purpledisneyprncess
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 11, 2008
- Messages
- 826
Hi all! We decided to head to WDW on a whim. My company sent me on a business trip to Orlando and I was planning to drive with my co-worker. She changed her mind and decided to fly down so I begged my husband to come down with the kids and I. I must say that although everything wasn't planned out like I normally would have done (Org. back in 2008 I booked a vacation to WDW with my hubby and at the time three yr old son but I got pregnant and lots of morning sickness so we cancelled the trip) Fast forward to April 2011 and we were now in the car with my now five year old boy and two year old daughter on an appx. 18 hour road trip adventure to Disney and to mommy's resort hotel for my conferences!!!
We org. planned to do one day at MK as a family, then my DH was going to take the kiddies to SeaWorld one day and AK another. We ended up driving straight thru to Florida w/o needing a hotel rest stop. When we were in SC letting the kids play at the McDonald's play area we talked with a nice couple who recommended when we get down there to stay at the Regal Sun. We had rooms reserved at my resort for Tues-Thurs but didn't have anything for Monday. It worked out perfectly, as Regal Sun (Now known as Wyndam) was a great hotel and we got free transportation to the MK!! Our first day at MK was a bit hectic. We didn't plan right in terms of fast passes and strategies, but we did manage to get the kids on a decent amount of rides and we stayed in Fantasyland and Tomorrowland mostly b/c it was clearly geared more towards younger children. We had a long exhausting day but so well worth it! Got in MK around 9:30am and didn't get back to the hotel after 11pm. We had a great spot watching the Electrical Parade- it was breath taking, I can only imagine how my kids felt.. truly beautiful looking at their priceless faces in awe with all of the majic that was around us.
My daughter got to meet the princesses at the meet and greet, and they met Minnie and Mickey too.
Next day I was in conferences so my DH took them to SeaWorld- that too worked out perfect as the hotel for my conf offered free shuttles to Seaworld. I wasn't there, but DH said the kids had a blast with the animals.
Day three they were supposed to go to AK while I was working but DH was worn out as were the kids. They took that as a rest day, and we all decided to do WDW park on Thursday after 12pm when my work concluded. So glad we opted to spread it out like that, and I got another day at WDW!! We did do downtown Disney on day 3, it was great. I had heard a suggestion on the boards to get a charm bracelet or necklace and I thought it was the perfect souvinor for my daughter- I got her 3 charms w/ her necklace.. my son got legos.
Day four we were debating AK vs. MK. Even though we went to MK on our 1st day, we didn't feel we got all out of MK that we'd like to. AK sounded great, but the magic is truly at MK so that's where we went. This day was much different than the 1st- we got to familiarize ourselves w/ the park so we knew how to navigate around better. Surprisingly the lines were much shorter (We went later in the day), it was less crowded and the characters were all around the park unlike Monday!!! THere was a stage in tomorrowland and stitch and Chip & Dale were there dancing. I was able to get my two year old to dance w/ them, they had some of my fav. songs on and we had a blast waiting for my dh and son to get off the speedway ride. The day was turning out to be truly magical. We also managed to go on the best rides geared towards my childrens ages. We did buzz spin off, laugh factory, stitch's great escape, it's a small world (did that ride both nights), aladdin ride, dumbo flying elephant, and then we tried to get on Peter Pan's flight but every time we tried it was over 75 min. wait. So I just went up to a cast member to ask her what the ride was like b/c it was always so busy, she said since this was our 1st time here, she gave us a FP and we got on ASAP.. how awesome was that?!!
We also had another magic moment: Our 1st day there I bought my children mouse ears but they didn't fit. I brought the kids in one of the souvinor shops w/ me to try and it on to exchange it for right size and the kids were sort of giving me a hard time (Starting to get tired/cranky) and I was alone w/ them as my dh was outside w/ our stroller. SO a very nice cast member came up and offered free name personalization on their mouse ears for me. That was great!!
Day five was our last day and we went to downtown disney for breakfast at Wolfgang puck express before our 18 hr ride home. The food was incredible. The spinach & mushroom omellette (I held the cheese) was the best omelette I have ever ever had. My dh got the crunchy corn flake french toast and he raved about that. Lastly, we were supposed to get a bagel but they accidentally brought out a breakfast pocket..SCORE. THe kids shared that and that too was amazing. Literally the best breakfast food I have ever had.. and the WDW food in the parks was really just avg. fast food so this was a very nice surprise to conclude our trip. We also went into "ONce upon a toy" and had a nice time picking out Mr. Potato head and pieces- they had such a great variety.
I plan to go back with my family in a year or two. Absolutely LOVED IT!!!
We org. planned to do one day at MK as a family, then my DH was going to take the kiddies to SeaWorld one day and AK another. We ended up driving straight thru to Florida w/o needing a hotel rest stop. When we were in SC letting the kids play at the McDonald's play area we talked with a nice couple who recommended when we get down there to stay at the Regal Sun. We had rooms reserved at my resort for Tues-Thurs but didn't have anything for Monday. It worked out perfectly, as Regal Sun (Now known as Wyndam) was a great hotel and we got free transportation to the MK!! Our first day at MK was a bit hectic. We didn't plan right in terms of fast passes and strategies, but we did manage to get the kids on a decent amount of rides and we stayed in Fantasyland and Tomorrowland mostly b/c it was clearly geared more towards younger children. We had a long exhausting day but so well worth it! Got in MK around 9:30am and didn't get back to the hotel after 11pm. We had a great spot watching the Electrical Parade- it was breath taking, I can only imagine how my kids felt.. truly beautiful looking at their priceless faces in awe with all of the majic that was around us.
My daughter got to meet the princesses at the meet and greet, and they met Minnie and Mickey too.Next day I was in conferences so my DH took them to SeaWorld- that too worked out perfect as the hotel for my conf offered free shuttles to Seaworld. I wasn't there, but DH said the kids had a blast with the animals.
Day three they were supposed to go to AK while I was working but DH was worn out as were the kids. They took that as a rest day, and we all decided to do WDW park on Thursday after 12pm when my work concluded. So glad we opted to spread it out like that, and I got another day at WDW!! We did do downtown Disney on day 3, it was great. I had heard a suggestion on the boards to get a charm bracelet or necklace and I thought it was the perfect souvinor for my daughter- I got her 3 charms w/ her necklace.. my son got legos.
Day four we were debating AK vs. MK. Even though we went to MK on our 1st day, we didn't feel we got all out of MK that we'd like to. AK sounded great, but the magic is truly at MK so that's where we went. This day was much different than the 1st- we got to familiarize ourselves w/ the park so we knew how to navigate around better. Surprisingly the lines were much shorter (We went later in the day), it was less crowded and the characters were all around the park unlike Monday!!! THere was a stage in tomorrowland and stitch and Chip & Dale were there dancing. I was able to get my two year old to dance w/ them, they had some of my fav. songs on and we had a blast waiting for my dh and son to get off the speedway ride. The day was turning out to be truly magical. We also managed to go on the best rides geared towards my childrens ages. We did buzz spin off, laugh factory, stitch's great escape, it's a small world (did that ride both nights), aladdin ride, dumbo flying elephant, and then we tried to get on Peter Pan's flight but every time we tried it was over 75 min. wait. So I just went up to a cast member to ask her what the ride was like b/c it was always so busy, she said since this was our 1st time here, she gave us a FP and we got on ASAP.. how awesome was that?!!
We also had another magic moment: Our 1st day there I bought my children mouse ears but they didn't fit. I brought the kids in one of the souvinor shops w/ me to try and it on to exchange it for right size and the kids were sort of giving me a hard time (Starting to get tired/cranky) and I was alone w/ them as my dh was outside w/ our stroller. SO a very nice cast member came up and offered free name personalization on their mouse ears for me. That was great!!
Day five was our last day and we went to downtown disney for breakfast at Wolfgang puck express before our 18 hr ride home. The food was incredible. The spinach & mushroom omellette (I held the cheese) was the best omelette I have ever ever had. My dh got the crunchy corn flake french toast and he raved about that. Lastly, we were supposed to get a bagel but they accidentally brought out a breakfast pocket..SCORE. THe kids shared that and that too was amazing. Literally the best breakfast food I have ever had.. and the WDW food in the parks was really just avg. fast food so this was a very nice surprise to conclude our trip. We also went into "ONce upon a toy" and had a nice time picking out Mr. Potato head and pieces- they had such a great variety.
I plan to go back with my family in a year or two. Absolutely LOVED IT!!!
