DaisyDuck001
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 5, 2006
Yeah, looks like Marshall's facepaint didn't even last until dinner! LOL about going to see the Tiffany concert because "you were alone now". Happy Thanksgiving to you also!
Those pedals are really hard to push and sometimes out of reach for the kids. I've had to push the pedal for the kids almost every time.Allie and I shared a car, she steered while I pushed on the pedal.
I would have been mad, too.Allie got mad that the people behind us had their phone lights on for the whole dark section, but there's nothing we could do about that.
The girls probably loved it.On the way to WL Marshall made friends with some college program girls, and even wound up inviting them to our room. That kid is gonna be trouble...
We did the KTTK tour several years ago and there is a so much information that it is hard to remember it all. We really enjoyed the tour and a good tour guide makes a big difference. Ours got a little long winded when we were in the underground tunnels and our tour went 45 minutes overtime. But other than that it was great. I would do it without kids if possible, though.They both were pretty overwhelmed with all of the info that they gave them.
They have a nice pool area but the resorts themselves aren't very exciting.They are nice resorts, and in a great location. They did lack the "Disney feel" for me though, but they were fine to visit.
I didn't realize people dressed up for this restaurant. I'm sure they were used to seeing lots of families like yours, though.We were slightly uncomfortable rolling in with the kids when there were people hanging around in suits. There was a convention dinner going on at the same time but we felt under-dressed and way out of place.
This might be a good restaurant for a romantic dinner for two.Overall the meal was the most expensive of our trip, and probably the fanciest, but we definitely preferred the atmosphere of California Grill.
We always pick up the AP gift, too. It is a fun perk.We then headed to pick up our AP coaster sets for making it to Epcot four different days during Food and Wine. Since we all had passes, we were able to get four sets.
How did you usually go from Epcot to WL?It was odd that this was our first time of the trip taking the WL bus from Epcot, which has been notoriously slow for us. This time we got on the bus at 9:25, but had to wait for a driver change. It left packed full at 9:42, and made it to WL at 9:53.
Thanks! We had a nice Thanksgiving out camping at the sand dunes with both sets of Grandparents, and now we are back to "work".Yeah, looks like Marshall's facepaint didn't even last until dinner! LOL about going to see the Tiffany concert because "you were alone now". Happy Thanksgiving to you also!
That was jus t so Marshall, and everyone was having a good time.Too funny about Marshall inviting the CP girls to your room !
It was very nice, and way more of a traditional steak house than any Disney Restaurant we've been to. We will see how Yachtsman compares in February.shulas sounds like a delicious meal- never hear much about that one.
Yeah, we are all glad that they were able to squeeze it in. It is something I definitely want to do someday.I'm glad Jon and Brandy enjoyed their tour! I did KTTK back in 2015 and LOVED it - I highly recommend it!
We were nervous about them too, but made sure that the kids had stuff to do and we were pretty confident that they wouldn't negatively affect anybody else. They were fine at both Shula's and California Grill, but they enjoyed CA Grill more, and it definitely felt more relaxed.Your dinner at Shula's sounds fantastic! I'm honestly a little nervous to bring a toddler with me to a signature restaurant, but I feel better with your comments that you felt fine at California Grill with your kids. I've certainly seen plenty of kids at the signatures, but it's nice to hear that direct feedback!
Having the next trip planned, and so close is the very best remedy to Post Disney Depression that we've found yet.The last evening is always a bummer. At least you had just a few months until your next trip - having your next trip planned makes the Disney blues less severe!
Yeah, I'm thinking they designed them that way so it isn't too easy for kids to make them accelerate...Those pedals are really hard to push and sometimes out of reach for the kids. I've had to push the pedal for the kids almost every time.
It was pretty inconsiderate. The darkness is kind of the point, and nobody wanted to see their cell phone lights on the whole time.I would have been mad, too.
They were very nice, and Marshall loved making more friends.The girls probably loved it.
Yeah, the minimum age for the tour is pretty high, so the kids wouldn't be able to do it. I tried to go with Jon and Brandy to see it, but there were only two openings. Melissa and I will have to do it together sometime.We did the KTTK tour several years ago and there is a so much information that it is hard to remember it all. We really enjoyed the tour and a good tour guide makes a big difference. Ours got a little long winded when we were in the underground tunnels and our tour went 45 minutes overtime. But other than that it was great. I would do it without kids if possible, though.
It would be a great restaurant for a quiet date night, and one to get dressed up for. A lot of the people there were at a business meeting for an insurance company, so that might have meant more people were dressed up than normal, but it was quite fancy.They have a nice pool area but the resorts themselves aren't very exciting.
I didn't realize people dressed up for this restaurant. I'm sure they were used to seeing lots of families like yours, though.
This might be a good restaurant for a romantic dinner for two.
We almost didn't have enough entries into Epcot to get it this time, which surprised us, but I guess we did a little less park hopping this time than normal. We liked that all four of us were able to get them.We always pick up the AP gift, too. It is a fun perk.
Often we wind up taking the bus, particularly at the end of the night, but earlier in this trip we had either taken the monorail to the Poly or gone out the International Gateway entrance and connected to WL from either Beach Club or Boardwalk. (Which isn't fast by any means since we had to connect at MK, but it was less walking than going to the front of Epcot and we got to spend time checking out the Epcot resorts.)How did you usually go from Epcot to WL?
The bus from Epcot to WL is my least favorite park bus. Not only is it at the furthest station in that group but it seems like we always have to wait forever for one to show up.
Thanks, we did have a great Thanksgiving camping in the desert with both sets of Grandparents. Hopefully yours was fun too.Great updates! Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving.
That's great. The crowds were so low, even right after the storm. It definitely turned around by the end of the trip though, especially at Epcot. It's great you got to have it almost to yourselves.I just had to reply to this because I saw the mention of the hurricane. It gave me a big giggle, because the day Dorian was originally anticipated to hit, my work was cancelled. So I woke up that morning, and said to my husband, "want to go to Food & Wine today??" (We're Floridians.) Ended up being amazing, practically no lines, and now I'm almost unsure about going next year - will probably never, ever see the place that empty again!
They have the best restaurants outside the security area but we never feel comfortable stopping there. They also have better restaurants in the terminal that is not the Southwest Airlines terminal. We accidentally took the wrong monorail and discovered them.Since Jon and Brandy have TSA precheck they decided to eat at the food court outside security while we opted to hop in the security line.
But jellybeans are small. That was odd that they were flagged.Melissa’s bag got flagged because it had jellybeans in it, which delayed us.
MCO is why we got TSA pre-check, too. I had gotten stuck in a very long security line and was just about the last person on the plane, even though we arrived two hours early via the Magical Express. That did it for us and it has been a breeze to get through TSA since then.We both decided after that to go through the tsa precheck process and now we both have our KTN numbers for February. It should make flying through Orlando so much better.
That just wasn't right for them to take away your seat assignments like that. It doesn't sound like they would have refunded the extra money you paid for seat assignments. It was a good thing that Melissa and the kids could sit together at least.So, despite paying extra to pick our seats and bring carry on luggage we didn’t get either, but we were supposed to be grateful that we made it on the flight. At least that way Jon and Brandy had a ride home from the airport.
I wouldn't have liked having that tape all over the stroller.When we pulled it off the belt and confirmed it was ours I was HOT. I couldn't believe TSA would take our stroller out of a bag and then just tape it back up instead of putting it back in the bag. There was nothing wrong with the bag at all.
That is a good size jump in price.On our way out, we found that they increased the parking rates while we were gone by $10 a day, so our $300 parking bill became a $400 parking bill. Ahh LAX...
It is funny how bad MCO TSA seems to be compared to other airports. We both have it now and are looking forward to using it in February.MCO is why I got TSA Pre Check and insisted my Mom do so as well since she travels with me. I had a bad security experience at MCO and went home and started the TSA Pre Check process immediately! You will find it really does help both at LAX and MCO.
And sorry about the seats issue. Did you ask the airline to refund you the money you paid to select seats and for the carry ons? I would since you got neither of those things.
Thanks, we really enjoy sharing our trips. Wilderness Lodge is such a great resort, and definitely our favorite home away from home. It is neat that we start our next trip in just 51 days!I really enjoyed reading about your trip! Sounds like you all enjoyed Wilderness Lodge...we love that place as well. Definitely one of our favorites! Can't wait to hear about more of your trips!!
It really wasn't that bad, but the trip home was the worst part of the trip. It was still an awesome trip overall, and eventually we had to pay for the great luck we had.What a terrible trip home, between the security mess and your not having your pre-selected seats. I would've been SO UPSET if they did that to my stroller. What on earth?! I'm glad you managed to make it home okay despite all the issues.
You'll LOVE TSA pre-check! My husband and I got it this year and it was absolutely delightful to skip the big line (and we lucked out with really nice and understanding TSA agents). I'm especially excited about having TSA pre-check for MCO!
Thank you for the wonderful trip report! I look forward to your February trip!
We have really enjoyed the Chinese food at the American terminal, but we'll see what we find next time, and perhaps will be early enough to eat before security, but we won't cut it too close.They have the best restaurants outside the security area but we never feel comfortable stopping there. They also have better restaurants in the terminal that is not the Southwest Airlines terminal. We accidentally took the wrong monorail and discovered them.
Apparently it is because they are dense. I kept a bag out when I flew after this trip, and the TSA guy appreciated it.But jellybeans are small. That was odd that they were flagged.
Another TSA pre decision made by dealing with MCO... I am sure looking forward to having it next time.MCO is why we got TSA pre-check, too. I had gotten stuck in a very long security line and was just about the last person on the plane, even though we arrived two hours early via the Magical Express. That did it for us and it has been a breeze to get through TSA since then.
I understand that they may have switched planes, but I still don't know how we wound up being the ones, in the middle of the plane, to have our seats taken away. At least we did get home on time, but it sure wasn't the experience we hoped (or paid) for.That just wasn't right for them to take away your seat assignments like that. It doesn't sound like they would have refunded the extra money you paid for seat assignments. It was a good thing that Melissa and the kids could sit together at least.
I wouldn't have liked having that tape all over the stroller.
That is a good size jump in price.
You had a lot of bad luck on this trip home.
Welcome home, although we definitely understand how it is hard it is to go back to real life after a Disney trip. Doing trips of 9 days seems perfect, and we do them once a calendar year, but by shifting to try a February trip it means that these two particular trips will be close together. We will take it.Sounds like an awesome trip! We just got back yesterday from our annual 2 week trip and I’m deep in the post-Disney depression, lol. It’s great that you have another trip planned so soon to take the edge off that for you guys! We always debate doing 2 one week trips split up over the year but we always opt for the 1 two week trip. WL had an amazing gingerbread house this year! It was sooo cute. They usually just have a hot chocolate station. Humphrey the bear was on it, and chip and Dale too. Was my new favorite. I’m excited (and a little jealous, lol) to hear about your upcoming trip!
We like to totally move into a room, too. The two times we did a GF/BC split and the one time we did a WL/BC split were very disruptive. I liked splitting GF with BC because it meant we could avoid having to take the monorail to Epcot, but the WL/BC was not fun at all. We missed WL too much.Something else I really took away from this trip is how much I love the two bedroom villa and being able to move in for the entire trip. I liked not having to worry about a move mid vacation.
That would be great to get the alternate configuration. Is it something that you can request?Next time we should have one consistent room as well, but we are trying something a little different and booked a lockoff 2 bedroom with hopes of getting the alternate configuration. The location and view from these rooms are neat, and it would be cool to get one. We will see...
We have had hurricanes affect both of our August trips and one of October trips. We have never yet cancelled a trip because a hurricane was expected and it has paid off with lower crowds.Yeah, with all of our September trips this one finally came close to being negatively affected, but it worked out to just mean lower crowds at the beginning of the trip. We shouldn't have to worry about weather as much in February.
I noticed that your trips are including a lot more pool time and less rushing around.We seem to do less park hopping, and are generally spending more time at MK, but the kids are just the right age for that.
I can't wait to hear about your February trip. Our daughter who lives in Colorado will be at the BC the week before your trip. We wanted to catch Flower and Garden before the rates went up for spring break travel so we will be at the BC March 1st to 6th. We have been trying to get a WL reservation but with a 10% annual pass holders discount, we just couldn't do it, especially when the BC had a 35% AP discount. WL has just gotten too popular.See ya real soon!