Just the Magic - Oct '05 all reports will gather here + Pics* POR etc

[eeyore45]

So I've read Zzub, Lala, and Haley's .... they posted thier reports -- and inspired me - I had lost the magic since our Oct '05 trip I'm ashamed to admit... but I've found it in planning another trip... and was inspired to try my hand at our trip...

But, I wont include the negatives, I'll try and stay focused on the "Magic" and like someone else posted, I tend to lose focus and not finish reports - so I'll do my best....

Cast: Me - Trip planner, organizer, and "go to" Disney chic
DH - Just admitting to having the Disney Fever
DD 9 - a princess at heart
Mom - 60 somethin... she loves her ds better!!
Dad - 60 somethin, NOT a Disney fan, but wants to get along

Destination - Port Orleans Riverside

Pre Trip Report + History lesson:

Sept '04 mom was hospitilized for an 'unknown' infection, she was in that hospital 3 months - and yes almost died. Needless to say we began to formulate a Birthday Disney Reconcilation Trip....

July '05 I presented my mom with a 3 ring binder filled with 8 tabs of our Disney Vacation - complete with room, dining, and park maps and info. I also included a tab for my dad - he was going to do a Richard Petty Driving Experience. I read the Dis after all!!

Oct 4 - American decided to cancel the early flights, so we were off at a reasonable time...

It was cold on the plane, and I forgot to pack a carry on blanket, lucky dd got the last germ filled red blanket...

No tv, but we had our cameras, our carry ons, our maps, Passporter, champagne, and ear planes, oh and of course CROCS!! Here come the flight attendants, and they have DR PEPPER!! woohoo.... ooops, dd moved around, dr pepper traveling to my lap, and seat!! Aaaack!! Fortunately the bathroom has an air dryer, and I could stand on the seat and sink and get my "wet" area a nice breeze before landing!

We landed at MCO - didnt trust anyone with my luggage, grabbed it, went downstairs and got in line for Magical Express - counted lots of people, maybe 74 - and only 3 CM's - but people kept getting in and leaving the line - and dd and dh were waiting while I checked in - took 20 min - pretty good!! Got in the line to the bus... 5 min and our POR bus arrived, all aboard!! (I actually feel Zzub experience was closer to ours, but "just the Magic" here, just the "Magic"!!)

Check in was a breeze - our bus only had one other family on it!! (remember, just the Magic) We were blessed with connecting rooms - 4747 and 4748 Parterre Place, and mom and dad were already there! CM wanted to know what we wanted with the delivery (shhh give me 5 and send it up!! *wink)

A short walk over a gorgeous bridge - the view is fine!! Saw a sign for 4700 rooms, walked up 2 flights, and around saw the quiet pool, around, saw the parking, walked around, and around, and around... THERE IT IS!! *knock *knock Special Delivery...

and mom got these"

From wdwflorist... I perused the site, then called, talked prices, and the tropical one seemed expensive on their site, could they do fewer flowers for a bit less??? Yep!! WOW they did an amazing job, made my mom happy!!

ring *ring package for you at the market place... I walk - wow, we have a river view - wow, there's an EXIT RIGHT HERE!! I get our package - it was the 5 GOH badges... will my DAD wear it, or think its too hookey?? So excited, we have ADR for Ohana, and its mom's birthday today!!

Dad decides to drive to Polynesian, so we all change to our "Island" wear - and dad LOVES his GOH badge - mom got a lanyard with tradable pins - all good to go!!


Did I mention we actually had a "river" view if you went outside looked left > this view>>

Looking right is the river!

Mom and dad loved the food, dd loved the races, and hula hoop. We walked around the shops, tried on the silly hats, showed Nana the Dolphin, and were back at the room at a reasonable time - I had planned to watch Wishes from Ohana, but we got there early (everyone was hungry, and we got our table too!!) so knowing it was our first night, Wishes could wait for a closer view INSIDE the Magic!!


Well, I'm late fixing tonight's dinner.... until later....

(hope I'm not over doing this btw...)

 

[Pryncess'mom]

Great pictures, eeyore45. I really like POR. That arrangement is beautiful!


deb

 

[SqueakyMouse]

Fantastic trip report! Keep it coming!

 

[eeyore45]

I forgot to mention after Ohana DD wanted to go swimming,so I took her to the quiet pool right outside the mansion - it was a beautiful night, it started to rain, but no biggie, dd is in the water, no one else was in the pool, and I was journaling...

When we got back to the room ds had called, apparently DS 17 was in a car accident, but didnt want to tell us DS 20 called to tell us the car was a wreck!! He was livid. DS17 said the car in front of him stopped to miss the geese, and he hit the right front of our car into her SUV, no damage to her car, so what's the problem?? Say prayers, and hope it will all work out!! (it did!)

[C]Cinderella Castle Day - 8:05AM Baby!! [/C]

Cinderella Day - so excited no one got much sleep!! At 4AM DD sat up SCREAMING - "Look, its TINKERBELLE!" sure enough there was a bright light on the wall!! A smiling child fell contendedly back to sleep - Mom gave up and took a shower at 4:30am, and dug around to see what Tinkerbelle left - a crown, some trading pins, and a light fan -

Papa drove us to the MK - now I'm not quite sure what got into me - we've never driven to the MK, only had taken the monorail before... I apologize to anyone that witnessed this - I had my dad STOP the car at the entrance to the Contemporary, and we all piled out, and ran across the street (with the light - but I was red faced when dad called me - um Sandy the gate CM is yelling at me for doing this... well of course it was stupid NOW that I think about it!! I WASNT THINKING!!) Must contain my enthusiasm... must contain.... We get to the entrance, and see lots of Princesses in line - we join them, and are told the gate wont open for another 40 minutes... ok... so we talk to each other, to the CM's to the moms around us... Then, they let us in -

Our view -

While I check in, mom wanders away, DH takes pictures, and dd eyes are just HUGE!! We're escorted up the elevator - no Fairy Godmother - we got up too early!! This is the first time for us to see inside the castle - we have a window seat with confettie, and streamers, and its just breathtaking!!

I had to be careful when taking pictures - I kept knocking into the table behind me!! oops... they were very kind!! We only got one basket of pastries and DD grabbed her favorite, the princesses came thru - Wendy, Alice, Snow White, Cinderella, and Belle - Aurora was busy in Norway, something about King Stephen... no worries, we can find her later this afternoon at the County Fair!! They bring us a cupcake for mom and dd - and then we get our things and head down stairs -

Still no FairyGodmother, but we get in the chair - we'll see FG at 1900 Park Fair. After reading all the tramplings at Tinkerbelle, I warned dd, and sure enough we watched 2 fathers pick up their kids, and RACE to the shop - and when we get inside - the CM was telling a father every child will get a photo op and certificate (well isnt that nice!!) DD crown had broke, and they have new Aurora's style crowns, one CM said no problem take the new crown, the other CM said $14.95 please! DD face was priceless, nana found a tinkerbelle ring, and the first CM made sure DD got her picture with the wake up wand, and a certificate - we thanked her for her calmness for being yelled at and trampled, and hoped that this wouldnt disappear because of some rude adults!! We also ran into a Dis'er and her DD - they too were calmly waiting to be the last one to get our precious pics... I believe her name was Pam...

DD had fun talking to Wendy about Tinkerbelle, adn to the CM's here too!!
We then showed Nana the magic of Philharmagic - a CM helped us get the screen for DH for closed captioning - actually reflective captioning - now if you ever have a hard time understanding Donald Duck, do ask for Reflective Captioning, you get a mirror to sit in front of your seat, you still experience all that is 3D in this show - but you get to understand DD!!. We get FP for Jungle Cruise, take in the Tree house, Tiki Birds,

Buzz, Space Mountain, Snow White, Peter Pan, we tried to do Big Thunder, it broke right as we were taking off - they gave us a FP - we took ourselves to COP and Tram ride... we ate at Cosmic Rays... Mom doesnt understand any better than DH about free dining... so I get mom to tell me what she likes, stand her in line have hre get her card out, get dh to help dd get her fries, with her CS credit, and lets share a meal!! Back to mom, she is still confused, I go and help the CM and mom, and find a table!! It sure is crowded!! No seats... we'll sit and swoop as a family is almost ready - GOT IT!! AFter we try and see Aurora stood in line 25 min, line didnt move, its starting to move, people are leaving, Aurora has to go see the KING -a gain!! We leave too, another day perhaps!!

Papa calls, he only got 2 laps in - then the rain hit - he is so excited!! he gets to come back - so for him that was a free 2 lap experience!! YEAH!! Disney is dusting daddy!! Time to go back to POR - DD wants to try the ferry - ok, its disney ...

mustnt have read my passporter, or notes, because the Ferry took us to TTC, but no busses at TTC to POR - I really think they should rename the Ticket and TRANSPORTATION Center to something more realistic for us literal people!! , so a bus to MGM arrives, no line, we get on, last ones, we stand, papa calls - "where are you" "WHY MGM?" Yep, to get a resort bus i just thought it would all work out!! LOL LOL
Transfer to POR and get dressed up for the Contemprary California Grille - we are watching wishes tonight - ok???

we get there early, so we wander the shops - Dad finds me, our pager doesnt work in the shops!! - oops, but I wanted to buy DD something while we dined - she got a beautiful how to draw Minine Mouse Case with everything inside!! PERFECT!!



Now I had to order for everyone as we kept starring at the menus, and there were 4 adults, so 4 appys - I wanted to get 4 different ones, and share - so i was a bit "commando" I suppose!! We paid OOP (out of pocket) for DD - she only wanted French fries and a drink!! Its DIsney, she gets FF and a drink!!

We were told to go outside for the fireworks and they'd brind dessert out afterwards!! dont remember all the desserts we had, but the did do a nice birthday treat dd enjoyed - the bananas display was gorgeous, but tasted of "mocha" - we all shared bites of this and that

BAck to POR we're exhasuted!!

I forgot to mention, this is our first Towel Animal Experience -

DS needs computer before he heads to night class - I cant even tease on Day 3!!

 

[heaven2dc]

Wow - loving this so far! I'm a ditz when it comes to abbreviations tho - what is a GOH badge? (please no wand hitting to the head folks! I warned you I'm a ditz (sp?))

cool pics btw

 

[LaLa]

Eeyore45-


Glad ya finally joined us!

See, it's never to late to relive the memories! That's the upside. Now the downside - you will become forever addicted to your computer and will start muttering to yourself if you haven't already!

Seriously, I am lovin your report. Great pics too. Keep em coming.

BTW, we walked right by the building in that first POR pic LOTS and LOTS of times while we were there. Sorry if I missed it, but when were ya there? Never know, we may have passed each other while we were there.

 

[eeyore45]

(GOH - Guest of Honor Badges, pre ordered due to the Dis, called the Christmas Store in Downtown Disney, I ordered the golden name badges - they are styled similiar to CM's name badges, so be prepared to answer questions - )

Thursday EPCOT FOOD AND WINE FEST DAY!!

Cast : Me - Disney Obsessed
DH - loves me, and is catching the fever
DD 9 - Disney Princess
Mom - 60 something - Bday girl
Dad - 60 something enjoys retirement and golf

Port Orleans Riverside Parterre Place

Now I have a habit of waking before dawn, so I shower, and dress, wake DH and go get brekkie - we share the CS credit - I get extra bacon... and like many others that report, you pass the morning mug clubbers on the trip to the Food Court, most days I was first in line too!! It took me awhile to figure out the 3 line system at POR Food Court... one line fresh omelettes, they couldnt do just a scrambled egg, one line only had this scrambled egg combo, but accomadated me, one line I think had waffles etc, but I could get my egg platter there as well - it never mattered until that one morning I (*gasp*) overslept - WHERE DID ALL THESE PEOPLE COME FROM??!! unlike Zzub I didnt join the "mug club" I meant too, we had joined in 2004 at Polynesian, and I think I did bring that mug ( we make drinks and take them to the pool people ) It turns out the room had hot water makers for my tea - and it was just too darned HOT for anything else - the DP had free drinks, and water, and all that Nana brought, it just didnt seem cost effective for me... I dont understand it in 2004 we used those mugs over and over and over... timing was off on this trip what can I say?!!


Apparently we wore out Nana and Papa, because they didnt join us on our joruney to Epcot - I think Papa went back to do his Richard Petty thing - but that's his story, so I cant fill in all his excitement!! I now remember he got a mug!! He ate at the POR often too!!

We did Figment (FP SOarin) rode the land, then Soarin. No words to describe we were in the front row CENTER!! Pod B seat 1,2, 3 (glad I took notes I'm just transcribing from my journal!!) We then pulled another FP for Soarin - AWESOME Ikept sayin "we're NOT movin " I got a little queezy from time to time - dd thought this was hilarious!! I used a patch. For some reason my "mature" body wasnt handling old age well, and I got too dizzy too often, the bromine and ginger tablets werent sufficient to stave off waves of nausea - I called the doctor and got THE PATCH!!

After soarin we went to Canada - tried the Ice wine and a maple somethin (probably salmon!! ) We got in line for DH to do the Beer Tasting in England, after reading all the tips I told dh how to manuever the beer tasting event, and then left him... DD and I went to France - we saw the movie, I took a pic, and dh called he couldnt find us, and i had all his ID!! oops!! He had no credit, no DP nothing!! no ID!! good thinkg he loves me (You see I take the keys to do the FP!) DH was a bit miffed, due to my phone not working in France... *ouch... so we all go to America for the Sam Adam's Tasting... here we run into the same person dh sat with in England, turns out they are staying at the Boardwalk and are going to Party of the Senses, they are Dis members... and they have a DD, and her brother is going to babysit, can our dd come and hang out with them on SAt? Sure... so we exchange cell phone numbers... and plan on meeting up... Now, if this Dis member reads this - I lost your dis name!! I'll post the pic that a kind audience member took, and I dont know why its so blurry!! it was taken BEFORE the beer tasting!! The pic I took is not blurry, but the kids have to sit back behind the event (I dont know why, just odd - something about them not being 18!!) and the one boy just as I snapped whipped his middle finger and scratched his nose with it!! So I'll forgo posting that pic!! (altho its not obvious mind you, but its the teacher in me that spotted it!! )

(we only get 1/4 inch a taste of beer here, along with a cute Sam Adams 'church key' otherwise known as a beer bottle opener!!)

Got some sushi (DP credits!!) then got wine - oh MORE MAGIC!! See while waiting for Dh I got a glass of champagne, but to get my stuff, I had to unload my bag, and then get my champagne, then I walk off - WITHOUT DH's NEW CAMERA!! But Disney is magic , when I discovered my stupidity I ran back to the booth, and dh's camera was there!! Now do to this incident and avidly reading the Theme park section I have ordered some baggallini thing, some dis'ers swear by this sling bag from ebags.com, I figure it cant be worse than leaving a $300 camera in France laying on the ground!!

and a CM noticed DD birthday button... and asked DD about her day, and asked if she has gotten a phone call, dd and I look confused, and I pull out my cell phone... but the CM does the magic *ring ring* Goofy Calling!! DD was so giggly - the next time an Epcot (either later that day or our next trip to Epcot -sorry it all gets fuzzy!!) Another CM asked if she got a special call she said no, and afterwards she said, "Mom, the CM looked so excited to give me my first call, and i love goofy - " so there you go DD spread some pixie dust too!!


Time for our FP to Soarin - I think we like this ride!! I didnt realize how many times we rode it!!

WE get out to a pouring rain - and head back to POR - tonight is Mickey's Not So Scarry Halloween Party!! Now I remember - my parents only bought a 3 Day Florida Pass, so I planned a lot of meals at resorts, and bought tickets to MNSSHP!!

Now I'm not sure if I should post about MNSSHP... so many black memories... and this about the Magic!! IT WAS HOT!! HOT I SAY!! HOT!! We had a PS for LTT, and mom and dad did dress up in character, dd a Princess, dh and I werent clever enough, partly because I had been sick, the meds had me gain 25# and part of it was the stress - I read so many great ideas, I ordered the Trading Spaces Shirts, and had some five and dime tools, and belts, but no one wanted that...

Well we head over to LTT - and it was nice... AND CROWDED!! It began to rain, drizzle, no big deal... (turned into some kind of tropical depression was hitting apparently, but we didnt watch the news!!)

Can you tell my mom and dad had a great time? I'm not sure these ARE my parents btw, my parents were very strict when I was growing up, very conservative (could've been worse) we grew up in a typical white middle class neighborhood, doing all the typical middle class things... my dad worked his way up from janitor to Plant Manager of a Generating Station, again, very stoic, great at negotiations, and grievances - he knew how to talk to people - very people friendly... then he retired... and he got TATOOED!! Not one, not two, not 3... HE HAS TATOOS, and he got a HARLEY!! So you see dad is not really in costume, those ARE his clothes!! (and yes my ds 20 and 17 cant believe there Nanas and Papa all have tattoos, but NOT their parents!! Hard to raise parents nowadays!! )

I had pre ordered the $12 cake - chocolate, they delivered a a white cake frosting falling off - it was frozen, and they dont serve us the LTT dessert... not one to make a scene in front of my parents, I quietly SEETHED!! We went on POTC - and tried to stay out of the rain.. we did Buzz, and some other rides in tomorrowland, dd did the Indy cars... we ran into the Villians... lost my mom - it was a reaccuring theme, mom oftten wandered... we did Philharmagic, Its a Small World, Haunted Mansion, and it was just ungodly HOT, and CROWDED - the lines for the candy were ridiculous - and often the adults would push dd out of the way in order to get the PENNY candy from all THREE BARRELLS!! DD gave up, said she didnt need cavities that bad!! (or is it badly??!!) I cant tell you how disappointed it was to read reports from the first night where people said they were getting BIG candy bars - we got nothin!! My parents decided to bail before Hallowishes - we rode the TTA - people mover - a CM told us to go thru the Wonderland Trail - we did - but at closing, we were told NOT to visit Mickey's house - "go home and go to bed" (um its not even midnight - it was close maybe 11:30pm) We did see Hallowishes, and we tried to get a spot for the 10:00 parade, not knowing the early parade was cancelled I couldnt figure out where ALL THE PEOPLE HAD COME FROM!!

You see my HUGE mistake was thinking MNSSHP would be similiar to E-ride Night - we paid $10 in 2004 had the park was so empty - it was amazing - so it was my expectations that were off, and I was so disappointed between the heat, the crowds, and my illness - I was fast losing the Magic...

Note I am not including a comment about the bus transportation!!

 

[Minniespal]

Enjoying reading your reports.

Lovely piccies.

 

[dismom9761]

Great report!

 

[MOMOFMNM]

eeyore


your tr and pics are really great!!!!!!!

glad you came on board the TR board!!!

 

[pumba]

thanks so much for your great report and photos too. I know about the partys .....did you have your photo session too? I know we got them at the Christmas Party. Thanks again for your report..