Frozen Fun at the Beach Club!Our First Disney Trip Dec. 3- 11*Update 5/1*

[counselormom]

Regular pirates say RRRRR! December pirates say BRRRR!

So sorry that it was too cold to enjoy the pirates cruise, and even just the fireworks show from the outside. I do love the character interaction you had and some of the activities before the scheduled cruise- Hook and Smee and then Peter Pan.

Wow, I bet the girls loved drinking out of their pineapple!

Does your family now realize how much research, planning and scheduling went into getting such great reservations- the pirates league/cruise combo, Le Cellier, La Hacienda at Illuminations time, 'Ohana?

It is obvious how much preparation you did before the trip and I can't wait to read what else is in store for your family!

Love the pirate joke!! Wish I had thought of it at the time.

Oh Dee, No, I don't think they realize all the research etc. that went into it. I think they would have had to go on a Disney trip without all the planning first to really get it. I did get plenty of "thank you's" from Ashton and Avery.
During the trip Robert would make a comment or two about enjoying a particular restaurant and made several about not waiting in line for more than 10 min. but I wondered if he really knew how all of that had been perfectly orchestrated and was not "luck". But ,after we got home I heard him on the phone telling a friend of his, who is planning their first Disney trip, "that his wife should call Traci because she has this Disney thing down and went on and on about how much fun we had and how he loved the BC etc." It made me feel really good, but I did wonder why he didn't say that to me?? I'm sure he felt like because he told me he had fun, that summed it all up, what more needed to be said??? Anyway, I am glad for my dis friends because they know the appropriate times to give compliments !!

Just found your TR! Love the pirate makeovers!! Sorry it was too cold for the pirate cruise.

Thank you!! Pirates League was so much fun.

 

[counselormom]

It's going to be a busy weekend here, so no update this weekend. But Spring Break starts next weekend so I will have one up then!!

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Originally Posted by gretchenohar@hotmail
Would you mind telling us where you ordered your girls' Pirates Costumes, counselermom? They're too darn cute!
Got our grandson all decked out at the Pirate's League last year - best $35 we ever spent in WDW!

I will be happy to tell you. I ordered them online from buycostumes.com last September. They were running a buy one get one free sale as well as free shipping. I also ordered the girls Halloween costumes (Mad Hatter and Alice) and they seemed to have the best prices. How wonderful that you took your grandson! I'll bet he thinks you guys are the best!!

Believe me - we got more pleasure out of it than the grandkids! There's nothing like seeing Disney thru a child's eyes!
Thank you for the site for the costumes.
I'm loving your TR.

 

[Queenofallthings]

Can't wait for your next update!! Hope you guys enjoy your Spring Break too!

 

[Jazzabelle508]

I'm in , sorry you guys were so cold for the fireworks show. Sounds like it would have been better in warmer weather

 

[counselormom]

Subscribing! Looks like a great trip so far!

Thank you! Animal Kingdom update coming soon

Can't wait for your next update!! Hope you guys enjoy your Spring Break too!

Thanks! I'm hoping for some sunshine!

Originally Posted by gretchenohar@hotmail
Would you mind telling us where you ordered your girls' Pirates Costumes, counselermom? They're too darn cute!
Got our grandson all decked out at the Pirate's League last year - best $35 we ever spent in WDW!

I will be happy to tell you. I ordered them online from buycostumes.com last September. They were running a buy one get one free sale as well as free shipping. I also ordered the girls Halloween costumes (Mad Hatter and Alice) and they seemed to have the best prices. How wonderful that you took your grandson! I'll bet he thinks you guys are the best!!

Believe me - we got more pleasure out of it than the grandkids! There's nothing like seeing Disney thru a child's eyes!
Thank you for the site for the costumes.
I'm loving your TR.

You're welcome! So true about the kids!

I'm in , sorry you guys were so cold for the fireworks show. Sounds like it would have been better in warmer weather

Yes on the warmer weather! I never dreamed it would be in the 30's in Florida!

 

[njmom76]

Just started reading this and it is great!!! Cannot wait to hear about the rest. We are taking our first family vacation to Disney in August and staying at the BC.

 

[TanzUnited99]

Hello I followed you over from Queen's PTR. Am subbing and looking forward to reading. Will be back later once I have caught up to comment

Edit: Have caught up and have loved reading your TR so far - like others have said you have a great writing style

Love the shirts, pyjamas and gift ideas! Think the 'I was really good this year' t shirts were great!

How awesome on watching Illuminations on your first night - sounds like a magical evening especially with riding Soarin when it wasn't planned!

Your relaxing day sounds heavenly Was going to say I hope you managed to get a No Way Jose later on in the trip but have read that you didn't...there's always next time!

Wow that bus journey from DTD to GF sounded stressful Am glad DH was able to help with the scooter and you were able to make it to 1900 Park Fare. Love the character pics and interaction - cinderella sure does look 'crazed'!

on getting your Le Cellier ADR - sounds like you all had a great time.

That's a great surprise for the girls on their MK day! You can tell a lot of thought and effort has gone into this trip Love the pirate transformations!! It's a shame the cruise did not go as planned but yay on meeting the characters and having a fab time!

Enjoy your Spring break and look forward to reading more!

 

[irishdancer86]

Hi, just found your report and will come back to read more but just wanted to say how lovely it is to read about a husband and wife with some lovely sparkly romantic days among all the normal-ness and your two girls are so cute, and I have only read 2 pages and I've already picked up a great hint about the memories by Betsey service! can't wait to read more!

 

[counselormom]

Just started reading this and it is great!!! Cannot wait to hear about the rest. We are taking our first family vacation to Disney in August and staying at the BC.

Welcome! Oh, lucky you to have a trip planned, I'll bet you get to enjoy the pool alot going in August! I wish now that I had planned to go in warm weather instead of cold.

 

[Jillpie]

OP, an update soon please?

 

[counselormom]

Hello I followed you over from Queen's PTR. Am subbing and looking forward to reading. Will be back later once I have caught up to comment

Edit: Have caught up and have loved reading your TR so far - like others have said you have a great writing style

Love the shirts, pyjamas and gift ideas! Think the 'I was really good this year' t shirts were great!

How awesome on watching Illuminations on your first night - sounds like a magical evening especially with riding Soarin when it wasn't planned!

Your relaxing day sounds heavenly Was going to say I hope you managed to get a No Way Jose later on in the trip but have read that you didn't...there's always next time!

Wow that bus journey from DTD to GF sounded stressful Am glad DH was able to help with the scooter and you were able to make it to 1900 Park Fare. Love the character pics and interaction - cinderella sure does look 'crazed'!

on getting your Le Cellier ADR - sounds like you all had a great time.

That's a great surprise for the girls on their MK day! You can tell a lot of thought and effort has gone into this trip Love the pirate transformations!! It's a shame the cruise did not go as planned but yay on meeting the characters and having a fab time!

Enjoy your Spring break and look forward to reading more!

Welcome! Thank you so much for the kind words! Thanks for noticing all of my planning efforts, I think my family just thinks that is how everyone goes to Disney.

Hi, just found your report and will come back to read more but just wanted to say how lovely it is to read about a husband and wife with some lovely sparkly romantic days among all the normal-ness and your two girls are so cute, and I have only read 2 pages and I've already picked up a great hint about the memories by Betsey service! can't wait to read more!

Welcome! Sometimes I have to look for those romantic days! I came home the other day and he had unloaded the dishwasher and folded the laundry, now that was romantic!!!
Memories by Betsey was great, she was really easy to work with and fast.

 

[counselormom]

I will tell you going in that I thought we would LOVE Animal Kingdom. I even had us booked at AKL before I changed to the Beach Club. We were really looking forward to riding Expedition Everest and Dinosaur and couldn't wait for the Safari. We have an awesome zoo in Oklahoma City and go several times a year, so we had pretty high expectations that when Disney put together a theme park with animals and rides it would have to be just over the top awesome. So, maybe I had too high of expectations but it ended up being our least favorite and I am wondering if those of you who go often feel the same way or if I should give it another chance.
Even though I thought everyone might sleep in and we could get to the park by noon, they were up and ready and we made it for rope drop. The temps were still cold, around 35 degress but clear and sunny. Touring Plans had the park at a "3" for the day so we were expecting low crowds and we weren't dissapointed, the park was nearly empty most of the morning.

Robert and Ashton ran ahead to ride EE and to get us fastpasses for later and I took Avery to "Dinoland".

Many of the rides weren't open yet and there weren't many people around. I'm all for having low crowds and no waits but the "deadness" was not a good way for us to start our our day at AK. I realized later that it was just this section of the park, over by EE things were hopping. Robert and Ashton met up with us and got in a quick ride before we headed over to the number #2 ride on our list "Dinosaur".

I read recently that a CM died while refurbing the Tricertop Spin ride, we won't be riding it again.

We walked right on Dinosaur and we really liked the ride, even Avery who I thought would get a little scared. Next we went to use our fastpasses for EE

Ashton pronounced EE as her favorite so far, it was pretty fun but Soarin' was still my favorite. We rode it several more time with little wait. After EE we wandered around for awhile taking in the scenery when we came across "DeVine".

Isn't DeVine cool??

Coming up: Lunch, a Safari and an unexpected Characterpolozaa!

 

[natebenma]

Animal Kingdom is our least favorite park too. When we have been in July, the park is way too hot and way too crowded. We did Dinoland USA first too this year, and it was eerily empty, like you described.

AWESOME pictures of DeVine. I love the shot against the wall. She blends right in!


The last two years, we spent a half day at AK then went to Blizzard Beach for a couple of hours. Most of buses leaving AK in the afternoon stop at Blizzard Beach first before going to a resort (at least in summer, just ask the bus driver as you board). We really like this combination of parks.

 

[TanzUnited99]

We have similar expectations of AK for our first trip! Maybe I should lower them a little bit.

Love the family shot in front of EE as well as the Divine pics...she sure is good at blending in with things around her!!

 

[Queenofallthings]

We only ever book one day at AK and that usually turns in to a morning We ride EE, KRR, KS, then watch FOTLK and out....it's my least favorite too, but Jasmine loves EE and I love FOTLK...that's all that brings us back

 

[iheartbelle87]

Awesome TR so far!! Looks like you all had a great time! We've been in Nov and it was just as cold as you described... I brought one pair of jeans and one sweatshirt with me and that's what I wore all week!!

 

[ProudMommyof2]

AK is our least favorite park as well. We may even skip it this next trip.

 

[MaryAz]

Jumping in and I see from your intro-all I have read so far-that we have a few things in common. I also have a 6yr old Avery-seven next month,turned 40-last June-and one of my girls is a blond while the other is a brunette. Back to commet when I have read more

 

[Jazzabelle508]

That's how we usually feel about animal kingdom 2, So your not unusual there. We typically make our animal kingdom day 1/2 animal kingdom 1/2 swimming and just relaxing.