We just returned from a wonderful week at Disney. We stayed at AKL. It was great! The last day of our trip we stayed at the resort and did the different kids bead activities. My DD loved learning about feeding flamingoes, tracking animals and researching animal behavior. She really liked getting the bead for her string when she completed the activity! She also did the cookie decorating at Boma. Cute giraffe shaped cookie, but tasted awful! Oh well, it made for cute pictures! HaHa!
This trip was for DD 7th birthday. We got her a birthday button at each park and she wore them the whole week. It was really nice that all the CM's would tell her Happy Birthday, and even characters in the parades would mouth it to her. Made her feel very special! Especially when Belle and Snow White said it and waved right at her! She would turn to me and just smile!! It really made for a great birthday week. She even got 2 free pins from different CM's because she was wearing the buttons. So if you are celebrating a birthday, definitely pick up the buttons, it's worth all the extra attention. And don't just wear it on the birthday, wear it all week. CM's don't care if it isn't actually your birthday. My DD was Wed., and on Sat. she still had her buttons on. One CM wished her a Happy Birthday and we told him it was actually on Wed. He said "No problem, everyday is your birthday at Disney!" And then he gave her a sticker. Also, at the different restaurants, the waiters will all sign a card and give it to the birhtday person.
Overall, the trip was great! It was perfect weather all week. The parks were a little more crowded than I was expecting (first week of Dec.) but still managable. Mostly crowded for nightime fireworks and Candlelight Processional. We didn't wait in like for Candlelight, but heard the music walking by. Very Nice!
There were MANY characters out! Our DD wanted to see all of them. She got pictures with ALL the princesses (except Ariel, 30 minute wait was too long for us) If you are looking for princesses make sure you check inside the buildings in the World Showcase. Most of them were inside this time. Our last trip to Disney 3 years ago, they didn't have as many princesses out. Guess they are getting to be VERY popular.
We did the princess breakfast in Norway. I can't say it was worth the money. The princesses spent no more than about 20-30 seconds at each table and then they were gone. We spent more time with them when we saw them around the parks. And the food wasn't that great. My DD doesn't like eggs and bacon and that's what they had. So if you want to save money just see the princesses in the parks and skip the breakfast.
Other places we ate were Rainforest Cafe. Food was really good here. Used one lunch voucher and split the steak and lobster. We ordered the combo appetizer. VERY GOOD!!
50's Prime Time Cafe - Great fun! We had Cousin Brenda, she was so good! My DD told me she didn't want anyone to sings Happy Birthday to her. But Brenda saw her button before I could tell her not to sing. She started to tell everyone in the restaurant that it was my DD birthday. I grabbed her arm and told her not to have everyone sing. So she turns to the reastaurant and says real loudly "We have a birthday, but we are not going to celebrate it!" My DD thought that was pretty funny! Also DD thought it was funny that her Dad got yelled at for having his elbows on the table!
Le Cellier - We used another an adult and a child voucher here. DD had New York Strip and I had the kids sirloin. Both were cooked perfectly. They brought out the Smores dessert for my DD on a plate with Happy Birhtday written in chocolate and pretty colored swirled gel. All the wait staff signed a card for her.
Crystal Palace - We had a PS for lunch, but weren't that hungry at the time, so we didn't eat a lot here. The chicken and mushroom alfredo was DELICIOUS!! Also got a cupcake for DD birthday and Pooh, Tigger,Eeyore and Piglet all signed a card. The table was decorated with confetti and streamers. Very good character interaction here!
Highlights of the trip - DD(7) rode Tower of Terror for first time. As long as we held on to her "as tight as we could".
- seeing DD reaction to meeting Belle and the Beast (her faves)
- Belle mouthing Happy Birhtday to DD during parade
- DD loved trading pins with CM's. She started with 2 free with our package, bought 2 Belle and the Beast ones that she wouldn't trade. Traded the free ones for more Belle and princesses, and was given 2 free pins from different CM's. Ended up with 6 pins for the price of 2! Not to bad.
- Finding all the Hidden Mickeys at AKL. They give you a certificate and a Hidden Mickey button when you turn in your paper!
Lowlights of the trip - nightime crowds.
- rude people standing in the front row of the Cinderella's castle show, when everyone behind them was sitting on the ground. They stood up for the whole show. My hubby was going to take a picture of their butts (pretty big) and show them just what they looked like to everyone behind them!! Haha!
- crowds at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Ride lines were short, but crowds for the shows and parades were impossible!!
- waiting in the perfect spot for parades for 30 minutes prior to the parade and then having people cram in at the last minute and try to push up front. That makes me so mad!! We got there early and staked out our spot and then latecomers think they can just push everyone else aside. We stood our ground though. People probably thought I was rude for not moving over, but hey! I got there early, so you stand back!! Anyone agree with me!
OK, I've rattled on enough. I'll be glad to answer any question anyone might have.
This trip was for DD 7th birthday. We got her a birthday button at each park and she wore them the whole week. It was really nice that all the CM's would tell her Happy Birthday, and even characters in the parades would mouth it to her. Made her feel very special! Especially when Belle and Snow White said it and waved right at her! She would turn to me and just smile!! It really made for a great birthday week. She even got 2 free pins from different CM's because she was wearing the buttons. So if you are celebrating a birthday, definitely pick up the buttons, it's worth all the extra attention. And don't just wear it on the birthday, wear it all week. CM's don't care if it isn't actually your birthday. My DD was Wed., and on Sat. she still had her buttons on. One CM wished her a Happy Birthday and we told him it was actually on Wed. He said "No problem, everyday is your birthday at Disney!" And then he gave her a sticker. Also, at the different restaurants, the waiters will all sign a card and give it to the birhtday person.
Overall, the trip was great! It was perfect weather all week. The parks were a little more crowded than I was expecting (first week of Dec.) but still managable. Mostly crowded for nightime fireworks and Candlelight Processional. We didn't wait in like for Candlelight, but heard the music walking by. Very Nice!
There were MANY characters out! Our DD wanted to see all of them. She got pictures with ALL the princesses (except Ariel, 30 minute wait was too long for us) If you are looking for princesses make sure you check inside the buildings in the World Showcase. Most of them were inside this time. Our last trip to Disney 3 years ago, they didn't have as many princesses out. Guess they are getting to be VERY popular.
We did the princess breakfast in Norway. I can't say it was worth the money. The princesses spent no more than about 20-30 seconds at each table and then they were gone. We spent more time with them when we saw them around the parks. And the food wasn't that great. My DD doesn't like eggs and bacon and that's what they had. So if you want to save money just see the princesses in the parks and skip the breakfast.
Other places we ate were Rainforest Cafe. Food was really good here. Used one lunch voucher and split the steak and lobster. We ordered the combo appetizer. VERY GOOD!!
50's Prime Time Cafe - Great fun! We had Cousin Brenda, she was so good! My DD told me she didn't want anyone to sings Happy Birthday to her. But Brenda saw her button before I could tell her not to sing. She started to tell everyone in the restaurant that it was my DD birthday. I grabbed her arm and told her not to have everyone sing. So she turns to the reastaurant and says real loudly "We have a birthday, but we are not going to celebrate it!" My DD thought that was pretty funny! Also DD thought it was funny that her Dad got yelled at for having his elbows on the table!
Le Cellier - We used another an adult and a child voucher here. DD had New York Strip and I had the kids sirloin. Both were cooked perfectly. They brought out the Smores dessert for my DD on a plate with Happy Birhtday written in chocolate and pretty colored swirled gel. All the wait staff signed a card for her.
Crystal Palace - We had a PS for lunch, but weren't that hungry at the time, so we didn't eat a lot here. The chicken and mushroom alfredo was DELICIOUS!! Also got a cupcake for DD birthday and Pooh, Tigger,Eeyore and Piglet all signed a card. The table was decorated with confetti and streamers. Very good character interaction here!
Highlights of the trip - DD(7) rode Tower of Terror for first time. As long as we held on to her "as tight as we could".
- seeing DD reaction to meeting Belle and the Beast (her faves)
- Belle mouthing Happy Birhtday to DD during parade
- DD loved trading pins with CM's. She started with 2 free with our package, bought 2 Belle and the Beast ones that she wouldn't trade. Traded the free ones for more Belle and princesses, and was given 2 free pins from different CM's. Ended up with 6 pins for the price of 2! Not to bad.
- Finding all the Hidden Mickeys at AKL. They give you a certificate and a Hidden Mickey button when you turn in your paper!
Lowlights of the trip - nightime crowds.
- rude people standing in the front row of the Cinderella's castle show, when everyone behind them was sitting on the ground. They stood up for the whole show. My hubby was going to take a picture of their butts (pretty big) and show them just what they looked like to everyone behind them!! Haha!
- crowds at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Ride lines were short, but crowds for the shows and parades were impossible!!
- waiting in the perfect spot for parades for 30 minutes prior to the parade and then having people cram in at the last minute and try to push up front. That makes me so mad!! We got there early and staked out our spot and then latecomers think they can just push everyone else aside. We stood our ground though. People probably thought I was rude for not moving over, but hey! I got there early, so you stand back!! Anyone agree with me!
OK, I've rattled on enough. I'll be glad to answer any question anyone might have.
