WARNING - This trip report may end up being longer than the trip!! 
Cast of characters
Me Jess 29, somewhat of a Disney nut, married to a non Disney nut
DSis Laura 26, also somewhat of a Disney nut
DMom 50s also somewhat of a Disney nut
DDad 50s also somewhat of a Disney nut (but he wont admit it).
A little background DMom and DDad took Laura and me to Disney a 4 times growing up. We NEVER stayed on site and drove every time except the 1st. One other time Laura and I drove down there and met them (they were with my aunt, uncle and 3 cousins). That was in 1999. This is was our first trip back together since then (Ive been a few other times with friends and once with Laura and another friend, and Laura has been one time with a friend). Our parents honeymooned there 30 years ago, and have been once alone together since 1999. DMom and DDad were going for 6 days, Laura and I couldnt get away that long, so we were only there for 3. This was DMom and DDads first time flying there since the first time they took us in 1986, and it was there first time EVER staying onsite. Theyre there until 2/11 so Ill have to wait for their final review, but I think they really liked the convenience and this may be the way they go now!
Day One
Our flight left Hartford at 7:15. My DH Dave dropped DSis and I off about 5:45, DMom and DDad were already there waiting. We checked our bags (did ME) and grabbed some breakfast. We sat at the gate for only about 20 minutes before boarding. We flew Delta Song and we love it. Laura and I both won trivia!
We arrived at MCO about 15 minutes late, checked in with ME and were on the bus to Pop Century in about 10 minutes!! Our bus also stopped at CSR and AKL, we were the last stop. It took about an hour from the airport, but when we got there the rooms were ready so that was ok! We had 2 separate reservations and without even asking were put in the same building! We were all in 50s building #2, DSis and I on the second floor facing the bowling pin pool, DMom and DDad on the third facing the parking lot. We set off to find our room and had no problems. The walk from Classic Hall wasnt too bad, we noticed that it would have been REALLY long to some other buildings! We got to the room and it was HOT 79 to be exact!! We set the thermostat to 68 and headed back down to meet DM and DD for lunch. DD and I had the cheese steak wrap, it was super yummy!!
After lunch we hopped on the bus to AK. We got through the gate and were SHOCKED by the crowds. My other AK trips were in August, October, and April, and this was the most crowded Id ever seen it (or so it seemed. This would be the theme for the rest of our time there seemingly large crowds, yet no lines!!). Our goal here was to try to ride Everest, ride Dinosaur and head out. Were not huge fans of this park and would have skipped it completely (due to this trip being a SHORT one) if the temptation of Everest wasnt there. We got to the times board and were SO EXCITED when we saw that not only was Everest open, there was only a 40 minute wait! They werent offering FPs so we were impressed with only the 40 minutes. We got to the line and it was actually posted for 60 minutes, but we were off in 40. Let me tell you, it was WORTH THE WAIT!!!!!!!!!! We loved it!!! The themeing was awesome. The ride queue was awesome. The surprises were awesome! DM and DD rode the safari while they were waiting for us. They saw LOTS of animals. We headed over to Dinosaur. 20 minute wait posted, we were on the ride in under 10.
After that we headed out of AK and got the bus back to Pop. We all wanted to relax for a little while (we were all up by 4:30AM) and change into warmer clothes as it was supposed to be chilly that night. We met back down in front of our building and headed over to MK for EMH. We got to the bus stop and realized that we had just missed a bus and that we werent even sure we would make the next one due to the line, but the Epcot bus was there and empty. We hopped on that one, grabbed the monorail to TTC and then the monorail to MK. This probably took just as long as waiting for the bus at Pop, but at least we were MOVING.
We got to MK at about 6 and got through the bag check and entrance with no wait. Again, the crowds seemed larger than we expected, but it wasnt EMH time yet and the lines for the rides didnt seem long. We went straight to Tomorrowland. Buzz was supposed to be closed for rehab so we were REALLY excited when we got there and it was open. We grabbed FPs for that and Stitch was a walk on so DS, DD and I went on, DM waited for us. We got off that and did COP (one of my faves), ate dinner, and then rode Buzz. I won! We grabbed our bracelets for EMH and headed over to Philharmagic. DM and DD hadnt seen this yet they loved it as much as we did. The theater was about ½ full. After that, DS and I said bye to DM and DD and headed to Peter Pan. The time posted was 30 minutes but we could tell by the line that it wouldnt be that long, we were right, we only waited about 10. We walked on the IASW (just us and 2 other people in our boat) and by this time Wishes was starting. We had plans to come back the next night to watch it so we took advantage of no lines during the show tonight. We walked on to HM, and we were the ONLY ones in the stretching room for a few minutes. Let me just tell you, that is CREEPY!!! We rode that and then did BTMRR which was also a walk on. We by-passed Splash because it was COLD, and walked onto Pirates and had a boat to ourselves. We were walking by Aladdin and it was waiting for more people so we hopped in, it was my first time riding it. After Aladdin we walked back over to Tomorrowland. We grabbed FPs for Space and then got in the line (20 minutes posted, waited about 10). Next we went back and rode Buzz 2 more times, walked on both times, and DS kicked my BUTT which meant I had to buy her her first drink at Epcot. After the last Buzz ride we decided we were REALLY tired (it was now 11) and wanted to sleep. We gave away our FPs for Space and headed out. We got to the busses and the line for Pop was so long it stretched past 3 other resort lines. Ok, heres the part where I enter the REALLY TIRED disclaimer. We decided to go to one of the MK resorts, get the bus to DD and then to Pop. Now, I KNOW it would have been faster to wait, but we were so tired that we couldnt think straight. Wait it gets better. We were all the way at the Pop bus stop walked all the way back to the resort monorail and took it to the Contemporary (which you can almost spit on from the Pop bus stop), and then went to their bus stop for DD. We waited over 20 minutes and no bus. We ended up taking a cab from Contemporary to Pop and paying $21 for it. Did we care? Nope thats where the beds were!!!
Up tomorrow MGM and back to MK
Cast of characters
Me Jess 29, somewhat of a Disney nut, married to a non Disney nut
DSis Laura 26, also somewhat of a Disney nut
DMom 50s also somewhat of a Disney nut
DDad 50s also somewhat of a Disney nut (but he wont admit it).
A little background DMom and DDad took Laura and me to Disney a 4 times growing up. We NEVER stayed on site and drove every time except the 1st. One other time Laura and I drove down there and met them (they were with my aunt, uncle and 3 cousins). That was in 1999. This is was our first trip back together since then (Ive been a few other times with friends and once with Laura and another friend, and Laura has been one time with a friend). Our parents honeymooned there 30 years ago, and have been once alone together since 1999. DMom and DDad were going for 6 days, Laura and I couldnt get away that long, so we were only there for 3. This was DMom and DDads first time flying there since the first time they took us in 1986, and it was there first time EVER staying onsite. Theyre there until 2/11 so Ill have to wait for their final review, but I think they really liked the convenience and this may be the way they go now!
Day One
Our flight left Hartford at 7:15. My DH Dave dropped DSis and I off about 5:45, DMom and DDad were already there waiting. We checked our bags (did ME) and grabbed some breakfast. We sat at the gate for only about 20 minutes before boarding. We flew Delta Song and we love it. Laura and I both won trivia!
We arrived at MCO about 15 minutes late, checked in with ME and were on the bus to Pop Century in about 10 minutes!! Our bus also stopped at CSR and AKL, we were the last stop. It took about an hour from the airport, but when we got there the rooms were ready so that was ok! We had 2 separate reservations and without even asking were put in the same building! We were all in 50s building #2, DSis and I on the second floor facing the bowling pin pool, DMom and DDad on the third facing the parking lot. We set off to find our room and had no problems. The walk from Classic Hall wasnt too bad, we noticed that it would have been REALLY long to some other buildings! We got to the room and it was HOT 79 to be exact!! We set the thermostat to 68 and headed back down to meet DM and DD for lunch. DD and I had the cheese steak wrap, it was super yummy!!
After lunch we hopped on the bus to AK. We got through the gate and were SHOCKED by the crowds. My other AK trips were in August, October, and April, and this was the most crowded Id ever seen it (or so it seemed. This would be the theme for the rest of our time there seemingly large crowds, yet no lines!!). Our goal here was to try to ride Everest, ride Dinosaur and head out. Were not huge fans of this park and would have skipped it completely (due to this trip being a SHORT one) if the temptation of Everest wasnt there. We got to the times board and were SO EXCITED when we saw that not only was Everest open, there was only a 40 minute wait! They werent offering FPs so we were impressed with only the 40 minutes. We got to the line and it was actually posted for 60 minutes, but we were off in 40. Let me tell you, it was WORTH THE WAIT!!!!!!!!!! We loved it!!! The themeing was awesome. The ride queue was awesome. The surprises were awesome! DM and DD rode the safari while they were waiting for us. They saw LOTS of animals. We headed over to Dinosaur. 20 minute wait posted, we were on the ride in under 10.
After that we headed out of AK and got the bus back to Pop. We all wanted to relax for a little while (we were all up by 4:30AM) and change into warmer clothes as it was supposed to be chilly that night. We met back down in front of our building and headed over to MK for EMH. We got to the bus stop and realized that we had just missed a bus and that we werent even sure we would make the next one due to the line, but the Epcot bus was there and empty. We hopped on that one, grabbed the monorail to TTC and then the monorail to MK. This probably took just as long as waiting for the bus at Pop, but at least we were MOVING.
We got to MK at about 6 and got through the bag check and entrance with no wait. Again, the crowds seemed larger than we expected, but it wasnt EMH time yet and the lines for the rides didnt seem long. We went straight to Tomorrowland. Buzz was supposed to be closed for rehab so we were REALLY excited when we got there and it was open. We grabbed FPs for that and Stitch was a walk on so DS, DD and I went on, DM waited for us. We got off that and did COP (one of my faves), ate dinner, and then rode Buzz. I won! We grabbed our bracelets for EMH and headed over to Philharmagic. DM and DD hadnt seen this yet they loved it as much as we did. The theater was about ½ full. After that, DS and I said bye to DM and DD and headed to Peter Pan. The time posted was 30 minutes but we could tell by the line that it wouldnt be that long, we were right, we only waited about 10. We walked on the IASW (just us and 2 other people in our boat) and by this time Wishes was starting. We had plans to come back the next night to watch it so we took advantage of no lines during the show tonight. We walked on to HM, and we were the ONLY ones in the stretching room for a few minutes. Let me just tell you, that is CREEPY!!! We rode that and then did BTMRR which was also a walk on. We by-passed Splash because it was COLD, and walked onto Pirates and had a boat to ourselves. We were walking by Aladdin and it was waiting for more people so we hopped in, it was my first time riding it. After Aladdin we walked back over to Tomorrowland. We grabbed FPs for Space and then got in the line (20 minutes posted, waited about 10). Next we went back and rode Buzz 2 more times, walked on both times, and DS kicked my BUTT which meant I had to buy her her first drink at Epcot. After the last Buzz ride we decided we were REALLY tired (it was now 11) and wanted to sleep. We gave away our FPs for Space and headed out. We got to the busses and the line for Pop was so long it stretched past 3 other resort lines. Ok, heres the part where I enter the REALLY TIRED disclaimer. We decided to go to one of the MK resorts, get the bus to DD and then to Pop. Now, I KNOW it would have been faster to wait, but we were so tired that we couldnt think straight. Wait it gets better. We were all the way at the Pop bus stop walked all the way back to the resort monorail and took it to the Contemporary (which you can almost spit on from the Pop bus stop), and then went to their bus stop for DD. We waited over 20 minutes and no bus. We ended up taking a cab from Contemporary to Pop and paying $21 for it. Did we care? Nope thats where the beds were!!!
Up tomorrow MGM and back to MK
