Here's the first two days of my first ever trip report. I hope you enjoy it or at least don't fall asleep reading it!
Who:
Me Mom, chief obsessive tour planner, kids wild ride companion
DH coaster-phobic
DS1 age 9, junk food expert
DD age 6, thrill seeker, food allergies
DS2 20 months, the little guy, Pooh fan, his first Disney trip
Grandmom my mother from New Jersey
Granddad my father from New Jersey, chief stroller pusher
Background
This is our third trip to WDW with kids. In 1999, we stayed at POR with my parents and my brothers family. In January 2001 my parents and our family stayed at the Contemporary Tower with a Magic Kingdom view. This trip, we stayed at the Polynesian from September 28 to October 5 using the Fairytale Package. I called each of the sit-down restaurants 7 days before our PSs to discuss accommodations for DDs food allergies. My parents had already driven to Florida from New Jersey and were staying for a few days at Ormond Beach, Florida.
Day 1, Saturday, September 27
After frantic packing Friday night, we were ready to go by about 8:30. We tried out a new route to Orlando through the north Alabama-Georgia mountains. We picked up lunch from Wendys and stopped to eat at a rest area so the kids could run around. The DVD player in the van was great. I packed all Disney movies Lilo & Stitch, Stitch: The Movie, The Aristocats, Mary Poppins, Homeward Bound, Sleeping Beauty, The Many Adventure s of Winnie the Pooh, and Snow White. We finally stopped for the night in Gainesville, Florida after 9.5 hours of driving. The new route was good, but backups on I-75 put us behind schedule. I didnt think the little guy could take sitting down in a restaurant for dinner, so we got take out and ate dinner in our hotel room. For an added bit of vacation apprehension, DD had a fever and was feeling blah. I called my parents and told them we should be at the Polynesian between 10 and 11 am.
Day 2, Sunday, September 28
We were up early for the final leg of our Orlando journey. DD still had a fever, so we gave her some childrens Motrin. The Ramada Inn had an expanded continental breakfast, so we ate before checking out. DS2 *really* didnt want to get back in his car seat! We arrived at the Polynesian at 10:30. While waiting to check in, I called my parents. They took a wrong turn and were at Animal Kingdom Lodge. We checked in and found that our room was ready. Room 2407 was a lagoon view on the 2nd floor of Tuvalu with a connecting door to my parents room. Its very big and nicely decorated. We didnt have a balcony, but we did have sliding glass doors that open onto a railing. Our view includes the Grand Floridian, Cinderellas castle, Space Mountain, the monorail, and the Contemporary. To DS2s endless delight, we could also see the ducks that visit the patios along the waters edge. Our multitude of bags arrived, along with my parents. We unpacked a few things, then headed for Captain Cooks for lunch. After being refueled by French fries, chicken fingers, Polynesian chicken sandwiches, etc., we took the launch to the Magic Kingdom.
DD was still feeling blah, so we rented her a stroller. DS2 had his beloved red Combi London stroller to command. We walked down Main Street and through the castle towards our first ride on Cinderellas Golden Carrousel. But wait there was a cast member directing people into Mickeys Philharmagic! Deciding that Cinderella could wait, I quickly directed our group into Philharmagic. Everyone enjoyed it. DS2 laughed through the whole show. Next we took a quick ride on the Carrousel, while Granddad headed off to Splash Mountain to pick up some Fastpasses. While we are awaiting his return, DS1 spotted the ice cream vendor, who was soon ringing up our Mickey and Minnie bars. We ate our ice cream while walking to the Haunted Mansion. The kids were fine with riding the Haunted Mansion until we got inside. I reminded them that its all supposed to be funny spooky. We boarded our doom buggies. I had DS1 and DS2 riding with me. DS2 promptly fell asleep, but DS1 was scared. The ride stopped for a minute, then continued. Then it stopped for about 5 minutes. DS1 was really scared! I started pointing out the lights, cameras, and other technology in an attempt to distract him, but the people in the other buggies who decided it would be funny to scream werent helping our situation. We finally got restarted and finished our ride. At the exit of the ride, a woman was sitting in a wheelchair talking to security. DS1 and DD were thoroughly spooked by the ride and refused to ride the Haunted Mansion again during our vacation. DS2 was just cranky that his nap was interrupted.
It was almost time for the parade, so we found some spots in Liberty Square. We only had to wait 15 minutes, but the kids begged me to skip the parade and go to Splash Mountain. I cruelly made them stay for the parade, which they really enjoyed. After the parade, we headed for Splash Mountain, where Grandmom, the older kids, and I used our Fastpasses. Granddad and DH took DS2 for a walk. It was the first ride on Splash for DD and DS1. They loved it! We took the train over to Toontown, then took the back way to Tomorrowland. After a ride on Buzz Lightyear and a spin around the Tomorrowland Transit Authority, we board the monorail back to the Polynesian.
We ate dinner at Ohana at 5:40. We had a table in the back section with a view of the volcano pool. DH and I shared a Lapu Lapu, while we enjoyed the all-you-can eat dinner. A chef came out to talk through DDs menu. He provided her with her own shrimp, pork, and rice. DS1 only ate French fries, which was no surprise to us. Then we were off to the pool for a little relaxation and a lot of volcano sliding for the kids. The life jackets was great for DD. She could slide as much as she wanted without me worrying too much. She is definitely much more of a thrill seeker than her older brother was at this age!
We made it back to the room in time to watch the Electric Water Parade and go to bed.
LaurenS
Who:
Me Mom, chief obsessive tour planner, kids wild ride companion
DH coaster-phobic
DS1 age 9, junk food expert
DD age 6, thrill seeker, food allergies
DS2 20 months, the little guy, Pooh fan, his first Disney trip
Grandmom my mother from New Jersey
Granddad my father from New Jersey, chief stroller pusher
Background
This is our third trip to WDW with kids. In 1999, we stayed at POR with my parents and my brothers family. In January 2001 my parents and our family stayed at the Contemporary Tower with a Magic Kingdom view. This trip, we stayed at the Polynesian from September 28 to October 5 using the Fairytale Package. I called each of the sit-down restaurants 7 days before our PSs to discuss accommodations for DDs food allergies. My parents had already driven to Florida from New Jersey and were staying for a few days at Ormond Beach, Florida.
Day 1, Saturday, September 27
After frantic packing Friday night, we were ready to go by about 8:30. We tried out a new route to Orlando through the north Alabama-Georgia mountains. We picked up lunch from Wendys and stopped to eat at a rest area so the kids could run around. The DVD player in the van was great. I packed all Disney movies Lilo & Stitch, Stitch: The Movie, The Aristocats, Mary Poppins, Homeward Bound, Sleeping Beauty, The Many Adventure s of Winnie the Pooh, and Snow White. We finally stopped for the night in Gainesville, Florida after 9.5 hours of driving. The new route was good, but backups on I-75 put us behind schedule. I didnt think the little guy could take sitting down in a restaurant for dinner, so we got take out and ate dinner in our hotel room. For an added bit of vacation apprehension, DD had a fever and was feeling blah. I called my parents and told them we should be at the Polynesian between 10 and 11 am.
Day 2, Sunday, September 28
We were up early for the final leg of our Orlando journey. DD still had a fever, so we gave her some childrens Motrin. The Ramada Inn had an expanded continental breakfast, so we ate before checking out. DS2 *really* didnt want to get back in his car seat! We arrived at the Polynesian at 10:30. While waiting to check in, I called my parents. They took a wrong turn and were at Animal Kingdom Lodge. We checked in and found that our room was ready. Room 2407 was a lagoon view on the 2nd floor of Tuvalu with a connecting door to my parents room. Its very big and nicely decorated. We didnt have a balcony, but we did have sliding glass doors that open onto a railing. Our view includes the Grand Floridian, Cinderellas castle, Space Mountain, the monorail, and the Contemporary. To DS2s endless delight, we could also see the ducks that visit the patios along the waters edge. Our multitude of bags arrived, along with my parents. We unpacked a few things, then headed for Captain Cooks for lunch. After being refueled by French fries, chicken fingers, Polynesian chicken sandwiches, etc., we took the launch to the Magic Kingdom.
DD was still feeling blah, so we rented her a stroller. DS2 had his beloved red Combi London stroller to command. We walked down Main Street and through the castle towards our first ride on Cinderellas Golden Carrousel. But wait there was a cast member directing people into Mickeys Philharmagic! Deciding that Cinderella could wait, I quickly directed our group into Philharmagic. Everyone enjoyed it. DS2 laughed through the whole show. Next we took a quick ride on the Carrousel, while Granddad headed off to Splash Mountain to pick up some Fastpasses. While we are awaiting his return, DS1 spotted the ice cream vendor, who was soon ringing up our Mickey and Minnie bars. We ate our ice cream while walking to the Haunted Mansion. The kids were fine with riding the Haunted Mansion until we got inside. I reminded them that its all supposed to be funny spooky. We boarded our doom buggies. I had DS1 and DS2 riding with me. DS2 promptly fell asleep, but DS1 was scared. The ride stopped for a minute, then continued. Then it stopped for about 5 minutes. DS1 was really scared! I started pointing out the lights, cameras, and other technology in an attempt to distract him, but the people in the other buggies who decided it would be funny to scream werent helping our situation. We finally got restarted and finished our ride. At the exit of the ride, a woman was sitting in a wheelchair talking to security. DS1 and DD were thoroughly spooked by the ride and refused to ride the Haunted Mansion again during our vacation. DS2 was just cranky that his nap was interrupted.
It was almost time for the parade, so we found some spots in Liberty Square. We only had to wait 15 minutes, but the kids begged me to skip the parade and go to Splash Mountain. I cruelly made them stay for the parade, which they really enjoyed. After the parade, we headed for Splash Mountain, where Grandmom, the older kids, and I used our Fastpasses. Granddad and DH took DS2 for a walk. It was the first ride on Splash for DD and DS1. They loved it! We took the train over to Toontown, then took the back way to Tomorrowland. After a ride on Buzz Lightyear and a spin around the Tomorrowland Transit Authority, we board the monorail back to the Polynesian.
We ate dinner at Ohana at 5:40. We had a table in the back section with a view of the volcano pool. DH and I shared a Lapu Lapu, while we enjoyed the all-you-can eat dinner. A chef came out to talk through DDs menu. He provided her with her own shrimp, pork, and rice. DS1 only ate French fries, which was no surprise to us. Then we were off to the pool for a little relaxation and a lot of volcano sliding for the kids. The life jackets was great for DD. She could slide as much as she wanted without me worrying too much. She is definitely much more of a thrill seeker than her older brother was at this age!
We made it back to the room in time to watch the Electric Water Parade and go to bed.
LaurenS
