Hi All! I have been reading these boards for years, getting great info for all our trips. I hadn't posted in ages and had to get a new username because it had been so long! I wanted to do this trip report since I got so many tips about traveling at such a busy time.
This trip would be me-the mom and my DD(17). I have been in love with Disney World since my first trip when I was 10. This would be my 12th trip. I have also been lucky to visit Disneyland twice. I am always planning a trip in my head when I am on the boards lol! The idea for this trip came in March. My husband and DD had the opportunity to travel to China. He is a college professor and was taking a group of students for a spring break trip and she was able to go along. I was staying home with our DS(8&9). I wasn't too upset about not going. I love to travel but China wasn't for me. Anyway while they were gone I found out that over Christmas we would have an extended break. Since my husband's schedule would be more flexible over his college break he could stay home with the boys and Lindsay and I could have a girl's Disney trip. He just laughed when I told him my plan but he is pretty easy going and gave me the go ahead. My daughter is a high school senior and will be going off to college in the fall. She has been accepted to Seton Hall in NJ and Catholic University in DC. So our time together in the future will be around her breaks. Being able to share this trip with her has been so special!
Just a little background. DD has been to Disney multiple times and with us to DL. We adopted our boys five years ago. They have been to Disney twice and I have turned them into Disney lovers too. Our last trip was May '12. Our dear friends are also Disney fans and we always said we should take a trip together. For the wife's 40th bday her husband wanted to surprise her with a Disney trip. He asked me to be the Fairy Godmother and plan everything. It turned out to be a perfect time for us to go along! So for almost a year we had the secret planning going on. He wanted to wait until the night before to tell her but I convinced him to give her a week notice. She was very surprised and even more surprised that we were coming too. We all had a great week together!! Now for the details of this trip!
Day 1 12/30-arrival and MK 3am EMH!!
Well the day didn't start out too well. We had a 2hr delay of our flight out of Pittsburgh. But we were finally on our way, landed around 6pm and in no time we were boarding the Magical Express. We used our MB and had no problems with our check-in for the bus. We did have to wait about 20min until everyone was on the bus and then we ran into alot of traffic by the International Dr
intersection. We got to POFQ around 8pm. I love this resort! It seems so calm to me. It does hold a special place with me as my husband and I stayed there on our honeymoon. I had done online check-in but there was no one working the online check-in desk so we had to wait in the regular line anyway. It was strange they had 4 CMs working the concierge but only 1 doing check-in. Finally the one concierge CM starting taking the check-ins because a line was forming. It then took only a few minutes to check-in and we were on our way to building 7. It was the furthest away but not far at all. We freshened up and headed to the food court for dinner. We stayed at POR last year and loved the make your own salad so we were happy to see it on the menu. However it was not the same At POR they have a much better selection of items and they mix it all together with the dressing in a huge bowl before serving. Here they just put the dressing on top and it was very hard to mix. I know it sounds silly that it wouldn't taste the same but it didn't. Anyway we finished and got to the MK around 10pm for the fireworks and EMH.
Well the MK was packed! But who cares we were there!! It was a great atmosphere! There were DJs thru the park playing great music. Cast members were dancing as were the guests. It was just so much fun to be there! We spent a little time on Main St taking in the decorations. I had no plans except to be back on Main St to see the fireworks. We decided to ride the train and get off in Fantasyland. My daughter wanted to see the new stuff. We walked around loving all the new sights and then headed back to Main St. We decided to get a treat at the Confectionary. I had a Minnie cupcake and Lindsay had a chocolate covered pineapple spear. The cupcake was decorated cute but had no filling inside. But it was moist and very tasty. We ate these sitting on the curb watching it snow-loved that!! By this time we needed to find a place to watch the fireworks. We walked thru the Emporium and came out thru Casey's. It was very crowded in there. We found a place right outside Casey's near the Crystal Palace. We were off to the side of the castle but still had a great view and only waited about 20 minutes until the castle show began. This was great!! With all the clips and music from the movies. The fireworks were fantastic!!! We like fireworks but they are not a must do for us on trips. I am so glad we were able to see these! I knew we would not be braving the MK or EPCOT on NYE so this was our NYE celebration and we were not disappointed!
Will we make it to 3am?? Check back to find out!
This trip would be me-the mom and my DD(17). I have been in love with Disney World since my first trip when I was 10. This would be my 12th trip. I have also been lucky to visit Disneyland twice. I am always planning a trip in my head when I am on the boards lol! The idea for this trip came in March. My husband and DD had the opportunity to travel to China. He is a college professor and was taking a group of students for a spring break trip and she was able to go along. I was staying home with our DS(8&9). I wasn't too upset about not going. I love to travel but China wasn't for me. Anyway while they were gone I found out that over Christmas we would have an extended break. Since my husband's schedule would be more flexible over his college break he could stay home with the boys and Lindsay and I could have a girl's Disney trip. He just laughed when I told him my plan but he is pretty easy going and gave me the go ahead. My daughter is a high school senior and will be going off to college in the fall. She has been accepted to Seton Hall in NJ and Catholic University in DC. So our time together in the future will be around her breaks. Being able to share this trip with her has been so special!
Just a little background. DD has been to Disney multiple times and with us to DL. We adopted our boys five years ago. They have been to Disney twice and I have turned them into Disney lovers too. Our last trip was May '12. Our dear friends are also Disney fans and we always said we should take a trip together. For the wife's 40th bday her husband wanted to surprise her with a Disney trip. He asked me to be the Fairy Godmother and plan everything. It turned out to be a perfect time for us to go along! So for almost a year we had the secret planning going on. He wanted to wait until the night before to tell her but I convinced him to give her a week notice. She was very surprised and even more surprised that we were coming too. We all had a great week together!! Now for the details of this trip!
Day 1 12/30-arrival and MK 3am EMH!!
Well the day didn't start out too well. We had a 2hr delay of our flight out of Pittsburgh. But we were finally on our way, landed around 6pm and in no time we were boarding the Magical Express. We used our MB and had no problems with our check-in for the bus. We did have to wait about 20min until everyone was on the bus and then we ran into alot of traffic by the International Dr
intersection. We got to POFQ around 8pm. I love this resort! It seems so calm to me. It does hold a special place with me as my husband and I stayed there on our honeymoon. I had done online check-in but there was no one working the online check-in desk so we had to wait in the regular line anyway. It was strange they had 4 CMs working the concierge but only 1 doing check-in. Finally the one concierge CM starting taking the check-ins because a line was forming. It then took only a few minutes to check-in and we were on our way to building 7. It was the furthest away but not far at all. We freshened up and headed to the food court for dinner. We stayed at POR last year and loved the make your own salad so we were happy to see it on the menu. However it was not the same At POR they have a much better selection of items and they mix it all together with the dressing in a huge bowl before serving. Here they just put the dressing on top and it was very hard to mix. I know it sounds silly that it wouldn't taste the same but it didn't. Anyway we finished and got to the MK around 10pm for the fireworks and EMH.
Well the MK was packed! But who cares we were there!! It was a great atmosphere! There were DJs thru the park playing great music. Cast members were dancing as were the guests. It was just so much fun to be there! We spent a little time on Main St taking in the decorations. I had no plans except to be back on Main St to see the fireworks. We decided to ride the train and get off in Fantasyland. My daughter wanted to see the new stuff. We walked around loving all the new sights and then headed back to Main St. We decided to get a treat at the Confectionary. I had a Minnie cupcake and Lindsay had a chocolate covered pineapple spear. The cupcake was decorated cute but had no filling inside. But it was moist and very tasty. We ate these sitting on the curb watching it snow-loved that!! By this time we needed to find a place to watch the fireworks. We walked thru the Emporium and came out thru Casey's. It was very crowded in there. We found a place right outside Casey's near the Crystal Palace. We were off to the side of the castle but still had a great view and only waited about 20 minutes until the castle show began. This was great!! With all the clips and music from the movies. The fireworks were fantastic!!! We like fireworks but they are not a must do for us on trips. I am so glad we were able to see these! I knew we would not be braving the MK or EPCOT on NYE so this was our NYE celebration and we were not disappointed!
Will we make it to 3am?? Check back to find out!