From Hell to Heaven - then back home again....Updated with photos

[tttessa]

Hiya all - this WAS going to be our Fantasmic day - but I cancelled our ADR since everyone was sooooo tired in the evenings... Just as well it turned out....

Anyhow - are you sitting comfortably - then I shall begin...

Hubby decided he NEEEDDS pancakes... and unanimous decision is Perkins is best - so off we go..... Then spend the morning in the pool and playing basketball in the garage. I pack mostly everything ready for an EARLY start tomorrow and we have a snacky lunch and off to the Studios.....

Get there 2 ish and head for the muppets - WHAT A GREAT SHOW!! we all had lots of fun at this one. I remembered it from last time, but was shocked it was a walk in and half the theatre was EMPTY!!!! last time we had to wait ages, I guess it is getting old now.... Had a walk about enjoying the studio sets too -

Kids announce they are not interested in Beauty and the beast OR little mermaid !!!!!!!!! Plans go out the window!! So we headed to StarTours - made me a bit ill last time, so am not toooooooo happy, but hey ho... did it 3 times before I felt like heaving -absolutely loved it though.... then luckily block st bash was about to start - well 15 min.

Found a lovely spot near where the fun would be - second row behind a couple with 2 kids..... then 2 min before it was due to start TEN more turned up and stood there - they had "saved" their space for them.... aaarrrggghhhhh - so I said that was unfair (a couple of kids OK - but 6 adults and 4 kids - noooooooo way) and so I put the kids to the front.... "they" sniped all the way that they were not part of "their" family - luckily all the kids were happy and danced along.....

They love all the pixar characters - especially Sully!!!! Was a great fun parade - and the kids loved having the chance to join in too...

Then the girls wanted to see HSMusical - UNDERSTATEMENT!!!!! Part of the whole reason for coming to FLORIDA was HSM!!!!! Remembered the lovely DIS advice to look for the yellow rope and stand with the kids "attached" to it - so when the rope was walked in they got FRONT row seats!!!! YIPPEEEEEE!! They also BOTH got asked up to dance (Thank goodness - this MADE their trip!!!) so they both got up to dance and enjoyed EVERY absolutely CHEESY minute of it.

Then hubby had waited all day for his Indie fix - went and waited just 10 min for it to start - last show of the day, it was really good (even if we did know the surprises from last time round) - the kids enjoyed it too....

Asked the kids if they wanted to carry on - it was COLD!!!!!!! so they opted for Star tours (AGAIN) another THREE times and we decided to leave it at that. Headed off to Ponderosa steak house for food - mmmmm different, but not sure if I like the buffet style or not to be honest - full of folk stuffing their faces really - not an attractive look..... Kids got to choose puddings today as they had been soooo good and not pestered us for ice cream all day - was tooo cold today!!

Early start tomorrow, so set alarm for 6.30 gulp!!!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Great updates Tessa! Looks like you really enjoyed "the dark side!" We didn't like US in Florida - we love it in California Yah, it's probably an insult to southerners when you don't want the biscuits!

Your day at DHS looked fun, too. It was cold? We are going in March - I wasn't counting on cold It will probably still be warmer than here!
Your comments about the buffet - it is good to see it through a "foreigners" eyes. Do you have Buffets in the UK? It seems that a lot of people over-stuff themselves at a buffet so they can "get their money's worth."

 

[kathymc]

enjoying your reports. sounds like you are all having a blast.
thanks for sharing

 

[Debbie6221]

Love it Tessa!
Great pix and I love your report. So imformative.......
You rock! Thank you so much for sharing & updating.
Debbie

 

[tttessa]

Well, getting to the end now......

Up quickly, packed the caases, sort out tickets, passports, hand luggage etc - cereal for breakfast, put on the dishwasher, put the towels on to wash for houskeeping - leave them all the food/snacks/drinks that we haven't used along with a little note to thank them for leaving the place so beautifully clean for us - with a tip. And, off we go - key back in lock box and we are off.

Go to DTD for the virgin early check in - EXCELLENT - get there at 8.40 and there are about 10 families in line - 4 desks are open though, so
it moves quickly - get to pick our seats - hubby gets an exit row - we get the 3 behind -EXCELLENT.

Had voted on what to do on our last day - unanimouse goodvibes) vote for MK - I want to do Jungle Cruise - not open for P&PP and everyone wants to do BTMRR again in daylight.

Got there 10ish - head for BTMRR - wait is 90 min - NINETY!!!! So we FP - return time is 11 ??? So we get to ride QUICKER if we Fast Pass - why would we wait in line???? So we head off to POTC - got front row - best seats in the boat and I got the IDIOT behind to stop using flash photography - that ride is ruined by some people.... put the cameras away and enjoy the ride people! Then Haunted Mansion - which really seems spookier in the daytime - odd...

Back to BTMRR kids love looking around more at the theming as they couldn't see it all in the dark - but it was more exciting in the dark....

Next up - Jungle Cruise - line is 70 min, so we FP for 75 min later and get some food - shredded pork sandwich and chicken wrap - both were absolutely yummy and went to walk it off, we ate sooo much of it we were full up!! Walked through the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse - nobody up there, so was the quietest place in the park! Then the cruise - we had a great captain, loads of fun - with corny jokes galore "What's brown and sticky?" - a stick.... etc....

We then go for IASW, it was a walk on, and head for Tomorrowland - get a FP for Buzz - it will be our last ride at 3.30.... and on to Stitch's great escape again - kids decided they DID like it - they both love stitch. Can't get over the smell though..... Monster's inc laugh floor was fantastic - really good with loads of laughs - the kids were thrilled when the guy in front was "picked" to tell a joke, *** they both ended up on screen!!!!!! Made their day..... it was sooooooo funny. Then on to buzz to see to those aliens, great fun.

Our last photo - it was getting a bit colder:

Then time to head for home via the ferry - just a quick trip to the airport, return the hire car, head for the monitors - we are due to leave...... ON TIME!!!!!!!! So head for gate, do some duty free shopping (Crocs for $30 - in UK they are £30!!!!!!!!! twice the price!!!! ggrrrrrrr - how many pairs can I fit in carry on baggage....)

Then a sleepy overnight flight back to Gatwick - kids sleep , DH sleeps - I don't - kids like to snuggle up, so i am too hot to sleep!!!! No problems in immigration, everything really quick, on to coach - gets us back early - get taxi home and SLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPPPPPPP.....

Overall a great trip! Hope you have enjoyed reliving it with me. Now planning to return in 2010 or 2011!!! My new motto - "It's never too early to plan.."

Tessa

 

[Camster0307]

Tessa - So sad your TR is over! That went too fast! Thanks for sharing with us!

Like you said - it's neve to early to start planning for another!

 

[disneyhockeymad]

Tessa that was a brilliant TR! Enjoyed it alot!
I like your motto.. totally agree!!!
Your DD's looked like they really loved the trip (as did you!)
Can't wait to read the TR for your 2010/2011 trip!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Just found your trip report! I can't wait to get home so that I can read it from start to finish!!

 

[ahibird]

Hi Tessa !!!

I finally made it over here for your TR....(that's the story of my life - a day late and a dollar short). Oh well, better late than never.

I love, love, love all the photos. Thank you so much for sharing with us.

--keahi

 

[tttessa]

Hiya all - here - for those not on the worry wart thread - is my first go at scrapbooking this trip... just a few pages so far.....

Tessa

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Hiya all - here - for those not on the worry wart thread - is my first go at scrapbooking this trip... just a few pages so far.....

Tessa

I AM one of those Worry Warts, but nice job! (or as you would say, I think, well done!) You are getting on your scapbooking already! It takes me a long time to get it all together and get my books done. I am still two pages shy of finishing our cruise for 2005!

 

[karajeboo]

Tessa - I loved your TR!!! And your scrapbooking looks fantastic! I still have to finish my Disney scrapbook from 2006!!! That was my first attempt, and well, it just took too long for me.... I'm a little antsy!

Great job on the pics and details, but we still want a family pic!!!!!