A Clamshell Trip Report w/ Pics & Videos (COMPLETED 7/29/07)

[NAB]

Just turning the page ......

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[Minnie]

Thank you everyone for your kind comments

Stitch and I took the bus back to OKW and of course loved the 1st off bus stop Walked the 2 minutes back to our villa and quickly changed to meet mom and the pool for a relaxing afternoon. Mom had managed to acquire an awesome table/loungers area in shade/sun so we soaked up a few rays reading books while Stitch played.

One odd thing though. I went up to the rental shack to ask for the floating volleyball net/ball and they said it was only for OKW organized games. Mom said it was just out with a small family using it so it certainly wasn’t the case. Oh well we’ll have to remember to pack the splash balls no matter how short the next trip

Eventually we drug Stitch out of the pool and headed for the room to plan the evening. Mom asked where I wanted to eat and I mentioned O’Hana’s which we loved before and we’d be able to take Stitch on the monorail and check out the resort gift shops. Mom didn’t think we’d be able to get an ADR but I surprised her by saying I’d called that morning and secured a prime time of 7:50 which meant we’d be able to view WISHES from the Poly as well.

We decided the driving was best since we didn’t want to have to contend with the DTD bus service to get to the Poly. We quickly made our way there and headed into the Poly or tried to. The entrance was blocked because…. It was tiki lighting time with a fire dancer which we really enjoyed. We took some time marveling at the lush grounds then made our way to the monorail.

We stopped at all resorts on the monorail and made it back in time to have shopping time at the Poly before heading off to check in for dinner. Within only a few minutes after our ADR time we were called in to be seated. Now I have to tell you how awesome scoring this ADR was. As some of you may know I was soooooo worried about going to Disney with no ADRs but it ended up being a good thing as this meal was wonderful.

We were quickly seated at a table near the Window directly across from the castle!!!!! How cool is that – we never asked for that view but it was so totally awesome! Then we were greeted by our cousins for the evening one of which who presented Stitch with little working paper umbrellas which he loved. Stitch is just one of those kids that loves the little things still and was thrilled this cousin really made his day! We enjoyed watching the hoola demonstration and then Stitch ran in the coconut races which he loved. Instead of the candy he asked for and was presented with a lei to give to his grandma. He is such a thoughtful child err teenager at times. Another shot of pixie dust occurred when a lady at the table next to us offered Stitch her birthday cupcake and he offered her one of the prized umbrellas which she accepted and placed in her hair. It was just a fantastic evening with the best yet to come

As time for desert was approaching the lights dimmed, the music started, and the fireworks erupted around the castle as Wishes came to life. As I sit here typing this I get a little teary-eyed remembering this wonderful performance. I remember saying to my mom “it just doesn’t get any better than this” and you know it’s true. Magic can occur in the most unusual places if you are open to actually seeing it.

Next up: One last magic filled afternoon. Oh and the plane ride from hell.

 

[kpk89]

Minnie! Your trip sounds so wonderful so far. Thank you for sharing your videos of the HH and of the new Nemo ride. Two things to look forward to in some far distant future trip.

Your son sounds like a sweetheart -- what fun enjoying Epcot together and then joining your mom for a great dinner. Livin' on the wild side with no ADR's!!!

Can't wait to hear the rest of it, Minnie!

 

[Grammyof2]

Minnie - this sounded like the best

I am so glad you scored the ADR and everyone loved it. Wishes at the Poly nothing like it

 

[drebert]

Found ya. Just wanted to save my place.

 

[kpk89]

Minnie???

Are you ever coming back??

BUMP!!!!

(just in case!)

 

[Minnie]

Hi Kim

Oh how sweet of you to find this and bring it back up

To be honest life just got of control and I haven't had time to be on the boards much.

I'll have to see if I can dig up my notes and finish this report. Thanks again

 

[Minnie]

Thank you Kim , for the reminder to come back and finish my trip report. Life got in the way and my time at the Dis has been very limited….

Anyways back to the trip…. To cap off the wonderful evening we headed back to OKW and enjoyed the wonderful amenities of the 2-bedroom villa (one of the main reasons we are having so much difficulty choosing where to stay next trip)

The next morning, was one that to be honest I would rather not have to write about because I don’t honestly come out very well in this tale . Stitch has wanted to ride those 4-seater bikes for a long time and since I didn’t want to do it, I figured I’d at least use it as a bit of leverage. Well that turned around and smacked me a good one as grandma had promised Stitch and we definitely disagreed on this issue. I have to say that over my adult years I have come to view my mom as not only “mom” but as my best friend as well. The person I can tell anything too and will understand. This time though our relationship was put to the test. I sucked it up and we got past it but it wasn’t a good moment

Anyways, grandma paid for the 4-seater bike, though the CM really asked if a 4-seater was what we wanted………. Have you ever had a premonition of things to come????? Well all I can say was that the morning went from scowls to laughs when we tried to peddle that sucker. I’m absolutely certain that we were moving slower than the line at the Safari ride in AK on a hot July afternoon Now you all know what I’m talking about - squished together because some yea-hoo can’t quite figure out that it takes the same time if you stand a step back and while on vacation yes it still is necessary to take a shower and that deodorant is a GOOD thing (sigh).

Anyways…. I gave definite thought to asking the runners I saw going past us at the speed of light to get a good upper body workout by pushing us back….. But alas we managed to make it back under our own power. The look on the CM’s face that we had returned so early was priceless – he was trying so hard not to laugh or say “I told you so”.

After that experience it was time to head back to the villa to do one of the saddest parts of any trip – yes say it with me drum roll please…. Packing – waaaaaaaaaaa. We lucked into a late flight home though so we had the whole rest of the day to soak up the magic.

Shopping, as any woman knows is an important part of any trip. And well the World of Disney store is one of my major weaknesses. As my mom knew this all too well she took Stitch to his little slice of DTD heaven – Lego store – and I found several items I just couldn’t return home without. I guess knowing time was ticking I hurried and it wasn’t long before we were ready to do something different.

Now the only question remained was what to do? We gave Stitch the choice between seeing the animals at AKL and trying to add another carving to his collection or going back to OKW to the pool. He quickly chose AKL so our decision was made. Now many won’t understand this but one of my favorite places to eat in WDW is Maras. I know, I know it’s just a food court. But they have ZEBRA DOMES!!!!!!!! So we decided on a quick lunch at Mara’s and then sat by the pool to eat lunch and let Stitch view the animals. Now this may not have been the best plan because all he talks about is returning to stay there. We did a split trip a couple years ago and while I enjoyed AKL it isn’t my fave. So the decision of where to stay is still up in the air. And at the moment an off-site town home is leading the race……. Now who wants to break the news to Stitch????

Anyways, we stopped for a quick look in the gift shop where Stitch found his newest collectible carving, and we headed for the saddest sight in WDW……..

Up next – The saddest sight in WDW and the plane ride from hell!

 

[barbanm]

please please finish

 

[Minnie]

please please finish

Oh how wonderful! Thank you for reviving this old trip report! I spent this lazy morning writing the last chapter and will post it below

 

[Minnie]

As we pulled away from the AKL and past the “See you real soon sign” we knew that we’d be back. You see, WDW has become the place where the worries of life seem to slide away, and we can enjoy simply being together. I forget that I am pulled in so many directions as a mother, daughter, fiancée, employee, and student. And I relax and find a way to enjoy the moment, which I rarely find the ability to do when I’m at home. Life just seems a little sweeter and a little nicer when were in WDW.

We headed to the airport and a sad feeling of loss seemed to settle over the car. Worries were returning and life seemed to take over as soon as we exited the gates. Nothing serves as a wakeup call to reality as the security checkpoint at MCO.

As we’d gotten the great Ding rate through Southwest w headed over to the gate to see a sight only normally seen by those that don’t surf the Dis and have no clue what those Fast Pass machines are all about… a standing line for boarding at the A gate – WTH – we had an hour left to go that’s crazy! We sent Stitch over to save us a place in line and as the line grew longer eventually joined him in line. I know our rate was great, but the whole “cattle” mentality at the gate really detracted from our Southwest experience.

Though if we thought this was a detraction it was only going to get better. Our flight was delayed, so we stood in line even longer than we’d planned. It gave us just that much more time to wish we weren’t leaving… Eventually, they loaded the plane and at the time I was disappointed in sitting towards the back. However, just after take-off this disappointment turned to relief as an ear wrenching screech filled the plane. Honestly, I felt for the parents of this child that wanted to be anywhere but where he was, but I was utterly thankful to be sitting many rows away. It made for one long hellish flight and we were thankful to deplane and spend the next four hours in peace in our car as we drove home. Yes, four hours… the fun of living in a small Midwest town….

This trip was magical in many ways. A chance to be spoiled by a villa in OKW, a chance to attend our first ever AP soft-opening of a new ride, trick or treating in the Magic Kingdom during MNSSHP, and a chance to spend quality time with two of the most important people in my life

Thank you one and all those that read and posted on my trip report. Your words made writing this report magical all in it’s own way. I am currently writing about our newest adventure: A relaxing trip – Commando Minnie style and a dining review – The picky eaters return to the world! The links to both reports are in my new signature

Come and see me there if you have a chance. I’d love to take the journey through our trip with you all again!

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Hi Minnie!

Nice to see you again. Miss you, as you are a long lost friend.

I'll pm you with an address, join if you want, that would be cool.