went into another car and disappeared. Have no idea why, but who cares! It was neat to sit in the front cab, although I think I liked the challenge of getting in there as much as anything. I also proceeded to tip over my Diet Coke - which wasn't supposed to be in there to begin with, so I did some fancy foot work as well in trying to cover up. Ariel was excited too as she got a certificate saying she was the captain or something and I got some great footage on the camcorder as well. Now it was back to EPCOT.
Upon arrival at EPCOT, it became obvious that Buzz had "hit the wall". He was done. I thought he could have kept on going, but as we all know, mom knows best! Ariel and I were still raring to go though, so Pat and Buzz went on back to the hotel after we all ventured on to MGM via the water canal - something new for us. As a side note, we had intended to hook up later in the day - however, Buzz not only went down for a nap, he conked out from 5:30 pm to 7:30 am THE NEXT DAY! Was he tired or what!
The ride from EPCOT to MGM was real nice as we saw lots of things - hotels - from different angles. While I had a pretty good idea as to where all these hotels were, I didn't realize how intertwined they all were. While the ride was nice, it was a time muncher as later in the day, we took the bus to return to EPCOT. At MGM, the sun was shining and the streets were packed as we entered right during the "Stars and Cars" motor cars parade. That was our cue to boogie though, as we then made a mad dash to hit up Rock-n- Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror. This was a great move as there were little lines for either. On R&R, I was worried that 1) Ariel would be too short and 2) too scared to finally board. Neither was an issue though as she made the height requirement by about and half an inch and was not scared one iota. In fact, she wanted to ride it again, so we did! Same thing for Tower of Terror.
Things were going real great and then - guess what- the rain was back. This was a hard rain and it really poured for a while, so we had to decide what to do now. Ariel decided she wanted to get an Icee, so I agreed. When getting it, I noticed some fudge that had my name on it, so I got it along with a Diet Coke. We then proceeded to sit on the bench by the "100 Years of Magic" hat and eat our stash. This could definitely have been a Master Card moment - you and your daughter sitting on a bench at WDW eating junk and just hanging out while watching the world go by. You just can't beat it!
After a couple photos of us by the hat, we went to see the Walt Disney exhibit. I absolutely loved this, but 7 year old Ariel was quickly bored. She did like the film though. We the went on the Great Movie Ride which we both enjoyed. Yes, it's a bit dated, but still enjoyable. The park was now closing and since we did not want to fight the Fantasmic! Crowd - plus the fact we saw the show the last two visits - we returned to EPCOT where we hoped to see Illuminations sans the rain. You guessed it though - the rain returned and again we watched the show in a downpour. On the way back, Ariel's feet gave out, so I carried all 60 pound of her, sore back and all, around the lagoon circle. It was now definitely time to go back to the hotel!
When we arrived back at Port Orleans - Riverside, Ariel told me she was starving which made sense since we never really ate dinner! We then went to the food court where I pigged out on an Italian Sausage sub while she ate a cheeseburger combo. It was almost midnight now, but who cares - we're on vacation! And no tummy aches either which is pretty good considering what I ate. It was now time to look towards tomorrow which would be a non park day, starting with swimming and then the switch from Port Orleans Riverside to Animal Kingdom Lodge, with something to do in between.
Thursday, September 26th:
Swimming at Port Orleans French Quarter
Hotel switch to Animal Kingdom Lodge
Swimming at Animal Kingdom Lodge
This day dawned partly cloudy as we made our way down the river to Port Orleans French Quarter and the infamous King Neptune slide, preceded with a quick breakfast first of breakfast bars and juice in the room. We swam for about an hour and a half and found this pool to be quite enjoyable although the King Neptune slide was actually not as long as the one at Port Orleans - Riverside. We all loved it though and I personally liked all the additional Mardi Gras touches it had, such as the giant jester at the pool's entrance.
After swimming, we went back to the room and quickly packed up for the move to Animal Kingdom Lodge. In the interim, we went to Downtown Disney to shop and to seek out a good meal that wasn't a hamburger or a chicken nugget! We did just that as we ate at Captain Jacks where we had some really good seafood at a fairly reasonable price. I personally had a shrimp Caesar salad that was to die for. After eating, we hit the World of Disney store for pins, shirts and a few other things that we "had to have". After a while though, I started to get real fidgety as the meter was now running on our Animal Kingdom Lodge time. We then caught the bus and were at the hotel at 3:30.
First Impression of Animal Kingdom Lodge? WOW! The place is just as good as advertised and we could hardly believe we were actually staying there! The rate we got was pretty good as well - $169 for a Savannah view room - which in my opinion is the only place to go if you are staying here. We then checked into our room where the bellman practically gave us a tour himself. He had been with Disney for several years and was moved to Animal Kingdom Lodge due to his great experience. We then hung out and looked off the balcony for a while before making a move to explore the rest of this magnificent hotel.
On the way down, we stopped in Simba's Cub House to see what it was like. It was very nice and only $10 an hour (since our trip though, the price has gone up slightly, I believe). Big surprise here - with all the wonderment of the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Ariel decided she wanted to stay here for a few hours watching TV and playing with the other kids. This blew our minds! Anyway, she had a meal too (and did not want to leave when we returned several hours later!). Oh well, that gave us some one on one time with Buzz who often times gets overshadowed by his omnipresent big sister. We again bought us a couple of the refillable mugs and went for the big ones this time. We wouldn't be using them much since we'd only be here two days- but what the hey, we're on vacation, we drink lots of coffee and soda and they look cool too. That plus the fact they provide such nice Disney memories when you drink from them back home!
After looking around some, it was time to eat!! We opted for the buffet at Boma and would keep our fingers crossed that Buzz would not get out of hand (we got lucky here - he didn't). The food at Boma was really great as there was a lot of food that we'd never eaten that was really good to boot. My wife would tell you though that the "Zebra Dome" dessert was the highlight and it would be hard to disagree. All in all, a great meal and experience. We then picked up Ariel and explored some more - story telling at the fire pit and a hand's on session in the lobby. Everyone was pretty well done by this point, but I did dash down to the pool area for a quick dip in the hot tub. It too was big, clean and just the right temperature. Ahh! Another perfect ending to a perfect Disney day. Now it was time to hit the rack with expectations of our last park day at Magic Kingdom tomorrow.
Friday, September 27th
Magic Kingdom
Swimming at Animal Kingdom Lodge
We got off to a bit of a slow start, no surprise what with the incredible views from our balcony. I then somehow managed to misplace my glasses - long story and at least I can see ok without them - but we managed to eat breakfast in the food court and get to the park at 10:15. Oh well. Upon arriving, we went left - instead of instinctual right - to visit Frontierland and Adventureland. On the way we milled about the Liberty Square area and took some neat pictures (and hit up the shops, as was the norm for this trip!). In Frontierland, we saw the old standby Country Bears Jamboree. The same show as always, but everyone enjoyed it nonetheless. We then meandered towards Adventureland, where on the way we experienced one of those magical Disney moments. While walking, the banjo band was walking towards us while playing and Buzz took right to them. They said "lets play Toy Story for the little fellow" (his favorite movie too!) and then he and Pat danced together in the street. It was a great moment which I captured both on tape and film. Memories like these stay with you forever!
On to the rides. After just missing on Sunday, I first wanted to go to Thunder Mountain, but since there was a long line, so we went ahead and got FastPasses instead. Ariel was still excited over her Splash Mountain, so it became our first ride of the day as we wound up riding it twice. I do see her point on this ride - it so cutely decorated, has lots of different twists and to me, seems like one of the longest lasting rides at Walt Disney World. Never doubt the wisdom of those kids! After disembarking, we then rode Thunder Mountain RR which was pretty good. Now it was on to the Haunted Mansion.
The Haunted Mansion has always been one of my favorite rides, one which I first rode back on our family trip to WDW way, way back in 1972. We saw it late at night then and I have vivid memories of the hour long wait we endured that hot and humid July evening. It seemed scary to me then a bit, but of course now it's just quirky. Ariel first went on in 1999 as she convinced us she was not scared; in fact, we rode it twice. However for a few months afterwards, she kept telling us she was scared, so we figured out her "I'm not scared" declarations were really intended to convince herself. Accordingly, we did not ride on it on our 2001 trip (Comment: There for sure is no truer advice than not making your kids go on rides that scare them). For this trip though, we all were pretty sure she was ok again and we were right. The wait - as with all the other rides - was very short at ten minutes. We also took Buzz and at two years old, this didn't faze him at all! Not one bit.
Now it was time for lunch! I had read on some of the trip reports about how Columbia Harbour House had some different sandwiches from the standard fare of burgers and chicken strips, so we sought it out. I had a tuna salad sandwich on fresh baked bread that was really great. The kids had baloney sandwiches (I think) and Pat a salad and we left feeling a little lighter on our feet than normal. As this was our final park day, we decided not to take a mid day break - now it was time to make the best of final hours for this trip to WDW.
We ventured to Adventureland and as luck would have it, encountered more rain. However, we were in luck this day as the shower was brief. While waiting, we got the Dole Cool Whips that folks have been raving about. I must say they are quite good and fairly affordable. We then milled about in the Adventureland shops and for a change, talked ourselves out of buying various things. The rain now stopped, we went to an oldie but goodie, the Adventure Cruise. This was Buzz's first time on this ride and he really enjoyed it. As for the rest of us, it was more nostalgic than anything as after Animal Kingdom's rides and the Animal Kingdom Lodge that have the "real deal", it's hard to get too excited about this ride. Next was Pirates of the Caribbean which as has been the case lately, was a walk on. We always enjoy this ride and I especially enjoy the dark and coolness of it, especially after the Florida heat. Upon exciting, we went to the "market" gift shop outside Pirates for a while. We wanted to leave right away, but I then spotted Peter Pan, Buzz's favorite, so we couldn't leave still. Peter stayed around only for a few minutes though and since they said he'd be back in 20 minutes, we hung around. We then got Buzz's picture with him and shortly thereafter with Captain Hook and Mr. Schmede(?) as well. Great, great pictures, but all this really ate up the time.
We then went through Frontierland and actually found two rockers on one of the porches empty. Couldn't resist this, so we just sat for spell and watched the world go by. The next Hall of President's showing began at 5:00, so we decided to go there next. We especially wanted Ariel to see this so it would have some relevance when they discussed history at school. We were just about in when Buzz had to go do "that". Yes, that. Of all times, but what do you do. (Note to potty training parents: try to "close the deal" on your kids potty training before you to WDW or postpone the process until you return home. Buzz was just about trained on #1 before we left, but all the varieties of toilets, including the "v-roooom" ones at Port Orleans really threw him off. We're sure he was still confused about toilets for a good month or so after we got back!). Pat then took him to the restroom and Ariel and I waited and watched the minutes go by. Finally the doors were about to close, so we had to go on in without them. When we came out, all was well, but we could see Buzz was beginning to run out of gas. It now was obvious we would be leaving before my planned time of 7:00.
On the way back, we went by Cinderella's Castle for one last look. We then waited at the entrance for the flag drop with the honorary veteran and the marching band. This was a very touching ceremony and we are hopeful we can get Pat's dad selected when we return next year. Now at the end, we picked up our Main Street pictures (that we always splurge for) at the camera store and Ariel "strong armed" me :) into one more pin. It was now time to go. I wanted a couple more pictures, but by then Pat was truly ready to go, my protestations notwithstanding. Back now to the Animal Kingdom Lodge for a quick bite at the Mara and some swimming in their awesome pool.
This pool was something as well as it really befitted everything else about the hotel. A walk up area for the little ones, a slide and a poolside bar (maybe next time). The kids had a blast and did not want to leave, but it was about that time. I got one more dip in the hot tub and our final full day at WDW was just about done. We did find a cleverly made up room upon our return as the housekeeping staff here did some "extras" for their "Mousekeeping" tips. The kids really enjoyed that as well as the bunk beds which they are still talking about.
Saturday, September 28th
Well, today is the return flight home :( that begins with breakfast at the Mara. We had planned on a quick swim, but time just did not safely permit. And a melancholy day it is as we reminisce about the fun we have had while - for us adults, that is - realizing that Monday brings the return to the real world and the daily hectic pace it brings. While we are blessed for what we have, it is just so sad to leave the Magic Kingdom and the common happiness we all shared for a magical week. However, I will now refer to what I said at the beginning of my report in that the next trips are often planned before you even leave your current one. Groundwork was then set for our next trip, tentatively planned for Thanksgiving of this year which will also include the big step of bringing my in laws with us! It definitely be a different change of pace for us, but will make us "zero base" a bit for them and see some things at Walt Disney World that we have missed the last couple times around. And we'll catch "Mickey's Magical Christmas Party" on it's very first day too, another first for us that should hopefully be awesome as well.
Overview / Trip Summary:
Here is quick list of some of my tips and final thoughts from this trip:
I had read several accounts of where folks had commented on how they felt the upkeep of the parks had slipped and cited several examples. I then expected to see this myself, but pleasantly found this not to be the case. Everything appeared to me to be in impeccable shape with "chipped paint" rarely seen. About the only place I did witness this was on the Dumbo ride and it was very minimal at that (barely even mentionable).
Staying on site is really the only way to go and it will be hard for me to ever stay off site in the future. The amenities, the wall to wall Disney atmosphere and for the most part the staff, make it a truly magic experience.
The hotels are resorts, not just hotels. Allow a day or two to enjoy all the amenities they offer and get refreshed for your next park visit.
Port Orleans- Riverside was to us the perfect fit. Not too expensive, not too pared down and the landscaping was truly Southern antebellum (see comment above). For our family and needs, it just right.
Animal Kingdom Lodge was awesome and I was glad we stayed there a couple nights. However, with the cost involved, it seems hard to justify staying there again if we are away at the parks all day.
For the toddlers and first graders, plate sharing works. Find something everyone likes and by eliminating a meal from the tab, it makes it much more economical.
Getting to ride in the front of the monorail was finally achieved and was great! Now we can just relax and get on from now on without stressing about this (only I did this as I must admit, as it became a competitive thing after missing out so many times!).
The 35mm vs digital camera debate was easily resolved once the photos were developed. While the digital camera does offer immediacy, it's wide variance of quality and delayed processing time do detract from it's usefulness. 35mm simply "kicked butt" as the difference between the two mediums was dramatic, although I'm sure some of this is probably user error what with the digital being camera still being new to us. Combined though, we filled a whole photo album and wound up with lots of great ones. You can never take too many photos at WDW even though at the time it may seem as though you may have. So looks like we'll be carting both cameras along next trip as well and this time I'll have my new Christmas present as well - a zoom lens for the 35mm - with me to hopefully take some even better pics.
A final thought about photography: don't forget about getting the cast members in some of the shots. In costume, these folks - such as the bellcap at "Tower of Terror" are great and they often try and look their part in the photo.
As for video taping, I am just amazed at how much better each trips videos turn out (another benefit of repeat visits). Whereas is trip 1 you tape shows in their entirety (and find out that the "Legend of the Lion King" is great in person, but seems three hours long when you get back home!), subsequent trips reflect the taping of little things that are "out of the park" when you get back home. This includes taping the family when the camera is not in their face and just watching them behave naturally. This trip, I happened to do a couple Q & A's with the kids while waiting in the lines and the answers were priceless and hilarious. As a follow up, I also like to do a quick trip wrap up Q & A as well asking the kids what they like best with the park in the background. I will definitely do even more of these type things on the next trip!
Next trip, we will first up hit up some attractions that we missed this time: the River Cruise, Mickey's Toon Town, Space Mountain (amazing, but with R& R Roller Coaster being a must, we just didn't make it a big priority this trip), Tom Sawyer’s Island and a few of the lands in EPCOT that we always seem to miss. MGM as well as this park always seems to be the one that we pare down as our trips progress.
Finally - have fun!
Bill Martin