GreatBiscuit
Golden but never flaky
- Joined
- Aug 20, 1999
Episode 1 - "It Begins"
Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own trip report, or whether that station shall fall to another, these pages must show.
If I do not exactly hold the title for longest planned trip to Walt Disney World EVER, then I certainly must be a finalist. The planning for our current excursion actually began in 1997. Not just wanting to go either, planning to go. I've had touring plans, dining guides, must do's, and more mapped out on spreadsheets and modified time and again. For twelve years a return to the world was a dream. It was something I wanted, hoped for, prayed for and tried to achieve, but life's circumstances intervened and it was not in God's plans for me.
Over the years I lurked here often, posted occasionally, and looked forward to the day when the dream of returning would become a reality. I've planned trips for others, had lots of folks bring me souvenirs, and lived vicariously though countless trip reports.
If you are to truly understand this trip report and what this trip means to me, it is necessary to start with a bit of history. So rather than a traditional Pre-Trip / Post Trip, you will actually be getting 7 trip reports in one! Glory, hallelujah and amen! (Editor's note - it turned out to be 8. More on that later.)
Okay, so technically it will actually be ONE full fledged, no holds barred, in depth, nauseatingly detailed trip report; which has been augmented with a couple of quick commentaries and a few readers digest version mini-reports. Think of it as the Special Edition Director's Cut Trip Report with Bonus Features. Our cast (which is rather large) will be introduced in order of appearance. I WILL have photos, but they will be scarce up until the final three trips as they are about the only ones that I can actually find BUT, rest assured there will eventually be Photobucket loads.
As to my own bio, I work in a tech support call center by day, and serve as a media pastor at our church on weekends. When I'm not perusing WDW sites or editing video, I'm hanging out with my wife and two daughters. I also enjoy sports shooting (targets as opposed to varmints), reading, and working on computers. This is me at work looking about as thrilled as I always do.
Introductions for this episode being now completed, it's time to strike up the organ and cue the choir 'cause we're taking a stroll down memory lane.
Picture it, the eighties, a small Texas town and an 11 year old kid who has just discovered cable TV. All nine channels of it. And one of those channels is something called the Disney Channel. Having always loved Disney related things, watching this new portal of wonder was soon my favorite pastime.
Between episodes of my favorite shows (Danger Bay, The Edison Twins, and DTV) there were always short "update" pieces on what was new and happening at The Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland.
I had been to the Magic Kingdom as a three year old tot, but have no memory of the experience. These little snippets on the Disney Channel introduced me to a place I soon began to love; and started an obsession I know you can relate to. (Otherwise why would you still be reading?)
I began seeking out WDW related articles in the library and in magazines. To add to my growing fascination, I soon discovered another channel which hosted a show called Double Dare. The winners of this show were given the awe inspiring grand prize of a trip to Walt Disney World and a stay at the Buena Vista Palace. I didn't know what the BVP was, but I likened it to the Taj Mahal.
Armed with a little knowledge and substantial enthusiasm, I dreamed of the day when I would get to visit that special place that keeps drawing all of us back to these boards. From that point on, any time the subject of summer travel arose, I cast my vote for WDW. My parents however, were a bit less inclined to see this suggestion through to fruition. Then when I was 13, I was the recipient of a great stroke of luck. My aunt and uncle moved to St. Augustine, Florida.
My mom and her sister are very close, and it was decided that we would be heading to Florida for a week that summer. (My parents both being teachers, summer was the only acceptable time for leisure-based travel.) After much begging, pleading and promising a lifetime of servitude and devotion, an agreement was reached that we would drive down for one day at the MK during that visit. JOY, EUPHORIA, and host of other things which all mean NIFTY flooded over me. I was finally going to live my dream. All that remained to be seen is whether it would meet with my expectations.
** EDITOR'S NOTE - June 2023 ** - There have been multiple occasions where I have logged back into this report to try to fix things broken over the years by software updates and changes to policies and procedures of this and other sites. (Looking at you Photobucket.) Now that I'm helping my daughter plan her honeymoon, (I just turned from the keyboard and wept for a minute), I was feeling nostalgic and decided to try once again to fix the broken links and missing photos. I realize nobody will be reading a TR 15 years after it was written, but I'm doing it for my own mental journey. I'm also slowly converting it to printed form as I go along so that I have hard copy that can't be sullied by future technology updates. If by some chance you do stumble upon this, I'd love to hear about it. AND wish you my apologies. What you about to read turned out to be doozey! ** Nov 2023 - Updates all complete! The trip down memory lane has been both amazing and sad at the same time. I'm so glad I wrote this trip report. It allowed me to capture details of our lives I would have otherwise long forgotten.
Coming up on Episode Two "My First Trip to the World"
____________________________
Episode Links
Season 1 - June 1987 - MK Day Trip
Episode 1 - It Begins (You're there)
Episode 2 - My First Trip to the World.
Episode 3 - Vertigo, Nemo and Burgers. OH MY!
Episode 4 - Conquering the Final Frontier
Season 2 - July 1988 - MK Day Trip
Episode 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42 "The Others"
Slightly Off Topic
Episoded 5.5 - Fear of the Unknown
Season 3 - Aug 1989 - MK Day Trip
Episode 6 - Sing a song of WED-Way
Season 4 - June 1990 - 5 Days
Episode 7 - Cb's, Swamps, and Asian Road Food
Episode 8 -A Near Death Experience and Learning to Pronounce Kissimmee
Episode 9 - How to get kicked out of the Magic Kingdom before you hit Main Street"
Episode 10 - Living Like Kings & Dole Whip Dreams
Episode 11 - Jungles, Trees, Caves and BEEEEEES!
Episode 12 - The Plan Unravels and I Find a New Way to Annoy My Mother
Episode 13 - Conquering the Classics and Biscuit has a Breakdown
Mini-sode - Assault in Tomorrowland!
Episode 14- Guaranteed Prizes
Episode 15 - Visiting the OTHER Castle may be hazardous to your health!
Episode 16 - Making a Deal and Living a Dream.
Episode 17 - The Longest Line EVER
Episode 18 - Catastrophes don't just happen in canyons
Episode 19 -The Grand Finale to a Grand Vacation
Season 5 - July 1991 - MK Day Trip
Episode 20 - High School Seniors Storm the Castle
Season 6 - July 1997 - 5 Day Disneymoon
Episode 21 - How I was christened "Great Biscuit" and Boy Meets Girl
Episode 22 - Welcome to....Atlanta???? The eruption of Hades begins
Episode 23 - Hell Hath No Fury Like a Biscuit Burned
Episode 24 - Our honeymoon truly begins and we discover an old friend.
Trip Six Bonus Features - Photos!
Episode 25 - Yes! We're at a Park! Hey, where's my wallet?...DOH!
Episode 26 - Our Video Turns out PG13!
Episode 27 - Monsoons and Mermaids
Episode 28 - What the Carp Happened to the Castle???
Episode 29 - Blisters, Bags and a Big Hairy Beast
Episode 30 - "What do you mean my Park Hopper's invalid?"
Episode 31 - My Worst WDW Memory of All Time
Episode 32 - Close Encounters of the Cool Kind
Episode 33 - The Storm Blows On
Episode 34 -A Perfect Lunch Leads to a New Discovery
Episode 35 - A Fond Farewell
Season 7 Preview - Summer 2009 PTR
Episode 36 - Finding the DIS
Episode 37 - Pickin' The Pop
Episode 38 - Season 7 Cast Bio
Episode 39 - Everything Old is New
Episode 40 - Pearl Harbor and Donald Duck
Episode 41 - Dining Dilemmas
Episode 42 - The Plan 3.0
Episode 43 - Fiesta My Biscuit! The Walt Disney World Training Run
Episode 44 - This Ain't Your Granny's Fanny Pack!
Episode 45 - Biscuit Family, Prepare for Departure
Series Prequel - Summer 1976
Episode 46 - "As I Recall": A 1976 Retro Report UPDATE - We found photos! Added 5/31/12.
Season 7 - June 19-26 2009
Live
Episode 47 - The LIVE Broadcast!
Day 0 & Day 1
Episode 48 - Biscuit's Return to Paradise
Episode 49 - Let the Magic Begin!
Episode 50 - A Dining Newbie no More
Episode 51 - Painters, Pools, Pennies, & Panoramics
Episode 52 - I'm Back Baby!
Episode 53 - Dining With Rodents
Episode 54 - Terror in the skies!
Episode 55 - An Accidental EMH
Day 2
Episode 56 - Nice Shirts.....So Who's Biscuit?
Episode 57 - A Disturbance in the Force
Episode 58 - Mama Mia!
Episode 59 - Tales of Terror and Triumph
Day 3
Episode 60 - Digestive Instability
Episode 61 - Tahli’s Favorite WDW Attraction
Episode 62 - Rapids and Ribs
Episode 63 - 'Ohana Means Eating Like a Pig!
Episode 64 - Hailee Discovers Donald's Butt
Day 4
Episode 65 - Paradise Lost...and Found
Episode 66 - Turtles, Skunks and Stockings
Episode 66 1/2 - Hitting the Hippy Dippy (Written by Nana - The link at the end to episode 67 doesn't work. Come back here to get the correct link.)
Episode 67 - Hunger, Heat & Herds = 1 Fantasmic night
Day 5
Episode 68 - Pimping the Pipster
Episode 68 1/2 - Nana has Left the Building (Written by Nana - The link at the end to episode 69 doesn't work. Come back here to get the correct link.)
Episode 69 - The Biscuits Get Rocked
Episode 70 - Galloping Hoops & Ponchos!
Day 6
Episode 71 - Morning Meltdowns
Episode 72 - The Magic Returns
Episode 73 - Dancing and Doozies
Day 7
Episode 74 -Extract Me From This Infernal Apparatus!
Episode 75 - I Shockingly Discover an Identical Twin!
Episode 76 - Hungry Biscuits and Hippos
Episode 77 - Monsoons and Magic
Day 8
Episode 78 - The Beginning of the End.
Episode 79 - So long, Farewell, and Amen - Part I
Episode 80 - So long, Farewell, and Amen - Part II
Bonus Features
Bonus Feature 1 - Disney Dining Plan Break Down - Included in Episode 78. Click the link above.
Bonus Feature 2 - Pop goes the Biscuit: A Pop Century Review
Bonus Feature 3 - Attraction rundown & Souvie Shuffle.
Bonus Feature 4 - Lessons Learned: Breaking down The Plan 3.0 and evaluating the Park Pack.
Bonus Feature 5 - The Sequel: What the future holds.
Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own trip report, or whether that station shall fall to another, these pages must show.
If I do not exactly hold the title for longest planned trip to Walt Disney World EVER, then I certainly must be a finalist. The planning for our current excursion actually began in 1997. Not just wanting to go either, planning to go. I've had touring plans, dining guides, must do's, and more mapped out on spreadsheets and modified time and again. For twelve years a return to the world was a dream. It was something I wanted, hoped for, prayed for and tried to achieve, but life's circumstances intervened and it was not in God's plans for me.
Over the years I lurked here often, posted occasionally, and looked forward to the day when the dream of returning would become a reality. I've planned trips for others, had lots of folks bring me souvenirs, and lived vicariously though countless trip reports.
If you are to truly understand this trip report and what this trip means to me, it is necessary to start with a bit of history. So rather than a traditional Pre-Trip / Post Trip, you will actually be getting 7 trip reports in one! Glory, hallelujah and amen! (Editor's note - it turned out to be 8. More on that later.)
Okay, so technically it will actually be ONE full fledged, no holds barred, in depth, nauseatingly detailed trip report; which has been augmented with a couple of quick commentaries and a few readers digest version mini-reports. Think of it as the Special Edition Director's Cut Trip Report with Bonus Features. Our cast (which is rather large) will be introduced in order of appearance. I WILL have photos, but they will be scarce up until the final three trips as they are about the only ones that I can actually find BUT, rest assured there will eventually be Photobucket loads.
As to my own bio, I work in a tech support call center by day, and serve as a media pastor at our church on weekends. When I'm not perusing WDW sites or editing video, I'm hanging out with my wife and two daughters. I also enjoy sports shooting (targets as opposed to varmints), reading, and working on computers. This is me at work looking about as thrilled as I always do.
Introductions for this episode being now completed, it's time to strike up the organ and cue the choir 'cause we're taking a stroll down memory lane.
Picture it, the eighties, a small Texas town and an 11 year old kid who has just discovered cable TV. All nine channels of it. And one of those channels is something called the Disney Channel. Having always loved Disney related things, watching this new portal of wonder was soon my favorite pastime.
Between episodes of my favorite shows (Danger Bay, The Edison Twins, and DTV) there were always short "update" pieces on what was new and happening at The Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland.
I had been to the Magic Kingdom as a three year old tot, but have no memory of the experience. These little snippets on the Disney Channel introduced me to a place I soon began to love; and started an obsession I know you can relate to. (Otherwise why would you still be reading?)
I began seeking out WDW related articles in the library and in magazines. To add to my growing fascination, I soon discovered another channel which hosted a show called Double Dare. The winners of this show were given the awe inspiring grand prize of a trip to Walt Disney World and a stay at the Buena Vista Palace. I didn't know what the BVP was, but I likened it to the Taj Mahal.
Armed with a little knowledge and substantial enthusiasm, I dreamed of the day when I would get to visit that special place that keeps drawing all of us back to these boards. From that point on, any time the subject of summer travel arose, I cast my vote for WDW. My parents however, were a bit less inclined to see this suggestion through to fruition. Then when I was 13, I was the recipient of a great stroke of luck. My aunt and uncle moved to St. Augustine, Florida.
My mom and her sister are very close, and it was decided that we would be heading to Florida for a week that summer. (My parents both being teachers, summer was the only acceptable time for leisure-based travel.) After much begging, pleading and promising a lifetime of servitude and devotion, an agreement was reached that we would drive down for one day at the MK during that visit. JOY, EUPHORIA, and host of other things which all mean NIFTY flooded over me. I was finally going to live my dream. All that remained to be seen is whether it would meet with my expectations.
** EDITOR'S NOTE - June 2023 ** - There have been multiple occasions where I have logged back into this report to try to fix things broken over the years by software updates and changes to policies and procedures of this and other sites. (Looking at you Photobucket.) Now that I'm helping my daughter plan her honeymoon, (I just turned from the keyboard and wept for a minute), I was feeling nostalgic and decided to try once again to fix the broken links and missing photos. I realize nobody will be reading a TR 15 years after it was written, but I'm doing it for my own mental journey. I'm also slowly converting it to printed form as I go along so that I have hard copy that can't be sullied by future technology updates. If by some chance you do stumble upon this, I'd love to hear about it. AND wish you my apologies. What you about to read turned out to be doozey! ** Nov 2023 - Updates all complete! The trip down memory lane has been both amazing and sad at the same time. I'm so glad I wrote this trip report. It allowed me to capture details of our lives I would have otherwise long forgotten.
Coming up on Episode Two "My First Trip to the World"
____________________________
Episode Links
Season 1 - June 1987 - MK Day Trip
Episode 1 - It Begins (You're there)
Episode 2 - My First Trip to the World.
Episode 3 - Vertigo, Nemo and Burgers. OH MY!
Episode 4 - Conquering the Final Frontier
Season 2 - July 1988 - MK Day Trip
Episode 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42 "The Others"
Slightly Off Topic
Episoded 5.5 - Fear of the Unknown
Season 3 - Aug 1989 - MK Day Trip
Episode 6 - Sing a song of WED-Way
Season 4 - June 1990 - 5 Days
Episode 7 - Cb's, Swamps, and Asian Road Food
Episode 8 -A Near Death Experience and Learning to Pronounce Kissimmee
Episode 9 - How to get kicked out of the Magic Kingdom before you hit Main Street"
Episode 10 - Living Like Kings & Dole Whip Dreams
Episode 11 - Jungles, Trees, Caves and BEEEEEES!
Episode 12 - The Plan Unravels and I Find a New Way to Annoy My Mother
Episode 13 - Conquering the Classics and Biscuit has a Breakdown
Mini-sode - Assault in Tomorrowland!
Episode 14- Guaranteed Prizes
Episode 15 - Visiting the OTHER Castle may be hazardous to your health!
Episode 16 - Making a Deal and Living a Dream.
Episode 17 - The Longest Line EVER
Episode 18 - Catastrophes don't just happen in canyons
Episode 19 -The Grand Finale to a Grand Vacation
Season 5 - July 1991 - MK Day Trip
Episode 20 - High School Seniors Storm the Castle
Season 6 - July 1997 - 5 Day Disneymoon
Episode 21 - How I was christened "Great Biscuit" and Boy Meets Girl
Episode 22 - Welcome to....Atlanta???? The eruption of Hades begins
Episode 23 - Hell Hath No Fury Like a Biscuit Burned
Episode 24 - Our honeymoon truly begins and we discover an old friend.
Trip Six Bonus Features - Photos!
Episode 25 - Yes! We're at a Park! Hey, where's my wallet?...DOH!
Episode 26 - Our Video Turns out PG13!
Episode 27 - Monsoons and Mermaids
Episode 28 - What the Carp Happened to the Castle???
Episode 29 - Blisters, Bags and a Big Hairy Beast
Episode 30 - "What do you mean my Park Hopper's invalid?"
Episode 31 - My Worst WDW Memory of All Time
Episode 32 - Close Encounters of the Cool Kind
Episode 33 - The Storm Blows On
Episode 34 -A Perfect Lunch Leads to a New Discovery
Episode 35 - A Fond Farewell
Season 7 Preview - Summer 2009 PTR
Episode 36 - Finding the DIS
Episode 37 - Pickin' The Pop
Episode 38 - Season 7 Cast Bio
Episode 39 - Everything Old is New
Episode 40 - Pearl Harbor and Donald Duck
Episode 41 - Dining Dilemmas
Episode 42 - The Plan 3.0
Episode 43 - Fiesta My Biscuit! The Walt Disney World Training Run
Episode 44 - This Ain't Your Granny's Fanny Pack!
Episode 45 - Biscuit Family, Prepare for Departure
Series Prequel - Summer 1976
Episode 46 - "As I Recall": A 1976 Retro Report UPDATE - We found photos! Added 5/31/12.
Season 7 - June 19-26 2009
Live
Episode 47 - The LIVE Broadcast!
Day 0 & Day 1
Episode 48 - Biscuit's Return to Paradise
Episode 49 - Let the Magic Begin!
Episode 50 - A Dining Newbie no More
Episode 51 - Painters, Pools, Pennies, & Panoramics
Episode 52 - I'm Back Baby!
Episode 53 - Dining With Rodents
Episode 54 - Terror in the skies!
Episode 55 - An Accidental EMH
Day 2
Episode 56 - Nice Shirts.....So Who's Biscuit?
Episode 57 - A Disturbance in the Force
Episode 58 - Mama Mia!
Episode 59 - Tales of Terror and Triumph
Day 3
Episode 60 - Digestive Instability
Episode 61 - Tahli’s Favorite WDW Attraction
Episode 62 - Rapids and Ribs
Episode 63 - 'Ohana Means Eating Like a Pig!
Episode 64 - Hailee Discovers Donald's Butt
Day 4
Episode 65 - Paradise Lost...and Found
Episode 66 - Turtles, Skunks and Stockings
Episode 66 1/2 - Hitting the Hippy Dippy (Written by Nana - The link at the end to episode 67 doesn't work. Come back here to get the correct link.)
Episode 67 - Hunger, Heat & Herds = 1 Fantasmic night
Day 5
Episode 68 - Pimping the Pipster
Episode 68 1/2 - Nana has Left the Building (Written by Nana - The link at the end to episode 69 doesn't work. Come back here to get the correct link.)
Episode 69 - The Biscuits Get Rocked
Episode 70 - Galloping Hoops & Ponchos!
Day 6
Episode 71 - Morning Meltdowns
Episode 72 - The Magic Returns
Episode 73 - Dancing and Doozies
Day 7
Episode 74 -Extract Me From This Infernal Apparatus!
Episode 75 - I Shockingly Discover an Identical Twin!
Episode 76 - Hungry Biscuits and Hippos
Episode 77 - Monsoons and Magic
Day 8
Episode 78 - The Beginning of the End.
Episode 79 - So long, Farewell, and Amen - Part I
Episode 80 - So long, Farewell, and Amen - Part II
Bonus Features
Bonus Feature 1 - Disney Dining Plan Break Down - Included in Episode 78. Click the link above.
Bonus Feature 2 - Pop goes the Biscuit: A Pop Century Review
Bonus Feature 3 - Attraction rundown & Souvie Shuffle.
Bonus Feature 4 - Lessons Learned: Breaking down The Plan 3.0 and evaluating the Park Pack.
Bonus Feature 5 - The Sequel: What the future holds.
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