Our Easter Vacation at the Beach Club-Day 7 and final day 8 About This Page:

[musicteachermom]

THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2003

MAGIC KINGDOM-EARLY ENTRY

This is our last full day, Boo! Hoo!
We are up early at 5:30! Today, we’ve actually run out of food for breakfast, so we decided to go for the food which is right off the lobby at the Beach Club, (I forget the name of the place.) They had a great assortment. It’s strictly cash and carry, no area to sit down. So we took our breakfast and walked out to the bus stop in front of the Beach Club.
It’s Early Entry day at M.K. and we want to be there as it opens. One problem thought, we waited for a very long time for the bus, almost 25 minutes! Pretty surprising as yesterday while we were waiting for our TL bus, we saw 5 MK buses arrive, today none! So---we arrived before it opened, but we were very far back in line.
We decided to ride SM again and this time since Sarah knew what to expect she wasn’t so apprehensive. We had a longer wait though today, maybe because of our later arrival.
After this, we split up; Mike went with Eric to play Buzz Lightyear because Eric HAD to get a better score than Sunday. Well, Michael ended up with a great score and Eric improved his, so they both were happy!
Sarah and I booked it over to Fantasyland. She really liked the Winnie the Pooh ride, so we rode it again. This time we noticed things we hadn’t noticed before. This ride is great for all ages. Then, I talked her into Peter Pan. The line was very long, but it is fast loading. We had done this ride with her when she was only 2, so she didn’t remember this. But, she thoroughly enjoyed it, pointing out many details as we rode! We again used our Walkie Talkies and Michael and Eric waited in the Dumbo line for Sarah, until we came out of Peter Pan. Then Michael took Sarah on Dumbo, and I took pictures while Eric took videos. We then went to Small World. Eric was walking with me the entire time saying, “Why do we have to ride this, if you don’t even like it that much?” Of course I replied that Sarah would like it, and we were right here! (And we’re all going to ride it together and we are all going to have fun!) LOL! Actually, music that is very repetitive, aside, I really liked this ride more this time. I liked looking at the costumes and trying to guess the countries. Hmmmm, maybe they should label the countries, just a thought.
Then we walked into Liberty Square. I really wanted to do the Haunted Mansion because we had missed this on our last trip, but Sarah wouldn’t go, she thought it would be too scary. So Michael waited with Sarah, while Eric and I went on together. Boy, are we glad Sarah didn’t come on. We loved this ride, the attention to detail is great, and it takes awhile to go through, but we kept saying that Sarah would never have made it through this! Skeleton, ghosts, scary noises, coffins opening up, you name it!
When we got outside, all of us walked over to Frontierland and got FPs for BTMRR. While we waited, we rode Splash Mountain. Sarah and I love this ride. I think that it is our favorite. But, once again our photo didn’t come out very well; I was disappointed because I wanted to buy a picture from some ride. Well, it just wasn’t meant to be. Instead I took 10 rolls of film! So I have loads of great pictures.
We had some time before our FP’s, so we walked over to Adventureland. Much to my disappointment, no one wanted to go on the Aladdin ride. What? It’s a brand new ride, and it’s so beautiful! Eric and Sarah thought that it was exactly like Dumbo. I said, “No it isn’t. It’s prettier, and look, those camels sometimes squirt water at you!” But I couldn’t convince anyone. So, we walked over and did the Swiss Family Tree House. We had never explored this before. It was very cute, but a lot of stairs up and down. Ok for us, but it might bother some people. I probably wouldn’t do it again, but it was nice to see it one time.
It was now almost time for BTMRR but we were getting hungry, 10:00. We stopped at the Dole Whip place that I had heard so much about on the boards. We bought 2 kinds, a chocolate and vanilla swirl, and the pineapple and vanilla mix. I really liked this kind, nice and refreshing.
Well, Michael, Eric and Sarah decided to go on BTMRR, but I chose not to go, it made me ever so slightly queasy, so we split up. This just prompted Michael to once again walk around repeating, “The wildest ride in the west!” We stayed in touch with Walkie Talkies and I shopped while they rode. Again, Sarah liked this ride better the second time. I think that she really likes to know what to expect. Michael and Eric told me that she yelled out a lot, and had her hands up in the air, typical roller coaster style! Too funny!
When they were done, we watched the Country Bear Jamboree! OK a pattern here. Eric, “Sarah and I don’t want to watch this show. Why do we have to go?” You will never believe my answer. “Because this is your grandfather’s favorite show in all of Disney World, and won’t it be so much fun to talk to him about it when you get back home?” (Oh brother, I was really stretching on that one!) Well, it turned out that Sarah loved it! She kept pointing to all the bears and saying how cute they were. But I think Eric could take it or leave it. Definitely not a teenager’s favorite.
When we came out, Sarah says, “I want to ride the Aladdin ride now!” I thought I’d die of shock. So we split up again. Eric and Michael hung around and waited, and Sarah and I went on Aladdin. It was about a 20 minute wait. But we loved finding all the different jewels on the ground, (they are cemented into the waiting area.) The ride probably last 3 minutes, and it was similar to Dumbo. I got squirted twice, Sarah once, and when we were up high we spotted the Genie and Jaffar posing for pictures and signing autographs.
Well, we let Michael and Eric know that we were done, (via Walkie Talkies), and it was just in time. Our P.S. for the Crystal Palace was in 5 minutes at 11:35. The lines outside are very confusing. No one knew what to do. Some people, like us, were saying that we already had a P.S., and some people in line didn’t have a P.S. yet. But we waited for our turn, checked in, and our wait time proved to only be 5 minutes.
I absolutely loved the theme of this beautiful restaurant. But I really feel like Mary Poppins should be here at this location! It’s all Victorian, glass, hurricane lanterns, greenery, etc. We did have a good time seeing Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet and Tigger. Eric was once again a good sport and got up and took a picture with Eeyore, Sarah posed with all four, Michael with Piglet and I posed with Tigger. The food was pretty good but not fabulous. Also, this restaurant was very cold. I noticed several people shivering. So be prepared just in case, and bring a sweatshirt everyone.
Now, the moment I hate. It’s time to leave the Magic Kingdom. Boo! Hoo! We walked down Main Street and shopped for a pin for Sarah, and some gifts for some friends. When we came outside there was a Barbershop Quartet. They invited everyone to sing God Bless America. Sarah looked up at me like, “Wow, I know this song!” Just a little aside here, I just happen to be Sarah’s music teacher. In first grade we have been working on this song this year. So, she sang right along, knowing all the words. Some people in front of her turned and smiled to see the little 6 year old singing this song so proudly!
Then we left MK. At this point, I’m almost in tears, walking backwards and taking pictures once again before I have to go!
Once back at the Beach Club, we realize that our room has been made up. Yeah! We just flopped down on the beds, and relaxed, we were so tired! Oh, no. There’s one more thing that the kids want to do, and I was kind of hoping that they’d forget about this. Not a chance. They want to go miniature golfing. You see, it’s free, included in our package. I tried to talk them out of it, thinking that a person cans miniature golf anywhere. No way, they want to go. So I called the front desk, and they told me that Fantasia Golf is really close, we can definitely walk. Let me say that it is right behind the Swan or the Dolphin, (I can’t remember which one.) Well, we finally arrive after about a 20-25 minute walk. We noticed that the Swan and Dolphins’ have beautiful hotels, and beautiful pool areas, hammocks, beaches, and tennis courts. Eric mentioned that he wouldn’t mind staying here some time. Oh, my family calls these hotels the Swan and the Fish. No way, that statue on top looks like a dolphin!
We finally made it to Fantasia Golf. It feels like 150 degrees and for the entire course there is really no shade to speak of. This course would really be best played at night, but it was still cute, a wonderful theme. There was a music stand at every hole, entitled: Pastoral Symphony, the Mushroom Dance, Toccata and Fugue, etc. There was one hole where the buckets were pouring out wine, (remember the wine making scene), and so the “green” was actually purple! The 17the hole had the buckets and brooms splashing water every so often on people. Very quiet music played as you golfed, of course, Fantasia music.
After golfing, and returning to the hotel, the kids wanted to swim. But Michael and I still had to pack. So Eric and Sarah swam while we packed. Oh, the entire quiet pool is shallow, maybe 3 or 4 feet. So, we kept our slider open, and could keep an eye on them while we packed. Now, we really like the location of this room! Later, they told us that they made up a game in the pool called pick a park. For example, the Magic Kingdom. They would pretend that they were on the rides in that particular park.
That night, we were supposed to eat at the Polynesian, at O’Hanna’s and then watch the Spectromagic Parade at MK. We just didn’t have the energy. Gee, I wonder why! I was disappointed that we could not fit this parade in. It is my sister’s favorite parade, and we have never seen it. Oh well, next time!
After packing I relaxed with a book and a glass of wine out on the patio. Michael had some beers. (We couldn’t pack these drinks, and we didn’t want to leave them, so we had to drink them.) While out on the patio I started tearing up, thinking it’s my last moment to do this, and we’re leaving in the morning. And you’ll never believe this, I actually enjoyed the music, (for the 100th time), associating it with this place, the Beach Club.
We then, showered changed and went to Epcot. After all, a 10 minute walk is easier by far than a bus ride, switching to a monorail or boat, to get to the Polynesian. Eric wanted to go because he likes Epcot a whole lot better at night than in the daytime. He said that it is nice and cool at night. He also wanted to go and stare at his Samurai sword one last time. (At this point you can imagine the rolling of my eyes!) We thought that we could watch the American Adventure that we had missed this week. Well, we got there at 7:50, and the last show is at 8:15. Oh no, we also found out that the Kidcot Funspots close at 8:00. New plan, we slit up because Sarah still has to go to U.K. and Canada. Again we loved having our Walkie Talkies to communicate. While I’m walking with Sarah, I start thinking about Eric and softening up. So, I call Michael on the Walkie Talkie and tell him that it’s OK with me if he feels that he wants to get Eric the sword. But, Michael is now on the fence too! Oh, we also find out that of course if we order this sword we cannot take it through the airport. It has to be shipped.
Well, Sarah and I make it to both countries, and decide to find those Beaver Tails! Meanwhile, back and forth, back and forth, talking to Michael, trying to decide about the sword. We end up buying 2 kinds of Beaver Tails, the cinnamon and sugar and the chocolate hazelnut.
By now, Illuminations if gearing up, I’d say around 8:40, people are gathered all around the lake and it is dark! We find a little spot behind the Beaver Tail booth on a wall. “OK Sarah, now when you eat this chocolate one, be careful, it looks like it’s going to fall apart!” You guessed it, all over her shorts, face, arms, etc. Well, I hate to disappoint the Beaver Tail fans, but I didn’t think they were that great, and neither did Sarah. I am a certified chocoholic and the chocolate one was too chocolaty even for me! The cinnamon and sugar one was OK. We had to run to the bathroom and do a lot of washing up! We met up with Michael and Eric and it turns out, that Eric is grinning ear to ear. That’s right; they ended up getting the sword. Wish us luck, deciding where it goes, and how to regulate when it comes out of it’s sheath. (As it stands right now, it is upstairs in his bedroom, lying across his desk. I think that we will have it mounted on the wall, so that it at least looks cool. Not just lying in the box!) His friends never go up to his room, now that we have a finished basement, so I feel better about that anyway.
We walked back to the Beach Club and I stopped to turn around and watch Illuminations for one last time before we leave. The music and fireworks look beautiful in the sky. Michael and Eric said they are ready to go, Sarah started to have a breakdown and said, “Mommy you ALWAYS want to watch Illuminations!” I think she’s ready to go home and sleep decent hours in her own bed! But now me, I proclaimed that I could stay for another week. Eric stared at me as if I totally lost it.
No, I just can’t get enough Disney, although the next week would have to be a lot more relaxing!
Now to bed, because we have a wake up call of 4:30 A.M. Tiffany Town Car will be picking us up at 5:30!

TOMORROW OUR TRAVEL DAY BACK TO MASSACHUSETTS

FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2003
TRAVEL DAY

The day we have to leave –BOO! HOO! Our wake-up call is for 4:30 because Tiffany Town Car picked us up at 5:30. I’d like to say it was uneventful but it was not to be!
As we were going through Security at the Orlando airport a guard said, “Sorry, Mam, we’re going to have to check this bag.” OMG! My heart started pounding. Eric gave me a look of shock because it was his bag. “OH NO! I know what it is”, I said to the security person. He said, “What is it?” So, I started to put my hand in the bag as I say, “A pair, oh, 2 pairs of scissors.” But the man told me that I couldn’t touch the bag, and to step back please. At this point I was very flustered and nervous. I told him they were in an orange cosmetic case. Sure enough, there they were. (Packed for the purpose of moleskins!) But that morning I carelessly threw everything in any bag that had an inch of space. DUH! My family was now looking at me like I was crazy to put this into the carry-on bag. Well, they ended up keeping the 2 pair of scissors, (too bad, I liked them a lot), and we moved along without any more hassles. Eric did want to embellish this tale, and tell people we knew, to make it sound like something out a crime scene movie, but I said,”NO WAY!”
Well, after that we had a long day of flying home. First we went to O’Hare in Chicago, and then on to Logan in Boston. We had a hard time finding our limo at Logan, they park them on the roof! Who knew? We ended up arriving home about 3:30. If felt good to flop down on the couch in our own home, but I would go back tomorrow in a heartbeat.
I don’t know when we will go back, but I look forward to the countdown and the planning when we do decide that the time is right again. Perhaps, one time before Eric graduates and goes off to college.

[tikibird]

You are a braver woman than I in letting your DS get that sword! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Loved hearing about your last day - especially Dole Whips and the Crystal Palace! [img]graemlins/yuma.gif[/img]

Glad you had a great trip, and thanks so much for sharing it with us! [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img]

[Bert & Sully]

Thought I had finished your Trip Report before vacation but I found this.

WOW! is all I can say. You guys really got alot accomplished!

[PS - I LUV WDW]

Great end to your report! Thanks for posting it.

Pam