Just back from Cont., WL, and AKL About This Page:

[tiggerlvr]

Well sadly we are back from our adventure... Just to let you know we did not know how this trip was going to go, a week before we were set to leave my DD 13 ended up in the ER and they thought she had appendicitis... Well they still are unsure what she had, and will have further testing later in the month, but they said it was ok for her to go, then I ended up with a third degree burn on the top of my foot, that ended up infected. I had to go to the Doctors several times before I left including the day before!! Well I got loaded up with heavy duty antibiotics (the first round of meds did not work) and was hoping for the best, however I could only wear my slippers!! So we were leaving and hoping for the best!! We decided to drive this time (from New Hampshire) which was'nt all that bad. We left on Tues. 11-26-02 about 1:30pm. We both myself and my DH got out of work at noon, got the kids out of school DD13,DD14 and away we went. We did hit alot of traffic in the usual places and did not make very good time through Conn. and New York, we finally stopped for the night just outside of Baltimore Maryland and stayed the night at a Super 8, not a bad place. We got up early the next day 11-27 and started off again, we drove until about 10:30 pm and started to look for a hotel we were just outside of Orlando, my husband could not drive anymore, so we stopped at a Travelers Inn, the place did not look too bad from the outside, we got our room, which we had to drive around the back of the place, and there were people outside everywhere, not too great looking, well we got inside the room, and it was the dirtiest room I had ever seen, I pulled back the covers, and the pillowcases were dirty, not to mention a dirty tissue in the bed!!! In the meantime we keep hearing cars coming and going, No way were we staying here, we went back to the front desk, and got our money back, I think they rented out rooms by the hour if you know what I mean!!! Well we went down the street to a Howard Johnsons and stayed there by this time it is about 11:30pm. This was a very nice place. We went right to sleep and woke up the next morning and left the hotel about 9:30am. Off to check in at the Contemporary for one night. There is nothing so exciting as seeing that castle as you drive up...even my kids were excited. Well we got there at about 10:30am. and I had faxed my room request in about 3 days prior, we had a garden view, so I asked to be near the bus stop etc. if possible. Well we checked in and the cast member was so sweet, her sister used to live in my town. Anyway she says to me "oh you have a very nice upgrade" I said your kidding? She says "No you are on the eleventh floor in the tower" I want to jump up and down now and think I do a little!! I think I embarrassed my DD's oh well I'm in Disney!!! And to top it off she says your room is ready!!! I'm ready to scream I'm soo excited I give my kids a big kiss!!! We go to our room on the 11th floor and cannot believe it, open the curtains and have an absolutley gorgeous view of Bay Lake....It is stunning. There is nothing better than this. We love this place, my kids really loved it. (this is now their favorite resort of all). Well thats all for now I still have laundry to do... more tomorrow on our adventures... [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img]

[tikibird]

Wow, how exciting for you - a tower room at no additional charge! Dirty kleenex to a view of Bay Lake! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Great first installment - looking forward to more!

[tiggerlvr]

Thursday Nov. 28,2002
So where did I leave off, oh yes the fabulous Contemporary. Well after spending some time checking out our room and gawking at the view, we go down and check out the gift shop and stuff, again we love this place. We end up going to the Concourse steak house for lunch, I did not realize they had a special menu because of Thanksgiving... but anyway they can seat us right away at noon. We get seated and there is not much my kids will eat, but they decide on a pasta dish my husband and I get prime rib. It was very good, my kids said this is the best pasta we ever had. And the prime rib was very good , it had some kind of butter sauce on it very tasty. Well after lunch we go around the Contemporary and then back to our room to rest awhile before our dinner at the WCC at the WL. Well around 3:30 I got such a tummy ache, and could not stop going to the bathroom (oh no) our dinner is at 5pm. So we go to the boat to get to WL at 4pm as I didn't know how long it would take. We did not have to wait very long at all, and were over at the WL by 4:20pm. Our dinner was not until 5pm. so we just looked around and sat in the lobby until 4:45 then we checked in at the WCC and they sat us right away, now I'm really sick at this point and cannot get out of the bathroom. Well our dinner came and I could not eat, but my family said it was horrible. Oh no this is my DD favorite holiday meal and it is terrible....and I cannot stay out of the bathroom... well we finally leave and go to the gift shop so I can buy some Pepto bismol and some Immodium which I took right away, our plan was to go to MGM to look at the Osborne lights, but I could not so we got the boat right back to the Cont. and just hung around the room. I had to lie down. Well we check out of here tomorrow...WAAAAAH. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] But we do check into the WL.
[img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[tikibird]

Sorry to hear that you did not feel well on turkey day. What did the family not like about the food at WCC? Hope your next day was better than this one!

[Lori in PA]

By the way these beds are really high off the ground.

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">LOL -- We noticed that too. Nearly hurt myself getting out of bed the first morning when I went to stand up and dropped the last 6 inches. I was afraid the kids would fall out of bed and hurt themselves, but they were so tired I don't think they moved all night.

Great report so far -- keep it coming!!!

[chezp]

What a great start to the trip, to get an upgrade to a tower room! Sorry your second day wasn't so good - but wow, three fantastic hotels all in one trip! Can't wait to hear about AKL... [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Grumpygal]

Sorry to hear you weren't feeling well. Hope things got better. You are my idol staying at 3 resorts in one trip. Can't wait for the next installment.

[tikibird]

Glad to hear that you were able to enjoy yourself although you were not feeling up to par!

Enjoying your report - can't wait to hear more! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Versafox]

Ha, one of the things we noticed about the beds at the WL is that they were very high off the ground. We have a platform bed at home -- so we went from one extreme to the other. DH didn't seem to have a problem, but I was forever banging into the bed and stubbing my toes or barking my shins.

Still, the WL was so lovely and peaceful, I'd accept any number of bruises in order to stay there!

[tiggerlvr]

They did not like any of it, the turkey was dry, the stuffing was also dry. Oh well we survived.
FRIDAY NOV. 29,2002
So we check out of the Cont. and head over to the WL we check in about 9am. of course our room is not ready (didn't think it would be) the cast member checking us in was anything but pleasant. Maybe she was having a bad day,so I tried to be nice enough for both of us!! We left and went to MGM we arrived about 9:30am. No wait for the bus we got it right away. Well my kids know I love Aerosmith and recently went to see them in concert, so it's like Mom come on you have to go on Rock n Roller coaster....they did not tell me it went upside down....and I did not know this, so off we go to ride, well so far so good am loving this, now we get into the Limo and off we go, well I cannot tell you anything else about this ride I had my eyes shut the whole time and screamed my head off!!! Not my kind of ride!! [img]graemlins/dizzy.gif[/img] Well we end up in the gift shop which of course I love...we check out our picture which we had to buy just for the look of terror on my face, of course my kids cracked up....We left there and went on the Great Movie ride more my speed. Then we go to Honey I shrunk the audience, then onto Star tours. By this time they are hungry so we go to the Sci Fi for lunch it is about 11am. and we get in right away MGM not crowded at all. We did not really have to wait for anything. Well I am still slurping down the Pepto, and Dramamine but I am hungry so decide to try lunch, we all got hamburgers and shakes, they all enjoyed their lunch I could really not eat much. But still it was fun. By this time it is close to noon and the park is getting kinda crowded we walked around and then decide to leave and to back to see if our room is ready early by any chance. Again no wait for the bus it is right there when we get to the stop. Back to WL. We arrive back about 2pm. and our room is not ready yet, so we decide to take the boat over to Fort Wilderness to check it out as we may want to stay there in a cabin next time. Again lucky the boat was right there, we go and check out the campground walk all around, the cabins look ok from the outside. We get a drink and decide to go back to WL again as luck would have it the boat is there right away. Well we get back to the lodge around 3:30 our room is still not ready. We check out the pool by the Villas no-one there we rest in the lounge chairs with the Christmas music going it was wonderful. We go back to the lobby for a bit and talk to some people who are also hanging around the lobby due to the fact that their kids are sick, alot of sick people. Well finally about 4:20pm our room is ready, now I did fax a room request, we had a courtyard view room booked, I wanted non-smoking due to asthma, and inner courtyard with a lobby view, hopefully not too far from bus stop and restaraunts. We got room #5049 which was kinda far from everything, we did have an inner courtyard view overlooking the waterfall which was nice. We had bunks for the kids. Well we put our stuff away, and we rested a bit then headed back to the boats to go to Chef Mickeys, again no wait for the boat (can't believe my luck) we get to the Cont. about 5:45 pm. our dinner is not until 6:30pm, so we check out the gift shops again, my kids still wish we were still staying here! We head back to Chef Mickeys about 6:15pm and they take our pictures and we get seated almost right away, we have never done Chef Mickeys before, everyone liked it well enough and yes I am feeling a little better so I can at least eat something tonight. Well the characters really did not bother with us much, maybe because my kids are teens I don't know, but we had fun anyway. After dinner we decide to hop on the monorail, one of my DD favorite things, to the Magic Kingdom. Well we arrive at about 7:30pm and the parade is going on, so we make our way over to Splash Mountain and get on no waiting... we love this ride, then onto Big thunder mountain and ride this we wanted to be in the back, but they were saving the back for someone else...good ride anyway. We went onto the Haunted mansion one of my favorites and ride right away, then onto Space mountain, no wait again, of course I don't ride this I decide to sit in a chair and put my foot up for a much needed rest (3rd degree burn). Well they get done and come find me, just then the fireworks started, how beautiful they were, after they are done we go the the racecars, my daughter wants to show me she can drive!! Well she can't....Ha Ha had fun trying. By this time we are tired so we make our way back to Main street and check out some shops then back to the WL again no wait for the boat. Back to our room. I had requested a coffee maker and they brought it to us.. also requested turn down service but no-one showed up. (I had requested these things from housekeeping at 4:30pm). So off to sleep we go. By the way these beds are really high off the ground.

[tiggerlvr]

SATURDAY NOV. 30,2002
OK so we sleep in as we are not doing much today and no I did not fall out of that bed!! But I think I got a nose bleed from being so high off the ground....my kids wanted to get me a stool so I could get into it easier (I'm kinda short)!!! We pretty much stayed around the resort, we ate lunch at Roaring forks, it was ok...my husband and one of my daughters went swimming it was about 65 and sunny...We took the boat to the Contemporary to catch the monorail around the resorts, we like to check out the Grand floridian's christmas tree it is beautiful...we were meeting my stepmom, her brother and some of the people from the group she went down with (they had just arrrived today and were staying at the All stars, we had prearranged a meeting) at the Kona Cafe at the Poly so our last stop was the Poly. We met up with them about 4:45 our PS were at 5..they seated us almost right away there were 11 of us all together.... we had never eaten here before, and I have to say it was wonderful, my kids loved their ravioli in alfredo sauce...we loved our meals also, everyone was very happy with the food, and the desserts oh my god. I ended up splitting a chocolate lava ala mode, it was devine.....well we finally roll out of there..the group is going back to the Magic Kingdom as they had just arrived around 1pm that day, and we decided we would go on down to Downtown Disney. Well let me tell you the worst wait we had for transportation was waiting at the Poly for the bus to DD....we met some people who had already been waiting for at least 25 mins. prior to our arrival...we waited about 20 mins. and finally the bus came....we went to DD and shopped around it was indeed very crowded, but we managed and had some fun...headed over to Pleasure Island and looked around it looks like it would be fun to go to without the kids....I wanted to go to the Adventurers club, but the kids did not want too, always wanted to go there maybe next time....anyway we decided to head back to the WL we got the bus almost right away only waited about 5 mins. Well turndown service had come while we were out, how great are those mints? Got into that bed and went right to sleep...
SUNDAY 12-1-02
Today we are going to Universal...we had our own car so we drove there and arrived about 8:45 it was opening at 9am. I was buying annual passes, so that took us a little while, they have to take your pictures and everything, and of course the camera would not work...I told my DD she broke the camera!!! Just kidding...anyway the man who was helping us noticed where we are from and he was also from New Hampshire but lived in Fla. now...so we talked to him awhile...finally got done and went on our merry way...We did Universal studios first, not too many people at all we walked right on Men in Black, Back to the Future, Jaws, pretty much everything...about 11 am we are kinda hungry so we decide to eat at the Hard Rock cafe we have never been here before (last time we had eaten at the Nascar place it was the worst food I ever had, sent it back twice, and finally could not eat it) well we loved the Hard rock the kids had chicken sandwiches, my DH had a cajun chicken sandwich and I had a BLT it was very good and of course we loved looking around the place... they have some great stuff in there.... Well we head over to IOA and do Spiderman, it has gotten a little crowded, but still not bad at all.. the most we waited was for the Psoidon show, we did everything with very little waiting and are done with both parks by 4pm. So we leave here and have to have dinner at our favorite place the Olive garden near the Crossroads...we arrive about 4:45 got seated right away and proceed to have all of our favorites, my kids had fettucine alfredo, my DH had the tour of Italy, and I have the chicken vino bianco... love that place...finally we get done and head back to the lodge and just relax for the rest of the night, I think everyone was asleep by 7pm!!!! We had a fun day...tomorrow Epcot. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[Steves-Pap]

Hi,

Sounds like you guys had a good trip,we were thinking of staying at WL next year not so sure now (my wife is also short 4ft11)we will be at the AKL next week (12-14-12-22)we just love this place (third time there.Good to hear u enjoyed your trip.

Happy holidays,Ron

[chezp]

Enjoyed reading about your day at Universal, as we're hoping to get there for the first time this trip.

[AKLRULZ]

Nice report! The best thing about those high beds as WL is that you can store your luggage underneath to free up closet space! Thanks for posting!

[tiggerlvr]

Monday 12-2-02
Well we woke up got ready and headed out to Epcot, not my kids favorite park, but they like some of it...we arrived around 9am as it opened and went to Spaceship earth, well we waited about 10 mins in line and we finally got into the ride and just as we were seated the ride stopped, the Cast members were scrambling around, calling maintanance, everyone wanted to know what was going on but they told us nothing to worry about, it would be starting shortly after about 10 mins. it started and then stopped immediatley...then restarted we were a little worried, but it kept going just about all the way through, and just when it was almost over when you are coming down backwards in your cart it stopped again, but only for a few minutes thankfully...we then went over to Innovations and sent some postcards to friends and family it was fun...of course the kids had to send their own can't be seen with the parents!!! After that we went over to Honey I shrunk the audience and the over to test track, we did have to wait about 20 mins. for that ride and we spotted my stepmom, and her brother way back in the line, tried to wave but they did not see us. Test track is fun as always, and we did see my stepmom and her brother later, we did not know we each were doing the same park that day, but she went with her group one way and we went another. Off to body wars that was fun. The kids were hungry and I wanted to go over to the lands, so we did.We went and got one DD some food at the Mcdonalds and then onto Canada I wanted to try a beaver tail, but they were not opened! maybe next time. Onto the United kingdom through some shops, onto France, then Morocco looked into the shops there also, now Japan, and finally stopping at the American adventure to eat at Liberty Inn, I had a turkey club sandwich it was very good. Now onto Italy, Germany looked in the shops here, the outpost, China, Norway did the ride, onto Mexico this one is my favorited we did the ride here and looked into the shops. Well my kids have complained the whole way, Mom you have to look at everything!! So we decide to go and go back to the buses, totally forgetting we wanted to go to the Boardward....well not realizing you can walk there from the International gateway. We got on the Monorail and went to the Magic Kingdom and then got the bus to the Boardwalk, this bus first goes to the Swan and Dolphin, the Yacht club, the Beach club, and finally the boardwalk, talk about the long way around!!!!!!Well we finally arrive at the boardwalk and check out the Boardwalk Inn's lobby and Christmas decorations very very nice....onto the Boardwalk we look around awhile and guess what hungry again, so we walk on over to the Beach club, check out their lobby very nice look around the place I want to stay here sometime!!! I had connection coupons so we wanted to eat at Beaches and Cream, and we went there and got in right away lucky...the waitress we had was very very nice I told her I had these coupons and what could we order, she told me you can order anything you want off the menu!! Any drinks, any desserts anything...So we all ordered hamburgers and onion rings instead of fries she said that would be ok, and sodas to drink, the burgers were very good, did not eat all of it though had to have room for dessert....well we did order dessert I had a brownie sundae, no way could I even eat half of it, one of my daughters ordered the No way Jose sundae, it was absolutley huge she did not even make a dent in it!! My other DD had just one scoop of ice cream in a cup....their one scoop is about 4 scoops of ice cream...my DH had a banana split!!! It was gigantic he could not eat it all either....totally stuffed now we get the bill which should have been 63.00 before the tip, I only paid 11.00 each for the coupons including tax and tip...very good deal, we did leave her an extra tip for being so nice to us...well we walk out front to get a bus back to the Magic Kingdom so we can hop the boat to the WL, but the bus driver brings us to the TCC to get a bus there as the Magic Kingdom is just closing....this works out fine and we get a bus right away. Back to the WL for our last night here, onto the AKL tomorrow. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]