Dream trip, that almost did not happen! completed...full of pics

[marconat]

Some pictures of Illumination birthday cruise. It was a little chilly at night, but we had a great time. We had pop and chips on board and cruised around the lake for about 30 min before we headed for our place under the bridge, it's true that the fireworks are a bit to the side of us, but it was beautiful just the same.

 

[PKWallaby]

Wow, I am worn out just reading about all the things you managed to fit in your trip, and it's only the middle!!! Love the photos and all the details. Keep 'em coming!

By the way, your daughter is gorgeous...and your son is a cutie, too. So glad you were able to make these wonderful memories with your family

 

[marconat]

Thank you for reading.... yes, we did a lot this trip around, but we did them at a slow pace... it was our 3rd trip to WDW, so we did things that we did not get to do last time. We were always early in our rooms, for a good night sleep... also thank you for the compliments... I adore my kids and would give them the world, but they are good kids...

By the way, just a little note... I'm soooo proud of my son (grade 5) his report card came back yesterday with Above expectation in all subject, my daughter's came back good too, she's in grade 1.

 

[KimAshton]

Love this trip report.

 

[marconat]

Day 9 - Jan 9th

My daughter wanted to see Alice for the past 2 trips, and we never had the chance to meet her. So this time we made sure she would see her by making ADR at 1900 Park Fare for breakfast. We got there around 9:10 for our 9:15 ADR'S. Advice, if you are far from the Grand Floridian, (like OKW, SSR) give yourself a good 45-50 min to get there. Since you have to enter MK to get to the resort (long car lines, depending on time) and to park. Where you park (if not valet) is a good 5 min walk from the resort.
So we got to the restaurant and waited about 10-15 min before seated. Enough time to wait in line for a photo op with Mary Poppins in the lobby.
We were seated in the front part and it was almost empty. Our first character was the Mad Hatter and he interacted with the kids for a good 5 min. before posing for pictures. He was a lot of fun. When he left we had time to go get some breakfast. The food was really good, what stood out the most was the Spanish scramble eggs and the Strawberry soup (cold). My sister loved the cheese blintz ( a kind of small pancake stuffed with a soft mixture of cheese) but I found it a little too rich. Also on the menue was, bacon, pancakes, waffles, potatoes, omelets made to order, all kinds of pastries and breads.
The other characters came around, Pooh and Tiger, and then the best for last, Alice. She was sweet and took extra time with my daughter.
She was very happy, she finally met Alice.

 

[marconat]

Day 9 - Jan 9th continued

After a great breakfast, we went back to the resort (SSR) to change my daughter into something more confortable since we were going to Disney Quest. We arrived there just as they were openning, 11:30 am. The place was empty... So we went for the more popular rides before the crowds would come in. We started with Buzz Lightyear's Astroblaster, it's like bumper cars, you are closed in and get to shoot big balls at you adversaries. My B.I.L got jamed, did not see that you had a front and back lever and I could see my sister laughing so hard. Next we went to Virtual Jungle cruise, you are on a raft and have to paddle down the river. This time I was with my sister and we were yelling and screaming like idiots as we were going up and down, side to side on the ride, we ended up with dinosaurs and very sore arms ha! ha! Right beside this ride is Pirates of the Caribbean, you enter a room and find yourself on a ship. You have to destroy some other ships by shooting them down with canons. An other popular ride is Aladdin's carpet ride, this one you have to put on a helmet and it's virtual, I was stuck on the ceiling until I found out that you have to push on the handles to make it work... My B.I.L. got whoozy on this one. We ended up in the video games section where you can find a multitude of them. My young Jedi found some Star WArs related games to keep him busy, while my daughter seemed interested in motorcycle themed games. Hope I'm not raising some biker babe ha! you see I used to love motorcycle and drove my Mom nuts... now I see why! ha!
We went for a small snack at the restaurant, the kids shared a hot dog, it was quite long and some fries. My Hubby had a wrap and I had just a burger with no fries. My sis and B.I.L were on the internet having a cool drink.
An other cool ride is Invasion: ExtraTerrorestrial Alien Encounter, you shoot alien and try to save Humans.
I had my fill of games and we decided to call it quits. My son wanted to see the museum of Ripley's ( he has books at home and is really into it). Since we were celebrating my daughter's birthday almost everyday, I thought it was time for some fun for him too... That's why Disney Quest also... it was a fun day for him.
Ripley's is cool, but way to pricey, 20.00$ for adults and around 11.00$ for kids. But my son had a blast in there.
After we had diner at Olive Garden, where my son had some fun with the server, telling him that he wanted a milkshake for a drink instead of desert that it was 1.10$ and not 1.85$, the server asked him if was interested in a job there to help him out... ha! he was really nice too and joked around with him during the whole diner.

 

[marconat]

More pictures of day 9

Hey! look a hat that matches my shirt

This building really does a number on your head

 

[marconat]

Day 10 - Jan 10th

Today is really my daughter's birthday. Poor thing was getting confused or amuzed, she asked how many more birthday days do I have left? ha! ha! We got to MK a little later today, around 9:30 am and walked towards Fantasyland. We wanted to get to Ariel's grotto early for my daughter's traditionnal picture (she is the only character that we got to see on every trip, even in California). The grotto was closed, a huge wall all around it, but there was a sign saying that she could be found at Toontown fair. So we made our way there. There was only a 5 min wait to see the Princesses, and I was happy to see Ariel in her beautiful gown.
We got to see all the characters offered there that day... and then it was Minnie and Mickey's house... I loved the houses, it's candy for the eyes, everything is so bright and colorful. At the end of Mickey"s house, you make your way out and around his garden and end up to see Mickey Mouse himself. He took some pictures with both kids, but then noticed my daughter's birthday button and pushed my son away and took a solo picture with my daughter, it was very funny.
We took a nice ride on the train WDW railroad it was nice an relaxing, after we headed towards Frontierland and decided for an other relaxing ride on the Liberty Bell... we took some nice pictures of Big Mountain there. After we ended up in Haunted Mansion, fallowed by Jungle cruise, Suiss family treehouse and Tiki room... We had lunch at Pinnochio's village haus, it was pretty good too. We wanted to see Storytime with belle, but we were still a little early, so decide to go on the teacups... the wait was minimal... and then we sat and waited for the show to begin... My son was chosen to play Maurice, Belle's father. She chose some more children to play other characters, like Gaston, but the kid did not talk alot so she turned back to my chatty son and had a fun conversation with him. You see, he loves to be on stage in front of audiences. The play was fun, and at the end, you get to see Belle and take pictures with her. We walked around some more, and went on Big Thunder Mountain, by then it was time for our diner reservations at Crystal Palace. The food was just ok, this time around, I don't know why. We always go there and the food was alway exceptionnal.. We had fun, all the characters came around, but my favorite was Eeyore, that noticed my daughter's pin and made us sing happy birthday and really took his time with her... At the end of the meal, a birthday card signed by the characters with a cupcake... The kids then went on a few more rides before Wishes, we watched it from the Crystal Palace... not as magical as right in front of the castle, but nice just the same.

coming up, pictures of the day.

 

[marconat]

 

[disnut1149]

Thanks for your great trip report and for sharing all those pictures. Your kids are really cute and I love your DD's ariel outfit. Sounds like you all had a lot of fun and really did a lot.

 

[marconat]

more pictures of day 10.

 

[marconat]

Day 11 - Jan 11th

Finally today we get to Animal Kingdom... I've been waited to go on Expedition Everest for a long time. We get to the park and take our time taking pictures and taking in all the beauty this park has to offer. We get to EE and take fast passes for later on in the morning and head to Dinosaur... There was no wait time and we walked right in. After the kids entered the playing area and had fun for about 30 min... We walked around and ended up in Finding Nemo the musical... it's a great show... The worked that went in making that show is amazing... the colors, singing etc... really worth seeing. Then it was time for EE... I loved it.. the Yeti is awesome...wow.. it's a cool coaster. We also saw It's tough to be a bug and then went for lunch at Pizzafari. All the tables were taken in the front and first part inside... but just past the cashes (rooms 2, 3 etc.) were empty... We had some great sandwiches there, and they were big. The kids went back to Dinorama and did Primeval whirl and watched a little side show in the street. My husband wanted to do Kilimajaro safari, and we just walk right on... it's more jerky than I can remember, but enjoyed it very much this time around.. all the animals were out, I'm sure they were waiting for diner ha! ha! Then it was time to leave, we had ADR at Boma at the Animal Kingdom lodge... We got there early and explore the resort for a while and took some nice pictures... We still had about 45 min before our ADR, but decided to give our name and we were seated withing 10 min.
The food there is excellent, the best meal in all Disney (that I had)... People you have to try the Cocomisu, next time you are there, it's better than the zebra domes (deserts)... I also enjoyed the Potato bacon soup, the pasta salad and the potato salad, all had a different flavor. The falafels were very good too.
The kids made their own pasta, and tasted a few different things... they loved the desert bar.
The staff was very friendly... It's a different experience and I loved it.

 

[tiggerbell]

Just curious - you said the safari was rougher than you remembered... were you sitting in the back this time?

 

[marconat]

That's right I did not noticed that, and I was sitting more in the front this time and last time I was in the middle.... but I liked bouncing around and the kids were laughing the whole way.... ha!

 

[marconat]

pictures of Boma

Desert plate with Zebra domes, Cocomisu (like white mousse), chocolate mousse the other 2 can't remember

 

[mbtileguy]

great photos what kind of camera digital?

 

[marconat]

yes a digital Canon rebel. My hubby bought that one because we had an old Canon EOS 650 that we bought 17 years ago and we wanted a digital one... and we had lenses and recently had bought a flash for it... and they were all compatable with the Rebel... so we went that route.
It's a great camara.

 

[marconat]

Day 12 - Jan 12th

We got to Epcot around 10:00am (getting a little lazy as we near our dream vacation). My daughter wanted to do Test Track, so we waited in line for about 20 min. We had fun on it. Then we went into Character connection and took some fabulous pictures with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Chip and Dale and Mary Poppins.
After we went to Journey into imagination and took the little ride. As we came out of the ride there was a show from Kodak, where my son once again was chosen to participate in. It was about a scientist explaining how a digital photo can be made and sent by email etc... all in a very funny way. My son had to put on glasses and a lab coat and strike a pose for the camara, at the end he was declared inventor of the year and received his picture as a souvenir. Very cute.

Then it was time to go to World showcase. We started with CAnada and watched OCanada, a 17 min circlevision film about different cities, beautiful scenes.

We stopped in France and took some pictures and made our way to America, where we entered the beautiful theater and watched the 30 min show. My son enjoyed it very much (he like history) while my hubby caught some zzzs. Oh! well! After we went to Italy where my daughter colored some masks at Kidcot stop.

By then we were hungry and decided to try the land. We found a quiet table in a far corner, right in front of Nestle Junior chef program.. The food there was wonderful. I had the sweet and sour chicken with mixed veggies and rice and a bowl of potato bacon soup. My hubby had the black forest ham and salami grinder and the kids had chicken legs with mashed potato and beverage. All was excellent.

My sister and her hubby were having lunch elsewhere. So I was not expecting her for quite some time.. but all of a sudden the she called and said she was meeting us, so where were we?
When she showed up I said Wow, your lunch was quick, I thought you wanted some time alone and relax.
Ends up that they wanted to eat at Rose and Crown and could only find a table outside at the counter service. She said that they had to share a table with an other couple and dozens of seagulls all around, trying to steal food and *making their business* all around. Not Romantic... she and the other woman from the other couple WERE NOT HAPPY CAMPERS!!!
Ha! ha! I found that so funny... poor her!

The kids finished just in time for the next Junior Chef. There were about 10 kids and the CM was very funny. They had a blast making cookied and at the end they each received 2 cookies. My son then wanted to show his aunt Figment, so we ended up there again and played around.
We walked around and entered Innoventions East (we had done Innoventions West a few days earlier). we had fun making robots and we even played in Where's the fire.
By then we were tired, it's funny how hours passes in those places. We went back to the room and decided to have diner at TGIF. We relaxed and had a great diner.

 

[punkin413]

whoa! you guys saw darth vader walking around and it wasn't star wars weekends??? i didn't even know that was possible. was there some special occasion? we're going in early may and star wars weekends this year are in june, so i didn't think we had a chance. DH is a HUGE star wars fan. his favorite character of all time is darth vader/anakin skywalker. maybe we have a chance of seeing him too?!???!! DH would FREAK OUT!!!

 

[marconat]

I was also amazed... my son loves Darth Vader... they came out at the same time as Cars... and walked in a little area just underneath Star tours, they came out around 9:30 am and then again at 11:15 am, that's when we caught them... my son freaked out when he saw him... that's one character I was really happy to get. But they are only out for about 20 min... it was written on our time guide... hope you can also get to see him. Good luck.