codimouse
Over 60 Trips to Disney from San Antonio, Tx!
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2007
- Messages
- 798
First off let me explain a bit. We were to originally stay at Coronado Springs for our holiday trip however we had a last minute change of our niece attending the trip with us. CSR could not accommodate us for 5 and everything else in our budget for Disney property was already gone by the week before we were to leave. So we opted for off site which we have done in our many WDW travels.
On Dec 22nd at 3pm we arrive at Kissimmee and travel to Maple Leaf Tickets to pick up our tickets which was $227 for each adult for 5 days. We got the 5th day free package they offered.
Didnt take long there at all. They are always fast and efficient.
Next we headed back up 192 (west irlo bronson hwy) towards Old Town Suites (we stayed there 4 years ago). That was frightening and would not recommend to anyone. Scary, dark and no one in either of the buildings near us. I turned on the water and it was brown! Ran to car, drove all of us to the hotel office and demanded our money back which we did get.
With no where to go we went to Waffle House for early and quick dinner and to call Choice Rewards to help us find a hotel suite to hold the 5 of us. They found us a Econolodge suite for 6 days for $365!! I read a trip advisor report before accepting and all was good so we booked it! Got there and it was actually 2 guest rooms with thruway. 2 queen beds on one side with bathroom, new a/c and micro and fridge. other room had 1 full bed and one full pull out coach with bathroom and micro and fridge. clean and plenty of towels. the hotel was full of guests the entire time we were there. but quiet!
After checking in and refreshing ourselves we then head to Magic Kingdom for the evening since it was open till midnight. We arrive about 7pm and go to It's a Small World first and then Dumbo. It is now so cold outside and we have on our heavy coats! We stay long enough to watch the Spectro Magic parade and fireworks. After we leave. Too cold for us!
The next morning we head to Hollywood Studios. It is to be in the 70's so we are excited about that. We go in and get a First Timer button for our niece and a GAC card and stroller/wheelchair pass for our 5 year old DD.
The older girls go to Aerosmith's Rollercoaster and Tower of Terror while DH, myself and DD5 head off to watch a few shows. Hollywood Studios is not so crowded on the 23rd. We end the night with Fantasmic. Beautiful as always.
On the 24th we head to Animal Kingdom. High's expected in the 80's. We get to wear shorts and t-shirts. Yippee.
We head straight to the Kilamanjaro Safari Ride. All animals were out and about. First time to see them all. Usually we catch most all sleeping.
Next the 2 older girls head to Mount Everest Roller coaster while we catch a few of the shows for our DD5. We meet up at the Boneyard aftewards. DD5 made a little friend so we hang out and let them play together. We have fast passes for the Dinosaur ride and the 2 older girls head over. They love it!! DH and I wait and do this at the end of our day with no wait. Older girls then go back to Everest and ride 3 times in a row with very little wait.
Mickey's Jungle Christmas parade was awesome. We sit near the Pizza place in the handicap accessble area and have front row seats for it. A beautiful site. It started a bit early due to impending rain storm that never happened.
Park closes at 8pm and we are done with everything by 7pm as lines were not long. Oh, I cannot forget the Finding Nemo Musical. This was spectacular and I highly recommend it.
Christmas day we head to Epcot. By this morning I need my wheelchair so that goes along with us. I have chronic fatigue syndrome in which my muscles are not very forgiving sometimes. Despite my pain I guarantee this will be a great day. We do Spaceship Earth first. They changed it since the last time we were there. Wonderful additions of the computers on the cars.
Next we all go to Mission Space. So much fun. Then off to Innoventions to spend some time.
Fastpasses were necessary for Test Track so we get them and come back later. We catch Turtle Talk with Crush and get on the Nemo ride.
We have ressies at the Garden Grille for early dinner/late lunch. Fun but expensive! LOL
We then do a few of the "smaller" rides and head to Test Track. Great fun and always a test for my heart. LOL Love it!
We then head over and visit the countries with the girls. Turns out to be way too crowded but we wait an hour for Maelstrom and then head back to the front of the park to do Soarin'. It's a 2 hour wait with no fast passes, but the girls really want to ride this so we wait. We get to the ride at 7pm.
This is where my troubles start. They put us in our queus and we are totally excited as we are about to enter in 5 minutes to soar over California. They open the doors and greet us in. The family is in line 3 of 5 queu lines. There are five us us mind you. The girls rush in and buckle up the 5 year old and then themselves while my hubby helps me out of my wheelchair among the crowd still rushing in for seats.
I go to sit down with hubby and there are no seats!! I am so confused as they counted us all. So how could this happen?
The cast member looks for a seat for us and they are full. She asks me to go to my wheelchair and leave with my DH. I am confused. I ask why I cannot sit with my family and the last 2 in line 5 can leave. She says she cannot ask anyone to leave the ride and starts yelling at me as I am sitting in my wheelchair!! I tell her she is yelling at me and asking me to leave. She continues to yell at me to leave (which by the way we are trying to do by turning the chair around) and I start crying because I see my girls upset at what is going on. I feel now that if I had just toughed it out and left my chair at home we would be in a seat as a family. Anyhow my girls start crying that they want out of their seatbelts so they can leave with my and DH. They finally let them free and we wait for the next trip in 5 minutes.
I am still crying and upset waiting for the ride. One of the cast member's gives me a fastpass for 5 family members to use that night. I give it to the older girls to use at Test Track again on our way out. I am so upset we do not get to see the fireworks. Not a magical night for us.
Our last day is the 26th at Magic Kingdom. First thing is our ressie at Crystal Palace for breakfast. We enjoy and hour and half there and the girls love it. Great to see them happy again after the night before.
Parks are extrememly crowded but we get to do everything except Thunder Mountain which broke down right as we got in line.
DD5 and I see Carousel of Progress while DH and the older girls head over to Space Mountain. We expect and hour wait for them but they get on with a family who has 3 extra fast passes. Awesome.
We stay at the parks until 7 pm. Since we saw the fireworks and spectromagic parade our first night we head over to Downtown Disney for some souvenir shopping and to eat at Wolfgang Pucks. The servings there are always humongous that the 2 older girls and I share the Herb Chicken and Mashed Potatoes and a Side Spring Mix Salad. Then off to get our big cupcake at Goofy's Candy Shop.
At the Disney store everything christmas and t-shirts is 50% off. Just right for us. We stay there till midnight shopping and having fun.
We were so sad to see it all end.
Hubby and I will be going back in a couple of months (waiting to see what the work office has in store for us but sometime late feb-early april is what we are striving for). We will not have the kids this trip and will only spend 3 nights but it's a Disney trip and we are excited!!
On Dec 22nd at 3pm we arrive at Kissimmee and travel to Maple Leaf Tickets to pick up our tickets which was $227 for each adult for 5 days. We got the 5th day free package they offered.
Didnt take long there at all. They are always fast and efficient.
Next we headed back up 192 (west irlo bronson hwy) towards Old Town Suites (we stayed there 4 years ago). That was frightening and would not recommend to anyone. Scary, dark and no one in either of the buildings near us. I turned on the water and it was brown! Ran to car, drove all of us to the hotel office and demanded our money back which we did get.
With no where to go we went to Waffle House for early and quick dinner and to call Choice Rewards to help us find a hotel suite to hold the 5 of us. They found us a Econolodge suite for 6 days for $365!! I read a trip advisor report before accepting and all was good so we booked it! Got there and it was actually 2 guest rooms with thruway. 2 queen beds on one side with bathroom, new a/c and micro and fridge. other room had 1 full bed and one full pull out coach with bathroom and micro and fridge. clean and plenty of towels. the hotel was full of guests the entire time we were there. but quiet!
After checking in and refreshing ourselves we then head to Magic Kingdom for the evening since it was open till midnight. We arrive about 7pm and go to It's a Small World first and then Dumbo. It is now so cold outside and we have on our heavy coats! We stay long enough to watch the Spectro Magic parade and fireworks. After we leave. Too cold for us!
The next morning we head to Hollywood Studios. It is to be in the 70's so we are excited about that. We go in and get a First Timer button for our niece and a GAC card and stroller/wheelchair pass for our 5 year old DD.
The older girls go to Aerosmith's Rollercoaster and Tower of Terror while DH, myself and DD5 head off to watch a few shows. Hollywood Studios is not so crowded on the 23rd. We end the night with Fantasmic. Beautiful as always.
On the 24th we head to Animal Kingdom. High's expected in the 80's. We get to wear shorts and t-shirts. Yippee.
We head straight to the Kilamanjaro Safari Ride. All animals were out and about. First time to see them all. Usually we catch most all sleeping.
Next the 2 older girls head to Mount Everest Roller coaster while we catch a few of the shows for our DD5. We meet up at the Boneyard aftewards. DD5 made a little friend so we hang out and let them play together. We have fast passes for the Dinosaur ride and the 2 older girls head over. They love it!! DH and I wait and do this at the end of our day with no wait. Older girls then go back to Everest and ride 3 times in a row with very little wait.
Mickey's Jungle Christmas parade was awesome. We sit near the Pizza place in the handicap accessble area and have front row seats for it. A beautiful site. It started a bit early due to impending rain storm that never happened.
Park closes at 8pm and we are done with everything by 7pm as lines were not long. Oh, I cannot forget the Finding Nemo Musical. This was spectacular and I highly recommend it.
Christmas day we head to Epcot. By this morning I need my wheelchair so that goes along with us. I have chronic fatigue syndrome in which my muscles are not very forgiving sometimes. Despite my pain I guarantee this will be a great day. We do Spaceship Earth first. They changed it since the last time we were there. Wonderful additions of the computers on the cars.
Next we all go to Mission Space. So much fun. Then off to Innoventions to spend some time.
Fastpasses were necessary for Test Track so we get them and come back later. We catch Turtle Talk with Crush and get on the Nemo ride.
We have ressies at the Garden Grille for early dinner/late lunch. Fun but expensive! LOL
We then do a few of the "smaller" rides and head to Test Track. Great fun and always a test for my heart. LOL Love it!
We then head over and visit the countries with the girls. Turns out to be way too crowded but we wait an hour for Maelstrom and then head back to the front of the park to do Soarin'. It's a 2 hour wait with no fast passes, but the girls really want to ride this so we wait. We get to the ride at 7pm.
This is where my troubles start. They put us in our queus and we are totally excited as we are about to enter in 5 minutes to soar over California. They open the doors and greet us in. The family is in line 3 of 5 queu lines. There are five us us mind you. The girls rush in and buckle up the 5 year old and then themselves while my hubby helps me out of my wheelchair among the crowd still rushing in for seats.
I go to sit down with hubby and there are no seats!! I am so confused as they counted us all. So how could this happen?
The cast member looks for a seat for us and they are full. She asks me to go to my wheelchair and leave with my DH. I am confused. I ask why I cannot sit with my family and the last 2 in line 5 can leave. She says she cannot ask anyone to leave the ride and starts yelling at me as I am sitting in my wheelchair!! I tell her she is yelling at me and asking me to leave. She continues to yell at me to leave (which by the way we are trying to do by turning the chair around) and I start crying because I see my girls upset at what is going on. I feel now that if I had just toughed it out and left my chair at home we would be in a seat as a family. Anyhow my girls start crying that they want out of their seatbelts so they can leave with my and DH. They finally let them free and we wait for the next trip in 5 minutes.
I am still crying and upset waiting for the ride. One of the cast member's gives me a fastpass for 5 family members to use that night. I give it to the older girls to use at Test Track again on our way out. I am so upset we do not get to see the fireworks. Not a magical night for us.
Our last day is the 26th at Magic Kingdom. First thing is our ressie at Crystal Palace for breakfast. We enjoy and hour and half there and the girls love it. Great to see them happy again after the night before.
Parks are extrememly crowded but we get to do everything except Thunder Mountain which broke down right as we got in line.
DD5 and I see Carousel of Progress while DH and the older girls head over to Space Mountain. We expect and hour wait for them but they get on with a family who has 3 extra fast passes. Awesome.
We stay at the parks until 7 pm. Since we saw the fireworks and spectromagic parade our first night we head over to Downtown Disney for some souvenir shopping and to eat at Wolfgang Pucks. The servings there are always humongous that the 2 older girls and I share the Herb Chicken and Mashed Potatoes and a Side Spring Mix Salad. Then off to get our big cupcake at Goofy's Candy Shop.
At the Disney store everything christmas and t-shirts is 50% off. Just right for us. We stay there till midnight shopping and having fun.
We were so sad to see it all end.
Hubby and I will be going back in a couple of months (waiting to see what the work office has in store for us but sometime late feb-early april is what we are striving for). We will not have the kids this trip and will only spend 3 nights but it's a Disney trip and we are excited!!
