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Susan Krieger -- September 2001 -- Walt Disney World (ASMoR)

• Our Trip: September 24-28, 2001, by US Air, staying in two connected rooms at All Star Movies Resort
• Adults: Phil, 45, Sue 44 - five or so WDW trips, Phil also has visited DW in CA
• Kids: Michael, 16, Katie, 13, Ben, 9, Laura, 6 - also WDW vets, thanks to Grandma and Grandma's not-too-far-away timeshare

This was a too-good-to-resist "Kids Fly Free, Stay Free, Play Free" deal through Disney Travel. We weren't planning a trip back to WDW until 2002, however, I came across a newspaper ad for the deal on a quiet Sunday afternoon in the spring. We couldn't resist, rationalizing that:

• We didn't have any big summer vacation plans and this was way better than Cedar Point as a "whole family" trip. The teens wanted CP for the great coasters but the little ones - and us old folks - weren't keen on that trip.
• We had had a highly stressful year and "needed" a wild and crazy splurge.
• The end of September is not the WORST time to pull kids out of school for a week. Michael, a junior in high school, would be most affected. As a school administrator, I did what I always do when it comes to decisions about my children's education - I asked everybody's and anybody's opinion. The consensus was that, although parents are strongly discouraged from disrupting their children's education - particularly for trips to WDW! - I could have picked a worse time to go. This proved to be the opinion of the kids' teachers when the new school year started and I talked to them about our plans.
• We could always cancel.

We waited until early August to announce our "Big Surprise" (the WDW trip) to the kids. The response? THUD! The older two were still clinging to thoughts of Cedar Point, the nine year-old had just seen the video of "Castaway" (big mistake) and the youngest - well, actually, she did get pretty excited!

So, fast forward to that worst of all days - September 11, 2001. I think I am still in shock. Suddenly, a trip to WDW two weeks away seems... strange, odd. "Hey, kids! The country's going to war! How about a trip to Disney World!?!"

Phil and I follow national and international developments closely. In my job, I do a lot of writing and planning events for our schools to acknowledge this sad time. Absolutely no pre-Disney anticipation. Strange.

Finally, we decide that we shouldn't cancel the trip, although, through our travel agent Disney Travel offers a full refund or the chance to reschedule the trip within the year for the same rates.

No, we are not going to teach our children to be fearful. We're going to Disney World!

Did I mention that my children have never flown before?

DAY 1 (sort of) - September 23, 2001

We go to church, teach Sunday School, head home and finish packing. Leave for Detroit Metro at 3:00 p.m. We are spending the night at the airport Sheraton. Our flight leaves at 6:45 a.m. and we have been told to expect LONG security lines (They are right - unbelievable lines but they moved steadily.) Plus, by doing the overnight, we can park "free" for the week at the hotel.

We reach the Sheraton about 5:30 p.m. Find out they do NOT have a cot for us - even though a call yesterday "confirmed" that they would. Rats. Should have brought a sleeping bag. The kids swim while Phil and Michael make a McD's run for dinner. Lights out early. Ben volunteers for the floor. Three in one bed, two in the other. Getting everyone to sleep takes a while.

DAY 2 - September 24, 2001

Up at 4:30 a.m. after a fitful night. Take shuttle to Metro from hotel which offers REALLY GOOD free coffee, even at that hour. Ride over with two passengers stranded by scheduling problems the night before, three flight attendants and a pilot. Learn that pilots do NOT sit in the back of the shuttle with the rest of us; they ride next to the driver. Interesting. Learn a little about the special life of airline crews as they compare notes as to how they spent the previous evening and where they were off to next. Nice people! Very kind to my sleepy kids.

Make it to airport by 5:30 a.m., thinking - on advice from hotel staff - that over an hour would be enough time, even with the extra security check. No problems at US Air counter. However, we walked and walked and walked and walked to the end of an unreal security line. Sweated out the minutes until flight time and made it with, oh, maybe four minutes to spare. And the really strange thing was, the security check was no more stringent than I have experienced in the past - just a quick pas through the x-ray machine. Hmmmm.

Flight was uneventful and kids did GREAT. Flew like old pros, actually. Proud mama me! Except for some sibling bickering, they are the best. They have wonderful souls.

Our package with Disney Travel provided free Mears service to and from the resort (which we had not expected when we purchased the package.) That went well - clean, air-conditioned, modern bus with efficient help. ASMovies turned out to be the first stop. Off we go!

Check in is a breeze. Place seems much quieter than our last visit to ASM in March 2000. Maybe we are being overly sensitive because of 9/11. Maybe not. Throughout the day, we would experience:

• very short or NO lines throughout the parks
• no real need for Fast Passes
• no wait for walk up food service
• CM's who were kind but quiet, really subdued

Two "magic" things that we also hadn't expected with our package (Boy, we weren't paying attention with THAT purchase!) - trading pins for each of us and a "Flex" freebie for each of us! Neat! We could pick from things ranging from REALLY NICE "100 years photo frame and pin to t-shirts to backpacks, etc. Cool.

The pins were an immediate hit with the kids. This trading thing was new to us. We soon learn that it is a great way to mingle with CM's who - we were told - HAD to trade with us from the many they were all wearing on lanyards around their necks. We all started hunting for our favorites right away. Ben (9) really loves this and MUST HAVE his own lanyard "2001" ($8.00)

Two pats on the back to me: managed to pack really well for six people so that we didn't forget any essentials, snuck in some breakfast food to save cash AND we were able to carry everything without too much strain from airport to bus to hotel, etc., etc., etc. AND (second pat), I was able to fit in our ASM mugs from 2000 which - of course - we are still able to use. Hooray!

One room of two is ready for us on arrival at about 1:00 p.m. Second still being cleaned. No prob. Moved bags into the one, everyone quickly switches into 90-degree weather clothes (50 degrees back in Michigan). Off to the Magic Kingdom, our traditional first stop at WDW.

Bus wait was a little slow - unusual in our experience at ASM. Have they reduced the number of buses? Are we being sensitive to Disney money woes? Something just FEELS different. Maybe it's just me.

AT MK we meet up with a BIG change. Lots more visible security at entrance with all bags being searched. If there was actually a line of people waiting for park entry (there wasn't), this could really slow things down.

Ahhh! Main Street USA. We love this spot. Not crowded, of course. Dapper Dans doing their thing. Love it! Head to P's favorite "traditional" ride - Pirates of the Caribbean, This is a MUST because it was being rehabbed when we were here in 2000 and p was really bummed. Laura - so brave about rides 18 months ago - balks at Pirates. I wait with her in gift shop and then make the second trip through Pirates while M waits with L. Head toward Thunder Mountain - a Ben pick. Get "trapped by 3:00 p.m. parade. Looks like a new one. Characters all in "bubble" floats. VERY pretty. We are impressed. Laura is delighted.

Spend hours until 7:00 p.m. close practically skipping from ride to ride with no waits or the crowds that we were used to from other visits. Late lunch at Pinocchio's in Fantasyland is great. We love their burgers and bubbly Coke. P and I love the mushrooms available for burgers on the toppings bar. This visit, the place was practically empty and the few CM's on hand seemed down, definitely quiet. How weird was it? We sat near the "Small World" windows and stayed longer just to wave to the few people floating along below us because, well, no one ever came to "take over" waving duties. We got pretty "Goofy" doing this after a while and abandoned our post.

Left at closing at 7:00 p.m. Jumped right on ASM bus. Kids took a late, lovely swim on balmy night. Phil bought a cigar and took a walk. Being the mom, I started organizing "things." Later, P brings back pizza to the room and kids run for mug refills. I order Mickey wake-up call at 5:45 a.m. so P and I can sneak out for coffee before the gang hits Early Entry at Epcot. Hey, we get up earlier than that for work - this is DISNEY WORLD and we don't want to miss a minute of the experience!

DAY 3: September 25, 2001

My best bud Mickey calls at 5:45 a.m. LOVE that! Can he call me at home, too? We shower and head out with mugs for coffee, leaving sleeping kids in other room.

(Sidebar: Note to families with four kids - two rooms is DEFINITELY the only way to go. We can cram six in a room for one night motel/hotel stops but a REAL vacation requires two bathrooms, two showers, two televisions and privacy for mom and pop.)

Speaking of showers, thunderstorms forecast in Orlando for entire week! YIKES! Did NOT pack umbrellas. Now, we may have to break down and buy six plastic "souvenirs" for us to wear to stay dry.

Turns out to be a great weather day. No need for ponchos yet. We head out to Epcot a little late for "early entry." We let the kids sleep in a little, figuring that we weren't likely to run into real crowds. Made it to E by 8:30 a.m., went through security search, walked through awful, awful tombstones. (My apologies to all who spent money being a part of this project but honestly, you can't even distinguish faces and they REALLY look like a memorial - you know, to honor the dead, not the living!)

Head straight to Test Track. No wait except for a breakdown right outside the elevators. Kids entertain selves by posing next to test dummies the same ages as themselves. Photo op! As expected, once ride back in gear, Laura chickens out so she and I sit it out and then I do the kid switcheroo. I like this WDW consideration.

Next - Ellen's Energy thing, which did make us, laugh a little. Laura did a head dive at some points. When frightened in rides, she buries her head in my lap and plugs her ears.Then off to Michael's pick - Ice Station Zero. My teenage Coca-Cola addict could stay here forever but we push him out. Wander by the pin-trading booth and pick up a pamphlet on pin trading etiquette. Wow. It's a whole new world to us.

Walked directly on Spaceship Earth, a family favorite. This ride is kind of relaxing but sort of dated. The cool, future things have become modern reality.

(Sidebar: WDW - invest in paint and painters please! Touch-ups needed throughout parks. And what's with all the smokers? Or is it just that I am suddenly noticing cig butts everywhere? Where are all those CM's with brooms and dustpans?)

At that point, the teens are getting itchy at being dragged around by mom and pop. We cut them loose to explore Animal Kingdom solo with plans to meet up at ASM mid-afternoon. I want to check out Germany. They USED TO (no more, we learn) carry a great variety of little plastic Disney figurines made in Germany. We take the boat (near empty) over. Park seems even emptier in the World Showcase. Talk to German hostess about Octoberfest dinner reservations and she assures us that there would be no need as things were very slow,

Walked directly onto Norway ride, twice. Did Mexico's "Tiempo" ride twice for Laura. She calls it "Small World with Mr. Bones" (the skeletons). Now the four of us are very hungry and I remember the nice food court at The Land.

Hooray for me! Enjoy yummy veggie lasagna (P and I share), Mac and cheese for L and fettuccine for B. Time for another split.

(Sidebar: A family of six may seem big - and expensive - but it divides very well, we've learned.)

P and B head back to TT and L and I decide we want to see if any figments of Figment remain at the Journey to Imagination. No riders there except for us. Weird. Laura kind of likes the ride. Loves the interactive stuff at the end of ride. We did spot our buddy Figment twice during the ride. Later, a CM says she had heard a total overhaul - bringing Figment back - was being planned. Hope so. L and I head for base of SE to meet up with P and B. They are not there yet, of course. L and I notice no line (surprise!) at SE so we decide to ride again. This would have been great except the ride breaks down at the top for a LONG ten minutes. WE happened to be in a "dark spot" and my "IndiGlo" light up wristwatch proves very comforting to a concerned six year-old.

Back on terra firma, we meet up with the guys and jump on bus back to ASM. No sign of teens so take a quick swim. They eventually wander back and swim too. Actually, they had beaten us back but were hanging out in the arcade to avoid the housekeepers cleaning our rooms.

After swim, we head to DD to pick up some of our Flex freebies. Do some fun pin shopping. Wander all over, decide to eat at McD's .

(Sidebar: Yuck! Bad bathrooms! Actually, NONE of the bathrooms at WDW have been at what used to be Disney standards.)

Almost tried to catch Innovations at Epcot but decide that none of us really has the energy for the trip. Back at ASM, we enjoy another balmy evening. Teens eventually wander back to DD. Gee, guess they don't want to hang with us old/young folks! Set curfew at 11:00 p.m. I will have a hard time waiting up for them. Tomorrow, first time ever at a WDWD waterpark - Blizzard Beach (weather permitting).

DAY 4: September 26, 2001

Mickey calls - 6:30 a.m. I was actually awake at 6:00 a.m. but stayed in bed to wait to hear from the old Mickster. P and I head for coffee (free!) and a $1.28 banana (for me). Make a hot chocolate run for Laura first. Leave her settled with Disney cartoons, hot choc and a healthy Pop Tart.

Back in room, we let teens sleep a while. P says that they got home about midnight - past curfew! - after a fun time at DisneyQuest at DD. Can't go to BB until 9-ish as it opens at 10:00 a.m. P decides to do AK and MK solo. Not into waterparks.

BB turns out to be a big hit with kids, even with overcast skies. No rain! Again, no real crowds either. I stay with L as she climbs ice cube, rides tubes, etc. in 12 and under area, M, K and B take on everything else and have a ball. B has small mishap that calls for my ever-handy Band-Aids but no big deal.

Family divides again after we regroup at ASM at 1:30 p.m. M and B are just too fascinated with DQ to stay away. M is determined to retrieve his e-mail and electronically hail his buds from WDW. Meanwhile, P, K, L and I need more MK. We follow boys to catch bus. After bragging to ASM/WDW rookies at stop about how efficiently the buses run here, we wait 25 minutes for a MK bus. So much for our expertise!

(Sidebar: L makes comment "How come so many people at Disney smoke?" I'm wondering about all the tattoos we are seeing.)

At MK (and at ASM), crowds seem more "normal." Maybe people are getting back in the mood for Disney magic. The entry search slows things down but, hey, fine by me, Security is polite but thorough.

We realize that people are getting parade ready so we scoot to Fantasyland. Hit Peter Pan, Small World, Snow White, Lion King show, Pooh and Barnstormer in Toon Town. L insists on visiting Minnie's house - her fav! - and is overjoyed to run into Pluto. On our last visit, she wouldn't go near the characters. This time, she hunts them down armed with her autograph book.

We take train from Toon Town to entrance to catch Monorail over to Epcot. Told boys to be at Germany at 6:00 p.m. for dinner. We get there at 5:30 p.m. and find them right away.

Biergarten is a happy place with fab food. Kids were treated great - fruit smoothies, free souvenir plastic Epcot cups. Sonja, our waitress, shares that she is "graduating" tomorrow. Her year in the US is almost up. With just three weeks left, she would finally get her meals for free.

Yikes! Leave Biergarten and are trapped by that very strange parade. My kids range in age from six to sixteen and they ALL thought it was weird and very repetitive. We began to wiggle our way through the thin crowd of parade watchers towards TT. Ignore "looks" from Cm parade guards.

After TT (L and I went shopping for pins), we debate staying for Illuminations. Katie's vote wins and we decide to go find a spot to watch the show. Good move! Stood in the "official standing spot" (according to a CM) right near main drag so that we could leave easily. The weather is lovely and show is SPECTACULAR! Better than we remember from last visit. What more could you want? We even make the first bus back to ASM and got seats on the bus. Left E at 9:25 p.m. and back in room at ASM at 9:45 p.m. Not bad!

M says feet hurt so he heads to pool for a soak. We make mucho drink runs (Love these mugs! Cost must be down to about a nickel per trip by now.) It's been a great day.

Only one full day left. Hitting MGM - finally - because Rock n Roller Coaster supposed to be open after one-week rehab. Better be or our trip will be less than complete - we love that crazy ride!

Bed before 11:00 p.m. Even M won't last much longer with his aching feet.

DAY 5 - September 27, 2001

Phil wakes before me and we both beat the 7:00 a.m. Mickey call. I let P listen in this time. Just don't want to waste any of the day. Really looking forward to MGM.

Rain! Real rain! Time for poncho shopping.

We blow $15+ on ponchos - just for the gals - and the rain stops. Kind of like buying insurance. Long wait for bus from ASM to MGM. Get very tired of watching all the AK buses come and go. Once at MGM we head straight to RnRC, getting more and more nervous as we notice very few people headed that way. Turns out that the CM's at RnRC are allowing people to get Fast Passes but the ride won't re-open for a few hours. We get six FP's and head over to Tower of Terror, Muppets 3-D, BS Tour, then back to RnRC. Fun, fun, fun but I do feel a little queasy afterwards. Back to Honey I Shrunk the Kids play area where B and L are delighted to find Sorcerer Mickey. We get autographs and pix.

Time for lunch at Pizza Planet (Hey, we love Toy Story!) Restoaked, we head for ""Who wants to be a Millionaire." Meet Pooh on the way so stop again for photos and sigs. Walk right into Millionaire. Fun! P mad because he didn't reach top 10 scorers. Says he should have started pushing buttons even before they lit up. Figures that's the trick.

Head out and meet Tigger. L begs to stop. Others lose patience so I volunteer to stay behind with L while rest head back to ASM. After Tigger, walk toward big blue hat (which does indeed overshadow Chinese Theatre) Tons of characters available for signings in the "big hat" area but Belle only wants to meet Belle. We shop our way to the buses (Hey, when the guys aren't around, it is so much less stressful!).

Back at ASM, we all crash for awhile to recover from humidity. Watch news and hear President urging Americans to fly, visit WDW and spend money. Hey! That's us! Feeling very patriotic, Phil runs to buy a postcard - Mickey with a US Flag! - and we send our best wishes off to the White House!

(Sidebar: I actually met GW when he was a governor and prospective presidential candidate and came to visit one of our schools. I was very impressed and remain so. I witnessed him taking valuable time - AWAY FROM CAMERAS - kindly and patiently talking with the lunch lady just because she had something to say.)

After naps, MK and dinner at Casey's - another tradition. Finally make it to MK by 5:00 p.m. Sad, knowing last night of trip. Find out that Katie had thought to give away our three 2:00 p.m. Fast Passes for RnRC before they left MGM (they were ready to leave by 1:30 p.m.) P, M, and K found a family - apparently from the UK - who were very pleased: "Why lovely! How smashing!"

Dinner at Casey's was fun. Then, with only about 1.5 hours before closing, we race to Tiki Lounge (So Disney! I smile all through it!), Pirates, Splash Mountain (2 times) and Thunder Mountain. Walk out slowly with other WDW guests who agree that a 7:00 p.m. close is too early.

Back at ASM with only a few precious hours at WDW left, M and I head for DD - me to shop for items we haven't been able to find elsewhere and Michael back to DisneyQuest for another computer fix. P, K, B and L hang out at ASM, play video games, etc.

It takes M and I a half-hour to get to DD and me 55 minutes to get back! Oh, here is where the crowds are! World of Disney is jammed with frantic shoppers and bus after bus is filled by the long line of guests waiting to get back to ASM. Definitely SRO.

Back at ASM, time to pack. M has a later curfew tonight. Mears bus is coming at 10:00 a.m. Time for a quick hour at Animal Kingdom at 8:00 a.m.? We'll see.

DAY 6: September 28, 2001

I wake up before Mick's call at 6:00 a.m. Remember a "magic moment" from last night. While I went on my LONG slow journey back and forth from Downtown Disney last night, P and the kids scored free pins! P tried to make a pin trade for B and a sweet CM offered him two extra pins! So, more last minute trading this a.m.

I am shooting for an hour at AK with B and L. P, K and M can "laze" until 10:00 a.m. and Mears bus.

Rush hour! We (me, B,L and K who decides to join us at last minute) make it to AK before 8:00 a.m. open. We have fun talking with the moving tree - which talks back! AT open, we head straight for Kilamanjaro Safari and see mucho animals. Kids take tons of pictures.

(Sidebar: We bought disposable cameras for each kid before we left home. Ages 6, 9 and 13 loved it. Mr. 16 didn't open the box.)

Then, hustle to Boneyard. Yikes! Closed til later due to early rain! We have 20 minutes left until we have to leave AK. CM suggests "It's Tough to be a Bug!" Great choice! We LOVE it! Went solo on bus back to ASM from AK. Throw all belongings into suitcases and catch the Mears bus at 10:00 a.m.

The Mears people turn out to be right. We really did need to get to Orlando International by 10:30 a.m. for our 1:10 p.m. flight to Detroit via Pittsburgh. Unreal line to check in baggage! Over and hour and a half later, we grab awful Burger King food and run to our next line - Security check. Again, make it one plane just in time.

Flight home proves uneventful. Well, except for losing Ben and Laura in the Pittsburgh terminal for 15 minutes! Do all panicked parents start screaming at others at times like this or are we "special"? Great relief and a pizza when they are found after having wandered off in search of candy.

Back to Fall in Michigan and the real world of pending war. Another wonderful trip that ends too quickly!

NOTES

Likes:

• Pin Trading - FUN and a great way to talk with CM's. It's a conversation starter.
• Illuminations - unbeatable!
• No lines - anywhere (well, except World of Disney at night)
• It's Tough to Be a Bug!" - really well done
• ASM - really works for us. Very convenient and fun theme.
• Vegetable lasagna at the Food Court at The Land . Try it!

Dislikes:

• CM's not happy campers. Much grumbling betwixt and between. Obviously worried about low park numbers.
• All that smoking (and tattoos!) at WDW. Didn't seem right.
• WDW letting down on upkeep - all over. Not what we were used to, compared to past visits.
• The parade at Epcot. Too esoteric and way too repetitive and long.

Susan Krieger

Dixiebunc@yahoo.com

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