Hart's-Attack WDW LIVE!!! 3/21-3/26

[Raidergx]

This is our second trip to WDW. This is our first time on Disney world property. I wanted to do something special for my wife that just returned home from Afganistan with a wounded foot. We are staying in the Grand Floridian.

Flight was nice and easy. We got to the Orlando Airport and we were so taken aback by the crowds for ME. We stood in line waited and really we left in less than 30 minutes of arriving. It was a quick trip to the GF maybe 20 mins.

If your a first timer to ME, dont be scared of the crowds, it is pretty quick and easy and saves 100 bucks or so.

Next up a quick MK trip for lunch.....

 

[Raidergx]

Our room was not ready as of yet. So we decided to head to MK on the monorail and eat lunch and get hats. We headed over to QS meal Cosmic Rays. I had the chicken and ribs, the DW had the turkey bacon wrap (she still raves about it), boys had pb&j.

Crowds were heavy at 1300 hours but not too bad, hard to find a place to sit though due to the table holders with out food.

Our room was ready so we got Hats and went back to the resort. We then headed over to DTD for our ressies at Planet Hollywood (Not recommended for small children under 11) Our Steaks were awesome and everything was good. Our bill with out the DDP if we would have paid OOP was 115 for family of 5. So is DDP worth it, heck yea it is.

Lego of Captain Rex, Youngest son's Fav character

Next up is Hollywood studios....

 

[MarkinNM]

VERY NICE!!!!!

Great your wife is safe and doing great!!!! THanks to her, do you find the food expensive, as we are not doing the DDP and will pay OOP for a family of 4, 12 & 16 kids age, just wondering as I tried to add it up and think we will wind up about equal, thanks for the pics PLEASE post more!!!!!

 

[BlueSkies]

Raidergx A live trip report!!Glad that your wife is home safe and sound..A thanks to her from me too...

What a nice first on property hotel...the GF is my all time favorite!! I'm sure now that you are staying there you can see why...

Looks like you all started right off having some fun...Enjoy your trip...and thanks for the live report...

Also what building did you decide on requesting...they are all so nice..

Dont forget to take some time and just enjoy all that the GF has to offer too...the music in the lobby in the evenings...and I bet your kids would enjoy all of the new evening beach activities...

 

[mickeystoontown]

Glad I found your trip report. I love reading them and I love seeing pics. We won't be going to WDW until August and I have to have something to help pass the time.

 

[funforfive]

Glad I found your live report! I'm looking forward to hearing how you experienced DHS! We'll be there in 13 days!!!

 

[Raidergx]

Question about Dining OOP?: You will pay big time, our bills with the DDP have been 115 or more. We pay about 120 a day on DDP, So yea you will save with the DDP, next time we are gunna do DxDP.

Crowds are large but not unbearable yet. Ok I am gunna start uploading pictures should have our day at DHS soon.

 

[Raidergx]

We were out our room door by 7:40 and caught the bus to DHS at 7:50a.

We arrived and by 8:30 crowds were huge. We went in the turnstyles and went to right side rope drop for my mad dash for Toy Story mainia. We hung out talked to a couple people then the ropes came down. We started to walk then fast walk then faster walking, next thing I know we are in a light jog, then a moderate jog, then someone steps on my shoe and I pick up my shoe and keep running in my sock and shoe. I debated on, if I should take off my other shoe, but someone made that decision for me and ripped off my other shoe by stepping on it. So now I am running in my socks just to get a FP for TSM. I get to the FP machine and put my shoes back on and get one for 9:40. I then head to meet the family for Jedi Training.

TSM FP area

We were in the area for JT at 9:10 we were the first ones there. This was basically our only goal at DHS, we have to 2 sons that are SW fanatics.
The Jedi Master came out and selected both our sons on the first try. (I have the secret to getting picked PM for the answer.)

More Pics of DHS coming right up....

 

[Raidergx]

I dont have a daughter, and my wife is totally tom boy. So Jedi Training is the coolest thing at Disney world for our family. To have both our boys selected at the same time at the first showing was awesome. If you think this is not worth is or your considering skipping it, DONT it is the greatest thing ever for Star Wars Fan.

Vader enters....

Garrett engages Vader in Lightsaber combat..

Andy engages Vader...

Ill post a few more pics of our eating at 50's Prime Time Cafe...

 

[Raidergx]

We Ate at 50's Prime Time Cafe, our ressies were at 1210 and we were seated at 1230.

Our server was boring we were enjoying watching the other servers with other tables. His tip reflected that.

The DW had Pot roast, I had the meatloaf. Portions were small but food was good. They let you get milkshakes for drinks so that is cool.

Next stop is Epcot...

 

[Raidergx]

OK We got to Epcot at about 8:45, the masses were forming already. I headed strait to rope drop for the Marathon to get FP's for Sorin'. I just came off my shoe shredding experience at DHS so I was ready this time. The rope dropped and the trek began, Sorin' seemed far from rope drop and was a bit better than the DHS ironman run. I got the FP's for 10:10, FP's for Sorin were goin by noon, and this may have been because the ride was broke for an hour in the morning, which made people get FP's rather than walk on riding.

We went to Turttle talk after getting the FP's. Turtle talk is so fun with little kids 7 an under. Duuuuuuuuuuuude.

We looked at the fishies, then headed to my favorite ride, "Mission Space". It was new to me but Mission space has 2 options now, Less intense and More intense. We chose the less intense. More intense is you actually spin around creating g-forces as you ride.

We then walked around World Showcase. Kids did not like it much so we went back to Sorin' and rode that. Sorin' is really cool, what an experience. Then we went back to Mission space and rode it again.

We were suppost to go to Tepan Edo, but kids were not hungry and we decided not to waste a table service.

After touring around, we went to Beaches and Cream for Ice Cream.....lol...

 

[shellbelle]

Lovin your live report! Keep it coming!!

 

[summersalt]

wonder what the Hart's are doing today? Can't wait to find out.

 

[ciera321]

First, I'm glad your wife is back safely and please tell "thank you" for serving our country!!! Second, your trip report is off to a great start...Keep it coming!!!

 

[Raidergx]

Here are some pics from our touring at Epcot and our Ice Cream at Beaches & Cream

The "Kitchen Sink"

5 minutes later....

10 minutes later...

And Done...

 

[Raidergx]

This is the highlights of our Animal Kingdom day.

We got there early and were the first ones at the turnstyle. Rope Drop we headed strait to EE. Got the FP's then headed to Safari. Got FP's again for Safari, then toured around a bit. We got to Yak and Yeti early for our TS lunch. We were seated first and ordered the steak and shrimp. WOW it was so good.

After lunch we rode EE, wow it was awesome!! Then we went back and rode Safari again...lol.

Bring on the pics....

Rouge Ostrich in the road....

Next stop Magic Kingdom...

 

[loralie]

I am loving your report. How do you like the GF? We will be there for the first time in May and we can't wait. I have 2 boys (13 and 11) and I was wondering how your boys liked the GF. Did you spend anytime exploring the resort?

Looks like you guys are having a great time.

Can't wait to read the rest.

Loralie

 

[Raidergx]

Ahh the GF, First let me tell you the good stuff.

It has wonderful feeling to it. It is so elegant you feel like a millionaire staying there. It smells clean, looks clean and feels nice to stay in. Kinda like a B&B.

My 3 boys (9,7,6) Thought it was boring. Did not want to stay there and rather go to the parks. Arcade was small, and our game cards did not work, we had 30 minutes on them each. We practically had to beg them to try the pool out. They did not like the pool area, mostly because it was too deep for them in most parts and no pool play toys, such as noodles or float boards. So our boys had nothing to do with the resort except for sleeping. No DVD player for movies in the room and one child channel on tv.

I am going to do a full review of the GF in the appropriate area.

But we will not stay here again with kids. We went to Beach Club for ice cream and the kids asked me why we did not stay there, it looked like more fun.

 

[loralie]

Ahh the GF, First let me tell you the good stuff.

It has wonderful feeling to it. It is so elegant you feel like a millionaire staying there. It smells clean, looks clean and feels nice to stay in. Kinda like a B&B.

My 3 boys (9,7,6) Thought it was boring. Did not want to stay there and rather go to the parks. Arcade was small, and our game cards did not work, we had 30 minutes on them each. We practically had to beg them to try the pool out. They did not like the pool area, mostly because it was too deep for them in most parts and no pool play toys, such as noodles or float boards. So our boys had nothing to do with the resort except for sleeping. No DVD player for movies in the room and one child channel on tv.

I am going to do a full review of the GF in the appropriate area.

But we will not stay here again with kids. We went to Beach Club for ice cream and the kids asked me why we did not stay there, it looked like more fun.

Oh no...sorry to hear the boys did not like the GF. I would have thought the boys would have liked the pool because of the slide. Did they try the slide or was the water too deep for them where the slide ends? I know they now have movies and campfire at the beach, hopefully my boys will like that. I also want to stay at the Beach Club one day, maybe the next trip.

Loralie

 

[Raidergx]

We had a great time at MK and rode all the major rides by 11:00 am. Since pictures are worth a 1,000 words Ill let the pics speak.

For more info on our touring strategy click on this post.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2131977

Thanks all for turning out for my Tour Report.

Crystal Palace for breakfast...

Thanks again, we had a great time.