Soarin' does not have a Mile High Club! Trip report- 8/20 final chapter.

[Bev1016]

The rooms were clean and nice and without giving too much away, it was the 2nd best place we stayed out of the 4 this trip.

This is making me a little nervous -- where did you stay in Mesquite?

 

[tinksdreamwishes]

MORE MORE MORE WE DEMAND MORE!!! Sounds great so far...

 

[pooh'smate]

I am here, now I am going back to read.

 

[pooh'smate]

It sounds as if you are off to a great start. That food looks yummy. I too am intrigued by the room comment. Looking forward to more.

 

[rentayenta]

okay here now.....to pay penance.

No penance needed. Okay maybe a little.

This is making me a little nervous -- where did you stay in Mesquite?

The Casablanca! That's all I am gonna say about that!

MORE MORE MORE WE DEMAND MORE!!! Sounds great so far...

Thanks! It's coming. I am trying to catch up at work and get the kids ready for camp. The fact that my babies will be gone for 2 weeks just hit.

I am here, now I am going back to read.

It sounds as if you are off to a great start. That food looks yummy. I too am intrigued by the room comment. Looking forward to more.

We stayed at the 4 following hotels in chronological order:

• Anaheim Marriott Suites
• GCV
• PPH
• Casablanca

 

[Bev1016]

The Casablanca! That's all I am gonna say about that!

That's where we're staying.

 

[rentayenta]

That's where we're staying.

I would stay in St George or try the Virgin River. The Oasis is completely closed down. Mesquite is hurting. Pool only open until 9 pm.

 

[rentayenta]

The original plan: Sunday 6/13: DL 8am-mid DCA 10-10 MM 7-8

• Check out of Suites and into GCV, drop luggage

• Disneyland rope-drop by 6:30 for MM, Fantasyland
Okay, the more I think about rope drop on this morning, the more insane I think I am. Knowing our party and as much as it pains me, I am making more Ridemax itineraries to include a 10 am start time and skipping MM/FL all together on this day.

• Flag Retreat at 4:45

• Fireworks!



What actually happened.............

As you can see the plan was to check out of the Suites and make it to MM by 6:30. Uh....it didn't go exactly as planned....for us anyway Our friends made and conquered Fantasyland it but we didn't. DH and I allowed DS to sleep in between us. Remember the scene in Pretty Woman when Julia Roberts tries to go shopping on Rodeo Drive and the snotty women in the store basically tell her to sod off? She comes back and says BIG BIG mistake? It was a BIG BIG mistake to let DS sleep with us. He kicked us all night. My alarm went off at 5:30 but when I tried to wake DH he said there was no way he was getting up and to let him sleep til 7:00. I did. I also fell back asleep which is an indication of how beat I was too.

We checked out of the Suites by 8 am and high tailed it over to the GCV even though we knew the villa wouldn't be ready. I was so excited for my first DVC check in. During check in the kids took some photos while DH self-parked the car. I was not paying $18 for valet.

Chloe and Kami in the lobby:

Chloe:

Joshua:

Gabby:

Gabby:

Chloe and Kami watching the cartoons:

Joshua watching cartoons:

The lobby:

The fireplace soot:

The CM was sweet but we did not get out requested villas 6502/6504. We did however get 3502/3504. I was a little worried when I heard the villa numbers but they didn't disappoint. Of course you'll have to wait for that.

 

[kaoden39]

Oh waiting in the lobby. What fun is that? I am hoping that the rooms were nice after all.

 

[rentayenta]

Oh waiting in the lobby. What fun is that? I am hoping that the rooms were nice after all.

Haha! Waiting isn't fun and honestly the CM was so thorough but kinda slow. In her defense, I am sure she had no clue I researched the GCV to death so she was just doing her job but we had a park to visit!

 

[kaoden39]

Haha! Waiting isn't fun and honestly the CM was so thorough but kinda slow. In her defense, I am sure she had no clue I researched the GCV to death so she was just doing her job but we had a park to visit!

Well, exactly. Places to go, characters to see.....

 

[rentayenta]

Well, exactly. Places to go, characters to see.....

We had also planned on meeting up with our friends from AZ too.


I forgot to add that when we checked in the CM said we had some "magic" but I told her it would have to wait until our room was ready. I had ordered autographed pics, balloons for the little kids, and $25 Disney Dollars for each child. I signed for the Disney Dollars and shoved them in my bag to give later when all 8 kids would be together.

 

[kaoden39]

We had also planned on meeting up with our friends from AZ too.


I forgot to add that when we checked in the CM said we had some "magic" but I told her it would have to wait until our room was ready. I had ordered autographed pics, balloons for the little kids, and $25 Disney Dollars for each child. I signed for the Disney Dollars and shoved them in my bag to give later when all 8 kids would be together.

Okay, it's official my kids are spoiled. They had over double that from their grandma alone.

 

[rentayenta]

Okay, it's official my kids are spoiled. They had over double that from their grandma alone.

That was just from us, their aunt gave them money and then daddy pitched in some.



Update coming......................

 

[kaoden39]

Okay, I don't feel so bad.

 

[rentayenta]

Okay, I don't feel so bad.

Don't feel bad. Disney calls for a little overindulging.


You know what is making me laugh? That this thread has had over 150 reads today but only 4 posts: 2 from you and 2 from me.

 

[kaoden39]

Don't feel bad. Disney calls for a little overindulging.


You know what is making me laugh? That this thread has had over 150 reads today but only 4 posts: 2 from you and 2 from me.

I think then that unless we both have been repeatedly visiting the thread that there has to be some looky loos. Or should I say lurky loos?

 

[tinksdreamwishes]

I am still patiently waiting............

 

[Karenann*]

Great pics of all the kids! Here reading about your trip panicking about what I have to accomplish before next Sat!!! Excited to hear all the details!

 

[rentayenta]

After check-in we RAN to Main St. Our friends had finished Fantasyland so we headed to Splash to grab FPs which would be our consistent plan upon arrival at Disneyland.

I will tell you now; we didn’t follow Ridemax at all- not even one morning. I put them in my bag every morning with intent to follow through but would find my sweet little itineraries crumpled up at the bottom of my Minnie messenger bag nightly.

I cannot remember what order we rode things. It will be easier to tell you that out of the 6 days we missed:

• Mark Twain
• Columbia
• ToonTown
• Monorail- we tried but it broke down so the wait was 30 minutes
• Mr. Lincoln- we tried but a miscommunication led us to leave right as we were sitting down. Not too upset as I hear it is similar to the American Adventure in WDW.
• Snow White
• Casey Jr.
• Flag ceremony
• Jedi training. None of the kids wanted to do this.
• F! but did see some walking by


I also missed Nemo that day due to waiting 2 hours for a prime fireworks spot.

Gab, Kami, and Chloe on Main St:

Me and my AZ friend:

The girls in line for Splash:

The boys and Emma in the Splash line. Not sure why DH is growling?

Lots of Indy line photos:

Joshua surrounded by the lovely ladies of Indy:

We rode so much that morning and I should have taken notes.

About 2:30 we got the text that our villa was ready!!!! I could not wait to check it out.

But first a photo of our crew:

We split from our AZ friends but did offer for them to join us for a swim after checking into the GCV.

Our view:

I was in heaven. I cannot imagine how amazing the view would have been 3 floors up but this kid wasn’t complaining. At all.

The kitchen:

Joshua on the pull out bed which was plenty big for him:

The shower in the master bathroom:

Master bed:

2nd bathroom:

Living room (across from kitchen)

After check in and a quick swim, sorry no pics, we headed back to Disneyland. Having been to Disneyland hundreds of times and knowing how finicky Anaheim winds can be I thought it best to view the fireworks tonight. Of course, nobody but my girlfriends wanted anything to do with waiting 2 hours to find a supreme spot So Michael and Nate took all 8 kids while me, Jenna, and Alisa camped out and waited. A VERY sweet CM name Benjy told us exactly where to sit (we even had a bench with an unobstructed view)!! We had Dole Floats and chatted away. I don’t have fireworks photos from tonight as I really wanted to enjoy them and find I miss a lot when I try to take pictures. Magical was good but Hallowishes and Wishes are SO much better. I did enjoy watching Dumbo fly of course but the show was not the tear jerker I am accustomed too.

After the fireworks we met back up with the men and kids.

Smells like teen spirit:

Rode IASW. My kids always get a kick out of the Hebrew in this sign:

I miss Greg Brady riding the surfboard but do love me some Lilo and Stitch:

As far as food goes, we had Great Harvest Cinnamon Burst bread for breakfast, tons of snacks, Hungry Bear for lunch, and of course, because I had too much fun during my undergrad, I cannot remember where we ate dinner.

Our first Disney day was amazing and I felt so blessed to be with family, some of my best girlfriends, and their families!!!