Car rides, Characters, and Coodies. October 18-25 TR

[chicagoshannon]

This is our 2nd trip in 6 months. We were down in May during the record breaking heat, so we decided a redo was in order. For more details on that trip there is a link in my siggy.

The cast of characters for this trip are:

DH Eric- he's a software engineer. He recently received another week of vacation so we decided to take this trip. His favorite characters are Tigger and Donald. By the time this vacation rolled around he really needed it. His favorite rides are Everest, TOT, RnR, and all of the mountains.

DD Madeline- she's our little miracle. She's 2 and a half and makes sure you know the and a half part. She loves escalators, dancing and making new friends. Her favorite characters are Snow White and the 7 dwarves. Her favorite rides are Snow White and Winnie the Pooh. She can't wait til she's tall enough to ride Star Tours.

Me Shannon- SAHM for now. I previously worked in the nursing field. I have my Bachelors of Science in Nursing. I enjoy scrapbooking, planning trips, and TV. My favorite character is anything Madeline likes. My favorite rides are TTA and Everest.

We drove yet again. We left at 3:30am on Oct 17 and returned home on Oct 26. We stayed at the Marriott Harbour Lake from the 18th-25th. We celebrated our 5th anniversary on the 23rd.

 

[longing2Batdisney]

signing on for the adventure!!
ready to read all about it when you are...
Connie

 

[chicagoshannon]

Thanks Connie! I'm going to start the first day now.

 

[chicagoshannon]

3:30am October 17 we all loaded into the car and hit the road. Madeline was extremely good for the ride. She watched Star Wars episode V at least once (this will become a theme) and was a happy camper. We stopped around 8pm in Valdosta, GA. The hotel was full of snow birds. It was pretty funny.

On the 18th we left around 8:30am after breakfast. We stopped at the Florida Welcome center around 9am. Had to get our free OJ. I believe it was around noon when we pulled into the resort, Marriot Harbour Lake. We hoped we could check in early. We were in luck and we got a wonderful room. We were instantly in love with the resort. I took pictures of our room.

the balcony was HUGE and we had a great view. We could see the Sea World tower and if they would have done fireworks we would have had a perfect view

We unloaded the car and headed to Walmart for some groceries. We decided to skip lunch since we were headed to Chef Mickey's for dinner.

Coming up: Chef Mickey's

 

[longing2Batdisney]

beautiful condo!!! and it is close to Seaworld...I may have to check into it for the first part of our trip nextyear!!

 

[wlwilliams9]

I'm in!! Bring it on!!

 

[chicagoshannon]

Connie- when you see the pictures of the pool you'll be sold!

Wendy- thanks for joining! Does your baby girl have a name yet?

 

[chicagoshannon]

Madeline decided she wanted to wear her Alice dress to Chef Mickey's. So we got her dressed and we headed out around 3:45. We arrived at the Contemporary pretty early for our ADR. We decided to look at the gift shops. After a few minutes Eric was tired of that so we decided to take a trip on the monorail.

We rode it twice around. Then we got off and checked in for Chef Mickey's

We got our picture taken and it actually turned out really well. We didn't want to pay $32 for it though. We took a seat on the benches and let Madeline climb around on them with the other kids.

Our buzzer finally went off. We were seated right by the buffet on the right side of the restaurant. It was a pretty good spot.

Eric got his food and then I got mine. Madeline wan't too interested in eating. She just wanted to meet the characters. Not too long after sitting down with our food, Minnie showed up.

Right after her came Goofy and then Donald.

It was then time for Napkin Twirling. Mickey was in our area for that.

As soon as the twirling was done it was time to meet the Chef

Pluto took up the rear.

We managed to have dessert in there somewhere. Madeline had ice cream with M&M's and cookies. I tried 1 of everything. I liked the Key Lime tart the best. Overall we decided we wouldn't go back to Chef Mickey's-- at least for dinner. The food wasn't very good-- I like the scalloped potatoes and Eric liked the mashed but that was about it. The characters were fun but we always get decent character interaction in the parks. Madeline really enjoyed herself so it was worth it 1 time.

Before we left we strolled throught the Fantasia gift shop and bought Madeline her first pressed penny book. She chose the Tinkerbelle book. We then headed back to the resort to rest up for our first day at the parks.

Up next: DHS

 

[my2disneyboys]

Great first day! I love all the pics!! Madeline looks so adorable in her Alice dress.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Joining in! Sounds like you had a pretty uneventful drive...thank goodness! Our drive takes between 14 and 16 hours.

Madeline is such a pretty little girl and looks absolutely adorable in her Alice dress. I have to say that I agree with you on Chef Mickey's. We ate dinner there in August and we won't be going back again. There were very few things on the buffet that we cared for at all.

Looking forward to reading more!

 

[longing2Batdisney]

looks like a great character interaction!! Madeline is soooo cute in her Alice dress!! I love the one where she is laying down...?!? is that what she is doing?!? :

I had read that on a couple of post that the food was not all that ...I had decided that if we give it a try it would be for breakfast, but I really think we are going to skip that one!

Connie

 

[fliewr]

Your daughter is adorable. Her dress is so cute.

We just got back from WDW on the 25th and had a great time.

We have done breakfast at Chef Mickey's and it's ok, nothing special.

I noticed that the lines for characters were longer this year while we were in the park than they have been in the past. Hope you were able to get some good pics with the characters in the parks.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

I followed you over from GB's report.

We've done both meals at Chef Mickey's. It's okay. But since I hate waiting in line for characters and my kids hate sitting still in table service restaurants it's a restaurant choice that still tops my list.

Very sweet Alice costume.

 

[btcrane]

 

[chicagoshannon]

Great first day! I love all the pics!! Madeline looks so adorable in her Alice dress.

Thanks! it was a very relaxing first day.

Joining in! Sounds like you had a pretty uneventful drive...thank goodness! Our drive takes between 14 and 16 hours.

Madeline is such a pretty little girl and looks absolutely adorable in her Alice dress. I have to say that I agree with you on Chef Mickey's. We ate dinner there in August and we won't be going back again. There were very few things on the buffet that we cared for at all.

Looking forward to reading more!

I think our drive all together was about 18-19 hours. Luckily we stopped over night. I was very disappointed with the food. Usually I can eat least find loads of desserts I like but really all I liked was that key lime tart. The brownie was even gross.

looks like a great character interaction!! Madeline is soooo cute in her Alice dress!! I love the one where she is laying down...?!? is that what she is doing?!? :

I had read that on a couple of post that the food was not all that ...I had decided that if we give it a try it would be for breakfast, but I really think we are going to skip that one!

Connie

I'd try Tusker House for breakfast. try to get an 8:10 ADR. The walk from the turnstiles to the restaurant is so pretty when the park is empty. The food is so good too! Lots to choose from.

Your daughter is adorable. Her dress is so cute.

We just got back from WDW on the 25th and had a great time.

We have done breakfast at Chef Mickey's and it's ok, nothing special.

I noticed that the lines for characters were longer this year while we were in the park than they have been in the past. Hope you were able to get some good pics with the characters in the parks.

Our lines for characters were actually shorter then in May. Fairies took an hour. I think Animal Kingdom is the best place for characters if you want short lines.

I followed you over from GB's report.

We've done both meals at Chef Mickey's. It's okay. But since I hate waiting in line for characters and my kids hate sitting still in table service restaurants it's a restaurant choice that still tops my list.

Very sweet Alice costume.

We haven't tried too many table service restaurants that weren't buffet/character meals yet. Chef Mickey was our first dinner buffet so I can only compare to breakfast at other places but I'd choose just about any breakfast buffet over Chef Mickey dinner any day. Also it's SO expensive. Our Ohana dinner was like $10 cheaper then Chef Mickey.

Thanks for joining.

 

[GreatBiscuit]

I believe it was around noon when we pulled into the resort, Marriot Harbour Lake. We hoped we could check in early. We were in luck and we got a wonderful room. We were instantly in love with the resort. I took pictures of our room.

That was a mighty nifty looking spot! If

Madeline decided she wanted to wear her Alice dress to Chef Mickey's. So we got her dressed and we headed out around 3:45. We arrived at the Contemporary pretty early for our ADR. We decided to look at the gift shops. After a few minutes Eric was tired of that so we decided to take a trip on the monorail.

Too cute! Excellent Chef Mickey shots!

 

[chicagoshannon]

GB- we could have done a time share presentation while there. We thought about it but then I remembered your dad wasn't with us so we declined.

 

[chicagoshannon]

On Monday we woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed for our day at MGM. Depending on how the day went we planned to head to Epcot sometime in the afternoon. We had previously cancelled our ADR for the Play n Dine breakfast so we didn't need to be at the park until just before opening. I think we arrived to the gate at around 8:30 or so. They were already in full Idol mode trying to get everyone to volunteer. It was a bit entertaining to watch.

We were finally let into the park. They didn't have a family of the day this day but they still did their little skit before rope drop.

We stuck to the left of the street and walked with the mob to Toy Story Midway Mania. We hopped right into line. It was pretty much a walk on. On this ride we sat all 3 of us in 1 car. Eric beat me on this round. After the ride Eric ran over to TOT and RNRC while Madeline and I got fast passes for TSMM. I think our return time was around noon. Madeline and I then tried to race of the VOTLM but just missed the show so we headed towards Playhouse Disney. The original plan was to do VOTLM and then have Eric meet us at PD. Oh well we didn't think he'd mind too much.

Madeline enjoyed this show yet again. Unfortunately we were sitting in an area where they either didn't have special effects or they were broken.

After a quick phone call to Eric we headed over to VOTLM. Madeline was much more vocal this time about not liking Urcela. She did fine though. We're lucky in that even if she is scared or doesn't like something she'll just say "I don't like that mean witch" or whatever. She doesn't cry or cling to us for dear life. In this particular show prince Eric was at least a foot taller then Ariel. It made for an interesting last scene. After the show we found Eric waiting for us by the exit and we spotted our first pressed penny machine. The line was long so we decided to come back to it later.

It was time to head to Star Tours. We got a child swap pass and then Eric rode. While he was on Madeline and I watched the Jedi training academy. She was itching to see some Star Wars characters. She was delighted when the Storm Trouper and Darth Vader came out.

When Eric arrived back on earth from the moon of Endor we decided it was time to make a light saber. Madeline picked green "like Luke". You could tell the CM was a total Star Wars nerd when she corrected Madeline telling her green was Yoda's color. Eric swears up and down that Luke's was green too.

We then paid for the light saber. Madeline enjoyed correcting the CM when she said she didn't like Jaba's castle. Madeline said "it's not a castle it's a palace". lol

We then had to get a picture in front of the ATAT.

We wanted to get some pictures on the other vehicles they had out but apparently they took those away.

It was now time for lunch. We were going to eat at the restaurant right next to Star Tours but their macoroni had meat in it (gross) so it was off to Pizza Planet.(or whatever it's called). We were SO glad we ended up there. That pizza is THE best in all of Walt Disney World. We sat on a table outside since it was a beautiful 75ish degrees. I think this was the perfect weather day for park touring. After lunch Madeline found the area with the snow man and played for a bit.

Madeline then insisted we go see the muppets.

She enjoyed the show. I think she just likes wearing the 3D glasses. This used to be one of my favorite shows but it really needs a redo. The 3D effects or glasses or something just arent' working properly any more. I think I read a rumor that it was getting redone so we'll see.

We decided that we would now go use our fastpasses for TSMM and then head out of the park. This time Madeline rode with me and Eric rode by himself. I was impressed that Madeline actully scored 600 points and I beat Eric this time. This ride is so much better then Buzz. I can't figure out how to aim correctly on Buzz. I'm hoping they take that ride out and put something else there soon. After the ride we took Madeline over to meet Woody and Buzz. The line area here is so much fun. Madeline had a good time posing for the camera.

We headed over to get the promised Ariel pressed penny and then it was decision time. Would we head back to the condo for a nap or go straight to Epcot?

Stay tuned to find out.

 

[Jenjulia]

Looks like you had a wonderful trip!!! I love the Alice dress on her. It is adorable!

I am definately putting that condo on my list for the next time we go. I want to see pool pictures again. There's a pirate ship play area, right? Cool!

Looking forward to more updates!

 

[LKD]

Wow what a Condo! The view is beautiful!
Maddi looks so cute in her Alice dress!
It looks like she had so much fun!