disneybass
There's a great big beautiful tomorrow shining at
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2006
- Messages
- 755
Enjoying your trip report photobob! Where in BAMA are you from?
Trip Report from SSR with pics! Day Four added!!
- Thread starter photobob
- Start date
MinnieFan4ever
<a href="http://www.wdwinfo.com/dis-sponsor/" targ
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- Mar 8, 2003
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- 3,166
I am really enjoying your trip report. Those first few photo's of your daughter are just beautiful.
photobob
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2003
- Messages
- 3,552
I live in Oxford, work in Talladega.
cvjw
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2005
- Messages
- 8,461
I see you are from Troy - I grew up there! My parents still live there. Small world on the Disboards!
dvc4life
Disney is my Happy Place
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2008
- Messages
- 3,912
Loving your TR. And I too, will say what great pictures of your daughter at the beginning of your report. I wish I was able to take photos like that because my oldest daughter is a Senior this year too and it would be great to have some wonderful portraits of her like that.
Can't wait to read about the rest of your trip and seeing more photos.
Can't wait to read about the rest of your trip and seeing more photos.
lsutigger2
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2002
- Messages
- 1,848
Subscribing 'cause I want to read about the rest of your trip and see your great photos!! 
So glad you and your family and friends had a good time. I love taking pictures while at WDW but mine are pretty amature compared to your great shots - I'm really enjoying the pics
So glad you and your family and friends had a good time. I love taking pictures while at WDW but mine are pretty amature compared to your great shots - I'm really enjoying the pics
I dread reading these TRs because they make me want to be there! Your TR is causing me to make plans to go in March after all (DS has a Fame Show Choir competition in Orlando). Love your report and photos so please keep them coming!
dairyqueenmom
If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remembe
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2007
- Messages
- 1,117
Your trip report is awesome! I know you have been asked before, but what kid of camera do you use? Your pictures are amazing. Thank you for sharing your trip with us!
photobob
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2003
- Messages
- 3,552
This was our last day in the parks and boy did we make the most of it!
DD and our friends DS went to early entry at Blizzard Beach. This is the first time we have ever let them venture off by themselves. My daughter called me from her cell phone on the way to make sure they were going at the right time because there were only two people on the bus and I assured her they were going at the right time. They had a great time and rode everything BB has to offer, yes even Summit Plummet which I nor her big brother have ever braved to do!
We grownups had a busy morning and early afternoon planned. First up, our friends really love Kilamanjaro(I think I spell this word differently every time I write it?)Safari. Our plan was to go to AK and ride the Safari twice, once by standby and once with FP. We did just that and the animals were fairly active and we took lots of photos.
We headed out of AK to catch a bus for Epcot to go to the VIP lounge at Spaceship Earth which we had missed the previous day. We arrived at Epcot and made our way to the Project Tomorrow entrance. We entered and put in our supplied pin number and gained access. We went to the second floor and signed in and found out that the person who had invited us to come was in that morning, we thought he was going to be out of town!
He came around and introduced himself and gave us a very detailed tour of the area, how cool. He gave us some very interesting information about Siemans corporate sponsorship and how it works, very interesting stuff. They primarily use the area to host corporate clients and show them a good time as well as hold meetings. The area was completely gutted when they took over from AT&T and reworked. When they went to get the blueprints of Spaceship Earth, it was the only blueprint of any property on Disney property that wasnt available. Apparently a contractor years ago who was doing work had them and never returned them and has since passed away and there were no copies!
Window where the Siemans lounge area is.
The very nice lady who worked the information desk gave us VIP fastpasses for Test Track and then escorted us down a hallway to a back entrance to the Spaceship earth attraction where we immediately boarded the ride. Fun to feel like a VIP even when you really arent!
We left SE and headed to TT. We entered through the the gift shop and walked up to the information desk with the VIP card we had been given. I registered and he gave us a special FP and told us to walk up the exit of the ride and they would take care of us from there. He also told us that our VIP card would be good for one week. Shouldve come first day!
We left our VIP status to head towards Wolfgang Puck café. We walked out of TT at 1:00 and had a 2:00 ADR so we knew we would be pushing it to get there. We took the bus back to SSR and to meet up with the kids and then to DTD. We got of the bus to take the boat to DTD, the kids showed just in time for us to be able to catch the boat. It wa now 1:40 and looking unlikely we make it in time. The boat first had to go to the Treehouses and then back to SSR before heading to DTD. Enjoyable boat ride though.
We arrived at DTD and headed to WPC and were a few minutes late but no matter, the place probably had only 5 or 6 tables in use. When I made the reservation though that was the only time available and they were going to have to split up our party??? Same thing I was told for WCC which also was fairly vacant. Must be an awful lot of people who make ADRs and dont show?
My crew had flatbread pizzas which were very good. Our friends had a flatbread, fish and chips(not very good) and chicken alfredo-pretty good. After lunch we caught the bus back to SSR. We got back just as a big thunderstorm came crashing. It was not your garden variety Florida afternoon shower, this one stuck around for a while.
I really wanted to go to MK our last night. I called our friends to see who was game. All of them were but my DW wasn't up for the trip. It was still sprinkling at the time. When it was time to go to the bus stop the bottom fell out! My friends back out but their DS was still game, so it was me, DD and our friends DS going out to brave the elements.
Unfortunately this was our only long wait for a bus for the week. It took probably 45 plus minutes for a bus to arrive and I didnt think wed ever get out of SSR! Once we arrived the bus driver drove to the farthest drop off spot there was, not sure which resort it was but it wasnt SSR!
The rain now was down to a sprinkle. We entered and headed up mainstreet and people were lining the street for the parade which didnt happen. We walked over and rode Buzz Lightyear and my daughter scored 999,999 and she has no idea how she did so! We walked over to Space Mtn and find out that the ride is down and we got FP for 10-10:30.
We walked in the gift shop and I heard a hooray shouted from the few people standing in line at Space and gathered our group and we walked straight in to ride Space. We had so many times of fortunate timing this trip, whether it be for buses or attractions, very thankful for that!
The kids jumped on Tomorrowland Speedway after Space and the line wasnt too long but when they came back in, a car in front of them broke down and they sat in their cars in a traffic jam for 15 minutes or so. During this time the rain picked up and they got a bit wet since the ponchos were in my backpack. We put on our ponchos and headed to toontown and rode Goofys Barnstormer, and then rode again with out getting off.
Once off the rain really picked up, it was pouring! We stayed under the giftshop/refreshment stand at the exit of Barnstormer. We stayed there for a good while and talked to a very nice CM and all had a lemonade slush which was quite tasty.
The rain slowed and we headed back to space mtn and stopped along the way to watch the fireworks in the rain. There was so much moisture in the air that the smoke become so heavy that you really couldnt see the fireworks, they were bursting within the smoke.
When we got to Space Mtn we walked up with our FP and were on in about 5 minutes, the standby line was even shorter! They still showed a 60 minute wait on the sign outside which may be the reason no one was going in. We rode and could have gone back to ride more but the kids werent interested in doing so. Glad we got to ride though, it had been a while and it was the first time since the refurb for me and DD and first time ever for our friends DS.
We headed towards the exit and I stopped several times to take photos, even go a nice one of the castle with no one in the photo. Those Ill post with my closing comments later.
We ended up running for our bus as they driver was getting ready to pull off and he opened the door to let us in and I gave him a big Thank You and he smiled and said I was quite welcome.
What a day!!
Next:
Closing thoughts and night photos from MK
DD and our friends DS went to early entry at Blizzard Beach. This is the first time we have ever let them venture off by themselves. My daughter called me from her cell phone on the way to make sure they were going at the right time because there were only two people on the bus and I assured her they were going at the right time. They had a great time and rode everything BB has to offer, yes even Summit Plummet which I nor her big brother have ever braved to do!
We grownups had a busy morning and early afternoon planned. First up, our friends really love Kilamanjaro(I think I spell this word differently every time I write it?)Safari. Our plan was to go to AK and ride the Safari twice, once by standby and once with FP. We did just that and the animals were fairly active and we took lots of photos.
We headed out of AK to catch a bus for Epcot to go to the VIP lounge at Spaceship Earth which we had missed the previous day. We arrived at Epcot and made our way to the Project Tomorrow entrance. We entered and put in our supplied pin number and gained access. We went to the second floor and signed in and found out that the person who had invited us to come was in that morning, we thought he was going to be out of town!
He came around and introduced himself and gave us a very detailed tour of the area, how cool. He gave us some very interesting information about Siemans corporate sponsorship and how it works, very interesting stuff. They primarily use the area to host corporate clients and show them a good time as well as hold meetings. The area was completely gutted when they took over from AT&T and reworked. When they went to get the blueprints of Spaceship Earth, it was the only blueprint of any property on Disney property that wasnt available. Apparently a contractor years ago who was doing work had them and never returned them and has since passed away and there were no copies!
Window where the Siemans lounge area is.
The very nice lady who worked the information desk gave us VIP fastpasses for Test Track and then escorted us down a hallway to a back entrance to the Spaceship earth attraction where we immediately boarded the ride. Fun to feel like a VIP even when you really arent!
We left SE and headed to TT. We entered through the the gift shop and walked up to the information desk with the VIP card we had been given. I registered and he gave us a special FP and told us to walk up the exit of the ride and they would take care of us from there. He also told us that our VIP card would be good for one week. Shouldve come first day!
We left our VIP status to head towards Wolfgang Puck café. We walked out of TT at 1:00 and had a 2:00 ADR so we knew we would be pushing it to get there. We took the bus back to SSR and to meet up with the kids and then to DTD. We got of the bus to take the boat to DTD, the kids showed just in time for us to be able to catch the boat. It wa now 1:40 and looking unlikely we make it in time. The boat first had to go to the Treehouses and then back to SSR before heading to DTD. Enjoyable boat ride though.
We arrived at DTD and headed to WPC and were a few minutes late but no matter, the place probably had only 5 or 6 tables in use. When I made the reservation though that was the only time available and they were going to have to split up our party??? Same thing I was told for WCC which also was fairly vacant. Must be an awful lot of people who make ADRs and dont show?
My crew had flatbread pizzas which were very good. Our friends had a flatbread, fish and chips(not very good) and chicken alfredo-pretty good. After lunch we caught the bus back to SSR. We got back just as a big thunderstorm came crashing. It was not your garden variety Florida afternoon shower, this one stuck around for a while.
I really wanted to go to MK our last night. I called our friends to see who was game. All of them were but my DW wasn't up for the trip. It was still sprinkling at the time. When it was time to go to the bus stop the bottom fell out! My friends back out but their DS was still game, so it was me, DD and our friends DS going out to brave the elements.
Unfortunately this was our only long wait for a bus for the week. It took probably 45 plus minutes for a bus to arrive and I didnt think wed ever get out of SSR! Once we arrived the bus driver drove to the farthest drop off spot there was, not sure which resort it was but it wasnt SSR!
The rain now was down to a sprinkle. We entered and headed up mainstreet and people were lining the street for the parade which didnt happen. We walked over and rode Buzz Lightyear and my daughter scored 999,999 and she has no idea how she did so! We walked over to Space Mtn and find out that the ride is down and we got FP for 10-10:30.
We walked in the gift shop and I heard a hooray shouted from the few people standing in line at Space and gathered our group and we walked straight in to ride Space. We had so many times of fortunate timing this trip, whether it be for buses or attractions, very thankful for that!
The kids jumped on Tomorrowland Speedway after Space and the line wasnt too long but when they came back in, a car in front of them broke down and they sat in their cars in a traffic jam for 15 minutes or so. During this time the rain picked up and they got a bit wet since the ponchos were in my backpack. We put on our ponchos and headed to toontown and rode Goofys Barnstormer, and then rode again with out getting off.
Once off the rain really picked up, it was pouring! We stayed under the giftshop/refreshment stand at the exit of Barnstormer. We stayed there for a good while and talked to a very nice CM and all had a lemonade slush which was quite tasty.
The rain slowed and we headed back to space mtn and stopped along the way to watch the fireworks in the rain. There was so much moisture in the air that the smoke become so heavy that you really couldnt see the fireworks, they were bursting within the smoke.
When we got to Space Mtn we walked up with our FP and were on in about 5 minutes, the standby line was even shorter! They still showed a 60 minute wait on the sign outside which may be the reason no one was going in. We rode and could have gone back to ride more but the kids werent interested in doing so. Glad we got to ride though, it had been a while and it was the first time since the refurb for me and DD and first time ever for our friends DS.
We headed towards the exit and I stopped several times to take photos, even go a nice one of the castle with no one in the photo. Those Ill post with my closing comments later.
We ended up running for our bus as they driver was getting ready to pull off and he opened the door to let us in and I gave him a big Thank You and he smiled and said I was quite welcome.
What a day!!
Next:
Closing thoughts and night photos from MK
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2009
- Messages
- 181
Absolutely - You captured great details!
photobob
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2003
- Messages
- 3,552
A few concluding thoughts:
-Online checkin worked very well, on the folder we got at checkin there was a note to check requests and we did get everything we asked for.
-Bus service was really quite good for us at SSR. I only had one wait longer than 10-15 minutes. I really think though most of the time your wait time just depends on how fortunate your timing is arriving at a bus stop.
-Bus drivers were all very helpful and friendly. One morning there were three wheelchairs at our stop and the bus driver didn't have enough room to get the third one on the bus. I heard her calling another bus the ensure that this person didn't have to wait too long before the next bus arrived.
-I liked the location of our room, easy access to DTD, bus stop and quiet pool.
-Epcot has jumped even farther ahead of the other parks as my favorite.
-I don't care what time of year you go, if you get to the parks when they open you sure can do a lot of stuff in a short period of time!
-Thanks for the compliments on my photos. I really didn't put much effort into them this trip with the exception of the photos of my daughter. Since I am a photographer I don't want to concentrate much in that area. I just want to get a few decent snapshots for memories.
-There was a family staying near us that had twin daughters that I am guessing were in the late teens that had pretty significant physical/developmental challenges. We saw them on several occasions and what a truly great family. The family took the girls out of the wheelchairs and help them to enjoy the pool and the smiles on those girls just warmed my heart. It takes very special people to care of children with significant needs and these girls were blessed with the right people.
This was our 12th or so trip and I still love going!
I'll add a few more photos later, thanks for looking in.
Bob
-Online checkin worked very well, on the folder we got at checkin there was a note to check requests and we did get everything we asked for.
-Bus service was really quite good for us at SSR. I only had one wait longer than 10-15 minutes. I really think though most of the time your wait time just depends on how fortunate your timing is arriving at a bus stop.
-Bus drivers were all very helpful and friendly. One morning there were three wheelchairs at our stop and the bus driver didn't have enough room to get the third one on the bus. I heard her calling another bus the ensure that this person didn't have to wait too long before the next bus arrived.
-I liked the location of our room, easy access to DTD, bus stop and quiet pool.
-Epcot has jumped even farther ahead of the other parks as my favorite.
-I don't care what time of year you go, if you get to the parks when they open you sure can do a lot of stuff in a short period of time!
-Thanks for the compliments on my photos. I really didn't put much effort into them this trip with the exception of the photos of my daughter. Since I am a photographer I don't want to concentrate much in that area. I just want to get a few decent snapshots for memories.
-There was a family staying near us that had twin daughters that I am guessing were in the late teens that had pretty significant physical/developmental challenges. We saw them on several occasions and what a truly great family. The family took the girls out of the wheelchairs and help them to enjoy the pool and the smiles on those girls just warmed my heart. It takes very special people to care of children with significant needs and these girls were blessed with the right people.
This was our 12th or so trip and I still love going!
I'll add a few more photos later, thanks for looking in.
Bob
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