“They gave us an extra trash basket!” A Surprise Trip 6 day POR. Nov and Dec 2014. Updated 2/8

[ash901]

I haven't finished reading it all, but I had to reply because I can't believe you said BUNKIE!!! I am about 15 minutes from Bunkie! Small world. Now, I can't wait to read the rest. BTW I plan fake trips all the time...

 

[StephanieE]

Just found your report today and am all caught up! I can't wait to read more! My husband and I hadn't taken a vacation in almost 7 years so I feel your pain! We went back to WDW this year and it was a wonderful time!

 

[luvpooh]

I love your trip report and am looking forward to reading more!

 

[jchurch0409]

What a great time at Epcot so far! I got teary eyed when you shared your picture of Spaceship Earth!! I am so glad the surprise went so great and you all made it to dinner!

 

[Anliena]

I love that you were able to keep it a surprise!

 

[Nazran]

Enjoying your trip report! Your family seems so sweet

I love the Character Spot pictures. I think that is such a great character meet, lots of space and you get plenty of time to interact.

Thank you! Compared to the Pixar meet n greet the space is soo much better imo.

Another great update, thanks. Glad you made it to dinner.

Yes, it was so awesome!

I haven't finished reading it all, but I had to reply because I can't believe you said BUNKIE!!! I am about 15 minutes from Bunkie! Small world. Now, I can't wait to read the rest. BTW I plan fake trips all the time...

Haha! Small world!

Just found your report today and am all caught up! I can't wait to read more! My husband and I hadn't taken a vacation in almost 7 years so I feel your pain! We went back to WDW this year and it was a wonderful time!

I know how you feel!

I love your trip report and am looking forward to reading more!

Thank you!

What a great time at Epcot so far! I got teary eyed when you shared your picture of Spaceship Earth!! I am so glad the surprise went so great and you all made it to dinner!

That picture is my current Windows Desktop! I dang near had a wreck when Spaceship Earth came in to view from road.

I love that you were able to keep it a surprise!

Yes and the trip we are planning now is equally cool because I get to include the kids now!

 

[Cando86]

You are a FANTASTIC writer and story teller! I'm so enjoying your report!

The pictures with the characters are great - Mattie and Minnie are adorable!

I love reading first timers' trip reports! Did you start planning your next trip the second you got home ?

Looking forward to more !!

 

[DisneyAndrew]

I am so happy I found your TR! We are planning on going for a week this year around the same time that you went last year (November 29-December 5). So, it's nice to have a real comparison to make.

I do really enjoy your writing style and think it's very fun and easy to follow.

Congratulations to Michael and all of you for his baptism! God is pretty awesome, isn't he?

Anyway, looking forward to reading more. Keep up the good work!

 

[Nazran]

You are a FANTASTIC writer and story teller! I'm so enjoying your report!

The pictures with the characters are great - Mattie and Minnie are adorable!

I love reading first timers' trip reports! Did you start planning your next trip the second you got home ?

Looking forward to more !!

Yeah when Mattie just ran to the characters without fear I knew some great photos were coming. We actually didn't start planning as soon as we got home but I will explain that a little later.

I am so happy I found your TR! We are planning on going for a week this year around the same time that you went last year (November 29-December 5). So, it's nice to have a real comparison to make.

I do really enjoy your writing style and think it's very fun and easy to follow.

Congratulations to Michael and all of you for his baptism! God is pretty awesome, isn't he?

Anyway, looking forward to reading more. Keep up the good work!

Yes, God is good all the time! I am amazed at the amount of responses so far to my trip report. I expected to be talking to myself

 

[Nazran]

Date Night. Dinner and a Test Track

We left off with us pulling the biggest surprise of the trip for both sets of kids! Leslie confided to us while waiting for our table (through tear filled eyes) that on their way back over to Epcot from Art of Animation CJ spoke up and said "This trip is almost perfect" Chad asked him why it wasn't perfect? He said "I wish the B_ _ _ _ _ 's could have come because I want my friends (Michael and Nathan) here with me and Mr B _ _ _ _ loves Disney World!"

Wow...

We had to wait about 10 minutes to get a table. We were escorted down to the front row right by the glass windows. Michael was amazed we would get to see all of the fish in the aquarium. Here is a short video of our spot.

Coral Reef Reviews...

I don't know if you can tell by looking at me but I like to eat. I did a lot of research on restaurants and when I found out we would be in Epcot the first night I waffled back in forth. We were on the regular dining plan so I knew we would have 1 table service credit. I had to balance food reviews I was reading along with kid appeal and Chad and Leslie are meat and potatoes kind of eaters. They don't venture outside their comfort zone. I settled on Coral Reef because I thought the setting would balance out the reviews which at times seem to lean a little to the negative side. I am pleased to say I didn't regret my choice in the least!

In fact as a whole I had only one meal that was just OK.

Honey, We Forgot to Feed the Kids?!

Yep... if you remember the last thing any of us had to eat was at 7AM Cracker Barrel in Lake City Florida... some 11 hours ago. You have seriously got to be having a great time in my family not to mention missing a meal! I think the kids might have ate a few Cheezits in the hotel room before we left. Our server was amazing. Once again at Table Service meals at WDW we never had a bad server. All of them top notch and all of them got great tips from our 10+ tables. We ended up tipping above the 18% every time!

We ordered very quickly. I ordered the pork belly. Jennifer the steak, Michael was stoked he had to order from the adult menu so he ordered the steak too. Nathan and Mattie had the Mac and Cheese and Fries. I am not sure what Chad and Leslie ordered now that I try to remember it. Not too long later our food arrived.

Roasted Pork Belly.

My roasted pork belly was well prepared and seasoned but the title is misleading because when I think of pork belly I was expecting a large hunk of bacon! This was more like a standard close-to-the-skin cut like shoulder or something. No bacon flavor just pork. However the jicama slaw and bbq baked beans were top notch!

Jennifer and Michael Steaks.

(You can tell this is Michael's steak because if it was Jennifer's it would still be moo'ng and a blood horror show!) Jennifer said hers was a decent steak. Michael ate EVERYTHING on his plate with the exception of the asparagus.

Mac and Cheese for Nate and Mattie. Both devoured their food too. I had a bite after Jen said I needed to try it. It was very good!

Who Me?!

We are finishing up our meal and chatting oblivious to all going on around us when another guest came up to me and said. "Excuse me but I think he is trying to get your attention."

"Who?"

He points to the aquarium and a scuba diver is at the window who is waving at me.

He is holding up a sign that says... Happy Birthday! This guy was either swimming by and saw the button or the server relayed some sort of message to get this guy in the tank. (I like to think it was the latter!) I was flabbergasted. I felt totally special and unique. I NEVER make a big deal about my birthday. My parents never made a big deal out of it. I got presents but only 1 party I can remember. So I always tell my wife I'd rather just work on my birthday and come home to a relaxing evening evening at home or grill steaks or something.

He waves, gives me the surfer hang ten sign as you can see, then gets down tot he rocky bottom and starts throwing them up around him like confetti. So. Very. Cool!

Desert? Yes Please!

My kids never ask for desert because they know I will always say something about it costing too much, etc. They were very happy we got to order desert. I ordered the Bailey's and Jack Daniel Mousse dressed up for my birthday. This thing was awesome. Best desert I had at WDW.

Jen ordered... Something... it looked good. The blue crystal sugar was cool.

The kids got ice cream with chocolate or something off the menu that was not a prob to deliver.

Do we look relaxed? I am in vacation mode!

We finished dinner and we had a fastpass for Test Track. I got some more photos of Spaceship Earth. If it looks like I went back to the front of the park I did. We forgot the kids coats in the van but then I remembered we actually left them in room.

We moved back around and before we split up I caught a couple of pics of something I was fascinated by in Epcot YouTube videos.

We then split up. Chad and his boys and me and my boys went to ride Test Track!

I was a bit apprehensive about how my kids would handle it. This was their first theme park ride. I was amazed. They had a blast! We all had a great time in the queue area designing our car. Sadly somethign didn't work right when we got on the ride. Our car was never displayed. Jennifer and Mattie and Leslie and Zane went shopping-exploring.

We met back after test track and casually made our way over to World Showcase to see Illuminations.

More about that in the next post....

 

[heaven2dc]

Loved the surprise! And loved the surprise birthday wish from the diver I actually scheduled this back in Dec 08 for my grandson's 1st visit to WDW (he was 14 mos old) - I got to personalize his menu with pics and two divers came up to our window (we were seated right by the tank) and surprised my daughter and grandson. My daughter tried to take a video but it was hard because she was crying so hard <3 They told me when I arranged this that this was the last time Disney was doing personalized menus & divers so it was def awesome that the diver was there for you!

 

[RockinDisney]

Wow the food looks magnificent!!! I was laughing a little that while at a seafood restaurant, no one ordered seafood. The desserts look AMAZING! What a wonderful and special surprise for both families!!!! So glad the boys liked test track, can't wait to hear what they thought of other rides. Keep with the great report.

 

[RockinDisney]

P.s. Love the vacation mode photo and the diver saying happy birthday day just WOW

 

[jchurch0409]

What an awesome birthday wish from the diver! I am glad they enjoyed TT!

 

[marabusybee]

What a great trip report! Thought I should finally comment

 

[NPRinLA]

A little late to the party, but loving your trip report! You're such a great writer and storyteller. Can't wait for the next update!

 

[Backstage_Gal]

sounds like a great dinner, glad you enjoyed it. Bummer about running back to the front for nothing though. Again, great report!

 

[Nazran]

Loved the surprise! And loved the surprise birthday wish from the diver I actually scheduled this back in Dec 08 for my grandson's 1st visit to WDW (he was 14 mos old) - I got to personalize his menu with pics and two divers came up to our window (we were seated right by the tank) and surprised my daughter and grandson. My daughter tried to take a video but it was hard because she was crying so hard <3 They told me when I arranged this that this was the last time Disney was doing personalized menus & divers so it was def awesome that the diver was there for you!

Wow I had no idea that was an option. Maybe he just happened to be there for some reason and noticed me.

Wow the food looks magnificent!!! I was laughing a little that while at a seafood restaurant, no one ordered seafood. The desserts look AMAZING! What a wonderful and special surprise for both families!!!! So glad the boys liked test track, can't wait to hear what they thought of other rides. Keep with the great report.

P.s. Love the vacation mode photo and the diver saying happy birthday day just WOW

Thanks! Food was good I think Chad ordered a fish meal. Nathan turns out to be quite the little roller coaster fiend as we will all see.

What an awesome birthday wish from the diver! I am glad they enjoyed TT!

Thanks!

What a great trip report! Thought I should finally comment

Thank you and welcome aboard!

A little late to the party, but loving your trip report! You're such a great writer and storyteller. Can't wait for the next update!

Thank you!

sounds like a great dinner, glad you enjoyed it. Bummer about running back to the front for nothing though. Again, great report!

Yeah I did not like making that trip to outside the park. Right before dinner it seemed to be getting down right cold. However the later in the evening it went the wind died down and it was ok with all of the walking around.

 

[cstorm65]

Just found your report and have loved the start. Sounds like a great first meal at Coral Reef. Can't wait to hear more!

 

[Nazran]

Illuminations and Exhaustion Sets In

So after the boys rode test track and we reconnected with Jennifer, Leslie, Mattie, and Zane I told everyone our (my family) plan was to go see Illuminations. Leslie and Chad debated on calling it a night after Test Track. Quite honestly the day (which started at Epcot earlier in the day for them) was getting to them. I was surprised that I was not feeling tired after having slept about 2 hours total in the last 24 hours. I assume I was going on Disney magic by then.

I talked them in to staying for Illuminations. Disney fire works shows were NOT to be missed. Lol me and my vast You Tube experience was telling them that. The truth is... I had read or watched very few videos about Illuminations, and what I did see did not do the actual show justice as it turns out!

We were near the Future World East area close to Test Track. We had about 30 minutes before the show started. We strolled over the bridge by the Odyssey Center and came up to the little bridge with Mexico on the left and the showcase plaza on the right. It was about 8:45 by that time and it was VERY apparent that we would have some trouble getting anywhere close to the showcase and have unobstructed views for the kids. Chad suggested we stay on that bridge because it was elevated over the Lagoon to a degree.

Novice Photographing Fireworks

I love looking at pictures of fireworks. I read up as much as I possibly could about shooting fireworks and before we left I got me a Joby Gorilla Pod. WORTH EVERY PENNY! It really stabilized the camera for the longer exposures I needed.

I set this up on the bridge and set up my camera. Not too much later the narration and started. I am kind of bummed I was more worried about my camera then taking in the moment. World Showcase is beautiful! The lighting is superb. I didn't stop to take the RIGHT kind of photos. None of the kids or the scenery, and what is even more weird is that Jennifer (who shot 5000 camera photos on this trip) was not taking photos at all after dinner.

I hope you enjoy some of the Illuminations pictures I got off.

Right before it started. I like the foreground effect of the kids (JD I believe) playing with glow sticks. Leslie bought tons of these before the trip. Saved a ton of money in LED toys from WDW.

Whoa overexposed!

Very cool show. I will go back and scour YouTube for more in depth video to capture what I missed. Well it was over. No EMH for Epcot. It was closing after Illuminations. We walked back through Epcot with everyone else. I was now getting very tired and my feet were getting fairly sore. At this point Leslie asked me if we planned to go to Walmart for supplies for breakfast as our kids had nothign to eat for breakfast. I apologized but said "Never. Too Tired! Been up since yesterday!" I think she was disappointed because I had told her I would go/drive her to Walmart the first night. To her credit they all drove from Epcot to Walmart, shopped, and drove to Art of Animation.

We on the other hand were tired! I got out of the parking lot of Epcot and Mattie had fallen asleep. Michael and Nathan were quiet too. We pulled in to the parking lot of Port Orleans and I placed Mattie back in her stroller and wheeled her to the room. Up the stairs and parked her beside the bed and she never woke. I got one last photo of the day of Michael walking up to the room.

It was about 10:00PM. We got Mattie undressed, brushed her teeth while she was in bed lol. We got Michael and Nathan showered and in bed. Then Jennifer and I got showered. I think we turned the lights out at 10:45.

The next day was Hollywood Studios and our first full day at the park. I told Jen we would need to be up by 7a to make park opening by 9a. I was very glad that we planned to come back to the hotel during the next day for a break after today.

I set my alarm for 7am... would we make rope drop? Next post!