SandrainNC
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2004
- Messages
- 1,385
We drove down to Orlando on Thursday, Nov. 25 and got there about 12:00 noon (left at 1:00 a.m. from North Carolina). We checked in early at Hawthorn Suites LBV and then headed to Downtown Disney and ate at Rainforest Cafe, did some shopping and then went back to the hotel to go to bed.
We went to Discovery Cove on Friday (which I loved) and SeaWorld on Saturday (very nice but I get lost in that place). I love the dolphins.
On Sunday we went to Epcot and the lines were very manageable. We actually got there in time to see the characters open the park (the only time we did that). Then headed to Mission Space. My husband and brother in law were the only ones to ride. I don't do well on motion simulation type rides so didn't want to try it. They thought it was great. We then went to Test Track. We were having to baby swap on all of these rides so me, my sister and nephew went first. They had problems with the ride twice while we were in line. I think we probably waited 40 minutes total. By the time we got out it was completely down. My husband and brother in law came back that night with the baby swap pass and were able to ride it then. We ate dinner at Chefs de France. I think everyone enjoyed their meal (my son loved his fish filet). I ended up ordering macaroni and cheese and that was a mistake (not the best I've ever had, but ok). Dessert was great (chocolate mousse and coconut sorbet). Yum! We stayed and saw Illuminations for the first time and I really enjoyed it.
On Monday we went to MK (we also went back on Thursday so I will lump this all together). Monday was a little crowded at MK but Thursday was great. We road Stitch and I thought it was very cute. I know some people don't like it but I really enjoyed it. I had been on Alien Encounter before too (and thought it was very good), but I also enjoyed this. We did everything there except the Indy speedway. The wait was 30 minutes. We were going to ride it for my 3 year old because I knew he would like it, but he fell asleep so there was no point in waiting. We road Space Mountain a few times (my nephew road it 3 or 4 times total I think). Mickey's Philharmagic was excellent. I loved it! My little boy loved the Carousel, Dumbo, Peter Pan and Pooh (which we used Fastpass because of a 30 minute wait). We stayed for Spectromagic on Monday and then Wishes and we saw the 3:00 parade on Thursday. MK is always going to be my favorite I think.
On Tuesday we went to Animal Kingdom (which I had never been to before). Even though the crowds weren't very bad, we still didn't get to see everything. Dinosaur was awesome!! I road it twice. It had a 5 minute wait. We didn't get to go to conservation station (I think that's the name) by train so that was a disappointment to me. The lines for characters at Camp Minnie Mickey were long so we decided not to wait (we had 4 adults and one teenager so the only one getting autographs was my 3 year old and he didn't really know what I was doing anyway). I really enjoyed the Lion King show. Tarzan Rocks was not as good I didn't think, even though I missed the end because of a toddler bathroom emergency. I didn't think A Bug's Life was as good as I thought it was going to be. I look forward to going back to Animal Kingdom on our next trip. After we left AK we had dinner at Boma. My husband, brother in law and sister loved Boma. I am a pretty picky eater and was a little worried about it, but I did not leave hungry. I tried a lot of things, ate some of the kiddy menu food (spaghetti and macaroni) and then ate a lot of dessert. We will definitely go again but not every trip.
On Wednesday was MGM. We actually did get to this one at opening too but they didn't have characters like the other parks. We headed to TOT and RocknRoller Coaster. The waits were around 10 minutes for TOT and 5 for Rock N Roller Coaster. I loved Rock N Roller Coaster!! What a great ride. My nephew ended up riding this one 4 times as well throughout the day. We did everything we wanted to at this park except see the parade. We wanted to get in line for Playhouse Disney live so missed it. What a great little show. My son really enjoyed it I think. We tried to get lucky and get PS for 50s Primetime (ha ha - like that was going to happen) and couldn't get them until a little late for my son to eat, so we left and ate at Olive Garden.
Thursday after MK again, we headed to Downtown Disney and shopped a little and ate at Rainforest Cafe again (my sister and family weren't there yet the first time).
On Friday, my sister and family left that morning, so we headed to the Belz factory outlet for some Disney shopping and then to Downtown Disney for some more shopping. We had PS for Chef Mickey's at 6:00. We got there early and road the monorail around once. By the time we got back it was about time to check in. I loved Chef Mickey's! My son loved the characters. He did get a little frustrated at Minnie at one point because she kept messing with him, but the next two times she came around it was better. She just kept "kissing" him and he got mad. I love Chip and Dale and loved seeing them walking around. I have to say that Donald got mad at me I think.
We met him while we were waiting and I asked for his autograph. I handed him the book and the pen but didn't realize I gave him the pen upside down. He started pretending he was writing with the back of the pen and put his hand on his hips with a frustrated look (I know their faces stay the same but you could just tell). So I took the pen and turned it around and he started writing again, but I had forgotten to open the pen. So again with the hands on the hips. My husband looked at him and said something like, see what I have to put up with all of the time, I'm married to her. Donald shook his head and held out his hand and shook my husbands hand like he understood my husband's pain. It was so funny. I finally got the pen right and he signed the book. It was too funny. We will definitely do another character meal on our next visit.
The next day we left.
I can't wait until the next trip!!
Sandra
We went to Discovery Cove on Friday (which I loved) and SeaWorld on Saturday (very nice but I get lost in that place). I love the dolphins.
On Sunday we went to Epcot and the lines were very manageable. We actually got there in time to see the characters open the park (the only time we did that). Then headed to Mission Space. My husband and brother in law were the only ones to ride. I don't do well on motion simulation type rides so didn't want to try it. They thought it was great. We then went to Test Track. We were having to baby swap on all of these rides so me, my sister and nephew went first. They had problems with the ride twice while we were in line. I think we probably waited 40 minutes total. By the time we got out it was completely down. My husband and brother in law came back that night with the baby swap pass and were able to ride it then. We ate dinner at Chefs de France. I think everyone enjoyed their meal (my son loved his fish filet). I ended up ordering macaroni and cheese and that was a mistake (not the best I've ever had, but ok). Dessert was great (chocolate mousse and coconut sorbet). Yum! We stayed and saw Illuminations for the first time and I really enjoyed it.
On Monday we went to MK (we also went back on Thursday so I will lump this all together). Monday was a little crowded at MK but Thursday was great. We road Stitch and I thought it was very cute. I know some people don't like it but I really enjoyed it. I had been on Alien Encounter before too (and thought it was very good), but I also enjoyed this. We did everything there except the Indy speedway. The wait was 30 minutes. We were going to ride it for my 3 year old because I knew he would like it, but he fell asleep so there was no point in waiting. We road Space Mountain a few times (my nephew road it 3 or 4 times total I think). Mickey's Philharmagic was excellent. I loved it! My little boy loved the Carousel, Dumbo, Peter Pan and Pooh (which we used Fastpass because of a 30 minute wait). We stayed for Spectromagic on Monday and then Wishes and we saw the 3:00 parade on Thursday. MK is always going to be my favorite I think.
On Tuesday we went to Animal Kingdom (which I had never been to before). Even though the crowds weren't very bad, we still didn't get to see everything. Dinosaur was awesome!! I road it twice. It had a 5 minute wait. We didn't get to go to conservation station (I think that's the name) by train so that was a disappointment to me. The lines for characters at Camp Minnie Mickey were long so we decided not to wait (we had 4 adults and one teenager so the only one getting autographs was my 3 year old and he didn't really know what I was doing anyway). I really enjoyed the Lion King show. Tarzan Rocks was not as good I didn't think, even though I missed the end because of a toddler bathroom emergency. I didn't think A Bug's Life was as good as I thought it was going to be. I look forward to going back to Animal Kingdom on our next trip. After we left AK we had dinner at Boma. My husband, brother in law and sister loved Boma. I am a pretty picky eater and was a little worried about it, but I did not leave hungry. I tried a lot of things, ate some of the kiddy menu food (spaghetti and macaroni) and then ate a lot of dessert. We will definitely go again but not every trip.
On Wednesday was MGM. We actually did get to this one at opening too but they didn't have characters like the other parks. We headed to TOT and RocknRoller Coaster. The waits were around 10 minutes for TOT and 5 for Rock N Roller Coaster. I loved Rock N Roller Coaster!! What a great ride. My nephew ended up riding this one 4 times as well throughout the day. We did everything we wanted to at this park except see the parade. We wanted to get in line for Playhouse Disney live so missed it. What a great little show. My son really enjoyed it I think. We tried to get lucky and get PS for 50s Primetime (ha ha - like that was going to happen) and couldn't get them until a little late for my son to eat, so we left and ate at Olive Garden.
Thursday after MK again, we headed to Downtown Disney and shopped a little and ate at Rainforest Cafe again (my sister and family weren't there yet the first time).
On Friday, my sister and family left that morning, so we headed to the Belz factory outlet for some Disney shopping and then to Downtown Disney for some more shopping. We had PS for Chef Mickey's at 6:00. We got there early and road the monorail around once. By the time we got back it was about time to check in. I loved Chef Mickey's! My son loved the characters. He did get a little frustrated at Minnie at one point because she kept messing with him, but the next two times she came around it was better. She just kept "kissing" him and he got mad. I love Chip and Dale and loved seeing them walking around. I have to say that Donald got mad at me I think.
We met him while we were waiting and I asked for his autograph. I handed him the book and the pen but didn't realize I gave him the pen upside down. He started pretending he was writing with the back of the pen and put his hand on his hips with a frustrated look (I know their faces stay the same but you could just tell). So I took the pen and turned it around and he started writing again, but I had forgotten to open the pen. So again with the hands on the hips. My husband looked at him and said something like, see what I have to put up with all of the time, I'm married to her. Donald shook his head and held out his hand and shook my husbands hand like he understood my husband's pain. It was so funny. I finally got the pen right and he signed the book. It was too funny. We will definitely do another character meal on our next visit. The next day we left.
I can't wait until the next trip!!Sandra
