3 pairs of Minnie ears and Stalking Thumper~My first TR 5/6-5/11 *UPDATE 6/13, pg 14*

[Nermel9]

Hello!!! And welcome to my very first attempt at a trip report! I've been on the disboards for a while, but for some reason I never bothered reading trip reports until now, so I decided to try my own! We just returned from our Disneymoon last Tuesday so this TR will cover May 6-May11, at the Beach Club, although May 11 doesn't really count, since it was a travel day.

Anyway, you're probably wondering who "we" are...it's me, Jen, and my husband of 2 weeks now, Brandon!

Here is a pic of us from our trip last November, it's one of my favorites:

I do have pics from this trip, although I'm not a big fan of actually being in the pictures, but I will be adding some throughout this TR!

Before I start, let me give you a quick background of my Disney history!

My first trip was when I was 7 with my parents and my sister, I barely remember that trip, but I know I liked it because I always wanted to go back. My family and I went 3 more times between then and when I was 18. We only stayed onsite once, at POR back when it was Dixie Landings. I remember seeing the Grand Floridian for the first time during one of those trips and being obsessed with it...I've always wanted to stay there someday!

I didn't return to Disney World for 12 years after going with my family. I always wanted to, but it just never happened. I begged my boyfriend (now DH) for years and he always said no, it's too expensive. Fine.

Then in I believe June of 2008, I asked him once more and he FINALLY agreed that we could go! We started saving and I started doing what I thought was this great Disney research, and I booked us at ASMu from 9/21-9/27. I didn't know about the disboards back then, I didn't bother with ADR's, I based all of my planning off of Birnbaum's WDW guide! For a first timer planning my trip, I did ok...we had a great time, but it was nothing compared to our November 2009 trip!

When we got home from our September trip, I was already figuring out a way I could convince Brandon to agree to go again...we were watching all of those Travel Channel shows about Disney during the Holidays and I mentioned how I've always wanted to go during Christmas, so he agreed to go back the next year!

The trip actually changed dates and resorts a few times...but we finally were settled on November 14-21 at...WL, thanks to that fantastic 4/3 deal they had going on! By then I was already on the disboards and knew all about planning out your days and making ADR's, so our trip was amazing! We also got engaged during that trip, so it will probably always be my favorite WDW visit! And there is nothing like being there during the holidays...the Osbourne lights, the castle all lit up, MVMCP, soooo much fun!

We decided we wanted to get married very quickly and not have a long engagement or a big wedding, so we planned for May 1 as our wedding day. Of course, we had to decide on a place for a honeymoon. Brandon, as always, said no way will he go to Disney again for a honeymoon, especially since he already agreed to go in November again this year (which I just booked a few days ago, btw, and will be starting a PTR for soon! ), but I begged and pleaded for what seemed like months...and finally in February, he gave in, and I booked us at the Beach Club, using the 40% off deal they had going on for Spring.

And that brings us up to the present! Time for me to start the actual trip report! Hope I didn't bore anyone, I just wanted you to get a feel for how, well, obsessed I am with Disney World and how Brandon, while he loves Disney World, isn't really all that thrilled with going back every year (and twice this year ).

Up next...packing and leaving for the airport at...3:30 am? REALLY?

 

[Nermel9]

May 5 and 6, Packing and Arrival Day!

Usually before I go to Disney, I will take the day off from work, but this year, since it was a short trip, I decided not to waste a vacation day on packing. I wish I did. I work normal hours and my husband works at night until 11, so I was in charge of all the packing when I got home from work. The day before leaving for Disney is usually exciting for me, and I'm usually in such a great mood...not this time! I was stressed, I felt like I was so disorganized, and I could not get into the packing mood. I took out my suitcase and let it sit there for a few hours. Ugh.

I bought new luggage for this trip, I was all set to take pictures of me packing, show off my pretty luggage, because I knew I wanted to write a TR for this trip...but my bad mood took over and I took no pictures of actual packing.

Finally, I packed my stuff, but not Brandon's. I told him there was no way I was doing it and he could do it when he got home. He ended up getting home an hour later than usual and I was about ready for bed at that time, especially since I had to get up at 2:30 to get ready to drive to the airport! He decided to just stay up and pack, he didn't see the point in sleeping for 2 hours.

I woke up at 2:30 and was in a frantic rush to get everything together and get out of the house! Normally we fly Southwest out of Hartford, but this time, we decided to switch it up and fly out of White Plains, NY using Jet Blue. White Plains is a tiny airport, which does not have a lot of long term parking. We called the day before to ask if there would be parking and they said yes...as long as we got there between 4 and 5 am.

We left around 3:30 and encountered all sorts of traffic...we were both freaking out that we would not get parking and our whole trip would be ruined...or not even happen if we had nowhere to park! We finally got there around 5 am, and there was plenty of parking. We found our way in (for a small airport, it's very confusing at first!), checked our bags and sat down in the waiting area. Finally, we boarded the plane and we were off!!!

We arrived at MCO at about 9:30 am, about 20 minutes early. We waited for our bags, and then went right out to the Alamo parking area where I reserved our car. We used the online check in with Alamo for the first time and I highly recommend it...you don't have to go to the counter or the kiosks, you just go right outside, pick out your car, and give them all your info at the booth when you leave.

After what seemed like a very short drive...I saw this familiar sight:

(For some reason the date on my camera is a day behind. )

I'm going to stop here for a little while and go check my notes...yes I took notes, there is no way I'd remember all the details of this trip if I didn't!

Up next...arriving at the Beach Club and more pictures finally!

 

[bluejasmine]

Great start and congrats! Cant wait to read the rest

 

[Nermel9]

Yay! I'm not all alone here! I was wondering if anyone would read this! Welcome!

 

[micandminforever]

I love the picture with Marie and I look forward to reading your report.

 

[Nermel9]

I love the picture with Marie and I look forward to reading your report.

Thank you! She is one of my favorites!

I'll be updating either later tonight or tomorrow...I still have lots of pictures to organize that I want to use on here, and I just remembered that I never took pictures of the things I bought while I was down there, so I did that a little while ago to add in!

 

[MarieTheCat24]

Oh my gosh, girl!! I love the picture with Marie! I adore her. I still haven't actually met her in the parks. Fingers crossed that she's out in July!

Can't wait for more!

 

[Nermel9]

Oh my gosh, girl!! I love the picture with Marie! I adore her. I still haven't actually met her in the parks. Fingers crossed that she's out in July!

Can't wait for more!

Marie was out when I was just there, so hopefully she will be there in July too! I wanted to take my picture with her again, but the line to see her was crazy!

 

[Nermel9]

May 6, continued-Pixie Dust at the Beach Club!

Ok. So when we arrive at the Beach Club, it's around 11 am. Pretty early for check in, I know, and I assumed our rooms would not be ready. I just wanted us to check in, get our KTTW cards, and head on over to Epcot!

We were greeted by probably the nicest, sweetest CM I've met at WDW. Of course, she never told us her name...and I kept trying to figure it out by looking at her name tag, but all I could make out was that her name started with an O.

Anyway, O asked me if I had dining reservations, and I said no, we are checking in! She took my name and looked on a list and said "oh, ok, right this way". Ummm...ok. I thought it was a little strange that we were being escorted to the check in counter...but she brought us to the 5th floor.

5th floor. Oh, the club level floor? That's when it clicked...we were UPGRADED!!!! From my little standard view room to club level...I mean, talk about pixie dust! Must have been a fairy godmother watching over us or something, because these things do NOT happen to me!

O gets us all checked in, and gives us our gold KTTW cards (which yes, being the huge dork that I am, was really excited about, the fact that they were gold and not blue!), and tells us unfortunately, our room is not ready, and trust her, we want to wait for this room! Of course we said we would wait, who could pass up club level? We were all set to be on our way, when she hands us these LOVELY things, and tells us we have to wear them:

Well of course we will wear them!!!

I wanted to go straight to Epcot, but DH wanted to go find a store and buy some powder since it was one of the things he forgot. I remembered reading that there was a grocery store near Downtown Disney, so we headed that way.

-Let me pause for a moment and explain part of the title of my TR-Minnie Ears. During my trip in November I became obsessed with them. Our first night there I saw a girl with the red sparkly Minnie ears and I had to have them. It lead me on a search for them for DAYS, in practically every store in Disney World, until I finally found them in Mouse Gears in Epcot! I also knew I wanted a pair of those Minnie Bride ears after we got married (I was already plotting returning for our honeymoon when we were there in November ) and every time I saw a girl wearing them, I scowled a little. I really, really wanted those bride ears.-

That all being said, I asked if we could make a quick detour into DTD...to stop at Earl of Sandwich, which we did-where I of course, forgot to take pictures-and then to the World of Disney store so I could buy my beloved Minnie bride ears. I searched for the perfect pair, and bought them, and immediately put them on!

After an uneventful trip to Goodings (horrifying store, btw-they have NOTHING!), we finally returned to the Beach Club and the night before was starting to catch up to us. No sleep for DH, hardly any sleep for me, it was hot, it was humid, I realized I was getting a migraine because if I don't drink a lot of water in the heat, I get migraines...we were both starting to get a little miserable.

We found O and asked her if our room was ready, which it wasn't. So we dragged ourselves to Epcot.

We started to walk over to future world, because I wanted to see what the wait time for Soarin was, and saw this on the way-my first glimpse of the flower and garden festival:

Sooooo cute! I love Bambi, especially Thumper (if you couldn't tell from the 2nd part of my TR title!) and these topiaries were just sooo cute!

We made it to future world, only to find the wait time ridiculous for Soarin, so we went on Journey into Imagination instead. I've done this ride as a kid and always liked it, but for some reason, DH and I didn't bother with it our previous 2 trips. I've heard that they changed the ride somewhat...

Well. WHAT was that, exactly? What did they do to that ride? It's awful! I feel bad saying that about anything Disney...but come on! I think I might have said something along the lines of "Disney should be embarrassed by that ride" or something...I was NOT happy. Figment, however, is still cute! My DH said he felt bad for Figment, being a part of such a horrible attraction.

Finally, we get a text from the Beach Club...our room is ready!

Up next, our beautiful BC room! And dinner at Le Cellier!

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Congratulations on your marriage!...and your upgrade! What a memorable honeymoon!

 

[Nermel9]

Congratulations on your marriage!...and your upgrade! What a memorable honeymoon!

Hey, you made it over! And thank you!

 

[Disney_Jill]

Congrats on getting married! How awesome that you got upgraded to Club Level!! That's some pixie dust there and then dinner at Le Cellier to boot!
I can't wait to hear about the rest of your trip.

 

[mermaid764]

Congrats to you and your hubby! What an awesome place to have your honeymoon, especially during the flower and garden festival. I can't wait to hear more!

 

[MarieTheCat24]

Oh my goodness! How awesome that you got upgraded!?!!

And that Bambi topiary is adorable. It looks so soft. Is it weird that I kind of want to pet a plant?

 

[pinkxray]

Jenny! (It's your sister in case you haven't figured out my name yet)

Caitlin was thrilled to see you on the computer. "Does Jenny know she's on your computer?"

Anyway, just wanted to say hi! Oh, and I am very jealous you got to stay at the Beach Club.

 

[Nermel9]

Disney_Jill Congrats on getting married! How awesome that you got upgraded to Club Level!! That's some pixie dust there and then dinner at Le Cellier to boot!
I can't wait to hear about the rest of your trip.

Thanks! Yeah, we love Le Cellier...everyone likes to say it's overrated, but it's soooo not!

mermaid764 Congrats to you and your hubby! What an awesome place to have your honeymoon, especially during the flower and garden festival. I can't wait to hear more!

Thank you! The flower and garden festival was really cute! Something I never thought I'd see, I never thought I'd be there in May!

 

[Nermel9]

Oh my goodness! How awesome that you got upgraded!?!!

And that Bambi topiary is adorable. It looks so soft. Is it weird that I kind of want to pet a plant?

No, it's not weird at all...they had giraffe topiaries near the Lion King display (pictures later) and I LOVE giraffes...I kind of wanted to pet them!

 

[Nermel9]

Jenny! (It's your sister in case you haven't figured out my name yet)

Caitlin was thrilled to see you on the computer. "Does Jenny know she's on your computer?"

Anyway, just wanted to say hi! Oh, and I am very jealous you got to stay at the Beach Club.

Yeah I found your pre trip report about a month ago...I just forgot to tell you.

That's funny what Caitlin said...make sure you show her the rest of it when there are more pictures. Probably not til later when I get home from work.

 

[therussells08]

That is so awesome that you got upgraded! Congrats!! I can't wait to see pics of your room!

My husband and I went to WDW for our honeymoon and it was the most magical trip ever. His cousin just got married Saturday and she is there now on her honeymoon. I am so jealous!!

 

[Nermel9]

That is so awesome that you got upgraded! Congrats!! I can't wait to see pics of your room!

My husband and I went to WDW for our honeymoon and it was the most magical trip ever. His cousin just got married Saturday and she is there now on her honeymoon. I am so jealous!!

It is a great place for a honeymoon...I always thought I'd go to Hawaii for my honeymoon, but since we only had 5 days we could use, it just wasn't possible. And anyway, I'm sure it's not as fun as Disney World!