HokieCassie does Disney World About This Page:

[HokieCassie]

Hey everyone! I'm in Disney World right now!! My boyfriend wanted to sleep in because he isn't feeling well so while he's getting ready I thought I'd pull out the ol laptop and write to you guys

Who: Cassie (19) and Greg (20)
Where: Contemp!
When: October 31-Nov 5
Why: Too many tests! It was a surprise from Greg What a sweetie!

Day 1 "Getting there and surviving"

This is my first trip report so stay with me on this one! My next trip reports will be better I promise! We drove to the Roanoke airport for a 5:50 flight but didn't get off the ground til at least 6:30 (It's a small airport, how can there be THAT much of a delay!) [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] We land in Atlanta at 7:45 I think....thinking really hard...for a connecting flight to Orlando around 8:50. We finally get into Orlando Airport at around 10:00. Yay! Orlando! I love the shuttle that takes you to baggage claim. It gets me in the mood. What comes AFTER the shuttle I absolutely HATE. Baggage claim. I walked up nervously thinking that we'd be the last people to get out luggage. Nope! Here pops out our suitcase! (Yay!) 2nd one out! That has NEVER happened to me before. Next, finding a taxi to take us to the hotel. Shouldn't be that hard right? There must be a million taxis outside the Orlando airport. Wrong. I didn't see one when we stepped out. I anxiously looked at my watch. When will the Disney fun begin?? I can't stand much more of this! (Yesterday I got up super early for a WDWCP interview so I was tired) Finally someone working outside the terminal flagged down a cab for us. Out popped a rather large fella with half his teeth missing. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] So much for Disney Magic at the airport! 25 minutes later we were heading to the Magic Kingdom resort area! When I enter Disney World and see that sign with Mickey, I start to freak. "Greg! We're here! We're here! We're here!" I have to say, he doesn't share my love for Disney as I do but he will [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] Haha.
We pull up to the hotel and Greg is wondering what that long line doing through our hotel is. I told him the monorail goes right through it..and he's like "NO way! That's cool." Ha, already I am getting him [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] Slowly bringing him in like a fish

Greg is almost ready! Gotta finish this first day boring trip report up.

We got checked in by Ali who asked us if we'd ever been there before. I said yes and she said "Well, Welcome Home!" I LOVE THAT! [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img]
Welcome Home..ahh...bliss. If only I could live in that castle! She gave us a tower room. I secretly hoped it would face the Magic Kingdom. When we got up to our room, I tried to use the key to get into our room, it wouldn't work. Dang. Again and again I tried. Didn't work. I don't have pixie dust on my finger I guess. In his manliness, Greg takes the key and says with a manly tone "let me handle this". One swipe and he's in. Oh bother. [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]
The plane rides, the baggage claim, the weird taxi driver, checking in...by the time the door opened I was ready to plop down on a nice big Disney made bed. The curtains were open only half way. I ran to the window as fast as I could. I could see the castle! Oh joy! I stepped onto the balcony with tears in my eyes and thanked Greg at least 20 times for bringing me on this trip and getting us such a great room! We ordered late night room service because we were starving (I ate at 3pm last and it was after midnight!) We got a pizza with extra cheese. It didn't really do anything for me but it was good which was all that mattered. Although I was very very tired I couldn't fall asleep. Laying next to the man I love in Disney World! I finally fell asleep around 3:30 am.

Tonight I will tell you what we're doing today. I think I am going to take Greg on over the Magic Kingdom since we can walk there or take the MONORAIL! YAY! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Oh, also, this morning I ordered Mickey Waffles. Wonderful as usual. Greg got a big kick out of them but not as big as me and I've eaten them 100 times!

[Shell_of_the_South]

Hi Cassie! How exiting to hear from you! I can't wait to hear about your whole trip at the Contemporary!

[CRCrazy]

Great start - Don't you just love the drive up to the Contemporary?? When we went in May, we stopped at the little security booth, and the CM asked our name, and said "Oh yes, We've been waiting for you, Mr. St. Martin." Just drive around front, and we'll get you settled in. My girls thought they had died and gone to heaven. My youngest was more excited about seeing Space Mountain than the Castle from the hotel - but Oh, The Monorail!

Can't wait to hear the rest!

[Mouseketeer]

Cassie, have a fun trip with Greg at WDW! Thanks for sharing the beginning of your trip with all of us. Glad you have a view of the castle from your room.

Lynda

[Diz]

Originally posted by HokieCassie: I told him the monorail goes right through it..and he's like "NO way! That's cool." Ha, already I am getting him Slowly bringing him in like a fish

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">Yo go girl! Hook, line and sinker! Before the end of your trip, he'll be a Dfanatic!

I just love this up-to-date trip reporting...isn't the new fangle electronic toys great! [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

I got such a magical feeling when you said you looked out the window and saw the castle! Priceless, isn't it!

Have a blast at WDW! Say hi to Mickey!

[HokieCassie]

OH NO! I wrote a whole trip report and it timed out! [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] and it won't let me go back. My whole trip report is lost for yesterday and today. [img]graemlins/ukid.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

[mattjs]

Great stuff. Keep going. I had the same thing happen where I "lost" one my sections and it's so frustrating [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] .

One thing to do is copy the text every now and then as you go. That works alright. Or, better yet, write it up in Microsoft Word (or whatever word processor you have) and then cut and paste the text to the PassPorter reply box.

Otherwise you'll go nuts when you've got a whole bunch done and it just "disappears". That's the worst. Computers...can't live with em...can't live without em [img]graemlins/dizzy.gif[/img] .

[ 11-02-2002, 02:24 PM: Message edited by: mattjs ]

[tikibird]

Wow, Cassie, I'm really excited to see another "live" trip report!

Sorry you lost some of what you wrote, but I'm with Matt - create your report in a text editor or Word so that you may save frequently, and then cut and paste into Passporter.

Can't wait to hear more about your trip - have a great time! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[HokieCassie]

I swear Greg is so lazy! Here I am waiting and up since 7:30.waiting waiting waiting. Let's see if I can get this trip report in [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] We're leaving tomorrow! waaaaaa!

Friday Day 2

After I ate as much Mickey waffle as I could stand, we were out of the hotel by 11:10 and on the monorail, wahoo! I love seeing children who are on the monorail for the first time. A beautiful wide-eyed girl (maybe 6 years old) watching in aww out the window of the monorail. Greg told her to go on it's a small world at least 10 times and the father goes "Oh no! Not that!" jokingly (but not, if you know what I mean)...We found out that the couple got married when they were 15! (wow!) and they've been together for 15 years. They had 5 children (yeek!)..all girls. Their first trip ever! They said they love it so much already they are planning to come back next year..and they haven't even been IN the Magic Kingdom yet. We talked with them all the way through security. We then went to get Greg's annual pass (we'd be returning for 9 days this summer so it's more economical)..He sprung for a Premium Annual Pass to match mine.
Finally, we get in around noon. The castle! Walking on air. I love seeing the castle. I love the music on Main Street. I love everything! The smell of the cookies, the horse buggies, families taking pictures. It's fab. Greg didn't feel a tingle like I did seeing the castle but he did insist on getting someone to take our picture in front of it (that's a start). Since Greg had been to the Magic Kingdom briefly only once his entire life, I grabbed a map and asked him to pick what ride he wanted to go on first. He said he wanted to ride all the Disney-movie rides first in Fantasyland. No problem here! There appeared to be something going on a the castle so we detoured through Tomorrowland...almost. Greg saw Alien Encounter. Not the perfect ride for a Disney first time but of course I didn't tell him that! [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] Afterwards, he admitted to being a tad scared (I think the screaming like a girl was a dead giveaway to that) but I didn't say anything. Time to have some more fun! Fantasyland is always pretty busy at this time but it actually wasn't that bad. The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh was the first stop. Greg and I agreed that our favorite part was when he drifted off to sleep and when it started raining and the words kinda drip right off the page. Imagineers are so genius. Next, Snow White. Greg read the sign about the scary Evil Queen and mocked it. "Who could be afraid of Snow White?" Well guess who grabbed my hand the whole time? haha, moving on. Peter Pan's Flight. So romantic. I love flying over London. Too bad it's not longer [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] for that wait! After Peter Pan, it's a small world. I just have to take a spin on this on every trip although it includes the agitation of many members in my party. Guess who we saw? The couple from the monorail. They said it was their 2nd time already. Greg had jinxed the father! Oh no! By this time, I was starting to get a little hungry but Greg wasn't so we just grabbed a soda and were on our way. Liberty Square was next. Haunted Mansion! Greg liked the tiny lady who says "Hurry back..hurry back"...my favorite part is the ballroom scene and the endless hallway. Frontierland! Ok, that's it, I'm getting something to eat! Turkey leg time! Mmm...yummy! Splash Mountain was next. We sat in the first row which made Greg a little uneasy but me very excited! Afterwards, we were completely soaked but had a lot of laughs and got a Splash Down photo to remember! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] To dry off, we got in line for Thunder Mountain. Kinda a long wait and since I'm not used to these long waits by this time, I get a little anxious. This used to be my favorite ride as a kid and I'm starting to find that love for it again. That part where you almost hit your head always gets me! The park is closing at 6 today..bah.. So we only had time for a few more things. Adventureland! Greg suggested I get a grass skirt in a shop there but I say my hips just don't agree with him. Pirates of the Caribbean seemed to be Greg's favorite of the day. He commented for 15 minutes what a good job Disney did on it. Oh for goodness sake..let's just do it again so he can have his fix. So we went on again. After that was the Jungle Cruise. I don't enjoy this ride as much as I used to as a kid but Greg liked it.We had just enough time to get our Mickey ears and look around a bit on Main Street. I got him to actually wear his Mickey ears for 10 minutes (I had the woman write Greggy on it) We walked back with a few little things that we purchased and called our folks in NJ and VA. You could tell some were jealous just be inference and others came right out and told us. For example my mom: "Why didn't you invite me!?"
California Grill for dinner. I got the special fish of the day and Greg got a flatbread. We both enjoyed our meal and our waiter Jon was really friendly. He gave us free drinks and dessert when he heard it was Greg's first offical trip to Disney World. Thank you Jon! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
BTW: Greg videotaped our trip and I am going to put in on the web sometime soon after we get back.

[AKLRULZ]

Originally posted by HokieCassie:
Haunted Mansion! Greg liked the tiny lady who says "Hurry back..hurry back"...my favorite part is the ballroom scene and the endless hallway.

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">I love it all! Great report - and hope you are enjoying yourself!

[HokieCassie]

Day 3 Saturday

We got up really early today and decided on MGM Studios. We got there right around 8:45 and ate in Starring Rolls. After that, we did Rock N Rollercoaster. After the pre show when you go into the alley and you see the "limo" take off...uh...Greg thought he would pee his pants. Eek. He survived but he said he doesn't want to do it again..we got a picture with his scared face. It's hilarious people! I am going to scan that sucker when we get back. Tower of Terror after that. This is my favorite ride of all the time. SO well down. Great story. Everything is great about this ride. A bell hop teased Greg because I guess he looked worried after the Rock N Rollercoaster "episode"...The bell hop kept asking him if he was ready to go to his room etc etc and really freaked him out. I took his hand and said that Melinda (my best friend) and I did that a million times and she's not very brave when it comes to rides. The anticipation was scarier than the actual ride he admitted. He got a t-shirt to remember and we got another picture. I gave the thumbs up and Greg has a blank (frightened to the point of not knowing what face to make?) stare. My mom will love this picture. The Great Movie Ride!! I always dread the Alien part. After being on this literally over 100 times I should be over it but I've always been scared of that movie and even MORE scared of being "in" the movie. Eek! Greg liked the Indiana Jones Stunt Show and the gangster yelled "What'd are you looking at?!" at him. Haha. We waited around for a little bit, took a look at the Big Mickey Hat, and walked in a few shops. We then went on the Magic of Disney Animation tour. I think that one part is funny. "Look everyone! I'm a corporate symbol!" Has anyone been in the Animation tour lately? My brother dragged me a few years ago and I thought it would be kinda boring. It turns out that it's a not miss attraction. They take you through the animation studio and explain what it takes to make a cartoon. Very informative and some parts are pretty funny. Lunch time! We ate at the Sci-Fi. Greg was SHOCKED when he walked in. When we sat in our pink cadillac in the front, he just gazed around in aww. How could a restaurant look like THIS? I agree, this place's theming is first rate. The food, eh..it's first and a half rate [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] I go for the atmosphere. The food definitely didnt agree with Greg but he was feeling better after about 45 minutes. Muppet 3-D! The pre-show in some ways is better than the actual show. I love the three D's and Rizzo trying to be Mickey Mouse. We did Indiana Jones after that. Greg really likes the movie so he really enjoyed. You'll never believe this: the mother from the family we met on the monorail was picked to be in the show! It IS a small world after all. We walked around and bought somet things in the shops. I like that villians shop near the Rock N Rollercoaster. I am addicted to looking at snowglobes. I can't wait until I own a home and I can have a Disney room with animation stills and Disney World snowglobes. After we shopped, we went back to the hotel to get some more film, then we headed to the Boardwalk by boat so I could show Greg where we're staying in the summer! As many of you know, I am addicted to the Boardwalk so I shed a tear or two when I got there. I got a cherry coke in the general store and showed him one of the quiet pools. I pointed to the window of the room that I've had three different times (without asking)..We didn't feel like going back to the room so went into Epcot through the International Gateway and walked through the World Showcase. Greg was shocked by all the countries they had and how well each one was represented (Except the whole America counter service thing..) We didn't stay that long but I wanted Greg to see what it looked like over there since he'd heard about it. We walked to the front and look the monorail to the Magic Kingdom. The AC was turned on full blast because I was freezing! We ate at Cinderella's Royal Table at 7:00. Greg was excited that we got to eat INSIDE the castle and he thought that no one could go inside. We both got steak and it was cooked perfectly. We met a couple that had their wedding at the castle but informed us that it was hard to arrange and more expensive than the Hope Diamond. That would be a dream come true.
After we ate, we scouted a spot for SpectroMagic. We got a spot in Frontierland near Country Bear Jamboree. It definitely made me cry. Greg concentrated on taping it with the video camera so I don't think he noticed I was sobbing like a child. The music just gets me. Wait until you hear about Fantasmic....In the middle of the parade, some guy parks himself right in my view. I'm 5'8" and I couldn't see ANYTHING! I struggled to look around him but it couldn't be done. I ended up sitting on the back of a bench. I would have asked him to move but he was with a child and it's important for children to see this parade (it's so magical)..and I have nothing against the kid..it's his father that I have beef with! [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] After the parade, I was a mess, I had cried and cried during the parade. If I was younger, I am sure someone would be convinced I lost my parents or something I was crying so much. Walking out of the Magic Kingdom at closing is nearly impossible. I would never be able to get a shot of the castle at night this way. Greg and I decided to sit over by Casey's and watch the parade madness die down. We played tic tac toe on napkins and watched some footage on his camera (Me with a turkey leg impersonating a cave man)..and I finally got a picture of us in front of the castle. A nice couple took our picture who looked about our age. They were doing the College Program. I talked to them for about 20 minutes about it because I had just interviewed for the WDWCP. They told me they had no complaints about it and that I'd have a lot of fun if I got accepted. The girl was assigned to be a hostess and the guy worked at the Grand Floridian. We were SO tired by this time so we dragged our legs back to the hotel and climbed into bed. I didn't even wash my face I was so tired! [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

Still to come: Day 4

Gotta go! Zip a dee do dah, tip for today!

[ 11-04-2002, 12:38 PM: Message edited by: HokieCassie ]

[Debo2]

Cassie ~ I'm really enjoying you TR. [img]graemlins/read.gif[/img] I can't believe you took the time "during" your magic to write, but we all appreciate it. Sounds like Greg is having a magical experience too (he's just keeping on the down low). Have a GREAT day today at WDW. Looking forward to more.
Only 18 more days till our Magic begins!

[TINKN]

Great TR so far Cassie! Sorry to here about Greg's flareup. Hope he starts to feel better soon.

[HokieCassie]

Yeah, updating my reports has been easier than expected. Greg has Crohn's and it's unfortunate that he had a bad flare up during our trip [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] We went all the way to Animal Kingdom, did Dinosaur, but had to leave because he doesn't feel well [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] Poor guy. I am going to Downtown Disney while he's napping to buy a gift for my mother at the Christmas shop. Thanks everyone for the great notes on my trip report [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img]

[HokieCassie]

Day 4 Sunday

Today was Epcot day! Run for it! Run for Test Track! For some reason, when we got there, no one was getting in line!! Oh no! Broken down [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] Shoot! Ok, no problem. Spaceship Earth! I love this ride. The line was long because everyone running through the gate goes right to Spaceship Earth. Oh well. I happily stood in line and boarded. I love this ride! It's so calming. When we got off the ride (and used the big phone to call his mother) he jumped up and down and said "We have to do it again later!" Haha [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] I'm so bringing that sucker in. We decided to skip Innoventions and Wonders of Life..we can always do them in the summer. We then headed for Universe of Energy. Greg got squirted right in the face by a small dinosaur! Hehe! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] that was funny. I enjoy this attraction very much, although I like the music from the first Universe of Energy, I appreciate the humor and it makes it easier to sit through such a long attraction (esp for those little ones I've noticed) Greg liked it a lot but wishes he didn't get squirted in the face...Sorry Greggy. The people next to us on Universe of Energy had about six teenagers that kept commenting on how boring it was. I wanted to turn around (being a teen myself, 19) and say "Hey! Get into the Disney spirit and learn something why don't ya?"
Next I saw that Test Track was ready to go but already a 50 minute wait. Where did these people come from? It's 11 am in November [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]
We decided to just foresake Test Track all together and go to Imagination with Figment. I explained to Greg how I protested this ride and told him about the changes. He didn't think the ride was that bad, but it was on his least favorite list. In Image Works, we made an e-post card and sent it to all our friends. It was so much fun! We spent at least 40 minutes in there...to tell you the truth, I always walk right through the Image Works without stopping in. We then went to lunch at the Coral Reef. I just got soup and a salad and Greg got chicken with a cream sauce on the side. I loved my soup! It was great. Lobster Bisque is heaven and in Disney World, ahhh. We went into Living Seas but didn't stay very long. I noticed during the summer that the ride is gone...I didn't mention it to Greg. We watched the fish and sharks for only about 5-10 minutes and then headed to The Land. Greg is an agricultural economics major so I suggested we do Living with the land. He thought it was really cool. I told him there was a backstage tour and he insists we do that next time. We passed by Food Rocks, my sad eyes stared at it, wanting to go in but we had to move. Next, Honey I shrunk the audience. Greg had seen this show last time and already knew what to expect. That didn't stop him from screaming his head off. The snake part still scares me a bit because snakes really freak me out. After that, we headed to World Showcase. We ran for American Adventure, saw that (Greg really liked it, I got teary eyed)..then we saw Wonders of China, (Greg decided it was boring)..Maelstrom (He loved it!) and then we headed to Rio del Tiempo and ate at San Angel Inn. We had a romantic dinner there. I love the Soupa Azteca and Pollo..de..grr.I don't know what it was, it had cheese, onions and peppers with chicken. VERY GOOD! Greg got tacos and a chile releno. Mmm.. This is my favorite country in the World Showcase by far, the theming, the marketplace, the pyramid,the tables right by the water. It's fabulous! Greg agreed. We have already decided to explore the World Showcase some more when we come in the summer. By the time we ate dinner, it was time for Illuminations. This show isn't as great as Fantasmic but what can ya do? I still really enjoy it. After Illuminations, we headed back to the hotel (with all the other hordes of people!) I went to bed pretty late, I just stood by the window in our room. *Sigh*