Disney World - The Online Guide

The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2003
(UK customers)

Steve Russo's Trip Report January '03

Thursday January 16 "I'll have the freakin' chicken."

I'm awake at 4:30. There's a real surprise, huh? I do the coffee thing. We've decided to vary our schedule a bit and hit Animal Kingdom (AK) today. The main reason is that today will be the last warm day (mid-70s) for a while and we'd like to ride Kali River Rapids (KRR) without picking icicles from our bodies.

We're at AK in time for 9:00 opening. We enter and head for It's Tough to Be a Bug (ITTBAB) which is traditionally our first attraction here. We spend some time in the queue looking at the carvings on the Tree of Life - that is always amazing - but it's really just a quick walk through to the "lobby". I get a real kick out of the movie posters here - Ant-ie, Web Side Story, A Cockroach Line, etc.

After ITTBAB we head to Dinosaur and it's also a walk-in. We save the Iguanadon and exit into the "carnival" area (for the first time). I really think the theming here is very non-Disney and, especially, non-AK. Nevertheless, we decide to try a ride on Primeval Whirl. The CM at the entrance is dressed in a wool coat, scarf, hat, and gloves. It's probably mid-60s and sunny (going to 73 today) and we're in shorts and sweatshirts. There's about a 5-minute wait as this seems to be a very slow loading ride. It's kind of fun - sort of a poor-man's coaster. Like Thunder Mountain, it provides some of the thrills of a coaster, and the spins of a Tilt-a-Whirl, without being overly taxing. I think most folks would enjoy it.

When we came off the ride, I was cornered by a CM to take a 2-minute survey about the ride and the area. I rated the ride very good but told her I didn't think the theming of the area was in keeping with what I expect at WDW and she seemed surprised.

Our AK touring plan usually includes a late breakfast at Tusker House after the Safari ride. Our time at the "carnival" has put us behind schedule as the Tusker House stops serving breakfast at 10:30 and it's now 10:20. I send Barb and Stephen to the Tusker House to get breakfast for us while I get FPs for the Safari (FP time is 11-12:00). We finish breakfast (bacon and egg croissant for me and cinnamon buns for Barb and Stephen) and head to the Safari at 11:05. There's a 5-minute wait posted so we use the Standby line rather than FP and it's literally a walk through and on to the truck - no wait at all. While we're walking through the line I hear 2 CMs talking about missing the Space Shuttle liftoff at 10:39. Shoot! I forgot all about it and I really would like to have seen it.

The Safari is a good one. The cheetah and both lions are visible but sleeping. We do see a lot of rhinos and elephants (one drinking from a pool, several eating some long grass). We save Little Red and head for the Pangani Trail. This is always good and today is no exception. The gorillas were out and having some fun. I have no idea of their actual ages but a teenage gorilla was wrestling with a smaller (pre-teen?) one on the rock. The smaller one would attack and climb all over the larger one - the larger one would shake him off and hold him to the ground with one arm. This went on over and over under the watchful eye of the alpha male (dad?). It was very entertaining and we probably spent 15 minutes watching them play.

Next was the Maharajah Jungle Trail in Asia. Saw the bugs, the bats, and the tigers. They were actually cavorting around rather than sleeping. I think I got some good pictures here, and of the gorillas, but I won't really know until the film's processed.

Last stop, Kali River Rapids (KRR). We always save KRR until last because you will get wet and the thought of touring AK with wet clothing is never good. The USA Today had a 4-page advertising section on WDW where they rated hotels, rides, etc. There was a comment that a rider of KRR has a 92% chance of coming into contact with 22 gallons of water. Sounds about right.

We walked through the queue and directly on to a raft. I made the mistake of sitting next to Barb (shared the seatbelt). This was a mistake because Barb always gets soaked on KRR. This was no exception. On the first big drop, we found ourselves at the front of the raft - first over the drop. Sure enough, we hit and a huge plume of water went straight up and straight down on top of us. We got very wet. At the end of the ride there was no one in the queue and the CM asked if we wanted to go again but we figured we were wet enough.

We exited and caught a waiting bus back to OKWR. On the way, we got a view from the rear of the new Pop Century Resort. The buildings I saw had bowling pins and yo-yos. I can't say if I like them or not. It's certainly not my cup of tea for theming but it follows the same pattern as the other value resorts (All Star Sports, Movies, and Music).

Back at OKWR we changed into swimwear and hit the pool area. Stephen and I kept on the tee shirts, socks, and sneakers because we had some serious competition ahead. Barb went to the pool and claimed some lounge chairs while we visited Hank's Rent and Return for some tennis racquets and balls (surprisingly, no charge - I just needed to leave a room key).

Now I was a fair tennis player in my day but haven't touched a racquet in 2-3 years. Stephen has only played in gym class. We picked a court (very nice BTW) and warmed up. Stephen won the first game but then I found my stroke and reeled off the next 6 to take the first set 6-1. He wanted to go again and, in deference to my advancing years, agreed to a "first one to 3" set. I whipped him 3-0. Now I'm feeling pretty good about myself. I hit some decent groundstrokes but my serve was a bit lacking. A little practice and I'm ready for the Tour.

Stephen was looking for revenge so he suggested� basketball. During my athletic youth, basketball always ranked behind baseball and football. I was a decent forward on a CYO team and played in an over-30 league as an adult but it was never my strong suit, especially as I got older and turned to more sedate endeavors like tennis and golf. Stephen, on the other hand, has played a lot of basketball and has a fair amount of talent. Actually, more than fair. He regularly plays at the local YMCA against groups of 20-somethings and more than holds his own. Additionally, he's somehow gone from 5'6" to his current height of 6'3" in about a week and a half. We have a driveway hoop at home and he and I have played a number of 1-on-1 games. 5 years ago, I owned him. 3 years ago I took it easy. Now, I don't stand a chance. He's tall, quick, and has guard-type skills. Long story short - he gave me a GOFAW (a good, old fashioned ass whipping) and won 11-4.

Duly humbled, I retreated to the pool and took a quick swim then joined Barb at a lounge chair. I decided that the Jacuzzi might be a good idea to soothe my aching muscles after the GOFAW, so she and I headed there while Stephen found a lounge in the sun. There were 2 other folks in the Jacuzzi but it's fairly large so we waded in. I've been through 3 back surgeries and the back was feeling a bit stiff after the tennis and basketball so I positioned myself where I could get a jet spray into the center of my lower back. Unfortunately, the jet was so strong it kept sliding me off the seat and almost across the pool.

After some more sun, Stephen indicated he was going into the exercise room for a workout (the bliss of youth) so Barb and I decided on the Gurgling Suitcase for a couple of frozen margaritas ($13.50 plus tip). We took these to a table on the mini-boardwalk to take advantage of some sun. We warmed ourselves in the sun (it was mid-70s now) and sipped. Two tables away sat a group of 3 women that were lunching on some takeout. It looked like sandwiches in Styrofoam containers. For some reason, they felt it necessary to share their lunch with a group of birds. They were tossing crumbs and bits of bread to an ever-increasing flock. One put a piece of something (looked like a 3" slice of lox) on a wooden railing and laughed as a bird whisked it away. Another thought it comical to dump the leftover contents of her container on the boardwalk and watched the birds fight for it. The birds, and these women, were a nuisance and I wished again that I was in charge of Disney security (excuse me while I fire 3 warning shots into their legs).

We finished our drinks and headed back to the room. Stephen joined us in a bit and we showered and changed and decided to head to Epcot for the evening. We caught a bus and went through security and the turnstiles at about 5:00. A quick word on the (new?) security setup at Epcot: they've placed the security tables very close to the turnstiles - about 8-10'. What happens is that folks get through security and then queue up because someone always has a problem with a park pass at the turnstile. Eventually, the line backs up so people are waiting in front of the security tables - not because security is backed up, there's just no more room. They need to separate the two.

We headed for Test Track, expecting to find a long wait and get FPs for later. Surprise! TT had a listed 10 minute wait. We entered Standby and basically walked through and into the pre-show. At 5:00, there was no line! I love off-season touring.

The TT ride was a bit different. Our vehicle stuttered and slowed several times during the ride. We actually came to a complete stop in the tunnel by the truck. We started again and did the swerve but the truck's lights never came on and there were no sound effects. Strange. When we got to the "collision" test at the end, we stopped for what seemed like a very long time. Enough time for me to question whether or not this thing was working right. I had visions of us careening into the doors and not having them open for us. That might explain the look of terror on my face in the picture. The doors did open and we sped through the outdoor course. We reached 64.9 mph (again). Has anyone ever topped 65 mph on this run?

After TT we walked over to the "new" Journey Into Imagination (JII). Barb and I had done this in November but it was closed for rehab in February when Stephen was here last. We rode (walk on) and I was less impressed than before. We spent a few minutes in ImageWorks (IW) and sent a video postcard to Stephanie and to a buddy of mine at work. We left IW and headed up to Honey I Shrunk the Audience (HISTA) - one of my favorites. We entered a half full pre-show and I, once again, enjoyed "True Colors". I know some folks don't like this but I really enjoy the song and really enjoy and appreciate the photographs. We went in and watched Rick Moranis receive the Inventor of the Year award for probably the 25th time. I still like it.

It's time to head to World Showcase (WS) for some sustenance. We walked counter-clockwise through Canada, the UK, and France while we listened and (sort of) watched the Tapestry of Dreams (ToD) parade in the distance. Call me a sucker, but I like the parade and the music (I usually hum the tune for a long while afterwards). We slowed by Morocco and followed the end of the parade toward the American Adventure. Through France and Morocco, I noticed something that was prevalent here in November - people lighting up and smoking while standing or walking on the promenade. I don't see this in the other parks but, for some reason, it's always in WS. And I do think that WDW has provided a number of convenient and nice smoking areas within WS (the garden area in the UK, the walkway by France, right side of America, etc.). Is WDW not getting the policy out or are a lot of people simply ignoring it?

We decided to see the American Adventure because there was a show starting in minutes. I saw no evidence (or signs) for either Voices of Liberty or American Vibe. We enjoyed the show (how can you not?) and headed next door for some food. This is where Barb and I had one of our typical and testy, on my part, exchanges. Barb was going to head into the food line and order for the 3 of us. The exchange was something like:

Barb: What will you have?
Me: I'll have the Cheeseburger.
Barb: Are you sure you don't want the Chicken Sandwich?
Me (testy): OK. I'll have the Chicken Sandwich.
Barb: No. Don't get the Chicken just because I said to. Get what you want.
Me (testier): Then why didn't you just say "OK" when I asked for the Cheeseburger.
Barb: I'll get you the Cheeseburger.
Me (testiest): Get me the freakin' Chicken.

Happens a lot. I think it's the result of raising 3 children and she's always considered me the 4th (not too far from the truth actually). Anyway, we've survived 30 years of this so we consider these events insignificant road bumps on our highway of marital bliss. How's that for a phrase?

I have the Chicken (you saw that coming, right?), while Barb has a salad (Chef's I believe) and Stephen has chicken nuggets. While there, I notice, for the first time, that there are lots of large groups of teenagers (13-15 year olds) chaperoned by 2-3 adults, mostly women. Are these sanctioned school trips? Why? These kids are pretty noisy and boisterous.

It's now about 7:30, and getting cooler, so we decide to catch the 7:45 ToD parade and then exit to beat the Illuminations crowd. (This is one reason I really enjoy staying at BWVR. It's such a pleasure to watch Illuminations and stroll out through the IG and be at your hotel in 5 minutes.) We do this and catch a waiting bus back to OKWR. We're tucked in our room by 9:15 or so. I catch a bit of balcony time while I watch the Mah Jong game across the way. I opt for an in-room Jacuzzi (soothing those old, aching muscles) before bed.

There's a cold front coming through tomorrow. It's amusing watching the local weather reports as they talk about the front coming with such urgency. It reminds me of the forecasters in my neck of the woods when we're getting ready for a Nor'easter with 20 inches of snow. I guess it's all relative.

Things I Learned Today: I seem to like AK more and more with each trip. I never tire of HISTA (and the pre-show) or the American Adventure. Feeding the birds while eating outdoors creates a nuisance for other people and is not good for the birds - don't do it. I think my tennis game could be OK again with a little practice. I will never again beat Stephen at basketball. I miss staying at BW just for the convenience to Epcot.

Day 4...

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