our magical family WDW vacation jan 22-feb.1
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Splash_Lover · 02-23-2010, 03:57 PM

Vacation date: Jan. 22- feb. 1, 2010

Passengers on our magical journey: Keith (myself)
Kristie ( my loving wife who does disney for me and the girl)
Gabrielle (also known as G my Disney Daughter)

Resort: stayed off property at Bluegreen The Fountains on International Drive

Days at WDW parks: 8

Magical moments: too many to count but tryed to put them all in report

Weather: warm to downright cold

Crowds: light to moderate

lukeandbrookesmom · 02-23-2010, 03:58 PM

Great start! Can't wait to read all about it

Splash_Lover · 02-23-2010, 03:59 PM

Teasley family WDW vacation day 1 and 2
Day 1- first day in orlando

We got up at 4 am to get ready for our 8 am flight,packed the car and headed to the airport. Arriving in Orlando a little earlier than scheduled at 11:45 and picked up the rental car from Budget, a Toyota Prius hybrid. 2 toll booths later we got to our resort located on the south end of International drive just south of seaworld and a couple of minutes from the priemium outlets. We stayed at the Bluegreen The Fountains resort that we have a condo membership with. We were able to check in early at about about 1pm and got our things settled in our room. The resort was very nice. Our room had 2 very large bedrooms,2 baths, a whirlpool in the master bedroom, screened in porch overlooking the 75,000 sq feet tropical themed outdoor pool, full kitchen, and washer and dryer. There also was a indoor-outdoor pool at the clubhouse across from us that we used most of the time.

After getting settled in we went to get grocerys for our stay at the Publix super market about a block away. Ordering pizza for dinner, rested a while then headed to Downtown Disney. We started out by T-Rex and Gabrielle was already asking where the rides were even though we had told her there would be non as we needed to rest before our first day at the parks in the morning. To give her a ride we went down and took the water taxi from the pleasure island stop to the West Side. Checked out the magic shop of course and saw one new trick that I really wanted but talked myself out of it. Went into the Candy Cauldron and loved the unique dipped apples especially the Mickey Mouse ones. Walked back through pleasure island toward the marketplace. It was hard to see all the clubs shut down like Adventures Club and the Comedy warehouse. In 1991 I saw Marc Cohn in concert at pleasure island out in front of the comedy warehouse. We were stopped as we entered pleasure island from the west side and Gabrielle took part in a hula hoop contest and came in second then we all participated in musical hoops and Kristie and I got ourselves eliminated so the kids could compete against each other. Gabrielle won and got a button for winning. We then made a stop at the Harley store and took some pics on the bikes there. Next we spent some time letting Gabrielle play at the lego store. She loves to build lego cars and race them. If you can’t find wheels make sure to ask the workers as they keep them in their aprons. We then went to World of Disney and looked around a little but we were all too tired so we headed back to the resort to get some sleep as we had an early morning the next day.

Day 2- Epcot

We got up early to go to epcot for the Princess storybook dining at Akershus Royal banquet Hall at the Norway pavilion at Epcot. Kristie put Gabrielles hair up in curlers the night before so she would have curly hair and she wore her Snow White dres, she was so cute. We had never done a character meal ADR that started before the park opened so we got there earlier than we needed, Our ADR was for 8:05 and we got to Epcot around 7am. When we got there the parking lot was open but there was nobody manning the booths. We were not sure what to do but cars kept going through so we went in and parked then asked several CM’s and security about how we needed to pay for parking when no one was there and they all said that when you arrived that early you didn’t have to pay for parking, it was on the park.We wanted to make sure but no one would take our money.

While we were waiting to get into the park, for the first breakfast at 8:05 they let you in at 7:45, we met this really nice local retired couple who come to the parks several times a week for pin trading. They have fun trading pins and get their exercise in the process. They showed us the pin sets they were working on and showed us the hard to get ones to look for and traded us some of their extras that went with our sets.

After checking in at the breakfast we waited only a short time before being taken inside. Gabrielle hade no idea until we got inside that we were doing the princes breakfast, she was very surprised and loved it. You first get in line to meet and have your picture taken with Belle. We loved bell and she was very sweet with Gabrielle. You are then seated and you start out with a buffet consisting of Granola, fresh fruit,berries,biscuits,pastries,muffinsyogurt, pudding,smoked salmon,herring then you are brought out to your table scrambled eggs,potatoes,bacon,and sausage links served family style. The food was very delicious. The princesses started coming out one by one starting with Cinderella, then Aurora, Snow White, and Ariel. They were all very nice. You get an 5x7 and several 4x6 photos of the session with Belle, they also take a picture of your Dining reservation slip that goes on your photopass showing your time, date, server and such.

After breakfast, we signed up for the Kim Possible mission and got a 11 am start time to go to Italy for our Kimmunicator then I walked the photos out to the car. For our first ride we went on spaceship earth,we all liked it but Kristie thought the best part is at the end when they put your picture in the story of your future. We stopped in the activities part at the exit and did the shuffleboard game where you power the city. We then headed over to the land to get fast passes for soarin. We got the passes but decided to go on the ride right away since the standby wait time was only 20 min. This was our first time riding soarin and we all loved it, one of our favorite rides.

Next we headed to the world showcase for our Kim Possible Mission. On our way we stopped to see Mulan. We picked up our Kimmunicator and our mission was in Japan. Before starting the mission we stopped in Morrocco to see Jasmine and Alladin. Both were great and interacted so well with all of us. We loved the Kim Possible mission, it was so much fun finding everything. Since Kristies Birthday was in January we had gotten her a birthday button and when we went into the shop in japan the CM at the register did a song and drum birthday song for her. When we finished the adventure we selected another one in Norway to do later.

We took the boat back across to future land and did Honey I shrunk the audience, we liked it but had a hard time with it not being clear a lot of the time. Next we rode Journey into Imagination with figment. Decided it was time to eat lunch we went to the Electric Umbrella. I had the bacon double cheeseburger, Kristie the chicken nuggets, Gabrielle the kids cheeseburger. We all liked the food there. Next we went to innovations west and did the great piggy bank game which was very fun and then did the Disney Visa character meet and greet. They had Mickey,Minney, and Goofy. They were so much fun. Mickey kissed Kristie on the hand and we got hugs from all of them. We really like the free 5x7 photo we got with them. Next we went to the Seas with Nemo and friends. We rode the Nemo ride but didn’t really care for it, Gabrielle even thought it was just ok. Next was Turtle time with Crush which continues to be a favorite. Gabrielle hot picked to talk with crush and he talked for quite a while with her.

Gabrielle got a lot of attention wearing her Snow White dress, all day people came up to her and called her a princess especially teen girls were so sweet to her. We headed back over to ride Soarin again using our fastpasses then started back to the world showcase to do our next Kim Possible mission. On the way we stopped to do the Grand Fiesta Tour boat ride then headed to Norway. Since it was 5 pm we did the mission and decided to head back and pin traded our way back to the park exit and return to the resort. We were all getting tired so it was the perfect time to go back. We planned to swim a little but a wrong turn on the way back caused us to get back to late since we wanted Gabrielle in bed so she was rested up for the Animal Kingdom the next day.

To be continued……

lissybri · 02-23-2010, 04:11 PM

Great start. Sounds like you had a wonderful first day. Can't wait to read more.

B.M. · 02-23-2010, 06:29 PM

Great start!!

**Colexis Mom** · 02-23-2010, 07:24 PM

Great updates!

**Cam22** · 02-23-2010, 08:53 PM

Great first two days!

**chezp** · 02-24-2010, 02:19 AM

Great first couple of days!

home4us123 · 02-24-2010, 08:22 AM

Sounds like you had a lot of fun. Soarin' is our favorite ride also! Can't wait for more

Splash_Lover · 02-24-2010, 08:07 PM

Day 3- Animal kingdom

Today is all of our first visit to the Animal Kingdom. Arrived about 1/2 hour before opening and took very little time getting in. While waiting at the rope for the park opening Kristie went to see how much ECV would run just incase she needed one but she was not allowed in to the rental area so close to opening as the CM's told her there was too much of a chance getting ran over by those running to Expedition everest at rope drop. Enjoyed The Adventure Begins opening show with Mickey,Minnie, and Pluto.

At rope drop we took our time heading to Expedition Everest as we wanted a easy going non rushed experience, the theme for our trip to just take it easy and enjoy without being stressed out by pushing it. We got to EE and it was closed because of mechanical dificulties so we got fast passes to ride it later. We headed back toward Dino land and stopped to do the first show of Finding Nemo. We all loved it, so well done. We sat up toward the front and learned why you want to sit in the first row of the upper section so you can see all of the show without having to turn around. The Characters were well done especially loved Bruce the shark and the actors were very good who controlled them. Would recommend as a not to be missed show.

Next we went to Dinoland USA. Our first ride of the day was Primevil Whirl. Gabrielle and I went on it as Kristie cannot do rollercoasters. Animal Kingdom did not have a lot of rides she could go on. While waiting in line Gabrielle struck up a friendship with a girl her age who was riding alone so we invited her to ride with us. Enjoyed the ride but the spinning car almost did me in, Gabrielle loved it. Next Gabrielle and Kristie rode Triceratop spin while I did a little pin trading and traded for a limited edition christmas chip and dale pin. This was a favorite for Gabrielle to ride.

Next we headed for Dinosaur, Kristie couldn't ride as it was too rough a ride so Gabrielle and I rode it. She was very excited to ride it but that changed as soon as the ride started. She didn't like the darkness and how loud it was and it brought a very long session of tears and the never going on it again speach. I was surprised at how long it took to calm her down. For myself I wasn't very impressed by the ride, I am surprised that it gets compared to the Indy ride at Disneyland because of the ride vehicles. Not a must do in my opinion. From here we did the character greet with Goofy and Pluto at Dinoland.

We did a early lunch around 11 am at flametree Barbeque. I had the ribs which ere good, Kristie had the pork sandwich and liked it while Gabrielle had the hotdog. The ducks were present but did not bother us.

Next it was off to Expedition Everest and it was up and running. Gabrielle and I both loved this ride it was so much fun. Great theming and a very enjoyable thrill ride. From here we walked to Kilimanjaro safaris pin trading as we went. We stopped to get Gabrielle a Apple and then proceded to the ride. The stand by line was at 30 Min. so we got fast passes that would be good in 45 min so we did the Pangani exploration trail. We really enjoyed our walk here and the best part was the Gorilla enclosure. The Gorilla's were very active as were all the animals today. We spent at least a half hour watching the Gorilla's.

It was time to use our fast passes so we entered the fast pass line and waited only about 10 minutes till we boarded the ride. It was a little rough for Kristie but she was glad she went. The animals were out big time and active. Saw Hippos, Elephants, Giraffes, lions and so much more. Took some great pictures and enjoyed the atmosphere of the ride. Definitly a favorite for all ages.

Next we did character greets with Flick, terk, baloo, and King Louis. Then it was off to Its tough to be a bug. We liked the show, I thought it was fun even the stink bug.

It is amazing at how quickly time can pass especially with all the walking and pin trading. We stopped at the drums so gabrielle could play them and since it was almost 4 and the park closes at 5 we decided to end the day on Kali river rapids. Gabrielle and I went on it and loved it. We only got a little wet.

We decided to call it a day and head out before we were to exhausted.

When we got back we decided to go back to downtown Disney and eat at T-Rex. We were seated in the fern room. It was a lot of fun especially for Gabrielle. She loved the meteor showers every 20 min when the Dinosaurs come to life. The food was very good. It was fun walking around checking out all the rooms. The ice room is the coolest but is a little dark and the smallest room. We went to pin traders and once upon a toy before heading back for the night and to get ready for the next day.

Next Hollywood studios......