Tikibird Flies Over the Hill in the World: June/July 2002 WL - Completed w/photos About This Page:

[coffeechef]

Too Funny..... the part where you and Chris keeping finding "Slick Doo" Look alikes. You had me laughing, because I have been there in those Punchy moods when you & someone else connect on something totally silly & can't stop. And even better is when there is someone who can't get into it. It just makes it that more funny. Love the start of you trip report , can't wait to hear more more more.

[SMG]

I can't wait till you get to WL....HURRY!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

"Slick Doo", that's too funny!! We sometimes refer to oldest DS as "Porcupine Head"....I'm telling you he's lethal after the gel dries!! [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

[DisneyDude]

In the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki room...

Whoa sorry about that, kinda got carried away.
Lovin the report. I guess the Florida Highway Patrol should get an x-mas card this year huh?

Cant wait for the next installment.

[HunnyPot]

Great report. Can't wait to hear the rest.

Don't you just love WL?

Helen [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[AKLRULZ]

Super! [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img]

[Ursunique2001]

Thank God he only got a warning. I hope you kept reminding your husband what the cop said.

Tikibird, National told me that too, but when I returned the car they did not ask for any receipt. I filled the car up near at the gas station near downtown disney and just drove it back and the gauge read full.

[ProChristo]

Tiki, I am totally diggin' your report. Too bad the Food Police didn't tell the cop he was a member of "the force" too. I'm sure that would have worked wonders for you all. I can't wait to read more.

[Heidi]

Lovin' your report. I've been like that on early flights too. However, I have 8 hours of flight time so you can only imagine how punchy I can get.

Loved the comment by the cop. So what did you get?!? [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[maggy_1]

Great report, can wait to read what you DH bought you [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
Waiting for you arrival at the WL

Chantal [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[tikibird]

Day One – continued – Arrival at the WL and MGM Studios

Ah, yes, we are back on our way to the Wilderness Lodge. My sons are eating the words spoken prior to being pulled over by the police “Yeah, if mom were driving it would take us 2 hours to get there (I am a notoriously cautious driver)” I am quick to remind them that if mom had been driving, we would already be at the hotel, because I would not have gotten pulled over for speeding!

As we head into the WDW area, we take the MK exit. Not sure exactly where to go, we follow the signs. I knew WL was close to MK, but not exactly sure how close. I am overjoyed when I see we have to go through the MK gates to get to the Lodge. We turn right up the drive to the WL and pass through the gate – awesome! We stop at security and get our parking pass, and then, WOW, there it is!!! This is where WE are staying? No way!!! I feel like royalty as Andy pulls up to the entrance. We unload the car and wait for him as he parks the car. It seems like forever until he reaches us, as I am dying to walk through those doors! He finally walks up to where we are waiting, and we walk through the automatic doors. A cool rush of air flows over us and I am overwhelmed as we step out of Orlando and into the Pacific Northwest. Tears well up in my eyes as I gaze upon the most beautiful lobby I have ever seen. The fireplace, the totem poles, the light fixtures and wooden floors, even the check in area is perfectly coordinated to the theme. I’m still in a sense of wonder and amazement as I turn right to the check in desks. I’m waited on immediately, as there is no line.

Now, some of you know I tried and tried to pay off this room prior to arrival to no avail, as I had made the reservations online. But, out of character for me, I was able to hold onto the money, and paid with AmEx (which was quickly paid off upon our return), so it was all good, and I’ll get points towards our next flight, to boot. The CM was very nice, but then was fixated on his computer for what had to be ten minutes without coming up for air. I was just about to ask him if there was a problem, when he announced that he had located a room with bunk beds that was ready for us now, at 11:30 a.m.! Oh happy, joy joy!!!! I purchase our E Tickets to this evening and July 2nd, and remind him that the 2nd is my birthday. We get our room keys to 4030, and follow the instructions to get to the room. After what seemed liked many halls, we arrive at our room (found a quicker way to the room later – which was great – the elevator was right outside our room, and then right down the hall from Roaring Forks and the pool, which was great!). Andy immediately announces that it is no bigger than the All Star room, which was far from true, but Andy seems to thrive on being controversial at times. I love the room! The bunk beds are such a blessing, as poor Chris is usually delegated to the floor every trip when the boys are supposed to “share” a double. However, we are surprised that both boys want the top bunk, as we thought Craig wouldn’t want to be up that high. They work it out, with Chris on the top. Although Craig couldn’t stretch out all the way on the bed (He’s 6’3”), he said the bed was fine. His only complaint was that he couldn’t sit up and watch TV, which we didn’t do much of anyway (Zip just wasn’t quite as exciting this trip for some reason). We also did not think the room was too dark, as I have heard others comment on in regards to the bunk rooms. Our balcony was overlooking a pond, which I thought was really cool (perhaps we were given a woods view instead of a standard view?). Even cooler was when we noticed at night that we were facing the MK and could see the fireworks over the treetops!

We unpack a few things and get ready for lunch/the parks. I had made PS for Whispering Canyon for noon in the hopes things would work out to eat here, and they did. Our waiter was Albert, and I enjoy the atmosphere, although Craig and Chris think the whole wild west thing is a bit corny. We order two chicken sandwiches (Craig and Chris) and two chicken salads (Andy and myself). Craig orders a coke and it comes out in this incredibly huge glass! Albert says that since Craig is such a big guy, he figured he needed a really big drink!



He was not able to finish it, even with Chris’ help, so Albert gives us some take out cups before we leave, which was really nice. Chris and Andy got the unlimited refill milkshakes, which were really good, but hard to drink, so each only got one refill. I helped the Food Police out a bit with his! I was hoping to catch Chris with the ketchup routine, but alas, Albert brought out both green and red ketchup (gotta love that Heinz Ketchup made in Pittsburgh!) with our entrees.

After lunch, the men want to go back to the room to use the facilities, but I want to stay in the lobby to just drink in the atmosphere. Ah, I love it here! When they return, we go to get the car, and I think it is very cool how the parking lot is completely secluded from view when at the Lodge.

Off we go the MGM studios. After we get off the tram, I am overjoyed to see a huge Stitch outside the gates – had to have my picture with him!!!



Craig and Andy make the traditional mad dash to get a FastPass for RnR, while Chris and I have a leisurely stroll to the Winnie the Pooh shop, where we had agreed to meet. A very lovely older women says cheerfully “Welcome to Pooh and Tigger Too!” I’m thinking to myself “Hey, I could see me doing that – I want to retire here!”

Craig and Andy meet up with us, and is our tradition also, the next stop is Muppets. I found this even more delightful than usual. Isn’t it cool how no matter how many times you see most things in WDW, you always notice something new? We stop at the Muppets gift shop for a few minutes, and then head to the Great Movie Ride. The line was very long, but moved quickly, and I was sure I saw a hidden Mickey in a configuration of Blue Flowers in the Wizard of Oz scene! We also never saw the ooze in the Alien scene before – was that always there? We got the gangster scene again, and the gangster reminded Chris and I of the former Director of Sales at the company we both used to work at. We figured WDW was were he had found his next job!

On the way to use our fastpass for RnR, I spy THE HAT!!! It didn’t bother me too much last trip, but for some reason, this time it really was annoying me again. I mean, why did they have to place it right in front of Mann’s theater? RnR rocked, as usual – we got Walk This Way for our song, which was really cool!

The lack of sleep was started to wear on all of us, so Craig, Andy and Chris headed off to go on the Backlot Tour, and I went to go on Tower of Terror, as I had missed this last trip, and no one wanted to go on with me. It was starting to rain lightly, but they figured Backlot would still be running, so we agreed to meet in about an hour. I got on TOT almost immediately, had the seatbelt seat – which was fun! After the ride I got a call from Andy that Backlot had been cancelled. When I get out of the giftshop, I see why - as it is raining pretty well now. I tell them I will meet them at the “One Man’s Dream” exhibit, so we catch up there.

Craig absolutely loved this, even more so than in December, as he has been doing a lot of reading on Disney history – (Disneyland the Nickel Tour is an incredible book we got recently on Half.com). I start getting goofy again and tell Chris to take my picture with Roy and Mickey so it looks like I was there on opening day.



I then decide that everyone must get there picture doing whatever Walt is doing on the picture, and here are the results!



We watched the film at the end, which is very good once again, and then decide we need to take a break, so we head back to WL. We chill in our room for awhile, and then head down to Roaring Forks for dinner. We get about $60 worth of food for our $44 Connections vouchers ($11 x 4). Craig got (SURPRISE) chicken fingers and fries, a side of nachos, a Frutopia and a 100 years bar. Chris – Philly Cheesesteak and fries, a side of nachos, a Frutopia and a candy bar. Andy – Turkey Sandwich, side of fruit, Powerade and 100 years bar – tiki – Philly Cheesesteak (BTW this was really yummy!) and fries, side of fruit, Frutopia and 100 years bar. The 100 years bars were kind of melted, but still tasty. A bit too sweet for my taste though; prefer the Mickey Bars (which Roaring Forks was out of until the end of our stay! ). As I will be describing through the report, in general, the Connections vouchers were a really good deal for us, particularly with feeding two young men!

We pick up our refillable mugs, and head back to the room.

Next up – Scenes from a lodge and E Ticket Night

[minemoz1]

Tiki, those pictures have me ROTF!!!

Great report! Con't wait to hear more!!!

[travlin gal]

Tiki, sounds like you had a great time. I would have been really ticked if I had to spend my vacation with the food police. My Dad was like that and I hated it. You will stick to an eating program when you make up your mind to do it not when someone else thinks you should. I hope this does not make the food police to angry but it is true. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Travlin Gal, Colorado Jan [img]graemlins/usa.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/usa.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[AKLRULZ]

Omigosh, those photos of ya'll at One Man's Dream are a riot! I'm so glad to see another family doing silly pictures...hey! That's an idea! Silly picture of the day while on vacation! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[MrsM]

Sounds like you had a great time! Funny, though, last time we met up with the Florida police they weren't so forgiving! (Fortunately, I wasn't driving and they don't report points to your PA license!) I'm looking forward to hearing more......

[kadterp]

Loving the pictures of do what Walt is doing! Great report cant wait to read more!!