MJMcBride
Barely lost is barely found
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2006
- Messages
- 4,916
We just got back from a great trip from Nov 11 thru the 19th. I went with my wife, my son (4), my daughter (2), my parents, my brother (a DVCer) and his wife. We stayed the first night at SSR and then 7 nights at the Boardwalk. I might have found a new favorite resort in the Boardwalk. Having all that food and shopping right outside is terrific.
Day 1- We arrived early and went to the MK after checking in. Very crowded. I don't recall Pirates having a 30 minute wait in a long time. My son was frightened by the Haunted Mansion although he began to warm up to it. He loved Splash Mountain and Big Thunder though. He especially loved Jack Sparrow's show and got a pirate diploma. We ate at 'ohana (a favorite) and watched Wishes from a window seat.
Day 2- We started off at DAK. The gang checked out Expedition Everest while we took the kids on the Jungle Trek. We hit the Festival of the Lion King which was a big hit for the youngest. Flame Tree was the choice for lunch (my vote for best counter service). After a break, we enjoyed Alfredo's and the last day of the Food & Wine Festival. Our daughter wanted to see Illuminations so my wife and I stayed while everyone else walked back to the Boardwalk. It was her first firework show.
Day 3- It was an Epcot morning filled with Soarin' and Test Track. We hit Nemo (OK) and Turtle Talk for the First time. Chefs de France was an excelllent lunch. Get the crepe. After hitting the Maelstrom and a set by Off Kilter, we took a break before getting to Mickey's Very Merry Xmas Party. It was very nice (first time for me). Although very crowded at first, the crowds died down by 930/10 and we crammed a bunch of rides including Big Thunder three times, Pirates, etc. Wishes and the Parade were great.
Day 4- Hit the Studios. My son loved meeting Darth Vader and the Power Rangers. My daughter loved meeting Jojo and Goliath. Took the kiddies to VOTLM while everyone else hit ToT and Rockin Rollercoaster. Lunch at the Sci-Fi was OK. Narnia was big for my son. The Boardwalk pool is great. Dinner at Boma was unbelievably good. An evening was spent at the marketplace.
Day 5- DAK for the morning. Tried Everest for the first time. I liked it. Went to a soft opening of the Nemo musical. After about 3 minutes it broke down and we left. I must admit it looked pretty stupid. Hit the Studios for a few hours in the afternoon as we had the Fantasmic Dinner deal going at Mama Melrose's which was OK. The food is not great at MGM. But Fantasmic was a huge hit with the kids. The Osbourne Lights were terrific (first time for me). My son enjoyed bumping into Vader on line at Star Tours.
Day 6- Epcot moring. Soarin', Test Track, Nemo, Figment, HISTA, Spaceship Earth until Le Cellier for luch which was very good. Did MK in the afternoon. My daughter loved Goofy's barnstormer- we did it 4 times. Had dinner at Cosmic Ray's and the kids loved Sunny Eclipse. Four of us went to Raglan Road which was ahuge disappointment. It is absolutely nothing like a real Irish Pub. It has all the charm of a meat market mixed with a TGI Fridays. We did not see a server for 45 minutes so we bolted for the House of Blues for cornbread and a very good band.
Day 7- DAK again with lunch at the Rainforest Cafe. Not great. But Rafiki's Planet watch was good. The kids loved some quality time in the Boneyard. The afternoon was spent at MGM for the last time. We hit the Muppets and the new Lights Motor Action stunt show which was surprisingly boring. Star Tours was done twice and my son insisted on seeing Narnia again. We also met Sorcerer Mickey. My son told him that he loved him. He spent most of the vacation pretending to be Mickey with a sorcerer's apprenctice hat and his red sweatshirt. After a decent meal the Big River Grille, we did the Illuminations cruise with Captain Ron. Amazing.
Day 8- Cape May Cafe for a character breakfast. Not as good as Chef Mickey's by any strecth. Then our last time at MK. We tried to hit everything we could but the crowds were building for Thanksgiving weekend. We still Pirates, Big Thunder, Peter Pan, Mickey's Philarmagic, Splash, Country Bears and others. My daughter got to ride the Carousel with Mary Poppins. The last ride was the Wedway People Mover, my father's favorite. My kids were asleep by the time we hit the San Angel Inn for a great meal. My daughter insisted on staying for Illuminations again although my son wanted to go back to the hotel with the grandparents for playtime.
Day 9- The last day is always depressing. We did Epcot one last time hitting Soarin, Nemo, Test Track, Figment, and others before hitting the Cantina for lunch. One last trip on Maelstrom and a pleasant stroll around the WS before heading for the Magical Express.
Not a bad way to spend 9 days. Now to plan my next trip.
Day 1- We arrived early and went to the MK after checking in. Very crowded. I don't recall Pirates having a 30 minute wait in a long time. My son was frightened by the Haunted Mansion although he began to warm up to it. He loved Splash Mountain and Big Thunder though. He especially loved Jack Sparrow's show and got a pirate diploma. We ate at 'ohana (a favorite) and watched Wishes from a window seat.
Day 2- We started off at DAK. The gang checked out Expedition Everest while we took the kids on the Jungle Trek. We hit the Festival of the Lion King which was a big hit for the youngest. Flame Tree was the choice for lunch (my vote for best counter service). After a break, we enjoyed Alfredo's and the last day of the Food & Wine Festival. Our daughter wanted to see Illuminations so my wife and I stayed while everyone else walked back to the Boardwalk. It was her first firework show.
Day 3- It was an Epcot morning filled with Soarin' and Test Track. We hit Nemo (OK) and Turtle Talk for the First time. Chefs de France was an excelllent lunch. Get the crepe. After hitting the Maelstrom and a set by Off Kilter, we took a break before getting to Mickey's Very Merry Xmas Party. It was very nice (first time for me). Although very crowded at first, the crowds died down by 930/10 and we crammed a bunch of rides including Big Thunder three times, Pirates, etc. Wishes and the Parade were great.
Day 4- Hit the Studios. My son loved meeting Darth Vader and the Power Rangers. My daughter loved meeting Jojo and Goliath. Took the kiddies to VOTLM while everyone else hit ToT and Rockin Rollercoaster. Lunch at the Sci-Fi was OK. Narnia was big for my son. The Boardwalk pool is great. Dinner at Boma was unbelievably good. An evening was spent at the marketplace.
Day 5- DAK for the morning. Tried Everest for the first time. I liked it. Went to a soft opening of the Nemo musical. After about 3 minutes it broke down and we left. I must admit it looked pretty stupid. Hit the Studios for a few hours in the afternoon as we had the Fantasmic Dinner deal going at Mama Melrose's which was OK. The food is not great at MGM. But Fantasmic was a huge hit with the kids. The Osbourne Lights were terrific (first time for me). My son enjoyed bumping into Vader on line at Star Tours.
Day 6- Epcot moring. Soarin', Test Track, Nemo, Figment, HISTA, Spaceship Earth until Le Cellier for luch which was very good. Did MK in the afternoon. My daughter loved Goofy's barnstormer- we did it 4 times. Had dinner at Cosmic Ray's and the kids loved Sunny Eclipse. Four of us went to Raglan Road which was ahuge disappointment. It is absolutely nothing like a real Irish Pub. It has all the charm of a meat market mixed with a TGI Fridays. We did not see a server for 45 minutes so we bolted for the House of Blues for cornbread and a very good band.
Day 7- DAK again with lunch at the Rainforest Cafe. Not great. But Rafiki's Planet watch was good. The kids loved some quality time in the Boneyard. The afternoon was spent at MGM for the last time. We hit the Muppets and the new Lights Motor Action stunt show which was surprisingly boring. Star Tours was done twice and my son insisted on seeing Narnia again. We also met Sorcerer Mickey. My son told him that he loved him. He spent most of the vacation pretending to be Mickey with a sorcerer's apprenctice hat and his red sweatshirt. After a decent meal the Big River Grille, we did the Illuminations cruise with Captain Ron. Amazing.
Day 8- Cape May Cafe for a character breakfast. Not as good as Chef Mickey's by any strecth. Then our last time at MK. We tried to hit everything we could but the crowds were building for Thanksgiving weekend. We still Pirates, Big Thunder, Peter Pan, Mickey's Philarmagic, Splash, Country Bears and others. My daughter got to ride the Carousel with Mary Poppins. The last ride was the Wedway People Mover, my father's favorite. My kids were asleep by the time we hit the San Angel Inn for a great meal. My daughter insisted on staying for Illuminations again although my son wanted to go back to the hotel with the grandparents for playtime.
Day 9- The last day is always depressing. We did Epcot one last time hitting Soarin, Nemo, Test Track, Figment, and others before hitting the Cantina for lunch. One last trip on Maelstrom and a pleasant stroll around the WS before heading for the Magical Express.
Not a bad way to spend 9 days. Now to plan my next trip.
