WDW - Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated. – My August 2011 Trip Report

WDW - Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated. – An August 2011 Trip Report

Welcome to my trip report! First, about the title. Reading the WDW boards lately one would think that Disney World was coming apart at the seams; Overrun by vicious gangs of Brazilian tour groups, Pop Warner boys and cheerleaders. Filled with broken down, outdated rides run by snarly cast members. The resorts infested by bedbugs, nasty housekeepers, and moldy shower curtains. The Restaurants serving up Dogfood burgers and steaks served with the leather hides still attached. The fireworks shows reduced to open fire pits and a few boxes of sparklers.

To be totally honest and sarcasm aside (kinda), I was really getting concerned about this trip. I had gone to great lengths and compromise ( see my Pre-trip report) to make this trip a reality. Now I was worried that once my family would see first hand the crumbling vestige that was once our favorite place on earth; this would seal this trip’s fate as our last one to the World. Well, I’m happy to say, with photos as proof – the rumors of Walt Disney World’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.

First Day and intro to our family;

Our countdown was over. The paper chain in Toni’s room that started at day 178 was now down to day zero. It was 4 in the morning on August 6th and I woke up Toni and we tore up that last chain and started to get ready for our trip. By 4:30, Toni and her brother Sterg, were ready and waiting.

I have a good friend that happens to own a limo business, so we hired him to drive us to Philadelphia International. The limo came at 5:00am. This is my wife Val and my oldest child, Alexandra, getting spoiled in the limo.

Sterg and I on the other seat…

While Toni caught a few z’s.

Everything was going fine. We were making great time on the Turnpike until we were detoured off of it an exit too soon. Unfortunately, this was only the first of our several delays that morning.

 

[fractal]

I don't care how many times I see this show, it always makes me cry! Can't wait for April 2012. Your trip report is absolutely wonderful.:wave:

AA was great and thanks for reading!

 

[Sarabell]

sounds like awesome tours you had. I like the segway one but I'm not good with moving vehicles (other than driving a car) so me not doing the tour would actually be a big favor to human kind.

Forgetting a brush for Tony didn't end up being as bad. You should see how my hair would look like if I didn't brush it... two words for you: old mop! Although I'm a little dissapointed on you. You gave BigRedDad such good advice on managing his little girl's hair and you forgot to bring a brush for your girl...

I already told you I love your trip report and It's helping me get my last WDW fix before my trip tomorrow!! I can't wait!! :sohappy:

 

[fractal]

Toni and I turned off the pathway from Epcot to enter the BC lobby - we didn't take the "short cut" to the Villas, hoping we could convince Sterg ( and Alex ) to join our trip to Typhoon Lagoon.

This is the back entrance to the Beach Club lobby. The scaffolding hints at the massive repainting job in progress. From this vantage point, Storm-along-Bay is to your left ( where Sterg left us ). If you would turn around 180 degrees you would have a view of the Boardwalk across the lake. As you enter the lobby, Cape May Cafe is to your left. Toni and I however, entered the lobby and made a right towards the Villas.

We did a quick change, I brushed Toni's hair smiling to myself that somehow I managed to avoid having Val see her "rat's nest". I could hear the response.

"Why would you let your child look like this in public?"

I decided to take a picture of the door for villa #134.

The bus ride to TL is brutal. First you have to go to DTD with its multiple stops before getting dropped off at Typhoon Lagoon. To add to the brutality, traffic that afternoon was overflowing. We picked up a crowd at DTD and a pair of middle aged women sat next to Toni and I, carrying several large shopping bags. As we made the turn into TL the one lady complained loudly.

"OH! Don't tell me we have to make a stop at the waterpark. This is ridiculous!"

Are you kidding me? I thought. We just endured this hellish 45 minute ride, picked you up and you're complaining 2 minutes after you sit down? - and I guess you didn't see me and my daughter sitting here in our swimsuits ( not to mention the other "waterparkers" on the bus).

Toni looked at me and said quitely "She doesn't seem very nice".

I whispered back " Yeah, I think she needs a little bit of pixie dust".

We departed our bus and entered TL. We thought of going to BB just to ride Summit Plummet, but I'm glad we decided on TL. I love the tropical themeing; finding it relaxing and beautiful. Toni agreed - she loved the park!
We first went into the wave pool and had a great time dodging the big waves. After that we did Crush & Gusher twice. We spent some time in line discussing the "story" behind the abandoned fruit processing plant and pointing out the clues the Imagineers left behind to tell its tale.

From there we did Storm Slides and Humuga Cowabunga. Toni didn't flinch at all - in fact she was the one dragging me up the empty stairs and pathways to the slides. We hit the park at the right time as it was near empty. We went back to the wave pool and decided to call it quicks when Toni started to complain of a headache.

I was also not feeling great. I was battling a bit of a cold since Wednesday -nothing serious, stuffiness and scratchy throat. We went into a gift shop to buy some motrin and water and made our way out of the park.

I had hoped that as a family we would spend a day in a water park, but it didn't happen on this trip. We love waterparks but with the BC pool so much more convient it took too much motivation to get the entire crew there.

As for pictures - Sorry -I purposely left my camera in the room. As i walked through the park I would regret not bringing it, but as we were dashing from slide to slide I was glad I didn't. :shrug:

Up next - Dinner @ California Grill and my "wardrobe issues".

 

[Southern_Tink]

Thank you for the link, there are several tours I'm interested in now that I've looked! And the price was actually not as bad as I was imagining, so I'm sure we will be picking something to add for our May trip, just not sure what yet.
Love the updates. The way that your little girl goes everywhere with you is precious. I was just like that when we went to WDW and I was a child. I went everywhere with my dad, while my sister and mom did their thing! I'm still that way! And don't worry about her bailing on you when she gets older-I'm sure she'll invite you to go to WDW with her. I'm married and we have a child and my dad has gone on every Disney trip that I've ever been on! Our May trip is just me and my husband. I actually feel bad that we are not inviting my dad for the first time, but he is watching our son for us to go, so I think he is pretty content with that!
Looking forward to more updates-then again maybe not, because the more you write the closer it is to being over!!! Haha!

 

[fractal]

sounds like awesome tours you had. I like the segway one but I'm not good with moving vehicles (other than driving a car) so me not doing the tour would actually be a big favor to human kind.

Forgetting a brush for Tony didn't end up being as bad. You should see how my hair would look like if I didn't brush it... two words for you: old mop! Although I'm a little dissapointed on you. You gave BigRedDad such good advice on managing his little girl's hair and you forgot to bring a brush for your girl...

I already told you I love your trip report and It's helping me get my last WDW fix before my trip tomorrow!! I can't wait!! :sohappy:

I highly recommend the Seas Aqua Tour. Val and Alex say the Segways are not that bad, and they give you training on them before they set you "loose".

Lol! Yeah, I make myself out to be some kind of expert but then can't remember a hair brush. The problem was, I never had to remember a brush before. I hope you have a wonderful trip and can't wait to hear about it!

Thank you for the link, there are several tours I'm interested in now that I've looked! And the price was actually not as bad as I was imagining, so I'm sure we will be picking something to add for our May trip, just not sure what yet.
Love the updates. The way that your little girl goes everywhere with you is precious. I was just like that when we went to WDW and I was a child. I went everywhere with my dad, while my sister and mom did their thing! I'm still that way! And don't worry about her bailing on you when she gets older-I'm sure she'll invite you to go to WDW with her. I'm married and we have a child and my dad has gone on every Disney trip that I've ever been on! Our May trip is just me and my husband. I actually feel bad that we are not inviting my dad for the first time, but he is watching our son for us to go, so I think he is pretty content with that!
Looking forward to more updates-then again maybe not, because the more you write the closer it is to being over!!! Haha!

I thought the price for the Seas Aqua Tour was reasonable - and it went to a good cause.

Toni was wonderful. We did have a great time - and you made my night! I'm looking forward to one day being in the World with grandchildren!

 

[fractal]

OK - for those that complain about drink prices @ WDW. I just got back from a Philadelphia Phillies game (business entertainment) and couldn't believe the prices.

$4.25 for a bottle of water
$7.50 for a light beer


I'm planning to update my trip report tomorrow. Just getting ready and getting to dinner at the California Grill was an amusing experience.

:wave:

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I always debate bringing my camera to the water parks. I am perfectly comfortable hiding it under a towel on our chairs, but my dh is, shall we say, not as comfortable with that. :lol:

I do enjoy having the waterproof camera with me. The pictures aren't anywhere near as good, but it's still fun to use. I bought it for snorkeling on a cruise a few years ago and I definitely use it!

Can't wait for more!

 

[silver1113]

That's too bad you couldn't get their as a family. Thank goodness for your youngest. Can't wait for more. Hoping your malfunction wasn't too bad.

 

[TheMouseFan]

Although I'm a little dissapointed on you. You gave BigRedDad such good advice on managing his little girl's hair and you forgot to bring a brush for your girl...

Too funny! I was thinking the same thing as I was reading! Loving the report and can't wait for more.

 

[fractal]

Six years ago I lost about 70 pounds which prompted me to buy new clothing. Since then I've put 10-15 pounds back on - which prompted me to buy even more clothing ( slightly larger ). I call the first set of clothing my "skinny clothes". I have skinny "pants, skinny "shirts", etc. So what does this have to do with my Disney trip?

For our dinner at California Grill, I decided I wanted to wear dress slack, a short sleeved shirt and loafers and I packed appropriately. As I was getting ready, pulling my slacks up over my butt, I knew I was in trouble. I mistakenly packed my "skinny slacks".

"Big Pops trying to squeeze in his pants!" Sterg said as he walked in the bedroom.

I nearly fell on my face as I reached for him with my pants half up.

I was able to button them after breathing in deeply - and I may have been able to wear them but at the risk of serious muffin top and potential cardiac arrest after consuming my meal not to mention the barrage of comments from the teenagers. I went to Plan B - dressy shorts and a polo along with a brand new pair of boat shoes. Those boat shoes were not broken-in.

Now that we were all dressed we tried to figure out the best route to the Contemporary from the BC. We came up with 2 options;

1) Take the bus from BC to Magic Kingdom then walk to the Contemporary.

2) Walk into Epcot and take the monorail to Contemporary.

The kids wanted to do option A while Val and I wanted option B. So we decided to have a race. It was on and we were off!

It wasn't too long after starting our fast-paced walk to Epcot that I realized my boat shoes were going to be a problem - especially with no socks on. The back of the shoes were digging into my heel with every step. It really started to hurt. Val had little sympathy and was more concerned with bragging rights over the kids than my heels.

"C'mon! we got to keep moving" she ordered.

I did pause to take a picture along the way..."Wait" CLICK "OK, got it."

In addition to the stupid shoe tearing the skin off the back of my foot, the warm humid night was making me work up some nice perspiration. Gross right? Just how I wanted to enjoy our "nice meal". I remember debating if I should just take the shoes off and go barefoot. We finally made it the the monorail.

All aboard!

We got off at the Transportation and Ticket Center, hustled down the steps and huffed up the next steps for the resort loop to the Contemporary. OK - this was turning into a mini workout. It was at this point that we realized that the Contemporary was the last stop on the loop. We were doomed.
It was also at this point I saw the blood coming from the back of my feet. Wonderful.

We finally made it to the resort - and look who was waiting for us at the California Grill check in area..."We win!" the trio of children proclaimed.

Sorry for the "sweaty picture". The smile is hiding the fact that I wasn't feeling good, my feet were bleeding and my shirt was soaked.

Again - not the way I wanted to spend the evening at this restaurant. I was now paying for the simple mistake I made a week before while packing my clothing. I was also paying for the 10 extra pounds I put on that started this unfortunate chain reaction. I went to the restroom to clean myself up as best I could. Dinner was next.

 

[disneyrcks]

Oh no! Not of to a good start but I hope dinner and cocktails eased the stress of rushing to the Cali Grill and the pain of your blisters!

 

[fractal]

Our wait was short and we were soon escorted up the elevator to CG. The stylized, clean and trendy look of the dinning room was just what you would expect of the penthouse restaurant/bar at the Contemporary. I loved the look of the place, the lighting and the lines.

Not to mention the view!

Our reservation was for 8:30, which I amazingly made one week before our trip when we changed our itinerary. We were glad to get in, but the downside was that we didn't have a window seat. We were pretty lucky all trip with seats so no one was complaining.

Val and I split a bottle of white wine. I don't know much about wines but I do have the routine down at nice restaurants pretending I do. - Order the mid priced bottle from California; Sniff the cork; stir the glass after the waiter pours, take a sip and say "Oh, this is good!".

After that, I started to guzzle it down hoping the alcohol would take the edge off my pain. I also ordered a bacardi and diet coke to ease the wine's job. :dazzle:

 

[fractal]

OK, time to order. I was starting to feel a bit better at this point.

Our waiter was pretty good. He took our food order and gave us directions to the outdoor observation area for the "best view on property" of Wishes. We made our way. Unfortunately - it was packed. It's also pretty loud with those speakers playing the "Wishes" script and music. I couldn't get a great view and Toni complained that she "couldn't see anything" so I ended up holding her. This also made picture taking a bit of a challenge.

Not to mention the back of this guy's head...

I much rather preferred the spot Toni and I had the night before. The waiter lied. Back to the table.


We ordered the triple cheese flatbread to start and the Spicy Kazan Roll (no pic)

The wine and rum did the trick with my pain, but also amplified my stuffy head - which unfortunately deadened my sense of taste and smell. I really couldn't taste the flatbread, but the Kazan Rolls spiciness combined with some wasabi managed to temporary break through my olfactory fog. It was very good!

Toni started to get an attitude about having to "always order from the kid's menu". We started to pick on her a bit. "Why? you would just want to order chicken fingers and fries anyway?"

She didn't take the teasing too well...

then didn't want me to take anymore pictures.

OK, time for some more wine...

 

[fractal]

Val and Sterg loved Cali Grill! I just kept drinking.

The view from my seat of the "kitchen".

By the time dinner came I was feeling pretty good.

Val and Alex order the Filet Mignon which I believe was a chef's special.

They loved it.

Sterg ordered and enjoyed the Oak-fired Filet of Beef.

I'm not sure what Toni ordered, but I ordered the Wild Pacific Salmon. It was one of those meals you eat when you are buzzed then don't remember eating it after you are done. I think it was pretty good but I don't recall actually tasting it. :shrug:

It did look good!

 

[fractal]

For dessert, Val ordered the Strawberry Cobler -

Alex and Sterg the Valrhona chocolate cake. This won "best dessert" award from the table.

I ordered the bananas and caramel...

Toni order the Kid's "sushi" dessert -

and they also gave her some birthday cake -

That put her in a better mood! (I-phone pic)

 

[fractal]

After ordering and consuming a "night cap" and finishing off the wine, we all got up and started to leave. Val and the kids loved Cali-Grill. They raved about the food. I on the other hand, cannot rave about the food simply because I didn't taste much of it. Considering the state I was in when I first got there, I guess the evening could have been pretty bad, but it wasn't. I had a good time there, my family had a memorable meal and I was half-drunk in Disney World. I'll chalk it up as a successful evening!

I deferred from the restaurant rating - the rest of the family gave Cali-Grill a solid 9.

As we walked out I started taking random pictures.

In the elevator. Yeah I was happy.

As we reached the ground floor I made my best decision of the night. I got us a cab. There was no EMH that evening so it was back to the BC.

As we stepped into the Villa, I made my second best decision of the night. I took off my blood stained boat shoes and threw them in the trash can.

Coming up - our last full day; Toni picks the park and my best day photographing.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

:lol: You threw your shoes away! That cracks me up! I guess I understand though. I have been tempted to walk barefoot through the parks before when my shoes weren't cooperating. It's that feeling that cutting your feet off may actually feel better than leaving them on.

I'm glad you had fun at California Grill! However it happened!

 

[DisneyFan1003]

Totally enjoying your report - I keep laughing out loud in my office and people are starting to wonder! :ROFLOL:

Love your positive spin on the trip...sometimes reports get bogged down in all the complaints and negativity. Your kids crack me up...the commentary is priceless!

Looking forward to the rest...thanks for sharing!

 

[fractal]

Our Last Full Day at the World


7AM came early - especially when you are dehydrated and in need of a gallon of water and two advils. As I was up slowly hydrating, Toni awoke.

"What park are we going to today" she asked

"I don't know - let's see what Alex & Sterg think." I answered.

The teenagers were buried beneath their blankets and had no intentions of getting up that early. They said they would meet up with us later. Same response from Val. Toni and I were on another morning excursion by ourselves.

"OK kid, what park do you want to go to?"

"Animal Kingdom!" She said with out hesitating. I was somewhat surprised but off we went.

First we purchased our to-go breakfast at the Marketplace. Toni got her standard Cinnamon roll and milk and I opted for the granola fruit yogurt parfait and coffee. We made our way to the bus stop waiting for our bus.

It was a hot and muggy morning. Maybe the warmest day of our trip. We entered the park and headed straight for Everest. We saw the swinging apes on the way (Apes don't have tails, we learned).

We grabbed fastpasses then stood in a short standby line. Ten minutes later we were in the front seat for EE ride #1. We got off and the stand-by was actually shorter. EE ride #2 was complete 15 minutes later.



It's Tough to be a bug was next. Toni wanted to take a picture of her dorky, sweaty Dad.

She was so proud of herself that she sat back and kept her eyes open the entire show.

She endured the fog, hornets, spiders and maggots. On the downside - Hopper was a no show. I was disappointed with that. AK has two of the most biggest AA and both were down. They need to put it down for rehab and fix the problems with Hopper, not to mention the Yeti. Maybe with Avatar coming it will give them the courage to fix them for good.

 

[fractal]

Flick was ready for some meeting and greeting and not much of a line.

Now a picture without "sweaty Dad".

Goodbye Flick - time for some Festival of the Lion King.

More delicious details...

The last time I was in Camp Minnie Mickey to see FoTLK was in 2007. I wanted to make sure Toni saw it this trip because she doesn't remember going 4 years before. I was bumming that Alex wasn't with us though, she is our Lion King girl after all.

Welcome to Camp Minnie Mickey/Future Pandora.

FoTLK this way!

We were among the first in line so we had a bit of a wait. The fans blowing cool mist gave us some relief form the heat.

We entered the theater and discovered we were seated in the elephant section.