The Arkansas Road Hogs 7-14 thru 7-21

[gtuck]

This is my first effort - please be kind!


The Cast (Short Intro)

Me - DH - 45 Into most things Disney, I was enthralled by DL when in my teens. Couldn't wait to go to WDW. Didn't make until '97. Been waiting ever since then to go back.

DW - the practical one of the bunch. Likes WDW but has to hold me back to keep us out of vacation debt.

DD - 14 Loved WDW when she was 5, but now at 14 I'm afraid the "magic" might be fading a little.


Day One (Driving)
Anyway, we pulled out from our home in Arkansas @ 12:35 pm Friday July 14. It is a 14 hour drive to WDW so we are splitting the trip down into two days. The trip was uneventful (driving around Mobile was an adventure). Stopped at Crestview FL. at 8:45. Had a late supper at Cracker Barrell and went to bed.


Day Two (Arrival)
Up at 6 the next morning and on the road at 7:20am. Got a long drive. We made good time, but the panhandle of Florida is a long drive. I thought we'd never get to I-75. Finally made it to I-75 around noon EST. Pulled into Gainesville to grab a burger for lunch and keep on truckin. After puling back onto the freeway, I noticed an unusual sound coming from the engine. Sort of a whooshing sound (Car trouble on vacation is my nightmare). I checked my gauges and dashboard - everything seemed to be OK - no warning lights or anything, and when we got to 35-45 mph. the noise went away.

So what did we do? We said a quick prayer and kept on going! WDW is only 1-2 hours away! Everything is okay - we find the new Western Beltway (Toll Road 429) coming off the FL Turnpike. There is absolutely no one else on this road. I was beginning to think we had made a mistake, but we went thorugh a toll booth and asked and found that we were OK. Take Exit 8 (Western Way) and there is THE ARCH. You know the one right?

Finally! Get to CBR Check-In right behind a ME bus. The Line was to the door. Even with that it only took 20-25 minutes to get checked in. The CM was quick and professional.

We asked for and got Jamaica - Building 44 - Room 4413 We loved the room and resort - (Review on the Resort Page)

After supper (Dinner to all the non-southerners ) we went to MK. We were tired but come on! This is WDW! I wanted to ride some of the biggies while most were at the first Spectro and then watch Wishes and have a great seat for the second Spectro.

It worked like a charm! We practically walked onto BTMR (10 min) HM, IASW, and Buzz before getting a spot on the Tomorrowland bridge for Wishes. After Wishes we just walked over to Main Street and found a great spot between Casey's and the Castle for the 11:00 Spectro.

We sat there for maybe 30 minutes before the parade and watched the folks leaving. We counted 3 meltdowns that first night. you know the ones where the parents are yelling at the chidren that they better have fun or else!

Anyway during Spectro while sitting on the curb I noticed my feet kept going numb. Long story short - after the parade I tried to stand up. Big Mistake! My right ankle just started flipping and flopping like a hooked bass. I just couldn't stand up! My DW called my name (like I didn't know I was falling) again and again! It seemed like I fell for 30 minutes. And right there on Main Street USA I busted my keister

After 9 years of waiting and 4-5 months of planning - this is what it comes down to. I sat there and contemplated the meaning of it all, while my DW wondered if I would ever walk again. Well, not really - but it was kind of embarrasing. Anyway after a few minutes I got up and all was well. Kind of limped back to the Bus Stop and waited for a ride home. Got back to the room around midnight.

Coming later
Day 2
AK & MGM

 

[smschex]

Whoo, pig, sooie!! 41 days until kick-off!

Keep the trip report coming.

 

[averill94]

Your poor ankle!
Thank you for taking the time to report- looking forward to more.

 

[Bev J]

Good report so far, hope that foot does not act up again on ya! You keep posting and I'll keep reading...

Bev

 

[gtuck]

Day Two - AK & MGM

Up @ 6am. No swelling in the ankle so after an in-room breakfast (loved the refrigerators), we were at the Jamaica Bus stop soon after 8 am. I had heard some talk about the slow bus service @ CBR, but our experience was not that way. The buses were fairly quick & steady. The extra stop at Blizzzard Beach added time to the trip, but nothing too bad.

Arrived at Ak got through the Bag check fairly quickly and manuevered around the crowds at the turnstiles. We caught the last part of the opening in front of the Tree Of Life. My DW & DD beat a path to the KS and I went with the crowd to Asia and a FP for EE. Got the FP and got back to Harambe to the Safaris. This was our first time at AK so we didn't really know what to expect.

We really enjoyed the KS. Our driver was very good, funny, and informative. We saw a good number of amimals. What we didn't see many of were the cats. The Cheetah was lying where you could just barely see him and the Lions were mostly unseen as well. But we enjoyed this attraction very much.

Afterward, on the way to Asia w/ the FP for EE, we came across DeVine. Wow! We took a few minutes and just stood and watched - not just her, but people who had no idea she was around. A friend of ours who moved to Orlando and worked at AK told us there were 3 young ladies who played DeVine. The training that they have had is incredible. We looked for her again later on in the week but we couldn't find her.

Anyway on to EE. This was our first time to use FP. DD and I walked past all those in the stand-by line. After that, I wondered all week who anyone would not use FP on the big attractions. Anyway EE was great. The theming captures you immediately when you enter the queue. I used to be a coaster junkie - not so much now, but this one was good. Not too high - a very smooth ride and enough surprises to keep it interesting. I had played the online Yeti game and got a certificate for a free ride photo, but left it in the room. Oh well just a good excuse to come back and ride it again.

Walked into ITTBAB. We enjoyed it, but I wouldn't stand in line or use a FP for it.

Made our way to Dinoland to tour Dinosaur. I see now what people mean when they talk about how Chester & Hester's seems out of place. I agree. It's just kind of stuck there - a county fair just looking for a place to happen. Anayway - walked into Dinosaur (10 minute wait) I wasn't really sure if I or my DD would like this attraction, but it turned out to be one of our favorites. Very loud and jerky ride. My DD looked really shook up in the ride photo.

Left there and went to Camp Minnie Mickey to see FOTLK (Our longest wait of the trip). This was easily the best live show we saw during the week. It is a definite must-see.

It's getting to get hot by now and close to lunch. We are not on the DDP. Our plan was to eat a CS lunch in the parks, get back to the CBR for a break in the afternoon and eat dinner off site. This worked for only one day of our trip. We decided to eat our "big" meal at lunch and went to RC. Had maybe a 10 minute wait for a table. The service and food were OK - nothing incredible, but anything would have tasted good by then.... well maybe not anything, but you know.

After lunch - back to CBR - Afternoon nap

Caught the bus to MGM around 6pm. First thing - ToT. Now my DW does not do rides. This is an argument that we had many times before we married. After 20 years, I know to save my breath. So my DD and I are off to the tower. This has to be the best themed attrection on WDW property. From the foggy entrance to the CM's in the Boiler Room, this attraction just draws you into the story completely. We had a ball. Looked at RnRC but the standby was too long and for some reason we didn't FP.

Went back and caught TGMR (10-15 minute wait). I remember this attraction from '97. It need some updating. I know it must be difficult with our ideas of what is a "classic" changing with each summers blockbusters, but it could use some work. After that walked into TLM. It was an OK show, Again, not something that I would wait a very long time to see.

We then went to see if WWTBAM was still open. We just missed the last show so we just sort of wandered around the streets of NY. It was almost eerie that we were just about the only people on that side of the park. We finally decided on a dry burger at the ABC Commissary. $27.00 for three cheeseburgers and cold fries. I know it's Disney but man!

Any way we were going to hang around and see the late Fantasmic but the DD had a bad headache so it was back to CBR. Got in the car, made a late run to Walgreens for some Liquid Tylenol.

Maybe not the most exciting day, but we had fun!


Tomorrow - Epcot

 

[ilovedisneyworld]

Go Indians!!! I didnt know there were some arkansas people on here!