Lesley Wake
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2017
Another WDW trip completed, so time to start on the trip report! I wrote about my previous trips here:
We had a lot of super fun plans:
- First visit to Disneyworld in September 2017: "We've gone too far"-A sister trip with surprise guest Irma! Sept 2017."
- Second trip, and first solo trip, in March 2018: "Hippos, Tigers, and Flowers, Oh My! - A Solo March '18 TR"
- Third TR but first visit to Disneyland Paris (plus my family's adventures in Paris, Loire Valley, and Normandy) in May/June 2018: "Don't Anger the Dolls - A France and DLP Trip, June '18"
- Fourth TR: And Now for a change of plans-A Dec '18 Solo TR. I've sort of paused updating on here for now. I wanted to get the Paris TR done and now I want to get this May TR done since other people were on it! But I will get back to the December one ASAP!
- Another trip, but no report yet: February '19 - WDW plus a Disney Cruise - I've written up all my notes but still haven't started up the actual TR. I will hope to get to that this summer!
Some basics:
My name is Lesley and I'm a 33 yr old engineer, living in Los Angeles. I've been a huge Disney fan all my life and have been a Disneyland AP for the past four years (with a few month break). Prior to my first WDW trip 2 Septembers ago, I upgraded that Annual Pass to a Premier, which made financial sense, since we got the discounts, memory maker, and overall benefits. Of course, with an AP burning a hole in my pocket, I ended up planning another trip for the following March, which then led me to deciding on a December trip for the decorations, and a February trip for a cruise. But that was going to be it... well, then my friends came along. The Dis has allowed me to make so many great (online) friendships, some of whom I've been able to meet in person in WDW or Disneyland (or even Disneyland Paris). Sometime last year we decided it was time to have a girls trip, and that snowballed from a handful of people to about 30 dissers! (Of course that meant another year with a Premier AP for me, which meant an upcoming NYE trip, plus another cruise in Feb/March 2020.) So, phew, that's how one trip and one AP turned into 7 trips, 3 APs, 2 cruises, and more!
Overall, thanks to that AP and my close proximity to DLR I get to go all of the time (I usually average 2-3 times per month, but sometimes I can end up going even more). I may also intersperse this TR with a couple Disneyland mini-reports! I'm also headed there for a stay-cation on May 31 for the opening of Star Wars Galaxy's Edge! So excited about that one!
Also, you may have noticed above that I got to visit Disneyland Paris this past summer, which I highly recommend as a great intro to International Disney trips! I am also in the middle of planning a 3-week trip to Asia in the Fall to check the rest of the Disney parks off my list! I've started writing up a pre-trip-report, to help keep me organized, here: A World of Disney - 2019-2020 Pre Trip Reports!
Some Disney basics:
Favorite WDW Park: Animal Kingdom
Favorite Ride: Flight of Passage
Favorite TS Restaurant: Tiffins
Favorite character: Can't choose!
Favorite resort: Animal Kingdom Lodge
(notice a theme here...)
Trip basics:
Dates: April 27 – May 7
Resorts: Royal Pacific Resort, Port Orleans Riverside, Yacht Club, Beach Club – phew! (This wasn’t planned to be a split stay, but that’s how it worked out!)
Normally, it would just be me. Well, that wasn’t quite the case this trip, as I met up with an amazing group of ladies (and some Steves, a Joe, Luke, & Chad)! So many amazing memories (of course I didn’t get to chat enough with everyone, but there will be future trips for that)! The biggest co-stars in this TR will be my roomies at YC and BC – Caroline (@disneyAndi14 ) and Molly(@Mollydolly334 )! We never met in person or even spoke on the phone until we arrived at WDW – in fact, Caroline met me while I was in a wet bathing suit! But we clicked completely and totally enjoyed our time together! Su-Lynn (@chunkymonkey ) and her Chubby Hubby, Steve, will also make many appearances.
Of course a whole bunch of other ladies, with laughing (and napping) with Su-Queen, enjoying a dessert party or two with Ariana (@Pluto0809 ) and Jackie (@missjackiemcg ). Watching Liesa (@Steppesister ) coin the term, Chunkydump. Chilling with Billie (@Elevationist ) and Sarah (@IowaTater ) in Epcot. Enjoying Universal with Karilyn (@Malia78 ). Getting the most wonderful gift from Jennifer (@Chrystmasangel ). Having a relaxing time at Stormalong Bay with Ariella (@StarWarsMomofGirls! ) and her family. Getting to chat with Fallon (@fallonkendra ) and her DH, Luke. Designing a pink, sparkly Test Track car with Jenny (@Jenny Sanders ) and her DH, Joe. Having tea with Kara (@paradesintherain ) at the Grand Floridian. Wearing the same dress as Renee (@ArielSRL ) and getting photobombed by her DH, Chad. Having a shrimp party with Kari (@kastoney ) and Ariane’s (@ariane37 ) DH, Steve in Epcot. Demonstrating the proper side of the safari vehicle to sit on with Kelly (@buzzrelly ). Admiring Mary’s (@MissMaryQC ) new dress at Ohana. And more fun times in Epcot with Melinda (@pepperandchips ), Lindsay (@LindseyJo22 ), and Kelly (@cinderkelly ).
Honorable mentions go to my friend, Zach (@AMusicLifeForMe ), and another Disfriend, Alyssa (@amalone1013 ), who I met up with but weren't really on the EPIC Girl's Trip!
My name is Lesley and I'm a 33 yr old engineer, living in Los Angeles. I've been a huge Disney fan all my life and have been a Disneyland AP for the past four years (with a few month break). Prior to my first WDW trip 2 Septembers ago, I upgraded that Annual Pass to a Premier, which made financial sense, since we got the discounts, memory maker, and overall benefits. Of course, with an AP burning a hole in my pocket, I ended up planning another trip for the following March, which then led me to deciding on a December trip for the decorations, and a February trip for a cruise. But that was going to be it... well, then my friends came along. The Dis has allowed me to make so many great (online) friendships, some of whom I've been able to meet in person in WDW or Disneyland (or even Disneyland Paris). Sometime last year we decided it was time to have a girls trip, and that snowballed from a handful of people to about 30 dissers! (Of course that meant another year with a Premier AP for me, which meant an upcoming NYE trip, plus another cruise in Feb/March 2020.) So, phew, that's how one trip and one AP turned into 7 trips, 3 APs, 2 cruises, and more!
Overall, thanks to that AP and my close proximity to DLR I get to go all of the time (I usually average 2-3 times per month, but sometimes I can end up going even more). I may also intersperse this TR with a couple Disneyland mini-reports! I'm also headed there for a stay-cation on May 31 for the opening of Star Wars Galaxy's Edge! So excited about that one!
Also, you may have noticed above that I got to visit Disneyland Paris this past summer, which I highly recommend as a great intro to International Disney trips! I am also in the middle of planning a 3-week trip to Asia in the Fall to check the rest of the Disney parks off my list! I've started writing up a pre-trip-report, to help keep me organized, here: A World of Disney - 2019-2020 Pre Trip Reports!
Some Disney basics:
Favorite WDW Park: Animal Kingdom
Favorite Ride: Flight of Passage
Favorite TS Restaurant: Tiffins
Favorite character: Can't choose!
Favorite resort: Animal Kingdom Lodge
(notice a theme here...)
Trip basics:
Dates: April 27 – May 7
Resorts: Royal Pacific Resort, Port Orleans Riverside, Yacht Club, Beach Club – phew! (This wasn’t planned to be a split stay, but that’s how it worked out!)
Normally, it would just be me. Well, that wasn’t quite the case this trip, as I met up with an amazing group of ladies (and some Steves, a Joe, Luke, & Chad)! So many amazing memories (of course I didn’t get to chat enough with everyone, but there will be future trips for that)! The biggest co-stars in this TR will be my roomies at YC and BC – Caroline (@disneyAndi14 ) and Molly(@Mollydolly334 )! We never met in person or even spoke on the phone until we arrived at WDW – in fact, Caroline met me while I was in a wet bathing suit! But we clicked completely and totally enjoyed our time together! Su-Lynn (@chunkymonkey ) and her Chubby Hubby, Steve, will also make many appearances.
Of course a whole bunch of other ladies, with laughing (and napping) with Su-Queen, enjoying a dessert party or two with Ariana (@Pluto0809 ) and Jackie (@missjackiemcg ). Watching Liesa (@Steppesister ) coin the term, Chunkydump. Chilling with Billie (@Elevationist ) and Sarah (@IowaTater ) in Epcot. Enjoying Universal with Karilyn (@Malia78 ). Getting the most wonderful gift from Jennifer (@Chrystmasangel ). Having a relaxing time at Stormalong Bay with Ariella (@StarWarsMomofGirls! ) and her family. Getting to chat with Fallon (@fallonkendra ) and her DH, Luke. Designing a pink, sparkly Test Track car with Jenny (@Jenny Sanders ) and her DH, Joe. Having tea with Kara (@paradesintherain ) at the Grand Floridian. Wearing the same dress as Renee (@ArielSRL ) and getting photobombed by her DH, Chad. Having a shrimp party with Kari (@kastoney ) and Ariane’s (@ariane37 ) DH, Steve in Epcot. Demonstrating the proper side of the safari vehicle to sit on with Kelly (@buzzrelly ). Admiring Mary’s (@MissMaryQC ) new dress at Ohana. And more fun times in Epcot with Melinda (@pepperandchips ), Lindsay (@LindseyJo22 ), and Kelly (@cinderkelly ).
Honorable mentions go to my friend, Zach (@AMusicLifeForMe ), and another Disfriend, Alyssa (@amalone1013 ), who I met up with but weren't really on the EPIC Girl's Trip!
We had a lot of super fun plans:
- Universal Studios Orlando Informer Meetup (basically Disney After Hours, but both parks, longer hours, and free food)
- 30th Anniversary at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Happily Ever After Dessert Party
- A day full of pixie dust
- Star Wars A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party
- Huge group dinner at Ohana
- May the 4th at DHS
- Drinking/Eating our way around the world at Epcot
- California Grill Brunch
- Hoop Dee Doo Revue
- Tea at the Grand Floridian
- And more!
- What did I think about the Universal Studios Orlando Informer Meetup?
- Did I fall asleep during my conference? (If I’m asking this question, you probably know the answer already!)
- How was the 30th anniversary celebration at DHS?
- Which did I like more – Yacht Club or Beach Club?
- What crazy things did I see on the safari?
- Who spoke the heartwarming quote that I used to title this TR?
- How did I like using Lyft/Uber throughout the trip?
- What was the biggest annoyance during the trip?
- Would all these virtual strangers get along?
- Will we ever do this again?
- How was Dapper Day at Epcot?