The Adventure That Was Called Disney: June 26th-July 7th--update post 11

[Princess_Dot]

Some Backround: Ive been a member of the Dis for a year now. My Mom is a member, my sister is a member, but somehow we have never written a trip report. Weve been to Disney somewhere between 18-20 times and we love it!

Here is my pre-trip report. Its worth reading just to see what a crazy, fun-loving, bunch of people we are.

The Cast:
DM aka Daisy: An undisclosed age. (isnt everyone a kid in Disney?)
DD(dad) aka Donald: An undisclosed age.
DS(sister) aka Belle: 21 years old
Me aka Alice: 18 years old

My Best Friends Family: Staying at Saratoga Springs Resort
DFM aka Minnie: An undisclosed age.
DFD aka Mickey: An undisclosed Age
DFS aka Tink: 21
her boyfriend aka Jack Sparrow: 27ish??
DF aka Cinderella: 18
DFB aka Stich: 16
DFS aka Giselle: 13
DFB aka Pluto: 6
DFNana: An undisclosed Age
DFUncle: An undisclosed age


Trip Report Day 1-3

So at 4am on June 26th my family and I woke up and started moving towards the airport. It was a little different this year because we were flying into Tampa and not Orlando. One observation I noticed was that there were virtually no children on the Tampa flight. Normally Orlando flights are filled with exited families and little children to “oo and ahh” over. However, I was probably the youngest person on my flight. (And I’m 18!) We arrived in Tampa, Florida and insistently I felt the humidity. I realized I was going to have to sacrifice my straightened hair and embrace a ponytail this trip!

DM, DD, and I drove to our hotel in Clearwater and it was beautiful. First thing we did was go swimming in the pool. The water was like bath water! This day was a stereotypical lazy-vacation-day. The three of us were just killing time until our friends arrived the next day. We went to the beach and walked through the water.

Our friends arrived the next day and we spent the weekend relaxing. Really we needed our rest because this Disney vacation was the most jam-packed vacation we have ever experienced.

Here’s one picture I took at the beach in Clearwater. It’s of my friends little brother.

I know what you’re thinking… “Clearwater is nice….but we want to see DISNEY.” I promise there will be plenty of interesting stories, surprise moments, and Disney characters to come.

Day 4 aka WERE GOING TO DISNEY
We woke up the morning of day 4 and packed the rental car. My family drove to the Orlando Airport to pickup my sister. Now THIS airport reminds me of vacations. I’m glad I got to go there because it just puts me in the vacation mood.

The drive didn’t seem too long and before I knew it we were driving through that infamous Disney gate. Next thing I know, all the signs are purple and there are signs pointing this way and that way to Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom and Epcot.

We checked in at Fort Wilderness and the CM was so nice! She gave me a birthday pin because this trip was celebrating my birthday, and from here on in begins the birthday wishes. We drove to our cabin, quickly unpacked, and my sister and I headed to the Magic Kingdom!

The first ride we went on was the Laugh Factory. Oh MAN that ride is hilarious!

I know I have more pictures from Disney….I have to go find those in the abyss called my computer. I promise I will have an update soon.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

That's a beautiful photo, Dot! A trip to the beach seems like the perfect way to begin any vacation. I look forward to the rest of your TR! You'll have to let us know how you liked Fort Wilderness.

 

[angela3676]

Got my setbelt on and I'm ready for the ride.

 

[tink1957]

Great start I love the beach pic. Can't wait to read all about your trip.

 

[Princess_Dot]

That's a beautiful photo, Dot! A trip to the beach seems like the perfect way to begin any vacation. I look forward to the rest of your TR! You'll have to let us know how you liked Fort Wilderness.

Thanks! I had a lot of fun with photography/photoshop this trip!

Got my setbelt on and I'm ready for the ride.

yay!

Great start I love the beach pic. Can't wait to read all about your trip.

Thanks!!
This trip was the trip of a lifetime.

 

[Princess_Dot]

Day 4—Continued

The Magic Kingdom was busy, but not packed. I have been to Disney during busy times of the year (Christmas week, April vacation, June and August) but I was expecting worse crowds because it was the week of the 4th. My sister and I walked on Pirates, Laugh Factory, Buzz, and TTA. At this point we decided to get a quick lunch since we had not eaten yet this day.

YAY we could use our first CS credits on the Dining Plan! We decided to go to Pecos Bill and got French Fries and a wrap. I am obsessed with the cheese sauce here. I seriously have an addiction to cheese, so expect my exitment when I realized I could drizzle as much warm and spicy cheese sauce on my French fries I wanted! Halfway through eating a CM walked into the room. He called out “ATTENTION, ATTENTION, we have a birthday in the room!” (Could he really be talking about me? Did he really notice my birthday pin?) He had the whole room sing happy birthday and gave my two free desserts! It was such a nice way to begin the trip! After this we decided to head back to our Cabin.

At this point in the vacation my sister and I realized how hard it was to navigate around Fort Wilderness. The internal bus system is really a pain to have to wait for. Also, we found waiting for a boat to the Magic Kingdom to be problematic on more than one occasion. Boy were we happy when we returned to the Fort and found our parents with a newly rented golf cart to drive us back to the Cabin.

We drove back and explored the grounds. Our loop was right next to the quiet pool, which during the summer heat was a blessing. Our Mousekeeper was the BEST mousekeeper I have ever had. She kept out room spotless and she made sure to never make us feel rushed to get out in the morning. Everyday we returned to 2 (sometimes 3) new towel animals!

Me with one of the towel animals. ​

Up Next: BOMA with the whole group.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Very cool about the birthday greetings. You wouldn't think they'd make a fuss at a CS place. Happy belated b-day to you!

 

[AmandaSparks730]

DOT!

I'm here now

You read mine, I'm reading yours!

Of to a great start so far

 

[tink1957]

Cute pic with the towel bunny. Happy Belated Birthday to you. I always wanted to celebrate my birthday at WDW but I had the misfortune of being born in August & really don't want to melt in the heat. Can't wait to read more.

 

[Princess_Dot]

Very cool about the birthday greetings. You wouldn't think they'd make a fuss at a CS place. Happy belated b-day to you!

I know I was surprised that at a CS they even noticed it was my birthday! It was such an exciting moment.

DOT!

I'm here now

You read mine, I'm reading yours!

Of to a great start so far

YAY AMANDA!!

 

[Princess_Dot]

Cute pic with the towel bunny. Happy Belated Birthday to you. I always wanted to celebrate my birthday at WDW but I had the misfortune of being born in August & really don't want to melt in the heat. Can't wait to read more.

Yeah it really is hot during the summer. I don't blame you. You could probably celebrate your half-birthday there. I don't know if they have designated half-birthday pins....but you could always write in the "Half" part in sharpy on the birthday pin!

 

[Princess_Dot]

Day 4—continued (again)

Boy it feels like this day was never-ending! (And it kind of was) So our whole group met in the AKL lobby to get ready for a first night dinner at Boma. Everyone here found something they liked. I’ve always found the AKL lobby and gift shop to be both relaxing and fun. The food was all very similar to when we were there last. The kids chicken was different. I know it used to be chicken tenders…now it is deep fried chicken wings. I don’t know when that switch was made….but they didn’t look very appetizing. After admiring the animals, sitting by the fire, and buying a few small items at the gift shop the families headed home for a full night’s rest. Tomorrow begins the real adventure.

Day 5—MGM (oh excise me I mean Hollywood Studios *sigh*)

HS will always be MGM in my heart. We woke up bright and early and the older kids headed over to MGM for EMH to hit the big rides. We got fast passes for RnR and rode ToT. After using our fast passes for RnR we rode ToT one more time. Then it was time for breakfast. We used snack credits at Starring Roles café to get a frozen coffee/milk shake type item. It was extremely rich, but hit the spot.

Our group was prepared to walk to Epcot but just as we were leaving a boat pulled up so we got on. We rode the boat to the Yacht and Beach club and walked to Epcot from there. (Yes we were faster than the boat) We got fast passed for Sourin first thing, and then we rode the Epcot Ball. I LOVE the new version of the Ball. Even though I liked the old narrator better….this version seems more interactive and entertaining. After meandering around future world we headed towards world showcase. On our way we stopped in the Ice Station Cool (is that what it’s still called….I think it might be Club Cool now?). Anyway my best friend Elise, her sister Tessa and I all tried the Beverly. Elise has some great pictures I will convince her to upload…they capture our emotions so accurately. The first is us smiling with the soda, the second is after we took our first sip (we are kind of smiling, I mean it didn’t taste that bad) and the THIRD picture is when the BITTER taste sets in! Hah I promise to upload those pictures….they are hilarious!

In the World Showcase we encountered very nice cast members in Norway. My friends Elise and Tessa are both Norwegian so they had a lot of fun chatting with the friendly cast members from their country.

After doing a little shopping we headed over to Mexico to ride the new version of the Mexican boat ride. “OH NO” is all I can say. WHAT did they do to my former-favorite ride in Disney World? Donald looks so out of place in this ride. I hate the new song, its not catchy like the old one. *sigh* I really really really miss the old Mexican ride.

The whole group met at Le Celliere for lunch. Our waitress this time was not as friendly as ours have been in the past. However, we are a large group that pays with two different Dining Plans….it can get confusing. The pretzel bread was EVERYTHING I remembered it being. Ahhh it was so moist and perfect with the soup. Everyone seemed to love their food here. I got a mango smoothie (which is included as a drink on the dining plan) and it was perfect on the hot summer day. The dessert that most of us loved was the smores. They were amazing.

After Epcot we parted ways. 1/3 of the group went to a Red Sox game in Tampa. 1/3 went back to the hotel to swim and the other third went to AK for EMH. Guess where I went? Yep you’re correct AK!

I have roughly 75676457455687956986 pictures from Animal Kingdom that night. I even have some of an empty park! A photopass photographer there captured possibly my favorite picture of the entire trip.

Here is a little sneak peek of what’s to come…

 

[noahdove]

Great so far..keep it up

 

[Princess_Dot]

Great so far..keep it up

Thanks.

 

[diva122094]

This is really good.

 

[DramaQueen]

hey you!!

i'm loving your TR!
can't wait to read more!!

 

[mom_of_3_70737]

Loving your TR so far! Can't wait to read more

 

[Princess_Dot]

This is really good.

Thanks

hey you!!

i'm loving your TR!
can't wait to read more!!

Thanks. Im going to try to get an update in in th next few days.

Loving your TR so far! Can't wait to read more

yay!! Thanks!