Californians head east for 1st WDW experience

[padre23fan]

I'm new here but have been lurking for the past 2 months soaking up all the great info shared by the "regulars". I've tried to pay attention to all of the etiquette and terminology I've seen in the posts on many of the boards, but bear with me if I mis-step at times. But our experience was so totally amazing I wanted to share it with you folks. While I'm certain we missed out on "something" it would be hard to believe we missed out on too much in our 4 day power trip through WDW.

A brief background on how the trip even came to be. As a teenager I spent my summer's in Sebastian, Florida with cousins and first visited the WDW SITE in 1970 followed by MY first an only MK visit in 1971 as the park opened. I haven't been back since. Moved to beautiful San Diego in 1975 with all sorts of family left scattered in the VA/PA/CT area. 2007 became the summer that we NEEDED to finally make an east coast trip to visit aging relatives including 93 year old grandma.

DS12 and DS8 were none too happy with our Hawaii cancellation so I said (obviously in a stupor), "Hey, why don't we get on line, check out WDW and make it a road trip down to Florida!" "Hip, Hip, Hooray" was the new response as DW42, DS12, and DS8 are DISNEYLAND season pass holders who visit almost weekly all year long. Reading every possible thread in these forums, collecting hints and advice, we booked our trip through AAA and laid out a game plan for attacking the mouse.

So on August 1 we flew from San Diego to Dulles, rented a car, and after spending 5 days with family hit I-95 en route to WDW. I've been blessed with a family that eats up highway miles and this trip was no exception. DW suggested an overnight stay in Brunswick GA, but I said "Let's not book anything, let's drive until everyone has had enough for the day" "Whatever we don't drive today we have to drive tomorrow to get to the parks." They bought that pitch hook, line and sinker, and we overnighted in Daytona Beach (815 miles later) but only 57 miles away from the holy grail.

After a quick bite to eat (and a return trip to the hotel because we forgot a handbag ) we arrived at our destination and home for 4 nights, the Beach Club Resort at 0830. We checked in directly to our room which was ALREADY ready. Before I had self parked the car the bags were in the room, and the gang was screaming "Let's GO!" as I arrived at the room.

Lots more to come + lots of pictures after I learn how to do that!

 

[werfamily]

Looking forward to more! We're also Californians who are planning our first WDW trip for Feb08. It's hard to convince ourselves that it is worth it to fly across country when Disneyland is right here...but the kids won out this time! (Okay...they pretty much win out all the time...)

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Welcome to the Dis! Your trip report is off to a promising start.

You will not be able to post pictures until you have 10 posts. After that just load the pictures you want to post into photobucket and then you will be able to post them here.

 

[padre23fan]

Well I just learned I won't be able to post any pics until I've made 10 posts so I guess I'll jut have to roll out my best prose and describe the visit in Vin Scully like fashion. After I reach that 10 post mark I'll come back with the fun photos!

Without pictures, here's the gang

DD (Mark) 46 - Freeway Project Manager in Southern California. I'm the dreamer and don't believe there's anything we can't do. As with this trip, I'm never afraid to just "wing it" and take what we get - the glass is ALWAYS half full.

DW (Margaret) 42 - supermom! Loves everything Disney although she hates the motion rides like Star Tours. She makes every place the happiest place on earth, although she isn't quite as comfortable "winging it"

DS (Patrick) 12 - Disney nut, wrote an extensive book report on Walt Disney including a powerpoint presentation. Pin trader extraordinaire who wheels and deals at every opportunity. Jack Skelton and HH are his favorites. Stoked to be an "adult" on the DDP

DS (Christopher) 8 - Hidden Mickey fanatic - knows the book by heart and spends all his time searching for MM. Wants to be like DS12 and tries to dress the part.

Try to envision us in that classic pose near the garden at the back of the beach club as we began our stay. Doesn't everyone who stays there have that photo?

At the global level, I will have to say that during our entire stay, there was not a single cast member who wasn't absolutely amazing at the BC, OR Golf Club and every park! It started with the valet, up through the bell attendants, check in clerk, concierge, mousekeeping, restaurant servers and every other person. Even DS8 (who is prone to UMS - "ugly mood swings") had a hard time not smiling all the time.

And if you ever get the chance, the one guy at the BC that I have to give props to is a gentleman named Dwan. I'm not sure what his actual role is because we ran into him in the marketplace and again in the lobby. And he was dressed in slacks and a button down shirt, not like the other BC cast members. He did two amazing things:

1) He led the boys in the "Pal Mickey" pledge when we bought him immediately upon our arrival. He demanded good-heartedly that they "repeat after me" and,

2) When DS8 offered a pin trade to him in the lobby a couple of days later he refused the pin offered and spent at least 10 minutes helping him understand why some pins were more special than others. DS8 was going to give him a cast lanyard pin of one of the fairy godmothers for a pin that he wanted. They closed the trade with Dwan "suggesting" that maybe he liked a different pin, just a little bit better.

The customer service at every level was astounding.....more to come

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

That was really sweet of Dwan to not take the Cast Member pin and explaining how it was special.

 

[padre23fan]

Well after checking into our room and getting all lathered up with bug repellent we began our WDW adventure with a walk over to Epcot. I know everyone says "it's hot" but it was in the mid-90's and didn't really seem all that bad to me. DS8 is a bit of a sweat monkey so I didn't mind too much that he spent a bit of his time dawdling, searching for Hidden Mickey's along the walkway - he didn't find any but it didn't make the search any less fun.

We hit the gates at the international entrance around 9:00 and of course we had to hit the first gift shop in sight! While DW and DS12 poked around, DS and I met up with the "Map Man" at the entry way and DS8 got to put a pin on the map for our home - and he made his first pin trade and received a Magic Moment certificate from the cast member.

DS12 wanted to carry his pins because he heard of all the great pin trading that goes on at Epcot and every entry was a long search. I don't know how he carried around that 25 pound backpack for 4 days!

And then we were off! Following the great advice here on the board we headed straight for test track where we scooped up our first fast passes and then DS12 and I headed for the single rider line. We were on in less than 5 minutes and completed the ride before DW and DS8 even got there LOL When they got there we went for the family ride with only about a 20 minute wait as DS8 picked off 3 Hidden Mickeys in the queue and one more in the ride photo (if that's your thing, look for the coil of wires in the photo background).

Next we were off for some fun in "Norway" and Mexico as by then the international village had opened up. We rode Maelstron 2 times back to back and then we went off to Mexico for a visit with the Caballeros. Being from San Diego, I'm certain we didn't appreciate the authenticity of the Mexican exhibits, but DW had no problem enjoying a margarita at 1100 (It's 5:00 somewhere isn't it?) I donned the massive sombrero (photo to come soon) and everyone had a good chuckle as Dad's usually a little stuffy.

I took DS8 back into the heart of Epcot as we explored the East and West plazas and helped to douse a house fire in one exhibit while enjoying lots of amazing hands on experimental exhibits. I've always been skeptical about what Epcot had to offer but it really is fantastic for the younger, exporatory minded kids in the group.

DM took over with DS8, and DS12 and I headed for the World of Coke - nice and cool, but nothing that's going to woo me away from my Mountain Dew.

With a 2:00 TS reservation at Coral Reef, we were hungry and checked in early and were seated at 1:00. Our server was amazing and so was our food. I had the steak, DW had an amazing pork chop, and DS12 knocked back a huge serving of pasta with shrimp. Between the appetizers, entree, and all the desserts, I know we'll re-think our DDP options for any future visits. What we learned at our first meal was that it was TOO much food!

After lunch DW and the kids headed off to Nemo and I headed back for a much needed break at the room. Everyone rallied around the pool for most of the afternoon. The only real complaint I have about our entire trip was the pool - the water is too doggone warm The water temp must have been in the mid-80's and was not refreshing in the least. Oh well, it was wet, and the beers were cold.

 

[Illuminations_Rocks]

subbing! enjoying your adventure so far...

 

[Disney Anna]

I too am enjoying your posts.

I live in San Diego also. I noticed your handle is Padres23 (for local boy Adrian Gonzalez). I'm also a Padres season ticket holder, buy my true love is the LA Dodgers. So, I really appreciate your reference to Vin Scully.

Can't wait to hear about the rest of your trip.

 

[padre23fan]

Well after relaxing by the pool we began the second part of our first day at WDW. There was a bit of excitement in the air amongst the guest because there was a uniquely special event planned for the evening. Our plan was to head over to MGM for EMH via boat so we headed for the pier behind the BC around 6:15.

At approximately 6:30 we were able to watch the Shuttle Endeavour launch from Cape Kennedy from the pier. I know it's 55 miles away but the whole crowd was in awe watching the fireball rise into space and when it finally was no longer visible the crowd gave a big round of applause. I think we all take shuttle launches for granted but seeing it in person was awe inspiring. And then just like that our water taxi arrived.

I was a bit disappointed with MGM, mostly because most of the "rides" were shut down for the evening. We milled around quite a bit looking at interesting things (and people) and spent a lot of time walking to attractions that were closing at 8:00. DS12's #1 desire was to see "Walt Disney - One Man's Dream" and we spent a solid 40 minutes wandering through the exhibit and followed that by viewing the move. After that DS12 is certain of three things: 1) He wants to go to school and study to become an "imagineer", 2) He wants to go to college in Orlando so that he can work at WDW through school and 3) "if" he every gets married it's going to be at WDW.

Have to admit - it's good to have goals!

DS8 (who's pretty astute) listened in and when DS12 announced that he wanted to be an imagineer pointed out "If that doesn't work out, you can always drive the tram!"

On we wandered through the park and we hit Star Tours with DS8 and DS12 while DW sat out the first of many "motion" rides. The night did get a bit steamy but DS8 successfully continued his HM search. We wrapped up our evening at MGM with a viewing of the Indiana Jones show which was very impressive.

DM and DS12 stayed behind to watch fireworks at Fantasmic while DS8 and I caught an early boat ride home to get to bed. Several people remarked that you could probably walk to MGM from BC/YC using the walking path following the canal where the boat travels, but in the steamy heat at the end of our first day I think it would have been exhausting. Although I'm certain during spring and autumn it would be a beautiful walk.

With Day 1 in the books we hit the hay with visions of EMH at MKP swirling in our head for day 2!

 

[Sabrina90744]

Great trip report! Looking forward to the next chapter..