Winston's 2nd (hopefully) LIVE trip report from WDW About This Page:

[coffeechef]

Winston.... great Trip report!!!! I am sad too that you have to leave. I love the LIVE Reports. A friend of Mine is there right now and I feel like I know what its like for hime there. It is his first time to Florida & Disney (Conference)
Anyway thanks for taking the time to write your report staight from the World. I jsut love the Dinosaur ride too. Must have rode it 6X last year.

[arielsmom]

Winston-Thank you for taking time out of your trip to share a bit of the magic with us!! I think I'm having sympathy depression with you as you head out today for the drive home. But, there is always the next trip!! And I'll be anxiously awaiting your next (hopefully) live report! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[luvnwdwgal]

Way to go Winston!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] Great trip report!

[Joguss]

Winston,
I have gone on the Kali River ride about 5 times. The last trip I too found out why they sell dry clothes at the exit of the ride. I too got soaked. [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] It was January and I had a very heavy sweat shirt on - it weighed quite a bit wet. The best part was all the other guests pointing at me and laughing. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] I looked like a drowned rat. I think that ride is such a blast, and one which you have to have the best sense of humor on.
I also loved your trip report. I just hope in about 20 years my 14 yr. old DD takes me to WDW and we can have the same kind of trip you and your mother are having. We have a blast when we go together now, I would hope we would still have one then. [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img]

[Elliot'sDragon]

Thank you so much for taking us on your trip!

As for the awe-inspiring illuinations, I think you will have to stay at one of the Epcot Resorts. You don't have a monorail; but, you have a boat to get you to The Studios and Epcot.

The only cure for Disney Blues is to have another reservation ready before you leave. I am so jealous of you who live within a comfortable driving range.

[Winston]

Dates: July 12 through July 18, 2002

Travelers: Winston Chapman (27) and his mom (66), both WDW veterans who were back for the first time in many years this past February

Resort: Disney's Polynesian Resort

Celebration: Summer vacation, and a surprise trip for my mom!

Day 7 - 07/18/2002 - Walt Disney World to Tallahassee, FL

Well, as I forewarned you, this trip report is still live but no longer being composed from the World. Mom and I are at a simple but comfortable motel in Tallahassee, FL for the night. Tomorrow, we drive the rest of the way to Birmingham. Then it's back to work and real life yet again. All good things do come to an end, but I guess they wouldn't be as good if they didn't. I'm not feeling the pangs of depression like I thought I would, and maybe that's because I spent a SUPER morning in the MK. Or maybe it's because I'm already scheming a Thanksgiving week solo trip (bwha ha ha ha ha). Or maybe I'm just taking Steve's (a.k.a. DadToJBJ's) advice and not letting things get to me. Those of us who use Passporter and this website are all so lucky to be able to visit a place like WDW with our families and loved ones, so I'm trying to reflect on my good fortune to have visited the World twice in less than six months. Anyway, I think it will be easier to ease back into real life this time than it was in February. Oh, I almost forgot, I have one more installment to write. Here we go...

This morning, I was up at 7:15am so I'd have enough time to pack, get my suitcase and other luggage ready, shower, dress, and be at Fantasyland for the rope drop. Mom and I had already agreed that she'd stay at the Poly and take her time getting ready since we didn't have to be out of the room until 11:00am. We set a time and place to meet, discussed storage of our luggage, and went over our travel plans for the afternoon. I took a little time to check the statement of our room charges that was pushed under the door and found that everything was correct and in order. Couldn't they have made an error in my favor just once more?! Once all this was done, I left the last tip envelope on my bed and was out the door and on my way to the monorail station. The train pulled in about 8:40am, and I was at the MK gate by 8:50am along with a fairly small crowd of other early risers. They started letting us in about five minutes later, and I made a dash for Cinderella Castle. They dropped the ropes at 9:00am sharp, and I hit Peter Pan, Snow White, Winnie the Pooh, and It's a Small World with no waits and all within 15 minutes! Can you believe it?! This was as good as E-ride night! Since the crowds were still thin when I got out of It's a Small World, I decided a revisit to BTMRR and Haunted Mansion were needed. HM had no wait, and BTMRR was less than 10 minutes! HM stopped while I was in the attic, so the goulish bride and I got some quality time together. I think she was into me, and I promised I'd write!

In the next hour and a half, I watched Cinderella's Surprise Celebration on the castle stage and took in the Hall of Presidents, Jungle Cruise (15 minute wait), Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, and the Enchanted Tiki Room. In addition, I managed to grab a quick lunch at Pinocchio Village Haus and a Dole Whip at Aloha Isle (double yum!). Mom and I had agreed to meet at the Poly at 1:00pm, and it was creeping toward 12:30pm at this point. Sluggishly and almost tearfully (no kidding), I made my way down Main Street toward the exit, with brief pauses at the Partners statue and the statue of Roy and Minnie on the bench. I stalled by getting a drink of water in the train station and lingering on its second floor where you board the WDW Railroad. What a great view of the castle and all of Main Street! It can't be time to go! Has the week really gone already?! Standing here, I promised myself that it may be longer than five months before I'm back, but I will never let another nine years (or even two) go by if I can help it! And with that thought, I walked out. "No ma'am, no handstamp today, but thank you anyway," I said to the CM at the exit. Little did I know that one small but wonderful dose of Disney magic was yet to be had. There was a resort monorail in the station as I climbed the ramp, and I asked the driver if the front cab was taken (I assumed it was). Guess what - it wasn't! I got a cab ride all the way back to the Poly! What a cool way to end a great trip. I met up with mom on the first floor of the Great Ceremonial House and got one last Coke refill before getting the car and heading for Tallahassee. The bellman had stored our luggage and it took no time for him to retrieve and load it. Then began the unpleasant but necessary drive out of WDW and back into the real world.

With restroom and food stops, it took us about five hours to get from WDW to Tallahassee. There was a little traffic on I-4 going through Orlando, but it didn't cause a major delay. We're settled in and discussing the fact that neither of us is at all hungry. I wouldn't mind a Mickey Bar, though!

Next Post: Epilogue

[tikibird]

Originally posted by Winston:
HM stopped while I was in the attic, so the goulish bride and I got some quality time together. I think she was into me, and I promised I'd write!

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">Hee hee! - Love it! [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img]

Glad you had some quality time at the MK before you left, and particularly glad you got to squeeze in the Tiki Room and a Dole Whip! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Thanks again for the great report, and for bringing it to us live!!! Now get planning for that November trip - we love these live reports! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[ 07-18-2002, 09:28 PM: Message edited by: tikibird ]

[wdwlovers]

Originally posted by Winston:
[QBAfter PW, we made a pit stop and I found myself in need of a Toll House cookie ice cream sandwich. I found a cart, paid my $3, and devoured the treat[/QB]

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">I LOVE THESE!!!

I enjoyed your TR so much WInston! Thank you for sharing your trip with us. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[minnievoice]

I am soo dissapointed this was your last post from WDW. It really is so sad when it's time to go. Can't wait to hear the last installment. Also, thanks for all of the reviews of the restaraunts.

[AKLRULZ]

Winston, this was my favorite installment - I love the Animal Kingdom!

Listen, brother, don't let the Disney Blues set in - this past trip I concentrated mostly on the fact that I'd be going back again soon and I kept busy on Ebay purchasing pins! LOL! I so know how you feel - but it's right there for you always to go back to!

Ya'll have a safe trip back! Really nice report!

[MarieCW]

Thanks for taking us along with you Winston, I'm sad it's over too (and I haven't even left yet for my trip!) I'm curious what your mom thought of Primeval Whirl and Kali River Rapids - did she like them or think them too "wild"?

Thanks again!

Marie

[BostonTeaParty]

Hi Winston,

As many others have already stated, loved that your trip reports were coming to us live from Orlando. It gave a unique and fun aspect to the reports. The best cure for the Disney Blues is hanging out in here reading all the awesome trip reports, and planning for your next trip! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Nancy

[DisneyScarlie]

Winston -
What a great report! I really enjoyed being able to sit down almost every night and read another installment (and also, being jealous knowing that, at that moment, you were in WDW!) [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
You are very dedicated person - I know that after a hard day at Disney, I barely was able to scribble down a few notes, much less write anything rational.
Thanks for sharing! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[joyjoy]

[img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img] Oh, I'm so sorry your trip (and TR) is almost over. But it has beeen some very fine reading. It made me feel like I was there. Thank you!

[Jsbalcio1]

Great trip report!!!! Your reports are always so informative. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]