Tuffcookie
Enjoys an early hour of peace. Is a smart cookie.
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2000
- Messages
- 7,077
Tuffcookies 1 Day Trip to WDW
Monday, Feb. 10th, 2003 I got up at 5:45 AM and turned the TV on so I would hear the name that was drawn for the 1 day trip to Disney for that week. I hoped I would win one of the 4 trips WKYC TV 3-Cleveland was giving out on each Monday for the month of February. After all, I had sent in 60 postcards!!! Well, when they announced that weeks winner shortly after 6:00 AM and it wasnt my name, I turned the TV off in disgust! Wrong Move!!! The next thing I knew, my phone was ringing. It was a co-worker (the same co-worker who urged me to send a postcard in). She was extremely excited and stated that I needed to call the station immediately because they had called my name! I told her, no they didnt because I heard the name that was drawn. Thats when she told me the other person declined the trip for some reason and the station had drawn another name MINE!!! Thank goodness, I had posted the stations phone number on my desk because I was so excited at this point I dont know what I would have done if I would have had to look the number up! I called and confirmed the fact that I had won.
Later in the morning the station manager, JR, called me at work and congratulated me. He asked who I was bringing and got our information for the air tickets. I had decided before I won, that if I won, I would take my boy friend, Tom. He has never been to WDW, and I took mom last summer, and youngest DS and I are going for Spring Break, so this was going to be a chance for Tom to go.
I asked the station manager where we are going to be staying at WDW and how much should I bring for meals and misc. He told me we would be staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge and Disney was taking care of ALL meals and park passes while there!
Not only are we going to WDW but we will be getting away from Ohio snow, for 1 day!
Wednesday, WKYC morning news anchor, John Anderson, called me at work. He congratulated me on my win and said he would be getting to the airport around 5:30 AM, Thursday. The plan was, to meet at the Air Tran terminal where the cameras would do a quick live shot for the 6 AM Thursday show. Well, we were there at 5:30 but didnt see anyone from the station so I wondered if they were waiting where you wait to board the plane. We walked down there only to hear my name on the loudspeaker a short time later. We missed the live shot that Thursday morning. It was real cute when we saw the tape of the show for that morning. They stated the winners were so excited to go to WDW they werent even waiting for the TV crew!
Well, we finally met up with John Anderson and the morning producer, Mike Atkinson. They were very nice. John has been with WKYC-3 news for about 3 years. Both, he, and his wife, Kristin, work for WKYC-3. They noticed my DIS button and I told them all about The DIS! I had even made DIS cookies for the flight down. We had a direct flight from Akron-Canton airport to Orlando, FL. We actually arrived in Orlando around 9:15 AM. A private Towncar picked us up at the airport. Nobody pinch me and wake me up!!!
From the airport, the Towncar delivered us to the Grand Floridian where we met up with Doug Brown, who I believe is in Marketing with WDW. We loaded up in his vehicle and headed over to Epcot. There we did a lot of promotional work for WDW. They taped us going thru the turnstile, walking around the park, viewing the Living Seas exhibit. I got a good laugh over the Living Seas promo because everytime we were on camera they would ask us What did you think of the Living Seas? To be honest, we werent that impressed with it. Tom would say in his best acting voice, It was incredible! Whenever we were alone I would ask him, Tom, what did you think of the Living Seas? and he would go into his schmeal about it being incredible!
After the promo work, we went for lunch. We all decided to go to Le Cellier in Canada. I had eaten there this summer when DM and youngest DS and I were at WDW, so I knew this was a good choice. I cant remember what everybody ordered but I had a steakburger and fries. Tom had some salmon appetizers before his entrée. And there were various desserts ordered.
After stuffing ourselves. We were told we were on our own for the rest of the day. Doug Brown gave us meal vouchers for dinner and park passes. He delivered us to the Animal Kingdom Lodge and checked us in.
Animal Kingdom Lodge is just beautiful! I was immediately drawn to the African artwork that was on display in the resort lobby. I was so glad I had gotten that digital camera back in January so I had a little time to become accustomed to it before this trip. In fact, when I found out we were going on this trip I went out and got 2 more 128 mb smartmedia cards so I wouldnt have to worry about how many pictures I took.
We went to our rooms and unpacked and freshened up a bit. We had a balcony and a view of the savannah. It was quite a sight! After freshening up a bit, we headed out the door. We caught the bus to MGM Studios. We got there just as the Stars and Motor Cars parade was starting. After that we went on The Great Movie Ride. played Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, rode Tower of Terror, took pictures, and watched Fantasmic!
After Fantasmic, we went to the Polynesian Resort for a 9:00 PM dinner PS at OHanas. We had a beautiful seat by the window looking directly across at the castle. While we dined on The Feast we watched the castle change colors. At one point the Electrical Water parade was going on down at the beach.
After dinner we walked around the Poly Great Ceremonial House and then rode the monorail over to the Grand Floridian. We walked around the lobby of the Grand Floridian and then took the monorail over to the Contemporary. Because it was getting late the only way back to our resort at this time was to take a bus from the Contemporary to Downtown Disney and transfer to an Animal Kingdom Lodge bus. When we got back to our resort it was going on midnight! We were suppose to be in the resort lobby by 5:15 AM so we could go back to Epcot for a live, shot and interview for Cleveland Channel 3 at 6:00 AM!
Went to Epcot for the live show. It was so strange to be at Epcot at that hour of the morning. Spaceship Earth was all light up and it was still dark out and so peaceful. We did the show for the Cleveland viewing audience. I was sure to mention the DIS and Towncrier and his wife, and Pembo. Then I felt bad afterwards thinking of all the other DISers I left out (EpcotkilterFan in particular!) After our show was done. We went back to AKL and ate at Bomos. We all had the breakfast buffet and it was simply wonderful!!! I dont know what all was in that juice, but I couldnt get enough of it. I would definitely eat here again.
We were once again told we were on our own. We were given food vouchers for lunch and more park passes. We walked around the AKL for awhile taking pictures. Then, we checked out of our room and took our luggage to the hold desk before heading out to the Magic Kingdom.
Up until now we had not seen any characters. Now, lets face it, what is a visit to WDW without seeing any characters??? Well, there were plenty of characters out that day! I got a lot of pictures of them over there. First thing we did was head over to Splash Mountain. Would you believe we walked on?! After that we rode the Haunted Mansion ride, Pirates of the Caribbean, watched the Hall of Presidents, rode Its a Small World. We ate lunch at Tonys and afterwards watched the parade. I should say, I watched the parade, because Tom was sitting on a rocking chair and the next time I looked he was zonked out. I later found out that John and Mike had also taken snoozes during our 1 day trip. I guess they just cant keep up with Tuffcookie!!! LOL
After the parade, we did a little shopping before heading back to the resort. We had to leave for the airport at 5:45 PM.
Although I would have loved to have had more time, it was wonderful to have even 1 day in WDW. John and Mike of Channel 3 were great to travel with. Now I just have to hang onto the thought that its only 41 days till youngest DS and I will be back down there for Spring Break!!!
Monday, Feb. 10th, 2003 I got up at 5:45 AM and turned the TV on so I would hear the name that was drawn for the 1 day trip to Disney for that week. I hoped I would win one of the 4 trips WKYC TV 3-Cleveland was giving out on each Monday for the month of February. After all, I had sent in 60 postcards!!! Well, when they announced that weeks winner shortly after 6:00 AM and it wasnt my name, I turned the TV off in disgust! Wrong Move!!! The next thing I knew, my phone was ringing. It was a co-worker (the same co-worker who urged me to send a postcard in). She was extremely excited and stated that I needed to call the station immediately because they had called my name! I told her, no they didnt because I heard the name that was drawn. Thats when she told me the other person declined the trip for some reason and the station had drawn another name MINE!!! Thank goodness, I had posted the stations phone number on my desk because I was so excited at this point I dont know what I would have done if I would have had to look the number up! I called and confirmed the fact that I had won.
Later in the morning the station manager, JR, called me at work and congratulated me. He asked who I was bringing and got our information for the air tickets. I had decided before I won, that if I won, I would take my boy friend, Tom. He has never been to WDW, and I took mom last summer, and youngest DS and I are going for Spring Break, so this was going to be a chance for Tom to go.
I asked the station manager where we are going to be staying at WDW and how much should I bring for meals and misc. He told me we would be staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge and Disney was taking care of ALL meals and park passes while there!
Not only are we going to WDW but we will be getting away from Ohio snow, for 1 day!
Wednesday, WKYC morning news anchor, John Anderson, called me at work. He congratulated me on my win and said he would be getting to the airport around 5:30 AM, Thursday. The plan was, to meet at the Air Tran terminal where the cameras would do a quick live shot for the 6 AM Thursday show. Well, we were there at 5:30 but didnt see anyone from the station so I wondered if they were waiting where you wait to board the plane. We walked down there only to hear my name on the loudspeaker a short time later. We missed the live shot that Thursday morning. It was real cute when we saw the tape of the show for that morning. They stated the winners were so excited to go to WDW they werent even waiting for the TV crew!
Well, we finally met up with John Anderson and the morning producer, Mike Atkinson. They were very nice. John has been with WKYC-3 news for about 3 years. Both, he, and his wife, Kristin, work for WKYC-3. They noticed my DIS button and I told them all about The DIS! I had even made DIS cookies for the flight down. We had a direct flight from Akron-Canton airport to Orlando, FL. We actually arrived in Orlando around 9:15 AM. A private Towncar picked us up at the airport. Nobody pinch me and wake me up!!!
From the airport, the Towncar delivered us to the Grand Floridian where we met up with Doug Brown, who I believe is in Marketing with WDW. We loaded up in his vehicle and headed over to Epcot. There we did a lot of promotional work for WDW. They taped us going thru the turnstile, walking around the park, viewing the Living Seas exhibit. I got a good laugh over the Living Seas promo because everytime we were on camera they would ask us What did you think of the Living Seas? To be honest, we werent that impressed with it. Tom would say in his best acting voice, It was incredible! Whenever we were alone I would ask him, Tom, what did you think of the Living Seas? and he would go into his schmeal about it being incredible!
After the promo work, we went for lunch. We all decided to go to Le Cellier in Canada. I had eaten there this summer when DM and youngest DS and I were at WDW, so I knew this was a good choice. I cant remember what everybody ordered but I had a steakburger and fries. Tom had some salmon appetizers before his entrée. And there were various desserts ordered.
After stuffing ourselves. We were told we were on our own for the rest of the day. Doug Brown gave us meal vouchers for dinner and park passes. He delivered us to the Animal Kingdom Lodge and checked us in.
Animal Kingdom Lodge is just beautiful! I was immediately drawn to the African artwork that was on display in the resort lobby. I was so glad I had gotten that digital camera back in January so I had a little time to become accustomed to it before this trip. In fact, when I found out we were going on this trip I went out and got 2 more 128 mb smartmedia cards so I wouldnt have to worry about how many pictures I took.
We went to our rooms and unpacked and freshened up a bit. We had a balcony and a view of the savannah. It was quite a sight! After freshening up a bit, we headed out the door. We caught the bus to MGM Studios. We got there just as the Stars and Motor Cars parade was starting. After that we went on The Great Movie Ride. played Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, rode Tower of Terror, took pictures, and watched Fantasmic!
After Fantasmic, we went to the Polynesian Resort for a 9:00 PM dinner PS at OHanas. We had a beautiful seat by the window looking directly across at the castle. While we dined on The Feast we watched the castle change colors. At one point the Electrical Water parade was going on down at the beach.
After dinner we walked around the Poly Great Ceremonial House and then rode the monorail over to the Grand Floridian. We walked around the lobby of the Grand Floridian and then took the monorail over to the Contemporary. Because it was getting late the only way back to our resort at this time was to take a bus from the Contemporary to Downtown Disney and transfer to an Animal Kingdom Lodge bus. When we got back to our resort it was going on midnight! We were suppose to be in the resort lobby by 5:15 AM so we could go back to Epcot for a live, shot and interview for Cleveland Channel 3 at 6:00 AM!
Went to Epcot for the live show. It was so strange to be at Epcot at that hour of the morning. Spaceship Earth was all light up and it was still dark out and so peaceful. We did the show for the Cleveland viewing audience. I was sure to mention the DIS and Towncrier and his wife, and Pembo. Then I felt bad afterwards thinking of all the other DISers I left out (EpcotkilterFan in particular!) After our show was done. We went back to AKL and ate at Bomos. We all had the breakfast buffet and it was simply wonderful!!! I dont know what all was in that juice, but I couldnt get enough of it. I would definitely eat here again.
We were once again told we were on our own. We were given food vouchers for lunch and more park passes. We walked around the AKL for awhile taking pictures. Then, we checked out of our room and took our luggage to the hold desk before heading out to the Magic Kingdom.
Up until now we had not seen any characters. Now, lets face it, what is a visit to WDW without seeing any characters??? Well, there were plenty of characters out that day! I got a lot of pictures of them over there. First thing we did was head over to Splash Mountain. Would you believe we walked on?! After that we rode the Haunted Mansion ride, Pirates of the Caribbean, watched the Hall of Presidents, rode Its a Small World. We ate lunch at Tonys and afterwards watched the parade. I should say, I watched the parade, because Tom was sitting on a rocking chair and the next time I looked he was zonked out. I later found out that John and Mike had also taken snoozes during our 1 day trip. I guess they just cant keep up with Tuffcookie!!! LOL
After the parade, we did a little shopping before heading back to the resort. We had to leave for the airport at 5:45 PM.
Although I would have loved to have had more time, it was wonderful to have even 1 day in WDW. John and Mike of Channel 3 were great to travel with. Now I just have to hang onto the thought that its only 41 days till youngest DS and I will be back down there for Spring Break!!!
Actually, so would have I! Sounds like you jammed a lot of fun and activities into that trip!
Wow! What a great way to spend a day! So glad that you won such a wonderful prize and made the most of it. Thanks for sharing it with us.
What a great prize!
