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Friday, August 16, 2002
Very long day. I couldn't wait til 2:15 to get Britnee and go. But when the bell rang at school, no Britnee. I had to go to her room to find out where she was. She was taking some last minute book tests. Finally on our way. It didn't real take that long to get there.
Check in was simple except she had to keep going and asking the manager questions, then she and Duke started talking about her air conditioning in Davenport. OK, people can we get my room now?!
Building 6, Room 6143. Nice! Right on the river, and quiet. Since the resort is the smallest, it dosen't take long to get where you are going. I have only stayed at Music and Sports, but this is my favorite by far! I fell in love. Told Duke to look at my feet. They were floating on air.
Settled in and headed to the pool. We don't have one at home and this is one of mine and Britnee's fave things to do. Do I have to tell you she loved the slide and did it over and over again?
Now even though we love to be in the water, we can't swim a lick. She has a Shamu water ring that she uses and used it for an hour or so. When we decied to leave, the lifeguard told us she couldn't use Shamu on the slide because it wasn't attached, that she would have to use a life vest over in the box. Ok.....
Downtown Disney was next. We hadn't seen the pin shop or toy store since they opened. Nice boat ride to the stores. The pin store was crowded and Britnee had to spend some money here. Plus more trading. I turned in the 3 certificates I had gotten from Raisin Bran and got a nice pin that says Kellogg's and I think 100 years on it. One of the CM's gave Britnee a Minnie pin for her birthday. Britnee said she liked all the pins she has and wasn't going to trade andymore, but that changed quite a bit over the next 2 days. She bought a Mickey puzzle piece and she earned a pin from us which she picked a Minnie ballet one.
The toy store is crowded and you could spend some money in here fast! The middle of the store is awesome! I told Duke I wanted it all. The have a huge display of the rides at WDW and Disneyland. They also have the monorail going around with the Poly and Grand Floridian stations now. The last room was my favorite because it was the "girl" room and played the love songs from the princess'. In the front they have the games and a cute Mr. Potato Head with Disney pieces, Britnee bought it, along with the Bride and Groom Mickey and Minnie beanie.
The boat ride back, Britnee heard a little girl say it was her 5th birthday and she went and gave her the birthday button she was wearing. Asked about Charlie the bird that sits on the Disney Institue side. Cm said "You must have been here a few times to know about Charlie." (ha, ha..few times) Said they had a toxic something in the water and he left cause he couldn't see in the water and he hoped he came back. We also talked about the treehouses. He said they had no choice by renovate them. After there were built, the wildlife conservation came in and said the land was for wildlife and since they were there they could stay, but they could not build anything else.
Ate dinner at Sassagoula Floatworks. Food was good and big portions. There were no signs about the mugs and I seen all kinds being used. We had an older one that I got from the MFL Trading Post and we bought a new one too. I even saw a Dixie Landings mug with Briar Rabbit on it.
Looked in the gift shop and Britnee has to have pictures of the CM's with her new camera.
Head back to room exhausted.
Saturday, August 17, 2002
Today is Britnee's birthday. My only child is 8 today. My time flies.
I don't normally sleep during the night, but I took sleeping pills and slept very well. Britnee woke even before Duke which is a miracle, but so was I which is even more unusal. Duke hung her Barbie birthday banner up while she was in the bathroom. We gave her the presents we bought after she came out.
It was supposed to be Daddy and daughter breakfast but plans changed since we were all up and raring to go. So we ate breakfast at Sassagoula. Britnee had the Mickey waffle with strawberries, Duke had sausage gravy and biscuits, and I had the child's platter. I also had the ears off Britnee's waffle since she didn't eat it all.
On to the bus with the best driver we ever had. She was very perky and we all were dragging on our way to Magic Kingdom. She told us to "wake up". She told Britnee happy birthday and after she picked up at Riverside, we were going to party. After the stop, she grabbed the microphone and told everyone about Britnee and we all sang to her. Then she gave Britnee a light show for her birthday (she flicked the lights on and off). Then she wanted to sing "The wheels on the bus". She said either we sing it and it would take 2 hours to get to Magic Kingdom or sing it and be there in a few minutes, well we all sang and she beeped the horn and swished the wipers. Then we sang P-L-U-T-O. We gave her a CM appreication card.
We made a stop at City Hall to get 3 sets of the 100 Years Questions. Just put them in the backpack, will look at them later.
Timekeeper was open so I thought this was a good sign that Carousel of Progress would be.... nope. I was crushed. The CM said they recieved papers saying they were doing some refurbishment and would open in December. So we got in line for Buzz and the CM gave Britnee 3 fast passes for her birthday. Then Britnee wanted to do Space Mountain and Tommorowland Transit Authority. Duke had been wanting to do Alien Encounter so he went ahead while we waited on a bench. Then I thought about where they come out. I asked a CM and he said the shop next to Auntie Gravity's. We waited.... and waited..... and waited. After the 3rd show let out we went outside and he was sitting on the bench. They have 2 exits on opposite sides of the building. He liked it. Not me, not ever!
Seen and got autograph from Friar Tuck on the way out.
Bus service was awesome the whole weekend. We had great timing everytime.
Got back to the hotel and changed for the pool. The spa was empty so we tried that. The water was very hot. Headed to the pool for awhile so I could bring home a sunburn. We got back to the room and showered and changed. Then me and Britnee went and sat on the riverbank and I painted her finger and toe nails with the new Mickey nailpolish she got for her birthday.
Time to head to Epcot for Britnee's surprise dinner at the Garden Grill. As we were going through secuity, he told her to go to Guest Relations, that she never knew what she might get. When we got there she said I do have something. Epcot has birthday button od their own now. It has Mickey and Happy Birthday in different languages. She told us that she heard Animal Kingdom would be getting their own b-day buttons.
Garden Grill was our next destination. I have always hesitated to eat here thinking the food wouldn't be anything I would eat. I couldn't have been more wrong. The food was very, very good. We had wonderful dinner and they brought a cake with Mickey on it and Mickey came out to be with her while we sang. Cake was really good. Tasted like a Pepperridge Farm cake.
We then rode Figment and didn't tell Duke anything about it. So he got a nose full! ;o) Bathroom break. While we waited for hubby, saw a girl with a nosebleed and here comes this little golf cart ambulance to her rescue. We also saw a man taken on a stretcher the next day at MGM. We sent an e-card from Imageworks. We stopped at the pin trading station and the security guard stood and talked to us for awhile about the pins.
Britnee's favorite, Spaceship Earth, was next. On to the bus but not before stopping in the gift shop and I had to buy a pin to trade for a DIsney Vacation Club 2000 pin I really liked.
Stopped at the food court back at the hotel. Duke and Britnee sat there while Britnee colored in front of the big screen TV. I went to the gift shop. They are having a promotion that if you pre-buy Beauty and the Beast, you get a free movie and a pin. Free shipping to your home and if you are outside of Florida, no tax. I bought it.
Back in the room, I start packing. I have a question. Does anyone else cry the night before they leave Disney? We went outside and me and hubby sat on the bench while Britnee danced and sang in the grass. I started crying. I didn't want to come home. Then we heard fireworks booming so we rang to the front of Port Orleans French Quarter and could see the high up fireworks from Epcot. I don't know why this hotel affected me so. There is a real differnce between here and All Stars. I can't wait to go back.
Sunday, August 18, 2002
Well after last night I wasn't feeling any better, but I knew I had to leave. I had packed most everything the night before because I didn't want to do it this morning.
Duke went to the food court for Coke, coffee and strawberry milk. We ate the left over birthday cake for breakfast. Told Britnee not to expect this every morning.
Took pictures of the room and walked around outside of building 6 to take some shots. Britnee sure does love her new camera. She took pictures of everything you could think of. NOTE** Disney is having a promotion in the gift shops. Buy a multi pack of film or 2 one use cameras, get a pin. Duke finished taking stuff to the car while me and shutterbug headed toward the lobby. Of course pictures of the pool, spa, grass, fountain, streets, etc.
Checked out and the CM said "o.k.". What about the little bit of money left on the room? "Oh we credit it back to the card." I made all my payments by check and did not have a credit card attached to my room key. The woman asked a manager when we checked in if we would get the money back when we checked out and he said yes. The CM didn't look too happy but he did give us the $9 back in cash.
Duke went and got the car while me and Britnee sat on the bench at front. I'm not going to start crying again (and I didn't all day, close though).
Headed to MGM for the Indiana Jones show. Let me tell you a little background. Preston said he would call in a few days to give us more details about the VIP area and meet with Indy. Well..... he never called. So I am wondering if this is going to happen.
Got to the show and the CM checked the list and guess what? Our names aren't on it. But, the CM did go and put us on the list. The Casting Manager told a CM to escort us to the Reserved Section. We were the only ones. She told us that he would come right in front of us, to wait after the show. Before the show started, we saw one of the cast take a piece of paper up to the top and I looked at Duke and said "Are you thinking what I am thinking?" He said probably.
Show was good as usual. Something happened during the plane scene and they had to stop and work on the plane and start again.
We waited after the show while all the people left and the CM's were sweeping the isles. He (Indy) finally came and said "So you are friends are of Preston's?" Duke told him we weren't sure if Preston had told them about us coming. He said "Well we have our network back here." He told Britnee happy birthday and that he had something special for her, could she wait a minute? NERVOUS! That was me! Britnee was jumping out of her skin. He ran off to the side area and came back with an Indy hat. He said it was one of the ones used in a show and had real "Indy sweat on it. She wore that hat proudly and told anyone who would listen, about it. We got a picture with Britnee sitting on his knee. Talk about sweat! He was soaked, but Britnee jumped and hugged him when he handed her that hat. She said "It was worth getting wet to hug him." Oh boy!
She wanted to ride Star Tours so off we go. Stand by was 20 minutes, which was an over estimate. The family behind us was from NY and she had a little grandson that kept holding my hand.
Time to eat. The cake was history, we needed food! Was going to eat at Backlot Express but Duke was wanted something more, so we headed to Sci-Fi DIne In. She said the wait was over an hour for a car, so we said we would take a car that has a regualr table inside. But... we were seated in less than 10 minutes in a regular car. Britnee was in the drivers seat and they gave her a drivers license. The frisbee that they used to give, now will cost parents $4.99. We had excellent food when we ate here before but my burger wasn't very good. They brought Britnee an ice cream sundae with a candle in it, and a magical moments certificate. He announced her birthday and we all sang. It was in a tall glass, not a little sundae.
Went to the hat for Britnee to trade some pins and picked up 3 of the "I Conquered the World" pin pursuit maps. We answered the MGM question and got the stamp. The question was "What is the last movie to be made at MGM studios?" Lilo and Stitch. He asked me what was the one before, I said Mulan. He asked me what was before Mulan, I said nothing, Mulan was the first. He told me I wasn't supposed to know that. Duke told him there wasn't much about Disney I didn't know. Probably work on the map next Saturday.
I wanted to see the Playhouse Disney show, I hadn't got to see it since it changed from just Bear in the big blue house. Britnee was mad because she did not want to do this. She still watched some of these shows, just won't admit it. She was all doom and gloom with the frown and face down in the hands. The CM came over and took her hat, oh boy, that didn't help. I told her he was just playing and to cheer up. Yeah right. I loved the show and was singing along and bouncing along. (Britnee did finally say "OK I'll watch it) Duke told the man behind him that we came to see the show for me and he said yeah right, thinking we came because of Britnee. During the show Duke told him to look at me moving and singing and said "See. Told you."
We got in line to meet Lilo and Stitch but the line was long and it was almost time for them to leave. We got out of line and went to One Man's Dream.
I had never taked pictures or videotaped this, since when I went the first time, they said you couldn't. Now they let you. It took awhile but I camcorded the whole walkthrough.
Rain drops were starting to fall so we headed to the car. The closer we got to the car, the harder it rained. By the time we got there, it was a downpour.
Got home and Preston was on the caller id for today at 11:19 am. Now we were at Indy Jones at that time. Duke called him but he wasn't home. Go figure.
Final thoughts:
Loved French Quarter and so does Britnee. Want to go back real soon.
Crowds were low.
Wear a birthday button if it is your birthday. You never know what will happen.
I looked all weekend for an Eeyore button on a CM to trade, there were none. The CM at MGM said Eeyore and Donald in a plane are the most wanted and hard to find pins.
Tammy N
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