sissybells
<font color=green>"Second star to the right and st
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2003
- Messages
- 920
Trip report for Me, DH (Sean), DN (Brit, the oldest), and DN (Cait, the youngest)
July 17, 2004
The drive went great. We left at 8am and got about 15 minutes out and DH realized he forgot his wallet, so we had to turn around to get it. Georgia took forever as always. Some of the places we stopped were kind of scary and dirty but we made it through. After we got to Florida that's when it seemed like time stood still. We couldn't wait to get to Orlando. We finally checked in the Sheraton Safari Hotel at 8 pm. So we made great time. All I can really say about this Hotel is that it had a nice lobby and the staff was very helpful. We won a bid on Priceline and so in my opinion it felt like since we didn't pay full rate that they put us in the worst room. There was supposed to be a security door that needed a room key to get into I guess since you had to walk through an outdoor corridor and it was broken, anyone could just walk right in. The hallway, elevator, and stairway smelled of urine and were filthy. We got to our room which was #1205 on the second floor and it still seemed to have a dirty feeling about it. We got a parking lot view with no balcony, that didn't even matter to me at all. My nieces were so excited to go swimming so we got ready and went down to the pool but it was closed, with yellow tape running around the whole thing. We decided to just go get some dinner. I went to put our valuables in the safe but it didn't work so I decided to send my DH to get pizza while I stayed with our stuff. I know that may sound drastic, but I didn't trust leaving all our stuff without having a safe. I know I could have called and complained but I didn't think it was worth it after all we were only going to be there for one night. When he got back I went to go get us some drinks from the coke machine and it didn't work either. I just gave up at that point and was so happy that I was checking in to AKL in the morning.
July 18, 2004
We got up early, ready to get to AKL. Woke up about 7 am and got out of there at 8 am. We arrived at AKL and our room wasn't ready which I wasn't expecting it to be that early. I just love this resort. After the experience at Sheraton Safari it was so nice to see a familiar place and to smell that smell from the lobby. So we just caught a bus and went to DTD to look at all the stores and my DH had to get his AP done. My nieces had 70 Disney Dollars each and they were broke by the time we left 2 hours later. They are having the best time trading pins. Brit got the Tink lanyard with 4 pins and Cait got the princess lanyard with 4 pins. Cait all was out of money then with everything else she got and Brit had gotten herself an extra pin. That made Cait upset so Brit went to the pins shop and bought Cait another pin with her money. Then Cait told her that she could have one of the stuffed animals she had already bought. It was so sweet. Sometimes they fight and get mad at each other but it is so nice to see how they do help each other out as well. We got a bite to eat and headed back to the hotel to see if it was ready yet and it still wasn't. So off we went to the Boardwalk to exchange a gift my DH got at ESPN and to look around at everything else. He got a shirt, a shot glass and some flip flops. By the time we were done at the Boardwalk and were ready to get out of there it was raining pretty hard so DH went back to ESPN and exchanged his flip flops for 4 ponchos. It worked out great. We went back to AKL and checked on our room again and it still wasn't ready. We just hung out and looked around the hotel and finally it was ready. We got the bunk beds and a really great pool view room, we were in room #3422. We got everything put away and went down to the pool. We swam for about an hour and a half and then went back to take our showers to go to dinner at Boma's. We ate a lot of great food, and had a blast trying so many different things. I was surprised the girls liked it as well as they did. We took some pictures and they got to trade pins with a manager and Cait got a pin that was 10 years old. We went back to our room to get ready to go swimming again. We had a blast swimming, the pool is breathtaking. Now it's off to bed to get ready for MGM tomorrow.
July 19, 2004
We woke up early this morning and ate breakfast in the room and headed over to MGM. We got there within 5 minutes of opening so we were able to get right onto TOT, well Brit and Cait did. Then it was over to RNRC. After that we just went around the park and did the usual. Everyone loved Muppets 3-D. We ate lunch at the ABC commissary, it was very good. Brit and Cait wanted to ride RNRC and TOT again so we went back over. They got in line for RNRC but then got out after they said it would be a 2 hour wait. We went over to TOT and got a FP and it was for 6:05 to 7:05 pm. Then some guy gave us 2 that were for right then and there. DH went to get the girls and they got right on. The park was really crowded and we did everything we pretty much wanted there and the girls were wore out by that time so we headed back to the hotel to swim. After a while we decided to go to EPCOT to eat dinner and catch Illuminations. We got to EPCOT and went ahead and rode Spaceship Earth, we were able to walk right on with no wait. After the ride we headed over to Mexico to eat and while DH ordered some food we found an open table at the Cantina. After the fireworks we headed back to the room and we were all beat. I forgot to tell this part of MGM. We went to WWTBAM and after the first round when they show who in the audience was in first place I looked up and it was ME. My tummy just dropped. I fell off the list after that, but then showed up about 6th place on the next game. That was so cool.
July 20, 2004
We got up early and went to AK. We headed straight over to KRR and rode it right away. After we got off that ride we went ahead and got 4 more FP's for later. We then went over to KS and only stood in line for about 30 minutes, then it was off to Dinosaur and didn't need a FP for that either. It was starting out to be a great day to get on the good rides. After we rode Dinosaur the girls played around in Dinoland and rode all those rides. We went back over to KRR and the girls rode it 2 times in a row. I couldn't wait to go to TTBAB and see the girls reaction to the show. It was priceless. I never laughed so hard in my life. I absolutely love this show. After we got all of the rides out of the way we walked around at a slower pace and looked at everything we had missed trying to hustle to get on the rides. I thought this was very cool, you know how they are building the Mt. Everest roller coaster. I had the girls stand in front of it where all you see is rod iron and tracks and took their picture. And when it's done we will go back and take their picture in front of it again. That's going to be something to see them bigger and compare it to the picture when it wasn't complete. We checked the time and it was perfect to head over to FOTLK. I had never seen it before and I have to say it was so exciting. I even found myself singing along. I couldn't help it, I loved it. We finished up AK and went to the room and the girls went swimming while DH and I took turns checking on them and doing some laundry. I had a woman that seen that I brought my own detergent and dryer sheets and complimented on what a smart idea that was. (Thanks to the tip I got on here) We then get everyone showers and it was off to go to WC at WL. We checked in at the podium and then after a few minutes they called our name and we followed our waiter and he headed straight back to a different dinning room in the back away from the action. I felt so sad that the girls wouldn't be able to see it and then before we sat down my DH (who never speaks up) told the waiter that if it took waiting a little longer to get out in the main dinning room then we would. I was so proud of him. We only had to wait about 10 minutes and then we were seated. Our waitress was OK, she didn't really get into it that much. But I guess that's the luck of the draw. The girls still enjoyed watching all the other chaos and doing the horse race. We had a good time. On the bus ride back to AKL everyone was falling asleep.
July 21, 2004
We actually slept in today. We had been getting up early everyday and I think it was really catching up to everyone. Plus being wore out from the heat and the parks. We went to EPCOT and had breakfast in Norway. Then my DH suggested that we try to eat a little something different in each country, which sounded good to me. I also felt really strange today like really dizzy and feeling faint. I just thought I was dehydrated so I was downing water like crazy. I started to feel better off and on for a couple of days straight. It wasn't until the day we were leaving to come home that I noticed my big toe had what I thought was a blister. I kept checking on it all the way home and then realized it couldn't have been a blister because my whole foot was swollen. I then took some benadryl and it got way better. I must have gotten bit by something that just kept getting worse throughout the trip. Thank goodness it was just starting to get bad on the ride home. Anyway back to EPCOT. They started the Kidcot mask making thing and finished every country and got a certificate. They thought that was pretty cool. As far as trying to eat something from every country, my DH did great but I was done after Japan which wasn't very far into it. I did just take a bite of what ever DH got, so I think that counts a little. We headed over to FW and went to go onto Journey into the Imagination. We just walked through the door and a CM approached us and asked us how many were in our party and then said that we were selected to go through a different entrance to jump to the front of the line and get in the very first car. That was the coolest thing ever. On our way out to go back to AKL we decided to get a Leave a Legacy tile. We ended up getting one for me and DH and a separate one for the girls. I can't wait to see that. Now it's off to our room to swim for a while and then go to Mara to eat and then get to bed.
July 22, 2004
We got back into our getting up early thing and got everything ready to go to BB but when we got to the bus stop it was crowded for that park so we decided to go down to the TL stop instead because no one else was there. We got there and tried to find a half way decent seat, we missed out on the good ones I read about on here. I guess we didn't get there early enough. Me and DH joked later saying that next time we would camp out at the entrance the night before. Anyway I took the girls and got in the pool first thing. We got in up to about our chest and thought that would be fine, so we could just float up over the wave. Then the BIG BOOM and I still kept thinking we were fine where we were at but the closer the wave got to us I went ahead and held onto Cait just in case. The wave hit us and I kept on holding on to Cait and it knocked us both over and under. I could not believe how powerful that was. I was not expecting that at all. Of course the girls LOVED it. But after that, I told them they couldn't go past their knees. It was fun. My DH then joined us and after he went under after 1 wave he was done. We went over to get into the lazy river. I have to say that there really is no way to relax on that ride. Me and DH kept laughing because as soon as we would just get comfy, there in the distance was a waterfall and water spraying you all the time. We got out and checked out the Shark Reef. The girls wanted to do it so bad but they can't swim that graceful yet. They went on all of the slides. But midway through I ran out of film and then realized we forgot to pack more so I went to the shop to buy a roll. I nearly passed out when she told me the price. I got a single roll of 35 mm film with 36 exposers and the total was $10.11. I didn't know what to say, I learned my lesson from that though. I never left the room again without an extra roll and I never will again. After we were done swimming we went over to DTD to eat at RC. They really liked this restaurant. They spent most of the time looking at the fish tank looking for Nemo and Dora. We came back to the AKL and they were just in time to do the bead activity there in the lobby and then we went swimming. We went to get some dinner and get to bed because you guessed it, we needed to get up early tomorrow.
July 23, 2004
Hey guess what? We got up early again and headed to MK. We started to charge right through to get all of the FP's we needed but then just got really lucky getting on what we wanted to ride. We all saw Phillarmagic for the first time. I didn't wear the glasses, still thinking this was just a blister on my toe and was also thinking the reason why I kept getting dizzy every once in a while was because of all the 3-D shows we had seen were getting to me. But I have to say this is definitely one of my new favorites. Everyone loved it. My DH said it is his absolute favorite. All the other effects besides the 3-D were just awesome. It was so Disney. The girls got to ride SM 2 times in a row. They love to get wet, so everything with water on, under, around or coming out of they were all over it. They didn't seem to interested in doing much more, it was really starting to get crowded and we were HOT. So we just went to eat some lunch to cool off and relax. We got some bottled water and then just walked around and let them trade pins for the rest of the day. I felt like they were trick or treating or something. I think they liked the pin trading more than anything. Also this is the very first time DH got to see the Swiss Family Treehouse. He has been to Disney like 3 times and every time it has been under some kind of refurbishment or something, so he was really excited to finally get to see it. We even have on our Honeymoon video of us going over to it to see it and on the way we kept saying to each other what is all that banging and stuff, and when we get to it, you guess it, it was closed. It was so funny. We got back to AKL and went swimming. Then it was time for everyone to start getting sad. It was time to pack everything up to leave the next morning. We got everything packed that we could and then loaded the car up. We decided to give the girls some more money each to get what they wanted at the store since they had been so good throughout the trip. I love doing that, they are such the bargain hunters when they spend money. It's always trying to get as much stuff as possible. It's so funny to see them pick stuff out and then add everything up and then put it back to try and get more for their money. We then took our showers and I wanted them to each take the camcorder around the hotel and get their perspective on it but only Brit wanted to do that. Cait was to busy playing with her new stuff. It is to funny to see what their view is on the hotel. I can't wait for her to see that when she is older and to go back to the same hotel and see how different her view will be then. We decided to order a whole pizza from Mara and then just unwind. It was time to go home. I was so sad to leave but then so glad to get home and see my Hercules.
July 24, 2004
You will never believe this but
We got up EARLY. LOL. I hope you enjoyed the trip report. This is the first one I ever did.
July 17, 2004
The drive went great. We left at 8am and got about 15 minutes out and DH realized he forgot his wallet, so we had to turn around to get it. Georgia took forever as always. Some of the places we stopped were kind of scary and dirty but we made it through. After we got to Florida that's when it seemed like time stood still. We couldn't wait to get to Orlando. We finally checked in the Sheraton Safari Hotel at 8 pm. So we made great time. All I can really say about this Hotel is that it had a nice lobby and the staff was very helpful. We won a bid on Priceline and so in my opinion it felt like since we didn't pay full rate that they put us in the worst room. There was supposed to be a security door that needed a room key to get into I guess since you had to walk through an outdoor corridor and it was broken, anyone could just walk right in. The hallway, elevator, and stairway smelled of urine and were filthy. We got to our room which was #1205 on the second floor and it still seemed to have a dirty feeling about it. We got a parking lot view with no balcony, that didn't even matter to me at all. My nieces were so excited to go swimming so we got ready and went down to the pool but it was closed, with yellow tape running around the whole thing. We decided to just go get some dinner. I went to put our valuables in the safe but it didn't work so I decided to send my DH to get pizza while I stayed with our stuff. I know that may sound drastic, but I didn't trust leaving all our stuff without having a safe. I know I could have called and complained but I didn't think it was worth it after all we were only going to be there for one night. When he got back I went to go get us some drinks from the coke machine and it didn't work either. I just gave up at that point and was so happy that I was checking in to AKL in the morning.
July 18, 2004
We got up early, ready to get to AKL. Woke up about 7 am and got out of there at 8 am. We arrived at AKL and our room wasn't ready which I wasn't expecting it to be that early. I just love this resort. After the experience at Sheraton Safari it was so nice to see a familiar place and to smell that smell from the lobby. So we just caught a bus and went to DTD to look at all the stores and my DH had to get his AP done. My nieces had 70 Disney Dollars each and they were broke by the time we left 2 hours later. They are having the best time trading pins. Brit got the Tink lanyard with 4 pins and Cait got the princess lanyard with 4 pins. Cait all was out of money then with everything else she got and Brit had gotten herself an extra pin. That made Cait upset so Brit went to the pins shop and bought Cait another pin with her money. Then Cait told her that she could have one of the stuffed animals she had already bought. It was so sweet. Sometimes they fight and get mad at each other but it is so nice to see how they do help each other out as well. We got a bite to eat and headed back to the hotel to see if it was ready yet and it still wasn't. So off we went to the Boardwalk to exchange a gift my DH got at ESPN and to look around at everything else. He got a shirt, a shot glass and some flip flops. By the time we were done at the Boardwalk and were ready to get out of there it was raining pretty hard so DH went back to ESPN and exchanged his flip flops for 4 ponchos. It worked out great. We went back to AKL and checked on our room again and it still wasn't ready. We just hung out and looked around the hotel and finally it was ready. We got the bunk beds and a really great pool view room, we were in room #3422. We got everything put away and went down to the pool. We swam for about an hour and a half and then went back to take our showers to go to dinner at Boma's. We ate a lot of great food, and had a blast trying so many different things. I was surprised the girls liked it as well as they did. We took some pictures and they got to trade pins with a manager and Cait got a pin that was 10 years old. We went back to our room to get ready to go swimming again. We had a blast swimming, the pool is breathtaking. Now it's off to bed to get ready for MGM tomorrow.
July 19, 2004
We woke up early this morning and ate breakfast in the room and headed over to MGM. We got there within 5 minutes of opening so we were able to get right onto TOT, well Brit and Cait did. Then it was over to RNRC. After that we just went around the park and did the usual. Everyone loved Muppets 3-D. We ate lunch at the ABC commissary, it was very good. Brit and Cait wanted to ride RNRC and TOT again so we went back over. They got in line for RNRC but then got out after they said it would be a 2 hour wait. We went over to TOT and got a FP and it was for 6:05 to 7:05 pm. Then some guy gave us 2 that were for right then and there. DH went to get the girls and they got right on. The park was really crowded and we did everything we pretty much wanted there and the girls were wore out by that time so we headed back to the hotel to swim. After a while we decided to go to EPCOT to eat dinner and catch Illuminations. We got to EPCOT and went ahead and rode Spaceship Earth, we were able to walk right on with no wait. After the ride we headed over to Mexico to eat and while DH ordered some food we found an open table at the Cantina. After the fireworks we headed back to the room and we were all beat. I forgot to tell this part of MGM. We went to WWTBAM and after the first round when they show who in the audience was in first place I looked up and it was ME. My tummy just dropped. I fell off the list after that, but then showed up about 6th place on the next game. That was so cool.
July 20, 2004
We got up early and went to AK. We headed straight over to KRR and rode it right away. After we got off that ride we went ahead and got 4 more FP's for later. We then went over to KS and only stood in line for about 30 minutes, then it was off to Dinosaur and didn't need a FP for that either. It was starting out to be a great day to get on the good rides. After we rode Dinosaur the girls played around in Dinoland and rode all those rides. We went back over to KRR and the girls rode it 2 times in a row. I couldn't wait to go to TTBAB and see the girls reaction to the show. It was priceless. I never laughed so hard in my life. I absolutely love this show. After we got all of the rides out of the way we walked around at a slower pace and looked at everything we had missed trying to hustle to get on the rides. I thought this was very cool, you know how they are building the Mt. Everest roller coaster. I had the girls stand in front of it where all you see is rod iron and tracks and took their picture. And when it's done we will go back and take their picture in front of it again. That's going to be something to see them bigger and compare it to the picture when it wasn't complete. We checked the time and it was perfect to head over to FOTLK. I had never seen it before and I have to say it was so exciting. I even found myself singing along. I couldn't help it, I loved it. We finished up AK and went to the room and the girls went swimming while DH and I took turns checking on them and doing some laundry. I had a woman that seen that I brought my own detergent and dryer sheets and complimented on what a smart idea that was. (Thanks to the tip I got on here) We then get everyone showers and it was off to go to WC at WL. We checked in at the podium and then after a few minutes they called our name and we followed our waiter and he headed straight back to a different dinning room in the back away from the action. I felt so sad that the girls wouldn't be able to see it and then before we sat down my DH (who never speaks up) told the waiter that if it took waiting a little longer to get out in the main dinning room then we would. I was so proud of him. We only had to wait about 10 minutes and then we were seated. Our waitress was OK, she didn't really get into it that much. But I guess that's the luck of the draw. The girls still enjoyed watching all the other chaos and doing the horse race. We had a good time. On the bus ride back to AKL everyone was falling asleep.
July 21, 2004
We actually slept in today. We had been getting up early everyday and I think it was really catching up to everyone. Plus being wore out from the heat and the parks. We went to EPCOT and had breakfast in Norway. Then my DH suggested that we try to eat a little something different in each country, which sounded good to me. I also felt really strange today like really dizzy and feeling faint. I just thought I was dehydrated so I was downing water like crazy. I started to feel better off and on for a couple of days straight. It wasn't until the day we were leaving to come home that I noticed my big toe had what I thought was a blister. I kept checking on it all the way home and then realized it couldn't have been a blister because my whole foot was swollen. I then took some benadryl and it got way better. I must have gotten bit by something that just kept getting worse throughout the trip. Thank goodness it was just starting to get bad on the ride home. Anyway back to EPCOT. They started the Kidcot mask making thing and finished every country and got a certificate. They thought that was pretty cool. As far as trying to eat something from every country, my DH did great but I was done after Japan which wasn't very far into it. I did just take a bite of what ever DH got, so I think that counts a little. We headed over to FW and went to go onto Journey into the Imagination. We just walked through the door and a CM approached us and asked us how many were in our party and then said that we were selected to go through a different entrance to jump to the front of the line and get in the very first car. That was the coolest thing ever. On our way out to go back to AKL we decided to get a Leave a Legacy tile. We ended up getting one for me and DH and a separate one for the girls. I can't wait to see that. Now it's off to our room to swim for a while and then go to Mara to eat and then get to bed.
July 22, 2004
We got back into our getting up early thing and got everything ready to go to BB but when we got to the bus stop it was crowded for that park so we decided to go down to the TL stop instead because no one else was there. We got there and tried to find a half way decent seat, we missed out on the good ones I read about on here. I guess we didn't get there early enough. Me and DH joked later saying that next time we would camp out at the entrance the night before. Anyway I took the girls and got in the pool first thing. We got in up to about our chest and thought that would be fine, so we could just float up over the wave. Then the BIG BOOM and I still kept thinking we were fine where we were at but the closer the wave got to us I went ahead and held onto Cait just in case. The wave hit us and I kept on holding on to Cait and it knocked us both over and under. I could not believe how powerful that was. I was not expecting that at all. Of course the girls LOVED it. But after that, I told them they couldn't go past their knees. It was fun. My DH then joined us and after he went under after 1 wave he was done. We went over to get into the lazy river. I have to say that there really is no way to relax on that ride. Me and DH kept laughing because as soon as we would just get comfy, there in the distance was a waterfall and water spraying you all the time. We got out and checked out the Shark Reef. The girls wanted to do it so bad but they can't swim that graceful yet. They went on all of the slides. But midway through I ran out of film and then realized we forgot to pack more so I went to the shop to buy a roll. I nearly passed out when she told me the price. I got a single roll of 35 mm film with 36 exposers and the total was $10.11. I didn't know what to say, I learned my lesson from that though. I never left the room again without an extra roll and I never will again. After we were done swimming we went over to DTD to eat at RC. They really liked this restaurant. They spent most of the time looking at the fish tank looking for Nemo and Dora. We came back to the AKL and they were just in time to do the bead activity there in the lobby and then we went swimming. We went to get some dinner and get to bed because you guessed it, we needed to get up early tomorrow.
July 23, 2004
Hey guess what? We got up early again and headed to MK. We started to charge right through to get all of the FP's we needed but then just got really lucky getting on what we wanted to ride. We all saw Phillarmagic for the first time. I didn't wear the glasses, still thinking this was just a blister on my toe and was also thinking the reason why I kept getting dizzy every once in a while was because of all the 3-D shows we had seen were getting to me. But I have to say this is definitely one of my new favorites. Everyone loved it. My DH said it is his absolute favorite. All the other effects besides the 3-D were just awesome. It was so Disney. The girls got to ride SM 2 times in a row. They love to get wet, so everything with water on, under, around or coming out of they were all over it. They didn't seem to interested in doing much more, it was really starting to get crowded and we were HOT. So we just went to eat some lunch to cool off and relax. We got some bottled water and then just walked around and let them trade pins for the rest of the day. I felt like they were trick or treating or something. I think they liked the pin trading more than anything. Also this is the very first time DH got to see the Swiss Family Treehouse. He has been to Disney like 3 times and every time it has been under some kind of refurbishment or something, so he was really excited to finally get to see it. We even have on our Honeymoon video of us going over to it to see it and on the way we kept saying to each other what is all that banging and stuff, and when we get to it, you guess it, it was closed. It was so funny. We got back to AKL and went swimming. Then it was time for everyone to start getting sad. It was time to pack everything up to leave the next morning. We got everything packed that we could and then loaded the car up. We decided to give the girls some more money each to get what they wanted at the store since they had been so good throughout the trip. I love doing that, they are such the bargain hunters when they spend money. It's always trying to get as much stuff as possible. It's so funny to see them pick stuff out and then add everything up and then put it back to try and get more for their money. We then took our showers and I wanted them to each take the camcorder around the hotel and get their perspective on it but only Brit wanted to do that. Cait was to busy playing with her new stuff. It is to funny to see what their view is on the hotel. I can't wait for her to see that when she is older and to go back to the same hotel and see how different her view will be then. We decided to order a whole pizza from Mara and then just unwind. It was time to go home. I was so sad to leave but then so glad to get home and see my Hercules.
July 24, 2004
You will never believe this but
We got up EARLY. LOL. I hope you enjoyed the trip report. This is the first one I ever did.
