Trip Report The passing the Disney Torch report! 11 days with Free Dining

A lot can change in a year, but it is awesome to see the things that stay the same.
We first took our son to Walt Disney World in 1998 when he was 3. Here he is 21 and on his 9th trip with us, taking his step son. He was married the beginning of the year and has made a wonderful father, as hard as it was for mom to adjust to the thought of her baby boy being all grown up.
With that, the players are Mom & dad. Disney She and Disney B, my amazing Disney Husband of 23 years of marriage.

DS cap'n Jack

D daughter in law- Tink
And
D Grandson -Tow Mater

Dates 8-28-9-7 Free dining Coronado Springs
It was an amazing trip, not that used to little fellas at the World anymore but it worked out great! Families grow and it is amazing for a parent to watch..We fit so much into this trip cannot wait to share.
Will be starting with tons of pics and details of a great trip tomorrow. Lots of rides, food, shows and the Backstage Magic Tour!

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

We first took our 3 year old son to Walt Disney World in 1998 when he was 3.

What a coincidence - I first took my 4 year old daughter when she was 4 !!!!!

 

[DisneyGigi]

What a coincidence - I first took my 4 year old daughter when she was 4 !!!!!

Writing the report a bit late I suppose

 

[ScarletBegonias]

Can't wait to read!

 

[Mom@disney]

Can't wait to hear all about it! Congrats to your son and daughter in law on their marriage!

 

[DisneyGigi]

We began our trip at about 10:00 pm on the 27th. My husband and I were celebrating our 23rd anniversary on the arrival day the 28th so we wanted to be there bright and early for opening show at Magic Kingdom just like we did last year. It is a long drive but so totally worth it to arrive just as the sun is coming up going through the Main Gate. We made it to Coronado Springs at about 7:00 am. We were not as lucky as we were last year and able to check straight into the rooms. Maybe having booked two made it a bit harder, We headed to the restrooms to freshen up a bit and then made a mad dash to MK. Thankfully the monorail was running, it was not last year and we barely made it to the show after riding the ferry. The little fella loves trains and was pretty excited to ride the monorail. I was really very emotional. To be fair, I always am when we get there, but I had all these mom thoughts and memories swirling through my head of DS first trip and here I was watching him share this wonderful place with his son. For a mom it was priceless. Almost as priceless as those first memories.

I had to keep reminding myself that it was probably pretty overwhelming to go straight to opening show your very first trip to Disney, especially since we watch the show and make a mad dash to Splash. It is a tradition that we have had for years. Moving on to a few pictures. For some reason I am not able to upload straight to the site from my computer so it is going to take me a little longer.

Arrival


The opening show, Keep in mind that little fella love, loves trains! He let out the most amazing scream when he saw that train come in! Took me a minute to realize if it was a happy one, but it was! he was screaming Choo Choo! I didn't know which one to watch.



Had to get a pic of my favorite chipmunks!



Then it was off to Splash! This was also my daughter in law's first trip and I thought she should have that memory of the first ride being on Splash too, so DS and DH stayed with the little guy since he is not quite tall enough to ride.





DH & DS rode Splash next then we split up with us taking the little one to meet Chip and Dale and to ride It's a Small World. Had not been on that ride in years. He loved it! Much to my son's dismay because he hates that ride and that meant he had to do it a few times this trip.



Lunch was at Pecos Bill's. Another must do first day every trip. I forgot to take pictures of the food here. I was so disappointed that you can't get the Oooey Gooey Plastic Cheese at all anymore. I thought maybe they had it in the back and at least still put it on the Chili Cheese fries but nope! Just shredded cheese now and not near as good.

We then took in a few spooks and I got the text that our rooms were ready. Since we drove all night and was not able to unload our stuff, we all decided to go back to the resort and check out our rooms.



Coming up next.. Coronado Springs and a wonderful sight of a hatless Studios!!

 

[DisneyGigi]

Last year we were lucky enough to get an upgrade to a water view room. We did not ask for one, they just gave it to us in a bit of pixie dust. We did not ask for one this year either, all we requested was to be in the Cabanas. We somehow managed some major pixie dust again this year, as both rooms had gorgeous water views! I mean, gorgeous! we ended up being about 3 rooms away from each other which was fine. Still plenty close enough. We were in Cabanas 8A 2nd floor directly in front of the lake.








This Margarita was appreciated on a hot day!


We didn't have any dining reservations for day one so we decided to wonder around the resort, we walked completely around it and ate at Pepper Market Grill that evening. I am also quite obsessed with the bridge, it is so beautiful at night and there is a bench that you can kick back and get some great videos of the Frozen fireworks . I am not a Frozen fan. The movie was not that good in my opinion and last year it just felt like it was so being shoved in your face but I have to say the fireworks are AMAZING! We watched them both at the park, at Epcot after Illuminations and from the resort. Stunning firework show. We actually decided to stay and relax at the resort and get ready for a big full day the next day this night and watched them from our balcony.






I had heard a lot of mixed reviews about Coronado Springs when we went last year and I just do not get it. I love this resort! I love everything about it. There were a couple of conventions going on but it did not crowd the resort or make it feel any less Disney like some say. I love the walk too around the lake. It is a bit warm to do during the day but no more so than when you are walking in the parks. Unless we bump up to deluxe I really have no desire to try the other moderates because I love this one that much! For those that that read last year's trip report, you may remember that I was amazed with the rabbits that I saw at the resort and also at the park. (I have indoor litter box trained rabbits and I simply adore them.) Well, they were there again and greeted me day one. As well as a few raccoons that were running around going up to the doors at the resorts. I wasn't quite as sure about them as I was the rabbits! Blurry but you get the point!

 

[Mindy16]

What a fun trip! It must've been so awesome to experience with your grandson!!

 

[DisneyGigi]

Day 2 was going to be a busy one because I wanted to go to MGM and make sure I got to see the things that I was afraid I would miss.(Like Walt's office) It will always be MGM to me, no matter what they name it and after taking in the Backstage Magic tour and the guide called it that too, she did correct herself but I figure it is okay for me to call it that. We had not planned on going until later in the day but we arrived at opening and made a hard run to Toy Story Mania since we did not have FP+ for it. Speaking of that, I hate it. I do not want to make FP 2 months in advance simply because we change our minds and do what we decide we want to do at any given moment, only working around our dining ressies. It was so much easier to go get a FP for a ride like Toy Story then hit the standby line and get two rides in. The kiosks are a joke too, they take forever to get through if you are able to use a 4th and then only get up there to realize the time is nothing you want. The old system was better IMO.

Wonder when they will make this interactive? Wasn't it supposed to be?


Ready to ride!


I love Mr. Potato Head.






Then after the ride it was off to Andy's room to meet Buzz and Woody! I have so many pictures of DS in front of the old Buzz Lightyear box that used to sit across from Pizza Planet so this was cute to me. Is that still there anywhere?


The Claw!


I really thought that little fella would love meeting Buzz and Woody because he loves the movies so much but he did not. DS at 3 loved all characters but all kids are different. I can see where it might be a tad overwhelming. I, however, was not leaving til I got a picture with them.


After this we hit Tower of Terror and RnRC and I am very proud to say that I was not afraid this trip at all, my hands were in the air ride 1! I am over my fear. Amazing ride! Love the fog coming in with the sun of the morning.


I also went into to One Man's Dream to snap some goodbye photos. Those are on my phone and I will add later. I also somehow must have deleted my first hatless view of the park, but I have more from later in the trip. I wish so bad, we would have been there when the stage is down too but it was still pretty amazing. We had lunch ressies at Be Our Guest so off to MK it was!

 

[DisneyGigi]

I forgot apparently, to take photos of the food at lunch at BoG after the frustration of waiting behind a lady with special requests for allergies for her child. I know that some people have food allergies but seriously.. can they not direct you to another line to order if it takes someone 30 minutes to go over what they can or cannot eat? Other than that, the food was amazing just like last year but after doing BoG for dinner, I definitely like dinner better. Not near as much chaos as it seems like for lunch. We all had the Braised Pork and the Master's Cupcake.


(going back and adding a few phone photos, but it was Epcot time) followed by dinner at Cape May Café, which was followed by a massive downpour going in the back gate at Epcot)

So my hubby and I have perfected the Grand Marnier Slushie, it tastes no different than it does there, minus the sun, heat and view. As soon as I got there though I not only had one supersize, I had 2!


Morocco Mickey
We walked around and relaxed taking in the Showcase then headed out the back gate to Cape may Café.
Crab legs!! The marinated Olives there are so good too, DH laughed at me for wasting space on olives but so very good.


And special Anniversary dessert! Special shout out to our server Oscar, he was great!


Stopped for a repeat of last years picture that DS and I made in the same spot, but this one was sillier. Oh, how I love that boy!

 

[DisneyGigi]

What a fun trip! It must've been so awesome to experience with your grandson!!

It was very neat to experience it from a little one's view again. I will always look at my son and see the old days too. Wasn't sure if he would be able to join me this year, so that was amazing! He may be 6'5 and grown, but in my eyes, he is always going to be my baby boy all of 3 years old. Watching him share the love of Disney with his new family was amazing!

Can't wait to read!

Thanks! It was a great trip!

Can't wait to hear all about it! Congrats to your son and daughter in law on their marriage!

I will pass the congrats along, thank you!

 

[DisneyGigi]

Few pics from MGM/DHS before heading to AK, where in all the trips, 9, to be exact, at 10 days each, we finally saw more than a glimpse of the Lions!
The Hat is gone..... na na nah, hey, hey, hey Goodbye!


"I got you a really fast car"

Oh, how I love my chipmunks, especially Dale!


Off to AK, for a quick ride on EE, then an early morning Safari. We had taken in the Safari in November, February, and many times in September and only got a glimpse of the Lions, I did not expect to this time because even early it was HOT! We were pleasantly surprised.






More coming up tomorrow!

 

[DisneyGigi]

Canning season is in full swing, Jams, jellies, salsas, beans and the like so the trip report will continue in a couple of days!

 

[Zipadeelady]

Following!

 

[Beastly74]

The pictures of the lion are fantastic . Following along!

 

[DisneyGigi]

Most of my other safari pics are repeats of previous years, I will go back and add a few good ones from my phone later but wanted to share a couple of the baby Gorillas before moving on. Last year it was a teenie tiny baby and I think the second was born just after we were there. So cute to see them playing and SO big! I love them! I kept saying how I wanted to just pick one up and hug it to which DH assured me I might get a bit tore up if I did. So swwet though!


Is this guy not just gorgeous?


And the birds... What has happened to them? Hardly saw any. I know they are probably pesky to the parks and some people, but to me they scream Florida!


Some construction on Rivers of Life, I have many more, I will post later.


We took in The Festival of the Lion King, after this, the first time in it's new location. I love this show. We had not seen it since 2009, and I did it twice this trip, and I am not going to lie, I cried like a baby both times. My son loved this movie when he was a baby. We listened to the music in the car and he was always in front of the TV watching it over and over, so I have a really soft spot for it. It is honestly one of the best shows there to me. Few pics from the first show.


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(I should also say that we took in multiple rides on EE and Dinosaur in between and had lunch at Flame Tree BBQ and hit up the games in Chester & Hester's.

 

[DisneyGigi]

I am going to take the time, to pause and wax a little poetic, about what really makes Disney, Disney. I am a veteran and have been going since 1998, we wrapped up our 9th trip and most of them have been 10 day trips. What Disney does as a company is amazing BUT, it is the people, the cast members that work there everyday, that can go so out of their way, to make your trip so special that make Walt Disney World a place that I keep wanting to go back to every year. (more, if I can.. yay for our new annual passes!)
I will start with something simple, Dawa Bar, and asking if I could get a Harambe Cooler, a tradition for me, that was just taken off the menu. It was happily made for me, by both bartenders, which I sadly did not take down their names but both have worked there for awhile. We had a nice chat with both of them and I was very tickled that I could still get one.
The next shout out, was a very nice CM named Elton, that we first met in February 2007, He was so friendly and made us laugh so hard because DS was not a happy camper at that moment and he assured him he could not be frowning, he was in Disney World!!! lol Well, we came across him again in September 2007 and again in September 08, He was a member of the Dream Squad then, and also a CM in line at Test Track where he gave us a front row seat for our anniversary. Just one of those smiling, friendly faces, you never forget. I was very happy to get to say hello and thank you, after so many years, we never forgot the pixie dust he sprinkled on our family. If you ever have the opportunity to talk with Elton you have experienced Disney at it's best!


We headed back to the resort to try Maya Grill that evening. It was amazing and we will do it again next trip!

 

[DisneyGigi]

The pictures of the lion are fantastic . Following along!

Thank you. Was so glad to see them so much finally!

 

[DisneyGigi]

Few construction photos that I left out of previous post and a few other random shots from AK.



I don.t think I ever got a pic of this before.




EE










Next up early morning Crystal Palace and a visit to Trader Sam's Grog Grotto where I did take on the Uh Oa!

 

[DisneyGigi]

A wedding going on that morning. I felt really wrong in way for intruding so the picture is burry but also had to snap one quick picture at the same time. So beautiful!

Have I said how sad I am that we missed the Halloween Party this year? So sad they did not have the early parties this year.




It's so much friendlier with Pooh!











Tow Mater aka Little Bit was still not too sure of the characters Maybe next year. We hit BTMRR, Splash, HM, the Magic Carpets several times and & the Mine Train, Under the Sea, Dumbo, Space Mountain, Laugh Floor and Buzz several times before Cap'n Jack and Tink decided to let little guy rest and they headed bck to the resort for a bit. It was then that DH and I decided to just head to the Poly since we had O'hana ressies at 5:00. We got there around 3 and of course Trader Sam's was not open yet, and since it was so hot we decided to have a drink to cool off. So we did... that story and photos up next. :/