It's Summer Vacation! Let's Go! **Updated 8/9; Page 9; Last Day Posted!**

[nataliz]

Two years ago, my husband and I took our children on what we thought would be a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Disney World. It would be a first trip to the World for all of us.

Boy, were we wrong. At the end of our first full day as we were watching Wishes, my husband and I were both put under the Disney spell. I turned to him and said, "Now I know what people are so obsessed about." We both knew that we’d be back again. The real question was when.

This past December, we decided that we were ready to go back to the World. I was so excited! I began planning as soon as we booked our hotel room. I read the Unofficial Guide at least twice. Then one day I was searching for even more info and I stumbled onto the DIS. This place was filled with information and eased my worries about Magical Express, what my hotel room would look like, and where I should make my ADRs.

I stumbled on the Trip Report section of the boards one day and never left. I started reading about other people’s trips to Disney with their families. I loved them and I couldn't wait to read about them every day. They made the magic come alive for me and helped me to anticipate my upcoming trip.

I hope that as you read this report you are able to share in some of my family’s magic or maybe relive some of your own.

So I’m already feeling a little long-winded today. Let me introduce you to my cast of characters:
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Me: Mom, 1st/2nd grade looping teacher, usually laid back except when it comes to planning Disney trips. My husband thinks that I have a Disney obsession- he’s right.

DH : Spends every day planning at work, so was very happy to give this job to me for our trip. Likes to dote on his children and has a hard time saying no. The kids and I, of course, use this to its fullest advantage.

DS (11) : He loves Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean, football, and Playstation- not necessarily in that order. He’s a very empathetic kid- and a worrier. He’s also a great big brother to his little sisters. Really isn’t enthused by his sisters’ excitement about princesses or the thought of riding Dumbo. We’ll call him Goofy for this trip report.

DD (7) : Smart and sassy, ready to grow up overnight. She is usually a serious little cookie around the house, but also has a very quick wit. Is determined that she will ride every ride that she is possibly able to, no matter how scary it may look on the outside. On our last trip she was scared of all dark rides including Buzz and Peter Pan. We’ll call her Minnie for this trip report.

DD (6) : She’s fun and free spirited. There is never a dull moment with her around. She loves to sing and make up her own songs about whatever she is doing, definitely a Disney Princess trait if I’ve ever seen one. Does a dance that we call the “happy robot dance” when she is excited about something. She’s a bit on the small side, 41 inches and is not really enthused by her brother and sister getting to ride things that she can’t. She’s a great pouter. We’ll call her Tink .

Next up: Day 1 , or Can you really call it express if it takes over an hour to get to your hotel?

 

[cjhinch]

Excited to read your report!! I know exactly what you meant by your opening paragraph.......thinking your first trip would be your "only" trip! Doesn't seem to work out that way, does it? LOL Can't wait to read more!

 

[disneyfamilyof5]

Subscribing.

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

Hurry up and post!!

 

[benamin]

Hurray! a new trip report to start reading!

I am addicted to these!

Thanks a bunch

 

[GreatBiscuit]

Great start - looking forward to more.

 

[nataliz]

Day 1 , or Can you really call it express if it takes over an hour to get to your hotel?

I had about 4 ½ weeks between the time that school let out and our Disney World vacation began. I sent the kids to summer school (they wanted to go…really) and got started organizing and packing. We made the Mickey head tie-dyed shirts to wear on our first day at the Magic Kingdom. I shopped and packed. And shopped and packed some more, until finally it was the day before we left. We packed the van late that night, and set our alarm for 5:30 in the morning. We had to make sure that we were out of the house by 6:00 a.m. the next morning.

Now, I don’t know what your house is like the night before a Disney trip. Mine is exactly like the commercial with the little kids and parents who can’t sleep because they are too excited. I think that my DH woke up almost every hour. I had nightmares that I forgot to pack my Passporter with all my reservation info inside it. At 5 a.m. Goofy’s alarm went off. He’s an early riser. He likes to get up before everyone else and get ready. This morning, we all got up with his alarm.

Everyone had taken a bath the night before and our van was all packed so all we had to do was get dressed, eat and brush our teeth. It was a relatively painless process. Minnie even let me brush her hair without a single complaint. We fed our cats and left keys for my sister who was house/cat- sitting for us while we were gone. We were out the door at 5:50.

It takes about an hour to get to the Kansas City airport from our house. We parked our van in the long term parking with the Mickey head on the antennae and said good-bye to driving for a week. The shuttle bus picked us up and we wedged our family of five and 8 suitcases onto the bus. Tink was a little uncomfortable with the guy sitting next to her. She curled up in the fetal position in my lap. He tried to talk to her, but she wouldn’t budge. My DH and he chatted while we were crammed together like sardines in the bus. Minnie said, “Look, Mommy! Daddy made a new friend.”

We finally got off the cramped bus and went to get our tickets at the Delta kiosk. However, it wouldn’t work for us- there was no record. We had to go to the check in counter, which took about 30 minutes to get through. By the time we had made it through the security checkpoint, our plane was loading!

DH and Minnie sat in the row in front of Tink, Goofy and I. Goofy was extremely nervous. He doesn’t like to fly. His mind wanders to all the worst-case scenarios that could happen. I did my best to keep him calm and it worked. We flew out without a hitch.

DH made another new friend during the flight, Minnie reported to the rest of us as we waited during our layover in Atlanta. We were all happy for him.

At 2:30 our plane touched down in Orlando! Whoo-hoo! We were ready to go. We rode across the airport and went downstairs to the Magical Express check-in desk. The line to check in was long, but it moved fast. I then picked up my family and we got to wait in our first Disney line of our vacation! We were the first people in the AKL/Coronado Springs line. There were so many people waiting in line along with me, happy and excited for their Disney trip.

After about 10-15 minutes, they let us load a bus. The driver insists on taking my DH’s bags. The kids take there backpacks on the bus with us and we sit up in the front seats. We are ready to get to the Animal Kingdom Lodge-only first we have to stop at Pop Century and Coronado Springs. The sun is shining, and everyone is happy. We’re watching the informational video and then we see it- the Welcome to Disney arch. Everyone oohs and aahs. As soon as we go under the arches, it starts pouring down rain.

Finally, at about 4 p.m. we arrive at AKL. We get settled in at the front desk and go up to our room- 5212 on the Kudu trail overlooking the Sunset Savannah. The kids are so excited! They are running around the room with their cameras out-taking pictures of everything. Goofy goes in to christen the bathroom for us and shouts out “Mom, there’s a phone in the bathroom!” The girls run in after he is finished to confirm that yes, there is a phone in the bathroom. Goofy takes a picture to make sure that he remembers this moment. Yeah, we’re classy.

I walk out onto our balcony to look at the rain that is still pouring down and to see what we can see from our balcony.

Two giraffes! I am ecstatic! This is going to be so cool. Minnie walks out and says “Why does it smell like chicken? Do giraffes smell like chicken?” This of course, leads into a big discussion with Minnie, Tink, and Goofy about where the chicken smell is coming from. See, told you we were classy.

We are a happy, happy Disney family. We are also getting to be a hungry Disney family.

Next up: Day 1, Part 2 or What kinds of wildlife can you see from your balcony at 11p.m.?

 

[missummer]

I love your Trip Report so far! Can't wait to hear more!

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

So, did yall ever figure out why it smelled like chicken?
Can't wait to read the rest! I LOVE IT!

 

[nataliz]

So, did yall ever figure out why it smelled like chicken?
Can't wait to read the rest! I LOVE IT!

I think it was from Boma or Jiko. We would smell sausage and bacon in the morning, so that's my best guess.

Thank you everyone for reading my trip report. I appreciate it.

I've got homework to do for my Master's class this weekend, then I'll try to finish the next part. Hopefully, I'll get it out tomorrow.

 

[lonegirl]

Looking forward to more!

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Wonderful start, keep it coming!

 

[heaven2dc]

How exciting a view you got - and to see 2 giraffes the first day! Will be waiting to read more!

 

[nataliz]

Day 1, Part 2 or What Kinds of Wildlife Can You See From Your Balcony at 11 p.m.?

The kids are still running around the room taking pictures of animals from the balcony and the phone in the bathroom. DH and I lie down on the queen bed and look at the rain that is still pouring down outside. We have an ADR for Hollywood & Vine tonight as part of the Fantasmic package. We begin to debate whether the rain will stop or not. And if we are going to make ourselves miserable by walking around on the first day wet and sticky. We decide to see if we can cancel our ADRs, because the last thing that I want is to start this vacation off on a bad foot. The friendly Disney Dining representative informs me that I could cancel- but I’d have to pay a $10 cancellation fee per person. We decided to put on our big girl panties and deal with the rain. I was pretty sure that we wouldn’t melt.

About this time, our Garden Grocer order came. We ordered tons of water as well as some breakfast foods. My husband got things settled with Garden Grocer while I went downstairs in search of ponchos with the kids. We go to the gift shop, get some ponchos, and head down to the bus stop.

We make it to MGM without any sort of a hitch- all of us donning our Mickey ponchos. We walk to Hollywood and Vine where we see a massive crowd of people, all unhappy and definitely lacking the Disney spirit at that moment. I get in line to check in behind a family whose two daughters were fighting over the umbrella. During their scuffle they stepped on my foot and jabbed me in the face with one of the poky points on the umbrella. Their father dragged them out of the way while the mom continued to check in. Thanks dad.

After I checked us in, we waited for at least a half an hour before we were seated at our table. By this time, our hair was matted down on our heads and we looked like little wet dogs. We waited at our table for about 5 minutes before being greeted by our server, who was not very enthused with us. Here is the only conversation we had with her the entire time:

Server (looking away so not to engage in too much conversation): You have the Fantasmic package.
Me: Yes.
Server: Let me explain it to you. (Goes through spiel in monotone- I am so bored with these people voice).
Me: Thanks.
Server: Are you on the Dining Plan?
Me: Yes.
Server: I need your card. (DH hands over the card). What would you like to drink?

We tell her and then she’s gone. The only other time we see her at our table is when she hands my husband’s card back to him about 12 minutes into our meal. We do however see her at the table right next to us clearing dishes, refilling drinks and being an overall friendly person. So maybe it was just us. I worry a little that this is how we’ll be treated while on the Dining Plan the entire time. Hopefully our waitress just didn’t like our kids or our matted down hair.

Even though our server was not very pleasant, we enjoyed our meal. We were really hungry. Goofy ate a whole plate of mac & cheese, Minnie ate chicken nuggets with lots of ketchup, and Tink sampled all that she could from the adult bar. I was the first to go through the dessert bar. I got a yummy brownie covered with marshmallows and M&Ms, along with a few other little bits of stuff. Goofy got some ice cream. DH took Minnie and Tink up to the dessert bar and helped them get some desserts. DH also helped a 5-year-old boy who couldn’t reach the ice cream dispenser and his parents were nowhere near him. We all enjoyed our desserts and then decided it was about time to leave.

We had about an hour and a half before Fantasmic, so we decided to ride some rides. “Tower of Terror!” both Tink and Minnie begged. Nope, no way, no how. That was not going to be our first ride. The last time we came, Minnie, Goofy and I rode together and it scared the poop out of them. Then Minnie was shot for any rides after. I knew that ride would scare Tink, and I didn’t want to start our vacation like that. We decided to wait until later in the week for that one. Goofy saw Star Tours and we decided to ride that instead.

Goofy is a Star Wars fanatic. He was definitely in the zone on that ride. He loved every second of it. So did Minnie. She giggled and laughed and screamed. Poor Tink was just glued to the chair her eyes filled with fear. When we got off the ride, I asked her if she was okay and she told me that she hurt her hand. I asked how she had hurt it and she replied, “Because I was holding on for dear life!”

After spending a while in the gift shop, we decided to make our way over to Muppets 3D. I love the Muppets. They hold really happy memories of my whole family sitting down together and watching the show. The show was as good as always; the kids giggled and laughed.

We were only an hour away from the time Fantasmic was going to start so we decided to start walking up to Oscar’s garage and take a restroom break before we went into the theater. We sat towards the back of the amphitheatre and waited for the show to start. Goofy was starting to turn into Grumpy for a while because his feet hurt. Why did his feet hurt? Because he was wearing tennis shoes with no socks. They were rubbing. Why wasn’t he wearing socks? I don’t really know. He tells me that they were sweaty.

So I had to give Goofy the pep talk. “Goofy, I’m sorry your feet hurt. I know you don’t like to just sit here and wait. But trust me, this is going to be worth it. I wouldn’t ask you to waste your time if it wasn’t.” I secretly prayed to myself that this show would indeed be worth it.

A family sat down behind us with a two year old, we’ll call him Johnny, who was not happy to have to wait. Johnny screamed a blood-curdling scream the entire wait. Johnny ran up and down the bleachers and head butted his mom. Johnny was frazzling my nerves. Johnny’s mommy yelled at him the entire time. He finally calmed down when they started the wave.

The show started and it was awesome. The kids sang along and danced in their chairs. Tink even did the happy robot dance for us. Goofy told me I was right, it was worth waiting for. I made a mental note of that. I rarely get told that I am right anymore. We were all happy and ready to go back to our hotel room.

So we make our way out of the park with all the other people who saw Fantasmic with us. We made our way to the AKL bus. It was a little crowded. DH and Goofy stood to let some parents with sleepy kids sit down. Tink and Minnie cuddled up with me and rested on the way back.

It’s not that long before we are back to our hotel room. Tink, Minnie, and Goofy start getting ready for bed, so I decided to see if there was anything to see in the savannah.

Now, if you’ve ever stayed at AKL you know that there are cameras everywhere. They warn you about this when you check in. There’s a notice on your door to the balcony and another notice on the balcony. They should also have a notice that says “The rooms are in a U-shape. Other guests can see in your room too.”

So that night when I looked out on the savannah, I did not see any giraffes or ostriches. I could hear people talking so I turned to see where the noise was coming from. One of the other guests across from us had all drapes pulled all the way open and all their lights on. She was walking around with no clothes on. Yup, you read right. I saw a naked woman from my balcony. It was not quite what I was expecting to see.

At this moment, my kids started to bust out on the balcony to see some animals. I push them back in; tell them the animals are sleeping and so should we. I tell DH what I saw from the balcony and so he discretely makes his way out there. He comes back in, disappointed. “All I saw was a fat hairy guy without his shirt on,” he pouts to me.

Sorry, hun. There’s always tomorrow.

Next up: Day 2, or Attack Squirrels at Animal Kingdom

 

[scanne]

LOL about your "view!" I think my DH would have done what your DH did, too.


BTW, your kids sound like my kids personality wise. Except I don't have the 3rd child...yet. Still working on DH about that one.

Enjoying your report and looking forward to more.

 

[3princesses+aprince]

I'm loving your report!! I can't wait to read the rest. My ds is 9 ( going to be 10 in a couple of weeks and LOVES star wars too. we can't wait to go on star tours and into that gift shop!! Oh i wish i was there right now

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

Tell your husband that I'm sorry he didn't get to see the same VIEW you did! Ha, JUST KIDDING!

Looking forward to more!

 

[nataliz]

3princesses+aprince I'm loving your report!! I can't wait to read the rest. My ds is 9 ( going to be 10 in a couple of weeks and LOVES star wars too. we can't wait to go on star tours and into that gift shop!! Oh i wish i was there right now

Thanks for reading. Goofy was extremely happy in that shop. He ended up buying some Star Wars figure that he hasn't seen at home from the Once Upon A Toy Store.

lauren_elizabeth Tell your husband that I'm sorry he didn't get to see the same VIEW you did! Ha, JUST KIDDING!

Looking forward to more!

Yeah, he was a bit disappointed. He got over it though.

Hopefully I'll have the new installment up sometime Monday. Right now I have to work on schoolwork.

Thanks for reading everybody!

 

[ilovepooh]

I love your trip report. It's quite entertaining!! I feel like I'm reading a novel from Janet Evanowich. (If you've never read her books, then you should check out her series. You'd enjoy her!)

 

[nataliz]

I love your trip report. It's quite entertaining!! I feel like I'm reading a novel from Janet Evanowich. (If you've never read her books, then you should check out her series. You'd enjoy her!)

What a sweet comment! Thank you. I haven't read any of her books, but I will be on the lookout. I'm need a new book.