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!

 

[steph88]

Me and Brett infront of Hogwarts!

I want to take a moment to explain just how big of an Potter fan I am. I have read the entire series 8 times. I haved been to midnight releases of the 5th and 6th books, midnight releases of the last 2 movies, and it only took me 14 hours to read the highly anticipated 7th book - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Needless to say, I was extremely excited about the Wizarding World. It was like falling right into Harry's world. I kept saying, "wow, this is Disney-worthy!!" - which is the highest compliment I can give anything!

I can honestly say the the FJ scared the holy crud out of me!! It was sensory overload to the millionth degree! I'm pretty sure I had my eyes closed for about 80% of the ride. After that, we rode Flight of the Hippogriff, which was a nice, easy coster after the FJ.

Brett and I on Flight of the Hippogriff

yummy Pumkin Juice

yummy Butterbeer!

We roamed around Islands of Adventure for a while longer and headed back to the car head to the most magical place on earth - Walt Disney World!!

 

[steph88]

Finally, on to Disney World! This time, we stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Megan and I were super stoked about staying here bc we love Samantha Brown and she stayed there on great hotels.

By far the best part of staying at the AKL is seeing all of the animals on the Savanah from your room!!

 

[steph88]

We dropped our rental car off at the Dolphin and walked to the Beach Club for our ADR at Cape May. My goal in life is to stay at every Disney hotel at least once, but I didn't find the Dolphin all that exciting. It seems a little to upscale for me. And I think the "dolphins" on top of the hotel look more like fish lol.

It was a long day.

Yummy, yummy yummy!

oh, I forgot until now, we were celebrating Brett's birthday this trip, so everywhere just about eveywhere we went he got a free dessert!

After Cape May, we hopped on a bus to my favorite park, the Magic Kingdom. it was decorated for the Not So Scary Halloween Party, which started a few weeks after we left.

Right as we where getting ready to enter the park, Megan had a minor crisis with her debit card. The bank put a hold on it because they apparently didn't believe she was in Florida. So while she dealt with them, I took some more picts!

Finally after sorting out her bank account, we got to Main Street USA

This was my 5th trip to Disney, and the same thing happens to me on every return trip. As soon as I get there, I get what I call Disney memory loss. This is were I forget that I already have 100 pictures of Cinderella Castle, and think, "thats the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, I must have a picture!!

 

[steph88]

We booked it to Space Mountain because during the last trip we took, it was closed for the update. And I must say that I love it even more - if that's even possible! And I love the new music too!

Next up is one of the best parts of the trip: the Magic Kingdom Dessert Party on the tomorrowland noodle terrance. Megan had orginally meant for this to be a surprise, but she couldnt keep it quiet. We ate chocolate covered strawberries until we were sick, and we had a wonderful view of Wishes!

We headed back to the AKL for bed to ready for another fun/busy day.

In the morning we headed for Hollywood Studios.

One of my favorite rides is the ToT. I've loved it since the first time I rode it when I was in 3rd grade, and Megan loves it too. Brett is another story. Our theory is that he's so afraid of being scared that the thought of the ToT freaks him out. He rode it on the first trip the three of us took together - but only because I bribed him with a ToT shirt if he did it. We havent been able to get him on it since, so we did the child swap.

Next up was Star Tours, and one of our last trips to Endor. I love this ride, but I also can't wait to see the new version

Brett and I with our Mickey ears waiting on a bus

 

[steph88]

That evening we headed over to Epcot - Megan's favorite park - for dinner at the Garden Grill.

Brett loves this restaurant because he loves Chip and Dale. Megan and I love it beause it goes throught the Living with the Land boat ride.

Brett got a birthday card from the characters at the Garden Grill

We headed over to the Seas with Nemo and Friends. Brett always creeps into our pictures.

 

[ladycameron]

Love your WWOHP pics! I get to go there for the first time this September. How was the Butterbeer?

 

[steph88]

The next morning we went to Animal Kingdom for breakfast at Donald's Safari Breakfast!

I love me some Mickey waffles!

Expedition Everest - One of my favs!

After Mt. Everest - as Brett calls it, We went to Dinoland USA and rode Dinosaur. Here again is were Disney memory loss kicks in. I hate this ride. Megan knows I hate this ride. Even Brett knows I hate this ride. It scares the holy crud out of me. And yet when Megan says "lets ride Dinosaur" I say "okay!" We're in the second row, and I'm the one covering my head.

After Dinosaur, I got myself a Mickey ice cream bar and was once again a happy camper.

on the Triceratops Spin

 

[steph88]

After AK, we headed over to Kidani Village to use their pool. Ours was pretty cool, but we wanted a change of pace.

Lobby of Kidani Village

my favorite part of the pool - the pool side bar!

That evening we headed over to Hollywood Studios and ate at the Sci-Fi Dine In. Brett loves this resturant, and I will say that the atmosphere is pretty cool. However, the food is only average.

my ruben sandwich

I love this picture, it makes the ToT look really scary!

 

[steph88]

This is was our "Best Day Ever" simply because of where we got to eat. We started out by being at the Contemporary Resort at 7am to eat at Chef Mickey's!

I love waffles - and everything tastes better in the shape of Mickey!

Doing some hard core celebrating!

 

[Sarabell]

Loving your TR so far! I love that it's a very visual report. Nothing better than pics of everything, specially food! can't wait for the rest!

 

[steph88]

After Chef Mickey's we caught the monorail and went to the Magic Kingdom. Its only a 5 minute walk from the Contemporary to the MK but who doesn't love the monorail?

Splash Mountain!

The Haunted Mansion

The Tea Cups - just Brett and I rode them because Megan get nauseous on it

On the TTA

Please keep your hands, arms, feet, and legs inside the ride vehicle at all times.

oh yeah, I'm a rebel

 

[steph88]

Fantasyland view of Cinderella Castle

We of course had to ride Pirates, and after we finished the ride they were doing the pirate show. And I swear this is really Johnny Deep. I just couldnt get over how much he looked and sounded like him!

By now our mickey waffles had long since left us, so we headed to Tomorrowland for what I feel is the best burger at Disney - Cosmic Rays!

Megan stole Brett's birthday ears and had them on for about 10 minutes before he even noticed lol

We headed back to the AK and proabably took a dip in the pool. I cant remember for sure, but that sounds like what we would have done. I swear, Brett would be content with going and just swimming the whole time lol. We changed and went to what is my favorite non-character restaurant: Ohana!!

 

[steph88]

Yay for 'Ohana! This is one of my favorite places to eat! And the salad dressing is amazing! I could practically lick the bowl!

The drink I have is a lapu lapu - a very fruity, topical drink. Megans however was pretty much a cored out pineapple that was filled with rum

Banana bread pudding - delish!

 

[steph88]

The next day we decided to walk around the World Show Case. The first time I went to Epcot I was 9, and I really didnt like it. Mind you, they didn't have Test Track, Mission Space, Nemo, or Soarin'. Epcot just seem like the adult side of Disney. And I also remember complaining that I was bored while we walked around the World Show Case. Maybe its all the new rides, or maybe I've just matured quite a bit, but I love Epcot!

And, of course, we had to do some rides before we hit Mexico.

Megan and I on Test Track

We do not keep our hands, arms, feet, or legs inside the vehicle

On to Mexico

Fiesta margarita!

 

[mickeysshoes]

Awesome report. Looks like everyone had a great time!!!

 

[Ariel484]

Love the report so far! Better late than never, right? :sohappy:

Sincerely, a fellow die-hard Harry Potter fan :wave:

 

[steph88]

We also did the Kim Possible Adventure. You get this cell phone thing and go to a certain pavillion at a certain time. You have to find landmarks inside the pavillions and it will light up or talk to you. I thought it was cool, and we where originally going to do all of the pavillions that its available at, but it takes a while, and we had big plans at the Magic Kingdom - more on that later.

Norway

China

Germany

Pretzel and wine at Germany

Italy

Rosa Regal - Megan's favorite drink!

American Pavillion

Japan

 

[steph88]

Now, on to the Magic Kingdom for Brett's surprise! Megan booked an appointment for him at the Pirate League!! It was seriously awesome! I wanted to jump in the chair next to him and get made up like a pirate.

Brett outside of the Pirate League

Inside the Pirate League

Brett getting his pirate name - Charles Guncheese!

Brett getting ready to go into the super secret room no one is to speak of

Arg! A real pirate on Pirates of the Carribean!

 

[steph88]

We hung out at the Magic Kingdom with our new found pirate friend Charles Guncheese before heading back to the AKL for dinner at Boma. While getting ready, we saw a TON of giraffes outside on the savanna

Boma was really good. I'm a pretty picky eater and since Boma is African food, I wasn't sure how much I would like it. But I need not fear, it was excellent.

Can anyone spot the Hidden Mickey?