[dixie]

Hello everyone, Even though I'm pretty jet lagged I needed to tell you all we had the most fantastic trip, we just had 3 weeks at the Port Orleans Riverside which as usual was just awesome, we had actually had two weeks there earlier this year in April and altogether this was our fifteenth trip to WDW since our daughter was born (she is now 13, her first WDW trip was when she was 3), and of course we are busily planning our next trip.
We did just about everything, the parks were just comfortable not too crowded, and the weather was bearable, even though there were some heavy showers and storms they were for us anyway quite welcome, Cinderellas castle in Magic Kingdom was having its roof painted and there was actually a huge crane alongside it, the new store at Downtown Disney Once Upon A Toy was really lovely and we bought several minature rides for a display around Christmas time they will just look so pretty under the tree.
In the Magic Kingdom just opposite Splash Mountain there is a wooden walkway with a little stream running alongside it, every one was crowding round as there was an alligator in there, a cast member said he had come in to the park through the main system and he wasnt at that time doing any harm, but guests kept throwing him there leftover turkey legs and he was getting more used to people which then could become a problem, the cast member said he hadnt ventured out of the stream but they were keeping a close eye on him I wondered if anyone else has seen him?
I spoke to Tinkerbell several times on the phone and e-mailed her from the lobby of Riverside, as we get withdrawal symptoms if we dont speak for several days:D as you all know her husband is not well and she is being incredibly brave and strong, and hopefully we are scheduling our trips for next year so we can meet again which would be just so wonderful, plus I have to fill her in on all the WDW news especially the return of Figment one of Tinks favourites, so for now its back to the real world and start our preparations for our next trip, anyway its good to be back with you all I still pick up great tips from Disney Central theres always something new to learn.

[mickey]

Dixie, wow, welcome home. Get some sleep, it must be late for you. Glad you had a great trip!

[mmouse67l]

Welcome back! Wow 3 weeks... I'm so jealous.

A real alligator... cool.:) I doubt it will still be there when we arrive but I sure could have fun telling my 3 year-old Peter Pan fanatic that it's the real cwocidile (my son's pronunciation) that ate Captain Hook's hand!!:p

Again welcome back!:)

[tiggerlover1971]

glad to see you had a great time I cant wait till i go hey almost 13 more day till i see the mouse:)

[tinkerbell]

I remembered the gater when you told me about it on the phone :) we had seen it at MK after ya'll had went home last april *sigh* I wish we could have been there for at least a day or two again with ya'll ..and I am going to try and be very very patient ..and not whine about the pictures *grin* but you know already we are dying to see some :) lol and Dixie was prepared for those dang misquitoes too cuz I warned her ahead of time about the west nile virus. welcome back to reality dear friend :)

[Dana]

Dixie,
It sounds as though you had a great trip. What trip to WDW isn't great?:love: A real croc? Jealous about the three weeks. but I will get over it when my plane takes off on October third.:laugh
Wecome home to Disney Central!:)

[LRTJS]

Wow, three whole weeks. Now that is the stuff that dreams are really made of!

[ilvminnie]

Sounds like you had a great time Dixie. Like everyone else I'm so jealous that you got 3 weeks. That would be heaven!

Tinkerbell, we're still praying for you & your DH. Understand that you don't have a lot of time to keep us up-to-date. Guess we'll have to depend on Dixie for that.

[dab]

Dixie reading your report has me so anxious to go! What building were you in at PORiverside? Did you like it or wish you were in another? Just asking details for future trip planning? We're going with my husbands family (12 total) Dec 2003 and it is really tough trying to find a place that will satisfy all bank accounts and personal taste. I'll look for the croc. when we're there Saturday... that is really cool!

[dixie]

Hi Dab, the building we were in this time was called Oak Manor, it was actually across the bridge and they were a completely different style to the buildings we had stayed in before there which were the Alligator Bayou, we requested AB when we registered as we were familiar with that block and it was reasonably close to the central building and food court, but unfortunately it was not available, this block too was a short walk from the Central building and the room was beautiful, it was the decor of an old manor house whereas the bayou was log beds and lots of rustic wood, we actually loved both buildings, block 18 Alligator Bayou is a good one if you need to be by the food court, plus it has a pool right in front of the block, Oak Manor had a large pool too, in fact we never went to Old Man Island this time as our pool was wonderful, I am sure you'll just have the best time in December 2003 especially as there is 12 of you hey thats a party in itself:D and I would say with confidence that POR does account for all tastes and budgets, my husband would like to try Yacht and Beach Club next year, but I am very fond of POR and I am loathe to change but anyway as long as we are in WDW it really doesnt matter, hope you find this useful anyway.

[lopo]

Welcome back, dixie! Happy to hear you had a fantastic trip. (Three weeks sure sounds fantastic to me!)

I can't believe there was actually an alligator in MK! Boy! I hear that they are dumb, but that guy seems pretty samrt to me considering he just had to lay low and people would keep throwing food to him.:D

I hope to hear more about you good times.

[stemikger]

I must repeat the sentiment. Three weeks. Wow. That is so cool. I had to pressure my wife for ten days. She is not a Disney Nut like me. Oh Well.

:) :) :) :)
DISNEY FOREVER

[dab]

Dixie we looked for the croc. in MK but it was gone.

[Goofette]

I'm late again on posting, but thanks for the trip report. Are you going through Disney withdrawls?

So you've got to stay at wdw "5" weeks total for this year so far? Just one question....Will you PLEASE adopt me? :D Maybe dh and dd wouldn't mind to give me up for a few weeks;) :)

Welcome Home

[tinkerbell]

Originally posted by Goofette
I'm late again on posting, but thanks for the trip report. Are you going through Disney withdrawls?

So you've got to stay at wdw "5" weeks total for this year so far? Just one question....Will you PLEASE adopt me? :D Maybe dh and dd wouldn't mind to give me up for a few weeks;) :)

Welcome Home

lol I was looking over Dixie's post, ( I miss her so much:( ) and saw this