An extremely late trip report: WDW Sept 2010

Yes, I know this is a very late report, but I'm determined to do it! As usual, I traveled to Disney World with my bestie Megan and her 8 year old son Brett. Originally, we had discussed going to Disneyland because we had never been before. However, we just couldn't pass another trip to Walt Disney World and decided to go there instead. I am also a HUGE Harry Potter fan so we decided to dedicate a morning to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios.

We left in the afternoon and headed toward St. Louis to fly out. I'm not sure how I managed to do this, but I got us lost on the way.:veryconfu Megan revoked my direction rights, but she gave them back later that day.

On the way from the airport to the Crown Plaza that we stayed at for the one night, I managed to get us lost again - this time while holding a GPS. I'm still not sure how I did that, but my direction rights taken away for the rest of...well, I actually still haven't gotten them back lol.

She's going to kill me for this one lol

We where not pleased with the Crown Plaza. Maybe its because we are used to the excellent cast members and magic from the Disney hotels, but the staff at the Crown Plaza was not very friendly. I would like to remind you that there are 3 people traveling in our group - they gave us a room with one queen sized bed. Megan marched back down to the lobby and explained the situation to the girl at the desk. the girl was pretty much like "oh well, deal with it". Although I was not a witness, I'm sure Megan literally had smoke coming out of her ears, and demanded another room, which we got.

The next morning we got up a the crack of dawn and headed to Universal Studios.

Because the Harry Potter section is the newest edition, we knew everyone would be there. So we waited in line for a while, and when the gates finally opened we all but ran to the Forbidden Journey - the main attaction!

 

[meganw1985]

Hoorah for the best day ever!!! I think we sqeezed a little bit of Epcot in there before Ohana, cuz I remember wearing my black dress and those uncomfortable sandals and riding Test Track. Cuz I said "for this to truly be the best day ever, we have to go to Epcot too" lol. And what is totally hilarious, and noone can tell just by looking at the pictures, is that we sing the whole time we are at Disney. We make up songs and rhymes about things, and talk about the AA's and characters like they are real people. Love it.

p.s. looking at the Ohana wings is makin me hungry...

And lookin at those pictures of the Pirates League is crackin me up. He was so SERIOUS about it! Like he was really becoming a pirate. lol

 

[steph88]

The next morning was probably the day that I was most looking forward to: eating breakfast as Cinderella's Royal Table! Maybe it's because I only met one princess when I was little, or maybe it's because I never grew up, but CRT was the most magical experience I've ever had - and I think thats saying a lot considering how many times I've been to Disney!

We got to enter the MK before it opened because our ADR was at 730 or 8. So I got some awesome pictures of the MK with no one else in them! oh, and here's some more Disney memory loss

You have to prepay for your meal at CRT, and it was about $120 for 2 adults and 1 child. This also includes pictures with Cinderella. I will admit that I nearly cried when I saw Cinderella in her big ballgown. And she said, "Come right this way Princess". I know people over use the word magic in reference to Disney, but there is honestly no other word to describe it! Cinderella is down in the lobby-ish area, you get your picture with her, then the CM takes you up the circular staircase to your table.

Brett and I on the staircase

 

[steph88]

Megan had the stuffed french toast, and I had eggs, bacon and sausage. When I go back, I will definitely be getting the stuffed french toast.

 

[steph88]

Since we had breakfast so early, we still had plenty of time to tour the Magic Kingdom.

Ok, this was hilarious. This little girl ran up to the wicked step mother and hugged her. And the step mother looked like she was so far above that

and then the step sisters joined in on the hug!

Having fun on Space Mountain! With Megan grinning in the background

Brett riding Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin! He apparently too cool to cram into one ride vehicle with us, so he rode by himself

It seems like every trip we take, Brett has a new favorite ride and we end up riding it a million times. This trip, it was Splash Mountain

 

[Billy6]

Great "late" report...
How easy was it getting to MK for your early ADR at Cinderella's? I have an early ADR (8:05) in June. Were there earlier buses for available? Most people here say that there are but wanted to know from you....

Thanks!!!!!:wave:

 

[PartOfYourWorld]

Awesome late trip report!
Love the picture of the step-mother and sisters and the little girl, those three are just tooo funny.

And was it just me or was that Ariel from CRT just a little bit strange looking, didn't quite fit Ariel in my mind..but maybe it was just me

 

[meganw1985]

Great "late" report...
How easy was it getting to MK for your early ADR at Cinderella's? I have an early ADR (8:05) in June. Were there earlier buses for available? Most people here say that there are but wanted to know from you....

Thanks!!!!!:wave:

I'm not sure Steph knows how to reply to msgs, so I will lol. It was pretty easy. Buses start running like an hour an a half before opening. And occasionally (Like with our Chef Mickeys ADRs) if you're the only one on the bus (like we were before the sun came up) they will take you direct to the resort instead of dropping at a park first! But there is also a "special line" for early morning ADR people (it was to the right, by guest services).

 

[Billy6]

I'm not sure Steph knows how to reply to msgs, so I will lol. It was pretty easy. Buses start running like an hour an a half before opening. And occasionally (Like with our Chef Mickeys ADRs) if you're the only one on the bus (like we were before the sun came up) they will take you direct to the resort instead of dropping at a park first! But there is also a "special line" for early morning ADR people (it was to the right, by guest services).

Thanks Megan...Do they just show up and ask where you are going? or are they still park specific?

Where in Illinois are you from? I live in the Chicago Suburbs..

 

[HollyBelle]

Stellar report! I've enjoyed every minute of it. My favorite might be all the delicious adult beverage pictures. Mmmm... the shot of the margarita with World Showcase in the background is a definite keeper. And I adore the pictures of each of you doing the hula at Ohana. So cute!

I'm also a geeky Harry Potter fan and loved Hogwarts. We didn't see Hagrid's place though, I'm guessing it must've been in the queue for the old Dueling Dragons coaster?

 

[hauntdmansion79]

You have some great "on-ride" pictures (Grand Fiesta Tour, Splash Mountain...) and WOW! you ate at a lot of restaurants! I love how you are obsessed with taking pictures of your food, me and my group love doing that!

You seem like big Disney fans and I'm glad you had a great time!

 

[silver1113]

Great report. Loved seeing all the pictures especially the little pirate. :lol:

 

[steph88]

Awesome late trip report!
Love the picture of the step-mother and sisters and the little girl, those three are just tooo funny.

And was it just me or was that Ariel from CRT just a little bit strange looking, didn't quite fit Ariel in my mind..but maybe it was just me

Um, yes, her nose was huge! oh, and you cant really tell in the picture, but
I'm pretty sure Snow White had a mustache :ROFLOL:

 

[steph88]

I'm also a geeky Harry Potter fan and loved Hogwarts. We didn't see Hagrid's place though, I'm guessing it must've been in the queue for the old Dueling Dragons coaster?

It was in the queue for Flight of the Hippogriff

 

[steph88]

After Splash Mountain, we ate lunch and Cosmic Rays and headed over to Mickey's Toontown Fair - for the last time. Sowe naturally had to take a ridiculous amount of pictures so I can show future generations.

 

[meeskamickey]

Great trip report! Love all the food pics...it's making me hungry!!!

 

[steph88]

On our way out of the MK, we stumbled across the Move It Shake It Celebrate It street parade! Megan and I are not afraid to shake it in the middle of a crowd.:sohappy:

Donald shaking his tail feathers!

Next up was Epcot. And of course we had to ride Test Track. Now for some reason, the first time I rode this ride I thought it was kind of overrated. It may have been because I was a teenager and I thought everything was lame. However, it had quickly become one of my favorites

We headed over to Canada for our ADRs for Le Cellier. I'm not even a huge stake fan, but their prime rib is - as Megan says - a party in your mouth!

We caught up with Pooh and Tigger in England

We were walking around the World Showcase and there was Aladdin and Jasmine! And just so everyone knows, Jasmine is my favorite princess, so I made Megan and Brett stand in line so I could get my picture with them. They were very magical - and called Megan and I princesses.

We spent the rest of the night at the World Showcase and watched Illuminations. I dont have any pictures of the fireworks because I was too busy trying to record it.

 

[barrettismyhero]

Awesome report so far!!

I hope the next time I go that I can have as much luck booking ADRs cause it looks like you did plenty of good dining!

 

[steph88]

I always knew this day would come, but I still get very sad on our last day. We only had time for one park in the morning, so we hit up the Magic Kingdom for one last horay.

Megan and Brett on the Tomorrowland Speedway

So I was a little irritated during our last ride on Pirates. It had nothing to do with the ride - but the people in the front of our boat. They were taking pictures - with the flash! :brick: I get so irritated when people do that, it just ruins the magic. So I took this picture - without the flash - of the hairy leg pirate.

I had never noticed this detail on the ground before - so I had to get a picture of it. I always have a bag, which means I always have to be herded to the right or left side to have my bag checked - so I've never seen this before

Waiting for the bus, very sad to be leaving

So we're just sitting outside the AKL, waiting for the Magical Express to take us back to reality, and a Cruiseline bus drives up and the driver says this is our bus. Megan and I were stoked to ride the cruiseship bus - probably because we where hoping it was going to take us to a crusie ship instead of the airport.

One last little bit of magic: we got an airplane view of the Magic Kingdom and resorts!! Megan was looking out the window for anything Disney and she said, "hey! I know the island!" - referring to the small island in Bay Lake. So she grabbed my camera and snapped a picture. After zooming in, you can clearly see the Poly, Contemporary, Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, Space Mountain and Cinderella Castle!

I hope everyone enjoyed my trip report! Ive got two more from long ago that I will try to post eventually.

 

[ArtieJim]

Awesome TR, I always love them when people stay on site, lets me see what the inside of other hotels look like (not like I can't go in them anyway).

 

[meganw1985]

Thanks Megan...Do they just show up and ask where you are going? or are they still park specific?

Where in Illinois are you from? I live in the Chicago Suburbs..

When we went to Chef Mickeys, we got in the MK bus line, us and one other family got on. He asked where we were going, and we said Contemporary and the other family said Crystal Palace. So he told them he would drop us by the Contemporary quickly and then go to Mk! This has happened twice with our 7:30am ADR @ Chef Mickeys!

We live down Illinois. Like close to Carbondale...