One trip in February is just not enough! *Finished 5/7

[onelilspark]

Hi there!

I'm slightly depressed. You see, I've gone to WDW in August, October, December, twice in February...and now I have no trips planned

I just finished my Dining Report and now I really don't know what to do with myself! I'm afraid I'll start going through withdrawal!! So I decided to write a Trip Report for my two February trips. (Oh you lucky people you!)

The first trip I took with my family, Feb 6-11. We usually head down around this week, so the cheerleaders are nothing new to us. I have a younger brother (he's abroad) who used to love it when he was in HS too! It was his favorite time of the year The cast of characters for the first trip include...

Me, then 23, now 24...

I live in Rochester, NY. I'm generally content on vacation so long as it isn't snowing I've been going to Disney since my parents took me on my first trip in '88. The story goes that we walked into the MK right as the afternoon parade was going on, Minnie leaned down from the float and waved. Apparently we could have left right then and there and I still would have been hooked for life My favorite ride is Haunted Mansion.

My Mom, obviously 29:

Her & my Dad live in FL now. We're org from the Philly area, but they've adjusted to FL. You'll notice they wear coats when I don't! My Mom's first trip to see the Mouse was when she was back in 1974, not long after it first opened. My Nana still has all their receipts from that trip... Her favorite ride is the People Mover.

My Dad, much older than my Mom:

I think his first trip might have been when my first trip was. He likes Disney too, but mainly because it makes his family happy. He loves Food & Wine festival and despises Disney Coffee, "that NesCafe crap." But he drinks it anyway. He also loves Epcot, he loves the movie in China, the rest of us don't quite get it Sometimes we humor him. His favorite ride is Small World.

The second trip I took was for my birthday. My boyfriend joined me for this trip. We just did a long weekend, spent 2 days with my parents and then 2 days at "Disney." That was Feb 26-March 1. So for the second trip...

My boyfriend, also 24:

He lives in Rochester too. When he was in the 7th grade his family lived in Coco Beach and had Annual Passes to Disney. He hasn't been back since It was my mission to make this the best Disney trip ever so he'd want to come back...would I succeed? He doesn't have a favorite ride (yet?)

So that's the cast of characters...stay tuned for the trip!

Btw...we like to eat. Be prepared

Next

 

[noahdove]

Ok, I am waiting for your report

 

[onelilspark]

In that case, off we go!

I actually flew in the night before and stayed down with my parents. Around 11 we were ready to head up to WDW. The first 2 days I was really snap-happy, so those installments will be much longer!! They live about 45 minutes away, so when we came across this sign:

I got very excited!

Our first stop was, where else?!

So we parked the car and headed towards the monorail...the nice thing about heading into the park at an odd time?? Very few other people are! So my Dad and I joined 2 others in the front of the monorail I love riding in the front. We had a nice enough pilot, but he didn't seem to be amused when I asked if the climate controlled dome was in place You see, it was only going to be in the 50s that day

Here's a couple shots of BLT from the front of the monorail:

I don't think you can tell in the photos, but some of the rooms were starting to be decorated.

It's really coming along nicely...if you ask me!

So we go through the not-so-thorough bag check and hope that none of our passes have been deactivated!! My Mom's pass always gets de-magnitized and doesn't work. I don't know what she does with it!! We all get through the turnstiles no problem and I see this:

That's right no one was in front of the train station! I think I did a little dance, got my camera out and then my parents realized I was missing. Good thing I'm not 5 anymore

While walking down Main St, I took these in the Candy Shop:

By this time, we were all pretty hungry, so we were headed straight for Casey's, my favorite CS in all of WDW There's never ever any tables around, so we always head down towards where the smoking section is with the yellow tables across from the Plaza. There are plenty of tables away from where people smoke, it's always less crowded down there

While it was slightly on the chilly side, it was nice and sunny, which was totally making up for it!
And you know how I said my Dad hates NesCafe? He still drinks it like its goin out of style

Alright! I got my ears on...it's time to get serious...

Next

 

[onelilspark]

After lunch we headed to Tomorrowland to do some of our favorites there. We love the Laugh Floor. I'm also a huge fan of terrible jokes. I think that helps. I laugh harder than some of the little kids sometimes.

Then it was off to beat my parents at Buzz. My Mom beat us all though She always has the lowest score! I have a secret spot that I hit and apparently she discovered it, hitting it more often than me, making her score higher

Up next was one my Mom was obviously looking forward to: The Tomorrowland Transit Authority...better known as the Peoplemover

This next picture is a joke between my brother and I...we love the sign. "No dance parties. Only holding hands parties."

It's really sad that we've been as many times as we have and we still find it funny!

We only had a few hours in the MK today since we had to check in and change before dinner. We were hitting all our favorites So we ventured into Fantasy Land...

We didn't do the Tea Pots, but I really like these pictures, so I'm going to share

This one I have since learned was only put in 2 days before I took the picture. It's by the guy who did the last lecture. I didn't know this until I got back and was perusing the DIS. I have a habit of just stumbling over these kinds of things

Why were we in Fantasy Land? Well, for those of you paying attention, we were headed to my Dad's favorite, Small World. He's one of the few people who can do this ride more than once in a row...

Then it was snack time

My Mom and I each got one of these beauties:

And my Dad went in search of a pretzel:

He loves pretzels. Please also note: He has a sweater and a fleece on. I have on short sleeves. Granted the top is a little heavier than a tee, but still...

To be continued...

 

[shellbelle]

Signing in for your trip report!

Can't wait to read more. The weather looks beautiful!

 

[onelilspark]

Hope everyone enjoyed the weekend! (And pi day!)

Let's see...where was I?

After our snacks, we headed to my favorite, The Haunted Mansion!

I love the updates to the ride too, it's just wonderful! I had seen on the DIS the pet cemetery and knew Mr. Toad was in it, so we had to stop and check it out:

I felt like a total creeper taking pictures of it for some reason. I mean, I know it's not a real cemetery, but still...

Now, at this point we hadn't checked into our condo (we weren't staying on property we stay at Orange Lake Country Club this time of year...yes, even though my parents live 45 minutes away...my Dad almost didn't take off of work...don't ask, k?) So we decided it was probably time to mosey up Main Street, do a bit of shopping, and head over to check in.

The one thing my parents bought was one of the big statues that Disney sells. My Mom really wanted the Mickey pirate one. So they found it and my Dad lugged it out of the park for her. She was really excited.

After checking in, unpacking, changing, etc... it was time for dinner:

So we drove over to the GF, valeted the car (apparently we were feeling lazy, it was also a little on the chilly side that night, even for me!) We had a lovely meal here. You can read all about it in my dining report (I'll try to keep most of the food details separate!) and the link is in my siggie!

When we were done, we came out and the band at the GF was playing Moonlight Serenade, one of my Mom's favorite songs. We had to stop and listen for a bit:

(I came out from the little girls room to find them like this...aren't they adorable?)

We made a quick stop at Publix and turned in for the night.

Onto Day 2!

 

[onelilspark]

Signing in for your trip report!

Can't wait to read more. The weather looks beautiful!

Great timing!

The weather was beautiful! The first day was chilly, but after that it really warmed up, and we never needed ponchos!!

 

[shebaxric]

This is a great posting for my first trip report experience. It gives me that little extra I need to get through the next eight months.

Also, for those of you that have not read her food review thread, it's a must!!

 

[onelilspark]

This is a great posting for my first trip report experience. It gives me that little extra I need to get through the next eight months.

Also, for those of you that have not read her food review thread, it's a must!!

Aww! Thanks, that's so nice of you!!

I'm about to get started on day 2!

 

[onelilspark]

For some reason on this trip we spent a lot of our time at the Magic Kingdom.

Today we started off again at the Magic Kingdom, due to some trickery on my part I really wanted to try the French Toast Loaf at the Main Street Bakery so I suggested to my parents, "Hey! I have an idea...why don't we get to the MK at rope drop, watch the show, I mean, we've never seen it, then grab breakfast!" ...now, there are two things here: a) I really wanted to see the opening show, I couldn't believe we've never seen it! I mean honestly!! After all these years! and b) the Main Street Bakery can get really backed up in the morning, so I knew that if there was a ridiculous line, chances were good they'd bail on me. So I schemed a bit. It totally worked

Opening the MK:

Here comes the train!

Look! Mickey!

*Ahem* Zoom much?

On a side note? How cool would it be to be the family of the day? I think I would honestly faint I would be so excited.

A little pixie dust:

So when people said they tear up at stuff like this? I always thought they were being silly. Not any more. I totally had tears in my eyes...

Notice how it's starting to clear out a bit? But ya know...those people were going to the rides...we were just going for breakfast, we could totally take our time OK! Let's go!

So we got there and there was only a short line...phew. My Mom decided she was having coffee (yes that NesCafe crap ) and a French Toast Loaf...she almost had a Cinnamon Bun, then saw the size of them!! So she placed her order with us, then went to find us a table. My Dad and I got in line, and he doesn't really do sweets unless it's 11pm, so he got a ham & cheese croissant. So we got our food, and joined my Mom with this beauty:

Ahhhh

Not 10 minutes later there wasn't a table free and the line was almost out the door. Mom: "Wow, this place sure is popular." Me: "Yeah, I guess so...who would have thought!"

It was soooo worth it. And I know I said I was going to keep food separate, but this is why we went to the MK! I know, ok? But it was worth it.

As I was finishing up and my parents were enjoying people watching (i.e. critiquing parenting skills of those around them...oh, yes, good parents, that baby has socks on it's feet!) I heard that magic music playing, so I ran outside to catch this:

Oh! They were playing my song!!! You see, I grew up with Disneyland Sing Along! And my favorite was always "Walking Right Down the Middle of Main Street USA!" I always get excited when I hear it at WDW...and I usually dance while walking down Main Street, I always am on my way somewhere, I never get to watch!

After watching I went back inside where my parents were just finishing up, when another family pounced on our table (who could blame them!) And we headed back onto Main Street where my possee had headed down Main Street a bit and I could still hear the music, so I was dancing to my heart's content. Honestly...I don't understand why I embarrass my boyfriend

And we skipped off towards Tomorrowland!

That's all for this post. Sorry for all the pictures! I started listening/watching the Youtube video I linked to and I got a little excited...

 

[Grateful Mickey]

Thanks so much for the update. I'm sooooooo jealous!!!!

We're in Miami and go for 5 days on the 29th of March.

 

[onelilspark]

Thanks so much for the update. I'm sooooooo jealous!!!!

We're in Miami and go for 5 days on the 29th of March.

Ooooo...I should be the one who's sooooo jealous!!

 

[onelilspark]

So off we went, dancing towards Tomorrowland (or at least I was.)

We were convinced that we had to do Space Mountain one last time before it was refurbed. But hmmmm...right after breakfast? Yes! We would be brave So we got in "line" and skipped down...hey, I was excited. My morning was off to a magical start. Not even Space Mountain could bring me down! So we listened to the CM and went to the right. We were not sheep! (Everyone was going to the left...and she kept saying, there's no line to the right! So I listened. We practically walked right on!) Now, I may appear young, but roller coasters do me in, in fact, they do my whole family in, minus my brother, but he was off gallivanting in England, so he doesn't count. So we asked (ever so politely) if we could sit in front instead of the back. Not a problem, sweet Except now we were behind these girls, probably 18 or so? Idk, I'm bad with ages, they looked nice, not obnoxious, so good for them. Except the one was terrified of the ride. I noticed, apparently my Mom didn't, she let out with, "I hate this ride." (Because she does, we all do, we feel like we've been put through the wringer after we get off of it, it's so jerky!) So it only served to scare the girl more, which since I'm kind of sadistic, made me laugh, on the inside, I did kind of feel bad for her...sort of. My Mom was being good though, she was quick to point out that it was "because she was old." (Old? Huh...she's only 29! ) In the end we all made it through...even the scared girl. Good for us Now can they fix it?? Pretty please

So next we hit the tea cups. Why? Because apparently I was trying to torture my stomach and there was no line. My parents bowed out...

In all fairness to my bundled up parents, it was off to a chilly start. My Dad's even holding my sweatshirt (and you'll notice I'm wearing a sweater! ) It warmed up nicely though! Also, for the record, I love that last picture. It cracks me up.

We then made our way through Fantasy Land. It was still really early, despite our break, so we were able to hit a lot of rides really quickly!

In line for Peter Pan...why oh WHY does this always have a line...I hated this when I was little...I think it was the heights. Oh, and I had to edit that photo...there was this kid in the background that moved to be in the picture. It was a nice jump in. Good work kid.

We made our way through Liberty Square, we may or may not have done Haunted Mansion again...

Can you tell how empty it is?! I love it!!

We were really skipping around...we hit Jungle Cruise next. As I might have said before, I'm a sucker for bad jokes, so this is always a hit with me!

And of course Pirates!

My Mom and I have taken a picture on this bridge every trip. When she first went back in the 70s, her and my Nana have a picture on it.

It was starting to warm up finally:

Quite possibly my favorite picture of the trip:

I went in to get my boyfriend some ears, I came out and found them like this:

I think they'd stay there all day if someone would bring them snacks. And if she'd let him win...

One last picture, then it's off to AK after a very busy morning at the Magic Kingdom!!

 

[wonderlanne]

i came JUST to "hug" your kewl trip report, as requested.

 

[blestmom]

I am loving this trip report!

I just have to comment on a few things:

- I must admit to looking for myself and kids in your pictures...we were there the same time (didn't see us, though )

- We always call it the "People Mover" too

- My brother and I (and now my kids and I) always joke about the "No Dancing" sign, and we take a picture of one each trip

- I love the picture of the Riverboat with the Haunted Mansion in the background

- Yes, your parents are adorable

- I can relate to tearing up at the MK opening...I put on my sunglasses so my kids wouldn't see

- We also take a picture on the bridge going to Adventureland every trip...started when I was a kid, and now I take pictures there of my kids

Can't wait for more!

 

[studentmom]

Lovin' your trip report . The pictures you took were great! I'd love to get to be at the MK right when it opens. Someday...

 

[onelilspark]

i came JUST to "hug" your kewl trip report, as requested.

Thanks!

I am loving this trip report!

I just have to comment on a few things:

- I must admit to looking for myself and kids in your pictures...we were there the same time (didn't see us, though )

- We always call it the "People Mover" too

- My brother and I (and now my kids and I) always joke about the "No Dancing" sign, and we take a picture of one each trip

- I love the picture of the Riverboat with the Haunted Mansion in the background

- Yes, your parents are adorable

- I can relate to tearing up at the MK opening...I put on my sunglasses so my kids wouldn't see

- We also take a picture on the bridge going to Adventureland every trip...started when I was a kid, and now I take pictures there of my kids

Can't wait for more!

Ohhh did you not go until the end of Jan? I thought you were there at the beginning of Jan... That's neat that you take pictures on the bridge too! I've never "met" anyone else who's done that!

Lovin' your trip report . The pictures you took were great! I'd love to get to be at the MK right when it opens. Someday...

Thanks! It was totally worth it

 

[onelilspark]

It was right around lunch time, so we headed over to the AK. If you followed my Dining Report, you know we planned things around food this trip. We wanted to try Yak & Yeti CS for lunch, which meant splitting up our day. (French Toast Loaf in the morning, Y&Y for lunch, check.)

We got there, and no one was in the parking lot of AK. It was a free-for-all. First sign of "cut backs" I had seen in the parks, and not a very safe one!! Since we weren't really hungry yet, the plan was for my parents to do Bug's Life and me to run to get FP's for Everest. (I hate Bug's Life. With a passion.) I took some pictures along the way...

I met back up with my parents, did some perusing in the stores, and then...well, we still weren't that hungry Apparently we had a filling breakfast My Dad offered up the suggestion that we get pretzels for lunch (He really likes pretzels.) But we decided to give Yak & Yeti a shot anyway, we'd just do some splitting. It was very tasty! Then we headed over to see Festival of the Lion King. Ohhh I love this show. We arrived just in time and sneaked in the back. After the show was done, we still had some time to kill before our FPs were up. Here's a disclaimer: the AK is not our cup of tea. My brother likes it, he's an "animal person." The rest of us? Ehhh, we come every now and then.

So we meandered around, explored a bit, I did a mini photo shoot (there's a bunch I'm not showing!)

We finally started to make our way back over to Everest...

Rode Everest (always a good time!) And wandered some more...this really isn't our park

To be continued...

 

[onelilspark]

Sorry, I almost ran out of room for pictures

At about 3:30 we found ourselves back in front of the Tree of Life, pondering...what to do next My Mom noticed the tape on the ground and said, "Hey! Is there going to be a parade?!" Actually yes...in a half hour. Sounds good! So we plopped ourselves down. Shocker: we had never seen the parade at the AK...go figure The pictures aren't spectacular because of the sun, but I'll share a few

We really liked this parade. I mean, no joke, it's probably my favorite. Which is kind of ironic I think.

So we headed out with the masses to the car. We had big plans tonight...

We're huge Parrottheads in my family, so we needed to make a pilgrimage. We headed over to CityWalk at Universal (the Devil's playground ) and had a little time to kill before our reservation. I don't care what anyone says, I like DTD much better. CityWalk bores me.

After I had my raspberry margaritas and cheeseburger we headed back to the condo. It was an early night, but we were happy

Next: A full day at Epcot!

 

[moburg]

Great report!

I'll have to remember to do this after our June trip.


Do you think the crowds were down because of the time of year, the economy, or a little of both?