2belles'mom
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2000
- Messages
- 406
The Cast for Christmas 02:
Me, Disney Junkie and Master Planner
DH David, likes Disney
DD Katja, 6, Disney Junkie-in-training
DD Annika, 3, Disney Junkie-in-training
My brother, Steve
His wife, Sarah
Their son, Riley, 9
Their son, Tallon, 15 months
My mother--Nana
My father--Poppa
Day 3 MGM Studios
December 21
We awakened early so that we could leave for MGM by 7:30. I went to Roaring Forks and brought bagels, eggs and bacon, and coffee in our refillable mugs, up to the room. We all managed to get out of the Lodge on schedule. Nana and Poppa were sitting this one out, so we all piled into the rental mini-van and drove to MGM.
The weather was very nice?warm enough for shorts and sunny. Upon entry, we immediately headed for Rock-N-Roller Coaster. Katja was a bit upset that she was too short (she had flat shoes and was about 2 inches short), but handled it well, all in all. After RR, we hit Tower of Terror. Annika and Tallon waited with Sarah in the gift shop (Sarah is expecting a new whipper-snapper in August, so she was avoiding the more jerky rides anyway). After Tower, it seemed only fair to do something the little ones could enjoy, so we headed for Playhouse Disney (after grabbing fastpasses for additional rides on these two favorites!). We had to wait for about 20 minutes, but the show was great! Katja and Annika especially enjoyed it, as they are big Playhouse Disney fans at home.
After the show, we did the Great Movie Ride. We had more of a wait for this ride than is to my liking (25 minutes or so), but again, it was something we could all do and enjoy. The crowds were noticeably larger and lines longer than had been the case at MK the day before?Saturday and the start of the Holiday season were taking their toll! After that we decided to try the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, which none of us had experienced before. It was a big hit?especially with Riley.
Our PS time for Hollywood and Vine was approaching, so we made our way to the restaurant. This turned out to be a fun character buffet with Minnie (dressed to the nines as a Hollywood starlet), Chip and Dale, Goofy and Pluto. There were not very many people there, and we were able to spend a lot of time with the characters.
After lunch we decided to do the Backlot Tour, something else none of us had previously experienced. It was great! The flash flood effect in Catastrophe Canyon really freaked out Riley and Katja. We aslo had a chance (albeit in daylight) to see the millions of lights that made up the Osbourne Spectacle of Lights. Although it was on the itinerary, we would never get to see them at night (well, that just gives us something to look forward to next time!).
We headed back to the Lodge around 2, and were in our suits and poolside within the hour! Again, the adults enjoyed soaks in the hot-tubs while sipping exotic drinks under the warm Florida sun. The kids played in the kiddie-pool and the hot-tub, and Riley continued his swimming against the current routine. I was pleased that the weather was so nice?on our previous trip, it had MUCH colder and we hadn?t been able to enjoy the swimming and the pools much at all.
After we had had our fill of swimming, we showered, dressed, and headed for Downtown Disney for dinner at the Rainforest Café. Downtown Disney was MOBBED! We had to wait about 45 minutes for our table (it would have been MUCH longer, but Nana and Poppa had spent the day here while had been at MGM and had signed up for some Rain Forest Café Card that guaranteed a 30 minute or less wait) and trying to shop while waiting was not easy due to the crowds. Dinner, however, was quite good.
We returned to the Lodge and did some night swimming and hot tubbing, then turned in for the night. Next?Animal Kingdom!
Me, Disney Junkie and Master Planner
DH David, likes Disney
DD Katja, 6, Disney Junkie-in-training
DD Annika, 3, Disney Junkie-in-training
My brother, Steve
His wife, Sarah
Their son, Riley, 9
Their son, Tallon, 15 months
My mother--Nana
My father--Poppa
Day 3 MGM Studios
December 21
We awakened early so that we could leave for MGM by 7:30. I went to Roaring Forks and brought bagels, eggs and bacon, and coffee in our refillable mugs, up to the room. We all managed to get out of the Lodge on schedule. Nana and Poppa were sitting this one out, so we all piled into the rental mini-van and drove to MGM.
The weather was very nice?warm enough for shorts and sunny. Upon entry, we immediately headed for Rock-N-Roller Coaster. Katja was a bit upset that she was too short (she had flat shoes and was about 2 inches short), but handled it well, all in all. After RR, we hit Tower of Terror. Annika and Tallon waited with Sarah in the gift shop (Sarah is expecting a new whipper-snapper in August, so she was avoiding the more jerky rides anyway). After Tower, it seemed only fair to do something the little ones could enjoy, so we headed for Playhouse Disney (after grabbing fastpasses for additional rides on these two favorites!). We had to wait for about 20 minutes, but the show was great! Katja and Annika especially enjoyed it, as they are big Playhouse Disney fans at home.
After the show, we did the Great Movie Ride. We had more of a wait for this ride than is to my liking (25 minutes or so), but again, it was something we could all do and enjoy. The crowds were noticeably larger and lines longer than had been the case at MK the day before?Saturday and the start of the Holiday season were taking their toll! After that we decided to try the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, which none of us had experienced before. It was a big hit?especially with Riley.
Our PS time for Hollywood and Vine was approaching, so we made our way to the restaurant. This turned out to be a fun character buffet with Minnie (dressed to the nines as a Hollywood starlet), Chip and Dale, Goofy and Pluto. There were not very many people there, and we were able to spend a lot of time with the characters.
After lunch we decided to do the Backlot Tour, something else none of us had previously experienced. It was great! The flash flood effect in Catastrophe Canyon really freaked out Riley and Katja. We aslo had a chance (albeit in daylight) to see the millions of lights that made up the Osbourne Spectacle of Lights. Although it was on the itinerary, we would never get to see them at night (well, that just gives us something to look forward to next time!).
We headed back to the Lodge around 2, and were in our suits and poolside within the hour! Again, the adults enjoyed soaks in the hot-tubs while sipping exotic drinks under the warm Florida sun. The kids played in the kiddie-pool and the hot-tub, and Riley continued his swimming against the current routine. I was pleased that the weather was so nice?on our previous trip, it had MUCH colder and we hadn?t been able to enjoy the swimming and the pools much at all.
After we had had our fill of swimming, we showered, dressed, and headed for Downtown Disney for dinner at the Rainforest Café. Downtown Disney was MOBBED! We had to wait about 45 minutes for our table (it would have been MUCH longer, but Nana and Poppa had spent the day here while had been at MGM and had signed up for some Rain Forest Café Card that guaranteed a 30 minute or less wait) and trying to shop while waiting was not easy due to the crowds. Dinner, however, was quite good.
We returned to the Lodge and did some night swimming and hot tubbing, then turned in for the night. Next?Animal Kingdom!
