We're back!!!!!
We got home yesterday at approx. 6:30pm, and as soon as I saw all the dead flowers that I have to pull out today, I immediately wanted to run back to Florida
Luckily, I did most of it before I left, but the ones that are left looked to nice to pull out earlier. So, I know what I'm doing today, along with all the laundry.
Let me sum up our vacation for you -----
Record breaking (literally)
It was dry, but I was wearing gloves, because it was so
It was colder this trip, than what it was when Kevin and I went in January - CRAZY!!!!!
Here's a quick recap of our trip..........
The condo we stayed at was AWESOME!!! Wait till I show you the pictures. We had so much space, and I loved being able to have breakfast at the condo most of the time - it was nice to not have to rush to an ADR all the time. Plus, I didn't feel so stuffed all the time - it was great!!! Plus, it was great being able to keep alot of extra type of food too. Thanks to Tiiiigerrrnnnnn (a DISer from the Chicago thread), she gave me a tip to take Smuckers Unsmuckable frozen PB&J's into the parks - we did, and it was great, no buying lunch
(thanks for that tip!!!) We kept water at the condo, so I would carry that to the parks everyday too, along with some Crystal Light lemonade pouches, which the girls loved. After we finished the water, I just filled it at water fountains. In conclusion - we will probably never be staying on property again, that's how much we loved it there!!!!! Very very happy!!!!!
Sunday we went to Sea World - this day was not to cold (mid 80's). We spent all day there, and it was fun. I can't say we'll be running back there the next time we are in Florida. But we enjoyed it this time. The girls enjoyed the dolphin show and the Shamu show - they were really good!!!! It was weird being in a park where I needed a map to get around - I felt like such a tourist
Monday we went to the MK - this day was cooler, and it got really cool/cold and windy at night. The crowds were alot more, which was annoying - I'm so spoiled with Septembers low crowds
But we played our cards right, and we didn't have to wait much. For the first time we had to get Fastpasses - we never get these in September. Katie was finally tall enough to go on rides with us, which was just great!!!!! For the first time, the girls did the Swiss Family Tree House - we always avoided this before (couldn't be bothered to waste the time on it). The girls enjoyed this!!!! Then we went on Pirates, and then Stephanie got to participate with Captain Jack at The Pirate Tutorial
We then went on Splash Mountain, Big Thunder, Haunted Mansion, avoided Fantasyland (to many people). Went to Tomorrowland where we did Stitch (I really don't enjoy that ride/show) and did the new Monsters Comedy thing, and we really enjoyed that!!!! Then we did the Carousel of Progress (first time for all of us), and then did Buzz. Went back to Fantasyland and did Small World, and then lined up for Spectromagic and then Wishes - that was our day in a nut shell!!!!
Tuesday was cold!!!
We hung out at the condo until 3pm, and while we where there, we could here the wind howl. Stephanie worked on some schoolwork that day, and then at night was the
MNSSHP. We had 4:10pm ADR at LTT, and then after that we were able to hit rides we did Monday, and also the Fantasyland rides that we weren't able to do Monday - it was great!!! It was cold that night (see your breath cold) that we ended up leaving at 10:30pm. We were all freezing, and poor Katie was just miserable. We decided that even though we paid money to be there, it wouldn't be any fun if the girls got sick, and if they are obviously miserable from the cold. The cold really ruined that night for us!!!!!
Wednesday was cold too!!! I wore my gloves all day
We were at MGM that day, and it was fun!!
The second I got there, I left the family at the front gate, and very briskly walked to Toy Story Mania to get a fastpass, and I was successful. At 10pm, the fastpass time was already at 2:30pm, and by 2:30pm when we rode it, the fastpasses were gone - very popular ride!!!!!
That day we did the new Playhouse Disney show (I wasn't thrilled with it), and the girls enjoyed it. Then we saw Muppets 3D, the cars stunt show, and then Toy Story Mania (which was a very cute and fun ride). After that we rushed to see the new parade (which I don't need to see again), and then we went on Star Tours (first time for Kevin and the girls). I had to really talk Katie through Star Tours, she was not enjoying it
. After that we walked towards ToT, so I could go on that, and then we could sit down for Fantasmic. As I was about to go on ToT, Katie says that she wants to come
This is the kid that was just freaking out over StarTours. So I measured her up, and she could go. She ended up LOVING the ride
As soon as we were done, she wanted to go again
I was SHOCKED!!!!! Then we sat down for Fantasmic, and we froze sitting there. Even Kevin was freezing, and he is rarely freezing. After that we rushed to the car, cranked up the heat, and went back to the condo, and we all went to bed.
Thursday we were at Epcot and this was a nice day. The weather started off cold, but I was able to take off my jacket in the afternoon. The first thing I did was run to The Land to get a fastpass for Sorin, and then we did Spaceship Earth, which slightly changed - it was refreshing!!!! Then we did Ellens Energy Adventure, and then got fastpasses for Test Track. We then walked around the countries and did Maelstrom for the first time, and also watched the American Adventure show for the first time. We then walked to Japan where Stephanie and I picked an oyster. Both of our oysters had the largest pearl for the day, which was awesome. Stephanie put hers in a youthful type necklace, and I put mine in a pin. We then walked back to Test Track, where Katie went on for the first time - she just sorta liked it. Then we went and ate at The Garden Grill, and then did Sorin - this was Katie's first time for this also, and she LOVED it!!!!! We then walked back to Japan to get the pearls, and then sat and waited for Illuminations. We parked at The Poly that day, so when we got back there to leave, we went to Captain Cooks to get a Dole Whip, and it tasted it yummy!!!!!
Friday was Animal Kingdom day, and it was a little warmer that day (no gloves and I could wear capris
). We went on the safari, and many animals were out - it was great, and the girls enjoyed it. Then we walked over to Expedition Everest and got a fastpass for that. Stephanie didn't want to go, but I told her to bad, she's going anyway. Then we went on Dinosaur, and we all hated that. The girls were scared, and Kevin and I didn't like how jerky it was - my neck really hurt afterwards - we'll never go on that again
Then we went to see It's Tough to be a Bug, and I enjoyed that. I never saw the whole thing before, because I had to leave with Stephanie when she was 4, because she was scared. We went back to the EE, and did that, and we all loved it, even Stephanie. We then left after that, because we really don't enjoy that park (no offense to those that do like it). So we went back to Epcot, and did Sorin again, Kevin and Steph did Test Track again, and then we did Journey into Imagination, and then Spaceship Earth again - we left at 6pm.
Then Saturday we went to DTD to pick-up a couple last minute things and then went to the airport to come home.
I didn't talk about the food...........
Saturday afternoon - Sonic and it was great!!!!
Saturday night - House of Blues (we like it there both there and Chicago)
Monday morning - Chef Mickeys. We'll never be back. The price raised to $28.99 per adult, and the food was NOT WORTH that money
I never loved the food there, and I liked it even less this year. This is definitly our last year there.
Monday night - Kona Cafe. This was okay, but the prices raised there too. I was looking forward to their filet, but that was no longer on the menu. This will be our last time eating here for dinner too. I would have been happier at The Olive Garden close to our condo.
Tuesday night - Liberty Tree Tavern. The price here also raised to $28.99 per adult, but I do love this meal. This is the last year for the characters, so I will be curious if this price stays the same for 2009. If it does, than we won't be back, if the price goes down, than we will.
Wednesday night - SciFi. It cost us over $100 to eat here, and we won't be back here either. The atmosphere is great, but the food is not worth the money. They didn't have any hamburgers on the dinner menu, but I knew they did for lunch, so I asked if I could have it, and they said yes. I didn't know the price, since I didn't have that menu, but Kevin and I both ordered it, and I thought the price would be lower. I was SHOCKED when we got the bill. Kevin did order 1 alcholic drink, but still - OMG!!!!!! We won't be back
Thursday morning we at Kona Cafe for breakfast so Kevin and I could get our Tonga Toast - that was awesome as normal!!! We will be back there!!!!!
Thursday night - Garden Grill. The price there also raised to $28.99 per adult, and I do love this character meal. I don't agree with the cost, but I do enjoy it, so we will probably be back there.
Friday afternoon we picked up McDonalds and ate it in the car between AK and Epcot.
Friday night we at Chevy's, which is outside Disney property, and it's a Mexican restaurant - it was very yummy!!!!!!
In conclusion, about the food, we were very disappointed in how much WDW raised the prices for food. Business wise, I can understand why they do it. This was they can raise the price for the dining plan, and people pay it, and never look back. People like Kevin and I, who don't have the dining plan suffer, but that's okay. We've come to the conclusion a long time ago that we don't love alot of the food on property anyway, so we'll just eat off property and save ALOT of money. Now that Katie is getting older, I don't feel the need to do as many character meals anyway, so it works out fine
I just wish I knew the price increases before we went this year, or I wouldn't have booked as many character dinners, but you live and learn right?!
In the end, we had a really great trip!!!
Katie didn't use a stroller the whole trip, which was great!!!
Katie got to ride all the rides, which was great!!!!
We tried new things, which was great!!!!
We loved the condo, which was great!!!!
Everything was great!!!!
Now I must get some breakfast on the table.
I will catch up on what I missed tomorrow while I eat my lunch.
Have a great day everyone!!
For anycustomers that come while I"m closed, they will see a big sign in the window (Kevin and I put it up last night) saying that I'm having a 30% off sale Nov 3 - Nov 15, so I"m hoping they'll be glad they came when I'm closed so they can come back during the sale and save some $$$$$$.
arty:
But that means I probably wont be on here for a week so...Bye!
