Liz
07-07-2002, 11:35 PM
Cast:
ME - 43, Author of this report, grew up in Florida, too many WDW trips to really count
PAUL - 50, my dear husband, several WDW trips under his belt
JEFF - 14, our dear son, this is about his 6th trip to WDW
LAURA - 13, our dear daughter, her 6th trip also. Will be participating in the U.S. Transplant Games in Orlando.
MY MOM - late 60's, been to WDW many times, last time 5 years ago
JUNE 24 - MONDAY
Up at 6:45 and ate breakfast in the room again. Paul and the kids walked to Epcot. I took the boat with mom. They beat us by quite a bit but we were still there before the park opened. We looked around in the store at the International Gateway awhile and Laura bought one of those headbands with the two springs that stick up. She got the one with Pooh & Piglet heads on the springs and wore that quite a bit the rest of the trip. She looked cute in it!
When the rope dropped we walked through World Showcase on our way to Test Track. It was a long walk for my mom and by the time we got there she was happy to sit down and rest while we went on the ride. We were hurrying but I think it would have been really nice to take our time, letting the main rush of the crowd hurry past and stroll through an uncrowded World Showcase. Maybe next time. We saw off in the distance the Tapestry of Dreams parade going on. I assume they were practicing at this early hour! It was fun seeing that! There had been so much rain so many afternoons in a row they probably hadn't been able to do the parade much lately.
We rode Test Track and even though I've been on it a couple of times before I was nervous standing in line! I don't know why because it was fun! I'm admittedly a ride wimp!
We went over to Wonders of Life and rode Body Wars and then had a snack at Pure & Simple. The kids each had smoothie drinks and my mom had something but I can't remember what. The kids didn't want to see Cranium Command this time and both cringed when I mentioned going to "The Making of Me". I think its an adorable show!
We decided to move on and went to Ellens Energy Adventure. Really well done and such an improvement over the previous version! The first version when it was just called "Universe of Energy", the dinosaurs were good and it was a good place to rest your feet, but that was about it. Now the whole story from start to finish is enjoyable.
Paul and Jeff saw the "It" vehicle running around outside Innoventions. The rest of us missed it.
We went to the place with Cokes from all over the world. After I go in there I always feel like I need to wash my hands. Everything is so sticky! I think I could skip that place from now on but Jeff likes going in there.
Next stop was The Land. I asked at the podium for Garden Grill for directions to the AP lounge so we could see what it was like. They said to push 2 & 3 simultaneously on the elevator. The elevator was small and there were people on it already unsuccessfully getting it to go anywhere. Mom decided to sit down and wait for us. She has a fear of elevators and didn't have an AP so she had no desire to go upstairs.
I also had heard food could be brought from the food court downstairs up to the lounge to eat. We thought this might be a nice, quiet place to eat and we'd heard if its not crowded a non-AP holder could be brought in. The CM at the Garden Grill podium said we were not allowed to bring food up there.
We got on the elevator with the other people and finally we all decided to just push floor 3 instead of trying to push 2 & 3 together. Then we made it upstairs without a problem. Its sure a different world from the theme parks, etc. The main difference I noticed immediately is its so quiet. There is a reception desk where you show your AP's, and they ask you to sign their guest book.
In the lounge they had quite a few groupings of couches & tables, TV's and such. Chip & Dale were just leaving the lounge when we got there. They were wearing their farmer clothes like when they visit Garden Grill. There was a sign that no restrooms were available in the AP lounge, which I thought was kind of odd. The sign said restrooms were available downstairs. They did have free pop but it was warm and no ice in sight. We weren't very impressed and had no desire to return really. We did get preferred seating passes to Shockwave, which made the trip upstairs worthwhile.
We went downstairs to eat lunch in the Land food court. It was quite crowded and the lines to get food were very long. Jeff got barbecue chicken & ribs, Laura and I both got parmesan chicken & water (made more Kool-Aid). Paul didn't eat because we were heading to Mexico next and he always gets a big bean burrito there with the black beans. Our parmesan chicken came with some type of pasta & a bread stick. Everything was really good.
We rode the Land boat ride and it was especially good this time. There were lots of big things growing and fun things to see. All of us, even the kids, always enjoy this.
Then we watched "Food Rocks". It was much better before they changed it. Its okay now, but we loved it before when we fondly referred to it as "veggie, veggie, fruit, fruit"!
We felt like we were taking our lives into our hands by leaving the safety of The Land to hurry over to Mexico! The wind was blowing, thunder and lightning was just starting off in the distance, the sky was dark. We could just tell the sky was going to open up any second with more of that precious rain! (And who said Florida was having a drought???) We made it to Mexico just in time, just with seconds to spare, before rain poured again. Paul got his burrito and hurriedly ate it then joined the rest of us inside the Mexico pavilion.
I always thought there were no restrooms inside the pavilion but I asked someone working in one of the shops because I really didn't want to go outside in the rain to find a restroom. She said the restrooms were inside the restaurant there, so I was glad to know that for future visits!
We all rode the Mexico boat ride, no line at all. Then we trudged through the rain, which had let up a little bit, over to Norway and rode the boat ride there. Paul & Jeff stayed to watch the movie afterwards. Laura and I went out to find my mom, who was waiting for us. Paul said he couldn't remember what the movie was like. I don't care for it and feel like I don't learn much about Norway from it at all. Paul said after watching it he now remembers why we usually skip it. The boat ride is fun but I wish it was longer.
Our entertainment guide said someone or something called Spelmanns Gledje was performing at 4:00. It was 3:55 so we decided to wait. We waited until 4:05 and nothing ever happened so we moved on. Does anyone know who or what this is and what they do?
While we were walking the character bus drove past. Gepetto blew a kiss to Laura so we teased her that he was her boyfriend!
In the little village of Africa there was a man carving animals out of wood. He was really good and we watched him for a few minutes.
We saw and watched a little bit of Shockwave outside the America pavilion, but we had the passes to see the show later that night so we went in to see the American Adventure. I love the singers they have before the show begins. They have beautiful voices. I like it when they sing beautiful patriotic songs. This time they mainly sang silly songs like Old McDonald. They did sing the state song of Illinois (I think) but I wasn't familiar with it. The kids enjoyed the silly songs and when they're happy and content so am I. We watched the American Adventure show which is so well done.
The plan was to watch Tapestry of Dreams as soon as we got out of American Adventure, but we came out to more rain and soon the announcement came that the performance was cancelled. Darn. I really wanted my mom to see that.
Mom was ready to head back to the Dolphin. I was going to go back with her but she said she could make it on her own if I saw her to the boat dock. I was really nervous about leaving her but she was very sure of herself and said that she would be fine. That was quite a change because when we first arrived at the Dolphin and we were showing her around she said it was all nice but she would never attempt to try to find things herself. Over the course of our seven nights at the Dolphin my mom became quite a fan of the place! She enjoys the parks but has been to them many times, and she doesn't have the stamina to walk around them all day. She enjoyed them for about half a day and then was ready to go back to her room. When the reservations were made for our trip she was apprehensive about being there 7 nights, and agreed to go along but was sure she'd be wishing she was back home. When it was time to leave she told me how much she enjoyed it and how she dreaded leaving!
But anyway, I took my mom to the boat dock while Paul and the kids went on to Image Works. I was going to wait with her till the boat came but there were some other older folks waiting for the boat and she said she'd just wait with them and told me to go on back. I gave her the Disney club card so she could get a discount on her dinner back at the hotel. While we were over in the area by the boat dock we saw a bunny, or it looked more like a jackrabbit because it had big hind legs! It was so cute! What a great life, to be a bunny living in Epcot!!!
I met Paul and the kids at Image Works. Jeff had just sent an e-mail of himself back to his friends at home. We all went to see the new and hopefully improved Figment ride. We were all wearing our yellow ponchos and when we entered the pavilion a CM there asked us to remove them. That's the only pavilion where we were asked to do this. There was no line for the ride. I don't remember anything particularly outstanding about it, but it was nice having Figment back. There was one point towards the end where there was a LOUD noise and it startled Laura so much it made her cry! I can only imagine the reaction of small children so be forewarned! By this time Laura was tired and hungry so I'm sure that was part of it. She had almost decided to go back to the hotel with her grandma but decided to stay at the parks.
Laura and I went back to the America pavilion to get something to eat before watching Shockwave. We shared a bacon cheeseburger, fries & drink. We often shared meals because I know she doesn't have a big appetite and we always knew if we were still hungry afterwards we could buy more. Often sharing a meal was plenty for us though. While we were eating we watched part of Tapestry of Dreams. I love that parade! I remember the first time I saw it in 2000, when it was Tapestry of Nations, I wasn't all that impressed. I must not have been in the right frame of mind at that time because now I just love it!
Paul & Jeff stopped off at Morocco and used a Connections voucher. They shared a chicken & rice combo meal. I'm not sure what all it came with but I know they had dessert & a drink. They used an $11 voucher to pay for the meal they shared. They said they were both still hungry after their meal though, but it was time for Shockwave so no time to get something else to eat right away.
We went to the 8:15 showing of Shockwave. With our AP preferred seating passes we entered on the far left side of the theater and could choose seats under the covered area up in the front. We got great seats even though we sat down just as it was starting! We never saw Blast, the original show, but we totally fell in love with Shockwave! Jeff is a drummer and has been for several years. He's just starting to play a bass drum in the high school band this year. So it was because of him that we made a special effort to see this show. Its a brass & percussion show that is just awesome! It was so cool! We all loved it but especially Jeff!
We slowly walked back around World Showcase, heading for the International Gateway. We watched Illuminations as we walked, figuring we'd rather do that and beat the big crowds to the boats than stand in one spot to watch. When we got to the Gateway, Jeff & Laura sat on a big pillar of a fence and we watched the rest of the show from there, then we were able to exit when it was over and get to the boats quick. The boys decided again to walk back. Laura and I were tired so we took the boat.
Back at the Dolphin, Paul and the kids went down to Tubbis for ice cream. They wouldn't let them use the Disney Club 20% discount for the ice cream either. They said it had to be food. The three of them went swimming for awhile. Paul said he was talking to some people in the hot tub and he was the only one not associated with the insurance convention in some way. Didn't bother him though, and he got to talk to some nice people from all over the country!
I stayed in the room and got clothes ready for the morning, and enjoyed sitting quietly on the balcony alone listening to the sounds of Fantasmic! I was picturing in my mind what was happening as I listened and it was really a nice, peaceful time to myself that I enjoyed very much!
When we'd get back to the room late we never saw my mom because she was already in bed and had the connecting door between our rooms closed.
Budget for the day:
$5 Maid tip
$7 Two smoothies for Jeff & Laura at Pure & Simple
$10 BBQ chicken & ribs - Jeff's lunch at the Land
$15 Two parmesan chicken meals - Mine and Laura's lunch at the Land
$5 Burrito in Mexico - Paul's lunch
$11 Connections voucher - Paul & Jeff shared dinner at Morocco
$10 American Adventure burger & fries - Mine & Laura's dinner
$6 Ice cream treats at the Dolphin
ME - 43, Author of this report, grew up in Florida, too many WDW trips to really count
PAUL - 50, my dear husband, several WDW trips under his belt
JEFF - 14, our dear son, this is about his 6th trip to WDW
LAURA - 13, our dear daughter, her 6th trip also. Will be participating in the U.S. Transplant Games in Orlando.
MY MOM - late 60's, been to WDW many times, last time 5 years ago
JUNE 24 - MONDAY
Up at 6:45 and ate breakfast in the room again. Paul and the kids walked to Epcot. I took the boat with mom. They beat us by quite a bit but we were still there before the park opened. We looked around in the store at the International Gateway awhile and Laura bought one of those headbands with the two springs that stick up. She got the one with Pooh & Piglet heads on the springs and wore that quite a bit the rest of the trip. She looked cute in it!
When the rope dropped we walked through World Showcase on our way to Test Track. It was a long walk for my mom and by the time we got there she was happy to sit down and rest while we went on the ride. We were hurrying but I think it would have been really nice to take our time, letting the main rush of the crowd hurry past and stroll through an uncrowded World Showcase. Maybe next time. We saw off in the distance the Tapestry of Dreams parade going on. I assume they were practicing at this early hour! It was fun seeing that! There had been so much rain so many afternoons in a row they probably hadn't been able to do the parade much lately.
We rode Test Track and even though I've been on it a couple of times before I was nervous standing in line! I don't know why because it was fun! I'm admittedly a ride wimp!
We went over to Wonders of Life and rode Body Wars and then had a snack at Pure & Simple. The kids each had smoothie drinks and my mom had something but I can't remember what. The kids didn't want to see Cranium Command this time and both cringed when I mentioned going to "The Making of Me". I think its an adorable show!
We decided to move on and went to Ellens Energy Adventure. Really well done and such an improvement over the previous version! The first version when it was just called "Universe of Energy", the dinosaurs were good and it was a good place to rest your feet, but that was about it. Now the whole story from start to finish is enjoyable.
Paul and Jeff saw the "It" vehicle running around outside Innoventions. The rest of us missed it.
We went to the place with Cokes from all over the world. After I go in there I always feel like I need to wash my hands. Everything is so sticky! I think I could skip that place from now on but Jeff likes going in there.
Next stop was The Land. I asked at the podium for Garden Grill for directions to the AP lounge so we could see what it was like. They said to push 2 & 3 simultaneously on the elevator. The elevator was small and there were people on it already unsuccessfully getting it to go anywhere. Mom decided to sit down and wait for us. She has a fear of elevators and didn't have an AP so she had no desire to go upstairs.
I also had heard food could be brought from the food court downstairs up to the lounge to eat. We thought this might be a nice, quiet place to eat and we'd heard if its not crowded a non-AP holder could be brought in. The CM at the Garden Grill podium said we were not allowed to bring food up there.
We got on the elevator with the other people and finally we all decided to just push floor 3 instead of trying to push 2 & 3 together. Then we made it upstairs without a problem. Its sure a different world from the theme parks, etc. The main difference I noticed immediately is its so quiet. There is a reception desk where you show your AP's, and they ask you to sign their guest book.
In the lounge they had quite a few groupings of couches & tables, TV's and such. Chip & Dale were just leaving the lounge when we got there. They were wearing their farmer clothes like when they visit Garden Grill. There was a sign that no restrooms were available in the AP lounge, which I thought was kind of odd. The sign said restrooms were available downstairs. They did have free pop but it was warm and no ice in sight. We weren't very impressed and had no desire to return really. We did get preferred seating passes to Shockwave, which made the trip upstairs worthwhile.
We went downstairs to eat lunch in the Land food court. It was quite crowded and the lines to get food were very long. Jeff got barbecue chicken & ribs, Laura and I both got parmesan chicken & water (made more Kool-Aid). Paul didn't eat because we were heading to Mexico next and he always gets a big bean burrito there with the black beans. Our parmesan chicken came with some type of pasta & a bread stick. Everything was really good.
We rode the Land boat ride and it was especially good this time. There were lots of big things growing and fun things to see. All of us, even the kids, always enjoy this.
Then we watched "Food Rocks". It was much better before they changed it. Its okay now, but we loved it before when we fondly referred to it as "veggie, veggie, fruit, fruit"!
We felt like we were taking our lives into our hands by leaving the safety of The Land to hurry over to Mexico! The wind was blowing, thunder and lightning was just starting off in the distance, the sky was dark. We could just tell the sky was going to open up any second with more of that precious rain! (And who said Florida was having a drought???) We made it to Mexico just in time, just with seconds to spare, before rain poured again. Paul got his burrito and hurriedly ate it then joined the rest of us inside the Mexico pavilion.
I always thought there were no restrooms inside the pavilion but I asked someone working in one of the shops because I really didn't want to go outside in the rain to find a restroom. She said the restrooms were inside the restaurant there, so I was glad to know that for future visits!
We all rode the Mexico boat ride, no line at all. Then we trudged through the rain, which had let up a little bit, over to Norway and rode the boat ride there. Paul & Jeff stayed to watch the movie afterwards. Laura and I went out to find my mom, who was waiting for us. Paul said he couldn't remember what the movie was like. I don't care for it and feel like I don't learn much about Norway from it at all. Paul said after watching it he now remembers why we usually skip it. The boat ride is fun but I wish it was longer.
Our entertainment guide said someone or something called Spelmanns Gledje was performing at 4:00. It was 3:55 so we decided to wait. We waited until 4:05 and nothing ever happened so we moved on. Does anyone know who or what this is and what they do?
While we were walking the character bus drove past. Gepetto blew a kiss to Laura so we teased her that he was her boyfriend!
In the little village of Africa there was a man carving animals out of wood. He was really good and we watched him for a few minutes.
We saw and watched a little bit of Shockwave outside the America pavilion, but we had the passes to see the show later that night so we went in to see the American Adventure. I love the singers they have before the show begins. They have beautiful voices. I like it when they sing beautiful patriotic songs. This time they mainly sang silly songs like Old McDonald. They did sing the state song of Illinois (I think) but I wasn't familiar with it. The kids enjoyed the silly songs and when they're happy and content so am I. We watched the American Adventure show which is so well done.
The plan was to watch Tapestry of Dreams as soon as we got out of American Adventure, but we came out to more rain and soon the announcement came that the performance was cancelled. Darn. I really wanted my mom to see that.
Mom was ready to head back to the Dolphin. I was going to go back with her but she said she could make it on her own if I saw her to the boat dock. I was really nervous about leaving her but she was very sure of herself and said that she would be fine. That was quite a change because when we first arrived at the Dolphin and we were showing her around she said it was all nice but she would never attempt to try to find things herself. Over the course of our seven nights at the Dolphin my mom became quite a fan of the place! She enjoys the parks but has been to them many times, and she doesn't have the stamina to walk around them all day. She enjoyed them for about half a day and then was ready to go back to her room. When the reservations were made for our trip she was apprehensive about being there 7 nights, and agreed to go along but was sure she'd be wishing she was back home. When it was time to leave she told me how much she enjoyed it and how she dreaded leaving!
But anyway, I took my mom to the boat dock while Paul and the kids went on to Image Works. I was going to wait with her till the boat came but there were some other older folks waiting for the boat and she said she'd just wait with them and told me to go on back. I gave her the Disney club card so she could get a discount on her dinner back at the hotel. While we were over in the area by the boat dock we saw a bunny, or it looked more like a jackrabbit because it had big hind legs! It was so cute! What a great life, to be a bunny living in Epcot!!!
I met Paul and the kids at Image Works. Jeff had just sent an e-mail of himself back to his friends at home. We all went to see the new and hopefully improved Figment ride. We were all wearing our yellow ponchos and when we entered the pavilion a CM there asked us to remove them. That's the only pavilion where we were asked to do this. There was no line for the ride. I don't remember anything particularly outstanding about it, but it was nice having Figment back. There was one point towards the end where there was a LOUD noise and it startled Laura so much it made her cry! I can only imagine the reaction of small children so be forewarned! By this time Laura was tired and hungry so I'm sure that was part of it. She had almost decided to go back to the hotel with her grandma but decided to stay at the parks.
Laura and I went back to the America pavilion to get something to eat before watching Shockwave. We shared a bacon cheeseburger, fries & drink. We often shared meals because I know she doesn't have a big appetite and we always knew if we were still hungry afterwards we could buy more. Often sharing a meal was plenty for us though. While we were eating we watched part of Tapestry of Dreams. I love that parade! I remember the first time I saw it in 2000, when it was Tapestry of Nations, I wasn't all that impressed. I must not have been in the right frame of mind at that time because now I just love it!
Paul & Jeff stopped off at Morocco and used a Connections voucher. They shared a chicken & rice combo meal. I'm not sure what all it came with but I know they had dessert & a drink. They used an $11 voucher to pay for the meal they shared. They said they were both still hungry after their meal though, but it was time for Shockwave so no time to get something else to eat right away.
We went to the 8:15 showing of Shockwave. With our AP preferred seating passes we entered on the far left side of the theater and could choose seats under the covered area up in the front. We got great seats even though we sat down just as it was starting! We never saw Blast, the original show, but we totally fell in love with Shockwave! Jeff is a drummer and has been for several years. He's just starting to play a bass drum in the high school band this year. So it was because of him that we made a special effort to see this show. Its a brass & percussion show that is just awesome! It was so cool! We all loved it but especially Jeff!
We slowly walked back around World Showcase, heading for the International Gateway. We watched Illuminations as we walked, figuring we'd rather do that and beat the big crowds to the boats than stand in one spot to watch. When we got to the Gateway, Jeff & Laura sat on a big pillar of a fence and we watched the rest of the show from there, then we were able to exit when it was over and get to the boats quick. The boys decided again to walk back. Laura and I were tired so we took the boat.
Back at the Dolphin, Paul and the kids went down to Tubbis for ice cream. They wouldn't let them use the Disney Club 20% discount for the ice cream either. They said it had to be food. The three of them went swimming for awhile. Paul said he was talking to some people in the hot tub and he was the only one not associated with the insurance convention in some way. Didn't bother him though, and he got to talk to some nice people from all over the country!
I stayed in the room and got clothes ready for the morning, and enjoyed sitting quietly on the balcony alone listening to the sounds of Fantasmic! I was picturing in my mind what was happening as I listened and it was really a nice, peaceful time to myself that I enjoyed very much!
When we'd get back to the room late we never saw my mom because she was already in bed and had the connecting door between our rooms closed.
Budget for the day:
$5 Maid tip
$7 Two smoothies for Jeff & Laura at Pure & Simple
$10 BBQ chicken & ribs - Jeff's lunch at the Land
$15 Two parmesan chicken meals - Mine and Laura's lunch at the Land
$5 Burrito in Mexico - Paul's lunch
$11 Connections voucher - Paul & Jeff shared dinner at Morocco
$10 American Adventure burger & fries - Mine & Laura's dinner
$6 Ice cream treats at the Dolphin