Almost Anything Can Happen On A Commando WDW Vacation - Updated 10/17

[Disney Commando]

Let me introduce everyone 1st, My name is Ron (aka Disney Commando) proud member of The WDW Commando Club & The Dis Dads Club.
My wife Rachel & My 6yr old son Hunter(this was his 7th trip to WDW)

Just incase anyone is wondering, The definition of Commando refered here is a lot closer to the one you find in the dictionary - Commando - a soldier specially trained to carry out raids

Not the no underwear version

Anyway we had the van packed up ready to leave at 7am Aug 20th from NJ to our next destination Lorton VA to board the Autotrain for a overnight ride that will bring us 39miles from the resort

Traffic was not too bad and we arrived in Lorton around 12:30pm, ate lunch and truned in the van so it can be loaded into the train, around 2:45pm passengers were allowed to board the train, and the train departed around 3:40pm (20mins early)

When we got on the train I pulled out my 100 plus pages of notes to put together our daily plans By 5pm (dinner time) I had everything looked over & packed up, my wife said are you done already
I said yes, she then looked at the finished pocket notebook and got a worried look on her face all that was in it was what parks when and ADR's

After doing this so many times, and changing things as the day goes by, I thought it would be interesting to jot down what we did, instead of what we want to do Well as you will find out it worked out just fine

At 7:30 we watched Rango! in the Lounge car, had a few cocktails and went to sleep, big day tommorrow

8/21 at 6am the 1st call for breakfast is made, we then find out we will be arriving in Stanford Fl around 8:15 (about a hour early) once we arrived and everyone parted the train we waited for our van to come off and we were on our way, Next stop All Star Movies Resort

We arrived at ASMo and since we did online check-in our room was ready at 10:08am our room was in the Toy Story section, I unloaded the van, got changed and had lunch at the resort

Next up 1st park AK

 

[baseballmickey]

Hey, I'm joining in! Let's go! what are we waiting for?

oh... more people are coming?

okay, i'll wait.

 

[dvczerfs]

COOOOOMANDOOOOOOOO!!! "walk faster or get dragged!"

 

[justakrazymom]

I'm in!

 

[DisGal520]

Oh commando leader....didn't you mean the train arrived in Sanford, FL?


Or is it making additional stops?

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

This should be fun… mind if I follow along Ron?

The Autotrain sound like an interesting spin on the Drive/Fly conundrum of getting to The World. Can you talk a bit on how the rates compare, what y’all like about it, and anything else you’d like to pass on? I’d also be interested in knowing some of the other depots that is stops at along the way.

Great start so far and I’m looking forward to hearing much more.

 

[jmm476]

Hello to our fearless commando leader! Can't wait to hear all about the trip.

 

[Disney Commando]

Everyone, All Commandos & Dis Dads have VIP seating, Bob Uecker will now take you to the front row

Oh commando leader....didn't you mean the train arrived in Sanford, FL?


Or is it making additional stops?

Oh my bad, I do this all the time You are correct it is Sanford FL

This should be fun… mind if I follow along Ron?

The Autotrain sound like an interesting spin on the Drive/Fly conundrum of getting to The World. Can you talk a bit on how the rates compare, what y’all like about it, and anything else you’d like to pass on? I’d also be interested in knowing some of the other depots that is stops at along the way.

Great start so far and I’m looking forward to hearing much more.

The reason's we take the Autotrain, My back really starts acting up after about 4hrs driving (guess the freezer is getting to me), since it travels at night, you can get sleep in before arriving in FL in the AM, fresh and ready for the parks

It is approx a 900mile trip, so you avoided getting beat up from driving it

We take Coach, 3 of us + a mini van, trip includes dinner & breakfast

Cost - It depends how early you book it, we booked in Jan before a huge fuel cost jump, with AAA discount round trip came to $939, now Amtrak cancelled our return trip due to the storm and refunded $519, have no idea why it is $100 more to come home

Cost compared to driving, since we had to drive back I can answer this
- 3 fill ups at $55 rounded off -$165
- Room for the night $112 with tax
- 2 lunches for 3 - $50
- 1 dinner for 3 - $50
For a grand total of $377 so for a extra $142 more you don't take a beating from the drive, What a bargin now if I did it going I would only saved $43

Now this will not be the same for everyone it depends on what you drive, where you stay, where you eat
The AutoTrain starts in Lorton VA and stops in Sanford FL, makes 1 stop inbetween for fuel & change of crew (I think it's somewhere in SC)

 

[Disney Commando]

After we got settled and ate lunch it was time to hit a park since it was around noon now and with a 5pm ADR this was going to be quick

My son wanted to go to AK as his 1st park with Dinosour as his 1st ride, So being a good Dad I can't deny my son , so it was off to AK, we were able to get a few photopass pics in , when we got near Dinosour I kinda pulled a fast one by bypassing it and going to see Nemo 1st (show was going to start in 20mins), my son was alittle upset but he cut a deal with me that we would have to do Dinosour 2times in a row, he wins deal made

After Nemo we did do Dinosour 2 times (about 15min wait) but after the 2nd time we had to leave to go back to the resort before the 5pm Ohana's ADR to grab everything we would need for the night

 

[dvczerfs]

nice update ron. one nemo for 2 dino? he made out in the deal. ok, i know whats coming (i think) this evening. (cards,cards,cards) which i printed my list of goals. im going to have to borrow a little kid with sad little eyes i think. but its worth a shot, the most they could say is no.

 

[Disney Commando]

We went back to the resort for a quick pitstop, I wanted to take a overdue shower since I didn't get to take one at checkin (my wife & son did, but I was bringing half the house from the van to the room) Also since we were going to meet up with Brent (BigTikiDaddy) and his family, I wanted to wear my Disney Commando / Dis Dads polo shirt so he could spot us

It's now 4:30 & we have a 5pm ADR at Ohana's, we were going to catch the bus to the MK, but it left a few minutes before we got there, so a Epcot bus pulled up and we jumped on(this was going to be a longer route,but at least we are on the way) when we got to Epcot, we were the last off the bus so my son and I went up to the bus driver, and my son asked if he had any bus cards, he said yes and he recieved all 3 bus cards

Now it's off to the Monorail, we came across a CM and my son asked if she had any monorail cards, she said no, but he could pick a pin from her sasche

Once we reached Tickets & Trans station my son asked a CM there if he had any cards ,he did and gave him 1

We arrive at Ohana's 10mins late, but since we were the 1st seating they were still getting everyone seated This was our 1st time there and it won't be our last The food was great, we had a window seat, my son played the game where they roll a coconut with a broom, entertainment was like being in Hawaii

My sons 1st official autograph was the ukulele players

After dinner we board the monorail, we asked a CM at the Poly station if he had any cards, he gave my son 3

When we got off at the MK, coming down the ramp I spoted a few boat CM's at the Transportation booth so we headed over, to see if they had any boat cards, we recieved 5

Not bad for a few hours, it's kinda funny how Transportation Cards would play in a trip report, but since I always talk about them, so if I expect you to be able to get them, I also must be able to get them

MMMMMMMMM Dave I expect to hear you got a bunch of cards when you get back, NO Excuse

Next up MK and a Lalapalooza of fun

 

[jmm476]

That's awesome that you scored so many cards in such a short timeframe! I went to 'Ohana for dinner last year for the first time (had been for breakfast before) and we loved it! It's on my list of repeats. And a window seat makes it that much better. Nothing like staring at the castle as you eat...

 

[dvczerfs]

great, no pressure!

 

[Disney Commando]

great, no pressure!

I'll be watching

 

[BigTikiDaddy]

Okay...here!

 

[keholman15]

Cool,here,here ,I am in, yeah! Can't wait to hear all about the trip.

 

[Disney Commando]

We enter MK around 6:45pm, and rent a stroller (OK he is 6, but since we will be there till closing, there's no way I'm going to carry 55lbs around the park) as we enter Main Street is lined up for the parade, I notice Mickey & Minnie only have a 15min wait, I send my wife and son to the line and go to FP's for the Princess M&G

In line someone was asking about my shirt, this was just a start of what was to come After seeing Minnie & Mickey, our FP was in the time frame so we got on the Princess line, only waited about 5 mins with the FP. We were the last family in the room so we had alittle extra time with each one since it was backed up abit

When we were walking up to Belle, she was reading my shirt and said The Dis Dads Club, strangely I have heard of this club (I know how ) Turns out Belle is pretty hip, while waiting to see Cinderella, My son and Belle were playing Pokemon with his cards

When we got out the end of the parade was half way down Main St. so we worked our way down MS when we got up to Casey's we hung a quick left and headed to AL, 1st ride The Jungle Cruise this turned out to be a tie for the ride we rode the most (at 9 times for the week), we then went to Thunder Mountian when we got off I asked him what he wanted to go on next, well we were back at The Jungle cruise, when we got off it was around 9:10 we started to head back towards The Plaza Terrence, since we had ressies from a AAA perk at 10.

As we are walking I noticed that the line to see The Faries was only 20mins, I said we have time let's get it done, while on line the lady in front of us asked about the shirt, next thing you know she has her weeks plan out, asking if it was good and if she should change anything, so here I am looking over thier plans, come on line move faster My wife was ready to bust a gut laughing I look at my cell phone it's 9:40 still have a few in front of us After we see Tink and the one that starts with a V its 9:51 gives us 9 mins to get there We made great time until we got to MS it was wall to wall people, we had about 50ft to go but it might as well have been a mile trying to cross the street with a stroller no less was a lot harder then I thought it was going to be As luck would have it a CM with a light stick was passing by, I told him we had ressie's for The Plaza Terrence how do we get there. He said follow me and stay close, amazing the power of the light stick we were across the street and where we had to be in no time

Next up- We meet up with BigTikiDaddy and family & together continue the night

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

When we were walking up to Belle, she was reading my shirt and said The Dis Dads Club, strangely I have heard of this club

Our reputation proceed us

…while waiting to see Cinderella, My son and Belle were playing Pokemon with his cards.

Tell me you got a picture of this. Oh, please, please, please…

Pictures!!!!

1st ride The Jungle Cruise this turned out to be a tie for the ride we rode the most

One of our favorites (I can’t get enough of the bad jokes & puns)

while on line the lady in front of us asked about the shirt, next thing you know she has her weeks plan out, asking if it was good and if she should change anything…

So… just how often did that end up happening?

we had about 50ft to go but it might as well have been a mile

As luck would have it a CM with a light stick was passing by, I told him we had ressie's for The Plaza Terrence how do we get there. He said follow me and stay close…

Telling a Disney Commando to stay close! He didn’t know just who he was dealing with there, now did he.

…amazing the power of the light stick

Disney magic comes in all forms





Very nice update Ron. You are a master at packing a lot into the time available.

Also… thanks for the details on the AutoTrain I might have to look into it some time just for the adventure of it.

 

[kdka421]

I just wanted to jump in and say hello! I started reading when I saw that you took the AutoTrain down.

We had planned the AutoTrain for the first time for this last trip, we were there just after you, so we had the same situation as you but in reverse - our train down was canceled due to Irene, so we drove down and took the train back.
It sounds like you've taken the AutoTrain a number of times, is that true? We had done the regular Amtrak twice before from NY to FL, but not in a while. We loved the convenience of the AutoTrain, but I don't think we'd ever do it again, because none of us were able to sleep. Oh well, live and learn. Many people do love it though, so I'm glad it works for you!

 

[Disney Commando]

Our reputation proceed us




Tell me you got a picture of this. Oh, please, please, please…

Pictures!!!!




One of our favorites (I can’t get enough of the bad jokes & puns)




So… just how often did that end up happening?









Telling a Disney Commando to stay close! He didn’t know just who he was dealing with there, now did he.




Disney magic comes in all forms





Very nice update Ron. You are a master at packing a lot into the time available.

Also… thanks for the details on the AutoTrain I might have to look into it some time just for the adventure of it.

Rob sent you a PM
Yes I did get a shot of Hunter & Belle playing Pokemon, hopefully I can get it on here somehow, since I don't know how to download it from the phone

I was getting asked about name & club alittle too often and it will still happen a couple more times during the night (stay tuned)

I don't think the CM with the light stick could see my shirt it was pretty dark