This is my first trip report, so be kind!
The Cast:
MIL - A big fan of Disney and co-financeer of this trip
FIL - Also a disney fan and co-financeer
DH - 31 years old. He hasn't been to Disney World since he was a kid and while he is not nearly as excited as me, he is looking forward to the experience
SIL - 28 years old. Has visited Disney many times, but will never turn down an almost free trip!!!
ME - 31 year old Disney Freak - this is my first trip since high school (my fifth over all) and my first with my husband and his family!!!
DAY 1&2 (Friday/Saturday) Let the traveling begin!!!!
Our traveling plans went off without a hitch. This is unusual for me as usually I leave very late, forget something and have to turn around, lock my keys in the car and have to wait 2 hours for AAA to rescue me, or in one case have the car simply die halfway between home and my vacation destination. My MIL drove down from Western NY after a half day of teaching second grade, my DH took the day off (I know, I couldn't believe it either!), and I taught a whole day (the longest of my life) of music before traveling home to meet up with them. My SIL and FIL will be flying down later to join us. We hit the road around 5p.m. AND WE'RE OFF!!! My husband was voted most likely to get around the DC beltway without having a meltdown, so he was in the driver's seat first. The idea was that the other two passengers would sleep while one stayed awake and drove. HA HA HA - Me sleep when I am just 17 short hours from being in "The World"????!! Are they insane???? We made it around the beltway with only about one hour or delayed traffic, my DH was happy because he spied a Starbucks, which we don't have at home, and had his favorite drink. I took over at the NC border and we drove on through the night. We stopped just over the FL line the next morning for breakfast at Crackerbarrel. My MIL likes to share meals and since their breakfasts are the biggest thing around, we asked if that would be ok. The waitress was wonderful and not only brought the breakfast already split on two plates, but brought us extra biscuits and toast so that everyone had what they wanted!!! Needless to say, we left a big tip. My DH took over driving at this point (just when is MIL going to drive? oh yeah, she had a five hour drive just to get to our house!!!). We made a stop at an Orlando Albertson's (I hadn't been in one of these since we lived in Las Vegas). I am almost too giddy to speak in the grocery store and at one point spontaneously start to skip (this phenomena will happen several times during the trip - much to the chagrin of DH). After grabbing the food, including s'more fixings for the campfire, it was on to Disney World!!! We were in Orlando, it can't be far, can it??? I had forgotten how long it takes to go that last short distance, but EVENTUALLY we did make it to the gates. We arrived at Fort Wilderness around 11am and the CM said our cabin was ready - WHOOPPIIEEEE!!!! MY DH decides he must have a shower and nap, so MIL and I take off to resort hop on the monarail. We had a great time, I'd never seen the Poly or Contemporary, so this was a real treat for me. We also found martini glasses with mickey heads on them, just the souvenier MIL was looking for for her friend!!!
We got back to the cabin and freshened up for our 5:15 PS at Whispering Canyons. Boy is WL beautiful. They already had their Christmas decorations up and we were speechless! (We thought OUR cabin was nice!) We had a good meal and a great time at the restaurant, although I would not reccommend this for the shy! Since we had no child at our table I was "forced" to do the Pony Express (it wasn't that hard, I teach little kids music and do silly stuff like that all day long AND get paid for it!) I even got the certificate which I took back to show my students. For those of you that have never experienced the Whispering Canyons, the waiters and waitresses are more like actors and actresses and they involve you in various humorous situations that make the whole restaurant ring with laughter. WARNING: If you don't like this sort of thing, then don't ask for ketchup - that's all I'm sayin!!!
After buying our Park Hoppers we headed back to the cabin and FINALLY I am tired enough that I can sleep - tomorrow is a park day!!! WHOOPIE!!
The Cast:
MIL - A big fan of Disney and co-financeer of this trip
FIL - Also a disney fan and co-financeer
DH - 31 years old. He hasn't been to Disney World since he was a kid and while he is not nearly as excited as me, he is looking forward to the experience
SIL - 28 years old. Has visited Disney many times, but will never turn down an almost free trip!!!
ME - 31 year old Disney Freak - this is my first trip since high school (my fifth over all) and my first with my husband and his family!!!
DAY 1&2 (Friday/Saturday) Let the traveling begin!!!!
Our traveling plans went off without a hitch. This is unusual for me as usually I leave very late, forget something and have to turn around, lock my keys in the car and have to wait 2 hours for AAA to rescue me, or in one case have the car simply die halfway between home and my vacation destination. My MIL drove down from Western NY after a half day of teaching second grade, my DH took the day off (I know, I couldn't believe it either!), and I taught a whole day (the longest of my life) of music before traveling home to meet up with them. My SIL and FIL will be flying down later to join us. We hit the road around 5p.m. AND WE'RE OFF!!! My husband was voted most likely to get around the DC beltway without having a meltdown, so he was in the driver's seat first. The idea was that the other two passengers would sleep while one stayed awake and drove. HA HA HA - Me sleep when I am just 17 short hours from being in "The World"????!! Are they insane???? We made it around the beltway with only about one hour or delayed traffic, my DH was happy because he spied a Starbucks, which we don't have at home, and had his favorite drink. I took over at the NC border and we drove on through the night. We stopped just over the FL line the next morning for breakfast at Crackerbarrel. My MIL likes to share meals and since their breakfasts are the biggest thing around, we asked if that would be ok. The waitress was wonderful and not only brought the breakfast already split on two plates, but brought us extra biscuits and toast so that everyone had what they wanted!!! Needless to say, we left a big tip. My DH took over driving at this point (just when is MIL going to drive? oh yeah, she had a five hour drive just to get to our house!!!). We made a stop at an Orlando Albertson's (I hadn't been in one of these since we lived in Las Vegas). I am almost too giddy to speak in the grocery store and at one point spontaneously start to skip (this phenomena will happen several times during the trip - much to the chagrin of DH). After grabbing the food, including s'more fixings for the campfire, it was on to Disney World!!! We were in Orlando, it can't be far, can it??? I had forgotten how long it takes to go that last short distance, but EVENTUALLY we did make it to the gates. We arrived at Fort Wilderness around 11am and the CM said our cabin was ready - WHOOPPIIEEEE!!!! MY DH decides he must have a shower and nap, so MIL and I take off to resort hop on the monarail. We had a great time, I'd never seen the Poly or Contemporary, so this was a real treat for me. We also found martini glasses with mickey heads on them, just the souvenier MIL was looking for for her friend!!!
We got back to the cabin and freshened up for our 5:15 PS at Whispering Canyons. Boy is WL beautiful. They already had their Christmas decorations up and we were speechless! (We thought OUR cabin was nice!) We had a good meal and a great time at the restaurant, although I would not reccommend this for the shy! Since we had no child at our table I was "forced" to do the Pony Express (it wasn't that hard, I teach little kids music and do silly stuff like that all day long AND get paid for it!) I even got the certificate which I took back to show my students. For those of you that have never experienced the Whispering Canyons, the waiters and waitresses are more like actors and actresses and they involve you in various humorous situations that make the whole restaurant ring with laughter. WARNING: If you don't like this sort of thing, then don't ask for ketchup - that's all I'm sayin!!!
After buying our Park Hoppers we headed back to the cabin and FINALLY I am tired enough that I can sleep - tomorrow is a park day!!! WHOOPIE!!
My family and I stayed at the Wilderness Lodge in Aug 2000. It is an amazing place to see and the lobby is awesome. I have never seen the lodge decorated for Christmas 
We stayed at the CBR for Christmas last year and we didn't get a chance to see the decorations at WL. 
