puffkin
DVC Owner- SSR & AKV
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2001
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Buzz and Woody Return Day 2
Cast:
Woody planner, 22 year old recent college graduate who is obsessed with Walt Disney
World, third trip
Buzz 23 year old fiancé who just wants to go on vacation, second trip
Dates: June 1st June 8th, 2002
Our story (very long):
Sunday - June 2nd
With Day One officially under our belts, it was time to move on to Day Two and park touring. This trip was designed (at Buzzs insistence) to be much more relaxing than last years commando style trip. So, we planned on hitting the parks at opening, taking an afternoon break, and then returning in the evenings.
Day Two started with a Mickey wake-up call at 7:28 am. We always make our wakeup calls at weird times to ensure that we get the Mouse himself and not just music. I take my showers at night, so I am the designated drink fetcher while Buzz showers in the mornings. I took the video camera with today and got some nice pictures of the Bayou section of POR while I made the short walk to the food court (we were in Building 15 which is very convenient to the food court, quiet pool and main bus stop).
We made it to the bus stop by 8:30 and after a 1 minute wait, we were on a bus and heading to MK. This would be a trend that continued throughout the week. We had FABULOUS bus transportation. We RARELY waited longer than 5 minutes to catch a bus. Also, for anyone staying at POR, use the main bus stop in the morning! Almost every bus that came filled up here and went straight to the parks instead of continuing around the resort.
We breezed through security and were at the gates by 8:55. When the gates opened moments later, we headed straight for Fantasyland for rope drop. Since we are two adults, Fantasyland isnt a high priority, but we figured we would hit a few attractions before the crowds came. After stopping for a picture in front of the castle (one of the few pictures we have with both of us in it), we made it to the Fantasyland rope drop.
We missed Dumbo on our last trip, so we headed straight for it and got on the third flight. It was a nice flight, but VERY short! After that we headed for Peter Pan and Snow White, which were walk-ons. I decided that Peter Pan is my favorite Fantasyland attraction! We also got to experience my Magical Moments pin on both of these rides. These pins are really neat, and it is fun to see when they get triggered on the various rides.
After Snow White, it was time to check in for our Cinderellas Royal Table reservation. I will admit that this was solely for me and Buzz was a good sport about it. We checked in at 9:30 and were seated right away for our 9:40 PS. We had one of the best tables in the house, right up against the windows overlooking Fantasyland. Buzz had two platefuls of food, and I had one plateful and a second helping of the French Toast and bacon. The only thing I didnt like was the potatoes. Cinderella, Snow White, Belle, Aurora, and Mary Poppins circulated the dining room, while the Fairy Godmother held court in the lobby. I also ran into Disneyglobegirl from the boards while I was waiting for Buzz in the restroom. She was very nice and I wish I would have run into her earlier. Our total for the meal was $38.82 with tip.
My second must-do of the day was the Tiki Birds, which we had missed last year. So we headed there only to find that it was temporarily closed because of technical difficulties. We grabbed a Fast Pass for the Jungle Cruise and went on Pirates of the Caribbean (10 minute wait). We then walked through the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse. We were really starting to notice the crowds at this point. Even the tree house was crowded! We then returned to the Jungle Cruise to use our Fast pass and still had about a 10 minute wait. Our captain this year was William, and he was very good. Much better than our captain last year.
We had been checking the Tiki Birds periodically throughout the morning, and noticed it was reopened after the Jungle Cruise so we walked right in on the preshow. I thought the show was cute; I am sure Buzz was really enjoying the AC. After the Tiki Birds, we decided to venture over to Tom Sawyers Island. Boy is the raft ride over a killer in the heat! We explored a cave and went over the barrel bridge, and then stopped at Aunt Pollys for a light lunch. This turned out to be an ice cream float for Buzz and a dish of ice cream for me ($5.81).
We then returned by raft to the MK and did the 1:30 Hall of Presidents show because Buzz wanted to get out of the heat. We were going to do Its a Small World, but didnt feel like waiting 30 minutes for this attraction. I had intentions of doing two parades this trip since we didnt see any last year. So, we went down to Main Street to stake out a spot for the 3 pm Share a Dream Come True Parade.
Wow, was it ever hot! We were dying; it was definitely more humid and hot than last year. I found a spot for the parade underneath a tree. However, I soon realized that we were on the wrong side of the street! As the sun shifted, so did our shade. The other side of the street was filled up so we just had to suffer. Word of advice, if you are waiting for the parade sit on the side of the street that the Emporium is located on (the left when facing the castle). We had used the pocket fans from Wal-Mart last year on our trip with no problems. However, they werent doing anything! So I broke down and purchased on of the WDW spray bottles for $17. The price was a little steep, but we used it a lot throughout the week and so we probably got our moneys worth.
The parade passed by at about 3:15 and we videotaped it. The parade was nice, but I definitely would not wait that long again for it unless we had kids. We had originally planned on heading to MGM straight from the MK (this was the only day I had scheduled without a rest), however Buzz laid his foot down and said NO! He needed to go back to the resort and change. I reluctantly agreed, even though I later realized it was a wise decision. There was a bus waiting at the POR stop, and we were back to the resort in no time. After a quick shower for both of us, a change in clothes and refilled water bottles, we headed to MGM.
We waited about 5 minutes for a bus to MGM and were there within 10 minutes. We felt much better after the quick stop at the resort (good job Buzz). We got to Mama Melroses a couple of minutes late for our Fantasmic Dinner Package reservation, but we were seated right away. Buzz ordered the veggie brick oven pizza and I ordered the tomato brick oven pizza. The food was ok, nothing special but served the purpose. With two sodas and tip, our bill came to $33.18.
After dinner, we rode Star Tours with a 10 minute wait. I was craving a Rockn Rollercoaster take off, so we headed down Sunset Boulevard. It was around 7:00 and Fast Passes were out for both Rockn Rollercoaster and Tower of Terror, but we decided to do the standby line since the waits werent too bad. We had a great first ride on Tower of Terror with a 10 min. wait. Then we rode Rockn Rollercoaster with a 15 min. wait. Another tip: on both trips, Tower of Tower has never had a line in the evenings so try to do it then.
We browsed in some shops, and then went to the Fantasmic theater around 8:00. We were seated in the Ursula section because of the Fantasmic Dinner package, and the theater filled up by 8:30. Again we noticed no preshow. Is it really noticeable, because we didnt see one last year either? Luckily, two small kids sat in front of me, so I had an unobstructed view to tape the show. Buzz doesnt really care for this show, but I love it. I especially like the barges with the princesses.
We zipped out of the theater and made it to the bus stop in record time. Another tip: If you have children that are small enough to carry, I would recommend returning the stroller before you sit down for the show. That way, you should be able to get to the bus stop before the lines get too long. Anyway, a bus was pulling away when we got to the POR stop, but there was another right behind it. We got on and were back in our room by 10:00.
We stopped in the food court and refilled our mugs, then headed over to Ole Man Island for a swim. I wanted to try the slide, but it was closed for the evening. The hot tub was also full (and the water looked gross) so we passed on that. We swam for about 20 minutes, then headed back to the room. I showered, and we were in bed by 11:30.
Click here for Buzz and Woody Return - Day Three
Best and Worst of the Day
Woody:
Best- Cinderellas Royal Table Breakfast and Fantasmic
Worst - Sitting in the sun waiting for the parade
Buzz:
Best Tower of Terror and Rockn Rollercoaster
Worst Waiting for the stupid parade
Cast:
Woody planner, 22 year old recent college graduate who is obsessed with Walt Disney
World, third trip
Buzz 23 year old fiancé who just wants to go on vacation, second trip
Dates: June 1st June 8th, 2002
Our story (very long):
Sunday - June 2nd
With Day One officially under our belts, it was time to move on to Day Two and park touring. This trip was designed (at Buzzs insistence) to be much more relaxing than last years commando style trip. So, we planned on hitting the parks at opening, taking an afternoon break, and then returning in the evenings.
Day Two started with a Mickey wake-up call at 7:28 am. We always make our wakeup calls at weird times to ensure that we get the Mouse himself and not just music. I take my showers at night, so I am the designated drink fetcher while Buzz showers in the mornings. I took the video camera with today and got some nice pictures of the Bayou section of POR while I made the short walk to the food court (we were in Building 15 which is very convenient to the food court, quiet pool and main bus stop).
We made it to the bus stop by 8:30 and after a 1 minute wait, we were on a bus and heading to MK. This would be a trend that continued throughout the week. We had FABULOUS bus transportation. We RARELY waited longer than 5 minutes to catch a bus. Also, for anyone staying at POR, use the main bus stop in the morning! Almost every bus that came filled up here and went straight to the parks instead of continuing around the resort.
We breezed through security and were at the gates by 8:55. When the gates opened moments later, we headed straight for Fantasyland for rope drop. Since we are two adults, Fantasyland isnt a high priority, but we figured we would hit a few attractions before the crowds came. After stopping for a picture in front of the castle (one of the few pictures we have with both of us in it), we made it to the Fantasyland rope drop.
We missed Dumbo on our last trip, so we headed straight for it and got on the third flight. It was a nice flight, but VERY short! After that we headed for Peter Pan and Snow White, which were walk-ons. I decided that Peter Pan is my favorite Fantasyland attraction! We also got to experience my Magical Moments pin on both of these rides. These pins are really neat, and it is fun to see when they get triggered on the various rides.
After Snow White, it was time to check in for our Cinderellas Royal Table reservation. I will admit that this was solely for me and Buzz was a good sport about it. We checked in at 9:30 and were seated right away for our 9:40 PS. We had one of the best tables in the house, right up against the windows overlooking Fantasyland. Buzz had two platefuls of food, and I had one plateful and a second helping of the French Toast and bacon. The only thing I didnt like was the potatoes. Cinderella, Snow White, Belle, Aurora, and Mary Poppins circulated the dining room, while the Fairy Godmother held court in the lobby. I also ran into Disneyglobegirl from the boards while I was waiting for Buzz in the restroom. She was very nice and I wish I would have run into her earlier. Our total for the meal was $38.82 with tip.
My second must-do of the day was the Tiki Birds, which we had missed last year. So we headed there only to find that it was temporarily closed because of technical difficulties. We grabbed a Fast Pass for the Jungle Cruise and went on Pirates of the Caribbean (10 minute wait). We then walked through the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse. We were really starting to notice the crowds at this point. Even the tree house was crowded! We then returned to the Jungle Cruise to use our Fast pass and still had about a 10 minute wait. Our captain this year was William, and he was very good. Much better than our captain last year.
We had been checking the Tiki Birds periodically throughout the morning, and noticed it was reopened after the Jungle Cruise so we walked right in on the preshow. I thought the show was cute; I am sure Buzz was really enjoying the AC. After the Tiki Birds, we decided to venture over to Tom Sawyers Island. Boy is the raft ride over a killer in the heat! We explored a cave and went over the barrel bridge, and then stopped at Aunt Pollys for a light lunch. This turned out to be an ice cream float for Buzz and a dish of ice cream for me ($5.81).
We then returned by raft to the MK and did the 1:30 Hall of Presidents show because Buzz wanted to get out of the heat. We were going to do Its a Small World, but didnt feel like waiting 30 minutes for this attraction. I had intentions of doing two parades this trip since we didnt see any last year. So, we went down to Main Street to stake out a spot for the 3 pm Share a Dream Come True Parade.
Wow, was it ever hot! We were dying; it was definitely more humid and hot than last year. I found a spot for the parade underneath a tree. However, I soon realized that we were on the wrong side of the street! As the sun shifted, so did our shade. The other side of the street was filled up so we just had to suffer. Word of advice, if you are waiting for the parade sit on the side of the street that the Emporium is located on (the left when facing the castle). We had used the pocket fans from Wal-Mart last year on our trip with no problems. However, they werent doing anything! So I broke down and purchased on of the WDW spray bottles for $17. The price was a little steep, but we used it a lot throughout the week and so we probably got our moneys worth.
The parade passed by at about 3:15 and we videotaped it. The parade was nice, but I definitely would not wait that long again for it unless we had kids. We had originally planned on heading to MGM straight from the MK (this was the only day I had scheduled without a rest), however Buzz laid his foot down and said NO! He needed to go back to the resort and change. I reluctantly agreed, even though I later realized it was a wise decision. There was a bus waiting at the POR stop, and we were back to the resort in no time. After a quick shower for both of us, a change in clothes and refilled water bottles, we headed to MGM.
We waited about 5 minutes for a bus to MGM and were there within 10 minutes. We felt much better after the quick stop at the resort (good job Buzz). We got to Mama Melroses a couple of minutes late for our Fantasmic Dinner Package reservation, but we were seated right away. Buzz ordered the veggie brick oven pizza and I ordered the tomato brick oven pizza. The food was ok, nothing special but served the purpose. With two sodas and tip, our bill came to $33.18.
After dinner, we rode Star Tours with a 10 minute wait. I was craving a Rockn Rollercoaster take off, so we headed down Sunset Boulevard. It was around 7:00 and Fast Passes were out for both Rockn Rollercoaster and Tower of Terror, but we decided to do the standby line since the waits werent too bad. We had a great first ride on Tower of Terror with a 10 min. wait. Then we rode Rockn Rollercoaster with a 15 min. wait. Another tip: on both trips, Tower of Tower has never had a line in the evenings so try to do it then.
We browsed in some shops, and then went to the Fantasmic theater around 8:00. We were seated in the Ursula section because of the Fantasmic Dinner package, and the theater filled up by 8:30. Again we noticed no preshow. Is it really noticeable, because we didnt see one last year either? Luckily, two small kids sat in front of me, so I had an unobstructed view to tape the show. Buzz doesnt really care for this show, but I love it. I especially like the barges with the princesses.
We zipped out of the theater and made it to the bus stop in record time. Another tip: If you have children that are small enough to carry, I would recommend returning the stroller before you sit down for the show. That way, you should be able to get to the bus stop before the lines get too long. Anyway, a bus was pulling away when we got to the POR stop, but there was another right behind it. We got on and were back in our room by 10:00.
We stopped in the food court and refilled our mugs, then headed over to Ole Man Island for a swim. I wanted to try the slide, but it was closed for the evening. The hot tub was also full (and the water looked gross) so we passed on that. We swam for about 20 minutes, then headed back to the room. I showered, and we were in bed by 11:30.
Click here for Buzz and Woody Return - Day Three
Best and Worst of the Day
Woody:
Best- Cinderellas Royal Table Breakfast and Fantasmic
Worst - Sitting in the sun waiting for the parade
Buzz:
Best Tower of Terror and Rockn Rollercoaster
Worst Waiting for the stupid parade
.
