bbowers
Dog Mommy
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2003
- Messages
- 641
For the second year, the software firm I do consulting with had their annual conference in Orlando. This year, my friend who also supports MAS90 got to go along, and she had never been to WDW. We own DVC points, so I made reservations at Old Key West for a studio and we stayed there during the conference. Here's our quickie trip (but I did get her hooked - she's planning a family trip for 2006):
Wed June 9 - got in about 3, grabbed a few groceries, and picked up DF at Gaylord Palms about 4:30 or so. Got lost (first time of many - for some reason I simply cannot find OKW on a regular basis) but did finally get checked in to room 3517. Had a very nice CM check us in, and we bought our HDDR tickets and E-ride Night tickets as we checked in.
After unpacking a bit and putting the groceries away, we were off to DTD. After waiting a bit for a bus, we decided to walk down and take the ferry. A CM in a cart asked if we wanted a ride on the way, which we gratefully took. We were doubly grateful as it promptly started to rain. It POURED as we rode the ferry, but stopped by the time we got to DTD. This was the first of many Mickey moments having to do with the weather.
Ate at Wolfgang Puck Express (good, not great, but huge portions and not too bad a wait, considering it was about 6:30). (I'll put food reviews on the Restaurant board.) Shopped a little at Disney @ Home and found Mickey egg shapers which sent me into a tizzy. (It's the little things in life.) Had it sent back to the hotel, which intrigued DF.
Off to PI. Comedy Club not open yet, so looked around a bit, then got in line. A youth tried to ask us to pretend to be his aunt so he could get in, but we both turned him down (next it'd be asking to buy him a drink or something). It started to rain as we were standing in line, fairly hard, but we were close enough to get part of our bodies under the roof, and they were starting to let people in, so it wasn't too bad.
Show was good - not great, but good. Margarita was terrible - won't be doing that again. No flavor at all. Then it was off to the Adventurer's Club, which I had never done before. The Maid was definitely the funniest that we saw, but only stayed for 3 acts because we were both dead on our feet. Got to sleep around 12.
Thursday June 10 - Had a Mickey wake-up call and told DF she had to answer it. Luckily she did not do as DH had done in November and hang up as soon as she heard music. Actually, she squealed "Mickey says we got big doings today!" and was ready to go immediately. Off to Cape May for the character buffet. Saw Minnie and Goofy twice and both chipmunks, who were frisky as usual. We both scratched Pluto's ear and got lots of good pictures. It wasn't very busy at all.
Straight to Epcot from there, got in about 9:05. Went to M:S and got a FP, then off to Test Track, which had maybe a 10 minute wait. DF loved that and I liked it better than I remembered (it had been quite a while since I rode it). Then back to M:S - and unfortunately we both got a little green even though we had both taken Bonine. It's the landing that gets me. It took DF longer than I to recover, so I felt badly about that. We walked by SE and the line was 30 minutes, so we kept going to the Living Seas, then to the Land. I love the movie and ride there, so we did both. I think the ride was our longest wait of the day. Ate lunch in the Sunshine Fair (food was so-so), then off to HISTA. DF LOVED that!
Then, I admit it - I told her to try Beverly in ISC. I couldn't help it. She couldn't believe I had done it, since I've NEVER done such a thing to her before. But now that she's had time to get over it, she's looking forward to doing it to her husband and son on THEIR trip. Bwa ha ha.
Did a wee bit of shopping, then had to go (had a business seminar to go to). As we were heading out, we saw SE had absolutely NO wait at all, so we whipped through it yet. DF and I were both so tired we could have easily slept, had they let us ride it again without getting off.
Had to go to seminars, came back around 8 and ate dinner at Olivia's, then crashed to bed around 10 or so. The heat/AC/heat/AC really wears on a person.
Friday June 11 - UP and at 'em with a Mickey call again. Off to AK for the Early Magic Hour - straight to KS. Should have gotten an FP and went elsewhere, but stood in line instead. Definitely a mistake. When DH and I were down in Nov, we did the Sunrise Safari but NOT KS, so I had forgotten how little time there is for pictures! By the time we got off that, the first FOTLK was about ready, so we went to see that. Loved it, as usual. I think it's the best show at WDW.
Off to Dinosaur next, grabbing FPs for ITTBAB on the way. Watched the street "Painters" perform a bit as we left Dinosaur, but got so hot we feared spontaneous combustion and had to get a Mickey Bar to cool off. Best ice cream bars in the world... Off to ITTBAB and DF loved THAT, too. As usual, heard little ones really losing it during the show and felt badly for them. I know I was so scared of spiders when I was young that I probably would have been one of them screaming my head off.
At this point we had to leave for more seminars in about 90 minutes, and we needed to eat, so we really had no more time for any other attractions. Grabbed some chow at Pizzafari (first place we came to), then we left and I took DF inside AKL to see what it was like. She loved it.
Off to Gaylord Palms again 1:15-3:30. While DF was in seminars, I grabbed some menus in DTD. When I picked her up, we whipped up International to the Belz outlets and did both Disney stores. Couldn't find store 1 for a while, but finally got it. (Last time I couldn't find store 2. Go figure.) Took too long and raced back to park at TTC, grabbed ferry to MK, then ferry to FW. Made it with about 10 minutes to spare for the 7:15 HDDR. Had the same Six Bits as last time - I LOVE this Six Bits. Everyone else except the dark haired girl in yellow was different, but all very good as usual. DF and I roared and clapped and even played the washboard a bit until our ears hurt.
When we left there, we took the ferry back to the MK and got our wrist bands for E-ride night. Managed to be on Main Street for Wishes, then headed for BL, SM - twice, then HM, BTM, and SpM. By then it was midnight and we were utterly exhausted once again, so we started our way back. My GOODNESS it's a long walk, even without crowds. Forgot we had to take the monorail to the TTC, so we walked all the way down to the busses first. Oh woe. At least DF got her monorail ride in, but I think she was almost comatose, so I'm sure she doesn't remember. Walked out to our rental car, all by itself in the Sleepy parking lot. Got lost on the way to OKW, of COURSE. Not happy. Got to bed about 2.
Saturday Jun 12 - Heck YES we got up again to make Early Magic Hour at MGM! Who needs sleep at WDW????? Got there about 7:50 and after rope drop headed for RNRC. Got FPs on our way in, rode, then did TOT. FP was ready by then, so back to RNRC. At that point, I told DF she had done the best at MGM and could save the rest for her later trip, but she had a second wind (I wanted to hurt her at that point), so off we went to SD (for some reason I love that) and M3D. DF was very "in" to the 3D shows, but she felt (as I do), that M3D is the weakest. I felt myself jerking awake at least 3 times...
Managed to see Mickey in his Jedi robes in the parade as we were trying to get to the Sci-Fi Dine-In for lunch right as they opened. DF was thrilled with that place, too. I was amazed at how good the food was, but then again, I was just plain starving. Picked up a few more gifts, then back to the hotel by about 1. Collapsed on our beds until 2:30 and actually got some sleep. Then it was off for another seminar at the Gaylord. When that was over at 5, we went to the other Disney outlet, then came back in a big rain storm to eat at Boatwrights. Very yummy. Drove by WL, the AS's, and PC, just to give H an idea about resorts so she can choose for their trip. Back to the hotel to pack and crash one last time.
Sunday June 13 - Unfortunately, we had to leave this morning. DF wore her mouse ears the entire trip home, and said her husband was laughing so hard when he saw her get off the plane that he couldn't even pucker up to kiss her. Amazingly enough, she told me it was the most relaxing vacation she'd ever had because she didn't have to make any decisions! And she is incredibly fired up to go back in 2006. I made my goal - another convert!
Wed June 9 - got in about 3, grabbed a few groceries, and picked up DF at Gaylord Palms about 4:30 or so. Got lost (first time of many - for some reason I simply cannot find OKW on a regular basis) but did finally get checked in to room 3517. Had a very nice CM check us in, and we bought our HDDR tickets and E-ride Night tickets as we checked in.
After unpacking a bit and putting the groceries away, we were off to DTD. After waiting a bit for a bus, we decided to walk down and take the ferry. A CM in a cart asked if we wanted a ride on the way, which we gratefully took. We were doubly grateful as it promptly started to rain. It POURED as we rode the ferry, but stopped by the time we got to DTD. This was the first of many Mickey moments having to do with the weather.
Ate at Wolfgang Puck Express (good, not great, but huge portions and not too bad a wait, considering it was about 6:30). (I'll put food reviews on the Restaurant board.) Shopped a little at Disney @ Home and found Mickey egg shapers which sent me into a tizzy. (It's the little things in life.) Had it sent back to the hotel, which intrigued DF.
Off to PI. Comedy Club not open yet, so looked around a bit, then got in line. A youth tried to ask us to pretend to be his aunt so he could get in, but we both turned him down (next it'd be asking to buy him a drink or something). It started to rain as we were standing in line, fairly hard, but we were close enough to get part of our bodies under the roof, and they were starting to let people in, so it wasn't too bad.
Show was good - not great, but good. Margarita was terrible - won't be doing that again. No flavor at all. Then it was off to the Adventurer's Club, which I had never done before. The Maid was definitely the funniest that we saw, but only stayed for 3 acts because we were both dead on our feet. Got to sleep around 12.
Thursday June 10 - Had a Mickey wake-up call and told DF she had to answer it. Luckily she did not do as DH had done in November and hang up as soon as she heard music. Actually, she squealed "Mickey says we got big doings today!" and was ready to go immediately. Off to Cape May for the character buffet. Saw Minnie and Goofy twice and both chipmunks, who were frisky as usual. We both scratched Pluto's ear and got lots of good pictures. It wasn't very busy at all.
Straight to Epcot from there, got in about 9:05. Went to M:S and got a FP, then off to Test Track, which had maybe a 10 minute wait. DF loved that and I liked it better than I remembered (it had been quite a while since I rode it). Then back to M:S - and unfortunately we both got a little green even though we had both taken Bonine. It's the landing that gets me. It took DF longer than I to recover, so I felt badly about that. We walked by SE and the line was 30 minutes, so we kept going to the Living Seas, then to the Land. I love the movie and ride there, so we did both. I think the ride was our longest wait of the day. Ate lunch in the Sunshine Fair (food was so-so), then off to HISTA. DF LOVED that!
Then, I admit it - I told her to try Beverly in ISC. I couldn't help it. She couldn't believe I had done it, since I've NEVER done such a thing to her before. But now that she's had time to get over it, she's looking forward to doing it to her husband and son on THEIR trip. Bwa ha ha.
Did a wee bit of shopping, then had to go (had a business seminar to go to). As we were heading out, we saw SE had absolutely NO wait at all, so we whipped through it yet. DF and I were both so tired we could have easily slept, had they let us ride it again without getting off.
Had to go to seminars, came back around 8 and ate dinner at Olivia's, then crashed to bed around 10 or so. The heat/AC/heat/AC really wears on a person.
Friday June 11 - UP and at 'em with a Mickey call again. Off to AK for the Early Magic Hour - straight to KS. Should have gotten an FP and went elsewhere, but stood in line instead. Definitely a mistake. When DH and I were down in Nov, we did the Sunrise Safari but NOT KS, so I had forgotten how little time there is for pictures! By the time we got off that, the first FOTLK was about ready, so we went to see that. Loved it, as usual. I think it's the best show at WDW.
Off to Dinosaur next, grabbing FPs for ITTBAB on the way. Watched the street "Painters" perform a bit as we left Dinosaur, but got so hot we feared spontaneous combustion and had to get a Mickey Bar to cool off. Best ice cream bars in the world... Off to ITTBAB and DF loved THAT, too. As usual, heard little ones really losing it during the show and felt badly for them. I know I was so scared of spiders when I was young that I probably would have been one of them screaming my head off.
At this point we had to leave for more seminars in about 90 minutes, and we needed to eat, so we really had no more time for any other attractions. Grabbed some chow at Pizzafari (first place we came to), then we left and I took DF inside AKL to see what it was like. She loved it.
Off to Gaylord Palms again 1:15-3:30. While DF was in seminars, I grabbed some menus in DTD. When I picked her up, we whipped up International to the Belz outlets and did both Disney stores. Couldn't find store 1 for a while, but finally got it. (Last time I couldn't find store 2. Go figure.) Took too long and raced back to park at TTC, grabbed ferry to MK, then ferry to FW. Made it with about 10 minutes to spare for the 7:15 HDDR. Had the same Six Bits as last time - I LOVE this Six Bits. Everyone else except the dark haired girl in yellow was different, but all very good as usual. DF and I roared and clapped and even played the washboard a bit until our ears hurt.
When we left there, we took the ferry back to the MK and got our wrist bands for E-ride night. Managed to be on Main Street for Wishes, then headed for BL, SM - twice, then HM, BTM, and SpM. By then it was midnight and we were utterly exhausted once again, so we started our way back. My GOODNESS it's a long walk, even without crowds. Forgot we had to take the monorail to the TTC, so we walked all the way down to the busses first. Oh woe. At least DF got her monorail ride in, but I think she was almost comatose, so I'm sure she doesn't remember. Walked out to our rental car, all by itself in the Sleepy parking lot. Got lost on the way to OKW, of COURSE. Not happy. Got to bed about 2.
Saturday Jun 12 - Heck YES we got up again to make Early Magic Hour at MGM! Who needs sleep at WDW????? Got there about 7:50 and after rope drop headed for RNRC. Got FPs on our way in, rode, then did TOT. FP was ready by then, so back to RNRC. At that point, I told DF she had done the best at MGM and could save the rest for her later trip, but she had a second wind (I wanted to hurt her at that point), so off we went to SD (for some reason I love that) and M3D. DF was very "in" to the 3D shows, but she felt (as I do), that M3D is the weakest. I felt myself jerking awake at least 3 times...
Managed to see Mickey in his Jedi robes in the parade as we were trying to get to the Sci-Fi Dine-In for lunch right as they opened. DF was thrilled with that place, too. I was amazed at how good the food was, but then again, I was just plain starving. Picked up a few more gifts, then back to the hotel by about 1. Collapsed on our beds until 2:30 and actually got some sleep. Then it was off for another seminar at the Gaylord. When that was over at 5, we went to the other Disney outlet, then came back in a big rain storm to eat at Boatwrights. Very yummy. Drove by WL, the AS's, and PC, just to give H an idea about resorts so she can choose for their trip. Back to the hotel to pack and crash one last time.
Sunday June 13 - Unfortunately, we had to leave this morning. DF wore her mouse ears the entire trip home, and said her husband was laughing so hard when he saw her get off the plane that he couldn't even pucker up to kiss her. Amazingly enough, she told me it was the most relaxing vacation she'd ever had because she didn't have to make any decisions! And she is incredibly fired up to go back in 2006. I made my goal - another convert!
Great job! 14 more newbies and you get a toaster!!
