Party of 5's First family trip to WDW! Just back from POR 6/16 *update 8/13 thoughts

[TigerKat]

Just found your report, great job so far! Your daughters looked so beautiful. Lucky you, running into so many DISers !!!!!

 

[DisneyJo]

Great TR, your kids are gorgeous and the girls looked lovely after BBB, I can't believe how crowded the MK bus was though especially as the park didn't open for over another hour!!!!

How funny you forgot DS's underwear

 

[BeautyNBeast]

Love your TR so far. Your kids are beautiful. They look gorgeous after BBB. Cannot wait to read more.

 

[Disneyvirg]

Your TR is wonderful so far. Your family is beautiful. I love the pics of the girls at BBB. We're hoping to do that too.

I have a question...what does PSB stand for? I couldn't find it in the list of abbreviations. Looks like you got a lot of bang for your buck as far as princesses go. =)

Can't wait to read more!

 

[DisneyDadNY]

Really enjoying your report!

 

[Hayloburger]

I am loving this trip report....we will be going in Dec and DD's will be 4 yrs old and 8 yrs old...I am taking notes.

We have reservations at BBB 8:00am....your older daughter got Disney Diva...and your youngest got Fairy Tale Princess? Is that correct?...I gotta know because my girls love the pics of your girls! May I ask how much each one cost and what it included (the BBB packages confuse me!)? We are planning on wearing our own dresses too.

Thanks and keep writing!!

 

[rentayenta]

What a fun report and cute family! Keep it coming!!! Isn't waking Tink a hoot? My DD got to do it, even though it was like 4 pm during our marathon Dream, and it was one of her favorite moments!

 

[nateryan]

Another one that just found your TR. Great Job! Looking forward to more. You have me thinking about your comment about all those people at the TTC for MK. We always drive to the parks because I HATE carrying the stroller onto the bus...maybe I can tough it out for one trip to MK. I guess I never realized all the time we are wasting.

 

[IluvXU]

First of all... the buses did get so full I am sure if you were picked up at Riverside. Glad though you got a seat! Love love love the BBB pictures at the Castle... I so will have to take the girls someday to do it there. The girls look so cute, and I would have been a mean mom like you about the extensions too.

Great princesses at Norway! You all sure did a lot in a short amount of time! Meeting Jen- how fun too! You sure ran into a lot of DISers!

 

[timandlesley]

Great installment. Loved the BBB pics, your girls looked adorable. Very cool they got to wake up Tink, I was expecting more of a "tink" too when our kids did it but they were so young they thought it was the coolest thing ever. We told a girl and her family about it at rope drop this year and they got to do it which was cool, they had never heard of it before. Awesome you ran into Megans mom, wonder who you'll run into next???
Lesley

 

[LilMommyBug]

Love it! Can't wait to read more!

 

[kaysmommie]

Loved your girls BBB makeovers, so pretty. Glad you were able to get to Tink's treasures in time. My DD got to Wake Tink back in 2006. SHe has asked to do it again but I don't think it's worth rushing to more than once. great pics from PSB Lunch.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Great installment! What a fun first day at the parks!!!

Your girls are too cute with their princess make-overs!!! BBB was one of the highlights of our 2007 trip!

Too fun about waking up Tinker Bell -- can't wait to find out why one of your girls doubted it later in the trip!

Hurray for meeting Jen!!!

What a great lunch with the princesses!

Keep it coming -- it's wonderful!!!

 

[lmillercrew]

I have never heard of waking up Tink! How fun would that be. Love your installments and can't wait to read more

 

[ampc3]

You've started your report! I've been offline for a few days so was excited to come and see a few installments this morning! You've kept me entertained while I've been drinking my morning coffee. Great, great report so far. *giggle* at forgetting the undies! LOL! It could have been worse I guess. The girls look beautiful at BBB!

Thanks so much! We thought it was kindof funny about the undies, at least we had our car to go out and get more. I don't know what we would have done w/out the car... I guess he would have been going commando a few days

Your daughters look so beautiful ~ I really LOVE that Jasmine costume, I have not seen that one before.

I am glad that waking up Tinkerbelle worked out.

Thanks for the kind words, I am glad the Tinkerbell thing all worked out too, I can see how it can get ugly tho with trying to figure out who was first etc...

Wow! Looks like all your planning paid off - what a productive start to the day! I can't believe how much you were able to get done in such a short amount of time! Can I ask a question? What time would you recommend we get to the Rope Drop if we don't have ADR's inside the park? 8:30am for a 9am opening?

Yes 8:30 is pretty much always what we aimed for, the early the better. If you want to "try" and be picked for family of the day, I have read several TR's of them being at the gate around 7:30?? We never tried that tho.

 

[ampc3]

Just found your report, great job so far! Your daughters looked so beautiful. Lucky you, running into so many DISers !!!!!

Thanks for joining and the kind words! I know it was sureal to run into so many DISers, very fun !

Great TR, your kids are gorgeous and the girls looked lovely after BBB, I can't believe how crowded the MK bus was though especially as the park didn't open for over another hour!!!!

How funny you forgot DS's underwear

I don't think we ever rode the bus with out it being completely full. Thank you for your kind words Thanks for joining!

Love your TR so far. Your kids are beautiful. They look gorgeous after BBB. Cannot wait to read more.

Thanks! stick around

Your TR is wonderful so far. Your family is beautiful. I love the pics of the girls at BBB. We're hoping to do that too.

I have a question...what does PSB stand for? I couldn't find it in the list of abbreviations. Looks like you got a lot of bang for your buck as far as princesses go. =)

Can't wait to read more!

Thank you so much! PSB stands for the "princess story book " meal at Epcot/Norway I can never spell what it is actually called Akershuous or whatever it is called.... BBB is alot of fun, definitely try and do it!

Really enjoying your report!

Thanks for coming along!

I am loving this trip report....we will be going in Dec and DD's will be 4 yrs old and 8 yrs old...I am taking notes.

We have reservations at BBB 8:00am....your older daughter got Disney Diva...and your youngest got Fairy Tale Princess? Is that correct?...I gotta know because my girls love the pics of your girls! May I ask how much each one cost and what it included (the BBB packages confuse me!)? We are planning on wearing our own dresses too.

Thanks and keep writing!!

That is a great time for BBB, Yes Disney Diva and Fairy Tale... it was 54.95 plus tax pp... it included the crown, hair clips, sash and make up kit with nail polish and the hair extensions for the Diva.

What a fun report and cute family! Keep it coming!!! Isn't waking Tink a hoot? My DD got to do it, even though it was like 4 pm during our marathon Dream, and it was one of her favorite moments!

Thank you so much, They enjoyed waking Tink, but think they would have better if they understood what it was they were doing!

Another one that just found your TR. Great Job! Looking forward to more. You have me thinking about your comment about all those people at the TTC for MK. We always drive to the parks because I HATE carrying the stroller onto the bus...maybe I can tough it out for one trip to MK. I guess I never realized all the time we are wasting.

Thanks for joining and coming along .. I don't know maybe it isn't always like that at the TTC.. But I think MK is the only park that busing it is probably better.. However with a stroller that is a tough call.

 

[ampc3]

First of all... the buses did get so full I am sure if you were picked up at Riverside. Glad though you got a seat! Love love love the BBB pictures at the Castle... I so will have to take the girls someday to do it there. The girls look so cute, and I would have been a mean mom like you about the extensions too.

Great princesses at Norway! You all sure did a lot in a short amount of time! Meeting Jen- how fun too! You sure ran into a lot of DISers!

Yes the buses were ALWAYS full, that was the only downside of being picked up last etc, but at least our stop was first.. Half the time the buses just went by the other stops at POR b/c the bus was already so full... NOW THAT would have made me crazy... Yes you will for sure have to do BBB someday.

I know I think I must have "met" the whole Ohio CRew!!

Great installment. Loved the BBB pics, your girls looked adorable. Very cool they got to wake up Tink, I was expecting more of a "tink" too when our kids did it but they were so young they thought it was the coolest thing ever. We told a girl and her family about it at rope drop this year and they got to do it which was cool, they had never heard of it before. Awesome you ran into Megans mom, wonder who you'll run into next???
Lesley

Thanks! yes I wonder who I run into next Stay tuned...

Love it! Can't wait to read more!

Thanks so much!

Loved your girls BBB makeovers, so pretty. Glad you were able to get to Tink's treasures in time. My DD got to Wake Tink back in 2006. SHe has asked to do it again but I don't think it's worth rushing to more than once. great pics from PSB Lunch.

Thank you for the kind words! I agree waking Tink is a one time thing, I would maybe try it again for Emma tho.

Great installment! What a fun first day at the parks!!!

Your girls are too cute with their princess make-overs!!! BBB was one of the highlights of our 2007 trip!

Too fun about waking up Tinker Bell -- can't wait to find out why one of your girls doubted it later in the trip!

Hurray for meeting Jen!!!

What a great lunch with the princesses!

Keep it coming -- it's wonderful!!!

I know I was so lucky with running into DISer's some of them, more than once! They loved BBB.. The whole Tinker Bell thing has to do with Wishes, Actually it was the topic of conversation alot through out the trip of who they thought was "real" etc...

I have never heard of waking up Tink! How fun would that be. Love your installments and can't wait to read more

I had never heard of waking Tink either until I read about it in someone's TR.

 

[MegansMom]

Annette,

Oh what a lovely installment!!! I was SO excited to run into you, and I SO wish we could have stopped to chat!!! I wanted to just pull back in line so we chitty chat, but I knew how excited the kids were to get on Dumbo--it was our first ride of the day too!! Imagine--a Dumbo line that was ACTUALLY moving--what are the odds!!!! Your family was so sweet, my family was so excited that I ran into you--wish you could have met the whole crew--Tom and my Dad were around the bend taking pictures and videoing for us. It was so funny because we felt so rushed through Dumbo's line because it was moving so fast, that we were all trying to hurry up and figure out who was going to sit with whom when we ran into you!!! I am so glad you all had a good morning in MK--Fantasyland is the place to be in the morning!!! Talk soon, Jen

 

[ampc3]

Monday Day 2, part 2


So I left us leaving Epcot in the afternoon, I think it was around 1:45 or so.

We went back to the hotel and got lucky with the bus, didn’t wait long at all.
We all took naps, the kids said they weren’t tired but I made them all lay down and within 20min they were all sleeping.. Actually we all were.

It was close to 4:30 when we woke and decided we had to get up and get to Wal-Mart (to get Joey some underwear) I really wanted to get back to Epcot ASAP..

It only took about 15min to get to Wal-Mart, we got some groceries and the underwear. I really wish I would have held out some $ of the kids. B/c they had a WHOLE Disney section of things, that they don’t sell in the regular stores. But all their money was on the Disney gift cards… oh well maybe next time..

So by the time we got back to our room and out to the bus stop it was close to 6... Again we got pretty lucky with the bus, coming right away however they were always full, so I felt like we stood most of the time.

When we walked into Epcot I knew we wanted to go try Soarin (another first) I thought we could get something to eat over at the WS while we were waiting for Illuminations.

So off to Soarin we go, we had the FP from early and the timing worked out perfect it was our time anyway.. I asked for the child swap for Emma.. He measured her b/c he thought she was tall enough, but nope didn’t make it, close though. So Dh and Joey went on Soarin while I took the girls on the land which was a walk on, it was almost closing time for it I guess.

We then switched and I took Lauren on Soarin…Oh my gosh… that is the coolest ride!!! We all loved it! It was well after 7 by this time, so we decided to go to Nemo and the Living Seas. Again complete walk on there was hardly anyone in the Living seas. Emma really enjoyed Nemo, it was very cute.. I loved that little song they sang about the big blue sea.

After that we looked around the tanks, and of course took the infamous “Bruce photo”

We then decided to head over to Test Track and MS and see if there were any FP left and what the wait time was.

Well of course TT FP were all gone and I believe the wait was like 60 or 70 min. However MS green side was only like a 10min wait.. So DH took the kids on that and again I got the child swap, just a quick note about the child swaps they were new to us, but I believe there was a time that they could be used on any day during your stay. Well they now have a “valid only date” which is the current day, like a FP. I guess to many people were selling them on Ebay??

I had wanted to be over in the WS by now or at the latest 8:30,it was now after 8... No one seemed in a hurry to leave FW. Emma and I hung out while they rode MS. Then they came off and wanted to ride again. So I used the Child swap for my turn with them. DH ended up taking Emma back over to Nemo for one last ride. So by now after all this it is almost 9 and I accept the fact that Illuminations isn’t going to happen tonight. We start to work our way out, and stop at Mouse Gear to do a little souvenir shopping, that Gift card the kids have is burning a whole in their pockets!! They each pick out a little something a stuffed animal I think.

It is at this point I also realize oh my goodness we NEVER ate dinner!!! They are starving, but nothing is open that I can see. So we start heading out of the park and get over to our lovely bus stop. I about fell over when I saw the line. This woman must have seen the look on my face b/c she came up to me and reconfirmed that is in fact the line! Let me tell you, I have never seen a line like this! It was the entire line corral plus the ENTIRE length of the whole sidewalk, POR and FQ share a bus here.. I am telling you that was a 2 hour line… I told DH I am NOT waiting in that line, no way.. I told him my plan and told him it can’t be any worse than this (or can it?) I remembered what Lesley from timandlesley (I think it was you) did last year, they took a bus to an EMH park and switched there..

So that is what we did, we took the bus to AK (which a bus came right away) and planned to switch there.. DH was alittle leery but I told him it had to be better than this and if worse comes to worse we’ll take a cab.

We got to AK and walked over to the POR/FQ bus line and only waited a few minutes the line wasn’t bad at all, but we did have to stand again! We were back at our hotel in almost an hours time, not bad considering. I’m convinced we would still be waiting for that bus at Epcot today!

When we got back to the hotel it was about 10:30 we were all starving but didn’t want real heavy food. We went to the food court and split a bunch of stuff, we got a little pizza, a milkshake, and some chicken nuggets.

We were all in bed by 11:30.. We could sleep in alittle longer tomorrow.

Sorry I didn't take more pictures today... I just realized I hardly have any of Epcot, don't even have the SSE ball!!!
Up next : HS… Do we have ANOTHER Dis spotting?? How long do we last there?? Are our late nights catching up to us??

 

[rentayenta]

The kids look too adorable in Bruce's mouth!


The bus service at the POR is the #1 thing I didn't like about staying there. It was always the longest line by far!