Trip Report You Can't Beat This Deal...Two Trip Reports for the Price of One! *COMPLETED*

Hi Everyone!

As some of you may know, it's been a very busy, Disney filled, end of the summer for us! After scrambling to find new vacations plans thanks to Hurricane Lane and having just returned from a solo trip to attend the Disney Institute Approach to Quality Service course, I have almost been able to get all of the photos downloaded and I'm nearly ready to report on our adventures.

Both trips we're remarkably different from what our typical Disney trip would look like but both were fantastic experiences and I'm really looking forward to sharing them with you.

I am planning on uploading the last of our pictures from the camera tonight and will start diving into the details very soon!

 

[Matt and Kelly]

I am a little behind but...the math on the handwritten FP???

Ha! I know it doesn’t add up but for disability return, the return time is the posted wait time minus ten minutes.

 

[Back!Elbow!Shoulders!]

Tonight is the first time that I have viewed this TR on a big screen as opposed to a phone screen. Just wanted to add that your photos are even more amazing on a bigger screen.

 

[Matt and Kelly]

Tonight is the first time that I have viewed this TR on a big screen as opposed to a phone screen. Just wanted to add that your photos are even more amazing on a bigger screen.

Oh wow, thanks for the very kind words! I’m definitely no @fractal but I do appreciate you saying that!

 

[Matt and Kelly]

With the moms and the girls heading into the Frozen show, Kelly and I had made our way back down Sunset towards Rockin’ Roller Coaster. Of course, we stopped along the way to grab a kid-less PhotoPass shot before jumping into our speeding limo.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/PfPZzU]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2bjjy2j]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

From there, it was time for some g-forces.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/Nz1agh]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

We made our way through the FP+ line, directly into the pre-show area and right next to the door to the loading zone. It took no time at all for us to be loaded into our seats and we zoomed around the corner for the most anticipated take off in the parks. I love the countdown and the force you feel on your body as you take off into the ride! Gets the heart pounding every time!

The ride was excellent, at least I thought so. Kelly seemed to be on the fence. She must be developing her mom’s “headache” issues as she gets a little older!
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2ai44Su]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

With the ride over, the sun was setting quickly and the park was really starting to come alive with light. We made the walk back towards the theatre to meet the rest of the group before venturing back into Toy Story Land to experience it at night.

We must have waited at the picnic tables by Min and Bill’s for about 10 minutes before the show let our but it was such a great night we had no issues with a little quiet time before the group reunited. The others reappeared after a while, still bouncing around and humming tunes that they just listened to.

We heard all about the show as we walked toward TSL and by this point, the sunlight was gone and the park was dark. Made for some really cool sights as we walked through the entrance of TSL. Andy’s backyard at night, with all the colours and lights, was excellent! Not quite Pandora at night but still really visually appealing.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29izWAH]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

Our first stop in TSL was the final FP of the night for Toy Story Mania. We had a big verbal exchange to see if someone could take down the champ as we made our way through the queue but I was pretty confident I would continue to hold the title when the dust had settled.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aCbVyo]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

We were loaded onto the ride and the game was on! I felt like it was one of my stronger games but I was surprised that my total was only 212,000 when we finished up. I noticed that my score was the high score of the vehicle, so I knew I would remain undefeated, but I was pretty surprised to learn Kelly came super close! She broke 200,000 for the first time and put up a very respectable 203,000. So close but bragging rights remained with the champ! The biggest shock though was the even Deb broke the 100,000 mark…impressive, to say the least!

By the time we made our way through the lengthy exit queue, it was nearing about 830. The park was closing at 900 and we were hoping to do one last Slinky ride. We weren’t sure if they would still hand out return times but to our surprise they did. They simply told us to be back before 900 and we could get one final spin.

Since there was no wait for the Alien Saucers we wanted to ride it one last time as this would be our last DHS visit for the trip. The colour around the ride is quite spectacular at night.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aC87u9]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

We rolled through the queue, and were loaded onto the ride in less than ten minutes. We went for a fun little spin and said goodbye to our little green friends. I like the ride, it’s great for kids, but I prefer the Junkyard Jamboree version in DL simply for the music that plays throughout that version!
[url=https://flic.kr/p/Nz9ApY]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

We had just enough time to quickly get back to Slink and we entered the FP queue at 855. The standby line was still about a 30 minute wait but a bunch of folks had piled in just before the official close to take one last ride.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/LWAvjV]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

As fun as the ride is, it’s even better at night, which I think is the case with most fast paced rides. Pretty good way to wrap up our first experience with the new TSL.

With the rides done for the night we took a few closing photos and slowly made our way through the park towards the exit.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/NyRXJW]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/LWzNZM]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aGDYSD]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/27WJf5U]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

The streets were packed with people who were watching the Star Wars fireworks before heading home. We didn’t want to get caught in the sea of bodies trying to catch a bus home after the show ended so we didn’t stick around but it was cool to have our walk back to the bus stop lit up by the fireworks.

We were second in line to load up for the bus and this was the first time all trip that there was a healthy-sized group also hitching a ride back. The bus was packed tight but we got back to the resort pretty quickly. It was probably a little after 10 when we got back and as we made our way to the room we saw that a pop-up theatre was created on the grass just outside our room. The Little Mermaid was nearing the end and it looked like a pretty great way to close out a day.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aBWSFY]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

Knowing the movie was pretty much over, we just decided to head into the room and call it a night. We had one remaining park day left and we wanted to make the most of it. We had lunch reservations at 11 for Beaches and Cream, and then we planned to head over to Animal Kingdom to wrap up our last park experience.

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

WHAT A PERFECT ENDING TO YOUR HS day!! Nightime rides and the end of Little Mermaid?? Sounds perfect to me!
Also, lucky you had the moms there and could steal some time for yourselves

I hope you LOVED Beaches and Cream! We have a reservation there in 14 days and I'm so excited!!

 

[fractal]

What a great day at DHS! I wonder if that couple got a photo of your family in their photopass pics.

Nights at WDW can be so much fun!

 

[Matt and Kelly]

WHAT A PERFECT ENDING TO YOUR HS day!! Nightime rides and the end of Little Mermaid?? Sounds perfect to me!
Also, lucky you had the moms there and could steal some time for yourselves

I hope you LOVED Beaches and Cream! We have a reservation there in 14 days and I'm so excited!!

It was a solid day all the way around. As much as we love doing our own thing at our own pace, it was nice to have the moms around to take the kids now and then. I know everyone enjoyed the time together.

Beaches and Cream has become one of my favourite stops during any WDW trip. I was definitely looking forward to ti!

What a great day at DHS! I wonder if that couple got a photo of your family in their photopass pics.

Nights at WDW can be so much fun!

I hope they got their pics! They seem like a nice couple, would be a shame if we were the only ones to have access to those photos.

Nighttime is so much fun. Just adds another element of magic when the sun goes down and the lights come on.

 

[Matt and Kelly]

Day Seven – Final Park Day

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly the days pass when you’re on vacation. Seems to speed by even fast at Disney and once again it was hard to believe that our final park day was already upon us.

We had planned to sleep in a bit and slowly get ready for our lunch reservation at Beaches and Cream before heading back to spend the afternoon at Animal Kingdom. I was up around 8 am, which does constitute as sleeping in for us, as I wanted to take one last run around Port Orleans.

I quietly got myself ready and slipped out the door, ready for another rip around the Sassagoula. It was a picture perfect morning. Sun was out and not a cloud in the sky. As soon as I stepped out the door I could feel the humidity rising and knew I would be a sweaty mess by the end of this short run.

I set off from the French Quarter toward the Riverside. Just based on the jogging trails I would totally stay here again. Not sure if and when we might be back to the resort, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aBwn8Y]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

I finished off my 3km and took a few pictures of the beauty around me while I sat on a bench near the river and tried to cool down a bit.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aHnmHS]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29AU6xb]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/LWwLPR]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

When I got back to the room the others were up and moving so I helped get the girls breakfast together. We may not have had all the bells and whistles that our DVC rooms would typically provide but it was a bonus to be able to eat morning meals in the room each day.

Kelly and I got ourselves ready and decided to start doing some light packing before we turned our attention to getting the girls ready to go. We planned to meet the moms a little before 10 so that we could catch a bus to EPCOT and walk through to the Beach Club. We got some of our stuff packed up but left the majority of it for later in the day when we got back from the Park.

10 rolled around and we met up with the moms. We walked to the bus stop and grabbed a seat. Nobody else around and our bus arrived around 1015. Because it was clearly a slower travel time, the bus made its way through the Riverside, stopping to pick up a few more guests heading to EPCOT. Made for a little longer trip to the park that we were anticipating but we arrived around 1040 which meant we’d have to walk pretty briskly through the park to get to the restaurant.

The different decorations set up for Food and Wine were very cool. Even if we were walking through pretty quickly we still admired the setting.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/MsqWdn]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

We got through the World Showcase exit and made the quick walk from the park to the entrance of the Beach Club. Seeing the Boardwalk area brought back so many great memories from the trip in December and since my mom stayed at the Yacht Club in April for her Disney institute trip, she seemed happy to be back.

As we walked through the lobby towards the restaurant, Deb quickly fell in love with the resort. She was blown away by everything the Beach Club had to offer, especially the pool area. We arrived at Beaches and Cream and checked in for our lunch. We were escorted right into the restaurant and seated in a booth. I was super pumped for another great meal and the moms seemed to enjoy the cool setting.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aGwMSX]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/Nyo1b5]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

Kelly and I ordered our usual, Grilled Cheese and Tomato Bisque, and the moms ended up going Grilled Cheese and Fries. They opted for something with a touch of alcohol while the rest of us went with flavoured coke. I couldn’t pass up the vanilla diet coke!

The food was terrific, as always. I am NOT a tomato soup fan but this is one of the rare times I really enjoy it. This will continue to be a staple for us on future trips and I was very happy that yet another Touring Plans reservation request was granted.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aC87xq]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

The moms really enjoyed the meal as well and Deb couldn’t stop talking about how great the property is. She seemed pretty set that she would be returning to stay at the Beach Club for her 65th birthday in a few years, which would be just fine with us!

We finished up our meals and were ready to make our way to AK for some fun. As we were eating there was a crazy downpour that didn’t last long but was heavy enough to close down the pool area. They were just getting ready to open it back up as we were loading up to head back to the lobby of the Beach Club.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29Bd8Mf]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

We listened to Deb fawn over the hotel a little more as we made the walk back to the lobby and out to the bus stop we spent so much time at in December. We pointed out where the DVC lodgings as we passed by and found a bench to hang out on while we waited for the next AK bus.

 

[Matt and Kelly]

And what do you know...looks like Kelly is adding more orders to the Disney wall.

 

[Matt and Kelly]

After a short wait at the Beach Club, the AK bus arrived to haul us and a few others to the Park. With the quick deluge of rain behind us, the sun was scorching and it was definitely super humid. It was nice being on the bus with the AC roaring as we drove to AK.

We arrived after the short trip and slowly made our way through security and towards the front gates but stopped before entering the park for a few cool PhotoPass pictures to help celebrate the 20th anniversary of Animal Kingdom.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/PfRnNQ]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/PfRnbh]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/PfRmwm]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

We finally made our way into the park and I received my last “Welcome Home” from the CM’s near the front entrance. We had a FP+ for Dinosaur on tap so the group made their way to DinoLand without me. I detoured to Pandora to secure a return time for FOP before finding my way back to everyone else.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aGCwKF]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

The park was pretty busy at this point and man it was hot! I hustled through the crowds to find the CM’s issuing the return time. After getting a time I turned around and tried to figure out the quickest way back to the group. Pandora still looks so good no matter how many times you walk through it.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aGpb8e]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

While I was away on my adventure, Kelly and the girls had the chance to meet a few new characters on their way to the ride, Launch Pad and Scrooge McDuck!
[url=https://flic.kr/p/MCSDBK]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/28CDS6w]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

I admit, when I caught up and they told me who they met, I was pretty jealous to have missed out! I loved Duck Tails as a kid. Now that it’s back on TV I’m always singing the theme song with Lennon!

We were ready to roll on to Dinosaur, which was completely dead. Posted 10 minute wait for Standby but it was simply a walk-on for everyone. Lennon became a big fan of this ride in December so she was pretty pumped up to ride again since it was closed the day we were at AK earlier in the trip.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/Nz4ooo]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

We loaded into our vehicles and were shot back into the age of dinosaurs. The ride is fun but nowhere near as good as it’s cousin in DL, Indy has always been one of my all-time faves. We were hoping for a big scare from the carnotaurus but as he slipped out of the buses he roared in complete darkness so we didn’t quite get that extra jolt before the ride photo. Oh well…
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2bjjrXq]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

We got off the ride and stood in the shade for a bit while the girls grabbed a cool drink with this fella. We decided to hang out in DinoLand for a little bit before hitting other areas of the park.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29AXgaG]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

The moms took the kids on triceratops spin while Kelly and I decided to ride the Primeval Whirl. We haven’t been on this ride for a long time as the kids aren’t tall enough. Ella now is but she didn’t seem to be interested in riding so it was just the two of us.

Kelly, as always, was full of screams but we both left the ride with the same feeling…I remember why we don’t ride this more often. Really not all that good of a ride. But at least it was something else we could say we did.

With the moms and the kids off the Triceratops Spin, we rounded everyone up to head back towards Pandora for Flights of Passage.

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

I LOVE DINOLAND!! So glad you all were able to enjoy the Dinosaur ride! Too bad the dino didn't give the mom's a great scare before the picture! We have some priceless pics from last year with my mom and her friend on the rides looking amazed/shocked/happy!
Beaches and Cream is always such a treat! I hope you guys do get to stay at Beach Club for the 65th birthday!

 

[Matt and Kelly]

I LOVE DINOLAND!! So glad you all were able to enjoy the Dinosaur ride! Too bad the dino didn't give the mom's a great scare before the picture! We have some priceless pics from last year with my mom and her friend on the rides looking amazed/shocked/happy!
Beaches and Cream is always such a treat! I hope you guys do get to stay at Beach Club for the 65th birthday!

I don’t mind DinoLand, though with all the amazing theming throughout AK it seems a tad out of place to me. The kids enjoy it and the character spots are pretty solid.

Kelly’s mom mentioned going back to the Beach Club for her 65th again over the weekend so it seems like it’s more than just a caught in the moment comment! Who knows, maybe we will be planning another big family trip in the coming years

 

[Matt and Kelly]

With our tour of DinoLand now over, we start to head back towards Pandora for our FoP return time. During the walk we tried everything we could to convince Lennon to ride so that we could all go on together and just as we thought we had her (thanks to a little bribe) she totally bailed so it would be my turn to hang out with her while the rest of the group soared on Banshee’s.

Before we made it to Pandora, we decided to get outta the heat for a few minutes and watch It’s Tough to be a Bug. We walked through the Tree of Life to make our way towards the theatre. The Tree of Life is beautiful. Love looking all the carvings as you walk through the queue.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aCbfQG]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

Surprisingly there were not a lot of people waiting to watch, I thought more might be like us and looking for a way to cool off. At any rate, we didn’t wait long until the theatre doors opened and we found some seats for the show. So nice to get out of the humidity for a little and enjoy a pretty fun show.

There were a lot of screams from everyone as the show went on and just as many laughs. Lennon, who is obsessed with passing gas, was beyond pleased with the stink bug scene!

With the show over and having cooled off for a little bit, we found our way back to Pandora so the group could ride FoP. They went on their way and me and Lennon hung back to explore the area and grab a return time for the River Journey. Once we had that secured I decided it was the perfect time for a beverage and a snack. Lennon wasn’t overly hungry but was happy to have some water. We made our way over to Pongu Pongu for a little nourishment.

I ordered a Mo’ara High Country Ale and my first taste of a Pongu Lumpia. Again, I was happy but at the same time sad that I wasn’t ID’d for my beer. Lennon and I found a shaded spot near the entrance of FoP and we sat down to enjoy our treats. The beer was definitely a welcome refresher and I have to admit, I wasn’t sure what to make of the Pongu Lumpia but it was really good. I’d definitely get it again.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29B8QVs]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aBW4uo]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

We had a good chat about all the things she loves about Disney World and when we were going to come back. We might have been sitting and chatting for about 20 or so minutes before the rest of the group emerged. They were all smiling ear to ear and clearly enjoyed the ride. They saw me finishing up my beer and all agreed it was a good time for them to recharge so back to Pongu Pongu we went.

Kelly skipped the Pongu Lumpia but finally got to try the Night Blossom, which she has wanted to do since Pandora opened. The moms grabbed a beer, Mo'ara for Deb and a Hawkes’ Grog Ale for my mom. They seemed very happy to have something cold to enjoy as we forged on and we stopped to grab ice cream for Ella and Lenny.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/LVVuZ4]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aCeKFw]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aGpag4]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

With refreshment in hand we walked towards Africa for our FP+ for the Safari. I was excited for one more trip and hoped for some good animal interaction. We arrived after and strolled through the queue. I tried to keep my phone in my pocket and just enjoy the ride but Kelly did snap a few pics.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/Nz9Teu]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aCgxsE]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

This was one of the best safari rides I can remember. Other than the lions being MIA, we saw a ton of different species and some very close to the vehicles. I love the safari and was already looking forward to riding again when I returned for my Disney Institute trip.

As we exited the ride and found our stroller, we noticed a big gorilla just hanging out enjoying the sun. He was huge! It was really cool getting this close of a look, so close it felt like we could almost reach out and touch him. This is something we’ve never noticed before after all of the safari rides we’ve been on. We stood and just watched for a few minutes before Kelly started to feel pretty lousy. So much so that she was considering heading back to the hotel.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aGwZ5M]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

She decided to stay and tough it out but was clearly looking under the weather. Our next FP was for Everest and the kids were jacked to ride. Kelly knew the moms wouldn’t round up the courage to ride in her place so she was pretty much forced to ride to enable the girls to face the yeti.

We walked around the park and made our way towards Everest. Hi Mickey…
[url=https://flic.kr/p/NynYy7]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

We made it Everest and for the most part walked right on. The girls and I were jacked but it looked like Kelly was just trying to keep it together and not get a second look at that Night Blossom. Thankfully she survived, and we escaped with our lives after a close encounter with the Yeti.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2bjjpby]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

The girls were begging to ride again but the standby line was up around 35 minutes and with Kelly not feeling too well we decided to try something we have yet to do on any Disney World visit, view the Finding Nemo stage show.

We made the short walk from Everest to the Nemo theatre and found some seats inside. It was so nice and cool! And it seemed like Kelly was very happy to sit down for an extended period of time with the AC kicking.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/NyZGn7]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29Atey1]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

The show was really cool. We all enjoyed it and we couldn’t believe that this was the first time we’ve seen it. It was a nice break from the sun and walking around as well.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aC14mQ]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

Kelly was still feeling rough so the plan was to head back to the hotel but of course, we couldn’t do that without cashing in our return time for the River Journey or face what would be an epic meltdown if we skipped Lennon’s favourite ride!

Once again we made our way back towards Pandora but found a few PhotoPass opportunities near the Tree of Life before reaching our destination. Of course, Kelly was feeling well enough for more pictures!
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2bjmaLJ]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2ai7Ghs]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2bjm9xS]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/28CDQME]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

With the pictures out of the way, we ended up back in line for the River Journey. Oddly enough the family in front of us had a little girl also named Lennon which made for a few funny moments as the called her name and our Lennon answered. What are the odds that we end up right behind another Lennon while waiting for a ride?

At any rate, the last ride of our WDW trip came to an end and it was time for us to say goodbye to the parks and head back to the hotel. It wasn’t over late and we likely could have visited another park in the evening but with Kelly feeling iffy, the girls seemed more than happy to head back to the hotel and spend the evening at the pool.

We slowly walked through the park towards the exit and made our way to the bus stop. When we returned back to Port Orleans we came across a carriage ride just outside of our building. So many cool things to do and see at the resort. I’d highly recommend it to anyone looking for a place to stay.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29BbaXm]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

Our park experiences came to an end but the night wasn’t quite over just yet. Kelly decided to hang back in the room and take it easy while the rest of us went to the pool. We got changed and made our way over. The girls loved having so much time to enjoy the pool and me and the moms were happy to relax and watch them splash around all over the place. I found my way to the hot tub for a quick soak and returned when Kelly was up and at it again. She had brought us a pizza from the food court for dinner which was surprisingly good. We all shared the ‘zza for dinner and continued to enjoy some relaxation poolside.

When it was finally time to head back to the room the girls were quick to notice that Freaky Friday was the evenings' movie of choice just outside our room. They wanted to watch so we got them dressed in their PJ’s and they set out onto the grass to enjoy the film. Kelly and I sat on a park bench just off the grass and talked about the trip that was.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29AXek9]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

Our park experiences were now over and our final day was a sleep away but with a return flight in the late afternoon, we still had a lot planned for our final half day in Disney.

 

[John Dulmage]

The "Leg lift" added a nice touch to the Tree of Life kiss photo!!

 

[Matt and Kelly]

The "Leg lift" added a nice touch to the Tree of Life kiss photo!!

Isn't it, though? HAHA

Always adds a little more when the CMs are having fun with the guests and thinking up goofy poses.

 

[wdwfamilynh]

Again, I was happy but at the same time sad that I wasn’t ID’d for my beer.

I feel the same way every time I don’t get ID’d anymore, too

 

[Matt and Kelly]

I feel the same way every time I don’t get ID’d anymore, too

It was always a hassle, especially being Canadian since they don't accept "foreign" drivers licenses, so I'm happy not to either carry around a passport or at least a picture of it. But still, between the lack of ID and my hairdresser recently calling me "mature", I've come to accept that age is catching up with me!

 

[Matt and Kelly]

Day Eight – Final Day

As every vacation seems to do, the trip zoomed by in the blink of an eye. We woke up early to get our final day underway. When we booked the trip we knew we would be heading home later in the afternoon so we could put some plans in place to make sure we enjoyed our final day.

Kelly made a reservation for breakfast at Chef Mickeys so we were up and ready to meet the moms by 730 to ensure we arrived in time for our 900 am reservation. Before we made our way to the bus stop Kelly made a stop at the front desk to see if we could secure a late checkout. They were nice enough to move our check out to 1 pm, which only meant we’d have to kill about an hour before we were picked up by DME. The moms didn’t get the same courtesy so they ended up moving their luggage into our room before catching a ride to the Magic Kingdom.

We hopped on the bus and made the 10-minute drive to MK. Lots of people starting to arrive for park opening but we ended up going against the grain and used the walkway to get over to the Contemporary to check in for breakfast.

What a great perk to staying at Bay Lake/Contemporary, walking distance to MK would be so convenient. We walked through the hotel and made our way to the check-in counter. It was already pretty busy but thankfully by the time we made it through the line for our family picture, our pager was buzzing and we were ready to be seated.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/MsqVyr]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2bdkW5a]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

We made our way through the restaurant and were placed by the back window with a great view of the Magic Kingdom! Sadly the condensation on the window made it tough to see but the view improved throughout the breakfast. Pretty good way to start our final day!
[url=https://flic.kr/p/LWxFKk]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

Once we settled in and placed our drink orders (lots of coffee, please!), Kelly and I took the girls around the buffet to get their breakfast started. We had a little time before the characters were going to be visiting but the moms stayed behind just in case.

Lennon kept things simple, pancakes and bacon, but Ella was happy to sample a few different items. They both seemed very happy with their final breakfast in Disney.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29jd9zF]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/NyPJTQ]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

The adults then went to fill their plates and join the girls in eating. The oatmeal is always one of my favourite things at Disney breakfasts. It never disappoints.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aFVNQt]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

As we returned and started eating, our first visitor arrived, the boss stopped by to say hello!
[url=https://flic.kr/p/MsqVhV]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

Can’t pass up a family selfie with Mickey himself.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/LVTV5T]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]


After Mickey, Goofy dropped by for a little fun. Followed by everyone’s number one, Donald.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2bdn4Sx]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/NyZGq3]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/MsqT6R]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2a7MZoj]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

The visits took a back seat for a few moments while the characters and the guests danced around the room and swung napkins in the air.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aC21Lh]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aGCXC6]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

Following the fun, we were greeted by Pluto and we wrapped up our character interactions with Minnie. A fitting end to our character visits.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2bdmXRz]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2b8XkZA]WDW 2018 (139) by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2bdmVmK]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/Nz4bTQ]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

We ended up finishing up the rest of our food and drinks before getting ready to do some exploring. The view of MK was getting a little clearer by the time we were done. It was looking like a beautiful day and we were a bit bummed not to be heading back to the parks one last time.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29AUr2G]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

Since we were already on the monorail loop, we decided we’d look around some of the hotels before making our way back to MK to catch a bus back to the resort.

 

[Matt and Kelly]

With breakfast done and nothing but time on our hands, we decided to look around the Contemporary for a little while before jumping on the monorail. We’ve been to this resort a handful of times in the past but have never actually stayed here. Now that we are DVC I’m sure we will eventually make our way to Bay Lake.

The resort does look pretty cool and I love the backstory that all the rooms are just pods that were inserted into the frame of the hotel structure while it was being built. We browsed around the souvenir shops that are on the monorail entrance level looking for some last minute gifts to take home.

I think we all came up empty but it was fun to spend a little extra time at the Contemporary. I was already looking for access to Bay Lake so I could return to find the Top of the World Lounge when I returned the following week. We readied ourselves and made our way towards the monorail entrance. The Contemporary mosaic is stunning!
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29iYPKT]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

We loaded up on the monorail and unloaded when we reached the Grand. Deb has never been to the Grand before so she was blown away when she walked through the doors. We had very good memories of our short stay in December and were happy to be back. Seeing the lobby again made me very excited to have an extended stay here the next week.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aCakFL]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/LVVgiM]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

We browsed the stores on both the upper and main levels for a little while. The moms bought some soap from the Basin store and Kelly pointed out a few Pandora charms she like at another store. Clearly dropping hints for my upcoming solo trips. Usually, I’m pretty dense with this stuff but it was hard to miss her signals, especially when she said: “hey, it would be pretty sweet of you to bring one back next week”. Ok, even I can take that subtle hint.

We wrapped up our brief tour of the Grand and jumped on the monorail one last time. We walked from the monorail station back to the bus stops and waited for a ride back to the resort. As we just missed the French Quarter bus, a CM near the loading area asked if we would want a ride back in a company van. We, of course, took him up on the offer and loaded into a Disney branded 15 passenger van for a private ride back to the resort. Another unexpected, yet very nice, Disney touch to go the extra mile (I’ll talk more about this during my DI trip report) for their guests.

The CM dropped us off at the front of the French Quarter and wished us a magical day. Sadly we would only be enjoying the French Quarter for a few more hours but since we had enough time, we decided we’d head back to the room, pack up and spend a little time at the pool enjoying the sun. I was still taken with the detail of the resort.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29B6w2E]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

With all of our packing pretty much done, everyone found their way to the pool and grabbed some loungers in the sun. The adults enjoyed a cool beverage and the kids were immediately in the pool having some fun. I, of course, made my way for one last soak in the hot tub before heading back to take a dip in the pool.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/Nz6ZkU]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29jgXn2]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

The end of the vacation was starting to set in but even as it got closer to our 1 pm checkout, we were very much enjoying the last moments of WDW.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aGDkNP]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/27WLmuo]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29jhJ7c]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

I went back to the room around 1230 to grab a quick shower, change and get ready to check out. Everyone else followed shortly after and we all rounded up our last loose items before calling bell services to come and grab our bags. We took one last look at our room and made our way to the front desk. We stopped at the food court for a quick snack, and maybe one last beer, before settling out front at the Magical, or in this case Tragical, Express stop.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29izX72]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

We were asked to be out there at 130 to be picked up at 140 to head back to MCO. The bus arrived right on time and everyone loaded on as I helped the drive pack up our bags. We settled in and made another stop at Riverside to pick up a few families before the goodbye show flipped on the monitors to take us back to the airport.

As crazy as it was that we pulled this trip together in a matter of hours, it was over in the blink of an eye. Even with the lack of planning time, we ended up having an amazing trip. Sure, things weren’t quite as scheduled or busy as they normally would be and yes we spent plenty of time at the pool or the resort, but everyone seemed to have really enjoyed the fallback plan. You could tell the moms weren’t quite into it the first few days but once the Hawaii hangover dissipated they were able to have a lot of fun. I know the kids always love having their grandmas around to share in these experiences.

We arrived at the airport and found the Westjet check-in counter. With our bags tagged and dropped off, we slowly worked our way through security before jumping on the tram to head to the terminal. We found a row of seats near the gate and watched numerous families in their Disney gear fill in space around us.

Before long we were boarding our first of two flights. We had about a 5-hour flight from Orlando to Calgary, Alberta. Surprisingly the flight was fairly smooth. The girls fell asleep for a little bit and the rest of us made sure to relax as best we could towards the back of the plane.

Our flight landed in Calgary around 830 pm and we had another 90 or so minutes before our final flight back home to Edmonton. The drive from Edmonton to Calgary is under 3 hours so the flight is only about 30 minutes. By this point, we were all dead tired but once we were on the plane, it seemed like we took off only to land moments later.

And with that, our Disney trip was over. We walked off the plane towards the baggage area to collect our stuff. A shuttle took us back to our cars and we loaded everything up. It was past 11 pm by the time we hugged the moms’ goodbye and set off for home.

Yet another great Disney visit that had us yearning to return. Thankfully for me, that return trip was less than a week away!

 

[Matt and Kelly]

A couple of final thoughts from our family trip before I dive into my solo visit. I have to give a ton of credit to our travel agent for helping pull this together throughout the craziness of our Hawaii trip falling apart just hours before we were supposed to leave. She's as big a Disney fan as we are and a fellow DVC member so she definitely knows what we like and her advice was terrific.

I mentioned many times throughout the report that I became a huge fan of the French Quarter and while we didn't stay there, Riverside looks just as terrific. The theming was outstanding, the amenities were great and the resort itself was just a lot of fun. Highly recommended to anyone thinking of where to stay during an upcoming trip. The only thing I was bummed about missing out on was the Sunday morning beignets fun run and the actual beignets themselves. We kept saying we would order them just to try them but never actually did.

Ever since Ella was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, we've come to see just how close the diabetes community is but I'm always surprised by the number of people we come across that actively seek us out or we stumble upon in lines or at a restaurant that are also battling the disease. People with the same devices as Ella have come up and high fived her and made her feel proud that she's not alone in her fight. We actually noticed another little girl, probably the mase age as Ella, waiting for the monorail on our final day wearing a Dexcom constant glucose monitor. Ella made sure to go up to her to say hi and show the girl her Dexcom. It was pretty cute, they had a short conversation about their pumps and said goodbye to each other as the monorail arrived.

Aside from that, we noticed firsthand with some of our mishaps, just how much planning and preparation Disney puts into ensuring that guests with health issues can feel comfortable throughout the resort.

And finally, this trip showed us that WDW can still be enjoyed even without our typical months of planning every single detail. While Kelly and I love the planning leading up to a typical Disney visit, the fact we just kinda rolled with the punches throughout the trip and got a little lucky with some of our restaurant requests and had a great time. Even taking breaks from the parks (which we almost ever do) to spend time at the pool or different areas at the resort, made for a more relaxed, slow pace visit. That said, our next trip will most definitely be planned to the last detail!