Pioneer Hall
Well-Known Member
Transportation:
We took Amtrak from New York to Orlando. The trip down was "unforgettable". The 21 hour train ride took us over 30 hours. It was truley the train ride from HELL. We left New York 1 hour late. Throughout the night we fell behind 2 more hours and when we woke up we were three hours behind schedule. While we were riding we lost power for a minute and overheard the conductor talk about engine trouble. A few minutes later we lost all power and had to evacuate the train. Luckilly there was a church nearby and we were able to get in to the A/C there. Then they moved us to another church. After a few hours they finally told us what was going to happen. We were going to be bussed to the Jacksonville Amtrak Station. We were told that the train would be waiting for us in Jacksonville. Well when we passed it on Interstate 95 we knew it wouldn't be. We finally got on the train at about 1 AM. We got to Orlando at 4:30 AM and got to the French Quarter at around 6:00 AM. 2 Hours later I was off to the Magic Kingdom.
Hotels:
Disney's Port Orleans-French Quarter Resort: This hotel was very nice and in My opinion is the best moderate because of it's size. The food court was redone a little and is now different foods are set up in to different stations. Everything else about the resort is the same as it was before it closed.
Disney's Polynesian Resort: This hotel was incredible! The setting was beautiful and the resort was just perfect. The Great Ceremonial house was so nice with the gardens and Polynesian decorations throughout. Ohana was delicious and I recommend it to all. The pool was terrific and the resort ammenities and transportation were wonderful. This was definately a great resort and If you are looking for a deluxe resort to stay at give this place a try. You won't be dissapointed.
THE TRIP:
Sunday 8/25- After that train ride I was ready to go to a park. I didn't care that I hadn't had slept in over a day. We went to the Magic Kingdom in the morning. As I approached the castle I didn't really care about the crane. It really didn't ruin the atmosphere and from most areas it was blocked by a tree or something. So it really wasn't a problem. On Splash Mountain they have the new safety spiel and it kind of over powers Brer Frog. But I guess it has to be done. After that we went over to the Studios to ride Tower of Terror and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. I also played Who Wants to be a Millionare. I actually made the hot seat. Didn't do too well since I was nervous but I was still proud to be there. Then after that it was off to Epcot. We rode the new Imagination which was very nice. It isn't the original but it is good. My only complaint is the length...it is very short. We then watched Illuminations.
Monday 8/26- Went to Animal Kingdom all day. Rode Primeval Whirl and liked it a lot. It was a fun ride. The area was also nice and I think that it fits the area well. The theming was fine. That night we went to Ohana and it was terrific. It was the best restaurant I had ever been to. We also had the best waiter.
Tuesday 8/27- Checked out of Port Orleans and had them send our bags over to the Polynesian. We checked in to the Polynesian and then hopped on the monorail to the Magic Kingdom. We spent the day there and then went back to the Hotel to relax.
Wendsday 8/28- Took the day off. Swam in the Volcano Pool in the morning and then rented a watermouse. The watermouse was a ton of fun and the Magic Kingdom area is the best place. There is so much room and almost no "No-Wake" zones. So you are free to go full speed. After that I went exploring to the other hotels in the MK area.
Thursday 8/29- Went to the Studios and AK to get the Limited Admission pins that were released. Then I went to Epcot for the rest of the day. Once it started raining we left. The night was a total washout.
Friday 8/30- Went to Blizzard Beach and we were chased out early because of the weather. That night we went to Cape May Cafe. The food was very good and it was a good but the night was again a wash out.
Saturday 8/31- Went to the Magic Kingdom and was one of the first people in to the park. I have a picture of me walking towards the castle with almost no one in front of me. I was also the first person on Pirates of the Caribbean for the day. I spent the day there and that night we watched the fireworks from the Polynesian beach. It was ver nice.
Sunday 9/1- Went to Epcot in the morning and ate lunch at San Angel Inn in Mexico. I ddn't think it was great. The setting was nice but the food was nothing special. After that I went to the Magic Kingdom where I got to go on a few last rides. That night we went to Ohana again and watched the fireworks right from the restaurant.
A FEW NOTES:
I went to the Marketplace a lot and went to the Pin traders store and the Once upon a toy Store. Both are very nice and good additions to the area.
I completed the I Counquered the World pin set and it was a fun journey around Disney. I also got some interesting new pins.
Mission Space was roped off towards the beginning of my trip. You couldn't get near the wall. The ropes were later removed.
We took Amtrak from New York to Orlando. The trip down was "unforgettable". The 21 hour train ride took us over 30 hours. It was truley the train ride from HELL. We left New York 1 hour late. Throughout the night we fell behind 2 more hours and when we woke up we were three hours behind schedule. While we were riding we lost power for a minute and overheard the conductor talk about engine trouble. A few minutes later we lost all power and had to evacuate the train. Luckilly there was a church nearby and we were able to get in to the A/C there. Then they moved us to another church. After a few hours they finally told us what was going to happen. We were going to be bussed to the Jacksonville Amtrak Station. We were told that the train would be waiting for us in Jacksonville. Well when we passed it on Interstate 95 we knew it wouldn't be. We finally got on the train at about 1 AM. We got to Orlando at 4:30 AM and got to the French Quarter at around 6:00 AM. 2 Hours later I was off to the Magic Kingdom.
Hotels:
Disney's Port Orleans-French Quarter Resort: This hotel was very nice and in My opinion is the best moderate because of it's size. The food court was redone a little and is now different foods are set up in to different stations. Everything else about the resort is the same as it was before it closed.
Disney's Polynesian Resort: This hotel was incredible! The setting was beautiful and the resort was just perfect. The Great Ceremonial house was so nice with the gardens and Polynesian decorations throughout. Ohana was delicious and I recommend it to all. The pool was terrific and the resort ammenities and transportation were wonderful. This was definately a great resort and If you are looking for a deluxe resort to stay at give this place a try. You won't be dissapointed.
THE TRIP:
Sunday 8/25- After that train ride I was ready to go to a park. I didn't care that I hadn't had slept in over a day. We went to the Magic Kingdom in the morning. As I approached the castle I didn't really care about the crane. It really didn't ruin the atmosphere and from most areas it was blocked by a tree or something. So it really wasn't a problem. On Splash Mountain they have the new safety spiel and it kind of over powers Brer Frog. But I guess it has to be done. After that we went over to the Studios to ride Tower of Terror and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. I also played Who Wants to be a Millionare. I actually made the hot seat. Didn't do too well since I was nervous but I was still proud to be there. Then after that it was off to Epcot. We rode the new Imagination which was very nice. It isn't the original but it is good. My only complaint is the length...it is very short. We then watched Illuminations.
Monday 8/26- Went to Animal Kingdom all day. Rode Primeval Whirl and liked it a lot. It was a fun ride. The area was also nice and I think that it fits the area well. The theming was fine. That night we went to Ohana and it was terrific. It was the best restaurant I had ever been to. We also had the best waiter.
Tuesday 8/27- Checked out of Port Orleans and had them send our bags over to the Polynesian. We checked in to the Polynesian and then hopped on the monorail to the Magic Kingdom. We spent the day there and then went back to the Hotel to relax.
Wendsday 8/28- Took the day off. Swam in the Volcano Pool in the morning and then rented a watermouse. The watermouse was a ton of fun and the Magic Kingdom area is the best place. There is so much room and almost no "No-Wake" zones. So you are free to go full speed. After that I went exploring to the other hotels in the MK area.
Thursday 8/29- Went to the Studios and AK to get the Limited Admission pins that were released. Then I went to Epcot for the rest of the day. Once it started raining we left. The night was a total washout.
Friday 8/30- Went to Blizzard Beach and we were chased out early because of the weather. That night we went to Cape May Cafe. The food was very good and it was a good but the night was again a wash out.
Saturday 8/31- Went to the Magic Kingdom and was one of the first people in to the park. I have a picture of me walking towards the castle with almost no one in front of me. I was also the first person on Pirates of the Caribbean for the day. I spent the day there and that night we watched the fireworks from the Polynesian beach. It was ver nice.
Sunday 9/1- Went to Epcot in the morning and ate lunch at San Angel Inn in Mexico. I ddn't think it was great. The setting was nice but the food was nothing special. After that I went to the Magic Kingdom where I got to go on a few last rides. That night we went to Ohana again and watched the fireworks right from the restaurant.
A FEW NOTES:
I went to the Marketplace a lot and went to the Pin traders store and the Once upon a toy Store. Both are very nice and good additions to the area.
I completed the I Counquered the World pin set and it was a fun journey around Disney. I also got some interesting new pins.
Mission Space was roped off towards the beginning of my trip. You couldn't get near the wall. The ropes were later removed.
