Live from SSR!

[dbprimeaux]

Well, here goes my trip report...

Day 1 - Travel Day: We had to be in New Orleans on Thurs., Nov. 20th, so we decided we would drive to Tallahassee, and send the night. Thinking we would get an extra day at Disney...By the way, I add Friday night at Port Orleans - Riverside....Then, WHAM...on our way to New Orleans we had a flat. Well, DH fixed that and we made it to New Orleans did our stuff there, and found a Sam's Club had the tire replaced, and we were on our way....several hours later...WHAM...another flat tire (actually the same tire) on the Mobile Bay Bridge in Mobile, AL. We decided to call OnStar, because it was dark and we were on a bridge...Well, DH and roadside assistant put the the spare tire on again...and we are on our way. We decide Tallahassee is just too far to travel on a spare tire, so we call and book a room in Penscola, FL. We spend the night in Penscola...

Day 2 - Travel Day: We wake up find a Sam's Club and go there and get the tire replaced, again...We travel to Tallahassee, FL visit with friends for about an hour, and then we are on our way to WDW!!! By this time it is around 6PM-ish and we are getting close to WDW, and then the traffic got HORRIBLE in Gainesville, FL. We make it to Port Orleans around 8PM-ish, check-in and have dinner at Boatwright's. Dinner was ok (we won't eat there again). We get into our room, and it is really cute. But, we realize just how spoiled to DVC we really are....LOL! Even the kids mention that they are ready to go to "our" Disney house....LOL! The biggest complaint about Port Orleans....the room was not clean, and the sheets didn't even come close to fitting the beds...I think they took twin flat sized sheets and just draped them over the mattresses....????

Day 3 - We have breakfast at Port Orleans. It was yummy!! And, then off to SSR!! We are all ready to settle in to "our" Disney home - SSR. I check in and request a DTD view at Congress Park...the CM gives me 2 building options. I choose the 1200 building. Which was no the best choice - we are far from the bus stop and our view is pine trees.... Check in was VERY quick, and the CM's were very friendly. We decided to tour the BLT models....OMG...I am in LOVE!! I am so ready to add-on. And, before seeing the models...I was like - I am NEVER buying at BLT. The models are SOOOOOOO much better than the pictures!!!! Well, we decide to think about adding-on while we are here this week... Then, off to MK we go. We had no wait for the bus. MK was great - the crowds were light/medium throughout the day...The only thing we waited an hour for was the NEW Pixie Hollow to see Tinker Bell, but it was worth the wait. It is GREAT!! We had early dinner reservations at Plaza Rest. - DH has philly cheese steak, and the kids and I had desserts. It was very relaxing. The lighting of the castle is totally AWESOME!!! We had great spots for the 3PM parade and Spectromagic Parade. We were at the VERY beginning of the Spectromagic Parade, so we were able to exit MK really quickly. Again, we had no wait for a bus back to SSR. Then, DS (15 yr old) and I walked over to DTD - which took about 5 minutes. We shopped for pins and picked up snacks at Ghiradella's and Earl of Sandwich (yummy). Then, we headed back to SSR, enjoyed our snacks, cleaned up, and here I am now....

 

[Lynn5700]

OOh we stayed in Congress Park and loved it.also had a DTD view....

I agree about BLT. SO much nicer in person!

Have fun

 

[DVC Mike]

We decided to tour the BLT models....OMG...I am in LOVE!! I am so ready to add-on. And, before seeing the models...I was like - I am NEVER buying at BLT. The models are SOOOOOOO much better than the pictures!!!! Well, we decide to think about adding-on while we are here this week... .

ITA!

 

[boettj]

I am so ready to come down to SSR. Our plan is for next year, but with the economy, who knows. We'll still book our November time frame in December. And hopefully, we'll be able to make it down.

Anxiously awaiting more on your trip.

 

[Coach81]

Thanks for the report, is there more to come? Any chance of any pictures??

We are heading "home" inside of 3 months now.. we can't wait

 

[Chellymouse]

I'm heading home in 18 days and have also requested CP. We stayed there in August and LOVED it! hope you have a great rest of your trip!

 

[Disney grandma]

We're wanting to tour the DVC models next week. How long does it take? My DH is not wanting to take anytime out for doing this but I really want to see them and also get the free fast passes!

 

[dburg30]

They need to doors to 'swoosh' open ala Star Trek on the BLT rooms I kept waiting for Mr Spock to tell us to live long and prosper

Not exactly my taste, but they were interesting, and of course I'll admit if you get a view of the castle, well worth it probably

 

[dbprimeaux]

Continued...

Day 4: Epcot...We arrived before the park opened for our Princess Breakfast at Akershus in Norway. We had a very short wait...just enough time for a quick picture with Mary Poppin's that stopped for a quick visit with everyone waiting for breakfast. Well, the only thing I can say for this breakfast is....we say the Princesses - Jasmine, Aurora, Snow White, Belle, and Mulan. The food was not the best...oh well, DD LOVED the Princesses. We then walked over to Soarin' got FastPasses and then took the Land Boat Ride and watched the Timon & Pumba show. We rode Soarin' and LOVED it. DH ran over to Test Track and picked up FastPasses. It started sprinkling so we stopped at a gift shop until the rain stopped. By this time, we headed over to Test Track jumped right on the ride....I screamed like a girl...LOL! 6 yr. old DS loves this ride, so this was his big shopping stop....lol! Then off to Space Ship Earth...Again, no wait...we really enjoyed all the updates. The kids enjoy the games at the end of the ride. Well, we decided to catch the monorail and head to MK. We had dinner reservation at Liberty Tree Tavern at 8:45PM.. We arrived at MK - rode Haunted Mansion, RiverBoat, and enjoyed the Christmas Shop in Liberty Square. We had a WONDEFUL dinner at LLT. The characters were GREAT!!! This is one of our FAVORITE rests. As we were leaving LLT SpectroMagic was passing, so we were able to watch the parade, again.....lol. We then headed over to Big Thunder Railroad and enjoyed a great night ride. We were then getting tired, so we decided to head back home - SSR. We crashed when we got back to SSR....So much for resting....lol!!!

I am hoping to add some pictures today to my trip report.

 

[dbprimeaux]

Day 5: Animal Kingdom - We started off with an early breakfast at Tusker House. This is another one of my FAVORITE rests. The service (our waitress said, if you like breakfast you should try lunch it is great) was great! The food was very tasty and always fresh, and the character interaction is excellent!!!! While waiting to be seated for breakfast DH ran to to get FastPasses at the Sarafari ride. Once we finished breakfast it was time that we could get another Fast Pass, so DH ran over to Mount Evervest. We met up at the Sarafari ride, and it was great....alot of animals out and about. Then, we rode the train, DS (6 yr old) loves trains. Once we made a round trip train ride, it was time for Mount Everest - we did rider swap because DD didn't make the height requirement....she was very upset. Then, we set off to watch Nemo the Musical - I love this show!! By this time it is around 2-3PMish and everyone is hungry....so, we decided to try and get a table at Tusker House for lunch. What timing - they took our name down and in about 15 minutes we were seated for lunch. OMG....another winner for Tusker House!! We decided - this will definitely be a place we eat on other trips. After lunch the kids were really tired, so we decided to head back to SSR. We put the kids down for a nap, and were planning on going back out to one of the parks...well DD (4 yr old) slept until 7AM the next morning...LOL! DS (15 yr old) and I went over to DTD and did some shopping. He is a HUGE Jack Skelton fan, and everything Nightmare Before Christmas was on SALE 30% off!! We also hit Ghiredella for sundaes and even brought a sundae back to DH that was babysitting the little ones....

 

[dbprimeaux]

Day 6: We started off pretty late this morning....since we had lunch reservations at Teppan Edo's at Epcot. Now everyone is feeling rested again...off we go. We went straight to Japan for lunch which was pretty good. The kids loved the chef cooking right in front of us.

We spent the rest of the day enjoying the world showcases...

 

[dbprimeaux]

Day 7: We started today off at 1900 Park Fare for breakfast.

We really like breakfast here, because we can enjoy GF...I would love to have DVC here someday....

Madder Hatter was awesome!!

OMG...then there was THE Gingerbread House!!! It was BEAUTIFUL!!!!

 

[dbprimeaux]

Day 7: Well, I sent DH and kids off to tour GF while I purchased some candy at the Gingerbread house for Christmas presents...Then off to DHS we went...DH ran to Toy Story and got Fast Passes (oh by the way....Fast Passes are usually gone before noon..) So, we met up with DH and decided to go get Fast Passes for Rockin Roller Coaster. So, while waiting for our return times we watched Beauty and the Beast...

After, Beauty and the Beast it was time to ride Toy Story (we rode 3 times during our whole time at WDW), but you HAVE to get Fast Passes!! THen, it was time for the Block Party!!

Toy Story Ride Picture...

To top the evening off we watch Fantasmic! We really love this show!!!

 

[dbprimeaux]

Day 8: Happy Thanksgiving!! We had our Thanksgiving Lunch at Tony's in MK. It was terrific!!

The crowds weren't as bad as I was expecting. So, we really enjoyed our day - riding rides, watching the parades, and just enjoying Main St. I also took some of the best pictures of the castle - the sky was so bright and blue it almost hurt your eyes....lol

Then we spent some time at DTD, again....Shopping and enjoying those ice cream sundaes....yummy!!!

 

[nickspace]

Thanks for the reports!

 

[jblrn2b]

Thanks for your report - love the pictures.

 

[dbprimeaux]

Just a note...There where lots of DVC products at SSR's gift shop...men's polo shirts, women's shirts, hats, stickers, cups, key chains, bags...