July 2006 @ Wilderness Lodge

4MY2BOYS

Earning My Ears
Joined
Jan 18, 2006
Messages
13
Cast:
Husband and me – thirty somethings
DS 1 – 9
DS2 - 7

Location:
Wilderness Lodge

This trip was to be our grand finale because after all there are other things to do, places to see. We had been twice before as a family, March 2003 and March 2004. In 2003, I planned the trip in about two months. I did not know about the disboards or any other internet site. Luckily a friend of mine told me about the Unofficial Guide two weeks before we left so I did do some planning. Lucky for us the parks were not crowded and we only used fast passes for Peter Pan and Winnie the Pooh. The longest line we waited in was at Pecos Bills for lunch – it took almost thirty minutes. The following year we went back with my mother and younger brother. Again I did not do too much planning except to make ADRs again for Chef Mickey’s and the Polynesian Luau. Again we were lucky with the crowds except in Magic Kingdom where we literally could not move in Fantasyland one afternoon. But none of that mattered because my mother had a “magic pass” that allowed us to bypass the attraction lines due to her multiple sclerosis. My oldest son once he caught on, excitedly told me that grandma has something better than a fast pass, it is a magic pass. So after we returned home in 2004, my husband and I decided we would go back one more time, stay on property and do it all. The only catch was we would wait until our youngest son was old enough to enjoy or at least try all the attractions. The magic age – 7 in the summer of 2006.

In August of 2005 I booked our trip at our local AAA with park hopper tickets and the dining plan for July 2006 at the Wilderness Lodge – standard/woods view. I made our HoopDeeDoo reservations and waited for the next stage of the planning -- ADRs. I couldn’t wait so I bought the most recent unofficial guide and decided to check out some of the recommended Disney websites. Boy was I surprised to find the DIS! I looked forward to my DIS time everyday, received a lot of good advice and poured over trip reports.

One day I stumbled upon ADRs could be made 180 days out instead of 90! I had to get busy. In addition to the HoopDeeDoo, we ate at Cape May’s clambake (awful in our opinion), Donald’s Breakfastaurus (loved it), Beirgarten (my husband’s choice and his favorite), Chef Mickey’s (family favorite) and Hollywood and Vine.

Finally after weeks of planning and anticipation it was time to board Southwest non-stop to the World. We left on a Friday evening and as we were landing at MCO, we could see the fireworks from the plane! The magic has begun. We then went to baggage claim where our driver from Tiffany Towncar was waiting. I decided since we were getting in so late to hire a car plus they stopped at a grocery store for us so I was able to stock up on drinks, milk and cereal and a few other snacks. We arrived at the Wilderness Lodge around 11. We had no problem checking in and quickly made our way to our room on the 4th floor. Now my boys knew all about the bunk beds at this resort and I had explained to them we did not get a bunk bed room. Well, we open the door and there are bunk beds!! Now it was time to battle it out who got the top first. We flipped a coin, my older son won but gave in to the younger. After that they took turns each night. We all get in the bed and fall asleep ready to start our first full day in the World.

Saturday morning arrives and I am up early. I get ready, wake the boys and then the husband. We all eat our Frosted Flakes and head to the bus stop to catch the bus to the Studios. We are there for the opening ceremony and quickly make our way to Rock-N-Roller Coaster where my husband and older son ride. Next we walk over to Tower of Terror and use our Fast Passes we retrieved on our way to Aerosmith. My youngest son did not want to ride once we got to the elevators. I felt like the worst mother in the world because he was terrified and truthfully I was too. He says there is just enough tower but too much terror! My oldest son loves it! Next we have to hit Star Tours. I sit this one out and inquire whether or not Darth Vader will be out today. No it is too hot. We do the Muppets and then the Stunt show. It was so hot sitting in that stadium but the boys loved it. Sometime we ate lunch at the ABC Commissary and were pleasantly surprised with how good the food was. We decided to try and catch the Indiana Jones show around 1:30 but they were out of Fast Passes for that time slot and it was getting ready to begin. A nice cast member heard me tell my family we would not have time to catch the next show and he magically gave us four fast passes for the 1:30 show. After the show, we decided to go back to the Wilderness Lodge for some naps. My husband and oldest son napped while the youngest and I went to the pool. Who can sleep in Disney World? After some rest and relaxation, we catch the boat to Fort Wilderness. The Hoop Dee Show was wonderful and the food was the best we had while there. We have to wait on the dock for the Water Pageant to pass before boarding the boat back to the Wilderness Lodge. We get to our room and what is that booming noise I keep hearing? It must be the fireworks. Just for the heck of it, I pull back the drapes to the balcony and what do I see? Fireworks. Of course they were through the trees except towards the finale where they made it above the trees but it is still MAGIC.

Day 2 finds us eating breakfast with Donald and his friends at Animal Kingdom. This was a wonderful breakfast and the character interaction was great. Afterwards we get in line with everyone else to wait for rope drop and the mad dash to Expedition Everest. We get our Fast Passes and trek over to the safari. Then back to Dinoworld for the two oldest boys (husband and oldest son) to ride Dinosaur. The youngest and I get our first snack using the Dining Plan. It is now time for our trip in the Himalayas. The youngest decides not to ride. Afterwards, we get fast passes for Kali River Rapids and walk through the Asian jungle. We do Kali Rapids, It’s Tough to Do a Bug, Primevil Whirl and the Dumbo imposters. At this point we decide to hit the beach – Blizzard Beach. We get there and there is lightening in the area so we wait and wait and wait. Finally the all clear. We were really surprised at how much we liked this water park. We leave in time to go back to the Wilderness Lodge and get cleaned up for our dinner at Cape May. We decide to take a cab and make it on time for ADRs. I was very disappointed with this meal. The overall experience just was not good. Oh well. At this point we decide to get crazy and venture to the Magic Kingdom. I do not remember what we were able to do but I do know we got on Splash Mountain. The sign said 45 minute wait but it ended up being about 20. When we went in 2005, the youngest did not want to ride. Well after two years of thinking about it, he decided it was time to try it. We make it through the briar patch and afterwards the youngest says to me, “but mommy we didn’t go down the huge drop.” “Yes we did. You just didn’t realize it because it is dark.” He turned around and was amazed that he had completed such a feat without a bit of fear. We decided to catch the boat back to the Wilderness Lodge and rest up for Day 3 in the World at EPCOT.

We are up bright and early again. Today our goal is to ride Soarin’ and Test Track. We get our fastpasses for Soarin' and get in the standby line for Test Track. We finally make it to the second line where you board the cars only to wait and wait and wait. We finally get a car and love it!! We then cross back to the other side of EPCOT and fly over California. I did not enjoy this ride. The sensation of hang gliding did not agree with me and by the time I got used to it the ride was over. Next we decide to eat lunch in England. Well it is too early so we hike back to Future World and find something to eat there and call it a day. Did we really only ride two things? Guess so. We go back to the hotel and rest/swim. We decide to leave for Disney-MGM to catch the parade. Once there, the boys want to ride Star Tours again and I stake out our viewing spot. They come off the ride and we are in position when a Cast Member kindly tells us we will have better viewing under the big Star Trek statue. Finally we move – she was rather insistent. Next thing we know, the children in our area are asked if they would like to close out the parade. What, my children are going to be in the parade??? About a dozen children were chosen to walk behind Mickey and Minnie’s car to keep the crowds at bay. At that point I had to call home, first my mother then my in-laws. My father-in-law asked what channel the parade was on! We then go on the Great Movie Ride, check out Beauty and the Beast which was an accomplishment for me living with three men and eat dinner at Hollywood and Vine. It was a long wait for our table but the food was much better than Cape May so were all happy. Afterwards we make our way to see Fantasmic. Afterwards, one more trip on the Rock-N-Roller coaster for the oldest two boys and back to the hotel. Next up Day 4 AM EMH at the Magic Kingdom.

Tuesday morning, early entry at Magic Kingdom. The day I have been waiting for. We are there in line, literally one of the first 20 people inside the park and the youngest has to go to the bathroom. What??? I take a deep breath and husband takes him to the first restroom on the left inside the park. All the while I am thinking about all the valuable time we are losing. It only took three minutes but it seemed like an eternity. We make it to Dumbo and it only has a five minute wait. What a relief. We breeze through Fantasy Land and head to the rope drop leading back to Frontierland for another trip through the Briar Patch. We get fast passes for that and then ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Back to the briar patch and on to the Caribbean to meat up with some Pirates. Pirates was one of the longest lines we waited in the whole trip. We spend the afternoon at Typhoon Lagoon. This water park is much prettier than Blizzard Beach but we had a hard time maneuvering around the park and Typhoon Lagoon itself is way too rough in my opinion. I was wearing my hair back in a pony tail, had on a conservative tank style one-piece and sunglasses when the waves hit. When I recovered, my bathing suit was almost completely off, my sunglasses gone and so was my rubberband holding my hair back. Those were some powerful waves.

Wednesday arrives and our boys set sail on the Pirate Cruise from the Grand Floridian. (My boys deem the hotel to prissy and wonder why anyone would stay here.) Husband and I eat a nice breakfast with the ducks. We decided they do not have pigeons in the World but ducks instead. Then we lay out at the Grand Floridian pool until the boys return with their treasure. We board the monorail, get off at the Magic Kingdom, board the boat back to the Wilderness Lodge and hangout by the pool till about 3. We plan to spend the evening at Epcot but a strange thing has happened, I would have been happy to have gone home right then but I press on. We get a fast pass for Test Track, meet characters, visit Figment, ride Test Track, and visit Mexico and Norway before dining in Germany. My husband loved the Biergarten and my oldest did participate in some dancing. The show was worth it even though the food was not to my liking. After dinner it looked like it was going to storm so we head back to Future World and catch the last Living with the Land ride.
Thursday arrives and I still want to go home. What is wrong with me? I must be sick. Anyway, we go back to Magic Kingdom because it is early entry day again. The two oldest boys go to ride Space Mountain while the youngest and I stroll leisurely down Main Street and make a stop the Bakery before visiting Buzz. We meet up with the other two before they go on Stitch. We do Buzz again and get stuck for what seemed like an eternity. I do not care if I ever ride Buzz again. We were stuck in the tunnel part where it is black and the stars and the galaxy are racing by you. It was horrible. We then meet up with the others again and head to the rope drop for Frontierland. First stop – Splash Mountain. Oh no it is not working. Okay we will ride Big Thunder and check back. Do that, still not working. We go to Adventureland check back, still not working. Did not work all day!!! Finally the youngest saw Briar Fox and blamed him. End our day at Chef Mickey’s followed by some pool time.

Friday morning, our last day, we decide to go to Animal Kingdom and ride Everest one more time. We also spin on Primevil Whirl and decide to hop the bus to Magic Kingdom. Our goal – Splash Mountain. Guess what. It is still broken. Okay, we have to leave the Wilderness Lodge at 3 which means we have to leave the Magic Kingdom by 2. We spend some time in Toontown and eat lunch at Columbia Harbor House. Go back to check Splash status, still not operational. Wait a minute, they are opening the Fast Pass machines, got 4 fast passes and realize if we get in line right then, by the time we go through the Briar Patch it will be time to use our Fast Passes. What a relief. My youngest would have been crushed to have left the Magic Kingdom without having ridden Splash one last time.

We board the bus for the Wilderness Lodge and my 9 year old is silently crying. This has been the best week of his life and he does not want to go home. I explain to him we can have fun anywhere as a family, what about Nashville, what about the beach, what about just hanging out at the pool. He slowly regains his composure. We make it to the airport thanks to Tiffany Towncar and back home safe and sound thanks to Southwest.

I am too depressed to have the pictures developed. Too depressed to look at the DIS. It is awful. I finally realize, wait a minute I have lost 12 pounds in 2 weeks, I must be sick. Come to think of it I didn’t eat very much in Disney but I chalked it up to the heat. I must have a long-running stomach bug. That is why I was ready to come home ½ way through the trip.

I had intended to write my trip report sooner but didn’t know if I could without becoming depressed all over again. What kind of magic do they have at that place????

Well sometime after we returned, I made the comment if we ever went back I wanted to go when it was decorated for Christmas. Guess what, my husband came home one day and said he had gotten the week off after Thanksgiving so we could go to Disney. What? Really? (He really does love me and Disney too.)

So we will be back in the World this November and I am able to write this report because I know I will have more magical memories.
Despite being the summer, the crowds were manageable but maybe that was due to my extensive planning/research. We came upon a lot of rides that were walk ons in each park. It seemed the crowds were concentrated at the headliner attractions. This trip was also nice because our boys were old enough for us to let them do a couple of things by themselves with us close by like the Barnstormer. Of course I had my eye on them the entire time but they didn’t know that.

I am looking forward to November, less crowds and cooler weather. We are staying at the Carribean Beach Resort this time.
 
Great report - I must admit to having gasped when I rea that you did not plan to return but thought to myself 'Surely, they won't be able to resist' - and it's true, you couldn't.

I hope you have a great time in November :thumbsup2
 




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