Gabe's First Trip!!! Jan 20-27th with PICS!!!!!!! Updated 3/24!!!!

[Cory's Gal]

WDW Fan-Thanks for reading and your nice comments about Gabe!!! The crowds were so low, it was wonderful!! Everything was a walk-on, the rain was a downer but it never poured on us and ponchos worked great!!

dohgusgus-Thanks for your sweet comments about Gabe!!! It was so wonderful bringing him for the first time and such a precious memory!!! Our trip was very enjoyable even though it rained!!!

 

[LITTLEKID58]

Your Gabe is adorable... txs so much for sharing

Liz

 

[Cory's Gal]

Liz-thanks for reading and for your sweet comment about Gabe!! Hopefully I will be able to get to our park hopping day this afternoon, we have company in town and I don't always get time away!!

I will try to start it now!!!! Thanks for hanging in there everybody!!!

 

[tksbaskets]

I see that you are on-line. Hopefully typing up your next trippie installment??

I'm enjoying seeing WDW through Gabe's eyes (or at least his pictures). Our sons were 7 when we first visited WDW. Fun to see a little one. How your trips will change Our last trip was a wild dash to the Rockin' Roller Coaster and TOT. Fun just the same!

 

[KimAshton]

Cannot wait for more.

 

[Cory's Gal]

tksbaskets & KimAshton-Thanks for more comments!!! I am going to try to get out the next installment now, hoping that Gabe will continue playing quietly!!! Ha ha ha...

 

[Cory's Gal]

YIKES!! It was already Thursday of our trip and we only had 2 more days in the parks!! We decided to split up this day for most of it. My DM & DD had reservations for tea at the GF, my mom is a HUGE tea lover and she always wanted to go see the GF!!! DH, DS, and I started off early and headed over to MGM to start our park hopping day!!! We got on the "everyday bus" and went into the studios. Our goal was to see Playhouse Disney & Muppets and then go on over to Epcot. We saw the first showing of Playhouse Disney, it was really cute and Gabe would have enjoyed it more but he was a little cranky so on to Muppets. It was good as always with only about 30 people in the theater. It was drizzling a bit and chilly that day. After Muppets we stopped to see, SULLY!!!

I was surprised Gabe wasn't a little afraid since Sully was so HUGE!!! We then cruised the shops a bit and headed down for the boat. We always wanted to try Beaches n' Cream so we stopped at the Beach Club and had an awesome lunch!!! They have THE BEST ONION RINGS!!!!!! MMMMMMMMM!!!! We strolled around the beautiful grounds a bit with wishes of someday getting to stay there !!!!

We walked over to Epcot and of course HAD TO see Nemo again, again, and again, that's right 3 MORE TIMES!!! Good thing it's cute!!! Gabe was so happy!! I unfortunately didn't take many more pics that day, we only had about 10 left on our crappy camera!! We did to the Disney Visa pic with Minnie and Goofy, the pic is cute, hopefully I will scan it in! It was about 1:30 and we left Epcot for POP, Gabe was really tired and it took us 5 days to actually get back for a nap (that was the plan everyday). By 4:00 he had a good nap and we were off to MK to meet up with my parents. We met them by Adventureland so we could experience PotC!!!`We were so excited to see the changes. Well, we got over there and it was "closed". We then decided to take Gabe on the Magic Carpets of Aladdin. We knew going in the park closed early for the press event and that Wishes was at 6:30 (an ideal time for Gabe). This is where things got a little fishy and little "un-Disney" like. There were press people everywhere and attractions started getting "technical difficulties" before 5:00pm. This was dissapointing for the paying guests I thought. There were carts of stuff from tables, chairs, food, drinks being set-up and blocking pathways. CM's and other workers were saying things like "move out of the way" and "coming thru". I know that this was a big deal and important for the "Year of a Million Dreams" but it really cut into the "magic". The guys got food at Casey's and we found a table outside. The view for the fireworks was pretty good and Wishes was BEAUTIFUL and MAGICAL!!!! The second the last firework was launched we were VERY RUDELY being ushered out of the park. We weren't by any means encouraged to shop and I overheard MANY CM's tell people that the park was closing and you need to leave. This doesn't make me not want to go back but it did give me a bit of a sour feeling. I was REALLY disappointed. I at least got this cute pic of Gabe and DH waiting for WISHES!!!

We headed back to POP and settled in a bit early to gear up for our last park day. Frozen Cokes all around and I skipped the rice krispy Mickey for an ice cream cone!!! Off to bed and tomorrow our last day....

 

[tksbaskets]

Oh boy a new installment of your trippie I'm suprised Disney would discourage anyone from shopping on the way out of the Kingdom. I'm glad you didn't let that wreck your day. Did you ever get to see the POTC? We loved the changes.

TK

 

[princessjv]

YIKES!! It was already Thursday of our trip and we only had 2 more days in the parks!!

When you hit the end...it gets sad!

By 4:00 he had a good nap and we were off to MK to meet up with my parents. We met them by Adventureland so we could experience PotC!!!`We were so excited to see the changes. Well, we got over there and it was "closed". We then decided to take Gabe on the Magic Carpets of Aladdin. We knew going in the park closed early for the press event and that Wishes was at 6:30 (an ideal time for Gabe). This is where things got a little fishy and little "un-Disney" like. There were press people everywhere and attractions started getting "technical difficulties" before 5:00pm. This was dissapointing for the paying guests I thought. There were carts of stuff from tables, chairs, food, drinks being set-up and blocking pathways. CM's and other workers were saying things like "move out of the way" and "coming thru". I know that this was a big deal and important for the "Year of a Million Dreams" but it really cut into the "magic". The guys got food at Casey's and we found a table outside. The view for the fireworks was pretty good and Wishes was BEAUTIFUL and MAGICAL!!!! The second the last firework was launched we were VERY RUDELY being ushered out of the park. We weren't by any means encouraged to shop and I overheard MANY CM's tell people that the park was closing and you need to leave. This doesn't make me not want to go back but it did give me a bit of a sour feeling. I was REALLY disappointed. I at least got this cute pic of Gabe and DH waiting for WISHES!!!

OMG! You need to send that feedback into WDW! That is not 'magical'...where is the magic in that? WOW!

We stayed away from this park, that whole day...I rearranged everything as soon as I heard what was going on...but had I gone there and not known...OMG...This WDW loving momma, would not be HAPPY!

I am glad you found the good in it and got a great picture!

 

[Cory's Gal]

tksbaskets-we did get to see PotC on the last day thankfully!! We didn't let the incident affect our time at all, it just made me sad a bit. Good thing Gabe is young and didn't know the difference!!

princessjv-good thinking about changing your plans!!! We liked the fact that we could see Wishes early (6:30) like that though so it wouldn't be a late night for Gabe, but I was bummed, I think I will be sending a letter, couldn't hurt right???

Hopefully I will get to the last day here sometime today!! Thanks everyone for reading!!!

 

[WDW Fan]

Great pictures! That was very un-Disney like to be pushed out of the park that day in that manner. You paid good money to enjoy the MK and it doesn't sound like they were respecting that. I would write them and tell them how you felt at the time. I'm sad that you TR is coming to an end. I've really enjoyed it.

 

[coachlevy]

Love your TR! Your son is too cute. I'm going this summer with ds (he'll be 14 months), DH, DM, and DD. I can't wait! By the way, where is Character Connection in Epcot?

 

[snowbell]

I am still hooked to your report. Gabe is too cute. I cannot belive he was not afraid of Sully... I am afraid of sully

 

[Cory's Gal]

WDW Fan, coachlevy, and snowbell-Thanks to all 3 of you for your nice words about my TR!! It makes me sad that the TR is coming to an end too!! I can't believe we have been home from this trip for 2 months almost, all that planning and it's long over!!!

How come Disney trips go so darn fast????? RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR....

 

[Cory's Gal]

Boo Hoo Hoo...Our last day is here!!!! All 5 of us are VERY sad and can't believe it's almost over!! We've had a wonderful trip, they always go WAY too fast!!! Before we head out to the "everyday bus" we grab a little breakfast at the Food Court and decide what we would like to see today.
Here's our final day list:
1. Finding Nemo the Musical
2. EE one more time
3. PotC
4. Fantasyland rides again
5. Anything else we can possibly fit in!!
The weather was suppose to be nice and it was, low 60's a lots of sun!! Perfect for our last day!!!
We decide to catch the "everyday bus" to AK and get in the first show of the Nemo Musical. We are glad we went back to see it!!! What a great show!!! It's pretty much the same story as the movie, the puppetry was awesome!! Cory and I split up from Gabe, DM, and DD so we could tackle EE. I think we actually did this BEFORE the Nemo show. We just did stand-by, waited less than 10 minutes and decided we better ride one more time!!! After Nemo Gabe wanted to go on Triceratops Spin and then off to Tusker House for a very nice repeat lunch of the first day!!! After lunch we headed over to MK!!! The afternoon went fast first to Fantasyland for some rides including Dumbo & the Carousel!!!

Then we headed back to Toontown hopefully for a chance to meet the one princess Gabe loves the most, his "Rella". During the whole trip we kept thinking of meeting her and it occurs to us that we never did until the last day!! We get back there and the line is well over an HOUR long to meet her. Boo!!!!!!!!
We were all getting tired and still wanted to see PotC!!! So we did and the changes were very cool!! I like the ride better now, then we took one last spin on the Carpets and EVERYBODY had a beloved Dole Whip, YUMMY!!!!
Then we decided to head back, it was about 4:30 and we were tired. We started seeing people for the P&PP, looked like so much fun!! The kids that were dressed were SOOOOOOO CUTE!!!!
Back to POP to find a couple of surprises!!!

Mousekeeping did a fabulous job!! As you can see in the last picture, one of Gabe's souveniers from Grandma was the set of the 3 Disney buses!! What a perfect gift!!

Cory and I had the evening to go and shop at DTD so we had a nice stroll, a fast dinner and McD's and then our tradition of a Hot Chocolate from Ghiradelli!!!! YUM!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bought some gifts for us and family members, I finally got an antenna topper, American Mickey!!! The best!!! Headed back to POP for one last frozen coke and rice krispy treat!!!!! Sad.... Off to bed for a 9:00 ME pick-up....

 

[princessjv]

Lasts days are a bummer!

I am glad you got some extra Everest time in and saw Nemo! It is one of those 'worth the addmission price' shows.

 

[Cory's Gal]

Lasts days are a bummer!

I am glad you got some extra Everest time in and saw Nemo! It is one of those 'worth the addmission price' shows.

NEMO was awesome!! It blew us away, it was a long show too!! We had to get EE in, it if FOR SURE now my favorite attraction!!! Thanks for reading!!!

 

[Cory's Gal]

Boo Hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saturday the 27th was our last day and we were getting packed up to catch the "Magical Bus" to go to the airport. One last trip up to the food court for a little breakfast and one more look at the Yo-Yo's, which were Gabe's favorite thing about POP.
"Geen Yo-Yo"

"Boo Yo-Yo"

"Red Yo-Yo"

I felt like crying when we walked through Classic Hall watching people getting ready for the parks and also watching those checking in for the beginning of their trip. Yes folks I was J-E-A-L-O-U-S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Uneventful trip back to the cold frigid weather of the frozen tundra of Minnesota, it was like -20 wind chill when we landed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We had an AWESOME trip but like most I wished we would have booked a longer one.
My final thoughts:

Hotel-POP Century was GREAT!! Our rooms were in a great location, bus service was fantastic, the food court was great, and the grounds were beautiful!! Mousekeeping was great and made the stay more magical!!

Food-We had wonderful food this whole trip!!! Tusker House, Crystal Palace, 50's PTC, Cosmic Ray's, Beaches n' Cream, and the Tea at Grand Floridian were all wonderful!!!
DH-favorites were Tusker House's Salmon, Beaches' Onion Rings, and Popcorn!!!
Gabe-favorites were waffles at Crystal Palace, Mac n Cheese everywhere and Popcorn!!!
DM-Tea at the Grand Floridian (she says she will go on every trip from now on), Salmon at Tusker House, Dole Whip, and Popcorn!!!!
DD-Dole Whip, Salmon at Tusker House, Pot Roast at PTC, and Popcorn!!!
Me-Chocolate dipped rice krispy Mickey's, onion rings at Beaches, Dole Whip, the whole breakfast at CP, and Popcorn!!!

Attractions-We enjoyed them all, every one of us did as always, Disney never dissapointed in that department!!!
DH-EE, Nemo the Musical, RNRC, BTMRR, FOTLK, Test Track, Soarin' and every ride with Gabe!!!
Gabe-All of Fantasyland, Nemo the Ride, Safari, Lights, Motor, Action!, Triceratops Spin, Speedway, and the "everyday bus"!!!
DM-FOTLK, Nemo the Musical, POTC, Teacups, Peter Pan's Flight, Soarin', and every ride with Gabe!!!
DD-Soarin', Dinosaur, FOTLK, Nemo the Musical, Safari, POTC, Lights, Motor, Action!, and every ride with Gabe!!
Me-EE, BTMRR, Teacups, Safari, Soarin', Test Track, FOTLK, Nemo the Musical, and every ride with Gabe!!!

The vacation was wonderful and I would love to go back once a year but finances don't really allow. All of us who went love WDW and we are already talkin' May of 2010 so we can see the Flower and Garden Festival!! By then we will hopefully have another child who we can introduce to our wonderful WDW!!! My hopes for that trip are renting points for a Villa at the Beach Club or treating DH to AKL his dream Disney resort!!! I will never forget Gabe's first trip, if you are debating bringing a 2 year old, bring them!! It was such a special trip and so MAGICAL!!!!

Thanks for reading!!!!

 

[Mic_n_Min]

Great wrap-up to your TR!

 

[KimAshton]

What a great picture at the end.