3 Generations Wandering the Wilderness from "Cabin" Camping to Club Level-FW & WL

[pas130]

WOOHOO! Props to letting Mama nap

I totally agree about WL CL CMs, I emailed them about food options for our late night arrival, and they totally hooked us up with even snack and beverage they had

Everyone looked so sad in the candids....and I love the Maleficent freebie

Yay for ToT!!!

 

[twob4him]

I just experienced the park with my "older" kids (9 and 10) this last trip. We were able to do night time EMH...what an experience...amazing! We were able to do Fantasmic for the first time too. So so so much fun! And I am right up there with the simulator rides...though I was able to survive Star Tours and MS green.
lol

Love the updates!

 

[amandaw]

Cobbler in the room - not once but twice We have a saying way down South - you be nice to them and they will be nice to you. The CL staff was exceptional - we felt like they were there just for us ! ! !

Twice....Woo Hoo!! Sounds like they really did cater to y'all. In my opinion, that's the way it should be with Club Level.

Amanda.... I consider you a HUGE Disney fan. And you haven't seen Maleficent, yet???!! You HAVE to go!!!! Faith and Jesse absolutely loved it. The movie has such a great story...very different than what you would expect.


This CL staff was unbelievably accommodating. I just can't say enough about them. I almost felt guilty when asking them to help with something because I knew they would try their hardest to get it.

I have tried & tried to talk Reid into going see it but he just does NOT want to see it. The boy will watch all sorts of superheroes movies and the bad guys don't bother him one bit but Disney villains are a whole other story. He gets so scared of Maleficent and Ursula, too. I'm hoping at least one theatre will still be showing it when school starts on the 12th. If so, I'm definitely going see it by myself.

You shouldn't feel guilty about asking them for something. That's what they're there for and when you pay for CL, you should get that kind of service.

 

[nessz79]

Subbing!

 

[FancyNancy]

That's so nice that they left you some cobbler!

Just remember that's not a "man purse" on Jesse. It's a satchel. Indiana Jones wears one all the time!

 

[ProudMommyof2]

I agree the tiering of fastpasses at DHS and Epcot is super annoying. I think Epcot is the worse of the 2. The 2nd tier options are all a waste.

Good for Faith that she shows up the boys on TOT- girlpower!
I love that the only guy to brave that ride was your Dad TOT at night is a must do! So fun!

Back from HHI and to answer your last question, there is a shuttle from the resort to the beach house or you can drive and park there. The parking lot is small though and fills up fast. We enjoyed biking every day. There are dole whips at the beach house

 

[kastoney]

What a fun MGM night. It's certainly not my fav park but agree at night with the allure of fantasmic adds to it. If only you all hadn't been so depressed by the evening prospects ; )

Girl power to you and faith for ToT. My hubby hates falling so the love of this ride is in female hands to pass on to the next generation. Thanks odd keeping the female tradition alive

 

[hstrickland]

I totally agree about WL CL CMs, I emailed them about food options for our late night arrival, and they totally hooked us up with even snack and beverage they had

No kidding?! That was super nice! Just another reason the WL is so special!!

Everyone looked so sad in the candids....

Ridiculous! People probably thought we were having a horrible time!

I just experienced the park with my "older" kids (9 and 10) this last trip. We were able to do night time EMH...what an experience...amazing! We were able to do Fantasmic for the first time too. So so so much fun! And I am right up there with the simulator rides...though I was able to survive Star Tours and MS green.
lol

Love the updates!

You're a far better person than me! Simulators do me in!!! Just thinking about them makes me ill

Nighttime at WDW is so different, ya know?! It's nice when the kids get older and you can stay up late. We have been known to close down a park during MNSSHP....and the kids were still little then. What was I thinking??!!

Twice....Woo Hoo!! Sounds like they really did cater to y'all. In my opinion, that's the way it should be with Club Level.

You're right.

I have tried & tried to talk Reid into going see it but he just does NOT want to see it. The boy will watch all sorts of superheroes movies and the bad guys don't bother him one bit but Disney villains are a whole other story. He gets so scared of Maleficent and Ursula, too. I'm hoping at least one theatre will still be showing it when school starts on the 12th. If so, I'm definitely going see it by myself.

Maybe when it comes out on dvd, he'll watch it. However....you have to go see it in the theatre. Get a babysitter then you and Ed can go. I was going to take the kids during the week, and Bill almost had a cow! He was like what about me??!! He NEVER wants to go to the movies, but since he saw the preview, he was hooked. Hubby loved it, too!

Subbing!

Glad you popped in! Hope you enjoy our adventures.

Just remember that's not a "man purse" on Jesse. It's a satchel. Indiana Jones wears one all the time!

Well, you might be on to something Indiana did carry a "satchel"

I agree the tiering of fastpasses at DHS and Epcot is super annoying. I think Epcot is the worse of the 2. The 2nd tier options are all a waste.

Completely a waste of time because you never need FPs for those

Good for Faith that she shows up the boys on TOT- girlpower!
I love that the only guy to brave that ride was your Dad TOT at night is a must do! So fun!

Faith liked your comment!! And I think she's picked up a new word...girlpower. The boys are going to strangle her if she says it one more time

Back from HHI and to answer your last question, there is a shuttle from the resort to the beach house or you can drive and park there. The parking lot is small though and fills up fast. We enjoyed biking every day. There are dole whips at the beach house

I always wondered how you got there. From looking at a map, I was confused. And did you say Dole Whips???!!! Seriously??!!

Did you go to any of the outlet stores and do some shopping??

Hope y'all have a great and relaxing trip!!! Now it's time to start planning your next vacation

What a fun MGM night. It's certainly not my fav park but agree at night with the allure of fantasmic adds to it. If only you all hadn't been so depressed by the evening prospects ; )

I know, right?!! Ridiculous. One would think by the looks on our faces that we hated the place!

Girl power to you and faith for ToT. My hubby hates falling so the love of this ride is in female hands to pass on to the next generation. Thanks odd keeping the female tradition alive

Bill doesn't like it one bit either. He'll do any roller coaster in a heartbeat, but not ToT. Don't get it????

 

[Marsheliz]

"MGM" is my 2nd favorite park & our October trip was the first time we had ever been there at night.. It is extra magical at night.. especially with the sorcerers hat! That berry cobbler with some milk sound like the perfect midnight snack at Disney!

 

[ProudMommyof2]

Yup- dole whips! You can't get into the pool house without a room key but there is a window for the counter service on the side of the building for anyone to use.

We did a little shopping but flying can really put a cramp on that.

 

[RellaSprinkles]

Loving your trip report.. great pictures!!

 

[Sue M]

those bus stop pics are hilarious! I wonder if you tried some of that non drowsy motion sickness stuff if it would help? Not sold in Canada, but when I get to Florida I'm going to look for it. With all those coasters at Universal with loops I may need it! Ashley won't ride them, but my youngest who's coming on this trip will make me ride with her :-0. Rip Rocket has me

I love ToT at night, really all the outdoor rides at night! BTRM, EE, Kali, even Jungle Cruise, so cool at night, a totally different feel!

You guys were Rockin the horns

Did you get any of the Alex & Ani brackets at wdw? I just got 2 here. They had a Tree of Life, I was ridiculously excited!! And I got the starfish bracelet. Goes well with my Starfish necklace from Japan pick a pearl!! I'm sure I'll get another one at WDW

Only 1 more week.

And, no, I didn't start laying out clothes today dispute my best intentions to do do but in the immortal words of Scarlet O'Hara, I'll think about it tomorrow

My husband says to me, I don't understand why you pack so much, just buy the clothes down there what he fails to understand is #1- I don't want to spend all that time shopping for a wardrobe, & #2, by August all the stores will have fall stuff out already and summer clothing will be slim pickings!! Sheech.
But.....I will if course supplement my wardrobe

 

[disneyquilter]

Catching up on the last 6 installments because my stupid real life gets in the way (i.e. work, kids, pets, husband...you get the picture ). With this being said, I am working my way backwards beginning with DHS day.

ToT is a fantastic ride!!! I love it at WDW! Here at Disneyland, it is so different, so we always try to get in 4 or 5 or 6 rides before our trip to the World ends. If you ever come out West, definitely make it a point to ride it. Personally, I don't think it is as good at Disneyland (and I am a diehard DL fan), but it is absolutely worth the ride once or twice.

If it makes you feel any better, my husband and my father-in-law take really ugly, close up pictures of our faces. Our noses. Our mouths. The wrinkles in our eyes. They started doing it years ago and now everyone covers their mouths when they get near us with a camera.

Great update...going to work on the other 4.

 

[farrahalex76]

I hate the tiers at Epcot and HS too. At Epcot it's not so bad with rope drop. I guess HS wouldn't be so bad either but when we were there I just didn't have a good plan. We've never done evening at HS either, that's on the list for the next trip. Our first trip 2 years ago we didn't evenings at any park. We were tired and the kids wanted to swim, but like you said the older they get the easier it is.

I had a lunch planned for Le Cellier but I cancelled it. They changed the filet and my daughter wanted Mexican on her birthday so we did San Angel Inn instead. I'm glad we made the swap we really enjoyed San Angel.

 

[Sue M]

I think my post went poof another tier hater here!! My personal opinion is that it was way better before tiers! Stupid to have to choose between TT or Sorin. And you don't need FPs for anything else!!
I can make it work by starting FPs at 10ish and doing the rope drop dash.
I was talking with a CM who says new system is designed so you don't have to do rope drop ha!! I told her, you still do if you want to do more then 3 attractions, only one of which is a good one!

 

[hstrickland]

Well....school has started back for the teachers (that would be me ) Translation...less time on the DisBoards!!! And yes, I know, we start back really early down here - which I don't like. But, on the flipside, we get out really early, too. So....it works out.

Anyway...I've been working on another post. It's slowly but surely coming along. Just bear with me

"MGM" is my 2nd favorite park & our October trip was the first time we had ever been there at night.. It is extra magical at night.. especially with the sorcerers hat! That berry cobbler with some milk sound like the perfect midnight snack at Disney!

The sorcerers hat is really cool. Unfortunately it was partially covered up by all the Star Wars stuff. Not too big a deal, but doesn't make for good pictures.

And wishing I had some cobbler right now for a snack after this long day at work!!!

Yup- dole whips! You can't get into the pool house without a room key but there is a window for the counter service on the side of the building for anyone to use.

We did a little shopping but flying can really put a cramp on that.

Oh geez....the plane would put a damper on the shopping excursions. But then the plane beats driving, I'm sure My sister and her husband drove down to see us....ONCE CT to GA...18 hours later.

Loving your trip report.. great pictures!!

Glad to have you following along!!! Hopefully I'll get moving again before everyone gets too bored

those bus stop pics are hilarious! I wonder if you tried some of that non drowsy motion sickness stuff if it would help? Not sold in Canada, but when I get to Florida I'm going to look for it. With all those coasters at Universal with loops I may need it! Ashley won't ride them, but my youngest who's coming on this trip will make me ride with her :-0. Rip Rocket has me

I love ToT at night, really all the outdoor rides at night! BTRM, EE, Kali, even Jungle Cruise, so cool at night, a totally different feel!

You guys were Rockin the horns

Did you get any of the Alex & Ani brackets at wdw? I just got 2 here. They had a Tree of Life, I was ridiculously excited!! And I got the starfish bracelet. Goes well with my Starfish necklace from Japan pick a pearl!! I'm sure I'll get another one at WDW

Only 1 more week.

And, no, I didn't start laying out clothes today dispute my best intentions to do do but in the immortal words of Scarlet O'Hara, I'll think about it tomorrow

My husband says to me, I don't understand why you pack so much, just buy the clothes down there what he fails to understand is #1- I don't want to spend all that time shopping for a wardrobe, & #2, by August all the stores will have fall stuff out already and summer clothing will be slim pickings!! Sheech.
But.....I will if course supplement my wardrobe

Sue, you crack me up! Well, since you'll be "thinking about it tomorrow", guess that means you'll be packing! Get busy!!! 1 week ain't long, friend!

And no bracelets at WDW. Since your hubby said to buy clothes there, I'm assuming he means jewelry, too Stock up!

I expect a packing update very soon!!

Catching up on the last 6 installments because my stupid real life gets in the way (i.e. work, kids, pets, husband...you get the picture ). With this being said, I am working my way backwards beginning with DHS day.

ToT is a fantastic ride!!! I love it at WDW! Here at Disneyland, it is so different, so we always try to get in 4 or 5 or 6 rides before our trip to the World ends. If you ever come out West, definitely make it a point to ride it. Personally, I don't think it is as good at Disneyland (and I am a diehard DL fan), but it is absolutely worth the ride once or twice.

If it makes you feel any better, my husband and my father-in-law take really ugly, close up pictures of our faces. Our noses. Our mouths. The wrinkles in our eyes. They started doing it years ago and now everyone covers their mouths when they get near us with a camera.

Great update...going to work on the other 4.

I TOTALLY understand the whole work, kids, husband thing! I'm so behind on ALL of the threads I follow. The beginning of school is so crazy then it tapers off. Kinda glad to know you're behind...I don't feel so bad now


Glad to know there are others out there with horrid candid shots purposely taken for comic relief

I hate the tiers at Epcot and HS too. At Epcot it's not so bad with rope drop. I guess HS wouldn't be so bad either but when we were there I just didn't have a good plan. We've never done evening at HS either, that's on the list for the next trip. Our first trip 2 years ago we didn't evenings at any park. We were tired and the kids wanted to swim, but like you said the older they get the easier it is.

I had a lunch planned for Le Cellier but I cancelled it. They changed the filet and my daughter wanted Mexican on her birthday so we did San Angel Inn instead. I'm glad we made the swap we really enjoyed San Angel.

LOVE, love, love the atmosphere at San Angel. It's probably one of the best themed restaurants at Disney. It's been several years since we've been...good to know that it's still good. You were probably smart in changing ADRs. Le Cellier is great but too heavy for lunch. Guess I'm just use to having a big steak for dinner instead of lunch.

I think my post went poof another tier hater here!! My personal opinion is that it was way better before tiers! Stupid to have to choose between TT or Sorin. And you don't need FPs for anything else!!
I can make it work by starting FPs at 10ish and doing the rope drop dash.
I was talking with a CM who says new system is designed so you don't have to do rope drop ha!! I told her, you still do if you want to do more then 3 attractions, only one of which is a good one!

Ha! That makes me laugh. I agree with you...if you want to do more than 3 rides, you better get there early. Hopefully they'll revamp the FP system for EP and DHS.

 

[Sue M]

noooooooo "it" hasn't started already



7 shorts, 4-5 capris, 1 dress. not bad so far. Haven't gotten to the tops yet. need to go thru thrm and do some here comes the tricky part. Shirts '& shoes I hope to keep it at 10 jeeze, I can't even say it with a straight face. Ok, well maybe 15. Last Aug it was 19 :-D

 

[annie170]

If you don't mind me asking, what do you teach? I've taught special needs students since 1995. Here in Northwest Indiana (less than an hour from Chicago), the corporation I work in starts on August 12th and finish before Memorial Day. Do you have the "balanced calendar" where you have more time off in the Fall and Spring?

I completely understand having less time for DisBoards now. Boooo......

Enjoying the trip report! You've captured some great photos!

 

[pas130]

Heather, are you back at work (school)

 

[hstrickland]

Day 8

Animal Kingdom - Yak n’ Yeti Lunch
Rain, Rain Go Away!
Part 1




Breakfast in lounge, of course, then it was time to depart!






We were in a huge hurry to make Rope Drop (no surprise). There was no FP for the Safari (purposely didn’t get one), so that’s what we would be hitting first. Making a bee-line to the back of the park, we arrived at the ride with only a 15 minute wait.







Jesse wasn’t overly thrilled about our sprint through AK.




Dad made some fabulous shots of the animals while we ventured through the tour! And let me just add…our safari guide was the best we’ve ever had! Bar none! Wish I could remember her name.








The animals were very visible on this early morning making it much easier for dad to capture some great shots.







The giraffes were busy holding up the tour….which we loved! How many times have we experienced this attraction and never once have we seen anything like this. It was great!









They were literally in the middle of the road…and basically just stood there moving at their leisure.











The giraffes continued gazing our way while moving at a snail’s pace.











So many of the animals were out and about, eating and enjoying the summer morning.







Even the lion was visible. He actually had just put his head down when dad snapped the picture. We weren’t quick enough to get a shot of him sitting up.











What really thrilled everyone was the proximity to the animals! They were all so close! A great safari!!



Now it was time for Kali River Rapids – we did have a FP for this. Mom is always concerned about getting wet on this ride, and we assured her that if she sat on the “lighter” side of the raft, she would be fine.



Well….. we were sadly mistaken.







All of us in this photograph were soaked! Especially poor MaHopie. Luckily it didn’t get her hair too much…just the shorts and shirt. In all honesty, I’ve never gotten that wet on Kali River. Guess our theory of the “lighter side” was busted.



Bill and dad were quite excited about visiting the Animal Conservation area. We did this eons ago with Stephen but haven’t been back since. A GREAT attraction! Very educational for all ages, and at the same time very fascinating. AND, if you’re into the whole Hidden Mickey thing, there are tons. It’s amazing how the Imaginears decided exactly where to put these little guys.



Can you see the HM??











I wasn’t sure that the goats would be a huge thrill for the kids since we live in rural Georgia and see these kinds of animals all the time.



Wrong again!








Continued to next post…




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