GaDisneyDad
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2002
- Messages
- 76
Cast:
Norm (me) (39); husband, father, trip planner, scribe and photographer
Robin (39); wife and mother with veto power over trip plans, wants a more relaxed Disney trip this time (Ha!)
Kent (14); teenage son, not interested if its not fast, loud, or scary (preferably all three)
Whitney (13); teenage daughter, into thrill rides like her brother, but will do the others with less complaining (usually)
Setting:
7 days at Port Orleans Riverside, plus 1 offsite at Islands of Adventure (sons favorite, of course). This is our second straight year at POR, and third WDW trip in four years. Due to finding a discounted resort rate back in January, we decide to stay longer than our usual 4 or 5 days to have more time to stop and smell the roses.
Scene 2 Saturday, June 15 Welcome home
7:00 were up (well the kids arent, technically). Robin runs down to the lobby for muffins for breakfast while I finish getting the kids up and packing. I packed most of our luggage up on the luggage rack of our CRV and packed a small bag to carry in just for the night so theres not too much to load up. We pull out about 9:00, after a quick stop at a Winn-Dixie to pick up a blow dryer (I have very little hair, so hair dryers are something I tend to overlook when packing sorry). We also make a quick stop at one of the travel islands on the turnpike to pick up our Universal tickets, since I had forgotten to order them online before we left. Just as we hit I-4 the downpour starts. Not a good sign. Raining very hard and traffic is backed up both ways on the freeway. After 20-30 minutes or so, though, the rain starts to let up, and by the time we get to POR, its just sprinkling. See, just as I expected a typical Florida summer shower - a quick downpour and then back to sunshine.
The security guard at the gate to POR asked for our confirmation, looked it over, and then waved us in. Welcome home, he said, and thats just how we felt. POR is our favorite Disney resort and we were so excited to be back. This is going to be great well have a full seven days and plenty of time to do everything we want to do, as well as lie around the pool, take long walks around the river, and enjoy the resort, not just the parks. We pulled in to the main building and I hopped out to check in while Robin stayed with the kids and the car. Our CM, Paula, was great. Very friendly and efficient. Even though it was only 12:00, she had a room ready for us. I had requested a room in one of the mansions, and to my surprise, she gave us room 8811 in Magnolia Terrace the exact same room we had last summer!
I pulled around to the parking lot and Kent and I unloaded the car, while Robin and Whitney set up the room. An hour or so later, were ready for lunch, so we head over to the food court. We all had pizza, except for Robin who got a cheeseburger (she doesnt like the Disney pizzas). Even though our kids are teenagers now, they still primarily eat from the Kids 4 Food Groups pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs, and chicken nuggets. We like this food court (it has all 4 food groups and more for mom and dad) and usually eat several meals here.
We typically use the first day at WDW to unpack and unwind at the hotel and then take the boat ride down to Downtown Disney at night. This time, though, we got the Unlimited Park Hopper passes (what used to be called the Length of Stay passes), so we dont have to worry about wasting a whole day of our pass for just a few hours. At 2:00, after only about a 5-minute wait for a bus, we head off to our first park, MGM, and go straight for RocknRoller Coaster. As were walking up to the FP area, a man asks us if we want 2 FPs. We of course say yes, and let Kent and Whitney take the first ride, while Robin and I wait. While theyre riding, I got 4 FPs for Tower of Terror. I dont recall the time, but it wasnt long before our ToT FPs came up, so I got 4 more for RnRC and then we went off to ride ToT together. The kids and I loved it. Robin didnt like it as much said the waiting area was too hot and the anticipation of the drops got her too worked up to enjoy it.
After that, we headed off for something short until our RnRC FPs came up. Went to the Walt Disney A Man and His Dream exhibit. Very nice, cool wait and short but interesting film at the end - a good thing to do while youre waiting for something else. We went back for RnRC and all loved it. I had forgotten how much I love this ride. The blast off into that first loop is great! We came outside to black skies and thunder and ran for the bus just as it started to rain (the second time today thats not supposed to happen). Once again, the shower was brief and was over by the time we got back to POR.
We hate to miss church, even when were on vacation, but we know we need to maximize our park time on Sunday, since that tends to be a slower day. So last year I found a small Baptist church just 10-15 minutes from POR that has a Saturday night service (First Baptist Church Windermere, I highly recommend it). We all showered and headed off for church at 6:00. With our week off to the right start, we were ready for full-time park hopping. After getting back to POR, we took our traditional first night boat ride down to DD. I know the boat ride is nice, but it took forever. First we had to wait for the boat, then it filled up and we had to wait on the next one, and the ride itself takes several minutes. Next time, I think well take the bus.
It had been several years since we had done anything at Pleasure Island, but we felt the kids were old enough to enjoy the Comedy Warehouse, and I remembered it being fairly clean when we went before, so thats where we headed. Whitney was a little unsure of the place, but once we got in we all had a blast. Its all improvisational comedy; the cast pulls phrases, ideas, stories, etc. from the audience and then builds skits around them. Some of the skits were hilarious, and all were good, as well as being appropriate for families.
Next stop, my favorite dessert stop Ghiradellis. Robin and I had the hot fudge sundae (I usually get the Strike it Rich sundae my favorite) while the kids got cones. Its 11:00 now and we take the bus (not the boat) back to POR. A good first day.
Day two:
The best RocknRoller Coaster
The worst the slow boat ride to DD
Norm (me) (39); husband, father, trip planner, scribe and photographer
Robin (39); wife and mother with veto power over trip plans, wants a more relaxed Disney trip this time (Ha!)
Kent (14); teenage son, not interested if its not fast, loud, or scary (preferably all three)
Whitney (13); teenage daughter, into thrill rides like her brother, but will do the others with less complaining (usually)
Setting:
7 days at Port Orleans Riverside, plus 1 offsite at Islands of Adventure (sons favorite, of course). This is our second straight year at POR, and third WDW trip in four years. Due to finding a discounted resort rate back in January, we decide to stay longer than our usual 4 or 5 days to have more time to stop and smell the roses.
Scene 2 Saturday, June 15 Welcome home
7:00 were up (well the kids arent, technically). Robin runs down to the lobby for muffins for breakfast while I finish getting the kids up and packing. I packed most of our luggage up on the luggage rack of our CRV and packed a small bag to carry in just for the night so theres not too much to load up. We pull out about 9:00, after a quick stop at a Winn-Dixie to pick up a blow dryer (I have very little hair, so hair dryers are something I tend to overlook when packing sorry). We also make a quick stop at one of the travel islands on the turnpike to pick up our Universal tickets, since I had forgotten to order them online before we left. Just as we hit I-4 the downpour starts. Not a good sign. Raining very hard and traffic is backed up both ways on the freeway. After 20-30 minutes or so, though, the rain starts to let up, and by the time we get to POR, its just sprinkling. See, just as I expected a typical Florida summer shower - a quick downpour and then back to sunshine.
The security guard at the gate to POR asked for our confirmation, looked it over, and then waved us in. Welcome home, he said, and thats just how we felt. POR is our favorite Disney resort and we were so excited to be back. This is going to be great well have a full seven days and plenty of time to do everything we want to do, as well as lie around the pool, take long walks around the river, and enjoy the resort, not just the parks. We pulled in to the main building and I hopped out to check in while Robin stayed with the kids and the car. Our CM, Paula, was great. Very friendly and efficient. Even though it was only 12:00, she had a room ready for us. I had requested a room in one of the mansions, and to my surprise, she gave us room 8811 in Magnolia Terrace the exact same room we had last summer!
I pulled around to the parking lot and Kent and I unloaded the car, while Robin and Whitney set up the room. An hour or so later, were ready for lunch, so we head over to the food court. We all had pizza, except for Robin who got a cheeseburger (she doesnt like the Disney pizzas). Even though our kids are teenagers now, they still primarily eat from the Kids 4 Food Groups pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs, and chicken nuggets. We like this food court (it has all 4 food groups and more for mom and dad) and usually eat several meals here.
We typically use the first day at WDW to unpack and unwind at the hotel and then take the boat ride down to Downtown Disney at night. This time, though, we got the Unlimited Park Hopper passes (what used to be called the Length of Stay passes), so we dont have to worry about wasting a whole day of our pass for just a few hours. At 2:00, after only about a 5-minute wait for a bus, we head off to our first park, MGM, and go straight for RocknRoller Coaster. As were walking up to the FP area, a man asks us if we want 2 FPs. We of course say yes, and let Kent and Whitney take the first ride, while Robin and I wait. While theyre riding, I got 4 FPs for Tower of Terror. I dont recall the time, but it wasnt long before our ToT FPs came up, so I got 4 more for RnRC and then we went off to ride ToT together. The kids and I loved it. Robin didnt like it as much said the waiting area was too hot and the anticipation of the drops got her too worked up to enjoy it.
After that, we headed off for something short until our RnRC FPs came up. Went to the Walt Disney A Man and His Dream exhibit. Very nice, cool wait and short but interesting film at the end - a good thing to do while youre waiting for something else. We went back for RnRC and all loved it. I had forgotten how much I love this ride. The blast off into that first loop is great! We came outside to black skies and thunder and ran for the bus just as it started to rain (the second time today thats not supposed to happen). Once again, the shower was brief and was over by the time we got back to POR.
We hate to miss church, even when were on vacation, but we know we need to maximize our park time on Sunday, since that tends to be a slower day. So last year I found a small Baptist church just 10-15 minutes from POR that has a Saturday night service (First Baptist Church Windermere, I highly recommend it). We all showered and headed off for church at 6:00. With our week off to the right start, we were ready for full-time park hopping. After getting back to POR, we took our traditional first night boat ride down to DD. I know the boat ride is nice, but it took forever. First we had to wait for the boat, then it filled up and we had to wait on the next one, and the ride itself takes several minutes. Next time, I think well take the bus.
It had been several years since we had done anything at Pleasure Island, but we felt the kids were old enough to enjoy the Comedy Warehouse, and I remembered it being fairly clean when we went before, so thats where we headed. Whitney was a little unsure of the place, but once we got in we all had a blast. Its all improvisational comedy; the cast pulls phrases, ideas, stories, etc. from the audience and then builds skits around them. Some of the skits were hilarious, and all were good, as well as being appropriate for families.
Next stop, my favorite dessert stop Ghiradellis. Robin and I had the hot fudge sundae (I usually get the Strike it Rich sundae my favorite) while the kids got cones. Its 11:00 now and we take the bus (not the boat) back to POR. A good first day.
Day two:
The best RocknRoller Coaster
The worst the slow boat ride to DD
! Sounds like a great start to your trip. Why do I get the feeling that the rain will be a re-occuring theme? 
