COMPLETED! I've been converted; I'm a believer! Trip Report July 2010

[MissJanice]

I will start off by saying this is my first trip report. And I decided to do one because I LOVE reading all the reports, so why not join in right? I will start off with a little bit about myself and the family.

I am in oh-so-much love with Disney. I have been since I was little, but really it has manifested its self rather recently. In 2007, my husband and I took a weekend trip to Disney to relax and recover after we had a miscarriage. I think I fell in love with the happiness that I felt while I was there. So much so that we brought our then three year old son back a month later for our first Disney vacation! Last school year was my first year as a teacher and I secretly feared that our Disney vacations would be a thing of the past. Our previous Disney stays were at odd times of the year with no crowds! But this trip has proved me worng and I know that next summer we will take on a full fledged week long (or more) Disney extravaganza!

Now for the cast of characters:
Me: I am a 30 year old teacher who loves Disney and all things Disney related!

DH: He is a 35 year old store manager for a grocery store. He tolerates my Disney obsession. But I think he secretly enjoys Disney almost as much as I do.

DS6: He is obsessed with everything sports. But loves Disney and all the rides. He hates lines and will not wait more than 10 minutes, so Fastpass is his best friend!

DD2: She is the crazy one of the family. Never stops moving, lots of meltdowns, but lots of smiles and laughter. She is either eccstatic or devastated about something. There is no inbetween!

I have been a Dis lurker for a long time. And if you can't beat 'em, join em. Where else can I find people who love Disney as much as I do?

So this year's trip was not even supposed to happen. We didn't think the money would be there. We didn't think that our kids could do it. We would just take a week off work and do day trips. Well, DH comes home from the most stressful day of work and says, "That's it. I need to relax and get away from work. Book a three day trip to Disney." What!! See I told you he must secretly like it as much as I do. I mean we live in Florida, he didn't say the beach or St. Augustine, or anything else! So, after trying for THREE days to the logged in to the online reservation. I book three nights at CSR with DDP three weeks before our trip. I changed DDP to DxDDP, then to QSDP (couldn't make up my mind.) We kept QS and it is by far the dining plan for us. We love it and will never do the other plans. It allows us the flexibility to do what we want, when we want to, where we want to.

Pics to come, photobucket is loading.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I'm joining in! I look forward to reading all about your Disney adventures.

 

[Dsnygrl1205]

I love CSR... Great pool! Can't wait to read more!

 

[MissJanice]

It was a fabulous trip and CSR was a very cool resort . Not our favorite but we'll get into that later. Still waiting for Photobucket!

 

[MissJanice]

I think that I will explain the title of my TR while waiting for my pics to download and looking for good family pics to post. We live 45 minutes from Disney World (placed perfectly between Tampa and Orlando!) I love Florida and I love everything about it (weather included) except the beach. I hate the beach! I don't like and will not go to the beach for the day. So, that leaves theme parks for daytrips. And we have had Annual Passes to all of them...Busch Gardens, Adventure Island, Sea World, Universal/Islands of Adventure. But we first got our Disney passes in summer 08. They were seasonal passes because we said we would never go in the summer or holidays (too busy, too hot, too crazy). The seasonal passes worked great for us until I decided to be a teacher (and my son started Kindergarten.) So we we renewed this year we went for the PREMIUM passes, thinking that the cost would cover going to water parks twice during the summer.

So going into this trip, I was really guarded about how it would work. It was July. It was the week after July 4th. There were so FEW rooms available when I made my ressies. EEK!

I was also not a rope drop person. We would leave whenever, eat breakfast, get to the parks on our own schedule. I mean how much diference could it make, really?

So we know that I am converted. Read along to find out why and how...

 

[Dsnygrl1205]

I can't wait to see some pictures!

 

[MissJanice]

Okay, so after some research, I think I can post photos...hopefully!

Me and DH at a wedding in May. I am usually behind the camera. And I don't think that there is one pic of me on this Disney trip. DH is still afraid of my new dSLR and the point and shoot broke sometime during the trip.

DS6 Last week, he loves to play in the rain.

He's all about football and the Chicago Bears (DH did it. Football is NOT my thing!)

DS2 is crazy (as I have mentioned) so it is next to impossible to get a good, in focus picture of her face. So I'll take what I can get!

From Valentine's Day (because this is one of my FAVE pics of her)

That's my family!
And I can't believe I don't have a family picture on any of my cards. In all honesty, most of our family pics are taken by other peeople, so I never have digital copies of them. Oh well, on to the trip report! Four days. Four Rope Drops. Four tired people.

 

[MissJanice]

As I have mentioned, we live 45 minutes away from Disney World and APs, so going to Disney is not out of the ordinary. BUT for my kids the hotel is what is most important. So throughout this day, we heard from DD, is it time to go to the hotel yet? We heard this waiting in line to get into the park! And 400 more times before we actually got there!

So around 7:00 we woke up, everything was already packed and we were ready to go. So I grabbed some PopTarts and juice boxes and we were on our way to DHS! I was going to see how it would go getting to the parks at opening (and I really wanted a FP to Toy Story Mania!) No traffic on the way to the park. I-4 really is wonderful going into Orlando now. It used to be awful (like 1 hour 15 min before) but now it is awesome and carefree and I love it. So much better than heading to Tampa! But I digress! On to the Studios!

No need for a tram (which means no packing/unpacking/packing the stroller) just roll to the gate. We were THAT close. I run to TSM and we get fastpasses. He it is only 20 minutes, lets ride it now!

So we did and it was probably only 10 minutes. Yay, surprise. I was having too much fun playing the game to take pics! So TSM is over with. What to do until we ride again? Star Tours for the boys (I don't do motion simulators! Never!) Shopping for the girls. I can browse every shop all day and do nothing else! I want to go alone and only look through stores. With NO one to say, "Are you done? Can we go? What do you want to do next?" Anyway, as you can see I run off on tangents here and there! SO after Star Tours we go see the Power Rangers (by luck) my sone has seen them for years. And I don't understand why he still likes them but anyway.
Blue Power Ranger two years ago:

Blue Power Ranger now:

No one is in line to see Lighting and Mater, so let's get some more pics!

 

[MissJanice]

So I'm not sure the pic limits so I'll finish on a second post. Kids were kind of crazy at this point and needed some exercise, so we headed over to Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground.

Lunch time at Pizza Planet. My DS is so excited because he has just realized that this is the Toy Story place. In fairness to him, we rarely go to DHS and he has had to watch TS1 and TS2 100 times recently because DD is obsessed with Buzz. Then I took DS on Tower of Terror (got some FPs after the two hour window from TSM which weren't good until 12:30.) DS will never go on ToT again! I like going up but NOT down. Oh well, in a couple years we won't get him off the "thrill" rides. After ToT, we rode TSM again and DH broke my score. (The person with the baby always wins because you get the whole screen to yourself!) Hubby rode Rockin' Roller. Then DS finally had his way and off to the hotel we went! CSR, here we come!

 

[MagicShell]

I found your report and am enjoying it. We have also only gone at less busy times. I can't imagine being there with the crowds and heat. We have recently started getting to the theme parks early and I love that part. My family is not extremely happy about that.

 

[MissJanice]

Well, my kids are so little and already wake up early. So we might as well get ready and head out. Plus then we will be done early enough to head back for a nap and a swim!

 

[Antigua08]

Hi enjoying your trip report, looking forward to reading more. My DD will be 2 when we go next yr so really interested to see how your little one got on

 

[MissJanice]

So we leave DHS at like 2:00ish. We head over to CSR. I go check in (DD is asleep in the car and we would like to keep it that way.) I did online check in at home before we left. The room was ready, yay! So off we go. We are in Building 1, ground floor. The room looks like every picture I have seen. It is pretty, 2 queen beds, flat screen TV sliding doors for dressing area. I am new at the TR thing, so no pics of the resort. It was rainy (or looked like it could be) so I didn't take pics at the pool either. I wish I would have. But with my point and shoot broken, I didn't want to take any chances with my SLR. Oh well...

The CSR is a beautiful resort and it would be great without my kids. But it was so spread out and we were too far away from the Dig Site and El Centro. So we needed the stroller everywhere we went. Plus unbeknownst to me, there were soccer players everywhere (the Disney Cup I would later find out.) Every age, different countries. All would have been okay except for the like 16 year old boy age group at the pool. All jockeying for the attention of the girls and competeing with each other to become the coolest group. (By cool, I mean most obnoxious and irritating. ) At the pool, they insisted on going down the slide in groups of 10. I saw two groups get kicked out of the pool in a ten minute time frame. They weren't rude or bad, just too many teenagers who knew what limits they could push with out any parents in the area (or city/state/country).

On the complete other end of the spectrum, the CSR is hosting a Downs Syndrome convention starting the day after we left. Many families had come early. And those kids and families were the most polite, friendly, and happy. I loved watching them swim, laugh and play; it was truly Disney magic!

So all of that is a just about the four days I was there. And I would really like this hotel on a date weekend or something like that. So for now, we prefer the POR with our particular kids. Although my preference would be any hotel connecting rooms. One for me and one for everyone else .

That being said, loved the pool. They playground really needs some shade! Plant a tree or two. Too hot to stay for long at mid day. I also would prefer a way to get to the playground without walking through the pool deck. I wanted to take DD2 to the playground instead of the pool (she is a little dardevil, so mommy's stress level is too high when Princess is swimming.) DS loved the pool, and would not leave quietly to go to the parks, to eat, or do anything.

We unpacked our things, went to swim, then had dinner at Pepper Market. I am not a fan of the Pepper Market set up. The food was goo, but I wasn't a fan of being seated (like to pick my own table if I am carrying food around) or having to tip someone who is only getting me a drink. I aslo like to be bale to choose all the bottled drinks (water, juice, powerade...) to go with my meal on QSDP. (We take them to the parks later.) I had some pasta, DH a cheeseburger (he hated it), DS and DD shared pizza. Off to AK for EMH.

AK was okay. We knew we were coming back the next day and EMH was just so busy with so few attractions open. The next morning was better. We did do the Jungle trek though and that was fun.

Our tour giude:

Deciding what to do next. (Forgive the hair, it is ridiculously hard to deal with. It is thin, super shiny, and does forward from the back of her head. I am trying not to cut bangs, but it is REALLY hard!)

He said "Take a picture of me doing this." I have no idea what "this" is.

Back to the hotel for some sleep. Well, that's what I thought. We thought the pack n play would be great. Put her in the pack n play and close the sliding doors and she would go to sleep. Nope, she climbed out, played with anything she could get her hands on. So, I got to share a bed with DS, and DH and DD had a bed. So, for three night, mom and dad did not sleep! We tried to put them in the same bed and neither one of them would calm down and lay still., play, play, play! So, sharing with the kids ensued, how many nights of this?

 

[mdsouth]

Another teacher here. We stayed at CSR in 2009 the week leading up to July 4th.

I have to agree, they need some shade around the playground.

Your kids are so cute! I understand about your DD's hair - my DD's hair is the same and I am awful with hair!

Looking forward to reading more!

 

[Goofy442]

Great start! Your children are adorable. We went one year when they were having cheerleading, band and baseball competition and I thought we were going to lose our minds.

 

[MissJanice]

This has nothing to do with my TR, but we are in the process of laundry, cleaning, etc... And I walk into my bedroom to find this:

 

[MissJanice]

On Tuesday morning we wake up bright and early to go see Donald for breakfast! We have only done one other Character Dining, so this was exciting. I was sure that my daredevil/Mickey Mouse obsessed daughter would LOVE the characters! And my son (much more shy and wary than his little sister) was old enough to not be afraid anymore!

Two years ago at Cape May Cafe:
DD loved the characters!

While her brother hid under the table!

I am still wary of Character Meals. I enjoy the food, love to see the characters, but when I get the bill I feel like I didn't get much value for as much as we spend. Tusker House was neat. We had 8:15 ressies so it also meant that we would be done eating and ready to go at 9:00 when the park opened. We were seated right at 8:00 and it was right near the food. All the characters came about 15 minutes after we were seated and were pretty much finishing up eating. Mickey, Goofy and Daisy all came to the table. My son LOVED it. He is six and this might be the last chance we have for this. So I am happy! DD whe LOVED it too...until the got too close. Then she was terrified. This was a recurring theme through out the trip. She's like a window shopper...Needs some separation from th character to appreciate them.

DD is so excited to see Mickey!

Doesn't last too long.

DS is all about his picture with the gang.

Then DD watched the characters, laughing smiling so happy to watch. Just don't get her anywhere near them!

So, we get out of Donald's just in time to run to Kali and let the boys ride. While the girls run to EE to get FPs for the boys for later! Back to Kali, boys decided to ride again (5 minute wait). Girls buy shoes from the Yak and Yeti store because they are really cute. Boys walk by EE and it is still a short wait and they decide to ride again, while the girls look at the monkeys. Walk to the Dino Dig and run and play for awhile. DD finds a place to get wet, I don't blame her. It is HOT!

We get FPs for Kali again (I know we had no plan and were walking all over this park multiple times!) Then to Rafiki's planet watch, where DD fell in love with Jiminy Cricket! From behind a window (see window shopping for characters!) She sat and watched the back of him for 20 minutes. He little face is probably in the background of lots of strangers' pics! Too funny. She was not impressed with Rafiki or Pocahontas, just Cricket. We watched the show and headed back for a ride with Kali (my first for the day.)

Back to CSR to swim and eat lunch at Pepper Market. Fajitas for me (yummy) and nachos for DH (okay) and nothing for DS (not hungry...or he just really wants to swim.) DD is asleep in the stroller. Back to the room and the boys are off to the pool. DD wakes up and we go up and get a pizza for her to go and eat outside at the tables on the water. (Well she eats and I Facebook! with no guilt from the DH!) Then on a walk around CSR and it is beautiful. Play on the playground and get ready to go to DTD for the evening and dinner at Wolfgang Puck Express.

No pics of the evening, brought the little camera and learned it was broken. But oh, well. Had a delish dinner at WPE. I love that place on QSDP! (Otherwise it is too $$$!) DD and I shared Turkey Cobb salad and creme brulee, boys had bacon wrapped meatloaf. DD and DS had mac n cheese but wouldn't eat it because it wasn't Easy Mac. What? My kids are deprived of real cooking. It looked delish to me, but oh well.

Then back to CSR to share the beds with the kids...again. yay...

(Well, my son decided we HAD to ride the bus home. So DH and DD drove, DS and I waited for the bus. Stopped at BB and TL. And finally made it home. He thinks the bus is awesome. This would not be the last time we would be waiting for a bus while DH drove home!)

 

[TheThomsLuvDisney]

Great trip report and photos.

I also love shopping in all the stores. I could browse all day!

Look forward to reading more!

 

[Mommy2BnB]

Subbing.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I was out of town and missed a couple of updates. Your kids are simply adorable.