Just got back! What a great trip. I will post a detailed description of our 8 or so days beginning with this first post. Please feel free to ask any questions.
Who went? Me (35), my partner(27), my mom(55) and step dad(46), my sister(34), her boyfriend(38), and their two kids(9 & 11).
This was me and my partner's 3rd trip in 4 years (last one two years ago). It was my parent's 2nd trip (last trip 4 yrs ago) and my sister and her boyfriend and their kid's very first trip to the World.
Well, we left Salt Lake City on Saturday June 8th at about 1:00 P.M. We had a change of planes in Cincinnati and arrived on time in Orlando at 9:30 PM on Saturday night. We had reserved two cars at Dollar (chose Dollar because of its location in the Airport) and everything went smoothly. We were out of the airport and on the road just after 10 PM.
Our hotel was the Renaissance World Gate Hotel which is located just off Disney property on 192. We got the rooms off of Priceline and only paid $35 a night (a deal for this property). See my review of this hotel at:
Click Here
Sunday morning we were up by 8 (we are not early risers especially coming from a 2 hour time change in Utah) and arrived at EPCOT around 10 AM. Fisrt is was off to get FastPasses for Test Track (by then we had to return for our ride at 3:30). We went to Ellen's Energy adventre (loved it) and then Body Wars and then to the new Imagination Ride (much better since they re-did it). After, it was into Honey I Shrunk the Audience (kids were screaming and one refused to put his glasses on after the mice--too scary he said). We then spent some time in Living Seas and then it was back to Test Track to use our FastPasses--great ride.
By this time we were hungry and we headed into World Showcase. It was our goal this trip to do "Beer Around the World" and figured a margarita in Mexico would be a good way to get us started. We went to the outdoor stand and grabbed us Margaritas, some snacks and food for the kids. The maragritas were great but unfortunately the food was only marginal.
We headed into the pavillion after and rode the Rio of Time...not too thrilling but a nice break from the heat. Next stop Norway and our first beer, "Ringes." I had read a lot of great things about the beer but thought it was just o.k. It was great drinking 6% beer though because we don't get it much here in Utah since the law only allows 3.2%. We rode Malstorm after our "beverages" and then headed for China.
By the time we got to China the kids were getting bored and wanted more rides, luckily there were street acrobat performers that kept them somewhat entertained while we sampled the local cultural and of course, beer.
Germany was next and of course another beverage and then I think we made it to Italy before the kids had had their fill of "EPCOT culture." My sister and her boyfriend surrendered to the pleas of the kids to go swimming and decided to take them back to the hotel. Luckily we had two cars so it was bon voyage to the sister and the rugrats while me and my partner continued our quest for beer. My mom and step dad stayed with us and were really enjoying shopping and other treats while we sampled different beers.
Next it was Japan and a beer, the U.S. and a beer and then France. By this point I was beered out...the sun and the alcohol serve to dehydrate and me and my partner gave up the quest...we love beer but it was too hot and I didnt want to make myself sick.
We decided to catch the parade but it was cancelled due to wind (not a big deal since we saw it two years ago). We had wanted to try the Rose & Crown for dinner and get a seat on the lake to watch illuminations. I had meant to do priority seating earlier in the day, but everyone was wishy washy about what they wanted to eat so I never made them. Well, it was about 8:00 by now and my step dad decided that he wanted to see the show and sit in the Rose & Crown. I told him that it would never happen at this point that it was way too late and even if we did get in, a seat on the waterfront was impossible. Well, nothing is impossible to him. Next thing I know we are sitting on the bench in front of the Rose & Crown with a palm pilot waiting for a table. I was surprised and even more shocked when the thing paged us in like 5 minutes to come get our table and we were lead right to the waterfront. My step dad had a big grin on his face like a cat who had just swallowed a mouse. He never told us how he did it, but I have a feeling a slipped someone a $20.
Anyway, the food and beer was great (we resumed our consumption now that the sun had set and it cooled down) and the show was spectactular with no one obstructing our view and seats right on the water front.
We headed back to our hotel, pretty exhausted but with a great ending to a fun first day.
More to come....including IOA, Pleasure Island, Animal Kingdom, the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Jiko, Boma, California Grill, the studios, the waterparks and whatever else I can rember as I get through the narration of our trip...stay tuned......
Who went? Me (35), my partner(27), my mom(55) and step dad(46), my sister(34), her boyfriend(38), and their two kids(9 & 11).
This was me and my partner's 3rd trip in 4 years (last one two years ago). It was my parent's 2nd trip (last trip 4 yrs ago) and my sister and her boyfriend and their kid's very first trip to the World.
Well, we left Salt Lake City on Saturday June 8th at about 1:00 P.M. We had a change of planes in Cincinnati and arrived on time in Orlando at 9:30 PM on Saturday night. We had reserved two cars at Dollar (chose Dollar because of its location in the Airport) and everything went smoothly. We were out of the airport and on the road just after 10 PM.
Our hotel was the Renaissance World Gate Hotel which is located just off Disney property on 192. We got the rooms off of Priceline and only paid $35 a night (a deal for this property). See my review of this hotel at:
Click Here
Sunday morning we were up by 8 (we are not early risers especially coming from a 2 hour time change in Utah) and arrived at EPCOT around 10 AM. Fisrt is was off to get FastPasses for Test Track (by then we had to return for our ride at 3:30). We went to Ellen's Energy adventre (loved it) and then Body Wars and then to the new Imagination Ride (much better since they re-did it). After, it was into Honey I Shrunk the Audience (kids were screaming and one refused to put his glasses on after the mice--too scary he said). We then spent some time in Living Seas and then it was back to Test Track to use our FastPasses--great ride.
By this time we were hungry and we headed into World Showcase. It was our goal this trip to do "Beer Around the World" and figured a margarita in Mexico would be a good way to get us started. We went to the outdoor stand and grabbed us Margaritas, some snacks and food for the kids. The maragritas were great but unfortunately the food was only marginal.
We headed into the pavillion after and rode the Rio of Time...not too thrilling but a nice break from the heat. Next stop Norway and our first beer, "Ringes." I had read a lot of great things about the beer but thought it was just o.k. It was great drinking 6% beer though because we don't get it much here in Utah since the law only allows 3.2%. We rode Malstorm after our "beverages" and then headed for China.
By the time we got to China the kids were getting bored and wanted more rides, luckily there were street acrobat performers that kept them somewhat entertained while we sampled the local cultural and of course, beer.
Germany was next and of course another beverage and then I think we made it to Italy before the kids had had their fill of "EPCOT culture." My sister and her boyfriend surrendered to the pleas of the kids to go swimming and decided to take them back to the hotel. Luckily we had two cars so it was bon voyage to the sister and the rugrats while me and my partner continued our quest for beer. My mom and step dad stayed with us and were really enjoying shopping and other treats while we sampled different beers.
Next it was Japan and a beer, the U.S. and a beer and then France. By this point I was beered out...the sun and the alcohol serve to dehydrate and me and my partner gave up the quest...we love beer but it was too hot and I didnt want to make myself sick.
We decided to catch the parade but it was cancelled due to wind (not a big deal since we saw it two years ago). We had wanted to try the Rose & Crown for dinner and get a seat on the lake to watch illuminations. I had meant to do priority seating earlier in the day, but everyone was wishy washy about what they wanted to eat so I never made them. Well, it was about 8:00 by now and my step dad decided that he wanted to see the show and sit in the Rose & Crown. I told him that it would never happen at this point that it was way too late and even if we did get in, a seat on the waterfront was impossible. Well, nothing is impossible to him. Next thing I know we are sitting on the bench in front of the Rose & Crown with a palm pilot waiting for a table. I was surprised and even more shocked when the thing paged us in like 5 minutes to come get our table and we were lead right to the waterfront. My step dad had a big grin on his face like a cat who had just swallowed a mouse. He never told us how he did it, but I have a feeling a slipped someone a $20.
Anyway, the food and beer was great (we resumed our consumption now that the sun had set and it cooled down) and the show was spectactular with no one obstructing our view and seats right on the water front.
We headed back to our hotel, pretty exhausted but with a great ending to a fun first day.
More to come....including IOA, Pleasure Island, Animal Kingdom, the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Jiko, Boma, California Grill, the studios, the waterparks and whatever else I can rember as I get through the narration of our trip...stay tuned......
