buzznwoodysmom
03-16-2011, 03:28 PM
This was a special trip for my turning 9 year old son. He's the only one in our family that hadn't yet been able to have a birthday in WDW.
Cast:
Me-Denise
DH-Kevin
DS-Collin 11
DS-Landon (birthday boy) turning 9
DM-Sheila
Resorts:
Wilderness Lodge 7 nights
Animal Kingdom Lodge 2 nights
Wednesday, March 2
Today we took off after school and had a very uneventful drive, except for the increasing gas prices! It seemed each time we stopped for gas the price was going higher and higher and higher! We stopped for the night somewhere around Tallahassee. We stayed at a Hampton Inn. I love this chain. The hotels are always spotless and the free hot breakfast is an added bonus.
Thursday, March 3
We were up and out of the hotel by 8:30. We were all cheering and yelling as we drove through the gates around 11:00. We drove straight to Shades of Green to get our tickets. I really don’t like getting our tickets here. It seems that every time we get tickets at SOG every guest in front of us has not a clue as to what tickets are available, how much they cost, how many days/what kind of tickets they want. Today was no different. We waited and waited while every guest in front of us had to go over every detail of every possible type of ticket before deciding what they wanted. We stepped up to the desk and in less than 5 minutes were on our way with the tickets we needed. We walked around the resort. I’ve never given SOG a fair chance. It’s a very lovely resort. We’ve stayed here a few times, but never more than one night at a time. The rooms here are enormous compared to every other WDW resort we’ve stayed at, and I believe most rooms sleep 6. At around $100 a night we may have to consider staying here on future trips if WDW resort prices keep going up. We found our brick with our name on it that we won in Nov. 2009. The boys spotted a small alligator sunning itself near the water right there in the middle of the resort. After their exciting encounter with the gator we were on our way!
We made the very short drive from SOG to Wilderness Lodge. I always love driving up to the lodge. It’s “our” resort, our home away from home when in WDW. As we were driving up we noticed that the road in front of the bus stop was all torn up and work was being done. Then we spotted the white tents in the parking lot where the temporary bus stop was set up. I really didn’t mind all that much, I understand things like this need to be done. However, I really wish WDW would send an email or letter to resort guests if any major refurbishment will be going on during their stay. The last time we stayed at WL for a week the main pool was drained and if not for Intercot we wouldn’t have known. One of the reasons we love WL is because of the way the resort is set up. All rooms are under one roof, and the bus stop is right near the resort which means if it’s raining you don’t have to walk in the rain going to and from the resort. After that tad bit of disappointment we made our way to check in. We didn’t get the area we requested, we were actually placed all the way on the complete opposite end of the resort, and my mom’s room wasn’t near us, but hey…we are in WDW! It was lunch time so we grabbed new refillable mugs, some lunch, and headed out to the tables outside. It was beautiful out today, but windy. We spent most of the time trying to hold down napkins or chasing our “fly aways”. After lunch the boys were itching to get into that pool. I had a beach bag packed with swim suits for the boys, and in seconds they were in the pool! We had a nice afternoon at the pool and beach. Kevin and I had drinks, and enjoyed watching the boys swim and play in the sand. Our room was finally ready a bit after 3pm. We headed to the room to find we were on the 6th floor facing MK, but with a funky balcony. It was like a little wooden box, and you couldn’t enjoy the view if sitting. I called down to the front desk to see if there was any other room they could get us in. The only other bunk bed room they had available was a courtyard view and we were quickly upgraded to that room. And it just so happened to be down the same hall as my mom’s room, just a few doors down on the opposite side of the hall, so it worked out very well. By that time all we had enough time to do was get the luggage up to the room, change, and head out for our dinner at Ohana’s. We took the very relaxing boat ride to the Contemporary. First we had to swing by Fort Wilderness, which didn’t bother us at all, even though we were running a bit behind on time. However, there were many, many unhappy folks every time we used the boats at WL. Everyone seemed to have “very important reservations” and were always mad that they had to make the trip to the other resort before their stop. We heard the same gripping on each and every trip we took on the WL boats. We hopped the monorail at the CR and headed to the Poly. We made it there just in time and were seated within seconds of arriving. My SIL had already checked us in when I sent her a text that we were on the monorail. We had a huge party of 16, and one family was having their very first dinner at Ohana’s. The meal was great as always and the kids had a great time with the games. Landon got his first of many cupcakes and a happy birthday song. After dinner we headed to the beach for the fireworks, but we were very early. The kids played in the sand and we got really cute pictures of them with the castle in the background. Eventually it was just getting a bit too chilly and some of the younger kids a bit restless so we all decided to head back to our resorts for the night. We walked with my SIL and her family through the beautiful grounds of the Poly to the TTC. This resort is just so wonderful to walk around at night. The tiki torches were lit and the music was playing softly, it felt like “vacation”. We said our goodbyes and they hopped the monorail to Epcot, while we took the MK loop monorail. Just as we were taking off the fireworks at MK started. We had never watched Wishes from the monorail and it was a very cool way to see it. I especially loved when we were leaving the MK stop and passed directly in front of the castle. It was a very good view of the fireworks from that spot. Its not often we take pictures of all 4 of us that I love, but my mom took some pictures of us on the monorail and they were so great. I couldn’t wait to get home and print one of them to put in a frame on my desk at home. Let me just say that my mom was taking lots of pictures with her camera, so I wasn't worried about taking a ton with my camera. More on that topic later. Another relaxing boat ride back to WL and we were “home” for the night. All in all, a wonderful way to start our vacation. Not everything went as we hoped, but we had a great first day!
Up next Epcot!!
Cast:
Me-Denise
DH-Kevin
DS-Collin 11
DS-Landon (birthday boy) turning 9
DM-Sheila
Resorts:
Wilderness Lodge 7 nights
Animal Kingdom Lodge 2 nights
Wednesday, March 2
Today we took off after school and had a very uneventful drive, except for the increasing gas prices! It seemed each time we stopped for gas the price was going higher and higher and higher! We stopped for the night somewhere around Tallahassee. We stayed at a Hampton Inn. I love this chain. The hotels are always spotless and the free hot breakfast is an added bonus.
Thursday, March 3
We were up and out of the hotel by 8:30. We were all cheering and yelling as we drove through the gates around 11:00. We drove straight to Shades of Green to get our tickets. I really don’t like getting our tickets here. It seems that every time we get tickets at SOG every guest in front of us has not a clue as to what tickets are available, how much they cost, how many days/what kind of tickets they want. Today was no different. We waited and waited while every guest in front of us had to go over every detail of every possible type of ticket before deciding what they wanted. We stepped up to the desk and in less than 5 minutes were on our way with the tickets we needed. We walked around the resort. I’ve never given SOG a fair chance. It’s a very lovely resort. We’ve stayed here a few times, but never more than one night at a time. The rooms here are enormous compared to every other WDW resort we’ve stayed at, and I believe most rooms sleep 6. At around $100 a night we may have to consider staying here on future trips if WDW resort prices keep going up. We found our brick with our name on it that we won in Nov. 2009. The boys spotted a small alligator sunning itself near the water right there in the middle of the resort. After their exciting encounter with the gator we were on our way!
We made the very short drive from SOG to Wilderness Lodge. I always love driving up to the lodge. It’s “our” resort, our home away from home when in WDW. As we were driving up we noticed that the road in front of the bus stop was all torn up and work was being done. Then we spotted the white tents in the parking lot where the temporary bus stop was set up. I really didn’t mind all that much, I understand things like this need to be done. However, I really wish WDW would send an email or letter to resort guests if any major refurbishment will be going on during their stay. The last time we stayed at WL for a week the main pool was drained and if not for Intercot we wouldn’t have known. One of the reasons we love WL is because of the way the resort is set up. All rooms are under one roof, and the bus stop is right near the resort which means if it’s raining you don’t have to walk in the rain going to and from the resort. After that tad bit of disappointment we made our way to check in. We didn’t get the area we requested, we were actually placed all the way on the complete opposite end of the resort, and my mom’s room wasn’t near us, but hey…we are in WDW! It was lunch time so we grabbed new refillable mugs, some lunch, and headed out to the tables outside. It was beautiful out today, but windy. We spent most of the time trying to hold down napkins or chasing our “fly aways”. After lunch the boys were itching to get into that pool. I had a beach bag packed with swim suits for the boys, and in seconds they were in the pool! We had a nice afternoon at the pool and beach. Kevin and I had drinks, and enjoyed watching the boys swim and play in the sand. Our room was finally ready a bit after 3pm. We headed to the room to find we were on the 6th floor facing MK, but with a funky balcony. It was like a little wooden box, and you couldn’t enjoy the view if sitting. I called down to the front desk to see if there was any other room they could get us in. The only other bunk bed room they had available was a courtyard view and we were quickly upgraded to that room. And it just so happened to be down the same hall as my mom’s room, just a few doors down on the opposite side of the hall, so it worked out very well. By that time all we had enough time to do was get the luggage up to the room, change, and head out for our dinner at Ohana’s. We took the very relaxing boat ride to the Contemporary. First we had to swing by Fort Wilderness, which didn’t bother us at all, even though we were running a bit behind on time. However, there were many, many unhappy folks every time we used the boats at WL. Everyone seemed to have “very important reservations” and were always mad that they had to make the trip to the other resort before their stop. We heard the same gripping on each and every trip we took on the WL boats. We hopped the monorail at the CR and headed to the Poly. We made it there just in time and were seated within seconds of arriving. My SIL had already checked us in when I sent her a text that we were on the monorail. We had a huge party of 16, and one family was having their very first dinner at Ohana’s. The meal was great as always and the kids had a great time with the games. Landon got his first of many cupcakes and a happy birthday song. After dinner we headed to the beach for the fireworks, but we were very early. The kids played in the sand and we got really cute pictures of them with the castle in the background. Eventually it was just getting a bit too chilly and some of the younger kids a bit restless so we all decided to head back to our resorts for the night. We walked with my SIL and her family through the beautiful grounds of the Poly to the TTC. This resort is just so wonderful to walk around at night. The tiki torches were lit and the music was playing softly, it felt like “vacation”. We said our goodbyes and they hopped the monorail to Epcot, while we took the MK loop monorail. Just as we were taking off the fireworks at MK started. We had never watched Wishes from the monorail and it was a very cool way to see it. I especially loved when we were leaving the MK stop and passed directly in front of the castle. It was a very good view of the fireworks from that spot. Its not often we take pictures of all 4 of us that I love, but my mom took some pictures of us on the monorail and they were so great. I couldn’t wait to get home and print one of them to put in a frame on my desk at home. Let me just say that my mom was taking lots of pictures with her camera, so I wasn't worried about taking a ton with my camera. More on that topic later. Another relaxing boat ride back to WL and we were “home” for the night. All in all, a wonderful way to start our vacation. Not everything went as we hoped, but we had a great first day!
Up next Epcot!!