[Aurora2000]

Hi all

background info:
My family and I just returned o July 3rd from our Disney vacation. We were in Vero 6/23-25 and WDW 6/25-7/2. We went to Vero Beach first and then on to Disney World.
My family consists of DH and two DSs one is 9 and one will soon be three (challenging no?)
we drove from NJ ( yes we did 2nd year in a row it is most definately an adventure!) However this year besides each having there own toy bags. We brought books on tape ( Harry potter : The Prisoner os Askaban (sp?) 10 hours) We played it when baby boy was napping. and yes we did buy a portable TV for our Truck so we had videos as well for when things got testy!

Vero beach

This was our first time there and we really liked the resort! Very low key but great pool and beach was fine. They have TONS of activities for the children i.e., Tonka trucks in the sand for the lil guys, fishing expeditions , arts and crafts, etc for older children. We took advantage of some of these BUT my older son LOVED the pool and the twisty slide. the restaurant Shutters was a bit priceyt for the fare. Rooms were great we had an Inn room with a nice terrace and Ocean view.

Vero beach itself is no Boca raton! but we did see pricey buildings going up!


WDW

On our first day there it was raining. What a surprise right? We stayed at the Villas at the Wilderness Lodge. We are DVC members and stayed there last year as well. A one bedroom villa on the top floor...very nice and Clean! it was also in good shape.

basically we food shopped , went to dinner at the hotel and then off to Boardwalk to play games and have ice cream.

Next day wed June 26th

I made everyone get up early and rush to Magic Kingdom. Why? BECAUSE I wanted to go on Winnie the Pooh for two years I wanted to but fast Pass was not working with our schedueles. We got there pretty early 9 ish and even survivng the bag check we ran there and were able to ride it twice. Those picture people ask to take our picture I almost knocked them over didnt they know I just had to get to Winnie?? I am in love and baby boy loved it too! My big man was smiling on the ride but will not admit it.

We did pretty much everything we wanted that day Snow white, its a small world ( sory I love that!) The pirates, the country bears,Dumbo, Peter pan ,Tiki birds saw a parade and had lunch at Tony's. We love that restaurant. It was NOT crowded. last year we went about the same time of year and it was packed. This time no wait at all. Everyone was extremely nice at disney .

The afternoon was spent in Tomorrow land space mtn, wedway people movers ( I havent gone on that it probably ten years!!!! It was great for the baby he could see the race cars and the castle and everything!) We left early about 6 pm went to dinner back at our resort and everyon passed out about 9 pm.

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh let me say this we got caught in rain. not just any rain but Torrents of rain. The tram was soaking the walk to our car did us in! we were wetter than drenched!

Thursday MGM Day!

This is DH favorite park ( mine is EPCOT by the way) . We had our family picture taken ( very nice I bought this one- and guilt for almost knocking them over yesterday) Star Tours was easy no fastpass required..... Great Movie ride, and DH and my big boy went on tower or terror. It was HOT and I had to keep lil baby happy yikes we walked around I bought him ice cream he was fine he loved the park.

we left then to go home and rest ok I will admit nap! Kids went in the pool and we went back in time for the car and stars parade very nice! We did The muppets , toured the backlot and The honey I shrunk the kids playground. Star tours again ( DS loves that one) and toured the 100 year atrraction ( very nice) We ate dinner at the ABC commissary as when we went into the Sci Fi Diner ( we had PS) our little guy decided to scream his head off? I have no clue last year he loved it. Who knows the mind of a 33 month old? Went to the commisary he was all smiles......

left about 8 ish went back to the room and had a jacuzzi night!

Friday EPCOT

breakfast in our room cereal bagels etc. We went to future wold. we did the big golf ball everyone loves that one! We went through innoventions both of them sent electronic postcards, played video games etc. Oh yes and the Coca Cola Cool stop! isnt that done wonderfully? You have to stop there especially if it is hot out. It is going into an Ice cave and it is really cold in there there is ice everywhere and things to look at then it opens to a Coca-Cola tasing place ( ok it is a gift shop as well) You can taste all different sodas produced by Coke around the world. It is great the best we love is the watermelon soda from china!

ok then on to Imagination pavillion. We were so excited to see figament again. It was great or at least going great no wait figament familiar songs etc.....then we got stuck! See my reply on the stuck rides thread. LOL

we got stuck for an hour but it was cool and dark it is just I cant shake that darn imagination song out of my head Imagination...... Imagination......

ok we lost time here so we ent off to the land.

We got fast passes for the "Living with the land" attraction and went to the garden Grill ( we had no PS but still were able to get in). I am telling you things were not really crowded. THe GG was nice food is simple and good except catfish uh uh. The characters were neat baby boy is in the hiding from them phase though other son still loves them our waiter was phenomenal!
just Mickey mouse surprised me he ( or she ) was great when at our table but every time they passed one of my sons would say hi and no response. The other characters would wave ...maybe mickey as having a tough day.

We go on living with the land another attraction I havent been on in years. Everyone liked this baby liked the boat and my big guy was all into the scientific end of it. Food rocks was cute as usual.

after Lunch we did the Living Seas THE BIGGEST DISSAPOINTMENT

what is going on here first those lil cars that take you through the tanks are gone????? I mean it was not exhilerating but cute all the same........ then in the upstairs they used to have observation tanks I cant remember what was there a mantaa beluga whales???? but that was closed up with a sigh " Bringing you a new epcot or something" I asked many CM what happened to the car ride no one knew. I guess they are not allowed to say?????

Did I mention torrential rains again?
But now I am smarter and have umbrellas in the stroller.

we go home for a nap!

more to come good night!
Robyn

[mickey]

Aurora, sounds like you had a wonderful trip. I can't wait to hear the rest. We were at Vero Beach a couple of years ago. We had 10 days at WDW, and went down there the last 2 just to relax. We weren't DVC members then, but were interested, and had taken the tour at the Boardwalk. So, we told them on the tour we were going to Vero, and they must have called ahead, they moved us to one of the three bedroom beach houses. Wow, Minnie still talkes about it to this day. I love that resort, it is a great place to relax, and fun for kids too. It really felt like we had our own beach house and private beach. It is definitely on our to do list for the next trip.

[Cinderellafifi]

Welcome Aurora2000 to DC! I am glad you had such a good vacation!

I have yet to go to Vero but have been very interested in the place. It sounds lovely. One day I will convince myself to head there - it is just so hard with WDW being so close to Vero that I always want to press on!

:)

[Goofette]

Thanks for the trip report. I've heard "Vero Beach" but I'm not familiar to where it is.

You made me laugh :laugh when I read the part about you wanting to get to Winnie :D Reminded me of when we were speeding off at AK at park opening to ride the Safari ride.

[jgriff2388]

It sounds like you had a great trip except for the rain. I've never been to Vero Beach, but it sounds like a good place to go and just chill for a few days.

[Aurora2000]

You know we really did have a great time. We typically come down to Florida annually and each time it is very different. Vero beach was nice I would like to go back with my husband sometime it was restful ok it seemed restful ( nothing is restful really when you have a 2 year old) : )

One day this year we did NOTHING. we all slept and did the pool ( this was on a saturday). That night we went to Boma at the akl The food is good the ambience is wonderful and after dinner we went to view the animals. Then we headed for downtown disney to make our ritual stop at the Lego store!

We didi tackle animal Kingdom this year the last time we went there was in '98. We didnt do much because it ws HOT. I really do think you need to do endurance training for that park in hot weather. We rode dinosaur 2 x! saw the legend of the lion king did camp minnie/mickey and dino land this took us over 2 hours!

we saved the rest for another day/year!

back to Epcot on Monday our last day we did world showcase
and our favs in future world ( minus test track...it was down and that was before the rain------ please do not get me started on that ride! but they have the nicest Gift shop/activity area)

we ate dinner at San Angel Inn kids loved being inside/yet outside

It was a nice vacation best part? I didnt exercise for a week when we came home due to all that walking!!!!

[Goofette]

Originally posted by Aurora2000

One day this year we did NOTHING. we all slept and did the pool ( this was on a saturday). That night we went to Boma at the akl The food is good the ambience is wonderful and after dinner we went to view the animals. Then we headed for downtown disney to make our ritual stop at the Lego store!

We had to do that one day. It was in the middle of our trip and I was exhausted. We had tickets to Universal and we still have tickets to universal :)

I loved Boma. We stayed at AKL so we made sure to eat at Boma. Their deserts are delicious.

What do you think about the man in front of the Lego store, I just love him. I kept hearing snoring and I couldn't figure out where it was coming from. :D

[Aurora2000]

The man in front of the Lego is store is something My son wanted a picture with him!