Liz
Make a miracle!
- Joined
- Aug 18, 1999
- Messages
- 4,909
Our Family:
Me - 46, born & raised in Florida but have been gone since 1981. Love WDW, obsessive planner. Really want this trip to be nice because we're bringing a family of 1st timers! Writes trip reports with way too much detail but I just can't do it any other way!
Paul - DH 52 - Loves Disney but not as much as I do. He'd probably be happy to vacation some place else occasionally but as soon as we get home I'm planning our next trip before he has time to process what I'm doing!
Jeff - DS 17 - Raised on WDW and Disneyland and loves it all. Super friendly guy!
Laura - DD 16 - Loves WDW but doesn't handle the heat well. Gets tired easy but she has a good excuse. She had a heart transplant when she was 6 weeks old and had West Nile Virus in 2002. Doing really well though. Our sweetheart.
Our Friends:
MM - 40ish - Going to WDW for the wife & kids. Isn't really a theme park kind of guy. Really nice though.
JM - 40ish - My good friend! Been trying to get her DH to go to WDW for a couple of years now!
Mike - DS 16 - Jeff's best friend since probably Kindergarten.
Heidi - DD 13 - Laura's friend. Despite the age difference they get along great!
Our time at Disney was coming dangerously close to the end. We leave in two days. It's at this point when you start really envying the people just checking in!
The boys needed to make a decision soon on whether or not to cancel the surfing lessons. We had to cancel 24 hrs. in advance or we'd be charged $135 per boy. We were in line waiting for the MGM bus discussing this. I decided to run back to the room to get our surfing confirmation number so if a decision was made, I could call or find some way to cancel. We preferred to cancel more than 24 hrs. in advance (if that was their decision). We didn't want there to be any possibility of being charged for something they didn't do.
Everyone else caught the bus to MGM while I ran back to the room. I saw that I had accidentally left the key to the safe sticking in the lock so it was good I had gone back! Doesn't do any good to lock up your valuables (like we really had much of anything valuable) if you leave the key in the lock!!!
Before following my family and friends to MGM, I stopped at the Concierge desk at Pop to see if they were able to cancel the surfing for us. The CM was able to pull up our reservation by our confirmation number and said if we decided to cancel they would be able to handle it for us. The concierge desk was manned from 7:00 AM till 10:00 PM every day. That was a service I didn't expect to see at a value resort! Very nice!
The line for the MGM bus was pretty long and I had to wait for two buses before getting on one. Had to stand for my ride to the park, but this was the first time I'd had to stand so far this trip. I must say I was so proud of our teen boys. They never sat on a bus if there was someone else who needed a seat. They didn't need to be told to stand, they just did it automatically.
On the agenda for our MGM morning, we were going to repeat our favorites and see a few things we missed the time before. It was Star Wars weekend and I was anxious to see what that was like, while still making an effort to avoid most of it. As I had heard, there were storm troopers on top of the building as people were entering. They were pretty funny!
I caught up to my family just before the park officially opened. The crowd of people heading in the direction of Star Wars was just as large (and perhaps larger) than the crowd of people heading to RnR & ToT. Never would see that on a "normal" day!
Everyone (but me) went on RnR then ToT. I've never walked through the que of ToT before and had heard it was impressive so I thought why not. My family got all excited that I had changed my mind and agreed to try it! Unfortunately no. But I did think it was terribly embarrassing to ask a CM for the way out. I had to stand by the "chicken elevator" for several minutes while all the brave souls (recklessly foolish souls more like it!) looked at me with pity! The CM running the chicken elevator tried to trick us (me and a man) into believing this elevator was going to fall too. Sorry fella, no takers for your little joke!
When I met up with my family and friends after the ride, my husband said it was a very wise decision that I hadn't chosen that particular elevator for my first drop on the ToT. Most of them all agreed that the particular sequence they had experienced was pretty bad and I couldn't have handled it. My husband said he came off the seat a couple of times. Knowing there's even the possibility of having an experience like that has forever sealed my fate to never ride ToT.
Paul sat with me while we waited for everyone else to ride RnR one more time. We were sitting outside, just under the big guitar, when it started to rain. When it appeared it was going to be more than a drizzle we put on our rain ponchos and walked over to the exit so we could give our kids their ponchos upon exit. We had only just barely walked in the exit, fully covered in our ponchos, when our group arrived. They figured it must be raining by looking at us but lo and behold just as quickly as it started it had stopped again! Yeah, we looked like rain dorks!
I thought it would be fun to experience a Star Wars edition of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire". We had really enjoyed going here earlier in our trip. This one was torturous! It lasted longer than normal (45 min. I believe) and we were wondering how long before we could leave. There was a very nice man in the hot seat who said he just got lucky in making it there. When he said he hadn't seen the latest Star Wars movie yet he was booed!!! So rude!!! We've seen most (or all) of the Star Wars movies but the questions were hard for us. It was boring and too bad we wasted so much time in there. Bad move on my part.
We walked through the Walt Disney Story but didn't have time to see the movie because we wanted to make the first Beauty & the Beast show. The boys skipped this and went on RnR one more time.
We found out we could take food into Beauty & the Beast so we thought we could save time by eating lunch while we watched the show. The husbands (with the girls) ordered food at Rosies while JM and I waited in line and got seats for everyone. The boys joined us for the show. Jeff really enjoys this one, especially when "Four for a Dollar" performs. Paul didn't realize the boys would be joining us so he didn't get lunch for Jeff. I gave Jeff the hamburger Paul had ordered for me (I ate the fries).
Heidi wanted to see the Animation Tour. I remembered there not being much to this attraction but took MM, JM & Heidi there. Laura was tired of walking so she didn't want to go. We were only going to be in MGM a short time so we were waiting till our next stop (Epcot) to get the wheelchair. Paul got an ice cream and went with Laura to wait for everyone to regroup by the exit.
The Animation Tour has changed to the same (or similar) version they have at California Adventure! Its sooooo much better, more fun and entertaining this way! Shoot, if I'd known this we could have all come here. With all the research and everything I'd done for this trip, how did I miss not knowing this?!
The boys had gone on ToT again and we all arrived at the exit close to the same time.
I'd read on the DIS that the boat from MGM to Epcot wasn't a direct shot, that it went to the Boardwalk hotels first. Just curious, I asked a CM at the exit if there was a direct boat to Epcot. She said yes, there was. I said I'd heard that it went to the Boardwalk hotels first and she said she didn't think so and that during the middle of the day it did stop at Epcot first. But then she said she just wasn't sure and maybe it would be better to take the bus, so that's exactly what we did. Our timing was good because when we got to the Epcot bus stop a bus was just arriving! Cool!
At Epcot we got a wheelchair for Laura and went on Spaceship Earth. I like this slow ride through time very much!
Then we went to the Living Seas and saw Turtle Talk with Crush. It was cute but the interaction and questioning were a little better the other day when Paul and I had seen it. We all split up to look around the Living Seas, agreeing to meet back at a designated point in 30 minutes. There are some really cool things in there. I loved seeing the manatees, sea horses, stingrays, and jellyfish!
We exited the Living Seas and went to the Land, getting a FP for Soarin. That's a favorite for all of us.
While we waited for our Soarin FP time, we crossed the park to Mission Space. JM and Heidi were going to give it a try today. All the adults went in one "pod" while the four teens went in another. It was lots of fun and no one had any ill effects. None of us could have predicted that just two days from now a 4 year old child would pass away after going on this ride.
After exiting our space capsules, it was pouring rain, with thunder and lightening too! Awful! We played some games in the exit area. These are a lot of fun. The boys and I got in line for some game where we had to fix problems that occurred on our ship. I didn't realize the line we were in was for the two teams that stand in the very front of everybody else! Yikes! The boys were on one team with a couple of other kids. I was on another with some kids. Our team lost but not by much!
We had a few moments of confusion where our group got separated . . . during a horrible storm no less!!! Paul took me in the gift shop to look at something and then I ran to get the wheelchair, which I thought was back by the entrance. We thought everyone else had continued on towards our next destination - the Land, to use our Soarin' FP.
It was still pouring rain but we were wearing our trusty ponchos! Paul, Laura and I took off running (Laura was riding) towards our closest cover, the covered area by Innoventions. We hoped to find the rest of our group there. A lot of people were using this area for refuge from the storm as well. People were packed in here and we happened to be stuck close to a lady who chose this moment to smoke. Ugh!
We figured everyone had either made it to the Land or somehow we had missed them and they were still back at Mission Space. Laura and I moved (as best we could) away from the smoking lady while Paul ran back to M:S to look for everybody. A few minutes later Paul came back and our happy party of 8 was reunited again! I don't know how in an area relatively small (the exit area of M:S) we were able to miss each other like we did but it happened!
By this time the rain had let up a little. It was still raining but not a drenching rain like before. The Land has always been such a wonderful place to be "stuck" in a storm with the different entertainment offerings and the food court. I couldn't wait to get there! I was getting a headache and feeling sickly from not eating much of a lunch and just eating granola bars and french fries.
We used our Soarin' FP and looked at the newly renovated Seasons food court. I really miss the old one! I'm sure the food here was good but it was somewhat expensive and we decided to move on.
I suggested going to the Electric Umbrella and anyone who didn't want to eat could look around Innoventions. It was getting later in the day and getting back to World Showcase seemed more of a priority than Innoventions so we headed that direction instead.
JM & Heidi went to Japan to get some dinner there. The rest of us got fish & chips from the United Kingdom counter service place. It was really good! We had a PS for Rose & Crown tonight too so after we ate at the counter service place I stopped by Rose & Crown and canceled our reservation.
We met up with JM & Heidi in Morocco and saw Mo Rockin' perform. We walked around Morocco and I don't remember ever going in the very back sections before.
Next we moved on to France and got some pastries . . . ummmm, very good! Someone eating pastry at a table offered an extra one they couldn't eat (and hadn't touched) to Paul so he and MM ate their leftovers!
We saw the France movie (my favorite of all the country films - probably because you can sit down!) I love the accent of the French people.
From there we went to Canada where everyone except Laura and I saw the film. We were wondering if Test Track was open. We knew it had to close for awhile after rain but didn't know how long of time that had to be. Since we didn't see the Canada film, Laura and I walked over there to check. It was running! In the meantime I got a drink for Laura so she could take her meds and we watched the pretty fountain.
When everyone else exited O Canada, they called Laura and I on the walkie-talkies to see if they should come over to Test Track. We told them it was open and they were on their way!
When they arrived it was about 8:45 and I said I'd rather see Illuminations again than go on Test Track. Everyone else went on the ride while I walked towards Mexico to find a spot to watch the show. I found a pretty good spot right next to the water just before reaching Mexico! Not a bad spot considering the show was starting in ten minutes!
As usual it is an awesome show! I love it! But I did notice this year I had a hard time making out the figures on the globe. I need my glasses prescription updated!
After Illuminations we communicated on the walkie-talkies again and realized the wheelchair was back at Test Track while everyone else was by Mouse Gear. We had to get permission to head back towards TT and retrieve our wheelchair, which also contained our rain ponchos!
While Paul, Jeff and I went back for the wheelchair, everyone else headed back to Pop. We ended up getting stuck in a huge crowd of people leaving Epcot after Illuminations and had a long wait. The Pop buses were coming regularly but there were just a ton of people to take "home". We were finally able to board the fourth bus that came.
Back at Pop the boys had to make a final decision on whether to cancel the surfing lessons. After talking it over Jeff wanted to do it and Mike didn't. If Jeff did it and Mike didn't then that would mess up our plans to all have breakfast together at Whispering Canyon. Jeff chose to not do surfing as well. I set our wake up call for 6:00 AM so I could be dressed and down at Concierge when they opened at 7:00 AM to cancel. Hopefully that would be considered within our 24 hour window since they were supposed to be at Typhoon Lagoon at 5:45 AM Monday morning.
Today had a few glitches . . . not our best day overall . . . but hey, we're at Disney and how bad can that be?
Part 10 - Magic Kingdom & Animal Kingdom
Me - 46, born & raised in Florida but have been gone since 1981. Love WDW, obsessive planner. Really want this trip to be nice because we're bringing a family of 1st timers! Writes trip reports with way too much detail but I just can't do it any other way!
Paul - DH 52 - Loves Disney but not as much as I do. He'd probably be happy to vacation some place else occasionally but as soon as we get home I'm planning our next trip before he has time to process what I'm doing!
Jeff - DS 17 - Raised on WDW and Disneyland and loves it all. Super friendly guy!
Laura - DD 16 - Loves WDW but doesn't handle the heat well. Gets tired easy but she has a good excuse. She had a heart transplant when she was 6 weeks old and had West Nile Virus in 2002. Doing really well though. Our sweetheart.
Our Friends:
MM - 40ish - Going to WDW for the wife & kids. Isn't really a theme park kind of guy. Really nice though.
JM - 40ish - My good friend! Been trying to get her DH to go to WDW for a couple of years now!
Mike - DS 16 - Jeff's best friend since probably Kindergarten.
Heidi - DD 13 - Laura's friend. Despite the age difference they get along great!
Our time at Disney was coming dangerously close to the end. We leave in two days. It's at this point when you start really envying the people just checking in!
The boys needed to make a decision soon on whether or not to cancel the surfing lessons. We had to cancel 24 hrs. in advance or we'd be charged $135 per boy. We were in line waiting for the MGM bus discussing this. I decided to run back to the room to get our surfing confirmation number so if a decision was made, I could call or find some way to cancel. We preferred to cancel more than 24 hrs. in advance (if that was their decision). We didn't want there to be any possibility of being charged for something they didn't do.
Everyone else caught the bus to MGM while I ran back to the room. I saw that I had accidentally left the key to the safe sticking in the lock so it was good I had gone back! Doesn't do any good to lock up your valuables (like we really had much of anything valuable) if you leave the key in the lock!!!
Before following my family and friends to MGM, I stopped at the Concierge desk at Pop to see if they were able to cancel the surfing for us. The CM was able to pull up our reservation by our confirmation number and said if we decided to cancel they would be able to handle it for us. The concierge desk was manned from 7:00 AM till 10:00 PM every day. That was a service I didn't expect to see at a value resort! Very nice!
The line for the MGM bus was pretty long and I had to wait for two buses before getting on one. Had to stand for my ride to the park, but this was the first time I'd had to stand so far this trip. I must say I was so proud of our teen boys. They never sat on a bus if there was someone else who needed a seat. They didn't need to be told to stand, they just did it automatically.
On the agenda for our MGM morning, we were going to repeat our favorites and see a few things we missed the time before. It was Star Wars weekend and I was anxious to see what that was like, while still making an effort to avoid most of it. As I had heard, there were storm troopers on top of the building as people were entering. They were pretty funny!
I caught up to my family just before the park officially opened. The crowd of people heading in the direction of Star Wars was just as large (and perhaps larger) than the crowd of people heading to RnR & ToT. Never would see that on a "normal" day!
Everyone (but me) went on RnR then ToT. I've never walked through the que of ToT before and had heard it was impressive so I thought why not. My family got all excited that I had changed my mind and agreed to try it! Unfortunately no. But I did think it was terribly embarrassing to ask a CM for the way out. I had to stand by the "chicken elevator" for several minutes while all the brave souls (recklessly foolish souls more like it!) looked at me with pity! The CM running the chicken elevator tried to trick us (me and a man) into believing this elevator was going to fall too. Sorry fella, no takers for your little joke!
When I met up with my family and friends after the ride, my husband said it was a very wise decision that I hadn't chosen that particular elevator for my first drop on the ToT. Most of them all agreed that the particular sequence they had experienced was pretty bad and I couldn't have handled it. My husband said he came off the seat a couple of times. Knowing there's even the possibility of having an experience like that has forever sealed my fate to never ride ToT.
Paul sat with me while we waited for everyone else to ride RnR one more time. We were sitting outside, just under the big guitar, when it started to rain. When it appeared it was going to be more than a drizzle we put on our rain ponchos and walked over to the exit so we could give our kids their ponchos upon exit. We had only just barely walked in the exit, fully covered in our ponchos, when our group arrived. They figured it must be raining by looking at us but lo and behold just as quickly as it started it had stopped again! Yeah, we looked like rain dorks!
I thought it would be fun to experience a Star Wars edition of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire". We had really enjoyed going here earlier in our trip. This one was torturous! It lasted longer than normal (45 min. I believe) and we were wondering how long before we could leave. There was a very nice man in the hot seat who said he just got lucky in making it there. When he said he hadn't seen the latest Star Wars movie yet he was booed!!! So rude!!! We've seen most (or all) of the Star Wars movies but the questions were hard for us. It was boring and too bad we wasted so much time in there. Bad move on my part.
We walked through the Walt Disney Story but didn't have time to see the movie because we wanted to make the first Beauty & the Beast show. The boys skipped this and went on RnR one more time.
We found out we could take food into Beauty & the Beast so we thought we could save time by eating lunch while we watched the show. The husbands (with the girls) ordered food at Rosies while JM and I waited in line and got seats for everyone. The boys joined us for the show. Jeff really enjoys this one, especially when "Four for a Dollar" performs. Paul didn't realize the boys would be joining us so he didn't get lunch for Jeff. I gave Jeff the hamburger Paul had ordered for me (I ate the fries).
Heidi wanted to see the Animation Tour. I remembered there not being much to this attraction but took MM, JM & Heidi there. Laura was tired of walking so she didn't want to go. We were only going to be in MGM a short time so we were waiting till our next stop (Epcot) to get the wheelchair. Paul got an ice cream and went with Laura to wait for everyone to regroup by the exit.
The Animation Tour has changed to the same (or similar) version they have at California Adventure! Its sooooo much better, more fun and entertaining this way! Shoot, if I'd known this we could have all come here. With all the research and everything I'd done for this trip, how did I miss not knowing this?!
The boys had gone on ToT again and we all arrived at the exit close to the same time.
I'd read on the DIS that the boat from MGM to Epcot wasn't a direct shot, that it went to the Boardwalk hotels first. Just curious, I asked a CM at the exit if there was a direct boat to Epcot. She said yes, there was. I said I'd heard that it went to the Boardwalk hotels first and she said she didn't think so and that during the middle of the day it did stop at Epcot first. But then she said she just wasn't sure and maybe it would be better to take the bus, so that's exactly what we did. Our timing was good because when we got to the Epcot bus stop a bus was just arriving! Cool!
At Epcot we got a wheelchair for Laura and went on Spaceship Earth. I like this slow ride through time very much!
Then we went to the Living Seas and saw Turtle Talk with Crush. It was cute but the interaction and questioning were a little better the other day when Paul and I had seen it. We all split up to look around the Living Seas, agreeing to meet back at a designated point in 30 minutes. There are some really cool things in there. I loved seeing the manatees, sea horses, stingrays, and jellyfish!
We exited the Living Seas and went to the Land, getting a FP for Soarin. That's a favorite for all of us.
While we waited for our Soarin FP time, we crossed the park to Mission Space. JM and Heidi were going to give it a try today. All the adults went in one "pod" while the four teens went in another. It was lots of fun and no one had any ill effects. None of us could have predicted that just two days from now a 4 year old child would pass away after going on this ride.
After exiting our space capsules, it was pouring rain, with thunder and lightening too! Awful! We played some games in the exit area. These are a lot of fun. The boys and I got in line for some game where we had to fix problems that occurred on our ship. I didn't realize the line we were in was for the two teams that stand in the very front of everybody else! Yikes! The boys were on one team with a couple of other kids. I was on another with some kids. Our team lost but not by much!
We had a few moments of confusion where our group got separated . . . during a horrible storm no less!!! Paul took me in the gift shop to look at something and then I ran to get the wheelchair, which I thought was back by the entrance. We thought everyone else had continued on towards our next destination - the Land, to use our Soarin' FP.
It was still pouring rain but we were wearing our trusty ponchos! Paul, Laura and I took off running (Laura was riding) towards our closest cover, the covered area by Innoventions. We hoped to find the rest of our group there. A lot of people were using this area for refuge from the storm as well. People were packed in here and we happened to be stuck close to a lady who chose this moment to smoke. Ugh!
We figured everyone had either made it to the Land or somehow we had missed them and they were still back at Mission Space. Laura and I moved (as best we could) away from the smoking lady while Paul ran back to M:S to look for everybody. A few minutes later Paul came back and our happy party of 8 was reunited again! I don't know how in an area relatively small (the exit area of M:S) we were able to miss each other like we did but it happened!
By this time the rain had let up a little. It was still raining but not a drenching rain like before. The Land has always been such a wonderful place to be "stuck" in a storm with the different entertainment offerings and the food court. I couldn't wait to get there! I was getting a headache and feeling sickly from not eating much of a lunch and just eating granola bars and french fries.
We used our Soarin' FP and looked at the newly renovated Seasons food court. I really miss the old one! I'm sure the food here was good but it was somewhat expensive and we decided to move on.
I suggested going to the Electric Umbrella and anyone who didn't want to eat could look around Innoventions. It was getting later in the day and getting back to World Showcase seemed more of a priority than Innoventions so we headed that direction instead.
JM & Heidi went to Japan to get some dinner there. The rest of us got fish & chips from the United Kingdom counter service place. It was really good! We had a PS for Rose & Crown tonight too so after we ate at the counter service place I stopped by Rose & Crown and canceled our reservation.
We met up with JM & Heidi in Morocco and saw Mo Rockin' perform. We walked around Morocco and I don't remember ever going in the very back sections before.
Next we moved on to France and got some pastries . . . ummmm, very good! Someone eating pastry at a table offered an extra one they couldn't eat (and hadn't touched) to Paul so he and MM ate their leftovers!
We saw the France movie (my favorite of all the country films - probably because you can sit down!) I love the accent of the French people.
From there we went to Canada where everyone except Laura and I saw the film. We were wondering if Test Track was open. We knew it had to close for awhile after rain but didn't know how long of time that had to be. Since we didn't see the Canada film, Laura and I walked over there to check. It was running! In the meantime I got a drink for Laura so she could take her meds and we watched the pretty fountain.
When everyone else exited O Canada, they called Laura and I on the walkie-talkies to see if they should come over to Test Track. We told them it was open and they were on their way!
When they arrived it was about 8:45 and I said I'd rather see Illuminations again than go on Test Track. Everyone else went on the ride while I walked towards Mexico to find a spot to watch the show. I found a pretty good spot right next to the water just before reaching Mexico! Not a bad spot considering the show was starting in ten minutes!
As usual it is an awesome show! I love it! But I did notice this year I had a hard time making out the figures on the globe. I need my glasses prescription updated!
After Illuminations we communicated on the walkie-talkies again and realized the wheelchair was back at Test Track while everyone else was by Mouse Gear. We had to get permission to head back towards TT and retrieve our wheelchair, which also contained our rain ponchos!
While Paul, Jeff and I went back for the wheelchair, everyone else headed back to Pop. We ended up getting stuck in a huge crowd of people leaving Epcot after Illuminations and had a long wait. The Pop buses were coming regularly but there were just a ton of people to take "home". We were finally able to board the fourth bus that came.
Back at Pop the boys had to make a final decision on whether to cancel the surfing lessons. After talking it over Jeff wanted to do it and Mike didn't. If Jeff did it and Mike didn't then that would mess up our plans to all have breakfast together at Whispering Canyon. Jeff chose to not do surfing as well. I set our wake up call for 6:00 AM so I could be dressed and down at Concierge when they opened at 7:00 AM to cancel. Hopefully that would be considered within our 24 hour window since they were supposed to be at Typhoon Lagoon at 5:45 AM Monday morning.
Today had a few glitches . . . not our best day overall . . . but hey, we're at Disney and how bad can that be?
Part 10 - Magic Kingdom & Animal Kingdom
