[llama]

We are back from three glorious weeks and now THE TRIP REPORT looms - here it is.

I don't know how to say this without sounding like I'm bragging, but when you're there for so long, it's kind of hard to keep track of day to day events - so I will go with the highlights.

January 17 - We leave. We actually had a very civilizied flight time - 10:30 a.m. Usually we have to be up at the crack of dawn. So naturally, this time, I was up at the crack of dawn. I'm a bad leaver. I worry about everything and everywhere I turned a pair of cat eye's stared at me reproachfully. Overcoming, we made our way to the airport, only to find that the commuter jet we take to Chicago was delayed in Chicago due to ice. So we wait some more. We had only an hour to make our connection so I was getting nervous. Finally, after an hour's wait, we boarded. I was sure that we would miss our flight, but the pilot obviously found a short-cut. As we landed in Chicago, they told us they had notified our flight that we were on the ground and that we had to RUN. We ran. A great ticket clerk met us on the run and rushed us right through. We made the flight. Our luggage didn't. Arriving at about 7 p.m. at Boardwalk, we encountered our first magic. We had booked a studio for the one night, before moving to the Beach Club Villas. Didn't want to waste the points. Neil checked us in and when we opened the door - one bedroom suite overlooking the Boardwalk with a perfect view of Illuminations. We sat on the balconey and watched them, then, luggageless, fell into bed. By the next morning our luggage had arrived and we headed for Epcot. It was pouring rain, but I didn't care. We were back. With some apprehension we approached Mission: Space. BTW, the crowds were minimal to say the least. We walked onto Mission:Space - got our assignments - and entered the capsule. I was relieved to find that I didn't feel claustrophobic at all. Did as they instructed - looked straight ahead, didn't close eyes and - IT WAS FABULOUS. The sensation of the lift-off was indescribable. I loved it. My kids loved it. Neil loved that it was over. Because of the rain, Test Track wasn't running, so we headed for the Universe of Energy. By the time we were finished there, the sun had come out. Stuffed away the ponchos, and proceeded to do the rest of Future World easily. We did stop off at the Ice Station to sample Beverly, and I really didn't think it was so bad. We sipped, not gulped. It tasted kind of like very bitter grapefruit to me. I think the veggie-Japan one was our favourite. Ate lunch at The Land Food Fare, then strolled our way to the World Showcase. Watched the World Showcase Players in England, but had just missed Off Kilter. By this time it was about 3 o'clock, so we walked back to Beach Club Villas and checked in there. Our suite was on the 3rd floor, overlooking the gardens and very quiet. Very nice, but I couldn't help but notice that since building Old Key West, Disney has cut corners on their villas. It was definitely much smaller. And there are so many doors, leading to bathroom, bedroom, shower, that we were constantly opening and closing. Just not as nice a set up as OKW and the furnishings, though nice and comfortable, seemed to be just one step down from OKW. ANYWAY, we changed and headed back to Chefs de France for dinner. Seated next to us were a family who had a five year old Emily who - shall we say - was having an "off" day. Not too happy with the restaurant, her family, sitting up straight, etc. Her poor mother was so embarrassed. We just laughed and told them that all "Emilys" had distinctive personalities and introduced our 19 year old Emily. Well, 5 year old Emily immediately became entranced with our Emily. Drew her pictures, insisted on having their picture taken together, wanted to know just where Canada was... in the end we had a great conversation with them (from Jacksonville) and little Emily's mood was much improved. Just one of those special times that always pop up at WDW. I ordered a filet mignon, medium rare, and it wasn't, and the waiter seemed to have disappeared (very authentic - just like in France :laugh) - so I ate it and when we finally did manage to flag him down, we did complain (Nicely) and it was taken off the bill. I used to enjoy this restaurant, but must say it's standards seem to have slipped a bit. The creme brulee, however, was delicious. Back to BCV where we explored for a while. Then to bed.

ANIMAL KINGDOM: The day was sunny and cool and we got up early and headed to AK. It was still the Martin Luther King weekend and there was a bit of a crowd. However, nothing which needed fastpasses, and we quickly did the Safari - new baby elephant was adorable, as was the baby hippo. Had to explain to 19 year old Emily that no, she couldn't take them home:dazed Did Dinosaur, Triceratops Spin (Neil hates this ride) and then he headed off to play hockey with his Florida buddies and the girls and I headed for Festival of the Lion King. As usual, it was fabulous. As there were some crowds we decided to do the nature walks through Africa and Asia. Enjoyed the gorillas, and as usual spent way too much time looking at the tigers. I just love the tiger enclosure so much - how you can walk from stop to stop and suddenly there, right on the other side of the glass, a tiger can be lounging, one foot away from you. We did some browsing in the shops and then headed for the bus stop back to BCV. We opted to eat at the villa that night - I think I've mentioned before that we're just not the kind to enjoy restaurant food everynight - and a little comfort food here and there, makes a big difference to us. So ends our first weekend. I'll be back.

[tinkerbell]

ooooo I was just so happy reading you loved Mission:Space .. I read that part out loud to DH !! I told him how you just spent 3 weeks there and he said we have to do three weeks in August.
every word just made me really excited to be going next month for the first time!!
I cant wait to read more!!!

[crystalrp]

Great report so far. Looking forward to More..More..more..LOL

[Dana]

I'm hanging on to every word and can't wait to read the rest.


I fogot to tell you that I fooled Sara into trying Beverly and she practically spit it out and I was practically peeing my pants laughing at her..lol

[SnazzyCMB]

3 weeks!!!:cry: I thought my measly 10 days in September would be a good long time!! I'm soo jealous! :p Glad you hada great time though, can't wait to hear more!!

[mickaholic4077]

Wonderful report so far,Janice. I can't wait to hear about your Disney cruise!!!

[JM0318]

llama,
Great trip report... Mission Space it great. Thank you for sharing your trip with us.


:heart :) :heart Judy

[preidel24]

Janice,

You just returned from what I've always considered my dream vacation. Three glorious weeks at WDW. Sounds like you where off to a great start from the get-go. I can't wait to read the rest. Welcome home!!!

Paula

[llama]

And to continue...

MGM - we decided to split up today, because both daughters have different interests at MGM. Neil and Sarah headed for TOT and Emily and I headed for Rock 'n Roller Coaster. To give you an idea of how low the crowds were, after listening to the pre-ride Aerosmith spiel, we headed for the ride and there was nobody - NOBODY - at the ride except our group, and as Em and I were leading the way, we got the front seat. R 'N R has got to be one of my all-time favourites. It was great. Certainly got the circulation going at 9 in the morning. Emily will not do TOT, so I put that on reserve for another day. We strolled around, doing the Great Movie Ride - it's a classic, but I have to admit it needs some re-vamping. You can only get held up by that gangster just so much. We did Muppet Vision, Little Mermaid, Sounds Dangerous, and the Animation Tour, which was rather sad, with all the animators gone. Went for lunch at the Commissary. I do wish the counter restaurants at WDW would expand their menus just a bit. The choices are pretty limited. Emily had fish & chips and I had a cheeseburger, but I would have really enjoyed something a little lighter. After lunch we headed to the Beauty and the Beast Show, which we hadn't seen for years. It was lovely and entertaining and I just enjoyed watching all the little girls in the audience when Belle and the Beast danced at the end. Their eyes were just shining and it reminded me so much of when my girls were little. But my big girl's eyes were shining too and we left, humming. We decided that a little shopping was in order, and we browsed through the shops, with Emily buying a great purse with Alice in Wonderland characters on it. (Disney has introduced a great line of purses). Very hard to resist. It was just about time for the parade, so we stopped for an icecream cone at Min & Bill's. We found a good spot to sit just opposite Sounds Dangerous, and we met up with Neil & Sarah who had done just about everything we didn't do and hadn't done most of the things we did do, so it was good split up for that day. The Stars and Motor Cars Parade was great. One thing we had never seen at Disney and we enjoyed it. We decided to head back to the BCV because the girls had tickets to Cirque de Soleil. While the girls were at the performance (they LOVED it, especially Sarah) Neil and I hung out at the Beach Club, then headed out to meet them at Rainforest Cafe for dinner. As usual it was noisy and crowded, with monkeys and elephants respectively screeching and trumpeting, but it's one of my kids favourite. I was dying for something LIGHT to eat and ordered a baked grouper which was very good. Now - don't anybody call to have me arrested, but Sarah asked me to order a drink for her. Our legal drinking age is 18, so our girls do order wine or a drink with their dinner at home. She wanted one of these tropical things in a glass you get to keep, so I ordered it without paying much attention to what it was. When we got the bill - $13.00!!! Her $13.00 glass is still sitting on the counter in the kitchen. We like to remind her of it now and then:laugh Afterwards we shopped for a while, but with all the parks closing early, DTD was really crowded, so we decided to pack it in for the day.

UNIVERSAL - I'll just skip quickly over this. Sarah wanted to go because she only had a week with us. It was fun, uncrowded and some of the rides: Spiderman, Men in Black, the Jurassic Park ride are really very good. Emily got to ride her beloved ET and both girls did all those wild rollercoasters. But as we were leaving Sarah, who was the one who really wanted to do this park said, you know, it just doesn't have what Disney does. Yes, it was fun, but no themes, no magic. We watched the Beetlejuice Review and Emily (a dance major) was appalled at how badly it was choreographed. Very amateur. We headed back to the magic and had dinner at Cape May, which was very good and very relaxed. We all enjoyed it.

MAGIC KINGDOM - Five days at WDW and we FINALLY got to the MK. It's so nice to know that it never changes. That as I'm sitting here now, it's there, exactly the same. Anyway... Crowds - non-existent (we were really getting spoiled by this time) and we did Buzz Lightyear (of course Neil got to be Lord High Supreme Space Commander or something, and the rest of us lowly Space Cadets. No wait at Space Mountain. The Timekeeper was open, but we opted to go to COP and do Timekeeper another day. Little did we know that that was the very last day for Timekeeper :madmad so we never got to see it. We did the Transit Authority which we always love and headed over to Fantasy Land, always marvelling as we go, at the people lined up for the Indy Speedway. I guess it's something that every little boy just has to do! Hopped on to the Winnie the Pooh ride, and bounced our way through, then quickly on to Snow White (I really do see why little kids are afraid of this ride. That witch IS scary). Then we headed to Mickey's Philharmagic and I have to agree with everyone else. It was wonderful! The music so beautiful and I do love that cranky old Donald Duck. Leaving that, humming all the songs, we quickly did Peter Pan (it will always be my favourite in Fantasy Land) and then to Neil's great joy we endured It's a Small World. By this time it was lunch and we always have a problem with lunch at the MK. We're not the kind to have sit down lunches in the parks, and the counter restaurants - well, I've mentioned that before. I think we settled for Pecos Bill's. Sarah went out to a vendor to get a pretzel and the rest of us had hot dogs with carrot sticks (I think we were the only ones who didn't order french fries). After lunch we went to the Country Bear Jamboree, something we hadn't seen in years. It hasn't changed. As our lunch had settled, we went over to Splash Mountain and picked up a fastpass for Big Thunder at the same time (the wait time was 15 minutes, but being spoiled, we didn't want to wait that long). Pirates of the Carribean followed. (unfortunately no Johnny Depp sightings). As we left PoC Sarah started to feel a little sick, so we decided to head back. We had a PS for Ohana's, but she just wasn't up to it, so we opted to eat at the Villa - yes, I know we're boring. But our days were very long and busy and it's nice to be able to put your feet up and relax. BTW - Neil cooked.

[DisneyTeacher]

Originally posted by llama
We did the Transit Authority which we always love and headed over to Fantasy Land, always marvelling as we go, at the people lined up for the Indy Speedway. I guess it's something that every little boy just has to do!

Oh, how right you are. My DS (5) loved driving the cars at Indy Speedway. He loved it so much he had to do it twice. There is no place more smelly or hot in July. But he was so thrilled with it I couldn't let him miss it. After he finished driving he was so proud. He must have said "I didn't know I could drive so good" 10 times after he drove for the first time. For him there was no strip of metal down the center of the road, he drove.

I am enjoying your trip report. You lived my dream, three weeks at WDW. :heart

[tinkerbell]

it's a classic, but I have to admit it needs some re-vamping. You can only get held up by that gangster just so much.

have you ever gotten the cowboy?? one year it was a cow girl for us that held us up. the only time we ever got the gangster was several years ago ..and we thought it was something new ..after talking to a CM we found out that there are two hold ups always going on. but we have only had the gangster once

[llama]

Originally posted by tinkerbell
have you ever gotten the cowboy?? one year it was a cow girl for us that held us up. the only time we ever got the gangster was several years ago ..and we thought it was something new ..after talking to a CM we found out that there are two hold ups always going on. but we have only had the gangster once

Isn't that funny? We always get the gangster. Rode it 3 times and it was always the gangster. Only have had the Cowboy a few times.

[Dana]

Your trip report is awesome! I love reading about all the things that you all did...specially now that I know what three of the four of you look like. Still sad I didn't get to meet your Sarah.

[llama]

Trip report, con't. (This is like being back at school - What I did on my Summer Vacation)

The next day we opted for Sea World. Now, I happen to love Sea World. It's a beautiful park and it just seems to move at a slower pace than Disney. I think it's because it's not really competing with Disney. It's a different type of experience. We ambled along, enjoying the exhibits and the shows (I still laugh at the Clyde and Seymour Show). One thing I enjoy here are the beautiful grounds. When you live in a white world for three or four months of the year you really come to appreciate flowers and anything GREEN! Yet - a woman at OKW was planning to take her kids on a ski trip so they could see snow - so I guess we all appreciate different things. Sea World has added a wonderful waterfront street of shops and restaurants since we'd been there last and the food was REALLY good. I must admit it was better than the WDW parks. It was a relaxing day and we ended it by visiting our Polar Bears (born in Churchill, Manitoba) to make sure they were happy. They said they were.

The next day was Sarah's last and she wanted to do the World Showcase at Epcot and ride Mission: Space and TestTrack, so that's what we did. We also had to pack up in order to move to OKW, so it was a chopped up kind of day. By 4 p.m. we were back at OKW - our hands down favourite. I guess because it's not connected to any of the hotels it has more of a village, laid-back feeling. We love it. I walked into the store and immediately recognized one of the CM's behind the counter. I guess he recognized me too, cause he smiled and said - What, are you back again! Welcome home! And I was. We had a PS for the Crystal Palace that night, so we drove over to MK. BIG, BIG mistake. NEVER drive to the MK. We had forgotten what a hassle it is just to get to the front gate. BTW, I loved looking at all the Mickey's decorated by celebrities which are on display outside the MK, but I have to admit I don't know what Rosie O'Donnell could have been thinking. I think she gave a bucket of yellow paint to her kids and they just dumped in over the Mickey. Really, not very nice, when others had gone to such trouble to create some great ones. THE CRYSTAL PALACE - well, I know its everyone's favourite, but I really think I would have enjoyed it more if I had had a 5 year old along. The food at the buffet was just lukewarm and not very good. Still we all said hello to Pooh and his friends and enjoyed the desserts. As Sarah had to leave at 6 the next day, we headed back. She had had a great time, but at 20 she has a life of her own and she was anxious to get back to University and her friends. I was glad that our cats would have one family member home with them. Her trip back was uneventful and as all mothers I breathed a sign of relief when she called to say she was home.

Our next week was so relaxing and nice. I could really live at OKW. The condos are large, well-planned, comfortable. The ducks come for their bread every morning (I think Disney ducks are the epitomy of "lucky ducks"). One day while Neil played hockey, Emily and I took the boat down to the Marketplace and had a great time doing all the shops. I know I've rapped Wolfgang Puck's at DTD, but we tried the WP Express at the Marketplace and it was one of the best meals I've had. An Oriental Chicken Salad. Really tasty. Em had the quesidillas and they were good too. I was sorry to see that the Gourmet Shop had closed, but the new Sandwich Shop looks interesting. The weather that day was perfect and we just enjoyed being on the water, though Emily didn't enjoy being told that they had taken two alligators out of the river the day before! Some days we went to the parks. Some we opted to stay at the Resort. Took some great walks. Did some outlet shopping. And before we knew it, it was Dana Day.

I was so nervous - I guess this is what computer dating is all about! When the phone rang on the appointed day, I just had to smile when I heard her voice. She had told me once in a PM that, no, she had no accent at all!
:laugh Well, as soon as I heard that New Jersey voice, I knew it was her. She said that they (Mickaholic had already met her at her hotel) would race to MGM and meet us there. I was hurrying Neil and Emily to get there, I didn't want to be late, but when we got to the R & R Coaster, we couldn't see anyone who matched her description. So we just stood and waited and then I looked up and with all those people, I knew it was her. We just beamed at each other and hugged! So many conversations through PM's and I already felt like I had known her all my life. She introduced Sara - and let me tell you all right here and now - Sara is a darling little girl - so sweet and good-humoured and beautiful manners! Neil just enjoyed her so much. I think they were buddies from the start. Alma was there too and it was hard to believe that the people we know through our computers really do exist. First stop - Rock & Roller Coaster. Neil, Em, Dana, Sara and me, while Alma waited for us. It was a great way to start their trip. Then while Sara waited with Emily (I smiled to myself thinking what Dana's mother would say - "you left her with a STRANGER!!!", Neil, Dana and I did TOT. It was Dana's first time. I think she liked it. Next to the Brown Derby for dinner. Now, I would do this restaurant again. Yes, it is for grown-ups, but I really like the size of the portions they gave (not overwhelming) and the grapefruit cake was delicious). While Dana and I talked, Neil et al did the Great Movie Ride. (I couldn't face that gangster again:laugh ) then a quick trip to Muppet Vision and a stop at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Had a quick meeting with Trish (hope your foot is better) and a drink with Dana and Alma. When Neil came to pick me up, we took a quick look at Dana's room. I was so pleased that they had up-graded her to a Savannah view. The room was beautiful and they were so excited to be there. I don't think it would be easy to get me out of there, with the animals roaming around. (Look at that big tan steer over there - yeah, it's lying so quietly - oh, it's a rock:laugh :laugh ) As Neil and I were being cast out of OKW the next day and wondering around homeless till 4 p.m, we agreed to meet with Dana and Sara at the MK the next day. They had to be up for their CRT breakfast, so we said good night.

[tiggerlover1971]

great trip report my dream is to someday do three weeks there