Our gang: me, DH, DD8, DS5, DD3 and my mom
DAY 1
After 3 nights at HRH we had finished all at Univeral and headed over early on Sat 7/5 to our 1st stay at GF. Arrived at 11:00 and our rooms were ready!!!! I had only requested adjoining rooms, but received connecting rooms which I was very happy about because the HRH had given us this and it was very convenient. Our rooms were Sago Cay 5310 and 5312 std views.
Our rooms had a view of the monorail , part of the lagoon and the convention center. I came to learn a few days later that our balcony could be quite noisy during the day because there was a driveway for trucks behind the convention center and as I sat out to read the paper as DD napped one day it could be quite loud as the trucks made their way. The other end of Sago Cay is probably better howvever they are probably considered lagoon views. Not a big deal and I wasn't upset because spreading out with the connecting rooms was great!!!
After lunch at Gasperillas,WE headed to MK and it was hot!!! We usually never do parks in the middle of the day but it was DD3 first trip to DW and she wanted tosee the castle. WE watched the Cinderella show in front of the castle and met some charactersfor autographs and pictures. Then got a seat for the parade and watched. Headed back to the room for showers and then over to OHana;s for dinner. Loved the covenience of the monorail!! Back to MK and rode PIrates of Carribean, and started collecting pressed pennies. Headed back to GF AND watched fireworks from outside the front of sago Cay. Kids loved the turndown service with chocolates and looked forward to it each night we returned to our rooms!!
DAY 2
EE at MK. We were 1st at turnstiles and did Carousal, Dumbo, Peter Pan, Snow White and Small world by 8:25. Then Pooh, Tea cups, Buzz. Dh, dd8 and DS 5 were riding SM over and over. WEnt to meet Ariel in her Grotto and then headed to ToonTown to ride Barnstormer and meet some characters.Back to GF for early lunch.
Took boat to MK and then boat to FW to see HDDR at 5:00. WE all loved it!!! DH says it's a must next time we go!!! Took bus to MGM and saw Muppets and rode TofT several times.
(As much as we loved our stay at GF, the fact that we shared the bus with CR and Poly was kinda of annoying especially late at night when kids were tired!!!)
DAY 3
DD8 and DD5 started the day with the Pirate Cruise which they absolutely loved!!! DD3 was originally scheduled to go but grandma offered to take her to 1900 PF for breakfast with Alice and I figured she'd enjoy that more. Plus they pair them up in the PC and an odd # would start the cruise out with a potential problem. DH and I had a wonderful, quiet, and delicious breakfast at GF Cafe.
WEnt to the pool for a while and then headed to Epcot for dinner at LeCellier. Got there early and rode Spaceship EArth and Honey I Shrunk the Aud. Had a great dinner (as usual) at Le cellier and headed around World Showcase for kids to do masks. Watched Illuminations and headed home.
DAY 4
Got to Ak for 9:05. DH went to FP Dinosaur and then we Rode Kali rapids 3 times with no wait. Saw IT's Tough to be a Bug no wait and then to Dinoland, Rode the Dumbo like dinosaur ride and then DD8 and I rode Primeval Whirl10 min wait. (DD5 was not 48inches for this ride but was 48inches for RnR at MGM with the same shoes!!!!)
WE all saw Tarzan Rocks at 10:45--good show!!! Then I took DD3 to Camp Micky to meet characters and the rest went to ride Dinosaur. Had great pulled pork sandwiches at Flame treeBarbQ.
Back to GF for naps and showers.
Dinner at Coral Reef (one of our favorites and a must do every time). Then took boat to BC and had the Kitchen sink at Beaches and Cream for dessert!!! WAited a long time for a table there but the kids had been talking about ordering that for weeks so we waited about 50 minutes for a table. (we didn't come close to finishing it --but it was fun trying!!)
DAY 5
PSB at Norway at 8:30. DH ran to TT and got FP's for after breakfast. The character interaction was great at PSB the food was so-so. WE tryed this because we wern't thrilled with CRT our last 2 trips. Did TT with the FP and then to MGM.
SAw Little mermaid, Millionaire, metWoody, Buzz, Jessie, Mike,Sulleyand then to GF for naps.
Back to MGM for parade at 5:30--we liked this parade better than MK this yr!!! and then to Brown Derby for FDP!! This was our best meal of the week!!! Did Tof T and then to Fantasmic!!!!
DAY 6
DD3 and I did EE at MK and she must have met close to 20 characters as we entered right beofre MAin ST. By the time we made it to Fantasyland there was a 20 min wait for Peter Pan which we did. Then to Toon Town to ride Barnstormer 3 times (5 min wait). Had lunch at Harbour House and back to GF to meet friends.
DHand kids headed to Blizzard Beach from 9-11:30 and then it got too crowded.
WEnt with friends to Boma and this was great meal!!! Then checked out AKL resort. Next to DD to do some souvenir shopping!!
DAY 7
AK did tough to be bug, KAli rapids, Dinosaur, Primeval whirl. Lunch at Flame tree again and then back to GF pool for Margaritas and swimming on last full day. Kids love the pool with the slide and waterfall at GF.
Epcot for casual dinner at world Showcase. Some had Mexico and some had Chinese food. Finished masks and watched Illuminations again.
DAY 8
EE at Mgm for RnR and Tof T. did them 2 times and headed back to GF to check out!!! See you next year!!
DAY 1
After 3 nights at HRH we had finished all at Univeral and headed over early on Sat 7/5 to our 1st stay at GF. Arrived at 11:00 and our rooms were ready!!!! I had only requested adjoining rooms, but received connecting rooms which I was very happy about because the HRH had given us this and it was very convenient. Our rooms were Sago Cay 5310 and 5312 std views.
Our rooms had a view of the monorail , part of the lagoon and the convention center. I came to learn a few days later that our balcony could be quite noisy during the day because there was a driveway for trucks behind the convention center and as I sat out to read the paper as DD napped one day it could be quite loud as the trucks made their way. The other end of Sago Cay is probably better howvever they are probably considered lagoon views. Not a big deal and I wasn't upset because spreading out with the connecting rooms was great!!!
After lunch at Gasperillas,WE headed to MK and it was hot!!! We usually never do parks in the middle of the day but it was DD3 first trip to DW and she wanted tosee the castle. WE watched the Cinderella show in front of the castle and met some charactersfor autographs and pictures. Then got a seat for the parade and watched. Headed back to the room for showers and then over to OHana;s for dinner. Loved the covenience of the monorail!! Back to MK and rode PIrates of Carribean, and started collecting pressed pennies. Headed back to GF AND watched fireworks from outside the front of sago Cay. Kids loved the turndown service with chocolates and looked forward to it each night we returned to our rooms!!
DAY 2
EE at MK. We were 1st at turnstiles and did Carousal, Dumbo, Peter Pan, Snow White and Small world by 8:25. Then Pooh, Tea cups, Buzz. Dh, dd8 and DS 5 were riding SM over and over. WEnt to meet Ariel in her Grotto and then headed to ToonTown to ride Barnstormer and meet some characters.Back to GF for early lunch.
Took boat to MK and then boat to FW to see HDDR at 5:00. WE all loved it!!! DH says it's a must next time we go!!! Took bus to MGM and saw Muppets and rode TofT several times.
(As much as we loved our stay at GF, the fact that we shared the bus with CR and Poly was kinda of annoying especially late at night when kids were tired!!!)
DAY 3
DD8 and DD5 started the day with the Pirate Cruise which they absolutely loved!!! DD3 was originally scheduled to go but grandma offered to take her to 1900 PF for breakfast with Alice and I figured she'd enjoy that more. Plus they pair them up in the PC and an odd # would start the cruise out with a potential problem. DH and I had a wonderful, quiet, and delicious breakfast at GF Cafe.
WEnt to the pool for a while and then headed to Epcot for dinner at LeCellier. Got there early and rode Spaceship EArth and Honey I Shrunk the Aud. Had a great dinner (as usual) at Le cellier and headed around World Showcase for kids to do masks. Watched Illuminations and headed home.
DAY 4
Got to Ak for 9:05. DH went to FP Dinosaur and then we Rode Kali rapids 3 times with no wait. Saw IT's Tough to be a Bug no wait and then to Dinoland, Rode the Dumbo like dinosaur ride and then DD8 and I rode Primeval Whirl10 min wait. (DD5 was not 48inches for this ride but was 48inches for RnR at MGM with the same shoes!!!!)
WE all saw Tarzan Rocks at 10:45--good show!!! Then I took DD3 to Camp Micky to meet characters and the rest went to ride Dinosaur. Had great pulled pork sandwiches at Flame treeBarbQ.
Back to GF for naps and showers.
Dinner at Coral Reef (one of our favorites and a must do every time). Then took boat to BC and had the Kitchen sink at Beaches and Cream for dessert!!! WAited a long time for a table there but the kids had been talking about ordering that for weeks so we waited about 50 minutes for a table. (we didn't come close to finishing it --but it was fun trying!!)
DAY 5
PSB at Norway at 8:30. DH ran to TT and got FP's for after breakfast. The character interaction was great at PSB the food was so-so. WE tryed this because we wern't thrilled with CRT our last 2 trips. Did TT with the FP and then to MGM.
SAw Little mermaid, Millionaire, metWoody, Buzz, Jessie, Mike,Sulleyand then to GF for naps.
Back to MGM for parade at 5:30--we liked this parade better than MK this yr!!! and then to Brown Derby for FDP!! This was our best meal of the week!!! Did Tof T and then to Fantasmic!!!!
DAY 6
DD3 and I did EE at MK and she must have met close to 20 characters as we entered right beofre MAin ST. By the time we made it to Fantasyland there was a 20 min wait for Peter Pan which we did. Then to Toon Town to ride Barnstormer 3 times (5 min wait). Had lunch at Harbour House and back to GF to meet friends.
DHand kids headed to Blizzard Beach from 9-11:30 and then it got too crowded.
WEnt with friends to Boma and this was great meal!!! Then checked out AKL resort. Next to DD to do some souvenir shopping!!
DAY 7
AK did tough to be bug, KAli rapids, Dinosaur, Primeval whirl. Lunch at Flame tree again and then back to GF pool for Margaritas and swimming on last full day. Kids love the pool with the slide and waterfall at GF.
Epcot for casual dinner at world Showcase. Some had Mexico and some had Chinese food. Finished masks and watched Illuminations again.
DAY 8
EE at Mgm for RnR and Tof T. did them 2 times and headed back to GF to check out!!! See you next year!!
