Heading West to the "Original": Flight Home & Final Thoughts COMPLETE 4/10/06
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DawnDenise · 03-14-2006, 12:01 PM

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O.K. I'm new at this posting thing, so I hope that this works. Dawn, I am so loving your trip report and your pictures are awesome. Sounds like you are having a great time. More please!!!

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First, let me say Welcome to the Boards!!! You will absolutely love it here. Thank you so much for your kind words and more updates are coming. (Working on one right now and I'm at work...shhhh) [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

DawnDenise · 03-15-2006, 12:08 PM

Day 2, Part 3: If we skip the parade, can we hit all of Fantasyland?

With our tummies full, we go back into the main hub in front of the Castle. We have a decision to make. The nighttime version of “Parade of Dreams” starts at 7:00pm. I really want to see both versions but I know Judy and Allan are not big parade watchers. I suggest since the parade is shown on Friday afternoon around 3, why don’t we see what we can get done in Fantasyland while the parade is going on. I want to make sure that they ride some of the “kiddie” rides because to get the full Disney experience, you have to ride them. OK…so maybe I want to ride them and I am trying my hardest to convince the in-laws that they need to experience them. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] Whatever I said, it works and we agree to make a mad dash through Fantasyland while the parade is going on. We still have about 50 minutes before the parade starts but there are a lot of people that have already staked out seats. Our first stop is “It’s a Small World”.

Now most of you know if you have read my trip reports from WDW that Chuck does not like this ride. The song literally puts him to sleep. He agrees that he needs to fall asleep in both versions. Whatever dear! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] I like how the ride starts outside and then goes into the building. We are in our boat within 10 minutes. I am snapping pictures like crazy but I will spare you the photo collage of the whole ride. I am just including my favorites.

Chuck survives the ride without falling asleep and even said he would go on it with me in WDW in October so he could see the refurbishments. When we exit IASW, we notice the roped off areas, and we weave our way through the crowds with the goal in mind of hitting the Mad Tea Party. Allan is not too hip on this ride but I tell him to find a point of eye contact and do not look away from it and he will be fine.

Allan survives his trip on the tea cups even though his picture he looks a little ill. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img] Now, the road is completely blocked off at this point and we notice we can immediately go into the queue for Alice in Wonderland. Without a second thought, we head into line. I consider this ride a DL exclusive and took many pictures to remember it by. 

(I took this as we rounded a corner and they were coming up beside us. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] )

It is at this point we literally did the mad dash around Fantasyland. The parade is just beginning. We hit Dumbo, the carousel, Snow White, Pinocchio, and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride in succession. I think that’s the fastest I have ever made it through the rides. We do try and get the golden ride vehicles on some of the rides. Since we are trying to get in as many of the rides as possible, we never stop at the photo ops outside of the rides that have a replica of the golden vehicle. L Here are a couple more pictures from our mad dash.

So how do we fly this thing?

Before we went to Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, we notice that the parade is ending. When we come out, Fantasyland is being hit pretty hard. I love Peter Pan’s Flight and insist that we deal with the line. Wow…what a line that was!! After a 40 minute wait, we finally end up flying over London and into Neverland. I always enjoy it but the in-laws think we ended up wasting time on such a short ride. To each his own.

Unfortunately while we are waiting in line for Peter Pan, the park is closing. We have a mental list of what we need to hit on Friday. We wander through some of the shops on Main Street for about 30 minutes. We do not purchase anything and make the walk back to the Portofino.

Judy calls Chuck and I Party poopers since we do not want to go to DTD and drink. Me, I am still tired and would love to get to bed early and looking at Chuck, I think he is thinking the same thing. We offer to play some rummy for a little while once we get back to the rooms and if they want alcohol to stop by the 7-11. We meet them back at the their room with cards in hand. We play until about 11:00PM. We make plans to meet downstairs for breakfast @ the IHOP since DCA does not open until 10:00AM.

After returning to our room, we both take showers and climb into that huge bed. We watch some more of the Olympics and both drift off to sleep.

Coming Up: IHOP is how much??? and Our First Glimpse of DCA

lauren-roxy · 03-15-2006, 12:55 PM

Great update Dawn!!! Wonderful pictures of all the rides!! I did have to laugh at your father-in-law's face on the teacups!! They really do seem to be having a great time, at least they seem to be smiling most of the time!! How cool to get through Fantasyland so quickly!! Can't wait to read more of your wonderful report!!!!!!

**Caldercup** · 03-15-2006, 01:31 PM

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Being the big Star Warts fan that Allan is,

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That puts "Space Balls" to shame!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img]

Terrific updates, Dawn. Thanks so much for reminding me about the mosiacs. I'd read about them back when the HCOE started, but completely forgot about them. I can't wait to see them tomorrow! (Yikes - tomorrow!!)

Can't wait to catch up next Wednesday!
Eileen

**chezp** · 03-15-2006, 04:05 PM

How cool was that, being able to clear Fantasyland that quickly! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img] And thanks for taking so many photos of Alice in Wonderland - it looks great. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

MAria R · 03-15-2006, 05:49 PM

Great updates!!!!

DawnDenise · 03-16-2006, 03:58 PM

[b]Day 3, Part 2: IHOP is how much?? And Our First Glimpse of DCA

The alarm goes off with the annoying buzz, and Chuck and I are ready and downstairs before Judy and Allan. They join us after about 10 minutes and make our way to the local International House of Pancakes. There’s an IHOP literally right across the street from the Portofino, but none of us want to jaywalk so we do the “right” thing and go to the crosswalk. We are seated almost immediately and begin to look over the menu. I am not a huge breakfast eater but I cannot resist the gooey, wonderful mess of a Belgian waffle with strawberries. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yuma.gif[/img] The rest of the group gets the same thing that had French toast, eggs, sausage, bacon, and hash browns.

We have some problems getting some decent coffee. Poor waiter ends up going back 3 times for a new carafe of coffee. The rest of my party is finally satisfied, and we go about eating and talking about the plans for the day. The waiter leaves the check, and I fight with Judy on who is going to pay. I eventually win when she goes to the bathroom and I ask Allan to let me see the check so I can at least leave the tip. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] Armed with the bill in hand, I go ahead and pay.

Now, we have IHOPs back in good ‘ole Indiana. The four of us have gone to breakfast there before and it is never more than $30 with tip. I mean it’s IHOP. Well, I am waiting for the cashier to tell me the total, and I almost have a heart attack when she tells me $58. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] I expected a little difference with it being CA but not almost double. Oh well…we are on vacation right?? I fork over the money and make it back to the table to put the tip down before Judy even returns from the restroom.

Once everyone has potty breaks, we make our way down to DCA. We all notice we are walking a little slower today but still have a lot of energy. I think it is because we were all stuffed from the breakfast. Anyway…I am a little surprised at the lines into DCA but they move quickly. They let us in but would not let us go past Sunshine Plaza. Our plans are to head into the Hollywood Pictures Backlot area with our first stop at Tower of Terror. While we are waiting to enter, I make my way around and shoot some photos.

They finally drop the rope and you see the mass of people making their way to ToT. I go ahead and take everyone’s tickets and go get FPs so we can get at least 2 rides in. I am able to join the rest of our party before they even get into line. (I was moving quick!!) Since we are there first thing, it is a complete walk-on. The pre-show is the same as WDW but the queue is a little different. For the first trip, we have to go up a flight of stairs and then down to get the freight elevators. We are directed to row 4, which is the back row. I love the back row!!!! We get ourselves all organized and buckled in. Now where you go up a couple of times and then move sideways at WDW, you just go up a couple of times and then the fun begins. Chuck and I have our hands in the air screaming to high heaven. Instead of me being the one saying the explicative, it is Judy. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img] Her feet are barely touching the floor to begin with and now you add in the sudden drops. It is funny, but we all loved our ride. Chuck and I end up getting the picture that I have not scanned in yet. The look on Allan’s face is awesome! We still have about 40 minutes before our FP time opens so we go walking around. The new Monster’s Inc ride already has a 45 minute wait posted so we move on to MuppetVision 3D.

We found the key under the mat!!

Judy watching the pre-show

After enjoying the pre-show, we head into the theater, and by sheer luck, we actually are able to sit in the middle of the row. This is a first for me. Like always, we enjoy the show and Allan does not stop talking about it for a good 30 minutes. As we are exiting the theater, we see characters wandering around. I am trying to pull my autograph book out of my bag and am having some difficulties. I give the camera to Chuck and tell him to chase after his mom to get the picture. I catch up with them as they just reach Cruella de Vil. Talk about a character really getting into her part. She acts totally disgusted when kids touch her and annoyed when they ask for a picture. I love the look on her face in the picture. She asks if we have dogs in Indiana, and when Allan says he has one, she says she’ll come and see him.

Cruella is in a hurry so I do not try to squeeze my way to get a picture but we go looking for other characters. We come across Jasmine and Belle next. Please pay attention to Allan in the pictures. When dealing with the “face” characters (particularly if they are a Princess), he makes sure to have his hand on them. Chuck and I laugh at this because it is like that in every picture.

We finish up with the princesses and head back over to ToT as our fastpasses are ripe. After seeing other pictures from the ride, I convince Judy and Chuck to be part of the “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil”. We have a little bit a wait but no more than five minutes. I manage to get some pictures of the queue area. This time we just walk around a corner and into the lines. We get the back row again!!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] Judy tells me to yell, “Now” when to get into position for the picture. Another great ride and the plan goes off without a hitch once we see the picture. The other people in the ride comment how cool it was that we did it.

Now we spend some time in the shop afterwards. Judy is finding some stuff for Chuck’s brother and sister, and she finds the Stitch dressed as a bellboy. She gets that for Chuck without him knowing it somehow. I, on the other hand, find a hat that is perfect for my wonderful husband. He refuses to let me buy it though.

It is getting close to noon at this point and I remark that we shold really go get fastpasses for Soarin’. Neither Judy nor Allan are excited about this ride, and I keep telling them it is amazing. I gather the tickets once again and make my way across Sunshine Plaza for Soarin’. I tell them that I will meet them in the Animations building. I am so glad that I decide to go get them because our time is at 3:50PM. Stand-by is a good 55 minutes. I boogie my way back across Sunshine Plaza, and Chuck is waiting for me outside. He says we are going to the Animation Academy to learn how to draw Donald. Well, I am all for that.

We head and meet up with Judy and Allan in line. We wait for about 10 minutes, and are ushered in to the auditorium. I grab the first row with our pads of papers and pencils and ma ready to learn. The two CMs that are doing this drawing class are hilarious. They play off each other great. I will be the first to admit that I cannot draw worth a hoot. A stick figure is pushing it with me. As they are describing what to draw on our papers, I mess up on the second task. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img] They do not provide erasers since these are sketches. I am able to improvise and make a halfway decent Donald Duck. Here are our masterpieces, and I think Chuck has the best one.

Chuck’s Donald

My Donald

Judy’s Donald

Allan’s Donald

After determining Allan’s Donald looks a little evil, we decide to go and see what the line is like for Turtle Talk with Crush. I still have never seen this so I am hinting big time that we need to take the time out to see it. I succeed in convincing them and we have about a 15-minute wait before the next show. We take a seat on the ground and look over the maps to see what our next plan of attack is.

Coming up: Duuuuuuudddde and a little California Dreamin’...I mean Screamin’

lauren-roxy · 03-16-2006, 07:49 PM

Another wonderful, hilarious update Dawn!! I love all the pictures, especially the one from TOT!!! You guys are really having an awesome time!!! Can't wait to read more!!!

**chezp** · 03-17-2006, 01:56 AM

What a great update! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img] That Belgian waffle sounded like an excellent way to start the day, but what a shock that bill was. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]

I love the ToT photo with "see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil". That's a classic [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img] and so are the photos of Allan with the face characters.

Congratulations to Chuck on Donald, although I think they all look pretty good. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] We'll have to give this a go - I always figuerd it was a waste of time, as neither of us are artistic, but it looks as if everyone did great in this.

**Colexis Mom** · 03-17-2006, 06:09 AM

Great updates and pictures Dawn [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img] More please [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

WishIwasinDisney · 03-17-2006, 08:50 AM

I'm loving your report. Great pictures, especially the TOT, I'll have to try that. More please.... [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

**duck addict** · 03-17-2006, 01:13 PM

The IHOP price is not unusual. MOST of the chains that are directly across from DL Resort charge much more than their normal prices. It is cheaper to eat in the park! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]