- Joined
- Feb 6, 2000
- Messages
- 30,830
Cast of Characters:
Flo - a family friend in her mid 70s (her first Disney trip), my Mom - 77yo, and myself
43yo.
Day 1 - Jan 5th
We had always planned to drive this trip, even before 9/11, since Flo has ear problems
flying. Mom & I left home about 3am and went by to pick up Flo. She was waiting on
the porch of her Assisted Living Center (where she moved last year, after her husband
passed away) with her luggage. After getting everything and everyone packed into the car
we were off to WDW!!! We stopped in Orange, TX, to get breakfast at a Jack in the Box.
It gave us a chance to stretch our legs. After making the normal gas and rest area stops,
we broke for lunch at a Burger King in Hammond, LA. Then back on the road...stopping
for gas and restroom breaks. Our cars are equipped with Onstar, so I used them to make
overnight ressies at the Hampton Inn in Marianna, FL, while we stopped at the Alabama
Welcome Center. We pulled in to Marianna around 7pm. After checking in to our hotel,
we had dinner at Waffle House. It was really tasty. Our first day, I had driven 827 miles.
It had rained all day during the drive.
Day 2 - Jan 6th
We pulled out of Marianna about 8:30am and began clicking off the remaining 325 miles.
Again after making the normal stops, we decided to have an early lunch at a Waffle House
in Gainesville, FL. It was a very good burger. We wheeled into OKW about 3pm. Flo?s
smoking studio was ready, housekeeping hadn't yet released the non-smoking studio for
Mom & I. Flo was happy with her ground floor studio, 2116 on Miller?s Rd. She didn't
mind that they had assigned her a handicap room, since where she lives in assisted living,
they have a wheel-in showers and adapted restrooms in all the rooms, even though she is
ambulatory. By the time we finished at check-in, getting our Luau tickets, room keys, and
a 5 day hopper for Flo, they had released the non-smoking room, 2020. Both rooms were
well cleaned and in good condition (of course). After unpacking the car, we went resort
browsing, as it was Flo?s first trip to the world. We wandered around WL,
Contemporary, and had dinner at Kona Cafe in the Poly. I think the food was better when
it was Coral Isle, although it was OK. After dinner we drove to Publix to get some
breakfast groceries, then turned in for the evening. During the entire visit I parked at
Flo?s bldg (21) since the busses turn around at bldg 20, and I was afraid the tail of the
caddy might get clipped.
Day 3 - Jan 7th
After we all had breakfast in our room, we drove over to EPCOT. One nice thing about
driving (although I still prefer flying), we had our own car, equipped a wheelchair lift,
since it is just too much walking for Mom after having had three surgeries on the right hip.
Since Spaceship Earth is always crowded in the mornings, we bypassed it, and started
around the rest of Future World, starting with Ellen?s Energy Adventure. Some elevator
was out of order at Test Track, so they loaded the w/c parties through the exit/baby swap
area. Flo wasn't too keen on TT, so we relegated ourselves to omnimovers and slow rides.
Since I hadn't?t made any PS for lunch, we ate in the Land Pavilion?s food court. My
veggie lasagna was good, and Mom enjoyed her chicken parmesan. Flo was disappointed
with her stuffed baked potato.
After lunch we started around World Showcase, starting with Canada. Flo is originally
from North Bay, north of Toronto. After buying our normal supply of maple syrup (they
carry a much higher quality than what is available in our local store) we saw O Canada. I
made dinner ressies at Le Cellier. We continued around to the UK, and loaded up on
lemon marmalade and raspberry preserves....Disney makes resort delivery just TOO
convenient
Then it was on to France. After the movie, we stopped in at the fragrance
shop, as Mom likes Arpege. The French version of the fragrance really is different than
that produced by the US licensee. Unfortunately, the pavilion no longer carries it. We
continued our trek, and browsed through Morocco. We stopped in Japan and purchased
some unusual T-shirts. Then wound our way over to the American Adventure, and made
it just in time to take Mom up in the elevator before the show. The weather was turning
very cold and damp, the wind seemed to blow through our jackets and chill us. Deciding
it was just too cold to wander around anymore, I canceled our dinner PS and we headed
back to the room. When we got back to our room, there was a message from Dining that
our Luau for the following evening was canceled due to the cold, stormy weather. After
about an hour, we drove over to DTD to load up on sweatshirts for the expected cold
during the week. Then we drove over to Perkins in Crossroads for a light dinner before
heading back to OKW.
Day 4 - Jan 8th
This morning, after having breakfast in the room, we took the bus over to MK. Our first
attraction was the train around the perimeter of the park. After browsing through the
Emporium and connected shops, Flo stopped to smoke at the area near the entrance to
Adventureland. I trotted over to Liberty Tree Tavern to make 2pm lunch ressies. When I
returned we journeyed onward to the Jungle Cruise, Tiki Room and PoC. Then it was
almost time for our lunch PS. We were seated almost immediately. We all ordered the
turkey dinner, Mom ordered a side salad and I ordered some clam chowder. The turkey
dinner was excellent, one of the best meals we had on property. After lunch we did HM,
IASW, Pooh, and the TTA (Peoplemover). It was pretty cold again this day, so we opted
to leave MK, on the way out we stopped at the candy store on Main Street and bought a
couple tins of fudge (Mmmmmmm).
Flo - a family friend in her mid 70s (her first Disney trip), my Mom - 77yo, and myself
43yo.
Day 1 - Jan 5th
We had always planned to drive this trip, even before 9/11, since Flo has ear problems
flying. Mom & I left home about 3am and went by to pick up Flo. She was waiting on
the porch of her Assisted Living Center (where she moved last year, after her husband
passed away) with her luggage. After getting everything and everyone packed into the car
we were off to WDW!!! We stopped in Orange, TX, to get breakfast at a Jack in the Box.
It gave us a chance to stretch our legs. After making the normal gas and rest area stops,
we broke for lunch at a Burger King in Hammond, LA. Then back on the road...stopping
for gas and restroom breaks. Our cars are equipped with Onstar, so I used them to make
overnight ressies at the Hampton Inn in Marianna, FL, while we stopped at the Alabama
Welcome Center. We pulled in to Marianna around 7pm. After checking in to our hotel,
we had dinner at Waffle House. It was really tasty. Our first day, I had driven 827 miles.
It had rained all day during the drive.
Day 2 - Jan 6th
We pulled out of Marianna about 8:30am and began clicking off the remaining 325 miles.
Again after making the normal stops, we decided to have an early lunch at a Waffle House
in Gainesville, FL. It was a very good burger. We wheeled into OKW about 3pm. Flo?s
smoking studio was ready, housekeeping hadn't yet released the non-smoking studio for
Mom & I. Flo was happy with her ground floor studio, 2116 on Miller?s Rd. She didn't
mind that they had assigned her a handicap room, since where she lives in assisted living,
they have a wheel-in showers and adapted restrooms in all the rooms, even though she is
ambulatory. By the time we finished at check-in, getting our Luau tickets, room keys, and
a 5 day hopper for Flo, they had released the non-smoking room, 2020. Both rooms were
well cleaned and in good condition (of course). After unpacking the car, we went resort
browsing, as it was Flo?s first trip to the world. We wandered around WL,
Contemporary, and had dinner at Kona Cafe in the Poly. I think the food was better when
it was Coral Isle, although it was OK. After dinner we drove to Publix to get some
breakfast groceries, then turned in for the evening. During the entire visit I parked at
Flo?s bldg (21) since the busses turn around at bldg 20, and I was afraid the tail of the
caddy might get clipped.
Day 3 - Jan 7th
After we all had breakfast in our room, we drove over to EPCOT. One nice thing about
driving (although I still prefer flying), we had our own car, equipped a wheelchair lift,
since it is just too much walking for Mom after having had three surgeries on the right hip.
Since Spaceship Earth is always crowded in the mornings, we bypassed it, and started
around the rest of Future World, starting with Ellen?s Energy Adventure. Some elevator
was out of order at Test Track, so they loaded the w/c parties through the exit/baby swap
area. Flo wasn't too keen on TT, so we relegated ourselves to omnimovers and slow rides.
Since I hadn't?t made any PS for lunch, we ate in the Land Pavilion?s food court. My
veggie lasagna was good, and Mom enjoyed her chicken parmesan. Flo was disappointed
with her stuffed baked potato.
After lunch we started around World Showcase, starting with Canada. Flo is originally
from North Bay, north of Toronto. After buying our normal supply of maple syrup (they
carry a much higher quality than what is available in our local store) we saw O Canada. I
made dinner ressies at Le Cellier. We continued around to the UK, and loaded up on
lemon marmalade and raspberry preserves....Disney makes resort delivery just TOO
convenient
Then it was on to France. After the movie, we stopped in at the fragranceshop, as Mom likes Arpege. The French version of the fragrance really is different than
that produced by the US licensee. Unfortunately, the pavilion no longer carries it. We
continued our trek, and browsed through Morocco. We stopped in Japan and purchased
some unusual T-shirts. Then wound our way over to the American Adventure, and made
it just in time to take Mom up in the elevator before the show. The weather was turning
very cold and damp, the wind seemed to blow through our jackets and chill us. Deciding
it was just too cold to wander around anymore, I canceled our dinner PS and we headed
back to the room. When we got back to our room, there was a message from Dining that
our Luau for the following evening was canceled due to the cold, stormy weather. After
about an hour, we drove over to DTD to load up on sweatshirts for the expected cold
during the week. Then we drove over to Perkins in Crossroads for a light dinner before
heading back to OKW.
Day 4 - Jan 8th
This morning, after having breakfast in the room, we took the bus over to MK. Our first
attraction was the train around the perimeter of the park. After browsing through the
Emporium and connected shops, Flo stopped to smoke at the area near the entrance to
Adventureland. I trotted over to Liberty Tree Tavern to make 2pm lunch ressies. When I
returned we journeyed onward to the Jungle Cruise, Tiki Room and PoC. Then it was
almost time for our lunch PS. We were seated almost immediately. We all ordered the
turkey dinner, Mom ordered a side salad and I ordered some clam chowder. The turkey
dinner was excellent, one of the best meals we had on property. After lunch we did HM,
IASW, Pooh, and the TTA (Peoplemover). It was pretty cold again this day, so we opted
to leave MK, on the way out we stopped at the candy store on Main Street and bought a
couple tins of fudge (Mmmmmmm).
