The Grand Fiesta 10th Anniversary Trip Report - THREAD 1 Updated 9/11
About This Page:

**chezp** · 09-01-2006, 02:39 AM

Great start Marnie - and how great that there were no problems for you with the added security! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img] How [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] that you got the Toyota as well - it sounds like things have started well, although I'm a bit worried about breakfast... [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/ukid.gif[/img]

kimkdmm · 09-01-2006, 08:00 AM

Yay Marnie, [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] the report has begun!! Great start...looking forward to more [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]

gwugirl03 · 09-01-2006, 08:12 AM

Looking good, Marnie!! Can't wait to read more!!

PrincessSharon · 09-01-2006, 10:55 AM

Great start! I'm glad you didn't have any issues at the airport with the extra security. It gives me an idea what to expect. Eagerly awaiting more...

Huntermom · 09-01-2006, 04:05 PM

I always enjoy your reports. I hope Alexa was able to adjust to the headrest situation. I had two boys and then a girl and learned quickly how much more sensitive girls' bodies are. We had to avoid too hot, too cold, too hard, too soft, too scratchy, large seams, threads, etc.

Diane

IdahoDisneyMom · 09-01-2006, 07:29 PM

Great start as usual Marnie! I love the new pic on you signature. Tell you what, I'll write more if you will! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

**Luvsun** · 09-01-2006, 07:51 PM

Marnie - I love the beginning....you got me hooked already! I remember thinking about you and your family that morning when you were to leave! I hoped that your travel would not be delayed! Sounds like your rental car was a hit! Looking forward to your next installment! I hope the little poem helped you get the room you wanted at AKL!
Oh - by the way...love the new sig pic! Those little ones are adorable!
And - about that new countdown- are you going to be a domestic engineer for a while or are you looking for another position????? [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/questionicon.gif[/img]

**Colexis Mom** · 09-01-2006, 08:22 PM

[ QUOTE ]

And - about that new countdown- are you going to be a domestic engineer for a while or are you looking for another position????? [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/questionicon.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Why yes I am switching professions [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] From design engineer to domestic engineer [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] Not really my choosing although it's at a great time for me. The company is relocating to SC and I won't budge [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img]

And I'm not looking for another job at this point [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img]

**Luvsun** · 09-01-2006, 08:29 PM

[/ QUOTE ]
And I'm not looking for another job at this point [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Good for you Marnie! I am sure you will enjoy your time at home with your adorable children! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]

Nala · 09-01-2006, 08:38 PM

Great start, Marnie. That Alamo "push" would have made me crazy. Glad your bags fit even though the counter rep said they wouldn't.

Please give us more!

Tink and co. · 09-01-2006, 10:17 PM

More please... [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img]

clio · 09-01-2006, 10:33 PM

I've glad to see you started your report. Can't wait to read more. I don't know why he said 4 bags won't fit in a mid sizes suv. I own a Vue and can get more than that into it.
Liz

BelmontBelle · 09-02-2006, 10:04 AM

So glad you've started your report! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] Hurry back with more please.

I love your new picture, your children are gorgeous!

**2princessmom** · 09-02-2006, 10:56 AM

Hurry back with more! Can't wait!

**Colexis Mom** · 09-02-2006, 07:42 PM

<font color="blue">Day 1, Friday August 11, 2006

I think I was the first one up this morning. I just couldn’t sleep. We were in Orlando [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] Of course, it was only 5:45 [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/snore.gif[/img] Slowly and surely everyone else rallied and it was time for showers, tubs, and to lather on the sunscreen. A quick perusal of the morning news showed that among the still security concerns, it was going to be a hot and sunny day in Orlando, possibly record breaking. With no chance of rain [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img] So much for the rainy season.

Once we were dressed and Alexa was medicated it was downstairs for breakfast. And boy what a disappointing change [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] The eggs were gone. The waffles were like cardboard. You could still taste the freezer burn. The fruit salad was canned. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img] There wasn’t any yogurt. There were no chocolate chip muffins for Alexa (how she remembers these things I don’t know). I started out with maple and brown sugar oatmeal. Horrid. Then I tried the waffle. Double horrid. Finally I gave up and had corn flakes. You can’t go wrong with corn flakes [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img] Thankfully, they didn’t ruin those. Colin had Fruit Loops, Alexa ate the waffles (drenched in syrup), and Matt had waffles as well. Well, we won’t be staying here anymore. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img] The location was nice, the price was right, but since it’s no longer a Hilton and the breakfast is disappointing at best, we are done.

We loaded up the car, and headed to the AKL to check in. Yes, it was only 8:00, but why not [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] Sorry, a quick diversion………I’m typing this sitting on the balcony overlooking the savanna, and Peter Cottontail just bobbed out to the savanna. I didn’t know they had bunnies in Africa?? Now back to our regular programming………..

There's nothing finer than this sign [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img]

We pulled into the Lodge, unloaded the car, and I headed to check in with the kids while Matt parked the car. Ah……home again [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] And there was no one in line [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] I was warmly greeted by Lauren, and we went thru all the standard check in things. The kids went to watch cartoons (no Lambert yet) while I was taking care of business. Lauren said our room wasn’t ready yet, but we’d be on the second floor, on the zebra trail, just past the elevator! Score another one for my fax [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] That was everything I had asked for! By the time Matt parked the car, I was done, had the number to call to check on the room, and we lathered up with sunscreen. Animal Kingdom and Expedition Everest were calling our names [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]

We meandered to the bus stop and luck was on our side, because a bus was just pulling up [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] We walked thru the turnstiles just before 9:15 and there was not a line to be found [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img] No one wanted to visit with Wes Palm so we headed toward EE. And boy, did I mention it was hot?? Poor Matt was already sweating like a pig. It doesn’t help that AK seems to be the hottest park either! I got 3 Fastpasses (incase Alexa decided she wanted to ride) and then it was off toward the safari. However, a break was needed already, and it was time for a pretzel and 2 frozen lemonades ($13.07).

Boy, those hit the spot. And then Alexa saw it, the water spray/fan. And that’s all she wanted. Matt saw the price, and wouldn’t pay $16 x 2. So she was told no. He would go to Walmart and get a cheaper one. This would be the discussion for the day [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]

I was ready to take a safari ride and everyone else decided to come along. The wait said 20 minutes, but we walked right on at 10 AM. That was great. Did they move the stroller area, as it was now down where the Fastpass line comes in [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] No matter. We had a good ride, said Jambo and Kwaharini, and saved Little Red. I took little in the way of pictures, as I was on the right side on the truck, not usually the good picture side.

The Fastpasses for EE were burning a hole in our pockets, so it was time to head to Asia. And boy, is there precious little shade over in that area of the park [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] As we were walking, we saw the character boat coming along.

Matt was riding EE first, and Alexa agreed to ride with him (I think mainly for the thrill that she was taller than the “stick” so she could ride)! I took Colin and tried to find a seat in the shade (no dice [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img] ). So we headed for the little overlook where the trains come dropping out of the mountain. I kept looking for them, but didn’t see them on the train [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img] I turn around, and they’re both standing right behind me. Apparently the line was basically, no line. Matt enjoyed it, but let’s just say that Alexa won’t be riding that again anytime soon [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img] Now it was my turn, and again, thru the Fastpass line there really wasn’t any wait at all (which meant that I didn’t get to take in the queue area at all either)! I was heading up the mountain before I knew it, and spending a bit more time backward than I had anticipated. A little bit rougher than Thunder Mountain, and a little more intense than I was thinking, but still a good ride.

The kids were hot and tired by now, and wanted to do something instead of waiting for us to ride rides. We walked towards The Boneyard, but stopped for an ice cream and water break on the way ($9.50). Boy, did that feel good [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]

After we rehydrated, we finally made it into The Boneyard. The kids had a good time running around, and it was pretty empty [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] Made it much easier to keep track of them!

We took the bridge over to the Dig Site, and apparently there are new rules here. You have to keep your shoes on. It’s one thing to keep your shoes on in the sand, but if you’ve been there, you know this is not sand, it’s more like pebbles. You can imagine how uncomfortable the kids were, mainly because they had sandals on. I guess if you had sneakers and socks, it may not have been as bad. Let’s just say that they didn’t spend as much time here as we used to, because they were just uncomfortable (along with all the other kids as well). Maybe that was the plan with the new rule [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

Time to go, and get the pebbles off the skin it was now stuck to thanks to all the sunscreen. YUCK!! We just missed the time for the next Lion King show, so we headed for lunch. I gave a call to the hotel to see if the room was ready (it wasn’t ), so lunch it was! Alexa, after having another argument about wanting a fan, chose pizza (which would be the theme for the next two weeks) so Pizzafari here we come.

There was hardly anyone inside, so we got a nice table in a quiet corner, and I went to order the food. I ordered a cheese pizza, a kid’s chicken quesadilla meal (for me), some bottled water, and Matt wanted a Chicken Parm sandwich. Well, apparently, they were having issues with the Chicken Parm sandwiches, because it took over 5 minutes to get it [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] I can’ t imagine the backup if it had been busy. At least I got to use my DDE card! (Total was $17.33 and I saved $4).

Coming Up Next: Would the room finally be ready? And would the fax really pay off?

</font>