Our 2nd Shot at the Dream Team -TONS OF PICS. 10/28 New PTR LINK

[dddisrunner]

Am I first?!!

Welcome back Diane! You were greatly missed

I'm so happy to hear it was a magical trip. And I was the same way about being anxious to tell all of my Dis friends about special moments. Can't wait to hear about yours!

Thanks Carissa! I will posting the 1st installment soonish!

Welcome Home Diane!!!

Can't wait to hear all about it!!!

Thanks Kelly!

Welcome home! I'm glad you all are back safe and sound and that you had a great trip. Can't wait to hear all about it.

Thanks Susan! The 1st update is coming soon!

Welcome home, my friend! Glad to hear that you had a good time and I can't wait to hear all the nitty gritty details. :thumbsup

So, do your grocery shopping, get the laundry done, get your pictures downloaded and then get on in here and tell us all about it!

grocery shopping done, pictures of the 1st few days downloaded done, laundry......... more info on that soon!

Welcome home!!

Thanks Tanya!

 

[dddisrunner]

April 20, 2008 DEPARTURE DAY!!!!!

Well this was it, the day I had planned for for months! The excitement was at an all time high........BUT, we had a whole day to get through first!!!!!!!!!!!!

The boys woke up at 7:30 am ready to leave ASAP! Matthew says "Mom, IT"S DISNEY DAY" at the top of his lungs. Eric had a baseball game this morning and I thought it would be a good way to pass the time until we left at 3:00pm this afternoon. We all went to the game and Eric played great. We were back home by 11am...4 more hours So I gave the boys showers and then Bryan and I showered and then I went to do the last load of laundry. The washer stops and I transfer the clothes to the dryer and that's when I hear the most god awful moaning sound I have ever heard. It was my DRYER! It was DEAD!!!!!!!! I thought holy crap how am I going to come home and do all my laundry I quickly went to my moms house and finished drying everything ,came home finished getting ready and thru the last minute things into the suitcases, unplugged,turned off and we were on our way baby at 2:30 We just couldn't wait any longer!

We went to my fathers house as he was going to keep our car for us, we picked him up and made it to the airport by 4:15 and our flight was at 6:25.
We grabbed some dinner and then went to the gate to WAIT!

Here are an anxious Eric and Bryan just waiting to board...

and a happy Matthew waiting too!

We finally get the call to board and we were on the plane in a flash! We took off on time and were thrilled to FINALLY be on our way!!!

Are we there yet?

YES! The captain just announced our decent into Orlando International Airport!

We landed with no problem at all and rushed off the plane only to wait for our gate checked stroller

continued in the next post...................

 

[NMAmy]

Holy cow! First off, well, you're quite quick at getting your first installment posted. Well done, pal!

Secondly--the DRYER died? What absolutely exquisite timing! You poor thing. I'm glad disaster was averted and all was well with the flight.

Can't wait to hear more!

 

[dddisrunner]

We get our stroller after about 5 minutes and rush off to the fake monorail and are quickly whisked to baggage claim! We decided to get our own luggage because of our late arrival. We landed at 8:45pm. Here comes our luggage SWEET we only waited 5-7 minutes for it to come. We were already at Terminal B so we just had to go down 1 floor to the Magical Express Welcome Center! We arrive and it was EMPTY! We checked in walked over to our row and were immediately let out to the bus! I was so disappointed to land at night because I really couldn't take any pictures! We waited on the bus for about 5 minutes and then we were off to the most magical place on earth!!! We had to stop at Coronado Springs first then Pop and I thought the boys would lose their minds....We all JUST WANTED TO GET THERE! It had been a long day! The finally we turn the corner and get a glimpse of our home for the next 10 days! We practically ran off the bus in giddy excitement and we crossed the breezeway and see this........

and then this.......

[

That was pure bliss!

We walked into the lobby and it is simply breathtaking! I go over and wait to check in. This time of night only 2 cast members were working the front desk and I had to wait about 10 minutes to check in It was finally my turn and I was praying that we would be able to be upgraded to a pool view, but it just wasn't meant to be So we were given our room assignment. Room 5005 on the Giraffe Trail and it was a standard view! At this point I was disappointed but at the same time I was so tired and just wanted to go to sleep! We make our way to our room and are thrilled with how close we are to the lobby! We walked into the room and found this waiting for us!

The kids were so excited! Bryan took them down to The Mara and bought mugs for all of us while i unpacked! We finally fell into bed around midnight and as I layed my head down on the pillow I had tears in my eyes, I could hardly believe we were finally here and I couldn't wait for the magic really to begin tomorrow!


Up next... Our first full day..Will Eric really make the 44inch height requirement? Stay tuned!/FONT]

 

[fernoppi]

Hello! We are back too! We had the same ADRs on the same nights -- Coral Reef and Ohanas. Tried to look out for you, but didn't see your family. =) Hope you guys had a great time. We are tired....got back home probably 10-11 hours ago, and now back at work. I'll try to read some of your TR when I get the chance. =)

 

[IluvXU]

While I am sure you are sorry to be home... I am excited to hear about your trip! Loved the updates... it is so hard those last hours before leaving! I cannot wait to hear about AKL- should we make an afternoon/evening visit there? I am totally interested in what you think! Can't wait for more!

 

[dddisrunner]

Holy cow! First off, well, you're quite quick at getting your first installment posted. Well done, pal!

Secondly--the DRYER died? What absolutely exquisite timing! You poor thing. I'm glad disaster was averted and all was well with the flight.

Can't wait to hear more!

I am anxious to tell our story! I took notes but I want to post while everything is still fresh in my mind! I know GREAT timing with the dryer!

Hello! We are back too! We had the same ADRs on the same nights -- Coral Reef and Ohanas. Tried to look out for you, but didn't see your family. =) Hope you guys had a great time. We are tired....got back home probably 10-11 hours ago, and now back at work. I'll try to read some of your TR when I get the chance. =)

Sorry we missed you! We had early ADR'S both nights 4:50 at Coral Reef and 5:00 at Ohana's. I hope you had a great trip! The weather was gorgeous!

 

[NMAmy]

Wow! You had one of the smoothest arrivals at MCO of anyone I've ever heard of. What airline were you on, Diane? No matter which one we seem to use, our Tiffany driver always says, "Oh, it takes about a half an hour for luggage on this airline." I think I'll be trying for yours next time.

The kids were so excited! Bryan took them down to The Mara and bought mugs for all of us while i unpacked! We finally fell into bed around midnight and as I layed my head down on the pillow I had tears in my eyes, I could hardly believe we were finally here and I couldn't wait for the magic really to begin tomorrow!

Aww...that made me get all teary eyed just reading it!

 

[mindyd]

I am glad you had a good flight and can't wait to hear all about the trip. That stinks about the dryer I swear every time I go somewhere something breaks.

 

[MomofCKJ]

Ooh so glad you have started! I am excited to read of your adventure! Your boys are adorable!

Allyson

 

[addicted2dizney]

Thanks for sharing your trip with us! You are doing a great job so far and I can't wait to read the next part! Your trip is getting me even more ready for my own!

 

[dddisrunner]

While I am sure you are sorry to be home... I am excited to hear about your trip! Loved the updates... it is so hard those last hours before leaving! I cannot wait to hear about AKL- should we make an afternoon/evening visit there? I am totally interested in what you think! Can't wait for more!

Thanks so much! If you have a free afternoon I would definitely check out the AKL, the girls can look at the animals and you can even eat at The Mara. The resort is just gorgeous!

Wow! You had one of the smoothest arrivals at MCO of anyone I've ever heard of. What airline were you on, Diane? No matter which one we seem to use, our Tiffany driver always says, "Oh, it takes about a half an hour for luggage on this airline." I think I'll be trying for yours next time.



Aww...that made me get all teary eyed just reading it!

Thanks Amy! We flew on Spirit and it really and truly was smooth sailing! We hated stopping at 2 other resorts before the AKL though. I think it was because it was so late, I felt like I was behind or something!

I am glad you had a good flight and can't wait to hear all about the trip. That stinks about the dryer I swear every time I go somewhere something breaks.

Thanks Mindy! We just replaced our washer a few months ago!

Ooh so glad you have started! I am excited to read of your adventure! Your boys are adorable!

Allyson

Aww thanks Allyson, that's sweet!

 

[dddisrunner]

Thanks for sharing your trip with us! You are doing a great job so far and I can't wait to read the next part! Your trip is getting me even more ready for my own!

I am glad our report is getting you excited for your trip! I love reliving the trip through the report it helps with the post Disney blues!

 

[Trentmom]

You are really moving right along

Sounds like you had a fantastic start to your Trip!!

Can't wait to read about your first day

 

[Tanya90210]

Yay... I love arrival day!! Cool Towel the boys look absolutly giddy hehe... can't wait for more

 

[kaysmommie]

Welcome Back
Your off to a great start! Don't you just love flying Spirit? We used to always fly out of AC when we lived there. Now we drive . Can't wait to hear more about AKL. DId you love it there? Sorry you didn't get a Pool or Savannah view upgrade, I was hoping you would.

 

[SunnieRN]

Your boys are adorable! Can't wait to read more about your magical trip!!

 

[stagemomx3]

I love how excited the boys look on the plan, to cute.

 

[dddisrunner]

You are really moving right along

Sounds like you had a fantastic start to your Trip!!

Can't wait to read about your first day

We really did! The waiting to check in and the 2 stops before ours on the Magical express weren't that bad, it just seemed to take forever!

Yay... I love arrival day!! Cool Towel the boys look absolutly giddy hehe... can't wait for more

Thanks Tanya! For some reason, this trip just had so much more anticipation associated with it,I don't know why though

Welcome Back
Your off to a great start! Don't you just love flying Spirit? We used to always fly out of AC when we lived there. Now we drive . Can't wait to hear more about AKL. DId you love it there? Sorry you didn't get a Pool or Savannah view upgrade, I was hoping you would.

Oh yes, Spirit out of AC is the WAY TO GO, it is so small and just overall a great experience We were hoping for an upgrade too, but it all worked out! AKL rocked! We absolutely LOVED everything about it!

Your boys are adorable! Can't wait to read more about your magical trip!!

WELCOME! Thank you so much!

I love how excited the boys look on the plan, to cute.

Thanks Chel!

 

[dddisrunner]

Day 1 Epcot

I set the wake up call for 7am, for some reason the boys didn't remember that it was Stitch and Mickey that do the wake up call so I did what any loving mother would do, I listened to it myself ! It was the perfect start to our first day! We all jumped up after that, anxious to get our first day started. Bryan ran down to The Mara to get breakfast and coffee. We used our snack credits on the days we had no breakfast meals scheduled and it worked out great! Bryan and I got the yogurt parfaits which were yummo! and the boys had bagels. We were all dressed, fed,sunblocked and out the door by 7:55. I have to say the theming at the Animal Kingdom Lodge is AWESOME you are immersed in it no matter where you look.

Here are a few pictures of the details of our room!

our room#

our door shield

the mirror over the table and chairs

the headboard and "mosquito netting"

the armoire/tv stand

the wall paper in the vanity area

the african baskets hanging on the wall above the fridge

the lamp sconces next to the beds

the tiling inside the shower(which was so roomy)

the vanity area with granite countertops

the chair on the balcony

the giraffe print carpeting in the hallway leading away from our room

a hidden mickey in the carpet near the elevators

So where were we, oh yeah, we were headed to the bus and low and behold there was an Epcot bus already there YEAH! (this was a theme the entire time we were there!) We ran to it and were on our way by 8:00am!


Continued in next post!