mikki.young
Knows Dreams do come true!
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2000
- Messages
- 3,187
Saturday 13th January
For some reason now they have a car they think they must go shopping! They head to the Florida Mall where they get some toiletries and visit the Disney Store before looking to see what is at Belz/Prime outlets. Mall 2 is demolished already but the Rockport shop is still there. Mall 1 had another Character Premiere store where there were more of my sitting cousins who were upset to hear they wouldnt be coming home with us. We did find a nice present for a friend of ours to post while we are here.
We then drive to Downtown Disney. It looks busy but luckily we get a convenient spot in Westside to look round Virgin and another even better spot in Marketplace. The humans go to buy some more stuff from WoD, including some pecan caramel chocolates to munch. Wait a minute! How dare they call it some stuff! There is another cousin for me: another Figaro. He looks a bit odd but Im sure hes a sweet natured toy underneath. Disney call him Tote a Tail and you can buy little accessories for him including a tote bag to carry him. He has bits of gold sparkle in his fur, silver spots on his ears and gold spots on his nose and paws! Mikki decides we will call him Fancy Figaro.
The line at Earl of Sandwich looks long but moves quicker than we remember - which is just as well. The Cobb salad does not taste quite the same is this another victim of the Dining Plan?
Sunday 14th January
The humans must have been tired: they did not wake till 9am! We kittens would have been ready to go to the parks a lot sooner but we dont mind lie-ins as well. Today I am going to have my picture taken at the Studios. There were a lot of folks at the bus stop but it didnt take long for the bus to come. Mikki chats with a little girl about pins. It passes the time for both of them.
The first thing the humans do is book lunch. They get into Mama Melroses for 12.30. They like this place. Mikki overhears the CM telling the folks in front of her that no Disney restaurants take walk-ins any more because people can book 180 days in advance. Now, we thought it was more difficult to do walk-ins because of the Dining Plan but not that they were non-existent. Interestingly, when we got to Mamas the person in front of us at check-in was a walk in and had no problem!
After booking lunch the humans headed off to the Animation Courtyard and the Art of Disney store. This is always such a delight to wander round, even if there were no new Figaro collectibles.
Its already time for our lunch. Mikki notices we are asked if we are on the Dining Plan as we go to the podium and by our server. We guess this helps the server know she might get more then the tip built into the plan if she gives good service. We had no complaints about service but suspected the menu has been cut back from what we remembered.
After lunch, Mikki decides she does not want to go straight to Star Tours because she is stuffed, Its never stopped me (not that anyone ever asks). Still, Im also happy with the alternative choice: its time for pictures with other Disney characters. There were two I havent met before Stromboli (who was with Honest John Foulfellow) and Clara Cluck. I also stopped to see Geppetto. Well, hes always so happy to see me.
We tour shops before leaving the park to spend more time relaxing at home. Andrew and Mikki eat at Olivias again.
Monday 15th January
Today we go into Epcot me, Beanie and Tis Figaro. The new boys always have an opportunity to have their photo taken with Minnie before we take them home. My humans head straight for Soarin to get a fast pass. This is already for over an hour away so we have time to let Tis meet Mickey ahd Minnie. There is no line. Mickey and Minnie are in very smart Year of a Million Dreams outfits. Pluto, Chip n Dale, Goofy and Belle are there too.
Next, we go to see the new Seas with Nemo. As you go in the original winding path is familiar but a lot has changed. There are no hydrolators (exiting is quicker too); no long film. The ride is really clever and well done. It is also enjoyable. As we finish the ride, Mikki thinks she sees a fairly short line for Turtle Talk. They miss the immediate show but do get in for the next one. Totally Righteous Dude! Another new experience for the humans and I was good and didnt eat the fish.
By this time it was about time for Soarin. The humans are a bit surprised when the fast pass line finishes further back than the standby line. Fortunately it soon speeded up and they are in the final line for the ride about 15 minutes later. I decide to go in the passenger compartment for this ride.
The tip board indicated that the line for Mission Space was longer than the humans liked so I missed out on being the commander. They decide instead on lunch at the Electric Umbrella before walking round World Showcase.
We meet a lonely photopass photographer at Mexico who says he is waiting for Donald to come out. He says it may be Donald or it may be the entire Three Caballeros We decide to wait as I have not had my picture with Jose. Meanwhile, the photographer explains things about the current photo setup (as well as telling us how much he loves working for Disney). It seems you can not modify your photos when you see them in the park but you can do it online. You actually have two folders of files: the originals and the modified ones. The park shops have access to both folders. This gives us the idea that we may be able to modify pictures online while we are here but still get the originals as well as the modified ones put on the photo CD before we leave. My humans will investigate this.
The naughty birds are quite late but my humans enjoyed chatting to the photographer. Eventually, I got my picture taken with both of The Two Caballeros when they came out. Embarrassingly for Disney nuts, neither we nor the photographer could remember the name of the third. Well, thats show business: if you dont appear youre nobody.
We carry on round World Showcase. I had my picture with Mulan (who was looking very pretty) and Mushu. Mushu was very small for a dragon and in the family next to us in line dad explained he was a lizard. Mushu can not vocalise but fortunately the little girl on the party got just the right mixture of fun and indignation into her reply.
I may (or may not) have had my picture taken in obscure places round World Showcase to test peoples knowledge of Walt Disney World. This took us the afternoon and we then left Epcot to come home. On the way out Mikki upgraded her annual pass to a Premium one and is already planning her first visit to a water park.
Back at Old Key West, we make our first use of the Disney internet connection. It seems very good and easy to use. We are using a sub-notebook PC that has not been connected to the internet before so our first job is to set up virus protection and so on. We loaded some at home (30 day free trial version will see us through this trip) but needed to be connected to install it fully.
For some reason now they have a car they think they must go shopping! They head to the Florida Mall where they get some toiletries and visit the Disney Store before looking to see what is at Belz/Prime outlets. Mall 2 is demolished already but the Rockport shop is still there. Mall 1 had another Character Premiere store where there were more of my sitting cousins who were upset to hear they wouldnt be coming home with us. We did find a nice present for a friend of ours to post while we are here.
We then drive to Downtown Disney. It looks busy but luckily we get a convenient spot in Westside to look round Virgin and another even better spot in Marketplace. The humans go to buy some more stuff from WoD, including some pecan caramel chocolates to munch. Wait a minute! How dare they call it some stuff! There is another cousin for me: another Figaro. He looks a bit odd but Im sure hes a sweet natured toy underneath. Disney call him Tote a Tail and you can buy little accessories for him including a tote bag to carry him. He has bits of gold sparkle in his fur, silver spots on his ears and gold spots on his nose and paws! Mikki decides we will call him Fancy Figaro.
The line at Earl of Sandwich looks long but moves quicker than we remember - which is just as well. The Cobb salad does not taste quite the same is this another victim of the Dining Plan?
Sunday 14th January
The humans must have been tired: they did not wake till 9am! We kittens would have been ready to go to the parks a lot sooner but we dont mind lie-ins as well. Today I am going to have my picture taken at the Studios. There were a lot of folks at the bus stop but it didnt take long for the bus to come. Mikki chats with a little girl about pins. It passes the time for both of them.
The first thing the humans do is book lunch. They get into Mama Melroses for 12.30. They like this place. Mikki overhears the CM telling the folks in front of her that no Disney restaurants take walk-ins any more because people can book 180 days in advance. Now, we thought it was more difficult to do walk-ins because of the Dining Plan but not that they were non-existent. Interestingly, when we got to Mamas the person in front of us at check-in was a walk in and had no problem!
After booking lunch the humans headed off to the Animation Courtyard and the Art of Disney store. This is always such a delight to wander round, even if there were no new Figaro collectibles.
Its already time for our lunch. Mikki notices we are asked if we are on the Dining Plan as we go to the podium and by our server. We guess this helps the server know she might get more then the tip built into the plan if she gives good service. We had no complaints about service but suspected the menu has been cut back from what we remembered.
After lunch, Mikki decides she does not want to go straight to Star Tours because she is stuffed, Its never stopped me (not that anyone ever asks). Still, Im also happy with the alternative choice: its time for pictures with other Disney characters. There were two I havent met before Stromboli (who was with Honest John Foulfellow) and Clara Cluck. I also stopped to see Geppetto. Well, hes always so happy to see me.
We tour shops before leaving the park to spend more time relaxing at home. Andrew and Mikki eat at Olivias again.
Monday 15th January
Today we go into Epcot me, Beanie and Tis Figaro. The new boys always have an opportunity to have their photo taken with Minnie before we take them home. My humans head straight for Soarin to get a fast pass. This is already for over an hour away so we have time to let Tis meet Mickey ahd Minnie. There is no line. Mickey and Minnie are in very smart Year of a Million Dreams outfits. Pluto, Chip n Dale, Goofy and Belle are there too.
Next, we go to see the new Seas with Nemo. As you go in the original winding path is familiar but a lot has changed. There are no hydrolators (exiting is quicker too); no long film. The ride is really clever and well done. It is also enjoyable. As we finish the ride, Mikki thinks she sees a fairly short line for Turtle Talk. They miss the immediate show but do get in for the next one. Totally Righteous Dude! Another new experience for the humans and I was good and didnt eat the fish.
By this time it was about time for Soarin. The humans are a bit surprised when the fast pass line finishes further back than the standby line. Fortunately it soon speeded up and they are in the final line for the ride about 15 minutes later. I decide to go in the passenger compartment for this ride.
The tip board indicated that the line for Mission Space was longer than the humans liked so I missed out on being the commander. They decide instead on lunch at the Electric Umbrella before walking round World Showcase.
We meet a lonely photopass photographer at Mexico who says he is waiting for Donald to come out. He says it may be Donald or it may be the entire Three Caballeros We decide to wait as I have not had my picture with Jose. Meanwhile, the photographer explains things about the current photo setup (as well as telling us how much he loves working for Disney). It seems you can not modify your photos when you see them in the park but you can do it online. You actually have two folders of files: the originals and the modified ones. The park shops have access to both folders. This gives us the idea that we may be able to modify pictures online while we are here but still get the originals as well as the modified ones put on the photo CD before we leave. My humans will investigate this.
The naughty birds are quite late but my humans enjoyed chatting to the photographer. Eventually, I got my picture taken with both of The Two Caballeros when they came out. Embarrassingly for Disney nuts, neither we nor the photographer could remember the name of the third. Well, thats show business: if you dont appear youre nobody.
We carry on round World Showcase. I had my picture with Mulan (who was looking very pretty) and Mushu. Mushu was very small for a dragon and in the family next to us in line dad explained he was a lizard. Mushu can not vocalise but fortunately the little girl on the party got just the right mixture of fun and indignation into her reply.
I may (or may not) have had my picture taken in obscure places round World Showcase to test peoples knowledge of Walt Disney World. This took us the afternoon and we then left Epcot to come home. On the way out Mikki upgraded her annual pass to a Premium one and is already planning her first visit to a water park.
Back at Old Key West, we make our first use of the Disney internet connection. It seems very good and easy to use. We are using a sub-notebook PC that has not been connected to the internet before so our first job is to set up virus protection and so on. We loaded some at home (30 day free trial version will see us through this trip) but needed to be connected to install it fully.
