niks81
Let's just say I wasn't the 'only one'!<br><font c
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2001
- Messages
- 892
This is my first trip report so bear with me! We just returned from a wonderful 8 night trip to the World. There were three people that went total: myself (21), my fiance Mike (29), and my best friend Erika (20).
DAY ONE: JUNE 6, 2002
Woke up bright and early (4:20am) and got ready and made sure everything was packed and ready. Our towncar service picked us up right on time (the sun was just coming up). He drove us to Minneapolis-St. Paul airport and there was just a short line for check in for Delta Airlines. We checked in and had about an hour and a half to sit and wait. Finally it was time to board. This was our "long flight" since it was going from MSP to Atlanta. I passed the time by sleeping a bit and my fiance watched Friends on the laptop. We got to Atlanta and for once there was no thunderstorms. Everytime I've been to Atlanta there is a storm and delay. I will try to always bypass that airport in the future...bad luck! We got to the next terminal in just enough time and it was so funny to see everyone around us was going to Disney World.They were either talking about it or reading about it. Our plane from Atlanta was huge...it was an Airbus so it held a lot of people and it was full. We landed in Orlando a little early. We got our bags and then crossed terminals to meet up with my best friend Erika. I couldn't believe it when I saw her because I thought that either 1) We wouldn't find her or 2) one of our flights would be delayed. Neither happened so I was pleased as punch. We got her bags and then called Happy Limo so they could dispatch our driver. He arrived in about 5 minutes in a long, white stretch limo. It was fabulous. Our driver was Chris and I'll tell you, he was the most accommodating driver ever. If any of you go through Happy Limo ask for him, he was a real sweetie. He wouldn't let us help with any of the bags because "we were on vacation" he said so we climbed right in the limo. It was very nice and he had a lot of cold beverages inside for us. Then he offered to take us to a 7-11 to pick up some snacks and I was glad we did. We got a six pack of water there for the same price of one at WDW!!! Then we were on our way. He was giving us a bunch of pointers on the way which was very useful. He even offered to pull the limo over right before the WDW gate sign to take our picture, which I thought was very nice of him. He took our picture in front of the gates and also in the limo. We got to the Villas at the Wilderness Lodge at about 3pm or so. We gave our bags to bell services to store because check in time was at 4pm. Walking in the lobby was memorable....it is absolutely gorgeous. Pictures do not do this place justice, you need to see it with your own eyes. Checking in was funny because the cast member was picking on me for noting so many room requests. I cannot help I am so picky
Well I figured that I wouldn't get many of them because I was checking in on a Thursday late in the day and I was right.That was ok though I didn't mind. She was very informative and gave me a DVC packet with all the information on discounts, etc and park maps too. The staff at VWL were really quite courteous. Our room was not ready yet so we went to the Territory Lounge and called our parents to let them know we were there. Then we went to Roaring Forks to have a snack. When we finished our room was ready. We were on the 4th floor and had a view of the woods and a bit of the bus stop. I think our room number was 4542, but I'm not positive. It was a studio room. I thought the size was just fine personally. It was bigger than a normal hotel room and it had the extra plus of the kitchenette. I liked the room quite a bit actually. The villas lobby is pretty also...it is smaller but it has a neat look to it. Everything at WL is themed down to the last detail and it is amazing. So we called Bell Service and had our bags brought to us. We just chilled in the room for a couple hours since we were tired from travelling. At about 6 or so we got ready for our dinner at California Grill. We took a boat to the Contemporary and took some pictures on the grounds there. We were all starving so we went up to the California Grill 45 minutes early for our 8pm PS and were seated immediately. We were somewhat disappointed though because we walked past 8 window seats and we weren't seated at one! My fiance was really disappointed since he has never been to WDW he thought the view was great and didn't understand why we weren't seated at one. We looked over the menu and I ordered a glass of wine. In the mean time my fiance went to the front and asked if there was anyway to move tables. We were placed at a window seat 15 minutes later and I was kind of glad because the first waitress we got was really spastic...she was really loud and laughed after every word and she spilled on my fiance (water thank goodness). Our view was mostly of the Grand Floridian and MK which was just beautiful. We got a new server that was just great. We went ahead and ordered...I got the BBQ glazed chicken flatbread and so did my best friend. Mike got the salmon. They came about 20 minutes later which seemed pretty quick. The flatbread was unbelieveably good. Both Erika and I thought so....YUM. Mike liked the salmon a lot too. When it comes at first you think you've been ripped off because it appears small for $25. However, it is a thick piece of salmon and very flavorful and he was full after eating it. By the time we finished eating it was about 8:30pm. It was starting to rain and we were worried that the fireworks would be cancelled! Our server said they are almost never cancelled so don't worry. We ordered dessert also. My fiance got the strawberry shortcake and Erika and I split the chocolate banana bread desert. It came about 15 minutes later and it was awesome. That was the best dessert ever 
Mike liked the strawberry shortcake ok, but I think he wished he would have gotten the same thing we did. When we finished dessert it was about 9pm and still raining pretty good. They dimmed the lights and we thought the fireworks were coming, but they ended up being cancelled which was such a bummer! 
After that we paid our bill and left. We went down to the store at the Contemporary (I think it was Fantasia) and I bought the Vacation stickers I kept seeing since they are great for scrapbooks and I like to make scrapbooks anyway. We took a monorail to the TTC. When we got off it was pouring. We finally found the bus stop for WL and it was full! We got back soaked and just feeling gross. Back in the room we got ready for bed and just watched TV. We were all excited for the next day when we would be at the Magic Kingdom!!
DAY TWO TO COME SOON
DAY ONE: JUNE 6, 2002
Woke up bright and early (4:20am) and got ready and made sure everything was packed and ready. Our towncar service picked us up right on time (the sun was just coming up). He drove us to Minneapolis-St. Paul airport and there was just a short line for check in for Delta Airlines. We checked in and had about an hour and a half to sit and wait. Finally it was time to board. This was our "long flight" since it was going from MSP to Atlanta. I passed the time by sleeping a bit and my fiance watched Friends on the laptop. We got to Atlanta and for once there was no thunderstorms. Everytime I've been to Atlanta there is a storm and delay. I will try to always bypass that airport in the future...bad luck! We got to the next terminal in just enough time and it was so funny to see everyone around us was going to Disney World.They were either talking about it or reading about it. Our plane from Atlanta was huge...it was an Airbus so it held a lot of people and it was full. We landed in Orlando a little early. We got our bags and then crossed terminals to meet up with my best friend Erika. I couldn't believe it when I saw her because I thought that either 1) We wouldn't find her or 2) one of our flights would be delayed. Neither happened so I was pleased as punch. We got her bags and then called Happy Limo so they could dispatch our driver. He arrived in about 5 minutes in a long, white stretch limo. It was fabulous. Our driver was Chris and I'll tell you, he was the most accommodating driver ever. If any of you go through Happy Limo ask for him, he was a real sweetie. He wouldn't let us help with any of the bags because "we were on vacation" he said so we climbed right in the limo. It was very nice and he had a lot of cold beverages inside for us. Then he offered to take us to a 7-11 to pick up some snacks and I was glad we did. We got a six pack of water there for the same price of one at WDW!!! Then we were on our way. He was giving us a bunch of pointers on the way which was very useful. He even offered to pull the limo over right before the WDW gate sign to take our picture, which I thought was very nice of him. He took our picture in front of the gates and also in the limo. We got to the Villas at the Wilderness Lodge at about 3pm or so. We gave our bags to bell services to store because check in time was at 4pm. Walking in the lobby was memorable....it is absolutely gorgeous. Pictures do not do this place justice, you need to see it with your own eyes. Checking in was funny because the cast member was picking on me for noting so many room requests. I cannot help I am so picky
Well I figured that I wouldn't get many of them because I was checking in on a Thursday late in the day and I was right.That was ok though I didn't mind. She was very informative and gave me a DVC packet with all the information on discounts, etc and park maps too. The staff at VWL were really quite courteous. Our room was not ready yet so we went to the Territory Lounge and called our parents to let them know we were there. Then we went to Roaring Forks to have a snack. When we finished our room was ready. We were on the 4th floor and had a view of the woods and a bit of the bus stop. I think our room number was 4542, but I'm not positive. It was a studio room. I thought the size was just fine personally. It was bigger than a normal hotel room and it had the extra plus of the kitchenette. I liked the room quite a bit actually. The villas lobby is pretty also...it is smaller but it has a neat look to it. Everything at WL is themed down to the last detail and it is amazing. So we called Bell Service and had our bags brought to us. We just chilled in the room for a couple hours since we were tired from travelling. At about 6 or so we got ready for our dinner at California Grill. We took a boat to the Contemporary and took some pictures on the grounds there. We were all starving so we went up to the California Grill 45 minutes early for our 8pm PS and were seated immediately. We were somewhat disappointed though because we walked past 8 window seats and we weren't seated at one! My fiance was really disappointed since he has never been to WDW he thought the view was great and didn't understand why we weren't seated at one. We looked over the menu and I ordered a glass of wine. In the mean time my fiance went to the front and asked if there was anyway to move tables. We were placed at a window seat 15 minutes later and I was kind of glad because the first waitress we got was really spastic...she was really loud and laughed after every word and she spilled on my fiance (water thank goodness). Our view was mostly of the Grand Floridian and MK which was just beautiful. We got a new server that was just great. We went ahead and ordered...I got the BBQ glazed chicken flatbread and so did my best friend. Mike got the salmon. They came about 20 minutes later which seemed pretty quick. The flatbread was unbelieveably good. Both Erika and I thought so....YUM. Mike liked the salmon a lot too. When it comes at first you think you've been ripped off because it appears small for $25. However, it is a thick piece of salmon and very flavorful and he was full after eating it. By the time we finished eating it was about 8:30pm. It was starting to rain and we were worried that the fireworks would be cancelled! Our server said they are almost never cancelled so don't worry. We ordered dessert also. My fiance got the strawberry shortcake and Erika and I split the chocolate banana bread desert. It came about 15 minutes later and it was awesome. That was the best dessert ever Mike liked the strawberry shortcake ok, but I think he wished he would have gotten the same thing we did. When we finished dessert it was about 9pm and still raining pretty good. They dimmed the lights and we thought the fireworks were coming, but they ended up being cancelled which was such a bummer! After that we paid our bill and left. We went down to the store at the Contemporary (I think it was Fantasia) and I bought the Vacation stickers I kept seeing since they are great for scrapbooks and I like to make scrapbooks anyway. We took a monorail to the TTC. When we got off it was pouring. We finally found the bus stop for WL and it was full! We got back soaked and just feeling gross. Back in the room we got ready for bed and just watched TV. We were all excited for the next day when we would be at the Magic Kingdom!!DAY TWO TO COME SOON
