Trip Report *Completed* Lebeau Family 2014 Disney World Trip Report

In 2012, I took the family to Walt Disney World for what I had expected to be our last Disney World trip for quite a few years. But a mere eighteen months later, we were back. A big part of the reason for our return was the completion of Disney’s long-in-the-works Fantasyland Expansion. With the opening of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride, Disney has completed a project that was announced over five years ago! I have been reporting on the Fantasyland Expansion for the last several years and could not resist the chance to see the finished project for myself.

This trip wasn’t just a family vacation. It was also a research trip. I wanted to tackle as many new experiences as possible so that I could report on them here at Le Blog. Since the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train was opening in late May, that provided an opportunity to attend my first Star Wars weekend. We checked out every nook and cranny of the new Fantasyland, met with new characters and tried out new restaurants. Although we have stayed at Port Orleans before, I booked our stay in the new Royal Guest bedrooms.

Visiting in the early summer was also a new experience. How would we handle the crowds, the heat and the thunderstorms? As expected, the summer months presented some new challenges. But touring in the summer time proved to be less challenging than expected. Additionally, Disney is in the process of rolling out their My Magic Plus program which changes many elements of a Disney World vacation.

With so many new experiences to report on, I thought it was worth returning to Disney World earlier than I had originally planned.

Since this trip report is so massive, I wanted to provide a table of contents with links to areas that may be of interest.

(Links go to my blog where the entire trip report has been posted. I will be transferring it to this thread in pieces.)

Table of Contents
Arrival and Check In at Port Orleans Riverside
Dinner at Boatwright’s Dining Hall
The Royal Guest Rooms at Port Orleans Riverside
A Morning Walk Around Port Orleans Riverside
Fantasyland: A Visit With Ariel
Fantasyland: Gaston’s Tavern
Fantasyland: Seven Dwarf’s Mine Train
Killing Time in Fantasyland
Lunch at Be Our Guest
Dinner at Be Our Guest
Fantasyland: Enchanted Tales With Belle
Evening at the Magic Kingdom
Star Wars Weekend and Toy Story Mania
Breakfast at Fairfax Fare, Tower of Terror and the Great Movie Ride
Legends of the Force Motorcade and the Feel the Force Premium Package
More Star Wars, Toy Story Mania and an Afternoon Swim
Dinner at the 50s Prime Time Café
Obi-Wan and Beyond
Star Wars Fireworks and the Feel the Force Dessert Party
Meeting Up With Friends and Bus Depot Woes
Crazy Spinning at the Mad Tea Party
Fantasyland: Gaston, My What a Guy
Peter Pan, Country Bears and Lunch at Columbia Harbor House
The Festival of Fantasy Parade Part 1
The Festival of Fantasy Parade Part 2
Beating the heat in Adventurland and Tomorrowland
Dinner at the Crystal Palace
Hitting the Wall
Morning at Downtown Disney
A Rainy Afternoon at Port Orleans Riverside
Club Cool, Maelstrom and Kidcot
Dinner at Akershus
Gran Fiesta Tour, Mickey Bars and the Epcot Character Spot
A Lazy Morning at Port Orleans Riverside
Flying Solo at Epcot
A Messy Mexican Snack
Test Track, The Seas and Figment
Dinner at Chef Mickey’s
Big Thunder and Meeting Anna and Elsa
Fantasyland: Dumbo, Big Top Treats and Pete’s Silly Sideshow
Farewell to Magic Kingdom and One Final Swim
A Boat Ride to Downtown Disney
Dinner at Planet Hollywood
Evening at Downtown Disney and The End

 

[lebeau]

I enjoyed your trip report! I do feel a little bad that you did not make it over the American Adventure, but maybe in a couple of years your girls will want to do that with you. I love the World Showcase, and all the movies, restaurants, and other scenic things scattered throughout it. (The Eiffel Tower is a pretty neat forced perspective photo op). My kids, on the other hand (10 and 7) are more about getting to the next ride, so while we have dragged them across the World Showcase, and while they have tolerated the movies and have appreciated the air conditioning, I know there are more pressing things they want to get to -- like another go at Test Track or a trip on Maelstrom. So I think your plan to go back in a few years will work for all of you, and you it appears that you will have a lot of "new" stuff to explore together! Every year we have gone with our kids there is still something "new" that we haven't done yet.

Score on the Elsa and Anna meet and greet! They were still set up over in Epcot when we were there in January with a 5 hour wait and no fast passes - that was a definite NO for us. I did hold my 7 yo daughter up as we walked past the doorway so she could get a glimpse of them tho, so I keep telling to this day that yes, she "saw" Elsa and Anna at WDW.

So glad you all found your luggage, and that you took it all in stride (or "sprint!" )

I'm glad you enjoyed the report.

Every year, we plan to spend more time in the World Showcase and every year, for some reason, we get stuck on one side or the other. Usually Mexico because the girls like the snacks, the kidcot station and the Donald Duck ride. But there is comfort in knowing that the next Disney trip is never that far away. And as the kids get older, as you point out, they will begin to appreciate this stuff more and more. I didn't expect they would sit through the Country Bears, the Tiki Birds and the Carousel of Progress in one trip much less one day. In fact, CoP turned out to be one of Josie's favorites. So there is hope for American Adventure next time. And if not then, then the time after that.

I would not have waited hours for the Anna and Elsa meet and greet. My kids love Frozen beyond all reason. They sing the soundtrack day and night. But there's no way I could set aside that much vacation time for a 2-minute meet and greet. It was FastPass or nothing for us. If it hadn't worked out, we would have been satisfied to see them in the Festival of Fantasy parade. Sometimes, a glimpse is enough as you well know.

Losing the luggage in the first place was a bit of bad luck. As was losing my magic band for that matter. But finding them both was quite a bit of good luck. And to my surprise, the contents were complete. I had a semi valuable camera in there and it was returned along with everything else. Yay!

 

[FlaggNL]

Great great report! Your girls have so much fun!!!! Thanks for sharing!!

 

[lebeau]

Great great report! Your girls have so much fun!!!! Thanks for sharing!!

Thanks for reading! Glad you enjoyed it.

 

[mrdrift]

Thank you for spending the time writing this report for us to enjoy. It was pretty amazing to follow along with you and the family. The pictures were wonderful that were included. You have a lovely family and thanks again.

 

[lebeau]

Thank you for spending the time writing this report for us to enjoy. It was pretty amazing to follow along with you and the family. The pictures were wonderful that were included. You have a lovely family and thanks again.

Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed it. I personally love writing trip reports. It's almost as much fun as the trip itself.

 

[Tinkerbella16]

Loving the TR so far!!! So sorry you had a stressful check-in process.

And judging from your pictures and the location of your room, I wish I would have known that you were shooting for a good location while staying in a royal guestroom. I would have defintely recommended building 90 garden view royal room. It was right next to that bridge that takes you to the main area and bus stop so I thought the location of our room was perfect when we stayed in November. We faced the fountain where they show the nightly movie. They actually originally had us in building 95 but I politely asked if anything was available in 90 and they gladly switched us. I'm glad you liked the resort. Your pics are really bringing me back to our trip last year. Riverside is awesome.

 

[lebeau]

Loving the TR so far!!! So sorry you had a stressful check-in process.

And judging from your pictures and the location of your room, I wish I would have known that you were shooting for a good location while staying in a royal guestroom. I would have defintely recommended building 90 garden view royal room. It was right next to that bridge that takes you to the main area and bus stop so I thought the location of our room was perfect when we stayed in November. We faced the fountain where they show the nightly movie. They actually originally had us in building 95 but I politely asked if anything was available in 90 and they gladly switched us. I'm glad you liked the resort. Your pics are really bringing me back to our trip last year. Riverside is awesome.

Overall, we were pretty happy with the location o the room. Being a little closer to the bridge would have been nice. Especially after a day at the parks and a crowded bus ride home. Sometimes, the walk back to the room was a little longer than I would have liked. But given the beautiful surrounings, I couldn't complain. I asked for a ground floor room and they gave us a ground floor corner room which was terrifc.

The girls did love the garden though. I would definitely consider asking for a garden view next time. Closer to the bridge and the pool.

Check in was just a perfect storm of minor annoyances. No one thing was a big deal. But taken togeher, it made things a bit stressful. Fortunately, we bounced back. I have come to the conclussion that none of the girls (Mindy included) handle travel very well. Our travel days wear them out. On the whole, it was no big deal though.

Big thumbs up from my on Port Orleans. I would recommend it to anyone who can fit a moderate resort into their budget. My one complaint is of course the buses. But those are bad everywhere.

If I were a gambling man, I would bet tht our next stay will be at Art of Animation again. Nothing to do with our experience at POR. We're just planning to bring larger party next time if we can coordinate schedules.

Thanks for taking the time to read an comment.

 

[dupac]

Loved the TR. Your girls are adorable and I love their names!

I've stayed at POR once before and really enjoyed it. I only remember the bus stops being an issue like once. POP on the other hand.... I think if/when I go back, we'll stay at POR again.

 

[lebeau]

Loved the TR. Your girls are adorable and I love their names!

I've stayed at POR once before and really enjoyed it. I only remember the bus stops being an issue like once. POP on the other hand.... I think if/when I go back, we'll stay at POR again.

Ah thanks. Josie was named after my youngest brother Joey. He passed the same week we found out she was coming. We call her Joey around the house, but she prefers Josie everywhere else. Kara was basically named after Supergirl. Mindy was looking for names and just to be a stinker, I started naming every female super hero I could think of. She mostly ignored me until I suggested Kara. She decided she liked that one despite origins. Although she did check to make sure it wasn't Catwoman or someone. I guess Supergirl was acceptable. Oddly enough, Kara really liked Wonder Woman.

If I were going to stay at a Mod, it would be POR or POFQ hands-down. If I were going to stay at a Value, it would be Pop although I don't think Mindy and the girls would ever allow it. The only Value we have ever stayed at is AoA and that's about as expensive as the deluxes so I don't really think of it in that category.

The buses are an issue anywhere you stay. I have been told repeatedly not to pick your restort based on bus service. I remember a long time ago, getting superior bus service at AKL. But it was 2003 and I think bus service was just better all around back then.