Stitch Inside
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2004
- Messages
- 2,652
Our family (Knucklehead 6yo, Bo Bo 20mo.s, DW and myself) was in the World from 4/29-5/8/05. We returned late last Sunday night from 2 nights at AKL, 6 nights at SOG, and one night at CSR.
We hit the road early Friday in our rented brand new (it had 15 miles on it) Grand Caravan with sto-n-go seats. Having learned from experience, we didn't pack near as much as last year, just the essentials (or so we thought).
While packing the brand new van, for some reason, I noticed how flimsy the temporary tag looked. Not until we returned to the van after downing some juice at the FL Visitors' Center did I realize how flimsy that tag was. It was no longer there. So I called the rental company and told them what happened. First they tried to find somewhere in FL that we could get a new temp. tag, and when they found out that that couldn't be done, they wanted me to switch out the van in J'ville. I thought about this for a second. First, I'm in a brand new van. Second, it's Friday, everything decent will be rented. Third, any J'ville rental car hub will not be pleased to switch out one of their vehicles for a van they can't turn around and rent. And fourth, we were packed to the gills in that van. It would take at least an hour to move everything over to another vehicle.
So, I called my guy back in SC and told him to get a new tag there and Fed Ex it to the AKL. Thanks to my Passporter, I had the resort address and phone number handy. We drove the rest of the way without a plate. My plan was to play dumb if we were pulled over. My fear was that Knucklehead would rat me out.
After sitting in traffic in Orlando for an hour, we finally pulled into the AKL about 3:30.
The lobby was beautiful. Very similar to WL in its majesty, but instead of the music striking you as you enter, it was the wonderful smell. We had no problems checking in. We were booked for a pool view room with bunk beds, but they upgraded us to Savanna View because they were out of pool view bunk bed rooms. We were down the Kudu Trail room 2322 overlooking the Sunset Savanna. The room was nice and clean. Knucklehead loved the bunk beds. But right outside our room was some strange fenced in area. I never saw anyone or anything in this area is the only reason I call it strange. Had I paid for a Savanna View I would have been disappointed. The only time I saw a decent number of animals from our balcony was when I was in the room alone. I think the animal keepers had just released them and they quickly walked through our area to get to another.
We quickly unloaded everything and decided to go to MGM, Knucklehead wanted to ride Tower of Terror. DW made a Priority Seating from AKL's Guest Services for Sci-Fi as we headed to the bus stop. Normally, we would have driven, but since we had a van with no tag, we weren't going to push our luck any further. We arrived at MGM and Knucklehead and I went over to Guest Services and redeemed his PAP voucher, and I upgraded my AP to a PAP for only $74. DW and Bo Bo made it through the bag search without any problems and we headed over to Tower of Terror. DW can't stand this ride, so she and Bo Bo hung out.
While they were hanging out, some guy came up and asked DW if she wanted these two Fast Passes he wasn't going to be able to use. She said sure and came and got Knucklehead and me out of line. Instead of waiting in a 20 minute line, we could return in 10 minutes and use the Fast Passes. So we killed some time in the store and then stepped up to the Fast Pass Return custodian and proudly handed her our Fast Passes. To Knucklehead's dismay, and my embarrassment, for the first time someone read something other than the times on the Fast Pass. They weren't for TOT but for Rockin' Roller Coaster.
DW just couldn't understand why someone standing in front of TOT would be giving away Fast Passes to RNR. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to ride RNR alone since Knucklehead is still too short by a quarter of an inch.
Although it is a Fast Pass, you do not get on the Roller Coaster very fast. You still have to sit through the corny Aerosmith scene and then stand in line with everyone else. After I jammed to Sweet Emotion, we had to roll on over to Sci-Fi to make our Priority Seating time.
Our original plan was to spend two days at AKL just relaxing, enjoying the resort and then begin visiting the parks when my parents arrived on Sunday, but there are some people you just can't lead to water and not expect them to drink.
So, over at the Sci-fi we sat with a nice family from Ohio who also had two sons, one of them in a high chair just like Bo Bo. Knucklehead was disappointed that we didn't sit in a car, but it's just not practical with a high chair. Bo Bo didn't seem to mind. This was the Ohioans first trip to WDW, so DW was excited, and had all sorts of advice for them. The first thing they noticed about us, is that we ordered burgers even though they weren't on the dinner menu. They had also wanted burgers but had ordered off the menu instead. Y'all just remember, it never hurts to ask.
Our CM/Waiter was great. We kept him hoppin'. We're one of those families with a limited amount of eating time. Bo Bo is only good for about 35 minutes in a high chair. At least Disney has plenty of distractions at their restaurants. We almost always have our food order ready when the waiter shows up to take our drink order. The burgers were delicious as usual, and then the bill came. I was excited. This was my first chance to use my new Disney Dining Experience card! The waiter took it, checked it against my PAP and disappeared with the bill. Bo Bo had reached his expiration time, so DW took the kids out, while I settled the bill. 20% off, this was going to be a great vacation.
Since we had lingered too long in the restaurant, we missed the beginning of Fantasmic. Oh well, we had all week (that wasn't the last time that would be said).
We returned to AKL and decided to try and look at the animals with the night vision goggles. I assumed you got them at guest services, so I stood in line to ask. While I was waiting my turn, a lady with her young daughter, came up and bounced around the desk, cutting in front of all the people in line, until one of the CMs looked at her. I couldn't help but overhear her ask where to get the night vision goggles. Oh good, I won't have to ask now. The answer, was one I was not expecting. I thought you rented them, and could use them at your leasure and even from your room. Nope, they have one pair at the end of Arusha Rock.
Well, that lady practically ran out of there to the Rock dragging her daughter along. When we strolled out to the Rock, we found a number of people including the lady and her daughter huddled in one area waiting their turn. Imagine that, another line a Disney World. We went around to the other side of the Rock, which was deserted, and could see Zebras and Giraffes standing in the little light that was there. Interesting, now let's go to bed. We've got a big day of relaxation planned for tomorrow.
We hit the road early Friday in our rented brand new (it had 15 miles on it) Grand Caravan with sto-n-go seats. Having learned from experience, we didn't pack near as much as last year, just the essentials (or so we thought).
While packing the brand new van, for some reason, I noticed how flimsy the temporary tag looked. Not until we returned to the van after downing some juice at the FL Visitors' Center did I realize how flimsy that tag was. It was no longer there. So I called the rental company and told them what happened. First they tried to find somewhere in FL that we could get a new temp. tag, and when they found out that that couldn't be done, they wanted me to switch out the van in J'ville. I thought about this for a second. First, I'm in a brand new van. Second, it's Friday, everything decent will be rented. Third, any J'ville rental car hub will not be pleased to switch out one of their vehicles for a van they can't turn around and rent. And fourth, we were packed to the gills in that van. It would take at least an hour to move everything over to another vehicle.
So, I called my guy back in SC and told him to get a new tag there and Fed Ex it to the AKL. Thanks to my Passporter, I had the resort address and phone number handy. We drove the rest of the way without a plate. My plan was to play dumb if we were pulled over. My fear was that Knucklehead would rat me out.
After sitting in traffic in Orlando for an hour, we finally pulled into the AKL about 3:30.
The lobby was beautiful. Very similar to WL in its majesty, but instead of the music striking you as you enter, it was the wonderful smell. We had no problems checking in. We were booked for a pool view room with bunk beds, but they upgraded us to Savanna View because they were out of pool view bunk bed rooms. We were down the Kudu Trail room 2322 overlooking the Sunset Savanna. The room was nice and clean. Knucklehead loved the bunk beds. But right outside our room was some strange fenced in area. I never saw anyone or anything in this area is the only reason I call it strange. Had I paid for a Savanna View I would have been disappointed. The only time I saw a decent number of animals from our balcony was when I was in the room alone. I think the animal keepers had just released them and they quickly walked through our area to get to another.
We quickly unloaded everything and decided to go to MGM, Knucklehead wanted to ride Tower of Terror. DW made a Priority Seating from AKL's Guest Services for Sci-Fi as we headed to the bus stop. Normally, we would have driven, but since we had a van with no tag, we weren't going to push our luck any further. We arrived at MGM and Knucklehead and I went over to Guest Services and redeemed his PAP voucher, and I upgraded my AP to a PAP for only $74. DW and Bo Bo made it through the bag search without any problems and we headed over to Tower of Terror. DW can't stand this ride, so she and Bo Bo hung out.
While they were hanging out, some guy came up and asked DW if she wanted these two Fast Passes he wasn't going to be able to use. She said sure and came and got Knucklehead and me out of line. Instead of waiting in a 20 minute line, we could return in 10 minutes and use the Fast Passes. So we killed some time in the store and then stepped up to the Fast Pass Return custodian and proudly handed her our Fast Passes. To Knucklehead's dismay, and my embarrassment, for the first time someone read something other than the times on the Fast Pass. They weren't for TOT but for Rockin' Roller Coaster.
DW just couldn't understand why someone standing in front of TOT would be giving away Fast Passes to RNR. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to ride RNR alone since Knucklehead is still too short by a quarter of an inch.
Although it is a Fast Pass, you do not get on the Roller Coaster very fast. You still have to sit through the corny Aerosmith scene and then stand in line with everyone else. After I jammed to Sweet Emotion, we had to roll on over to Sci-Fi to make our Priority Seating time.
Our original plan was to spend two days at AKL just relaxing, enjoying the resort and then begin visiting the parks when my parents arrived on Sunday, but there are some people you just can't lead to water and not expect them to drink.
So, over at the Sci-fi we sat with a nice family from Ohio who also had two sons, one of them in a high chair just like Bo Bo. Knucklehead was disappointed that we didn't sit in a car, but it's just not practical with a high chair. Bo Bo didn't seem to mind. This was the Ohioans first trip to WDW, so DW was excited, and had all sorts of advice for them. The first thing they noticed about us, is that we ordered burgers even though they weren't on the dinner menu. They had also wanted burgers but had ordered off the menu instead. Y'all just remember, it never hurts to ask.
Our CM/Waiter was great. We kept him hoppin'. We're one of those families with a limited amount of eating time. Bo Bo is only good for about 35 minutes in a high chair. At least Disney has plenty of distractions at their restaurants. We almost always have our food order ready when the waiter shows up to take our drink order. The burgers were delicious as usual, and then the bill came. I was excited. This was my first chance to use my new Disney Dining Experience card! The waiter took it, checked it against my PAP and disappeared with the bill. Bo Bo had reached his expiration time, so DW took the kids out, while I settled the bill. 20% off, this was going to be a great vacation.
Since we had lingered too long in the restaurant, we missed the beginning of Fantasmic. Oh well, we had all week (that wasn't the last time that would be said).
We returned to AKL and decided to try and look at the animals with the night vision goggles. I assumed you got them at guest services, so I stood in line to ask. While I was waiting my turn, a lady with her young daughter, came up and bounced around the desk, cutting in front of all the people in line, until one of the CMs looked at her. I couldn't help but overhear her ask where to get the night vision goggles. Oh good, I won't have to ask now. The answer, was one I was not expecting. I thought you rented them, and could use them at your leasure and even from your room. Nope, they have one pair at the end of Arusha Rock.
Well, that lady practically ran out of there to the Rock dragging her daughter along. When we strolled out to the Rock, we found a number of people including the lady and her daughter huddled in one area waiting their turn. Imagine that, another line a Disney World. We went around to the other side of the Rock, which was deserted, and could see Zebras and Giraffes standing in the little light that was there. Interesting, now let's go to bed. We've got a big day of relaxation planned for tomorrow.
,
