"Mommy, this time it's all of our first times." April 28-May 3 TR

[littlelovebug]

Hello DIS friends!
To those of you who followed along with my PTR, THANK YOU for your continued devotion! Two dancing bananas for you!
For those of you who are just joining in,

If you'd like a little background on my family, check out my PTR:
Magic In the Bayou...April 28-May 3


Here is the cast of "characters":

Front and center is our "little love bug," Princess Jilly! Then there's DH Jed, and me, Jen! The other guy...well...you already know who he is!!

As you prepare to follow along with my TR, here are a few things you should know/teasers:

* I took a LOT of pictures! Around 1600! Plus 200+ Photopass pictures!
* This was Jilly's first trip to Disney, and our first time returning since our Honeymoon in 2003.
* We stayed in a moderate resort with the free giftcard promotion and we had the Quick Service Dining Plan.
* We deviated from my original plans before the end of the first day!
* I had a Magical Moment! (Actually we had lots of magical moments, but one that was officially documented! )
* We met a LOT of characters!
* We had GORGEOUS weather!

So, grab a snack, get cozy, and follow along as I relive the magic of our wonderful trip to Walt Disney World!

Coming up...Disney Day 1!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Hey Jen! I look forward to seeing each and every one of those 1600 pictures, actually, more than that if we count the PhotoPass pictures.

 

[taylor91]

Subscribing
wow that's a lot of photos...1600
Hope you had a fantastic time and I can't wait to read your trip report

 

[tinkgurl]

I'm in!!

 

[heaven2dc]

Hurray! The TR is started Love your t-shirts! A co-worker & family just got back on Saturday and had a fabulous time staying at VWL. It was hot but it was their first trip as a family and they still enjoyed themselves. Can't wait to read all about your trip!

 

[littlelovebug]

Jed and I woke up at 4:00 AM, got showered, and finished packing our bath bag. Jed weighed himself with the luggage and there was a 54 lb difference. We moved some of the shoes to our carry-on and we were down to a 48 lb difference! We had packed one suitcase inside another so we’d have more room for souvenirs on the way home.

At 4:30 AM, we woke Jilly up and got her dressed in her comfy travel clothes. She pulled the final number off of her Disney Countdown Calendar! (Sorry the picture is a little dark, I had my camera on the wrong setting and didn't realize it until we left.)

We each grabbed a banana and a drink for the road and pulled out of the parking spot at 4:59 AM! As we were leaving Jilly said to me, “Mommy, this time it’s all of our first times.”

At 5:55 AM we arrived at Dayton International Airport (approximately 2 hours before our departure time). We had just started walking from our parking spot when the shuttle bus pulled up next to us and we hopped on (pixie dust)! We got to the Airtran counter and there was no line (more pixie dust)! The lady weighed our bag and it was 50 lbs EXACTLY (serious pixie dust)! Yeah, no excess baggage fees! We only had to pay $15 for one bag! We made our way through security with no problems (unlike the time I flew to Texas with Jilly last year…I forgot my ID and had to have an escort and get completely patted down) and everyone thought Jilly was so cute pulling around her little carry-on bag. Next we checked out the few fast food stands and decided to go to Max & Erma’s for breakfast since we still had plenty of time. The sun started to come up over the horizon while we watched the planes from our window seat. Of course I completely forgot to take pictures of our food…

We then headed to our gate and we arrived just as the flight crew was boarding the plane. The pilot walked over to Jilly and asked if she was going to Disney World. He then handed her a wing pin! This is the third time she has flown and her first time getting wings! Can you say...PIXIE DUST??

After a short wait we were able to board and Jilly claimed the window seat. Jed with his long legs got the aisle seat and I was lucky enough to sit in the middle. We had a very smooth takeoff and flight. Actually the worst part was the recurring fart smell throughout the entire flight. The landing was uneventful and soon we were inside the Orlando Airport (ahead of schedule)! Yup! Pixie dust!

We boarded the monorail-like airport shuttle with a bounce in our step and headed to the Magical Express counter!

We felt like royalty as we were waved along by the friendly cast members! We could have literally run onto the bus if it had seemed appropriate! There was absolutely NO LINE! (Can you believe all of this pixie dust???) I didn’t even have time to take a picture before we were on the bus in the capable hands of Mr. Tito Medero!

While we were waiting I checked the weather forecast on my phone:

After a few minutes we were off and headed to the most magical place on earth! I even got to snap a picture of this as we approached the park:

 

[LovingDisny]

Hi! You have a beautiful family and I am enjoying your Trip Report so far. I am subbing!

 

[littlelovebug]

Hey Jen! I look forward to seeing each and every one of those 1600 pictures, actually, more than that if we count the PhotoPass pictures.

Wow! You're fast! Thanks for being the first to come over from my PTR! I hope you enjoy every moment! I know we did!

Subscribing
wow that's a lot of photos...1600
Hope you had a fantastic time and I can't wait to read your trip report

I can't wait to share it with you!!!

I'm in!!

Yaaaay!!

Hurray! The TR is started Love your t-shirts! A co-worker & family just got back on Saturday and had a fabulous time staying at VWL. It was hot but it was their first trip as a family and they still enjoyed themselves. Can't wait to read all about your trip!

Glad you're here! It was hot but we loved every minute of it! Not to spoil the ending but on the bus ride back to the airport Jilly said (with a sad face), "I just wish we could live here." Awwww...me too kiddo, me too!

 

[littlelovebug]

Hi! You have a beautiful family and I am enjoying your Trip Report so far. I am subbing!

Thanks for the compliments! I hope you enjoy the rest!

 

[tinkgurl]

Aw..it is so exciting leaving home!

Glad you had a safe flight...aside from the gross smells the whole way there!

That airport shuttle just gets you so pumped up for the monorail, doesn't it?!

Wow, it got up in the 90's?! Sounds like summer weather to me!

 

[martinolichfamily]

Yay....you started your TR!! Can't wait to read more!

 

[littlelovebug]

Aw..it is so exciting leaving home!

Glad you had a safe flight...aside from the gross smells the whole way there!

That airport shuttle just gets you so pumped up for the monorail, doesn't it?!

Wow, it got up in the 90's?! Sounds like summer weather to me!

Jed was soooo happy when I told him we got to ride the shuttle! It is sooo cool! I wouldn't mind riding it around a few times!
The weather was definitely hotter than I thought it would be, but I didn't complain!

 

[littlelovebug]

We arrived at our “home” for the week, Port Orleans Riverside, around 10:00 AM! I headed straight to the online check-in desk and only had to wait behind one person! I was so excited I don’t even really remember much of what the cast member was saying. Oh, I do remember her telling me that they were able to fulfill our room request and we were in Alligator Bayou building 18 on the second floor, and that our room was ready!

Jilly was literally climbing the walls and trying to see over the counter. She slipped and bumped her chin and/or elbow but I was too distracted to do more than pat her head and tell her it would all be all right and that she needed to settle down. I signed for my free $500 gift card and got our beautiful folder of pertinent information and headed to our room!

We got a little lost but a very nice gentleman noticed the confused look on our faces and pointed us in the right direction, right after we caught a glimpse of the wonderful swimming area on Ol’ Man Island! We headed back toward the main building, around the water mill, and toward our room.
We walked in and saw that Mousekeeping had left us a Mickey-shaped towel creation, explored the room, dropped our bags, changed into shorts, grabbed our mugs, and got ready to head to Epcot!

As we were leaving, Jilly greeted the Mousekeepers that were outside our door. I told her one of them had probably made the towel surprise, and the one named Lisa said cheerfully, “That was me!” Jilly talked to her for a few minutes and introduced her to her Build-a-Bear, Silver. We told Lisa we were headed to Epcot and hoping to check out Soarin’. She told Jilly she loved that ride and couldn’t wait for her to ride it. She said she would be back on Friday because she was going to the parks to visit Mickey on Thursday.

We stopped by Riverside Mill to fill our mugs and then walked over to the South bus depot around 11:30. Within a few minutes, the Epcot bus arrived and we were on our way! It was so exciting to point out Spaceship Earth as we approached the park! A quick swipe of our Key to the World cards and we were snapping pictures in front of that beautiful giant golf ball!

I have to go to work now, but I will post another update ASAP! Have a very Happy Tuesday!

 

[jillyb]

I lurked on your PTR but am chiming in on the TR. We're staying at POR November 20-November 27 so I'm interested in seeing your pictures of the resort and hearing what you liked/didn't like about it.

 

[Cory's Gal]

Great start Jen!!! Wasn't the weather just GORGEOUS!!! I can't wait to read all about your trip, Jilly looks so excited in every single picture!!!! So glad your trip was FULL of pixie dust!!!

 

[irishdancer86]

oooh an enticing start! glad your trip got off to such a good start and looking forward to reading more! the photo's in front of the ball and how excited jilly is just give me such an excited feeling! hope that deserves a !!!

 

[kcandbella]

I'm here! That WAS me you saw at POR, and I didn't realize it until you looked back at me either! I was too busy noticing your refillable mug and thinking about how great having one was going to be in that heat!!!

 

[Peter Pan Fan 22]

It's been a busy day, but I made it!! Hopping on board for the journey!

 

[littlelovebug]

Yay....you started your TR!! Can't wait to read more!

I know! Yay! I'm excited too! It helps relieve some of the PDLD (Post Disney Let Down)!

I lurked on your PTR but am chiming in on the TR. We're staying at POR November 20-November 27 so I'm interested in seeing your pictures of the resort and hearing what you liked/didn't like about it.

I'm glad you came out of hiding! I really didn't take a lot of pictures around the resort, but we absolutely LOVED it! I really wish we had taken a ten day trip so we could have spent more time at the resort! Let me know if you have any specific questions!

Great start Jen!!! Wasn't the weather just GORGEOUS!!! I can't wait to read all about your trip, Jilly looks so excited in every single picture!!!! So glad your trip was FULL of pixie dust!!!

Thanks, Beth! We really really really loved the weather. We keep telling people we want to move to Florida and they talk about how HOT it is. I'm sorry but I will take that beautiful sunshine over slush, ice and snow ANY day! With a nice breeze and a little bit of shade, I didn't think it was bad at all! Oh, and by the way, Jilly started telling us what kind of pictures she was going to pose for by the end of the second day!

 

[littlelovebug]

oooh an enticing start! glad your trip got off to such a good start and looking forward to reading more! the photo's in front of the ball and how excited jilly is just give me such an excited feeling! hope that deserves a !!!

I'm glad you're enjoying it! I'm having fun just thinking about everything! I don't need much of an excuse for a dancing banana! Or two!!

I'm here! That WAS me you saw at POR, and I didn't realize it until you looked back at me either! I was too busy noticing your refillable mug and thinking about how great having one was going to be in that heat!!!

That is sooooo funny! I noticed your nephew's shirt and thought, "That looks like the ones Kayce made." Duhhhh.... And once I saw that adorable little girl at the end of the line, it hit me! Oh well, what can you do?? I hope you guys had a blast. We did love having the mugs, and since I bought a "mommy clip" from Target, it was convenient to hang them on the stroller handle when we weren't using them!

It's been a busy day, but I made it!! Hopping on board for the journey!

I know what you mean, Alicia! I came home from vacation to find out that our Regional Senior Vice President is visiting our store tomorrow, so it's been a crazy week! Plus Jilly had ballet class today! Phew! Glad you're here, and I hope things settle down for you!