HunnyPots
DIS Veteran<br><font color=purple>The Tag Fairy is
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2001
- Messages
- 4,154
Dates: June 1-6
Resort: Caribbean Beach
Cast of characters:
Me, 39, wife, mom, and obsessive trip planner.
DH, 42, skeptic, who recently crossed over to the DIS side.
DD, 15, has a major princess complex.
DS, 12, plans amost as obsessively as mom.
Day 1: We have arrived!
We drove to WDW from North Central Texas, with a one night stop-over in New Orleans. Pretty uneventful drive.
We get to CBR about 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. We were so surprised at how beautiful this resort is. The pictures don't do it justice.
We got our requested building, Martinique 25, and I was thrilled. We were starting to panic a little, though, because we had a 7:00 ps at 'Ohana and we all needed to change and freshen up after the long drive. The CM got our ps changed to 7:10. Not much, but it bought us a few more minutes. We get to the room and unpack and change as best we can and manage to get to the Poly with about two minutes to spare.
'Ohana was lots of fun. We got a window table without even asking! DS had fun doing the coconut races. I really thought he'd think he was too old for this but he seemed to forget he was a "too-cool almost teenager" for a while.
After dinner, we went exploring and got our first taste of Disney shopping in the gift shop. Next, a round trip ride on the monorail!
We saw the Electrical Water Pageant and Epcot's fireworks during our ride. A really neat way to get the lay of the land before our first park day.
Back at CBR, the kids and I go check out OPR, the beach, and pool area while DH relaxes in the room. We don't stay too long, though, since we're all pretty exhausted and the next day is our first day at Magic Kingdom. We fall asleep as soon as we hit the pillows and don't move until Mickey calls at 6:30!
Day 2: Magic Kingdom!
The only time you can call me a morning person is when I am on vacation. I found out that when in WDW, I am a SUPER morning person! The family would be ready to kill me by the end of the week. I kept telling them that we had to get up and at 'em because MICKEY SAID SO! They were, like, 'yeah, sure. Mickey said so. Uh Huh, whatever.'
We get down to breakfast at the food court about 7:30 and then, after about a five minute wait, we are on the bus to Magic Kingdom.
We enter the park and characters are everywhere! I was very surprised to see my teen and almost-teen turn into five year olds at the sight of the characters! They were so excited! It was priceless. We got a few character pics and then moved down Main Street to be awe-struck at our first glimpse of the castle.
"Wow! We really are here!", said DS. He pretty well said it for all of us.
After a few photo ops, we head for TomorrowLand. Buzz wasn't open yet, due to technical problems, so we grab a fastpass and the head for Space Mountain. We walk right on. None of us really knew what to expect, but we all loved it. The lights, the effects, the theming. It was great.
Too early for our fp for Buzz so DD and I talk DH and DS into trying Alien Encounter. She and I knew what was in store for them but they had no idea! DD and I say we really need a drink and for them to go on without us. In truth, DD has a real fear of the dark and had no intention of doing this attraction. She really just wanted her dad and brother to get freaked out by it. But wouldn't you know it - they come out laughing! They couldn't wait to do it again! Actually, DH said he was glad that he went in not knowing what to expect. He loved the element of surprise. DS thought it was very cool. He would not stop teasing his sister about this for the remainder of the trip!
On to Buzz. Cute theming here, but I was expecting more from the ride. Oh well.
Next, we head to Liberty Square. We walk right on Haunted Mansion. This was so much fun! We were all just amazed at the special effects and attention to detail here. We come out and do it again, with only a five minute wait.
From here, we go to FrontierLand. Ah Ha! So this is where everybody is! No walk-ons to be found here. We get a fast pass for Splash Mountain and head to Pecos Bills for an early lunch.
By the time we eat and rest for a few minutes, it's time for our fp.
When we get on Splash, so many childhood memories come flooding back! Song of the South was one of my all-time favorites and I haven't seen it in years, but it all comes back to me on this ride!
Another magical thing happens here: DH is so impressed by this ride and all the details, that he declares himself to be a full-fledged Disney convert! I quickly take advantage of the moment and get him to commit to a return trip!
Next, we get a fp for Big Thunder and go see Country Bears, while we wait. We wait about 15 minutes for the next show. Very cute. DD loved Big Al's song, "Blood on the Sadle".
After the show, we cut through to AdventureLand and cool off with a pineapple float. These are even better than I'd imagined! OK - we're coming back here.
After we ride Big Thunder, we get a spot in front of Pecos Bill's just in time for the parade. Those floats are so cool! I love the Mickey float, of course, but I also thought the villians were great. We got some really great pictures.
Afterwards, we head back to AdventureLand and hit Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Tiki Room. We loved all these, but I have to say that I was blown away by Pirates. It was just awesome. I knew it was one of the older attractions, so I thought it might look a little cheesy. Ha! This is one of the great ones. Truly amazing.
We had dinner at Columbia Harbour House and couldn't resist doing Haunted Mansion one more time. I mean, we were right there. Might as well, right?
Next, we decide to walk through FantasyLand to see what interests us there. Really long lines for just about everything. Hey, wait! That one is just a five minute wait! And we've heard it's a classic. Let's do It's a Small World! (At this point you should be hearing the music from the shower scene in Psycho)
Two or three hours later (well, maybe not, but it seemed like it) when we come out, DD says, "Alien Encounter couldn't have been any worse than that!". I think she's right.
By this time, we are starting to wind down so after a walk through the castle, we decide to split up for a little while. DH and DS head back to TomorrowLand for another ride on Space Mtn. and Buzz. DD and I want to explore the Main Street Shops. After some browsing and a treat at the Bakery, we meet up and go to the Expo Hall to check out our photo. Of course, we buy it. We stay to watch a few cartoons and then go outside for Spectro. What an amazing parade!
Afterwards, we walk down towards the castle to watch it turn colors, while waiting for the fireworks. Finally, Tinkerbell makes her flight and the show begins! Coming from a small town, with a very small 4th of July budget, my kids had never seen fireworks of this magnitude. This was a perfect ending to an equally perfect day!
Next: AK and MGM
Stay tuned!
Resort: Caribbean Beach
Cast of characters:
Me, 39, wife, mom, and obsessive trip planner.
DH, 42, skeptic, who recently crossed over to the DIS side.
DD, 15, has a major princess complex.
DS, 12, plans amost as obsessively as mom.
Day 1: We have arrived!
We drove to WDW from North Central Texas, with a one night stop-over in New Orleans. Pretty uneventful drive.
We get to CBR about 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. We were so surprised at how beautiful this resort is. The pictures don't do it justice.
We got our requested building, Martinique 25, and I was thrilled. We were starting to panic a little, though, because we had a 7:00 ps at 'Ohana and we all needed to change and freshen up after the long drive. The CM got our ps changed to 7:10. Not much, but it bought us a few more minutes. We get to the room and unpack and change as best we can and manage to get to the Poly with about two minutes to spare.
'Ohana was lots of fun. We got a window table without even asking! DS had fun doing the coconut races. I really thought he'd think he was too old for this but he seemed to forget he was a "too-cool almost teenager" for a while.
After dinner, we went exploring and got our first taste of Disney shopping in the gift shop. Next, a round trip ride on the monorail!
We saw the Electrical Water Pageant and Epcot's fireworks during our ride. A really neat way to get the lay of the land before our first park day.
Back at CBR, the kids and I go check out OPR, the beach, and pool area while DH relaxes in the room. We don't stay too long, though, since we're all pretty exhausted and the next day is our first day at Magic Kingdom. We fall asleep as soon as we hit the pillows and don't move until Mickey calls at 6:30!
Day 2: Magic Kingdom!
The only time you can call me a morning person is when I am on vacation. I found out that when in WDW, I am a SUPER morning person! The family would be ready to kill me by the end of the week. I kept telling them that we had to get up and at 'em because MICKEY SAID SO! They were, like, 'yeah, sure. Mickey said so. Uh Huh, whatever.'
We get down to breakfast at the food court about 7:30 and then, after about a five minute wait, we are on the bus to Magic Kingdom.
We enter the park and characters are everywhere! I was very surprised to see my teen and almost-teen turn into five year olds at the sight of the characters! They were so excited! It was priceless. We got a few character pics and then moved down Main Street to be awe-struck at our first glimpse of the castle.
"Wow! We really are here!", said DS. He pretty well said it for all of us.
After a few photo ops, we head for TomorrowLand. Buzz wasn't open yet, due to technical problems, so we grab a fastpass and the head for Space Mountain. We walk right on. None of us really knew what to expect, but we all loved it. The lights, the effects, the theming. It was great.
Too early for our fp for Buzz so DD and I talk DH and DS into trying Alien Encounter. She and I knew what was in store for them but they had no idea! DD and I say we really need a drink and for them to go on without us. In truth, DD has a real fear of the dark and had no intention of doing this attraction. She really just wanted her dad and brother to get freaked out by it. But wouldn't you know it - they come out laughing! They couldn't wait to do it again! Actually, DH said he was glad that he went in not knowing what to expect. He loved the element of surprise. DS thought it was very cool. He would not stop teasing his sister about this for the remainder of the trip!
On to Buzz. Cute theming here, but I was expecting more from the ride. Oh well.
Next, we head to Liberty Square. We walk right on Haunted Mansion. This was so much fun! We were all just amazed at the special effects and attention to detail here. We come out and do it again, with only a five minute wait.
From here, we go to FrontierLand. Ah Ha! So this is where everybody is! No walk-ons to be found here. We get a fast pass for Splash Mountain and head to Pecos Bills for an early lunch.
By the time we eat and rest for a few minutes, it's time for our fp.
When we get on Splash, so many childhood memories come flooding back! Song of the South was one of my all-time favorites and I haven't seen it in years, but it all comes back to me on this ride!
Another magical thing happens here: DH is so impressed by this ride and all the details, that he declares himself to be a full-fledged Disney convert! I quickly take advantage of the moment and get him to commit to a return trip!
Next, we get a fp for Big Thunder and go see Country Bears, while we wait. We wait about 15 minutes for the next show. Very cute. DD loved Big Al's song, "Blood on the Sadle".
After the show, we cut through to AdventureLand and cool off with a pineapple float. These are even better than I'd imagined! OK - we're coming back here.
After we ride Big Thunder, we get a spot in front of Pecos Bill's just in time for the parade. Those floats are so cool! I love the Mickey float, of course, but I also thought the villians were great. We got some really great pictures.
Afterwards, we head back to AdventureLand and hit Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Tiki Room. We loved all these, but I have to say that I was blown away by Pirates. It was just awesome. I knew it was one of the older attractions, so I thought it might look a little cheesy. Ha! This is one of the great ones. Truly amazing.
We had dinner at Columbia Harbour House and couldn't resist doing Haunted Mansion one more time. I mean, we were right there. Might as well, right?
Next, we decide to walk through FantasyLand to see what interests us there. Really long lines for just about everything. Hey, wait! That one is just a five minute wait! And we've heard it's a classic. Let's do It's a Small World! (At this point you should be hearing the music from the shower scene in Psycho)
Two or three hours later (well, maybe not, but it seemed like it) when we come out, DD says, "Alien Encounter couldn't have been any worse than that!". I think she's right.
By this time, we are starting to wind down so after a walk through the castle, we decide to split up for a little while. DH and DS head back to TomorrowLand for another ride on Space Mtn. and Buzz. DD and I want to explore the Main Street Shops. After some browsing and a treat at the Bakery, we meet up and go to the Expo Hall to check out our photo. Of course, we buy it. We stay to watch a few cartoons and then go outside for Spectro. What an amazing parade!
Afterwards, we walk down towards the castle to watch it turn colors, while waiting for the fireworks. Finally, Tinkerbell makes her flight and the show begins! Coming from a small town, with a very small 4th of July budget, my kids had never seen fireworks of this magnitude. This was a perfect ending to an equally perfect day!
Next: AK and MGM
Stay tuned!
! Glad yours still enjoy that too.
! What was up with Buzz?
