More Adventures in WDW: June, November and December Trip Reports

[meeko_33785]

Hello and welcome to my latest report (or should I say reports)! It worked so well for my last trip report to have all the trips for the year together in one thread, that it’s looking like I’ll be doing that again this year.

This trip report contains a lot of photos, details and a few stories. For those of you who are looking for a quick report on crowds, weather, resorts, dining, etc., my "Trip Reflections" at the end of each report have just that information. If that's what you're looking for, feel free to skip the rest of the report and just read that.

June 2010 Trip Reflections
November 2010 Trip Reflections
December 2010 Trip Reflections


For those of you who are interested in seeing lots of photos, and reading plenty of details and experiences in the parks and resorts, feel free to keep reading!​

Cast List

The cast list will vary from trip to trip, but here is the cast for the report in general:

Meeko- I’m a 20-something guy and recent college graduate. If you’ve seen any of my past reports, you probably know that I enjoy taking pictures around the parks, meeting the Characters, and finding all those little Disney details along with hitting all the rides, attractions, etc in the World. Along with theme parks, I’m also interested in musicals, so don’t be surprised if I stop to see a show in the parks at some point or another. I went on all trips in this report (of course).

Buzz- My twin brother. Buzz is an artist and fellow Disney fan. He’s been a fan of Disney and PIXAR animation for years and Toy Story is his favorite film. He’s also really likes puppetry, particularly the Muppets. For every Disney trip I’ve been on, he’s been there, and is pretty much as interested in the parks as I am. Buzz went on the June, November and December trips.

Goofy- A college friend of Buzz and myself. Goofy is a really nice and funny guy. We’ve known him for a number of years now and he’s now attending grad school. He’s not as big of a Disney fan as Buzz or I, but he’s a self-proclaimed thrill seeker, so roller coasters and other thrill rides are right up his alley. Goofy went on the June trip.

Mom- My and Buzz’s mother. Mom is interested in learning about history and different cultures, so World Showcase at EPCOT is one of her favorite places in Disney World. She also loves to go to the restaurants around the World and also enjoys visiting all the resorts, especially at Christmastime to see all the decorations. Mom went on the December trip.

Dad- My and Buzz’s father. Dad likes to relax while in the World, and can often be found sitting on a bench and soaking in the atmosphere. He also likes gardening and checking out the gardens and landscaping in the World, and he is also a fan of Tim Burton and especially The Nightmare Before Christmas. Dad went on the December trip.



As for the trips...


"Unconventional": June 2010 Trip

A Summer trip with my Buzz, my brother, and Goofy, a friend of ours. We stayed two nights at the Coronado Springs Resort and visited Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Downtown Disney.


Pre-Trip Report

• Cast List and Introduction (Post #11)
• Coronado Springs Photos (Post #18)
• Planning and Priorities (Post #23)
• Magic Kingdom Favorites (Post #29)
• A Warm-Up at Busch Gardens (Post #34)
• Disney's Hollywood Studios Favorites (Post #40)
• Characters (Post #43)
• Music Playlist (Post #46)
• Wrap Up (Post #49)

Trip Report

• Introduction (Post #52)

• Day One, Part One- Arriving at Coronado Springs (Post #59)
• Day One, Part Two- Caballeros, a Café and a Convention (Post #65)
• Day One, Part Three- Downtown Disney Details (Post #78)
• Day One, Part Four- Discovering D-Street (Post #86)
• Day One, Part Five- An Evening at Planet Hollywood (Post #95)

• Day Two, Part One- From a Welcome on Main Street to Space Mountain (Post #105)
• Day Two, Part Two- Princes, Princesses and Other Characters (Post #120)
• Day Two, Part Three- A Trip to Toontown (Post #136)
• Day Two, Part Four- Walkin' Right Down the Middle of Main Street USA (Post #146)
• Day Two, Part Five- Howling Dog Bend (Post #158)
• Day Two, Part Six- Pleasant Surprises (Including a Penguin) (Post #169)
• Day Two, Part Seven- Celebrate A Dream Come True (Post #177 and Post #178)
• Day Two, Part Eight- Pirates and Camels and Bears (Post #185)
• Day Two, Part Nine- Tomorrowland with "Randall" (Post #196)
• Day Two, Part Ten- Summer Raintastic (Post #203)

• Day Three, Part One- Mania and Terror (Post #213)
• Day Three, Part Two- Welcome to Sunnyside (Post #218)
• Day Three, Part Three- Touring the Backlot (Post #223)
• Day Three, Part Four- Goofy Discovers the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster (Post #237)
• Day Three, Part Five- Muppets, Movies and More (Post #244)
• Day Three, Part Six- A Finale of Favorites (Post #245)

• Trip Reflections (Post #251)

**************

"Day Tripping": November 2010 Trip

A Disney day trip with my brother Buzz including a day at the Animal Kingdom and an evening a Downtown Disney- plus a mini-trip report of our first visit to Universal Studios.

Pre-Trip Report

• Changes in Plans and other Updates (Post #230)
• Planning a Disney Day Trip (Post #259)

Trip Report

• Introduction (Post #265)

• Prelude, Part One- Disney Fans Do Universal (Post #272)
• Prelude, Part Two- I Loved Lucy (but not Shrek) (Post #284)

• Part One- Let The Adventure Begin! (Post #297)
• Part Two- On Safari (Post #307)
• Part Three- Jiminy, Thumper, Meeko and More! (Post #318)
• Part Four- Christmas at Camp Minnie-Mickey (Post #326)
• Part Five- Tigers and Trekking (Post #337)
• Part Six- From Dinoland to the Big Blue World and Back (Post #342)
• Part Seven- Jingle Jungle Fun (Post #350)
• Part Eight- Goodbyes and Goofy (Post #355)
• Part Nine- Ending the Day at Downtown Disney (Post #362)

• Trip Reflections (Post #367)

**************


"Christmas Vacation": December 2010 Trip

A Christmas family vacation with my brother and parents. We stayed at Port Orleans Riverside for three nights and visited, EPCOT, Winter Summerland Miniature Golf, Downtown Disney, the Animal Kingdom Lodge (including our first time at Kidani Village), Boardwalk, Yacht Club, Beach Club and Port Orleans French Quarter.


Pre-Trip Report

• Introduction (Post #276)
• A Few Last Things (Post #293)

Trip Report

• Introduction (Post #374)

• Day One, Part One- Riverside and Jambo House (Post #389)
• Day One, Part Two- An Evening at Kidani Village (Post #396)

• Day Two, Part One- Walkin' in a Winter-Summerland (Post #399)
• Day Two, Part Two- On the Boardwalk (Post #416)
• Day Two, Part Three- A Yacht and Beach Club Christmas (Post #422)
• Day Two, Part Four- Finding Nova Era, Rapunzel and Latin Chicken (Post #427)

• Day Three, Part One- Fun in Future World (Post #433)
• Day Three, Part Two- Joyeux Noel and Happy Christmas (Post #441)
• Day Three, Part Three- Duffy, D'Vine Voices, Donald and Dining (Post #446)
• Day Three, Part Four- A Candlelit Evening and an Arabian Night (Post #454)

• Day Four- Breakfast in the French Quarter (Post #461)

• Trip Reflections (Post #465)

**************


Next chapter: More information on what we have planned for our June trip thus far!

 

[Lady Lallie]

I am so excited that you have started a new PTR.

I'm really looking forward to hearing all about them, especially the possible Food & Wine one.

 

[jenjolt]

I vote Food and Wine! I vote Food and Wine LOL!!

Can't wait to hear all about this next trip!! YAY!!!

 

[meeko_33785]

I am so excited that you have started a new PTR.

I'm really looking forward to hearing all about them, especially the possible Food & Wine one.

Hey LL! Great to have you along again. I'm pretty excited to finally have it started too.

I'm really hoping that the Food and Wine trip works out. It will be great to try something new and enjoy the smaller crowds and gorgeous weather of October.

I vote Food and Wine! I vote Food and Wine LOL!!

Can't wait to hear all about this next trip!! YAY!!!

Hey Jen! Glad you're here. Well, hopefully the Food and Wine trip will happen. I'm guessing we'll start looking into making that one a reality once this next one is all planned out.

 

[dawnbu40]

I'm in! Looking forward to hearing all your plans! We love CSR

 

[KathyRN137]

Hey Meeko! Glad to see you're back with another super-enjoyable mega-report!


Kathy

 

[meeko_33785]

I'm in! Looking forward to hearing all your plans! We love CSR

Welcome Dawn! Coronado should be fun. It's been a while since I've stayed there, so I'm looking forward to trying it again.

Hey Meeko! Glad to see you're back with another super-enjoyable mega-report!


Kathy

Hey Kathy! Thanks for joining in. I kind of like the sound of "mega-report"- never head of it before.

 

[wdwgirl03]

I'm here too!

 

[jenseib]

I'm here!

 

[meeko_33785]

I'm here too!

I'm here!

Welcome to you both!

 

[meeko_33785]

Without too much further ado, let’s start out with the cast list of the current trip-in-planning:


Cast

Meeko- That’s me.


Buzz- My twin brother. Buzz is an artist and fellow Disney fan. He’s been a fan of Disney and PIXAR animation for years and Toy Story is his favorite film. He’s also really likes puppetry, particularly the Muppets. For every Disney trip I’ve been on, he’s been there, and is pretty much as interested in the parks as I am.


Goofy- A college friend of Buzz and myself. Goofy is a really nice and funny guy. We’ve known him for a number of years now and he’s now attending grad school. Not sure of his Disney preferences, but I’m sure we’ll figure it out on the way.



So, the basic reasoning behind this trip is that Goofy will be attending a conference at Disney in June, and knowing that Buzz and I are both Disney fans, invited us to join him. How great of a friend is that? Of course, we said yes, so the three of us will be heading to the Coronado Springs Resort! We’re still trying to get all the planning taken care of (and the clock is certainly ticking!), but here’s a look at what we’ve got so far.

We’ll be staying at the Coronado Springs for two nights. Buzz and I haven’t been to the Coronado in about 4 years, and this will be Goofy’s first time. I’m looking forward to checking the place out, and hopefully we’ll have plenty of time to do some exploring and hanging out here.

On the first night, we’ve been thinking about heading to Downtown Disney. Seems like looking around the shops, eating at the Earl of Sandwich or someplace, and possibly even taking in a movie (Toy Story 3 will be out by then ) could be an enjoyable way to spend some time.

We’re planning on two park visits- the first to Magic Kingdom. With all of the additions for Summer Nighttastic like the Electrical Parade and Fireworks as well as the newly-opened Space Mountain, it seems like this park will have the most “new” (well, semi-new) things to see. Plus, since we didn’t get here in December, this will be my first chance to see Tiana and Naveen out for meet-and-greets! Goofy won’t be able to make it due to his conference, so it will be just Buzz and I.

The second park we’re planning on checking out is Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Buzz, I think, is especially excited about the new Toy Story 3 additions to the park along with the newly-remastered MuppetVision now in digital 3D. Tower of Terror is also a must, not only to see its new summer enhancements but also because Goofy has never done it before. And at least for me, meeting Lotso will also be another priority for the day.



Well, that’s a rough look at what we’re thinking about doing so far. I’ll be posting more info as it comes. In the mean time, I’ll probably be posting some pics from past trips and maybe even some mini-trip reports from years past.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Your plans sounds great.

I think the meet I had with Tiana and Naveen has been my favorite Character Greet to date. They were both excellent!

I'm excited about meeting Lotso too, he's so cute!

 

[jenjolt]

I love your plans...seeing Toy Story 3 in DTD would be a great way to see that movie!!!!

I loved meeting up with Tiana and Naveen they were great!!! I also met with Lotso and he was such a cute big guy!! He was so huggable!!!!!!

 

[dawnbu40]

I agree with the others about how great Tiana and Naveen are to meet! They were among the most charming and delightful face characters we've ever met.

Your plans sound great!

 

[meeko_33785]

Your plans sounds great.

I think the meet I had with Tiana and Naveen has been my favorite Character Greet to date. They were both excellent!

I'm excited about meeting Lotso too, he's so cute!

Thanks LL. Out of all the characters, I think I'm looking forward to Tiana and Naveen the most. I really enjoyed the film and what what I've heard, they sound like really awesome characters in the parks.

I love your plans...seeing Toy Story 3 in DTD would be a great way to see that movie!!!!

I loved meeting up with Tiana and Naveen they were great!!! I also met with Lotso and he was such a cute big guy!! He was so huggable!!!!!!

Thanks Jen. I'm with you- seeing Toy Story 3 at DTD just seems like a fantastic experience. I just found out that the ticket prices are around $15 (which seems high for a movie), so we'll have to see if we're all up to paying that much to see it. I think it could be worth it though.

You got to meet Lotso? How fun!

I agree with the others about how great Tiana and Naveen are to meet! They were among the most charming and delightful face characters we've ever met.

Your plans sound great!

I'm hoping that they'll be just as charming when I get to meet them. I sounds everyone has had such a good experience with them, so I'll be looking forward to meet the new royalty.

 

[KathyRN137]

So, the basic reasoning behind this trip is that Goofy will be attending a conference at Disney in June, and knowing that Buzz and I are both Disney fans, invited us to join him. How great of a friend is that? Of course, we said yes, so the three of us will be heading to the Coronado Springs Resort!

We’ll be staying at the Coronado Springs for two nights. Buzz and I haven’t been to the Coronado in about 4 years, and this will be Goofy’s first time. I’m looking forward to checking the place out, and hopefully we’ll have plenty of time to do some exploring and hanging out here.

You're right... what a great friend! I like him already.

I'm planning a little surprise getaway weekend for DH and me... we'll be at CSR (hopefully) at the end of September!

PTR in progress: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2457574

You must take lots and lots of your gorgeous pictures when you're at the resort and post them for me to drool over!

My twin brother. Buzz is an artist and fellow Disney fan. He’s been a fan of Disney and PIXAR animation for years and Toy Story is his favorite film. He’s also really likes puppetry, particularly the Muppets....

Buzz, I think, is especially excited about the new Toy Story 3 additions to the park along with the newly-remastered MuppetVision now in digital 3D.

Really? They finally upgraded MuppetVision? Yipppie! (I mean, "Wakka Wakka!") /

The film was looking a bit grainy the last time we saw it.

You'd better hurry up and get this planning finished! The trip will be here before you know it!


Kathy

 

[meeko_33785]

You're right... what a great friend! I like him already.

I'm planning a little surprise getaway weekend for DH and me... we'll be at CSR (hopefully) at the end of September!

PTR in progress: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2457574

You must take lots and lots of your gorgeous pictures when you're at the resort and post them for me to drool over!



Really? They finally upgraded MuppetVision? Yipppie! (I mean, "Wakka Wakka!") /

The film was looking a bit grainy the last time we saw it.

You'd better hurry up and get this planning finished! The trip will be here before you know it!


Kathy

Thanks for the heads up on your PTR. I'll be sure to check it out.

We certainly do have to hurry on the planning, don't we? I'm sure we'll get it done though.

 

[meeko_33785]

Well, we’re continuing to work on our plans, but for now, I thought I’d take a break and check out some photos from past trips to Coronado Springs. I’m a bit surprised at how few photos I actually have of the resort, and hopefully I should be able to remedy that situation somewhat later this month. Until then, though, these will have to do:

The first few photos are from the family’s first trip to Coronado Springs in 1998. I can’t believe it’s been almost 12 years since then! Anyway, here’s a look at the main building from across Lago Dorado.

Topiaries of the Three Caballeros tucked into one of the courtyards in the Casitas. I was disappointed to see that it was gone during our most recent stay here, but I believe I read somewhere that they may be back. Anyone know for sure?

The Dig Site Pool, complete with water slide winding around a pyramid.

Fast forward a few years to 2000. This time around, it was Christmastime, and the resort was fully decorated- including a small gingerbread village between the Pepper Market and Maya Grill.

The Dig Site, looking a bit more mysterious behind the foliage.

These last few photos are from 2006- the most recent time any of us have been to the resort. This fountain is also in the Casitas section.

The shop here- Panchito’s Gifts and Sundries- is another one of my favorite resort shops. Not only is it good-sized, but the Three Caballeros theme carried throughout the shop is wonderful.

The more rustic Rancheros area of the resort.


That’s about all the photos I have of the Coronado to share right now. Hopefully, I’ll be back with plenty more after we get back though.

 

[wdwgirl03]

Great resort pictures! We've never stayed at CSR but it looks cool.

 

[dawnbu40]

Great resort pics! We stayed there in Dec 2008 and loved it. The refurbed rooms are lovely!