Cast:
Lori, (lawalz23)
Susan, my sister, (Pooh667)
Carl, dh to Susan
Cassandra, dd of Susan and Carl, twin to Zachary, 3 ½ years old
Zachary, ds of Susan and Carl, twin to Cassandra, 3 ½ years old
Mom, to Lori and Susan, grandmother of Cassandra and Zachary
Dad, to Lori and Susan, grandfather of Cassandra and Zachary
These next three day we were joined by:
Other BIL, Anthony, (our sister passed away unexpectedly in Jan 2000)
his boys, Michael, 24 and Chris, 21 (Loris and Susans nephews, and so on, the big guys)
Chriss girlfriend Jessica, 20
Anthonys parents, Mr. & Mrs. S
Anthonys Uncle Frank
This group of seven stayed off-site and met us at the parks.
Friday: We have PS for Cinderellas breakfast and meet Jessica, she is a huge Cinderella fan, at 7:45 a.m. at the Poly and we monorail to the MK. They do not open the gates until 8 a.m. so it was a mad dash to the castle for 8:20 a.m. PS. (This was one time Disney transport was right on.) We were seated, received our huge breakfasts (O.J. or coffee, fruit, bread, eggs, bacon, fried cheese filled french toast, I do not remember if there was more), and then the princesses came. Cassandra, she was dressed like Cinderella with the tiara, her hair up and choker too, was so excited she just sat quietly with her autograph book open to a new and waited for them to come. Her twin brother, Zachary, dressed as Peter Pan, brought his own breakfast to the castle. He had gotten a pack/bowl of Frosted Flakes from concierge before we left and brought it with him. He ate that and some of the pancakes he was served. Our server was nice and kept the O.J. and coffe coming and asked if we wanted seconds on anything. Dad had an extra french toast, the rest of us were full and busy taking pictures of the kids and adults with the princesses. All of the princesses were really nice and took time to speak with the kids before autographs and pictures. In attendance were Cinderella, Jasmine, Pocohontas, Belle, and Alice in Wonderland. Downstairs was Aladdin and the Fairy Godmother, who both talked to the kids for a long time. Cinderella remarked to Cassandra how they were dressed alike, even the choker and that she thought Prince Charming would like her outfit too. Needless to say Cassandra was thrilled and when Cinderella said she would wave to her at the parade later it was the icing on the cake. More on the parade later. We got out of the Castle shortly after 9 a.m., saw some of the characters riding the carousel and Dumbo but the line were already long on Dumbo, so we decide it would wait for another day. We had two more mornings planned at MK, anyway. We went straight to the Winnie the Pooh
ride with less than a 5 minute wait rode it two times. We all loved it and thought it was really cute. Next, we did the teacups and the kids saw more characters for autographs and pictures. There was Tigger again, 3rd time, Winnie the Pooh, Piglet and Eeyore, 2nd time, and two of the mice from Disneys Cinderella, Suzie and Paula (I think) and Goofys son Max. Then went on the raceway, Zachary drove his Dad, Carl and Cassandra drove me, Lori, only a 15 minute wait so it was not too bad and the kids got a big kick out of driving, so it was woth it. Mickey and Minnie came to open Mickeys Toontown Fair and we followed. The kids loved Mickeys and Minnies houses, especially Minnies because it was interactive and spent a lot of time in both, then they played in the playground there and on Donalds boat (no water due to the drought, and we could have used it with 90+ the whole week). We met the rest of our group (bil, nephews, bils parents and Uncle) in Toontown and the kids took them on the tour of Mickeys and Minnies houses and Donalds boat. After bil, bought the kids huge lollipops, what are aunts and uncles for anyway, LOL, we headed for Small World. Dad remembered this from his only trip in 1972 and wanted to go again. We had such a large party, 14, we got our own boat. Afterwards we headed for Liberty Square and most of the party went on Haunted Mansion. At 11 a.m. the lines for water were 15 minutes long and after a drink, we headed for Splash and Big Thunder Mountains. Susan and Lori explained fastpass (I think it is the best thing) to the rest of the group they waited for Splash while holding fastpasses for Big Thunder. The kids are just an inch short and were tiring so the original 7 plus nephew Michael walked to Tomorrowland to get fastpasses for Buzz Lightyear and have lunch. On the way the kids fell asleep in the carriages (thank goodness after much debate we brought them, they reclined) so some of us went to Carousel of Progress, it was interesting. Our group of 8 went to Comic Chicken (Rays) for lunch as the kids slept some of us had chicken fingers or chicken sandwich and fries while Mom and Dad split a hot dog and Lori, Mom and Dad had softserve ice cream from two doors down located in the same bldg as Merchants of Venus giftshop, it was delicious on a hot day. The kids woke up in time for our fastpasses for Buzz, it is a really great ride, and we met up with the rest of the party. They enjoyed Slash and Big Thunder MTNS. Our group went to the parade while the rest got fastpasses for Buzz and went on Alien Encounter (no one in our group wanted to go on AE).
Now for the afternoon parade, despite getting to Main Street ½ hour early it was already two or three deep. The kids were lucky as Carl and Michael (both are 6ft tall) put them on their shoulders and they got a great view. The rest of us had to settle for peeking through the masses. A woman did ask Susan if the kids wanted to get in front of her, but she declined, the kids were happy on the shoulders. There are nice people left. It took us, the original 7, about an hour to get out of MK and back to the Poly so we only had time for a quick shower and to change clothes.
And thus begins our third saga of the week with WDW transportation. We were late for our PS at the Garden Grill in EPCOT due to monorail traffic. We sat at the TTC station for ten minutes until the driver got clearance. Second ride in the front cab but no licenses, kids really enjoyed riding up there. The rest of our group was already there as they spent some more time in MK before heading to EPCOT. Food was pretty good, not great, the biggest problem is because of the setup of the restaurant, booths all facing the same way our party was split in two, 9 and 5, so there was not much interaction during dinner. Did I say I LOVE fastpass, after we were seated I collected everyones tickets and got a fastpasses for the boat rise at The Land. Why is an AP on a paper card and multi-day passes on a plastic card? Does not make much sense, it would seem the AP would get more use than a parkhopper, right? Anyway, we again got our own boat after walking right up with our fastpasses. We went back to our hotel, not wanting to brave the crowds again, the MK was really crowded during the day, to watch the fireworks from the beach. One of the perks at the Poly. Mom and Dad wanted to pack as they were leaving early Sat. morning to drive back to N.Y.
Day6: MGM and PrimeTime
Lori, (lawalz23)
Susan, my sister, (Pooh667)
Carl, dh to Susan
Cassandra, dd of Susan and Carl, twin to Zachary, 3 ½ years old
Zachary, ds of Susan and Carl, twin to Cassandra, 3 ½ years old
Mom, to Lori and Susan, grandmother of Cassandra and Zachary
Dad, to Lori and Susan, grandfather of Cassandra and Zachary
These next three day we were joined by:
Other BIL, Anthony, (our sister passed away unexpectedly in Jan 2000)
his boys, Michael, 24 and Chris, 21 (Loris and Susans nephews, and so on, the big guys)
Chriss girlfriend Jessica, 20
Anthonys parents, Mr. & Mrs. S
Anthonys Uncle Frank
This group of seven stayed off-site and met us at the parks.
Friday: We have PS for Cinderellas breakfast and meet Jessica, she is a huge Cinderella fan, at 7:45 a.m. at the Poly and we monorail to the MK. They do not open the gates until 8 a.m. so it was a mad dash to the castle for 8:20 a.m. PS. (This was one time Disney transport was right on.) We were seated, received our huge breakfasts (O.J. or coffee, fruit, bread, eggs, bacon, fried cheese filled french toast, I do not remember if there was more), and then the princesses came. Cassandra, she was dressed like Cinderella with the tiara, her hair up and choker too, was so excited she just sat quietly with her autograph book open to a new and waited for them to come. Her twin brother, Zachary, dressed as Peter Pan, brought his own breakfast to the castle. He had gotten a pack/bowl of Frosted Flakes from concierge before we left and brought it with him. He ate that and some of the pancakes he was served. Our server was nice and kept the O.J. and coffe coming and asked if we wanted seconds on anything. Dad had an extra french toast, the rest of us were full and busy taking pictures of the kids and adults with the princesses. All of the princesses were really nice and took time to speak with the kids before autographs and pictures. In attendance were Cinderella, Jasmine, Pocohontas, Belle, and Alice in Wonderland. Downstairs was Aladdin and the Fairy Godmother, who both talked to the kids for a long time. Cinderella remarked to Cassandra how they were dressed alike, even the choker and that she thought Prince Charming would like her outfit too. Needless to say Cassandra was thrilled and when Cinderella said she would wave to her at the parade later it was the icing on the cake. More on the parade later. We got out of the Castle shortly after 9 a.m., saw some of the characters riding the carousel and Dumbo but the line were already long on Dumbo, so we decide it would wait for another day. We had two more mornings planned at MK, anyway. We went straight to the Winnie the Pooh
ride with less than a 5 minute wait rode it two times. We all loved it and thought it was really cute. Next, we did the teacups and the kids saw more characters for autographs and pictures. There was Tigger again, 3rd time, Winnie the Pooh, Piglet and Eeyore, 2nd time, and two of the mice from Disneys Cinderella, Suzie and Paula (I think) and Goofys son Max. Then went on the raceway, Zachary drove his Dad, Carl and Cassandra drove me, Lori, only a 15 minute wait so it was not too bad and the kids got a big kick out of driving, so it was woth it. Mickey and Minnie came to open Mickeys Toontown Fair and we followed. The kids loved Mickeys and Minnies houses, especially Minnies because it was interactive and spent a lot of time in both, then they played in the playground there and on Donalds boat (no water due to the drought, and we could have used it with 90+ the whole week). We met the rest of our group (bil, nephews, bils parents and Uncle) in Toontown and the kids took them on the tour of Mickeys and Minnies houses and Donalds boat. After bil, bought the kids huge lollipops, what are aunts and uncles for anyway, LOL, we headed for Small World. Dad remembered this from his only trip in 1972 and wanted to go again. We had such a large party, 14, we got our own boat. Afterwards we headed for Liberty Square and most of the party went on Haunted Mansion. At 11 a.m. the lines for water were 15 minutes long and after a drink, we headed for Splash and Big Thunder Mountains. Susan and Lori explained fastpass (I think it is the best thing) to the rest of the group they waited for Splash while holding fastpasses for Big Thunder. The kids are just an inch short and were tiring so the original 7 plus nephew Michael walked to Tomorrowland to get fastpasses for Buzz Lightyear and have lunch. On the way the kids fell asleep in the carriages (thank goodness after much debate we brought them, they reclined) so some of us went to Carousel of Progress, it was interesting. Our group of 8 went to Comic Chicken (Rays) for lunch as the kids slept some of us had chicken fingers or chicken sandwich and fries while Mom and Dad split a hot dog and Lori, Mom and Dad had softserve ice cream from two doors down located in the same bldg as Merchants of Venus giftshop, it was delicious on a hot day. The kids woke up in time for our fastpasses for Buzz, it is a really great ride, and we met up with the rest of the party. They enjoyed Slash and Big Thunder MTNS. Our group went to the parade while the rest got fastpasses for Buzz and went on Alien Encounter (no one in our group wanted to go on AE).
Now for the afternoon parade, despite getting to Main Street ½ hour early it was already two or three deep. The kids were lucky as Carl and Michael (both are 6ft tall) put them on their shoulders and they got a great view. The rest of us had to settle for peeking through the masses. A woman did ask Susan if the kids wanted to get in front of her, but she declined, the kids were happy on the shoulders. There are nice people left. It took us, the original 7, about an hour to get out of MK and back to the Poly so we only had time for a quick shower and to change clothes.
And thus begins our third saga of the week with WDW transportation. We were late for our PS at the Garden Grill in EPCOT due to monorail traffic. We sat at the TTC station for ten minutes until the driver got clearance. Second ride in the front cab but no licenses, kids really enjoyed riding up there. The rest of our group was already there as they spent some more time in MK before heading to EPCOT. Food was pretty good, not great, the biggest problem is because of the setup of the restaurant, booths all facing the same way our party was split in two, 9 and 5, so there was not much interaction during dinner. Did I say I LOVE fastpass, after we were seated I collected everyones tickets and got a fastpasses for the boat rise at The Land. Why is an AP on a paper card and multi-day passes on a plastic card? Does not make much sense, it would seem the AP would get more use than a parkhopper, right? Anyway, we again got our own boat after walking right up with our fastpasses. We went back to our hotel, not wanting to brave the crowds again, the MK was really crowded during the day, to watch the fireworks from the beach. One of the perks at the Poly. Mom and Dad wanted to pack as they were leaving early Sat. morning to drive back to N.Y.
Day6: MGM and PrimeTime
