Aug 08 Trip Report-Go During Busy Season & Wait No More Than 10 Mins for Any Ride!

[PrincessVal]

Hello Everyone!

Index:
The Cast
Previous Trips
CP Side Note
Day 1 - the Journey Begins
Day 1 (part 2) - Our Arrival
Touring Plans
Day 2 - EPCOT
Day 2 (part 2) - EPCO/Behind the Seeds
Day 2 (part 3) - EPCO/Biergarten
Day 2 (part 4) - EPCOT
Day 3 - Hollywood Studios
Day 3 (part 2) - Hollywood Studios
Day 3 (part 3) - Hollywood Studios
Day 4 - Magic Kingdom
Day 4 (part 2) - Magic Kingdo/Chef Mickey's
Day 4 (part 3) - Magic Kingdom/Plaza Restaurant
Day 5 - Animal Kingdom
Day 5 (part 2) - Animal Kingdom
Day 5 (part 3) - Downtown Disney
Day 6 - EPCOT
Day 6 (part 2) - EPCOT Le Cellier
Day 6 (part 3) - Illuminations Cruise
Day 7 - Magic Kingdom/Paintbrush Mission
Day 7 (part 2) - Magic Kingdom
Day 7 (part 3) - Magic Kingdom
What we Learned
A Final Surprise

I just returned home from a week at Disney on Sunday. Included in my trip report are going to be as many tips about going to Disney as I can think of. I have been to Disney 15 times and have also worked down there as a CP. Please feel free to add your own tips and comments as we go. I could always use them for next time

The Trip: August 3rd - August 10th 2008. My 15th trip to Walt Disney World.

The Goal: Wait no more than 10 Mins for any ride & do as many "Firsts" as we can as Disney vets.

The Resort: Vistana Resort - my parents time share located right next to Vista Way. Sleep all 8 of us comfortably with 2 bathrooms and 2 kitchens.

Here's a pic...

Coming up next....The Cast

 

[PrincessVal]

The Cast:

There are a lot of us so I find pics help to keep everyone straight.

Myself – age 26, Disney fanatic, former Disney CP
DH – age 27, not a Disney fan but goes along for the ride, would rather sit by the pool and read

DM – loves Disney, never likes to relax that’s why she always schedules the Disney vacations, loves to go go go
DD – likes Disney enough but would rather have a relaxing vacation, goes along for the ride just like my DH

DS22 – loves Disney same as me, is currently working as a Disney CP alum for the summer, we are visiting her and bringing her back home when we leave. She will be working part of the time we are there.
DB – turns 15 during our trip, has been brainwashed into liking Disney since we have been going since he has been little

DS17 – a mini version of me
DSbf – age 17, sisters boyfriend, hasn’t been to Disney since he’s been young and has never been on a Disney vacation with our family, he is in for a real treat, hopefully he survives. He flies in to meet us on Day 2 afternoon.

Oh and if you notice DH or DD or others giving a please ignore it...they were trying to be funny in the pics.


Coming up next Day 1: The Journey Begins

 

[Tammysue5]

I look forward to hearing more about your trip..... we are leaving in 2 weeks and we are not experts...(this will only be our 2nd trip) so we are excited when others share things we can use!

Nice pics! We are going with all but 1 of the family. Me, DH, DS19, DS17, DD9 and DD6. (Ds23 is stationed in ALaska w/his 6month preg, wife.)

I am thrilled that DSs are actually excited to be going back. (Or they are doing a great job of letting me think that as they know how much planning I have done)

Share away!

 

[4forWDW]

Great pictures - looking forward to reading more

 

[iluvuwdw]

Great pictures, can't wait to read more

 

[PrincessVal]

I look forward to hearing more about your trip..... we are leaving in 2 weeks and we are not experts...(this will only be our 2nd trip) so we are excited when others share things we can use!

Nice pics! We are going with all but 1 of the family. Me, DH, DS19, DS17, DD9 and DD6. (Ds23 is stationed in ALaska w/his 6month preg, wife.)

I am thrilled that DSs are actually excited to be going back. (Or they are doing a great job of letting me think that as they know how much planning I have done)

Share away!

Only 2 weeks, thats exciting!!! Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions. You will have to let me know how your trip goes. I bet DS23 is sad he is missing out, but of course he will get to take his new son/daughter when he/she is old enough which will be even more exciting

 

[PrincessVal]

Great pictures - looking forward to reading more

Great pictures, can't wait to read more

Thanks! I have lots more pics to share so stay tuned.

 

[Spartangirl]

Subbing in! Can't wait to read more!

 

[sartello]

Subbing in..leaving in 15 days!!!

 

[Louise Ellis]

Subbing in - looks like fun!

Louise

 

[team weasel]

This looks like fun....I'm in.

 

[PrincessVal]

Subbing in! Can't wait to read more!

Subbing in..leaving in 15 days!!!

Subbing in - looks like fun!

Louise

This looks like fun....I'm in.

Thanks for joining me. Enjoy

 

[angela3676]

Great pictures, can't wait to read more!

 

[PrincessVal]

Ok so I lied about going straight into Day 1. I'll give a quick peak into my previous Disney experiences while I get my newest pics uploaded.

Here is where it all started. My parents brought me when I was 2 and 3 and it was all downhill from there.

Man check us out, we were styling

I didn't go again until high school a few different times with friends.

Then when I started college the rest of my family caught the Disney bug and we were going about once per year.

Unfortunately since we have lots of people in school we have the joy of going either during the summer or dun dun dun...
Christmas and New Years

After I got married we drug my DH along and were 7 strong.

In 2002 I was a CP and my DS22 followed in my footsteps and went down in 2006. I'll see if I can did up pictures of us in our costumes...they're well uh lets just say they're not the cutest

 

[4forWDW]

Those pictures are great
Thanks for sharing

 

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

ooohhh! I'm IN! Love it so far...can't wait to hear about all your tips...we're going in a month!

 

[PrincessVal]

ooohhh! I'm IN! Love it so far...can't wait to hear about all your tips...we're going in a month!

Hopefully my experiences will help you with your trip. Have fun planning

 

[Sarilas]

I can't wait to read more - We're in the midst of planning our first trip to WDW for January so I'm looking forward to your veteran firsts!

 

[iluvuwdw]

I love the old pictures of WDW that is awesome. Thank you for sharing it with us.

 

[Samantha/NC]

I can't wait to read more! We did the same thing a couple of summers ago--you really can have a great time if you go in the summer-If you have a plan!!
Samantha