My First Trip Report OR A Girl, Her Camera, and The World: May/June 2011

Let’s see. First things first, Hi! My name is Emily. I occasionally post, and tend to do so while sleep deprived. I thought I’d try my hand at a trip report. Here it goes!

My story begins, like many others, at the airport. My flight left at 7:45 AM from Hartford on Southwest Airlines. I opted for the early bird check-in and due to their amazing open seating plan I got a nice window seat in the third row. I have always had good luck with Southwest and ended up with a wonderful older woman as our lead flight attendant. Her pre-flight speech included such memorable lines as “If you care to smoke, I’ll let you out on the wing to do so. Because, as I say, if you can light it - you can smoke it!” and “Don’t you dare ask me if we’re there yet. I’ll put you on the wing in the smoking section.” I knew it was going to be a good flight.

We landed around 11 and I hopped on my Magical Express to the Boardwalk Villas. My parents own the vacation club and we go as a family once a year. The points leftover are mine to use! I am one lucky girl. Then something happened at the Boardwalk Villas that I can’t every remember happening before. I had a towel Mickey!

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I took the towel Mickey as a good omen and went to my patio doors. Lo and behold, the sliding glass doors opened to reveal…Leaping Horse Libations, the poolside bar. All signs pointed to a good trip.

After settling in and grabbing some quick groceries (Does The Screen Door General Store have significantly less groceries than before? Or is it me?), I headed off down the path to Hollywood Studios.

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First up on my list, single rider line on Rock N Roller Coaster. There’s nothing like a good launch to get me going for a trip.

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Then on to Tower of Terror.

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And then on to wandering and pictures:

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aka_emilicious

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
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Quick aside: I was not alive when the original Journey was open, however, I vote to bring it back! We’re going back to the original Tiki Room, why not Journey? Who’s with me?

Also, some of my favorite comments from One Man’s Dream: “Main Street USA is based on 1960’s America.” And “We went to Main Street, it has Ghiradelli Square and a Magic Shop.”

I got a fastpass and rode Star Tours for the first time since its change over.

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First ride: Scan Droid, Tattooine, Ackbar, Naboo. That concludes my first day of fun! Plan for Day 2? EPCOT, ending with Illuminations: Reflections of Earth.

More to come later!
 

MillerPoppins

Well-Known Member
You sure are lucky getting those extra points! And what great luck over looking the pool bar...looks like the weather was good too! Excited to hear more!
 

sweetpee_1993

Well-Known Member
Wow! Amazing start to your first trip report! Love that Southwest humor. Several years back DH & I had a rather bouncy landing on a Southwest flight with the head flight attendant piping up with this lovely gem: "Remain seated with your seatbelts securely fastened while Captain Kangaroo bounces us over to our gate." Love Southwest!

Nice score with the extra points for the villa. Lovin the pics. Can't wait for more!
 

siberian57

New Member
Excellent start, I'm subscribing to see the rest of your trip report. Did you go that memorial day week? If so, I went that week early morning from CT as well so I wouldn't be surprised if we passed by at some point at Bradley Airport or in the parks
 

aka_emilicious

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Looking forward to reading more and seeing pictures!:wave:

There are plenty more pictures to come!

You sure are lucky getting those extra points! And what great luck over looking the pool bar...looks like the weather was good too! Excited to hear more!

I KNOW! I have the best family in the world :)

Wow! Amazing start to your first trip report! Love that Southwest humor. Several years back DH & I had a rather bouncy landing on a Southwest flight with the head flight attendant piping up with this lovely gem: "Remain seated with your seatbelts securely fastened while Captain Kangaroo bounces us over to our gate." Love Southwest!

Nice score with the extra points for the villa. Lovin the pics. Can't wait for more!

Southwest is virtually the only airline I fly anymore. That might be because I travel to Orlando more than anywhere else.

Excellent start, I'm subscribing to see the rest of your trip report. Did you go that memorial day week? If so, I went that week early morning from CT as well so I wouldn't be surprised if we passed by at some point at Bradley Airport or in the parks

I went Monday May 30 - June 2. A nice quick trip. I bet we were in the airport at the same time? Were you the one holding up the line with liquids? Lol.

Need more description!
G*O*I*N*G S*O*O*N
C*A*N*T W*A*I*T!!
N*E*E*D D*I*S*N*E*Y F*I*X N*O*W!!!

I know exactly how you feel. And now that I'm home a trip report and future trip planning is all that's keeping me going!

Absolutely with you on reverting back to the original Journey.

Viva la revolucion! I may need to make shirts.


I just wanted to post a quick thanks to everyone who subscribed/ commented! I hope to have the day 2 up tonight or tomorrow. A crazy heavy thunderstorm just finished so I can finally charge my laptop, lol.

:wave:
 

aka_emilicious

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Day 1 Part 2

Well that took longer than anticipated...

I was looking back at my photos and realized, I went to EPCOT that night to watch Illuminations, not the next night (note to self: take better notes during trips). May I present to you, a late afternoon/evening in EPCOT!

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According to my time-stamped photos, I headed straight to The Land. That’s where I rode, Livin’ With The Land. It had the usual walk-on wait time and I had the whole back row to myself, just like the cool kids.

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Some Livin’ With The Land not-so-hidden Mickey’s.

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aka_emilicious

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
After a delicious Lunch (Turkey and Monterey Jack on Foccacia. Mmm!), I headed over to the World Showcase. With my new-ish camera I really wanted to head over to Morocco. I have to be honest, I worked at the world for five months and had never been inside the Moroccon pavilion. Prepare yourselves for Moroccan photo overload!

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aka_emilicious

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Then I meandered over to the German pavilion and staked out a spot for Illuminations: Reflections of Earth. It was a bit windy that night, so I was hoping it wouldn't change and head in my direction. I lucked out and the wind stayed away. I took a few photos to make sure my camera was all set.

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And then we gathered around the fire, and told a story. WITH FIREWORKS!

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aka_emilicious

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
After the fireworks I was actually able to boogey on over to Magic Kingdom in time for the final performance of the Main Street Electrical Parade that night. Luckily, most people were heading out to rides so that left me a wonderful spot in front of the castle. And now, select pictures from the MSEP.

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foreverbelle

Well-Known Member
I agree what a lucky girl indeed!

I have never stayed at Boardwalk, we have tried using out DVC points but have never had any luck. But its on our list of ones to check out. How is the resort??

I love how you jumped right on in and hit the parks, we are heading there in a month and plan on doing the same thing, its just a great feeling.

I also like the fact that you hit up HS first, and RNRC! That is a park we always seem to get around to when we can. LOL!

Love the TR thus far and can't wait to read the rest.
 
great report so far! I'm gearing up for a semi-solo trip in July (my husband has to go to Orlando for work and I'm tagging along to play while he works) so this is definitely getting me in the mood for some quality Disney "me time!"
 

aka_emilicious

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Day 2 (Official): Animal Kingdom of Humidity

Man, I hate it when real life gets in the way of Disney fun. First on my trip, now during my trip report.

I really, REALLY wanted to get up early and hit “The Awakening” at Animal Kingdom on Tuesday. However, my real life decided to annoy me on my trip. Quick background: the previous Thursday I had accepted a co-op position for my fall semester of school. They needed all of the paperwork sent to them within three days of acceptance. I don’t leave until Monday, so plenty of time right? Nope. They were closed for a furlough day on Friday and Memorial Day on Monday. Great. I called HR and asked if I could turn them in after I returned since I was out of state. Of course, I couldn’t. So, my Tuesday morning was spent in the Boardwalk Conference Center instead of watching “The Awakening”.

Two hours and ten dollars later, I arrived at the Animal Kingdom of Humidity (about 9:15 AM). The park had only been open for 15 minutes, but Kilamanjaro Safaris already had a long wait. I prefer doing safaris in the morning because the animals are usually more active. Though I still haven’t gotten a good shot of a lion yet! I picked up a fastpass and headed over to Expedition Everest.

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Unfortunately, the single rider line was not open yet, so I kept on walking and ended up at Finding Nemo: The Musical.

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aka_emilicious

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I really enjoy that show. And was super happy to play with my camera settings. I did google proper theater settings before the show started, lol. Once the show ended, it still wasn’t quite time for my fastpass. I decided to try the Maharah Jungle trek. I can’t remember if I had ever be down the trek or not, but off I went!

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aka_emilicious

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Finally, my three-week safari through the Harambe Wildlife Preserve could begin! I trekked over to the village and checked in. And faster than an ostrich can shake their tail feather, I was off in to the wilds. And I spotted many animals, as well as amusing stickers.

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Baby giraffe is surprised!

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