Who Knew We Were Virginians?

[Woth2982]

I am glad you enjoyed this trip! I completely understand why you would want to wait for Claire to get a bit older before going back.

Yay for going on the Magic! I am very excited for you! And slightly jealous haha.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Playing catch-up since I wasn't on much before or during the holidays. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

I totally get where you are coming from when you say that you compare other trips to Disney. It's hard not to when Disney does everything so very well. My Mama always chastises me when I do the comparison.

Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle! Skip's going to meet ya'll?

 

[Wicket's Mom]

Very well done TR, enjoyed it very much.

The old brick houses didn't have framing, the walls are made of just brick, which is why they are so thick. Framed houses were made of wood with wooden clapboards as siding.

I think Claire did very well visiting a place which probably did bore her. She may really enjoy going again later or not, but at least she did get to see where some of our history of becoming America took place.

I hope you have some new TR starting soon, I haven't been without one of your reports in a long time.

 

[jenseib]

I would disregard the early reports. The Magic always has sulked after dry dock and this time round it was worse. We had some people from our cruise meet thread jump ship based on those early reports. By the time we got on the Magic, they had ironed out the issues and cruise was truly magical.

Corinna

I know it got bad reports early on, but Jeanne was on that first cruise and she said it wasn't that bad. Yes it wasn't done, but she said what was done was great. But she said she never heard about the room issues some were having while sailing that time. I think they have that fixed finally. I can't seem to find any current reviews of the Magic her on Dis either.

I am glad you enjoyed this trip! I completely understand why you would want to wait for Claire to get a bit older before going back.

Yay for going on the Magic! I am very excited for you! And slightly jealous haha.

I was proud of Claire, but I think for her to enjoy it more, she need to get just a bit older.
It's still not booked, but I am doing some research and trying to get things planned in my head!

Playing catch-up since I wasn't on much before or during the holidays. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

I totally get where you are coming from when you say that you compare other trips to Disney. It's hard not to when Disney does everything so very well. My Mama always chastises me when I do the comparison.

Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle! Skip's going to meet ya'll?

I've been very behind too and yesterday I finally had a chance to catch up on a couple TR's, still got more to do though.

It is so hard not to compare things to Disney...I need to stop doing that.

Thats the plan right now. But until we are actually booked, anything can happen in this family!

Very well done TR, enjoyed it very much.

The old brick houses didn't have framing, the walls are made of just brick, which is why they are so thick. Framed houses were made of wood with wooden clapboards as siding.

I think Claire did very well visiting a place which probably did bore her. She may really enjoy going again later or not, but at least she did get to see where some of our history of becoming America took place.

I hope you have some new TR starting soon, I haven't been without one of your reports in a long time.

I might start a pre TR in a bit after I get caught up with other things, though I am not sure what I will pre plan. LOL. It might be ramblings of thoughts of what to do.

I was very proud of Claire. She did very well on this trip and truly seemed interested in a lot of things.

 

[JKSWonder]

My thoughts on the trip…. Sadly, my memory is fading fast on this trip. It has been a long hectic year and I can’t wait to get rid of 2013. This however was one of the highlights of the year. I will say I constantly compared this to a Disney trip in my mind while there and honestly this is just not the same. I enjoyed this trip, but it’s just not Disney. I am happy to finally have gotten there and would like to go back someday, but not for several years when Claire can enjoy it more. I will say I am very proud of her because I know parts of this had to have been boring for her and she didn’t complain much and seemed interested in a lot of things. We got to try new things and experience many different things and it was a lot of fun doing so. And it was on my bucket list, so I am happy to be able to check it off now. I would like to go at Christmas time, as I heard it is really neat then too. Our plan is to go to my parents timeshare inMarch over Spring break and go to Disney and Legoland. My husband is feeling left out and he wants to do something as a family, which I am all for as well. The thing is, he finds it’s “sin” to go twice in the same year. So he has decided to join us at the end of the trip and the plan is to go on the Magic for a 3 day cruise and he’ll be joining us for Legoland after the cruise. It’s not officially booked yet, but that is the plan we have talked about as of today and …I will be writing another trip report! Thanks so much for following along and helping me relive our trip!

I'm glad to hear you are getting the chance to go back to Disney again. Our August trip can't come fast enough, especially since we are currently digging out of ten inches of snow!

 

[natebenma]

Playing catch-up AGAIN!

I enjoyed seeing the pictures from the Powhatan village. It sounds really interesting. Pretty impressive homes.

Loved the fort! My boys would enjoy that, and all of the canons. How cool that Claire got to try on the armor!

Are any of the buildings within the fort original or are they all reproductions? Or a combination?

Exploring the ships sounds like a lot of fun. I teach a class about ropemaking and ropewalks and we talk about the miles and miles of rope you will find on a ship like that!

What a great end to the day! Swimming for Claire. A nap for you. Shopping followed by dinner at Cracker Barrel.

 

[Wicket's Mom]

Playing catch-up AGAIN! I enjoyed seeing the pictures from the Powhatan village. It sounds really interesting. Pretty impressive homes. Loved the fort! My boys would enjoy that, and all of the canons. How cool that Claire got to try on the armor! Are any of the buildings within the fort original or are they all reproductions? Or a combination?

All of those buildings at "Jamestown" are reproductions as that is not the location of the original Jamestown. It is several miles away and has only markings of the foundations of the original buildings.

 

[natebenma]

All of those buildings at "Jamestown" are reproductions as that is not the location of the original Jamestown. It is several miles away and has only markings of the foundations of the original buildings.

Thanks!

 

[Kathy Jetson]

Awwww its over. I agree with Wicket's Mom. It will be weird not keeping up with a tr from you.

That's great Skip decided not to stay behind next time and join you for part of the trip. I can't wait to hear all about it!

 

[jenseib]

I'm glad to hear you are getting the chance to go back to Disney again. Our August trip can't come fast enough, especially since we are currently digging out of ten inches of snow!

I really hate winter. This trip can't come fast enough either.

Playing catch-up AGAIN!

I enjoyed seeing the pictures from the Powhatan village. It sounds really interesting. Pretty impressive homes.

Loved the fort! My boys would enjoy that, and all of the canons. How cool that Claire got to try on the armor!

Are any of the buildings within the fort original or are they all reproductions? Or a combination?

Exploring the ships sounds like a lot of fun. I teach a class about ropemaking and ropewalks and we talk about the miles and miles of rope you will find on a ship like that!

What a great end to the day! Swimming for Claire. A nap for you. Shopping followed by dinner at Cracker Barrel.

Claire did like the interaction at Jamestown.
And yes, what Doris said, this is not the original stuff, and the real settlement is a little ways away. I have heard they are finding more and more there and I bet it would be really interesting to see too.

 

[MEK]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about your Williamsburg trip. I am sorry you didn't like your King's Arm meal as much as Christina's. I had lunch at the King's Arms Tavern and I really think that was the way to go. I got to enjoy the whole theme without a crazy bill, although $50 a person really isn't too terrible except that one is a child eating chicken fingers.

I'm glad you enjoyed your Williamsburg trip. It's definitely not Disneyworld, but there is a lot to do and see there and the history is presented so well. I would love to go at Christmas, too, but the thought of being cold does not appeal to me.

Glad you got home safely and your dad's drive went reasonably well.

Yay for planning a March trip!

 

[jenseib]

Awwww its over. I agree with Wicket's Mom. It will be weird not keeping up with a tr from you.

That's great Skip decided not to stay behind next time and join you for part of the trip. I can't wait to hear all about it!

Hopefully soon I will start a pre trip report. Though I am sure it won't be a lot as time is ticking away already and I have lots of catching up to do on Dis as well. LOL

 

[natebenma]

Finished up your report this afternoon!

I liked the picture of your dad's new buddy. Did either of you name him?

The plantation complexes were so pretty! I loved all of the info you gave about the houses and the families who lived there. A lot of times, how the families lived is the most interesting part of the history. I know it is at the manor house where I work.

Shirley- I liked learning about the two front doors.

Yay for protecting the old tree!

I think it was probably a good call by Claire to skip the plantations.

Too bad that your parents anniversary dinner was not the best. At least you had one special meal earlier in the week.

I'm glad to hear about your upcoming plans for Spring break. Sounds like fun and I can't wait to read all about it!

 

[jenseib]

Finished up your report this afternoon!

I liked the picture of your dad's new buddy. Did either of you name him?

The plantation complexes were so pretty! I loved all of the info you gave about the houses and the families who lived there. A lot of times, how the families lived is the most interesting part of the history. I know it is at the manor house where I work.

Shirley- I liked learning about the two front doors.

Yay for protecting the old tree!

I think it was probably a good call by Claire to skip the plantations.

Too bad that your parents anniversary dinner was not the best. At least you had one special meal earlier in the week.

I'm glad to hear about your upcoming plans for Spring break. Sounds like fun and I can't wait to read all about it!

YaY!!!!!

It was a very interesting day, and I do think Claire might have gotten a bit tired out with all the places we went to. But we might have brought more snacks along has she come.

I can't wait for spring break either

 

[jenseib]

So a little while back I posted something that I never did elaborate on...I told you to check out your Orlandos Attraction magazine if you had one.
Well mine finally came on Christmas Eve, but I was so busy that I kind of forgot to post it here.




Yes....if you see Claire with Mary Poppins you are absolutely correct! I was interviewed and I am quoted in the article and Claire is now famous! Ok, she has her picture in a magazine....

 

[littlenellbell]

Great report! Even though it wasn't Disney, I'm so glad you shared this with us!

I hope you are able to get your husband to agree to a cruise on the Magic. We are also thinking a cruise for our next Disney trip, maybe Feb 2015? Fingers crossed for you!

How awesome Claire got her picture in a magazine with Mary! It's an adorable picture, I can see why they picked it!

 

[Beth D]

Awesome pic! That was your old profile pic, wasn't it? or in your signature, something like that!

How awesome that you have a spring trip planned! What timeshare are you at?

We did Legoland this last year, and DS had a blast. Claire is right at the perfect age. If you are there at opening, they choose one kid from the front of the crowd to help Buddy (their mascot) open the park. It was DS's 8th birthday, he had a lego tee on, and made enough commotion they chose him to help. We all got to enter the park through guest services, everyone counted down, and he helped Buddy throw the switch to power up the park.

He got a button saying he was Buddy's BFF for the day, a minifigure (everyone at the park has them on their nametags, and you can trade, their version of pin trading). He also got one cut to the front of the line at any ride pass, lunch for 4 at the all you can eat pizza buffet (which was really good) and a pic of him throwing the switch. Lots of swag!

They have 4 coasters that are low intensity, most Claire can ride by herself. Most of the rides are kid designed, and not very adult friendly size wise.

Other things you must do - ride their sky carousel thing. You get a great view of the lake and area. Do NOT miss the old cypress gardens and the Banyan tree. You will want to take TONS of pics here. Definitely do the waterski show!

Also, does Claire get Lego Club or Jr. magazine? You can sign up online or with the card that is in most lego sets. There are often buy one adult get a kids ticket free for legoland in there, or also in some of the lego videogames.

 

[udflyer00]

Jen,

It was fun to follow your trip. Looks like a lot of great history to be found... With 4 kids of varying ages a trip like that might be difficult for our family trying to keep everyone's interest... So it was fun to follow along in your pictures!

Mark

 

[mickeystoontown]

Oops, I missed your posting the pic in Orlando Magazine. How cool is it that you were quoted and your picture was chosen! Now you AND Claire are famous! I remember several years back one of my tips was chosen by Passporter and was published in their book. It felt so cool.

 

[dizneeat]

So Claire is famous now! Yippie! Thanks for posting it, Jen.