Our FEB break Photo Trip Report updt 10/6 with last 3 updates!!!

[kathleen27]

Hi This is my first trip report ever. We spent our Feb Vacation in Orlando. Since I've been back I've been reading trip reports and really enjoying them. Since I'm also posting replies on some trip reports I thought this would be a good way to introduce myself. Plus I have about 3000 photos and my family, friends and coworkers are just not interested enough in seeing them.
I'm not going to post them all though.

I'll start with the intros:

This trip included Me - Kathy (39)- I love Travel and Love Disney World. I like planning the trips too. I like to find out as much as I can about where I am going.

My two kids -
Jacob (12) Loves to travel too! Wants to travel everywhere all the time. Can't wait to go back to disney. Is a great artist, a great student, and always has a smile. He loves to take photos too, Since he discovered the camera during art class I am so thankful for digital cameras!

Hannah (10) Is super social with her family & friends but shy anywhere else. Misses her friends when away from home. Quick to show her emotions, a great student, and has an incredible imagination. She is a strong believer in magic & wishes.

my Dad who came along to help out. And he was a really big help. Especially when the kids had different interests. could not have done it without him.

Our Disney history:

Made my first trip to Disney when I was 8. I moved to Miami when I was 9and lived there till I was 17. So I grew up going to Orlando once sometimes twice a year and thought that was normal. (Now I wish it still were)
We would go to Magic Kingdom, Sea World, Circus World, Gatorland Zoo, and Six Gun Territory. Then when Epcot opened we started going there too.

Made the first Disney trip with my kids & DH in 2002. We visited my Dad & stepmom in Ft. Lauderdale and we drove up to Orlando for a few days. MK, Chef Mickey's and Sea World.

My husband in not a Disney fan He does not want to go back. Someday I will drag hilm back.
So I went Feb 2006 with the kids. My Dad volunteered to join us and help out. My stepmom was able to join us for a few days too.

During that trip I promised the kids we'd come back in 2008. They get the week of president's day off, and even though its a busy time we chose that week. Gives me a one week break from winter when I need it most!

Links to each update:

Arrival
Sea World
Chef Mickey's
Build Your Own Lightsabre
DHS- Star Tours
DHS- Beauty & the Beast
DHS- HSM, Incredibles, and Indiana Jones
DHS- Stars and Motorcars Parade
DHS- Streets of America, a giant Ant, and Cars
DHS- The Backlot Tour
DHS- Monsters
End of our DHS day
Universal Studios part 1
Universal Studios part 2
Next Trip Announcement
AK- Dinoland
AK- Tree of Life & DeVine
AK- Festival of the Lion King
AK- Safari Ride
AK- Jacob's Safari Photos
AK- Characters & Conservation Station
AK- Pangani Forest Exploration Trail
AK- Maharajah Jungle Trek
AK- True Friend of Wildlife
AK- Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade
AK- Pocahontas and her Forest Friends, Lilo & Stitch, & Kali River Rapids
Indiana Jones drawing
MK- Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique including video
MK- Surprise Princess Meet including video
MK- HM, Jungle Cruise, Suzi & Perla, and Pirate & Princess Party
MK- Liberty Tree Tavern
MK- Into the Stockades
MK- Fantasyland
OT- Peter Pan in London
MK- Enchanted Adventures Parade
MK- Snow White & Pirate & Princess Party
MK- Magic, Music, and Mayhem View 1
MK- Magic, Music, and Mayhem View 2
MK- Big Thunder Mtn RR, Belle, & the end of our day
half OT- Jacob the Photographer & Jacob joins the DIS
Epcot- Soarin' and the Living Seas
Epcot- Living with the Land, Postcards, and Test Track
Epcot- Lost and ???
Epcot- Mission Space, Spaceship Earth & more Test Track
World Showcase - Canada
World Showcase - The UK
World Showcase - France and Morocco
World Showcase - part 4
World Showcase - part 5
Going home

 

[irky416]

I love the Indiana Jones hat on your son!

I just watched the movies last week and can't believe I haven't seen them before. I can't wait for the new one to come out. Is your son a big fan of the movies?

I can't wait to read more!

 

[kathleen27]

I love the Indiana Jones hat on your son!

I just watched the movies last week and can't believe I haven't seen them before. I can't wait for the new one to come out. Is your son a big fan of the movies?

I can't wait to read more!

My first reader Yay!
Very cool since I've been reading your trip report!

Jacob is a big Indiana Jones fan. We saw the stunt show at DHS in 2006 and he loved it. He hadn't seen any of the movies at that time. My Dad remembered he liked the show, and since we were going back he gave Jacob the DVD set for his bday last fall. He wears that hat almost every day! We're looking forward to seeing the new movie when it comes out too.

 

[3princesses+aprince]

I'm so excited I caught a trip report at the very beginning, but now I want to read more.

 

[OhMari]

Welcome to the DIS. Where do you live now?

 

[lowe@massed.net]

Hey Kathleen. Lovin' your report! My name's Kathy too. You and I sound a lot alike - I love planning almost as much as going!

DS and DH both got Indiana Jones hats one year and DH wore his for years!

We used to take most of our trips during February break too. It sure is great getting away from the New England winter. But now that I'm retired, we can go whenever we want! Trip #11 is coming up in 26 days!

 

[kathleen27]

I'm so excited I caught a trip report at the very beginning, but now I want to read more.

I know what you mean!!! Its easier to keep up than to catch up!

Welcome to the DIS. Where do you live now?

I've lived in RI for 21 years now.
I found the DIS right before I left!

Hey Kathleen. Lovin' your report! My name's Kathy too. You and I sound a lot alike - I love planning almost as much as going!

DS and DH both got Indiana Jones hats one year and DH wore his for years!

We used to take most of our trips during February break too. It sure is great getting away from the New England winter. But now that I'm retired, we can go whenever we want! Trip #11 is coming up in 26 days!

Hi Kathy!
Jacob loves the hat too. And its well made.
We've got at least another 8 years of planning trips around the school calendar.
for 26 days!

 

[kathleen27]

Saturday, Feb. 16th

We flew direct from Providence to Orlando late Saturday afternoon. Lots of turbulence on the flight. The kids have been flying since they were babies so they are used to air travel. We landed at MCO as the sun was setting. It was beautiful. A great way to start the trip.

My Dad drove up the night before and was waiting for us at the airport. We collected bags, loaded up his trunk and headed back in the airport to get dinner. When we returned to the car my Dad could not find his keys! After backtracking and searching we did find them in lost and found.
This was only the first lost item of the trip.

My parents bought a couple of time shares around 25years ago and we stayed there. Magic Tree Resort a few minutes from disney. The kids and I had a two bedroom unit and my dad had his own one bedroom unit.

Here are Jacob's photos:
The LR & Kitchen

The kids room

 

[irky416]

After backtracking and searching we did find them in lost and found.

The kids room

How luck you were to find the keys! I can't imagine what a nightmare that would have been if you weren't so lucky!

Your time share looks very nice. We stayed at a rental house last summer and really liked it.

 

[scottny]

Hi,
your tr title caught my eye as my tr title was about being a photo journey. I say post as many as you want. I posted ALOT. People seemed to have liked it.

Looking forward to more.

 

[kerstfan1]

looks nice youre report im going to subscribe

joyce

 

[kathleen27]

How luck you were to find the keys! I can't imagine what a nightmare that would have been if you weren't so lucky!

Your time share looks very nice. We stayed at a rental house last summer and really liked it.

We were worried! Everything was in the car already! We got lucky this time. We would lose 3 more items
I'd love to stay on site sometime, but Its nice to have so much space.

Hi,
your tr title caught my eye as my tr title was about being a photo journey. I say post as many as you want. I posted ALOT. People seemed to have liked it.

Looking forward to more.

Your report was great. I started reading it late (I was on my trip). I think I posted on it once. The one time I was caught up.

I look for photo in the titles and read those tr first. Some days we had tons of photos, others not so many. I actually wish we'd taken more.

looks nice youre report im going to subscribe

joyce

Thanks

 

[scottny]

Your report was great. I started reading it late (I was on my trip). I think I posted on it once. The one time I was caught up.

I look for photo in the titles and read those tr first. Some days we had tons of photos, others not so many. I actually wish we'd taken more.

didn't you say u had 3000 pics, I think that is alot. I say use as many as u like, if u read mine you know I was not shy.

 

[castmemberb4]

Subscribing !
Yhea I know I could do it with the thread tools, but then I couldn't comment
Photo TRs always interest me too, 'cause I'm not much of a writer but want to do a TR, SO I'm "planning" a photo journal TR of my Oct F&W trip. Maybe with your inspiration I won't chicken out.
Lynn

 

[kathleen27]

Sunday Feb. 17th

It was president's day weekend so we decided not to go to Disney and visit Sea World instead in hopes it would be less crowded.

We arrived before opening and were able to enter early. I'd read it was better to feed the dolphins early so we headed straight there. Got in line and bought our fish once they opened. Definately better first thing in the morning.

Kids & I feeding/petting the dolphin

My dad got this shot!

After leaving the dolphins, we were walking through the park when we saw SW staff walking a group of flamingos through the park.

We had to follow them and take some pictures. Not sure what was going on but I think the flamingo area was under construction.
They ended up at the misters (by the penguin exhibit)
They attracted a crowd. Hannah looking on:

After the flamingo excitement we headed over to the sea lion show.
Jacob loved it. He said two fins up. Matched his sense of humor.

The little otter is too cute

Then the blue horizons show:

Had to see Shamu & friends:

Loved the new wetsuits. They match the orcas!

The kids sat in the splash zone, the grownups did not. I saved space for them if they changed their minds. They got wet then moved to the dry zone.

The landscaping was incredible. It was so nice to see all the flowers and tropical plants.
Hannah getting tired and refusing to smile.

Hannah really wanted to go to sea world, this park was by her choice but by midday she just wanted to be at the pool. She got a little lecture on her attitude. Told her we were staying till we saw everything her brother wanted to see too.

We saw the shark tunnel, very cool, but Hannah is afraid of sharks, so she did not like this.

We had to get Ice cream. We had ice cream every day of the trip.

We visited the wild arctic. Hannah is not into trying new rides. She has always "walked" to the wild arctic while Jacob and I traveled by "helicopter". She decided she would try the helicopter this time. (Its a simulator ride similar to star tours but you travel through the arctic). Did she like it? Not really, but at least she tried it.

We also saw a lot of the exhibits and fed the stingrays (I don't think they were too hungry)

We did leave in time to go for a swim before dinner (take out pizza).

 

[kathleen27]

Monday Feb. 18th

Had to add another update So we would be at Disney!
We had 10:40 ADRs for a late breakfast at Chef Mickey's.
We arrived early and visited the gift shop to get autograph books.
Still early when we checked in. They handed us a beeper and it went off in less than 5 minutes.

Our waitress warned us not to go up to the buffet because Goofy would be right over.

Next was Mickey

Pluto always gets the kids laughing.
He took Jacob's pen and tried to take a few fingers with it.
Then he "kissed" Hannah on the top of her head.

Minnie

Donald

Sorry, no food pics, I never thought to take any. Next time...

The kids love Chef Mickey's.
They went six years ago and still remember.
They wanted to go back in 06 but I waited too long to make the reservation and couldn't get in
This trip I made that adr as soon as I could.
And they want to go back next time.
They love the Mickey waffles.
I think they had a lot of donuts too.

 

[irky416]

The pictures of your kids and the characters are so cute!

I also liked that picture of the dolphin your Dad got. We didn't feed them when we were there so we could never have gotten that close!

I loved the Mickey waffles too!

 

[scottny]

great update and pics.

I have only been to Sea World in San Diego, I should try the one in Orlando.

Great pics at CM.

Loved the flamingos.

 

[ProudMommyof2]

Saw you were from good ole Rhody and just had to join in. Great stuff so far and can not wait to read/see more. My son Jacob thinks its cool you have a Jacob!!!

 

[kathleen27]

didn't you say u had 3000 pics, I think that is alot. I say use as many as u like, if u read mine you know I was not shy.

I bought extra SD cards for this trip. Jacob took a lot of them. Ended up getting the photopass too. Though not many photos on it.

Subscribing !
Yhea I know I could do it with the thread tools, but then I couldn't comment
Photo TRs always interest me too, 'cause I'm not much of a writer but want to do a TR, SO I'm "planning" a photo journal TR of my Oct F&W trip. Maybe with your inspiration I won't chicken out.
Lynn

I'm glad you commented.
You should definately do it. I love seeing everyones pics.

The pictures of your kids and the characters are so cute!

I also liked that picture of the dolphin your Dad got. We didn't feed them when we were there so we could never have gotten that close!

I loved the Mickey waffles too!

Thanks.
The dolphins will only come close if you have food. They know.

great update and pics.

I have only been to Sea World in San Diego, I should try the one in Orlando.

Great pics at CM.

Loved the flamingos.

Thanks.
There is so much to do in Orlando, and not enough time.