Our family had a wonderful 4 day trip to the World Feb 19-23. I was very nervous about President Week crowds, but for the 3 days we were in the parks (Wed-Fri), they were great!
Tuesday, Feb 19:
After and early flight out of Buffalo and a long layover in JFK, we arrived in Orlando at 2:30. We change clothes, got our bags and rental car, and arrived at T-Rex at Downtown disney for a 4:00 reservation a little early. We were seated and everyone ate a big meal. We did some shopping (our son is 5, and the place is perfect for him), and then did some playing in their version of "the boneyard". We headed out for our hotel, Coronado Springs, and checked in to the Casitas 5 section. We unpacked, and then went swimming for a while. Got back to the room around 8, and had our son go to sleep. I then headed out to the Winn Dixie on Rte 192 for some groceries, then got back to the room. We all got to bed early for a big day tomorrow.
Wednesday, Feb 20:
It was extra-magic hours at AK, so we got up early and ate, and drove to the park. We got in jsut after rope drop. My son and wife went right to Dinoland, where they rode Triceratops spin twice, while my daughter (age 14) and I hit Expedition Everest twice. We then caught up with my wife and son and rode Triceratops spin twice more. We then walked around and took some pictures of the dinosaurs they had on the Creatceous trail, and then everyone went into the Boneyard (I ran to get fastpasses for Kilamanjaro). While my son was digging, my daughter and I rode Primevil Whirl. When we finished, we all headed for Africa. We got some breakfast there - and saw Devine! We then rode Kilamanjaro, and the wen to Camp Minnie Mickey for Fesitval of the Lion King - which we all loved! We then got lunch at Pizzafari, did some shopping at Island Mercantile, and headed out.
Our son fell asleep in the car, so I dropped my wife and daughter off at the hotel a little before 2 and did some driving. I picked them back up around 3:00, and we headed to DHS! We first got fastpasses for TOT, then we all went to see Indiana Jones. We then got autographs fropm Handy Manny and Jake (of the Neverland Pirates) and went to see the updated Disney Junior Live on Stage. We then did Start Tours and got some souvenirs. We ate near TOT my son and wife first while my daughter and I did TOT, and then we ate after that. We then headed out as the 7:00 Fantasmic was starting. We got back to the hotel, had my son go to sleep, and then my daughter and I went swimming for a while. We got back to the hotel and crashed.
Thursday, Feb 21:
It was extra-magic hours at the MK, so we got up early again and got to the MK just after opening. We went right to New Fantasyland! My daughter got fastpasses for LMM, and we all did Enchanted Tales with Belle which was neat. We then ate some cinnamon rolls at Gastons, and then went on LMM, which we all enjoyed. We then rode Dumbo, and while my wife went shopping, rode the Barnstormer twice, ran through Caseys splash area, and rode the teacups. My daughter had gotten fastpasses for Space Mountain, and we rode that (my son did not care for it!) We then did the Laugh Floor, and then went for our reservation at the Crystal Palace a first! We loved it, and got all the Winnie the Pooh character autographs. We then headed out for a little, and my son fell asleep in the car, so we went offsite and got some of the supplies we needed, and then headed back to the ML. We had 4:20 reservations at Be Our Guest, so we hopped on the train the Fantasyland, got fastpasses for Winnie the Pooh and went to Dinner! Fantastic atmosphere, and we got a picture with the Beast! The food was ok the kid menu was even a little eclectic, but we all loved the deserts! As we came out of dinner, we rode Winnie the Pooh, did Philharmagic (a family favorite), rode Small World, and headed to Adventureland. We rode Pirates, the Jungle Cruise, and Magic Carpet. Afterwards my son got spit on by Camels for a while! It was just about 8:00, so we walked into Main St and saw the fireworks from in front of the train station. We left just as the finale completed and beat the crowds to our car! When we got back to CSR, everyone passed out!
Friday, Feb 22:
Everybody was very tired, and with no extra magic hours, I got up early, hit the Jacuzzi and walked around the Epcot resorts which was nice. I got back to the roo, and my son, daughter and I hit Epcot (Mom was taking it easy today!). We got there and got fastpasses for Test Track, and then went on Soarin. We then got Chip and Dales autograph, and went into the Character Spot for Mickeys, Plutos, and Minnies too! We then rode Test Track and the Mission Space. All the Epcot rides were firsts for my son and he loved them all. We got a pretzel, did some shopping, and got back to CSR. We picked up my wife and went to the Pepper Market (a family favorite), and then went swimming in the pool for a while. My wife stayed back, and the rest of us went back to the MK. We got cards for Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom (though never played it), and then got fastpasses for Big Thunder Mountain. We then rode Pirates, went to the Tiki room and then to CBJ. We then rode BTMRR, and went to Caseys for dinner. We picked up some souvenirs for ourselves and family, and got on the monorail for a ride just before the Main St Electrical Parade started (wouldve been nice to see, but my son did not take a nap today and we were pushing our luck!). We got back to the car and went back to the hotel. Everyone was beat! While the kides slept, we packed up had an early flight Saturday morning.
It was a great trip! Low crowds which really surprised me. The weather was beautiful, and everything including our flights (we were upgraded to first class on one of our segments home) worked out great! Cant wait to get back!
Tuesday, Feb 19:
After and early flight out of Buffalo and a long layover in JFK, we arrived in Orlando at 2:30. We change clothes, got our bags and rental car, and arrived at T-Rex at Downtown disney for a 4:00 reservation a little early. We were seated and everyone ate a big meal. We did some shopping (our son is 5, and the place is perfect for him), and then did some playing in their version of "the boneyard". We headed out for our hotel, Coronado Springs, and checked in to the Casitas 5 section. We unpacked, and then went swimming for a while. Got back to the room around 8, and had our son go to sleep. I then headed out to the Winn Dixie on Rte 192 for some groceries, then got back to the room. We all got to bed early for a big day tomorrow.
Wednesday, Feb 20:
It was extra-magic hours at AK, so we got up early and ate, and drove to the park. We got in jsut after rope drop. My son and wife went right to Dinoland, where they rode Triceratops spin twice, while my daughter (age 14) and I hit Expedition Everest twice. We then caught up with my wife and son and rode Triceratops spin twice more. We then walked around and took some pictures of the dinosaurs they had on the Creatceous trail, and then everyone went into the Boneyard (I ran to get fastpasses for Kilamanjaro). While my son was digging, my daughter and I rode Primevil Whirl. When we finished, we all headed for Africa. We got some breakfast there - and saw Devine! We then rode Kilamanjaro, and the wen to Camp Minnie Mickey for Fesitval of the Lion King - which we all loved! We then got lunch at Pizzafari, did some shopping at Island Mercantile, and headed out.
Our son fell asleep in the car, so I dropped my wife and daughter off at the hotel a little before 2 and did some driving. I picked them back up around 3:00, and we headed to DHS! We first got fastpasses for TOT, then we all went to see Indiana Jones. We then got autographs fropm Handy Manny and Jake (of the Neverland Pirates) and went to see the updated Disney Junior Live on Stage. We then did Start Tours and got some souvenirs. We ate near TOT my son and wife first while my daughter and I did TOT, and then we ate after that. We then headed out as the 7:00 Fantasmic was starting. We got back to the hotel, had my son go to sleep, and then my daughter and I went swimming for a while. We got back to the hotel and crashed.
Thursday, Feb 21:
It was extra-magic hours at the MK, so we got up early again and got to the MK just after opening. We went right to New Fantasyland! My daughter got fastpasses for LMM, and we all did Enchanted Tales with Belle which was neat. We then ate some cinnamon rolls at Gastons, and then went on LMM, which we all enjoyed. We then rode Dumbo, and while my wife went shopping, rode the Barnstormer twice, ran through Caseys splash area, and rode the teacups. My daughter had gotten fastpasses for Space Mountain, and we rode that (my son did not care for it!) We then did the Laugh Floor, and then went for our reservation at the Crystal Palace a first! We loved it, and got all the Winnie the Pooh character autographs. We then headed out for a little, and my son fell asleep in the car, so we went offsite and got some of the supplies we needed, and then headed back to the ML. We had 4:20 reservations at Be Our Guest, so we hopped on the train the Fantasyland, got fastpasses for Winnie the Pooh and went to Dinner! Fantastic atmosphere, and we got a picture with the Beast! The food was ok the kid menu was even a little eclectic, but we all loved the deserts! As we came out of dinner, we rode Winnie the Pooh, did Philharmagic (a family favorite), rode Small World, and headed to Adventureland. We rode Pirates, the Jungle Cruise, and Magic Carpet. Afterwards my son got spit on by Camels for a while! It was just about 8:00, so we walked into Main St and saw the fireworks from in front of the train station. We left just as the finale completed and beat the crowds to our car! When we got back to CSR, everyone passed out!
Friday, Feb 22:
Everybody was very tired, and with no extra magic hours, I got up early, hit the Jacuzzi and walked around the Epcot resorts which was nice. I got back to the roo, and my son, daughter and I hit Epcot (Mom was taking it easy today!). We got there and got fastpasses for Test Track, and then went on Soarin. We then got Chip and Dales autograph, and went into the Character Spot for Mickeys, Plutos, and Minnies too! We then rode Test Track and the Mission Space. All the Epcot rides were firsts for my son and he loved them all. We got a pretzel, did some shopping, and got back to CSR. We picked up my wife and went to the Pepper Market (a family favorite), and then went swimming in the pool for a while. My wife stayed back, and the rest of us went back to the MK. We got cards for Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom (though never played it), and then got fastpasses for Big Thunder Mountain. We then rode Pirates, went to the Tiki room and then to CBJ. We then rode BTMRR, and went to Caseys for dinner. We picked up some souvenirs for ourselves and family, and got on the monorail for a ride just before the Main St Electrical Parade started (wouldve been nice to see, but my son did not take a nap today and we were pushing our luck!). We got back to the car and went back to the hotel. Everyone was beat! While the kides slept, we packed up had an early flight Saturday morning.
It was a great trip! Low crowds which really surprised me. The weather was beautiful, and everything including our flights (we were upgraded to first class on one of our segments home) worked out great! Cant wait to get back!
