It really is – the moment you land in Orlando and hear the word “Disney” for the first time you are transformed.
We left Philly on 8/20 and arrived in Orlando about 430pm that same day. Flight was thankfully uneventful and the girls really seem to get a kick out of flying so they were pretty good the whole time. We used Disney’s Magical Express which could not have been easier. We said goodbye to our bags at the airport and did not see them again until someone put them in our hotel room – wonderful!
We stayed at All Star Movies – a “moderate” priced hotel, read:cheapest, and you know what – it was fine overall. Transportation to and from (mostly to) the parks was crowded and we had to stand a lot but overall it was okay. The room was clean, the hotel had two pools, the food at the hotel was really quite good and it had a great gift shop – what more could one ask for, especially since the time we spent at the hotel really was quite minimal. Maybe if we were in a closer hotel it would have been different but we maximized our time at the parks so we really only spent one earlyish night at “home” while we were there.
As soon as we were checked in, we freshened up, packed a few things and headed right to the Magic Kingdom. The looks on the girls faces when the walked into the park and turned down Main Street and saw Cinderella’s Castle for the first time was worth the entire cost of the trip. It was dusk so the castle was lit up and the whole place just looked stunning.
We got there at a great time too because we managed to hit all the big money rides on the very first try – the Prince Charming Regal Carousel was our first one and from there we were hooked – It’s A Small World, Peter Pan’s Flight and Snow White’s Scary Adventures were all taken care of the first night!
Day 2 – Magic Kingdom
While the girls slept the Fairy Godmother paid them a visit and left Princess dresses – Belle for Rowan and Cinderella for Lily – their personal favourites. Again, the look of wonderment on waking and seeing dresses laid out for them was fantastic. The dresses were there for a reason however as we had an early morning reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table for breakfast with the Princesses. Greeted by Cinderella we then ascended the spiral staircase up into the castle where the dining room awaited us. Arial, Belle, Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) and Jasmine all came through the room and spent a few minutes with every table.
From breakfast it was onto Dumbo the Flying Elephant – every amusement park we go to involves me riding elephants with the girls. A quick change into more comfortable dresses for the girls and off to The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. A walk around the castle put us in line for our first autograph of the trip and who was it but the Fairy Godmother – Rowan thanked her for the princess dresses and she told her she was very welcome. We watched the show at the castle and then hopped aboard a raft and headed to Tom Sawyer’s Island. Took a ride around the park on the Frontier Railroad and did Splash Mountain twice. Thank you fast pass! We watched the Main Street parade and then headed back to the hotel. We had been up so late the night before and up so early for breakfast that the girls were done. Dinner at the hotel and then a dip in both pools and we called it an early night.
Day 3 – Hollywood Sudios
This park was not really even on my list of places to visit while we were in Disney but Monday was a free day for us (no reservations anywhere) so instead of a water park we chose to go here instead.
We wandered around not really sure what to do or where to go and ended up watching Beauty and the Beast on stage – it was fantastic, the entire story told in 30 minutes with costumes and props that were Broadway worthy. Rowan was in heaven. We went to some character meet and greets and saw Leo and Annie from Little Einsteins, Winnie the Pooh and FroZone with Mr Incredible. We watched the Pixar Countdown to Fun Parade and headed over to Muppet Vision 3D – Parker’s favourite. Parker and Rowan went and did the Star Wars ride called Star Tours and then we all got lucky and got into the Sci Fi Diner for dinner. Cool restaurant where you sit in cars and they have clips from all these crazy 50’s Sci Fi movies playing on huge screen – like you are at a drive in.
Day 4 – Epcot
The most walking possible in a park. We barely saw half of it though, just not the place for kids that are our kids ages. The highlight for the girls was our dinner reservation at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall where we dined with the princesses again. First order of business however – fast pass for Soarin’ – totally worth it! Rowan and I did it before dinner and Parker and Rowan got to do it after dinner. Epcot was open late that night for park guests so when the park closed we got to stay later and it was a lot less crowded which was really nice. We traveled through all the countries but did not really stop in any of them, just not to the girls liking. We did tour Canada however J We went to Paris and had lunch at Les Chefs de France where Ratatouille stopped by our table and we made the girls stop so Parker and I could get a beer in Germany. Dinner with the princesses in Norway where Belle was the greeting princess and then Aurora, Cinderella, Snow White and Arial made their way around the tables. The girls brought their princess dresses to change into for dinner again. We watched the night show Illuminations and then the park closed to the non Disney guests and we were able to get into The Seas with Nemo and Friends and then Turtle Talk with Crush.
Day 6 – Animal Kingdom
I was really looking forward to going to the Animal Kingdom. As soon as we got there I went and grabbed fast passes for Kilimanjaro Safaris. The first thing the girls wanted to do – get tattoos. We spent a lot of time in the Africa section of Animal Kingdom. I found it to be the most lively, entertaining and it was where the Safari was and our lunch reservations. We got onto the Safari and it did not disappoint. We drove though mud and rivers and saw great animals along the way. Lunch at Tusker House where the food was delicious, the décor was very cool and best of all – they had Tusker Beer! We got some pretty heavy rain that afternoon so we missed a couple of things but we went in to see It’s Tough to be a Bug which was awesome except when the seats buzzed you like you had been stung – the kids were not big fans of that one. We also saw the Finding Nemo stage show which was terrific. A couple of character greetings here as well. And then this park closes before dark so we went back to the hotel for another easy dinner and a dip in the pool after dark where we met a nice kid who took a picture of me and the girls for us.
Day 7 – Magic Kingdom
And boy did we do the Magic Kingdom. First up the character parade started right as we walked through the main entrance. Stopped to watch that of course. Then to Adventureland where we met Rosetta and Tinkerbell. Then to the Magic Carpets of Aladdin ride followed by Pirates of the Caribbean then the Jungle Cruise. Next stop Liberty Square and the Haunted Mansion. Parker wanted to do this ride the whole time and we finally got to it only for them to have technical difficulties while we were on it resulting in us being stuck for about 10 minutes in the same spot while they worked it out. Over to Frontierland and the Country Bear Jamboree. Back to Adventureland and the Swiss Family Treehouse for me and Rowan. A meet and greet with Peter Pan and then the stage show at the castle again but this time we had a great spot and we saw the whole thing. Back to Frontierland where Parker and Rowan rode Splash Mountain again. Walked around and walked right into PhilarMagic which was a very neat 3D experience show. Over to dinner with Winnie the Pooh and Friends at the Crystal Palace. Then the night time Light Parade. A full day!
Day 8 – Magic Kingdom for the last time.
The last full day of our trip and we decided to spend it where we started and where we had the most fun. First up a bus to Epcot and then a monorail to the Contemporary Hotel for Breakfast at Chef Mickey’s – honestly not my favourite character meal but the kids enjoyed it. Here we got to meet Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto and Donald Duck. Monorail back to the Magic Kingdom for a meet and greet with Daisy Duck. Off to Le Chapeau for required mouse ears and then onto Tomorrowland where we had yet to explore. First up the Laugh Factory where Parker got to play the role of Sully on the big screen. Then a meet and greet with Buzz Lightyear and on to the People Mover for a leisurely ride around Tomorrowland. After that Parker and Rowan headed to Space Mountain and Lily and I did the Astro Orbiter. Then we all went to the Tomorrowland Speedway – such fun! On to Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin for the second time and into line to meet Rapunzel. Parker held our spot while the girls and I ran over to get drinks but also hopped on the Mad Tea Party as well. Met with Rapunzel and our trip had come to an end. One last bus ride back to the hotel for some dinner and packing and then up at 2am to catch the bus at 3am to get to the airport for a 6am flight. The best part about the time of that flight? One, we missed the impact Hurricane Irene had on our area just a few short hours later and two, the girls slept the entire plane ride.
Thoughts and impressions of our overall experience. Cannot wait to go back! Having the meal plan was a definite must do. It solved having to carry as much cash around and having advance reservations is a must as well. Hotel was good for the money but next time we would stay at All Star Sports because of the route the bus loop takes. We spent more than we intended to on incidentals that became souvenirs and we over packed since the hotel had laundry. All these things we will remember for next time we go which we hope will be sooner rather than later.
Thank you Disney for the trip of a lifetime see you real soon!
fantastic! I can't wait to get back there as well...it has been far too long for me.
ReplyDeleteGlad you had such a great time, and thanks for sharing the magic!