Meeting Internet Friends and Going Solo, Too. January 16-23

[Moley]

This is a trip report from January 16 to January 23 of this year. It started out to be a meet of a group of friends who first met on the Clubhouse. It would extend to a solo trip of 3 extra full days for me in which I had the Disney experience of a lifetime. I first posted this on Passporter, so you might see some references which I didn’t edit out and they might confuse. Feel free to ask me to explain anything which is unclear.

All Girls Weekend-We Meet!

The Characters at our Meet: Moley from Arkansas, Alicia and Amy from Tennessee, cousins Kim and Karen from Pennsylvania and Mother/daughter Trixy and Jen from Massachusetts.

What is your biggest fear in meeting and rooming with people from the Internet? That they would be pushy and boss the group around? That they would snore louldy enough to wake the dead? That they would be so flatulent that it would take a Level Five Hazmat Suit to share the bath? Well, those are just my traits. I had to wonder what all the others would be like in our All Girls Weekend group. I needn’t have any fears. It was as if we had known each other all our lives. We immediately became comfortable with one another. This will not be the end of our WDW get-togethers. In fact, we are already talking about All Girls Weekend II for the Passporter Meet in December. Hurray! :D

As my Tiffany Towncar rolled up to the Contemporary, I heard, "Moley, Moley" coming from a small being who was either a woodnymph or Kim. Were it not for the wise ways of Kim and her cousin, Karen, I would still be standing on the curb of the Contemporary wondering what to do. They walked me through check-in and guided me to the food court. It pays to be the oldest in the group as you get great old-lady mercy services without even trying! I next met Alicia and Amy. It was truly like we had known each other for years. We immediately started talking about our ride plans and of course, feasting and snacking! It was almost an afterthought to get our bags to the rooms and unpack.

The rooms were most excellent. Possibly decorated by Trading Spaces Scary Designer Hildy :shock: in an Any-Color-Goes palette, they would prove to be comfortable for all of us, even with our mass of luggage each of us had. It looked like we each packed enough to withstand an expedition to Antarctica. Soon it would become apparent why. We all brought presents for the crowd. My own gift was Passporter name pins for everyone. Amy and Alicia brought out huge gift bags laden with novelty gifts, regional souvenirs from Tennessee, and small bottles of medicinal liquids. One of my gifts was a pack of Elvis playing cards, oh baby! Kim had made us each pillows color coordinated with our best colors she had asked for back in November. Alicia also pulled out shirts, custom designed by Trixy and embroidered by Alicia’s Dad’s business. The lettering looked fabulous: "Girls Weekend at Walt Disney World, January 16-20, 2003," all nestled in a mouse ears logo frame. We would get many comments about them as we wore them all weekend.

Karen gave us gorgeous velvet drawstring bags filled with a quart of assorted Hershey chocolates, since Hershey is very close to her home. And from our friend Sandi in Massachusetts we got a welcome bouquet and overflowing goodies basket from Disney florist. It was a festive way to kick off our get together.

After rearranging our rooms to look like bomb shelters, we headed to our first park, MGM. Smarty Pants Kim and Karen declined the thrill rides and headed for Millionaire. Ride Commando Amy led Alicia and me to Drop and Roll maneuvers. Right now Tower is running longer lines than RnR Coaster. Tower of Terror Four is being advertised all over town and on local TV. With a longer line on it, we used Fast Pass for Tower and walked on RnR. Then it was time for Tower 4. Alicia had to bow out with a little queasiness, but Amy and I headed for the elevator like Marines heading for the jump bay. Boo Yah! :bounce:

Tower of Terror 4

I've heard mixed reports on this latest version of the Big Drop. Some have said the changes are hardly noticeable. Others were excited and praised it eagerly. I belong to the second group. For me it was exhilarating. The Tower is my favorite ride in all the parks. Now it is even better. Was it suggestibility or was I really getting more air time? When both my hiney and my feet lifted together after a couple of drops and the Passporter neck pouch floated up to forehead level, I would say, Baby, that's AIR TIME! :mrgreen:

There are also new effects visible during the drop itself. Here's a tip to see the differing effects: two lines form as you emerge from the Rod Serling presentation in the Library. One goes straight on to the left side of the Boiler Room. The other makes a turn to the right and goes off to the elevators in the right corner. Each half of the hotel elevator banks has a different drop special effects sequence. The drops themselves are randomized. Although we didn’t encounter these elevators, I’ve heard that one or two of them have started going to the lap belts only, with the whole back seat lap belted and no bar.

Before I left WDW I rode the Tower four times. The first 2 were with Amy. Amy is a fearless ride commando. When you see her ride photos her arms are forcefully in the air and usually blocking someone else's face shot. I had my own riding style, call it evil. The much talked about seat belts are not yet in place, at least not on the elevators on which I rode. Death seats in row 5 are still present and lap bars still hold you down in all the other seats. I was able to sneak the lap bar placement so air time would be maximized. A young Japanese couple next to me understood me perfectly when I turned to them and said, "You gonna fly-y-y-y!" :twisted:

Alicia, however, never knew what was going to happen by riding beside the kindly Auntie Moley two days later. I barely locked down the bar and turned to her with a smile which looked like it came from a possum who had just survived a night napping on the side of the road. Luckily Alicia was fortified with Bonine and Listerine strips.

We pause for an unsolicited commercial digression

Listerine breath strips are a timely invention for those inclined to eat foul foods while touring in large groups. They are akin to slapping a spoonful of Ben Gay on your tongue and then whacking the roof of your mouth with a rubber band. In other words, they're great. Alcia and I popped them like crack menthol addicts. Our breathy screams down the shaft were ear-piercing but totally refreshed.

After Drop and Roll we headed to the meeting place to catch up with our brainiac duo at the Fantasmic entrance. We got dead center about 5 rows back from the front. No wetness for us this night except for a light mist. We enjoyed a supper of hot dogs, pretzels, cotton candy and sodas, the four basic food groups. Before the show, Alicia had fetched grapefruit cake to go from the Brown Derby, a delightful dessert addition to our healthier selection from the four basic food groups.

As we left the show, Amy and Alicia headed for a walk from MGM to Epcot. Horrified at the thought, I left with my new best friends, Kim and Karen, who had a rental car. It is against the ethics of the Lazy Butt Touring Philosophy to walk from one park to another. My basic philosophy is: Never walk when you can ride. Never stand when you can sit. Never sit when you can recline. Little did I know this philosophy was doomed as I joined forces with Amy and Alicia for a day at the Magic Kingdom.

Next Installment: A Practically Perfect Day at the Magic Kingdom

[Moley]

A Practically Perfect Day at the Magic Kingdom

I call this "practically perfect" because Kim and Karen weren't with us on this day. They wanted to get in a little shopping and also hit the Animal Kingdom, something they couldn't do with us the last Monday because of flight times. Our motto for this weekend was "No shame." If you wanted to do something a little different from the group plan, no shame. If you couldn't or didn't want to ride, no shame. And most important, it was certainly no shame that the Magic Kingdom was so uncrowded this day. God Bless America and Girl Power! :D

Three of us, Amy, Alicia and I, took the path over to Magic Kingdom from the Contemporary. Our North Wing end room was right across the parking lot and street from this path. Once you are on it, it is a mere minute or two before you are at the end of the bus area into the Magic Kingdom. It took us less time to make this jaunt than it would to walk to the main building and get on the monorail. Our first stop was an attraction Amy had never been on. Can you believe she never experienced the Haunted Mansion until this day? What a way to begin our day. We had jotted down a few secrets of WDW from a superb Passporter discussion thread and had a few things to look for ourselves.

Secrets of the Haunted Mansion

We wanted to spot two details none of us had observed on previous rides. The first was Madame Leota's tombstone just to the left right before you enter the Mansion. One Passporter post had told us it would give us quite a scare. On this day I did not see it, but on one of my solo trips, I did see it and I won't spoil it here. Let's just say it startles and gives the creeps all at the same time. You won't always see it, but when you do, BOO! On an "I am afeared" scale of 1-10, I give it a solid 8. :shock:

A wonderfully droll Cast Member named Robert welcomed us to the entry. Since we were holding up a bit to try to spot Madame Leota's eerieness(in vain for that morning), Robert intoned, "Move along, ladies. I've seen corpses rot faster than you move." I love that line. My hubby should use that one when I'm at the World of Disney shopping. :wink:

I next watched for the way to spot the exit door to the stretch room going into the Doombuggy room. If it is crowded or dark, it is hard to spot, but if you do have the chance to peer into the whole room as you walk in, the exit door is quite visible by studying the floor board trim. It is a bit easier to keep a family or large group together if you are near that door and avoid the crush of the crowd into the Doombuggy line.

This attraction is so rich in detail, you can see something new every trip. In my own 13 WDW vacations, I've seen Haunted Mansion a bit over 50 times. The new to me details this trip were in the banquet room. Because I focus on all the same things each trip, like the dancers, I miss other fun details. This time I looked in new directions. I spotted a ghost perched on the mantle at the right of the room. I saw the portraits near the ceiling on the left have a duel. Obviously one was the late Mr. Sewell of tombstone fame. And how could I have missed the lighted birthday cake and the candles being snuffed? Were my previous senses dead?

The second major detail we were looking for as a group was upon exit. It is said there is a small ring embedded in the pavement, perhaps thrown from the window by Master Gracey's doomed bride. This little ring was an eerie reminder that:

1. Master Gracey shot his intended bride in a jealous fit.
2. Or she hanged herself after hearing of his untimely death.
3. Or she found out he got the ring at K-Mart and it's a cubic zirconia.

After much searching, a CM took mercy on us and came over and pointed it out. As you exit, you will go through an arched doorway with a trashcan in the middle. Turn back and look at the pavement to the left of the trashcan. It is there the tiny ring is smooshed into the ground. There is a real life explanation for this little bit of spookiness, but why spoil the fantasy? I would much rather imagine a petulant ghost bride, with arms crossed and snarling, "I would rather die than wear anything less than a 2-carat!" :x

Fast Pass Strategizing

Since 2001, Fast Passes have undergone a modification very beneficial to strategizing for your maximum touring enjoyment. The new passes have a return time but they also have in clear print, the next time you are eligible to grab a new pass. You do not have to ride first to get the next pass. Nor do you have to wait 2 hours. The time is there and you can use it to your benefit in the most crowded hours of the day. If there are nearby rides, such as Big Thunder and Splash or Tower and RnR Coaster, you can see the standby time and decide which one could be endured in the regular line and which one is best for the pass. Splash was a walk-on when we came up to it, but Big Thunder had more of a wait, so we got the passes for Big Thunder, rode Splash, and went back to Big Thunder for a ride with a small wait and then a ride with no wait using Fast Pass. Without the Fast Pass, the amount of time we used would have given us two rides. With Fast Pass, we had 3. While our wait time elapsed to get the next pass, it enabled us to walk over to another land and decide where our next Pass ticket was best gotten.

At meal time, one of us walked ahead and got passes for Peter Pan. The other two got in line for ordering food and getting a table. By the time we met up again, we had food and a no line pass in our hands for a good ride. When lunch was over, on the way to Peter Pan from our lunch stop at Cosmic Ray's, we were able to get a pass for Winnie the Pooh. Before our turn for Pooh came up after a Pan ride, we walked on Small World and Snow White and then no wait for the Hunny Pots. We walked at mosey pace, had no waits for our rides in the same amount of time that someone who didn't use Fast Pass waited in line for Peter Pan, about 70 minutes that day. You do get a little guilty feeling seeing the looks you get as you walk by those who have waited ever so long. One fellow looked like he was ready to fight at Peter Pan, kind of like a fit hitting the Pan. My own feelings were mixed. On my one shoulder was perched a small good voice, sounding a bit like Jennifer Tilly, saying, "Be humble as you pass this poor man who waited so long and watched you walk up and onto the ride. Look down and give a sorrowful look." On the other shoulder was a loud voice, like Gilbert Gottfried's rendition of the Aladdin parrot Iago, "Hey Chump! You can read a guidemap as well as the next guy. That's what we did and we get a ride and you get a view of my tail feathers! Wanna cracker while you wait?" I tried not to listen to the louder voice but it was very, very hard. :lol:

Lunch at Cosmic Ray's

Alicia gave a very wise statement as we walked into Cosmic Ray's about 12:45 and saw the mass of people and no available tables. She said, "I guess the guidebooks are right about not eating during normal lunch hours." We knew Amy would slap us with the shame stick if she came back from that long schlep to Peter Pan Fast Pass distribution and find out we had no food and no table. Therefore we went on a major mission. We hovered over tables like vultures over a dying yak. Eventually we were rewarded and we got a nice table and became the new yaks. I was pleased to see that the sauteed onions and the sauteed mushrooms had returned to the fixins bar, after being absent during our 2001 trip. The pleasant tunes of Sonny Eclipse are always a bonus attraction at this counter service eatery.

Ways of the Whip

When we got around to Adventureland after lunch, we had new taste treats to indulge. Amy and Alicia had never tried a Dole Whip swirl. The nerve! I ordered mine with 3 spoons and the passing crowd could see us go through that dessert like a hive of termites through an I-beam. A few hours later we experience a three spoon effort at one I never had, a Strawberry Swirl from the ice cream stand near the tea cups. Oh my, it was good. The termites went to work yet again. It was very cold that day, but it didn't stop us from eating ice cream non-stop. The Strawberry Swirl fortified us as we rushed to Space Mountain right at afternoon parade time. Just as we took off in a speed walk, Amy looked at me in horror and said, “Moley, what’s that on your shirt?” I had been strafed by a seagull! :shock: They were all around and obviously had Stawberry Swirl envy and had slimed me in spite. Luckily a nearby restroom saved the day. Watch out for these birds when you are touring. Never try to feed them because they will get even more aggressive. Plus the less you feed them, the less they will decorate your shirt.

The Fast Pass machines at Space were down that day so we knew parade time was our best bet for consecutive rides with little waits. Sure enough, the gods of the queue were kind that day. Not only did we walk onto the left side as we arrived, but our follow up ride happened just as they opened up the right side. We got to experience both sides within 20 minutes. God Bless America and Girl Power! :minnie:

We wound up our attractions part of the day by heading for the 4:45 showing of Diamond Horseshoe Revue. Again with the ice cream as we ordered root beer floats before getting excellent seats at our own table. No more dancing girls there, but the show was spirited and fun. Even more important, it was serious butt-rest time. Because it had been a silly day all around with many giggles and much good fortune, there was lots of laughter coming from our table through the magician card tricks and the banjo player ripping into Rocky Top, an irresistable song for a table of two Tennesse girls and one Arkansan. We did control ourselves enough not to table dance, but we belted out the song louder than anyone else in the sing along, no shame. This show has now been discontinued. I'm glad we got to see it one last time and under such happy circumstances.

A Secret Fireworks Spot and Tink Waves at Us

We split up about 5:30, two to go shopping, I to go snag the secret fireworks spot which also gets a great view of Tinkerbell's flight. It also offers a sit down view of both, so important on any Lazy Touring Plan. I will not post this on any message board viewed by thousands but anyone can get the exact directions to it by emailing me at moley@elvis.com. You must first swear on the Sacred Dole Whip Spoon that you will never reveal this on a public site nor will you beat my lazy butt out of it if we vacation at the same time:) If you take this oath, only then will I reveal this perfect spot. 8)

As I walked to my favorite place, I saw that Disney is now blocking off the umbrella chairs at the patio next to the waterside in front of the Plaza Restaurant, near the corner of Main Street. The sign says "Fireworks Voucher Holders Only." I don't know whether this is a package plan deal(like the platinum plan), or for annual passholders or for concierge guests. Just be aware, if this is an old favorite spot of yours, you may have to find a new one.

Although it was very cold, the fireworks were perfect. Tinkerbell even spotted us and waved! The fireworks were outstanding and we saw them with a perfect, unobstructed view. As icy cold as it was this night, it was very much worth braving the elements to see all of this with friends.

Katching up with Kim and Karen at Kona

We all had the same idea for eats that night. Head for the Kona Cafe at the Poly. Kim and Karen had gone ahead but kept in contact by the cell phones we all had on us. They were already finishing up some mighty good looking blue drinks as we arrived and had to get on the wait list for a table. I forget if it was this night but Kim had a new Mickey Mouse watch. It really looked rich. Kim did a perfect imitation of Saturday Night Live's Linda Richman and pointed out that Mickey's watch face had a genu-wine diamond. She had to have it cut down to fit her wrist, roughly the size of a chihuahua's. Our wait for the table was not long at all. We had a marvelous meal and afterwards I was able to talk to the front desk about my room assignment the following Monday. I would be switching to the Poly for my solo portion of the trip. They were most gracious in helping me with my request. Because I would be alone, I asked for a room near the Longhouse. If you are staying at two resorts, this might be a good option for you in making a room request. Showing up in person and pointing out your best location on a map minimizes mix ups. It also helped that I made my request at a time when the Guest Relations desk was not busy.

That night, Trixy and Jen arrived, again with the expedition size luggage. Trixy sure enough had more presents, gorgeous embroidered bags with our All Girls Weekend logo on them. It was great to be all together and have two days ahead with so much planned. God Bless America and Girl Power! :minnie:

Next Installment: Cruising to Illuminations

[Moley]

Girl Power Times Seven

Finally we are in full force for this day. We chose a fairly late time for the Chef Mickey breakfast so our late arriving party from frozen Massachusetts could get extra sleep. Our plan was to breakfast at Chef Mickey's, monorail to the Magic Kingdom on the most crowded day of the week and get a pic of all of us on Main Street and do two more rides or so before cutting out for other parks. We were all worried that young Jen might be uncomfortable around us but she fit in just fine. It wasn't long before she was addressing Amy as Princess Typo and mocking Alicia's laugh and my snoring! :lol:

Our one and only group ride was Pirates, perfect to start our touring plan. We lost everyone else before we went on to the Buzz Lightyear Bet-a-thon. Durn! I was hoping to hustle some serious Dole Whip money with a group betting pool. Now I could only take Jen for her allowance money. Normally in Buzz, I know all the secrets but can’t aim. Today I would finally hit that elusive back of the robot's hand and get the 100,000 automatic points. I beat Jen's 85,900 with 192,800. I declined the allowance payout and settled for incessant bragging instead. :mrgreen: We also took a ride on the finest Lazy Butt ride of all time, the Tomorrowland Transit Authority. Did you know if you step onto the left side of the moveable rampway, you will get a vibrating effect to the arches of your feet both going up the ramp and exiting down the ramp? We next went on a shopping spree through Tomorrowland. Jen had some major spending money. I think it was from taking her Dad in poker, maybe, but still she had shopping money galore.

How did she spend this? Ever so slowly. None is so cheap as a teenager spending their own cash. :roll: If Michael Eisner himself had offered Jen the ability to purchase the whole Buzz ride for $199, she would have looked at him and said, "Maybe I should look around and see what else I can buy first." Wise teenager.

I had a serious case of dehydration this day. It can't be said enough. Adult or child, no matter what the weather, drink water constantly. If you wait until you are thirsty, you've waited too long. This tires you out and makes your muscles and feet ache so much more than if you are hydrated. My desiccated cellulite said goodbye to Trix and Jen and headed for the Contemporary by the pathway to get a rest and my warm clothes for our night on the Illuminations Barge.

Cruising to Illuminations

We all met at Le Cellier for an early supper. The hype on the cheese soup is not overblown. This soup is really good as is the pretzel bread and just about any steak you get. Be aware these meals are huge. You can easily share and still have too much. The side of oven roasted wild mushrooms is super yummy, too, but comes out in a skillet big enough to feed the Donner party. We wasted a lot of food at this table and we are serious eaters. Alicia had not seen Tapestry of Dreams so they headed for that and I went off to catch the ride I hadn't experience yet, the latest version of Journey Into Your Imagination. I rode it twice and give it good points for the return of Figment. His little upside down apartment is worth the walk to the attraction. I wanted his kitchen at my house! :)

When next we all met as a group again, we were leaving for our Illuminations Cruise. We had a female captain and I wondered if it would be the same unfortunate soul who captained the barge I was on in 2000, where one passenger's 20 ounce full Solo cup of red wine would splatter the captain's white vellux blankets, a little boy would upchuck green splatter effects on the boat carpet, and a little girl who couldn’t wait any longer would moisten the back row seating. No, this was a different captainess. The other one must have gone on to a less messy and stressful job, perhaps as the elephant dung collector at Animal Kingdom.

Captain Kimmy was a cheery guide. She took us on a nice ride to MGM where we got some gorgeous views of that park lit up after closing. This cruise, called a specialty cruise when you reserve it 120 days out, is available to four parties each night. Some of the boats leave from the Yacht Club, one other leaves from the Boardwalk marina. This was a super cold night but all the boats had been reserved and were being used. It was well worth having the boat to see Illuminations this close. I had tears in my eyes and maybe not just from the cold!

After that spectacular show, Captain Kimmy kindly took us over to the Swan to our next destination, the karaoke bar at Kimono's. It was time to introduce our group to Elvis tunes and sushi. When we got there, it was packed with a crowd of regulars. They were pretty talented and also pretty dominating of the stage. I chickened out, even though Kim and Alicia would have gone ahead and sung. We had selected an Elvis song, Suspicious Minds, but we had not rehearsed and would need way more drinks than we normally have to get the courage to face this crowd. We did order a few plates of California roll, the safest of sushi orders for the uninitiated. Trix and Jen and I left early before the crowd got rowdy. We were spared the mating dances of the two tables of men and women who had discovered each other amid 7 rounds of drinks. Next time we'll go on a week night when there are more amateurs about and we can blend in with the other tone deaf tourists who venture onto the stage for the first time. :roll:

Next Installment: From Tonga Toast to Kungaloosh

[Moley]

From Tonga Toast to Kungaloosh

The best restaurant of our stay turned out to be the Kona Cafe. As delightful as our supper was on Friday night, we had an even greater treat on this Sunday morning, a first time fork dive into the renowned Tonga Toast! If you haven't had this concoction yet, be prepared for some mighty plentiful eating. It is sourdough bread, heavily sugared and fried and stuffed with a banana. A little peanut butter on the side and Elvis would approve of this feast! :mrgreen: Our after breakfast destination was another trip to MGM, so we could get a photo of the brave ones of the group on Tower of Terror Four. Once again, we split into groups of ride commandos and Millionaire hopefuls and went our separate ways. On the way to the Tower, we decided to do another first for most of the group, stop at the Great Movie Ride and request a ride on the Bandit car.

Serendipity

Most magical moments happen by serendipity - an unexpected double upgrade; a character interaction like no other; your child's first steps happening at the Magic Kingdom. These moments are unlikely to happen again and also could never be planned beforehand. We had such a moment at The Great Movie Ride - pure goosebump generating magic. It started with a simple mission. We wanted to see the Bandit version of the ride.

The GMR has two shoot 'em up versions. One takes place in the gangster room, the other called "The Bandit" is in the Western room. Of the 5 of us, only I had seen the Bandit and then only once in 13 vacations. My dearly beloved and I were even there the week the MGM park opened in 1989 and did not ride the Bandit until the year 2000.

We asked twice to get on this ride, at the beginning of the line-up and at the door. We were assured at the beginning that they were running this version and we were in line "A" for it. However, at the entry into the loading area, we found out that we were heading for a gangster car. I asked again if it would be okay to step aside to wait for an "A" car. The CM's were most gracious, but warned us that the A car doesn't come around as often since they run 4 "B" cars and only one "A" car at a time during off peak seasons. We might have to wait as long as 15 minutes. We were most happy to do so and they pointed us to a row in the empty part of the line-up. What happened next would be the highlight of our weekend.

A Cast Member by the name of Don who was most knowledgeable on the ride came over to talk about it with us. He told us about the difference between the A and B cars and how each car originally could trigger different effects in the ride. The biggest difference was the shoot 'em up scene as one car would pass through the gangster room while the other would stop there and the action would take place with 1930's gangsters, ala James Cagney. The car we wanted would be stopping in the Western scene and would have a pyrotechnic effect as well as a shoot out with the bad guy and his pursuers. There are even names to the bad guys who take over your car during the scene. In the gangster scene it is Mugsy or Mugsi Toccato. The Bandit is named Kid or Kate Durango.

Next Don told us about the ride's hidden Mickeys and one very rare Hidden Minnie. He brought us to the front of the platform as he shined his flashlight on the Hidden Minnie which is in the middle of the fresco to the left as you get in the cars for the ride. He explained where two Hidden Mickeys were in the gangster scene. One is a shot of Mickey's feet and tail under a poster for "Public Enemy". Watch for it on the left just as you enter the room. The other was a trick played by Cast Members as an inside joke. One of them arranged for a silhouette of Mickey in an upstairs room. The effect was achieved with rolled up towels. They were only planning to leave it for a short while. Before they could take it down, a travel magazine author saw it and wrote about it in her article. When that happened, it had to stay. Gotta love those travel guide writers! If you want to catch it, look in an upstairs window on the left, closer to the middle of the room.

The last Hidden Mickey is in the Raiders room, on the left near 3 statues before you exit. It is about 3 blocks up and it is an adorable one. It is a Pharoah Mickey with a Hidden Donald near him. After telling us so much of the inner workings of this attraction, Don then took us near the marqee which the cars go under as they enter the rooms. We were in a perfect spot for a Girl Power photo opportunity, as you can see in Alicia’s pictorial report on Passporter. Both Alicia and I, softies at heart, were near tears at all the special attention we got, a priceless serendipity for our weekend. :D

From Beauty and the Beast to a Cinderella Feast

The rest of the MGM day we timed around Fast Pass distribution, lunch at Sunset Market(great cheese pizza), and a show at Beauty and the Beast. We would send one of our party ahead for Fast Pass and meet up at a lunch table or at a show. When it came my turn to get passes for Rock n Roller Coaster, I found a fabulous resting spot in the plaza outside the ride. There is a concrete wall which has a ledge wide enough to sit down. At one section of the ledge, you can rest your back and prop your feet up on a lower ledge. Perfect comfort for the Lazy Butt Tourist! Again I will reveal this only to those who swear on the sacred Brown Derby Grapefruit Cake Carryout Box that they will not divulge it to their inlaws or to any cheerleading tour groups. There is only room for one person on this ledge. Send your family out to fetch you refreshments and enjoy. 8)

After our Tower of Terror ride, we got a perfect picture, capturing the joy of Amy, Trixy, Jen and me, and the sheer terror of Alicia. Poor thing, she ended up sitting next to me and I do like my air time. I bought my Tower pic and had it placed in one of the super duper Mickey/Tower resin frames. It was heavy, so I had it sent to my work address. It arrived a week after I returned and I loved it except for one thing. My flying body was clearly seen next to the writing on the back of the elevator: Maximum load - Three Tons :shock:

On this day, too, we located another ride secret revealed in the Passporter thread on park secrets. We looked down into the bottom of the message board which is right behind the entry podium before you go into one of the library rooms. It is slightly off to the left. What a fun message! Don't miss it when you go there next.

Move Over Cindy! There's a New Glass Slipper in Town

The last time I attended a Park Faire dinner, it occurred during the time Villains were featured. What fun we had that night as we interacted with the Queen of Hearts, Captain Hook and Cruella de Vil. Plus the buffet was scrumptious, everything fresh and perfectly cooked. This time we looked forward to seeing Cinderella and her Prince, the Fairy Godmother, and if we were lucky, evil stepsisters, including my personal favorite, Drizella. I always said, who could resist a girl with big feet and a bad attitude? Well, the nerve of Driz, she didn't show up! We got the Fairy Godmother and the two mice, Suzy and Perla. The mice didn't even dress up, dagnabbit. Here I was in rhinestone studded lapels, and lucite shoes with a rhinestone embedded pom-pom. Yeah, sure, my knee highs kept coming down and lapping visibly over my ankles, and yeah, my zebra striped band-aid on my big toe showed through the lucite. What did you expect? It wasn't Victoria and Albert's!

Jen was worn out and liked her Mom’s idea of staying in, ordering room service and playing cards together. They got the best end of the deal. I think we were all a little disappointed in the food quality and Cindy and the Prince could only be reached by standing in a line out front. Humph! I couldn’t even use my line, “Move over, Cindy, there’s a new glass slipper in town.” She looked so innocent and young, it would have been like trying to explain a Dennis Miller rant to a pre-school class. And Prince Charming? Let’s just say that the next buffet I attend better have Tarzan and George of the Jungle and they better bring some hot rolls with the photo ops. Otherwise my rhinestones will stay back in Branson with my favorite Elvis impersonators.

Kungaloosh!

Kim and Karen had a very early next day flight and chose to opt out of the last part of the day, the trek to Pleasure Island. They were wise. By this time Amy, Alicia and I were nearly limping to our next stop. It had been a very active weekend. Nonetheless, it was worth it to see two great stops at Pleasure Island. The first was the Comedy Warehouse show. I’ve been there many times, but this was the best show yet. The current batch of improv artists are superb. Amy and I laughed loudly and Alicia smiled nicely through her nap. That girl can nap most anywhere! We got her to her feet and managed to guide her to the Adventurer’s Club, a first for me. We were all inducted into the club, the Club President looking eerily like me on Casual Friday. We ordered our first Kungaloosh right before the Hoopla. Hoopla! It is a delightful drink, a strawberry daiquiri with the extra goodie of whipped cream and cherries. A great girl power drink with not too much alcohol. You can also order a non-alcoholic strawberry daiquiri. That drink would be our nightcap. We headed home because we were determined to hit Animal Kingdom at Early Entry Monday morning.

Next Installment: BreakfastoBye-Bye

[Moley]

Breakfast O Bye Bye

This morning as I was trying to speed out of bed for Early Entry at Animal Kingdom, I made a mental note: get psychiatrist appointment upon return for touring Disney World with friends young enough to be my grown children. I couldn't believe I was attempting to pack all my things and get to the bus stop by 7:30 after coming in late the night before from Pleasure Island. Oy. :roll: Luckily those grown children didn't manage much better than I. We all got our bags out of the room and the bags under our eyes to the bus stop before 8, but not early enough to be at gate opening.

Dodo head, namely me, left my key in the room and therefore had no resort identification for Early Entry. They check! They nicely sent the Dodo, since they do love animals at Animal Kingdom, over to the Guest Relations window and they got me in with a home phone number check. Whew! The Dodo then went in to see the other animals. Amy and Alicia were busy getting pictures with the characters so I was not holding up the group. Lots of characters were out in front of the turnstiles. This is where Alicia finally found Brer Rabbit, her daughter's one request for a bring-home photograph. I swear there had to be a lot of little men in those character costumes because they sure did go for the close in shot when Amy and Alicia came running up. I was getting more of a "That's-Okay-we'll-blow-you-a-kiss-and-wave" kind of greeting. Fine by me. I was saving myself for a Meet and Greet with Tarzan. :P

Even with a late arrival for resort entry, we walked to the Safari and walked on two rides in a row. The animal sightings were numerous on both trips. This was a holiday weekend Monday but we were having no trouble getting right on and enjoying everything. The Bug show was twice as funny being shared by friends. We then had a nice walk on the Asia side of Discovery Island so we enjoyed a seldom seen side of the Tree of Life. That side is so worth stopping to view and photograph. The large carving of the owl was my very favorite. It was also near here that I had a Kodak heart moment. Jen saw her favorite character Eeyore and went over for a picture op. The look on her face was priceless. . It was pure love on a pure face of childhood. Jen had one of those smiles which would make the worst cynic go, "Awwwwww."

We then ventured to Dino Land and tried Primeval Whirl with only a 10 minute wait. That ride is rough! If you have any back pain or sensitivity to bruising, you might want to skip it. I thought it was fun but I was battered when I exited. Per our usual Fast Pass plans, we sent our gopher Amy ahead to get our Fast Passes for Dinosaur while we checked in for our 9:30 table at Donald's. They are no longer taking group photos before you are seated. The buffet was tasty and well stocked as always. It was a great break after our whirlwind of packing and touring.

After Dinosaur, my body was telling me to stop. The meteor didn't hit, but the Wall did. Even though Trixy and Jen were staying on with just a transfer to Fort Wilderness, and Amy and Alicia had a late flight to Nashville, I had to tell them goodbye and go off somewhere and collapse. Our good-byes were as comfortable as our first hello was. It was good to be with friends who shared your Disney obsession. 8)

Next Installment: Let the Lazy Days Commence!

[Moley]

Let the Lazy Days Commence!

A shady bench was calling my name soon after I said fond farewells to my All Girls Weekend friends. There was a singular joy in resting and feasting my eyes at the same time. Here I was in Disney, exhausted ,yes, but knowing I still had 3 more days and 3 more evenings to do exactly as I wished. I mentally regrouped and thought about what things I had missed in our whirlwind touring. I know!! Napping and shopping! :mrgreen:

There I had it, a plan for the next few hours. I could shop on my way back to a nap. I knew exactly where I would shop first. My best friend Sandi's little girl is a Dinomaniac. I headed over to the shop at the end of Dinosaur, the Dino Institute. It is not a big shop, but it has some choice treasures for dinosaur enthusiasts. My favorite bit of merchandise was a trio of walking dinosaurs, really pretty tiny for what they could do. They had a skin over their frame which gave a very realistic look to their movement. I picked out the two best looking, the triceratops and some long neck one. Durn, I don't know its name. Allison would hit me over the wrist with the Dino Shame Stick for being so ignorant. Anyway, it was as cute as all get out. The shop also had a bin of polished rocks, very pretty. You could make a selection and put them in a Dinoland bag for little hands to reach in and discover treasure. It was very easy to have the goodies sent directly to Allison and I had no package to carry. The shipping charges range from around $9 for small purchases and escalate per dollar value rather than weight. While I was at WDW, I would ship 6 packages, including one to Canada. To me, it was worth the cost not to be bothered with wondering how I was going to pack large items. Also, how exciting for a friend to get something shipped directly from Disneyworld. It was like I got to take them on the trip with me. :D

As I finish up this trip report, Allison’s package arrived, much sooner than the promised 21 shipping days they tell you to expect. She has just turned 7, but amazingly has the diplomacy to report to her Mama to tell me, “…these little guys are an Apatosaurus and a Torosaurus. You shouldn't feel badly about getting the Torosaurus's name wrong because he looks very much like a Triceratops, just with a bigger neck frill.” Okeee, I think I have that down now, but I’m wondering whatever happened to the good old days when you could pretty much get by with calling any big ole extinct reptile a Triceratops or a Brontosaurus? To be sure, I check my Triceratops Spin toy car from Once Upon a Toy and yep, that neck frill is smaller, just like she said.

I Fall in Love

I had arrived on the bus from the Contemporary and now I was heading for the same bus, but with a different final stop. I would be checking in at the Polynesian for my first ever stay there. Oh my! I do believe I'm falling in love! This resort is just heavenly. I can't wait to bring my beloved hubby back in December to enjoy it as much as I did on this trip. Check-in was worry free. Even better, they had placed me in an ideal location for Lazy Butt Touring. 8) I was in a ground floor room at the end of Rarotonga nearest to the Ceremonial Longhouse. It made me feel very safe at night to be within a few feet of the door to the Longhouse. Amazingly, in spite of the ice machine being across from my room, as were the elevators and the door to the Longhouse vestibule, I had a very quiet room. I didn't even hear the monorail and I was very close to it, too.

The room was sinfully roomy for one person. I did a little reading about the resort amenities. The room service breakfast order card for the door catches my eye, as does the brochure on the nearby Grand Floridian Spa. I also explore the patio with its lush vegetation outside my room. The bath and sleeping area were immaculate. Best of all, the bed was very comfortable. It's almost nap time!

Baggage Transfers between Resorts

I've always heard it is very easy to transfer from one Disney resort to another. My experience would confirm that. You do have to be in your room when your baggage is picked up at the resort you are departing and again when it is delivered to your next resort. I had accumulated more than I arrived with at the Contemporary, but the valet didn't blink an eye at my odd assortment of 2 suitcases and three odd additions, including a 12-pack carton of Cherry 7-Up. All of them arrived at the Poly completely intact. It took me all of 5 minutes from my call to the valet to have them delivered to the room. I could get used to this at home! Valet, could you deliver my empty cans of Code Red from the computer desk to the kitchen wastebasket? And bring a pizza on the way back! :P

My Dee-Luxe Passporter

I've used a Passporter on previous trips, but this time I had my first Dee-luxe Passporter along. I really had fun with this one, because I used it in all kinds of practical and playful ways. I rearranged pages, added some note pages or two, used the pockets to hold my envelopes of money for the meals our group shared, and used it to keep myself from going crazy searching for things. Everytime I pack, I think I'm so organized as I leave. I know exactly where everything is. Then I arrive and everything I need goes into the Witness Protection Program. Where is it? With my Passporter, I had the most important items tucked in the pockets for the days I would need them. I had all hotel confirmations in the Lodging pocket. The towncar info and my plane eticket confirmation were in the Journey pocket. I even had my Don't Miss notes in the right Day pockets for the parks we were visting. I might be wondering where my socks went, but my trip planning notes were easy to find everyday.

I also added some neon colored 3x5 cards to the pockets so I could transfer notes in a hurry and take them with me in the Passholder neck pouch. Although I wouldn't recommend this for large sunglasses, my smaller glasses fit nicely in the Passholder pouch, so most days I could go to the parks with just the neck pouch and a water bottle. It was very liberating to be hands free. The clear case in front was a perfect place to tuck Fast Passes, too. But wait, that's not all!

My final salute to the Dee-luxe Passporter is the way it feels. It has a comfortable weight to it, very solid for a writing surface and the leather is nice to the touch. I guess the best way to describe it is it makes you feel like you hold in your hand the promise of a great vacation ahead. While I perused it as I was preparing to nap, I fell asleep and found it made a perfect huggie pillow, too. When I awoke, I swore I had absorbed new ideas of what I would do in the next few days. 8)

Dinner and a Movie

One of my all time favorite non-park activities is taking in a movie at the Pleasure Island AMC theaters. My nap was long but I didn't worry about missing a movie. There are so many theaters to select from, you can see something almost every hour. The easy bus ride ended with a stop only a small walk from the theaters. I bought my ticket to a chick flick, “Two Weeks Notice,” and then headed over to Planet Hollywood for a quick supper. I always enjoy that restaurant. Sometimes both the food and service is better than other times, but I still have fun taking in all the movie memorabilia and following it with a great movie-going experience.

The AMC theaters are truly high on the list of Lazy Butt comfort seating. All the theaters are stadium style with very high back chairs. You cannot have your view blocked. The aisles are wide enough, you don't have to get out of your seat to let someone by into the row. If you are tired from park touring, this place gives you air-conditioned comfort and a nice break. No more touring for me after the movie. I headed back in time for the last 15 minutes of Bad Reality TV, Joe Millionaire. I wished all my funny friends were back in the room to share in the luxury of the moment. But I knew they were all hugging their families right that minute. With that thought, I picked up the phone and called my Beloved Hubby and told him I loved him. :)

Next Installment: It's All About ME Day!

[Moley]

It’s All About ME Day!

This day would be one of the most totally indulgent days I've ever experienced. 8) I highly recommend everyone have one of these at least once a vacation. The MeMeMe morning was planned the day before. I found a room service card on which to place a breakfast order. Nothing short of Tonga Toast would start the day out right. I was proud of myself for choosing such a healthy selection what with the fruit inside that fried and sugared sourdough bread. Also, I supplemented it with calcium rich butter. To my pleasant surprise, it was quite hot when it arrived at the door.

Surprise Room Discount

Not only did breakfast arrive at the door, but there was a card slipped under the door with an amazing room discount offer. If you booked a return trip during this stay for dates before December 31, you could get discounts equivalent to Annual Pass rates. Visions of the Passporter Meet in December danced in my head as I headed to the phone to book a deal. For the dates I wanted, I got the Poly for $179 a night. Merry Christmas to MeMeMe! :mickeyXmas: Fortified with a billion carbs and a merry mood, I packed my gym bag for my next All About Me destination. I was going to spend the entire morning at the Grand Floridian Spa.

Hot Spa Mama

The day before, when I called the Spa, I asked them if I could bring my own robe. Of course. Could I get my massage with my swimsuit on? "However you feel the most comfortable is fine." Well, I'm the most comfortable in my pink chenille swing robe. Spa robes are made for women who don't need a spa. When they sit down the robe doesn't come flying open to reveal blindingly white thighs. Today I would make those reed thin women green with envy when they saw my robe with the rich patina in the wear areas. I also swaddled my body in my twenty year old super-fortified Spandex of the Eighties swimsuit. I didn't want to make it too easy for a male masseuse to actually touch me. Nothing short of a fully staffed archaeological dig could reach my Temple of Bazoom. One more thing, I grabbed my Dee-luxe Passporter so I would not be forced to look at health magazines while waiting for my appointment.

I was dismayed to find that there is a bit of a walk from the monorail station at the Grand Floridian to the Spa building. :( It is on the pathway to the Wedding Pavilion and almost equi-distant between the Polynesian and the Grand Floridian. Had I known there was exercise involved, I would have looked into the possibility of a sedan chair toted by half-clad Norwegian Cast Members. Too late for that. Luckily my first massage was the tired feet and sore legs massage to be delivered by Erica. This was a 25 minute soak and foot/leg rub. After 5 days of keeping up with those younger girls, I was ready for this one. I also got to keep my Dee-luxe Passporter with me, so I could read pleasant things while my tootsies were being pampered. What luxury:)

My next massage wasn't until 10:30, so I had time to go to the lounge, enjoy more Passporter reading and eavesdrop on all the conversations around me. I overheard one lady praising one masseuse named Peter who was expert in shiatsu massage. He had even walked on her back! No sooner had her description left her mouth, than a tall masseuse looked into the lounge and called my name. My aromatherapy Swedish massage would be performed by Mr. Happy Feet Peter. :lol:

I wasn't too sure about this. All my previous massage experiences had been from female masseuses. I was trying to keep my cool and not let on I was a bit shy and that I had an attitude of, "Before you get to touch me all over, you have to license yourself to me and give me jewelry for 32 years." I knew, though, there was not enough time to meet those pre-conditions, so I just tried to relax as I got under the blankie on the massage table. He was very professional and I never felt uncomfortable. He didn't walk on my back, but he did find many spots there which needed therapy. There was one spot on my back, just to the left of my right shoulder blade. That one was worth the cost of the treatment. Then he did this move on the back of my hands at the juncture of the wrist. I said, "Okay, this one is going to cause me to never leave the Spa." He said, "Do you work at a computer?" I said, "All day long for about 9 hours a day." He explained that this move was very good for carpal tunnel syndrome and for people who had to do a lot of typing. Then he talked about how he combines some shiatsu techniques with the Swedish massage. That's why that spot on the back felt so good. I'm sure he was releasing the tension I had from all that power sitting I did at all those restaurants.

Don't have your hair done before you go to an Aromatherapy massage. The oils they use will get rubbed into your hair. You even get a little bit of a scalp massage which is divine, but not conducive to a big hair day. Peter suggested that I use the steam room after the massage to let the oils really soak into my skin. That was very invigorating, but also a hair style killer. By the time I was through, my do was a 'did'. Who cared? I felt great!

It's All About Me Day. Bring Forth My Lunch!

I arrived back at the Polynesian in time for an early lunch at the Kona Cafe. This is now one of my all time favorite restaurants. Not only is the service consistently friendly and efficient, but the food at all three meals is outstanding. I asked my server Debbie to place me at a booth which could seat 4. I was in the mood to spread out while large quantities of food were brought to me. She gladly obliged and suggested a favorite choice of hers, the Beef Terriyaki Salad. A salad?! Reluctantly, I fought my baser instincts to have two desserts and ordered that salad. It did not disappoint. Nestled in all those disgustingly healthy greens, were nice fatty strips of beef lathered in a sugary terriyaki sauce. And hiding under the nutrients was a bed of cheese. This was a good choice afterall!

A Seat for the Parade and All My Favorite Lazy Rides

After lunch, it was time for a two hour nap and hair rehabilitation. Then, because I was staying on the monorail, an afternoon at the Magic Kingdom was a must. I arrived rested and invigorated so first thing I headed for was a bench in the shade. I found a perfect spot on the porch near Town Hall. It had an unobstructed view of the afternoon parade which arrived at that part of Main Street 10 minutes after I did. My luck continued as I crossed the street and headed for the Camera Center. I like to go to the left and all the way back to see what characters are about. Today there was Snow White and a few dwarves, so I gave them a friendly wave as I headed to the comfy seats in the mini theater right there at the back. I was treated to one of my favorite old cartoons, A Silly Symphony. What fun! :D

The touring this Tuesday was completely crowd free. I went on Buzz three times in a row as a walk-on. The last time I had a personal best of 333,000 points. I was so happy. I know all the secrets of Buzz but I can’t aim. That’s an obstacle to doing well. Proud of my point success, I bought my Buzz lanyard which designates my score as Space Ace. It looked so much better than my previous card of Zero Loser. Then I capped off Tomorrowland/Lazy Style with a trip on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority.

Now it was off to multiple rides in the Haunted Mansion. On the last go round, I saw the Madame Leota tombstone effect! I was so gleeful and spooked at the same time! Since it was just about 5:00, I rushed to Columbia Harbor House for a last minute supper. I’ve learned in the past that on light crowd days, the over the counter restaurants will close around 5. Sure enough, my meal order at 4:58 was the last one taken. As I munched in the corner, I saw several groups of people come in afterwards and get turned away at the empty register. Once again, Jennifer Tilly and Gilbert Gottfried emerged on each shoulder. Jennifer said, “Offer those unfortunate children some of your french fries. They are hungry and you have so many.” The loud mouthed parrot said, “Hey! Over Here! Yeah, over here! I have hot food because I got here 5 minutes before you did! Wanna ketchup packet?” I tried to ignore him. :roll:

Before I left I got into the last show of the day for Tiki birds. Then I became a Pirate of the Caribbean once again and of course, capped off the day with a Dole Whip. How much more perfect could this day be? Need you ask? :mrgreen:

Next Stop: SHOPPING!!

After a small rest at the Poly and a switch to warmer evening togs, I was off to the bus stop to go to the Marketplace. For the next three hours, I would non-stop shop. I didn’t spend a lot, but I sure saw nearly every item of merchandise they had. Some of my favorite finds: there are some interesting cannisters with an old style Mickey on them. These cannisters have lemonade, coffee and teas in them. They are a great Disneyana display item. I also got a good friend in Manhattan his favorite cookie treat, a new to me discovery. They were called Winnie the Pooh White Chocolate Lemon Honey Waffle Cookies. I bought a box for myself, only 3 per small box. Oh my, these are good. :P Be aware that Disney will not ship this item, as they have a policy of not shipping candies or perishable foods.

Another fun find was at the pin kiosk which has a huge selection of park pins and a carefully guarded display of pin books with many rare ones inside. I bought some state pins there which were a hoot. Arkansas had Pumba on it, in connection with Arkansas’ mascot, the razorback hog. I got my Texas friend the Texas pin with Woody on it. And I got a dear friend in Michigan a Michigan pin with Mr. Toad on it. I figure she will always remember that Toad’s friend, Moley, gave it to her. :)

The new Once Upon a Toy store is a must see for kids of all ages. The little die cast cars representing WDW rides were my own favorite. I bought a Triceratops spin car featuring Mickey and Pluto, a Doombuggy with Mickey, Goofy and a Hitchhiking Ghost and a Buzz Lightyear car with Buzz. My only disappointment this trip was my stop in Ghirardelli’s. The last time I was there, they made their own truffles, something fun to watch, smell and later buy. I had hopes of getting my Mom a big box of the cherry bombs. They have now discontinued this and there were no truffles in sight. It still smelled good in there, though.

It’s All About Me Day was drawing to a close. Had one last thing to do to be self-indulgent. On my return to the room, I grabbed another room service order card and listed my breakfast time for a sleep-in hour. As I grabbed my Dee-luxe Passporter for a few notes, I thought about how this and that would be even more fun in December with Beloved Hubby along. Okay, he’ll hate the 3 hour shopping gig, but everything else, even going to the Spa in my pink chenille robe, I think he’ll like! Went to sleep with the Passporter Dee-luxe as a huggie pillow in the curl of my arm. I swear it gave me great touring dreams all night. :lol:

Next and Final Installment: The Extra Day

[Moley]

The Extra Day

When we first cooked up this whole All Girls Weekend, I was going to return on Tuesday. Then I changed my plans to fly out Wednesday so if an Enight materialized, I'd be there. I don't remember exactly how I added in Wednesday as a full day, but I do know now that it enabled my second favorite part of the trip. The first favorite was meeting all my friends. Now I would discover how much that extra day would add to my whole vacation.

In early December I posted a thread on Passporter entitled, "Solo Touring - Where Would You Dare?" I asked them for ideas on what they would do if they had a day or two to go anywhere and do anything in Walt Disney World. I got a nice response, most of them saying it was a real luxury just to go with the flow. Some were also specific suggesting a day at the Spa(check), shopping(big check) and a behind the scenes tour. I was pretty exhausted after 6 days of park hopping. What kind of tour would satisfy my Disney obsession and give me a lazy experience, too? As if Fate smiled kindly on the Lazy, I had already booked the answer to that. Wednesday, my Extra Day, would be the day I got to attend the Animators Lunch, or as it is officially called, "Lunch with a Disney Artist."

Who Wants to be a Dunce-Play It!

I get to enjoy Trixy's company again today. Her hubby who came in on Tuesday was taking Jen to Discovery Cove to swim with the dolphins. Fate would be kind to them, too, as it was the only balmy mid-70's day in a 10 day span of uncharacteristically chilly weather. I had tried in vain to get an extra seat for Trixy when I booked the Animators lunch. I called back every day or so to see if there was a cancellation. No, sorry, only one seat was available on that day. We could still do a few things at the Studios before and after the 11:30 Animators Lunch. Our first destination was Who Wants to be a Millionaire-Play It. This was a first time experience for me. It is something my hubby just wouldn't enjoy sitting through. I got lucky about sitting in the Fastest Finger row, but it did me no good in making it up there to play. I was in the top ten only once. I think Trixy made it there twice. I had a real admiration for those who make it to the hot seat and an even greater respect for ultimate winners.

We had enough time after the game to see the One Man's Dream exhibit. I so love this display and movie. I do hope the resort can preserve it somewhere so it can be enjoyed after the 100 Year celebration is at an end. I ran out of time and didn't make it to the Animation Courtyard shops. I thought it might be nice to get a book on Disney Animation to be signed by the artist of the day. Too late for anything but a quick restroom stop and on to the lunch. I had no idea what to expect, but I was very excited to get this opportunity.

Lunch with a Disney Artist

The first I heard any mention of this lunch, it was on Passporter through a post by Jean, Jean, My Travel Queen. She had received a letter from Disney detailing this experimental combination meal and look behind the scenes experience. The problem with her letter was that it described a program starting in October and going through November. She received it in December! I remember replying to that thread that it was something I would inquire after during my January trip as it sounded like something I would very much enjoy. I was delighted when Sandi spotted an announcement in Deb Wills' All Ears Newsletter. The luncheon experiment was back and limited seating was available in January. My Extra Day was the day I got in, January 22!

I had no idea what to expect. I didn’t know if it would be a crowd of people, if I would join a table with other families or what would be the format of the interaction with the artists. I was stunned when I was shown to a booth and I was the only one there with two members of the animation team. There was not a lunch after I left either. This would be the only one of the day. This is so new that Disney Dining books this and there is confusion as to what is allowed. Although they are told and the guest is told they can take up to nine, each cast member I called would say they were sorry they couldn’t add my friend in. I thought it was because there was only one chair available and evidently they thought so, too. Be sure you stress, if you want to book this(and I have learned it is going on at least through February now), how many are in your party for the “one” seating. I would have been able to add Trixy to the table if only I could have given the booking Cast Members clarification as to what that lunch was about. This is all an experiment for now, even though it has been off and on since October. It is offered on only a few days a week and no two days are necessarily alike. You may get different artists who are present and your menu may vary, too. If it continues and when word catches on, I think this may be a very difficult event to book. During lunch I was told the original idea was to offer this only to concierge guests at the Grand Floridian and the Polynesian. They opened it up to all guests a few weeks into the experiment. How lucky I was to be there at all. My Lazy Luck was even better. After 6 days of touring and tired feet, my behind the scenes peek was sitting at a booth, with personalized attention and food served the entire time. This is the ultimate in Lazy Butt Tours!

That day the artists were two in number. I am not an animation expert. Like all of you, I do love the Disney movies, but I wouldn’t know a clean up artist from a background supervisor, so what I relate to you in this report, please forgive if there are inaccuracies. The other thing I wanted to kick myself about was I was too in awe and too shy to take notes. All I know for certain, and it is totally accurate, is that this was a very special experience, maybe a once in a lifetime opportunity for me, and I enjoyed every micro second of the 90 minutes through lunch and pleasant conversation.

After I was seated and told a bit about what to expect on the meal, the two artists came over and we were introduced. I was dining that day with Sam Ewing and Bob Stanton. They were immediately warm and charming. They made me feel comfortable right away. They explained a little about what their own jobs were, although I thought they were modest. I did a little research after I got home and while Sam Ewing had mentioned he worked on certain characters, like Khan in Mulan and Stitch, he didn’t say he was the Lead Key Animator for those characters. Bob Stanton is the Background Supervisor in Lilo and Stitch, so I unknowingly gave him a well-received compliment when I mentioned how much I loved the palette of that movie with its striking array of blues. These two were just friendly guys who were having a good time talking about work they loved and food they loved as well!

The food was superb, typical Brown Derby quality. I found that the chef was an old favorite of mine and my DH. We had a superb meal at Mama Melrose’s back in late 1998. The chef came out that night because we praised his work so highly to our server. It was Chef Tim and now he is back at the Brown Derby as head chef there. I told our server what an artist the chef was and Chef Tim came out again, so I excused myself to the charming lunch companions and said, “I’ll get back to you in a sec. I’m going to fawn over the chef for awhile.” :mrgreen: The meal really was extraordinary. We got a dinner quality selection, most of which was fixed. The soup, salad and dessert were set and there were 3 choices on the entrée. I could choose from Thai Noodles, a filet or pan-fried grouper. I chose the grouper, Sam got the Thai noodles and Bob got the steak. The soup was an onion soup gratin with a beautiful, really artistic, spray of herbs atop the Derbyshire gratin. We had a small, but satisfying portion of Cobb salad and our dessert was double vanilla bean crème brulee. At the end of the meal, I would get a souvenir menu with the names of the artists and our meal selection that day.

I had a few questions to ask Sam and Bob, but I didn’t need to as they covered so much in their own conversation. How they got started in the business, how much they loved their work, how much in awe they were themselves of the people they worked with and the great animators who had preceded them in Disney movies. I asked how the two teams in Burbank and at the Florida studios worked together. I asked them what movies they got to work on, if they traveled at all to Burbank. I also asked if they knew Stitch would be such a hit while they were working on it. They said they felt very good about that one from the start. I had a few silly questions, too. I think they liked those the most as they are the kind which make each lunch different for them. The silliest was what toys do they have at their computer station. Animators are obviously as big a kids as are their fans. They have lots of toys, including McDonald Disney toys, toys from the Simpsons and little cars. It was fun to ask them about what cartoons outside of Disney they enjoy and the Simpsons was a unanimous choice at the table. 8)

Before I left I would get a glass plate, very large, and it would be autographed at the table by Sam and Bob. The Brown Derby packaged it up for travel and had it waiting about two hours later at package pick-up when I left the park. My total cost for this lunch was $65, about what the medium range tours cost. To me, it was worth every penny. Sam and Bob were astounded I couldn’t get Trixy into the lunch. They said this lunch is designed to be a personal experience for just one party, but they have had a large family group in many times. If we had thought for Trixy to come with me to the podium, it might have worked out. As it was, I met her afterwards for a Muppets show and she would have to hear all the chatter about it instead. If you love animation, I can’t recommend this experience enough. It was truly Disney Magic. :D

Goodbye Rides and Spectro Magic

The last attraction for the Studios this day was a Muppets show. I got to show Trixy the special Lazy Butt sitting area, if you arrive when the pre show is just getting started. It is down toward the front screens, around the left, where you can sit on some crates and rest. You can also sit on the floor, but be aware you have to get up again from the floor! We said another fond farewell after our Muppets show and I shopped a bit as I left the Studios. I wanted to stop in The Writers’ Shop next to the ABC Commissary to see if it still had comfortable nap seating. Yes indeed, the wing back chairs are still there along with the pastry and coffee selection, milk if you don’t want caffeine to interfere with your snooze. I picked up my plate and bussed back to the Poly for an even longer nap before my last treat of the Extra Day.

There was a Spectro Magic scheduled for that Wednesday night. When hours were first posted about 60 days out, this parade was not there, only two for Saturday. It was added in about two weeks or so before my arrival. Always check official hours right before you go for changes. And when you get there, study your guide map supplements. Once upon a Trip, the guide maps were printed weekly and had all the show schedules for the week, starting on a Sunday. Currently the guidemaps are standardized and you get a one sheet supplement, called a Times Guide, for each park. I didn’t notice if this was available at check-in or only in the parks. This was a failing on my part, as one of my singular pieces of advice to departing vacationers is to study these Times Guides first thing for special showings during their stay.

This day’s Times Guide for the Magic Kingdom confirmed the parade time but also showed it was a bit later and the park closed an extra half hour later after the parade. Hurray! The Extra Day was getting even better. I had time to stroll down Main Street and look for a couple of old favorites. There is no longer a hot dog cart to the side street to the right as you pass the Watch shop. There is still a nice alcove in there with chairs and tables. It is a nice break time place to take in a treat and rest. I had plenty of time to grab an early supper at Casey’s Corner. The hot dogs are definitely still there and those little fries are the best. Got to hear the piano player’s last set of the day. Enjoyed Pirates one more time and headed back to my super secret parade spot. I can’t say anything publicly about this spot. I will say it involves a bench, a quiet area and great view, if a little back from the parade. Certainly no one will be in front of you. Again I found that a traditionally great spot for guests has now been roped off for VIP and package deal holders. That spot was in an alcove of benches just before you crossed the parade bridge going from the Castle hub to Liberty Square. It is off to the left and is also has been used for a handicapped viewing area in the past. A Cast Member comes by about 30 minutes before the parade and blocks it off now.

My super secret spot is still available and I headed over there with my Dee-luxe Passporter as a way to pass the short waiting time of about 35 minutes. I will tell you this spot in email, but only if you first swear on the Sacred Crystal Plate of the Holy Animation Lunch that you will not spread it around to Brazilian line busting groups or your next door neighbors. It was still a nice temperature even as the sun set so it was not uncomfortable waiting for the parade to begin. Spectro Magic is my favorite, although I love the Mainstreet Electrical Parade, too. I can’t get over how the colors cycle into white and then multi-colored and sequence from one end of the float to the other end.

When the parade had passed, it was time to head over for my goodbye to WDW last ride. Normally for us that is Spaceship Earth. Well, today it was Haunted Mansion. I got two more rides in and a wink from Madame Leota. :wink: I still had a minute or two left so I walked to Fantasyland to look for Eeyore souvenirs for a friend. Peter Pan was still open and I could stroll on, so I got to say goodbye to the Lost Boys and Peter, who like me, would never grow up. As I got out of the ride, the fireworks were starting and I stopped at some lunch seating and enjoyed a perfect view of them from a chair. The Pooh shop was closed when they finished, so I would have to save any last minute shopping for whatever was open on Main Street.

I would have one last treat as I left the park. The kiss goodnight is from Mickey now just outside the Train Station. He stands over the departing crowd, says a goodbye and blows a kiss. Then I strolled up to the Resort Monorail and selected a waiting spot next to a nice looking couple. The lady leaned over and looked at my Passporter pin and said, "Moley?!” It was My Pastimes Peg from Passporter. What a sensational way to leave the parks. We started chattering like we had known each other for years. It was my last day and her first and we were both equally excited. Her hubby didn’t get a word in edgewise! It was fitting I began this trip with old friends and ended it with a new friend. Experiencing Disney with your family and friends is the beginning and the end-all of Sharing the Disney Magic.

As I see some more ‘old’ friends on this fine new site, I am humbled to be able to plan with y’all and share your experiences, your hopes, and your good humor. May you find your own special magic in your vacations and then bring it back and spread it around! Happy planning, Taginators! :D

[sandar]

hi Moley!

I love all the fun details of your report. My goodness, you must take excellent notes, kiddo.

Also, even after getting to know you over the past few months, the range and zing of your humor still amazes me. I laughed out loud many times while reading this -- and I'd read it once before! :lol:

thank you very much for the fun and wisdom you share,

Sandi

p.s. Note to self: get appointment with Peter the Great, someday, somehow.

[BetsyAnn]

Moley!

You are wonderful with the written word! It feels to me like you are just to me!

And I still love the animator's lunch and you may have talked me into a massage at WDW -- love massages just never brave enough to try one there!

Thanks for sharing,

BetsyAnn

[AliciaG]

Moley, you are such a gifted comedic writer! Even though I was there to experience it, you had me ROFL reading about the adventures yet again. :lol:

I thought I'd reply to your report with a few of the pics that I took during the trip.

http://members.aol.com/aguethlein/briderng.jpg

The elusive bride's ring at the Haunted Mansion.



http://members.aol.com/aguethlein/mdmleota.jpg

The Madame Leota tombstone with eyes open.

[AliciaG]

http://members.aol.com/aguethlein/Mainstr7.jpg

All together on Main Street. From left to right...Alicia, Amy, Moley, Jen (kneeling), Karen, Kim, Trixy.



http://members.aol.com/aguethlein/Ilmfire.jpg

Illuminations, as seen from our pontoon boat.



http://members.aol.com/aguethlein/marquee.jpg

Our serendipitous adventures at the Great Movie Ride.

http://members.aol.com/aguethlein/scrytowr.jpg

Us enjoying the entire back row of an elevator on ToT. Note the scared to death look on my face, since Moley barely lowered the lap bar. :shock:

[Tagrel]

Wow! Thanks for the pictures Alicia! They are all great!!!!

[LisaG]

Thanks for the great trip report, I kept laughing out loud at my desk. I almost felt like I was there! Plus reading it put me in the right frame of my mine to start obsessing over our November trip this year.

[Kaycee]

Moley,

Wow, what a great trip report! You included so many wonderful details, and your storytelling is awesome. I laughed out loud many times while reading it.

I especially enjoyed the details about Haunted Mansion (my all-time favorite ride) and the Animator's Lunch.

Thanks for sharing your magical vacation with us!

[Esmerelda]

Oh, gosh Moley. I laughed so hard that my boss came in and said I was being disruptive!

I only have read the first three installments, but have a great treat to look forward to once I get home. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, for posting.

A dose of "Moley" medicine is just what I needed this morning.

[smallworld0]

Moley,

What a wonderful story, I felt like I was there with you all. You mean I'm not the only one with a Tarzan obsession? My hubby thinks I like to see Tarzan Rocks because it's a great show....yeah.... :roll:

I love your humor girl!

Nancy

PS - I can certainly understand a hubby who doesn't want to shop. I felt nearly starved a couple weeks ago at WDW. We didn't even go to the DD Marketplace. I think I need a Me, Me, Me Day, too next trip!

[AmyA]

Moley--even though I was there, it was great to read the TR again. I think YOU should write a guidebook ("The Lazy Tourista's Guide to WDW" comes to mind :wink: )!!

[Moley]

Thank you, Amy! Love your avatar!

[DrBabe]

Loved your trip report, and if you want to read more about going alone, check out www.wdwig.com/solo :P

[SuzyQ]

You are such a kick! Your trip report sounded like so much fun! It makes me want to plan a big "meet" at the world.

Keep your eye out for my email. . . I plan on signing my name in blood so that I can find out your secret spots!! (ouch!)

~Suzy

[pixie]

Moley,

What wonderful trip report. We left the Polynesian the day you arrived, I just love it there. Your report took me back to many delightful memories as I shared your experiences.

Your spa day made me laugh until I cried. I never thought about wearing a bathing suit during a message so I always passed it up. My next trip in January it's a go!

Thanks for sharing your awesome trip.

Believe....

Barbara

[LimeGreenCheri]

I've just finished reading your trip report again, and it cracks me up every time!! You do a fablous job of lazy butt touring and I hope I can be intitated into the club sometime soon, like December maybe!

[Stinkerbelle]

Moley -

I just had to chime in and tell you what a great trip report this was! You may have inspired me to start one of my own from my last trip. Great work!

-ram

[Moley]

Ramson,

I hope that you do! You are a good writer with great insights on the best tidbits from a WDW trip. Your report would be a great treat for all of us. :D And thank you for the nice compliment. :)

[Cinderella]

[/b]Wow Moley. That was a great report. We should write a book together. My favorite pasttime is writing and I seem to be the only one left who does Erma Bombeck type emails and letters to friends. I love putting in funny details to liven up the stories/trip reports. We'll have to do DW sometime in our lifetime - what a trip report that would be!!!!
Thanks for letting us all enjoy it.

Claire
:girlears: :minnie:

[Moley]

Claire, that would be a real treat. We would not see much for all the laughing we would be doing! :mrgreen: I hope that you will write some of your humorous insights into an upcoming December trip report. Even a little one would be a gift. Pleeeease! :D

[roodad]

A three snort-laugh effort, Ms Moley. Would have been more, but the last one degenerated into an unfortunate booger giggle and I had to stop reading.
:clap:

roodad

[Lady]

Moley - loving your trip report - my favorite line so far is "We hovered over tables like vultures over a dying yak. Eventually we were rewarded and we got a nice table and became the new yaks"

I guess it’s a moot point now since the show is gone - Diamond Horseshoe Revue.- they got rid of the dancing girls?? How the heck can you have a saloon show without dancing girls - what was that all about?? Sheesh

I enjoyed reliving the Illuminations Cruise of 2000 - I had brought a bottle of Cabernet from the Biltmore Estate, NC and carried it around in my back pack all day at EPCOT - when we had made it to the viewing area and snacks etc were being passed around - the wine was poured - one of the guys walked around the center cup holder thingy to get to the front of the boat for a better view and knocked one of the cups of wine right out of the holder thingy and it went all over the white blankets - I didn't know about the little boy upchucking green splatter effects on the boat carpet, the little girl I knew about - guess when the little boy was doing his thing was when I was trying to steal the blanket from you - even with all those wonderful memories it was still a great time - I still laughed and felt warm and fuzzy even though it was the coldest night : )

On to the next installment : )
Hugs Shell

[Moley]

Shell, this last cruise was as bitingly cold as the night we went on in 2000. They no longer have those center tables with the tiny cup holders, so shallow and so prone to glasses tipping over. Guess they learned their lesson with our mishap! It was one of those moments when you see the glass going over in slow motion. Yes, it was great fun and I'll always treasure both cruises as wonderful memories of Epcot and friends.

[Lady]

Moley Moley Moley
you lucky duck you

Lunch with the animators - how cool
that is something I would do - given the chance
when I get back to WDW in a thousand years - it may not
be offered : ( Sure glad you were able to experience it
and that you were kind to share it with us : )

I know the ledge you speak of RnRc - I too sat there - while the guys went on the coaster and video taped - people watched - looked at the map etc. - they really don't do weekly maps anymore?

Thanks for sharing your trip with us - Scamp howled at one of your statements and he's out chopping a fallen tree from our ice storms we had - yep still out there lol - nothing like waiting to do yard work - anyway I forget which statement it is - but he sure loved it lol

Hugs Shell