WHAT I'D DO DIFFERENTLY...POR Sept. 2006

[PrincessV]

WOW, I'm so sorry you guys had to fight the crowds all night. I wondered just how busy those parties could get.

I think you all looked terrific in your group photo! Not even glistening, which is saying a LOT in Sept. in FL! I never know how to dress my DS for Halloween down here. All those nylon costumes are just way too hot when it's 85 and 90% humidity.

Thanks for another great installment!

 

[nicolemarie]

I only add that in the way of an explanation of why there is no apparent makeup on my face here….

You look beautiful!! It's so nice to put a face with a name. And the face-paintings were lovely as well. Your children are precious.

Oh, but the crowds!! Yuck! Sorry that you had such an experience with the MNSSHP.

And I'm sorry Jamie wasn't feeling well. Hope he got to feeling better soon!

Another great installment, Melinda!

NM

 

[nebo]

Ahh, ok, now I've got you. So, that's you without the face painting, huh?
Kinda looks a bit to me like an older,,,,, no, gonna be nice. I am injoying your report though, gotta admit. And I'm sorry to hear that you didn't get to see the special, "perimeter" fireworks at the Magic Kingdom. We were down there and even though I knew not to go there on the first night of MNSSHP, we thought about just riding the ferry, back and forth to see the special fireworks. Glad we didn't waste the time. nebo

 

[dismom9761]

I just wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying your report. I know you from the Peeps and had to click on the link.Your children are beautiful and I hope your DH did not stay sick too long. I will be looking forward to more....

 

[lexmelinda]

Thanks for reading and posting, everyone....even nebo!

LegoMom3.....MNSSHP was not good for us but on reading the reviews, a LOT of people like it and had a great time and got lotsa candy. If you ever consider going just make sure it's not a FRIDAY night!
KangaFan....I think part of my problem with MNSSHP is what you mentioned...no lines all week and a huge crowd at the party. We were just spoiled by the lack of crowds during the week. Glad you like Mike....isn't he awesome. I plan to include more about him in the last installment.
Disneyland_Mama....Thanks for your sweet comments about my beautiful girls. They are VERY different in every way but very good girls. Yes, the CMs were very stingy with the candy right up until midnight! I figured since we didn't start the trick-or-treating til around 11pm that they would be dumping it in by the handfuls....but NOT SO! They did have a "top off with Snickers" booth just outside the gates at midnight but that was the only stop that gave them a few extra pieces....not that they needed it anyway....don't know what I'm griping about.
T-i-double-g-err....Yep, poor DH. I didn't tell him what I paid for his ticket or he might have gotten up and drug himself to the MK. Hated throwing that one in the trash. DH has disc problems too and has had a disc removed in his neck and some other disc issues more recently in the lower back. He actually had the hydrochodone (?) with him on this trip. Sounds like it brings a whole new meaning to Small World.
Quacktatty...pm sent. Now I see you've been to WDW lotsa times...just your first trip to PO. You'll love it!
Frick.....If only I had done the last minute horse run over to Aloha Isle!!! Why didn't I get in line. Oh well....next time. Happy to hear DS is not the only Hot Toe Picker.
Monica.....More Hot Toe Pickers! DS is definitely a Cartoon Network guy although I can't say I always like what they're showing. Next time on the Dole Whip....next time.
V...RE: crowds at MNSSHP. Suave, tactful Mr. Photopass let slip that he heard there were 30K expected that night in the MK. I said I heard 20K and he said...oh, oh, yeah...kinda bit his tongue like he wasn't supposed to let that slip. No matter the number, it was just TOO many people.
nicolemarie....Sweet girl....thank you for your kind words about your elderly trip report writer. DH did feel better and if fact drove the entire way home the next day.
nebo....Well, well. Thanks for stopping by. Yep...sorry....that's me. Not sure what you were expecting. Nobody's making any "eye candy" remarks though so you're better off than me. Be nice. RE: MNSSHP....this was actually not the first party....it was the 3rd party but as I understand it, all area schools had a long weekend on 9/29 so that's when all the locals went. Fireworks were good but not much better than Wishes IMO. I'm gonna make ADRs at Ca Grill or O'hana next time and just watch them from there.
NOTE TO ALL....I don't have many laugh out loud moments when I read trip reports but nebo's report has me rolling on every installment. Everyone do yourselves a favor and get on over and read nebo's report....Guess Who's Coming to Free Dinner. And don't give him a hard time....cause he's OLD.
Amy!....Thanks for reading, skinny minnie, and thanks for your nice comments. DH always recovers but seems to get lots of colds, etc. which I conveniently blame on his smoking.
Lurkers.....

THANKS AGAIN FOR READING!

 

[Mickiethepooh]

I think a lot depends on what nights party you go to as well. It was fabulous when we went.

 

[ZZUB]

In answer to ZUBB's reference about Six Flags'... I think that was a misprint! It should have read "Disney's California Adventure."

Actually, no. It wasn't a misprint. It was a joke. And a reference to a little trip report I wrote about our 2004 visit to Disneyland: the Resort. Because California Adventure is maligned as being sub-par, I referred to it as Six Flag's California Adventure.

Now then, I haven't been able to read as much lately but I read a few more of your chapters today. I'm enjoying your writing.

So the food was less than spectacular at Le Cellier, huh? Big surprise. Seems to me someone I know wrote about this very subject not too long ago. He got banned.

 

[jackdis]

I am home from work for the week and had a little time to get back to reading some trip reports and I found yours. I'm not even up to your first full day yet, but had to stop and post to tell you how great your report is! I've got my cup of coffee ready and I'm going back to pick up where I left off. Thanks for sharing!!

PS I would also love to hear your Mom's reaction. DH and I got married in Hawaii....decided about 2 weeks before we left that we were going to get married there. My Mom and Dad knew before we left, but it was still so exciting to get married on vacation!!

 

[lexmelinda]

roll tide

 

[monymony3471]

So the food was less than spectacular at Le Cellier, huh? Big surprise. Seems to me someone I know wrote about this very subject not too long ago. He got banned.

Ok? What did I miss?

 

[BriarRosie]

Loved the TR. But I am one of those people who can tell you I would never
take the boat from POFQ/POR to DTD. Many times the waits for the boats
are WAY longer due to massive crowds at both resorts' docks. I find
it much faster to take the busses.

And there is a knack about using the busses, so don't be afraid.
Sure, each bus depot at the parks and DTD has a numbered system,
but some depots share busses. In order to be sure you're on the right
bus, look at the scrolling marquee on the bus. It is really that simple.

Some busses will share resorts, so the scrolling marquee might look like:
Swan/Dolphin (scroll) Yacht/Beach (scroll) Boardwalk.

Other times, it might only have the first part (Yacht/Beach, for example).
Just look for Port Orleans on the marquee and you'd have found your bus.

I know it can be confusing, and it is sometimes easier to take the car.
There were times I had a rental at my disposal, and I drove some places
and bussed it at other times. (Magic Kingdom is a good location to bus it.
The TTC parking isn't as convenient.)

Anyway, I'm glad I tackled a couple of days to read this report. I'm off
to become addicted to the rest of the reports here.

 

[MomofCKJ]

Just found this and am enjoying it immensely! I just finished your MK day. Loving the lack of crowds! Will have to try September sometime!

Allyson

 

[lexmelinda]

Mickiethepooh....I think you're probably right about MNSSHP...it depends on the night. I'm glad you had a good experience. My daughter saw the pictures on your post and said "IS THAT ORLANDO BLOOM?" Hope your son gets a kick outta that. The costumes are awesome!
ZZUB...I thought ya left me. Now quit reading and start writing, man!
jackdis...Thanks for reading!
Monica....I think ZZUB's kidding about that. At least I hope he is...
BriarRosie...Thanks for the heads up on the DTD buses. I did actually see the marquee but still being a little confused, I thought the driver was a might be the most acurate source of information. Sadly, in this case, I was wrong. Thanks for reading!
MomofCKJ...Thanks for your kind words! The crowds were so low all week that I am spoiled to any other time of year now.

THANKS FOR READING, EVERYONE!

 

[lexmelinda]

On Saturday, Sept. 30th, I woke up very late….7:30 a.m. Grabbed my mug and headed down to my bench to enjoy one last morning overlooking the river. An elderly lady sat down on the bench next to mine and we had a nice conversation. She lives close by but her children bring her over to stay on-site for her birthday every year. She was so sweet.

Mimi finally comes down and since we’re leaving today and we still have some mileage left on the MYW tickets, I encourage her to wake Emily and head to MGM since Em didn’t want to do RnR and ToT the day we were there. She bolts back to the room, wakes Em, and they’re off with a promise to meet back at POR by noon.

When I get back to the room, it’s there….the dreaded envelope. Not bad really and no need to head over to check out….we’re paid in full. I think back to last Saturday when we arrived, how beautiful and clean the room was. It now looks as though a bomb went off. I shower, gather our stuff, eat what I can of the snacks, pack the bags and cooler, check under the bed about 25 times to be sure we’re not forgetting anything.

We call bell services around 10:45 and then we wait another 45 minutes or so for them to show up. I must say the only drawback of staying on the second floor is getting all the stuff up to the room….bags, pillows, cooler, etc and down the stairs. I could never just sit and watch the bellman do it by himself.

We pack the car and head to the food court to wait for the girls. We eat our last free meals….I had the most delicious cheesesteak sandwich on planet Earth. Zzub was right….about that. The girls finally show up, we cash in the last of the snack credits on Mickey rice crispy treats and reluctantly….hit the road.

We exit the same way we came in….Western Way to SR-429. I still can’t believe how deserted this highway is but sadly, I expect to find it crammed full of mini-marts, strip malls, hotels, and Subways on our next trip.

We drove straight through…all the way home. I had hoped to stop and spend the night. I just wanted to suspend reality for one more day. But DH and Mimi were determined…. home or bust. And so it went.

DO….give them your credit card at check in so you don’t have to stand in line to check out. I know I mentioned this in the beginning but it bears repeating. We had charge privileges on DH’s and my cards only. It was easy, convenient, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Do make sure you have your MYW park tickets for every full and partial day you’ll be on-site. I was glad the girls could zip over to MGM on that last morning and I think the extra day on the tickets only cost about $10.

DON’T…. wait too long to call bell services on a Saturday. It’s their uber-busy day. Don’t leave POR without having a cheesesteak…it’s delicious.

EPILOGUE WITH FINAL THOUGHTS COMING SOON....

 

[monymony3471]

What it's over? Nooooo!

No more reports from lexmelinda is like not having a WDW vacation in your near future.

I've absolutely loved hanging out here and reading.

Also I am happy I can still chat with you on different threads.

DO:......Skinny Minnie Meet? Just keep it in the back of your head.

 

[Ellester]

What a great report, Melinda! I'm sorry it's over, but looking forward to your epilogue. I'm excited about the new Western Way exit. We'll see if any Subways have popped up in the next week or so!

Even though I'm an ACC fan, I have UK in my blood (plus, I rarely root for Clemson anyway). My dad's family is from KY (Breckinridge Cty) and his cousin is Ralph Beard. I haven't seen Ralph or been back to KY since my grandmother's funeral in 2004, but it will always have a special place in my heart. So, HURRAY CATS!

Be seein ya on the Peeps board, sista!

 

[KangaFan]

Is there such a thing as virtual sadness? We haven't even checked in yet and I am already dreading the "envelope." LOL! Thanks so much for a wonderful report. I am looking forward to your epilogue.

 

[swankybeth]

I loved your report-I was right there with you checking under the beds 50 million times, I do that too! And I totally understand about the envelope, it just makes leaving so FINAL and PERMANENT. (And then you also realize how much money is going to be charged to your credit card. )

 

[T-i-double-g-err]

Melinda,

Say it isn't so... We'll await your epilogue, but I'm sorry your TR is winding down. We've enjoyed following along with you and your family. DW and I will hopefully have another installment up on ours in the next few days...I'm thinking I may convince her to adopt her own DIS login - maybe Mrs. T...

Be back next year... I hear a fight brewing in which I should intercede...

 

[DisneyJo]

Thanks so much for a great TR, one of the first I've read and now I'm hooked. I sit at this computer so long that I get a numb bum

Anyway, Happy New Year to you and I look forward to your next TR.