April vacation at the Wilderness Lodge - Update 5/13 COMPLETED! About This Page:

[Jillybean]

Fantastic day! You guys managed to do so much at MGM! It's good that you could meet up with friends also!

Glad that you could do a little resort hopping too!

Jill

[DyanKJ130]

WOW! What a wonderful day!! What a nice treat for Sarah to be able to meet up with Amelia. Waiting for more!

[PrincessSharon]

Just catching up. It sounds like you're really having a great trip. Looking forward to more!

[musicteachermom]

April vacation at the Wilderness Lodge, Thursday, April 19th:

This was our last day in the parks. There was an Early Entry at MK so we got there early. We missed the boat, so we waited on the dock for the next one, and still made it in good time before the parks officially opened to the public. When we got there we rented a locker for our BlizzardBeach stuff. We figured this would save us time instead of having to go back to our room.

This morning we rode SpaceMountain, (and I’m proud to say it didn’t make me sick!) Maybe riding in the dark is better for queasiness. We then went over and rode SplashMountain. Well, getting socked is an understatement, hair, sweatshirts, shorts, everything! And, we didn’t get soaked on the way down, but at the beginning. Going around a corner and getting splashed by another boat coming down the drop is what got everyone wet! Luckily it was sunny so that helped the drying process! We also rode Winnie the Pooh, and saw the Hall of Presidents. (I kind of insisted on this educational moment because Sarah is studying U.S. history this year at school, for 5th grade.)

Michael and Sarah wanted to go on BTMRR, so I waited for them and poked around in some shops. When we were done, we bumped into our neighbors Roger, Nan and Kaili again. It was a good thing we did too, because Nan reminded us about printing our boarding passes for our flight back tomorrow. Oh no, panic time. We forgot our confirmation numbers back at our room! So we walked over to Guest Services and the woman gave us the phone number for Southwest. To make a long story short, we got the confirmation number this way, and GS printed out our passes for us. Luckily we got boarding group A this time.

While Michael was on the phone with Southwest, Sarah and I check out a pin shop again. I finally broke down and bought myself a purple lanyard. I also bought my Polynesian pin with Stitch on it. I figured I wouldn’t be able to find on without Stitch. So, I just caved and bought this one.

Now comes another magical moment. After we got our boarding passes we bumped into a very nice CM. He came up to Sarah and gave her a Tinkerbell pin. The pin says “Where Dreams Come True.” He said you can’t buy this pin anywhere so they’re extra special. It was so nice! Sarah was really happy. I struck up a nice conversation with him, and then we said goodbye and headed off. He actually ran to catch up with us, gave us another pin (the same one), and told Sarah to give to someone else, to pass on another magical moment. Sarah is going to give the pin to Amelia.

We were getting a little bit hungry, so we walked back up Main St, and who did we meet but the Mayor of the MK. We’d never seen him before and we got a picture with the mayor and Sarah. Then Sarah and I got an ice cream and Michael went into Casey’s for a hot dog. We also saw the fire chief who was very funny and a Barbershop quartet. It was very sunny and beautiful, and a nice way to remember the MK.

After we redeemed our locker key and got our bag for BB, a CM came up to us and sprinkled little metallic Mickey heads on us. Apparently this was pixie dust! We thought this was very cool. We then took the walkway to the Contemporary and caught the bus to BB.

Now, I’m not really a water park person, because I never know what to do about having really bad eyesight, wearing contact lenses and how do I go down the slides? So, what I did was keep on my contacts, and place goggles on right before I went down each ride. This worked out really well, because they stayed tight on my face, no problems, except looking like a geek! We ended up having a great time at this park. The last time we were at Disney we went to Typhoon Lagoon so we wanted to try something different.

The weather was sunny, and in the 80’s, perfect for a water park. There were LOTS of teenagers and it was very crowded, but we managed to find 2 chairs. It was so much fun to ride the chairlift up the mountain. We are a family who skis and we thought this was funny to be riding a chairlift in our bathing suits. Most rides were only a few minutes wait, but some were up to 20 minutes. We picked up some lunch there and ended up staying from about 2:00-5:30.

When it was time to leave, we lucked out. The bus for the WL was just pulling into the parking lot, no waiting for the bus! Keep that pixie dust working.

When we got back to our room our housekeeper had left another surprise. She had made a bear from facecloths. Thanks pixie dust.

We had an ADR for 6:00 at the 50’s Prime Time Café over at MGM, but we decided to skip this. We just need some down time and we didn’t feel like rushing, and quite frankly we didn’t feel up to the antics at this restaurant, maybe next time. So we took our time to shower and change and we had some cheese and crackers on our balcony and Michael and I had a glass of wine.

Next, we caught a bus to MGM. Sarah wanted to give Rock and Roller Coaster a ride. But, alas it wasn’t to be. The fastpasses were all used up, and the wait line was an hour! So, she and Michael went once again on the Tower of Terror. She loves this ride, so it was Ok anyway and it was a walkon. I had had enough rides, so while I waited for them I got a cup of tea, found a bench on Sunset Blvd. and people watched while I gave my sister a call.

After Michael and Sarah came back we walked down to the pin station at the gate entrance. Then we met this really nice man and his teenage daughter. They asked us about the pins. It was their first time at Disney and they were visiting from Alabama. He said his wife and young son were back at the CaribbeanBeach Resort. They just got here today and the boy had a high temperature. We really hope that he gets better, it’s no fun being sick on a vacation.

While we were talking, our daughter was talking to the CM who sold us a pin. She asked Sarah if she could name all 7 dwarves. When Sarah did, the CM gave her a card “Guest of the Hour”, with a pin on it, just for her! I guess the pin is one of the ghosts from the HauntedMansion. He has a hidden Mickey on his leg, more pixie dust coming our way.

Well, time to head over towards Fantasmic! We got a good seat, and while we waited we had a very nutritious dinner of a pretzel, popcorn and a coke. After the cheese and crackers we weren’t that hungry so we really didn’t feel like having a big meal. I think many of us debate about using the dining plan, but for us, it was better not to be on it after all. In the end, it worked out better for us, that we were not on the plan.


Once again, Fantasmic was wonderful. It has been 4 years and we had really forgotten all the great details. Sarah like how everyone did the wave while we waited! When it was over, we didn’t rush right out because of the crowds. We browsed in the shops and then finally left. This time the bus did go to WL first and then onto the campground. Yahoo!

Michael and I were really tired when we got back to the room. I don’t know what got into Sarah, but she started folding all her clothes, emptying her drawer and packing her suitcase! Wow. Boo-hoo, our last night in our wonderful room at the WL, and our last night at WDW.

[Colexis Mom]

Wow, lots of magical moments today What a great day!!! I'm sorry it's all coming to an end

[musicteachermom]

April vacation at the Wilderness Lodge, Friday, April 20th:


Well, this was our departure day. We had our breakfast at Roarin’ Forks and we were picked up by Tiffany Town Car at 9:00 AM. Usually whenever we go on a vacation we have to leave at some terrible hour like 4:00 in the morning. So this seemed luxurious to us!

As usual I hate to leave Disney. But, this trip was really wonderful. Although we missed having Eric with us, we made the best of it, and managed to have a wonderful time. I would recommend staying at the WL to anyone. It is such a beautiful resort and very peaceful, especially at the end of a long day. (Now, I have to figure out when my husband will agree to come back. Hmm, gotta work on that!)

We ended up having a nice flight back, no problems and got home to our house around 3:00 or 4:00 in the afternoon. We also lucked out with the weather big time! While we were gone our part of the country had some really bad weather. They had a Noreaster’ and many of our neighbors lost power for 12 hours one day! Luckily no flooding in our basement, but our neighbors that we saw down in Disney came back to a flooded basement, and lots of damage. We live in an ocean town and many of the beaches have been destroyed because of the weather. For the next 4 days we would luck out with unusually warm weather up in the 80’s. Everyone told us thank you for bringing the Florida warmth back with us.

Thanks for reading my report! I’ve managed to feel like I’ve made my trip to WDW a little longer by writing it, and sharing it with all of you!

[Colexis Mom]

Thanks for sharing your trip with us Laurie

I'm glad you all had a great time

[WishIwasinDisney]

What a wonderful trip! I really enjoyed reading your report. And thank you for bringing back the warm weather, those of us from Mass really appreciated it!

[angiek1024]

Just read your whole report! We are staying at the WL in 9 days and I really enjoyed your review of the hotel.

Great report! Thanks so much for sharing it with us!

[DyanKJ130]

Sounds like you had a wonderful trip, with your last day being extra magical!! the WL! Thank you for sharing your TR with us!

[tammyd_rn]

Thanks for sharing your trip report and Disney magic with us.

[PrincessSharon]

Great last day. Thanks for sharing your trip with us!

[Grammy Grumpy]

What a wonder trip Laurie, and a great report! So glad you had a great and magical vacation.

[Jillybean]

What a great trip report! Thanks so much for sharing -- now I'm ready for our WL trip!

Jill

[Dicecatt]

Loved your report! You really had a lot of great moments. What a bummer about the air conditioning unit so loud...

Okay, I have to ask...what Hairy Leg on Pirates?

Good thing you spoke up about that bad table...on our September trip, we kept getting put right by the server entrance, at long rectangle tables (that don't work very well for character interaction.) At 1900 Park Fare we asked for a round table when we checked in, and said please, not by the kitchen. She said well, we have a table ready now, it isn't round, and it isn't by the kitchen, but by the server entrance! I said no thanks, we'll wait! From then on I asked at EVERY restaurant for a round table, not by kitchen/server entrance. I was sick of hearing drinks refilled all through our meal!

I saw Devine too...for the first time. I'll post a picture in my trip report...I was so excited. I was on the phone with DH and I said "honey, I see Devine!" He was like "What on earth are you talking about?"

I loved 1900 Park Fare too. We've never done dinner, just breakfast, but it was really great food, atmosphere, and interaction.