Gina
Remembers the Great DIS Board Crash of '99
- Joined
- Aug 16, 1999
- Messages
- 4,648
Cast:
Me (38), DS (8), Debbie (aunt-who-is-more-like-my-sister), Dad, and Newley, Dad's guide dog. The humans in the group are WDW vets.
Resort: All-Star Movies
The Good:
Crowds were very light for most of the trip, but that is why we go in early Feb. A 15 min. line is waaaayyy too long for us.
Newley had an absolute ball, but also worked harder than I think he has had to yet. He was quite the pooped pooch at the end of each day. 99% of the people were so good with him... always asking Dad first if they could pet him and whatnot. He was quite the center of attention.
We love that WDW is the only place where you can have both the comforting sense of familiarity, knowing what's around every corner, and yet still get to experience that feeling of wonder around every corner. I don't know of any other place where those two things aren't mutually exclusive.
I am a huge Beauty and the Beast fan... and I was the only grownup in line to greet Belle and The Beast. LOL The CM and I had been chatting about pins; he told them I was their biggest fan, and that I had two pages of Belle pins in my pin case, and Beast gave me a huge hug and made my day.
The highlight of the trip, though, was when Newley got to meet Pluto. I had asked a CM where Pluto was going to be, because we wanted a picture of him and my father's guide dog, and he smiled and said "Go stand by that tree over there." So we dutifully trooped over to this lonely tree about 100ft away, and wondered if we were in the right place.
A few minutes later, some characters started coming down the castle ramp, Pluto among them. He headed off in our direction, and then spotted Newley. He put his paws up to his face in surprise, and then he actually got down on all fours and crawled over to Newley. They touched noses, and Newley gave him a slobbery yellow lab kiss, and it was just so adorable. Pluto must have spent a good 10 minutes interacting with Newley, and we had drawn quite a crows at that point, with camera flashes going off all over the place. I hope my own pictures come out.
We got to see Spectromagic for the first time, and loved it. Afterwards, we hopped the monorail to the Poly to go watch the Electric Water Pageant. We were lying on the beach chairs, waiting for it to start, when Wishes happened to start just then. It was the BEST view of the fireworks I have seen yet. Just gorgeous. It was a wonderful, unexpected bonus.
The Bad:
If I ever see a green wall again, I think I might throw up. They are *everywhere.* I have never seen so much of WDW under rehab at once. I know it's for the big brouhaha that starts in May, but really, couldn't they have spaced this stuff out a little better?? I'm not talking about just the rides that we all knew were going to be under rehab -- those green walls are just everywhere, from the Lego place at DTD (oh, was my son happy about THAT... he had talked about going back there for weeks, and was so excited. Thanks, Disney.)
There were walls at resorts, walls at attractions not listed, just stupid green walls everywhere. Bleh.
Bus service seemed spottier than in February trips past... I don't remember having to wait so long, or seeing so many packed-to-the-rafters buses in early February before.
I hope Jennifer and Dave yank the Tiffany Towncar coupon and their endorsement from the Passporter, but that's a whole other story.
Confirming, re-confirming, and having the CM's at CRO (or whatever they are calling themselves now) repeat -- on several occasions -- the exact special needs requests you gave them, apparently means nothing. We will actually be writing a letter over that one.
Bottom Line:
We had an awesome, fun trip, as always, and we never let the aggravations ruin anything for us. We deal with them when we get back.
But I have to say, at least for DS and I... as much as we love WDW, it isn't the Disney Magic.
After the past 3 February's on that floating dream, we got all choked up this time whenever we would see one of those sleek DCL buses. We miss it so BAD. I never feel like I need another vacation to recuperate from the vacation after we are on the Magic. And you develop a sense of family on the ship, seeing the same people every day and getting to know them, that is like a big hug every time I think about it.
We love WDW!! And we had a fabulous time. But for DS and I, I think we're going to have to find a way to get back on that ship next year.
-gina-
Me (38), DS (8), Debbie (aunt-who-is-more-like-my-sister), Dad, and Newley, Dad's guide dog. The humans in the group are WDW vets.
Resort: All-Star Movies
The Good:
Crowds were very light for most of the trip, but that is why we go in early Feb. A 15 min. line is waaaayyy too long for us.
Newley had an absolute ball, but also worked harder than I think he has had to yet. He was quite the pooped pooch at the end of each day. 99% of the people were so good with him... always asking Dad first if they could pet him and whatnot. He was quite the center of attention.
We love that WDW is the only place where you can have both the comforting sense of familiarity, knowing what's around every corner, and yet still get to experience that feeling of wonder around every corner. I don't know of any other place where those two things aren't mutually exclusive.
I am a huge Beauty and the Beast fan... and I was the only grownup in line to greet Belle and The Beast. LOL The CM and I had been chatting about pins; he told them I was their biggest fan, and that I had two pages of Belle pins in my pin case, and Beast gave me a huge hug and made my day.
The highlight of the trip, though, was when Newley got to meet Pluto. I had asked a CM where Pluto was going to be, because we wanted a picture of him and my father's guide dog, and he smiled and said "Go stand by that tree over there." So we dutifully trooped over to this lonely tree about 100ft away, and wondered if we were in the right place.
A few minutes later, some characters started coming down the castle ramp, Pluto among them. He headed off in our direction, and then spotted Newley. He put his paws up to his face in surprise, and then he actually got down on all fours and crawled over to Newley. They touched noses, and Newley gave him a slobbery yellow lab kiss, and it was just so adorable. Pluto must have spent a good 10 minutes interacting with Newley, and we had drawn quite a crows at that point, with camera flashes going off all over the place. I hope my own pictures come out.
We got to see Spectromagic for the first time, and loved it. Afterwards, we hopped the monorail to the Poly to go watch the Electric Water Pageant. We were lying on the beach chairs, waiting for it to start, when Wishes happened to start just then. It was the BEST view of the fireworks I have seen yet. Just gorgeous. It was a wonderful, unexpected bonus.
The Bad:
If I ever see a green wall again, I think I might throw up. They are *everywhere.* I have never seen so much of WDW under rehab at once. I know it's for the big brouhaha that starts in May, but really, couldn't they have spaced this stuff out a little better?? I'm not talking about just the rides that we all knew were going to be under rehab -- those green walls are just everywhere, from the Lego place at DTD (oh, was my son happy about THAT... he had talked about going back there for weeks, and was so excited. Thanks, Disney.)
There were walls at resorts, walls at attractions not listed, just stupid green walls everywhere. Bleh.
Bus service seemed spottier than in February trips past... I don't remember having to wait so long, or seeing so many packed-to-the-rafters buses in early February before.
I hope Jennifer and Dave yank the Tiffany Towncar coupon and their endorsement from the Passporter, but that's a whole other story.
Confirming, re-confirming, and having the CM's at CRO (or whatever they are calling themselves now) repeat -- on several occasions -- the exact special needs requests you gave them, apparently means nothing. We will actually be writing a letter over that one.
Bottom Line:
We had an awesome, fun trip, as always, and we never let the aggravations ruin anything for us. We deal with them when we get back.
But I have to say, at least for DS and I... as much as we love WDW, it isn't the Disney Magic.
After the past 3 February's on that floating dream, we got all choked up this time whenever we would see one of those sleek DCL buses. We miss it so BAD. I never feel like I need another vacation to recuperate from the vacation after we are on the Magic. And you develop a sense of family on the ship, seeing the same people every day and getting to know them, that is like a big hug every time I think about it.We love WDW!! And we had a fabulous time. But for DS and I, I think we're going to have to find a way to get back on that ship next year.
-gina-
