My "I Can't Wipe This Grin Off My Face!" Splurge Trip Day 1

[Disneyfan63]

First posted on Friday, December 9, 2005 at 5:45 pm EST.

Hi, everyone!

This is a report of my first day's Mousefest trip. I returned from Walt Disney World yesterday, December 8, 2005 after a nine-day, eight-night trip. November 30 was the first time that I'd spent any time in WDW (indeed, any time away from home) in the month of November. There are no pictures in this report because, even with a digital camera, I'm a lousy photographer. I had confirmed my flight information with US Airways, my room reservation directly with Wilderness Lodge switchboard at 1 (407) 824-3200, and my airport shuttle ride with Rapid Rover, all the previous night (November 29).

I set my clock alarm for three am as I knew I'd be too excited to sleep anyway. I forgot to unset it; so for the next eight days, the personalities at KYW Newsradio 1060 (Ten Sixty) came on to an empty house at that time. Anyway, I got up; shaved, showered, got dressed, packed my toiletries and last-minute things. I brought down my suitcase and backpack and then had a bowl of cereal with a glass of orange juice at about 4:45 am. I unplugged my computer, TV and stereo and called Rapid Rover to confirm that someone was going to pick me up. There's something about a trip, for which you've planned for months, finally beginning.

Rapid Rover showed up at 5:23 am. While I set my security alarm and locked my house, the driver loaded my suitcase and backpack into the van. I hopped in and leaned a little forward in my seat, in anticipation of my first trip anywhere in very nearly a year (not counting my July 30 day trip to Ocean City, MD). The ride to the airport was uneventful, and I said little except to state my airline. We arrived at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) at around 6:00 am. The driver got out and I followed, paying him with two twenties and change from my $350 stash ($32.00 fare, $4.80 plus a dollar a bag tip, returning $2.00).

I had a little trouble checking in because I used the no-baggage-check kiosk, and finally got my baggage check receipt and boarding pass from the ticket agent. I was now ready to rock, and I went through security and to gate C23 to board US Air Flight 987, departing at 7:40 am. US Air boards by a zone system. My pass read zone 7 so I was among the last to board, finding my aisle seat (for a change) 13D and buckling in. The flight was uneventful; I alternated talking with my rowmates, reading my Passporter, and napping until touchdown at Orlando International Airport (MCO) at 10:15 am.

Getting off the plane, I took the shuttle to the main terminal and walked to the A side in search of Disney's Magical Express, finally asking someone at the main Mears counter and walking past three long counters to my right to find it, getting in line to give my baggage claim check to the lady at the counter. When my turn came and I did so, she directed me to a line for a bus bound for Wilderness Lodge and the Grand Floridian, where I waited, and waited.

Finally, at about 11:00 am a bus appeared and I got on. Because the driver made stops at the Grand Floridian and the Polynesian resorts, we finally got to Wilderness Lodge at about 11:55 am. I was getting nervous: would I be able to check in to the resort, settle in, and get to Le Cellier by 1:50 pm for lunch? To find out, keep reading, if I haven't already bored you with all this detail.

Opening in 1994 at 901 Timberline Drive on the shores of Bay Lake, Wilderness Lodge is simply gorgeous, a Lincoln Logs construction with a huge lobby on its second floor, an eight-story atrium, a 65-foot Christmas tree, and an 80-foot fireplace. My check-in reservationist was a woman named Jackie. My reservation called for a standard room, so I expected two queen beds in a fourth- or fifth-floor room overlooking a parking lot. I nearly did a double-take when Jackie asked, "King bed?" In short, I got room 1132. My travel agent, Judy at Great Escapes Travel in Audubon, NJ, must have mentioned my cerebral palsy. Room 1132 is located near the Silver Springs pool, handicapped accessible with a walk-in shower, a refrigerator, and a king bed with a view of trees, steps to a small patio and a road in front, and of rocks to the far right. It was ready, too; Jackie led me to it and I entered and put away my backpack. I called my brother Steve, who answered with "How's Florida?" and told him, "This call is coming to you live from the Wilderness Lodge at the Walt Disney World Resort!" and told him about my room. I also called Mike Scopa and AliciaG, to report my safe arrival. Both were unavailable so I left messages.

After briefly reading the Silver Creek Star, the little newspaper summarizing the Lodge's amenities, unpacking, and looking at the resort map, I headed to Epcot and my lunch ADR at Le Cellier. It took awhile to get to the bus stop (stop 2) but once I got there I didn't have to wait long (maybe ten minutes) for a bus to Epcot. Climbing aboard, I sat quietly for the 15-minute ride to WDW's second-largest theme park (some 350 acres). Getting there, I noted the stop number for the Wilderness Lodge (WL) bus (number 5) and entered the park, struggling a little with the biometrics (two fingers, not three: the pointer finger and the curse finger). Once in, I headed for World Showcase and the Canada pavilion, and then to Le Cellier.

According to the hostess at the podium, Le Cellier is the most popular sit-down restaurant in Epcot, and second only to, I believe, California Grill in all of Walt Disney World in popularity. It's also booked solid through December 31, so I was truly blessed to snag this ADR. I made it to Le Cellier with seven minutes to spare, checked in, and took a seat while waiting to be called. When I was seated around 2:00 pm I looked at the menu and ordered an appetizer of cheddar cheese soup, an entree of the French dip prime rib sandwich with Canadian bacon (which is actually fried ham) on top, and dessert of Maple Creme Brulee which is a custard topped with pure maple extract and half a strawberry. The meal was delicious but either I forgot to use my dining credits or someone forgot to put it in, so it was charged to my room. Either way, I inhaled the meal because I hadn't eaten in nine hours.

I finished at about a quarter after three and decided to go back to my room and relax. When I got to WL I went to the lobby and upgraded my seven-day MYW ticket with hopping and dining, to a nine-day same for only $6.39. Most sacred excrement, what a deal! I then went to my room, watched TV and relaxed until 5:00, when I left for Raglan Road.

Raglan Road is located at the entrance to Pleasure Island. To get there I took the Downtown Disney bus from the resort and then promptly lost my interior compass and walked to Westside, which is in the opposite direction, away from the bridge to PI. I asked a cast member how to get to RR, and he pointed me in the right direction. I got there at about 5:45, about 45 minutes before meeting GloriaK. To pass the time I talked to some of the CMs, drank some water, and shopped.

Then a lady in a red blouse came up to me and asked, "Are you Jim?" When I said yes, she introduced herself as GloriaK. Here is an example of Internet dynamics at work--the good kind, not the kind on which the media loves to focus. I didn't know what she looked like, and she knew what I look like from pictures on the Tagrel and Clubhouse boards; but we hit it off like we'd been friends for years. We talked about our pets--her dogs and Chloe, the cat that I had to return to my ex-girlfriend Linda and which had recently run away--and other things. We split the Heaven on Earth appetizer--ribs in a Guinness and honey glace--with some fries. Delicious. I had an iced tea and she had a Guinness, which she thought was strong. After splitting the $27.64 check and adding a $6.00 tip, we decided to go to Marketplace and Ghirardelli's, which is a beacon for ice cream junkies like me. She ordered a regular sundae and I got a brownie sundae, both female (no nuts). Yummy. Gloria and I then worked our way slowly down Westside to Pleasure Island, stopping in a couple stores.

When we got to PI, I bought an-all-club pass for $22.32; paying with a twenty, two ones, a quarter, and a dime, getting three pennies back. We then ambled up to Adventurer's Club, meeting up with Timon, ddoll and Geri, Dawick and Laura, Lou Mongello of DisneyTrivia.com, Sheryl, Miss Barracus (BetsyAnn, or BA), Colette, and a couple others. Entering AC, we watched the various shows unfold such as the Balderdash Cup (during which I took a few bad pictures), the swearing-in of new AC members, and the hilarious team of Timon and WillCAD performing a pelvic dance routine which heated up AC's goddess. By 10:45, having been awake nearly 19 hours, I begged off, and took the bus to WL from Pleasure Island Stop 4. There I went to my room, undressed and went to sleep by 11:55 pm.

[stich626]

How did you like Raglan Road? When I go back to WDW that is a place I would definatley like to check out.

Sounds like you had fun so far, can't wait for the rest!

[Disneyfan63]

Day 2: Thursday, December 1, 2005

I woke up a little before 6:00 am on my first full day in the World. I read my Bible in the books of Second Kings (chapters 18 and 19) and Acts (chapter 21); then brushed my teeth; shaved; and showered, where I got briefly scalded. The shower handle turns clockwise from cold water to hot and controls temperature, not volume. In turning it off I turned it clockwise, not counterclockwise, and for an instant the water got REALLY hot; then I peeled off a tiny bit of skin. Ouch! I grabbed a towel and dried off, then got dressed. Turning on the local TV news, I caught the weather forecast--a nippy 49°F (9.5°C) with a high of 67°F (19.5°C). Now I understand that for those living in New England or the upper Midwest, 49°F on the first day of December is practically tropical, and even for Philly it's unusually warm for that date. But this is FLORIDA, so it was a little cool.

After dressing, I got the brightly dumb notion to sort the money from the charge slips in my wallet, and to put the papers in a pile. Of course, I had my room key out, ready to use it, but mistakenly put it on the table under a lot of junk while I flopped on the bed with a pen and notebook and wrote notes for this report. Naturally when I walked out the door I didn't have my room key on me, but I didn't realize that until later.

By now it was a little before 8:00 AM. I hadn't set up an ADR for breakfast, even though I'm a breakfast type person. I figured I'd just wing it, maybe do counter service at Roaring Fork or even at Port Orleans French Quarter's Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory (beignets, anyone?). I knew I had an ADR for Whispering Canyon Cafe (WCC) on December 5 so decided to find the place. Didn't take long; I just followed the overhead sign in the lobby for Canyon Cafe. Once there, I took a chance. Went up to the podium and asked if they had room for one walk-up. Answer: yup. I was seated near the back and watched and listened as general mayhem ensued. My server was Albert, and I ordered the Canyon Skillet, consisting of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, a waffle, a biscuit, orange juice and hot cocoa. For a guy used to a bowl of cereal and orange juice in the mornings, this is a comfort-food feast, so I loaded up, getting seconds on eggs, OJ and cocoa. When the bill came I looked in my wallet and realized to my dismay that my room card wasn't there. Albert suggested that I go to the registration desk and get a new one. I charged the $16.56 bill to my Visa, but forgot to tip him in my haste to get a new card.

I went to the registration desk and told the lady that I thought I lost my room key; and she made me a new one on the spot. I apologized for losing my key but she said it was okay; people lose their room keys all the time. The last two digits of my room keycard indicated the keycard number (mine was 02, indicating that this is the second card I used).

New keycard in hand, I went back to Whispering Canyon Cafe, got five ones change for a five, and asked for "the guy who served me at about 8:30". "Albert!" she called. He came and I gave him $3, saying, "I forgot to tip you, man!" I usually tip 15% of the total bill unless service is exceptional, in which case I go up to 20% or 25%. But I couldn't not tip Albert; he did nothing wrong.

I went then to Magic Kindom "the back way": past Wilderness Lodge Mercantile; second left; left, right, left, down to the first floor, right, then out the door by the pool. I took the launch, after which I rode the Walt Disney World Railroad all the way around and then did Pirates of the Caribbean. Because I'm a party of one, I always get a seat to myself. After getting off POC I simply walked around and watched people on Splash Mountain plunge down the 52-foot waterfall in the log boats. Heading back toward Adventureland at about 12:15 pm, I decided to take in the Country Bear Christmas show, waiting about 15 minutes in the holding area before being allowed into the theater. It was a good, corny show--but I love corny; how else would I come up with dumb jokes?

After Country Bears I sat and people-watched until 1:00 pm, when I thought the MousePlanet Dole Whip Meet was scheduled. I missed it by an hour, but I still saw Deb Wills who gave me the hug that she'd promised me on the boards. I'm not sure that anyone besides us "Disney-Loving Internet Weirdos" know who she is; but she's a very sweet, approachable person, as are all the Disney guidebook authors and website gurus. I wonder if she still has (or even found) the black and red rain jacket that I'd misteakenly (misspelling intentional) left at Fresh Mediterranean Market on Monday, December 13, 2003? Probably not. The pineapple Dole Whip ($2.89; paid for with a twenty; returning a ten, a five, two ones, a dime and a penny) was delicious. I can understand why Mike Scopa likes them so much, but not why many people don't. I managed to pose for a picture with Mike and two ladies from Passporter, which I believe WillCAD, photographer extraordinaire, has in his photo gallery.

After a few minutes the gathering broke up but I saw Dave Marx of the Passporter WDW (of which the 2005 edition is dear to me as I'm on the cover, on the right side, right above him). When I mentioned the BATB meet that I was cohosting with zakerdog (Carol and Gary from Ontario), he gave me a few PocketGuides and Mousefest pins to give out, before leaving in search of his wife Jennifer and son Alex, who I also saw and greeted.

After they left, I met Jack from MousePlanet. We walked over to the Tomorrowland Noodle Station while getting acquainted. Lou Mongello from DisneyTrivia.com held a trivia contest there whose contestants were drawn by raffle. I hung out with Carol and Gary while waiting to see if my ticket (892) would be called. It was, I got my multiple-choice binder with laminated letter choices, and managed to get right only half the questions in the first round. I watched the rest of the game from a seat near Gary as his wife distinguished herself in a later round. Finally at about 3:35 I had to leave MK because I had left my Minnie MVMCP ticket in my room. Returning to WL #1132 via boat, I retrieved the letter and ticket from my travel documents folder and pocketed it, returning to MK the same way and using the MVMCP ticket to re-enter the park and get my wristband.

It was now 4:45 pm and time for me to check in for my ADR at Tony's Town Square Restaurant, inspired by Lady and the Tramp, of which memorabilia abounds in this place. I had switched to Tony's at 5:00 from Liberty Tree Tavern (LTT) at 7:10 because I wanted to tackle the Mountains of Magic Kingdom without singing rainbows. I was seated within ten minutes of check in with Ricardo as my server. He was outstanding, which is to say he wasn't insitting. I put this meal on the dining plan and got an appetizer of minestrone soup with a side of bread and male (with nuts) pesto sauce; an entree of seafood pasta (whose mussels included the shells, which I did not eat--the shells, I mean); and dessert of pumpkin creme brulee. I also got seven iced teas (what? Am I crazy? Uh-huh) in which Ricardo served me each successive tea before I'd finished the previous one, a sign of great service; just ask WillCAD. I tipped Ricardo $2.50 extra and stepped out into that limbo between pleasantly full and stuffed-until movement-is-possible-but-not-a-good-idea.

I wandered around for about two hours until the Wishes meet began about a quarter till nine at the rose garden near the castle. There I met so many people it boggles to list them. Ddoll and Geri. MissB. Bernard (Mr.B). Mike Scopa. Sheryl. FLSharon. Jelly Rolls Karen. BA. Zakerdog and Gary. Tagrel (who gave me my lanyard and nametag). So many others. We didn't ride any attractions; just huddled around and talked. Amazing, as were the holiday Wishes fireworks. I tried to take pictures but my camera wouldn't let me because it was on the wrong setting.

By 9:45 I had hit the wall. I mean, slammed full-bore into it. I was shuffling around like an old man. I had to get some rest, so I said my goodbyes and left the park. I passed Mike Scopa who remarked that I wasn't as "sparkly" as usual, and I replied that I was exhausted. Taking the launch to WL, I went to my room, undressed and went to sleep around 10:35 pm.

[diswedwish]

Just wanted to say that I'm enjoying your reports. I may be going solo in the near future, so it's fun to read a solo trip report:)

[WebmasterKathy]

I'm really enjoying your reports, my new friend. You have such a great recall for detail!

[Disneyfan63]

Day 3: Friday, December 2, 2005

I had a wake up call at 7:00 this morning from Stitch, who isn't so bad once you get past

the flatulence and bad manners. I first want to correct a slight error in Day 2. The

breakfast at Wilderness Canyon Cafe cost $16.80 with tax, not $16.56. Anyway, I got up,

flipped on the TV; read 2 Kings Chapters 20 and 21 and Acts Chapter 22 in my Bible; brushed

my teeth, shaved and showered, only this time didn't scald myself. Then I got dressed. Not

sure if I wore the red and white Canada Olympic Team pullover or a tee shirt, but I know

that I wore the blue and gray New Balance shoes with the pink "N" on each side. A few

months back I bought a pair of Hunter's Bay brown leather casual shoes at Payless (for

$24.99); and also two pairs of New Balance shoes (for $89.99) and a bag of socks at

Footlocker. Wore all three pairs of shoes on alternating days to break them in for WDW. (I

also have 1,250 compact discs in my collection, all in alphabetical order by artist and

title, so you may have the impression that I'm just SLIGHTLY anal-retentive. But there's

both a method to my madness and a madness to my method.)

I think the weather forecast called for 75°F (24°C) and at least partly sunny, but at that

time (around 8:15 am) it was in the low 60s F (mid-to-upper teens C). I didn't eat because

today was the *********** Stop, Drop and Roll Meet at 9:15, and I didn't need to get sick.

I'd gotten lanyards from Deb Wills, Lou Mongello and Dave Card (Tagrel) the previous day so

had somewhere to hold both my MYW ticket and my Tagrel nametag.

This time I remembered to put my keycard into the pocket for my lanyard and left the room

headed for Disney-MGM Studios. Stepping on the marker for the Disney Studios bus, I waited

for no more than ten minutes for it to arrive, then hopped on. The Studios is about a

20-minute ride from Wilderness Lodge, and after an uneventful ride we pulled into the bus

stop at the park, Disney's second-smallest at 154 acres.

If you love movies, Disney-MGM Studios is your place. Most of the buildings are in the

Art-Deco style of the late 1930s to early '40s, and Hollywood is greatly celebrated here.

After I got in, though, I went up Hollywood Boulevard and met some friends at the corner

about a block away from the Sorcerer's Hat, right before rope drop. One of our group called

twinks, our friend Nancy in Utah who has leukemia and was at that time enjoying a bubble

bath. When I finally got the phone, rope had just dropped, the music was getting loud, and

I don't think either of us could hear each other. After saying hello, I told Nancy that

it's getting too loud here and we'll talk again soon.

Then as a group, about thirty of us walked to the Rock n Roller Coaster FastPass dispenser

and got our FastPasses for Disney's first coaster on American soil to take riders

upside-down. (The first Disney coaster in the world to do so is Disneyland Paris Resort's

Space Mountain, which like RnRC has three inversions. European amusement parks, however,

feature more turbulent rides than do those here.) Then twenty-one of us, leaving nine

"wall-holders", went into Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

Until Expedition Everest opens next April in Animal Kingdom, ToT is Disney's tallest

attraction at 199 feet. Federal Aviation Administration regulations require buildings 200

feet or taller to have a radio antenna to guide flying aircraft. I think one would

seriously detract from the Disney magic, however.

Elevators in ToT hold 21 people. They used to hold 22, but Disney took out a seat in the

next-to-back row to heighten the thrill factor. That leaves one seat in the back row--the

"death" seat--without a seat in front of it. I got the death seat. ToT takes you up, then

right, then forward, then up again, then forward. Then it drops you four, five, or six

times--the sequence is random--the first drop about 13 floors, at a speed faster than

gravity. The first three times I rode this thing (on October 17, 2000; December 7, 2003;

and December 10, 2004), I got off feeling like a James Bond martini--shaken, not stirred.

This time I fared better, though I held on for dear life on that first drop and raised one

arm on the subsequent, smaller drops. When the doors opened and the CM appeared, we all let

out a loud scream. He must've thought we were completely bonkers. Exiting the ride, we

then went to RocknRollerCoaster Featuring Aerosmith. Our Fastpasses were all for around

10:25 am. I took my glasses off and gave them to Stinkerbelle (Terri) for safekeeping. On

my first three rides here, I rode the seat alone; this time I had BetsyAnn for company. On

this thing, linear induction launches you from zero to sixty mph (0-96 km/hr) in 2.8 seconds

down a straightaway into first a batwing; a corkscrew; and finally a cobra roll; this last

inversion can make you feel like you had gastric bypass surgery, for a fraction of the cost

of the real thing. The launch, at which photos are snapped, subjects you to an

instantaneous 4.5 gravities of force (hence the name of the fictional record company for

which Aerosmith is in the studio in the preshow, G-Force Records). After staggering out of

the gift shop into which the exit leads (where, natch, you can purchase Aerosmith CDs at a

price of about three or four dollars higher than you can at home), we rejoined our group,

which included JellyRolls Karen from the DIS, an honorary Taginator. I answered the third

question of our little trivia contest for door prizes--about the 22 seats in the

elevator--and got mouse ears. MINNIE mouse ears. I wore them proudly during the photo

session that followed RnRC where we convinced a CM to take several pictures with several

different cameras.

The meet was over after about ten pictures were taken. I got my glasses back from Terri and

asked her if I could hang with her and her friend (Pam?). Terri said yes and we first went

to a stand where we got orange juice. Then we went into a store ("You're with women now,

Jim. We shop") and looked around. It was nearly 11:15 when we got out of the store, and we

decided to hit The Great Movie Ride, located in the replica of Graumann's Chinese Theater

off Mickey Avenue. Various scenes from famous movies are shown or reenacted by the host of

this slow-moving boat trip through the history of Hollywood from about 1928 to 2005. After

we got off the ride it was about 11:50. We parted ways because I had to get to Sci-Fi

Dine-In Theater for a 12:05 pm Advanced Dining Reservation (Priority Seating under a new

name).

The Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater is a neat concept with a reputation for bad food. Located at the

back of the Studios on Commissary Lane next to a bookstore and near the enormous ABC

Commissary (you don't know just how big that place is until you've walked next to it), it

shows cartoons, commercials for drive-in concessions, and clips from bad science-fiction

movies in a large darkened room while people sit in cars eating lunch and dinner. I put

this, my only meal for the day, on the dining plan. I didn't mind being called "No-Parking

Mr. Townsend". I really enjoyed my onion rings (appetizer), BBQ Chicken Breast Sandwich

with Midnight BBQ Sauce and smoked Gouda cheese on a Kaiser roll (entree), and hot fudge

Sundae (dessert) (food descriptions courtesy of Allearsnet.com, updated October 2005),

served by a woman on roller skates. It took about an hour for lunch (some movies are so bad

that you can't stop watching them) which cost about $35 with tax and tip but was absorbed by

the dining plan.

I was on my own for awhile so after I left the restaurant I wandered, finally meeting with

Kaycee and Jellyrolls Karen. We went to "One Man's Dream", the story of Walt and Roy O.

Disney (the latter was born in 1893, the same year in which my maternal grandfather was

born). Kaycee was eager to point out the place in the movie at which her stage name

appears. After walking around and seeing the exhibits of Walt and his accomplishments and

effects, Karen and Kaycee said they wanted to relax at their rooms. We parted and I headed

to Who Wants To Be a Millionaire Play It! and watched the show. Sitting in seat number 82,

I held my own during the first five questions or so--breaking into the top ten at number 8--

but missed six of the last seven questions to finish out of the running. After the show

ended I was pretty much at loose ends and wanting ice cream. I think I either went into

Backlot Express or Studio Catering Company--I think it was the latter--getting lost and

turning around, and finally reaching Echo Lake and Min and Bill's Dockside Diner about 3:00

pm. I got a chocolate milkshake for $3.08 and sat at a picnic table savoring it while

behind me the Stars Bars and Motorcars(?) parade was being announced over the public address

system and was beginning.

Finishing my shake, I decided to head out of there (like a baby) and relax in my room.

Believe it or not, riding Tower of Terror and RocknRollerCoaster in succession and then

wandering around the park all day took a lot out of me, and I still had to be at the Holiday

Gift Game and Jellyrolls. Leaving the Studios, I took the bus from stop 8 to Wilderness

Lodge, entered my room, closed the door and flopped onto the bed on my back. I fell asleep

for two or three hours.

I forgot to mention that I usually tipped Mousekeeping two dollars a day, leaving the money

in an envelope marked with the current date and the words "Thank You Mousekeeping!" There

were often towel animals on my bed when I returned. A nice touch, as I had never before had

this little perk. I thought the room was great and the bed extremely comfortable. Debi

(Ddoll) had posted on the Tagrel and Webclubhouse (kathi and brian's) boards about the

wooden sideframe about shin high on which you can easily bruise your leg. I never had any

problems with it, though, because I was never moving around it at a high rate of speed. I

have noticed that hotel beds in general are harder and higher off the floor than my late

mother's queen-size bed in which I sleep at home. I have also noticed that king beds are

huge. The only other time I slept in a king bed was in the Mirage in Las Vegas, NV, suite

C24 (28th floor of 30, the highest floor on which I have ever stayed in a hotel), February

25-27, 2004.

I woke up at a little before 7:40 pm. It was time to get ready for the gift exchange in the

lobby. I believe it began at 9:00, so I had time to get cleaned up and dressed before

grabbing my gift (the first Tarzan animated DVD, which I bought at Target on November 26,

2005). When I got there the kids gift exchange was still on. I waited patiently for it to

end and for the adults to have their turn. Meanwhile I greeted several people, including

Ursulinda (LindaBabe on the DIS), Mike Scopa and Bill (Rhinodad) from California. I was the

sixth or seventh person called. Grabbing my gift and opening it to find both a Disneyland

50th Anniversary refrigerator magnet and a matching memopad set with pens, I said my

goodbyes quickly and went to my room, putting my new gifts into the green Great Escapes

Travel bag. I then left my room and went to the boat launch, going first to the Magic

Kingdom and from there catching a bus bound for Boardwalk.

I really like the ambiance of this resort and would like to stay here on a future trip. It

evokes the NJ shore boardwalks as they are in the memories of people who love the Shore.

JellyRolls, named for jazz pianist and pioneer Jelly Roll Morton, is a dueling piano bar

located next to Atlantic Dance Company. It normally charges an $8 cover, but as a DISer

(Disneyfan63 is my handle on those forums) I was able to get in for half price. I saw an

empty seat at a table at which JellyRolls Karen and Kaycee sat. Karen later apologized for

not being able to get me into JellyRolls for half price, but it was her buddy Kaycee

(another Karen) who swung the discount by getting my name on the invitation list.

JellyRolls, one of the few places in WDW in which smoking is permitted inside, is a fun

place. The pianists are all good and encourage sing-alongs and audience participation. One

man sitting at a table near us (named Phil or Bill) was encouraged to solo a few lines by

the pianists, as we egged him on. I met other DISers such as two webmasters, Webmaster Doc

(Pete Werner's(?) right-hand man) and Webmaster Kathy (kathytx from Dallas, an attractive,

"older" blonde who was somewhat amazed that I knew the words to all of the songs played that

night, all by written request). After about ninety minutes of loud singing and pretending

that the table was a hand drum, I said my goodbyes and left, for I had an early start the

next morning. I got to the bus stop just as a Downtown Disney bus pulled up, hopped on, and

transferred to a Wilderness Lodge bus at Stop 4. I went to sleep at 1:15 am.

[heaven2dc]

I am really enjoying your descriptive report - and love that there are no abbreviations!! I get so lost on these threads with having to refer to my "cheat" sheet - would love to meet fellow Dis'rs on a future trip. Can't wait for more!!! :Pinkbounc

[swankybeth]

I'm enjoying reading your report. It's so descriptive, it's more like a novel than a report! :teeth:

[Disneyfan63]

Day 4: Saturday, December 3, 2005

I woke up to a 7:00 am Stitch shout-out. Today was the focal point of MouseFest 2005 and

the day I (co)hosted a meet for the first time ever. I prepared the usual way: brushed

teeth, shaved, showered, dressed, read Bible. Then I went to Roaring Forks for a donut and

juice. Finishing, I went to the bus stop to catch a bus to Epcot for the Soarin' Meet, but

didn't get to the front entrance until 9:15 am. Once I got inside, I got turned around and

couldn't find The Land. I admit that here I said some very unChristian words and phrases,

because I sure didn't want to miss this meet and was quite furious when I realized that I

wouldn't be among all those Taginators on Soarin'. So I walked around and probably rode

Spaceship Earth to kill time before meeting Carol (zakerdog) and Gary to set up for the

Brunch at the Ball meet at the Electric Umbrella.

This meet was the largest Taginator meet of MouseFest, attracting about a hundred people

including a couple of DISers. I don't know why the Tagrel people decided to keep our meets

out of the Pocket Guide; and while I didn't mix a great deal with people from other Disney

communities, I'm glad that I did mix a little bit. Though each community tends to isolation

ism, all the communities share a love of Disney and would be enriched by intermingling.

At any rate, I helped Carol set up chairs (or watched her and Gary set them up) and we had a

picture of Carol and me holding the excellent *********** MouseFest banner created by Frogman

and MissB. Ten-thirty ante meridian (10:30 in the morning) came and there was already a

sizeable group of us at the restaurant. We had a drawing in which Carol picked names from a

bag and handed them to me, and I read them aloud. Then we had lunch. I sat at a table with

WillCAD and ate my roast beef sandwich. I think there's a picture of me eating it, hunched

over my food. I believe that I look dorky in most pictures of this MouseFest in which I

appear; though I don't think I'm photogenic, I've been told that I have a good smile. Other

pictures were taken of the whole group and of only those of us who will attend the marathon

and half-marathon in a couple weeks.

The meet ended at about 12:00 pm (post meridian) and it was time to make our way to the Swan

for the MouseFest Megameet at 1:00. I walked into Mouse Gear in Future World and bought a

tie-dye t-shirt featuring the seven dwarfs (Dopey, Happy, Sneezy, Bashful, Sleepy, Grumpy

and Doc--had to search this!) before (front) and after (back) Walt Disney World. It's one

of those wild shirts that simply "hit" me--a glancing blow, for I am still conscious--and it

cost $24.00 plus $1.56 sales tax. I then made my way to the Megameet, first walking under

the World Showcase arches and then turning right and heading toward the Friendship boats to

the Epcot resorts and Disney-MGM Studios.

If a Disney Resort has boat or monorail service to a particular theme park, its bus service

to that park is limited. The monorail resorts (Contemporary, Polynesian and Grand

Floridian) have few buses to the Magic Kingdom and to the Transportation and Ticket Center;

after all, would you rather ride a monorail or boat rather than a bus? (You can walk to the

Magic Kingdom from the Contemporary Resort in about ten minutes.) While you can take a bus

to the Magic Kingdom or Transportation and Ticket Center from Wilderness Lodge, it's much

cooler to go to the dock behind the resort and hop on a boat. The Epcot resorts (Boardwalk

Inn and Villas, Beach Club and Beach Club Villas, Yacht Club, and the Swan and Dolphin

hotels), don't have transportation to Epcot's front entrance. The only ways to get to that

park are either by boat or on foot, through the International Gateway.

After a ten-minute wait, Friendship Boat 8 appeared and I boarded and sat down quietly for

the seven-minute ride to the Swan. When we got there after stops at the Boardwalk and at

the Yacht and Beach Club, I got off and eventually found the Swan Hemisphere Ballroom E

after asking at the hotel's concierge desk, and I was finally at the Megameet. Carol

(zakerdog) and Gary were among the greeters and set me up with a nametag and a large yellow

MouseFest shopping bag, and I got a bottle of water.

Held on the last day or next-to-last day of the land portion of Mousefest (the cruise

portion, a four-day, three night cruise on the Disney Wonder, started on December 4), the

Megameet is the focal point of the entire event. Disney fans, webmasters and Disney

guidebook authors gather for a couple hours or so (today from 1-3 pm) and talk Disney. The

brainchild of the incomparable Deb Wills of AllEarsNet, MouseFest--an unofficial event not

organized or endorsed by Disney (whose cast members [employees] do not publicly acknowledge

it)--grew from the weekend gatherings of members of the Usenet group

recreation.arts.disney.parks (RADP) who were conducting their own 10th annual five-day

gathering. Deb's idea was to unite the various Disney fan communities in a celebration of

all things Disney. With help from Dave Card of my "home" community, *********** (on which my

screen name is Jimbolini1963), and from Dave and Jennifer Marx of Passporter.com, Deb Wills

organized the first annual MouseFest in 2003. I'm proud to say that I have attended all

three gatherings, am now a veteran MF'er (gee, thanks for corrupting us, WDWDennis!

LOL),and--I'm stating this for the first time--I aim to attend both the cruise and land

portions of MouseFest 2006, the Lord willing.

The special guest today was Margaret Kerry, the original model for Tinker Bell (two words,

not one). I was blessed to chat with her for a minute and to have my picture taken with her

by Carol (zakerdog). I circulated through the room, greeting the ubiquitous Mike Scopa, Jim

Hill, Cara Goldsbury, Dave and Jennifer Marx (who autographed my 2005 Passporter; yes, it's

wonderful to MouseFest with you, too, Dave. With everyone in fact), Anne Easterling (whose

EZFun Guide to Walt Disney World, 2006 edition I ordered on the spot. It should be shipped

to me by next week (week ending December 31)), WillCAD, Ddoll, the dulcet-voiced Amymouse,

and too many more to list. To say that I had a ball on this trip is a gross understatement.

The Megameet ended at about 3:30 pm after all the door prizes had been given out. I didn't

win any. Originally I had been part of an ADR (again, Advanced Dining Reservation) at this

time at Mitsukoshi Teppanyaki (Japan) with JustJan and her son, but that conflicted with a

Chicago Cubs event that they wanted to attend at Disney's Wide World of Sports, so I was

left on my own. (Jan had, before MouseFest, offered me the ADR but I'd pm'ed [private

messaged] her to cancel it.) Asking directions to the hotel exit, I took a Friendship boat

(number eight again) back to the International Gateway where I had to make a decision about

lunch. I didn't want to use up another table service point on the dining plan when I had

all my counter service points remaining. But where to eat? It was about 4:15 pm, closer to

dinnertime. So call it linner. I didn't feel like eating Mexican food or fish and chips.

Or hotdogs. Somehow I got the idea of going to Yakitori House, the counter service eatery

in Japan, and started walking toward that pavilion, going clockwise. When I passed the

entrance to World Showcase from the Gateway, I looked at a map of World Showcase and saw

that Japan's Pavilion was 'way on the other side of World Showcase Lagoon. I knew that

there was a launch to Germany's or Morocco's pavilions near Mexico's, but it took me about a

half hour to find it. When I found the dock, a boat had just left and I waited for what

seemed to be fifteen or twenty minutes before it returned. When it did I hopped on, sat and

relaxed for the four-minute ride.

The boat docked at Germany's pavilion, so I turned right and walked past it and the American

Adventure before arriving at the 83-foot (25-meter)-tall pagoda that landmarks Japan's

pavilion. I walked up steps to my left and into the store and out again before finding

Yakitori House, which was fairly crowded and noisy. I got in line and when my turn came

ordered the Shogun meal, asking the girl at the register what I got for the meal plan; she

replied that I get an entree, a drink and dessert. The Shogun meal consists of teriyaki

beef, teriyaki chicken and white rice. I also got a 20-oz (591 ml) bottle of Dasani water

(which I had trouble opening and of which I spilled half on myself) and a chestnut cake for

dessert. (The dining plan can be murder on diets, but because I'm not on one I didn't

care.) I think that counter service meals in World Showcase are better than those in the

other WDW parks, with the possible exception of Animal Kingdom's Flame Tree Barbecue and

Tusker House, which are excellent; and the Yakitori House is no exception, the beef and

chicken in my Shogun meal being tasty. When I finished the meal with my shirt slightly wet,

I left the restaurant and Japan and headed back to Germany, passing the line for the

evening's performance of Candlelight Processional at the America Gardens Theater, and

getting in line for the boat back to Mexico.

When it showed up and I got on, I looked and saw some activity on the other side, and the

time being 6:00 pm sharp, the tree at the entrance to World Showcase lit up all at once.

I'm sorry, Ray, for missing your meet, but believe it or not it was the first time I'd seen

the tree at that moment. It was quite a sight. The boat returned to the Mexico pavilion

and I got off and started walking counterclockwise toward and then under the arches. I had

originally planned to chill out in my room and maybe take a nap, but that all changed when I

saw Tracy, her son Zach (who had won the first prize at Brunch At The Ball that morning) and

her friend Tami. I really wasn't that tired, and had some time to kill before the Kimono's

meet, so I asked Tracy if I could hang out with them awhile. They live in southeastern

Wisconsin, about 90 minutes from Chicago's Midway airport. Tracy said yes I could. I think

we went into MouseGear first and looked around, then went on Spaceship Earth. This

slow-moving ride within the sphere, which traces the evolution of communication from

prehistoric times to the present, opens and closes by taking riders up and later backwards

down an incline longer and steeper than the one at Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom. For me

the ride doesn't get old. This made Tracy nervous. But it was ok--it's Disney! While she

and Zach are Disney nuts, I think Tami would prefer to be lying on a beach in Cancun.

After exiting Spaceship Earth, we went to the tip board and, seeing that Soarin', the

simulated hang-glider ride in The Land pavilion, had an eighty-minute wait, we walked over

to Test Track and got into the stand-by line.

Test Track, a computerized car-testing attraction sponsored by General Motors (GM), is the

longest (nearly a mile) and fastest (with speeds of up to 65 miles per hour or 104

kilometers per hour) ride in all of Walt Disney World. It takes riders through actual

steerage, environmental, and speed tests used by auto manufacturers. This ride is one of my

favorites; the speed, and the air rushing in my face and through my hair creates a real

rush. After exiting the ride and waiting for Zach to finish the simulated game inside the

showroom area, we went outside and said our goodbyes. (I tried to get her cell phone number

but couldn't figure out how to input it to my phone, but I corrected that the next morning

at Kona.) Tracy, Tami and Zach headed to their room, and I headed to the Swan and Kimono's.

I walked to the International Gateway and hopped a Friendship boat after about a

twenty-minute wait. The boat stopped at Boardwalk and Beach/Yacht Clubs before docking at

the Swolphin (Swan and Dolphin hotels, which are almost always mentioned together because

they're nearly identical in theme and decor. If you look closely, though--Carol (zakerdog)

explained this to me on the way to the Megameet--the Dolphin hotel is supposed to be painted

with waves and the Swan with bulrushes and weeds, but the designers reversed the schemes by

mistake). I got off the boat and walked into the Swan lobby, asking the concierge for

directions to Kimono's. (Note that I'm a guy with a bad internal compass who asks

directions. Wandering around lost does not a fun vacation make.) I went upstairs using the

escalator and turned right into a hallway. Hearing noise from ahead, I turned right again

and entered Kimono's Karaoke and Sushi Bar.


I sat down in an empty chair next to Mike Scopa and waited for the karaoke to begin,

ordering a bottle of Republic Darjeeling tea when the waitress came around. I don't drink

alcohol because I don't like the taste. I drink tea, making like an electric guitar and

getting amped on caffeine. I would need the restroom (or washroom) before too long. I wore

the seven dwarfs tee shirt that I'd bought that morning at Mouse Gear and Mike asked about

it. Then it was on to the show.

One of the early singers was Dotti's son singing about big butts while Deb Koma (dcdeb)

shook hers on stage. It's not that big; I wouldn't kick Deb out of bed, at least not on

purpose. She's an attractive woman. It was one of those moments that are supposed to stay

in Disney but of course got photographed and posted on the Tagrel boards as soon as most

people got home. Later came Ddoll, Moley and Amymouse. Amymouse is a pretty, auburn-haired

woman who occasionally writes a guest column for the AllEarsNet newsletter. If she wanted

to sing professionally, she could quit her day job; but given an American CD-buying public

that sometimes wouldn't know talent if it bit them in the privates, she may be better off

keeping the day job. Ddoll, always a marvelous hostess for this meet, is a terrific singer

who really doesn't need a microphone. Moley's rendition of the Beatles' "When I'm

Sixty-Four", with an exaggerated British accent and jumping up and down, was wickedly funny.

I'm sure she was nervous on that little stage but also knew that she was among friends.

Then it came time for "Mike Scopa and The Pips".

Backing up Mike were Timon, Belle, possibly GloriaK and myself. We sang "Lyin Eyes" by the

Eagles. Kimono's version of the song is thirteen seconds longer than the original found on

the band's 1975 album *One Of These Nights*, track number five. Though I know the song

well, I think the slower pace threw us off; I was watching the monitor to cue my entries.

Altogether, we were pretty good, but after it ended I misstepped and stumbled off the front

of the stage. There are pictures of this performance, too.

After consuming that bottle of tea, I excused myself, went to the bathroom, returned, and

watched the singers for another hour. I paid for my tea with a five, got 78 cents change,

and left at around 12:15 am. Gloria did the same, and we rode the same Downtown Disney bus.

When we got to Pleasure Island, we got off that bus. She walked to stop 8 for Pop Century

while I went to stop 4 for Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge (separate buses). After a

Fort Wilderness bus came within five minutes, a Wilderness Lodge bus came within fifteen

more. I hopped on, rode twenty minutes to the resort, went to my room, undressed, and went

to sleep at 1:13 am.

[Disneyfan63]

Day 5: Sunday, December 4, 2005

Before I'd gone to sleep this early morning, however, I called to set up a Stitch shout-out.

The phone rang at 5:30 am because I had an early (7:30 am) breakfast at Kona Cafe,

Polynesian, with about 50 of my closest Taginator buddies. I began the day the same as I

began yesterday, then turned on the TV for a weather report. The forecast called for

sunshine and about 80°F (about 27°C). God giving us a perfect weather day; how nice.

At about 6:50 am as I went down to the lobby and out front to meet Ken, Cheri, Ethan and

Naomi and ride with them in their white Honda Pilot to the Polynesian--because Disney

Transport begins its day at 7:00 am, I didn't think I could ride a bus to the TTC, and then

catch the resort monorail to the Polynesian in time for the meet--I reflected with a little

sadness that the land portion of MouseFest was officially over, and that this morning would

be the last face-to-face meeting with several dear friends until next year. Goodbyes are

hard--just ask Mike Scopa--and I find that the days following MouseFest until the end of my

vacation are a letdown because I am alone, as most of my friends have already returned home.

At 7:00 am, though, this was in the near future as Ken, Cheri, and the kids pulled up in

their SUV and I hopped in the back. Known as LimeGreen Cheri--a perfect name for the DIS,

whose members use lime green ribbons to identify each other--on *********** (this board

identification will be and has been censored by asterisks on the DIS), she is a pretty

blonde from northern Georgia who drove to WDW with her husband and two kids because doing so

is cheaper than flying out of Atlanta's Hartsfield Airport (which, according to the 2004

Guinness Book of Records, is the busiest airport in the world in terms of passengers--some

75 million per year; Chicago's O'Hare ("Son of Bugs Bunny"?) is still the world's busiest in

terms of aircraft traffic).

After a short ride--the Magic Kingdom resorts are pretty close together--we got to Disney's

Polynesian Resort's Great Ceremonial House in which you find the main lobby and check-in,

the lounge and restaurants. (Throughout this report I refer to the resort by its full name;

I do not shorten it to "Poly", which is a natural diminutive but which to a Polynesian

islander is a racial slur.) Several Taginators were already there. Ethan asked for my

address in order to send me a Christmas card. I borrowed a pen and some paper and wrote it.

At some point I may stay in the Polynesian, provided that I pack a working flashlight.

We were finally led into the cafe. WillCAD's reservation called for 55 people--"Taginator

Cafe", anyone?--but only about 40 showed. Among the missing were Mike Scopa, who was

probably still in the land of Nod. I was seated across and slightly to the left of Ken with

Ethan to my right and Timon (Mark) on my left. Kathleena (Nancy) sat directly across from

me.

I ordered the "Big Kahuna" which consists of two eggs any style (I prefer mine to be "over

hard", meaning to break the yolk before turning them over); two sausage links; two pancakes;

two bacon strips; and two slices of French toast. I had it with Lilikoi juice (a blend of

orange, pineapple, and guava juices which tastes much like the "frunch" served at Boma's

breakfast buffet, which is one of the World's best buffets). During the meal, which was

excellent, both Ethan and Mark managed to spill ice water toward me; only Mark's spillage

actually got me wet. I joked that the water in the pool would be warmer than the ice water

just spilled on me, which sent Nancy into hysterical laughter. Mark urged me to "go ahead,

RUB IT IN". Cheri said that now that I'd been baptized I didn't need to go to church. But

I went to church anyway, but not in Walt Disney World itself.

After the meal, most of the Taginators went home, but a few stayed for one last day of play

or to view the Grand Floridian's Christmas decorations including an edible gingerbread house

made of chocolate. I got Tracy's and Cheri's cell phone numbers and said goodbye to

everyone. Later I called both women, as well as BetsyAnn, just to be sure that they made it

home safely (although what I could do if they hadn't, I had no idea).

I took the monorail to the Magic Kingdom and then the boat back to Wilderness Lodge. I've

mentioned that I'm a Christian, saved since 2001. It took several adverse events--9/11; my

mother's death on January 9, 2000; and my niece's murder on May 4, 2001--to finally convince

me that not only is this world a pretty screwed-up place, but I'm just bopping along doing

my own thing, thinking that I control my own destiny, when nobody really controls their own

destinies. At some point in October, 2001 I took the plunge after asking around at work;

expressing my confusion over what had happened a month earlier; and seeing the shuttle bus

that I take home from the train station detour past a nearby church (because the main road

to the mall was being repaved), and accepted our Lord Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.

It was as if, with that detour, He was saying, "You wanna piece o' Me? Here you go."

Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection, codified in *The Origin of Species*, has

several holes because it doesn't explain the "how" very well. Believing Darwin means having

an awful lot of faith in blind chance. The proponents of "intelligent design" believe that

someone (God, although being scientists they won't admit that) planned and designed the

universe. I personally believe that they're right; otherwise, how come the Earth is so well

suited to human and animal life, and the other eight--or nine--planets in our solar system

are either lifeless hunks of rock (Mercury, Mars, the asteroids, and Pluto), a boiling-hot

greenhouse (Venus), or gas giants (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune)? I also personally

believe what the Bible tells us: that "God so loved the world (not just the

World--clarification mine) that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in

Him shall not perish but have eternal life"--the Gospel of John, 3:16--that is, chapter 3,

verse 16). (I also believe that signs with that verse cited in big letters and numbers,

held up at sporting events, cheapen that passage by assigning perfection to fallible human

beings.)

When I got back to my room at the Wilderness Lodge, I called Checker Cab at (407) 422-2222

to set up a ride to the Community Presbyterian Church at 511 Celebration Avenue in

Celebration. I feel that I've been unduly blessed (I'm as imperfect as anyone) with all

these trips and good things over the past couple of years, and I felt a need to give thanks

in worship. Besides, Disney ceased its religious services (a Catholic and a Protestant

service, both held in the Polynesian's Luau Cove) several years ago because, I believe,

there was no legal way for it to make money from them. I belong to a Presbyterian church

because the people at my home church had accepted me with open arms from Day One (of my

conversion, not of this trip report). The cab showed up at 10:00 am and I got in, gave the

driver my destination and its address, and settled in for the fifteen-minute, $23.00 (plus

$5 tip) ride. The reason the fare was $23.00 was that the driver had a little difficulty

finding the church.

Anyway, when we got to the church ("CommPres"), I paid the driver, got out, and walked

around. I was about 45 minutes early for the 11:00 am service, so I stopped at a table

soliciting donations for a program benefitting local underprivileged children, and picked up

a booklet. I then went into the church--which was large and quite airy, and, unlike the

church I attend, has chairs instead of pews with a Bible under every chairback--and sat down

to await the service. I think the sanctuary holds about 500 people. I had taken a

program--rather large and glossy, befitting such a large church--and read it while people

filed in.

The service started promply at 11:00 am. The pastor, Nancy Williams Ogne (the name Nancy, a

variant of Ann, is very common on the Tagrel boards), started with a call to worship, and

then the choir--twice as large as the one in which I sing bass--sang a few Christmas hymns

as the words were displayed on a flat screen that looked more like a modification of a

plasma TV than the plain white screen we use at Ashland Evangelical Presbyterian. CommPres

has a separate youth choir which itself is larger than our adult (chancel) choir. I felt

very comfortable there, but I remembered that worship is not meant to be for the worshipers,

but to express our love of God to Him. Overall it was a nice service.

The service ended at about 12:30 pm. I had filled out the Friendship Pad (the names and

addresses of church attendees each Sunday) but had also filled out a prayer request card but

forgot to put in the offering plate. So I put the card on a chair in the back of the

sanctuary on my way out.

I joined a line of people waiting to greet the pastor (the first female one I know of).

When I stepped up to her, I motioned as if to shake her hand, but, I suppose recognizing me

as her brother in Christ, Nancy pulled me into a hug. I talked to her for a couple minutes,

introducing myself and telling her that I was on vacation at Walt Disney World and that I

wanted to worship with her congregation. She told me that I was welcome and that she was

glad that I'd come. After I said goodbye, I went to the curb, opened my cell phone, turned

it on, and called Checker Cab for the return trip. While I waited I made small talk with an

older couple from Wisconsin. The cab pulled up about fifteen minutes later.

The driver was a man from India, I believe. We talked about God, Disney World and our lives

in general during the fifteen-minute ride to Wilderness Lodge. This time the fare was only

$19.75, to which I added a $3.00 tip. When we got to the resort, I paid him and got out,

walking up the steps through the sliding doors into the lobby. I then walked to my room and

entered it, sitting on my bed to ponder my next move.

There wasn't much to ponder. There was a DIS meet scheduled at 2:30 pm, hosted by HostDanny

at the Old Key West resort marina, which I wanted to attend. I left the Wilderness Lodge

through the back way by the pool and boarded a boat bound for the Magic Kingdom, and then a

bus for Old Key West Resort. The bus dropped me off at that resort's Peninsular Drive stop,

closest to the marina, Olivia's Cafe, The Gurgling Suitcase bar and Good's To Go takeout.

Disney's first Disney Vacation Club (DVC) resort, the large, sprawling Old Key West

comprises some fifty two-story bungalows painted in pastel blues, aquas and yellows intended

to evoke Key West circa 1930. Surrounded by a golf course, it looks more like a retirement

community for the super-rich.

Danny and his wife Belinda were at a picnic table near The Gurgling Suitcase. They'd

brought water, chips, and soda, paper, a small box, and several small prizes for a drawing,

and cards in which we can get email addresses of other DISers. A few people were already

there, and more were coming. It was midafternoon and hot with the sun beating down on the

dock and water. I won a lime-green DIS fanny pack in the drawing and had a few chips and

some water. WebmasterKathy, JellyRolls Karen and Kaycee were there. Kathy likes my Tagrel

name, Jimbolini1963, better than my DIS one, Disneyfan63. When she asked me my age and I

told her 42, she said I was a little younger than she is. I said that I like older women.

She liked that.

At about 3:35 I said goodbye to everyone and walked to Peninsular Drive, hopping on a Magic

Kingdom bus and then getting the boat to Wilderness Lodge. Getting to and entering Room

1132, I put the fanny pack (which I wore around my waist after struggling to get it over my

fat) in my yellow MouseFest shopping bag, and relaxed until 5:00, when I left for my dinner

reservation at Shula's.

I should have left at 4:30. I belatedly realized that tonight was a Mickey's Very Merry

Christmas Party night and that the Magic Kingdom would be packed. It took 20 minutes for a

boat to arrive because one had just left as I reached the Wilderness Lodge dock; then

another ten to reach the Magic Kingdom. Disembarking, I walked to the bus stop for

Boardwalk/Beach and Yacht Clubs/Swan and Dolphin buses, and waited about half an hour for

one to show that wasn't full. When it finally pulled in, I got on and took a seat in the

back. The time was about 6:30 and I knew that I'd be late. After stopping first at

Boardwalk and then at Yacht and Beach Clubs, the bus finally pulled in at first the Swan and

then the Dolphin.

I was 15 minutes late for my reservation. When I reached the Dolphin's lobby I walked to

the concierge desk to confirm my reservation, and when the man said that it was still on, I

asked directions and was directed to the restaurant, which was to the right of the down

escalators.

Shula's Steak House is one of the chain of restaurants owned by former Baltimore Colts and

Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula. A tribute to the NFL's only undefeated team, the

1972-73 Dolphins with the "No Name" defense; quarterback Bob Griese; receiver Mercury Morris

and running back Larry Csonka; who finished that season 17-0 with a 14-7 win over the

Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII; the restaurant is decorated in dark wood paneling and

oak furnishings. The tables have white covers and the dress code is "business casual".

The place has sort of a "gentlemans club" atmosphere without the strippers.

When I walked up to the reservation desk, I gave my name and apologized for being late. I

was led to a table in the back of a back room. The facts that the hotel is named the

Dolphin, or that my reservation (I am SO TEMPTED to write "Priority Seating"!) number ended

in "7372" did not escape my notice. I had dressed in a light blue dress shirt, blue dress

pants, dark blue socks and my leather casual shoes. As I sat down and looked around, I had

the distinct feeling that I was "slumming it", and that everyone was dressier than I was.

No matter, for no one kicked me out.

The main draw here is the Certified Angus beef in large portions, but you can get good

chicken and salmon, too. The beef selections are printed without their prices (I guess they

figure that if you made a reservation here, you can afford it) on an actual football that's

brought to your table on a wooden kickoff tee while a waiter recites the menu. The ball on

the tee is a little over the top. There is also a standard printed menu with prices. The

white plates are large and have "Shula's. America's Steakhouse. Still Undefeated" printed

on them.

I ordered the Lobster Bisque soup ($9.95), a bottle of Republic of Darjeeling Tea ($3.95),

and the Twice Baked Potato ($6.95) with the 48-ounce Porterhouse ($75.00). A porterhouse is

actually two steaks in one: a filet mignon and a ribeye, on a T-Bone. Until Shula's opened,

Yachtsman's Steakhouse in the Yacht Club was widely considered to be Walt Disney World's

best steakhouse (and one of the few WDW restaurants I haven't visited). But I would say

that Linda (Ursulinda/LindaBabe) was right on the money: pretentious and overpriced. But

its food is very, very good.

I ate the soup first, slowly sipping my tea while waiting for my medium-rare steak. When it

came with its mushroom garnish, I was surprised that it wasn't really big; just really

thick. The potato was served on a side dish. I dug into the steak, cooked perfectly to

order, and took only a couple bites of the potato. The steak took awhile, but about thirty

five minutes after it was served (about 7:50 pm) I was gnawing on the bone. I put the fork

and knife on the table (dropped and picked up the fork) as my waiter came, and asked him,

"Does this count as finished?" He replied, "Yes. Congratulations." He then gave me an

autographed 4" x 6" picture of Coach Shula, and a card which I filled out with my name,

email address and hometown. I had finished the tea (and had made a trip to the restroom

about halfway through the meal) and declined dessert, for which I had no room.

The bill came to $102.09 with tax. I gave him my Visa to swipe and waited for his return.

Shula's no longer photographs its 48-oz Club members, those diners able to finish the big

porterhouse, so I had to be content with a plaque placed near the top of a wall in a room

off the front of the restaurant, which location the waiter showed me on my way out. The

waiter returned with the charge slip and my Visa. I added a 15% tip of $15.32 to bring the

total bill to $117.41. A once-in-a-lifetime dinner whose price is a la carte and is equal

to that of four or five single dinners with dessert at Lone Star Steakhouse. I ordered the

big porterhouse because I was extremely hungry, having not eaten since breakfast; and

because I wanted to see if I could finish it.

After paying for dinner and being shown the future location of my plaque, I left the

restaurant and hotel the same way I had entered, walking to the dock and taking a Friendship

Boat to Epcot; walking through World Showcase and Epcot to its entrance; and taking a bus at

stop number five to Wilderness Lodge. Fifteen or twenty minutes later I was in my room,

pondering my next move. It didn't take me long to come to a decision.

Downtown Disney Westside! I wanted to get a few souveneirs for people, and maybe pick up

Big and Rich's *Horse of a Different Color* CD for my sister-in-law for Christmas at a good

price. Making sure my keycard was in the lanyard pouch, I left the room at about 9:00 pm

and headed toward the Wilderness Lodge Mercantile, emerging from the hallway, turning left

and exiting through the sliding doors to the bus stops, finally turning left and stopping at

stop four for a bus to Downtown Disney. One came within ten minutes and I hopped on for a

twenty-five minute ride to the district. (You can't really call Downtown Disney a park.)

I got off at Pleasure Island stop four and crossed the bridge into Downtown Disney Westside.

Walking down the avenue past the various shops, I walked into Magnetron and bought two

refrigerator magnets saying "Florida" for my friends Linda and Quanta; and one of Jesus

Christ above Earth with the words, "He is watching. Let's give Him a good show", which I

felt appropriate for my deeply religious friend Marie. Paying for them a total of $15.88, I

walked with them down to Virgin Megastore and found *Horse of a Different Color*. Eighteen

ninety-nine. Uh, NO. That's closer to what it would've cost in 1982 (the year CDs first

came out) than it should cost in 2005. I left Virgin Megastore and Downtown Disney

Westside, finding PI bus stop 4 and hopping on a Wilderness Lodge (not Fort Wilderness) bus

about ten minutes later. Twenty-five minutes later I got to my resort, went to my room,

undressed and fell asleep at about 11:30 pm.

[thelionqueen]

I've spent at least 20 minutes reading them all. Your detail and opinions are wonderful. Thanks for taking the time to note all the amazing details us fellow "anal retentive" Dis'ers love!!

[Vivianne]

I have enjoyed reading your reports. I can see why you "can't wipe the grin off your face" after all that fine dining. :mickeybar :drinking1 :cake:

[Disneyfan63]

Day 6: Monday, December 5, 2005.

Before I'd gone to sleep I had set up a Stitch shoutout for 7:00 am. I woke up when the

phone rang and started my day the usual way: brushing my teeth, shaving and showering. I

then read my Bible (the last two chapters of both First Chronicles and Acts) and got

dressed. Turning on the TV, I noted that the weather was to be cloudy and cool, about 65°F

(18.5°C) for a high. I then opened the door a little, retrieved the USA Today newspaper

that was deposited in front of my door and read some of it. About twenty minutes later, I

left for the Wilderness Lodge boat dock.

I had an Advanced Dining Reservation for Boatwright's Dining Hall at Port Orleans Riverside.

Gotta have my Sweet Potato Cakes with pecan-honey butter. When I got to the Magic Kingdom

after a ten-minute wait and a ten-minute ride, I went to the bus stop for Port Orleans and

waited. After about 20 minutes, a bus with its signage off pulled in. The driver got out,

saw me and asked if I needed a ride. I told him that I was going to Port Orleans Riverside

because I had an Advanced Dining Reservation (which I suppose has more perks and is on a

higher level than a Regular Dining Reservation) at Boatwright's at 9:50 am. It was a late

breakfast seating, considering that I also had a late lunch reservation scheduled at 2:40 pm

at Whispering Canyon Cafe. I got on the bus and after a fifteen-minute ride or so (time

actually slows when you're moving compared to when you stand still. Ask Albert Einstein.

His theory of relativity, encapsulated in the equation E= mc squared [where E is energy

measured in some unit; m is a given mass; and c is the speed of light] states that the

faster you go, the slower time goes, until it will actually stop at the speed of light) I

got off at the South Depot, walked to Boatwright's and gave my name. I was twenty minutes

early.

Formerly named Dixie Landings, Port Orleans Riverside is the northern half of the resort

complex resulting from the merger of Port Orleans (now named Port Orleans French Quarter)

and Dixie Landings in early 2001. Each half of the resort has its own character, lobby, and

check-in area. Riverside is themed after the antebellum South of pre-Civil War days, with

2,048 rooms in many three-story buildings in either the Alligator Bayou or Magnolia Bend

sections. If I'm not mistaken, Alligator Bayou is the more popular of the two sections.

I sat at a table outside the main dining room, in the lounge known as River's Roost, and

read a USA Today that had been left behind. When called, I was led to a table at a window

on the right side of the restaurant and ordered an orange juice and hot cocoa. I drank each

slowly, and When the waitress came to my table to take my entree order, I told her I wanted

the Sweet Potato Cakes. This is a Boatwright's signature dish consisting of three large

sweet potato pancakes topped with butter glazed with honey and pecans. Denser and fluffier

than buttermilk pancakes, they taste so good that you don't need to use the provided maple

syrup. I ate them rather quickly and used my Magic Your Way card to put the breakfast on

the dining plan. This was my third trip to Boatwright's since 2003 and I had the Sweet

Potato Cakes those other times, too. Perhaps I'll try the Blueprint Omelette or eat dinner

there when I return in May, 2006.
Finished, I walked out toward the South bus Depot. I wanted to go to Epcot and ride

Soarin'. Fortunately a bus bound for Epcot showed within five minutes and I hopped on for a

twenty-minute ride. when I got there at a little before 11:00 and walked through the

turnstile, I took a park map from a CM who handed them out, located The Land, and went into

that building, down the stairs, and got a fastpass for 2005's hot ride (the theme park

industry's version of computerdom's "killer app"). The time window was between 1:00 and

1:05 pm but I found that if you're late you can still use it. I murdered minutes and slew

seconds by experiencing Journey into Imagination With Figment, an indoor ride full of

sounds, smells and sights which exited into a high-tech play area. I played with a device

that choreographs Figment's playing instruments with my upper body movements. Then I left,

walking around World Showcase and back toward The Land. I think I even visted the restroom.

But finally the time snailed to about 12:45 pm and I got into the fastpass line with an

older couple from northern New Jersey, and we chatted while watching the clock above us.

Soarin' is a simulated hang-glider ride with an extremely long queue. I and my two

companions gave our fastpasses to the CM and got into it, and we were able to get pretty

close to the ride before we encountered any traffic. I think we were directed to the first

concourse and then boarded the first row. The ride has a capacity of thirty, ten in each

row. I buckled up and waited for the ride to begin. Suddenly the chevron-shaped roof

closed above us and we were lifted forty feet as the movie in front of us began. It is

"Soarin' Over California" as the ride duplicates that in Disneyland, complete with the

smells of California citrus groves. The "gentle thrill ride" (a Scopism?) is essentially a

simulator with nowhere near the stomach-churning potential of Star Tours, Body Wars, or

Mission:Space, for example; but those with acrophobia (fear of heights; as opposed to

agoraphobia, which is a fear of crowds or of open spaces) should avoid this ride, as it

takes guests pretty high. There's no real plot but I couldn't help flinching when that golf

ball was hit off the tee right at us.

We applauded at the end of the ride, and as we exited past the queue I gave a double

thumbs-up. This is definitely a keeper. I would ride it again three days later, but now it

was nearly 2:00 pm and time to head to Whispering Canyon Cafe and my lunch at 2:40 pm, but

as I passed Spaceship Earth I saw that the wait time was only five minutes, so I walked on

and rode. Exiting that ride I headed toward bus stop 5 for Wilderness Lodge. Ten minutes

later a bus showed, and I hopped on and rode it to my resort. I was fifteen minutes early

for my Advanced Dining Reservation. I gave my name and then sat in a couch in the lobby

until I was called.

I was led to a table in the back (I think it was the same table I occupied at breakfast on

December first) and ordered the Canyon Skillet which for lunch includes ribs, chicken, corn

on the cob, mashed potatoes and a bottomless milkshake (I had chocolate, naturally). Eating

everything on my plate, I ordered seconds on the ribs, milkshake and chicken, as well as the

chocolate cake for dessert. I didn't finish it, and I felt stuffed to the point that

movement was possible but not a good idea. After putting the meal on the keycard as part of

the dining plan, I did absolutely the worst thing possible after such a large meal.

I staggered to my room, flopped on the bed on my back, and closed my eyes. When I opened

them four hours later--FOOD COMA! But I think I needed the rest--I glanced at the clock on

the night table left of the bed, cursed inwardly, thinking that I should've done something

productive with those hours, then shrugged, turned on ESPN and watched TV until about 10:00,

when I returned to sleep.

[sskem96]

Great reports! Can't wait for more!

[java]

Oh I am having such fun reading your report. Makes me realize all the little details that I ignore on a daily basis. Can't wait to read more. Oh and we are neighbors of sorts. I am in Hunterdon County also. :wave:

[Shelby5514]

Good Job!:flower:

[Starrin]

Hi,

Great report ... really enjoyed reading the detail.

Also, nice to see a DIS'er from Voorhees, NJ - lets just say that I am a big fan of The Chophouse and The Flyers :teeth: