Our Dream Come True Parade... About This Page:

[Courtjenn]

Well our Disney Vacation is done, and it was an absolute blast.

It all started at 8:30 a.m. (PST) Saturday July 27. We (me, hubby, sis-in-law, and my sister) departed Phenix City, AL for the 6 hour drive to Orlando. We arrived in Orlando at 2:30 and checked in to our resort (we stayed off-property at a nearby Fairfield resort). We went and grabbed a quick lunch at Chili's and then headed off to the Walmart to pick up necessities for the week.

Sunday, July 28 -- Disney's MGM Studios -- We arrived at about 10 AM and began our tour of the park. We started with the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular (one of my favorite attractions). After this we just made our way around the park hitting the rides and attractions we wanted to see. We ate lunch at the Sci-Fi Drive-In and it was awesome. We loved the atmosphere and the food was great. Onto more touring after lunch. We then got fastpasses for the Rockin' Roller Coaster which turned out to be disastrous to my health. I am not an upside-down kinda girl and this proved it even more. I spent about an hour trying to get over that ride. We then sat down to enjoy the Stars and Motor Cars Parade. It was really neat to see the different cars and the characters. Of course we also did lots of shopping and then we waited for Fantasmic. I had seen it on my last trip and it was even better than I remembered. After fighting the crowds to the parking lot, we headed back to the resort for a much needed night of rest.

Monday, July 29 (Happy Anniversary to me and hubby) -- Magic Kingdom -- We started in Adventureland and worked our way around the park. Of course riding my most favorite ride of all first, Pirates of the Caribbean. Not a long wait at all. We visited each of the lands and rode the rides and shopped some more. We caught the Share a Dream Come True Parade and finished out the afternoon in Tomorrowland. We headed to the Grand Floridian for our Character Dinner at 8:00, catching the resort monorail and taking a small tour of the resort. We ate at 1900 Park Fare and it was great. Then back to the car for the ride back to the resort.

I will continue later, have to finish unpacking and washing the mounds of dirty clothes.

[Shell_of_the_South]

Thanks Courtney for the 1st installment of your report! How were the crowds at the parks?

[luvnwdwgal]

Great trip report so far...Can't wait to read more!! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[tikibird]

Thanks for sharing your trip with us - looking forward to hearing more! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[purplemickey]

Happy Belated Anniversary! Can't wait to hear more! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Courtjenn]

Part 2....

Tuesday, July 30 -- Epcot/Magic Kingdom -- We stared out early at Epcot and visited most of Future World (didn't go to any of the countries). And once again hubby didn't get to ride the Test Track because it was having technical difficulties. So we visited the stores and pin trading station (which I got very into on this trip). We rode Spaceship Earth and visited the Coca Cola Cool Station. We left in the early afternoon to head back over to the Magic Kingdom. We rode Pirates again and went to Toon Town to visit the characters and then back to Tomorrowland to ride Space Mountain again and the Tomorrowland Transit Authority. We also saw the Carousel of Progress. Then we found our spot and got ready for Spectromagic (and it was fabulous) and the Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks. They were wonderful also. I hope to have some pictures soon to share. Another day done and bed time for us all.

Wednesday, July 31 -- Rest Day -- We had planned on this being a Universal Studios day, but instead decided to sleep in late and kind of see what happened. We finally got everyone up and ready about 1 pm and decided to visit some of the outlet stores in the area. Hubby got a new pair of Oakley sunglasses and I got some clothes. After a quick lunch we headed to Downtown Disney for some more shopping. We spent the rest of the evening there and then back to rest for our big day on Thursday.

Thursday, August 1 -- Animal Kingdom -- We were up early today for our Character Breakfast at Donald's Breakfastosaurus and it was so much fun. The buffet was wonderful and we got to see Donald, Goofy, Mickey, and Pluto all decked out in their excavation gear. After breakfast we ventured to the Jungle Trek and the Safari. It was a blast. We visited the countries and I got the most beautiful pearl ring. Hubby got to pick the oyster and they open it right there for you. It was neat, I had to tap on the oyster 3 times and hubby banged on a gong and the girls and the lady that worked there said some crazy words and our "baby" was born. It was neat. We then picked out a setting for it. It is beautiful. Hubby and his sister then went to ride the new Chester and Hester ride and then it was time to leave because it was too hot and we were all getting tired. So we went back to the room and my sister went to sleep and hubby, me, and sis-in-law went back out. We went back to MGM so they could ride Rockin' Roller Coaster (not me) and so we could see Walt Disney: One Man's Dream. It was an awesome display of his life and works. Then we went back to the Magic Kingdom (just in time for the crowd for the parade) to ride Space Mountain again, but the line was way too long so we opted for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and The Haunted Mansion. Then it was 10 and time to leave.

More later, time for washing more clothes and bed time. I will finish tomorrow, after I finish my paperwork for my new part-time job at THE DISNEY STORE!!! I am sooooo excited to become a cast member. Later.

[luvnwdwgal]

Courtney, really enjoying your trip report!
Hope you get to ride Test Track!
I'm curious...If you don't mind me asking...how much was it for the pearl and the setting for your ring?
Sounds like fun, but I don't want to spend too much there.
Looking forward to your next installment! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[Jsbalcio1]

Great report so far! Can't wait to here the rest. Good luck as a new CM! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Courtjenn]

luvnwdwgal - It costs 12.99 for the oyster (which they guarantee each to have at least one pearl) and the setting I chose cost $179. So it was just over $200 for the whole thing. Hubby wants me to take it and get it appraised to see if it is actually worth what they sold it for. So I will be doing that this week and I will let you know if it really is worth it. They did have some other settings that were less expensive and some that were more. I will keep you posted about it.

I will finish my trip report later this afternoon.

[Courtjenn]

Back to finish.....

Friday, August 2 -- Another rest day (supposed to be Universal IoA day -- We just decided to forget Universal altogether because we were getting way worn out. So again we slept in a little bit and then started our day. We ate lunch at a place right across from our resort called Pizzeria Uno (not that great), and then we went and played a round of mini golf at Fantasia Miniature Golf, it was so cool. Each of the holes had something to do with Fantasia and we had so much fun. After our HOT round of golf we headed back over to Downtown Disney to do some more shopping. We spent a while there and when it finally cooled off some we went and played a round of golf for 50% off at Winter Summerland Miniature Golf. We played the summer side (where the elves were all on summer vacation) it was pretty neat too. After golf we headed back to the room to pack up and get ready for checkout the next morning. We went to bed pretty early so we could get up early.

Saturday, August 3 -- Moving Day -- We packed up the car and checked out of the resort at 10 AM and headed to eat breakfast at the Waffle House (yummy) and then to the Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum (it was awesome). We saw so many neat things there and a lot of it IS hard to believe. That took us about 2 - 3 hours and then we headed back towards our hotel for Saturday night (although hubby wanted to go ahead and leave, but the room was priceline and already paid for) so we did a little more shopping (in the rain) and then checked into the Hyatt Orlando, which was very nice for the $35 I got it for on Priceline. I was very impressed. After we got settled, hubby, me, and sis-in-law went to eat at The Olive Garden (my favorite) and then back to the room to sleep for the drive home on Sunday.

Sunday, August 4 -- Bye Bye Disney World -- We packed up and left the hotel about 8:30 to start the trip home. I was not ready to leave, but knew if we stayed any longer we would be completely broke. So we ventured home on the 5 1/2 hour trip and got here about 2 PM. I was so excited to come home to a message on the machine from TDS telling me they would love to have me on board.

So that is the end of my 9 day Disney fiasco and my new part-time job at my most favorite store in the world. YEAH!!!

Hope you enjoyed reading. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[tikibird]

Enjoyed your report -the pearl ring(?) sounds really nice!

Thanks for sharing with us, and good luck in your new role as CM! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[luvnwdwgal]

Courtney, thanks for getting back to me about your ring. I just love those Ripley's museums too! Congratulations on the new job, you are so lucky!! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[GoofyMom]

Courtney, I enjoyed your TR. Sounds like you found the perfect way to continue the Disney magic at the end of your trip - get a job at TDS!!

[wdwlovers]

I enjoyed your trip report Courtney! Love the Fantasia golf course as well! Was a lot of fun, thanks for the memories! Glad to hear you had a great time and good luck with your new job! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]