Day 3 (part 1) - Saturday, November 13, 2004:
CAST OF CHARACTERS:
MOM - 57 year old somewhat disney nut.
ME - 34 year old DISNEY NUT who has had to wait one full year for her Disney fix.
TODAY'S AGENDA:
1. Check into Boardwalk Studio
2. Take Keys to the Kingdom Tour
3. Epcot and dinner at LeCellier
Did we achieve these goals? Barely!
6:50 a.m ringy, ding dong. Mom its time you answer the phone. Hey, it's Mickey calling to wake us up. Gee I'm waiting to hear her expression in three more days about the wake up call.
Anyway it's up and adam to get all neat and pretty. It's supposed to be another toasty 80 something degree day with scattered thunderstorms (at least according to what I printed out on weather.com before leaving). Mom and I usually have a drive up night/day before we check into our hotel so we packed accordingly (one overnight bag, two makeup cases and the cold food out of the vehicle). Everything else (supplies for studio, extra large pillow, two suitcases, camera case, box of food/snack items, hats and coats - we've been to FL when it was cold before)was still packed away in the car. We fixed breakfast, got dressed and filled the ice chest with ice and said goodbye to our room at CSR. Warning we'll be back for another stay in the future. P.S. - Out in the parking lot packing the car, a man approached us to ask for directions to the Convention Center, he was lost and mom pointed him my way.
As we packed the few items in the car, mom commented on how she really fell in love with CSR. I have to admit, I would miss it, it was a very nice small stay. As we began driving out, mom stated that she only slept about 4 1/2 to 5 hours, she doesn't sleep well the first couple of nights away from home. I, on the other hand, slept like a log for at least 7 hours.
We arrive in style at the Boardwalk to checkin to the swanky palace on the lake. Because it was the last weekend of Food & Wine, Super Soap and Festival of the Masters weekends, I knew that we would not be able to checkin early here so we just dropped off all of our luggage and whatnots with bell services (tipped and everything went off with a hitch). I did a pre-checkin and was provided with the phone number and two maps (mom has to get one even though she'll still manage to get lost). I then went to park my car and in securing my car (which I wouldn't look for in a week) locked my car keys right when I slammed the door. Okay is this the type of day I am going to have - NO! I asked mom to bring her set of my car keys for this very reason - I'm a clever minx. Short walk over to the bus stop, asked mom for her keys, walked to the car to retrieve my keys and everything is a okay.
Walked back to the bus stop to wait for bus to the Magic Kingdom. At 8:35, the bus shows up and about 20 people hop on. We then head over to Swan and Dolphin to pickup a few people which then make the bus packed with about 6 people standing. Onto MK we go. We manage to get through security and the ticket gates right when the official opening begins (believe it or not this is the first ever time I'm seeing the opening ceremony, we usually don't walk in at MK until about 10). We watched a bit and worked out way to the front of the crowd. I spoke with a CM and stated that we were there for the 9:30 tour and needed to rent a locker and he let us in a few minutes early. Well mom, while we are here let's take some pictures when no one is in the background, OKay, so took a few pictures and then ran to get in the locker rental line right as the throngs of guest began to enter the park. Whew, just missed that long line that quickly formed. Rented locker for rain gear and snacks, went to restroom and then checked in at courtyard next to City Hall.
Our tour guide for the Keys to the Kingdom Tour was Daniel, a 23 year old fellow Disneyphite who has a bright future with the company. You can tell he loves his job and the people that he works directly with as they all enteracted and joked around waiting for everyone to check in. We preordered lunch at Columbia Harbor House (I ordered the chicken strips, mom ordered the fish strips) and we put our official pins and guest tags on. You are also provided with an earpiece and radio receiver that you clip to you belt, pocket, top, etc.
DISCLAIMER - If you don't want to know some backstage info. please stop reading here.
Daniel began the tour at 9:35 a.m. right there at City Hall. He called it the Spoil the Magic Tour. He began speaking about Walt and Roy and the original concept of Epcot's planned community. He explained how the concept of Disneyworld was put into place. After a brief explanation we began to walk down Main Street where some of the names on the 2nd floor windows was explained and the forced perspective concept for the buildings was explained as well. He proceeded to inform us that the baked goods are made very early in the underground bakery and moved up to the bakery where the baking smells are pumped into the air outside on Main Street. He continued to explain that Main Street is a movie with opening and ending credits (names in windows) and Walt is always looking over the castle even though he never saw it built. At this point were at the end of Main Street and a few guest who were running late were brought over to us (we were now 22 in this touring group).
He then took us toward Adventureland showing us how the lands slowly change from one form to another beginning at Crystal Palace. He then stopped at a few points in Adventureland to explain a few things and then we headed to Jungle Cruise (Daniel was a former skipper and really loves the ride). We then took a tour where we had out own boat and different items were noted by Daniel with his own bad jokes added in (I don't think you can ever break a skipper of the bad joke habit). Afterwards we headed to PoC but only for a bathroom break (a few in the tour really wanted to tour PoC but he stated he couldn't that day). We continued onto through Adventureland wherein other information continued about the building of WDW and the fightening that went on between Walt and Roy.
Interesting concept was that Walt was trying to cover America within the various lands of MK but that was all interrupted by PoC. PoC was so popular in Calif. that when the park opened up in FL, many people complained that they wanted the pirates, so they got them but they were thrown in last minute and sort of messed up the land concept (ie. Splash Mtn represents GA and got put in right next to BTMRR which is a representation of Utah and we all know GA and Utah are not next to each other). I didn't know all of this info. so I did learn something new. Daniel then continued to walk us toward Splash Mtn and we turned right there where the parades come out of and walked up the walkway and behind the large wall on wheels.
He explained how the lake was made in front of MK, the dirt was taken to make the tunnels underground and that MK was built on top of a tunnel system because your not supposed to see the back side of the show of MainStreet (you know its all out of character). A band was practicing for the upcoming x-mas parade in this area. We were explained how the trash system works, were show the back area and water reservoir of Splash Mtn and informed how that works and were able to see some of the refinished animals going back in the Jungle Cruise ride. He pointed out the various buildings with the parade floats (you could see them but we weren't that close to them). He explained why different colors were used in the back areas and how all CM's for parades must start their routines way before the public sees them come out of this are (all the show put on). He explained how the characters work (changed every 30 minutes) and what the performers do in their time while not on show for the guest (practice, practice, practice). He answered a lot of questions for us in this area as we were no longer in the general public areas.
We then continued on through Frontierland. Did you know that brick walkway in the middle of the street is considered the sewer. They wanted to make it realistic so the bricked area in the middle of the street is supposed to be the sewer as in the olden days when all the trash was thrown in the middle of the street. He stopped us by the old oak tree in Frontierland to inform us that there were 13 lanterns for the original 13 colonies. He pointed out some info. about the local buildings (there are reasons why there is a gun in one window and two lanterns in another).
He began to take us in to the Hall of Presidents but we were all stopped by Peter Pan and Wendy (they were giving a seperate tour but they wanted to harass Daniel). The whole seen was really cute, Peter Pan and Wendy took over the tour for all of about 2 minutes (there tour group was waiting on one side) and both were in true character form. I can see why they picked those two as Peter Pan and Wendy - they really knew the characters well. After everyone laughed at a few jokes Daniel continued the tour in Hall of Presidents and explained a number of things there. Did you know that basically every president in the past 30 years has been stripped down of all their goods after inaguration (watches, suit, hankerchiefs, etc.) and that is what they put on the presidents here. Very interesting.
We then were seated in a 2nd floor corner room of Columbia Harbor House for lunch. We were seated at a table with 2 other solo travelers (one lady who stayed on after a convention and a man who also loved Disney). We ate lunch (your only given 1/2 hour to eat and use bathroom). Then on with the tour. Sidenote reg. Columbia Harbor House: Past trips from 2002 through 2003 we've eaten at CHH for lunch. They used to provide more food. For instance, I used to get 4 chicken strips and a ton of fries everytime because mom and I would comment on how we could split the meal (ie. she would get the fish meal with 4 pieces of fish) we always said we would come and split the fish/chicken combo with fries and save us $6.00 on the extra meal. Well this meal, there were only 3 strips of chicken or fish and not the usual ton of fries (they've seemed to cut back on the food here). Additionally, mom really didn't like the fish this time. P.S. - you are given a special Keys to the Kingdom pin for taking the tour while your at lunch.
After lunch we were lead over to HM. We stopped to get the usual talk of the ride concept, chess pieces on house, ring thrown from window and in ground, you know the pitch. We were informed that there are 4 hidden Mickey's and one Donald Duck. I really loved learning all that he had to provide on the background of this ride and had a great time. After riding we were taken backstage in the area inbetween Casey's and Crystal Palace. The backstage area is shown to us and we are eventually walked up the 2nd floor area behind the shops on Main Street. There is an area up there with old photo's of when they were building MK on the site and some show Walt and others show Roy. There is also a wall of casings showing how costuming works as well as characters. For instance Cinderella has to look a certain way (everything from makeup has to be very specific to the look of the girls who plays her). All characters also have to take a caligraphy class as anyone who signs a name must sign that characters name the same way everytime. Must admit it is very interesting.
From here we walked down a stairwell for two flights and came out in the tunnels under Main Street. Modern music (Sting) was being pipped in the tunnels. People were moving gifts from the shops above to the pickup area. We were shown a map of the underground tunnel and walked through them to a different area (actually we crossed Main Street using tunnels underneath them) and came out in the backstage area on the otherside of the Main Street Shops we went behind. We came out in an area that has one of two backstage restaurants where the CM's eat. On top of that restaurant/building is a padded structure. Daniel explained that this is the landing area for tinkerbell (which is why the structure is padded). Everynight when she lands she is caught in a blanket by two CM's). The shortest flight was 23 seconds and the longest flight was 30 seconds.
Additional info was provided, we were walked through the back area of a building and came out by City Hall where the tour concluded. Daniel greeted us all personally and we thanked him for the tour.
Daniel is a great CM and loves his job at Disney. He has a very bright future there for him and explained how he has worked his way to that point (he had a desk job at one time and didn't like not meeting with people so he took the tour guide job) and is wonderful at what he does. The tour took almost 5 hours and because I am a Disney Visa cardholder, I got 15% off the price (it was $49 after the discount per person but included lunch).
OKAY - DISCLAIMER OVER - YOU CAN NOW BEGIN READING AGAIN.
This is mine and my mom's general thought on the tour. You will learn a lot of information on the tour and it's nickname of Spoil the Magic does suit it well (it is a different way to see Disney). The tour does have a lot of walking but this isn't what wears you down it's the time that your just standing around in between. Each stop for info. you stand there at least 15 to 20 minutes at a time (many in our group were in ages between 30 to 50 and many would have to sit on the side because they got tired of standing). Some of these times your outside in the direct sunlight standing for 20 minutes (I have roscea and have to wear sunscreen but there were 2 times where the sunlight was so bright and bouncing off the concrete that I could feel it seering into my skin). Mom and I are used to walking the parks but we weren't used to just standing around so we found that our feet/ankles and lower backs were hurting a bit (I don't have back problems at all but my back did hurt). My mom does have a back problem and left with a headache that she attributited to the standing and back pain. I would love to do more tours during future visits but will rethink the ones that go 3 plus hours at a time, mom liked the tour but doesn't want to do anymore in the future.
After the tour we bought some ice cream and sat down for a bit in the train station, we also opened our lockers to get out the water and pot. chips to snack on as well. I called to see if our studio was ready at BW but it wasn't so we stayed at MK. We rode the train around as we didn't want to stand anymore. We eventually got off at Toontown and walked the back way to Tomorrowland where we sat and enjoyed CoP (moms favorite show) and TTA. We weren't about to stand and watch the parade and we wanted to avoid the masses waiting around for the parade as well.
At 4:00 we walked out of the park dead tired and waited for the BW bus. It was a balmy 83 degrees with full sunlight (don't know what happened to the scattered thunderstorms but they were no where around). When we arrived at BW about 4:20 I used a housephone to call to see if the room was ready and finally it was. We were overjoyed but I'll save that for the next report.
RECAP:
Checking out of CSR -
Prechecking in at BW -
Seeing opening show at MK -
Keys to the Kingdom Tour -
Being very tired after finishing the tour -
Leaving MK to rest at BW -
Next installment, room at Boardwalk
CAST OF CHARACTERS:
MOM - 57 year old somewhat disney nut.
ME - 34 year old DISNEY NUT who has had to wait one full year for her Disney fix.
TODAY'S AGENDA:
1. Check into Boardwalk Studio
2. Take Keys to the Kingdom Tour
3. Epcot and dinner at LeCellier
Did we achieve these goals? Barely!
6:50 a.m ringy, ding dong. Mom its time you answer the phone. Hey, it's Mickey calling to wake us up. Gee I'm waiting to hear her expression in three more days about the wake up call.
Anyway it's up and adam to get all neat and pretty. It's supposed to be another toasty 80 something degree day with scattered thunderstorms (at least according to what I printed out on weather.com before leaving). Mom and I usually have a drive up night/day before we check into our hotel so we packed accordingly (one overnight bag, two makeup cases and the cold food out of the vehicle). Everything else (supplies for studio, extra large pillow, two suitcases, camera case, box of food/snack items, hats and coats - we've been to FL when it was cold before)was still packed away in the car. We fixed breakfast, got dressed and filled the ice chest with ice and said goodbye to our room at CSR. Warning we'll be back for another stay in the future. P.S. - Out in the parking lot packing the car, a man approached us to ask for directions to the Convention Center, he was lost and mom pointed him my way.
As we packed the few items in the car, mom commented on how she really fell in love with CSR. I have to admit, I would miss it, it was a very nice small stay. As we began driving out, mom stated that she only slept about 4 1/2 to 5 hours, she doesn't sleep well the first couple of nights away from home. I, on the other hand, slept like a log for at least 7 hours.
We arrive in style at the Boardwalk to checkin to the swanky palace on the lake. Because it was the last weekend of Food & Wine, Super Soap and Festival of the Masters weekends, I knew that we would not be able to checkin early here so we just dropped off all of our luggage and whatnots with bell services (tipped and everything went off with a hitch). I did a pre-checkin and was provided with the phone number and two maps (mom has to get one even though she'll still manage to get lost). I then went to park my car and in securing my car (which I wouldn't look for in a week) locked my car keys right when I slammed the door. Okay is this the type of day I am going to have - NO! I asked mom to bring her set of my car keys for this very reason - I'm a clever minx. Short walk over to the bus stop, asked mom for her keys, walked to the car to retrieve my keys and everything is a okay.
Walked back to the bus stop to wait for bus to the Magic Kingdom. At 8:35, the bus shows up and about 20 people hop on. We then head over to Swan and Dolphin to pickup a few people which then make the bus packed with about 6 people standing. Onto MK we go. We manage to get through security and the ticket gates right when the official opening begins (believe it or not this is the first ever time I'm seeing the opening ceremony, we usually don't walk in at MK until about 10). We watched a bit and worked out way to the front of the crowd. I spoke with a CM and stated that we were there for the 9:30 tour and needed to rent a locker and he let us in a few minutes early. Well mom, while we are here let's take some pictures when no one is in the background, OKay, so took a few pictures and then ran to get in the locker rental line right as the throngs of guest began to enter the park. Whew, just missed that long line that quickly formed. Rented locker for rain gear and snacks, went to restroom and then checked in at courtyard next to City Hall.
Our tour guide for the Keys to the Kingdom Tour was Daniel, a 23 year old fellow Disneyphite who has a bright future with the company. You can tell he loves his job and the people that he works directly with as they all enteracted and joked around waiting for everyone to check in. We preordered lunch at Columbia Harbor House (I ordered the chicken strips, mom ordered the fish strips) and we put our official pins and guest tags on. You are also provided with an earpiece and radio receiver that you clip to you belt, pocket, top, etc.
DISCLAIMER - If you don't want to know some backstage info. please stop reading here.
Daniel began the tour at 9:35 a.m. right there at City Hall. He called it the Spoil the Magic Tour. He began speaking about Walt and Roy and the original concept of Epcot's planned community. He explained how the concept of Disneyworld was put into place. After a brief explanation we began to walk down Main Street where some of the names on the 2nd floor windows was explained and the forced perspective concept for the buildings was explained as well. He proceeded to inform us that the baked goods are made very early in the underground bakery and moved up to the bakery where the baking smells are pumped into the air outside on Main Street. He continued to explain that Main Street is a movie with opening and ending credits (names in windows) and Walt is always looking over the castle even though he never saw it built. At this point were at the end of Main Street and a few guest who were running late were brought over to us (we were now 22 in this touring group).
He then took us toward Adventureland showing us how the lands slowly change from one form to another beginning at Crystal Palace. He then stopped at a few points in Adventureland to explain a few things and then we headed to Jungle Cruise (Daniel was a former skipper and really loves the ride). We then took a tour where we had out own boat and different items were noted by Daniel with his own bad jokes added in (I don't think you can ever break a skipper of the bad joke habit). Afterwards we headed to PoC but only for a bathroom break (a few in the tour really wanted to tour PoC but he stated he couldn't that day). We continued onto through Adventureland wherein other information continued about the building of WDW and the fightening that went on between Walt and Roy.
Interesting concept was that Walt was trying to cover America within the various lands of MK but that was all interrupted by PoC. PoC was so popular in Calif. that when the park opened up in FL, many people complained that they wanted the pirates, so they got them but they were thrown in last minute and sort of messed up the land concept (ie. Splash Mtn represents GA and got put in right next to BTMRR which is a representation of Utah and we all know GA and Utah are not next to each other). I didn't know all of this info. so I did learn something new. Daniel then continued to walk us toward Splash Mtn and we turned right there where the parades come out of and walked up the walkway and behind the large wall on wheels.
He explained how the lake was made in front of MK, the dirt was taken to make the tunnels underground and that MK was built on top of a tunnel system because your not supposed to see the back side of the show of MainStreet (you know its all out of character). A band was practicing for the upcoming x-mas parade in this area. We were explained how the trash system works, were show the back area and water reservoir of Splash Mtn and informed how that works and were able to see some of the refinished animals going back in the Jungle Cruise ride. He pointed out the various buildings with the parade floats (you could see them but we weren't that close to them). He explained why different colors were used in the back areas and how all CM's for parades must start their routines way before the public sees them come out of this are (all the show put on). He explained how the characters work (changed every 30 minutes) and what the performers do in their time while not on show for the guest (practice, practice, practice). He answered a lot of questions for us in this area as we were no longer in the general public areas.
We then continued on through Frontierland. Did you know that brick walkway in the middle of the street is considered the sewer. They wanted to make it realistic so the bricked area in the middle of the street is supposed to be the sewer as in the olden days when all the trash was thrown in the middle of the street. He stopped us by the old oak tree in Frontierland to inform us that there were 13 lanterns for the original 13 colonies. He pointed out some info. about the local buildings (there are reasons why there is a gun in one window and two lanterns in another).
He began to take us in to the Hall of Presidents but we were all stopped by Peter Pan and Wendy (they were giving a seperate tour but they wanted to harass Daniel). The whole seen was really cute, Peter Pan and Wendy took over the tour for all of about 2 minutes (there tour group was waiting on one side) and both were in true character form. I can see why they picked those two as Peter Pan and Wendy - they really knew the characters well. After everyone laughed at a few jokes Daniel continued the tour in Hall of Presidents and explained a number of things there. Did you know that basically every president in the past 30 years has been stripped down of all their goods after inaguration (watches, suit, hankerchiefs, etc.) and that is what they put on the presidents here. Very interesting.
We then were seated in a 2nd floor corner room of Columbia Harbor House for lunch. We were seated at a table with 2 other solo travelers (one lady who stayed on after a convention and a man who also loved Disney). We ate lunch (your only given 1/2 hour to eat and use bathroom). Then on with the tour. Sidenote reg. Columbia Harbor House: Past trips from 2002 through 2003 we've eaten at CHH for lunch. They used to provide more food. For instance, I used to get 4 chicken strips and a ton of fries everytime because mom and I would comment on how we could split the meal (ie. she would get the fish meal with 4 pieces of fish) we always said we would come and split the fish/chicken combo with fries and save us $6.00 on the extra meal. Well this meal, there were only 3 strips of chicken or fish and not the usual ton of fries (they've seemed to cut back on the food here). Additionally, mom really didn't like the fish this time. P.S. - you are given a special Keys to the Kingdom pin for taking the tour while your at lunch.
After lunch we were lead over to HM. We stopped to get the usual talk of the ride concept, chess pieces on house, ring thrown from window and in ground, you know the pitch. We were informed that there are 4 hidden Mickey's and one Donald Duck. I really loved learning all that he had to provide on the background of this ride and had a great time. After riding we were taken backstage in the area inbetween Casey's and Crystal Palace. The backstage area is shown to us and we are eventually walked up the 2nd floor area behind the shops on Main Street. There is an area up there with old photo's of when they were building MK on the site and some show Walt and others show Roy. There is also a wall of casings showing how costuming works as well as characters. For instance Cinderella has to look a certain way (everything from makeup has to be very specific to the look of the girls who plays her). All characters also have to take a caligraphy class as anyone who signs a name must sign that characters name the same way everytime. Must admit it is very interesting.
From here we walked down a stairwell for two flights and came out in the tunnels under Main Street. Modern music (Sting) was being pipped in the tunnels. People were moving gifts from the shops above to the pickup area. We were shown a map of the underground tunnel and walked through them to a different area (actually we crossed Main Street using tunnels underneath them) and came out in the backstage area on the otherside of the Main Street Shops we went behind. We came out in an area that has one of two backstage restaurants where the CM's eat. On top of that restaurant/building is a padded structure. Daniel explained that this is the landing area for tinkerbell (which is why the structure is padded). Everynight when she lands she is caught in a blanket by two CM's). The shortest flight was 23 seconds and the longest flight was 30 seconds.
Additional info was provided, we were walked through the back area of a building and came out by City Hall where the tour concluded. Daniel greeted us all personally and we thanked him for the tour.
Daniel is a great CM and loves his job at Disney. He has a very bright future there for him and explained how he has worked his way to that point (he had a desk job at one time and didn't like not meeting with people so he took the tour guide job) and is wonderful at what he does. The tour took almost 5 hours and because I am a Disney Visa cardholder, I got 15% off the price (it was $49 after the discount per person but included lunch).
OKAY - DISCLAIMER OVER - YOU CAN NOW BEGIN READING AGAIN.
This is mine and my mom's general thought on the tour. You will learn a lot of information on the tour and it's nickname of Spoil the Magic does suit it well (it is a different way to see Disney). The tour does have a lot of walking but this isn't what wears you down it's the time that your just standing around in between. Each stop for info. you stand there at least 15 to 20 minutes at a time (many in our group were in ages between 30 to 50 and many would have to sit on the side because they got tired of standing). Some of these times your outside in the direct sunlight standing for 20 minutes (I have roscea and have to wear sunscreen but there were 2 times where the sunlight was so bright and bouncing off the concrete that I could feel it seering into my skin). Mom and I are used to walking the parks but we weren't used to just standing around so we found that our feet/ankles and lower backs were hurting a bit (I don't have back problems at all but my back did hurt). My mom does have a back problem and left with a headache that she attributited to the standing and back pain. I would love to do more tours during future visits but will rethink the ones that go 3 plus hours at a time, mom liked the tour but doesn't want to do anymore in the future.
After the tour we bought some ice cream and sat down for a bit in the train station, we also opened our lockers to get out the water and pot. chips to snack on as well. I called to see if our studio was ready at BW but it wasn't so we stayed at MK. We rode the train around as we didn't want to stand anymore. We eventually got off at Toontown and walked the back way to Tomorrowland where we sat and enjoyed CoP (moms favorite show) and TTA. We weren't about to stand and watch the parade and we wanted to avoid the masses waiting around for the parade as well.
At 4:00 we walked out of the park dead tired and waited for the BW bus. It was a balmy 83 degrees with full sunlight (don't know what happened to the scattered thunderstorms but they were no where around). When we arrived at BW about 4:20 I used a housephone to call to see if the room was ready and finally it was. We were overjoyed but I'll save that for the next report.
RECAP:
Checking out of CSR -
Prechecking in at BW -
Seeing opening show at MK -
Keys to the Kingdom Tour -
Being very tired after finishing the tour -
Leaving MK to rest at BW -
Next installment, room at Boardwalk
