Tikibird's Whirlwind Weekend at WDW - Completed! - ASMu 12/12-12/15 2002 About This Page:

[TINKN]

Loving your report Tiki! Must have had some pixies sprinkling dust throughout your trip, as everything seems perfect. Looking forward to more.

[loobyoxlip]

Wow, Tiki, what a great day!!! I can't believe the huge contrast in the crowds between going to the MVMCP on a Tues. vs. a Fri. night, though. Sounds like you got your fill of the Tiki Room! How fun!!

[Janet 46]

Finally got caught up on your TR, Sandy. Sounds like you had a fabulous time! Thanks so much for the shot of the GF Christmas tree, I'm sure I'll never get to see it in person! Can't wait to hear about your cruise with Deb Wills!

[waterbug62]

I am LOVING your trip report! It is my dream to go to WDW by myself someday so that I can enjoy all the stuff that ME, MYSELF, and I (only) want to enjoy. And how cool to meet Deb Wills. Can't wait to hear more!

Sallie

[DVC_Don]

Wow Tiki! This is a great TR. From wrestling, to Deb Wills and a "little" of WDW. It sure makes me want a solo trip someday. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[joyjoy]

You found Mimi! Oh, wait, that really was Jasmine. Never mind. She really is quite something, isn't she? [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

I'm loving your TR - my favorite parts are when you do something (watch fireworks at MK, take pictures of decorations at GF) that your family doesn't like to do. Isn't it great to be your own boss? Eat another hot dog, girl! Eat two!

Your pictures are excellent. Thanks for the great report.

And now... in your own words.......

More please. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[tikibird]

Day Three, Saturday, December 14th, Part One – A Morning at the Wilderness Lodge

At 8:00 a.m. the next morning, Mickey is ringing my phone. I figure out how to put him on speakerphone (thanks to tips from these boards!) and he is still happy I am there! By 9:00 a.m. I am ready to set out on my adventures for the day. First up – breakfast at Whispering Canyon Café at my all-time favorite resort, the Wilderness Lodge! Part of the reason I decided to take this trip was because mattjs had to go and post a picture of the WL Christmas tree, and I was just dying to see it!

As I am leaving ASMu I notice that there is fresh paint, and as I am driving out of the parking lot, see several cast members cleaning the music notes on the railing – only in Disney!

As I pull up to the WL, I notice that the parking lot is almost as full as when we were there in June/July. Quite the popular place, my lodge is! (BTW – DSs Craig and Chris are buying the Lodge for me when they hit it big, so we will all have a big Passporter party there when that happens!)

I walk up the stairs from the parking lot, and there it is, just as I remembered, but with some holiday greenery and lights attached!



I walk up to the doors to the familiar “whoosh” and step inside. My eyes well up with tears as I take in the breathtaking tree and gorgeous lobby decorated for the holidays! Wow! I am then sure that this is my resort. This is where I will stay whenever I can afford to do so, because just being there makes me so incredibly happy!



I tear myself away from the beauty of the lobby to notice that WCC is pretty crowded, and I don’t have a PS. Not a problem, I am given a beeper and told it will be 15 minutes. Now, whatever will I do in the WL for fifteen minutes?  Picture time! I take some shots of the tree, and the little tree by WC, and my beeper goes off before I’m ready for it to do so!



However, I make my way down the steps from the level I’m on and into WCC. I am seated at a table pretty much in the middle of the action, and can see that the CMs are really into it this morning. Uh oh, what have I gotten myself into? Can’t wait to find out!

My waiter is Tiny, and he is a riot! He reminds me of Curly from the Three Stooges (but this could be because I recently had a lock in with the youth group where we played Stooge movies all night long, and Craig and Chris are on a Stooge kick, as well – I see Stooges in my sleep!) He asks me if I am in WDW for a conference to which I reply that no, I am not, just traveling solo and enjoying every minute of it! I order the breakfast with two eggs, potatoes, bacon, sausage and a biscuit for $6.99. I had this last time I was there, and think it is a great bargain for WDW!

As I am waiting for my breakfast, I watch the fun begin. A couple, it seems, is celebrating their first anniversary, so they are told to ride around the restaurant on wooden horses while we sing “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.” Now most of us only know the first line, but a few old timers carry us through the lap. Tiny arrives at my table and throws about 20 straws on it - he said he thought I might need them for my glass of water. He then asks me to "high five" him and then begins his own little show by balancing a ball on his head.



He juggles balls, and then deliberately drops one by a small boy, who picks it up. This repeats several times until the little guy tells Tiny “You’re wearing me out!”

My breakfast arrives, and I have to have ketchup with my scrambled eggs – can’t eat them without. I sheepishly ask Tiny for some ketchup. He disappears for a minute, and then comes back to my table and asks me to stand up. He clears his throat and yells loudly. “This is Sandy. Everyone say ‘hi” to Sandy. She is traveling incognito and having breakfast by herself. Sandy needs some ketchup, who has some ketchup?” In a matter of moments, 10 bottles of ketchup appear on my table from folks at neighboring tables (if you look real close to the bottom left, you will see my trip report notebook!)



I didn’t need this much, so was happy to oblige when the next ketchup “victim” wanted some for his breakfast. Fortunately, some children were happy to help me out, as it would have been tough to carry all 10 at one time. I also got to see the children’s horse race, as we all waved our napkins to cheer the kids on. This was the best experience I have had to date at WCC. When breakfast was over, I headed to the Mercantile.

Last trip, I had drooled over some framed prints of the Lodge, and had regretted not purchasing one then. This time, I go for it – I select one of the exterior front of the building (which is now hanging in our dining room – Andy really likes it, as well), and some post cards for the youth group (which I have to admit, are going to get put in the suitcase for next trip, as I never had enough time to fill them out!). I spend some more lingering moments in the lobby, and then look at my watch and realize I’d better get to the next stop, Downtown Disney.





Next up: Day Three, Part Two – Downtown Disney, RADP Meet and Greet (meeting Jennifer and Dave!) and MGM

[ 12-31-2002, 04:05 PM: Message edited by: tikibird ]

[tikibird]

Day Three, Part Two – Downtown Disney, RADP Meet and Greet (meeting Jennifer and Dave!) and MGM

Another thing on my “to do” list was the new Once Upon a Toy Store, so I’m on my way to Downtown Disney. It’s tough to find a parking space; must be a lot of holiday shopping going on here! I finally find one, and the new store.



This looks like a great place to explore, but I’m on a mission – a Haunted Mansion Clue game (which, turns out, is sold out!). So, I opt for a Disney Parks Candyland game and a Pirates set for Craig’s new Mr. Potato Head (little known factoid – Craig has a display of Disney characters in a Pirates setting in his room. They are battling a bunch of frogs that are guarding the treasure – Pirates Mr. Potato Head will be a great addition!) I would like to look around more, but am also in search of a Donald Hockey Jersey for Craig for Christmas (he had looked at it last two trips, but never purchased it). So, off to Team Mickey’s, get the jersey, and glad to get the 10% AP discount. One last stop – World of Disney for a new Minnie Cell Phone topper (the one I bought last summer already got torn apart). Also have to pick up a nice, new warm WDW hoodie! Okay, shopping mission complete, it is almost time to get to Epcot for the RADP Meet and Greet at 1:00 p.m., so I drive to Epcot. The meet is right outside Epcot at the Epcot Resorts entrance, so I walk through FW and WS to the meet. Here I get to meet some wonderful folks – first off is Art.



Art and I have been in touch on and off ever since my first trip to Disneyland in 99. He used to live in California, but now moved to Florida and is a CM in Innoventions. It was cool to finally meet him, doing his best Indiana Jones impersonation! (as you can see, he was also having issues with his nametag!)

I got to meet another Passporter who was also doing a solo trip for her 50th birthday. I’m sorry, I was terrible with names this trip, so please email me if you read this and I will add it!

Shontell Crawford was next. I couldn’t understand why her name was so familiar, until DVC was mentioned, and then I remembered that she sends me mail on a regular basis re: DVC resales (I’m dreaming of someday buying a resale at the Wilderness Lodge Villas, before, of course, my sons buy it for me!). Shontell is great, and I hope to make a purchase from her someday!
Deb Wills was also at the meet. I was still pinching myself re: our meeting yesterday, so I said, “I’ll see you tonight, right?” She confirmed, and I was happy!

I got my picture taken with some RADPers, and everyone that attended got a prize bag. Mine had a Mickey-Flag-Head T-shirt – awesome!

But, the very best thing of all about the meet was finally getting to meet Jennifer and Dave! They are really two great individuals, and I’m so glad that I got the opportunity to talk with them face-to-face for awhile. They hooked me up with a couple of Passporter goodies, too (wait till you see the new pins and pens!).



Our fearless leaders (love this shot of Jen and Dave!)!



So, after some great introductions and conversation, I decide that it is time to head over to MGM, as I have a PS at Hollywood and Vine at 4:30 p.m. I bid farewell to everyone and go back through Epcot.

As I am walking through England, I feel a rumbly in my tumbly and think, “Hey, I have never tried the Fish and Chips" (again, not a meal my family would eat), so I pick up some, with some free ice water and have a seat down by the water. This is pretty good, not outstanding, and I am having more fun watching the birds than eating. These birds are pretty cool. They are actually quite polite. They come up to the edge of the railing and look expectantly at me, but don’t cross past the railing and bother me. I’m thinking, “Wow, Disney must train their birds, too!” Since I’m so impressed with them, they end up with half of my lunch (but they pass on the ice water).

I stop at the Pin Trading Place, as I have decided if I don’t get the Epcot Holiday pin and the Santa Stitch pin, I will end up paying more for them on Ebay, so I purchase these two and call it a day with pins (total this trip – four pins).

I would love to go on Spaceship Earth, the line is pretty long, and again, time is getting short. I want to try out the New ToT sequence and meet my new crush, Stitch before my PS, so off to MGM I drive.

As you can see in the picture, MGM is PACKED!



It seems everytime I go to MGM it’s packed! Well, I have a short list of “must-dos” so I’m off in search of Stitch. I’m told by a CM that he can by following the blue footprints found by the Animation building. Turns out, he will be returning from the parade in 15 minutes, but I wait. I love the backdrop they have for pictures here; even includes an Elvis album cover.



Stitch shows up, and I’m first in line. I wave at him and he walks away! He comes back, and as we begin to pose for a picture, he goes into my waist pouch and steals my keys – then he picks my nose and….. what a cutie, though! I really don’t like this picture of me (how did I grow 2 more chins since the picture at Epcot – must have been that hot dog last night - the uncropped version is even worse - have decided it will be my "before" picture - am back on low carbs now - yeech!!), but had to get it since Stitch was in it!



I say “goodbye” to Stitch and head off to ToT. Now here I have two options – wait in the stand-by line for 40 minutes or pick up a Fast Pass and return in 20. Hmmm, which should I choose (sometimes I feel bad for those that don’t understand the FastPass system). I pick up my Fast Pass, get a cappichino to help me stay awake (I’m starting to feel the kamikaze touring!) and browse through some shops before it’s time to return. The new sequence on this is great! The whole back row on the car I am on is now seatbelts. I’ve heard that soon all the seats will be belts instead of lapbars. We go to the top 3 times with maximum hang time – a great ride gets even better!

It’s now around 4:00 p.m. and I stop and buy Andy a new candle for the living room with a Steamboat Willie topper, and also stop and get a Guest of Honor badge with “Sandy” on it made for me in only a few minutes. I have one from Disneyland, so wanted one from WDW, as well.

The line is really long to check in at Hollywood and Vine, but again, I’m really not that hungry, so it doesn’t matter. I am finally seated. I am really not at all impressed with this buffet. The only things I kind of liked was the vegetable lo mein, and kid’s chicken nuggets and meatballs. Even the desserts were not very inspiring. I know other people like this place, and maybe it’s better during lunch and dinner when the characters are there. But, this was the cheapest place to get a Fantasmic dinner package, which is why I chose it.

I have a half hour until I am supposed to show up to be seated for Fantasmic, and spend the half hour in the photo place to pick up my Stitch picture. I see the dinner package entrance for Fantasmic, and go in. It is quite a hike to the stadium this way. I have had my Disneyland jacket on all day, and am quite chilly now, even with my Santa Pooh Hat on. I pull my hood up over my hat and wait the half hour until the show begins.

I guess I would have liked this show if I had nothing to compare it to. But, in my opinion, the Disneyland version is much better than this one. At Disneyland, you have to stand, and wait forever for a good location, but the show takes place right on the Rivers of America, and they utilize the Columbia ship (for a Peter Pan scene instead of the Indian sequence) and the Mark Twain (instead of that cheesy tin boat at the end!) in the show. I missed the feel of the mist on my face, and more importantly, the apple churro I always get for the show in Disneyland. So, in short, I’m glad I finally got to see this, but wouldn’t do it again in a hurry. Just another reason I need to seriously consider Disneyland for the next trip!

I had planned on seeing the Osbourne Lights next, but given that the park was so packed, and I was so tired, I passed, since I did see it last year. I got in the car and drove to the Yacht Club for the Illuminations Cruise.

Next up – Day Three, Part Three - the Illuminations Cruise!

[ 12-31-2002, 07:34 PM: Message edited by: tikibird ]

[Smee]

Tikibird,

MGM must have been packed simply because it was the weekend, because it was deserted in the morning when I was there two days later on Monday 12/16. I wonder if it was partly because the cheerleading and football stuff had just finished? Did you see many of them in MGM?

[Janet 46]

Another terrific instalment Sandy. Gives me something to do while I wait for midnight: read trip reports and dream about my next vacation in Disney World!

[MrsM]

Sounds like you had a great time! I'm looking forward to hearing about the Illuminations cruise, one of these days I'll get a reservation for it!

[lalapodip]

Sandy, keep up the awesome work. It is hard to believe that you did so much in so little time. I am loving the photos and your commentary. Happy New Year! [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img]

[ 01-01-2003, 02:35 PM: Message edited by: lalapodip ]

[nanajoyx2]

You were at WL the morning we were leaving. We also love it there-we are DVC members and that is our home resort. Did you see the Wilderness Lodge themed Lincoln Logs in the window at the Mercantile? When I saw it I had to have it. My grandsons will love playing with it, but I'm keeping it at my house so the pieces won't get lost. I had it shipped home and was told it would not be here in time for Christmas, but that didn't matter to me. It still hasn't arrived, but when it does I'll take a picture of it. I'm very computer illiterate, so I can't add pictures to my posts, but if you'd like a copy I'll see what I can do.

[Wondcat]

Omigosh, hurry up and write some more, you almost have me talked into a solo trip!

[Elliot'sDragon]

When is your next trip to WDW? I love reading your trip reports. You have to go more often. Should we take up a collection?