Recent content by JustPlainBill

I know what you mean. The first time I rode it was with my grandfather shortly after the Magic Kingdom first opened when I was 7. We rode it at night and it was soooo creepy waiting in line at night outside! Back then I actually thought it was really haunted!

While waiting in line for the Kilimanjaro Safari a cast member told us about a monkey that had escaped its enclosure a few weeks prior. This freaked out my youngest daughter! The CM realized what he did and tried to backtrack but it was no good, my daughter was a basket case the rest of the day...

Great trip report and your pictures are terrific! It's very helpful to hear your family's experiences good and bad. My kids aren't little anymore but being teens hasn't made the "attitudes" any better. I have been there like you. Our last day we spent at the MK in 2008 was a horrible day! My...

I've driven our family down to WDW three times from Chicago and won't fly unless absolutely necessary. We usually stop over someplace overnight but my next time down I'm going to try going straight down. I find I don't sleep well in the motels and think I would have been better driving instead...

Thanks, and mine are for you as well.

I understand completely. Our last trip to WDW with our girls was in 2008 when they were 10 and 8. Our kids acted up, didn't want to go on the rides and got cranky and complained. They just wanted to go in the pool all the time back at the hotel. We had our good days and bad. My wife has been...

Great report, terrific pictures and wonderful family!

When I stayed at the Poly a few years ago, I had high expectations, had a concierge room in the Hawaii longhouse. The room did seem a bit run down, some light bulbs were blown out and the fridge wasn't working, but the view was great! Called maintenance, who replaced the bulbs right away, but...

If it was me and the hotel doesn't have a shuttle, instead of renting a car I would just take a taxi. An 15 minute, 8 mile taxi ride was about $17 two years ago. Not sure how much $$$ the other shuttles may be. At the time I was primarily going for convienience instead of economy.

If they do bring this attraction back to it's former glory, It would make me very happy. Having brought my daughters to the Magic Kingdom for the first time and having them been subjected to that abomination was a disappointing experience! Is revolted too strong a word to use? My kids didn't...

When I went there last in 2007, we took a bus from the Yacht club to the Magic Kingdom, went down to the lagoon and took a launch to Fort Wilderness. It was a short walk from the pier to Pioneer Hall. This worked out very well for us, we got there with time to spare and got out fairly quickly as...

Apparently it must be true, because I have noticed myself on my last trip to WDW that there was a decline in resort specific merchandise offered. I like to purchase items (mostly shirts) that are specific to that years vacation as sort of a rememberence. This past year while staying at the...

I hope my namesake veers east out to sea and weakens in the cooler waters! Best of luck!

This one gets my vote...especially if you're alone in the foyer with just your party/family so it's quiet, on a hot night as the cool air conditioning hits you. Works for me!

I drive down from northern Illinois and take I-65 all the way down to Nashville from Gary, IN. I then get on I-24 and then change to I-75 in Chattanooga all the way in to the Florida Turnpike. I found this the best (fastest) route for me to take. I've driven it twice down and twice back. I've...