My first trip report-Kennedy Space Center, Disney Dream and Universal Studios - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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My first trip report-Kennedy Space Center, Disney Dream and Universal Studios
I alway read trip reports but have never wrote one. Hopefully everyone find mine as interesting as I find all of yours.
Cast Me DW 44
DH 45
DS1 14
DS2 11
Plans discussed since November 2010 made in January 2011 while stuck at home because of 12 inches of snow!
Plans were:
July 9 Fly in early, head to Kennedy Space Center, dinner, stay at Radisson at the Port.
July 10 -15 Disney Dream doubloe dip
July 15-17 Hard Rock Hotel Universal, Islands of Adventure, City Walk, fly home late on the 17th
Reality: Followed plans to a T but shuttle launch did cause quite a crowd at Kennedy.
Day 1
July 9 Alarm was set for 3:50. Woke boys up and dressed. My dad picked us up which was very nice of him since he lives 40 minutes away from us. We were at airport by 4:30 and had bags checked and through security by 5:00. Grabbed some bagels, water, juice and a diet Coke for me and had a short wait before boarding. Flight was uneventful and we were in Orlando about 15 minutes early 9:15 their time. (8:15 for us). DH went to check in for car and I went to wait for luggage. Luggage was verrrry slow but we were in the car and headed for Kennedy by 10:00.
I planned our trip before the shuttle launch was announced and we considered skipping Kennedy because we knew it would be crowded but decided to try anyway. The wait to buy tickets was ridiculous. We stood in line for over 75 minutes. Ie was very crowded but amazingly, the biggest problems seemed to be their computer programs to sell tickets is soooo slow. Umm you can send people to space but you can't sell tickets any faster???? Once we got our tickets the crowd was managed really well and it never seemed too bad.
We hopped on the bus tour right away and enjoyed the tour very much. There are different stops and you decide how long you want to stay at each. All the tour guides we had were very good but I did get a little uncomfortable with one thing. Every guide we had, talked for 5-10 minutes about all the people losing their jobs because of the end of the space shuttle program. Not believe me, I totally sympathize with them but one mention would have been enough. I do not bury my head in the sand about what is happening but my vacation is my time to escape. Everything else was really great and interesting enough to keep both boys going. We skipped lunch but shared a cinnamon pretzel, drank a lot and DS2 had some dippin dots.
Around 4:15 we headed out. We headed over to Grills for dinner. Had a short wait. Dh and I both had fish tacos DS1 had shrimp scampi and DS2 had crab legs. Everything was yummy and we watched the Carnival Dream head out.
We then headed down to Ron Jon's for a little souveneir shopping. Finally we checked in at the Radisson. I verified I was on the 10:00 am shuttle and the clerk told me I was the first name on the list. We unloaded, parked the rental in cruise parking and went for a swim. About 9:30 we headed in and everyone fell asleep pretty quickly since we had been going for so long!
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I woke up about 7:00 and adjusted the luggage a bit, got ready and made just enough noise to get everyone else up. We had a coupon for two free breakfasts but breakfast buffet just didn't sound appealing. We had seen a dunkin donuts on our way to Ron Jon's but did not remember how close it was. Stopped at the desk and they said about a mile. No problem, I walk 5 miles 3X a week nd go to gym 3X a week, kids play soccer, baseball, run track and hubby runs. We will just walk. Now granted we are in sandals and unfamilar with the area but after 35 minutes and no donuts in sight, we turned around. (Mapquested when we got home and it was 2 miles away so we were probably just about there!)
Walked back to the McDonalds across from the hotel! Went back to hotel and there our tons of people waiting out front for shuttle. a good hour before they said to meet. We head to room and get luggage and join the mass of people. Around 9:30 hotel staff start checking with groups of people to verify name and time. He gets to us and can't find our info, OH NO!! I tell him when I checked in, we were first on list. Oops, his thumb is over the first name, ours! Shuttle gets there and he loads us in order so we snag the first 2 seats! Shuttle drops us off about 10:10 DH and DS1 stay with luggage and DS2 and I head in. My shoes set off metal detector but still got in fairly quick.
Boarding number 4 which I am completely happy with but castaway club line stops me right in front of the guy handing out numbers. He starts chatting and asked if we were celebrating anything. I tell him our 20th anniversary and he takes my card and changes it to a 2. Scorrre! Check in, grab seats and wait about an hour. Fight our way through when the call our number. Seriously, if they are on 2 and you have a 14 scoot back!
Head to cabanas for a quick lunch, change into suits and hit the aquaduck 4 times. Even motion sick prone DH rode once! DS2 checked out the Edge for awhile. Head to our room 10086. I was surprising family with a gift basket and I knew we would have our castaway club gift but was not expecting a floral bouquet waiting. My very frugal mother had ordered them from her and my dad. So sweet! I called to thank them, unpacked, headed to saftey drill and finally a Bahama Mama at sail-a-way party.
Watched us sail away for awhile and then headed to opening show. Ron Pearson, a comedian. We enjoyed it and laughed quite a bit. Showered and changed between show and dinner and even snagged some family pictures. (We are pretty low maintenance) Dinner first night was enchanted garden. Lobster ravioli was awesome. Other food was good also. Servers were Rocque from India and Constantine (Bulgaria, I think) They were very good. Rocque reminded me of Ray Romano. Seemed serious but was actually very funny. They were very efficient. DS2 was feeling a little sick but I think he was just very tired so I headed back to room with him. Dh followed pretty quickly after but DS1 went to Vibe until 1:30 am!
Fun first day on the ship.
Quick thought. Our other cruises we arrived around 1:30-2:00 and walked right on. I decided to try the early morning arrival and it worked perfect and did give us some great aqauduck time. That being said,not sure it was worth all the stressing I did to make it happen. I think I will just play it by ear next time.
__________________
Debbie
Last edited by soccerdisney; 07-22-2011 at 03:04 PM..
Great start! I think I would have given up on KSC if the line to buy tickets was 75 minutes long. Yikes!
We kept thinking it would get better. Glad we didn't bail because it was worth it. DH and I had been there on our honeymoon but the boys had never been there and I am glad they were able to see and understand some things.
Thanks for all the positive encouragement. As I said I have never wrote a report before and I appreciate the kind words. Makes me realize I need to comment a little more instead of just reading!
__________________
Debbie
Last edited by soccerdisney; 07-22-2011 at 03:07 PM..
Reason: beause I think faster than I type!
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