Is this a vacation or a fun boot camp? ~ Our 1st time at Disney ~ June 2011 TR

[mrssmith06]

Yay on DS meeting Mickey and Meeko - it's a shame he did not take to Pocahontas.

Oh no on not being impressed by Rafiki's Planet Watch - I was hoping to enjoy spending some time there on our trip. May still hop over and see what we think of it.

Mmm Rainforest Cafe food looks soo good and yay on the kids meals only being .99 cents!

Well the kids did like the train ride and we didn't have time to check out the Conservation Station or Habitat, Habitat! so if we have time to kill in AK next trip, we would consider going back to Rafiki's to check those out.

 

[PixieMama]

Great day at AK!

We went to Rafiki's Planet Watch on our 1st trip... but, I too, wasn't that impressed with it, so we skipped it last year. We only went to Conservation Station (I think?). I don't recall seeing any animals, but we did get to meet Pocahontas, Rafiki, and Jiminy Cricket. So that was cool!

 

[ctink23]

Great day at AK!

I think Dinosaur is scary, but then again, I sometimes have a hard time separating the ride from reality lol. In the picture from my first ride, my head is tucked down, with my arms covering my head. I would have been terrified as a child. Though I was kind of scared of the Alien part of the Great Movie Ride. I have a distinct memory of my mom covering my eyes over that part, knowing that I would be scared. But of course, I still saw a little bit of it anyway... and I was terrified. I guess what I am trying to say is, I think Dinosaur is scary, but I easily scared.

Yay for character meetings and .99cent meals at Rainforest Cafe!

 

[mrssmith06]

Great day at AK!

We went to Rafiki's Planet Watch on our 1st trip... but, I too, wasn't that impressed with it, so we skipped it last year. We only went to Conservation Station (I think?). I don't recall seeing any animals, but we did get to meet Pocahontas, Rafiki, and Jiminy Cricket. So that was cool!

Awww, I'd love to see Jiminy!!!!

Great day at AK!

I think Dinosaur is scary, but then again, I sometimes have a hard time separating the ride from reality lol. In the picture from my first ride, my head is tucked down, with my arms covering my head. I would have been terrified as a child. Though I was kind of scared of the Alien part of the Great Movie Ride. I have a distinct memory of my mom covering my eyes over that part, knowing that I would be scared. But of course, I still saw a little bit of it anyway... and I was terrified. I guess what I am trying to say is, I think Dinosaur is scary, but I easily scared.

Yay for character meetings and .99cent meals at Rainforest Cafe!

I think Dinosaur would scare me and I'm sure the kids too. If DSS and DH want to ride it next trip, they can and I'll take the little kids somewhere else, LOL. I said the same thing about RnR, DH wants to ride it but I refused.

 

[mrssmith06]

We left AK, close to 2pm, after our lunch at Rainforest Cafe and headed back to our resort for a break. We all really wanted to get some more pool time in, so pool time we shall have... We had a short rest in the room and then got our suits on and the kids sprinted to the pool. They were so excited to have a swimming break today.

We spent about an hour and a half in the pool. Lots of fun! And as much as they wanted to stay in the pool... I had to pull them away and get back to our room and get ready. We had to get some more time in at Magic Kingdom!!! Tomorrow was departure day so today was our last park day.

We pulled into MK around 5:30pm...

Got the car parked and hopped on the tram. DS was pretty tired by this point, and had fallen asleep in the car on the way to MK... he was still trying to sleep on the tram too

DD begged to ride the ferry boat this time and I was kind of wanting to ride it too. Luckily with it being early evening, there were not many people taking the ferry to MK right then. We were first to the gate!

We had to wait about 10-15 minutes before they were ready for us... and then we were on our way!!

We all enjoyed the ferry. It was different and coming across the lagoon to MK that way was a neat experience.

NEXT UP: Our last night in Disney

 

[TanzUnited99]

Yay on getting in some more pool time!

Having read about the ferry trip to MK on a few TRs I'm looking forward to using it. Oh no on it being your last park day - hope you had lots of fun at MK though DS does look very tired!

 

[danceintherain]

I'm not a huge fan of Rafiki's Planet Watch. We have been lucky enough to see a Tiger surgery and meet some characters back there, so it's never a complete waste. I think DH likes it more than I do, so we might go back on our next trip.

We've never spent that much time in Dinoland. DH loves the Dinosaur ride, but I don't think it's that great. Somehow the "scary" dinosaurs always surprise me.

The Festival of the Lion King is my favorite show at Disney. I think part of it is the way the seating is designed. You pretty much get to be right in the action no matter where you're sitting.

 

[Becc1]

Yay all caught up! What a bummer about the conservation station, maybe it's a good thing that we didn't make it over there on my trip

Glad to hear that the Winnie the Pooh movie is good, I told the kids that we can't see it in the theaters but we'll get it on dvd when it comes out.

Can't wait to hear about your last night, I know what you mean about wanting to drag out your TR, my problem with that is I didn't take great notes and I just know I'll forget stuff if I prolong it

 

[mrssmith06]

Yay on getting in some more pool time!

Having read about the ferry trip to MK on a few TRs I'm looking forward to using it. Oh no on it being your last park day - hope you had lots of fun at MK though DS does look very tired!

Yeah you gotta ride the ferry at least once!!

I'm not a huge fan of Rafiki's Planet Watch. We have been lucky enough to see a Tiger surgery and meet some characters back there, so it's never a complete waste. I think DH likes it more than I do, so we might go back on our next trip.

We've never spent that much time in Dinoland. DH loves the Dinosaur ride, but I don't think it's that great. Somehow the "scary" dinosaurs always surprise me.

The Festival of the Lion King is my favorite show at Disney. I think part of it is the way the seating is designed. You pretty much get to be right in the action no matter where you're sitting.

Ohh the Tiger surgery would be kind of neat! Yep, I am in love with FOTLK!

Yay all caught up! What a bummer about the conservation station, maybe it's a good thing that we didn't make it over there on my trip

Glad to hear that the Winnie the Pooh movie is good, I told the kids that we can't see it in the theaters but we'll get it on dvd when it comes out.

Can't wait to hear about your last night, I know what you mean about wanting to drag out your TR, my problem with that is I didn't take great notes and I just know I'll forget stuff if I prolong it

We didn't see conservation station, it was the affection section we did and we were bored with it.
Yeah it looks like we will be buying Winnie the Pooh on DVD when it comes out. We all loved it!
I agree, I'm having trouble remembering some details already!

 

[mrssmith06]

Saturday - Day 4 cont.
So we walked into MK close to 6pm.

We were all hungry so we hurried straight back towards Fantasyland. As we were walking down Main St, there was a parade going on... At 6pm? Maybe it was the end of the Street party? I think it has another run at 5:30? Anyway, we hurried down the sidewalk past it...

When we got up by the castle, the crowd lightened a lot.

DD wanted to walk through the castle.

As we were walking through the castle I tried taking a picture but BEEP... OH NO.... Memory Full?!?! I forgot to unload the pictures while we were on break... and even more so, I forgot to charge the battery so it was almost dead!!! Ack!!! How could this happen? I begin to panic. I was not prepared for this. I stopped a CM and asked her if there was anywhere nearby that I could buy a memory stick for my camera. She walked us into one shop right behind the castle and asked for us and they said we'd have to go back up to the front of the park. I told DH to stay there with the kids so I could get through the Main St crowd and to the front and back faster with just myself. As I was speed walking out, I stopped and thought, man I really don't want to walk back up there, this could take forever... AND there is no telling how much it'll cost me to buy a memory stick in the park. So I found a bench and sat down, turned on my camera and went through the pictures. I found a few blurry ones that I could delete so that gave me a little more space. What had taken up so much was the video's from FOTLK... I've never ran out of memory before!! LOL. And even if I had a new stick, my battery was really low. I found DH and told him what I did and to just forget buying another one. We both also had our cell phones so we could take some pics on those if needed. (And we did, so some of the following will be cellphone pictures ).
OK, *phew* problem solved, let's go.... Dinner time at Pinocchio's Village Haus!

I had the meatball sub, DH had the chicken parm. I don't have a pic of the kids but DD had a pizza and DS had the adult chicken nuggets. (I don't think they had kids chicken there and that's what he wanted...)

Food was pretty good. Better than some of the other CS I think.

Finally, we were going to ride.... DUMBO! We missed it on our first day so we got in the line and had to wait about 30 minutes...But it was fun!

After Dumbo, everyone decided that we must have some icecream! So I looked around to find the one thing on my mind: Mickey bars! One of our favorite parts of this day... they were yummy!

THIS tells you how good it was

Our next stop was another ride we had missed before due to lines...POOH! Our first day there the stand by line said 40-60 minutes all day!! This time it was at 30 so we decided to wait (even though thanks to all the FP people coming in, we ended up waiting about 45 min anyway lol). I love the line here, there is so much to keep the kids entertained while waiting!!

We stopped in the gift shop on the way out. DS bought a Tigger and DD bought an Eeyore toy. It was well after 8pm now so we walked back up to the front of the park...

Cont in next post...........

 

[mrssmith06]

All of the good parade/fireworks seats were taken, it was SO crowded now!! We stood in the center of town square. I guess this worked out OK... not the best viewing but we could still see OK and were able to exit quickly. While we were waiting I walked over and bought some Mickey balloons and surprised the kids with them.

LOVED the MSEP!! I'm so glad we were able to see this, it's not one of those must do every trip things, but you have to see it at least once in a while things.
I didn't get any pics of Magic, Memories and You since my camera was on it's last bit of battery life.
Just a short wait after and the fireworks started!! I had saved my camera to be able to get at least a few pictures of this!!

Fireworks were awesome. Such a great way to end the day.

There was a tour group standing all around us so we let them scatter first and then we got the kids and quickly headed out. We walked as fast as we could to the monorail ramp and it was packed. We were shoulder to shoulder with 100s of people all the way up. If my camera had any space left, I would have taken pictures! I know other people were taking pics! I thought for sure that there would be no way for us to make it onto the first monorail but somehow we did! Yay! I was thankful not to have to wait for the next one! They packed us in as tight as they could in each car. I was able to sit down with the kids in my lap, but DH had to stand. And WOAH, those monorail drivers like to speed it up at night, huh???? It was making the kids (Ok, me too) nervous with it being so crowded and it feeling like it was going SO fast. But... we made it!
The kids were worn out... it didn't take long to get them like this:

NEXT UP: Last day - One last stop before we depart....

 

[MomofPrincessE]

I am enjoying your TR so very much!! I can't believe it was your first time! You sound like such a pro! We are going on our first trip to Disney next month and you've mentioned so many things that I didn't even know about...like Kid Cots in Epcot. I'm so overwhelmed with just how much there is to see and do. Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us. I'm taking notes!!!

 

[cannp123165]

Great trip report and photos!

 

[TanzUnited99]

Great update and pics of the castle!

Oh no on the camera battery dying Am glad you found a way around it and the pics that you took on the cell phone have come out well.

at the crowd levels - am glad you still managed to enjoy MSEP and Wishes!

 

[joand452]

Just found your trip report today and have enjoyed reading -- the whole thing! I loved being able to see a first trip again. Every time we go I find something new, so it's like going for the first time all over again! Maybe my memory is just going...

Your photos (especially of the fireworks) are excellent! What kind of camera did you use? That's my goal -- to someday take a really good fireworks photo, but I don't want to have to drag a tripod with me. And sometimes I don't want to even take my big camera (Nikon D60) and just want to use my pocket-sized point and shoot.

I'm glad you get to go again. We have grandsons the ages of your kids and have been with them once. I don't know when we'll get back with the older one (I can't handle the summer heat anymore), but have plans to go in December 2012 with the younger after he turns five in October (and before starting kindergarten).

Thanks for letting me tag along on your trip!!

 

[mrssmith06]

I am enjoying your TR so very much!! I can't believe it was your first time! You sound like such a pro! We are going on our first trip to Disney next month and you've mentioned so many things that I didn't even know about...like Kid Cots in Epcot. I'm so overwhelmed with just how much there is to see and do. Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us. I'm taking notes!!!

Hi and Welcome! Glad you have enjoyed reading! I'm no pro, but I did do my research before we left. I poured over posts on these boards for months and well as bought and read 2 Disney guide books. You can learn everything you need to know on the DIS! If you have time to write a Pre Trip Report, lots of great people can chime in and give you tips on your planning. There is SO much to see and do but you can't do it all so don't even try! Just do what you can and enjoy the moments!

Great trip report and photos!

Welcome and Thank you!

Great update and pics of the castle!

Oh no on the camera battery dying Am glad you found a way around it and the pics that you took on the cell phone have come out well.

at the crowd levels - am glad you still managed to enjoy MSEP and Wishes!

Thanks! Yeah I told DH that for Christmas I want an extra camera battery and an extra BIG memory stick! (I won't go back to Disney without them!)

Just found your trip report today and have enjoyed reading -- the whole thing! I loved being able to see a first trip again. Every time we go I find something new, so it's like going for the first time all over again! Maybe my memory is just going...

Your photos (especially of the fireworks) are excellent! What kind of camera did you use? That's my goal -- to someday take a really good fireworks photo, but I don't want to have to drag a tripod with me. And sometimes I don't want to even take my big camera (Nikon D60) and just want to use my pocket-sized point and shoot.

I'm glad you get to go again. We have grandsons the ages of your kids and have been with them once. I don't know when we'll get back with the older one (I can't handle the summer heat anymore), but have plans to go in December 2012 with the younger after he turns five in October (and before starting kindergarten).

Thanks for letting me tag along on your trip!!

Thank you! I have a Sony H9... I don't love it, I'd really like a new camera - preferably a Canon or Nikon. But it is better than a regular point and shoot and it's not too big to lug around. I really need to play around with all of it's settings more, it has so many options that I don't even know how to use
Ohhh I bet a Christmas time trip will be a lot of fun!

 

[basketkat]

Oh man...I would have panicked with your camera situation!!! You handled it like a pro though!

I really like Pinocchio's Village Haus...it is pretty cute, and whenever we have been in there it was never super crowded.

I LOVE MSEP!!! I just think it is so neat and magical! What a fun mom you are to surprise the kids with balloons! My oldest is STILL talking about her lack of such a balloon on our last trip! Ha!

I can't believe it is almost over...bummer!

 

[PixieMama]

Your pics of the fireworks and MSEP are fab!

We'll miss MSEP, unfortunately. I'm bummed about it, mainly because I think Helen would really enjoy it! But that just means she'll have to do it on her next trip, right?

Your PVH meals look yummy!

 

[lbuzz52]

Wow, You guys got a lot done that day. I'm with you, the affection area is a bummer. When we stopped there was a pile of goats asleep in the middle and that's it. It was near inside though, with the surgery an characters.

We loved the Pooh Bear movie too! I'm pretty sure Santa may be putting that one under the tree this year!

 

[mrssmith06]

Oh man...I would have panicked with your camera situation!!! You handled it like a pro though!

I really like Pinocchio's Village Haus...it is pretty cute, and whenever we have been in there it was never super crowded.

I LOVE MSEP!!! I just think it is so neat and magical! What a fun mom you are to surprise the kids with balloons! My oldest is STILL talking about her lack of such a balloon on our last trip! Ha!

I can't believe it is almost over...bummer!

Pinocchio's wasn't crowded at all when we went either!
I know, I can't believe my report is almost done...

Your pics of the fireworks and MSEP are fab!

We'll miss MSEP, unfortunately. I'm bummed about it, mainly because I think Helen would really enjoy it! But that just means she'll have to do it on her next trip, right?

Your PVH meals look yummy!

Thanks! And yes, MSEP to be a must do for her next trip!

Wow, You guys got a lot done that day. I'm with you, the affection area is a bummer. When we stopped there was a pile of goats asleep in the middle and that's it. It was near inside though, with the surgery an characters.

We loved the Pooh Bear movie too! I'm pretty sure Santa may be putting that one under the tree this year!

Have they said when it'll be released on DVD? It would be good to get for Christmas!!