Me 49, Disney nut
DH 49 (almost 50), enjoys WDW
DD 18, Disney nut
DF 18, hasnt been in a few years
Monday, April 5, 2004 PARK DAY AND DDS MELTDOWN
It was an early opening day for Animal Kingdom so we were there close to the 8:00 am early opening time (drove in the van). The Safari didnt open until 9:00 so we got Fastpasses and headed back to Dino. We rode it 2x and then did the Safari, getting another Fastpass on the way in. Off to Its Tough to Be a Bug and then The Festival of the Lion King for the 11:00 show (I think). Great as usual and then we were fighting the crowds to squeeze through back to the Safari. Another great trip into deepest Africa. Oh man, we feel like salmon swimming upstream trying to get out of the park. Where did all these people come from??
We had to use the panic button on the key ring to find the van in the AK lot because the parking area was not marked clearly where we parked so we didnt know where we were (walked to the front, rode tram back). I think the people on the tram thought we were stupid because they wanted to know what lot we were in and we guessed the first one but it was really the second one. They seemed confused as to why we would say one thing and then not get off!!
Reconciled with our van, we headed off for the studios and found there was a big long car line to get in. Once parked we got on a crowded tram headed for the entrance. What the heck is this???? There are about 3,000 people trying to get through the turnstiles!! DD and I had to go through the bag check and then got in a long line to put our tickets through the machine. What is it with some of these people? They acted like they didnt know how to put the tickets through then their tickets dont work, etc. Anyway, it took us close to 30 minutes from the tram to get into the park!!!
We headed for RNR and TOT. Forget it! Fastpasses are for late in the day. It is starting to dawn on us that everyone is in Florida at WDW for Easter break!!! Over to Indiana Jones all the while DD carrying on about it wont do any good. Well she was right, but we had to try since one of her goals was to be in the Indiana Jones Stunt Show. Well she continued to complain and so I start yelling at her and saying okay, you be in charge!! Oh No, no. Anyway we decided to get out of there. Swimming upstream we finally make it back to the trams after not seeing any attractions.
We got in a line for the tram that had 1 person in it (5 to a seat) well when the tram pulled up, his other 2 family members join him in his line, cutting off DH and DF from boarding!!!! I grumbled out loud about people doing this and he says well they were part of his family and I say, do you see those railings you get in a line which represents one seat and then move into that seat!!! I got in that line because you were the only one and now my family got left behind!!! He apologized and I let it drop.
Well, DF and DH caught up to us at the van and we decided to go to Epcot since that is a park that can handle the bigger crowds and isnt too far. We decided to park at Boardwalk and go in the back entrance since the Studio exit is just opposite Boardwalk. Because of being hot, mad, etc, I suggested we cool off at ESPN Club and get some lunch. Club Wrap, 2 Ruebens and Steak Sandwich; we were out of there for $50. Ugh!!! But we were all feeling better and had started to resign ourselves to the fact that we werent going to get away from the crowds they were going to be there all week so wed better make the best of things.
From there we walked to the back entrance of Epcot and started working our way toward Futureworld. We found out there was NO WAY we were going to ride Test Track or Mission Space because the Fastpasses were all out and the lines were a 2.5+ hr wait!!! Im not sure the order we did this but we went to Ellens World of Energy, Body Wars, Cranium Command, Spaceship Earth, Living with the Land, Conservation film at The Land, Honey I Shrunk the Audience, Imagination (really bad). We attempted to go to the Living Seas, but there was even a line for that. Ive never stood in line for the Living Seas and wasnt about to start!
I had heard about Ice Station Cool but had never seen it. We came across it this time and thought it was really neat. It is sponsored by Coke and you go through this igloo type place with ice and snow and then into a room where you can sample Coke products from around the world (about 10 of them). We tasted them all and then proceeded to fill up on our favorites. We got our thirst quenched without having to pay $2.50 for a pop!!! Yeh!
We saw the British Invasion (Beatle imitators) last year and wanted to see them again. Since it was getting late we checked the schedule and noted that the last show of the day (7:00??) was about to start so we headed over to the UK section. While DH and the girls found a spot, I got in the long line for fish and chips. DF didnt like fish so I got her a hot dog kids meal + 4 Fish/Chips came to $30.52. The food wasnt quite as good as I remember last years being, but we still enjoyed it. We had a great time watching the show even though we had to sit on the cement while we ate our food.
I think we walked around and visited shops and then went on the Norway Viking boat ride (not watching the movie) and then decided to find a spot for Illuminations. We never did get to Mexico this trip that is usually one of our favorites. Well, we didnt get a very good spot (under a tree at the Paris end of the bridge) but managed to see enough to know that it was really neat. Maybe next year when its not so crowded.
We took the boat back to Boardwalk and then drove the van to the campground. From there we took the ferry to the MK. The MK was open until midnight so we thought we could get some rides in.
We did Splash Mountain twice (loved it!!!) with no wait. They had the water level down a bit so we didnt get as wet. Plus we took off our sweatshirts and put them between our knees so they would stay dry (something we saw the people before us do). I think we went on Haunted Mansion and then tried to head over to Tomorrowland through Frontierland. Big mistake! We got stopped by the parade at Main Street so saw half of that then did Buzz Lightyear (Space Mountain was broken down and still had a long line), Winnie the Pooh (first and last time), Its a Small World and I think thats it.
We dragged ourselves out of there back to the ferry and to bed!
DH 49 (almost 50), enjoys WDW
DD 18, Disney nut
DF 18, hasnt been in a few years
Monday, April 5, 2004 PARK DAY AND DDS MELTDOWN
It was an early opening day for Animal Kingdom so we were there close to the 8:00 am early opening time (drove in the van). The Safari didnt open until 9:00 so we got Fastpasses and headed back to Dino. We rode it 2x and then did the Safari, getting another Fastpass on the way in. Off to Its Tough to Be a Bug and then The Festival of the Lion King for the 11:00 show (I think). Great as usual and then we were fighting the crowds to squeeze through back to the Safari. Another great trip into deepest Africa. Oh man, we feel like salmon swimming upstream trying to get out of the park. Where did all these people come from??
We had to use the panic button on the key ring to find the van in the AK lot because the parking area was not marked clearly where we parked so we didnt know where we were (walked to the front, rode tram back). I think the people on the tram thought we were stupid because they wanted to know what lot we were in and we guessed the first one but it was really the second one. They seemed confused as to why we would say one thing and then not get off!!
Reconciled with our van, we headed off for the studios and found there was a big long car line to get in. Once parked we got on a crowded tram headed for the entrance. What the heck is this???? There are about 3,000 people trying to get through the turnstiles!! DD and I had to go through the bag check and then got in a long line to put our tickets through the machine. What is it with some of these people? They acted like they didnt know how to put the tickets through then their tickets dont work, etc. Anyway, it took us close to 30 minutes from the tram to get into the park!!!
We headed for RNR and TOT. Forget it! Fastpasses are for late in the day. It is starting to dawn on us that everyone is in Florida at WDW for Easter break!!! Over to Indiana Jones all the while DD carrying on about it wont do any good. Well she was right, but we had to try since one of her goals was to be in the Indiana Jones Stunt Show. Well she continued to complain and so I start yelling at her and saying okay, you be in charge!! Oh No, no. Anyway we decided to get out of there. Swimming upstream we finally make it back to the trams after not seeing any attractions.
We got in a line for the tram that had 1 person in it (5 to a seat) well when the tram pulled up, his other 2 family members join him in his line, cutting off DH and DF from boarding!!!! I grumbled out loud about people doing this and he says well they were part of his family and I say, do you see those railings you get in a line which represents one seat and then move into that seat!!! I got in that line because you were the only one and now my family got left behind!!! He apologized and I let it drop.
Well, DF and DH caught up to us at the van and we decided to go to Epcot since that is a park that can handle the bigger crowds and isnt too far. We decided to park at Boardwalk and go in the back entrance since the Studio exit is just opposite Boardwalk. Because of being hot, mad, etc, I suggested we cool off at ESPN Club and get some lunch. Club Wrap, 2 Ruebens and Steak Sandwich; we were out of there for $50. Ugh!!! But we were all feeling better and had started to resign ourselves to the fact that we werent going to get away from the crowds they were going to be there all week so wed better make the best of things.
From there we walked to the back entrance of Epcot and started working our way toward Futureworld. We found out there was NO WAY we were going to ride Test Track or Mission Space because the Fastpasses were all out and the lines were a 2.5+ hr wait!!! Im not sure the order we did this but we went to Ellens World of Energy, Body Wars, Cranium Command, Spaceship Earth, Living with the Land, Conservation film at The Land, Honey I Shrunk the Audience, Imagination (really bad). We attempted to go to the Living Seas, but there was even a line for that. Ive never stood in line for the Living Seas and wasnt about to start!
I had heard about Ice Station Cool but had never seen it. We came across it this time and thought it was really neat. It is sponsored by Coke and you go through this igloo type place with ice and snow and then into a room where you can sample Coke products from around the world (about 10 of them). We tasted them all and then proceeded to fill up on our favorites. We got our thirst quenched without having to pay $2.50 for a pop!!! Yeh!
We saw the British Invasion (Beatle imitators) last year and wanted to see them again. Since it was getting late we checked the schedule and noted that the last show of the day (7:00??) was about to start so we headed over to the UK section. While DH and the girls found a spot, I got in the long line for fish and chips. DF didnt like fish so I got her a hot dog kids meal + 4 Fish/Chips came to $30.52. The food wasnt quite as good as I remember last years being, but we still enjoyed it. We had a great time watching the show even though we had to sit on the cement while we ate our food.
I think we walked around and visited shops and then went on the Norway Viking boat ride (not watching the movie) and then decided to find a spot for Illuminations. We never did get to Mexico this trip that is usually one of our favorites. Well, we didnt get a very good spot (under a tree at the Paris end of the bridge) but managed to see enough to know that it was really neat. Maybe next year when its not so crowded.
We took the boat back to Boardwalk and then drove the van to the campground. From there we took the ferry to the MK. The MK was open until midnight so we thought we could get some rides in.
We did Splash Mountain twice (loved it!!!) with no wait. They had the water level down a bit so we didnt get as wet. Plus we took off our sweatshirts and put them between our knees so they would stay dry (something we saw the people before us do). I think we went on Haunted Mansion and then tried to head over to Tomorrowland through Frontierland. Big mistake! We got stopped by the parade at Main Street so saw half of that then did Buzz Lightyear (Space Mountain was broken down and still had a long line), Winnie the Pooh (first and last time), Its a Small World and I think thats it.
We dragged ourselves out of there back to the ferry and to bed!
