Backstage_Gal
<font color=darkorchid>Let me rephrase the dog ste
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2005
- Messages
- 11,536
I'm in! You are a great writer, keep it coming 
"It all started with a whopping price error 10/24 The Perfect Storm of Opportunity
- Thread starter A&Bmama
- Start date
praisehisname
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2003
- Messages
- 4,343
I just found your report and am loving it!
miprender
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2008
- Messages
- 4,696
Great Trip Report.... we had a great deal too with the 4/3 for April 2009 trip. Our dates were blacked out but one night on Disney website I tried putting in our dates just for the heck of it and we ended up saving $800 per room. Not quite the deal that you got but I was pretty stoked about it.
We are staying at AKL in April and can't wait to see more pics of the resort. We visited once to eat at Boma's and DH has always wanted to stay there.
So I can't wait to read more.
We are staying at AKL in April and can't wait to see more pics of the resort. We visited once to eat at Boma's and DH has always wanted to stay there.
So I can't wait to read more.
Magic Kingdom here we come!
I return to our rooms and find my family still sleeping. I pour myself more coffee and quietly go to our balcony and watch eli sleeping in his usual spot. We intend to be in the park for rope drop so soon enough it is time to wake everyone a get ready for the day.
I love the look on DDs face as I wake her. I watch that quick moment of confusion pass as she tries to remember where she is. She smiles and jumps out of bed.
We scramble around our rooms getting ready. It is fantastic having two bathrooms, so much quicker and easier. We grab muffins and such from the grocery items we bought yesterday and eat them as we go. I pack the bag to take into the park and we head to the lobby to meet the others.
Seems I underestimated how long it will take to get 11 people in the same place at the same time. Seems we are waiting for one person when someone will say Im just going to run to the washroom/giftshop/room while we wait for _____ to get here. Then ____ will arrive and we have to wait for the person who just left. Im not complaining, I was guilty myself, just stating the facts.
It wont surprise you that we missed rope drop, not by much mind you but enough to make me uneasy. I had read so many times how important it is to get to the parks at rope drop and what an impact it can make in your day if you dont that this was making me tense. I had no need to be.
Now I havent mentioned Jason lately. To refresh your memory he is Dorothys adult son. Jason has been to Disney World quite a few times and knows the layout of the parks. He is going to be our guide. We just have to tell him where we want to go and he will lead the way. He suggests that since we are heading to splash that the best way would be to take the train.
In hindsight I realize we should have walked. We missed that first walk down Main St. toward Cinderellas Castle. But Dorothys group are not walkers. We are, we walk all the time, and when we need to get somewhere quickly we can haul butt.
We get off in Frontier land and head straight for splash and basically walk on with only a five minute or so wait. This is the all time favorite of BFF and Friend. We all enjoy it as well.
It is our plan to ride splash again later today so I suggest that we get fastpasses as we are leaving. Jason tells me that it is not a good idea because the current fastpass time is too early for us.
Of all the useful hints and tips I found on the Dis I know that the tidbit about how you can use a fastpass late was the biggest score. I also know that the best time to gather back pocket fastpasses is in the morning when it will be likely that you can get them more often than every 2 hours. I wont let this slide, its crucial to my quest to Devour Disney in 7 Days. So with all the clout and conviction a person wearing a shiny yellow first timer button can muster; I respectfully disagreed.
Jason relents and we all pick-up fastpasses. Im certain he is humouring me.
Then it is off to Thunder Mountain.
A bit of background, I have a chronic problem with my shoulder, or more specifically, the sternoclavicular joint on my left side. I wont bore you with a long explanation but if I aggravate it it can cause me excruciating pain that takes weeks to die down. Im worried that riding Thunder will aggravate it so I sit this one out. Sue and Dorothy arent thrill riders either so we take their cards and get some back pocket fastpasses for this as well and then wait for the others.
Once we regroup we head over to Pirates of the Caribbean. As we enter I see a CM advising guests that your can go right or left. Im stumped. I cant remember which way those with Disney OCD are supposed to go. I am momentarily tempted to ask the nice young CM.
Then I get a grip.
It strikes me that I am treating this like a mission to be conquered, a task to be completed. I resolve enjoy what we are doing without worrying about what we havent done yet. Live in the moment and all that jazz. I score a B-. Comments read, tries hard, has some success.
For all of my internal turmoil I find the wait time is only about 5 minutes
Next up we head for Haunted Mansion. BFF and Friend assure DD that the ride is cool, not scary. They ask DD which one of them she wants to ride with. DD looks reluctant to pick one over the other, and despite her best attempts to look nonchalant I can tell she is apprehensive about Haunted Mansion. I jump in and jokingly them I was really hoping DD would ride with me so she could hold my hand. DD seizes the out and agrees to ride with me. I keep her close when we enter and whisper in her ear to remember that it is all pretend. Once she has finished the ride and conquered the fear of the unknown she pronounces this so cooool.
Next we ride Peter Pans Flight followed by Its a small World.
Once we exit IASW it is decided that some lunch would be in order so we go to Pinocchio Village haus. It is here that DSs Birthday Button brings the most attention.
All morning he has had people wishing him Happy Birthday. I like how often he is singled out from the group for the little bit of special attention. I like how the CMs call out, Hey Bl----, Happy Birthday as though he was a friend they just happened to run into. DS would like to disappear.
DS is shy quiet guy who never wanted or needed a lot of attention. He prefers be in the audience rather than under the spotlight. So when he suddenly finds himself in Pinocchio Village Haus surrounded by 6 CMs who are clapping and singing I can tell he is about to die from embarrassment. To top it all off one very loud CM announces how every day in the Magic Kingdom is special but today is extra special because today is Bl----s Birthday and ask that they join in singing Happy Birthday. Here he is soon after.
Once we leave DS asks if he can take the button off because he feels weird since his actual birthday is not for a few days. I assure him it is OK for him to wear it the whole week. He looks traumatized rather than comforted at that thought so I relent and tell him to take it off.
After lunch we off to Mickeys Philharmagic, followed by A twirl on Cinderellas Carousel,
An obligatory attempt to pull the sword from the stone.
I believe it is about this point that we decided to go to Stitchs Great Escape. This is not an attraction; it is a repulsion, and is now etched in permanent pen on my NOT TO DO list.
We head off to Tomorrow land where I spend an hour or so sitting out of attractions on account of my gimpy shoulder. I am accompanied by Sue, Dorothy and Gus. The others ride Space Mountain and Tomorrowland Speedway.
I really want to get a hoodie for DD since we couldnt find hers before we left. I am disappointed in the selection. There seems to be lots of pullover hoodies but not many zip front ones. Also DD is small, although she is 9 she wears size 6X. Anything that will fit her seems quite juvenile; although that might be fine while we are here I dont think DD will wear it at home. For $40 USD, I want her to get some use out of it. My economic discipline takes over and I dont buy anything here.
We then head back to Splash Mountain to use our late fastpasses. Jason goes first, holds up his fastpass for the entrance CM to see. The CM tells him ok, go ahead. I can see Jason is momentarily taken aback. I know that he fully expected that this was an exercise in futility and that we would be turned away. I am feeling smug, forgive me.
Once the people who will ride BTMRR are through with that we decide it is time for supper. I want to go to Cosmic Rays. The others decide that it is too far and that we should eat at Pecos Bills so off we go. Although I am starving, nothing on this menu appeals to me. DD and I split a hamburger meal, there is plenty left over
The sun has gone down now and it is getting really chilly. We had planned to stay for the fireworks but our sweaters are in our cars. We debate whether we will make the trek back to the cars for sweaters and stay for Wishes or just leave. We come to the consensus that since we will be back to MK on DSs Birthday for evening extra magic hours that we will catch Wishes then.
When we arrive back at AKL we go to the gift shop to look for a sweater for DD there. I spot the cutest hoodie. It is white pink Mickey shaped leopard patterned spots and has fur trim around the hood. It is still $40 but she loves it and I know she will wear it at home to so I am happy to shell out the cash for this. For good measure we buy her a necklace that has her name and a faux diamond in a Mickey head as well.
My dad always wears a hat, most often it is his Tilley hat. DH spots a Tilley style hat and suggests we get it for him. I tell him I think we should wait until later in the trip in case we see something we like better and if not we will pick this up before we leave. DH then spots an AKL mug that he would like to buy for himself but decides to wait to make this purchase as well. DS spend lots of time looking at things. I ask him if there is anything there he wants but he says no. DS has always been this way, his needs are few. For his birthday we are giving him driving/defensive driving lessons from Young Drivers of Canada, but I was still hoping to be able to pick-up some souvenirs for him during the trip.
So with purchases in hand we wearily make our way to our rooms for a well earned sleep.
UP NEXT: Epcot and how starve to death on a Dining Plan.
I return to our rooms and find my family still sleeping. I pour myself more coffee and quietly go to our balcony and watch eli sleeping in his usual spot. We intend to be in the park for rope drop so soon enough it is time to wake everyone a get ready for the day.
I love the look on DDs face as I wake her. I watch that quick moment of confusion pass as she tries to remember where she is. She smiles and jumps out of bed.
We scramble around our rooms getting ready. It is fantastic having two bathrooms, so much quicker and easier. We grab muffins and such from the grocery items we bought yesterday and eat them as we go. I pack the bag to take into the park and we head to the lobby to meet the others.
Seems I underestimated how long it will take to get 11 people in the same place at the same time. Seems we are waiting for one person when someone will say Im just going to run to the washroom/giftshop/room while we wait for _____ to get here. Then ____ will arrive and we have to wait for the person who just left. Im not complaining, I was guilty myself, just stating the facts.
It wont surprise you that we missed rope drop, not by much mind you but enough to make me uneasy. I had read so many times how important it is to get to the parks at rope drop and what an impact it can make in your day if you dont that this was making me tense. I had no need to be.
Now I havent mentioned Jason lately. To refresh your memory he is Dorothys adult son. Jason has been to Disney World quite a few times and knows the layout of the parks. He is going to be our guide. We just have to tell him where we want to go and he will lead the way. He suggests that since we are heading to splash that the best way would be to take the train.
In hindsight I realize we should have walked. We missed that first walk down Main St. toward Cinderellas Castle. But Dorothys group are not walkers. We are, we walk all the time, and when we need to get somewhere quickly we can haul butt.
We get off in Frontier land and head straight for splash and basically walk on with only a five minute or so wait. This is the all time favorite of BFF and Friend. We all enjoy it as well.
It is our plan to ride splash again later today so I suggest that we get fastpasses as we are leaving. Jason tells me that it is not a good idea because the current fastpass time is too early for us.
Of all the useful hints and tips I found on the Dis I know that the tidbit about how you can use a fastpass late was the biggest score. I also know that the best time to gather back pocket fastpasses is in the morning when it will be likely that you can get them more often than every 2 hours. I wont let this slide, its crucial to my quest to Devour Disney in 7 Days. So with all the clout and conviction a person wearing a shiny yellow first timer button can muster; I respectfully disagreed.
Jason relents and we all pick-up fastpasses. Im certain he is humouring me.
Then it is off to Thunder Mountain.
A bit of background, I have a chronic problem with my shoulder, or more specifically, the sternoclavicular joint on my left side. I wont bore you with a long explanation but if I aggravate it it can cause me excruciating pain that takes weeks to die down. Im worried that riding Thunder will aggravate it so I sit this one out. Sue and Dorothy arent thrill riders either so we take their cards and get some back pocket fastpasses for this as well and then wait for the others.
Once we regroup we head over to Pirates of the Caribbean. As we enter I see a CM advising guests that your can go right or left. Im stumped. I cant remember which way those with Disney OCD are supposed to go. I am momentarily tempted to ask the nice young CM.
Then I get a grip.
It strikes me that I am treating this like a mission to be conquered, a task to be completed. I resolve enjoy what we are doing without worrying about what we havent done yet. Live in the moment and all that jazz. I score a B-. Comments read, tries hard, has some success.
For all of my internal turmoil I find the wait time is only about 5 minutes
Next up we head for Haunted Mansion. BFF and Friend assure DD that the ride is cool, not scary. They ask DD which one of them she wants to ride with. DD looks reluctant to pick one over the other, and despite her best attempts to look nonchalant I can tell she is apprehensive about Haunted Mansion. I jump in and jokingly them I was really hoping DD would ride with me so she could hold my hand. DD seizes the out and agrees to ride with me. I keep her close when we enter and whisper in her ear to remember that it is all pretend. Once she has finished the ride and conquered the fear of the unknown she pronounces this so cooool.
Next we ride Peter Pans Flight followed by Its a small World.
Once we exit IASW it is decided that some lunch would be in order so we go to Pinocchio Village haus. It is here that DSs Birthday Button brings the most attention.
All morning he has had people wishing him Happy Birthday. I like how often he is singled out from the group for the little bit of special attention. I like how the CMs call out, Hey Bl----, Happy Birthday as though he was a friend they just happened to run into. DS would like to disappear.
DS is shy quiet guy who never wanted or needed a lot of attention. He prefers be in the audience rather than under the spotlight. So when he suddenly finds himself in Pinocchio Village Haus surrounded by 6 CMs who are clapping and singing I can tell he is about to die from embarrassment. To top it all off one very loud CM announces how every day in the Magic Kingdom is special but today is extra special because today is Bl----s Birthday and ask that they join in singing Happy Birthday. Here he is soon after.
Once we leave DS asks if he can take the button off because he feels weird since his actual birthday is not for a few days. I assure him it is OK for him to wear it the whole week. He looks traumatized rather than comforted at that thought so I relent and tell him to take it off.
After lunch we off to Mickeys Philharmagic, followed by A twirl on Cinderellas Carousel,
An obligatory attempt to pull the sword from the stone.
I believe it is about this point that we decided to go to Stitchs Great Escape. This is not an attraction; it is a repulsion, and is now etched in permanent pen on my NOT TO DO list.
We head off to Tomorrow land where I spend an hour or so sitting out of attractions on account of my gimpy shoulder. I am accompanied by Sue, Dorothy and Gus. The others ride Space Mountain and Tomorrowland Speedway.
I really want to get a hoodie for DD since we couldnt find hers before we left. I am disappointed in the selection. There seems to be lots of pullover hoodies but not many zip front ones. Also DD is small, although she is 9 she wears size 6X. Anything that will fit her seems quite juvenile; although that might be fine while we are here I dont think DD will wear it at home. For $40 USD, I want her to get some use out of it. My economic discipline takes over and I dont buy anything here.
We then head back to Splash Mountain to use our late fastpasses. Jason goes first, holds up his fastpass for the entrance CM to see. The CM tells him ok, go ahead. I can see Jason is momentarily taken aback. I know that he fully expected that this was an exercise in futility and that we would be turned away. I am feeling smug, forgive me.
Once the people who will ride BTMRR are through with that we decide it is time for supper. I want to go to Cosmic Rays. The others decide that it is too far and that we should eat at Pecos Bills so off we go. Although I am starving, nothing on this menu appeals to me. DD and I split a hamburger meal, there is plenty left over
The sun has gone down now and it is getting really chilly. We had planned to stay for the fireworks but our sweaters are in our cars. We debate whether we will make the trek back to the cars for sweaters and stay for Wishes or just leave. We come to the consensus that since we will be back to MK on DSs Birthday for evening extra magic hours that we will catch Wishes then.
When we arrive back at AKL we go to the gift shop to look for a sweater for DD there. I spot the cutest hoodie. It is white pink Mickey shaped leopard patterned spots and has fur trim around the hood. It is still $40 but she loves it and I know she will wear it at home to so I am happy to shell out the cash for this. For good measure we buy her a necklace that has her name and a faux diamond in a Mickey head as well.
My dad always wears a hat, most often it is his Tilley hat. DH spots a Tilley style hat and suggests we get it for him. I tell him I think we should wait until later in the trip in case we see something we like better and if not we will pick this up before we leave. DH then spots an AKL mug that he would like to buy for himself but decides to wait to make this purchase as well. DS spend lots of time looking at things. I ask him if there is anything there he wants but he says no. DS has always been this way, his needs are few. For his birthday we are giving him driving/defensive driving lessons from Young Drivers of Canada, but I was still hoping to be able to pick-up some souvenirs for him during the trip.
So with purchases in hand we wearily make our way to our rooms for a well earned sleep.
UP NEXT: Epcot and how starve to death on a Dining Plan.
disneylovin24
~Let It Go~
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2010
- Messages
- 2,849
Backstage_Gal
<font color=darkorchid>Let me rephrase the dog ste
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2005
- Messages
- 11,536
Great update!
smithpack
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2008
- Messages
- 454
I love how you proved your WDW knowledge with the FP thing!!
Way to put Jason in his place.
I am laughing hysterically about your comment on the Stitch ride. When my son was 5, he wanted to ride it but wasn't tall enough. We went back a year later when he was 6 and a half, and he was finally able to ride it. He was so excited, but what a horror it turned out to be. When you sit down and you have to pull the head bars over your head, I thought to myself that this attraction was going to move or something. Then they turn the lights out. Immediately my son is screaming and I can't reach over to hold his hand because the stupid, heavy bars weighing down on my shoulders. So then you are locked in with the lights off and there is some fluttering by your ear. Oh my Gosh, my poor son was traumatized. Plus, the stinky burp smell lingered in there for the longest time. I hated that ride, attraction, or whatever it is. They totally need to replace it. I don't know anyone that likes it.
Great update!
Way to put Jason in his place.
I am laughing hysterically about your comment on the Stitch ride. When my son was 5, he wanted to ride it but wasn't tall enough. We went back a year later when he was 6 and a half, and he was finally able to ride it. He was so excited, but what a horror it turned out to be. When you sit down and you have to pull the head bars over your head, I thought to myself that this attraction was going to move or something. Then they turn the lights out. Immediately my son is screaming and I can't reach over to hold his hand because the stupid, heavy bars weighing down on my shoulders. So then you are locked in with the lights off and there is some fluttering by your ear. Oh my Gosh, my poor son was traumatized. Plus, the stinky burp smell lingered in there for the longest time. I hated that ride, attraction, or whatever it is. They totally need to replace it. I don't know anyone that likes it. Great update!
I always marvel at the people who can keep such large groups together at WDW and manage to get anything accomplished. The idea of magical gatherings sounds wonderful...until you try to put it into practice. I much prefer traveling with just immediate family for that very reason.
And way to come to DD's rescue! I'm glad she enjoyed it, it's one of my favorites.
loveysbydesign
I can pinch a penny so hard you can hear it scream
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2005
- Messages
- 5,450
This sounds all too familiar! When my dd was finally tall enough to go she LOST IT once they got inside and the lights went out, a CM had to come get her and my dh out of the ride so they could exit!I love how you proved your WDW knowledge with the FP thing!!
Way to put Jason in his place.
Great update!
disneyaddicted
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2007
- Messages
- 2,499
great update, glad your Dis board knowledge came in handy, I say you can be the most decorated Disney veteran there is with hundreds of trips under your belt, but unless you're a dis'er, you are still in the dark.
I feel for your son and the birthday button, I like to be noticed, but wearing the birthday button you are constantly picked out of the crowd, God Bless Disney for celbrating our special days, but I eventually took my B-day button off too.
I love the picture of your DD on the carousel, she looked like she was having a blast.
I feel for your son and the birthday button, I like to be noticed, but wearing the birthday button you are constantly picked out of the crowd, God Bless Disney for celbrating our special days, but I eventually took my B-day button off too.
I love the picture of your DD on the carousel, she looked like she was having a blast.
MEK
DIS Legend
- Joined
- May 8, 2005
- Messages
- 20,088
FunTR. I can't believe the deal you got on your AK package. What a phenomenal deal. I am so glad they honored your reservation and did not try to charge you more. I bet your flights alone cost at least $1200. Two rooms and a rental car, dining plan, and gift cards. Wowsa!
I am glad you started posting pictures. They are great!
Anyway - keep it up....great TR.
I am glad you started posting pictures. They are great!
Anyway - keep it up....great TR.
Mommy2LittleVols
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2009
- Messages
- 908
Wonderful update! I'm glad you guys had such a great day at MK!
PrncessA
Dis_Mom_
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2009
- Messages
- 1,858
Signing up! Great TR! I agree that posts make it easier to continue, I see the reads on my TR going up but not the posts and it is a little disheartening.
Amazing mistake on the deal! I would have been shaking so hard I wouldn't have been able to type in the CC number!!!
Amazing mistake on the deal! I would have been shaking so hard I wouldn't have been able to type in the CC number!!!
Soccer_Mom
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2008
- Messages
- 43
Great TR!!! I'm hooked & lovin it!
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