Trip Reports

Introduction/Summary

Trip March 3-8, 1999
Accommodations: WL woods view, bunk bed room, and #4020
Transportation: Delta Express from Boston, Florida Town Car from MCO, National Rental Car from Disney to Naples/Ft. Myers.
Ages; Adult/toddlers
Experience: Veteran (though not for 15 years) Infrequent, Rookies
Cast: Dad- Me former JC Skipper
Mom- Best wife in the World, said yes to proposal at WDW 9 years ago
Micala- 4.5 year old girl adventurer, first visit
Morgan - 2 almost 3 year old girl, wise beyond years, first visit
Pre-Planning

Dad started a year ahead making all reservations, getting MKC discounts, Frequent flyer credits for cars, reading Brian Bennett's and Deb Will's sites, and researching the web. As I mentioned I was a former JC skipper from one of the first College Programs in 1982. Things sure have changed. . I even developed an itinerary below and included all PS and reservation numbers (which I have omitted here), and brought on the trip with us. You would think this is a commando approach but it was nice to end up off an attraction and walk a few steps to lunch or dinner with no wait. Only 2 15 waits all week.

WED. MARCH 3rd 1999

10:30 – 1:40 Delta Express Flight to Orlando
Florida Town Car
Stop at Goodings
3:00 Check In Wilderness Lodge/Bell Stand Package/Guest Relations – Park Tickets and Luau Tickets, Flag, (Use MKC card and credits) 5 day hopper Free Time ‘til Dinner
5:10 Whispering Canyon
THU March 4th

6:15 Wake up EE day at Magic Kingdom (7:15 – 7:00, parade 3pm, fireworks 7:00)
7:35 Cinderella’s Table, (get stroller at Tink’s)
11:20 Lunch MK Plaza Restaurant (10%)
1:00 Return to Hotel Nap (Kim free time)
5:30 Dinner at Tony’s Town Square (10%)
6:40 Fireworks VIP seating
FRI March 5th

6:45 Wake up day at Magic Kingdom (8:30 – 7:00, parade 3pm, fireworks 7:00)
7:30 Breakfast at WCC
11:30 Lunch at MK Columbia House
3:30 Return to Hotel Swim
4:30 Return to MK
5:30 Dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern (10%)
SAT March 6th

6:30 Wake up day at Animal Kingdom (7:30 – 6:00, busiest day)
Breakfast in Room Roaring Forks
Lunch at Pizzafari
1:30 Return to Hotel Nap, Swim (Kim free time)
3:45 Leave for Mickey’s Luau 4:15 Res.
6:00 Spectromagic at 7:30 MK
SUN March 7th

Pick up Rental Car AMA Voucher Reservation
Crowds Begin
7:00 am Wake up Canceled Flag Family
7:30 Breakfast at WCC
Day at Magic Kingdom (8:30 – 8:00, fireworks 7:30, slowest day)
11:40 Lunch at MK Plaza Restaurant (10%)
2:00 Return to Hotel Swim, Nap (Dad schedule Car Pick up)
5:00 Return to MK
5:45 Dinner at Cinderella’s Table
MON March 8th

Check out 11:00am
8:00 Breakfast at Artist Pointe
Day at MGM (Slowest Day)
11:30 Lunch at Mama Melrose’s (10%)
3:00pm Mulan parade
3:30 Be on the Road for Naples, FL
We followed this schedule pretty thoroughly every day. As you can see our focus was the WL and MK for the kids. We were convinced this trip was for them and that approach was key to our success. Below are the resulted highlights by day.

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

1st Day Highlights

Arriving at Lodge. CM at check in having Micala sign her name to the back of her ticket! Micala going down pool slide. Fireworks view out room 4020 balcony at WL as kids went to

Bed, "The Magic Kingdom was getting ready for us tomorrow…"

2nd Day Highlights

MK EE Cinderella's Table, Peter Pan confirming "Captain Hook is a stinky old

Codfish." Goofy autographing Micala's Book on her head. Girls spinning fast and laughing on

Teacups. Micala sprinkling pixie dust from breakfast on Peter Pans ship to make it fly. Morgan giggling on Dumbo while Dad took aerial pictures from Dumbo in front of her, Dinner at Tony's restaurant one of our better meals. Playing with the girls on Market Street as Mom shopped. Buying Popcorn for the girls like my Dad did for me 25 years ago. Seeing Morgan's expression actually seeing Tinkerbell Fly!

3rd Day Highlights

WCC Breakfast at the Lodge was much better than the BBQ the night before. MK non-EE few lines, both girls did Thunder Mountain, The original CBJ is much better than the Hoe-down that was there on my last 1990 visit.

Micala being brave going on Pirates (she carried a penlight through the dungeon, which helped. Morgan imitating Ago after Tiki Room, Both girls being picked for Parade, Cinderella & Aladdin Floats. Our dinner at LTT was OK. Micala announced at dinner she was "not gonna be scared and wanted to go on the Haunted Mansion." Mom said go for it, so I left her and Morgan behind to pay the check and we started to walk over from LTT. It was getting dark. We were singing the Grim Grinning Ghosts song as we marched up to the 1st set of gates. Just then the wolf howled and Micala looked up to see the Mansion at night. She declared, "Maybe I don’t want to go." I said, "It’s Ok honey we won’t go." The timing of this was so funny! I really had to fight to hold the laughter back!

We had magic delivery VIP Fireworks seating, which was nothing special the night before, but…MY Magic Moment, was tonight. I asked Morgan if she wanted to see Tinkerbell fly again. She said "yes and Peter Pan too!" I said Peter Pan doesn't fly she said "Yes he does and Wendy and Micheal Too." We proceeded to watch the fireworks, about half way through she said," here comes Peter Pan Dad!" Just then I hear Peter Pan say Come on everybody here we gooooo off to Neverland." as 3 rockets shoot from behind the castle, "See Daddy Peter Pan, Micheal and Wendy!" "Now I see them Honey." "See them Daddy?!" I felt like Mr. Darling staring out of the nursery window at the end of the movie. "Yes Honey I see them, Peter Pan, Wendy, and Micheal."

4th Day Highlights

AK opening Music, Safari, Lion King Show!!!! CM replacing "lost" stroller.

Back to the Hotel for a swim and nap---Micala loves that slide. Mickey's Tropical Luau: Our Kids ate and had a blast at Mickey’s Luau. I booked it a year ahead and had front row center seats. They could see great and had had enough characters by then that they didn’t mind not having a one on one. The Beach Party at WDW Video had them all prepared for the "Pearly Shells dance."

After the Luau it was back to the MK for a surprise return of Congo Carl to the Jungle Cruise. We got the VP treatment and were back doored no wait and then…seeing Micala driving Jungle Cruise Boat, Dad spieling to the Family! Morgan watching Spectro Magic, I actually saw the lights sparkle in her eyes.

5th Day MK favorites Day

Both Girls driving Riverboat and pulling whistle, more character hugs,

Mom watching all 7 dwarfs, Dinner in the Castle, Mom surprising me with a birthday desert and the

Kids singing Happy Birthday. We had the girls’ silhouettes done on Main Street. Kids, playing and dancing on Main Street as Mom shopped for watches and gifts, they held hands and sang "When you wish upon a star" as the castle turned colors. This was our last night at Disney World and was worth all the work just for this half hour/

6th Day

Artist Pointe Breakfast with Pooh, MGM BB show, meeting yet seen characters, Morgan showing Aladdin Gang her ABU beanie. Both girls were in awe of meeting Mulan, talking getting autographs. Seeing Mushu in the Mulan Parade. Mickey Ice Cream.

Micala summed it up for us all as we drove to grandpas and said good-bye..."Daddy. I don't want to leave Disney World." "Neither do I." I said, "Neither do I."

If anyone is interested it was a 4-hour drive to Naples, FL. Two days, continuing the vacation with my in-laws in Naples. I realized I left 9 rolls of film in the in room safe, I left a message at WL Lost and Found, couldn't sleep all night. Next day Paulette called from WL and said Housekeeping found them, Fed-exed them home no charge. Thank you Disney for saving my vacation memories!

Dining:

I am now convinced no one goes to WDW for the food. Epcot was great 16 years ago. With young kids knowing you have a place to rest, sit at there usual dinnertime is key.
Places we would not rush back to WCC dinner (and I really wanted to like it), LTT, (again I heard great things –but I did have thirds of the flank steak).
Places we would recommend food, service & atmosphere wise. Cinderella’s for breakfast or dinner (Prime Rib Lover’s), Tony’s Town Square for Dinner, and Artist Pointe for Breakfast.
Biggest Surprise: Mickey’s Tropical Luau. Heard so many bad things about the food, and almost canceled.
Tips:

Planning regular schedules, meals, naps, downtime, bedtime with toddlers is critical to their comfort and enjoyment. Renting strollers at the parks worked for us.
Ride Preparation for kids is easy with books and all the videos helped them decide what they were ready for--- we did not push the youngest or oldest to ride anything. Recommend Disneyland Fun, Around the World with Mickey and Friends. Kim Wiley’s Walt Disney World with Kids also good for Mom and Dad’s planning.
Character Preparation for Kids. Two key things again videos. Campout and Beach Party at WDW videos showed other kids playing and having fun with characters and the size perspective was something they were prepared for. Also we started with the face characters at Cinderella’s castle. By the time our 2-year-old saw Minnie she ran to her and hugged her. Characters were a big deal to kids these ages.
We had a "Mickey Welcome package" on each child’s bed when they returned from Dinner the first night with items I purchased from a previous trip. Sunglasses, Autograph books, pens, T-shirts, Name Pins like Cast members. Etc., this avoided the girls for asking for any gift the 1st three days!
Early March was perfect temperature for touring low 60’s (just right for morning WDW sweatshirts) to Highs of 70’s, no Florida Humidity and even breezes.
The crowds began on about March 8th now sticking to an early morning agenda was critical. The lines were always 20 minutes or less by mid-day, but the street traffic and congestion takes away some of magic.
Don’t rush for the gate at closing time. Main Street was open as long as someone is buying. Watch your transportation schedule back to your hotel.
Bring More film than you think. I brought 9 for 5 days and shot 14! The extra 5 rolls cost $35+ dollars compared to $10 at home. When you are down to the last shot on each roll, shoot it, stop at a bench and re-load immediately. You never know when something is going to happen out of the blue with kids at WDW and you will want a quick succession of pictures. I learned this the first day (Mickey appeared walking through the Main Street Camera shop out of no where and hugged my kids while I stumbled for the camera!) and was never caught off guard once after that. Having the camera ready I was able to get some great spontaneous shots rather than the "look at the camera" style.
"Congo" Carl Moore

4768846@mylinepcx.com

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