The Summary
Lets start with the favorites:
Favorite Park
Dad Epcot
Mom Epcot
Girl Epcot
Boy Test Track
Favorite Attraction
Dad Soarin
Mom Haunted Mansion
Girl Roller Coaster Train (Big Thunder Mt.)
Boy Test Track
Favorite Restaurant
Dad Giordanos
Mom Flying Fish
Girl Garden Grill (Chip thru the bread at Moan Boy, she loved that)
Boy Test Track (Just kidding.) Anything with Chicken Strips and Fries.
Favorite Restaurant Experience
Dad Akershus Princess B-Fast
Mom Akershus Princess B-Fast
Girl Garden Grill
Boy Garden Grill Mickey hugged him
Favorite Counter Service Restaurant
Dad Sommerfest (Germany)
Mom Sommerfest
Girl Flametree BBQ
Boy Flametree BBQ seasoned French fries
Favorite Non-park activity
Dad Typing trip reports
Mom Sliding at the OKW pool
Girl Sliding at the OKW pool
Boy Playing with Test Track toys in the hotel room
Funniest Moment
Dad Falling down dizzy trying to get off of Primeval Whirl
Mom Getting stuck in the OKW pool slide. I still giggle over that just thinking about it.
Girl Pushing the shopping cart at the grocery store, acting like a grown up, and saying Hey dad, do we need more wine?
Boy Posing in pictures with his one snaggle tooth that refused to fall out. It finally did and we got some decent pictures of the poor little guy.
Worst Moment
Dad Waiting in line for 1 hour 15 minutes for Test Track
Mom Waiting in line for 1 hour 15 minutes for Test Track
Girl Not being able to do exactly
what she wanted at exactly
when she wanted
Boy Riding anything OTHER than Test Track
Notes
Remember the Buick Mini Van I ended up with because they were out of midsize cars? Well, it ended up being an extra $50 for the 10 days over what was quoted for the midsize. That was a pleasant surprise as I thought it might cost double!
The Disney Dining Card saved us around $300 for the 10 days.
By the time we left OKW it felt like months since we had stayed at the Wyndham Palms. In retrospect, I didnt give the Palms its due. It was a VERY nice place (nicer than the 2-bedroom at OKW) and we loved it. I just wish it were ON Disney property. It doesnt feel like vacation until we are actually ON PROPERTY. Anyone on a budget who wants a 5 star, large room (1500 sq ft) you should consider the Palms. We paid $159 per night and it would sleep 6 easy and comfortably.
This was the first time we actually used the pool of our hotel. We went to the Boardwalk pool a year ago but didnt do much except watch the kids in the mini pool. This year we spent 3 hours one day and 2 ½ the other as a family and Loud Girl and me went one day for 2 hours also. The pools SHOULD be used and are a lot more fun that I would have imagined.
Saturdays suck! Well never go to any park again on Saturday except maybe first thing in the morning for a couple hours. From now on, Saturday in our family means swimming. The parks are just too dang jammed for our tastes. We go this time of year because its slower and less stress. Avoiding Saturdays will help this stress level for sure.
Here is a link to my dining review - - >
Dining Review
It was a great trip but were glad to be home. 10 nights and 11 days is PLENTY! Were already looking forward to next years trip. We will begin the planning in the next month and will probably be back at the end of October 2006 so we can use our Disney Dining Card again without purchasing a new one. Weve stayed at OKW more than any other property now and were ready for a change. Ill book us at our home resort (SSR) 11 months out then try to change to the BCV or VWL at 7 months. If we cant switch, well stick with SSR.
Thanks for tuning in folks. Im glad to be finally DONE with this report.
For my entire family I say, Adios and I hope you enjoyed the report.
(Ill be posting the last of the pictures in the next couple of days).