Hi! Thanks for visiting my trip report! This is my first ever trip report so take it easy on me 
Cast of Characters:
DH (33) Race Car fanatic and thrill seeker extraordinare
-picture pending his approval,
which I doubt he will approve of HA HA
Me (30) Midwestern gal and scaredey cat of any kind of ride that drops, loops, spins, or twirls but I was open to try new things on this trip which I will explain later.
This is me - I might add, on disney transportation after 4 hours at MGM studios
-edit- holy cow that picture is a close up. I didn't realize. Airbrush please! hahaha...
-edit, edit- okay, resized before too many of you had the opportunity to see my face in gigantic close up
DH and I visited WDW 9/4/07 to 9/8/07 celebrating our 5 year anniversary.
As I write this trip report, I will also try to post *tips* that I think of along the way.
Day 1
We arrived at Orlando International Airport at 1pm. Flying in on Southwest, my favorite airline ever. Even if we did get "C" seating tickets on the way in. I opted for the Southwest Vacation Package which included airfare for 2, room, park tickets, and bonus promo of free dining
Went downstairs terminal A (I think it was A) to board the magical express. I have to say, the Magical Express was not as magical as I had expected it to be. We didn't have to stand in line too long but then we got to the bus, I was disappointed because all of the other people ahead were directed to the neat looking magical express buses that you see in photos and we were directed to some type of off brand motor coach. It was just okay.... I guess when you arrive you expect the magic to begin right away. Well, it didn't. We sat on the bus for what seemed like forever. 3 buses that boarded the same time as us left before we did. Here is a pic of the inside. I like the girl's mouse ears.
We finally were on our way. The driver put in a movie "A Bugs Life" which we watched almost half of by the time we got to our resort. We were staying at the Caribbean Beach Resort, CBR, (more on that later) so first we stopped at the Yacht Club and then the Beach Club and then the Boardwalk and then finally CBR.
Okay, let me stop right here. Day 1 is going to sound pretty crabby because it was. Days 2-5 were much better... but I have to get the unmagical out of the way first so I can warn my fellow diser's to go with the flow and be prepared for any unprepared setbacks.
Arrived at CBR around 2:30pm. At check in, there weren't many staff working. A lady came out of the back who seemed that she really didn't want to be there. She opened her window for us. Checked in and I asked for a pool or water view. She explained to me that it was extra (I think $16 more a night), I knew this but was hoping just maybe for a free upgrade. No such luck. Actually what we got was a great big view of the parking lot!
Building 23 in Martinique. Here is a pic of the room.
It was just okay. I expected a bit more out of a moderate resort (wow, I do sound like a crab, seriously it gets better... I just want to be honest). The room was kind of old looking, stucco interior walls, curtain separating the sink and living area, really small bathroom, dim lighting. And two double beds b/c I was too cheap to pay the $16 a night upgrade for a king size bed.
Now, here is where it gets better. I was disappointed with the room until we ventured out to the back of the resort (or the middle whatever you call it, where the lake is) and saw this
This is just a small portion of the lake that CBR is built around. I think 42 acres. White sand beaches for each building set with lounge chairs and hammocks, no swimming in the lake, although each building has its own "quiet pool" and the main building has a big pool with a waterfall and slide. Lots of ducks and birds... very friendly ducks and birds.....
So seeing this beautiful part of the resort made me much happier! I was even happier to realize that our building was right across (the ugly parking lot) from the bus stop and we were usually (usually, but not always) the first to be picked up and the first to be dropped off (normally when headed to MK).
More later.......
Find out how things pan out with journeys to the Hollywood Tower Hotel, Expedition Everest and possible travels through Space .... Mountain and Mission that is!
Cast of Characters:
DH (33) Race Car fanatic and thrill seeker extraordinare
-picture pending his approval,
which I doubt he will approve of HA HAMe (30) Midwestern gal and scaredey cat of any kind of ride that drops, loops, spins, or twirls but I was open to try new things on this trip which I will explain later.
This is me - I might add, on disney transportation after 4 hours at MGM studios
-edit- holy cow that picture is a close up. I didn't realize. Airbrush please! hahaha...
-edit, edit- okay, resized before too many of you had the opportunity to see my face in gigantic close up
DH and I visited WDW 9/4/07 to 9/8/07 celebrating our 5 year anniversary.
As I write this trip report, I will also try to post *tips* that I think of along the way.
Day 1
We arrived at Orlando International Airport at 1pm. Flying in on Southwest, my favorite airline ever. Even if we did get "C" seating tickets on the way in. I opted for the Southwest Vacation Package which included airfare for 2, room, park tickets, and bonus promo of free dining
Went downstairs terminal A (I think it was A) to board the magical express. I have to say, the Magical Express was not as magical as I had expected it to be. We didn't have to stand in line too long but then we got to the bus, I was disappointed because all of the other people ahead were directed to the neat looking magical express buses that you see in photos and we were directed to some type of off brand motor coach. It was just okay.... I guess when you arrive you expect the magic to begin right away. Well, it didn't. We sat on the bus for what seemed like forever. 3 buses that boarded the same time as us left before we did. Here is a pic of the inside. I like the girl's mouse ears.
We finally were on our way. The driver put in a movie "A Bugs Life" which we watched almost half of by the time we got to our resort. We were staying at the Caribbean Beach Resort, CBR, (more on that later) so first we stopped at the Yacht Club and then the Beach Club and then the Boardwalk and then finally CBR.
Okay, let me stop right here. Day 1 is going to sound pretty crabby because it was. Days 2-5 were much better... but I have to get the unmagical out of the way first so I can warn my fellow diser's to go with the flow and be prepared for any unprepared setbacks.
Arrived at CBR around 2:30pm. At check in, there weren't many staff working. A lady came out of the back who seemed that she really didn't want to be there. She opened her window for us. Checked in and I asked for a pool or water view. She explained to me that it was extra (I think $16 more a night), I knew this but was hoping just maybe for a free upgrade. No such luck. Actually what we got was a great big view of the parking lot!
Building 23 in Martinique. Here is a pic of the room.
It was just okay. I expected a bit more out of a moderate resort (wow, I do sound like a crab, seriously it gets better... I just want to be honest). The room was kind of old looking, stucco interior walls, curtain separating the sink and living area, really small bathroom, dim lighting. And two double beds b/c I was too cheap to pay the $16 a night upgrade for a king size bed.
Now, here is where it gets better. I was disappointed with the room until we ventured out to the back of the resort (or the middle whatever you call it, where the lake is) and saw this
This is just a small portion of the lake that CBR is built around. I think 42 acres. White sand beaches for each building set with lounge chairs and hammocks, no swimming in the lake, although each building has its own "quiet pool" and the main building has a big pool with a waterfall and slide. Lots of ducks and birds... very friendly ducks and birds.....
So seeing this beautiful part of the resort made me much happier! I was even happier to realize that our building was right across (the ugly parking lot) from the bus stop and we were usually (usually, but not always) the first to be picked up and the first to be dropped off (normally when headed to MK).
More later.......
Find out how things pan out with journeys to the Hollywood Tower Hotel, Expedition Everest and possible travels through Space .... Mountain and Mission that is!
But there really were a lot of lizzards, here is just one of the 100 that I saw 
