Day 2 (Part 1) - Saturday, November 15, 2003
CAST OF CHARACTERS:
Yecats - Me, myself and I.
Me is Single, 33 (however, other two personalities - myself is about 10 years old and an advid SM freak and the I personality may be about 60 years especially after getting off of the ToT).
Also on board is my new Canon ZR65 Digital Videocamera nicknamed: Handycam, as it was always in my hand.
PLAN FOR THE DAY:
1. Check into Port Orleans Riverside
2. Animal Kingdom
3. Break and unpacking (part 2)
4. Magic Kingdom (part 2)
6:50 a.m. - Ringy, Ding, ding. Oh geeze is it almost 7:00 already. I woke up an looked around as I was in unfamiliar suroundings. Honestly, when I wake up in the morning, I'm really not awake. It took a minute to register that I was on vacation and in a hotel. Well got up and got ready. 7:25 went down to the Watercress Cafe for breakfast. Got a large donut and a chocolate milk, $3.20 gone. I ate downstairs at a table with a view of the lake. Back up to my room to say goodbye and grab luggage. Checked out in 5 mins, asked bell services to grab a cab and off to Port Orleans Riverside. Wow what a beautiful day, sunny and 76 degrees. Jeolous?
8:10 a.m. arrived in style as my arrival was in a Lincoln Towncar. Cost of this trip totaled $14.00 with tip and one cute and nicely built Towncar driver. Some eyecandy in the morning must mean that I am going to have a great day.
Checked luggage in luggage storage and walked inside to checkin and obtain my ultimate park hopper. There was a small line already formed with 4 ladies working the clerk's area. I waited about 15 mins. and was called. Greeted the clerk and stated that if at all possible, I would like a nonsmoking mansions room with a kingbed. I did not previously request all of this other than to say to WDTC when I booked the Fairytale Package back in June that I wanted a King bed if at all possible in one of the mansions buildings. The clerk stated she would see if she could get me a kingbed but that I could definately be placed in one of the mansions. She stepped back to talk to her manager and came back to tell me that if I wanted a kingbed that would be an extra $15.00 per night. I reminded her that I was there on the FTP which meant that I paid for 4 nights and got 3 free. I was willing to pay $60.00 extra for a kingbed (paying for 4 nights) but didn't think it was worth $105.00 if I had to pay for all 7 nights. She stated that unfortunately it would have to be for all 7 nights, so I kept my extra $105.00 and told her that a double bed room would be fine. The clerk then went over all the normalities that they go through when checking in, handed me a card and stated that later on in the day when I was ready to come back to call the number to see if my room was ready. The clerk then told me that she had a room for me in Magnolia Terrace but it was not yet ready. Clerk was very friendly and cordial and I thanked her for her services, got my room key/charge card/ultimate park hopper and decided to walk around the resort for a few minutes.
Although it had quite few years, I have been to PORS when it used to be known as Dixie Landings. I do love the grounds here as they are so beautifully manicured and quiet. I walked over to Ole Man Island then ventured over the bridge to Magnolia Terrace (Handycam is out and ready to film). I then proceeded to walk around the courtyard and around the mansion itself, I noticed that there were quite a few rooms that were ready. Reason I know this is that mousekeeping leaves the blinds open to those rooms that no one is staying in and you can look directly in the windows and see that no one or anything belonging to anyone else is in that room. It seemed that about every 3rd or 4th window was open to the entire mansion and I walked past quite a few that no one was in so why couldn't I check in at this point. I decided to go back and ask why I couldn't be assigned to a room that was ready when I had seen so many that were. I went back to the main building but there was a line of about 15 people and I decided not to wait. Off to wait for a bus to Animal Kingdom.
It was about 9:00 a.m. when I walked up to Animal Kingdom which had just opened its gates. It does take about 15 minutes by bus from the front of PORS to arrive at Animal Kingdom. Went through security checkpoint (which does leave something to be desired) and through the gate. Up the beautiful pathways to the area right before the Tree of Life. For some reason everyone stopped in this area and were not proceeding forward (I was at the back of the crowd and standing on that bridge - this is how far back they were). There was a character caravan (Minnie Mouse, Goofy and Pluto) which was doing a little opening skit. Cute but not for me.
NOTE - I love animals and can sit and observe them all day long. I absolutely love to ride the safari first thing in the morning and will do so several times before moving to other parts of the park.
The crowd was not letting anyone go through to the pathway leading to Africa. Okay I noticed that a few people had made it to the far right of the bridge and were walking towards the caravan but turning right towards Dinoland. So I worked my way through a large group and finally made it to that small moving line and out of the crowd watching the caravan. Everyone who was moving in this line was heading down the pathway to Dinoland. I made a left and decided to walk the long way to Africa via the Asian route. NO JOKE, I was the only and sole person in this entire area. It was freaky, I am in Animal Kingdom and the sole person standing in ASIA. I had Handycam and have the tape to prove it. (mom couldn't believe it until she saw my tape - only person standing in Asia). So I started the walk towards Harambe Africa for the safari ride. As I can spot Africa I realize that I am no longer alone and can hear someone behind me running. A grown man and his wife are running in my direction. So now its me and these two adults. As they begin to run past me, the guy says "Lady, you better run as the character caravan is headed to Africa with about 2,000 people walking behind it all headed for the safari. Crud. Right after he ran past saying that, I could see and hear the Character Caravan on the bridge to Africa and look at the crowd behind it. GEEZE, better start running. Right as I reached the Harambe area the characters passed and I blended myself into the front of the crowd and needless to say, I was one of the first to ride the safari ride that day.
So let's talk about the safari. I have ridden this several times as I love animals and this ride. However, this mornings ride was the best I have ever had. All of the animals were still up and moving around. Usually you have a few up and moving but I do mean all (hippo were out of the water, Lions up and moving around, cheetah, rhino, elephants, giraffe - everything) were UP and most fairly close to the vehicle. I have great Handycam tape of this. However, in life there is always a tradeoff, this is the tradeoff for being one of the first to ride. As the animals are beginning to move for the day, they are ALL also beginning to use the bathroom. In the matter of 10 minutes, I was the lucky recepient to see four different species use the bathroom (NO JOKE) and there public toilet areas are in the general line of the route the trucks take.
Now as I was filming the animals (which were all close to the vehicles) and they began to do their business, I generally stopped filming as that was disgusting. However, there was a family of four in front of me (man, wife and 2 kids under 9 - gee could the kids be there for free). As we passed the Ostrich (4th animial to use the bathroom with us as onlookers and the Ostrich was only about 5 feet from the vehicle) who began using the bathroom, the mom in front of me is excitedly asking her husband if he got that on tape and is giggling. DID I JUST REALLY HEAR HER SAY THAT PHRASE? Yes I did. Now who in there right mind wants to keep that happy memory on tape, I sure don't. The lady sitting next to me after hearing that began to look around to see if anyone else was suprised by that as well so I know it just wasn't me. Just imagine watching her vacation tape at home, Look honey do you remember when that Ostrich pooed. Great thought, eeh.
After saving Big and Little Red, just had to ride it again and did (no amimals pooing the 2nd time around). Then decided to walk the Pagani Forest Exploration Trails. I love the Gorillas as well and look, I'm back on the bathroom tour as one of them had to go as well. I positioned myself in a different location to watch the Gorillas and was only about 10 feet away from a big gigantic male who watched me for about 10 minutes. He didn't look away either and people noticed - they were fascinated that he was watching me. It was freaky. I eventually left (have a great photo of him) to seek out those darn cute meerkats and see if I could locate a hippo under the water which I did.
Time to leave for Asia but first let me stop and buy something from the pin station. Oh a nice AK pin will do and at least the animal on the pin can't use the bathroom. Began that walk over to the Asia but first I notice that there is a rukus begging on that route via DEVINE. People are freaking out because as usually she blended into the area and then decided to move and people were amazed. I was armed with Handycam and got some great footage of this as well - she is completely fascinating and so graceful.
Let's see, I'm at Asia, do I want to get wet first or see the Tigers first. Decided to do Maharajah Jungle Trek. Oh wow, the Tigers are awake and moving around. The CM in the area was telling everyone that this was rare to see them up and walking around at this time in the a.m. Of course there up because they have to use the bathroom and yes, this is the sixth animal that I have seen go to the bathroom TODAY. I AM NOT KIDDING. Well after using the bathroom, the tiger was tired and laid down next to the fountain and went to sleep. Then got to see the bats, they are so wierd just hanging upside down. Some of them were fighting as well which was wierd to watch as they are upside down. So onto Kali River Rapids.
Arrived at KRR around 11:20 ish, had a box of popcorn and water ($5.00). Stopped and bought new Mickey clear poncho and placed on self and then took picture of self (boy oh boy I look so funny in the picture). There was no wait so walked right on. Was placed on raft with 3 other families but only one other woman was on the raft. Mostly guys and young boys who all took off their shirts to ride (one of the little boys made a big to do of all the guys taking off their clothes and I have it all on tape - it was really funny). Handycam is covered in a zip lock bag so the entire ride was filmed. I don't know why I bother to put the poncho on. As our raft heads down the fall, can you guess who lands perfectly at the bottom and is soaked with water - yep you got it, ME. Well my top was okay because of the poncho but my shorts were soaked and it looked as though I used the bathroom on myself (must be from watching all of those animals earlier). Off of ride, into bathroom to wring out shorts. By the end of the day, I had the "wrash".
Decided to see ITTBAB (which is a favorite of mine), then back to see Flights of Wonder. At this point decided to see about line for Dinosaur and Primevil Whirl. Did both in about 30 minute span and was very hungry. Decided to eat at Pizzafari, about 1:15, woofed pizza and coke down ($8.60). Ran over to Lion King (theater nicely enclosed) and had fun with Dave in the Elephant section. We really gave him a hard time as he was having to show everyone how to do the handjive. Got this all on tape as well.
Right before Lion King began, called to see if my room was ready. CM told me no but she would find one that was. A few minutes on hold and I was told that when going back to PORS, to see guest services so that I could have my key card rekeyed for Magnolia Terrace room #8759. So watched lion king (I just love those monkeys) and decided to buy the Mickey icecream ($2.50) before leaving the area. Went back to main area around Tree of Life and walked around in stores then left around 3:00. PO bus was at bus stop so I was back at PORS buy about 3:10 and walked up to Guest Services to have room key changed.
RECAP:
Leaving Minisuite at Wyndham -
Checking into PORS -
Going to Animal Kingdom -
Watching six different species use the bathroom -
Getting wrash from wet shorts from KRR -
Mom asking hubby if he got animals on tape using bathroom -
Overall recap of day - Priceless
Stay tuned for Part 2 - What did they do to Spectromagic - WOW.
CAST OF CHARACTERS:
Yecats - Me, myself and I.
Me is Single, 33 (however, other two personalities - myself is about 10 years old and an advid SM freak and the I personality may be about 60 years especially after getting off of the ToT).
Also on board is my new Canon ZR65 Digital Videocamera nicknamed: Handycam, as it was always in my hand.
PLAN FOR THE DAY:
1. Check into Port Orleans Riverside
2. Animal Kingdom
3. Break and unpacking (part 2)
4. Magic Kingdom (part 2)
6:50 a.m. - Ringy, Ding, ding. Oh geeze is it almost 7:00 already. I woke up an looked around as I was in unfamiliar suroundings. Honestly, when I wake up in the morning, I'm really not awake. It took a minute to register that I was on vacation and in a hotel. Well got up and got ready. 7:25 went down to the Watercress Cafe for breakfast. Got a large donut and a chocolate milk, $3.20 gone. I ate downstairs at a table with a view of the lake. Back up to my room to say goodbye and grab luggage. Checked out in 5 mins, asked bell services to grab a cab and off to Port Orleans Riverside. Wow what a beautiful day, sunny and 76 degrees. Jeolous?
8:10 a.m. arrived in style as my arrival was in a Lincoln Towncar. Cost of this trip totaled $14.00 with tip and one cute and nicely built Towncar driver. Some eyecandy in the morning must mean that I am going to have a great day.
Checked luggage in luggage storage and walked inside to checkin and obtain my ultimate park hopper. There was a small line already formed with 4 ladies working the clerk's area. I waited about 15 mins. and was called. Greeted the clerk and stated that if at all possible, I would like a nonsmoking mansions room with a kingbed. I did not previously request all of this other than to say to WDTC when I booked the Fairytale Package back in June that I wanted a King bed if at all possible in one of the mansions buildings. The clerk stated she would see if she could get me a kingbed but that I could definately be placed in one of the mansions. She stepped back to talk to her manager and came back to tell me that if I wanted a kingbed that would be an extra $15.00 per night. I reminded her that I was there on the FTP which meant that I paid for 4 nights and got 3 free. I was willing to pay $60.00 extra for a kingbed (paying for 4 nights) but didn't think it was worth $105.00 if I had to pay for all 7 nights. She stated that unfortunately it would have to be for all 7 nights, so I kept my extra $105.00 and told her that a double bed room would be fine. The clerk then went over all the normalities that they go through when checking in, handed me a card and stated that later on in the day when I was ready to come back to call the number to see if my room was ready. The clerk then told me that she had a room for me in Magnolia Terrace but it was not yet ready. Clerk was very friendly and cordial and I thanked her for her services, got my room key/charge card/ultimate park hopper and decided to walk around the resort for a few minutes.
Although it had quite few years, I have been to PORS when it used to be known as Dixie Landings. I do love the grounds here as they are so beautifully manicured and quiet. I walked over to Ole Man Island then ventured over the bridge to Magnolia Terrace (Handycam is out and ready to film). I then proceeded to walk around the courtyard and around the mansion itself, I noticed that there were quite a few rooms that were ready. Reason I know this is that mousekeeping leaves the blinds open to those rooms that no one is staying in and you can look directly in the windows and see that no one or anything belonging to anyone else is in that room. It seemed that about every 3rd or 4th window was open to the entire mansion and I walked past quite a few that no one was in so why couldn't I check in at this point. I decided to go back and ask why I couldn't be assigned to a room that was ready when I had seen so many that were. I went back to the main building but there was a line of about 15 people and I decided not to wait. Off to wait for a bus to Animal Kingdom.
It was about 9:00 a.m. when I walked up to Animal Kingdom which had just opened its gates. It does take about 15 minutes by bus from the front of PORS to arrive at Animal Kingdom. Went through security checkpoint (which does leave something to be desired) and through the gate. Up the beautiful pathways to the area right before the Tree of Life. For some reason everyone stopped in this area and were not proceeding forward (I was at the back of the crowd and standing on that bridge - this is how far back they were). There was a character caravan (Minnie Mouse, Goofy and Pluto) which was doing a little opening skit. Cute but not for me.
NOTE - I love animals and can sit and observe them all day long. I absolutely love to ride the safari first thing in the morning and will do so several times before moving to other parts of the park.
The crowd was not letting anyone go through to the pathway leading to Africa. Okay I noticed that a few people had made it to the far right of the bridge and were walking towards the caravan but turning right towards Dinoland. So I worked my way through a large group and finally made it to that small moving line and out of the crowd watching the caravan. Everyone who was moving in this line was heading down the pathway to Dinoland. I made a left and decided to walk the long way to Africa via the Asian route. NO JOKE, I was the only and sole person in this entire area. It was freaky, I am in Animal Kingdom and the sole person standing in ASIA. I had Handycam and have the tape to prove it. (mom couldn't believe it until she saw my tape - only person standing in Asia). So I started the walk towards Harambe Africa for the safari ride. As I can spot Africa I realize that I am no longer alone and can hear someone behind me running. A grown man and his wife are running in my direction. So now its me and these two adults. As they begin to run past me, the guy says "Lady, you better run as the character caravan is headed to Africa with about 2,000 people walking behind it all headed for the safari. Crud. Right after he ran past saying that, I could see and hear the Character Caravan on the bridge to Africa and look at the crowd behind it. GEEZE, better start running. Right as I reached the Harambe area the characters passed and I blended myself into the front of the crowd and needless to say, I was one of the first to ride the safari ride that day.
So let's talk about the safari. I have ridden this several times as I love animals and this ride. However, this mornings ride was the best I have ever had. All of the animals were still up and moving around. Usually you have a few up and moving but I do mean all (hippo were out of the water, Lions up and moving around, cheetah, rhino, elephants, giraffe - everything) were UP and most fairly close to the vehicle. I have great Handycam tape of this. However, in life there is always a tradeoff, this is the tradeoff for being one of the first to ride. As the animals are beginning to move for the day, they are ALL also beginning to use the bathroom. In the matter of 10 minutes, I was the lucky recepient to see four different species use the bathroom (NO JOKE) and there public toilet areas are in the general line of the route the trucks take.
Now as I was filming the animals (which were all close to the vehicles) and they began to do their business, I generally stopped filming as that was disgusting. However, there was a family of four in front of me (man, wife and 2 kids under 9 - gee could the kids be there for free). As we passed the Ostrich (4th animial to use the bathroom with us as onlookers and the Ostrich was only about 5 feet from the vehicle) who began using the bathroom, the mom in front of me is excitedly asking her husband if he got that on tape and is giggling. DID I JUST REALLY HEAR HER SAY THAT PHRASE? Yes I did. Now who in there right mind wants to keep that happy memory on tape, I sure don't. The lady sitting next to me after hearing that began to look around to see if anyone else was suprised by that as well so I know it just wasn't me. Just imagine watching her vacation tape at home, Look honey do you remember when that Ostrich pooed. Great thought, eeh.
After saving Big and Little Red, just had to ride it again and did (no amimals pooing the 2nd time around). Then decided to walk the Pagani Forest Exploration Trails. I love the Gorillas as well and look, I'm back on the bathroom tour as one of them had to go as well. I positioned myself in a different location to watch the Gorillas and was only about 10 feet away from a big gigantic male who watched me for about 10 minutes. He didn't look away either and people noticed - they were fascinated that he was watching me. It was freaky. I eventually left (have a great photo of him) to seek out those darn cute meerkats and see if I could locate a hippo under the water which I did.
Time to leave for Asia but first let me stop and buy something from the pin station. Oh a nice AK pin will do and at least the animal on the pin can't use the bathroom. Began that walk over to the Asia but first I notice that there is a rukus begging on that route via DEVINE. People are freaking out because as usually she blended into the area and then decided to move and people were amazed. I was armed with Handycam and got some great footage of this as well - she is completely fascinating and so graceful.
Let's see, I'm at Asia, do I want to get wet first or see the Tigers first. Decided to do Maharajah Jungle Trek. Oh wow, the Tigers are awake and moving around. The CM in the area was telling everyone that this was rare to see them up and walking around at this time in the a.m. Of course there up because they have to use the bathroom and yes, this is the sixth animal that I have seen go to the bathroom TODAY. I AM NOT KIDDING. Well after using the bathroom, the tiger was tired and laid down next to the fountain and went to sleep. Then got to see the bats, they are so wierd just hanging upside down. Some of them were fighting as well which was wierd to watch as they are upside down. So onto Kali River Rapids.
Arrived at KRR around 11:20 ish, had a box of popcorn and water ($5.00). Stopped and bought new Mickey clear poncho and placed on self and then took picture of self (boy oh boy I look so funny in the picture). There was no wait so walked right on. Was placed on raft with 3 other families but only one other woman was on the raft. Mostly guys and young boys who all took off their shirts to ride (one of the little boys made a big to do of all the guys taking off their clothes and I have it all on tape - it was really funny). Handycam is covered in a zip lock bag so the entire ride was filmed. I don't know why I bother to put the poncho on. As our raft heads down the fall, can you guess who lands perfectly at the bottom and is soaked with water - yep you got it, ME. Well my top was okay because of the poncho but my shorts were soaked and it looked as though I used the bathroom on myself (must be from watching all of those animals earlier). Off of ride, into bathroom to wring out shorts. By the end of the day, I had the "wrash".
Decided to see ITTBAB (which is a favorite of mine), then back to see Flights of Wonder. At this point decided to see about line for Dinosaur and Primevil Whirl. Did both in about 30 minute span and was very hungry. Decided to eat at Pizzafari, about 1:15, woofed pizza and coke down ($8.60). Ran over to Lion King (theater nicely enclosed) and had fun with Dave in the Elephant section. We really gave him a hard time as he was having to show everyone how to do the handjive. Got this all on tape as well.
Right before Lion King began, called to see if my room was ready. CM told me no but she would find one that was. A few minutes on hold and I was told that when going back to PORS, to see guest services so that I could have my key card rekeyed for Magnolia Terrace room #8759. So watched lion king (I just love those monkeys) and decided to buy the Mickey icecream ($2.50) before leaving the area. Went back to main area around Tree of Life and walked around in stores then left around 3:00. PO bus was at bus stop so I was back at PORS buy about 3:10 and walked up to Guest Services to have room key changed.
RECAP:
Leaving Minisuite at Wyndham -
Checking into PORS -
Going to Animal Kingdom -
Watching six different species use the bathroom -
Getting wrash from wet shorts from KRR -
Mom asking hubby if he got animals on tape using bathroom -
Overall recap of day - Priceless
Stay tuned for Part 2 - What did they do to Spectromagic - WOW.
