HELLO ? MICKEY? ARE YOU THERE?It's me again, and again, and again.....TR STARTED 6/3

[MHTeacher]

After our first trip in May of 2001, I fell in love with all things Disney. I had been bustin’ to get back there, but DH (Kevin) had been putting me off. Finally in early 2003, he had consented to a trip during the fall. Elizabeth was 9 ½ and Rachel was 7.

I began pricing out packages with different resorts. I had discovered the money saving website of mousesavers by that time, and I was constantly scouring Mary’s website looking for a great way to save some on our next Disney vacation.

Now, at this time, Disney, and lots of other travel destinations were really hurting from Sept. 2001. As you remember, people were just not traveling anywhere out of fear. Disney released a deal to entice people back into the parks. The deal was Buy 4/Get 3 free! As soon as I found out about it, I decided to book it. I didn’t even want to wait until fall, since I wouldn’t need to save extra money. It was such a savings, I thought, “GO NOW!” So we booked July 5-12! WHAT WAS I THINKING????? This would be the last time we ever chose to go during such a hot, crowded time.

We flew out from Birmingham on Saturday, July 5. This time I hired a car service to pick us up at the airport. After adding up the cost of the Mears shuttle, it came out just a little more money to use the town car service, and that way we didn’t have to make all those stops at Disney resorts. On the drive in from the airport, Elizabeth kept telling me that she was really cold, but I blamed it on the air conditioning.

We arrived at our resort---Coronado Springs. We were in the Casitas…I think it was building 4 or 5. This was the view from the balcony in front of our room.

We headed over to Magic Kingdom, just to catch Spectro and Wishes. While we were there, Elizabeth told me again that she didn’t feel well. When I felt her forehead, she was very warm. We found the infirmary, and YES, she did have a fever. She was given some children’s ibuprofen, and we headed back to the resort so she could get some rest.

The next day was Sunday, July 6, and we had breakfast reservations at 1900 Park Faire. Elizabeth woke up and felt cool, and said she felt ok, so we headed over to MK for EMH.

Sunday must have been a slow day for MK, because we flew through all of Fantasyland.

We had a late breakfast reservation over at 1900 Park Faire, where we were greeted by these fine people.

Later that afternoon, we caught the “Share a Dream Come True” parade.

It was back to the resort for swimming that evening, and an early night in. Elizabeth never got sick anymore, so she may have just had a 24 hr. fever virus.

continued in next post

 

[MHTeacher]

The next day, on Monday, we slept in, and let the kids swim. From my pictures, it looks as if we headed to MK that evening when it was cooler.

On Tuesday, July 8, we ventured over to Animal Kingdom,

where we saw lots of fun characters.

This was the first time we rode Kali River Rapids……………………and the last!

I don’t know if you can tell from the picture, but somehow, the girls and Kevin were soaked. Somehow, I completely missed out on the drowning. Kevin was so wet, he went to the restroom, and took off his clothes to wring out the water!

Wednesday was a day for Disney Studios. Rachel had gotten a stuffed Minnie, and she insisted on carrying her around, and having her in the picture!

This was also the first time for us to catch the Stars and Cars parade at DHS.

We met some of our favorite toy friends,

And our best friend of all-

We ate at 50’s Prime Time for the first time during this trip. This would be the beginning of a beautiful relationship!

We also saw Fantasmic for the first time during this trip. Another beginning to a love story!

On Thursday, we were headed to EPCOT.

You need to remember, that at this time there was no Space or Soarin’.

We wandered around the countries.

continued in next post

 

[MHTeacher]

Friday, July 11, was our last full day for the parks. We were going to split our day between DHS and MK.

We really wanted to ride Tower of Terror again, but Rachel didn’t want any part of it. A small bribe got her to agree to it, but she wasn’t a happy camper.

This would be the first time for us to experience the Great Movie Ride. We had to do it not once, but twice---back-to-back!

The girls loved this ride! After we got home, I would hear them “playing” GMR. One of them would be the tour guide through the movies, and the other one would “ride in the car” and be the tourist.

Before heading over to MK, Kevin and I decided we might like to have another character meal. Now these were the days before ADRs and the DDP, and a walk-up was easier to get. We decided to try Chef Mickey’s. So we took a bus over to the Contemporary around 4:30, so that we could walk-up right at the beginning of the dinner hour at 5. We were told that they could work us in, and we were seated by 5:15.

Donald goofed off with the girls,

But not so much with Kevin.

We then headed off to MK to watch “Wishes” one last time during this trip.

The next morning was Saturday. We slept in, packed our bags and checked out of the resort. Before leaving, we took one last picture.

We had a late flight, so we stored our bags with bell services. Then we headed to a bus stop to go to Down Town Disney. After boarding a bus, we got almost to DTD when I realized that I didn’t have our camera. I remembered that I had laid it on the bench at the bus stop. Kevin called the resort and asked about it. They even sent someone over to the bus stop, but there was no camera. I was just sick---This was before digital cameras, but I had put in a new roll of film the night before. On it, were all our pictures from Chef Mickey’s and our last night at MK.

I think one of the girls had a disposable camera, so we did get a few pictures at DTD.

After shopping for a little while, we headed back to CSR. When we got there, we did check in with the front desk again, to see if a camera had been turned in. NO CAMERA---but wait, some folks had told them that a camera had been found, but they were going to keep it. They did leave their name and number, just in case someone inquired about a lost camera! We took the name/number to call when we returned home.

Our town car service picked us up, delivered us to the airport, where we had a 7 flight. Due to storms, we didn’t leave Orlando until after 8:30 that night.

NOW, let me tell you about the camera situation. That following Monday, we called the name of the person who had found the camera. We told them everything about the camera (brand, even what number the exposure was on), and the man said “OK, We’ll mail it to your home.” This was on Monday, July 14.

July came and went………………………………………………………NO CAMERA ………………………..…..

It was August ……………………………………STILL NO CAMERA..........................

We called back to check on the camera. The wife told me, “Oh, I just now got a box to pack it in. We’re just busy, busy, busy people!” I wanted to say, “Too busy to return a camera that wasn’t yours in the first place???” ………………………….

The girls went back to school…………………NO CAMERA……………………………………….
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Finally one day at the end of August, we opened up our mailbox to find a box with our camera! “Hallelujah , Praise Jehovah!” one of the girls said. We all laughed, and then because there was one film exposure left, we took this picture ---

Yes, that’s the girls with the song book open to, you guessed it, “Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah.”

 

[Charlefours]

What were those people thinking keeping your camera instead of turning it in and what were the CMs thinking when the people left their information instead of giving them the camera? I am glad you got it back nonetheless.

Thanks for posting all the fun pictures! I think your girls look the same, but older now obviously. It is fun to go back to see when the love affair began.

 

[KathyRN137]

What a bizarre way for the CMs to handle the lost and found camera situation! At least you finally got it back (as well as the precious memories it contained.)

Just like you, we used the 4/3 Fairytale Package in 2003 to make our dream come true... it was the beginning of "a beautiful friendship!"


Kathy

 

[swwake]

I love all the pictures of the girls when they were so young! It's amazing how much has changed with DDP and ADRs. I can't believe the camera situation. I would have been beside myself!

I think that last picture is the cutest pic!

 

[stace208]

Another great flashback update! Loved all the pictures! Hard to believe how much things have changed with ADR's.

That's crazy about your camera. Sure seems like Disney would've made them leave the camera there...

 

[racefanof88]

Love the flashback pictures . Thank you for sharing . OH, and almost forgot

21 DAYS

 

[Charleston Princess]

Great pictures from 2003! I know how Rachel must have felt about Tower of Terror!

 

[MeMom]

Park Fare for us this summer - just Jill, Brooklynn, and me - a special treat for a sweet big sister.

I miss Stars and Cars Motor Parade. It was a good one.

So fun seeing all the 'old' pictures. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Sleepingbooty]

Hey there! Followed you over from my ptr! I'll have to look at your siggie again, did you do a TR on trip #1? That one's over, right? I only followed your links, so if you reported about it in between, I missed it.

 

[wdwgirl03]

Love the flashbacks! That is too funny about the girls playing GMR when you got home.

 

[MHTeacher]

What were those people thinking keeping your camera instead of turning it in and what were the CMs thinking when the people left their information instead of giving them the camera?

I think they were just thinking that they found it, so if it wasn't claimed, that they were more entitled to it than the lost and found room at Disney! CRAZY !

Just like you, we used the 4/3 Fairytale Package in 2003 to make our dream come true... it was the beginning of "a beautiful friendship!"

Kathy

Loved that 4/3 deal. We didn't take advantage of it last year, because we had a 40% PIN for resorts, and that came out cheaper for us, staying at the Poly.

It's amazing how much has changed with DDP and ADRs.

I know, Susan. The DDP really affected the dining system and ADRs at Disney. A walk-up is nearly impossible now.

Another great flashback update! Loved all the pictures! Hard to believe how much things have changed with ADR's.

Thanks, Stacy. ADR's are absolutely required not aren't they?

 

[MHTeacher]

Love the flashback pictures . Thank you for sharing . OH, and almost forgot

21 DAYS

Thanks, Dana................and oh,

Great pictures from 2003! I know how Rachel must have felt about Tower of Terror!

Thanks, Jackie. Now, Rachel loves it, and Elizabeth hates it (refuses to ride it.) . Do you not do ToT?

Park Fare for us this summer - just Jill, Brooklynn, and me - a special treat for a sweet big sister.

I miss Stars and Cars Motor Parade. It was a good one.

So fun seeing all the 'old' pictures. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks! I liked that parade too, much better than the current one.

That sounds like a wonderful idea, a sweet breakfast with just the three of you!

 

[MHTeacher]

Hey there! Followed you over from my ptr! I'll have to look at your siggie again, did you do a TR on trip #1? That one's over, right? I only followed your links, so if you reported about it in between, I missed it.

Hey, Rebecca!

I am finishing up my TR on the first trip connected to this PTR. The link is in my sig line---DON'T CRY, OR WE'LL RIDE DINOSAUR AGAIN!

Love the flashbacks! That is too funny about the girls playing GMR when you got home.

Thanks, Sarah! They would be mortified to know that I've told people about that!

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

First of all, you have an amazing memory! Even with the help of pictures I would never remember the order of things I did 7 years ago! I am very impressed.

Second, what a wierdo to not only take your camera but wait so long to mail it back! What is wrong with people?!

 

[MHTeacher]

First of all, you have an amazing memory! Even with the help of pictures I would never remember the order of things I did 7 years ago! I am very impressed.

Don't be too impressed, Courtney---I usually can't remember what I had for dinner the previous day! I have to admit that I just went in the order that I had the pictures arranged in my album. I usually put pics in chronological order, so I just looked through the album as I wrote the flashback.

Second, what a wierdo to not only take your camera but wait so long to mail it back! What is wrong with people?!

Thank you---I felt the exact same way! AND then, just not be able to "find the time to return it"---That said a lot to me about these folks!

 

[ladybugmom]

Hi Michelle!! Just wanted you to know that I'm here and trying to get all caught up on your PTR!!! I can't believe that we'll be in WDW in less than 3 weeks!! Whoo hoo!! Sorry I've been MIA but with the move and all things have been crazy here!!

 

[ladybugmom]

Oh wow!! I'm loving your flashback pics and stories!! And WOW about the camera situation! Sooo glad they finally sent it to you!! I LOVE the pic of the girls with the hymnal!! That's hilarious!!

 

[ladybugmom]

Ok--caught up some more!! LOVE the countdown calendar and WOW on the $4.99 graphic tees!! And YAY for the Mickey Mail!! My travel agent just got ours and will be sending ours to us very soon!! Can't wait!! And did I read that you went to the A-Day game?! Brent's sister went and I heard there was quite a comeback from the rookie QB at the end!! Roll tide!!