Geyser Gazer
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- May 4, 2001
- Messages
- 428
Our trip begins on Monday 11/24/08 with a full day of work for me, packing for my wife Darlene, and school for my daughters Eden (12) and Sydney (9). Off we go to Indianapolis with dinner at Culvers on the way. We are staying at a Country Inn and Suites for $128 including parking for our trips duration. Despite the cold and wind, Sydney and I opt for a swim and hot tub (indoors of course). Early (5am) next morning with breakfast bags in hand we are shuttled off to the impressive brand new terminal at the airport. It is nice now that our girls are older as they are carrying luggage rather than us carrying them. We had a smooth 7:10am SWA ($144 RT) flight to Orlando where we commandered a Toyota Previa from National rental ($364) before driving to Disneys Vero Beach Resort.
At check in I asked if our ocean view room was a direct view but it was not. After a bit of checking we were offered a handicap accessible room which turned out to have a wonderful view and we never missed not having a bathtub. Although the ocean was a cool 75 degrees ther girls and I enjoyed boogie boarding and swimming all afternoon. We had flatbread pizza out on the deck at the Green Cabin room for dinner. I ventured out for a grocery run that evening returning to find the rest of my clan lights out sleeping before 8 pm, it had been a long day. Our days here were filled with playing in the ocean and hanging out at the pool and punctuated by numerous mini golf competions. This was thefirst trip we brought a laptop with, it was nice to be able to surf the net when we had down time. One morning the girls took an archery lesson and Darlene taught the girls the word game "Jotto" which they daily enjoyed playing with each other. We enjoyed our Thanksgiving dinner of shrimp scampi and leftover flat bread in the Villa before leaving for Orlando the following day.
We checked into the Dolphin (around $165/night inclusive) Friday afternoon 11/28/08 . We had never stayed here before and were quite impressed with the place as we moved our caravan of luggage upward and forward.
The girls worked on some homework while I gathered a Spoodles take out pizza from the Boardwalk. I had never been here when there was so much going on, magicians, jugglers, games, and lots of people. After dinner we all went back together to take in the sights. We had a great room with tall ceilings and a nice view of Illuminations and the Tower of Terror. The next morning I got up early and swam laps before we all went to the Boardwalk Bakery for breakfast. Afterwards we had fun mini golfing at Fantasia Gardens and playing in the Grotto pool all afternoon. That evening we hung out at Animal Kingdom Lodge before gorging ourselves (steak, soups, pineapple cheesecake etc) at Boma's. On Sunday morning we checked out and had a blast at Blizzard Beach before it started storming.
Our 2 Bedroom Villa at the Wilderness Lodge was ready by 1pm Sunday 11/30. We were on the 4th floor with a nice view of the quiet pool, the trees, and Bay Lake. I headed back out into the rain for grocerys while my ladies hung out at the lodge. By the time I got back my parents Tom and Nola had arrived via "Magical Express" and we had a nice spiral ham with scalloped potatoes for dinner . We listened to the light parade on the lake before falling asleep.
The next morning we were off to the Studios where Dar, Dad, and I did the Tower of Terror while we all enjoyed Toy Story Mania ride twice. Off to Epcot for some pastries in Norway, Soarin' and Mission space, before Mom and Dad treated us to a late Lunch at the Biergarten. We enjoyed the atmosphere at least as much as the food and nobody left hungry. Afterwards we rode spaceship earth and Sydney did Test Track for the first time. She was screaming during the ride and I was afraid she was hating it until I saw her "raise her hands in the air like she just don't care". By 7:30 we were happy and content with our day, Illuminations would just have to wait for another time. Back to the Lodge for a swim and a sleep.
Another day, another park and a boat ride to the Magic Kingdom. The girls, getting older actually opted out of Dumbo for the first time ever. We did Peter Pan, Philharmagic,Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Railroad, Swiss FamilyTree house, and Jungle cruise before lunch at Pecos Bills. After we did Splash Moutain, Train to Toon Town, Barnstormer, Space Mountain, Buzz, and ended up at the Laugh Floor. We stopped at the bakery and watched some of the parade on our way out. Mom and Dad took the boat back while we opted for a little monorail/Contemporary action. We were all happy to be hanging out at the lodge by 5 pm. We had BBQ sandwiches and baked beans for dinner.
Wednesday is REST Day. Had French toast for breakfast before a morning of outlet shopping. The rest of the day is spent hanging out at the pool where the girls won some games in a hula hoop competion. We we bumped into Dar's cousin Tom and his wife Jean poolside while she shopped Downtown Disney. We had baby back ribs and baked beans for dinner before grabbing a dole whip and watching "Wishes" from the Poly beach that night. Somehow we also manged a second dessert of key lime pie back at the lodge before retiring.
Thursday morning and back at it, off to Animal Kingdom. Eden and I did Everest x 2 while we all enjoyed Nemo and checking out Devine before a tasty lunch including seafood stew and carved meats at the Tusker house.
Afterwards we did the Safari, Kali Rapids and Festival of the Lion King. At this point my parents went back to the Studios for Fantasmic while we returned to Epcot for the evening. We worked hard to make the 5:00 Candlelight Processional but were a bit too late but stood and watched for a while anyway. A family leaving Epcot was kind enough to give us their stroller, it was good to let ther girls get off their feet for a time. While Dar and Eden shopped, Sydney and I caught Off Kilter in Canada before we met up for Ellens Energy Adventure. On our last ride (Test Track) we got stuck inside for around 10 minutes which took some of the energy out of the experience. Nevertheless, we had a great day, once again petered out before Illuminations, once again happy to be back at the Lodge.
Friday 12/5/08 and time to go home. We said goodbye to Granola and Pop Pop, hung out at the pool one last time, and headed for the airport. Sydney and Eden are seated in front of us on the plane. As we are accelerating for takeoff I see these small arms raise upward in front of me and I'm thinking to myself...while this is not test track and we're no longer in Disney World I pray that none of us fail to feel the thrills of everday life...
At check in I asked if our ocean view room was a direct view but it was not. After a bit of checking we were offered a handicap accessible room which turned out to have a wonderful view and we never missed not having a bathtub. Although the ocean was a cool 75 degrees ther girls and I enjoyed boogie boarding and swimming all afternoon. We had flatbread pizza out on the deck at the Green Cabin room for dinner. I ventured out for a grocery run that evening returning to find the rest of my clan lights out sleeping before 8 pm, it had been a long day. Our days here were filled with playing in the ocean and hanging out at the pool and punctuated by numerous mini golf competions. This was thefirst trip we brought a laptop with, it was nice to be able to surf the net when we had down time. One morning the girls took an archery lesson and Darlene taught the girls the word game "Jotto" which they daily enjoyed playing with each other. We enjoyed our Thanksgiving dinner of shrimp scampi and leftover flat bread in the Villa before leaving for Orlando the following day.
We checked into the Dolphin (around $165/night inclusive) Friday afternoon 11/28/08 . We had never stayed here before and were quite impressed with the place as we moved our caravan of luggage upward and forward.
The girls worked on some homework while I gathered a Spoodles take out pizza from the Boardwalk. I had never been here when there was so much going on, magicians, jugglers, games, and lots of people. After dinner we all went back together to take in the sights. We had a great room with tall ceilings and a nice view of Illuminations and the Tower of Terror. The next morning I got up early and swam laps before we all went to the Boardwalk Bakery for breakfast. Afterwards we had fun mini golfing at Fantasia Gardens and playing in the Grotto pool all afternoon. That evening we hung out at Animal Kingdom Lodge before gorging ourselves (steak, soups, pineapple cheesecake etc) at Boma's. On Sunday morning we checked out and had a blast at Blizzard Beach before it started storming.
Our 2 Bedroom Villa at the Wilderness Lodge was ready by 1pm Sunday 11/30. We were on the 4th floor with a nice view of the quiet pool, the trees, and Bay Lake. I headed back out into the rain for grocerys while my ladies hung out at the lodge. By the time I got back my parents Tom and Nola had arrived via "Magical Express" and we had a nice spiral ham with scalloped potatoes for dinner . We listened to the light parade on the lake before falling asleep.
The next morning we were off to the Studios where Dar, Dad, and I did the Tower of Terror while we all enjoyed Toy Story Mania ride twice. Off to Epcot for some pastries in Norway, Soarin' and Mission space, before Mom and Dad treated us to a late Lunch at the Biergarten. We enjoyed the atmosphere at least as much as the food and nobody left hungry. Afterwards we rode spaceship earth and Sydney did Test Track for the first time. She was screaming during the ride and I was afraid she was hating it until I saw her "raise her hands in the air like she just don't care". By 7:30 we were happy and content with our day, Illuminations would just have to wait for another time. Back to the Lodge for a swim and a sleep.
Another day, another park and a boat ride to the Magic Kingdom. The girls, getting older actually opted out of Dumbo for the first time ever. We did Peter Pan, Philharmagic,Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Railroad, Swiss FamilyTree house, and Jungle cruise before lunch at Pecos Bills. After we did Splash Moutain, Train to Toon Town, Barnstormer, Space Mountain, Buzz, and ended up at the Laugh Floor. We stopped at the bakery and watched some of the parade on our way out. Mom and Dad took the boat back while we opted for a little monorail/Contemporary action. We were all happy to be hanging out at the lodge by 5 pm. We had BBQ sandwiches and baked beans for dinner.
Wednesday is REST Day. Had French toast for breakfast before a morning of outlet shopping. The rest of the day is spent hanging out at the pool where the girls won some games in a hula hoop competion. We we bumped into Dar's cousin Tom and his wife Jean poolside while she shopped Downtown Disney. We had baby back ribs and baked beans for dinner before grabbing a dole whip and watching "Wishes" from the Poly beach that night. Somehow we also manged a second dessert of key lime pie back at the lodge before retiring.
Thursday morning and back at it, off to Animal Kingdom. Eden and I did Everest x 2 while we all enjoyed Nemo and checking out Devine before a tasty lunch including seafood stew and carved meats at the Tusker house.
Afterwards we did the Safari, Kali Rapids and Festival of the Lion King. At this point my parents went back to the Studios for Fantasmic while we returned to Epcot for the evening. We worked hard to make the 5:00 Candlelight Processional but were a bit too late but stood and watched for a while anyway. A family leaving Epcot was kind enough to give us their stroller, it was good to let ther girls get off their feet for a time. While Dar and Eden shopped, Sydney and I caught Off Kilter in Canada before we met up for Ellens Energy Adventure. On our last ride (Test Track) we got stuck inside for around 10 minutes which took some of the energy out of the experience. Nevertheless, we had a great day, once again petered out before Illuminations, once again happy to be back at the Lodge.
Friday 12/5/08 and time to go home. We said goodbye to Granola and Pop Pop, hung out at the pool one last time, and headed for the airport. Sydney and Eden are seated in front of us on the plane. As we are accelerating for takeoff I see these small arms raise upward in front of me and I'm thinking to myself...while this is not test track and we're no longer in Disney World I pray that none of us fail to feel the thrills of everday life...
