Live from SSR (April 5-10)

[simba20]

Hi all,

Arrived today for our second trip this year at SSR. Last week (Wednesday maybe?) I called to put in room location requests for The Springs, Grandstand, or Congress Park in that order. Well, we got some special pixie dust today.

First we arrived around 11:30. Check-in was busy, but moving. We planned on seeing if our room was ready, getting our info, and then hitting DHS or leaving our important luggage (i.e not want to leave in a hot car) with bell services and hitting DHS. However, when we arrived they told us that our room was ready for us. We are in a studio in the Grandstand, overlooking the pool. OMG! The view is great, the location is better -- to our immediate right is the bus stop and to our left, the pool. So pixie dust for havign our room ready and pixie dust for a great location.

I was planning on getting our daughter a "1st visit" button when we go to MK tomorrow, but instead I went over to the conceierge to get my ADRs (I left the sheet at home) and she was smitten with my daughter (21 months), so I mentioned that while we did visit last month, we only went to one park, and this trip is what we consider her "Official" first visit. So she gave her a 1st visit button.

We ended up just hanging at the resort today. Had a fun time watching my daughter get totally soaked in her clothes at the Grandstand pool splash area. Oh the walk up to the carraige house is NOTHING from here. We were going to go swimming, but it occured to me that I FORGOT TO PACK SWIM DIAPERS. So we took a trip to Publix. We went to the Publix off of 192, and it was busy. I really think that shopping carts need turn signals. Now we are back, and trying to get Little Miss Hyper to rest before we head over to DTD for our dinner at Fultons. We may try to jump over to DHS after dinner or maybe, maybe MK for a sneak peek before tomorrow's visit (tonight is EMH for MK).

Got pics of the room, this studio is slightly different thanone we stayed in last month (just where the bathroom door is placed). and it's missing the coat rack int he entry which I foudn to be handy on our last trip. My only complaint (and I noticed this last time) is that the drawers in the entertainment center are very shallow and don't hold much. Other than that, no gripes so far. The resort is busy. We had a line at the counter service place today and a line a check-in, but things did move quickly. Most people are in the Disney spirit and friendly so far and let things go.

But when I saw where our room was and walked in, I had the thought that some of you might be jealous ;) J/K.

Oh it is pretty warm and humid down here today. I think t-storms are possible tomorrow. I sweat everytime we head outside.

[kamikazecat]

Oooh. I can't wait to see the pictures of your room. We requested The Springs but might have to change our minds. Have a great trip!

[december14disney]

Tuning into your live report! We will be at SSR (hopefully the Grandstand which we requested as well!) in 13 days! :cool1:

[lck33]

I just love live trip reports! And I am partial because SSR is my home. Can't wait to stay again! Hope to start planning a trip soon! Maybe next Spring? :idea:

Enjoy!

[bobbiwoz]

Looking forward to seeing the pictures and hearing more.

Bobbi:goodvibes

[Claire L]

The area you are in is our favourite we were there in February and had a wonderful stay.

Claire ;)

[DVC Mike]

Looking forward to some pictures!

[Rock'n Robin]

Hope to be your neighbor tomorrow, that location sounds wonderful! :wizard:
Robin M.

[liznboys]

We had that same location on our trip there last summer. Our view wasn't as nice then though because they had a wall up around the horses splash area. But we didn't care as it was a very last minute trip. That location is great!

I envy you being there at SSR, have a wonderful time!!! :cloud9:

[oakmanner]

38 days for us until we're at SSR! Please post some pics and continue your TR.

Thanks-

[ccigliano]

Sounds like you got a great room:thumbsup2. Looking forward to your trip report and the pictures.

[simba20]

I just typed more to our day, and darn Disney high speed INternet timing out after 10 minutes and losing the whole post. Now I know to type this up in Word beforehand and cut and paste.

Basically:
-- dinner at Fultons (OMG looove the snow crab legs)
-- shopping at DTD
-- daughter loving spalsh area at Grandstand pool and we as smart parents let her go for a 9 p.m. swim to tire her out. Guess who fell asleep just now in less than 10 minutes?
-- tomorrow is MK day
-- ADR at Boma tomorrow

P.S. Grandstand drink refill station is open.
P.P.S. Used snack credits on dipped treats (marshmallows and rice krispy treat ) at Goofy's candy company. Yummy!
P.P.P.S. Forgot Photobucket password.....promise pics soon.
P.P.P.P.S. Love the view of lights at Grandstand pool at night. Leaving curtains to sliding door slightly cracked to fall asleep to.

[SunnieRN]

Sounds like a wonderful first day!!! Looking forward to pictures!! My daughter and grandsons leave in a few hours and I will be at SSR on the 14th. It is such a beautiful resort!
Have fun at the MK tomorrow!!:goodvibes

[simba20]

Sitting here eating some cereal, while we all get ready to head out to MK today. We aren't rope drop people, but do like to get there early.

Uh-oh, I had more to say, but the little one is stirring......gotta go. Stupid timing.....

[oakmanner]

popcorn::

[abk96]

Enjoying reading about your trip.

We had the same view when we stayed at SSR. It's the best location if you ask me. I guess we should keep that quiet.;)

Have a great day at Magic Kingdom! I wish I was there right now. Sigh

[cogero]

we will be at ssr on Saturday I am so super excited about it.

[simba20]

Just got back from our half day at MK. Remember, we have a 21 month old, so going “commando” or staying all day is unlikely. Poor thing fell asleep on the bus ride back, and is snoring on the bed. We have dinner ressies at Boma tonight for 5:10.

We arrived at MK around 8. I want to say it was earlier. We were passing the “sandwich” (BLT) and I remember looking at the clock and it read 7:36. We walked right in through bag check and right into the park. In the circle was Pluto, Donald, and as my husband called her “Ohhh, a Southern Belle” (ahem, Mary Poppins, I corrected him). We tried to get the little one to pose with Pluto, but she is still afraid of the characters. She loves them from a far, but not up close. We then walked down Main Street and into Tomorrowland. No wait for anything. We rode Space Mountain (oops I still have a FastPass left over) countless times, and then took the little one up to the Astro Orbiters. MISTAKE. I had no idea they went so fast, so the little one and I were slammed against the side and she freaked out. It was right at the beginning so I had to spend the whole time calming her down.

After that, we tried to ride the Speedway, but little bit was half an inch short. Ugh. She’d be sitting between us, but the guy wouldn’t give. Oh well, I was easy going about it. We travelled over to Fastasyland and let little bit have her turn at rides. We did Pooh and Pooh’s Playful Spot, The Carousel, we almost did Dumbo, but it started to have a good sized line. Instead we saw Philharmagic, and then a potty break, and It’s a Small World. Guess what the little one loved the most? I’ll give you a hint, the song repeats over and over and over and over. Then it was on the The Haunted Mansion (little one didn’t get scared, however she was not fond of the backwards incline). We then spent the rest of our time child swapping at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. We’d get out Fastpass/Childswap ticket and I’d say hello to the CM over and over. Little one loved climbing on rocks while she waited for Mommy or Daddy. We then rode the railroad back to the front of the park, we sat under the train station and used a snack credit for a frozen lemonade (enough for the three of us), when Mommy saw something out of the corner of her eye that she knew little bit would love. A MICKEY BALLOON!

I will say that Frontier land was packed by 11 a.m. The area between Splash Mountian, BTMR, and the railroad station was crowded, people just would stop in the middle and pull out a map or figure out where to go. Sitting up front at 1:15, was crowded as well, and the lines for meeting characters quite long. I would say that between 7:30 and 11a.m. was the best time to be in the park. We noticed the crowd picking up at 10:00, but didn’t have long waits for anything. Most rides that had a standby time of 10 minutes, was basically a walk right in kind of ride. BTMR was the only ride that we saw a standby time of 70 and 55 minutes. Luckily we had FastPasses/Childswap pass for that.

After finishing our frozen lemonade, we decided to head back to SSR. Pixie dust, the bus for SSR was right there. We got drizzled on once while in the park, but it wasn’t bad, however by the time we left the wind had kicked up, and I will say that those darn balloons hurt when bopped on the head. The lake outside MK was very choppy and they had stopped the ferryboat traffic for awhile.

Now we are back at SSR. The Grandstand drink refill station seems to be closed. Little bit is napping and I might rest myself or take a shower.

I am working on the pics…..I promise. Pics post coming soon.

Oh we ate lunch at Columbia Harbor House. I had the tuna sandwich. I am picky about my tuna sammies, and nothign can top the tuna sammies I had when my mom would take me to the lunch counter at our local Woolworths when I was a child, but this one was up there. Hubster had chicken fingers and shared with the little one.

[Bethpremier]

I am working on the pics…..I promise. Pics post coming soon.



popcorn::

[liznboys]

Sounds like a nice time at MK. :)

That area between Splash, Big Thunder and the Railroad is one of my not-so-favorite areas in WDW...it just always seems like a traffic jam there even when things aren't that busy.

[simba20]

Okay, some pics........might have to make a few posts......

The view from our room at SSR:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/simba20/disney/disneyroom019.jpg

What I fell asleep to last night:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/simba20/disney/disney2009.jpg

Sunrise at SSR:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/simba20/disney/disney2010.jpg

Morning at MK, 7:57 a.m. in front of the castle:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/simba20/disney/disney2019.jpg

Tomorrowland, after we both rode Space Mountian a few times (2x each), approx 8:30 a.m.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/simba20/disney/disney2025.jpg

Back of castle, Fantasyland, 9:21 a.m:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/simba20/disney/disney2043.jpg

Continuing in another post......

[nzdisneymom]

wow - there's no one in your pictures! That's great for crowd purposes. Sounds like you all are off to a great start - thanks for doing a live-from trip report and sharing pictures. Since the internet is free, I hope to see more and more live reports!

We've found that the Publix on Vineland (just beyond the Premium Outlets where the Character Premier store is) is easier to get to (and closer) than the one on 192... and a bit less busy. From SSR, just go out to 535 and turn right, then turn left by the Lone Star / Landry's / Golden Corral corner on the other side of I-4 (you'll go under I-4). Then wind your way down by the outlets, past where Dolly Parton's dinner show used to be, and poof, you're there.

Can't wait to read more and see more pics.

[simba20]

a few more

Since I was born in Hawaii, I have a thing for hula dancers. Can you guess the ride?
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/simba20/disney/disney2063.jpg

While waiting for the hubster to ride BTMR...crowd in Frintoerland watching parade:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/simba20/disney/disney2066.jpg

Main Street while eating frozen lemonade at 1:12 p.m.:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/simba20/disney/disney2071.jpg

Little Bit, a.k.a Cuddlebug a.k.a Stinkbutt and her BA-WOON!:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/simba20/disney/disney2073.jpg

Off to pack the diaper bag for our visit to AK tomorrow!

[nzdisneymom]

Why she's the same size as the dolls in It's a Small World! And way more adorable!

[simba20]

Well after going to MK today, we came back to the room. Cuddlebug slept, right up until 3:50 where I realized OMG! She and I needed shower/bath and get ready for Animal Kingdom (dinner ressie at 5:10).

Oh wait, let me back up.

Our ADR’s I made for tomorrow (Yak & Yeti for lunch and Raglan Road for dinner, were spaced to close together. So I walked up to the Carriage House to see if the concierge could work some magic and help me space our ressie further apart, but still at times that met our eating needs. Yipee. I got Yak & Yeti moved form 1:40 to 11:30 and Raglan Road moved from 6:20 to 7:45. Much, much better and gives up plenty of time after eating lunch for our bellies not to be full for dinner. After that I poked around the gift shop and bought a DVC stick to put on our SUV…….now back to today’s events.

I hurriedly got Cuddlebug bathed and myself showed (and hair blown dry, I might add) and we jumped in our car and headed to AKL. I didn’t see the sense in taking a bus to DTD and then jumping on the AKL bus, so we drove. We arrived at AKL and headed downstairs to Boma and it was already hoppin. We checked in 5 mins ahead of our ressie time and were given a pager. Just as I found the hubster and sat on a bench, it went off…..

We used our DP for the meal, but decided to pay OOP for “adult beverages.” I even treated Cuddlebug to a souvenir Tinkerbell cup with a light up Tinkerbell (I knew she’d love it and I wanted one…). The hubster ordered the aguave margarita and I ordered a blackberry mojito. I tried to stomach it, and really I love mojitos, but the thought of drinking something that probably tasted similar to rubbing alcohol came to mind, so I admitted to our waiter that I didn’t like it and ordered what the hubster was having, it was really good. I should know not to stray from tequila. Don’t worry about us driving, we only had one drink (the Disney economy forces us to do that) and we walked around AKL for sometime before leaving.

I started off with my main meal and after visiting two buffet stations, my plate was full. Tonight they had strip that they were slicing. After my “main meal” I then went for the salads and sides, and discovered the red pepper or was it sun-dried tomato hummus was to die for (black olive ranks a close second). The pita bread wedges were so soft, and the hummus. I came back to the table with a desert plate of the two hummuses that I liked and pita bread.

Cuddlebug is exposed to every food under the sun (my rule at home I do not make her separate meals from what we are eating), so she’s a good eater. However, guess what she wanted most…penne pasta and meatballs with marinara sauce. Then Daddy brought her fruit, so she ate two plates of assorted strawberries, watermelon, pineapple, melon, and grapes. The hubster who is a picky eater, stuck with what was close to normal fare (oh but her does love Boma).

It’s supposed to be cold tomorrow (well I have learned that cold in FL is different than what I expect) so after dinner we headed out to find an Old Navy, so the hubster could get a pair of jeans (he forgot to pack some) and a hoodie for Cuddlebug. We found the small outlet center and that did us well.

Tomorrow we are off to AK! Now I'm really packing the diaper bag........

P.S. Thanks for the adorable daughter comment nzdisneymom and TIA to anyone else.

[simba20]

Room straightened up...check (I cannot stand a messy hotel room and since we are in a studio....)
Diaper bag pack for tomorrow...check.
Saddlebag packed for tomorrow...check.
DD clothes laid out...check.
My clothes...I have an idea.
Hubster...he has to see just how cold tomorrow will be.
Last look at glowing nighttime Grandstand pool area before sleep...as soon as log off.

Night all, I'm headed to bed. Need to be up at 6 a.m. to get ready and head to AK!

[arthur06]

Great pics, keep 'em coming!

[chipper10]

Room straightened up...check (I cannot stand a messy hotel room and since we are in a studio....)
Diaper bag pack for tomorrow...check.
Saddlebag packed for tomorrow...check.
DD clothes laid out...check.
My clothes...I have an idea.
Hubster...he has to see just how cold tomorrow will be.
Last look at glowing nighttime Grandstand pool area before sleep...as soon as log off.

Night all, I'm headed to bed. Need to be up at 6 a.m. to get ready and head to AK!

Im loving hearing about SSR. We will be staying there in May for the first time. It will be our first stay at Disney since we bought DVC. Our DS was 21 months when we took him in September last year. It was really cute to see what he liked. Luckily, he was not that into Its a Small World, but he did love Dumbo. Our first character pic is of DS crying next to Pluto, but by the end of the trip he was loving the characters and talking with them.

I have one probably dumb question for you, what's a saddlebag?

[Corryn]

Saddlebag - I'm guessing a Fanny Pack?

Ooh, I am hooked! We're going in September and I am officially counting down the days!
Your cuddlebug is a cutie :cutie:
Enjoy your time together and keep us posted!

[SunnieRN]

My daughter got to OKW around noon and called to let me know about the rain (she was eating and missed it) but said it was actually a bit humid today.
Your daughter is so adorable!!! She looks like she is having so much fun!! Great pictures!!!

[simba20]

The saddlebag is a bag made by Skip Hop. They make diaper bags, and they make a bag, called a saddlebag, that attaches to the side of your stroller. We have a Graco IPO folding umbrella stroller, so we have to finagle it a bit to get it on there. Of course we have to take it on and off when we fold up the stroller and of course for bag checks, but it frees up room int he diaper bag. It's small, but it holds our diapers and wipes case, a snack or two, a juice box, and has an outside mesh pocket to hold a bottle or sippy cup for the little one to reach. It might be a pain to carry an extra bag, but having room in the diaper bag (whcih I'll detatch from the stroller and take on rides with us) is great.

I really love people who ask "How young is too young to go to Disney?" We have family who wonder why we bring her, when she won't remember it, but in reality she gets a lot of of being here and having a good time. I think it all comes down to what you do. We do our Mommy and Daddy rides (switching off) but yesterday, Fanatsyland was all her. She loves the experience and squeals at things she see. However, don't tell Mickey, but she's a huge Barney fam atthe moment and if he were herem she'd probably die. We pace our selves and at times let her lead, let her rest, let her do what she wants to do. We were in a bit of trouble yesterday, at Pooh's Playful SPot, we had to figure out a way to get her out of there. And while taking turns at BTMR, the rocks outside, near Miner's Cover were enough to let her spend her energy and play (she did the same thing with the rocks outside Expediition Everest on our last trip). Also her favorite attraction/ride seems to be the Disney transportation busses. She is obsessed with them. Everytime she sees one, she calls out "bus, bus" or "that's a bus." We drove over to AKL for dinner last night and she threw a fit wonderign why were weren;t on the bus. Also at DTD Sunday night, we were waiting for the bus back to SSR and she couldn;t understadn why we were getting on the other busses that would pull in. She started to fret, wondering if we'd ever get picked up.

Off to finish my cereal and dress for our day at AK. I need to step out on the balcony and check the weather/temp.

[DVC Mike]

Nice pics!

[timandlesley]

Loving this! We will be staying at SSR with developer points this summer, loving the pics. Hope we get as lucky as you did with the room assignment, that view is GREAT and location unbeatable. Sounds like you guys are having an amazing trip so far. Loved the picture of your adorable daughter and her "bahwoon" ;) Keep it coming, LOVE it!
Lesley

[marynvince]

are the people that don't want to deal with a young child at a theme park. My son has been to Disneyland at 26 months and Disney World at 2 1.2 yrs and 3 1/2 years and loved every trip. Sounds like you're having a great trip. Thanks for the updates.

[abk96]

Thanks for all the updates and your pictures are great! Your little cuddlebug is adorable.

Enjoy your day!

[cogero]

loving your report. we will be there on Saturday

[iluveeyore]

Your 'little bit' is so cute, and I'm looking forward to how your day at AK was!:surfweb:

[kikiq]

Love your trip report. And your little one is a cutie.

My first real job was at the Woolworth's lunch counter. I remember the tuna sandwiches...there are many people who loved those sandwiches.

Thanks for all the pics. It's helping us make it to August.

[OurDogCisco]

What a great trip report!!! Vacations with little ones are AWESOME... Ours are now 8 and 11 years old and are well traveled. We noticed now that are 11 year old is starting middle school it is going to be harder to go on vacations especially with school schedules, sports and other activities so, I'm glad we got to go when she was younger. Heck, I don't remember every vacation I've been on. There are some that I getting fuzzy in my memory. I do scrap them so, I remember most of them but seriously if I didn't take pictures or video I don't think I would remember every detail of every trip. ENJOY....

[simba20]

I'll type up today's adevntures later tonight, but to summarize, today we met the crowds. Anyway, some quick pics, before I head to Raglan Road for dinner.

This guy walked right up to us and wanted to pose:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/simba20/019.jpg


Another money shot:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/simba20/021.jpg

Cuddlebug loves watching people ride Expedition Everest:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/simba20/031.jpg

What she loves watching:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/simba20/032.jpg

Timeout for Cuddlebug at the Boneyard:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/simba20/039.jpg

Crowd in Dinoland USA at 10:38 a.m.:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/simba20/043.jpg

Another money shot:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/simba20/044.jpg

My wonton soup at Yak & Yeti. Oh the bowl is empty. Blame that on me and Cuddlebug. I forgot to take a pic when it was done, but thought this made a comment on how much I love the soup:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/simba20/045.jpg

Steak and Shrimp at Y&Y:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/simba20/047.jpg

Beef & Broccoli at Y&Y:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/simba20/048.jpg

Sorbet dessert at Y&Y:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/simba20/049.jpg

Fried wonton desert at Y&Y:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/simba20/050.jpg

Crowed at DHS. Hubster stood in single rider line for Rock-n-Roller coaster for 1 hr to ride. Couldn’t deal with the crowds, so we came back to the resort:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/simba20/051.jpg

[dopeygirl76]

LOVE your TR!!! I am enjoying with you and waiting for our next trip 19 days and counting!!! Your little one is adorable - and we have vacationed with ours since my oldest was 2 1/2 and I was 7 months pregnant with the other - we have gone every six months since adn wouldn't trade it - that's what those wonderful pictures you are posting are for!!!!

[nhdisnut]

Love the view of lights at Grandstand pool at night. Leaving curtains to sliding door slightly cracked to fall asleep to.

Last look at glowing nighttime Grandstand pool area before sleep...as soon as log off.

Now, I have to say I love your trip report!!! Sends me right back to not just SSR, but to any and all DVC trips we have taken. For some reason the quotes above just hit me.....I love, love, love sitting out and looking at the view of wherever we are staying just before bed.....your comments gave me goosebumps!!! Of course it might help that in just 10 days we will be visiting the World too!:goodvibes

Keep the great reports and pics coming! :)

[kamikazecat]

I am loving your trip report so far. Your little one is such a cutie. We are taking our 3yo for two weeks at SSR in June for the first time and my parents don't understand why we are shelling out so much money for a trip he won't remember. I will remember all the smiles and the magic he gets to experience and that makes it all worth it. :cloud9:

[dredick]

LOVING THIS REPORT!!! We go to SSR for the 1st time this June..I can't wait!!! Love the pics!!! thanks so much!!
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_3_47.gif (*******************************************ZSzeb0 01_ZNxmk572YYUS)





http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb095&pp=ZNxmk572YYUS (http://www.smileycentral.com/dl/index.jhtml?partner=ZSzeb095_ZNxmk572YYUS&utm_id=7923)

[chipper10]

I love hearing your reports. Your little one is adorable!

The saddlebag sounds like a great idea. I may have to talk DH into getting one for our trip. We have a Peg Pliko P3 with NO basket space at all.

[nzdisneymom]

I looked forward all day to reading your report!

Regarding taking kids to WDW when they are so young - our boys were 16 months and 2 1/2 y.o. when we took them the first time (FREE!! Yay!!!). I still remember the looks on their faces when we first got onto Main Street (right at parade time) and I remember how our younger son was our "ambassador" with everyone we met. That trip was not for them - it was for the memories that *we* will hold in our hearts.

The pictures you have of your daughter are priceless; the memories you will have are treasures that only you and your DH will ever understand and have. And what the heck? She's having a GREAT TIME!

[simba20]

I am loving your trip report so far. Your little one is such a cutie. We are taking our 3yo for two weeks at SSR in June for the first time and my parents don't understand why we are shelling out so much money for a trip he won't remember. I will remember all the smiles and the magic he gets to experience and that makes it all worth it. :cloud9:

I was telling my mom the other night that remember my first trip to Dinsey that occured when I was 3. No I don't remember every detail, but I remember certain things. I still have my "Lady" from Lady and the Tramp that we bought that trip. I need to put her in Cuddlebug's room.

[kamikazecat]

I looked forward all day to reading your report!

Regarding taking kids to WDW when they are so young - our boys were 16 months and 2 1/2 y.o. when we took them the first time (FREE!! Yay!!!). I still remember the looks on their faces when we first got onto Main Street (right at parade time) and I remember how our younger son was our "ambassador" with everyone we met. That trip was not for them - it was for the memories that *we* will hold in our hearts.

The pictures you have of your daughter are priceless; the memories you will have are treasures that only you and your DH will ever understand and have. And what the heck? She's having a GREAT TIME!

:lmao: We took our son to Disneyland twice last summer just because he was free! :rotfl:

[simba20]

So every trip has a down day, and today might have been that day. We headed to Animal Kingdom, and I expected the freedom we had yesterday at Magic Kingdom to follow over. It didn’t.

Today turned out to be cold and windy. Wait, I’ll correct that, chilly, but cold when the wind blew, which was like, oh, all day. I had on a fleece pullover and jeans, and as you saw from the earlier pics, Cuddlebug was in jeans and hoodie. It was still cold though. I had packed for a cool day, but not cold. Oh well we made due. We sat at the Grandstand bus stop, bright and early, freezing our tushies off. Ahhh, it was relief to get on the bus. Then we rode to Animal Kingdom. AT Animal Kingdom we went though bag check and lined up at the gates. The crowed was not so bad…I have a pic. So the gates opened and around the island we went, until we hit the ropes. I groaned, we had made rope drop. Okay, yes, it was exciting and fun, but it wasn’t fun being crowded and more crowded into this huddled mass (great for wind protection I guess). I am only 4’10” so when I can’t see around me, I am uncomfortable.

So the rope drops and we take off. We head for the safari. It was funny to see the CMs lined up waiting for us. I imagine from their perspective, they were groaning at the mass coming towards them. We, of course, moved through the safari quickly, and got on board. My only complaint is that while our guide was informative, he moved through everything quite quickly. I have never been on a truck that has moved that fast. After that we headed to Asia, so the hubster could ride Expedition Everest.

We headed towards Asia, stopping for a few lush pics of the foliage and the “Tree of Life.” We got into Asia and I stop to use the restroom. When I came out of the restroom, OMG! Now I had the hurried mass running towards me. I asked the hubster “Where did this crowd come from?” We move over to Everest, where the hubster rode it twice. I would have, but after his first ride he told me it was really cold while riding. The wind was already hitting me, so he rode again and I moved into a corner of the gift shop. Cuddlebug, also found dirt to play in, and I really wasn’t too find of that. I don’t mind her getting dirty, it happens, but after you’ve brushed dirt off her pants for the 147th time, that’s when you say “No more.”

After Asia, we headed to Dinoland USA. No fast passes were being given for Primeval Whirl, so we child swapped. Now what is it about this ride, why does it break down so often? Just as I am about to get to the loading queue, the side I am on stops and we have to move over to the other side and end up in the back of the line. Ugh. So I wait and wait, and finally, I get on. Had a great time making a video of the ride on my digital camera (I recorded the whole ride). After that the husbter rode, and I took Cuddlebug on the dinosaur Dumbo-like ride (the name escapes me). We then took Cuddlebug to the Boneyeard to play and then headed back to Asia, to Yak & Yeti for lunch.

Lunch was great of course. We had a great server, who even whipped up a more “American” concoction cocktail-like sauce for his shrimp, for his steak and shrimp dish. I had the Beef & Broccoli. Now I should note that while we were in Dinoland, the crowds grew (my Dinoland pic only shows a small section), but it was very hard to move around. We decided to leave the park, but first the hubster braved going back over to the Everest gift shop to get Cuddlebug a small Yeti – she does a great impersonation.

We decided to take a bus from AK over to DHS. Big mistake! We arrived at DHS and it was packed. Tower of Terror had a 110 minute wait. Don’t know what the wait was for RNRC, but the hubster got in the single rider line and it took him an hour to return. We then went on and tried to do more stuff, but at this point people were already sitting for the parade, and by the time we made it over to The Great Movie Ride, the parade started. I couldn’t deal with the crowds, or a long wait in line with the potential for Cuddlebug to act up. I also could not see a thing or where I was going, no landmarks, no shops. Could not tell what was what. People would just walk right in front of me or cut me off, and before I lost it, I just told the hubster that I wanted to go back to the resort. So we decided to head back…only one problem, the parade was going, but somehow we made it straight out to the exit.

We arrived back the resort, and rested. We walked around SSR (I forgot to grab the camera), and went up to Community Hall. I should have had my camera, but Cuddlebug decided to go for the goth look and stick a black marker in her mouth while coloring. Black spit everywhere, and her mouth and tongue totally black. Got her washed off, and then went to look at the models for AKV and BLT. After that back to our room to get ready for dinner (I posted pics).

We had dinner at Raglan Road, which was good and entertaining. The live music was going and from time to time the Irish dancer would appear. I had the Chicken Jus and the hubster had Fish-n-Chips. The hubster also got a beer sampler, and Cuddlebug had Mac-n-cheese. For dessert the hubster had the Crème Brulee tart and I had the Bread and Butter Pudding. I couldn’t finish it, I only ate like ¼ of it, I was so stuffed. I am most thankful that Cuddlebug was so good at dinner. We had dinner at Fultons the other night, and well, she was being a 21 month old. We eat out once a week, so she’s been exposed to eating out since birth, but at Fulton’s you would have thought that we never let her out.

After dinner we shopped. Picked up some ceramic coasters at World of Disney, a stuffed Minnie for Cuddlebug. At Basin, some gifts for family. At Goofy’s Candy company, a dipped and covered rice krispy treat and some candy. We got back on the bus, arrived back “home”, and Cuddlebug is out cold.

We may have to revise our plans and go back to MK in the morning as planned. After our lunch at Kona, come back to SSR and head back to MK at night when the crowd dies down. A guy on the bus tonight said that Epcot was just as bad. Sorin’ showed a 2 hour wait, but he estimated 2.5-3 in reality.

Off to bed, again.

[liznboys]

Another money shot:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/simba20/044.jpg


SO cute! :goodvibes

Hope you're having a good time today!

[LvsTnk]

Really enjoying the trip report and pix..brings back great memories of when mine were little and trips were all about them!!

Now they still love WDW and get such a kick out of pictures and videos of themselves having a blast at 1.5 and 4, my youngest wasnt even born yet .

Keep on having a great time and thank you again for your report!!

[kaysmommie]

Love reading your report and your DD is so cute! We are staying at SSR next month and your helping me look forward to it a bit more. We were hoping for AKLV or BLT. Your location is really good too.

[simba20]

For us, this am at MK wasn;t bad. We headed to Space Mountain first, but it was down. Park opened at 7, we arrived at SM at 7:45 and it was shut down. Got Fastpassess to come back to it, and headed over to BTMR. We walked across Fantasyland only to reach Liberty Square and find that Frontierland wasn't open yet. Say huh?

Haunted Mansion was so we rode it, got on immediately, and when we came out, there was already a 20 minute wait for BTMR. We hung out there for awhile and rode it over and over (the wait was not really a wait, but more like bottlenecks in the line). I even videotaped the ride. Cool!

We switched off for Splash Moutnian and then I walked around the rest of the morning, literally freezing my tush off as it was wet. Pretty cool though, I sat in the very front of the log.

We did some stuff in Adventureland, and watched Captain Jack Sparrow entertain for a bit. I had the famed "Dole Whip." we then left for our luch at Kona.

More later on, I'm going to go rest with Cuddlebug, the bus ride home does it to her everytime.

[5forDiz]

Great TR !! Hope the weather warms up for you too but you're at WDW so it's all good :thumbsup2

You're little one is absolutely adorable :goodvibes


:)
~Laura

[abk96]

That trip was not for them - it was for the memories that *we* will hold in our hearts.



You are exactly right. Now I'm choked up.

Thanks for the updates on your trip simba20. I'm enjoying reading it.:thumbsup2

[Cyndibear]

So nice to hear that you are having a fun time. You have a beautiful daughter!! She will remember the trip with all the wonderful photo's you are getting. Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip, I am enjoying the report and photo's

Cyndi

[ccigliano]

Enjoying your trip report and pictures of your Cuddlebug - she is adorable. Hope it warms up soon. It's gonna be 55° in NY tomorrow so you should warming too.

[simba20]

Hi guys,

Justa quick update before bed. We went to MK this a.m., left and ate luch at the Poly, came back to SSR, and then went back to MK at 8. Just got back a few minutes ago. Alning, with Cuddlebug, I am loving the Disney transpotation busses, they put Cuddlebug to sleep everytime.

Tonight was spent in Tomorrowland, doing Space Mtn over and over. We got Fastpasses this am and along with Child Swap passes, we just kept riding. Better than the 90 minute standby wait. Saw Wishes while riding the TTA and got off and caught Buzz Lightyear Spin at a great tiem with 20 minutes wait. After Wishes, peopel were running towards all the rides, and when we got off Buzz Lightyear the line was quite long. We went back to Spacve Mtn to use another set of Child Swap passes, and then looked at he clock, it was 11:17 so we headed home......via through the Spectromagic parade. After a small bottle after getting on the bus, Cuddlebug was out.

Some highlights from the day:
-- MK was at capacity, over 70,000 we heard. While riding the monorail back to NK to get on the bus back to SSR we heard that they weren't letting people back in, or slowing the entrance down...not sure how that went/worked we were heading back to SSR.
-- Also while ont he monorail we noticed that [B]BLT[B] was getting the "punch list" done. Saw workers in a "Grand Villa" spackling and painting and the walkway over to CR is being enclosed in frosted glass.
-- They are working on the entrance to THV, soine pillars and such that mimic SSR entrance (but smaller).
-- On our visit to AKL the other night, we stood on a deck and saw view of Kidani. Has that erie feelign like the "ghost town" on the unfinsihed Pop Century. The parking lot for AKL connects to AKV (we drove around a bit)
-- Tomorrow we will have Grandpa visiting from his section of FL. Got him a parking pass for SSR. Likely have to cancel lunch at Coral reef, but we hardly see him so it's worth it.

Well off to do some last minute things before bed. Undecided as to what we will do tomorrow. If I could I'd visit nothing BUT MK, but other parks becon. We are already planning next year's trip (would love to stay longer than 5 days). Trying to decide between WLV or AKV for next year (but I do love SSR).

[kikiq]

Thank you for another wonderful day at WDW ;) I think next year you should stay at AKV, oh how wonderful would that be with your little one.

[kamikazecat]

Thanks for another update. I am glad you were able to avoid the crowds and have a good time today. :)

[simba20]

Sorry for all ofthe typos in the previous post, as you can see it was after midnight and I wasd tired.

Today we are off to either DHS or EPCOT (haven't decided yet) and then back to SSR to see if Grandpa has arrived around 1 or 2. Don't know how the day will go.

P.S. What is the point of having a snooze feature on your cell phone allarm clock if you have to set the time for snooze agter the alarm goes off? How the heck am I supposed to do that when I am not quite awake and half asleep (the in room alarm clock works we just use the phone for backup)?

[Tara]

I really love people who ask "How young is too young to go to Disney?" We have family who wonder why we bring her, when she won't remember it, but in reality she gets a lot of of being here and having a good time.

I never quite get this question. So she won't remember it...does that stop people from having Christmas presents for their children until they're old enough to remember them? I don't think so!

Sounds like you're having a great time - enjoy what's left and keep making those memories - even if your daughter won't remember, you will and parents deserve memories, too!

[Joan S.]

Hi, LOVING your TR!! Your DD is BEAUTIFUL!! Enjoy,every year is so different as your children "grow up" going to WDW as mine have. My 3 children are now 24,21 and 15. But their first trips were at 2 years-my DD weat to DL and WDW when she was 2. And my DS's were 10 months and 8 months for their first trips. And I remember it ALL!! And guess what?? We are still going to WDW!! Now they love it for the food,shopping and relaxation and that fact that Mom and Dad still pay!! ;) Joan

[6mouselovers]

love your report!!!!! your daughter is beautiful, and will love looking back at the pix. and video. we lived down there for a little when 2 of my kids were very small and have been there 4-5 times per year starting when some were just 6 weeks. they each have their own "disney" albums and my 4 year old (my fourth) looks at his almost daily before bed! it is all what your family makes of it, and it sounds like you make the most, ENJOY!!!!!!!!!

[simba20]

Hi guys,

I seem to have fallen off the face of the Earth.

Our last full day at WDW started off by arriving at DHS at rope drop so that the hubster had a chance of riding RNRC and TOT without a long wait. The rope dropped and we were off, racing down Sunset, as the crowd was headed to the aforementioned rides. The hubster went straight to RNRC whiel I stood in line and got hima FastPass for TOT. I guess I was in line longer than I thought, because the hubster got in line for RNRC and got a child swap pass and then went through a second time with the CS pass (as I would never ride this). So I got him the FP for TOT and waited, and waited, and waited.......as I was waiting I was looking at the DHS map and times guide for what to do next and Disney Playhouse caught my eye. I remembered that I wanted to take Cuddlebug to see this, so I texted the hubster (gotta love text messaging in line) to see where he was in line, and if it was okay for us to go on over to the Disney Playhouse. He texted back it was okay,a nd that he was about tot get on, so I texted back directions and told him to meet us there.

I figured the line for the show would be long, but it wasn't. Cuddlebug and I waited 10 minutes and they started to let us in. The hubster texted that he was headed our way, so I sttod up to let him see where we were in the theatre. Now, on with the show. Sadly, Cuddlebug does not know the Disney characters too well. She's into Sesame Street and Barney, however she was enthralled by the show. The part where bubbles were released was her fav, and she cried for for bubbles. All in all, a good, cute, great show and it kept her entertained the whole time.

I told the hubster that I had gotten his FP for TOT, but we started discussing lunch. While waiting on Suset for rope drop, I had called Dinsye Dining to cancel our TS lunch ressie for The Coral Reef over at Epcot. Grandpa and Grandma were on there way from Tallhassee, and we figured that they would arrive around the time of our ressie (1:40) so we decided to cancel. Well, I was just thinking of grabbing a CS at DHS, but the hubster asked if I wnated to head over to Epcot anyway (it was around 11 a.m.) and see if we could find somewhere to use our last TS credit.

We jumped on a bus over to Epcot and decided just to try Coral Reef first. Wouldn;t ya know, they only had a 25 minute wait, so we got to have our CR lunch afterall. I know we were oddballs, not ordering seafodd at CR, but the hubster had the steak and I had the chicken. Cuddlebug had grilled chicken as well. I topped it off with the chocolate wave and the hubster asked for the make your own sundae. We were going to try to do the Nemo ride, but figured we'd better head to the resort.

Perfect timing, on our way in to the resort, who should we see getting hassled (just kidding) at the guard gate, but Grandma and Grandpa. We had told them when they arrived to meet us at the Carraige House, so we stayed ont he bus and got off at the Springs. By this time, G&G were sitting on benches near the pool. We all headed back to our room.

After a while Grandma wanted somethign to eat, and we were still making plans (as we only had the nighttime to go to a park if we wanted) so we were weighing pros and cons. We headed up to Artists Pallete so G&G could get a quick bite. While at AP, I realized I had an online quiz for grad school due by 6 p.m. so whatever we decided to do, I had to take my quiz first (it was around 3). We came back, where Cuddlebug showed off for G&G, and I took my quiz (did I mention I had not read the chapers I needed, so I had to look everything up as I went along with only an hour time limit). Got done with the quiz and reloaded the diaper bag, and off we went to my favorite park --- MK (I seriously could spend everyday of my vacation there).

We arrived at MK, where just like the day before, they had a van at the entrance to the bus area controlling traffic. We overheard the bus driver say something about being at capacity, so when we got off the bus, I asked the driver if the park was at capacity. She explained that it had been at 3 p.m. but that it was lightening up (it was close to 5 by this time). I told her that they day before while we left MK to have lunch at the Poly, we had heard about the park being closed the day before. She explained to me that they have three levels of admittance to the park, and it was likely that they had reached "red light" the day before (no one admiited as the park had reached capacity). She said that even though there was a huge crowd earlier in the day, they had only gone to "yellow light" (resort guests only). "Green light" is resort and day guests admitted.

So we headed to Frontierland, as the night before when the hubster and I went back we had stayed in Tomorrowland. The line for BTMR and SplashM were 80 minutes each, so I made the call that we should ride Splash so that we'd dry off as we walked around the park. It was decided that G&G and I would ride and the hubster would stay with Cuddlebug. Well the estimated time was so off for the stand-by line. It took us two hours to get through the queue, so just as we were about to board I complained and got two CS passes. As soon as the three of us got through the ride, the hubster and I rode and of course with the FP/CS it was a walk-on ride so we did it again. We ended up not getting the least bit wet.

Meanwhile while the hubster had waited for us for 2 hours to ride Splash, he worked the system to get multiple CS passes for BTMR (we figured out the system). He had also gotten us FPs for BTMR so we were aqble to ride multiple times in multiple combos, except for Grandma who knew that she didn't want to ride it.

After our stay in Frontierland, we decided to do something Cuddlebug could do, so there were brief stopovers at Haunted Mansion, It's a Small World,a nd Mad Hatter's Tea Party. Then we went back over to Tomorrowland for Space Mountian.

As I stood in line with Cuddlebug to get a CS pass, this British guy walks up to me and says, "Are you going to be in the park much longer?" I replied "Yes" and out of his pocket comes a handful of FPs that he and his group had collected throughout the day. Alone I had 10 FPs for SpasceM. So I got out of line, found the hubster and G&G, and we rode in multiple combos again. The hubster has managed while I was in the back of the FP/CS line to walk up and get a CS pass and got Grandpa to ask for one as well, so we used all but 4 of out free FPs I had received (we decided to cut the evening short). Just as we rode SpaceM for the final time, we foudn out the Joey Fantone and the guy who played Carlton on "fresh Prince" were in the park and later foudn out that they rode SpaceM just ahead of us on one of our rounds. The hubster asked what ride I wanted to do last,a nd we headed back over to BTMR, as it is such a different ride/experience to do at night. My gifted FP pack included, FP for BTMR, plus we still had our Fp from ealier in the day (refer to the 2 hour wait), so before we left Tomorrowland, I walked into the end of the stand-by line ofr SpaceM and gave away the last 4 FPs I had. At forst some refused, and told me that the window had passed when they saw them, but then I explained that FP could be used all day. Shocked and astonsihed, I am glad to have made someone's night!

We headed back over to BTMR and I did the same thing on our last ride witht he last 3 FPs I had for BTMR, except I gave them away just as I boarded the train. There was a group of three teens behind me and I leaned out and asked one of they wanted to ride it again. The guy said yes,a nd I handed him the last 3 Fps I had. He was thankful and said that I was "So awesome for doing this" and then showed his friends. So as my train pulled away, they were screaming out thank you's. I shot back a thumbs-up and enjoyed riding BTMR, again, in the dark, with an amzing view of the castle at night.

We left MK later than we did the night before, and arrived back at the resort at 1 a.m. Needing to pull out the couch for G&G and wake up and pack in the morning.

More pics soon, and our last half-day report to come soon., Sorry I fell off the face of the earth. I am slowly reacclimating to "civilization" and alreay planning our next trip. The question is do we want a full week at Spring Break again or do we want to do a longer trip and use all of our use year points for a stay in June of next year????? To be decided later on. Of course I told the hubster to decide soonish, as I can book next year's trip for SB next month at AKV, our home resort.

[dredick]

WOW..great luck with the FP's..happy to hear the crowds died down a little =)

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[simba20]

No, but I think TGM or some crowd predictor website should hire me. Aside from that one afternoon where we walked into a SLAMMED DHS, every park I picked everyday after that was not so bothersome and at perfect crowd levels. Of course it also helped that we employed the strategy of leaving in early afternoon and coming back later in the day or visiting another park later in the day.

The only chace we ever have to go for a longer time than SB, would be int he summer. Of course you have huge crowds then as well, so I told the hubster that staying longer than 5 days would be a neccessity if he really wanted to get anything out of it and we'd have to employ the "leave and come back" strategy if we wanted to stay sane.