Trip Reports

Trip Dates: April 18, 1998 / April 26, 1998

Names: Brian (36), Chris (32), Bronson (6) and Connor (4)

Pre-Trip Planning

Although I am a rookie my wife and I both have been to MK and have are different childhood memories mine from "72" and hers from "74". We both want are children to experiance the magic that we had. With one great difference to do it longer and on a grander scale.

What kid would'nt love a entire week in Disney World; eating, sleeping and living Disney? This is a Pre-Plan to our trip.

Although everything can't be (nor should be) planned, it is my intention to have a general outline of the direction that would best facilitate a smooth and enjoyable trip by all. The main objective is that my boy's Bronson (age 6), and Connor (age 4), have a vacation to remember, with all their dreams coming true. I (Brian, age 36) want nothing more than to see smiles on my family's faces. Oh, yeah and one more thing: Spectromagic. I heard that the 18th of April was going to be the last day for it, which is why the initial trip was moved up by one day. I had to leave earlier, and my wife, as always, was understanding to my needs.

The trip really began approximately three months ago in February when I suggested it to my wife (Chris, age 32). From that initial moment we have had no less than 12 different reservations ranging from Y&B Club to Wilderness Homes, finally ending up at ASMR; $99.68 per night with tax. The thought being that it is better to spend the money on a longer stay than a shorter one. It started with the ordering of tickets off the Internet, four day park hopper. That is before we had become so educated in the Disney way. It now appears that it will be upgraded to a 7 day all in one, even though we are staying for nine days. The thought being that we can buy our preview for AK for one day and the others will be spent park hopping. But as my wife is well aware, this too can change.

The trip will begin on the 16th of April departing our home in Huron, Ohio at 7:00pm, with the first stop being in the area of Jacksonville, Fl. That is where my sister lives, and it is my intention to sleep till she gets off work. We will be able to recharge and get some good nights sleep prior to D day. The D day morning the two boys will enjoy a good breakfast then will be asked if they want to see a movie, of course they will be enthused to do so. The main attraction on this morning will be a Walt Disney Promotional Tape. The movie will end with Dad asking "Would you like to go? Well, then get in the car!" My wife and I decided that it would be better to keep it a surprise until the end; the constant asking of "When we are going?", "How many more days?" or "Are we there yet?" could be avoided. This way they would sleep all night while driving down to Florida, waking up and being surprised that they are at their aunts.

Upon arrival at WDW, we will check in and ensure that our non smoking room in Calypso is confirmed. We will upgrade our passes with our Magic Kingdom Club Card, (which by the way paid for itself between park tickets and the Polynesian luau). After we have our room charging ability set up and all reservation confirmed, we are off!

Our first stop will be the MK. We will stay there the entire day into the evening. At 9pm we will enjoy the Spectromagic Parade, at 10pm we can see Fantasy in the sky, and depending on the Boys we may go back to the room. An exciting end to an exciting day.

We are opting to do breakfasts at ASMR in our room asthe boys like light meals. We have a refrigerator in the room for $6.00 a day. The boys prefer POP TARTS or cold cereals to hot breakfasts, and doughnuts would be some special treats. Isn't that what we are here for, anyway? EE Sunday is at MGM, lets do it, and leave early! Break at 1:00pm for lunch and swim at the resort, and a nap for Connor. We have PS at Polynesian luau at 4:30pm; $103.88. After dinner back to ASM go swimming and to bed early.

We get up early and go to Animal Kingdom for a Preview. We are buying separate entry so we will not be using one of our days off the 7 day pass. We have 9:30am Breakfastasaurus PS for $44.00. Will spend day in AK without leaving, or should I say to drag the boys out, when it comes to dinos, their love for them is as big as a Brontosaurus! We have PS at Chef Mickey 7:00pm, then it's onto the observation deck for fireworks. They will love it! By this time I am sure we will be carrying them back to the room.

Rise and shine Tuesday for EE at Epcot. Lets have fun! Epcot will be split up if need be, to help we will buy a passport for the boys and allow them to spend as much time in Innovations as possible. The "Food Rocks" stage show will be an absolute for our picky eater Connor, maybe then he will realize the importance of good nutrition. We can always hope. Well back to the room for a little swimming, a little napping, and a little eating. Now we leave it up to the boys, MK or Epcot? Dinner tonight will be PS at Tony's Town Square at 7:00pm. After dinner we can close MK, and head back to room.

Well, Wednesday is the grand opening of Animal Kingdom. Should we stay or should we go? Is there anything offered on grand opening to make it worth are while? Maybe today could be a Water Park kind of day, we will see. Tonight, though, we will be going to Whispering Canyons for our 5:30pm PS for a cost of $51.80. Connor the picky eater will love this dinner even if he doesn't eat. After dinner it is on to Chip & Dale campfire and a Movie.

Well the trip will be on the downward slide , EE at today MK. Lets get on those rides that have long lines and are very desirable. This is a decision for the boys. Break around noon time for lunch at the room with a swim and a nap. We will let the boys decide which park to re-enter after lunch. But tonight it is off to the Boardwalk Marina to board the pontoon boat for $90.10. Our view of illumination from Crescent Lake. Since the boat holds twelve maybe we will find someone who wants to join us. Three days left.

EE on Friday at Epcot, lets see if sleep is in more demand than Epcot. We will finish getting Bronson's passport stamped and stop and smell the flowers. The boys have learned to enjoy flowers from their mother. Possibly an early lunch at a foreign country? Tonight dinner at MGM's 50's Prime Time Cafe.

Saturday the last full day on pass and in the park, have to check out tomorrow, sniff sniff. EE at MK , the heart of it all. After that where ever they want to go, Let's Have a blast!!!! No PS today, So Lets have fun!!! Maybe we can go to the Market place.

The dreaded day has finally arrived. Lets have breakfast and go to Marketplace and buy any last-minute-can't-do-without-gotta-have-it-awesome-way-cool Souvenir.

In closing there is one thing that must always be remembered: Magic lies within each and everyone of us, and it is up to us to make our own magic. WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR......

Travel Days, Thursday & Friday, April 16-17, 1998

April 16, 1998, the day we get in the car and leave for sunny Florida. Only four days ago, Chris and Brian were diagnosed with yet another strep infection and started a 10-day round of antibiotics. Two days ago, Connor was diagnosed with a sinus and ear infection and began his own 10-day round of gooey pink stuff. OK everybody, do me a favor and GET WELL and STAY WELL, at least for the next nine days, OK?

We left home at 6:30pm to begin the 1200 mile trek. The kids, to this point, are clueless about where we are going. It has been a tough secret to keep, but we are positive that the looks on their faces will be more than enough reward for the nights we were up until two or three in the morning planning, researching and packing. Everything was done in the wee hours of the morning so as too not arouse their suspicions. The promise of that wonderful reaction was the sole motivator in dragging ourselves out of bed in the morning. Believe me. It was not easy.

We told the kids this afternoon that we were going to eat dinner at a restaurant tonight that we have never been too before and that is very far away. We were hoping that we could get a few hours behind us before dinner. We were in the car for exactly 15 minutes before Connor said those four words that every parent dreads when on a road trip with their kids. Do I even need to tell you what they were? Those of you with children are collectively shaking their heads in sympathy. Those of you without children will recognize the words I am referring to the very first time you hear them. Trust me. "Are We There Yet?"

Our first stop was at Macaroni's Grill for dinner. It was our first visit to this restaurant chain, and we were VERY impressed. Not only did we enjoy incredible food, but the opera singers were fabulous and they catered to the kids. This is a highly recommended stop if you can on your way down. Just before our entrees were brought, we dropped bomb #1 on the kids: This meal was the first dining event of our (felt so good to finally say the word out loud and not S - P - E - L - L it) VACATION. The kids were not really sure exactly what we meant. They were caught more than just a little off guard, to be sure. So we told them that we are not going home after dinner, we are going to Aunt Judy's house in Florida. Of course, they were very excited and wanted to know what fun things to expect there. Once we informed them that Aunt Judy has a swimming pool they were very happy, indeed. We finished a marvelous meal, no room for desert, thank you. With a full stomach and a full tank of gas it was time to get back on the road.

Oh, yeah. Price of dinner at Macaroni's including a tip: $50. Worth every penny. Try the calamari.

We will reach Charlotte, NC by 4:30 A.M.. To give you an idea of the type of weather we drove through, there were torrential rains and lightning strikes the whole way. Every time we thought the rain must let up soon, it seemed to get worse. The pounding of the rain actually peeled a parking sticker from our windshield. We saw many cars and trucks pulled over to the side of the road because the rain made it difficult to see. A good tip to the road warrior: Rain-X. Don't leave home without it.

April 17, 1998 6:30 A.M. We have finally driven out of the rain. Is God our Co-Pilot or WHAT? We hear on the radio that the storm we have passed through had more than 30 funnel clouds in it that touched down. We knew it was bad, but that still came as shocking news.

A Visit with Relatives

We arrived in Baldwin, Florida at 11:30 A.M., all tired out and happy to be there.

After all the hellos and how-ya-doin's, Chris jumped in the shower to get awake and Brian hit the nearest bed. Bronson & Connor enjoyed Aunt Judy & Uncle Harry's pool and the company of their cousins, Eric & Kyle. Bronson was very impressed that they had a Sega game, and thought he would have the best vacation of his life just lounging and playing Sonic. The patience of their older cousins, 17 & 14, was very appreciated and made the stay truly enjoyable.

Brian got up at 6:00 P.M. and we had a dinner of grilled steaks & veggies, hot dogs for the kids. Some more visiting, then Chris is off to bed at 8:30 P.M. for some much needed sleep. Brian stays up and enjoys more visiting with his sisters, Judy & Marilyn.

Day One, Saturday, April 18, 1998

The Bomb

Out of bed for mom and dad at 7:00, get a shower, get dressed, get breakfast going. The kids are up shortly after and get dressed on their own. We had a leisurely breakfast, then got ready for the "big moment."

"Hey, kids, want to watch a movie?"

"Sure!"

We break out the Disney Vacation Planning video (you can get one, too, by calling 1-407-WDISNEY) and pop it into the player. We watch the movie with a close eye on the kids, and are delighted with every "wow" and "awesome" that they utter. Finally, at the end, Bronson says, "Man, I wish we could go there." Then drops the mother of all big bombs: Dad calmly says "Well, Bronson, that's where we're going for the rest of our vacation."

Mom's got the video camera rolling to catch the reaction. We were somewhat disappointed. They were dumbfounded, literally. Bronson had a look on is face like: You're pulling my leg. Quit it. Now I want to go in the pool. Connor didn't know what to think. Then both said they wanted to go into the pool. I stopped rolling the camera and said "No, boys. I don't think you understand. We are really going there. Today. Now. Get in the car."

That's when the kids went NUTS, Jumping and screaming, running in circles, hugging everybody in sight, and me without my camera. Oh well. It was really fun to just enjoy the reaction. Definitely worth all the planning! They ran out to the car and jumped in. While we were still inside gathering clothes, toothbrushes, etc., they came tearing back into the house and each grabbed one of us and started dragging us out. It was a real hoot. They got behind us & starting pushing us to the door, laughing and carrying on. What a great moment.

The Last Leg

Got down the road and got some gas and some Pepsis. We had gotten some brochures from our local AAA and gave them to the boys to look at. After about 20 minutes they were done and started asking "Are we almost there?" (a variation on "Are we there yet?", those four dreaded words!) So we had to explain that we had to drive a few more hours. They were cool with that and within 15 minutes more they were both asleep. We couldn't have planned that any better.

We arrived at the Disney AAA center in Ocala Florida at 11:45 A.M.. Brian went inside to find out if we could get any "bargains" for rooms or meals. Sometimes you can get up sales or discounts for rooms if you take them for right now, not in advance. Disney would rather take a cut on the bottom line rather than make ZERO on an empty room. The only thing they had available for this week was the Disney Villas for $238 a night. Not a bad deal, but still more than we want to spend. We are off. Next stop: WDW.

Arrival and Check-In

After a not-so-very-long drive, we simply followed some signs right to the hotel. We found things very well marked and easy to find. We spent about 20 minutes getting checked in and upgrading our four day Park Hoppers to seven day All-In-One Passes. These passes are COOL. Park tickets, room keys and charge cards good throughout WDW all rolled up into one. Another example of that Disney Magic, making your vacation as care free and convenient as possible. Maybe a little TOO convenient. We'll have to watch that "charging" part. To be able to have things charged to your room, you have to give them your credit card number to insure payment. We didn't mind doing this, and ended up paying our bill off each night. Paying it off each night helped us keep a handle on our spending, and we got a print out each night detailing our bill. See the end of the report for more information on this.

Luggage check in was easy with the little carts they provide with your drivers license as deposit. One of our bags dropped off of our cart on the way from the car to the luggage check area. The carts are WAY too small. After some panic, we found that someone had turned it into the lost and found. Chris, who figured the bag would have found its way into someone's car and was probably half way to Orlando, had to give optimist Brian an apology. He has that "Disney Magic" attitude; nothing can go wrong here!

Cruised into "Maestro Mickey's" gift shop for some hats for the kids & dad and a watch for mom. Three hats totaled $56, and $35 for a watch. Very nice quality merchandise here, nothing cheap.

We grabbed a bite to eat at the cafe' in the All Star Music. A "mini" pizza for Bronson which he loved and ate over half of, a hot dog for Connor, a Philly Cheese steak sandwich for Brian and hot ham & cheese for Chris. We also purchased some refillable mugs for all four of us at a cost of $7.99 each. With free refills and the mug as a souvenir, how do you go wrong? Lunch total including mugs: $49 TIP: If your kids will agree on an entree', just order one and let them split it. Portions are generous here, and it is better to have to buy more food if you need it (or just have an earlier snack) than to throw half of each kid's meal away. We're not pinching every penny here or anything, but it seems silly to waste it.

Our room was not yet ready, so we jumped on the bus, which was waiting for us, and headed for the Magic Kingdom. We walked through the gate at 2:57 P.M., just in time to get a curbside seat for our first event: The Magical Moments Parade. What a perfect way to start our Disney vacation! We were very happy to see all of our Disney friends, Mickey, Minnie, Aladdin, Genie, Belle, Beast and the gang all there to greet us. The timing could not have been better. All that magic was just coming together.

On our way down Main Street, the delicious smell coming from the bakery was more than we could resist, so we stopped for some ice cream and a toll house cookie & some drinks. Price: $8.50 TIP: If they are not really excited about the ice cream and really big ice cream fans, two small kids can share one cone; ask for two cups.

After the snack, we headed for Tomorrowland. The first thing we did was go into the "Timekeeper." We were at the very front of the line and had to wait by the doors, and the kids were a little apprehensive about what was going to happen. We assured them that everything was just for fun, and that nothing was going to hurt them. Would all these people stand in a line and WAIT 20 minutes for something that was unpleasant? NOT! Once we got inside and saw Timekeeper, the magic took hold. They LOVED IT! The animatronics were awesome. Robin Williams does an excellent job, providing the voice for Timekeeper, and it is extremely entertaining.

The surround-style screens did not so much makes you feel like you were actually moving as I thought they might. It was kind of neat to turn around occasionally and see what was going on behind you. All the detail was there. Especially liked the dinosaur at the very beginning. Very cool effect.

We left the Timekeeper and headed for Carousel of Progress. This was an interesting display of the technological progress from the turn of the Century to the present. The first guy thought it was cool to have gas lines and a water pump in his house, the last guy burned his food in a voice controlled oven while repeating video game scores. We sure have come a long way, baby! This ride had impressive animatronics and the seats revolving around the stage was a unique "twist." :-)

On the recommendation of a passerby, we took the kids on the Tomorrowland Transportation ride, which is just an easy ride through Tomorrowland. Some parts were dark and the kids didn't like that much, but it was really neat to pass through Space Mountain (over an hour wait today for SM; I don't think so!) and the gift shop. An easy ride, on an easy day at MK.

Kids want to go back to the room and check out the pool, so off we go to the All Star Music to get the room. We are in Calypso, building number 10, according to our request, second floor, nonsmoking room, overlooking a landscaped area on a wall opposite from the pool. We called the front desk four days before our arrival to confirm the room request. It is very quiet and clean. We feel this is a very nice room for the price. The only problem we found is that the refrigerator we requested is not here, and we have medications that require refrigeration (remember the sinus & ear infection?). Call number one to the front desk retrieves the promise of a 'fridge delivered. After waiting 40 minutes we place another call, politely mentioning the medication thing and a unit is delivered to our room within five minutes.

After unpacking, we grab the video camera and are off to the Magic Kingdom to see "SpectroMagic." Tonight will be the only night during our stay we can see this parade, and it is a highly anticipated event. Again, Disney doesn't disappoint. It was without a doubt the most incredible procession I have ever had the pleasure of seeing. The 25 minutes the parade lasted just wasn't long enough. We video taped every second of it. We stood outside the Train Depot at the very front of the park. This was a nice spot to view the parade from, and not as crowded as it was further down Main Street.

After the parade, we went down to Casey's Corner for some dogs, fries & drinks. Price: $18.50. By the time we sit to eat, Connor is sleeping & Bronson isn't far behind him. TIP: Don't buy the kids any food if they are acting tired, because they seem OK up to the last minute and them BAM, they're out. Just as we decide to leave, the fireworks started. Connor woke up long enough to gaze like a zombie at the sky, and Bronson got his second wind. Tinker Bell was a nice touch and the fireworks were very nice. Our location left something to be desired, but it was an enjoyable display. Let's join the crowd to the front gate.

We had a very short 5 - 10-minute wait for the bus. A very nice lady offered Brian her seat, as he was hauling a sleeping four year old around, and then proceeded to give us tips and conversation all the way back to the room. We reviewed the video tape and enjoyed it almost as much the second time around. Brian went down to the front desk and settled the day's bill, which you can do on a daily basis if you'd like, or at the end of your stay. We thought paying it each day will be helpful in sticking with our budget. He also paid for our tickets for a preview day at Animal Kingdom.

Day Two, Sunday, April 19, 1998

We wake up at 7:00 A.M. for Early Entry to MGM. Brian took a call from some mouse who cheerfully coaxed him out of bed. Big doin's, don't ya know! Grabbed some donuts & OJ from the hotel food court and hopped on a bus for MGM.

Upon our arrival at MGM, we headed straight for the "Muppets 4-D" movie. It had a very entertaining pre-show featuring the antics of some muppet stars and their stage hands. Before you knew it, we were being seated in the theater. The movie was really GREAT, at least as much as I got to see of it. Bronson took his glasses off at one point and dropped them. We couldn't find them, so I gave him mine. We will have to make a trip back to the movie later this week, because it was so COOL and so Mom can watch the rest of it! This is an attraction that I would definitely say "Don't miss." Even the little kids enjoyed it.

After Muppets, we went on the Great Movie Ride. We waited about 30 minutes, even during an EE, to see this one. They play movies clips in the room where you wait for the ride, but the lines move pretty fast. Some of the clips had Bronson nervous about the ride. He saw the aliens and thought it was going to be too scary. When we got the doors where you board, he asked the Cast Member there if the ride was scary, and she said it was "not too bad" and asked he if he liked aliens. Well, he doesn't. We sat in the front and the guide gave him a "magic" flashlight to hold, and that seemed to make him feel better. As it turned out, it wasn't scary in the least and he was even laughing by the end. Mom and Dad liked this one a lot, too.

We headed for the Voyage of the Little Mermaid, which was a basic recap of the movie with a live Ariel and an AA Sea Witch. We enjoyed the misting water that added to the ambiance and it was cooling in the hot Florida weather. The laser effects were interesting, as was the combination of live Cast Members and animatronics. I wouldn't wait forever for this one but if you have a kid that is a big fan, then try to get there in an Early Entry.

After the Voyage, we went to the Soundstage Restaurant and had a character breakfast with Aladdin, Genie, Esmeralda, Rafiki and Meeko. Unfortunately, Princess Jasmine was back at the palace and couldn't join us. The characters were all very jolly and patient and signed our autograph books with gusto. The Genie was a riot. We did not have PS, but were seated immediately. The cost was $56.43 including a tip and the food was out of this world. A wonderful breakfast buffets with a cool "Agrabah" atmosphere.

After breakfast we headed for the ABC Sound Studio. It was a fun show, the hostess was very entertaining and it was a good place to cool down and get off your feet. After the show, there was a room where you could try making your own "special effects," but we found the room to be too small, the booths too narrow, and things in need of repair. Kids running from booth to booth in a small room and most of them with no manners was chaotic, so we bugged out and headed for the gift shop.

Heading out of MGM, we ran into Meg from Hercules, Baloo the Bear and Chip. Got autographs and got on the bus to go back to the room and let the kids get a nap. When buying souvenirs in the park you can have them taken to the front for a later pick up. Just make sure that you give them time to get there.

Another note, MGM had stopped the Parade in the park featuring Hercules. When the kids asked where he was for an autograph we were told that he went back to Mount Olympus. I thought it was poor planning on Disney's part to stop one parade before another is planned, especially for a character such as Hercules. Then to top it off the Disney internal network kept advertising the parade, misleading our kids into thinking they would have the opportunity to meet Hercules. The next parade isn't planned to start until the release of Mulan.

We took the bus back to ASM and went straight for the room. The kids were both more than ready for a nap.

TIP: Don't overlook your housekeeping staff as a resource for Disney Information and Magic! Each day, we looked forward to coming back to our room for a nap, because we knew that Judy, our housekeeper, would have been there. She arranged Disney 'stuff' on our window sill each day to give us a new "display" in our window. We left her a note after our first night, and each day we wrote back and forth on a notepad on the bedside table. She brought a Mickey Mouse balloon that had been abandoned in a nearby room for our kids. We really appreciated the "magic" that she left in our room each day, as well as the great job she did cleaning the room. You sometimes wonder if these people know how very much they are appreciated. We showed our appreciation daily with a tip and a word of thanks.

While the kids napped, Brian did a load of laundry, the cost of which was $4 per load; $1 to run the washer, $1 for soap, $1 for softener, & $1 to dry. After a 90 minute siesta, we did some splashing at the pool.

Then we were off the Polynesian Character Luau, for which we paid $93.50 with the Magic Kingdom Club Card discount. We had PS so we were taken right in and shown to our table. To say we were disappointed with our seating was an understatement. We were all the way in the back of the theater and way off on the left edge. The chairs are all very low (Hawaiian style), and there were support beams everywhere. There would have been NO chance for a small child to be able to see the show well enough to follow the story and enjoy it. So we said to ourselves: We got "Preferred Seating" and paid 100 bucks for THIS? Maybe we should ask someone if there has been a mistake (that's how BAD the seats were). They then informed us that seating is filled from the front to the back in the order in which the reservations are made. Since we just made ours (only?) 3 months ago, we did not rate good seats. But, they said, if someone with better seats did not show up, we could have seats, and they would hold ours just in case. Cool. Let's go back to the hostess station. What? You mean those people with the table in the center of the front row did not show up? Would we like to sit there? You gotta be kidding! Off we went to the very front row, a center table. I guess it pays to speak up! The food was magnificent, especially enjoyed by six year old Bronson. Chicken, rice, corn-on-the-cob, broccoli, carrots, and more yummy stuff. Dessert was delicious. The show was very good and simply told to appeal to even the youngest children.

After the luau, we headed for MK. We went to Mickey's Toontown Fair where Donald's Boat was a favorite. We also toured Mickey's House (HUGE light switches!). Then we got on the train and rode to the front of the park. We went down Main Street (again!) and hung a louie to Adventure Land.

We walked around the closed Swiss Family Robinson Tree House that is being refurbished and into the Enchanted Tikki Room. Since it has been refurbished, there were not many people in line and there was a CM in a suit acting as a barker trying to drum up business. It has wonderful effects and not a detail was missed. I found it somewhat difficult to understand all of the words that they said, but didn't mind too much, as I was very busy being "Enchanted" by the walls. The rain and thunder were very well done, also. All in all, this is a very pleasing show. The addition of ZAZU & Iago added new life to this attraction. Don't go in the Enchanted Tikki Room expecting the same show you saw 10 years ago, it now has a great deal of pizzazz.

Next, Pirates of the Caribbean. The kids were very nervous about this ride as well, but went on apprehensively. It was against my better judgment to take them on this ride. I had promised them they didn't have to go onto anything that they didn't want to, but as we neared the boat, they climbed in wordlessly and I followed. Only after the boat actually launched did they start crying that they didn't want to go. Too late now, guys... enjoy the ride. As we neared a dark area, I warned them that there would be a drop ahead, hoping it would help them be prepared. You know, forewarned and forearmed and all that. Well, it paid off. The drop was steep enough that you knew you dropped but not far enough to be scary. We "cruised" through the rest of the ride happily. We found it very humorous that now the women in this ride are chasing the men, and no special interest groups seem to have a problem with it. Nice touch, Disney! Next stop: Haunted Mansion.

Just the name "Haunted Mansion" and my two angels are a NO GO. I tried to reason with them that they didn't want to go on the Pirate Ride either, and ended up liking it, but to no avail. Fine. We'll do the kid switch. Chris went on first and wore an ear-to-ear grin the entire way. By the time she got off, it was too late for the ride to run again (9:00 already???), so we head back to the room.

TIP: The nap the kids took today made a HUGE difference in their energy levels and, much more importantly, their dispositions this evening. We HIGHLY recommend at least trying to have a nap, even if your child does not normally take a nap, as our oldest has probably not napped in three years. With the early mornings, all of the activity and the excitement, they are more tired than on an average day at home. You will not regret the two hours you spend letting them recharge. It will pay off in spades.

Day Three, Monday, April 20, 1998

Animal Kingdom preview passes. We got on the bus for Animal Kingdom at 7:00 A.M.. We were initially impressed by the atmosphere, it was truly like you had stepped into the Dark Continent.

We headed for the Safari Tour at the back of Africa, as we had heard that the animals were most active after eating early in the morning. It is a VERY long walk back to where you board for the tour, so don't be misled into thinking there isn't any wait if you don't see a line at first. When we got all the way to the back, we did not have to wait long. TIP: We didn't notice the signs on the way in, but when you get to the back it is prominently posted that folks with heart conditions, bad backs, or pregnant women should not board. I would have been really mad if I had walked all that way just to find out that I couldn't go on the ride. Anyway, Cory was our guide and he was very entertaining. There were many animals to be seen and we really had the feeling that we were on an African Safari trip, as there were no visible barriers between us and the animals. Cory was very good at spotting animals hidden in the underbrush that we otherwise might have missed. The highlight of the safari tour was when we got to some large groups of giraffe, zebra and wildebeests that were very close to the road. Our bus had to stop for a couple of minutes as the herds crossed the road right in front of the bus. We literally could have reached out and touched the animals, and some of the giraffes were actually sniffing people. Cory quietly reminded us all to remain seated and calm, that these are wild animals. I think he was as surprised as we were. We all applauded the animals for their perfect "performance," and joked that Disney could only hope that the animals would be as cooperative tomorrow when the park is closed for "media" day. The kids were thrilled with this ride.

After some shopping, we went to the character breakfast at Donald's Restaurauntosaurus for Donald's Prehistoric Breakfastasaurus. The atmosphere was extremely casual with lots of hootin' and hollerin'. Breakfast was served buffet style with ample choices with a nice fruit & cereal bar. All of the characters took a great deal of time with each table. Beverages were served in Mason Jars and were also in very generous portions. The jazzy, dancing atmosphere was a real hit with kids and grownups alike. Make sure you get your PS here. Those folks without priority seating were turned away.

Next we headed back to the Tree of Life to view the "It's Tough to Be a Bug" movie. This was a really terrific 3-D movie with special effects that made the show very realistic, but was way too intense for our two children. Let me inform you that Bronson is a little on the timid side, but I would recommend it only to the most adventurous little ones. Definitely a "can't miss" for mom & dad & older kids, though. The little ones can take their 3-D glasses off. We'd give it two thumbs WAY up.

As we were leaving the "Bug" movie, we heard from a Cast Member that the ride "Countdown to Extinction" would be opened an hour early; at 11:00A.M. It was not supposed to open until noon today. We headed around the corner to get in line. Brian went first, we swapped kids, then Chris boarded the bus. Brian walked right into the building, immediately entered the waiting area with a display of a carnivorous dinosaur skeleton, then on to a pre-show "debriefing" to set a plot for the ride. The loading platform area was very detailed and in keeping with the ride's theme. The seats of the car would be a snug fit for a large individual. The three minute ride was very entertaining. The animotronics were quite impressive. This is definitely not a ride for weak backs or pregnant women. The ride itself was very jerky and had wide swings from side to side and sharp dips. By the time we finished the ride, we found the line to be all the way out of the immediate area and onto the main walkway and down about another 30 to 40 yards. TIP: Get on this SECOND if you plan on doing it at all, after the safari.

Next we moved on to Journey Into Jungle Book in the Theater in the Wild. This was a recap of the movie by (almost) the same name. We went to this attraction early due to it's limited play time today. The acrobatics featured here were unique, and it had very smooth background transition and nice audio presentation. This open air theater was also equipped with air conditioning for the hotter summer months. Don't be afraid to sit in the wheelchair row in the center of the theater. The view is good and if someone with a wheelchair comes you can always move.

We went back to the Boneyard and let the kids dig and play for about 20 minutes. The play area has several levels. Our younger kids stayed on the first level. When this park is open to the public, the crowds will make it very difficult to keep an eye on your children. If they are old enough, your best bet would be to stake out the exit to make sure they don't leave and give them a watch so they know when to meet you. The playground surface area was slightly spongy and looked like dirt, but was not. A good safety feature. The digging area, which was separate from the "playground" area, consisted of one Mammoth covered with a fine gravel or coarse sand mixture which was being thrown around by several children. The area does offer a break from the sun with solar screening above, but it's really too small for you to want to stay in it for very long. They would have done much better to have made this area four to five times the approximately 20' X 30' size that it is.

We headed off to Camp Minnie-Mickie. There were two shows here that we wanted to see, "Colors of the Wind," which was newly opened today, and "The Festival of the Lion King." Because of our timing, Lion King would be the first show we would see. We had to wait a half an hour in line, then it took approximately another 10 additional minutes to seat everybody. The show lasted around 45 minutes. It was very well choreographed with a circus-type atmosphere. Costumes were bright and festive, and the performers were extremely talented. The show gets a rave review, except from Connor, who fell asleep during the show. Exhaustion had finally set in. We had been on the go for the past nine hours and we were all pretty tired. Other shows would have to wait until next time, as this was our one and only day in Animal Kingdom.

Animal Kingdom is a very large and spread out park. Perhaps a "commando" could have squeezed in a few more attractions, but this was all we could get done in a 9-hour day. AK is very spread out, almost needlessly, and it is easy to forget how many other things there are because there is so much in each area. You feel very isolated and wrapped up in your surroundings. The trails are very narrow and not well marked. Your only guide through the park is to find a cast Member or pull out a map. Period. Several people chose to pull out maps at crossroads and exits to attractions, which only enhanced the congestion on the already narrow trails. This problem must be solved by Disney if people are to get around this park in an efficient manner. Most people were spending more time trying to decipher their maps than they were enjoying the attractions that they paid to see. I felt that more of my time was spent trying to find things than actually doing them.

I asked a Cast Member what was going to be done that was special for the Grand Opening on Wednesday, April 22. I was told they would be selling a special T-shirt and a commemorative ticket, of which there were only 19,980. We purchased a special commemorative ticket for $50, the T-shirt, I guess I'll have to live without. We also asked a vendor for a bottle-strap to carry our bottled water, but they were already sold out of the commemorative Opening bottle strap. These were not the only the items that we found unavailable to commemorate the Grand Opening, as there were many items that were already sold out. I'm glad I'm not going on opening day, expecting to get "special" opening day items that have already been sold out.

We carried a sleeping Connor from the far end of AK to the All-Star Music Resort, and AGAIN, we did not have to wait for a bus. We hung out at the pool for a couple of hours, then left at 6:00 for our 7:00 PS at Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary.

We decided to take a bus to Epcot, where we could board the monorail and ride it to the TTC. There we switched to the Resort Monorail and took that into the Contemporary. The bus ride to Epcot took 15 minutes. The monorail trip took more than 45 minutes. When you are on a schedule, make sure you give up at least an hour of your time if you want to take the monorail.

We were immediately seated at the Contemporary with not a second to spare of our 15 minute grace period, and savored an excellent meal featuring flank steak, prime rib and pork. Kids meals featured pizza, macaroni & cheese and "Minnie" hot dogs. Characters present were Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Chip, Dale and Goofy. Dinner was $61.47 and very well worth it. The deserts were to die for. After dinner, our waitress, Christie, expedited our departure so we would not miss the 8:30 "Fantasy in the Sky" fireworks from the observation deck of the Contemporary; "MAGICAL MOMENT." The observation deck is located on the same floor as Chef Mickey's, but on the opposite end of the hotel. We had the deck all to ourselves as if it was a private display just for us.

We took the monorail back to Magic Kingdom, where, guess what? Yes, our bus was AGAIN waiting for us. We cannot say enough for the All Star Music Resorts bus transportation. We spent very little time commuting. This alone makes this an underrated resort, as far as we are concerned.

Upon getting back to the room, the kids jumped in bed and reviewed the day's video tape while mom and dad did some light room tidying. Mom & dad had a beer, did the trip report then lights out. We're sleeping in tomorrow; THE EE at Epcot is not until 10:00 A.M..

Day Four, Tuesday, April 21, 1998

This was an EE day at Epcot. Not having completely done our home work on entry times, we asked at the front desk what time we could arrive for Early Entry. The girl told us that we could get in as early as 10:00 A.M., and that the park doesn't normally open until 11. When we arrived at 9:45 and saw all of the people in line to buy tickets, we were very surprised. Turns out that EE is at 7:30 A.M., and we were kicking ourselves for letting the better part of the morning slip by. TIP: Double check on EE times with hotel personnel AND another source, so you don't waste any time! It turned out that the hotel employee gave us the EE time for World Showcase. We headed straight to Journey Into Imagination and hopped aboard the Journey Into Imagination ride. Our six-year-old loved the fanciful sets and bouncy music. Actually, he loved it so much he went on it again! We also visited the Image Works and spent some time with the exhibits there. We enjoyed the area where the hexagonal lights were on the floor that made sounds when you passed them.

We decide the crowd is too much and head for the front gate. TIP: EE days at a park DO seem to make it more crowded later in the day. Do the EE in the morning, then head out to another park, preferably the one that had an EE the day before for a thinner crowd.

Bronson really wanted to go on Spaceship Earth before we left, so we got in line. This line moves very quickly and the ride is magnificent. The sets are elaborate and detailed and even have the smells you would expect. This is a "four star" ride, after all, this is the one you come to Epcot to see.

Having some problems with her shoes, mom suggests a trip to Downtown Disney to do a little shoe shopping. We hop a cab, which delivers us to the store we need to go to for $7.80. The clerk there, Coach Preston, efficiently outfits mom with some new Reebok Walking Shoes for only $39.00. He says he can't have the old shoes delivered to our room, but agrees that he can have the BOX delivered by tomorrow if we requested it. Great! We slip the old shoes into the box and cover them with tissue paper. "Hey, Preston, what if these shoes hurt my feet, too?" I ask. "No problem," says he. "If they bother your feet by tomorrow, just bring them back and we will try something else." Wow. Disney Magic. My dogs are now ready to deliver me to no end of souvenir shops, and the Disney Execs. have Preston to thank for it.

After DD, we head over to MGM to do lunch at Pizza Planet. We were all hoping to see Buzz and Woody while we were there. Much to our surprise, we were told that Buzz and Woody do not go to Pizza Planet. We were very disappointed not to see the characters, but enjoyed the pizza anyway.

While at MGM, we got autographs and photos with Minnie Mouse, Chip, Dale, and Phil. We plan to go back tomorrow to search for the Toy Story characters. We headed back to the hotel for some shut eye.

After a long nap, we leave for the Magic Kingdom. We hop the train back to Frontier Town, where we admire Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain. Due to the long lines, we decide to ride them with the kid swap Friday, the next EE day for MK.

The Hall of Presidents was truly impressive. It was amazing to watch the animatronics. They were very life like and recognizable. The movie was a bit dated, but interesting none the less. We were a bit disappointed that Bill Clinton was 'featured', we thought it would have been more appropriate to have had a more significant president speak instead, along with Abraham Lincoln.

We hoof it over to Fantasy Land. We rode first on "It's a Small World," of course the kids loved it. The music may be cheesy, but the attention to detail on this ride is truly incredible. We were surprised to see coins in the water; why anyone would want to throw money away at this ride in Disney World is beyond us.

Next we went flying with Peter Pan. The sign said there would be a 20 minute wait and it was absolutely right. This is a classic Disney ride that we thought was OK, but again, not worth a very long wait unless you have a real Peter Pan enthusiast in your group.

Last, we went to the Legend of the Lion King. The host there talked way too much, but we overlooked it once the show got started. The pre-show entertainment was good, and the show itself was extremely well put together. The special effects were dramatic without being scary to the kids, and the music was wonderful. The characters were realistic and well synchronized. The kids want to see this one again before we leave, and, frankly, so do I.

Day Five, Wednesday, April 22, 1998

Opening day at Animal Kingdom. Are we going to be there? NOT! We are off for an early entry day at MGM to hit everything we missed and be done with that park.

First we did the "Star Tours," which was a star wars type movie/ride thing, a simulator. Even though a cast member offered to set us up in a simulator with no motion and just the movie, the kids still chickened out, so we did the parent swap. We were both a little disappointed with this ride, as we felt that the movie area was too small, the sounds were distorted, and the movie could have been better. After being on the "Back to the Future" ride at Universal Studios, Brian felt that this ride was pale in comparison.

Next we go on "Star Tours" where we see some "back stage stuff." The pre show took place in a water tank area where we saw how they do special effects involving water and ships. The kids thought it was really cool when they caught the boats on fire. The rest of the wait for the ride was short but entertaining with a movie starring Bette Midler. The movie played in a prop room setting, with hundreds of props on the shelves. The movie showed what it took to make the movie afterward. Once on the bus, we were introduced to our host and driver. We drove through a costume production area where you could see cast members at work behind windows. We then drove into a residential neighborhood area with houses from, "The Golden Girls," "Ernest Save Christmas" and other shows that had been filmed at this location. Later in the tour you can see the back sides of these houses, which are not finished. We also saw George's house from "George of the Jungle." We drove through the "Bone Yard" which was a junk yard of sorts with vehicles from "Raiders of the Lost Arc," and other popular movies. It also contained a cut-away of the sub from Crimson Tide, and other movie vehicles. Then they said we were going to view a set while in production and we drove into Catastrophe Canyon. There were two oil tanks that caught on fire and were doused by water that came crashing down on the top of the tram we were sitting in. The water came over the left side of the train, so if you sit on the left, be prepared to get wet. We were sitting toward the front of the train, so we did not get very wet, but we did get to thoroughly enjoy the effect. Once this part of the ride was done, they took us behind the "canyon" and explained how everything was done. It was impressive to see all of the water cannons, holding tanks and hydraulics that made Catastrophe Canyon work.

Got off the train, did a little shopping, then went to meet Buzz and Woody. They were positioned back in a corner in a shady area near the "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" Playground. We waited about 20 minutes, got a quick "stamp" for an autograph, snapped a photo and were quickly ushered away. There was an MGM photographer at this location who also took a photo and handed us a card. On our way out, we checked out his work, which was for sale at $12.95. The photo was horrible, so we let them keep it. I'm sure mine will be better.

The stage production "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" was our next stop. There was a juggler who was our "Pre-Show" entertainment. He was a talented juggler, and a humorous fun-loving guy. The stage show itself was fantastic. The entire show was live, no lip-synching. The cast wore wireless microphones. Every person was in a detailed costume, down to the set changers, and they all took part in some way in the production. There was a myriad of dancing and singing, fluttering birds and bell shaped confetti. The attention to detail in this production was unbelievable, and it closely followed the movie. We HIGHLY recommend that you see this production. It is well worth a long wait.

TIP: For long waits, take a small container of bubble solution and let the kids blow bubbles. Soon they will have other kids playing with them and it is a wonderful way to pass the time while waiting for shows (Not recommended where space is very limited, though).

The kids were dragging by this time, so we headed back to the room. We had promised Bronson a trip to Typhoon Lagoon, so we changed then caught the bus. Typhoon Lagoon is a large wave action pool, but it also has some nice areas for kids. As the name states, it is the size of a small lagoon. The changing areas are very spacious, and there are showers. Towels can be rented for $1 each, or large beach towels can be purchased. There are three different sizes of lockers for rent. They also have a large gift shop where a variety of beach items, along with the standard Disney items, can be purchased. A Cast Member in the gift shop showed us a magic trick he did with his ring, and Bronson returned the favor with a trick of his own. Bronson's magic trick scored him and his brother a complimentary Mickey Mouse sucker; another instance of the Disney Magic the Cast Members have showered us with since our arrival. We also enjoyed a slow ride around the park in a little "river" on inner tubes that was very relaxing. We spent around $25 for a lunch of hot dogs, Cokes and beers. We also bought some beach shoes, a towel and some beach shoes. We thought it was neat that several areas of the walkway are covered in water. This was nice to keep the area clear of chairs and towels and kept the traffic flowing through what would otherwise be a very congested area. The water was quite warm, but a breezed chilled you quickly. After a couple of hours we are ready to head to dinner.

Tonight we had preferred seating at Whispering Canyon at the Wilderness Lodge. The Wilderness Lodge lobby is very impressive with tall totem polls, large tee-pee style lights and leather and Navajo style furniture. We originally had our hotel reservation here, and now we are wondering if we could spend the rest of our stay here. A young man takes us up to the 6th floor to look at a room. It is very nice with a large closet, double sink, separate toilet area and bunk beds for the kids and a queen bed for mom and dad. We also check out the pool area and the boat dock. After some discussion, we decide that while WL is very nice, it really offers us no more than ASM does as far as room size and transportation quality, but the price tag is much larger. Plus the pool at ASM is "cooler" to the kids, and the quick "food court" suits our style more that the sit down restaurants at the Wilderness Lodge. Besides, we would miss our housekeeper, Judy.

We had read on the Internet that the dinner at Whispering Canyon is highly entertaining and fun, so we look forward to a rowdy time. The wait staff is all equipped with cap guns and attitudes, and we are prepared to have a blast. That's not exactly the way it turns out. The menu choices for children is fairly expansive with something to suit every kids tastes. All they offered for adults was a meat medley they called "The Spit and Pit", a similar "medley" featuring vegetables for the vegetarians in the crowd, and rainbow trout. Bronson got chicken strips which he loved and fries which he didn't, and Connor got macaroni and cheese that he didn't eat because it was mushy and bland. Mom got the spittin' pit thing that had about 5 different kinds of meat on it. It all looked different, but tasted exactly the same; a very strong smoky flavor. Brian tried the trout which came with plain white rice and found it to be very bland and didn't eat very much of it. The vegetables were mushy and overcooked and also very bland. Our waitress was OK. Nothing spectacular, but OK. After dinner we spoke with the manager, Michael, who gave us a credit on a portion of our bill. TIP: If there is nothing on the menu that you really like or if the menu is extremely limited, like at Whispering Canyon, ask to see a lunch menu, or a room service menu. If you still don't see anything you'd like, order just an appetizer or nothing at all. For almost $20 a plate, your meal should be something you enjoy and not something you merely endure. This advice came from Michael, who spent a lot of time with us to make sure that we were happy and satisfied.

We get on the ferry boat to the Magic Kingdom just as the fireworks are starting. Our captain took a slow cruise out into the lake at an angle which facilitated a good view. At the end of our trip across the lake, the captain allowed our boys to get a look at the bridge and patiently answered their questions and explained (briefly) how things work. This was yet another example of how the cast members here will go out of their way to make our stay memorable.

We catch the bus back to our resort and get the kids in bed, quickly asleep from their napless day. Tomorrow will be an EE to the Magic Kingdom.

Day Six, Thursday, April 23, 1998

We want to finish this park today and focus the rest of our stay on Epcot Center. We had planned on using the Early Entry feature today, but Connor just can't wake up. The poor kid is exhausted. We let him sleep in and take the opportunity to tidy the room a bit and let Bronson take a bath and relax.

We have a leisurely breakfast at the food court then head to the Magic Kingdom. We head for Tomorrowland planning to ride Space Mountain, but see on the information board that the wait for SM is an hour long, while the wait for Alien Encounter is only 5 minutes. Brian went on this one alone, while Chris took the kids for another spin on the Tomorrowland Transit. Alien Encounter was set on the pretext that time travel was possible to move people from one place to another. The pre-show was with a robot called "S.I.R" whose voice was Robin Williams. After the pre-show you were seated in a round room with several rows of seats with a "time travel" capsule in the center. Once seated, a U-shaped bar came down over your shoulders, indicating that this was somehow a ride where you would be moving. The ride was a simulator of time travel, where a creepy alien was inadvertently transported instead of a nice one. It crashes through the capsule in the center while the room was dark and the balance of the encounter is spent believing there is a carnivorous alien prowling around the room. This ride is very scary and definitely not for the timid or younger children.

While Brian was having the be-jeebers scared out of him, Chris and the kids were enjoying another soothing trip around the Tomorrowland Transit. When passing through a portion of Space Mountain, they see that there is NO WAIT. We hop off the Transit and head off to meet Brian.

We waited about 5 minutes and then we were "swapping" for Space Mountain. Space Mountain is a very average roller coaster enhanced by darkness. After all the hype and hoopla of people actually running to board this roller coaster the minute the gates open, I was EXTREMELY disappointed with this ride. Living 10 minutes away from Cedar Point (the Roller Coaster Capital of the World, having 12 coasters) and being a roller coaster fan, I had expected something a little more exciting. This coaster features only 2 or 3 drops and lots of spiraling and turning. I would never wait more than an hour for this ride. Brian, who is not a roller coaster enthusiast, thought the darkness would be a catalyst for enjoyment, but found that the darkness only increased his apprehension and rode most of the ride with his eyes shut anyway.

We went to the Tomorrowland Speedway and let the kids drive us around in race cars. Suffice it to say that Bronson has been instructed to NEVER ask for my car keys.

Next we walked to Ariel's Grotto, where there was a 40 minute wait to see Ariel. We decided that this was WAY too long a time to devote to just one character. So we moved along to Mr. Toads Wild Ride.

Mr. Toads Wild Ride is a classic, and we've heard that Disney is going to get rid of it in favor of Pooh's Hundred Acre Wood. We found the ride to be very whimsical and enjoyable. The kids thought the story was cute and the "wild" maneuvers of the car added to the fun.

Bronson wanted to ride on Peter Pan's Flight again, and Connor wanted to repeat "It's A Small World", so we split up for a while to let them ride their favorite rides.

We met up and went to the "Sword in the Stone" where Merlin was arriving to choose a "temporary" ruler of the realm. It was a very entertaining attraction for children of all ages. It was a relatively brief performance with a limited opportunity for autographs. Be toward the front and right side to get in line for a signature and photo.

We then proceeded to the front of the park where we decided to have lunch before leaving at Tony's Town Square. We were seated in less than 10 minutes without priority seating. We received excellent service and the food was fabulous. The menu had numerous choices, and the Mickey shaped pizza was a hit with our 6-year-old. The calzones were delicious and cheesy, and the deserts were heavenly. Price with Magic Kingdom Club discount: $35.44.

Back to the room for a nap. The new extra-large Mickey and Goofy dolls that dad got the kids last night as a surprise were sitting in chairs in the window, waiting for them; more magic created by Judy.

After a LONG nap, we were off to the Old Key West Resort, where Brian wanted to look around and check into getting a room. We considered this because of it's close proximity to Epcot Center, which is the only theme park that we really have left to do. After a 25 minute wait for a bus and another 20 minute "tour" of all the separate bus stops in OKW, we decided that the poor transportation service basically ruled out a hotel change to OKW. After all, we are here to see the parks, not to wait for and ride on busses. The bus service from the All Stars is really great, and this is a feature we would be willing to compromise on to some degree, but a 45 minute commute is way too long. We stop in the hospitality area anyway, look at some maps, hear the pitch, then get back on the bus to Epcot.

We have a IllumiNations cruise reserved for 8:30, so we hoof it over to the Boardwalk. The walk was very pleasant down the International Gateway Bridge and we really enjoyed the atmosphere of the Boardwalk. This would definitely be the resort for you if you want close access to Epcot Center, the Monorail and a boat ride to MGM, and if you want to see some great entertainment. We absorbed some of the atmosphere and entertainment while we waited for our 8:30 boat, which was right on time.

Our IllumiNations cruise captain met us on board with balloons, soda pop, popcorn and blankets (temp was in the high 50's). Captain Raymond was prompt, pleasant, courteous, knowledgeable, and had an outgoing personality. We cruised around the Boardwalk area for a while, then docked under the International Gateway Bridge. We had a very nice view of the fireworks. The laser show and fireworks were splendid. Unfortunately, our video camera went on the blink during the cruise, and we were unable to use it. We couldn't see all of the countries very well, but we could see a few of them and saw the lights on them, as well. After the fireworks, Raymond took us out into the lagoon far enough for us to be able to see the other countries.

After Illuminations, Captain Raymond took us over to MGM, which was open late, and we were able to view some of their fireworks, as well. After sailing around for a while after that, we docked and said our good-byes. We would highly recommend Raymond to anyone who wants to book an Illuminations Cruise (at this time, he works on Thursday nights!). TIP: If your captain gives you exceptional service, as Capt. Raymond did with us, you must offer the tip over three times before they can accept it. Also, if you have any special requests for your boat cruise, let them know in advance and every effort will be made to accommodate your needs.

After a 25 minute wait for a bus to Downtown Disney from the Boardwalk (terrible bus service from here, too!) we transferred to the All Star Music Bus that was AGAIN waiting for us to board. We were glad to see our bus after a very long and frustrating day of transportation from other resorts. TIP: If you want to see the theme parks and spend a minimum amount of time sitting at a bus stop waiting for a bus or stopping at 5 other bus stops before yours, stay at the All Stars. As far as transportation goes, it gets a top from the Russells.

Day Seven, Friday, April 24, 1998

Today is an Early Entry for Epcot Center. We hit the gate around 8:00 and head for Innoventions.

We stopped at the Fountain View Espresso and Bakery where we enjoyed some donuts and pastries. With milks and cappuccino, the bill here was $13. The pastries were wonderful, and we watched the fountain dance while we ate out on the deck. The birds were very aggressive here, coming right up on the wall beside us to eat scraps.

The dancing fountain is very cool. The water dances in time with music. It is even more cool at night, when the water is lit in different colors. The show starts every 15 minutes.

Innoventions East, which is open during EE, is definitely for grown-ups. They had Internet access through AT&T. Brian enjoyed the virtual reality display by Motorola and found out that he can purchase his own VR game for $35,000. Bronson was bummed because he was too little to try it, but we told him that someday he would be able to do it. IBM had some cool new light-weight lap top computers on display. At the GM display, we checked out the electrical vehicles. We were told that Disney uses a fleet of electric vehicles on Disney property.

Innoventions West, which is not open during EE, was Bronson's favorite area. Its featured vender was Sega, and it was more of an arcade that anything. Bronson is definitely the world's biggest Sonic the Hedgehog fan, and he enjoyed the Sonic theme of this area. Of course, neither of the boys want to leave Innoventions West and are pouting as we exit over an hour later.

Universe of Energy is our next stop, featuring "Ellen's Energy Adventure." We were able to walk on with no wait, and found it to be entertaining and informative. After a "set-up" pre-show, we were moved into a theater with special seating that, after another brief movie, split up into separate segments and moved through an awesome display of dinosaurs and jungle foliage to yet another viewing area with several larger screens for another segment of the movie; this time more of a "surround" type movie experience. Then we rode back to the original screen for the conclusion of the ride. This attraction was highly appreciated by the kids and was a very entertaining way to make them aware of energy and fuels.

We moved on to Wonders of Life. Brian went on "Body Wars", which was a very short simulated ride through a "body". He did not believe that this attraction was worth a very long wait. I believe his adjective was "lame". But then again, he is a paramedic! Cranium Command was an attraction that was a very entertaining break down of the different functions of the brain. This is definitely a show for children old enough to grasp the subject matter. Parents will enjoy it, too. Our kids were a bit disappointed, as it was fast paced and had some complex concepts that you would need a basic understanding of to really "get it".

Next we headed over to The Land. We were debating whether we should see "Food Rocks" or going back to the room to have lunch. Then the kids spotted Mickey & Minnie at the Garden Grill. Chris was hesitant about the "Hickory Smoked" Steak on the menu, fearing a repeat of the Wilderness Lodge experience. One of the cast members brought out a sample of the meat before we were seated. It was spectacular, so we took a booth. This restaurant is on a rotating platform the overlooks a portion of the Living With The Land ride and the lobby. By simply requesting it, we were able to get a booth on the outside of the platform, so we were able to fully enjoy the changing of the view. We enjoyed a wonderful "family style" all you can eat lunch that included beverages and desert with frequent visits from Mickey, Minnie, Chip and Dale. The meal included chicken, fish, steak, mashed potatoes, biscuits and veggies, drinks and dessert of apple cobbler with cinnamon ice cream. Kids had chicken, macaroni & cheese, and a specially requested peanut butter & jelly sandwich with chips & a cookie. Dessert for the kids was worms & dirt. Price for this one: $52 with Magic Kingdom Club discount accepted. This card has paid for itself and then some on this trip.

After we painfully removed ourselves from our table (we were SO full!), we proceeded to "Food Rocks", where there was no wait. We were thoroughly entertained by the voices of some top performers, which included The Police, Cher, Ton Loc, The Pointer Sisters, The Beach Boys, Queen, Chubby Checker and others. They sing about nutrition in a very entertaining and upbeat way. Very cool.

At this time, we split up, with Bronson & Chris going on the "Living With The Land" ride. This gentle water tour takes you through some different kinds of environments including rain forest, desert, plains, and farmland. There was a narration concerning conservation and food production. Then the boat went out into the Disney Greenhouse, where experimental gardening methods were being developed including crop rotation, hydroponics and crop integration. This was a very interesting and relaxing ride that we enjoyed very much.

Brian and Connor went to the Kodak Camera Shop to attempt to make a repair to our video camera, which has hasn't been working. The gentleman there did not have any idea of how to fix it, but he was kind enough to allow Brian some counter space and tools to get it working again. Good job, Dad!

We met up at the bus station where we were promptly transported back to our room for a quick nap. Today is Judy's day off and we missed her "magical" touch.

At 6:00 PM we head back to Epcot and begin to tour the countries. This time we rented a double stroller for $11.00, getting a Disney Dollar back when you return it. Single strollers are $6. The kids were really wearing down and this helped us do things at a much faster rate. We visited all but the U.K. and Canada, which we plan to visit Saturday. We bought Bronson a Passport and are having it signed at each country; Mom and Dad are enjoying it as much as he is. The representatives from each country were very friendly with the exception of France. The representatives there (Severina was one of them) barely acknowledged us and ignored our kids. There was an off-duty Cast Member sitting at the table and she was very busy flirting with him. The male representative at the kidspots area was busy flirting with a female guest. I was very offended by this. There were other countries (Japan comes to mind) that had Americans at their Kidspots areas. If the French people can't be cheerful and friendly, I would rather see someone there who is not native to the country in question than be snubbed and ignored by someone who speaks the language of the country. It didn't feel like the Disney spirit. Just my opinion. At the opposite end of the spectrum, I especially liked Morocco, where the young men at the Kidspot were very happy to be there and were teaching some Arabic words to visitors. Shukraun, Morocco! The pleasure was all ours!

When the time came for the IllumiNations, we headed for the front gate to beat the crowd. I'm sure I don't need to tell you that we waited less than 5 minutes for a bus.

Back at the room, we order a pizza for dinner. NOTE: The pizza was $18 for 8 slices. The pizza itself is not small, and way too much for 2 adults and 1 child (Connor doesn't like pizza). Most goes in the trash. TIP: If there aren't many of you, get your pizza in the food court and take it back to the room. You will not spend as much money and won't be throwing away half a pizza.

We put on the Disney Channel and the kids get into the cartoons. Eventually the lights go out and we rest up for the next day, our last full day in the parks.

Day Eight, Saturday, April 25, 1998

last full day at WDW. We do not do an EE today, sleep is in much more demand. We get up around 8:00 and are in the Magic Kingdom by 9:00. We take the train back to Mickey's Toontown Fair and headed up toward Fantasyland. On the way we saw the Fantasyland Character Festival, and stopped to get some autographs. They had 5 characters at this shelter; Mr. Smee, Captain Hook, Gideon, Robin Hood and Sheriff Nottingham. On our way out, we asked a Cast Member where we could find Peter Pan, and he told us about the Hall Of Fame, which is in the County Bounty tent. We headed off to Mickey's Toontown Fair again, and into the red and white striped tent, where there are 3 lines to choose from. We got into the Fantasy line and got signatures from Alice, Mad Hatter and Cruella DeVil. The characters in this area change hourly. This is a great location for photos with the characters because they have cool backdrops behind the characters. As always, the characters were very convincing and took lots of time with each child. At the end of our visit, we mentioned to a Cast Member that we were disappointed that we didn't see Peter Pan, as another CM had sent us here. She said that he would be there after 3 PM, and that we could come back at that time to the exit then and she would let us in.

We left our friends at the Hall of Fame and went on to Fantasyland and had a very overpriced lunch consisting of hot dogs and cheeseburgers at Pinocchios Village Haus for $30. Notice that is was $35 for a wonderful lunch, including dessert, at Tony's Town Square. TIP: Lunches are generally less expensive than dinners and can hold you over for the rest of the day or until a late dinner at the hotel. Always try to get seated at a restaurant, you will get a MUCH better meal for just a few dollars more.

The park was very crowded today, so we decided to go back to the hotel for a swim instead of to a water park as planned, because the water parks would probably be pretty crowded, too. On our way over to the train station, we stopped at the Splash Mountain Courtyard under the train entrance to get autographs from Brer Bear and Brer Fox.

Back at the hotel, we change into our swimsuits. After a short swim, we decide to split up, with Chris & Bronson heading back to MK so Bronson can go on his favorite rides again, and Brian & Connor heading to Animal Kingdom to pick up some souvenirs.

Chris and Bronson got on the bus to MK and immediately headed for the train station. We exited at Mickey's Toontown Fair and went to the Hall of Fame, hoping the CM would remember us and let us in to see Peter Pan. She did remember, and Peter Pan was awesome. We also got autographs from Belle and Cinderella. We thanked the CM (can't remember her name, sorry!) and exited into the gift shop (ever notice how most of the rides and attractions exit directly into a gift shop??) where we bought some silly straws with characters on them ($4 each) and some plastic cups with characters on them ($5 each). The Tao of Disney is alive and well and sucking money from my wallet like a vacuum.

On to Fantasyland where we stand in line for 35 minutes to ride Peter Pan's Flight. This is one of Bronson's favorite rides, so I do not mention anything about the long wait. He loves the ride and I take a few pictures at his direction. He is a happy camper as we head on to Frontierland.

Another long wait for Pirates of the Caribbean, again not mentioned. Bronson is happy talking to the little girl in line behind us, reassuring her that this ride is not scary and telling her all about the ride and how it is his favorite. He is thrilled when it is our turn and climbs in with a grin that makes it all worthwhile. At the last scene, where the pirates have all the treasure and the castle guards are tied up in chairs, the ride stops for a long time, and we get to soak up some Disney/Pirate magic and study all the details of the scene. He was thrilled to point out all of the finer points of the scene to me and the people behind us.

We didn't get off the Pirates ride until 5:15, so we headed back to the train station to catch a ride out to the front of the park. We went to the monorail, took it to the TTC where we transferred to the monorail to Epcot.

Once at Epcot, we went directly to the Sorcerers Apprentice topiary where we met up with Brian and Connor, over an hour late. Sorry, Brian.

After Chris and Bronson left the hotel for MK, Brian and Connor got on the bus for Animal Kingdom. When they got off the bus, Brian noticed that there were several employees in suits with clipboards asking guests if they could do a survey. They went into the Outpost Gift Shop near the front gate. They had a large selection of Animal Kingdom souvenirs, and if you were looking for anything that they didn't have, they would send a runner back into the park to get it. They were not sold out of the commemorative tickets, but they were completely out of the Opening Day buttons, which were gone by 2:00 P.M. on opening day. The water bottle straps were also sold out, but not the opening day T-shirts. We thought they were going to only sell the opening day shirts on opening day, so they must have had a lot left. Brian sent a runner back for a poster and a bottle strap, but only got the poster. The Cast Members were very nice about going back into the park to get these items. They said that they determine what stock to carry in the store based on the number of requests they get for items. Brian went WAY overboard buying AK souvenirs, spending over $125. He now possesses every pin and button other than the opening day one.

After finishing shopping, they got on the waiting bus back to ASM. At the room, they packed and got ready for the trip home. Connor fell asleep just before leaving for Epcot, so Brian carried him to the bus, into Epcot, put him in a stroller, and pushed him to the Sorcerers Apprentice topiary without him even waking up. Brian was glad Connor slept on the bus, because it turned out that this was a "Grad Night" weekend, and the bus was full of high school seniors whose vulgar language and crude talk made the bus ride unpleasant and definitely was not language appropriate for a 4 year old to hear. They arrived at Epcot and waited no-so-very-patiently for Chris and Bronson.

TIP: If you decide to separate your party, like we did between the parks as above, you can go to guest services if something happens and you need to change your plans. Then your party can go to the guest services in their park and see if there are any messages for them. The computers are networked and you can get a message from one park to another for someone. They just have to go to guest services to get it.

TIP: Behind the time/tip board in each park, the person who stands there has a cellular phone you can use to call your room or hotel front desk. Just let them know that you need to make a call inside the park. They will call the operator and you can get connected.

TIP: Just inside Epcot Center, there is a Kodak Film store. Inside, you can get your kids pictures put on a sticker. This will give you a current photo of them in case they get lost in the park, and is a neat thing for them to have when they get home.

We ate dinner at the Electric Umbrella in Innoventions and had $30 worth of chicken and hot dogs. Then we switched kids, where Brian and Bronson finished Bronson's passport and Connor and Chris went to the gardens of Canada and the United Kingdom.

Each country at Epcot has a Kidspot where they can get their passport stamped and signed. There is a craft area where they can do crafts and sit and relax for a few minutes. Nice break for Moms and Dads, too!

We met up at the International Gateway Bridge at 8:00 and secured a spot for the IllumiNations show. Brian and Connor skipped the fireworks and headed back to the hotel. On the way out, they encountered more of the crude High School kids who were acting childish and talking like morons. Back at the room, they packed up and did some laundry, and found that the heat had melted the glue that holds on the rear-view mirror. Oh well. Small price to pay for a week in the Sunshine State!

Chris and Bronson used the 45 minutes before the start of IllumiNations to put the stickers in his passport.

TIP: If you want to watch IllumiNations from the area between France and UK, make sure to stake your claim to a spot EARLY! By 8:30, the bridge is full. The good view is definitely worth the wait, so bring something for the kids to do while you wait. It really feels good to sit down and take off your shoes, too!

The IllumiNations show was wonderful, and we enjoyed the walk out to the gate afterwards (they play "marching" music at the end to hurry people to the gate) where we could see all of the countries lit up and flashing different colors. We stopped to watch the water fountain near the front of the park do it's dance lit in a rainbow of colors, and we also stopped at a souvenir stand where Bronson wanted a visor with little yellow light bulbs that blink on it. Of course we didn't forget Connor, we got him one, too.

At the bus station, there was a massive crowd waiting for an All Star bus, and we were not let down. There was a fairly steady stream of busses, and we only had to wait about 10 minutes to get on a bus.

Back at the room Mom and the kids collapsed into our beds, exhausted and happy. Dad finished up the laundry and took care of the final bill at the front desk. He called the credit card company to insure that no charges had been placed on the credit card, and there hadn't been. They re-issued him 2 key cards, for room access only. No more charging or tickets to parks. By the time his head touches his pillow, our vacation is paid in full ($3,834.48 for 9 days and 8 nights) and we are ready to head for home in the morning.

Travel Home, Sunday, April 26, 1998

This is the day we get back in our car to go home. The car is mostly packed, thanks to Brian & Connor's efforts, so we only have a few more things to put into bags and get into the trunk. Chris and Bronson go down to Maestro Mickey's to pick up a few last minute, can't do without souvenirs while Brian and Connor take the last of the bags to the car. We spend about $70 more in the shop, getting gifts for our neighbor who is watching our house, and Bronson's best friend, Jimmy. Whoa, get me outta here before I have nothing left!

Brian finds Judy, our infamous housekeeper, and gives her a personal thank you. Then we get into our car. We had forgotten how soft the seats in the car were and our tired, aching bodies relax.

We start the drive out of the parking lot, past the front of the hotel. The kids in the back, with their giant Mickie and Goofy at their sides. Bronson with that sad puppy-dog look on his face, big brown eyes full of tears, sadly looking at the giant star. Connor, clutching his giant goofy and his special blanket, with one tiny hand up in a wistful wave goodbye, all the way out of Disney property, saying a sad goodbye to each landmark as we passed it. "Goodbye, All Star". "Goodbye, gate". "Goodbye, Blizzard Beach". "Goodbye, Mickey".

Post Trip Finances, Wednesday, April 29, 1998

Now that we are unpacked and settled at home we are looking over statements and such. We call the credit card company that we used at Disney to enable us to charge to our room. To our shock there were charges made after we left, one for $105.68 and one pending charge awaiting approval for $219.98. Brian had gone down the night of the 25th and paid for everything with travelers checks, and was issued a card for room entry only. He watched them take the Mastercard off the computer.

After 3 separate calls to the All Star Music front desk where I was told that my account could not be accessed, we finally got someone to have a manager call us back. We spoke to Marilyn Radcliff, a manager at All Star Music, at 11:30 P.M. Even though we were not currently staying at the resort, we were still treated with the same courtesy we received as a resort guest. Marilyn normally works at All Star Sports, and has been with Disney 15 years, only the last couple of years in resorts. Before that she ran a monorail. She assured me the only charge on our Master Card was for $105.68, and that she would talk to guest billing tomorrow and get that charge credited to my account. She said to give it 3-4 weeks. It was charged to our account at 3:30 pm on the 26th. Marilyn assured me that the only charge was for the $105.68, and that the computer showed that I had requested that a copy of my billing statement be mailed to me. She ended the conversation by asking us to give it a few more weeks to drop off of our statement, and saying that if we had any more problems or questions to give her a call back.

The credit card company stated that a charge for $105.68 was showing up and a hold charge of $219.98 was still pending from a hotel and that I should check back in a week and see if it was charged through or not.

All in all, All Stars seemed to us to be the best value for your dollar. The All Stars don't have the amenities that some others resorts, but the amenities that they do offer are the important ones to us. Outstanding transportation, economical food court, and adequate recreation at the large and well themed pool. We went to WDW to see the parks, not to have room service, a spa, workout room, or boat rentals. We found that most (but not all) of the activities offered at other resorts are things that we could do right at home. The restraunts at the various resorts can be accessed no matter where you are staying.

Our eight day stay was not long enough to do it all, but was plenty long enough to wear us out. We are considering another trip in September of 1999, this time perhaps staying at the All Star Movies Resort. If it were up to Brian, we would book the room now! This time, though, it will only be for 4 - 5 days, with a flight down instead of a drive. We noticed the Mears transportation busses seemed to provide more than adequate transportation to and from the airport.

If you want to go somewhere to forget your troubles, laugh with your kids, and be treated like you're the most special person alive, then Disney is the place for you.

When you wish upon a star...Have a very Disney day!

Brian & Chris Russell

IM4WAHOO@AOL.COM

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