Welcome, Foolish Muggles! IoA/US/MK/SW *July 2013 Trip Report Link*

[natebenma]

Quick checkin. Day 1 done. Magic kingdom swimand pool break then some of us closed down Epcot emh. Definitely a different type of trip for me. Today we have a class at Hollywood studios. Probably mk tonight. Our group is way too large. 14 kids. We do have 6 chaperones but it is impossible to move that many efficiently!

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Gosh Dee I cant imagine trying to move 20 of you around in a group! Hopefully they will let you split into smaller groups today! Cant wait to hear more

 

[HockeyMomR]

Oh Dee -try to enjoy. That is a lot of teenagers at once. Perhaps your reward should be a mom's only trip. I hear BC is a nice place to stay

 

[natebenma]

I'll reply to the last two posts later today or tomorrow.

Waiting for the magical depress. Should be back home this evening around 4 or 5.

Different trip for me. Some highs and lows. But overall a good time.

Would I ever do this again?

Check back in 3 years!!!

:

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Wow that was one quick trip!!
Did you leave Mon.?
That was a big group but I'm sure you managed
Can't wait to hear all about it.

 

[DrMomof3]

Wow! That trip went quickly!
Can't wait to hear the recap.

Amanda

 

[natebenma]

I'll get back to replies later, but I have been busy... starting my trip report:


145 Middle Schoolers: Wicked Awesome or Epic Fail???


.

 

[natebenma]

Replies, as promised.

I think I will put this little side report for Atlantis on hiatus for a bit while I recoup and recap the 8th Grade Class Trip to Disney.

You can read all about it by clicking on the link in my signature.

Have a wonderful trip Dee.
Cannot wait to hear all about it.

Q

Thanks! It was definitely a different trip than the ones I am used to.

Love "walking" around Atlantis with you!

Hope you have a great trip with all the kids! Can't wait to hear all about it!

I'm glad you have enjoyed the Atlantis report. Hope I can keep you entertained with stories from our Disney trip.

Wow I haven't been here in a while!
Love all the pics!!! Why can't teenage boys be more cooperative when you want pictures of them!!?? My DS15 (his b-day was yesterday) is the same way. And my DH says the same thing to him too

I can't believe the Disney trip is already here! Hope you are having a fabulous time!

Trip is here, and now done!

on the picture boycott issue. You will see, in my report, how this was the root of the lowest low of my trip last week.

I hope you (and all your teenagers) are having so much FUN!!!! Have a Mickey bar for me!

Can't wait to hear all about it when you get back.

I had 2 I loved that I could choose that as a dessert with my meal at the All Star Movies food court.

Gosh Dee I cant imagine trying to move 20 of you around in a group! Hopefully they will let you split into smaller groups today! Cant wait to hear more

The group was WAY too large, but fortunately they were really good kids. For the most part. We didn't split off nearly as much as we should have.

Oh Dee -try to enjoy. That is a lot of teenagers at once. Perhaps your reward should be a mom's only trip. I hear BC is a nice place to stay

I have heard of this mythical Beach Club utopia!!!

Wow that was one quick trip!!
Did you leave Mon.?
That was a big group but I'm sure you managed
Can't wait to hear all about it.

Yes, we left Monday and got back Friday afternoon. Short trip, but long enuf!

Wow! That trip went quickly!
Can't wait to hear the recap.

Amanda

Thanks. I'll crank out the updates as fast as I can!

 

[ProudMommyof2]

OK, I need some WWDD (What Would Dee DO?) Advice!

We are taking a trip on the darkside. So far, we are doing 3 days UO/IOA and 1 day at Kennedy Space Ctr. That leaves 1 day for either Seaworld or Magic Kingdom. My kids are not big coaster fans and, I know it is not the same, but we at Mystic/NE Aquariums all the time. DS wants Seaworld and the rest of us lean towards MK. I am worried that 1 day at WDW might just be a tease.

SO my travel guru- WWDD?

 

[natebenma]

OK, I need some WWDD (What Would Dee DO?) Advice!

We are taking a trip on the darkside. So far, we are doing 3 days UO/IOA and 1 day at Kennedy Space Ctr. That leaves 1 day for either Seaworld or Magic Kingdom. My kids are not big coaster fans and, I know it is not the same, but we at Mystic/NE Aquariums all the time. DS wants Seaworld and the rest of us lean towards MK. I am worried that 1 day at WDW might just be a tease.

SO my travel guru- WWDD?

Woah! I was surprised (and pleased) to see this report pulled up again! Of course, now that I finally finished my class trip report from June, I need to come back here to finish the Atlantis trip.

We did both on our darkside trip- 1 day at MK and 2 half days (essentially 1 day) at Sea World- the SW tickets were buy one day, get a second free.

I was going to say that the tickets for SW are probably cheaper, but I bet not significantly so. That's one factor. One day tickets at Disney s*ck! So expensive! But what I did when we decided we were going to go to MK is to start charging up my Disney Visa, and we used that to help pay for the MK admission.

It had been 7 years since we had taken the kids to Sea World, and now I don't know that we will be rushing back. My older son really loved the thrill coasters- Manta and Kraaken, but you said your kids are not into that. My younger son doesn't do the thrill rides, so we did a lot of shows. The older one didn't love that.

We all love sea critters, but I have to say, there is so much more to do at MK.

The day we spent there after surprising our boys was probably my favorite ever at Disney. I loved everything about it. Getting there early, pulling a gazillion FP (which doesn't work as well now ), lunch at Columbia Harbor House, more fun in the park, and then taking a break to ride the monorail and eat at Kona. Then back to the park.

I have the chapters of this trip report linked in the second post, so if you want you can take a peek at the SW and MK chapters.

Where are you staying for this trip?

Oh, and if you really want to know WWDD... For your aquarium and amazing water park fix, save your pennies and go to Atlantis!!!

 

[ProudMommyof2]

Hey Dee-
I read this TR when you wrote it and immediately thought of it when I started planning my trip, so I have reread it .

I think I am leaning toward MK, especially with the new Fantasyland. I just wanted to make sure my Disney obsessiveness wasn't making the decision instead of what is the better option for my family.

The ticket prices are not that different and I agree - s**k.

We are staying at Wyndham Bonnet Creek in a 2 bed/ 2 bath condo with kitchen for $475 for 5 nights. I may get 1 night at RPH (and probably only use it as a day room), if the price is right, to get the FOTL.

I have been to Atlantis as a work trip , but the rest of the family has not. It is something else!

Thanks for your input,
Pam

 

[natebenma]

Finally back to finish up the Atlantis report. It is a cold day out there today, so I thought I would distract myself by visiting some place warm and sunny!

 

[natebenma]

Paradise Lagoon

Relax on one of two sandy beaches and enjoy the warm Bahamian sunshine. The 7-acre Paradise Lagoon offers snorkeling, paddle boats and other water sports in a protected environment - great for the kids.

However, the prices to rent some of these toys- not so great for the wallet!

Mark and Nate tossing a football on the beach:

This bridge took you back to the main resort from the lagoon. The water was very clear, so you could look down and see rocks and fish and barracuda!

We also found a quiet, shady little spot to chill out:

Next up: Under the Sea!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Wow! Atlantis looked great from the excursion that we took but it looks even better "in person". Gorgeous!

 

[natebenma]

Wow! Atlantis looked great from the excursion that we took but it looks even better "in person". Gorgeous!

Yes, Atlantis is an amazingly beautiful OVER THE TOP resort.

I know you didn't really see the "best" of Nassau on your tour.

In my next update, probably tomorrow, I'll post my snorkeling pictures.

And coming up is the van tour that we did through Paradise Island.

I need to catch up on everyone's TRs. The Beach Club/Yacht Club board has been keeping me REALLY busy!!! We have had probably 30-40 people join the board since the beginning of the year!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

I know why they call it Paradise Island. It is truly beautiful. We will make it there someday!


DH and I are going to FL Feb. vacation for a few days. I got the flights last night. I am so psyched I can't take single digit temps anymore!!

 

[natebenma]

I know why they call it Paradise Island. It is truly beautiful. We will make it there someday!


DH and I are going to FL Feb. vacation for a few days. I got the flights last night. I am so psyched I can't take single digit temps anymore!!

Sounds awesome!!! Any plans yet? Any word on the job?

We will be going to Mexico for Feb vacation. Can't wait!!!

 

[jenseib]

I needed that today.I am not to happy with all the cold weather. Ahhhhhh!

 

[natebenma]

I needed that today.I am not to happy with all the cold weather. Ahhhhhh!

Me, too! That's why I decided it was a good time to finish this up. A nice distraction from the COLD!

 

[natebenma]

Once upon a time, a girl fell in love.

With snorkeling!

My husband had snorkeled his whole life in local waters- lakes and ponds and oceans. On our first tropical trip, a cruise in the Bahamas, he signed us up for a Sea Trek snorkeling package.

I was scared. I didnt think I would be able to master the swim, breathe, dont sink thing. But I decided to be a sport and try it.

I was hooked! We literally snorkeled all day long, breaking only for lunch.

And I havent looked up since!

That day, I learned just how wonderful the world under the sea is. Beautiful corals. Fishes in all of the colors of the rainbow (and more). Magical rocks.

I also learned some lessons.

When you are prone in the water all day long with the sun on your back, make sure you wear a t-shirt. And make sure it is long enough to cover your butt.

I was baked at the end of the day. To the point where sitting was uncomfortable.

Since then, every trip Mark and I have taken, with or without kids, has been either Disney, or someplace tropical where we can swim with the fishes.

Unfortunately, the boys were never really into this activity. Ben would swim with goggles and that was good enough for him. But on this trip, we had scheduled a Snorkel the Ruins excursion. So we had Ben practice.

And he LOVED it!

He asked to go again and again on this trip.

We went to two different places on the Atlantis property to snorkel, Cove Beach and but mostly the Paradise Lagoon.


At Cove Beach, it was pretty rocky and shallow, and there were gentle waves, so the conditions were a little more difficult here.

Cove Beach:

Continued in Next Post