As we have only been Florida residents for a mere 9 months, we will use any excuse to make a weekend trip to WDW. It was easy to convince my 6 yo DS (now 7) to celebrate his big day at WDW instead of the usual party. We invited my SIL from Kansaas city to join us for the weekend as well. She had never been to WDW so we ere excited to "show her around". My pre palnning included ressies at POR (FL AP rate), and a PS at H&V for Bryan's birthday lunch with GOofy. (his favortie charaacter). I couldn't decide about the crowds and decided we would just wing the rest and see what happned. On wednesday I called my DH and asked if we could leave Thursday night instead of Fri. AM. That way we could get checked into POR before we went to the airport to pickup his sister. I was able to get a $29.00 room ar DD Courtyard Marriot through Dream Res. For those of you have made ressise here it was great. The staff at this hotel are some of the friendliest I have ever encountered. The room was a nice size and clean. We were on the 14th floor with a balcony. (not a great veiw but it was nice to sit outside and talk while the boys watched TV.) The best part of this evening was having Giordano's pizza deleiverd to the hotel. We are from Chicago and this is a Chicago pizza chain. we were shocked and delighted to find one in Orland as we have not had decent pizza since we moved to Florida. It was wonderful just as we remembered, and really started off the weekend well. We slept good and checked out early t omake and 8:30 ps I had made on the ride up for Boma's breakfast. I have been dying to try Boma's and really wanted to stay there this trip but since we needed 2 rooms we opted for POR. Anyway we arrived and this resort is truly what everyone says and more. We do have plans to stya here in December and we will really be looking forward to it. Breakfast was teriffic. There was a great combination of calssic breakfast fare as well as African inspired dishes. My 10yo DS who is the pickest eater on the planet stuffed himself silly here. The breakfast pizza and the sausage as well as the pork loin were his favorites. The pressed pot of Kenyan coffe was incredible. I drank nearly the whole thing myself and had quite the caffeine buzz for a few hours after. The service was wonderful and they even brought Brayn a birthday cupcake with his name and age spelled in chocolate on the plate. After breakfast we checked into POR without any difficulty. We had stayed at the other moderates but this was our first time at PO. It is a very nice resort. We got rooms in Alligator Bayou and thought the themeing was very cute. After check in we buzzed to the airport on the Greenway. We had SIL picked up in less than an hour and were on our way to EPCOT by 1pm. We really enjoyed our day at EPCOT and did all the usual things. Did not wait for anything as crowds were very light. TT had a 20 minute wait but we got fastpass anyway. Snacked and drank around the world. Did finally get to have one of the layered margarita's ( I got smart and we started in Mexico instead f Canada) they were very good. Watched TODx2. I liked it but really miss the Sage. Also the talking over the music disturbs me. The kids seemed to like it better this way though.
Illuminations was wonderful as always. Made it back to POR by 9:30. The kids and my SIL were exhausted. DH and I strolled around the resort and managed to get lost . We said if we had been at CBR we would have just laid down in a hammock and spent the night there. We did make it back and had a good nights sleep. MGM on Saterday. We were up at 7:30 and DH had made a quick run to the food court for a light breakfast. We made it to MGM before opening and I was suprised how few people ther seemed to be. This was Sat. of a holiday weekend! Within the first hour we had done R&R, TOT, Star TOurs and got in the first show of Millionaire. (big fun!) We did not need FP for anything at MGM. The kids palyed at the HISTKPG while my SIL caught her breath. We then went to Muppet 3-D which everyone loves and it was time for Bryan's birthday lunch at H&V. We had a very nice lunch here. THe food was fresh and delicious. THe character interaction was almost excessive. At one point Chip would not leave. He must have sat at our table for 15 minutes. It gets a little uncomfortable because it's not like they talk but you fell you need to engage them by asking questions. This makes eating a challenge. Chip finally moved on and it was time for Bryan's birthday suprise. He got a big cupcake, a card signed by all the characters, everyone in the resaturant sang happy birthday and Minnie and Goofy came over to dance and sing with him. He was slightly overwhelmed by all the attention but really enjoyed it. He also got a birthday balloon.(more on that later). The service here was very good and we would do this lunch again. After lunch everyone was a little tired so we dicided to go back to the resort to swim and rest and come back later for Fantasmic. On the way out Bryan accidiently let go of his balloon. He was mildly disappointed and we told him that's what can happen to balloons. As we were walking out a CM comes running behind us and expalins that he had seen what happned to Bryan's balloon and would like to repalce it. He gave Bryan a card to give to any balloon vender to repalce the one he lost. Now this is the thing that I love about WDW. We weren't making a fuss, Bryan wasn't even crying. Needless to say my SIL was very impressed by the CM's. We had a relaxing afternnon at the pool and went back to MGM in the eveneing for Fantasmic. (we also played another gane og Millionaire I made it to the 3rd spot on the board this time). We got to Fantasmic about 1 hour early and had center seats. The theater did not even fill up. My SIL loved the show and we enjoyed it as always. We went back to POR and took the boat to DD. Walked around and did some shopping. Made it back to POR at about 11pm and everyone passed out. Sunday morning we went to MK. We checked out of POR before heading to the park. SIL had a 4pm flight so we would need t leave for the airport at abpout 1:30. We did a quick mountain tour and really saw an awful lot in the short time we were there. The crowds were much heavier here than anyplace eles but that always seems to be the case. We ate lunch at Cosmic Rays which was suprisingly good. I do not usually love th counter service food but they had a nice variety and I had a very good asian noodle chicken salad. THe guys had hamburgers and hotdogs and they were fine. We did find Sleepy Hollow open and did get an incredible cc cookie ice cream sandwich. I also got my Dole whip fix which had been closed the last couple of times we were at MK. We really had an incredible weekend. My sil can't wait to came back when she can spend some more time and a little slower pace. If anyone has any questions just let me know.
Illuminations was wonderful as always. Made it back to POR by 9:30. The kids and my SIL were exhausted. DH and I strolled around the resort and managed to get lost . We said if we had been at CBR we would have just laid down in a hammock and spent the night there. We did make it back and had a good nights sleep. MGM on Saterday. We were up at 7:30 and DH had made a quick run to the food court for a light breakfast. We made it to MGM before opening and I was suprised how few people ther seemed to be. This was Sat. of a holiday weekend! Within the first hour we had done R&R, TOT, Star TOurs and got in the first show of Millionaire. (big fun!) We did not need FP for anything at MGM. The kids palyed at the HISTKPG while my SIL caught her breath. We then went to Muppet 3-D which everyone loves and it was time for Bryan's birthday lunch at H&V. We had a very nice lunch here. THe food was fresh and delicious. THe character interaction was almost excessive. At one point Chip would not leave. He must have sat at our table for 15 minutes. It gets a little uncomfortable because it's not like they talk but you fell you need to engage them by asking questions. This makes eating a challenge. Chip finally moved on and it was time for Bryan's birthday suprise. He got a big cupcake, a card signed by all the characters, everyone in the resaturant sang happy birthday and Minnie and Goofy came over to dance and sing with him. He was slightly overwhelmed by all the attention but really enjoyed it. He also got a birthday balloon.(more on that later). The service here was very good and we would do this lunch again. After lunch everyone was a little tired so we dicided to go back to the resort to swim and rest and come back later for Fantasmic. On the way out Bryan accidiently let go of his balloon. He was mildly disappointed and we told him that's what can happen to balloons. As we were walking out a CM comes running behind us and expalins that he had seen what happned to Bryan's balloon and would like to repalce it. He gave Bryan a card to give to any balloon vender to repalce the one he lost. Now this is the thing that I love about WDW. We weren't making a fuss, Bryan wasn't even crying. Needless to say my SIL was very impressed by the CM's. We had a relaxing afternnon at the pool and went back to MGM in the eveneing for Fantasmic. (we also played another gane og Millionaire I made it to the 3rd spot on the board this time). We got to Fantasmic about 1 hour early and had center seats. The theater did not even fill up. My SIL loved the show and we enjoyed it as always. We went back to POR and took the boat to DD. Walked around and did some shopping. Made it back to POR at about 11pm and everyone passed out. Sunday morning we went to MK. We checked out of POR before heading to the park. SIL had a 4pm flight so we would need t leave for the airport at abpout 1:30. We did a quick mountain tour and really saw an awful lot in the short time we were there. The crowds were much heavier here than anyplace eles but that always seems to be the case. We ate lunch at Cosmic Rays which was suprisingly good. I do not usually love th counter service food but they had a nice variety and I had a very good asian noodle chicken salad. THe guys had hamburgers and hotdogs and they were fine. We did find Sleepy Hollow open and did get an incredible cc cookie ice cream sandwich. I also got my Dole whip fix which had been closed the last couple of times we were at MK. We really had an incredible weekend. My sil can't wait to came back when she can spend some more time and a little slower pace. If anyone has any questions just let me know.
