HappyCamper
05-30-2003, 05:13 AM
As told by HappyCamper.
It's Thursday, May 15, and I'm packed and ready to go. Since my wheels are in the shop, DH drives me to the airport. Quick buffet breakfast at Shoney's and off to catch my flight. No problems checking in and boarding. Very bumpy flight. At one point, the plane actually drops or falls, and everyone yells. I'm not a comfortable flyer anyway and that surely didn't help. Thank Goodness the flight is almost over. We land and I look for Atlantis for a ride to Twinks gate. Met up with Scooby and we drive over to Delta's section of MCO. Twinks arrives and she looks wonderful. Hugs all around, pictures, laughter about her heavy "mother bag". Goodness, I do believe it contains the kitchen sink!! Scooby gets us settled in to the white Burb N Diet Coke and off to the AKL we go. Great conversation, lots of laughter ...
Check in at the AKL was fairly painless. Shorter wait than my previous trips. Friendly cast member. Twinks is just schmoozing to no end! Shamelessly! It works! We've got room 2417, which is in an excellent area! Cast member brings us a beautiful vase with flowers - it's from FlSharon and DH. What a way to start off the trip. Then, there they are! Hugs all around. Laughter and chatting to our room and in the room. Love the savannah view. Lots of animals. We get settled in, and then we ride with Sharon and John to Y&B Club to park and head to EPCOT. I want to catch the Gary Lewis act and we do after a beautiful boat ride and walk through EPCOT's international gateway. We catch the end of the concert and I am happy, happy, happy. We tour EPCOT for a bit and then make our PS at Tepanyaki. Great chef and good food!
Friday, 5/16, we head to MK. We stop at City Hall for a Guest Assistance Pass for Twinks and a birthday badge. Then, it's off to Crystal Palace for breakfast. It takes us a full hour to navigate down Main Street. This is Twinks' first trip without her daughter in tow and she is exploring. We meet with the mayor and he sings HB. Ah, Main Street at a snail's pace - life is good.
At Crystal Palace, we check in and wait about 10 minutes. We're seated and wait and wait and wait for our server. Finally, someone found her and our breakfast begins. We order our drinks and it's off to the buffet. We're visited by the characters and do the birthday dance with Eeyore. Sharon and John arrive and we're off for a magical day in our happy place.
On the way to FantasyLand, we are walking on the left side of the castle since the Cinderella show is going on. We stop in a shaded clearing and are treated to a personal show from the characters. They spot us and tell each other that we're there and we're treated to waves and blown kisses. John grabs me for an impromptu dance to the music and another family shows up. We share our little spot of perfection with the kidlets and laugh and chat and are immersed in the magic. It just doesn't get any better, imo.
Heading into FantasyLand, we go into the shop that has the vines out front - I don't remember it's name. Inside, Sharon shows us the giant. I've never seen it before and it's too cute. Once in FantasyLand, we try to get on PPF, but it's crowded and the line is very long. So, off to ToonTown since Twinks has never been there. (While my buddy is schmoozing in City Hall earlier, unbeknowst to her, I've been given a special pass to meet with Mickey - a sort of Fast Pass. It's also good for the characters at County Bounty. hehe - my little surprise!)
On the way to ToonTown, we meet with Cruella. I have to admit of all the characters, this CM is the best at acting her part. No one in line, so we're having a ball antagonizing the poor woman. Of course, you just can't best her, so the fur is flying and we're laughing hysterically.
Anyway, once in ToonTown, we visit Minnie's house. We sit in the living room, Twinks tries out the sewing maching, and Sharon checks out the fridge. Great time for some silly adults finding the magic. Out back, we head into County Bounty. I show my little card to the CM and the next thing you know, we have private audiences with Cinderella and Suzy, Minnie and Chip and Dale. After our pictures, we're off to catch the main mouse! And boy, do we catch him. The CM's usher us into his room and we're hugged and loved and photographed!! Twinks is glowing!
We did get to ride the train. Did Haunted Mansion. With Twinks' GAC, we were able to catch the afternoon parade in a private viewing section in the alcove next to the bridge between the Castle circle and Liberty Square. There's something to be said about viewing a parade, sitting on a bench in the shade, and no one in front of you or crowding you. I am spoiled forever!
Somewhere in here we ate at Columbia Harbor House. Love the food and it's so hard deciding. I had the fish; Twinks had the pineapple and chicken salad and we shared. Perfect. During the morning, we also did the PofC. Very short line. Had our first Dole Whips.
We take a break and head back to the AKL. The animals are out in force. There are zebras, giraffes, anakoles, (which Twinks would not let me call Texas longhorn!!), and others. They're so close, we can almost touch them. Just beautiful.
We finish the evening with dinner at Rose and Crown. It appears that the menu has changed and nothing really appealed to me. They did allow us to order an adult portion from the children's menu. Then, Illuminations from the patio!! No matter how many times I see this, I am continually in awe. What a performance!! What a way to end the night.
Sharon and John once again play taxi and return us to the AKL. We all watch the eclipse for a few minutes and then say our goodbyes. Ya just gotta love Sharon's DH - he calls for group hugs, lol! Sharon and DH are driving home tonight, so this is all we'll see them this trip. Thank you, dearest Sharon and John, for making magic. I miss Sharon's smiles and laughter even as they drive away.
Part 2 coming up soon.
It's Thursday, May 15, and I'm packed and ready to go. Since my wheels are in the shop, DH drives me to the airport. Quick buffet breakfast at Shoney's and off to catch my flight. No problems checking in and boarding. Very bumpy flight. At one point, the plane actually drops or falls, and everyone yells. I'm not a comfortable flyer anyway and that surely didn't help. Thank Goodness the flight is almost over. We land and I look for Atlantis for a ride to Twinks gate. Met up with Scooby and we drive over to Delta's section of MCO. Twinks arrives and she looks wonderful. Hugs all around, pictures, laughter about her heavy "mother bag". Goodness, I do believe it contains the kitchen sink!! Scooby gets us settled in to the white Burb N Diet Coke and off to the AKL we go. Great conversation, lots of laughter ...
Check in at the AKL was fairly painless. Shorter wait than my previous trips. Friendly cast member. Twinks is just schmoozing to no end! Shamelessly! It works! We've got room 2417, which is in an excellent area! Cast member brings us a beautiful vase with flowers - it's from FlSharon and DH. What a way to start off the trip. Then, there they are! Hugs all around. Laughter and chatting to our room and in the room. Love the savannah view. Lots of animals. We get settled in, and then we ride with Sharon and John to Y&B Club to park and head to EPCOT. I want to catch the Gary Lewis act and we do after a beautiful boat ride and walk through EPCOT's international gateway. We catch the end of the concert and I am happy, happy, happy. We tour EPCOT for a bit and then make our PS at Tepanyaki. Great chef and good food!
Friday, 5/16, we head to MK. We stop at City Hall for a Guest Assistance Pass for Twinks and a birthday badge. Then, it's off to Crystal Palace for breakfast. It takes us a full hour to navigate down Main Street. This is Twinks' first trip without her daughter in tow and she is exploring. We meet with the mayor and he sings HB. Ah, Main Street at a snail's pace - life is good.
At Crystal Palace, we check in and wait about 10 minutes. We're seated and wait and wait and wait for our server. Finally, someone found her and our breakfast begins. We order our drinks and it's off to the buffet. We're visited by the characters and do the birthday dance with Eeyore. Sharon and John arrive and we're off for a magical day in our happy place.
On the way to FantasyLand, we are walking on the left side of the castle since the Cinderella show is going on. We stop in a shaded clearing and are treated to a personal show from the characters. They spot us and tell each other that we're there and we're treated to waves and blown kisses. John grabs me for an impromptu dance to the music and another family shows up. We share our little spot of perfection with the kidlets and laugh and chat and are immersed in the magic. It just doesn't get any better, imo.
Heading into FantasyLand, we go into the shop that has the vines out front - I don't remember it's name. Inside, Sharon shows us the giant. I've never seen it before and it's too cute. Once in FantasyLand, we try to get on PPF, but it's crowded and the line is very long. So, off to ToonTown since Twinks has never been there. (While my buddy is schmoozing in City Hall earlier, unbeknowst to her, I've been given a special pass to meet with Mickey - a sort of Fast Pass. It's also good for the characters at County Bounty. hehe - my little surprise!)
On the way to ToonTown, we meet with Cruella. I have to admit of all the characters, this CM is the best at acting her part. No one in line, so we're having a ball antagonizing the poor woman. Of course, you just can't best her, so the fur is flying and we're laughing hysterically.
Anyway, once in ToonTown, we visit Minnie's house. We sit in the living room, Twinks tries out the sewing maching, and Sharon checks out the fridge. Great time for some silly adults finding the magic. Out back, we head into County Bounty. I show my little card to the CM and the next thing you know, we have private audiences with Cinderella and Suzy, Minnie and Chip and Dale. After our pictures, we're off to catch the main mouse! And boy, do we catch him. The CM's usher us into his room and we're hugged and loved and photographed!! Twinks is glowing!
We did get to ride the train. Did Haunted Mansion. With Twinks' GAC, we were able to catch the afternoon parade in a private viewing section in the alcove next to the bridge between the Castle circle and Liberty Square. There's something to be said about viewing a parade, sitting on a bench in the shade, and no one in front of you or crowding you. I am spoiled forever!
Somewhere in here we ate at Columbia Harbor House. Love the food and it's so hard deciding. I had the fish; Twinks had the pineapple and chicken salad and we shared. Perfect. During the morning, we also did the PofC. Very short line. Had our first Dole Whips.
We take a break and head back to the AKL. The animals are out in force. There are zebras, giraffes, anakoles, (which Twinks would not let me call Texas longhorn!!), and others. They're so close, we can almost touch them. Just beautiful.
We finish the evening with dinner at Rose and Crown. It appears that the menu has changed and nothing really appealed to me. They did allow us to order an adult portion from the children's menu. Then, Illuminations from the patio!! No matter how many times I see this, I am continually in awe. What a performance!! What a way to end the night.
Sharon and John once again play taxi and return us to the AKL. We all watch the eclipse for a few minutes and then say our goodbyes. Ya just gotta love Sharon's DH - he calls for group hugs, lol! Sharon and DH are driving home tonight, so this is all we'll see them this trip. Thank you, dearest Sharon and John, for making magic. I miss Sharon's smiles and laughter even as they drive away.
Part 2 coming up soon.