theflyingTosher
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2016
- Messages
- 23
So before I get to the trip report, gotta give a big shout out to the DISboards family. 90% of my trip planning and information was from here and it resulted in an absolutely incredible vacation for my family.
Secondly, I'll admit I was a skeptic before this trip. I have several friends and co-workers that take their families to WDW yearly, sometimes more than once a year, and I've always thought they were crazy. They don't have tons of disposable income and yet they always splurge on Disney trips. Having never been or experienced the magic, I was highly skeptical about the value/worth of these trips. Following my trip, I confess that I am converted, a true believer.
DD is 6 and when we originally told her we were going to WDW her response was an apathetic "ok", so I started on my journey to educate her. Within a few days we had watched nearly every WDW video on Disney Parks YouTube channel, several other park visitor VLOGS, and informational videos. She got to a point where we watched Disney videos every day and she began counting down the days with vigor.
For two months prior to our trip, we took daily walks as a family (we're in South Texas so it was already 70+ in January), averaging 4 miles a day because we wanted the little one to get used to walking for extended periods of time in preparation of our park visit. Initially it seemed a bit much, but we changed our route frequently and started including a stop at a park as the turnaround point for our walk and she handled it incredibly well. A lot of our friends suggested a stroller was a necessity for our visit but we a) don't own one, and b) didn't want to travel with one/carry it at the park. Our walking paid off, 3 days at the parks we averaged 30,000 steps a day, and the little one asked us to pick her up only once, on the last night, as we were headed out of MK. Also, we found we really enjoyed our time walking together every afternoon, no tv or games or distractions, just good family time.
DAY 1-
When we arrived at POR at 7am the first day our room was already ready to go, so we dropped the bags and took off for the EMH at Animal Kingdom. Getting there early was nice, animals at the safari were out and active and the weather was incredible at AK all day. DD loved Expedition Everest and did not enjoy dinosaur. Went back to hotel to rest, eat lunch, swim midday then headed to MK for the evening. We rode lots and waited little, crowds and lines weren't bad at all. At the end of the night we stumbled across a FP+ kiosk and grabbed an extra, for Enchanted Tales with Belle after our dinner at Chef Mickeys. Prior to picking up the FP I had no plan to go to ETwB but that turned out to be one of our two truly Magical Moments.
When we arrived (with no idea what it really was) we were surprised to find out they picked participants from the group. I was a suit of armor, while DD's growl earned her a spot as Beast. To say she was excited to get to play beast would be an incredible understatement, she giggled as she jumped out and growled at Belle, then couldn't stop smiling when she got to dance with Belle at the end. That unexpected moment left this formerly skeptical suit of armor with a tear running down his cheek, seeing DD that happy was really and truly magical.
disney moments by B Photography, on Flickr
Day 2-
HS and EP, again minimal lines and FP+ utilized really well, we didn't wait for any ride for more than 20 minutes (our entire visit). Lots of great fun at HS even with several things closed, DD loved Tower of Terror (whose 6 year old is this? absolutely no fear), then went back to the pool at POR, then to EP at night where we utilized an extra fast pass for Mission Space (where DD selected the Orange, more intense ride, and again, loved it). Used the EMH to hop on Test Track and DD was thrilled about designing her own pink supercar.
Day 3- Slept late, EP again in the morning, short lines again, Flower and Garden stuff was nice, DD met just about every character available in the park as we walked counter-clockwise around the world towards her Surprise Princess Storybook lunch at Akershus. Along this walk our 2nd magical moment happened when we ran into Rafiki roaming around.
(side note - DD watched Lion King for the 1st time on the drive to the park) DD brought her favorite stuffed friend "Black Dog" on the trip with us, he is only 3 months younger than DD and has been everywhere with us. This morning was the first time he came to the park with us, and when we ran into rafiki he hugged DD and then politely took Black Dog and held him up and presented him to Epcot ala Simba at Pride Rock. DD was stunned and SOOOO excited that happened. Knowing how much that dog means to her, that unexpected character interaction was a perfect example of the kind of thing that makes Disney so magical.
disney moments by B Photography, on Flickr
After an awesome lunch at Akershus we headed to MK to finish our FP+'s for 7DMT, Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, and picked up an additional to Meet Anna and Elsa. Then we utilized the EMH to hop on BTMRR.
We had an incredible trip, weather was amazing the whole time, between short wait times and FP+ NEVER waited more than 20 minutes for any ride and rode everything we wanted. DW and I spent the whole drive home talking about planning our next trip already and/or maybe buying in to DVC.
Secondly, I'll admit I was a skeptic before this trip. I have several friends and co-workers that take their families to WDW yearly, sometimes more than once a year, and I've always thought they were crazy. They don't have tons of disposable income and yet they always splurge on Disney trips. Having never been or experienced the magic, I was highly skeptical about the value/worth of these trips. Following my trip, I confess that I am converted, a true believer.
DD is 6 and when we originally told her we were going to WDW her response was an apathetic "ok", so I started on my journey to educate her. Within a few days we had watched nearly every WDW video on Disney Parks YouTube channel, several other park visitor VLOGS, and informational videos. She got to a point where we watched Disney videos every day and she began counting down the days with vigor.
For two months prior to our trip, we took daily walks as a family (we're in South Texas so it was already 70+ in January), averaging 4 miles a day because we wanted the little one to get used to walking for extended periods of time in preparation of our park visit. Initially it seemed a bit much, but we changed our route frequently and started including a stop at a park as the turnaround point for our walk and she handled it incredibly well. A lot of our friends suggested a stroller was a necessity for our visit but we a) don't own one, and b) didn't want to travel with one/carry it at the park. Our walking paid off, 3 days at the parks we averaged 30,000 steps a day, and the little one asked us to pick her up only once, on the last night, as we were headed out of MK. Also, we found we really enjoyed our time walking together every afternoon, no tv or games or distractions, just good family time.
DAY 1-
When we arrived at POR at 7am the first day our room was already ready to go, so we dropped the bags and took off for the EMH at Animal Kingdom. Getting there early was nice, animals at the safari were out and active and the weather was incredible at AK all day. DD loved Expedition Everest and did not enjoy dinosaur. Went back to hotel to rest, eat lunch, swim midday then headed to MK for the evening. We rode lots and waited little, crowds and lines weren't bad at all. At the end of the night we stumbled across a FP+ kiosk and grabbed an extra, for Enchanted Tales with Belle after our dinner at Chef Mickeys. Prior to picking up the FP I had no plan to go to ETwB but that turned out to be one of our two truly Magical Moments.
When we arrived (with no idea what it really was) we were surprised to find out they picked participants from the group. I was a suit of armor, while DD's growl earned her a spot as Beast. To say she was excited to get to play beast would be an incredible understatement, she giggled as she jumped out and growled at Belle, then couldn't stop smiling when she got to dance with Belle at the end. That unexpected moment left this formerly skeptical suit of armor with a tear running down his cheek, seeing DD that happy was really and truly magical.
disney moments by B Photography, on FlickrDay 2-
HS and EP, again minimal lines and FP+ utilized really well, we didn't wait for any ride for more than 20 minutes (our entire visit). Lots of great fun at HS even with several things closed, DD loved Tower of Terror (whose 6 year old is this? absolutely no fear), then went back to the pool at POR, then to EP at night where we utilized an extra fast pass for Mission Space (where DD selected the Orange, more intense ride, and again, loved it). Used the EMH to hop on Test Track and DD was thrilled about designing her own pink supercar.
Day 3- Slept late, EP again in the morning, short lines again, Flower and Garden stuff was nice, DD met just about every character available in the park as we walked counter-clockwise around the world towards her Surprise Princess Storybook lunch at Akershus. Along this walk our 2nd magical moment happened when we ran into Rafiki roaming around.
(side note - DD watched Lion King for the 1st time on the drive to the park) DD brought her favorite stuffed friend "Black Dog" on the trip with us, he is only 3 months younger than DD and has been everywhere with us. This morning was the first time he came to the park with us, and when we ran into rafiki he hugged DD and then politely took Black Dog and held him up and presented him to Epcot ala Simba at Pride Rock. DD was stunned and SOOOO excited that happened. Knowing how much that dog means to her, that unexpected character interaction was a perfect example of the kind of thing that makes Disney so magical.
disney moments by B Photography, on FlickrAfter an awesome lunch at Akershus we headed to MK to finish our FP+'s for 7DMT, Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, and picked up an additional to Meet Anna and Elsa. Then we utilized the EMH to hop on BTMRR.
We had an incredible trip, weather was amazing the whole time, between short wait times and FP+ NEVER waited more than 20 minutes for any ride and rode everything we wanted. DW and I spent the whole drive home talking about planning our next trip already and/or maybe buying in to DVC.
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