Doing Disney the Grand Way! July '10 (UD 7/14) TR link!

[WDWsweetie]

thats great that you've been to disney so many times! and a lot when you were younger too

 

[MickeyisBeast]

A year or so after our 2006 trip, my mom began planning our next trip to the world. We were heading back, the summer of 2008.

And this was going to be a special trip, we would be staying ON PROPERTY. For the first time, ever.

And where else then a resort that has a monorail coming through it?
The Contemporary.

For a week, we stuffed out selves silly on the dining plan, ate at places like Chef Mickey's, Le Cellier, Hoop De Doo Review, and Tutto Italia.

This trip, was when my love for everything Disney, truly began.

We fell in love so entirely, my mom started planning our next trip a few months after.

This time, for two days in January, a week after my birthday.
We spent one of those days at MK and the other one at DTD. We also stayed at the All Star Movies! It was a fun two days, and I enjoyed it!

But, it was our next trip that I was looking forward to

We would be going the same week in July 2009.
And, we would be staying at the Polynesian Resort.

(Here's the link to my TR for that trip, if you'd like to read it:
We're in Disney World, Stop Fighting! July 2009 )

I've got to say, this was my favorite trip to WDW I've ever been on.
My love for Disney grew on this trip, as did my love for the Poly!
It was just so relaxing and amazing there. You REALLY feel like you're in paradise! Our room was amazing too, not to mention we ended up with an AMAZING view of the GF and the lagoon, from a garden view priced room!

Those of you who have read my 2009 TR remember we did have a tiny problem with our room... our ceiling BROKE, because of dripping water. We didn't switch rooms though, we were too happy with our view, and we didn't feel like packing everything up, moving to another room, and unpacking everything. Luckily, the ceiling was fixed immediatly, so no worries.

Another amazing thing that happened on this trip, was that we got Annual Passes. And the CM that did it for us, messed up somehow, so that our AP's would end one year from the day we got them (July 13th, 2009) instead of the first day of our trip.

Since we had amazing AP's we would have to be going again sometime, right?

So, we were going again, this time in November of 2009, so we could see the Christmas Lights!

(The link to that TR:
A Christmas Adventure Full of Surprises! Nov 2009 )

We were staying at POR for five days

This trip was filled with surprises, but the best surprise, was that we got to ride the referbished Space Mountain, a few days before it opened! It was such an awesome surprise, because I had been so bumed that we would just miss the opening by a few days.

After this trip, we started planning our Summer 2010 trip, little did the kids know that my parents were secretly planning a trip in February 2010! They told us a day before we were leaving, that we would be going to WDW for the weekend!

(Here's a link to that TR:
Nachos & Yellow Snow Feb. 2010

We drove down on Friday, Feb 19th, got there early the next morning, and spent a full day the 20th, half a day the 21st, then drove back.

For this trip we stayed at CSR, I liked it there, mainly because they had sliding doors and not curtains
But, we did find clipped nails and dirty cups in our room- yuck!

It was a fun trip, overall though!

Soon enough, we started planning a trip to the world for Spring Break 2010, and this time we were going with my aunt, uncle, and two little cousins!

I can't say a lot about this trip, because I haven't finished my report, but we stayed for five days at POP Century

And now we've got our next trip coming up, Summer 2010

I think it's really cool, that in the past year we've been to WDW in each season!

Last July, it was summer
Las November, it was fall
Last February, is was winter
And April, it was spring

So, we've been during each season!

Not to mention how many resorts we've stayed at in the past three years:
-Contemporary
-All Star Movies
-Polynesian
-Port Orleans Riverside
-Coronado Springs Resort
-POP Century

And soon, Grand Floridian

If I were to list them in order from favorite to least favorite, it'd probably be:
1) Polynesian
2) Contemporary
3) POP Century
4) Port Orleans Riverside
5) Coronado Springs
6) AllStar Movies

 

[MickeyisBeast]

thats great that you've been to disney so many times! and a lot when you were younger too

It is, thanks

 

[princess_momma]

Sorry I have been MIA!! Life gets so crazy!! Your plans look so good! And I loved your Disney history...so magical!! I'm glad to see that Pop beats mods on your list!! I LOVE POP!! (Can't wait to finally stay at a deluxe though!!)

P.S. Is it bad that when I read your post for only being 2 months away, I looked for a "like" button to click?

 

[MickeyisBeast]

Sorry I have been MIA!! Life gets so crazy!! Your plans look so good! And I loved your Disney history...so magical!! I'm glad to see that Pop beats mods on your list!! I LOVE POP!! (Can't wait to finally stay at a deluxe though!!)

P.S. Is it bad that when I read your post for only being 2 months away, I looked for a "like" button to click?

It's alright, life gets busy
I think POP was WAY better then the mods we stayed at... we just had a better experience there! I love POP too, it was amazing for being a value

I do that all the time!

 

[MickeyisBeast]

I missed the 50 day mark- but today is the 45 day mark, which is even better!

We are getting the Counter Service Dining Plan, so because of that, we're probably only doing one breakfast... Chef Mickey's or 'Ohana...

My mom asked me which one I would rather do, and I said I was leaning more towards 'Ohana...
Here are the Pros and Cons of 'Ohana

Pros
-It's at the Polynesian, which we love
-We ate there for dinner last summer, and loved it
-I want to see Lilo and Stitch
-I've heard it's delicious!

Cons
-Chef Mickey's is known for their fab breakfast

Pros and Cons for Chef Mickeys

Pros
-The food is yummy
-You get to see Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto
-I liked dinner there
-It's at the Contemporary, which I liked when we stayed there (not as much as the Poly though...!)

Cons
-Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto are characters we've seen a bunch... Lilo and Stich are a little more exotic(;
-I realllllllllllly love 'Ohana

What do you guys think?

Here's some pics from 'Ohanas when we ate there for dinner... (just to include some pics, since I havent had any in a while!)

 

[dancer067]

Though I prefer Chef Mickey's to Ohana (even though I prefer the Ploy to Contemp.), if I were you I'd go to Ohana. Since you've seen Micky, Minnie, Pluto, etc. many times before, and would like to see lilo & Stitch. And if you loovee ohana thaty much, I think you should go there. But either choice would be one that you wouldn't regret, since they are both fab resaurants

 

[Princess116]

I've eaten at ohana for breakfast, and I love it!
I've only had dinner at Chef Mickeys, but I still enjoyed it there
I think you should go with ohaanas

 

[MickeyisBeast]

Though I prefer Chef Mickey's to Ohana (even though I prefer the Ploy to Contemp.), if I were you I'd go to Ohana. Since you've seen Micky, Minnie, Pluto, etc. many times before, and would like to see lilo & Stitch. And if you loovee ohana thaty much, I think you should go there. But either choice would be one that you wouldn't regret, since they are both fab resaurants

Thanks for the input!
We're probably going to go with 'Ohana, just because of our last experience there

I've eaten at ohana for breakfast, and I love it!
I've only had dinner at Chef Mickeys, but I still enjoyed it there
I think you should go with ohaanas

Thanks for your opinion!
We're most likely going with 'Ohana

 

[jec13]

I went to 'Ohana for breakfast last June with my daughter (who was 25 at the time) because she loves Stitch. It was really good. I took pictures of her with all the characters. They also had the younger kids get up and dance around the restaurant with the characters. It was really cute.

 

[blue and green]

I think you shoud go with ohanas, it seems like it'd be more fun
I love chef mickeys though, but i think ohana is better for breakfast

 

[MickeyisBeast]

I went to 'Ohana for breakfast last June with my daughter (who was 25 at the time) because she loves Stitch. It was really good. I took pictures of her with all the characters. They also had the younger kids get up and dance around the restaurant with the characters. It was really cute.

'Ohana sounds like fun for breakfast! I'm pretty sure we're going with 'Ohana as our choice

I think you shoud go with ohanas, it seems like it'd be more fun
I love chef mickeys though, but i think ohana is better for breakfast

Thanks for your opinion! We're most likely going to go with 'Ohana

 

[Princess116]

I'm pretty sure we're going with 'Ohana as our choice

Awesome that you're going with Ohana!

 

[MickeyisBeast]

Just thought I'd show you all my new countdown pic- I might not be able to change the number of days everyday though....

 

[MickeyisBeast]

Awesome that you're going with Ohana!

Thanks

 

[Princess116]

Cute countdown pic!

 

[MickeyisBeast]

Tuesday, July 6th
We'll be driving down this day. We're probably going to be leaving early, around 4:30-5:30am

We'll be all packed up the night before, and most likely load up the car the night before also.

We'll drive the 9 hours down to Orlando, with limited stops only for bathroom breaks, gas breaks, food breaks. We'll probably have breakfast on the road, at Chick Fil A- a favorite of mine- in SC

Lunch will probably be at a fastfood place on our way down, somewhere in Georgia or maybe FL.

The arrival time will be about 1:00-2:00pm
We'll check into the Grand Floridian, hopefully get a room with a good view, unpack, and rest for an hour or two!

The first park of our vaca, if things go as planned, is MK. It's open until 10pm, which is fine, because after a nine hour car ride, staying up too late isn't the best idea.

While at MK, we'll probably have dinner at Columbia Harbour House!

Since this is a Magic Kingdom Day, here are "Sara's Must Do's" for the Magic Kingdom!

"Hello and welcome to Must Do Disney. I'm your host- Sara! You know, there's a lot of things in life you Must Do but there are only a few of those Must Do's that you really want to do! Like celebrate all of life's special moments! And boy, have you come to the place to do just that!..."

"Our first Must Do for Magic Kingdom is Space Mountain!"

We rode SM in November, a few days before the "Grand Opening" we got to test drive it!

Unfortunatly, we didn't get to ride it in February or April): So, it's a MUST DO this trip! I absolutly LOVE Space Mountain! If you haven't ridden it yet, after the referb. you should. They changed the lighting, so it's darker- which just makes it scarier! Also, the games they have to play while waiting is pretty fun, and you can come in first, second, third, ect. place


"Hope you enjoyed our first Magic Kingdom Must Do! Stay tuned for the rest of our Disney Must Do's!"

 

[MickeyisBeast]

Cute countdown pic!

Thanks, but I don't think I'll be changing it everyday- lol

 

[TinkerbellLuvr]

Love the day 1 plans!
thats too cute that you did a disney must do- just like stacey! love it!

 

[WDWsweetie]

GREAT plans!
too cute that you did your must do like stacey