It's hot, it's crowded, it's raining........BUT.....THE MAGIC LIVES ON! ** pictures *

[live4christp1]

Hope you'll join me on my journey back through our trip.

Just back at 10:00 PM last night and have lots of things to catch up. Will be reporting as time permits.

In the meantime hope you enjoy my photopass pictures.

SADLY MY PHOTOPASS PICTURES HAVE EXPIRED, SO NOW YOU WILL HAVE TO READ THE REPORT AND SEE THE PICTURES I'VE ADDED, I WILL BE ADDING PICTURES FROM MY PHOTOPASS CD AS WELL.

http://www.disneyphotopass.com/shar...eef2e4003d1&site=Default&c=PROFESSIONAL&a=ALL




Also check out my pretrippie for some info on who we are and what we had planned.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2043114

Will we stick to the plan??????

Stay tuned for the first chapter coming soon......"Hi-ho, hi-ho...it's off to WDW we go!"

Thanks,
Cristy

Day One - Chapter One - Hi-ho….hi-ho….it’s off to Walt Disney World we go……..

 

[soulmates]

Hi! Tried to look at your photo pass, but it requires a password. Let me know what you thought of that service. It's pricey, but I have it in my budget as it seems really worth it. There will just be me & my DP, so it makes sense, to do PP. If not, one of us will always be out of the shot! Looking forward to your report!

 

[live4christp1]

Hi! Tried to look at your photo pass, but it requires a password. Let me know what you thought of that service. It's pricey, but I have it in my budget as it seems really worth it. There will just be me & my DP, so it makes sense, to do PP. If not, one of us will always be out of the shot! Looking forward to your report!

Hi! Thanks for dropping by. Please try the photopass link now and see if it's working. If not let me know. The photopass service itself is free. You just pay for anything you buy or pre-buy. After you get home and load them you have like 30 days to order anything you'd like.

 

[live4christp1]

Hi-ho….hi-ho….it’s off to Walt Disney World we go……..

Monday, May 25th, 2009 – Memorial Day

We are up early and out the door by 4:00 AM. The kids put a movie in and settle back, they might have made it half way through and they are out again. So they sleep for a good while. We drive until about 8:30 AM and decide it’s time for breakfast, stopping somewhere in Georgia (I remembered, it was Tifton....don't stop at Shoney's here). I’m sorry but right now I don’t remember which exit. We pass a Shoney’s and decide, “hey let’s go eat the breakfast buffet.” This turned out to be a bad idea. I didn’t notice until we left that half of their parking lot has vanished into what appears to be a sink hole. We are seated and get some food. There is this peculiar smell; I keep thinking…….it doesn’t smell so good in here. Then DD has to go to the bathroom. While walking to the rest room she says, “It smells bad in here.” DD has this thing for smells, if she thinks it smells bad…..she doesn’t want to eat there…..even if it’s just the smell of meat cooking. Then suddenly I realize what the peculiar smell is, it smells like a urinal. The whole entire places smells like urine. We return to the table. DH is still eating and asks what’s wrong. “It smells like urine in here.” Okay, time to go. What was even worse…..it was Monday and they had it advertised at $5.99….well they charged weekend price they said because it was a holiday.

We are making good time and only stop once before hitting Florida to fuel up, arriving just after 1:00 PM. We get to Shades of Green and check in, our room is ready. We eat some snacks and head off to the pool spending about 2 hours enjoying the water & sun. This resort is very beautiful and quiet. Our room looks out toward the golf course and we see some turkeys from our balcony. Something about military……you feel like family even though you don’t know each other. This is a place I know I could stay and feel safe if I ever have to take a trip with just me and the kids.

Our plan for the evening is to go eat dinner and then head over for the campfire with Chip & Dale. So after making a stop in the lobby to buy our tickets (we decided on the special military salute offer of 5 days (DH was free) and added the water parks & more option) we head out.

DS & DD with the Mickey in the Shades of Green lobby.

Waterfall in Shades of Green lobby.

Head over to 192 to eat at Taco Bell (kids choice). It is clouding up and no one seems very excited about going to the campfire so I suggest Disney Quest. DH isn't really sure what Disney Quest is but once he realizes it's a whole building of unlimited video games he was more excited than DS was. We stayed until almost 10:00 PM and all had a great time though it is very noisy. We walk over to the Marketplace area and do a little shopping before heading back to SOG.

Back at the resort our first day draws to a close. There is a quiet contentment knowing that our trip has begun…..we are here…..our favorite vacation destination as all drift off to sleep thinking about what exciting things are to come.

Coming soon - Hollywood Studios "A jedi in the making and converting DD to a lover of Star Tours."

 

[tinysam]

Sounds good !!!

 

[sneadae]

Hey hey! I'm here and following along. I was your next door neighbor on the ship

Did I mention I'm jealous that you just got back yesterday? I wish I was going back tomorrow.

I read your PTR...you sound like me. I am Disney obsessed too. We are very special people

I will be starting my Trip Report at some point. My PTR link is below in my signature...but warning******it is very long

Anyway, glad you are back safe and sound I'll be reading!!

 

[goofydad99]

Hi-ho….hi-ho….it’s off to Walt Disney World we go……..

So after making a stop in the lobby to buy our tickets (we decided on the special military salute offer of 5 days (DH was free) and added the water parks & more option) we head out.

Coming soon - Hollywood Studios "A jedi in the making and converting DD to a lover of Star Tours."

Cristy,

Did you see the DCL discounts? Come on you have to be at least a little bit tempted by them.

 

[live4christp1]

Sounds good !!!

Thanks!!!!! Fourteen days of fun in the sun (and rain).

 

[live4christp1]

Hey hey! I'm here and following along. I was your next door neighbor on the ship

Did I mention I'm jealous that you just got back yesterday? I wish I was going back tomorrow.

I read your PTR...you sound like me. I am Disney obsessed too. We are very special people

I will be starting my Trip Report at some point. My PTR link is below in my signature...but warning******it is very long

Anyway, glad you are back safe and sound I'll be reading!!

Hey neighbor!!!!! I'd go back tomorrow as well, if my bank account would allow me. DD was so upset our last night when we left the parks.....she cried all the way back to the resort.

We had a wonderful time and it was nice to meet fellow DISers and put faces with names.

 

[live4christp1]

Cristy,

Did you see the DCL discounts? Come on you have to be at least a little bit tempted by them.

I haven't looked at those. Just sent in a request for a quote on free dining in the fall yesterday for the parks.

We avoided that table on the ship with the rebooking on board because I was afraid they'd make an offer that was just too good to pass up. Right now we aren't really sure either about DH's National Guard unit status. Some of them are being mobilized to deploy with another unit and more will get orders next drill.

Have you guys rebooked already?????

What did the kids think after it was all done? Where they blown away by the surprise?

 

[goofydad99]

Have you guys rebooked already?????

What did the kids think after it was all done? Where they blown away by the surprise?

We talked to them about rebooking but the prices for next year are high. We would have only received a 10% discount and a $100 credit. As high as it was I didn't think it was worth it.

As for the children, it took them a long time for them to let it sink in. When anyone asks them now, they talk about how awesome it was. They also talk about all the movies we got to watch and the fun they had in the kid's clubs. They also talk about playing on Castaway Cay. I regret not checking out a hammock but we still had a good time. We are toying around with the idea of a 7 day in 2 years time.........I can dream right?

 

[live4christp1]

We talked to them about rebooking but the prices for next year are high. We would have only received a 10% discount and a $100 credit. As high as it was I didn't think it was worth it.

As for the children, it took them a long time for them to let it sink in. When anyone asks them now, they talk about how awesome it was. They also talk about all the movies we got to watch and the fun they had in the kid's clubs. They also talk about playing on Castaway Cay. I regret not checking out a hammock but we still had a good time. We are toying around with the idea of a 7 day in 2 years time.........I can dream right?

I think I'd like to do the 4 or 5 night to at least have one day at sea. Don't know if I could stand the 7 night, I was so miserably full by breakfast on disembarkment morning that I didn't want anything......of course it was 6:30 AM.

I think next year we are going to do two weeks at WDW and have two days in each park so we don't feel so rushed. It was nice to have a few down days to just hang out at the resort....came home feeling more relaxed and rested.

 

[live4christp1]

The making of a Jedi and converting DD to a lover of Star Tours

Day Two – Chapter One

Tuesday May 26th, 2009 – Hollywood Studios

We planned Hollywood Studios for Tuesday to see Fantasmic – though I’m concerned it is going to be crowded due to Disney cutting back the number of shows. Everyone is up and eating breakfast. The room at SOG is really nice, somewhat bigger than the average room, has two beds plus a sofa sleeper and a table with 4 chairs. We brought the single serving cereal bowls along, as well as, home baked chocolate chip muffins. So breakfast is in the room (my kids aren’t big breakfast eaters and it’s a waste of $$ to pay for them to eat breakfast).

We arrive at Hollywood Studios right about opening. DD and I take off to grab fast passes for Toy Story Mania while DS and DH head over to ride Rock-n-Roller Coaster. The line just to get a fast pass is 15 minutes long. The park is very crowded and it’s already hot and muggy.

Fast passes secured, DD and I head for Playhouse Disney. Either she was still on the sleepy side or she has about outgrown the Playhouse Disney thing…..DD just sat quietly and watched, didn’t want to get up and dance around or anything. She also didn’t care to meet any of the Playhouse Disney characters this year – good thing – those lines were long. Once we finish up Playhouse Disney the boys are out to meet us. We start to do Voyage of Little Mermaid but we just missed the next showing and don’t want to wait around – we’ll come back later.

Next stop Animation Building. We skip the show and head straight back to see Sorcerer Mickey – my favorite…..we always have to get a group picture here. Last year we lucked up and were the only family in there….not so today….there is a bit of a line but not bad. We also find out the UP characters will be out in a couple of minutes so we get to be about 3rd in line for them. It was the dog and the man (sorry don’t remember names). DD wouldn’t got visit them, only DS.

Sorcerer Mickey, "my favorite!"

Just for fun here's a picture from our 2005 trip - look how much they've grown

That's my mom with us. We had hoped to bring her and dad back with us this year but in January she lost her battle with cancer.

Charters from UP.

Over to Pixar Place to use our Fast passes for Toy Story Mania. DS and I ride together….he beats me by 100 points. DD enjoyed this ride today…..last year she wasn’t a big fan. The wait time all day for stand by is posted at 80 minutes.

Onward to Star Tours. There is a 5 minutes wait (not even that really) so on we go. DD didn’t like this last year and is a little apprehensive. She makes it through the ride and we look around in the shop for a bit. DS spends a chunk of his money here on Star Wars books…..that kid is a Star Wars fanatic.

Next it’s over to the Jedi Training Academy. DS gets chosen which is good. He’d already been warned…..that we give it one shot, you don’t get in the show on the first shot, we aren’t coming back time and time again throughout the day. The photographer got some great shots of him. So once again DS has graduated from the Jedi Training Academy as an official Padawan. DD watches the show until Darth Vadar comes along and then she gets out of there……she doesn’t like him at all.

DS awaiting instructions from the Jedi Master - he's the one in the back wearing the blue shirt.

Tummy’s are hungry so we head into Pizza Planet to grab lunch. This isn’t the greatest food but it’s a fun place to stop and we have to visit here at least once a trip. Time is slipping away very quickly so we don’t take time to play in the arcade.

We were very glad to hear that they added a second showing of Fantasmic tonight as they only had one listed before we left home. Gives us a little more time in the park.

Where to next????

Stay tuned for Day 2, Chapter 2 – Mermaids, Adventurers, a downpour & the Twilight Zone!

 

[PeytonSdiz]

Hello. I haven't read your pre-trippie yet. but I wasn't to subscribe over here so I could hear about how your trip went.

 

[live4christp1]

Hello. I haven't read your pre-trippie yet. but I wasn't to subscribe over here so I could hear about how your trip went.

Hello and welcome!!!! Glad to have you along. I'll be adding pictures if I can ever get time at home. Thought I would do it tonight but then I realized that tonight is Faith & Family night at Riverbend Festival featuring Steven Curtis Chapman so we are heading there after work. Not sure what time it will be over, I'm guessing 11:00ish.

 

[live4christp1]

Are any of you able to see my photopass pictures at all? Sometimes the link works for me, other times it doesn't. Still working on it but wasn't sure what you all were getting.

Thanks,
Cristy

 

[PeytonSdiz]

Are any of you able to see my photopass pictures at all? Sometimes the link works for me, other times it doesn't. Still working on it but wasn't sure what you all were getting.

Thanks,
Cristy

No. It tells me to sign in.

 

[live4christp1]

No. It tells me to sign in.

Okay. Still trying to get that to work properly.

 

[live4christp1]

Day 2, Chapter 2 – Mermaids, Adventurers, a downpour & the Twilight Zone!


After grabbing some lunch it’s time for the Indiana Jones show. Honestly the rest of this day is kind of a blur and I can’t remember if we had fast passes for this or not. DD does not like this show. She doesn’t like loud noises or gun shots or anything of that kind. So when she started fussing rather than push her into melt down mode I told the boys to go ahead and do the show and DD and I would go do the Voyage of the Little Mermaid. Everyone was agreeable to this so we parted ways. The boys did get into the show and DD and I didn’t have much of a wait for the Little Mermaid. Our show finished up just a bit before the boys did so we waited for them in a shady spot (also waiting for the parade).

Now DH isn’t much into the parades. He liked the Stars and Motor cars parade because he loves cars but the rest he can take or leave. So when the emerge from the show and I say we are waiting for the parade I go ahead and tell him if he doesn’t want to wait he can go look around in the shops or Streets of America, etc. He doesn’t even hesitate and is off. DS gets tired of waiting for the parade to make it around to us……this new parade (Block Party Bash) doesn’t move like your typical parade. DS doesn’t want to wait……..DD does……oh the drama of having two kids with almost 6 years between . So I call DH, he is in the store at Star Tours I told him to look for DS who I send over to meet him and they head off to Muppets 3-D.

Now before the trip I ordered both kids the “Kids Guide to the Magic” books and DS is obsessed with finding all the hidden things that are mentioned in the book. So he is on a quest to find the hidden key under the rug at the entrance. DH has no clue.

The parade finally makes it around to DD and I and just at it is winding up at our location the skies darken. The wind picks up. We head down to double back and avoid the parade route to end up in the Muppets area. DD has to have an “Itzakadozie” which we grab real quick along the way. We make it to the store across from the Muppets exit and it starts pouring. The little store gets pretty crowded with people trying to avoid the rain. DH & DS call and say they are outside the show under the covered portion of the exit. Finally it lets up enough that they dash over to the store as well. We look around here and wait out the rain for a bit. When it slows to a light drizzle we get out our ponchos and head out.

We had planned to watch the stunt show at this point but it was rained out. Bummer, that’s the one DH really wanted to see. It’s one show I can take or leave – I really hate climbing all those stairs to this show.

DD wants to do Muppets 3-D so off we go. DS makes a point of taking us all over and pointing out the hidden key under the mat. He is so proud to know all these little secrets about Disney.

After this we walk around the Streets of America some, stopping to see Mater & Lightning McQueen. It’s still raining lightly and DS is gloomy. Onward we press!

We head over to see the last showing of Beauty & The Beast. The line is already pretty long despite the fact that we are rather early. Once we are seated we have about 25 minutes until show time. DS has yet to ride Tower of Terror and says he is doing it this year. So while we wait I run over to snag two fast passes so we can go on once the show is over. The FP distribution time works out to coordinate really well so I am pleased.

DD had worn her Belle dress and hoped to be picked to be the princess to receive the rose but it wasn’t to be. She was a little disappointed but still had a fun time watching the show. This is another favorite and one show I feel like I need to see each trip. It was wonderful as usual though I really miss 4 for a Dollar opening the show!

This chapter is getting rather long and there is still lots more in store for this day so I will close here.

Check back to see if DS really does ride the Tower of Terror with me (last year I rode alone – DH doesn’t really like it) or will we have to take the chicken exit???????:



Coming soon – Tower of Terror Yes or No?, dinner at the Commissary and everything else we can squeeze in before the finale of Fantasmic.

 

[live4christp1]

Hey everyone! I promise I am going to add some pictures to these soon. We went to see Steven Curtis Chapman at Riverbend last night and the concert wasn't over until almost 11:30 PM.

Can't figure out how to get my photopass link to work, it's always worked when I've added it in the past. Will try doing it from my home computer tonight or tomorrow.

Hope you are enjoying my report and I'm not boring you to tears to bad!!!!!!

Cristy