Live from Orlando (aka living like the locals)

[BroganMc]

Friday, April 25: Today was our last dedicated park day. We woke up, had breakfast in our room and headed back to EPCOT. We took so long with our morning routine, we opted to use our van instead of wait on a bus. So I fear we haven't been using the busses as much this trip. When your car is right outside your door and you have to pass it to get a bus, it just becomes very tempting.

The CMs said they expected a record crowd today of 50K. I just don't believe they had that much. The wait for Soarin' hovered at 70-85 minutes most of the day. That's nothing compared to the 150 min wait we saw last week.

We did Test Track, Soarin', had ice cream at the Fountainview and did a litle shopping. Then we hopped back to SSR for a dip in the pool. It was nice and hot today. Great pool weather. And the pool stayed open all day (no accidents like yesterday).

Friday is EMH for EPCOT so we brown bagged our dinner (leftovers from Yak & Yeti) and drove off again for EPCOT. (Again we were running late.) Still we made it to our fireworks spot with 10 minutes to spare before Illuminations. As the crowd dispersed, we ate. Then we did Universe of energy (a really cool ride if you haven't done it in a while), Soarin' and Livin' with the Land. We closed up the park around 12:30am.

All in all a great way to end our trip this time. So tonight we sleep and hopefully we wake up early enough to do a morning walk. Either way, I expect to stay here tomorrow. Hit the pool, spend time at CH, eat at AP. I'll see about that lava cake at Turf Club maybe. We just want to enjoy being home our last day before we head to our real home.

 

[LoveMickey]

I have enjoyed reading your trip report. We will be down next week, at this time, staying at SSR. We have requested the Grandstand area.

This will be our first time to SSR, our home resort. We have been going every spring. How are the Love Bugs at SSR?

GM sounds like a hoot. You can tell both of you enjoy WDW very much. I understand how you feel about others not getting it.

 

[jekjones1558]

And the pool stayed open all day (no accidents like yesterday).

Did I miss something?

 

[BroganMc]

Did I miss something?

Just my swiss cheese memory and bad reporting. When I came back from DTD Thursday and talked to lifeguard Tammy I asked how the day had been at HRS. She said they'd closed it twice because kids had accidents. One a the top of the slide. They had to clean the pool before anyone could get back in.

Yesterday she just had to stop parents from sliding down the big slide with their little kids in their arms. No accidents and no need to clean the pool.

LoveMickey]How are the lovebugs?

The lovebugs are just beginning to come out. Not bad at all yet. I expect in another week they'll be in full force so maybe towards the end of your trip. They seem to hang out most near the lakes. I had a couple land in my water at Turf Club.

The big thing last night was a snake that crawled out of the bushes and into the walkway to the Land (near Character Greeting). About 18" long and tiny. Poor thing was terrified of all the crowd walking by. Some guests spotted him and cordoned off a circle until the CMs could get pest control over. It was fun warning off all the EMH racers who'd obliviously walk right into the little guy. Just yell "Stop! Snake!" and see people react.

Apparently they fished a 10 foot gator out of Coronada Springs waterways on Tuesday. So I guess all the critters are starting to wake up from winter hibernation. I've seen a ton of rabbits scurrying about this week. And the ducks have babies.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Ducks and Rabbits, cute!

Gators and Snakes, NOT CUTE!

 

[loribell]

Ducks and Rabbits, cute!

Gators and Snakes, NOT CUTE!

Especially not a 10 foot gator! That was one big gator!

 

[Tarheel Tink]

I have been enjoying this soooooo much! The two of you would be the ideal neighbors at SSR. We arrive next Friday for a week and you have given us some great up to date info! I just want to hug GM!

 

[BroganMc]

Hi all,

Just a quick update to let you know I'm on the road home now. Funny thing happened when I tried to check in yesterday at SSR. I had no internet. Something was screwed up with the service and IT was no help. It kept trying to connect me from room 5830 when I was in 3525. When I talked to the Front Desk they gave a confusing explanation that IT shoulda been over personally to fix it and no one was even in 5830. Bottomline when we looked at my bill, I had no charges for internet all week. Most bizarre.

I'll be home Tuesday so I'll finish out this thread with the daily reports including pictures then. In short, we had a great time, learned a few new things, and met lots of people. I kept getting business cards and e-mail addys all week (and giving out my own). We hated to leave but at least all our new friends know to look for us come Oct 1.

 

[Brenle]

Thanks for sharing your trip with us. Wishing you a safe ride home.
(No, I won't say *agical. I'm sure you heard that enough during your stay.)

 

[dvc at last !]

I just finished reading ALL 10 pages of the TR and I loved it !

Glad you had a wonderful time. We have never been able to stay for that long a time.

We stayed at BWV last October during the F&W Fest it was great bing so close to Epcot.

We will be in WDW in October for the F&W Fest.
This year we will be staying at OKW.

What dates will you be there ?

 

[ChelleinNC]

Have a safe trip home!

 

[JaxDisneyFans]

My DD & I have had such a great time reading you TR. It's been the highlight of our evenings. I don't know what we'll do without them. So glad you had what sounds like a great time. We will be at SSR in early June and your detailed TR has given us ideas for our trip.

Thanks again for the great reading. Hope you have a safe trip home.

 

[kikiq]

Thank you for "taking us along"! I always enjoy your posts, but my DH has been hooked on your daily reports ever since I showed him GM. He is going through withdrawal right now, comes home and asks where you went and what you did...and now there are no more trip reports to read to him.
We are so looking forward to our trip later this year.

 

[Glendamax]

Good Morning! Of course I just found your report now that it's over! I really enjoyed it! I hope your report will encourage more adult "kids" and their parents to travel together.

 

[BroganMc]

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to make it official that we are home now. Arrived back Tuesday night and we're still decompressing. I haven't even unpacked yet. (We're headed to the beach this weekend anyway.)

I started working on the last week of trip reports so they will get up here in the next week or so. I've also started planning our Fall trip (Sep 20 - Oct 12), so I guess there will be a Live from Orlando 2.0 thread.

Thank you to all the subscribers and readers. It was a blast running back here to tell all our adventures. Hopefully Grandpa Mohawk and I will meet some of you in future.

 

[Cheryl N. WI]

Glad you made it home safely! I've loved reading your report and seeing all the pictures I can't wait for the rest!

 

[DIZBOUND]

We (DS 5, DH, and DS 2) anxiously awaiting your update. We have definately missed reading the updates since your departure. Glad you made it home in good shape. I do hope your weather at the beach is much better than ours here on the Jersey Shore!

 

[ChelleinNC]

Glad you had a safe trip home! Can't wait for the rest of the updates

 

[toocherie]

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to make it official that we are home now. Arrived back Tuesday night and we're still decompressing. I haven't even unpacked yet. (We're headed to the beach this weekend anyway.)

I started working on the last week of trip reports so they will get up here in the next week or so. I've also started planning our Fall trip (Sep 20 - Oct 12), so I guess there will be a Live from Orlando 2.0 thread.

Thank you to all the subscribers and readers. It was a blast running back here to tell all our adventures. Hopefully Grandpa Mohawk and I will meet some of you in future.

Brogan--I am bummed that we are going to miss you by a couple of weeks--my Mom and I will be there Nov. 1-8. (Gee--maybe we could have played matchmaker . . . . . )

 

[ChelleinNC]

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to make it official that we are home now. Arrived back Tuesday night and we're still decompressing. I haven't even unpacked yet. (We're headed to the beach this weekend anyway.)

I started working on the last week of trip reports so they will get up here in the next week or so. I've also started planning our Fall trip (Sep 20 - Oct 12), so I guess there will be a Live from Orlando 2.0 thread.

Thank you to all the subscribers and readers. It was a blast running back here to tell all our adventures. Hopefully Grandpa Mohawk and I will meet some of you in future.

It's been a few weeks so I just wanted to check and make sure everything is allright

Still looking forward to hearing the rest of the updates and I'd love a little more information on the barbershop. DS 11 thinks a blue mohawk sounds like a good idea

We leave in just over a week and I'll try to post while I'm there