The Skeptical First-Timers made it back home, here's the TR! Completed!

[204charity]

Hey now! Take it easy on the Canadians now!!! I'm from Canada you know!!!!

 

[danimaroo]

Man I was thinking it would be Illuminations as David's "wow" moment. I know it was a big WOW moment for me when I saw it for the first time. I actually have no idea what it's going to be, but like everyone else, am definitely looking forward to Day 7! I don't think I've ever been so into a TR before, but I think part of it is how quickly you update! It always gives me some good reading while I'm not busy at work.

 

[johnGorski]

well I was thinking all along Illuminations may have excited David, it is my fav night show aswell. It looks like you planned this trip right scheduling Epcot at the end, maybe this will get u the ok for a return trip with the family


Ski Pete said something about trying Mission Space-agreeded this is a must-do. They have a mild side that is nothing, compare it to soarin', plus it typically has a 5min wait.


Can't wait to read about your final day.

 

[johnGorski]

Man I was thinking it would be Illuminations as David's "wow" moment. I know it was a big WOW moment for me when I saw it for the first time. I actually have no idea what it's going to be, but like everyone else, am definitely looking forward to Day 7! I don't think I've ever been so into a TR before, but I think part of it is how quickly you update! It always gives me some good reading while I'm not busy at work.

-me too i have reading them here and there but this one updates fast and well written!

 

[ethansmommy34]

Hi there!

We leave tomorrow for a week long Christmas trip to WDW, with my DH's brother and his family. It's their first visit, and they're surprising the kids in the morning before we head to the airport!!!

I can't remember how I found your pre-trip report, but I read the entire thing, and now I'm following your TR. It's been very entertaining and it's gotten me SO excited for our trip!

I have a feeling your DH's "magical" moment might be Hoop de Doo. I kind of had a hunch from the beginning. I can't wait to hear about it! We have never been, but I hear rave reviews all the time, and we actually thought about booking this trip. However, with it being my BIL's family's first trip, I didn't want to get too bogged down with extra stuff. We all have "younger" kiddos, so we actually have several character meals planned, and I think that we are better suited to those types of "time-outs" (non-park time), at least until they're a bit older. Hope I didn't misjudge. If so, there's always next time.

 

[solana131]

Great update! Can't wait to see what you did on your "day off" and how you all liked Hoop De Doo

 

[glennbo123]

Here’s a big tip for somebody that has never gone before: World Showcase needs to be seen at night AND during the day. We all thought it was GOREOUS this night. The weather was probably low-mid 70’s while we walked around. We couldn’t have asked for better weather to do all this walking in! However, being here at night has the downside of not really being able to see some things. I mean, aren’t there Koi fish in Japan or China in the ponds? It was too dark for us to see things like that. That’s why you need to go in the daytime to see all the detail and then back in the evening for the gorgeous-ness of it all.

That's a good tip!

I just can’t explain how excited Allison was at World Showcase. Too excited to the point that she was driving us crazy because every time I turned around, she was darting off and we’d have to look for her. She literally would get sucked into each country like they were big vacuums and we’d find her gazing at a statue or in a shop or wherever. I loved that she loved it yet it made me nervous to constantly be looking for her.

I think it's neat how much she liked WS though. And from your other comments, it sounds like it got satisfactory marks David as well?

I had finally hit the wall of exhaustion on this trip because my feet were finally tired. I’d been sick of course but never really had tired feet UNTIL THIS NIGHT. I ended up finding a bench in Morocco while Dave and Allison shopped.

I put a picture of Patrick Star (from Spongebob) in the last chapter of my TR because I remember feeling like I'd walk my feet right off....like Patrick's non-existent feet. So yeah, I completely understand!

We got seated in the most perfect spot ever on the patio right next to the water. I told David that he would have to eat slow (a foreign concept to him) because we needed to still be here for Illuminations.

Great spot! Exactly, now you need to draaaag it out. Order coffee after dessert, if need be.

I could tell the fish and chips was authentic and fresh and the breading was light and good BUT I just felt like the flavor was bland, like it needed some good ol’ salt or seasoning of some type. Maybe I’m just used to processed fake fish fillets loaded with salt? I actually sort of wished I had Dave’s steak instead

I don't think the fish & chips get good reviews generally. Your thoughts sound consistent with others that I've read.

So far on this trip, Sci Fi was the only eating establishment that he really seemed to get somewhat enthusiastic about.

Now this is something you do not see on the DISboards everyday! Stick with burgers and you should be fine at Sci-Fi.

About the time we were eating dessert, Illuminations started. FANTASTIC! David actually did some “wow’ing” during this show which was extremely rare for him. (remember though, the big “magical moment” for David is tomorrow, though Illuminations might have been a second favorite “event”) We were right smack next to the water so it was amazing. There was some sort of cannon firework thing blasting out of an area right by our seat so it was loud and really neat to be up so close. I’d say Illuminations was a big hit!

Awesomeness!!

...and we were all SOOOO tired since we had been at Epcot for 12 hours total. Yikes!!!

Oh my gosh, that's an Epcot MARATHON.

Ian seriously asked me if we came back again, if it would be ok to rent him a wheelchair! He was completely serious and wanted to know if it really would be ok to do that.

I'm taking my 80+ year old parents this summer and am trying to figure out how to get them to agree to a wheelchair....I'm afraid their pride is going to get in the way.

And this is also an interesting day because after 7 full days, David actually gets pumped up and enthusiastic over something and literally says “ok, I guess I’m feeling some magic finally”!!

I'm dying to find out.

 

[FosterA]

I can't wait to read more, but I wish you would quit putting yourself down. Hubby could have carried you to your room if he wanted to!

That's right! What's wrong with him anyway. Maybe I'll have him make it up to me by carrying me from my salon to the car after a busy Saturday on my feet all day

I'm thinking I know what it is and if it is, you have my permisson to go on a girls only "magical" trip!

Your pictures are amazing and I can't belive you've already hit the big stuff in Epcot on just your first day there.
can't wait for more.

Thanks so much!! I am curious if you guessed right too!

I can't believe it's almost over either...can't wait to hear about your final day. I'm sorta in agreement on Soarin'...we enjoy it but we are more thrill seekers so we like several other rides much better!

It's actually sad that my TR is almost over I mean, I have a million things to do and I am anxious to get started on my scrapbooking and such but this sure was fun too. Thanks for reading along

Hey now! Take it easy on the Canadians now!!! I'm from Canada you know!!!!

hey, I really only personally know one Canadian and she's pretty cool so you're fine in my book

 

[jennyjinx3]

Finally joining in here...i have read your whole TR, you are an awesome writer!
I miss Disney so much and you have captured so much of it back for me! Your family is so sweet, we just stayed at the Poly in September and loved loved loved it! We had a 40% off rate there so next September we are at POR instead. Anyway, thanks for the great report, can't wait to see how Hoop Dee do goes, it's on our list for our Sept 2012 trip.

 

[204charity]

hey, I really only personally know one Canadian and she's pretty cool so you're fine in my book

Just so you know - I'm the very best Canada has to offer! Fun, friendly and a great, reliable friend! Can't ask for much more if you ask me!!

 

[FosterA]

Man I was thinking it would be Illuminations as David's "wow" moment. I know it was a big WOW moment for me when I saw it for the first time. I actually have no idea what it's going to be, but like everyone else, am definitely looking forward to Day 7! I don't think I've ever been so into a TR before, but I think part of it is how quickly you update! It always gives me some good reading while I'm not busy at work.

Ok. good, glad you like my quick updates. I worry that it's annoying so thanks! I'd have to say the Illuminations over dinner was probably his second fave thing

well I was thinking all along Illuminations may have excited David, it is my fav night show aswell. It looks like you planned this trip right scheduling Epcot at the end, maybe this will get u the ok for a return trip with the family


Ski Pete said something about trying Mission Space-agreeded this is a must-do. They have a mild side that is nothing, compare it to soarin', plus it typically has a 5min wait.


Can't wait to read about your final day.

I totally agree that it was a smart move to put Epcot as last park that way we end on such a good note and I have a better chance of getting David to cough up the money to go back!

-me too i have reading them here and there but this one updates fast and well written!

awwww thanks!

Hi there!

We leave tomorrow for a week long Christmas trip to WDW, with my DH's brother and his family. It's their first visit, and they're surprising the kids in the morning before we head to the airport!!!

I can't remember how I found your pre-trip report, but I read the entire thing, and now I'm following your TR. It's been very entertaining and it's gotten me SO excited for our trip!

I have a feeling your DH's "magical" moment might be Hoop de Doo. I kind of had a hunch from the beginning. I can't wait to hear about it! We have never been, but I hear rave reviews all the time, and we actually thought about booking this trip. However, with it being my BIL's family's first trip, I didn't want to get too bogged down with extra stuff. We all have "younger" kiddos, so we actually have several character meals planned, and I think that we are better suited to those types of "time-outs" (non-park time), at least until they're a bit older. Hope I didn't misjudge. If so, there's always next time.

First off, amazing that you are all leaving tomorrow How fun!!
Secondly....thanks soooo much for sticking with me through my whole PTR and TR! I'm glad I'm not too boring
oh....and you might just be right about the Hoop

 

[FosterA]

Great update! Can't wait to see what you did on your "day off" and how you all liked Hoop De Doo

Coming right up!

That's a good tip!



I think it's neat how much she liked WS though. And from your other comments, it sounds like it got satisfactory marks David as well?



I put a picture of Patrick Star (from Spongebob) in the last chapter of my TR because I remember feeling like I'd walk my feet right off....like Patrick's non-existent feet. So yeah, I completely understand!



Great spot! Exactly, now you need to draaaag it out. Order coffee after dessert, if need be.



I don't think the fish & chips get good reviews generally. Your thoughts sound consistent with others that I've read.



Now this is something you do not see on the DISboards everyday! Stick with burgers and you should be fine at Sci-Fi.



Awesomeness!!



Oh my gosh, that's an Epcot MARATHON.



I'm taking my 80+ year old parents this summer and am trying to figure out how to get them to agree to a wheelchair....I'm afraid their pride is going to get in the way.



I'm dying to find out.

HA! love the Patrick Star thing!! That is spot on!

It is a little weird that out of all the places we ate, he really only talks about or seemed to be impressed by Sci Fi! I think it was the drinks and atmosphere more than the food I guess, though he did say it was a good burger

Finally joining in here...i have read your whole TR, you are an awesome writer!
I miss Disney so much and you have captured so much of it back for me! Your family is so sweet, we just stayed at the Poly in September and loved loved loved it! We had a 40% off rate there so next September we are at POR instead. Anyway, thanks for the great report, can't wait to see how Hoop Dee do goes, it's on our list for our Sept 2012 trip.

awww, thanks

Just so you know - I'm the very best Canada has to offer! Fun, friendly and a great, reliable friend! Can't ask for much more if you ask me!!

I may just have to go on up to the "real" Canada then versus the Epcot one and hang with ya! You do sound fun

 

[204charity]

I may just have to go on up to the "real" Canada then versus the Epcot one and hang with ya! You do sound fun

Hahahah - anytime! We live right in the middle of the Country, in rural Manitoba, so make sure you have boots, and a down-filled parka! (Well, if you come in the winter anyways, if you come in the summer be ready for tornados!) lol

 

[FosterA]

DAY 7-part 1 (Monday Nov, 21)

I have no idea what time we woke up this day but I do know that we all slept like rocks after our marathon Epcot day!

By far, Epcot was Dave’s favorite park on the trip. Test Track was his fave attraction there and he really liked ALL of World Showcase (probably mostly the drinks). Of all the parks this is the park that he seemed the most interested in and I caught him showing bits of enthusiasm all throughout our Epcot day. He also was very impressed by Illuminations!

Allison LOVED Epcot too and says her favorite part is EVERYTHING in World Showcase. Oh, and our “hot” server at Rose and Crown.

Ian, like most 11 year old boys, liked Epcot but he’s really along on this trip for the thrill rides. He was just so-so about World Showcase and of course loved Test Track.

I like all the little things… from the topiaries to the friendly CMs to the lightposts to the way our bread bowl at Rose and Crown was lined with a London newspaper (well, tissue paper stuff that was printed like it was a real newspaper if you want to get technical).


OK….so this was our last full day in Disney since we had to catch the ME tomorrow at 10 am ish. The only thing on the agenda was to get to the Hoop De Doo by 6:15. As we were getting ready for bed last night, the general consensus was that we really needed to get back to World Showcase since we sort of blew through it the night before. We never ironed out any specifics but that was the “loose plan” as we were heading to bed anyway.

Well…fast forward to this morning…. Allison was the one in the group that wanted to go back the most BUT Ian did not want to do ANY park at all on this day. He wanted to stay and swim and relax all day. I’m not surprised by that because he’s sort of my one that gets over-stimulated easy and is a bit of a loner and prefers to stay out of crowds and such. Allison is the party animal though. So then we had to decide if we should split up or what. I told David that he should be the one to take her over to World Showcase and I’d stay with Ian. I felt like I had already sort of “seen” that part of Epcot in a way since I was such a compulsive planner and have read every book and looked at every photo on the Dis which is why I thought he should go. He said that was fine but they would take their time getting over there and not rush to get ready.

It was a little rainy this morning and here’ s a pic.

Oh and here’s Ian in no mood to even go to a park. All he wanted to do was swim and go down that slide all day!

Well Allison and Dave “said” they were going to catch the monorail over to Epcot but they never did! Allison ended up wanting to lay in a hammock and listen to music for awhile and time just got away I guess! Same with David…he just got too relaxed and lost the motivation. Honestly, if they wanted to go back bad enough they would have but I really think everybody was very tired and sort of “done” by this 7th day. If the Poly wasn’t so beautiful and relaxing they might have had more of a motivation to go do something but they both just were so happy chilling out that there was no sense forcing a park into the mix. So….last night really was our very last night at a park and Test Track WAS our very last “ride”. ( we will end up at Mk this night but just for a tiny bit to see the Elec. Parade so I’m not counting that since we watched it literally right there at the entrance to the park and then left before it was all the way over)

So we all really just relaxed around the pool all day and snacked on stuff from Cook’s. I noticed that for the first time ever they were requiring wristbands to be out by the pool! Since this was the Monday before Thanksgiving, things were picking up.

Since I had that little snafu with the Luau and not having had picked up an actual ticket ahead of time, I knew that I needed to get on the ball so that wouldn’t happen with Hoop De Doo this night. I went into the lobby and guest services there printed me up the actual tickets. Whew! Didn’t need a replay of the Luau night as far as somebody handing David the tickets and him seeing the prices. It was Day 7 and I had successfully kept him in the dark on how much every detail of the trip cost and I wanted to keep it that way!

As the day wore on and we all lounged around the resort all day I started thinking about just how we needed to get to the Hoop and what time we needed to leave and such. The show was at 6:15 and they said you should really leave the Poly around 4:30 to allow for plenty of time and to get there early for the photo op and such.

WELL…..around 3:30 when Ian is getting out of the pool, he announces that he’s out of underwear. What the heck! Allison thought she could go to a 200 dollar plus Luau dinner barefoot and now my other kid is going to go to another 200 dollar plus dinner with no underwear! So, me being the super woman that I am, I tore off to the laundry room to do yet more laundry. Remember, I’d already done 2 giant loads a couple days before. I figured if I had to wash his underwear, I may as well just wash everything and go home with all clean laundry! I made Allison help me drag the hamper down to the laundry room and we started loading up and I was flipping out because we didn’t hardly have enough time to make it to the Hoop. Of course one of the washers ate 8 of my quarters and we lost those. I had no time to go to Guest Services and get a refund. I scrounged around but still was 3 quarters short and didn’t want to run all the way back to the room so I had to put my pride aside and ask a lady that was in there if she could spare 3 quarters. She was fine with that and had the extra. I would have died before I would forget to pay her back though so when I went back to the room between the wash/dry cycle I got quarters to pay her back and she was surprised I did. Trust me, I hate owing anybody money and I would have tracked her down to the ends of the Earth to return 3 quarters Yep, I spent a grand total of 20 dollars doing laundry on this trip How ridiculous is that. And I brought my own soap too!

Ok, finally the laundry was done and it was time to get moving to the Hoop. Well David started acting like a big pain at this point because, while we were doing laundry, he noticed that our brand new camera was banged up and he had a fit. I told him to cool down because it’s only like a 100 dollar camera and it still worked fine, it’s wasn’t anything to have a cow about. More than likely it got scuffed up when it was on mine or Allison’s wrist. So….take note here….David was in a pretty bad mood as we were leaving our room to go to the Hoop. As a matter of fact, he was really annoying and we all just ignored him and talked like he wasn’t around because we thought he was being dramatic about the camera thing and quite frankly, with the exception of a few random things here and there, he was a bit of dud on the whole trip. He had perked up as the trip went on with Epcot and all but in general, he just wasn’t feeling all pixie dusted on this trip and his face showed it many times during the trip. He’ll deny that when I say that to him now but the truth is that his “happy place” is sitting in his recliner at home listening to his GIANT speakers that take up half the living room.

Yes….this is a photo I found in our photo library that he took of his speaker. He treats them like babies and takes photos of them yet he didn’t snap ONE, not one photo at Disney! The scary thing is that this is just one, we have 2 in our living room!


Geez….I’m going on and on here. I guess I’m just trying to set the scene.


So I decided that we would take the boat to MK from the Poly and then transfer to the boat that goes to the Hoop. The 3 of us (Ian in his clean undies) took off for the boat dock with grumpy David trailing behind pouting about the camera and wishing he could snap his heels together and be transported to his Lazy-boy and precious speakers.

We hopped on at the Poly dock and were wisked away to MK. I just love these boats!! They are so cute and the captains are always so fun and friendly.

Once we got to MK, we got on a bigger boat to head to the campground area. Here’s Allison’s back as we were zipping along.

I gotta wrap this right now but will continue in a bit about our arrival at the campground and how David had his frown turned UPSIDE DOWN!

 

[FosterA]

DAY 7-part 2


I really liked the boat ride to the campgrounds. It was a larger boat and it was just so fun. The weather was picture-perfect and we had the wind whipping in our face and it was just so…….

As usual, I found some people to chat with on the boat (since I was ignoring David) and we struck up quite the conversation. Turns out they had their grandkids with them and they come all the time and they love the Hoop De Doo and on and on they went. They certainly had the “magic” going on. Well David was listening in to our conversation and I saw he was starting to cheer up some because…..well….this couple was so cute and they were soooo enthusiastic about their times at Disney and I guess their upbeat attitude was contagious.

As we were cruising into the campground area, I don’t know how to explain it…….but David started to light up. He immediately started to relax and act like how I’m used to him acting, like around home when he’s actually fun. He referred several times to how the atmosphere in this area reminded him of home (not our home but his childhood home since he’s from the Swamp country of TX and used to water ski with alligators). The Live Oak trees with their moss hanging down and the whole rustic vibe literally turned him into the happy relaxed guy I was used to versus the grumpy boring one that I dealt with for 7 days. David finally felt “at home”.

Here’s a photo of where you pull in:

And here’s the kiddos: Allison says I have to crop Ian's stupid flip flops out of any photos before I scrapbook them because he looks like an "idiot" with jeans and flip flops. Teenage girls.......such delights.

Well, our feet hadn’t hit the ground yet and David was a new person. He’s like “wow, this place is cool”, “you didn’t tell me we could stay here”, “hey, we can do a cabin sometime”……..Finally, after doing SO much David started to get excited on our very last day, on our very last “event”. I was thrilled. So, if you guessed he lit up and got enthusiastic about the Hoop, you are partially right. Turns out BY FAR the highlight of his trip was this WHOLE night starting from the boat ride to the end of Hoop. He LOVED it all! He felt at “home”. I’ll get to the Hoop stuff soon because he went nuts there too and said it was by far the best food on the entire trip and the most fun he had the entire time. I could have saved a boatload of money by not staying at the Poly and pitched a tent at the campground instead because David would have loved it!!

Now everybody was happy and the busted up camera and all that drama was a mere blip on his radar. We first went over to the gift shop there and Ian had to get some pressed pennies. Then we were going to go to the Hoop place but got mesmerized by how insane and crazy some people decorate in the campground so we got sucked into one of the trails and just kept walking and walking and walking because it was so fun and so dang hilarious. The campground was so quiet and peaceful and rustic feeling and we felt like we were in a whole other world compared to the hustle and bustle of the Poly and the parks.

Here’s some photos of the over-the-top décor these people do. How awesome can they be? David had a huge grin on his face the whole time as we walked around to look at some of this stuff.

I’m going to write more and talk all about the Hoop next. I just really wanted to get these campground photos out there in case anybody is thinking about checking the place out, DO IT! It’s a blast.

 

[204charity]

I love Fort Wilderness! We toyed with going back there, but since we had stayed there already, we thought we'd try something different! Although with the confirmed bed bugs last week at the Poly my anxiety may get the best of me and I may flip-flop to a different hotel.

 

[Cin]

I can't believe your hubby took speaker pics. LOL, I thought mine was the only one who did that. And yes, they are a piece of furniture they are so big. Several times in your trip report, I smacked my head and was like o.m.g. as it was my hubby all over again.

 

[cajunbaby1]

Finally finished the report and I have tosay great job!!
Your photos were great. Some day I want to stay at the Poly.

Men...I swear you just want to SMACK EM UPSIDE THE HEAD
Can't live with them and you can't shoot em.

I'm glad y'all had a great trip. i'm going the first week of may and I can't wait. These reports are keeping my spirits up til i can go.

 

[brea]

Wow glad to hear that David found his magic somewhere over there! We actually changed our ADR's from Fulton's Crabhouse and are going to the hoop-de-doo. I went there as a kid and it's one of my favorite memories of going.

Looking forward to hearing how it went.

 

[amandaluvsgoofy]

I'm so glad David's mood lifted! And that's hilarious that he loved the relaxed pace of the campgrounds!

Can't wait to hear about dinner and your last night at MK!