& Larry’s Semicentennial Birthday Jaunt (Complete!) About This Page:

[chezp]

Another Larry trip report, so soon after the last one! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/thewave.gif[/img] What a great birthday present to yourself - I can't wait to hear all about it. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img]

[luvnwdwgal]

Yay! Another trip report already! Happy 50th Larry! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[LLaffinPlace]

Thursday, April 6, 2006 – Part 1, Departure and Arrival at WDW

[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/birthday.gif[/img] I woke up with the alarm clock and got up around 6:15 a.m. I ate breakfast, which consisted of a double chocolate muffin, pieces of fresh cantaloupe, and two cups of coffee. I finished the last of the packing, showered, shaved, and dressed. After making sure the house was secured, I placed the bags in the car, and headed out.

Having listened to the severe weather forecast for tomorrow, upon arrival at Huntsville International Airport—I’m not kidding about the name—I parked my car in the middle of the parking deck just in case of hail. Check-in went smoothly—I placed the Disney Magical Express (DME) tag on my bag last night—and the trip through security was blessedly brief. I was therefore about an hour early for my 10:15 a.m. departure time. So, of course, ‘long about 9:45 an announcement was made that the flight would be an hour late. No explanation was given. Around 10:50 the Delta agent announced that our replacement aircraft should be on the ground at 11:15.

In the waiting area there was a couple with two little girls—the youngest is almost 5. They surprised the girls this morning with a trip to WDW for the youngest’s Birthday. The girls did really well waiting—they had coloring books and games that they used to keep themselves occupied. I just read my book, “Death of the Party (A Death on Demand Mystery)” by Carolyn Hart, and tried not to grind my teeth. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] I was seated on the aircraft at 11:30, and we were rolling at 11:42. [I find that I am much more relaxed about flight delays when I am traveling on business. I wonder why that is? [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]]

We arrived at Orlando International Airport at 2:00 p.m. I walked to the terminal from the small commuter jet, and took the train to the main terminal. Since Delta arrives at Terminal B, I crossed to the ‘A’ side before I went down to the first level for DME [this is due to change—I believe DME will be moving to the ‘B’ side as part of their extension agreement with the airport]. I checked in with Jennie at the DME desk. She was very friendly and efficient, and directed me across to the multiple queue area, which is divided by resort. I found my lane and there were about a half-dozen people in front of me. There was a 20 minute wait for the bus.

The time passed quickly, and soon a whole mess of buses arrived. They opened our line and led us out to our bus, and scanned my bus voucher before I boarded. There was a particularly loud college student in front of me in the Wilderness Lodge (WL) bus queue with a friend—I had to listen to her half of a cell phone conversation—and the two were seated a couple of rows behind me on the bus, so of course I can hear part of their continuing conversation, too. This died out when the bus driver played the “we’re on our way to WDW so here is some information and tips” video, which did help to pass the time. The motor coach was quite comfortable; the seats were red with magic stars on them. Everyone has a reading lamp and their own AC vent, much like an airplane.

We entered the WDW Resort complex at 3:20 p.m. There was a big difference in the number of cars at Blizzard Beach from early February! There was also a distinct difference in areas that are irrigated and those that are not—the official Orlando station has not had measurable rainfall in about 40 days, so non-watered areas are very dry . We stopped first at the Polynesian Resort and then the Grand Floridian—although no one was going there. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img] The funny thing is that when we were exiting the GF, I saw a Cast Member walking along the drive, and he was the CM in the DME video who checks in Captain Hook and Smee! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

We FINALLY arrived at the WL at 3:45 p.m., and after getting off the bus I walked inside that wonderful lobby and felt like I had come home. As I made my way to the check-in desk, I saw Stan, the WL’s answer to the Beach Club’s Art the Greeter. He had taken Bob and me to the roof to raise the flags on a previous stay.

I checked in and am in Room 7045—a courtyard view room! Woohoo! Deb was one of the CMs checking me in. She glanced at the computer screen and looked up and said, “Happy Birthday!” She told me that her husband, Curt, whom she then proceeded to introduce me to, had his 50th Birthday last month; hers is in August! [Apparently the whole family works at WDW.] Deb and another CM (she was new) escorted me upstairs and left me in the capable hands of Andrea, who walked me around the Old Faithful Club (OFC) (that’s the concierge level) and the place where they set out the food and stuff at different times of the day.


Where the OFC Cast Members are located on the 7th Floor.

Andrea pointed out the tables and the kids’ area with their own TV.



The room where the beverages and food are located is behind the ‘gate’, which faces the WL lobby atrium.



Andrea pointed out the adult lounge area with its own TV, typically tuned to ESPN. We continued on to my room, where Andrea left me. I went immediately to the balcony to take in the [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] view [counterclockwise from far right to far left]:















Coming Up: Off to the Magic Kingdom

[Colexis Mom]

Great start Larry [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img] Great pictures too! More please [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[KandJluvdisney]

great start and great view too!

[LLaffinPlace]

Thursday, April 6, 2006 – Part 2, Ahoy, There!

After taking some shots of the view from the room, I changed into my shorts, slapped on some sunscreen, grabbed my hat, and headed down to the boat dock to catch the boat for the Magic Kingdom (MK). I just managed to make the boat waiting on the dock—the only thing was that it was headed to Fort Wilderness first . Well, no worries. It’s a nice day for a cruise—perfect shorts weather. The sky is sunny but a bit hazy.

I had no problem getting into the MK quickly—no bags to check and my Annual Pass worked just fine. I stopped on Main Street and had a PhotoPass photog take my picture. Since I had not eaten any lunch (the Old Faithful Club had just shut down to reconfigure for the early evening setting of soup and stuff), I headed for Adventureland and the Sunshine Tree Terrace, intending to get a Citrus Swirl. That was not available, so I made do with a chocolate and vanilla soft serve swirl. Woohoo!

I wandered by Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (40 minute wait), and then on to Liberty Square where I found standby at Haunted Mansion to be 30 minutes, even though it didn’t look like it would be that long. Peter Pan’s Flight was 40 minutes, and It’s a Small World was 20. Mickey’s Philharmagic was 10 min.—just until the next show started—so I went in there and waited in the cool!

After Philharmagic, I headed over to Tomorrowland and the Tomorrowland Transit Authority, which of course had practically no wait at all. The queue for Space Mountain was 70 minutes! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] What a change from early February! Of course part of it was that it was late afternoon, too. I might have waited on some of these—at least the ones that were less than half an hour—but I didn’t have all that much time anyway, because I was planning to shower, change, and relax before my dinner at Artist Point.

Having accomplished what I set out to do, namely make it to one park today, I headed out and to the dock, where a boat was shortly available. Back at the WL, I headed upstairs and stopped in the OFC for a glass of lemonade. I called my Mom from the room and talked to her for a bit, then showered and dressed and wandered down to the lobby and the Mercantile, where I browsed a bit before presenting myself at the podium at Artist Point.

Coming Up: A Wonderful Meal for You to See and Me to Eat!

[LeapDayBaby]

[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/birthday.gif[/img], Larry! Great TR so far, as always. Looking forward to your next installment!

- Laurie [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[WDWfan]

Larry - Enjoying your report. I will be going on my first solo trip in Sep-Oct (for free dining and the food and wine festival). I'm looking forward to the rest of it and expecially how dining solo at sit down restaurants went.

Lesley

[LLaffinPlace]

Lesley, congrats on the trip and I think you'll see that eating alone went just fine! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Joy J]

Larry, I'm really enjoying your trip report. And I'm looking forward to reading about your meal at Artist Point.

Joy

[LLaffinPlace]

Thursday, April 6, 2006 – Part 3, My Birthday Dinner

Artist Point at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort, April 6, 2006


First Course
Crispy Venison Rolls with Hot, Sweet, and Sour Sauce
Snoqualmie Naked Riesling, Columbia Valley, 2004
Large Bottle of Pellegrino Mineral Water


Second Course
Cedar Plank Roasted King Salmon with Parsnip and Potato Gratin, Red Wine Reduction, and Red Onion Fan
Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir, Willamette County, 2002


Third Course
Artist Point Cobbler… Seasonal Berries and House-Made Black Raspberry Ice Cream
Kiona Ice Wine, Red Mountain, 2004

Carlos was my server, and I was seated next to the window on the side facing Bay Lake. The Riesling was a superb pairing with the Spring Rolls. Think about the sweetness against the sweet and hot sauce and the wonderful venison plus the onion. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yuma.gif[/img] I listened to another server tell his guests about the Expedition Everest Grand Opening tomorrow and how when he rode it, he kept his eyes closed after the part where it stops before it goes backwards. According to OFC CM Andrea, Disney CEO Bob Iger is supposed to be there with other Disney celebs, but “they have been very close-lipped about the guest list.” I found out later that the sons of Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary were there.

The presentation of the salmon is wonderful—they bring it out on the smoldering cedar plank and plate it in front of you. The Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir was from a new bottle, so I let it sit [mostly [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]] and swirled it from time to time to help it open up, which it did very nicely, thank you. It complimented the salmon and the red wine reduction very well. While I may not be quite as effusive about the wine as Carlos, I would definitely recommend it as a step above the Argyle Pinot Noir.

For dessert, I just had to have the signature Cobbler with the Kiona Ice Wine. If you have read past TRs, you know that this is one of my favorite dessert wines. A perfect ending to a [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img] picture-perfect meal. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yuma.gif[/img]

I did have to chuckle over Carlos saying that the ice wines had become really popular. I told him that for once [Bob &] I had been ahead of the curve! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Coming Up: Mo' Magic!

[UncleBob]

Woohoo, that was one excellent birthday supper. I'm really jealous.

[BostonTeaParty]

[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/birthday.gif[/img] Happy Birthday Larry! *Hugs* Wonderful reporting and photos so far. I was especially pleased to see the view from your WL courtyard room. That's where we will be staying in October, when we visit WDW to celebrate my DH Paul's 50th birthday (and our 20th wedding anniversary). [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] Looking forward to the rest of your report. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img]

[chezp]

Great start Larry - I love the view from your room and your dinner at Artist Point looks amazing. You're right - I'm getting hungry just looking at those photos! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yuma.gif[/img]

[Colexis Mom]

More great updates Larry [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img]