Wilderness Lodge, Here We Come!!! Updated - Final Thoughts, Page 10

[Renee1061]

Yea!! I finally figured out how to do multiple quotes!

My Irish grandmother always used to say that Hunger was the best Sauce!
Awesome upgrade; so happy for you both!

Kathy

Thanks for reading!

So glad you got the upgrade at the WL. You guys deserved it after all, and I do mean all you've been through. I absolutely love the WL and actually bought a DVC resale at the WL Villas last year. Reading your report has me wishing I was there and I don't go back till December - UGH!!! Anyway - can't wait for the next installment.

I just wish we'd had more time to spend at the Lodge relaxing.

We are stay at the WLV in September and cannot wait!! Your pictures were awesome. Cannot wait to hear more!!!

Thanks!!

We stayed at the WL two years ago and it was wonderful. We also got upgraded to a courtyard view. Can't wait to hear more.

I loved the courtyard view!!

What a nice upgrade!

Looking forward to reading the rest!

Thanks!

Just found your report!! The Wilderness is on my list for resorts!! What a great upgrade, that view is awesome!! I would love someday to go to WDW with just my mom, your daughter is beautiful!

You definitely need to go to WL. It is beautiful and so peaceful!

I can't wait to hear more about your trip! I'm glad that the plane/luggage situation worked out for you. I am very nervous about my flights in July being delayed or the bags being lost. We are also staying at the Wilderness Lodge. I can't wait all the pictures I have seen are beautiful. We are booked for a courtyard view and I hope we get one like yours. Can't wait for you next update!

Thanks! I'm hoping to post an update tonight.

Very nice upgrade!

Thanks for reading!!

 

[wdwdavem]

I just found your report and its great. We stayed at WL 2 years ago and I can still picture the lobby(incredible). I can't wait to read more.

 

[Renee1061]

Chapter 6
Day 2, Part 1

I woke up at 6:45. Lindsay was already up and in the shower We got ready and had breakfast at Roaring Fork. I think we both got the breakfast platter. After our experience with the bus the night before, I decided to drive the rental car today.

Without really planning to, we managed to hit three parks today (the park hopper option was made for people like me)! We made it to Animal Kingdom at 9:00 just after opening, and it was already getting crowded. Got a fast pass for Expedition: Everest and rode on standby (wait was only about 15 minutes). Then Lindsay talked me into riding Primeval Whirl. I’m not much for spinning, so this isn’t my favorite ride! We rode EE again with our fast pass. By this time, for some reason, we were both ready to leave AK.

We were going to MK that evening for EMH, so we weren’t quite ready to go there yet. We decided to go to Epcot. We did several things this trip that we had not done before. Our first “first” was Test Track. We rode Nemo, then saw Turtle Talk with Crush. I love the new location and queue area for this. Then we walked around World Showcase and ate lunch at Liberty Inn. Another new thing for us this year was Maelstrom. It was closed last year when we were there. We rode Spaceship Earth on the way out, which was another first. We both really enjoyed this ride. I'm glad we got to ride it before they change it. We left Epcot around 4:00 and went back to our room to rest for a while. Here are a few pictures from Epcot.

 

[Renee1061]

Day 2, Part 2

Somewhere around 6:00, we took the boat to MK. It’s our favorite park and the last one we went to. I had begun to wonder if this year was going to have the same magic as last year and walking through the gates of MK did it for me. There’s just something about that castle!

Our first stop was Aloha Isle for a Dole Whip float! Yes, I took a picture of it!

Splash Mountain had a 50 minute wait, so we got fast passes. We backtracked to Pirates of the Caribbean. It had a 30-minute wait, so we got in line and rode it. I loved the changes! I managed to get one fairly good picture. I didn’t use my flash (unlike the nice lady in front of me).

We walked around a little then rode Splash with our fast passes. It was dark by this time, and the water was cold!!

Lindsay was hungry, so we went in search of something to eat. Stopped along the way and got our wristbands for EMH. We ended up at Cosmic Rays where she got a hot dog. I made her hurry so we wouldn’t miss Wishes.

Wishes!! There was the magic! I teared up as soon as the first note played. Ever since seeing it for the first time last year, this has been the one event that says “Disney” to us. Our Wishes cruise was going to be the next evening, but I’m glad we saw it up close first. I took a ton of pictures, hoping to get a few good ones. I know I really need a tripod, but I did end up with a few good ones.

SEE WHAT A LITTLE WISHIN' CAN DO?

Peter Pan’s Flight was something else we had never done, so after Wishes, we went over and got fast passes, then went to Mickey’s Philharmagic. Stopped at Sleepy Hollow and got a funnel cake. We walked over to Space Mountain, but didn’t ride because the wait was too long and we already had fast passes, so couldn’t get more. We walked around a little and ended up back at Space Mountain, which was down to a 30 minute wait, so we got in line. The wait seemed much longer than 30 minutes. This year’s evening EMH was much more crowded than the one we went to last year. Last year we could virtually walk on anything. We then rode Peter Pan’s Flight. I thought it was really neat, but it didn’t last long enough.

We were both pretty tired by then, so we left before the park closed. We rode the boat back to WL. We had towel animals when we got back in the room! Made it to bed by about 1:30.

 

[KathyRN137]

We were both pretty tired by then,

No kidding!! Whew! I'm tired just reading about it!

Fabulous pics!!

Kathy

 

[IluvXU]

Boy I love the WL pics. We are going there in August!

Can't wait!

 

[PinkDaisy8844]

No kidding!! Whew! I'm tired just reading about it!

Fabulous pics!!

Kathy

I know so am I!!! That was a long day, I'm not sure I can do that on my trip, we'll see though!

This is a wonderful trip report, I can't wait to hear more!

 

[DisneyFan06]

I love your report!

 

[Renee1061]

I just found your report and its great. We stayed at WL 2 years ago and I can still picture the lobby(incredible). I can't wait to read more.

Thanks for reading!

No kidding!! Whew! I'm tired just reading about it!

Fabulous pics!!

Kathy

When we go to Disney World, we GO to Disney World. I'm exhausted by the end of the trip, but it's worth it!

Boy I love the WL pics. We are going there in August!

Can't wait!

Thanks!

I know so am I!!! That was a long day, I'm not sure I can do that on my trip, we'll see though!

This is a wonderful trip report, I can't wait to hear more!

Not all days were that full, but pretty close.

I love your report!

Thank you!

 

[DisneyFan06]

When we go to Disney World, we GO to Disney World. I'm exhausted by the end of the trip, but it's worth it!

And that is exactly how it should be! Well, that's how we do it!

 

[lamagique]

Just found your TR. First off, I am sorry about the loss of your DH. Secondly, what great photos--esp. of Wishes! Can't wait to hear more!

 

[katiemouse]

Your pictures of Wishes look great. Wow, three parks in a day. Did you make it out the next morning?

 

[kaysmommie]

I love all your pictures! My whole family is so tired after going to Disney with me. there is just so much to do .

 

[Renee1061]

Just found your TR. First off, I am sorry about the loss of your DH. Secondly, what great photos--esp. of Wishes! Can't wait to hear more!

Thanks!!

Your pictures of Wishes look great. Wow, three parks in a day. Did you make it out the next morning?

We slept in the next morning, ate a late breakfast, and didn't make it to the parks until about 11:30.

I love all your pictures! My whole family is so tired after going to Disney with me. there is just so much to do .

I know what you mean. I always say I am going to have some down time to relax, but I never do!


Hopefully, I'll have an update up later tonight!

 

[mumom95]

Subscribing!! Great trip report so far. I'm so sorry to hear about your husband.

We are staying at the WL in November, our first family trip.

We will have our car there, do you recommend driving to the parks (except MK, since you can boat over) or did you prefer the busses?

 

[Renee1061]

Subscribing!! Great trip report so far. I'm so sorry to hear about your husband.

We are staying at the WL in November, our first family trip.

We will have our car there, do you recommend driving to the parks (except MK, since you can boat over) or did you prefer the busses?

There are advantages and disadvantages to both car and bus. I would say definitely take the boat or bus to MK. As for the other parks, I found that if we stayed until park closing, the buses were crowded and one night at EPCOT, we had to wait for the third bus. When we drove, we were always lucky and the tram usually let us off very near the row we were parked in. I'm sure it does not always turn out that way, though.

 

[DisneyFan06]

I hope I dont miss much while I am away. I am going to Disney!

I was just checking in before I left to see if you did any updating.

 

[Renee1061]

I hope I dont miss much while I am away. I am going to Disney!

I was just checking in before I left to see if you did any updating.

Sorry, I was going to update last night, but I got too involved in American Idol.

Have a great time on your trip. Looking forward to reading your report!!

 

[peightonmom]

Great Report! We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge in September for our very first family trip.
I can't wait to go back!

 

[Renee1061]

Day 3, Part 1

We slept in this morning since we were up so late the night before. I got up at about 8:45, took a shower and updated my notes for my trip report (you didn’t think I was doing this all by memory, did you?). I woke Lindsay up and she got ready and we went to breakfast at Whispering Canyon Café. Since it was so late (about 10:30 by now) we got right in without ADRs. We both got the skillet. And you know you can’t have potatoes without ketchup! Lindsay held out as long as she could, then she couldn’t stand it any more and had to ask. We must have broken the ice, because then everyone started asking for it.

After breakfast, we drove the rental car to MGM. Our first ride was Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Lindsay decided to ham it up for the camera, so I had to buy the picture.

She still refused to ride Tower of Terror, so I rode it by myself. She at least did go through the queue with me. Last year, I talked her into riding it. Apparently, she didn’t tighten the seat belt enough. When we dropped, she said she felt like she was going to fall out, and she swore she would never get on it again. So far, she was staying true to her word. Maybe I’ll talk her into it before the week is over.

We walked back toward the center of the park and noticed that an area was roped off with lots of cameras. There was a guy from the Disney Channel and he was interviewing two of the stars of High School Musical (the actual movie, not the pep rally). We didn’t get to meet them, but Lindsay was excited just to get to see them.

We went on the Backlot Tour and rode the Great Movie Ride. We left MGM at about 3:00 and went to Downtown Disney to look around. We decided to go offsite to eat. Bad decision! We were wishing we were back at Disney the whole time. We stopped at CVS to pick up some Aleve. My hips and back had been killing me from all the walking. I found that taking an Aleve at the beginning of the day really helped.

We went back to the room to rest a little. Lindsay wanted to know if she could go down to the Mercantile, and I said okay. When she got back, she gave me a box and said it was an early Mother’s Day present. It was a watch that I had been admiring earlier. She spent half of her spending money on it. Did I mention what an awesome daughter she is?

Next up…..Wishes Cruise!!!!