Ok guys, it took a little while but I finally got our personal photos organized. In 9 days we, as a family, personally took over 1500 shots of our trip, AS WELL as having nearly 200 Photopass pics taken - kinda crazy, I know! I've put together a small slideshow here if you are interested (don't worry - it's 60 or less, I believe) - just as a representation of our time in the world.
http://s292.photobucket.com/albums/mm34/stopher1_photos/WDW%20Oct%2008/?albumview=slideshow
Here's also a brief run down of our trip:
Day 1 we arrived at MCO via Southwest around 11:30 am. Headed over for the Magical Express bus check in and only had to wait 5 min! Yay. Then another 7 min or so and we were on a bus!! Our first few nights were at the Boardwalk, and the bus made a stop first at Caribbean Beach, but then on to the Boardwalk - we were standing in the lobby of the Boardwalk by 1 pm. That was cool. Check-in wasn't until 4 - but lo and behold our room was already ready... another yay. I had received our tickets in advance from
Undercover Tourist - so after a 2nd stop at the concierge to have them transferred to our KTTW cards, we were off to find the room and drop off the carry-ons. Lunch on the boardwalk was enjoyable despite the sprinkles (the only time it rained), and then we walked over to Fantasia Gardens for a fun round of miniature golf. In the evening we swam and had a lite dinner in the room.
Day 2 was at the Studios. We had breakfast in the room, and then walked over to the park. That was a first for us - actually walking to a park at WDW...we've done it at DL, but never WDW. Got a FP for Toy Story Mania (not until 2:55 - yikes!), and then checked out some characters, Great Movie Ride, Star Tours, Muppets, lunch, Indy stunt show and Rock-N-Roller Coaster all before our FP for Toy Story. We did the Narnia exhibit and the Little Mermaid show before dinner at Mama Melrose's (another 1st for the fam - I've been there before). The park closed at 7:30 that evening and we decided to skip Fantasmic, so we walked back to the hotel. After the kids were in bed DW sat in the whirlpool tub and I went out to the hotel jacuzzi.
Day 3 was a "lite" day for us. We slept in a bit, and then had a big breakfast in the room (pancakes, bacon, etc - it's definitely nice having a full kitchen in the 1 Bedrooms of DVC!) After some morning swimming, we got ready to head over to the MK. We enjoyed pretty much all of Fantasyland that day. We even got stopped by the Dream Squad outside of Peter Pan's Flight, as the kids were made Honorary Lost Boys (and girl) and we got escorted to the front of the line. Then it was time for my daughter's BBB appointment where she "became" Belle. She was lovely all dolled up, and so excited to add the Belle costume to her wardrobe. After that we went upstairs in the castle to eat at Cindy's Royal Table. The park closed at 7 pm for the Halloween Party. We were planning to attend months ago, but DW changed her mind more recently. I've done it before and enjoyed it with my DS12, but DW isn't in to Halloween, and didn't want to go. That was cool. No biggie. We left as droves of people were coming in.
Day 4 was our "move day" - switching from BWV to AKV. We got our stuff ready, and called Bell Svcs by 10 am. They came and got our stuff and we were off to DTD. We had an 11:30 ressie at Rainforest Cafe, but we wanted to see if we could get in to T-Rex. It turned out we COULD get in to T-Rex, but they weren't accepting any Landry's Gift Cards yet, nor the Rainforest Safari Club, nor taking ressies (none til Jan 1), and we were only doing the RC on a Gift Card - so we went in and took pictures, but went over to the Rainforest. We checked out the shops in DTD, and then were planning on going over to Disney Quest for a couple of hours. DW had woken up that morning sick, and was pretty miserable, so we decided to skip the DQ and head over to AKV to see if our room was ready. When we finally got there (that's a LONG bus ride, BTW) - the room was ready, but unfortunately was a handicap room. I'm glad they have them available, but they honestly should keep them in the inventory for those that actually need the special accomodations the HC rooms provide. We weren't able to get a different room until the next day, so we sucked it up and made due (just no bath for DD until the next night). Dinner was at BOMA - Flavors of Africa, and that was really, really good. A new family favorite.
Day 5 was Epcot. We woke up that morning and had to pack up yet again... ugh. Bell Services came and got our stuff at 8:30 and we were on our way to Epcot. It was a cold, windy morning (coldest of the trip), and none of us realized it was going to be that way. Too late to do anything about it since all of our stuff was already taken by Bell svcs. At Epcot I ended up buying a new jacket for DW and a sweatshirt for DD since they were both freezing. The boys and I just sucked it up and were fine. It didn't get over like 60 that entire day. It had been close to 80 the day before. Epcot was great. We enjoyed Future World for a while, then over to Le Cellier for lunch. We were late for our 11:30 priority seating (hint - don't be late...they make you wait a long time - it's happened twice to us now in 2 different trips). I enjoyed it much more the last time I ate there - this time was just so-so. DW didn't like it at all. We won't be back anytime soon, I'm sure. We worked our way around the world and DD was thrilled to see a bunch of characters around the world. We ended up back in FW for dinner, and Test Track and a 2nd ride on Nemo and 2nd visit to Turtle Talk (Crush actually picked my DD to talk to this time) and we were off to the hotel and a new room.
Day 6 was Animal Kingdom. WOW, I love the bus ride from AKV to AK - just about 5 mins. We got our EMH schedule messed up. It was originally published to be an EMH evening for that day, back when we were putting our plan together - but on the actual day we were there, no dice - it had been changed to a couple of days later for whatever reason... oh well. We enjoyed an early Safari, Everest run and then lunch at Yak & Yeti - yum, yum. Definitely a new family favorite. The Flights of Wonder show was cool (a family first), and some various things (Lion King show, Triceratops Spin, ice cream break on a bench, etc). Without the EMH evening, it sure is a short day ending at 5 pm. We went back to the room and had dinner in. Then swam in the pool.
Day 7 was Blizzard Beach. DW stayed behind (still sick) and caught up with us a few hours into the day. The boys were big helps with their sister, who isn't quite big enough for the regular stuff there - but does like the lazy river. She loves Tikes Peak, though, so that's cool. Once DW joined us, we basically split up, and she stayed with DD and the boys and I went off to do the "big stuff". It was a good day.
Day 8 was Magic Kingdom. We started with breakfast at O'hana at the Poly. We love that one - it's a family favorite. Rode OBA to the Poly, and then back to the MK
. Inside Town Square we saw Daisy Duck and just had to nab her signature for DD's book. We then started in Tomorrowland and did most of it before lunch at Cosmic Rays. After lunch it was over to Big Thunder, Tom Sawyer's Island, Spalsh, Pirates, and a funnel cake snack. Then we split up and the boys and I did the Haunted Mansion and Jungle Cruise while DW and DD did Toontown and more of Fantasyland. They wanted to see Tink in her new meet-n-greet, but the line was like 90 min. long - the longest wait time throughout the entire week. They didn't do it. After that it was dinner at Village Haus, and then back to the hotel for a trick-or-treating scavenger hunt put on by the hotel.
Day 9 was departure day. We had breakfast in Boma. Mmmmmmm. Then the boys wanted to hunt hidden Mickey's througout the hotel, and we had to be downstairs for the ME bus by 1. We were back at our home airport by 6 pm, and home again.
The crowds were quite light throughout the week. We really didn't have any long wait times - really nothing more than 15-20 min. with most being walk-ons of 5 min or less. The longest we actually had was the FP for Toy Story at DHS, but of course we filled the wait time with other stuff. The one constant we noticed throughout the week was a large contingent of British folks. We talked to several, and they were enjoying a mid-term break of their school year, taking their holiday in America. Plus the currency exchange right now made it quite favorable for them. Nothing bad about it - we just heard British accents around us everywhere we went every single day. My boys kept guessing that it was like some kind of national trip to WDW!!!
Other highlights of the week including pin trading galore - my DD went through an almost completely different set of pins every single day... I bought a lot of 40 pins on ebay about a month before leaving and divided them up between the family for trading purposes (DS12 started collecting about 3 yrs ago and has the largest collection so far, followed by DS9 and then DD4 and finally DW and I... Ds12 now has about 35 pins, DS9 about 30 and DD about 26 whereas my DW and I each have 8). Also character autographs for DD and hunting hidden Mickeys - DS12 got that yellow Hidden Mickey book from the library before leaving town and was well versed in each park where to seek some of them out).
We had a great time... and to all of you dads out there that are getting ready to go soon - I wish you a
wonderful time as well.
) on Sunday. Sometime during church, it was decided that there would be more people attending this function me, DW, DD, and another family we are close with (boy (5), girl (8) and their DM). Hurray! Ive got a support group now
. Seriously... I was astounded at the excitement level emanating from my little girl. Yeah a little rubbed off on me, too
.
DD wanted to sit next to me and girl(8) but boy(5) wanted to sit next to DD and DW wanted to sit next to me. OH the insanity. It almost came down to a heated rock-paper-scissor tournament but ultimately, DW barked the marching orders and we all ended up in our proper places.
Yes I landed next to DW. And DD was happily seated between boy and girl.
since we already made plans for a pizza run afterward. The movie starts and everyone gets into the HSM singing and dancing. There was plenty of action right from the start. DD was GLUED to the screen the whole time. This is amazing, because my dear DD does not EVER sit through a movie. There are times when I think the phrase ants-in-your-pants was created just for my DD! But this movie totally captivated her and she now wants to go see it again.
You made all the Disney Dads proud and you get to be your DD's hero
The "Trip Report" made my day, Thanks!!
