"Its Not all about Kelsi, Todd can make decisions too!" PICS Included!

[mcgrawfan]

ETA: I decided to change the title of my trip report. After I wrote my first instalment, I remembered something my daughter said to me during the trip (she likes to use our names sometimes instead of mom and dad). I don't really remember why she said it, but it pretty much sums up me! I like to be in charge, the leader, the big cheese. I am a Leo. I like to be the decision maker and do it my way...the RIGHT way. That is me. Take me as I am. I like my way.....

I have decided to try my hand at writing a trip report. I am not nearly as funny or witty as some of the wonderful writers on here, but hopefully someone can get some tips or a little bit of enjoyment out of reading my trip report.
For Christmas this year I talked my parents into giving us our Christmas money and putting it towards a trip and they had to come too! My parents last came with us 4 years ago when our DD turned 1. I knew they would enjoy the experience of seeing her now at the World.
For about the month prior to our trip, we were not sure if all of us would be going. It started with my maternal grandmother in the hospital a couple of times and diagnosed with congestive heart failure. After her second time in the hospital, my mom and her siblings took turns carring for my grandma around the clock at her home. Over time her condition worsened and she passed away early Thanksgiving morning at the age of 93.
During this time my dad decided to take his turn in the hospital. The week before Thanksgiving he went in with severe back pain most likely due to the cyst on his back that he had been dealing with for a while. What we thought would be pain meds in the ER turned into almost a week in the hospital with a bacterial infection in his blood stream. He also had to make sure that bacteria hadnt attatched itself to the heart because he would have had a pic line with antibiotics for quite a while. Luckily everything turned out just fine.
At the same time as all this my DD (5) decided to get H1N1. She had had the first round of the vaccine so the illness itself didn't amount to much for her. Her fever was never over 101 and it only seemed to come during the night. So we finally made it through all of that to only get the awesome weather report that was coming for Iowa the day we were suppose to leave. Pretty much a HUGE blizzard. DH started calling the airline on Monday night to see if they could get us out on Tuesday. Nope! It was going to be $200 pp to change the ticket. If they turned on the news they could see a huge blizzard coming.... Tuesday morning he called again. Still no dice. About 9am my dad called and said our Wednesday morning flight was cancelled. DH called the airline again and put us on a 3:50 flight out of Des Moines. My parents had left earlier in the morning with our DD to go to the hotel they booked for the Park and Fly. (This will come in handy later.) DH and I headed to the airport closer to noon. We all live about 40 minutes away from the airport. The blizzard was sure coming as we drove it took a little longer than normal. But this is Iowa folks, we can handle any weather that comes our way! By the time we arrived at the hotel we decided to check in at the airport. We spent about 4 hours waiting and of course our flight was cancelled. By the time we got through the line to rebook they couldn't get us all on the same flight for Wednesday. My parents ended up on a 6:15 am flight and us on a 10:55 flight. Though is was snowing and blowing like crazy, our flights all took off and we made it to Florida on our original day!
This was the first trip we had ever done a split stay. We once again rented DVC points through a great Diser! Our first resort was AKL Kidani Village. We had a one bedroom and this place was beautiful.

We had 7:20 reservations for Boma. This was a first for us. It gets such excellent reviews, I couldn't wait to try it. It was good....but would it be on my must return list. No.... I love to eat and I am not picky. I found plenty to eat and did enjoy it, but wouldn't rush right back. After the long day and day before we were ready for bed and went back to our room to turn in. Had to get my rest to rush to the Toy Story Mania FP first thing the next morning!
Thanks for reading! More to come.....

 

[praisehisname]

Great start!

 

[ClareH37]

OMG what a lead up to your trip, I'm so sorry about your grandmother.

With everything that happened your trip is so well deserved, Kidani looks wonderful.

 

[mcgrawfan]

Thanks for the replies! Kidani was wonderful. Very nice, brand new and clean. We had 2 full bathrooms in our 1 bedroom. That spoiled us a little for the switch to Old Key West that only had 1 bathroom, which was attatchd to the master bedroom. So you had to enter the master bedroom to get to the bathroom. Kind of weird set up, but that was a great place to stay too!!

 

[luckylady]

I think I would have been to scared to fly in snow. Chalk it up to being southern. AKL is a great resort. Waiting for more.

 

[mcgrawfan]

This was a trip of many firsts. Starting with our first dinner at Boma. Day 2 was to include our first MVMCP and our first time at Crystal Palace. Which meant our first time to meet the infamous Piglet. In all of our trips we had never met him.
Thursday morning my dad and I were the first ones ready so we went down to check out the safari. We didn't have a safari view room we had a Disney Bus Stop view room. It was lovely! On the safari we saw a few animals. Zebras, Giraffes and Birds Oh My! We also saw a woman on the balcony from her safari view room that Dad and I determined was in her underpants. Maybe they were just really short white shorts, but from where we stood they sure looked like underpants. After checking on the animals, we went to the gift shop to get some breakfast fixins so my husband could cook for us. He is the cook at home and on vacation. I am not ashamed to admit I don't cook! I like it that way.
After a yummy breakfast we all headed to the DHS, the Studios, MGM what ever you want to call it. I prefer MGM. We made is pretty much at park open and my mom and I collected all the tickets and made a beeline for TSM Fastpass. After collecting our FPs we met back up with Dad, Todd and Harper over by Tower of Terror. Mom took Harps shopping while Dad, Todd and I roder the ToT and RRC. Todd and I hadn't been on these rides for a very long time. MGM was always our favorite park and the first one we would head to BH (before Harper). Of course they were awesome! We met up with mom and Harper watching the start of at Street show. MGM tip...Dont miss these shows! They are pretty funny. Todd was chosen to be in it and the leading lady had a little crush on him. She said it was his eyes. She told me she didn't know why she liked him, but she did. I said I felt the same way! After the show she came over and talked to us for a little while and then we went on our ways.
I was a bit frightened to see how much stuff my mom bought for Harper, but it was pretty tame. A stuffed Marie with a purple purse which was her lovey for the rest of the trip. Marie went pretty much with us everyday.
We all headed over to use our FP on TSM. Now this ride is cool and it is fun.......BUT i do not get the 90 plus minute wait for it! It is not that cool, IMO. We also took a tour through the Animation building. I had not done this for a LONG time and there were actually a couple women in the offices. Maybe they were part of the "show" but I like to think they actually worked there. Prior to the trip I was looking forward to meeting Carl Fredrickson from UP. We ventured over to meet the Up characters but it was just Russel and Dug. Luckily the line was long and they needed to go pick up Carl! Yes!! We had perfect timing to meet all 3!

After playing in the Animation Studio we headed down for some lunch. It decided to rain! We hung out in some gift shops and my mom ended up buying Disney Parks umbrellas for both of us. Pretty nice umbrella! We headed down to the outdoor counter service area across from Beauty and the Beast. We found a dry place to eat and had a nice lunch. Over the course of this trip I grew to LOVE Disney Counter Service Carrot Cake! YUM! We hurried to eat our lunch so we could make the next Beauty and the Beast. DD and I love this show. It is very much Broadway quality IMO. We had pretty good close seats. After the show we headed back to the bus stop for a little rest before we had to go to the Magic Kingdom.
Back at the room DD and I really konked out! Our naps were just not long enough, but I could NOT cancell CP. This is the one place I promised Harps we would eat at this trip. Harper woke up a little grumpy and I made her wear jeans which is the end of the world for her so that set her off too! Finally we were all collected and on our was to see the castle for the first time this trip! Let me just say! I LOVE Cinderella's castle! I think it is a beautiful structure and every trip I have to take a ton of pictures of it. We headed down to CP to check in a we had quite a wait. It had been raining again so everyone was shoved up on the porch of the building. Harper met a little friend while we waited and she had the Figaro cat that was like her Marie. They hit it off and had fun playing a little while we waited. Finally we were called. I thought the buffet was very yummy. Prime Rib was really really really good. I love Prime Rib with horseradish. MMMMMM...my tummy is growling....We had a good place to sit to view the path of the characters. That is the only thing that makes me anxious at a character meal is being at the buffet and missing one. Piglet was our first! Yeah! Harper didn't want to do the little parade. It was cute though. During dinner it had gotten dark and I looked up just in time to see the lights coming on the castle. The castle with the icicle lights is an amazing sight! Beautiful!

Next time......MVMCP

 

[mcgrawfan]

After a nice meal at Crystal Palace, we were about to enjoy our first MVMCP. The first thing we did was to get our Photopass pictures in front of the beatifully lit Cinderella's Castle. After that we headed to Adventureland. It wasn't quite party time so we took a cruise on the Jungle Cruise. It was nice to walk right on this ride instead of a crazy long wait time. We had a pretty funny guide and finally heard a few new jokes this time. After that it was 7pm. The first place we stopped was to meet Genie with Abu. I had made Harper's autograph book this time with some help from the very creative Disers! I had a card for Genie, but not for Abu. Abu was very pouty that he did not have his own card! He walked away and stood in the corner and I tried to give him a hug but he wouldn't hug back. It was pretty funny, but finally he came over for a group picture.

After Abu and Genie, we saw Jasmine and Prince Ali coming over. We immediatly got back in line for pics with them. We had never seen Aladdin as Prince Ali before.

I can't remember what we did after this. I think we started getting ready for the parade. While my parents waited at a good viewing spot, Todd and I took Harper to meet Woody. I thought we were going to make it to see Bullseye too, but he had to take a break just as we got there and just Woody came back. We were also trying to get the hot chocolate and cookies, but missed out on that so we didn't miss the parade. The parade of course was wonderful and very festive!

After the parade, most of our evening was spent meeting Harper's Disney Friends. We waited in a pretty short line compared to the middle of the day to meet Tink and friends. Of course it was the same fairies we met last time! Oh well...While I stood in the Tink line with Harper and my mom, Todd and my dad waited in the Princess line. That line was moving quite slow that night. We timed it perfectly and made it through Pixie Hollow and met up with the guys to get to the Princesses. Some may think this is "line jumping" I like to think of it a strategy! We had previously asked what time Belle would be in the room in her red Christmas dress so we needed to time it just right and SUCCESS!!!

We also saw Cinderella and Prince Charming and Aurora and Prince Phillip. We had never met Prince Phillip so that was another treat.

After that we checked out Mickey and Minnie's houses a decked out for Christmas. Then we waited and waited and waited and waited in the line to meet Mickey and Minnie. The line didn't look long, but moved VERY slowly! I a family picture for our Christmas cards so we waited! My dad was worn out so he opted to take a nap on a bench outside the Judge's tent. He can sleep anywhere at anytime!

After spending time in Toon Town, we decided to head out of the park. We stopped to watch the Christmas show on the castle stage. We enjoyed that. As we headed out of the park we just enjoyed the lights and snow on Main Street and stopped into some shops to look for souviners. It was about midnight as we left. There is something very magical about the Magic Kingdom during the Holidays.
Next time.....Fun at EPCOT!

 

[IATink]

Just found your trip report today! As a fellow Iowan, I can relate to all the weather issues, glad you finally got your flight out! I also agree with you about Boma. We tried it on our last trip and thought it would be incredible, and it was just okay. Loving all the pictures! Can't wait to read more!

 

[mcgrawfan]

Just found your trip report today! As a fellow Iowan, I can relate to all the weather issues, glad you finally got your flight out! I also agree with you about Boma. We tried it on our last trip and thought it would be incredible, and it was just okay. Loving all the pictures! Can't wait to read more!

Where are you from?? We are from Knoxville. It is freezing here today! Happy New Year!

 

[praisehisname]

Great DHS/MVMCP update! We did the party this year for the first time and had a blast!

 

[IATink]

We are about 20 miles north of Davenport in the small town of DeWitt. And, it is freezing here as well! We miss the Florida sun!

 

[luckylady]

All caught up now. Wouldn't think of it as line jumping. After all someone was waiting in line. Call that smart.

 

[mcgrawfan]

After a late night at the Magic Kingdom, we slept in a little bit. We were headed for Epcot this day. We had lunch reservations at Biergarten for the first time and my dad was going to do the DiveQuest at the Living Seas. When we arrived at EPCOT we started heading into the park and ran into Stitch and Daisy Duck. I had not seen characters meeting here before so it was a suprise. Harper loves Stitch so we waited in a short line to meet him.
Aftter Stitch we waited to meet Daisy, because I like her.

Then we headed to rent a locker at the Camera shop for my dad's swim/dive stuff. He was suppose to meet up for his dive around 4:30 or so.
We hadn't ridden Spaceship Earth for several years and I new there had been some changes made. The wait was only 10 minutes and the line moved very fast so we headed into SE. From what I can remember the ride itself seemed pretty much the same, the ending was hilarious! I new there was some sort of picture involved from reading other trip reports on the DIS, but to actually see my mom and I in the pictures. I was DYING!!!! I could tell our pic was going to be taken, so I looked ok. But my mom was chewing something...gum or we had some sort of snack with us...so her picture is really funny!

Anyhoo...SE is a must do just for the ending of the ride! We did play around with some of the games, but didn't stay too long. We had to start making it back to Germany for lunch! On our way to World Showcase we did make a stop at the Coke place. (I can't remember what it is called now) We had to make my parents and Harper try the Beverly. Last trip Harps was asleep and previous trips she was too young to have pop. I did get a good pic of her trying it!

I don't know what it is about this place but I think it has an oder...like a smelly bathroom...Sorry...And the floor is sooooooooooooooo STICKY!
While we were up in Future World, we did check out the Test Track and Soarin wait times and they were over an hour of course. It was Epcot Extra Magic Hours for that night so we could check it out later. My parents really wanted to ride both of those.
We finally made it back to Germany and had a nice lunch with another couple and their daughter. Her and Harper were about the same age, so that was nice. One word of warning about Biergarten. I knew we would be sitting with other people, but the couple with us didn't know that and I think were a little confused with it. I didnt have a problem with it, but I could see other people being uncomfortable in that situation. We did enjoy their company and had a nice lunch. I loved the Brats with kraut and spicy mustard! YUM!
After lunch we made our way through WS and headed to the Beach Club. When we went to WDW in 2007 we stayed at the Boardwalk.(Still our Favorite FYI) I had read so much on the boards about Beaches and Cream and the infamous No Way Jose. Well during that stay I had a least one No Way Jose...TO GO...Read those words...TO GO...They play a very important part in this story. The next trip was March of 2009....So hungry for my ice cream. We walked all the way through Epcot and down to the Beach Club, mouth watering the whole way! I couldn't wait for that peanut buttery, chocolatey goodness! I waltzed right up to the To Go counter and said "I would like a No Way Jose" Then it happened....They stared at me a little bit and looked at each other a little bit and said "We don't do them to go" WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTT???You did last time! (It was 2 years ago) Somewhere in here I turned and looked at my husband. I was so upset. Then the girl behind the counter preceeded to tell me that they were going to start doing it again and then even SHOWED me the little plastic pink treasure boxes they would be putting them in.... Shocked a pretty much highly annoyed, to keep this trip report rated G....Now since then I have not heard the end of this from my husband and daughter. My husband had repeated this story numerous times because he thinks that it is hilarious that I turned around and "looked at him, liked I wanted him to do something about it". He thinks I was trying to imply to him to jump over the counter and beat someone up....WELLLLLL Fast Forward to this last trip. We were at Epcot, I was stuffed to the gills with German food, but not to full to take a little stroll down to the Beach Club and show my parents what the No Way Jose is all about. I was so happy almost skipping beause I remembered seeing that pink treasure box that they were going to start putting the To Go ice cream in. I walked into Beaches and Cream and said "can i get a No Way Jose to go?" and I heard NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! AM I ON CANDID CAMERA!! My mood immediatly deteriated because all I wanted was my beloved sundae. And once again SHOT DOWN! It was going to be at least a 25 minute wait to eat inside the restaurant and I felt bad making everyone wait just for me so I left sad and empty handed once again. So to this day the No Way Jose is a big joke to my husband and daughter, but not to me.....

A few random World Showcase shots.
We got to meet Mr Penguin. He was around the America Pavillon. Goofy was there too. I think this spot is a "test" spot for characters, like the teardrop in Toon Town.

Christmas Tree in America

Marie in France...Harper was a Marie fan this trip.

All for now..Coming next time Dive Quest and EMH at Epcot!

 

[praisehisname]

I had read so much on the boards about Beaches and Cream and the infamous No Way Jose.

Love Beach Club and Beaches & Cream!!! So what was the deal? Are they not doing ANY ice cream to go, or just not NWJ's?

 

[mcgrawfan]

Love Beach Club and Beaches & Cream!!! So what was the deal? Are they not doing ANY ice cream to go, or just not NWJ's?

They still do serve ice cream to go...just not any of the yummy bigger sundaes I guess....Seems very silly to me.