Trip Reports

Who: Me (Ronda) and my partner (Kelly)
When: September 24-27 (quick trip for my birthday)
Particulars: This is our fifth trip to Disney World (93 off prop, 95 DxL, 97 CBR, 98 WL).
Stayed at All Star Sports. Rental car from National.
Day 1, Friday, September 24

Flight to Orlando from Kansas City was a surprise. We ended up in first class… it was a 737 and I was convinced they would begin renumbering the rows and went right past 1C and D. Got turned in the right direction and took our seats. Very nice. I was wearing my gray, silhouette Mickey (dark green) sweatshirt and Kelly had on her ESPN Club sweatshirt (KC was chilly). Our flight attendant asked if we were staying at the Boardwalk and that got us talking to him about Disney. He's a part time cast member/full time flight attendant. He's a character in the Hunchback show at MGM and is in Tapestry of Nations (don't know what figure he portrays). We talked about what it's like to work for the Mouse. He said they're 300 people down at the Studios and the Orlando job market is very tight. I did notice a lot of training going on during our visit… parks and resorts.

Rental car pickup (National) was smooth. Arrival at All Star Sport was okay. We got to the check in, the CM had trouble with his computer and asked us to get back in line. I have every sympathy for computer trouble, but felt we should have gotten the next available opening. Luckily the line was short and we were back in front after a few minutes. Each CM doing check-in had a trainer/coach right behind them ("that's okay, it's a Disney Card, push this, this, and swipe" ; ). Room wasn't ready so we checked our luggage with the attendants out front. They asked if we were checking in and I said yes. I didn't have a room number and they gave me a claim check.

Off to the Magic Kingdom. We had purchased Premium Annual Passes at TDS. Turned them on at the MK and went over on the boat. We didn't get any information about the biometrics. Do they take a reading on the first use? I think we got them switched a couple of times but it didn't seem to matter.

We rode Space Mountain a couple of times. Used FastPass. Worked very well for us. We knew what we wanted to do with the next 45 minutes. Had lunch at Columbia Harbor House. We'd never eaten here before and it was a real treat. Clam chowder in the bread bowl and the chicken salad with feta cheese. Will keep this eatery on our a-list. Have complained that we hadn't found counter service we really liked at the MK, and this fixes that. Tried Buzz Lightyear. So cool! I love the little guys of the Green Squadron. Splash Mountain was open, but the wait said 55 minutes. Too long.

Returned to the ASSport. Room was ready and they had delivered our luggage to the room. Now this was a surprise. I know they asked if we were checking in, but I never expected them to deliver. If I remember correctly I've heard that some resorts WON'T deliver baggage unless you accompany them to the room. Problem is, we locked the room keys in our carry on bag and checked it, now it's in the room. We had to go back to the car to retrieve picture ID so that a runner would go meet us at the room and let us in.

Aaaah! In the room. Touchdown Hotel (building 10). Third floor, king room with the roll in shower. Clean and very adequate. Went down to check out the food court. Again, very nice. Had the rueben and fries and a chicken Caesar salad. Good selection, moderate prices; give it a B. Walked a little around the pool area. Are there laundry facilities in the small building opposite the lobby/food court building?

There were a couple of high school football teams (at least one from Texas) staying at the Sports. We turned in early. I was surprised at how quiet the room was (we were facing away from the central area, towards the giant Coke cup).

Day 2, Saturday, September 25

The next morning the football teams were boarding Disney Cruise Line busses. Please tell me that they just want to get full utilization of the busses and that the mini-maulers were not taking a cruise, too!!!

It is my birthday. I rule the day. Kinda.

We had a light breakfast at the food court and went to the Animal Kingdom. I like the characters/animals that come out during the rope drop/opening. That was new to us. We took the first safari of the day. Got to see a hippo out of the water and a baby hippo and mother playing. The crocodiles were all in the water and there must have been 13 croc heads looking at us, made my skin crawl. After this we got a FastPass for a return and realized we had enough time to see Festival of the Lion King (8:45) and still return in time. We had never seen this show. It was great. We've seen the broadway show (going back in the spring) and this was a nice reminder. I thought the Tumble Monkeys (right name? the one's following Timon) were fantastic. I'm impressed how the equipment just materializes and disappears.

Back to the safari and then to CTX. We rode Kali Rapids for the first time. Escaped a major drenching.

Left the AK and on to MGM. This was the weekend for the soap flakes (ABC Super Soap weekend) and it seemed very busy. Kept seeing t-shirts about General Hospital nurses with heart/ribbons on the back and it took me a while to realize they're probably not nurses, but fans. We got FastPass tickets for RnRC and took two rides on ToT. Did some pin shopping. Had an eggroll and it started to rain. Pulled out the rain gear and made our way to RnRC. This was a scream. Kelly is not a rider. She will try everything once, but that's usually it. When it launched I was worried that I would have to dig out her insurance card. So imagine my delight when she said, "that was great, can we do it again!!". Another FastPass and we did.

We're beginning to wear out. Back to the hotel for a short nap and then to Fulton's. We'd eaten here our last two trips and it seemed like a tradition. It was just okay this time. Not sure what had changed, but just didn't feel like we got our $100 worth. We'd been delighted to discover that Fantasy in the Sky would be tonight. We usually miss all MK fireworks (the scourge of value season). Armed with camera bag and tripod we set out. Crowd was heavy along Main Street for the 8:00 parade. We made it to the end and veered toward Tomorrowland. I wanted to set up somewhere near that bridge. We saw the little sidewalk to nowhere that is just to the castle side of the bridge. There was a woman and her two daughter waiting there, but otherwise it was empty. We went to the end and set up shop. It was perfect for the tripod. Very little danger. I was thrilled. The MSEP does nothing for me. In fact I think some of the smaller, white masked performers are downright creepy. More people crowded into our little part of heaven, but we were fine.

There was a CM inside the fence. His job was to keep us outside the fence. We spoke briefly about cameras and techniques. He noticed that the curved railing closing off the sidewalk was loose (completely unbolted, no parts nearby). Thought it was odd. There was a loveseat/settee on a dolly under the trees. I asked, he didn't know, said sometimes they use it for filming when they wanted a castle backdrop. Parade is over, people are moving about. Two street clothes (what else can we call them) CM's come to the end of our sidewalk. Their arms are filled with stuff. They excuse themselves, push the railing back and go on in. Set up the love seat, ice bucket, champagne, food, etc.

Now we're all talking about this scene… honeymoon? proposal? how much? About 5 'til one of the CM's comes to the railing and asks us to clear a path. We do and a couple walks down the middle. The man presents a folded letter to the CM (I looked, the woman is not wearing a ring). The CM lets them in and they take their seats. The fireworks start, he gets down on one knee and proposes, she must say okay, 'cause they kiss the CM's put the bridal beanies on them and they continue to watch the fireworks. It was very romantic, does anyone know what that deal would cost? I was amazed. Side note: Apparently there was a young lady further back along the rail convinced that the preparations were being made at the behest of her boyfriend… when she discovered it was not to be her night, they left.

The fireworks were shorter than I remember. I got two or three good pix, but valuable experience for next time (location, location, location). Now for the non-magical part of our trip. What happened next could ruin Disney for me. They crowd was big, the biggest I've ever seen (but that's not saying much, we're value season visitors). We walked around, Tomorrowland, Fantasyland. As we approach the castle the music changes and I said "oooh, the goodnight kiss, I've read about this" We got to the roundabout in front of the castle, it was beautiful "Walt Disney once said…." What is that horrible noise??! It's the giant trash vacuum. I know it's all part of traffic flow control, but that was awful. By this time, the back edge of the crowd mass had reached the castle end of Main Street. We waited a bit more. We went down Main Street. The mass was at the train station. We went out. The monorail and boat loading areas are packed tight. We move back inside for water. Watched the CM's bring in the strollers. We go back out. Get into the boat line. Watch security vans go to resort bus area. 45 minutes later we're on a boat. 10 minute tram wait and we're back at the car.

This may just be what a night at the park is like, but we will never do that again. I cannot imagine that Disney achieved desired results that night. Two and a half hours to return to an on property resort seems way out of line. Of course the conditions brought out the absolute worst in everyone. Stroller drivers forget that they are not just themselves, they are another 2-3 feet in front of themselves. Maybe it's because the wheels are out of sight, but I can't imagine this problem if we were all driving grocery carts. Cranky kids, cranky parents. The next day I spoke to a guy who was waiting for a DxL bus. During his two hour wait there were a couple of minor skirmishes in the queue. I saw the ambulance down there once. Can someone in the know tell me if the crowd caught Disney by surprise? If it did, I'd consider trying to see the fireworks during our October trip, but if that was a regular closing, it killed the Magic.

Day 3, Sunday, September 26

Up and off to MGM for early entry. Rode RnRC five or six times while Kelly hunted for breakfast. I was finally done and she'd brought me water, grapes and an apple (nice Granny Smith from the produce stand). We bought a few more pins and headed for Epcot. Looked at the pin station, watched the fountain. Got in line for Test Track. There was an entertainer in the queue area. He was great. Dressed like a crash dummy. Showed up with a wagon full of stuff. Juggled, balancing, time flew. He packed up and left. We liked the queue area. Rode again in the singles queue. For all the trouble and hype though this left me thinking "this, this is it?". We strolled around the World Showcase as everything was opening. It started to rain, then rain hard. Let up a bit and we kept moving. Ate at the Land food court, rode SE and headed back to the hotel.

Dried and rested we went to the YC/BC and got a cheese burger at Beaches and Cream. That was a great hamburger. Got that tip from this newsgroup and it will become a tradition. Took the boat to the Boardwalk. Walked around a bit. It had rained again and a lot of the waterfront wagons were still shuttered. Stopped to souvenir shop at the ESPN club then took the boat to Epcot. Got in just as the Tapestry of Nations was beginning. Watched from the downslope from International Gateway to the UK. What a delight! We knew this had started and that it was in the evening, but we had lost track of time and it was a find. I wished they would keep the traffic to one side of the street. People were free to walk up both sides, but only stand on one. We were fascinated and there are people pushing past us who feel it's blocking their way.

Strolled some more. Left as ToN was beginning a second time. Illuminations 2000 will have to come later. Returned to the hotel and packed most of our things. Leaving tomorrow.

Day 4, Monday, September 27

Rise and shine. Packed and checked out. We made it to the MK around 7:45. We have a 9:05 PS at the Crystal Palace. We ride Buzz twice. It's not scoring anything. Everything remains a zero, the numbers reset at the end of the ride. Everything else is normal, but no numbers. As we're getting off the second time the wrench and tool belt CM's are there and I think they were preparing to shut it down.

We rode Space Mountain. Still a thrill.

Crystal Palace was good for us as usual. Kelly really enjoys the Pooh characters and we like the breakfast. We were seated quickly. Good seat. Around the planter on the west side. I noticed the tables inside the windows next to the check in. They would be awful. They characters passed by us within 45 minutes. Tigger got a tableful of little girls bouncing. Then he turned to other tables and waved them in. As the children got up from their tables the wait staff CM was telling them to sit down, that Tigger will come to them. Miscommunication, but the hoppers were adorable. Tigger came around the corner on the far side of the planter and scared a brother and sister. The boy was probably 3 and the girl one and a half. They both started to scream, they were terrified. Tigger quickly moved away and the mother began to restore order. She was holding the girl and trying comfort the boy while she stood next to him sitting in the high chair. Someone went to get her mother from the buffet line. The boy was beginning to quiet down but when his grandmother got there he just melted down. Just not ready for a big orange tiger at breakfast. By the time we left CP it was 10:00 and the stroller factor was through the roof. They were parked two deep on both sides leading up to the bridge. We rode Splash Mountain, got a Dole whip (chocolate, they only had pineapple Friday), bought some pins and headed for the highway…

Flight back was not in the lap of luxury. We had rough weather over northern Florida and again in southern Missouri. Home now, where we're entering our 20th hour of rain.

Epilogue

We're going back October 16 for a full week. Two nights at the All Star and five night at the Wilderness Lodge. We stayed at WL last year. The room was great. Loved the ambience. But the food court is lousy. We're considering driving to the moderates (especially CS for the Pepper Market) or value resorts to get a variety decent cheap food. I know there's Artists Point and Whispering Canyon, but they just don't cover all the bases.

Our PAP are fledgling steps towards DVC. We've flirted with the idea before. Trying the PAP and going to take some quick, shorter notice (for us that would be 3-4 weeks) trips over the next year and see how it works out.

If anyone has questions or comments drop me an e-mail. Thanks for reading.

Ronda Sprick

rsprick@kansascity.com

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