exwdwcm
wishes she was Wendy Moira Angela Darling
- Joined
- Aug 19, 1999
- Messages
- 5,046
Sunday, December 11 
Our last and final day. The final farewell to Mickey and the magic. We get up at about 5:30am- we have flights on American at 9:30am, but need to return the rental van to Thrifty, which is off site and take the shuttle to the airport from there. With all our luggage and a toddler, it is no easy task. We packed the day before, so most of us are ready to go. We went to the front desk to check out. We didnt leave a credit card on file, since we werent putting any charges to the room and didnt want to be tempted to do so, we did cash the whole way for meals and souvenirs, so we could better track our spending (or donation to the house of mouse!). But the bill was slid under our door at 5am and showed a one cent balance. So we went to the front to inquire and it isnt a charge at all, just how the process works. So we are all checked out. I grab a few brochures for the scrapbook from the lobby area and we fill up our mugs one last time. Take one last look around and we are gone. Bye POR.
We arrive at Thrifty in plenty of time, but it takes a while to get our luggage unloaded and then reloaded on the shuttle. What a pain. Magical Express sounded good then, but we heard so many bad stories, we just didnt want to risk it. We finally are loaded and off to the airport.
We all get there and get checked in. mandy and I pick the worst line- we thought it looked like a good one, but actually moves slower than all the others. Wendy and Mike got preferential treatment and escorted through quickly because of Ally and all their toddler stuff. We finally all get through security and take what we call the last ride- the airport monorail to the terminal. We then feast on some breakfast at the Burger King there- a tradition for our trips. Parents and Auntie are in first class again, so they dont eat and wait to get served on the plane instead. I should have used my upgrade as there were seats up there and I ended up sitting by myself in coach, although on an exit row. Wendy, Mike and Ally sat together. She slept most of the way home. I read and watched part of a movie.
We touchdown about 11am in Dallas and by the time we get our luggage etc, it is nearing noon. We go to the off site parking place to get our cars and my parents give me a ride back with them. My husband then met me at their house to pick me up. I had left my laptop from work at their house and had to have it for work the next day. So off we go, I figure, finally I can take a nice nap and recover from this vacation nope. My husband is taking me to the Cowboy game vs Kansas City, which turned out to be an awesome game. And what do I have on? My new WDW sweatshirt, that is all RED, the colors of KC. Oh well- I was still cheering the cowboys on, even wearing the competing teams colors. By the time we got home from the game- it was almost 7pm. I had work the next day and hadnt even unpacked. I cant tell you how exhausted I was! But it was all worth it.
FINAL NOTES:
We had planned this vacation for almost a year. We usually find a lot of our fun goes into the planning stages and it was no exception this year. We would meet to discuss our itinerary and where everyone wanted to eat etc. I was afraid the actual trip would be a let down after all the planning we had done. My mom made us itinerary notecards that were laminated on a keyring for each of us- they noted what park we planned to go each morning and night- where we were eating etc. They werent detailed down to the ride order or anything, but they were a great tool for the trip. We always knew what was next and could adjust or be flexible when we wanted to change plans.
It was a magical trip. We saw and did it all. Enjoyed great meals, great company and met some great people and CMs. Enjoyed great new attractions like soarin, did some shopping and enjoyed the holiday decorations. I cant imagine it being much better, to be honest.
PEOPLE
We did have a large group, which makes the vacation a little more difficult. At the beginning, we tried to do everything together, but it became obvious that Wendy and Mike would need alone time for their own family with Ally, so we would split up near the end a lot. And it worked fine. I did notice that we pushed really hard and went a lot. Our daily breaks helped, but when Mandy and I would want to skip the break, everyone else felt like they would miss out on something, if they didnt come along with us, then they would end up being worn out. So taking the break is a must. And splitting up isnt bad either.
But we all got along pretty good considering. I hope Wendy and Mike thought we helped out some with Ally- we changed diapers, got her in her car seat and helped get her fed. It was a blast seeing the magic through the eyes of a 21/2 year old. She really enjoyed it and held up really well.
It was Aunties first trip and she was blown away. We enjoyed being together and seeing Auntie enjoy her first time at Disney. She said that everyone must come there at least once in their lives.
We go as a family every few years now and really enjoy it. As we all get older and have families of our own (I am trying now!), I know we will probably be going on our own and maybe only meeting up for meals or certain rides etc, but it still is great. So I cherished this time with my family. Not every family enjoys each others company like we do- enough to spend 9 days together in close quarters. But we had a blast and my family made it all the better, especially my parents who went above and beyond to make things special- like treating us to Hoop Dee Doo. I hope we get many more vacations like this together.
THE HIGHLIGHTS
We got to see just about everything we had planned to see, including seeing WISHES 3x, once from the Cali Grill. We saw Illuminations and part of Spectro. The Osborne Lights at MGM were probably a favorite of everyones. We thoroughly enjoyed the holiday atmosphere at all the resorts and the best night of the trip was the MVMCP. We had a blast that night and got so much done and just had FUN. Hoop Dee Doo was another highlight and great night.
TIMING
The timing was good too- we heard all about POP Warner and while it scared us a bit- it didnt seem to affect the crowds in the parks much. We rarely saw lines over 20 minutes and when we did, it was on a popular thrill ride on a weekend or something. And we didnt wait. We used fastpass and just plain timing to ride everything with less than 20 minute wait- most of the rides were walk ons or 5 minute waits. Now Pop Warner did affect our hotel stay- as we had to call security one night on them for being too loud past 11pm. The pool and food court was overwhelmed with crowds many days from POP. We wont go during POP week again UNLESS we are staying in a Deluxe. But otherwise, the timing was good- low crowds, nice weather and holiday decorations!
WEATHER
Was good- rained all day, literally all day, one day of our trip. Was overcast a few other days, but overall very nice. It got pretty chilly the night of the MVMCP (for us, Texans anyways). But we cant complain, the weather was pretty good.
HOTEL
Port Orleans Riverside was great- it was a second stay for us. I think next time we will try another resort, but we couldn't resist a second time here. We love the laid back feeling of the riverside and really enjoy the great pool and food court- it is just beautiful walking the trails in the morning to the food court. For a moderate, it is our favorite. Hopefully next stay we can move up to the deluxes. We got a rate of $99 a night for each room, so we couldn't beat that deal. Besides a few problems with POP crowds and noise there, it was fine. Mousekeeping was awesome and our room was pretty nice. Mike did ask us if any of us had cut our toenails, apparently he found some on the floor that Ally was about to put in her mouth......I guess it is hard for mousekeeping to see those? don't know, because that isnt' the first time I have heard that complaint. But overall, it was a great resort and great stay.
DINING
We had planned to do one sit down meal each day. We opted NOT to do the dining plan, it was just too much food and we like to share some meals anyways. We really enjoy our meals there- it is always a highlight of the trip.
CALI GRILL DINNER- awesome- great table and view, timed to see WISHES, filet was incredible and service is always top notch.
EARLE of SANDWICH- my favorite- it might be just a sandwich, but they are delicious! And I love the tomato soup. And who can beat the prices there- $5 for a huge sandwich and $1 for the sides. Dont miss it at DTD
SCI FI DINER- wont do again. WE went just for the atmosphere, since we are sci fi nuts. Food was okay, spinach dip was great, service was okay but the wait was so long, even with priority seating. If you love sci fi- its worth doing once, but dont expect much from the food.
FLAME TREE BARBEQUE- incredible- really great food, huge portions- good to share. A must if you are in AK and they offer great views in the seating area/patios- overlooking the river.
LIBERTY TREE TAVERN- we did the character dinner- one of our favorite meals- old fashioned style food- turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, delicious mac and cheese and cobbler. We just pigged out. Our waitress was horrible, but characters were great and the food was one of our favorite meals. We were seated quickly too.
PRINCESS BREAKFAST in NORWAY- first for most of us. We couldnt get Cinderella, so this was next up. It was pretty good actually. Characters were just great. Mulan was awesome and spent extra time with us and Snow White was adorable. Food was good too- rolls and fruit already waiting on the table for you. Service was great too. Would do again.
COSMIC RAYS- good selection when all three stations are open- great toppings bar and plenty of seating for fast food in tomorrowland.
HOOP DEE DOO REVUE- one of our favorite nights and favorite meals. Food was good- fried chicken, ribs, corn, beans and strawberry shortcake. But the entertainment and atmosphere was top notch, we thoroughly enjoyed it and will do it again.
50S PRIME TIME- at MGM- another favorite- for the atmosphere, not the food. Food was okay, better than average- they split up sandwich for us and gave us regular helpings of fries even though we shared- very nice. Great to play along- but be sure you are in the playing mood to come here or it isnt worth your time. Serious folks, dont bother. I highly recommend the Smores! Another long wait here, even with PS.
CRYSTAL PALACE- character breakfast with Pooh and friends. Schedule it late, so the restaurant was near empty, which was great- got more time with the characters. Food was good too- plenty still available- they were clearing it away and preparing for lunch as we walked out. Cheesy hashbrowns to die for! We love this breakfast and will be back. Had a bad server, but still a good meal.
PECOS BILLS- great fast food choice for MK. Good salads, great topping bar and the renovation offers more seating for everyone. Would do again.
POR FOOD COURT- crowded with POP. The one day we had lunch there was good- pasta selections, pizza, burgers and more. Enjoyed the ice cream too and refillable mugs. Great environment to people watch.
Well if you lasted this long- you are a real trooper- maybe even good enough to keep up with my commando style vacation!
Seriously though, thanks for taking the time to read- I hope it helped you relive the magic or get excited about your upcoming trip, I know I read them all the time before a trip. We all thank you for your time.......and Happy Holidays!
The Easlers, Rosenfelds, Auntie, and me- Michelle
Our last and final day. The final farewell to Mickey and the magic. We get up at about 5:30am- we have flights on American at 9:30am, but need to return the rental van to Thrifty, which is off site and take the shuttle to the airport from there. With all our luggage and a toddler, it is no easy task. We packed the day before, so most of us are ready to go. We went to the front desk to check out. We didnt leave a credit card on file, since we werent putting any charges to the room and didnt want to be tempted to do so, we did cash the whole way for meals and souvenirs, so we could better track our spending (or donation to the house of mouse!). But the bill was slid under our door at 5am and showed a one cent balance. So we went to the front to inquire and it isnt a charge at all, just how the process works. So we are all checked out. I grab a few brochures for the scrapbook from the lobby area and we fill up our mugs one last time. Take one last look around and we are gone. Bye POR.
We arrive at Thrifty in plenty of time, but it takes a while to get our luggage unloaded and then reloaded on the shuttle. What a pain. Magical Express sounded good then, but we heard so many bad stories, we just didnt want to risk it. We finally are loaded and off to the airport.
We all get there and get checked in. mandy and I pick the worst line- we thought it looked like a good one, but actually moves slower than all the others. Wendy and Mike got preferential treatment and escorted through quickly because of Ally and all their toddler stuff. We finally all get through security and take what we call the last ride- the airport monorail to the terminal. We then feast on some breakfast at the Burger King there- a tradition for our trips. Parents and Auntie are in first class again, so they dont eat and wait to get served on the plane instead. I should have used my upgrade as there were seats up there and I ended up sitting by myself in coach, although on an exit row. Wendy, Mike and Ally sat together. She slept most of the way home. I read and watched part of a movie.
We touchdown about 11am in Dallas and by the time we get our luggage etc, it is nearing noon. We go to the off site parking place to get our cars and my parents give me a ride back with them. My husband then met me at their house to pick me up. I had left my laptop from work at their house and had to have it for work the next day. So off we go, I figure, finally I can take a nice nap and recover from this vacation nope. My husband is taking me to the Cowboy game vs Kansas City, which turned out to be an awesome game. And what do I have on? My new WDW sweatshirt, that is all RED, the colors of KC. Oh well- I was still cheering the cowboys on, even wearing the competing teams colors. By the time we got home from the game- it was almost 7pm. I had work the next day and hadnt even unpacked. I cant tell you how exhausted I was! But it was all worth it.
FINAL NOTES:
We had planned this vacation for almost a year. We usually find a lot of our fun goes into the planning stages and it was no exception this year. We would meet to discuss our itinerary and where everyone wanted to eat etc. I was afraid the actual trip would be a let down after all the planning we had done. My mom made us itinerary notecards that were laminated on a keyring for each of us- they noted what park we planned to go each morning and night- where we were eating etc. They werent detailed down to the ride order or anything, but they were a great tool for the trip. We always knew what was next and could adjust or be flexible when we wanted to change plans.
It was a magical trip. We saw and did it all. Enjoyed great meals, great company and met some great people and CMs. Enjoyed great new attractions like soarin, did some shopping and enjoyed the holiday decorations. I cant imagine it being much better, to be honest.
PEOPLE
We did have a large group, which makes the vacation a little more difficult. At the beginning, we tried to do everything together, but it became obvious that Wendy and Mike would need alone time for their own family with Ally, so we would split up near the end a lot. And it worked fine. I did notice that we pushed really hard and went a lot. Our daily breaks helped, but when Mandy and I would want to skip the break, everyone else felt like they would miss out on something, if they didnt come along with us, then they would end up being worn out. So taking the break is a must. And splitting up isnt bad either.
But we all got along pretty good considering. I hope Wendy and Mike thought we helped out some with Ally- we changed diapers, got her in her car seat and helped get her fed. It was a blast seeing the magic through the eyes of a 21/2 year old. She really enjoyed it and held up really well.
It was Aunties first trip and she was blown away. We enjoyed being together and seeing Auntie enjoy her first time at Disney. She said that everyone must come there at least once in their lives.
We go as a family every few years now and really enjoy it. As we all get older and have families of our own (I am trying now!), I know we will probably be going on our own and maybe only meeting up for meals or certain rides etc, but it still is great. So I cherished this time with my family. Not every family enjoys each others company like we do- enough to spend 9 days together in close quarters. But we had a blast and my family made it all the better, especially my parents who went above and beyond to make things special- like treating us to Hoop Dee Doo. I hope we get many more vacations like this together.
THE HIGHLIGHTS
We got to see just about everything we had planned to see, including seeing WISHES 3x, once from the Cali Grill. We saw Illuminations and part of Spectro. The Osborne Lights at MGM were probably a favorite of everyones. We thoroughly enjoyed the holiday atmosphere at all the resorts and the best night of the trip was the MVMCP. We had a blast that night and got so much done and just had FUN. Hoop Dee Doo was another highlight and great night.
TIMING
The timing was good too- we heard all about POP Warner and while it scared us a bit- it didnt seem to affect the crowds in the parks much. We rarely saw lines over 20 minutes and when we did, it was on a popular thrill ride on a weekend or something. And we didnt wait. We used fastpass and just plain timing to ride everything with less than 20 minute wait- most of the rides were walk ons or 5 minute waits. Now Pop Warner did affect our hotel stay- as we had to call security one night on them for being too loud past 11pm. The pool and food court was overwhelmed with crowds many days from POP. We wont go during POP week again UNLESS we are staying in a Deluxe. But otherwise, the timing was good- low crowds, nice weather and holiday decorations!
WEATHER
Was good- rained all day, literally all day, one day of our trip. Was overcast a few other days, but overall very nice. It got pretty chilly the night of the MVMCP (for us, Texans anyways). But we cant complain, the weather was pretty good.
HOTEL
Port Orleans Riverside was great- it was a second stay for us. I think next time we will try another resort, but we couldn't resist a second time here. We love the laid back feeling of the riverside and really enjoy the great pool and food court- it is just beautiful walking the trails in the morning to the food court. For a moderate, it is our favorite. Hopefully next stay we can move up to the deluxes. We got a rate of $99 a night for each room, so we couldn't beat that deal. Besides a few problems with POP crowds and noise there, it was fine. Mousekeeping was awesome and our room was pretty nice. Mike did ask us if any of us had cut our toenails, apparently he found some on the floor that Ally was about to put in her mouth......I guess it is hard for mousekeeping to see those? don't know, because that isnt' the first time I have heard that complaint. But overall, it was a great resort and great stay.
DINING
We had planned to do one sit down meal each day. We opted NOT to do the dining plan, it was just too much food and we like to share some meals anyways. We really enjoy our meals there- it is always a highlight of the trip.
CALI GRILL DINNER- awesome- great table and view, timed to see WISHES, filet was incredible and service is always top notch.
EARLE of SANDWICH- my favorite- it might be just a sandwich, but they are delicious! And I love the tomato soup. And who can beat the prices there- $5 for a huge sandwich and $1 for the sides. Dont miss it at DTD
SCI FI DINER- wont do again. WE went just for the atmosphere, since we are sci fi nuts. Food was okay, spinach dip was great, service was okay but the wait was so long, even with priority seating. If you love sci fi- its worth doing once, but dont expect much from the food.
FLAME TREE BARBEQUE- incredible- really great food, huge portions- good to share. A must if you are in AK and they offer great views in the seating area/patios- overlooking the river.
LIBERTY TREE TAVERN- we did the character dinner- one of our favorite meals- old fashioned style food- turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, delicious mac and cheese and cobbler. We just pigged out. Our waitress was horrible, but characters were great and the food was one of our favorite meals. We were seated quickly too.
PRINCESS BREAKFAST in NORWAY- first for most of us. We couldnt get Cinderella, so this was next up. It was pretty good actually. Characters were just great. Mulan was awesome and spent extra time with us and Snow White was adorable. Food was good too- rolls and fruit already waiting on the table for you. Service was great too. Would do again.
COSMIC RAYS- good selection when all three stations are open- great toppings bar and plenty of seating for fast food in tomorrowland.
HOOP DEE DOO REVUE- one of our favorite nights and favorite meals. Food was good- fried chicken, ribs, corn, beans and strawberry shortcake. But the entertainment and atmosphere was top notch, we thoroughly enjoyed it and will do it again.
50S PRIME TIME- at MGM- another favorite- for the atmosphere, not the food. Food was okay, better than average- they split up sandwich for us and gave us regular helpings of fries even though we shared- very nice. Great to play along- but be sure you are in the playing mood to come here or it isnt worth your time. Serious folks, dont bother. I highly recommend the Smores! Another long wait here, even with PS.
CRYSTAL PALACE- character breakfast with Pooh and friends. Schedule it late, so the restaurant was near empty, which was great- got more time with the characters. Food was good too- plenty still available- they were clearing it away and preparing for lunch as we walked out. Cheesy hashbrowns to die for! We love this breakfast and will be back. Had a bad server, but still a good meal.
PECOS BILLS- great fast food choice for MK. Good salads, great topping bar and the renovation offers more seating for everyone. Would do again.
POR FOOD COURT- crowded with POP. The one day we had lunch there was good- pasta selections, pizza, burgers and more. Enjoyed the ice cream too and refillable mugs. Great environment to people watch.
Well if you lasted this long- you are a real trooper- maybe even good enough to keep up with my commando style vacation!
Seriously though, thanks for taking the time to read- I hope it helped you relive the magic or get excited about your upcoming trip, I know I read them all the time before a trip. We all thank you for your time.......and Happy Holidays!The Easlers, Rosenfelds, Auntie, and me- Michelle
We're planning a return in December 2007 and have already been having second thoughts because of POP. It didn't impact us much back in 2002, but we've had another baby since then and our memories aren't what they used to be. 
Your comments have helped justify our choosing the Wilderness Lodge next time. Thanks! 
(I won't say howdy) from a fellow Texan.
