The 7 months Late Trip Reports - SUMMARY

[florry]

TRIP REPORTS 2004 SUMMARY

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly


THE GOOD

ACCOMMODATION
Bahama Bay - massive "Master Suite" - lovely views from the balconies - huge spacious apartment - well equipped - convenient location.
Animal Kingdom Lodge was excellent - good room - lovely pool - lobby spectacular and the animals in the Savannah were great - Superb Disney Service.

FOOD
Refillable Mugs at AKL (did I mention the coffee is free?)
IHOP best value and friendly.
Sonic cheapest for breakfast.
Desserts at Boma (especially those little pineapple cheesecakes with white chocolate bases)
Golden Corral (on 192) best Buffet

RIDES
"Happy" obviously No.1 (Dodge "Town & Country 7 seat mini-van)
Splash Mountain
Mission Space
Kali River Rapids (not according to DW! - still drying underwear out!)

SHOWS
Fantasmic
Lion king
All the 3D shows - particularly Mickey's Filmharmagic
Wishes
Reflections

THE BAD
Plane delay at Gatwick due to Baggage Vandalers!
Queue jumping to get off the plane.
Hurricane Francis.
Doppler rain!
Its A Small World closed for re-furb.
Legroom on Air Atlanta 747

THE DOWN RIGHT UGLY!
Bubba Clamp!
Bay News 9 Weather Bloke.
The "Carousel Scrum" at Gatwick.
Me - raising my voice to DW when questioning her navigational ability!
Going home to UK.

BEST TIPS
On Splash Mountain - as you start to come down the big drop - strike a pose for the camera and go look at the results in the gift shop!
Try a meal at IHOP (International House of Pancakes).
Go to the water parks as light as possible and get on all the main rides before the masses - then get out of the park and go to another park for the afternoon or evening.
Use the Osceola Parkway as opposed to the 192 - it runs parallel and is very quiet with hardly any traffic.
Use the Sherberth Road shortcut if you are staying on the 192 or US27.
Sample the Desserts in Boma (AKL) and have a walk around the hotel while you are there. You must try the little pineapple cheesecakes with the white chocolate base. ( I think I may have mentioned this!)
Don't spend your holiday viewing all the action through the viewfinder of your camera - capture moments going into and out of the parks and a few poses in strategic places but look around you - there is detail everywhere - hidden Mickey’s - theming - costumes - if you are not careful you will miss it all.

AND FINALLY

On the first day - go to Magic Kingdom and as you turn the first corner into Main Street - turn and look at the faces of your family. Remember that look as long as you live.

On the last day - watch "Wishes" fireworks from the boat dock on the far side of Bay Lake - turn and look at the faces of your family. Make a promise to yourself to come back as soon as possible.
I bid you all farewell - until the next time - it's been a blast!

ROLL ON AUGUST 18th 2005 - TRIP NUMBER 3 AND THIS TIME WE'RE TAKING THE IN-LAWS!!!!!
A.K.A. -
"THE MUMMY'S REVENGE"

 

[Cyrano]

The readers have had a blast too. Well bed beckons

Reid

 

[SusanEllen]

Tim,
Your reports were splendid. I'll be checking out your new website and am looking forward to reading your 2002 reports. We'll all be watching for reports from your upcoming August trip, although I can't imagine how you'll be able to top the 2004 Hurricane Tour. Regards to your intrepid travel companions.

 

[LoopyLoo]

I have loved your reports, I look forward to reading your 2005 trip reports.

 

[magicgirl]

I have read lots and lots of trip reports and yours are by far the best.Thank you for taking the time to write them. We flew out to Florida on the day you flew back. Sat 4th Sept was my daughters wedding day and we were flying out for a combined honeymoon for them and silver wedding anniversary for us. The reception was in our garden and I must admit to sneaking in and using the computer to find out was going on in Orlando The happy couple were blissfully unaware that their honeymoon might not be as imagined.

Some areas had been very badly hit and had no water or electricity for a while. WE saw power repair vehicles from all over the states and Canada. Luckily for us Ivan changed his mind about Orlando but did manage to come around at the end and dump a whole lt of rain on us.

 

[Kevin Stringer]

Top job Mr Florry.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your reports.
Just one thing is puzzling me though ...... those refillable mug things ..... are the refills free?

Kev

 

[wicket2005]

Loved the reports I have read so far, got a few more left, saving them. I am going to copy them for the kids to read as we fly to Florida in July and am very much looking forward to your next series of reports later on in the year.

 

[florida sun]

Tim

Absoultey brilliant, well written and totally entertaining. A few of us from the boards are meeting up at the Rose and Crown at Epcot on the 21st August, if you havent already put your name down on the thread, (not sure where it is right now)and you would like to come, let me know and I will find the thread for you.

Sue

 

[carolfoy]

Well done Florry, a most enjoyable trip report, loved your writing style and had more than one snorty laugh out loud moment, Just for clarification tho - were the refills in your resort mug free? just wondered

 

[disneytoby]

Hi Tim (Florry),



Had to write after reading your trip report, absolutely fantastic (are you Bill Bryson in disguise)



Anyway glad to see I am not the only man who has a tear as I enter Magic Kingdom, I always take a moment to look at my 3 kids faces as we enter and see the castle from Main Square, knowing I have 2 whole weeks of been together at the happiest place on earth is brill .



Our next trip is Sep 2006 already booked with TCD, this is our 6th trip but once you've been your hooked, you know what it's like.



Look forward to the next report, have a great holiday, and don't forget make sure you purchase those refillable mugs (as the drinks are then free you know).







Toby

 

[florry]

Thank you for all your kind words. I wasn't sure if I was going to get told off for such a long-winded report!
Hopefully someone can compress these into the trip report index so as to stop me from "hogging" the whole page!

Florida Sun - I would love to meet up with some fellow "Diser's" and The Rose & Crown sound like an ideal spot!

If you could let me know where the details are or make contact nearer the date than I will certainly put this firm date into my plan (I haven't laminated the final draft as yet!). I'm pretty sure I can pursuade the FIL & MIL to come to a pub!

I will be delighted to offer information and/or photo's of either Animal Kingdom Lodge or Bahama Bay if anyone needs reassurance of their accomodation. PM me with an email address and I will forward them to you.

I will get the web-site up and running soon (complete with the Splash Mountain "Pose"!) as soon as possible. The trip reports are on and we have a Disney Tunes Jukebox to get you in the mood! (Fantasmic is still my favourite) but I've not yet mastered the photo's.

Watch this space........www.dodisney.info

Tim

 

[Miffy2003]

Tim, your reports have had me hooting with laughter! Thank you!

Is DW's underwear dry yet?

 

[florry]

QUOTE - "Is DW's underwear dry yet?"

I dare not ask!

Tim

 

[Miffy2003]

I dare not ask!

 

[marias]

I have tears streaming down my face - could be through laughter or could be because of your final comments, i know how emotional i am seeing the castle for the first time again and likewise saying goodbye.

Thanks for sharing your wonderful memories.

 

[fizz13]

Well done! I am in the process of trying to write up my report so know how long it can take. A fantastic job and I will watch out for more in the future. thanks for brightening all our days here at the DIS!

Claire

 

[tallym]

Hi Florry!
Just want to say...I have just finished reading your trip reports and They are FANTASTIC!!
You have a real talent for writing...I was actually laughing out loud, and like a good book I just couldn't stop reading.
This has been the BEST trip report I have ever read on here.
Thanks for posting it...and can't wait to see the pics

 

[KayleeUK]

Lovley reports - Thank you!