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Kathy Jared -- February 2001 -- Walt Disney World (ASMuR)

Feb 6 - 10 2001

"Just the Two of Us"

Day 1, 2/6/2001

We actually arrived at the airport on time. This is a rare occasion. Our flight was scheduled for 6am and we met a former co-worker that was shocked to see us pulling into the airport parking area at 4:55 am. In December, I had noticed where Airtran was running a special on their tickets booked online for $79 each way. Normally, we schedule our vacation around our anniversary, Feb 16th but for this price, we were willing to change our plans.

We checked-in and snatched up the exit row seats on the MLI-ATL segment but the exits on the ATL-MCO flight were already taken. Filled out a couple of postcards and dropped them in the mail for the "little ones" (grandchildren). I have discovered that if I mail them before I leave, they receive them before we return.

Smooth flight and we arrived early into Atlanta. The connection time of 40 minutes was just long enough to comfortably enjoy breakfast at a little place on the C concourse. Our flight to Orlando was full and we were seated behind the exit row when we noticed that a family traveling with small children had been mistakenly given the exit row seats. While the flight attendant was explaining why they could not sit there we immediately seized the moment and offered to trade. Ahhhhhh leg room again. This was indeed our lucky day.

Another smooth flight. This was our first time traveling on Airtran and we certainly were pleased. Upon arriving in Orlando, we headed straight to a gift shop where I purchased several Mickey post cards and mailed them from the airport. There was about a 20 to 30 minute wait in line at Budget but I can't complain as they were staffed with five agents. The check in process was uneventful. I had reserved a Ford Ranger extended cab from their web site for a special price of $19.95 per day. Because we own a pickup, and it's just the two of us, we felt that the Ranger would fit our needs....which it did. In addition, we tend to pack light from years of traveling non-rev so lots of luggage space was not a requirement.

I can't express how wonderful it is to see sunshine and feel the warmth. We worked our way to Osceola Parkway, then on to WDW property. We like taking different routes, even if a little longer, and enjoy the neighborhood sights along the way. Noticed that there are many fully screened in yards but couldn't tell if they contained pools or just patios. Also got a chuckle out of the lavender fire hydrants. The dry spell is evident as there is more brown than green.

We arrive at All Star Music about noon. Last year we had felt a bit cramped in our room at the All Star Sports so this time I had requested a king size bed. There was about a 30 minute wait at check in. The CS then said that the king rooms were limited but that we could wait and see if one was still available sometime this afternoon. That was fine with us and I again stated that I would prefer to have a king room that was not handicap if possible. I have been so conditioned with the parking spaces that I thought I would really feel guilty taking up a hotel room. We were then given a business card with a phone number and told to call later for our room assignment. Used our AX card to prepay and we were given fanny packs without the asking.

Did a little shopping in the gift store (sunglasses with Mickey ears for the "little ones") and grabbed a bite to eat in the food court where I filled out more post cards. Because we were staying for four nights, we also decided to purchase the refillable mugs. We later found that there were no juices available for breakfast and that the machines were shut off late at night. Although we could not justify the cost for the above reasons, there was a unity in being a part of the "All Star Zombie Clan" as we all shuffled toward the food court each morning with mugs in hands be it for water, coffee, or cola. The smaller mugs also served as great souvenir glasses for the granddaughters. They love to drink from them when they come to visit "Grammy" and "Poppy".

After finishing lunch, we called the number and our room was ready so we proceeded to the Jazz section. We did get a king and it seemed to have much more room than the doubles but it was for handicap. Once I got over the guilt, however, I loved it and it was very nice to have an extra large shower. We quickly changed out of our traveling clothes and decided what to do next.

Being the kids that we are, we could not contain ourselves and headed straight to EPCOT. We had three days left from our last trip that had been burning a hole in our pockets. Spaceship Earth was a walk on. We then explored innovations, sent more post cards, toured the home of the future, said "hello" to the talking water fountain, tasted Beverly, rode the Universe of Energy, explored the Living Seas, waited in an unusually short line for the Land, and laughed a lot in HISTA. Because we had PS at Le Cellier later that evening, we decided to take WS clockwise stopping along the way to relax on the El Rio del Tiempo and the Maelstrom. By this time it was getting dark and we took another break to watch the model trains before heading toward Canada.

Arrived at Le Celler just in time for our PS which I was glad that I had made because others were being turned away. Thank you so much RADP. Tim decided on the melt in your mouth filet with the roasted potatoes gratin while I ordered the smashed potatoes with roasted garlic and parmesan, a cup of cheese soup, and a glass of Trentino wine. We share and it was all very delicious. Total bill with tip $50.00. By this time we were stuffed and tired so we caught the bus back to our room and proceeded to collapse.

Day 2, 2/7/2001

Used the hint about making a wake up call for odd hours and it worked. Mickey woke us up at 6:54. Got ready to go and did the All Star shuffle to the food court for breakfast. I really like the cafeteria style of the food court as it has a good variety of food and takes much less time than driving to a restaurant. Today we are going on the Keys to the Kingdom tour. We catch a bus and again, we are early for the tour. Wow, this is getting to be a scary but proud pattern. We check in, get our pins and decide to ride the trolley and do some shopping on Main Street as we work our way back to the tour starting point.

This tour was wonderful. One of the reasons was due to our awesome guide (Kandi) who really knew how to get us all in the Disney spirit. Our group rode the TTA and went through SM while the lights were on .....whoo hoo. Lunch was fun and we had some great Disney conversation at our table (Hi Alice) as we gazed out the window from the second story of the Columbia Harbor House. It was truly magical. Kandi then took us through the Utilidor and then on to the Haunted Mansion for our final attraction. This was our first tour and I am so glad that we decided to do it. It definitely will not be our last......we are hooked.

Took a ride on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the Mike Fink Keelboats where we watched the parade before heading to Splash Mountain. I am sad to report that there is still a big problem with the birds. The crowds have been so light that we have not even had to use fast pass and do believe that we have discovered a much better time to come than our usual Feb 16 trip. I have a feeling we will be celebrating our anniversary early next year as well. We HAD to take in one of our favorite rides before heading east to watch the shuttle launch and that was COP. I sure hope that old motor holds out until we can bring our granddaughters to WDW in a few years.

Bussed back to the All Stars then grabbed a map and headed for Cocoa Beach. Drove until the countdown then found a space to pull along the side of the road. Watched the liftoff with the backdrop of a beautiful pink sky and a nearly full moon. Had delicious burger and grilled chicken sandwiches at a place called Marlins on the Cocoa Beach Pier then listened to a band for awhile at another place on the pier before taking a stroll along the moonlit beach. This trip is too much, someone pinch me please.

OK, back to earth, we arrive in town about 12 midnight and stop to pick up some drugs for Tim at Goodings. Poor guy, he is coming down with a cold. It sucks to be sick on vacation. After journeying to the food court for something to fill our cups and wind down, it is at this point where we discover the doors are open but the dispensers are shut off. Oh well, we drag ourselves back to the room. That's the only thing I did not like about being in the jazz section. It seemed like quite a hike sometimes to the main building.

Day 3, 2/8/2001

No wake-up call this morning as we have decided it is best for Tim to sleep in. Finally got moving in time to head to the food court for breakfast. We have never been to a Disney water park and we decide that it is plenty warm enough for us Northerners to swim. Purchased our tickets at the All Stars guest service desk and drove the truck to Typhoon lagoon where we had a blast doing everything but the body slides. Those things looked much too rough for us so we passed. Really enjoyed the shark reef and thought it was a good way to get a feel of snorkeling. Although we did panic and embarrass ourselves at first, once we figured out how to breathe, it was a fun experience. Just a note, the lockers were $6 for a small and $8 for a large with a $2 refund when the key was returned and towels could be rented for $1.

This afternoon we wanted to explore some of the other properties. We drove to the Wilderness Lodge where, after watching the geyser erupt (it happens about once an hour), we caught the boat to the Contemporary, then took the Monorail (air freshener please) to the Polynesian then on to Grand Floridian where we had dinner. I had a bowl of french onion soup and a baked potato while Tim ordered his usual filet with garlic potatoes and steamed vegies. His filet was more like a side of roast beef and there was plenty for the two of us. Their deserts looked enticing but we were too full. No drinks this time...total bill was $42. Took the boat back to the Contemporary where, after finding the correct elevators, we made it to the 15th floor. Enjoyed talking to others while waiting for fireworks. Someone commented that there is always one car alarm that goes off once the fireworks begin and he was right. The sun was a huge golden ball as it set and the view was just awesome. Thanks again RADP.

After fireworks, we boated back to the Wilderness lodge and headed off to Goodings for more cold medication for Tim and icy-hot for me. I must have bumped my knee on the rock during our ventures at the Shark Reef today because it has been sore ever since. Time to call it a night....are you kidding? The medication is kicking in and we are ready to head back to the WL where we watch the Lighted Boat Parade. This was really entertaining and we were glad we decided to stay out. We drive back to the hotel where we purchase our E-tickets for tomorrow night, pick up some snacks (Mickey cookies, pretzels, and fruit snacks) to take home for the granddaughters, and hit the sack.

Day 4, 2/9/2001

Hello Mickey. After our 6:54 wake up call and traditional shuffle to the food court for breakfast, we were ready to head out to AK. Our goal was to see the things that we had missed last year. The first stop, conservation station. We had skipped it last year because we thought it would be boring but found it to be very interesting and ended up spending quite a bit of time here. After stopping to watch a wonderful storyteller near the Tusker house, our next venture was to take a stroll along the secret path. Enough relaxation, shopping was next on my agenda. Those shirts with Pooh looking through a magnifying glass at a tiger that read "Is that you Tigger?" caught my eye for the "little ones" but it took quite a while of browsing to find a shop that carried both of the sizes that I needed.

By this time Tim was famished and we ate a very good pizza at Pizzafari. I am one who also has a tough time drinking iced beverages without a straw and regretted not bringing one along. Next it was off to the Jungle where we caught the Tarzan show. Really enjoyed this and although it was loud, I think that added to the effect in that you could feel the base of the music. I noticed that one usher wore earplugs and it might not be a bad idea to bring some along for the children. We saved Dinosaur for our final adventure. I remember having to really work at maintaining my composure on Body Wars one year and I have been cautious of enclosed simulators ever sense. I made it through but barely...and this is the toned down version. WOW

On that note, I think its time for a break. We decided to head over to Beaches and Cream to pick up a couple of shakes and relax. The shakes were OK but we are spoiled by a Confectionery in our area that has been in business for over 100 years. Enjoyed them the rocking chairs out front because the restaurant was packed. We then caught the boat to the Studios. Saw the path as it winds its way along the boardwalk side of the waterway. Had my knee not been so sore, we had planned on walking it. I do enjoy the boats, though. Again, our goal at MGM was to take in the sights we had missed last year.

Beauty and The Beast was closed for the Rosie set up so will have to add that to next year's "to do" list. For some reason, I had a tough time getting my bearings in this park. Could it possibly be because I have grabbed a French map? Whoops. We saw the Voyage of the Little Mermaid where we also ran into Kandi giving a tour and sharing more of her Disney magic. Next we went to Backstage Pass. There we saw a replica of the Home Improvement set and the new Millionaire set. We were told that the people on this tour or in the pre-tour area when this show is taping will be the "phone an audience" part of the show. The guide also reported that the prizes will consist of Disney merchandise.

Caught the Great Movie Ride where we were kidnapped by the gangster then headed over to the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Although it is only 32 minutes, for some reason this show seemed very long. After exiting, we rushed to the Muppets. This was OK but I kick myself for forgetting to look for the key. Maybe I could not enjoy the full effects because the parent that I was seated next to, for some reason just as it got dark, decided to trade places with her hyperactive teenage son who elbowed me throughout the whole show. Ouch. The last two things that we did were Star Tours (another tough ride for me) and the Drew Cary Sounds Dangerous. I enjoyed Dangerous and found it a relaxing change of pace but I did notice that someone behind us was quite upset with one of the special effects. We had planned on seeing Indiana Jones but were too late for a show. Oh well, we will add this to the list for next year too.

We left MGM and rode the boat to the Swan Dolphin where we decided to disembark and walked back to our truck. Changed clothes then drove to DD for Dinner at Wolfgang Pucks. This was the longest line we have occurred in the whole trip and we were starved. The food is served cafeteria style so the flow was smooth. We felt this was definitely worth the wait as the food was fantastic. Tim chose 1/2 chicken and I the pasta with a glass of white wine and a taster of the tortilla soup. I was hesitant to try the soup as I am a very picky eater but I found it to be delicious. Total cost of the meal was $35.00.

We drove back to the hotel, freshened up, and caught the bus to the MK. Rushed to take in the things that were not scheduled for e-ticket night. These included The Jungle Cruise, Swiss Family Treehouse, The Tiki Room, and the Pirates of The Caribbean. Everything was a walk on and we romantically floated through PoTC in our own private boat. WOW, we step out to find the streets almost empty for the 10pm - 1am E-ride night. We then head over to the Haunted Mansion where we enjoy noticing the things that tour guide Kandi had taught us on the Keys to Kingdom Tour. Took a break in the Country Bear Jamboree then continued over to Tomorrowland where we rode on Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin and the Astro Orbiter. At this point, we decided it's time to slow down and enjoy the sites. It was awesome being at the MK and almost alone at times. We strolled through the rose garden and sat in awe looking up Main Street at the statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse in front of the Castle. It was a magical way to end our vacation. We slowly walk towards the bus to the All Stars which is ready and waiting for its final passengers of the night. Back to the room where we finish packing then decide on a 430am wake-up call. Because I know how the stress of the mornings takes its toll on us, I am very tempted to just stay up but the enticement of catching just a few hours of sleep wins out.

Day 5, 2/10/2001

Ring...yes, Mickey, now the fun begins. We shower and accomplish being up and dressed by 5:30 am but darn, we haven't checked-out yet, can't find the map, still have to stop for gas, and realize that there is a heavy fog. Well, not much we can do now......just hope for the best. Checkout went very smooth and we got wonderful directions to a gas station on Boggy Creek Road from the toll booth operator.

Quick return at the rental car company and we were in the check-in line for Airtran by 615 am. Unfortunately this line was not moving at all....and we wait, and wait, and wait. There are three agents checking-in passengers but they each seem to be having problems because none of these passengers are moving from the counter. Soon someone walks to the front to remind an agent that there are still people in line for the 7:15 flight. The agent then finishes up with her passenger, slowly walks to the other end of the counter, picks up some tubs, walks back to her computer, and announces that everyone for this flight should step to the front of the line. Whew, she had us worried for awhile, that's for sure...perhaps our punishment for not arriving early enough to the airport? We arrive at the gate and relax until boarding time.

The flight was full and, again, another smooth flight from what we could tell. Actually, we snoozed through most of it. Arrived in Atlanta on time and checked with a gate agent to see if there was any room in business class on our connecting flight...which there was. Airtran is running a $25 upgrade special and being able to stretch out in two seats sounded wonderful to us. Grabbed a bite to eat in the Concourse deli and proceeded back to the gate where we people watched until flight time. Felt for all of those involved in the denied boarding situation one gate over as the agent working a flight to Baltimore had to give a final call 18 minutes before departure time without everyone on board. One after another, passengers were running to the gate only to be told that the doors were closed...not a good situation.

Our flight home was nice although, again, we snoozed through most of it. The upgrades included one free drink but we had no desire for adult beverages at this time so we passed. We arrive to 9-degree temps ...Brrrr. Well, at least we got away for a little while and have the memories to warm us. Thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed my trip report. If you have any questions, please feel free to email.

Kathy Jared

tmnkat@aol.com

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