Burkes Family Vacation-Day 1

[JBurke]

Trip: 10/5-10/13

Cast:

Me (Janice ) 34, planner
Mike (DH) 30
Kaitlyn (DD) 8
Kelly (DD) 4
Declan (DS) 1
Laura (my sister), 48, along for the ride

Day One-Friday 10/5
Up at 4am to finish getting ready. Our limo is to pick us up at 5:15am to take us to Chicago Midway airport. I had called 3 times to make sure they had a car large enough for all 6 of us. When it pulls up it is a small station wagon. My husband is scrunched over in the back on top of the luggage and my daughters are sitting on the floor. Not the safest ride!! Oh well, we make it to the airport. Stand in line for over an hour to check our bags, then go thru 3 different security check points. We walk towards the gate and I take the girls potty. I come out and my dh is waving wildly to tell us it is final boarding. We run and make our flight!!

Had a good flight and arrived in Orlando at 11:30am. Go to National to get our car. About a month ago, we upgraded to a minivan. Well guess what? National has not gotten word from WDW Travel that we upgraded and are not sure they have any left. After a half an hour later, they get one for us and we are off the Wilderness Lodge!!

We get a little lost, WDW has the worst signs! If the signs says next right, that means TURn RIGHT NOW!!!!

Any way we get there around 1pm and our room is ready. We had room 6005, courtyard room with a great view of the pool (but an enclosed patio) My sister took the car to go check into her hotel the Allstar Music. Me, dh and kids got into our bathing suits and headed down to Roaring Forks for a quick lunch and then to the pool for dip.
After swimming we headed back to the room and I was hoping the gift basket I ordered from WDW Florist would be in the room, but it wasnt. While the kids were in the bathroom changing I made a call to the front desk to inquire about the basket. It was there, but they dont do deliveries unitl 7pm. I had autograph books in the basket which we needed before dinner. The front desk was nice enough to send someone up right wawy with the basket. The kids were thrilled with the candy, balloons, autograpgh books, pens and stuffed animals.
We all got dressed on our matching outfits (disney store catalog) and my sister picked us up and we headed for MK. We went right to Fantasyland and did Dumbo and Snow White. The park was suppossed to be open late with Spectromagic and fireworks, but because of 9/11 they were cancelled and we only had 1 hour at the park.
We then went to the Contemporary for our 8pm PS at Chef Mickey. Donald and Goofy were at dessert area to greet everyone. We had a great time doing our napkin dance and seeing Mickey, Chip and Dale. Food was alright.
We then headed back to the hotel exhausted.
Saty tuned for day 2-MK

 

[imgoingtodisney]

Janice - how do you do it? Are you actually working at work? Just back from vacation with 3 young kids and already doing your trip reports.

 

[swankybeth]

Sounds like you had a nice first day! Looking forward to reading more....

Beth

 

[apagano]

The road signage at WDW drove me crazy as well! Part of the problem is that you can go 55 mph on the Disney roads and the signs go by so fast that you don't have time to read them. It's not exactly safe to slam on the brakes in that kind of traffic, although people do it anyway. The other problem I had was that the exit signs are inconsistent. My hotel was on SR 536. Some exit signs told you how to get to 536, other times you were on your own. Leaving MK I kept following the exit signs thinking eventually I could get to 536...unfortunately I was faced with a sudden choice between I-4 and the Greenway. Knowing that the Greenway was close to my hotel, I went that route, only to be faced with a sudden 75 cent toll and no clue where I was! They need to install larger overhead signs all over the complex.

 

[imgoingtodisney]

Did you notice after going through the MK toll there is a line on the road to follow? MIL and husband thought this part was very well marked. Of course I was in the back seat so I didnt notice.

 

[dutton]

How did you do the gift basket? Do you call and tell them what you want or do they have ideas? How early did you call? That sounds so fun! What all did you have them put into it? Are their prices outrageous? Thank you for any info!

 

[JBurke]

I just called WDW Florist and asked what kind of kid baskets they had. I chose the Welcome Basket. The operator was very helpful and described everything in it: 1 autograph book, one pen, candy, and 2 beanie babies. The beanie babies are not name characters (like Minnie or Mickey) she told me, they were piglet and pluto, so I asked her to include 2 mnnies for my daughters (8 and 4). The baby (12 months) wouldnt know, so he got the pluto and piglet.
Since I have 3 kids I asked that they put in 2 more autograph books and pens.
I also had them add 3 balloons (2 minnie and 1 mickey).
I did not put in any extra candy. The total cost of the basket as is was around $60. With my additons it was $114.
I would definately add a few things to the basket (at least the balloons) if I were you.
It was a hit with the kids when it was delvered to our room. Plus I had the card read "With love from Mickey and Minnie. So glad you came to visit us. Be good for your mommy and daddy."
Hope this helps you!
Janice