OKW - Dec 10-18, 2004 Days 1-3 Update About This Page:

[LifeIsWonderful]

Hi, all! We are at WDW right now and are taking an afternoon off to relax and I thought I would start my trip report! Here it goes!

Cast: Dh, 49; me, 36; dd, 14; dd, 13; dd, 3; dd, 2
Dates: Dec 10-18, 2004
Resort: OKW - First visit

<u>DAY 1 Friday, Dec 10</u>

I did my usual getting up at 4:15am to workout and then home to make sure everything was set to go. I cleaned the house like crazy and made sure the babies (ages 2 &amp; 3) were down for their naps early so they would have a nap before we left. I had been adjusting their schedules for a few days so they went to sleep.

Around 1:15 my dh came home from work, we loaded up the car, and woke the babies up. Stopped by the older girls' (ages 13 &amp; 14) school and got them and took off for the airport. Check-in with Frontier was easy and quick, like always so we were at the gate with plenty of time to spare. Unfortunately, we had much more then enough time since the plane was late.

We left about 30 minutes late since there was bad weather here in Orlando and the plane was late getting out. No problems since they made up a lot of time in the air so we got into Orlando around 10:35pm. Dh went to check on the rental car with Alamo while the older girls and I got the luggage. Perfect timing since we had the bags and were just walking to where the Alamo counter is located when he was finished!

Got to OKW without any problems. We have learned not to follow the directions on MapQuest but just trust the signs around the property.

It was almost midnight by the time we got to the Front Desk and there were two people being helped at the counter and one person in front of me. It was slow checking in and we were tired. In fact, after about 15 minutes, my dh came in to see why it was taking so long! We did get the building that we had requested (thanks to a great CM from OKW who I had spoken to a few days before). I had asked for building 54 since I wanted "quiet but close to a bus stop."

Our room is/was 5414 and it is great! The parking in front of this building is easy and there are more then enough spaces. We wanted to ohhhh and auhhhh over the room when we got here but were too tired and we all went to bed.

Next: Day 2 - AM:Epcot PM: AK Dinner: Canada!

[LifeIsWonderful]

<u>DAY 2 Saturday Dec 11, 2004</u>

I slept until about 6:25am (4:25am at home) which is about the normal time for me to get up. I got up and took a shower. Still no one else was up. I made the coffee and began the pancakes. Slowly the teens in the living room began to stir.

Around 8:30 the babies ventured out of their room. We got them fed and dressed and headed off for Epcot around 9:00. We got a bus immediately at OKW so we were happy.

I instantly could tell the 2 year old had gotten heavier in the last 14 months since we were here last time! Dh carries the 3 year old in a backpack carrier and I carry the 2 year old. We figured out I am carrying about 35 + pounds of extra weight with the kiddo and he is carrying an extra 45+ pounds since he had the waterbottles, snacks etc in the backpack that attaches. Thank goodness we work out so much!

The older girls run off to get FPs for Test Track (25 min wait for stand by) and go on Mission Space (wait of 5 min) while we got my AP activated and go on Spaceship Earth with the babies. When we go over to meet the older girls at MS, Mickey is there in his space suit and a line of only about 2 kids! We get photos and meet the teens. We went to Universe of Energy again with no wait. The 3 year old who is normally fearless was a little scared but seemed to enjoy it overall. Two year old liked it and did not seem to be afraid.

After UoE the older girls used their TT FPs and we took the babies back on SE again since they loved it. Went through the Ice Station (What is WITH that Italy stuff?! Do people SERIOUSLY drink that on purpose?!) and met the older girls at Japan for our PS at 12:00.

We were seated pretty quickly and had a great time. There were 6 of us so a very nice young couple from FL sat with us also. The food was good as well as the service.

Took the babies back to the room and left them with a sitter for naps. We left for Animal Kingdom.

PM: AK

Didn't get to the park until about 2:30. Went to do TSpin and waited in line for about 15 minutes. Then went to Dinasaur! Another short line (10 min) so we just went on. Have they changed that thing? Maybe it was that I was in the very front on the right side but that dinosaur that comes out when they take your picture was about to EAT me! My photo was pretty funny! Ran over to get FP to KS but didn't need them! Only a 10 minute wait so we just went. Saw quite a few animals since it was about 4:15 by now and the weather was cooling off again. In fact, I wished I had taken my sweatshirt! Grabbed some coffee on the way out of the park and then headed for the room.

We had PS at 7:30 in Canada so we sent the teens off to Epcot early to ride some rides. Met at Canada around 7:25 and they said we would likely have to wait about 30 minutes for a table since they had a lot of large parties that night. They were not wrong! It was sort of fun to let the babies run around in the beautiful area right outside the restaurant and we were glad they had such a nice area for them to do so! Dinner was great and we had a wonderful waitress named Michelle. After dinner we walked around and left about the time the fireworks began. We beat the crowds out and were on the bus when the final ones went off. No worries. We have dinner at the UK tomorrow night!

Got home and went to bed around 9:45!

Tomorrow: AM:EE at MK LUNCH: Crystal Palace PM: Epcot Dinner: UK: Rose and Crown

[Irene]

looking forward to the rest of your trip .... great start.

[Tara O'Hara]

Great start!! I can't wait to read more!!

[luvnwdwgal]

Great trip report!! Can't wait for more!!

[LoveWL]

Thanks for the trip report. We are staying at OKW for the first time next month, so I'm really interested to read your impressions of it. Hope you have a great time.

[LifeIsWonderful]

DAY 3 - SUNDAY, Dec 12, 2004

Woke up this morning around 6:30 and took a shower while everyone else slept. What is wrong with these people!? We are in WDW!!!!

Made coffee and breakfast (omlettes) after waking the teens so they could shower. Got everyone together and fed around 8:15 and took off for the early entry at MK.

Went to Dumbo but none of us really felt like waiting the 15 minutes for the ride. Are we insane? We went over to Pooh and got on with about a 5 minute wait. Snow White was next which we got onto immediately. The carrosal was about to load so we jumped on that. We went over and got FPs for Mickey's Philharmagic and then walked around the corner to Peter Pan, one we have never been on. It said no wait but when we asked it was because the ride was not working. We went on over to Haunted Mansion and got on in about 5 minutes. The 2 year old thought it was okay but the 3 year old hid her face almost the entire time and started to call it the "Scary Ride" after that. Then we went to Carpets with no wait and Pirates with no wait. The 3 year old now was WANTING to go back to the "Scary Ride" so we went back and got onto HM with about a 5 minute wait. She actually kind of liked it that time. We walked back to Peter Pan and the wait was about 30 minutes! Oh, well. It was almost time for our Mickey's Philharmagic FP time anyway. We discover it is not working but decide that we might as well let the kids ride the carrosal ride again since the babies were wanting to go again. Got on immediately and then headed over towards Crystal Palace for our 11:45 PS. The line to check in was pretty long and we were glad we had gotten there 10 minutes early. Got seated in about 10 minutes from check in. Piglet came to our table pretty quickly but then no characters for another 15-20 minutes. It did give us time to eat. Next was Tigger. He was teasing my dh about having all girls and was flexing his muscles. I was joking with him and felt his muscles. WOW! He had huge arms! We all showed off our arms also and had a fun time with him. The rest of the characters came around except Pooh who is now just waiting for people at the back of the entrance by the buffet lines. The kids marched in the parade around the room while we clicked away with the camera. The food was good and especially the desserts. Ate way too much but left knowing we would again go back there on the next trip.

Took the babies back to the room for naps with the sitter while we older kids went back to Epcot for the afternoon. Got FPs for Test Track which was about a 1 hour wait for stand by. The FPs were not for 2 hours so we headed off to the MS which I had not gone on before. It was not as bad as I thought it would be and I did not feel sick at all, even after all of my lunch! Went into Innovations to see what was new in the house of tomorrow. Liked the fingerprint door opener and the oven that will keep food cold until it is ready to cook, but nothing else really amazed us at all. Went into World Showcase and rode the Mexico and Norway rides with no waits and then went looking for the Candy Lady. Watched the Statutes on the way and since we were early, we went shopping in the store in Japan. Bought some chopsticks and holders and had them sent back to the room. It was the first time we had tried it and it was great! Ends up the CL was not there that day. Bummer! On the way back for our Test Track FP time we stopped in and watched the Canada show. Pretty cool! Best thing was behind us was a family from Canada who were talking about where all of the places were that we were seeing so we started asking them questions. Guess it is time to plan a family trip to Canada! Went on Test Track (which had a 30 minute stand by wait now) and with our FP had no wait. Grabbed a coffee and took off for the bus since we had to get the babies and get back to Epcot by 8:00 for our PS in UK.

Got back to the room around 6:00 and let the teens head right off to the park to meet us later at UK. We had been lucky catching the buses from OKW to the parks but seemed to not have as much luck catching them back to the room. Got dressed in warmer clothes since it was going to be chilly, got the kiddos in the backpacks and took off. Got to the UK around 7:45 and the teens had already checked us in at 7:35 and asked for a table by the windows. It did take until about 8:10 but we got the table. The food was okay. I got the Curry Tofu and Veggies. What was not great was that dh, the babies and I got our food and we were still waiting 5 minutes later for the teens food. Waitress came around and we told her. She brought out one plate and we just said to cancel the other one and the teens could share since they had gotten the same thing and there was a ton of it! Not 2 minutes later she came on out with the second plate. Dessert was really good, although all I did was take samples from everyone since I was so full. Around 9:15 we were led out to a great table to watch Illuminations. I have seen the show a few times but never this well! If you can go to the UK and get a table like this, DO IT! Do not go for the food, however. Fought the crowds and finally got back to the room around 10:45. Off to bed!

[luvnwdwgal]

Sounds like you're all having a great time!! Looking forward to another installment!!

[Colexis Mom]

What a great time you are all having! We were at the MK the same morning as you, and I'm sure must have passed you along the way since it wasn't too busy!

Hurry back with more