Our Trip Report : Dream Come True at PO About This Page:

[FunMom]

This is my first time posting on the board although I started reading about a month before our trip. Thanks everyone for all of your helpful hints!

Trip: Sept 17-24, 2001
Crew: Mom (Becky, 36) 5th trip to Disney
DH (Dave, 37) 4th trip
Eve (8) 2nd trip
Zoe (5) 2nd trip

We stayed at French Quarter of PO

Although our trip was almost a week after WTC, we were unable to get any info regarding our flights: would they still be on or cancelled. At the last minute we decided to drive, a 15+ hr trip from our home in the N Panhandle of WV. We started packing Sat. at noon and left Sunday morn at 7:20 am. We packed last minute and hurried so that it seemed like we were running away. And I guess we were. It was great to get my kids away from all of the ugliness for a while. Although I also felt quite guilty for having such an indulgence as a WDW trip when others were suffering. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

Regardless, my kids were wonderful in our small, cramped car (Cavalier) and they helped to set the tone by not fighting. We only made 2 stops on the way down-outside of Charlotte NC for a lunch/dinner (we snacked most of the way) and in Savannah for the night.

Monday morning we left Savannah around 8am, and stopped for breakfast outside of Daytona (about 1 hr). We arrived at the French Quarter around 12:30. Thank goodness for the Passporter map in the back or I don't think we would have EVER found our resort! [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

Check in was a breeze-the place was next to empty. Only one person in line ahead of me. Thanks to the wonderful hints on this board, we requested a corner room. We were put in Building 4, Rm 4327. This was a great room even though it was on the 3rd floor. We were right next to the main building (check in, food court, store,etc) close to the pool, laundry, parking and the Bus Stop. The room was beautiful and comfortable.
Right away we geared up with our fanny packs and left for Disney Studios. It became quite apparent that the WTC incident had affected Disney-no crowds anywhere. We rode Tower of Terror (TOT) first-because I am a giant chicken and I wanted to get it out of the way. My 5 year old was tall enough and she went too. This was a big mistake. She was so frightened that the rest of the week she was scared of every ride. I don't know what I was thinking and Yes, I feel like a BAD MOM! But we did recover. I don't like amusement park rides-but I still enjoyed the TOT and would recommend that even if you are afriad, ride anyway (unless you are 5!!). The special effects are incredible and are worth the discomfort of the drop~! [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

We continued to ride and experience EVERYTHING at the Studios. Ate at Mama Melrose for dinner (the Mozzerella Stack was fabulous!) and walked right into Fantasmic about 20 minutes before the show started. My DH got us a great front row seat just left of the center. What a great show! We were all enthralled. I was especially pleased that the souvenier lights I bought for my kids (a Minnie Mouse and a Tinker Bell that used fiber optics to light up) were only $3 each. Pretty good for Disney. After leaving Studios, we went back to our room to call Granparents and to have a good nights sleep. I will later post Day 2-Epcot!
Thanks!
FunMom

Hi FunMom and welcome to the boards...
I am glad your first day was so good...and I am glad you still went, despite the terror attacks.
$3 for light ups? I am amazed, I paid $13 each for teo of the ones that light up and spin-but I don't mind so much because it kept the kids quiet

Can't wait for more

Mary