Monday 11-8-04.... This was our last day in the parks. You know the usual mixed emotions of thinking about leaving and wanting to get the very most out of your last full day.... Well all those things were happening. Deep down, I was mentally ready to be thinking about going home. I was missing my kids. I know I know they are really young adults but I still don't like being away from them.
We were up at 6:30. Not one day did we sleep late nor did we set an alarm clock. I'm just always up early when at WDW. We actually ate in the food court for the first time this morning. I had a made to order omlett and DH had french toast with sausage. The total was $17.00. We knew from past dining experience that the food was pretty good at the food court.
We caught the bus to MK and got there about 8:30 for the 9:00 opening. We did our favorites: splash, thunder, splash, POTC, Haunted Mansion. Buzz was way too busy so we past again. It just wasn't meant to be this trip. On our previous days at MK we kept an eye on the new Stitch ride. On Friday and through the weekend they were very strict about allowing DVC members and annual passholders only to view the attraction. However this Monday, they were allowing anyone. The official opening was scheduled for 11-16-04, so I felt lucky we were able to try it.
WHAT A HUGH DISAPPOINTMENT! I was not fond of the previous attraction here Exterrorestral, but I think this is even worse. They basically toned in down from a frightning alian to a cute alian. Yet there were still young children very frightened. There was no storyline that could be followed. It was just noise and smells in a totally dark room. This is going to need improvement!
Well a WDW vacation would not be complete without a hotdog at Caseys. So on our way out of the MK, we stopped on Main Street. Two Grand Slam Hotdogs, some great toppings and $9.00 later we were on our way to MGM.
First stop at MGM was Millionaire (DH favorite). When waiting to enter millionaire, DH is looking around at the others in the entry area trying to size up his competition. We were behind a large group of young teen girls acting very silly. DH thought that was an improvement on his odds to get in the hot seat. Well after the first question DH was in second place on the board and didn't one of the silly young teens get #1. She admitted she totally guessed on the question. She got just past the 1000 point questions and then got it wrong. It was time to choose another player. Again on this question DH was #2. When the first place person was asked to come down, they had to decline because they were a disney employee. Thats how DH got in the hot seat. It was very exciting watching him up there. He was a little nervous but did alright. He got to the 4000 point question and got it wrong. Looking back the answer he picked was way too obvious.... but thats hind-site. He won five pins and a lanyard to put them on and also a hat showing him to be a 1000 point winner. The hat cannot be purchased anywhere in the park. We were also given a receipt for the value of the prizes showing $67.00. Sure hope we don't get a 1099 on that for taxes. So that was a large goal accomplished by DH. He was very humble, but also seemed quite proud as well. We did try millionaire once more later on, but neither of us did very well.
We did more of our favorites and then went to see Beauty & the Beast show. I had not seen the show since 1999. It was still very good. I saw an actual broadway type production of B&B about a year and a half ago, so the MGM mini version was hard to compare. We left MGM about 4:00. We were being picked up by a Disney Vacation Club van for a tour of the new Saratoga Springs Resort. Our tour guide was Ricardo. I had spoke to Ricardo several weeks before. He sent us info and a video. DH was not a believer in time-shares. We had a very bad experience with a hard sell time share about ten years ago and DH has been turned off ever since. DVC is totally different. The tour went very well and the resort was absolutely wonderful. I am proud to say we are now members of the DVC! This was probably the most exciting thing that happened to us on this trip. Just think of all the wonderful disney vacations to come. I can hardly believe it myself.
We had the DVC van take us back to the MK. Our only stop was the jewelry store on Main street. I purchased a birthstone mickey head necklace which I will be receiving as a Christmas gift. We left the MK and headed over to EPCOT. We had no PS for tonight and everything seemed to be full. We stopped at guest services and went down the list of restaurants that had availability. We were fortunate to get the French restaurant. Not the fancy Bistro upstairs, but the one on the first level. What a suprisingly wonderful meal. We never had any plans for dining here, but who knew it could be so good. Our feeling of French restaurants were small portions served on large plates. This thought caused us to over order. DH had a glass of wine, onion soup, a salad and for an entree he had tenderloin with augratin potatos and green beans. I had the lobster bisque and my entree was potato wrapped cod with lobster demi-glaze. The total bill was $91.00. Hey we were celebrating our last dinner at disney and also being DVC members.
Looking back, I cannot believe we crammed all of the above into one day. We got back to our room about 9:30 and packed up for our departure the next day.
There is one more entry.... so check out day 6
We were up at 6:30. Not one day did we sleep late nor did we set an alarm clock. I'm just always up early when at WDW. We actually ate in the food court for the first time this morning. I had a made to order omlett and DH had french toast with sausage. The total was $17.00. We knew from past dining experience that the food was pretty good at the food court.
We caught the bus to MK and got there about 8:30 for the 9:00 opening. We did our favorites: splash, thunder, splash, POTC, Haunted Mansion. Buzz was way too busy so we past again. It just wasn't meant to be this trip. On our previous days at MK we kept an eye on the new Stitch ride. On Friday and through the weekend they were very strict about allowing DVC members and annual passholders only to view the attraction. However this Monday, they were allowing anyone. The official opening was scheduled for 11-16-04, so I felt lucky we were able to try it.
WHAT A HUGH DISAPPOINTMENT! I was not fond of the previous attraction here Exterrorestral, but I think this is even worse. They basically toned in down from a frightning alian to a cute alian. Yet there were still young children very frightened. There was no storyline that could be followed. It was just noise and smells in a totally dark room. This is going to need improvement!
Well a WDW vacation would not be complete without a hotdog at Caseys. So on our way out of the MK, we stopped on Main Street. Two Grand Slam Hotdogs, some great toppings and $9.00 later we were on our way to MGM.
First stop at MGM was Millionaire (DH favorite). When waiting to enter millionaire, DH is looking around at the others in the entry area trying to size up his competition. We were behind a large group of young teen girls acting very silly. DH thought that was an improvement on his odds to get in the hot seat. Well after the first question DH was in second place on the board and didn't one of the silly young teens get #1. She admitted she totally guessed on the question. She got just past the 1000 point questions and then got it wrong. It was time to choose another player. Again on this question DH was #2. When the first place person was asked to come down, they had to decline because they were a disney employee. Thats how DH got in the hot seat. It was very exciting watching him up there. He was a little nervous but did alright. He got to the 4000 point question and got it wrong. Looking back the answer he picked was way too obvious.... but thats hind-site. He won five pins and a lanyard to put them on and also a hat showing him to be a 1000 point winner. The hat cannot be purchased anywhere in the park. We were also given a receipt for the value of the prizes showing $67.00. Sure hope we don't get a 1099 on that for taxes. So that was a large goal accomplished by DH. He was very humble, but also seemed quite proud as well. We did try millionaire once more later on, but neither of us did very well.
We did more of our favorites and then went to see Beauty & the Beast show. I had not seen the show since 1999. It was still very good. I saw an actual broadway type production of B&B about a year and a half ago, so the MGM mini version was hard to compare. We left MGM about 4:00. We were being picked up by a Disney Vacation Club van for a tour of the new Saratoga Springs Resort. Our tour guide was Ricardo. I had spoke to Ricardo several weeks before. He sent us info and a video. DH was not a believer in time-shares. We had a very bad experience with a hard sell time share about ten years ago and DH has been turned off ever since. DVC is totally different. The tour went very well and the resort was absolutely wonderful. I am proud to say we are now members of the DVC! This was probably the most exciting thing that happened to us on this trip. Just think of all the wonderful disney vacations to come. I can hardly believe it myself.
We had the DVC van take us back to the MK. Our only stop was the jewelry store on Main street. I purchased a birthstone mickey head necklace which I will be receiving as a Christmas gift. We left the MK and headed over to EPCOT. We had no PS for tonight and everything seemed to be full. We stopped at guest services and went down the list of restaurants that had availability. We were fortunate to get the French restaurant. Not the fancy Bistro upstairs, but the one on the first level. What a suprisingly wonderful meal. We never had any plans for dining here, but who knew it could be so good. Our feeling of French restaurants were small portions served on large plates. This thought caused us to over order. DH had a glass of wine, onion soup, a salad and for an entree he had tenderloin with augratin potatos and green beans. I had the lobster bisque and my entree was potato wrapped cod with lobster demi-glaze. The total bill was $91.00. Hey we were celebrating our last dinner at disney and also being DVC members.
Looking back, I cannot believe we crammed all of the above into one day. We got back to our room about 9:30 and packed up for our departure the next day.
There is one more entry.... so check out day 6
