Goofydiane
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2002
- Messages
- 1,104
My first attempt at writing a trip report.....be patient with me.
Who: Diane (me) somewhere between 30 and 40
Mom if I wrote her age down, I wouldn't see tomorrow!
Dad 66 (gives you a clue on mom's age)
Where: Animal Kingdom Lodge
When: November 28 - December 8
Why: It's Christmas time!
Today's Plan: Today is EPCOT day all day long. Candlelight Processional at 6:45pm with dinner following at Rose & Crown (hoping for a patio seat!). Most importantly though....15% off shopping at EPCOT today, finally I can stop just looking, and start buying!
I know I haven't said much about the weather yet. I've been in shorts/polo shirts every day. I have seen many people wearing jeans, sweatshirts, coats, gloves, etc....you know winter wear. The temps have been in the low 70's during the day and in the 50's at night. Growing up in MN and presently living in CO - this is nice, comfortable weather for me.
We get to EPCOT about 10:30am and I immediately start shouting in glee!!! YIPPEE!! OFF KILTER IS PLAYING TODAY!!! My mom wants to do Ellen's Energy Adventure , neither my dad nor I wanted to do the attraction, (my mind was on shopping! ). My dad grudgingly went along and I made plans to meet them in an hour in front of the fountains. I can do a lot of shopping in an hour - lookout Mouse Gears! With mental list in hand....I'm in the store, after 30 minutes of shopping, I saved more money shopping than my Candlelight Processional dinner will cost! My take included shirts for my roommate and his kids, pins for his girls, postcards for a Flat Stanley project, a few Christmas Ornaments, Theme Park Monopoly and finally Theme Park Haunted Mansion Clue. All for under $200!
I meet up with my parents and asked dad if he enjoyed his nap during Ellen. My dad chuckled and my mom just said again how much she loves the show. I think it is the Jeopardy! part of the show she likes....not really the dinosaurs.
I could plan my entire WDW vacation around the times Off Kilter are playing. Their first set is at 12:20pm, so we head over to Canada. We get there about noon and while we wait my dad finally spends some money (Dad just doesn't buy souveniers ). He buys a small flag pin from Canada - total cost about $2.50 with his 15% discount. My parents travel a lot and my dad decided to get pins from all the countries he's been in.
Time for Off Kilter! My dad was even tapping his feet and clapping his hands. They played some of my favorites, including Danny Boy. I just wish they had a new CD out. They don't play Friday or Saturday, so this will be my only chance to see them this trip
After the show we are off to United Kingdom and the World Showcase Players version of A Christmas Carol . The 'volunteer' for Scrooge (Bah Humbug...grrrr) was really good! My dad of course enjoyed the corny jokes.
Dad wanted a Brat for lunch so we hoof it over to Germany, with a quick stop for dad to watch the belly dancer in Morocco. We get lunch (Dad changed his mind and went for Chicken something, mom had golash and strudel, me a pretzel), we went back to America for Voices of Liberty , this being their last day to perform this week as well. My parents went up to the show and I stayed down and waited for the 3:00pm show from Voices. We met up after the show and it was now about 3:20pm. I wanted to see the 4:25 final show for Off Kilter so back to Canada we went.
Dad bought pins at Germany, Japan, France and United Kingdom along the way. (Boy, he's been a lot of places ). We got back to Canada about 3:55pm and the next show was at 4:25pm. I staked out seats and my parents went to see if they could see the movie Oh Canada! before the music. They couldn't. This last show was the best - they did tunes that weren't normally on the play list. They did Happy Birthday for a guest and then a request from a friend (I think). They did a great rendition of 'Born to Be Wild'. Dad got some great pictures! Just hope they turn out. I learn after the set that they are playing on Sunday at 12:20pm. Hmmmm, I can get up early, pack, go right to EPCOT see the 12:20 and 1:30 shows, get back to the resort and immediately leave for the airport....think I can do it??? I'm gonna try.
Well, thought we would start heading back to America to get in line for the Candlelight Processional. We all thought it would start raining soon, as the clouds were getting grey - and the humidity was overly sticky.
After stopping to watch the World Showcase Players (Holy Grail show) and then the mime in France (he was great) we are in line for Candlelight Processional. My parents didn't understand why I was getting in line at 5:45pm for a 6:45pm show (read on, they will thank me later). I kept the place in line and sent mom off shopping.
You might notice that mom isn't mentioned much this day. Let's just say she was visiting some of the other locations in EPCOT this day...the restrooms, she didn't feel that well.
We get seated and we get the row that has about 5 extra feet of row with no one in front of you. It is about 6 rows back and we had direct viewing of the podium. The theatre fills up to capacity and the show starts. Marlee Matlin was the guest speaker and she was fabulous! It was strange to watch her speak with her hands, yet hear a male voice speak the words. She has great facial expressions while she is signing and it felt like you were hearing her. She applauded the choirs after every song and was really feeling the music.
Now is the time for my parents to thank me....about 1/2 way through the performance, you hear a lot of movement behind you....the general seating and some of the preferred seating people are leaving....why? It is pouring rain! My parents are very happy that they are under the roof. The show continued and at the end, Marlee thanked every one who stayed and got wet....she could see the rain through the lights and knew they were just getting drenched.
My hopes for patio seating at Rose & Crown are now gone with the rain, so we just head over to the restaurant and are told it is a 30 minute wait (due to the rain). Not a problem, we finally get buzzed and WOOHOO! we have a seat on the covered patio! They will raise the plastic windows when Illuminations start.
We order our appetizers (Salmon for mom and dad, fruit/cheese for me) and right as we ordered, the clouds opened up and it started pouring again! It was about 9:00pm and I kept thanking the rain....I have no problem watching Illuminations in the rain, and most people will leave during the rain. After the appetizers, we ordered our entree's (Mom - Prime Rib, Dad - English Pie Sampler, Me - Chicken), finally dessert (Mom - Can't remember, Dad - Sticky Toffee something, Me - Chocalate Mousse). Illuminations! starts right as we order dessert, so dad and I go down to the lower patio to watch the show. The wind was blowing towards the front of the park, so we had a great view! Dad loved the show and mom sat and ate her dessert. Our server Kerry was fabulous! She just past her 1 year mark and will be leaving on January 28th.
We started walking back to the bus in the light rain (thankfully, AKL is very close at this park!). Just about the time we get to the tombstones at the front of the park, the clouds open up and the rain starts coming harder and harder.
We get on the bus and head back to AKL, wet, tired and extremely pleased with our day!
Thanks for reading!
Diane
Who: Diane (me) somewhere between 30 and 40
Mom if I wrote her age down, I wouldn't see tomorrow!
Dad 66 (gives you a clue on mom's age)
Where: Animal Kingdom Lodge
When: November 28 - December 8
Why: It's Christmas time!
Today's Plan: Today is EPCOT day all day long. Candlelight Processional at 6:45pm with dinner following at Rose & Crown (hoping for a patio seat!). Most importantly though....15% off shopping at EPCOT today, finally I can stop just looking, and start buying!
I know I haven't said much about the weather yet. I've been in shorts/polo shirts every day. I have seen many people wearing jeans, sweatshirts, coats, gloves, etc....you know winter wear. The temps have been in the low 70's during the day and in the 50's at night. Growing up in MN and presently living in CO - this is nice, comfortable weather for me.
We get to EPCOT about 10:30am and I immediately start shouting in glee!!! YIPPEE!! OFF KILTER IS PLAYING TODAY!!! My mom wants to do Ellen's Energy Adventure , neither my dad nor I wanted to do the attraction, (my mind was on shopping! ). My dad grudgingly went along and I made plans to meet them in an hour in front of the fountains. I can do a lot of shopping in an hour - lookout Mouse Gears! With mental list in hand....I'm in the store, after 30 minutes of shopping, I saved more money shopping than my Candlelight Processional dinner will cost! My take included shirts for my roommate and his kids, pins for his girls, postcards for a Flat Stanley project, a few Christmas Ornaments, Theme Park Monopoly and finally Theme Park Haunted Mansion Clue. All for under $200!
I meet up with my parents and asked dad if he enjoyed his nap during Ellen. My dad chuckled and my mom just said again how much she loves the show. I think it is the Jeopardy! part of the show she likes....not really the dinosaurs.
I could plan my entire WDW vacation around the times Off Kilter are playing. Their first set is at 12:20pm, so we head over to Canada. We get there about noon and while we wait my dad finally spends some money (Dad just doesn't buy souveniers ). He buys a small flag pin from Canada - total cost about $2.50 with his 15% discount. My parents travel a lot and my dad decided to get pins from all the countries he's been in.
Time for Off Kilter! My dad was even tapping his feet and clapping his hands. They played some of my favorites, including Danny Boy. I just wish they had a new CD out. They don't play Friday or Saturday, so this will be my only chance to see them this trip
After the show we are off to United Kingdom and the World Showcase Players version of A Christmas Carol . The 'volunteer' for Scrooge (Bah Humbug...grrrr) was really good! My dad of course enjoyed the corny jokes.Dad wanted a Brat for lunch so we hoof it over to Germany, with a quick stop for dad to watch the belly dancer in Morocco. We get lunch (Dad changed his mind and went for Chicken something, mom had golash and strudel, me a pretzel), we went back to America for Voices of Liberty , this being their last day to perform this week as well. My parents went up to the show and I stayed down and waited for the 3:00pm show from Voices. We met up after the show and it was now about 3:20pm. I wanted to see the 4:25 final show for Off Kilter so back to Canada we went.
Dad bought pins at Germany, Japan, France and United Kingdom along the way. (Boy, he's been a lot of places ). We got back to Canada about 3:55pm and the next show was at 4:25pm. I staked out seats and my parents went to see if they could see the movie Oh Canada! before the music. They couldn't. This last show was the best - they did tunes that weren't normally on the play list. They did Happy Birthday for a guest and then a request from a friend (I think). They did a great rendition of 'Born to Be Wild'. Dad got some great pictures! Just hope they turn out. I learn after the set that they are playing on Sunday at 12:20pm. Hmmmm, I can get up early, pack, go right to EPCOT see the 12:20 and 1:30 shows, get back to the resort and immediately leave for the airport....think I can do it??? I'm gonna try.
Well, thought we would start heading back to America to get in line for the Candlelight Processional. We all thought it would start raining soon, as the clouds were getting grey - and the humidity was overly sticky.
After stopping to watch the World Showcase Players (Holy Grail show) and then the mime in France (he was great) we are in line for Candlelight Processional. My parents didn't understand why I was getting in line at 5:45pm for a 6:45pm show (read on, they will thank me later). I kept the place in line and sent mom off shopping.
You might notice that mom isn't mentioned much this day. Let's just say she was visiting some of the other locations in EPCOT this day...the restrooms, she didn't feel that well.
We get seated and we get the row that has about 5 extra feet of row with no one in front of you. It is about 6 rows back and we had direct viewing of the podium. The theatre fills up to capacity and the show starts. Marlee Matlin was the guest speaker and she was fabulous! It was strange to watch her speak with her hands, yet hear a male voice speak the words. She has great facial expressions while she is signing and it felt like you were hearing her. She applauded the choirs after every song and was really feeling the music.
Now is the time for my parents to thank me....about 1/2 way through the performance, you hear a lot of movement behind you....the general seating and some of the preferred seating people are leaving....why? It is pouring rain! My parents are very happy that they are under the roof. The show continued and at the end, Marlee thanked every one who stayed and got wet....she could see the rain through the lights and knew they were just getting drenched.
My hopes for patio seating at Rose & Crown are now gone with the rain, so we just head over to the restaurant and are told it is a 30 minute wait (due to the rain). Not a problem, we finally get buzzed and WOOHOO! we have a seat on the covered patio! They will raise the plastic windows when Illuminations start.
We order our appetizers (Salmon for mom and dad, fruit/cheese for me) and right as we ordered, the clouds opened up and it started pouring again! It was about 9:00pm and I kept thanking the rain....I have no problem watching Illuminations in the rain, and most people will leave during the rain. After the appetizers, we ordered our entree's (Mom - Prime Rib, Dad - English Pie Sampler, Me - Chicken), finally dessert (Mom - Can't remember, Dad - Sticky Toffee something, Me - Chocalate Mousse). Illuminations! starts right as we order dessert, so dad and I go down to the lower patio to watch the show. The wind was blowing towards the front of the park, so we had a great view! Dad loved the show and mom sat and ate her dessert. Our server Kerry was fabulous! She just past her 1 year mark and will be leaving on January 28th.
We started walking back to the bus in the light rain (thankfully, AKL is very close at this park!). Just about the time we get to the tombstones at the front of the park, the clouds open up and the rain starts coming harder and harder.
We get on the bus and head back to AKL, wet, tired and extremely pleased with our day!
Thanks for reading!
Diane
Gotta love those Florida rainshowers. 
Sounds like you had a great day shopping.
