Wednesday, 05/17

<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><A HREF="saturday_night_arrival_0513.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Saturday Night Arrival (05/13)">Saturday Night Arrival (05/13)</A>   |   <A HREF="sunday_0514.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sunday, 05/14">Sunday, 05/14</A>   |   <A HREF="monday_0515.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Monday, 05/15">Monday, 05/15</A>   |   <A HREF="tuesday_0516.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tuesday, 05/16">Tuesday, 05/16</A>   |   Wednesday, 05/17   |   <A HREF="thursday_0518.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Thursday, 05/18">Thursday, 05/18</A>   |   <A HREF="friday_0519.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Friday, 05/19">Friday, 05/19</A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=398 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="e8590903.jpg"> <div> <I><B>Wednesday, 05/17</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> Today is the day that Laura and I have both been most looking forward to on this trip; it is the day we are to do the Segway tour.  Yesterday was rainy and cool but today is bright and sunny…exceptionally pleasant and a great day to do this.  We meet the other participants at Guest Relations in EPCOT; just past and to the left of Spaceship Earth as you enter the park.  </div> <div> <IMG SRC="7890d01c0.jpg" border=0 width="720" height="540" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Phil and Daisuke were our guides for the day.  We started by going to Innoventions where Phil presented about a 25-minute presentation about the Segway…just basic information.  </div> <div> <IMG SRC="7891d01c0.jpg" border=0 width="720" height="540" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="7892d01c0.jpg" border=0 width="720" height="540" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Next, our class of 10 practiced in a roped off, carpeted area within Innoventions.  It's a good thing Daisuke was with me when I got on the Segway for the first time as it was exceptionally `herky jerky' for me to get on….Laura thought I was going to fall on my head.  Laura took to it like a duck to water…she had no problems.  We practiced going forward, backward, turning around, serpentine, going uphill, going downhill, and just basically getting the feel of it.  All in all, it was about a 30-minute practice until we headed out into Future World as we headed over to World Showcase.  Daisuke led the way with Phil in the rear…the rest of us were in single file as we started off.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="7893d01c0.jpg" border=0 width="720" height="540" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="7894d01c0.jpg" border=0 width="720" height="540" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> As we entered World Showcase we headed left towards Mexico and we passed by Mexico and Norway.  Our first stop was in China where Daisuke shared a story about the pavilion.  Next, Daisuke led us through navigating the walkway right in front of the temple as it was a little tight but we all managed fine.  Next stop was Germany where Daisuke shared another story.  Leaving Germany we went on the path that went through the miniature village.  The path is slightly downhill as we exit back onto the main walkway.  As I approached the exit I started going a little too fast.  On a segway, the only control really is a hand control to turn side to side…..everything else is controlled by shifting your feet or weight a little.  When I started to go fast, I tried to slow down by using the hand control (like it was a motor cycle) and I started wobbling back and forth.  I think Phil (waiting at the exit) thought I was going to crash and how I didn't, I am not quite sure.  After that I was fine but it almost got real ugly there for a moment.  Next we stopped in Italy for pictures in front of the lake.  </div> <div> <IMG SRC="7895d0210.jpg" border=0 width="720" height="545" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> We were also allowed to just ride around in an area they had coned off for us…getting some extra practice.  Laura was beaming the entire time while on the segway and Phil commented to me that he could tell she was having a blast.  Phil apparently even asked Laura if she was a cast member because she had a `glow' to her.  After this, it was onto America, Japan, Morocco, and France.  At each country, Daiskuke told a story…he himself, was from Japan.  From there it was back to Innoventions….the whole thing lasted about two hours.  On the way back we passed Jim who was sitting on a bench in front of Rose & Crown in the UK.  Overall, the segway tour was a blast and is something I am sure we will do again.  It was our `reward' for losing weight and we have already talked about using it again as a reward when we hit our next goals…..shooting for this December possibly.  If you haven't done this tour, I highly recommend it.</div> <bR> <div> Afterwards, we met up with Jim and we walked around Future World while Laura took pictures. We visited the butterfly house and saw a lot of the flower exhibits that we had not seen yet. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="7896d0170.jpg" border=0 width="720" height="535" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="7897d01b0.jpg" border=0 width="720" height="539" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="7898d01c0.jpg" border=0 width="720" height="540" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>  It was very leisurely and by the time Laura got her fill of pictures, it was time for lunch.  We hopped in the Jeep and it was off to the House of Blues.  The restaurant had just opened and was quite empty.  I never realized how big it was inside as there seemed to be a lot of tables.  We shared a skillet of cornbread and if you go here, you have to get it; it is wonderful.  We all had grilled steak salad….Jim's meat was shoe leather (though he liked it) while Gene & Laura's was done perfectly…rare!  Jim polished his meal off with a light, 1000 calorie monstrosity…a white chocolate, banana cake with a whiskey cream sauce, homemade whipped cream, with a caramel halo.  </div> <div> <IMG SRC="7899d0000.jpg" border=0 width="720" height="512" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> It looked really good and he offered it to us to share but we resisted.  I think he left about 300 calories on the plate as he couldn't quite finish it.</div> <bR> <div> Back to the resort it is after lunch.  Laura takes a nap while Jim and I go poolside to enjoy the sights.  Jim does some reading and after a short swim for me, I head on back to the room and nap an hour or so myself.  It was late afternoon and time to head on down to Downtown Disney to meet up with some folks for dinner at Raglan Road.  When we get there, Jim, Kelly, and Kitty are sitting in the outside bar area so we join them and have a nice refreshment…Laura a Kahlua and coke….Gene a delicious half & half mixture of Guinness and Bass Ale.  When Jody and Mitzi arrive it is time to head on into the restaurant for dinner.  It's a very attractive place with a lot of stained glass and deep colored woods.  Being the bad kids though, we get seated in a corner room which is very dimly lit….too dark even.  The menu was interesting and the food itself was very good.  Laura and I shared the `forest of scallops' which were lightly battered scallops on individual forks standing up on a plate.  </div> <div> <IMG SRC="789ad01b0.jpg" border=0 width="720" height="539" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> These were served with a tartar sauce w/lime.  For dinner, Laura had the drunken chicken appetizer which is a whiskey glazed chicken kabob with a lime/cilantro dressing.  I had a chicken & mushroom pot pie that was served with a salad.  Others had steak, fish & chips, and I am not sure what else.  No dessert for us but I remember Jody and Mitzi sharing Ger's Bread & Butter Pudding which was a warm bread pudding where they poured on cream and butterscotch (I think)….boy did that look good.  Overall, dinner was very good and I believe Laura's favorite meal of the trip.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="789bd0170.jpg" border=0 width="720" height="535" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> After dinner, we had no plans scheduled.  Tomorrow, Jody and Mitzi were leaving for home and we had not spent too much time with them on this trip.  We got to talking about the resorts and being Mitzi had not really seen any other resorts, we decided to do a resort tour.  So Laura, Mitzi, Jody, and I hopped in the Jeep and off we went.  It was still light out and we decided to start with AKL.  This resort is easy to fall in love with and we were lucky enough to be there when there were lots of animals out….zebras, giraffes, among others.  Mitzi got a great picture of giraffes and seemed to really love the resort.  From there we drove around the All-Star resorts being they were close by so they could get a feel of the various sections.  We then drove over to Coronado Springs but you can't drive around this resort as you need a key card to get past gated areas.  Bummer, so it's off to the Wilderness Lodge where I dropped the ladies off as I parked the car.  This is another resort that is easy to fall in love with when you walk into it…it is quite awesome.  We walked around and went outside to see the pool area…all in all, a very nice resort though for a deluxe resort, I find the rooms to be a bit small.  Next, we decide to head over to the Polynesian resort where we once again, get out and walk around.  We go upstairs and see `Ohana and Kona Café and get to see a nice view of the Magic Kingdom out the windows.  We were going to hop on the monorail to visit the Grand Floridian and the Contemporary but I obsessed that I parked the car in a 30-minute zone.  I wanted to run down and move the car but Laura didn't want me to do that so everyone ended up coming with me…so we left the resort from there.  </div> <bR> <div> No fear, there are still other resorts to drive around so we head out along one of the back roads that takes us past Fort Wilderness and over to Port Orleans Riverside.  We drive around the Alligator Bayou section and then Magnolia Bend.  We then took another side road over to Port Orleans.  This is such a spread out resort that we just drove around the various parking lots to see the various building designs so Mitzi and Jody could get a feel for the differences here.   Next, a short ride over to Old Key West to check that out.  Before we became DVC members, we had not wanted to stay here but since we have stayed here, it is one of our favorite resorts.  The rooms are fantastic…so much larger than any resort.  And if you have a car, no resort is more convenient as you are able to drive right up to your door.  We also really like the soft colors of this resort.  After riding around here, it is close to 11:00 already….we had been looking at resorts for over 3 hours or so and we were all getting tired.  I drove Jody and Mitzi back to the Beach Club and then it was back to the Boardwalk for us.  It was a really different and pleasant evening; one that we all enjoyed.  </div> </td> </tr></table></body>