From WDW Skeptic to "Yes, a $100 Mickey Beer Stein is a FANTASTIC idea honey!"

[justkeepswimmin]

The Basics:

Travel Dates: 9/23-10/2
How We got there: Airplane
Where we came from: Arizona (and I now have a new appreciation for the expression "but it's a dry heat"-that Florida humidity was BRUTAL)

Cast of Characters:

Me:32, DL Vet, WDW 1st timer. LOVE Disneyland. Had annual passes there last year during the 50th celebration and got hooked on all things Disney. Could not imagine anything coming close to my love to my affection for the original park.

DH: 36, a DL vet, WDW 1st timer. Liked DL but only in small doses. A little skeptical of my booking 9 nights at WDW

DD,6 (turning 7 this trip): Themepark fanatic. Loves thrill rides, character meets, never complains about walking or lines because she is so damn happy to be at the parks.

DD, 21 months: Cute but tempermental. Been to DL 5 times already in her short lifespan. Has been watching Cinderella once a day while wearing her Cindy dress in preparation for this trip (refused to take it off except for baths for about a week straight!)

Where we stayed: Pop Century, 70s building 6, 3rd floor, facing the lake.


Our Highlights:

-Arriving in WDW. The big sign, the beauty of the resort area, including the roads, astounded us.

-Getting those refillable mugs at pop. Man those were awesome. We had all the diet and frozen cokes we wanted and even the crappy Nescafe coffee seemed to taste better!

-Animal Kingdom. I am so sad I only planned a 1/2 day here. I thought it was soo beautiful. We are desert rats so the lush, green nature of the park really appealed to us. Expedition Everest was both my dd and my favorite attraction. The safari was fun and I got great pics. We even liked Dinosaur even though we are used to what some say is the better ride at DL, Indiana Jones. (I liked this one better as it scared the crap out of my oldest dd and that is hard to do). We did the animal walking trails much to the delight of my youngest dd. Flame Tree BBQ, sitting down by the water, was one of the best meals we had our whole trip. Sadly we never made it to Camp Minnie Mickey and missed festival of the Lion King due to heat fatique (this was our 1st full day at WDW and we had not adjusted to the Florida Humidity).

-Waterparks. My family loved these parks though I felt Blizzard Beach was better done and easier to find your way around in. Plus, the family raft ride there kicks a**. I loved that the whole family could take part in lots of things like that and the lazy river (yet another awesome disney transportation method). I also loved claiming a ramada for my family and lounging there with my littlest while my dh and older dd got banged up on the slides. My DH actually got 3 or 4 feet airborne on Slush N Gusher and was stoped by the lifeguard to ask if he was okay and if he "meant to do that" .

More highlights to follow but gotta get the littlest dd down for her nap...

 

[justkeepswimmin]

Okay, baby sleeping, yeah!


Other Highlights-

Rental Car/Driving around the property: Now I know many here love the buses and I certainly do not intend on complaining about a free service but I loved having the rental car. Buses at Pop were okay but often very crowded and I rode twice standing, holding my 21 month old (My choice, I know, I could have waited for another bus). We decided as a family we liked walking back to our car and found parking at all the parks to be delightful since everyone was on the busses. There was also no traffic ANYWHERE driving which added to our "Disney Experience".

Ohana: We dined here twice and loved it. I have no knowledge of the old menu so I was fine with this one. The bread pudding dessert was amazing and I am not a bread pudding kinda person. On the first night we dined here (Mon 9/25)we celebrated dd 7th birthday and they gave us a table directly in front of the castle. The fireworks went off just as we were having dessert and the whole evening could not have been more perfect.

Dan Zanes & Friends at MGM: He was absolutely fantastic and the quality of their music is so impressive for a "kids" band. The different instruments showcased, the laid back, family vibe of the show was so enjoyable. We met him after the performance and he was so gracious and wonderful. Can't wait to see them again when they come to my hometown.

Pop Century: I know some hate the in your face nature of this place but it suits where our family is at right now. The staff was upbeat (cought them dancing along to the oldies in the food court), the place was little kid friendly, and we all liked the pop culture memorabilia. Would I stay here with dh on a romantic getaway? Probably not. On another family trip, absolutely!

Epcot: What a great park. My kids loved it. The kidcot stops were a major hit with both of them, especially my oldest. In China, the woman at the Kidcot stop wrote all our names in Chineese and drew pandas for the kids. Neither of them wanted to leave her side. I was so afraid they would be bored here but they had a great time. I also loved running into characters at World Showcase. Hardly had any lines to meet them the day we went (the first Sunday of the F&W festival no less!)

Mickey's Philharmagic: Wow. What a great attraction. I am so sad this does not exist at Disneyland. It was phenominal and something the whole family could enjoy (as opposed to the Bug show and Honey I shrunk the Audience which scares my almost 2 year old to death).

MNSSHP: Yes the party on 9/29 was sold out and crowded but we had so much fun! I loved the lighting, the dance parties, the parade, the fireworks and the no lines for attractions.



And finally, my absolute biggest highlight...

 

[justkeepswimmin]

Watching my skeptical, not-so-Disney husband get excited about a collectible Mickey and Friends beer stein in Germany at Epcot!

Prior to our trip, I got a lot of "Why do we need to go to WDW, we've been to Disneyland so much?" from my dh. He approached the trip with an attitude of "I love you Nicole, so I will be a good sport about this". On our last day, while attending the F&W festival, we went into the toy shop in Germany and my husband was charmed by the cutest German Steincrafter this side of the Atlantic. Before I knew it, he was coming up to me, telling me how the "Happiest Celebration on Earth" Stein had been marked down to $89.99 and that the creator guy was personalizing them and where is the credit card! He was like a little kid and even had to have his picture taken with the guy. That was the moment I knew I would be able to talk him into another trip to WDW!

I have so much sadness now that it is all over as I spent so much of the last 4 months planning and preparing for our first trip to WDW. Now I know we can go back, but your first time is your first time and that magic will live in our hearts forever. Everything went so well and after pouring over these boards, I owe so many who post here such a huge debt of gratitude. Whether you answered my questions directly or I found great tips by lurking over posts you might have made, our trip could not have been any better.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

 

[bekkiz]

Woo-hoo! New converts

We've lived on the West Coast our whole lives, so I get the "Why not Disneyland" question a lot. It's a great place--but it's just not the same.

I hope you get to plan a new trip soon. This one sounded like a blast

 

[justkeepswimmin]

Woo-hoo! New converts

We've lived on the West Coast our whole lives, so I get the "Why not Disneyland" question a lot. It's a great place--but it's just not the same.

I hope you get to plan a new trip soon. This one sounded like a blast

Yup, I am now a WDW fanatic too! Looks like we will be going to DL for my bday in February but I am hoping for another trip to the World in 2008.

 

[OhMari]

Prior to our trip, I got a lot of "Why do we need to go to WDW, we've been to Disneyland so much?" from my dh. He approached the trip with an attitude of "I love you Nicole, so I will be a good sport about this". On our last day, while attending the F&W festival, we went into the toy shop in Germany and my husband was charmed by the cutest German Steincrafter this side of the Atlantic. Before I knew it, he was coming up to me, telling me how the "Happiest Celebration on Earth" Stein had been marked down to $89.99 and that the creator guy was personalizing them and where is the credit card! He was like a little kid and even had to have his picture taken with the guy. That was the moment I knew I would be able to talk him into another trip to WDW!

You can book your trip something like 500 days out, I think have the fun is planning your trip.

 

[averill94]

Sounds like an awesome trip!

Wish I saw those beersteins. We had a day (and a quarter) in EPCOT and next time we must plan for one day in future and one day in world showcase. It was too much to see and experience in one for us!

Heres to the next trip!

 

[Montana Disney Fan]

I have so much sadness now that it is all over as I spent so much of the last 4 months planning and preparing for our first trip to WDW. Now I know we can go back, but your first time is your first time and that magic will live in our hearts forever.

We know exactly how you feel. It happened to my wife in Oct 1997. I took her for the first time (we didn't have kids back then) and we've been going every year since then. We finally joined the DVC and are now seriously committed to the annual journey.

 

[Minniespal]

Excellent ~ Thanx for posting.

 

[Karnak]

Watching my skeptical, not-so-Disney husband get excited about a collectible Mickey and Friends beer stein in Germany at Epcot! ... we went into the toy shop in Germany and my husband was charmed by the cutest German Steincrafter this side of the Atlantic. Before I knew it, he was coming up to me, telling me how the "Happiest Celebration on Earth" Stein had been marked down to $89.99 and that the creator guy was personalizing them ...

The above post got my attention big time. I am a beer stein collector (over 600 of them at this time), and prize my Disney steins. I remember when the German section of Epcot included a beer stein shop, with hundreds of German steins and mugs displayed. But last time I stopped by the shop, there were only a few for sale. I will be back in Epcot during my upcoming trip (see below), and you can bet that I'll be looking for the stein you mentioned. (I do hope it is a "stein," and not a "mug." Beer steins have lids, beer mugs do not.)

Enjoy.

 

[justkeepswimmin]

The above post got my attention big time. I am a beer stein collector (over 600 of them at this time), and prize my Disney steins. I remember when the German section of Epcot included a beer stein shop, with hundreds of German steins and mugs displayed. But last time I stopped by the shop, there were only a few for sale. I will be back in Epcot during my upcoming trip (see below), and you can bet that I'll be looking for the stein you mentioned. (I do hope it is a "stein," and not a "mug." Beer steins have lids, beer mugs do not.)

Enjoy.

Yes, it was definitely a stein as it has a lid (shaped like a turret from Cinderella's Castle) . We got it at a store called "Der Teddybear". Man, I wish that stein shop was still open. That would have made my dh's day.

The stein we purchased is a numbered, limited edition piece (750 edition size) made to commemorate the "Happiest Celebration on Earth". It was made in Germany and while we were there, a steincrafter by the name of Joachim Malessa was signing the pieces. I can upload a pic if you would like. It is a very nice stein but I wish that the detailing for the 50th was hand painted and not of decal quality.

At this point, it may be my most treasured souveneir ever as it will always siginify the day my dh converted to a true Disney fan like myself.

Thanks everyone for reading our highlights. I was thinking of doing a thorough trip report but figured it would be boring to all but me.