Trip Report 28 Going on 8...A Birthday Trip!

Hi everyone! I’ve been home for a few days sorting & editing pictures and can’t wait to start sharing my latest trip:)

I’ve always wanted to spend my birthday in Disney World – who wouldn’t?! ;)
So when my sister suggested we go for my birthday instead of me flying out to Denver to visit (she just moved), I was in! Then I asked my parents if they would want to come and to my surprise…they said yes! They love Disney too, but we haven’t been as a family in a few years. It was later in the day when it hit me that they really said yes because it meant seeing my sister for the first time since she moved to Colorado :rolleyes: haha. But they really were excited to all be together and spend my birthday in Disney World too:)

We stayed Friday, July 8th to Tuesday, July 12th at Port Orleans French Quarter! My sister and I loved this resort the last time we stayed and couldn't wait for my parents to see it too, we knew they'd love the theming.

Here we are on our last family trip in April 2013

Mom- Phyllis
Me- Sam
Sister- Alyssa
Dad- Larry


There were a few hiccups in the week leading up to and day of the trip...

It was about a week before we were leaving when I found out that one of my admission guest passes was lost by a friend on our last trip. I knew I could replace it but after doing some research I found out it would take two weeks in the mail, or you could do it in person at a site in Celebration. But they close at 4 on Fridays, and I was going to be landing at 2:30, which would be cutting it too close. I decided to apply for a new pass online and hope it would come before we leave. I also started panicking about all the time I spent planning out our fastpasses and not knowing if they’d be able to be applied to a new guest pass. All was better when the new guest pass arrived a few days after I ordered the replacement and they assured me the fastpasses would transfer right over to the new pass with no issues. Crisis 1 averted!

Speaking of fastpasses…some of our fastpasses on my guest passes weren’t showing up, I called several times and everyone gave me a different answer and was told to check back in a couple days and the system should be fixed. That never happened. I was told I used all the allotments I had for my guest passes, I knew there wasn’t any truth to that, then finally a very helpful cast member made new fastpasses for those missing to match the rest of the ones on my main entrance pass. Crisis 2 averted!

And then the biggest problem…my sister flew in from Denver early on the 8th. I flew out from LaGuardia at 11, and my parents were on a 6:30pm flight from Newark. Around noon, my mom gets an email that JetBlue had cancelled their flight and put them on a new one 24 hours later. I’m on the plane and totally helpless (and freaking out). My mom was able to get them on a flight that left about 90 minutes earlier and would connect through Boston and still get in Friday night, just a few hours later. Well, that flight ends up being delayed more and more and eventually there is no way if they ever got to Boston, they wouldn’t even make their connection. So again start looking for another flight and JetBlue puts them on a 5:30am flight Saturday out of JFK. That was the best they were going to get and thankfully I live just outside of NYC so they had a place to stay overnight since jetblue wouldn’t give them a hotel or anything for transportation.
I was, and still am annoyed by the whole thing though. They blamed the weather. I’m a meteorologist. Don’t blame the weather when I see it is NOT raining at or near Newark. Of course safety is the number one priority, and if there had been storms at Newark I would completely understand. But to cancel a flight 7 hours in advance for the chance of a storm, which never happened...I just don’t get it. What is even more frustrating is that all the other airlines were flying out at the time their original flight was supposed to leave…ANYWAY knowing my parents were for sure on a flight first thing the next morning, my sister and I set out to enjoy our night together! We still felt bad they had spent all afternoon sitting around and dealing with the airport, but they were happy too just to be on a flight in the morning.

Sorry that was a lot, but NOW TO THE GOOD STUFF :)

I worked the morning before I left and when I walked into my office I was greeted with the best surprise! An early Disney princess birthday bash, complete with a blow up Mickey, princess figures lining my computer, a Frozen balloon and Disney music in the background. I’m so lucky that my coworkers are also some of my best friends. They know me very well and really got me good that morning. (ps. I’ve managed to keep those decorations up for over a week now ;) haha)



After work I raced to the airport where I learned I was upgraded to first class…woo! Then we were off to Orlando!


We landed early and I quickly made it on to the magical express and before I knew it, was looking at this!
[url=https://flic.kr/p/K5mqQ4]


Soon enough we were pulling into our home, I hopped off the bus and hustled to our room where my sister, Alyssa, was waiting! It was great to see her after being apart for 3 months, especially since we were in DISNEY! We had so much to catch up on, but had several days to do it- so we quickly changed, grabbed our ears and ran off to Magic Kingdom!


On our way to the bus we picked up a birthday button!:D:D







One of the things I was most excited to see was Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire and we needed to hurry to make the last show of the day! Those pictures coming up next :)[/url]
 

Scoppin

Well-Known Member
Garden Grill was one of our favorite restaurants from when we were little and we have tried to fit it in on our last few trips but the timing never lined up, but it was perfect for this trip and we were all excited to revisit!

I had booked the latest lunch reservation I could get, I think it was 2:55, and I think we ended up being one of maybe two tables in the whole place!

We were starving by this point haha, the salad came and we all dived in


Then before we could eat anything ALL the characters came by!






Then Chip came and we were dancing for some reason haha





Pluto was so sweet. He loved us and we loved him. We told him he should have some of the food since he was being so good:p hah





The food…AMAZING! I know many of you have talked about how great it is and we loved it! I want it all right now.





Our waitress was the best! So nice, fun and attentive. She brought out our dessert then also brought out this little cake for me & a birthday card! I was so surprised! Those little things go a long way.:)

The little things do go a long way. Nice having the restaurant all to yourself, almost. Lots of time with the characters. And not little kids kicking over your stuff and getting in your way. I think that is the only character dinner we may not be attending.
 

samantha788

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
The little things do go a long way. Nice having the restaurant all to yourself, almost. Lots of time with the characters. And not little kids kicking over your stuff and getting in your way. I think that is the only character dinner we may not be attending.
We love character meals - it's a fun environment to see them and just a different experience. Your kids will really enjoy!

Oh those lapu lapu's :inlove: Always worth the trip! Still absolutely loving your TR
I want one right now! hahaha. Thank you for still hanging along :)
 

samantha788

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
SOMEDAY I WILL STAY HERE. I can’t wait for that day to come.




We walked up to Tambu Lounge and got two Lapu Lapus to share.


These are so good. I can't think of any of drink in WDW that i'd rather have :)


Castle view from the bar!




This is when we started getting a little silly:DAlyssa and I were snapchatting away, then mom and dad got in on the fun haha.




We drank the lapu lapus pretty fast, I know we were splitting them but they seemed to go down much faster than any other time haha.
We were enjoying our time at the Poly, and in the air conditioning, so we decied to order another round of drinks. Alyssa got another lapu lapu (sans pineapple) and my mom, dad and I all got a backscratcher…which came with a backscratcher! Haha


The backscratcher was good! But it was no lapu lapu, I should have stuck with that :) good thing is, my mom kept all three of our actual back scratchers and now if I ever need one, I have one! :p
We had so much fun just sitting here, laughing and relaxing for a long while. We're all glad we took this little detour.
 

samantha788

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
After Wishes, we met up with Sarah & Tom Bricker of Disney Tourist Blog fame!

I’ve read their blog and trip reports longer than anything else, and following each other on instagram, we noticed almost every time our trips to WDW or Disneyland were coinciding...but our paths had never crossed. This time though, Sarah and I were messaging and figured that we’d be able to meet after Wishes :)

They had a couple fastpasses so invited my sister and I to join them for the Mine Train and Peter Pan.



This became one of the highlights of the trip for me. I feel like I know them after reading the blog etc for years, it was so great to be in the same place this time and actually meet and talk in person!
They're awesome by the way!:)
 

Tuvalu

Premium Member
SOMEDAY I WILL STAY HERE. I can’t wait for that day to come.




We walked up to Tambu Lounge and got two Lapu Lapus to share.


These are so good. I can't think of any of drink in WDW that i'd rather have :)


Castle view from the bar!




This is when we started getting a little silly:DAlyssa and I were snapchatting away, then mom and dad got in on the fun haha.




We drank the lapu lapus pretty fast, I know we were splitting them but they seemed to go down much faster than any other time haha.
We were enjoying our time at the Poly, and in the air conditioning, so we decied to order another round of drinks. Alyssa got another lapu lapu (sans pineapple) and my mom, dad and I all got a backscratcher…which came with a backscratcher! Haha


The backscratcher was good! But it was no lapu lapu, I should have stuck with that :) good thing is, my mom kept all three of our actual back scratchers and now if I ever need one, I have one! :p
We had so much fun just sitting here, laughing and relaxing for a long while. We're all glad we took this little detour.
Next time you're at the Tambu Lounge, try an Island Sunset. :hungry:
 

Disneykings

Active Member
The BEST way to end a birthday:inlove:


If Disney Dreams at DLP is better than Wishes, I MUST see it ;) someday!

I have to second Disney Dreams as being better, sorry WDW. If you go, stay in the Disneyland Hotel, you can be back to your room within 5 mins of the show ending or like we did, make a nightly dash from your room to watch it :)
 

cdeev8690

Well-Known Member
Your pictures are so beautiful! I always struggle to get nice fireworks shots. What settings do you use? My Canon Rebel is on the older side (purchased around 2009/2010).

And I love your dad's Mr. Met hat! LGM!
 

samantha788

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
So neat that you got to hang out with Tom and Sarah! I used Tom's blog A LOT when I was planning our second trip. I didn't do much planning on our first one, but I made up for it on the second :hilarious:. They seem like they'd be a lot of fun.
I love the blog! Even with info you already know, the writing puts a new spin on it.


Next time you're at the Tambu Lounge, try an Island Sunset. :hungry:
Sounds delicious!:p


Amazing photos, looks like you had an great trip. Where is the Cinderella wishing well located? I've never seen this before? Thanks
Thank you so much! From right behind the castle, take the walkway on the left heading towards Tomorrowland. There's a little alcove on the right with the wishing well :)

Your pictures are so beautiful! I always struggle to get nice fireworks shots. What settings do you use? My Canon Rebel is on the older side (purchased around 2009/2010).

And I love your dad's Mr. Met hat! LGM!
Another mets fan! LGM:)
Thank you!! I used my Nikon D3200 and actually kind of cheated, I think this night my camera was set on the action mode- but it works and gets the fast shutter. I have yet to experiment with a tripod + long exposure for fireworks.


Ahh jealous you got to meet Tom and Sarah! I have been reading their blog for a solid year and a half, that would be SO cool.
Yes! I'm so glad this time we were actually able to meet. It's so weird that almost every trip of mine in DL or WDW has overlapped with theirs but we hadn't crossed paths. It was about time! They're super nice!
 

samantha788

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Loving your report! How fun to have the whole family in the best place together on your birthday :) Your photos are great too!
I am also jealous you got to hang out with Tom and Sarah, they are the ultimate Disney nuts and i love their blog & reports :)
Thank you so much for reading:) It was nice having the family together again and in the best place!
 

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