Another Live Trip Report Becoming an Ex-Live Trip Report - Until Next Time!

[lucincia]

Today is 9/27, Thursday.

DW, DD8, DD4, and I are on our way to WDW!

Since we got a free night stay, we stopped at a local casino hotel before heading off to Florida. Got to have some adult play time before we hit WDW and become kids again! Won some money so now have a bit more spending cash to feed the hungry Mouse.

Tomorrow - drive to Chicago.

The day after - catch a plane to Orlando!

For work reason, I will have internet connection every day. Will be interesting to see if I can keep up with this semi-live trip report.

More to come tomorrow night ....

 

[disneydance]

Cant wait to hear how your trip goes and have a good flight to Orlando!!!!!!!!!!1

 

[lucincia]

Yesterday - Stopped at a casino hotel on the way to Chicago, since we got a free night offer.

Today - We're in Chicago, all ready for the flight to Orlando tomorrow.

We did a "little" shopping (at a Disney Store, no less), ate at the "little Chinatown" for lunch, and ate at the a Japanese market for dinner.

At the Disney Store, we went a bit crazy. A lot of stuff were 40% off. Same thing happened at Lands End sections in Sears. Lot's of summer items were on sale. Perfect! We are heading to Florida, right? So DW picked up some extra sleeveless shirts and such for herself and DDs.

My wallet starts to feel lighter already ....

 

[lucincia]

Flight was delayed 1.5 hour from Chicago this morning. We finally landed around noon local time. But we still made it to GF by 1 PM (we used ME). We hit MK by 4 PM and stayed for 4 hours. Left the park before the start of the evening parade and Wishes.

Weather - Scattered showers and one quick 20 minutes thunderstorm. Weather is unusually cool. Not as humid as we thought it would be. During the thunderstorm, we were stuck in the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad queue area. They closed the ride for 20 minutes or so. But since we were so close to the front, we waited. A lot of people left the line - and we were thinking - why bother? It was pouring outside! At least it was dry in the queue area.

This is our DD4's first real roller coaster experience. Last trip 2 years ago, she only road It's a Small World over and over again for a whle week. We were afraid she may be scared of BTMR. But she wanted to try it, and she loved it! This evening we rode it 3 times, along with It's a Small World (20 minutes wait) and Pirates (5 minutes wait). Wait time for the BTMR was around 20 minutes each time, except for the time when they shut down the ride due to storm - that was about 40 minutes total wait time.

During this short stay in MK (4 PM to 8 PM), we also got 3 sets of FP for BTMR. According to various reports on DIS, we should be able to use it another day (for most part). So, hopefully we can use them tomorrow - last day the ride will be open during our trip before rehab.

DDs did over a dozen or so pin trading with CMs and had a blast.

Very tiring day. Saw Wishes from our balcony at GF and also the electrical water parade. Time to go to bed now and get some rest for tomorrow!

 

[DVC Mary]

We're leaving Tuesday night? Is it cool enough to need long pants/long shirts or light jackets?


Have fun!

 

[lucincia]

We're leaving Tuesday night? Is it cool enough to need long pants/long shirts or light jackets?

We're from Iowa - so in same climate zone as you guys. I was thinking I would roast since I forgot to pack a t-shirt and shorts in the carry-on. I was wearing a collared short-sleeve shirt (with under shirt, no less) and jeans - and I was not roasting or sweating like a pig Then again, we were out in the park after 4 PM and it has been showering on and off throughout the day. So the weather is relatively cool (as compared to other Florida summer days I guess).

DDs were wearing shorts and they were saying it is chilly. I think it's because they got a bit wet from the rain showers.

I am wearing shorts tomorrow though

 

[DVC Mary]

The suitcases are already packed & weighed so as not to go over the 50 lb limit. DH is going to freak when I suggest throwing in some long pants.

Oh well....better to be prepared. I sweat so much I'll be fine, but younges DS can chilly.

Thanks!

 

[lucincia]

Waiting for the rest of the family to wake up ....

I think I am going crazy right now. Weather.com and Accurweather.com seem to be doing weather forecast for different planets from each other.

Because BTMR is closing tomorrow for rehab, we'll be hitting MK today, even though they typically do not recommend MK on a Sunday. Plus it's an MNSSHP evening and EMH for the little ones.

Oh well, a little crowd doesn't kill you, right?

 

[lucincia]

As promised, this morning was big on BTMR, since it's closing for rehab starting tomorrow. We got to MK bright and early at 8 AM for the little ones' EMH and did Dumbo, Pooh, Peter Pan, Snow White, and It's a Small World all within the first 45 minutes. Then we hit Haunted Mansion after the rope drop to the rest of the park at 9 AM. After that is the marathon Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. We used FPs from yesterday, plus got more FPs today, and used the stand by line when it is less than 10 minutes wait. By lunch time, we have done the BTMR at least 7 or 8 times (lost track) and then we used some left over FPs from earlier in the morning for couple more times after lunch. We also did Pirates couple times (5 mins wait each) and Jungle Cruise (15 mins wait) in between all the BTMR madness.

We had lunch at CHH at 11 AM.

Weather is great - with nice breeze and not humid temperature of mid to high 80's. Partly cloudy/sunny sky.

We also met a DIS member! Someone in the BTMR queue saw the lime green Mickey on my bag. I think she said her name is "Eeyore" or something like that, but can't remember it now. Hopefully she'll find my trip report here and give me a shout

 

[tinawv]

I love getting live reports. Keep them coming.

 

[disneyeeyorefan]

Subscribing
Hope you are having a great time.

 

[lucincia]

After resting for an hour or so back at GF, we went to AKL for 5:10 PM ADR @ Boma. Ate ourselves silly. Afterwards, the kids did some pin trading with AKL's storyteller. Then, we took the bus to EPCOT to try to walk off some of the extra calories! Didn't do much except walked through EPCOT and about 1/3 of World Showcase (From Mexico to China and then back) and did a lot, lot, lot of pin tradings.

Then we took the monorail back to GF and watched some more electrical water parade and the MNSSHP's fireworks from the GF grounds before returning back to our room.

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful weather today. No rain whatsoever. Knock on wood. Hope this weather holds out for the rest of the week. Can't I wish?

DD8 had a pedometer on her. Looks like we walked around 4.5 miles today.

Some observations - The new Haunted Mansion is nice. Much better audio system. Same thing with the new Pirates. Much better audio than the last time we saw it two years ago. We had a hilarious bus driver on the way from MK to AKL for dinner @ Boma. He didn't just play the standard tape recording. He made up his own before playing the standard one. Much more enjoyable bus ride.

Sorry that my trip reporting is not as creative as other trip reports. But, after a full day of parks and events, I just want to simply type out what we did and really don't have any energy to make anything funny and creative!

Now - must - sleep ....

 

[lucincia]

Today we went to EPCOT. Good timing too. It was also EPCOT's 25th Anniversary.

We got to the park a few minutes after the rope drop. First we did Test Track. Got an FP and then rode it via stand-by line.

Then, we headed over to Soarin', hoping the stand-by line is tolerable. It was - only 10 minutes wait. At the point where the queue diverged to left or right, DW and DDs stopped to do some pin trading with an CM there. In the meantime, the other CM was directing everyone to go to left queue. After we finished pin trading, the CM we had been trading with told us to take the right queue. We turned the corner and saw the Dream Team and got a Dream FP for EPCOT. Nice surprise and a nice scrapbook material for DW.

We did Nemo and then used the Dream FP to ride Soarin' again.

Observation - First time when we rode Soarin' couple years ago, I thought it was lame. But, this time around, it didn't seem that bad.

We then went around the World in counterclock fashion, enjoying the Food and Wine Festival.

We had an ADR at Akershus at 4:35 PM.

Shortly before dinner we did Mission Space, the easy version. That was a 20 minutes wait. Then we tried the harder version (orange). That was a 5 minutes wait. Even for a roller coaster freak like me, the orange version made me a bit dizzy. Not sure if I like it. Maybe I will try it again later this week if we get back to DS.

After dinner, we did Test Track again using the FPs we got earlier. Right after that, the sky opened up and the storm just poured down. We waited in the gift shop area of Test Track for about 20 minutes until it let out a bit, then we put on the ponchos and braved our way back to GF.

All throughout the day, DDs kept getting Tinkerbell pins from various CMs they traded with, the ones where you get to keep one and give one away. It gave us some extra trader pins and DDs had fun trying to figure out whom to give the extra pin to. I think they equally enjoyed giving away those pins as when they received them.

 

[lucincia]

Today's original plan was AK. But, we woke up to heavy rain. So we decided to go to DS instead for a few hours.

Somehow, I suckered DD8 to get on Tower of Terror with me (DW didn't want to do it again) and DD4 tagged along for her first attempt at TT. Well, needless to say, even for roller coaster lover like DD8 and the new roller coaster lover like DD4, they did not like TT. Both of them were in tears when the ride was over. Others on the ride found it amusing - I don't think anyone was mad at me. I didn't force the kids on the ride - I simply bribed them. They got a bunch of candies out of me after the ride I think it will take a while before they trust me on any thrill rides any more

We then walked around DS and the sky cleared up. We headed for Narnia exhibit, since DW is a costume designer and maker and want to check it out. We got into queue and the Dream Team showed up with Dream FPs for DS. Another great scrapbook materials for DW!

After Narnia we watched the Little Mermaid show. Then we called it a day at DS and headed toward the exit. Along the way, DW and I told DDs to identify a family whom we'll pass 2 of our 4 Dream FPs to, since we don't need all 4 for scrapbooks. DDs had fun trying to decide on whom while we stood there by the entrance.

After this little DS adventure, we took the bus to CR and then monorail to MK.

We measured DD4 earlier in the week at another ride (forgot which one) where the requirement is 44 inches. She missed it by half an inch to an inch. No biggie. But she really wants to do Space Mountain, since during the trip 2 years ago, that's one thing her older sister did over and over again. She wants to be like her older sister! But we told her she was still too short. So when we were walking through Tomorrowland toward SM, you could see that she was so dejected and depressed, her head was bowed down low and she was dragging her feet. We got to SM and while I was getting FPs, I told DW to take DD4 over to the entrance and see how she measured up. DD4 went up to the wooden bar, stood up as straight as possible, lifted her chin up high, and passed by the height requirement by the thickness of a credit card. Couple people behind us in line clapped and DD4 went skipping down the queue line with DD8, as happy as a 4 years old can be on her first Space Mountain ride.

DW and I were worried that she may have gotten her hopes up and would freak out about a ride in total darkness.

But, she loved it.

We rode SM 5 more times within next 2 hours. Standby line was no longer than 15 minutes. Crowd was thin at MK due to heavy rain first thing in the morning. By the time the crowd picked up, we started to use the FPs we got earlier.

We also did Buzz Lightyear and Monster Inc. in between the rides.

That evening we had a late dinner at Rose and Crown at 7:30 PM and watched Illumination from the restaurant. The show was great. We also met another DIS member (WeirdTigger27) there, who was dining next to our table! Second DIS member we met on this trip!

Again, all throughout the day, DDs kept getting Tinkerbell pins from various CMs they traded with, the ones where you get to keep one and give one away. It gave us some extra trader pins and DDs had fun trying to figure out whom to give the extra pin to. I think they equally enjoyed giving away those pins as when they received them.

 

[faith]

Enjoying the live report Lucinda! Have the lovebugs left the area?
How's the humidity? Hope you and your family have a great trip!

 

[lucincia]

Enjoying the live report Lucinda! Have the lovebugs left the area?
How's the humidity? Hope you and your family have a great trip!

Love bugs are still around - and most noticeable at EPCOT. DDs were freaking out about them during the first couple encounters, but they soon got used to them and started asking questions about why their butts are stuck together.

Joy.

Humidity was not bad earlier this week, but it is getting worse now. Today was the first day I noticed my glasses fogging up when exiting airconditioned buildings into the outside heat.

 

[lucincia]

Hot, hot, hot.

Weather is getting more humid and hotter now. But at least no rain so far today (knock on virtual wood).

We're back @ GF to take a quick rest break before heading out for dinner and evening activities.

We went to AK at rope drop this morning. Got FP to EE and then stood in the standby line. About 40 people were ahead of us. Well, looks like something was wrong with the ride and they did not open until 9:30 AM.

This is the first EE ride for my family and DD4 wanted to ride it too. Remember that she passed the 44 inches requirement yesterday for Space Mountain, so she was ready to prove herself to the CM at EE. Unfortunately, when she first tried it, she was leaning back against the bar and did not pass the height requirement. People behind us in the line were cheering her on, telling her to stand up straight and not to lean back. She passed again by the thickness of a credit card. We rode EE on standby 3 times in a row and another time after dinner using FP.

We also did Dinosaur. Again, this is the first time for the whole family and even I was a bit shocked at various time during the ride. Needless to say, DD4 did not care for it.

We also did the Kali Rapids. The standby line clock showed 30 minutes when we walked in. But we ended up waiting for just over an hour during the hot middle part of the day. Absolutely not fun. And the ride was too short and, pardon me, lame, for having to wait so long for it. The whole family did not care for it. If it's walkon, we may do it again, but if we have to wait for it - especially with a seriously mislabeled standby clock - no way.

We now have a handful of FPs for EE. It is evening EMH for AK tonight, so we'll be hitting it again.

New addiction ....

 

[lucincia]

The kids went to GF's kids' club this evening so DW and I can find something to do - give the kids a break more like it I have to say I am disappointed with GF's kids' club. The setup is like an afterthought, tucked away into an area like a large storage closet. Kids had fun though but will never use this kids' club again.

DW and I were planning to go to the evening EMH @ AK, but decided just to go to MK to do some pin trading and then hit DTD to finish up the shopping part of the vacation - buying presents for the folks back home. DW said she doesn't want to buy the presents on the last night at the park - which we usually do, since that gets so depressing. It marks the end of the vacation. She wants to do the shopping in the middle of the trip this time, so we can play, play, play until the bitter end

As stated earlier, weather is getting hotter and more humid now. Missing the cooler weather earlier in the week. Good thing we have done all of our park touring now, so the last remaining 4 days will just be picking and choosing what the kids want to do again. I can tell you now though - the two little daredevils most definitely want to ride SM and EE over and over again.

Oh, as posted on another thread, couple photos of DD4 from yesterday (at EE) and day before (at SM) showing off her passing height requirement. It's priceless to hear people behind us in line cheering her on and her trying to be as straight as possible to reach the bar. Can't buy moments like this with anything in the world!

 

[lucincia]

Just woke up with the alarm's beep, beep, beep. Family still snoring away.

As part of the daily routine, I got up and went to the laptop right away to study the weather condition from couple different web sources. I still say all these weather web sites are reporting from different planets. No one ever matches. I might as well go get an 8 ball and do it myself.

I know today is going to be hot and humid. Hope for a relatively dry day, at least in the evening. It's MNSSHP tonight!

 

[lucincia]

I will try to post more photos -

Here is one I took on 10/2 (2 days ago) out of our GF room, showing a rainbow over Space Mountain. I got lucky and a monorail and a boat were in frame also.