Day 1 - 2/28 - 3/1/03

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=82 style=" border-bottom: 1px solid #999980;" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="792890903.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#333399" FACE="Monotype Corsiva" ><I><B>SuiteDisney</B></I></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Walt Disney Script v4.1" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>  </B></FONT><B>|</B><B>    </B>Day 1 - 2/28 - 3/1/03   |   <A HREF="day_2___32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Day 2 3/2">Day 2 - 3/2</A>   |   <A HREF="day_3___33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Day 3 3/3">Day 3 - 3/3</A>   |   <A HREF="day_4___34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Day 4 3/4">Day 4 - 3/4</A>   |   <A HREF="day_5___35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Day 5 3/5">Day 5 - 3/5</A>   |   <A HREF="day_6_36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Day 6 3/6">Day 6 3/6</A>   |   <A HREF="day_7___37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Day 7 3/7">Day 7 - 3/7</A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=398 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="e8590903.jpg"> <div> <I><B>Day 1 - 2/28 - 3/1/03</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.suitedisney.com/wdwphotos/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.suitedisney.com/wdwphotos/"><B>WDW Photos</B></A></div> <bR> <div>  <script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script>  </div> <bR> <div> Well, I've skipped a few trip reports. There were two trips in May/2001, a trip in August/2002 and a trip in December/2002. I guess it's time to get back in the groove. So here we go, we're celebrating our 20th Anniversary in our favorite place. Care to join us?</div> <bR> <div> We joined Disney Vacation Club last August and it's time to take our first trip home. We bought our points at the Beach Club Villas, but for this trip we'll be staying at Old key West. We'll be in WDW for our 20th Anniversary and my 44th Birthday. What a way to celebrate!</div> <bR> <div> Our reservations are from March 2-8, but we found out that the Tapestry of Dreams Parade ends on March 1. We just got a new digital camcorder and I'd really like to catch my favorite parade one last time, so we're heading down a day early and staying off-site at the Holiday Inn Main Gate East. The kids hate to sleep in the same room with us because of our snoring, so we're staying in a Kid's Suite.</div> <bR> <div> As soon as Gene gets home on Friday, February 28 we load up the van, buy hoagies for the ride down, and we're on the road by 6:45. After our normal 16 hour drive, we arrive at the Holiday Inn at 10:45 a.m. Fortunately, our room is ready, so we have plenty of time to settle in and relax before we head over to Epcot to see the parade one last time. Gene goes into the room first and comes out laughing. It turns out that the Kid's Suite is meant for little kids, not big teenagers. There are 3 beds in the kid's area, bunk beds and another bed under the window, but they're only about 5 ft. long. And the mattresses are only about 4 inches thick. The Kid's Suite is cute, with a western jailhouse theme. There's nothing to do but laugh, and it's only for one night.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="76fe5f0e0.jpg" border=0 width="351" height="526" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">     <IMG SRC="77005f0e0.jpg" border=0 width="351" height="526" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="7701d0ef0.jpg" border=0 width="720" height="495" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="77035e0d0.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="525" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">     <IMG SRC="77055e0d0.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="525" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="7706e0d00.jpg" border=0 width="480" height="720" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> We left snow and freezing temperatures at home and it's so warm here that we just have to take a dip in the pool. The water is very warm and the pool has a nice deep end, although no diving is allowed. It really feels refreshing after driving all night. After getting our second wind, we realize that we're hungry and decide to eat at Macaroni Grill and then take a nap. We have time to sleep for 2 hours before it's time to get ready and head over to Epcot.</div> <bR> <div> Off we go to Epcot to see Tapestry of Dreams one last time. I'm so excited! I'm ready to see the puppets one last time and I'm even wearing my Tapestry of Nations t-shirt. We park at the Boardwalk and walk to Epcot. The weather is beautiful and it's not crowded at all. We have a couple hours before the parade and France is on the way, so we decide to see Impressions de France. Our timing is great, it's ready to start. My new camera works so much better than the old one, I take quite a few pictures (no flash) and it looks like they're going to turn out.</div> <bR> <div> The kids are dying to go to Japan and go shopping, so that's our next stop. The store has been remodeled recently and it feels much smaller, but the kids find plenty to buy. the drummers are putting on a show and we head out to watch. Gene films them for about 10 minutes - our first video with our new camcorder.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="7707d0f70.jpg" border=0 width="720" height="503" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> There's still 50 minutes until the parade, but there are a couple of empty cement benches by the Torii Gate, in front of the lagoon, and we decide to get comfy and wait for the parade. Gene, nice guy that he is, gets us drinks while we wait.</div> <bR> <div> Finally, the parade is starting, about 100 yards to our right. I am so ready for this parade! I missed it on our last two trips and I know this is my last chance to EVER see it. I stand up and get ready for the puppets to come and...... a woman from farther down comes and tells me to sit down because I'm blocking her view. I tell her that the parade is going to come past everyone and we'll all get a chance to see it, and she walks away. The beginning of the parade is getting closer and..... another woman comes over and angrily tells me to sit down and quit blocking the view. I tell her that the parade will go past everyone and I'm going to stand right where I am. She gets right in my face and says, "You're a bitch!"</div> <bR> <div> Now, wait just a minute! This is an interactive parade, for crying out loud. The cast members love to use the puppets to interact with guests. I've even been pulled out into the parade to dance with one of the puppets in the past... and so has my daughter. I'm so surprised by this woman's behavior that I can't come up with anything wittier than, "Well, so are you!" And to top it all off, she said that in front of my kids. My children are just sitting on the bench because some stranger intimidated them. And the parade is almost here! I quickly ask my kids if they want to make two bucks. Of course they do and I say, "Then stand up!" </div> <bR> <div> And it's here! More wonderful than ever! I'm singing and dancing and imitating the moves of the puppets and the cast members are acknowledging me by reaching out with the puppet's arms, or nodding at my Tapestry t-shirt, or blowing a kiss. It's the most I've ever interacted with them. Later, we'll look at the tape and be able to pick out at least thirteen different cast members who responded to me in some way.</div> <bR> <div> After the parade passes, I turn to the angry woman who cursed at me (she's behind me, just a little to my left, leaning against the railing in front of the lagoon) and say, "Well, did you get your head out of your ass long enough to enjoy the parade?" She squinched up her face and gave me the finger. I just laughed. You just know it had to eat her up every time one of the puppets came over to me. If she hadn't been so miserable, she could have played with them, too.</div> <bR> <div> We ended our evening at Epcot with a ride on Maelstrom and then went back to the Boardwalk. This is one of my favorite parts of vacation - I give the kids $20 to win as many stuffed animals as they can. Then we give them away to little kids who aren't having any luck winning their own. This has become a tradition for our family. On a good night I might even get a hug in return.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="7708d0e00.jpg" border=0 width="720" height="480" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="7709d0e00.jpg" border=0 width="720" height="480" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> It's been a long 24 hours and we're all really beat. We go back to our room and call it a night. I can't wait for tomorrow, when we check into Old Key West. I hope our villa is ready early.</div> </td> </tr></table></body>