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Day 1 – May 15, 2004
This was a short trip for me and my DD 10. We left the "Princes" at home and had some great fun together. We
got to the airport early and asked about an earlier flight. Continental crew was very pleasant and accommodating.
We left on a flight 1 1/2 hours earlier than expected. when we arrived at the airport, I had a subcompact reserved
at National for $16 a day. The smallest car available was a full-size and they honored the subcompact price.
Again very nice and pleasant interaction with the employees. There was no traffic and we had good directions to the
hotel. We arrived at Pop Century at 8:OO pm. No one on line to check in, room # 9450 in the 80's building , by
walking around outside of building it was a quick walk to buses and main building. Hotel is nice and new. Plenty
of room for 2 but I think a family of 4 or 5 ( we saw some rollaways) would be too crowded unless the kids are
small. Theming is great! Hotel is a very good value, we had a Disney Visa rate with tax that came to $ 77a night.
I didn't like the outside corridors. It was noisy only the 1st night, also the elevators are in the center of
the buildings and the stairways on the corners were OK but we were on the 4th floor. We walked down a lot but
usually took the elevator up. I guess I'm spoiled by having stayed at some of the other properties first. After getting
settled we went to the food court, lots of buses were bringing people back and part of the food court seemed
closed. It was crowded and the food was cooked to order which was great but it took time. They had frozen Cokes
and people with mugs were able to get this as a refill. I had grilled salmon, tossed salad and my daughter had
the kids penne & meatball, we shared a coke and a slice of tie-dyed cheesecake. Awesome colors! cost was about
$23 We went for a swim, pools are all great with cute theming . Went to sleep, looking forward to Epcot & Flower
Show and the Princess Breakfast in Norway tomorrow.
Day 2 – May 16, 2004
Girls trip for me ( Mom ) and my DD10 . Left the Princes at home.
Day 2 - woke up at 7 with Mickey call. Ate at Pop Century Food court -Kids Mickey Waffle with 2 bacon
strips, bottle of Minute Maid OJ, cost about $6, the juice was more than the waffle I think. We are headed to the
Norway Princess breakfast at 10:10 , so we just wanted a quick snack. Bus was right out front short ride to Epcot,
activated our new AP's, was given a Kids guide to Epcot with a Goofy treasure hunt & Flower Show Info, advised
to stop at guest services inside park, to get wristbands for special seating for Turtles concert -- part of Flower
Power Concert Series. It was now about 8:30, we checked at the line to enter for PS breakfasts but were told our
seating time was too far away, but kindly steered to a very short line to wait on. About 8:45 they started to
let people in (park scheduled to open @9am) My backpack was checked and we got to use our AP's for the 1st time.
There was a rope across the area in front of Spaceship Earth and we were close to the front. A cast member came
out and talked about the day and following safety rules when the rope came down. About 8:55, the Character Caravan
came by, it's a red double-decker bus, the crowd went wild. It had Mickey, Minnie, Kenai, Timon, Rafiki, Timbon,
Pinocchio, Gepetto, Captain Hook and Smee. They drove away and the characters assembled in little groups near
pin central and gave autographs. The rope went down and everyone went in. We stopped at Guest Services and got
wristbands for later. Stopped for some photos and both Pinocchio and Captain Hook didn't seem to get many requests.
Walked on Test Track and could have walked on Mission Space. Instead we went into the training center to the
left of the building, we sent a postcard from space, also has a great play area for kids, games to play, etc., visited
Ice Station Cool, couldn't get my daughter to try Beverly. She smelled it and caught on very quick. There was lots
of exhibits set up in a Flower & Garden Show building. Flower dancers on stilts and great Topiaries all over.
Time went very quickly and at 10 we went to Norway for our PS. We gave our name and were seated in about 2 minutes.
Food was very good especially cheesy potatoes and cinnamon rolls, also had fresh fruit, bacon, sausage, biscuits
and scrambled eggs, choice of juice, and hot beverages. The server was very friendly and offered seconds. Princess's
were Belle, Snow White, Aurora (in pink ) , Mulan and Jasmine. ( much later in the day we saw Jasmine in Morocco
and she remembered my daughter ). This is were we picked up the phrase "left the Princes at home " Snow White said
it to us when she asked my daughter about our trip. We laughed every time we said it during the trip , although
we did miss them, it was fun to just be the girls. We walked around the lake as far as Germany then boated over
to Canada, walking into Future world. There was a cute Dog themed maze, Tramp, Lady, Dalmatian, Pluto, etc.,
made of topiaries. There were also topiaries allover the park that were amazing, Fantasia themed, The Fab Five,
Pandas in China, the 3 Caballeros in Mexico. We got to meet Nemo outside Living Seas, rode on the Figment ride
in Imagination, did the Kid craft in the Land, my DD really enjoyed just walking around and looking at everything.
We headed over towards Canada and walked around the lake the other way, stopping in the other countries. We saw
the O Canada film, amazing. For a late lunch we had PS for Le Cellier, I had Vouchers from Hotwire and they were
an excellent value, I also had a quick & casual voucher that I didn't end up using. The counter places aren't
worth $11, I'm saving it for a future visit, maybe to Beaches & Cream. Did more walking around saw the Turtles
show @ 5:45 , sat up front in the special AP section, great show, my DD even liked it. Then we boated to Disney
stuff from Star Wars weekend. We then decided to head to DTD (the only mistake of the trip) We asked for directions
and were given several. Ended up taking the OKW bus, but when we got to OKW we waited about 40 minutes for a bus
to DTD , but it 1st had to circle OKW stopping several times. It took about an 75 minutes to go from the Studios
to DTD. My DD was falling asleep. we took a quick look in Toy Store and I bought a sandwich for $4.95 and an
Earl's Lemonade (mix of Earl Grey tea & lemonade) to go from Sandwich of Earl. It's a great place, food was excellent.
We were able to very quickly take a bus from DTD back to PC about a 10 min trip. Got back to room about 10:30 PM.
Day 3 – May 17, 2004
This was a Mom and DD10 trip where we left the "Princes at home.
"Today our wake-up call had both Mickey & Minnie. We grabbed a quick breakfast in the Pop Century Food court, Kids Mickey Waffle
with 2 bacon strips and a kids Chocolate chip pancake (we didn't like the pancake ). Bus to MK, arriving about
8:30, had back pack checked and were first at a turnstile, Cast member was very friendly and talkative, telling everyone
where he liked to eat and places to check out in the MK. Turnstiles opened about 8:40 and we were let into a roped
in area in front of the train station. About 8:50 Townspeople came out on the top of the train station and began to
perform, announcing the train's arrival. There was a little pause between the tape and the actual arrival but the
cast members ad libbed and it was cute. Ropes came down and everyone went in. The characters lined up along the
square for photos and autographs, Daisy Duck, Mickey & Minnie had the longest lines. We headed to the barbershop.
When the barber saw us, he turned over the sign and welcomed us into the shop. He was wonderful, My daughter got a
trim and the full pixie dust treatment. He gave her a choice of colors and then a handful of Mickey glitter
on top. When I saw what a great job Michael did, I also asked for a haircut. While I was in the chair, my daughter
and I were discussing Splash Mountain, (chicken that I am) I didn't want to go. Everytime we said the word splash.
He would squirt her with his water mister. It was one of the highlights of our trip we laughed as did everyone
in the shop. There were now several people waiting. Unfortunately our photos didn't come out. But I had Buzz Green and She
had Blue and we both had lots of glitter. As a surprise I had booked the Family Magic Tour. We met by the Town
Hall, and were offered coffee or lage bottles of water. Everyone was given nametags and we went on a treasure
hunt through the MK, there was lots of silliness and we were met by Peter Pan and the kids all got to talk with
him, take photos as a family, have their autograph books signed, and take turns holding Peter's hand as we walked
around. We were taken to front row seats in Mickey's Philarmagic and at the end Peter gave every family a special certificate.
It was a lot of fun and there is a discount for Disney Visa holders and I think AP also. After we rode Buzz,
the people mover (I know it has a new name ), and listened for Stitch behind the walls of his new ride. The park
was extremely crowded it was also very hot. We got a fast pass for Big Thunder Mountain and walked around some more.
We had PS for Crystal Palace, but waited almost an hour to be seated. The food was good but very highly seasoned.
When it gets close to parade time the characters march around and leave the restaurant to be in the parade. We
didn't get a chance to talk to Piglet or Tigger before they left. The server told us we could stay and wait but
we decided to try to go on some rides while the parade was going on. We had a chance to talk to Pooh and Eeyore
though. Pirates of the Caribbean had very little wait so we rode that as well as the flying carpets. We also
saw the Tiki birds, I didn't like the show, it seemed a little disrespectful to me. Maybe the old show was out
of date but this one seemed mean spirited in the comments and dialogue. My DD rode Big Thunder Mountain, of course
I chickened out. We had a Dole snack and headed to the front of the park. The ceremony of taking down the flag
was going on and it seemed very nice. We took the boat to WL, we were on the Flower Pin hunt, we collected all
of them except Stitch from the PC. Then we took a boat to the Contemporary and looked in all the shops. We had
a PS for O'hanas at 8:10. The food is great but we were both tired, had had too much sun, and were full from lunch
so we didn't eat very much. But my daughter had room for the Snowcone that they serve in a pail and shovel. She
also enjoyed the kids races very much and hula hoop contest. At fireworks time they dimmed the lights and the music
was played. It was spectacular. we then monorailed back to the MK (mistake) and waited with the hordes of people
for a bus. IT took 1 1/2 hours to get back to PC. There was road paving going on on some of the roads near the
contemporary and the driver told us the alternate route was closed off because of the fireworks. It was a great
day but, we tried to do too much because tomorrow we head home.
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