Submitted for your consideration: May 2007 Disney Diary

[Kristineamb]

Our Disney Diary​

Saturday May 19: Arrived @ WDW Pop Century Resort @4pm. Our room was in the 50’s section with a bowling pin shaped pool, giant juke box and Lady & the Tramp icons. After we unpacked and freshened up we took the bus to the Magic Kingdom where we upgraded Brian and Matthew’s passes to annual passes (I had bought my annual pass at the Disney Store so we could purchase the Disney Dining Experience discount card.) We had 7:40pm dining reservations at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant. Brian and I each ordered a salad and shared the spaghetti and meatball entrée. Matthew wanted fettuccini alfredo but it wasn’t on the children’s menu but our server was happy to accommodate him when asked. He ended up bringing Matthew grilled chicken alfredo which he loved! After we ate we stepped outside to wait for the Spectro Magic Parade to begin @9pm. We were able to watch from Tony’s porch. Following the parade we walked down Main Street USA toward Cinderella’s Castle to watch Wishes fireworks (@10pm.) Highlight of the show was seeing Tinkerbelle fly down from the top of the castle! When Wishes was over we waited for the crowd to thin and to see Kiss Goodnight (10:30pm) a short (@5 minute) light show on the castle. We took our time exiting the park by browsing through gift shops on Main Street. Had a short wait for a bus back to Pop Century. Ran into Mike as we were walking to our room (@11pm) and after Matthew went to bed the parents (Kris, Brian, Mary, Bert, Becky & Mike) sat outside our rooms talking (and drinking) until @1am when another guest opened her door and asked us to be quiet! We were very apologetic, didn’t realize there was anyone in that room but wondered why she hadn’t asked us to quiet down an hour earlier.
Sunday May 20: Had breakfast @Everything Pop food court at our hotel. Matthew had the first of many Pop waffles and Kris & Brian had omelets. Ran into the Mary, Bert, Madison & MaKenzie while waiting for the bus to The Animal Kingdom. Got a Fast Pass for Kilimanjaro Safari’s and headed to Kali River Rapids where other guests gave us 7 Fast Passes! Festival of the Lion King. Bert was feeling ill after Kali River Rapids and left to go back to the hotel after the Lion King show. Watched the Finding Nemo Show. Left the park @4pm and headed to The Animal Kingdom Lodge because we had 5:50pm dinner reservations @ Boma. Had time to explore the lodge (Mary and Kris had a drink at the pool bar) and freshen up in the restroom before we were joined by Mike, Becky, Zachary & Jacob. After dinner we stayed to listen to an African storyteller around the fire. When we returned to Pop Century Matthew had a surprise from Grandma & PaPa waiting for him and we were all happy to see the last guests in our party, Missy, Michael, Matthew &Marshall had arrived safe. The kids got to swim together before bed.

Monday May 21: Early morning! Took the bus to the Magic Kingdom for our 8:20am dining reservation at The Crystal Palace. Upon entering the park we were greeted by a gentleman in an antique car who offered to drive us to The Crystal Palace. Because the park wasn’t open yet we got to see Main Street completely empty and took pictures of Cinderella’s Castle without anyone in them! Breakfast was tasty and entertaining since Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Tigger and Eyore were there to sign autographs and take pictures. After breakfast we headed to Adventure Land where we got Fast Passes for the Jungle Cruise and rode Pirates of the Caribbean! Thought the updates to the ride (addition of Jack Sparrow was done very well!) Visited the Enchanted Tiki Room and rode Magic Carpets of Aladdin before returning to the Jungle Cruise. Our boat captain was very funny and Matthew even got to steer our boat through the Cambodian temple ruins! Continued on to Frontier Land Fast Passed Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, watched The Country Bear Jamboree. Fast Passes Mickey’s Philharmagic, grabbed lunch at Pinocchio’s Village Haus, Hall of Presidents, Pooh’s Honey Pots, It’s A Small World, Tea cups (boys only,) Indy Speedway, Buzz Lightyear, hung out in Mickey’s Toon Town while we waited for our Fast Pass time for Space Mountain. Headed back to our hotel for the evening. Kids swam, got pizza from food court for dinner.
Tuesday May 22: Kris & Matthew had breakfast in the food court and then Brian met us at the bus stop to MGM. Arriving at the park @noon we saw Beauty & the Beast, Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, Star Tours. Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show. Rode The Backlot Tour before heading to Hollywood & Vine for our 5pm dining reservation. All 15 of us dined together! The buffet had lots of choices and Becky and Kris enjoyed their Singapore Sling cocktails! Afterwards we all posed for pictures in front of Mickey’s Scorcer Hat and then rode The Great Movie Ride together! Kris, Becky, Missy, Matthew, Zachary and Jacob rode Rockin Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror! Regrouped with the rest of our party and watched Fantasmic (@9pm) together! Returned to Pop Century and bed.
Wednesday May 23: Kris and Matthew shared another breakfast in the hotel food court while waiting for Brian. Caught a bus to EPCOT where we immediately headed to The Land to Fast Pass Soarin. rode the Finding Nemo ride and watched Turtle Talk with Crush at The Living Seas. Returned to The Land, rode Living with the Land and then Soarin. Got a Fast Pass for Test Track then took a boat from Future World to the World Showcase to have lunch in England. The guys had fish-n-chips and the girls had yummy salads. Kris had some hard apple cider that was very light and refreshing. Got the kids passports for the World Showcase. Canada, France. Returned to Test Track. Brian, Matthew and Kris just shared an adult shish kebob entrée in Morocco. The restaurant was beautiful, tables were close together, had to wait around to see the belly dancer and musicians. American Adventure. Watched Illuminations (@9pm) as we made our way out of the park (all agreed it is not as good as it used to be!)

Thursday May 24: Another early morning! The Animal Kingdom for our 8:20am dining reservation @ Restauranasaurs. Brian stopped in the restroom in the hotel lobby and missed the bus but when we got to the park he was already there (had taken a cab!) After reading some negative reviews online Kris was apprehensive about this character dining experience but it turned out to be wonderful! The atmosphere was great, the food on the buffet was tasty and the characters (Donald, Mickey, Pluto & Goofy) were fun! After breakfast we got Fast Passes for Expedition Everest. Went on Kilimanjaro Safari’s, explored the Pangani Forest Trail and Kali River Rapids. Kris, Brian & Matthew caught a bus to the Yacht & Beach Club Resorts to have lunch @ Beaches & Cream (like an old fashioned soda shop fountain.) From there we walked over to EPCOT and ran into Chip & Dale at the International Gateway got photos and autographs. Rode Spaceship Earth before heading back to Pop Century for another evening of swimming and pizza.
Friday May 25: Kris and Matthew shared another breakfast in the food court waiting for Brian. After riding the bus to EPCOT we rode Journey Into The Imagination before returning to The World Showcase. Traveled through China, Norway before having dinner at the Beirgarten in Germany. Buffet was satisfying for both kids and adults. Ompa band provided fun entertainment. Parents enjoyed the German beer and wine. Returned to our hotel for the night.
Saturday May 26: Started our day by catching a bus to MGM. Had a quick breakfast @ Starring Rolls before seeing The Little Mermaid Show. Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream. Rode boat from MGM to EPCOT. Took monorail from EPCOT to The Magic Kingdom (got to sit in the front car with the driver. Did Carousel of Progress, Monster’s Inc Laugh Floor (Kris & Brian kissed on the big screen got a round of applause!) Rode the People Mover. Headed over to Adventure Land. Got Fast Passes for Jungle Cruise. Rode Pirates of the Caribbean and Aladdin Magic Carpets for a second time. Arrived at the castle for our dinner reservation. Had our pictures taken Cinderella downstairs before we went upstairs to the diningroom. Parents and children were pleased with the menu. Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother and mice Suzie & Perla visited with us while we ate. After dinner we rode Big Thunder Mountain, The Haunted Mansion and rode WDW Railroad from Frontier Land to Main Street where we said good bye for this trip to the Happiest Place in the World!
Sunday May 27: Packed up and headed over to Downtown Disney @10am. Shared a breakfast sandwich at The Earl of Sandwich that was so good we went back later to get sandwiches for lunch in the car! Matthew built his own light saber at Once Upon a Toy. Looked around The World of Disney before leaving, (bought a t-shirt and Christmas ornament!)
*Kids really enjoyed trading pins with cast members. And we all had fun searching for hidden Mickey’s!