Trip Report **COMPLETE** 'Tried the grey stuff it's delicious... don't believe us ask the dishes!!!

Welcome to our first trip report! I've loved reading through lots of fantastic trip reports on here, the pictures and stories got me very excited for my recent trip to Orlando so I figured it would be the perfect opportunity for me to write my very own. First a little background information, I’m Karen (25) from Dublin in Ireland and had my first trip to Orlando at the age of 9 and have since been hooked! I've been a grand total of 6 times including the most recent trip (not nearly enough!). Myself and my sister Rachel (20) read tonnes of trip reports, drooled over all over the Disney treats, researched the magic band system like crazy and planned the out the holiday in advance. Our trip involved 3 completely different types of accommodation, we stayed in a villa in Kissimmee for the first 6 days, Art of Animation at Disney World for 2 nights and finally the Quality Inn Suites on International Drive (at the junction of Sand Lake road).

A relative of ours had booked the house as part of a round the world trip so our accommodation there was free, he won’t feature much in our trip report but when he does we will refer to him as Grumpy. My boyfriend, who shall be known as Sleepy for the duration of our TR, also joined us on the trip for 10days.


Introducing the cast!

Me (left) and Rachel - both from Ireland

Sleepy (my boyfriend) - from the UK, had visited Disney once as a kid but has very vague memories

& Grumpy - our uncle

 

[dancingtodisney]

We wandered into the shop on main street with the chess board outside

I picked up a shot glass (I get one everwhere I go)

and I got our parents a mickey oven glove

I love Disney shopping! I want EVERYTHING though

We took a couple of photos on mainstreet before leaving for the day...

Final picture from the monorail as we were leaving

We had a brilliant day! It was laid back as we weren't running around trying to get on all the rides so we really just enjoyed our surroundings and had fun meeting lots of characters...

That night we just got a takeaway from Dominos and chilled out at the apartment with our family.

Tune in tomorrow for Hollywood Studios and Halloween Horror night at Universal!

 

[dancingtodisney]

Day 13 - Hollywood Studios & HHN

Up bright and early the next day we got ourselves to Hollywood Studios before opening. Now as I said at the start HS was our favourite park before this trip, after having our best day so far in Magic Kingdom we were pretty sure we had a new favourite. In fact I was thinking Epcot was right up there too. So we decided to go the HS and try soak in the atmosphere here now that we'd already done most of the rides.

We took a detour for a photoshoot on the way in

I love how they've done this area it's so detailed and makes for a good photo opportunity.

Our first stop of the day...

Me trying to do a cool rockin roll pose

A nice couple offered to take our photo..

We took there's in return, gotta love the Disney spirit!

The ride was great as always but the photo system was down so no ride photo! This seemed to happen a lot with R'n'R

Next up our FAVE!

Our elevator awaits!

 

[dancingtodisney]

Minnie and Goofy couldn't even look!

When we went to collect this picture the girl at the desk was saying how cute it was with our plush on with us!
As you can see the lift was half empty this early in the morning so we decided to ride again!

The wait time outside was completely wrong!

This time we went for a shocked look...

I love the face on the girl in the middle in front of us! And the young girl to the left hugging her mam! I think the two front and centre are taking videos but I've no idea why, it's pitch black when the lift is dropping! That sort of thing ruins the ride experience too, you can't enjoy it while you are watching it through a video screen. I know I like to take some photos but that's on the rides where there is lots to see and I enjoy zooming in on different details, I also make a point of riding each of my favourites without my camera out at all as well.

Hmmmmmm... wonder what we could do next...

By this time the girl we were collecting the photos off was high five'n our efforts!

We decided three visits to the twilight zone were just enough! Back across the way for our second rock concert of the morning, all before 10am!

We wandered back up Sunset Boulevard and had a bit of a browse in the shop windows.

We decided it was time for another photo shoot:

We weren't all that fussed on rides today so we went exploring instead. We walked over to the streets of America, it was pretty deserted apart for this one guy lying on the ground taking photos, by the time I got my camera out he was sitting up, it was a bit odd

The 'YOUSE GUYS MOYCHINDICE' shop was never open when we walked past Is it only open seasonally?

Empty....

This is one attraction I have a vivid memory of from our visit when I was only 9...

We came across the Monsters Inc meeting area so hopped in the queue...

I took lots of photos while we waited...

 

[dancingtodisney]

 

[dancingtodisney]

Neither of us were at all impressed with the interaction we had with Mike and Sully, it was actually kinda awkward to be honest.

I think that might come across in our photo

We had seem soon cool photos with the singing in the rain umbrella so we were glad we found it!

 

[dancingtodisney]

We had a fastpass plus for TSM so we headed that way next. Rachel kicked my butt!

On the way out we saw the Toy Story meet and greet and decided to hop in line. I like that there are some cool photo opportunities in the line. It didn't look like a big line but boy did it move SLOW

FINALLY it was time to meet Andy and Buzz!!

This solider was quick to pose outside when I raised my camera

We were feeling peckish, over re-visit our favourite snack location of the trip...

This time we went for a cream slice

And this beauty!

I have to say I preferred the red velvet from before..
We had two more fast pass plus so back down sunset boulevard we go...

And one final go on our favourite

I love the ride photo from tower of terror!

We took our time walking out to the exit and I got some snaps along the way

Bye Bye Hollywood Studios..

 

[dancingtodisney]

Back at the hotel we got ready for our Halloween Horror Night at Universal Studios. You're not allowed to dress up for this night, I assume this is because they people working there actually scare you and they want to be able to tell the difference between those and the regular guests.

We popped into TGI's which was right beside out hotel and then drove out to Universal.

When we arrived we queued up to get into a holding are right at the gate for Universal Studios, the security checks were intense with metal detectors and full bag searches.

The event itself was brilliant, there was a pre-show in the holding are and then the 'walking dead' appeared from EVERYWHERE within the park, dragging themselves slowly towards the gates, it looked like something out of a movie. When they got to the gates they were shaking them and trying to reach through to get at us!

I've got some pictures from the night but basically when you were inside the park there was walking dead all around to scare you as well as the special houses you went into that were so FREAKY! If you get a thrill out of being scared this night was AWESOME!

 

[dancingtodisney]

The queues for the houses got ridiculous as the night went on so we didn't stay until the end.

I got some snaps on our way back to the car

Home to bed

Tomorrow Magic Kingdom and going home

 

[shakes20]

Really fun reading your TR. I enjoy your storytelling to go along with the pictures. One little thing, however, I believe the umbrella you posed with if meant to be from "Singing in the Rain" as opposed to "Mary Poppins". Not trying to be a know-it-all, just thought you'd like to know.

Oh, BTW, I love it that you took a picture in the same spot as my avatar, it makes me feel closer to WDW when I see people in the exact spot that I've been.

 

[dancingtodisney]

Day 14 - Magic Kingdom & Home Time

It was our last day We had a great holiday and did not want to leave, but who ever wants to leave Disney?!

We packed and loaded the car and drove out to MK. In case you haven't guessed MK had won our favourite park to revisit on our last day.

We caught the move it shake it parade on our way over to future world.

We got on Space Mountain first, I have to say this ride is right up there with TOT for me, it's just FUN!

 

[dancingtodisney]

Really fun reading your TR. I enjoy your storytelling to go along with the pictures. One little thing, however, I believe the umbrella you posed with if meant to be from "Singing in the Rain" as opposed to "Mary Poppins". Not trying to be a know-it-all, just thought you'd like to know.

Oh, BTW, I love it that you took a picture in the same spot as my avatar, it makes me feel closer to WDW when I see people in the exact spot that I've been.

That makes so much more sense, that's why it rains on you.... I'll go back and change it now... Ssssshhhh don't tell anyone

Ye I'm the same too, when I see photos that remind of me of my own trip, on the other hand I see some photos and I've no idea where in the park they've taken it! That makes me want to explore more next time!

Glad you've enjoyed reading along... almost finished now!

 

[dancingtodisney]

From one mountain to the next, we ventured across to Splash Mountain right after..

Our last ride on Splash

And to our final mountain for the wildest ride in the wilderness

With our time running out we tried to soak in our last bit of magic... We wandered around, taking few photos I'm afraid...

And our last ride was...

Looks like the women behind us nodded off??

Just enough time for one more trip to space... Rachel went for a sad face whereas I opted with complete devastation..

It was about that time... Time to leave Disney signifying the end of our holiday... We decided we'd have one last photoshoot just before we left. We asked for the special one with tinkerbell but I guess Mickey was just sad that we were leaving his focus was off and we ended up with these:

The photopass photographer told us to look surprised... the only surprise we got was empty hands!

We took a 'sad to be leaving Disney' photo too

We walked down mainstreet towards the exit, memories of our first day here fresh in our minds.. I turned and took my final photo of mainstreet..

Bye Bye Disney... See ya real soon...

 

[dancingtodisney]

Our last monorail...

Leaving the ticket and transport centre

We stopped in at the Florida Mall on our drive to the airport for some last minute presents and dropped our car off at the airport...

Not wanting our Disney magic to end we stopped into the Disney Store at the airport..

I bought a disney mug

and we both bought a photo frame which is now filled with our holiday memories...

Our flight home was uneventful... we arrived in Manchester on time... Our plane home was a really tiny propeller plane

So that's it guys... My September 2013 trip report... I hope you have enjoyed reading.

I'm heading back October 24th 2014 for a whopping 18days! We've signed up for the Wine and Dine half marathon so both planning and training are in full swing.

Expect my pre-trip report soon

 

[Tiggerish]

Great last few days!! Your ride photos from ToT are brilliant, I love seeing all the different reactions (the one and only time I ever rode it, I'm sure I looked like one of those scared children). What a shame they forgot to put Tink in your goodbye photos.

I'll be down the same time as you in November--will keep an eye out and yell if I see you!

 

[DisSplash]

Loved your report! You and your sister look like you had such a blast. And was that a glimpse of Grumpy in that photo frame of yours? .....

 

[dancingtodisney]

Great last few days!! Your ride photos from ToT are brilliant, I love seeing all the different reactions (the one and only time I ever rode it, I'm sure I looked like one of those scared children). What a shame they forgot to put Tink in your goodbye photos.

I'll be down the same time as you in November--will keep an eye out and yell if I see you!

ToT does get some awesome ride photos! And you also get lots of other random people in your photo which you don't get with most rides. When I was on the one in Tokyo my uncles bag flew up in the air and he was grabbing it in the photo that was a pretty good one!

Ye we had planned on contacting Disney and seeing if they could edit the photos but we just never got around to it!

Oooooh how exciting, I see you're there for the marathon weekend, if you do see me I'll more than like be either a) looking nervous pre-race or b) barely able to walk haha

 

[dancingtodisney]

Loved your report! You and your sister look like you had such a blast. And was that a glimpse of Grumpy in that photo frame of yours? .....

We really did, can't wait to head back it seems like a lifetime ago now
Ooooh well spotted! I think we can let that one slide!

 

[mrdrift]

Love the report and thank you for sharing your journey with all of us. You have some really good pictures through out the report also. It's always sad when the vacation comes to an end, but you did get a great photo to end the trip with the tears, that is something my wife really likes.

 

[dancingtodisney]

Love the report and thank you for sharing your journey with all of us. You have some really good pictures through out the report also. It's always sad when the vacation comes to an end, but you did get a great photo to end the trip with the tears, that is something my wife really likes.

Oh you're very welcome, it was fun re-visiting the trip as I was writing it! I am delighted I bought the camera, I've been to Disney plenty of times but this was the first time I had all these photo memories to take home with me. The photopass is great and I'll be getting it again but the memories and moments you catch just wandering around the park on your personal camera are priceless too.

It didn't take much acting to do our sad faces on the last day

 

[dancingtodisney]

Time to start my Pre-Trip report for October I think!