"Home" for the Holidays! - COMPLETE! About This Page:

[DrDolphin]

Hope the laptop get fixed real soon and you can start your TR!!!

[lauren-roxy]

Welcome back Tiff!! Can't wait to read all about your trip when you have time!!

[tigger22]

[b]<font color="navy">Days 0 – Friday, December 2nd, 2006 and Saturday, December 3rd, 2006

These are the days before we got to WDW but I wrote done info for it. I had promised my little brother that I would take him Christmas shopping on Thanksgiving and this weekend turned out to be the only one that he had available. So my DB spent Friday night with us. I left work early on Friday and picked him up after school. Threw some laundry in the washer because the weather forecast for Orlando looked chilly and we needed our blue jeans washed for the trip. We really hadn’t started packing at this point except for having the bags open in the guest bedroom for throwing things in that we wanted to take as we came across them (Passporter pouches, lanyards, trading pins, hats, etc.). I am a season passholder for my high school basketball teams and had volunteered to work the games. Didn’t get home until late and had to throw the jeans in the dryer. Went to bed and still hadn’t packed.

DH had to work Saturday morning from 8 A.M. to around 1 P.M. So we were both up at 6 A.M. I finally got started packing and woke DB up around 8. We left for Fort Wayne to go Christmas shopping at the mall around 9. My brother is 10 years old and decided this year he wanted to do all his Christmas shopping with his own money he had been saving. He is so sweet and responsible (when he wants to be). He found gifts for everybody at the mall and paid for it all himself (with a little help from his big sis [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] ). We were done in about 2 hours. We stopped for lunch and I dropped him off at my dad’s on the way home. Got home around 1:00 and Eric shortly followed. We finished packing, ran keys and the garage door opener to my little sis and got on the road about 5:00 P.M.

We checked into the Park, Sleep and Fly hotel (La Quinta) near the airport around 7:00 P.M. It was a lot later than we wanted but we got there okay. The lady at the desk was on the phone with an irate customer. Apparently he had booked a room for December 2006 instead of 2005. She checked us in but somehow the reservation didn’t say we were on the Park, Sleep and Fly package. She didn’t feel like messing with the computer so we just had to pay the normal nightly rate. Woo Hoo – more spending money for us. The drive down took longer than usual as the roads were starting to get icy. We hauled our bags to the room and went in search of food. We had a not so fun time trying to find somewhere to eat. We just wanted fast food but couldn’t seem to find anywhere open. We finally found a Taco Bell and took it back to the room. I wrote out bills and checked the boards (love free wireless internet access – Disney needs it). I also checked to see if the returning Orlando flight to Indy was coming in since everything was a sheet of ice. It said on time and I hoped Dawn made it back safely as I knew she was flying home that night. Went to bed after that with a 6:00 A.M. wake up call.

Coming up – Day 1

[tigger22]

[b]<font color="navy">Day 1 – December 4th, 2006</font>

Original Plans
- 9:00 A.M. Take off from Indy
- 11:07 A.M. Arrive Orlando, DME to resort, check-in, room ready hopefully
- Activate PAP at Magic Kingdom and see Cindy's Castle for the first time
- 5:00 P.M. ADR @ Chef Mickey's <font color="navy">

Alarm went off bright and early but we quickly hopped up out of bed. Got ready and headed to the lobby for our complimentary breakfast. Nice and full we waited for the shuttle over to the airport. Another group of ladies was with us waiting and wondering about their flight (they were going to Ft. Lauderdale). I pulled out the laptop to check. Both of our flights were scheduled to leave on time despite the ice. Yeah! We all got loaded on the shuttle and the driver dropped us off near the skycap. We checked in there and headed for security. I was really glad we got there early because we didn’t have to wait in any lines. Not so fun going through security though. It was a comedy of errors. Remember we are in cold, freezing Indiana so we have heavy winter coats, the laptop that we have to take out of the case, take off our shoes and our carryons. Luckily neither of us got picked for extra security because it was hard enough trying to juggle our all our plastic bins of stuff coming down the conveyor. I just carried my shoes to the gate to put them on there. We were at our gate by 7:45 and our flight didn’t leave until 9:00. I played the game boy and Eric got on the laptop. No free Internet access at Indy airport if anyone is interested. Plane took off on time and we landed in Orlando a half hour early.

Who else besides me loves Magical Express? We made our way down and I got in line while Eric held our carryons. I was quickly checked in and made our way to the line for Saratoga Springs. We were first in line and had fun chatting with the CM during our short wait. She gave me some ME stickers for my scrapbook. We only had 3 families on our bus. One for OKW, us for SSR and one for POFQ. We were quickly dropped off at the Carriage House and got in the long, long line for check-in. Eric and I wanted to get checked in so we just waited. It was worth the wait as our room was ready and it was nearby. We also got a cheerful “Welcome Home.” We were in room 4430 – a top floor one bedroom in the Springs section. We were right across from the Carriage House and right by the bus stop.

Welcome Home!

Living Room

Kitchen

Dining area and Shower

Jacuzzi Tub

Bedroom

Hidden Mickey on Headboard

Balcony Railings - I wove Christmas lights through them

Not so Hidden Mickey and view towards bus stop and main pool

On-going SSR construction

We dropped off our things and headed to the bus stop. We waited at least a half hour for a bus to the Magic Kingdom to arrive. This was a recurring theme throughout the trip. Eric took some pictures while we waited.

Saratoga Springs

View from bus stop of High Rocks Pool

Our building from the bus stop

***Continued in next post***

[tigger22]

[b]<font color="navy">We got to the Magic Kingdom finally and activated our PAP. The clock tower at the train station was still under renovation.

Remember this for later in the week

Once we were through the gates we saw that they were still taping for the Christmas Parade – at the entrance where the Christmas tree usually stands (and did later in the week) and up at the Castle. The wreaths were also not hanging across Main Street. We also saw how Disney is “tricky” so that you can’t see the clocks on Main Street – they are covered with wreaths. We saw CM taking the wreaths down.

We stopped at the Main Street Cinema to buy a Pal Mickey. We had a lot of fun with him during the week and usually let kids around us play with him while we were waiting in lines. Eric really likes the corny jokes – those are the only type he usually tells anyway. Casey’s was the next stop. Those hot dogs are so good. Especially when you add some warm sauerkraut to them. :yum: :yum:

We got a new camera before this trip – The Kodak Z740. 5 megapixels with 10 zoom. It turned into DH’s toy for the trip so most of the pictures here are his. Here is his first picture with the zoom.



They were performing Cinderellabration over and over again for the Christmas Day Parade. There was a person on the speaker telling the performers where to begin and calling out 8 counts to make sure they were all in time. This was in the hub over by the path to Tomorrowland where the MK Christmas Tree was.

Magic Kingdom Christmas Tree - It was moved later in the week

We headed into Tomorrowland but everything was closed. The CM said that they had lost power.

Entrance to Tomorrowland

We headed to Fantasyland and rode Snow White’s Scary Adventures.

For you Sarah!

We rode It’s a Small World next. Eric took 70 pictures on this ride.

Guess what time it was when we were at Small World

After our rides we strolled around a little and the headed over to the Contemporary for our ADR at Chef Mickey’s. This was our first time at Chef Mickey’s and we really enjoyed the food. The character interaction was really short even though we were the only ones seated in the room until we were almost done with our meal.





After dinner, we explored the Contemporary a little and then caught the bus to Downtown Disney. We watched a juggler for a while and then headed to World of Disney. We were on a mission to find some Christmas hats. You will get to see them later. After we dropped some cash, we headed back to SSR. DH ran and got some milk at Artist’s Palette ($3.15 for a half gallon). Our bags were in our room so I unpacked. We relaxed in the Jacuzzi tub, watched TV and crashed.

Coming up – Day 2

[DrDolphin]

What a great beginning!! Can't wait to read more!

[Colexis Mom]

Great start Tiff [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img] Love the pictures [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img] More please [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[bsblady01]

more please

[lauren-roxy]

Great start Tiff!! Your pictures are wonderful!! Can't wait to read more!!!

[Tara O'Hara]

Tiff, great start and I love your photos!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img] You look so happy!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[LizardCop]

[b]Great Start Tiff, I [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] the photos

[DawnDenise]

YAY!!! You started your trip report!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] all the pictures!! Keep it coming!

[PrincessSharon]

Great start! Ready for more!

[tigger22]

Thanks for your patience. I just couldn't get to updating things during tax season. Here is an update finally!

[b]<font color="black">Day 2 – Monday, December 5th, 2006

Original Plans

- Animal Kingdom in the morning/early afternoon
- MGM in the late afternoon
- 6:00 P.M. ADR Sci-Fi Dine-in Theatre
- Osborne Lights <font color="navy">

Our day today got off to a nice slow start. Since we know we are going to be back at least once every year, we slept in on this entire vacation. We woke up around 8:30 and ate breakfast in the room. We bought the mini boxes of cereal that come with several different sugary kinds – Lucky Charms, Coco Puffs, Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Our normal cereal selection is usually the healthier Cheerios, Life or Chex brands.

Our first stop of the day was Animal Kingdom. My goal for the day was to see Tarzan Rocks since I knew it would possibly soon be closing. While we were waiting in line, we had an encounter with Wes Palm (I think that is it’s name). He was making fun of all the backpacks people were carrying. Wanted to know if we were moving in instead of just going on safari. I wish Eric had the camera out because the tree kept chasing me. I was just about to put my ticket in the turnstile (which didn’t understand my biometrics and the CM waved me through) when I saw the guy voicing Wes Palm. He gave me a thumbs up and a grin for being a good sport and then went back into hiding.

We took our time and explored the Oasis a while and Eric had fun playing with the zoom on the camera.


Gotta Love the Zoom

Our first stop was Kilimanjaro Safaris. It was basically a walk on – we were expecting to get a fast pass or wait in line for a while. Here are the pics that turned out from our photo safari.

White Rhino (see the stripe… [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img])

Hippos in the water

Crocs (I think or are they alligators?) – an not the ones on my feet [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img]

Giraffe

Termite Mounds

Elephant – not really as close as he appears

Baby Elephant

Elephant Family

Look Closely

After saving Little Red, we made our way along the Pangani Forest Trail. The gorillas weren’t up by the glass but this one was right out in plain view after you got done with the viewing center. He was having fun making faces at the crowd and seemed to be enjoying all the camera attention.

Say Cheese

More playing with the camera as we found a Kodak picture spot.

Close

Closer

As Eric was tooling around with the computer Devine came out.

Her movements are so graceful

We enjoyed watching her for a while and then headed to get some lunch. We decided to eat at Tusker House. It was here that we discovered where all the people in the park were. We hadn’t really run into any lines yet but had a super long one to stand in to get some lunch. We both opted for the Chicken Sandwich Platter with a large lemonade. Gotta love that we got to use our Disney Dining experience card for 20% off. The food was quite good (we are table service snobs as every time before this we have been on the gold or platinum packages where three table service meals a day are included).

Tummies full we headed over to the Asia section of the park. We headed to my favorite part of Animal Kingdom – Maharajah Jungle Trek. Why is this my favorite attraction? Well I am a little tiger obsessive. My high school mascot was a tiger plus I love seeing all the different types of tiger. I have a collection of tiger pictures I have taken including some pretty awesome ones of the white tigers at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. I love Animal Kingdom’s exhibit because you are so close to the tigers. So just as a warning I am going to have tons of tiger pictures.

Komodo Dragon

Fruit Bats

My tiger photo montage


Are you looking at me?

***CONTINUED IN NEXT POST***

[tigger22]

[b]<font color="navy"> ***CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST***

We decided to take a break and found a bench to watch the monkeys on the island by the exit to Kali River Rapids. Those monkeys were having tons of fun swinging around except the one who wanted to be left alone.

The swinger

I want to be alone

Our next stop was to get some character autographs. Actually a CM was standing at the entrance to the greeting area telling us there is little wait.

Pooh

Eeyore

And saving the best for last… me and my best bud – Tigger!

I then went and got in line for Tarzan Rocks and Eric went to get some close up pictures of Expedition Everest.




Eric got back just as the line started to head in. We got seats right by the isle and at the back of the front right section. It was a pretty good show and don’t know why this was only the first (and sadly last) time we were seeing it.




After Tarzan we moseyed toward the exit to head to the bus for MGM. On the way out we had to get a picture of the Animal Kingdom Christmas Tree and some pictures with the characters that were out.

AK Christmas Tree

Mushu

Meeko

You can see just how short I am standing next to Bre’r Bear

Pluto would not stand up or sign autographs. He just sat there on all fours.

We bussed over to MGM. We first got the obligatory picture of the MGM Christmas tree – for those keeping track – 3 down and 1 to go.

MGM Christmas Tree

We booked it to the back of the park as we wanted to do the Backlot Tour. We have never done the Tour in our previous trips. My movie buff DH really enjoyed it… I really enjoyed seeing the Disney Plane… and the Stars Wars stuff. (I am a closet fan [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img] )

Earful Tower

Disney Plane

Movie Props (Is this from Star Wars?)

After the tour we got in line to see the Lights, Motors, Action Stunt Show. My movie buff DH and I were so engrossed in the show that we didn’t take any pictures. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/sorry.gif[/img]

We had a ADR for Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater so we headed that way. My little vent of the day – if you are coming to Disney, plan ahead. There were so many people getting mad and yelling at CMs because they couldn’t just walk in and get a seat. Sci-Fi was booked solid and they were not accepting any walk-ins that night. Okay vent over. We waited quite a while for a car and ended up hitch-hiking with a couple and their young son. They were supper nice and we all had fun laughing at the movies playing on the screen. We both ordered the reuben as our dinner and we both got a fun drink with light up cubes. I got a blue cube in a Lunar Landing which is amaretto, peach schnapps and orange juice. Eric got a red cube in The Comet which is rum, vodka, gin and tequila topped with sour mix and cranberry juice. I think my drink was the better of the two. The service was super slow and the food was just okay. The drinks and the cheesy movies were the best part. The family that gave us a lift took a picture but unfortunately it didn’t turn out.

Feeling mighty good from our yummy drinks we headed over to the Osborne lights just as they were turning on. We tried to take a bunch of pics but a lot of them didn’t turn out. Just another excuse to go back at Christmastime again once we know how to use all the functions on our camera.





Here is the story about the cat from Anita Answer on All Ears and it was repeated to us pretty much verbatim by a CM when we found the cat – the last question:

http://www.allearsnet.com/aa/aa112805.htm#ques6

After our long day of touring we headed back to the room, relaxed in the Jacuzzi tub, watched some TV and crashed.

Coming up – Day 3