TigrLvsPooh
Travel Channel's Ultimate Disney Fan
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2001
- Messages
- 12,074
What a fabulous vacation!!!! No matter how many times we go to Disney we never get sick of it. 
Ive got so much to report I dont know where to start! LOL
Day 1 (April 26th)
We arrived in Orlando very late, 11 pm, and went straight from the airport to our hotel. We decided to rent a car this time and we ended up with a Buick Century. It was OK but we really needed a mini van for all our BSE (baby support equipment). LOL I ended up holding one of the suitcases in my lap!
The first 2 nights we stayed at the Westgate Lakes Resort in a 4-bedroom villa with my dhs family. There were 14 of us, 8 adults and 6 kids ages 7, 6, 3, 2, 2, and 10 months.
What an experience. The resort was nice, 4 large bedrooms 3 downstairs and 1 upstairs, 4 bathrooms, a full kitchen, a 54 TV in the living room, a huge roman Jacuzzi tub, and lots of other amenities, but we still couldnt wait to get on property.
Day 2 (April 27th)
Up early that morning all 14 of us!
We had breakfast in the villa and then headed out in 3 cars to the Magic Kingdom. Can I just say again how much I hate staying off property! We drove to the TTC, got on those God-awful trams, and then took the ferry to MK. It was only 9 am but already near 90 degrees. This was one of the hottest trips to Disney weve ever taken. Once we got to the park the crowds werent too bad. We stopped in at the Main Street Bakery for some muffins and juice before the heading over to Town Hall to take the Family Magic Tour. This tour is actually a scavenger hunt through the MK looking for Captain Hooks hook. My Mom and I were the only ones who decided to skip the tour
dh, the kids, and the rest of the family all went. While they were on the tour my Mom and I took in some rides (Pirates, Haunted Mansion, TTA, Alien Encounter). As you can see shes not a fan of roller coasters, or anything that moves too quickly! We had fun
a nice Mother/Daughter bonding experience. We stopped to have a Dole Whip and took in a few shops. Then we met up with the rest of the group. They were all very cranky and disappointed with the tour. Basically they just said it was dumb, and a total waste of money. I secretly laughed to myself because I had a feeling it would be stupid. So we all headed to Cosmic Rays for some lunch. Why is that place always so crowded??? The line for hamburgers is always HUGE! After lunch we did Buzz Lightyear (my sons favorite) Space Mountain, Dumbo, Small World, and a few other things. I think my body was in shock from the heat. It had been so cold at home; thank goodness I brought sleeveless shirts. I think everyone in the park was carrying around one of those fans that spray water. You can actually enjoy cooling off just by standing next to someone who has one. LOL
Around 5 pm we headed to Ohana for dinner. I never get tired of eating there the food is so yummy, and the kids love it too. My 2 year old loved the coconut races and the hula-hoop contest. Personally, I just cant get enough of those shrimp wontons and chicken wings! The pork and turkey were also very good. Oh, and the shrimp! I guess you could just say everything was great. Its a great place to go if you have a big group because they can seat you all together. After dinner we headed back to the resort. We were still so tired from traveling the day before we really needed a good nights sleep.
Day 3 (April 28)
Finally!!! We checked out of Westgate Lakes and headed over to Old Key West. None of us had stayed at OKW before so we had no idea what to expect. Having stayed at several other Disney resorts I have to say that OKW is my new favorite so far. It was awesome!!! The CMs were wonderful, check-in was a breeze, and our 2 bedroom villa was heavenly!!! I doubt we will EVER stay anywhere else from now on. We were in building 62
its one of the newer buildings, right next to the Hospitality House. We parked our car right out in front of the elevator, went up to the 3rd floor, and came out right at our front door. Could this have been any easier?? Our villa was incredible. I couldnt believe how much bigger it was than BWV. It must have been double the square footage. When I think about all the money we have spent in the past for deluxe resorts like the GF and BWI I feel sick. Never again will we stay in a tiny room when we can have a home right at WDW. My brother in law and his family bought into DVC later that afternoon
he was thrilled! Im sure dh and I will buy someday soon also. As far as Im concerned OKW is the only place to stay at WDW.
We spent the day at MGM. Rockin Roller Coaster is definitely my favorite ride at Disney. I just cant get enough of it. The second time we rode we had Dude Looks Like a Lady which just makes the ride even better. DH and I always argue about whether to sit in the front or the back. Personally I like the front better, but dh thinks that back is faster. So we had to ride twice! LOL
The kids loved Beauty and the Beast and the Playhouse Disney show. Oh, and meeting Buzz and Woody outside Als Toy Barn was definitely a highlight. My 2-year-old son went up to Woody and said, Theres a snake in my boot. It was so precious. We ended up buying just about every Buzz Lightyear thing they had at Disney! I dont know how we got it all home. LOL Next we had lunch at Pizza Planet, and then headed over for Rockin Roller Coaster AGAIN!!
After that we decided to head back to OKW to let the kids rest, while they slept the grown-ups could hit the bar! I was still in shock about how wonderful our villa was. I miss it so much already; I cant wait to get back there again. We could sit on the porch and watch the golfers to our right and a huge fountain to our left. Great views! DH enjoyed heckling the golfers when they hit the ball in the water. LOL I dont want to say too many great things about OKW because it might get too popular! LOL So dont stay there! LOL
That evening we had dinner at the Concourse Steakhouse. This was also a first for us. I was pleasantly surprised by the food quality and we could see the characters over at Chef Mickeys through the crack in the wall, and the monorail went right over our heads. Ill have a full dining report ready soon.
After dinner we headed over to MK for the Spectromagic parade, which was as great as ever, but as soon as it ended the kids were exhausted and ready for bed.
Day 4 (April 29)
Now on to the Animal Kingdom we got our fast passes for the Safari and then headed over to Tusker House from some yummy cinnamon rolls. This has become a tradition for us every time we go to AK. They are just too good to pass up. After we ate we watched some native dancers that were out front they were quite good.
The safari was one of the best EVER! A Giraffe came running toward the jeep and practically jumped right in! Lots of animals were very close to the road and easy to see. My 2 year old was thrilled. Its funny how sometimes you hardly see any animals and other times they are everywhere. Oh, and those upside down trees STILL didnt have any leaves
the guide always says they bloom 3 months out of the year, but its never during any of our trips. LOL
After that we headed to DinoLand. We tried the 2 new rides, both were good, and then I went on a mission to win my son a triceratops from one of the carnival games. LOL It only took 3 attempts totaling $6, so I was pretty proud of myself. After that we walked right onto Dinosaur with no wait. I love going during the off-season. No crowds, and no lines.
We had lunch over at the Breakfastasaurus place the kids were thrilled with their Carnotaurus Happy Meal toys, and the McDonalds fries were excellent. Even better than McDonalds at home. How do they do that?? LOL After lunch we saw several characters on our walk over to Its Tough to be a Bug. I was surprised to see so many of them out in the extreme heat. We saw Pluto, Chip and Dale, Terk, and a BIG dinosaur. My son actually liked the ugly thing and gave it a big hug! LOL
After AK we headed back to heaven, oh, I mean OKW! The kids took naps while the grown-ups hit the bar again. I thoroughly enjoyed ALL my Pina Coladas
and we probably could have stayed there all night but we had to get to 1900 Park Fare for our PS time. Dinner was OK
we only go for the characters because we know the food is pretty yucky. I swore to dh that it would be our last time eating there because its such a waste of money. But the kids did enjoy Pooh and friends, so I guess its not a total loss. After dinner we watched the Fantasy in the Sky fireworks from Gasparilla Grill at the GF. Its a good location for our kids since they are so young and afraid of the loud booms. By the time it was over we were all exhausted and ready to go back to the room.
Day 5 (April 30)
Back to MK to finish up all the rides we missed. We stopped by the Main St. Bakery again, had to have another muffin, and then got fast passes for Pooh. The crowds were thin so we were able to ride Buzz, Pooh, Peter Pan, Dumbo, Small World, Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, etc without waiting more than 5-10 minutes for each ride. Can I say again that I love going in the off-season??? A person can really get spoiled. We had lunch at Columbia Harbor House, which is a great place in my opinion for a quick and cheap lunch. After MK we headed back to MGM to finish up a few things there that we didnt see before. The Stars in Motorcars Parade has got to be the best parade in Disney history! So many great characters, and I love those cars. My 2-year-old son was in heaven with the Toy Story characters. I think the highlight of my trip is just watching him.
After the parade we had a PS for 50s Prime Time. Its a family favorite for us, and luckily we had a great server. Ill have more info on my dining report about the food.
We topped off the day with The Great Movie Ride, Tower of Terror, Rockin Roller Coaster, and Fantasmic! Another great Disney day. Oh, and I just wanted to add that we never had a problem getting a bus to OKW. There was always one either waiting for us or coming within 5 minutes. It was nice because they were never too crowded, and we always got off at the first stop.
After we got the kids to bed dh and I headed to DTD/PI. It was great having my Mom with us
she helped out so much with the kids and did lots of free babysitting. Having the 2 bedroom villa made it easy for us to come and go as we pleased
. We could watch TV late at night, take a Jacuzzi, or do whatever we wanted without worrying about waking anyone. What could be better than that???
Day 6 (May 1)
This was our last full day at WDW, why does it always go so fast??
We started the day at AK
we had a few things there to finish up that we hadnt seen yet. We really enjoyed the Festival of the Lion King
what a great production. No matter how many times we go to the parks it seems like we can never see it all. I think thats what makes it such a great vacation
there is always something new to see or do.
Next we headed to Epcot. I was surprised to see how much my kids enjoyed the attractions there. They are both under age 3, but they really liked Spaceship Earth, The Living Seas, and The Land. And of course dh and I loved Test Track! We grabbed lunch at the Electric Umbrella, which was pretty good, and then headed over to the Boardwalk area to kill some time before our dinner PS at Palios. We went over to the model of the BCV room but quickly decided that we preferred OKW. I think the villas are about double the size, and we really like parking right in front of our room. Renting points is really great because you can get all the benefits of being a DVC member without paying for it. Well probably just keep renting for the next couple of years until we can afford to buy in. DHs brother bought 270 points so we might rent some points from them next year.
Dinner that night was at Palios. My favorite! I had my usual, the Lobster Tortellini
yummmmm!!!! The strolling musicians were just loud enough to drown out the sounds coming from our 10-month-old son. I think this restaurant gets a bad rap
the food is wonderful and the atmosphere is unique. I think its perfect for families early in the evening, and very romantic for couples later, after dark.
After dinner we went to DTD for shopping and Ghiardellis. DH and I broke down and bought a ton of stuff at the Gourmet Pantry. We have always wanted to do a Disney kitchen so we bought all the blue and white Mickey kitchen accessories canister set, spoon holder, oven mitt, bowls, hot pads, etc. I cant wait to get it all set up. Its going to go well with our Mickey toaster. LOL Next stop was the World of Disney. Had to get all our souvenirs. Then on to Ghirardellis for yummy ice cream sundaes!! We ended up keeping the boys out until about 10:30 that night! Actually they were really well behaved; maybe they knew it was our last night? LOL
Day 7 (May 2)
Boo Hoo!!!! I dont want to go home. I think I could stay for months and never be ready to leave. LOL We packed up the car and headed over to the Poly for a farewell breakfast at the Kona Café. While sitting there we just talked about our next trip to WDW in October
I think it kept us from being sad. We have now realized that we are total Disney fanatics and that there is no cure for our disease. LOL
Our flight home was fine, and now were back safe and sound. If anyone has any questions about our room at OKW or any of the restaurants we ate at please feel free to ask.
Ive got so much to report I dont know where to start! LOLDay 1 (April 26th)
We arrived in Orlando very late, 11 pm, and went straight from the airport to our hotel. We decided to rent a car this time and we ended up with a Buick Century. It was OK but we really needed a mini van for all our BSE (baby support equipment). LOL
I ended up holding one of the suitcases in my lap! The first 2 nights we stayed at the Westgate Lakes Resort in a 4-bedroom villa with my dhs family. There were 14 of us, 8 adults and 6 kids ages 7, 6, 3, 2, 2, and 10 months.
What an experience. The resort was nice, 4 large bedrooms 3 downstairs and 1 upstairs, 4 bathrooms, a full kitchen, a 54 TV in the living room, a huge roman Jacuzzi tub, and lots of other amenities, but we still couldnt wait to get on property. Day 2 (April 27th)
Up early that morning all 14 of us!
We had breakfast in the villa and then headed out in 3 cars to the Magic Kingdom. Can I just say again how much I hate staying off property! We drove to the TTC, got on those God-awful trams, and then took the ferry to MK. It was only 9 am but already near 90 degrees. This was one of the hottest trips to Disney weve ever taken. Once we got to the park the crowds werent too bad. We stopped in at the Main Street Bakery for some muffins and juice before the heading over to Town Hall to take the Family Magic Tour. This tour is actually a scavenger hunt through the MK looking for Captain Hooks hook. My Mom and I were the only ones who decided to skip the tour
dh, the kids, and the rest of the family all went. While they were on the tour my Mom and I took in some rides (Pirates, Haunted Mansion, TTA, Alien Encounter). As you can see shes not a fan of roller coasters, or anything that moves too quickly! We had fun
a nice Mother/Daughter bonding experience. We stopped to have a Dole Whip and took in a few shops. Then we met up with the rest of the group. They were all very cranky and disappointed with the tour. Basically they just said it was dumb, and a total waste of money. I secretly laughed to myself because I had a feeling it would be stupid. So we all headed to Cosmic Rays for some lunch. Why is that place always so crowded??? The line for hamburgers is always HUGE! After lunch we did Buzz Lightyear (my sons favorite) Space Mountain, Dumbo, Small World, and a few other things. I think my body was in shock from the heat. It had been so cold at home; thank goodness I brought sleeveless shirts. I think everyone in the park was carrying around one of those fans that spray water. You can actually enjoy cooling off just by standing next to someone who has one. LOL Around 5 pm we headed to Ohana for dinner. I never get tired of eating there the food is so yummy, and the kids love it too. My 2 year old loved the coconut races and the hula-hoop contest. Personally, I just cant get enough of those shrimp wontons and chicken wings!
The pork and turkey were also very good. Oh, and the shrimp! I guess you could just say everything was great. Its a great place to go if you have a big group because they can seat you all together. After dinner we headed back to the resort. We were still so tired from traveling the day before we really needed a good nights sleep.Day 3 (April 28)
Finally!!! We checked out of Westgate Lakes and headed over to Old Key West. None of us had stayed at OKW before so we had no idea what to expect. Having stayed at several other Disney resorts I have to say that OKW is my new favorite so far. It was awesome!!!
The CMs were wonderful, check-in was a breeze, and our 2 bedroom villa was heavenly!!! I doubt we will EVER stay anywhere else from now on. We were in building 62
its one of the newer buildings, right next to the Hospitality House. We parked our car right out in front of the elevator, went up to the 3rd floor, and came out right at our front door. Could this have been any easier?? Our villa was incredible. I couldnt believe how much bigger it was than BWV. It must have been double the square footage. When I think about all the money we have spent in the past for deluxe resorts like the GF and BWI I feel sick. Never again will we stay in a tiny room when we can have a home right at WDW. My brother in law and his family bought into DVC later that afternoon
he was thrilled! Im sure dh and I will buy someday soon also. As far as Im concerned OKW is the only place to stay at WDW.We spent the day at MGM. Rockin Roller Coaster is definitely my favorite ride at Disney. I just cant get enough of it. The second time we rode we had Dude Looks Like a Lady which just makes the ride even better. DH and I always argue about whether to sit in the front or the back. Personally I like the front better, but dh thinks that back is faster. So we had to ride twice! LOL
The kids loved Beauty and the Beast and the Playhouse Disney show. Oh, and meeting Buzz and Woody outside Als Toy Barn was definitely a highlight. My 2-year-old son went up to Woody and said, Theres a snake in my boot.
It was so precious. We ended up buying just about every Buzz Lightyear thing they had at Disney! I dont know how we got it all home. LOL Next we had lunch at Pizza Planet, and then headed over for Rockin Roller Coaster AGAIN!! After that we decided to head back to OKW to let the kids rest, while they slept the grown-ups could hit the bar!
I was still in shock about how wonderful our villa was. I miss it so much already; I cant wait to get back there again. We could sit on the porch and watch the golfers to our right and a huge fountain to our left. Great views! DH enjoyed heckling the golfers when they hit the ball in the water. LOL I dont want to say too many great things about OKW because it might get too popular! LOL So dont stay there! LOL That evening we had dinner at the Concourse Steakhouse. This was also a first for us. I was pleasantly surprised by the food quality and we could see the characters over at Chef Mickeys through the crack in the wall, and the monorail went right over our heads. Ill have a full dining report ready soon.
After dinner we headed over to MK for the Spectromagic parade, which was as great as ever, but as soon as it ended the kids were exhausted and ready for bed.
Day 4 (April 29)
Now on to the Animal Kingdom we got our fast passes for the Safari and then headed over to Tusker House from some yummy cinnamon rolls. This has become a tradition for us every time we go to AK. They are just too good to pass up. After we ate we watched some native dancers that were out front they were quite good.
The safari was one of the best EVER! A Giraffe came running toward the jeep and practically jumped right in!
Lots of animals were very close to the road and easy to see. My 2 year old was thrilled. Its funny how sometimes you hardly see any animals and other times they are everywhere. Oh, and those upside down trees STILL didnt have any leaves
the guide always says they bloom 3 months out of the year, but its never during any of our trips. LOL After that we headed to DinoLand. We tried the 2 new rides, both were good, and then I went on a mission to win my son a triceratops from one of the carnival games. LOL
It only took 3 attempts totaling $6, so I was pretty proud of myself. After that we walked right onto Dinosaur with no wait. I love going during the off-season. No crowds, and no lines. We had lunch over at the Breakfastasaurus place the kids were thrilled with their Carnotaurus Happy Meal toys, and the McDonalds fries were excellent. Even better than McDonalds at home. How do they do that?? LOL
After lunch we saw several characters on our walk over to Its Tough to be a Bug. I was surprised to see so many of them out in the extreme heat. We saw Pluto, Chip and Dale, Terk, and a BIG dinosaur. My son actually liked the ugly thing and gave it a big hug! LOL After AK we headed back to heaven, oh, I mean OKW!
The kids took naps while the grown-ups hit the bar again. I thoroughly enjoyed ALL my Pina Coladas
and we probably could have stayed there all night but we had to get to 1900 Park Fare for our PS time. Dinner was OK
we only go for the characters because we know the food is pretty yucky. I swore to dh that it would be our last time eating there because its such a waste of money. But the kids did enjoy Pooh and friends, so I guess its not a total loss. After dinner we watched the Fantasy in the Sky fireworks from Gasparilla Grill at the GF. Its a good location for our kids since they are so young and afraid of the loud booms. By the time it was over we were all exhausted and ready to go back to the room.Day 5 (April 30)
Back to MK to finish up all the rides we missed. We stopped by the Main St. Bakery again, had to have another muffin, and then got fast passes for Pooh. The crowds were thin so we were able to ride Buzz, Pooh, Peter Pan, Dumbo, Small World, Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, etc without waiting more than 5-10 minutes for each ride. Can I say again that I love going in the off-season???
A person can really get spoiled. We had lunch at Columbia Harbor House, which is a great place in my opinion for a quick and cheap lunch. After MK we headed back to MGM to finish up a few things there that we didnt see before. The Stars in Motorcars Parade has got to be the best parade in Disney history! So many great characters, and I love those cars. My 2-year-old son was in heaven with the Toy Story characters. I think the highlight of my trip is just watching him. After the parade we had a PS for 50s Prime Time. Its a family favorite for us, and luckily we had a great server. Ill have more info on my dining report about the food.
We topped off the day with The Great Movie Ride, Tower of Terror, Rockin Roller Coaster, and Fantasmic! Another great Disney day.
Oh, and I just wanted to add that we never had a problem getting a bus to OKW. There was always one either waiting for us or coming within 5 minutes. It was nice because they were never too crowded, and we always got off at the first stop. After we got the kids to bed dh and I headed to DTD/PI.
It was great having my Mom with us
she helped out so much with the kids and did lots of free babysitting. Having the 2 bedroom villa made it easy for us to come and go as we pleased
. We could watch TV late at night, take a Jacuzzi, or do whatever we wanted without worrying about waking anyone. What could be better than that??? Day 6 (May 1)
This was our last full day at WDW, why does it always go so fast??
We started the day at AK
we had a few things there to finish up that we hadnt seen yet. We really enjoyed the Festival of the Lion King
what a great production. No matter how many times we go to the parks it seems like we can never see it all. I think thats what makes it such a great vacation
there is always something new to see or do. Next we headed to Epcot. I was surprised to see how much my kids enjoyed the attractions there. They are both under age 3, but they really liked Spaceship Earth, The Living Seas, and The Land. And of course dh and I loved Test Track! We grabbed lunch at the Electric Umbrella, which was pretty good, and then headed over to the Boardwalk area to kill some time before our dinner PS at Palios. We went over to the model of the BCV room but quickly decided that we preferred OKW. I think the villas are about double the size, and we really like parking right in front of our room. Renting points is really great because you can get all the benefits of being a DVC member without paying for it. Well probably just keep renting for the next couple of years until we can afford to buy in. DHs brother bought 270 points so we might rent some points from them next year.
Dinner that night was at Palios. My favorite!
I had my usual, the Lobster Tortellini
yummmmm!!!! The strolling musicians were just loud enough to drown out the sounds coming from our 10-month-old son. I think this restaurant gets a bad rap
the food is wonderful and the atmosphere is unique. I think its perfect for families early in the evening, and very romantic for couples later, after dark. After dinner we went to DTD for shopping and Ghiardellis. DH and I broke down and bought a ton of stuff at the Gourmet Pantry. We have always wanted to do a Disney kitchen so we bought all the blue and white Mickey kitchen accessories canister set, spoon holder, oven mitt, bowls, hot pads, etc. I cant wait to get it all set up. Its going to go well with our Mickey toaster. LOL Next stop was the World of Disney. Had to get all our souvenirs.
Then on to Ghirardellis for yummy ice cream sundaes!! We ended up keeping the boys out until about 10:30 that night! Actually they were really well behaved; maybe they knew it was our last night? LOL Day 7 (May 2)
Boo Hoo!!!! I dont want to go home.
I think I could stay for months and never be ready to leave. LOL We packed up the car and headed over to the Poly for a farewell breakfast at the Kona Café. While sitting there we just talked about our next trip to WDW in October
I think it kept us from being sad. We have now realized that we are total Disney fanatics and that there is no cure for our disease. LOL Our flight home was fine, and now were back safe and sound. If anyone has any questions about our room at OKW or any of the restaurants we ate at please feel free to ask.
My brother-in-law and his family were in 6227!! 
