When: 3/31/04-4/404
Who:
Me-disney lover and planner of trips
dh-wants this to be the last trip for a while
dd-almost 3 yr. old who loves anything to do with elephants and the castle
ds-almost 6 wks. old and first trip (obviously)-slept through everything
fil and mil-dh's family-thought it would be nice to invite them since they had never been with dd and we'd been with my family
The Plan:
3/31-leave around 6am and arrive at disney around 2. Take dd for a swim and then go to MK for the evening
4/1-MGM in the morning. Take a break and then Epcot at night
4/2-AK all day followed by Boma for dinner
4/3-Seaworld
4/4-Downtown Disney and then head home
3/31
We didn't actually get on the road until 8:00. It's hard to get up any earlier than I actually have to right now since I have a newborn I'm getting up with throughout the night. We rented a minivan to drive down together in so we stopped to pick up dh's family. Stopped a couple of times for the kids and got to Orlando around 5:00. We were staying at Radisson Resort Parkway and had no trouble finding it or checking in. They gave our room a complimentary fridge for baby bottles and my dh's insulin. We decided to go on to MK even though we would only have about an hour there before closing. We were using the Fl. Play 4 Pass so it wasn't really costing us anything extra to go in for a short time. We went to WL and parked there and made PS for WCC for dinner when we came back out of the MK. Our last few trips have been in Sept. when the crowds are nonexistent so the parks were somewhat crowded for us. We rode the teacups, Dumbo, and the carousel and then settled in for the fireworks. We watched the fireworks from fantasyland which puts you right under them. The only problem was that you had to constantly turn your head to see them all but dd loved them. We got back to WL a little after 9 and headed to WCC for dinner. Service was really slow although our waiter was nice. He didn't really have any other tables but it took him forever to get our order and bring us drinks, etc. Went back to the room and settled dd in with dh and mil and I went to Walmart to grab some things we forgot.
4/1
We changed our plans and decided to go back to MK early and try to beat the lines on some rides. We rode Pooh, Dumbo (again) and small world. Dh and I tried to book lunch at the castle but it was booked up. Decided MK was getting too busy so we headed out to AK. At AK we went straight to the safari and did the standby line with about a 20 min. wait. Then ate lunch at Rainforest Cafe where it was freezing and again the service was very slow. It took about an hour to get our food and the place was not extremely busy. We then watched the parade and mil and fil took kids to the boneyard while dh and I rode Primeval Whirl. Met back up and went to Asia to see the tigers and then headed out since dd was badly needing a nap. We had planned to go to Epcot for dinner but decided it wasn't worth it when dd was so tired (as were we). Stayed in the room for the rest of the night.
4/2
Went to MGM at opening. Mil and fil took kids while we went to ToT and RnRcoaster. Got fastpasses for the coaster (using all 4 tickets) and rode ToT (about 10 min. wait). It was great! Fil and mil took kids to muppets but left because dd was scared. Went to use fastpasses. Fil and dh went first while we sat with the kids then dh and I went. It was okay. We also got fastpasses for Tot before riding. Sent dd and inlaws to beauty and the beast while dh and I went back to tot. We slipped into beauty afterwards and finished the show before dh and fil rode tot. Then headed out to the hotel for a break. We had PS for Boma at 7 but decided to go there at 5 so we could go back to MK after dinner. Boma was okay. They men really liked it but mil and I didn't much care for the entrees. We just tried to get our money's worth in the desserts. Went back to MK where everyone was lined up for spectro. Rode Jungle cruise (where my dd got scared and said she wanted to leave the boat and go to disney) and pirates with no line. Then went back to fantasy land and did philharmagic and dumbo and the fireworks. Headed back to the room after that. This was the last of our disney part of the trip.
I won't go again so close to Easter although the crowds weren't horrible. I much prefer Sept. but we were taking advantage of one last trip before dd turned 3 and we had to pay for her. I also won't stay off property again. It just wasn't the same and I'm used to WL or AKL. Radisson just didn't live up to my expectations. Next trip I will also make sure to have PS for a meal in the castle. Next trip will most likely be without dh as he wants a break from disney. This was our third trip in less than 2 years. I tried to find a little sunhat for ds but they were all too big at the parks. The only one I could find that had a wide brim and a strap was a pooh hat for a little girl. I finally found one at Seaworld. Ds was never a problem as he slept during the parks and I just nursed him during shows or while we stopped for a break. All in all it was a pretty good trip.
Who:
Me-disney lover and planner of trips
dh-wants this to be the last trip for a while
dd-almost 3 yr. old who loves anything to do with elephants and the castle
ds-almost 6 wks. old and first trip (obviously)-slept through everything
fil and mil-dh's family-thought it would be nice to invite them since they had never been with dd and we'd been with my family
The Plan:
3/31-leave around 6am and arrive at disney around 2. Take dd for a swim and then go to MK for the evening
4/1-MGM in the morning. Take a break and then Epcot at night
4/2-AK all day followed by Boma for dinner
4/3-Seaworld
4/4-Downtown Disney and then head home
3/31
We didn't actually get on the road until 8:00. It's hard to get up any earlier than I actually have to right now since I have a newborn I'm getting up with throughout the night. We rented a minivan to drive down together in so we stopped to pick up dh's family. Stopped a couple of times for the kids and got to Orlando around 5:00. We were staying at Radisson Resort Parkway and had no trouble finding it or checking in. They gave our room a complimentary fridge for baby bottles and my dh's insulin. We decided to go on to MK even though we would only have about an hour there before closing. We were using the Fl. Play 4 Pass so it wasn't really costing us anything extra to go in for a short time. We went to WL and parked there and made PS for WCC for dinner when we came back out of the MK. Our last few trips have been in Sept. when the crowds are nonexistent so the parks were somewhat crowded for us. We rode the teacups, Dumbo, and the carousel and then settled in for the fireworks. We watched the fireworks from fantasyland which puts you right under them. The only problem was that you had to constantly turn your head to see them all but dd loved them. We got back to WL a little after 9 and headed to WCC for dinner. Service was really slow although our waiter was nice. He didn't really have any other tables but it took him forever to get our order and bring us drinks, etc. Went back to the room and settled dd in with dh and mil and I went to Walmart to grab some things we forgot.
4/1
We changed our plans and decided to go back to MK early and try to beat the lines on some rides. We rode Pooh, Dumbo (again) and small world. Dh and I tried to book lunch at the castle but it was booked up. Decided MK was getting too busy so we headed out to AK. At AK we went straight to the safari and did the standby line with about a 20 min. wait. Then ate lunch at Rainforest Cafe where it was freezing and again the service was very slow. It took about an hour to get our food and the place was not extremely busy. We then watched the parade and mil and fil took kids to the boneyard while dh and I rode Primeval Whirl. Met back up and went to Asia to see the tigers and then headed out since dd was badly needing a nap. We had planned to go to Epcot for dinner but decided it wasn't worth it when dd was so tired (as were we). Stayed in the room for the rest of the night.
4/2
Went to MGM at opening. Mil and fil took kids while we went to ToT and RnRcoaster. Got fastpasses for the coaster (using all 4 tickets) and rode ToT (about 10 min. wait). It was great! Fil and mil took kids to muppets but left because dd was scared. Went to use fastpasses. Fil and dh went first while we sat with the kids then dh and I went. It was okay. We also got fastpasses for Tot before riding. Sent dd and inlaws to beauty and the beast while dh and I went back to tot. We slipped into beauty afterwards and finished the show before dh and fil rode tot. Then headed out to the hotel for a break. We had PS for Boma at 7 but decided to go there at 5 so we could go back to MK after dinner. Boma was okay. They men really liked it but mil and I didn't much care for the entrees. We just tried to get our money's worth in the desserts. Went back to MK where everyone was lined up for spectro. Rode Jungle cruise (where my dd got scared and said she wanted to leave the boat and go to disney) and pirates with no line. Then went back to fantasy land and did philharmagic and dumbo and the fireworks. Headed back to the room after that. This was the last of our disney part of the trip.
I won't go again so close to Easter although the crowds weren't horrible. I much prefer Sept. but we were taking advantage of one last trip before dd turned 3 and we had to pay for her. I also won't stay off property again. It just wasn't the same and I'm used to WL or AKL. Radisson just didn't live up to my expectations. Next trip I will also make sure to have PS for a meal in the castle. Next trip will most likely be without dh as he wants a break from disney. This was our third trip in less than 2 years. I tried to find a little sunhat for ds but they were all too big at the parks. The only one I could find that had a wide brim and a strap was a pooh hat for a little girl. I finally found one at Seaworld. Ds was never a problem as he slept during the parks and I just nursed him during shows or while we stopped for a break. All in all it was a pretty good trip.
