Just got back from my Papa's birthday trip to WDW! :animwink: This is my first trip report, and my first time using my mom's fancy camera so sorry in advance if my pictures are horrendous. She has a nicer camera so I decided to take hers instead of mine, the problem was that my camera is very simple and basic so I had no idea what I was doing with hers.
A little about us-- My name is Brittany, I'm 19 and haven't been to WDW since I was 13 so this was a much needed trip. Being that Papa is 86, he left most of the planning... and well.. everything up to me, which was fine. I got to feel like an adult actually booking the trip and deciding where to go and whatnot. We're from Boston, but I go to school in NH where college is draining out most of money, so I wasn't planning on going to WDW until at least 2013, but Papa randomly decided we should go. He was originally thinking Foxwoods, but then I jokingly said we should go to Disney, and he was completely excited and went with it.
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Our flight to Orlando left from Logan at 8:40 and we arrived in Florida on time around 11:40ish. It didn't take long at all to get our vouchers for the Magical Express, despite the line that looked huge when we got off the elevator. After stopping at the rest of the hotels on our bus, we arrived at the Contemporary around 1.
We went for 3 nights (06/26/11-06/29/1). We booked a room in the garden wing but when we checked in we were told that our room would actually be in the main tower, we were on the 7th floor with a view of the marina, pool, Bay Lake Tower, and the top of Wilderness Lodge. I don't really know how all of that works (my first time putting everything together lol) but I'd imagine the room we had was a lot more expensive than the garden wing that we paid for? However that happened, I'm not complaining, we had an amazing view and we were closer to the monorail which was good for Papa who did not want to do a lot of walking.
After getting settled in the room (and getting Papa's birthday pin) we got right on the monorail and headed to Epcot. When we entered the park we went right to the scooter/wheelchair rental for Papa, the walking would have been way too much on him. (Before I continue maybe I should help you get to know him a little bit better. He's my grandpa so of course I love him, but he is also at times a very typical old man. Think of Mr. Frederiksen from UP. He is very, very nice and means well, but sometimes he's just too much. :lol: I tried convincing him to rent a scooter from somewhere outside of WDW, because it would be cheaper and he'd have it the whole time, but I guess he was just too excited to get to the parks that he just didn't bother with anything like that? I don't really know, but I tried lol. He claims the scooter rentals were only $5 a day last time we were there in 2006, and now they're $70 per day, though you get $20 back with the deposit. Like I said-- Mr. Frederiksen. He didn't seem to mind paying for it though, he was just really excited to be there.
We started out by riding Spaceship Earth. I haven't been on it since 2006, and last time I remember the end still having the (now outdated scene with some Skype-like idea, and TV's and whatnot). The whole "re-imagined" "see yourself in the future" idea was cute, with the pictures and the cartoon, but I really enjoyed the ending that Spaceship Earth used to have. I know it was outdated, but I still kind of missed it.
After Spaceship Earth, we got a quick lunch at the Electric Umbrella. I've never been here before, but it was fine for lunch. We both got cheeseburgers, fries, and drinks. Perfect considering we hadn't had anything since about 6 AM at my house.
Next we got in the single rider line for Test Track. Papa went through the regular single line with the scooter, the CM at the entrance said it was fine, which it really was except for how it was kind of difficult for him to maneuver the scooter through the queue. He ended up hitting the sides a couple of times and had some difficult turns that involved asking the people behind us to back up a bit so he could try turning again. Later on the trip I saw another scooter go through the single rider line with a little bit more ease, but I still think they could have either a wider queue in there, or a separate entrance. Just my opinion. Papa loved Test Track though and I was in the front for the first time ever! Every time I've been on it, I've gone through the single line to avoid the wait and have always ended up in the backseat. It really wasn't much of a difference to be in the front but it was a nice change.
After Test Track we wandered over to World Showcase, and here is when it started to get extremely humid. We did the Gran Fiesta Tour in Mexico, I haven't been on it since I was re-themed and I'm not sure how I feel about it now. I never thought much of it to begin with, but its a nice way to cool off and take a relaxing little boat ride. I think Papa enjoyed the air conditioning and the slower pace compared to the last ride. Next Papa grabbed a water and waited outside the Pavilion while I wandered through the shops in Mexico. There was a few things I would have loved to buy in Mexico, but being that I'm a poor college student I was very selective with shopping on this trip.
Norway was next, and we got right on the Maelstrom. The wait said 20 minutes, but the line really wasn't long and it was more like 10-12 min before we got on. I did a very extensive project on Norway in 5th grade, and ever since then I can't seem to get enough of it, it's somewhere I would definitely love to visit someday. The gift shop in this pavilion is also one of my favorites, I love the trolls!
We kind of breezed through some of the countries without stopping, something I hate to do but we had dinner reservations and we really only had 3 days in the parks so we had to sacrifice. I'm hoping to go again in 2012-13 to make up for everything we didn't do, and that will hopefully be my first trip with my boyfriend (if college stops draining all my money). We ended up at the American Adventure right as it was starting, so we missed the Voices of Liberty. I wish Papa would have gotten to see them because I know he'd love it, maybe next time though. We did love the American Adventure though, probably because we're both History buffs, (I'm a History major). I also noticed that the fisherman statue in Gloucester, MA was in the theater--
After the American Adventure we went to Via Napoli for dinner. We got the arancini for an appetizer, and they were better than any other ones I've had at restaurants around here. My mom and I have attempted to make them a couple of times but they did not come out as good as the ones at Via Napoli. This was also a nice change for dinner in Epcot because we usually end up at the same places every trip. My family seems to be very set on the restaurants that that know they like, but I love that I got to try something different. Anyways, for dinner Papa got the veal parm, which he said was very good, and I got the Margarita Pizza which was also very good, I would definitely go to Via Napoli again, though I'm still on my mission to try new places.
When we were done eating we walked through the rest of the countries. Honestly I would have liked to stop and take some more pictures (somehow even though I've been to Disney enough times I don't have that many pictures, so that was a little bit of a goal for me on this trip), but I could see that Papa was getting tired so I suggested that we go back to the hotel to relax for a little bit.
We were back at the hotel by 7:45-8ish and Papa immediately went to take a nap. After about an hour he woke up and told me to go back to one of the parks because he was just going to sleep until tomorrow and get up early so we could go to MK. Being that MK closed at 2 AM that night for Extra Magic Hours I got back on the monorail for MK.
When I got to the Magic Kingdom it really wasn't crowded at all compared to how Epcot was during the day. I went through Adventureland first and went to Pirates of the Caribbean. It did feel strange at first, since this was the first time in the parks by myself, but it really wasn't bad-- I actually liked it. I'm so used to going to WDW with my dad's family and theres 8 of us, so it was nice to only have myself to worry about. When I got to Pirates, during the Main Street Electrical Parade, it was completely dead. I ended up having my own boat. Which sounds really awkward but it was kind of nice in a weird sort of way. After the ride when I was getting off in the end, the CM called me Captain because I had my own ship.
After Pirates I made my way towards Splash Mountain, which I have never been on. I'm basically a chicken when it comes to any ride that looks remotely scary in any way. I hate drops more than anything, or so I thought prior to this trip. There was a father and son ahead of me in line who talked to me before we got on the log. The son was only 9 so he really got a kick out of the fact that I'm 19 and afraid of Splash Mountain. I actually ended up really liking it and didn't think the drop was bad at all. Though the ride picture of me is incredibly embarrassing from the first time I went on it, when we get the scanner hooked up I mighttttt post it, its pretty bad.
After Splash, I caught the Main Street Electrical Parade, got right on to the Haunted Mansion and headed back towards Main Street to get back to the Contemporary.
Day 2 will be up soon! Unfortunately I have to get to work now =[ .
A little about us-- My name is Brittany, I'm 19 and haven't been to WDW since I was 13 so this was a much needed trip. Being that Papa is 86, he left most of the planning... and well.. everything up to me, which was fine. I got to feel like an adult actually booking the trip and deciding where to go and whatnot. We're from Boston, but I go to school in NH where college is draining out most of money, so I wasn't planning on going to WDW until at least 2013, but Papa randomly decided we should go. He was originally thinking Foxwoods, but then I jokingly said we should go to Disney, and he was completely excited and went with it.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Our flight to Orlando left from Logan at 8:40 and we arrived in Florida on time around 11:40ish. It didn't take long at all to get our vouchers for the Magical Express, despite the line that looked huge when we got off the elevator. After stopping at the rest of the hotels on our bus, we arrived at the Contemporary around 1.
We went for 3 nights (06/26/11-06/29/1). We booked a room in the garden wing but when we checked in we were told that our room would actually be in the main tower, we were on the 7th floor with a view of the marina, pool, Bay Lake Tower, and the top of Wilderness Lodge. I don't really know how all of that works (my first time putting everything together lol) but I'd imagine the room we had was a lot more expensive than the garden wing that we paid for? However that happened, I'm not complaining, we had an amazing view and we were closer to the monorail which was good for Papa who did not want to do a lot of walking.
After getting settled in the room (and getting Papa's birthday pin) we got right on the monorail and headed to Epcot. When we entered the park we went right to the scooter/wheelchair rental for Papa, the walking would have been way too much on him. (Before I continue maybe I should help you get to know him a little bit better. He's my grandpa so of course I love him, but he is also at times a very typical old man. Think of Mr. Frederiksen from UP. He is very, very nice and means well, but sometimes he's just too much. :lol: I tried convincing him to rent a scooter from somewhere outside of WDW, because it would be cheaper and he'd have it the whole time, but I guess he was just too excited to get to the parks that he just didn't bother with anything like that? I don't really know, but I tried lol. He claims the scooter rentals were only $5 a day last time we were there in 2006, and now they're $70 per day, though you get $20 back with the deposit. Like I said-- Mr. Frederiksen. He didn't seem to mind paying for it though, he was just really excited to be there.
We started out by riding Spaceship Earth. I haven't been on it since 2006, and last time I remember the end still having the (now outdated scene with some Skype-like idea, and TV's and whatnot). The whole "re-imagined" "see yourself in the future" idea was cute, with the pictures and the cartoon, but I really enjoyed the ending that Spaceship Earth used to have. I know it was outdated, but I still kind of missed it.
After Spaceship Earth, we got a quick lunch at the Electric Umbrella. I've never been here before, but it was fine for lunch. We both got cheeseburgers, fries, and drinks. Perfect considering we hadn't had anything since about 6 AM at my house.
Next we got in the single rider line for Test Track. Papa went through the regular single line with the scooter, the CM at the entrance said it was fine, which it really was except for how it was kind of difficult for him to maneuver the scooter through the queue. He ended up hitting the sides a couple of times and had some difficult turns that involved asking the people behind us to back up a bit so he could try turning again. Later on the trip I saw another scooter go through the single rider line with a little bit more ease, but I still think they could have either a wider queue in there, or a separate entrance. Just my opinion. Papa loved Test Track though and I was in the front for the first time ever! Every time I've been on it, I've gone through the single line to avoid the wait and have always ended up in the backseat. It really wasn't much of a difference to be in the front but it was a nice change.
After Test Track we wandered over to World Showcase, and here is when it started to get extremely humid. We did the Gran Fiesta Tour in Mexico, I haven't been on it since I was re-themed and I'm not sure how I feel about it now. I never thought much of it to begin with, but its a nice way to cool off and take a relaxing little boat ride. I think Papa enjoyed the air conditioning and the slower pace compared to the last ride. Next Papa grabbed a water and waited outside the Pavilion while I wandered through the shops in Mexico. There was a few things I would have loved to buy in Mexico, but being that I'm a poor college student I was very selective with shopping on this trip.
Norway was next, and we got right on the Maelstrom. The wait said 20 minutes, but the line really wasn't long and it was more like 10-12 min before we got on. I did a very extensive project on Norway in 5th grade, and ever since then I can't seem to get enough of it, it's somewhere I would definitely love to visit someday. The gift shop in this pavilion is also one of my favorites, I love the trolls!
We kind of breezed through some of the countries without stopping, something I hate to do but we had dinner reservations and we really only had 3 days in the parks so we had to sacrifice. I'm hoping to go again in 2012-13 to make up for everything we didn't do, and that will hopefully be my first trip with my boyfriend (if college stops draining all my money). We ended up at the American Adventure right as it was starting, so we missed the Voices of Liberty. I wish Papa would have gotten to see them because I know he'd love it, maybe next time though. We did love the American Adventure though, probably because we're both History buffs, (I'm a History major). I also noticed that the fisherman statue in Gloucester, MA was in the theater--
After the American Adventure we went to Via Napoli for dinner. We got the arancini for an appetizer, and they were better than any other ones I've had at restaurants around here. My mom and I have attempted to make them a couple of times but they did not come out as good as the ones at Via Napoli. This was also a nice change for dinner in Epcot because we usually end up at the same places every trip. My family seems to be very set on the restaurants that that know they like, but I love that I got to try something different. Anyways, for dinner Papa got the veal parm, which he said was very good, and I got the Margarita Pizza which was also very good, I would definitely go to Via Napoli again, though I'm still on my mission to try new places.
When we were done eating we walked through the rest of the countries. Honestly I would have liked to stop and take some more pictures (somehow even though I've been to Disney enough times I don't have that many pictures, so that was a little bit of a goal for me on this trip), but I could see that Papa was getting tired so I suggested that we go back to the hotel to relax for a little bit.
We were back at the hotel by 7:45-8ish and Papa immediately went to take a nap. After about an hour he woke up and told me to go back to one of the parks because he was just going to sleep until tomorrow and get up early so we could go to MK. Being that MK closed at 2 AM that night for Extra Magic Hours I got back on the monorail for MK.
When I got to the Magic Kingdom it really wasn't crowded at all compared to how Epcot was during the day. I went through Adventureland first and went to Pirates of the Caribbean. It did feel strange at first, since this was the first time in the parks by myself, but it really wasn't bad-- I actually liked it. I'm so used to going to WDW with my dad's family and theres 8 of us, so it was nice to only have myself to worry about. When I got to Pirates, during the Main Street Electrical Parade, it was completely dead. I ended up having my own boat. Which sounds really awkward but it was kind of nice in a weird sort of way. After the ride when I was getting off in the end, the CM called me Captain because I had my own ship.
After Pirates I made my way towards Splash Mountain, which I have never been on. I'm basically a chicken when it comes to any ride that looks remotely scary in any way. I hate drops more than anything, or so I thought prior to this trip. There was a father and son ahead of me in line who talked to me before we got on the log. The son was only 9 so he really got a kick out of the fact that I'm 19 and afraid of Splash Mountain. I actually ended up really liking it and didn't think the drop was bad at all. Though the ride picture of me is incredibly embarrassing from the first time I went on it, when we get the scanner hooked up I mighttttt post it, its pretty bad.
After Splash, I caught the Main Street Electrical Parade, got right on to the Haunted Mansion and headed back towards Main Street to get back to the Contemporary.
Day 2 will be up soon! Unfortunately I have to get to work now =[ .
