Doing Disney Grandma Style! Our 6 day adventure! new ptr link up 1/17 ! PG.15

[dddisrunner]

WELCOME! For all of you new to a dddisrunner trip report, HELLO and welcome aboard! This was a special trip, we were going to experience many things for the first time including a trip with our kids grandmothers! My name is Diane, I am a health and physical education teacher, loving wife to my husband Bryan of 11 years and mother to our 2 boys, Matthew 9 1/2 and Eric who turned 8 on this trip!

This trip was a surprise for the boys! We bought into DVC in the summer of 2008 and had last been to the world just this past summer! We were so excited to go during the fall and hoping for GREAT weather!

A little background for this trip...our town trick or treats on 10/30 instead of 10/31, it's a long story but it worked out PERFECTLY for us and this trip! I packed completely undetected and was quite relieved when the kids finally went to bed on 10/30. Bryan and I finished up all the last minute packing and loaded all the suitcases in the car. Bryan's mom had spend the night hat our house so she was already with us and ready to go; she will be referred to as Grandma during this report and my mom will be called GaGa!

I was too excited to sleep but eventually drifted off. At a very early 4:45am the alarm went off and we hopped out of bed and quickly got dressed and ready. My mom "GaGa" arrived at 5:00am and it was time to wake the boys and reveal the surprise!

Here is a video of the surprise! There was no "woo hoo" moment but Eric's reaction was PRICELESS! The video is about 2 minutes long but it is worth it!



Here are some early waking moment pictures!







The whole thing was so hilarious because Eric really thought we were lying! We ventured down to my bedroom to show him the surprise birthday gift we had for him on our bed! We had goofy set up with his ipod and a birthday card!



When he finally realized that we weren't lying and he saw the magical express stickers on the luggage he was EXCITED!





Everyone was EXCITED! We got the boys dressed and we were on our way to Philadelphia by 5:30am!! We arrived at the airport parked the car and I typed our parking section into my phone so we wouldn't forget where we parked! (remember that).

We checked in and made our way to our gate!

happy people waiting to head to sunny Disney World!





Our moms were THRILLED to be heading to WDW to see what all the fuss was about! My mom had never been to Disney without it being a band trip, as she used to do choreography for the local high school bandfront! Bryan's mom hadn't been since Eric was 5 months old and ALOT had changed!

We finally boarded the plane and we were surprised to see the flight attendants handing out candy! We forgot it was Halloween! The plane was even decorated!



We were also offered 1 free alcholic drink because it was a holiday! WOO HOO, you gotta love Southwest!!

We finally arrived in BEAUTIFUL, SUNNY FLORIDA!!! We made our way to the Magical Express and were SO HAPPY to finally be there!



The system is new now, we didn't have to go to the counter and check in, we went right to a podium and they put us in a line immediately!





We were told to get on line 4 as we were headed to the new Bay Lake Tower!!!



We were told to board after about 2 minutes and the bus was PACKED!! We were so happy to be headed to our happy place!





Grandma and Gaga experiencing Magical Express for the first time!



We were off! The bus driver came on and told us that the Polynesian was first, then Grand Floridian, then Wilderness Lodge THEN the Contemporary! Friends of ours (Lesley and Tim) had told us that they got off at the Poly and hopped the monorail to the Contemporary. I thought that was a BRILLIANT idea considering how full the bus was, well......................................it didn't work out so well for us! We caught a monorail right away but it stopped for 15 minutes at the Grand Floridian and about 10 minutes at the Magic Kingdom! UGHHHHHH! I just wanted to get checked in and start our vacation!!! turns out we arrived at the same time as the Magical Express bus! As it turned out I made an even BIGGER mistake when I actually walked al the way over to Bay lake Tower to check in! The check in is at the Contemporary and I did not know that! I felt VERY unprepared for this trip and that just proved it! FINALLY, I walked BACK over to the CR and checked us in! I requested a high floor and we booked a lake view! Our room was ready but our moms was not! We were on the 9th floor! WOO HOO!


CONTINUED IN THE NEXT POST!






Trip Report Links!

Day 1...you are here
Awesome holiday video!http://disboards.com/showthread.php?...1#post34246567
Day 2 part 1 DHS morning! http://disboards.com/showthread.php?...1#post34255267
Day 2 complete MNSSHP! http://disboards.com/showthread.php?...1#post34286167
Day 3 Eric's birthday part 1! http://disboards.com/showthread.php?...1#post34329906
Day 3 the end! http://disboards.com/showthread.php?...1#post34370532
DAY 4 complete! http://disboards.com/showthread.php?...1#post34433485
DAY 5 complete, starts here!http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325495&page=12
DAY 6 complete! http://disboards.com/showthread.php?...1#post34565560
Christmas trip to NYC! http://disboards.com/showthread.php?...1#post34616845

[dddisrunner]

Day 1 continued!

So we finally checked in and dropped off our luggage! I didn't take any pictures because we were all STARVING and dying to go to a park already!!

We were headed to the Animal Kingdom!

Excited people on the bus!





We went in and immediately got something to eat at Pizzafari!



We SHOVELED our yummy food down our throat because it was 2:45 and the park closed at 5pm! That was the one thing that took some getting used to, when we go in the summer all the parks are open late but they were all closing early during our stay!

After lunch Bryan ran to fastpass Everest and said he would meet us at Dinosaur!



He actually caught back up with us before we got there!





Here we are on the ride! So fun! It was GREAT to hear my mom and Bryan's mom yell and laugh! We are in the 3rd and 4th rows!



Bryan and Eric were the only ones riding Everest on this day so the rest of us strolled over to meet up with them!



Not this trip for me!





Man was it HOT on this day...not too far off from summer temps! It was 91 we found out later! What a change from the 50 degree Jersey weather!!

I was also STUNNED by the lack of crowds, we had NEVER seen the Animal Kingdom like this! Look at the stand by wait for EE!





My happy boy after an encounter with the Yeti!



We made our way over to the safari next! Again, NO LINE!!! I won't bore you with a ton of pics!







Matthew and Grandma on their 2 week trek!





Next up was It's Tough to be a Bug!



Happy bugs!





At this point we were getting tired, so it was time to head out and say goodbye to the AK for this trip!



Back at Bay lake Tower, we got our swimsuits on and decided to hit the pool!



CONTINUED IN THE NEXT POST!

[dddisrunner]

The end of Day 1!


We went up to our room and changed and took some pictures!

The long sleek looking hallways!



Our room #



we were on the outside of the building, facing the Magic Kingdom and Bay Lake! Honestly, I couldn't believe our view wasn't conseidered a MK view, it was PERFECT and BEAUTIFUL! We had a full on view of the castle! Here is the proof!



That was looking to the left and this was looking to the right!



Bay lake Tower is GORGEOUS, the pictures don't do it justice. Everything is so sleek and modern. It is all so new in fact, I don't think our sofa bed was EVER used!

We decided to hit the pool!







A view of the inner circle from the pool!



Bryan enjoying a beverage and soaking up the atmosphere!



My Pina Colava! AWESOME!



They have this GREAT splash area for kids too!









A beautiful view of Bay Lake!



It was getting late and we were all EXHAUSTED after being up since 4:45am so we went back up to the room, showered and went over to the Contempo Cafe in the Contemporary for a quick dinner and then went to bed rather quickly, happy and feeling blessed to be back at the greatest place in the world!!!



Coming up next!

Grandma's ride Toy Story
Pirate's League and
MNNSHP!!!!

[wigdoutdismom]

I'm in!

[wigdoutdismom]

OK, just read it and am cracking up at Eric..... "you're lying" I can't believe how deserted AK was. A 10 min stand by for EE???? Wow! Looks like you were off to a great start!

[Trentmom]

Hey Diane!!

So glad you started!!!

Now going back to read

[timandlesley]

OH MY GOSH DIANE, RECORD TIME!!! You just got home YESTERDAY!!!! You never cease to amaze me : ) GREAT update. LOVED LOVED LOVED the surprise video- Luke and Lauren were dying laughing every time Eric said "you're lying". So sorry the monorail plan backfired on you and I should have warned you about the check in - so sorry. Looks like after that you guys are off to a good start though. I had that same drink poolside, great minds........ Can't wait for more!
Lesley

[tmkinney]

Love it! Great start.... Too funny Eric saying your were lying... BLT looks gorgeous! Wasn't the low crowds great?! Can't wait for more!!

[Trentmom]

That video was hilarious



The grandmoms look so happy to be there. I bet it was a blast experiencing Disney with almost newbies


BLT looks amazing

[Sooze]

Geesh, lady... you just got home! Have you even unpacked the suitcases yet?!?


Not that I'm complaining! I've been so excited to hear about your trip!

That video is AWESOME! I love how they both just rolled over and pulled the covers back up. "You're LYING!!" Great moment.. thank you for sharing!

Love the special holiday treats on the plane.

Sounds like the new check in process for ME is more streamlined... did you like the new way better?

Too bad you guys had to cram stuff in at AK..but luckily the crowds were helpful! Did you catch Nemo or FotLK?! Not sure if your family is a "show" kinda group!

Thanks for getting on this so UBER quickly! You and Lesley are so inspiring!

[shannon47142]

signing up.... going back to read all about it!!!

[shannon47142]

fun video!! looks like a great first day for all

[pmama]

So glad you found time to start your TR already! Looks like a fabulous first day. Your mothers look like they are having such a good time. It was very nice of you to take them along.

[H20DogsNDisney]

I can't wait for more!

[vamassey1]

I'm in! I'm going back to read now.