We hit the Water Parks! About This Page:

[Shell_of_the_South]

So, how were the water parks, did you guys visit them? My kids want to go to BB, but I'm thinking TL might be less crowded in July.

[luvnwdwgal]

[img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img] Hi! I'd like to know about TL if you went there. Seems like it wouldn't be as crowded as BB. Also have a question about DQ. We have length of stay passes which include admission to DQ. What all does that include?

[DVC_Don]

The Lefebvre's hit the Water Parks trip.

Who? The Lefebvre family. Don AKA Disnydad, Nancy, Jason (11) & Ashley (10).

When? April 15 to 18, 2002

Where? Disneys Villas at the Wilderness Lodge.

Our Second Day:

The Mickey Wake Up System got us up at 7:05 AM. Nancy is not into waking up said as the phone rang, “It’s probably the Da**ed Mouse!”, and went back sleep. Not me! I dressed and headed down to Roaring Forks for coffee. I bought 2 refillable mugs there. I wanted 2 of the larger ones, but the CM could only find one. I claimed the larger one as mine. It was Character Caravan morning in the lobby. I had to fight my way through the lobby both ways. I do wish they would bring EE back and drop this. We really do not use EE, but the lobbies are quieter without the CC around. Everyone was still sleeping when I got back so I corrected that problem! We had breakfast in the room and left for our first water park, Typhoon Lagoon at 9:10. I called the valet service before leaving the room and the truck was waiting for us at the front entrance to the WL. 4 or 5 of the valets were around the truck looking it over and wanted to know where we rented it. They thought it was cool.

We arrived at TL about 9:30 after a short detour. I thought I knew a short cut. I’m famous within my family for my “short cuts”. I actually like getting lost at WDW because sometimes you really do find a short cut. Anyway, there was a small crowd waiting as I bought our TL admission. I lost that receipt too, but we did get a 10% DVC discount. After a short wait they let us in. We grabbed four chairs by “Let’s Go Slurpin & Surf Doggies” stand in the shade. TL is soo cool! Our first thing to try was Castaway Creek. We made the whole circuit before getting off. Then we walked around to look the place over. We did the Gang Plank Falls family raft ride. Fun, but too short. The rest of the family did it again, as I had to find the men’s room. They did GPF and also the Keelhaul Falls by the time I found them again. Then it was time for … Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool !!!!! WOW! The first time a big one comes at ya can make you want to turn and run for it. In fact that is what I did do. I did not get far when it got me from the rear. Picked me up, flipped me over and stole my hat it did! Neat, I loved it. Next wave, after I found my hat, I just ran right at it. I hung onto my hat that time. That wave pool is so cool. We stayed in the wave pool till about noon and dined on hot dogs at Surf Doggies. Nothing but the finest meals for us on vacation.

After lunch, we walked over to Shark Reef. Jason wanted to try it so I went with him. We did not care for, but at least we tried it. Cold water! Nancy and the kids tried Storm Slides a couple of times while I rested on the bleachers. We headed back to the wave pool and caught some more big ones. I went back to rest in the shade, but most of it was gone. I huddled in the little shade we did have. By the time the family came to find me I was trying to sit in what felt like a 6” X 6” space of shade. It was almost 2 PM so we called it day as far as TL. We had a great time there.

We got back to the VWL about 2:30 and went right to the Trout Pass Pool. Like we needed more water time, right? We did not stay long though. There were ants everywhere. On the walks, dead ones in the water! Really gross. We got bit some. Myself on the back. Those bites really itch!!

After the ants chased us out we went back to the room to shower for our evening meal. We have PS’s for the Hoop Dee Do dinner show at 5:00. We caught the boat to FW and arrived about 4:15. We checked in and had our picture taken. Then we just sat on the porch at Pioneer Hall and rocked. I got to read most of a Miami paper I found there. This was our second time to this show, the first being February 2000. It was just as much fun as the first time. The CM’s asked for birthdays and today was Jason’s 11th! He got the spot light put on him and was interviewed by one of the CM’s. The CM poked fun at Jason’s New York accent. The CM announced he was from Texas, in a slow drawl, where nobody had an accent. The whole place busted up. The only down side was that the ribs were over cooked and very dry. Other than that, the food was very good. The picture was very good and we bought it. We do not buy these pictures often.

After the HDD we caught a boat for the MK. We wanted to catch the 8:30 Spectromagic Parade. At the MK we picked up a Fast Pass for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and walked onto the Haunted Mansion. We went back to BTMR and then settled into a nice spot for the parade in front of Diamond Horseshoe Review on the steps. After the parade we walked down Main Street and out to the boat docks. We watched the fireworks from the bench and then caught the WL boat.

Today’s weather was mid 80’s and partly cloudy.

[ 05-12-2002, 03:37 PM: Message edited by: Disnydad ]

[DVC_Don]

The Lefebvre's hit the Water Parks trip.

Who? The Lefebvre family. Don AKA Disnydad, Nancy, Jason (11) & Ashley (10).

When? April 15 to 18, 2002

Where? Disney’s Villas at the Wilderness Lodge.

Our third day:

Once again the Mickey Wake Up Service called us at 7:05 AM. Once again there was more muttering from the love of my life. [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img] And once again I dressed and headed out to get coffee for us. A much quieter lobby greeted me. I do not care what Steve (Dadtojbj) says, (AKL fan that he is) the WL lobby is the best in the “World”. [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

A call to the valet’s and off we went to Blizzard Beach today. After complaints about my short cut yesterday I told Jason he was the navigator and I would follow his commands. Doesn’t he get us lost! We wound up by AK. We finally arrived at BB at 9:45. As we were getting out of our truck a Reedy Creek Ambulance (Disney World Fire Department) came screaming up to the front of the park. Security and the ambulance crew took down a fence (cool how they do that) and the ambulance disappeared into the park. It must have been for a CM, as the gates had not opened yet. About 10 minutes later the ambulance came back out, “lit them up” and took off. Security put the fence back together and everything returned to normal. It was a much longer wait to buy admission this day. Cost was $114.32 after the 10% DVC discount. (TL was the same by the way) By the time I got the tickets, the gates were already open. We went straight in by Lottawata Lodge and went over a bridge after that. We found a beautiful spot by the Polar Pub. Once again we hit a river. This time the Cross Country Creek. This one is longer than TL. We got off the river by the Downhill Double Dipper slide and the kids did the Snow Stormers slide. Then we tried Melt Away Bay. Very tame compared to TL. We walked over to the Chairlift, which we took up to ride Teamboat Springs. Now that I have done the Chairlift, next time I will walk up. Can you say “long line?” Today was sunny and upper 80’s and I had left my hat back at our chairs. There is very little shade up there. It was very uncomfortable waiting in line up there. Yes, there was another long line for TS. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] Once we got into our raft though, the long lines were worth it. That is one nice long family raft ride. The sun really fried us BB. We had a lot of shade at our chairs, but we were never at the chairs! We did a lunch stop ($20.81)on the way out at Lottawata Lodge and left BB at 1:30.

We did a quick run back to our studio at the VWL and left to go over to Epcot at 2:30. We took the boat over to the MK and hopped on the Monorail there. We changed Monorails at the TTC. We asked for and got the front cab on the ride to Epcot. At Epcot we did the IBM race and sent an Internet postcard at Innovations West. We walked over towards the World Showcase with the intent to ride Maelstrom. As we were walking Ashley complained of a severe, sudden headache. She looked very pale and felt clammy. Nancy, being a former EMT, caught it right away. Heat Exhaustion! We were almost to the First Aid stop so we got her right in there. The nurses got her in a cool room in the back and gave her some fluids. We checked Ashley’s water bottle and it was still full. Turns out she later told us she had not had anything to drink that day up till then. She did not want to have to stop to go to the bathroom. For the rest of the trip we had to keep an eye on her fluid intake. Ashley fell asleep there and slept for an hour. Nancy stayed with her. Jason and I went out and rode Maelstrom and then walked over to Canada and I bought an Off Kilter CD to replace one that I had lost. When we got back to the First Aid stop, Ashley had just woken up. The nurses got her a wheelchair and told Nancy to tell the guard at the gate about what happened. The guard let her take the wheelchair to the WL bus stop and the girls went back to the room.

Jason and I stopped at IW again and got the top 2 places on the IBM race. I should tell you of my picture for this. I put my ball cap on sideways and saluted with a big grin! Kinda neat seeing your picture up there. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] The 2 of us took the Monorail to the TTC and changed to the resort Monorail. We did this because Jason wanted to look around the Concourse at the Contemporary. This resort was our favorite before joining DVC. There is something about watching the monorail glide through the inside. I’m still not sure what he was looking for, but he checked out all the shops there. When he was ready we went out back and took the boat over to the WL.

When we got back to the room, it appeared the girls had been shopping too. And they had apparently found what they were looking for! Disney jewelry was all over the beds. It seems Ashley was feeling just fine now. Nancy said she had found out how Ashley had dehydrated and had lectured her. We had a PS for Artist Point that night but did not feel like a fancy meal. I walked over to the lobby and got it changed to Whispering Canyon for 6:30. We had a good time and meal there. Cost was $89.48 including a beer in a glass that was taller than I was. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] (While sitting at the table).

After dinner we walked out to the Trout Pass Pool. We carefully checked out the water and surrounding area and did see any ants so we decided to change for a swim. It was very relaxing swimming after 8:30. Ashley made a new girl friend, (from Boston) but was sad that it was our last night. “I hate making friends the last night”.
[img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

[DVC_Don]

The Lefebvre's hit the Water Parks trip.

Who? The Lefebvre family. Don AKA Disnydad, Nancy, Jason (11) & Ashley (10).

When? April 15 to 18, 2002

Where? Disney’s Villas at the Wilderness Lodge.

Day Four. The last day.

I gave the others a break this morning. I let them sleep till 7:30! [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] This morning we had to pack up and get out. We had breakfast in the room after another walk to refill our mugs with coffee. This time the Character Caravan was back in town. Mayhem in the lobby.

We loaded up the truck with our bags and got to MGM at 9:40. We walked over to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and I got a Fast Pass. The other three chickened out when they found out it goes upside down. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] After picking up the FP, we walked back to the Back Lot Tour. The Pearl Harbor pre show was down and we just walked past this part. The same thing happened on our January trip. [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] After the Back Lot Tour we walked back towards RRC. At Hollywood Blvd the others split off to do some shopping. Jason wanted to get rid of the $100 or so in his pocket. (He bought a Goofy collectors watch) I continued on to RRC. The line seemed enormous, even the FP line. Actually it only took about 10 to 15 minutes to get in via the FP line. I got a jump on a lot of folks when a CM started to call out for a single person. I got a seat in the second row up front. I took off my hat and glasses and held them in one hand and held on with the other. Man, that ride is awesome!!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] I wished there were a small line because I wanted to get right back on it. I was supposed to meet the others by the Hat, but somehow I was not paying attention and came to my senses at the front gate. I found them by the Hat and did not tell them of my almost leaving without them. Don’t want them to start shopping for a nursing home now do we? Well? Do we? [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

We left MGM and went back to the WL. We took our pre packed swim tote and had a quick lunch at Roaring Forks. After the lunch we went over to the rest rooms by the quiet pool and changed. We swam at the main pool till 12:45, changed and left Walt Disney World enroute to MCO.

I got off 417 at exit 11 and gassed up the truck and we got to the airport at about 1:30. I got confused (me?) and entered the regular parking garage instead of the rental return garage. We took a nice leisurely drive through the garage. Do you know they don’t charge you if you’ve only been there for 6 minutes? I got us out and tried again and this time got it right. All the while the rest of the family carried on about “Dad’s short cuts”. I was worth it. I mean we found out about the no charge for 6 minutes parking for crying out loud.

Rental return was quick. I’d rent one of those trucks again. So much room for everything. Everything else went uneventfully. We made it back to Albany 10 minutes ahead of schedule.

One more Walt Disney World trip completed.

[ 05-12-2002, 08:11 PM: Message edited by: Disnydad ]

[tikibird]

Don,

Sounds like you had a brief but fun-filled trip!

I have a couple of questions:

1. Which did you prefer - TL or BB?
2. Do any of the food stands at the water parks sell "healthy" foods (salads, fruit, etc.)?

Thanks!

[PS - I LUV WDW]

Don,

Thanks for the report. I really laughed when you said

Now that I have done the Chairlift, next time I will walk up. Can you say “long line?”

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">That was also our opinion when we went to BB.

Glad to hear that your daughter was okay. Strange that both our families got to visit the first aid station for the same problem.

Pam

[Fortissimo]

I asked the CM if the 100 years ponchos worked better than the 25 year ponchos. He looked at me like I had 2 heads. Oh well, some people are not ready for me yet.

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">Some people have absolutely no sense of humor!

Do you know they don’t charge you if you’ve only been there for 6 minutes? I got us out and tried again and this time got it right. All the while the rest of the family carried on about “Dad’s short cuts”. I was worth it. I mean we found out about the no charge for 6 minutes parking for crying out loud.

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">Thanks for the tip!

[DVC_Don]

The Lefebvre's hit the Water Parks trip.

Who? The Lefebvre family. Don AKA Disnydad, Nancy, Jason (11) & Ashley (10).

When? April 15 to 18, 2002

Where? Disneys Villas at the Wilderness Lodge.

Well it is time to start on the Trip Report from our April 2002 Water Park Trip. I have been busy getting the yard going for spring.

The night before I set everyone’s alarm clocks. Mine for 4:40 AM and Jason’s & Ashley are for 4:45 AM as a backup. I got up when mine went off and jumped right into the shower. Everyone else had showered the night before. By the time I got out, everyone else was dressed. We were on the road for the Albany County Airport (Albany International Airport is stretching it) at 5:15 AM. In 25 minutes we had driven to the airport and parked in the parking garage. The one good thing of these early morning departure times is no traffic at all. We breezed through check in and security and stopped at the McD’s counter. We bought breakfast and took it down to the Southwest gate. It was another hour and a half till the flight, but the line had already started. I got into the line while the rest of the family had their breakfast. Nancy came and traded with me when they were done so I could eat mine. We wound up in the first boarding group. Boarding was uneventful and we arrived in Orlando 15 minutes early.

Things kept running early as our bags came out first. Usually we have to wait for at least one bag. We hauled our stuff down to the Budget counter. There was only about a 10-minute wait to get to the counter. I had reserved a Ford F-150 Super Crew truck. Budget had an Internet special. For less than 5 days, the truck is regularly $49.99 a day. We needed 4 days. The special was $34.99 a day. I had problems in the past loading our luggage into “full size” cars before so I figured the pickup bed with a locking cover would take care of that problem. Besides, I have been thinking of trading our Ford F-250SD for this model F-150 and figured this would be a nice way to have an extended test-drive. Just before we left on vacation, BJ’s Wholesale Club sent us a coupon for $15 off a Budget rental. I was not sure if they would allow more money off, so I stapled the $15 coupon to my printout. Well, they accepted the coupon and took another $15 off! Total rental for 4 days came to $157.11 with taxes and fees added in. This was one great rental! Room for 6 and more luggage than we have ever taken.

Off on the last leg of our journey. Out the south exit to Route 417 and we were at the Wilderness Lodge to check in to the Villas in about 30 minutes at 11:30 AM. We used the valet service. As Disney Vacation Club members there was no charge, just the tip. We checked in but, the computers went down and we could not get our room keys/resort ID’s at the time. Not much of a problem as the room was not ready anyway. We ate lunch at Roaring Forks ($26.21) and checked with the front desk again. Nope, computers still down.

Now this was supposed to be a Disney Water Parks trip. Our original plan was to hit River Country on this afternoon. As RC is not opening this year, we substituted Disney Quest as our first activity. We arrived at DQ at 12:30 PM. Admission for the 4 of us was $92.84 after our DVC discount. The kids and I did DQ for the first time in January, but this was Nancy’s first visit here. We played hard till 4:30. Our favorites are the Buzz Lightyear ride and the Pirates of the Caribbean.

We zipped back to the VWL and low and behold ……. We got our room keys/resort ID’s!! We called for the bags and almost ran to our room. You gotta remember, this is our first stay at our “home” DVC resort. We had room 1555, a studio on the first floor with a woods view. We did not stay long though. As soon as the bags came, we off to Epcot.

We got over to Epcot about 5:30 or so. It started to sprinkle when we got through the turnstiles and we went to the Electric Umbrella for dinner. Just as we got inside it started to pour! I lost the receipt for this meal, but it was in the $20’s. For part of the time there seemed to be quite a few drunken college aged people of both sex’s there. One young woman was passed out with her head in her food. Things quieted down as they left to “Party”. The rain had lightened up some after dinner, but we went into the Mouse Gear store and picked up some ponchos. “I asked the CM if the 100 years ponchos worked better than the 25 year ponchos. He looked at me like I had 2 heads. Oh well, some people are not ready for me yet. We ducked into Inoventions East for a bit. The kids played the hid and seek game and then we went outside. The rain had stopped.

We wanted to show Nancy the spot where we had watched the Tapestry of Dreams parade last January at Germany. We got out there about 7:30 and snagged the bench that looks directly at the gate the parade comes out of and into. We spread out the ponchos on the wet bench and sat down to people watch till the 8:10 parade. It started to sprinkle again so we had to put on the ponchos after a short while. During our people watching we saw more gaggles of drunken young folks. After a career in law enforcement I’ve more than my share of these folks. I’ve never seen these many at WDW before. Sure, I’ve seen an occasional drunk there, but tonight I saw hundreds! They did not hassle us, but it takes away from the usual experience. I just hoped they were not driving around WDW during our trip back to the VWL.

Back to the ToD parade. It was great. This has got to be the best spot to watch this. 2 parades for the price of one. There are way more interactions with the CM’s here. Several times some even sat on our bench with us. How they could stand up again with all that stuff on them is amazing. By the time the second parade was gone the rain had started up again, so we did not stay for the fireworks. Besides, it had been a long day.

We got back to the VWL without spotting any obvious drunks on the road. Temps for the day were in the mid 80’s with mostly cloudy skies. Showers and heavy rain at times in the evening.
[img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/puter.gif[/img]

[DVC_Don]

The Lefebvre's hit the Water Parks trip.

Who? The Lefebvre family. Don AKA Disnydad, Nancy, Jason (11) & Ashley (10).

When? April 15 to 18, 2002

Where? Disney’s Villas at the Wilderness Lodge.

And in closing:

1. The water parks are terrific! I just wish we did not get fried at BB. Most of you here know that I am a Melanoma Cancer Survivor. My family always wears LOTS of sunscreen SFP 25 or higher. We also wear colored tee shirts in the water and I ALWAYS wear a hat. At WDW I wear a straw hat with at least a 3” brim all around. Not wearing my hat up the chairlift at BB was dumb. I should know better. Other than burning the top of my head, no one else got sunburned. I did put sunscreen on, but the water and/or sweat took it off.

2. As far as admission. We will now consider PAP’s, which include DQ, BB & TL. Maybe even LoS (I know that is not the name this week) pass’s for years we are not at WDW more than 8 days. Besides, DVC gets us a 10% discount on LoS.

3. No more Studios at DVC for us. I really want my Jacuzzi and the washer/dryer and space!

4. The Ford F-150 Super Crew is terrific for vacation. Lots of room for people and luggage. There is lots of room for both in a minivan, but the luggage is in view for those that are less than honest.

[img]graemlins/usa.gif[/img]

[wdwlovers]

What a great report Don! You had me cracking up! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] Thanks for the water park tips too!

[AKLRULZ]

Hey!! I heard that comment about the AKL! [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] right back at ya! AKL RULZ!! (Okay, I haven't stayed at WL - but my family of 5 doesn't fit there - I'm dying to stay there!!) LOL!! Great report - you sound a lot like our family! I'm up and dressed and ready to go down getting coffee and breakfast while Susan lingers getting ready - and I mean lingers to the point that I am in pain! Lovin it, Don! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[ 05-13-2002, 11:52 AM: Message edited by: Dadtojbj ]