We made it Disney without our kids! A June/July Trip Report!-COMPLETED!

[Diamondintheruff]

It's always a dispointment to arrive at WDW and not have the sun shinning. I'm hoping for better weather for you later. At least you all made the best of it.

Yay for a room view upgrade!

I remember how worried you were about your choice of the contemporary. I'm glad you felt good about it after all. Might I add I love the vera bag!

 

[shellywalker]

After we got all our things settled into our room and I of course took pictures, we decided we were starving! We hadn't eaten since like 7 that morning and it was now 2! I might waste away We thought about our plans to head to HS, but since we had cancelled our ADR at 50's, we decided to head to Epcot for some Sunshine Season's! We headed directly for the pavillion to eat!

I had the chicken with carrots and mashed potatoes and Strawberry Shortcake for dessert!

DH had a sandwich and some orange thingy for dessert! My food was VERY good. Probably the best Strawberry shortcake I have ever eaten! DH said his food was also very delicious!

After eating, we headed over to The Seas w/ Nemo and Friends!

We worked our way back over to Future World and got in line for Test Track. The sign said the wait was 20 minutes...we actually waited closer to 1.5 hours I couldn't believe it...I was highly irritated! Oh well...we got on the ride, and it was totally worth it! Alex busted me messaging Kindra while in line!

After leaving Test Track, we wandered around World Showcase for the remainder of the afternoon!

While walking around the WS we stopped for an egg roll, stopped and listened to a few songs at "Slippery When Wet" show! We were gearing up for our big night at MK!!!

 

[shellywalker]

When we left Epcot, the skies were starting to really clear up! It was pretty muggy outside! We hopped on the Monorail to the TTC and then got on the Ferry over to MK! We opted out of stopping back at the resort and just went straight there! I could hardly wait!!!

Some pictures of the boat ride over!

We're finally here!!!

When we got there, we walked up Main Street and headed straight over to Adventureland! We hit POC, The Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion...and I think that's it that night! We grabbed something to eat at Peco's I believe! I ended up having a HUGE migraine that night so we headed back to the resort...only to catch Wishes traffic It took us quite awhile to get out of the park!

We took the walkway back to the CR and it was a beautiful walk! I had to laugh as I was watching ALL those people standing in line at the bus stations! At this point, I could not have been more thrilled about my choice of resort! Up next...MY 26TH BIRTHDAY

 

[shellywalker]

It's always a dispointment to arrive at WDW and not have the sun shinning. I'm hoping for better weather for you later. At least you all made the best of it.

Yay for a room view upgrade!

I remember how worried you were about your choice of the contemporary. I'm glad you felt good about it after all. Might I add I love the vera bag!

I was so pumped about the room upgrade! Not only was it a view upgrade...but a building! We were supposed to be in the Garden Wing! What an awesome Birthday surprise! I really couldn't have loved that resort anymore. It's probably not somewhere I would stay with my kids, the pool area is not that great! But for us, it was perfect! I think were going to be MK resort snobs now!

 

[shellywalker]

Today is my 26th Birthday! I was so excited, today we would be going to Chef Mickey's, MK, Liberty Tree Tavern, HS, and Cali Grill!

When we went to bed the night before, DH had told me he set his alarm for the next morning to make our ADR at Chef Mickey's at 7:00AM! He did set his alarm, but what he forgot to do was change the time zone on his Blackberry! So we ended up getting up at like 7:04...rushed to get dressed and downstairs at 7:20! Thankfully they still seated us! We waited maybe 5 minutes...went and had our picture taken with the new Chef Mickey Statue, and were taken to our table! Our table was the very first table on the right side by the buffet! Last time we were up near the windows in the back...which I think I liked more! I felt a little bit away from the party! The food was delicious as always and the characters were also amazing!

We finished up breakfast and headed back to the room for showers and getting ready to head over to the MK, where I would recieve my Birthday gift card! YIPPEE!

 

[shellywalker]

When I last left off, we were leaving CM's and heading back to the room to shower! I forgot to mention that as we were heading out of MK that night prior a group of about
10 CM's stopped me and sang Happy Birthday to me! Oh how very special!

After our showers and getting ready, we headed for the Monorail to take us to MK! Now we have never stayed in any Disney resort before, muchless a monorail resort, so we didn't exactly know what we were doing! We hopped in line and the CM walked up to me and handed me a cordless phone, he didn't say a word to me, just handed me the phone! I put it up to my ear and it was MICKEY singing Happy Birthday to me! I couldn't believe the attention to detail from the CM's this trip! We hopped on the monorail, took it to The Poly, then the GF and finally to MK! I was so pumped to be here today on my birthday! We hopped in line at the Guest Services Kiosk to get my Birthday Gift Card! We waited in line probably 5 minutes as there were a few people in front of us! When we got to the window I gave her my certificate I had printed online before we left and she asked if I had park tickets already and I said yes, she asked for ID and my ticket and that was that! It took 2 minutes, no problems at all! We hopped into line to get into the park! I don't really recall, nor did I write down what we did once we got in though! Ooops! From my pictures, it looks like we headed over to Tommorowland. I think we went on Buzz and grabbed fast passes to return later on!

I think after we rode Buzz and I for the life of me can't remember what else we did! I think we headed down Main Street to find a bathroom and have a snack at the bakery! DH and I got a Cinnamon Roll to share! While eating I could hear the new parade coming, so I quick ran outside!

We caught the restrooms next to the fire station, which by the way, I never knew there was a store there For those of you that may have a signifacant other that is a fire fighter and you are also a disney lover, this store is like striking gold! SO much cute stuff in there! We ended up buying a firefighter Mickey and Donald for DS, a cute little stationary kit for DD, a Picture of a FF holding Mickey's hand for DS bedroom! I can't wait to go back in there! My DD is going to LOVE that store! We then Made our way back up Main Street and caught the Dream Along show!

 

[shellywalker]

Continued from previous post...

After the show, we took the path that goes behind the castle back into Fantasyland! We watched Philarmagic and then headed to lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern!

The next picture is of the creation my DD made for me! When we were seated, there was confetti all over the table and so he made this!

DH had some sort of Penne dish...he said it was very good! I had the bacon cheeseburger, also very good! We both had the Orange dreamsicle drink that was AWESOME, but filling! And for dessert, I got the brownie and he had something I can't remember! We got them to go...and never ate them! Ha!

After lunch, we headed back to the resort to drop off our desserts, and then headed to Epcot on the Monorail, to catch a boat to take us to DHS!

I happen to share a Birthday with Canada and also one of my bff's lives in Canada, so I stopped to take this along the way!

After a monorail ride, and long boat ride through the boardwalk area later...we arrived at DHS!

We made our way over to TOT and RNRC and the wait times were SUPER long! So we opted to not go. I really did not want to spend the next 4 hours waiting in line for 2 rides! We basically aimlessly walked around and tried to get on whatever didn't have a long line...which only included The Backlot Tour!

After we got off the Tram, I was fairly upset that we had wasted so much time at DHS! We headed back to the resort to get ready for dinner and shop! Our reservations were for 8:00PM at Cali Grill! I was more excited for this ADR than anyother one! When we went back to the room, we napped...or tried to at least! We explored the resort and I started getting a headache...for the 2nd day in a row! I took some Tylenol and started drinking water...in hopes it would go away! We headed up to Cali Grill around 7:30...so we could have drinks at the bar. At this point, my headache was a full blown migraine! I ordered nothing at the bar, and DH ordered a martini of some sort! We were seated about 2 minutes after DH got his drink! While walking to the table the hostess was VERY nice! She wished me a Happy Birthday and told me she had the best table in the restaraunt for me I was so excited...and still had the worst headache of all time! The sun was setting over the GF and you could see the castle perfectly! I asked to DH for the camera, as he had been carrying it in his pocket all day...HE DIDN'T HAVE IT! I couldn't have been more disappointed! I then remembered he was taking stupid pictures of me in the room, and I snagged it from him...and set it down...and he never got it back There for, I have not one single picture from our amazing dinner with the best view in the house at Cali Grill! I will say, even though I was so sick I wanted to puke the food was awesome! We each ordered a salad, and the tenderloin and I have no idea what we ordered for dessert! But the food was so good! Wishes was scheduled to start 10...and while we could have used our receipt to get back up there to watch...I opted for the bed! Back to the hotel room I went...and was sound asleep in minutes!

Up next...AK, DTD and our last evening at MK!

 

[shordiebecka]

That stinks that you couldn't get pictures! memories last way longer than pictures anyways...sorry to hear about your migraines..i have a theory that something in the water down there gives people headaches and upset stomachs..did you notice the water being gross and smelling like sulfur? Up in CT everyone who comes says our water tastes like cholorine..who knows! Anyways, can't wait to hear more!

 

[shellywalker]

That stinks that you couldn't get pictures! memories last way longer than pictures anyways...sorry to hear about your migraines..i have a theory that something in the water down there gives people headaches and upset stomachs..did you notice the water being gross and smelling like sulfur? Up in CT everyone who comes says our water tastes like cholorine..who knows! Anyways, can't wait to hear more!

I guess it just means we have to go back! I'm trying to convince DH for December, but he doesn't think it's really a place to go with kids! Even though EVERYONE else takes their kids up there!

I honestly didn't drink any tap water down there...just bottled! But man. By day 2, and feeling like I was going to die...I was getting pretty upset!

 

[shellywalker]

When I last left off, it was our last day at Disney World Our plans were to head to AK for most of the day, then DTD for a bit and lastly MK! We had no ADR's this day, so it was a free for all! (I had cancelled our Tusker House and Narcoossees ADR's the day prior) We were up and down at the bus stop fairly early! We waited probably 20 minutes before an Animal Kingdom bus arrived! Of course we were the first pick up, so we had to stop at other locations before we were off to AK! I would say we were on the bus for a good half hour! YUCK! We got to AK and headed straight back to the safari! We grabbed fast passes and had a little time to kill, so we hopped onto Rafiki's Train!

Now, last time we were at AK in October, we were with some friends whom had been there before. So we just kind of followed their lead! After leaving AK, I was shocked at how "small" I thought the park was! We had done the safari with them, saw The Lion King, and basically did all Character Spots! I had NO idea about the entire other 3/4 of a park!!!!!

We starting heading back to take the train back to the "mainland", and when we hopped in line, we saw an enormous amount of people waiting in line! We had fastpasses to use at the safari! Turns out the train was delayed as they couldn't get the voice recording to work! Are you kidding me people...it's 90 outside...no one cares about the recording at this point! We finally made it back and headed to the safari!

After the safari we headed over to find EE! We hopped in line and stood there motionless for about 20 minutes, when we decided we would hop in the single riders line! We were more interested in riding the ride than riding with eachother! So after about 20 minutes, we were on the ride!

We then headed toward Kali River Rapids...I was pumped for this, as it was super hot outside! As we were stepping into the 60 minute standby line some VERY nice people offered us the 2 fastpasses they had good for that very exact moment! So instead, we waited 10 minutes-ish! We got onto our raft and some of the group wanted to get wet and the others didn't! The CM pointed right at us and told us we would get the most soaked out of everyone! And he was NOT kidding! I was drenched, head to toe when we got off the ride! At this point, we were hungry and nothing at AK sounded appetizing...so we headed for the bus stop to get to DTD! I did remember that there wasn't a bus from the parks to DTD, so we hopped on Old Key West and then DTD from there! I swear when you take buses, you spend most of your day traveling! This bothered me...and made me decide I would never ride a Disney bus again! We got to DTD and headed straight for EOS! YUMMO! I ordered the BLT and fruit cup...and have no idea what DH ordered After we ate, we headed to all the stores in the Marketplace to do some shopping! We bought mostly stuff for the kids, shirts, dresses, earrings, necklace, buses, minnie babies, potatoe heads! All good stuff! I also bought a box of mac and cheese and mickey noodles! After we were done here...we headed back to the resort to change and head out to MK!!!

 

[shordiebecka]

When are you going in December? I got a bounceback offer for the beach club and booked for december 14-18 with my mom & one of my best friends...I am so excited to go around that time of year!

Disney transportation wasted alot of time for us to this year, but i dont have the money to rent a car, so we opted out of it this time. I feel like we spent more time on the busses than in the actual parks!

 

[shellywalker]

When are you going in December? I got a bounceback offer for the beach club and booked for december 14-18 with my mom & one of my best friends...I am so excited to go around that time of year!

Disney transportation wasted alot of time for us to this year, but i dont have the money to rent a car, so we opted out of it this time. I feel like we spent more time on the busses than in the actual parks!

Ughhh...I want a bounce back...except we couldn't book while we were there anyways, so that wouldn't have helped much! We'll be there Dec 14th-20th! Yay! We decided on the Poly...but I have since questioned that decision! Like always! We are driving down...it's way more convenient with all the stuff we have to bring for the kids! But I agree...more time on busses than in the parks! Even though we hardly took the busses!

 

[shellywalker]

When we got back to our room, we were both still soaking wet, so we changed our clothes and headed out to MK!

We needed to stop at the Photopass building to get our free 5X7 photo...so we did that first! We casually strolled up Main Street checking out the stores and what not! I know we did Haunted Mansion again this night and probably It's a Small World! I'm not sure that we rode too many rides! We wanted to get a bite to eat and enjoy the scenery on our last night in MK!

We shared a basket of chicken nuggets and french fries from Cosmic Rays, watched Spectro, and got to see Wishes! It was a beautiful ending to our very amazing vacation!

We walked a slow walk back down Main Street, doing lots of shopping again! Once we finally made our way out of the park, we took the walkway back to CR! When we got there, we used up the rest of our TS credits and ordered some Pizza! It was actually pretty good!

The next morning, we headed down to The Contempo Cafe to eat some breakfast. We both just got some cereal and juice and milk as we would be flying and didn't want to eat a heavy breakfast! ME was picking us up around 8:50 or something like that! We had a wonderful vacation! Here are some pictures I took off our balcony the morning we left! I hope you enjoyed the report!

 

[shordiebecka]

I'm so happy you guys had a good trip. It's cool we will be there at the same time! Am I sensing a future DIS meet up? I am so excited to go around that time of year. I can't wait till the hours come out!!!

So what is your verdict on the contemporary? Not good for kids, but good for adults?

 

[shellywalker]

I'm so happy you guys had a good trip. It's cool we will be there at the same time! Am I sensing a future DIS meet up? I am so excited to go around that time of year. I can't wait till the hours come out!!!

So what is your verdict on the contemporary? Not good for kids, but good for adults?

I'm so very excited to go this time of year too! It's going to be soooo pretty! Are you planning on doing MVMCP? A DIS meet would be awesome!!!! I want the hours out so badly! My ADR date is right when the hours come out...and I need a few days to organize my times for ADR's and stuff! September will be a stressful for me

I loved the Contemporary! I mean you could walk to MK...what's not to love about that!?!?!?! I wouldn't say it was a BAD resort for kids...the arcade was nice, Chef Mickey's is right there...but it is more "upscale". We never even walked over to the pool...just looked at it from our room, but it didn't look even close to as nice as the other pools I've seen at some of the resorts! Depending on the time of year I guess...if we won't be swimming...I would stay there with my kids!

 

[Diamondintheruff]

I'm finally caught up.

I just hate it when I feel sick on vacation. Glad you were able to appreciate the cali grill even through the migraine. I don't know if I could have stuck it out myself.

I think you and the kids will love the Poly. I know my kids would love to stay there one day.

The buses are a necessary evil at Disney for us. We just try to avoid the busy times (like after parades/fireworks). However, I have been known to take a taxi to Downtown Disney. A couple of taxi rides are still cheaper than renting a car.

 

[shellywalker]

I'm finally caught up.

I just hate it when I feel sick on vacation. Glad you were able to appreciate the cali grill even through the migraine. I don't know if I could have stuck it out myself.

I think you and the kids will love the Poly. I know my kids would love to stay there one day.

The buses are a necessary evil at Disney for us. We just try to avoid the busy times (like after parades/fireworks). However, I have been known to take a taxi to Downtown Disney. A couple of taxi rides are still cheaper than renting a car.

I really wish that I felt better for that meal...so much so as I want to try it again! There was a couple sitting next to us and the woman was non stop complaining about her childhood and trips to Disney when she was a kid! Her DH was able to get a big present while he was in Disney and when she was little she was only able to get a bunch of little stuff. And how much she hated her parents because of it! WOW! Can we say ungrateful??? I wanted to lean over and give her my piece of mind! I was SO excited when they got up and left!!!!!! I'm having so many issues with the resort picking again. DH says we can stay at Poly...DH says whatever I want for this vacation is a go! But I can't seem to get over a $2000.00 difference between staying at the Poly or at CBR! UGH! I love the convenience of the monorail, honestly that was the best part about our last trip...and I don't think I'm ready to give it up As for the busses...we're driving this time, so we won't have to take them...but only because driving is so much easier with a less than toddler with us...and all the stuff we have to bring for him! But honestly, if we were flying...we wouldn't rent a car and busses would be a necessary evil for us too! It's convenient...it's just a little slow!

 

[shordiebecka]

soooo when are you starting a PTR for your December trip?

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Hi! I followed you over here from shordiebecka's TR. I saw that you are going in Dec, also. I'm hoping you are going to do another PTR so I can follow! I'm enjoying reading what other Dec. travelers are planning! Oh! And, your children are absolutely beautiful!

 

[shellywalker]

soooo when are you starting a PTR for your December trip?

I wasn't sure if I was going to do one...because I had like three readers last time. But maybe I'll start one anyways...to entertain you three people