Amy Keen - September 2001

We returned yesterday from WDW. We debated heavily about whether to take the trip after the events of 9/11, but our ds was really looking forward to it, so we decided to strive for normalcy. I'd be lying if I said it didn't affect my mood on the trip. But I took great pride in seeing all the American flags on the trip there and back, as well as all the red, white & blue that showed up at the parks.

We'd been scheduled to fly down from Detroit on Sunday 9/16, but our travel agent mistakenly cancelled our tickets when my dh called to *inquire* about cancelling them... we didn't try to reinstate them 'cuz Spirit couldn't guarantee we'd be able to get a flight. So we drove!! (And the drive, both ways, really wasn't that bad! Even tho' dh got a ticket in Ohio -- my fellow Michiganders will understand about speeding tickets in Ohio! Can you say "selective ticketing"? (VBG))

We left at 3 p.m. on Friday 9/14, spent the night in Lexington, KY & arrived at WDW on Saturday 9/15 at 9:30 p.m. I called CRO an hour outside of WDW and was able to get an AP rate at the WL. It was our first time there, and we *loved* it!!

We took the opportunity the next day to explore our new DVC home, the Villas at Wilderness Lodge, which we bought sight-unseen. I cannot describe how pleased my dh & I are with our purchase!!! Photos do not do this beautiful resort justice. We are in love, and cannot wait for our December trip.

We spent the following 6 nights at the Polynesian (on DVC points), in a 3rd floor lagoon view room in Tahiti, with a perfect view of the Castle. We swam almost every day in the wonderful volcano pool, and generally had a magic-filled time. Some highlights:

*A Disney magazine and stickers for our son from the check-in CM at the WL, and an Atlantis CD-rom in the room as a gift to guests

*A rose and card in our room from the Poly (we were celebrating our 10th anniversary)

*The Innoventions CM who, when asked by our ds if he had to give back the magnifying glass he'd been using in an exhibit, replied, "Now, it wouldn't be Disney if you had to give it back!"

*The Main Street Confectionary CM who, when asked why they weren't selling the individual Mickey gummy candies anymore, opened a new tin of them and let us each choose our favorites, free of charge

*The CM on Main Street who got my dh 3 of the Mickey-shaped balloons for me (we'd been trying to get them for 3 trips, and they weren't selling them on this particular day) and refused to accept payment!

*The WDW security guard who, upon overhearing my ds commenting on his Mickey-shaped armpatch, came over to us (we were sitting at a table outside the ice cream parlor on e-nite) and gave my ds a neat "junior security" badge sticker -- my ds was so thrilled, and the guard was so shocked when we asked for his photo with ds! He waved at ds everytime he saw him later that night.

*Having my birthday (#32!) breakfast at Crystal Palace with my boys (dh & ds!) and my favorite donkey -- I even got a yummy cupcake and a cute birthday card, AND we brought home a film canister full of Mickey confetti that had been spread on the table

I'm sure there are more, but I can't think of them right now. :-)

There were little annoying things, too, such as Disney's cancelling of SpectroMagic & the fireworks on Friday (they would've been cancelled anyway due to rain, but we were REALLY disappointed when it happened. Who's running the place, Mickey Mouse or Scrooge McDuck?) and my having to go back & forth with WL over the charges to my credit card for valet parking (DVC members get free valet service at WL & Boardwalk).

And the HEAT! Oh my! It was so *wicked hot*!! We are NEVER going in September again. We've been the last 3 Septembers and it gets hotter every year. Our next trip is in December, and then we plan to go for our ds' 10th b-day in January '03.

So that's my trip summary. The trip was a bright spot in a difficult time, but I must say it's good to be home!! :-)