3 sisters + 2 worlds=5 days of Orlando fun! An Aug. '10 TR...final thoughts p. 45

[DisneyCrafter]

No complaining allowed!!! You have been on 2 WDW trips since March missy! How many have I been on? A big fat 0. Just kidding...but seriously. Okay, I'll stop now.

I can't wait to hear all about your plans. Especially WWoHP.

I also wanted to mention to you since you had mentioned in a previous PTR or TR that you like to stop at Chick-Fil-A in MCO airport. They are building one about 15 minutes from my house. I'm shocked. The only Chick-Fil-A we've ever eaten was in college in our dorm. They had a kiosk for it.

 

[wdwgirl03]

Wow, 170 views already?! I feel so loved. But there must still be a lot of lurkers out there...feel free to post and say hi!

Before I begin the actual TR, here is a brief introduction of the cast of this trip. So without further ado, just in case you forgot who I was...

Me (Sarah): 25 year old Marquette grad, teacher, and lover of all things Disney. I love the "Triple Mountain Whammy", Soarin', Tinkerbell, and of course Mickey Mouse. I have also been known to shed a few tears in the world... I know, I'm a sap. And since we visited WWOHP, I'll throw in that I love all the Harry Potter books particularly Goblet of Fire and Deathly Hallows.

Sister #1 (Claire): 23 year old Marquette grad and also a teacher. Was just in WDW in January with our parents to celebrate her graduation. An even bigger Harry Potter fan than me. Posts on the DIS too. Her user name is *DisneyDreamer. Hoping she'll share some of her thoughts too and this can kind of be a joint TR?

Sister #2 (Emma): 20 year old Marquette student and...nope, not a teacher here. She's going to school for business and is a Spring 2011 Disney World College Program hopeful. We are hoping the next time we go to WDW she'll be a cast member! *fingers crossed* Loves all the thrill rides, particularly Rock 'n Roller Coaster. Perhaps the biggest Potter head out of the three of us. Posts on the DIS sometimes as psherman42.


So now that that is out of the way, I also said I'd share some general observations from our trip. I usually do some sort of final thoughts at the end of a trip report, but why not do something at the beginning too?

Crowds: Honestly the parks did not seem all that crowded. Out of all the parks, the Magic Kingdom was most busy, but that is pretty typical. We all thought that Islands of Adventure was more crowded than any of the Disney parks, probably because of the Wizarding World.

Weather: Pretty much what you'd expect for Florida in the summer. HOT and humid with scattered, sudden showers every day. Fortunately, nothing really lasted too long and it didn't put a damper on our spirits!

Our resort: OK maybe I am just biased because it is our home resort but I LOVE SARATOGA SPRINGS!!! It was the first time we stayed there in a couple years since we've been lucky enough to stay at some of the other DVC resorts but now I remember why I like it. We had great service, a great location, and it's just an overall great resort. If you could live there, I think I would. I don't understand why it get so much hate on the boards. Saratoga Springs is awesome!

Wizarding World: All three of us really enjoyed getting to see it. After all, this was one of the main reasons we decided to change our trip from December to August. One of my sisters in particular couldn't wait that long to visit. Any guesses as to which one? It definitely worked to our advantage getting to IOA early so we could actually enjoy WWOHP.

Alright, I think that's it with all the introductory stuff. Let's get the TR started!

up next: We're going to Disney World...again!

 

[wdwgirl03]

i'm in. can't wait to hear all about it.

Yay, welcome!

No complaining allowed!!! You have been on 2 WDW trips since March missy! How many have I been on? A big fat 0. Just kidding...but seriously. Okay, I'll stop now.

I can't wait to hear all about your plans. Especially WWoHP.

I also wanted to mention to you since you had mentioned in a previous PTR or TR that you like to stop at Chick-Fil-A in MCO airport. They are building one about 15 minutes from my house. I'm shocked. The only Chick-Fil-A we've ever eaten was in college in our dorm. They had a kiosk for it.

LOL! Yeah, I have to admit DVC has pretty much spoiled us with so many trips so close together. Funny how we used to only go every other year. It is quite sad actually because I don't know how I survived.

Oohhhh yummy, yes, we do love going to Chick-Fil-A. They closed the one around here. I can't believe they had them in your dorm! I should've gone to your school. haha

 

[RachelNinja]

Haha, that was the funniest thing that your dad posted accidentally on your name! I was thinking, "Is Sarah talking to herself?" Hehe. I thought it might have been your mom posting with your name because she doesn't have her own DIS name.

I know this is jumping really far ahead, but since your whole fam is into WDW, it's gonna be an awesome trip when you all go with your DHs and kiddies along with your parents! That'd be so fun since you'd all appreciate being together and more specifically being together in Disney!

 

[jojosmom23]

im here too sarah! welcome home

Jenn

 

[brookelizabeth]

I'm here!!!!!! Sounds like an awesome trip was had! Did you 3 enjoy touring without the parents?

 

[redlight]

I'm in!

 

[tinkgurl]

SS is nice. I hope you said hi to OKW for me if you ever saw it!

 

[meeko_33785]

The trip is sounding good so far. Can't wait to hear more.

 

[Princess_K]

I just found your TR, and am glad I did...looks like it will be a good one! I can't wait for the first update....and I'm kind of jealous you got to see Harry Potter

 

[MarieTheCat24]

I'M HERE!!

 

[wisblue]

OK, first I have to clarify this is not me. LOL. I guess I must've still been logged in when Dad posted. This should really be wisblue.

Yes, you are right, they are from the opening ceremony. Glad you got to listen to it on the phone.

Oops, I thought I had logged in.

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

I'm here, Sarah!! So excited to hear all about your trip...especially about WWoHP. Only FIVE more days for us...CAN.NOT.WAIT!!

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

Hey Sarah! I'm joining in for this one!

I've always wanted to give Saratoga Springs a shot and stay there!

 

[MommyMcQueen]

Yeah Sarah you started! Glad I found your TR before we leave in a couple days! Can't wait to hear all about it!

 

[PrincessCaitlin]

I'm here! Can't wait to hear all about your trip and the Wizarding World!

 

[dawnbu40]

I can't wait to see your pics of SS and here all about WWOHP

 

[wdwgirl03]

Haha, that was the funniest thing that your dad posted accidentally on your name! I was thinking, "Is Sarah talking to herself?" Hehe. I thought it might have been your mom posting with your name because she doesn't have her own DIS name.

I know this is jumping really far ahead, but since your whole fam is into WDW, it's gonna be an awesome trip when you all go with your DHs and kiddies along with your parents! That'd be so fun since you'd all appreciate being together and more specifically being together in Disney!

LOL, it confused me. I didn't remember posting anything else on my thread and then I saw that. Oh well.

Aww, that will be fun when the day comes. You are right though that it's a long way off. haha We'll have to save up points and rent out one of the 3-bedroom grand villas.

im here too sarah! welcome home

Jenn

Thanks Jenn and glad to have you joining in!

I'm here!!!!!! Sounds like an awesome trip was had! Did you 3 enjoy touring without the parents?

Hi Brook! It was a fun time and was kind of strange being there without our parents but we survived.

I'm in!

Welcome!

SS is nice. I hope you said hi to OKW for me if you ever saw it!

I did think of you when we stopped at OKW on the Magical Express!

The trip is sounding good so far. Can't wait to hear more.

First update is coming up...

I just found your TR, and am glad I did...looks like it will be a good one! I can't wait for the first update....and I'm kind of jealous you got to see Harry Potter

Yay, so glad you found me! Harry Potter was pretty awesome. We loved it!

 

[wdwgirl03]

I'M HERE!!

Hey Kara!

Oops, I thought I had logged in.

haha, it's ok.

I'm here, Sarah!! So excited to hear all about your trip...especially about WWoHP. Only FIVE more days for us...CAN.NOT.WAIT!!

OK, do you have to rub it in now?! LOL, just kidding. You are going to love WWOHP!

Hey Sarah! I'm joining in for this one!

I've always wanted to give Saratoga Springs a shot and stay there!

Thanks for joining in Lauren!

You should try staying at SSR if you get the chance. It is a nice resort. We are so glad it's our "home."

Yeah Sarah you started! Glad I found your TR before we leave in a couple days! Can't wait to hear all about it!

Hi Karen, I'm glad you found me too. I can't believe you only have 3 DAYS until your first trip to WDW! Soooooo exciting!

I'm here! Can't wait to hear all about your trip and the Wizarding World!

Welcome Caitlin!

I can't wait to see your pics of SS and here all about WWOHP

I am very excited to tell everyone about WWOHP.

 

[wdwgirl03]

Alright everyone, ready to start this thing? Here we go!

Sunday, August 8, 2010...WE'RE OFF!!!

Our vacation began on Sunday. The start of a brand-new week. I couldn’t believe that I was really going back to Disney World, almost four months after I had just been there with my dad. I have to admit, I was a tad worried about going back for that very reason. I had JUST been to WDW. Did I really need to go back only four months later? That was the shortest time in between two trips, atleast for me. I hope you’re not all thinking now uh-oh, she is going to say she ended up having a miserable time. I can assure you right now that I had no reason to be worried about having “just” been there. After all, it was Disney World and I just don’t get sick of it. Heck, we’ve only been back a couple days and I am ready to go back again. Haha! So no worries. I told you I was Disney-obsessed.

Anyways, to get back on track, my sisters and I woke up early as usual, though not quite as early as we have in the past. Our flight was a little bit later than what we usually take but we were still up by 7 am. There was some rain in the Milwaukee area that morning so we were hoping it would pass by the time our flight left. If you read my April TR you might remember that there was rain when we left then too and our flight was delayed. We didn’t need a repeat of that.

Since it was just my sisters and me on this trip, Dad took us to the airport. Mom didn’t want to come…she said she’d rather pick us up when we got home. So we said our good-byes and headed to the airport. On the way there Dad told us he was jealous of us and that we were going to have so much fun, especially without him. He also told us to call him when we were on the ME bus so he could live vicariously through us.

When we got to the airport Dad dropped us off and went to park the car while we checked in. He would then meet us right before security to “send us off.” This may be dorky of me but one of the things I always like to do when we are going to WDW is to look around and see if I can spot any other Magical Express tags. It’s kind of like the beginning of the excitement for me, like I can say I’m going to Disney World too! There was a group in front of us who all had those lovely yellow tags on their suitcases. So being nosy, I kept inching closer to them to see if I could spot where they were staying. In case you are all wondering, it was Fort Wilderness. Since I had done early check-in for the flight, we just needed to check our bags. The lady at the Southwest counter asked us if we were going to Disney, which of course I said YES!

After dropping off our bags we headed upstairs where Dad was already waiting. We said our good-byes and went to get through security. Luckily it was not busy at all so it only took us a few minutes to get through. Funny story from that: the guy who was checking our IDs must’ve seen on our boarding passes that we were going to Orlando so he also asked us if we were going to Disney World. We said yes, and he then had the following conversation with Emma:

Security guy: You look like the smartest, so I’ll ask you.
Emma: OK.
Security guy: Is Mickey a boy or a girl?
Emma: A boy.
Security guy: He’s a MOUSE!
*laughs from all of us*
Emma: Guess I’m not as smart as I look!

HAHA! We all thought that was pretty hilarious and it got our trip off to a fun start.

Once through security, Emma gave one last wave to Dad and we were on our way to the gate.

We still had a couple hours before our flight so we grabbed something to eat and talked about what we wanted to do when we got there and our general game plan for the week. Well, sort of. A lot of what we did was still kind of last minute decisions.

OK that was a lot of rambling for just getting to our gate at the airport. And sorry for no pictures, I am still kind of superstitious about taking pictures at the airport. The last time I did that our flight ended up being cancelled. So never again…LOL. I promise there will be tons of pictures once we actually arrive at Disney World.

Up next: The best flight attendant ever and arriving in Orlando!!!