Wild Turkeys and Dancing Banana Heads Cruise 11/25/06

[woogal]

We have one night booked at the new REsidence Inn in Cocoa Beach and I suppose we could go down a day earlier and do some stuff on the Coast? It's just hard to be so close to WDW and not go!!! Also - a friend's parents have a place in Vero Beach - is that close to the Port - could I see if we could stay there for 2 nights, rent a car and boot around???

Any advice is appreciated!!!!!!!!!!

Good morning! Hey, have you thought of this: How about touring Kennedy Space Center since it's right there at Cocoa Beach? It IS open on Thanksgiving, as I remember correctly, as my family did the whole tour on Thanksgiving a few years ago. It was AWESOME, even though it was closed for the employees and not a lot of action going on. We really really enjoyed ourselves there! Yeah, it's not WDW, but it certainly was a fun day.

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Tiggerking is absoutley right

WE go to WDW all year round and one of our sons is a manager there and also works in guest relations. Take it fromme, it will be wall to wall people. By 11:00 a.m., at the latest MK will be maxed out and nobody can go in until a few hundred leave, usually after the parade. The least crowded park is Epcot, but it is still crowded. If you go, please get to the park 30 minutes before it opens to get your place in line, so you can run quickly to 2 or 3 rides before it gets too bad. Even fast passes sell out by mid morning for rides, so you cant depend on them to help you get through the lines.
If the weather is nice I would head to a water park. They will be busy too, but at least you can always find room in the main pool or the lazy creek to get into the water. Then go to downtown disney, maybe catch a movie or do disney quest. You can watch the fireworks at MK by going to the comtempory resort and watching from there, although lots of people know about this, but it would be less crowded than the parks.

Prepare yourself and if you really dont mind the lines, then go for it. But honestly you probably have one hour after the park opens before it gets super crowded.
We avoid all the parks, even sea world and universal on holiday weekends. Of course we have an advantage that we can go almost any weekend because we live close.
I'm sure you'll have a great time no matter what you decide to do!!

Kathy

 

[TiggerKing]

Good morning! Hey, have you thought of this: How about touring Kennedy Space Center since it's right there at Cocoa Beach? It IS open on Thanksgiving, as I remember correctly, as my family did the whole tour on Thanksgiving a few years ago. It was AWESOME, even though it was closed for the employees and not a lot of action going on. We really really enjoyed ourselves there! Yeah, it's not WDW, but it certainly was a fun day.

If the launch schedule stays this same, this will be a GREAT idea as the Shuttle will be on the launch pad. At this point in time, the shuttle is scheduled for a 12/1/06 launch (our CC day -- Could make for an interesting day at CC). They typically move the vehicle to the pad up to a couple of weeks in advance.

 

[woogal]

WOW! That would be SO cool if they stay on the launch schedule. Will be awesome to see from CC!!!

 

[Dandy8]

Hi everyone! Just saying hello... Hope all of your had a wonderful weekend. We had great weather, sunny and high 80's. I too suffer from a sunburn on my back Woogal!!!

Dutchsmommy, have you heard any reviews about that Residence Inn in Cocoa beach? I think I told you but we're booked there on the evening of 11/24. We're toying with the idea of staying near Sea World and doing that the day before the cruise.

After the cruise we'll be staying at the Wilderness lodge for a few nights and going to MK. Has anyone stayed at Wilderness Lodge? Is it good? I haven't been to Disney in about 13 years...can't wait to see it!

 

[favoriteslave]

OK, I'll put my 2 cents in about Thanksgiving. We too have been to the World during that week, up until Thursday is not TOO busy, but the flood gates open on Thursday. I would suggest going to Downtown Disney too, but.... go to Cirque if you haven't already. We went one year on Thanksgiving and were able to get great seats two nights before the show. My son still talks about the show and compares every circus to it. (they all pale in comparison) Its just my 2 cents. No matter what you will be in Florida, getting ready to get on the MAGIC.

 

[woogal]

After the cruise we'll be staying at the Wilderness lodge for a few nights and going to MK. Has anyone stayed at Wilderness Lodge? Is it good? I haven't been to Disney in about 13 years...can't wait to see it!

Hi Danielle:

We stayed at Wilderness Lodge when it first opened ... AWESOME place! Get a room on the same side as the water and you can see the night electrical parade go past your balcony! Oh ... and don't forget to ask for ketchup if you eat at their main restaurant, right Mutt??!!

 

[Dandy8]

Hi Danielle:

We stayed at Wilderness Lodge when it first opened ... AWESOME place! Get a room on the same side as the water and you can see the night electrical parade go past your balcony! Oh ... and don't forget to ask for ketchup if you eat at their main restaurant, right Mutt??!!

Thanks. We have a woods view room booked (don't know what that means except that we'll have a bunch of trees outside our window )
We'll be sure to ask about ketchup since that is a staple at our dinner table...our kids are ketuchupaholics (we consider it a vegetable )!

Any restaurants in the MK that we shouldn't miss? or should we stick with the WL restaurants?

 

[TiggerKing]

WOW! That would be SO cool if they stay on the launch schedule. Will be awesome to see from CC!!!

Well, Shell pointed out that I was wrong (starting to sound like my wife) about the launch schedule. Apparently they have chosen to push the mission back to at least Dec 14. It should be on the launch pad before we leave. They have already put the next shuttle on the pad, and the launch isn't scheduled until 7/1.

Hope everyone is having a great Wednesday. I would love this short work week if I wasn't already behind when I got to work yesterday (I know, so why am I on here instead of working? ).

 

[woogal]

Well, Shell pointed out that I was wrong

Ah ... music to my ears!!!

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

DH and I were at the Wilderness lodge about 4 months ago for the weekend. It is beautiful!! In the lobby is a stone fireplace. If you look closely on the right side about 2/3rd of the way up you will see a hidden mickey. I starred at it for hours and never saw it ,after many trips there. I finally asked my son to point it out. It was right there! I can't believe I couldnt see it!! He had it pointed out to him on an cast member tour he took once, so he had help!!

There is also a small geyser beyond the pools that is like old faithful, only smaller.

Both the restaurants there are very good. I dont recall the names. One features foods from the Northwest, which of course goes with the theme of the lodge. Dinner only there. The other restaurant serves family style which is great. When my son was a teenager a waitress challenged him to ride a stick pony around that restaurant singing zippity do dah!! He did it at the top of his lungs!! People applauded and cheered, so he went a second time around with a donald duck hat on! The waitress turned a little red, she said teenage boys never accept her challenge, it is too embarassing. Guess she will be more careful the next time she challenges someone!! But that is the kind of atmosphere it is in there.FUN FUN FUN!!!

You can hop on a boat from there to take you to MK or over to the Contempory resort. At the Contempory resort is a excellant buffet called Chef Mickey's. It is a character meal. I would call ahead and make reservations to go there on a holiday weekend. It is very good and fun too. of course the California grill is on the top floor there with an awesome view of MK. This is a steak house. Kind of spendy, but great food is you dont mind spending the extra $$.
If you go to downtown disney you have several nice places to eat and shop.
There is a McDonalds there. To make the kids happy. Ok there are
others restaurants too. Planet Hollywood, Rainforest cafe, Fultons crab house, Captain Jacks, Earl of sandwich, plus a few smaller places. all are fun themed restaurants, great food! All should have reservations ahead of time, but if you eat a little early you may be able to get in ok. Planet hollywood and Rainforest are the lower priced of the sit down restaurants. Earl of sandwich is a deli sandwich place, but great foods if you want a sandwich.
Fultons and Capt Jacks are spendy, but awesome meals!! All these places have menu's out front so you can check out the food and prices before you go in which is really nice.
If you have any questions about a specific restaurant, please ask, if I dont know the answer, my son will know. He works in guest relations at downtown disney a lot, plus he is part time in management at Epcot. So he is trained in all aspects of downtown disney and could answer any questions I may ask. Hope this helps a little.

Kathy

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

DH and I were at the Wilderness lodge about 4 months ago for the weekend. It is beautiful!!
In the lobby is a stone fireplace. If you look closely on the right side about 2/3rd of the way up you will see a hidden mickey. I starred at it for hours and never saw it ,after many trips there. I finally asked my son to point it out. It was right there! I can't believe I couldnt see it!! He had it pointed out to him on an cast member tour he took once, so he had help!!

There is also a small geyser beyond the pools that is like old faithful, only smaller.

Both the restaurants there are very good. I dont recall the names. One features foods from the Northwest, which of course goes with the theme of the lodge. Dinner only there. The other restaurant serves family style which is great.
When my son was a teenager a waitress challenged him to ride a stick pony around that restaurant singing zippity do dah!! He did it at the top of his lungs!! People applauded and cheered, so he went a second time around with a donald duck hat on! The waitress turned a little red, she said teenage boys never accept her challenge, it is too embarassing. Guess she will be more careful the next time she challenges someone!! But that is the kind of atmosphere it is in there. FUN FUN FUN!!!

You can hop on a boat from there to take you to MK or over to the Contempory resort. At the Contempory resort is a excellant buffet called Chef Mickey's. It is a character meal. I would call ahead and make reservations to go there on a holiday weekend. It is very good and fun too. of course the California grill is on the top floor there with an awesome view of MK. This is a steak house. Kind of spendy, but great food is you dont mind spending the extra $$.
If you go to downtown disney you have several nice places to eat and shop.
There is a McDonalds there. To make the kids happy. Ok there are
others restaurants too. Planet Hollywood, Rainforest cafe, Fultons crab house, Captain Jacks, Earl of sandwich, plus a few smaller places. all are fun themed restaurants, great food! All should have reservations ahead of time, but if you eat a little early you may be able to get in ok. Planet hollywood and Rainforest are the lower priced of the sit down restaurants. Earl of sandwich is a deli sandwich place, but great foods if you want a sandwich.
Fultons and Capt Jacks are spendy, but awesome meals!! All these places have menu's out front so you can check out the food and prices before you go in which is really nice.
If you have any questions about a specific restaurant, please ask, if I dont know the answer, my son will know. He works in guest relations at downtown disney a lot, plus he is part time in management at Epcot. So he is trained in all aspects of downtown disney and could answer any questions I may ask. Hope this helps a little.

Kathy

 

[DutchsMommy]

I am thinking WDW will be a 'No' - really not worth the $$ for the tickets IMO. And....another reason to go back in low season!

We stayed at WL in Feb and really enjoyed it. Great theming, great grounds, really nice pool. There is a 'stream' which meanders through the courtyard and then flows into the main pool - DH went to the point it was coming into the pool and was pretending to be a spawning Salmon - it was hilarious but I'm sure the lifeguard thought we were dorks

One more question please - is Vero Beach near the Port? My friend's parents have a condo there and I am thinking maybe we can ask them if we can borrow it for the two nights - but only if it's within an hour or so of the Port.

Thanks!

 

[woogal]

It's about 75-80 miles ... you'd probably have an hour & 15 minute drive. Not too shabby.

 

[feenie]

We are staying at the POFQ for 3 nights prior to the cruise but we have NO plans to go to the parks.
We plan to do a holiday tour of the monorail resorts and the WL and shop and eat.

 

[Dixielady908]

Hello everyone...happy Wednesday.

Well reading everyones posts, I am getting jealous. We are not planning on stopping at Disney at all this trip. Which at the begining of the cruise planning was fine with me. But reading all your reports, now I want to go.. Oh well, I guess I'll just suffer with the cruise.....


Denise

 

[fourfoxesinpa]

SCRAPPLE! Danielle and I went to York College of PA. Since we are Long Island born and raised we had no idea what it was. I will never forget the first time I saw this old timer eating it at a dinner in PA. I had to ask one of my PA friends what the heck is that guy eating. After he told me about scrapple I didnt feel any better about it. I did try it once. I guess its an aquired taste.

I hope you tried your scrapple with some syrup!

Anyway...York College. Just about an hr. from us Foxes. Wouldn't happen to know Spanish Prof. Rita Gargotta? She lived in our old neighborhood and I took some advanced classes from her at another college.

 

[andy99]

I hope you tried your scrapple with some syrup!

Anyway...York College. Just about an hr. from us Foxes. Wouldn't happen to know Spanish Prof. Rita Gargotta? She lived in our old neighborhood and I took some advanced classes from her at another college.

I dont remember her, I asked my wife she dosent remember either. We graduated some 11 years ago so maybe we were there before her. I was never good with spanish. I did one year because it was required. We went to visit some friends for easter and went back to the campus. We were amazed how much the school has grown since we went there.

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

GOOD MORNING Everyone,

Sorry your not going to WDW this time, but it may be for the best. Thanksgiving is a mad house!!! SO many people!!! From Thursday on, it is unreal, before thursday is very slow. So you are probably saving yourself a lot of frustration and waiting in line.

Right now they have a brush fire at WDW. It is a ways from the parks on undeveloped land and the Reedy creek fire department has it pretty much under control, but we had 50% chance of thunderstorms today, which means lightning strikes, which means more fires!!
Some roads to the port are closed again today due to smoke. I am glad to know the fire season will be done by the time we cruise, so we wont have the road closure problems to deal with.

Well time to zip out to the store to get a few things before it get too HOT!

Kathy

 

[TiggerKing]

Happy Thursday Everyone!

It may be a short work week, but I am SO looking forward to the weekend! It has been crazy at the office this week. I am supposed to finish this project one week from tomorrow, and it has been EXTREMELY rushed this week, and probably most of next week!

Everybody keep cool and find a pool! (Gee, I'm a poet and didn't know it)