W'ere back from our longest trip yet! Sept. 7-16 Day 1

[abby]

Cast Members
DH-46
Myself-36
DD-13
DS-9

Ok, first of all this vacation started off as a Sea World, Universal, Busch Gardens vacation with no Disney (Since we just went in 2005). Then DH said we al least needed to visit Disney for a couple of days so we added that. Then we added another Disney day and tossed out Busch Gardens. Then Free Dining came out and that was the end of the story. It's a really slippery slope....Disney gets us every time!

Friday - September 7, 2007 Day 1

We're up at 3am (well actually I was up all night because I developed a cold) Anyways we were on our way to Atlanta on a 5:30am flight. Landed in Orlando at 10:30ish with no problems. I was a little shocked to see the line for the Magical Express was way out of the queue, but it moved really quickly. As soon as we walked on the bus for POR it left, so that was really good timing. We were on our way!!! We arrived at POR, no wait, got our passes, stowed our carry-ons and headed to Animal Kingdom. This was DD's main priority to head to Animal Kingdom asap to ride Everest since this was new to us. We were really worried because we heard the lines were really bad and that fast passes were usually gone in the afternoon. So when we arrived at Everest we automatically got fast passes and didn't even realize that there was no wait for Everest. We rode it 3 times in a row with no wait. But, since we had been up since really early and hadn't had lunch yet, both myself and DH got a little So we decided we really needed to have lunch. We ate at Flametree bbq. This was our first experience with the free dining plan, we quickly realized that this was going to be way too much food!! After lunch we headed to the Dinosour ride then we went on Everest one more time. Since we got caught in the rain on Everest I was cowering under my raincoat and wasn't watching where I was going and this really made me So we decided it was time to head back to the hotel to get unpacked and ready for our ADR at the Coral Reef. We were in building 16 which wasn't so bad of a location, we were right next to one of the quiet pools...my DS actualy liked this one better than the main pool because it was deeper. We were soon on our way to Epcot. We headed straight to Soarin and grabbed fast passes then went to Coral Reef. Again realizing that it was way too much food my DH told the waiter that he didn't want an appetizer. The waiter told him he should just get something to try. I had to explain to him from then on just get everything because the waiters are tipped on how much food is ordered(at least that is what I think...could be wrong). DH just had a really hard time ordering food he knew he couldn't finish...he thought it was such a waste. Anyways the food was really good! Let me first say that I am not a sweets person...I don't like cake or pastries type of things, but the Chocolate Wave!! OH My!! This dessert was sinful!! Overall the food was great, the atmosphere was great, but the service was by far the worst of our whole trip.
Our reservations were for 6:05 and we did not leave until after 8:30. Oh well, after dinner we went on Soarin and then DH and DS had had enough and headed back to the resort. DD and I went on Test Track through the single rider line and walked right on twice, then we also decided to call it a night. All in all it was a great start and we accomplished more than we thought.

[TBY2225]

Can't wait to read more of your reports! I leave in 2 days for a week! Yeah! We ate at Coral Reef this time last year and I agree with you. Food was good, service was the worst we had, and it took us almost 3 hours to eat with a 4 year old! We decided to forgo it this trip and try some new places and our favorite Kona Cafe!

[disneydrmr]

What a long and tiring day... but you are off to a good start! That's amazing about Everest being wait free for you! I LOVE LOVE LOVE that ride!

[mouseketeer mom]

AAAH! Thats a long time to be sitting at Coral Reef!
We did the same thing when Everest first opened! We arrived at the WL, then went strait to AK and right on Everest, 45 minutes before the park closed! We couldn't wait to try it!

[faline]

What a trooper you are - to have a nasty cold and still accomplish so much!

[Bethis26fan]

Sounds like a great first day.

[iheartmickey]

That's a lot of running around on your first day ... especially since you were up with your cold! Sounds like you're off to a great start.

Thanks for sharing!

[dolphinmickey9170]

I'm sorry you were sick, but hope you were feeling better quickly. Can't wait to read more.

[cal5755]

Great first day!! Me Dh and DD8 loved everest too!!