Jeff G
10-02-2007, 05:56 PM
Cast: Jeff (me), Cheryl (DW), Ray (my Dad), Nancy (my Mom), Karissa (DD age 11), Chase (DS age 8), Peyton (DS age 2) & Madison (DD 7 mons.)
Hotel - Port Orleans Riverside - Alligator Bayou, Building 16
A pre-trip note, this is my parents third trip to WDW with us, the prior two have ended up being the two most rain filled trips we’ve ever had. Last year without them it never rained in 10 days.
Saturday, September 22 - Unlike all of our other trips our flight wasn’t scheduled until 2:30. We awoke finished loading the van and were on the road by 10:00 which was an hour earlier than planned, I guess we were all a little excited and ended up being to the airport 2 ½ hours early. The flight was smooth and landed in Orlando at 6:10pm just ahead of schedule. As our plane taxied into the gate a big thunderstorm hit which I think followed my parents down the runway to welcome them. The rain was coming down in buckets with a lot of lightening. We were ushered off the plane and then the gates were closed. It took an hour for the storm to pass before they reopened the gates and retrieved our gate checked stroller. We headed to the Magical Express gate and found no lines. After about 10 minute wait the bus arrived and we were loaded. The only draw back to the service is we waited ½ hour once we were on the bus for it to fill up and then we were off. We arrived at the PO Riverside and went through the check in quickly. It was now 9:00 and I had a very hungry family on my hands so we headed over to the counter service. The food at POR was great, I especially liked the build you own pasta (enough to have it a couple more times this trip). After diner we decided to swim but when we got to the room we realized the luggage was not there yet with the swimsuits. Chase (DS8) decided we should go frog hunting, so off we went looking for tree frogs, the hunt was very successful (two tree frogs and a gecko). I love the grounds of POR, they are so quiet and the walk was great. We were back to the room around 10:30 with the two little ones sleeping already and my older two ready but still no luggage. We got the kids down (including my dad) and went outside and sat for a while talking while we waited for the luggage. The luggage finally arrived to our rooms at 1:15 which we quickly unpacked and then hit the hay.
Sunday, September 23 - After a short nights nap we were ready to hit EPCOT. This is the first trip we’ve relied on the Disney transportation and didn’t know what to expect so we left the room at 7:45 in case there was a wait for the bus. As we arrived to the bus stop an EPCOT bus was pulling up we loaded and were whisked away. Because everything went so well we were standing at EPCOT’s gates an hour before opening. After the gates opened we headed to Soarin’ and were on the first ride, boy do I love that ride. We stayed in Future World throughout the day and were able to see/ride everything. Chase loved TT and the entire family enjoyed the Nemo ride. The lines were minimal all afternoon with rain showers throughout (this may be the last time I invite my parents,lol). We had diner reservations at LeCellier for 4:00. We were seated promptly, the service and food were great. We then decided to head back to the POR for a swim. On the way Peyton (DS2) saw the monorail and was very excited so we took a ride to the MK. When we got the MK we noticed it was very quite so we jumped on POC, HM (the refurb is the bomb) and IASW with no waits for any of the rides. After IASW we decided it was pool time and caught the bus back to the hotel. Again we timed it perfect because as we arrived to the depot a bus was waiting. The kids swam for a couple of hours while I relaxed and enjoyed a couple of Coronas. Around 9:30 we were wiped out and called it a night (quite the night owls).
Here are a few photo's from Sunday:
EPCOT without the wand. (http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s314/jgroff7/?action=view¤t=IMG_2685.jpg)
Peyton and Grandpa enoying the monorail. (http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s314/jgroff7/?action=view¤t=IMG_2692.jpg)
Madison enjoying the monorail. (http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s314/jgroff7/?action=view¤t=IMG_2695.jpg)
The rain can't get my parents down. (http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s314/jgroff7/?action=view¤t=IMG_2701.jpg)
My kids in front of the castle. (http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s314/jgroff7/?action=view¤t=IMG_2698.jpg)
Hotel - Port Orleans Riverside - Alligator Bayou, Building 16
A pre-trip note, this is my parents third trip to WDW with us, the prior two have ended up being the two most rain filled trips we’ve ever had. Last year without them it never rained in 10 days.
Saturday, September 22 - Unlike all of our other trips our flight wasn’t scheduled until 2:30. We awoke finished loading the van and were on the road by 10:00 which was an hour earlier than planned, I guess we were all a little excited and ended up being to the airport 2 ½ hours early. The flight was smooth and landed in Orlando at 6:10pm just ahead of schedule. As our plane taxied into the gate a big thunderstorm hit which I think followed my parents down the runway to welcome them. The rain was coming down in buckets with a lot of lightening. We were ushered off the plane and then the gates were closed. It took an hour for the storm to pass before they reopened the gates and retrieved our gate checked stroller. We headed to the Magical Express gate and found no lines. After about 10 minute wait the bus arrived and we were loaded. The only draw back to the service is we waited ½ hour once we were on the bus for it to fill up and then we were off. We arrived at the PO Riverside and went through the check in quickly. It was now 9:00 and I had a very hungry family on my hands so we headed over to the counter service. The food at POR was great, I especially liked the build you own pasta (enough to have it a couple more times this trip). After diner we decided to swim but when we got to the room we realized the luggage was not there yet with the swimsuits. Chase (DS8) decided we should go frog hunting, so off we went looking for tree frogs, the hunt was very successful (two tree frogs and a gecko). I love the grounds of POR, they are so quiet and the walk was great. We were back to the room around 10:30 with the two little ones sleeping already and my older two ready but still no luggage. We got the kids down (including my dad) and went outside and sat for a while talking while we waited for the luggage. The luggage finally arrived to our rooms at 1:15 which we quickly unpacked and then hit the hay.
Sunday, September 23 - After a short nights nap we were ready to hit EPCOT. This is the first trip we’ve relied on the Disney transportation and didn’t know what to expect so we left the room at 7:45 in case there was a wait for the bus. As we arrived to the bus stop an EPCOT bus was pulling up we loaded and were whisked away. Because everything went so well we were standing at EPCOT’s gates an hour before opening. After the gates opened we headed to Soarin’ and were on the first ride, boy do I love that ride. We stayed in Future World throughout the day and were able to see/ride everything. Chase loved TT and the entire family enjoyed the Nemo ride. The lines were minimal all afternoon with rain showers throughout (this may be the last time I invite my parents,lol). We had diner reservations at LeCellier for 4:00. We were seated promptly, the service and food were great. We then decided to head back to the POR for a swim. On the way Peyton (DS2) saw the monorail and was very excited so we took a ride to the MK. When we got the MK we noticed it was very quite so we jumped on POC, HM (the refurb is the bomb) and IASW with no waits for any of the rides. After IASW we decided it was pool time and caught the bus back to the hotel. Again we timed it perfect because as we arrived to the depot a bus was waiting. The kids swam for a couple of hours while I relaxed and enjoyed a couple of Coronas. Around 9:30 we were wiped out and called it a night (quite the night owls).
Here are a few photo's from Sunday:
EPCOT without the wand. (http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s314/jgroff7/?action=view¤t=IMG_2685.jpg)
Peyton and Grandpa enoying the monorail. (http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s314/jgroff7/?action=view¤t=IMG_2692.jpg)
Madison enjoying the monorail. (http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s314/jgroff7/?action=view¤t=IMG_2695.jpg)
The rain can't get my parents down. (http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s314/jgroff7/?action=view¤t=IMG_2701.jpg)
My kids in front of the castle. (http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s314/jgroff7/?action=view¤t=IMG_2698.jpg)