Oh Luggage, Where Art Thou?

[hookedonthemagic]

This is my first attempt at a trip report so please be gentle.

The Cast:
Me - Melissa - a certified Disney addict. I definitely have issues. I can't stay away!

DH - sometimes known as Mr. Goody2Shoes (Mr. G2S) Not as big of a fan as I am, but he signed a piece of paper to stay with me so he's in for the long haul. :thumbsup2

DS 11 - Loves it as much as his mom! Training him up right.

DS 8 - We've been so many times that he was calling it "BoringWorld" until we got there. Think Stitch in human form - that just about says it all. :stitch:

DBFF - My best friend from college - even worse than I am!
DBFFH - Also addicted
DBFFS 8 - Still thinks it's all real - so cute!

Okay, so I should say first of all that we had not planned to go to Disney this summer. We were going to save all of our fundage towards our Christmas trip. But when DBFF called and said that they were going, we just couldn't help ourselves. She & I have both been to WDW on a number of occassions but never at the same time. It may sound corny, but to share those rides with her was important to me. Okay, that's as serious as it gets, I promise.

We arrived on Wed, June 14 to stay at ASSp. Now we have never stayed there - we are hardcore ASMu fans but we had to change our travel dates because of a most excellent airfare deal and ASMu couldn't accomodate our change. So, we stayed from Wed to Sun at ASSp, then moved next door to ASMu. But I'm getting ahead of myself.......

We took the Magical Express to the hotel, no problems, no long waits, everything was fine. I had also learned from my previous experiences to take a travel bag with pajamas, swimwear etc. so that in case your luggage was not timely, you had what you needed to get around at the hotel. Well, since our plane was early and MK was open late, we checked in at 6pm, dropped off our stuff at the room and headed straight for MK. I was sooo excited! :bounce:
Just the sight of that castle brings a tear to my eye!

DH and I had planned to try and knock out as many rides as we could and skip the parade and fireworks. We headed straight for Space Mtn. but all the FP were already gone! :sad2: Well, we decided to FP Buzz and we hopped on my favorite ride CofP. I know, I know, it's cheesy, or whatever, but I love it! :teeth: I sang the whole way through! And you never know if it's gonna be open or not, so I have to ride it when it's there. Ya know?
We were also able to get right into Philharmagic. I swear it's just the greatest. I could see that a hundred times and never get tired of it. :lovestruc After that we hurried back to Buzz and DH kicked all of our butts! I don't know how he hits all of the 100,000 targets! It makes me so mad!
After that we got a quick bite to eat at Cosmic Ray's where we entertained by the highly talented Sonny Eclipse. Wow is that guy good! :goodvibes
The kids just laughed and laughed! We pretty much had the place to ourselves so we could hear all of the cheeseball jokes! ("Yeah, folks, Ray pays me weekly - very weakly!") :rotfl2:
After that it was almost time to get outta there, but we wanted to try and catch HM in the dark - extra scary for the kiddos. :scared1: It was fun! Then while the fireworks were going off in the distance, we were high-tailing throught the Emporium all the way to the end of Main Street.

Now this is where it gets really good.......

We arrive back at the hotel at approximately 11pm. We get to our room and there's the refrig we ordered but, guess what??? Oh, you've got it.... NO LUGGAGE!!! Well, I'm a pro at this because mine took 5 hours last year to get there, so I get on the phone with the front desk. The gal there tells me that my luggage had just been scanned at the airport at 10:30pm!!!! Well, now I'm mad! We checked in early for our flight, our plane was even early in Orlando, but still my luggage is screwed up! :sad2: But the front desk girl assured me that it was already en route to the hotel and that she would put a rush on it the moment that it arrived.
I have to say kudos to that cast member - she did exactly what she said she would do - and my luggage arrived at approximately 11:40pm. Still very much later than expected, but it was all there.
I am happy and we go to bed.

End of Day 1.

Tune in tomorrow for another installment of Oh Luggage, Where Art Thou? popcorn::

[TLinden16]

Great start to your trip! You fit in quite a bit in the hours you had at the Magic Kingdom that evening! I can't believe it took so long for your luggage to get to your resort!

Thanks for posting. I can't wait to hear more.

[pumba]

we were without luggage one year.....before ME.. We were green behind the ears and didnt know enough to have extra clothes in carryons.....so we had to stay in jeans for six hours in Florida heat....

Thanks so much for your report. and Wow you did alot in a short time span....

[2infinity&B-ond]

DS 8 - We've been so many times that he was calling it "BoringWorld" until we got there. Think Stitch in human form - that just about says it all.

Let your DS know anytime he wants to sit out, I would be more than happy to take his place!!! :rotfl2:

Great report so far, can't wait for more!!!!! ::MickeyMo

[Minniespal]

Excellent start ~ Can't wait for more.

[MelanieC]

Can't wait to read more! Enjoying it so far!

[hookedonthemagic]

Day 2 - EPCOT!

Now personally, we always start at Epcot for our first full day and because we've always started there, my kids love it! We followed a touring plan from (my favorite) The Unofficial Guide and had no big problems! We were there about 20 min. before opening and just in time for them to start letting us in! We were poised at the rope on our way to Test Track. That worked out really well because we were able to be in the very first group on the ride! :cheer2:

You make think I'm crazy :crazy: but we decided to skip Mission Space. I know, I know.....but we just weren't that crazy about it and we were totally into trying to get to Soarin' as fast as we could. So we ran (okay, a brisk mall walk) over to Soarin' and got FastPasses. We didn't get to catch Crush the last time that we were there (last May) so we ran over to the Living Seas. LOTS OF CONSTRUCTION! But the best part, is that you don't have to pretend that you're going "underground" in those darn elevators anymore!!!! :teeth: :thumbsup2 You walk straight into the bottom floor! Woo Hoo! We waited approximately 15 min to see Crush and boy, oh boy am I glad that we did! Stinkin' hilarious!

The kids all get to sit down front and the parents sit on benches. It is made to look like you are looking in an aquarium. Well, then we all call Crush and he comes up and knocks on the glass and says "ooooo, a people tank". It was priceless! I know that they are using computer animation, but I'm still baffled :confused3 at exactly how the whole thing works! His expressions were unreal! I have to tell you about this one funny part - he takes questions from kids in the audience and he picks this one little girl - I'd say maybe 4 yrs old. She says "Where do baby turtles come from?" and the whole place loses it! :rotfl2: But the best part is the look on Crush's face - :eek: Yes - just like the guy there - :eek: And he just holds the look until everybody stops laughing - which I must say was a good 30 seconds. Then his classis answer (and you must read this with your best Crush surfer dude accent) "Okay, little dudette, that's gonna be a question for the mom. And, uh, mom? Good luck with that one!" The whole place rolls again! :rotfl2:
It was definitely a highlight!

After we left there, we caught Journey Into Your Imagination - also one of our favorites - :figment: and there is once again no wait for this ride! I don't get it! It's cute, it's funny, it's air-conditioned! And there's never anyone there! Go figure! :confused3 By then it's time for our FP for Soarin' so we go back and ride the greatest ride currently at WDW. If you haven't been on this - you absolutely must not miss it on your next trip! And try to get in row 1. Unbelievable! :cloud9:

It is now approximately 11:15am so we stroll up through the World Showcase to the International Gateway. We exit and go by boat over to the Boardwalk. We'd never been and decided to go and check it out. There's not a whole heck of a lot going on at 11:30 so you might want to check it out when there is more activity, but it was okay. We had planned to eat at the ESPN place and the food was good, service was great and the World Cup games were on. Lots of fun! Afterwards we strolled up the Boardwalk and then walked back to Epcot.

It's around 1:30 now and OH MY GOSH is it ever hot!!! :sunny: :earseek:
We are officially dead by the time that we get back to the bridge between Future World and World Showcase so we decide to hold down a bench for a couple of minutes. Now, I realize that I'm in Florida in June and I expect it to be hot, but when sweat is literally dripping from my face, it's a little annoying. :crazy: It took an entire frozen Raspberry Lemonade to bring my body temperature back down to where the dripping stopped. (boy that sounds good right now!) :)

We managed to get FP for Test Track again and we went and rode Spaceship Earth - another fav. Did you know that it has a new sponsor??? Siemens is the new sponsor and I talked with a cast member that said a renovation is supposed to start and take about a year to complete! How exciting!

After that we went to Innoventions. We were trying to do some things that we had never done before so that Mr. BoringWorld would be happy! We had never been to Innoventions and I heard about free robots and anytime I can get something for free at WDW I am a happy camper! :woohoo:
I have heard some people talk about the "boring" plastic lecture that you have to sit through, but honestly it wasn't so bad - only about 10 minutes. Then you get to race your robot with the other people in your group and finally build your own robot to take home with you! Not just the kids either, mind you. Both me and Mr. G2S built ours as well. :yay: And did I mention that it was free?????

We then went over to see Ellen - I love that pre-show! And 45 minutes in air conditioning isn't bad either! After that the FP for Test Track were good, so we went and did it one more time. At that point it was getting close to supper so we ducked into the Electric Umbrella - by DS 11's favorite place to eat in all of WDW. :rotfl2: I know, I know..... :sad2: but whaddya do???

After that we were so exhausted from the heat that we went back to the hotel (we have a 2nd Epcot day coming!) so that the boys could swim. :beach: After that a couple of episodes of Zach & Cody :happytv: and we hit the sack!

Coming soon: Day 3 - Animal Kingdom/Downtown Disney!

[KathyRN137]

Love hearing about a family having a great time together!! :goodvibes
Please post next part soon!

[roberrl187]

Great start. :thumbsup2

[ohboyx3]

Oh man..... you're making me want to go back RIGHT NOW!!!!!! Sigh....... Keep the trip reports coming!

[missmun52]

Nice Report!!

[Backstage_Gal]

Enjoying your report, thanks. Keep it coming.

[javamom]

Good report, Crush sounds like a hoot!

:thumbsup2

[DeterminedOne]

Good report. Can't wait to read about day two at Epcot. :thumbsup2

[Disney owl]

Great sart thanks for sharing

[haunted51]

Great report!!! Can't wait to read more... :thumbsup2

[missj1975]

Thanks for sharing. Love the report so far. My best friend got married in Orlando last July. Imagine wearing a pale blue floor length bridesmaid dress for an outdoor ceremony. Sweat was rolling down my face during the whole ceremony. I was trying not to swipe away the sweat too much because I didn't want to distract the guests who were listening to the vows. I almost kissed the ground when the minister pronounced them man and wife. Thank goodness the dinner was indoors because I was ready to pass out. My best friend did take me to Magic Kingdom for a day (first time I went as an adult) and now I am hooked. :cheer2:

[Lisa_Belle]

We get to our room and there's the refrig we ordered but, guess what??? Oh, you've got it.... NO LUGGAGE!!! Well, I'm a pro at this because mine took 5 hours last year to get there, so I get on the phone with the front desk. The gal there tells me that my luggage had just been scanned at the airport at 10:30pm!!!! Well, now I'm mad! We checked in early for our flight, our plane was even early in Orlando, but still my luggage is screwed up! :sad2:

I feel for you. The only time in almost 40 years of flying that my luggage has been lost was once when I flew into Orlando. :sad2: It's been 30 years, and I STILL have panic attacks whenever I have to check luggage.

Glad everything turned out OK. Can't wait to read more.

[cmsnyder77]

We were there for that session with Crush! It was hilarious.

I remember how hot that day was. My skin felt like it was being scorched.

[TaraLee4]

i'm checking my notes...
and we had a fastpass return for 11:25 for Sorin'
WE WERE SO FREAKING CLOSE!!!


and i made him spend ALL DAY at Epcot.
all day. but that's coming up in my trip report, so you'll just have to wait to hear about the hunt for you!!

[3princesses+aprince]

I'll be waiting for the rest of your report, it's great.
It must have been fun for your son to have a friend his age there too.

[byoung]

Liked your report.

[cynderella]

Great trip report, hookedonthemagic. Looking forward to more adventures!

[cyjmhill]

Loving your trip report...keep it coming!!

Can't wait to read the rest!!!

[hookedonthemagic]

I feel for you. The only time in almost 40 years of flying that my luggage has been lost was once when I flew into Orlando. :sad2: It's been 30 years, and I STILL have panic attacks whenever I have to check luggage.

Glad everything turned out OK. Can't wait to read more.

Yeah, well, you haven't heard the rest yet.....
To title the thread like I did, there's still more to come..... :smooth:

[hookedonthemagic]

We were there for that session with Crush! It was hilarious.

I remember how hot that day was. My skin felt like it was being scorched.


OH MY GOSH! Where was your lime green tag to identify yourself????
It was a great session and it was the hottest day I've ever spent in FL. :sunny:

[hookedonthemagic]

i'm checking my notes...
and we had a fastpass return for 11:25 for Sorin'
WE WERE SO FREAKING CLOSE!!!


and i made him spend ALL DAY at Epcot.
all day. but that's coming up in my trip report, so you'll just have to wait to hear about the hunt for you!!


UGH!!!! If you knew how obsessed I was..... :rotfl2:
I'm reading yours, too!!

[hookedonthemagic]

Okay, everyone - ready for Animal Kingdom?

DH and I sure were! Ready for Everest at least. But all the kids wanted to do was sleep! So I'm freaking out that we're going to be late for the park opening at 8am. :crazy: We didn't even board the bus until 8:20am - UGH!!! Whose kids are these????

We get there and find, though, that the park didn't open until 9am! Could it be that the Disney planner extraordinaire had wrong information???? Well, let's just say that DH didn't let me live that down!

Side note- While we are being all scrunched together in line :crowded: I notice that the girl next to me has brought her Prada bag to AK - what's up with that????

Okay, so we finally get let in, only to be held at the Tree. Now everyone is trying to listen to the park opening ceremony - everyone except DS8. The only person talking is him and what's he saying???? "You didn't let me have breakfast - I'm starving!" Over and over and over. So, I'm combing the area :magnify: for any type of vendor selling anything - anything at all! Lo and behold not 10 ft from where we are standing is a pastry cart vendor - THANK GOD! :worship: So, as soon as the rope drops, instead of heading to Everest as originally planned - we head to the pastry cart. People are looking at us kinda weird - and I know we were certainly the only people at that cart - no waiting there! While I took care of that situation, DH and DS11 headed off to Dinosaur and rode that while DS8 and I had a nice Cinnamon roll at a table outside of Hester & Chester's place. If you are one of the people that stopped and looked at us kinda funny - now you understand. :rolleyes:

After we ate and DS8 was fully satisfied (great rolls by the way) we rode Primeval Whirl. As we were taking off we saw DS11 and DH who hopped in line and were just a few cars behind us. (Hey, I figured at this point, we'd better just roll with the situation). We then took the new walkway around to Everest.

If you haven't heard, the Tarzan show is no longer ( :yay: ) and they are currently re-doing the building for a Nemo show. It's all blocked off but they were hammering away.

We get around to Everest and get FP (there's a 40 min. wait by this time). We decided to walk around just to check the wait on Kali River Rapids and it was only 10 MINUTES!!!! :banana: Now this is truly incredible since it's about 100 degrees in the shade (AK is always soooooo hot!) :sunny: so DH and the boys hop right in line and I set out to look for a nice shady bench. :teeth:
Sidebar: I love all rides - however, I don't like to be uncomfortably wet. Everytime I ride Kali, I'm the one that gets soaked. I'd rather be hot than soaking wet.
I walk around towards where the exit is for the ride and as I'm going around the corner right at the entrance to the Maharajah jungle trek, I see a camera crew! :smooth: So I'm looking and I don't see anybody - they look like they're taking a break or something. Then I see it - the perfect, uninhabited, shady bench calling my name! I start towards it and this group of kids are coming out of the exit of Kali. They're wet, there's about 5 of them and just as I'm passing them, this one kids says "That ride was soooo scary, it made the hair on the back of my neck stand up!" I diagonally cross behind them and look up to see the TV crew jump up and start following them! :woohoo: I'm in a video!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :woohoo: I don't know what they were shooting for - it could be a new informational video, it could have been for Disney Channel. But they took that take of it - I should know, I sat on that bench for the next 15 minutes! ;)
DH & sons enjoyed the ride so much, they went and did it again! Meanwhile, I watched some monkeys and me and another Disney Mom whom I'd never met before bonded and took pics of the monkeys. :chat:
When they came out this time, we got ice cream bars and prepared to go on the jungle trek - only to find out that you can't take ice cream bars in there. So we again looked like dorks and stood outside of the entrance eating our ice cream. :mickeybar

When we finally went on the trek we saw a kimodo dragon, bats, sleeping tigers (and ya know, I always say, let sleeping tigers lie) and some antelope and peacocks. We had never done the trek before so it was different and I'd never seen bats or dragons, so I guess that was cool. Nothing to write home about though.

So now, we've finally made it to our Everest FP time - oh the anticipation! Sing it with me......"anticipation, it's making me wait!" (sidebar: I have a music degree and randomly and frequently burst out into song - sorry) The queing (sp?) area is incredible! Stop and look at the artifacts and if you get a chance to catch a travel channel re-run of the freaky Imagineer with the big honking earrings traveling over there to buy all of the stuff and research for the ride it's pretty cool - you should watch it. :happytv: We're finally at the place where they start assigning you your row and DS11 (he's a bit of a chicken) starts freaking out. :scared1: Now, many of you may think I'm terrible, but he's been totally stoked for this ride until just this very minute, so like any good Disney mom I told him to suck it up and get on the ride. No way was he backing out now! :love2: He got to sit next to me and we boarded the ride (much to his dismay). IT WAS AWESOME!!!!! So, so good. Oh, how I love to go backwards! Although, I will say that I was very preoccupied looking for the Yeti. And DS11 was making a face something close to this - :scared: Yes, really. But even DS11 loved it and all agreed that we needed to ride it again - so we got FP to come back after lunch - our FP time was 3:30-4:30pm - that's important for later.

At this point we had 15 minutes until the next show of Lion King started :simba: and I am the BIGGEST fan of this show. I do not ever, ever miss it when I'm at AK. It makes me laugh :goodvibes it makes me cry. :sad: Yeah, I don't even know why I cry, it's just when they start the finale and they get to "Circle of Life" and the next thing you know, I'm wiping tears away. Can't explain it.......DH says I'm a big sap. I'll accept that. So needless to say, we made it. Not a moment too soon, but we made it.

After the show, we had a PS at Rainforest so we headed there. Didn't have to wait very long and boy was I glad! We were starving - just ask DS8! :) One piece of advice for you on your next trip - Rainforest still calls 'em kids until they are 12 - take them up on that one and also meal sharing is very appropriate here as the servings are huge! DH and I shared Brave New World - fancy name for a barbecue chicken pizza, huh? The kids both ate off of the kids menu. It was a lot of fun. And it's air-conditioned, too!!! DS8 and DS11 even complained of being cold! :rotfl2: Well, when we finished eating, we all decided that we were really done at AK all except for that darned Everest that we wanted to ride again. But seeing as we were at the front of the park and Everest is at the back of the park, we decided to call it a day.

Now, it's really only about 2pm, so there's still a good deal of time before the FP are even good and I told DH that I just couldn't let them go to waste. So, while I was shopping around in the Rainforest store, I found a family of 4 and asked them if they had been on the ride yet. They said no, they hadn't but if the wait wasn't too long, they were going to go. I explained that we were leaving for the day and asked them if they would like to have our FP. They were very excited to have them and what a good feeling I left with for the day! Group Hug everybody! :grouphug:

About the time that we got back to ASSp for the boys to go swim, one of those infamous afternoon thunderstorms made an appearance and we didn't get to swim. We watched TV instead and had nap time!

The rest of this day was spent at Downtown Disney which will be my next post! More soon!
Melissa

[hookedonthemagic]

Great trip report, hookedonthemagic. Looking forward to more adventures!


Hey!

Thanks for coming over and checking it out!

Respecting the lime!
Melissa

[TaraLee4]

Day 2 - EPCOT!

We were poised at the rope on our way to Test Track. That worked out really well because we were able to be in the very first group on the ride! :cheer2:

ARE YOU SERIOUS?! SO WERE WE!! I DIDN'T SEE ANY MICKEY HEADS!!! AND I WAS LOOKING!!


We managed to get FP for Test Track again and we went and rode Spaceship Earth - another fav. Did you know that it has a new sponsor??? Siemens is the new sponsor and I talked with a cast member that said a renovation is supposed to start and take about a year to complete! How exciting!

i remember saying to DFi...i thought this was sponsored by AT&T. hmmm.
That does sound cool though!

We then went over to see Ellen - I love that pre-show! And 45 minutes in air conditioning isn't bad either!

we saved this for later in the day too...when DFi's feet were "killing him" and it was "too hot to be outside looking for people" (hahahaha...i was looking for you!!)

[DISUNC]

:woohoo: :cool1:

Great first 3 installments of your TR! I am OFFICIALLY hooked! ;)

I must tell you that I :love: you because you used the word "fundage"!!!!!

And I :love: :love: :love: ANYONE who :love: :love: :love: the COP!!!!!
My absolute FAVORITE!!!

When either I go down to WDW or my Best friend goes to WDW (we too have never been there at the same time...even though this may still happen this year...we are working on his wifes approval!!!!!)....we always call each other on the cell phone & the other listens to the WHOLE attraction!!! :wizard: :thumbsup2

[arizonacolbys]

Great trip report!! :thumbsup2 Can't wait to read more!! :cool1:

[LizzySwan1022]

Wow, great trip report. I must say I would have made my family stay to go on EE again, but they're a bunch of chickens so it's only me and my sister anyway.

[Lisa_Belle]

Did you get to see much of the filming? I've seen a couple of commercials and a movie shoot. It's kind of interesting.

Lisa

[hookedonthemagic]

:woohoo: :cool1:

Great first 3 installments of your TR! I am OFFICIALLY hooked! ;)

I must tell you that I :love: you because you used the word "fundage"!!!!!

And I :love: :love: :love: ANYONE who :love: :love: :love: the COP!!!!!
My absolute FAVORITE!!!

When either I go down to WDW or my Best friend goes to WDW (we too have never been there at the same time...even though this may still happen this year...we are working on his wifes approval!!!!!)....we always call each other on the cell phone & the other listens to the WHOLE attraction!!! :wizard: :thumbsup2

AWWWWW, It makes me soooo happy that my lime green friends have come over to visit! :wave:

Fundage is a great word that is often overlooked.

If they ever tear down the COP I'll be there staging a protest. Ya know, you never know how long something will be around so everytime I'm there I have to ride it. I sing along the entire time. DH hates that! :teeth:
You're gonna love the next MK installment.....(that's officially a teaser) :goodvibes
Oh, and I hope your best buddy gets to go with you - it's the best. :hug:

Melissa

[hookedonthemagic]

ARE YOU SERIOUS?! SO WERE WE!! I DIDN'T SEE ANY MICKEY HEADS!!! AND I WAS LOOKING!!



i remember saying to DFi...i thought this was sponsored by AT&T. hmmm.
That does sound cool though!



we saved this for later in the day too...when DFi's feet were "killing him" and it was "too hot to be outside looking for people" (hahahaha...i was looking for you!!)


Okay, so the whole day we looked for a dark-complected guy with khaki's while I then double-checked the girl for a pink bag.....we were probably standing right next to each other! UGH! :crazy:

[justplaingoofy]

popcorn::



This is like a great series!!!

[missmun52]

I am enjoying your report :)

[cynderella]

We're finally at the place where they start assigning you your row and DS11 (he's a bit of a chicken) starts freaking out. Now, many of you may think I'm terrible, but he's been totally stoked for this ride until just this very minute, so like any good Disney mom I told him to suck it up and get on the ride. No way was he backing out now!
I so don't think you're terrible! My DD6 cried and freaked through the whole queue for Tower of Terror at DCA, also after anticipating it for weeks before we went, and I made her do it anyway. She ended up loving it and now calls it her favorite ride. Durn kids.

[hookedonthemagic]

I so don't think you're terrible! My DD6 cried and freaked through the whole queue for Tower of Terror at DCA, also after anticipating it for weeks before we went, and I made her do it anyway. She ended up loving it and now calls it her favorite ride. Durn kids.


Ahhhhhh, another great mom! :hug:

[hookedonthemagic]

Did you get to see much of the filming? I've seen a couple of commercials and a movie shoot. It's kind of interesting.

Lisa


I only saw that and on our first Epcot day, I neglected to mention that we saw a team outside the Land Pavillion filming in Spanish. We tried to get in on that one, too. :teeth:

[cyjmhill]

I said it before, and I'll say it again...

Loving your trip report...keep it coming!!

Can't wait to read the rest!!!
:thumbsup2

[hookedonthemagic]

So when I last left you, it was pouring at the ASSp resort.....

We decide to drag our wretched bodies out the door and head to Downtown Disney (thought I was going to say Haunted Mansion -didn't ya?). We waited on a bus forever!!! But the real fun started once we were on the bus......
While the kids had been watching TV back at the resort, DH and I caught a cat nap. Unbeknownst to us, DS8 :joker: had taken my cell phone and made a video of DH sleeping in his boxers and snoring. He asks for my cell on the bus and shows us his little piece of cinematography. :rotfl2: Well, I'm laughing so hard on the bus that people are starting to look at us and DH is completely red-faced! :blush: It was great!

We get to DD and I'm soooo excited! Like any good woman - I love to shop! I head straight for the scrapbooking store and I have to say I'm a little disappointed. I spent way less than I had intended and got everything I wanted. They definitely could use my help on that one. But while we were traveling through to the Art of Disney, we saw the little girls that had been to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique getting their pictures made! princess: OH MAH GAH! God certainly knew what he was doing with me by giving me boys, because if I had a little girl, I would be completely broke. I don't know how you guys that have girls do it. Their little hair, the nails, the make up, the princess dress........(everyone together) Big sigh........

We headed across the street into the Christmas Store where I normally go nuts. However, I had promised DH that since we are going back for Christmas that I would behave. I only bought 1 ornament. :angel:

DH is not a shopper at all, but he always wants to go to the ESPN store. We went there, I tried and tried to get him to buy something, anything, but no, he left empty-handed. :confused3

Once Upon A Toy - Again a little disappointed in the selection - nothing really new. However, DS11 was the most frustrated. He has the monorail in his bedroom (yes, it was an impulse buy on our first trip many moons ago) and he was wanting to add the Polynesian Resort and they don't make it anymore!??! We looked the whole week. A CM told us that they are re-doing it and the whole monorail playset and will be coming out with new stuff soon. (sarcastically) Oh boy!

At the World of Disney, DS8 got sucked in to the new Pirate Room. But I have to say, I had given the boys their money before we got to WDW and they each knew how much they had to spend. So, DS8 picked out a treasure chest and stuffed it to the brim with jewels, coins and of course, a bloody eyeball. pirate:

Where the real fun was had, was outside the World of Disney. They have a giant Stitch :stitch: on top of the building and he spits on guests below. Well, DS8 and DS11 loved that and got totally drenched. DH and I watched from a safe distance.

You'll probably think this is terrible, but we left after that and returned to the resort. Remember, the boys hadn't gone swimming earlier so we owed them. And that's what we did. And all was right with the world.

Now tomorrow's installment adds my DBFF and her DH and DS. It gets fun from here.....but I have to go to bed! More soon!

[hookedonthemagic]

I said it before, and I'll say it again...

Loving your trip report...keep it coming!!

Can't wait to read the rest!!!
:thumbsup2


Thanks so much. I'm much funnier in person than in print. :teeth: But I'm trying! Thanks again!

[justplaingoofy]

More! More! popcorn::


Oh..how I appreciate your sense of humor! :cheer2: you remind me so much of my sister with your parenting ideas. Her kids have to try something first before they say they don't like it... yep, green beans, broccoli, and tower of terror. And yes, now they do love all 3! :teeth:

Wow!! just realized its almost midnight! No wonder you went to bed!

[hookedonthemagic]

More! More! popcorn::


Oh..how I appreciate your sense of humor! :cheer2: you remind me so much of my sister with your parenting ideas. Her kids have to try something first before they say they don't like it... yep, green beans, broccoli, and tower of terror. And yes, now they do love all 3! :teeth:

Wow!! just realized its almost midnight! No wonder you went to bed!


Very funny! And no, for some reason I'm still here and not in bed yet. Meanwhile DH is on the couch behind me sound asleep and snoring like a log. :surfweb:

[MemoryMakers2669]

OK, subscribing, but also want to know what DBFF is? What is the extra F is what I really want to know..I know it is for Dear Best Friend.

[kaw1218]

AWWWWW, It makes me soooo happy that my lime green friends have come over to visit! :wave:


Well, someone has to read it! ( and we kinda felt sorry for ya) :rotfl: :rotfl:
Seriously though, great TR. You and Tara are both great writers.... now if I can only convince one of you to write mine in September..........

[Luvchefmic]

Okay, everyone - ready for Animal Kingdom?

So now, we've finally made it to our Everest FP time - oh the anticipation! Sing it with me......"anticipation, it's making me wait!" (sidebar: I have a music degree and randomly and frequently burst out into song - sorry) The queing (sp?) area is incredible! Stop and look at the artifacts and if you get a chance to catch a travel channel re-run of the freaky Imagineer with the big honking earrings traveling over there to buy all of the stuff and research for the ride it's pretty cool - you should watch it. :happytv: We're finally at the place where they start assigning you your row and DS11 (he's a bit of a chicken) starts freaking out. :scared1: Now, many of you may think I'm terrible, but he's been totally stoked for this ride until just this very minute, so like any good Disney mom I told him to suck it up and get on the ride. No way was he backing out now! :love2: He got to sit next to me and we boarded the ride (much to his dismay). IT WAS AWESOME!!!!! So, so good. Oh, how I love to go backwards! Although, I will say that I was very preoccupied looking for the Yeti. And DS11 was making a face something close to this - :scared: Yes, really.


Melissa, When I was there last year I was watching the Imagineers building this beast, I kept looking up and up until the clouds and I caused myself a real neck pain....I remember thinking Oh I wish I was brave enough to go on this, Well I am taking you with me next week, well at least I am going to print out the "Suck it up speech" and you'll be in my pocket I can't be put to shame by an 11 yr old :blush:

Really enjoying your TR so far,
Ruthie

[hookedonthemagic]

OK, subscribing, but also want to know what DBFF is? What is the extra F is what I really want to know..I know it is for Dear Best Friend.


Well, in my mind, it means Disney Best Friend Forever. I was trying to find a way to have an abbreviation that would be appropriate for her. That's the best I could come up with. :)

[hookedonthemagic]

Well, someone has to read it! ( and we kinda felt sorry for ya) :rotfl: :rotfl:
Seriously though, great TR. You and Tara are both great writers.... now if I can only convince one of you to write mine in September..........


It's nice to be felt sorry for! :thumbsup2
I just wish I was going with you in Sept. I'm sure you won't be writing about the miserable heat that Tara and I experienced. Nor the crowds. :rolleyes:

[hookedonthemagic]

Melissa, When I was there last year I was watching the Imagineers building this beast, I kept looking up and up until the clouds and I caused myself a real neck pain....I remember thinking Oh I wish I was brave enough to go on this, Well I am taking you with me next week, well at least I am going to print out the "Suck it up speech" and you'll be in my pocket I can't be put to shame by an 11 yr old :blush:

Really enjoying your TR so far,
Ruthie

Ruthie-
Yes, we were there last May and I have pics of it going up and we were so excited then. DS11 has even downloaded the EE game off of the web and watched the Travel Channel special all about it. There was no way he was getting out of it! ;) So, here's a special sneak peek just for you: It's kinda like BTMR with a backwards section and a huge Yeti at the end trying to grab you. Very mild actually. So listen Marine Mom, you cannot be a self-respecting Dis board member if you don't get on this thing! SUCK IT UP AND GO! :teeth: And I want to hear all about it when you get back!
Melissa

[Luvchefmic]

Ruthie-
Yes, we were there last May and I have pics of it going up and we were so excited then. DS11 has even downloaded the EE game off of the web and watched the Travel Channel special all about it. There was no way he was getting out of it! ;) So, here's a special sneak peek just for you: It's kinda like BTMR with a backwards section and a huge Yeti at the end trying to grab you. Very mild actually. So listen Marine Mom, you cannot be a self-respecting Dis board member if you don't get on this thing! SUCK IT UP AND GO! :teeth: And I want to hear all about it when you get back!
Melissa

Ok Melissa, but there will be another note in my pocket, to whom it may concern upon my demise please go to Disboard.com and get in touch with YOU...it will be on your head....now I have to do it, what are there like 100,000 people that have access to this ? and how would I ever face the green club and You know who..! who doesn't miss a trick. :listen: .I promise a TR ....if I survive.....GULP

[hookedonthemagic]

Ok Melissa, but there will be another note in my pocket, to whom it may concern upon my demise please go to Disboard.com and get in touch with YOU...it will be on your head....now I have to do it, what are there like 100,000 people that have access to this ? and how would I ever face the green club and You know who..! who doesn't miss a trick. :listen: .I promise a TR ....if I survive.....GULP

You will be a survivor! :thumbsup2 And you're right, the limegreen police would never let you live it down! ::cop:

[Luvchefmic]

Loving your report so please get back to it ...didn't mean to high-jack it with my chicken sh*t feelings....I'm a night worker so I am saying ZZZZZZZZZZzzzz for now, will check your posts tomorrow..loving it.thanks for your support, Ruthie

[cyjmhill]

more...more...more. I'm hooked. You write so well - I am :rotfl2: .

You should publish the movie your DS made. :happytv:

I am waiting impatiently. :)

[hookedonthemagic]

Saturday - The Magic Kingdom - All day, no looking back - not a ride left unridden!

Yay! The arrival of DBFF is here!!!! I'm sooo excited! :banana: We live about 7 hours away from each other and don't get to see one another except every couple of years so this is huge for me! So I'm up and ready to go. Then there's DS8......... pirate: Every morning we have to drag him out of bed! WHOSE KID IS THIS? I'm trying to be there for park opening so as not to throw off DBFF's touring plan!

Now, I haven't said much about this, but I am a planning fool. I start months ahead of time and check the WDW website for changes regularly, have several guide books, etc. I look at it as failing to plan is planning to fail - and by that I mean without a good worked-out plan, you won't get to ride everything that you want to, much less a second (or third) ride. So you gotta be prepared. DH thinks that I'm like a drill seargent on this (however I don't see him complaining when we're not waiting in any lines). But DH got a good sense of just how tame I am when he saw DBFF pull out her LAMINATED touring plans that she had typed out complete with times! :cheer2: She made me look angelic and completely rational! (love you girl!)

We used cell phones to call each other and find each other in the mob of people and it was really easy - it is a small world after all! This was the very first time that I've ever seen the opening ceremony on top of the train station. The Mayor was there and of course Mickey and the gang. Very fun and the perfect way to start my perfect day.

Now DBFF's touring plan is the one we're following today and so we are starting at Space Mtn. We cut through the Tomorrowland Terrace restaurant so as to gain some ground on those people that took a light jog down Main Street. See, me, DBFF, and even the DH's aren't in the best shape and I'm personally a little too round to be running first thing in the morning. :teeth: So, we too get held at the rope, but you shoulda seen the faces of those people that had sprinted to get there and we just come sauntering up. :smooth: So when they drop the rope, the race continues - well DBFF's DH (henceforth referred to as DH2) started trying to distract some of the crowd with the following "Hey, look, there's Mickey". ::MickeyMo Nothing doing, they weren't buying it. They were in an out and out run by that point. :sad2: We continued walking - mind you, a brisk mall walk, but still walking. We made it onto SM with no wait cause as soon as we got to the point where it splits for the 2 tracks, they opened up the 2nd track! :thumbsup2 Walking pays off!

After a glorious time on SM, we race back over to Buzz. I am a huge fan of this ride. DH and DH2 rode together, All 3 DS's rode together and DBFF and I rode together. DH and DH2 are ultra-competitive and DBFF and I set out to try and beat them. She had read me where some of the high point Z's were and we were trying to hit them all. :p Well, that didn't turn out so well. I don't know how they do it but I can't even hit the right targets when I know where they are! :confused3 It was such a short line when we came off of it that we decided to ride it one more time! :cheer2:

Afterwords, DBFF and co. wanted to ride Stitch. Well, they were on their own on this one. We went on it last year and collectively agreed to never ride it again! YUK! So while they got grossed out, we went over to the Tea Cups and spun ourselves silly!!! I love to spin! :woohoo: We also had taken everyone's passes and obtained FP for Pooh while we waited on them.

We met them back for the Tomorrowland Speedway which is a tradition for DH2 and son. My kids have never been on it because the wait is usually too long so we saw this as an excellent opportunity for them to get on something that they've never done (after all, we don't want this to be "Boring World")! :goodvibes DBFF doesn't ever get to ride the Tea Cups because of spinning issues in the family, so while the boys were out for a drive, she and I spun. It was great!

As soon as we were done, we got pics of them driving around the corner - perfect timing! We were now in our FP time so we went and did Pooh. After Pooh, we walked into Philharmagic. One of my very favorites. If you haven't seen this one, make it a priority. It's one of my top 3 overall at WDW. It makes me smile the entire time. :teeth: Afterwards we walked over to Peter Pan and got FP.

Lunch at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe. Yes, I know, we went there on our first night, but this is our favorite place to eat in the MK. And since it was right at 11am, there was hardly anyone there and we sat down again and listened to Sonny Eclipse. Those jokes never get old - okay, yes they do, but I still love them!

By this time we're starting to notice that there isn't anyone at the MK today! Now, I had always heard and read that Sat. is a good day for MK but I didn't really believe it. I am a believer now! See, the reasoning is that for most people, Sat. is a travel day so the crowd level is down. Well, by the end of this day's TR you will see how right that is!

After lunch we jumped on Small World where I'm sure we annoyed everyone by singing along - if you were on that boat with us, our apologies. And if we weren't singing along, we were talking about the Kingdom Keepers book where the small world dolls come to life. A little creepy.......

By this time DBFF's DS has asked us about a million times when we're doing the Haunted Mansion - it's his favorite. Well, not yet, we have to use our FP for Peter Pan. Another one of my favs. I remember riding this as a kid and just thinking that the ship flying was the coolest thing ever. I still look forward to the lift-off. :cloud9:

Now, it's time for the Haunted Mansion. Again, we're walking onto this and it's after noon now. :confused3 Well, DBFF's DS has a moment of weakness and starts the "I'm not sure if I wanna ride this" kinda thing. Now I've mentioned before how I handled this with my DS, so I was looking forward to seeing how DBFF fielded this. (take note Ruthie) She just pulled him along into the ride and told him "you've ridden this before so stop it now. You're riding it." Ahhhhhh, more advice from another great mom. :rotfl: Now we love the HM and it was even more spectacular riding it with DBFF who looks for the hidden Mickey's with me. So of course (and I assume by now that you're starting to get this) the kids are in one doom buggy, the DH's are in one & DBFF and I are in one. The kids are in the middle - that's important because they are a little scared - not real scared, they've all ridden it before but never without an adult in the car with them. So we are going into the part where your car turns backwards and you tilt to go down the incline and DH's get the brilliant idea to scare the kids by beating on the back of their buggy. Well it echoes throughout the place and the kids scream, but DBFF and I are backwards, too and can't see a darn thing. The DH's are laughing so we figure it was them. :sad2: Whadda ya gonna do?

This is where the fun starts - see DBFF and I both have scheduled another full day at MK for later in our stays, and so her touring plan ends here. But we look at our watches and it's only like 1:00pm. We can't believe it! So we start the off the cuff touring plan that I simply like to call - let's see how much stuff we can get through in one day touring plan. Since we're close we jump in to the Hall of Presidents which is just about to start. Perfect timing. By the way, the kids and the DH's didn't want to go but we made them. :teeth:

Afterwords we head towards the other Mtns. We figure we can FP one and see what happens from there. Splash has a FP return for about 2 hours away so we grab FP's. We then decide to return to Tomorrowland and ride the classics. We jump on the TTA and enjoy a nice ride around the building tops. Sidebar: One time we were riding and SM's lights were on! It was the coolest! As soon as we are off of it we head to my very favorite - the Carousel of Progress - I swear I never get tired of it.

Now if you remember, I have a music degree. Well, so does DBFF. Her DH also sings and so does mine! Not to mention the kids. So everytime the song comes on - you've got great 4 part harmony! People were definitly staring! But that just gets us going - ya know, musicians like attention!

After we finish these 2, we notice that it is almost 3pm. Now we are not planning to catch the parade, but we would like to get back to the Mtns. so we cross through Fantasyland and on the sidewalk down by the river so as to avoid all of the parade route and come out right by SM and use our FP's. We had previously decided that we wanted to buy this picture so we need a theme. I knew that DS11 is terrified of this drop (he went on it when he was 4 and it ruined him for the next 6 years) so I suggested that we all pretend to be terrified. Everyone did a great job, but ever the joker, DH2 pretended that he was so bored that he had fallen asleep. :joker: But incidentally, I was right and DS11 didn't have a pretend face at all. Once again it was :eek: and it was genuine. :goodvibes

It's approaching 4pm and DBFF and co. have a PS at LTT so after we got FP for BTMR we decide to part ways until 5:30pm.

We went to see the Country Bears which is one of DS8's favorites. Now personally, the song that speaks to me the most is (and I quote):
"Momma, don't whoop little Buford
Momma, don't bust on his head
Momma don't whoop little Buford
We think you should shoot him instead"
It's the best. But DS8 loves it when Big Al sings "There was buh-lood on the saddle and......buh-lood on the ground." He sang it the rest of the day.

Since DBFF and Co. were eating, we figured, we should probably eat too so we went to the Plaza Restaurant at the end of Main Street and just across from Casey's. We had never been there before. It was good, it was air-conditioned. But alas, our biggest disappointment of the day, we didn't have time to stay for dessert and they did look good!

We met DBFF back at BTMR and use our FP's to ride. Her DS again had a mild moment of freakout but he rode it and loved it afterwards (see Ruthie?).

Now, I have neglected to mention my love of Cinderella, so I will mention it now. I love Cinderella. But more than Cindy, I love the Fairy Godmother. I think she's the best. So, I really wanted to watch Cinderellabration. I think I pretty much forced everyone else to do this, but at least we can all say that we saw it. princess: And I have the most excellent pictures of it! The boys hated it. Oh well......

I hate do this, but the MK will have to be cont.........I promise, I will finish it today!!! There's these couple of kids that are wanting to be fed. I'm not sure what's going on but they keep calling me "mom" and begging for food like cats or something......more later. :wave:

[cyjmhill]

awesome!!!

keep it coming! :thumbsup2

[disneynewbee]

Great report so far. Can't wait to hear more.

[fizz13]

Now that is a busy day :woohoo: Had to jump on the bandwagon and say I like your style. Writing good, touring good, can't wait to read more. BTW, can't be many more rides left to do can there? Did you get to Adventureland? :rolleyes:
Claire xx

[TaraLee4]

yay! i :love: updates..

shhh..here's a secret...we didn't ride pooh, peter OR snow white.

i just couldn't make him...

see i bartered...

i would ride something of his choosing...

if he rode ITS A SMALL WORLD!

it's my FAVORITE!!

[kaybird]

We went to see the Country Bears which is one of DS8's favorites. Now personally, the song that speaks to me the most is (and I quote):
"Momma, don't whoop little Buford
Momma, don't bust on his head
Momma don't whoop little Buford
We think you should shoot him instead"
It's the best. But DS8 loves it when Big Al sings "There was buh-lood on the saddle and......buh-lood on the ground." He sang it the rest of the day.

:wave:

Both Classics at our house too! Never know when one of us will Burst into song!!!

[hdecker]

Completely loving your report - just found it today and now I need more. Just out of curiosity - where do you fly out of? We live 30 minutes north of you - do you suck up the Springfield prices or head to KC? I'm waiting for the next installment!

[hookedonthemagic]

Completely loving your report - just found it today and now I need more. Just out of curiosity - where do you fly out of? We live 30 minutes north of you - do you suck up the Springfield prices or head to KC? I'm waiting for the next installment!


Are you kidding me???? I boycott Spfld just because I believe that it is highway robbery. I just can't make myself pay $350-$450/ticket. UGH! We actually have found the cheapest ticket prices out of St. Louis. Ya know, it's really not much further than KC. Our last 2 trips we used Southwest and got a Ding airfare for $125/per person. Woo hoo! :woohoo: :banana: :woohoo: I regularly check St Louis, KC, Tulsa and of course Spfld just on the off-chance that I might actually get a break.
Thanks for reading!
Melissa

[hookedonthemagic]

yay! i :love: updates..

shhh..here's a secret...we didn't ride pooh, peter OR snow white.

i just couldn't make him...

see i bartered...

i would ride something of his choosing...

if he rode ITS A SMALL WORLD!

it's my FAVORITE!!


Now I could have done without Pooh, but to skip Peter....NEVER! :teeth: However, I do understand that since he was kinda there unwillingly that a trade off system is important. You can hit the classics next time. Oh and Snow White's still to come!

[Luvchefmic]

Now, it's time for the Haunted Mansion. Again, we're walking onto this and it's after noon now. :confused3 Well, DBFF's DS has a moment of weakness and starts the "I'm not sure if I wanna ride this" kinda thing. Now I've mentioned before how I handled this with my DS, so I was looking forward to seeing how DBFF fielded this. (take note Ruthie) She just pulled him along into the ride and told him "you've ridden this before so stop it now. You're riding it." Ahhhhhh, more advice from another great mom. :rotfl: We met DBFF back at BTMR and use our FP's to ride. Her DS again had a mild moment of freakout but he rode it and loved it afterwards (see Ruthie?).

Now, I have neglected to mention my love of Cinderella, so I will mention it now. I love Cinderella. But more than Cindy, I love the Fairy Godmother. I think she's the best. So, I really wanted to watch Cinderellabration. I think I pretty much forced everyone else to do this, but at least we can all say that we saw it. princess: And I have the most excellent pictures of it! The boys hated it. Oh well......

I hate do this, but the MK will have to be cont.........I promise, I will finish it today!!! There's these couple of kids that are wanting to be fed. I'm not sure what's going on but they keep calling me "mom" and begging for food like cats or something......more later. :wave:

Melissa,
I am so honored that in the middle of this great TR you mention me... :love: I KNOW I am somehow related to you and your DBFF....I thought I was the only AAA type Virgo anal-retentive planning fool...just last night at work I punched 3 holes in all the paperwork for THE day (motel confirmations...check...Dillon's health certificate....check....Dillon's Rabie certificate...check...list of ADR and confirmation numbers...check..maps and fuel cost calculator...check....) all in the folder

I am SOooooo enjoying you TR, popcorn:: :surfweb: your style is fantastic, comes across like a real conversation & I feel like I'm right there with you...
keep it coming girlfriend :cheer2:

[elemusing]

Hello!!!! It's me!!! The DBFF!!!! Just reading "our" trip report and laughing and remembering. . . "good times." (read that like you on on NPR). :rotfl:

My laminated plans do NOT have the times on them!!!! (Well, the Priority seating times are listed with the confirmation numbers - but that's it!!)

Keep writing - I love reading about our trip! You made me LOL and shed a couple of tears already!!!

And yes, folks - she is like this in person!!! Gotta love her!!

Love you!
Angie

[missmun52]

I am enjoying your report very much. I hope for a day in the MK like yours, sounds like you really did alot. I better start working on my touring plans, though i think i might end up using the ones fro UG (hope they work).

[Mommyto2Princesses]

Now, I haven't said much about this, but I am a planning fool. I start months ahead of time and check the WDW website for changes regularly, have several guide books, etc. I look at it as failing to plan is planning to fail - and by that I mean without a good worked-out plan, you won't get to ride everything that you want to, much less a second (or third) ride. So you gotta be prepared. DH thinks that I'm like a drill seargent on this (however I don't see him complaining when we're not waiting in any lines). But DH got a good sense of just how tame I am when he saw DBFF pull out her LAMINATED touring plans that she had typed out complete with times! :cheer2: She made me look angelic and completely rational! (love you girl!)


Can I get a copy of those laminated touring plans? :Pinkbounc Can I please, please, can I please?

[elemusing]

Hi mommy,

The plans are basically the UG plans - suit them to your needs and then just set Word to two columns then type each ride/show in order of the UG plans. Then set them with bullets. I laminate them so I can cram them in my front pocket over and over without fear that they get wet from rides or sweat and will hold up all day.

Now where is Melissa with the rest of our trip report????? :)

[Lisa_Belle]

But DH got a good sense of just how tame I am when he saw DBFF pull out her LAMINATED touring plans that she had typed out complete with times! :cheer2: She made me look angelic and completely rational! (love you girl!)


Hey, I've got touring plans with times on them, too! What's so bad about that? :confused3

[Luvchefmic]

Hello!!!! It's me!!! The DBFF!!!! Just reading "our" trip report and laughing and remembering. . . "good times." (read that like you on on NPR). :rotfl:

My laminated plans do NOT have the times on them!!!! (Well, the Priority seating times are listed with the confirmation numbers - but that's it!!)

Keep writing - I love reading about our trip! You made me LOL and shed a couple of tears already!!!

And yes, folks - she is like this in person!!! Gotta love her!!

Love you!
Angie


Nice to meet you Angie :wave: the DBFF in the TR...you two sound like real
pistols :rotfl2: :lmao: I hope someday we all are at the world at the same time, I know we would have a blast ! Ruthie

[Ellester]

We went to see the Country Bears which is one of DS8's favorites. Now personally, the song that speaks to me the most is (and I quote):
"Momma, don't whoop little Buford
Momma, don't bust on his head
Momma don't whoop little Buford
We think you should shoot him instead"
It's the best. But DS8 loves it when Big Al sings "There was buh-lood on the saddle and......buh-lood on the ground." He sang it the rest of the day.

I have loved CBJ since my first trip to the world in 1973. I even had the record album with the book attached to the jacket. Big Al was always my favorite, although now that I have kids Little Buford is a close second! Loving the report!

[catherines_mama]

At this point we had 15 minutes until the next show of Lion King started :simba: and I am the BIGGEST fan of this show. I do not ever, ever miss it when I'm at AK. It makes me laugh :goodvibes it makes me cry. :sad: Yeah, I don't even know why I cry, it's just when they start the finale and they get to "Circle of Life" and the next thing you know, I'm wiping tears away. Can't explain it.......DH says I'm a big sap. I'll accept that. So needless to say, we made it. Not a moment too soon, but we made it.

Melissa, I'm a huge Lion King sap also, I love this show and hated to miss it this trip. DD5 has some new found fear of fire and didn't want to go see it b/c of the fire juggler. :( Her fear better be gone by December! This was the 1st time in 4 trips we'd not seen it.

Where the real fun was had, was outside the World of Disney. They have a giant Stitch on top of the building and he spits on guests below. Well, DS8 and DS11 loved that and got totally drenched. DH and I watched from a safe distance.

That was a fun giz-mo, for as much as I don't like Stitch taking over WDW, he's a cutie and DD does like him alot!

[elemusing]

:wave: Hi Ruthie! Yes - I know we would have a ball! We would just leave all the men with the boys to play somewhere else. hee hee

:rolleyes1 Wondering where Melissa is?? I am going to have to call her. . . there are several more trip report days!!!

[DISUNC]

:rotfl2: Stuff! But i have to point out this one line>>>>>

But DH got a good sense of just how tame I am when he saw DBFF pull out her LAMINATED touring plans that she had typed out complete with times! :cheer2:

Gotta say anybody reading this...do you hear a 'OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" in your head too! WOW typed & Laminated!!!!!! :thumbsup2 Now thats SERIOUS PLANNING!

[hookedonthemagic]

Alright, already. Can't a girl celebrate the 4th of July? Also, some of us have to work every now and then to support our Disney habit! I promise another installment tonight!

[cyjmhill]

Alright, already. Can't a girl celebrate the 4th of July? Also, some of us have to work every now and then to support our Disney habit! I promise another installment tonight!
Can't wait - the suspense is killing me :hyper: !!!

[hookedonthemagic]

Okay, so I had to go back and look and see where I left off.....

oh, yes, Cinderellabration. Now after that was over, we realized that we didn't have too terribly long before we would have to get our parade sit-in started so we went back across the bridge (sidebar: and I have to say, we crossed that darn bridge back & forth into Adventureland about 17 times that day and I don't know that I've ever crossed it at all before this trip!) and hit the Tiki Room. Ahhhhh, everybody - "In the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room...." Okay, you get the idea. We don't ever miss this one either and I have to say the one thing that bothers both me and DBFF is that we have to be the ones that set the good example and stand up when they start singing, "Get on your feet". People just don't get it. :sad2: But now I'm kinda mad that we left early because the Unofficial Guide says that at the very end one of them makes a crack about going over to the Hall Of Presidents so that they can catch a nap. I must stay the next time......

Afterwards we went on the Jungle Cruise. Where do I begin about the JC? Okay, the thing about the JC is that it is a little quirky and the jokes are a little lame, but in order to make it work, the sole responsibility falls directly on the tour guide. The last 3 times I've ridden this attraction, the tour guide has fallen way short of my expectations. This time, however, that was not the case. The tour guide was LOL funny - at least to me :) When we got off the ride I went back and told him that he was the best tour guide we'd had in years! :teeth:

Afterwards, we felt it was time to claim our spot for Spectromagic. We went back across the bridge :crazy: and camped out just up the road across from the bridge to Liberty Square. We were the first people there. Right on the curb. Right where we wanted to be. I sent DH for snacks popcorn:: and he went off in search of DS popcorn and my funnel cake. Yummy! And then it happened.......Hundreds of very rude people started converging on us. Now, I'm a very nice person and so is everyone else that's traveling with me so keep that in mind as we go forward. We put up with people walking over us and stepping through us for quite awhile. We were trying to be nice. The Disney people by this time had set up the ropes and conveniently enough a cross-walk or two. Picture this in your head Crosswalk, Us sitting eating popcorn:: another crosswalk. Okay, so we are about I'd say 15 feet from the nearest crosswalk (the one to the left of us) and we had been talking amongst ourselves :chat: that people shouldn't be stepping over us because a couple had almost tripped and it was rude and it was getting crowded and at this point not only were they having to climb over us but the first clearing was at least 10 more people back. :crowded: Well, about this time a lady comes pushing through and just about the time that DBFF and I are making a comment as to why she couldn't go around we realize that she just sat down behind us. :o UH OH! Well, I turn around to start the apology when her daughter says "hey, it's okay, she doesn't understand a word you're saying. She only speaks Spanish." Whew....that was a close one.

But wait there's more......not too long after that a very brave man and his family close behind are crossing the bridge heading straight towards us. Now, I see his loving wife tell him that there's a crosswalk and he even looked that way, but then he made the executive decision to try and cross into the throng of people. OH NO HE DIDN'T! As he approaches, DBFF having way more intestinal fortitude than I have ever had, says, "excuse me sir, but there's a cross walk right over there for you to get through." Well, you woulda thought that she woulda cussed him out because he was huffing and puffing like the big bad wolf. He says something to the effect of "Lady, I'm just trying to get through here." And she says "And that's why they have a crosswalk." :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2: I was laughing soooo hard! :rotfl2: Angie - YOU ROCK! :hug: :worship:

We settle in for the parade without further incident. And yes, I got the funnel cake. :thumbsup2
The parade was great - It's good to sit down front. But we had started to notice that the nice family that I mentioned earlier that was behind us had started using a Donald Duck quacker (darn teenagers). It was a little annoying, but I was managing to block it out. I didn't realize that DBFF and DH2 were not as good at blocking it out......
We waited in our same spot for the fireworks and assumed our stance determined to not be moved. Do you know that old church hymn? "I shall not be, I shall not be moved." I had made friends with the lady next to me and everyone was just waiting it out. :hourglass

It's finally time! The fireworks start and I'm just getting misty-eyed and all emotional when it starts......."QUACK, QUACK, QU-QUACK, QUACK" Several people turn around in disgust. :furious: :furious: And there it is again, "QUACK, QUACK, QU-QUACK, QUACK" and this time it abruptly stops. I don't think another thing about it. I'm totally engulfed in the fireworks "and all your wishes" and I'm trying to cry without crying out loud cause I don't want to be embarrased in front of DS's and DH. I do, however get caught by DS11 and DH wiping a tear away. Oh well, it's one of my most favorite things. To me, so overwhelming the emotion because I love that castle and I love WDW and I realize at that moment that my vacation is half over....I still cry now just remembering.

After the fireworks, we gather ourselves and decide to not join the mass exit. After all, the park is still open another hour! So as we start to head towards a potty break at Cosmic Rays, I start to hear.....(in your best Paul Harvey voice) the rest of the story.

Remember that Quacking????? Well, when the quacking started during Wishes, DH2 decides that he's gonna take that quacker away from the teenager using it, so he turns around to find...................................(don't you just love suspense?)........................................ .............................
IT'S THE NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING GRANDMA BLOWING IT!!!!!!!!!! We all could have died! So after a couple of nice spanish words that I won't print here, she quit.

Well, while me and DBFF are in the restroom (by ourselves I'll add) we are pondering why in the world this grown woman would have been blowing that stinkin' duck call during an obvious quiet time when suddenly, DBFF has a revelation :idea: the Grandma didn't care about the lyrics/narration because she DOESN'T SPEAK ENGLISH! :furious: :furious: UGH!!!

(Sidebar: I'd like to add at this point, that we have no prejudice against non-English speakers, and if it would have been a 3 yr old kid, we would have all sucked it up and went on. However.....)

We head to Snow White and ride with NO WAIT! Then we walk straight into Philharmagic. What a great way to end the day! We go to the gift shop afterwards so that I can buy DS8 the Donald Duck shirt that says Crabby...(front) ...Yet Loveable (back). Aint' it the truth! I also offered to buy DH2 his very own Donald Duck Quacker! :donald: He declined. :sad1:

Coming soon: MGM on Father's Day!

[cyjmhill]

Awesome...thanks for posting!

Everytime someone mentions the Tiki Room - I have to start singing the song "In the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room....". As soon as I read the Tiki Room I had to sing (and I am by myself right now).

Ok, I am addicted to Disney...is that a crime?

Anyway, thanks for the report - can't wait for the next installment.

[tmt martins]

Once upon A Toy - Again a little disappointed in the selection - nothing really new. However, DS11 was the most frustrated. He has the monorail in his bedroom (yes, it was an impulse buy on our first trip many moons ago) and he was wanting to add the Polynesian Resort and they don't make it anymore!??! We looked the whole week. A CM told us that they are re-doing it and the whole monorail playset and will be coming out with new stuff soon. (sarcastically) Oh boy!
!

I had trouble just finding the Monorail on our last trip and a 1 day trip to DL.

When you get done your reports check out the Tink Room in my sig.

I was lucky with the exception of the Tink thing My DD is no girly girl. :lmao:

[fizz13]

Well you just quack me up! :lmao: Sorry couldn't help it....great report as always,
Claire xx

[KathyRN137]

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Kathy

[justplaingoofy]

Well you just quack me up! :lmao: Sorry couldn't help it....great report as always,
Claire xx


:rotfl2: :rotfl2: :rotfl2: :rotfl2:
You made me laugh out loud with that! my husband keeps saying "whats so funny?"........ "what so funny???"


Keep the great stories coming! You're the best! :wizard:

[hookedonthemagic]

Awesome...thanks for posting!

Everytime someone mentions the Tiki Room - I have to start singing the song "In the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room....". As soon as I read the Tiki Room I had to sing (and I am by myself right now).

Ok, I am addicted to Disney...is that a crime?

Anyway, thanks for the report - can't wait for the next installment.


No, it is definitely not a crime. But I'm thinking that we may need a support group. I think we should call it DA. "Hi, my name is Melissa and I'm a Disney-Aholic." What do you think? :crazy:

[hookedonthemagic]

I had trouble just finding the Monorail on our last trip and a 1 day trip to DL.

When you get done your reports check out the Tink Room in my sig.

I was lucky with the exception of the Tink thing My DD is no girly girl. :lmao:


Okay, your Tink Room is pretty amazing. I'm impressed. :thumbsup2

[hookedonthemagic]

Well you just quack me up! :lmao: Sorry couldn't help it....great report as always,
Claire xx


Yeah, I guess I opened myself up for that one. :donald:

[hookedonthemagic]

:rotfl2: :rotfl2: :rotfl2: :rotfl2:
You made me laugh out loud with that! my husband keeps saying "whats so funny?"........ "what so funny???"


Keep the great stories coming! You're the best! :wizard:


Yeah, my DH just doesn't get it. Actually, it's probably better that he's not reading it. I can be a little more free if ya know what I mean. :smooth:

[justplaingoofy]

Anyone else here get so excited :Pinkbounc when they check their email and this is a reply under "oh luggage, where art thou?"......

[cyjmhill]

No, it is definitely not a crime. But I'm thinking that we may need a support group. I think we should call it DA. "Hi, my name is Melissa and I'm a Disney-Aholic." What do you think? :crazy:
I agree. I thought I read somewhere that there is a Psychoanalyst who is a member of the DISboards - maybe we should contact her. :crazy:

[hookedonthemagic]

Anyone else here get so excited :Pinkbounc when they check their email and this is a reply under "oh luggage, where art thou?"......


Well I know I do! :teeth: It makes me feel so good that ya'll like my TR that much! Thanks! :cool1:

[hookedonthemagic]

Hey everybody!

Just wanted to let you know that I haven't dropped the ball :Pinkbounc but I have to pack my bags tonight. I'm leaving tomorrow morning to take my 2 heathens to church camp. Yes, I'm going too. I'm a glutton for punishment. We'll be back Friday and I'll post my MGM day then. And believe me, this is the best day of them all and where my whole trip report gets its' name. :smooth: Don't you love teasers????? :thumbsup2

Talk to you soon!
Melissa

[scrap4u]

Great trip report! I really enjoy the way you are able to tell the story as if you're right here talking to me! Can't wait for the next update! :thumbsup2

[Joyful19]

Okay that's cruel! Get me hooked on a trip report, dangle a teaser and then leave on a holiday! Oh well, I'll have to look around for another one to keep me busy until you return, but don't make us wait too long. :wave:

[bushdianee]

subbing

[elemusing]

Girl we have been back from WDW for almost a month. This is the longest trip report ever. :) Hope camp was good. Just bumping this back up to the first page so I can keep checking for updates. love ya!

Angie

[justplaingoofy]

Hope you had a nice vacation ;) Now back to work!! :teeth:

We went away this weekend (visited the inlaws a couple of states over) and I was checking the disboards to see if you had written anything! :guilty:


I'm ready whenever you are popcorn:: popcorn::

[hookedonthemagic]

Awwww - you guys really missed me???? Flattery will get you everywhere! :teeth:

Sunday, June 17th - Father's Day

Now when we last left each other, DBFF and co. and my happy clan have just finished the marathon day at MK. We did it all. Left no stones unturned.....and then on the bus ride back to ASSp it hits me - we are changing hotels in tomorrow!! OH NO! So now I have to go back and pack up all of our crapple tonight because once again I have promised to be at MGM for park opening. :sad2:

All the packing goes rather smoothly and the next morning I call to the front desk because I've never switched hotels before and I ask what we need to do. Well the lady was awesome! She says and I quote "Oh, honey, don't you worry about a thing. You just leave your luggage by the window and we'll move it over to Music for you. You just have a Magical Day!" :wizard: So, Woo hoo! That was easier than I thought it would be! And although we are a little late, we make it to the park by about 30 min. after opening. DBFF and co. have already ridden ToT by the time we arrive, but hey - they're up for it again! We FP Rock & Roller and get ready to ride ToT - my personal fav at that park. DS11 and DBFF's DS8 decide that they are gonna chicken out of this one so DBFF stays with the chickens! The rest of us ride! This ride is just so killer now that it's random - I just laugh the entire time! :rotfl2:

After we exit (and I buy the pic) we head to R&R. Again the chickens......so this time I stay with them. We have some fun in the gift shop and wait on the others. They say that as usual it is great.

We are desperately trying to catch 4 for a Dollar (the pre-show to Beauty and the Beast) so we are trying to decide when to see it, but it's still too far away from the first showing so we head over to check on the wait for the Great Movie Ride. There is hardly any wait - I'm talking like less than 5 minutes. The shortest wait I've ever experienced there! Yes, this day is going great! We ride and everyone walks out smiling.

We eat an early lunch at the Backlot Express. Sidebar: Out of all of the theme parks, I think the food is the very worst at MGM. I don't know what the problem is, but it's hard to even get a decent burger. We've tried virtually every restaurant in the place - don't like Sci Fi, Pizza Planet, or that counter service one down by ToT. Brown Derby - YUK! So we usually end up at the ABC Commissary for lack of better choices. We did like Primetime but we have a dinner reservation for the Fantasmic show so we're trying to conserve a little $ at lunch. Okay, so we go to the Backlot Express. Now you remember that DBFF and I are self-professed Disney Experts but neither of us could ever remember seeing this place. It is next to Star Tours and we had to look it up on the stinkin' map just to find it. IT'S AIR CONDITIONED! And believe me after walking around in 100 degree weather that's important. And the food was above average for the Studios. I'd eat there again. Amazing that after 7 visits we finally found decent counter service - and a very friendly cast member, too! And it was empty! I'm telling you nobody knows this place exists! You should check it out!

After lunch, we go next door to Star Tours and ride. Ya know, I've always liked the scenery as we walked by, but I have to admit, this ride needs an update. It's also virtually empty. We waited maybe 10 minutes. But the real fun is when we exit - there meeting and greeting is Darth himself and also a Storm Trooper! :darth: That was cool and unexpected!

We head back across to try and get a FP for Little Mermaid, but ya know what???? We didn't need one cause we walked up just as they were letting everyone in and we snuck right in on it! Again - NO WAIT!

Now by this time, we're starting to talk amongst ourselves as to where everyone is at??? But at the same time, we are rejoicing in our good fortune! :woohoo:

As soon as Little Mermaid is over we have to run, run like the wind, to make it over to Beauty and the Beast and we are pumped for the pre-show! ONLY THERE WASN'T ONE! Well, that really took the wind out of DBFF and DH2's sails. They were totally stoked for this. (I don't think any of us really wanted to see Beauty or the Beast.) But anyway, we watched the show. It was nice.

Well, if we hurry, we can run across and try to make the next showing of the Stunt Show - which I think that I kinda made everyone go and see. However, I would like to say, that it was really cool and I know that my DH really liked it. If I tell you how it all works you won't appreciate it, so let me just say that you really need to try and see it and have a camera ready! There's cars and motorcycles and good guys and bad guys! And Herbie, too!

As we're coming out of that ampitheater, we have some good news and some bad news. Bad news first - The "Singing in the Rain" umbrella was not working. :sad1: Good news - as we're rounding the corner I realize that I'm hearing (sing along now) "Life is a highway, I wanna ride it all night long" and lo and behold there's Mater and Lightning McQueen! The kids get fabulous pics with them and all is good again!

We go on around by Pizza Planet and outside of Al's Toy Barn is a ton of Toy Story characters meeting and greeting! Now we all have most of them - EXCEPT for the Green Army Guy! HOW COOL IS THAT??? So we now have him, too! :teeth: We are totally happy now!

So we're on our way to the Muppets and we get there and the line is like out of the building and past the fountain and almost to the corner of the next street back and we're immediately like - NO WAY! Hey! This is where all the people are! But we realize that they're only there because of the stunt show just letting out so we head over to the Honey I Shrunk the kids Playground. Now personally, we've only been here like 1 other time, but we're hot, we're tired, and it does give the kids the opportunity to run around like yahoos while we hold down some benches. The kids not only run around acting like the aforementioned yahoos, but they also get soaked! DS8 is drenched! Multiply Kali River by 4 or maybe even 5. :sad2: But he's happy and I'm too exhausted to care! :crazy:

Afterwards, we decide to check on the Muppets again, and as predicted, the line is totally gone and we walk right on in - but only after checking for the key under the mat. If you haven't ever noticed, there is a sign that says something like "Out to Lunch - Key under mat". There is a mat and there is a key underneath. Check it out next time! It impresses the kids. We love the Muppets! Statler and Waldorf totally crack me up! I just wish Rolf the Dog had a bigger part.

After a little shopping in the Muppet store (DS8 got a Fozzie Bear and DS11 bought a Kermit) we head towards our dinner reservation at Hollywood and Vine. None of us have ever eaten here before but it gets good reviews in the guidebook that we all love so much so here goes......

(Hey, this is getting kinda long, so I'm gonna continue this on my next post. I'm paranoid that I'm gonna hit a wrong button and erase the whole thing and have to start over. I've done that before. )

[Gina35]

Day 2 - EPCOT!
By then it's time for our FP for Soarin' so we go back and ride the greatest ride currently at WDW. If you haven't been on this - you absolutely must not miss it on your next trip! And try to get in row 1.

We are going in 4 weeks; I'd love to hear about it (wasn't there last time we went). How can you try to get in row 1??

We managed to get FP for Test Track again and we went and rode Spaceship Earth - another fav. Did you know that it has a new sponsor??? Siemens is the new sponsor and I talked with a cast member that said a renovation is supposed to start and take about a year to complete! How exciting!

Do you know how they are supposed to change it??? I think it sounds exciting, but my DH says he hopes they don't change it much. It's his favorite in Epcot!
Thanks for your great report!!

[hookedonthemagic]

Okay, so we check in at H&V about 15 min before our PS. We sit down and everyone calls their dads to wish them a Happy Father's day. It was kinda like "yeah, we love you, but we're in Disney World so gotta go! Bye!" :yay:

We decide that the only things that we haven't done are Millionaire, Narnia and DBFF and Co. would like to do the Backlot Tour. Now we're running out of time so we decide to go for the first two and I talk them out of the Tour. :smooth: DH says that after we eat, he is going to run to ASMu and check us in so that they can go ahead and deliver our luggage and get us a refrigerator so that we don't have to deal with that at 10pm when we come in from the park. What a great idea! :idea: I do have the best DH!

We go in to eat. Once again, I find myself less than thrilled with the meal, but it is better than some I've had. The salad was fantastic - Disney has the best darn lettuce and great Ranch dressing. The other thing I remember was this kind of cornbread like side - Hey Angie - wanna elaborate???? Yeah, so it was not a very memorable meal. It makes me kind of mad that we spent $100 to eat there but after all, we weren't really paying for the meal, we were going for the priority seating at Fantasmic.

So after the meal, we say goodbye to DH so that he can truck it over to the resort and check us in. The rest of us head to Millionaire. The last showing is about to start and.....it's full (of course). We're a little bummed and now I'm especially bummed since it's about to close forever, but oh well....on to Narnia. I have to say that this was pretty cool. My kids were mightily impressed. You actually get to walk through the wardrobe to go in. They thought that was cool. We watched part of the movie and there are some surprises so I won't spoil it, but you get to see the sleigh and some of the costumes.

Since we had a little more time to kill, we decide to go into One Man's Dream. DBFF and I have both read "The Kingdom Keepers" and there's some things we want to check out. We take some great pics in there but the one I'll tell you about.......there's a life-size mural of Roy Disney with Mickey on the opening day of WDW. If you stand there next to them it looks like you were there. Well the joker of the group, DH2, goes up there and stands for his picture and is looking at his watch as if to say how bored he is and hurry it up Roy. Very funny! He really is a character of his own! :joker:

After we get out of there it is time to head up for our seats at Fantasmic. DH is still not back yet, but I call him and he's already in our room and has just finished ordering our refrig. :woohoo: Making good progress! He's on his way back! So the nice cast member lets the rest of our party go on in for Fantasmic and lets me wait on DH. They've been in there about 10 min ahead of us. We're trucking it so as not to have to fight with anyone over seating, but when we get there...........THE PLACE IS EMPTY!!????!!! What's up with today???? We find DBFF and co. sitting in the smack dab center of the ampitheater with prime seating not the all the way over to edge seating we were supposed to have. This is great! Unbelievable, but Great! We get some snacks and settle in to wait! popcorn::

Fantasmic (which none of us had seen in a long time) was very good. We got a little wet, but it was still okay. I had forgotten how good it is.

At the end, we are all herded out like a bunch of cattle and we start the trek to the front of the park. The wait for the bus wasn't terrible but we are tired and so thankful that we are going to get back to the room around 10:30pm so that we can get a good night's sleep!

DH shows us to our room which is in the very back of the Rock &Roll building and we get there just exhausted. We walk in and there's my little refrigerator just a chugging away and.......I'm sure you've guessed it by now............that's right........NO LUGGAGE! There aren't words that can express my initial thoughts. Well, there are, but I'd get kicked off for saying them and I try to keep my temper under control, but I'm pretty hacked off. :furious: I mean, what's so freakin' hard about moving my luggage from ASSp (and by the way, I can almost see my former room from my new room) next door to ASMu!!?????!!!! Now DH is a much calmer, more in control, quieter, kinder person than I am, so while I run to the bathroom ("gotta go, gotta go, gotta go right now") he's already on the phone with the front desk because he knew that if I got there first somebody would be chewed out. He's put on hold for about 10 min - really no exaggeration - and she comes back to the line finally and tells him that they are looking and that she'll call him right back.

Now, I've had an experience before with a front desk person that told me they would call right back and didn't so I'm timing her. :hourglass The minutes are ticking away. We're tired, the kids are griping, everyone wants to go to bed and unlike the first night when we arrived - we have nothing. Nothing. Only a Fozzie Bear and a Kermit the Frog and two glowing swords that they conned me out of while waiting for Fantasmic. We have nothing else. Thank God I took all of our money out of our luggage and carried it with me, otherwise, we wouldn't have it either! Well, 20 min goes by, and I've had enough. I get on the phone and have to tell this girl the whole entire story again. She puts me on hold and I sit there for again 10 min. Now by the time she comes back, we've already discussed whether we ever want to come here again, how we are luggage cursed, and several other things. She asks if she can call me back. HA! I know this one! NOTHING DOING! I make her pledge to me that she will (knowing full well that she won't) and hang up the phone. I wait dutifully for another 10 minutes or so and by now we're starting to approach 11:30pm. We have put the kids in the bed and we have walked outside to try to talk about this in private. Well, after a few minutes of back and forth discussion, I have had it. :furious: Actually, I had had it about an hour ago, but I was trying to give Disney the benefit of the doubt. Well, I put my shoes back on and I'm heading to the front desk. Some manager is going to get it. I'm angry! I start towards the stairs and I see below me 2 girls unloading a luggage truck. I scan their cart and don't see any of my bags (I have a very easy-to-spot hot pink striped piece). The girl sees me and I say, "Hi Girls! Maybe you can help me. I don't really know where to start so I'm hoping you can." They politely say "sure, what's going on?" I tell them, "I checked out of ASSp this morning and was having my luggage moved over to my new room here. DH came over earlier and checked in just so that we could have our stuff in our room by the time we came back tonight, but it's not there. We called the front desk, but nobody seems to be able to locate our luggage. What should I do?"

The girls look at each other and then one of them says "What's your last name? " I tell them and they do one of those "oh crap" looks at each other. Well, I jump on that one. She then says "do you have pink striped suitcase?" :teeth: (it does pay to have memorable luggage) and I say "YES!!!!" She says "We took those bags to building 6 but you're obviously not in building 6 because here you are in Building 3!" So now I'm really concerned because my bags are in somebody elses room!!! She assures me that there is no one in that room yet and she says that as soon as she empties the cart that they have now, that they will go and get my bags and bring them right up to us.

I'm almost crying from the excitement of having found my bags! The girls did exactly what they said they would do. And by midnight (again, midnight :sad2: ) I have my bags. I hugged both of the girls! :grouphug: They were angels! And this is where you'll have to indulge me a little but this really did happen. One of the girls says "What are the chances that you would find us? I mean out of all the luggage people, you happened to stumble on the 2 of us that actually remembered your luggage???" And I said to them, "Oh, no girls, that wasn't luck at all. That was God just taking care of me just like He always does." :thumbsup2 :worship: :worship: :worship:

I would love to end this day by telling you all that the front desk called back, but no, we had to call them again. We told them that we had found our own luggage. And get this, this is the best part of all, we had our luggage tags on every bag, but when they moved our bags over they have these special tags so that the luggage folks know where to take them.....they had someone elses' last name on them - inches away from our tags - God forbid they double check! :confused3

Only 2 more days at WDW! I'll try and finish tomorrow!
Have a good day and if you didn't learn anything else from this day's trip report learn this: KEEP YOUR LUGGAGE WITH YOU!!! :wave:

[hookedonthemagic]

We are going in 4 weeks; I'd love to hear about it (wasn't there last time we went). How can you try to get in row 1??

I would specifically ask for it. That will put you at the top of the screen. If you are in row 3 you will be at the bottom. We've done all three rows, but I dearly love the top! It's so real!

Do you know how they are supposed to change it??? I think it sounds exciting, but my DH says he hopes they don't change it much. It's his favorite in Epcot!
Thanks for your great report!!

I was talking to a CM, but she didn't say what they were doing to it. We love it just the way it is. It's one our Favs, too!

[kaw1218]

No, it is definitely not a crime. But I'm thinking that we may need a support group. I think we should call it DA. "Hi, my name is Melissa and I'm a Disney-Aholic." What do you think? :crazy:
Sign me up.....my family says... if you want to know anything medical, call a doctor...anything illegal, call a laywer....anything disney, call kelly!!!!
Hey what can I say?
Hi, my name is Kelly...and I'm a Disney-Aholic!!! :lmao:

[ejhall]

Cool thread! :thumbsup2

[DISUNC]

I feel your luggage pain!http://www.cynchronicity.com/smileys/drama.gif

NARNIA!!! This is the foist I heard about the NARNIA exhibt!!! :confused3

[fizz13]

Wanted to say thats the frist time i've heard GOOD things about the narnia exhibit :teeth: Thanks for the update, keep it coming,

[arizonacolbys]

Wanted to say thats the frist time i've heard GOOD things about the narnia exhibit :teeth: Thanks for the update, keep it coming,

I agree! My in-laws went last month & told me not to waste my time... :confused3

Hubby & I really enjoyed the movie (probably more than my in-laws) so, I was going to check it out when we go anyways. Glad to hear that someone enjoyed it! :thumbsup2

[elemusing]

Good job! I don't think the writing really translates with how MAD and FRUSTRATED the luggage fiasco made you. HMPH!!! The corn bread stuff was really good at the buffet and alot of us ate off the kids' portion of the buffet. I think we are done with priority seatings at MGM. We have tried virtually ever one of them. Mama Melrose is the best IMHO, but even that is just ok on a hot day.

You forgot to mention the waiter at H&V who kept taking my half empty plates before I was finished. :rotfl:

One thing I would like to mention - the restaurant we ate at for lunch had clean, nice, and empty restrooms! As a matter of fact, this is the first trip where I realized that the restaurant bathrooms are the best and pretty mush empty when it is off-meal time. On our second day to MK (without Melissa) we used the restroom at the Pecos Bill Cafe in FrontierLand many times and it was empty, clean, and air-conditioned. AHHH so nice not to have to wait and DS likes to do his business in relative privacy.

OK - sorry didn't mean to side track to the bathrooms - carry on my friend - you are doing a great job. :)

[hookedonthemagic]

Good job! I don't think the writing really translates with how MAD and FRUSTRATED the luggage fiasco made you. HMPH!!! The corn bread stuff was really good at the buffet and alot of us ate off the kids' portion of the buffet. I think we are done with priority seatings at MGM. We have tried virtually ever one of them. Mama Melrose is the best IMHO, but even that is just ok on a hot day.

You forgot to mention the waiter at H&V who kept taking my half empty plates before I was finished. :rotfl:

One thing I would like to mention - the restaurant we ate at for lunch had clean, nice, and empty restrooms! As a matter of fact, this is the first trip where I realized that the restaurant bathrooms are the best and pretty mush empty when it is off-meal time. On our second day to MK (without Melissa) we used the restroom at the Pecos Bill Cafe in FrontierLand many times and it was empty, clean, and air-conditioned. AHHH so nice not to have to wait and DS likes to do his business in relative privacy.

OK - sorry didn't mean to side track to the bathrooms - carry on my friend - you are doing a great job. :)


Oh, you are soooo right. The waiter - the waiter, oh how could I forget the waiter! He was something else. He started off pretty good, but then he'd disappear for like 20 minutes at a time. Then we he would show up and we'd need drinks of course, he'd clear everyone's plates before we could stop him. It got really funny. So be careful and don't take a bite, it might be your last!

[hookedonthemagic]

Okay, I'm like really bummed that other folks didn't like Narnia... :confused3 I mean, it's not like it's the greatest attraction there, but I certainly wouldn't say that I was disappointed. I was surprised that there wasn't more to it, but what was there was good quality and the Cast Member in charge didn't seem to mind that we were taking pics sometimes accidentallyonpurpose with a flash! ;) So it was good. Go figure....

[hookedonthemagic]

I feel your luggage pain!http://www.cynchronicity.com/smileys/drama.gif

NARNIA!!! This is the foist I heard about the NARNIA exhibt!!! :confused3


Okay, DisUnc, you got my attention, I have to know, what happened to your luggage??????

[elemusing]

I know - the cast member was really good about the accidentallyonpurpose flashes. hee hee

[Luvchefmic]

Girl we have been back from WDW for almost a month. This is the longest trip report ever. :) Hope camp was good. Just bumping this back up to the first page so I can keep checking for updates. love ya!

Angie


Whew, the pressure is off I was :guilty: worried that I got home last Fri and have only gotten onto the board today & am NO where ready to start my TR! So much to tell & don't even know where to start, I'm so happy to be catching up here :Pinkbounc

[fizz13]

Just checking in to see if there's any more but not yet :guilty: For the record, i will still be checking out the Narnia exhibit myself next week, I don't base my whole life on DIS opinion...well most of the time anyway :teeth: Hoping for an update soon,

[hookedonthemagic]

Whew, the pressure is off I was :guilty: worried that I got home last Fri and have only gotten onto the board today & am NO where ready to start my TR! So much to tell & don't even know where to start, I'm so happy to be catching up here :Pinkbounc

Welcome back! We've missed you terribly. Let me know when you start your TR. I can't wait to read it. :yay: And for anyone interested, I will post today. Sorry it's taking me so long. There's this thing called work that keeps popping its ugly head up! But welcome back to the madness of life! :dance3:

[hookedonthemagic]

I just went back and re-read my last entry and I have to say that I must agree with my good friend Angie that I certainly didn't have a tone that truly expressed my anger with that whole luggage situation......but hey, it's been a month and it's kinda like childbirth- you forget how bad it is until you go through it again!

Anyways, onto Monday - or Epcot Part 2

We finally get to bed around 12:30 or so and we are completely exhausted so needless to say, we don't just pop right up the next morning. As usual, DBFF and DH2 are at the park gate before opening waiting on the slow family to get there. I call and tell her to go ahead and do TT and MS without us and that we're on our way.

We get there to find that the early bird family has been picked to OPEN THE FREAKIN' PARK that day! I was happy :banana: yet angry :furious: all at the same time. If we could only get our butts in gear.......

Well, while they're busy using their free pass to go straight to the front of the line, do not stop, do not pass go, do not get $200, we have to stop and get Grumpy (DS8) breakfast. You see, as the vacation has gone on, it's gone from bad to worse. So we just decide to take it easy and go with it. I send DH over to get FP for Soarin' (better known as the greatest ride at Epcot) and I let the kids eat.

We all go and ride the boat ride at the Land. Yeah, I know, it's kinda slow, but we were just there to relax and enjoy the day with friends. And besides, I had to pay my respects to the place that grows the best darn lettuce in the whole world - ya gotta love a good salad with that amazing Ranch dressing. Yummy!

We all then proceed to Journey into your Imagination. Have I mentioned that we love this ride??? I still don't understand why there is never a line for this? Do people not realize that it's there????? We all sing along like we do and enjoy a nice A/C ride.

At the end of this ride, we had already decided that we wanted to get a picture of all of us taken. It's kind of a tradition for both of our families and a first group pic together. We each send e-mails home to the unlucky folks that aren't there with us and then we meet to pick out our backdrop.

Now first let me say, that there aren't a whole lot of choices that you can fit 7 people into so that made it a little easier, and then we also eliminated the backgrounds that we had each previously done. That left an obvious choice: The Epcot Ball.

We find the CM in charge of writing your choice on a little piece of paper and we tell her which one we want. She happens to be in a wheel chair and we all are very respectful of her but we notice that she is kind of acting weird. DBFF had purchased something earlier with this same CM and she had trouble giving her the correct change back, so we just assumed that there are other issues here. So okay, no problem, we're cool. We are in line waiting for the photographer and this other non-English speaking family just jumps right in front of us - without the ever-important piece of paper. Well, we're too nice to say anything (at least we are this early in the day) and we just stand there in amazement as this lady and her kid jump in front of us. The photographer even acknowledges us and smiles apologetically. But then it gets good....the CM in the wheelchair comes barreling over and just about mows everybody down. Now we are shocked :eek: by this but recover quick enough to get a good laugh in on the side because she nearly ran the poor people over. It really was funny.

After they get that resolved, the photographer has to take the pic like 3 times because they aren't satisfied. Our niceness is being pushed to its' limit.

FINALLY, we get to get up there and take our picture. Their family first, then mine. We re-take 1 time, we're easy to please, but in the middle of our time, suddenly Hot Rod comes driving up real crazy like again. We're not sure why. It is a funny memory - just thought I'd share. And as an afterthought, lest anyone think that I have a problem with a person with disabilities......I don't. If you could have been there, you would have thought it was funny, too.

By this time, it's time for the DBFF and co. to go and eat at the Garden Grill with their PS they had made. That's totally cool, because we are gonna go back to DS11's favorite place to eat - the Electric Umbrella. Yeah, I'm laughing as I'm typing it. It's a sad representation for the youth of today. :lmao:

We meet back up with DBFF......

We then decide to pop next door to Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. :3dglasses We get stopped in the line right before they would have let us in, but hey, again, it's got A/C and it's like 100 degrees in the shade outside so we sit and wait. DBFF is so impressed with the Garden Grill that I call WDW Dine and make a PS for later that night. And they still had plenty of options. I was surprised. When they let you in to HISTA, they show you the promo video for Kodak (I think). Wow, it's a real tear jerker. Either that or I'm just a bigger sap than I thought. But seriously, I choked back a tear or two. They FINALLY let us into the theatre. Now the last time any of our kids saw this was at least a couple of years ago, so they don't remember everything....but I do! I forewarn DS8 about the cat and the snake. He remembered the mice. But DBFF's son screamed like a little girl! It was hysterical! :rotfl2: Afterwards, I was on a mission.......we had to meet Figment. I had promised the kids the other day that we would get a pic and we missed the meeting times by running all over the world - literally. So this was it, our last chance. We go into the meeting place and nothing. Nothing. I couldn't believe it. It was listed on the times guide, but nothing. We went outside to wait on the gang and we sat and played in the jumping fountains. We were just about to leave and a CM appeared and said that Figment was now greeting!!!! YAY!!! :cheer2: :cheer2: We got the perfect picture! WOO HOO! :woohoo:

We all then head to Spaceship Earth. DBFF and I ride together. It's almost like we are there without kids, without husbands......ahhhhhhhhh, my happy place. It's probably close to 2pm now and we have decided to go our separate ways. We are going to take the kids swimming back at the hotel. That's all they really want to do and this is our 2nd day at Epcot so we can be back in time for Illuminations and our PS, no problem. But first we are going to stop in at Guest Relations so that I can ask about making my passes no expiration........

And that my friends is where I have to leave you for now. But you better keep with me, because the next installment will teach you something you probably don't know about the park passes. I know I didn't................
:wave:

[elemusing]

Welcome back Ruthie!

[missmun52]

I cant wait until the next installment. I neeeeeeed to know what I dont know about the park passes. lol.....does that make sence?

[Fizban257]

And that my friends is where I have to leave you for now. But you better keep with me, because the next installment will teach you something you probably don't know about the park passes. I know I didn't................
:wave:
TEASE! :teeth:

[cyjmhill]

Glad you are back!!!!
:thumbsup2
Nice installement. I am on the edge of my seat for the next one!!!

[hookedonthemagic]

TEASE! :teeth:


Yes, I am. :smooth:

[hookedonthemagic]

Glad you are back!!!!
:thumbsup2
Nice installement. I am on the edge of my seat for the next one!!!


Okay, we all can see why you want me to finish this Mr. WDW without kids! How did you get away with that????

[hookedonthemagic]

Monday, Epcot - Part 2

Okay, so we're heading to Guest Relations and there is a bit of a back story here that you must hear.

When I first booked my trip, I booked room only (with AAA discount) through Disney Reservations. I talked with a wonderful man who was extremely helpful and knowledgable. Or at least I thought he was. He had asked me why I was doing room only and I told him that I was still trying to decide which park passes to buy because we would be coming back in Dec for Christmas so I was trying to get the best deal for my money. I was still trying to figure out if it would be cheaper for one of us to have a season pass, or should we buy no expiration, but oh, it was soooo expensive etc. So this nice Disney Reservation Agent tells me that he would buy the 10 day base and at the end of my stay purchase the no expiration option while I was down at Disney. He said that since I would have already used 5 days of my passes that at that point they would only be 5 day passes and not 10. (I really hope this is making sense and ya'll are still following me.) I was in shock. I had no idea you could do this, but I still didn't purchase any tickets at that time.

About a week later I purchased 2 10-day adult base tickets from Undercover Tourist and was really excited about my sneaky little trick. :smooth: That is until I was on the Dis Boards a couple of days later and found out that you CANNOT do what I was just describing. SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DIDN'T JUST CATCH THAT - THE DISNEY RESERVATION GUY LIED TO ME!!! :sad2:

At that point, I was near vomiting. I hadn't spent a lot of extra money mind you, but I was so disappointed. When I purchased our other 2 tickets, I just bought 7 day base passes so as not to waste any more money.

Back to the actual Epcot Day:

So we are going over to Guest Relations to see if by any chance I can find another unknowing cast member or maybe at least make 1 of the passes no -expiration (did I mention it's really expensive???) because I'm out of fundage to do them all. We get in there and are met by the nicest gentleman who shall remain nameless from Berlin, Germany. I explain to him that I'm wanting to make my passes non expiring and inquire as to how much it will cost. Well, first he gives me the official Disney sheet (it's laminated) that shows the "official" pricing. I also explain to him that I had been given false info from the Reservation person and that we're coming back for Christmas. Then he says to me, "You know you could just exchange in the remaining days on your tickets for the cash value and purchase a new ticket with that." I say, "what?" :confused3 And he goes on to explain while the ticket has no official "cash value" and they won't give you actual money for your ticket, the ticket does have some value and he proceeded to look it up. Then you could take your remaining days value and put that towards a new ticket. I know this is wordy so if I'm not making sense you all will have to let me know.

So basically, the cash value of all 4 of my tickets would have been enough to purchase 1 new 5 day ticket. I would have been out maybe $10 bucks. Cool, huh? The only problem is that we were leaving Epcot and coming back that night. So since my Prince Charming wasn't sure if he'd still be there when we came back later, he even put a note in their computer system and gave me the reference number so that someone else could look it up and give me the same deal. So we leave Epcot pumped up and excited :Pinkbounc over something that we didn't think was even possible.

We head back to the Resort and take the kids swimming. While at the Piano Pool, my kids start a club and meet several great kids to play with. They even agree to meet the next day. How cute.

Now it's getting close to 6pm and our PS at Garden Grill is at 7pm so we need to be running along. The only problem is nobody wants to go back except for DH. I am just tired, the kids just want to swim and DH just wants to eat at Garden Grill (it's all about the darned salad). Well, needless to say, I win this battle (if you haven't figured it out by now, I'm the boss around these parts) and we eat at the Food Court. It was fantastic! We got real food - turkey, mashed potatoes, etc. Very, very good!

As we're about to leave, we run into some people that we met on the bus on the way back from Downtown Disney when we were still residing at ASSp. They had one of the new family suites and had told us that when we moved over to Music to look for them and they'd let us come and see it. I never thought in 3 million years that we'd bump into them again, but there they are! How cool is that! They invite us over and I must say those family suites are really awesome. :love:

Basically, they have combined 2 all star rooms into 1 suite. So when you walk in, it looks like a living room. There is a couch, a chair with an ottoman, a table and 2 chairs, and a dresser with TV. The bathroom is still in the back of that room but then when you go towards the other room, there is another bathroom, a kitchenette with refrig and microwave. Very cool. and then you go into the Master Bedroom with a queen size bed, dresser with 2nd TV and I think another table and chairs. Very, very nice. I'm sold!

We all exchange email etc. and thank them for their generosity. We talk about our next trip all the way back to the room.

Then we remember....THE TICKETS!!! It's okay, we're still here tomorrow. We'll take care of it then. :hourglass

Or will we...........and yes, Fizban, that's another tease. :wave:

[Fizban257]

[...and yes, Fizban, that's another tease. :wave:
I never said I didn't like a good tease. ;)

[Luvchefmic]

It was hysterical! :rotfl2: Afterwards, I was on a mission.......we had to meet Figment. I had promised the kids the other day that we would get a pic and we missed the meeting times by running all over the world - literally. So this was it, our last chance. We go into the meeting place and nothing. Nothing. I couldn't believe it. It was listed on the times guide, but nothing. We went outside to wait on the gang and we sat and played in the jumping fountains. We were just about to leave and a CM appeared and said that Figment was now greeting!!!! YAY!!! :cheer2: :cheer2: We got the perfect picture! WOO HOO! :woohoo:


Soooo glad you got to meet Figment, no I don't think he is "talked up" enough by anyone at WDW, although I did hear an announcement on the Monorail speakers ONE time....for the future and anyone else that didn't know just ask any CM to call the character line re-SPECIFIC times a character will be a certain place you are interested in..not just the vague 1pm through 5pm listed on that lousy blue & white guide..I did and literally had Figgie :goodvibes to myself 2 days in a row...I'll fight you for him :rotfl: will be telling all about it if I ever start my TR..... :wave2: hi all Hi Angie!
:figment: :figment: :figment: :figment: :figment: :figment: :figment: :figment:

[KathyRN137]

"An-ti-ci-PAY-tion......" ;)

[cyjmhill]

Okay, we all can see why you want me to finish this Mr. WDW without kids! How did you get away with that????

Business trip and airline miles :) :banana:

DW and I have not had an adult vacation in such a longtime - its been about 16 years now (our oldest is 16) and it was easy to farm them out to family. They are a little miffed, but not too bad because they love going to Grandma's and Great Aunt's house :) Our oldest is staying home (the other Grandma is coming to be with him) because he is a "Professional Life Guard" (in his words) and has to work.

Besides, I took the kids (w/o DW) to DL last Oct.

We are looking so forward to it!!

[justplaingoofy]

popcorn:: popcorn:: popcorn::

I love this series..... keep it comin'

[fizz13]

Keep it coming, :thumbsup2

[Perrier]

Hi neighbor! I'm in Ozark! Glad I found your TR. You sound so excited & sounds like the whole family had a great time! We can't wait! Only 6 more weeks til our 1st trip!

BTW: Curious why you don't fly Allegiant? Is it b/c you don't want to fly into Sanford? Or do you know something about Allegiant that I don't? :confused3

Can't wait to read more...

[hookedonthemagic]

Hi neighbor! I'm in Ozark! Glad I found your TR. You sound so excited & sounds like the whole family had a great time! We can't wait! Only 6 more weeks til our 1st trip!

BTW: Curious why you don't fly Allegiant? Is it b/c you don't want to fly into Sanford? Or do you know something about Allegiant that I don't? :confused3

Can't wait to read more...


Howdy! :wave: I'm glad you found my TR, too!
I don't fly Allegiant for the following reasons:
1) Yes, because it flies into Sanford.
2) No Magical Express so you up your costs on ground transportation.
3) The return flight is at 8am!!! :sad2: That means you're gonna have to leave your hotel way early in order to get there on time. I was figuring like 5am or something. UGH! We did that one time - on our very first trip to Disney - and swore we'd never do it again.

I hope you have a great time on your trip. If there's any help you need, let me know. I'm a self-proclaimed expert. ;)
Melissa

[hookedonthemagic]

"An-ti-ci-PAY-tion......" ;)

An -ti-ci-pay -ay- tion, it's making me wait! :teeth:

[scrap4u]

Bumping this back to the top. Anxiously waiting for more! popcorn::

[missmun52]

:rolleyes1 :wave2:

[Gina35]

Oh, please~~you have to finish b4 we leave (one week--woo hoo!!). It's been such fun to read. Thanks!!

[justplaingoofy]

You really should consider quitting your day job to be able to keep writing for us :teeth:

popcorn::

[Luvchefmic]

popcorn:: popcorn:: :hourglass

Anxiously waiting here too ! (& NO I haven't written mine yet :guilty: )

[nebo]

So sad. I get HookedontheTR and she just leaves us. Probably visiting that Uni something place down the road. :sad2:

[hookedonthemagic]

So sad. I get HookedontheTR and she just leaves us. Probably visiting that Uni something place down the road. :sad2:


NEVER!!! I promise to make an installment today!!! I'm almost at the end - in a way it's kinda sad.....okay, I'm over it. ;)

[scrap4u]

Bumping this back up. Can't wait to read more! :cool1:

[Gina35]

Hookedonthemagic~~Look forward to reading your next (last?) installment upon my return. :)

[hookedonthemagic]

Tuesday - AKA The day before we have to leave our happy place.

For those who haven't gotten a grip on how I am by now, let me say that we have never, ever, not even once, taken a day off from the parks. Until this day.

Since I had to practically drag everyone out of bed for the last week, we first of all decided to sleep in. DS8 was very happy. :banana:

After we all were alive and able to think about our last day in paradise, the kids had to go swim at the piano pool. Now, I don't think I mentioned this before so forgive me if I did (in other words, I'm not going back to check :) ) but my kids had made some friends at the pool and they started this "diving club". Now everyone knows you can't dive so let's call it a "jumping off the side of the pool" club. :teeth: They had met these great kids from Chicago and they all just hit it off like they'd known each other for years. (isn't being a kid great?) We had agreed to meet them there and they had diving practice with them for awhile. I sat by the pool and attempted to get a tan. Instead in the hour that I sat there at 10am what I got was a very nasty sunburn. :beach: :sunny: And before anybody lectures me, yes I had on sunblock. I just burn easily.

Anyways, after "diving" practice was over, we got cleaned up and took the bus to the Magic Kingdom. No, we didn't go into the park, but instead headed straight for the monorail. We love the monorail. I always look forward to "Please stand clear of the doors. Por favor, mantenganse alejado de las puertas." It's our favorite part. We took the monorail over to the Contemporary.

I have always wanted to stay at the CR. It's my dream resort. I know, I know, it's not the fanciest, but it just symbolizes the whole Disney thing to me. So we go and wander around the CR a little until we get to the reason that we're really there......they have the best food court place I've ever seen. Sure the ASMu etc. may be bigger, but the CR is better. I'll tell you why.
1. You get to order stuff that they don't have at the Value Resorts. For example: They have the most excellent grilled chicken sandwich with bacon and cheese. Very yummy.
2. They even have drinks that those of us at the Value resorts don't get. It's the only place at Disney (that I've been to) where you can find MR. PIBB!!!! The closest thing to Dr. Pepper and by this time me and DS11 are in withdrawals! They also have ICEE drinks there as well. DS8 was most impressed by that!
3. They have Mickey cupcakes and other treats that you can't get at the ASMu.
Okay, so have I convinced you yet??? (By the way, for those of you who can afford to stay at the Deluxe resorts, I know that I'm sounding pretty pathetic here, but I'm willing to accept that. And if you have extra money that you'd like to chip in on my next trip in Dec. just PM me and I'll let you help me upgrade. We typically go quantity of trips over quality. :teeth: )

After the most excellent lunch we walk out to the marina because the boys wanted to check out the pool. I'm there to check out just how far the Garden Wing rooms really are from the rest of the resort. The kids are again impressed. As are we all.

After we finish gawking, we hop back on the monorail and take the grand tour back to the MK. It's a fun trip because we got to see someone on one of those little motorized carts almost take out somebody. Good times, good times.......

When we arrive back at the MK, we go get in the bus line for the Swan Resort so that we can go to Fantasia Gardens Mini Golf. I had asked a CM about the best way to get there and she told me to tell the bus driver where we were wanting to go and he'd drop us off closer. Well, not this bus driver. :sad2: He told us that we'd have to walk all the way around the resort and he acted like it was a terribly long hike, but we got on the bus anyway. He drops us at the front of the Swan (I think it was the Swan - forgive me if I'm wrong) and we go in. We had spotted the golf course on our way in and we were sure that we'd be able to cut through the hotel and save ourselves a few minutes and heatstroke as well. I got to see all of the convention facitilites at the hotel. :goodvibes But I have to say, that we did find a way out that was indeed much closer than walking the perimeter of the building.

We made it across the street to Fantasia Gardens and chose the mini-golf course instead of the chip and putt. Only DS11 would even appreciate the latter. Now, if you haven't ever been over there, first of all, as the name implies, it is based on Fantasia. So each hole is from a different scene in the movie. Very well done. If you like putt-putt you'll love this course. Very creative. There are some water squirting brooms as well as a couple of other places to drench yourself if you should desire to do so. DS11 and DS8 desired to do so. But it was 100 degrees and it felt pretty good. Oh, and remember the sunburn I got that morning???? Well, by now my arms are deep fried. Just thought I'd throw that in for kicks. I will also say and this is no lie - DH and I are extremely competitive - especially in mini-golf. I beat him on our honeymoon. ;) When we tallied everyone's scores, DH, DS11 and I all tied! No lie!! :dance3:

After we finished the golf game and rested for a minute, we trekked back across the street and went in the back way of the Swan and checked out the pool area - not a big deal really. Disney resorts have much better pools. We made our way to the bus stop and waited. We had decided that if we could get a bus to AK or MGM that they would be the closest back to our resort, but we were so hot and tired that we were ready to take anything.

Luckily, the first bus that came was for AK. When we arrived at AK, we switched buses to ASMu and made it back to the hotel safe and sound. By this time we needed a rest break so DH & I took a cat nap while DS's watched Raven on TV. :happytv:

Afterwards, we went to the ASMu food court (still not as good as the CR) and ate. It was good and we tried the chicken quesadillas this time. Nice change. But then I got hit with "Mom, the diving club is meeting one more time tonight at 9pm. We've got to be there."
"Well, dad & I will talk about it, but first I've got to go trade in those park tickets at the concierge. I'll be right back."

Famous last words..........
(oh yeah, one last tease) :smooth:

[cynderella]

Yay! Back up and running! Great new installment, hookedonthemagic. Glad it's not the last one. ;)

[cyjmhill]

Yay! Back up and running! Great new installment, hookedonthemagic. Glad it's not the last one. ;)
Ditto!!!!

Loved it - thanks for sharing!!!

[hookedonthemagic]

Thanks Cynderella and Cyjmhill! I'm glad it's not the last one, too. :thumbsup2 In a sick, demented sort of way, I've enjoyed getting to know everyone and sharing my story. However, since my kids went back to school today, I'm hoping to lay the big finish out for ya'll tomorrow. As Elemusing pointed out....we have been back for 2 months now. :teeth:

[Luvchefmic]

Thanks Cynderella and Cyjmhill! I'm glad it's not the last one, too. :thumbsup2 In a sick, demented sort of way, I've enjoyed getting to know everyone and sharing my story. However, since my kids went back to school today, I'm hoping to lay the big finish out for ya'll tomorrow. As Elemusing pointed out....we have been back for 2 months now. :teeth:

Okay I have been loving your TR BUT if you wait long ago you can just run it directly into your next trip :lmao: okay I know I'm being a smart :eeyore: (credit to CYN and I forget who else) since no one can seem to find any signs :magnify: of my own elusive TR.....seriously WANT MORE Melissa !!

[cyjmhill]

Thanks Cynderella and Cyjmhill! I'm glad it's not the last one, too. :thumbsup2 In a sick, demented sort of way, I've enjoyed getting to know everyone and sharing my story. However, since my kids went back to school today, I'm hoping to lay the big finish out for ya'll tomorrow. As Elemusing pointed out....we have been back for 2 months now. :teeth:
Still waiting. You are killing me - I want to read the "big finish". :)

[scrap4u]

Trying to patiently wait for the rest of the report! popcorn:: Loved it so far! Can't wait for the rest. Please!!! :cool1:

[hookedonthemagic]

Alright already. I'm doing it right now!!!

[hookedonthemagic]

Chapter Whatever - I've lost track....
AKA The Big Finish

So I've left the ASMu Food Court to make my way over to the concierge to trade-in my park tickets. There is only 1 lone guy at the desk and there are 3 people in front of me, but I leave in the morning so I am sucking it up and standing in the line.

Yay! Another guy comes to help out! WOO HOO! :woohoo: He just cut my wait time down! So I finally get up (I've waited about 10 minutes) and the guy who is helping me is in his early 20's (got that fresh out of college look) and he has the big happy Disney smile that I love sooooo much. :teeth: I begin explaining to him that I was at Epcot yesterday and was told by the Guest Relations dude from Germany that I could cash in the remaining value of my unused days on my park tickets and purchase a new ticket. Well, at that point the Disney smile is starting to fade and he starts looking a little more like this : :confused: :scratchin I can see that he has absolutely no idea what I'm talking about and as I continue to try and explain, he says, "No, ma'am, I'm afraid you were told wrong. We can't do that. The tickets don't have a cash value."

Sidebar: Now those of you have been with this from the beginning know by now that I'm a pretty reasonable person, but I've also gotten the shaft a couple of times already on this trip and there's absolutely no way at this point that I'm giving up on this. So I'm prepared to stick it out for the long haul. :smooth:

I tell him, "The guy at Guest Relations at Epcot told me I could. He even made a note in their computer system to let anyone else know what he had promised me." Well, at this, the kid says, "Let me go and talk to the manager and I'll see if she knows about this." I tell him that sounds great. I'll be right here waiting. popcorn::

He's gone a couple of minutes, and in the meantime the other concierge who is a bit older and looks like a veteran has been trying to eavesdrop on the whole thing and he says "Yes, we can. He's new. He'll be right back." Ahhhhhhhh, I love it when somebody agrees with me. So I'm waiting patiently now.

My little dude comes back and he says, "Ma'am, I'm sorry to tell you this, but you were given false information from the guy at Epcot." At this point the older concierge jumps in and says "We can do that. What are you talking about?" To which my dude replies, "No, ________(fill-in the managers' name) says we can't". I'm invisible during all of this. They are arguing amongst themselves. :confused3

The older dude looks at me and says, "what are you trying to do?" And I say, "I was told that I could cash-in the remaining days.....blah, blah, blah, and all I want to do is purchase a new 5 day base ticket with the refund." The older dude then says "Oh, no, you can't do that." :crazy:

Now again, I say to all of you, I'm a very, very easy to get along with person. BUT, when I feel like I'm getting screwed around????? OH NO! :furious: I feel my face starting to get red. I try to stay calm and this is what I said:

"Okay, guys. Here's the deal. When I first booked this trip, I was told by a Disney Reservation Agent that I could get a 10 day base ticket use the days I wanted to use and then purchase the no-expiration day for the remaining days without having to pay for all 10 days. That was wrong. And I understand that it was wrong. That's why only 2 of my tickets are 10 day tickets and the other 2 are 7 day tickets. NEXT, I get here at 5 in the afternoon and you all conveniently don't bring my luggage until after midnight. By the way, that's the second time that's happened to me. THEN, I move from ASSp to ASMu and you all lose my luggagae AGAIN! You even put it in somebody else's room! But I get my stuff back, everything's fine and I'm trying to be happy here in my happy place. I come here every year and I want to come again in December. That's why I stopped at Guest Relations at Epcot. _____ from Germany, told me that I could cash in these tickets towards the purchase of a new ticket. I don't want the money back. I understand that you all don't do that. But he even went and double-checked what he was doing with his supervisor and he put a note in the system at Epcot so that anybody else would know what to do. Here's the piece of paper with the reference number on it. CALL THEM! Please!"

At this, the older guy excuses himself to go and speak to the manager. The younger guy decides that he is going to call Epcot. THANK GOD! He talks to the person at Guest Relations and my guy is not there. Figures. But he does manage to give them the reference number and lo and behold, there it is right there in the computer everything I've said is true. :cool1: I can tell my little guy is in shock. I must tell you though, that he was really quite cool about it all. He told them that he had an irate customer (I was still smiling and I never once even raised my voice) as he winked at me. ;) He then whispered that we'd get further if they thought I was really mad. :smooth: I didn't really care what he told them as long as I got what I was promised.
The next thing I hear come out of his mouth is "We've never heard of that here. My manager didn't even know you could do that." And here's the clincher: The resorts CAN'T do it. You can only do it at the PARKS! In that time, the older guy comes back and is just about to tell me no again, when the younger looks at him and shares what he has learned. They both go to talk to the manager.

By this time, DH and DS's have wondered what black hole I've fallen into and DH parks the kids at the TV and comes over to join me. I have just enough time to tell him that they don't know what the heck I'm talking about as they both walk back up.

The older guy says, "Okay, ma'am here's the deal. I can't do what they told you you could do at Epcot, because you can only do that at the theme parks. However, what I CAN do is give you 10 1-day 1-park passes if that's okay with you. The only catch is that they will expire on Dec. 31. Would that make you happy?"

By this time, my brain has been in overdrive and it does take me a second to realize that he just offered me DOUBLE what I had originally wanted. :teacher: DH and I look at each other. :hyper2: And I quickly regain my composure and say very calmly, "yes, that would be great and I would be very happy." Now inside, I'm thinking HAPPY????? NO, HOW ABOUT ECSTATIC!!!!!
party: I just couldn't even believe it - DOUBLE what I wanted! I love Disney!!!!! :grouphug:

I've got one final post to make. I'll continue on it.......

[hookedonthemagic]

I literally float back to the room and finish packing. I re-watch all of the Disney TV channels one last time :happytv: and we go to bed.

Black Wednesday - AKA the day we go home.

We got picked up by the Disney bus at 10am. It was a very sad time. I didn't cry though................until they showed the darn video on the bus trip back to the airport. I was doing really good. Looking forward to my Dec. trip, planning how many other park tickets I'd need to buy. And then it happened...... at the end of the video......"M-I-C See ya real soon K-E-Y why? Because we like you! M-O-U-S-E! And I start wiping the tears away.
Me - :sad:
DH - :sad2:
DS11 - :sad1:
DS8 - :bounce:

I would like to thank everyone who stuck this out with me. I feel like I made some new friends. Special virtual hugs go out to Elemusing - my DBFF - without who this TR would have been a little more boring than it was to begin with; Cyjmhill, scrap4u and Luvchefmic - for making me continue; and of course, Cynderella and TaraLee - RESPECT THE LIME! Grouphug everyone! :grouphug:

Melissa

[cyjmhill]

:cool1: :thumbsup2 :banana: :cheer2: :woohoo: :dance3: :rockband: party: :jumping1: :thanks:

Awesome ending!!!!

I can't believe that you got so lucky with the tickets!!! WOW!!!!!!

Thanks for the wonderful trip report, I guess I will have to type mine up now.

It was fun getting to know you!

Thanks again!!

[scrap4u]

Thanks so much for finishing! Great trip report! :thumbsup2 I've enjoyed getting to know your family. You all sound like a lot of fun and you really enjoy being together. Enjoy your trip in December with all your free tickets! :yay: We'll be there in 9 short days! :cool1:

[hookedonthemagic]

:cool1: :thumbsup2 :banana: :cheer2: :woohoo: :dance3: :rockband: party: :jumping1: :thanks:

Awesome ending!!!!

I can't believe that you got so lucky with the tickets!!! WOW!!!!!!

Thanks for the wonderful trip report, I guess I will have to type mine up now.

It was fun getting to know you!

Thanks again!!


It was a pleasure getting to know you as well. And I do feel that we truly "lucked out" with the tickets. Still, I'm not complaining. And yes, let me know the minute you start your TR so I can harass you through yours as well. ;)
:wave:

[hookedonthemagic]

Thanks so much for finishing! Great trip report! :thumbsup2 I've enjoyed getting to know your family. You all sound like a lot of fun and you really enjoy being together. Enjoy your trip in December with all your free tickets! :yay: We'll be there in 9 short days! :cool1:


Yes, I've been watching your countdown. I am very jealous. I'd live there if I could. And I've already planned to do another TR after the Dec. excursion. But you do your TR first and let me know what you all did! I'll look forward to it! Have a great time! :wave:

[justplaingoofy]

I literally float back to the room and finish packing. I re-watch all of the Disney TV channels one last time :happytv: and we go to bed.

Black Wednesday - AKA the day we go home.

We got picked up by the Disney bus at 10am. It was a very sad time. I didn't cry though................until they showed the darn video on the bus trip back to the airport. I was doing really good. Looking forward to my Dec. trip, planning how many other park tickets I'd need to buy. And then it happened...... at the end of the video......"M-I-C See ya real soon K-E-Y why? Because we like you! M-O-U-S-E! And I start wiping the tears away.
Me - :sad:
DH - :sad2:
DS11 - :sad1:
DS8 - :bounce:

I would like to thank everyone who stuck this out with me. I feel like I made some new friends. Special virtual hugs go out to Elemusing - my DBFF - without who this TR would have been a little more boring than it was to begin with; Cyjmhill, scrap4u and Luvchefmic - for making me continue; and of course, Cynderella and TaraLee - RESPECT THE LIME! Grouphug everyone! :grouphug:

Melissa

I'm thinking about starting up a collection to send you back to Disney just so you can come back here to write about it! :Pinkbounc Now, if I could just win the lottery that "could" happen.

[elemusing]

whooooppeeee good job! :-)

:banana:

[Gina35]

Excellent ending...really enjoyed reading about your escapades and seeing the great pictures. We went 2 wks ago and I don't think I can write a TR b/c I'm starting school (I'm a teacher) on Tuesday. Once the school year starts, everything changes around here! Maybe I can at least jot down a dining review and a few little tidbits as time goes on???? Anyway, PLEASE do a TR in December b/c you have done a wonderful job and kept us all on the edge of our seats, like a good movie...and WHAT AN ENDING!!!! I think it's GREAT that you received all of those tix!! Thanks for your fun and informative report.