kathymc
<font color=indigo><font color=teal>Dances in the
- Joined
- Oct 4, 1999
- Messages
- 2,250
I had to attend a conference for work in September in Orlando so we planned a trip to Disney around it. We recently bought into DVC so we knew we probably wouldnt be staying in Disney hotels anymore so we wanted to stay at a property we always wanted to try the Animal Kingdom. My parents also had wanted to try this resort (and they travel to Disney with us quite frequently) so we asked them to come along.
Our last trip was in December 2003 so we purchased annual passes then with the hope that we would be able to secure AP rates. I booked the hotel months in advance to at least have a room and waited and hoped for rates to drop. We booked it at $215 then got a code rate of $183 then we got and AP rate of $168. We used Dreams Unlimited and they were able to get all the rates for us.
A couple of weeks before our trip the hurricanes started. First Charley, then Francis and then the impending Ivan. I was glued to the weather channel for days. It felt odd as I wasnt excited about our trip as I was more concerned for the people being devastated by the storms. The days before our trip Ivan was forecasted to come right through Orlando again. We went back and forth over whether or not to cancel but we were traveling 3 days before it was scheduled to hit so we decided to go anyways and hope it veered away. I actually didnt even begin to pack until about 9:00 pm the night before we left!
Saturday, September, 11, 2004 - DAY 1
Up at about 4:45 (we didnt go to bed until about 12:30!) and off to the airport. It only took about 20 minutes to get to the Manchester airport sweet! We recently moved to NH so we were flying Southwest out of Manchester instead of Delta out of Boston. Met mom and dad and DH arranged to have their car parked for the week for free. FIL drove us in. We were there pretty early so we waited around but flight took off on time at 8:30. Flight was quick and smooth and we landed at around 11:15.
Got our van and I drove to the AKL first time we didnt get lost! Driving in from the airport you could see so many homes with damage. Roofs with tarps, window boarded up and screened porches knocked down. Really brought the force of the hurricanes to light. Got to the Animal Kingdom Lodge at about 12:30 and got into our rooms to unpack. Great room location but mom and dads room has a bunk bed. We really should have asked to change but we never did.
Off to MGM. Got something quick to eat, burgers and hotdogs and over to the Beauty and the Beast show. We went to Tower of Terror lots of fun. Our picture didnt come out so we asked if we cold go again so they took us up the back way and into an elevator that let us out right at the rides elevators. Then to RNR very cool. Crowds are non existent, and its very warm out today I dont know how people can come here in the summer. Walked around and did the usuals Movie Ride, Indiana Jones, Star Wars and Millionaire. It rained a little bit on and off but it made it cooler! Got a hotdog and turkey leg and beer for dinner and went to Fantasmic. Where did all these people come from?
Fantastic show as always and the tears and the chills are still there. Came back to the lodge and had a few drinks on our balcony watching the zebras and giraffes. I just kept saying this is so cool. Off to bed at about 12:00 still tuned into the weather channel.
Our last trip was in December 2003 so we purchased annual passes then with the hope that we would be able to secure AP rates. I booked the hotel months in advance to at least have a room and waited and hoped for rates to drop. We booked it at $215 then got a code rate of $183 then we got and AP rate of $168. We used Dreams Unlimited and they were able to get all the rates for us.
A couple of weeks before our trip the hurricanes started. First Charley, then Francis and then the impending Ivan. I was glued to the weather channel for days. It felt odd as I wasnt excited about our trip as I was more concerned for the people being devastated by the storms. The days before our trip Ivan was forecasted to come right through Orlando again. We went back and forth over whether or not to cancel but we were traveling 3 days before it was scheduled to hit so we decided to go anyways and hope it veered away. I actually didnt even begin to pack until about 9:00 pm the night before we left!
Saturday, September, 11, 2004 - DAY 1
Up at about 4:45 (we didnt go to bed until about 12:30!) and off to the airport. It only took about 20 minutes to get to the Manchester airport sweet! We recently moved to NH so we were flying Southwest out of Manchester instead of Delta out of Boston. Met mom and dad and DH arranged to have their car parked for the week for free. FIL drove us in. We were there pretty early so we waited around but flight took off on time at 8:30. Flight was quick and smooth and we landed at around 11:15.
Got our van and I drove to the AKL first time we didnt get lost! Driving in from the airport you could see so many homes with damage. Roofs with tarps, window boarded up and screened porches knocked down. Really brought the force of the hurricanes to light. Got to the Animal Kingdom Lodge at about 12:30 and got into our rooms to unpack. Great room location but mom and dads room has a bunk bed. We really should have asked to change but we never did.
Off to MGM. Got something quick to eat, burgers and hotdogs and over to the Beauty and the Beast show. We went to Tower of Terror lots of fun. Our picture didnt come out so we asked if we cold go again so they took us up the back way and into an elevator that let us out right at the rides elevators. Then to RNR very cool. Crowds are non existent, and its very warm out today I dont know how people can come here in the summer. Walked around and did the usuals Movie Ride, Indiana Jones, Star Wars and Millionaire. It rained a little bit on and off but it made it cooler! Got a hotdog and turkey leg and beer for dinner and went to Fantasmic. Where did all these people come from?
Fantastic show as always and the tears and the chills are still there. Came back to the lodge and had a few drinks on our balcony watching the zebras and giraffes. I just kept saying this is so cool. Off to bed at about 12:00 still tuned into the weather channel.
