Day 2 (Part 2) - 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 (part 1)
2. Animal Kingdom (part 1)
3. Break and unpacking
4. Magic Kingdom
PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE (FORMERLY DIXIE LANDINGS)
Got off of bus from Animal Kingdom about 3:10 p.m. and went to stand in line for Guest Services, minutes later room card was rekeyed and off to bell services I went. While briefly waiting for luggage, I had a nice conversation with a CM from Disneyland who was vacationing with her husband. I commented about one of her pins and she offered to trade it (wow first trade ever with a CM with a limited CM pin). So we traded pins and my luggage arrived. Said goodbye and bell services asked me if I would want to be taken to the room and I responded yes. So off in a golf cart across PORS to room #8759. Tipped the CM $5.00 for my large bag, carryon and driving me to the room (legs already hurting from the 3 mile walk that I have already had today at AK).
So Room #8759 is in Magnolia Terrace on the 2nd floor up the front steps and four doors to the right. I had a beautiful courtyard view overlooking all the roses and gazebo. Room has double beds, table and two chairs, armoire (19" tv), settee, coat rack with shelf, double sinks with shelf and gilded mirrors over each sink, open closet with inwall safe, shelf, iron and ironing board and tub/toilet in bathroom to the right. Room was in pretty good order. There were no stains on the carpets (carpet didn't look to old either) or bedspreads and the room didn't have a smell. The furniture is a bit beat up as you would expect over 10 years of use but not to the point that it looked bad. The room was a bit dusty where you wouldn't expect mousekeeping to clean everyday (dust at the top of the armoire, top of mirrors in bathroom, top of shelf over coat rack) but not to the point where dust bunnies would be flying around if you turned on the fan. The room has a few areas which certainly needs to be repainted mostly in the open closet area where people store their luggage and the area between the first bed and the door as it seems that a rollaway bed was probably placed there as there are scuff marks on the wall at the level where the bed is. Bathroom was clean with no mildew. In my opinion, the room was in good order.
As it was about 3:45, I decided to put on some pants, brief unpacked a few things but decided to unpack later on tonight. I knew that it would get to be about 55 degrees tonight so I also took out a small jacket and wrapped around my waste. I had made arrangements to eat at Magic Kingdom's Liberty Tree Tavern for 5:45 before I learned that Spectromagic would be running tonight at 6:00 instead of 7:00. I was hoping that if I showed up around 5:00, maybe I could be seated earlier and come out right as the parade was to begin (instead of trying to see it later on in the week). I decided to take the bus from the South Depot in the back of Magnolia Terrace so I walked over and sat with a few other people in the depot. Right as I walked up, there was a bus pulling off and I asked if that was for MK. The people sitting there said if was for MGM. So we waited as all of us were headed to MK. Several more buses came (AK 2 different times, Epcot 3 times and then one more MGM bus which had been about 25 mins since the last one) then finally at 4:30 a MK bus finally pulled up (most seats had been taken). Yes this was a 40 minute wait at the South Depot for this bus.
Arrived at MK around 4:40 p.m, went through security, no problems and WoW I'm here and so excited. Normally, I would not venture into MK on a Saturday night due to crowd size but I specifically wanted to film Spectromagic tonight instead of catching it during the week. Walked to Liberty Tree Tavern and inquired if I could be seated early (as original PS made for 5:45). The CM placed my name on a card and 10 minutes later, I was seated. I love the buffets, they are so good and I encourage everyone to try them. I had fresh rolls, ceasar salad, turkey, ham and flank steak, mashed potatos, macaroni and cheese, green beans and peach cobler all with ice tea, Minnie Mouse, Chip and Dale and Goofy for only $28.00 with tip. Delicous. I'm not really a peach fan and only ate a little bit of the peach cobbler. Had a great server and nice conversations with CM walking characters around.
TIP:
Make PS to eat dinner with characters at Liberty Tree Tavern.
Walked outside around 6:05 p.m. and stood behind a couple from CA whom I talked to up until the time that Spectromagic began to turn the corner about 6:15 p.m.
NOTE: Last time I watched Spectromagic was in 1997/98. Last year they only had the parade on Saturdays. My mom and I had a vacation to WDW last year but the first Saturday we were there, we had dinner show tickets. The second Saturday we were specifically staying to watch it and then beginning the drive home that night. Well when we were in the park, they made an announcement that the parade was going an hour and a half later than what we expected and as we needed to get on the road so we left without seeing it.
Spectromagic turned the corner and began about 6:20 p.m. so I began to film. Wow what have they done to this parade. The first seven to eight floats I remember but they must have added the other 15 on. WOW. The float that really wowed the crowd was the float that looked like a mountain but metamorphed into a bat. Totally awesome. The parade was beautiful and I really did love what they did with it. The parade felt as though it lasted for at least 25 minutes and had to have at least 20 to 25 floats and the film that I have of it is spectacular.
After the parade, I decided to walk to Haunted Mansion. I then filmed the graves and waited for Leota to open her eyes which I also got on tape. There was only about a 15 minute wait for this ride as I happened to catch it right at the end of the parade as everyone else was headed to Fantasyland. So after being told to "GET OUT" of the elevator by the CM enter the ride and did some filming as well. Love to ride this. Left and did some shopping in the Liberty area and then decided to go ride It's a Small World. I really am not a fan of IASW but feel as though its a token thing (I do it in honor of Walt himself as I think that it is what he wanted the world to be) that I must do once on every trip to Disney so I filmed a bit as well but may cut this out of the final version. Well while riding IASW, Wishes began and we were stuck on the ride as the CM's were loading a wheelchair in which caused a boat traffic jam. When I came out the last minute of wishes was in progress so I stayed there and watched with many others.
After Wishes, I decided to wait out the crowds and walked to Frontierland to ride Pirates of the Carribean. Stopped at a few shops to look around on the way. Walked onto PoC. I had a few people in line before me and about 30 walking up behind me. When I reached the CM and he asked how many and I said one he could've placed me in the last seat of the full boat that I walked up on. He told me to wait for the next boat and then told me to sit in the front seat and told everyone else in back of me to wait for the next boat. Yes, I had an entire boat to myself. The boat in from of me was pretty full and the boat in back of me was full but I had an entire boat to myself. It was kind of funny and I have film to prove it. Thanks to the CM's for making my day great. Afterwards I walked to Main Street and did a bit of shopping, few more pin purchases and pricing out a few items. I walked back to my bus around 8:45 and there were only a few people waiting there. Bus came within 10 minutes and 7 minutes later, I'm back at the hotel.
Walked into P.O.R.S. through Fulton's General Store and headed for the food court. Time to purchase the refillable mug and a bag of potato chips ($14). Yep off to room across Ole Man Island. Looks like a good night to swim. Went to room, changed into bathing suit, grabbed large beach towel brought from home and off to swim. Pool was warm and felt great to my already tired muscles. Worked my way into the hot tub (very hot) and had several conversations. The hot tub was so hot that you felt as though you were boiling after 10 mins so most of us there would get out and take a break then get back in as it was pretty cool that night. About 10:00 I wrapped myself in my beach towel and ran back to the room. Time to prepare for tomorrow and unpack as I'm here for the next several days.
RECAP:
Room #8759 in Magnolia Terrace -
South Depot Bus Stop waiting for MK bus -
Character Dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern -
HM and PoC -
Spectromagic -
First sight of MK at night -
Ole Man Island -
First full day at WDW - priceless
Stay tuned for Day 3, so these are the kiddy rides.
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 (part 1)
2. Animal Kingdom (part 1)
3. Break and unpacking
4. Magic Kingdom
PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE (FORMERLY DIXIE LANDINGS)
Got off of bus from Animal Kingdom about 3:10 p.m. and went to stand in line for Guest Services, minutes later room card was rekeyed and off to bell services I went. While briefly waiting for luggage, I had a nice conversation with a CM from Disneyland who was vacationing with her husband. I commented about one of her pins and she offered to trade it (wow first trade ever with a CM with a limited CM pin). So we traded pins and my luggage arrived. Said goodbye and bell services asked me if I would want to be taken to the room and I responded yes. So off in a golf cart across PORS to room #8759. Tipped the CM $5.00 for my large bag, carryon and driving me to the room (legs already hurting from the 3 mile walk that I have already had today at AK).
So Room #8759 is in Magnolia Terrace on the 2nd floor up the front steps and four doors to the right. I had a beautiful courtyard view overlooking all the roses and gazebo. Room has double beds, table and two chairs, armoire (19" tv), settee, coat rack with shelf, double sinks with shelf and gilded mirrors over each sink, open closet with inwall safe, shelf, iron and ironing board and tub/toilet in bathroom to the right. Room was in pretty good order. There were no stains on the carpets (carpet didn't look to old either) or bedspreads and the room didn't have a smell. The furniture is a bit beat up as you would expect over 10 years of use but not to the point that it looked bad. The room was a bit dusty where you wouldn't expect mousekeeping to clean everyday (dust at the top of the armoire, top of mirrors in bathroom, top of shelf over coat rack) but not to the point where dust bunnies would be flying around if you turned on the fan. The room has a few areas which certainly needs to be repainted mostly in the open closet area where people store their luggage and the area between the first bed and the door as it seems that a rollaway bed was probably placed there as there are scuff marks on the wall at the level where the bed is. Bathroom was clean with no mildew. In my opinion, the room was in good order.
As it was about 3:45, I decided to put on some pants, brief unpacked a few things but decided to unpack later on tonight. I knew that it would get to be about 55 degrees tonight so I also took out a small jacket and wrapped around my waste. I had made arrangements to eat at Magic Kingdom's Liberty Tree Tavern for 5:45 before I learned that Spectromagic would be running tonight at 6:00 instead of 7:00. I was hoping that if I showed up around 5:00, maybe I could be seated earlier and come out right as the parade was to begin (instead of trying to see it later on in the week). I decided to take the bus from the South Depot in the back of Magnolia Terrace so I walked over and sat with a few other people in the depot. Right as I walked up, there was a bus pulling off and I asked if that was for MK. The people sitting there said if was for MGM. So we waited as all of us were headed to MK. Several more buses came (AK 2 different times, Epcot 3 times and then one more MGM bus which had been about 25 mins since the last one) then finally at 4:30 a MK bus finally pulled up (most seats had been taken). Yes this was a 40 minute wait at the South Depot for this bus.
Arrived at MK around 4:40 p.m, went through security, no problems and WoW I'm here and so excited. Normally, I would not venture into MK on a Saturday night due to crowd size but I specifically wanted to film Spectromagic tonight instead of catching it during the week. Walked to Liberty Tree Tavern and inquired if I could be seated early (as original PS made for 5:45). The CM placed my name on a card and 10 minutes later, I was seated. I love the buffets, they are so good and I encourage everyone to try them. I had fresh rolls, ceasar salad, turkey, ham and flank steak, mashed potatos, macaroni and cheese, green beans and peach cobler all with ice tea, Minnie Mouse, Chip and Dale and Goofy for only $28.00 with tip. Delicous. I'm not really a peach fan and only ate a little bit of the peach cobbler. Had a great server and nice conversations with CM walking characters around.
TIP:
Make PS to eat dinner with characters at Liberty Tree Tavern.
Walked outside around 6:05 p.m. and stood behind a couple from CA whom I talked to up until the time that Spectromagic began to turn the corner about 6:15 p.m.
NOTE: Last time I watched Spectromagic was in 1997/98. Last year they only had the parade on Saturdays. My mom and I had a vacation to WDW last year but the first Saturday we were there, we had dinner show tickets. The second Saturday we were specifically staying to watch it and then beginning the drive home that night. Well when we were in the park, they made an announcement that the parade was going an hour and a half later than what we expected and as we needed to get on the road so we left without seeing it.
Spectromagic turned the corner and began about 6:20 p.m. so I began to film. Wow what have they done to this parade. The first seven to eight floats I remember but they must have added the other 15 on. WOW. The float that really wowed the crowd was the float that looked like a mountain but metamorphed into a bat. Totally awesome. The parade was beautiful and I really did love what they did with it. The parade felt as though it lasted for at least 25 minutes and had to have at least 20 to 25 floats and the film that I have of it is spectacular.
After the parade, I decided to walk to Haunted Mansion. I then filmed the graves and waited for Leota to open her eyes which I also got on tape. There was only about a 15 minute wait for this ride as I happened to catch it right at the end of the parade as everyone else was headed to Fantasyland. So after being told to "GET OUT" of the elevator by the CM enter the ride and did some filming as well. Love to ride this. Left and did some shopping in the Liberty area and then decided to go ride It's a Small World. I really am not a fan of IASW but feel as though its a token thing (I do it in honor of Walt himself as I think that it is what he wanted the world to be) that I must do once on every trip to Disney so I filmed a bit as well but may cut this out of the final version. Well while riding IASW, Wishes began and we were stuck on the ride as the CM's were loading a wheelchair in which caused a boat traffic jam. When I came out the last minute of wishes was in progress so I stayed there and watched with many others.
After Wishes, I decided to wait out the crowds and walked to Frontierland to ride Pirates of the Carribean. Stopped at a few shops to look around on the way. Walked onto PoC. I had a few people in line before me and about 30 walking up behind me. When I reached the CM and he asked how many and I said one he could've placed me in the last seat of the full boat that I walked up on. He told me to wait for the next boat and then told me to sit in the front seat and told everyone else in back of me to wait for the next boat. Yes, I had an entire boat to myself. The boat in from of me was pretty full and the boat in back of me was full but I had an entire boat to myself. It was kind of funny and I have film to prove it. Thanks to the CM's for making my day great. Afterwards I walked to Main Street and did a bit of shopping, few more pin purchases and pricing out a few items. I walked back to my bus around 8:45 and there were only a few people waiting there. Bus came within 10 minutes and 7 minutes later, I'm back at the hotel.
Walked into P.O.R.S. through Fulton's General Store and headed for the food court. Time to purchase the refillable mug and a bag of potato chips ($14). Yep off to room across Ole Man Island. Looks like a good night to swim. Went to room, changed into bathing suit, grabbed large beach towel brought from home and off to swim. Pool was warm and felt great to my already tired muscles. Worked my way into the hot tub (very hot) and had several conversations. The hot tub was so hot that you felt as though you were boiling after 10 mins so most of us there would get out and take a break then get back in as it was pretty cool that night. About 10:00 I wrapped myself in my beach towel and ran back to the room. Time to prepare for tomorrow and unpack as I'm here for the next several days.
RECAP:
Room #8759 in Magnolia Terrace -
South Depot Bus Stop waiting for MK bus -
Character Dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern -
HM and PoC -
Spectromagic -
First sight of MK at night -
Ole Man Island -
First full day at WDW - priceless
Stay tuned for Day 3, so these are the kiddy rides.
