Hello, my name is Christine and this is my first Trip Report that I've ever posted here at the DISboards. This will be a long one, so let's get started. You won't find gushing info about our kids (we don't have any), how cute they are, what our pets look like, or our a library book about our detailed lives. Just TONS of pics and commentary about WDW. I'm not much of a writer, being an artist by trade, and more visual, which means I love to look at PICS! So if you like photos you've come to the right place. Please enjoy my travel Photo Blog. So here goes!
A SHORT background:
I'm Christine, 38 years old, and a Costume Designer and Disney Freak!
My partner in crime is my DH, Brandon, also 38 and a Computer Programmer.
This was our 3rd trip to WDW, and our travel dates were: Jan. 18-Jan. 25, 2009.
Sunday morning. Got to the airport in record time. I was too excited to sleep anyway, and our flight left at 9:40. We went on Southwest, and stopped in Nashville. We got to stay on the plane which was nice. I hate having to make connecting flights.
Our view from the plane's window, the sun setting into the clouds. We are almost to Florida!
Arriving at MCO and heading towards the Trams that will take us to the regular concourse and the Disney's Magical Express buses. By this time it was about 6:30pm, East Coast time. We were jazzed to finally be in Florida! Poly here we come!
Heading to the Magical Express desk to check in and get our lift to the Poly. Since it was getting into evening time we didn't have very long to wait in line. When we finally got to the queues we did have to wait about 15 minutes for our bus to finally arrive.
THE BUS! THE BUS! Visions of Tatoo from Fantasy Island. We got the ME bus, and not the Meares one.
The video screen. Watching the video on the way to the Resort was cool. I kinda had a lump in my throat while watching that video and when the gates of the Resort came into view I was actually crying, I was so happy.
Getting off the bus, we watched the family ahead of us get their Leis.
It's our turn now! Me getting my special arrival Lei from the greeter cast member.
DH standing in the check-in line. He was being slightly silly asking if he looked stupid with the Lei on. I told him to enjoy himself and he did taking this picture.
Our room number, 2506. Magic Kingdom view, Concierge level in Hawaii longhouse.
Our first view of the room and it's detailing.
Nice flatscreen TV...
Our Towel Mickey! It was too cute and it stayed there on the spare bed for the whole trip...with friends!
After we checked out the room, it was time to go to the GCH and get some grub. We stopped off in the shops to look around.
Looking into Trader Jack's. Tons of Disney merch...
This made me laugh the T-shirt. The name of my Pre-TR was this! It's our favorite saying about WDW. We crack up every time we hear it. It's DH and my little inside joke.
I thought that Mickey and Minnie were so cute in their Luau garb.
We could not BELIEVE THE CROWDS at the Poly that Sunday night. The football game was on in the lounge and we found out that the wait was going to be over 45 mins for dinner at O'hana. So we just ordered some drinks and tried to find someplace to sit. All the chairs were taken so we stood in the lounge for about 20 mins. The rest of the 20 mins we found some chairs that a family gave us (THANK YOU!) and we sat out the rest of the wait.
The firepit with all that wonderful food roasting. Yum yummy yum! There's nothing like O'hana! Praise the Tiki Gods!
Keep serving it up Boys!
As we were seated we got to watch the kids doing the Coconut Race. Errr...are there ghosts at the Poly 'cause I got a few Orbs in this pic.
Our waiter was kind enough to get a pic of us. God, we were HUNGRY!
Me waiting for the first course to come. I was tired, but still amazed that I was finally at the World.
Starters: 'Ohana Welcome Bread
Mixed greens with a honey-lime dressing
Appetizers/Accompaniments: Pork Dumplings topped with a Pineapple Sweet and Sour Sauce
Honey-Coriander Chicken Wings
The Noodles! Not sure what these are called.
I don't care what George Bush Sr. thinks, I LIKE BROCCOLI!
Skewers
Prepared over an oak fire:
Asian Barbecued Pork Loin
Spicy Grilled Peel - n - Eat Shrimp
Marinated Sirloin Steak
Mesquite Grilled Turkey
Dessert:
'Ohana bread pudding served a la mode with Bananas and Caramel Sauce
While we ate dinner we watched the Coconut Race.
After dinner we wandered around the lobby. Here are some shots from Boutiki, the dress shop on the upper floor next to O'hana.
The Wylan shop with sculptures.
A whimsical Tiki God.
Marie from the Aristocats came out to play.
Since I was wearing my "CATS" the musical sweatshirt, I posed with Marie too.
It was time to hit the hay so we watched some television and turned in early for a big day tomorrow.
We got up at the crack of dawn. No need for a wake up call we were ready to hit the Park. We headed over to Kona Cafe for breakfast. I don't know how we even ate after the feast at O'hana the night before.
The empty Tambu Lounge. Man, it was packed the night before. Wall to wall people. It was nice to see it nice and empty, but it wouldn't be like that for long. The character breakfast was going to start soon.
It's the Kona Cafe, best place for breakfast in the World.
The restaurant before it opened.
One last look before we left the Tambu Lounge.
The calm before the storm.
Looking towards the Monorail station.
We were slightly disappointed not to have water in the ponds. However during the last few days of our stay the water came back and we had the lovely splashing sounds follow us around as we walked thru the lobby.
I couldn't resist ordering the Tinkerbell drink. I just wanted the light up Tink. The drink was too sugary like Kool-Aid, so I just drank water instead. Tink went all thru the Parks with me, adorning my drinks. So cute! If they don't have these at Disneyland I'm going to start a trend and make DL get 'em!
Close-up of Tink. Too cute.
The Tonga Toast! Man, with maple suyrup it was to die-for. "Burp." I had this dish.
DH had the Big Kahuna. I've never seen such a large breakfast. They give you your money's worth at this place.
Lilo and Stitch statue in the Kona Cafe. They had little touches with Stitch throughout the resort.
A glorious Dolphin statue by Wylan in the front of the doors out to the Monorail.
Looking directly in front of the doors leading out to the Monorail station.
The Monorail station.
INCOMING!
The view from the Monorail of the Seven Seas Lagoon.
View of the Grand Floridian from the Monorails innards.
The Train Station. The welcoming show was getting ready to start.
Another shot of the station. Boy, it was COLD! We watched the show with about a gazillion other people and finally it was time to enter the MK!
Our first sight of the Town Square, Main Street.
I don't know how I got this picture, but it's one of my favorites of the, ohhhhh...about 800 photos we took. I just love the Castle in the background. The horse didn't mind. I never found out his name though...
Me with my new friend. What a swell CM!
The throngs swarm down Main Street. I hated that crane in back of the Castle, thankfully they moved it before the Parade and Fireworks.
Remember this is 9am in the morning, Monday Jan. But it was also MLK Jr. Day so maybe that is why the traffic was so heavy?
We decided to check out the Park by train. Here's the Main Street Station.
Disney has the perfect theming. I could have wandered around the whole place just admiring the "show."
The train comes chugging into the station.
The side of Big Thunder Mountain on the Frontierland station.
Our virtually empty train. We got in the back and had the whole car to ourselves. It wouldn't be like that in a few more minutes though.
Back on Main Street heading down to the Hub.
Dang that crane! Perfect shot.
We also stopped to have our Photopass pics taken. Haven't gotten them back but I'll post them ASAP when I get them.
I'll keep this short, but back in 2000 I was a Disneyland CM who worked the Tarzan's Treehouse, which used to be the Swiss Family Robinson one way back when. So I had to go into the treehouse here at MK. It made me sad for my CM days. I always loved the Treehouse.
The MK's Treehouse has a way better suspension bridge than the TT at DL does. My job was to keep the teenagers from spitting over the side and rocking the dang thing too and fro. They did it anyway....
Some interior shots.
Coming down into the kitchen area. In DL this area down below is now the base camp.
Anyone for Coconut Soup?
Next it was off to Pirates! Yah, Pirates!
"Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life For Me!" Just gotta say it....
"Waitin' to Board..."
"It be PIE I'm after....Arrrr!"
Yeah, yeah, no flash photography but I love these guys. I tried to get a few pics of Jack Sparrow, but to no avail. The girls in the boat ahead of us got stopped right at the perfect location, but we rumbled up the ramp too fast for me to get a shot of him.
Hey Bunny/2! ENJOY YOURSELVES! And I hope it's not too cold for you like it was for us. Lows in the 20-high30's. Man, it was cold for some of those days. I'm wishing you 70 degree days with no rain!
Heading on we went around to Frontierland and saw Splash Mountain. We figured we'd give it a go. That is until we found out that half the logs were getting totally DRENCHED with water. It was a very close call we had, but we escaped unscathed.
Watch out for the deluge.
They don't know what they are in for...
Right this way to your DOOM...! And wet cold clothes too.
We were LUCKY. No ponchos for us. Whew! Brer Rabbit welcomes us back to dry land.
Now it was off to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad! Woot!
Me waiting in line. I like the fact that MK has the queue line inside rather than outside like DL has. Plus, I LOVE the MK BTMR much better than DL's. Maybe that is heresy but I really enjoyed it and it's longer too, I think.
That's not us on the train...although it wish it was. We didn't have time to ride it again.
Walking back along the river path we stopped to watch a few folks come down the mountain. Everyone was having a great old time.
Look at those splashes! Water, water, everywhere.
Walking thru Frontierland on our way to Liberty Square. The crowds had dispersed somewhat throughout the Park by this time.
Me with a Indian Brave.
We decided to take in the Country Bear Jamboree, the original one they sent from DL. I miss the CBJ that used to be in DL, now it's the Winnie-the-Pooh ride. They gutted the building and put in the dark ride. I still love the Animatronics so much, they make part of Disney what Disney should be.
We had about 15 minutes to kill before the show so we wandered around FL and took some more pictures. Here's the Riverboat the Liberty Belle.
Our first view of the Haunted Mansion up on the hill...
It's the cute Teddy Beara! Isn't she sweet?
"Give us a few bars, there Gomer..."
"Quiet now, we're ready to start...Well Folks, that's our Show!"
The Forbidden Temple. I love MK's Jungle Cruise just for the addition of the Temple. Florida gets some of the good stuff.
"Get out"
Heading into Liberty Square...
Me sitting outside the Christmas Shoppe.
At last it was time to tackle......
THE HAUNTED MANSION! By far, my most favorite ride at all the Disney Parks. MK has some additions like the Library and the Endless Stairway that I wish DL could put in. But DL has the new Bride addition so I can't complain. Constance is SWEEEETTTTT.....
The addition of the new Madame Leota statue is AWESOME! I love the way she opens her eyes and looks around. I wish that DL would put this in, but I can't see how as our Graveyard is high on a hill and there would be no way to see her up close. I hope my movie that I took of her came out.
Me with the Castle background. I wish that stupid crane had gone elsewhere.
You won't find gushing info about our kids (we don't have any), how cute they are, what our pets look like, or our a library book about our detailed lives. Just TONS of pics and commentary about WDW. I'm not much of a writer, being an artist by trade, and more visual, which means I love to look at PICS! So if you like photos you've come to the right place. Please enjoy my travel Photo Blog. So here goes!
SO LET'S GO!
There's nothing like O'hana! Praise the Tiki Gods!
I always loved the Treehouse.
Brer Rabbit welcomes us back to dry land.
By far, my most favorite ride at all the Disney Parks. MK has some additions like the Library and the Endless Stairway that I wish DL could put in. But DL has the new Bride addition so I can't complain. Constance is SWEEEETTTTT.....
