Finished report ~7 Dwarfs 'not so scary' Disney Adventure 10/2002 About This Page:

[disneyknut]

Okay I've been home almost a week & still don't have all of my notes together from my trip but since Tiki knows where I live I figured I'd better get moving on this trip report before she beats down my door [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]
Once upon a dream a long time ago a man named Walt Disney created a wonderful magical place for all children, young & old to create a special memory.
This place was called Walt Disney World & the is the 'not so' scary adventure of the 7 dwarfs & the magical memory they created...
The cast:
The meaning of the dwarf names will become apparent during the TR
Nervy dwarf that's me, Ann, 40YO...8th trip to WDW
calmy dwarf, DH, Jim, 33 YO.. 8th trip to WDW
Happy dwarf, that's DS, Jamie turned 10YO on this trip.. 7th trip to WDW
Whizzy dwarf, that's DS Brendan, 8YO, 7th trip to WDW
Whiney dwarf, DD Shelby, 4YO 4th trip to WDW
Adventurer Dwarf, MIL Linda, 56YO 3rd trip to WDW
Nappy dwarf, stepFIL, Dick 73YO 1st real trip to WDW
This story takes place from October 23-29 in a maigical location called All-Star Movies resort.

Pre-Trip:
As most of you know since my last trip to WDW in March my life has been very hectic & crazy.
Starting with my much beloved Grandmother passing away in April to a crazy All-Star baseball summer, being apprehensive about how StepFIL would act after the Kennywood park fiasco & culmulating in me straining my back 10 days before this trip to WDW. I really really needed a vacation!!! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
Friday before we were to leave my back finally started feeling better.
The day before we left, Tuesday was nuts at work [img]graemlins/dizzy.gif[/img] . There are 4 of us that work in the school cafeteria.. 2 of us are aides ( & my co-worker was still on sick leave from surgery in August)& there are 2 kitchen workers, one being the Cafeteria Manager. The week before we left, the managers husband became ill, necessitating a triple bypass & she took a leave from work to take care of him, so if you're keeping track.. now there are 2 regular workers left. Well, Tuesday I walked into work all happy thinking it was my last day & I will be in Disney world tomorrow & who do I find but 3 strange women standing there along with the head of the Cafeteria workers. Uh oh.. this can't be good! Seems the other 'regular' workers Mom ( who has alzheimers) escaped her home & there was a search for her in the neighborhood. ( she was found about 7 blocks from her home with her shoes in her hand instead of on her feet & in fairly good health except for purple/cold feet)
NOTHING is going to break my happy mood

I'm going to Walt Disney World!!!!

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">I spent the 1-1/2 hours at work driving the custodian, the substitute workers, the teachers, the students & anyone else who would listen insane by giving them "hourly' reports ( C'mon you all know you do it.. "This time tomorrow I'll be on a plane to WDW.." "in MGM"..etc....) The students also had to endure me asking each & every one of them "Are you gonna miss me?"
Spent the afternoon doing last minute packing & cleaning the house.
Dinner that night was 'eat the fridge' as we call it.. Which is you eat any leftovers or frozen items in the fride. I didn't want to leave anything in the refridgerator that might spoil.
Brendan had his last fall ball baseball game that night & I found it very hard to concentrate on the game I spent most of the game telling the parents around me ""I'm going to Disney World tomorrow" [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] & extoiling the virtues of the world.
We got home from the game around 8 pm & phoned MIL to see what her flight status was (Her DH is a retired pilot & they fly 'stand by') she said it looked good & we made plans to meet at the Disney store right outside of the gates.
Got the kids bathed & in bed by 10 pm ( a record) & finished up the rest of my cleaning. I went to give our Parrot, Polly some food only to discover that there was only enough left for about 2 days!! AARGH... [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] It is Jamie's job to take care of the bird & he never told me we were low on food.. told DH & he had to make an 11pm run to Wal-Mart for Parrot food.
Finally got into bed around midnight, set my alarm for 5 am & promptly fell asleep.
Up next: Day One: No room at the Inn... or how Ann lost her temper at AS-Sports

[ 12-23-2002, 06:06 PM: Message edited by: disneyknut ]

[Bert & Sully]

Hey [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] where's the part about your whereabouts on Sunday during the Passholder's party before MNSSHP?

[CRCrazy]

Great start Ann! Could you have had a more hectic crazy way to start a trip! Thank goodness you live in an area where there is a 24 hour Walmart. Ours closes at 9 pm! Your DH didn't plan on sleeping the night before a trip, did he? I know I never do!!

Can't wait to read more - sounds like there is a change of venue in store!!

[Elliot'sDragon]

What a well deserved and much needed vacation but I don't like the sound of the next installement! [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

[disneyknut]

Hey where's the part about your whereabouts on Sunday during the Passholder's party before MNSSHP?

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">WE WERE THERE!! looking for everyone else!! We were standing a little off from the food right by the railing looking over the order area at Columbia Harbor house.. Weren't we all supposed to meet at the 'food'? ( HA! an apple & popcorn YIPEE!! [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] ) I thought we'd be pretty conspicious with 3 kids all dressed up in costume & standing there looking around for fellow Passporters( I did that at Adventurers club too) We then sat at one of the tables right by the food & no one aproached us.
I didn't make it to the shooting gallery.. the CM's wouldn't let us past Pecos Bill's
Oh well, maybe I'll have better luck meeting other Passporters in November [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img]

[Bert & Sully]

Ann we were a bit late as we were told to go to the Briar Patch originally but we were there. Keith and I took turns scoping the place. We stayed until just about six and continued [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img] looking for the rest of the night!

Oh well [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] there's always next month eh?!

[tikibird]

Originally posted by disneyknut:
Okay I've been home almost a week & still don't have all of my notes together from my trip but since Tiki knows where I live I figured I'd better get moving on this trip report before she beats down my door [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">Hee Hee - you got that one right - and that, of course, also means that installments must be timely! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Glad you are back - great start to the report - curious as to what happed at ASSports. More please..... [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[disneyknut]

Day One: No room at the Inn or how Ann lost her temper at AS-Sports

My alarm went off at 5 am & I jumped out of bed, ready to face the day. Funny, when I have to get up every 'normal' day I hit the snooze button several times AND my alarm is a dual alarm clock & I hit the snooze several times on the later time too .
I got showered & then got the rest of the family up.We all get dressed in our matching WDW Birthday shirts. Decided to go online & check Orlando's weather one last time ( yes, I admit it, I check it all the time in the days before my trips). I also found the cutest E-mail from Brendan's teacher wishing us a great time & a safe trip. See why I love the teachers at our school so much? Jim & I ran around making sure all of the appliances were shut off & no garbage was left in any of the cans. I then had to say goodbye to Polly. Polly is a tame, talking orange wing amazon who thinks he's a person (his favorite food is Spaghettio's) Well, goodbye to Polly is traumatic. Every night when I shut out the light in his room ( the playroom actually) & say goodnight he lets out the most pitiful moan.. It is heart wrenching & funny at the same time. Well that morning was no exception.. I say goodbye Polly & he moans... I took him out of his cage & got tons of kisses ( yes, parrots kiss.. just like a dog, they lick... but Polly's tongue is black & leathery not wet) Finally we leave & make sure the front door is locked. ( remembering the last trip when I left the front door wide open).
We hit the road about 6:10am & there is a ton of traffic to the airport.. I REALLY hate this later flight change. Our old departure time was 7:40am now it's 9:20am & the difference in the drive is unreal, people flying by in cars, zigging in & out of lanes AARGH.. give me my Xanax!!. [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] We make it to the airport around 7:30am, check our bags & get through security without any problems. Now, there is one 'good' thing about being in the airport later than usual... THE STORES ARE OPEN!! Jim wants to eat, I want to shop! we compromise. He gets a McMuffin Sandwich at McDonalds & eats it walking while I shop. No one else was hungry so they decided to shop with me.
While we were shopping I notice the time is 7:47am & stop to wish my firstborn a Happy birthday ( It's a family tradition that the birthday person is wished happy birthday at the TIME they were born). As we're walking Jim's call phone rings & it's his Mom.. Uh oh, I thought she got bumped off her flight but she was just calling to tell us she's listed & will meet us at the Disney store . She was scheduled to land at 11:09am. We then played in the Discovery store until we decide it's time to get to our gate.I get a bottle of water for the flight& we're ready to go.
We got a lot of comments on our shirts from several passengers as we were boarding the plane. The plane ride was wonderful! VERY smooth & hardly any bumps. The only problem was I started getting very stuffy on the plane.. my head & nose were stuffed badly [img]graemlins/achoo.gif[/img] . I took a Tylenol & it seemed to relieve it. The boys played with their Gameboy advances & Shelby played with hers for a little bit then dozed off. About half hour before we landed Shelby woke up screaming in pain that her mouth hurt.. It was very very odd & we could not stop her from crying. Even the flight attendant came over to see if she could help. [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img] I gave her a couple Childrens Tylenol but the only thing that seemed to relieve her pain is for Jim to rub her gums. [img]graemlins/ukid.gif[/img] At this point the flight attendant noticed our shirts & called the other flight attendant over to see them. We landed about 11:27 am & as we were leaving the plane the flight attendant made the entire crew look at our shirts & all of them wished Jamie a 'Happy Birthday'.. Pretty cool start to a vacation. We head down the finger from our gate to be greeted by a yell "JIM,ANN".. Hey... that lady is dressed like US.. it's MIL...hugs & kisses for everyone

& Shelby seems to have forgotten her mouth pain ( I do beleive it was pressure from the flight) Then we're off to baggage claim. Jim goes to National to get our rental van while I take MIL & step FIL with me to get our bags. ( After my aching back the week before, I'm taking no chances.. they are getting the bags off the conveyor belt) Our luggage arrives & we meet Jim at the doors heading out to the parking garage.
The warm Florida air hits us & I realize We're Here!!!!!!! [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img]
Get our van & head off to All-Star Sports. MIL & stepFIL are looking at the Community homes along the highway. Get to check in & there is no line. Great!! Everyone is hungry.. maybe we'll get out of here quickly HA HA HA [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] The CM says that they don't have a connecting room available in Fantasia building, but they do have 2 rooms right next to each other. I tell her that my MIL is not staying the entire time & we have to have adjoining rooms. Furthermore, when we spoke to CRO they guaranteed us adjoining rooms & Jim even had them put it in writing & send to us. The CM said they did have an adjoining room in Fantasia but it was in smoking. I tell her that is unacceptable as Brendan has some slight asthma problems( very slight but I didn't tell her that!)Jim also asked for a guaranteed non-smoking room when we booked & asked if we needed to get a note from our Pediatrician. We were assured that wasn't necessary & they would assure us non-smoking. The CM at this point gets VERY VERY rude & says "Ma'am NOTHING is guaranteed.. we will try our best to accomodate you but we don't guarantee anything" At this point, I'm hungry & frustrated & snapped. I reminded her that I had the guarantee in writing about the adjoining rooms & non-smoking & she insisted that didn't matter. I then asked to speak to her manager & the manager was just as rude.. She refused to even look at my papers stating the guaranteed rooms, she said that the best they could do is move us to the football building.. Jim & I look at this & think it would be okay. I ask the manager if I am going to get my $120 refund since I paid $10 a day extra per night per room for a preffered room. She said that she wouldn't refund it but give me a credit. I really lost it then & told her how unhappy I was with the service I was getting & how I would re-think staying there ever again & her un-Disneylike reply was " I can give you a comment card if you want to write your opinion" I was so glad that my MIL was over on the couches watching TV with the kids. She would have been spastic. Finally the manager says "I can see if there is anything available at any of the other All-star resorts, is that acceptable?" At that point, I didn't care.. I simply wanted the kind of room I was guaranteed. She phoned around & was able to get us adjoining rooms at ASmovies... We tell MIL of the problem & off we go to ASMovies...
Still no lines at ASMovies & Ben a very very nice CM & fellow Pennsylvanian ( from Philly) gets us exaclty what we wanted. We are in Fantasia building room 8806 & 8807, 2nd floor. AND.. best of all.. the room is ready now. Jim & Jamie go to the van to get the luggage while the rest of us go to the rooms. We walk into 8806 & there is a 'funny' smell to the room. Dick proceeds to say that it is a smoke smell & practially knocks me over getting into the other room. Fine, I don't care which room I get. I don't think it's a smoke smell.. I notice a big white stain on the carpet & I think the smell is cleaning solution used on the carpet.
Oh gosh... My SIL just called ( yes at almost midnight) & asked if we wanted Krispy Kreme donuts so I'm going to have to finish day one tomorrow.. Krispy Kremes are calling....

[ 12-14-2002, 11:54 PM: Message edited by: disneyknut ]

[Diz]

I don't know Ann, Krispy Kremes vs. leaving us hanging...and you chose KK! [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] Don't blame you...we had some today too! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Absolutely love your TR. DD worked as a CM at AS-Mu and filled in at AS-Mo. She said all CMs with any compassion would worm their way out of working at AS-Sp...she said there was just something not right there. Interesting to read your experience!

Can't wait to hear more!

[disneyknut]

Diz9.. that is funny you should mention the ASsports people being 'different'.. I saw at least 3 other people complaining while I was waiting for my situation to get resolved. One lady had changed her ressies 2 weeks before her arrival & ASSports said they couldn't accomodate it. She ended up on the phone with her travel agent to get the matter straightened out. But, she like myself we're both very tense & agitated...
I wonder why they don't have nicer people there?? I did send an e-mail to WDW as soon as I got home & I was very critical of the situation & Un-disney way I was treated. I am curious to see if I get any kind of reponse.. I've written to WDW on another occasion ( about EE) & received a courtesy phone call so I'd love to get one for this situation & tell them how badly the CM AND manager behaved..

[Bert & Sully]

Ann as we discussed on the phone alot of people have been having ugly episodes with AS CMs and I'm glad you followed through with an email.

When we first walked into our BC room I noticed that same awful odor assault us upon opening the door. Keith still insists it's the cleaning supplies they use.

[Mouseketeer]

Ann, sorry you had such a nasty experience with the CM's to start off your trip. I'm glad you promptly sent a letter to WDW about your experience. It will be interesting to see how they reply. Looking forward to hearing more about your trip.

Lynda

[tikibird]

Ann,

Enjoyed hearing about your trip down - and glad you survived your trip on the Parkway West to the airport! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] (I nearly took a stroke driving home on it last month on the way home from a business trip! [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] )

Sorry to hear about the rude service you received at AS Sports - but hoped you enjoyed the switch to Movies. Had you stayed there before?

Looking forward to more.... [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[disneyknut]

With the sounds of Donny Osmond wafting through my computer I am ready to add more to my trip report! ( see what Donny does to me???) [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]
Okay...where did I leave off.. we're in the room & everyone is hungry & we are trying to decide where to go.. The original plan was for us to grab a quick bite at the food court & go to MGM for Jamie ( to ride RnR) Well, he also really wanted to get a jump on the Food & Wine festival so we decided to go over & eat at Epcot. Headed to the bus stop & saw the Epcot bus waiting.. As we were going through security the guard saw our shirts & asked who's birthday it was.. He then told us to go to Guest relations to pick up a birthday gift. We head over to GR & Jim & Jamie walk in while the rest of us wait outside. Dick has already started complaining "What are we doing here? when are we going to eat" [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] The CM gave Jamie a huge bag of toys ( chalk etc) It was really more geared toward younger kids but a great place to stop if someone is having a birthday. We head over to WS & on the little bridge Dick is still moaning "How far do we have to walk to get a hamburger, why couldn't we eat at the hotel?" AARGH!!! I start to think "Great! Will this be the norm for the rest of the vacation?" [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]
We start in the WS & start at the Florida kiosk... Dick & I had the grouper cake ( pretty good) MIL then decides that she doesn't want to walk the food booths, she wants to get one meal & sit down.. That's fine with us. We'll get our food at the booths & meet her. She decides on the Mexican Cantana.We go to the F&WF Mexico kiosk & everyone gets a watermelon juice & joins MIL & stepFIL. Well, neither one could stop raving about the food & how authentic it was ( they live in Texas & visit Mexico often) okay.. maybe this trip wont be so bad. They had so much food in their 2 meals that all 7 of us were able to share. Stuffed with food & feeling refreshed we decide to head over to Test Track. The wait time is 20 minutes so we forego the fast pass & get in stand by. Dick is having a blast in the pre-show area watching the dummies get abused. We decide that Jamie, Brendan & I will ride with MIL & StepFIL & Jim & Shelby will get another car. When they were showing what was going to happen to our car Dick turned to me & said "THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO US????" with a worried look on his face I assured him with "Of course" [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] . You know it is really cool watching someone experience a ride for the first time & Test Track is a great example. Both Linda & Dick were so 'into' the ride. When it was time to crash into the doors I told both of them to take their hats off & MIL got the 'deer in the headlights' look. We headed toward the door & MIL hid her face in her hands. I absolutely love this part of the ride & spent the entire time outside whooing!!! Both Linda & Dick gave it a thumbs up!! Great first ride for newbies at WDW!!!
We look over the water & there is an ominous black cloud that does not look good. MIL wants to do Spaceship Earth & everyone but Brendan, Shelby & I head over there. I know I'm odd but I do not like Spaceship earth.. I don't like winding up the hill & as for going down backwards UGH!!! I'll pass!! While everyone is in SE the rain starts to come down in buckets! Of course we left our ponchos in the room ( it was beautiful & sunny when we left)

The rain soaked travelers.. still smiling in matching shirts no less!
They come off the ride & we decide that a little ( HA) rain is not going to spoil our trip we head over to Innoventions & Dick & Linda go see the house of the future while the kids & I play at the games etc. We go over to the other Innoventions & play some more. About this time I thought it would be fun to torture MIL some so I tell them I want to do HISTA.. You see, MIL is petrified of snakes & When she came to WDW with us 6 years ago & we did HISTA she grabbed Jamies arm so hard she left marks & it was soo funny to hear my poor boy "Grandma, let go, you're hurting me" MIL did remember this attraction but was brave enough to go in again. (something that will be repeated during the entire TR.. thus her dwarf name 'Adventurer')We had a great time in HISTA & by this time the rain had let up to a light sprinkle. It was now close to 6:30 & almost time for our PS at Teppanyaki. I see that Mitsouki (I know I spelled that wrong.. the Japanese shop!) is closed for refurbishing BUMMER!!! I love to browse that store. Jim check in at Teppanyaki & we have about 15 minutes to wait. We sit on the benches & people watch. It is about this time I look over at Jim & his T-shirt is melting!! for some reason the transfer was bleeding & there is red all stained on the front of his shirt. I look down & MY shirt is bleeding blue! No one else has this problem but Jim & I. I haven't gotten my MIL's pictures from the trip yet but when I do I'll be sure & post one of the shirts. Jim spoke to the CM & told them that it was Jamies birthday & asked if we could have a cupcake or something for him. They told him they would handle it.
Jamie & I order Sushi which totally shocks MIL, but impresses her that her 10YO grandson would try (& like) different things. Everyone orders steak except Brendan & Shelby get Donalds favorite & I get the scallops. Everything was wonderful & our server was great.. he made an onion volcano that was soo cool.

you can see a little of our birthday shirts, thats L-R: Brendan, Jamie, Dick & Linda
After dinner the server comes out with a cake & candles & has everyone sing Happy Birthday to Jamie. I thought he would get a little cupcake or something but this cake was big enough for the 7 of us to get a slice. & it was delicious too.

Happy Birthday Jamie!!
We decided we were tired after our meal & didn't want to stay for Illuminations so we headed off to the bus & back to our resort. We got our refillable mugs & got some drinks & headed off to our rooms. Jamie decided to sleep in Grandma's room. Shelby ended up sleeping in one bed with Jim & Brendan slept with me. This arrangement will change nightly it seems.
Whew!!! that's day one!!
A synopsis:
The weather was VERY rainy!
Best thing: Seeing MIL & StepFIL's reaction to Test Track
worst: Hearing StepFIL complain.
Coming up.. Day Two: It wasn't me... It was Linda!

[ 12-15-2002, 12:00 AM: Message edited by: disneyknut ]

[Bert & Sully]

Ann those first two days were real "doozies" weather-wise weren't they?!