MajorWoody
The View From My Office
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2002
- Messages
- 294
Major Woody's 10 Night May '03 TR
Who :
Bill, age 44, NYSP Investigator, AP Holder, and veteran of numerous WDW trips ( last one 12/02)
Jenn, my oldest daughter, age 20, AP holder, last trip 12/02
When :
May 19 thru May 29, 2003
Where :
Coronado Springs, my 3rd stay, Jenn's 2nd at CS
Day 3, Wednesday, May 21, 2003
Hello all,
Today was our day to drive to Daytona. We woke at 8:25am, and had breakfast at the Pepper Market. We each had the scrambled egg platter, which came to $16.38. The platter was not that good, and I don't think I'll be trying that again. We then hopped in the car, and headed out to I-4 East. We arrived at Daytona Beach Community College at 11:15am, it's right on the International Speedway Blvd. The college was much nicer than I expected. We were given the tour of the facilities by one of the staff, and were done in about 90 minutes. After the tour, we drove down the Blvd right to the ocean. I parked right besides the beach entrance, and we walked around the shops. There was hippy type shop right across the street, and Jenn bought a top there for $15. We then walked to the beach, and I rented a boogie board from a vendor on the beach for $6. The surf was very rough, but the water was at a nice temperature. I had a great time in the water, and got pretty good at using the boogie board too. We stuck around until about 3:00pm, and the decided to head back. I stopped at a Best Buy in Daytona and picked up a few CD's for the car. We then drove back towards Orlando. Our first stop was the Belz Outlets off I-Drive. In the first Disney outlet I got a watch, a license plate, some mugs, and some light up pins for $3.50 each. At the 2nd Disney outlet store I got a large Snow White figurine which was marked down to $37. We then drove to the Premium Outlets, the newer one that is off of I-4 near WDW. I picked up a few pins at this store, and browsed some of the other outlets sotres, but didn't buy anything else.
We arrived back at Coronado at 6:00pm, and went to the Pepper Market for dinner. I had the prime rib, while Jenn had the wet burrito, and we used our refillable mug for soda. The total came to $32.46 for the eats. The prime rib was ok, but rather small. I then went down to the bus stop and waited for a bus to the Magic Kingdom. There was a little boy from Virginia waiting with his family, and he was very inquisitive about my pins. I explained several of them to him, and gave him one for his troubles. The bus finally arrived, and we made it to the MK at 7:20pm. It was very crowded when I got there. I walked through Adventureland, and ended up cutting my left hand on an exposed shelf in the store in Island Supply. I then walked over to the Haunted Mansion, which had a 10 minute wait. After going through the stretching room, and waiting to board the doom buggies, I saw a really bad thing happen. There was an elderly lady in front of me, and she had difficulty navigating the moving walkway next to the doom buggies. The rest of her party had gotten onto a doom buggie, but she was running out of space on the moving belt. Rather than stopping the conveyor belt, the CM told her to hurry up, and the lady panicked, and fell at the end of the conveyor belt . A few of us helped her up, and they finally did stop the belt so she could get on the ride, a bit too late if you ask me. Luckily she wasn't injured, but she was really shaken up. The CM made no effort to help her or apologize. After the ride was over, I approached her, and her party, and told them they should go to Guest Relations and say something about what had happened. They were very upset with the way she was treated and said it was a good thing they were already boarded and did not see what had happened, or it would have gotten ugly real quick. The old lady was still visibly shaken from the incident.
I then strolled back to Adventureland, and figured I would make my first ever stop at the Tiki Room. Unfortunately, the Tiki Room had just closed, so I guess my first Tiki visit would have to wait. I then walked to Pirates of the Caribbean, and rode with about a two minute wait. I then took a walk through Fantasyland, and saw that Peter Pan had a 40 minute wait. No way would I get on a line with a 40 minute wait, especially with Spectromagic coming up soon. I then wandered over to Snow White's Scary Adventures, and found there was no wait at all. So, I rode Snow Whit'e Scary Adventure, with no wait at all!!
After finishing my Scary Adventure, I walked over to the Liberty Belle area to wait for SpectroMagic. The crowds were rather large, and I was back by the fence. I was able to see the parade, but it wasn't the best view. I did notice that Chernabog did not open his wings this time. It seems to be hit or miss with him lately.
After SpectroMagic, I went back to Fantasyland, and saw that Peter Pan now had no wait. I went inside and rode it, and it was very good, and certainly much better than if I had waited 40 minutes. After Peter Pan, I walked over towards the Ariels Grotto area, and waited for Fantasy In The Sky fireworks. This is a great spot for FITS, especially on a crowded night. You don't get to see Tinkerbell descending, but you do a get an unobstructed, crowd free view of the fireworks, which are actually set off somewhere behind the grotto. After Fantasy In The Sky, I walked through the castle, and then sat by the Partners statue for the 10:00pm Kiss Goodnight. I watched the throngs of people pass by, and enjoyed the lights on the castle while relaxing in the hub. After that was over, I went to the bakery on Main St, and had a prosciutto, roasted peppers, and fresh mozzarella sandwich, along with a coke, for $8.56. The sandwich was excellent, and not something I expected to find in the Magic Kingdom. I took my time eating, and then slowly strolled out of the park. The bus back to Coronado was practially empty, and there was a couple from Chicago that were asking me about my pins, and how often I travelled to WDW. I told them about some of my secrets, such as RADP and mousesavers, among others. We arrived at Coronado at 11:00pm, and I was in dreamland in my bed shortly thereafter.
Stay tuned for day 4....
Take care,
Bill
Who :
Bill, age 44, NYSP Investigator, AP Holder, and veteran of numerous WDW trips ( last one 12/02)
Jenn, my oldest daughter, age 20, AP holder, last trip 12/02
When :
May 19 thru May 29, 2003
Where :
Coronado Springs, my 3rd stay, Jenn's 2nd at CS
Day 3, Wednesday, May 21, 2003
Hello all,
Today was our day to drive to Daytona. We woke at 8:25am, and had breakfast at the Pepper Market. We each had the scrambled egg platter, which came to $16.38. The platter was not that good, and I don't think I'll be trying that again. We then hopped in the car, and headed out to I-4 East. We arrived at Daytona Beach Community College at 11:15am, it's right on the International Speedway Blvd. The college was much nicer than I expected. We were given the tour of the facilities by one of the staff, and were done in about 90 minutes. After the tour, we drove down the Blvd right to the ocean. I parked right besides the beach entrance, and we walked around the shops. There was hippy type shop right across the street, and Jenn bought a top there for $15. We then walked to the beach, and I rented a boogie board from a vendor on the beach for $6. The surf was very rough, but the water was at a nice temperature. I had a great time in the water, and got pretty good at using the boogie board too. We stuck around until about 3:00pm, and the decided to head back. I stopped at a Best Buy in Daytona and picked up a few CD's for the car. We then drove back towards Orlando. Our first stop was the Belz Outlets off I-Drive. In the first Disney outlet I got a watch, a license plate, some mugs, and some light up pins for $3.50 each. At the 2nd Disney outlet store I got a large Snow White figurine which was marked down to $37. We then drove to the Premium Outlets, the newer one that is off of I-4 near WDW. I picked up a few pins at this store, and browsed some of the other outlets sotres, but didn't buy anything else.
We arrived back at Coronado at 6:00pm, and went to the Pepper Market for dinner. I had the prime rib, while Jenn had the wet burrito, and we used our refillable mug for soda. The total came to $32.46 for the eats. The prime rib was ok, but rather small. I then went down to the bus stop and waited for a bus to the Magic Kingdom. There was a little boy from Virginia waiting with his family, and he was very inquisitive about my pins. I explained several of them to him, and gave him one for his troubles. The bus finally arrived, and we made it to the MK at 7:20pm. It was very crowded when I got there. I walked through Adventureland, and ended up cutting my left hand on an exposed shelf in the store in Island Supply. I then walked over to the Haunted Mansion, which had a 10 minute wait. After going through the stretching room, and waiting to board the doom buggies, I saw a really bad thing happen. There was an elderly lady in front of me, and she had difficulty navigating the moving walkway next to the doom buggies. The rest of her party had gotten onto a doom buggie, but she was running out of space on the moving belt. Rather than stopping the conveyor belt, the CM told her to hurry up, and the lady panicked, and fell at the end of the conveyor belt . A few of us helped her up, and they finally did stop the belt so she could get on the ride, a bit too late if you ask me. Luckily she wasn't injured, but she was really shaken up. The CM made no effort to help her or apologize. After the ride was over, I approached her, and her party, and told them they should go to Guest Relations and say something about what had happened. They were very upset with the way she was treated and said it was a good thing they were already boarded and did not see what had happened, or it would have gotten ugly real quick. The old lady was still visibly shaken from the incident.
I then strolled back to Adventureland, and figured I would make my first ever stop at the Tiki Room. Unfortunately, the Tiki Room had just closed, so I guess my first Tiki visit would have to wait. I then walked to Pirates of the Caribbean, and rode with about a two minute wait. I then took a walk through Fantasyland, and saw that Peter Pan had a 40 minute wait. No way would I get on a line with a 40 minute wait, especially with Spectromagic coming up soon. I then wandered over to Snow White's Scary Adventures, and found there was no wait at all. So, I rode Snow Whit'e Scary Adventure, with no wait at all!!
After finishing my Scary Adventure, I walked over to the Liberty Belle area to wait for SpectroMagic. The crowds were rather large, and I was back by the fence. I was able to see the parade, but it wasn't the best view. I did notice that Chernabog did not open his wings this time. It seems to be hit or miss with him lately.
After SpectroMagic, I went back to Fantasyland, and saw that Peter Pan now had no wait. I went inside and rode it, and it was very good, and certainly much better than if I had waited 40 minutes. After Peter Pan, I walked over towards the Ariels Grotto area, and waited for Fantasy In The Sky fireworks. This is a great spot for FITS, especially on a crowded night. You don't get to see Tinkerbell descending, but you do a get an unobstructed, crowd free view of the fireworks, which are actually set off somewhere behind the grotto. After Fantasy In The Sky, I walked through the castle, and then sat by the Partners statue for the 10:00pm Kiss Goodnight. I watched the throngs of people pass by, and enjoyed the lights on the castle while relaxing in the hub. After that was over, I went to the bakery on Main St, and had a prosciutto, roasted peppers, and fresh mozzarella sandwich, along with a coke, for $8.56. The sandwich was excellent, and not something I expected to find in the Magic Kingdom. I took my time eating, and then slowly strolled out of the park. The bus back to Coronado was practially empty, and there was a couple from Chicago that were asking me about my pins, and how often I travelled to WDW. I told them about some of my secrets, such as RADP and mousesavers, among others. We arrived at Coronado at 11:00pm, and I was in dreamland in my bed shortly thereafter.
Stay tuned for day 4....
Take care,
Bill
