The Mellado's Disney Adventure Report

Dates: 6/26-7/5, 1999 (ten day trip)

Adventurers:

• MaryJo (author): 39 year old, total Disney enthusiast, vacation planner, and first trip to WDW (from Los Angeles, CA)
• Nick, MaryJo's son, age 11, first trip to WDW (from Los Angeles CA)
• Kelly, Mary Jo's daughter, age 10, first trip to WDW (from Los Angeles CA)
• Dad, Mary Jo's father, in his 60's, first trip to WDW (from El Paso, TX)
• Lucila, father's wife, in her 60's, first trip to WDW (from El Paso, TX)
• BJ, Lucila's grandson, age 11, first trip to WDW (from El Paso, TX)

Copyright 1999-2006
PassPorter Travel Press, an imprint of MediaMarx, Inc.
Questions? Problems? E-Mail Us!

The following is a survey I took between Nick, Kelly, and myself:

Caribbean Beach Resort:

Best Thing
Me: Location. We liked being on the first floor, and the scenery in the garden was beautiful. Also, having interconnecting rooms was cool.
Nick: It was comfortable
Kelly: Beds were comfortable

Worst Thing
Me: We were put in a smoking building, and the smell got all over our clothes
Nick: The mosquitos
Kelly: When we got in it smelled like cigarette smoke

The Interesting Thing About Lodging
Me: The pools were interesting, and the animals that we were able to feed from the bridge. I also thought that the bird island was interesting.
Nick: That they had a pool for every hotel (island)
Kelly: Pools for every 'island', and it had a main pool with a fort and slide

The Cool Thing About Our Lodging Was
Me: Being able to swim at night. Our housekeeper, Ann Marie, and the fun things she did for the kids each night.
Nick: The rooms had everything we needed and the housekeeper did things with our beanies that made it fun to see what they did each day
Kelly: Feeding the fish, turtles and ducks was FUN! and the housekeeper would always play with my beanie babies

The Food Was
Me: Okay - nothing special. We didn't eat too often there.
Nick: Good
Kelly: Delicious

What I Would Change Next Time Is
Me: Request a non-smoking room when I make the reservation, and take less snacks.
Nick: I would put a diving board on every pool
Kelly: Have the pool open 24 hours a day and swim really late at night-past midnight

Walt Disney World Favorites:

Favorite Theme Park
Me: They were all great, but I liked the World Showcase and Animal Kingdom the best. They were wonderful in their theming.
Nick: Magic Kingdom - It had the best attractions
Kelly: MGM Studios because we could ride on the loop ride RocknRollercoaster

Favorite Attraction
Me: Tower of Terror - it was a great ride, and Haunted Mansion - wonderful, as usual. I also really enjoyed the Safari ride, and top attractions at AK:
CTX, Tough to be a Bug, Lion King
Nick: The Electrical Light Parade, I've missed it since it's been gone from Disneyland
Kelly: Tower of Terror because you're in an elevator and it just drops you

Favorite Restaurant
Me: Liberty Tree Tavern - I thought the food there was delicious, and enjoyed the atmospheree of Colonial America.
Nick: Prime Time ,It has the best service
Kelly: 50's Prime Time Cafe, because they delicious food and it was a lot of fun when everyone was teased

Least Favorites at Walt Disney World:

Least Favorite Theme Park
Me: Probably Future World, and that is because there was a lot under construction. But, I still enjoyed it a lot.
Nick: Epcot, It wasn't what I expected
Kelly: Epcot Future World - because I thought it would be really cool - we could have done more.

Least Favorite Attraction
Me: They were all good, but if I had to pick one, I would pick the Norway movie, because it was trying to depict the 'spirit' of the people there, and would have preferred seeing the way they live there.
Nick: Pirates of the Carabean ,wasn't as good as it is in Disneyland
Kelly: Typhoon Lagoon food court, because the food wasn't all that good, and it was expensive

Kennedy Space Center:

What I Liked Most
Me: EVERYTHING! But, I was most impressed with the Saturn V Rocket set-up
Nick: Apollo/SaturnV
Kelly: The first stop where we could see the shuttle on the launchpad and the alligators swimming below

What I Liked the Least
Me: Mosquitos
Nick: The Dream Stays Alive
Kelly: Being bit by all the mosquitos

The IMAX Movie I Liked the Best
Me: The Dream Stays Alive
Nick: L-5 Future City (3D)
Kelly: L-5 Future City (3D)

Other Comments:
Me: I would spend more time here. We missed out on some exhibits that I would have liked to have seen.
Nick: It was cool
Kelly: It was cool that we saw the space shuttle on the launchpad

Overall Impression of Walt Disney World
Me: What a wonderful place to spend a vacation. There is something here for just about everyone, and there is a lot more to explore the next time we come.
Nick: The best vacation ever
Kelly: I think it's a great place to go on vacation

Overall Impression of Kennedy Space Center
Me: This was a highlight for me. I enjoyed every aspect of the visit and tours that we took. I would do this again. It was also exciting to see the shuttle on the launch pad awaiting the July 17th flight.
Nick: It was a neat place
Kelly: It was a neat place

Rate the Restaurants:
Rating (1-5, 5 Being best); Food Eaten

Spoodles
Me: 5; The scallops appetizer and some calamari - I wasn't that hungry, but it was great
Nick: 4; chicken fingers
Kelly: 1; Mickey Pasta

Typhoon Tilly's
Me: n/a
Nick: 4; Cheeseburger, fries, & coke
Kelly: 3; hamburger

Wolfgang Puck Express
Me: 4; Spicy Chicken Pizza - very tasty, and not too filling
Nick: n/a
Kelly: n/a

50's Prime Time Café
Me: 4; Meatloaf and mashed potatoes and string beans
Nick: 5; Chicken Fingers, fries, & cherry coke
Kelly: 5; Chicken Fingers, fries, & cherry coke

Rainforest Café-Animal Kingdom
Me: 5; The Wallaby Wok pasta - w/pine nuts, etc. It was delicious
Nick: 4; Chicken fingers & fries
Kelly: 5; Some delicious pasta with a meatball and marinara sauce

Le Cellier-Canada, WS
Me: 4; the cheese soup which was delicius, and the corned beef sandwich,
which I didn't like too much
Nick: 5; Chicken fingers & fries & cherry coke
Kelly: 5; Pasta and cherry coke

The Land Foodcourt-Epcot FW
Me: 3; the kids' chicken fingers that they didn't eat - there was plenty for everyone
Nick: 3; chicken fingers & coke
Kelly: 3; chicken fingers

Kennedy Space Center Diner
Me: 3; fruit cup, and shared Nick's macaroni & cheese
Nick: 3; Barbecued pork sandwich
Kelly: 5; chicken

Whispering Canyon Café
Me: 5; all-you-can-eat barbecue buffet - the food was delicious, in my opinion, and the service was above par
Nick: 5; chicken fingers
Kelly: 5; The kids buffet of ribs, chicken, sausage, baked beans & cole slaw - it was a lot of fun here

Liberty Tree Tavern
Me: 5; turkey, w/dressing, mashed potatoes, & cranberry - it was most delicious - I truly enjoyed
Nick: 3; chicken fingers
Kelly: 5; Macaroni & Cheese and Mickey Mouse watermelon

Biergarten-German WS
Me: 4; some of the buffet fare - sausage, potatoes, etc. It was very good
Nick: 5; Baked chicken & meat ball - but the chicken was the best ever tasted
Kelly: 5; Mama's chicken soup

La Patisserie-France WS
Me: 5; cheese plate - 3 cheeses with french bread and grapes - man was that good - one of my favorite meals
Nick: 4; chocolate eclair
Kelly: 4; Glazed strawberries

DisneyQuest Foodcourt
Me: 4; a chili dog early in the day, and a cheeseburger later on, and split some chili fries with Nick
Nick: 5; Cheeseburger & chili fries
Kelly: 5; Cheese pizza

CBR Foodcourt
Me: 3; I only had breakfast, and I thought it was good.
Nick: 2; breakfast - french toast
Kelly: 3; Breakfast plate #2 - eggs, sausage, potatoes & biscuit

What I Would Do Differently Next Time:

Me: I consider these "Lessons Learned"

• I would plan for alternatives to restaurants and game plans. I think it would save time. Example: I think we lost time when we went from Wonders of Life Pavilion all the way to Le Cellier at Canada WS, and then going back to Wonders of Life. I think we would have saved a lot of time if we had eaten at the Electric Umbrella or Garden Grill, or some other place in Future World.
• I would put my room requests on my original reservation form-like non-smoking-instead of (or in addition to) faxing and calling the room assigner.
• I would be sure to try and use discounts at all times. We forgot to ask for MKC discount at all the restaurants, and this would have saved Dad 10% on meal costs. I also forgot to use my AAA discount many times, including some eateries and DisneyQuest. It doesn't hurt to ask, and we could have saved.
• I would also plan on which attractions we all want to do before going to the parks, and get everyone's input. So we see everything we really want to see.
• I would definitely choose a contact person in case we can't meet up at the airport as planned. I wasted a lot of time waiting when we could have gone straight to the resort.
• I would either make our PS earlier or later in the day-probably later - like 4:pm, and take advantage of going back to the resort in early afternoon. I think that by making the PS's for 1:pm or so, we ended up having long days at the resorts, and some members of our party were too tired to go back to the parks for the evening entertainment.
• Take a lot more pictures, and videotape more. I was so caught up in the experience that I forgot to take pictures. (But this is also just one more incentive to go back)
• Since I made the plans, I purchased the tickets for everyone in our group (my Dad paid for his own, of course, but I made the transaction). Next time, if I find myself in the same situation, I will ensure that everyone is in agreement on how many days to go to the parks. Dad and Lucila ended up with two unused days on their Hopper passes. Granted, they can use them, IF they ever go back to Disneyworld, but I'm sure they would have rather saved the money.

Nick: Go to Toon Town & ride the rides at Fantasyland, and I would definitely get autographs next time.
Kelly: Spend lots more time in Innoventions, and I would get autographs. I would go to Mickey's Toontown and Fantasyland.

Other Comments:
Me: This was a wonderful trip, and I'm so glad we were able to share it with Dad, Lucila, & BJ. We have great memories of the fun we had, and our new experiences. Having the car the whole time was great. We didn't have to wait for busses when going back & forth, and had the convenience of going wherever we wanted whenever we wanted. It was great.
Nick: It was very worthwhile and I hope I go back
Kelly: This was a fantastic vacation

Tips:

• Read the maps of the theme parks before you go, and plan what attractions are must do's, and which ones can be missed. Try to schedule your itinerary so that you end up in an area in time to see the next parade or show. This will save time from going back & forth.
• Animal Kingdom: Take the time to savor this park. There is a lot of beauty here, and surprises around just about every corner. The details here are a true joy to explore.
• Comfortable shoes are a must. I wore Tevas for some of the days we walked a lot, and had no trouble at all.
• Be sure to take drinking water, especially for those hot days
• If you can get a good deal on renting a car - do it. The minivan we rented came in very handy, although, I believe WDW has a great bus system, and we did enjoy using it the one night we did.

Well, that's the end of my report. I really enjoyed writing it, and hoped you enjoyed reading it.

Have a Disney day!