WDW Fun
Dreaming of my next vacation
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2000
- Messages
- 145
I've never done a trip report before, but I'll give it a shot. This is prompted by my gratitude for all the info I've gleaned from this site. So here goes:
Participants: Me, 49 and DH, 47
We've been to WDW before over the years....as often as budget, schedule and distance (we're from Wisconsin) would allow. Some have been family trips with our two sons when they were younger. Our last few trips have been as a couple and I have to say I've enjoyed them at least as much as when the boys went, if not more. Both modes of travel, as a couple and as a family, have their perks. Anyway....
We had a late flight on Thursday night so that we could work on Thursday. We arrived at MCO after midnight so we did use DME but they did not retrieve bags for late flights like ours (we were told this ahead of time, so no biggie). DME was great, we'd used it in March and were happy with it. We've always done a towncar service previously.
We arrived at POR and checked in. It must have been a few minutes after 2 AM because they said they shut down their computers at 2 so we could not set up our room key to charge to. This actually was good because it makes you think twice when you actually use a credit card as opposed to using the room key. It's just too dang easy to buy stuff with that room key. When we checked in we were told about the refillable mugs (which we already have and brought along). The CM who checked us in said to bring the mugs back again on future trips forever. I know that's been discussed to death on this board, so I offer it for what it's worth. I didn't look at the new mugs to see if they were stamped with wording that they are just for this trip so I can't help you there.
This trip was kind of a last minute thing, prompted by an Expedia email with specials and the fact that we have tickets left from our March trip. However, we didn't have free dining because I hadn't made the ressies that far ahead of time. But we didn't mind because we didn't want to spend that much time eating anyway. We did the dining plan in March and were constantly eating, it seemed. Don't get me wrong, we loved it and will do it again, but just not this time.
We stayed in building 80 which was a little bit of a hike from the main building with the food court etc. but pretty close to the North bus stop. I liked it (the mansions theming) but DH said he liked the more rustic room decor which is what we had on our last trip. I don't care what anyone says about POR bus service, we always have had great service. We never waited more than a few minutes for a bus. However, leaving the parks is a different story, which we learned in March. Don't be in a hurry to get to the bus stop because you'll just have to wait. So we decided this time we would relax in the park after the fireworks and then go out to the bus stop, which worked well. We didn't have to wait long doing it that way.
So yeah, after arriving in the wee hours of the morning on Friday, the 1st, we got up at about 6:30 AM to hit the parks. As my DH said "we didn't come to Disney to sleep"....I believe he was quoting me from other trips. We had brought our own bagels from home (Natural Ovens, if anyone has heard of them, they are awesome). We took them to the food court and bought scrambled eggs and a banana to go with, and used the toaster at the food court. I made coffee in the room. So, he knows that I have to see the castle first so it was off to the MK. It was great! No lines. We did all the rides we wanted to, at a leisurely pace, and believe me some of our earlier trips were done commando style because we were there during busy times of the year. The PofC is great. We've always loved it but with Capt Jack in there it really adds a lot. And it was fun going through the waterfall at the beginning. Also, Capt Jack and another pirate were outside the ride putting on a show. That CM really looked like Capt Jack.....yummy!
So what's the deal with Splash Mtn not having that big splash that goes on the riders at the bottom? It wasn't going when we were there, so I wonder if it's broken or just gone?
Then Friday afternoon we headed to MGM and did some rides there, then 4 pm supper at 50's Prime Time. We had been there before and enjoyed it again, had the meatloaf and roast beef and a very cute and funny waitress. I got yelled at for having my elbows on the table. We shared the ice cream sundae that used to be called Dad's sundae. It didn't seem as big as it used to but still was very good. Then we stuck around for Fantasmic, which we hadn't seen for a few years, so we really enjoyed it. I also remember being at Fantasmic previously and freezing so it was nice to be there during hot weather. So, that's the first day.....more later!
Participants: Me, 49 and DH, 47
We've been to WDW before over the years....as often as budget, schedule and distance (we're from Wisconsin) would allow. Some have been family trips with our two sons when they were younger. Our last few trips have been as a couple and I have to say I've enjoyed them at least as much as when the boys went, if not more. Both modes of travel, as a couple and as a family, have their perks. Anyway....
We had a late flight on Thursday night so that we could work on Thursday. We arrived at MCO after midnight so we did use DME but they did not retrieve bags for late flights like ours (we were told this ahead of time, so no biggie). DME was great, we'd used it in March and were happy with it. We've always done a towncar service previously.
We arrived at POR and checked in. It must have been a few minutes after 2 AM because they said they shut down their computers at 2 so we could not set up our room key to charge to. This actually was good because it makes you think twice when you actually use a credit card as opposed to using the room key. It's just too dang easy to buy stuff with that room key. When we checked in we were told about the refillable mugs (which we already have and brought along). The CM who checked us in said to bring the mugs back again on future trips forever. I know that's been discussed to death on this board, so I offer it for what it's worth. I didn't look at the new mugs to see if they were stamped with wording that they are just for this trip so I can't help you there.
This trip was kind of a last minute thing, prompted by an Expedia email with specials and the fact that we have tickets left from our March trip. However, we didn't have free dining because I hadn't made the ressies that far ahead of time. But we didn't mind because we didn't want to spend that much time eating anyway. We did the dining plan in March and were constantly eating, it seemed. Don't get me wrong, we loved it and will do it again, but just not this time.
We stayed in building 80 which was a little bit of a hike from the main building with the food court etc. but pretty close to the North bus stop. I liked it (the mansions theming) but DH said he liked the more rustic room decor which is what we had on our last trip. I don't care what anyone says about POR bus service, we always have had great service. We never waited more than a few minutes for a bus. However, leaving the parks is a different story, which we learned in March. Don't be in a hurry to get to the bus stop because you'll just have to wait. So we decided this time we would relax in the park after the fireworks and then go out to the bus stop, which worked well. We didn't have to wait long doing it that way.
So yeah, after arriving in the wee hours of the morning on Friday, the 1st, we got up at about 6:30 AM to hit the parks. As my DH said "we didn't come to Disney to sleep"....I believe he was quoting me from other trips. We had brought our own bagels from home (Natural Ovens, if anyone has heard of them, they are awesome). We took them to the food court and bought scrambled eggs and a banana to go with, and used the toaster at the food court. I made coffee in the room. So, he knows that I have to see the castle first so it was off to the MK. It was great! No lines. We did all the rides we wanted to, at a leisurely pace, and believe me some of our earlier trips were done commando style because we were there during busy times of the year. The PofC is great. We've always loved it but with Capt Jack in there it really adds a lot. And it was fun going through the waterfall at the beginning. Also, Capt Jack and another pirate were outside the ride putting on a show. That CM really looked like Capt Jack.....yummy!
So what's the deal with Splash Mtn not having that big splash that goes on the riders at the bottom? It wasn't going when we were there, so I wonder if it's broken or just gone?
Then Friday afternoon we headed to MGM and did some rides there, then 4 pm supper at 50's Prime Time. We had been there before and enjoyed it again, had the meatloaf and roast beef and a very cute and funny waitress. I got yelled at for having my elbows on the table. We shared the ice cream sundae that used to be called Dad's sundae. It didn't seem as big as it used to but still was very good. Then we stuck around for Fantasmic, which we hadn't seen for a few years, so we really enjoyed it. I also remember being at Fantasmic previously and freezing so it was nice to be there during hot weather. So, that's the first day.....more later!
Then we took a break in the middle of the day back at POR and had lunch there. Then went back to MK for EMH. We didn't have many lines that night either. There was a short wait, maybe 15 min, for PofC but we'd been on it a few times already this trip so we didn't mind the wait. 
Like I said earlier we really were at a leisurely pace. This is the direct opposite of our early years as a family where I did the Unofficial Guide's commando cross park several times touring plan. It worked well back then though, in pre-fastpass days. We watched Wishes again and this time Tinkerbell went right over us, so that was cool. RECOMMENDATION: buy the Wishes CD, it's the music from the fireworks show and it takes me back there when I play it. It's awesome! We didn't quite stay at MK until 1 a.m. We left shortly after midnight. When we got to the POR bus line, two buses had just arrived, so that was good timing. 
very good as usual. We'd been there in March. I had assumed they would have zebra domes for breakfast though, and they didn't. Oh well, that french toast is to die for. Mmmm. Plus I had an omelet made. Then we went to DTD and bought a few things. Then back to POR to await DME back to MCO and off for home. We had a slight delay leaving MCO because of an impending storm and then were holding over Chicago O'Hare for awhile to wait for a storm to pass there so we could land. 
Thanks so much for taking the time to post your trip report! Terrific job!!
