Music Mole
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2002
- Messages
- 180
Cast: me, Elisabeth, Planner and official historian of the trip
DH, Gavin, Park Commando in recovery
We've both been to WDW before, but never together, and our last trips were within weeks of eachother during the 25th Anniversary year. Since we met 5 years ago, we have always wanted to go to WDW together - and this is our trip!
Day 5, Saturday, October 5th
After breakfast at the Lounge in the hotel, we took the Friendship Launch to Epcot and were there just before the gates opened. We stopped at the shop by the International Gateway to buy the Epcot shirt I had been eyeing for days now, as well as some Mickey socks (more unexpectedly fun souvenirs). Then on to FutureWorld to ride Test Track. This was fun, and we didnt have any wait to ride it! Then we went to see Figment again. While browsing in the shop at the exit and buying more film, the CM told us that in their briefing that morning, they were told to caution people about taking their exposed rolls of film home in their checked baggage I guess the intensity of the x-rays is higher these days and can damage your film. Another reason I was grateful that we brought mailers and had been mailing our film off each day for developing, so we wouldnt have any rolls to take back with us. Also, if you find yourself buying film at WDW, (I brought 16 rolls and still bought film) if you buy a 4 pack, you will get a cute collectible pin of Donald and Tinkerbell Donald has film all over him and looks frustrated about trying to load his camera. If you buy two disposable cameras, you get a Pluto pin. These were nice pins, and since we were buying the stuff anyway, made us feel like we were getting more value for our money. Also, CMs seemed very interested in those pins for trade. (Yes, we bought enough film that I got more than one pin . . .).
After, JIYI, on to Living Seas, bypassing the briefing to continue the interactive exhibits that we cut short the first time. We had great timing there was a dolphin presentation at 10:45 (just a few minutes after we arrived). This was quite enjoyable and made us think about doing the interactive Dolphins in Depth program on our return visit in April.
We headed round the WS looking for lunch, finally settling on Germanys Biergarten. We were done in time to see American Vybe at 1:30, and then the American Adventure Movie. I love the song from this movie, and some of the lyrics have an extra special meaning after the events of the past year. We walked through Japan, and then on to Morrocco. Throughout our trip I kept trying to sell Gavin on Teppanyaki I really think hed like it but hes still skeptical maybe next time. In Morrocco we saw Jasmine and Aladdin (no pictures though), and then we headed over to France for the movie. This was our only extremely annoying uncontrolled child experience of the trip. I have to give the kids and children credit the overwhelming majority of kids we encountered as we toured were very well behaved. This little girl (maybe 4 or 5) next to me in the movie chattered, talked bounced, hissed, sang along, repeated phrases of what shed heard well you get the idea through the ENTIRE movie. At one point I looked over and caught the dads eye he was completely oblivious. The toddler he was holding was perfectly behaved. Honestly, the social worker in me wanted to test her for ADHD. The dad seemed immune to her behavior. In the end, I ended up feeling sorry for him he had a defeated or tired look about him. Oh well, I am happy that we will be going back and will have another opportunity to see the film, which I think we would really enjoy.
At 3:15 we caught the Friendship back to the YC. Yeah! the Park commando takes his first mid-afternoon break! After showers and another call to my mom to check on the girls we were much refreshed and decided to check out the Boardwalk. After walking in to the bakery, we instantly decide that this will be our breakfast stop in the morning. From the Friendship Launch back to the YC, the captain pointed out an osprey that was fishing. We decided to check out the Beach Club lobby and restaurants. Somehow the lobby felt smaller to me and the restaurant seemed very busy. Overall impression of a lot more kids than on the YC side.
We caught a bus at BC (no wait really at all) to the MK, and then the monorail to the Contemporary with thoughts of dinner. Wow was this place busy! Lots of people around. I knew the golf tournament had started maybe thats why it was so busy? Looked at the menus didnt want another character meal (how could any live up to our great meal at H&V?) and the menu at the Concourse Steakhouse didnt appeal. What to do? Remembering our servers suggestion about dinner at Tonys Town Square on Saturday, and Terrazzo seating for Spectromagic viewing, we went to guest services to make a PS. Wow how friendly and warm these guys were again, the contrast to YC where I was reluctant to even approach the desk for anything. They got us a PS for 8 PM and we headed for the monorail to the MK. Lots of people flooding into MK for Spectro we had expected this but after the light crowds all week it was quite a contrast. We enjoyed our meal at Tonys and it was a great place to view Spectro a few heads in the bottom of the pictures from the folks standing on the sidewalks, but really quite nice. The fireworks started soon after (we werent done with dessert yet) so Gavin hopped off the terrace to grab some photos and then came back to finish up. I could see some of the fireworks through some buildings, but not much overall.
We did a little more souvenir shopping for folks back home and watched the goodnight kiss. We asked one of the security guards about the recording that gets played, and they said its not actually Walt, its a child, and that it would be quite late tonight since there were still a lot of people in the park. We caught a bus to the YC and drank our champagne and packed up for our move to AKL before going to bed.
For anyone interested, I used the WDW florist to deliver a wine caddy with champagne and two beanies (Safari Mickey & Safari Minnie). They did everything as asked and delivery was just as requested. It was worth it to see Gavins surprise when we came back to the room after touring to see it on the desk (it was delivered on Day 2, our first night at YC). For me, it was worth paying twice as much for the champagne as I would pay for it at home, at least in this case. The folks at the florist were nice to work with and I would use them again should the whim overtake me.
DH, Gavin, Park Commando in recovery
We've both been to WDW before, but never together, and our last trips were within weeks of eachother during the 25th Anniversary year. Since we met 5 years ago, we have always wanted to go to WDW together - and this is our trip!
Day 5, Saturday, October 5th
After breakfast at the Lounge in the hotel, we took the Friendship Launch to Epcot and were there just before the gates opened. We stopped at the shop by the International Gateway to buy the Epcot shirt I had been eyeing for days now, as well as some Mickey socks (more unexpectedly fun souvenirs). Then on to FutureWorld to ride Test Track. This was fun, and we didnt have any wait to ride it! Then we went to see Figment again. While browsing in the shop at the exit and buying more film, the CM told us that in their briefing that morning, they were told to caution people about taking their exposed rolls of film home in their checked baggage I guess the intensity of the x-rays is higher these days and can damage your film. Another reason I was grateful that we brought mailers and had been mailing our film off each day for developing, so we wouldnt have any rolls to take back with us. Also, if you find yourself buying film at WDW, (I brought 16 rolls and still bought film) if you buy a 4 pack, you will get a cute collectible pin of Donald and Tinkerbell Donald has film all over him and looks frustrated about trying to load his camera. If you buy two disposable cameras, you get a Pluto pin. These were nice pins, and since we were buying the stuff anyway, made us feel like we were getting more value for our money. Also, CMs seemed very interested in those pins for trade. (Yes, we bought enough film that I got more than one pin . . .).
After, JIYI, on to Living Seas, bypassing the briefing to continue the interactive exhibits that we cut short the first time. We had great timing there was a dolphin presentation at 10:45 (just a few minutes after we arrived). This was quite enjoyable and made us think about doing the interactive Dolphins in Depth program on our return visit in April.
We headed round the WS looking for lunch, finally settling on Germanys Biergarten. We were done in time to see American Vybe at 1:30, and then the American Adventure Movie. I love the song from this movie, and some of the lyrics have an extra special meaning after the events of the past year. We walked through Japan, and then on to Morrocco. Throughout our trip I kept trying to sell Gavin on Teppanyaki I really think hed like it but hes still skeptical maybe next time. In Morrocco we saw Jasmine and Aladdin (no pictures though), and then we headed over to France for the movie. This was our only extremely annoying uncontrolled child experience of the trip. I have to give the kids and children credit the overwhelming majority of kids we encountered as we toured were very well behaved. This little girl (maybe 4 or 5) next to me in the movie chattered, talked bounced, hissed, sang along, repeated phrases of what shed heard well you get the idea through the ENTIRE movie. At one point I looked over and caught the dads eye he was completely oblivious. The toddler he was holding was perfectly behaved. Honestly, the social worker in me wanted to test her for ADHD. The dad seemed immune to her behavior. In the end, I ended up feeling sorry for him he had a defeated or tired look about him. Oh well, I am happy that we will be going back and will have another opportunity to see the film, which I think we would really enjoy.
At 3:15 we caught the Friendship back to the YC. Yeah! the Park commando takes his first mid-afternoon break! After showers and another call to my mom to check on the girls we were much refreshed and decided to check out the Boardwalk. After walking in to the bakery, we instantly decide that this will be our breakfast stop in the morning. From the Friendship Launch back to the YC, the captain pointed out an osprey that was fishing. We decided to check out the Beach Club lobby and restaurants. Somehow the lobby felt smaller to me and the restaurant seemed very busy. Overall impression of a lot more kids than on the YC side.
We caught a bus at BC (no wait really at all) to the MK, and then the monorail to the Contemporary with thoughts of dinner. Wow was this place busy! Lots of people around. I knew the golf tournament had started maybe thats why it was so busy? Looked at the menus didnt want another character meal (how could any live up to our great meal at H&V?) and the menu at the Concourse Steakhouse didnt appeal. What to do? Remembering our servers suggestion about dinner at Tonys Town Square on Saturday, and Terrazzo seating for Spectromagic viewing, we went to guest services to make a PS. Wow how friendly and warm these guys were again, the contrast to YC where I was reluctant to even approach the desk for anything. They got us a PS for 8 PM and we headed for the monorail to the MK. Lots of people flooding into MK for Spectro we had expected this but after the light crowds all week it was quite a contrast. We enjoyed our meal at Tonys and it was a great place to view Spectro a few heads in the bottom of the pictures from the folks standing on the sidewalks, but really quite nice. The fireworks started soon after (we werent done with dessert yet) so Gavin hopped off the terrace to grab some photos and then came back to finish up. I could see some of the fireworks through some buildings, but not much overall.
We did a little more souvenir shopping for folks back home and watched the goodnight kiss. We asked one of the security guards about the recording that gets played, and they said its not actually Walt, its a child, and that it would be quite late tonight since there were still a lot of people in the park. We caught a bus to the YC and drank our champagne and packed up for our move to AKL before going to bed.
For anyone interested, I used the WDW florist to deliver a wine caddy with champagne and two beanies (Safari Mickey & Safari Minnie). They did everything as asked and delivery was just as requested. It was worth it to see Gavins surprise when we came back to the room after touring to see it on the desk (it was delivered on Day 2, our first night at YC). For me, it was worth paying twice as much for the champagne as I would pay for it at home, at least in this case. The folks at the florist were nice to work with and I would use them again should the whim overtake me.
Got to get another one, I guess! 
