We're back from WDW! 11 days of FUN FUN FUN!!!!!

[OneTreeHillAddict]

Okay, this is my first Walt Disney World Trip History/Pre Trip Report ever! I will be going about my pre trip report a little differently than those I have read. Why? Well, I feel it's best if I keep certain details to myself 'til the trip is complete and I'm home again. I don't feel comfortable giving out my ADR's w/ exact dates and times, our resort info, and exact dates of travel. There are too many crazy insane people in this World! Once we return from the 10 night trip I will be adding it to this same thread! We're so excited! Not too much longer!

This thread also includes a history of us and Walt Disney World. I thought it would be nice to include this so you have an idea of who we are and why we love Disney! As you get closer to August 2007 you will find yourself a full trip report. Not as detailed as the 2008 trip will be but still informational.

Our upcoming trip will be 10 nights. (Our package is for 8 nights) We're trying out deluxe dining for the first time. We're doing a character meal each morning for breakfast (kids idea) and will be trying out a few new places. DH and I are excited about that. Here are the places we'll be eating this time around:

Breakfast

Crystal Palace ~ We've been here for Dinner but never for Breakfast! Hope it's better.

Tusker House ~ We miss the old Tusker House already but we're excited to try out the NEW character breakfast!

Cape May Cafe ~ Never been here but have seen some pictures and it looks great! The character costumes look cool too!

Princess Storybook ~ We LOVE this place, especially for Breakfast! They have excellent food! The characters are always wonderful too! My favorite so far!

Hollywood and Vine ~ Tried out lunch in '07, didn't care for the food too much. Can't wait to try out the Breakfast. Everything other than the lunch food was awesome!

O'Hana ~ Another favorite of ours. This is DH's and DS's favorite place to have breakfast in all of Disney! Always a fun meal!

1900 Park Fare ~ Another great breakfast! Can't wait for that omelet bar! It's been a while.

Chef Mickey's ~ Been here a lot for Dinner but never for Breakfast! Can't wait to try it out!

Lunch

Garden Grill ~ LOVE LOVE LOVE GG! Will totally miss lunch there in the future "World", lol. This is the best place for character interaction and the food is not bad either!

Tony's Town Square ~ Never tried this one before! I've read many mixed reviews. I have had some dessert from here once. (DCousin brought some back to the room one night) and it was fabulous! Looking forward t our lunch here!

Sci Fi ~ LOVE this place! Can't wait to go again!

The Plaza ~ Another newbie for us! Can't wait to try it! Sandwiches look amazing on the food threads!

Le Cellier ~ Second visit, first time for Lunch. Will be having the duck two ways and filet. Wish me luck! NO SOUP!

Kona Cafe ~ Another newbie! Sounds delish! I will let you know!

Dinner or Dinner Show

Chef Mickeys ~ A must do on every trip. The kids LOVE this place! I LOVE the salmon!

50's Prime Time ~ Never been! Looking forward to it.

1900 Park Fare ~ We loved in '06 but last year the substituted the Grand Floridian Cafe while 1900 was under rehab. It turned out to be two of the best meals we had that entire trip!

Polynesian Luau ~ Our first time! Again, read mixed reviews and can't wait to express my own! Looking forward to having a great time here. We have catergory 2 seats.

O'Hana ~ Tried this last year. Loved it. Had a window seat for Wishes, was amazing! (Great surprise)

Liberty Tree Tavern ~ Another one we will dearly miss. This will be our third and final time since Disney is doing away with the characters.

Mickey's Backyard BBQ ~ Never tried this either! Can not wait! Sounds like a blast to me! I'll let you know!

Teppan Edo ~ Another newbie! So looking forward to this one!

Other Stuff:

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique ~ This will be our fifth and final visit to BBB! Can't wait to check out the new one inside Cinderella's castle!

Wonderland Tea Party ~ This looks like FUN! Can not wait to see how it goes. The kids are very excited about trying this out!


Who all will be going?
Me, DH, and my BFF along with our kids...

DS (9)


DD (6)


DS#2 (2)


BFFDD (7)



A little bit of history about me. I'm a 36 year old stay at home mom/photographer. 90% of the time I just bring my family to a shoot with me (since most are done on location at the beach and other fun areas!) Sometimes they even come with me when I'm working a concert as long as it's in an all age venue. This is the last show we did as a family! Kid Rock!






My babies are all little rockers! I've been photographing bands and other entertainers since 1989. This is why I LOVE my job! I've had some of the most fun and met some of the nicest people you could ever imagine! Here is a pic of my DD hanging w/ one of my BFF's Bret Michaels. (Frontman for Poison, most recently known for Rock of Love on VH1)

Of course during weddings and private gatherings they stay home with daddy! My first trip to WDW was in 1982 around Christmas time. This is the only picture I can find from that trip! I'm the one to the left of Mickey.

It was the beginning of a life long addiction but nothing like the one my husband would soon get!

Everything you need to know about Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique...

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1893384

[OneTreeHillAddict]

DH got his first taste of WDW in 1997! We start walking down Main Street and came upon

the BIRTHDAY CAKE CASTLE! He actually liked it. We weren't officially WDW addicts just yet so we didn't even expect to see the cake! Looking back now we're happy we had the chance to experience it! We just don't ever wanna see it again! On this trip he only got to see the MK. The days were split between Universal Studios and the Magic Kingdom. We had also brought along 4 teeny boppers (my little sister and her friends that had never been to Disney!) We had fun but we took very few pictures.

[hmdavid]

Looks like this will be fun... I am along for the ride!

What an awesome job you have!!!

[OneTreeHillAddict]

DH....the sweetest man in the entire Universe! He's 32 (yep, 4 years younger than me!) We've been together since the castle was a cake! We got married in 1998.

That year we went back for the second half of our Honeymoon. (The first week we spent on Royal Carribbean...I wanted a cruise, he wanted Disney, so we did both.) This was the first time he and I stayed together on Disney property. Only once since then have we ever stayed elsewhere (only because it was a last minute Presidents Day trip and nothing was available)! We had a very magical Disneymoon. We spent time in all three water parks (yep, River Country was still happening back then) as well as Discovery Island and all of the wonderful theme parks! We thought we did everything! (Yeah, I know...everything?) Boy were we wrong! If only we could go back to that week knowing what we know now, that trip would have been completely different!

I don't have too many pictures from this trip either. I know, BAD BAD BAD. I just hated carrying my bulky camera into the parks back then. Thank God for the digital cameras available today!

I do have a couple of pics scanned from River Country and Discovery Island.
That's DH coming off the slide mid center!


Here is another from River Country


There he goes again on the slide!


And one of me relaxing on Discovery Island


Here is an old park map of River Country


Why so many of River Country? Who knows but I'm glad I took them now! DH is tre in the pool.


Another from Discovery Island


The guide map from DI


Can you believe we went to WDW for our honeymoon and didn't even take single picture with a character!?

[OneTreeHillAddict]

Originally Posted by hmdavid

Looks like this will be fun... I am along for the ride!

What an awesome job you have!!!

I like it! It is going to be a blast. With all the pics it's going to take me some time though!

[OneTreeHillAddict]

In 1999 our first DS came along! That Fall DH's mom was playing in the Senior Olympics down at WDW. They had never been there so they asked us to come down too so we could show 'em around. Sure thing! Who would turn down a free trip to Disney!? Not us.

They booked the Polynesian as our resort but to tell the truth, it was Godawful at the time. It was musky and pretty outdated for the price. We asked to be switched over to the Wilderness Lodge the next day. Much better! I know, I know, Poly is a lot better now but then....




This was DS's first ever trip to WDW. He was 6 months old and really enjoyed himself! We went to the parks just about every day but not for long periods of time since he was just a little guy.



On the last night of the stay we had a private party at the Magic Kingdom! This was sooooooooooooo much fun! Everything was inclusive. If you wanted a Mickey bar you just asked for it. No charge. Turkey Leg? Here ya go. Drinks? Okay. Even the counter service was FREE! We had a choice between Cosmic Ray's, Pinnochio Village Haus, and Casey's. We were so full by the end of that night and the stroller was packed with drinks, cookies, & snacks that CM's kept handing us. Remember, this is a SENIOR Olympics party. Some of them were 90 years old! After the parade and fireworks most people left. It was like having the MK to ourselves! No lines, very few people anywhere!
Here is a pic of DMIL on the carousel...you can see what I mean by empty!



I thought you guys might want to see the flyer from that evening. Not everything was open, but it was enough to keep us busy!





If I could have a do over... I'd definitely take MORE pictures!!!

[OneTreeHillAddict]

We went once a year between the years of 2000-2005. Many times with family and usually for about a week at the time. During these years we tried out CBR (in 2003) with my parents (loved it over there, especially the private Island in the middle )
This is my DD durin that trip. She didn't know what to think of the characters!












We stayed at Pop Century (2005) on a trip with my sister and her boyfriend. (Went all over, had a great time, but boy was I sick!)
Here is DD with Snow White during that trip.

Here they are with Winnie the Pooh

Here they are with Jasmine

And DD with Peter Pan and Wendy






















We went on a multi family trip with my cousins in 2002. The drive there was hysterial. We had three vehicles, 5 adults, 4 toddlers, and a baby! I had so much fun with them. Wish we could had stayed longer. DH was called to be on Dawson's Creek so we left early. Wish I had stayed now! The scene was on the beach and it was soooooooooooo cold! (And we left Disney for this!? ) Anyway, we went in 2001 and took another cousin that had never been along with my sister, & her BFF.
DS, DSBFF, and DSis

DCous meeting Mickey


I barely remember this trip but I know the boys next door would not stop trying to "impress" my sis and her BFF. 2000 is a blur but I remember the Epcot ball having 2000 across the top of it. Pics somewhere but I hate the stupid scanner so I'll pick up next time with 2006. Until then....

[OneTreeHillAddict]

Since 1982 my family would go to Florida about once a year. Even the early years with DH we still only did an annual trip. Usually between 6-7 days total. Something changed in 2006. (Come to think of it this was about the time we got our local Disney Store....could this have something to do with it!?)
We had planned a week in early June with my cousin (Yes I have a LOT of cousins and every one I mention is a different cousin... ) and her niece but switched plans at the last minute because we got an offer to try out free dining. At that time it started earlier and we couldn't pass up the savings.


Well June rolls around and they were about to leave for their trip. We were all very excited for them since this was the little girls first trip to WDW ever! My cousin called and asked us to tag along with them and DH started packing. We went in June for 7 nights. We drove down and they arrived on a plane. We actually beat them there! We met up with them at the resort really late that night.







I remember a tropical storm coming through the area (pouring rain like crazy) and WDW cleared out big time. The parks were nearly empty and a little rain, never enough to keep us away. During the June trip we spent one evening inside Epcot. Spent 5 days at Universal (while they went to WDW) and a day over at Disney Quest.










We didn't want to go to the Disney parks the whole time and ruin our trip that was less than 8 weeks away! I just loved hearing how much fun our little cousin had every night. She was in heaven! (Another little Disney addict was born!)

[OneTreeHillAddict]

August 2006 was finally here. We were so excited to start our trip, finally! This was the first time we really ate at Disney. We had tried a couple of places here and there but this time we were eating every meal inside the parks or on property. This dining plan (then) was out of this World! So much food to eat, so many nice places to choose from, and even the tip was inlcuded (and FREE!?) How in the World could Disney give this to us for free!? I still look back now and wonder how in the World they made money off of the dining plan the way it was set up then! During this trip they still gave kids real appetizers and desserts in most restaurants!!! This trip was a total of 13 nights but only 10 were on the package. (I'm pretty sure that was the limit back then) We added on the Water Parks and More option (something we had not done since our honeymoon). This trip was worth the wait!


We spent 3 days at the Magic Kingdom...






For Dinner on the first night we had LTT! The food was wonerful and the service was great!


On our very first package day we had breakfast at O'Hana with Stitch, Lilo, Mickey, and Pluto! We had the sweetest server ever! Food was soooooo delicious!




On another Magic Kingdom morning we had Breakfast at CRT...






We were the last ones out that day. I took a couple of pictures of the gorgeous restaurant. I love the atmosphere here but the food, not so good!




DD was picked to participate in Belle's play too. She really liked this a lot! She loves Belle!



We had dinner at the Crystal Palace with Pooh Bear and friends...




They were able to meet a ton of characters on this trip!






DS got his first haircut on Main Street and they gave him these cute golden ears! He wore these things all day!


We played on the slides with the characters...


And soooooooo much more! Magic Kingdom Part 2 tomorrow! Plus, Epcot, MGM, Animal Kingdom, Water Parks, Disney Quest, and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique coming soon! Then 3 more trips to go!

[OneTreeHillAddict]

We closed down the park that first night! (The kids didn't want to leave.) We took these pics on our way out. DD loves the doll display!





Another favorite of ours when we go to the MK is Chef Mickey's! This is DS's favorite place to eat. The characters are always so much fun here and the salmon, YUM! The kids love the dessert area. We can't wait to try it out for Breakfast!










Next up ~ Epcot!

[OneTreeHillAddict]

We spent 3 days at Epcot...

DD tried out BBB for the first time on this trip. Here are some pics of her at the BBB.







Packages started at $35 back then! She chose the crown as the style. We had Ines as our FGIT and she was wonderful! DD's hair stayed perfect for 3 days! A little touch up the next day and it was just like new. I think we brushed it out on morning three though!? Anyway, we try and get Ines every time we go. She's the BEST! After BBB we went to Epcot for Princess Storybook.
These pics are from my DD's webpage...that's why some say "me".

The food here was actually good. I was totally turned off by the menu at first but the pasta I had was wonderful. I asked for chicken to be added as well. Didn't care much for the cold table or rice cream on the dessert platter but the rest was very good. The princcesses were dolls too and very friendly!








This was the only time we've seen Ariel there. It's always been Belle at Breakfast!


Here's the pic everyone has to take at Epcot!


This was taken at the Disney Visa meet and greet...


This is at our favorite place to eat in Epcot. The Garden Grill! The food is wonderful and the characters are the best in all of Disney! They sit down with you. Write notes, play games, etc. They're so much fun! I will miss them once Lunch goes away. We usually hit World Showcase for dinner.



This is the dessert for the adults! Yum!


These are some pics from the Behind the Seeds tour. It is one all ages can go on and you learn a lot. It's very kid friendly too. In ours each kid got a certificate at the end. The kids were also given fish food to feed the fish and at the end of the tour the kids were able to release lady bugs onto the banana trees. They all got a kick out of this. The land boat ride is so much better once you've taken the tour too!



Epcot was a blast. This is our second favorite park!
DD just had to wear her Cars set to Epcot! We made it for her to wear to MGM.


Let's move onto the Animal Kingdom!

[OneTreeHillAddict]

We really love this park but it's sooooooooooooo hot and it seems like every time we go it pours down rain! I think the biggest draw here is the safari! We love it! Here is DS having a blast checking out those upside down trees!

More pics from the Safari




Here's DD helping out in the Lion King show. She was thrilled to be asked! She LOVES the Lion King!




They love meeting the safari characters at AK and DD's fave Pocahontas!






Dinoland! Another favorite stop!


We only had counter service at AK on this trip. We tried Flame Tree BBQ (the ribs/chicken platter was plenty for 2 people to share) DH had it and I tried the BBQ sandwich. It was pretty good. The frozen lemonade was wonderful since it was about 200 degrees on that day! We also ate at Pizzafari. I actually liked this meal better than the meal I had at Mama Melrose's! For dinner after AK we went over to Spoodle's! It was sooooooooooo good! The kids ordered flatbreads for their appetizers and they were huge. It filled them up. DD had to bring home her steak for breakfast! The bread and sauces were the best I've ever had at Disney! This was by far our best TS during this trip. I know it has changed a lot and the new menu doesn't sound good to me at all. I'm so glad we tried it out then. Check out DD's dessert!


This about wraps it up for Animal Kingdom. Next up MGM Studios!

[OneTreeHillAddict]

Okay Diser's. This thing is getting views but only one person has spoken a word. Are there too many pictures? This is my first trip report so feedback is welcome! The 2007 trips will be very detailed if I get to those. I don't want to waste time if the trip report is lame.

[OneTreeHillAddict]

I'm doing this one all together. I'll wait and do the last three if and when someone starts to respond. I feel like an idiot making a trip report that noone is responding to. This will be everything else from August 2007!

Let's start with MGM studios...

Met some characters under the big hat! (They have some cool characters over at MGM!)





Saw more characters around the park too! These guys were close to Sci Fi. We came out from Lunch and just had to stop!



And the coolest of all....



Okay, maybe this is the COOLEST of all.



Typhoon Lagoon! This is our favorite water park! The only thing we like better is the family raft ride from Blizzard Beach! If we could swap those two we wouldn't need BB anymore!









Blizzard Beach! Last time we went here you could meet Goofy! TL has Lilo and Stitch so characters are even at the Water Parks!



Disney Quest! You could spend a whole day in this place! The CM's say most people never even go there but they sure are missing out. It has oodles of games and many are like this Jungle Cruise raft ride. That's the fam down there enjoying it! Our favorite to do as a whole family was the POTC ride!


Having fun at the Resort...this playground ROCKS!








I was going to add some pics from 1900, O'Hana, etc. but I have a ton of those from the 2007 trips as well. This is it for now. I still have three more (way more detailed) trips to share if you're interested. Christmas, 2 Pirate Princess Parties, and a 17 night journey from last Summer w/ 12 nights of DDP. This is it for tonight.

[Minnie M6]

Hi- I am here and loving your TR/ PTR so far! I just found it and I am so impressed with your pictures! Your children are beautiful (Bret Michaels--not too shabby either ) He is a friend of yours?

Can't wait to see what's next- don't stop now!