mom23boyz
Wishing I Had a Magic Wand
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2004
- Messages
- 481
Cast of Characters
Me (41) Dis Board Junkie who would rather spend time planning trip than cooking dinner.
DH (41) Funder of trip and generous earner of frequent flier miles to get us there appreciates all the Disney planning, not so thrilled with the no dinners thing.
DS (10) Thrill-Seeker very excited to be going to the World. Been twice to Disneyland and loves any ride that goes fast, high or upside-down.
DS (8) Drama King charming child who loves meeting the characters, thinks hes a thrill-seeker (but is still a little frightened of upside-down) and may blow a gasket at any time. Been to Disneyland once.
DS (4) Binky Boy Happy to be going anywhere the family goes, as long as hes with Mom. Still needs a binky at night, but will assail brothers with full blows when provoked. Also been to DL once.
Trip Dates: 1/7/05 1/15/05
Wednesday, January 12
Today we are moving to the Boardwalk Inn. After five free hotel nights, we are going to splurge and spend the next three in a Disney Deluxe. While in the planning stages, we looked at all the many options. Although the Grand Floridian drew our attention first, we decided that it looked a little too frilly for our gang of boys. Most of the special touches and décor of this place would have been lost on them. The Boardwalk Inn drew our interest because of the many restaurants, shops and, of course, ESPN right outside the door. We also liked the theming. Being from the Pacific Northwest, we ruled out Wilderness Lodge because we actually get to see similar facilities here, although it does look beautiful. Anyway, we were excited to try the Boardwalk.
We have our last free breakfast of the trip, pack up our luggage, check out and head to Animal Kingdom. The night before, I had read everything in the Unofficial Guide about AK and had a definite plan. We were to be there at rope drop and head straight for the Kilamanjaro Safari. As background here, our dear neighbors took a trip to WDW over Christmas vacation and found the crowds beastly. They told us that in AK, they had waited almost 2 hours for this ride, so we wanted to make sure we saw it with little or no waiting. Turns out, waiting was not a problem at all this day. We walked onto everything in AK. After the Safari ride, which nobody really loved, we absolutely had to get the Thrill-Seeker to Kali River Rapids before his head spun around. We marched right up, donned our ponchos, and climbed aboard. Thrill-Seeker declined the poncho offer as he also likes to wear wet as a badge of honor. Well, he got his wish. The rest of us stayed semi-dry, but he was drenched and grinning from ear to ear. The CMs let us stay on for another ride, then Binky Boy and I got off to go on the bridge above and take pictures and shoot water at the three who continued on around two more times. Finally, we are on towards Dinoland, carrying four wet ponchos around with us. As we walked, we could see them working on the new Everest ride it looks really cool and was fun to see it in progress. In Dinoland, we walk right onto Dinosaur and then Primeval Whirl. Afterwards, the kids all play in the Boneyard while I treat myself to my favorite Disney food, the frozen chocolate-covered banana. We entice them all to come out with Mickey bars and were on to the Tree of Life and the Bug show, which we all thought was great.
Now, for you fans of Animal Kingdom, you will probably be disappointed to know that this is as far as we get in this park. DH was anxious to get over to the Boardwalk to check in and all the boys wanted to go back to Blizzard Beach for the afternoon. I realize there was much more to see and do there, but my family was not all that interested in seeing more. Next trip, we will definitely spend more time there.
Checking into the Boardwalk Inn took quite awhile. We asked for an upgrade, but were told they were full. DH overheard the CM next to him giving an upgrade to another person checking in, so he asked again, and amazingly, something showed up! We were given room 1334 on ground level facing the quiet pool. Although at first we were slightly disappointed, having hoped we might get a room with a view out over the Boardwalk, we realized that was probably real wishful thinking. The room we had was actually very nice and also had a big grassy strip in front of it, which the boys used to toss a football around.
We walked right over to the ESPN Club for lunch and sat at one of the tables that had a Playstation built into it, so that kept everyone quiet for a good long time and DH and I enjoyed a pitcher of beer and burgers. Time had begun to escape from us, so we talked the boys into just staying at the hotel and trying out the Luna Park pool with the big slide. They all had a ball on that and we enjoyed lounging and sipping on drinks from the carousel bar. Back in the room, we decompressed before heading out to the Magic Kingdom for our first EMH night and our first try at using Disney busses. Of course, we just miss one as its leaving BWI, so 20 min later, we are finally on our way.
We arrived on Main Street just as the fireworks began and made our way through the crowd up to Caseys Corner where everyone got a hot dog. Watching Wishes from just underneath after having seen it from Ohanas on our first night was fun. We got to see two different perspectives. As soon as it was done, we bolted for Frontierland to ride Splash Mountain. Walked right on three times! Next was BTMRR again a walk-on. Strode right on into the Haunted Mansion (Drama King hesitates here, but we tell him its really not that scary). After this, we are on our way into Fantasyland. The line for Peter Pan was very long, so we skipped it and hit Philharmagic now my favorite Disney attraction of all time. Everyone agreed it was awesome and Drama King even added a Philharmagic pin to his lanyard. This is also when Thrill-Seeker, my big ten-year-old boy wants to buy a stuffed Goofy with his money. I am so happy he still gets joy from a stuffed animal!
We make our way into Tomorrowland and head straight for Space Mountain. DH gets in line for the Indy Speedway with Binky Boy and the other two, myself and Goofy all ride Space Mountain twice! After that, its Buzz Lightyear and then Stitch both of which I could have done without, but the boys liked them (and DH liked Buzz its a shooting thing I think). Now were done and its off to the bus, which we miss, so were waiting again. Finally were back to BWI and Drama King reminds us to order the wake up call so he can hear who it is. Only two full days left the end is closing in! I notice as I drift off to sleep next to Thrill-Seeker (everybody bed-hopped this trip) that he is hugging Goofy in his sleep and it just warms my heart.
Me (41) Dis Board Junkie who would rather spend time planning trip than cooking dinner.
DH (41) Funder of trip and generous earner of frequent flier miles to get us there appreciates all the Disney planning, not so thrilled with the no dinners thing.
DS (10) Thrill-Seeker very excited to be going to the World. Been twice to Disneyland and loves any ride that goes fast, high or upside-down.
DS (8) Drama King charming child who loves meeting the characters, thinks hes a thrill-seeker (but is still a little frightened of upside-down) and may blow a gasket at any time. Been to Disneyland once.
DS (4) Binky Boy Happy to be going anywhere the family goes, as long as hes with Mom. Still needs a binky at night, but will assail brothers with full blows when provoked. Also been to DL once.
Trip Dates: 1/7/05 1/15/05
Wednesday, January 12
Today we are moving to the Boardwalk Inn. After five free hotel nights, we are going to splurge and spend the next three in a Disney Deluxe. While in the planning stages, we looked at all the many options. Although the Grand Floridian drew our attention first, we decided that it looked a little too frilly for our gang of boys. Most of the special touches and décor of this place would have been lost on them. The Boardwalk Inn drew our interest because of the many restaurants, shops and, of course, ESPN right outside the door. We also liked the theming. Being from the Pacific Northwest, we ruled out Wilderness Lodge because we actually get to see similar facilities here, although it does look beautiful. Anyway, we were excited to try the Boardwalk.
We have our last free breakfast of the trip, pack up our luggage, check out and head to Animal Kingdom. The night before, I had read everything in the Unofficial Guide about AK and had a definite plan. We were to be there at rope drop and head straight for the Kilamanjaro Safari. As background here, our dear neighbors took a trip to WDW over Christmas vacation and found the crowds beastly. They told us that in AK, they had waited almost 2 hours for this ride, so we wanted to make sure we saw it with little or no waiting. Turns out, waiting was not a problem at all this day. We walked onto everything in AK. After the Safari ride, which nobody really loved, we absolutely had to get the Thrill-Seeker to Kali River Rapids before his head spun around. We marched right up, donned our ponchos, and climbed aboard. Thrill-Seeker declined the poncho offer as he also likes to wear wet as a badge of honor. Well, he got his wish. The rest of us stayed semi-dry, but he was drenched and grinning from ear to ear. The CMs let us stay on for another ride, then Binky Boy and I got off to go on the bridge above and take pictures and shoot water at the three who continued on around two more times. Finally, we are on towards Dinoland, carrying four wet ponchos around with us. As we walked, we could see them working on the new Everest ride it looks really cool and was fun to see it in progress. In Dinoland, we walk right onto Dinosaur and then Primeval Whirl. Afterwards, the kids all play in the Boneyard while I treat myself to my favorite Disney food, the frozen chocolate-covered banana. We entice them all to come out with Mickey bars and were on to the Tree of Life and the Bug show, which we all thought was great.
Now, for you fans of Animal Kingdom, you will probably be disappointed to know that this is as far as we get in this park. DH was anxious to get over to the Boardwalk to check in and all the boys wanted to go back to Blizzard Beach for the afternoon. I realize there was much more to see and do there, but my family was not all that interested in seeing more. Next trip, we will definitely spend more time there.
Checking into the Boardwalk Inn took quite awhile. We asked for an upgrade, but were told they were full. DH overheard the CM next to him giving an upgrade to another person checking in, so he asked again, and amazingly, something showed up! We were given room 1334 on ground level facing the quiet pool. Although at first we were slightly disappointed, having hoped we might get a room with a view out over the Boardwalk, we realized that was probably real wishful thinking. The room we had was actually very nice and also had a big grassy strip in front of it, which the boys used to toss a football around.
We walked right over to the ESPN Club for lunch and sat at one of the tables that had a Playstation built into it, so that kept everyone quiet for a good long time and DH and I enjoyed a pitcher of beer and burgers. Time had begun to escape from us, so we talked the boys into just staying at the hotel and trying out the Luna Park pool with the big slide. They all had a ball on that and we enjoyed lounging and sipping on drinks from the carousel bar. Back in the room, we decompressed before heading out to the Magic Kingdom for our first EMH night and our first try at using Disney busses. Of course, we just miss one as its leaving BWI, so 20 min later, we are finally on our way.
We arrived on Main Street just as the fireworks began and made our way through the crowd up to Caseys Corner where everyone got a hot dog. Watching Wishes from just underneath after having seen it from Ohanas on our first night was fun. We got to see two different perspectives. As soon as it was done, we bolted for Frontierland to ride Splash Mountain. Walked right on three times! Next was BTMRR again a walk-on. Strode right on into the Haunted Mansion (Drama King hesitates here, but we tell him its really not that scary). After this, we are on our way into Fantasyland. The line for Peter Pan was very long, so we skipped it and hit Philharmagic now my favorite Disney attraction of all time. Everyone agreed it was awesome and Drama King even added a Philharmagic pin to his lanyard. This is also when Thrill-Seeker, my big ten-year-old boy wants to buy a stuffed Goofy with his money. I am so happy he still gets joy from a stuffed animal!
We make our way into Tomorrowland and head straight for Space Mountain. DH gets in line for the Indy Speedway with Binky Boy and the other two, myself and Goofy all ride Space Mountain twice! After that, its Buzz Lightyear and then Stitch both of which I could have done without, but the boys liked them (and DH liked Buzz its a shooting thing I think). Now were done and its off to the bus, which we miss, so were waiting again. Finally were back to BWI and Drama King reminds us to order the wake up call so he can hear who it is. Only two full days left the end is closing in! I notice as I drift off to sleep next to Thrill-Seeker (everybody bed-hopped this trip) that he is hugging Goofy in his sleep and it just warms my heart.
