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View Full Version : June/July 2003 Family vacation Day 15, 16 and Final thoughts


Sheryl
07-19-2003, 09:39 PM
Cast: Sheryl, Terry, Zachary, and Nicholas

Dates: June 27 - July 12



Friday, July 11, 2003

This morning Terry and I are up and ready before the boys even wake up. Ter goes down to get all of us some breakfast, while the boys shower and get ready. We always spend our first and last day of our trip at the Magic Kingdom, and today we are hoping to meet with Sid (roodad).

I have some Buffalo Anchor Bar chicken wing sauce for Sid, but don't feel like carrying it all day, so we stop at the Wilderness front desk to see if we can get it shipped to the Coronado Springs resort where Sid is staying. I ask if they offer a service and mention I'd pay for it. The Cm (forgot her name) said she would have to check. Within about 3 minutes she comes back and asks me for Sid's room number. When I give her the room number she says a driver will take it over to the front desk for us and will let Sid know. We thank her and are on our way. You gotta love when Disney goes that extra mile for you. One of the reasons we personally love the Lodge.

As soon as we enter Main Street, we notice many characters are out who we need autographs with. So the boys line up quickly and get Timon, Rafiki, Dopey, Max, and Pinochio. While we are waiting our turn, there is a problem in another line with a family who keeps cutting. They don't seem to know any english except for the four letter swear words. Disney security takes care of the situation very quickly, but it is upsetting again to see people feel they don't have to follow the rules.

Today Nick decides he wants to try Space Mountain, so we ehad over to get fastpasses for this. While we wait we get a turkey leg to try. All of us agree there is no way this is turkey! It is pretty good though and very difficult to eat. Zach suggests we ride the Transit Authority while we wwait for our fastpass time, and he mentions he does not want to ride Space, but would rather go to Tom Sawyer Island. So Nick and I take the 4 fastpasses and head to Space, while Ter and Zach go to Tom Sawyer Island. We agree to meet at 3. Nick loves Space Mountain, and we ride it two times. Then after $10 worth of games we head over to meet with Ter and Zach. When we meet with them, Terry announces he grabbed fastpasses for Thunder Mountain and we can get right on now. The boys love this one too.

Next we head over to ride Aladdin, and while on the ride we notice Genie and Jasmine are signing autographs. As we wait in line for the autographs and pictures Ter, checks and there is a message from Sid. I call him and he heads over to meet us while we are waiting in line. I have enjoyed ready Sid's post for two years now and I am so glad we are getting the chance to meet with him. He has brought T-shirts from Hawaii for both the boys and they are really neat. We talk for a while, as the boys get Jasmine and Genies picture and autograph. Once again Jasmine notices their books are scrapbooked, so she runs over to ask Terry what her picture looks like, so she can picture her page in the boys book. I thought this was cute of her to ask.

The boys ask Sid if he'd like to go the Pirates with us, and they are delighted that Sid is going to spend the day with us. We have a great time going to It's a small world, Carousel of Progress, Buzz, Transit Authority and to Pecos Bill. It's starting to get dark now and Nick has been talking to Sid about going on his all time favorite (well for the day at least) ride...Splash! Luckily Sid loves Splash also. So Terry, Nick and Sid go on Splash and they get pretty wet. Zach says he'd rather sit this one out and watch for their picture. Nick comes running off the ride announcing He wants to go again! PLEASE!!!! There is basically no wait and Sid says he'll take him, so off they go. In the meantime, Terry and I go back and purchase of the three of them thinking it would be a nice surprise for the boys to mail it to Sid when we are home. This time Nick comes running off Splash announcing Sid will take him one more time if it's ok. Knowing this is our last ride for this trip, Terry goes along with them. When they get off this time, we look for their picture and Sid says he's going to buy it. LOL So we tell Sid we have already purchased the first one, adn he gets the last one and we split them up. Nick is thrilled to have a picture of him and his new friend, on his favorite ride. We watch teh fireworks with Sid and then say our goodbyes. It is a quiet ride back to the resort tongiht, we all know in only a few short hours we're going home. I'm filled with mixed emotions of missing Luke and home, but hating to leave my favorite place. I know there will not be much sleep tonight.


Saturday, July 12, 2003

The alarm goes off at 3 am, and I swear I just fell asleep. At 4:15 Ter calls for Bell services and as we walk outside, Atlantis Limo pulls up for us. This time it is a SUPER Stretch White Limo. It's HUGE. Such mixed emotions as we ride to MCO. Again curbside sevice for Southwest goes fast. I'm a little worried I our bags are too heavy and its going to be a problem. Terry gives the guy a heafty tip, hoping its not goign to be a problem. Before we know it we're on the plane and on our way home. A quick layover at BWI and we're back in Buffalo by 10:30 am. YUCK it's cold and dreary. We are surprised to see my Mom ther to greet us, as we have made plans for Ter's dad to pick us up. Good thing she's there we need the extra SUV. Dinner tonight at our house for my parents, my sister Sandy's family, and my inlaws. I have so many gifts for everyone and I cannot wait to give them. Feels like we'e been away forever.

The trip is done and gone, but the memories will remain forever.


FInal thoughts:

In our opinion the Coronado Springs Resort was awesome. We will go back there even though our heart will always be with the Widerness. I do like to split our trip, it makes you feel like a trip inside of a trip. For us teh bus service could not have been more perfect.

I forgot to mention, one of the maids left us little towel animals on the days she cleaned our room, as well as a thank you for the tip. We thought this was a nice touch.

I was nervous to use bus service for our entire trip, mainly the buses. It worked out very well and we really were fortunate to not have to wait much.

If you ever have the chance to meet up with anyone, I would highly recommend it. My family has been so fortunate to meet some truly wonderful people whom I've meet on line. I feel blessed to have such wondeful freinds. Thank you.

Sheryl

pixie
07-19-2003, 10:11 PM
Sheryl, you made me cry! :cry: I could feel all of your emotions as your trip came to an end.

I'm not surprised roodad is such a nice guy and your boys loved him. I hope to meet up with him in January. I, too, have met some wonderful online friends and look forward to meeting more. I look forward to meeting you again too!

Thank you so much for sharing your special memories with us. What a fantastic trip you had. Your report was awesome and I agree with Margaret you should print this out for your boys.

:tink: Barbara

Sheryl
07-19-2003, 10:33 PM
Thank you Barbara for taking the time to read my very long trip report and all your kind comments. Now that my report is done and printed out, I'm ready to start scrapbooking it. I too look forward to meeting you again.

Sheryl :minnie:

Esmerelda
07-20-2003, 04:34 AM
Reading your trip report has really gotten me excited about my upcoming trip. I bet you will be staying busy scrapbooking this vacation! How many pictures did you take?

It is great to meet internet friends in person, isn't it?

I'm sorry your trip (and trip report) came to an end. When is your next one planned?

PaulaR
07-20-2003, 10:40 AM
:D Sheryl,

What a great trip report! It is always nice to hear someone else's perspective on WDW. Our family just loves traveling together, too. We have never stayed more than 7 days, however, we all agree our next "family" trip will be longer! Thanks again for sharing.
PaulaR

HappyCamper
07-20-2003, 11:32 AM
:clap:


Excellent trip report, Sher. I was feeling a little homesick for WDW and now I'm feeling lots homesick for WDW. Thanks for sharing with us!

Debby

LisaG
07-20-2003, 02:23 PM
I agree with Pixie - I'm sad your reports are over, The past 3 days I've felt much closer to WDW while reading them.

We too love Coronado Springs but are staying at AKL this fall. Now I'm debating changing it. Your report reminded me of all the reasons we love CSR.

Thanks for all the great restaurant info too!

JeanC
07-20-2003, 11:44 PM
Sheryl -- What a wonderful series of trip reports on your recent family vacation. Each one was great. What a wonderful family you are! Brings back memories of our family trips when the kids were younger -- we were never lucky enough to stay that long, tho -- 10 days was our max. Thanks for spending the time to share with us.

MikeS
07-24-2003, 12:25 PM
I'd just like to add that metting up with Sheryl, Terry, Zach, and Nick was truly one of the highlights of our trip and definitely added a special touch to our time there.

MikeS

Lady
07-24-2003, 10:24 PM
dang it can't be over - rats : (

Thanks for sharing it all with us
I had to go plug in the WDW tapes we took
from last trips - reading your report
was like being there

Sheryl
07-24-2003, 10:45 PM
I just want to thank you all for your kind words. I was not sure if I could do a trip report, but I am so glad I did. It really is a nice keepsake to put with the scrapbooks. Not quite sure when our next trip will be, but Dh just surprised me by mentioning he'd like to go again next year instead of the Alaskan Cruise I was planning on. And to think he was the one who wanted a Disney break. :roll: So when we are home together long enough to discuss it, we'll have to make a decision.

Sheryl :minnie:

EJ4Disney
07-25-2003, 11:05 AM
Sheryl,

I printed your report yesterday at work and read it last night. I couldn't put it down. It was wonderful.

Thanks so much for sharing with us, your family sounds a lot like my own.

You did good kiddo,

Ellen

FLSharon
07-26-2003, 06:42 PM
Wow, I you must have dynamite packing skills! LOL... I thought for sure with all the shopping you'd keep UPS busy! Sounds like you have a wonderful family. Great story, thanks for writing it, it was really a fun read. :lol: Sharon