bmalonef45
06-14-2006, 06:44 AM
Day five started pretty well. We all got up and going and made it to the bus in pretty good time. I have decided we probably won't be a rope drop family for a while so I just accepted that fact and lived with it.
We arrived at MGM and picked up our stroller. Let me say that these don't compare with the other 3 parks' strollers. And MGM wasn't nearly as efficient in the way they were distributing them. We got it and stowed our stuff and moved down the road. First stop was Voyage of the Little Mermaid. Great show the kids loved it. Then we went directly into Playhouse Disney. At our house the Disney Channel is on 75% of the time, 95% of the time the kids are watching something it is Disney Channel. Needless to say they liked this. I took lots of pics with my zoom lens from the back of the room, haven't seen them yet so lets hope they turn out. (took nearly a gig of pics on the camera so its taking some time)
Chicken little was out giving autographs but never stayed out long enough for us to get one. It seems like MGM rotates out the characters differently than the other parks. All of the other times the character would go get a break but then would come back to the same line. Not at MGM, they would come out stay for a while and then leave only to rotate a different character to that line. We already had 3 goofy signatures so this was kind of frustrating. So not luck on Chicken Little.
We rode the Great Movie ride, I liked it but I forgot about the Gun fire which kind of scared my DD. She was getting tired.
We stopped for a snack and then headed over to the Honey I shrunk the Kids playground. By the time we got there DD was sleeping so DS and I went in. He really loved it. He was all over that place, so much so that it was hard to keep track of him. He would get in the tunnels and stay with other kids and I would wonder around trying to find him. ALways worked out but if you weren't level headed you could freak out pretty easy. Good thing DW stayed back with DD.
After about an hour in there we both needed a drink. We took another break and the kids got a strawberry smoothie and I got a Margarita! DW got a Dacquari of some sort. Nice to have that option for adult beverages at the park.
Next we tried get some Power Ranger autographs but were a little late. We did get Kim Possible and Ron Stopable's autograph though (did I mention we watch a lot of Disney Channel?) As we were walking away from that street corner here comes Lightning McKween and Tow Mater. I guess they were headed to the parade, that was pretty cool. Hope those pics turn out well. We ended up going to see the Muppet 3D show and the kids liked it pretty well.
It was getting late in the afternoon. We had reservations at Chef Mickey's at 5:10 so we decided to start heading that way. We wanted to take a boat to Epcot and then get back on the Monorail but we didn't have the time. We managed to get on a VERY FULL bus to the Contemporary and made it with time to spare. It would have been nice to be able to change after a hot day at the parks but we didn't plan enough time for that. We waited outside of Chef Mickey's for them to open. I strongly suggest getting an early time for dinner here as when we left the line was really long. All I can say about CM's was that is was really worth it! The food was awesome the characters were great and the staff was very helpful. We finally got Minnie's Autograph and picture with the kids. They were in heavan. We stayed quite a while there because we didn't get our check forever. Kind of awkward when the characters started making their second round. Funny to see my DD giving me a preview of her future of being a big flirt. Chip comes to the table she tells him she loves him and that he is her favorite. Really sweet moment for us. About 5 minutes later Mickey comes back by. She starts talking to him and by the end of the conversation... HE was her favorite. It made me laugh, she'll tell them anything they want to hear.
We hopped the Monorail (front seats again YEAH) this time the driver was really nice and gave the kids honorary Monorail Driver cards. Nice touch. When we got to Mainstreet we noticed people were already staking spots. DW decides to stake our claim while the kids and I go ride the Tea Cups again and visit Mickey's house. We missed it a couple of days earlier. When we got back the kids played in the street with the Cast Members and a huge bouncing ball. Fairly tame compared to our experience during the day time parade. Turns out if your kids want to get involved sit in front of the buildings closer to the Train Station. They were doing more events down there with the kids. We sat closer to the Castle this time so we didn't have as much of that.
The parade and the fireworks were how I wanted to end this trip. It was perfect but I was a little worried when we got some sprinkles of rain about 30 mins prior to the parade. No big rain and all was on. Spectromagic was awesome, the kids loved it. DD had bought a toy cell phone that had the camera sound etc... Everytime I took a picture with my camera she would do the same with the phone. When Cinderella passed by she looked right at DD and made a phone with her thumb and pinky like she was talking to her as she waved. DD and DW wife thought that was really special.
Then came Wishes. All I can say is WOW. Best fireworks to music I have ever seen. Just beautiful. What a perfect way to end our visit. We had a early flight the next day so we headed back to the room. DD was asking if we could stay forever and none of us was really looking forward to leaving.
I called my buddies at Bell services to have them come by and pick us and our bags up around 7:30. No such luck. The only time they could guarantee a pick up for us was 6:00 am. So we packed the big bags and set them by the door. At 6:00 another annoying knock at the door. (kind of bookending our trip!) The bell man took our bags and we got to the HH around 8. Got on our ME bus and headed back to MCO.
All in all a great first experience. I really have no regrets of getting into DVC. It really makes you feel at ease while you are in WDW. Now just 5 months until our Disney Cruise. Planning additonal trips for next year too. Thanks for reading I hope you have enjoyed it as much as have typing it.
Take care all,
We arrived at MGM and picked up our stroller. Let me say that these don't compare with the other 3 parks' strollers. And MGM wasn't nearly as efficient in the way they were distributing them. We got it and stowed our stuff and moved down the road. First stop was Voyage of the Little Mermaid. Great show the kids loved it. Then we went directly into Playhouse Disney. At our house the Disney Channel is on 75% of the time, 95% of the time the kids are watching something it is Disney Channel. Needless to say they liked this. I took lots of pics with my zoom lens from the back of the room, haven't seen them yet so lets hope they turn out. (took nearly a gig of pics on the camera so its taking some time)
Chicken little was out giving autographs but never stayed out long enough for us to get one. It seems like MGM rotates out the characters differently than the other parks. All of the other times the character would go get a break but then would come back to the same line. Not at MGM, they would come out stay for a while and then leave only to rotate a different character to that line. We already had 3 goofy signatures so this was kind of frustrating. So not luck on Chicken Little.
We rode the Great Movie ride, I liked it but I forgot about the Gun fire which kind of scared my DD. She was getting tired.
We stopped for a snack and then headed over to the Honey I shrunk the Kids playground. By the time we got there DD was sleeping so DS and I went in. He really loved it. He was all over that place, so much so that it was hard to keep track of him. He would get in the tunnels and stay with other kids and I would wonder around trying to find him. ALways worked out but if you weren't level headed you could freak out pretty easy. Good thing DW stayed back with DD.
After about an hour in there we both needed a drink. We took another break and the kids got a strawberry smoothie and I got a Margarita! DW got a Dacquari of some sort. Nice to have that option for adult beverages at the park.
Next we tried get some Power Ranger autographs but were a little late. We did get Kim Possible and Ron Stopable's autograph though (did I mention we watch a lot of Disney Channel?) As we were walking away from that street corner here comes Lightning McKween and Tow Mater. I guess they were headed to the parade, that was pretty cool. Hope those pics turn out well. We ended up going to see the Muppet 3D show and the kids liked it pretty well.
It was getting late in the afternoon. We had reservations at Chef Mickey's at 5:10 so we decided to start heading that way. We wanted to take a boat to Epcot and then get back on the Monorail but we didn't have the time. We managed to get on a VERY FULL bus to the Contemporary and made it with time to spare. It would have been nice to be able to change after a hot day at the parks but we didn't plan enough time for that. We waited outside of Chef Mickey's for them to open. I strongly suggest getting an early time for dinner here as when we left the line was really long. All I can say about CM's was that is was really worth it! The food was awesome the characters were great and the staff was very helpful. We finally got Minnie's Autograph and picture with the kids. They were in heavan. We stayed quite a while there because we didn't get our check forever. Kind of awkward when the characters started making their second round. Funny to see my DD giving me a preview of her future of being a big flirt. Chip comes to the table she tells him she loves him and that he is her favorite. Really sweet moment for us. About 5 minutes later Mickey comes back by. She starts talking to him and by the end of the conversation... HE was her favorite. It made me laugh, she'll tell them anything they want to hear.
We hopped the Monorail (front seats again YEAH) this time the driver was really nice and gave the kids honorary Monorail Driver cards. Nice touch. When we got to Mainstreet we noticed people were already staking spots. DW decides to stake our claim while the kids and I go ride the Tea Cups again and visit Mickey's house. We missed it a couple of days earlier. When we got back the kids played in the street with the Cast Members and a huge bouncing ball. Fairly tame compared to our experience during the day time parade. Turns out if your kids want to get involved sit in front of the buildings closer to the Train Station. They were doing more events down there with the kids. We sat closer to the Castle this time so we didn't have as much of that.
The parade and the fireworks were how I wanted to end this trip. It was perfect but I was a little worried when we got some sprinkles of rain about 30 mins prior to the parade. No big rain and all was on. Spectromagic was awesome, the kids loved it. DD had bought a toy cell phone that had the camera sound etc... Everytime I took a picture with my camera she would do the same with the phone. When Cinderella passed by she looked right at DD and made a phone with her thumb and pinky like she was talking to her as she waved. DD and DW wife thought that was really special.
Then came Wishes. All I can say is WOW. Best fireworks to music I have ever seen. Just beautiful. What a perfect way to end our visit. We had a early flight the next day so we headed back to the room. DD was asking if we could stay forever and none of us was really looking forward to leaving.
I called my buddies at Bell services to have them come by and pick us and our bags up around 7:30. No such luck. The only time they could guarantee a pick up for us was 6:00 am. So we packed the big bags and set them by the door. At 6:00 another annoying knock at the door. (kind of bookending our trip!) The bell man took our bags and we got to the HH around 8. Got on our ME bus and headed back to MCO.
All in all a great first experience. I really have no regrets of getting into DVC. It really makes you feel at ease while you are in WDW. Now just 5 months until our Disney Cruise. Planning additonal trips for next year too. Thanks for reading I hope you have enjoyed it as much as have typing it.
Take care all,