Disney w/2 Preschoolers-Yes, I've lost my mind

[PeytonSdiz]

Subscribing. Your kids are adorable.

 

[poegirl30]

It looks like they had so much fun!

 

[clomahony]

Subscribing. Your kids are adorable.

Thanks! I think they are but now that I've been home with my DD for 2 days now - she's not as cute to me.

 

[clomahony]

It looks like they had so much fun!

They did but so did I. Thanks for reading on.

 

[clomahony]

We had bought Universal tickets for our November 2006 trip but never used them so we were able to use them for this trip. I basically wanted to go because DD loves Barney.

They have a fantastic play area for the kids after the Barney show just outside the Barney theater.

Madagascar Characters

The characters at Universal were great especially Shrek & Donkey but I don't have any pictures I can find right now.

We stayed at the Doubletree at Universal hotel which was a really nice hotel. Nothing special, no special theming but very comfortable and clean and the employees were helpful. Just not Disney though.

Now, I had purchased the meal deal online and foolish me thinking it would be similar to Disney, went up to the counter and found that my kids were allergic to everything on the meal deal. So I told a worker there and their response was basically that's too bad. Live and learn.

We loved the ET ride, Jimmy Neutron ride, Shrek 4D and the kids area of the park.

Universal Studios was barely crowded and is very well designed with lots of wide open spaces so it felt much nicer than Disney but it really lacked the Disney quality.

Islands of Adventure next...

 

[clomahony]

We spent our last day at Islands of Adventure and the Dr. Seuss land is wonderful. It was almost empty. We would walk on Cat in the Hat ride over, over and over again until the CM said I was looking a bit green and should get some water. That ride really spins you.

The kids met the Grinch and Things 1 & 2

We also rode the Railroad in the Sky and the One Fish, Two Fish which really gets you wet but the kids loved it.

We then walked over to the Marvel Superhero section and met Spiderman.

We just missed the X-Men and DS was disappointed.

We spent the rest of the time walking around and that park is really big which is nice because I never felt crowded.

We then got in the car and made the very long drive home. It was a wonderful vacation but I'd still not done all I wanted at Disney so I planned I'd be able to go in 2009; however, the economy started to go into freefall and I work in commercial real estate so you can imagine what that was like.

AWFUL!!!

My company started laying off people in late 2008 and I got more and more work. I had planned a trip in March 2009 to celebrate my DD 3rd birthday and get her in for free for one last time but I was so worried about losing my job, I cancelled it. Then I had my stroke and well, life is too short and kids don't stay small long so I booked our trip for May 9 - 18, 2009 originally at Port Orleans French Quarter but when I found we could save about $400, I changed it to All Stars Movies and the countdown began.

I was also not going to rent a car but rely only on Disney transportation on this trip in order to save $$$ but as you'll find out, I really regretted that decision.

We also had the Dining Plan so I made the ADR's I could given I was only about a month out from our trip so it was quite challanging.

More to come...

 

[lazydoxy66]

Hi there!
I hope you don't mind another reader. I saw you on another thread and thought this TR would be interesting.

You've got a good start! I love the Universal pics from your last trip. I am sorry about the stroke. Wow, that would wake anybody up. Enjoy every day and do whatever you can to make it easier.

Your kids are so cute. I can't wait to read about your adventures with them.

 

[clomahony]

I'd love to have another reader. Welcome!

 

[clomahony]

Sorry this is delayed. My husband is a teacher so he teaches during the week and takes classes on the weekends. So I have the kids on the weekend while I try to clean and run errands. It's very tiring to say the least.

Anyway, to go on...

I don't have a lot of pictures for this post but will add what I can.

DAY 1 - TRAVELING & ANIMAL KINGDOM

We flew out of Reagan National on US Air at 9:30am so since my husband got bumped from a flight that he arrived at the airport an hour beforehand, we got to the airport 2 hours beforehand with just one big suitcase to check and three carryons and three personal backpacks so we were weighed down but really excited to go to Disney.

We got through check-in and security with no issues and got breakfast at the gate and waited to get on the plane. The flight was uneventful and smooth (THANK GOD-I'm afraid of flying but have to hide it so my kids don't start to get scared).

We landed in Orlando at 11:30pm and headed over to the Magical Express counter. OMG- The line seemed miles long because a cruise was also boarding people. So I stood in line while my DD (3) started to have a meltdown because she had been up since 6am which is early for her. So when we finally get to the front of the line, the CM says the voucher is for Port Orleans French Quarter and the only way I could get to All Stars Movies was to stand in this other really long line and get the vouchers changed and then get back into the WDW line again. Now I wouldn't have minded except when I changed our reservation, I made sure to change our transportation as well.

So after we do all of that, I get into the All Stars Movies line and get stopped just as we are about to get to the front of the line. So while we were waiting DD fell asleep so I very carefully had to carry everything for everyone (yes 6 bags) and get out to the bus, pick up DD and try to close the double stroller one handed.

The ride over was comfortable though so it all went well and DD stayed asleep on my shoulder all the way to WDW. We arrived at All Stars Movies and DD woke up just as we got off the bus so we grabbed all of our bags and stroller and made our way to the online check-in line which was really short and took only a few minutes wait. It turns out, I got all my requests which I made to both the reservation agent and called the hotel directly a week before. We had a preferred room on the 1st floor with a refriderator which we did not have to pay for because I have medicine that has to be kept cold.

We were at the Toy Story section building 10 room 755 so basically right next to the main building and in the corner closest to the main building. We could not have been closer. I was really pleased.

After we dropped off our stuff in the room and got organized we jumped on a bus to Animal Kingdom. I had done all of our research on the boards here and on Tour Guide Mike's website.

The kids were tired from getting up so early and all the traveling so far.

This was right outside our door. The kids loved it but it got really hot in the sun.

We got to Animal Kingdom shortly before the parade was going to begin so we hooked a left and headed into Camp Minnie & Mickey.

Turk had no line whatsoever so we popped over to see her.

This was when I started to notice that DD was afraid of the characters which was a first for her but with some prodding I was able to at least get her into the picture. Some characters she would not go near but hid behind me.

Then we went over to the Kid Discovery Area (not sure what they are called right now) and DS had to guess what items were in the log based on feeling.

He guessed them all correctly and they talked it bit about conservation so they gave him a card and stamped on of the spots. This was the first time he had done something like this and it becomes very important later in this trip.

We stopped into Pizzafari to get some water because it was unbelievably hot that day and AK just seems to be hotter as well as the parade went by. When it passed, we waded through the sea of humanity exiting the park to head back into Africa and catch the parade on its 2nd pass through Africa. That was a tip I learned was if you didn't have a good spot for the parade intially, wait until it passes and then catch it as it goes back through Africa at the end. The tip worked out great.

Video link in next post...

 

[poegirl30]

I loved the pictures of Universal! We've never been, but it looks great.

Love the pic of your son sleeping. Too cute! Doesn't AK seem to be hotter than the other parks?

Great update!