JerseyJanice
A Disboards original...
- Joined
- Aug 20, 1999
- Messages
- 10,764
Omigosh, our trip is drawing to a close soon. How did it go so fast?!?! Sigh!
I called my sister, whose husband got up early to go on a WDW fishing excursion, and told her about our decision to change the park touring days. We were pretty beat from the day before, so we told her we were going to go to the Animal Kingdom after we got moving. She wanted to wait for her husband and said she'd try to find us there.
We were moving slowly so we got there around 10:30 a.m. The first thing we headed for was It's Tough To Be a Bug. For reasons I couldn't fathom, DS didn't want to go on. He sat through this attraction just fine when he was 4; the only thing that bothered him then was the Hopper animatron. I promised him we'd sit somewhere far away from Hopper, but he still kept fussing about doing the attraction. DH and I were both eager to do it, so we were mean and dragged him into it.
And it was a good thing. He wound up really enjoying the show once I told him he didnt have to wear the 3-D glasses.
After the Bug show, we went to the Safari to get Fastpasses, then walked the Pagani Trail. We love that trail! It's different every time we see it and always interesting. Then it was onto the Safari, which is also always a delight.
Next it was time for lunch. I wanted something indoors (oh, how I needed air conditioning at that point) and DH wanted to go on rides (what a pain he can be). So we ventured over to the Dinosaur area, figuring we could eat there and go on something there afterward.
We went to the McDonald's type place there, where I ordered a wrap I really liked. DS got chicken nuggets and DH, a burger. Not gourmet food, but the place was cool, and we were sweltering. Eek, it was a hot, humid day. While we were eating, though, we could see that a thunderstorm came through that we hoped would cool things down a bit (no, it didn't).
The lines for anything in the Dinosaur area were tremendous after we finished lunch. I wanted to go to the Lion King show, but both DH and DS were complaining about the heat, so I gave in and left with them to go back to the hotel to swim.
That afternoon, I shopped in the Wilderness Lodge gift shop to get some WL souvenirs. I bought myself and DS T-shirts with the gift shop totem pole screen-printed on the front. We just love that totem pole and have to have at least one souvenir based on it. I also bought a Christmas tree ornament for my in-laws. It looks something like a Lenox ornament, but depicts the Lodge in the middle and has the year (2002) written in gold on it. I thought it would be a nice momento of the trip for them.
My sister called us in our room later that day. She and her DH were in a bar in the Animal Kingdom park, having some beers and a blast. We made plans to meet them later in Pleasure Island, then got ready for dinner. It was my sister-in-law's birthday and we had plans to meet the family at the Cape May Café for the clam bake. DH ran down to my parents-in-law's room to give them DSs backpack with his pajamas and what-nots so he could spend the night in their room.
We took the boat to MK (so slow!) and caught the Beach Club bus from there. The in-laws arrived ahead of us and were already eating when we got there.
My, my, the food was excellent here tonight! The time we went in 9/00 we were a bit disappointed in it compared to our visit in 2/99, but this night, it was just as outstanding as our first visit there. I really think the quality of the shellfish (clams and mussels) is related to the time of year anyway.
At dessert time, a waitress brought over a piece of chocolate mousse cake with a candle in for my sister-in-law. We sang happy birthday, but then the waitress said, "dont think youre getting off that easy!" And the next thing we knew, pretty much everyone who worked there (even a chef and the hostess) came over to our table, and sang a loud version of For She's a Jolly Good Fellow. They were so loud and funny! It was great.
We left together, heading toward the International Gateway for Epcot. DH and I were planning to watch Illuminations, the rest of the family wanted to try to get on Test Track. In fact, my sister-in-law's family had Fastpasses that were good for that evening. We separated when we got into the park. They headed counterclockwise to try and get a Friendship boat that would take them to the entrance of the World Showcase. We headed clockwise to try and catch the Tapestry parade, which had already begun.
We wound up near Mexico and I bought us each a layered margarita. Then we hung there watching the rest of the parade. How I love this parade, especially its music. It put us in such a good mood, but the weather was very threatening. When the parade ended, we went into the Mexican pavilion and just then, a major thunderstorm began. I was hoping with all my heart that Illuminations wouldn't be cancelled. I can tell you we'd be there the next night if it were. No way was I missing Illuminations this trip!
We hung out in the pavilion and took the boat ride while we waited for the storm to clear. We looked at the things in the market place. So many wonderful things to buy, but so little money (especially after this trip).
After a while, the storm cleared and we went back outside. I asked a CM right off if they were going ahead with Illuminations and he said yes. I gave him a high 5, and we went over to the edge of the lagoon, where we got a great spot to watch the show. DH bought us each another margarita, and we were both in great moods.
The show, of course, was fantastic. I love it! The music is fabulous, and the whole presentation puts a lump in my throat. I often read Disney fan websites, and people seem to think it was better way back. I can't imagine it being any better than this show, though.
When the show ended, we went back out the International Gateway and to the Beach Club bus station to catch a bus to Downtown so we could meet my sister and her hubby at PI.
This was a Friday night, and what a difference from Monday night there. So many more people! What a line to get in! They have to check I.D.'s for the younger guests, so it took us some time to get in there.
We went directly to the Rock & Roll Beach Club to meet my sister and found her easily. Unfortunately, the beer was not $2.00 this night; apparently, that was a Monday night special. But we stayed there and had a great time. My sister is a load of fun in nightclubs. That girl can dance! And shes not shy at all.
We stayed until the lights came up and went back to our respective hotels via the bus. Ours waited a long time to make sure there was no one else who needed to take it, but it turned out that we were the only two people on the WL bus that night.
I called my sister, whose husband got up early to go on a WDW fishing excursion, and told her about our decision to change the park touring days. We were pretty beat from the day before, so we told her we were going to go to the Animal Kingdom after we got moving. She wanted to wait for her husband and said she'd try to find us there.
We were moving slowly so we got there around 10:30 a.m. The first thing we headed for was It's Tough To Be a Bug. For reasons I couldn't fathom, DS didn't want to go on. He sat through this attraction just fine when he was 4; the only thing that bothered him then was the Hopper animatron. I promised him we'd sit somewhere far away from Hopper, but he still kept fussing about doing the attraction. DH and I were both eager to do it, so we were mean and dragged him into it.
And it was a good thing. He wound up really enjoying the show once I told him he didnt have to wear the 3-D glasses.
After the Bug show, we went to the Safari to get Fastpasses, then walked the Pagani Trail. We love that trail! It's different every time we see it and always interesting. Then it was onto the Safari, which is also always a delight.
Next it was time for lunch. I wanted something indoors (oh, how I needed air conditioning at that point) and DH wanted to go on rides (what a pain he can be). So we ventured over to the Dinosaur area, figuring we could eat there and go on something there afterward.
We went to the McDonald's type place there, where I ordered a wrap I really liked. DS got chicken nuggets and DH, a burger. Not gourmet food, but the place was cool, and we were sweltering. Eek, it was a hot, humid day. While we were eating, though, we could see that a thunderstorm came through that we hoped would cool things down a bit (no, it didn't).
The lines for anything in the Dinosaur area were tremendous after we finished lunch. I wanted to go to the Lion King show, but both DH and DS were complaining about the heat, so I gave in and left with them to go back to the hotel to swim.
That afternoon, I shopped in the Wilderness Lodge gift shop to get some WL souvenirs. I bought myself and DS T-shirts with the gift shop totem pole screen-printed on the front. We just love that totem pole and have to have at least one souvenir based on it. I also bought a Christmas tree ornament for my in-laws. It looks something like a Lenox ornament, but depicts the Lodge in the middle and has the year (2002) written in gold on it. I thought it would be a nice momento of the trip for them.
My sister called us in our room later that day. She and her DH were in a bar in the Animal Kingdom park, having some beers and a blast. We made plans to meet them later in Pleasure Island, then got ready for dinner. It was my sister-in-law's birthday and we had plans to meet the family at the Cape May Café for the clam bake. DH ran down to my parents-in-law's room to give them DSs backpack with his pajamas and what-nots so he could spend the night in their room.
We took the boat to MK (so slow!) and caught the Beach Club bus from there. The in-laws arrived ahead of us and were already eating when we got there.
My, my, the food was excellent here tonight! The time we went in 9/00 we were a bit disappointed in it compared to our visit in 2/99, but this night, it was just as outstanding as our first visit there. I really think the quality of the shellfish (clams and mussels) is related to the time of year anyway.
At dessert time, a waitress brought over a piece of chocolate mousse cake with a candle in for my sister-in-law. We sang happy birthday, but then the waitress said, "dont think youre getting off that easy!" And the next thing we knew, pretty much everyone who worked there (even a chef and the hostess) came over to our table, and sang a loud version of For She's a Jolly Good Fellow. They were so loud and funny! It was great.
We left together, heading toward the International Gateway for Epcot. DH and I were planning to watch Illuminations, the rest of the family wanted to try to get on Test Track. In fact, my sister-in-law's family had Fastpasses that were good for that evening. We separated when we got into the park. They headed counterclockwise to try and get a Friendship boat that would take them to the entrance of the World Showcase. We headed clockwise to try and catch the Tapestry parade, which had already begun.
We wound up near Mexico and I bought us each a layered margarita. Then we hung there watching the rest of the parade. How I love this parade, especially its music. It put us in such a good mood, but the weather was very threatening. When the parade ended, we went into the Mexican pavilion and just then, a major thunderstorm began. I was hoping with all my heart that Illuminations wouldn't be cancelled. I can tell you we'd be there the next night if it were. No way was I missing Illuminations this trip!
We hung out in the pavilion and took the boat ride while we waited for the storm to clear. We looked at the things in the market place. So many wonderful things to buy, but so little money (especially after this trip).
After a while, the storm cleared and we went back outside. I asked a CM right off if they were going ahead with Illuminations and he said yes. I gave him a high 5, and we went over to the edge of the lagoon, where we got a great spot to watch the show. DH bought us each another margarita, and we were both in great moods.
The show, of course, was fantastic. I love it! The music is fabulous, and the whole presentation puts a lump in my throat. I often read Disney fan websites, and people seem to think it was better way back. I can't imagine it being any better than this show, though.
When the show ended, we went back out the International Gateway and to the Beach Club bus station to catch a bus to Downtown so we could meet my sister and her hubby at PI.
This was a Friday night, and what a difference from Monday night there. So many more people! What a line to get in! They have to check I.D.'s for the younger guests, so it took us some time to get in there.
We went directly to the Rock & Roll Beach Club to meet my sister and found her easily. Unfortunately, the beer was not $2.00 this night; apparently, that was a Monday night special. But we stayed there and had a great time. My sister is a load of fun in nightclubs. That girl can dance! And shes not shy at all.
We stayed until the lights came up and went back to our respective hotels via the bus. Ours waited a long time to make sure there was no one else who needed to take it, but it turned out that we were the only two people on the WL bus that night.
. Oh well! Glad you are having fun!!!!!
