Marlton Mom
My favorite ride is the "ladies room"...... it's a
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2003
- Messages
- 1,728
Marlton Moms Wilderness lodge trip 9/20 to 9/27/03
Me: Mom, version 40.3 and the conductor for this trip, 4 previous trips
DH: sleeper car, version 46.6, 3 previous trips
DS: caboose, version 4.10. First trip!
Day 1
First I have to say a big Thank You! to all who have posted on the trip forum. The info you have provided has been endlessly helpful, not to mention entertaining and exciting. Its the sort of stuff you really need and want to know. I did a lot of research for this trip starting with the unofficial guide book and mining Deb's Unofficial Walt Disney World Information Guide - All Ears Net. (http://wdwig.com/) as well.
The destination: the Wilderness lodge, fairy tale package. Tiffany town car from the airport with Max as our driver. We just loved Max and we highly recommend him, ask for him and you wont be disappointed. He helped with the luggage and had a car seat for DS as requested and we did the 20 minute supermarket stop.
Prior to the trip I had figured out to request a non smoking room on the ground floor as close to the pool as possible. Our room was ready when we checked in at around 11:00 am and we were given room 1165 which faced the pool. Our room was on the very end of the hallway and the other side of one of our room walls was the hallway to the exit to the pool deck. We could have used the sliding glass doors as an exit but we would have had to walk 4 steps over pine needles in bare feet so we mostly used the hallway entrance to the pool. This entrance to the pool deck was right by the pool bar and towel bin.
It was a quick walk to Roaring forks (via crossing the pool creek bridge) in the morning for the refillable mug of coffee which restored our will to live and go on to conquer the kingdom. If you have children and plan on using the pool the location of this room is very convenient. I was glad that we didnt have to ride the elevators and hump around the hallways in bare feet and a wet bathing suit.
After the 7 am departure from Phila. Airport I was thankful for the chance to get into the room and decompress. The first thing I did after check-in was run over to the hotel gift shop and purchase a Pal Mickey. It took us a day to figure out that the CM at the shop didnt activate Pal Mickey properly. He said the same 5 things over and over again and kept insisting we were standing out in front of the haunted mansion. We finally took him to the Pal Mickey place on main street in the MK and they activated him. If you love corny jokes youre going to love Pal Mickey. He gave the script they use on the Jungle Cruise ride a run for its money with all the groaners he spit out! DS latched on to Pal Mickey and took him everywhere we went. I had originally wanted to get the pal Mickey for me but DS fell head over heels in love with him and wouldnt give him up. The sacrifices a Mother makes Sigh!
After a room check and luggage dump we had lunch at RF and caught the boat to MK. There was a parade getting started so we high-tailed it over to frontier land and ran into Snow White along the way. I have to say that this SW really looked like she leaped off the pages of the animators drawing boards. DS had the most beatific smile on his face as I snapped the pix. He loves the Jersey shore boardwalk but had no previous concept of Disney so he was not quite sure how fun this was going to be. SW was his first hint.
Things were getting jammed up because of the parade so we ducked into the hall of Presidents just as the show was starting. We had all gotten up at 4:30 am and I was wondering if DS (or DH for that matter) would nod off in the darkened theater. Sure enough 3 minutes into the movie DS was passed out in his daddys arms. His first attraction at Disney and he falls asleep! LOL After the show ended we decided to stay put and let him snooze as the theater was not crowded. Amazingly he popped up just about at the point at which he fell asleep so he got to see the show but I dont think he liked it much as it was hard for a 4 yr old to really understand. We kept explaining to him that those people on stage were robots and this helped later during some of the scarier things he saw.
Soon it was time for our 4 pm PS at the Liberty Tree tavern. Chip, Dale, Minnie, Pluto, Meeko the raccoon (whom DS thought was a squirrel!) made an appearance and DS really started to get the magic of Disney. It really pays to talk to the characters and try to engage them. When DS told the raccoon that he thought he looked like a squirrel, well you should have seen the animated reaction! The food was ok and the service was very friendly. While DS and I were distracted with the characters DH scarfed down most of the family style apple cobbler without realizing that it was for the whole table. When we told him that he had just eaten all of our dessert he was neither ashamed nor apologetic. Our server noticed what happened and offered to bring us some more but DS and I decided that we would get more mileage out of this incident later in light of his righteous, Dad like, behavior.
Next we were off to Country Bear jamboree where we found our first Penny press. Some people collect pins but we were hooked on the penny presses. We managed to fill up that whole penny album when the week was done. I asked at the front desk in the WL if they could give me a list of all the penny press machines and they graciously complied. You wont be surprised to find out that most of them are located in the gift shops of the parks.
Upon exiting the Country Bear Jamboree we discovered our rental stroller had been stolen! We looked high and low but it was gone. Our mistake was in not leaving anything but our name card on it making it easy prey for a quick get-a-way. From that day forward every stroller we rented was decorated to the max with empty Disney bags from prior purchases. We would tie the big ones on to the handle filled a little bit with trash from the days proceedings. There were so many bags on that thing it looked like a bag lady was on holiday. I also considered looking for some of that fake rubber dog poop and gluing it to the seat for the blown out diaper effect but I couldnt find the Pluto gift shop. Needless to say we never had that disappearing stroller problem again.
Id have to say that the first day of the trip was the most efficient as we did all that we wanted to do in Frontier land and Liberty Square. The adrenaline kept us going for sure. We saw the top half of the spectromagic parade on the way out. Maybe one day Ill get to see the bottom half ! The boat ride back to the WL was beautiful and we were ready for bed.
Id have to agree with all those that report that the WL pillows are as hard as a rock. Unconfirmed rumors are floating around that mousekeeping carves them from the rock that was left over from the fireplace. I asked for extras due to neck problems and they were all the same except for one fluffy one which I jealously guarded from DH and DS. That fluffy pillow must have had legs because it kept finding its way under DH and DSs head. I would distract them momentarily and then secretly make the switch, dumping the pillow on the floor on the far side of the bed. After the lights went out it was safe to sneak fluffy back on the bed and under my head with DH and DS none the wiser. HA! Eat all the dessert will ya! Paybacks Baybee!!!
I also will mention that the legs on the WL beds stick out farther than youd think and have been the scene of many a near toe amputation. I was determined not to let this happen to me and I was ever vigilant but DH and DS were short a few digits by the end of the week. The beds are almost 10 feet tall and DS took a spectacular fall out of one so watch out for the shorties in your family. You may want to consider saving some money by trying to convince small fry that the plentiful room under the bed is really an Indian bunk bed and that they would be much more comfortable sleeping under there and not on top of you with the 47 stuffed animals they have begged you to buy for them this trip.
Keep in mind that if you have small children you will be sleeping with them, all the stuffed animals they have brought from home, all the ones they have purchased in the parks and all the towel animals that Mousekeeping makes. Remembering that small children always sleep diagonally in any given bed. This will leave you with approx. 3 centimeters of bed space for yourself. It is useless to provide a bed exclusively for their use as they will whine and beg to sleep in yours no matter what. The only workable scenario in this situation is for you, the adult, to wait until they fall asleep and then remove said child and stuffed friends to the Indian bunk bed using an giant spatula that probably can be found in Whispering Canyon Cafe. PS. Be sure to ask for the ketchup.
Me: Mom, version 40.3 and the conductor for this trip, 4 previous trips
DH: sleeper car, version 46.6, 3 previous trips
DS: caboose, version 4.10. First trip!
Day 1
First I have to say a big Thank You! to all who have posted on the trip forum. The info you have provided has been endlessly helpful, not to mention entertaining and exciting. Its the sort of stuff you really need and want to know. I did a lot of research for this trip starting with the unofficial guide book and mining Deb's Unofficial Walt Disney World Information Guide - All Ears Net. (http://wdwig.com/) as well.
The destination: the Wilderness lodge, fairy tale package. Tiffany town car from the airport with Max as our driver. We just loved Max and we highly recommend him, ask for him and you wont be disappointed. He helped with the luggage and had a car seat for DS as requested and we did the 20 minute supermarket stop.
Prior to the trip I had figured out to request a non smoking room on the ground floor as close to the pool as possible. Our room was ready when we checked in at around 11:00 am and we were given room 1165 which faced the pool. Our room was on the very end of the hallway and the other side of one of our room walls was the hallway to the exit to the pool deck. We could have used the sliding glass doors as an exit but we would have had to walk 4 steps over pine needles in bare feet so we mostly used the hallway entrance to the pool. This entrance to the pool deck was right by the pool bar and towel bin.
It was a quick walk to Roaring forks (via crossing the pool creek bridge) in the morning for the refillable mug of coffee which restored our will to live and go on to conquer the kingdom. If you have children and plan on using the pool the location of this room is very convenient. I was glad that we didnt have to ride the elevators and hump around the hallways in bare feet and a wet bathing suit.
After the 7 am departure from Phila. Airport I was thankful for the chance to get into the room and decompress. The first thing I did after check-in was run over to the hotel gift shop and purchase a Pal Mickey. It took us a day to figure out that the CM at the shop didnt activate Pal Mickey properly. He said the same 5 things over and over again and kept insisting we were standing out in front of the haunted mansion. We finally took him to the Pal Mickey place on main street in the MK and they activated him. If you love corny jokes youre going to love Pal Mickey. He gave the script they use on the Jungle Cruise ride a run for its money with all the groaners he spit out! DS latched on to Pal Mickey and took him everywhere we went. I had originally wanted to get the pal Mickey for me but DS fell head over heels in love with him and wouldnt give him up. The sacrifices a Mother makes Sigh!
After a room check and luggage dump we had lunch at RF and caught the boat to MK. There was a parade getting started so we high-tailed it over to frontier land and ran into Snow White along the way. I have to say that this SW really looked like she leaped off the pages of the animators drawing boards. DS had the most beatific smile on his face as I snapped the pix. He loves the Jersey shore boardwalk but had no previous concept of Disney so he was not quite sure how fun this was going to be. SW was his first hint.
Things were getting jammed up because of the parade so we ducked into the hall of Presidents just as the show was starting. We had all gotten up at 4:30 am and I was wondering if DS (or DH for that matter) would nod off in the darkened theater. Sure enough 3 minutes into the movie DS was passed out in his daddys arms. His first attraction at Disney and he falls asleep! LOL After the show ended we decided to stay put and let him snooze as the theater was not crowded. Amazingly he popped up just about at the point at which he fell asleep so he got to see the show but I dont think he liked it much as it was hard for a 4 yr old to really understand. We kept explaining to him that those people on stage were robots and this helped later during some of the scarier things he saw.
Soon it was time for our 4 pm PS at the Liberty Tree tavern. Chip, Dale, Minnie, Pluto, Meeko the raccoon (whom DS thought was a squirrel!) made an appearance and DS really started to get the magic of Disney. It really pays to talk to the characters and try to engage them. When DS told the raccoon that he thought he looked like a squirrel, well you should have seen the animated reaction! The food was ok and the service was very friendly. While DS and I were distracted with the characters DH scarfed down most of the family style apple cobbler without realizing that it was for the whole table. When we told him that he had just eaten all of our dessert he was neither ashamed nor apologetic. Our server noticed what happened and offered to bring us some more but DS and I decided that we would get more mileage out of this incident later in light of his righteous, Dad like, behavior.
Next we were off to Country Bear jamboree where we found our first Penny press. Some people collect pins but we were hooked on the penny presses. We managed to fill up that whole penny album when the week was done. I asked at the front desk in the WL if they could give me a list of all the penny press machines and they graciously complied. You wont be surprised to find out that most of them are located in the gift shops of the parks.
Upon exiting the Country Bear Jamboree we discovered our rental stroller had been stolen! We looked high and low but it was gone. Our mistake was in not leaving anything but our name card on it making it easy prey for a quick get-a-way. From that day forward every stroller we rented was decorated to the max with empty Disney bags from prior purchases. We would tie the big ones on to the handle filled a little bit with trash from the days proceedings. There were so many bags on that thing it looked like a bag lady was on holiday. I also considered looking for some of that fake rubber dog poop and gluing it to the seat for the blown out diaper effect but I couldnt find the Pluto gift shop. Needless to say we never had that disappearing stroller problem again.
Id have to say that the first day of the trip was the most efficient as we did all that we wanted to do in Frontier land and Liberty Square. The adrenaline kept us going for sure. We saw the top half of the spectromagic parade on the way out. Maybe one day Ill get to see the bottom half ! The boat ride back to the WL was beautiful and we were ready for bed.
Id have to agree with all those that report that the WL pillows are as hard as a rock. Unconfirmed rumors are floating around that mousekeeping carves them from the rock that was left over from the fireplace. I asked for extras due to neck problems and they were all the same except for one fluffy one which I jealously guarded from DH and DS. That fluffy pillow must have had legs because it kept finding its way under DH and DSs head. I would distract them momentarily and then secretly make the switch, dumping the pillow on the floor on the far side of the bed. After the lights went out it was safe to sneak fluffy back on the bed and under my head with DH and DS none the wiser. HA! Eat all the dessert will ya! Paybacks Baybee!!!
I also will mention that the legs on the WL beds stick out farther than youd think and have been the scene of many a near toe amputation. I was determined not to let this happen to me and I was ever vigilant but DH and DS were short a few digits by the end of the week. The beds are almost 10 feet tall and DS took a spectacular fall out of one so watch out for the shorties in your family. You may want to consider saving some money by trying to convince small fry that the plentiful room under the bed is really an Indian bunk bed and that they would be much more comfortable sleeping under there and not on top of you with the 47 stuffed animals they have begged you to buy for them this trip.
Keep in mind that if you have small children you will be sleeping with them, all the stuffed animals they have brought from home, all the ones they have purchased in the parks and all the towel animals that Mousekeeping makes. Remembering that small children always sleep diagonally in any given bed. This will leave you with approx. 3 centimeters of bed space for yourself. It is useless to provide a bed exclusively for their use as they will whine and beg to sleep in yours no matter what. The only workable scenario in this situation is for you, the adult, to wait until they fall asleep and then remove said child and stuffed friends to the Indian bunk bed using an giant spatula that probably can be found in Whispering Canyon Cafe. PS. Be sure to ask for the ketchup.
I love the Wilderness Lodge. Sounds like you had an awesome room location. Well, off to read day two, thanks!!
