BONZO
<font color=660066>Has been known to go off topic!
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2001
- Messages
- 2,100
The Hopping Mad Easter Tour - 2004
Shaun - 40 something If its high fat, high sugar Ill eat it
Alison - 30 something 'If its not Atkins I wont eat it
Alexandra - 10 Can we play mini-golf? Can we? Can we? Can we? Can we?
Laura - 8 'If Im tall enough Ill ride it'
Monday 29th March 2004
I woke up this morning to discover that Id not spent the night sleeping with my wife! - apparently there had been some musical beds going on during the night and I was the only one whod stayed put. The girls were kicking each other apparently, so Alison slept with Laura and Alexandra came in with me. Alison had been up since 05:30 (11:30 UK time) to catch up on the Trip Reports to date - bless. (Alison here - well someone had to write notes! LOL) The rest of us woke at around 06:00, showered and dressed and headed off to the food court at 06:50.
Alison: Eggs and Bacon
Laura: Croissant and Banana
Alexandra: Toast, Bacon, Banana
Me: Breakfast platter - Sausage, bacon, egg, Potatoes and biscuit
Total cost: $21
Back to the room to brush teeth and collect our bags etc and off we went to catch the bus to the Magic Kingdom. We were a bit dubious about using Disney Bus Transport because of bad experiences from CBR previously but as we approached a bus turned up - Result! Arrived at MK at about 08:45 where they held us just through the turnstiles until the character train arrived and then subjected us to some cheesy song and dance routine - JUST LET US IN!
At just before 09:00 we were through and walking up Main Street USA - No matter how many times you see this view its enough to make the heart skip a beat and makes you remember what all that planning was about. We marched up to Tomorrowland but were held at the rope for a few moments avoiding all the people stopping for pictures. The rope dropped and we RAN despite the pleas not to do so and hit Space Mountain where there was no queue! - Yippee! It was to be the girls first ever time doing Space
Poor Laura was very nervous about the ride and was close to tears but we managed to get her on it and she loved it! Off the ride and ran over to Splash Mountain - only a 2 min wait, rode this and onto Big Thunder Mountain Railroad with only a 5 min wait - So there you go, all the mountains done by 09:45 - see, it can be done if you toughen up those little Commandos
Time to slow things down a bit and we wandered over to Buzz Lightyear to pick up some Fast Passes for later on in the morning. We also decided to take a break and do TTA (aka Wedway People Mover) and Carousel of Progress (altogether now - Theres a great big beautiful tomorrow ..) before going back to Buzz. We didnt get too bad a score considering it was our first go this holiday!
The troops were getting a bit peckish by now (it was 11:00 but our PS for Crystal Palace wasnt until 12:00) so with time to kill we headed over to Mickeys Toontown Fair Hall of Fame Tent - bagged pics and autographs of Minnie, Chip & Dale and Donald Duck. With that done we headed over to Crystal Palace for lunch at about 11.45.
We went to CP on our first trip (for breakfast in 1988) but there were no characters then. We thought wed give it another go for lunch this time and it was really good! Lots of character interaction from Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eyeore, Piglet too. The only downside was that having a window seat looking over the hub was like being in a fishbowl with people squinting in whilst waiting for their bleepers to go off for their reservations! But we told the girls to make rude signs to the people staring at us/stick their tongues out etc only kidding!
Food
Sliced Roast Beef, Salami, Turkey and Ham
Tossed Salad Fixings
Caesar Salad
Sliced American, Cheddar and Swiss Cheese
Chicken Salad
Tuna Salad
Tomato and Mozzarella Salad
Cole Slaw
Fruit Salad
Rye, Wheat, Pumpernickel, and White Breads
Steak Sandwich Slices
Ham Roll-Ups
Chicken Caesar Pasta
BBQ Chicken
Sausage and Peppers and Onions
Shepherd's Pie
Mashed or Roasted Potatoes
Rice
Kid's Buffet with Mini Hot Dogs, Macaroni & Cheese, Chicken Nuggets, and Cheese Pizza
Ice Cream Sundae Bar
Brownies
Cupcakes
Lemon Bars
Chocolate Chip, Sugar and Peanut Butter Cookies
Peach Cobbler
Whole Fruit
We all drank soft drinks and had coffee afterwards - Total cost $59. A nice start to the holiday!
Decided to come out of the park straight after lunch (at around 1.15) and get the bus back to the resort and would you believe it - a bus turned up as we arrived! What fantastic service! We were rapidly changing our mind about the Disney bus service - it was great!
We quickly changed into swimming stuff and went to the Bowling Pool (one of the 3 pool areas) as Mousekeeping was cleaning our room at the time. By the time we got back to the room Mousekeeping had put toys in the window, towel animal, toothbrush holder and a personal note from our Mousekeeper Rosalina - Cool!
Jumped in the car and went to Goodings for some essential supplies - beer, crisps, Atkins products etc and then drove to Premium Outlets Mall to see if we could get any cheap Disney pins in the Character Shop as the girls were desperate to start trading, but sadly none were to be had. It was around 5pm ish by now and the girls were a bit peckish so we stopped at Subway for a snack and confused the poor woman with our rather plain orders - yes - we dont want any fixins thank you!
Alexandra: 6 Cheese sub
Alison: Bacon and Chicken ranch wrap (8 carbs)
Me: Sweet tomato Teriyaki Chicken wrap
Laura: 6 Tuna sub
All with drinks Total cost $16
Back to Pop and like good parents we let the kids go swimming on their own while we stayed in the room to sort things out while I acquainted myself with Mr Sam Adams, Mr Teachers and Mr Peanut! (Alison here - I have to say that I completed the unpacking!)
The girls wandered back, had a shower and we were all in bed by 9pm
The weather today was hot, sunny but low humidity.
Plan for tomorrow: Morning at MGM, afternoon at US and a surprise overnight stay.
Shaun - 40 something If its high fat, high sugar Ill eat it
Alison - 30 something 'If its not Atkins I wont eat it
Alexandra - 10 Can we play mini-golf? Can we? Can we? Can we? Can we?
Laura - 8 'If Im tall enough Ill ride it'
Monday 29th March 2004
I woke up this morning to discover that Id not spent the night sleeping with my wife! - apparently there had been some musical beds going on during the night and I was the only one whod stayed put. The girls were kicking each other apparently, so Alison slept with Laura and Alexandra came in with me. Alison had been up since 05:30 (11:30 UK time) to catch up on the Trip Reports to date - bless. (Alison here - well someone had to write notes! LOL) The rest of us woke at around 06:00, showered and dressed and headed off to the food court at 06:50.
Alison: Eggs and Bacon
Laura: Croissant and Banana
Alexandra: Toast, Bacon, Banana
Me: Breakfast platter - Sausage, bacon, egg, Potatoes and biscuit
Total cost: $21
Back to the room to brush teeth and collect our bags etc and off we went to catch the bus to the Magic Kingdom. We were a bit dubious about using Disney Bus Transport because of bad experiences from CBR previously but as we approached a bus turned up - Result! Arrived at MK at about 08:45 where they held us just through the turnstiles until the character train arrived and then subjected us to some cheesy song and dance routine - JUST LET US IN!
At just before 09:00 we were through and walking up Main Street USA - No matter how many times you see this view its enough to make the heart skip a beat and makes you remember what all that planning was about. We marched up to Tomorrowland but were held at the rope for a few moments avoiding all the people stopping for pictures. The rope dropped and we RAN despite the pleas not to do so and hit Space Mountain where there was no queue! - Yippee! It was to be the girls first ever time doing Space
Poor Laura was very nervous about the ride and was close to tears but we managed to get her on it and she loved it! Off the ride and ran over to Splash Mountain - only a 2 min wait, rode this and onto Big Thunder Mountain Railroad with only a 5 min wait - So there you go, all the mountains done by 09:45 - see, it can be done if you toughen up those little Commandos
Time to slow things down a bit and we wandered over to Buzz Lightyear to pick up some Fast Passes for later on in the morning. We also decided to take a break and do TTA (aka Wedway People Mover) and Carousel of Progress (altogether now - Theres a great big beautiful tomorrow ..) before going back to Buzz. We didnt get too bad a score considering it was our first go this holiday!
The troops were getting a bit peckish by now (it was 11:00 but our PS for Crystal Palace wasnt until 12:00) so with time to kill we headed over to Mickeys Toontown Fair Hall of Fame Tent - bagged pics and autographs of Minnie, Chip & Dale and Donald Duck. With that done we headed over to Crystal Palace for lunch at about 11.45.
We went to CP on our first trip (for breakfast in 1988) but there were no characters then. We thought wed give it another go for lunch this time and it was really good! Lots of character interaction from Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eyeore, Piglet too. The only downside was that having a window seat looking over the hub was like being in a fishbowl with people squinting in whilst waiting for their bleepers to go off for their reservations! But we told the girls to make rude signs to the people staring at us/stick their tongues out etc only kidding!
Food
Sliced Roast Beef, Salami, Turkey and Ham
Tossed Salad Fixings
Caesar Salad
Sliced American, Cheddar and Swiss Cheese
Chicken Salad
Tuna Salad
Tomato and Mozzarella Salad
Cole Slaw
Fruit Salad
Rye, Wheat, Pumpernickel, and White Breads
Steak Sandwich Slices
Ham Roll-Ups
Chicken Caesar Pasta
BBQ Chicken
Sausage and Peppers and Onions
Shepherd's Pie
Mashed or Roasted Potatoes
Rice
Kid's Buffet with Mini Hot Dogs, Macaroni & Cheese, Chicken Nuggets, and Cheese Pizza
Ice Cream Sundae Bar
Brownies
Cupcakes
Lemon Bars
Chocolate Chip, Sugar and Peanut Butter Cookies
Peach Cobbler
Whole Fruit
We all drank soft drinks and had coffee afterwards - Total cost $59. A nice start to the holiday!
Decided to come out of the park straight after lunch (at around 1.15) and get the bus back to the resort and would you believe it - a bus turned up as we arrived! What fantastic service! We were rapidly changing our mind about the Disney bus service - it was great!
We quickly changed into swimming stuff and went to the Bowling Pool (one of the 3 pool areas) as Mousekeeping was cleaning our room at the time. By the time we got back to the room Mousekeeping had put toys in the window, towel animal, toothbrush holder and a personal note from our Mousekeeper Rosalina - Cool!
Jumped in the car and went to Goodings for some essential supplies - beer, crisps, Atkins products etc and then drove to Premium Outlets Mall to see if we could get any cheap Disney pins in the Character Shop as the girls were desperate to start trading, but sadly none were to be had. It was around 5pm ish by now and the girls were a bit peckish so we stopped at Subway for a snack and confused the poor woman with our rather plain orders - yes - we dont want any fixins thank you!
Alexandra: 6 Cheese sub
Alison: Bacon and Chicken ranch wrap (8 carbs)
Me: Sweet tomato Teriyaki Chicken wrap
Laura: 6 Tuna sub
All with drinks Total cost $16
Back to Pop and like good parents we let the kids go swimming on their own while we stayed in the room to sort things out while I acquainted myself with Mr Sam Adams, Mr Teachers and Mr Peanut! (Alison here - I have to say that I completed the unpacking!)
The girls wandered back, had a shower and we were all in bed by 9pm
The weather today was hot, sunny but low humidity.
Plan for tomorrow: Morning at MGM, afternoon at US and a surprise overnight stay.
you're so right about how it doesn't matter how many times you've been, that initial MK sighting and walking up Main Street makes your heart skip a beat! Every time I get overwhelmed and tear up and chant for ages that I can't believe we're there 
