kidanigirl
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2009
- Messages
- 81
Well, this was an incredible surprise trip for both me and my DS10.
I totally planned it and packed for it after my DS went to bed on Thursday night, and then we left Friday morning! This past Thursday-Sunday (March 5-8) my DH was going to be out of town on business. He rarely does that, so when he does, my DS and I usually plan fun things around town to do while DH is gone. My DH left Thursday morning. Thursday afternoon I started adding up the costs of what DS wanted to do around town, and I started thinking it would not be too much more just to go to WDW since we already have annual passes. I called to see what resort rates Disney had to offer. They wanted $135/night for a value resort, and that was just a lot more than I was willing to pay to stay in a value resort. After that, I searched the internet and got a great, inexpensive rate at the Hampton Inn that is right across the street from Downtown Disney. I ended up booking that after my DS had gone to bed, so he was asleep and clueless. Friday morning I packed him a lunch (even though I knew I was picking him up early) and took him to school. I knew he had a spelling test and an English quiz, so I waited til 11:30am to pick him up. The secretary pulled him out of class, and he had no idea why I was there. I still didn't tell him. When he asked, I said, "well, before I tell you, dad needs you to call him really quickly before he gets started with his meeting." DS called DH, and DH was the one who told DS we were going to WDW. DS said, "No we're not!" I think he argued for 5 minutes until I actually passed our neighborhood and started heading toward the direction that we go to I-95. And then you should have seen the excitement when it did sink in and he believed DH. It was priceless. He was totally surprised!!
We had an uneventful trip down. However, a 6 hour trip turned into 7 hours. We hit rush hour traffic in Jacksonville around 4pm, and then heavy, heavy traffic in Orlando at 6pm. So we pulled in to our hotel exit at 6:30pm and decided not to check in and just go straight to WDW since it was closing early at 8pm. We first made a quick pit stop at the Poly, and then took a monorail from the Poly to Epcot. The sun was setting as we rode past GF and the MK. That was really pretty. When we transferred over at the TTC, we got in a new car with a mom and some kids that were heading back to Epcot. The lady with two kids asked me what attractions are open at EMH. I started listing things, and then DS started chiming in. Then he noticed the kids ages and started talking about things they would probably like. So that mom just started chatting with DS. Then she said, "Boy, I wish I could take you with me to Animal Kingdom tomorrow to give me a tour there!" So then DS started to talk about things over there. I threw in the little known fact about walking around the tree of life path, how you can see the wood carvings, kangaroos, etc... At this point, another lady nearby asked if I was a cast member. I said, "No, we just have annual passes and visit a lot." Then she said, "Just wondering because I am, and you two sure have a lot of Disney knowledge!" So then I asked her what she did. She said, "Well, I am in entertainment and parades...let's just say I am REALLY close to Chip and Dale." DS leaned over and whispered to me, "I know what she means...she IS Chip or Dale!"
After arriving at Epcot, we had to go to guest services to change our phone confirmation for annual pass renewals into real tickets. That went quickly and the CM even let me go ahead and get DH's AP too even though he wasn't even there with an ID. (That will save him time next time he goes.) (And that was her idea, not mine! I didn't even ask because I know you have to show your license to get an AP.) We headed straight back to World Showcase to get some dinner before Illuminations. We just stopped at the Mexican cantina since it was the first food we came to. By time we sat down to eat, it was 7:40, so as soon as we finished our food, Illuminations started. That was worth the drive.
Afterwards, we walked around the World Showcase. It was EMH, but since we were at the Hampton Inn we couldn't ride anything. However, the food and drink people were glad to make sales to us! After our leisurely walk around the WS, we took the monorail back over to the Poly to get our car. DS got to ride up front with the pilot, so he was loving that. After that, we headed to the hotel.
After a great night's sleep, DS picked Epcot to go back to do for part of the day. DS fell in love with the new Kim Possible Mission. We did it for 3 different countries (China, UK, and Mexico.) It was a lot of fun. It was like a scavenger hunt. The phone that they gave us had videos that showed us the clues of where we needed to go in order to catch the bad guys. After each mission, you can choose to do a new country or turn your phone back in. DS can't wait to go back and do the other missions. We also ate lunch in China at Lotus Blossom, rode the Mexico ride, the Norway ride, watched the Chinese circle vision movie, watched the World Showcase players in the UK, visited Club Cool, and rode Test Track, Soarin, and Figment before hopping over to MK around 4pm. When we got over to MK, we got a FP for Space Mountain first thing. It wasn't good until 8pm. In the meantime, we walked to the train to head to Frontierland. DS decided he wanted to ride Barnstormer before the train, so we did that. Then we took the train. Splash Mountain was 50 minute standby and BTMR was 80 min standby, and we were not eligible to get any more FP's at that time. We decided to pass on both rides. While we were right there, DS wanted to go to Tom Sawyer Island. I was so tired from the sun at this point, that I didn't care. We stopped and got some water and popcorn and headed over to TSI. DS was running around with energy like a hummingbird on Redbull, but I was content just to sit on a "rifle box", take in the scenery, relax and enjoy my bottle of water. (I did run over the barrel bridge though!!) After a while there, we walked over to POC and did not wait at all to ride. From POC, we went to Casey's for dinner. We got to see Spectromagic go by. We then took a night ride on the Jungle Cruise. DS got picked to steer the boat through the dark cave and received a skipper's license. After that, we made our way to Space Mtn and used our FP. Then we saw the fireworks. Tinkerbell flew right over our heads because we were standing on the bridge right at the entrance to Tomorrowland. We took the monorail back to Epcot to go get our car. This is where we ran into some fool that was smoking in the monorail. We jumped in the first available car since it was final boarding. It smelled like an ashtray but it was too late to change cars. Then after we started moving I realize a man is hiding a cig in his hand and taking occasional puffs. That was the longest ride ever!! How rude!!
I am very allergic to cigarette smoke. My throat started getting itchy that fast! It was good to get some fresh air when the doors opened!!
Sunday we went to AK. We didn't get over there until around 10am. We got a FP for Everest that was for noon. Then we rode Primeval Whirl, Dinosaur, and then DS ran around the Boneyard for a little while. I was glad he did that since we were going to be in the car for 6 hours later that day. Finally, we used our FP for the front row of EE. We were going to eat lunch at Restaurantosaurus, but they were closed for refurbishment. So DS just asked if we could eat at that cool McDonalds that is by the All Star resorts. We went to lunch there, filled up with gas, and headed home around 1pm.
It was such a wonderful, whirlwind weekend. I couldn't have asked for better weather. The crowds were not terrible even though the Princess Race was going on. It was a fun mother/son trip! (However, can't wait to go back with our whole family in May.) And...I'm pretty proud of my navigation skills since that is the first time I have ever driven around Disney property!!
I totally planned it and packed for it after my DS went to bed on Thursday night, and then we left Friday morning! This past Thursday-Sunday (March 5-8) my DH was going to be out of town on business. He rarely does that, so when he does, my DS and I usually plan fun things around town to do while DH is gone. My DH left Thursday morning. Thursday afternoon I started adding up the costs of what DS wanted to do around town, and I started thinking it would not be too much more just to go to WDW since we already have annual passes. I called to see what resort rates Disney had to offer. They wanted $135/night for a value resort, and that was just a lot more than I was willing to pay to stay in a value resort. After that, I searched the internet and got a great, inexpensive rate at the Hampton Inn that is right across the street from Downtown Disney. I ended up booking that after my DS had gone to bed, so he was asleep and clueless. Friday morning I packed him a lunch (even though I knew I was picking him up early) and took him to school. I knew he had a spelling test and an English quiz, so I waited til 11:30am to pick him up. The secretary pulled him out of class, and he had no idea why I was there. I still didn't tell him. When he asked, I said, "well, before I tell you, dad needs you to call him really quickly before he gets started with his meeting." DS called DH, and DH was the one who told DS we were going to WDW. DS said, "No we're not!" I think he argued for 5 minutes until I actually passed our neighborhood and started heading toward the direction that we go to I-95. And then you should have seen the excitement when it did sink in and he believed DH. It was priceless. He was totally surprised!! We had an uneventful trip down. However, a 6 hour trip turned into 7 hours. We hit rush hour traffic in Jacksonville around 4pm, and then heavy, heavy traffic in Orlando at 6pm. So we pulled in to our hotel exit at 6:30pm and decided not to check in and just go straight to WDW since it was closing early at 8pm. We first made a quick pit stop at the Poly, and then took a monorail from the Poly to Epcot. The sun was setting as we rode past GF and the MK. That was really pretty. When we transferred over at the TTC, we got in a new car with a mom and some kids that were heading back to Epcot. The lady with two kids asked me what attractions are open at EMH. I started listing things, and then DS started chiming in. Then he noticed the kids ages and started talking about things they would probably like. So that mom just started chatting with DS. Then she said, "Boy, I wish I could take you with me to Animal Kingdom tomorrow to give me a tour there!" So then DS started to talk about things over there. I threw in the little known fact about walking around the tree of life path, how you can see the wood carvings, kangaroos, etc... At this point, another lady nearby asked if I was a cast member. I said, "No, we just have annual passes and visit a lot." Then she said, "Just wondering because I am, and you two sure have a lot of Disney knowledge!" So then I asked her what she did. She said, "Well, I am in entertainment and parades...let's just say I am REALLY close to Chip and Dale." DS leaned over and whispered to me, "I know what she means...she IS Chip or Dale!"
After arriving at Epcot, we had to go to guest services to change our phone confirmation for annual pass renewals into real tickets. That went quickly and the CM even let me go ahead and get DH's AP too even though he wasn't even there with an ID. (That will save him time next time he goes.) (And that was her idea, not mine! I didn't even ask because I know you have to show your license to get an AP.) We headed straight back to World Showcase to get some dinner before Illuminations. We just stopped at the Mexican cantina since it was the first food we came to. By time we sat down to eat, it was 7:40, so as soon as we finished our food, Illuminations started. That was worth the drive.
Afterwards, we walked around the World Showcase. It was EMH, but since we were at the Hampton Inn we couldn't ride anything. However, the food and drink people were glad to make sales to us! After our leisurely walk around the WS, we took the monorail back over to the Poly to get our car. DS got to ride up front with the pilot, so he was loving that. After that, we headed to the hotel. After a great night's sleep, DS picked Epcot to go back to do for part of the day. DS fell in love with the new Kim Possible Mission. We did it for 3 different countries (China, UK, and Mexico.) It was a lot of fun. It was like a scavenger hunt. The phone that they gave us had videos that showed us the clues of where we needed to go in order to catch the bad guys. After each mission, you can choose to do a new country or turn your phone back in. DS can't wait to go back and do the other missions. We also ate lunch in China at Lotus Blossom, rode the Mexico ride, the Norway ride, watched the Chinese circle vision movie, watched the World Showcase players in the UK, visited Club Cool, and rode Test Track, Soarin, and Figment before hopping over to MK around 4pm. When we got over to MK, we got a FP for Space Mountain first thing. It wasn't good until 8pm. In the meantime, we walked to the train to head to Frontierland. DS decided he wanted to ride Barnstormer before the train, so we did that. Then we took the train. Splash Mountain was 50 minute standby and BTMR was 80 min standby, and we were not eligible to get any more FP's at that time. We decided to pass on both rides. While we were right there, DS wanted to go to Tom Sawyer Island. I was so tired from the sun at this point, that I didn't care. We stopped and got some water and popcorn and headed over to TSI. DS was running around with energy like a hummingbird on Redbull, but I was content just to sit on a "rifle box", take in the scenery, relax and enjoy my bottle of water. (I did run over the barrel bridge though!!) After a while there, we walked over to POC and did not wait at all to ride. From POC, we went to Casey's for dinner. We got to see Spectromagic go by. We then took a night ride on the Jungle Cruise. DS got picked to steer the boat through the dark cave and received a skipper's license. After that, we made our way to Space Mtn and used our FP. Then we saw the fireworks. Tinkerbell flew right over our heads because we were standing on the bridge right at the entrance to Tomorrowland. We took the monorail back to Epcot to go get our car. This is where we ran into some fool that was smoking in the monorail. We jumped in the first available car since it was final boarding. It smelled like an ashtray but it was too late to change cars. Then after we started moving I realize a man is hiding a cig in his hand and taking occasional puffs. That was the longest ride ever!! How rude!!
I am very allergic to cigarette smoke. My throat started getting itchy that fast! It was good to get some fresh air when the doors opened!! Sunday we went to AK. We didn't get over there until around 10am. We got a FP for Everest that was for noon. Then we rode Primeval Whirl, Dinosaur, and then DS ran around the Boneyard for a little while. I was glad he did that since we were going to be in the car for 6 hours later that day. Finally, we used our FP for the front row of EE. We were going to eat lunch at Restaurantosaurus, but they were closed for refurbishment. So DS just asked if we could eat at that cool McDonalds that is by the All Star resorts. We went to lunch there, filled up with gas, and headed home around 1pm.
It was such a wonderful, whirlwind weekend. I couldn't have asked for better weather. The crowds were not terrible even though the Princess Race was going on. It was a fun mother/son trip! (However, can't wait to go back with our whole family in May.) And...I'm pretty proud of my navigation skills since that is the first time I have ever driven around Disney property!!
