Trip #8; But Was It Great? A WDW MAYcation with a side of LegoLand & Celebration, FL!

[Momof2Disneyboys]

After dinner at the Garden Grove we decided to take a stroll around the Swan and Dolphin and check out their main pool. We always say we are going to stay at one of these resorts since I can get the Teacher/School employee discount they offer, but we just never seem to do it.

The main pool is over on the Dolphin side, so we headed that way.

DS10 found a soccer ball and net in the sand, so he kicked the ball around a bit!

And pretty soon we had made our way to the pool! Which was nearly empty.

Look at my little pool hopper!!

It started to sprinkle a little when we were there but luckily it didn't break out into a full rain. We didn't have any umbrellas or ponchos with us!

Next we headed back towards the Swan and then the Boardwalk.

Continued in next post.....

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Continued.....


We hung on out the BW for quite awhile. We love the gift shop there, so we went in there and looked around for awhile too. Eventually we headed back over to the BC side of the lake.

We looked up and decided that the balcony there on the top right was ours.

We spent a little more time on the beach, then went in a had a look around the BC gift shop and then went up to the room and called it a night. I was so exhausted from having so little sleep the prior two nights and we had to get up bright & early the next day for our off-site trip. We were so excited to surprise DS10 with this little trip!!

Up Next: We're Heading Off-Site!

 

[monica23535]

I just love the Epcot resort area, it's so pretty!

Looking forward to the next update and the big reveal

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Gorgeous pictures from the Boardwalk/BC area! Just GORGEOUS! If there is anything prettier than that area at sunset, I don't know what it is!

Great picture of you and DH on the park bench. That should be framed!

 

[lala3291]

Awesome pictures! I just love the BW area...especially at that time of day/night!

I am so excited for you to stay at the GF AND the Poly on your next trip! I have become obsessed at looking at pictures of the Poly! I just want to be able to be familiar with it so that I know all of the different things the resort has to offer. August 28th can't come soon enough!

 

[sjs314]

Love the picture of DS 13 perched atop the piling.

I can not believe I am going to miss you in Dec by just a week !

Good luck with you flights I think you should be good since your dates are not that close to Xmas. I am a little jealous that you will see the Tree on Main St and the garland at MK. Oh well my air is bought so no changeing dates now.

 

[JoBird]

Oh. My. GOSH.

You tell that boy of yours that there will be NO POOL HOPPING allowed!


That pool looks wonderfull!! So clean and calm and relaxing. What a difference, huh?

I think you should sincerely think about staying there. Just not in December.

Looks like you had a wonderfully relaxing night- the scenery and sunset were so beautiful!



Oh yeah so I've been thinking. Which leads to trouble most times, but I've been thinking nonetheless, that you need to change that ticker for the GF to saying that it's "x months and days until THE WORST, MOST TERRIBLE VACATION EVER".
That way you will ensure it is spectacular.

Credit to Teri for thinking it!!!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

I just love the Epcot resort area, it's so pretty!

Looking forward to the next update and the big reveal

It really is a pretty area. We had a nice evening.

Day 3 is coming up tomorrow!

Gorgeous pictures from the Boardwalk/BC area! Just GORGEOUS! If there is anything prettier than that area at sunset, I don't know what it is!

Great picture of you and DH on the park bench. That should be framed!

It was a beautiful night. I thought for sure we were going to get rained on after dinner, but it ended up to be so nice. And cooler!

Thank you! Sometimes DS surprises us and snaps a good pic of us!

Awesome pictures! I just love the BW area...especially at that time of day/night!

I am so excited for you to stay at the GF AND the Poly on your next trip! I have become obsessed at looking at pictures of the Poly! I just want to be able to be familiar with it so that I know all of the different things the resort has to offer. August 28th can't come soon enough!

We really lucked into being there at the right time of day and getting some good pics!

Remember there are A LOT of Poly pics in my TR from last year! I bet you are so excited!!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Love the picture of DS 13 perched atop the piling.

I can not believe I am going to miss you in Dec by just a week !

Good luck with you flights I think you should be good since your dates are not that close to Xmas. I am a little jealous that you will see the Tree on Main St and the garland at MK. Oh well my air is bought so no changeing dates now.

Thanks! I'm not sure what he was doing up there, but I thought I should take his pic!

I know. So close!!

I sure hope we get decent airfare. I think you will be able to see all those things on your trip. They were all up on our November trips.

Oh. My. GOSH.

You tell that boy of yours that there will be NO POOL HOPPING allowed!


That pool looks wonderfull!! So clean and calm and relaxing. What a difference, huh?

I think you should sincerely think about staying there. Just not in December.

Looks like you had a wonderfully relaxing night- the scenery and sunset were so beautiful!



Oh yeah so I've been thinking. Which leads to trouble most times, but I've been thinking nonetheless, that you need to change that ticker for the GF to saying that it's "x months and days until THE WORST, MOST TERRIBLE VACATION EVER".
That way you will ensure it is spectacular.

Credit to Teri for thinking it!!!

No pool hopping!!

That pool did look wonderful. Very serene. Very relaxing. A nice welcome change from SAB. I had heard that the Swan/Dolphin pool water was always cold, so that's why DS was testing the water. He said it was warm, so I stuck my hand in and it was!

We really should consider staying there. But you are right -- not in December! Maybe 2014. You know 2013 is DisneyLAND or bust!!!!!!!!!!


Well that would make for one heck of a ticker, wouldn't it??? I bet no one else has even had one like that before.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Breaking news!!

SW and AT released their rates through Jan 4th this morning! AND -- I was able to get a 7:00am flight down with SW for $114 each! Yes, I do realize how sad it is to be so excited about paying $114 per person for a flight down, when only a few years ago we were paying $89 pp tops! But, it is what it is and I'm just happy to have a morning flight this time.

As for the way back -- SW has nothing good. Only 2 non-stops and they are 10:45am or 7:30pm. Neither are great options and they are both $158 each. AT has several non-stop flights back for $138. Not great, but I guess that is what I am going to have to take. Still thinking about that one though......

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

good for you!! Hope you get the return you want!!
We are still waiting to see some drop in price.

 

[Pluto_fan]

Beautiful sunset pictures, Shelly!

Hooray for a morning flight down next time!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Hey Shelly, we're back from our trip and I'm all caught up again. I'm pretty picky about buffets but the Garden Grove looks like it was well maintained and clean. I really enjoyed all of your pictures from your evening stroll.

Oh and I almost forgot...congrats on booking another trip! I know that you and Jo are super excited to be gonig at the same time.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

good for you!! Hope you get the return you want!!
We are still waiting to see some drop in price.

Thanks Shawna!! I need to just book that flight back. In recent years our flight prices do nothing but go up from release day.

Hope you get a great price!!

Beautiful sunset pictures, Shelly!

Hooray for a morning flight down next time!

Thanks Kathy, glad you enjoyed the pics!

I am beyond thrilled with a 7am flight down!!

Hey Shelly, we're back from our trip and I'm all caught up again. I'm pretty picky about buffets but the Garden Grove looks like it was well maintained and clean. I really enjoyed all of your pictures from your evening stroll.

Oh and I almost forgot...congrats on booking another trip! I know that you and Jo are super excited to be gonig at the same time.

Welcome back Lisa!! I was just thinking about you yesterday and wondering when you were getting back. How was it??? Was CBR as fabulous as always? How was the cruise? Did you love it? Did you stay at POR too? How was that? Come on, we want details!!!

The Garden Grove is very nice. I highly recommend it to anyone not on the DDP who wants to try something different.

Glad you are enjoying the pics.

Yes, Jodi and I are VERY excited about this upcoming trip!! She just might have gotten an awesome deal on airfare this morning herself!! But I'll let her tell you guys all about it!

 

[JoBird]

Sheesh. Can't a girl get her work out on?

Between the flights and texts and hysteria that is "us", I'm gonna gain a ton!

Which means more shopping.

Which means I'm happy.

Okay I'm good with that, carry on.




Congrats on your flight down so early in the morning! I'll be waiting at check in for you, at about, oh..... 10 am!!!!!


As for me--- I got round trip for the 5 of us for a grand total of... $1093! That's flying AT and choosing seats for the Red Head and the Master of Ceremonies, AKA...Mark. Us minions shall choose a seat at a later date.


All in all I am very happy b/c I was sure that we'd be paying around $1500.

Good luck to anyone trying to get their flights today!

 

[Soarin4Disney]

Just joining in. Loved your last TR so I'm sure I'll love this one too. Now to get caught up.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Sheesh. Can't a girl get her work out on?

Between the flights and texts and hysteria that is "us", I'm gonna gain a ton!

Which means more shopping.

Which means I'm happy.

Okay I'm good with that, carry on.




Congrats on your flight down so early in the morning! I'll be waiting at check in for you, at about, oh..... 10 am!!!!!


As for me--- I got round trip for the 5 of us for a grand total of... $1093! That's flying AT and choosing seats for the Red Head and the Master of Ceremonies, AKA...Mark. Us minions shall choose a seat at a later date.


All in all I am very happy b/c I was sure that we'd be paying around $1500.

Good luck to anyone trying to get their flights today!

I know. It's after 11:00 and I still haven't vacuumed the floor. And you know how bad that bothers me!! Especially after the weekend!

The dog thinks I am nuts after my little happy dance for the awesome flight down!!

10am at check in will be perfect!




You got a super awesome deal for 5 people and with picking 2 of your 5 seats!!


Okay, now what do we do for the next 6 months?

Just joining in. Loved your last TR so I'm sure I'll love this one too. Now to get caught up.

So happy to hear you enjoyed the last TR. Hope you like this one too!

There are links to all the updates on the first page, if you want to skip all the other chit-chat!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Wow, you two are getting the flight deals!! wish I could get rates like that from here. Never.gonna.happen.
We can't get $1000 for the four of us from here. If we did, I might actually get to fly to Fl! Although I will like having my car and all the stuff I can bring with me! I just wish we were about 12 hours closer!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Day 3: Monday April 30


After finally getting a decent nights sleep we were up around 7am to get our off-site day started! We got ready and left the BC around 8:00 and walked over to the Dolphin. We had rented a car from there for the day.

DS10 had no idea where we were going, but DS13 did!

As we walked by the SAB pool we noticed some guys doing some painting.

And after about a 10 minute walk we were at the Dolphin. I think that is the first time we have ever been inside there. Very nice and elegant.

We went up the escalator to the lobby and found the car rental desk. There were only 2 people working the desk and they both had someone, so we were next. Both people took forever. The one guy needed a complete step by step instruction on how to work the GPS. I didn't think we were ever going to get waited on. And the whole time DS10 was asking – where are we going???

Finally we got waited on and our whole transaction took about 5 minutes and we were headed out the front entrance of the Dolphin and getting our car. The valet asked us where we were headed, right in front of DS10. DH just stood there not knowing what to say and I quickly jumped in and said Celebration. We were actually going there, just not right now! So the guy then proceeded to tell us how to get to Celebration.

We loaded into the car and we were off! We got out of the Dolphin fine and onto the first road and then we needed to get on the highway heading west and we ended up heading east. The stupid GPS said to turn, so we did. Just too soon. We ended up going to the MK entrance. We told the guy at the booth that we were not going to MK and needed to get turned around. He was very nice and told us to head straight and then left at the Car Care Center sign and that would get us going the other direction. I thought for sure this was the first of many wrong turns we would take that day, but luckily it was the only one!

And pretty soon we saw this!

And then this!

And finally, this!!

Now that's one happy little boy!


Continued in next post.....

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Continued.....


*So I will warn you here – the next several posts will be all LegoLand. So if you don't care for Lego's or only want to read about WDW, feel free to skip this part! I promise there is LOTS more Disney to come!!

For those of you interested in LegoLand you can read a bit about it here in my PTR:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=44524622#post44524622


It took us about 30 minutes to get to LegoLand. It was a pretty easy to get to. Once we were headed the right direction that is! I was expecting the journey to be a little um....what's the word....prettier? But really once we got outside of the WDW area the surroundings weren't all that pretty. Just kind of plain and desolate. We were on this one stretch of road for awhile and it was just ugly junky touristy type stores and such. I expected to be taking pictures of beautiful Florida landscape all along the way, but I didn't take anymore until we got to LL.

Pretty soon we saw this!

We pulled into the parking lot around 9:30. They opened at 10:00. As we pulled up to the booth it dawned on me that apparently I hadn't told DH that we were going to have to pay to park. So he starts going on a rant about having to pay $12 to park. Good grief. He's going on about how it should be included in the price of admission instead of it being a separate charge. And I am saying something like – well what's the difference, we would have to pay it either way? DUH!! So I had to remind him that the kids were both getting in for FREE since I had gotten the online McDonald's special tickets: Buy one adult ticket, get one child ticket free!

So we get through that and head into the parking lot. Lots of empty spaces, but we weren't allowed to park in the lot closest to the park. Not sure why. It was still empty when we came out later. But we were in the second lot and only a few rows back. So we didn't have too far to walk.

We didn't expect to be able to enter yet since it was barely past 9:30, but we walked right in!

Up Next: More LegoLand