As a bit of background.....
Dh and I visited Disneyland during our honeymoon
and through cunning maths noticed that the 50th anniversary of Disneyland would coincide with our 15th wedding anniversary (and the 19th celebration of my 21st birthday, if you get me) and decided to return around that time.
Fast forward to 2004 and start discussing with my sister possibility of a joint holiday as it will be the last time we can take our eldest boys out of school before they go to secondary school in Sept 2005. Various to-ings and fro-ings later, she opts for a 3-centre villa holiday (having 4 children makes this the easier option for her) and we decide on 2 weeks "in the heart of the magic" at the Coronado Springs resort. Departure date moves forward to 13 March to save us about £250 per person. School gives permission to take Josef (11) and Christian (5) out of school, trip booked April 2004 and the planning started.....
Using the Brits Guide "busy day" table I allocated days to parks so we went to each Disney and Universal park twice - but not usually for a whole day each time - plus a day for Kennedy Space Centre and some time for shopping. I also booked a character breakfast (which came as part of the package with our 10-day hopper ticket), a Fantasmic dinner package and a late Chef Mickey
breakfast for our last morning (Easter Sunday). So, off we went....
The flight was fairly smooth, although running an hour late it caught up time and we landed at about 17.00 local time with both boys still wide awake and rareing to go. We were the last to leave baggage reclaim due to DH failing to recognise our new case going slowly round the carousel all on its own while I waited with the boys and our other cases plus buggy (now minus clip to hold it closed, but never mind its on its last legs anyway). Most people had left the Alamo desk by the time we got there so we did a good deal to upgrade to a SUV (we'd never have got everything in a compact!). Shown the relevant section of the car park and told "pick what you like from this area". We used to have a Jeep Cherokee, which I always thought was fairly big, but it was nothing to the monsters we had before us! Picked a Buick the size of a small terraced house and loaded everything in with room to spare (that is quite impressive - 3 suitcases, hand luggage, buggy, coats..I don't do "travelling light"). Before we were clear of the airport Christian was asleep.
A Thomas Cook rep had met us just before the car hire desks and given us useful directions using toll roads which kept us clear of any possible heavy traffic - not the most direct route but fairly calm and straightforward. On arrival at CSR (around 20.00) the CM checked we were expected then said "Welcome Home" as he raised the barrier. I know they always say that but it still gave us a lovely warm glow! Christian was still fast asleep so we unloaded him into the buggy (I knew it would come in useful!) and went to check in. There were not too many people and it was fairly straightforward. Christian was still asleep, so we walked along to Tiendas and bought sandwiches, snacks and drinks (mmmmmmm....beer!
) before returning to the car to drive around to our section of the car park - our request for Cabanas 9b had been honoured.
Christian woke up as we carried him to the building, and after a short detour (forgetting that 1st floor in America does not mean upstairs!) found our room. I had packed night things and essential toiletries in our hand luggage so there was no need to unpack - quick bath then ate the supplies we had purchased and went to bed. Stage one complete!
Dh and I visited Disneyland during our honeymoon
and through cunning maths noticed that the 50th anniversary of Disneyland would coincide with our 15th wedding anniversary (and the 19th celebration of my 21st birthday, if you get me) and decided to return around that time.Fast forward to 2004 and start discussing with my sister possibility of a joint holiday as it will be the last time we can take our eldest boys out of school before they go to secondary school in Sept 2005. Various to-ings and fro-ings later, she opts for a 3-centre villa holiday (having 4 children makes this the easier option for her) and we decide on 2 weeks "in the heart of the magic" at the Coronado Springs resort. Departure date moves forward to 13 March to save us about £250 per person. School gives permission to take Josef (11) and Christian (5) out of school, trip booked April 2004 and the planning started.....
Using the Brits Guide "busy day" table I allocated days to parks so we went to each Disney and Universal park twice - but not usually for a whole day each time - plus a day for Kennedy Space Centre and some time for shopping. I also booked a character breakfast (which came as part of the package with our 10-day hopper ticket), a Fantasmic dinner package and a late Chef Mickey
breakfast for our last morning (Easter Sunday). So, off we went....The flight was fairly smooth, although running an hour late it caught up time and we landed at about 17.00 local time with both boys still wide awake and rareing to go. We were the last to leave baggage reclaim due to DH failing to recognise our new case going slowly round the carousel all on its own while I waited with the boys and our other cases plus buggy (now minus clip to hold it closed, but never mind its on its last legs anyway). Most people had left the Alamo desk by the time we got there so we did a good deal to upgrade to a SUV (we'd never have got everything in a compact!). Shown the relevant section of the car park and told "pick what you like from this area". We used to have a Jeep Cherokee, which I always thought was fairly big, but it was nothing to the monsters we had before us! Picked a Buick the size of a small terraced house and loaded everything in with room to spare (that is quite impressive - 3 suitcases, hand luggage, buggy, coats..I don't do "travelling light"). Before we were clear of the airport Christian was asleep.
A Thomas Cook rep had met us just before the car hire desks and given us useful directions using toll roads which kept us clear of any possible heavy traffic - not the most direct route but fairly calm and straightforward. On arrival at CSR (around 20.00) the CM checked we were expected then said "Welcome Home" as he raised the barrier. I know they always say that but it still gave us a lovely warm glow! Christian was still fast asleep so we unloaded him into the buggy (I knew it would come in useful!) and went to check in. There were not too many people and it was fairly straightforward. Christian was still asleep, so we walked along to Tiendas and bought sandwiches, snacks and drinks (mmmmmmm....beer!
) before returning to the car to drive around to our section of the car park - our request for Cabanas 9b had been honoured.Christian woke up as we carried him to the building, and after a short detour (forgetting that 1st floor in America does not mean upstairs!) found our room. I had packed night things and essential toiletries in our hand luggage so there was no need to unpack - quick bath then ate the supplies we had purchased and went to bed. Stage one complete!
