Happy Birthday From Goofy- My First Dis Trip Report

[Maleficent's Dad]

It's always sad saying good-bye... Especially to the MK. Great report! Thanks for sharing.

 

[PlutosRHM55]

Looks like you had a lot of fun on your last day at MK (Hey that rhymes! ) Space Mountain is my rope-drop go-to, I love that ride so much! Tomorrowland is my favorite land. I can't believe how many FPs you got while Emma got to go see Rapunzel and Flynn. First, lucky you then lucky her, always wanted to meet Flynn and Rapunzel. mickeyjum) I also love the pics you took on the Disney World railroad. I've never been on it so I've never been able to experience that view of Frontierland or at any of the other stops. I'm guessing your wrapping this TR soon Well, can't wait for your last update and some future TRs!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Aww so sad that your trip is almost over!!! On the 17th, that was our first full park day so while you were all sad..we were all happy!!!

 

[wdwgirl03]

The Flynn Rider we met was really good too.

Can't believe you're almost done already. Though you have a lot more free time to write one than me. haha

 

[wisblue]

I'm guessing your wrapping this TR soon

True, but the closing comment is also a clue about our final park visit.

 

[wisblue]

Thursday, March 17 (Cont)

We couldn’t let a stay at the Beach Club go by without a visit to Beaches and Cream, so we exited the bus at the Yacht Club stop and headed over for a mid-afternoon treat. Sue and Emma had sundaes and I had a root beer float, and we enjoyed them on the outdoor patio. (Nobody ordered a kitchen sink while we were there.)

Back at the room, Emma and I checked on the results of the early NCAA tournament basketball games. I also checked the Lines application to see what things were like at DHS because we wanted to see the finale at the American Idol Experience, and thought that we might be able to sneak in another ride on Tower of Terror and/or RNRC if the lines weren’t too long. Because the park was closing at 7 PM, and there was no Fantasmic show, we thought the park might be emptying out early.

After watching a little bit of one of my alma maters (Princeton) battling Kentucky in an NCAA game, Emma and I took off for DHS. Sue wanted to start getting organized for our departure because our ME bus was scheduled for 6:30 AM , so she stayed behind.

We didn’t see any boats on the lagoon headed for DHS, so we walked over toward the ESPN Club, checked out some of the basketball games on their many TV sets, and then picked up a boat at the Boardwalk dock.

Before long we were walking down Hollywood Boulevard

And then toward the Tower of Terror

I love these old style billboards that bring you back to the golden days of Hollywood.

Our first stop was RNRC, but we were disappointed to discover that they had closed the single rider line for the day, and the standby line was about 45 minutes, longer than we were willing to wait. So, we rode TOT with about a 10 minute wait.

We still had plenty of time before the AIE finale, so we went to the Great Movie Ride, where there was literally no wait at all

After that we still had some time, so we walked down toward the Streets of America. By now, the park was getting so empty that it was almost spooky, and cast members were preventing guests from entering certain parts of the park. We could see that they were setting up tables on the Streets of America, so there was obviously going to be some kind of private event in the park that night.

Finally, we made our way into the theater for the AIE finale, which was entertaining as always.

When the show ended, we decided to stroll around a little to see if any of the rides were still operating. It was very strange walking toward TOT with virtually NOBODY on the street. We knew that the rides were closed, but we walked down to RNRC anyway, where Emma got this unique picture of the area completely deserted.

It seemed like an appropriate end to our five wonderful days in the parks. So, we took our time leaving the park and made our way back to the Beach Club to pack up.

Coming Up- Closing Thoughts

 

[PlutosRHM55]

Looks like you got most of what you wanted to get done. I love American Idol Experience and have never had the chance to see the finale. It is definitely one of those nice new additions to the parks I can't believe how deserted the park was when you left DHS. That is crazy deserted. I would bet that picture Emma took has a value of like $300 in my book Haha Sad to see this TR ending Can't wait to hear your final thoughts!

 

[wisblue]

Friday, March 18

Our trip home was uneventful, though we did have one kind of strange incident. Because we were using the resort flight and baggage check-in service, we were told to report 30 minutes before our flight. We did that, but it took about 2 minutes to check us in and a Magical Express bus (not the one we were scheduled to take) pulled up. Rather than sitting around waiting for the next bus, I asked the driver if we could take that one because there were only 2 other people on it. He had no problem with that.

When we stopped at the Caribbean Beach, though, there was a mob of people waiting to board. It looked like a couple of high school sports teams and their escorts were leaving. I felt a little bad about taking someone else’s seat until it became apparent that there were going to be about 25 people who weren’t going to fit on the bus. The driver had to call and have the dispatcher send another bus to handle the crowd.

Because we got to the airport so early the security lines were not long and we got to the gate in plenty of time to relax and have a little breakfast from McDonald’s before our flight.

Before long we were home and another wonderful trip was in the memory bank. I love visiting WDW in March and April because the weather is usually pleasant and when we get home nicer weather is usually not too far away. We are also not bothered by the crowds because we have our methods for working around them to do everything we really want to do.

On this trip the weather really could not have been better. It was sunny and warm, but not too hot to be uncomfortable, and never a threat of rain. But, even though we have been home for almost 2 months, we are still waiting for the spring weather to arrive here.

Usually when I get home from a trip to WDW I like to know when my next visit is going to be, but this year will be unusual. Because Emma will be starting the College Program in August, I will most likely be travelling to Florida 3 or 4 times between August and January. I plan to go down with Emma in August to help her get moved in, and then Sue and I are planning short visits in mid-October and early December. We’ll see how it goes, but I also may be going in early January to help Emma move out and get home. Her move out day is the Friday of the Marathon weekend, and if my nephew comes with his family again to run in that (as he did last year) we may stick around for the weekend to enjoy the parks with them.

Of course, these next few visits will be different than the usual family trips, but I am looking forward to having lots of time to use my annual pass to explore the parks. Especially when I am there by myself in August I may do some “treasure hunting” and look for more of those hidden things that make the Disney Parks special. I’m also looking forward to seeing all of the Christmas decorations (and hopefully a Christmas party) in December. I have been trying to talk Sue into an early December visit for the last couple of years, and now she has a reason to do it.

So that’s about it. Thanks for letting me share my memories.

 

[Jazzabelle508]

Thanks for sharing your trip report with us I feel the same way about liking to know when exactly i will be back to disney. It makes leaving a bit easier I think. Hope you have fun having your daughter in the DCP. two of my friends want to apply for it next year (I want to as well but I'm not sure when I want to do it yet) so I hope to hear about what your daughter thinks of it. As for the spring not really here yet thing. I live in northern illinois so I feel your pain. It is either really warm (like today) or really cold (Like last saturday). I guess it really is true that if you don't like the weather in the midwest then just wait a few minutes.

 

[rdkeim]

Wonderful, wonderful trip report. Thanks so much for sharing. We've got a trip planned Dec. 3-8. Can't wait!

 

[PlutosRHM55]

I can't believe this report is already over! It was really a great report, I enjoyed following along Yeah, it was probably a high school group filling the buses. I just went a few months before you went and I was with my school choir and band. We needed three Magical Express buses to bring us to our resort and three to bring us back to the airport. It is pretty crazy, even for us (and I assure you nobody on my school trip caused trouble. My school has gone on the trip for years). Seems like you are going to be going on more trips in the coming months. Hopefully I'll be doing the DCP in a few years. Hope Emma has a great time for her session! Do you know where she'll be working? Hope to read about some future trips soon! =D

 

[wisblue]

Hope Emma has a great time for her session! Do you know where she'll be working? =D

Emma won't find out where she'll be working until she checks in in August. All she knows now is that she will be working in Quick Service Food and Beverage.

 

[Bridora]

Great report! Thanks for sharing with us. I hope we are able to do the Animation Academy when we are there; you've given me hope, too, because I surely am not an artist!

 

[amyrella]

Thanks for sharing!! I hop you keep us filled in with emmas experience with the college program!!

 

[jwwi]

I enjoyed your first TR, hopefully you will tell us about any treasures you find when you are exploring WDW.

 

[xDisneyAngelx]

Hey,
Awesome report. I really enjoyed the pictures that you took. It's great to see that you had a wonderful time and your daughter had a wonderful 21st. I like the "Characters In Flight" photo. I was upset that we couldn't do it when we went in Dec 10' :-(. Take care.

~Melissa

 

[PirateKate]

I can't believe this TR is over already. I bet it felt just as quick to you all at the time. I love the pictures of DHS looking all deserted. It's nice to get to see the parks without all the people sometimes.

 

[brookelizabeth]

I was very far behind on Sarah's report and just yesterday saw that she posted the link here--but you are already done! All well! I enjoyed every update - sounds like a GREAT trip. And what a lovely "excuse" you have to visit the World a bunch this fall! Thank you for taking the time to write it, I hope you do another!!