We're finally here! - Live Trip Report

[marclichon]

We will be there Thursday - Sunday - HmHmHm like always - may add another night once we are there! We are in the 300 loop - ??? Got my Mickey Lamp already packed in the TT and Valentine Decor ready! By the way - are there a lot of decorations right now @ the sites???????? for Day??

There are quite a few, yes. I'm actually surprised; I'd never heard of anyone decorating for Valentine's day (xmas, thxgiving, Independance and new years yes, but not so much the other ones) but they're nicely done.

 

[OKGirlie]

Enjoying your report!

We'll be making our very first trip to Disney World this summer. I decided we must camp there after reading all of these wonderful trip reports. Less than 5months and counting.

 

[LoriABil]

Oh wow! Yet another trip report making me wish we could take our trailer to the Fort! And live, no less!

But then again, it's quite a haul from West Texas! Maybe when I get more than a week off at a time! In the meantime, I will live vicariously through you guys!

Thanks for the report! Sounds like the start of a very special trip.

 

[Miss Peach]

Ooooh! Valentines Day Decor???

If you get a chance, snap a few pictures of whoever has the nicest, biggest, fanciest, or gaudiest...

It's all good!!

 

[marclichon]

Sorry for the delay in posting; we'd planned to dinner at the camper while taking a break between normal hours and Extra Magic Hours at DHS but the rain came and washed out that plan. We ended up dining at SciFi Drive In so I'm just now getting in and am really tired (but it's that satisfying 'ahhh, I'm bushed but it's Disney so it's ok' tired).

So, today our friends got a knock on the door and a package was delivered. In it, addressed to Hanna (the 14 yr/old who just lost her Mother) was cordially invited to a special viewing of 'Illuminations: Reflections of Earth' on Tuesday for her and her party. Also, each princess autographed (and they were signed, not photocopied) photos for her while the other kids in our party received the same from other characters (Chip/Dale, Buzz/Woody, Lilo/Stitch). Basically, you know how when you check in they always ask if you're celebrating anything? DW told them about Hanna's mother and how this trip was in support of her and to help her with reconnecting with her father (they were divorced and she hadn't lived with him for some time so there are some bridges to rebuild) and asked if they could suggest anything that we could do, some package we could buy or reservations to get, to assist in that effort. Aimee, the front desk person, said she'd see what could be done so we left it at that, not expecting much. Then, that night we got a call from Jordan who told us of some arrangements Disney had made and that they'd notify us of the details when they were ironed out. No cost, nothing. They wanted to provide some "magic" for her. We were, and continue to be, astounded at their response. We stopped by the front desk and asked to see Aimee or Jordan to thank them but both were out (actually, the lady I spoke with said Aimee didn't actually work there, she was just picking up an extra shift and we lucked out and got her) but that Jordan would be back later in the week so we'll stop by to express our thanks. People ask why we love Disney?

Hanna's father was visably touched and appreciative of the package but we let him know that we only asked; Disney is making it happen. One thing we have done, though, is between us and our friends we've had Fast Passes lined up when they arrive at the park each day so Hanna can ride all the best rides. She seems to be having fun (but several little 'slips' have betrayed that she's still struggling, which will go on for years I'm sure) and her father confessed that he'd only planned to "Do the 'Disney Thing' to help her out" but that he's been so overwhelmed by the environment and reception that he's becoming a convert.

Anyway, we rode pretty much everything at DHS, dined at SciFi Drive In and returned to the camper around 9:30. I'd give more details on each ride and goings-on (like we made a point to watch 4 performaces of Streetmosphere characters = Brilliantly funny!) but I'm trying to focus more on the camping stuff (per the nature of this forum) and Hanna. Let me know if you want more details and I'll be happy to provide. Tomorrow is Epcot (oh dear lord) and the special Illuminations viewing so I'll fill you in asap.

As a side note, other than the obvious troubles Hanna is going through, she's actually a pretty cool kid. We're very good friends with her Aunt/Uncle (our traveling friends here, and actually they're Cousins but the age-difference is so vast that A/U is more respectful) so she comes from good stock but we're glad she integrates with our kids so easily. While it can be seen that she's deeply in grief, there are moments that she's seemed able to put it aside. Like, tonight she skipped in the rain, singing "Singing In The Rain" from The Great Movie Ride all the way to SciFi Drive In, so that's a start. Actually, while I'm typing this DW got a call asking if DD1 can spend the night (we left her @ DHS with them for EMH and they're now on their way back), so this might be working. I love Disney

P.S. While proofreading this I just heard the lonely note of the friendship boat echoing through the otherwise hushed forest; I love this place Also, I promise pictures will be forthcoming but every time I've sat down to post I've been too whipped to download, sort out and post pics but I'll make the time soon, I promise.

Again, thanks for humoring me and my secret desire to be a writer

 

[marclichon]

Enjoying your report!

We'll be making our very first trip to Disney World this summer. I decided we must camp there after reading all of these wonderful trip reports. Less than 5months and counting.

We have 10+ trips under our belt, this one being the first camping trip, and my best advice is to focus on one park for one day, don't forget to schedule a 'break day' (especially after Epcot) and relax; there's NO WAY you'll 'Do Disney' even in a week. The biggest mistake I see over and over is people who insist that they can so they go Commando and it ends out to be a horrible experience. It's like enjoying a nice meal over the course of an evening and savoring each experience or woofing down Big Mac after Big Mac until you're so bloated and full you wanna puke.

... that's the best I got, sorry

I hope you find the vacation you're looking for!

P.S. MousePlanet.Com has a very very nice section of Trip Reports as well (I may have written 3-4 there myself) but they're shallow on camping-related ones but both have value.

 

[itch1]

Your doing a great job! I am suckered in
Looking forward to your pictures I love to see The Fort and WDW through others eyes !
We will making our trip soon it will be my 35th Spring Break at the Fort.
ITCH

 

[2goofycampers]

Great job. BTW we don't mind at all the extra report on the parks or whatever you do on your trip. Spill it ! This is your show, eh, TR.

 

[marclichon]

Good morning! I don't think I'll ever tire of waking up to the whistle of the Magic Kingdom's Railroad strolling through the campground. I'm looking for pictures to post (have to download from several cameras) and can't figure out how to insert them. Hafta look through the forums and read up on it.

Anyway, it's about 47deg outside but the sun is shining brightly (first morning so far, its otherwise been rainy and cloudy)(but its Disney so, again, Twice-On-Sunday). It's Tuesday in the Real World, but here on Disney time it's Epcot-day. I promise I'll try to post midday as we plan to take a break and get some pictures up.

I just crunched the numbers and it looks like gas cost about $350 or so (104 gallons, averaging $3.13/gal) so we're within budget so far (until you add in a coupla-hundred bucks for onsite dinners I didn't expect, but hey it's Disney so it's ok ), so that's encouraging; we may still be able to make it home

DS1 just woke up and wants to bikeride so I'm off. Everyone else is sleeping; DHS was a little brutal yesterday so we're all sleeping in a little late.

 

[skyp4WDW]

Glad you're having fun...and HUGS to Hanna.

 

[Teamubr]

GREAT stuff!. I really appreciate the time you're taking to keep us in the loop. And don't worry about just trying to focus on the fort. It's all Disney and I'm thrilled to hear about it.

j

 

[kazlac4]

Great TR! Yes, the sound of the boat whistle certainly is a comforting sound to us also, as well as the fiddle music that plays throughout the Fort. Whenever I hear fiddle music I get that "Disney" feeling.

It sounds like your trip is having magical effects not only on Hanna but also on the whole group! I am sure this will always be remembered as a very special trip for all of you for the rest of your lives!.

 

[OKGirlie]

We have 10+ trips under our belt, this one being the first camping trip, and my best advice is to focus on one park for one day, don't forget to schedule a 'break day' (especially after Epcot) and relax; there's NO WAY you'll 'Do Disney' even in a week. The biggest mistake I see over and over is people who insist that they can so they go Commando and it ends out to be a horrible experience. It's like enjoying a nice meal over the course of an evening and savoring each experience or woofing down Big Mac after Big Mac until you're so bloated and full you wanna puke.

... that's the best I got, sorry

I hope you find the vacation you're looking for!

P.S. MousePlanet.Com has a very very nice section of Trip Reports as well (I may have written 3-4 there myself) but they're shallow on camping-related ones but both have value.

I am thankful that my husband has lots of vacation time. We are taking 3 days to drive there, 3 days to drive back and 11 nights while there! We bought 6 day passes with waterparks and more. I know we won't get to do everything but I am hoping this allows us plenty of time to enjoy the parks and the fort. I've been stalking this camping board for about 8 months but just now decided to start posting every now and then. I am getting closer to the date that it's finally starting to feel real to me.

I am enjoying your report. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

" Oklahoma is Okay " ,,I'll bet it's better than okay, never been there but I can only imagine that it must be beautiful with it's wide open spaces ? What is your weather like this time of year ?

marclichon certainly is one of the best trip reporters I've seen inna while, I gotta feeling they will be the new hit on these camping boards,

 

[disney4dan]

This is a great TR so far and I am glad you are sharing this with us while you are there. For Hanna, I am so sorry about your loss. I hope you find peace soon, please understand that there are many places you can go to get help if/when you need it. Sounds like you have a huge and loving family to help.

 

[marclichon]

I've said it before and I'll say it again that campers are some of the best people in the world, as are true "Disney people", so DisCampers are the best. The outpouring of concern and support for Hanna from complete strangers is, especially in today’s world, incredibly heartwarming.

I'm sorry for not posting last night; as suspected a full Epcot day took everything we had. It was a great one, though!

After going for an early bike ride with my son (to take pictures of sites and decorations to post here) and defrosting (MAN it was cold, I didn't think Florida could get that cold!) we headed out to Epcot around 10:30. On our trip I saw a really-for-real DisCamper sign (finally) for Grumpy and Grandma. It was early and there was no sign of life yet so we didn't want to bother them.

One of the things that seem to be different camping at Disney as opposed to staying at resorts is the pace. At the resorts, even the quieter ones like Port Orleans, the morning pace is hurried and stressful with people walking by your room with little regard for their neighbors. Here, I'm not sure anyone is actually going to the parks; I mean I see people on the dock and on the busses but everyone else is biking and walking and fishing.

We're taking an off-day today because we don't want to burn out by hitting parks dawn-to-dusk. We want to enjoy the Fort, the grounds, the smells, the music and everything that made us fall in love on our first visit. We're going to the beach, biking (looping, actually) and maybe canoeing. I do have to stop in the real world and pick up a hose gasket and a few other camper-accouterments but I'm not looking forward to it; I'd rather stay in the cocoon. However, we may sojourn out to MouseSurplus (now that we have a large vehicle with us we can pick up some STUFF!).

Epcot: Alright, we arrived around 10:30. DD1 spent the night with Hanna so it was just the bottom-3 and us. DD2 had a tough morning (bad mood, other issues) so she and I took off for awhile for 'us time' while DW took the boys on Space Ship Earth and got Mission: Space FPs. DD2 waited in line for Minnie's autograph while I picked up a Ft. Wilderness pin and soaked in the Epcotness around. I don't care if I ride anything; I just love being there, the music, the smells, everything. DD2 bounded out of the meet n' greet and we decided on breakfast: Ice Cream Sundaes and a Root Beer Float at the Fountainview Ice Creamery (or however one refers to it) then washed them down with Beverly Soda from Club Cool. I think it's good for her; she needs to learn that life is hard and with every good thing comes something horrible. I'm just kidding; we don't touch that stuff with a 10-foot straw. It's taken me years to get them to trust me again after their first bout with that crap. I'm mostly Italian but I'm ashamed for that stuff.

Anyway, we caught up with our newly arrived companions (who had DD1) and hit up Test Track, then Mission: Space, after which my family broke away. It occurred to me that, while we were having a great time with them, we hadn't been together as just US for the whole trip. Epcot is our favorite park so DW and I just wanted some nuclear-family time. We needed to connect with ourselves for awhile so we hiked to the Great White North to shop and watch Martin Short hawk the wonders of Canada. As a group we agree that Canada is probably our favorite land (should really check out the real thing some day). After a Moosehead beer, we trudged to England for gifts (including local-favorites for a recent transplant-friend of ours) and Stella beer. DD2 got an autograph from Alice on one of her regular excursions from Wonder Land (who’d want to ever leave there, I mean really?) and then we pranced to France.

We love the show in France; the music gives me goose bumps and it's just one of those "I'm finally at Disney" places for me. DW supported the cause with the purchase of a fruit-and-cheese plate, after which we bypassed Morocco for Japan. Morocco is nice but it just isn't a must-do for us anymore. It used to be, I don't know what changed but there it is.

I hate Japan. Hate it. Not the country, but the pavilion. I think it's because all heck breaks loose and my family splits like billiard balls when we get there. It’s boring and stressful to me. I just got some teriyaki chicken and ginger cake and toughed it out. We'd caught back up with our friends as the sun set (in the way it only can at Epcot, which is to say 'spectacularly') and moved past America to Italy. I like the American Adventure but was outvoted, so if everyone's not in it wouldn't be fun (besides we had 90mins before our appointment for Illuminations). Oh yeah, I don't know if I told you this already or not but Disney reserved a section in front of the Italian pavilion for Hanna and her party and for another family (of two, an Asian mother and son who presumably had a similar loss but spoke no English to confirm) for a special viewing of Illuminations. We were to show up around 7:40 and that time was nearing.

We stopped in Italy for wine, chocolate and window-shopping then marched to Germany for gluhwein, franks and pretzels. Then DW and I had more gluhwein and got up to leave. By the time we started out of Germany we were out of gluhwein and had to go for more. DW and I love this stuff; it's good and it's so "Epcot".

We heel-toed to China for egg rolls and plum wine then set sail for Norway. We rode Maelstrom and got School Bread and whatever their beer is. Soon time had caught up and our appointment was at hand. We herded our parade of cats to Italy and met the CM who'd roped off a section for us.

"This whole thing is for us?!"
"Yes, you and another small family"
"HOLY COW!!! THIS IS AWESOME!!! THANK YOU!!!!"

We were stationed next to a speaker tower with a torch so we had warmth, light and the AWESOME Pre-Illuminations music. Our family loves the preshow music (it's permanently lodged in our CD changer) and we were happy and overwhelmed so the whole crew, all of us from 5 to 47 were dancing and goofing off. It was a spectacle; people were lining up at the ropes watching us and wondering what on earth we were doing. Hanna and her Dad got into it and cut loose, bouncing around and dancing and teasing each other; it was a moment shared by all, I think. Disney gave Hanna the break she needed and let her shed the past few months off her shoulders, if only for a little while. They still had no idea what was in store with Illuminations as they'd never seen it.

Then Tigger blew out the torches and the drums began and the goose bumps made another appearance. The show, while always good, was especially good from this viewpoint and the final song "We Go On" held new meaning for those of us well-familiar with it and (hopefully) was inspirational for Hanna and her Dad; when they leave here they have to move on with their lives, but this is a time for them to grieve together, be together, grow together and move-on together so Disney World seems to have been a good kick-off point.

Anyway, there were too many inside jokes and stories and funny things to tell in one sitting but suffice-it-to-say a good time was had by all and it was really appreciated and needed. As we headed home, EPCOT-tired and whipped, we found wheelchairs left out in the nearly barren parking lot so I grabbed one to push DW (who was carrying a sleeping DS2). Then, the ever-precocious DD2 saw that and got her own. Not to be outdone, DS1 grabbed one and started racing (they're 1 year apart so they're either racing to the Cookie Jar or dropping it on each others head). I made them stop at a white starting-line and said "GO!" DS1 started pumping the wheels as hard as he could (not quite evenly, he was making a huge circle) and DD2 got wise and jumped out to push her empty wheelchair. We all cracked up, it was like something out of the Beatles Hard Day's Night.

We got home and fell asleep before our heads hit the pillows.

Today is the most beautiful day yet; it's sunny, warm, and perfect. We're about to go looping on our bikes and check out the Fort so I've gotta run. We're having our friends over for a cookout tonight and we're going to test the "Burn Ban" thing (we brought our own fire pit; we called and asked and they confirmed that we could use it so we'll see).

Thanks for reading! I DO PROMISE to upload pics (once I learn how; today is the first day I've had to catch up on stuff (fun stuff, like draining the Black Tank and laundry) and collect all the pictures so it'll be soon).

 

[hotmamac]

Your TR is wonderful!
I'm glad it's giving Hanna some time to live after what she's been thru. I lost my mom in October of '09 and there's days it's still hard to get out of bed (and I'm 36) so I can't imagine how hard it must be for her. This trip is a lovely thing that you all did for her (although there are obvious benefits for everyone )
Can't wait to hear more...and I like to hear about it all!!! Parks, food, Fort and more!!!

 

[OKGirlie]

" Oklahoma is Okay " ,,I'll bet it's better than okay, never been there but I can only imagine that it must be beautiful with it's wide open spaces ? What is your weather like this time of year ?

Eh, it's just okay here. There are definitely some beautiful areas around the state, but I live in central Ok and there isn't much beauty near us. The weather is Cold! We just got dumped with more snow last night. I am tired of snow. Thankfully, by this time next week it will be back up in the 60s.




As for the trip report-reading about Hanna is making me tear up. I am glad she and her dad are able to enjoy the trip.
My good friends left for Disney yesterday before the snow came rolling in. They are at Epcot right now and I am quite jealous! If I can't be there at least I can read about it.
Can't wait to read your next update.

 

[marclichon]

Test Image Upload:

This SHOULD be a picture of our Excursion, camper and site. If this works I'll have the kids pull the best pics and do a mass-upload later tonight.

 

[disney4dan]

Yup, there it is....

Looking forward to the upates later! Got the woodstove cranked, packed crusty snow outside and sitting here daydreaming about camping. This TR is hitting the spot