Day 8 - Oct 11, 2003
Participants:
Myself - KCDISDAD
DW - Joann, wiffe of 22 years and new DisNut
DD7 - Casey, the one with Dis-adjusted Attitude
DD5 - Amy, the slooow, but not as shy one
Today we head home. It's kind of sad, but at the same time everyone has had a great time, we're a little tired, and missing home. Last night the vote from the princesses was to go to Epcot, however upon awakening Casey realized she did not have Mickey's autograph yet. "I'm not leaving until I see Mickey!" We told her that while he might be at Epcot, our best chance at seeing him would be to head to MK and be at ToonTown when it opened and head straight to the Judges Tent. This played right into Joann's hand as she wanted to spend our last couple of hours at MK. First though, we had to get the last of our stuff packed and into the van. After much cussing, sitting, stomping, and squeezing we finally got everything that came with us into the same space that it came down in. The problem was what to do with the "extra $tuff" we accumulated while here. That would be what those great big plastic Disney bags I saw at the airport when we arrived are for (the ones I silently swore to myself we would not be lugging home-HA).
It was a morning full of lasts-Last trip to RF for coffee, last trip around the lodge for pix, last look for the otters (which we haven't seen since the gator sighting), and last look at the Castle from our balcony. Joann discovered that these big plastic Disney bags have lots of room and she went down to the Gift Shop determined to fill it up completely. She succeeds and now it is straining at the handles and weighs more than our youngest daughter.
We finally made it down to the boat launch and headed to the MK about 9:20. It wasn't nearly as crowded as I thought it would be. The park was full but not packed. Joann and the girls headed to the Bakery on Main Street for a quick snack and then off to Toon Town for a meeting with His Mouseness. I, meanwhile was going to use this time to ride Alien Encounter and Space Mountain. Both were surprisingly only 10 minute waits. I knew nothing about AE and was shocked when we never moved. After being strapped in I was expecting the whole thing to take off like Star Tours, so imagine my disappointment when the shoulder harnesses raised up and we were told to exit. Needless to say I was not thrilled by this ride?. Space Mountain however, fully met my expectations and I was tempted to ride again, but by the time I exited the line had increased to 30 minutes.
I headed over to Toon Town and did not find the girls in the Judges Tent but outside Mickey's House. Joann said they got right in and got autographs and several pictures. The girls were already showing signs of fatigue (you know-the small bickerings and whining that you thought only your children exhibited). We decided to take one last train ride to the front gate, meander through Exhibit Hall and take one last look at the Castle before heading out for lunch and the airport.
As I sit on the plane writing my last notes, I can look back with great satisfaction that we had just completed our best family vacation ever. The weather had been great, and while we were all very tired, we didn't cross the line to over extending ourselves (although we had a peek at that line a couple of times). Disney is truly an amazing place, and staying on property IMHO is the best way to experience it. There is still so much to experience and see on our next visit. Joann and I talked last night that this should be a trip we plan on every 2 years. The years in between we want to visit other parts of this great country of ours. We then know we have our next great trip to Wilderness Lodge to look forward to. After all, "It's not a dream hotel...It's a Dream Come True Hotel!"
Participants:
Myself - KCDISDAD
DW - Joann, wiffe of 22 years and new DisNut
DD7 - Casey, the one with Dis-adjusted Attitude
DD5 - Amy, the slooow, but not as shy one
Today we head home. It's kind of sad, but at the same time everyone has had a great time, we're a little tired, and missing home. Last night the vote from the princesses was to go to Epcot, however upon awakening Casey realized she did not have Mickey's autograph yet. "I'm not leaving until I see Mickey!" We told her that while he might be at Epcot, our best chance at seeing him would be to head to MK and be at ToonTown when it opened and head straight to the Judges Tent. This played right into Joann's hand as she wanted to spend our last couple of hours at MK. First though, we had to get the last of our stuff packed and into the van. After much cussing, sitting, stomping, and squeezing we finally got everything that came with us into the same space that it came down in. The problem was what to do with the "extra $tuff" we accumulated while here. That would be what those great big plastic Disney bags I saw at the airport when we arrived are for (the ones I silently swore to myself we would not be lugging home-HA).
It was a morning full of lasts-Last trip to RF for coffee, last trip around the lodge for pix, last look for the otters (which we haven't seen since the gator sighting), and last look at the Castle from our balcony. Joann discovered that these big plastic Disney bags have lots of room and she went down to the Gift Shop determined to fill it up completely. She succeeds and now it is straining at the handles and weighs more than our youngest daughter.
We finally made it down to the boat launch and headed to the MK about 9:20. It wasn't nearly as crowded as I thought it would be. The park was full but not packed. Joann and the girls headed to the Bakery on Main Street for a quick snack and then off to Toon Town for a meeting with His Mouseness. I, meanwhile was going to use this time to ride Alien Encounter and Space Mountain. Both were surprisingly only 10 minute waits. I knew nothing about AE and was shocked when we never moved. After being strapped in I was expecting the whole thing to take off like Star Tours, so imagine my disappointment when the shoulder harnesses raised up and we were told to exit. Needless to say I was not thrilled by this ride?. Space Mountain however, fully met my expectations and I was tempted to ride again, but by the time I exited the line had increased to 30 minutes.
I headed over to Toon Town and did not find the girls in the Judges Tent but outside Mickey's House. Joann said they got right in and got autographs and several pictures. The girls were already showing signs of fatigue (you know-the small bickerings and whining that you thought only your children exhibited). We decided to take one last train ride to the front gate, meander through Exhibit Hall and take one last look at the Castle before heading out for lunch and the airport.
As I sit on the plane writing my last notes, I can look back with great satisfaction that we had just completed our best family vacation ever. The weather had been great, and while we were all very tired, we didn't cross the line to over extending ourselves (although we had a peek at that line a couple of times). Disney is truly an amazing place, and staying on property IMHO is the best way to experience it. There is still so much to experience and see on our next visit. Joann and I talked last night that this should be a trip we plan on every 2 years. The years in between we want to visit other parts of this great country of ours. We then know we have our next great trip to Wilderness Lodge to look forward to. After all, "It's not a dream hotel...It's a Dream Come True Hotel!"
