Come on, sing along 2006!!! Day 1 & 2 (updated 10/7)

[DisneyDad in PA]

Here's my first attempt at a trip report. Enjoy!!

Saturday, September 16, 2006 (Day 1)

The trip includes me, DW, DS9 and DD7. I think we were all excited about this trip. It was the first for my kids and my first time back to WDW since the late 70’s. DW made some trips in the early to mid 80’s. Okay, I was more excited than anybody else.

We drove to the Baltimore airport and checked our bags with Southwest. We had class A seats and got row 8. This was our kid’s first flight and they seemed a little nervous. But they loved it. Our flight was on time and we arrived in MCO early around 3:40pm. We proceeded to ME counter, well actually the wife and kids proceeded I needed a pit stop. When I caught up to them they already checked in with ME and we were directed into the correct line to get the bus for AKL. We waited about 10 minutes and then we followed the big white glove to our bus.

The bus ride was not bad, but seemed to take forever due to our excitement. We stopped at POP and Coronado and then went to AKL.

We reserved a Savannah Deluxe with Bunks. Upon check-in we were given our room assignment, I was hoping for an Arusha Savannah room, we ended up with Uzima Savannah. So we politely requested if there was anything available on the Arusha Savannah, Zebra Trail near the elevators. We were given a room on the third level right in the middle of the Zebra Trail near the elevators. Now these did not have bunks and it was not a deluxe, so in reality I think we downgraded. But our room overlooked an area of the savannah where there was a giraffe feeding station located up in the tree. My DD loves giraffes so she got to see them every morning and evening. She was so excited; I guess the downgrade paid off.

After getting settled, in about 15 minutes, we went to Mara to get our mugs so we would have something to drink back in the room upon our return. Then we headed off to the bus stop to catch the bus for MK. We just missed the bus as we were walking down the walkway so we had to wait about 15 minutes for the next bus. I wanted to go to MK to see Spectro parade and Wishes on our first night in the world to make it special.

We arrived at MK around 5:30 and jumped on the WDW RR to Frontierland to ride SplM and BTMRR. The lines for both were about 20 minutes each so we just waited in line. We were in no hurry because all we wanted to do was ride these two rides and watch the parade and Wishes. We started our pressed penny collection tonight as well. We got SplM and BTMRR.

After riding we went to Pecos Bills to grab something to eat. Well my DS wasn’t too excited about the menu, so we headed over to Columbia House. We were on the DDP which proved to be a great deal for us and provided plenty of food. DW and I got the Fish and Chicken, DS got the Chicken and Cheese and DD got the Mac and Cheese. Everybody loved the food at Columbia House.

We proceeded to Sleepy Hollow to watch the parade. They had the bridge roped off and there was a walkway open. We stepped up behind a family sitting on the ground right at the rope and the walkway. Then as the parade time neared people started standing in the walkway so they could be on the rope once the parade started. The CM’s asked several times to keep it open, but they did not move, in fact they kept trying to nudge people out of the way. It really wasn’t that big of a deal because my DW and I just lifted our DD so she could see and my DS stepped back and leaned along the rock wall and watched the parade as it crossed the bridge. He probably had the best spot.

We began to watch the parade and then, there she was, Minnie, all lit up and looking like a Million Dreams. Oh wait, that promotion didn’t start until after I left. Timing is everything.

Anyway, the parade was wonderful and then we moved over to the bridge on Main Street right across from the Guest Information Board and watched Wishes. It was a wonderful show. Tink made her flight and my DD was excited. After the fireworks, we let the crowd clear out for about 20 minutes and we proceeded to bus stop #9 to return to the hotel. The bus came about 5-10 minutes later and we were on our way back to the room. Upon arrival we went straight to our room and watched the animals, then to bed.

In summary, for a travel day it wasn’t all that bad. I probably will not drive from Central PA to Baltimore to fly again because I won’t be flying Southwest again, more on that later. But the ending to the day was great and set the tone for the entire week. Back to MK on Day 2. Oh by the way, the singing starts on Day 2!!!

 

[disneymomof5]

looking forward to hearing more. Can't wait to start singing!

 

[BeautyNBeast]

Great start! Cannot wait to read more

 

[DisneyDad in PA]

Sunday, September 17, 2006 (Day 2)

Now, I read the DisBoards religiously leading up to our trip and I bought the Unofficial Guide and read it cover to cover. I even purchased the touring plans at touringplans. Now, I think my wife thought, wait, thinks I’m nuts. After, printing the touring plans out, I of course, changed them. I expected the crowd levels to be light, which they pretty much were. I figured I had a minimum of two whole days in MK over the entire week and after riding BTMRR and Splash Mountain the previous night I felt that we would just go from land to land, instead of running back and forth. I think this worked for us pretty well. Did we have longer waits, probably, but they were never longer than 10 minutes for 90% of the rides. Did I mention that I also brought along a three ring binder with dividers for each day which included the touring plan and park maps. I also had a section of menus and a section covering transportation options. Think I’m nuts yet?

So with a 4 x 7 laminated excel spreadsheet tour plan in hand (with tips, hidden Mickey’s and optimal parade/firework viewing spots on the back, yep wacko here) we headed straight for MK around 9:00 am. I know, I know get to the park early!!! Well, that only happened once the entire week due to character breakfast.

Upon arrival at MK we headed for Tomorrowland. My thinking was to ride SM first. Well, we didn’t make it past Stitch and which had a 5 minute wait. Then of, course there was Buzz next and a 5 minute wait. We even did the Carousel of Progress, which was not even on my schedule, with no wait. So here we are in Tomorrowland and rode three rides/attractions and not even made it to SM yet. Well, my OCD kicks in and I guide everybody to SM and a whopping 10 minute wait. After, that we did Transportation Authority. Now, my schedule calls for us to eat at this point. Well it’s only 10:30ish, even though we just had a small snack, we were not hungry. So we do Indy Speedway to kill some more time. Then we go to Cosmic Rays.

I think Cosmic Rays turned out to be one of our favorite CS due to variety of choices and good food.

From Tomorrowland we headed to Toontown to catch the RR to Frontierland. We stopped and rode the Mad Tea Cups and Goofy’s Barnstormer and then caught the train to Frontierland. Upon arrival, at Frontierland we got off and the kids want to ride SplM again. Stand-by said 20 minutes and FP return is 30 minutes. We got FP and went to BTMRR, 10 minute wait. We rode BTMRR and checked Splash, still 20 minutes and our FP was due in around 15 minutes. We decide to get in the stand-by line and ride. Then we got off and rode again with FP. So now we have been on Splash three times already before noon on our second day (once last night).

We then proceed to Adventureland to ride POTC. Nooooo matey, the ride was down due to technical problems. The CM said it had been down for 2 hours and they were working on it. So off to Jungle Cruise, Swiss Family Treehouse and Tiki Room. We then did Haunted Mansion, It’s a Small World (That @#%& song, can’t get it out of my head) and Mickey’s Philharmagic. As we were about to get on It’s a Small World I told my kids to be prepared that they will break into humming or singing the song they are about to hear for the rest of their life. No warning; could be doing anything; you will just catch yourself singing that tune. Anybody else experience this? Or, is this just my wackiness coming through again? Mmmm, it’s a smallllll world………STOP!!! (Get you hooked yet?)

We had a 4:00 ADR for LTT and we had some time to kill. So back to BTMRR or Splash for a quick ride. BTMRR had a shorter stand-by so we rode that. Then off to LTT for our dinner.

We checked in at LTT and waited about 10 minutes and were seated. We got to see Chip, Dale, Minnie and Pluto. Goofy missed our table, but we would catch up to him in a couple of days. Yes, Minnie stopped at my table. Now some of you may be aware that this was probably the greatest thing that could happen to me. (See Eye Candy!!! Minnie Mouse Thread). I recovered from my fainting and really enjoyed this meal. It was great food and service.

Now this is an EMH night for MK. I figured we’d be there all night. Well we already rode almost everything we wanted and there was no Spectro so we stopped back at POTC and there was a 5 minute wait. So we did POTC and then Splash and BTMRR AGAIN. We walked out to Main Street and on to bus stop #9 for AKL.

We then got back to the hotel and we grabbed our mugs got them filled at Mara and all went swimming. The kids pretty much had the whole pool to themselves. There were only three or four other people in the pool. I was looking forward to a couple of cold ones. Well, I got one. It was almost 9:00 by the time we got situated and after taking a dip in the pool I went up to the pool bar. It was on last call when I ordered my first drink. Bummer.

In summary, it was an enjoyable day with a great ending at the pool. We also collected many pressed pennies along the way today. MK lived up to it’s billing by starting our trip off with a bang. Well, back to the room to hit the sack and hum that $@#^ song. It’s off to the Studios tomorrow.

 

[disneymomof5]

Now I can't get that song out of my head!!