We didn't know we where in for Charley - Day 1

[classicpooh]

Traveling with a family of 5, DS ages 7 and 9, DD age 4...

Checked into the AKL around 2:00pm. Only one of the connecting rooms was ready. We had requested bunk beds but didn't get them... It turned out to be okay because we had a great location down giraffe trail, near the lobby and bus stop. After checking in had lunch @ the Mara. I was not impressed - thought that the food was overpriced and not the at good. I had the chicken pizza - yuck! We never went back to the Mara again!

The AKL lobby was so amazing, so beautiful. I loved just sitting in it, doing some people watching. After checking out the rest of the resort and seeing some animals it was off to EPCOT!

DS age 7 really wanted to ride Test Track, but getting the around 5:00 pm, there were no more Fast Passes and an hour wait. DH and the boys got in the single rider line, and I took DD to Spaceship Earth, which would have been fine to ride once, but we had to ride it 5 times in a row (no waiting). Finally met back up with DH, they had been on Test Track 3 times - waiting about 10 minutes each time in the single rider line. They had also gone over to ride mission space and loved it. DH took DD, she ended up playing in the fountain over by TT, getting soaked and getting a new outfit out of it, and then the boys and I went on Test Track again (single rider line) and Mission Space which only had a 5 minute wait.

We all met back up, went to Mexico, the kids and I rode the boat ride while DH grabbed the kids snacks. We then sat down and waited for Illuminations! DD was right up by the fence with the boys and when it started it was too loud for her and she started crying. She ended up being okay for the rest of it. The kids really enjoyed their short day @ EPCOT. After Illuminations it was a quick ride home on the AKL bus and to bed with the kids!

After putting the kids to bed, we started hearing about Charley...
To be continued!!

 

[tweetylori]

Ah HAH! The old "get wet, get new outfit scheme!" Better watch out for that girl, if she's this smart already!

 

[Minniespal]

Great report ~ Thanx for sharing.

 

[NMAmy]

Originally posted by tweetylori
Ah HAH! The old "get wet, get new outfit scheme!" Better watch out for that girl, if she's this smart already!

I had the same thought! She's a tricky one. Thanks for the report.

 

[katter24]

Well our trip started on Aug 6...we drove from Ontario to Florida....arrived in St. Augustine's around 5:30 Aug 7.....spent a couple of days there...really nice place.....left on Mon the 9th and went to Orlando and spent the night at the Quality Suites Maingate East....not bad but its not Disney....lol.....We then arrived at the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal.....That was the best....beautiful hotel ....nice pool, room was spacious.....and we got upgraded to concierge for $50 more....well worth it......2 minute walk to US and FOTL express was AMAZING......at first I couldn't stop looking at all the people that we were bypassing.....and then when I got over the shock I couldn't even look at them....it was 93 degrees and the line ups were 60 min. long....Thanks for the tips on the boards about showing your room key to CM at the Shrek 4 D ride....that did work.....We did 8 rides in just a little over 2 hours.....Spent 2 days at US then we went to Disney's Beach Club Villas....We didn't experience that great disney feeling at the FD....no one smiled and no one was friendly at all......we had a studio and the room was nice and spacious.....the villas are only attached to the main building by an outdoor walkway and when the hurricane hit we were stranded in the villas and couldn't get to the main building....didn't like that and wouldn't stay there again......All of our moments at all the parks were magical ..... There were lots of people...I was suprised at how busy it was.....the wait for Splash Mountain was 95 min one night.....you couldn't even fastpass that.....at the 3 o'clock parade at MK they only had half the snowglobes...it was disapointing to say the least....the wishes fireworks were great....Epcot was also good...my kids 13 and 15 loved the movie at the China pavillion....they both want to go there for a holiday....Spent one night at the Swan...great hotel beautiful pool....would stay there again....got a great rate at $139 a night.....I will stop now because it's getting too long ....but you know when your talking about disney you can go on and on and on.......

 

[sters]

Ha! My kids have the same addictive reaction to Spaceship Earth... we ALWAYS had to do that ride at least once before exiting the park. Sounds like a good start to your trip!