The Tunkkari Christmas Trip Part 5--The Rest of the Gang Arrives, Check in at the Contemporary, and

2belles'mom

Mouseketeer
Joined
Feb 24, 2000
Messages
406
Cast:
Christy (me), 33, loves Disney and plans trip
David, DH, 33, not as big a Disney fan as I am!
Katja, DD, 4, loves all things Disney
Annika, DD, 18 months, beginning Disney fan
Nana, my mother
Grandpa, my father
Steve, 30, my brother
Sarah, 28, my sister-in-law, 1st trip to Disney
Riley, 7, my nephew, 1st trip to Disney
December 16

I awoke at around 8:00 to find a note from David explaining that he was hitting balls at the driving range. I showered and got ready while the girls continued to sleep. Once they were up we struck out in search of food. The MOWC has a starbucks in the lobby, so I made a beeline for that and fixed myself up with a Latte. I got milk, fruit and bagels for the girls. We found a cozy spot in the lobby to eat. The MOWC has a high-speed glass, external elevator that Katja had been begging to ride since check-in. After eating, we hopped on. Annika pressed her little hands and face to the glass and squealed with delight as we zoomed toward the 28th floor. We went higher and higher until we had a stunning view of the entire property and surrounding sights. As soon as the elevator began its downward journey, Annika spooked--it must have looked as if we were falling as she peered out and saw the ground rushing toward us. I had to hold her the rest of the way down.

We hooked up with David in the lobby, then packed our things and checked out. On the drive to DxL to meet my parents, David told me that a big search for a missing person was underway at MOWC. While he had been on the driving range, helicopters had circled around overhead and the parking lot had been closed for a car by car search. Apparently an employee was missing; her shoes and van keys had been found on the 10th floor, and the van was still in the parking lot, but no sign of her. (Several days later they found her body in one of the ponds on the golf course!!!! Scary!!!!)

We picked up my parents at DxL then drove to the Contemporary to check-in and get something to eat. None of us had eaten anything but counter-service food and we were all hoping to have a sit-down meal (Boatwrights at DxL is open only for dinner). Alas, we were out of luck again--nothing open at CR for lunch either! Stuck with counter service again.

As with DxL, I had faxed the room controller at CR and requested a room with an MK view. We got the MK view, but I had forgotten to request an odd-numbered room so we could not see MK from the beds; you had to pretty much stand in the corner of the room to see MK. Other than that the room was fantastic, much better than the wing room we stayed in last year. The decor was new (maybe the wing rooms are now too?), and the room was just sparkling.

My mother and I put Annika and Katja down for a nap while DH and my father ran to the airport to fetch Steve, Sarah and Riley. Alas, had I known this was the second to last warm day of the trip I would have taken the girls to the pool! The rest of the gang arrived at about 4:00. We met them down at the food court (where they were chowing on burgers).

This was the first time we had met Riley,7, my nephew, a new member of our family. After our happy meeting, we all piled into the two rental cars and headed for DxL to check-in the new arrivals and do some swimming at Ol'Man Island. Steve and Sarah and Riley got a room next to Mom and Dad's. The weather was good for swimming--warm and humid, upper 70's. THe DxL pool is great--a very rustic feel, very themed, with a pretty good water slide. I grabbed myself a drink at the pool bar and settled down to watch the action. We swam until 6:30, then got showered and changed and ready for our Chef Mickey's PS at 8:00.

Dinner at Chef Mickey's was great. We only waited about 10 minutes for a table and had our group picture taken just prior to being seated. Goofy greeted us as we came in; Katja embraced him enthusiastically, Annika wanted to look but not touch, and Riley was a surprise, he also wanted to keep his distance. When Mickey came to the table Riley hid under it! Eventually he warmed up a little. Mickey, Minnie, Chip and Dale all visited us were very attentive to kids and adults alike. The food was good for buffet food--the guys particularly liked the Prime Rib. Lots of fun!

After dinner we headed our separate ways for sleep. MK in the morning!

Next--The whole gang does the Magic Kingdom!

2belles'mom
 
Love your report!

I have booked a room in the Contemporary Tower for an upcoming visit and have asked for a MK view as well. As long as I ask for an "odd-numbered" room, then we will have a much better view? Is this because it is in a different side of the tower, or just the way the rooms are laid out? I know you stated that you could only see MK from a corner of the room, but how was the view from your balcony? Just curious!
 
LauraC-

It is due to the layout of the rooms. In the odd-numbered rooms the beds are on the opposite side, and so is the table, so you see MK from where you spend most of your time. The view from the balcony was fantastic, but it was so cold (and Annika's head fit through the bars!) that we did not spend that much time out there. I sat in the corner and enjoyed the view as much as I could! Whatever view you wind up getting, I am sure you will enjoy (we did), but go for MK odd-number.
Good luck!

2belles'mom
 
Thank you! This was just what I needed to know before making my own room request! My kids will be 9 and 11, so I don't think I will need to worry about the bars on the balcony... even though I will probably still worry anyway!

P.S. What floor were you on? Do you need to be at a certain floor or above to have a good view? Or do all tower rooms have a good view?
 

We were on the 11th floor. I think that any floor should have a good view, except for perhaps the very lowest floors (but I am not sure--I don't think there are actually any rooms on the 1st and 2nd floors????). In any event, I would request upper floors as the general rule of thumb with any hotel is the higher the better!

2belles'mom
 
A fun day for all. Loved our dinner at Chef Mickeys also. Thanks for posting!
 





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