The "Thank Goodness for Normal" Trip PTR - Page 3 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
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There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
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Moving on with the current of the years.
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It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
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So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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As most people have probably experienced we had the great debate when setting up our flights...go early and try to make it a full day at the parks or go late and condsider writing off the day. DH's opinion was as long as we had dinner in the park and saw the fireworks it was worth it and I believe that if I have to turn off my own alarm in my own bed it's not vacation. So...our flight left at 1:40p. That gave us an easy morning, plenty of time to figure out long term parking and a chance at dinner in the park with our flight landing at 4:25.
We got to the airport, checked bags (measuring all in around 46 pounds) and made our way to Chickie and Pete's.
For those traveling to the Philly airport...it's not bad and it's certainly not food court food. Turns out DH and I could split a chicken strips order but it wasn't bad. DS just wanted a soda and SS is a 16 year old boy...so if it's not bolted down he's eating it.
We boarded and found seats pretty easy. Both boys want windows so we split up between two rows....huge mistake for me. The woman who ended up sitting next to me was having major life trauma and I ended up pulling out DS's homework and bribing him to do it the whole flight just to ignore her.
When we got to MCO it was a quick monorail ride(was that Walt's idea?) to the DME...or was it?
Exhibit 1:
See SS's photo. He is your typical teen so while getting off the monorail at MCO I hear "Mom, I know where DME is...you don't need to check." (Or apparently follwo signs for that matter.) So off we go following Mr. KnowItAll (his new nickname after this trip). BIG MISTAKE!!! He gets us everywhere, but DME...and I'm exceptionally proud of myself for not saying "Told you so" when we ended up going the way I wanted to begin with.
So...finally on DME we find the CBR bus loading, we're the last on...yes..we were that family. And we're at CBR in about 30 minutes.
I did online checking from home...never going any other way again. And we were waiting for a bus within 20 minutes of arrival.
Now this is where we all started to realize we might be in trouble. DS suggested skipping the park, going for a swim and just hanging out at OPR for the night. We had been here before, he considered himself an old pro and this was what we should do. We vetoed and off we went. In retrospect...we should have listened to the 7 year old and have decided we will do just that in the future. But for now...we're gluttons for punishment and off to the parks we go.
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So, after ignoring the wisdom of the 7 year old we hope on a bus to MK. We begin all trips at MK...it's not a WDW vacation for us until we see the castle. So we figure if we grab something to eat and get a few rides or see the fireworks we're good. (see photo of DH on bus)
Off to POTC, BTMR, and HM we go. They're the must sees for the family and once we do them we can go home happy. We get POTC and BTMR done and then hunger rears its ugly head. Unfortunately by this time CHH, our fav, is closed and for some reason nothing else sounds good. How can this be? We work our way around the park, not really riding anything, just soaking up the happiness. We do hop on Buzz Lightyear before fireworks and once again I get spanked by them all...that's why I haven't told them to take pics of their scores yet. It hasn't occurred to them and I don't care to have my defeat memorialized.
Just as we get out of that the fireworks start. We watch from the bridge to Tomorrowland and everyone is just . After frieworks we figure we'll head back to CBR and eat at OPR and get our mugs. Off to the buses. There's almost no wait. And with the exception of the morning we try to make rope drop that's pretty much the story of the trip for busses.
Back at OPR DS gets chicken strips, SS gets the salmon platter (which he can and may have eaten everyday), I get the turkey platter and DH gets a bacon cheeseburger. When DH realizes he could have gotten something other than a burger for a CS credit he starts banging his head. We finish eating, the boys play a few video games and it's off to find our room.
I'll admit...I forgot to request a room so we end up in Aruba in room 55. It faced the courtyard and was close to the pool, bus stop, and laundry room so all in all...good location within Aruba. But what DH and I both realized walking over is we want to try a smaller resort next time. We got our bags, unpacked and vegged out for the night. Tomorrow would be the Garden Grocer delivery, MK, and Ohana. Off to bed.
First impression of room: beds...yippee. However, the boys found someones sock in their bed so that was weird.
Worst thing: fridge didn't work
Amenities: just dandy
We tried: eating a late dinner at the food court
Result was: food was surprisingly fresh and yummy
Most Magical Moment: DH - Wishes, DS - unpacking and finding his Kevin, SS - just being with family, Me - seeing the castle
Notes for next time - travel day will be a resort day no matter what time we get there.
Sorry the park touring wasn't the greatest. We only tend to do an hour or so maximum in the park on the day we arrive and often just spend time at our resort.
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
YAYYY!! Your TR has begun!!! We were neighbors at CBR....we were in Jamaica (rm 4622) which we thought was a great location too. Sorry about finding the socks...yuck! And having to go to MK first to see the castle.....us too!! We were near the bridge to Tomorrowland! Wishes is awesome isn't it? Especially watching it with your family!!! What a perfect way to begin a trip to WDW!!! And we liked the foodcourt at OPR! Can't wait to read more!!!
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This was the trip I was going to make rope drop if it killed me...or rather the boys. I'm all for getting up (once we're in the bubble) early as need be. Not so for the boys (and that's all three of them). But they agreed to suck it up for me this one day. We had decided to grab breakfast at MSB and so SS and DS went to OPR to get a juice and play games while we got ready. They called and said they would get on a bus and meet us at the park. Works for me.
DH and I go wait for the MK bus...and wait....and wait...and wait. The only day we have bus issues and it's rope drop day. UGHHH. Finally the bus gets there and we get to the park with 15 minutes to spare. However, the boys are no where. I figured they would have beat us there by a mile. Ring, ring....hello boys...where are you? Turns out that the bus we caught out of CBR never went by OPR and there getting a "special" bus run. DH goes to the bus spot to wait for them...I can go to the rope drop and watch the show.
Ahhhh...except DH took the camera. My bad. But it was still wonderful.
SS and DS show up and it's time for MSB. This is a family first. None of us had been there before, not for so much as a cookie. DH and I got ham, egg and cheese on a coissant. DS got a cinnamon roll and SS got cereal and a cinnamon roll. OMG!!!! Or as SS put it the ham, egg, and cheese was crack on a roll....yumm-o. This would be the consistent request for the rest of the trip "Can we go to MSB for breakfast." DS like the roll, but he thinks the local Fritz's is better...he's loyal if nothing else. Didn't stop him from eating it.
After MSB we took the train to Toontown. Now that I remember about the fantasyland expansion I'm glad we hit it early. We visited Mickey's house, hit barnstormers and tried to visit the fairies. I wasn't in line mood for fairies though so we left. SS and DS wanted to do the Indy Speedway. It's one of the few rides we skipped last time so off we went. I watched and the boys rode. It was a rainy and cloudy day so I just tried to find a dry spot in the stands. After the boys went around the track it was off to tea cups. DH sits this one out. SS and DS try to make me turn green but I held out. We had a lot of fun in line for this one...we had our pin trading lanyards on and a little girl was asking questions. I'm pretty sure it cost her dad a ton to be behind us in line.
After cups it was Pooh, SW, then Mickey's Philharmagic. The last one is a DH favorite. But one of the consequences of SS's cancer is that he can't see out of his right eye and that means the 3D is lost on him so that's not a selling point for him.
At this point everyone was hungry...what to do for lunch?
Love your report. We try to make our arrival day a resort or go to DTD to get something to eat night. Maybe next time for you!!! Looks like everyone is having such a great time.
Well...what's a family to do? Sitting in the middle of Fantasyland and hungry? Why...head over to Friar's Nook of course. Dogs for all...okay...dogs for all except DS who is perfectly content with fries and apples.
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Three CS credits later we're off. We hit Peter Pan first. PP had the only "real" line we stood in the whole trip. And normally I would have either FPed it or just put it off for another day. But for some reason I thought it wouldn't be that bad. 40 minutes later we were on our boat flying over Big Ben. This was DS's only meltdown of the day. For some reason he suddenly missed both our dogs. He wanted to call and talk to them. I gave him the cell phone but he was worried they wouldn't be able to hear them so we agreed to get them souvenirs and called it good.
After flying over London we decided to walk through Liberty Square and Frontierland. HM had a line, as did BTMR. POTC however was a walk on and that's what we did. Actually it was a walk on behind a teen female soccer team. I think SS would have ridden on their boat if they had let them...but then they started giggling and one thing SS can't stand is teen girl giggling. After POTC we decided it was time for a SS first...a DOLE WHIP. That's right...I completely dropped the ball on this SS's last trip to WDW...no Dole Whip. Take away the mother of the year award. 2 snack credits later he and I were in pineapple heaven. We mosied (yup...mosied...never thought I would use it in a sentence) down Main Street and let DH wander in and out of stores. Main Street is his favorite. Took the bus back to CBR and the boys napped while I read.
Dinner tonight would be Ohana and I can honestly say...Disney lost money on SS that night.
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and made our way to Chickie and Pete's.
and have decided we will do just that in the future. But for now...we're gluttons for punishment and off to the parks we go.
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Pixie Dust
First days can be so hard to figure out!
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We work our way around the park, not really riding anything, just soaking up the happiness. We do hop on Buzz Lightyear before fireworks and once again I get spanked by them all...that's why I haven't told them to take pics of their scores yet. It hasn't occurred to them and I don't care to have my defeat memorialized. 
We only tend to do an hour or so maximum in the park on the day we arrive and often just spend time at our resort.
More please!
And having to go to MK first to see the castle.....us too!! We were near the bridge to Tomorrowland! Wishes is awesome isn't it? Especially watching it with your family!!!
Susan
Katie's graduation
That's right...I completely dropped the ball on this SS's last trip to WDW...no Dole Whip. Take away the mother of the year award. 2 snack credits later he and I were in pineapple heaven. 
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