Just Back...Had a GREAT TIME!

[LuvTheMagic985]

OK here's my trip report.....Feb.24th - Mar.3rd Our family of 3 (DH, myself, & DD-age 11) joined by DD's friend (also 11), DC (8yrs), DB-26yrs, and his GF-24yrs....we all road down together from New Orleans to Orlando Thursday morning. We arrived around 1am at the Westgate Lakes Resort and Spa. Initially I wanted to stay onsite and had reservations but when my brother's girlfriends parents offered their condo for free, we bit. The place was really nice but I have to confess me and my DH was missing that Disney feel we love sooo much. Check in was a breeze and no one bothered us the whole trip.

Anyway... Our first day we went to Disney Studios. Now I was very worried cuz I read TGM and was told Sat. is the worst day to go, but I already had made ressies and it was too late to turn back. Around 11am the park seemed to get crowded but we never waited longer than 15 min. to ride anything. We spent the morning riding TOT and RR (3x's)..ate a turkey leg for breakfast! Then caught the new Stunt Show. This was new for us, it was done last Feb. Everyone in our party loved it. I think it is great addition to the park. We had a quick, quiet lunch at Toy Stories Pizza Planet. The kids thought it was great. We finished up the rest of the park rides and shows and had a late supper @ Sci-Fi. The kids got to sit in their own cars and order as they liked and thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. We also had a wonderful waiter who would yell and act crazy everytime a monster came on the screen. As far as food goes...the kids ordered off the kid's menu and had the 'famous' shakes...they loved everything!(WEIRD) I had Artichoke/spinach dip (i know...for supper?) my stomach was flip floppin after all the rides & I didn't want a big meal, I enjoyed it...not as good as some I've had though. My DH and DB had the ribs...they both said they were OK. My DB gf had the penne pasta and LOVED it. We skipped desert...we were all tired and full!

2nd day...Animal Kingdom
On entering the park we noticed everyone and their brother heading to the right which is somewhat unusual cuz most go straight to Africa to Safari. I figured out quickly...Everest was up in action! We sent my DH and DB to fast pass it and let the kids play in the Dig and ride Primal Whirl while wait'n...then we headed toward Everest. I have to say...it is impressive..u can see the mountain from almost everywhere in the park. My stomach was in knots cuz I am a big chicken...but on we went...ALL of us. It was a great ride! Did I ride it again? NOPE...too many drops for me but I am glad I did it once. It was a great combination of show and ride mixed together. And it has to be the smoothest coaster I've ever been on. The kids however..begged and pleaded to go on again and again. The Safari was great since it was a nice cool day ..all the animals were out everywhere we went. Again...we waited in very short lines for each ride or show. We ended the day at Rainforest Cafe...which I have to say thinks they are feeding humongus appetites. They're serving sizes are enormus. I ordered chicken casadillas, which was mediocer. My DH had Pot Roast w/ potatoes...which I sampled and was fabulous. My DB had the sampler platter but was unimpressed (I think he was expecting Chille's) the kids all ate off the kid menu and again liked everything. Supper was getting too easy...what happened to my finiky eaters? Hmm...anyways headed back to the resort.

Day3...Islands of Adventure
Ok this is a Disney forum..so I'll be brief. We got there early around 8:30am...unexpectedly only a few rides were open. Seems IOA doesn't open the majority of rides until 11am...go figure? My nephew was devastated because at IOA you have to be over 58" to ride..putting him under the height requirement for all of the roller coasters. We ended the day early and ate back at the resort for supper at the Smokehouse Grill, which took forever, later it was hot and the kids hit the pools.

Day4....Magic Kingdom (mardi gras day)
Again was expecting the worst due to TGM's guide but I was pleasantly surprised at how uncrowded the parks were turning out to be. We headed straight to Tommorrowland (which again..we NEVER do) the kids rode SM twice and then FP'd Buzz and we continued on the day. Lunch was had at Cosmic Ray's. Then the highlight of the day...my DD found the paint brush on the frontier island! She was so estatic! I was upset because they took the certificate before I had a chance to get a pic of her with it at SplashMountain. We ended the day back over in Tommorrowland up on the balcony area out front of the Noodle place. It was the most perfect place we'd ever caught the fireworks before. I'd recommend it to everyone. No obstructions and a perfectly clear view of the castle! We sat until it was over and after Main Street cleared and was able to grab some beautiful shots of the castle at night without any heads in the picture. LOL We had a late night back at the hotel and had Pizza Hut...aghhhh..can u say GREASE?

Day4...Universal Studios
Again off the Disney forum ...but the day was short...we were tired..the lines were long...they don't treat you the same ....and I was unnerved by the opening to Shrek in which the narrator referred to Donkey and the Dragon as "finally getting it on". Sure the kids missed it, and lord knows I curse like a sailor around mine, but what about the other ppl who aren't like me? Again..too used to Disney. We left around 2pm and went spend the rest of the afternoon @ the hotel pools.

Overall we had a great trip and I love Disney...just wish I'd have ended it with Disney instead of Universal. Next time I'll remember! Sorry it was sooo long.

 

[marcotter]

Hi!! If you dont mind me asking, how long did it take for yall to drive from N.O. to WDW? We will be doing that in a couple months and I was trying to figure out what time to leave the night before. Thanks.

 

[shondad]

Hi!! If you dont mind me asking, how long did it take for yall to drive from N.O. to WDW? We will be doing that in a couple months and I was trying to figure out what time to leave the night before. Thanks.

I'd like to know too. We are driving from the Houston-area next year, and can get a rough estimate as to the length of time it takes to drive, though I do know some that have driven from hear. Just curious. BTW, sounds like you had fun. I'm looking into westgate and windsor hills, as possible places to stay 4-5 days after our 10day onsite stay next year, so that we can do universal.

 

[pumba]

fantastic report and thanks for the food reviews too......Sounds like you all had a great time .....

 

[lillygator]

sounds like a great time!

 

[LuvTheMagic985]

Hi!! If you dont mind me asking, how long did it take for yall to drive from N.O. to WDW? We will be doing that in a couple months and I was trying to figure out what time to leave the night before. Thanks.

It actually took us 12 hours to get there...however, we hit morning commute traffic from our area into New Orleans around 8am...which set us back about an hour (Causeway traffic is back to it's usual bump and grind, we thought it'd be light since the hurricane...NOPE!). I'd try to schedule heading through New Orleans in the very early morning before 6am or late evening after 7pm. Also we hit a horrible accident right before the Ponchatrain bridge which again held us up for like 40 minutes. It only took us 9 hours to get home. We live in Houma...about 45 minutes south of N.O. and hubby has a heavy foot.

 

[LuvTheMagic985]

I'd like to know too. We are driving from the Houston-area next year, and can get a rough estimate as to the length of time it takes to drive, though I do know some that have driven from hear. Just curious. BTW, sounds like you had fun. I'm looking into westgate and windsor hills, as possible places to stay 4-5 days after our 10day onsite stay next year, so that we can do universal.

U can add about 5hrs to my time. Just a tip about the Westgate and Windsor Hill...they r very nice...don't get me wrong. But plz ck alot of rates..don't just take theirs. U can book these places for like $45 night. We used a vacation club to stay there, but in checking into it, I found lots of better rates than the ones their websites were offering. Also don't expect lots of room service or help...u get there and fend for yourself. There are also NO buses or shuttles to take u to the parks. However, they did have an area set up to purchase park passes, but I never saw anyone at them. And the resort is very spread out. The Westgate hotel is slightly different but still the same atmosphere.

 

[marcotter]

Thanks alot. Thats about what I was guessing. I was born and raised in N.O. till bout three years ago, now live in Picayune, MS., and work out of Houma area(Larose) on a tug boat, so I know all about the traffic headaches. You should have tried the Twin Spans when it was down to one side. That was fun!!

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

great report! sounds like u had a great time. :O) can you please tell me more about this paint brush that your dk found?? what is that about ? thanks!

 

[OhMari]

great report! sounds like u had a great time. :O) can you please tell me more about this paint brush that your dk found?? what is that about ? thanks!

I can help with the paint brushes.

About 5 brushes are scattered around Tom Sawyer's Island. If you are one of the first people on the island in the morning you can look for them. If you do find one, take it to a CM and the will give you a certificate and a fast pass for any ride.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

Wow...we were there the same time at the same resort!!! We almost had the same schedule, too

I agree about MGM. I thought it would have been packed crazy on a Saturday, and it did seem crowded, but hardly any waits on the rides. What did you think of Narnia? I thought it was pretty nice.

I also agree about ending the vacation with a Universal park instead of a Disney park. We did the same thing, and I feel a bit "empty" inside. I truly love both Disney and Universal, but they each give me a different feeling at the end of the day. Next time I'll end with a Disney park

You were smart hitting MK on Tuesday. It was crazy busy on Monday, but we were able to hit everything we wanted to...just no "break" in the middle of the day to refresh & recharge at our hotel.

Beautiful trip report!

 

[Minniespal]

Enjoyed reading your report ~ Thanx for posting.

 

[Disney owl]

great report, thanks for sharing

 

[byoung]

Nice report.