We just returned from our Disney trip. We (DH, DD12, DD9, DS5, and myself) drove from NJ to Florida . We first drove to my parents' house in Boynton Beach, then up to Disney, then home. It was 18 hours (over 2 days) from WDW to Central Jersey.
Day 1 - checkin (Thursday, 2/24/05)
We arrived at the Contemporary at 1PM. Check-in took a while and my kids were getting very antsy, but we got a wonderful 9th floor MK view room. The room had a fridge and a coffee maker, so I went to the 4th floor and bought a small milk for morning coffee. Then the kids hit the pool while we hit the Sand Bar. Ahhh - the start of vacation! We only stayed around an hour because it was chilly. We changed again, and took the boat to FW and then a scenic bus tour of the campground since we want to take our camper down next year. We were a little early for our Ohana dinner PS, so we rode around the monorail loop and then walked around the Poly inside and out. We had a great time at Ohana, but probably won't go back. The food was very tasty, but DH and I aren't big fans of big chunks of meat. After dinner we went back to our room and watched Wishes. We could almost hear the music and had a great view! DS5 decided it was too loud and watched from inside the patio door
Day 2 (Friday, 2/25/05)
We got to the MK just before 8AM EMH opening. It was a rainy day - it rained on and off. The waits were all < 10 minutes for everything. We stopped for breakfast at a cart for muffins and coffee/cocoa.
By 12:30 we had hit all our must-sees, so we went to Animal Kingdom. The waits were just as short there! We enjoyed our lunch at Restaurantosaurus. At around 2:30 it started to rain very hard, so we joined the crowds heading for Lion King at 3. The show was wonderful (we never saw it before) and DD9 was picked to participate! When we got out, the rain had stopped and not only had most people left when it had started to pour but even more were heading for the exits after the show, so we went to Kilamanjaro Safari and walked right on. We saw so many animals - the guide kept raving about how rare it was to see so many. Apparently they like the cool rainy weather. We saw a lion and lioness right up close! My girls wanted to go on Kali next, and we stopped and saw the Jamming Jungle Parade (great fun!) on the way there. Just like 4 years ago, they got soaked to their underwear (and AK was just about closing by then) so we went back to the room to change.
We got back to the MK around 7 and took the WDWRR to Pecos Bill for dinner, then back down to Main street to stake out a spot for Spectromagic. Since the crowds were pretty low, we had no problem getting a good spot. The parade was wonderful, and right after it went by we headed back to Tomorrowland for more rides. Unfortunately, we missed most of Wishes, but were enjoying what we were doing and DS5 would have been scared to be so close anyway. We got home pretty quickly, and went to sleep.
Day 3 (Saturday, 2/26/05)
We got to MGM at 8:30 for the 9AM opening and it was fairly crowded. There was some ESPN thing going on. We headed right to ToT when they dropped the rope and got right on. Partway through the first part of the ride, they announced there would be a delay, brought on the lights, and we sat there. Then the car started to move forward, and in front of the big doors there were 3 workmen! The doors wouldn't open, so they stopped the ride. They guys were great - talking to us about how the ride works and taking photos (I didn't take any). Since my DH and DD12 plus one other person didn't want to continue with the ride (DH didn't really want to ride in the first place and DD hates elevators), they had us all walk out. We walked back along the track and got to see the ride "behind the scenes". Then they brought us right to the front of the line and I rode with DD9 and DS5 (both of whom asked to go on again all day!).
We then got a FP for RNR and hit the cart for muffins/coffee/cocoa. The two girls rode RNR alone (DS5 is too short and I get motion sickness. DH just didn't want to go). We went on a few more rides and then left for Epcot, arriving around 1:30.
We were all still tired from the previous day and all a little grumpy, so it took a while for us to get in gear, but we got a FP for Test Track (for 7:25-8:25), made a 4:45 PS for the restaurant in Mexico, and rode Spaceship Earth. We did a bit more (including Mission: Space, which I skipped) and then headed for Mexico (all very hungry!). During our wait time, we enjoyed El Rio de Tiempo and then ate. Then we went through the whole World Showcase and the kids did every Kidcot station. They had a great time. We had gotten a stroller for DS since Epcot is so huge - it was a great move! We finished World Showcase at 8 and went on Test Track, which we all enjoyed. It was the first time for DS5 and myself since he was too small 4 years ago and I sat out with him then. He loved it! We found a great spot for Illuminations (on a little patio through a store directly across from the American pavilion) and then went home to bed.
Day 4 (Sunday, 2/27/05)
The forecast was for dangerous thunderstorms (including hail) all day, and we were under a tornado watch, though we didn't know it. So we did what any sensible people would - bought new ponchos to replace our ripped ones and got to MK for opening. There were absolutely no lines on anything. We started on Splash Mountain, figuring we were wet anyway. When we finished the ride, the CM asked if we wanted to go right back on, but since we were wetter from the rain (on the ride) than the ride itself, we decided to stick to indoor rides. As we walked down Frontierland, the streets were empty - we didn't see anyone else!!! We walked all the way to the castle to see if there had been any cancellations for the Cinderella breakfast (nope) while DH went to Pirates to get a souvenir he had seen on Friday. We then went on Space Mountain twice in a row, DH joining us for the second ride. Then we ate at Cosmic Ray's and it was great to get out of the rain! We rode some more rides in Tomorrowland and Fantasyland, then decided to go to Epcot so we could stay indoors in the big attractions.
We saw Honey I Shrunk the Audience (DS was scared), then did the whole plastics/robot thing in Innoventions (the kids loved it). The rain had stopped by then. Then we went to Mouse Gear for souvenirs. We had just enough time to get to MGM for our 4:20 PS for the Fantasmic Dinner package at Mama Melrose.
We had a wonderful dinner at Mama Melrose, then did Star Tours (I sat out - can't do those simulators). Then we got our EMH wristbands and headed for Fantasmic. They kept announcing that the show may or may not go on due to the weather, then finally announced "15 minuted to Fantasmic" and the crowd cheered. The crowds were lower than I had heard, probably due to the weather, and there were still people coming in up to 7. The show was wonderful. We went on a few more rides, did more souvenir shopping, and went back to the room. On the way there we were treated to the most entertaining bus drive ever - he told us about all the upcoming rides and festivities (like Cinderella's Coronation, which will be running for 18 months), told jokes, and led us in sing-a-longs of Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah and the Mickey Mouse Club song. We were (almost) sorry to be the first stop on the bus.
Day 5 - checkout (Monday, 2/28/05)
We were happy to "sleep in" since we only had to get to Chef Mickey's for our 8AM PS. The kids all enjoyed it. We were very happy to see DS5 really enjoying the characters since before this trip he hated them. By the end of this trip he was really excited to be with them! We went back to the room, packed, and started the long drive back home.
We can't wait to go back! Next year we want to go in April and bring our camper. The difference in price between the campground and the Contemporary makes it easy to afford to go every year instead of once every few years.
Day 1 - checkin (Thursday, 2/24/05)
We arrived at the Contemporary at 1PM. Check-in took a while and my kids were getting very antsy, but we got a wonderful 9th floor MK view room. The room had a fridge and a coffee maker, so I went to the 4th floor and bought a small milk for morning coffee. Then the kids hit the pool while we hit the Sand Bar. Ahhh - the start of vacation! We only stayed around an hour because it was chilly. We changed again, and took the boat to FW and then a scenic bus tour of the campground since we want to take our camper down next year. We were a little early for our Ohana dinner PS, so we rode around the monorail loop and then walked around the Poly inside and out. We had a great time at Ohana, but probably won't go back. The food was very tasty, but DH and I aren't big fans of big chunks of meat. After dinner we went back to our room and watched Wishes. We could almost hear the music and had a great view! DS5 decided it was too loud and watched from inside the patio door
Day 2 (Friday, 2/25/05)
We got to the MK just before 8AM EMH opening. It was a rainy day - it rained on and off. The waits were all < 10 minutes for everything. We stopped for breakfast at a cart for muffins and coffee/cocoa.
By 12:30 we had hit all our must-sees, so we went to Animal Kingdom. The waits were just as short there! We enjoyed our lunch at Restaurantosaurus. At around 2:30 it started to rain very hard, so we joined the crowds heading for Lion King at 3. The show was wonderful (we never saw it before) and DD9 was picked to participate! When we got out, the rain had stopped and not only had most people left when it had started to pour but even more were heading for the exits after the show, so we went to Kilamanjaro Safari and walked right on. We saw so many animals - the guide kept raving about how rare it was to see so many. Apparently they like the cool rainy weather. We saw a lion and lioness right up close! My girls wanted to go on Kali next, and we stopped and saw the Jamming Jungle Parade (great fun!) on the way there. Just like 4 years ago, they got soaked to their underwear (and AK was just about closing by then) so we went back to the room to change.
We got back to the MK around 7 and took the WDWRR to Pecos Bill for dinner, then back down to Main street to stake out a spot for Spectromagic. Since the crowds were pretty low, we had no problem getting a good spot. The parade was wonderful, and right after it went by we headed back to Tomorrowland for more rides. Unfortunately, we missed most of Wishes, but were enjoying what we were doing and DS5 would have been scared to be so close anyway. We got home pretty quickly, and went to sleep.
Day 3 (Saturday, 2/26/05)
We got to MGM at 8:30 for the 9AM opening and it was fairly crowded. There was some ESPN thing going on. We headed right to ToT when they dropped the rope and got right on. Partway through the first part of the ride, they announced there would be a delay, brought on the lights, and we sat there. Then the car started to move forward, and in front of the big doors there were 3 workmen! The doors wouldn't open, so they stopped the ride. They guys were great - talking to us about how the ride works and taking photos (I didn't take any). Since my DH and DD12 plus one other person didn't want to continue with the ride (DH didn't really want to ride in the first place and DD hates elevators), they had us all walk out. We walked back along the track and got to see the ride "behind the scenes". Then they brought us right to the front of the line and I rode with DD9 and DS5 (both of whom asked to go on again all day!).
We then got a FP for RNR and hit the cart for muffins/coffee/cocoa. The two girls rode RNR alone (DS5 is too short and I get motion sickness. DH just didn't want to go). We went on a few more rides and then left for Epcot, arriving around 1:30.
We were all still tired from the previous day and all a little grumpy, so it took a while for us to get in gear, but we got a FP for Test Track (for 7:25-8:25), made a 4:45 PS for the restaurant in Mexico, and rode Spaceship Earth. We did a bit more (including Mission: Space, which I skipped) and then headed for Mexico (all very hungry!). During our wait time, we enjoyed El Rio de Tiempo and then ate. Then we went through the whole World Showcase and the kids did every Kidcot station. They had a great time. We had gotten a stroller for DS since Epcot is so huge - it was a great move! We finished World Showcase at 8 and went on Test Track, which we all enjoyed. It was the first time for DS5 and myself since he was too small 4 years ago and I sat out with him then. He loved it! We found a great spot for Illuminations (on a little patio through a store directly across from the American pavilion) and then went home to bed.
Day 4 (Sunday, 2/27/05)
The forecast was for dangerous thunderstorms (including hail) all day, and we were under a tornado watch, though we didn't know it. So we did what any sensible people would - bought new ponchos to replace our ripped ones and got to MK for opening. There were absolutely no lines on anything. We started on Splash Mountain, figuring we were wet anyway. When we finished the ride, the CM asked if we wanted to go right back on, but since we were wetter from the rain (on the ride) than the ride itself, we decided to stick to indoor rides. As we walked down Frontierland, the streets were empty - we didn't see anyone else!!! We walked all the way to the castle to see if there had been any cancellations for the Cinderella breakfast (nope) while DH went to Pirates to get a souvenir he had seen on Friday. We then went on Space Mountain twice in a row, DH joining us for the second ride. Then we ate at Cosmic Ray's and it was great to get out of the rain! We rode some more rides in Tomorrowland and Fantasyland, then decided to go to Epcot so we could stay indoors in the big attractions.
We saw Honey I Shrunk the Audience (DS was scared), then did the whole plastics/robot thing in Innoventions (the kids loved it). The rain had stopped by then. Then we went to Mouse Gear for souvenirs. We had just enough time to get to MGM for our 4:20 PS for the Fantasmic Dinner package at Mama Melrose.
We had a wonderful dinner at Mama Melrose, then did Star Tours (I sat out - can't do those simulators). Then we got our EMH wristbands and headed for Fantasmic. They kept announcing that the show may or may not go on due to the weather, then finally announced "15 minuted to Fantasmic" and the crowd cheered. The crowds were lower than I had heard, probably due to the weather, and there were still people coming in up to 7. The show was wonderful. We went on a few more rides, did more souvenir shopping, and went back to the room. On the way there we were treated to the most entertaining bus drive ever - he told us about all the upcoming rides and festivities (like Cinderella's Coronation, which will be running for 18 months), told jokes, and led us in sing-a-longs of Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah and the Mickey Mouse Club song. We were (almost) sorry to be the first stop on the bus.
Day 5 - checkout (Monday, 2/28/05)
We were happy to "sleep in" since we only had to get to Chef Mickey's for our 8AM PS. The kids all enjoyed it. We were very happy to see DS5 really enjoying the characters since before this trip he hated them. By the end of this trip he was really excited to be with them! We went back to the room, packed, and started the long drive back home.
We can't wait to go back! Next year we want to go in April and bring our camper. The difference in price between the campground and the Contemporary makes it easy to afford to go every year instead of once every few years.
We have had some pretty rainy/cold days our last two trips down but it is always better than being in Michigan in February! I'm glad your family had a nice trip and how exciting that your DD got to be in Lion King!! 
