mikki.young
Knows Dreams do come true!
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2000
- Messages
- 3,187
I'm not just any toy cat - I'm a Disney character called Figaro. I originally appeared in Pinnochio but have since been in a number of shorts with Minnie Mouse.
My humans were Andrew and Mikki and our trip to WDW was from 10 Jan to 2 Feb this year.
Tuesday 9th January
We set off about the time we expected about an hour later than our target. It has been wet and there is a cold wind: just the sort of weather to be leaving for Walt Disney World.
It is a year since Mikki has moved from London or driven on the M25 the London Orbital Motorway also known as the longest car park in Europe The maps and motoring organisations say the best way to Gatwick Airport is round the eastern side which she is less familiar with. It proves to be a quick journey about 3½ hours including a stop. Mikki then takes another risk. She leaves Andrew on his own to find his way with the luggage to the check-in while she parks the car. Why did she worry? I was with him to look after him.
Twilight Check-In was smooth and easy to find and we take a taxi to our hotel, the Renaissance. Mikki compares it to the Hilton, where we stayed last year. The Hilton adjoins the terminal so we could walk to it (well, not me, obviously). Mikki decides the Renaissance has good food, friendly service and much lower prices at least for drinks in the lounge bar.
Wednesday 10th January
We set off early for the terminal so do not sample the hotel breakfast. We have booked a taxi to avoid the risk that the hotel shuttle (which is not complimentary) may be full. We offer to share our taxi with another couple who have not booked. They are so grateful they insist on paying the whole fare!
Virgin Atlantic warned us to allow 1 hour to get through security. We allow much more because we hate feeling rushed. In fact the lines are short. We are through quickly and painlessly even with Mikki being selected for a random hand search of her bag.
The flight leaves about 1½ hours late. Its comforting to know that we will not be keeping a car waiting because we will be using Magical Express on arrival. The flight is pleasant and I get out of the bag to sit between the humans. There is a nice space for me on the Premium Economy seats. The cabin crew even find Andrew a hand held DVD player so he can hold it close to watch films. The seat back screens are just the wrong distance for his vision.
At Orlando International Airport, we discover another benefit of Premium Economy. Not only can we get off the plane quickly (the seats are in the upstairs cabin and the stairs are right by the exit) but our luggage gets off quickly too. We are soon through immigration. We also notice no security checks as we leave the plane. We dont know if they have been withdrawn generally or were just not operating at the time.
We enjoy the ride on Magical Express and the film (are we there yet? Are we there yet?). It is also nice to be first stop. The humans go to Olivias to eat and decide the salad was just right with a lovely light dressing. Check-in has only one glitch. At the first room we are given neither our keys nor the bell mans master work. Lucky we used the bell service even though we only had our cabin bags. We are now in building 38. Its close to the road but still has one lovely view over the golf course.
Thursday 11th January
The humans take a bus to Downtown Disney and look round the Marketplace. They do not take either kittens or camera.
They eat lunch at Capn Jacks. With that name, they are pleased, if a little surprised, that it has not been transformed into a Pirates of the Caribbean theme like just about everywhere else.
They couldnt leave without a little shopping but came back for a rest and a cuddle with us Figaros.
Somewhat refreshed in the evening they catch a bus to Epcot and spend a few enjoyable hours there. Several night-time photopass pictures and a real mission to Mars and they feel relaxed but catch a bus home before Illuminations starts.
Friday 12th January
Today it is my chance to go to the parks as they are going to go to the Magic Kingdom! They stop for breakfast at Olivias first. Mikki has her old favourite of Ocies Homestyle hash (although for some reason the folks at Disney have renamed it) but Andrew tried a new dish which proved delicious as well Chocolate Mango Toast which is French Toast made with a very chocolaty bread. Oh and there was a chance for my stunt kitten to have his picture taken but I wont tell you where as that would spoil the game.
Now its off to the Magic Kingdom and the good news that Old Key West has a nice convenient bus stop there. The photo ops start as we go in and I get a picture with Horace Horsecollar someone new for my list.
The park is busy. We are a touch surprised to see the line for Pirates of the Caribbean is only 10 minutes. It looks to us like it will take people at least that time to get inside the building. We are less surprised when the 10 is changed to 50. We will try again after the weekend. Instead, Mikki watches the pirate show with Captain Jack Sparrow that is just starting. She is very impressed with the man playing Captain Jack.
In Fantasyland, we are luckier with the lines. We wait a genuine 10 minutes for Small World and 5 for Mickeys Philharmagic. By the time we have done those it is time for our Fast Pass to Peter Pan.
By now, its lunch time and I ask to go to the Village Haus. Mikki has a salad and Andrew a Panini, so no Figaro Fries today! We dont eat in the Figaro Room but find another nice picture of the kitten with Geppetto and the Blue Fairy.
After lunch it is time to stroll to the Toontown fair and then to Tomorrowland. At Mickeys Star Traders Mikki listens while a CM explains where to find at least 8 hidden Mickeys. She will be back with a camera another day! Then we have another short line for Buzz Lightyear. Why wont my humans let me use the laser gun Im sure I would do better well no worse than Andrew!
We leave the park because we are collecting a car today and being picked up from the Contemporary Resort at 5.00pm. We take a monorail and Mikki admires the Million Dreams paintwork on the front of the monorail cars. Inside the Grand Canyon Concourse, we are pleased to see the Steakhouse is still open but saddened to see half the shops already closed to make way for the games arcade. Well, with Chef Mickey at one end of the Concourse, the shops end must have seemed a bit quiet and inactive for the current management.
The bus from Alamo is running late and we are getting worried because we know the rental office is due to close at 6pm. We try ringing to see where they are which of course is enough to make them turn-up, only 25 minutes late. They then go to pick up from Wilderness Lodge - where the folks had also been getting worried and ringing up! We get a compact car, which is big enough for my two humans and me.
It had been a longer day for my two humans so Mikki was a little tense for this first drive on the wrong (but to the US in more ways than one, right) side of the road. They drive up to Premium Outlets to look in the character premiere shop and find a new cousin for me! He is sitting up and looking cheerful so the humans think they may call him Tis Figaro in a play on words. Then they go to Publix to get a few essentials for the room (milk, orange juice, red wine ,,,,,) before heading home to relax in the room.
My humans were Andrew and Mikki and our trip to WDW was from 10 Jan to 2 Feb this year.
Tuesday 9th January
We set off about the time we expected about an hour later than our target. It has been wet and there is a cold wind: just the sort of weather to be leaving for Walt Disney World.
It is a year since Mikki has moved from London or driven on the M25 the London Orbital Motorway also known as the longest car park in Europe The maps and motoring organisations say the best way to Gatwick Airport is round the eastern side which she is less familiar with. It proves to be a quick journey about 3½ hours including a stop. Mikki then takes another risk. She leaves Andrew on his own to find his way with the luggage to the check-in while she parks the car. Why did she worry? I was with him to look after him.
Twilight Check-In was smooth and easy to find and we take a taxi to our hotel, the Renaissance. Mikki compares it to the Hilton, where we stayed last year. The Hilton adjoins the terminal so we could walk to it (well, not me, obviously). Mikki decides the Renaissance has good food, friendly service and much lower prices at least for drinks in the lounge bar.
Wednesday 10th January
We set off early for the terminal so do not sample the hotel breakfast. We have booked a taxi to avoid the risk that the hotel shuttle (which is not complimentary) may be full. We offer to share our taxi with another couple who have not booked. They are so grateful they insist on paying the whole fare!
Virgin Atlantic warned us to allow 1 hour to get through security. We allow much more because we hate feeling rushed. In fact the lines are short. We are through quickly and painlessly even with Mikki being selected for a random hand search of her bag.
The flight leaves about 1½ hours late. Its comforting to know that we will not be keeping a car waiting because we will be using Magical Express on arrival. The flight is pleasant and I get out of the bag to sit between the humans. There is a nice space for me on the Premium Economy seats. The cabin crew even find Andrew a hand held DVD player so he can hold it close to watch films. The seat back screens are just the wrong distance for his vision.
At Orlando International Airport, we discover another benefit of Premium Economy. Not only can we get off the plane quickly (the seats are in the upstairs cabin and the stairs are right by the exit) but our luggage gets off quickly too. We are soon through immigration. We also notice no security checks as we leave the plane. We dont know if they have been withdrawn generally or were just not operating at the time.
We enjoy the ride on Magical Express and the film (are we there yet? Are we there yet?). It is also nice to be first stop. The humans go to Olivias to eat and decide the salad was just right with a lovely light dressing. Check-in has only one glitch. At the first room we are given neither our keys nor the bell mans master work. Lucky we used the bell service even though we only had our cabin bags. We are now in building 38. Its close to the road but still has one lovely view over the golf course.
Thursday 11th January
The humans take a bus to Downtown Disney and look round the Marketplace. They do not take either kittens or camera.
They eat lunch at Capn Jacks. With that name, they are pleased, if a little surprised, that it has not been transformed into a Pirates of the Caribbean theme like just about everywhere else.
They couldnt leave without a little shopping but came back for a rest and a cuddle with us Figaros.
Somewhat refreshed in the evening they catch a bus to Epcot and spend a few enjoyable hours there. Several night-time photopass pictures and a real mission to Mars and they feel relaxed but catch a bus home before Illuminations starts.
Friday 12th January
Today it is my chance to go to the parks as they are going to go to the Magic Kingdom! They stop for breakfast at Olivias first. Mikki has her old favourite of Ocies Homestyle hash (although for some reason the folks at Disney have renamed it) but Andrew tried a new dish which proved delicious as well Chocolate Mango Toast which is French Toast made with a very chocolaty bread. Oh and there was a chance for my stunt kitten to have his picture taken but I wont tell you where as that would spoil the game.
Now its off to the Magic Kingdom and the good news that Old Key West has a nice convenient bus stop there. The photo ops start as we go in and I get a picture with Horace Horsecollar someone new for my list.
The park is busy. We are a touch surprised to see the line for Pirates of the Caribbean is only 10 minutes. It looks to us like it will take people at least that time to get inside the building. We are less surprised when the 10 is changed to 50. We will try again after the weekend. Instead, Mikki watches the pirate show with Captain Jack Sparrow that is just starting. She is very impressed with the man playing Captain Jack.
In Fantasyland, we are luckier with the lines. We wait a genuine 10 minutes for Small World and 5 for Mickeys Philharmagic. By the time we have done those it is time for our Fast Pass to Peter Pan.
By now, its lunch time and I ask to go to the Village Haus. Mikki has a salad and Andrew a Panini, so no Figaro Fries today! We dont eat in the Figaro Room but find another nice picture of the kitten with Geppetto and the Blue Fairy.
After lunch it is time to stroll to the Toontown fair and then to Tomorrowland. At Mickeys Star Traders Mikki listens while a CM explains where to find at least 8 hidden Mickeys. She will be back with a camera another day! Then we have another short line for Buzz Lightyear. Why wont my humans let me use the laser gun Im sure I would do better well no worse than Andrew!
We leave the park because we are collecting a car today and being picked up from the Contemporary Resort at 5.00pm. We take a monorail and Mikki admires the Million Dreams paintwork on the front of the monorail cars. Inside the Grand Canyon Concourse, we are pleased to see the Steakhouse is still open but saddened to see half the shops already closed to make way for the games arcade. Well, with Chef Mickey at one end of the Concourse, the shops end must have seemed a bit quiet and inactive for the current management.
The bus from Alamo is running late and we are getting worried because we know the rental office is due to close at 6pm. We try ringing to see where they are which of course is enough to make them turn-up, only 25 minutes late. They then go to pick up from Wilderness Lodge - where the folks had also been getting worried and ringing up! We get a compact car, which is big enough for my two humans and me.
It had been a longer day for my two humans so Mikki was a little tense for this first drive on the wrong (but to the US in more ways than one, right) side of the road. They drive up to Premium Outlets to look in the character premiere shop and find a new cousin for me! He is sitting up and looking cheerful so the humans think they may call him Tis Figaro in a play on words. Then they go to Publix to get a few essentials for the room (milk, orange juice, red wine ,,,,,) before heading home to relax in the room.
