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David O'Dell -- October 2001 -- Walt Disney World (BWR)October 13-18, 2001 Who
Introduction We try to make a trip every other year, and also try to invite friends to come with us. Corey and family are friends from church, and our daughters play very well together. Also, Jack was a very easy addition to the group, and often slept in his stroller. Saturday - Travel and Boma Restaurant We left at 6:45am from DFW to arrive at the BWV by noon. We hired a stretch limo from Happy Limousines which is an incredibly fun treat. BTW (by the way), with new security restrictions, limo drivers cannot leave their car unattended. So, you must call the limo service when you reach the airport and they will tell you where they are parked. In actuality, the limo was parked about 20 feet from the baggage claim, and the driver stood outside with our name on the card. We also stopped at the grocery store on the way in to buy some necessities (eggs, milk, juice, coke, and beer). We arrived at the BWV at noon, but despite my fax 3 days earlier, our room was not ready. We left our stuff with the bellman and headed to Beaches and Cream. This was a very fun place. Also, this was the first time I saw the bool at the Yacht/Beach Club. Wow, what an incredible pool! By the time we got back, our room was ready. We unpacked and went for a swim/slide at the pool at the BWV. This is a great pool too. For dinner, we went to Boma's at the Animal Kingdom lodge. This was the culinary highlight of the trip. Also, the Animal Kingdom lodge is incredible. It is every bit as awe-inspiring as the Wilderness Lodge or Grand Floridian. Sunday through Wednesday - the Parks We went to the parks for four days, spending two of them in MK, one in MGM, and the other in Epcot/AK. With young kids, you just can't beat MK and MGM. To shorten this report, I won't describe every day and every meal, but just mention some of the highlights. Wait time - was typically between 5-20 minutes, with an occasional 35 minute wait. We tried Fast Pass, but it was not necessary with the short wait times. Personally, I like some wait time to listen to the music and build the excitement for the ride. To describe the crowds, the parade routes were full of people, but you could always find a little place at the last minute to stand near the rope and get a good view of the parade. Flights - both flights coming and going were overbooked. Although we missed having empty seats, its good to see we (America) are not succumbing to the terrorist threats to our economy and livelihood. Park entry - upon entering each park, every bag, purse, and stroller was thoroughly checked. This was not an inconvenience at all. Also, they were only checking for weapons. We brought drinks, snacks, and candy every time and no one cared. Illuminations and Fantasmic - they were as cool as ever. The new lighted pins - For the 100 year celebration, they have 5 very large pins that light up. I thought we were wasting $16 at first, but it turned out to be one of the highlights (pun intended) of the trip. Marie wore it all the time, and lit it up (by touching it) whenever it got dark inside a ride. However, the pins also receive a radio signal that cause them to light up in a very unique way at certain rides, shows, and parades. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire - this show was a lot of fun. You play along with the person in the "hot seat" and the audience member with the highest score is the next contestant in the hot seat. I got all the questions correct, but I was not even listed in the Top Ten when it came time to pick the next contestant. I learned later that you need to be fast with your answer. To do well, you need to start tapping the correct answer as soon as you know it. That way, whenever the signal to input your answer is given, you will be very fast with your answer. What We'd Do Different We ate at the buffet at Hollywood and Vine. That was a waste, like a $20/person version of Sizzler. We went to the parks four days in a row. Next time we will take a break in the middle to sleep in, do Jelly Rolls, go to Downtown Disney, and swim at the pools. God Bless David O'Dell odelld@hayboo.com Mail a Comment to David O'Dell |
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