We live in Southwest Florida, about 4 hours South of Disney and this year we got Seasonal Annual Passes. We took advantage of them and are going on our 4th and last trip of the year before our passes expire (=()! We have had such wonderful trips and even though I grew up in Florida, went to College in Orlando and have been to Disney countless times, there is always something new to try or experience!! In fact, I still have a Disney bucket list a mile long! We most likely won't renew our passes for next year because we plan on going on another Disney Cruise instead, but we're still debating it!
So onto the pre-trip report!
When? October 13-17th
Who? Me(Jen), husband(Derek), 7 year old daughter (Dakota), and for the last two days we will be joined by my mom(Debbie) and my sister (Candice).
Where? Our family will be staying at the Wilderness Lodge. My husband and I stayed there for one night as a Valentine's Day treat when we were dating and I was in college at Rollins (right outside of Orlando in Winterpark). That was 17 years ago, so it's been a while! We know it is under construction although only the adult pool which we don't use is closed - the family pool is open, so we're good! Also it has the all important feature to my daughter - bunk beds!!! My daughter is thrilled with bunk beds (thus our last two stays at Fort Wilderness this year)! We loved Fort Wilderness - we especially loved it before they took the murphy beds away and replaced them with sleeper sofas, but still loved it .... but I like to play the field ;-) and wanted to try something new even though we loved our stays at Fort Wilderness. I promised my husband we could return to Fort Wilderness next time and could always get there by boat from Wilderness Lodge if he missed it too much. Plus one of our favorite restaurants in Disney World is there - Artist's Point!
My mom and sister usually stay off property, but I convinced them to stay at All Star Music as a. it is only a few dollars more than where they usually stay b. you save in parking since they don't have annual passes c. the convenience of the buses d. extra magic hours . They agreed and I think they will love the convenience of staying on property. My sister has joined us at Fort Wilderness before and loved it. I don't think my mom has ever stayed on property! They will join us on Friday evening and then Saturday at the parks. We are going home on Sunday and they may do one more day at the parks.
Schedule and Dining:
I haven't gotten my fast passes yet (I will be eligible on August 13th, 7am!) but here's the schedule so far:
Arrive on Wed, Oct 12th, lunch at Whispering Canyon Cafe, explore hotel and possibly go swimming
Dinner at Artist's Point at 5:30pm, boat to Magic Kingdom for the evening
Thurs, Oct 13th
Epcot EMH in the morning (can't wait to go on Frozen Ever After - Dakota is freaking out she's so excited! Also soooo excited to try the new Soarin, one of my favorite rides in Disney!)
Lunch at San Angel Inn Restaurante (never tried it, always wanted to!)
Go back to hotel for a rest
Evening at Animal Kingdom till it closes at 7pm
Dinner at Tusker House at 5:35 (again, always wanted to try it - haven't yet)
At 7, we may take the bus to Fort Wilderness for the Chip and Dale Sing-a-long and movie under the stars, and then the boat back to Wilderness Lodge ... but we'll see how we are doing energy wise.
Fri, Oct 15th
Magic Kingdom EMH in the morning
lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern (again, so excited to try this!)
Back to hotel for rest
Evening at Hollywood Studios
Dinner at Mama Melrose's (first time)
(hopefully we can get a fast pass for Toy Story after using the Magic Kingdom Fast Passes - I don't know if they will still be available. What do you guys think? Or should I just forego Fast Passes for the morning since it is EMH and get them for the evening at Hollywood Studios? Dilemmas dilemmas!!!)
Sat Oct 16th
Breakfast at 8:20am (before park opening) at The Garden Grill at Epcot (The Garden Grill is our favorite restaurant at Disney. We have been for dinner and lunch but never for breakfast!)
morning at Epcot
no lunch reservations yet - back to the hotel to rest for the afternoon
Dinner at the Luau at the Polynesian (so excited!!!! ALWAYS wanted to try this and have never even been to the Polynesian so excited to check out the atmosphere as well!)
Evening at Magic Kingdom
Sunday
Breakfast at Whispering Canyon Cafe at Wilderness Lodge
Check out and head on the road back home
So onto the pre-trip report!
When? October 13-17th
Who? Me(Jen), husband(Derek), 7 year old daughter (Dakota), and for the last two days we will be joined by my mom(Debbie) and my sister (Candice).
Where? Our family will be staying at the Wilderness Lodge. My husband and I stayed there for one night as a Valentine's Day treat when we were dating and I was in college at Rollins (right outside of Orlando in Winterpark). That was 17 years ago, so it's been a while! We know it is under construction although only the adult pool which we don't use is closed - the family pool is open, so we're good! Also it has the all important feature to my daughter - bunk beds!!! My daughter is thrilled with bunk beds (thus our last two stays at Fort Wilderness this year)! We loved Fort Wilderness - we especially loved it before they took the murphy beds away and replaced them with sleeper sofas, but still loved it .... but I like to play the field ;-) and wanted to try something new even though we loved our stays at Fort Wilderness. I promised my husband we could return to Fort Wilderness next time and could always get there by boat from Wilderness Lodge if he missed it too much. Plus one of our favorite restaurants in Disney World is there - Artist's Point!
My mom and sister usually stay off property, but I convinced them to stay at All Star Music as a. it is only a few dollars more than where they usually stay b. you save in parking since they don't have annual passes c. the convenience of the buses d. extra magic hours . They agreed and I think they will love the convenience of staying on property. My sister has joined us at Fort Wilderness before and loved it. I don't think my mom has ever stayed on property! They will join us on Friday evening and then Saturday at the parks. We are going home on Sunday and they may do one more day at the parks.
Schedule and Dining:
I haven't gotten my fast passes yet (I will be eligible on August 13th, 7am!) but here's the schedule so far:
Arrive on Wed, Oct 12th, lunch at Whispering Canyon Cafe, explore hotel and possibly go swimming
Dinner at Artist's Point at 5:30pm, boat to Magic Kingdom for the evening
Thurs, Oct 13th
Epcot EMH in the morning (can't wait to go on Frozen Ever After - Dakota is freaking out she's so excited! Also soooo excited to try the new Soarin, one of my favorite rides in Disney!)
Lunch at San Angel Inn Restaurante (never tried it, always wanted to!)
Go back to hotel for a rest
Evening at Animal Kingdom till it closes at 7pm
Dinner at Tusker House at 5:35 (again, always wanted to try it - haven't yet)
At 7, we may take the bus to Fort Wilderness for the Chip and Dale Sing-a-long and movie under the stars, and then the boat back to Wilderness Lodge ... but we'll see how we are doing energy wise.
Fri, Oct 15th
Magic Kingdom EMH in the morning
lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern (again, so excited to try this!)
Back to hotel for rest
Evening at Hollywood Studios
Dinner at Mama Melrose's (first time)
(hopefully we can get a fast pass for Toy Story after using the Magic Kingdom Fast Passes - I don't know if they will still be available. What do you guys think? Or should I just forego Fast Passes for the morning since it is EMH and get them for the evening at Hollywood Studios? Dilemmas dilemmas!!!)
Sat Oct 16th
Breakfast at 8:20am (before park opening) at The Garden Grill at Epcot (The Garden Grill is our favorite restaurant at Disney. We have been for dinner and lunch but never for breakfast!)
morning at Epcot
no lunch reservations yet - back to the hotel to rest for the afternoon
Dinner at the Luau at the Polynesian (so excited!!!! ALWAYS wanted to try this and have never even been to the Polynesian so excited to check out the atmosphere as well!)
Evening at Magic Kingdom
Sunday
Breakfast at Whispering Canyon Cafe at Wilderness Lodge
Check out and head on the road back home
