We aren't going to WDW every year!W/Pics & VIDEO link!!! 8/30 final thoughts!

[mickeysmyboy]

Here goes with my trip report! Hope everyone enjoys and you want to tag along for the ride!

Cast of Characters

Me, Melissa, 32, SAHM, planner extraordinaire, in love with Mickey since I was a kid

DH, John, 32 (turning 33 during our trip), civil engineer who owns his own company, willing participant in the trip, but closet disney nut

DD, Dorothy, 6 (turning 7 during our trip), our one and only princess! She love Cinderella, Jasmine, Tinker Bell and Hannah Montana. She IS TINKERBELL! Cute and sweet with all the sass!

DS, John, 5, the sweetest, most pure hearted little thing in the whole world! He is the essence of everything Walt wanted Mickey to be! I hope he stays that way forever!!

DS, Ryan, will be 9 months when we go. Funniest, happiest little baby every! Thinks everything his big brother does is hysterical and loves to flirt with women!

Also along FIL and MIL, SIL and her DH!

Day 1 Saturday, March 8th

Today started very early. Actually, the day before never really ended. My DS's didn't seem like they wanted to sleep. DS 5 ended up in bed with DH and I around midnight and then the baby woke up. DS 5 kept kissing me and saying "we're going to Disney World!" Yes, I was excited too, but I really wanted to sleep!UGH!

A little after 4 it was time to get up. We got ready and we out the door shortly before 5. It was raining and windy. But, we got to the airport with no problem around 5:30 and had a very easy check-in and trip through security. I got us some food and drinks to take on the plane and soon it was time to board! I got the babies carseat in the seat without any problem at all, I was worried it wouldn't fit or I wouldn't be able to get it in. Our take off and flight we're great. Both DS's slept almost the entire way! Our landing was very rough, to say the least. It was very windy in Orlando and we hit the runway with a huge bang! The lady behind me screamed! It was scary!

We got off the plane, got our luggage and called Happy Limo. They arrived at the parking spot shortly after we did and we were off to The Grand Floridian!!

We arrived at GF and a very nice women, Pat, came out to greet us. She started to talking to me and telling me things and all I could think was that I needed to go to the ladies room! Very, very, VERY badly! I apologized to her and explained to her that I need to use the ladies room and asked her were the nearest one was. She told me and off I went. When I went back outside she was coming into the building with the rest of my family. She proceeded to give a mini tour of the lobby and give us info on the resort. I thought it was a bit odd, Especially because we didn't stop at the desk. But, we continued on and through the main building and out the back. We walked along the path and toward the Sugar Loaf building. She commented that our rooms weren't ready but explained to us the how the key card will access the building doors. I asked her if this was our building as we approached the doors to Sugar Loaf. She said yes. I swore that Sugar Loaf was a concierge building. We had booked regular garden view rooms. We went into the building and into the lounge. Sure enough we had been upgraded to club level! It was a very magical surprise!

After our magical checkin it was off to MK! DD and DS were very excited to ride the monorail for the first time this trip!



I was sooooooooooooo excited to step onto Main Street for the first time and see the castle again!


DS got to pick the first ride this trip. Originally he wanted to go on the Barnstormer first but he changed his mind. He wanted to go on the Haunted Mansion. DH, myself and FIL took him while DD and the baby waited with MIL. We waited maybe 10 minutes the middle of the day on a Saturday, not bad! DS loved HM!!! He was a little unsure of the stretching room at first but got over it quickly! I haven't been on HM since my first trip in 1987! It definitely now my favorite ride!

After HM we were hungry. DH headed into Columbia Harbor House to get us some lunch. We wait 45 minutes for him to comeback!! I actually went to check on him. When we finally got our fries and chicken nuggets we were starving! After lunch we went to IASW. We waited 10 minutes and enjoyed our trip around the world! After that we went to PhilHarMagic. We just about walked in, we only waited long enough for the previous show to end. Maybe 5 minutes. I love PhilHarMagic!!

After PhilHarMagic it was getting late and we needed to get ready for dinner. We went back to GF and got our rooms. We were in Sugar Loaf 6221. MIL and FIL had a connecting room with ours 6223 and my SIL and her DH, who checked in earlier, were in 6225. We had a lovely view of the Marina and the Grand 1!

There where birthday suprises waiting for DD and DH It was a very magical welcome!


We quickly unpacked a bit and got ready for The Spirit of Aloha. The only problem was it was cold and windy!!! So much for the cute Hawaiian outfits I got the kids! They ended up covered up by their winter jackets!! The show was cute,



DS really liked the fire twirler



The food was ok. The guys, DH, FIL and BIL and really liked the ribs. I'm not sure if perhaps we would have enjoyed it more if it was warmer out. When we left the thermometer on the babies stroller said 42 degrees! It was warmer back in NY!!

We decided to skip going back to MK for SpectroMagic and Wishes so we could go back the rooms and get warm!!!

We had a wonderful and magical first day!! Everything was off to a great start!

Up next DD turns 7!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Today was a special day! DD turned 7! Her birthday would proved to be magical from start to finish!

Today started early. I wokeup a little after 5, laid there for a little while and got up and took a shower. By the time I had gotten myself ready DD was up and dressed and the baby was awake and in bed with DH. I got the baby dressed and we went down to the concierge lounge. I had a yummy latte, we watched a few cartoons, and DD got her birthday button from one of the concierges. Then we tried to take a walk. But, it was so cold out we could only walk from the back door of the building to the front! Hello!! We're in Florida! I thought we left the cold behind in NY! Our walk cut short, we went backup to the room.

DD and I had an 8 am ressie for breakfast at 1900 Park Fare. When we go there it wasn't open yet. So we pressed some pennies and waited in the lobby. We where able to go in about 8:05. Our table had a special placemat for DD, a birthday crown and some confetti! We got breakfast, DD got a cupcake for dessert!


The characters where a little slow to come out and I was a little affraid we'd have to leave before we got to see all of them. But, we were the first table they came to and got to see everyone. Pooh was first


and wrote Happy Birthday in DD's book.
Then came Tigger, Mary Poppins, Alice and the Mad Hatter!



We really enjoyed our breakfast here but we aren't big breakfast people. Next time we might try dinner.

Then it was off to MK for DD's 9:30 appt at BBB! When we got to the monorail station I asked to attendant if we could ride up front and I was told, of course, if it was open. When the monorail arrived no one was up front!! DD was very excited! We were only 2 people so two boys were able to ride with us. DD enjoyed her trip upfront, even if it was only for 1 stop.

She looks a little sleepy in the picture!

The view from the front is cool!


We got to MK a little bit after 9. We missed the opening by maybe 3 minutes! Oh well! We walked under the train station on the left hand side and a CM noticed DD's birthday pin and stopped us. She pixie dusted DD and traded pins with her. DD got a very cute pin from her, it's a little girl version of Mulan! DD loves it! We walked up Main Street and saw the Dapper Dan's, they sang Happy Birthday to DD!

She was in her glory! We walked around the castle, you couldn't go through, to get to BBB. Another CM noticed DD's birthday button and stopped her. She had DD make a birthday wish by placing pixie dust in her hands and having her blow it away as she made her wish!

It was very cute! DD made another pin trade with her for a Tink pin.

Then it was off to BBB! DD looked at the costumes while we waited and decided for sure on Jasmine as she had planned. Her Fairy Godmother in training was very nice, but not as full of personality as some of the others. She didn't have much to say and when she did say something she had a very heavy accent so it was difficult for DD to understand her. No matter, DD enjoyed herself! She looked beautiful and so grownup!



After DD was all princessy we headed to Tink Bell's Treasures to buy her a sweatshirt because it was still really chilly. This was my only encounter all week with a rude CM. She just seemed so bothered that she had to help us, ugh! Then we went down Main Street and DD got her picture taken. The pictures cameout very cute! DD really wanted ice cream so we stopped at the cart outside of the exposition hall to get her a Mickey Bar. The CM gave it to us for free because it was DD's birthday and because she was impressed DD was going to eat ice cream when it was soo chilly!

After the Mickey Bar we met up with the rest of the family.

DD wanted to ride IASW (again, we rode day 1 also) so the whole family headed to Fantasyland. We waited maybe 10 minutes and just about filled a boat with all 9 people! Then she wanted to ride Buzz Lightyear. So we headed to Tomorrowland. The park seemed really crowded but again we only waited between 5 and 10 minutes. MIL stayed with the baby and the rest of us took some shots at Zurg! After Buzz we headed to Carousel of Progress. The CM gave DD a YOMD Tink pin for her birthday! He was super nice!

After our spin around the past we were hungry! We headed to Cosmic Ray's. DH, myself, MIL, SIL and BIL all had chicken sandwiches and fries. It was very good! FIL had a giant hot dog, which he liked, and the kids had chicken nuggets and fries, which they enjoyed. After lunch SIL and BIL head back to their room, SIL was feeling a little under the weather.

The rest of the family headed to Toontown because DS was still going back and forth about weather he wanted to ride the Barnstormer. For the second day in a row he chickened out. So the kids played in the playground and MIL and I shopped in big shop, I can't remember the name of right now.

Then we decided to head back to GF for some rest! When we arrived in the room DD found a surprise waiting for her!

I was hoping for some towel animals but the Pluto, Chesire Cat, 2 towel animals and a card where such a wonderful surprise! We had a wonderful housekeeper!!


Up next, Princess Dorothy celebrates with Mickey and Friends and we take a magical cruise!

 

[happybratpack]

After PhilHarMagic it was getting late and we needed to get ready for dinner. We went back to GF and got our rooms. We were in Sugar Loaf 6221. MIL and FIL had a connecting room with ours 6223 and my SIL and her DH, who checked in earlier, were in 6225. We had a lovely view of the Marina and the Grand 1!

There where birthday suprises waiting for DD and DH It was a very magical welcome!

These are AWESOME!! I like your room view too.

Great start, looking forward to reading more!!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Link to my pretrippie for a little background info! And pictures of me with terrible, long hair

Enjoy!

 

[rebecca06261]

What a fantastic tr! What a magical experience being upgraded to the conceirge! I can't wait to read more!

 

[Marjol]

Great start, can't wait to read more!

 

[snowwhite325]

I love your TR It sounds like your daughter had a very magical birthday

 

[HonnyDipp]

I'm joining in!!!

 

[SereneOne]

subbed!

 

[jjk]

what a lovely birthday your daughter had

 

[mickeysmyboy]

These are AWESOME!! I like your room view too.

Great start, looking forward to reading more!!

Thanks! More to come real soon!

What a fantastic tr! What a magical experience being upgraded to the conceirge! I can't wait to read more!

I still can't believe we got that lucky!! I was so excited to actually be staying at GF and then to get that suprise

Great start, can't wait to read more!

Thanks!

I love your TR It sounds like your daughter had a very magical birthday

Thanks! She really did!! More to come on her birthday!

I'm joining in!!!

Thanks!

subbed!

Thanks!

what a lovely birthday your daughter had

Thanks! More to come....


More to come either toniht or tomorrow! Right now I have a crisis! I can't find my binder with my info for our big, huge trip in January and for the anniversary trip DH and I are taking! Do you think a spy from Universal or Six Flags snuck into my house and stole it?

 

[happybratpack]

It looks like she had a great birthday that she'll remember forever.

Her BBB pics are gorgeous!

 

[natale1980]

I am soooooo jealous!! Pass some of that upgrade pixie dust my way.

-nat

 

[tink1957]

What a magical bithday for your DD, it sounds lke you got alot of already. Can't wait to read about the rest.

 

[mickeysmyboy]

It looks like she had a great birthday that she'll remember forever.

Her BBB pics are gorgeous!

She REALLY had a magical birthday!! DH asked me "if this is her 7th birthday what are you gonna do when she turns 16?" I told him to start saving!!

I am soooooo jealous!! Pass some of that upgrade pixie dust my way.

-nat

I still, almost 4 months later, can't believe we got upgraded!!!!

What a magical bithday for your DD, it sounds lke you got alot of already. Can't wait to read about the rest.

We said so many magical experiences!! It was really a magical trip!!


More to come later today! I promise!!!!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

We interupt this trip report for breaking news! ​

1st, The lost Disney notebook has been located!

Whew! It was buried under the clothes I had folded earlier in the day!

2nd, I started my "Disney Draw" for our next trip. For those who don't know about a "disney Draw" it's the biggest draw in my dresser and as we get closer to a trip I remove everything in the draw and start using it for things for our trip! I put my very cute sequin Mickey Mouse bag that I bought on Ebay in it!!


3rd, I can make my ADR's for our January trip in 5 days

Now back to the report...

So, we hung out in our rooms for a little while and let kids play while the grownups enjoyed the balconies and some nice conversation.

Then we head to the Contemporary for DD's birthday dinner at Chef Mickey's!!

But not before my SIL snapped one of my favorite all time pictures!

I love it because it looks like DD is waiting for her prince to come! In all honesty I think she was looking to see if I was coming up the stairs behind her.

Then it off to the monorail station and a quick, 2 stop trip to the Contemporary. We went over to Chef Mickey's checked in, got our picture taken and were seated very quickly. I was very happy with our table. It was through the restaurant up the small flight of stairs near the back. I was concerned that we be seated to the left of the checkin area again, like last time. The inside is so cute I thought it was a better atmosphere for the kids and DD's birthday. We enjoyed our dinner, as we always do. We saw Mickey, the baby LOVED Mickey! Mickey spent a lot of time with him, it was so cute!! The memory of him meeting Mickey for the first time and the picture of him trying to eat Mickey's nose are something I'll cherish forever!





Then we saw Donald, Minnie, Pluto and Goofy.








After dinner DD's birthday cake was brought out with Pluto accompanying it!



The cake was delicious and the sugar pic of Tink and personalization where great!

After dinner when hung out at the Contemporary for awhile. We went to the new Fantasia store, DD loved the old one and the new one was just as good. She bought a Sharpay (from High School Musical) doll in a pink golf cart with some of her money. We had to have it shipped home because I didn't think we'd fit it in any luggage!

Soon it was time for our Magical Gatherings Magical Fireworks Cruise! We were put into a meeting room with a bunch of other people going on the cruise. There was coffee and hot chocolate, soda, water, snacks etc. They had decorated the room in a pirate theme. It was cute! But, we were a little put off by the fact there were tall tables but no chairs. No place to sit?! How could there be no place to sit? It was like 8:30 at night at Disney. Don't they realize that people have been on their feet for like 300 hours and want a seat! We followed along with other people and sat on the floor.

(from left to right, Me and Ryan, DH, FIL, DD, MIL)
We had some drinks and snacks and then Captain Hook and Mr Smee came in!

The kids enjoyed meeting them, especially DS! Then it was time to go down to the dock and board the boats!!

We had a great pirate for our cruise!!



He was hysterical!!! We had a lot of fun with the games etc. He sang Happy Birthday to DD, DH and a few other people on our boat. At one point he asked if anyone was celebrating an aniversary. DD spokeup that DH and I were going to celebrated our aniversary this month. He sang "Kiss the Girl" from The Little Mermaid to us and made DH kiss me! It was hilarious! I nearly wet my pants!!

We got to see the Electric Water Pageant from over by the Wilderness Lodge and then went into The Seven Seas Lagoon to get positioned for Wishes. It was spectacular!! I love Wishes!! Seeing it from out on the water getting the completely full effect was wonderful!!

Then it was back to the Contemporary. Peter Pan was waiting for us on the dock! We were the first ones off the boat because we had the seats in the front. DD and DS walked up the dock on either side of Peter Pan holding hands with him!!! Amazingly magical! Another memory I'll cherish forever! I get goosebumps just thinking about! Then it was time for a picture! We've never met Peter Pan before!!

You can see by the picture (the kids are wearing their winter jackets) that it was still very chilly! Hello again! It's Florida not Alaska!


After our wonderful cruise DH decided we should go back to MK for EMH! MIL and FIL took the baby back to GF to go to bed and SIL and BIL also called it a night. Myself, DH, DD and DS took the monorail around to MK. We met a really nice group of college kids from a SUNY (state university of New York) Oneonta. One of the girls in the group lived literally around the corner from the house I grew in in NJ!! Very cool!

We got to MK about 10:45. The park was empty! We walked over to Adventureland and literally right onto Pirates. There were only 2 other people in the boat with us. Adventureland was empty, it was actually a little scary. Like being in the park after closing or something and it was really dark! We decided to head for a different land. The kids wanted to ride Buzz again so we went to Tomorrowland.

Walking over the bridge from the hub into Tomorrowland DH commented "this place is awesome!" Ahhhh!! He keeps stepping further and further into the Disney side of things!

After Buzz we did Laugh Floor. I liked it. DH didn't think it was funny. I think that was because he was tired and it was like 12:30 in the morning. But, I could be wrong. I've heard so many mixed things about it.

After Laugh Floor we stopped for some ice cream and headed out, stopping to take a few pictures.





Main Street being so empty was cool! And we saw a couple get engaged in the middle of Main Street! It was so sweet with him down on 1 knee!

Then it was a monorail trip back to GF. We got back around 1:15 and right to sleep!


Up next, A Grand One suprise, A tour around the world, a pirate or a street performer and more magical illuminating experiences!

 

[jjk]

wow another amazing day,your cruise sounds like great fun and the pictures are great

ps glad you found your note book

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Day 3, Monday, March 10th

Today started off very well! We all slept late! Ryan, the baby, slept until 8:30! He's never slept that late! I was sooo happy! We all slowly got up when he got up. After showering and getting ready we went downstairs for breakfast about 10. But, the breakfast items in the concierge lounge had been taken away.

We went over to Gasparilla's and I got us a table outside, in view of the castle of course.



It was sooooo nice to sit there and on a beautiful morning and see the castle in front of me!! The boys and I waited at the table while DH and DD went into get breakfast. While I waited one of the GF marina CM's came over and asked if we were busy. I said no, just waiting on our breakfast. DH and DD came out while I was talking to him and he asked if DD and DS would like to wakeup the marina. He explained that the captain was asleep and someone needed to wake him up so the marina could open. DD said she would like to do it but DS was a little unsure. That was until he heard he got to blow a horn. DH took them with the marina CM to wake the marina. They got to go on the Grand 1! They each got a captains hat to keep and a wore a funny white beard and mustache, they looked adorable!



They each got a turn at blowing horn. DH said if the CM hadn't taken DS's hand off the horn he would still be blowing it! They got magical moments certificates and the CM took a picture of them and put it in a GF paper frame for them. It was a very cool thing for them to do and they had a lot of fun.

After breakfast we headed for Epcot,



and went straight to World Showcase. We saw Oh, Canada! and enjoyed the garden. Then we enjoyed a slow, leisurely stroll around the world. The kids enjoyed the Fun Stops, especially my artistic DD.

We saw the street show in the UK. One of the performers was our pirate from the previous nights Magical Fireworks Cruise! After that it was we wondered France a little, we skip the movie for some reason , and then onto Morocco. I really like the Morocco Pavilion! It's beautiful and the ambience is wonderful! Maybe next trip I can convince DH to eat at Marakesh. We did a little shopping, DS got a Fez and looked so cute in it!



DD and DS got to met Jasmine and Aladdin!! DD was super excited and Aladdin loved DS's fez! They were wearing the same hat!



After that it was onto Japan! We saw the drummers



and DD and MIL picked pearls for necklaces. DD got a beautiful 7 mm champagne colored pearl! The girl said the color isn't common and it's good luck to get one that color!

Next we stopped to get a snack outside the American Adventure and waited for the next show. We saw the voices of Liberty and then enjoyed the show!

In Germany DH and FIL got a beer while the kids did the fun stop and we did a little more shopping. I just love how the funs stops are inside shops DS decided to get a sword and shield with some of his money. He was ready to defend his family from any evil doer in Epcot that day!



The kids also got to met Dopey while we were in Germany, he was sooo cute!



We tired to go to the China Pavilion but the acrobats were performing when we got there and it was packed!! The little we saw of the show from the back was cool!

We pretty much skipped Norway because the kids didn't want to ride the Malestrom. So, onto Mexico! We walked right onto Gran Fiesta. It was ok but DS loved that Donald was so much a part of it. It smelled sooooo good inside the pavilion! I was starving and craving some good Mexican food by the time we left! We got to see Donald outside much to the kids delight.



Then MIL and I both indulged in Margaritas, which were very yummy, although a bit stronger then we expected!

We still had a little time to kill before dinner so DH and FIL took the kids to rest and enjoy the fountains while MIL and I did some shopping in Mousegear. Can you tell I love to shop? I also love Mousegear, so it was a good combo! When we were done shopping SIL and BIL had met up with DH and FIL and we headed to dinner!!


Up next, an Illuminating Dinner Experience!!

 

[tink1957]

Wow, the magic just keeps on happening for your family, what a wonderful day. Those pics are just too cute. I can't wait to read about the rest of your day.

 

[MAJ RN]

Really enjoying your trip report!! Your children are beautiful. Can't wait to read more about your stay.


Melissa