Sunburns, cold water, and magical memories.....my April 2011 TR~UPDATED 7/8/11!! (:

[grandfloluver]

Hey Everybody! I'm Hannah! Here's a little background info on me:
I'm 15 years old, (16 in a few weeks) and I live in Tennessee. So, physically, I'm a southern girl, but mentally I'm a Disney girl! As you can already see, I love just about anything Disney, including the happiest place on earth, Walt Disney World! I have been going since I was six years old. I love it there! I have a younger brother, Jordan, who is 12. In my pics, you'll notice he is probably a little bit taller than me......yeah I'm pretty short for my age. He likes Disney, too, but not nearly as much as me. My parents do enjoy it as well. Normally, my dad and I do all the planning for the trip. Here's a picture of me!!

Background Info on the trip:
Where I am staying:
Grand Floridian Resort and Spa

When:
April 24-April 29

Now, with all that semi-boring stuff outta the way, lets officially start my Trip Report!!

 

[Monorail Fan:)]

I'm in

 

[grandfloluver]

Day 1!!

The day has finally come! I was sooo excited to leave the house and get to my happy place. We left the house around 8:00, and got to the airport around 10:00(our flight was at 12), just incase. There wasn't any line for security, so that absolutely rocked. IMO, that's the worst part of flying. Around 11:30, when we should've started to board, an announcement came around saying that my flight was delayed due to maintenance problems. I was totally bummed. But, I was pleasantly surprised because it was about 10 minutes later, we finally boarded the plane.

Finally, around 1:30, we landed in Orlando! I probably was ecstatic at this point.(I could've skipped through the airport to the Magical Express if I really wanted to) We finally got onto our Magical Express bus and the outside was nasty! There were dead bugs all over the front of the windshield! It was extremely gross. Besides that, my trip to the world, was well, magical.

-Jordan trying to be stupid.....lol

The Grand Floridian was looking beautiful for our arrival! But, when does it not? We got to our room and checked in. We were put in the Sugar Loaf. I had never stayed in this building before, so it was kinda new to me. After settling in, we headed to the Magic Kingdom!!

We got to the gate and turnstiles. Since I'm obviously over 10, I have to do the finger scan. I was so excited because I had staked out a line where there was no one at! I jumped right up there and inserted my room key into the machine. I put my finger onto the scanner, and it wouldn't take. I did it again, and what do ya know? It wouldn't take again. So, I let Jordan try his luck at this. His worked, believe it or not. The rest of my family went in front of me, too. They all got in, and then it was my turn. It didn't work......again. By this point, I was getting annoyed about this. I had just about tried all of my fingers and finally my thumb worked. I was ready to head into the park!
some pictures:

Since it was Easter, I had expected the worst in the crowds. So far, it honestly wasn't bad. My favorite ride is Big Thunder Mountain, so my dad and Jordan went to get fast passes for it to ride after we ate supper. We had about 30 minutes to kill before we ate. So, we headed over to Fantasyland to ride "It's A Small World." We wanted to do this because the line is almost always short. That is, if there ever is a line. On our way, my family and I were trying to guess the wait time for Peter Pan's Flight. It always has an outrageously long line, and even though I enjoy this ride, I honestly don't understand why. My dad guessed 60, Jordan and my mom guessed 55, and I guessed 45. The actual time ended up being 40 minutes. I was the closest!! Anyway, It's A Small World was 20 minutes! I was kinda shocked, but we had time to kill, so we just hopped into the line. It ended up being 25 minutes or so. That is the longest I have ever waited in that line. We were afraid of missing our dining reservations if we waited much longer. But, we made it just in time!!

After listening to It's A Small World for 3 minutes straight, I was hungry and we had reservations at Liberty Tree Tavern. We got taken right in! Our server, Tam, automatically recognized us from previous trips to the LTT. It was pretty awesome! We will probably see him again in October.

It was getting more and more crowded as time went on, so I thought it was best to just to Big Thunder Mountain and call it a night. So, we used our fastpasses and basically walked onto the ride. I hadn't ridden it in 6 months, and it didn't disappoint me.

I had finally made it back to the entrance, heading to the Grand Floridian/Polynesian boat dock. I have to say, I was pretty tired. We were waiting for a little while with a few other people who also were taking a ride. There was a new boat driver waiting with us, too. Right when the new boat was pulling up, this guy basically runs up to the dock asking the boat driver, "Is this the boat to the Yacht Club?" I think the boat driver was just about as shocked as I was. There isn't any water connecting the MK to the Yacht Club.......I guess the name "Yacht Club" confused him. lol
We got back to the room and I was pooped!! My dad and I got some Easter cupcakes to eat as a snack. They looked pretty good to me! I was ready for a good night's sleep!

Coming Up: My first full day at the MK!!

 

[Mickeysgirl34]

Great report! Those cupcakes look good!

 

[grandfloluver]

Great report! Those cupcakes look good!

Thanks Val! I'm kinda new at the whole TR thing, so i hope i did a good job at it!

 

[MickeyisBeast]

I'm in Hannah! Great start, and you're so pretty

 

[PlutosRHM55]

I'm so in!

Looks like you guys had an awesome first day. I love the pics you took of the Grand Floridian. I am slowly falling in love with this resort. I've seen too many good pictures and reviews of it to stop being all "It isn't that great", when ONE I've never been there and TWO I've never been there LOL And I want those cupcakes you got! MK of course looked awesome, so I'll just leave it at that. Update soon!

 

[grandfloluver]

I'm in Hannah! Great start, and you're so pretty

Thanks, Sara! (about both things!) I think you're really pretty, too. I wish I had your tan.

I'm so in!

Looks like you guys had an awesome first day. I love the pics you took of the Grand Floridian. I am slowly falling in love with this resort. I've seen too many good pictures and reviews of it to stop being all "It isn't that great", when ONE I've never been there and TWO I've never been there LOL And I want those cupcakes you got! MK of course looked awesome, so I'll just leave it at that. Update soon!

Thank ya, Timmy. I absolutely love the Grand Floridian. Once I went once, I was hooked on it. It is just so nice and peaceful. You should definately check it out!

 

[antnyh]

Good to see a fellow Tennesseean on here. I hope you and your family were safe during the recent bad weather we had. I am looking forward to reading about your trip.

 

[Monorail Fan:)]

Great start to the report

 

[grandfloluver]

Good to see a fellow Tennesseean on here. I hope you and your family were safe during the recent bad weather we had. I am looking forward to reading about your trip.

Yeah, we were ok, but the storms were pretty bad. I'm hoping the are over. My family says it was pretty scary. Hope everyone in your neck of the woods is ok as well.

Great start to the report

Thanks Drew!

 

[grandfloluver]

Day 2: Magic Kingdom

I had a good nights sleep, so I was well rested for my big day at the Magic Kingdom. I don't know why, but I always seem to sleep better at Disney. After everyone got cleaned up and refreshed, we all headed down to the lobby of the Sugar Loaf for breakfast. I had a muffin and strawberry yogurt. I normally eat that same thing everytime I come. Weird tradition, I know. We finished up and went out to the main building to catch the monorail to the Magic Kingdom.

The Magic Kingdom opened at 8:00, and I had hoped to get there at rope drop.....but that didn't exactly happen. We ended up getting there around 8:30, so I wasn't too dissapointed. As long as we got there early, I was happy. Who ever heard of a vacation that you actually sleep in? haha My mom always carries a fannypack, so she had to go through the "guests with bags" line. My dad, Jordan, and I went through the other entrance. Once we met back up with my mom after she had her bag checked, we got our room keys and headed for the turnstyles. Now for the moment of truth: will my finger scan actually work this time? ANSWER: it did!! I was very pleased with myself.

We walked down Main Street USA, and went to Fantasyland first. I thought it was a better idea to go there before all the late risers showed up. After walking through the castle, (and the Bibbity-Bobbity Boutique mob) we went to Peter Pan's Flight. It only had a 5 minute wait, so we got on it. It was a good way to start the day! In the very beginning of that ride, Wendy is sitting on a bed telling stories. I have that quilt she is sitting on! I had no clue when I got it that it was in this ride. I think of this every single time I ride.

After we got off of this, we walked a little ways to Winnie The Pooh. I was excited to see the new stand-by line. It was soo cute. It had so much stuff to do, but where the line was a walk on, I didn't "play" with half of it. There were these touch screen honey walls with hidden Pooh characters underneath. There were all these cute little garden games and activities, too. I wish I would've taken pictures of it all. You're never too old to enjoy this.

My dad then went to get fastpasses for Space Mountain that way we could ride it later when we came back for supper this evening. While he did that, my mom, Jordan, and I wanted to ride the Teacups. My dad doesn't exactly handle the spinning very well. My dad got back in time to see us ride, so he took the pictures of us! As far as I could tell, our teacup was spinning the fastest. All thanks to me!! Seriously, I am the only one in the family who knows how to spin the teacup fast. I guess it is a natural talent. lol

After I had walked out all that dizziness, it was time to head to Fronteirland. One of my best friends, Rachael, was also here in the Magic Kingdom, so I met up with her here! She had only been to Disney once, and I was excited she got to come back. Since we were all there together, and the wait time for Splash Mountain wasn't bad, Rachael and I decided to ride it. I was excited for her, because it was her first time ever riding it! We had made it about halfway through the ride,(I think it was the part right before you go into the laughing place,) and the sound wasn't exactly working. You couldn't here the music or dialogue at all. It was horrible. I felt bad because Rachael didn't know that it could've been better. I told her when we got off that she should ride it later to get the "full effect." She had to go meet up with her aunts again, so she had to leave.

One of Jordan's favorite rides it Pirates of the Caribbean, so we went over to Adventureland to ride it. I tolerate this ride, but it's not one of my favorites. I guess it's a boy thing. One of my favorite things in Adventureland is The Magic Carpets of Aladdin. It didn't have but a 5 minute wait, so we got onto it. My mom and I sat in the front, and Jordan and my dad sat in the back. I always have to control the carpet. We got "spit" on by the camel twice going around. I have always tried to get that to happen, and finally it did. It was hot outside, so it felt pretty good to feel that water hit you. I don't know why, but I love those camels.

*****Part 2 of my day is coming soon!

 

[Monorail Fan:)]

It's so cool you got to see your friend at MK!

Nice update

 

[OhMari]

Hi, welcome to the Trip Reports Board. You are doing an awesome job.
I was suppose to be there over Easter Break, but our H.S. Band got their date moved up to April 1, and they Marched at the MK parade. I am excited to read your TR to see how the crowds were.

 

[grandfloluver]

It's so cool you got to see your friend at MK!

Nice update

Thanks! Yeah rachael was pretty excited she had me to lean on for trip advice. It was fun.

Hi, welcome to the Trip Reports Board. You are doing an awesome job.
I was suppose to be there over Easter Break, but our H.S. Band got their date moved up to April 1, and they Marched at the MK parade. I am excited to read your TR to see how the crowds were.

Thanks! I thought the crowds were bad on Easter, but not too bad the rest of the time.

 

[PlutosRHM55]

Great update, Hannah! I can't believe how much you got done that day and it was already probably an hour after rope drop when you got to the Magic Carpets. Wow! Well... I think my memory is clogged of my latest trip to compare to my first trip when I went at the exact time and the lines were so short. I think our longest wait was Peter Pan's Flight or TSM, which were both around 45 minutes. I also liked hearing that you met up with a friend, that is always fun. I've been lucky to have people I know down there with us when I go. It is always a lot more magical. Can't wait to hear about more of your adventures (especially Space Mountain), Hannah! Update soon!

 

[grandfloluver]

Great update, Hannah! I can't believe how much you got done that day and it was already probably an hour after rope drop when you got to the Magic Carpets. Wow! Well... I think my memory is clogged of my latest trip to compare to my first trip when I went at the exact time and the lines were so short. I think our longest wait was Peter Pan's Flight or TSM, which were both around 45 minutes. I also liked hearing that you met up with a friend, that is always fun. I've been lucky to have people I know down there with us when I go. It is always a lot more magical. Can't wait to hear about more of your adventures (especially Space Mountain), Hannah! Update soon!

Thank ya, Timmy! I am one to go to the parks early, that way I don't have to wait in the lines. We always take advantage of the fast passes, too. But, I can hardly ever make into the later hours. I get so tired after about 9:30 there!

 

[EmpressBubbles]

Subscribing!!!

This is a great TR!

 

[grandfloluver]

Subscribing!!!

This is a great TR!

Thanks! I appreciate it.

 

[grandfloluver]

Day 2art 2-the Chills and Thrills of the Magic Kingdom

It was around 11:30 or so by this time, so I was naturally getting a little hungry. So, we headed to my favorite counter service restaurant----Casey's Corner! I could eat their hotdogs and fries all day. The old cartoons don't hurt, either. We walked over the bridge in front of the Crystal Palace and heard the "Move it! Shake it! Celebrate it! street parade coming down Main Street. I swear, it never fails that we get caught watching it. Even though I've seen it a bazillion times, I still think it's kinda cute.

Once we got into Casey's, my dad and I went to order, while my mom and Jordan got us a seat in the bleachers. They do tend to fill up rather quickly. We brought our food back and ate it rather quickly. That's saying a lot for me, because I am not a fast eater. After this, everyone wanted to head back to the Grand Flo for a swim break.

We headed back down Main Street and towards the Grand Floridian/Polynesian boat dock. (Unfortunately, there were no people wanting to visit the Yacht Club this time) Picture time!!

The pool was nice and refreshing! I love that pool wwwaaaay more than the other Beach Pool with the slide. It's just much more peaceful. I grabbed my chocolate chip cookie from concierge and my refillable mug and my parents grabbed seats under a few umbrellas. I put on some sunscreen and headed into the pool. I swam around for around a bit, trying to avoid Jordan. He splashes too much when he swims. It gets really annoying when you don't want to get splashed. We ended up swimming for a few hours. I think we headed back up to the room around 3:00.

Jordan and my dad are big golf junkies, so they went over to the golf course to check out their gift shop. While they did this, I had a hair appointment at Ivy Trellis, the hair salon at the Grand Floridian. My mom took me down there and I got my hair cut. I really needed, and it's another tradition I have to get it cut at the Ivy Trellis. I got done with that around 4:15, and Jordan and my dad got back at just the right time. We had dining reservations at the Plaza Restaurant at 5:05, so we took the monorail back to the Magic Kingdom.

We made it over there and since our reservations weren't for a little while, my dad, Jordan, and I wanted to use our fastpasses for Space Mountain. My mom doesn't ride it because it hurts her back. I think the stand-by line for it was around 40 minutes, but since we used our fastpasses, we walked right on. We got placed in our separate rows, and I was in the very back. Somehow, this always happens to me. When they take the picture, I looked stoned, or completely unemotional. It was pretty sad. I'm not a ride screamer, put your hands in the air type of person, though. Besides the picture, my ride was good, and bumpy.

We were still a little early for our official reservation time at the Plaza Restaurant, but we went anyway. They ended up taking us right in! Our waitress took us to our table and gave us our menus. At first this wasn't all that bad, until it started getting soo cold in there. I realized we were sitting right underneath an air-conditioning vent. Everyone in my family was absolutely freezing. we were in there an hour or so, and my toes felt numb. When we finally got out, it felt good to feel that hot Florida air hit you in the face.

My dad didn't forget that we also had fastpasses to use for Splash Mountain! So, I was excited and anxious to head over to Fronteirland to ride that. My mom normally only does this ride once, and now was her chance! I don't know if it's the drop or the fact that the water messes up her hair, but she doesn't like this ride. We got up to the loading area, and Jordan and my dad got into the front row, and my mom and I got in the second row. The sound seemed to be fixed this time! I was pleased with it. We had a few log jams here and there, but other than that, I had a zip-e-doo-dah ride! Alright, I'm showing ya'll private information! If my mom knew I posted this pic of us.....well this trip report might become extinct-(if you're catching my drift) But, anyway here is our Splash Mountain picture! I am the only one who looks like I'm enjoying myself.(i had to take a pic of it myself because my scanner wouldn't work)

I think my mom's back was hurting a little now, so we headed back to the room to rest up. We were all a little tired by now, so I think it was for the best. We had to get our rest for our early wake up tomorrow.

Coming up: Cold water takes it's toll on us!!