Welcome Home, Now Relax ~ Day 14 - Toy Story Mania, Downtown Disney, Congo River Golf

[wickesy]

Tuesday 7th April 2009

We were up at 7:30 and out the door by 8:20, parking up in Music 52 around 10 minutes later. By the amount of people going in already we could tell it was going to be a busy day and when we got to the end of Hollywood Boulevard we found that the cast members had set up two ropes - one by the hat for people going to Toy Story and one at the end of Sunset Boulevard for those going to Tower of Terror/Rock N Roller Coaster.

We joined the queue by the hat, the rope was dropped at 8:55 and 15 minutes later we were on the ride. Scores were slightly higher this time with Dad getting 79,300 with 57% accuracy and me getting 86,600 with 54% accuracy.









Once we had finished the ride we left the park, it was still only 9:30, and as the weather was a little chilly we decided to go to Downtown Disney. As we drove out of the car park I noticed that the traffic was backed up along N Buena Vista Drive waiting to go in and I was glad we weren’t staying all day. We parked up at Downtown Disney and sat in the car until 10:00 and then found that Virgin doesn’t open until 10:30 so we wandered down to Marketplace. We had a walk around World of Disney where I bought a Minnie plush for somebody I work with and Dad got a Mickey figure.




From there we went round to Pin Traders, where I bought a bunch of pins and we then walked back up to West Side.

We went in Virgin where I bought Lost Season 4, CHiPs Season 2 and My Two Dads Season 1 on DVD and we then went into the café for a drink and a cookie each. Typically this was the first and last time I was able to use my DVC member discount in Virgin and I will missing going in there to browse the TV boxsets when we return but I look forward to seeing what is going to replace it.

By now it had warmed up a little bit so we went up to Congo River Golf on I-Drive where we played the Stanley course and I scored 54 while Dad made it round in 67 - Tiger Woods we ain’t!

We finished playing at 1:30 and returned to the studio to do some packing and get ready for our reservation at Artist Point.

We were back out at 5:00 and arrived at Wilderness Lodge around 15 minutes later. We had a wander around the shop, down to the DVC villas and then around the grounds before taking a seat in the lobby. At 5:45 we went up to check in for our 6:00 reservation and were given a pager, which went off after about a 10 minute wait.

We had a table by the window with a view of the pool and lagoon and started off by ordering a margarita for Dad and a glass of Hogue Riesling for me. Food-wise Dad had the portobello soup followed by potato chive pot stickers and I had the wild boar tenderloin followed by pan seared duck breast and we topped the meal off with a gold rush coffee each. Artist Point is one of the fine dining restaurants, which is reflected in the total price - $101.36 - but the service in there is very good. Our server spotted that Dad was wearing a DVC member shirt and took the 10% discount off of the bill before it was brought to us.

We left the restaurant at 7:10 and arrived back at the studio at 7:30, just in time to do online check-in for our flight tomorrow and I was pleased to see that we still had our original seats - 80H and K.

We spent the rest of the evening relaxing and were in bed by 10:00 dreaming of all the good times we have had over the past two weeks.

Day 15

[irongirlof12]

sounds like a great day again. your score on TSM is improving glad you enjoyed your meal at AP, I fancy eating there. I agree it's a shame about Virgin closing, and it's a big store so it will be interesting to see what becomes of the space. I can't beleive your are near the end of your trip report nooooo

[suzycute]

How on earth does anyone get a score of 388000 on TSM??

Sounds like you had another great day with a lovely meal to finish your holiday.

What did you think of the Wilderness Lodge DVC villas? I've never made it over there but hope to have a wander round when we go in September.

[wickesy]

Originally Posted by suzycute

How on earth does anyone get a score of 388000 on TSM??

Sounds like you had another great day with a lovely meal to finish your holiday.

What did you think of the Wilderness Lodge DVC villas? I've never made it over there but hope to have a wander round when we go in September.

I know it's crazy isn't it. They must have had a lot of practice.

We only had a quick wander through at Wilderness Lodge, and we didn't see inside any of the rooms but the building looks nice enough.

[Nubbedy]

Shame your holiday is coming to an end. Don't know if you have already covered this in your trippie (I have a memory span shorter than Dory's!) but is TSM open during extra magic hour at the studios, do you know?

[Tink2312]

Glad to see you like your mini golf . It's one of our fave. pastimes outside the parks. Just wondering, do you prefer the putt putt courses on I-Drive? Do they tend to be quieter? Whenever we go to Pirates Cove at LBV it's packed I also quite like Hawaiian Rumble (opposite Bennigans/ Sheraton Vistana), it's not much of a challenge, but you can get coupons to play for under $4 a piece.

Great TR - shame it's over. Happy planning for you summer vacay

[wickesy]

Originally Posted by Nubbedy

Shame your holiday is coming to an end. Don't know if you have already covered this in your trippie (I have a memory span shorter than Dory's!) but is TSM open during extra magic hour at the studios, do you know?

I don't know as we never do extra magic hours. It is probably the most popular ride in the Studios at the moment so I would think it is.

Originally Posted by Tink2312

Glad to see you like your mini golf . It's one of our fave. pastimes outside the parks. Just wondering, do you prefer the putt putt courses on I-Drive? Do they tend to be quieter? Whenever we go to Pirates Cove at LBV it's packed I also quite like Hawaiian Rumble (opposite Bennigans/ Sheraton Vistana), it's not much of a challenge, but you can get coupons to play for under $4 a piece.

Great TR - shame it's over. Happy planning for you summer vacay

This was our first time on the mini-golf courses outside WDW but they seemed about the same. We normally get out early so it's not usually too busy and being just the two of us if we come across a large group in front they normally let us 'play through'.

Don't go yet, there's still Day 15 to read - we packed a lot into departure day as well.

[Lizzybear]

Cute Minnie! Artist Point sounds good, wonder how good they are for vegetarians

[wickesy]

Originally Posted by Lizzybear

Cute Minnie! Artist Point sounds good, wonder how good they are for vegetarians

There's not much on the menu - just salmon (if you eat fish) and the pot stickers. I don't know what they are like at doing stuff 'off menu'.

[tennisfan]

Another fab day

[natalielongstaff]

brilliant day

[jackieleanne]

Great last day, and love the minnie. I hate the last day at disney before the trip home always so sad and I have cried a few times on the final monorail trip out of Magic Kingdom.

[SusanEllen]

Quote:
Originally Posted by suzycute

What did you think of the Wilderness Lodge DVC villas? I've never made it over there but hope to have a wander round when we go in September.

Originally Posted by wickesy

We only had a quick wander through at Wilderness Lodge, and we didn't see inside any of the rooms but the building looks nice enough.

I'll volunteer an opinion on the Villas at Wilderness Lodge. WL (the Lodge) is my favorite resort but on one Grand Gathering trip with friends we stayed at the Villas though none of us were DVC members. The floor plans and amenities of the VWL suites and rooms are similar to the ones at Boardwalk Villas (and others, I suppose) though, of course, the interior decoration and colors match the WL's frontier theme. Though the Villa's pool doesn't have the falls, the geyser, the view of the Bay Lake, poolside bar etc. that the Lodge pool has, it is far more private and always seems less crowded. The walk from the Villas to the Lodge is mostly covered if the weather is a factor. The WL restaurants are on my favorites list--both Artist Point and Whispering Canyon Cafe. I think the Mercantile in the lobby of the Lodge is one of THE best gift shops in WDW. I vote you stay at WL or VWL first chance you get. (End of unsolicited endorsement.)

[jjk]

another lovely day

[Chilly]

Must try AP at WL next trip.