MareSINY
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2005
- Messages
- 2,150
Hi Everyone 
I spent 6 nights at Disney from January 23 - January 29th. I usually travel with my younger sister, BIL and 3 nieces, but this trip was just me and my older sister. She's not into Disney like the rest of us, but I think I showed her a good time!
We arrived on Saturday the 23rd in the afternoon and after checking in at Animal Kingdom Lodge, getting our Garden Grocer order and checking out the animals we decided to start off our trip at Epcot. We both hadn't eaten anything so our first stop was World Showcase to find some dinner. We were on the dining plan and had planned for a CS meal that evening. We started our quest for food with China, she felt like Chinese food but once we saw their selections decided to move on. After stopping at several countries we giggled when we ended up eating in America. Figures! After dinner we wandered the countries, heading back in the direction we started, since we hadn't really stopped to look around. We had some really great gelato in Italy, we mixed pistachio and chocolate. Super yummy and Id highly recommend it! Since we had a long day of travel we left the park around 8 and headed back to our resort.
Sunday, January 24th we went to Animal Kingdom in the morning. We rode Everest, did ITTBAB and went on Dinosaur. We walked the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail. We did the Picnic in the Park for lunch and returned to our resort in the afternoon to relax for a bit and watch the animals from our balcony before heading to The Contemporary for dinner at The Wave. Food was great, atmosphere super and we really enjoyed the meal. Next we headed to Magic Kingdom, since they were having EMHs. Crowds werent too bad, we got to ride our favorites and catch Wishes that night.
On Monday, January 25th they were predicting rain in the morning, so we decided wed sleep in and head to the parks later in the day. By the time we woke up that morning it had already stopped raining. We headed off to Epcot where I finally got to ride Soarin! We rode some other rides, had an early lunch at The Land (they had my favorite, Butterfinger Cheesecake! Yummy!!) and we had dinner that night at Coral Reef. Since we didnt have the kids with us this trip it was fun to experience restaurants Ive never gotten to eat at because theyre so picky. This wasnt one of my favorites of the trip, but the food was good. After dinner we did the other side of World Showcase and then decided to skip Hollywood Studios and do the other half of World Showcase again instead.
On Tuesday, January 26th we went to Hollywood Studios. We got Fast Passes for Toy Story Mania and then headed over to American Idol Experience where my sister tried out and made it on the show! She was really nervous, but I told her to just have fun. Since shes past the age limit for the real show, this was a great opportunity for her to experience what its like. She didnt win, but she still had a great time, which I was glad about. I am very happy that I pre-purchased the Photopass CD, since they take a TON of Photopass pics of the whole AIE show. Lots of great memories. We did The Magic of Disney Animation and learned how to draw Jiminy Cricket. That was a blast! We had dinner at Mama Melrose that night, I had the yummiest pasta dish called Chicken Pipette, it was really tasty! We hung around that night to see the final AIE show, my sister had promised the girl who won that shed vote for her and she wanted to see what the show was like from the audience. Unfortunately Catherine came in 2nd place, but she still did well for herself.
On Wednesday, January 27th we had an early morning breakfast at Whispering Canyon Café, so we took a cab from AKL to WL, my only complaint about AKL was the distance to other parks and resorts. It cost us $25 for the cab. Yikes! LOL Breakfast was tasty, love the Canyon Skillet! After breakfast we took the boat to Magic Kingdom and rode our favorite rides. This was by far the least crowded day all week, they had 5 minute waits for Space Mountain. Amazing! We got stuck on CoP and had to watch one room twice. LOL We took a break in the afternoon, relaxed at the hotel and then headed out to Downtown Disney where we had dinner at Earl of Sandwich (I looooove this place!!) and did some shopping. Of course we ended the night with some Ghiradelli ice cream. LOL Notice a food theme here? LOL
On Thursday, January 28th we did something Ive never done before hit all 4 parks in one day! LOL We started at HS because my sister needed to exchange a bracelet she bought that was broken. We had lunch, planned to do the Magic of Disney Animation again but we just missed the class and had an hour before the next started. So we went to the ABC Commissary, had lunch and then took the boat to Epcot because I wanted to look for something I had seen at Art of Disney. Couldnt find what I wanted, so next we hopped on the monorail and went to Magic Kingdom to check out the Art of Disney store there. By now my sister was tired and hot and getting a little cranky. LOL So we left MK and headed back to the resort for a couple of hours before heading to Animal Kingdom (4th park for the day!) where we had dinner reservations at Yak & Yeti (OMG great food and atmosphere!!). We were early so we got to ride Dinosaur, Primevil Whirl and Everest. Everest had a 5 minute wait, we could have gone on again, but once a day is enough for me. LOL So we headed to our dinner reservation where we were seated at a window near the parade route. The parade started as our dessert arrived (The BEST fried won tons Yum! Yum! Yum!) so we got to see the whole parade from our table. After dinner we headed back to the resort, relaxed and hit the bar for some cocktails! It was the perfect last day.
We left on Friday, January 29th, but not before going to breakfast at Boma which was fabulous! We had gotten a late checkout and were able to stay in our room until 1pm, ME picked us up at 2, so we did one last stroll around the resort, said goodbye to all the animals and used our last 2 snack credits on Mickey ice cream bars before we left.
Since my sister lives in Texas and I live in New Jersey it was great to be able to get together and spend a week laughing, talking and eating! LOL I told her we should make this a yearly treck, well see where next year well end up!
I spent 6 nights at Disney from January 23 - January 29th. I usually travel with my younger sister, BIL and 3 nieces, but this trip was just me and my older sister. She's not into Disney like the rest of us, but I think I showed her a good time!
We arrived on Saturday the 23rd in the afternoon and after checking in at Animal Kingdom Lodge, getting our Garden Grocer order and checking out the animals we decided to start off our trip at Epcot. We both hadn't eaten anything so our first stop was World Showcase to find some dinner. We were on the dining plan and had planned for a CS meal that evening. We started our quest for food with China, she felt like Chinese food but once we saw their selections decided to move on. After stopping at several countries we giggled when we ended up eating in America. Figures! After dinner we wandered the countries, heading back in the direction we started, since we hadn't really stopped to look around. We had some really great gelato in Italy, we mixed pistachio and chocolate. Super yummy and Id highly recommend it! Since we had a long day of travel we left the park around 8 and headed back to our resort.
Sunday, January 24th we went to Animal Kingdom in the morning. We rode Everest, did ITTBAB and went on Dinosaur. We walked the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail. We did the Picnic in the Park for lunch and returned to our resort in the afternoon to relax for a bit and watch the animals from our balcony before heading to The Contemporary for dinner at The Wave. Food was great, atmosphere super and we really enjoyed the meal. Next we headed to Magic Kingdom, since they were having EMHs. Crowds werent too bad, we got to ride our favorites and catch Wishes that night.
On Monday, January 25th they were predicting rain in the morning, so we decided wed sleep in and head to the parks later in the day. By the time we woke up that morning it had already stopped raining. We headed off to Epcot where I finally got to ride Soarin! We rode some other rides, had an early lunch at The Land (they had my favorite, Butterfinger Cheesecake! Yummy!!) and we had dinner that night at Coral Reef. Since we didnt have the kids with us this trip it was fun to experience restaurants Ive never gotten to eat at because theyre so picky. This wasnt one of my favorites of the trip, but the food was good. After dinner we did the other side of World Showcase and then decided to skip Hollywood Studios and do the other half of World Showcase again instead.
On Tuesday, January 26th we went to Hollywood Studios. We got Fast Passes for Toy Story Mania and then headed over to American Idol Experience where my sister tried out and made it on the show! She was really nervous, but I told her to just have fun. Since shes past the age limit for the real show, this was a great opportunity for her to experience what its like. She didnt win, but she still had a great time, which I was glad about. I am very happy that I pre-purchased the Photopass CD, since they take a TON of Photopass pics of the whole AIE show. Lots of great memories. We did The Magic of Disney Animation and learned how to draw Jiminy Cricket. That was a blast! We had dinner at Mama Melrose that night, I had the yummiest pasta dish called Chicken Pipette, it was really tasty! We hung around that night to see the final AIE show, my sister had promised the girl who won that shed vote for her and she wanted to see what the show was like from the audience. Unfortunately Catherine came in 2nd place, but she still did well for herself.
On Wednesday, January 27th we had an early morning breakfast at Whispering Canyon Café, so we took a cab from AKL to WL, my only complaint about AKL was the distance to other parks and resorts. It cost us $25 for the cab. Yikes! LOL Breakfast was tasty, love the Canyon Skillet! After breakfast we took the boat to Magic Kingdom and rode our favorite rides. This was by far the least crowded day all week, they had 5 minute waits for Space Mountain. Amazing! We got stuck on CoP and had to watch one room twice. LOL We took a break in the afternoon, relaxed at the hotel and then headed out to Downtown Disney where we had dinner at Earl of Sandwich (I looooove this place!!) and did some shopping. Of course we ended the night with some Ghiradelli ice cream. LOL Notice a food theme here? LOL
On Thursday, January 28th we did something Ive never done before hit all 4 parks in one day! LOL We started at HS because my sister needed to exchange a bracelet she bought that was broken. We had lunch, planned to do the Magic of Disney Animation again but we just missed the class and had an hour before the next started. So we went to the ABC Commissary, had lunch and then took the boat to Epcot because I wanted to look for something I had seen at Art of Disney. Couldnt find what I wanted, so next we hopped on the monorail and went to Magic Kingdom to check out the Art of Disney store there. By now my sister was tired and hot and getting a little cranky. LOL So we left MK and headed back to the resort for a couple of hours before heading to Animal Kingdom (4th park for the day!) where we had dinner reservations at Yak & Yeti (OMG great food and atmosphere!!). We were early so we got to ride Dinosaur, Primevil Whirl and Everest. Everest had a 5 minute wait, we could have gone on again, but once a day is enough for me. LOL So we headed to our dinner reservation where we were seated at a window near the parade route. The parade started as our dessert arrived (The BEST fried won tons Yum! Yum! Yum!) so we got to see the whole parade from our table. After dinner we headed back to the resort, relaxed and hit the bar for some cocktails! It was the perfect last day.
We left on Friday, January 29th, but not before going to breakfast at Boma which was fabulous! We had gotten a late checkout and were able to stay in our room until 1pm, ME picked us up at 2, so we did one last stroll around the resort, said goodbye to all the animals and used our last 2 snack credits on Mickey ice cream bars before we left.
Since my sister lives in Texas and I live in New Jersey it was great to be able to get together and spend a week laughing, talking and eating! LOL I told her we should make this a yearly treck, well see where next year well end up!
