Trip Report July 9 to July 18, 2005
This is my first attempt at a trip report and it has taken much longer than anticipated. I apologize for the delay but after reading so many reports that I have loved, I figured, what the hey, lots of folks are getting psyched for their July trips for 06 (no Florida for us this year well settle for a three day turn around at Disneyland and California adventure this year). To the old pros whose Reports have inspired me to make every trip better than the last...be gentle you know who you are. It's heck being a dinosaur at the ripe old age of 40, but I coul not for the life of me figure out how to put photos in this dadgummed report... but if I wait until I figure it out it'll be another ten months before I end up putting it in without them because I never figured it out and threw the computer off the roof! Sorry to rant. Better or worse, here it is!
Cast of Our Intrepid Vacationers;
Me- 39 trial attorney, husband and Dad; moderate Disney-nut; travel guru for the Ash family
DW- 40 supermom and homemaker; Disney-nut
DD- P- 5 super-high energy, evolving Disney-nut and all around Princess and Princess freak
JZ- 35 neighbor, friend and teammate and Junior High teacher Disney and travel neophyte
KZ- 35 DW to JZ; neighbor; working Mom to AZ; Disney neophyte; frequent business traveler
AZ- 3 DD to JZ and KZ; never to Disney; Kind of knew who Mickey was, sort of
Various family members and friends to be introduced along the way
RL- 49 neighbor, friend and teammate
TL- 45 DW to RL
Pre-trip preparations
This was the Ash familys second 7 day plus trip to Florida in seven months, third in two years, fifth in three years and probably dozenth in the last six years. The last five years these trips have included a trip to Disney. With our residence in Southern California these trips take some planning. DW, Wendy, (yes she was named after Wendy from Peter Pan, so I shouldve anticipated the Disney turn our lives would take when I popped the question on bended knee) grew up in the Fort Lauderdale area and the majority of the family still lives in the Sarasota/ Venice area about two hours south of Orlando.
With Wendys grandmothers birthday falling on the Fourth of July, and the familys comments every year for the last dozen being this may be Grandmas last birthday, the Ash clan makes the yearly trek back to the gulf coast during the cool July months nearly every year and every other year for Thanksgiving or Christmas. So on the umpteenth trip back for the matriarchs 85th birthday and a cousins wedding we decided to buy into Disney Vacation Club. Now three trips, two birthdays another wedding and Thanksgiving later we are thrilled with the decision. After countless sleepless nights on the lumpy bed in some relations back room it dawned on us that we were a mere two hours from our salvation! We could turn a five day trip to see my in-laws (who are actually pretty good ones) into a two week trip that would actually be FUN!
This trip was planned some time ago but we ended up with another cousin wedding last November so snuck seven days in at the Boardwalk Villas then too. So this trip was slated as a relaxing, take in the resort, and the highlights since we were just here, with no in-laws trip. HA! One day this spring after our neighborhood softball league game and a few pitchers (the glass kind) of Margaritas, our plans leaked out! Tim, our shortstop would be in Cocoa Beach for the shuttle launch (being a senior engineer for one of the aerospace companies out here), Rick (our center fielder) would be in Tampa with his wife Tracey for a wedding, and JZ (first base) would LOVE to take a family trip since school would be out and the Zs needed a family break together. Well, after a couple of more strong Margaritas at the local watering hole the plans solidified. The next morning I asked my wonderful wife what I had just done to our quiet family vacation and her response was dont worry, everyone was drinking, no one will remember HA! By Monday everyone had airline reservations and plans to meet up. Oh well, the best laid plans
But it gets better, the family now gets wind of the trip, since we had two rooms booked, and the Zs werent hooking up with us until Thursday, thered be plenty of room for all! Aunt coming in Sunday to Monday, cousin 1 Monday afternoon, Cousin 2, maybe Tuesday, since you arent doing anything well just drop by, Cousin 3, wife and kid, well see for one day and night but my work schedule is tight so Ill all when you get there and well work something out, its only a two hour drive! WHOA! Whered my quiet week go! I need some recharge time! I couldnt complain too much because my DW puts up with an awful lot of my family (who all live in nearby towns here in LA). So my devious mind began to spin and spin and plot. The original plan was to come in Sunday afternoon. We have plenty of points through DVC, frequent fliers on American It just might work! A couple of phone calls, and VERY helpful DVC club personnel and American people and we were booked on Saturday instead, had a rental car and one night at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Phase 2 of my evil plot; convince DW and family that it would be way better for everyone for us to drive down to Venice, rent out the back room at the local Bob Evans restaurant (no, no, Ill pay, really) and see everyone in one fell swoop on Sunday. That was none of you has to miss work, the kids dont have to miss basketball camp, Grandma and Grandpa wont have to be in the car so long yadayadayada. Surprisingly, IT WORKED! Everyone agreed! The only modification to the PVA-plot was lunch would be at Aunts house on Sunday.
As final preparations for the trip are being made one small blip appears on the screen Hurricane Dennis. After much guidance from fellow DIS-boarders, and a little luck from Mother Nature, plus my attitude of If an earthquake doesnt slow me down, no way is a little wind and rain! (Granted this was pre-Katrina) So the plans moved on, with crossed fingers we boarded our flight and headed to the Sunshine State. The flight was a little bumpy towards the end, but nothing major. Exiting the plane, we immediately felt on vacation when that gust of hot, humid air struck us on the jet way. We had arrove!
Since we were renting a car and moving we bypassed the waving fingers of the Magical Express folks (although DD did notice them and slap a high five as we passed). Luggage retrieval took a while but with all of our bags in tow, good spirits and happy smiles we headed for the National garage. For anyone who rents a car, I love National. You can pre-reserve online, pre-pay, pre-sign your contract and on arrival walk out to the garage, pick your car and drive out while everyone else is still at the counter. We picked out our blue Chevy SUV (DD gets to pick the color), which I had upgraded us too in light of the two hour drive south into the teeth of Dennis. For those of us familiar with the World, forget Mapquest, it will get you there but it definitely takes the scenic route! I can get to the Boardwalk blindfolded but since wed never been to Animal Kingdom Lodge before I got directions. We got there but we saw every other hotel on the property first. When we pulled in the valets were swamped so I dropped the girls off at the curb with the luggage and headed over to self park. It had not rained so far in our 90 minutes in Orlando, the moment I stepped under the portico and to the entrance the heavens opened and one of those buckets of water deluges began. Since we werent going anywhere but Boma for dinner no big deal.
When on vacation I am truly a believer in karma, be good to others and good things happen. Being in a competitive and bloodthirsty profession, I prefer minimal conflict with family, nature and any other travelers when on vacation. On our first day of vacation this meant a smile and a waive to the bucktoothed hick (no offense meant to the polite bucktoothed hicks out there) who cut me off while dropping off his brood at the front door of the Lodge, and waiting patiently while another Mensa candidate tried to grasp the complexities of the WDW Transit system (So if I want to go to Disney World [you mean the Magic Kingdom Maam the whole place is Walt Disney World] I take a bus that says what again? Magic Kingdom Maam and how do I get back here, do I take the bus again ) But as I tell the Princess, it will come back to us tenfold.
We had never been to the Animal Kingdom Lodge before, and I must tell you I was impressed. DW and the Princess were already at the front checking in. I was immediately and enthusiastically greeted by a CM dressed in traditional African garb at the front door. When you first walk in, the lodge is somewhat reminiscent of the Wilderness Lodge, the same but totally different. The decorations, theming architecture and artwork are breathtaking. The smells of cooking immediately set your mouth to watering and put us in the mood for dinner right away. While the girls checked in I tried to make a preferred seating reservation for Boma, no luck they were full up until 9, at which time I intended to be blissfully asleep. No problem, we were in vacation mode and would make do!
With Boardwalk Villas as our home resort I hear people talk about the long hallways all the time. Maybe because weve been there they dont seem too long to our clan but let me tell you, the Animal Kingdom Lodge hallways are LOOOOONNG! I kept thinking of a cold beer and hoping for a rest stop along the way. Im not generally averse to having the bellman take my luggage, what with the royal retinue of two that I travel with, maybe it was that first day of vacation vigor, maybe it was the jungle theme bringing out the Tarzan in me but after check-in I threw my bag over my back, loaded the girls three (yes three for two of them and one backpack for me, who needs more that a pair of shorts, sandals and a t-shirt at Disney, okay maybe a bathing suit but how much space does that take? But I digress) steamer trunks, my messenger bag carry-on, the new Princess Minnie my Princess had already wheedled out of me (how can I deny her? Were on vacation) and set off on a Safari to our room that would have had Livingston wheezing.
I was initially disappointed that we were on the second floor and that we were not on the main savannah side. I generally dont complain, but had thought about it. When we got to the room though I was pleased. The room was clean tastefully decorated (a little dark though) and best of all right one of the savannahs. The rain had let up a little so as the DW freshened up the Princess and I went out onto the patio to see if there were any animals (along the way to the room you pass viewing areas and we had seen giraffes and zebras). As well as being a princess nut she is an animal freak of the first degree. That was my main impetus for the one night stay at the Lodge. Within fifty feet of our balcony stood two huge horned African cattle which we promptly named Sir Loin and his wife, Filet for the duration of our stay. They never strayed from their spot for the 18 hours we were there. Later in the evening and the next morning at least three giraffes were always within 100 feet of our room. There were numerous antelope-type animals, and a ton big vultury-looking birds. Interestingly, even though Saturday night was the worst night for Orlando from Hurricane Dennis, the animals stayed out in the savannahs and in pretty much plain view.
Dinner was at Boma. We highly recommend this restaurant for families. We had toyed with going to Jiko. But with the day of travel we were concerned about the Princess having a melt down in the nicer restaurant. Our worries were unfounded, she colored and was perfect little lady through dinner. Although we were unable to get reserved seating we arrived right about 5:30 and were seated within minutes. As we left around 6:30 the wait looked to be about 30 minutes. The service was great, the food was good and the wines were surprisingly good. We tried a mid priced Cabernet from South Africa which went well with the smoky meats (beef and poultry) available. After dinner we explored a bit, picked up a bottle of wine from the shop on premises and spent the evening plotting out the week. We tried for a swim but with the spectacular lightning around Orlando that night the pool was closed. The one mishap was a substantial spill of red wine in the room (on the table and pajamas, not the carpet thank goodness) but Im willing to bet housecleaning sent out an alert for a slaughtered giraffe the next day what with the way our towels looked after the cleanup.
We awoke to a cloudy but dry Sunday July 10. We loaded the SUV and headed over to home (Boardwalk Villas) by 9am.
Check-in went fine but the room was not available (as we expected). We checked our bags with the Bell service, grabbed a breakfast burrito each and some coffee from the Boardwalk Bakery and headed south. The drive down was unnerving at times as Dennis was sideswiping the Gulf Coast on its way to Pensacola. I have never driven through rain that intense but it came in thirty second bursts and then would pass on. The trip with the family went great and we were back in Orlando by 5. The only mishap occurred at a rest break at McDonalds in the area of Plant City off the 4 outside of Tampa. About five miles down the road I noticed that my wallet was no longer residing in my pocket. An illegal U-Turn and panicked phone call later our good karma had come back to us. An honest worker had found my wallet and turned it in with all cash, credit cards, and travelers checks intact. I left a reward, my hearty thanks and a slower heartbeat. We only lost twenty minutes (and five years life span) on the ordeal. I later learned that Plant City is not generally regarded as a safe or trustworthy place to leave something of value. This served as a good object lesson for the Princess; there are good, honest people everywhere!
A stop at Publix to fill our kitchen and fridge and we were back and unpacked in time for our traditional first nights dinner at Big River Brewery (we love this place and go there often on our trips). On the way back in we had one loss the Princess lost her first tooth and freaked out a bit but in the end was very proud to be growing up. The room was in good shape. We noticed only very minimal wear and tear. The kitchen was fully equipped. We were staying for the first time with a Boardwalk view. We had the enclosed patio on the second floor just above Thimbles and Threads and directly across from the Carnival games. I had wanted an open patio but the size of this one instantly made up for having to stand to look out. We were so close to the Boardwalk it was like we were right on it. The performers would stop to do their shows right in front of us. We watched and cheered on the players at the games. The ledge was perfect for holding a bowl of chips and salsa and adult beverages all without worry of a spill or drop. It was also too high to have to worry about all but the most adventurous little ones so long as a reasonable eye is kept on them. We spent most of our time on the patio when we were home. It did feel a little strange to be standing outside and watching the WDW nightlife in my boxers, but no one else knew! (Another benefit of the enclosed patio). After an early night to bed we looked forward to day one in the parks!
Monday July 11, 2005
We definitely wanted to ride Soarin so we decided to brave the early morning entrance at Epcot. We arrived at the International Gateway about 7:50 to a line of about fifteen people in front of us. Wendy always has trouble with these new biometric finger doohickeys (we had been subjected to them in November too), but after a few tries and some advice on technique from the CM we were in. Directly to the Land and onto Soarin with about a fifteen minute standby time. Its a great ride and amenable to most preschoolers. The Princess got a little frightened at the finale but by then it was over. Try it youll like it! N
Next to the Sea for Turtle Talk. We were there first in line for the first show. Anyone who has not gone has to, it has become a must see twice for our family. With the addition of Dory and some upgrades in the animation since November it was better than we remembered. If you are there on a slow day its like a private audience with Crush. The Princess did not get to ask her question this show but we held out hope for the next time. We then watched the Dolphin show, the scuba divers, and the manatee feeding and explored all the nooks and crannies in the Sea Station. After that it was off to Innoventions to email Grandma and friends back in CA. By that time it was about 11 am and the park was starting to fill up (especially with teenage tours from South America, they were very enthusiastic, generally well behaved but LOUD and enthusiastic, they were everywhere). We decided to monorail over to the Magic Kingdom for a bite and a couple of rides before heading back to the pool. The ride to the transportation center was uneventful but when we got there the line for the ferry and the monorail into the Magic Kingdom had a 60 minute wait! We got back on board and headed back for Epcot. I was crestfallen! I am THE Disney tour planner for this family! We never (well almost never, okay seldom) wait in long lines, what had gone wrong! (We later learned that the transportation system was on heightened alert after the London Bombings of the week before, that a suspicious package had been found and the dogs that were called in had reacted to it, shutting down the system.)
To make up for my mistake I took the girls to Alfredos in Italy (one of Wendys favorites) for lunch. We had a terrific meal, a good Italian beer and a nice wine for the wife. Cooled off and refreshed we walked back to the Boardwalk, sampling the wares (mostly the fermented kind for the adults and the frozen and sticky kind for the rugrat) from Japan, Morocco, France and England (had to go to the Rose and Crown for my traditional ½ yard of Bass!). Then back to the room, where the girls took a rest and I returned walked over to return the rental car to the valets at the Dolphin. One little tip is to park over at the Dolphin when you are done with the car and then you can take the short walk over the bridge, point out the car to the valet and you are done. (Plus after years of driving in LA day in and day out I want as little to do with a car as possible!). BUT tip the valet first as you point out the car. They seem to get stiffed a lot and dread doing the return thing, so if you tip them first you get great and courteous service. Then back to the room for a change into pool clothes and an afternoon dip.
The P had never done the infamous clown slide before but had decided over the last few months that she would do it. After the first trip down she was a convert. After the dip in the pool we headed over to Fantasia Gardens for a round of mini golf. We had a ton of fun. Afterwards, for the evening we ate leftovers from Alfredos. The P hit the sack early after a big day. A couple of tequila shots and DW and I opened a nice bottle of wine and enjoyed the Boardwalk ambience from the patio as well as quite a lightning show. One pointer; if you have an Ipod, invest in one of those little portable speaker stands. It was wonderful to have our own tunes, playing quietly while we chatted and renewed our relationship from the rigors of a year of everyday life and work.
Tuesday July 12, 2005
Off to Typhoon Lagoon! We were at the gate and inside the holding area by 8:50. One other tip; if you stay at more than one resort during your stay and are issued multiple room tickets KEEP THEM SEGREGATED! After waiting for the bus, and getting to the gate my ticket, (yes mine, not the girls) refused to work, pointing longingly at my lovely family just mere feet from me on the other side of the turnstile didnt work. It finally turned out I had grabbed the Animal Kingdom Lodge room key rather than my Boardwalk key with park tickets on it. I was finally able to purchase a one day entry but since I didnt bring credit cards or cash I had to do it with Wendys ticket and she was already inside! Luckily I had a nice person helping me. Upon return to Boardwalk they credited me back the entry fee. Early is definitely the time to come to the watermarks. We got a great seat that we never used and rode every slide that the Princess was tall enough for before 11 with either no wait or minimal wait. We rode all three of the Storm slides multiple times with no wait at all. My daughter is 5 ½ but she is average height for her age but very tiny weighing only about 34 pounds (all energy), she is also a great swimmer but the looks we got from the lifeguards when she came shooting out the end were priceless! Then her little head would bob up and shed expertly stroke to the side, laughing all the way.
Our last event at Typhoon Lagoon was Shark Reef, which I called the Fish swim (tip; sharks bad to 5 year old princess). We were all in line for this one but when they announced that the water was 65 degrees DW backed out. The Princess just about backed out after her initial plunge into the water. It was chilly but really not too bad. She screwed up her courage and did the swim. It was very fun and we are looking forward to snorkeling in Hawaii next summer. I was very proud of my little one again. After leaving we were back to the Clown Pool for the rest of the day where DD met another little girl and swam and played the rest of the day. Afterwards we headed over to Pleasure Island for the Tuesday Night DVC Member Block Party. Along the way we had to make a stop at the Disney store to pick out a new Princess dress for the Princess Tea on Thursday. Of course the wife and daughter picked out the most expensive Sleeping Beauty dress, but hey, how often do you dine with royalty? And she is my only child and she is a perfect princess, sorry about the gushing! The block party was a great time. There were carnival games for free, snack food for free with a coupon (two were given to each member upon entry) including popcorn, ice cream and cotton candy, and dancing, trivia games and activities in one of the clubs and adult beverages for a reasonable (WDW-reasonable) price. The whole family had a great time and we met some other DVCers while we were there. They had an amazing balloon animal artist (really an artist) who did amazing things with balloons, including a four foot tall Snow White for my princess. If you were there, my daughter and wife were two of the hula hoop contestants and all three of us were the loud ones up near the front during the trivia games.
We headed back home and hit ESPN Zone for dinner with an interview with Pitcher Steve Kline for ESPN in the main dining room right next to us. It was fun and the food and drinks were great. Another night of watching the crowds go by on the Boardwalk, and another bottle of wine after the Princess passed out.
Wednesday July 13, 2005
We are to meet the first of the Softball team at Epcot at 1pm. We decided though to head into the Magic Kingdom for a few rides. The topic of this trip with Princess had been manners and patience and good karma. While waiting for the opening we were jostled and pushed and we kept up the mantra of good manners, patience. As the rope dropped the initial rush began and we waited. The princess wanted to run with the bulls but we kept on with good manners and patience P well get there the same as them. After the initial rush we headed for Fantasyland for a spin on Dumbo and the Tea Cups (a father-daughter favorite) and that karma came in handy again. After reading about it on the DIS board I was familiar with the Waking Tinkerbell ceremony but figured wed never get back there in time, I didnt want to run or push so figured no chance and I didnt want to get hopes up. So I never mentioned it to either DW or P. As we passed through he castle (which really looks incredible with the Celebration gilding and ornaments) there really was no one around, seemed as if everyone had headed into Tomorrowland. I saw Tinkerbells Closet was open and empty so I whispered to my daughter, Want to wake up Tinkerbell?, which got an enthusiastic answer from her and a confused look from my wife. We walked in and the Princess asked the CM Is Tinkerbell awake? the answer was no and she was shown to the box and given the wand and the instructions to wave the wand three times and say Wake up Tinkerbell! which she did in her loudest shout on blinked the lights and bells she was entranced and excited, it turned out to be the highlight of her day. She got a certificate of a special event and a thanks from the very sweet CM. About this time another family finally came in with two girls dressed in princess gear. They were disappointed and I felt bad about it but we had waited some time. Their mom had explained someone might get there first. Its not worth being rude or killing yourself or kids to get there, but it is worth doing if you get lucky like we did. Good karma!
After that we rode Dumbo, Tea Cups (three times in a row, no wait), Pooh, then to the Magic Carpets (2xs) while DW got FPs for Splash Mountain, Pirates, Country Bears, Small World (arghhhhh!) Pirates again (to wash off the Small World song) and Splash Mountain. Now it was noon and we had to get to Epcot by 1. Out the main gate to Monorail where we asked and were granted a ride with the conductor (who vindicated me for my bad call of Monday by telling us about the false alarm mysterious package).
We made it in enough time to pick up two DVD disks for the videocam (The convenience of this new machine is awesome! Straight to DVD videos and 3.0 mp photos) and hook up with Rick and Tracey. We all found it odd to meet up with neighbors who live two doors down 3000 miles away. We walked through the countries hitting all of the high points (read beer and wine for the adults- pretzels and juice for the P). These guys are like family, their daughter is 20 and grew up with us and our daughter is filling that granddaughter spot until they have one. So Ricky played doting Uncle while the other three of us enjoyed (in moderation of course) the wares of the Worlds. Dinner was at Alfredos again with PS. We were in within minutes of our reservation and dinner was better than lunch. The Alfredo is awesome, the pasta vodka was great. We also arrived just in time to enjoy one of Floridas thunder and lightning storms from inside. As we were preparing to leave the storm moved off. We finished the Worlds, saw Jasmine and Aladdin, Belle, Alice and Pooh and all his friends along the way. Finally three of us (DW prone to motion sickness bowed out and P is not ready for this one yet) rode Mission Space and then lined up for the fireworks. What a great show! We had seen the high shots from our room a couple of times before, but with the Princesses earlier fear of loud noises we had passed. Shes over that now and greatly enjoyed the scene. We said our goodbye and headed out the International Gate to home.
Thursday July 14, 2005
We got to sleep in Thursday because this was the Princess Tea day at the Grand Floridian. After much primping and preening we set out for the GF. Bus to Magic Kingdom and boat over to GF. The girls checked in and from the looks of the video had a great time. I was excused as this was a mother-daughter event. Found a quiet spot and caught up on the paper. By all accounts it was a great success. It is a little pricey ($200 for a child and one parent) but a light lunch is served, Rose Petal (a princessy-looking performer) entertains, each child receives a tiara, a Disney Girl Princess Aurora Doll, a scepter/wand and a bracelet as well as some good one on one time with Aurora and Rose Petal. Each Mom gets a rose, which actually lasted the rest of our trip. My Princess gushed about it all day.
A quick change into more park friendly clothes and we were off to finish up the Magic Kingdom. We were able to catch Cinderellabration which the girls loved but it was very girly, I managed to stave off boredom and the heat with a couple of ice creams and two lemon freezes, so it was okay. Boys and most Dads seemed to drift towards the concessionaires fairly quickly. Our goal was to see this, the parade, Country Bears, Barnstormer and the Magic Carpets one more time. We left and headed over to Toon Town, it had just been overrun by about 35000 Brazilian high school students so we gracefully bowed out.
Luck held though and we reached the Country Bear Jamboree just 5 minutes before show time. We managed to shoehorn ourselves into the waiting room and after several minutes the CM approached the microphone for her The doors will open towards you in a few seconds, please stay behind the yellow line-speech, but instead she announced that because of technical difficulties the show was cancelled! Technical difficulties my eye! Im sure Big Al was hitting the moonshine a little too hard after the matinee show. So we headed out to the Carpets, short line, we are next up and BOOOM! Thunder starts, as quick as you can say abracadabra the CM announces a safety shut down because of the electrical storm. By now its almost time for the parade so we walk through the pin shop, browse a little (DW and Princess are big pin traders) and head onto the street for a spot for the parade. We locate a prime spot next to a tree, in the shade with a little planter to sit on. Things are looking up for the Ashs! What was that? A rain drop? Cant be. Break out the 85 cent Target ponchos for the girls (a little water wont hurt me!) and settle back in for a little drizzle. Another tip, these ponchos are great, they come in little pouches that fit in your pack or bag and are cheap. I bought six and carried three around all the time. It sure beat the 6 and 7 dollar ones they were selling at the parks. Find them in the camping aisle. Five minutes late, and a little more water and the announcer comes on again and gives the for the safety of you and our performers, the parade is delayed. Right then the sky opens and deluge begins. I think about that third rain poncho in my pack, but by now Im already drenched. The family huddles up and decides that the Tiki gods are agin us today, lets head for the hills! The walk back was actually fun, the rain in Florida is warm, the streets were so hot that the water on the ground we are splashing through is really more like bathwater and rain in California is cold! So we make the best of it and walk to the buses. The girls shed their ponchos, dry as a bone, me on the other hand; as wet as if Id just ridden the Crushin Gusher fully clothed!
On the way back we located the little bar on the main floor of the Boardwalk, ordered a glass of wine, a Corona and a Shirley Temple and found a spot to watch the storm, unfortunately it was mostly passed and we only saw a little distant lightning. We dont get thunder or lightning in California often and I miss it from my childhood in the Midwest.
Back to the room for a short rest, a little walk on the Boardwalk after the rain, and we were right on time for our 5:30 PS reservations at Spoodles. Another great meal and great service. After dinner we strolled the Boardwalk and browsed Thimbles and Threads which we have voted as the coldest shop in all of Walt Disney World. Off to bed for the early arrival of JZ, KZ and AZ!
Friday July 15, 2005
The Zimmerman family took the red eye out of LA and landed at 6:30 a.m. They got to the hotel about 7:30 and we met them with steaming, strong coffee. After settling into the room and showers, we headed off to Epcot and got there shortly after the gates opened. We grabbed fast passes for Soarin (which never got used, more below) and headed to Turtle Talk again. The girls had a great time looking at the fish and animals in the Sea and both loved Turtle Talk. My Princess even got to ask how Squirt was doing.
We then headed to Norway for 11:40 reservations for the Princess lunch at Akershus. Along the way we ran into Goofy, Mickey, Minnie and Pluto. AZ (3 yo) had never really been exposed to Disney (is that child abuse?) and didnt really know who these big guys were, but she loved them! Good photo ops and fun.
We got to lunch right on time and were seated almost immediately. The food is based on Norwegian foods and is a little on the fish heavy side, the pasta was good and the kids could have PB&J. Unfortunately before the food or princesses could arrive the long flight, night and excitement caught up with AZ. She melted down completely. Sorry if you were sitting near us. So mom scooped her up and headed back to the hotel. Luckily its not too far. The rest of us stayed and got to see Cinderella, Alice, Belle, Aurora and Ariel.
The food was okay and we were glad we did it but probably stick to the more conventional foods in the future. If cold scrambled eggs, salmon and herring are your bag this is the place for you. Otherwise, I heard the breakfast is more traditional fare. Afterwards we headed back to check on KZ and AZ. They were sleeping, JZ joined them and DW decided to take a quick nap too. The princess and I suited up and headed for the clown. 25 or 30 slides later we met back up and JZ and I headed down to ESPN where they were interviewing some Kansas City Chiefs (me and JZ BIG football fans).
After a couple of Coronas we met up with everyone at Big River and sat out on the Boardwalk at our usual table. The kids played and DWs one cousin from Sarasota with his wife and little girl showed up to join us for dinner. We had yet another great meal and headed up for bed.
Saturday July 16, 2005
I plan these trips. I mean I sit down and work out itineraries and time schedules and places to be. I want my family to have the best time possible. Since the Zs had never been to WDW I wanted to share the magic with them too. Dont get me wrong, Im flexible, I leave time for spur of the moment stuff, rain storm diversions, rest breaks, swim breaks, I can roll with the unexpected and not get flustered It doesnt bother me to move things around a bit if there is a reason to do it! Saturday was an extra magic hour morning day for AK. Perfect! We get in early ride Kilamanjaro, Kali Rapids do Breakfastasouras at 10:00 and then see the Lion King, maybe Tarzan, walk through the Maharajas Trek, see the monkeys and get out before it gets packed. Grab lunch at Rainforest and spend the rest of the day at the pool. For this to work we must get up, sometime, in the morning, Despite explicit instructions and a fairly early bed time, there is no motion, sight or sound coming from the Z room at the appointed 7:00 or 7:30 or 8:00 or 8:30. The Princess has been up for 2 hours now and is itching to get out. She is not a quiet kid. The smells of coffee and me making breakfast rouse no one. Finally about 8:45 we hear movement. 9:00 heads peek out. Thankfully they all seem better rested and happier, but my plans are shot! The only way extra magic hour works is if you are there for it! You have to get in and out that day. Hit the rides early and often and move along and out of the park by lunch. My plans were shot! So during my two hours of stewing I came up with a plan, we headed over to Cape May at the Beach Club to see if we could get in spur of the moment. We arrived about 9:30 am and were seated by 9:40! The girls got to see and pose with Minnie, Goofy and Dale.
The meal was good too. Chef Mickey is still the best character breakfast, but theres slim chance you could get in on the spur of the moment and Cape May was pretty good!
From there we hopped the boat and headed into MGM. The girls went directly to Playhouse Disney, always a favorite for the preschool set! While they were in line JZ and I went over and fast passed Tower of Terror and Rockin Rollercoaster (the benefit of traveling with kids who dont reach the height limit! Multiple fat passes). We got back just as the doors for the show opened. It was changed slightly from last time so had some new characters. Its fun to see the little ones dance and enjoy the wholesome characters they have set forth in this show. Then we lucked out and got right into the Little Mermaid. From there we dropped off KZ and the girls at the fruit stand for a breather and JZ, DW and me headed to ToT. Walked right on. It amazes me how people fail to use fastpass and then give you the evil eye when you pass them up! After that JZ and I hit Rockin RC. Great coaster, a little short but loud, good music and darkness! After that we walked right into Beauty and The Beast and met up with the girls. Finally we crossed back over the park and hit the Muppets and got Jessies autograph. My Mojo was back! Six rides/shows with no waits!
Back to Boardwalk, a rest for the girls and then the Clown AGAIN! Getting a little tired of that grinning monstrosity by now, but not the Princess! Another ten times or so before we headed upstairs and got the kids dinner and got ready for adults night out.
I had arranged for a sitter from Kids Nite Out. She was extremely prompt and very nice. Joycie B. bonded with the kids so quickly they were pushing us out the door! And I kept trying to talk to her because she had mentioned that she was one of the original secretaries to the first Imagineers designing WDW! I recommend this service. They took a very thorough history of both kids, we felt very secure leaving the kids in our room with this nice woman.
Dinner was at Shulas at the Dolphin. This place has become our splurge since our last trip. The steaks are great, the wines are fantastic (a little overpriced, shocker at WDW!) and the service is impeccable. We had a nice relaxing dinner and then headed over to Pleasure Island. Hit all the clubs and most of the drink stands. We missed the Comedy Club and I couldnt get the ladies to stop dancing long enough to go to the Adventurers Club. Oh well, not a terrible problem to have. We stayed until New Years and made our way home. Joycie B. was reading a book when we arrived and the girls were fast asleep. She said they had been angels hmmm had she been in the Tequila? All were safe and sound and we headed off to bed.
Sunday July 17, 2005
Our last full day! We revisited our attempt at Animal Kingdom. Despite a late start, we made it without much trouble and not too late. Animal Kingdom tip; use the entrance through Rainforest Café, no wait at all!
Fast passes for Kilimanjaro then we headed to Kali Rapids where there was only a 15 minute wait. JZ, KZ and I rode this one. Wendy decided shed stay with the girls. Part way through the line when they saw the exiting riders JZ and KZ thought about bolting. They had not expected this kind of wet. I gave KZ my third poncho to keep her in line. Since our raft had three people with raincoats or ponchos, no one got wet. The rafts with no ponchos soaked. More good Mojo. Afterwards we walked through the Maharajas Trek and then back to Kilimanjaro to use our fastpasses. Back across the park to Tarzan Rocks. This was the hottest (temperature-wise) venue I have ever been in at any Disney park, east or west. The show was okay, skating was cool, the singer was no Phil Collins but adequate. It was probably better than I remember but it was brutally hot. Plan on going early or late in the day, NOT midday. I bailed out quickly and headed to Rainforest at a fast walk. Got there at 12:30 or so put our names in and our party was called just as the rest of the group walked in. After a cool iced tea and margaritas (which were very good) and Icees for the girls we were all feeling much better. We finished lunch just in time to make the 2:00 showing of Lion King which is probably the best show at WDW and certainly at the AK.
One last trip to Downtown Disney for last souvenirs and back to the Boardwalk for the traditional last night clean-out-the-fridge-and-eat-and-drink-so-we-dont-feel-so-wasteful-meal and cocktail hour. The little girls went to sleep at a reasonable hour and the big girls went down to ESPN to get the best Key Lime Pie at WDW. We finished the night with pie, music and the last of the tequila and Coronas. We can pack tomorrow!
Monday July 18, 2005
A little bleary Monday morning. But we all got packed and checked out.
The Zs werent flying out until 7:30 p.m. We were on a 2:00 flight and had signed up for Magical Express for the return to MCO. We were able to check our luggage and get our boarding passes right at the front desk! They do work for tips too! I forgot but my lovely wife saved me and got the tip. We also learned that American had moved our flight up by 45 minutes so we said our good byes, hopped an earlier bus and were at MCO in plenty of time. This service is great and I wonder how long it will be free. My theory is they show everyone how well Disney can do this drive the other services out and then start charging for it. But it was great. The lines for check in were enormous but we just walked right past, no luggage, just carry-ons and through security to that last vacation stop before heading back to the gym, Cinnabon! Flight was on time, luggage was there to greet us at LAX and were home planning our next trip home.
This is my first attempt at a trip report and it has taken much longer than anticipated. I apologize for the delay but after reading so many reports that I have loved, I figured, what the hey, lots of folks are getting psyched for their July trips for 06 (no Florida for us this year well settle for a three day turn around at Disneyland and California adventure this year). To the old pros whose Reports have inspired me to make every trip better than the last...be gentle you know who you are. It's heck being a dinosaur at the ripe old age of 40, but I coul not for the life of me figure out how to put photos in this dadgummed report... but if I wait until I figure it out it'll be another ten months before I end up putting it in without them because I never figured it out and threw the computer off the roof! Sorry to rant. Better or worse, here it is!
Cast of Our Intrepid Vacationers;
Me- 39 trial attorney, husband and Dad; moderate Disney-nut; travel guru for the Ash family
DW- 40 supermom and homemaker; Disney-nut
DD- P- 5 super-high energy, evolving Disney-nut and all around Princess and Princess freak
JZ- 35 neighbor, friend and teammate and Junior High teacher Disney and travel neophyte
KZ- 35 DW to JZ; neighbor; working Mom to AZ; Disney neophyte; frequent business traveler
AZ- 3 DD to JZ and KZ; never to Disney; Kind of knew who Mickey was, sort of
Various family members and friends to be introduced along the way
RL- 49 neighbor, friend and teammate
TL- 45 DW to RL
Pre-trip preparations
This was the Ash familys second 7 day plus trip to Florida in seven months, third in two years, fifth in three years and probably dozenth in the last six years. The last five years these trips have included a trip to Disney. With our residence in Southern California these trips take some planning. DW, Wendy, (yes she was named after Wendy from Peter Pan, so I shouldve anticipated the Disney turn our lives would take when I popped the question on bended knee) grew up in the Fort Lauderdale area and the majority of the family still lives in the Sarasota/ Venice area about two hours south of Orlando.
With Wendys grandmothers birthday falling on the Fourth of July, and the familys comments every year for the last dozen being this may be Grandmas last birthday, the Ash clan makes the yearly trek back to the gulf coast during the cool July months nearly every year and every other year for Thanksgiving or Christmas. So on the umpteenth trip back for the matriarchs 85th birthday and a cousins wedding we decided to buy into Disney Vacation Club. Now three trips, two birthdays another wedding and Thanksgiving later we are thrilled with the decision. After countless sleepless nights on the lumpy bed in some relations back room it dawned on us that we were a mere two hours from our salvation! We could turn a five day trip to see my in-laws (who are actually pretty good ones) into a two week trip that would actually be FUN!
This trip was planned some time ago but we ended up with another cousin wedding last November so snuck seven days in at the Boardwalk Villas then too. So this trip was slated as a relaxing, take in the resort, and the highlights since we were just here, with no in-laws trip. HA! One day this spring after our neighborhood softball league game and a few pitchers (the glass kind) of Margaritas, our plans leaked out! Tim, our shortstop would be in Cocoa Beach for the shuttle launch (being a senior engineer for one of the aerospace companies out here), Rick (our center fielder) would be in Tampa with his wife Tracey for a wedding, and JZ (first base) would LOVE to take a family trip since school would be out and the Zs needed a family break together. Well, after a couple of more strong Margaritas at the local watering hole the plans solidified. The next morning I asked my wonderful wife what I had just done to our quiet family vacation and her response was dont worry, everyone was drinking, no one will remember HA! By Monday everyone had airline reservations and plans to meet up. Oh well, the best laid plans
But it gets better, the family now gets wind of the trip, since we had two rooms booked, and the Zs werent hooking up with us until Thursday, thered be plenty of room for all! Aunt coming in Sunday to Monday, cousin 1 Monday afternoon, Cousin 2, maybe Tuesday, since you arent doing anything well just drop by, Cousin 3, wife and kid, well see for one day and night but my work schedule is tight so Ill all when you get there and well work something out, its only a two hour drive! WHOA! Whered my quiet week go! I need some recharge time! I couldnt complain too much because my DW puts up with an awful lot of my family (who all live in nearby towns here in LA). So my devious mind began to spin and spin and plot. The original plan was to come in Sunday afternoon. We have plenty of points through DVC, frequent fliers on American It just might work! A couple of phone calls, and VERY helpful DVC club personnel and American people and we were booked on Saturday instead, had a rental car and one night at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Phase 2 of my evil plot; convince DW and family that it would be way better for everyone for us to drive down to Venice, rent out the back room at the local Bob Evans restaurant (no, no, Ill pay, really) and see everyone in one fell swoop on Sunday. That was none of you has to miss work, the kids dont have to miss basketball camp, Grandma and Grandpa wont have to be in the car so long yadayadayada. Surprisingly, IT WORKED! Everyone agreed! The only modification to the PVA-plot was lunch would be at Aunts house on Sunday.
As final preparations for the trip are being made one small blip appears on the screen Hurricane Dennis. After much guidance from fellow DIS-boarders, and a little luck from Mother Nature, plus my attitude of If an earthquake doesnt slow me down, no way is a little wind and rain! (Granted this was pre-Katrina) So the plans moved on, with crossed fingers we boarded our flight and headed to the Sunshine State. The flight was a little bumpy towards the end, but nothing major. Exiting the plane, we immediately felt on vacation when that gust of hot, humid air struck us on the jet way. We had arrove!
Since we were renting a car and moving we bypassed the waving fingers of the Magical Express folks (although DD did notice them and slap a high five as we passed). Luggage retrieval took a while but with all of our bags in tow, good spirits and happy smiles we headed for the National garage. For anyone who rents a car, I love National. You can pre-reserve online, pre-pay, pre-sign your contract and on arrival walk out to the garage, pick your car and drive out while everyone else is still at the counter. We picked out our blue Chevy SUV (DD gets to pick the color), which I had upgraded us too in light of the two hour drive south into the teeth of Dennis. For those of us familiar with the World, forget Mapquest, it will get you there but it definitely takes the scenic route! I can get to the Boardwalk blindfolded but since wed never been to Animal Kingdom Lodge before I got directions. We got there but we saw every other hotel on the property first. When we pulled in the valets were swamped so I dropped the girls off at the curb with the luggage and headed over to self park. It had not rained so far in our 90 minutes in Orlando, the moment I stepped under the portico and to the entrance the heavens opened and one of those buckets of water deluges began. Since we werent going anywhere but Boma for dinner no big deal.
When on vacation I am truly a believer in karma, be good to others and good things happen. Being in a competitive and bloodthirsty profession, I prefer minimal conflict with family, nature and any other travelers when on vacation. On our first day of vacation this meant a smile and a waive to the bucktoothed hick (no offense meant to the polite bucktoothed hicks out there) who cut me off while dropping off his brood at the front door of the Lodge, and waiting patiently while another Mensa candidate tried to grasp the complexities of the WDW Transit system (So if I want to go to Disney World [you mean the Magic Kingdom Maam the whole place is Walt Disney World] I take a bus that says what again? Magic Kingdom Maam and how do I get back here, do I take the bus again ) But as I tell the Princess, it will come back to us tenfold.
We had never been to the Animal Kingdom Lodge before, and I must tell you I was impressed. DW and the Princess were already at the front checking in. I was immediately and enthusiastically greeted by a CM dressed in traditional African garb at the front door. When you first walk in, the lodge is somewhat reminiscent of the Wilderness Lodge, the same but totally different. The decorations, theming architecture and artwork are breathtaking. The smells of cooking immediately set your mouth to watering and put us in the mood for dinner right away. While the girls checked in I tried to make a preferred seating reservation for Boma, no luck they were full up until 9, at which time I intended to be blissfully asleep. No problem, we were in vacation mode and would make do!
With Boardwalk Villas as our home resort I hear people talk about the long hallways all the time. Maybe because weve been there they dont seem too long to our clan but let me tell you, the Animal Kingdom Lodge hallways are LOOOOONNG! I kept thinking of a cold beer and hoping for a rest stop along the way. Im not generally averse to having the bellman take my luggage, what with the royal retinue of two that I travel with, maybe it was that first day of vacation vigor, maybe it was the jungle theme bringing out the Tarzan in me but after check-in I threw my bag over my back, loaded the girls three (yes three for two of them and one backpack for me, who needs more that a pair of shorts, sandals and a t-shirt at Disney, okay maybe a bathing suit but how much space does that take? But I digress) steamer trunks, my messenger bag carry-on, the new Princess Minnie my Princess had already wheedled out of me (how can I deny her? Were on vacation) and set off on a Safari to our room that would have had Livingston wheezing.
I was initially disappointed that we were on the second floor and that we were not on the main savannah side. I generally dont complain, but had thought about it. When we got to the room though I was pleased. The room was clean tastefully decorated (a little dark though) and best of all right one of the savannahs. The rain had let up a little so as the DW freshened up the Princess and I went out onto the patio to see if there were any animals (along the way to the room you pass viewing areas and we had seen giraffes and zebras). As well as being a princess nut she is an animal freak of the first degree. That was my main impetus for the one night stay at the Lodge. Within fifty feet of our balcony stood two huge horned African cattle which we promptly named Sir Loin and his wife, Filet for the duration of our stay. They never strayed from their spot for the 18 hours we were there. Later in the evening and the next morning at least three giraffes were always within 100 feet of our room. There were numerous antelope-type animals, and a ton big vultury-looking birds. Interestingly, even though Saturday night was the worst night for Orlando from Hurricane Dennis, the animals stayed out in the savannahs and in pretty much plain view.
Dinner was at Boma. We highly recommend this restaurant for families. We had toyed with going to Jiko. But with the day of travel we were concerned about the Princess having a melt down in the nicer restaurant. Our worries were unfounded, she colored and was perfect little lady through dinner. Although we were unable to get reserved seating we arrived right about 5:30 and were seated within minutes. As we left around 6:30 the wait looked to be about 30 minutes. The service was great, the food was good and the wines were surprisingly good. We tried a mid priced Cabernet from South Africa which went well with the smoky meats (beef and poultry) available. After dinner we explored a bit, picked up a bottle of wine from the shop on premises and spent the evening plotting out the week. We tried for a swim but with the spectacular lightning around Orlando that night the pool was closed. The one mishap was a substantial spill of red wine in the room (on the table and pajamas, not the carpet thank goodness) but Im willing to bet housecleaning sent out an alert for a slaughtered giraffe the next day what with the way our towels looked after the cleanup.
We awoke to a cloudy but dry Sunday July 10. We loaded the SUV and headed over to home (Boardwalk Villas) by 9am.
Check-in went fine but the room was not available (as we expected). We checked our bags with the Bell service, grabbed a breakfast burrito each and some coffee from the Boardwalk Bakery and headed south. The drive down was unnerving at times as Dennis was sideswiping the Gulf Coast on its way to Pensacola. I have never driven through rain that intense but it came in thirty second bursts and then would pass on. The trip with the family went great and we were back in Orlando by 5. The only mishap occurred at a rest break at McDonalds in the area of Plant City off the 4 outside of Tampa. About five miles down the road I noticed that my wallet was no longer residing in my pocket. An illegal U-Turn and panicked phone call later our good karma had come back to us. An honest worker had found my wallet and turned it in with all cash, credit cards, and travelers checks intact. I left a reward, my hearty thanks and a slower heartbeat. We only lost twenty minutes (and five years life span) on the ordeal. I later learned that Plant City is not generally regarded as a safe or trustworthy place to leave something of value. This served as a good object lesson for the Princess; there are good, honest people everywhere!
A stop at Publix to fill our kitchen and fridge and we were back and unpacked in time for our traditional first nights dinner at Big River Brewery (we love this place and go there often on our trips). On the way back in we had one loss the Princess lost her first tooth and freaked out a bit but in the end was very proud to be growing up. The room was in good shape. We noticed only very minimal wear and tear. The kitchen was fully equipped. We were staying for the first time with a Boardwalk view. We had the enclosed patio on the second floor just above Thimbles and Threads and directly across from the Carnival games. I had wanted an open patio but the size of this one instantly made up for having to stand to look out. We were so close to the Boardwalk it was like we were right on it. The performers would stop to do their shows right in front of us. We watched and cheered on the players at the games. The ledge was perfect for holding a bowl of chips and salsa and adult beverages all without worry of a spill or drop. It was also too high to have to worry about all but the most adventurous little ones so long as a reasonable eye is kept on them. We spent most of our time on the patio when we were home. It did feel a little strange to be standing outside and watching the WDW nightlife in my boxers, but no one else knew! (Another benefit of the enclosed patio). After an early night to bed we looked forward to day one in the parks!
Monday July 11, 2005
We definitely wanted to ride Soarin so we decided to brave the early morning entrance at Epcot. We arrived at the International Gateway about 7:50 to a line of about fifteen people in front of us. Wendy always has trouble with these new biometric finger doohickeys (we had been subjected to them in November too), but after a few tries and some advice on technique from the CM we were in. Directly to the Land and onto Soarin with about a fifteen minute standby time. Its a great ride and amenable to most preschoolers. The Princess got a little frightened at the finale but by then it was over. Try it youll like it! N
Next to the Sea for Turtle Talk. We were there first in line for the first show. Anyone who has not gone has to, it has become a must see twice for our family. With the addition of Dory and some upgrades in the animation since November it was better than we remembered. If you are there on a slow day its like a private audience with Crush. The Princess did not get to ask her question this show but we held out hope for the next time. We then watched the Dolphin show, the scuba divers, and the manatee feeding and explored all the nooks and crannies in the Sea Station. After that it was off to Innoventions to email Grandma and friends back in CA. By that time it was about 11 am and the park was starting to fill up (especially with teenage tours from South America, they were very enthusiastic, generally well behaved but LOUD and enthusiastic, they were everywhere). We decided to monorail over to the Magic Kingdom for a bite and a couple of rides before heading back to the pool. The ride to the transportation center was uneventful but when we got there the line for the ferry and the monorail into the Magic Kingdom had a 60 minute wait! We got back on board and headed back for Epcot. I was crestfallen! I am THE Disney tour planner for this family! We never (well almost never, okay seldom) wait in long lines, what had gone wrong! (We later learned that the transportation system was on heightened alert after the London Bombings of the week before, that a suspicious package had been found and the dogs that were called in had reacted to it, shutting down the system.)
To make up for my mistake I took the girls to Alfredos in Italy (one of Wendys favorites) for lunch. We had a terrific meal, a good Italian beer and a nice wine for the wife. Cooled off and refreshed we walked back to the Boardwalk, sampling the wares (mostly the fermented kind for the adults and the frozen and sticky kind for the rugrat) from Japan, Morocco, France and England (had to go to the Rose and Crown for my traditional ½ yard of Bass!). Then back to the room, where the girls took a rest and I returned walked over to return the rental car to the valets at the Dolphin. One little tip is to park over at the Dolphin when you are done with the car and then you can take the short walk over the bridge, point out the car to the valet and you are done. (Plus after years of driving in LA day in and day out I want as little to do with a car as possible!). BUT tip the valet first as you point out the car. They seem to get stiffed a lot and dread doing the return thing, so if you tip them first you get great and courteous service. Then back to the room for a change into pool clothes and an afternoon dip.
The P had never done the infamous clown slide before but had decided over the last few months that she would do it. After the first trip down she was a convert. After the dip in the pool we headed over to Fantasia Gardens for a round of mini golf. We had a ton of fun. Afterwards, for the evening we ate leftovers from Alfredos. The P hit the sack early after a big day. A couple of tequila shots and DW and I opened a nice bottle of wine and enjoyed the Boardwalk ambience from the patio as well as quite a lightning show. One pointer; if you have an Ipod, invest in one of those little portable speaker stands. It was wonderful to have our own tunes, playing quietly while we chatted and renewed our relationship from the rigors of a year of everyday life and work.
Tuesday July 12, 2005
Off to Typhoon Lagoon! We were at the gate and inside the holding area by 8:50. One other tip; if you stay at more than one resort during your stay and are issued multiple room tickets KEEP THEM SEGREGATED! After waiting for the bus, and getting to the gate my ticket, (yes mine, not the girls) refused to work, pointing longingly at my lovely family just mere feet from me on the other side of the turnstile didnt work. It finally turned out I had grabbed the Animal Kingdom Lodge room key rather than my Boardwalk key with park tickets on it. I was finally able to purchase a one day entry but since I didnt bring credit cards or cash I had to do it with Wendys ticket and she was already inside! Luckily I had a nice person helping me. Upon return to Boardwalk they credited me back the entry fee. Early is definitely the time to come to the watermarks. We got a great seat that we never used and rode every slide that the Princess was tall enough for before 11 with either no wait or minimal wait. We rode all three of the Storm slides multiple times with no wait at all. My daughter is 5 ½ but she is average height for her age but very tiny weighing only about 34 pounds (all energy), she is also a great swimmer but the looks we got from the lifeguards when she came shooting out the end were priceless! Then her little head would bob up and shed expertly stroke to the side, laughing all the way.
Our last event at Typhoon Lagoon was Shark Reef, which I called the Fish swim (tip; sharks bad to 5 year old princess). We were all in line for this one but when they announced that the water was 65 degrees DW backed out. The Princess just about backed out after her initial plunge into the water. It was chilly but really not too bad. She screwed up her courage and did the swim. It was very fun and we are looking forward to snorkeling in Hawaii next summer. I was very proud of my little one again. After leaving we were back to the Clown Pool for the rest of the day where DD met another little girl and swam and played the rest of the day. Afterwards we headed over to Pleasure Island for the Tuesday Night DVC Member Block Party. Along the way we had to make a stop at the Disney store to pick out a new Princess dress for the Princess Tea on Thursday. Of course the wife and daughter picked out the most expensive Sleeping Beauty dress, but hey, how often do you dine with royalty? And she is my only child and she is a perfect princess, sorry about the gushing! The block party was a great time. There were carnival games for free, snack food for free with a coupon (two were given to each member upon entry) including popcorn, ice cream and cotton candy, and dancing, trivia games and activities in one of the clubs and adult beverages for a reasonable (WDW-reasonable) price. The whole family had a great time and we met some other DVCers while we were there. They had an amazing balloon animal artist (really an artist) who did amazing things with balloons, including a four foot tall Snow White for my princess. If you were there, my daughter and wife were two of the hula hoop contestants and all three of us were the loud ones up near the front during the trivia games.
We headed back home and hit ESPN Zone for dinner with an interview with Pitcher Steve Kline for ESPN in the main dining room right next to us. It was fun and the food and drinks were great. Another night of watching the crowds go by on the Boardwalk, and another bottle of wine after the Princess passed out.
Wednesday July 13, 2005
We are to meet the first of the Softball team at Epcot at 1pm. We decided though to head into the Magic Kingdom for a few rides. The topic of this trip with Princess had been manners and patience and good karma. While waiting for the opening we were jostled and pushed and we kept up the mantra of good manners, patience. As the rope dropped the initial rush began and we waited. The princess wanted to run with the bulls but we kept on with good manners and patience P well get there the same as them. After the initial rush we headed for Fantasyland for a spin on Dumbo and the Tea Cups (a father-daughter favorite) and that karma came in handy again. After reading about it on the DIS board I was familiar with the Waking Tinkerbell ceremony but figured wed never get back there in time, I didnt want to run or push so figured no chance and I didnt want to get hopes up. So I never mentioned it to either DW or P. As we passed through he castle (which really looks incredible with the Celebration gilding and ornaments) there really was no one around, seemed as if everyone had headed into Tomorrowland. I saw Tinkerbells Closet was open and empty so I whispered to my daughter, Want to wake up Tinkerbell?, which got an enthusiastic answer from her and a confused look from my wife. We walked in and the Princess asked the CM Is Tinkerbell awake? the answer was no and she was shown to the box and given the wand and the instructions to wave the wand three times and say Wake up Tinkerbell! which she did in her loudest shout on blinked the lights and bells she was entranced and excited, it turned out to be the highlight of her day. She got a certificate of a special event and a thanks from the very sweet CM. About this time another family finally came in with two girls dressed in princess gear. They were disappointed and I felt bad about it but we had waited some time. Their mom had explained someone might get there first. Its not worth being rude or killing yourself or kids to get there, but it is worth doing if you get lucky like we did. Good karma!
After that we rode Dumbo, Tea Cups (three times in a row, no wait), Pooh, then to the Magic Carpets (2xs) while DW got FPs for Splash Mountain, Pirates, Country Bears, Small World (arghhhhh!) Pirates again (to wash off the Small World song) and Splash Mountain. Now it was noon and we had to get to Epcot by 1. Out the main gate to Monorail where we asked and were granted a ride with the conductor (who vindicated me for my bad call of Monday by telling us about the false alarm mysterious package).
We made it in enough time to pick up two DVD disks for the videocam (The convenience of this new machine is awesome! Straight to DVD videos and 3.0 mp photos) and hook up with Rick and Tracey. We all found it odd to meet up with neighbors who live two doors down 3000 miles away. We walked through the countries hitting all of the high points (read beer and wine for the adults- pretzels and juice for the P). These guys are like family, their daughter is 20 and grew up with us and our daughter is filling that granddaughter spot until they have one. So Ricky played doting Uncle while the other three of us enjoyed (in moderation of course) the wares of the Worlds. Dinner was at Alfredos again with PS. We were in within minutes of our reservation and dinner was better than lunch. The Alfredo is awesome, the pasta vodka was great. We also arrived just in time to enjoy one of Floridas thunder and lightning storms from inside. As we were preparing to leave the storm moved off. We finished the Worlds, saw Jasmine and Aladdin, Belle, Alice and Pooh and all his friends along the way. Finally three of us (DW prone to motion sickness bowed out and P is not ready for this one yet) rode Mission Space and then lined up for the fireworks. What a great show! We had seen the high shots from our room a couple of times before, but with the Princesses earlier fear of loud noises we had passed. Shes over that now and greatly enjoyed the scene. We said our goodbye and headed out the International Gate to home.
Thursday July 14, 2005
We got to sleep in Thursday because this was the Princess Tea day at the Grand Floridian. After much primping and preening we set out for the GF. Bus to Magic Kingdom and boat over to GF. The girls checked in and from the looks of the video had a great time. I was excused as this was a mother-daughter event. Found a quiet spot and caught up on the paper. By all accounts it was a great success. It is a little pricey ($200 for a child and one parent) but a light lunch is served, Rose Petal (a princessy-looking performer) entertains, each child receives a tiara, a Disney Girl Princess Aurora Doll, a scepter/wand and a bracelet as well as some good one on one time with Aurora and Rose Petal. Each Mom gets a rose, which actually lasted the rest of our trip. My Princess gushed about it all day.
A quick change into more park friendly clothes and we were off to finish up the Magic Kingdom. We were able to catch Cinderellabration which the girls loved but it was very girly, I managed to stave off boredom and the heat with a couple of ice creams and two lemon freezes, so it was okay. Boys and most Dads seemed to drift towards the concessionaires fairly quickly. Our goal was to see this, the parade, Country Bears, Barnstormer and the Magic Carpets one more time. We left and headed over to Toon Town, it had just been overrun by about 35000 Brazilian high school students so we gracefully bowed out.
Luck held though and we reached the Country Bear Jamboree just 5 minutes before show time. We managed to shoehorn ourselves into the waiting room and after several minutes the CM approached the microphone for her The doors will open towards you in a few seconds, please stay behind the yellow line-speech, but instead she announced that because of technical difficulties the show was cancelled! Technical difficulties my eye! Im sure Big Al was hitting the moonshine a little too hard after the matinee show. So we headed out to the Carpets, short line, we are next up and BOOOM! Thunder starts, as quick as you can say abracadabra the CM announces a safety shut down because of the electrical storm. By now its almost time for the parade so we walk through the pin shop, browse a little (DW and Princess are big pin traders) and head onto the street for a spot for the parade. We locate a prime spot next to a tree, in the shade with a little planter to sit on. Things are looking up for the Ashs! What was that? A rain drop? Cant be. Break out the 85 cent Target ponchos for the girls (a little water wont hurt me!) and settle back in for a little drizzle. Another tip, these ponchos are great, they come in little pouches that fit in your pack or bag and are cheap. I bought six and carried three around all the time. It sure beat the 6 and 7 dollar ones they were selling at the parks. Find them in the camping aisle. Five minutes late, and a little more water and the announcer comes on again and gives the for the safety of you and our performers, the parade is delayed. Right then the sky opens and deluge begins. I think about that third rain poncho in my pack, but by now Im already drenched. The family huddles up and decides that the Tiki gods are agin us today, lets head for the hills! The walk back was actually fun, the rain in Florida is warm, the streets were so hot that the water on the ground we are splashing through is really more like bathwater and rain in California is cold! So we make the best of it and walk to the buses. The girls shed their ponchos, dry as a bone, me on the other hand; as wet as if Id just ridden the Crushin Gusher fully clothed!
On the way back we located the little bar on the main floor of the Boardwalk, ordered a glass of wine, a Corona and a Shirley Temple and found a spot to watch the storm, unfortunately it was mostly passed and we only saw a little distant lightning. We dont get thunder or lightning in California often and I miss it from my childhood in the Midwest.
Back to the room for a short rest, a little walk on the Boardwalk after the rain, and we were right on time for our 5:30 PS reservations at Spoodles. Another great meal and great service. After dinner we strolled the Boardwalk and browsed Thimbles and Threads which we have voted as the coldest shop in all of Walt Disney World. Off to bed for the early arrival of JZ, KZ and AZ!
Friday July 15, 2005
The Zimmerman family took the red eye out of LA and landed at 6:30 a.m. They got to the hotel about 7:30 and we met them with steaming, strong coffee. After settling into the room and showers, we headed off to Epcot and got there shortly after the gates opened. We grabbed fast passes for Soarin (which never got used, more below) and headed to Turtle Talk again. The girls had a great time looking at the fish and animals in the Sea and both loved Turtle Talk. My Princess even got to ask how Squirt was doing.
We then headed to Norway for 11:40 reservations for the Princess lunch at Akershus. Along the way we ran into Goofy, Mickey, Minnie and Pluto. AZ (3 yo) had never really been exposed to Disney (is that child abuse?) and didnt really know who these big guys were, but she loved them! Good photo ops and fun.
We got to lunch right on time and were seated almost immediately. The food is based on Norwegian foods and is a little on the fish heavy side, the pasta was good and the kids could have PB&J. Unfortunately before the food or princesses could arrive the long flight, night and excitement caught up with AZ. She melted down completely. Sorry if you were sitting near us. So mom scooped her up and headed back to the hotel. Luckily its not too far. The rest of us stayed and got to see Cinderella, Alice, Belle, Aurora and Ariel.
The food was okay and we were glad we did it but probably stick to the more conventional foods in the future. If cold scrambled eggs, salmon and herring are your bag this is the place for you. Otherwise, I heard the breakfast is more traditional fare. Afterwards we headed back to check on KZ and AZ. They were sleeping, JZ joined them and DW decided to take a quick nap too. The princess and I suited up and headed for the clown. 25 or 30 slides later we met back up and JZ and I headed down to ESPN where they were interviewing some Kansas City Chiefs (me and JZ BIG football fans).
After a couple of Coronas we met up with everyone at Big River and sat out on the Boardwalk at our usual table. The kids played and DWs one cousin from Sarasota with his wife and little girl showed up to join us for dinner. We had yet another great meal and headed up for bed.
Saturday July 16, 2005
I plan these trips. I mean I sit down and work out itineraries and time schedules and places to be. I want my family to have the best time possible. Since the Zs had never been to WDW I wanted to share the magic with them too. Dont get me wrong, Im flexible, I leave time for spur of the moment stuff, rain storm diversions, rest breaks, swim breaks, I can roll with the unexpected and not get flustered It doesnt bother me to move things around a bit if there is a reason to do it! Saturday was an extra magic hour morning day for AK. Perfect! We get in early ride Kilamanjaro, Kali Rapids do Breakfastasouras at 10:00 and then see the Lion King, maybe Tarzan, walk through the Maharajas Trek, see the monkeys and get out before it gets packed. Grab lunch at Rainforest and spend the rest of the day at the pool. For this to work we must get up, sometime, in the morning, Despite explicit instructions and a fairly early bed time, there is no motion, sight or sound coming from the Z room at the appointed 7:00 or 7:30 or 8:00 or 8:30. The Princess has been up for 2 hours now and is itching to get out. She is not a quiet kid. The smells of coffee and me making breakfast rouse no one. Finally about 8:45 we hear movement. 9:00 heads peek out. Thankfully they all seem better rested and happier, but my plans are shot! The only way extra magic hour works is if you are there for it! You have to get in and out that day. Hit the rides early and often and move along and out of the park by lunch. My plans were shot! So during my two hours of stewing I came up with a plan, we headed over to Cape May at the Beach Club to see if we could get in spur of the moment. We arrived about 9:30 am and were seated by 9:40! The girls got to see and pose with Minnie, Goofy and Dale.
The meal was good too. Chef Mickey is still the best character breakfast, but theres slim chance you could get in on the spur of the moment and Cape May was pretty good!
From there we hopped the boat and headed into MGM. The girls went directly to Playhouse Disney, always a favorite for the preschool set! While they were in line JZ and I went over and fast passed Tower of Terror and Rockin Rollercoaster (the benefit of traveling with kids who dont reach the height limit! Multiple fat passes). We got back just as the doors for the show opened. It was changed slightly from last time so had some new characters. Its fun to see the little ones dance and enjoy the wholesome characters they have set forth in this show. Then we lucked out and got right into the Little Mermaid. From there we dropped off KZ and the girls at the fruit stand for a breather and JZ, DW and me headed to ToT. Walked right on. It amazes me how people fail to use fastpass and then give you the evil eye when you pass them up! After that JZ and I hit Rockin RC. Great coaster, a little short but loud, good music and darkness! After that we walked right into Beauty and The Beast and met up with the girls. Finally we crossed back over the park and hit the Muppets and got Jessies autograph. My Mojo was back! Six rides/shows with no waits!
Back to Boardwalk, a rest for the girls and then the Clown AGAIN! Getting a little tired of that grinning monstrosity by now, but not the Princess! Another ten times or so before we headed upstairs and got the kids dinner and got ready for adults night out.
I had arranged for a sitter from Kids Nite Out. She was extremely prompt and very nice. Joycie B. bonded with the kids so quickly they were pushing us out the door! And I kept trying to talk to her because she had mentioned that she was one of the original secretaries to the first Imagineers designing WDW! I recommend this service. They took a very thorough history of both kids, we felt very secure leaving the kids in our room with this nice woman.
Dinner was at Shulas at the Dolphin. This place has become our splurge since our last trip. The steaks are great, the wines are fantastic (a little overpriced, shocker at WDW!) and the service is impeccable. We had a nice relaxing dinner and then headed over to Pleasure Island. Hit all the clubs and most of the drink stands. We missed the Comedy Club and I couldnt get the ladies to stop dancing long enough to go to the Adventurers Club. Oh well, not a terrible problem to have. We stayed until New Years and made our way home. Joycie B. was reading a book when we arrived and the girls were fast asleep. She said they had been angels hmmm had she been in the Tequila? All were safe and sound and we headed off to bed.
Sunday July 17, 2005
Our last full day! We revisited our attempt at Animal Kingdom. Despite a late start, we made it without much trouble and not too late. Animal Kingdom tip; use the entrance through Rainforest Café, no wait at all!
Fast passes for Kilimanjaro then we headed to Kali Rapids where there was only a 15 minute wait. JZ, KZ and I rode this one. Wendy decided shed stay with the girls. Part way through the line when they saw the exiting riders JZ and KZ thought about bolting. They had not expected this kind of wet. I gave KZ my third poncho to keep her in line. Since our raft had three people with raincoats or ponchos, no one got wet. The rafts with no ponchos soaked. More good Mojo. Afterwards we walked through the Maharajas Trek and then back to Kilimanjaro to use our fastpasses. Back across the park to Tarzan Rocks. This was the hottest (temperature-wise) venue I have ever been in at any Disney park, east or west. The show was okay, skating was cool, the singer was no Phil Collins but adequate. It was probably better than I remember but it was brutally hot. Plan on going early or late in the day, NOT midday. I bailed out quickly and headed to Rainforest at a fast walk. Got there at 12:30 or so put our names in and our party was called just as the rest of the group walked in. After a cool iced tea and margaritas (which were very good) and Icees for the girls we were all feeling much better. We finished lunch just in time to make the 2:00 showing of Lion King which is probably the best show at WDW and certainly at the AK.
One last trip to Downtown Disney for last souvenirs and back to the Boardwalk for the traditional last night clean-out-the-fridge-and-eat-and-drink-so-we-dont-feel-so-wasteful-meal and cocktail hour. The little girls went to sleep at a reasonable hour and the big girls went down to ESPN to get the best Key Lime Pie at WDW. We finished the night with pie, music and the last of the tequila and Coronas. We can pack tomorrow!
Monday July 18, 2005
A little bleary Monday morning. But we all got packed and checked out.
The Zs werent flying out until 7:30 p.m. We were on a 2:00 flight and had signed up for Magical Express for the return to MCO. We were able to check our luggage and get our boarding passes right at the front desk! They do work for tips too! I forgot but my lovely wife saved me and got the tip. We also learned that American had moved our flight up by 45 minutes so we said our good byes, hopped an earlier bus and were at MCO in plenty of time. This service is great and I wonder how long it will be free. My theory is they show everyone how well Disney can do this drive the other services out and then start charging for it. But it was great. The lines for check in were enormous but we just walked right past, no luggage, just carry-ons and through security to that last vacation stop before heading back to the gym, Cinnabon! Flight was on time, luggage was there to greet us at LAX and were home planning our next trip home.
Thanks for sharing. 
