Victoria Kahler - January 2004 - All Star Music

Time of Year: Winter
Travel Method: Plane
Resort: ASMuR
Accommodations: Standard
Ages Represented in Group: Adult
WDW Experience Represented in Group: Rookie, Infrequent
Comments: For Victoria and her sister, this trip had a mission: to convert their 20-year-old neice into a fellow Disney Fanatic. If it is giong to succeed, an eight day trip should be plenty of time.

Victoria Kahler -- January 2004 -- Walt Disney World (ASMuR)

Victoria has provided five previous trip reports to MousePlanet. Click here to read them.

The Cast

Victoria: Report writer, trip planner, Disneyland veteran and current Annual Passholder, one prior trip to Walt Disney World (WDW), age 27
Mae: My sister, Disney Store Cast Member (CM), fellow Disneyland veteran and current Annual Passholder, one prior trip to WDW, age 38/39 (birthday girl)
Amy: Our niece, has been to Disneyland a few times, WDW rookie, is not the Disney enthusiast her aunts are (Can a week change that?), age 20/21 (also a birthday girl)
Introduction

Since the day we returned from our first WDW vacation, Mae and I talked about going back. Even with occasional trips to Disneyland, our wish to get back to Orlando never diminished. Finally, we settled on the date, invited our niece (to celebrate her 21st birthday), and began to make our plans. I started calling about on-property room rates about once a month until the CM discount became available. We arranged for eight nights at the All Star Music Resort for the bargain price of $55 a night (including tax). We bought 7-day park hoppers in advance at the Disney Store Mae works at. It included four plus features for admission to Pleasure Island, the water parks, and Wide World of Sports. Sorry to say, it would not get us into Disney Quest.

I researched several Disney fan sites, read trip reports and restaurant reviews, and made detailed spreadsheets and schedules. Even though we don’t strictly stick to the plan, I find that over-planning is part of the fun of a Disney trip. Also, on the trip we never once argued about what to do. I asked Mae and Amy what their priorities and preferences were and then made the schedule, so everything was agreed upon well in advance. Weeks before the trip, I knew that plan by heart. I could look at my watch and say something like, “At this time in five weeks, on the Tuesday we are in Disney World, we will be having dinner at the Whispering Canyon Café.” Yes, I drove all my friends and family members -- except Mae -- crazy.

Yes, several people we know think that Mae and I are a bit cuckoo for Disney. Therefore, OPERATION DISNEY FANATIC was born in my attempt to turn Amy over to our side. This is my all-in-good-fun mission to monitor and encourage Amy's love of all things Disney. She's similar to most people, liking Disney (especially Donald and Eeyore) but not luuuuving it, not as Mae and I do. Would my wish come true? Could it come true?

Day One: Friday, January 9, 2004

Traveling

At 3:00 a.m., I had already been awake for sometime, eager to start the day. Finally, I woke up Mae and Amy. In an hour, we were ready to pack the car and drive to the airport in San Jose, California. After a quick breakfast of Burger King and Starbucks, we checked in at the Continental counter. Fortunately, the time went by quickly and we were soon boarding the plane. This is when Amy started to get nervous. I believe she was two years old the last time she flew, and had no recollection of it, so this was pretty much her first flight. As the plane took off, she grabbed my arm tightly. I told her about the scene in “Say Anything,” explaining that as soon as the seat belt sign went off, everything would be okay. She seemed much more relaxed once that happened; however, none of us were able to get any sleep on the flight.

Around noon, we landed in Houston, Texas. During landing, Mae was very nervous and held my hand -- so tightly that her fingerprints were left on my skin. What would those two do without me to hang on to? We had to walk briskly through the terminal to get to our next flight. Both Amy and Mae now felt more comfortable with take off and landing, and I didn’t incur any bruising this time. Amy went to sleep (missing her chance for airplane-caliber peanuts!) while Mae and I played video games and watched “Beauty and the Beast” on our personal monitors. Not having bought the headphones, we had to lip sync the words. No problem! We were also entertained by a man and a woman sitting across the aisle. The two had just met and, though we couldn't hear what they were saying, were obviously flirting with each other. We started calling the woman "Fancy Lady," due to her sophisticated outfit and ultra-styled hair. She also spent quite a bit of time reapplying her makeup. The man, we dubbed "Scoops," since he repeatedly, er, touched his nose every time Fancy Lady looked away.

At 4:52 p.m., the plane landed in Orlando. We were ecstatic. I think Mae had tears in her eyes. The sun was already beginning to set, and it was drizzling outside, but we were just happy to have arrived. In Baggage Claim, I called Happy Limo. I had decided against getting either a rental car or taking a shuttle, so we opted for the Towncar so that we’d be able to stop at the grocery store and not have to wait around while others were dropped off at their resorts. To save money, we would be using Disney’s transportation to get around WDW. The shuttle to our resort would have cost about the same as Happy Limo (the discount for mentioning mousesavers.com was a nice plus).

Our driver was Fernando, a very quiet man. He drove us to the grocery store, Albertson's, where we picked up water bottles and dried fruit. From there, it was a quick trip to our Resort.

All Star Music Resort

Mae and I checked in while Amy sat with our numerous suitcases. We asked about the bus schedule. With one Priority Seating (PS) for Donald’s Breakfastosaurus and another for Cinderella’s Royal Table -- both before park opening -- we verified that we’d be able to get to our planned breakfasts. Then I asked for a print out to confirm all of our PS’s; this took a few minutes since we had six others besides.

The journey from the front desk to our room in the Jazz Inn was hilarious. We should have asked for some help, but instead steered our unwieldy suitcases ourselves. I must say that bottles of Zephyr Hills water are quite sturdy to withstand the number of times we dropped them! Also, it was still drizzling out but surprisingly warm that evening. Mae remarked that if the weather kept up like that all week, she'd be very pleased.

Starving, we merely parked the luggage in the room, decided to unpack after dinner, and headed back out the door to have dinner at the Intermission Food Court. Looking at the menu there, the three of us were shocked by the selection. "This is 'food court food'? " I asked. Mae had carved London broil, I had oven-roasted chicken, and Amy had salmon. All delicious. The side dishes consisted of mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, rice pilaf, and dinner rolls. We ate as though the food could not get into our mouths fast enough!

After dinner, we returned to the room to unpack, then called it a night. Amy and I didn't get much sleep. All day we had tried to sleep during our flights, so we felt kind of bored of trying to sleep. The fact that we were at last at WDW kept us awake too. We were ready to get to the parks, not sleep! Amy finally dozed off, but I remained wide-awake, so I went for a walk around the resort and sent a few postcards to pass the time.

OPERATION DISNEY FANATIC went okay so far. The most impressive thing had been our meal at a semi-cafeteria. Amy also liked the resort's gift shop, Maestro Mickey's, wishing that all the Disney Stores were like it (Isn't that what we all wish?). It was a start at least.

Day Two: Saturday, January 10, 2004 (Amy’s Birthday)

Animal Kingdom

Mae and Amy at long last got out of bed at 6:00 a.m. and we were on the bus to Animal Kingdom by 7. The morning was overcast and cold (in the 40's), conditions that would continue throughout the day. We arrived at the park just in time to meet the short line of people who were also there for Donald's Breakfastosaurus at the Restaurantosaurus. One of the security guards noticed the "Today is my birthday" button that Amy was wearing, and he gave her an Animal Kingdom birthday button. We then stood in line, shivering a bit, for about twenty minutes until our name was called. A CM escorted us into the empty park and led us to Dinoland USA. Since it was a buffet, we began eating right away. Among the selections were scrambled eggs, hash browns, breakfast pizza, biscuits and gravy, pastries, and Krispy Kreme's plain glazed donuts.

Amy is a huge Donald Duck fan, hence the reason for this PS. She kept asking me when Donald was going to come into the dining area. First, Mickey, Pluto, and Goofy arrived and made the rounds to the tables. Amy was not impressed. Mae told Mickey that Amy was most eager to see Donald; Mickey replied with a thumbs-down! Mae couldn't believe it, and Mickey giggled into his hand at her shocked laughter.

Finally, Donald came out, and when he reached our table, Amy proudly showed him her t-shirt and hat, both of which featured him. He spent a few minutes hugging her, then kissing her head, and knocking off her hat. Our hostess then came over to give Amy her birthday card and lead the room in a chorus of "Happy Birthday to You." Amy grinned from ear to ear; the Disney magic was already working.

The first ride on the schedule was Dinosaur. I am embarrassed to admit I recently discovered that I am terrified of dinosaurs. I've always been a little creeped out by Primeval World on the Disneyland Railroad, and now I am certain that too many viewings of "Jurassic Park" have traumatized me. Since I don't know much about paleontology, I can't tell herbivores from carnivores, so they all make me anxious. Therefore, I was the one holding tightly to my sister's and my niece's hands during the ride. They screamed and laughed; I just screamed. The people in the row ahead of us kept looking at us to see what was the matter.

Chester and Hester’s Primeval Whirl was much more fun and not scary, since those aren't *real* dinosaurs. The line was short, and we were on an off this wild-mouse-meets-the-teacups ride in no time.

In the It’s Tough to be a Bug theater, we ended up in one of the front rows. At first, we were disappointed to be so close to the screen, but found that the front actually makes for a better experience. The 3-D action seemed more immediate and the special-effect fog was more enveloping. Mae and I had seen this show several times before, so one of the main draws was watching first-timer Amy react. Disappointingly, Amy had been warned about the stingers and leaned forward -- just as Mae and I did. She was not, however, prepared for the exiting bugs. Hee!

By this time, Amy, an animal lover, began asking, "Is it time to go on the safari now?" We headed over to Africa for Kilamanjaro Safaris. It was delightful to see so many animals. I especially enjoyed seeing a variety of animals together at once. I liked that they were not caged or penned by species. We got great photographs of zebras and giraffes together, and also several shots of the mother and baby elephant.

As we walked the Pagani Exploration Trail, we found ourselves getting colder by the minute. Though it wasn't raining, Mae and I put on our ponchos just for the extra insulation. We spent some time looking at the gorillas, but spent an inordinate amount of time staring at the naked mole rats just because they were housed in a heated room. We also stared at the aquarium for a while. Amy kept repeating a line from the movie "Heartbreakers": "Look at all the fish!" Though we were cold, I felt extremely happy; all day I sang the Johnny Appleseed song under my breath.

To warm up, we ordered hot chocolates from a nearby bar, which had delicious extras like crème de cacao and Kahlua, and then took our drinks (with a CM's okay) on the Wildlife Express to Conservation Station. When we arrived at Rafiki's Planet Watch, a CM walked up to Amy and began singing the birthday song as soon as he saw her button. He also told her to choose a pin from his lanyard; she chose a tiny Dopey and thanked him. Later, she was able to make an "illegal" trade for a Scooby Doo pin. The CM didn't notice until after the trade that he'd had a non-Disney pin. That was Amy's only trade of the day (I think it turned out to be her only trade for the rest of the vacation). She's not a pin collector the way Mae and I are. Mae was impressed by all the lanyard-wearing CMs; there were, by far, many more than we'd ever seen at Disneyland.

Animal Kingdom had turned out to be the perfect park for Amy's birthday. She loved seeing the animals and butterflies in Planet Watch. Amy also tried to pet the snake a CM brought out, but didn't want to push and shove through the kids who were also eager to get close to the reptile. On the train ride back to Africa, yet another CM noticed it was Amy's birthday and led the entire train in a chorus of "Happy Birthday to You." He then went on to invite everyone aboard the train to the Rainforest Cafe that night, saying that Amy would be paying for dinner for anyone who showed up. A few people laughingly said, "We'll be there for dinner tonight," as we disembarked. I replied, "We won't."

Next on our agenda were a few shows. With time to spare before the first, we shopped in the Island Mercantile. For the fourth time that day, a CM saw Amy's button and wished her a happy birthday, then asked if she had received any special phone calls. When she replied no, the CM handed her the phone for Goofy to sing to her. Amy's smile was priceless.

We shared a personal pizza from Pizzafari and went over to the Festival of the Lion King, where the wait to get in was minimal. When we entered the auditorium, a CM personally escorted us to our seats, taking Amy by the arm. When we reached our seats, he asked if it was her 21st birthday. Amy said, "Yes, how did you know that?!" He just said for her to come with him. Mae and I sat in the audience and watched as that CM introduced Amy to each of the theater's four sections, announcing that it was her birthday today. When everyone had been told, he led the crowd in the biggest birthday chorus Amy has ever gotten. She looked extremely embarrassed, not used to being the center of so much attention, but happy as she returned to sit with Mae and I. As the first strains of The Circle of Life came on, the fact that our long-awaited vacation was truly here hit home for Mae and I; I admit we choked up then and a couple of other times during the show.

Amy confessed that she got a bit teary-eyed at the sight of the once-endangered bald eagle in the Flights of Wonder show. I became too cold during that show to really enjoy it. The three of us huddled together to try to get warm. If we had kept walking around, it may not have been that bad. However, we went on to watch Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade. Amy and I sat shivering on a bench while Mae wisely stood and even danced a bit to the infectious music. As the parade ended, a CM warned Amy and I not to lose our "mom" in the crowd. Yeah! Finally, someone didn't mistake Mae for my twin! Mae, on the other hand, was not too glad about this.

Though the park would not close for another hour, we decided to return later in the week to finish our Animal Kingdom schedule. We took a bus to our resort to bundle ourselves in warmer clothes for the evening. We had a PS for Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and had to take two buses to get there. Disney's buses do not go from resort to resort, so first we rode to Downtown Disney and then to the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Though we were a bit cold, tired, and hungry, we would soon find the journey definitely was worth it.

Animal Kingdom Lodge and Boma

After a short wait, we were seated in Boma and given brief instructions about how to go about the buffet there. We then just followed our growling stomachs! The food was divine. We enjoyed the spicy potatoes with Afritude, prime rib, nut-crusted salmon, chicken wings, piquant pork ribs, seafood gumbo, and sausage bean soup. We even tried the peanut rice, which tastes like peanut butter rice, and the pap, which is corn meal. I found the pap bland but with a great texture. Mae was smart to cover it in a flavorful tomato sauce. When I went back for seconds, one of the chefs asked me how I was enjoying my meal. I described the food as "A flavor explosion with every bite," and he agreed that all cooking should have that effect. Finally, we loaded up on desserts. The best were the indescribable zebra domes.

After dinner, we explored the Lodge. Since night had fallen, we couldn't see out the windows to the savannah. The Christmas decorations were still up, which included two towering trees adorned with wooden animal masks. With a bit more shopping in the gift shop, we again took two buses to get our resort for some much-needed rest.

OPERATION DISNEY FANATIC was definitely going well. So much birthday cheer! Such great meals! Donald Duck's lavish attention! However, the cold had put a damper on things, as did the show and parade Amy didn't really want to see but sat through anyway (The Festival of the Lion King and Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade had been the choices of Mae and me). I looked forward to whatever magic Epcot had in store for us the next day.

Day Three: Sunday, January 11, 2004

Since we were already hungry, as soon we woke up, we decided to get something small to eat, instead of waiting until we reached Epcot. In the Intermission Food Court, Amy and I shared a breakfast platter of eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuit, and potatoes. Mae had cereal.

On the way to the bus stop, Mae went into the gift shop to rent a Pal Mickey for the day. She had seen this interactive plush being carried by other vacationers, and knew she had to try one out for herself. The CM at the register explained how Pal Mickey worked, receiving signals from places all over the theme parks so that he could tell jokes, play games, and give helpful information. It was as if a fourth member had joined our party, a personal tour guide. I could see instantly that Amy and I would soon be vying with this new Pal for Mae's attention!

Epcot: World Showcase

The weather was sunny but still cold that morning as we took the bus to Epcot. We entered the park just before World Showcase opened at 11 a.m. Spaceship Earth loomed above us, and all I could do was sigh with happiness. Spaceship Earth symbolizes WDW for me like nothing else.

On the way to Canada, I noticed the talking water fountain and strolled nonchalantly over, then invited Amy to have a sip. With mistrust in her eyes, she inspected the fountain. "I promise it's not going to squirt at you or anything," I said. She was wary but took a drink and jumped as the fountain began to gargle and speak. Of course, I couldn't just let things be. I had to point out how wonderful Disney Imagineering is to include details like this. Amy smirked at me.

We stopped on the bridge to World Showcase for a few minutes to watch the Marathon go by. Epcot was the last leg of the race, and I couldn't believe how fast the runners were still jogging at the 26-mile mark. Wow! As we stood there, a turtle swam up to the edge of the water near us, then another and another until a group of five or six was swimming just below us. I said I felt guilty, thinking maybe that the turtles thought we were their feeders, so we moved on.

In Canada, my first priority was to try one of the Beaver Tails I have heard so much about. It was too early in day since the cart that sells them would not open until three o'clock. We shopped for bit. Amy bought a plush Siberian Husky, who she promptly named Mysty (in honor of a real Husky she used to have) but I christened the pup Canadian Myst (in honor of the plush's origination). We also met Koda from "Brother Bear" as we walked over to see O Canada! As we sat in the mineshaft waiting for the show, Amy asked, "So, what are we doing?" I explained we were going to see a movie about Canada in Circle-Vision. "Oh," she replied unexcitedly. Mae and I stood for the show and enjoyed the beautiful, though obviously dated, film. Amy sat down just as the movie began. After the show, though, she told us O Canada had beautiful scenery.

We didn't spend much time in the United Kingdom. With a PS for the Rose and Crown, we knew we'd be returning that night. Mae admired a teapot clock from Royal Albert's Country Roses collection, which she later purchased. I liked the Beatles shop, and Amy was surprised to see that Gopher from Winnie the Pooh among the merchandise in the A. A. Milne section. He's not often included when it comes to the Pooh gang.

"'Bon Jour' is how you say hello in French," Pal Mickey told us as we entered France. At this point, the Marathon was right at the 25-mile marker. A man and a woman ran up to the sign to take their pictures with it. The man's shirt read "Age: 72." We cheered the couple on, "Only about a mile to go! You can do it."

Ready for a snack, we each ordered something small from Bistro de Paris. Chocolate mousse for me, a chocolate-hazelnut concoction for Amy called a Pralineige, and a ham and cheese sandwich for Mae, which she slathered with ketchup. A showing of Impressions de France was in progress, so we promised ourselves to come back to see it. As we walked through the perfume shop, I let out a laugh, like the French chef in "The Little Mermaid" laughs. Amy scolded me for not having any manners; she feared I would offend the French CMs in the shop. Sorry!

The Moroccan CMs were the friendliest in World Showcase. Mae took quite awhile to find the perfect non-flying carpet for her bathroom. Meanwhile, I bought a little bamboo-like flute and sat down to learn "Mary had a Little Lamb." Mae got to talking with a CM and told him that we were celebrating her birthday this week. He promptly picked up the phone and got Goofy on the line to sing to her.

In Japan, I was taken aback by the store, not remembering how big it was or how large the selection. The store seemed to keep going and going. At the end, we discovered the entrance to a gallery of "Tin Toy Stories." This, I also did not recall. Perhaps it was in refurbishment last time? As we strolled around, I began to feel hungry once more. I thought about suggesting kakigoris, which I've read so much about in trip reports, but we needed something more substantial than shaved ice. We headed up to the Matsu No Ma Lounge for sushi. We had a beautiful view of Epcot on the clear, crisp day as we enjoyed maguro, unagi, and tempura shrimp and vegetables.

As we entered the good ole U.S. of A., Amy started asking me when we were going to get to Italy. She longs to one day visit Venice, and it was definitely her priority to at least see the World Showcase version. I told her, "Soon." Unfortunately for her, she had to sit through another show (Amy is not much a "show person."). The American Adventure Show was high on Mae's and my Must-do list, so we headed into the theater. As I sang quietly along with "Golden Dreams," Amy rolled her eyes because she has heard me sing along with that song many times before.

We rushed into Italy, snapping photos like crazy. Amy with the gondolas, Amy in front of the fountain, Amy posing as a living statue. We went in search of a gelato, but it was still a bit too chilly so we decided against it. Once Amy had her fill of Italy, we moved on.

In Germany, Amy proclaimed the chocolate- and caramel-covered apple that we shared to be “heavenly.” Mae and I agreed. I had my doubts, though, as to the German authenticity of our snack. We wandered the shops for a bit and kept moving on.

As we waited in the lobby area for Reflections of China, Mae played games with her Pal Mickey. She was off in another world, one that included only her and Mickey. They were such a cute pair! "Reflections" was lovely. The newly filmed movie was so different from O Canada, with its sharp picture and sounds and modern-looking cities. We spent quite a bit of time in the shopping area, admiring the purses, blouses, parasols, and intricate knives. However, our PS for the Rose and Crown Pub was fast approaching so we had to hurry to finish up the last two countries.

Maelstrom was our first destination in Norway. Standing in the short line, we snapped a photograph of the hidden Mousekeeter in the mural. Mae and I had a good laugh when Amy hastily put away Mysty during the ride. After the ride, she said she didn't really think the boat was going to go over the waterfall, but her actions told us otherwise. We didn't watch the movie after the ride; instead, we walked out with the crowd, who also chose not to see the movie, through the shops. After a quick peak at the Viking ship, it was onward to Mexico.

El Rio Del Tiempo really does seem like it's a small Mexican world, just like everyone says. As it was nearly 7 o'clock, we left Mexico in a hurry for our PS.

Dinner at the Rose and Crown Pub was nice. Amy had the English Pie Sampler. Mae and I each had fish and chips. Our server was Astrid from Shrewsbury. She carried a postcard from her hometown that she showed us when we asked about England. She was a great waitress, chatting with us and making sure our meal was going well. The food was not as good as Boma, of course, or even as good as the dinner we had had at the Intermission Food Court, but I'm glad we went. The restaurant is on the small side and was filled with diners and people at the bar, so I felt as if I really were in a British pub.

After dinner, we sat down in Showcase Plaza to watch Illuminations. Amy, as I said, is not a show person but loves fireworks, so I promised her fireworks. She was impressed right away by the proximity of the show. "I can feel the heat of the fire," she marveled. Mae sat crying tears of joy through most of the show. Okay, I shed a tear or two too. It's an amazing show! Once again, it really hit home that, yes, we were in WDW and what a dream come true that was.

Downtown Disney

Epcot closed and we decided to go to Downtown Disney for some shopping. We realized, though, that to get to Downtown Disney we had to take a bus from a resort, not from a park. We hopped on a bus to the closest resort we could think of, the Caribbean Beach Resort. This bus took forever, making many stops at all the bus stops that resort has. A young couple staying at that resort remarked that during their stay, they had seen four or five buses for the Pop Century Resort while waiting for just one bus to the Caribbean Beach. I had read somewhere that the bus service to the value resorts is more efficient than for moderate or deluxe resorts. I guess that's true. By the time we arrived at Downtown Disney, it was nearly 11 o'clock and we only managed to visit one shop, Pin Traders, before all the shops closed. We then went back to the bus station to get to the All Star Music.

OPERATION DISNEY FANATIC was not going too well. Today, Amy had seemed bored at various points during the day -- too many shows and films and only two rides. Also, the English pies she had had for dinner ended up giving her a bit of a queasy feeling. She was still having fun, but I knew then that WDW wasn't going to magically turn her into a Disney freak like us. I think I always knew this, but it really became clear then. No worries, Epcot had been a fun, wonderful day and why should anyone ask for more than that?

Day Four: Monday, January 12, 2004

Epcot: Future World

We were greeted by a sunny day with just the right amount of warmth -- sweater weather. Our jackets, we put in a locker when we entered the park. We had foregone breakfast since our first goal of the day was to ride Mission: Space. Amy didn't think she could handle this ride with anything in her stomach. She is very prone to motion sickness.

The line for Mission: Space was negligible. We were in the briefing room in a snap. Everywhere we looked, there were signs of caution about motion sickness, spinning, enclosed spaces, etc. Amy looked nervous, but she wanted to at least try it. Mae and I were very keyed-up for this, our first ride. We were each assigned our positions then entered the pod. I could feel the ride spinning immediately, though the images on the screens didn't match this feeling. It was disconcerting. We were each mindful not to turn our heads or close our eyes, which would cause serious disorientation. I barely managed to follow the storyline, as I was too intent on the g-forces and then the semi-weightlessness. I even forgot to press one of my buttons on the command; no matter, the ride continued without me. When it was over, Amy felt nauseated and I was dizzy. Mae could have skipped down the hall if she hadn't been with us. I walked down the hall, leaning on the wall for support (That hallway is curved, right?). As soon we entered the mission control room, Amy went to sit down for a few minutes. I recovered quickly and went with Mae to the email-postcard kiosks.

Amy said she thought she'd feel better if she ate something, so we ate our first meal of the day at the Electric Umbrella. Mae and I had burgers. I liked the topping bar, but Mae complained about the dry hamburger meat. Amy had chicken strips, which indeed made her feel better. We made a quick trip to the restroom after eating. Well, Mae and I made a quick trip; Amy took a while since she was still feeling sick. While Mae and I stood around the restaurant waiting for our niece, we discovered a talking garbage can. We then devised a plan to surprise Amy. When she came out of the restroom at last, Mae, in an Oscar-worthy performance, knelt to tie her shoes and asked Amy to throw away her napkin. Amy looked at me, since I was closer, but I just nonchalantly glanced in the other direction (best actress in a supporting role?). Amy shrugged and threw the napkin into the talking garbage can, jumping about a mile when it barked at her, "Hey, who's out there?" Mae and I giggled with glee, so easy to entertain we are.

With Amy, the animal lover, the Living Seas was a must-do. The manatees were sleeping. One came up for air, but they were like stones at the bottom of the tank other than that. We caught only a glimpse of the dolphins since they were at first interacting with people in the Dolphin Encounter and then swimming in the outdoor area of their tank. I most enjoyed the new Nemo and Friends exhibit, which was the most crowded section. Kids wanted to know about these fish and were actually learning here. It was edutainment at its finest.

Living with the Land was relaxing. Here, I caught a whiff of that special Disney boat-ride smell, the one that always makes me think of Pirates of the Caribbean, the one that makes me smile. We noticed where the Garden Grill overlooked the ride. We had a PS for dinner there that night, but the view we had read about wasn't as grand as we had thought. We decided to think of other possible dinner choices.

Journey into Your Imagination had absolutely no line at all. In fact, the ride vehicles were not even filling up. I'm sure we could have sat on that ride all day, not that we wanted to. This was the first ride on it for all of us. I was eager to see what the fuss was about, after all I'd heard about the original ride and the disastrous refurbishment. It was ok. The song was neither as catchy nor as cute as I'd read. The one thing that did spark my imagination was the disappearing butterfly. "How did they do that?" I asked at intervals the rest of the day. I sort of wanted to ride Journey again just to try to understand the effect. Mae and Amy were fine with not knowing.

Spaceship Earth also had no line (Gotta love that Omnimover!). The audio animatronics seemed a bit creaky, but I nevertheless got choked up at the end. Mae did too. The scenes at the end, where people all over the globe are able to communicate, and the music, and the narration. It's touching, and we're sentimental fools. Oh, stop laughing!

We stood in line for Ellen’s Energy Adventure, telling Amy it was another movie. The pre-ride film was worth a chuckle; then we entered the ride. Amy was confused, but figured it was another Circle-vision thing. When the seats moved into place and left the room, she was surprised and delighted, just as her aunts had planned. I, however, found myself too close to those dreaded dinosaurs. "Herbivores, just remember, some are herbivores," Amy comforted me. I know, I know, herbivores. Also, they *are* audio animatronics, I told myself. Nonetheless, it was kind of fun letting myself be scared. Once we left the land of the lost, I fell asleep for a few moments, waking to see Ellen win on "Jeopardy."

Test Track also had a short wait. In the briefing room, I pointed out the pictures of the various test tracks around the world and their similarity to the ride we were about to experience. If this got on Amy's nerves, she was kind enough not to say or show it. I think she was psyched about the ride. We all had a great time. We posed for the ride photo and "Woo hoo"-ed during the speed test.

Ice Station Cool was a must-do on my list. I had to try that Beverly soda that everyone writes about. Amy doesn't care for soda, so of course, she didn't like it, but Mae and I didn't find it too vile until its aftertaste took effect. The best of the bunch was the soda from Costa Rica, in my opinion. On our way out, we took note of the ultra-sticky floor. Cola-coated linoleum?

Epcot: World Showcase

With Future World pretty well finished, we headed into World Showcase with a few things to experience that we hadn't the day before. First stop: Canada. I had to try that Beaver Tail. When we saw the size, we ordered one with strawberries and whipped cream to share. It truly is delicious. Too big to hold, we scooted it over the edge of the plate and ate directly off of the plate. Whipped cream ended up on our noses with every bite. Who cares what we looked like eating that thing? It was goooooood.

On our way to France, we stopped a maintenance CM who was wearing a lanyard. We traded pins with him and then he asked us about our vacation. We told him about Amy's and Mae's birthdays and said Pirates of the Caribbean was a favorite ride. He said that he used to be a CM for that ride and asked us a few trivia questions, giving us pirates' gems for our correct answers. He also let us know where we could find a couple of Hidden Mickey's in Germany, which we found soon after.

In France, we were right on time for Impressions de France. The foyer and theater were quite elegant. The film began, and though the scenes and music were breathtakingly beautiful, I fell asleep again! Days at WDW are long and full of activity; sitting in a darkened theater just lulled this tired girl to sleep straight away. Amy, who stayed awake and interested in the movie, said it gave her another dream, the dream of one day going to France. I felt guilty for not paying attention to the film.

We finally did decide to forego our PS for dinner at the Garden Grill. Instead, we decided to see what fare was available at the nearby Yacht and Beach Club Resorts. We retrieved our jackets from the locker, but didn't need them. The evening was just warm enough, better than the previous days.

Beach Club Resort

A FriendShip took us to the Beach Club. This resort was lovely, especially with it being on the water, it really felt like a New England seaside hotel. Plus, it was so close to Epcot; I'd love to stay there. But we knew it might be out of our price range. There were individual hand towels (cloth, not paper) in the restrooms. Oooh, fancy! . . . and wasteful. Mae made a big production out of using one to dry her hands and then throwing it into the laundry basket.

For dinner, we chose between the seafood buffet at the Cape May Cafe and Beaches and Cream. The latter won. At this small old-fashioned soda shop, Amy had a cheeseburger while Mae and I each had prime rib subs. To drink, Mae had a Root Beer Float while Amy and I shared Frozen Sunshine, an orange and cream milkshake. Great food and atmosphere. We knew for certain we'd return for the famed Kitchen Sink.

After shopping at the resort's gift shop, we wondered how to get to our own resort. Buses do not run from resort to resort. We'd have to get to a park. The walk to and through Epcot seemed too long. I checked my watch and said, crossing my fingers, "Let's take a boat to Disney MGM and then catch a bus there." Fortunately, we caught the last boat to Disney MGM and hopped on a bus to the All Star Music to turn in for the night.

If our first day at Epcot, when we went to World Showcase, had ended my dream of OPERATION DISNEY FANATIC being successful, Future World was the death knell. Though we'd had fun, Amy was not overly impressed with this section of the park. Mission: Space hadn't started the day very well for her. The Land and Imagination pavilions were nice, but not special. Test Track was a blast, but nobody would call it magical. Tomorrow, however, we would be at the *Magic* Kingdom. Hmm. . . .

Day Five: Tuesday, January 13, 2004 (Mae’s Birthday)

Mae had fallen in love with her Pal Mickey and went to the gift shop that morning to purchase him, rather than rent him for another day. She said he was a birthday present to herself (Yet another one!).

Magic Kingdom

Another beautiful, sunny day greeted us as we boarded the bus to the Magic Kingdom at 7:30 a.m. We had an early PS at Cinderella’s Royal Table. I took quick pictures of the 75 Mickey statues at the entrance, and then we entered the park. The park was practically empty with only those headed for the castle around. Mae and I stood in awe of the towering castle, so much taller than Sleeping Beauty Castle in California. We were seated promptly upon entering. Breakfast consisted of eggs, sausage, French toast with sweet cream cheese, muffins, orange juice, and coffee. As we ate, Aladdin, Snow White, Cinderella, Alice and Belle made the rounds. Mae was given a certificate in honor of her birthday, which each of the characters signed for her. She truly felt like a princess.

At 9:00 a.m., the Magic Kingdom opened, and we had just finished breakfast. We intended to hit as many attractions as possible while the park was not yet crowded. We managed several more than anticipated; lines were no problem at all throughout the day.

Our first ride was the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. This storybook ride was incredibly cute. Amy liked the bouncing vehicle. I had a hard time deciding which version I liked better, California or Florida. I still don't know. I will say I like Pooh better than the Country Bears, and Mr. Toad better than Pooh.

We ran into Mickey’s Philharmagic just seconds before this 3-D show began. It was overwhelming and wonderful. Its combination of special effects, (half) Circle-vision, and 3-D really encompasses the audience. I heard several "Oh wow"s from the audience, especially Mae, as Ariel became bigger than life and the flying carpet soared over Agrabah. "The Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin" sequences were by far the best parts of an enchanting show. Amy loved it, particularly because its star was Donald Duck. She said she felt that this was the closest she'd ever get to the *real* Donald Duck, not the character in the park but the true, animated version of Donald.

In the gift shop, Mae grumbled that Pal Mickey had talked during the show. He was not supposed to do this. Also strange was what he had said, something about the parade starting soon. Sorry, Mickey, no morning parades around here! Mae knew this new Pal was malfunctioning, and we found a shop on Main Street where she exchanged him.

In Tomorrowland, we challenged ourselves in Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. With barely a line, we each maneuvered our own car. I wanted to come in first among our group. The ride photo shows me with one eye closed, staring intently at my target. I earned the rank of Planetary Pilot with 221,400 points. Mae, at 51,200, demanded a rematch and Amy, at 32,000, said she didn't know what she'd been doing.

With Alien Encounter in refurbishment, the Carousel of Progress and the Timekeeper were open for the off-season. I noticed that the full title was *Walt Disney's* Carousel of Progress, and took this as a great sign. The audio-animatronic show was great, just what I'd imagine to be direct from the mind of Mr. Disney -- full of hope and idealism. The song was infectious and we were all singing along for the last verse, and were singing it long after the show was over too. "There's a great big, beautiful tomorrow. . . ."

Crossing Tomorrowland, we saw a truly interactive garbage can. Kids had gathered all around to figure out how this trash can was moving and talking. It could even comment on what was happening around it. The kids knocked on it, looked inside, but no one was in there. Mae whispered, "Someone has got to be around here controlling this thing." I looked up, checking for someone on a rooftop or balcony or in a window. The culprit was only two or three yards away. He looked just like any tourist, dressed in jeans, staring intently at the trashcan like we all were. With his finger on his nose, he seemed like he was just trying to figure the thing out. But then, we noticed his lips moving, almost unnoticeably, as he spoke into a tiny microphone in his hand, and his other hand was in his shoulder bag to control the movements of the can. I just grinned. Yet another example of Disney "magic." This talking garbage can wasn't something that was really making money for the park: no tie-in merchandise, not a big draw that brings people through the front gate. It was just there for kids to wonder "How?" and for adults to chuckle at. Magic for magic's sake, I guess.

The Timekeeper was all right. The storyline was cute enough. It went on a little too long, at least, that's what my feet were telling me.

Next, we went to Space Mountain. I cannot tell you how much I love this ride. Of course, Disneyland's version is better (due to California's side-by-side seating rather than bobsled seats), but it was just as thrilling from start to finish. At some points, I felt like the car was whizzing too fast around the track, but I always think that; it's part of the fun.

So far, we had only met Mickey at the Animal Kingdom, in his Dinoland attire, so we headed to the Judge’s Tent for a photo with him in his tuxedo. We stood in the longest line of the day and then were with Mickey for the briefest of moments, before being ushered out the door. The line to meet Eeyore was somewhat long too, but he spent a good amount of time with Amy, his number one fan.

Since it had been some time since breakfast, Amy's stomach was okay with going to the Mad Tea Party (a.k.a. The Teacups). We spun as fast as our arms would allow, laughing uncontrollably. The ride seemed to go on for a long time. I had time to snap several photos of us, which came out surprisingly well; only the background is a blur not our faces.

Amy insisted on it’s a small world. "It's tradition," she said. But then, she went on to tell us that once she had almost been stuck on small world and called that "the scariest Disneyland ride ever." I think most people have a similar love-hate relationship with "the happiest cruise that ever sailed."

At the Haunted Mansion queue, I looked all around for Leota's much-talked-about tombstone. There it was, just before we entered the building. Yes, we saw her face move and eyes open. And, yes, it was creepy. In the stretching room, I found myself babbling about the necessity of the stretching room as an elevator at Disneyland, but quickly forced myself to shut up when Amy obviously didn't know what I was talking about. Still Mae and I had to whisper about the differences in the Mansion's hallways.

Splash Mountain left us with very wet heads. The drop brought on more than the light spray of water we expected. At least our clothes didn't get soaked. Bah! It would have been worth it anyway -- Splash Mountain is awesome!

By this time, we were getting very hungry. I said I thought there was a restaurant in Caribbean Plaza, but it turned out that El Pirata y el Perico was closed. We decided to find lunch soon, but being so close to Pirates of the Caribbean meant that our appetites would have to wait. Amy was in seventh heaven since this is her all-time favorite ride. Mae and I were elated to see her having such a great time. The Magic Kingdom, being so similar to Disneyland, had definitely brought back happy childhood memories for our niece and a child-like sense of joy.

We ate lunch at the Columbia Harbour House in Liberty Square. Mae had a tuna sandwich and a free slice of apple pie, which she received when the CM noticed her "Today is my birthday" button. Amy and I shared chicken strips and macaroni and cheese. Looking on our schedule, we found that only one attraction remained on our must-do list. We had managed to see eleven attractions all before lunchtime, and without any FastPasses. I chalked it up to the great month of January, which had put most of the kids back in the classroom and out of WDW. Yea for us!

Mae is vehemently opposed to the "New Management" that runs the Enchanted Tiki Room. We both like Walt Disney's version better. However, Amy hadn't been to any Tiki Room for quite a long time, so she said it was a must-do. Since Amy had sat through shows, movies, and a parade for us, Mae sat through the show despite her opinions. The show started out well, just the way it's supposed to, but then Iago showed up and, well . . . Amy ended up disliking it too. She considered marching down to City Hall to register a complaint. We walked out as soon as the doors opened to let us out of that disco.

We were now working from the list of items entitled "Great-to-do." Tom Sawyer Island was first. We screamed like little kids as we went through the dark, narrow, empty caves. I jumped at my own shadow, and we all jumped when one guy came in looking for his backpack. We skipped along the suspension bridge and shot rifles in the fort.

Tired, we set off for the Peoplemov-, I mean, Tomorrowland Transit Authority (TTA). On such a relaxing ride, we could just sit for a few minutes and feel the gentle breeze of the afternoon. Our feet were getting pretty sore, so we took off our shoes and really kicked back while on the TTA.

Mae challenged me to a rematch on the Space Ranger Spin. This time, she won: 226,700 to my 120,000 (Hey, I was still a Planetary Pilot). Hooray for Mae. Amy improved to 52,000.

Mae drove while I snapped photos of her careening on the roadway of the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway. I then directed my camera at Amy in the car behind us. Practicing her best road-rage imitation, she shook her fist at us and tried to look angry, as angry as a person thoroughly enjoying her day at the happiest place on earth can look anyway.

The Magic Carpets of Aladdin held a few surprises. I thought it was a run-of-the-mill Dumbo-type ride. It was neat that the person in the backseat, me, got to tilt the carpet as my sister and niece controlled the height of our flight. The spitting camel was startling too. He got me good right at the end.

We ate cotton candy while we waited for the Spectromagic Parade to begin at 6:30 that evening. With her sweet tooth satisfied, Amy didn't find sitting through a parade too unbearable. I loved it, but was disappointed that the Chernabog float wasn't working.

Right after the parade, we bypassed the crowds who were waiting to watch Wishes. We had a PS at the Whispering Canyon Cafe to get to. We boarded a ferry to the Wilderness Lodge and watched Wishes as we sailed away. As soon as the fireworks ended, one man called out to those still in the Magic Kingdom, "Ha, ha! We're already on the boat, and you're not!"

Wilderness Lodge and Whispering Canyon Cafe

Arriving at the Lodge, we were seated promptly when we checked in at the Cafe. Our server was Alfredo (or was it Alberto?), and he was great fun. As soon as we were seated, he asked if we had been to the restaurant before, no, and could he hear a "Yippee Kiyay" from us, yes. The three of us yelled "Yippee Kiyay!" so loudly that we startled him. He asked, "Are you sure this is your first time here?" I had read all about this restaurant and knew how loud it could get, so we fit right in. In fact, as other parties were seated during the evening, Alfredo used us as an example. "Did you hear this table say 'Yippee Kiyay'?" he asked us about a party of three, then ten, then twelve. Our answer was no each time. Then he'd ask us to show them how it was done. Even Amy was glad to draw attention to our table. Mae always shines in the spotlight. When Alfredo saw her birthday button, he quickly rounded up all the kids in the Cafe to follow Mae galloping around the dining room on hobbyhorses. The atmosphere was so much fun! Each table had their moment of glory, like the newlyweds who had to reenact their wedding kiss, the lady who got a huge pot of ice water when she'd ordered just a glass of water (which Alfredo said is a boring order), and the girl who had to wear a coffee filter and a napkin as a bonnet because she didn't yell "Yippee Kiyay." Oh, we also ate at this restaurant. Amy had the snapper with a lobster cream sauce. I had steak and Yukon gold potatoes. We wisely ordered juice, not water, to drink. Alfredo brought about a dozen straws just for the two of us and threw the whole bunch at the table so that they went flying everywhere. Mae had the all-you-can-eat skillet. However, when she asked for a second helping of cowboy beans, Alfredo announced, "Nobody walk behind this lady tonight. She wants a third bowl of beans!" Finally, there was the matter of the ketchup. There were plenty of ketchup bottles available. The problem was that all of the bottles were always at one table. When a table asked for a bottle, the server called out, "Ketchup! Who's got the ketchup?!" Then everyone at the table that had the ketchup brought all the bottles over. An Australian family asked for "tomato sauce" and much ado was made of their request. It was a wonderful experience. Mae called it the perfect place to celebrate her birthday. Oh, and the food was good too.

After shopping in the gift shop, we went to the bus stop to wait in the COLD night air for a bus to Downtown Disney. From there, we took another bus to the All Star Music.

My faith in OPERATION DISNEY FANATIC had been renewed. If any place can turn someone into a Disney fan, it's the Magic Kingdom. Amy was all smiles all day. Both Mae and I noticed a big change in her attitude. Amy hadn't had a bad attitude on the previous days, but today she'd become a big kid just like her aunts. Just like her aunts!

Day Six: Wednesday, January 14, 2004

Disney MGM Studios

We slept in a bit and arrived at the Studios at 9:30 a.m. Another sunshiny day met us. Our first stop was Villains in Vogue. Mae asked about the nearby CM store backstage. She showed her ID and was directed where to go. Since it was backstage, she went alone and bought some CM-exclusive merchandise. When she had finished shopping, she met up with Amy and I on Sunset Boulevard.

After a quick photo with Frollo, we headed to the Tower of Terror. I was filled with nervous excitement. Amy was scared witless. As soon as we boarded the elevator and the lights dimmed, I let out a yelp. Mae laughed at Amy and me during the entire ride. Sure, we were frightened, but it was still fun. Tower of Terror is one of the best at WDW, undoubtedly!

Rock 'n’ Roller Coaster was next. Amy and Mae adored this ride. The well-timed soundtrack and smooth pace of the coaster on the track are truly astounding.

The line for the Great Movie Ride was the longest of the day. Pal Mickey warned us as we stood in the queue that the line would be the longest in the morning and that we might want to come back later in the day. We ignored him. It wasn't too bad since the queue is indoors, in the lovely theater lobby. Also, we were able to watch all the trailers for the movies featured in the ride, something we'd miss if we were running onto the ride. Munchkinland was the highlight, really making us feel that we were plopped right into Dorothy's dream.

Outside, a slew of characters arrived in the hub and took their places in various spots around the Sorcerer's Hat. Mae and I headed for Mulan, who we'd never met before; she's a rare find. Amy went over to say hi to Donald. He really took a liking to her. Amy hugged him, posed with him, and then said goodbye. Donald needed another hug and didn't let go for several seconds. Aw!

We had skipped breakfast since we had a PS for lunch at the Fifties Prime Time Café. This restaurant was another interactive, themed dining experience where the servers were aunts, uncles, or cousins who treated guests as though they were in a 50's television show, like "Ozzie and Harriet" or "Donna Reed." We arrived at the restaurant starving. In the few minutes before we were seated, we took pictures in the kitschy Fifties-era living room. I had read about this place too, and after our entertaining experience at the Whispering Canyon Cafe, we had high hopes for this meal. I was disappointed when we didn't get a table with a television. Oh well, we could still see it and didn't end up watching it much anyway. Our server was nice, though he didn't introduce himself as a cousin or an uncle, just by his name. He asked Amy to set the table, just like Mrs. Cleaver might ask Wally to do, then soon after took our orders. While we waited, we watched another table joke around with their waitress, who called the various guests "Scooter," "Sport," and "Sparky." She also scolded them for playing with their food. I was a little envious of the interaction their waitress provided.

As an appetizer, we had delicious onion straws with a creamy horseradish dip. I usually do not like horseradish but this was scrumptious. For our entrees, Mae and I had fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Amy had shrimp pasta. We all drank peanut butter and jelly milkshakes. I couldn't finish my meal and covered the plate with a napkin. Our server chided me, then loaded up my fork with nearly everything I hadn't eaten, including a chicken bone. There was no way I was going to take a bite of that! He said just to pose for the picture, since Mae had just grabbed the camera. Relieved, I pretended to get ready for a bite. Ew, the mess on the fork was awful to look at. Mae and Amy got the same treatment. The waiter also brought them cupcakes when we said we had celebrated their birthdays this week. Overall, it was fun, but I expected better. Our dinner the night before had spoiled me.

Mae had listed Beauty and the Beast as a must-do. The pre-show performers, Four for a Dollar(?), were delightful. The actual show, though, I cannot comment on -- I fell asleep. I can sleep anywhere, especially if I am tired enough, which I was.

Mae loves parades so, of course, the Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade was another must-do. Amy sat through with nary a gripe. I enjoyed the music and sang along, "Roll out the red carpet. . . ."

On a whim, we walked into Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Play It! Mae and I had been to Disney's California Adventure version several times, and Amy didn't particularly want to see it, so it's strange that we went in. It turned out to be an interesting and, for me, an excruciating experience. Entering the auditorium, I explained to Amy my strategy for getting on the leader board. After the fastest finger question, a guy from Canada got into the hot seat. Each of his questions was so easy for me, stuff I knew in a snap. At his 16,000-point mark, the leader board came up. My seat, number 61, was in second place! That was the highest I had ever gotten. Mae and Amy patted me on the back excitedly. The next question asked what part of speech the word "galumph" was. I hit the button to choose "verb." The guy in the hot seat said "adverb." Oops! The host thanked him for playing and went to the leader board to see who would be called upon to play next.

"Let's see if seat 93 is still in that top position," the host said. The numbers started coming up, 10, 9, 8. . . . Seat 93 was still not there when they got to number 2. Neither was seat 61, me. I had gotten that last question right, but maybe 93 hadn't so -- just as I was figuring this out, seat 61 showed up in the number 1 spot. My mouth dropped; Mae and Amy cheered. I sat there stunned until they shouted, "Go up there!" Everything I ever knew fell out of my brain as I approached the hot seat. What's my name? Where am I from? I was hesitating to answer these basic questions; I was going to embarrass my family and myself when the real questions came at me. All I could think of was that my dad, a die-hard Millionaire and Jeopardy fan, was going to be very ashamed of me when I bombed on the 100-point question. The host asked me about myself, what I do for a living, whom I was vacationing with. I managed to answer. "So, what *is* your secret, Victoria?" he asked jokingly. I have heard this question many times. Why, if I had a dollar for every time some smart aleck has asked me about Victoria's Secret, I wouldn't have to play Millionaire, that's for sure. But in this instance, with my brain fogged by nervousness (I hate being the center of attention) and fear (of failure), I responded with "Huh?" completely not understanding him at first. "Oh," I remembered, "If I told you, it wouldn't be a secret anymore." Did those words actually leave my mouth? How on earth was I speaking at all?

Anyway, on to the game. The first few questions were okay. I sat completely still, shoulders tense, looking directly at the host, because if I looked at the jumbo screens with my face on them, I knew I'd completely blank out. The first question to stump me (I think it was for 300 points) was "Build a better BLANK and the world will beat a path to your door." I had never before heard this supposedly famous quotation. I polled the audience and went with the majority who'd answered "Mousetrap." Correct. I waved my thanks, which anyone in the hot seat should always do (but the Canadian guy hadn't, I might add). This was the one time I moved while sitting there. The questions got tougher. Why did I have to get the sports questions, when the guy before me had gotten the easy literature questions? I stumbled along, but the next one to truly stump me asked, "What are the things thrown from Mardi Gras floats called?" I decided to phone a complete stranger. The gentleman on the line had no idea. I asked for his guess. He answered "throws." I said I thought so too. The host said I could use my 50/50. I said okay. With "throws" still there, I said, "Throws. Final answer." It was correct, but now I was out of lifelines. The 4,000-point question was "In what medium did the Care Bears originate?" The choices: Television, plush dolls, greeting cards, or comic books. Mae later told me that a lady sitting behind her commented, "Oh, she should know this. It's from her generation." Well, I didn't know. I had seen the Care Bears on television and played with the plush dolls when I was a kid. I guessed plush dolls. Nope, it was greeting cards. I have never seen a Care Bears greeting card, though I admit this does make sense, but the image of Sunshine Bear on a card will haunt me for years to come! The host thanked me for playing and, on wobbly legs, I was escorted away.

I was led to an office behind the scenes. I had to sign a release and then received the 100- to 1,000-point pins, a lanyard, and a 1000-point hat. Mae and Amy came in and hugged me, saying how proud they were. I was still recovering from the ordeal. For about 45 minutes, I continued to feel tense and shaky. Mae kept telling me to relax, just breathe. Eventually, I did.

With butterflies still flying like mad in my stomach, we went into Muppet Vision 3-D. I managed to enjoy the show along with Mae and Amy, a huge Muppets fan. It's great how it incorporates live action with the images on screen. Amy squealed, "Look, it's Sweetums!"

Amy was surprised at the sight of the giant Imperial Walker in front of Star Tours. We had to go in on her account, though Mae and I had been on this dozens of times at Disneyland, where the ride is an exact duplicate. Since it reminded her of Disneyland, Amy loved Star Tours, saying it was just as she remembered it from when she'd gone on as a kid.

Before Fantasmic! Mae and I had to have one more ride on the Tower of Terror, much to Amy's chagrin. She was very scared as we boarded. I felt much more composed this time. I decided to let go, not hold on and just put my hands up, the way I would on a coaster. This plan worked like magic. I didn't have the stress of feeling as if I had to hold myself in my seat; I let the seat belt do that. Plus, I got a lot of airtime. It was great. In the dark, though, someone else was still screaming her head off: Amy. Halfway through the ride, she let go as I did and that did help to ease her tension a bit too.

Fantasmic! was fantastic, as always. We showed up just before the show began, so we sat far off on one side, but there really isn't a bad seat in the amphitheater. As soon as the show began, Mae and I began saying the words and lyrics right along with the show, "Welcome to Fantasmic! Tonight our friend and host, Mickey Mouse. . . ." Unfortunately, this did not help Amy enjoy the show at all. She found it quite distracting, but it was fun for Mae and me, so if Amy (who is not a show person) wasn't going to enjoy the show that much anyway, why not sing along? Well, Amy wasn't the only one to hear us. After the show, a lady in the row ahead of us turned to ask if we had ever been performers in the show and how did we know all the lyrics? "Sorry," Mae said sheepishly, "We have the soundtrack." "And we've listened to it over and over," I added. "And over and over and over," Amy put in. You can imagine what a road trip with us is like, eh?

Downtown Disney

With Disney MGM closing, we determined to do more shopping at Downtown Disney. Amy still hadn't seen the huge World of Disney store we'd been crowing about. Again, we were stuck with how to get there, since buses do not go from the parks to Downtown. We had to get to a resort, but our own resort seemed too far away. Remembering that value resorts were supposed to have the quickest service, we hopped on a bus to the Pop Century. Sure enough, we arrived and departed from the Pop Century in a jiffy.

At the World of Disney, we split up and shopped in the vast store. We also got to browse in Once upon a Toy, Team Mickey, and the Wonderful World of Memories scrapbook store. After shopping, we wandered the area in search of dinner. Nothing caught our fancy, so we returned to the All Star Music, picking up chicken strips and a buffalo chicken sandwich to eat in our room. I was so exhausted from the day, I nearly fell asleep in mid-bite!

The day at Disney MGM Studios did not help or hinder OPERATION DISNEY FANATIC. We all had fun, but Amy enjoyed some things more than other things. Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Muppet Vision, and Star Tours were her favorites. I think she also appreciated the random pixie-dust moments -- hugs from Donald Duck, surprise cupcakes, and whatever magic had caused her dear old aunt to get in that hot seat! I kind of kicked myself for deterring her enjoyment of Fantasmic! Perhaps it could have been the key to the OPERATION if Mae and I hadn't drowned out the music? Nah!

Day Seven: Thursday, January 15, 2004

With two days left on our 7-day park hoppers, we still had two days of park entries and four plus features. We still had plenty to do on our "Must-do" and "Great-to-do" lists. Our final days would be spent park hopping, squeezing the life out of the time we had left.

First, we ate a quick breakfast at the Intermission Food Court. I had biscuits and gravy. Mae had a ham and cheese sandwich, dripping with ketchup. Amy had an apple cinnamon muffin. I continued to be impressed with the food court's offerings -- good selection for most every meal we had there.

Animal Kingdom

With two attractions still waiting to be experienced at Animal Kingdom, we hopped on a bus to that park. This time, we had Pal Mickey with us, and he went crazy as we walked through the front gate. Not that he malfunctioned, he was just bursting with things to say. Mae held him on her shoulder as he jabbered about trees and birds and all the animals in the various areas. My sister was elated. We went straight to the Maharajah Jungle Trek, where Mickey continued to have plenty to say. Here, Amy was in awe of the tiger, one of which came right toward us as we stared at her. She was quite intimidating. Thank goodness for the glass that separated us from her!

We traveled through the long but empty queue for Kali River Rapids very quickly. This ride was entirely new to all three of us. I had read about it, seen it on the Travel Channel, and very much wanted to experience it for myself, if only to compare it to DCA's Grizzly River Rapids. Before we boarded the rafts, we put on our plastic ponchos. The family who rode with us did not cover up and paid the price. They got soaked. We were able to enjoy the ride without worrying about hours of sogginess in our jeans and sweatshirts. However, Mae still screamed like a little girl throughout. She is terrified of water rides, even when properly prepared. I couldn't decide if I thought it was better than Grizzly. Both have their good points. The best scene on Kali was the burned down rainforest. The drop at the end was cool too, and it came as a huge surprise to Amy. She had never been on a raft ride with a drop like that before. We then bid goodbye to Animal Kingdom and headed to the bus that would take us to Blizzard Beach.

Blizzard Beach

We changed into swimsuits and got lockers very quickly, eager to get onto the slides. The weather was sunny and just warm enough. A few degrees higher in temperature would have been perfect, but we were comfortable nevertheless. We couldn't expect better for January. Our first slide was Teamboat Springs, a group raft ride. This was Amy's first waterslide ever, so we thought it best to stick together. She was terrified at each turn that our raft was going to flip over. Actually, all of us were screaming with fright, even though Mae and I knew flipping was unlikely. By the end of the ride, we were deliriously laughing at ourselves as well as still yelling our heads off. It was a bit bewildering when a CM walked up to our raft at the end of the ride to take our photo. We got ourselves together enough to smile and say "Cheese."

At this point, I began debating whether I should go down Summit Plummet. Amy said she'd be "So so proud of her aunt" if I went. I still had to think about it. Looking up, it was daunting -- so tall and shooting its passengers down the slide with amazing speed. I definitely had to think about it. So, we scurried over to Runoff Rapids instead. At the foot of the stairs, we grabbed our tubes and then began our long journey up the stairs. Whew, what a climb. The ride was worth it. Mae and Amy chose the open slide while I went down the enclosed one, full of pitch-dark, thrilling curves.

Next, Mae and I took on the Snow Stormers while Amy chose the Toboggan Racers (She refused to go on a slide that required her to travel headfirst). When we met up at the end of our rides, I still couldn't decide what to do about Summit Plummet. "How about we go on Teamboat Springs again?" I suggested, which we did. This time, there was a lot less fear and more just plain fun. When we disembarked from the raft, Amy asked if I was going to go on Summit Plummet. Mae said, "I am." I couldn't believe it and replied matter-of-factly, "Well, I'll be right behind you then." No way would I let her have all the bragging rights of taking on "the tallest and fastest waterslide in the US!" Amy, who wisely could care less about bragging rights, said she'd watch us from the ground.

Mae and I took the ski lift, then trekked up the stairs to Summit Plummet. I paused at one point to look at the now tiny park at ground level. "Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked my sister. She was sure. We kept going. At the top, Mae asked the CM if everything was going to be okay. Yes, she was scared too. The CM assured her of her safety, gave her instructions to cross her arms and feet, and then said the slide was ready for her. Down she went. I looked over the side and saw that in an instant she was already at the end and exiting the flume. A father and daughter arrived to also take the plunge, and I said they could go first. "No, no," they insisted, "Go ahead." I lay down; crossed by arms, feet, and fingers; and pushed off. I immediately began screaming when I saw all of WDW before me. This was truly terrifying! I had known there would be fear involved, and with a slide that traveled at 55 miles per hour, I knew in that second that the fear would soon be over when the ride came to an end. HOWEVER, I had no idea there would be pain involved in this undertaking. I had not accounted for Summit Plummet's braking system. Powerful jets of water sprayed at my body to slow me down as the slide came to an end. I imagine that being shot by machine guns would feel just the same! I prayed for the ride to be over and for the jets to stop. I won't even go into the wedgie this waterslide could also induce. As I came to a stop, I was speechless. My back hurt, the wind was knocked out of me, and I was kind of in shock. Why wasn't I warned this was going to happen?! Mae was feeling the same way. For a few minutes we stood there, mumbling out of breath about "Misery . . . terrible . . . torture." Amy felt so sorry for us and for ever encouraging me to go on that slide. When we got ourselves together, Mae and I looked at our backs and the red welts we found there. Looking around, we noticed other park guests with similar marks. Why didn't anyone caution us? "Why didn't you wave your arms and yell 'Don't do it!' when you go off the slide?" I asked Mae. She said she hadn't even thought about doing that. Oh well, at least we can say we experienced Summit Plummet, or should I say the Disney Water Torture ride?

To relax after our ordeal, we headed to Cross Country Creek, a peaceful lazy-river ride that circles Blizzard Beach. It was nice. Unfortunately, I could not lie back on my tube, not with the skin on my back still sore. (In fact, for the next 24 hours, my back would continue to have a couple of sore spots. Leaning back in a chair and sleeping were delicate situations.) Soon it was time to leave; we still had a full evening of activities ahead of us. We went to our room to change and then took a bus to the Magic Kingdom.

Polynesian Resort and 'Ohana

At the Magic Kingdom, we transferred to the Monorail to get to the Polynesian Resort where we had a 7 o'clock PS at 'Ohana. The Monorail had a strange stable/petting zoo smell, and we were glad when it reached our destination. We checked in and then took a quick glance around the hotel. Everything was beautiful. The shops and restaurants are themed to look like a tropical island. A waterfall, Tiki statues, and lush green plants decorated the lobby.

We were soon seated by our "Cuz," or cousin, since everyone is family at 'Ohana. Food arrived just moments later: honey coriander chicken wings, green beans, paper-wrapped shrimp, rice, salad, peanut sauce, ginger cilantro sauce, and pineapple sauce were the appetizers. This alone would have been a wonderful meal. I loved the chicken, and Mae raved about the peanut sauce, dipping everything she ate into it. Then the main courses arrived: marinated sirloin steak, mesquite seasoned turkey, grilled tiger shrimp, and barbequed pork loin. Our server brought the various meats to our table on long skewers. I'd ask for one or two and get three or four. It was a hearty, delicious meal. Just when I thought the meal couldn't be any more wonderful, the lights dimmed and Wishes, the Magic Kingdom's fireworks, began in the distance. The Wishes soundtrack played from the restaurant's speakers in time with the fireworks. I could not help myself, as I grew misty-eyed at another magic moment for our vacation. When Wishes ended, we continued our meal as pineapple and a caramel-dipping sauce were delivered to our table. The pineapple was a bit tough, but the caramel was good. Leaving the dining area, Amy remarked, "This is by far my favorite restaurant."

We browsed the Polynesian's shops and then the Grand Floridian's for a while. The Grand Floridian, in my opinion, is the most gorgeous resort at WDW, but I did feel a little uncomfortable there. It wasn't that anyone was snobby; it was just that it didn't feel like it was an appropriate place to skip with happiness (like you can at the Wilderness Lodge, especially at the Whispering Canyon Cafe) or gorge oneself on a buffet of meats (like at the Polynesian's 'Ohana). As we waited at the television-equipped bus stop, I thought to myself: Of course, if I could afford it, I'd stay at the Grand Floridian and *somehow* learn to relax.

Pleasure Island

Our final objective of the day was Pleasure Island. We must have looked quite out of place. All around us were club-hoppers dressed to impress. We still wore touristy park clothes and carried our many purchases. Unmindful of our image, we shrugged off our shopping bags and backpacks at a table in the nightclub Motion and hit the dance floor for about a half hour. Then we went to the Adventurers Club. We had prattled on about this club to Amy for the last year, telling her how it was unlike any other nightclub she'd ever go to and how much fun it was. We were all a bit disappointed when we missed the library show because it was too full. We sipped our tropical drinks in the main bar area and admired the decor. It was getting late and we were just too tired to stick around to try to get into the last library show. We shopped and pin traded at Pleasure Island's few stores -- the only people to do so from the looks of the empty shops. At one store, Amy finally found the Donald Duck sweatshirt she had been pining for. She exclaimed, "It's a sweaterrrr!" and explained that that was a funny line from "The Three Amigos." For some reason, it struck all of us as hilarious and we repeated it dozens of times for the rest of the trip. Then, we dragged ourselves to the bus stop to call it a day.

OPERATION DISNEY FANATIC had made some advances. Amy could not stop talking about Blizzard Beach. Since it was her first water park, the bar was set pretty high. She will be so let down when she visits her local water park. She had smiled from ear to ear the whole time we were there. I don't think she felt too guilty, after all, about subjecting me to Summit Plummet. Okay, okay, it was *my* choice, and my fault. Anyway, she also loved 'Ohana. Fireworks and a scrumptious dinner? A can't-miss combination. She was still not, however, a true Disney Fanatic. I had one more day.

Day Eight: Friday, January 16, 2004

Disney MGM Studios

For our last day, we woke early and hopped right over to the Studios. Two rides were beckoning: Rock 'n’ Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror. Amy handled Tower of Terror much better this third time. By now, she was a pro and really enjoyed the ride, just as Mae and I did. We had an odd late breakfast -- chilidogs overflowing with condiments. For dessert, we shared a chocolate-covered banana. With one last sigh-inducing look at the Hollywood Tower Hotel, we boarded a FriendShip to Epcot.

Epcot: World Showcase

Though we'd just eaten, Amy and I found ourselves drawn to the fine foods of Epcot. On our way around the lagoon, we stopped to share orange crepes in France. The crepes were covered in an orange marmalade sauce and granulated sugar. I had expected powdered sugar, but the granules gave the crepes a nice crunchy texture. We shopped in China, then headed to Mexico to share a churro and a Conga, a fruity refreshing drink. While we ate, Mae went in search of the nearby CM store backstage. She returned with a set of beautiful castle pins from the Disney parks around the world. A family passed by Amy and I as we ate our churro and asked us, "Is that churry sweet?" We described it and recommended it to them. As they walked away, I also had to recommend the Beaver Tails of Canada.

Epcot: Future World

Amy sat out, finishing the Conga, as Mae and I went straight to Mission: Space. This time I was fine, no dizziness, disorientation, or anything. I also managed to follow the storyline much better. Mae and I pressed buttons the whole ride, feeling like real astronauts controlling our spaceship. With a quick stop at Mouse Gear, we exited to the Monorail. Yup, it still smelled like a barn in there.

Magic Kingdom

Time was flying by. When we reached Main Street, our watches and our stomachs said it was time for a late lunch, though I felt like I'd been eating all day long. We discovered the Plaza Restaurant at the end of Main Street. It was very cute and much smaller inside than it looked. I'd never heard of it before, and we all felt like it was a serendipitous place. We shared a chicken and ham sandwich and a cheese-steak sandwich between the three of us.

Remembering the lesson we had learned in It's Tough to be a Bug (that the front is the best place to sit) we went right to the front row for Mickey's Philharmagic. Sure enough, it was even more transporting than before. I'll have to try out this theory on Honey, I Shrunk the Audience one of these days.

Walking through the park, we stopped a CM to trade pins. After chatting a bit, he opened his hip-pack and gave us a use-anytime FastPass for Space Mountain. We thanked him and set out for that very ride.

Night fell before we knew it. Why does that last day of a vacation have to go by so quickly? We found a spot to stand in middle of Main Street and waited for Wishes. Finally, we were able to view it as it should be viewed -- not from a moving boat, or from a distant restaurant, but right in front of the castle. We oohed and aahed over the fireworks and the projected images and lights on the castle. Mae and I had a sniffle or two as well. The park closed just as the show ended and we moved with the crowd to the exit. Mickey stood at the train station, waving goodbye to all his guests. Sniff, sniff.

Epcot

It seemed that everyone had the same plan as we did: Take the Monorail to Epcot to watch Illuminations. To escape the rush, we debarked at the Contemporary and shopped there for a bit. The Contemporary reminded me of the Disneyland Hotel in California; there's just a sense of history there. We left for Epcot after a bit and watched Illuminations. Mae cried throughout the show of course. It was the perfect ending to our day of park hopping.

Beach Club Resort and Beaches and Cream

We had one last Must-do: the Kitchen Sink. We walked to Beaches and Cream and told our server there that we didn't need menus; we knew exactly what we wanted. Amy, with her sweet tooth, was practically drooling to dig into the ice cream confection. As our dessert was being made, we whispered among ourselves, "Is that it?" "No, that's a cake. That can't be it. That's too big." It was it. The Kitchen Sink was huge: coffee, mint chip, strawberry, chocolate, vanilla, and peanut butter ice creams. As for toppings, it had peanut butter, chocolate syrup, caramel, strawberries, pineapple pieces, peanut butter chips, chocolate chips, cherries, sprinkles, a whole can of whipped cream, banana, and almond slivers. Within the mix, we also found brownies, cake, angel food cake, Oreos, Snickers, and a chocolate bar. When it was delivered to our table, the server loudly told the room what was in it and that “these three little piggies are going to eat it.” Everyone stared at us. A few people asked how it was, how we were progressing, and how we were ever going to finish it! We didn't finish it, but we came close. All that remained was a swirl of melted ice cream of unidentifiable flavors. Just as we gave up, another table ordered their own Kitchen Sink. We didn't stick around to see if they finished. After all, they were a group of six teenagers; the odds were in their favor.

We took the last bus we would take at WDW to our resort. A gaggle of college cheerleaders had arrived for the next day's competition at the Wide World of Sports, so it was quite a memorable bus ride.

Day Nine: Saturday, January 17, 2004 (Travel Day)

One last breakfast awaited us at the Intermission Food Court. Amy and I shared a cheese omelet, potatoes, and biscuit. Mae had another ketchup-oozing ham and cheese sandwich. I was glad it was the last bloody sandwich I'd have to look at for a while.

Check out went smoothly. Alexander, our driver from Happy Limo, took us to the airport. The ride was quiet. It's always bittersweet returning to home sweet home. Away sweet away had been so wonderful. The journey back to California was uneventful. We shopped at the airport's Disney Store (See? We couldn't get enough!). On the plane we had bland snacks: the world’s smallest turkey sandwich on the first leg of the flight, then a microwaved teriyaki chicken sandwich on the next.

For most of the time we were in Disney World, I felt as if I would never leave. Every day seemed to be the length of two days. Every day there was something to look forward to, and we packed each day with as much fun as we could. But when we landed in San Jose and arrived at the very same gate we had departed from, I felt that the entire trip had passed in an instant, just like a dream.

Final Thoughts

To gauge the true results of OPERATION DISNEY FANATIC, I went right to the source, revealing my plot to Amy and asking for her response. Boy, was I wrong about a few things (She loved Epcot)! This is the lovely email she sent to me to include in this trip report:

"I have always been a fan of Disney movies since I was a little girl. To me, that's all that Disney was. I have only been to Disneyland thrice in my life, and I loved each experience. When my aunt Vicky offered to take me to Walt Disney World, I was shocked. Disney World was just one of those places I didn't even dream about because I never believed I would go. In fact, even when we had our tickets and the date set, I still didn't quite believe I was going because in the back of my head I kept telling myself, "Something is going to happen and you won't get to go, so just forget about it." I was wrong. My WDW trip was one that I will never forget. I always thought of Disney as just cartoon characters; I never realized all that Disney did for its fans and customers; I never grasped that Disney had interests outside of cartoons. I shocked myself when I found out that my favorite park was Epcot. I thought Magic Kingdom would be my favorite, or even Animal Kingdom -- since I love animals so much. No, I found that Disney inspired a new love in me... traveling. World Showcase was one of my favorite parts of our trip, and that fact alone made me realize that there was more to enjoy about Disney besides cartoons. I now respect Disney for the way that they take interest in preserving animals, in the world's different cultures, and in making people happy. On a scale from 1-10, my admiration of Disney was a 7. Now it's a 9. And I owe it all to my loving aunt who went out of her way to try to make me a Disney freak. Even though my aunts probably break the scale set, I bet I still know more about Disney cartoons than they do!"

Well, that's our trip report. I'd like to say thanks to Janice for sending me directions, a spreadsheet, and other information -- all were very helpful -- and to Robin for writing about her "Swolphin" game -- what fun! -- and to all my fellow trip reporters who entertain, inform, and inspire me.

Victoria Kahler