DATES: Nov 26-Dec 3
WHO: Karen (36), trip planner
Brian (35), earned the money for the trip
Emily (8), waiting for first ride on ToT and RnRC
Noah (4), waiting for Peter Pan's Flight and Buzz Lightyear
Halle (2), not sure what she wants to do
Joel (2.5 mo), along for the ride
HOTEL: Courtyard at LBV and Shades of Green
DAY 1
Saturday, Nov. 25: After a night of about 3-4 hours sleep, we woke up around 4am to load our car for the 15-minute drive to the Huntsville, AL airport. The kids all awoke easily and were exited to be headed to the plane. My sister drove us to the airport and dropped us off at the curb with our 3 suitcases, 3 backpacks, 1 stroller and 2 carseats. We checked our suitcases and the baby's seat at the desk and gate checked the stroller.
The flight to Atlanta left a little later than the 7am scheduled time, but still arrived on time. Because we had a stroller, we had to wait in line for an elevator to get downstairs to catch the shuttle to the next plane. That took us another 10-15 minutes. Then we had to wait for a shuttle with enough room for us all. We were at the last concourse, so the last stop. We arrived with 5-10 minutes to spare before they began boarding.
We sat on the plane for 30 minutes before takeoff. Arrived about 20 minutes late to Orlando... looked like a beautiful day. Grabbed our luggage and then went to Dollar counter to get our rental van. Wished we had our van... the middle bench seat made getting in and out very hard for our 4yo who was riding in back. The baby's car seat didn't really install properly in the middle row, either, but there was no other place we could put him. We headed to Courtyard to check in. Halle fell asleep, so I waited in van with her and baby while Brian and the other kids took our bags up to the room. Then we went to SOG to get our FL resident season passes. The line at guest services was LOOONG and slow. The info on tickets was up at the desk so people who didn't know what they wanted/needed couldn't decide till they got there; it was a royal pain in the hiney to wait.
Once we got the tickets, we headed to MGM. By this time it is around 3:30 and we haven't eaten all day, except for cookies on the plane. We went to the ABC commissary for dinner (food was OK, but nothing to write home about), then walked right onto Great Movie Ride. After that we went down NY Street and enjoyed the snow and lights, then down Residential Streets to see the lights. We were beat after that, so headed back to hotel for the night. I am not in a Disney mood yet.
DAY 2
Sunday, Nov. 26: Got everyone up and out of the hotel sometime between 8 and 8:30 for 8:50 PS at Hollywood & Vine. We managed to get seated shortly after 9 for that. Breakfast was good. Noah didn't really want to eat (recurring theme during the week), but Halle made up for it by eating a ton of bacon, her favorite breakfast food. Halle enjoyed seeing the characters as long as they didn't get too close.
Went to Little Mermaid ride after breakfast and had 20 minute wait. Kids liked it a lot. Once we finished with that, we headed over to Epcot, where we had CP dinner reservations. It was beginning to rain, so we picked up some ponchos on our way out of the park.
Got to Epcot and picked up our CP passes. Should have started shopping then, but we were hungry, so we were going to head to Libery Inn to eat. Rain had stopped briefly, and Noah wanted to ride Spaceship Earth, so we walked right onto it. On our way to WS, we stopped at Ice Station Cool; my strange family all liked Beverly... go figure. From there we went to the bottom of the WS and took a friendship boat across to the America pavilion. Ate dinner at Liberty Inn; while we were there, the rain started again, this time harder. It was about time to get in line for the CP, so we went out in the rain to do that. A very kind Cast Member loaned me her umbrella to keep me and the baby dry while we waited for them to admit us to the theater. We only had to wait 10-15 minutes. We were so thankful for reserved seating, because the rain POURED during the performance!!!
The CP was definitely the highlight of our day. We were at the 5pm show. Jodi Benson was fabulous, as was the orchestra and choir. After the show ended, it was still pouring rain and we had dinner PS at Le Cellier to get to. Emily and Noah needed to go to the bathroom, so Brian ran them to the bathrooms by Liberty Inn while I took the baby and pushed Halle in the stroller across the street to the shop next door to American Adventure to buy an umbrella. I was so frazzled I didn't think to ask for my 15% discount on the umbrella, and the CMs there must not have noticed my card on my lanyard. They were helpful though; I was having a hard time getting my backpack unzipped and zipped with one hand, so they helped me out with it.
We hoofed it to Le Cellier for our 6:30 PS and had about a 10-15 minute wait before being seated. Our server Megan was very good. I asked her where the restrooms are and she asked if I was needing to change the baby. She said they didn't have a place to change him in the bathroom, but she would see what she could do. She came back and told me to let her know when I wanted to change him; the manager would let me use his office.
The food was very good.. I had the porterhouse, and Brian had one of the other steaks. The kids all ate very well, and loved their "chocolate moose" cakes.
We still hadn't had a chance to use our 15% off, so we went to MouseGear on the way out. Ended up buying some pins ... but kids were melting down in a big way, so we didn't get to browse much.
Praying for no rain tomorrow. We still don't feel terribly "Disney," but are getting there.
Karen
1988: offsite
1994: CBR
1997: Poly
2000: SOG
WHO: Karen (36), trip planner
Brian (35), earned the money for the trip
Emily (8), waiting for first ride on ToT and RnRC
Noah (4), waiting for Peter Pan's Flight and Buzz Lightyear
Halle (2), not sure what she wants to do
Joel (2.5 mo), along for the ride
HOTEL: Courtyard at LBV and Shades of Green
DAY 1
Saturday, Nov. 25: After a night of about 3-4 hours sleep, we woke up around 4am to load our car for the 15-minute drive to the Huntsville, AL airport. The kids all awoke easily and were exited to be headed to the plane. My sister drove us to the airport and dropped us off at the curb with our 3 suitcases, 3 backpacks, 1 stroller and 2 carseats. We checked our suitcases and the baby's seat at the desk and gate checked the stroller.
The flight to Atlanta left a little later than the 7am scheduled time, but still arrived on time. Because we had a stroller, we had to wait in line for an elevator to get downstairs to catch the shuttle to the next plane. That took us another 10-15 minutes. Then we had to wait for a shuttle with enough room for us all. We were at the last concourse, so the last stop. We arrived with 5-10 minutes to spare before they began boarding.
We sat on the plane for 30 minutes before takeoff. Arrived about 20 minutes late to Orlando... looked like a beautiful day. Grabbed our luggage and then went to Dollar counter to get our rental van. Wished we had our van... the middle bench seat made getting in and out very hard for our 4yo who was riding in back. The baby's car seat didn't really install properly in the middle row, either, but there was no other place we could put him. We headed to Courtyard to check in. Halle fell asleep, so I waited in van with her and baby while Brian and the other kids took our bags up to the room. Then we went to SOG to get our FL resident season passes. The line at guest services was LOOONG and slow. The info on tickets was up at the desk so people who didn't know what they wanted/needed couldn't decide till they got there; it was a royal pain in the hiney to wait.
Once we got the tickets, we headed to MGM. By this time it is around 3:30 and we haven't eaten all day, except for cookies on the plane. We went to the ABC commissary for dinner (food was OK, but nothing to write home about), then walked right onto Great Movie Ride. After that we went down NY Street and enjoyed the snow and lights, then down Residential Streets to see the lights. We were beat after that, so headed back to hotel for the night. I am not in a Disney mood yet.
DAY 2
Sunday, Nov. 26: Got everyone up and out of the hotel sometime between 8 and 8:30 for 8:50 PS at Hollywood & Vine. We managed to get seated shortly after 9 for that. Breakfast was good. Noah didn't really want to eat (recurring theme during the week), but Halle made up for it by eating a ton of bacon, her favorite breakfast food. Halle enjoyed seeing the characters as long as they didn't get too close.
Went to Little Mermaid ride after breakfast and had 20 minute wait. Kids liked it a lot. Once we finished with that, we headed over to Epcot, where we had CP dinner reservations. It was beginning to rain, so we picked up some ponchos on our way out of the park.
Got to Epcot and picked up our CP passes. Should have started shopping then, but we were hungry, so we were going to head to Libery Inn to eat. Rain had stopped briefly, and Noah wanted to ride Spaceship Earth, so we walked right onto it. On our way to WS, we stopped at Ice Station Cool; my strange family all liked Beverly... go figure. From there we went to the bottom of the WS and took a friendship boat across to the America pavilion. Ate dinner at Liberty Inn; while we were there, the rain started again, this time harder. It was about time to get in line for the CP, so we went out in the rain to do that. A very kind Cast Member loaned me her umbrella to keep me and the baby dry while we waited for them to admit us to the theater. We only had to wait 10-15 minutes. We were so thankful for reserved seating, because the rain POURED during the performance!!!
The CP was definitely the highlight of our day. We were at the 5pm show. Jodi Benson was fabulous, as was the orchestra and choir. After the show ended, it was still pouring rain and we had dinner PS at Le Cellier to get to. Emily and Noah needed to go to the bathroom, so Brian ran them to the bathrooms by Liberty Inn while I took the baby and pushed Halle in the stroller across the street to the shop next door to American Adventure to buy an umbrella. I was so frazzled I didn't think to ask for my 15% discount on the umbrella, and the CMs there must not have noticed my card on my lanyard. They were helpful though; I was having a hard time getting my backpack unzipped and zipped with one hand, so they helped me out with it.
We hoofed it to Le Cellier for our 6:30 PS and had about a 10-15 minute wait before being seated. Our server Megan was very good. I asked her where the restrooms are and she asked if I was needing to change the baby. She said they didn't have a place to change him in the bathroom, but she would see what she could do. She came back and told me to let her know when I wanted to change him; the manager would let me use his office.
The food was very good.. I had the porterhouse, and Brian had one of the other steaks. The kids all ate very well, and loved their "chocolate moose" cakes.
We still hadn't had a chance to use our 15% off, so we went to MouseGear on the way out. Ended up buying some pins ... but kids were melting down in a big way, so we didn't get to browse much.
Praying for no rain tomorrow. We still don't feel terribly "Disney," but are getting there.
Karen
1988: offsite
1994: CBR
1997: Poly
2000: SOG
