Greetings everyone. We're are back home in chilly Chicagoland. Here is our first trip report. Please bear with me, as we are rookies at this. If you would like to know anything else that we haven't posted, please do not hesitate to drop us a line.
Sunday, October 21, 2007: My wife Theresa and I arrived in Orlando via Southwest Airlines at 11am, ahead of schedule and were ready to start our 7th anniversary celebration. After renting our vehicle and claiming our luggage we set off to our hotel for the week: The Galleria Palms in Kissimmee. Let me just tell you a little bit about this hotel. In a word, "perfect." Located on US 192 at mile marker 6, less than 10 minutes from the theme parks. We loved it, and for just $500 for 7 days (thru Travelocity) you couldn't beat it. The room had a business class feel to it with beautiful pillow top beds along with a fridge, microwave and wet bar. Beautiful black granite counter tops and Bath and Bodyworks soaps and shampoos were very nice, not to mention the rainmaker shower head. We had a view of The Tree of Life and EE at AK as well. The free deluxe continental breakfast was really out of this world. Waffles, biscuits and gravy and hard boiled eggs topped menu along with your other basics like donuts, muffins, 3 different types of juices, hot tea and Seattle's Best coffee. A great way to start the day. Anyway, enough about the accomodations. This day was our actuall anniversary (lucky #7) but we didn't want to waste one of our days at one of the parks seeing as how we like to start out early and it was already 2pm. So it was off to one of my wifes favorite places: Downtown Disney. We picked up our "Happy Anniversay Pins" at guest relations (which gave us a lot of perks throughout the week) then it was time to shop. We grabbed a quick bite at Wolfgang Puck Express then proceeded to World of Disney. Being a Sunday afternoon, the place was packed. We didn't spend as much time there as we wanted, so we vowed to return during the week.
We met up with my brother and sister-in-law, who just happened to be there at the same time as us and we had dinner at Sizzler! I know, before you start laughing at us, it's my brothers favorite place and we no longer have any locations in Chicago. It's sort of a first night in Florida tradition. My wife and I called it a night early. Seeing as how we only had about 3 hours of sleep the night before and the upcoming week was going to be loaded with fun.
Monday, October 22, 2007: This was the day we really celebrated our anniversary. It was time for MGM. We arrived at rope drop and were able to ride RnRC and ToT before 9:30. We caught Beauty and the Beast, the first time we had ever seen it and were pleasantly surprised. Then it was time for TGMR. My wife and I still love this attraction, even though it hasn't really changed through the years. I still get the chills everytime when I watch that little montage of movie clips at the end. Then it was time for Star Tours. Actually had to wait 20 minutes for this one but it was fun as usuall. We then met up with my brother and sister-in-law. I love them to death, but they are sort of a "go with the flow" couple who enjoy sitting down on benches and relaxing as much as the attractions themselves. So after spending a few hours with them and seeing MV3D and doing RnRC and ToT for the second time, we parted ways for the day and the wife and I set off for the highlight of our trip: our anniversary dinner at The Brown Derby. We had 4:40 reservations with the Fantasmic package. This is my wifes favorite Disney restaurant so I arranged for a few special surprises. After dinner, just before dessert, the hostess came to our table and told my wife she had a phone call. They then proceeded to bring an old fashioned telephone to our booth. We listened, and it was Micky and Minnie wishing us a happy anniversary. It was the cutest thing. Singing "Happy Anniversary to You." Then our server brought us some complimentary champagne and fresh strawberries. A very unexpected surprise. Then they brought my wife the gift I had arranged. A sterling silver charm bracelet and a single pink rose dusted with pixie dust. My wife was almost in tears. It was the happiest I had seen her in a long time. I think she liked the rose more than the bracelet! She took great care of it all week, carried it home on the plane and it is still ingreat shape sitting in our home tonight. We wrapped up our fist full magical day at WDW with Fantasmic (my favorite fireworks show) and our trip was off to a great start.
To be continued................
Sunday, October 21, 2007: My wife Theresa and I arrived in Orlando via Southwest Airlines at 11am, ahead of schedule and were ready to start our 7th anniversary celebration. After renting our vehicle and claiming our luggage we set off to our hotel for the week: The Galleria Palms in Kissimmee. Let me just tell you a little bit about this hotel. In a word, "perfect." Located on US 192 at mile marker 6, less than 10 minutes from the theme parks. We loved it, and for just $500 for 7 days (thru Travelocity) you couldn't beat it. The room had a business class feel to it with beautiful pillow top beds along with a fridge, microwave and wet bar. Beautiful black granite counter tops and Bath and Bodyworks soaps and shampoos were very nice, not to mention the rainmaker shower head. We had a view of The Tree of Life and EE at AK as well. The free deluxe continental breakfast was really out of this world. Waffles, biscuits and gravy and hard boiled eggs topped menu along with your other basics like donuts, muffins, 3 different types of juices, hot tea and Seattle's Best coffee. A great way to start the day. Anyway, enough about the accomodations. This day was our actuall anniversary (lucky #7) but we didn't want to waste one of our days at one of the parks seeing as how we like to start out early and it was already 2pm. So it was off to one of my wifes favorite places: Downtown Disney. We picked up our "Happy Anniversay Pins" at guest relations (which gave us a lot of perks throughout the week) then it was time to shop. We grabbed a quick bite at Wolfgang Puck Express then proceeded to World of Disney. Being a Sunday afternoon, the place was packed. We didn't spend as much time there as we wanted, so we vowed to return during the week.
We met up with my brother and sister-in-law, who just happened to be there at the same time as us and we had dinner at Sizzler! I know, before you start laughing at us, it's my brothers favorite place and we no longer have any locations in Chicago. It's sort of a first night in Florida tradition. My wife and I called it a night early. Seeing as how we only had about 3 hours of sleep the night before and the upcoming week was going to be loaded with fun.
Monday, October 22, 2007: This was the day we really celebrated our anniversary. It was time for MGM. We arrived at rope drop and were able to ride RnRC and ToT before 9:30. We caught Beauty and the Beast, the first time we had ever seen it and were pleasantly surprised. Then it was time for TGMR. My wife and I still love this attraction, even though it hasn't really changed through the years. I still get the chills everytime when I watch that little montage of movie clips at the end. Then it was time for Star Tours. Actually had to wait 20 minutes for this one but it was fun as usuall. We then met up with my brother and sister-in-law. I love them to death, but they are sort of a "go with the flow" couple who enjoy sitting down on benches and relaxing as much as the attractions themselves. So after spending a few hours with them and seeing MV3D and doing RnRC and ToT for the second time, we parted ways for the day and the wife and I set off for the highlight of our trip: our anniversary dinner at The Brown Derby. We had 4:40 reservations with the Fantasmic package. This is my wifes favorite Disney restaurant so I arranged for a few special surprises. After dinner, just before dessert, the hostess came to our table and told my wife she had a phone call. They then proceeded to bring an old fashioned telephone to our booth. We listened, and it was Micky and Minnie wishing us a happy anniversary. It was the cutest thing. Singing "Happy Anniversary to You." Then our server brought us some complimentary champagne and fresh strawberries. A very unexpected surprise. Then they brought my wife the gift I had arranged. A sterling silver charm bracelet and a single pink rose dusted with pixie dust. My wife was almost in tears. It was the happiest I had seen her in a long time. I think she liked the rose more than the bracelet! She took great care of it all week, carried it home on the plane and it is still ingreat shape sitting in our home tonight. We wrapped up our fist full magical day at WDW with Fantasmic (my favorite fireworks show) and our trip was off to a great start.
To be continued................
. Anyhow, we were among the first to ride Splash on this particular day. And wouldn't you know it... I get completely drenched by a water cannon before any of the drops. Oh well, it was still great but I did feel wet the rest of the day. Since my other favorite next door was in its last day of refurbishment, it was off to HM. I had heard all the good things about its new look and I was not disapointed. It was great! I had read that some did not care for the new bride, but I thought it was brilliantly creepy...especially when she was singing, "Here comes the bride." A classic attraction which rightfully deserved its improvements. Then it was off to Fantasyland. Peter Pan, Snow White and Pooh all taken care of in less than an hour. We then figured we should head on over to PotC. I still am amazed by the lifelike Jack Sparrow. Amazing. We then decided to grab a quick and early lunch at Pecos Bill's. Here's where our Anniversary buttons came in handy. I know our anniversary was technically on the 21st, but since this trip was an anniversary gift, I think it was fair to say we were celebrating for our entire trip. Anyhow, free desserts for my wife and I. :slurp: We then headed over to Hall of Presidents to give our food a chance to digest. Whenever I watch this show, it makes me even more proud to be an American. Then it was time for our first ride ever on Liberty Square Riverboat. A nice little ride. Plus we got to see BTMRR being tested with empty trains. Like rubbing salt in my wounds
. A light drizzle was in the air when we staked our place for the afternoon parade. At about 3:15, the announcement was made....due to inclement weather blah, blah, blah. But they did surprise us with a little mini parade with the characters in vehicles and the lyrics, "Sprinkle sprinkle, splash splash. How long will this rain last?" That tune was in my head the rest of the day. Very cute:lol:. Then it was over to PhilharMagic. Interesting to say the least. I won't get into it. Read my thread in general discussion entitled, "Bizzare scene at Philharmagic." Now it was time to ride HM and PotC for a second time. Then a Dole Whip in memory of my late mother Beverly. They were her favorite. Then it was off to Tommorowland. I am not a fan of Space Mountain. We didn't get fast passes and my wife did not want to wait in line for 60 minutes so we skipped it this time. The wait for Buzz Lightyear was really short, only 20 minutes. Liked our on ride snap shot so we bought it. Then we rode TTA for the first time. A nice little ride. CoP....I'm sorry. We love you but we just couldn't fit you in. It was approaching 6pm and we needed to stake out our place for SpectroMagic and Wishes. We headed to the top of the train station, grabbed 2 chairs and sat down and people watched for the next 2 hours. Some may think were crazy for waiting so long, but we love doing it and it was well worth it. The perfect ending to a perfect day at the most magical place on earth! MK we love you! To be continued.....