"Up where they stay all day in the sun"- A Trip to Art of Animation! COMPLETE 9.16!

[elleinad16]

Another trip? I'm so excited!

Hello, readers!

A little about ourselves:

Danielle - I am a Disney Store Cast Member and a 2011 Disney bride. Including this trip, I've been to Walt Disney World nine times, Disneyland three times, on Disney Cruise Line once, and to Disney's Vero Beach Resort once. I love writing about my Disney trips, so I'm ashamed that I did not start this sooner!

Chris - My husband and fellow Disney addict.

Basic Trip Information:

Dates: February 26th - March 1st, 2013

Resort: Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Pre-Trip Directory:
Details
Resort Room
Magical Express & Countdown #1
Dining Reservations
Itinerary
Weather Forecast
Limited Time Magic
Duffy the Disney Bear

LIVE Posts:
Me & Duffy in Little Mermaid Room

Trip Report Directory:
Day 1 : Part 1 - Check-in
Day 1 : Part 2 - Lunch & Exploring the Resort
Day 1 : Part 3 - Downtown Disney & Dinner at Splitsville with DISbrides

Day 2 : Part 1 - New Test Track
Day 2 : Part 2 - World Showcase Pavilions
Day 2 : Part 3 - Dinner at Le Cellier

Day 3 : Part 1 - New Fantasyland
Day 3 : Part 2 - Lunch at Be Our Guest
Day 3 : Part 3 - Rides with Lauren

Day 4 : Part 1 - Departure After Breakfast

Post Trip Directory:
Invoice Breakdown

___
Feel free to catch up on some of my previous trip reports, too!:
Danielle & Chris: 11-11-11 [Wedding Pavilion/Atlantic Dance Hall] Disney Wedding Trip Report
"So this is love" - A Honeymoon Trip Report
Let's Try Something New...Florida's Treasure Coast?: A Vero Beach TR!

 

[elleinad16]

So, this trip was booked pretty short-notice (About 50-ish days out). My side of the family is actually flying down to Florida to celebrate my niece's 7th birthday on March 3rd, but Chris and I managed to fit in a couple of Disney days in beforehand.

This will be my 9th trip to Walt Disney World, but my first time staying at Art of Animation and my first time seeing New Fantasyland! I'm so excited!

 

[elleinad16]

When we finally decided to book a couple nights at Disney, I immediately jumped on the Disney cast website to see what we could book. I was so happy to see that the new resort had availability! So, we are confirmed for 3 nights at Disney's Art of Animation Resort in a Little Mermaid - Standard Room. (Praying for a king bed, though.)

This will be my second time at a value resort, and Chris' first. I've stayed at POP Century in the past and enjoyed it, so I have high expectations for this stay.

 

[elleinad16]

Right at 30 days out, we received our Magical Express information!

And here is our current countdown, well one less in about 30 minutes!:

 

[happybelle]

I am reading along.

 

[mommytothreeboys]

Hey there! Just stopped in to read along!

 

[elleinad16]

I am reading along.

Thanks! Welcome!

Hey there! Just stopped in to read along!

Thank you for stopping by!

 

[elleinad16]

We're still unsure about a couple of our meals, but we're gonna just wing it. All of these plans are new restaurants for us, except Kona which is a repeat favorite.

2/26: Not sure if we are eating dinner at the Landscape of Flavors in our resort, but it might turn into Splitsville or Earl of Sandwich if we go to Downtown Disney.
2/27: Le Cellier Steakhouse for lunch
2/28: Attempting to walk-up to Be Our Guest for quick service lunch, but if it's crazy we'll just eat somewhere else.
3/1: Kona Cafe for breakfast

Any yummy recommendations for meals?

 

[elleinad16]

Hello, all!
Sorry for the lack of pre-trip report updates. I've been working on grad school essays, but now I'm finally finished!
Chris and I leave in 2 weeks so you can expect more posts from me soon.

In the meanwhile, here is our itinerary:

Tuesday, February 26th -

• Arrive at MCO at 10:50 am
• Check-in to Art of Animation!
• Downtown Disney to meet up with friends
• Splitsville(?)

Wednesday, February 27th -

• EPCOT day
• Le Cellier at 3:45 pm

Thursday, February 28th -

• Magic Kingdom day / New Fantasyland!
• Try to do lunch at Be Our Guest

Friday, March 1st -

• Check-out of Art of Animation
• Kona Cafe at 10:30 am
• Downtown Disney(?)
• Get picked up and drive to Tampa

 

[wiigirl]

I am in for this...keep the report and pic coming!

 

[mommytothreeboys]

We are going to try to do BOG for lunch as well...I'll be interested in how it works out for you!

 

[elleinad16]

I am in for this...keep the report and pic coming!

Will do! Once we're actually there I promise I will post more!

We are going to try to do BOG for lunch as well...I'll be interested in how it works out for you!

Thanks for joining! I will definitely relay our experience with you. Hopefully it works out!

 

[elleinad16]

Chris and I are 9 days out which means we're in the single digits, finally!

That also means I can start to track our weather forecast and start packing! I'm going to try and pack everything in just a duffel bag for a week, so we'll see how that goes.

And I need to print my admission tickets and try to check-in online before I forget. (Wouldn't let me a few days ago). I should go try to do that now.

 

[mommytothreeboys]

Yay for single digits!!

I love it when I can start checking the weather!

 

[elleinad16]

Yay for single digits!!

I love it when I can start checking the weather!

Only four days now!

 

[elleinad16]

So far, this is what the forecast is predicting:

Looks pretty good! Just wish it was going to be a little warmer, but I guess I can't complain since I'm going to be leaving snow behind.

I've started to pack some things. It's a little tricky having to pack for all occasions and all weather types. (I get chilly easily, so I'm gonna have to pack layers.)

 

[elleinad16]

Also, next week's Limited Time Magic was announced today! It's going to be the Dapper Dans : The "Original Boy Band" (February 25 to March 3, 2013). I have to say I'm still a little underwhelmed by this promotion, but this should be good fun. I'm going to have to go find them and listen.

 

[mommytothreeboys]

That forecast certainly looks better than whatever we're gonna be getting here in Western NY!

 

[elleinad16]

That forecast certainly looks better than whatever we're gonna be getting here in Western NY!

I agree. We've just gotten pounded with snow the past three weekends in a row...and I'm tired of it!

 

[elleinad16]

Recently, Duffy the Disney Bear made his debut in Disney Stores! He's not one of my favorite characters, but it's kind of exciting to know that we finally have some sort of park product in the store. Anyways, for those of you that don't know the story of Duffy this is an excerpt from the bedtime story that we are sharing with guests that come in the Disney Store.:

Mickey is a sea captain so naturally he spends a lot of time on the ocean. But sometimes he gets lonely being away from Minnie for so long. Minnie has a seaside workshop where she mass all sorts of crafts. One day she had an idea. She decided to make Mickey a teddy bear to keep him company on his long voyages. As she sewed, she thought about the fun adventures that she and Mickey had together, and she filled the bear with happy memories and love. When it was time for Mickey to set out on his next trip, Minnie came with him to the pier. She handed him a small duffel bag, and when he opened it, he discovered the adorable stuffed bear that Minnie had made him. Mickey was overjoyed. "This is the best going-away gift ever," Mickey exclaimed, and he gave Minnie a hug. "You can keep him in your duffel and take him with you wherever you go," she replied. "I will! And I think I will name him Duffy," Mickey decided. Together they traveled all over the world and visited many new and exciting places. And of course they made lots of friends along the way. They trekked through the jungle, rode a camel through the desert, and tried all different sorts of food (well Mickey did, anyway). And everywhere they went, Mickey and Duffy took pictures. When Mickey got home, he told Minnie and his friends about all his adventures with Duffy. It wasn't long before Mickey's friends began asking Minnie if they could have Duffys, too. They all wanted travel teddies who would make them feel love and keep them company during their journeys. Once Minnie's friends had Duffys of their own, they set off on trips with their little stuffed sidekicks. Pretty soon they began sending Minnie pictures of themselves hugging Duffy from locations far and wide.

Anyways, every cast member at my Disney Store decided to chip in a dollar to purchase our own communal store Duffy travel teddy. We are going to share him and take him on our vacations and take pictures of our adventures, just like Mickey did in his story. We even bought little clothes and sewed on a Disney Store logo onto his shirt. I am excited to say that Duffy will be joining me on this upcoming trip to Disney World! (and I'm the first to take him to WDW!)

Here's a picture of our Disney Store Duffy (with more to come!):