Just arrived!

[mtmbyck]

Arrived Wednesday morning. We flew out of Syracuse on Jet Blue. Great flight. Smooth and TVs the whole way down. Syracuse airport is small! Don't expect to do any shopping or dining once past security - there is literally 1 food stand with magazines - that's it!

Orlando airport seemed very busy with folks leaving. We we quick to the monorail and over to baggage claim. I had rented a car through budget and I highly recommend you do the Free Online RapidRez they offer as I skipped the line in the terminal and went right to parking garage and my paperwork was ready and car was ready. I was less than a minute getting my car!

Weather was mild but VERY overcast and windy. The sun really never came out at all the whole day. Evenings are much warmer than the norm for this time of year. Forecast shows chance of rain almost every day but very warm for this time of the year. Hoping we see some sun soon!

Off to downtown Disney this morning and Magic Kingdom tomorrow. Expect big crowds as the parks hours have all been extended to midnight and 1am so that usually means resorts are full!

We stay at Marriott Grand Vista which is a little jewel we discovered a few years ago. This condo type accommodation is furnished beautiful and the grounds are breathtaking. There was an adult wine and mingle party on the beach last night with tiki torches and a bonfire. We passed as we were exhausted from being up at 4:30 for our flight. we are about 10 minutes from Downtown Disney and 15 from Magic Kingdom. Right across the road And a block down from Sea World.

I'll get the camera out and start trying to use photobucket (haven't done this before) as I provide daily updates. I'm the only person awake at 6am so I spend most mornings on the Disboards anyways.

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

Have fun!! We just arrived at the other Disney and I am the only one awake at 5am here..... I will have a tough time dealing with the time change I'm sure!!

The GCV are beautiful from what we managed to stay awake long enough to see of it last night!!

 

[c&m]

We're flying out a week from today, so it's nice to read your report to build up the excitement even more! We're hoping to hit the Disney waterparks the week of March 25 - hoping the weather warms up some more.

 

[bababear_50]

Yeah ! I so glad to hear you guys arrived safe and sound and are settling in nicely. The resort sounds heavenly.
Take lots of pictures and have a great time!
Hugs mel

 

[mtmbyck]

Weather for day 2 was wonderful. Close to 80's as we left for Magic Kingdom at 7am. Sunny but chance of rain by noon.

I'll refer you to my post on the Magic Kingdom for those details. It did rain slightly for about 5 minutes but was a welcome cool off to the humidity and heat. By 5pm skies got very dark and winds picked up. Big rain came through but we were all indoors enjoying karaoke with the kids at the resort.

Kids got bored and hit the games room at around 8 and the went to the room to relax. Adults found a stool around the poolbar (it had stopped raining) and had a nightcap. It was so warm it felt like the Caribbean! Evenings are much warmer than usual right now.

Off to bed with an uncertain day tomorrow as it is calling for cloudy and rain all day. Adults have a trip to Jellyrolls planned for Sat night (Disney's dueling piano bar). Should be epic!

TTFN.

 

[CJK]

I'm loving your ongoing report. Sounds like you're having a great time so far. Jellyrolls is one of my favourite places in Disney, so I hope you have a great time. If Scotty and Ray are there, you're in for a treat! Scotty's version of Rainbow Connection is fabulous. Have fun!

 

[mtmbyck]

CJK, Scotty and Ray were there and they did do rainbow connection. I have never laughed so hard! We had such a fun night at Jellyrolls.

So! Fairly uneventful day as forecast was not great but as it turns out it was more sunny than its been since we arrived! Dumb weather. DDs and I went to premium outlets. We arrived around 11:00am and had to circle entire lot and found no parking so used valet. The place was packed. Food court was nuts, coach was nuts.....obviously it is much busier here this year than last year this week!

Wrapped up the shopping at around 2pm and headed to pool. Kids played volleyball, we found a lounger and relaxed. Skies started to darken around 4:30 which was fine as we had to get ready for dinner. Ate at Captains Grill at Yaght Club and then off to Jellyrolls. Stayed until 12:30 which we realized was 1:30 am given the time change

No plans tomorrow. Maybe a super Walmart or Target. Rain was just starting as we got home. Supposed to rain much of Sunday. What do they call it here.....liquid sunshine? Until tomorrow........

 

[mtmbyck]

Awesome Aquatica Day. Weather was spectacular. The first day we have seen solid blue skies. Aquatica was dead - hardly any lines. Love Roa Rapids........we could spend all day in there. We all agreed that The water was close to 90 everywhere. No shock value at all even when you were hot and dry which was nice.

We all got a little too much sun even with sunscreen on. But nothing too major that would make us sick. Went to Florida Mall for dinner at Bucas and an hour of shopping. Meal was just so so IMHO. Home by 9:30 and I was exhausted. We all hit the beds by 10pm.

Today is our redo at Magic Kingdom. Hoping for less crowds and less shut down rides.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Loving the updates so far and glad to hear you are having a a fun getaway .

Very interested in your Aquatica day, as that's on our list of to-do's (more than once....we have purchased an unlimited weekday pass) on our upcoming August vacay. Do you have any pics you would be willing to share?

 

[mtmbyck]

Hi Gina. I will try to post the pics when I get home as Internet is spotty at best here. Aquatica is by far the best bang for your buck. It's an annual thing for us now. You do pay for parking - 12 dollars or 15 for preferred. Park is lovely and you will LOVE Roa Rapids but wear a lifejacket to really enjoy it. Lots of animal and reptile displays with staff throughout the park. They do enforce the food policy. Snacks and water are allowed. Prepared food such as sandwiches, pizza, etc and pop cans are not allowed. The slide with the dolphins isn't great. Goes slow....my child got stuck in it and they don't like it as the entire slide is enclosed. Lots of big slides for older kids. Pricey day at 42 dollars each but we loved it. Was wearing an SPF 30 and burned right through that so try something higher!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Hi Gina. I will try to post the pics when I get home as Internet is spotty at best here. Aquatica is by far the best bang for your buck. It's an annual thing for us now. You do pay for parking - 12 dollars or 15 for preferred. Park is lovely and you will LOVE Roa Rapids but wear a lifejacket to really enjoy it. Lots of animal and reptile displays with staff throughout the park. They do enforce the food policy. Snacks and water are allowed. Prepared food such as sandwiches, pizza, etc and pop cans are not allowed. The slide with the dolphins isn't great. Goes slow....my child got stuck in it and they don't like it as the entire slide is enclosed. Lots of big slides for older kids. Pricey day at 42 dollars each but we loved it. Was wearing an SPF 30 and burned right through that so try something higher!

Can't wait to see the photos!!! And if you are burning through an SPF 30 in March, I will be toast.....literally! ..... in August!!!!!

 

[KNovacovschi]

Sounds like your having a great time. Enjoy the rest of your vacation and am looking forward to further updates/pics. I love living through other peoples vacations until I get to go on mine. lol

 

[mtmbyck]

While I know Ontario is having its share of amazing weather, you really cannot beat the weather we have had so far this week. 80s and sun with a speckle of cloud to cool you down. Light breezes to sway the palm trees......just like last year.......wonderful. Yesterday I had booked a character breakfast at Polynesian for the DDs who still love to get a hug every now and again but won't wait an hour to do so at the parks. We did this breakfast years ago and I have to say it was pricey but wonderful. I prefer it to buffets. They serve it family style -scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon,biscuits, potato wedges, and Mickey waffles of course. They also provide a platter of fresh fruit and a basket of pineapple bread (like sticky buns). Topped with a mango papaya juice that was yummy. You do have to sit there for 75 minutes in order to see all 4 characters - Mickey, Pluto, LILO and Stitch. Afterwards we walked down to the beach at Polynesian for some hammock pics and pics with MK and GF in the background - great backdrops!

Got back to resort at around noon so got the beach bag loaded and off we went to lay in the sun. I am still a little pink from Aquatica on Monday so I put on 50+ sunscreen but even the sun onmy skin was hot so I opted for an umbrella to lie under. Kids played a little beach volleyball at the resort too. Went back to the room for a pasta feast. Kids decided to retire early (think they had a little too much sun) so DH and I wandered down to bonfire for about an hour with a glass of wine (you can walk around the resort no problem with plastic glasses and coolers).

I am at the point of the vacation where I keep counting down in my head. Only 4 more full days and then we fly home At least the weather is great at home and I hear snow has melted.

When I get home I will add pics to this post (or try). Today is another lazy day by the pool. Maybe we'll hit Boardwalk with the kids to watch EPCOT fireworks tonight. I'd like to hit Disney Marketplace too but not at night as it will be nuts based on crowds I have seen. We have Universal Tickets I got with my Aeroplan pts that we will use on Sunday and I bought Front of the line passes for DDs so hopefully they'll be able to ride things with minimal wait.

Off to make coffee. Have a magical day!