cmonroe
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2004
- Messages
- 995
So I've been to Disney somewhere north of 15 times. I am a blessed individual that had parents who had the Disney bug. But in all of the years I had been there, this was the first time I had driven. For those who have never driven before, make sure you stay right as you enter the Magic Kingdom gate if you are staying at the CR, Poly, etc.. I had never paid attention. The right most lane directs you to those resorts.
Otherwise, you'll do like me and drive into the MK parking and find out that there is no way to the resorts other than to turn around, exit by the gate and reenter in the correct lane.
We arrived at the check in desk at around 10:30 am. I was hoping for a free upgrade, but seeing how many people were in the hotel, I quickly knew that wasn't going to happen (No big deal, we're still at Disney!). To our surprise, our rooms were ready. We were in the Contemporary North facing the MK. We arrived at our adjoining rooms, everything the way I had always remembered it. My wife started unpacking (she has to unpack before she goes anywhere) and noticed a drawer was partially broken. I called maintenance, and they said they would repair that. After packing, we left to go to MK. The memories rush back to me as I step in the monorail and hear the familiar voice announcing our next stops and to watch our children.
Seeing my DD 3 looking at the castle again made me well up as I was taping her entrance to Main St. We had a great afternoon. It was extremely hot but the rain held off that day. The Florida skies said, "we'll give you a break today as we know you just arrived".
We returned to the room that evening tuckered out from our Journey that started 3 days prior. We all fell asleep around 10:30 exstatic to be in our favorite place on earth.
We woke up the next morning ready to go for a CRT PS at 9 am. DD3 is not a morning person and surprisingly had diffuculty motivating her. Eventually we all left and arrived at MK around 8:45.
There was a ton of people waiting for the rope to drop. Wow, I wasn't expecting that much this time of year. I walked up to the CM at the gate and asked her if we could pass as we had PS's at the CRT. She said o.k, and I heard people angrily saying "where do they think they are going". I was a little surprised at the number and tone in their voices, but I suppose it was 8:45 and already 85 degrees.
I'll never get over the feeling of walking down an empty Main st. heading towards the castle. It is a feeling like Disney was open just for you that day. It's a small jaunt to the castle, and I didn't want to be late for our 9 am PS. So I'm walking briskly with my DS (7months) in the stroller my wife next to me with my daughter, when my wife says "Hold on Craig". I stop to see what is going on and I turn to see my MIL and FIL taking their time walking down Main st. We're by the statue of Walt and Mickey, and there by the ice cream store.
My wife told me to keep going to check in, and she would wait.
This was the my in-laws second time to WDW, the first time they went for a day and stayed off property. My family is kind of a go go type so I found myself continually having to stop and wait for them. It was a little frustrating.
Breakfast at the CRT was packed as usual, we ended up getting called around 9:20. Our waiter "David" was wonderful, he treated my daughter like a princess and made the whole experience enjoyable. He saw me starting to film and started narrating on the tape like a t.v. announcer it was too funny and I got it all on tape.
Feeling satisfied, we left Cinderella's castle to venture out into MK. Little did I know that although my entire vacation would be enjoyable, we were going to walk really really really slow through all parks.
Part III coming in a bit.
Otherwise, you'll do like me and drive into the MK parking and find out that there is no way to the resorts other than to turn around, exit by the gate and reenter in the correct lane.
We arrived at the check in desk at around 10:30 am. I was hoping for a free upgrade, but seeing how many people were in the hotel, I quickly knew that wasn't going to happen (No big deal, we're still at Disney!). To our surprise, our rooms were ready. We were in the Contemporary North facing the MK. We arrived at our adjoining rooms, everything the way I had always remembered it. My wife started unpacking (she has to unpack before she goes anywhere) and noticed a drawer was partially broken. I called maintenance, and they said they would repair that. After packing, we left to go to MK. The memories rush back to me as I step in the monorail and hear the familiar voice announcing our next stops and to watch our children.
Seeing my DD 3 looking at the castle again made me well up as I was taping her entrance to Main St. We had a great afternoon. It was extremely hot but the rain held off that day. The Florida skies said, "we'll give you a break today as we know you just arrived".
We returned to the room that evening tuckered out from our Journey that started 3 days prior. We all fell asleep around 10:30 exstatic to be in our favorite place on earth.
We woke up the next morning ready to go for a CRT PS at 9 am. DD3 is not a morning person and surprisingly had diffuculty motivating her. Eventually we all left and arrived at MK around 8:45.
There was a ton of people waiting for the rope to drop. Wow, I wasn't expecting that much this time of year. I walked up to the CM at the gate and asked her if we could pass as we had PS's at the CRT. She said o.k, and I heard people angrily saying "where do they think they are going". I was a little surprised at the number and tone in their voices, but I suppose it was 8:45 and already 85 degrees.
I'll never get over the feeling of walking down an empty Main st. heading towards the castle. It is a feeling like Disney was open just for you that day. It's a small jaunt to the castle, and I didn't want to be late for our 9 am PS. So I'm walking briskly with my DS (7months) in the stroller my wife next to me with my daughter, when my wife says "Hold on Craig". I stop to see what is going on and I turn to see my MIL and FIL taking their time walking down Main st. We're by the statue of Walt and Mickey, and there by the ice cream store.
My wife told me to keep going to check in, and she would wait.
This was the my in-laws second time to WDW, the first time they went for a day and stayed off property. My family is kind of a go go type so I found myself continually having to stop and wait for them. It was a little frustrating.
Breakfast at the CRT was packed as usual, we ended up getting called around 9:20. Our waiter "David" was wonderful, he treated my daughter like a princess and made the whole experience enjoyable. He saw me starting to film and started narrating on the tape like a t.v. announcer it was too funny and I got it all on tape.
Feeling satisfied, we left Cinderella's castle to venture out into MK. Little did I know that although my entire vacation would be enjoyable, we were going to walk really really really slow through all parks.
Part III coming in a bit.
