[mmbrown386]

Our First Trip to DW
DH, DD (5) and me
May 22nd – 29th

05/22 - We started off by getting up Saturday morning and driving to San Antonio for our flight. We arrived in Orlando about 9:30 pm and headed over to Hertz. We finally made it to Hotel Royal Plaza for our one night stay (Mousesaver discount). It’s now around 10:30 pm. We were so exhausted, I can only tell you what the lobby and our room looked like. The room was spacious. It was a tower room upgrade with a sofa sleeper in an alcove, great for a small child. We grabbed something to eat and went to bed.

05/23 - Our true vacation started Sunday! We checked into the AKL (got an upgrade to pool view without asking), looked around the hotel for a while and then headed to Downtown Disney by bus. Shopped and ate at Captain Jack’s. Not real impressed with dinner, but since we had no reservations for that night…

05/24 - Monday was our first park day. I can remember the feeling of arriving at the parking lot with my first view of the giant globe I have only seen in pictures! We had a PS for the Princess Storybook Breakfast at Norway, so we took our time making our way to the World Showcase, taking pictures along the way. I couldn’t wait to see DD’s face when the princesses arrived. She had a great time. The only regret we had at EPCOT was not getting a FP earlier for Test Track. Both my DH and DD wanted to ride, but by the evening we were so pooped we didn’t want to wait in a long line or for FP ride times available. We missed Illuminations also. We headed back to AKL for some much needed relaxation.

05/25 - Tuesday was MGM. Both DH and I had been to MGM about 10 year earlier. We were excited to take DD. We headed straight for ToT. It was a really fast line. It had changed some since our last visit. I was a little concerned about DD during the ride. Usually if she enjoys a fast ride, she likes to scream. She was as quiet as a little mouse the whole time. When the ride was over I asked if she was scared. She said she wasn’t scared, but she didn’t want to ride it again. We didn’t push her. She was a good sport about the whole experience. The rest of the day we devoted to getting character autographs and the shows. We took a break in the middle of the day and headed back in the evening for Fantasmic. All I can say is WOW! Incredible! We did have a PS for the H&V Fantasmic Dinner, but really weren’t hungry enough, so decided to take our chances with just getting into the show without reserved seating. We arrived about 2 hours prior to the show and there was a long line already forming! We got in line and tried to convince a very impatient 5 yr old that it was well worth the wait. Now I have been reading this forum for about a year before us actually coming here, so I pretty much understood the popularity of this show and the need to arrive early. I’m saying this because I remember about 5 minutes before the show starting my DD informed me she needed to go to the restroom. Great. Perfect timing. I’m going to miss the beginning of the show!! Do kids have a sixth sense about timing or what! So we dart left and right to the restrooms because, of course, we’re going against the flow of traffic into the show. There was an irate gentleman I could overhear telling a CM, who’s directing traffic to an area behind the reserved seating for standing room only since that’s all that’s left, that he paid a lot of money for his park tickets and he didn’t want to stand up during the show. I thought that was ridiculous considering he was walking into the show about 5 – 10 minutes before it started! Oh, well, those who snooze, lose! Anyway, got to the restroom and back to our seats before the show started. It was even more awesome than anybody here could have described. Glad we didn’t miss it.

05/26 Wednesday – Today is the day that I have been waiting for my whole life! I get to see Cinderella’s Castle in person! Like every little girl, I have always loved the Cinderella story. Okay, I’m sure you’ve realized by now that going to DW was all about me. I took my DH and DD so people wouldn’t say what a bad Mommy I was. We had PS at the Crystal Palace for lunch. This was DD’s favorite character meal. I was really impressed with what we accomplished this day. We did a little more than half the park and watched the fireworks show at the end of the night. My DD loved it! We couldn’t pull her away. I could see people making their way to the entrance and did not want to get caught up in the flow, so I tried to talk her into heading out a little early. No can do! Luckily she was in a stroller, so I flipped that thing around and dragged it back to the entrance while she watched the rest of the fireworks. She didn’t miss anything and we were outta there before the mass exodus!

05/27 Thursday – This was EE into MK and I was going to be there if I had to leave my family behind. I was determined to ride SM and BTMR. I was a little disappointed. I don’t know if this is Disney’s way of sabotaging rides, but when we arrived several characters were out signing autographs. There was no way I could drag DD past that! So we spent our EE getting character autographs and had to make our way into the park with the masses. Oh well, it’s her vacation too, right? One disappointment was waiting in line for the Winnie the Pooh ride. Stand-by was 30 min., so we hopped in line. It seemed to take a lot longer than that getting to the front of the line. Once we got there, we found out why. Apparently, there was a problem with the ride. They were working on it, but it would be another half hour if we wanted to wait. We decided not too. We were able to finish the other sections of the park and make it back to the hotel for R&R the rest of the day. I made PS for BOMA that night. I just had to try this restaurant after all the reviews. To my disappointment, I did not care for the food. My DH liked it well enough, but I am not fond of a sweet taste to my dinner. In other words, peanut flavored rice or a brown sugar taste to a meat casserole – not my thing. Now the dessert, chocolate mousse soufflés that came with the zebra domes - OH MY GOD!

05/28 Friday – Today was AK. I love animals, love zoos and this was the whole reasoning behind staying at the AKL and going to AK. Today was also an EE day. I was very impressed with the way AK handled EE. They actually asked us to show our resort keys before we were allowed through the turnstiles. I didn’t recall MK asking for resort keys the day before. First ride was the Jungle Safari. I enjoyed the safari, not the ride. Our CM had a lead foot! It’s kind of funny thinking about it now, but it was a little irritating then. As we are driving the trail, the CM would pause the truck and point out animals along the way. Just about the time you got your camera focused on the animal and were ready to take a picture, he shot out of there like a bat out of he**. I had a few pictures of blurred trees or the truck canopy. But I understand they have to keep things moving. We saw Tarzan Rocks (kind of corny). By the way, what’s with Tarzan wearing a dreadlock wig? Couldn’t he have long hair, the real thing? It’s not a big deal, just so obvious it’s a wig I couldn’t concentrate on anything else when I watched him. Side Note - great body for a Tarzan! We also saw Lion King. Great show! I really enjoyed this one. We didn’t get to see Pocahontas, since everyone leaving Lion King wanted to watch it also. A Bug’s Life was terrific. That was the best 3D show at DW. My DD’s sixth sense was on alert again. Once we got into the cave before entering the theater she informed me she needed another potty break. What is it with kids! So after telling my DH that no, DD can’t hold it until after the show, we make our way out. A very nice CM handling the strollers for the show pointed us to the closest restroom and told us to return to her area. She kindly let us back in line without having to start from the very beginning again. Over all we enjoyed the park but was a bit disappointed in the rides available. We did like Dinosaur. We left late afternoon and rested at the hotel until our PS at O’Hanas that night. This is a restaurant I’m glad we didn’t miss. DH and me had talked about taking it easy that night, but we went anyway. We were all impressed with the restaurant. We really shouldn’t have eaten anything for two days before going to dinner. I felt like a stuffed pig that had to be rolled out of there! DD loved the games they played! We explored the Poly. We were really impressed with the hotel and talked about trying it out next time we went to DW. It seemed very laid back. Wait a minute - did my husband just say next time? Yes. Yes. Yes!

05/29 – But sadly, now our vacation has come to an end. We packed everything up, took a last turn around the hotel savannahs getting pictures, went down to International Drive for some shopping and lunch and then headed back to Hertz to turn in the rental and head to the airport. Not looking forward to the trip home, knowing we were arriving in San Antonio at 7 pm and still had to drive 2 hrs home. Oh well. It was worth it to go to DW, at least that was what I kept telling myself when my daughter asked us on the drive home if we were in Texas yet and for the 100th time I explained to her that we have been in Texas for the past four hours and are now leaving San Antonio. So we arrived home at 9:30 pm exhausted and glad we still had two days to recover from our trip! You’d think we had the flu over the weekend the way we moped around like zombies for two days! But I went to DW!!!! I mean, we – we went to DW!

PS – I just want to thank everybody here for all the tips and words of wisdom. Though you can’t prepare for everything, if I had not found this site we would have been standing in the middle of the park with a map probably yelling at each other, not knowing what to do first. So thank you everyone for your excitement, magic, and helpful tips!

[Willbegone]

What a wonderful trip report! Sounds like you had a fabulous time. Hopefully the next trip will come soon for you!

[MerlinMatt]

Great report. I'm especially impressed at how much you were willing to accept missing things so as to have the experience enjoyable for everyone.

So when are you going back?

[DisneyTeacher]

It sounds like you had a wonderful trip, thanks for sharing it with us. We really enjoy 'Ohana, I am glad you liked it. The Poly is a beautiful resort, I hope you get to stay there on your next trip....soon!

[ilvminnie]

Glad you had such a wonderful time...made me wish I was there with you. Seems like everyone in your family is a real trooper, willing to sacrifice for the family. That brings tears to my eyes! When's the next trip????

[llama]

I enjoyed your trip report! I always love to read reports from first-timers! Like most of us, once you catch the Disney bug, it's hard to get over it (not that many of us want to) - so I'm glad you're husband's already planning "next time". Knowing what to expect makes future trips even more fun!

[crystalrp]

That isn't the flu that's got you down...its PDD (post Disney depression!)

[lisalovesmickey]

Wonderful TR. Brings back the memories of my first time. There is nothing like seeking the Castle for the first time! I am glad your family had a good time. I know that I would be booking my second trip right now........

Lisa

[BDavis932]

Welcome back, Texas neighbor!! We are from the Austin area..sounds like you are nearby??

Thank you for the wonderful trip report!! I really enjoyed it!!

Sounds like y'all had a great trip! Can't wait to hear about the plans for the next one!!

[queensmama]

Your trip looked alot like mine is going to look. Trying to do all the best things you have heard about here on DC. Glad you had a blast.

[inluvwithdisney]

Sounds like you had fun!!!

You know when you returned home your feeling was PDD (post Disney Depression) Happens to all of us!!!

[mickaholic4077]

What a wonderful trip report you wrote. You are so lucky so experience one of the nicest hotels Disney has to offer on your first trip. You should have gone to Bomas either Wednesday or Saturday. Those nights are rib nights.

[monorailgoof]

Sounds like a great first trip. I look forward to hearing another one!