heart4dis
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2002
- Messages
- 552
Better late than never! Our trip was Dec. 8 - 18. Monday, Dec. 8 -Friday December 12 were spent at WDW (stayed at HIFS). Saturday, Dec. 13 was Universal/IOA (I'll have to post a trip report on that board) then Dec. 14 - 18 on Disney Wonder Cruise (again, a separate trip report will be posted).
Characters:
DH(40) Enjoys being a big kid and humoring his Disney-crazed DW
DW (40)(me) Had never done CRT and got reservations, thanks to these boards!
DD (11)--a true princess. Her fav is Belle
DS (10)--couldn't wait for free movies on cruise. Not a thrill rider
DS (8)--surprises us with which rides he WILL ride and which ones he WON"T (he rode and loved Tower of Terror but we couldn't convince him to ride Dinosaur--go figure)
DS--who had his 7th birthday on December 9 at WDW!
Day 1:travel and settle in at HIFS
The kids were thrilled to ride in an airplane. We usually drive for vacations, but saved enough frequent flyer points to get us all FREE!!!! We loved HIFS. DD had saved her (June) birthday money to have a girls' spa at Sugar n' Spice in their lobby. She got her hair braided and had a glamour shot. The kids ran rampant in the arcade. They swam (it was WAY too cold for me) and played shuffle board and putt-putt on the premises. We used our pizza coupon. I drove to Publix and got snack items for our belly bags and water bottles, laundry detergent, and birthday cupcakes.
I felt really scattered. I had planned so long and had so many details racing inside my head that I couldn't think straight!
Day 2: Animal Kingdom / MVMCP
We got a slower start than we wanted, but the crowds were very low and we practically walked on every ride. I made a personal note to bring a backpack on the next few days. I wanted to travel lightly, but with six of us and needing to plan for cool weather as well as warm, we just had too much stuff! The kids all carried their own belly-bags that had water bottle holders. They carried their own money (not all of it at once) and disposable cameras and a snack.
We got a lot of autographs and character pix: Christmas Mickey and Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Lilo & Stitch, King Louie.
The Safari was awesome. We saw and heard the lion "roaring" and it was incredible. The animals were pretty active.
"It's Tough to Be a Bug" was brilliant and imaginative. One of DH's favorites. The kids loved it. We took time to see animals along the way--Kimono Dragon, tigers, bats, peacocks..
The Kali River Rapids were last and we were glad. It wan not warm enough to enjoy being soaked--although it wa a beautiful mid-70's day.
We ate lunch at Rainforest Cafe and celebrated DS's 7th birthday.
DD11 and DS10 loved Dinosaur. DS8 and DS7 wouldn't ride it. DS8 rode Primeval Whirl and loved it. We had to ride it twice (walked on both times). DH chatted a long time with the CM who was manager over Dinoland. She gave him the whole "story" behind it. Meanwhile, the kids dug up bones! The boys bought large toys to haul home (like the Tree of Life).
The Tree of Life was stunnning--truly wonderful.
We returned to HIFS to get into dry clothes and headed to MVMCP. It was warm--61 degrees. There was a full moon and it was clear. Magical. The snow on Main Street was thrilling to me. The snowflake images projected onto the castle was a nice effect, too. We rode Space Mt. then Buzz Lightyear. The boys rode Buzz twice. We also rode the Haunted Mansion. The shows, fireworks and parade were spactacular. I had tears in my eyes watching WISHES. Unbelievable: I was in MK at Christmas time watching the most extravagant firework display ever! Life is good. DD and I ran to a store between shows to get her a mouse ears hat and we ran into Christmas Belle who had just come out of a side street! Belle is DD's fav. It was an unplanned, magical moment! The parade was so incredible. The attention to detail was flawless. Even Chip n Dale's bakery float smelled like gingerbread! We got back to the hotel after midnight. It was a long day. We had ups and downs. DS8 wanted to go back to HIFS and play...DS7 kept wanting to buy junk...DS10 was wary of rides and didn't ride them all yet was embarrassed about it even though we didn't push him or "shame" him...DD11 was upset that we missed the DISMeet. but we had special moments, too--DS8 told me 15 seconds into Haunted Mansion "I already know I want to ride THIS again!"...DS7 would announce on each ride that it was his new favorite...DS8 had a sick look on his face every time he rode Primeval Whirl, but wanted to ride it again and again!...DD grabbed my arm many times and would just squeal with delight...DS10 kept hugging me and thanking me for bringing him there & he often spent his own money on gifts for others in the family. DH was wonderful--letting me drag him around. He loved the fireworks and the attention to detail. I wish I could capture the thrill of BEING there on Main Street and at the Castle and all the Christmas shows and WISHES!!! I was blown away.
Characters:
DH(40) Enjoys being a big kid and humoring his Disney-crazed DW
DW (40)(me) Had never done CRT and got reservations, thanks to these boards!
DD (11)--a true princess. Her fav is Belle
DS (10)--couldn't wait for free movies on cruise. Not a thrill rider
DS (8)--surprises us with which rides he WILL ride and which ones he WON"T (he rode and loved Tower of Terror but we couldn't convince him to ride Dinosaur--go figure)
DS--who had his 7th birthday on December 9 at WDW!
Day 1:travel and settle in at HIFS
The kids were thrilled to ride in an airplane. We usually drive for vacations, but saved enough frequent flyer points to get us all FREE!!!! We loved HIFS. DD had saved her (June) birthday money to have a girls' spa at Sugar n' Spice in their lobby. She got her hair braided and had a glamour shot. The kids ran rampant in the arcade. They swam (it was WAY too cold for me) and played shuffle board and putt-putt on the premises. We used our pizza coupon. I drove to Publix and got snack items for our belly bags and water bottles, laundry detergent, and birthday cupcakes.
I felt really scattered. I had planned so long and had so many details racing inside my head that I couldn't think straight!
Day 2: Animal Kingdom / MVMCP
We got a slower start than we wanted, but the crowds were very low and we practically walked on every ride. I made a personal note to bring a backpack on the next few days. I wanted to travel lightly, but with six of us and needing to plan for cool weather as well as warm, we just had too much stuff! The kids all carried their own belly-bags that had water bottle holders. They carried their own money (not all of it at once) and disposable cameras and a snack.
We got a lot of autographs and character pix: Christmas Mickey and Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Lilo & Stitch, King Louie.
The Safari was awesome. We saw and heard the lion "roaring" and it was incredible. The animals were pretty active.
"It's Tough to Be a Bug" was brilliant and imaginative. One of DH's favorites. The kids loved it. We took time to see animals along the way--Kimono Dragon, tigers, bats, peacocks..
The Kali River Rapids were last and we were glad. It wan not warm enough to enjoy being soaked--although it wa a beautiful mid-70's day.
We ate lunch at Rainforest Cafe and celebrated DS's 7th birthday.
DD11 and DS10 loved Dinosaur. DS8 and DS7 wouldn't ride it. DS8 rode Primeval Whirl and loved it. We had to ride it twice (walked on both times). DH chatted a long time with the CM who was manager over Dinoland. She gave him the whole "story" behind it. Meanwhile, the kids dug up bones! The boys bought large toys to haul home (like the Tree of Life).
The Tree of Life was stunnning--truly wonderful.
We returned to HIFS to get into dry clothes and headed to MVMCP. It was warm--61 degrees. There was a full moon and it was clear. Magical. The snow on Main Street was thrilling to me. The snowflake images projected onto the castle was a nice effect, too. We rode Space Mt. then Buzz Lightyear. The boys rode Buzz twice. We also rode the Haunted Mansion. The shows, fireworks and parade were spactacular. I had tears in my eyes watching WISHES. Unbelievable: I was in MK at Christmas time watching the most extravagant firework display ever! Life is good. DD and I ran to a store between shows to get her a mouse ears hat and we ran into Christmas Belle who had just come out of a side street! Belle is DD's fav. It was an unplanned, magical moment! The parade was so incredible. The attention to detail was flawless. Even Chip n Dale's bakery float smelled like gingerbread! We got back to the hotel after midnight. It was a long day. We had ups and downs. DS8 wanted to go back to HIFS and play...DS7 kept wanting to buy junk...DS10 was wary of rides and didn't ride them all yet was embarrassed about it even though we didn't push him or "shame" him...DD11 was upset that we missed the DISMeet. but we had special moments, too--DS8 told me 15 seconds into Haunted Mansion "I already know I want to ride THIS again!"...DS7 would announce on each ride that it was his new favorite...DS8 had a sick look on his face every time he rode Primeval Whirl, but wanted to ride it again and again!...DD grabbed my arm many times and would just squeal with delight...DS10 kept hugging me and thanking me for bringing him there & he often spent his own money on gifts for others in the family. DH was wonderful--letting me drag him around. He loved the fireworks and the attention to detail. I wish I could capture the thrill of BEING there on Main Street and at the Castle and all the Christmas shows and WISHES!!! I was blown away.
