Our Spectacular FIRST Disney Vacation! August 2011 UK TR- OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY Mini TR

[giantstoindy]

No, I haven't done HM but I will lose my chicken (no pun intended) tendencies this summer!

Oh, wow!! Ohana looks Yum, yum and yum! ...even though you didn't like tofu!

12 nights onsite

I can't wait for your Discovery Cove update!

 

[meggiebeth]

Hello and welcome back! Now for one of the most special days of the trip-

DISCOVERY COVE!

Let's just say to start with that our 1 day ticket for Discovery Cove was almost as much as 14 day Disney tickets!

However this made me more excited. We weren't originally going to Discovery Cove, but I begged my parents. Well... my mum didn't need persuading... just my dad... who loves saving and hates spending. When I told him it would be £180 a person... he was just like 'NO WAY!!! ' But he came around and we decided to book. On Trip Advisor all the reviews were pretty good and my dad spoke to some friends who are Florida addicts who found DC amazing.

We got up early and arrived at DC around 8:30am I believe. There was actually quite a long queue to check in. We had our bags checked and then eventually got to a desk where we had our photos taken and printed on plastic ID badges that were attatched to lanyards which we then had to wear around our neck for the whole day.

After that we had our complimentary photo taken and were advised, I seem to remember, to have breakfast before putting our swimming costumes, wetsuits and vests on. I guess it made a lot of sense seeing as it was hot and humid!

Breakfast was yummy. I think it was help yourself- sort of in a cafeteria fashion. A very smart cafeteria though! Not as good as a Disney breakfast buffet (I would say mainly because there was FAR less choice) but still very nice. I remember having milk and diced potatoes among other things. I can't remember what you call diced potatoes in the US... is it teetertotters... or tatertots or something? Okay, I'd better stop embarrassing myself.

We walked over to the place where you get your wetsuits. First we chose snorkels. They were all in little bags with goggles and suncream I think. They came in adult and kid's sizes. Although I'm quite small I didn't fit the kid's size, nor did William.

You were then given the choice of wearing a vest or a wetsuit. I think at first most of us went for vests rather than wetsuits. They also provide different sizes of life jackets for children and adults who aren't great swimmers. The lazy river, Grand Reef and Dolphin Lagoon all got pretty deep.

We got changed into our swimming costumes and put our vests and wetsuits on and then went to find some loungers to set up base. We found a nice spot at the opening of the lazy river.

We spent more time than I'd have liked in the lazy river. There was so much else to see at DC and we weren't seeing it! Rory's mask kept leaking and we went back to get one mask after the other. I don't think it ever got sorted out properly in the end.

We finally headed out into the Grand Reef. There is a shallow end for people to paddle where the smaller stingrays would swim out. Lots of children were chasing them- you could kind of tell the stingrays didn't like it. Then there was a deeper end... very deep... with lots of coral and tropical fish and HUGE (and I mean HUUUUGE!) stingrays. There was also a separate shark enclosure that you couldn't get into. (Unless you jumped... EEK!)

I tried to get in the deeper end... there was sort of a zero entry bit that allowed you to work your way in. The water is FREEZING so it was difficult to stay in the water for too long. When I finally braved going out deeper I made it a metre before I panicked and swam back out. It's a sudden drop and all I could see was HUGE stingrays lying on the bottom of the sea bed. Sure, they were still, but I was terrified they would start moving. Also it was so cold I didn't enjoy it as much as I should have done.

A little stingray brushed past my leg and gave me a little fright. I just felt a bit uncomfortable of the stingrays. The fish were quite big and I saw lots of them... amazing.

William and my dad swam over. My dad at some point got attacked by a huge stingray. OK- when I say 'attacked' I don't mean attacked but the stingray swam right into him and my dad (who is hard to scare) was terrified.

Meanwhile my mum was with Rory who was sitting on a rock in the shallow end refusing to go in. Apparently he found it too cold too. They were chatting to a little American girl from Queens in New York. Ironically we were in the same dolphin swim as her I believe.

Then we went off to have lunch. The food was really yummy actually. You got to choose a main course and a dessert. I chose pasta with tomato sauce and a chocolate cake drizzled with strawberry sauce I think. I can't remember anyone elses though. There was a band playing/singing Caribbean themed music which added to the atmosphere.

After lunch myself, my mum and William (I think...?) decided to swap our vests for wetsuits. The cold water in the Grand Reef was quite unpleasant- to us anyway.

We then headed to the cabana we'd been assigned where we got a brief talk from a dolphin trainer, telling us of all the precautions, etc. Then we headed out to the dolphin lagoon.

Here's a little 'preview' of our dolphin swim...

(I'm loving it you can see... unlike a certain someone in the next photo... haha!)

And here, little Rory (who was reluctant to do the swim anyway because of the cold water) is showing what he thinks after an experience kissing a dolphin...

... Says it all, eh?!

My next post is coming soon! I will include all the photos taken during our swim (I still look back at them thinking how wonderful it was... and smile!)

Thanks for reading! Bye!

 

[meggiebeth]

No, I haven't done HM but I will lose my chicken (no pun intended) tendencies this summer!

Oh, wow!! Ohana looks Yum, yum and yum! ...even though you didn't like tofu!

12 nights onsite

I can't wait for your Discovery Cove update!

Hehe! When are you going in summer? Haunted Mansion is cute, you'll love it. ToT is WAAAY worse

Are you quite an adventurous vegetarian then? Wish I could say the same about myself! Maybe I'll catch on to tofu... the texture was the bad thing about it.

Thanks! I just posted part of the Discovery Cove day above. I've got so many photos from the swim though that I'll have to update the rest later. (10:30pm here and... ughh school tomorrow. But it's the Easter holidays next week! Are you off school yet?

 

[saintstickets]

Yea!! I've loved your TR but this is the part I've really been looking forward to reading...Discovery Cove! DW and I along with DS, DDiL, DD & DDbf are going in May and we are really looking forward to it.

Another reason I like this post - Your best smile yet in any picture you've posted! Can't wait for more.

(I'm loving it you can see)

 

[giantstoindy]

Hehe! When are you going in summer? Haunted Mansion is cute, you'll love it. ToT is WAAAY worse

Are you quite an adventurous vegetarian then? Wish I could say the same about myself! Maybe I'll catch on to tofu... the texture was the bad thing about it.

Thanks! I just posted part of the Discovery Cove day above. I've got so many photos from the swim though that I'll have to update the rest later. (10:30pm here and... ughh school tomorrow. But it's the Easter holidays next week! Are you off school yet?

EEP! Dolphins are so amazing! You have so convinced me to try dolphin swimming in the near future. I know Miami Seaquarium has one so I'll have to check that out for that part of our Florida trip starting June 20th! The ocean is calling my name now-it's only 50 degrees out.

Yea it's quite funny. I'm not crazy regular-life wise, but I'll try basically try any food. Before I was a veggie, I used to love frog legs, liver and onions, etc. I guess I take after my grandpa.

Congrats on the Easter holidays! Maybe you'll have time to plan more of your trip!! (I just had a quick break last week but other than that our schools go strong until the beginning of May.)

CanNOT wait for more of the dolphin pics!! (oh and we call those potatoes tatertots )

 

[meggiebeth]

Hello and welcome back! Before I update more on discovery cove, Rory would like very much to share his thoughts on the day and also a little on what he thought about the HDDR.

"breakfirst was amaizing The sting rays were very scary the water was freasing

lunch was awsome.

the dolphin swim was Epic i loved it but the water was cold too and

the lazy river was cool i ceped diveing under

by the way, i want to talk about the hoopdidorevue the hoopdidorevue was so funny my faiveret food was the cornbread my werst food was the pudding "

 

[meggiebeth]

More coming up soon on Discovery Cove! Rory wanted to do another little update on what he thought first though.

Yea!! I've loved your TR but this is the part I've really been looking forward to reading...Discovery Cove! DW and I along with DS, DDiL, DD & DDbf are going in May and we are really looking forward to it.

Another reason I like this post - Your best smile yet in any picture you've posted! Can't wait for more.

Thanks! You're so lucky going in May! You will LOVE it! Especially if you have not been before. Just remember to wear a wetsuit

Thanks haha I have to admit, that is probably my most genuine smile of the whole trip. Or of my whole life actually. Such a priceless feeling that you just can't help smiling

More coming up soon!

EEP! Dolphins are so amazing! You have so convinced me to try dolphin swimming in the near future. I know Miami Seaquarium has one so I'll have to check that out for that part of our Florida trip starting June 20th! The ocean is calling my name now-it's only 50 degrees out.

Yea it's quite funny. I'm not crazy regular-life wise, but I'll try basically try any food. Before I was a veggie, I used to love frog legs, liver and onions, etc. I guess I take after my grandpa.

Congrats on the Easter holidays! Maybe you'll have time to plan more of your trip!! (I just had a quick break last week but other than that our schools go strong until the beginning of May.)

CanNOT wait for more of the dolphin pics!! (oh and we call those potatoes tatertots )

I didn't love dolphins before DC and now I am a BIG dolphin fan! You will love it, I would definately try a dolphin swim! You are SO lucky going on all these trips! I would love to live in the US and get to explore the country.

We've had great weather this week up until yesterday. Late 60s and low 70s which is fab for the UK, really unusual. How's the weather going to be near you?

Frog legs?! I have never tried them and they sound a bit... disgusting lol. You should try haggis- that's sheep intestine. But the vegetarian version is delicious too. So why are you a veggie? Out of principal or because you just dislike meat?

We'll just be planning Scotland this easter holiday... I drive my parents crazy with my Florida ambitions That's strange! I thought you had 'spring break' in the US. Which is apparently like a month long. Do you finish the school year in May then? That's really early We finish at the end of July. Waah!

Update coming soon! And ahh thanks, I thought they would be tatertots. Aren't teetertotters the ride thing at the park? Seesaws? Lol

 

[Karabee]

You just posted on a thread I started about SSR and you should have just had me read your trip report - its fantastic! Thanks for the great pictures of the room.

Keep up the good work on this TR - I usually don't read alot of these because I get restless but I'm really enjoying this one!

I'm also going to London next spring with my best friend for our birthdays so I enjoy seeing the different English words and spelling

 

[PatchPixie]

My daughter and I are enjoying your trip report very much. She just informed me that she would like to swim with dolphins on our next vacation to Florida. She also thinks you are very pretty! Looking forward to your continued story...Thanks for sharing!

 

[giantstoindy]

Rory's comments are so cute! He sounds very intelligent! Dolphin swimming might have to wait for another trip, but we'll have to see! I really wish we could explore alot of the US but money is pretty tight especially with me going off to college soon.

Awesome weather. Yeah, just after I said that the weather has been getting pretty cold again! Haggis, hmm. I'm a veggie mostly for ethics. You?

Wow, Scotland! You'll have to update about that too. Most schools have a weeklong spring break here, but because I go to school online my instructors don't give us a break, really. That's why I can't wait to go off to college.

The end of July??! CRAZY

 

[catherinen]

Hi Meggie

I just came across your trip report and love it! Our family (me, 40, DH 44, DD12 and DD6) are going to WDW for the first time this August and we're staying at SSR!

Your writing is very engaging and your enthusiasm is infectious! Your family reminds me of my own mum and dad and my two younger brothers and our trips when I was young, as we went to France a lot too. A trip to Florida was totally out of the question back then, but now I have my own family and I'm so looking forward to enjoying our holiday together. Your report's giving me an idea of how my own 12 year old might feel about it. Also, I think having Rory contribute is genius, and if he can be persuaded to add some more I'd love to read it as it'll give me an idea of how my own 6 year old will find it!

Catherine

 

[catherinen]

Hi again Meggie

I should have mentioned we're from the UK too - Wiltshire. I love reading reports from fellow UKers as, despite us and the Amercians sharing a language, there's still a lot that gets lost in translation!

 

[meggiebeth]

Hey there again! Here comes the next update... on Discovery Cove!!!

As we made it over to the lagoon, we discovered we were in a group with the little girl from Queens and her family. It was so strange meeting people from places we'd only ever dreamed of seeing in the movies!

Our first dolphin was Stella. She was very young and still in the process of being trained. Our dolphin trainer got her to do a few little tricks, some of which she didn't do (reminds me of our labrador back at home who is very naughty but obsessed with food at the same time...) but it was adorable watching her. Afterwards the trainer got us to kiss the dolphin. I went first (surprisingly!).

We were told to hold her under the chin and then kiss her. It was such an amazing experience! You can see from these photographs that I was in heaven. Such a wonderful experience! It does leave you feeling so happy... I had no idea I would love the dolphin encounter as much as I did. (Before DC I wasn't that keen on dolphins... afterwards is a different story!!!)

This is the most genuine smile from the holiday I think. Well actually, the most genuine smile from me that I have seen in a long time!

Next up was my mum. I didn't know what she was thinking but it was obvious she really enjoyed it too. (Me and my mum love spending money on things like DC and shopping...!)

And here is little Rory. He (as a 6 year old boy) is incredibly reluctant to kiss anyone apart from his parents. He won't even kiss me... his lovely big sister! So as you can see he was a little apprehensive to kiss Stella.

Look at his reaction!

Afterwards it was my dad's turn. He really enjoyed it too but he wasn't as estatic as me. I think he was thinking about the money side of it.

And William, surprisingly loved the experience. Strange because he is really funny about animals. (Well mainly stuffed animals but still!) I think Stella reminded him of our playful little doggie at home. As soon as he got back to the UK he put a picture of him at the dolphin swim in a frame on his bookcase.

That's it for now! Coming up next is MORE of our day at DC (even more...?... ) We had the dolphin SWIM and the rest of the day to look forward to afterall!

Here's a preview:

 

[meggiebeth]

You just posted on a thread I started about SSR and you should have just had me read your trip report - its fantastic! Thanks for the great pictures of the room.

Keep up the good work on this TR - I usually don't read alot of these because I get restless but I'm really enjoying this one!

I'm also going to London next spring with my best friend for our birthdays so I enjoy seeing the different English words and spelling

Awww thanks! I hoped the pictures might've helped someone! You are in for a treat when you stay at SSR. It's very different to other Disney resorts but the upscale theming feels a little like BC with a New York influence.

Thanks! I'm incredibly glad you are enjoying it I hope you have a good time in London! It's my favourite city ever- I'm sure you will love it. The amount of things to do there are pretty overwhelming though How long are you going for? If you need any info or advice I'd be glad to help

My daughter and I are enjoying your trip report very much. She just informed me that she would like to swim with dolphins on our next vacation to Florida. She also thinks you are very pretty! Looking forward to your continued story...Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for joining in! You should definately swim with dolphins... it is an unforgettable experience! Imho the dolphin swim makes the cost of the DC ticket worth it... it's something everyone should do once! Aww thanks! I don't hear that very often. *Megan blushes* Thanks for reading

Rory's comments are so cute! He sounds very intelligent! Dolphin swimming might have to wait for another trip, but we'll have to see! I really wish we could explore alot of the US but money is pretty tight especially with me going off to college soon.

Awesome weather. Yeah, just after I said that the weather has been getting pretty cold again! Haggis, hmm. I'm a veggie mostly for ethics. You?

Wow, Scotland! You'll have to update about that too. Most schools have a weeklong spring break here, but because I go to school online my instructors don't give us a break, really. That's why I can't wait to go off to college.

The end of July??! CRAZY

Hehe Rory is very cute I'm not sure about intelligent but it's great having a little brother writing his perspective on the trip If you can save the money I would try dolphin swimming... although I know what you mean about money being tight! Everything is getting more expensive too At least you're coming to Europe soon. I can assure you it'll be very different from the US... I wonder how you'll like it. When we came to the US it felt like we were in a movie to me lol... although that sounds a bit silly

The weather has gotten bad here too. 70s last week and this week there's snow! Ughh I hate the cold. Oh yeah, me too. I watched a video on Facebook of how they treat animals... made it 30 seconds in and then turned it off. Absolutely horrible!

I'm looking forward to exploring the Highlands but Scotland has even worse weather than England You're in Ohio right? You get quite warm summers I have heard.

Really? I thought spring break was way longer than a week. We have two weeks... Easter in two days! Did you have a bank holiday today? Everyone here had the day off... my parents too. WOW you go to school online?! That's awesome! I've heard of that but we don't get to do it here Doesn't it ever get boring? What lessons must you do?

Is the end of July good or bad... lol. We do have two weeks of at Christmas and Easter... plus a week off every half term. But compared to your long summer holidays... 6 weeks sounds rubbish (that is how much we get off in the summer)

Happy Easter!

Hi Meggie

I just came across your trip report and love it! Our family (me, 40, DH 44, DD12 and DD6) are going to WDW for the first time this August and we're staying at SSR!

Your writing is very engaging and your enthusiasm is infectious! Your family reminds me of my own mum and dad and my two younger brothers and our trips when I was young, as we went to France a lot too. A trip to Florida was totally out of the question back then, but now I have my own family and I'm so looking forward to enjoying our holiday together. Your report's giving me an idea of how my own 12 year old might feel about it. Also, I think having Rory contribute is genius, and if he can be persuaded to add some more I'd love to read it as it'll give me an idea of how my own 6 year old will find it!

Catherine

Hello! Thanks for joining in! You are going to LOVE SSR! It is the most wonderful resort! Are you on the dining plan at all? You are going to love WDW... it's just amazing! Although the heat in August does get a little unbearable midday. One thing you must try is the main pool at SSR at night. After it's gotten dark it's heavenly... and the atmosphere is lovely too.

Thank you! If you're used to France (depending on what your accommodation was- we used to stay in 3 bedroom mobile homes) Florida and SSR will be a real treat. The whole resort feels so upscale and friendly. And if you get a villa in the Springs you will be close to most things.

Your daughters are the perfect age to enjoy it. If your 12 year old DD is anything like me she will love it! I sometimes wished I had a younger sister, like your DD6, to show the princesses to and things lol

Have you been to the US before? If not it will be even more amazing! All the different words they use, and all the patriotic flags, etc. And when you eat in a restaurant... they top up your glass again and again for free! Okay... that's not big but it was neat to us! The service is incomparable to most places in the UK.

Thanks! I will get Rory to write some more soon... I'm sure a bar of chocolate will persuade him

Hi again Meggie

I should have mentioned we're from the UK too - Wiltshire. I love reading reports from fellow UKers as, despite us and the Amercians sharing a language, there's still a lot that gets lost in translation!

Oh, great! I love to meet fellow UKers too! We live in Essex now but used to live in Buckinghamshire which was closer to Wiltshire I think. I totally agree! It was after visiting Florida that I realised how different the US and its language is compared to the UK and British English.

 

[saintstickets]

More GREAT pictures at Discovery Cove! I can't wait to go!!!

 

[ZFamily5]

I have not been here in way too long! Sorry about that!

Going way back into the TR, the Ohana breakfast looks amazing! We've only done the dinner there, but I think you've officially put the breakfast on my list!

Love your obsession with Mickey waffles! We have a Mickey waffle maker and that's what we're having for dinner on Monday night! Yum!

Typhoon Lagoon looks lovely, as usual! In the beginning of March, it was 80 degrees here, when it is usually 40 degrees or colder, but it's gotten chilly again! I can't wait for summer!

The Boma breakfast looked great too! I don't think we'll be there anytime soon, as my family didn't really like the dinner buffet!

Les Chefs de France...I have a love/hate relationship with that place and I've only been there once! The French Onion soup was amazing! However, I thought the mac n' cheese tasted a little off because of the nutmeg in it...maybe it's just me?

I just love Animal Kingdom...everything about it! Although, it does seem to get hotter than the other parks!

I love the pictures of your town! I'll try and find some of our town to put up! They are quite different!

Love Crystal Palace! It's one of our must dos every time we are at Disney World!

Wait, you're probably coming back in 2013?! How did I miss this??

Discovery Cove looks great too! Everytime we go to Orlando I think we'll do that or visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but we always end up staying at Disney the whole time!

Great updates! Hope to hear more soon!

 

[meggiebeth]

More GREAT pictures at Discovery Cove! I can't wait to go!!!

Thanks! You will love it! Not long for you now!

I have not been here in way too long! Sorry about that!

Hallo! Great to here from you! I'd better go back and look for updates on your TR too!

Going way back into the TR, the Ohana breakfast looks amazing! We've only done the dinner there, but I think you've officially put the breakfast on my list!

Yeah, the breakfast was great! The food was delicious and the characters were great. to Stitch! You should definately try it!

Love your obsession with Mickey waffles! We have a Mickey waffle maker and that's what we're having for dinner on Monday night! Yum!

You have a Mickey Waffle Maker?! And having waffles for dinner...? Sounds AMAZING! I've looked for a Mickey waffle maker but apparently they don't sell proper ones anymore.

Typhoon Lagoon looks lovely, as usual! In the beginning of March, it was 80 degrees here, when it is usually 40 degrees or colder, but it's gotten chilly again! I can't wait for summer!

Typhoon Lagoon was great! Have you been to Blizzard Beach? That's next on our list... the family raft ride looks great fun! Wow, 80 degrees... that is warm. 40 degrees is pretty cold right? Near freezing I think? I'm so bad with farenheit. I'm glad I'm not the only one looking forward to summer! Do you get hot summers? Well, to be honest we don't... but I'm fed up of the cold lol.

The Boma breakfast looked great too! I don't think we'll be there anytime soon, as my family didn't really like the dinner buffet!

Hmm, well I wouldn't put it at the top of my list either. All the breakfast buffets were great and Boma was one of our least favourites. It was quite spicy. (And NO Mickey waffles! ) If your family didn't like it for dinner I'm not entirely sure breakfast would be that different.

Les Chefs de France...I have a love/hate relationship with that place and I've only been there once! The French Onion soup was amazing! However, I thought the mac n' cheese tasted a little off because of the nutmeg in it...maybe it's just me?

Me too! The onion soup was yummy! (But I had the macaroni cheese too and left most of it I think. It's very different to the stuff we have in England but I thought maybe that's what American macaroni cheese tastes like. Glad to hear it wasn't just me!

I just love Animal Kingdom...everything about it! Although, it does seem to get hotter than the other parks!

Really? AK was probably our least favourite, but I think the weather that day made it worse along with the crowds. A 2 hour downpour of rain is not pleasant when you are stuch standing outside Tusker House!

Although Expedition Everest was great, and Dinosaur was pretty cool too.

I love the pictures of your town! I'll try and find some of our town to put up! They are quite different!

Thanks! And I would love to see some photos of your town, can't wait to see them!

Love Crystal Palace! It's one of our must dos every time we are at Disney World!

Me too! Hopefully we will do it next time, for breakfast of course. Nothing beats an empty park!

Wait, you're probably coming back in 2013?! How did I miss this??

Haha! I can't wait! We're just going to Scotland this year which will be cold and... unDisneyish. But I can't wait to go back! Do you have any more trips to WDW in the works? I remember you said your parents like you to experience different places.

Discovery Cove looks great too! Everytime we go to Orlando I think we'll do that or visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but we always end up staying at Disney the whole time!

Discovery Cove was great, although it wasn't good value for money at all. You should definately try it if it's in the budget! The dolphin swim is unforgettable! Me too, I could easily stay at Disney the whole holiday, it's just so big and fun!

Great updates! Hope to hear more soon!

Thanks! Update coming now hopefully

Replies are in red above

 

[meggiebeth]

Okay, so after we kissed young little Stella, she was taken away to rest, being so young and still in training. The trainer then brought out a much older, more experienced dolphin, who's name escapes me.

This new dolphin was lovely, and very good at tricks. He was very scratched- apparently this is what dolphins do to eachother.

We all made our way out to deeper water two at a time.

First me and my mum headed out. It was very deep (you cannot stand) but we weren't hovering for long. First was my mum...

Next it was me...

I really enjoyed the swim although it is VERY short and lasts about 5 or 10 seconds. I think if I had to choose which was better, kissing the dolphin would be my answer. I can't really remember but I think we had to hold his fin and get pulled by that. It was wonderful.

Next up was Willum. He keeps this first picture up in his room in a frame. He loved the experience.

Afterwards was my dad...

...who enjoyed the experience very much I believe!

And after this, Rory and a boy from the other family in our group, both who could not swim in deep water, were taken up to shallow rocks I think, so they did not have to swim. Rory enjoyed his dolphin swim, although he was being miserable for the rest of the dolphin session. It was a little depressing that we had paid a fortune to go to DC and Rory was moaning all through the wonderful experience.

And afterwards, the final part of our dolphin encounter... we gathered together to get a family photo with the dolphin. You can tell Rory is enjoying himself ( ) but honestly the rest of us loved the experience.

These photos are priceless to our family and it is lovely looking back on them! Of course after the dolphin swim we were ushered to the photo viewing area. I didn't think my dad would want to buy any photos, but when we saw them, we fell in love with them! It would be awful to not get any photos to commemorate the occasion. The package we got was over $100 I think, and got us a CD with all of the photos on, plus two keyrings with photos in, and several mounted prints which are lovely, plus some smaller prints. We also got a lovely free photo frame which is in my room as we speak and of great quality.

Afterwards we went to laze around in the lazy river for the rest of the day. It was very relaxing although Rory kept picking up stones from the bottom lol. Me and my mum went to the aviary but the birds were very full and there were lots of people there. I would reccommend going to the aviary at the start of the day. When I eventually got a bird on my arm, it was ADORABLE and I loved it! I wish we had a photo taken, it was just lovely!

We went to pick up our photos before the park closed. This turned out to be a great decision because as we were leaving, the photo collection area was absolutely packed!

Then, we left the park, with a few final photos

Rory wanted to take one of the rest of us...

After we left, saying goodbye to DC, we thought of where we could go to eat dinner.

More coming soon, thanks for reading!

 

[giantstoindy]

What a GREAT experience!! I'm glad you bought that photo package and shared...it was worth it. Tell Rory he's a great photographer. What a fun day...wonder where you went for dinner?!

 

[catherinen]

Hello! Thanks for joining in! You are going to LOVE SSR! It is the most wonderful resort! Are you on the dining plan at all? You are going to love WDW... it's just amazing! Although the heat in August does get a little unbearable midday. One thing you must try is the main pool at SSR at night. After it's gotten dark it's heavenly... and the atmosphere is lovely too.

Thank you! If you're used to France (depending on what your accommodation was- we used to stay in 3 bedroom mobile homes) Florida and SSR will be a real treat. The whole resort feels so upscale and friendly. And if you get a villa in the Springs you will be close to most things.

Your daughters are the perfect age to enjoy it. If your 12 year old DD is anything like me she will love it! I sometimes wished I had a younger sister, like your DD6, to show the princesses to and things lol

Have you been to the US before? If not it will be even more amazing! All the different words they use, and all the patriotic flags, etc. And when you eat in a restaurant... they top up your glass again and again for free! Okay... that's not big but it was neat to us! The service is incomparable to most places in the UK.

Thanks! I will get Rory to write some more soon... I'm sure a bar of chocolate will persuade him

Hi Meggie

More fabulous pictures. We're not doing DC - not enough money or time!

We have been to New York nefore, but nowhere else in the States. And yes, we've got the dining plan and ADRs all done. We've gone for lots of 2TS places (Le Cellier, Brown Derby, Spirit of Aloha, Fultons, Wolfgang, CRT) as I couldn't figure out how we'd have time for more, as we're spending quite a few days offsite at Universal, Seaworld and KSC.

Looking forward to more updates from you and your family!