Hayes Family at WDW: Day 7 - Petting Zoo, Tour of Resorts, Monorail, Epcot
Saturday, December 16th
Sam loves lambs so I had promised to take him to the petting zoo at Fort Wilderness. It doesn't open until 10:00 so Sarah and I decided to go to the Magic Kingdom first (the boys declined to go and said they would meet us at the boat at 10:00). The Magic Kingdom was much more crowded today. Sarah and I had breakfast at the Main Street Bakery. Sarah wanted to ride Dumbo again but it already had a big line by the time we arrived, so we decided just to go on rides without lines. We went on the Carousel, Mad Tea Cups, and Alien Encounter (which did not scare Sarah at all and which I thought was very overrated). We met the boys and went to Fort Wilderness. Sam got to see the lambs but was disappointed that this is not a true petting zoo. You can only pet the animals from outside the fence. We took a boat to the Wilderness Lodge to take a look and have lunch. I thought it was beautiful, but my husband said it was not his taste. Lunch was really awful. We had a PS at 12:00 and did not actually get food until 1:00. None of us liked the food and we really are not very picky. This was the worst meal we had all week.
After this we took the boat to the Contemporary to ride the monorail and look at the resort. The kids were very excited about riding the monorail. We asked to ride with the driver and they said sure if you don't mind waiting a bit. In about 10 minutes we were sitting with Christine the driver. She also commented on one of Sarah's pin, so Sarah gave it to her. Sarah was really taken with Christine who was exceptionally nice. She let the kids sit in her seat during stops and made them feel very special. This was a trip highlight for all of us. We rode the complete loop and then got off at the Poly. Pat and I both liked this resort. We walked to the Grand Floridian and took a look at that hotel. Wow - it is sooo pretty. Pat said it was too fancy for him to feel comfortable, but I would love to stay there. Pat said he liked the Yacht Club the best of the deluxe resorts so I felt really good that I had made the right choice for him. We went back to the hotel. Sarah swam while I played with Sam in the room. He seemed wide-awake so I did not make him take a nap (when will I learn!).
We then decided to go to Epcot. I really wanted to eat at Le Cellier (I had a PS for lunch the next day but I did not think we would make it). Sadly, Le Cellier was full and they do not usually take walk ins if they are full with priority seatings - I just wished they had a sign to let you know this before you wait in line 20 minutes. Meanwhile, Sam had fallen asleep in the stroller. He woke up shortly and was really cranky. Pat took Sarah on Body Wars while I waited with Sam. Sarah really liked this so I went on her with while Pat and Sam played in the building. After we saw the Making of Me which fascinated Sarah and Sam seemed to like too. In fact, he cried when we would not watch it again, but I think it was due more to tiredness than really wanting to see it again. We went to Alfredos for dinner. The service was great and the food was good, but Sam was tired, and I really hadn't want to eat here so it was not the best meal. We went back to the hotel and to sleep after this.
In retrospect, we should have skipped Epcot - but the rest of the day was great. At this point, we were all (except Sarah) getting a little homesick. I couldn't get hold of my pet sitter and was worrying about my dogs and Pat and Sam were just tired. Sarah was still having a great time - 5 must be the perfect age for Disney.
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Yacht Club, December 2000
Saturday, December 16th
Sam loves lambs so I had promised to take him to the petting zoo at Fort Wilderness. It doesn't open until 10:00 so Sarah and I decided to go to the Magic Kingdom first (the boys declined to go and said they would meet us at the boat at 10:00). The Magic Kingdom was much more crowded today. Sarah and I had breakfast at the Main Street Bakery. Sarah wanted to ride Dumbo again but it already had a big line by the time we arrived, so we decided just to go on rides without lines. We went on the Carousel, Mad Tea Cups, and Alien Encounter (which did not scare Sarah at all and which I thought was very overrated). We met the boys and went to Fort Wilderness. Sam got to see the lambs but was disappointed that this is not a true petting zoo. You can only pet the animals from outside the fence. We took a boat to the Wilderness Lodge to take a look and have lunch. I thought it was beautiful, but my husband said it was not his taste. Lunch was really awful. We had a PS at 12:00 and did not actually get food until 1:00. None of us liked the food and we really are not very picky. This was the worst meal we had all week.
After this we took the boat to the Contemporary to ride the monorail and look at the resort. The kids were very excited about riding the monorail. We asked to ride with the driver and they said sure if you don't mind waiting a bit. In about 10 minutes we were sitting with Christine the driver. She also commented on one of Sarah's pin, so Sarah gave it to her. Sarah was really taken with Christine who was exceptionally nice. She let the kids sit in her seat during stops and made them feel very special. This was a trip highlight for all of us. We rode the complete loop and then got off at the Poly. Pat and I both liked this resort. We walked to the Grand Floridian and took a look at that hotel. Wow - it is sooo pretty. Pat said it was too fancy for him to feel comfortable, but I would love to stay there. Pat said he liked the Yacht Club the best of the deluxe resorts so I felt really good that I had made the right choice for him. We went back to the hotel. Sarah swam while I played with Sam in the room. He seemed wide-awake so I did not make him take a nap (when will I learn!).
We then decided to go to Epcot. I really wanted to eat at Le Cellier (I had a PS for lunch the next day but I did not think we would make it). Sadly, Le Cellier was full and they do not usually take walk ins if they are full with priority seatings - I just wished they had a sign to let you know this before you wait in line 20 minutes. Meanwhile, Sam had fallen asleep in the stroller. He woke up shortly and was really cranky. Pat took Sarah on Body Wars while I waited with Sam. Sarah really liked this so I went on her with while Pat and Sam played in the building. After we saw the Making of Me which fascinated Sarah and Sam seemed to like too. In fact, he cried when we would not watch it again, but I think it was due more to tiredness than really wanting to see it again. We went to Alfredos for dinner. The service was great and the food was good, but Sam was tired, and I really hadn't want to eat here so it was not the best meal. We went back to the hotel and to sleep after this.
In retrospect, we should have skipped Epcot - but the rest of the day was great. At this point, we were all (except Sarah) getting a little homesick. I couldn't get hold of my pet sitter and was worrying about my dogs and Pat and Sam were just tired. Sarah was still having a great time - 5 must be the perfect age for Disney.
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Yacht Club, December 2000
