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View Full Version : wendy & the Goof Troop- Day 4- my vacation day



wendy*darling
07-08-2001, 07:41 AM
Day FOUR- Tuesday, June 26

Today was a non-park day, but that didn’t mean we weren't going to be busy. Wake up call was at a lazy 7:30 today. We enjoyed "sleeping in" http://www.intercot.com/boards/wink.gif Actually, everyone else enjoyed sleeping in, but I am a morning person and was awake before 6:30 anyway. I showered and took some time to straightened out the mess in my tent, including removing the small sandbox that was accumulating inside my front door. I wrote a few notes in my journal and reorganized all my paperwork. I felt renewed!
Before long, everyone was up and having breakfast as usual. Today's programs take place right here in Fort Wilderness, so the scouts do not need to make their lunches this morning. They can come 'home' between programs and eat. Truly a leisurely morning. And after 2 non-stop, hectic days, this is a very welcome change. They boys and their chaperones headed toward their meeting place at the petting zoo at 9:00am. This morning is Bird Study and this afternoon they have Reptiles and Amphibians- both are regulation Boy Scout Merit Badge programs. And both involved lots of real live creatures as well as some formerly-live specimens.
It was suddenly very quiet. The remaining adults and I cleaned up the aftermath of breakfast and made some plans for the day.
Being DVC members, my family has pool hopping privileges at all Disney Resorts (a great perk!) and I was dying to see the new Poly pool. I wasn't about to take to whole group over there, so I waited til this morning and me and my husband and 2 other adults took the boat over to the Contemporary and the monorail to the Poly. I was thoroughly enjoying showing off "MY" Disney World to new people. One of the women was actually a WDW veteran and had honeymooned at the Poly but the other man had never been here- and he was more and more impressed at every turn. We walked through the lush lobby and out to the pool. The new volvano pool is really very pretty. Not very big, but very nicely done. And at 10:30am it was not at all crowded. We just about had the pool to ourselves! The water was perfect and we all tried the volcano slide. It is GREAT!! Nice and long and twisty. Lots of fun. Then we found some lounge chairs and enjoyed the warm sun. Except for my fair-skinned husband who found a shady table and a drink http://www.intercot.com/boards/wink.gif. After a while I found an unoccupied hammock partially shaded right on the beach. I laid there for about 30 minutes completely happy and relaxed. I had a view of the Contemporary and the Cinderella's Castle at my feet, blue skies all around, pool sounds behind me and a glass of cranberry juice in my hand. Pure heaven. What a way to take a day off. http://www.intercot.com/boards/ksmile.gif
My husband and I had made a date for lunch today at Kona Café for noon. As that time approached, we went upstairs and checked in. The other two loved the pool so much they decided to stay for a while. I also suggested that they check out the Grand Floridian on their way back to Fort Wilderness. So they were happy.
This was our first meal at Kona and I was really looking forward to it after reading everyone's rave reviews (especially beth and PolyGirl40). I had even already decided what I was going to have! Crab cake appetizer and the mushroom ravioli entrée. While looking at the menu, I was tempted to change my mind, but I stuck to my decision and was happy I did! YUM!! DH got the pot sticker and the Asian pasta. http://www.intercot.com/boards/tasty.gif Neither of us had room for dessert. The food and the service was excellent and we really enjoyed the quiet time alone in this hectic week. Like a mini-vacation during our vacation!

Lunch over, we shopped at the Poly for a while and then took the monorail to the MK and the boat directly back to FW. When we got back to the campsite our friends still weren't back from their pool hopping experience. Several adults were hanging around, some had gone to the FW pool. The scouts had completed their morning program, had lunch and were now into the afternoon session.

Finally our companions arrived and had such a story to tell! They had stayed a while at the Poly and then took the monorail to the GF, mainly to see the lobby. They were so impressed they decided to see their pool too. The GF's new pool had opened only 1-2 weeks before. Let me just say that our male companion is quite the businessman (very successful entrepreneur) and make friends everywhere he goes. He struck up a conversation at the pool bar with what turned out to be the head of the GF concierge services. Got his business card and everything. http://www.intercot.com/boards/sunglasses.gif He told him all about our group, the programs, my planning, etc. He also explained how we were going to be doing the Magic Kingdom flag retreat in Town Square on Friday. The concierge gave him 5 pairs of white gloves for the boys to wear in the ceremony!! How cool was that?? I think they spent about one hour there having lunch and co-schmoozing. What a great time they had!
The scouts came back around 4:30 and relaxed in the pool and on the volleyball court.

We had 6:30 reservations at Mickey's BBQ in FW. We arrived as a group and they had 2 big tables set aside for us. This dinner takes place outdoors, but under a HUGE covered pavilion. You could land a jet in there! There's a big stage where a live band plays country music and does a lot of "yee-haw-ing" and several lines of buffet service on the opposite side of the room. In between are rows and rows of long tables and a big dance floor. The food is standard BBQ- chicken, ribs, hot dogs, beans, salads, corn bread, corn on the cob, etc. It's all you can eat and very good. There are several lemonade and iced tea stations. I believe they also have sodas,beer and wine but I didn’t see where that was. There are servers who come around with more drinks and to make sure everyone is finding what they want. They also wheel around these huge trash bins for empty plates, etc. After about one hour, they replace 2 of the hot food lines with dessert- cake and watermelon. But they leave some hot food out until 8:30. So you can take your time and eat as much as you like. During dinner, the band is playing. Then they bring out the characters (Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Chip and Dale .. and maybe Pluto, but I'm not sure). They dance and then line up for autographs and pictures. Very nicely done with lots of opportunity for everyone. I think they repeated this music/characters routine 2 or 3 times in the evening. The also taught line dancing and had everyone who wanted to participate out on the dance floor. It looked like fun, but was pretty crowded. For the little kids, they have some rope tossing games out on the perimeter. My youngest son (the one who got lost) and another little brother (age 10) of our group decided to "control" this game. The had all the little kids line up and take turns while they retrieved the rings and kept everyone in order! It was so cute. They were cheering the little 4 year olds on and giving them tips on how to improve their technique! The rest of our group really wasn't interested in anything more than the food. When they were done eating all they wanted to do was go back to the campsite and play volleyball! So I think we were out of there before 8:00. This BBQ lasts until 9:30. It was OK- but not something I think we'll ever do again.
Back at the campsite, the volleyball got under way very quickly. The adult men decided to challenge the kids. They all got together and made super-hero capes out of their beach towels, put their baseball caps on backwards and charged out onto the court. They had a rousing set. Best of 3 games won. Guess what??? The "old guys" won!!!

One of our scouts who was not playing, but watching had bought one of those message signs with the red lights that you twirl around (they sell them at Fantasmic, etc.) a couple of nights ago. You can put your own messages in there. He figured out how to do that VERY quickly and instantly had messages like "I need a date" and "I'm tired" spinning around. So tonight he had "Go old guys" spinning for the game. We had so much fun with that toy. Two more boys (including my youngest) bought them before the week was out.

The volleyball ended and it was time for a quick swim to cool off before bed. I think everyone was asleep by 11:00, but tomorrow was another early morning. 5:45am wakeup for another 7:15 Magic Kingdom program. The kids can't believe it's not even halfway through the week yet and they've already done so many things and had so much fun.

More good stuff ahead.


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Linda aka: wendy*darling
Intercot Staff: Disney & Orlando Dining
[email protected]

DVC owners at the Wilderness Lodge Villas
WDW:
4/92 (MK day trip only); 9/93 (Poly); 10/96 (DL & BC); 6/98 (YC); 2/00 (Contemporary); 12/00 (BWI); 6/01(FW tent camping with the Boy Scouts!!)
Next trip: ??? Can't be soon enough!)

DeDe
07-08-2001, 08:19 AM
I am really enjoying all the trip reports! What a fun time you all had. Glad you were able to get a day off in there. Those programs sound awesome!

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wagonwheel_will
07-08-2001, 10:43 AM
Wendy, another great installment of the Goof Troop. Look forward to reading the rest. I love Trip Reports but more so ones about Fort Wildernes http://www.intercot.com/boards/biggrin.gif

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Bring the Trams back to Fort Wilderness http://www.intercot.com/boards/frown.gif

Fort Wilderness: 76,77,78,80,82,84,87,88,90,92,
Shades of Green: 94,95,97,98,00,01
All Star Sports 95
CB 94

[This message has been edited by wagonwheel_will (edited July 08, 2001).]

PolyGirl40
07-08-2001, 10:50 AM
Oh Linda!

You just made me so homesick for my little piece of Polynesian paradise http://www.intercot.com/boards/blue.gif

You even had my favorite of all favorites at the Kona Cafe..I never leave a visit to WDW without dining on their crab cakes and mushroom ravioli..What a mouth party, little pockets of heaven..:heavy sigh:

I'm so glad you enjoyed your visit..I agree, the Volcano and pool are wonderful!..It really compliments the overall themeing of the resort..

Sounds like a perfect "day off"..

Thank you so much for sharing!!

Kudos to the "old guys" http://www.intercot.com/boards/supergrin.gif

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~Carol
"To get to the rainbow, you have to put up with the rain."

beth
07-08-2001, 01:14 PM
Thanks for another great report Linda.

And GO OLD GUYS! http://www.intercot.com/boards/supergrin.gif

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beth
[email protected]
Intercot Staff Member

"Love and Mercy that's what you need tonight. So Love and Mercy to you and your friends tonight."

For more fun on all things Disney, check out our sister site, www.webdisney.com (http://www.webdisney.com)

For fun and info on the land that started it all check out our sister site: www.intercotwest.com (http://www.intercotwest.com)

TiggerRPh
07-08-2001, 06:01 PM
Yeah....Old guys!!!!

http://www.intercot.com/boards/grazy.gif http://www.intercot.com/boards/rollsmile.gif http://www.intercot.com/boards/grazy.gif

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...the most wonderful things about Tiggers, is I'm the only one.

[B]Ray(aka TiggerRPh)
Intercot Staff : Disney & Orlando Dining; The Water Cooler

ChipDale
07-09-2001, 01:48 PM
Linda, glad you were able to relax on your "day off". http://www.intercot.com/boards/smile.gif I adore the Kona Cafe - your husband had my favorite dish - the Asian Pasta! http://www.intercot.com/boards/tasty.gif The Backyard BBQ sounds like a lot of fun- that's the best description I've read of it. Thanks for another very interesting report! http://www.intercot.com/boards/smile.gif

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Jane

roadplayr
07-09-2001, 06:33 PM
I've heard so many good things about the Kona Cafe. I really want to try it on our next trip. The food sounds great! http://www.intercot.com/boards/tasty.gif

I also have to try one of those hammocks with a view of the castle at the Poly. I think I could get used to that real quick!

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Chuckyroadplayr
Intercot Staff: Disney Camping
[email protected]


"Too much sanity may be madness. And maddest of all, to see life as it is and not as it should be".

Dopeysfriend
07-13-2001, 10:27 AM
Another great day! I love the Kona Cafe too! http://www.intercot.com/boards/tasty.gif We ate a few meals there during our last trip.

Can't wait to read more!



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Samantha

DisneyWizard
07-16-2001, 08:10 PM
That's so great that you had a day off today. I'm glad you got to visit the Poly too!

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"...I say believe in the future. The world is getting better."
-Walt Disney

In the works:
-Islands of Adventure, Sept 2001
-Walt Disney World, Sept 2001
-DisneyLand, Feb 2002