TinkTatoo
Has a Tink tattoo on her shoulder
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2004
- Messages
- 2,936
21st September 2008
After another day yesterday of bad bus services, screaming toddlers and crowded food courts I was getting really fed up of the ASMu. Some time during the night I decided to see if we could move to the Wilderness Lodge early.
So with that in mind as soon as everyone was up and awake we went down to reception where I spoke to the duty manager and explained that we werent happy staying here. He contacted the WL for us and they confirmed that they had a courtyard bunk bed room available and that they would honor the discount rate we already had on our room from 24th. The manager told us the upgrade fee and I readily agreed, I think at this stage I would have paid rack rates just to move. The manager said if we called once our stuff was packed that he would arrange transport for us and our cases.
We got something to eat in the busy food court then packed our stuff up as quickly as possible. Luggage assistance came for our cases and after a short wait, a van came to take us to WL.
When we arrived we left all our stuff with Bell Services and went to check in. There was a lot of confusion over the transfer but it eventually got sorted out, they couldnt sort out our park tickets and DDP so we have to keep our ASMu cards for that and use our WL cards to get into our room and for charging
Once that was done we caught the bus to HS. We didnt have to wait too long for a bus, but the Iron Man triathlon was going on so quite a few of the roads were closed and we went the long way to HS. This is what was involved in the triathlon
Swim:
The one-loop, 1.2 mile swim course will start in waves from the beach at Disney's Fort Wilderness Campground. .
Bike:
The bike leaves Clementine Beach through the Pioneer Hall area via the campgrounds of the Fort Wilderness resort. The cyclists then ride past Walt Disney World Resort before hitting the back roads of Orange and Lake County.
Run course
After leaving the transition area in Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort, the competitors run to Disney's Osprey Ridge Golf course. They run through the back stage of the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical review, through what was once River Country before re-entering the Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground for the final miles on trails.
Once we got to HS, first up had to be Toy Story Mania, we thought this was a brilliant ride and grabbed fast passes for later (before they all ran out).
It was another scorching day and we needed a drink so we went over to pizza planet. Niamh was hungry so I got her a pizza, which she promptly dropped on the ground. Luckily when I told them at the counter why I was back so soon ordering a second pizza, they gave her another one for free.
When shed eaten we went into Muppet 3d which we all enjoyed. Next it was time for Aodhan & I to get something to eat and we went to Back Lot Express for some burgers & fries. No one fancied Rock n Roll or Tower of Terror but I wanted to see Beauty & the Beast as wed never seen it before. On the way we ran into these guys
We went to the 1 oclock show and we really enjoyed it (although Aodhan pretended he didnt) There were two CMs signing the show and they were just as entertaining as the show itself.
We were all super hot and getting a bit irritable at this stage so we got some drinks and the kids had a lolly each. While we they were eating them I got chatting to these two.
Once wed finished we went into the Great Movie Ride where we got accosted by the cowboys for the first time ever. From there we went so see Craigs friend Aerial and passed on his regards as she was wondering where he was. It was about half 3 when we came out and the kids were too hot to keep trudging around the park until our 5pm ADR time so we came back to WL to see if our room was ready. It was and we were on 6th floor with a lovely view.
As soon as we were in the room I called bell services who brought the luggage up. There was no time to unpack so I left it to do later and we set off back to HS where we had the bus to ourselves.
We got there about ten past 5 and checked in at H&V and had a 15 minute wait until our table was ready. We had a lovely meal here and I had a raspberry Champagne cocktail which was lovely (although in this picture it looks like a larger with a few raspberries on top)
Niamh did her own version of a happy food face
After dinner we went back to Toy Story Mania but unfortunately the ride broken down before we got on and we had to leave. Everyone got an anytime fast pass that was good anytime up until 30th September.
We left HS and came back to WL. The kids chilled while I unpacked and then did some laundry. I finished the day typing the trip reports and watching the Electric Water Pageant from the balcony - bliss
Tomorrow - DTD & Swimming
In fact, I remember having a couple of those yummy raspberry champagne cocktails in the Territory Lounge... 
