Cast: Husband, Daughter, Son and Myself
Third Trip to Disney: CBR 9/00
CBR 9/01
POFQ 6/02
Thursday June 13, pick the kids up at school on last day and head straight to airport for a 3:45pm flight. The plane coming in is late and so is our flight out, sit twenty minutes on the runway waiting our turn and we?re off. Smooth ride, arrive at airport and meet our Tiffany driver and off to the POFQ. First time at this resort, very nice. No line at check in. Got Length of Stay Passes (with today cut off) for everyone but me, I?ll get AP for the discount on room. In our room by 8:15pm. Unpack and take the boat to DTD to start on our shopping. Loaded with shopping bags, back to resort via the boat. Dinner at the food court, food ok. In bed by 11:30pm.
Friday June 14, Mickey woke us around 7:30am. We ate breakfast in room with breakfast we brought with us. To the buses, no wait and at the Magic Kingdom by 8:45am. Saw characters while we were waiting, Peter Pan, Wendy, Captain Hook, Smeed. Can I tell you how much we miss EE!!!! Gates open and we head straight to Fantasyland, ride everything there. Our last ride was Winnie the Pooh, we watch the car pull up and whom should we get to ride with but Eeyore himself. We were thrilled. After that, the ?I forget there is an outside world? feeling sets in and it?s time for a Mickey Bar. Off to Adventureland where we ride Splash Mt. and Big Thunder Mt. with no wait. We also realize that an ice cream was not enough food and our PS at Liberty Tree Tavern (11:30am) was close by so off to lunch. This was our first time at the restaurant and it was wonderful. I had the Grilled Chicken Sandwich; my husband had Pork Chops, which he said was delicious. Our daughter had the Turkey platter, which was not available on the children?s menu, but the waitress said she could arrange it and our son had a cheeseburger. I highly recommend this restaurant for the Honey butter alone! It?s now getting hot and crowded so after lunch we head back to POFQ for a swim. By the time we arrive at resort and change, it?s storming (the first of many this week) and the pool closes. We hang around for about twenty minutes and the pool reopens and we enjoy the pool (not very refreshing in tepid water) till about 4:00pm and we shower and head to EPCOT for dinner. No plans for dinner, so we just wander into Germany and eat at Biegergarten. Food ok, nothing spectacular, buffet fare with a few German dishes thrown in. After dinner we head to MK for our first E-nite. We took the monorail to TTC and the Ferryboat to MK. It was a very nice ride, not crowded, so we used this route many times during the week. Arrived in time for parade and since we had just seen it nine months ago, we thought we would take advantage of no lines. Well, so did every one else, we kept going till we found short lines, Tea cups, TTA and husband did Alien Encounter while we had a drink at that snack shop whose name escapes me right now. We go to the Tomorrowland Bridge and watch the fireworks. Tinkerbell?s flight was spectacular. Then e-nite begins. There are lines but not too bad (last time we did e-nite was 9/01 and there were no lines) we rode everything we wanted to, several times over, and left around 12:30am. Took picture of Mainstreet empty (the only time during our stay) and it was wonderful to see it. Exhausted, we finally leave!!
Saturday June 15, even though we were up very late last night we were up at 7:30am again. Breakfast at the food court-just ok and off to EPCOT in the pouring rain. Went straight to Innovations: 1. Because of rain and 2.We really enjoy it. Stayed there quite a long time and then went to Living Seas and explored that thoroughly. Went to the Ice Station to enjoy(?) some different flavors. After wanting to go to Beaches N? Cream on each one of our previous trips, we finally went. We took the boat through the International Gateway. We got the last table at around 2:30pm, not that there are many tables in there to begin with. The food was great! Not that they had anything unusual, but the burgers were delicious! We all had Cheeseburgers and desert then rolled our way out of the Beach Club resort, which by the way is gorgeous.
Once again getting hot and crowded so back to POFQ for our swim, but storming again and this time was not stopping so we all took naps instead. When we awoke we went back to EPCOT and did the countries with our passports and had our very first Beavertail. They were also delicious. Got through half the countries, watched Illuminations left park and had dinner at the foodcourt around midnight. Exhausted again!
Sunday June 16, up for MK early and ate breakfast in the room. Our daughter realizes she lost her brand new Disney hat with Tinker pin attached last night at the food court and spent too much time trying to find it and didn?t. Hopefully some nice person will find it and turn it in, (by the way that never happens). Off to MK alittle late but still do Adventureland and Frontierland before we stop for lunch at Pecos Bill. Food was pretty good for counter food. Again after lunch back to swim. We left Frontierland via the Train. The conductor asked the kids if they would like to ride with him in the back and they did, and enjoyed it very much. Started to rain while on the train. Went back to PO where we did some wash (no pool yet?storms?notice any pattern?) got my daughter?s hairwrapped. Very expensive since she decided to grow her hair long this winter! Played in the arcade and then the pool finally opened. We showered and dressed and were on our way to Le?Celliar (sp?) for Father?s Day dinner. Another GREAT meal. Expensive but worth every penny. We finished the kid?s passports just as it started to rain, again. We duck into China where the lady is making animals out of candy. She asks my son what he wants; he says ?a yellow scorpion? three minutes later he has a yellow scorpion, made from candy, and on a stick. It makes it all the way back to PA in one piece. We leave Epcot and were back at the resort by 9:30pm
Monday June 17, We went to MGM today. This is the one park that we do and don?t take a break. I think it?s the air-conditioned shows. My son and I start at Starring Rolls bakery while daughter and Dad do RNR and TOT. This is one of our traditions (actually we?re just afraid but?) having tea and a chocolate chip muffin. Our other half joins us and we enjoy some shows together and then the rain starts around 1pm, so we head to ABC Commissary for lunch, just ok food and very crowded (the rain, remember). When we leave it?s till raining but we put on the ponchos and keep going, as does everyone else. Never once this week did I see a park empty when the rains come, everyone just keeps going like the torrential rains are not going on around them; gotta love Disney!! Well around 7:30 we all start getting sick of the steady rain and decide to leave. Since we didn?t do Fantasmic due to rain, we go to the MK for possible dinner at Cinderella?s Castle. Nope, too busy. How about Liberty Tree? Also too busy. Doesn?t the rain send any one home early? Wet and hungry we slosh our way back to POFQ for dinner in the foodcourt. Asleep by 10pm.
Tuesday June 18 our last full day at WDW. My family wants to go to AK, personally I would just skip this hot park this trip but they want to go so, we go. Our first stop FP for the Safari and back to the Rapids. My daughter and I got soaked, I mean soaked. People were pointing at us on our way off the ride and changing their minds about riding. I couldn?t decide which was worse, wet from the rain or wet from the rides. My daughter then points out that not once during the rain did her underwear get soaked, that?s when we decided that the Rapids were worse. Don?t get me wrong the ride was fun, but next time I?ll wear a poncho. Sloshed over to the Safari ride, which we all enjoy and hopped right on our truck. Well half way through the ride our truck breaks down. At first we all thought it was part of the ?experience? but no, it?s really broken down. There happened to be a CM of the management material on the truck making sure that the guests are getting what they should be getting on the tours, so a few walkie talkie communications later and there is a truck there in no time to fix the tour truck, and we?re up and running. While we?re on the truck it starts to rain, again. I?m very wet and irritable at this point so back to POFQ to change into dry clothes and still wet sneakers. We eat lunch at the food court and head to do EPCOT. We finish the rest of EPCOT and head to the MK for our PS at Cindy?s for dinner. The food was ok, but the atmosphere is what I enjoy most. We sat near the window and Peter Pan was running around on the ledge of the castle being chased by Captain Hook?very entertaining and unexpected. Before we were seated we met with Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty in the waiting area. I drank an Orange Smoothie with dinner and got to take home the glass. It says ?Cinderella?s Royal Table? all this would make much more sense if you knew that she is my all time favorite character since I was a little girl, for some forty odd years. (While we were in MGM we went to the Watch Shop (I know that?s not what it?s called but I can?t remember) and my husband bought me one of those personally made watches where you pick out the character and they will draw it on the watch. I, of course, picked Cinderella. Now I just have to wait for it to be delivered.) After dinner we rode the Carousel and it started to rain, ooppps! Did I say rain? I mean pour, so back to POFQ and drop off some bags. We headed to DTD again to finish shopping. Home and in bed by 10:30pm
Wednesday June 19 our last day. The Tiffany driver will be here at noon so not much time to do anything but pack and leave. My husband decides since it?s been rainy (and it is now sunny) and Test Track was down so often, he and the kids would run to Epcot and I would finish packing and check out and meet them in front of resort at noon. So off they go and I continue packing and showering. Before I could leave for the front of resort in comes the family, sad and much too quickly back. Apparently when we checked in on the 13th the very nice lady at the check in desk took our one-day off at the end of our trip instead of the beginning of the trip like I requested. So no Test Track and sad husband and children. Not much to do about it now it is our last day and we will be leaving in about ½ an hour. Tiffany car gets us to the airport in plenty of time and the plane is only slightly delayed because of rain and we board. We are still sitting on the gate when the pilot comes on the intercom and says because of the rain our luggage could not be put on the plane but they were doing it right then. In the air about 45min. behind but we are on the way. Almost to Philadelphia airport (we must be, it?s been about 1 1/2hrs) when the pilot once again has an announcement. ?Philadelphia is having severe weather and we will be circling Baltimore for a little while?. Well I?m not sure how much later but the pilot says ?weather is getting worse, we?re going to keep circling?, and they literally mean circle. Once again the pilot, ?running low on fuel, one more time in the holding pattern and we will land in Baltimore, refuel, and wait for weather to clear?. The little boy next to me has been sleeping the entire time and I?m soo jealous it?s not me! The pilot again, ?the weather has cleared up and quick as it came and we heading straight to Philadelphia?. Thank God! Now we are starting to descend and the cute little boy who has been asleep for this nearly four-hour trip wakes up. The pilot has already warned us that it will be an extremely bumpy landing and he is correct. The little boy who has only been awake for about 9 minutes of this entire flight throws up on the way down. No airsick bag, no one can stand to help. I?m asking for tissues and napkins from everyone around us and everyone has something! We land!!! Thank God again!
The trip was wonderful but really did not expect that much rain. As we were leaving the Florida airport I hear two pilots saying ?ya know, another inch of rain and we?ll be out of the drought. The rain this week really helped!? I was really happy for Florida?s drought but?.. I left out some of our rides and details but nothing that would affect the trip
This was our third trip in almost as many years. We went in 9/00, 9/01 and 6/02 and we much prefer September to June. The weather seemed much of the same but the crowds were heavier. Since this was our third trip I felt we had more time to explore different areas and take all the different modes of transportation. I don?t think we missed one.
I just realized(11/03/02) I never posted this report, after taking so many notes and writing it so soon after the trip. I will try to answer any questions, if there are any.
I just read my entire report and I'm not that bad of a typist. When I cut and pasted the trip report, all the quotation marks and apostrophe's turned to question marks. LOL!! all that work!
Third Trip to Disney: CBR 9/00
CBR 9/01
POFQ 6/02
Thursday June 13, pick the kids up at school on last day and head straight to airport for a 3:45pm flight. The plane coming in is late and so is our flight out, sit twenty minutes on the runway waiting our turn and we?re off. Smooth ride, arrive at airport and meet our Tiffany driver and off to the POFQ. First time at this resort, very nice. No line at check in. Got Length of Stay Passes (with today cut off) for everyone but me, I?ll get AP for the discount on room. In our room by 8:15pm. Unpack and take the boat to DTD to start on our shopping. Loaded with shopping bags, back to resort via the boat. Dinner at the food court, food ok. In bed by 11:30pm.
Friday June 14, Mickey woke us around 7:30am. We ate breakfast in room with breakfast we brought with us. To the buses, no wait and at the Magic Kingdom by 8:45am. Saw characters while we were waiting, Peter Pan, Wendy, Captain Hook, Smeed. Can I tell you how much we miss EE!!!! Gates open and we head straight to Fantasyland, ride everything there. Our last ride was Winnie the Pooh, we watch the car pull up and whom should we get to ride with but Eeyore himself. We were thrilled. After that, the ?I forget there is an outside world? feeling sets in and it?s time for a Mickey Bar. Off to Adventureland where we ride Splash Mt. and Big Thunder Mt. with no wait. We also realize that an ice cream was not enough food and our PS at Liberty Tree Tavern (11:30am) was close by so off to lunch. This was our first time at the restaurant and it was wonderful. I had the Grilled Chicken Sandwich; my husband had Pork Chops, which he said was delicious. Our daughter had the Turkey platter, which was not available on the children?s menu, but the waitress said she could arrange it and our son had a cheeseburger. I highly recommend this restaurant for the Honey butter alone! It?s now getting hot and crowded so after lunch we head back to POFQ for a swim. By the time we arrive at resort and change, it?s storming (the first of many this week) and the pool closes. We hang around for about twenty minutes and the pool reopens and we enjoy the pool (not very refreshing in tepid water) till about 4:00pm and we shower and head to EPCOT for dinner. No plans for dinner, so we just wander into Germany and eat at Biegergarten. Food ok, nothing spectacular, buffet fare with a few German dishes thrown in. After dinner we head to MK for our first E-nite. We took the monorail to TTC and the Ferryboat to MK. It was a very nice ride, not crowded, so we used this route many times during the week. Arrived in time for parade and since we had just seen it nine months ago, we thought we would take advantage of no lines. Well, so did every one else, we kept going till we found short lines, Tea cups, TTA and husband did Alien Encounter while we had a drink at that snack shop whose name escapes me right now. We go to the Tomorrowland Bridge and watch the fireworks. Tinkerbell?s flight was spectacular. Then e-nite begins. There are lines but not too bad (last time we did e-nite was 9/01 and there were no lines) we rode everything we wanted to, several times over, and left around 12:30am. Took picture of Mainstreet empty (the only time during our stay) and it was wonderful to see it. Exhausted, we finally leave!!
Saturday June 15, even though we were up very late last night we were up at 7:30am again. Breakfast at the food court-just ok and off to EPCOT in the pouring rain. Went straight to Innovations: 1. Because of rain and 2.We really enjoy it. Stayed there quite a long time and then went to Living Seas and explored that thoroughly. Went to the Ice Station to enjoy(?) some different flavors. After wanting to go to Beaches N? Cream on each one of our previous trips, we finally went. We took the boat through the International Gateway. We got the last table at around 2:30pm, not that there are many tables in there to begin with. The food was great! Not that they had anything unusual, but the burgers were delicious! We all had Cheeseburgers and desert then rolled our way out of the Beach Club resort, which by the way is gorgeous.
Once again getting hot and crowded so back to POFQ for our swim, but storming again and this time was not stopping so we all took naps instead. When we awoke we went back to EPCOT and did the countries with our passports and had our very first Beavertail. They were also delicious. Got through half the countries, watched Illuminations left park and had dinner at the foodcourt around midnight. Exhausted again!
Sunday June 16, up for MK early and ate breakfast in the room. Our daughter realizes she lost her brand new Disney hat with Tinker pin attached last night at the food court and spent too much time trying to find it and didn?t. Hopefully some nice person will find it and turn it in, (by the way that never happens). Off to MK alittle late but still do Adventureland and Frontierland before we stop for lunch at Pecos Bill. Food was pretty good for counter food. Again after lunch back to swim. We left Frontierland via the Train. The conductor asked the kids if they would like to ride with him in the back and they did, and enjoyed it very much. Started to rain while on the train. Went back to PO where we did some wash (no pool yet?storms?notice any pattern?) got my daughter?s hairwrapped. Very expensive since she decided to grow her hair long this winter! Played in the arcade and then the pool finally opened. We showered and dressed and were on our way to Le?Celliar (sp?) for Father?s Day dinner. Another GREAT meal. Expensive but worth every penny. We finished the kid?s passports just as it started to rain, again. We duck into China where the lady is making animals out of candy. She asks my son what he wants; he says ?a yellow scorpion? three minutes later he has a yellow scorpion, made from candy, and on a stick. It makes it all the way back to PA in one piece. We leave Epcot and were back at the resort by 9:30pm
Monday June 17, We went to MGM today. This is the one park that we do and don?t take a break. I think it?s the air-conditioned shows. My son and I start at Starring Rolls bakery while daughter and Dad do RNR and TOT. This is one of our traditions (actually we?re just afraid but?) having tea and a chocolate chip muffin. Our other half joins us and we enjoy some shows together and then the rain starts around 1pm, so we head to ABC Commissary for lunch, just ok food and very crowded (the rain, remember). When we leave it?s till raining but we put on the ponchos and keep going, as does everyone else. Never once this week did I see a park empty when the rains come, everyone just keeps going like the torrential rains are not going on around them; gotta love Disney!! Well around 7:30 we all start getting sick of the steady rain and decide to leave. Since we didn?t do Fantasmic due to rain, we go to the MK for possible dinner at Cinderella?s Castle. Nope, too busy. How about Liberty Tree? Also too busy. Doesn?t the rain send any one home early? Wet and hungry we slosh our way back to POFQ for dinner in the foodcourt. Asleep by 10pm.
Tuesday June 18 our last full day at WDW. My family wants to go to AK, personally I would just skip this hot park this trip but they want to go so, we go. Our first stop FP for the Safari and back to the Rapids. My daughter and I got soaked, I mean soaked. People were pointing at us on our way off the ride and changing their minds about riding. I couldn?t decide which was worse, wet from the rain or wet from the rides. My daughter then points out that not once during the rain did her underwear get soaked, that?s when we decided that the Rapids were worse. Don?t get me wrong the ride was fun, but next time I?ll wear a poncho. Sloshed over to the Safari ride, which we all enjoy and hopped right on our truck. Well half way through the ride our truck breaks down. At first we all thought it was part of the ?experience? but no, it?s really broken down. There happened to be a CM of the management material on the truck making sure that the guests are getting what they should be getting on the tours, so a few walkie talkie communications later and there is a truck there in no time to fix the tour truck, and we?re up and running. While we?re on the truck it starts to rain, again. I?m very wet and irritable at this point so back to POFQ to change into dry clothes and still wet sneakers. We eat lunch at the food court and head to do EPCOT. We finish the rest of EPCOT and head to the MK for our PS at Cindy?s for dinner. The food was ok, but the atmosphere is what I enjoy most. We sat near the window and Peter Pan was running around on the ledge of the castle being chased by Captain Hook?very entertaining and unexpected. Before we were seated we met with Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty in the waiting area. I drank an Orange Smoothie with dinner and got to take home the glass. It says ?Cinderella?s Royal Table? all this would make much more sense if you knew that she is my all time favorite character since I was a little girl, for some forty odd years. (While we were in MGM we went to the Watch Shop (I know that?s not what it?s called but I can?t remember) and my husband bought me one of those personally made watches where you pick out the character and they will draw it on the watch. I, of course, picked Cinderella. Now I just have to wait for it to be delivered.) After dinner we rode the Carousel and it started to rain, ooppps! Did I say rain? I mean pour, so back to POFQ and drop off some bags. We headed to DTD again to finish shopping. Home and in bed by 10:30pm
Wednesday June 19 our last day. The Tiffany driver will be here at noon so not much time to do anything but pack and leave. My husband decides since it?s been rainy (and it is now sunny) and Test Track was down so often, he and the kids would run to Epcot and I would finish packing and check out and meet them in front of resort at noon. So off they go and I continue packing and showering. Before I could leave for the front of resort in comes the family, sad and much too quickly back. Apparently when we checked in on the 13th the very nice lady at the check in desk took our one-day off at the end of our trip instead of the beginning of the trip like I requested. So no Test Track and sad husband and children. Not much to do about it now it is our last day and we will be leaving in about ½ an hour. Tiffany car gets us to the airport in plenty of time and the plane is only slightly delayed because of rain and we board. We are still sitting on the gate when the pilot comes on the intercom and says because of the rain our luggage could not be put on the plane but they were doing it right then. In the air about 45min. behind but we are on the way. Almost to Philadelphia airport (we must be, it?s been about 1 1/2hrs) when the pilot once again has an announcement. ?Philadelphia is having severe weather and we will be circling Baltimore for a little while?. Well I?m not sure how much later but the pilot says ?weather is getting worse, we?re going to keep circling?, and they literally mean circle. Once again the pilot, ?running low on fuel, one more time in the holding pattern and we will land in Baltimore, refuel, and wait for weather to clear?. The little boy next to me has been sleeping the entire time and I?m soo jealous it?s not me! The pilot again, ?the weather has cleared up and quick as it came and we heading straight to Philadelphia?. Thank God! Now we are starting to descend and the cute little boy who has been asleep for this nearly four-hour trip wakes up. The pilot has already warned us that it will be an extremely bumpy landing and he is correct. The little boy who has only been awake for about 9 minutes of this entire flight throws up on the way down. No airsick bag, no one can stand to help. I?m asking for tissues and napkins from everyone around us and everyone has something! We land!!! Thank God again!
The trip was wonderful but really did not expect that much rain. As we were leaving the Florida airport I hear two pilots saying ?ya know, another inch of rain and we?ll be out of the drought. The rain this week really helped!? I was really happy for Florida?s drought but?.. I left out some of our rides and details but nothing that would affect the trip
This was our third trip in almost as many years. We went in 9/00, 9/01 and 6/02 and we much prefer September to June. The weather seemed much of the same but the crowds were heavier. Since this was our third trip I felt we had more time to explore different areas and take all the different modes of transportation. I don?t think we missed one.
I just realized(11/03/02) I never posted this report, after taking so many notes and writing it so soon after the trip. I will try to answer any questions, if there are any.
I just read my entire report and I'm not that bad of a typist. When I cut and pasted the trip report, all the quotation marks and apostrophe's turned to question marks. LOL!! all that work!
