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

awww that was cute, and brought back memories when my DD6 sailed...

Thanks for another great installment.... what's next? :)
 
True fact: Children will walk past 3 garbage cans to hand their trash to their mothers.

That is a true fact!!! Just yesterday, I reminded each of my children SEVERAL times that I was not a trash can. And that if anyone was going to hold on to their trash it would be them. Geesh!!

Melinda, I believe we exchanged some PM's back during your planning stages. I live in Macon and you were trying to decide where to spend a quick overnight. Looks like that all worked out!!

I am enjoying your trip report. Looking forward to the next installment! :sunny:

NM
 
Hey I JUST found this! Still reading . . . :surfweb:
 
Cass...Thanks for reading. I love your web site! Your pictures are fantastic and makes me sorry I didn't take more pictures on this trip.
Nicolemarie..Thanks for all your great advice about our overnight in GA! I hope you'll be taking another trip soon so we can enjoy another great trip report.
Glendamax.....I'm so glad your reading along even if it is late. ;)
 

Looks like Glenda's not the only one who's "Fashionably Late" :goodvibes

I just found this wonderful little trippie! I'm subbing! :thumbsup2

Looking foward to reading more! :surfweb:
 
It is at this point that I must confess the level of Disney dorkdom to which I have risen for this trip. Now I have already admitted to months of DIS surfing and tip gathering but I also purchased a couple of online subscriptions and a very large book.…….it’s a hobby, OK? Anyway, I have compiled my information including all mapquest directions, confirmation numbers, touring plans, tips, undiscovered places, how to win at Buzz Lightyear, yada, yada, yada….into convenient MS Publisher booklet format that fits neatly in the back pocket of my new bag. The only people who could possibly understand this level of obsessive planning are my DIS friends. (You do understand, right?) But if you meet me in person and ask me if I created this document, I will deny it.

There….confession over.

Now the booklet contains "the plan." If there is knowledge of "the plan" there will be anarchy, rebellion, or at least heavy sighs in my family. DH detests plans….especially on vacation. So today I will ever so casually lead my group to the World Showcase because we are arriving in the mid/late afternoon and Future World lines will be prohibitive. Right?

We enter Future World at around 3:00 p.m. and I know it will be tough to get the kids past the rides. “What’s inside the big ball.” Well, it’s a ride. “Can we go?” I inquire about the wait. No wait? Really? No problem! Let’s go…….but Emily is nervous….again…..about Spaceship Earth. Darn that “Honey, I Shrunk the Audience”! Okie, dokie…I will sit next to her while we take the sssllloowww trip through time but I must admit I do love the last big planetarium room at the end. Gorgeous. More rides, please. But, “the plan!” I think to myself.

OK, let’s check out Soarin’. Well, the wait is 40 minutes so we grab fastpasses and DH and DS want to head to Test Track….on our way to the World Showcase. What…10 minute wait? (It really turned out to be more like 5 minutes.) As they send us up to the loading slot, Emily’s really upset because she’s afraid there’s no way out but she is directed to the exit in the nick of time. DS and I are the front seat crash dummies and DH and Mimi in the back. I finally get to ride Test Track and may I say I loved the whole break-through-the-wall part…laughin’, screamin’, hands in the air fun….good times.

We exit Test Track and pass the happy, wet kids and droopy-diaper babies cooling off in the fountain. I love those fountains that squirt right up out of the pavement. It looks like fun and it’s pretty hot so of course DS wants to join in. Sorry, bud, not today. I’m not a mean momma. It’s just that DS likes to get wet…he just doesn’t like to STAY wet which could present a problem as we haven’t brought dry clothes. “Hey, look over there, DS!” Distraction is the name of the game.

Wonder what the wait is at Mission Space? It’s just right over there. Again….no wait and the nice CM begins to explain the difference between the orange and green versions. I quickly grab tickets for the vomit-free version and we’re in…I mean right into the preshow…like they’re waiting for us. Emily and I go into the non rider section (motion sickness+dinner at Le Cellier= I’m not riding) and get the low down from Gary Sinise.

Em and I are excused to the chicken hallway and wow, how about that space training area at the exit. Emily and I along with a cute honeymoon couple fix our space ship on the BIG screens and win the race. I suspect the win was due mostly to the honeymooners who seemed a little more video game savvy than us.

We are on our way back to Soarin’ with our fastpasses and I realize that “the plan” is scrapped. We will not make a meaningful journey around the World Showcase today BUT if we can ride all the headliners in Future World today with little/no wait that just means everyone can sleep in on Wednesday (except me…remember the rooster) and that’s a very good thing.

I was a little concerned about Soarin’ being a motion simulator but I was determined to fly. Forget about the Mushroom Filet. I’m in. We love the little preflight briefing with the guy who the kids immediately identified as the voice of Kronk but who I will always think of as Elaine’s boyfriend, Puddy, with the Jesus fish. And aaahhhh, Soarin’…….are there enough adjectives to describe how great this ride is. The beautiful scenery, the wonderful smells, the wind in your hair. I see DS raise his feet as we fly over the ocean. Absolutely fabulous.

Well, while we’re in the neighborhood, we head over to the Living Seas. We would like to converse with Crush but the line is way full so we go over to see the other sea creatures instead. I turn to see that the line to see Turtle Talk has suddenly and completely disappeared! So I drag my fish lovin’ crew into the queue for the next show.

Once in the theater, DS plops down on the front row. When Crush asks if anyone has questions….nothing. DS apparently knows everything about sea turtles and has no questions. But hey, you can’t blame him. Having a cool, animated sea turtle up close and talking to kids in real time is surely quite intimidating. The show is very cute and funny and the DIS hype was well deserved. I found DS cracking up at odd moments for the rest of the week. He would just look at me and say, “Sea kelp gives ya the bubbles.” Potty humor goes a long way with little boys, ya know.

Next: What to do with one hour in the World Showcase…

DO…be prepared to scrap “the plan”. Even the best laid plan cannot take all circumstances into consideration. We were blessed with a beautiful afternoon and no waits in Future World. Who can argue with that?

DON’T….forget to bring a change of clothes if you have little ones who may want to cool off in the fun fountains at Epcot. Don’t miss the fun virtual space training area at the end of Mission Space even if you don’t ride the ride.
 
lexmelinda said:
DON’T….forget to bring a change of clothes if you have little ones who may want to cool off in the fun fountains at Epcot.


Shhhhsh! don't you know Disney puts those fountains there so you have to buy new outfits for your kids? and big fluffy Pluto towels? :rotfl:
 
Puddy, with the Jesus fish
Now I'm in the mood for fishsticks.

We love Soarin'. We rode it first at Six Flags' California Adventure. It may in fact be my favorite Disney ride.
Potty humor goes a long way with little boys, ya know.
Grown men, too.
 
Scrappin' the "PLAN" HUH???
The 2005 "mom-nazi" in me--- would have said absolutely NOT!! :sad2:
But, having BEEN-THERE-DONE-THAT, the new 2007 "It WILL be ok to scrap the plan, not quite SO nazi-mom" will know better! :thumbsup2

It was hard for me to go to WDW with such a meticulously "planned" vacation-- then get there and realize that some days it works and other days, it won't! :)

Lovin' you report!
And your daughter, Emily, with her fears from your scarring-her-for-life at Honey, I shrunk the kids is SOOOOO familiar to our first day, first park, first ride at Animal Kingdom on It's a Bugs Life!! Both my kids DD 9 & DS 6 left in tears and although my brave little man got over it----- my little princess was TOTALLY not into anything remotely dark and/or scarey looking! :confused3

Lookin' forward to the next day!
 
lexmelinda said:
It is at this point that I must confess the level of Disney dorkdom to which I have risen for this trip. Now I have already admitted to months of DIS surfing and tip gathering but I also purchased a couple of online subscriptions and a very large book.…….it’s a hobby, OK? Anyway, I have compiled my information including all mapquest directions, confirmation numbers, touring plans, tips, undiscovered places, how to win at Buzz Lightyear, yada, yada, yada….into convenient MS Publisher booklet format that fits neatly in the back pocket of my new bag. The only people who could possibly understand this level of obsessive planning are my DIS friends. (You do understand, right?) But if you meet me in person and ask me if I created this document, I will deny it.

Brilliant, BRILLIANT I say! If there were a standing-ovation smilie, it would be right here: standing-ovation smilie
 
Disneyland_Mama....Thanks for jumping on board for what appears to be a trip report that could last til my next vacation... ;)
Cass....Is that why all the stores carry head to toe children's apparel and big fluffy towels when there's no pool in sight? Souvenirs...I always thought. Silly me!?
ZZUB....Six Flags beat Disney to the Soarin' punch? What? I have never heard this before....are there other Soarin' wanna-bes around?
remfam5...Before we took the girls to Disney World in 2000, I read the UG cover to cover and laughed at the description of children who were terrified by the rides. What kind of crazy kids are those people raising that are afraid of the rides? Apparently the same kind of crazy kids I was raising. That crow sure is stringy.
PrincessV...I just read your latest pre-trip installment and now I don't feel so bad. ;)
 
Now we only have about an hour before dinner but aaaahhhhh, the World Showcase. I loooovvvveee the World Showcase. It’s a beautiful, well manicured, utopian world in miniature. I'm anxious to see it again. We stop only to take a picture at Canada…love ya…be back later. I did want to stop and listen to “Men in Skirts” but no takers.

Question: Can someone tell me why the Millennium Village closed? Was it the name? Could they not call it the Millennium+1 (and so on) Village and keep it open? We spent a lot of time there on our 2000 vacation and loved it. The girls enjoyed getting lots of stamps and autographs in their little passports from all the cute, friendly CMs from around the world. The building is still there? I guess it went the way of that awesome parade that we saw here on that same trip. Disney logic, I suppose.

England was loverly as usual. We browse the toy store and play with the swords, of course. Pooh is in the back doing a meet and great. Look, DS, it’s Pooh! Nothing…couldn’t care less. We wander out back and DS runs the hedge maze….twice.

France is fabulous as well. Having walked all the way to Europe, DS is decidedly pooped, sits down and refuses to go on. Have I mentioned that the little man is stubborn? A few hugs and some kind words…we’re back in business. Mimi was impressed to find that the guy working in the shop was actually from France. Tres bien! I tell her all the people who work in the World Showcase countries are actually FROM the country. “Oh, right, I knew that,” she says in her I’m-cool-teenage-way. We proceed to wear the hats and buy some candy.

We wander back to Canada and take a whirl around the back before we go into the restaurant. The waterfall behind the main building is spectacular. Am I the only one who didn’t know it was there? We arrive at Le Cellier at 7:45 and the outside hostess is in the process of turning away the uninformed, non-DISing masses who had not thought to make ADRs. We are invited inside and after a short wait, we are seated in the Newfoundland section and greeted by our waitress from Alberta? I guess no servers from Newfoundland were available.

The restaurant is lovely and not nearly as dark as it seemed in most of the pictures on the DIS. I’ve been drooling over the pictures of the food here for months. Anybody else making frequent visits to the “Post Your Pictures of Disney Food Here” thread in anticipation of their trip?? So DH and I both order the mushroom filet, medium rare. We enjoy the PEI mussels (these are great!) and cheese soup. Then the moment I’ve been waiting for….the filets finally arrive and they are…….dramatic pause….overcooked. Well, we are starving and dinner is free so we eat up.

I hear a BOOM….the fireworks are beginning. I love Illuminations! I have to say that to this point, it is my favorite fireworks show at Disney World. Our server kindly offers to let us go out to watch Illuminations and then come back to finish our desserts. Go ahead…all reservations are in and no one is waiting for the table. Wow! Yes! Great! No…Nope…no one else wants to go. I’m not sure I’d even enjoy it alone. BOOM. BOOM. The fireworks continue. So we finish dessert and make it out for the last 3 BOOMs and then…………..we wait……….

I’m pretty sure most of those 87,000 people who are leaving the World Showcase are headed for the POR bus stop. We pull up some bench and watch the ducks, and watch the people, and watch the ducks. The crowds thin and we finally wander around to the stores at the Future World side of the lagoon.

Now I have to say that I am a lover of all things wonderful in the Disney parks but I am not a great lover of Disney merchandise. Does Mickey really need me to advertise for him? When the girls were little, I spent huge sums on princess dresses, crowns, movies, wands, clothing, pajamas, etc but not lately. I do, however, have an appreciation for all things beautiful and useful although I rarely treat myself to those little extras. I know, I know.

So that’s when I spot IT….the perfect souvenir….for me. It’s the “four parks, one world” coffee mug. Do you know this mug? It’s quite large and features Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy on the monorail, Pluto and Donald in a Test Track car at Epcot, Daisy on Rockin’ Rollercoaster, Huey/Dewey/Louis on Kali. It’s pink inside and even says “MOM” on the handle. How wonderful would it be filled with my favorite beverage? Mimi sees me admiring it. I state my love and decide to buy the mug by the end of the week if I don’t find anything I love more. I’m pretty sure I won’t. Heavy sigh.

We go to the bus stop and the 87,000 have already caught the POR bus. We head “home” to rest up for Magic Kingdom day tomorrow…

DO….take your World Showcase server up on an offer to see Illuminations and return to the restaurant. Go back the restaurant and relax while those poor, unfortunate souls wait in line for the bus. Our decision on this evening sentences us to another night that we will do the “wait out the crowds” thing at Epcot if we want to see Illuminations. I don’t know how many people will ever actually run into this dilemma but I have to mark this down as the biggest mistake of the week.

DON’T….make a late reservation if you don’t want to fight the crowds after Illuminations. I wish I had had a 6:00 p.m. ADR on this particular evening since we have an early morning tomorrow. But as you may know there aren’t that many choices available if you are booking at Le Cellier….especially with a party of 5. Don’t miss out on all the great features of the World Showcase pavilions. Go around back, down the hallways, alleys, etc. You’ll find lots of hidden places that are meant to be explored.
 
Firstly, those pics of James in France are just about the cutest thing ever :goodvibes What a ham!

And B., I must second your call to hang around the WS close to and after the park closes. I used to have an After 4pm Epcot pass and spent many evenings doing just that. Very neat!
 
Just chiming in to say hi, enjoying your trip report immensely! You sound a lot like me in the planning dept. Welcome to the OCDPD anonymous (obsessive-compulsive Disney planning disorder)! :lmao:

Keep writing! :thumbsup2
 
connorsmom911 said:
Just chiming in to say hi, enjoying your trip report immensely! You sound a lot like me in the planning dept. Welcome to the OCDPD anonymous (obsessive-compulsive Disney planning disorder)! :lmao:

Keep writing! :thumbsup2


OCDPD. :lmao: :rotfl2:
Finally some place where I belong. :disrocks:
 
Hi there, I also just wanted to say hi and congratulate you on a great Trip Report so far! I hardly ever take time out to read people's trip reports, but got hooked on this accidently and have enjoyed every word of it. Great writing style, and great insight.

Very much looking forward to the next chapter!! :thumbsup2

Rich
 
Loving your report- especially the do's and don'ts! After your review I think POR will be the resort for us next time.

As for the coffee- (we stayed at POP this time) I almost brought my own but couldnt find a cheap pot. At the beginning of the trip the coffee was blech- By the end of the trip I was actually looking forward to it each a.m.!
About midway I would give mine a shot of hot chocolate and I think that helped.

popcorn::
 
lexmelinda said:
Kronk but who I will always think of as Elaine’s boyfriend, Puddy.
I always think the same thing! Puddy!
Am thoroughly enjoying TR. We will be staying at POR in Dec and you have me feeling like we're already there! Thanks!
 
I just saw your note on the Silly TR and decided to take a look at yours, it seemed very familiar - then I realized i was already reading it. :rotfl2:

Love your format!
 
OMG, just loving this report! Sad to hear that your Le Cellier experience wasn't great. I am so psyched to go back, even with all the semi-wonderful reviews.

You guys are definitely keeping me entertained at work today!! :cool1:
 








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