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Cast of Characters: DH (38), me (35), DD (7.5), DD (1 month shy of 4), MIL (60ish), FIL (60ish), later in trip - BIL (37) and SIL (32)
Day 1 - Thursday September 2nd, 2004
Waiting for Frances (2 days before Hurricane Frances)
We got up at 3:15 am to leave the house by 4:00am. We flew out of Detroit at 7:25 am. Our flight was uneventful. We used Tiffany
Towncars and that was a bit of a problem. Our man from Tiffany was a few minutes late. He had to meet us at the baggage claim. (He was
talking on his cell phone almost constantly) we went outside to get the van only to find out the man who met us was not the driver. He
was just a greeter. Tiffany didn't want to park the vans inside the airport while waiting for their customers because it cost them an
extra $6. Unfortunately for us we had to wait for about 30 minutes outside while the driver went to the wrong side to look for us. When
he finally arrived we got in the van. I had requested a car seat and a booster seat for my girls and confirmed it the week before. I
looked around and saw no car seats so we just hopped in. I didn't want to wait another 30 min for someone else to get her when I had
hungry, hot and tired kids (and adults) waiting to get to the hotel. Turns out that when my husband was helping to unload the van he saw
the car seats tucked in the back under the seat. The driver just put our luggage in and hid them. When I asked for them to be available
for our return ride, he seemed very surprised that we had requested them and confirmed them. I was very unhappy with our driver. Not
only was he on his cell phone constantly (most of the time talking in a foreign language so I am guessing it wasn't business) but also
at one point he actually tried to talk on 2 cell phone and drive thru an intersection with NO HANDS! (My husband who was sitting in
the front seat insisted he have at least one hand on the wheel) I feel like I am being nit picky, but I was also nervous while he
drove because I felt he drove to fast and cut people off. On the plus side, we did get a grocery stop which was good especially since
Hurricane Frances was on it's way, and they did reduce our fee to $95 from $110.
When we arrived at the Wilderness Lodge our Villa wasn't ready. Actually we could have had a villa that faced the parking lot, but
our wonderful CM who checked us in wanted to get us a safe room for the upcoming hurricane. We were in Villa 3517. A corner villa, right
next to the elevators. On the opposite side of where the winds were supposed to be coming from. We had a lovely view of the quiet pool
and could catch a glimpse of the lake between the trees. Just a note here about the Wilderness Lodge. It is awesome. The attention to
detail that Disney puts in is amazing. On the inside of the elevators the rails are brass made to look like 2 beavers holding a
log. Just the little stuff we noticed was so great! We were able to request that our cold foods be put in the refrigerator until our
room was ready which the happily did. We went and ate at Roaring forks. When our room was ready we went up and had our groceries and
bags delivered unpacked the cold stuff and hit the pool. It was heavenly! The sun was shining, the breeze was blowing and the water
was great!
After the swim we scurried up to the room, dumped the kids in the massive bathtub, took showers and headed by boat over to the
Contemporary for dinner at Chef Mickey's. We were a little early and I decided to get my Pal Mickey while waiting. I did manage to get
him, but unfortunately he couldn't be woken up so I had to wait until the next day to get him started. Dinner was fantastic. Ok, the
food was just ok. The look on my girls' faces as they met and interacted with the characters was heavenly! Plenty of time with all
the characters and some came around more than once.
After dinner we hopped aboard the monorail to see the sights. We got off at the Grand Floridian to peer around. A very lovely hotel, but
not for us. A little too formal. One of the most magical moments happened while we were walking around though. We just wanted to see
the pool so we were walking around and turned the corner…there was Cinderella's glass coach! There were 6 white, miniature ponies and a
glass coach. Magical! We got to take picture and pet the horses. Then we saw a bride come out and get in! Wow. Our first day and such
magic!
By this time we were all getting very tired and a little cranky. We got back on the monorail, went to Contemporary, took boat to
Wilderness Lodge Villas and turned in for the day. All in all a great day. We arrived safe and sound, had some great relaxing time
by the pool and saw Cinderella's carriage.
Best Thing-Great room and seeing Cinderella's Carriage
Worst Thing- No hands on wheel driver.
Day 2 - Friday, September 03, 2004
Still waiting for Frances (1 day before Hurricane Frances)
Mickey here we come!
I meant to set the little bedside clock to wake me up at 6am today. Lucky for me my littlest one woke me up at 5am and I couldn't get
back to sleep. I neglected to check the correct time on the clock and it was 12 hours off! After I got my littlest princess back to
sleep I tried to do the same. Sadly for my husband no such luck. It was like Christmas morning! I had been planning this trip for about
a year. The time was finally here to go see the Mouse and I wasn't going back to sleep! Nor was my DH. LOL. We had everyone out the
door at 5 after 8. I had wanted to be at the boat launch at 8, thinking there would be an 8am boat. No boat until 8:30, so we went
to the gift shop to "wake up" Pal Mickey and redeem our dream maker lanyard coupon. Lanyard and Mickey in had off we went. Just a side
note here. I bought the Mickey for me. I read about him, I did all the research for the last year, I wanted him. I neglected to realize
how much my 2 girls would want to have him. LOL. I did share, but I secretly wished I could have had him all to myself! On the boat ride
over we noticed that there were only about 15 people on the boat. Not very many. Hmmm. Got off and went to security. Only had 2 people
in line in front of us. Waited for the park to open. Maybe a couple of hundred people in all. That was it! Amazing! After we saw the
Opening Ceremonies we went inside. There was Alice. All alone. No one wanted to go say hello! Well I have been reading TGM. No
stopping and talking to Characters! Must go to Dumbo (not open, being refurbished…or so we thought) Anyway, my apologies Mike. I
failed to follow the plan, but you shall see why soon enough. After hugs, picture and autographs from Alice off we go. Stopped for a
picture of family and Castle on Main Street. Came out so well! And went to Pooh. Well we must have been very fast because no line. No
one in front of us. On we go. We all loved it and as we came to unload we noticed no one else was waiting in line. We started to
shout "Again! Again!" The lovely CM's smiled and around we went again without ever getting off. Since Dumbo was down we headed to
Peter Pan. And LOOK! Dumbo is running. So were we. Off to Dumbo. We waited until the current ride was over and then we got on. Liked it
so much we went again! (This will be the recurring theme through out the day!) On to Peter Pan. No wait. Walked on, got off, walked on
again. Yippee. Did Carrousel next. Then it was time to go to Toon Town. As we walked that way FIL and MIL decided they wanted to go on
Pooh with grandchildren. (They had missed the opportunity before because they forgot their tickets in the room and had to take that
first boat all the way back to WL) so we all walked on to Pooh again. Since basically the parks were empty we very loosely followed
TGM plan for least line. And it worked out fabulously. Off to Teacups next. Who should we see in the tree but Alice! A wave and a
hello and into Teacups. But wait! As we go to walk on. (no line again here folks) we see Alice with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum
getting on the ride. Tweedle Dum waves at us and we climb on with him. Now that Tweedle Dum is a mischievous guy. I went on with DD 3
almost 4. She doesn't do spinning rides well. (Neither does her mother, but if big sister goes on it she wants to as well, so on we
go) I told Tweedle Dum that she doesn't like to spin and he nodded his head. Guess what happens. As soon as that ride starts to go he
starts to spin. Thankfully it was slowly. He had very good interaction with DD. Made faces at others and was generally sweet.
After we get off we go up to Dum and Dee and get their signatures. Only 2 people a head of us so it just takes a few minutes! Next we
did Barnstormer - walked on. Did our "Again, Again" plea and rode with out getting off. Next - Toon Town Fair. Saw all 3 rooms,
Cinderella, Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Chip, Dale and Minnie with no waits. I mean we just ran from one to the next getting pictures and
having them sign books. Amazing. Minnie's House then Mickey's House with a visit to Mickey after - no wait. By now it was 11ish and we
were getting hungry. I had planned on eating then going back to the hotel for a rest. We took the train to Main Street and ate a Crystal
Palace. Good food, air-conditioned and THE best character interaction. We say Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet, and Tigger too many times
to count. They signed books, played with kids and grownups, pretended to drink my girl's juice and were generally superb! By now
it was looking like the parks would be closing early due to the weather so we decided to do a few more rides then head back to the
Villas.
FIL wanted to do a roller coaster but MIL was too full from lunch so we went to Tiki room, 2 minute wait until the pre show, maybe 30
people in the whole performance. Did Thunder Mountain 2 times, Splash Mountain walked on. By this time a CM was telling us the park
would be closing at 6pm. We decided just to stick it out here, do our PS at Cinderella's Castle at 5:30 and then leave. Country Bear
Jamboree next, no wait. Haunted Mansion, Mickey Philharmagic, Buzz Lightyear (2 times) and TTA. All with NO WAITS!
It was a little before 5 by now and ˝ hour before our dinner but we decided to see if we could get in early. They seated us right away.
The food was FABULOUS! The server excellent. When we were done Cinderella and Mary Poppins were down stairs. More interaction and
photo opportunities. By now we find out that the park will close at 8. We all agree that we have pushed it as far as we can with the little
ones. Wishes will have to wait until another time. Back to the hotel to relax.
I think that I could not have had a better experience in the parks today even if we had it all to ourselves. I would like to think it
was all due to my perfect planning and using the TGM plans that I did so well. Alas, I have to thank Hurricane Frances. As I sit and
write this tonight everything is being tied down. The parks are all closed tomorrow. I pray that no lives will be lost and the damage
will be minimal. But I have to say. Going to the Magic Kingdom the day before a hurricane is the BEST! No matter when I come again I
don't think I could ever beat this. I am almost willing to call it a trip and go home we had so much fun. Alas… the airports are closed
and I am stuck here. I can't think of a better place to be.
Best thing today- NO LINES and massive amounts of character interaction.
Worst thing- Our bodies not holding up for even more fun.
Part 1, 2, 3, 4
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