[preidel24]

We did quite a few day of adventure before we even got to disney. We spent two days in North Carolina, one day at St. Augustine and one day at Daytona Speedway. I going to skip all of that althought Dayona and St. Augustine were fun.

Day 1 - November 8th

We arrive at the Wilderness Lodge. Still as beautiful as I remember. It was late when we arrived as we had spent the day at Daytona Speedway. We were tried so I call ahead to our concierge planner and rescheduled our Yachtsman Steakhouse dinner for two for another night. We checked in and DH took the kids swimming so I could rearrange some luggage. After the swim we walked around the resort caught some dinner and decided to turn in for the evening.

Day 2 - November 9th - The beginning of the Magic

We arrive at the Beach Club around 9am. We swiped our concierge card and went to the 5th floor to check in. We were greeted by a lovely concierge by the name of Hyancith. She checked us in and gave us copies of out folio (PS and scheduled events for our stay), tickets, and gave us a tour of the concierge lounge. Our room wasn't ready so we decide to go to Epcot to check out the Food and Wine festival. It was wonderful and I swear the selection gets grander each year. My DH and I did the Wine passport where we sampled many different wines from various regions of Australia. After that a few rides with the kids. Spaceship Earth, Test Track, River of Time, Journey Into the Imagination. The line for Mission Space had over 11/2 hour wait so we decided to wait for another day. We then headed over to Innovention and did the postcards home. We all had a fun time playing with the games and gadgets. Meanwhile Paulie is having the time of his life trading pins with the CM's. Buying the lanyard and pins was a definte good idea. Our whole family rallies around during the trade and DH always checks out Paul's new trades. We decided to head back to our room and stopped for a quick drink at Ice Station Cool. The boys tried to trick dad into drinkinking Beverly but he was on to them. We arrive back at the Beach Club. Hyancith gave us our room number and ask if we could just wait one minute for her in the lounge. We did, and when she came back she was grinning from ear to ear. We left for the room and when we opened the door boy were we surprised. There were baloons, a big gift basket shaped like mickey's head. It was filled with the stuff I asked her to purchased and then they added pretzels, popcorn, chips, 5 differnet bags of Mickey candies and lollipops. Next to that were three photo cards one for Paul from Donald Duck, one for Ry from Chip and Dale, and for Aaron it was Goofy. The boys (especially Paulie were excited). Pal Mickey is so cool glad I got him. We decided then to check out the pool while Dad waited for the luggage to be sent up. This was a good move and the luggage arrived and was in the room by the time we returned. The boys were so psyched about the pool they could'nt get dressed fast enough. We spent some time by the pool the kids swimming and Mom and Dad just enjoying a drink. We left the pool to get dressed for our PS at Ohana's. When we explain to the boys where we are going they protest - they just want to hang out at our hotel. So DH go downstairs to see if he can get us into Cape May Cafe. The hostess tells him no PS no dinner that evening. Surprising when I call concierge we can get a PS. However, I point out to DH that Paulie's birthday is there on Wednesday so we decide to do Beaches and Cream instead. The food was good and a fun time was had by all. I missed Ohana's but I promised I'd be flexible and I stuck to my promise. After dinner we returned to our room. The boys ran ahead as usual. When we get there there is a table set with white linens, plates, a white chocolate Mickey, chocolate covered strawberries, achocolate birthday cake with horns and hats. It was very impressive. The boys were sure I ordered it but I didn't it was from concierge. There were two gifts one for DH and me (an anniversary pin and one for Paulie a birthday pin. We celebrated and then called it a night. can it get any better that this ..... yes stay tuned for more.

Pros - everything today
Cons - none today


Paula

[DisneyTeacher]

Wow, what a great first couple of days, Paula. I can't believe all concierge did to make this day special. The basket and cake sound so wonderful, just a magical day all the way around.

[preidel24]

Here's Paulie and my postcard kind of an awful pic of me but we had fun.

Paula

[goofygal1975]

Wow...sounds like you had such a wonder couple of days!! What a way to spend a birthday/anniversary!! Thanks for sharing with us! They really took care of you there!!:)

[ajbdk5]

WOW! Everything sounded WONDERFUL!
It's so nice to put a face with your name Paula!
I can't wait to read more!:)

[dznygrl]

Oh wow, Paula! It sounds like your birthday bash got off to an excellent start--I'm so happy! :D Concierge went out of their way to make things special for you, which is wonderful.

Can't wait to hear the rest! :love:

[Dana]

Paula what a way to spend your birthday. Your trip sounds awesome. I love the autograph and your postcard was cool.

Did you send my DD the Mickey ears or the Villians? I can't keep my pixies straight and it's hard to say thanks. Thanks either way. Both cards my DD received were awesome.

[tiggerlover1971]

Great trip report paula It looks like it started off with a magical time ( pssssss read my trip report if you didnt I had a magical anniversary trip with suprises too )

[preidel24]

Dana,

It was the mickey ears.

Tiggerlover I read your report that was so romantic of your DH.

Paula

[tiggerlover1971]

thanks paula it looks like you had magic of your own too

[geeman]

Love the Donald picture. Very cute.
:D

[preidel24]

Day 3 - Magic Kingdom November 10

Today we were supposed to go to Kennedy Space Center but special guest were visiting KSC and some things were closed to the public so we decided to go to the magic Kingdom instead. After breakfast (just in the lounge) we waited for the bus. DS (Paulie) was armed with his pins and Pal Mickey. We arrived at Mk at around 10:30. This is how the whole trip went I don't think we opened a park except for our last day (11/16) at Epcot. We entered the park and head over to fast pass Space Mountain or Buzz. Not that long of a wait for Space Mountain so we ride that and fasspass Buzz. DH and two younger DS's decided to ride SM one more time so Aaron and I go to the Emporium to buy some postcards (offical pixie business). I picked out cards for my pixie pals and some to send back home. Aaron bought a cute pin Mimmie and Mickey hugging for his GF. We meet up again as a family and decide to ride Buzz. Buzz was fun and Paulie maxed out his score (what luck). It's getting around lunch time so we head over to Pecos Bills for burgers and dogs. After lunch we ride POC, Haunted Mansion. Paulie once again is having fun trading pins with CM's. They have been so wonderful with him cheerful, kind just makes you feel good all over (did I mention I love this place LOL). Today it raining just off and on but the cool thing is we always seem to be in the right place and never got wet once. We mosey over to the new Goofy Diamond Horseshoe Revue. It's cute but my DS are too old for it so after about 7 minutes two of the three are heading for the door. Next of the list is Mickey's Philharmagic. It's very cool and we all throughly enjoyed it. We decide to head back to to the resort via the monorail. When we get to the monorail there is no one waiting so I ask the CM if the boys can ride up front (no problem there in). On the way to Epcot it starts pouring and I figured we were going to get soaked but it stopped just before we got to Epcot. At Epcot we split again, Ryan and DH go back to the hotel, Paulie, Aaron and I ride Spaceship Earth and grab a Beaver Tail before heading back to the resort. We take the boys swimming and this time we even go in. After a short swim we return to our room to change. We taking the boys to Tubbi's for Pizza and DH have dinner plans for two at the Yachtsman's. The boys enjoy the Pizza at Tubbi's. We buy some snacks and back to the hotel to change for the Yachtsman. We arrive early and watch the pre-show for our Philadelphia Eagles. There is this really cool older man that shows up at the crew cup lounge (from PA) to watch the game. He brought his own snacks nuts, chips and dip, too cute. We are seated for dinner and our server Oscar is really sweet. We really enjoyed the dinner here the steaks were awesome, the soup, salad, and creamed spinach were out of this world. We skipped dessert and took at stroll instead. The nice things about the resort was the gounds were decked out for Christmas already and they piped Christmas music throughout the two resorts. When we returned to our resort we stopped at the lounge for a piece of carrot cake and a soda. The food offering were impressive. Breakfast was standard fare. Donuts, coffee cakes, fresh fruit, oatmeal, ceral, bagels, muffins. Lunch offering were chips, pretzels, popcorn, goldfish, gummy worms, P&J sandwiches and fresh veggies and dips. Dinners was always one or two hot dishes (salmon, ribs, chicken wings, rices) it was something different everyday, veggies, dips, breads, breadstick, P&J and mac and cheese every day. Desserts were changed everyday they included several offering every night, carrot cake, cheese cake, flan with fruit, pudding, muffins, brownies, cookies, key lime pie. They had wine, beer, juices, sodas, coffee and tea. Soda and beer you had to ask for. We grabbed our cake and a brownies for the boys and headed back to the room it was another good day at the Beach Club.

Little note every time we returned to the resort the concierge always engaged you and asked how your day was.

Pros - Pin Trading, Mickey's Philharmagic
Cons - the rain even thought we managed to miss it it was overcast and a little gloomy


Paula

[cbeccaboo2]

Paula--Your trip sounds wonderful:love:. You could not have asked for a better time so far. Keep up the reports. Loving every moment.

:heart :) :) :heart

Becca

[llama]

Your trip report is wonderful. So glad you had such a magical anniversary! What a surprise! (Don't know if there are any fans of "British Comedies" out there, but it's obvious that your concierge was not "Hyacinth Bucket") Can't wait to read more:)

[preidel24]

Day 4 - Kennedy Space Center, Tuesday November 11th

Today we are going off-site (OH-NNNNNO) Hey I'm keeping my DH happy. We leave after breakfast and take the bee-line over to the space center. Easy commute - much easier than I imagained. I bought our ticket at AAA before we left home and I was glad I did we breezed right in and the tickets were much cheaper. Security is tight here. They check every bag and make you turn on you camera and your cell phones. I of course have the great distinction of setting off the metal detectors and have to go over and be hand wanded by the detector (darn that metal hip - just kidding). After that fun, we head to the bus for the tour. I grab a quick soda and we board the bus. This place is very cool and the buildings are quite impressive. On the tour you see lots of animals, alligators, assorted birds - we even saw this huge eagles nest. I've never seen a nest so large. You get to see where the shuttle launches from. Our favorite tour stop was the saturn rocket building. You get to feel what it's like during an actual launch. The saturn rocket was huge (boys think it so cool). We head back and do a few more shows IMAX 3-D of the space station is awesome and is my favorite show. We go to this really neat kids show Mission to Mars 2005. Paul and Ry are immediatedly sucked into the show and Ry is Mercury and Paul is Venus at the beginning of the show. This show was in 3D so several time we needed to put on our glasses. Paul is choosen to test the new invention the rocket chair. He gets strapped in and is blasted off to the ceiling in the rocket chair (he's loving it). After that we decided we pretty much had seen everything and decide to head back to disney. We stopped on the way home to have dinner at Chili's. My boys love Chili's. DH loved not waiting in line for PS's or food. That was the one thing that bugged him all week. Waiting in long lines for food or reservations. Back at the resort I decide to do a load of laundry so while we go to the pool I put the laundry in and bop back and forth between the pool area and laundry. A nice refreshing Strawberry Colada helped me pass the time. We head back upstairs and change and stroll over to Epcot for the evening. It's getting late and everyone is jocking for a position to watch Illuminations. This little boy (probably around six or seven) is standing on the bridge railing close to France. He has one of those light up light saber thingies. He insist on smacking my oldest son with it (I don't get it Aaron's 6 2" and this kids smacking him like it's no big deal) I jokingly tell Aaron if he hits him one more time to take the saber. This little boy was left on the bridge alone while his father looked for a spot for the fireworks. This was his way of making sure no one took his families space (aggressive huh???). Later we saw the same family and their kid were having a fist fight in the middle of the bridge. Strange family. We went to France and grabbed the kids ice cream in waffle cones and sat while they ate them. Illumination was starting and we sat and enjoyed the show. Back to the resort. We stopped and shopped at the gift shop. Ry pick up a fancy little light up key chain and Paulie got a pin. Back to the room to turn in for the night.


Pro -- Kids being in shows.
Cons - Strange kid on bridge.