First Time For Everything Day 3

meeko cat

WE WON IT 5 TIMES !!!!!!
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May 7, 2007
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First Time For Everything Day 3

Full day of Fun. (Part A)


Cast Members
Tracy, 41 (me) Chief Planner, WDW lover and mild scaredy cat Know limits and easily motion sick
Juz, 40 MAD ABOUT ALL THINGS DISNEY (Orlando Family Guide Author) LOVES COASTERS
DS Kristian 14 Loves all rides but inherited my motion sickness
DD Kayleigh 12 COASTER FREAK the wilder the better!!!!
DS Kyle 9 COASTER FREAK only limit is his height! Loves teddies!



We had purposely chosen 7am for our breakfast slot in order to make good use of the EMH at the parks we received with having Dream Annual passes.
The alarm shouted us at 630am which was a struggle but well worth it each day. We walked down to the Plantation to get our free continental breakfast which was a choice of breads, pain au chocolat, fresh fruit, yoghurt, crème caramel, meat and cheese. An English breakfast was available at a supplement of 6 Euros which we never chose to take. Serve yourself hot drinks including hot chocolate and various fruit juice. We were one of two families in the large seating area.
Fueled and ready to go we went to pick up the shuttle at 730am ish. This time of the morning the bus seemed to have workers for the various hotels and the odd family (not being rude!!).
Once at the park area we were directed to the side entrance used for EMH and breakfast guests. A short queue ahead of us we entered the park at opening 8am.Lovely seeing it so quiet at this time of day. The majority of guests headed through the castle to Fantasyland but we made a right to Discoveryland (aka Tomorrow land in WDW). The landscaping of the park seems to be a lot prettier than WDW with a great deal of detail and thought gone in to it.

Space Mountain Mission 2 dominates the sky line and looks very dramatic.

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Unfortunately it wasn’t open as yet so the younger kids took their chance to have a go on the Orbitron something we have never bothered to queue for at WDW but there were only 5 kids on the flight.

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Three rides later the Space Mountain opened. The walk though lacked the flying cookies and planets of WDW and had some really dark areas. Still as much of a trek though. You get in your space craft outside the building and are then taken to a launch where a puff of smoke jets you off. WOW is this different to WDW. I wondered why there were shoulder restraints and now I know why. The ride is awesome. VERY fast, VERY shaky and has inversions like RNR. Liked it but as me and Kristian suffer from motion sickness we definitely couldn’t manage back to back rides like we do in Orlando. Needless to say the coaster freaks of the family did while me and Kristian recovered where the ride photos come through.

By this time Buzz Lightyear had opened which we thoroughly enjoyed. Again and Again and Again….. We loved the fact your guns are free moving and the aim of the holiday was for Juz and Kristian to out do each others scores!!

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We then walked through the castle which is so beautiful in to Fantasyland. By now non EMH guests were allowed into the hub so you need to show your passes to a CM holing the rope We did a quick jump on to the Pinnochio ride which was lovely, although teen kids never thought so! Then decided we would return to this area another day with the aim to go on Big Thunder mountain. Back through the Castle we joined the masses waiting to enter Frontierland. After a short wait the rope was dropped and OMG it was like a rugby scrum!! People barging and pushing with no regard for who they stood on!! We made it to Big Thunder in one piece if not a little hot and bothered! We walked through the queue then came to a halt. We waited and waited and waited til it was announced there were technical difficulties. Dilemma of being in the queue do you stay or go? We decided to hold it out and about 30 minutes later the ride was up and going.
I know I shouldn’t keep comparing but I do. This ride seemed way better as well. Longer, faster and the dark part near the end WOW. Its such a lovely setting being an island as well.
Having had an early start we were ready for lunch early. Good reports led us to the counter service Fuente Del Oro.

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Four of us had Menu one of 7 pieces of bbq chicken with fries and a drink while Juz had the chili meal with a beer. Annual pass discounts adding up. The place was really quiet and food was good and hot. We then ordered 5 Churros (Kyle’s fave) 2 of which we got as a deal with coffee. There was a delay in cooking them so we got a pack of 3 free.

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Suitably refreshed we made our way to Adventure Isle and walked through all the caves and across the bridges. A fabulous area for the kids with some great viewing points for the park a real plus for DLRP as once again landscaping was so beautiful.

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By now the weather was really hotting up as were the crowds so we took the time to look around the castle
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This really is the BEST castle as you can go up with views of Fantasy land or down into the dragons lair. Kyle LOVED this!!

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A look around the shop admiring the art of the glasswork and posing for pics we enjoyed the cool .

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The early start and heat was taking its toll so we walked against the flow of the crowds and headed back to the hotel to recharge our batteries stopping at City Hall on our way out to make a reservation at Plaza Gardens for dinner. We hadn’t made any ADR s in advance as we would normally do for Orlando, so 930pm was the earliest we could get. We didn’t mind as we planned a late night to catch Fantillusion.
 
Part Two.

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Back at the hotel we bunked down with coffee and sprite. Juz and Kayleigh had braved the walk back ( not that bad but my feet were hot and tired!) whilst we took the easy route and jumped on the bus. Kristian opted for a shower while we all got some deserved rest watching cartoons. All showered and refreshed we made our way back to the park early evening.

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We browsed the shops on Main Street and commented how peaceful and quiet it had been in the EMH morning.

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We sat outside the Plaza Gardens as we were half an hour early for our reservation people watching as there was a large queue to go in. Me and Kristian chanced going up to see if we could get in early as by now we were all famished! Kristian having the advantage of being nearly a foot taller than me spotted that the queue was for guests who hadn’t made a reservation so we squeezed through to the desk and were told we would be seated right away. First impressions were of a similar layout to Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom one of our favourite restaurants .Unfortunately that’s were the similarities ended. We sat and waited for our drink server as is the norm….and waited and waited and waited. Juz caught a fleeting waitress who mumbled something to him. We continued waiting and still no server!! By now poor Kyle was dropping of hunger so I took him to get some food before he passed out!! Food was serve yourself buffet style where he chose chips and nuggets. Being on the short side my reach was a problem for some of the food so I picked what I could reach! :rotfl2:
When we returned Juz had been up to the main desk and had managed to order drinks at last. By the time they returned I was ready to brave the scramble again to find a choice of chicken or chicken and fries! I opted for dessert instead which to be fair was a good selection however all the plates were boiling hot so not nice for cold cakes etc.
Not impressed by food or service for the first time ever we decided not to leave a gratuity. I know its not very kind but we had had enough,…and I don’t mean food! :headache:

Sorry grumbles over!! We were lucky enough to find a good spot just in front of the castle ready to watch Fantillusion.

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I must admit this was VERY impressive and were lucky to have parked ourselves where the floats stopped with all the action! The Castle looked fabulous with the changing lights.

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WE had planned to stay and watch Wishes however it was so busy and we thought better of it considering what we knew the exit from the park would be like later. We had seen it several times before in WDW so decided to make our way out. The crowds were back to back so we darted through the Discovery Arcade but were halted by the end of the parade.

Another rugby scrum entails which we manage to get through unharmed then off to the bus. Although I shouldn’t gripe as the bus service is regular and free but I ended up LOATHING it. It wasn’t too bad first thing or early afternoon but at night it was something to be believed!! How many people can get on one bus. The main problem being the inability to queue and be civilized . All Hell broke loose and it was every man for himself!! i love the freedom of having your own car to jump in at the end of the night.

Don’t mean to be so negative sounding as I know crowds and hustle and bustle all part of Disney life, We had a great evening HONESTLY!!

Very tired we hit our room and fell straight asleep!
 
Great reports and pics!!

I'm thinking maybe we should give the bus a miss when we go and walk instead!
 
sounds like you all had a great day - even though I understand how annoying those buses must be at night, especially with no option of walking back! we never get the bus to disney hotels at night as they are just too damn crazy!

sorry about your experience at plaza gardens - some of the restaurants in the park are a bit below par IMHO...

but overall, it sounds like you guys like the detail, the castle and the rides!! dying to see pics when i get in - they dont work at my workplace :'(
 

sounds like you all had a great day - even though I understand how annoying those buses must be at night, especially with no option of walking back! we never get the bus to disney hotels at night as they are just too damn crazy!

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Juz did walk back of an afternoon with one of the kids each time but after a long hard day we didnt fancy the half hour extra walking .....lazy I suppose but all we wanted by that time was sleep!!!:lmao:

Buses just need a more civilised system to queue something along the lines of the parking tram at WDW where you have to stand BEHIND the person who arrived before you ! I was surprised buggies were allowed on with kids in them as once again kids need to be taken out and they are folded at WDW. I dont mean to sound unsympathetic as Im sure little ones are bushed at the end of a hard day but for their safety as well as everyone elses it seems crazy they are subjected to the crush. We saw a verbal scrap between 2 irrate parents trying to get the buggys on and I heard one mum say it was the 3rd bus she had waited for !!
Needless to say ALL nationalities were as bad as each other as everyone seemed to have adopted the same mentality of " EVERYONE FOR THEMSELF!":sad2:
 
Another lovely day with super photos. :goodvibes

Shame about your meal at Plaza Gardens :sad2: and I know exactly what you mean about the late night buses. :rolleyes:

I'm thinking maybe we should give the bus a miss when we go and walk instead!

We always walk back to the Explorers at night now and invariably find we beat the bus! If you walk back via the Village and the Disney hotels it doesn't seem to take quite so long as going all the way by the road, it takes about 25 minutes.
 
A

We always walk back to the Explorers at night now and invariably find we beat the bus! If you walk back via the Village and the Disney hotels it doesn't seem to take quite so long as going all the way by the road, it takes about 25 minutes.


Just wondered which way you walked as hubby always walked the bus route :confused:
 
So did we the first time and it was so boring! :rotfl: :rotfl:

Next visit we walked the opposite way through the Village past the Hotel New York and Cheyenne, then cross the river to the Santa Fe and you come out by the garage there bringing you to the main road with the offsite hotels a little way along it. Cuts a bit of time out (well, it feels like it does) and is a lot more interesting. :goodvibes
 
Yep I definitely think we'll walk back, it will burn off a few more of the calories we will undoubtedly take in during meal times!
 
Fabulous report and pictures (can't get some to show but will work on that!)

I know what you mean about the bus, especially late at night. We tried once to get on and in the end we 'cheated' and caught the bus to Santa Fe and walked from there. It was a very enjoyable walk - especially dodging the sprinklers and the ditches!.
 
Sounds like you had another great day.

Having sampled the evening buses to both the off-site hotels and Disney hotels I can concur it is not pleasant, so own car or walking are much less stressful alternatives :)
 
That sounds like a challenge!! ;)


Oh it was! The sprinklers were just past the Santa Fe and as it was a very hot night they were very refreshing, by the time we decided to cross a piece of grass near the Explorers we were all in hysterics from out 'dodging' antics! It wasn't very well lit and one of us fell down a ditch :lmao: (we didn't realise there were little 'bridges' every so often to walk over!) More hysterics as my son tries to then pull one of his sisters out of the ditch without collapsing with laughter!
A fun end to a great day!
 
Oh it was! The sprinklers were just past the Santa Fe and as it was a very hot night they were very refreshing, by the time we decided to cross a piece of grass near the Explorers we were all in hysterics from out 'dodging' antics! It wasn't very well lit and one of us fell down a ditch :lmao: (we didn't realise there were little 'bridges' every so often to walk over!) More hysterics as my son tries to then pull one of his sisters out of the ditch without collapsing with laughter!
A fun end to a great day!


:lmao: I will have to watch out for the ditches then! With me, if something like that can happen, it will!
 
I'd forgotten about the sprinklers until you mentioned them Dianetigger!! :rotfl: :umbrella: :rotfl:
 












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