juliawithtwo
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2008
- Messages
- 36
I have enjoyed reading everyone's trip reports that I thought I would come out of lurkdom and post my own. 
In 2001, hubby and I decided that we would do a 2 week road trip from Austin, TX to include 3 days at WDW before heading down to the Boca area to visit the ILs and then heading north through the Smoky Mountains before coming back home. We had taken a 2 week trip to Alaska and a 1 week trip to NYC so our travel budget was limited. We decided to slum it and stay at the Motel 6 offsite. I call this slumming because the hotel was horrific. The A/C was busted so the room had that stifling FL humidity so if you pushed hard enough, the drywall would dent in. Not to mention, the peephole to the door was broken and covered with toilet paper. We didn't do any research and walked into WDW for the first time. It was breathtaking and totally overwhelming.
Day 1: We ate at some Cuban place in Downtown Disney and walked the shops before heading to Pleasure Island. We thought PI was a blast, but we later found out that Orlando natives hate the place. I'm bummed to find out that PI is closing, but I can see why. It wasn't terribly crowded when we went, and it was kind of awkward to be dancing inebriated with hubby in a near empty club. Oh well. The drinks were plenty, and we had a great time nonetheless.
Day 2: This was my first time ever in Magic Kingdom, and I thought I was in heaven. Previously I had only ever been to Disneyland when I was in 7th grade so WDW (through the eyes of an adult) was spectacular. We spent the whole day at Magic Kingdom and Epcot, staying from opening until closing.
Day 3: We went to (the then) MGM and Animal Kingdom. Again we were at the parks from opening to close. The one ride that I didn't get (and still don't get) is Killamanjaro Safaris. Why is this so popular? I didn't see any animals. I couldn't hear the bus driver. I waited in line forever. That didn't stop me from loving every last thing at the park, and it seemed that hubby and I did almost every ride at all four parks.
We always said that the next time we would go to WDW would be when we had children.
So...last year, we decided to do a day trip with our then-almost-2 year old and ILs. This was the worst WDW experience I have ever had, and it wasn't the parks. It was the ILs. They complained about everything monetary, ticket prices, food prices. We stayed at POP in the 80s, and they complained about how expansive the resort was, that the walk to the food court was too long and the food tasting terrible.
Hubby and I were so irritated that we spent the entire 2 days there just trying to keep his parents somewhat appeased. It was horrible, and we won't even count that as our daughter's first WDW experience.
That brings us to this year. We will be in the World 9-27-08 through 10-1-08.
We are returning, sans ILs
and we're staying at the Wilderness Lodge for 4 nights. We'll have a just turned 3 year old and a 6 month old in tow so our expectations will that this trip is for our children and for them only. We have done most of the big rides so we won't be wasting any time standing in lines for ourselves.
This is what we're expecting to do.
Day 1: Arrive at WL, dinner at WCC, Illuminations
Day 2: All day at Epcot for Food & Wine, lunch at Akershus, stopping at all Kidcot stations and scouting for characters for DD, evening at the Boardwalk
Day 3: Lunch at Hollywood & Vine, making sure to see Ariel, Belle, and Playhouse Disney shows, riding Toy Story Mania
Day 4: All day at Magic Kingdom, dinner at Crystal Palace, MNSSHP!
Day 5: half day at Magic Kingdom
We're skipping Animal Kingdom just because DD is terrified of furry animals (or animals in general), go figure.
I am sooo looking forward to this trip. I can't wait to report back with how the trip went and especially food reports. I am a big foodie.
In 2001, hubby and I decided that we would do a 2 week road trip from Austin, TX to include 3 days at WDW before heading down to the Boca area to visit the ILs and then heading north through the Smoky Mountains before coming back home. We had taken a 2 week trip to Alaska and a 1 week trip to NYC so our travel budget was limited. We decided to slum it and stay at the Motel 6 offsite. I call this slumming because the hotel was horrific. The A/C was busted so the room had that stifling FL humidity so if you pushed hard enough, the drywall would dent in. Not to mention, the peephole to the door was broken and covered with toilet paper. We didn't do any research and walked into WDW for the first time. It was breathtaking and totally overwhelming.
Day 1: We ate at some Cuban place in Downtown Disney and walked the shops before heading to Pleasure Island. We thought PI was a blast, but we later found out that Orlando natives hate the place. I'm bummed to find out that PI is closing, but I can see why. It wasn't terribly crowded when we went, and it was kind of awkward to be dancing inebriated with hubby in a near empty club. Oh well. The drinks were plenty, and we had a great time nonetheless.
Day 2: This was my first time ever in Magic Kingdom, and I thought I was in heaven. Previously I had only ever been to Disneyland when I was in 7th grade so WDW (through the eyes of an adult) was spectacular. We spent the whole day at Magic Kingdom and Epcot, staying from opening until closing.
Day 3: We went to (the then) MGM and Animal Kingdom. Again we were at the parks from opening to close. The one ride that I didn't get (and still don't get) is Killamanjaro Safaris. Why is this so popular? I didn't see any animals. I couldn't hear the bus driver. I waited in line forever. That didn't stop me from loving every last thing at the park, and it seemed that hubby and I did almost every ride at all four parks.
We always said that the next time we would go to WDW would be when we had children.
So...last year, we decided to do a day trip with our then-almost-2 year old and ILs. This was the worst WDW experience I have ever had, and it wasn't the parks. It was the ILs. They complained about everything monetary, ticket prices, food prices. We stayed at POP in the 80s, and they complained about how expansive the resort was, that the walk to the food court was too long and the food tasting terrible.
Hubby and I were so irritated that we spent the entire 2 days there just trying to keep his parents somewhat appeased. It was horrible, and we won't even count that as our daughter's first WDW experience. That brings us to this year. We will be in the World 9-27-08 through 10-1-08.
We are returning, sans ILs
and we're staying at the Wilderness Lodge for 4 nights. We'll have a just turned 3 year old and a 6 month old in tow so our expectations will that this trip is for our children and for them only. We have done most of the big rides so we won't be wasting any time standing in lines for ourselves.This is what we're expecting to do.
Day 1: Arrive at WL, dinner at WCC, Illuminations
Day 2: All day at Epcot for Food & Wine, lunch at Akershus, stopping at all Kidcot stations and scouting for characters for DD, evening at the Boardwalk
Day 3: Lunch at Hollywood & Vine, making sure to see Ariel, Belle, and Playhouse Disney shows, riding Toy Story Mania
Day 4: All day at Magic Kingdom, dinner at Crystal Palace, MNSSHP!
Day 5: half day at Magic Kingdom
We're skipping Animal Kingdom just because DD is terrified of furry animals (or animals in general), go figure.
I am sooo looking forward to this trip. I can't wait to report back with how the trip went and especially food reports. I am a big foodie.
