dgaston
Proudly wears a "Believes in Fairies tshirt"
- Joined
- May 23, 2001
- Messages
- 5,883
The following will be a report of our long weekend at WDW to celebrate my 60th birthday.
I didn't think the family was going to surprise me with a party, so I figured I better make plans to celebrate this milestone birthday in a way I would really enjoy. We only have a small number of points, so I ended up renting a Last Minute Special from David, and we booked a studio at SSR for 3 nights (for less money than a moderate with AP discount
)
We had some trouble getting out of Providence with the constant snow storms, and were able to get the third flight out on Thursday the 27th. No problems into MCO, took ME (waited 10 minutes to get on bus and then 25 more to leave for WDW). SSR was the third stop after POFQ, and OKW. Room was ready -- no surprise at 4pm. Later we would learn that SSR was only at 28% capacity from Bell Services. The room assigner had done a good job of getting us a sort of DTD view from Congress Park. We were not right on the water, but could see Planet Hollywood and the balloon from our 3rd floor balcony through the trees.
Thursday we headed out to DHS to catch Fantasmic. We rode the Tower of Terror and then headed into the theater. Nice night, not too much wind, so clear views on the water screens.
Next am we headed back to DHS, rode TMS standby, then Rock n Roller Coaster. We split a burger from Rosie's and then headed back to the room for a nap for DH and hot tub for me.
Dinner was at Yachtman's Steakhouse. Our first time there, and we were really happy through the appetizers. The lobster bisque was amazing. The server said our steak would be right out, but we ended up waiting about 20 minutes for our porterhouse (sharing). When it arrived, I was disappointed -- maybe my expectations were too high, but it wasn't that tasty, and had a lot of grissel (sp) running through it. We will have to give it another try, but contrary to most opinions, Le Cellier is still our favorite for steak.
We watched Illuminations from the beginning of the World Showcase and then headed back to SSR. Throughout our trip the bus connections were excellent. We would just get to the stop and the bus would arrive. We usually rent a car and drive everywhere except MK, so this was great.
Saturday am we went to the MK, arriving at 10 am, and managed to ride most of our favorites -- Space 2x, Buzz, People Mover, even the Carousel of Progress, Thunder Mountain, Country Bears and Haunted Mansion by 2 pm. Splash was down for refurb, and teased us with empty testing logs. We were tired and headed back to SSR for nap and hot tub.
Later we got a DVD from Community Hall, and did laundry and packed up for the return trip on Sunday
Now Sunday for the Wild Africa Trek
We ate with Donald and friends at Tusker House after giving our bags to RAC and Bell Services. Weather was in the low 70's and we both wore shorts. I also had a denim shirt over a tshirt (more later). We checked in for our 12 noon Safari right behind Tusker House. There were 11 of us, two celebrating birthdays. We signed a waiver of liability (even exempting WDW from insect bites!) and after being discretely weighed were outfitted with brand new vests with diaper slings and safety cable. Lots of pockets and carabiners to attach cameras, and our new souvenir aluminum water bottle. We were able to put other belongings in a locker secured with our own pin number. Our guides Meghan, and Laura spent a lot of time making sure all of the straps on the safety vest were properly adjusted for each "herd" member. Then we had to navigate across a sample suspension bridge with our safety cable attached to an overhead line. The planks simulated an Indiana Jones type bridge, missing planks, uneven intervals, some "broken planks," etc. The bridge felt very safe, steel netting along the sides and underneath, and in my gear I didn't have any worries about heights. I sometimes can be afraid when I'm not in safety gear at places where I could fall over an open edge. No worries for me on this tour
We entered the jungle behind Tusker House, with the guides keeping up the pretense we were in Africa, near a river junction. They used Swahili words for animals, and stay together. We looked at the gorillas and meercats and then went into the jungle. The trail we climbed came out near the hippos on the regular Safari ride, and we clipped our cables onto a guide bar so we could get a closer look. Lots of the Safari vehicle riders added us to their Disney photos. I waved back to them. After a little more hiking we climbed onto a short tower to cross our first bridge over the hippos. It was higher and longer than the test bridge, and really kind of thrilling. We crossed to another platform, transferring to another guide cable and a second bridge that would take us over the crocs. At this point I was getting warm, and would have been very comfortable in just a tshirt and the safety vest (predicted temp was 72). After the second bridge, we clipped onto a small rail to allow us to get closer to the crocs. Then it was good bye to the safety vests and we boarded a truck with seats. If any of you have done the Wanyama Safari it is similar to those vehicles. We were given our water bottles to keep.
The truck drove along the Safari route, but was able to pull off to the side so we could get closer looks at giraffes, antelope, eland. We pulled off the track after the elephants and flamingos on the other side, and were able to get out of the truck at the new pavillion. This was about 2 hours into the trek, and we were able to use some new rest facilities at the pavillion. No privys on this trek!
Then we were offered an amazing Sundowner snack. We had Jungle Juice and water, and cold food offerings including melon balls, chicken curry, 2 shrimp, air-dried roast beef and ham, salmon and cream cheese, and a spread with pita bread. Much more gourmet than I expected. Presentation included an orchid and cool snaplocked tins. All of the food was African inspired and included some different seasonings than usual. We thoroughly enjoyed this.
This pretty much was the end of the Safari. Throughout our trek Meghan and Laura had taken photos and we are to receive a photopass CD of all of the pictures they took of the animals and us crossing the bridges.
We retrieved our belongings from the locker, bused back to SSR, changed clothes for the snow at home, and had an uneventful ME trip to the airport and SWA flight back to Providence.
Now we won't be back until May, and the last week of F & G. We'll be staying in a value studio at Jambo for the first time.
It was a good celebration. Any questions?
I didn't think the family was going to surprise me with a party, so I figured I better make plans to celebrate this milestone birthday in a way I would really enjoy. We only have a small number of points, so I ended up renting a Last Minute Special from David, and we booked a studio at SSR for 3 nights (for less money than a moderate with AP discount
)We had some trouble getting out of Providence with the constant snow storms, and were able to get the third flight out on Thursday the 27th. No problems into MCO, took ME (waited 10 minutes to get on bus and then 25 more to leave for WDW). SSR was the third stop after POFQ, and OKW. Room was ready -- no surprise at 4pm. Later we would learn that SSR was only at 28% capacity from Bell Services. The room assigner had done a good job of getting us a sort of DTD view from Congress Park. We were not right on the water, but could see Planet Hollywood and the balloon from our 3rd floor balcony through the trees.
Thursday we headed out to DHS to catch Fantasmic. We rode the Tower of Terror and then headed into the theater. Nice night, not too much wind, so clear views on the water screens.
Next am we headed back to DHS, rode TMS standby, then Rock n Roller Coaster. We split a burger from Rosie's and then headed back to the room for a nap for DH and hot tub for me.
Dinner was at Yachtman's Steakhouse. Our first time there, and we were really happy through the appetizers. The lobster bisque was amazing. The server said our steak would be right out, but we ended up waiting about 20 minutes for our porterhouse (sharing). When it arrived, I was disappointed -- maybe my expectations were too high, but it wasn't that tasty, and had a lot of grissel (sp) running through it. We will have to give it another try, but contrary to most opinions, Le Cellier is still our favorite for steak.
We watched Illuminations from the beginning of the World Showcase and then headed back to SSR. Throughout our trip the bus connections were excellent. We would just get to the stop and the bus would arrive. We usually rent a car and drive everywhere except MK, so this was great.
Saturday am we went to the MK, arriving at 10 am, and managed to ride most of our favorites -- Space 2x, Buzz, People Mover, even the Carousel of Progress, Thunder Mountain, Country Bears and Haunted Mansion by 2 pm. Splash was down for refurb, and teased us with empty testing logs. We were tired and headed back to SSR for nap and hot tub.
Later we got a DVD from Community Hall, and did laundry and packed up for the return trip on Sunday
Now Sunday for the Wild Africa Trek
We ate with Donald and friends at Tusker House after giving our bags to RAC and Bell Services. Weather was in the low 70's and we both wore shorts. I also had a denim shirt over a tshirt (more later). We checked in for our 12 noon Safari right behind Tusker House. There were 11 of us, two celebrating birthdays. We signed a waiver of liability (even exempting WDW from insect bites!) and after being discretely weighed were outfitted with brand new vests with diaper slings and safety cable. Lots of pockets and carabiners to attach cameras, and our new souvenir aluminum water bottle. We were able to put other belongings in a locker secured with our own pin number. Our guides Meghan, and Laura spent a lot of time making sure all of the straps on the safety vest were properly adjusted for each "herd" member. Then we had to navigate across a sample suspension bridge with our safety cable attached to an overhead line. The planks simulated an Indiana Jones type bridge, missing planks, uneven intervals, some "broken planks," etc. The bridge felt very safe, steel netting along the sides and underneath, and in my gear I didn't have any worries about heights. I sometimes can be afraid when I'm not in safety gear at places where I could fall over an open edge. No worries for me on this tourWe entered the jungle behind Tusker House, with the guides keeping up the pretense we were in Africa, near a river junction. They used Swahili words for animals, and stay together. We looked at the gorillas and meercats and then went into the jungle. The trail we climbed came out near the hippos on the regular Safari ride, and we clipped our cables onto a guide bar so we could get a closer look. Lots of the Safari vehicle riders added us to their Disney photos. I waved back to them. After a little more hiking we climbed onto a short tower to cross our first bridge over the hippos. It was higher and longer than the test bridge, and really kind of thrilling. We crossed to another platform, transferring to another guide cable and a second bridge that would take us over the crocs. At this point I was getting warm, and would have been very comfortable in just a tshirt and the safety vest (predicted temp was 72). After the second bridge, we clipped onto a small rail to allow us to get closer to the crocs. Then it was good bye to the safety vests and we boarded a truck with seats. If any of you have done the Wanyama Safari it is similar to those vehicles. We were given our water bottles to keep.
The truck drove along the Safari route, but was able to pull off to the side so we could get closer looks at giraffes, antelope, eland. We pulled off the track after the elephants and flamingos on the other side, and were able to get out of the truck at the new pavillion. This was about 2 hours into the trek, and we were able to use some new rest facilities at the pavillion. No privys on this trek!
Then we were offered an amazing Sundowner snack. We had Jungle Juice and water, and cold food offerings including melon balls, chicken curry, 2 shrimp, air-dried roast beef and ham, salmon and cream cheese, and a spread with pita bread. Much more gourmet than I expected. Presentation included an orchid and cool snaplocked tins. All of the food was African inspired and included some different seasonings than usual. We thoroughly enjoyed this.
This pretty much was the end of the Safari. Throughout our trek Meghan and Laura had taken photos and we are to receive a photopass CD of all of the pictures they took of the animals and us crossing the bridges.
We retrieved our belongings from the locker, bused back to SSR, changed clothes for the snow at home, and had an uneventful ME trip to the airport and SWA flight back to Providence.
Now we won't be back until May, and the last week of F & G. We'll be staying in a value studio at Jambo for the first time.
It was a good celebration. Any questions?
The snow is doing that for me!
