First Family Orlando Trip May 19-26, 2001
Cast of Characters
DW (me) 46, trip planner, finance manager, worrier but excited
DH 50, reluctant participant
DS 15, computer guru, curious about Disney
DD 10, almost as excited as I was
First of all, stumbling across this website was the best thing about this trip. DH suggested this trip 2 years ago when we were planning another vacation. I couldnt believe he would suggest Disney, he detests heat, crowds, and expensive places!!! I jumped at the chance to go to Disney World and started planning. The trip had to be rescheduled 2X so by the time we were ready to go I was so pumped! From this site, I received discounts on airfare b/c I would have booked way too early but got the courage to wait longer based on the advice here. I purchased all of our passes at discounts and received a wonderful discount at our resort as a result of a posting at the www.mousesavers.com site. Also from www.wdwig.com., I checked out all of our sit down restaurants and their menus also. Also from www.wdwig.com., I looked at pictures of our resort and showed them to the family. My DH assisted me by urging us to stay on property (YES!) and left the rest of the planning to me. Planning was sooo fun. The only drawback is that you know all the fun you can have and if the family doesnt go along with your game plan, you could be very disappointed but I tried to go with the flow as much as possible. OK, on with the trip report
Day 1, May 19, 2001
Plane ride
Downtown Disney
Rose at 4:00 a.m., already packed, did last minute things and left for airport by 6:00 a.m., plane was scheduled to depart at 7:00, yes we were running late! DH drops us off at Delta ticket counter, we check-in, no problem, there was about a 20 minute wait at the ticket counter, I was surprised that the line was that long on a Saturday. DD, DS and myself are checked in, where is DH? We wait about 5 min. and decide that he must be upstairs checking in at the gate (all he had was carry-on). Get on plane fine, everyone likes their seats, I like being able to pick them out on-line, DH compliments my choice of seats. There were 2 of us in each row, kids w/window seats. This is kids first plane ride that they remember and our 1st time to fly together as a family. Trip from Tulsa to Atlanta is uneventful. In Atlanta, it looks like everyone is either going to or coming from Orlando. I get even more excited. Plane from Atlanta to Orlando is the biggest Ive ever flown on. I became concerned that there would be a lot of whining kids on the plane but this didnt happen. I chuckled b/c so many people were reading the Unofficial Guide on the plane. Land at MCO at 1:00, I hope TTC driver is on time. There he is at the bottom of the escalators, Jack Johnson, very nice guy. Luggage takes about 20 min., we load up and go to Publix for grocery shopping. We purchase sandwich & breakfast supplies, other snacks, water bottles, and a Styrofoam cooler (I planned on leaving this at the resort). I probably waited at least 20 min. at the deli counter-hmmm, just like home, and worried that we were taking too long. Not to worry, Jack was fine, boy he was going to get a good tip! We crammed all of our food and ourselves into the Towncar and on to PO Riverside. We pulled into the resort about 2:30 and I checked us in, no wait, very efficient. I took advantage of charging everything on our room card. I had pre-purchased our tickets and they wouldnt put them on the card, oh well. Our room was ready so off we went, Building 27, Room 2717. Our room was very close to Ol Man River, relatively close to the Food Court and 5 min. walk from West Depot. I had requested a n/s room close to these three places and would have preferred Bldg 14 or 18 but this location turned out very well. We had a corner room with two windows. After getting settled in, I noticed that there was a message on the phone. It was a message from the place I had purchased the Disney Quest and Universal tickets from (I had purchased them on this board). Anyway our tickets were ready (they wont mail them) and the delivery guy was on his way. Hooray, now we can go to Downtown Disney!!!
After purchasing mugs at the Food Court and making lunch, we were off to DD. We rode the boat, very fun, and enjoyed the view. We arrived about 5:00 and began to browse the shops. DS really liked the Lego store, used to be a lego fanatic when he was younger. We headed to DQ and found it to be verrry crowded. I had studied the layout for the umpteenth time in my Passporter on the plane. First we went to Mighty Ducks Pinball Slam, what a workout! Then the kids played a lot of games. DS did the Cyberspace Mountain (2X) while DD and I rode Pirates of the Caribbean, waited in line 30 min. We waited longer at DQ than any other park. DD really wanted to do the Magic Mirror and there were long lines, finally got to do that. DH sat around for most of this b/c he wasnt feeling well, too noisy and everything too close. Kids rode Astroblaster. I really wanted to do Animation Academy but the seats filled up too quickly. We had been at DQ 1 ½ hr. and decided to eat, it was only 8 oclock and I was concerned about lines at the restaurants. I told the kids we could eat at House of Blues or Planet Hollywood. Of course, they chose Planet Hollywood, good I had a 10% discount from DC, but I preferred HOB. Had a 45 min. wait at PH, would have waited longer but I asked hostess if she could go ahead and seat us and she did. DH & I had turkey club, DS, a cheeseburger and DD, pizza. They were very prompt about drink refills and kids loved the videos. Its very loud in here! We finished eating about 9:30 and went back to DQ. Rode Virtual Jungle Cruise, another workout! DS twisted his ankle in the boat. He was not very happy, rode Cyberspace Mountain again, DD did the Musicmaker, we were here about another ½ hr. and shopped some more at the Marketplace. It was now about 11:15 p.m. so we headed back to the boat launch, long walk. Fortunately, DD had purchased a new shirt and she put it on, it was breezy at this hour. Arrived back at resort at 12:00, straight to bed. Left wake up call for 6:00. Great start but I hoped we didnt run into long lines again like today.
Tomorrow:
Animal Kingdom & Typhoon Lagoon
Damage for the day:
Airline tickets $892 (prepaid)
Tiffany Town Car $72.00 (Passporter discount)+ $20.00 tip, I know big tip, he would also be our driver on the return trip
Publix $75.26 (groceries)
Bellman tip $10.00
Tickets, 2 day passes to Univeral/IOA & DQ $445.00 (pre-paid) + $1.00 tip for delivery
Cotton Mill Food Court 3 mugs $28.59
Starabilias, Matrix Poster, License Plate Name $18.50
Planet Hollywood On Location, Shirt $13.36 10% DC discount
Planet Hollywood Dinner $40.03 10% DC discount
Cast of Characters
DW (me) 46, trip planner, finance manager, worrier but excited
DH 50, reluctant participant
DS 15, computer guru, curious about Disney
DD 10, almost as excited as I was
First of all, stumbling across this website was the best thing about this trip. DH suggested this trip 2 years ago when we were planning another vacation. I couldnt believe he would suggest Disney, he detests heat, crowds, and expensive places!!! I jumped at the chance to go to Disney World and started planning. The trip had to be rescheduled 2X so by the time we were ready to go I was so pumped! From this site, I received discounts on airfare b/c I would have booked way too early but got the courage to wait longer based on the advice here. I purchased all of our passes at discounts and received a wonderful discount at our resort as a result of a posting at the www.mousesavers.com site. Also from www.wdwig.com., I checked out all of our sit down restaurants and their menus also. Also from www.wdwig.com., I looked at pictures of our resort and showed them to the family. My DH assisted me by urging us to stay on property (YES!) and left the rest of the planning to me. Planning was sooo fun. The only drawback is that you know all the fun you can have and if the family doesnt go along with your game plan, you could be very disappointed but I tried to go with the flow as much as possible. OK, on with the trip report
Day 1, May 19, 2001
Plane ride
Downtown Disney
Rose at 4:00 a.m., already packed, did last minute things and left for airport by 6:00 a.m., plane was scheduled to depart at 7:00, yes we were running late! DH drops us off at Delta ticket counter, we check-in, no problem, there was about a 20 minute wait at the ticket counter, I was surprised that the line was that long on a Saturday. DD, DS and myself are checked in, where is DH? We wait about 5 min. and decide that he must be upstairs checking in at the gate (all he had was carry-on). Get on plane fine, everyone likes their seats, I like being able to pick them out on-line, DH compliments my choice of seats. There were 2 of us in each row, kids w/window seats. This is kids first plane ride that they remember and our 1st time to fly together as a family. Trip from Tulsa to Atlanta is uneventful. In Atlanta, it looks like everyone is either going to or coming from Orlando. I get even more excited. Plane from Atlanta to Orlando is the biggest Ive ever flown on. I became concerned that there would be a lot of whining kids on the plane but this didnt happen. I chuckled b/c so many people were reading the Unofficial Guide on the plane. Land at MCO at 1:00, I hope TTC driver is on time. There he is at the bottom of the escalators, Jack Johnson, very nice guy. Luggage takes about 20 min., we load up and go to Publix for grocery shopping. We purchase sandwich & breakfast supplies, other snacks, water bottles, and a Styrofoam cooler (I planned on leaving this at the resort). I probably waited at least 20 min. at the deli counter-hmmm, just like home, and worried that we were taking too long. Not to worry, Jack was fine, boy he was going to get a good tip! We crammed all of our food and ourselves into the Towncar and on to PO Riverside. We pulled into the resort about 2:30 and I checked us in, no wait, very efficient. I took advantage of charging everything on our room card. I had pre-purchased our tickets and they wouldnt put them on the card, oh well. Our room was ready so off we went, Building 27, Room 2717. Our room was very close to Ol Man River, relatively close to the Food Court and 5 min. walk from West Depot. I had requested a n/s room close to these three places and would have preferred Bldg 14 or 18 but this location turned out very well. We had a corner room with two windows. After getting settled in, I noticed that there was a message on the phone. It was a message from the place I had purchased the Disney Quest and Universal tickets from (I had purchased them on this board). Anyway our tickets were ready (they wont mail them) and the delivery guy was on his way. Hooray, now we can go to Downtown Disney!!!
After purchasing mugs at the Food Court and making lunch, we were off to DD. We rode the boat, very fun, and enjoyed the view. We arrived about 5:00 and began to browse the shops. DS really liked the Lego store, used to be a lego fanatic when he was younger. We headed to DQ and found it to be verrry crowded. I had studied the layout for the umpteenth time in my Passporter on the plane. First we went to Mighty Ducks Pinball Slam, what a workout! Then the kids played a lot of games. DS did the Cyberspace Mountain (2X) while DD and I rode Pirates of the Caribbean, waited in line 30 min. We waited longer at DQ than any other park. DD really wanted to do the Magic Mirror and there were long lines, finally got to do that. DH sat around for most of this b/c he wasnt feeling well, too noisy and everything too close. Kids rode Astroblaster. I really wanted to do Animation Academy but the seats filled up too quickly. We had been at DQ 1 ½ hr. and decided to eat, it was only 8 oclock and I was concerned about lines at the restaurants. I told the kids we could eat at House of Blues or Planet Hollywood. Of course, they chose Planet Hollywood, good I had a 10% discount from DC, but I preferred HOB. Had a 45 min. wait at PH, would have waited longer but I asked hostess if she could go ahead and seat us and she did. DH & I had turkey club, DS, a cheeseburger and DD, pizza. They were very prompt about drink refills and kids loved the videos. Its very loud in here! We finished eating about 9:30 and went back to DQ. Rode Virtual Jungle Cruise, another workout! DS twisted his ankle in the boat. He was not very happy, rode Cyberspace Mountain again, DD did the Musicmaker, we were here about another ½ hr. and shopped some more at the Marketplace. It was now about 11:15 p.m. so we headed back to the boat launch, long walk. Fortunately, DD had purchased a new shirt and she put it on, it was breezy at this hour. Arrived back at resort at 12:00, straight to bed. Left wake up call for 6:00. Great start but I hoped we didnt run into long lines again like today.
Tomorrow:
Animal Kingdom & Typhoon Lagoon
Damage for the day:
Airline tickets $892 (prepaid)
Tiffany Town Car $72.00 (Passporter discount)+ $20.00 tip, I know big tip, he would also be our driver on the return trip
Publix $75.26 (groceries)
Bellman tip $10.00
Tickets, 2 day passes to Univeral/IOA & DQ $445.00 (pre-paid) + $1.00 tip for delivery
Cotton Mill Food Court 3 mugs $28.59
Starabilias, Matrix Poster, License Plate Name $18.50
Planet Hollywood On Location, Shirt $13.36 10% DC discount
Planet Hollywood Dinner $40.03 10% DC discount
