MouseLover
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 6, 1999
- Messages
- 970
Cast: Self--wife/mother, age 33; DH, 35; DD, 4;
Grandma 5?, Grandpa 5?
Having proclaimed for the last 16 years that we will never DRIVE to Florida again, we found ourselves doing just that. After all, driving to Florida for spring break beats staying in Arkansas. So, Friday 3/9 at 1:00pm we were off. We packed an ice chest full of drinks and food, and rotated drivers, driving straight through. The entire trip took approximately 19 hours, including gas stops and a 1-hour stop at Denny's for a 4am breakfast. We arrived at Buena Vista Suites at 9:00am, and were fortunate that the front desk rushed housekeeping and we were in a room by 9:30. Overall we were pleased with our hotel choice. It was very convenient to WDW, provided pretty good breakfast buffet and heated pool, and we could view MK fireworks from 7th floor hall window. Though we were worn out from lack of sleep and so many hours in the van, we were too excited to sleep. We unpacked and went to the International Lighthouse Lobster buffet. Price with coupon, for lunch, was $16.95 ea ($9.95 kids buffet or menu order $5.95&up). Lobster was very good, snow crab was good--all the food was pretty good, but the variety was more limited than Boston Lobster Feast (but lobsters were larger). After this, we headed to the Polynesian to take pictures that we somehow missed out on our stay there in 1999. We checked out the new volcano pool which really smokes, walked around the beaches, and rode the monorail around 1x. We drove around the Golf Course and saw a very small alligator at the edge of one of the ponds. After this we went to Downtown Disney and shopped, played Legos, & looked around. Supper this night was Wendy's and to bed early. We watched the MK fireworks from the hotel.
Sunday, 3/11: MAGIC KINGDOM-- We always try to start and finish with MK. We parked at TTC and took the boat launch to arrive on Main Street at 9:05. We immediately saw our first character, Pluto, with no line and got a hug, autograph, & photo with him. Then we made a beeline to Dumbo, as in 7 trips we have never been on it! The wait was approx. 40 minutes, and grandparents sat this one out. This gave Grandma time to purchase a fat princess pen ($2.50)for character-writing, and Grandpa got to video the ride. Following this, we obtained our first Fast Passes ever (for Pooh) and then rode Snow White (which DD held her hands over her eyes the entire time), followed by Legend of the Lion King and Small World. The wait for each of these was maybe 10 minutes. Then we visited with Chip and used our FP for Pooh. I personally was not as impressed with Pooh as I thought I would be, but DD loved it. On to Toontown. At a vendor cart, Grandma bought DD a Minnie hat for $16 (always take Grandma), and we waited in line for Goofy's Barnstormer for 20-25 minutes. DD was unsure about this ride, as was I -- it seemed kind of rough, to me. After this we went to the tent and waited to see Cinderella and Suzy Mouse. We were thrilled to see Cinderella, as she is one of DD's favorites and we were unable to obtain Cindy's breakfast, (though they were calling out they had availability, as we walked through castle this morning). Another line was for Minnie & friends and the third line was for 100-acre Wood characters. After this we went to Tomorrowland for lunch at Cosmic Ray's. (double CB w/ff, 1/2 sandwich w/ soup, lg. coke & tap water $14). Got FP for Space Mtn, rode Transit Authority (5 min wait)and Carousel of Progress (5min). After this it was around 2pm so we headed to Main Street to await the 3pm parade. Mary Poppins tried to get my DD to dance with her & some other characters and children, but she would not go because a bear was there. It was time for our FP but nobody besides me wanted to walk that way, so we abandon our FP and went to the Tiki Room (5min), Pirates of Caribbean (15-20min), and Big Thunder Mountain (30 min). DD loved all, and kept both arms wrapped securely around safety bar on BTM. We did not do Splash Mountain as we don't enjoy getting wet, but the line was 90min. and the Fast Pass line looked pretty long too. We rode the WDW Railroad all the way around 1x and headed to Haunted Mansion. The wait here was 45 minutes, so instead we went to Ariel's Grotto (my DD's current favorite--Grandma had to make her a mermaid fishtail to wear, as well as an Alice dress). Note: DH was pretty fond of Ariel, too.
We found a good spot facing the castle, next to the rope to watch Main Street Electrical Parade (my favorite attraction). One of the bees came rolling toward us so fast my DD jumped into my lap; Bashful also came very close). The only thing missing from MSEP was Peter Pan. We stayed put for Fantasy in the Sky, then left via boat to TTC. Supper tonight was late (9:45--good thing we brought crackers with us)-- pizza & Pepsi from Pizza Hut -- $11, for all of us. Weather today was very warm, cooling off rapidly after sunset. Tomorrow: Animal Kingdom & Epcot
Disneyland 1982
WDW:
Off-Site:
Aug. 1983, May 1985, May 1987, Oct. 1996
Polynesian July 1999
March 2001--Buena Vista Suites
Grandma 5?, Grandpa 5?
Having proclaimed for the last 16 years that we will never DRIVE to Florida again, we found ourselves doing just that. After all, driving to Florida for spring break beats staying in Arkansas. So, Friday 3/9 at 1:00pm we were off. We packed an ice chest full of drinks and food, and rotated drivers, driving straight through. The entire trip took approximately 19 hours, including gas stops and a 1-hour stop at Denny's for a 4am breakfast. We arrived at Buena Vista Suites at 9:00am, and were fortunate that the front desk rushed housekeeping and we were in a room by 9:30. Overall we were pleased with our hotel choice. It was very convenient to WDW, provided pretty good breakfast buffet and heated pool, and we could view MK fireworks from 7th floor hall window. Though we were worn out from lack of sleep and so many hours in the van, we were too excited to sleep. We unpacked and went to the International Lighthouse Lobster buffet. Price with coupon, for lunch, was $16.95 ea ($9.95 kids buffet or menu order $5.95&up). Lobster was very good, snow crab was good--all the food was pretty good, but the variety was more limited than Boston Lobster Feast (but lobsters were larger). After this, we headed to the Polynesian to take pictures that we somehow missed out on our stay there in 1999. We checked out the new volcano pool which really smokes, walked around the beaches, and rode the monorail around 1x. We drove around the Golf Course and saw a very small alligator at the edge of one of the ponds. After this we went to Downtown Disney and shopped, played Legos, & looked around. Supper this night was Wendy's and to bed early. We watched the MK fireworks from the hotel.
Sunday, 3/11: MAGIC KINGDOM-- We always try to start and finish with MK. We parked at TTC and took the boat launch to arrive on Main Street at 9:05. We immediately saw our first character, Pluto, with no line and got a hug, autograph, & photo with him. Then we made a beeline to Dumbo, as in 7 trips we have never been on it! The wait was approx. 40 minutes, and grandparents sat this one out. This gave Grandma time to purchase a fat princess pen ($2.50)for character-writing, and Grandpa got to video the ride. Following this, we obtained our first Fast Passes ever (for Pooh) and then rode Snow White (which DD held her hands over her eyes the entire time), followed by Legend of the Lion King and Small World. The wait for each of these was maybe 10 minutes. Then we visited with Chip and used our FP for Pooh. I personally was not as impressed with Pooh as I thought I would be, but DD loved it. On to Toontown. At a vendor cart, Grandma bought DD a Minnie hat for $16 (always take Grandma), and we waited in line for Goofy's Barnstormer for 20-25 minutes. DD was unsure about this ride, as was I -- it seemed kind of rough, to me. After this we went to the tent and waited to see Cinderella and Suzy Mouse. We were thrilled to see Cinderella, as she is one of DD's favorites and we were unable to obtain Cindy's breakfast, (though they were calling out they had availability, as we walked through castle this morning). Another line was for Minnie & friends and the third line was for 100-acre Wood characters. After this we went to Tomorrowland for lunch at Cosmic Ray's. (double CB w/ff, 1/2 sandwich w/ soup, lg. coke & tap water $14). Got FP for Space Mtn, rode Transit Authority (5 min wait)and Carousel of Progress (5min). After this it was around 2pm so we headed to Main Street to await the 3pm parade. Mary Poppins tried to get my DD to dance with her & some other characters and children, but she would not go because a bear was there. It was time for our FP but nobody besides me wanted to walk that way, so we abandon our FP and went to the Tiki Room (5min), Pirates of Caribbean (15-20min), and Big Thunder Mountain (30 min). DD loved all, and kept both arms wrapped securely around safety bar on BTM. We did not do Splash Mountain as we don't enjoy getting wet, but the line was 90min. and the Fast Pass line looked pretty long too. We rode the WDW Railroad all the way around 1x and headed to Haunted Mansion. The wait here was 45 minutes, so instead we went to Ariel's Grotto (my DD's current favorite--Grandma had to make her a mermaid fishtail to wear, as well as an Alice dress). Note: DH was pretty fond of Ariel, too.
We found a good spot facing the castle, next to the rope to watch Main Street Electrical Parade (my favorite attraction). One of the bees came rolling toward us so fast my DD jumped into my lap; Bashful also came very close). The only thing missing from MSEP was Peter Pan. We stayed put for Fantasy in the Sky, then left via boat to TTC. Supper tonight was late (9:45--good thing we brought crackers with us)-- pizza & Pepsi from Pizza Hut -- $11, for all of us. Weather today was very warm, cooling off rapidly after sunset. Tomorrow: Animal Kingdom & Epcot
Disneyland 1982
WDW:
Off-Site:
Aug. 1983, May 1985, May 1987, Oct. 1996
Polynesian July 1999
March 2001--Buena Vista Suites
