[Janice419]

Unexpected trip to WDW
June 7 – June 14, 2006
DH, myself, DS(5) and DS(3)

We had been planning a trip to Charleston, SC for June 12, 13 and 14. My husband had some vacation time to use and we have the annual passes so I started to research going to Disney instead. We did not know we could go until June 5 so it was a fly by the seat of our pants trip!

Pictures will have to wait but I hope to add some soon.

Also, I had planned to start potty-training DS(3) this summer once preschool ended. I had been telling him for a month that as soon as school finished we were going to start working on it. We had one week of working on it and he didn’t seem interested – a few successes but mostly accidents. I thought this would make this trip a nightmare. He only had one accident the whole trip – he woke up with a wet diaper one time. He was perfect the rest of the trip! I could not believe it. Needless to say DH and myself were very happy! However, just to keep the trip report true, every few lines insert this line, “then we stopped to take DS(3) to the potty” and it will make the report more accurate!

[Janice419]

Hotel Info:

We had enough Choice Hotels points to stay five nights for free at the Quality Inn Maingate Four Corners in Davenport. We then paid for two additional nights. I couldn’t find much info on this hotel so I was nervous. There seemed to be no one there. Its claim to fame is that it is two exits from Disney. I didn’t pick up on the two exits does not mean two miles – it was closer to ten miles. It had a basic continental breakfast in the morning and coffee 24 hours a day. It has interior corridors but is only two floors and does not have an elevator!

The pool area looked nice but we never made it to try it out. When we checked in they had assigned us to a first floor room but I asked to move to the second floor. When we got to the room the keys did not work. The next day when we came back to the room it had not been cleaned. I called the front desk and they said they did not show us in that room. They still had us in the first floor room. Even the bill had us listed at the first floor room on the first night.

The room itself was nice. It was sort of a mini-suite. When you walked in to the room you were in the kitchen area. It had a sink area and a mini refrigerator and microwave. There was plenty of cabinet space too. It was a basic bathroom with the curved shower rod so you have some elbowroom. The next part of the room had a table, a couch, a coffee table and an end table. There was also a cabinet with a fold-down ironing board and iron stored inside. There was a small half partition and then two queen beds and a long dresser with TV on it.

[Janice419]

Wednesday, June 7, 2006

We left Charlotte around 6:30am and arrived in Orlando around 5:00pm. After checking in and unloading the van we hopped back in the van and headed to the Magic Kingdom.

We stopped first at Casey’s for some hotdogs. It was around 7:45pm. We then rode the people mover, the carousel, Small World and Buzz Lightyear. We stopped for some Dolewhip Floats. We then headed on to the Magic Carpets ride, Jungle Boat, Pooh and ended the evening on the teacups.

MK closed at 11pm so I thought we accomplished quite a bit in a short time.

I had never noticed the blue Mickey Mouse flag near the handicapped parking lot nor the bees in the floor pattern at Pooh.

Memorable moment: DS(5) yelled in the tunnel as we walked from the parking lot to the turnstiles, “I love you Mommy, thank you for bringing me to Disney World!”

[Janice419]

Thursday, June 8, 2006

We had our free breakfast at the hotel and arrived at the Animal Kingdom around 10. We pulled FPs for Dinosaur and rode Triceratops Spin twice. We then used baby swap with our Dinosaur FPs. I really don’t like Dinosaur. It is so jerky. It was my second time riding it. Our picture showed me looking down at my shirt wiping off some dirt/crumbs.

We had lunch at Flame Tree, which we always enjoy. DH pulled more FPs. DH and DS(5) rode Kali while I took DS(3) to pull safari FPs. While we waited for our FP time we rode the train to see the animals. It was our first time to look around there. We only stayed a short time because we wanted to get back for the parade so we know we’ll go back in August to explore further. The boys fell asleep waiting for the parade to come back thru the end. I managed to wake up DS(5) to get him to go watch it. We then went to the safari. We usually go earlier in the day but this was a lot better. There seemed to be a lot more animals out although we didn’t see any lions this time. The boys and I shared some ice cream while DH rode EE and then we headed home.

[Janice419]

Friday, June 9, 2006

After breakfast at the hotel we headed to MGM. We watched the Star Wars parade. We then headed to the Muppets show.

We stood in line for a picture of the boys with Darth Vader. After chatting with the people behind us for the whole time my DS(3) decided to ask the man, “How come you have that big belly?” and poked him in belly with his finger! I was horrified of course. Kids can be so embarrassing. Luckily, the man just laughed and said he had been working on it for a long time!

We then took DS(5) to ride Star Tours with the baby swap. While I was waiting in the back hall with DS(3) for them to come out a CM started chatting with us. She told me about riding Star Tours flight check. I had no idea what she meant. She said that late in the afternoons when there is no line they run flight check rides and shorter kids can go on the ride. They show the same movie but there is no motion. I wanted to kiss her feet for giving us that nugget of information since DS(3) always wants to ride Star Tours and we always have to say no!

We had lunch at the Commissary. The wrap was horrible but at least we were inside with some air-conditioning. We rode the Great Movie Ride and had the Cowboy. I remember the Alien on the side wall but I thought he used to be in the ceiling as well and we didn’t see it there this time. We watched the parade but had a lousy spot. The boys then asked to go see Playhouse Disney, which they always love.

We had a snack and then went to check the line at Star Tours and there wasn’t one – YAY! We asked the first CM about doing a flight check and she called to see if it was okay. We were cleared and they sent us in to a simulator for our ride. We were the only ones inside so that was neat. The ride was still fun. If you just stare at the screen without looking around you still get the same effect…okay, maybe just a similar effect. But it was so worth it for DS(3) to get to ride. He talked about riding “Star Wars” the whole trip!

We then went to Indiana Jones. DH then settled the boys and I with a drink in some shade while he went to use his FPs for RnR and ToT.

After that we headed to Fantasmic. It had just started to be SRO when we got there. DH headed to the top of the SRO area and started to get comfy and I said why don’t we move down to the front of the section so no one stands in front of us. He agreed and it wasn’t long before a CM came by and told us we could move to some handicapped seating since it had not filled. Good thing I had moved us down to the front! We then headed back to the hotel.

[KittieKChick]

A fellow Charlottian!

Sounds like a great trip so far. I had new heard of SW "flight check" that's a neat piece of info to know.

[jk8]

Nice report and congrats on the potty training too! That is nearly as exciting as an unexpected trip!

[Dopey]

Wow, an unexpected Trip Report!!!wooooohooooo. I am having fun reading it. more please.

What a great kid, not giving you potty trouble on your trip. simply magical.

[Experiment6-2-6]

Originally Posted by Janice419

Unexpected trip to WDW
June 7 – June 14, 2006
DH, myself, DS(5) and DS(3)

We had been planning a trip to Charleston, SC for June 12, 13 and 14. My husband had some vacation time to use and we have the annual passes so I started to research going to Disney instead.

Wow, sounds like you had a great time.

Perhaps Charleston might be better when the boys are a bit older, so they can climb around Ft. Sumpter!

Good Choice on the Disney substitute!

[Amelia's Man]

Wow! An unexpexted WDW trip! Cool! Great trip report!

[Janice419]

Saturday, June 10, 2006

We spent Saturday at EPCOT. We went by Canada several times but never saw Tessa. The boys played in the train display by Germany but there were no Giant Bunnies to be found anywhere. We rode Figment, Maelstrom, Ellen’s Universe of Energy, Soarin’, and Living With the Land. The boys and I did a computer postcard while DH rode Mission Space. The boys had chicken nuggets from McDonalds and DH and I split a burger at the Electric Umbrella. We managed to go to Club Cool three times during our day. We watched the lady painting eggs in Germany. They were beautiful. She took time to show each and every one on display to DH(5) and tell him about them.

[Janice419]

Sunday, June 11, 2006

We woke up and I had the boys give DH his Father’s Day cards. Later in the day, DH(3)’s Godfather, my brother, called and when I said “Happy Father’s Day” he laughed at me. It was then I found out that Father’s Day is the 18th not the 11th. So, we all had a good laugh about that! I took back DH’s cards and said to act surprised when I gave them back on the 18th!

We went to the Magic Kingdom and right away stopped and watched the Trolley show on Main Street. The good thing is that about two weeks before our trip DS(5) said to me, “Next time we go to Disney World can we watch the Trolley show?” I finally figured out he meant the show in MK with the dancers on Main Street. We had never seen it so I was glad we made it in time to see it on this trip.

We pulled Peter Pan FPs and then watched Belle’s Story time. We headed over for Mickey’s PhilharMagic and rode Peter Pan.

We headed to Adventureland for samosas from the eggroll cart and it started to rain. We waited it out and then headed to Pirata for lunch. We watched the Parade from the starting place and then finished our lunch. While eating one of DS(5)’s preschool classmates showed up and we visited with his family a bit.

DH and DS(5) then headed to BTMR while I took DS(3) to pull some Buzz FPs. We all rode the people mover. DH and DS(5) went back to ride BTMR again as well as Splash Mountain. DS(3) and I got a milkshake and then rode Buzz. I had been meaning to get a milkshake so I could have the little Castle cup for home so I was glad to get it. The four of us then rode Buzz and Goofy’s Barnstormer before leaving for the day.

[Janice419]

Monday, June 12, 2006

Today we had more Tropical Storm rain to deal with but it made things so much cooler we really didn’t mind. We headed to EPCOT but were too late to score Test Track FPs. We rode the boat in Mexico and then had lunch at the Tangierine Café in Morocco. We saw the show at American Adventure for the first time. We left to take DS(3) to the potty and so when we came back to get the stroller the next wave of people had gone inside. The CM, Joey, was wiping down all the hard Disney strollers with a towel drying them. I stopped to tell her thank you for all the people that probably didn’t even realize she had wiped down their strollers. She said she was a CM from way back and that was how they had been taught to take care of guests. Next we headed to France and watched that show for the first time. We still did not see Tessa as we passed Canada. We headed to Club Cool for our watermelon coke fix. I stopped at Guest Relations to let them know about Joey’s good deed and they let me fill out a form to thank her.

We took pictures of the boys near all the topiary displays throughout the day.

[Janice419]

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

We headed to EPCOT with a mission to get there early so as to get Test Track FPs. DH pulled those. We then waited for Turtle Talk. DH took DS(5) to Test Track and I took DS(3) on another Living with the Land ride. We rode the monorail over to MK to pull FP’s for that evening. DH got some for Pooh and one for himself for Space Mountain. We then watched the Country Bear Jamboree while we waited to pull more FPs for Peter Pan. We went back to EPCOT and built robots. My boys love that so I will thank DisneyTeacher again for that tip. We have quite the army of robots at home now. We grabbed Fish and Chips in the UK and checked for Tessa again in Canada. Still no Tessa and that was our last day so I guess we will try again next trip. We rode back to the MK and watched the Tiki birds. Coming out of the Tiki birds I crossed over to get our stroller near the Magic Carpet ride. People were coming toward me but I had to be on the left to get the stroller. The lady coming toward me and I both said “excuse me” at the same time but then as she walked on I heard her say to her companions, “pass on the right people!” I just sort of yelled back to her “can’t really stay on the right when your stroller is on the left!”

We then went to get a good spot for SpectroMagic and enjoyed it. We then headed toward the bridge to Tomorrowland to watch Wishes. Wishes ended around 1015 so we had 45 minutes until park closing to use the FPs for Pooh and Pan we had pulled earlier as well as DH’s FP for Space Mountain. We raced to Tomorrowland and all four of us rode Buzz since there was no wait. DH headed to Space Mountain and I took the boys to Fantasyland. There was no wait for Pooh so we didn’t need the FPs but we rode it one last time. We then had to use the FPs for Pan. We had less than 20 minutes left so the three of us conferenced to decide what to try for our last hurrah. We decided to try for Goofy’s Barnstormer. We ran thru the park back to Toontown and rushed on. DH called just as we were about to get on and I told him to meet us there. It was five til 11 when we got off and met DH at the front of the ride. We decided to make a mad dash to the Teacups and made it just in time for the last ride of the evening. I thought for the last hour of park time we did great seeing Wishes, riding Buzz, Pooh, Peter Pan, Goofy’s Barnstormer and the teacups.

We went back to the room and started packing after getting the boys to bed.

[Janice419]

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

We got a late checkout from the hotel to finish packing. We then grabbed lunch at Sizzlin buffet restaurant. It was nothing special. We then headed to DTD to do our last minute shopping before heading home. We made it back to Charlotte around 3am.

For a spur of the moment trip, I thought we did a lot. We didn’t get too wrapped up in doing everything since we know we are going back for Free Dining in August. Last year during Free Dining we got a bit stressed trying to do all that we wanted to do around all the ADRs so we wanted to do a lot of stuff on this trip to lower the stress in August. It was great! We did manage to do several shows we had never seen so that was good too.

Also, if going to WDW is what it was going to take to potty-train DS(3), it was money well spent!