Just a quick trip report March 26th to April 2nd

[dumbocutie]

Flew Air Tran arrived LBV Best Western got in close to midnight.

Sunday- Blizzard Beach. First slide 19 year old daughter cut her toe. Off to first aid front of park for butterfly band aid. She decided to take it easy and lazy river ride. Since it was opening day at BB expected park to be pristine. Wrong. Floating matter and sediment all over the lazy river. Later went to family raft ride since it was not up and running first thing that morning. That one is always a good time. Did some other slides then hit the wave pool. Lines were long at food facility. Suggest just going to the smaller kiosks to find snacks to eat. Did a few more slides then left the park.
Sunday evening went to Epcot because we heard about the rain coming next day and wanted to get in Test Track since it closes during rain.
First things first took the boat over to Morocco and walked over to Japan.
Pick a Pearl. Tank was not very full since it was evening but daughter and I got 7 ¼ pretty white pearls. Staff shined them up and put them in our e-bay pearl cages for us, so nice.
Ate in Japan. I had the curry dish and it was so good.
Strolled toward Italy and Germany. Bought a cute crystal Dumbo figurine in Germany.
Continued on thru the worlds just strolling along outside areas and enjoying topiary.
We all did single rider line at Test Track, My 2 girls ended up in the same car. 5 minutes wait tops.
Went over to Soarin. Just could not delay ride to Monday. 40 minute wait but got in anyway. Enjoyed the interactive game in the standby line so wait did not seem so bad. Really enjoyed the ride could not wait to go again. Walking out of Epcot enjoyed some of the fireworks from Illuminations. Took bus back to hotel. Fun day.

Monday- Epcot in the pouring rain!

Missed rope drop by few minutes but not by much. Husband went to Soarin for FP got for 10:05AM . Met us at Mission Green. Younger daughter chose Orange and then she planned to run to TT and ride before they shut it down. We met up with her at TT she said the rain was pelting her in the face but loved it anyway. That’s a teenager for you. Ride was closed not much later due to rain. Went over to Nemo and enjoyed ride and talk with Crush. Then went to Soarin and did FP. Enjoyed it even more second time around.
Then off to Spaceship Earth really enjoyed the interactive ending and see our faces on the big map when we got out.
Then off to Universe of Energy Husband loves this one as well as EE.
Then off to Worlds. Had French pastries in France. Yummm! Ate in China. Family started to get water logged so headed out of the park and just hung out at hotel.

Tuesday-Sunny Animal Kingdom

Once again got there just after rope drop. Husband went to EE and got fast passes. Then met us at Kilimanjaro Safari. 20 minute wait. Lots of animals up and about. A Rhino family right next to our vehicle could get up close pictures. Elephants up and around. Only the lions and other large cats lying around. Then did Kali River ride 10 minutes. Ponchos a must. Then EE what fun. Got a Fast Pass for it again. Went to see Nemo show loved it. Then did Dinosaur. Ate a little snack. Rode EE again. Tough to be a Bug and then saw Festival of Lion King. Left the park just before the parade. Enjoyed dinner at Sweet Tomatoes LBV going at 4 PM place was empty and good food. Visited DTD crowded. But did get some souvenirs for relatives.

Weds .- Magic Kingdom

Husband went to TMR got FP met him at Space Mountain. Daughter got proposed to by Chip at the meet and greet. Made her day she loves Chip running joke of trip. Later she got a pin that said just engaged. After Space Mountain went to Buzz Light Year, Winnie the Pooh, Snow White Scary Adventure, Rode Thunder Mountain Railroad using FP, and then Haunted Mansion. Then headed over and got a Dole Whip. Yum. Rode Pirates of Caribbean . Then Philharmagic. Park was hot and crowded so decided to take bus back to hotel. Before we left though husband went and got FP for Space Mountain. Return time 5:40PM. Went to Panda Express on International Drive and did some shopping. Returned to MK just after torrential down pour. Lots of people leaving the park. Rode space Mountain. Carousel of Progress husbands favorite and People Mover just because. Small World, Haunted Mansion and the Jungle Cruise at night. Sergio our guide was a riot made it one of our favorite memories. Jokes repeated often from this ride. Electric Parade canceled due to rain headed out of park with lots of others.

Thursday- Pouring rain. Late start Hollywood Studios

Everyone tired trip taking its toll. So since it was severe weather delayed our time to the park.
Got there and went to TSM about 10:30AM. Could not believe FP available for 2:40PM picked some up and went over to TOT and rode that only 20 minute wait. Got out and just made the Beauty and the Beast show. Then went and saw Disney Animation show and played around there for a while. Decided to eat some lunch the grilled vegetable sandwich was good. Rode the Great Movie Ride. Back lots tour was closed due to rain. Saw Prince Caspian. Why is this still a feature thought it was lame. Time to ride TSM fun ride but my arm got tired. Everyone else told me I should have just flicked my wrist not my whole arm. Oh well video games are not my thing anyway. Decided we were water logged enough and only planned a half day here anyway. Evening just had pizza and red boxed a movie.

Friday- Returned to HS

Rope Drop made it. Packed. TSM immediately shot up to 40 minutes. Husband got FP for 10:05 return time. Rode Rock and Roll Coaster only 10 minute wait. Went to TOT wait time 40 minutes went to washroom and by time we got out it dropped to 20 minutes. Rode TOT. Got FP for daughter to ride TOT again. Went to TSM and rode it, still could not get the wrist movement right but had fun and improved my score 97,000 still the lowest in my family. Daughter went off to TOT and rest of us went to Journey to Little Mermaid. Waited 40 Minutes, since I never have seen it. Enjoyed it. Left Park.
Ate leftover Pizza for lunch and then drove over to Typhoon Lagoon. My favorite water park. It was much cleaner then Blizzard Beach. Had fun on the Crush Gusher rides. Family raft ride too small a raft. Daughter and my shins banged together at bottom, ouch we are tall people. Rode a few tube rides, daughter did more extreme body slide. Husband and one daughter snorkeled. I could see the fish just looking from above. Forgot to take out my contacts so I did not attempt snorkeling. Then spent the rest of the time in wave pool. Closed the park. Finished off trip by eating at Sweet Tomatoes and returning our red box movie. Got gas for rental car.
Saturday- Flew home on Air Tran glad we were not on SW which we normally book.

Overall a wonderful trip and the rain actually helped us with the rides kept people from the parks.

 

[opaloct1]

Hi Dumbocutie,

I will be staying at the LBV Best Western in May for the first time.
Any advice on staying there. How did you find the condition of the hotel.
We are not renting a car and relying on the buses, did you use those at all?

Any tips you could provide would be much appreciated.

Thank you,

Debbie

 

[dumbocutie]

Yes overall the hotel was nicely maintained. Had a problem first arrival they did not have our reservation thru Funjet. We had our paperwork and had no problem. Was put in room facing LBV Crossroads shopping area.

If we were around at 9PM we would go to the open staircase that faced DTD and Epcot and watch the fireworks for Illuminations.

Used the busses everyday. They come every half hour. They each go to 2 parks and you will be on the B route for our hotel.

You will have a microwave and refrigerator in the room we would go to Goodings, Walmart for bagels, muffins etc for breakfast.

Have fun.

 

[dumbocutie]

Just read you do not have a car. So Walmart is too far. Did note people walking over to Goodings it is a bit of a hike. They had a restaurant but we never utilized it but I did see people getting on the busses with croissants and coffee from there.