Family Trip--9/16-23....will we survive???? Updated-Day 3 & 4-9/29 w/ PICS!!!

[Snoopygirl]

The Cast:

Me: 35...LOVE Disney...have been planning this trip for a year!
DH: 33...loves Disney too....laughs at my "DIS Boards" knowledge and quotes!
DD: 6....First time to WDW. Is a Disney Princess Freak! Loves them all.
DD: 2 1/2....First time also. Loves anything big Sis loves!
Brother: 39....Well, what can I say...we get along MOST of the time.
SIL: 38....LOVES Disney also....mostly Mickey and Minnie. Loves parades.
Mom: 58....Has to take MANY bathroom breaks!
Dad: 59....Spoils my girls!!!

Pre-Trip:

My DH and I went to WDW last May for our anniv. and we decided the whole family needed to go! So I planned and planned and made ADR's and booked a tour.....you know....did all the leg work. I was looking forward to this trip so much. I was very excited for my girls to see the Magic Kingdom for the first time and all the princesses!! We had a Disney meeting on Monday before our trip and I had printed out our itinerary w/ our ADR's and all on it. I told them that it was all just suggestions except for the ADR's.

Trip Details:

7-Day Park Hoppers and FREE Dining!!!

Sat. Sept. 16th--Departure Day

WOW!!! It's finally here! So, I booked the Super Shuttle for all of us. I had to do 3 different ressies. It worked out that the four of us and my parents were in the same shuttle since we live pretty close together. We met my bro and SIL at Sky Harbor Int'l Airpot at about 6:45am. The first thing I realize.....I forgot to bring the cord for my digital camera to connect to my laptop so I can download the pics every night!! UGH!! So now here we are bringing our laptop for nothing! Oh well. Our flight was to depart at 8:45. Traveling w/ 2 children (1 still in diapers) is quite interesting. There is so much you need to pack! And the stuff you need to bring on the plane to keep them entertained....wow!

Anyway, off we were to MCO! We arrived on time and picked up 1 piece of luggage for us and 1 for my mom....w/ our toiletries. The rest we let Disney get. Oh yeah....forgot to mention...my Bro and SIL had only 1 bag to check!! I couldn't believe it. My SIL crammed all her clothes in a carry on duffle bag and then checked 1 bag w/ everything else in it....my bro's clothes and their toiletries.....for a whole 7 days!! Crazy. Well....on w/ it....we found the Magical Express, checked in and got right on the bus and we were on our way!!! Yahoo....POFQ here we come!

We have 3 rooms booked so we go and check in and come to find out, my DH and I and our DD's have a water view room....woo-hoo! They put us in Bldg. 1. We get the map and head to our rooms. Man, it's kinda far. We stayed at CBR last year and we were spoiled w/ a pool and the bus stop right outside our room. I didn't know that POFQ only had 1 bus stop. So, this was interesting....but who cares...we're at Disney! Our view was really pretty. Right on the river w/ a view of the golf course. I will try to figure out how to insert pics tomorrow. So we unpacked and freshened up. My parents were going to dinner w/ a couple that were staying there for 2 days. The rest of us were going to DTD for dinner and to walk around.

So the 6 of us took the bus to DTD and we went to Wolfgang Puck Express for dinner. Me, DH and Bro had the Lasagna. SIL had Chicken Fingers and my DD's shared a Cheese Pizza. It was all very good. After we finished eating, we went shopping. We stayed til about 9 and then headed back to the resort. We checked in w/ my parents to see how their dinner went....they ate at Boatwright's. They said it was very good....they all had Prime Rib. Off to bed we went....HA-HA. Our girls were bouncing off the walls!! They were so fired up. We finally got them settled and we all went to sleep.....except for me. I couldn't get to sleep. I was w/ my 6 yr. old and my DH was w/ the 2 yr. old. They were all snoring and making noises. I think I got 2 hours of sleep that night. We were getting up and hitting MK for Magical Beginnings at 8am!!!!

More to come!!! And hopefully I'll figure out how to insert pics. If anyone could help me out w/ it....I would really appreciate it. I figured it out once but now I forget.

Thanks for reading!!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Keep it coming. Love hearing about trips with extended families. We took our first trip with the in-laws in July and found out we loved it! Can't wait to hear more.

 

[kokotg]

we were there the same days as you! enjoying your report so far....

 

[Snoopygirl]

Magic Kingdom!!!!!

Ok....so as I said before...I gave out itineraries before the trip....everyone knew I WANTED to be at the park @ 7:45 for Mag. Beg. Well, that didn't happen! Ugh!! What a way to start the trip. Wait, wait, wait....that's what I did. They were all like....what's the rush? They just don't get it! Anyway, we finally get to the park @ 8:30 and head to Fantasyland. Karen & John (my parents friends) met us there. They had already done a couple of rides!! WHAT!!!! Now i'm really mad! So DD wants to go on Dumbo. Man, the line is so long. So this was the only ride she got in before 9! What a waste!

One thing---the park was not crowded at all. Hardly any wait times! HM was walk on....most of them were. It was great!

Ok....enough of my venting. We decide to do Snow White now. Here I had envisioned going on all the rides w/ my 2 DD's. Not so. My oldest takes off w/ my SIL and gets on the ride. I was a little crushed. DD2 did not like the Snow White ride at all.....too dark for her. Man, not going good so far. So then we go on IASW and DD2 loves it!!!!! YAY!!! She stood and clapped and sang and danced. It was so cute! Finally we are having fun!! We head over to the Haunted Mansion next. My mom says she'll stay w/ DD2 while the rest of us go on it. I love this ride. My DD6 rode w/ my dad so I didn't get to see her reaction. I kept telling her before the ride that Mickey is the boss of the park and he does not let any children get hurt and that it's all in fun. She said the ride was ok but didn't want to go on it again. He-he!! Next we head to Adventureland. BTMRR was not operating.....BUMMER!! So we did Splash Mountain. Again, my mom and DD2 stayed behind. My mom is not a thrill ride person anyway so she didn't mind. We got wet and had a blast!

Next was Frontierland. We all went on POTC. Big mistake!! DD2 did not like it at all. She cried! Man, this is really is wasn't I had thought it would be. She was ok by the end and had settled down. We were all starting to get hungry and I knew I had to feed DD2 before she started to get cranky. My bro, SIL, and mom went on the JC and my DD6 and dad went on Aladdin's carpet ride. While she was up in the air, she noticed Jasmine and the Genie were out for autographs so as soon as the ride was over, she high-tailed in line! Jasmine was great....she looked good.

Off to Cosmic Ray's for lunch. It was pretty good. It was very crowded in there. That's the way it was all week.....parks weren't too crowded but the restaraunts were.

We had decided that the 4 of us (me, DH, DD6 & DD2) needed to take a break and head back to the resort for naps and swimming. We rode Buzz Lightyear first and then we headed back to POFQ. DD2 took a nap and DH stayed w/ her while DD6 and I went to the pool. DD had a blast going down the slide. After DD2's nap, they joined us at the pool. We swam for a bit then went back to the room and got changed and ready for our dinner. The rest of the family had come back to the resort also so we all left for our dinner at 1900 PF together. We took the bus to MK and then got on the monorail to the GF. I just love the monorail!!!!!

Dinner was very good. The characters were great. My DD2 wasn't thrilled w/ the mouse, though. She had no problems w/ the princesses but didn't like characters w/ heads and all. I had ordered a cake from the GF Bakery to be delivered at this dinner for my Bro & SIL's 10th Anniv. It was choc. cake w/ choc. mousse filling and choc. ganache. Man, it was awesome!!!! Worth the $25! Overall, it was a very good meal. My bro & SIL were tired so they went back to the resort and the rest of us went back to MK.

Day 2 coming soon---Epcot!!!!

 

[Snoopygirl]

Day 2---Epcot

Woke up Monday morning to another beautiful day! So we're heading to Epcot......Awesome!! I love this park. We all get dressed and head out to the bus stop. We met up w/ the rest of the family there.

The first thing we did was take a family picture in front of Spaceship Earth by a photopass guy. My mom has a picture of the 6 of us (my DH and I hadn't had kids yet!) in the same spot from 1997. So she was really excited to get a new one. Then we headed to Spaceship Earth....no lines....walk on!!! This is one cool ride....it's just totally Epcot. I do miss some of the ones they used to have....but let's not go there.

My brother decided that we needed to go to Universe of Energy next and work our way around til we got to The Land which is where we were going for lunch. I was like, ok....but I knew it wouldn't happen! Universe of Energy is long. We got that done and then a couple of them wanted to do Mission Space. My mom didn't want to and I wasn't in the mood for it either. So her and I waited w/ my DD2 while the rest of them went on. While we were waiting, those guys that do music on the trash cans.....man, can't remember what they were called....they were playing and that was fun to watch. They gave out stickers to all the kids. The gang finally came out and my SIL didn't like it too much. I was surprised my DD6 went on it...she said it was ok.

While they were on MS....my mom and I decided that we really needed to eat lunch because it was 11:30 already and we had ressies at Le Cellier for 5:30 and we knew it would be a big dinner. So we break the news to my brother and of course he tried to tell us that it wouldn't take long if we kept to his plan. I was like...look, I have kids and I know that they need to eat. I won out!! He-he! We rode Test Track and then headed to The Land for lunch.


There were a TON of strollers parked all over the place and I'm thinking...great, it's going to be so crowded. So we make the trek into the building and go downstairs to Sunshine Seasons. It wasn't crowded at all. I knew exactly what I wanted.....the Turkey sandwich. I got that, bottled water and the butterfinger cheesecake. It was very good. My DH got the Ham sand., soda and the butterfinger brownie. DD2 had the kids build your own sandwich....very cute. My DD6 was w/ my parents and they paid OOP for her PB&J sand. All the food was good and we had no problem finding a table....it wasn't crowded at all. We decided to go on the boat ride, do Soarin', and then the Lion King Show. Everybody went on the boat ride but me, DH and DD2 didn't go on Soarin'. I was bummed and I told DH to go on....that I would wait w/ DD but he said he wanted to go on w/ me. I told him we would come back another time or later that night and ride it. So, we waited....w/ a bunch of other people w/ small children. They should make a little kiddie play area there....that would have been great! After that, we headed back up to watch the show. Finally, we left. We were in that building for 2 hrs!!!

Next.....The Living Seas. First off....when DD2 is not constrained in a stroller, she is a wild child!! She was running all over the place so all I did was chase her around. Didn't get to see much at all. We all got separated in here so I finally grabbed DD and went outside. As soon as I walked out...I see my parents and DD6 sitting on a bench. They were tired.

My bro and SIL wanted to stay in there so we decided to split up and they would meet us at dinner. It was already close to 3 so the rest of us decided to go the World Showcase and try to find characters. We headed to the right and found a few....Beauty and the Beast, Brother Bear, Sleeping Beauty...and some others. Our DD6 had so much fun getting autographs. She just loved it and thought it was so cool! DD2 just liked to sit back and wave. We browsed around and then went to Le Cellier for our dinner.

It was very crowded but we only waited for 5 mins. We were seated right by the kitchen doors where the fireplace is. It wasn't too bad. Dinner was very good and dessert was even better. DH ordered the Smores!! He loved it. DD6 got it too. I had the choc. cake and it was YUMMY! We all enjoyed our dinner.

Afterwards, we walked around the countries some more, rode Maelstrom, and then found a spot to watch Illuminations. I video taped the whole thing while my DD2 cried. She did not like the loud noises at all. After it was over we headed out.....boo-hoo! We took our time and went in Mouse Gears before we left because my DD6 really wanted to get the Minnie Mouse backpack she had spotted earlier. We got on the bus and headed back to POFQ.


UP NEXT---Day 3...Animal Kingdom?????

 

[SmithFamily2003]

Great trip report! I can't wait for more!

 

[Snoopygirl]

Day 3--MGM Studios

Ok....I got up and put on the weather and it said it was gonna rain. No problem, we got ponchos!!!

The 4 of us got dressed and ready for our day at Animal Kingdom....I know, it says MGM.....this is what happened. My brother and mom came to our room and said we should change plans and go to MGM since it was supposed to rain. I was not liking this one bit. I told them we have ponchos and that we shouldn't change plans....it would be ok. They kept insisting we change plans so I finally gave in but I was not happy at all . So off we go to the bus stop....and look, the sun is shining brightly. I try one last plea to keep the plans and go to AK but they all agreed to just do MGM. I said, well we'll have to go back to MGM tomorrow since we have ADR's at 50's PTC. Ugh!!!

We get the stroller, my brother rents a scooter and off we go. My brother has spina bifida and has had MANY operations on his feet and legs and he ended up needing to do the scooter by this day and for the rest of the trip. He legs were really bothering him. Back to the story....we go down to TOT and RNR to get those rides done first. I assume that it will just be me & DH going on these 2 rides. Well, I was wrong! My DD6 decides she wants to go on TOT!!!! I can't believe it. I tell her exactly what happens and that's it dark and she says, ok, I want to go on it. Then my dad and brother decided they'll go too. So my mom and SIL wait w/ my DD2. DD6 liked the ride a lot. When we got off, the CM asked my DD if she would like to be a Jr. Bellhop. WOW! This is exciting. So they put a jacket and hat on her and tell her what to do when the next group comes out. It was too cute! The CM gave her a certificate and we went and got the picture also. We had it delivered to our resort and when I picked it up the next night, they had laminated the certificate! How nice!!!

Next was RNR and my DD wanted to go on that too! So it was me, DH, DD, and my dad. That ride is the best!!! I LOVE it.

Still no rain!!! Coulda went to AK!!!!

We walked back to where the big hat is and there were a bunch of characters so my DD waited in line for all of them except one....she already had him. It was HOT!! We were waiting in the sun and there wasn't any breeze....boy it was hot and humid! And those love bugs....man, they are annoying! After she got all her autographs we walked around for a bit and then headed to Toy Story Pizza Planet for lunch. It was pretty good. My DD6 wanted to play some arcades after so I decided to go for a walk and try to get DD2 to sleep. Finally met back up w/ everyone and they all went on Star Tours except for me, mom and DD2(she had finally fallen asleep).

My mom and I decided we wanted to go back to the resort now for a break and maybe go for a swim. So when they met up with us, we told them but my bro and SIL decided to stay at the park. The rest of us took the boat from MGM to the Boardwalk. We walked around and I told them we would need to take a bus to either a park or DTD and then back to our resort. My dad didn't like that idea so he got a cab! He's too funny. At this point, it did look like it was going to rain. The sky was getting dark.

We get back to the resort and relaxed for a little bit. My bro & SIL came back and we all got refreshed and headed out for Beaches & Cream.
As soon as we got there, it started to rain. I was expecting it to be crowded and we would have to wait, but there was only one family in there. Great! We ate our dinner and then ordered dessert. I had been thinking about the No Way Jose sundae for weeks and I was excited that I was finally getting to eat it!! It was good, but it didn't have enought peanut butter in it. After we ate, DH and I had planned to go to DTD and do some shopping. My bro & SIL were tired so they were heading back to the resort. My mom and dad said they would go w/ us. We got the bus and as soon as we got to DTD, it was really raining hard. It wasn't stopping me!!! I was going shopping!! My parents decided they weren't going to stay and then DD6 decided she would go w/ my parents. Cool!!! Now we could really shop and not be distracted by....I want this, Can I get that!! You all know what I'm talking about. I was surprised at how many people were there in the rain. When we were finally done and back at the bus stop....I couldn't believe the people. This was the first time that I had to stand on the bus.

Got back to the resort, picked up DD from my paren'ts room and headed to bed.

Here are some pics from the day:

Up Next---Day 4 Animal Kingdom w/ MILLIONS of Lovebugs!!!

 

[Snoopygirl]

Day 4--Animal Kingdom

The bus from POFQ to AK makes a stop @ Blizzard Beach.....didn't know that but now I do. Nobody got off at BB so off to AK we go. We got there right at opening, got our stroller and scooter and headed off for the Safari ride.

We walked right on the truck and started our adventure. This is such a cool ride. Lots of animals were out and roaming around but it was hard to get pics w/ the truck moving. I did get some that turned out good. Everyone loved the ride and wanted to go again!

Next, we walked the trail....sorry, I forget what it's called....it's the one right at the exit of the safari ride. It takes you around til you get to the gorillas and then you turn around and head back.

At this point, it was already getting close to lunch time and we had to leave the park by 3:30 so we could make our ADR at 50's PTC at MGM. So me, dh, dd's, mom and dad decided to head to lunch while my bro and SIL take off on their own. We went to Pizzafari. My DH and I got the Chicken Parm. sandwich which was really good. My dad got the Italian sand. and he didn't like it. After lunch, DD2 fell asleep.

We headed to the Dinosaur ride (DH and I missed this one last year on our anniv. trip). My mom waited w/ DD2 while the 4 of us went on it. This is such a cool ride. The people who create this stuff just amaze me. My DD6, however, did not like it. This was the only ride on our whole trip that she really didn't like. She cried when it was over.....sorry!

Now, we headed over to Expedition Everest!!!!!!

I was looking forward to this ride all year!!! It was under construction when DH and I were here in May 2005. Yay!!! We get to go on it now!!!
We get in line....says 20 min. wait. We are in line for maybe 3 minutes and an announcement comes on saying that the ride is shut down for technical reasons and to please exit the line. NO WAY!!!! This cannot be happening! So we leave and go back to my mom (as you can she....she doesn't go on many rides!) and tell her what happened. She is sitting on a bench getting swarmed by those darn love bugs!!!!! Ugh!! I mentiong how we don't have much time left cause of dinner and my dad starts getting mad and asking me to change the ressie. Ok....obviously he doesn't know how this works and that I called 180 days out and made these and it will be next to impossible to change. He makes me call anyway and check. NOPE. Can't get it changed to anything reasonable. By this time about 20 mins. has gone by and people are getting in line again for EE. So off we go and get back in line. It is a really good ride!!! We liked it a lot!

Ok, now I am really sweating....and I hate to sweat. Let's do Kali River Rapids! Me, DH, and DD6 go on and we get totally soaked!!!

We call my bro & SIL and find out what they are doing. They decided to skip dinner w/ us and stay in the park. No problem. We leave and walk the long trek to the bus stop!! Man, I am sooooo tired at this point! And DD3 has been asleep this whole time since lunch. We have just enough time to go back to the resort, change, freshen up, then leave for MGM for dinner. My dad is starting to get a cold so he says he's going to eat and then head back to the resort and get in bed.

I check in at 50's and my mom and DD6 head to the bathroom. We get called and we tell the lady that 2 people of our party are in the bathroom. So she asks for their names and goes in there and yells for them to get done so we can eat!! It was funny. We are seated and Cousin Michael is our waiter. OMG----we had such a blast here!!!! First, my DH orders a coke. Then he says....hey, I didn't realize you could get flavors added in. So he says he'll try the watermelon. So Cousin Mike comes back w/ 5 sodas w/ 5 different flavors!!! I was like Holy Cow....if you drink all that you're crazy!

I ordered Fried Cheese for my appetizer and it was very good.

I also got the Peanut Butter and Jelly Shake.....YUM!!! The entrees were good....not great.....just good. My mom did not eat all her green beans....so you know where this is going!!! Cousing Mike brought her a green bean sundae!!

and fed it to her!!!!

It was soooo funny! Too bad my bro and SIL were missing this one! Here's the desserts:

After dinner, my dad and DD5 headed back to the resort. Me, DH, mom and DD3 walked around. Then we decided to go TGMR. We took DD out of the stroller and she had a blast putting her hands and feet in the impressions on the ground. She thought is was so much fun!

After the ride, we browsed around in the stores and then headed back to the resort. It had been a long day and we were all tired.


Up Next---Back to MK!!!!

 

[Dsnymouse]

Keeping up with your reports. DD6 looks so cute as a Jr. Bellhop!
Pictures are great! The ice cream at Beaches and Cream look great - may have to head there in March!

 

[swankybeth]

Great report so far, sounds like a nice trip. I love all of the pictures you added, looking forward to the next installment.