Our Crash Course in Disney 101 - Trip Report - COMPLETE 10/1 About This Page:

[Holland]

I have been so looking forward to your TR after reading your Pre-TR.

I am so happy for you and I am crying with you right now.

Can't wait to hear more!!!

[Mommyof2NJ]

I love, love, love your trip report!!!! Can't wait to hear more!!

[goofysdtr]

Great start! I've had that exact moment during opening . . . it is a special thing! Keep it coming!

[patclairesmom]

I'm actually sitting here with tears in my eyes (yes, I'm at work)while I'm reading your description about the opening ceremoney. I can't wait to experience the same!

[tammyd_rn]

What a great start. We were there the same time and staying both at POR Riverside. Our bus stop also was the west stop. Well I guess I need to get my act together and get my trip report started.

[Colexis Mom]

What a great update More please

[mcc0313]

Your first day sounds magical...I am so happy for you and your family...this was a well deserved trip...

(and I think alot of us have cried too...I did)

[disney_duke]

The tears are flowing... keep the story going.... it's wonderful so far!!!

And I totally get the "MOM does everything"... thing. I do that too. What would they do without us????

[Disney_Scarlett]

Cathy - what a great TR! I just read your pre-TR and caught up on your updates. You have me in giggles and tears. It's just too sweet!

I can't wait to hear more about your morning in the MK!

Scarlett

[Nimros]

By the time we entered the Emporium, I had my emotions under control, we grabbed the Dramamine and then headed off towards Tomorrowland. So many things to see on Main Street – but we were by-passing everything in order to get to Space Mountain. The girls were at the stand-by line, literally pacing back and forth. (Alexa had picked up Fastpasses for later in the day.)

I was under the impression that Kevin would sit this one out until the Dramamine took effect, but he said he was going on. You cannot imagine how happy I was to have my entire family together to experience this ride!!!

You see, one of the things Alexa and I enjoyed doing on this vacation was observing all the different families. You know – some of them resemble each other in looks; some of them seem like they’re all on the same page when it comes to enjoying WDW – they all like the same things. Our family is made up of some very different and unique individuals – all with pretty intense wants and needs – and as Mom, I feel like it’s always my responsibility to balance out everyone’s desires and make sure everyone is happy. (At the end of this vacation, I learned otherwise…but we’ll get to that later!)
So being together to ride Space Mountain was a real treat. We actually walked right on – there just weren’t that many people around. Cory declared she wanted to ride in the front – and like magic, she got her wish.

And then we were off! And the first thing I heard was Cory’s shrill little scream throughout the entire ride!! As soon as we got off, she bounced out of the car and said, “I want to do that one again!!” I looked at Kevin to see how he was doing – he said it ‘got him’ a little bit and he was glad he rode, but wouldn’t go on Space Mountain again. Kelley, who had been a bit worried while walking through the building, looked side-ways at her dad and said she didn’t want to go again, either.

Our next stop on the itinerary was to walk over to Toontown Fair and meet some characters. On the way, we saw a Photopass photographer and stopped to have some pictures made by the castle. (We saw lots of PP by the castle that day, and almost always with the characters, but not many other places in MK.)


When we arrived in Fantasyland, the line to The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh was nearly empty, so we jumped in a hunypot. Minnie’s Country House was next – we saw Minnie holding court in her gazebo! The girls had a ball exploring around her house – but when we got to the gazebo, Minnie was gone! Rats! We headed over to Toontown Hall of Fame to catch some autographs. I was really hoping the little girls would enjoy meeting the characters, but after peeking at the line they’d have to stand in to see Mickey, they opted to head back out and do more attractions. No problem, Goofy’s Barnstormer was next. Again, all of us enjoyed the ride (Kevin just a bit sick.)

By this time, our itinerary said we needed to catch the WDW Railroad train over to Frontierland. The train was just getting ready to leave the station (just like magic) when we hopped on and off we went.
Splash Mountain was our next stop. And yes – the rain ponchos. I’ll admit, I felt a little silly getting them out and putting them on (other guests were looking at us like we’d lost our minds!) but not after the last drop!! There was one poor little old lady seated in front of us (who looked like she was in her 70s) that was completely drenched at the end!!

By this time, our Fastpasses for Space Mountain were ready, so we decided just to walk back to Tomorrowland (Alexa ran and got us Fastpasses for Big Thunder Mountain before we left.) Kevin was getting a little worn out by this time – and I think GB and SM got him a bit more than he thought. Of course, he didn’t want to take another chance on SM and Kelley said she didn’t want to go again either.

Here’s where I ran into a tough decision. I really, really want to do SM again. Yet I didn’t want to desert Kevin when he obviously wasn’t feeling well (and he had been so gallant to do the rides with us even though they made him sick.) What to do? What to do?

So…I decided to sit this one out while Cory and Alexa used the FP to SM. Kevin, Kelley and I made a bathroom stop and then sat outside Cosmic Ray’s to wait. We didn’t have any specific place chosen for lunch, but the girls wanted to go to either Pecos Bills or Cosmic Ray’s – since we were already there, Cosmic Ray’s won.

After the girls returned, we went inside to have lunch (about 11:00am – no crowds at all.) Cosmic Ray’s was surprisingly good! Kevin and the little girls had chicken strips while Alexa and I had a turkey bacon wrap. The pasta salad was excellent. And the carrot cake was delicious. Mmmm. Five thumbs up!
According to the plan, we had time to do just a few more attractions before it was time to return to the resort. But Alexa was right – the little girls did not want to stop, even if it meant a swim. That meant we had to switch plans and continue on. Kevin, I could tell, was a bit put out (I’m sure he was looking forward to a cool room to help him get over his nausea.) But he was a trooper and continued on.
I should probably say a word about the weather here. We had what I considered a perfect day – bright sun, crystal blue skies and white, billowy clouds alternating with dark gray clouds that threatened rain any moment. But the most we experienced was a light drizzle for a few moments and the sweet relief of slightly cooler temps when the sun went behind a cloud.

FPs for BTM were up. Of course, Kevin sat it out and Kelley (again, taking a cue from her dad) also declined to ride, even though we really tried to convince her otherwise. So we jumped in the FP line and got right on – Cory yelling at the top of her lungs, “This is the best ride ever! Yahoooo!” Kevin and Kelley took the opportunity to explore Tom Sawyer’s Island while we rode.

Next up was The Haunted Mansion. I had been looking forward to this my whole life and couldn’t wait to actually see it with my own two eyes!!! It was on Kevin’s ‘must-see’ list, too. We sat the sisters in one Doom Buggy and Kevin and I took another. It was fantastic – and the best part was at the end, where you can see the hitch-hiking ghost. We could see the girls in the buggy next to us, and the ghost in their buggy was sitting right on top of Alexa. When Cory saw it, she jerked her head around to look at her big sister in terror!!! Ohhh, it was priceless!!!



Pirates of the Caribbean – I was totally surprised that I would fall in love with it!! Or was it that I fell in love with Captain Jack Sparrow? I think the other guests probably thought Alexa and I were nuts; we kept twisting around in our seats to watch him until he was out of sight!

Outside Pirates, who should we spy but Captain Hook and Mr. Smee!!! I was ecstatic and made Kelley and Cory jump in line for a photo. As you can tell, they were a bit intimidated, but they got the signature. (I tried to get them to say ‘Tick Tock’ but they wimped out!)



After that, we did everything. BTM again, IASW, Snow White, Peter Pan, the Carousel (I got a little nauseous on this one!), the Castle, Stitch’s Great Escape, Buzz Lightyear, etc. We were just about to go to Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor when we realized it was time for our ADRs at Tony’s Town Square.

Since we had agreed to leave after dinner to swim, it meant we wouldn’t be able to do the Laugh Floor. Alexa was really disappointed – so Kevin promised her after dinner we’d return for that last attraction and then head to the buses.

Tony’s was fabulously attractive and beautifully decorated. We waited no more than 5 minutes for our table to be ready and were seated by the patio windows.

Did I mention Cory was wearing her Birthday button? She had been receiving birthday wishes all day (at first she was shy about the whole thing, but then she came round.) The servers greeted her with a shower of pixie dust and streamers – and then at the end of dinner, a rousing (and very loud) round of “Happy Birthday” from all the diners.

After a huge dinner (with a sample of three different desserts!) we walked back to Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor. Cory decided she did not want to see it (she has always been a bit shy of Sully and Mike), so Kevin and the rest of the crew went in while we waited. Cory and I sat and talked and watched the people coming and going as the sky grew darker and everyone began to try and find the best site for firework viewing. The Laugh Floor was taking a lot longer than we estimated and I was worried about getting down Main Street. Plus, there was a part of me that rather wanted to see Wishes and explore the shops and just experience more of the special magic and little details to be found at MK. We just didn’t have enough time there…

Finally Kevin and the girls appeared (they loved it!) and we made our way out through the crowds and down Main Street as the fireworks began in the background. I was still feeling a bit blue as we went under the railway station and departed from the Magic Kingdom. Of course, part of my heart got left behind…

But as soon as we got on the bus (and there was a huge line for the PO buses!!), a steady rain began to fall. We all crossed our fingers that the rain would stop when we got home, because there were two little girls who had their hearts set on swimming that night!

Back at our lodge, the rain had ended (if it had even fallen there at all) and the girls ran back to the room to get their suits on. Surprises awaited them as they opened the door to find all their stuffed animals had been having a party in the room all day!! We had decorated Mousekeeping envelopes before we left home, and now it became a fun daily routine to run back to the room at the end of the day to see what surprises were in store. Our favorite was the day we returned to find all the animals watching TV, with Timba’s paw still on the remote!

Alexa took the girls down to the quiet pool outside our room while I stayed and tried to dry the rain ponchos and repack the Baggalinni for a quick start the next morning. And no – I DID NOT FORGET to pack the medicine this time. Or… did Kevin do that???

Up Next : A Rainy Day at EPCOT

[BelmontBelle]

What a fabulous first day! We always have a hard time leaving MK too, especially on the first day. Looking forward to your next update, I hope the rain isn't too bad.

[Colexis Mom]

What a great day you had at MK Great pictures too! Those girls have some stamina

[ilovedisney0_0]

OK, I literally had tears running down my face when I read about your first moments at MK. I so know that feeling! What a magical first day!! Can't wait to read more!

[MAria R]

OMG!!!! Your pre-trip report brought tears to my eyes. As a single mom I could relate to so much of what you are saying. Great tip about the bags and I so want to see Disney all Halloweenifed.

[Jody]

I am so happy for you and your family! I remember that feeling and I too had tears in my eyes the first time I was at the opening ceremonies! I teared up reading your TRs. I can't wait for more!!!