disneysteve
DIS meet junkie
- Joined
- Sep 29, 2002
- Messages
- 16,200
11/2 - We flew Philly to Orlando on a 4:05 pm flight with USAir. Flight was on time and no problems. Got our bags and rental car from Dollar - attendant actually gave me a rate $40 less for the week than what I had booked. Nice surprise. Drove down 417 to 192. Stayed at the Days Suites Old Town in Kissimmee. Hotel is older but well maintained. A tremendous value. We had a 1-bedroom suite with a large living room with sofa, chairs, tv, dresser and Murphy bed, full kitchen, bathroom and bedroom with 2 double beds and a sink/dressing area. Rate was $39.95 per nite! We have stayed in numerous suite hotels in Disney area and elsewhere and this was certainly the largest and cheapest. I would definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a good value and plenty of space.
<P> 11/3 - Breakfast in room and off to EPCOT. Straight to Test Track. My daughter's first time - she's 7. Ride stopped running 3 or 4 times while we were in line, but only briefly. Stopped once during ride - in Heat room - but also brief. Jen loved it. Wanted to ride again, which we did later in the week.
<P>Visited Ice Station Cool, then snacked at Fountain View Bakery. Nice to see the fountains on again after the long drought restrictions.
<P>Went to new Imagination ride. Definitely better than the previous attempt, but still nowhere as good as the original. Plus Figment has a different voice which really bothered me.
<P>Next, into World Showcase which was just opening. Various Food and Wine stands weren't open yet. Bad show. There was definitely a lack of promptness apparent throughout the trip. Facade of store in Canada is being rehabbed. Saw "O Canada" - hadn't done that for a few years. Still a neat movie.
<P>The Land foodcourt for lunch. As part of Food and Wine, they had a special free open house walk through of the Land greenhouses. At each crop, a cast member was on hand to explain what was being grown and discuss the various methods they use. This was a highlite of the trip for me. It was very informative and really learned some neat stuff. Plus it was free.
<P>Spaceship Earth has new video monitors at the beginning of the ride, warning you that the cars would rotate backwards. Maybe someone got hurt or sued.
<P>During the day, saw a couple of CM's on those new personal transport things that guy invented. They look pretty cool. Maybe someday they'll rent them for guests to use. Sure would save some wear and tear on my feet.
<P>Spent the evening at DD Marketplace. Met up with a CM friend and her boyfriend, and an old friend from PA who moved to Florida last year (and his daughter). Dinner at Wolfgang Puck Express. They changed the restaurant so that you now enter on the left and pay first, then walk through and either pick up your food, or go out to your table and wait for your number to be called.
<P>Also saw the new Once Upon A Toy store. Neat shop with some unique Disney themed games and toys. Did some other shopping and called it a nite.
<P>Will post more reports with the other days of our trip.
Steve
<P> 11/3 - Breakfast in room and off to EPCOT. Straight to Test Track. My daughter's first time - she's 7. Ride stopped running 3 or 4 times while we were in line, but only briefly. Stopped once during ride - in Heat room - but also brief. Jen loved it. Wanted to ride again, which we did later in the week.
<P>Visited Ice Station Cool, then snacked at Fountain View Bakery. Nice to see the fountains on again after the long drought restrictions.
<P>Went to new Imagination ride. Definitely better than the previous attempt, but still nowhere as good as the original. Plus Figment has a different voice which really bothered me.
<P>Next, into World Showcase which was just opening. Various Food and Wine stands weren't open yet. Bad show. There was definitely a lack of promptness apparent throughout the trip. Facade of store in Canada is being rehabbed. Saw "O Canada" - hadn't done that for a few years. Still a neat movie.
<P>The Land foodcourt for lunch. As part of Food and Wine, they had a special free open house walk through of the Land greenhouses. At each crop, a cast member was on hand to explain what was being grown and discuss the various methods they use. This was a highlite of the trip for me. It was very informative and really learned some neat stuff. Plus it was free.
<P>Spaceship Earth has new video monitors at the beginning of the ride, warning you that the cars would rotate backwards. Maybe someone got hurt or sued.
<P>During the day, saw a couple of CM's on those new personal transport things that guy invented. They look pretty cool. Maybe someday they'll rent them for guests to use. Sure would save some wear and tear on my feet.
<P>Spent the evening at DD Marketplace. Met up with a CM friend and her boyfriend, and an old friend from PA who moved to Florida last year (and his daughter). Dinner at Wolfgang Puck Express. They changed the restaurant so that you now enter on the left and pay first, then walk through and either pick up your food, or go out to your table and wait for your number to be called.
<P>Also saw the new Once Upon A Toy store. Neat shop with some unique Disney themed games and toys. Did some other shopping and called it a nite.
<P>Will post more reports with the other days of our trip.
Steve
