"We're 5 years old!!" The Disney trip saga of some 20 somethings and 1st time visits

[Sorahana]

Hello and welcome to my 1st trip report!! I will be sharing with you my story of the most recent trip I took to DisneyWorld.

November 16th-22nd
Disney's Pop Century Resort
QSDP

Cast of Characters:

Me!! I'm 23, love Disney, and was the tour guide to the magic on this trip (unofficially)!! I've been to Disney many times and my uncle is the reason for majority of those trips (he wants to retire to Disney and be a bus driver), he is actually my inspiration for having done two CPs at Disney . Nice to meet you!!

This is Jessie, she's 29 and this was her 1st trip to Disney!! Hurray!! Jessie is like our group "mom", she's also the one who makes sure we stick to our plans.

This is Ashley and she's also 23 and this was her 2nd visit to a Disney park (she's been to Disneyland a few times), but her 1st time to DisneyWorld. She is truly a 5 year old, and a reason why Jessie and I also act like 5 year olds.

Other characters:
Madre Simpson-Ashley's mom, this is our nickname for her. She is the cooker of rice (when I come over) and the shop-a-holic!
Padre Simpson- Ashley's dad, this is his nickname. He enjoys the thrill rides and is now a huge fan of Soarin'.
Alec-Ashley's younger brother (who is mildly autistic). He loves Disney.

Here is the Table of Contents for the trip report, enjoy!!
Day 1: Arrival and Downtown Disney
Day 2: Magic Kingdom
Day 3: Animal Kingdom

 

[Sorahana]

We got our flight out at 7am, the curbside check-in guy was very nice and chatted with me while I waited for the travel party to arrive (Dad dropped me off around 5am and the others were all riding down together and had car trouble, so they were slightly delayed ).

Before we boarded the plane, I ended up talking to two families in the line in front of us. The one family had two little girls who asked if I was going to Disneyworld too (was wearing my DisneyWorld shirt), and I found out it was their first time going and I told them it's a lot of fun and asked how excited they were. The family in front of us overheard the conversation and a little girl in their family turned to me and said "We're going to Disney World too!!" and I asked her how many times she had been and she told me it was their 2nd time and I asked her if she was excited to be be going back. As we boarded I told both families to have a fun time.

Our flight was fine, we got to Orlando around 9:30ish and headed to ME for the ride to Pop Century. We arrived at Pop and checked in. We ended up with joined rooms in the 90’s section (first time for me). They showered my travel party with 1st visit buttons, Happy Anniversary buttons (the Simpson's wedding anniversary was the day prior), and Happy Birthday button (Madre Simpson's bday was also the day before). We got our stuff to the room, then hit DTD for lunch.

From the get go, we didn't enjoy the walk from the 90's. It's a bit of a walk to the bus stops and the food court, so we ended up cutting across the parking lot when we would walk over to the main building.

We had lunch at Wolfgang Puck (delicious, everyone loved it), then they wanted to shop and look around. We ended up taking the ferryboat over to Port Orleans so I could show them that resort, then we headed back to DTD. We bought our tickets for La Nouba (ended up chatting with a couple about the show in the Cirque Du Soleil store) and wandered some more. We eventually ended up heading back to the hotel and heading to bed a little early in preparation for our day at the Magic Kingdom.

Pictures (I didn't take too many on this day...I took more on the other days!!) :

As the sun sets on Downtown Disney

Next up, Day 2: Magic Kingdom!!

 

[Sorahana]

We had an early breakfast,then headed to MK for rope drop. We get in the gates and Alec and Alan wanted haircuts so they waited by the barbershop until it opened.

I saw Pluto and ran to the line to get my picture with him (success). Then we headed to Tomorrowland to ride some rides. We hit up TTA, Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear, then Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor. The laugh floor consisted of “macaroni” and “robots”. I got my picture with Stitch at this time too (Stitch= )

We did Stitch's Great Escape (because I said so). We then headed over to Fantasyland. They were surprised by the lack of Matterhorn ride (they're from California originally and have been to Disneyland many times). We did Philharmagic (or as they read it Phalicmagic ) and then Small World. They felt it was torture but Jessie emerged with a smile saying it was adorable. We then went to Haunted Mansion where we had ghouls messing around causing us to stop 4 times.

My friend Krista (from my summer CP) and her friend came and met us and we headed over to Big Thunder. Then we went to Splash Mountain where we avoided being soaked. Then we did Jungle Cruise where we saw the backside of water, rocks on a beach, and heard some lolling and jking. Then our skipper scared off some hippos .

After that excursion, we went to the Country Bear Jamboree but were caught up by the parade where Krista’s friend and I (both being theatre majors) started dancing on the sidewalk to the music (twirls and all). Then we did the jamboree. Then we did the Tiki room where Ashley demanded that Zazu come home with her (haha).


Then we got dole whips and went shopping. Ashley’s mom got me a dooney bourke purse <3, and we scouted a place to watch MSEP.

MSEP: AMAZING. Jessie claims she saw Tink's "undies" when she was waving at people , the music stays in your head forever, the Pinocchio part of the parade was my favorite, especially with the boys turning into donkeys.

Wishes: Watched it from the Tomorrowland bridge. Great as always.
We took the monorail to the Contemporary and ended up chatting with a family on the bus whose son was adorable and sang to us , then a bus to downtown Disney, then to Wolfgang Puck for dinner.

Now for some photos!!

Objective acquired...

Mission accomplished!!

The castle!

Shoes!

Jessie took a picture on her phone.

I always tackle Stitch...

Fireworks shooting off after Dream Along With Mickey

Guarding our spot for the parade

The castle all lit up!

Coming up, Day 3: Animal Kingdom!!

 

[Shizuka]

Best trip ever

 

[Sorahana]

Best trip ever

You're a bit biased aren't you?

Shizuka is Jessie by the way, say hi to her!! She survived a Disney trip with me .

May I proudly present Day 3...Animal Kingdom!!



Ashley was in heaven this day. Animals, animals, animals. She wore a zebra shirt and acted like a 5 year old the whole day, it was quite entertaining as she is 23 years old .

We got on the bus and headed to AK. We got in the park and Padre Simpson suggested we all rent strollers and have people push us around . (They weren't used to all the walking we had been doing).

We started our day at It's Tough to be a Bug. We almost suffocated from the smoke (ok not really but we were in the front row and caught off guard by all the smoke). I love that show, but I'm not sure how the others reacted, minus the reaction to the smoke. Then we headed over to Asia. We threw the idea of riding Kali River Rapids around but decided not to. We went and rode Everest (walk on, told them about things in the queue, had us sit toward the front). We then headed over to Maharajah Jungle Trek and walked through to see more animals. We then headed over to Dinoland to ride Primeval Whirl where we acquired back pain and were tossed around quite a lot. I have only ridden the California Adventure version and now I remember why . We then went to Dinosaur and saved an Iguanadon.

We headed over to Africa and did Kilimanjaro and I snapped many photos of cute animals (per request of Ashley because her camera failed to work the whole trip). After that, we hit Rafiki's Planet Watch. As soon as we walked in Conservation Station, I saw a guy holding a ball python and I preceeded to nerd out and went over and talked to him, telling him how I love that type of snake (I fell in love with snakes at the zoo) and how I work at the zoo back home (FYI I work at the Philadelphia Zoo with Zoo on Wheels). He was pretty much giving me this look: , I was a bit too happy about the snake.
We walked around and looked at other animals they had. I saw a mexican rosy boa (love them), a blue tongued skink (love them too), and some other interesting critters. One of the keepers was in one of the rooms, and he saw me and smiled and waved, I waved back and was highly amused .

We then headed out to the petting zoo to look at some amazing, out of this world, crazy...sheep and goats. (Sorry I was trying to build up suspense and failed). Ashley pretty much could have lived in the petting zoo as she ran around trying to pet all the animals.

After that excursion, we headed back to Africa and went and rode Everest again, then headed to Festival of the Lion King. We were a little late to the show, but it was a blast and Ashley now wants to dress up as one of the dancers (the zebra one specifically). We got some ice cream afterwards and went shopping, lots of shopping on this trip.

We staked out a spot for the parade, and waited, and waited. And then, all of a sudden, the parade began with the traditional parade...OF THE EGRETS!!

....

Ok so that's a lie . The Egrets came running down the parade path like they were a parade, best parade ever. This happened way before the parade came down our way.

The Jingle Jungle Parade began and I snapped photos the whole time. I loved it (have only see Jammin' Jungle Parade, never the Christmas version), and it got me in the spirit of the holidays.

We decided to leave after the parade and go eat. They originally wanted to go to Woflgang Puck again, but I remember Pepper Market (and how amazing it is). We went to Coronado Springs and ate at Pepper Market. Yummy!!
Ashley's family went back to the hotel and the rest of us went to DTD.

We happened to get on a bus full of teachers (there was a convention) who were ready to hit the town (who declared it a party bus after the driver turned the lights off on the bus). We got to DTD and shopped a little bit, walked around, and got some bath salts from Basin and soaked our feet in the tub back at the hotel (lol).

Now onto some photos!!

Everest: walk up to this shrine and watch the mountain "disappear" behind it.

Komodo Dragon

I timed this so it stuck it's tongue up it's nose

Baby Giraffe!

Blue Tongued Skink, such an awesome reptile and most people have never heard of them

This doesn't really show how excited she was.

We liked his hair

Oh no, Ashley loved the animals so much she turned into one!!
...Just kidding, this is a funny llama!

You don't even know how happy this made me. Stitch gets some love !!

Coming up next...Day 4: EPCOT!!!!!

(I hope whoever has read this report likes it so far. I don't think I have any subscribers but I'm not sure how to draw in more readers. Suggestions appreciated!!)

 

[Shizuka]

you forgot the part about the unicorn (goat with 1 horn) fighting and the crowd that gathered around to stare and how he acted like a good little unicorn when his trainer walked over looking all innocent and such

 

[heathsf]

I'm enjoying your TR
I went with 3 friends in 2009 and we had such a great time! Looks like you guys did too!

 

[stich626]

The first time i saw Stitch I almost tackled him. glad to see I am not the only one excited to see him.

 

[Sorahana]

you forgot the part about the unicorn (goat with 1 horn) fighting and the crowd that gathered around to stare and how he acted like a good little unicorn when his trainer walked over looking all innocent and such

I completely forgot about the dramatic fight !

I'm enjoying your TR
I went with 3 friends in 2009 and we had such a great time! Looks like you guys did too!

I did! Going with friends is a whole different experience.

The first time i saw Stitch I almost tackled him. glad to see I am not the only one excited to see him.

I LOVE Stitch, he is my absolute favorite !

Sorry I never updated this, now I will!!

Day 4: EPCOT and Hollywood Studios

We started the day at EPCOT by doing Spaceship Earth, then we headed over to Future World West. We did Captain Eo as I was jumping up and down excited about it and Jessie "wanted to get it over with" . So, we watched Captain Eo (LOVED IT ) and then we rode Soarin', Livin' With the Land, and then we grabbed lunch at Nine Dragons (YUM). The girls and I took the Friendship Boats over to Hollywood Studios so we could ride Rockin' Roller Coaster (which was walk on...WHAT?!) and Tower of Terror probably 2-3 times because Ashley is in love with Rod Serling .
After that, we went back to EPCOT on the Friendship Boat and we explored the World Showcase. They were having EMH at EPCOT so we stayed in the park and the rest of the group left early. We watched Illuminations and had a blast dancing to the preshow music and getting stares. Then the fireworks started and a guy that was taking photos overheard me telling my friends specs of the fireworks and was asking me questions but I had fun talking about the fireworks .
We walked around World Showcase some more and eventually headed back to the hotel for the night.

I didn't take any pictures this day as I've worked in EPCOT and have many pictures of it (lol).

Next up...BLIZZARD BEACH!