Sorry if this gets long, but I am a detail person.
It was our first trip and it was me(31), DH(34), my mother, DD (turned 7 while we were there) and DS (10).
We flew in on Monday and went to All Star Music and checked in. It was raining when we got there, but wasn't too heavy. After checking in we went to Downtown Disney and did some shopping. We ate that night at Fulton's. Food was okay, we were all definitely full. When we go back again DH and I figure that we will skip it, just wasn't too different than someplace here at home. Headed back to the hotel and did some swimming. We stayed in a family suite and we were in Calypso building 10. We liked the resort. We had plenty of room everything in our room. We were right next to the pool and just steps away from the food, and super close to the buses. The kids loved that this resort had all types of activities planned for kids, pool parties, bingo, movies, etc.
Tuesday morning I woke up to see fairly heavy rain. I could have cried. But then I figured that I was being a baby, we paid a ton for this vacation and were going to take advantage of everything. We got to MK for rope drop. The rain was jumping back and forth between a light sprinkle and heavy at times. We rode Pirates first, then DD got picture taken with Cinderella. We did everything that we wanted to with the exception of BTMR and SM early in the day. The kids LOVED Philharmagic. When the rains got pretty heavy again we headed out probably around 2pm hitting shops on the way out. The kids did so-so with the rain. On the way out we got into the spirit, stripped off our ponchos (well,the kids and I did) and our shoes, and jumped around in the water puddles and such. It was one of my favorite memories, and my DH got it on video.
Wednesday morning we went straight to Animal Kingdom. We got a few hours of sunshine, maybe till around 2 or so I think. We got lots of great pictures, my favorite being the photopass of the kids holding baby Simba. We were getting on KS when it started pouring, and I do mean pouring. I got pics of all the animals, including the rhino rolling in mud puddles and the elephants. The rain was not subsiding any, so we left around 3pm or so. I will say that the bus service back to the All Star resorts were horrible. It took forever for the buses to get there and we were almost always left standing. We went back to the room and changed our shorts, put on flip-flops and headed back to AK for EMH. Both children rode EE with us, TWICE! My husband loved that park, the buildings and the little touches here and there. We did everything that we wanted to do that day. It started to pour again really hard and we were soaked but having fun. We left when they closed.
Thursday was DD's 7th birthday. We went to Epcot and she chose the Birthday Fast Pass. We didn't really even need it because the crowds were nothing. The weather was awesome. We rode absolutely everything and then walked around the WS some. They loved the topiarys. DD got her picture taken with Princess Jasmine. We left there early because DD had a surprise apt at BBB at DD. We went back to the resort and changed quickly and headed out to the buses. The bus from DD was running late picking us up so I went in and asked a cast member if it was possible to call BBB to let them know we were running late. A few seconds later a supervisor came out and handed me a taxi voucher. I was floored. They paid for a taxi to take us to DD so that we wouldn't be late for our appt. It was just a small bit of the Disney magic we experienced while we were there. DD had her hair, nails and makeup done. It was funny to watch her afterwards walking around outside, she really thought she was something. Then we had dinner at T-Rex. Now, people had told us it was loud. And they were not kidding. It was very loud. But we loved it. The atmosphere was awesome, we sat across from the Ice Cave in the area that has the meteor showers. We ended up getting the Chocolate Extinction desert, and it was neat. DD looked at me after they sang to her, and said it was the coolest birthday ever with a huge grin on her face. That made it totally worth it. We got the Cheesestick appetizer and the sampler. Then the 3 of us adults got the steak, and omg it was super super tender and had an awesome flavor. We personally were very impressed with dinner. It will be a must do next time we go. It didn't start to rain that day until we were leaving DD, around 9pm or so.
Friday morning we transferred to Port Orleans Riverside. DH and DS got up early and headed over to HS to get started on Star Wars Weekend. Me, mom and DD had our luggage transferred then took a cab over to POR and checked in. I personally was not impressed with this resort at all, and the kids didn't care for it. There wasn't anything wrong with the resort, and everything was just as you would expect, it was just personal preference. We were in Alligator Bayou in building 39. Super far away from the better pool and way away from the food and check in. I guess we got spoiled being to so close when we stayed at AS Music. It was very pretty though, trees and foliage everywhere and animals and such. I got eaten up by bugs there though, my legs look horrible. We won't stay there again, unless we go without the kids. They just preferred the AS. We headed over to HS, and did everything we wanted to there as well. It was a nice day for the most part, we did get a heavy rain that started around 2 with tons of lightening and thunder. We did TOT,RRC, ST, and son was in Jedi Training Academy and Padawan Mind Challenge. We headed back to PO in the early evening, and the rain let up so we took the kids to EMH at Epcot. We did a few things that we hadn't originally worried about. Almost at closing DS and DH went walking by themselved and DD and sat on a bench near the water. She laid on my lap, nearly asleep and watching a bunny that was in the grass right next to us. And she told me how you can tell if it's a girl or a boy bunny, it's the shape of the tail and the ears just so you know.
That was my other favorite time.
Saturday morning we got up and went back to MK. The children did alot of running around and meeting characters and watching parades, which we didn't do the first day there. Ky met Snow White and Mary Poppins. We did Country Bear Jamboree, Splash Mountain and BTMR. After some shopping we left by 3 or 4. Mom took them back to POR to swim and DH and I went back to Epcot. We walked around WS just taking our time and getting little snacks from every country. DH had quite a few beers, which made it that much more fun. When my DH is belly dancing like a woman in Morroco, you know he's a bit tipsy. Almost all the way around the Showcase it commenced to pouring again and we took our time leaving.
Sunday morning we flew home. I packed my ID in my check in baggage and it was sent to the airport. I had to go thru extra security because of no ID, but that only took a total of about an extra 3 minutes.
Oh, and DD and I did the pick a pearl in Japan, and it was fun. We both ended up with 8mm pearls. Even with the rain, and my initial temper tantrum from the weather, we had a blast. One lady at the resort was telling a group of us that it was the worst vacation she ever had and would not be back, that she hated it there. Some of us tried to explain that it certainly wasn't DW's fault that it rained the way it did, and it really just is a state of mind. We turned into kids again, with our kids, and had fun soaking wet riding rides and jumping in puddles. It really is what you want to make it.
It was our first trip and it was me(31), DH(34), my mother, DD (turned 7 while we were there) and DS (10).We flew in on Monday and went to All Star Music and checked in. It was raining when we got there, but wasn't too heavy. After checking in we went to Downtown Disney and did some shopping. We ate that night at Fulton's. Food was okay, we were all definitely full. When we go back again DH and I figure that we will skip it, just wasn't too different than someplace here at home. Headed back to the hotel and did some swimming. We stayed in a family suite and we were in Calypso building 10. We liked the resort. We had plenty of room everything in our room. We were right next to the pool and just steps away from the food, and super close to the buses. The kids loved that this resort had all types of activities planned for kids, pool parties, bingo, movies, etc.
Tuesday morning I woke up to see fairly heavy rain. I could have cried. But then I figured that I was being a baby, we paid a ton for this vacation and were going to take advantage of everything. We got to MK for rope drop. The rain was jumping back and forth between a light sprinkle and heavy at times. We rode Pirates first, then DD got picture taken with Cinderella. We did everything that we wanted to with the exception of BTMR and SM early in the day. The kids LOVED Philharmagic. When the rains got pretty heavy again we headed out probably around 2pm hitting shops on the way out. The kids did so-so with the rain. On the way out we got into the spirit, stripped off our ponchos (well,the kids and I did) and our shoes, and jumped around in the water puddles and such. It was one of my favorite memories, and my DH got it on video.
Wednesday morning we went straight to Animal Kingdom. We got a few hours of sunshine, maybe till around 2 or so I think. We got lots of great pictures, my favorite being the photopass of the kids holding baby Simba. We were getting on KS when it started pouring, and I do mean pouring. I got pics of all the animals, including the rhino rolling in mud puddles and the elephants. The rain was not subsiding any, so we left around 3pm or so. I will say that the bus service back to the All Star resorts were horrible. It took forever for the buses to get there and we were almost always left standing. We went back to the room and changed our shorts, put on flip-flops and headed back to AK for EMH. Both children rode EE with us, TWICE! My husband loved that park, the buildings and the little touches here and there. We did everything that we wanted to do that day. It started to pour again really hard and we were soaked but having fun. We left when they closed.
Thursday was DD's 7th birthday. We went to Epcot and she chose the Birthday Fast Pass. We didn't really even need it because the crowds were nothing. The weather was awesome. We rode absolutely everything and then walked around the WS some. They loved the topiarys. DD got her picture taken with Princess Jasmine. We left there early because DD had a surprise apt at BBB at DD. We went back to the resort and changed quickly and headed out to the buses. The bus from DD was running late picking us up so I went in and asked a cast member if it was possible to call BBB to let them know we were running late. A few seconds later a supervisor came out and handed me a taxi voucher. I was floored. They paid for a taxi to take us to DD so that we wouldn't be late for our appt. It was just a small bit of the Disney magic we experienced while we were there. DD had her hair, nails and makeup done. It was funny to watch her afterwards walking around outside, she really thought she was something. Then we had dinner at T-Rex. Now, people had told us it was loud. And they were not kidding. It was very loud. But we loved it. The atmosphere was awesome, we sat across from the Ice Cave in the area that has the meteor showers. We ended up getting the Chocolate Extinction desert, and it was neat. DD looked at me after they sang to her, and said it was the coolest birthday ever with a huge grin on her face. That made it totally worth it. We got the Cheesestick appetizer and the sampler. Then the 3 of us adults got the steak, and omg it was super super tender and had an awesome flavor. We personally were very impressed with dinner. It will be a must do next time we go. It didn't start to rain that day until we were leaving DD, around 9pm or so.
Friday morning we transferred to Port Orleans Riverside. DH and DS got up early and headed over to HS to get started on Star Wars Weekend. Me, mom and DD had our luggage transferred then took a cab over to POR and checked in. I personally was not impressed with this resort at all, and the kids didn't care for it. There wasn't anything wrong with the resort, and everything was just as you would expect, it was just personal preference. We were in Alligator Bayou in building 39. Super far away from the better pool and way away from the food and check in. I guess we got spoiled being to so close when we stayed at AS Music. It was very pretty though, trees and foliage everywhere and animals and such. I got eaten up by bugs there though, my legs look horrible. We won't stay there again, unless we go without the kids. They just preferred the AS. We headed over to HS, and did everything we wanted to there as well. It was a nice day for the most part, we did get a heavy rain that started around 2 with tons of lightening and thunder. We did TOT,RRC, ST, and son was in Jedi Training Academy and Padawan Mind Challenge. We headed back to PO in the early evening, and the rain let up so we took the kids to EMH at Epcot. We did a few things that we hadn't originally worried about. Almost at closing DS and DH went walking by themselved and DD and sat on a bench near the water. She laid on my lap, nearly asleep and watching a bunny that was in the grass right next to us. And she told me how you can tell if it's a girl or a boy bunny, it's the shape of the tail and the ears just so you know.
That was my other favorite time.Saturday morning we got up and went back to MK. The children did alot of running around and meeting characters and watching parades, which we didn't do the first day there. Ky met Snow White and Mary Poppins. We did Country Bear Jamboree, Splash Mountain and BTMR. After some shopping we left by 3 or 4. Mom took them back to POR to swim and DH and I went back to Epcot. We walked around WS just taking our time and getting little snacks from every country. DH had quite a few beers, which made it that much more fun. When my DH is belly dancing like a woman in Morroco, you know he's a bit tipsy. Almost all the way around the Showcase it commenced to pouring again and we took our time leaving.
Sunday morning we flew home. I packed my ID in my check in baggage and it was sent to the airport. I had to go thru extra security because of no ID, but that only took a total of about an extra 3 minutes.
Oh, and DD and I did the pick a pearl in Japan, and it was fun. We both ended up with 8mm pearls. Even with the rain, and my initial temper tantrum from the weather, we had a blast. One lady at the resort was telling a group of us that it was the worst vacation she ever had and would not be back, that she hated it there. Some of us tried to explain that it certainly wasn't DW's fault that it rained the way it did, and it really just is a state of mind. We turned into kids again, with our kids, and had fun soaking wet riding rides and jumping in puddles. It really is what you want to make it.
to the DIS!
