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Trip Planning > Walt Disney World > Trip Reports > NAME- MONTH YEAR
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Revis - April 2005 Cast : Myself (Karen 33), DS Matthew (11), DD Maeghann (10), DS Mason (7), DS Mackay (6)Dates: April 16th - 20th Day 0 - Pre-trip On Tuesday I decided to take 4 of my kids to Disney that coming Saturday. We have AP's so all I needed to worry about was the room and food. I decided to do all counter service since my husband and baby would not be with us. We had just surprised the kids with a surprise trip in Dec, so I was pretty sure they would never see this coming! On Friday I spent the day packing the car while the kids were in school. Had it all done by the time they came home. Made the kids play in the backyard so they would not see the car. I went to bed at 9:30pm. Day 1 - April 16th I woke the kids up at 1:15 am. I said, come on', do you want to go to Disney World? The boys were up instantly. My oldest son tried to wake up my daughter and she kept telling him to go back to sleep because he was sleep walking! It was very funny! Then I came in the room and told her we were really going and she was up in a flash! We drove to the next street over and met our friends who had decided on Monday to go to Disney. So at least we were driving with each other to and from Disney. It was a surprise to her kids also. We had walkie talkie to communicate while we drove. So we left at 1:45am and drove straight from CT to Orlando, Florida in 1 day! We arrived at 11pm at night. We never thought we would make it that far. We were thinking we would sleep in SC or GA. I luckily had my passporter and called a hotel listed in there for "other" hotels as I had called Disney while we were in GA and they said they were booked at 100% capacity. In the passporter it was listed as a Holiday Inn Express, but when we got there, we saw it had changed to a I Drive Inn, but it was fine! We got a rate of $64 for the night and we got a complimentary breakfast also. By this point I was exhausted so we headed for bed. BTW- it was packed on all the roads around Disney. I was so scared it was going to be wall to wall people! High Point- Making it to Florida in 1 day! Low Point- SO many people in Orlando Day 2 - April 17th I had a wake up call set for 6:30am, but I was wide awake at 6am! I got all the kids up and showered and I got them some breakfast from the free continental breakfast. I was trying to find the weather channel since I had not had a chance to watch the weather in days, and I could not find it. My 6 yr old says- it is on channel 37 Mom, and sure enough, it is! I told my husband that is a sure sign my children have been to Disney 1 too many times! We were out of the hotel by 7:30 and on our way to Magic Kingdom. We parked no problem and we were at the turnstiles by 8:20. We were one of the first ones in line. At 20 of, they let us through the turnstiles right up to the tunnel. There was a wonderful cast member Clifford that talked to us. We waited and Mickey arrived at 5 of. At 9 they dropped the ropes and everyone started running! Now here I am telling my kids, no running, just walk fast and everyone else is running! So, we started running too. There was another rope on the bridge to Tomorrowland. We waited about 1 min there and then the rope dropped again. Right to Space Mountain we went! We had a great ride. We then did "big" kid rides because the baby wasn't with us. At 10, we were in Frontierland. We did Splash and BTMRR. By now it was 11, so we decided to eat lunch. Another friend of mine was at MK, so we met up for lunch together. We ate at Pinnochio Village Haus. I had a veggie burger. Very good. Then we were off on our own again because my friend likes to wander around and I have a "PLAN"! Around 2 we left to go check in to Pop. Check in went smooth and we were in the room in no time, but the 70's building is SO far away from the parking lot! The kids and I made 3 trips to the car and our arms were packed! We then headed over to EPCOT as they were letting AP holders experience Soarin today! We rode it! It was wonderful. My 10 yr old daughter LOVES it! We then got dinner in Mexico as I HAD to have a margarita! We were going to go back over to MK, but it was getting very cold so we decided to go back to the room to get sweatshirts first. On the bus the kids decided they wanted to swim and I was fine with that. I had 2 loads of laundry to do anyways!~ I did the laundry and the kids swam. I think we got to bed around 10. High Point- riding Soarin Low Point- how cold it got at night when the sun went down Day 3 - April 18th Today is MGM day! The wake up call came at 7am and the kids and I were up and going. We decided to use the bus this trip since we had no stroller to deal with. Of course we got to the bus stop JUST as the MGM bus was pulling away! We caught the next one in about 10 mins. I called my friend who we had driven down with as we were meeting them at MGM today. Her son had thrown up at 4:30am and they were going to sleep for a while and then meet us. No problem because her kids do not do RNRC and TOT. Again we were there at 8:30. At 8:40 they let us through the turnstile and up the road a little. At 9 we were off again. Running to RNRC! We were on the first RNRC car of the day! My 6 yr old was tall enough for the first time to ride it! He was so happy! After we rode it once, we got right in line again and he called Daddy while we waited for the second ride. This is my husband's #1 ride at Disney. He was so proud he was a "big" boy now! We then FP'd RNRC and rode TOT. Our friends called as we were getting on to RNRC for the 3rd time. We met up with them and walked around doing Indiana Jones, Star Tours (which they forgot to turn the lights out for us so the effect was NOT the same with the lights on!), Backlot Tour, Muppets, Who wants to be a Millionaire, The playground and The Great Movie ride. We ate lunch at Backlot Express and my 7 yr old son ran into his classmate there! Around 4:30 we split up because they were doing the Fantasmic pkg. We did RNRC one more time and went back to POP for dinner and swimming. I bought the refillable mug and we had dinner there. For the 4 kids and myself it was $37! At counter service the most I spent was $26. Then the kids swan, and I did laundry again. High Point- Riding RNRC 4 times! Low Point- paying so much at the food court Day 4 - April 19th Again we were up at 7 and at EPCOT by 8:30. They let us through the turnstile and almost up to Spaceship Earth. We waited till 9 and then the caravan of characters came and we were let in. We went right to MS and I let my 4 kids go because since there were 5 of us someone would have been by themselves. While they rode it, I went to TT and FP'd it. I was waiting for them at the exit of MS when they were done. Then we went to Honey I Shrunk the Audience and the Cast member told us Soarin was open today. So after HISTA, we rode Soarin again with no wait. Awesome! We rode Figment and went back to TT with our FP's. I FP'd it again before we rode. Then we went to Japan for lunch. My children had never eaten Japanese food and they loved it! We then walked around the countries a little. Then we did our FP's for TT again. Then we did Ellen's Energy ride. Well, be forewarned! This is a 45 min ride and you cannot get off! Well, my 6 yr. old ended up having an accident since we could not get off. After Ellen, it was back to Pop for us. The kids went swimming for a little bit and then we went back to EPCOT for dinner. This time we had Chinese counter service and it was not worth it! We were very disappointed! The kids meals was some fried rice and an egg roll. Do not waste your time there! My daughter did find a Minnie fleece blanket as we were leaving that she had looked high and low for last summer! We were catching the bus back when the fireworks were going off. It was right to bed for us as we had to load the car in the morning to switch to Coronado Springs. High Point- riding Soarin AGAIN! Low Point- my son having an accident Day 5- April 20th Since we were switching to Coronado today, I had a wake up call for 6:30. We finished packing up and after 2 trips to the car we were on our way to AK. We arrived early again, but so did about 10 bus loads of kids from some organization. They all had the same yellow t-shirts on! I was dreading the day already! Before we went it, I went to guest relations because somehow I had lost a ticket I had. It was not my AP, but a 4 day park hopper with 1 option. All I had was the 1 option left on it, but still, that is about $36! Luckily I had a photocopy of the back of the ticket and after she asked me the last time I used it and I said December, she said no problem and issued my a ticket for the waterpark! She also added she wished ALL her customers had a photocopy of the back of their ticket! We got in and did the majors- the safari ride, dinoland, we tried Dinosaur but it was not running and I already had a FP for the safari ride so I could not get another. We then went to Kali River Rapids which I had already decided I was not doing because I had no where to put my stuff! Well, my 7 yr. old remembers he left his hat on Primeval Whirl. So, I send the kids on KRRapids and I go back and get the hat. It was such a long walk I end up FPing Dinosaur now because I can. Then we did our Safari ride. I have to tell you about our ride! First the boy in front of us in line is about 12 and has an accident as the wait had been too long for him. So everyone remember- take your kids to the bathroom if it will be a long time waiting in line! OK, our driver is about 16 I swear! We are going along fine and then we come to the Cheetahs which are my 11yr old's favorite. We always go by them so fast and they are so far away he cannot see them. The driver takes the corner and goes off the rode and our vehicle is stuck he says. Now I am from the Northeast. If you get stuck you put it in reverse, cut the wheel, go forward, etc. He just sits there. Tried nothing. I am in the last row and the people in front of us are from NY so they are used to getting stuck also. We both keep talking back and forth- why isn't he trying reverse? Well, my 6 yr. old yells, "My mom wants to know why you aren't trying reverse!". So he tries reverse and low and behold we are not stuck and we keep going! I could have strangled my 6 yr. old though! And my 11 yr. old was thrilled he got to see the Cheetahs for so long! Oh, yeah- 2 rhinos came charging at our vehicle while we were stuck but stopped about 10 ft before us, so I am thinking there was some form of electrical fencing being used. We ate lunch at Flame Tree BBQ because I have always wanted to eat here and my husband never does. Well, my kids were covered in BBQ sauce! That would have driven my husband crazy, so we will not be eating there in Aug! Then we did The Lion King show and we were first in line, so they picked my 6 & 7 yr. olds to come on the stage and be a lion. They were thrilled! We then went back to Dinosaur and it was open. Next we left and checked in to Coronado Springs. It is beautiful there! Out of every resort I have stayed at- this is my favorite now! My kids loved the waterslide and I would recommend this to anyone! And their Margaritas are the best! We went to DTD for some shopping and ate dinner at Wolfgang Puck Express for dinner. Very good! High Point- my sons going on stage at The Lion King Show Low Point- getting stuck on the safari ride- though this was my 11 yr. old's high point! Day 6- April 21th We are up this morning for our last day at the parks! MK is today and again we are there by 8:20 and we are led to the tunnel at 8:40 and we talk to Clifford again! And he remembers us also! Again they let us run to Space Mt so we do! We tour the park and have a great time. One note- this whole trip they have not had the FP machine at Haunted Mansion working at all. We had lunch at Pecos Bill and go back to pack up, do laundry and swim. >br> We ate dinner at the Food Court at Coronado. We went back to the park and stayed there till it closed at 10! While Spectro was going on, we rode BTMRR again and again because there was no wait! While waiting forever for the bus both my 6 & 7 yr. old's fell asleep on the concrete! Needless to say they were exhausted so I let them go to bed without a shower! High Point- Riding BTMRR again and again Low Point- Packing up to leave tomorrow Day 7 - April 22th We woke up, loaded the car and ate at the food court. Our goal was to meet our friends to drive back at 9. Gas up, etc., and be on the rode by 10. All went well. My friend's husband was sick though, so this was not pleasant for him. All I kept thinking was- what if I get this? I have no one to drive for me! It was a long boring ride! We started stopping at 11pm to find a room for the night and everywhere was booked! We drove till 1am before we found a place! Needless to say I literally just fell into bed! Lesson learned! Make a hotel reservation! Day 8 - April 23rd Uneventful drive though we did sit on the NJ Tpk all the way to the CT line in bumper-to-bumper traffic! We arrived home at 8:30pm and my 2 yr. old acted like I was just coming home from the grocery store! Go figure! I cannot wait! I leave 2 weeks from today for my surprise trip for just me and my husband. No kids and my husband has NO idea! And then I leave in 94 days for my summer trip for 2 weeks with all my children and husband. I am going to be very sad in Aug when my AP expires! 
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