Three Weeks in the Magic About This Page:

[tikibird]

mikki,

Great report so far! I can't believe I missed out on a Dole Whip meet - that sounds awesome! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

I also agree with you on the dinosaur running around in Dinorama - he is way cool! I got a picture of Gonzo with his head in the dino's jaws! Hope to get the pics developed soon!

Looking forward to more of your report.

[mikki]

Day 7 – 6/12 The big Intercot meet
We slept in the next morning till 8am and got up leisurely and had breakfast at Olivia’s as we figured our next meal would be Dinner. Then we went off on the MK bus and transferred to resort monorail and went to look around the Polynesian. We always like this hotel! I got into some pin trading and then it was time to head to the GF for the meet. A couple of people were already there and the crowd just got bigger... and bigger! Imalismom got her phone out and rang John and we all spoke to him - just so he could feel part of it [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] It was great to final hear the great man’s voice [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Tom, a cast member took group photos with everyones camera (a challenge in itself!) and then a moderators photo - 7 of us there; what would the boards do without us all!?!
The party gradually split up and we went to the MK to see the parade. It is a nice parade and we were especially pleased to see that Figaro had got onto one of the floats! My personal favourite float was the Mickey one. We wandered around a bit more and then headed to Contemporary and Concourse Steak House for Dinner - only about a 15 minute wait despite the huge number of families eating before going to MVMCP. The food was excellent as always and we saw Bunny, our server from March, on the way out and chatted briefly.

Back to the MK resort bus stops and 2 minutes later an OKW one arrives to whisk us home. It is only 8pm but Andrew falls asleep in the chair so I send him to bed while I watch TV for a while before joining him.

[mikki]

Day 8 7/12 Some old favourites
I slept poorly and wake up early - still, a good opportunity to catch up on these notes on my Palm! Andrew has picked our destination today - Epcot. We arrive before opening & see the huge crowd creating a pre-line for SE. They open the line and the whole of SE queuing system is in use! Amazing. We do not join this line!
When the park opens a few minutes later we go to Living Seas, as we have not been for some time. The ride has gone which is a pity as it was short but interesting. We then move on to Imagination and go in the shop where we meet up with Gale again (as we keep on doing thru the day....) and she still looks splendid in her psychedelic ears.
Time to head for World showcase and a snack in Germany. The Chicken Schnitzel is not bad and quite filling! We continue round and arrive at American Adventure in time to hear the Vibes singing - very good. The show was also good and bought back memories.
We are getting weary by now so we head back to Future World just in time for the character bus to arrive and we get pictures with Mickey, Minnie and Chip and Dale. We promise ourselves to come back another day with the kittens (all Figaro) so they can have their picture with Minnie.

Next stop is TT single rider line and we are lucky enough to ride together. My magical moments pin lights up in the environment testing sections - red for heat, blue for cold and yellow for the robots that have not been turned off! Neat.

We head for home and a quiet evening.

[mikki]

Well I have pruned the 400 plus photos down to a handful. I have, of course, kept the one of Nate in his birthday hat and the Passporter WWTBAM ones. If you would like a look they are in the WDW December 2001 album on: http://uk.photos.yahoo.com/mikki_young

[Emily]

OK Mikki, I had to comment - those pictures are fantastic!!! I am such a photography novice, so I have to know... how do you get your night shots to come out so well?? Those are really beautiful! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Thanks so much for sharing them! And the reports of course! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[mikki]

Emily - we bought a digital camera last year and have been delighted (astonished!) at how it deals with low light pictures. I'm afraid I can't take the credit! [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[mikki]

Day 9 – 8/12 The meet that wasn’t
Today we are heading for the Studios as we hope to meet Casey (Dizwiz) before he eats at the Primetime Cafe. The queue for security is long and slow and some people are getting a little short tempered when they think others are trying to queue jump - no line here for those with no bags!

We first stop off to get our picture from Wednesday and it is fine so we buy it. We don't have that long before we are due to meet Casey so we go into One Mans Dreams as it is new to us and the Quiz questions had whet our appetites to see this. It was quite good and very interesting with a good film at the end. We need to go back for another look as we did rush thru rather.

Went to the Tune in Lounge and checked with the Prime Time Cafe that Casey had not checked in yet and asked if they could tell him we were there when they arrived. Sat down with our drinks and 11.30 came and went and although I was looking out for someone who might be looking for someone (i.e. me!) must have missed Casey as when we checked back again with the hostess she said she had sent him in our direction - sorry Casey! Another time I hope.

We went to ABC Commissary for snack lunch. Not as good as I remembered and noisier. We headed out as we had promised our friend Mary that we would be home by 2pm as she was going to join us for the Passporter Resort Xmas decorations tour. Well the bus was waiting at the stop for us so we got home about 1-30pm. That was probably the only thing that went to plan that day!

Mary was due to be with us by 4pm at the latest to give us the option of going in her car or taking a bus or two to get to Wilderness Lodge. 4pm came and went and no Mary. 4.30pm and the buses were definitely out. 4.40 and a phone call from Mary - she had lost her notes of when we were meeting. We agree that she should come when she can (lives about an hour away) and we will go out for a meal. It is too late to get to the Wilderness Lodge so we leave an apologetic message for Dave and Jennifer with the family. Sorry guys, and sorry Nate and the other organisers; especially sorry not to see you all again!

We ring up for a booking at Artist Point and can't get a table before 9pm but take it. Mary arrives and we chat happily for an hour and then she drives us to WL. We check in early and get a bleeper so go exploring the hotel with Mary who is impressed. The meal was excellent - Mary had Salmon, I had fillet steak and Andrew had Buffalo. A good day in the end even though our plans had not worked out.

[mikki]

Day 10 – 9/12 Shopping at last
Today we are to pick up our car from Alamo in the Wyndham Palace at Downtown Disney so we will do a bit of shopping first. The first bus is for DD much to our delight. Lots of goodies to choose from and we pick up a few and then wait 25 minutes to pay - and only 2 people in front of us! [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] Unusual to say the least.

We walk to the Wyndham Palace where the Alamo depot is. We had ordered an economy size car as we only have it for part of the trip. The small office is very different from the airport operation and we end up with a Fullsize car and are told the wrong parking spot to get it from. Not well organised! We were not asked if we wanted the upgrade - just got given it. It was a nice car so I shouldn’t complain [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Headed to Damons for lunch & refreshed by an old favourite we head for Belz outlets. Our first stop is Rockport shoes & I get some work shoes. We wander through the rest of the main mall & head for home with a couple of stops on the way like a quick run round Premium Outlets. We are not hungry so have a few nibbles and go to bed. Shopping is so tiring [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[mikki]

Day 11 – 10/12 More shopping!
Today is another shopping day & we decide on the Florida Mall - it is not my favourite place but it is quite close. We drive there taking the back route up I-Drive and Universal Boulevard and get there quite quickly. I know handbags are one of my objectives and we see several possibilities. We decide to stop on the way back and continue on. Shoes are another objective and we go to the Rockport shop where they have many more styles to choose from than at Belz but none that I like enough when I try them on.

We have an early lunch in the food court - both orange and bourbon chicken with rice for only $5, which is good value (to us!). Look in the Disney Store (yes, I know we are staying at WDW but the stores have different stuff - in particular I was hoping to find some of the box sets of old shorts on DVD but these had sold out already - only came out 5 days earlier!)
Never mind, we can keep looking and ring ahead to other malls if need be. Pick up some pins from the 100 years series. Went back and got 3 handbags (all for work!) and then drove back to Westside and I checked email in Disneyquest (over 200 messages!) and snuck a ride on CyberSpaceMountain before rejoining Andrew.

Then off to AMC theatres and our first viewing of Monsters Inc. We enjoyed the movie but where not sure it matched our expectations, which had been raised by all the hype. Afterwards went back into Virgin and found the Disney boxed sets I had been looking for - sale price $27.99 (for any of you who managed to get these I realise the price in the Disney Catalogue was $22.99 but that is what you get for buying from Virgin. Some prices are good but always worth checking!)

Time for Dinner and we head for an old favourite - Pebbles at Crossroads. The food here is always good! Back home and Andrew goes to sleep while I watch TV. Tomorrow we go back to the parks! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[mikki]

Day 12 – 11/12 Figaro’s day
The kittens have been patient but they want their photos taken so we gather all 4 up (Hmmm, how did we get so many, we normally travel with 2 max? Oh Right, we bought a third with us to stop us buying too much and bought a fourth version of Figaro while we were here....that plan sure worked!)

Anyway into 2 bags they go and we head for the MK. The bus is fuller than we have seen before and a few people end up standing. We get through security and into the park quickly. The first photo opportunity awaits: the Mickey flower head has a topiary Mickey and 100 years sign behind it. The 4 kittens line up with me for a photo and then have one on their own. They do look cute!

We take the train round to Frontierland and I ride BTMR while Andrew takes a picture of the newest kitten at one of the benches near the exit. We then walk round to the new Aladdin carpets ride and walk straight on - with the Genie riding in one of the carpets ahead of us - just added to the fun. It is a cute ride a bit like Dumbo – but watch out for the spitting camel!

Next we go to Fantasyland and ride Peter Pan and then to Pinnochio Village Haus for an early lunch and a visit to the Figaro room and photos for the kittens with the pictures of Figaro. It is only 11-15am so we have the room to ourselves which is just as well!
Next we walk past Pooh and get FastPass (even a 15 minute queue is too long when you need a restroom break!) and head for Toontown Fair. After a welcome break I take the kittens on Goofy's Barnstormer where we all hang on for dear life - the cast members found it quite amusing! Next it is Minnie’s house as I have spotted an old friend of the kittens in the garden - Pluto! More photos ensue and we head for the judges tent to find Minnie. Strange - no long wait for her! In we go with another family and are accosted by a playful Chip and Dale who try to tell us Figaro was never Minnie's cat but Gepetto's while the cast member says Minnie does not like cats! We explain that Figaro belonged to Minnie in several shorts. At least when we get to Minnie she recognises him - all 4 of him! Kittens are ecstatic (well, as ecstatic as toy cats can get....)

Back in the Judges tent and I do some pin trading with a serious trader - he wants one of my Walt's pictures pins and I save him a trip to the Studios with my spare LE Christmas pin. I get one of the cast member Walt name tags, a LE cast member Blizzard Beach pin and we swop a few others. Good fun and he then gives me a USA Flag pin to wear. Apparently they have a big supply of these and are having fun giving them to people. We cut through to Tomorrowland and Buzz Lightyear before heading out of the Park. I stop off at the pin cart where they tell me that the Walt's head pin is back - whoops! I momentarily feel guilty over the trading we had done but he did know all about the pin - just neither f us knew when it would come out again.

Back home I took a rest break and then we headed down West Side to see another movie - Harry Potter. Although long this was an excellent film and well worth seeing. We walk over to Marketplace and as Captain Jack's only has a 5 minute wait decide to eat there. We share an excellent Crab Cake starter and I have the seafood Pasta (Lobster, Crab and Shrimp) that is very good and Andrew enjoys a chicken breast. We wander home making a few purchases on the way - it is a lot quieter than some other days!

[tikibird]

Mikki,

Loving your report so far - and thanks for posting those awesome pictures!

What type of digital camera do you have?

Thanks!

[mikki]

Glad you like the pictures! The camera is a Sony CD Mavica MVC-CD300.

On the plus side it has a good lens and takes nice pictures with plenty of options for those (unlike me!) who like to tinker with settings. A big plus is the storage media - straight on to a mini CD which takes lots of pics and is very cheap to buy.

On the downside it is a bit bigger than many digital cameras and there is a definite delay between pressing the button and the picture being taken - for the fireworks I was having to anticipate what was going to happen!

All in all we are delighted with it. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Ursunique2001]

I can just picture you two running around the parks taking pictures of your cats.

Did you notice anyone giving you strange looks? I personally think it's a cute idea.

[mikki]

Beth, you are a slave driver [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Ursunique2001 - not many odd looks; most people smile. Once we nearly lost beanie Figaro to a little kid who came running up and tried to kittynap him [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Anyway - next instalment - just for Beth [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Day 13 – 12/12 Christmas parcels and lights
I had planned to go to Blizzard Beach today but I sleep in till 9-30am and decide a lazy day is called for. We take our letters & packages to the Turkey Lake post office. Hope Beth's parcel gets there OK! One thing we noticed was just how friendly and helpful the staff were - very different from back home.

Next I am trying to get some of the pages to hold collectors cards (yes, I have been partially bitten by this bug - the Movie poster set and the 30th Anniversary set and some of the 9 card sets). I thought Waldenbooks might be promising but they were out of stock but did point us to Target (another new experience for us - never been in one of them before and it was biiiiggg! We did eventually find the pages!

Came back home for a rest and then went to Studios where I did RocknRoller Coaster before we walked through the Osbourne family lights - they are very pretty. Left the park and drove to Crossroads to pick up a Pizza from Pizzeria Uno. Caught West Wing and the new Enterprise on the TV (we won't get them in the UK till next year). Not quite sure about Enterprise but I love West Wing!

[mikki]

Day 14 – 13/12 Blizzard Beach and MVMCP
Today I go to Blizzard Beach for the morning. It is very quiet and I climb the 130 steps to the runoff rapids 3 times. Enough Exercise! I go to Cross Country Creek and see almost no one on a complete circuit. I get out and walk across Melt Away Bay and then take the chairlift up and come down a lot quicker on the Toboggan Racers (you didn't really think I would do Summit Plumit did you?) Another float in the creek and I get out to explore the shop before leaving.

A quick shower at home and then we go to Portobello Yacht Club for lunch - excellent! We prefer this place at lunchtime as it is quieter and we get a 15% discount! I go to Disneyquest and check email (and a quick CyberSpace Mountain ride - try this one, it's the best said the cast member!) I stagger out and head out to Andrew.

We go home for a brief rest & then I am off to MVMCP! Only one kitten comes with me, as there is not much room in the rucksack with the camera bag & a cardigan in it already. A bit of a wait for a bus but we all fit on & I read one of my Palm books as we go. I get in quickly & the security guard recognises Figaro.

I see Mickey & Minnie in Xmas gear but bypass them because of the queue. I head to BTMR as rides was one of my reasons for coming! No queue & I ride 4 times before having to exit & queue again. After the 5th go I head off to Adventureland & Pirates where my magical moments pin goes mad at the drop & until the boat enters the town proper. I also noticed more commentary on this ride than there used to be. I moved onto Aladdin’s Carpets & just for fun rode 3 times - & just missed the spitting camel.

I went to the place I had seen earlier for cookies & hot chocolate & was drinking a cup when I discovered the parade had started 15 minutes earlier. I rush to Main Street as Mickey and Minnie are arriving as I look! I quickly move down Main Street & although crowded it is not packed & I spot a bit of a space & catch the parade with plenty of pictures. The parade had changed in places from the last time I saw it a couple of years ago and it was very good. After the parade I moved up to the castle to watch the fireworks. Goofy was funny and instead of Tink, Rudolph flew with all 4 legs flailing.

The fireworks for the most part were hidden behind the castle (very odd - much lower than usual), which left a lot of people disappointed although there were the fireworks from the edge of the park, which were good. I walked over to Tomorrowland for a go on Buzz and the astro-orbitors. No queue on either but I must remember that I don't like astro-orbitors (I was hanging on for dear life – too high!). Then I went for a nice cup of hot chocolate to decide what to do next. I looked at what was open and decided Fantasyland and the country bears (can you believe I have never seen this?). I was walking towards Frontierland when my feet said its time to go home and I decided to listen. I headed down Main Street and was abut to exit when I saw Mickey and Minnie again with a shorter queue. I have to have a picture with them - they look great in their Victorian Xmas gear. I get to the front before they leave and beanie Figaro and I have a picture. A nice way to finish the party.

The bus arrives moments after I do at the bus stop and we head for home. When I reach our door at OKW and put the key in something jumps off at me - it is a little frog! I was quite surprised - but not as surprised as the next moment when I tried to open the door and discovered Andrew had the chain on!!! I yelled for him and fortunately he was not so asleep that he could not come to the door and let me in! What a welcome home! [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]