9 Day Trip Report - Part 1

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Walt Disney World Trip Report
April 17th-April 25th


Members include myself, hubby and 4 year old son. My hubby and I had honeymooned here 15 years ago, so this trip was our frist trip together as a family. We originally had the Dreamaker package and switched it to the MYW tickets and All Star Movies separate for an overall savings of $805. Airfare ($470), Hotel ($533), park tickets ($833), towncar ($103 w/tip) for a total of $1,939 for 9 days.

Sunday, April 17th

We flew AirTran out of Pittsburgh at 11:03 am. I had done our
Boarding passes online 24 hours before we left and got to pick our seats so we knew we would be together during the flight. That worked out well and the employees at AirTran were glad that we had our boarding passes and it took no time at all. Security was fairly tight—had to take our shoes off, and cameras out of the bags. We all got through with no problems.

Boarded the plane, which was clean and the staff was friendly. We were a few minutes late because they had to check a few bags. But we would make up the time according to the pilot. We were served the obligatory pretzels and small cookie and drink. Flight was 1 hour and 44 minutes with clear weather.

We were met by Ray from Prestige Towncar Service, who was super nice and overly friendly. He helped carry our bags and brought the car around for us. The car was clean and comfortable and the ride was great. We headed for Albertson’s for some snacks, water and soda for the week. Then we went to All Star Movies, which is where we would be for the next 9 days. We paid Ray—used our Visa and tipped him in cash. We had booked Prestige when the price was $80 with the $5 off coupon---their prices are now $90. Tipped him $13 and off to the hotel check-in line we went after giving our bags to the bellhop for delivery.

We had requested the Toy Story building since my son is a huge fan of Buzz and Woody, but all they had available was the Dalmation building #1. So I asked if we could move the next day and she said not until Tuesday. So we said ok. But now that I think about it, I think if I wasn’t so tired, I would have tried to fight a little harder for that building. The girl really didn’t ask anything when we checked in—preferences or anything and what’s up with them having to call someone to see if a room is available? Don’t they have a computer screen to check those kinds of things?

We also ordered a refrigerator for the week. Note that if you need a fridge for medical reasons, there is no charge. We paid $10.70 per day for the rental of the fridge.

We were given our room keys which were also good for room charges up to $500 and admittance into the parks. My son’s key had written that it was not good for charges.

So anyway, we’re tired and we just want to get to our room. We find the Dalmation building and our floor (2nd) and find our room. Upon opening the door, it was the spitting image of a Travelodge room. 2 double beds, bathroom sink outside the small bathroom. Décor was ok with Dalmation border and a picture on the wall. The light above the small table looked like a box of popcorn. The 2 star lights above the beds were very bright.

We get comfy with the room and decide we’re going to go to Magic Kingdom for the rest of the afternoon. When we arrived I could not believe the amount of people in this park. I didn’t remember the park being this crowded—ever. But maybe it’s like that all the time. It just overwhelmed me a little.

So we took a walk down Main Street, not really stopping at the stores. When we reached close to the castle, we could see tons of people standing around. Cinderellabration was going on, so we caught the last 10 min of it. We wandered a little around Tomorrowland and then decided we’d better head to the Contemporary since we had priority seating for Chef Mickey’s. We took the monorail there and we were about ½ hour early. So we got into line and the girl told us it would still be at our regular time of 7:10 if not later. So we stood and watched Donald Duck do autographs and pictures. The place was a madhouse.

We finally got seated close to 7:30 and went to the buffet. We weren’t overly impressed with this buffet. There wasn’t much variety for the price that was charged, BUT the character’s were great. So I guess you pay the price for that. Mickey, Goofy, Minnie, Chip and Dale. It was $70.26 for us 3 to eat here. They also took our picture while waiting in line and that was another $26.63 if you wished to purchase the package, which included 2-5x7’s a keychain, magnet and a couple wallets. Which we did. Maybe it was just the first night of being there and not being used to so many kids running around and people, but the whole meal was very overwhelming to us.

We left there and headed back to the Magic Kingdom via monorail and got the bus back to our hotel for some much needed travel rest. Our bags were there, but the fridge was not. So we called down and they said they’d bring one right up. We were not to be charged for that first night since it never showed up until late.

Monday, April 18th

We woke up early and got ready. Had breakfast at the World Premiere Foodcourt at our hotel. Rice Krispies, 2 Apple Jacks and 2 cartons of milk $10. We then took the bus to Animal Kingdom.

Got in line for Kiliminjaro’s Safari, waited ½ hour. It was a good ride, saw a lot of animals. We left there and went to Rafiki’s Planet Watch via the train. Our son got his picture taken with Stanley. We then took the train back and went to the Lion King Show. This show is EXCELLENT! Lots of colors and music. Acrobat acts also. I would highly recommend it to anybody.

After the show we left for MGM. We had promised our son lunch of pizza at Pizza Planet. Took the bus there and headed right for Pizza Planet. The seating area was packed. So hubby decided to get the food while we scoped out a seat. Finally found one and we people watched while we waited. 2 personal pizzas, 2 sodas, small salad and buzz cup $20. The pizza was ok, nothing special and later found out it’s the same pizza you get at the foodcourts or anywhere inside any of the Disney parks.

We stopped in at the arcade for a little bit, but it wasn’t that exciting either. Some of the games didn’t even work or just ate your money with no play at all.

After that we went to the Muppets 3D movie. Very cute—we all enjoyed this movie a lot. After the movie we headed to Al’s Toy Barn to get Woody, Buzz and Jessies autograph’s and pictures.

My hubby and I both CRIED when my son went up to them---he has been the biggest Toy Story fan for years. He knows all the movies word by word. I thought my heart was gonna burst when I saw him hug Woody, it was sooooo sweet! We had bought him one of those baby Buzz stuffed dolls and he didn’t want Woody to see that he was holding Buzz—how funny that was!

Woody and Buzz stamp the autograph books—Jessie writes. Just a little sidenote there.

After that fun, we went to the Great Movie Ride. My son was sort of scared of this for some reason. I think it was too dark for him and kinda loud. It’s really not that exciting of a ride, but a nice break for our feet.

Then we went to Magic of Disney Animation. We sat through the quirky film and then into another room to meet the Incredibles. Frozone was standing in line doing pics and autographs while Bob and ElastiGirl were out front doing pics. I thought they all looked so real and like the movie, it was amazing! We all got our pics taken with them.

After that we left to go to The 50’s Primetime Café. We had priority seating for 5:55 It was awesome! The place really had the 50’s feel to it with the black and white tv’s at the tables and the aqua color to everything. We both ordered the fried chicken, which came with mashed potatoes and green beans. Our son ordered pb & jelly. The food was EXCELLENT. $38 total Chicken dinner was $12.99

One of the people next to us didn’t eat their green beans. The waitress came back with them on a plate with a huge gob of whipped cream on them and told her she had to eat them.

Also, one of the waiters spilled a milkshake on a girl. They got up and left. And after that the waiter got put into the corner and we all had to say “Don’t make a mess in Mom’s kitchen!” It was quite comical. We’d go back here in a heartbeat.

After dinner we went back to the hotel and swam for a bit. Then we hit the arcade up again. Then turned in for the night.

Then the phone calls in the middle of the night started. Seems there were a lot of spring break children there last week and they had nothing better to do than jump off the balconies and call our room 2-3 times a night to giggle or talk dirty. I finally learned after a few nights of this to unplug the phone.

Tuesday, April 19th

We got up early and got to Magic Kingdom right as it opened. I made a run for the Buzz Spin ride to get us fast passes. Then we took a walk through the Castle and a quick tour of Fantasyland. Then we had priority seating at Crystal Palace for 10:30 The breakfast buffet was good—had eggs, bacon, ham, waffles, breakfast pizza, sausage gravy, biscuits, breads, muffins, donut holes, crumb cake and fruit. Service was great with constant orange juice flowing. Tigger, Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore and Piglet were the characters who circled around the place taking pics and signing books. Total for breakfast was $48.96 (17.99 adult/9.99 child)

After breakfast we went to Liberty Square and saw the Presidents. That show always fascinates me for some reason. The way some of those men move and rattle their papers just makes it look so lifelike.

To liven things up a little, we then went to the Haunted Mansion. I forewarned my 4 year old that if things got to scary to just close his eyes and it would be over soon. Little did I know he had a plan of his own. He started scaring the creatures back! He’d yell BOO! or GOTCHA! It was quite comical.

After that ride we took a stroll to Fantasyland. Hubby went and got us fastpasses for Mickey’s Philharmagic. We stood in line for It’s a Small World for about ½ hour. We hated that ride 15 years ago and we still hate it today. Without even saying anything like that to our son, he knew himself---because he kept saying, is it over YET? He said he was so “boring” (meaning bored).

We were going to do Peter Pan, but decided against it. So we went to Mickey’s Philharmagic. We LOVED it! It was a 3D movie and very enjoyable.

After the movie, my son wanted to ride the carousel, so he did that and had a blast.

My hubby had plans of riding the Indy Speedway, so we made our way to there. He went and rode because we thought our son was too short to ride it—but while my son and I were standing there (near Toontown) we saw lots of little kids riding. So after about an hour, here comes my hubby riding in one of the cars. My son’s screaming, “I wanna ride too!” so being the great dad that he is, my hubby came and got our son and they both went and rode it. Which took another hour. My hubby said it wasn’t worth the wait and wasn’t even fun.

Then we took a walk through Toontown in which our son had no interest in at all. So we took the train to Frontierland and got a fastpass for Splash Mountain. In the meantime we rode Thunder Canyon and our son LOVED it! We thought he’d be scared to death, but there he was with his little arms and hands up in the air screaming his lungs out and giggling. It was such a blast watching him! By the way, the wait to get on here wasn’t even 15 minutes at that time.

So after the ride we decided we were hungry and wanted to try Cosmic Ray’s. So we took the train back over to Toontown and went to Ray’s in Tomorrowland. I had heard decent reviews about this place. Sorry folks, but we will be passing by here next time. Hubby had chicken, I had ribs and our son had a burger. The burger seemed to be the best out of the 3. Cost of burger/fries and milk was $8.29 The chicken was $7.29 and ribs were $8.69 The ribs tasted old, which doesn’t go over well with me—plus there wasn’t any sauce on them at all. They also served mashed potatoes with nothing on them—no gravy, no butter…nothing. Drinks were $1.99 Total $29.55

After the horrendous meal we took the train back over to Frontierland again to Splash Mountain to use our fastpasses. We all LOVED it too---only got mildly wet. Sat in the next to the last seat on the boat.

After the ride we took the train to Main Street and came back to ASMo for some rest and relaxation.


Wednesday, April 20th

Had breakfast at the foodcourt at All Star Movies. A muffin, 2 cereals with milk and an orange juice $10.66

Then we headed to Epcot. Went to Innoventions West and my son LOVED that Disney ToonTag game. They kept saying that you could play it at home, but we still have yet to find it on toontown.com We also sent a D-mail to our friends—this is right beside the toontown game. You get a 10 second d-mail sent to anybody you want.

We also did the building a robot game. It was fun, but we were worn out from running so fast and hard. My son loved the robots we made though.

After we left there we went to the Living Seas. That movie REALLY needs updated, what a bore! Then we went to Turtle Talk---if you have a young child, you HAVE to go there. Even for us adults, it was really fun.

After talking to Crush, we went to Honey I Shrunk the Audience. It was ok, but I wouldn’t do it again. The mice and snake thing was a little much for my son (and myself). I had my feet up on the chair the whole time.

We then went to Soarin’. We waited over an hour for this 8 minute ride. It was good—my son enjoyed it. You sit in a row of seats and your feet hang down. Then the movie plays and it feels like you’re flying through the air. Different smells from what you’re flying over (orange fields, pine trees, etc).

After we did that, we went to Test Track. I didn’t ride, but my hubby and son did. They both said it was really fast.

We then took the Monorail to TTC and then took the ferryboat to Fort Wilderness. We had priority seating for 5:30 We got right in with no wait at all. In fact, the place was pretty empty but filled up by the time we left. We both ordered the Canyon Skillet which was $21.99 per person. It had chicken, ribs, shredded pork, sausage, corn on the cob, baked beans, mashed potatoes. You also got cole slaw, salad and cornbread. Our son got a cheeseburger and fries and an orange milkshake. It was all very good, but we didn’t eat our money’s worth off that skillet. It just seemed like an awful lot of meat. And they really didn’t offer to refill anything. The burger was $5.49, the drinks were $2.19 So total was $62.03

We then waited a long time for the ferry and took it back to Magic Kingdom. We sat on top of the train station—looking straight at the castle for 2 hours while waiting for the parade to start. It was a good parade, but doubt I’d sit there that long again to watch it. We then watched Wishes at 10 pm. It was good also, but probably wouldn’t stay to watch it again. We live in the capital fireworks of America and Disney could use a little hand in the fireworks department.

Onto Part 2....
 
Enjoyed reading both parts of your report. One question- if you don't mind- how did you get 8 nights at the asmovies for 533?
 
I had a code that I applied to my reservation. Thanks for reading, glad you enjoyed it. I love writing trip reports, it's like being there all over again!
 
I love your trip report so far!!! We are going this April 22nd through 29th. We are staying at the All Star Movies with our two 4 year old twins (one boy and one girl)... Your trip report is exactly what we needed to read!!! Cannot wait to read more!!! popcorn::
 













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