Jan 30, day 3
Monday January 30
Day 3:
Hamjambo everyone! Today is Extra Magic Hour at Animal Kingdom. So instead of getting to the park at opening, we get there an hour earlier than guests that aren't staying on property. I love this perk!
(The Tree of Life the Animal Kingdom park icon)
The weather is cool and drizzly, but that's OK. Our first attraction is Kilimanjaro Safaris and the animals tend to be more active in the cool damp weather. KS is probably my favorite attraction in all of WDW. The story line is pretty hokey; in fact I think they should drop it altogether. But the guides always have interesting facts to share (The first guide even showed us their newest big cat, a big yellow Catapiller back hoe) and I love seeing the animals in an environment that closely mimics their natural habitats. This is as close as I will probably ever get to a real African safari. At first I was a little disappointed because we didn't see as many animals as we had on previous rides, and then we got to the lion area. Usually you see the big male sleeping and his ladies lounging. This time I didn't see any of the female lions, but the male was up and walking around.
(Who's checking out whom?)
Isn't he amazing?! Later when we went on the ride a second time he was actually making that pseudo-roar grunting noise lions make, that was so cool!
(Getting ready to address his kingdom)
Our first ride actually had the story line cut a little short because of a delay in the road. I didn't mind, it was kind of neat and like I said, the story (about poachers and a pair of elephants, a momma and baby Big Red and Little Red) is hokey.
(Our guide and his ostrich friend)
We went on the safari a total of three times and although the guides didn't add much of anything new (in fact we had the same guide twice) there is always the chance of seeing an animal that was hiding before. We got to see both baby elephants, one of whom was born just last fall.
(The older baby with some adults)
(The little one w/ momma)
After our second Safari we decided to get some breakfast and see the rest of the park. We got some character pics and autographs, checked out the Conservation Station, rode some rides and I took lots of pictures of the new attraction that wasn't open to the public just yet, Expedition Everest!
(How cool does this ride look?!)
One of the rides we went on was Dinosaur. Kyle and I both decided we can skip this ride next time and every time we come back to Disney World. He hates the big scary Dino and I just think it's boring. It uses a similar ride system as the Indiana Jones ride in California, but it's not nearly as good. The Dino area wasn't a total bust however, we both love Primeval Whirl; it's a roller coaster with spinning cars and a very cartoony look. Fun, fun, fun!
Before heading back to Kilimanjaro Safari for our last ride, we use our dining plan to get snacks and after years of going to Disney parks we finally get the famous classic Mickey ice cream bar. I've always been too cheap to splurge on one of these, but since it's included as an available snack on our dining plan there's no reason not to get one.
(The famous Mickey ice cream bar, Kyle's first, and yes I AM a camera geek)
Except for the shows and trails we've pretty much done this park so off to EPCOT. First thing, I stop off at guest services and get a dinner seating for Nine Dragons. Then off to ride Mission: Space, this is a fun ride but every time I get off I feel like I am the little green man from outer space, urgh. Then the Living Seas, I miss the Sea Cabs and the pre show, but I still love to check out all the sea life. We were also hoping to do Turtle Talk with Crush, but the line for it was just nuts. So after checking out my favorite manatees we walked over to the Land pavilion for the preachy Lion King the show, the singing food and the Living with the Land tour. One of these days when I go back I will sign up for the hour long walking tour, but for now the boat ride is just fine. I love that some of the food we eat at WDW is grown here. I also like the prolific tomato plant (over 20,000 tomatoes so far) and the pumpkins grown in a Mickey Mouse shape. Our last foray into Future World for the day was Journey Into Imagination. Kyle really enjoys this attraction, but that's because he's never seen the original with Dream Finder. At least Figment is back but the newer attraction doesn't hold a candle to the one I experienced my first few trips to EPCOT back in the '80s and early '90s. You'd think Disney would get the hint and do something to make the ride better since there is never a line and most times we rode we either had the train completely to ourselves or only one other car was occupied. Very sad, when I first road back in '89 we waited in incredibly long lines. I don't miss the lines, but I do miss the reason they were long. OK, off my soap box.
After all this and only an ice cream sandwich (also shaped like Mickey's head) for lunch, I was pretty hungry. So in spite of our 7:30 dinner reservation we walked over to the Nine Dragons to see if they'd push up our seating. It was only about 5:00, so the restaurant has no problem seating us right away. I don't remember what Kyle had, something off the kids menu. But I had the pepper beef and once again, it was an absolutely amazing meal. The beef was so tender and flavorful! Kyle ate more off my plate than his own, he till asks if Chinese apatizers are as good as the ones at Disney World, he especially liked the pot sickers.
I promised Kyle that since it's included in the package I bought that we could go to DisneyQuest, I wasn't really looking forward to this, but it's Kyle's trip too so we left EPCOT to spend the evening at DQ (if only it were Dairy Queen).
(Good night EPCOT, we'll be back soon)
DisneyQuest is a mega arcade and since you buy a pass to get in, all the games are already paid for and there's no need to pump quarters in the machines. I'm all for this since I hate wasting money on arcade games, especially since it was a free upgrade to our package. The first thing we did was head over to the CyberSpace Mountain area. This is where you design your own coaster and then it's programmed into a simulator and you get to ride it. This was very fun, but if they didn't have a fan blowing in my face I would have done some "blowing" of my own, once again, urgh. Then we did a virtual Jungle Cruise on a bouncing raft and a VR Aladdin's carpet ride. Just thinking back on all this is making me green. I was starting to feel pretty cruddy, so I let Kyle mess around on stuff while I wandered around. I finally had enough noise and stimulation and was able to talk the keed into going back to the room. It was pretty late by this time and the magic shop Kyle wanted to look around in was closed so I told him we could come back to Down Town Disney another day. Unfortunately we never did get back, so that's one promise I just wasn't able to keep. I guess we'll have to plan another Disney trip pretty soon, we can't go around breaking promises to our children you know.
Jan 29, day 2
Sunday January 29
Day 2:
Before getting out the door to head to the parks I made a quick phone call for a priority seating at The 50’s Prime Time Cafe.
So we went back MGM Studios. While at the park we had the very nutritious breakfast of an apple (which Kyle dropped almost immediately and wouldn’t eat) and chocolate milks using of the snack part of our dining plan.
We decided first thing to head over to the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. I had to really talk Kyle into this one and promise if we rode now he could go the whole rest of the trip without being asked to ride again. My brave boy who has been riding roller coasters and thrill rides since he was tall enough to get on them does not like this ride. He’s not bothered by the sudden dropping or shooting back up to do it again, he doesn’t like the line. It’s just too creepy for him, go figure.
(Cool dude hanging at the scary hotel)
After braving the ride we HAD to buy him the shirt, and it didn’t hurt that it was on sale. Since we stayed on site we tried out the package service and got out of hauling or purchases all over the park.
We had an 11:00 AM lunch seating, the first of the day. For those who don’t know about The 50’s Prime Time Cafe… “Mom” is cooking in the kitchen and the wait staff are your aunts and uncles, “keep your elbows off the table, eat your veggies”, that sort of thing. Our server had a thick accent so it took awhile to get into the play acting spirit, but we all got into the swing of it and had fun. In fact she forked up some veggies and fed them to Kyle. We split the pot roast and ohmagosh it was the best I’ve ever had! It was simply amazing; the flavors and textures…mmmmm. And the portion size was just right for a mom and son about to embark on the gluttony that is the “S’more”. I’m a big eater and I love desserts, but we needed to rent extra family members if we were going to finish this confection. So sadly we left more than half of it on the plate. Maybe they need to have a take out window for their desserts and shakes (I wouldn’t want to catch heck from “Mom” in the kitchen by just ordering a dessert for lunch or dinner).
(The monster S’more)
So what do you do when you’ve had a huge dessert? Why you go swimming of course! After lunch we went back to our room to get our towels and drop off my camera. When we got there we got a surprise… balloons and a birthday card from the Goof man himself! I couldn’t have been more thrilled if I was turning 4 instead of 40, yeah I’m a big kid.
(My birthday card from Goofy)
Once we picked up our swim gear, we grabbed the bus for Blizzard Beach. After years of taking Kyle fun places this is actually the first time we’ve done a water park. The last time I braved a swim suit on a water slide was back in ’91 at Typhoon Lagoon. We had a great time. We both wimped out on the big slide, Summit Plummet, so we went on the second biggest slide, Slush Gusher, and both decided that was quite enough excitement for us. Big air without a roller coaster car and restraints is a little scary (OK, a lot scary). We found attractions like the Toboggan Racers and Snow Stormers more our speed. We especially liked Runoff Rapids, Kyle rode three times, I only rode twice but that’s because hiking up that hill and taking all those stairs hauling an inner tube gets tiring. For a nice quiet activity we rode Cross Country Creek, you just float around the park, and get off at the stop nearest where you want to go. I think we laughed more on this ride than on anything else. Trying to get in and out of the tubes and make them go where you want is fairly challenging and it makes me smile remembering our leisurely float around Blizzard Beach. We got off the tubes near where we dropped our stuff over in the Ski Patrol Training Camp area. Kyle messed around the SPTC, and I went in search of a snack and came back with a very yummy funnel cake made right in front of my eyes. It was so good I didn’t want to share, but I did. A mother’s love is all about sacrifice. It was a little chilly by this time and I was ready to call it a day (at least as far as water fun goes), so we did a little window shopping and caught a bus back to the room for a shower and fresh clothes. Kyle wanted to swim at the hotel pool that night, so I let him put off his shower until bed time. If I remember correctly, we stayed at the parks so late he got the shower but not the swimming pool.
On the bus we go again and we finally arrive at The Magic Kingdom!
(I wish I could remember what character Kyle sees, because he’s clearly amused)
It’s fun for me to come here and see and experience how different it is from Disneyland. It always takes a little getting used to; the basic layout is the same but with quite a few differences. WDW has no New Orleans Square and Liberty Square is where D-land Frontierland starts near the hub, Frontierland is back in Critter Country, Small World is just across from Peter Pan and not in its own area at the back of the park, and the list goes on. I also enjoy the differences in the rides. The line for Pirates is better here, but the ride itself is better in California. Haunted Mansion is also better in CA, but Splash and Big Thunder are better in FLA. The Story line in FLA Splash seems more cohesive to me, although Brer Bear needs to say “There’s nothing in here but bees” before you drop into the Laughing Place (so of course I say it for him).
Tomorrowland is our first destination; we’re both excited about the Stitch attraction, since it’s something neither of us has ever been on. Kyle the Stitch fan liked it better than I did; I was expecting a ride and not a bigger fancier version of Mission to Mars with an animatronic Stitch and yucky chili dog stench. But since Kyle liked it so much and I didn’t hate it I think we ended up going on it 2 or 3 times during our trip. After Stitch we went on Space Mountain and one of my long gone favorites from D-land, The People Mover. It’s called the Tomorrowland Transit Authority or some such here, but hey “a rose by any other name…”. TTA is a relaxing way to get a little tour of Tomorrowland from above and it never has a line. I miss People Mover. I took lots of pics from this ride, none of which will win any Pulitzers, including a couple in Space Mountain. I think it may be at this point the Kyle started calling me the “camera geek”. I use a digital camera and it doesn’t have any film so I say “click away”. You never know when you’re going to take that priceless picture. And I got some good ones in our week here.
I’ve got to say, I love the Cast Members here at Disney World! One or more of them always seem to add something special to our trips. On this trip a couple of CMs were playing with one of those huge fabric air balls and they pulled Kyle into a game. He had such a good time, and it’s one of those experiences you can’t buy or wait in line to experience. I love Disney!
(The CM looks like he’s having as much fun the kid)
At this point I’m starting to get hungry so I put Kyle in the Autopia line (it’s called Indy Speedway here I think) and I start scoping out places for dinner. This is the first time Kyle is tall enough to ride what his dad always called “The Dumb Little Cars That Don’t Go Very Fast” all by himself. I check out the menu decide on the nearby Cosmic Ray’s and go stand on the bridge over the ride to wait for Kyle. I was fortunate to actually catch him getting into his car and was able to document his first solo ride. Camera geek, indeed!
(That’s Kyle in the red car, trust me)
The thing about Cosmic Rays is it has 3 lines for 3 different types of meals, which worked well for me and our meal plan. Kyle wanted a hamburger so we got him his food and I parked him near Cosmic Ray himself (this is a large AA lounge act on a stage) and got something for me from the chicken line. By standing in line twice I was able to get 2 adult meals instead of an adult and a child meal.
Tonight is Extra Magic Hours for on site guests so after dinner we went looking for the arm bands that would let us play after the park closes to regular guests. We found our armbands near Pirates of the Caribbean and immediately after getting them, Kyle got his first character autograph of the trip… Mr. Smee! This is the first time we’ve seen Smee outside of a parade or show as far as I can recall.
(Livin’ the “Pirate’s Life”)
We attempted to ride PotC, but the line stopped for some reason and we got out of it and went to Frontierland. We rode Splash and then got in line for Big Thunder. The line went quickly because of the parade, and shortly after getting on the ride the fireworks started. WOW, that was so cool watching the fireworks from the roller coaster! When the ride was over there were so few people in line that we and the couple in front of us asked to ride again and “permission granted” we were off again. I love it when we get to do stuff like this. By the time we rode the second time the fireworks had been over long enough that the lines were filling up with Extra Magic Hour guests.
Fantasyland was our next and last stop for the night. We watched Philharmagic, and rode Pooh and stood in a very long line for Peter Pan. It was on Peter Pan that I began to loath Fast Pass, the cast member was letting in 30 or 40 people with FPs to every 10 or 12 people in the Stand By line. I wouldn’t have minded if they’d been more equitable, but the SB line that stated 20 minutes took about 45 minutes. After a long day at the parks this line just about did me in!
I hate that this day’s trip report ends on a negative note when so many wonderful things happened today. But it’s just one experience out of many, so all in all we had a great day at Walt Disney World!
(Blurry but pretty)
Jan 28, day 1
2006 is the year I turn 40. I learned long ago if I wanted my birthdays to be special, I shouldn’t depend on anyone else to make them that way. So last November I decided to book a trip to Walt Disney World and turn 40 in style. This turned out to be a good idea, because of my sister’s difficult pregnancy we haven’t been able to have so much as a nice dinner out to celebrate.
The night before our trip we drove down to stay at my Aunt and Uncle’s house. They live less than 15 minutes from the airport and since we had a very early AM flight, we did NOT want to drive for 2 hours before check in. We woke up at O’dark:30 and I had a nice sinus headache from the Phoenix smog, yuck. After the usual airport pains we took off for Denver. Silly place for a layover, IMO. Note to self… don’t book flights through the WDW web site.
(Kyle waiting for our first flight of the day)
(and waiting for the flight that will take us to Orlando)
On our flight from Denver to Orlando Kyle and I were seated in different rows and it wasn't practical to switch w/ another passenger, NOBODY was going to want my seat. Although the gentlemen were nice, I was rather squished between 2 strangers. Kyle was right behind me so I was sort of able to keep tabs on him. He's a better flyer than I am, so it wasn't really a problem.
We were wheels down right on time, which is ever a relief to me as part of me is always convinced we'll go down in flames. I'm a paranoid flyer, but it doesn't keeping from going to fun places.
We booked an on-site Resort, so we were able to use Magical Express and didn't have to rent a car. Although I'm sure we would have saved time with a rental car. Save money or save time, it's always one or the other at WDW. I think we arrived at our resort around 3:45. Later than I would have liked, but still time for the parks!
Since we hadn't really eaten all day we decided to stop off at the commissary for something to eat. I purchased the dining plan, but being travel fogged I couldn’t remember what came with it, so I forgot all about the drinks and dessert. Fortunately the CM at the register helped me out with it. I ended up with the kids spaghetti, not so great, and Kyle got the pizza, very good. My one problem with the dining plan is when you have a kid you need to order a kid meal if available. Not a problem, except at most places the burgers and pizzas are not on the kid menu. Pa-lease! I ordered a cookie dough sundae for dessert, which was so huge there was no way I could finish it.
(Kyle finishing my sundae while waiting for a bus to take us to the parks)
Our original plan was to go to EPCOT first, but after seeing every other park bus come and go we changed plans and caught the next bus headed to a park. So we were off to MGM! Let me preface this next by telling you…we are from Southern California and I have been taking Kyle to Disneyland since he was in diapers. So we get to MGM and what’s the first ride? Star Tours! I have long ago lost count of how many times I’ve been on this ride at Disneyland. What was our second ride? Why another attraction available at the Disneyland Resort of course, Muppet Vision 3-D! We travel ALL day for attractions we have previously enjoyed on a day trip, lol. Just before the park closed we decided that while everyone else was watching Fantasmic! we would head over to the Rockin’ Roller Coaster, one of my all time favorite rides. There wasn’t much of a line and we were able to get to the park busses before the rush of people from the show.
(My Jedi Knight using The Force against the forces of evil)
On to EPCOT!
(Space Ship Earth without the "abomination")
We walked right onto Space Ship Earth and after riding that we wandered over to Living Seas for kicks and then headed back to World Showcase. I decided that since I had taken Kyle out of school for this trip we should squeeze in some edumacational stuff. So off to the Wonders of China, I enjoyed it as always and was surprised to see Kyle liked it as well. We did the Norway pavilion including Maelstrom then found a place to watch Illuminations. I must agree with another blogger who’s seen this, it’s fine at the beginning and the end, but the middle part w/ the globe goes on and on and on and on, a real snoozer to my way of thinking.
We were going to grab some of the famous school bread in Norway after the show, but of course the bakery was closed. So we ended out first day at the parks and joined to mob for busses to our resort, All-Star Movies.
Once we got back to our room, we were pleasantly surprised to see all our luggage. I didn’t doubt Disney, but I was afraid our bags wouldn’t make our flight in Denver. We were OK with this scenario since we’d packed a carry-on with enough clothes etc. to get us by for a day or two. But as I said, all luggage was right there in the room. All and all a good end to our first day!
My birthday pic with Mickey and Kyle.
