[aurora'stwin]

At long last I have time to sit down and jot out a trip report. Bear with me I might ramble!
October 10, 2003
Cast:
Me age 22,
Randy age 22,
Randy's Mom Marsha (RM) requested that her age remain anonymous and
Randy's Dad Ken (RK) age 47

We left our house the night before with intentions to get a pretty good distance. We stopped overnight in Marietta Georgia.
The next morning we woke up pumped and ready to go (well some of us were pumped).
We were on the road at about 8:00am and after lots of hours and many, many, many potty breaks we arrived in WDW!
We valeted the Suburban, handed over our luggage, and checked into our hotel: The Swan Resort. We cannot say enough good things about this hotel. We received an awesome rate (thanks to Mousesavers.com) and we just loved this place!
Although we had a very nice room with a great view of the terrace between the Dolphin, Swan, and the Freindship Boat, I didn't want to stay there all day (e.g. We were in WDW let's go to a park!)
We took the boat over to EPCOT. As soon as we stepped in the boat, it started raining. After pleading with the gods to please make it stop raining someone listened because as soon as we stepped through the turnstyles, voila no rain! We got in the park at about 4:30pm, so we had very little time to do everything.
So, in this order we tackled EPCOT:
Honey I Shrunk the Audience: No wait
Test Track: 35 minute wait
Spaceship Earth: no wait
Askershus (Norway ride): 10 minute wait
We had a PS at 'Ohanas for 9:40 (yes we are late eaters). We decided by then to go ahead and go over there. Via monorail we made it to the Poly- with no problems. We walked around for awhile (i.e., shopped) and finally checked in for our PS. We were told that it would be a few minutes so we just took some seats along the window looking torwards the beach. Well, as soon as we sat down POP! CRACK! MK's fireworks! We had an awesome unexpected view of the wonderful show!
We were seated and had a neat view of Cinderella's Castle while we ate. The food was absolutely delicous. (Editor's note: It's very possible to continue your Adkin's Diet and eat here!)
With full tummies and smiles we got back on the Monorail and decided to ride the complete loop. We got to see lots of adorable children dressed up for MNSSHP. We finally decided to head back to the hotel to get some sleep for the next day (that started quite early). So, we hopped off the Monorail at TTC, and hopped on a bus to DTD. (As most of you know there are no buses that run inter-hotel).
When we were dropped off at DTD, we promptly sat at the correct bus stop. While we waited we saw this couple who were just married and on their honeymoon but they didn't fit the typical newlywed bill. For example, she sat in the corner talking on her cell phone and he (quite muscular) played football with some kids. No prob there, but after the bus came and picked us up, they didn't sit next to each other or talk to each other?! The only way that we knew that they were even remotely affiliated was that they walked up together and overheard the guy (who we aptly named Body By Jake) say that they were married a couple days ago. (Editor's note: the reason why I bring this couple up is because we will see them many more times on our trip!)
But this just goes to show that this world is quite diverse!
Once we made it back to the hotel, our first day in WDW was complete!
Pixie Dust Moments: The Rain Stopping, Waiting at "Ohana's and getting a surprise view of the Fireworks
Negatives: None for today thanks!




Photos from Day 1 and part of 2

[MickeyRon]

Awesome report... another person that we were at similar locations and yet never met...

I enjoyed your pictures... Looking forward to reading and hearing more!!

[DisneyAnne]

Hey!!! Loved your pix... The room is beautiful. Man, that comforter looks inviting... Keep it coming...

[GrumpyDad]

Wow what a killer view! They have really done a nice job on the rooms. It has been a while since we were there last, and it looks much nicer then I remember.

Kepp those reports coming!
-harry

[Dana]

Sounds like a wonderful Day #1. Body by Jake huh? Do I smell cliff hanger in this report too? Good to know about Adkins. I just started that program on Monday. Can't wait to read day #2.

[tiggerlover1971]

how did I miss this great trip report !!!!!

[Fantasy]

Great report! Keep em' coming!

[aurora'stwin]

1/2 of Day 2: Animal Kingdom

We woke up early in hopes of getting to AK at a good time. (I seem to possess this uncanny trait for being late everywhere) so when we got there and people were lined up and watching the opening parade, I was shocked! I had never seen this phenomena before!
As soon as this parade ended, we switfly made our way (with hundreds of other people) torwards Kilimanjaro Safaris. This was by far the best safari ride that I have had. The animals were actually out! They were everywhere. The truck was even stopped for a few minutes because there was a giraffe in the road! We got dozens of pictures (but some of you might know where that story goes: Blasted memory card!) :devil
After Kilimanjaro Safaris the group was starting to get hungry. I proposed that we grab something and walk and eat (I would so make it in NYC). But, they had other plans. We stopped at the Tuskerhouse Restaurant and ate. The food was great! We had breakfast so if you need a bfast choice there it is! While we were there, I learned an interesting tidbit about AK. (Background info. I have very sensitive teeth so I have a hard time drinking soda or anything with ice, without a straw or a narrow opening) Well after receiving my gallon of soda, I asked for a straw. I was informed that AK doesn't serve straws in the entire park for safety of the animals. So I thought that was pretty cool. Ok, rambling off. Back to the point.
After we ate (and believe me we ate!) we headed over to It's Tough to Be a Bug. Loved it! But I was quite shocked at how scary it was for the little tykes, (considering it's based on a kid's movie). Afterwards, we stopped and took our picture in front of The Tree of Life....took dozens of pictures for people walking by. (I am starting to get good at this!) And headed on to Dinoland USA. We road Primeval Whirl (loved it but told Randy's parents that this ride was mild....was wrong (read: They were in for a surprise!)
We rode Dinosaur. I thought that I would be brave by not holding onto the bar... Well after the first dip, it was Randy's arm! The poor guy! His arm was so red with finger imprints... I will post the pic later. I will end here and refer you to my next post for sake of shortening my posts.
Positives: Seeing lots of animals on KS, Getting to AK early enough to see the Parade for the first time.
Negatives: Seeing all of the little ones cry on It's Tough to Be A Bug

[aurora'stwin]

We got to MGM studios around noon (I have no sense of time while I am in WDW). We promptly walked down Sunset Blvd to conquer TOT and RnR and to find a nice comfortable bench for RM. (After Primeval Whirl, did you expect her to ride either of these?!) Well, the wait for TOT was 90 minutes! (Ok no big deal if it's summer time, but up until then we had been spoiled with short waits!) So we veered left and rode RnR. Awesome ride!! We got front row seats. It was so much fun!
We walked back picked up RM and headed towards the big Sorcerer's Hat. We walked down to The Great Movie Ride. If this was the first time that I had rode I would have been disappointed. But seeing as how it was tradition we rode it. Afterwards we rode the Backlot Tour. Again if it wasn't tradition I would have been disappointed. (Read: the last two rides need some sprucing up). But they have added a new scene into the Backlot Tour where they show how part of the movie Pearl Harbor was filmed. That was pretty neat.
By this time we had approx. 1 1/2 hours before our PS for Hollywood and Vine. Randy and RD were both disappointed in not riding TOT, so they decided that we WOULD ride it before we ate. As mentioned earlier, RM would have nothing to do with it so she went off to Who Wants to Be A Millionaire. We were able to ride TOT after an hour's wait. (longest wait entire trip) We caught up with RM and headed to eat. HAV was very good. On Laura's scale of 1 Mickey to 5 Mickeys (5 being the best) I give it a 4. It seemed to be lacking something, maybe it was just me.
We had the Fantasmic Dinner Package so after dinner we headed over to the ampitheater. Oh my gosh there was a lot of people! But we didn't have to wait (editor's note: if you get the package they let you in through a back gate, what they don't tell you is that you walk sixty miles to get to the ampitheater, but I would still take that over waiting in line for umpteen hours).
Before the show it started sprinkling. Ok, just slip on handy dandy anorak. Show starts, its absolutely wonderful!!! 30 minutes into it, it's really starting to rain. Bear with it, the show is worth it. 35 minutes into it, lightning strikes... ok, this show is great but I do believe that personal safety falls on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs BEFORE Disney's Fantasmic. (I am have a huge fear of lightning so by this time I am panicking.) The show is stopped early everyone floods the exits. (Can't blame them, sitting on metal bleachers with lightning all around while waiting for the crowd to go by didn't thrill me either).
When we got to the exit, we veered left to catch the boat back to our hotel. One boat showed up and filled up to capacity. We stayed back and waited... and waited.. and no boat showed up. Randy and his dad decide to race back to the hotel (but not by foot). We would split up and two would wait for the boat and two would catch a bus.. We chose the latter.
Here now begins when I have a Clear and Present Blond Moment.
Well after walking torwards the bus stop it dawned on me... There's no bus that runs to the EPCOT Resorts, that's what the boat is for! So, I decide we will just take the bus to EPCOT, and
then just walk through the park over to Intrntl Gateway. As soon as I stepped on the bus, realization #2, EPCOT is already closed. I ask the bus driver what he thought we should do.. His answer: Take the boat. Back to square one. We step off the bus and start heading over to the boat ramp: No boat, no people, no lights. The ramp had closed after the last group had left.
By now I am doing that I am starting to get nervous giggle! The bus driver that we had talked to had seen all of this so he motioned us back on to his empty bus and proceeded to drive us (where we thought was to our resort). We went about 20 feet and he stopped (hmm, that was nice and quick). He talked to some man (whom we think is the bus driver coordinator) and told him our predicament. Cooridnator man told us to exit the bus and stand next to a certain bus terminal. So we did, a few minutes later a bus with the words SPECIAL pulled up to take us to our resort. That's right we rode on a bus that said SPECIAL. I am not sure how they were defining the term special that night, but I have a feeling it did not mean that were VIP's!
We made it back, we obviously did not win the race.
RM and RD turned in for the night, but Randy and I changed into some dry clothes and headed torwards DTD. We walked around for a bit, shopped ate ice cream and went back to our SPECIAL place.
Positives: Getting to see the majority of Fantasmic, Deeming ourselves SPECIAL
Negatives: Lightning

[MickeyRon]

I am having fun reading your reports!!

You really thought that Premival Twirl is not mild???

I can imagine being there with your discriptions... keep em coming!!

[MickeyRon]

Sorry about the rain... but sounds like a great day!!

Love the reports!!

[llama]

The rule should be NO RAIN AT WDW!!:(

Great report, but just one question - ummm (why didn't you walk back to the Swan?):dazed

[aurora'stwin]

Originally posted by llama
- ummm (why didn't you walk back to the Swan?):dazed

That's a very valid question. Here's our excuse: Our feet were soaked and we didn't want to risk getting blisters. We still had more days of walking so we were trying to be as careful (lazy) as possible!

[charlene]

My head is full of Blonde moments! Still sounds like alot of fun to me!

[Jacki]

Love the pictures, keep the reports coming!!!!!!