Laughter, Tears & Screams- Two Aussies in WDW! New - 6/10 - The End!! - The DIS Discussion Forums

AussieAngel · 03-01-2009, 01:28 AM

Well, we're back!!!

Actually, we've been back for almost a month now... I've just taken a little while to get started on my trip report! But I'm here now, and rearing to go!

We had a fantastically fun adventure at Disney World from January 8th to the 20th. 12 great nights!! We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge, and of course we had some ups and downs on our trip (hence the "tears" part in the title!), but mostly, we had a blast. And I can't wait to tell you all about it!

So yes, we're Australian. We travelled a long way to Disney!! Because it's such a long way to go, we wanted to visit some other places in the US as well, to make the most of our big airfares! I'll tell you where we went in the next post...

First, I'd better explain who "we" are! There's me, Julie. I'm 28, and I'm a teacher. I'm the planner! I think planning a trip is nearly as much fun as actually being there!! I know, weird!!

Then there's Conan, my lovely DH. He's 29, a Business Analyist, and definitely not a planner! He's very laid-back and would happily wake up at Disney World and decide what to do that day. But alas, he's married to me, so of course we'd known for 6 months what each day would bring!

So you might remember us from my last trip report in 2006. We had a fabulous 7 week adventure around the USA, where we stopped at Disney World for 7 nights. It was truly a trip of a lifetime and we just loved the US (and Disney World, of course!) and knew we wanted to go back.

Towards the end of our 7 week trip, Conan popped the question and proposed while we were visting Niagara Falls. Wow!!

So that's about where the last trip left us. If you want to read more about our last trip, follow the link in my signature. Since then, we got married... And had a beautiful honeymoon in Hawaii, in January 2008.

So after our honeymoon, we decided to save up and have one more big fun USA adventure before we settle down and have babies and all that sensible stuff! We (okay, I) spent a lot of last year planning our trip to the USA, and of course, to Disney World! Woohoooooooo!! Back to Mickey we go!!

I'd better also introduce you to our lovely old cat, Annie. She's 14 and went to Conan's parent's house for a vacation while we went to the US. Poor Annie! She's our baby. We spoil her silly and miss her terribly whenever we go away somewhere. Saying goodbye to Annie for 4 weeks was the one part of our trip I wasn't looking forward to! She enjoys eating, playing in the lavender bushes, and sleeping on Conan's head...

Up next... Our travel plans!!

AussieAngel · 03-01-2009, 02:09 AM

So where were we off to then!? Here's our travel plans!

* December 28th - January 2nd - New York!

We went to New York for 5 nights in 2006, and fell in love with the city. It had such an exciting, lively vibe which we just loved. As soon as we left, we both wanted to go back!!

Our 1 year wedding anniversary was on December 29th, so we wanted to organise something special to celebrate that. Plus, I just had to do the Sex and the City tour. Heee. And also of course, New Years Eve!!! To celebrate New Years Eve in New York was always a dream of mine! What did we end up doing?! I'll tell you soon!

* January 2nd - 5th - Miami!

Miami was always on our list, but we didn't make it there in 2006. We fancied the beaches and the shops and the cruisiness of it all!

* January 5th - 8th - Key West!

We were really looking forward to visiting Key West for the first time. It looked so pretty and relaxing! Just what we would need before we headed to...

* January 8th - 20th - Disney World!!

Yayyyyy!! We were both so excited to head back to Disney World - although admittedly, I was more excited. Hee. We contemplated where to stay for a while - first we wanted to stay at the Polynesian, but just couldn't justify spending that much money for 12 nights. We considered Port Orleans Riverside for a while, before finally deciding on the Wilderness Lodge!!

I loved the look of the Wilderness Lodge and thought it looked so beautiful from photos here on the DIS. Plus, it looked so homey and relaxing! We had stayed at Pop in 2006, and although we loved it and had lots of fun, I wouldn't call it the most relaxing resort ever!

So we booked our package - 12 nights at Wilderness Lodge with a Woods View, and a 12 day Park Hopper pass. Woohoo! We also decided to splurge and add Deluxe Dining onto our package. After all, this was our last big trip for a while, so why not go all out!? Disney World is so far away, we wanted to try as many restaurants we could in our time there!

We also really wanted to visit Universal Studios and Seaworld while we were in Orlando, as well as visiting the Kennedy Space Center. That was Conan's thing really - if you read my last trip report, you'll know we had a disasterous day there last time so we really wanted to go back and do KSC again properly!

And so, our months and months of planning on the DIS boards began! Waiting for January hours to be released, making ADR's, changing ADR's, making "To Do" lists, buying countless Disney shirts on eBay... all that great stuff which comes with planning a trip to Disney!!

Then... finally... the day had arrived to fly out of Melbourne and head to New York! Wow! Those last few weeks really sneak up on you, don't they!? I felt organised, excited, nervous, and sad all at once. Sad because we had to drop Annie off at Conan's parents and say goodbye. Oh no! But mostly, we were really, really excited to finally head off on our big trip, after so long planning and organising!!

Next up... a mini report on our time in New York!

*KeepMovingForward* · 03-01-2009, 06:36 AM

I'm in! I'm loving your food report, so couldn't wait to jump over to the actual trip report.

msce2 · 03-01-2009, 07:09 AM

I can't wait to hear about all your adventures. Your cat is so adorable!! It is so cute that she sleeps like that and that your hubby lets her!

Did you do a separate dining review?

jackdis · 03-01-2009, 07:14 AM

I'm here....from Dawn's Christmas report. Great start! I'm going to catch up on your old one right now.
We don't live far from NYC....can't wait to hear about the NYC part of your trip!!! Greatest City in the World!!!

natsiswdw · 03-01-2009, 07:49 AM

So lucky!!!! I can't wait to read your report!!!

jackdis · 03-01-2009, 07:57 AM

Just want to tell you how much I am enjoying your First TImers report. (Obviously, I can't post on that thread anymore.) It is a GREAT report!!!!

Love the pic of your husband (then boyfriend) in the casino in Vega. Great shot, especially because I don't think you're supposed to take pics in casinos. Don't worry, I won't tell...... :-))

We have stayed at the POP many times and finally stayed at the POLY for the first time last summer. I just read your Space Center adventure. You poor things!!!

Got to go back. 20 more pages to read! Great report!

trixiequilts · 03-01-2009, 08:56 AM

Yay! Another Aussie Adventure!!

I can't wait to hear all about all the laughter and screams...the tears will make me sad, but I'll try to deal with it.

jackdis · 03-01-2009, 09:46 AM

OK...now you really have me wanting to hear more. Just finished your whole other trippie.......more, more, more.....LOL.......can't wait to hear all about this one....

punkin413 · 03-01-2009, 10:03 AM

i'm in! can't wait to hear about new york and of course disney world!

Quote:

Originally Posted by AussieAngel

you look beautiful!!!

by the way, are you guys on opposite schedules from us and are out of school during our winter? just wondering. since you're a teacher i figured that was probably the case. my cousin is a missionary and lives in brazil and they are in their summer right now. i told him that would feel so weird - to have christmas during the summer!

jackdis · 03-01-2009, 10:31 AM

can you post some wedding/hawaii pics? or do you have a trip report about that?

i was married in hawaii.....amazing!! have been there twice. definitely want to go back someday.

punkin413 · 03-01-2009, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackdis

i was married in hawaii.....amazing!! have been there twice. definitely want to go back someday.

we went to oahu when i was 9 and i so wish my parents would've waited about 10 more years to take that trip! i remember it but just bits and pieces. most of all i remember how pretty the water was and that you could actually SWIM in it! living near the atlantic, i'm not very fond of the ocean because i hate going under water and coming up with salt all in my eyes and up my nose. not a pleasant experience! in hawaii the ocean water was so nice. you could actually SEE your feet and go under water without suffering. it's salty but only slightly and it didn't bother me at all. i also remember that everywhere i went people were barefoot.

ever since i saw the episode of jon and kate plus eight where they go swimming with sea turtles, i've been wanting to go back so bad!!!

trixiequilts · 03-01-2009, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by punkin413

we went to oahu when i was 9 and i so wish my parents would've waited about 10 more years to take that trip!

I don't mean to hijack or anything, AA, but Dawn, thanks for saying that!

We went to Hawaii for our honeymoon and DH and I want to go back, but I think we should wait until our girls are in high school...he'd rather go sooner. Although I think the girls would love it now, I'm sure they'll appreciate it more when they're older.

And if we have to fight about it some more (which I don't think we will because we have to save more $$$ before we can go~especially since we want to continue our trip and go to Austrialia

) I'll tell him you said we had to wait.

jackdis · 03-01-2009, 11:44 AM

We were married in Oahu in 2004. Went back with both kids in 2007. Maybe 2010 again???

jpmom97 · 03-01-2009, 11:52 AM

Can't wait to read more!

03-01-2009, 01:28 AM	#1
AussieAngel DIS Veteran Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 1,161	Laughter, Tears & Screams- Two Aussies in WDW! New - 6/10 - The End!! Well, we're back!!! Actually, we've been back for almost a month now... I've just taken a little while to get started on my trip report! But I'm here now, and rearing to go! We had a fantastically fun adventure at Disney World from January 8th to the 20th. 12 great nights!! We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge, and of course we had some ups and downs on our trip (hence the "tears" part in the title!), but mostly, we had a blast. And I can't wait to tell you all about it! So yes, we're Australian. We travelled a long way to Disney!! Because it's such a long way to go, we wanted to visit some other places in the US as well, to make the most of our big airfares! I'll tell you where we went in the next post... First, I'd better explain who "we" are! There's me, Julie. I'm 28, and I'm a teacher. I'm the planner! I think planning a trip is nearly as much fun as actually being there!! I know, weird!! Then there's Conan, my lovely DH. He's 29, a Business Analyist, and definitely not a planner! He's very laid-back and would happily wake up at Disney World and decide what to do that day. But alas, he's married to me, so of course we'd known for 6 months what each day would bring! So you might remember us from my last trip report in 2006. We had a fabulous 7 week adventure around the USA, where we stopped at Disney World for 7 nights. It was truly a trip of a lifetime and we just loved the US (and Disney World, of course!) and knew we wanted to go back. Towards the end of our 7 week trip, Conan popped the question and proposed while we were visting Niagara Falls. Wow!! So that's about where the last trip left us. If you want to read more about our last trip, follow the link in my signature. Since then, we got married... And had a beautiful honeymoon in Hawaii, in January 2008. So after our honeymoon, we decided to save up and have one more big fun USA adventure before we settle down and have babies and all that sensible stuff! We (okay, I) spent a lot of last year planning our trip to the USA, and of course, to Disney World! Woohoooooooo!! Back to Mickey we go!! I'd better also introduce you to our lovely old cat, Annie. She's 14 and went to Conan's parent's house for a vacation while we went to the US. Poor Annie! She's our baby. We spoil her silly and miss her terribly whenever we go away somewhere. Saying goodbye to Annie for 4 weeks was the one part of our trip I wasn't looking forward to! She enjoys eating, playing in the lavender bushes, and sleeping on Conan's head... Up next... Our travel plans!! __________________ January 2009 - Wilderness Lodge, 12 nights September 2006 - Pop Century, 7 nights ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ My 2006 trip report - Two Aussie First-Timers in Disney! My 2009 dining report - Our delicious Disney deluxe dining adventures! My 2009 trip report - Laughter, Tears & Screams - Two Aussies in Disney World! Last edited by AussieAngel; 06-17-2011 at 11:57 AM.

03-01-2009, 02:09 AM	#2
AussieAngel DIS Veteran Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 1,161	So where were we off to then!? Here's our travel plans! * December 28th - January 2nd - New York! We went to New York for 5 nights in 2006, and fell in love with the city. It had such an exciting, lively vibe which we just loved. As soon as we left, we both wanted to go back!! Our 1 year wedding anniversary was on December 29th, so we wanted to organise something special to celebrate that. Plus, I just had to do the Sex and the City tour. Heee. And also of course, New Years Eve!!! To celebrate New Years Eve in New York was always a dream of mine! What did we end up doing?! I'll tell you soon! * January 2nd - 5th - Miami! Miami was always on our list, but we didn't make it there in 2006. We fancied the beaches and the shops and the cruisiness of it all! * January 5th - 8th - Key West! We were really looking forward to visiting Key West for the first time. It looked so pretty and relaxing! Just what we would need before we headed to... * January 8th - 20th - Disney World!! Yayyyyy!! We were both so excited to head back to Disney World - although admittedly, I was more excited. Hee. We contemplated where to stay for a while - first we wanted to stay at the Polynesian, but just couldn't justify spending that much money for 12 nights. We considered Port Orleans Riverside for a while, before finally deciding on the Wilderness Lodge!! I loved the look of the Wilderness Lodge and thought it looked so beautiful from photos here on the DIS. Plus, it looked so homey and relaxing! We had stayed at Pop in 2006, and although we loved it and had lots of fun, I wouldn't call it the most relaxing resort ever! So we booked our package - 12 nights at Wilderness Lodge with a Woods View, and a 12 day Park Hopper pass. Woohoo! We also decided to splurge and add Deluxe Dining onto our package. After all, this was our last big trip for a while, so why not go all out!? Disney World is so far away, we wanted to try as many restaurants we could in our time there! We also really wanted to visit Universal Studios and Seaworld while we were in Orlando, as well as visiting the Kennedy Space Center. That was Conan's thing really - if you read my last trip report, you'll know we had a disasterous day there last time so we really wanted to go back and do KSC again properly! And so, our months and months of planning on the DIS boards began! Waiting for January hours to be released, making ADR's, changing ADR's, making "To Do" lists, buying countless Disney shirts on eBay... all that great stuff which comes with planning a trip to Disney!! Then... finally... the day had arrived to fly out of Melbourne and head to New York! Wow! Those last few weeks really sneak up on you, don't they!? I felt organised, excited, nervous, and sad all at once. Sad because we had to drop Annie off at Conan's parents and say goodbye. Oh no! But mostly, we were really, really excited to finally head off on our big trip, after so long planning and organising!! Next up... a mini report on our time in New York! __________________ January 2009 - Wilderness Lodge, 12 nights September 2006 - Pop Century, 7 nights ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ My 2006 trip report - Two Aussie First-Timers in Disney! My 2009 dining report - Our delicious Disney deluxe dining adventures! My 2009 trip report - Laughter, Tears & Screams - Two Aussies in Disney World!

03-01-2009, 07:09 AM	#4
msce2 DIS Veteran Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: PA Posts: 589	I can't wait to hear about all your adventures. Your cat is so adorable!! It is so cute that she sleeps like that and that your hubby lets her! Did you do a separate dining review? __________________ Me(31) DH(33) DS(11) DD(7) DS(4) AKV - Jan 2011 BLT - June 2010 BCV - May 2009 BCV - May 2003

03-01-2009, 07:14 AM	#5
jackdis DIS Veteran Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: New York Posts: 1,348	I'm here....from Dawn's Christmas report. Great start! I'm going to catch up on your old one right now. We don't live far from NYC....can't wait to hear about the NYC part of your trip!!! Greatest City in the World!!! __________________ I've been BOO'd by PNO4TE Bermuda/NCL Trip Report http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showt...php?p=10939721 1990 WDW Grad Nite 2003 Swan and Dolphin Disney Wonder Aug. 2004 Hawaii June 2005 POFQ April 2006 CBR June-July 2006 POP Aug. 2006 POP February 2007 HawaiiMar.-Apr. 2007 POPJuly NCL Cruise to Bermuda Aug.-Sept. 2007 POP November 2007 POP Feb. 2008 NOLA/Carnival Cruise to Mexico March2008POPMay 2008 RCCL Bahamas/EPCOTAugust 2008 POLY CL Dec. 08/Jan. 09 CBR Feb. 2009 POFQ JULY 2009 POLY CL March 2010 BLT JULY 2010 BLTFeb 2011 1 night at BLT post cruiseJULY 2011 BLT

03-01-2009, 07:49 AM	#6
natsiswdw Mouseketeer Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NC Posts: 117	So lucky!!!! I can't wait to read your report!!! __________________ [img]http://www.********************/timers/tickers/8hijoete4lqlhcws.png[/img]

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03-01-2009, 06:36 AM	#3
KeepMovingForward DIS Veteran Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 5,084	I'm in! I'm loving your food report, so couldn't wait to jump over to the actual trip report.

03-01-2009, 07:57 AM	#7
jackdis DIS Veteran Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: New York Posts: 1,348	Just want to tell you how much I am enjoying your First TImers report. (Obviously, I can't post on that thread anymore.) It is a GREAT report!!!! Love the pic of your husband (then boyfriend) in the casino in Vega. Great shot, especially because I don't think you're supposed to take pics in casinos. Don't worry, I won't tell...... :-)) We have stayed at the POP many times and finally stayed at the POLY for the first time last summer. I just read your Space Center adventure. You poor things!!! Got to go back. 20 more pages to read! Great report! __________________ I've been BOO'd by PNO4TE Bermuda/NCL Trip Report http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showt...php?p=10939721 1990 WDW Grad Nite 2003 Swan and Dolphin Disney Wonder Aug. 2004 Hawaii June 2005 POFQ April 2006 CBR June-July 2006 POP Aug. 2006 POP February 2007 HawaiiMar.-Apr. 2007 POPJuly NCL Cruise to Bermuda Aug.-Sept. 2007 POP November 2007 POP Feb. 2008 NOLA/Carnival Cruise to Mexico March2008POPMay 2008 RCCL Bahamas/EPCOTAugust 2008 POLY CL Dec. 08/Jan. 09 CBR Feb. 2009 POFQ JULY 2009 POLY CL March 2010 BLT JULY 2010 BLTFeb 2011 1 night at BLT post cruiseJULY 2011 BLT

03-01-2009, 08:56 AM	#8
trixiequilts DIS Veteran Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 3,075	Yay! Another Aussie Adventure!! I can't wait to hear all about all the laughter and screams...the tears will make me sad, but I'll try to deal with it. __________________ My Trips: January 2009, October 2010, August 2011, February 2012, December 2012.

03-01-2009, 09:46 AM	#9
jackdis DIS Veteran Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: New York Posts: 1,348	OK...now you really have me wanting to hear more. Just finished your whole other trippie.......more, more, more.....LOL.......can't wait to hear all about this one.... __________________ I've been BOO'd by PNO4TE Bermuda/NCL Trip Report http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showt...php?p=10939721 1990 WDW Grad Nite 2003 Swan and Dolphin Disney Wonder Aug. 2004 Hawaii June 2005 POFQ April 2006 CBR June-July 2006 POP Aug. 2006 POP February 2007 HawaiiMar.-Apr. 2007 POPJuly NCL Cruise to Bermuda Aug.-Sept. 2007 POP November 2007 POP Feb. 2008 NOLA/Carnival Cruise to Mexico March2008POPMay 2008 RCCL Bahamas/EPCOTAugust 2008 POLY CL Dec. 08/Jan. 09 CBR Feb. 2009 POFQ JULY 2009 POLY CL March 2010 BLT JULY 2010 BLTFeb 2011 1 night at BLT post cruiseJULY 2011 BLT

03-01-2009, 10:31 AM	#11
jackdis DIS Veteran Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: New York Posts: 1,348	can you post some wedding/hawaii pics? or do you have a trip report about that? i was married in hawaii.....amazing!! have been there twice. definitely want to go back someday. __________________ I've been BOO'd by PNO4TE Bermuda/NCL Trip Report http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showt...php?p=10939721 1990 WDW Grad Nite 2003 Swan and Dolphin Disney Wonder Aug. 2004 Hawaii June 2005 POFQ April 2006 CBR June-July 2006 POP Aug. 2006 POP February 2007 HawaiiMar.-Apr. 2007 POPJuly NCL Cruise to Bermuda Aug.-Sept. 2007 POP November 2007 POP Feb. 2008 NOLA/Carnival Cruise to Mexico March2008POPMay 2008 RCCL Bahamas/EPCOTAugust 2008 POLY CL Dec. 08/Jan. 09 CBR Feb. 2009 POFQ JULY 2009 POLY CL March 2010 BLT JULY 2010 BLTFeb 2011 1 night at BLT post cruiseJULY 2011 BLT

03-01-2009, 11:44 AM	#14
jackdis DIS Veteran Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: New York Posts: 1,348	We were married in Oahu in 2004. Went back with both kids in 2007. Maybe 2010 again??? __________________ I've been BOO'd by PNO4TE Bermuda/NCL Trip Report http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showt...php?p=10939721 1990 WDW Grad Nite 2003 Swan and Dolphin Disney Wonder Aug. 2004 Hawaii June 2005 POFQ April 2006 CBR June-July 2006 POP Aug. 2006 POP February 2007 HawaiiMar.-Apr. 2007 POPJuly NCL Cruise to Bermuda Aug.-Sept. 2007 POP November 2007 POP Feb. 2008 NOLA/Carnival Cruise to Mexico March2008POPMay 2008 RCCL Bahamas/EPCOTAugust 2008 POLY CL Dec. 08/Jan. 09 CBR Feb. 2009 POFQ JULY 2009 POLY CL March 2010 BLT JULY 2010 BLTFeb 2011 1 night at BLT post cruiseJULY 2011 BLT

03-01-2009, 11:52 AM	#15
jpmom97 DIS Veteran Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: PA Posts: 748	Can't wait to read more! __________________ My January 2013 PTR

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