Countdown clock on zero days zero hours...woo hoo!
We put mom on the bus to Orlando on July 4th, and the next morning, Chad, Jesse, and I, and my DH, woke up at 4 AM to the sound of my Disney music CD. I had it on timer and it started with our "family" song "You'll Be In My Heart" from Tarzan. OMG, we were SO excited! We jumped out of bed, and I ran into my DSs rooms jumping up and down and hugging them like a looney-woman! It took us less than 45 min. to get ready. My 12 year old Jesse wanted to sleep in his travel clothes, and I was going to let him, but I convinced him to put his pjs on instead!
DH got us to La Guardia 90 minutes before our flight on Song. We did curbside check-in with no line, and went to the security area with no line. But the 3 of us were pulled out for an extra check, I forgot the term they used. It took about 15 minutes to wand us, to x-ray my shoes, to go through our carry-ons, and they looked in every nook and cranny of those bags! I'm glad I didn't have anything embarrassing in my bag, since the officer took everything out and put them on a table in plain sight.
Someone on the Dis said we'd probably be pulled because we had one-way tickets, which raises a red flag.
Flight was great, with the TVs on the headrests on Song. I almost ordered the Song Cosmo, which is vodka/cranberry/& something else, for $5, but decided against it since I had taken an anti-anxiety pill for the flight.
We left early and arrived early, and my mom was there at MCO as planned waiting for us. We screamed like little girls when we saw each other as me and the kids came down the escalator at MCO. The limo guy was there, George, and stayed with us to get our luggage off the carousel. He wouldn't let me carry a thing.
The limo was immaculate, the driver was perfect, and I recommend Southern Elegance. And there was a giant stuffed Mickey in the car! Cute!
We made a grocery stop at Publix. Chad ran in and bought soda and snacks. As we drove away, I realized he didn't buy water, but we didn't want to go back. I really have trouble with Florida water, but oh well. We just wanted to get to WDW as fast as possible.
We got to AKL at about 10 AM. When we stopped at the security gate, the guard checked his clip-board, and checked us off. "We're on the list!!!" I was so childish, but I couldn't help it! I kept saying/singing "we're on the list, we're on the list..."
Bell services was right there to take our bags. I tipped George $10, and tipped the bellperson $5. I went to check-in, and requested room 3596. This was the very last room on the zebra trail, 3rd floor. I'd read here on the Dis that this was a great room because it was a corner room, and we had a view to the right as well as in front. We had no visable rooms across from us, just animals and trees. It was a wonderful room, even though the walk was LONG. But we didn't mind at all. We preferred being on lobby level, and we felt so close to the animals outside the balcony.
The room wasn't ready, so we changed into park clothes, checked our luggage, got the number to call to see if the room was ready, had a bite to eat at The Mara for a whopping $30, and went to Epcot. This was a non-park day for us, but we had plans to meet with Diskim to receive the Pal Mickey from the Dis PM swap. We met at the scheduled time, outside the Epcot turnstiles. It was very nice meeting her. We spoke for a few minutes, took some pictures, signed each other's autograph books, and said see ya on the Dis! She went back to her family, and me and my crew decided to go over to Wilderness Lodge to wait for our 5 pm at Whispering Canyon. We had 3 hours to wait!
It was so hot and humid that day, 7/5. We took the monorail to MK, then took the boat to WL. My mom got confused and thought we were back at AKL. She didn't know until dinner was over and we were headed back to AKL that we were not there already!
It was our first time visiting WL, and it's beautiful. Jesse was cranky about not going to the parks, and the fact that we had a LONG wait. Chad and mom were happy to explore WL. I sat down with Jesse in the lobby, and he conked out with his head on my shoulder. Then Chad and mom came back, and Chad conked out! They needed the rest, having been up since 4 am, and probably not having slept more than 4 hours the night before.
Before we knew it, it was 4:30. We were all well-rested and ready for our first PS.
I went to the Whispering Canyon check-in ahead of my family so that I could secretly request Bobby The Kid's table. I heard that this guy was so into the antics, and I heard right! The CM said she'd take care of everything, including letting Bobby know that it was my mom's birthday that week. Then the dinner bell rang, and the CM announced come and get it!
We were seated at a great table, against the railing overlooking the lobby. And here comes Bobby The Kid, with Tigger on his cowboy hat!! My family had no idea what was about to occur in this restaurant!! He threw the napkins at us, and my mom gasped. Then he sneezed the straws at us, and my kids cracked up! They caught on that this was one of those crazy restaurants like 50's Prime Time. I had to fill mom in a bit, since she was totally taken aback by what was going on. But boy did she get into it!
We had the meatloaf, chicken, and burgers, and the bill was $42.06. The food was very good, and the place was wild. If I described all the antics that went on, it would take pages. Bobby did the ketchup thing, the standing on the chair thing, the napkin hat thing, made me run around the restaurant on a stick pony and sing You Are My Sunshine in honor of my mom's birthday, and made a big to-do about my tiara! When I paid the bill with my Disney Rewards card, he brought back the card in pieces and said he was ordered to cut it up as it was fraudulent. My heart stopped for a second, but then I knew it was a gag. We took pictures, got his autograph, left him a 20% tip, and left with a doggie bag. Oh yeah, Bobby brought over a birthday cupcake for mom, and that was a nice surprise.
I just want to warn those who have never been to Whispering Canyon that it's loud and crazy. There was a family next to us that got very upset at the shouting and silliness going on. They apparently didn't know what kind of restaurant this was, and they refused to pay their bill. There is a sign right at the entrance that the restaurant is loud and boisterous. The father used foul language, and the manager offered to remove half their bill. They stormed out after an inappropriate display, and it's too bad that they expected the restaurant to stop it's antics because this family didn't like it. Oh well, we had a great time there!
While we were there at WL, it rained very hard. The CMs had trouble keeping the doors closed, and wind kept blowing them open. The thinder and lightning scared a lot of people, and the lights flickered a few times. After about 45 minutes, it stopped.
We went back to AKL, found our room turned down without even asking, chocolates and the African proverb on the bed. Also on the bed were 4 Disney towels laid out. I bought them in advance and asked a CM to deliver them to the room as a surprise. MY mom and kids were thrilled. They thought it was from AKL< and I let them believe it. I secretly had gifts for every night, with one for myself, too, so they wouldn't catch on that it was my doing.
We decided to go for a late night swim with our new towels: Minnie for mom, Ariel for me, Mickey for Chad, and Stitch for Jesse. The pool was great at 11:30 pm. The water temp. was just right, so it must be regulated. From the pics I've seen, and from what I've heard, the AKL pool looks mirky, greenish brown, so make it look like an African watering hole. It did look like that from afar, but while in the water, it was very clear and wonderful. I was surprised and delighted to see kids and their families swimming so late, because it made it feel like Yeah we're really on vacation! This was the first time mom had been in a bathing suit in 20 years!
After an hour, we were exhausted, and went back to our room. We showered, and went to bed. I called for a 6:30 wake-up call, and prayed that we'd have the gumption to get out of bed at that so early time to get to MK opening then next day.
We fell asleep right away, with the tv on the Crissa channel. We keep her on on the whole time we're in the room, and have memorized the whole thing!
That ends our first day at WDW!
We put mom on the bus to Orlando on July 4th, and the next morning, Chad, Jesse, and I, and my DH, woke up at 4 AM to the sound of my Disney music CD. I had it on timer and it started with our "family" song "You'll Be In My Heart" from Tarzan. OMG, we were SO excited! We jumped out of bed, and I ran into my DSs rooms jumping up and down and hugging them like a looney-woman! It took us less than 45 min. to get ready. My 12 year old Jesse wanted to sleep in his travel clothes, and I was going to let him, but I convinced him to put his pjs on instead!
DH got us to La Guardia 90 minutes before our flight on Song. We did curbside check-in with no line, and went to the security area with no line. But the 3 of us were pulled out for an extra check, I forgot the term they used. It took about 15 minutes to wand us, to x-ray my shoes, to go through our carry-ons, and they looked in every nook and cranny of those bags! I'm glad I didn't have anything embarrassing in my bag, since the officer took everything out and put them on a table in plain sight.
Someone on the Dis said we'd probably be pulled because we had one-way tickets, which raises a red flag.
Flight was great, with the TVs on the headrests on Song. I almost ordered the Song Cosmo, which is vodka/cranberry/& something else, for $5, but decided against it since I had taken an anti-anxiety pill for the flight.
We left early and arrived early, and my mom was there at MCO as planned waiting for us. We screamed like little girls when we saw each other as me and the kids came down the escalator at MCO. The limo guy was there, George, and stayed with us to get our luggage off the carousel. He wouldn't let me carry a thing.
The limo was immaculate, the driver was perfect, and I recommend Southern Elegance. And there was a giant stuffed Mickey in the car! Cute!
We made a grocery stop at Publix. Chad ran in and bought soda and snacks. As we drove away, I realized he didn't buy water, but we didn't want to go back. I really have trouble with Florida water, but oh well. We just wanted to get to WDW as fast as possible.
We got to AKL at about 10 AM. When we stopped at the security gate, the guard checked his clip-board, and checked us off. "We're on the list!!!" I was so childish, but I couldn't help it! I kept saying/singing "we're on the list, we're on the list..."
Bell services was right there to take our bags. I tipped George $10, and tipped the bellperson $5. I went to check-in, and requested room 3596. This was the very last room on the zebra trail, 3rd floor. I'd read here on the Dis that this was a great room because it was a corner room, and we had a view to the right as well as in front. We had no visable rooms across from us, just animals and trees. It was a wonderful room, even though the walk was LONG. But we didn't mind at all. We preferred being on lobby level, and we felt so close to the animals outside the balcony.
The room wasn't ready, so we changed into park clothes, checked our luggage, got the number to call to see if the room was ready, had a bite to eat at The Mara for a whopping $30, and went to Epcot. This was a non-park day for us, but we had plans to meet with Diskim to receive the Pal Mickey from the Dis PM swap. We met at the scheduled time, outside the Epcot turnstiles. It was very nice meeting her. We spoke for a few minutes, took some pictures, signed each other's autograph books, and said see ya on the Dis! She went back to her family, and me and my crew decided to go over to Wilderness Lodge to wait for our 5 pm at Whispering Canyon. We had 3 hours to wait!
It was so hot and humid that day, 7/5. We took the monorail to MK, then took the boat to WL. My mom got confused and thought we were back at AKL. She didn't know until dinner was over and we were headed back to AKL that we were not there already!
It was our first time visiting WL, and it's beautiful. Jesse was cranky about not going to the parks, and the fact that we had a LONG wait. Chad and mom were happy to explore WL. I sat down with Jesse in the lobby, and he conked out with his head on my shoulder. Then Chad and mom came back, and Chad conked out! They needed the rest, having been up since 4 am, and probably not having slept more than 4 hours the night before.
Before we knew it, it was 4:30. We were all well-rested and ready for our first PS.
I went to the Whispering Canyon check-in ahead of my family so that I could secretly request Bobby The Kid's table. I heard that this guy was so into the antics, and I heard right! The CM said she'd take care of everything, including letting Bobby know that it was my mom's birthday that week. Then the dinner bell rang, and the CM announced come and get it!
We were seated at a great table, against the railing overlooking the lobby. And here comes Bobby The Kid, with Tigger on his cowboy hat!! My family had no idea what was about to occur in this restaurant!! He threw the napkins at us, and my mom gasped. Then he sneezed the straws at us, and my kids cracked up! They caught on that this was one of those crazy restaurants like 50's Prime Time. I had to fill mom in a bit, since she was totally taken aback by what was going on. But boy did she get into it!
We had the meatloaf, chicken, and burgers, and the bill was $42.06. The food was very good, and the place was wild. If I described all the antics that went on, it would take pages. Bobby did the ketchup thing, the standing on the chair thing, the napkin hat thing, made me run around the restaurant on a stick pony and sing You Are My Sunshine in honor of my mom's birthday, and made a big to-do about my tiara! When I paid the bill with my Disney Rewards card, he brought back the card in pieces and said he was ordered to cut it up as it was fraudulent. My heart stopped for a second, but then I knew it was a gag. We took pictures, got his autograph, left him a 20% tip, and left with a doggie bag. Oh yeah, Bobby brought over a birthday cupcake for mom, and that was a nice surprise.
I just want to warn those who have never been to Whispering Canyon that it's loud and crazy. There was a family next to us that got very upset at the shouting and silliness going on. They apparently didn't know what kind of restaurant this was, and they refused to pay their bill. There is a sign right at the entrance that the restaurant is loud and boisterous. The father used foul language, and the manager offered to remove half their bill. They stormed out after an inappropriate display, and it's too bad that they expected the restaurant to stop it's antics because this family didn't like it. Oh well, we had a great time there!
While we were there at WL, it rained very hard. The CMs had trouble keeping the doors closed, and wind kept blowing them open. The thinder and lightning scared a lot of people, and the lights flickered a few times. After about 45 minutes, it stopped.
We went back to AKL, found our room turned down without even asking, chocolates and the African proverb on the bed. Also on the bed were 4 Disney towels laid out. I bought them in advance and asked a CM to deliver them to the room as a surprise. MY mom and kids were thrilled. They thought it was from AKL< and I let them believe it. I secretly had gifts for every night, with one for myself, too, so they wouldn't catch on that it was my doing.
We decided to go for a late night swim with our new towels: Minnie for mom, Ariel for me, Mickey for Chad, and Stitch for Jesse. The pool was great at 11:30 pm. The water temp. was just right, so it must be regulated. From the pics I've seen, and from what I've heard, the AKL pool looks mirky, greenish brown, so make it look like an African watering hole. It did look like that from afar, but while in the water, it was very clear and wonderful. I was surprised and delighted to see kids and their families swimming so late, because it made it feel like Yeah we're really on vacation! This was the first time mom had been in a bathing suit in 20 years!
After an hour, we were exhausted, and went back to our room. We showered, and went to bed. I called for a 6:30 wake-up call, and prayed that we'd have the gumption to get out of bed at that so early time to get to MK opening then next day.
We fell asleep right away, with the tv on the Crissa channel. We keep her on on the whole time we're in the room, and have memorized the whole thing!
That ends our first day at WDW!
Can't wait to read more! We are staying at AKL next month and love reading all about your stay there. Did your room have bunkbeds?
