Turn the Bus Around and Take Us Back to Disney! *COMPLETED*

[Denovagirl]

Hello y'all and welcome!​

If youre here from my Pre-Trip Report, thank you for following along! If this is your first time meeting me than its very nice of you to stop by!! Feel free to check out my PTR, Long Time Planner, First Time Visitor, for lots of fun times leading up to the most incredible trip of my life!

As you may or may not know, I just returned from THE BEST TRIP EVER! We are fresh off OUR FIRST TRIP to Disney World for 9 days, 8 nights from Aug 20-28th, staying at Disneys Art of Animation Resort! I simply cannot say enough fantastical things about this trip. It more than met all my expectations, it was far from perfect, but perfect for us nonetheless. There were so many magical surprises along the way, even for me, despite my planning nearly every second of our time! Let me just say that no amount of TRs and research can really prep you for just how amazing and in awe you will be at the House of Mouse. I want to live there in a magic Disney bubble for, like, EVER!

But alas, I am home now, and have already began my quest to start searching for when we can take our next trip to The World. So for now, please sit back, relax, keep your arms and legs inside the ride vehicle, and enjoy my Trip Report, as I get to relive all the precious moments with you! I am sure by the end youll be saying Turn the bus around and take us back to Disney World, just like my four year old did!

Let us begin our journey with some introductions, shall we? If you already know us from my PTR, well read it again, because now we know all sorts of fun things, like our favorite parks and rides, having finally done them!! J


This is me (and Price Eric...,) Terri! This trip was extra-freakin-spectacular for me, because I had the honor of celebrating my birthday while in Disney! I am not even exaggerating when I say that I was told Happy Birthday more in this span of 8 days, than I have been collectively told throughout my whole entire life! It was crazy special, and heart-warming. I felt like a child again, and I truly reveled in it! I am the planner of this trip, from everything to our matching tee shirts, to dining reservations, down to which shows we should see in the parks. It was a tough job (true- but I LOVED it), but somebody hadda do it, right?

Favorite Park: Magic Kingdom
Favorite Ride: Toy Story Mania / Under the Sea Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Favorite Quick Service: Art of Animation
Favorite Table Service: Hoop De Doo Musical Revue
Favorite Snack: Dole Whip Soft Serve Swirl
Favorite Attraction: Fantasmic!
Favorite Character Met: Tiana and Naveen/ Chip & Dale



Here is the hubs, Chris. He was pretty on board with the Disney stuff before the trip, he enjoyed downloading every Disney film possible and reading up on the parks, but he didnt truly get it until we stepped foot on that hallowed ground. He is a changed man. Since being home he has looked up the pay for police officers in Kissime, as well as home costs. No way are we moving, but I think its adorable that hes even remotely curious!

Favorite Park: Magic Kingdom
Favorite Ride: Star Tours
Favorite Quick Service: Art of Animation
Favorite Table Service: 50s Prime Time Cafe
Favorite Snack: Dole Whip Soft Serve Swirl
Favorite Attraction: Fantasmic!
Favorite Character Met: Goofy


This is Olivia, she is 4 and is, indeed, a princess. She told her teacher at church today that she couldnt wait to become and adult so she could let a boy marry her and live in a castle. Obviously, Disney has set quite the bar for her future. Luckily, she looks the part and could probably get a job as Cinderella one day if she wanted! This trip was all for her really. She was the most perfect age and really appreciated every aspect of it. She had so much pixie dust going on that she left a wake of glitter wherever she went, figuratively and literally! I dont know how I will EVER top this experience for her, but I will darn sure try!

Favorite Park: Magic Kingdom
Favorite Ride: Splash Mountain
Favorite Quick Service: Wolfgang Puck Express
Favorite Table Service: Cinderellas Castle/ Biergarten
Favorite Snack: Dole Whip Soft Serve Swirl
Favorite Attraction: Wishes
Favorite Character Met: Minnie Mouse


And this adorable, little bundle of cute is Maddie May! Maddie is tiny but mighty. She is nearly 15 months old and had a blast as well. She rode many a ride, watched many a show, and Mickey Mouse is now among the first ten words of her vocabulary! I could never have anticipated that she would do so well, but this girl is a trooper! She made it open to close every single day with only a few stroller naps here or there. I think she had a wonderful time, and though she may not remember it, we have the video proof of her fun times to show her one day!

Favorite Park: Magic Kingdom
Favorite Ride: Its A Small World
Favorite Quick Service: Wolfgang Puck
Favorite Table Service: Chef Mickey
Favorite Snack: Dole Whip Soft Serve Swirl
Favorite Attraction: Disney Junior Live!
Favorite Character Met: Mickey Mouse!!!!

***Please note we have not nearly experienced everything Disney has to offer, so all of these favorites are as of what we have tried SO FAR!***


Also traveling along with us, (thank goodness!!!) was the wonderful in-laws, Margo and Bob! We had such a blast!! Though Margos bum knee did require us to rent a wheel chair by the second day, it hardly slowed us down, and we had the added benefit of skipping pretty much all the lines all week thanks to her guest assistance card, so no complaining over here! It was such a help having extra hands to manage the kiddos, and I dont know how we would have managed without them. Plus, it just always seems so much more fun, the more people you have to share your good times! We hardly split up at all, which was a big feat considering we were a group of 7! And everyone minded my crazy schedule most the time, so I personally think all my family deserve a medal or something, because I can be quite the slave driver at times! Heehee! Not to mention Bob was quite the gentleman the entire trip. You dont know how thankful we were for someone to carry a certain four year old on the jam packed bus, near midnight when all hands were full, lemme tell ya!


And finally, Laci! She is the sis-in-law and I dont think she realized there was so much to do at Disney! Like me, her feet were DEAD by the end of the trip! But I know she had a blast, and she was so helpful as well. Laci also had a guest assistance card due to her autism, but again, that didnt slow her down one bit. This was also her first time ever flying! I dont think shes a fan, but she was a champ about it for sure!

So there ya have it! That is us! Please continue on your reading so that you can get to the really good stuff now! Like the tips, the photos, and the food porn! Oh the food porn!​

Table of Contents
August 20, 2013: Travel Day
The One with Zero Days Left
The One Where We Check-In
The One with the Pasta
August 21, 2013: Magic Kingdom
The One With the Cutest Photo Ever
The One Where We are in Awe
The One With Our First Ride
The One With the Rose
The One Where We Oops
The One With the Cheesecake
August 22, 2013 Hollywood Studios
The One With the Snarfblat
The One Where We Get a Lot Done
The One With the Hat
The One With the TV
The One With the Creepy Bellhop
The One With the Best Show Ever
The One With the Forgotton Recap
August 23, 2013 Animal Kingdom
The One With the Prairie Dog
The One With the Swahili
The One With the Cute Tumble Monkeys
The One With the Amazing Brownie
The One With the Best Meal of our Trip
August 24, 2013 Magic Kingdom
The One With the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
The One With the Teacups
The One With the Great, Big, Beautiful (and smelly) Tomorrow
The One With the Best Discovery EVER
The One With Lots and Lots of Pixie Dust
The One With the Photo Shoot
The One from INSIDE the Castle
August 25, 2013 Epcot
The One With the Insane Squirrels
The One With the Grumpies
The One With the Pearls
The One With the Trolls
The One With the Oompa Music
The One With the Mickey Bar
August 26, 2013 Universal Studios/ Islands of Adventure
The One With the Best Day Ever
The One With Harry Potter
The One With the Butterbeer
The One With the Cheeseburger in Paradise
The One Where I get Sick
The One With the Snake
The One at POP
The One With the Kids Day
August 27, 2013 Magic Kingdom
The One With a Celebrity Chef
The One With Nelly Cabinstealer
The One With the Bears
The One With the Sowrd
The One With the Four of Us
August 28, 2013 Travel Day
The One Where We Go Home
Ultimate List of Likes/Dislikes

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

Hopped over here from your PTR!!!! Can't wait to read more!

 

[lvcourtneyy]

Yay I'm here!!! Can't wait to hear all about the trip!

It's my dream to celebrate my birthday in Disney one day! Glad to hear you had a magical time!

Your daughter looks so adorable as Cinderella and it is TOO CUTE that Mickey Mouse was one of Maddie's first ten words!

 

[MataHari22]

Can't wait to follow along. Enjoyed your PTR.

 

[babynala]

Great start to the TR. I love hearing everyone's favorites. I can see the Dole whip was a big hit for your family. So cool that Chris drank the Kool aid. You have converted him. The girls are so adorable nad I am so glad they had a great time. They might not remember everything but you will. Can't wait to hear all about your trip.

 

[Denovagirl]

Hopped over here from your PTR!!!! Can't wait to read more!

Yay! You're fast!

 

[Denovagirl]

Yay I'm here!!! Can't wait to hear all about the trip!

It's my dream to celebrate my birthday in Disney one day! Glad to hear you had a magical time!

Your daughter looks so adorable as Cinderella and it is TOO CUTE that Mickey Mouse was one of Maddie's first ten words!

Heehee, thanks!!! Glad you're here!

 

[Denovagirl]

Can't wait to follow along. Enjoyed your PTR.

Thanks! Glad you're here!!

 

[Denovagirl]

Great start to the TR. I love hearing everyone's favorites. I can see the Dole whip was a big hit for your family. So cool that Chris drank the Kool aid. You have converted him. The girls are so adorable nad I am so glad they had a great time. They might not remember everything but you will. Can't wait to hear all about your trip.

Yes! We ALL drank the kool-aid! Lol! And I am craving a dole whip right now! I don't know how I will survive without one :-( glad you're here following!

 

[nataliej_vk]

I am in!!! Very jealous I remember my first trip! Oh the wonder and love!!!!

 

[Denovagirl]

Here we were, morning of our trip, and guess what? I did not have to be woken by an alarm! Crazy, right? Our flight wasnt until later in the afternoon, everything was packed and ready except the few items we would need in the morning, and those were also on a paper list to ensure not be forgotten before leaving the house! So how did I wake up? By baby, of course! Maddie woke up, her normal time, about 7:30 in the morning. I would have liked to sleep a little longer, so I wouldnt have to be waiting as long, but of course the second I heard her I popped right out of bed and started happily getting ready because this was it! Zero days left! Disney Day Yall!!!!!



Okay, so believe it or not, I managed to get some decent sleep the night before our trip! I think I had a zen thing going on because I knew I was pretty well on the ball. Energy was definitely not lacking so I headed straight to the kitchen and baked up some muffins for breakfast! I cleaned up my mess as I went along, so that we could come back to a perfect home. As soon as Olivia and the hubs woke up and joined the land of the living I went into my closet to retrieve the girls plane gifts!



Originally, I wanted to give them these at the airport, but Maddies travel backpack was teeny tiny and I knew that I would need to take the stuff out of these bags to put into the girls individual packs. So they opened them and gushed about the contents, and then we loaded their stuff up into the backpacks!

After breakfast we all got dressed in our matching plane shirts and packed up the little bits of here and there we needed. Once we were sure we had it all Chris loaded up the car and we all piled in.



We headed to my friends work, close by, first so I could drop her off my house key. Her son fed our dog and checked on her as well as our mail and plants while we were gone. Love my friends!

After dropping that off we realized we had forgotten something, I don't recall what now, so we ran back by the house, retrieved it and right as we were about to leave Olivia remembered her headphones were still inside. She definitely needed those for the plane so we grabbed them as well. Luckily, nothing else seemed to be forgotten after that!

We made the 20 minute drive to San Antonio over to Chris grandparents house and visited with them while we waited for the rest of our group to come along. Once we were all together we still had about an hour to waste so we just excitedly talked Disney (of course) and decided on taking our first group photo!



We left for the airport, which is only a few minutes drive from where we were, and arrived about noon. We did the curbside check-in for our bags which was awesome indeed, considering we had 7 cases and 3 bags!!! We ended up checking 5 this time and carried on 2 as well as the 3 smaller bags. The check-in guys were so awesome and funny. They all commented on our shirts, and that we were obviously heading to Disney. My guy in particular had on a lanyard and some cars pins! So woohoo for getting in the spirit early! He got a nice tip.

It didnt take too long for us to get through security, and me and the kiddos didnt have to do the crazy 360 degree x-ray so yay for that! Once through and put back together we headed to the food area and got some Raising Canes. Now I do not know if these chains are nation wide, or in the south or what, but we only recently got them in San Antonio, and boy oh boy are they good! The chicken is so juicy that it is making my mouth water just thinking back on it!





The airport wasnt very busy at all, so we had no issues navigating with all our stuff and kids. We found our gate after eating with no issues at all and about an hour to blow. Maddie had some energy to burn so I left Olivia watching cartoons with the fam while I let Maddie do some running around and I followed behind. She particularly loved looking out at the planes!










Oh, and this is Bob showing off his vintage tablet and bag. Haha, it was a newspaper and a paper sack that he carried nearly the whole trip with his reading glasses and napkins! He finally upgraded to a plastic sack later in the trip, but we had so much fun teasing him about it! The truth was that those napkins he carried came in handy on more than one occasion!



While walking around we noticed a girl who had an adorable puppy with her. So naturally, Maddie and I had to go say hi! Turns out she was moving home to Orlando from LA. She was trying to make it as an actress and didnt have much luck. He poor pup was a little sad because he hadnt got to walk around or go to the restroom since their trip had started super early that day. Turns out, her bag was crazy, super heavy and she couldnt lug it through the airport, out security, all the way to the dog area outside by herself. Well I gladly introduced my family and happily volunteered to keep an eye on said bag for her so she could take the pup to relieve himself.

I am super sure I was the dogs hero for the day! The girl was super nice and we ended up chatting for a while until they called for boarding. She told me that she actually had an audition with Disney to be a character actor coming up in the next week, so I am sending out some good karma her way!!!

We ended up in 'A' boarding group, which was great, because on Southwest flights it is unassigned seats, so we were early enough to get to all sit in one long row.





The flight was great! Olivia loved it! Maddie fell asleep while taking off and slept through the first half. She played and snacked with Olivia the second half. There were no issues whatsoever, we even landed about 20 minutes early in Orlando, until, upon arrival there was still a plane at our gate! We ended up sitting on the runway about 20 minutes until the plane left. This is when Maddie started to throw a bit of a fit. She absolutely hates when anything shes riding in, cars, strollers, and apparently planes stop moving. So sadly even though we landed early we still ened up in the airport about the same time due to the other stupid plane! (GAH!)






But no matter, because when we finally walked through the gate we were all smiles! We were finally in Orlando! We hopped on the fake-o-rail and made our way to the Magical Express. We had to stop at the Disney Store to grab this quick photo!



Despite my giving it to Disney two times, when they scanned our boarding passes they informed me my return flight info was not registered!! So I gave it to them a third time (!!!!) and we were on our bus!! (Remember this moment, you will see why the last day!)





Boo for our first bus being an ugly yellow Mears bus! I wanted a pretty real ME bus, but its okay. We only had to sit about ten minutes or so and the bus was off!! The video I have been warned about did make me shed a few tears, I was just so happy! Our bus was pretty full so I didnt get a great picture of entering Disney, but I still got one!



Also, good news, Art of Animation is the first bus stop on that route! So YAY for us!



I could not contain my joy at this point! Everything was exactly like I had seen! I was literally bouncing in my seat! We were HERE!!!!

Next, The One Where We Check-In!​

 

[Denovagirl]

I am in!!! Very jealous I remember my first trip! Oh the wonder and love!!!!

Welcome!!!!! I know it is sad to think that there will never be a first trip again. Nothing like it your first time, I am sure!

 

[disneygirl520]

I'm here! Your girls are beyond adorable, and I am so glad your trip was awesome. Can't wait to read more.

 

[DMGeurts]

Yay!!! I am here!!!

Great intro - I loved meeting all of you again! And I love all your shirts! Soooo awesome!!! I am determined to perfect that "bleach technique" before our next trip!

And the girls are soooo adorable going to the airport!

I am so happy that you all had a marvelous and magic filled trip!

And - Hahaha - Love your FIL's "vintage bag and tablet"... Everyone that knows me, knows I am all about vintage... But he takes it to a whole new level.

Cannot wait to hear about the rest of your trip!

D~

 

[sweetpeaandevie]

YAAAAAAAAYYYYYY!


I am so glad that the flight went well, it can go either way with the little ones

It's great that your first visit went so well, I hope that my hubs gets on board like yours, don't really see it happening though.......I have a feeling that it will be me and the girls in the future like D~

I am so excited to see more and pictures, I love pictures...and your fam is so stinkin cute!!!!

 

[Denovagirl]

I'm here! Your girls are beyond adorable, and I am so glad your trip was awesome. Can't wait to read more.

Yay! Thanks for joining in!

 

[Denovagirl]

Yay!!! I am here!!!

Great intro - I loved meeting all of you again! And I love all your shirts! Soooo awesome!!! I am determined to perfect that "bleach technique" before our next trip!

And the girls are soooo adorable going to the airport!

I am so happy that you all had a marvelous and magic filled trip!

And - Hahaha - Love your FIL's "vintage bag and tablet"... Everyone that knows me, knows I am all about vintage... But he takes it to a whole new level.

Cannot wait to hear about the rest of your trip!

D~

Teehee! Thanks! The bleach thing I learned a new trick to outline all my letters with a beach pin or paint the outline with a paintbrush to make them pop!

 

[Denovagirl]

YAAAAAAAAYYYYYY!

I am so glad that the flight went well, it can go either way with the little ones

It's great that your first visit went so well, I hope that my hubs gets on board like yours, don't really see it happening though.......I have a feeling that it will be me and the girls in the future like D~

I am so excited to see more and pictures, I love pictures...and your fam is so stinkin cute!!!!

Yea I'm pretty lucky that he had so much fun! He wants to alternate vacationing there as a family and just us in Vegas now...his 2 fave destinations...can't complain!

But I'd still have fun if I went with just the girls!!!

More coming today I am sure

 

[Chicago Mo]

i made it!

only you guys can get me to Dis on the 'weekends'

i will reply more.. but really want to tell you HOW adorable your girls are!!!

 

[Denovagirl]

i made it!

only you guys can get me to Dis on the 'weekends'

i will reply more.. but really want to tell you HOW adorable your girls are!!!

Hahaha! Yay! Glad you're here

Happy Labor Day!