My Favorite Villain is my Mom and Dad (New 3/8 - Finding Litter in the Magic Kingdom)

[6travel]

Hello and welcome to my first trip report. I've read trip reports here for three years now and just recently started commenting and participating. I decided to write a report as a way to cope with my Disney depression.
This is my family's third trip to Disney. Our first trip was in September of 2013 and we returned the first week of February 2015 with my wife's parents and grandparents. We live in Illinois and enjoyed back to back years of leaving the cold Midwest for warmer temps.

Let me introduce myself:
My name is Joel and I love Disney. Before 2013 I had spent one day at the Magic Kingdom when I was 4 and one day at EPCOT in Jr. High.


My DW: Am. We have been married 15 years.


DS12: Bradyn.


DS10: Luke


DD6: Alyssa


DD4: Lexi


Trip dates 1/31/16 - 2/6/16 - Art of Animation (Finding Nemo)
Itinerary
1/31 - Travel Day
2/1 - Magic Kingdom
2/2 - Hollywood Studios
2/3 - EPCOT
2/4 - Magic Kingdom
2/5 - Animal Kingdom
2/6 - A few hours at a Park and fly home

 

[6travel]

Travel Day - It's 5 o'clock somewhere
Disney Springs
Day 1 - Good Morning
Good Morning part 2
Good Morning part 3
Crystal Palace
The wrapper in the bush
Day 2 - Hollywood Studios
Day 3 - EPCOT
Day 4 - Slug Slime
Day 5 - Animal Kingdom
Sleeping in Beast's Castle
Free Ice Cream

 

[6travel]

Travel Day - It's 5 o'clock somewhere

We split our travel into 2 days because our flight departed from Midway at 7:55 on Sunday January 31. We live about 2 hours from Midway so we left on Saturday afternoon and stayed at the Hyatt Place near the airport. The hotel is new and was quite nice (no pictures sorry). The front desk was very nice and helpful and suggested we take the 5:40 shuttle to the airport in the morning.
We ordered some Papa John's pizza and got the kids to bed at a good time. My wife had to finish some work so she sat in the hallway for a bit after the kids were in bed. Surprisingly we all made it up and down to the lobby for the shuttle. I grabbed a cup off coffee and watched the shuttle just sit and wait farther out in the parking lot. The driver pulled up right on time and we loaded up and left. There are several hotels that share a large parking lot and we stopped at them as well.
Waiting with all our luggage.


Pretty happy for an early ride to the airport


We made it to the airport fairly quick and breezed through security. With that hurdle over and over an hour before boarding we grabbed some McDonald's for breakfast and just relaxed.

Just before boarding. We asked (conned) a fellow traveler to take our picture.


Alyssa read the safety card then pulled out the drink menu. She asked Am if she could get a drink because "it's 5 o'clock somewhere."


We had about a 40 minute delay, but we arrived not long after our scheduled time. We decided to eat at the airport before heading out on the Magical Express.

 

[Lisann]

Looking forward to your trip report! Very nice family pics!

 

[ariane37]

Joining! DH and I were there (minus our kids) a little earlier than you, 1/15-1/20. Love the "It's 5:00 somewhere" comment lol.

 

[6travel]

Looking forward to your trip report! Very nice family pics!

Thank you, and welcome to the trip report.

Joining! DH and I were there (minus our kids) a little earlier than you, 1/15-1/20. Love the "It's 5:00 somewhere" comment lol.

I would like to go sometime with just my DW. My DD6 provides quite a bit of amusement to my life.

 

[6travel]

We decided to eat at the airport since it would be cheaper than paying out of pocket at the resort. We ate a quick meal of McDonald's and headed to the Magical Express. We waited in line for several minutes and were cut off at the end of the line with just two people ahead of us. The next bus came quickly and that meant we were at the front of the bus!


The bus filled up and before long I took this picture.


Art of Animation is the first stop.


We spoke to the lady in front of us on the bus and she was staying with her daughter and grand kids. Another younger lady on the bus was starting her CP the next day (Monday). I received a text at the airport telling me our room wasn't ready. We went to online check-in and they found an available room on the third floor at the end of the hall. I requested a room closer to the Animation Hall but our room worked out well because no one walked by.

We let the kids watch some TV and relax for about and hour. It was a little chilly to swim and we didn't have luggage so DW took them to the playground in the Finding Nemo area just below our room. I stayed in the room waiting for the Garden Grocer order. I finally confirmed with the front desk they could deliver it without us there.

We took off to a new adventure for our family: Disney Springs.


We wandered around and admired the Lego Store before eating at Wolfgang Puck express. We came back to the resort after supper to get the kids to bed.

 

[Lisann]

Can't wait to hear how you liked Disney Springs!

 

[6travel]

Can't wait to hear how you liked Disney Springs!

We didn't spend much time at Disney Springs. I think we were too tired from the early flight. I know the kids would have loved to shop.

 

[unwritten01]

Looking forward to the adventures!

 

[6travel]

Good Morning (Feb 1)

February 1st is our first park day! Am and I woke up early to get ready before waking up the kids which is one reason we love the family suites at AoA. After waking up the kids and getting them breakfast I headed outside to get a feel for the weather. We were at Disney the first week of February last year and it was chilly in the mornings and evenings and we wore jeans most days. Today felt great I we decided to wear shorts and bring jackets just in case.
Soon everyone was ready for the Magic Kingdom!


I don't remember waiting long for the bus to the Magic Kingdom, and by 8:20 am we were seeing this.


It was a beautiful day and even though Magic Kingdom was not a "recommended" park we couldn't start our trip anywhere else. Bradyn and I took all the bags through bag check and met Am and the rest of the kids. After six green Mickey's we headed for the train station to wait for the Welcome Show. You can tell it was bright and sunny as Lexi didn't want to look at the camera.


I thought the welcome show started at 8:45 and I took this pictures seconds before it started (about 8:41). I needed to brag to all my Illinois friends.


Just a moment later the show began.



I'm certain I need to begin every day with the Magic Kingdom Welcome Show! Even though we picked a spot to watch the show we were able to squeeze in to the right tunnel and walk up main street. We waved at all the CM's on the sidewalk and enjoyed the atmosphere. The crane was out and if you look closely you can see a man in the bucket.


PhotoPass lists this picture as 8:53 am. The sun is still bothering the kids.


We walked through the castle and hopped in line for the first attraction of the day! Peter Pan. We enjoyed the queue but since it was so early we didn't experience much as the line was non-existent. Alyssa and Lexi enjoyed the pixie dust and we waited only 6 minutes before flying over London.


Next up was Winnie the Pooh with a 5 minute wait. Then we headed Under the Sea to see our favorite mermaid.

 

[Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Daa]

Joining in! What a great family you have! Looking forward to reading more!

 

[ariane37]

I love the shirts the kids are wearing! Where did you (or Am) order them from?

It's always a good day when you can start it off with the MK welcome show

 

[6travel]

Joining in! What a great family you have! Looking forward to reading more!

Thank you!

I love the shirts the kids are wearing! Where did you (or Am) order them from?

It's always a good day when you can start it off with the MK welcome show

Am bought them on Etsy last year for her whole family (parents and grandparents). The kids shirts were big enough to last 2 trips! The shirts are embroidered too.

 

[6travel]

Good Morning cont.

I left off as we entered Journey of the Little Mermaid. The ride was down for refurb last year and it holds a special place for our family as it was our very first ride at Disney on our first trip back in 2013.

After our journey under the sea we headed to Dumbo. Only one set of Dumbo's were operating but we decided to wait instead of letting the kids play since it was only 15 minutes. While in line we had a nice conversation with the family in front of us who were from Virginia. I love that at Disney you can strike up a conversation with complete strangers and have a good time because of a shared love for Disney.
After less than 10 minutes of waiting they opened the other set of Dumbo and we loaded immediately.
Am and Alyssa took a selfie. I call this picture "I'm a lucky guy."


Lexi and I rode together.


We rode the Barnstormer next and stopped at the bathrooms as well. By 10:30 in the morning we had rode 5 rides and even though we had a lunch ADR everyone was a little hungry. We headed for our favorite mid-morning snack.

I could eat one of those right now. We ordered 4 cinnamon rolls a chocolate croissant and a cup of Lefou's Brew which none of us had tried before. We all liked it although I think the older kids drank most of it.
Alyssa wanted to pose in front of the fountain.


It was time for our first fast pass at ETWB. Both boys have been the Beast in the past but this year they decided not to participate. Last year I was selected as a suit of armor so I decided not to march when asked.....
fail! Am thought it was hilarious that I was chosen again.


Alyssa was Maurice.


Lexi was a saltshaker



I ran out of space for pictures. So I will continue.

 

[6travel]

cont.

My consolation is that I get a picture with Belle.


Since it was close we rode the carousel.



We then walked over to Tomorrowland to visit some monsters. Am was interviewed and asked to think of a number between 1 and 50. Can you guess her number?


We had another fastpass before lunch at 7DMT. I was excited because Lexi is over 40 inches tall this year which lets her on most rides.

Everyone loved it. You can see Alyssa holding on to my arm for dear life but she still had fun.

Up next ADR at Crystal Palace.

 

[JaySwash]

Great report so far, we take 4 boys so it's bringing back memories of December. =)

 

[pattyw]

Nice trip report so far!! It seems like yesterday my DS's wore their Disney hats to the airport! Enjoy this time- they grow so fast. But I'm still lucky that two college age kids are spending their spring break with Mom & Dad at Disney!! Can't wait to get there in 2 weeks!!

 

[JaySwash]

"I'm certain I need to begin every day with the Magic Kingdom Welcome Show!"

Totally agree! Last trip (second week of Dec 15) was the first time the 2 and 4 year olds saw the rope drop show and I don't think I've ever seen the two so excited... well until the 4 year old met Donald later that is. =)

 

[tortilla24]

Loving the report so far! Going in June and hoping to make our first ride Peter Pan, too. Would love to see the Welcome Show but we only have 1 day in Magic Kingdom planned. What's it like? I haven't been to MK since I was 8 years old