Trip Report Our "It's 'Disney' real" June 2016 trip

We're back!! We had a fantastic time with some not so fantastic moments thrown in, but what trip doesn't have those!

For those of you that haven't read my pre-trip report, here is a quick synopsis:
Who: Me (Amy), my husband Brian, and our kids Logan (13), Lily (11), and Owen (8)
What: 10 day trip with free dining
When: June 2-11, 2016
Where: Caribbean Beach resort

Unfortunately, our flight was set to leave from Columbus at 5:30am. We live in Dayton, which is a little over an hour away from Columbus, so my goal was to leave our house by 3am on Thursday, June 2. We made it!!

Everyone was very excited!

We made it to the airport before the security check even opened! By the time we got our bags checked in to Southwest, we only had to wait a few minutes to get through security.
We were in early boarding group A, so we were on the plane in no time! Still excited!


We got to see the sun coming up once we were in the air.

 

[TheMouseFan]

Great trip report and your pictures are terrific! It's very helpful to hear your family's experiences good and bad. My kids aren't little anymore but being teens hasn't made the "attitudes" any better. I have been there like you. Our last day we spent at the MK in 2008 was a horrible day! My kids had nothing to do with it actually. The park was super crowded, it was extra magic hours, the obnoxious tour groups were everywhere and ruined every attraction for us. My inner voice told me to leave, many times. I regretted then not upgrading our tickets to park hoppers! The last straw was when we did the Haunted Mansion at night and Brazilian tour group flooded in as we entered the stretching room. They were chanting and screaming and taking flash pictures throughout the ride! My kids were crying they were so scared! I was fed up and grabbed my kids hands and stormed my way out of the park, I felt like an enraged bull! The park was gearing up for Wishes, cast members were waving to us and smiling, but I was in my very dark place, and could have given every one of them the finger! Not there and not in front of my kids, and certainly not to people who had nothing to do with my anger! Just as we were about to walk out of the main gate under the railroad in Mainstreet USA, my wife gently tugged on my arm, she may have been tugging for awhile, but I didn't feel it. I stopped and turned to look at her and she said she wanted to watch Wishes before we left, I looked at her and then my kids and saw the show was about to start and forgot myself then, and all the anger melted away. We stayed for the show and I left in a better mood, but still very disappointed.

Thanks! I don't mean for those sections of my report to be a downer, but I know when I'm reading reports and hear about similar happenings, I can empathize and it makes me feel more invested in the report! It is just not believable that anyone could go on an extended vacation with their family and be completely happy the entire time! That's awesome that your wife was able to at least partially salvage your crappy day!

 

[TheMouseFan]

Yeah, after three chances we won't be back either. The theming isn't enough to make up for the food.

I'm glad I'm not the only one to feel that way! You always hear about how hard the ADRs are to get and everyone raves about their experience, and I'm glad we did it once to say we did, but I have no plans to return for dinner.

Late to the trip report, but all caught up. really enjoying your pictures. Looking forward to more.

Thanks! Lots more to come!

 

[blreinsel]

Your castle pictures. I'm disappointed in myself for the lack of castle shots I took this trip. It's so hard to remember to slow down and just soak in the magic!

I agree about The Little Mermaid ride.. The music is the best part!

Sorry about your BOG experience. Our dinner this trip was the best meal I've ever had there. It's disappointing that such great restaurants have off nights because there are many people who would write BOG off and never return based on that one lousy experience.

I remember a family vacation when I was about 14 and my mom swore she would never take me with her and my dad on vacation ever again because of my bad (teenage) attitude! I've been taken on many vacations since, and I'm sure your kids are no exception. It'll get better!!

 

[Figgy1]

It won't be soon enough believe me. Mine are 19, 16 and 13 and I still have to break up ridiculous arguments. I'm pretty hopeful for our trip though. Although I'm still saying this will be our last trip as a family of five. I'll let you know how that turns out.

Same here this year's trip was supposed to be a just us trip, oh well the next one will be for sure LOL At least my kids are old enough to go off on their own together, they won't fight if we're not around.

 

[TheMouseFan]

Your castle pictures. I'm disappointed in myself for the lack of castle shots I took this trip. It's so hard to remember to slow down and just soak in the magic!

I agree about The Little Mermaid ride.. The music is the best part!

Sorry about your BOG experience. Our dinner this trip was the best meal I've ever had there. It's disappointing that such great restaurants have off nights because there are many people who would write BOG off and never return based on that one lousy experience.

I remember a family vacation when I was about 14 and my mom swore she would never take me with her and my dad on vacation ever again because of my bad (teenage) attitude! I've been taken on many vacations since, and I'm sure your kids are no exception. It'll get better!!

I feel like I didn't take nearly as many castle pics as I usually do! I can never get enough pics of the castle, ToT, and the Tree of Life. I absolutely love photographing all three! (And Spaceship Earth to a lesser degree!)

I could easily skip The Little Mermaid ride if it wasn't for the music!

Glad you enjoyed your BOG experience! We didn't have such good luck at breakfast this trip either! Luckily, we've had multiple good experiences at lunch, so we will be back, just not for dinner!

I'm positive there will be many more family vacations in the future, I just have to convince Brian that Disney needs to be included!!

 

[TheMouseFan]

Monday, June 6
Once again, we were at the bus stop early for our pre-park opening ADR, and, once again we waited FOREVER! Brian finally asked a bus driver going to one of the other parks if he knew when an Epcot bus might be arriving. He called it in and told us a bus had just been dispatched and should arrive any time. Well, it arrived 25 minutes later! Luckily, Epcot is a short drive from CBR, but the driver dropped us at a stop further away from the gate than the CBR stop! There wasn't much of a line at bag check, but our guy wanted to talk! He asked of we wanted to hear a corny Star Wars joke, and what were we supposed to say? Of course we said yes. He asked what Darth Vader's sister's name was. The answer is Ella. I had to think for a few to get it, Ella Vader! We had to explain it to the kids. By the time we made it in line, we were so far back, I was sure we would never make it to Akershus by 8:00. I was right, but no one else did either because they wait so long to let you through the gates!
A pic while standing in line waiting to enter:

Then some "on the go" pics as we made our way back to Norway:










Some vestiges of Flower and Garden:

 

[TheMouseFan]

We finally made it to Norway!









We got some fruit and pastries from the cold buffet, then they brought the plate of hot food out. We all really enjoyed it!

We waited what seemed like forever for the princesses to even start circulating, then they started in the room next to us, so we really did wait awhile to see them. Luckily, once Cinderella showed up at our table, they all came very quickly after her!







All of the princesses were very talkative and we had good interactions with them all! Sometimes it is very awkward because all three of my kids are on the shy side when interacting with strangers!

 

[TheMouseFan]

We were done before 9:00, so we hurried over to Test Track to try to get a quick ride in.






They apparently opened the park early, because the line was all the way back to the bathrooms by the time we got over there. It moved quickly as everyone filed in, but we still ended up waiting 30-40 minutes. Luckily, not many were using FP+ yet, so that helped it move faster. By the time we got up to the entrance of queue, the wait time said 120 minutes! We ended up in line behind a family that was also from Ohio, so we had fun talking to them for awhile.



Owen's car:

Lily and Logan's car:

I really hate how you can't make more than one car at each kiosk. You would think that each person should be able to make their own car! It is definitely a problem when you have 3 kids, and they divide you between two kiosks. Luckily, the kids cooperated very nicely that morning! (If only that good behavior had lasted all day!!)


And, I can't find our Test Track picture on the PhotoPass site anymore. I know it was there and I edited it earlier and saved copies, but now it is gone! I know they were having some major problems last week, so maybe it somehow got lost! Oh well, not that big of a deal!

 

[TheMouseFan]

The kids wanted to ride Mission Space, so that was up next. It only fits 4, so I gladly sat this one out! I had more fun wandering and taking pics than I would have on the ride!
















I always forget how long this ride actually takes! We were nearing the end of the hour for our Spaceship Earth FP+, so we hurried over. The FP+ line was horrendously long, so I got on MDE and changed our FP+ for later in the day, and we headed over to our next FP+.

 

[TheMouseFan]

Next up was Soarin'. I was disappointed that we wouldn't be seeing the new film, but I was just happy that we would be riding it at all since it is a favorite of Lily's. She didn't take it well when I originally told her it wouldn't be open! (She took it even less well when I told her Frozen wouldn't actually be open when we were there!)



I realized after we rode, that I really don't feel like it is that great of a ride. I figure I will ride again to see the new film, then I really don't care if I ride again! Maybe I'll feel differently after seeing the new film, but I don't think so.
We figured we might as well ride Living with the Land while we were there!







I always have to get a pic of the lilies for Lily!

 

[coachwnh]

@TheMouseFan , you mentioned you were from Dayton. Just stopped in your part of Ohio last week driving from So. Illinois back home to eastern PA. We ate at Wheat Penny. They have the best gluten free pizza we have ever tasted. The kids and I had the real stuff as well. My wife doesnt have a choice and has to eat GF. Anyway, just wanted to say your city treated us well. Looking forward to more pictures!!

 

[TheMouseFan]

@TheMouseFan , you mentioned you were from Dayton. Just stopped in your part of Ohio last week driving from So. Illinois back home to eastern PA. We ate at Wheat Penny. They have the best gluten free pizza we have ever tasted. The kids and I had the real stuff as well. My wife doesnt have a choice and has to eat GF. Anyway, just wanted to say your city treated us well. Looking forward to more pictures!!

Glad you found something good to like about Dayton! Not many people do!! We've never eaten there, I will have to check it out!

 

[Nubs70]

Where did you get the tye dye shirts?

 

[mousefreak]

Sorry to hear about the bus waits at CBR. We stayed at CBR last September and never had to wait more than 10 minutes.
Love the matching shirts...and photos from Living with the Land! It's one of my favorites!

 

[TheMouseFan]

Where did you get the tye dye shirts?

I ordered them from Etsy.

Sorry to hear about the bus waits at CBR. We stayed at CBR last September and never had to wait more than 10 minutes.
Love the matching shirts...and photos from Living with the Land! It's one of my favorites!

I honestly don't think it was a CBR thing with the buses. We heard tons of people complaining about the transportation this trip!

 

[JustPlainBill]

There wasn't much of a line at bag check, but our guy wanted to talk!

While waiting in line for the Kilimanjaro Safari a cast member told us about a monkey that had escaped its enclosure a few weeks prior. This freaked out my youngest daughter! The CM realized what he did and tried to backtrack but it was no good, my daughter was a basket case the rest of the day until we left the park!

 

[TheMouseFan]

While waiting in line for the Kilimanjaro Safari a cast member told us about a monkey that had escaped its enclosure a few weeks prior. This freaked out my youngest daughter! The CM realized what he did and tried to backtrack but it was no good, my daughter was a basket case the rest of the day until we left the park!

How awful! I wish more people would think before they talk!

 

[blreinsel]

I agree with you on Soarin'.. It's a cool ride and I like to do it once a trip, but I'm not devastated if I don't get to. We didn't ride it at all this year. I want to see the new film but I'm not THAT excited about it. Glad I'm not alone.

 

[lostpro9het]

Next up was Soarin'. I was disappointed that we wouldn't be seeing the new film, but I was just happy that we would be riding it at all since it is a favorite of Lily's. She didn't take it well when I originally told her it wouldn't be open! (She took it even less well when I told her Frozen wouldn't actually be open when we were there!)
I realized after we rode, that I really don't feel like it is that great of a ride. I figure I will ride again to see the new film, then I really don't care if I ride again! Maybe I'll feel differently after seeing the new film, but I don't think so.
We figured we might as well ride Living with the Land while we were there!

I agree with you on Soarin'.. It's a cool ride and I like to do it once a trip, but I'm not devastated if I don't get to. We didn't ride it at all this year. I want to see the new film but I'm not THAT excited about it. Glad I'm not alone.

Well, to give you some feedback on the new Soarin I felt it was "meh" and the DW cried because she liked it so much, so go figure. IMO, the new one feels so fake and I miss my orange and pine smells

 

[TheMouseFan]

I agree with you on Soarin'.. It's a cool ride and I like to do it once a trip, but I'm not devastated if I don't get to. We didn't ride it at all this year. I want to see the new film but I'm not THAT excited about it. Glad I'm not alone.

Definitely not alone!

Well, to give you some feedback on the new Soarin I felt it was "meh" and the DW cried because she liked it so much, so go figure. IMO, the new one fells so fake and I miss my orange and pine smells

It does seem like people either really love it or seem pretty indifferent! I really do want to see the new film to see which camp I'm going to fall into! Then I'll likely be happy to never ride again!