Airspoon
12-31-2008, 04:13 PM
Travel dates: December 7-17, 2008
Travel method: Alaska Airlines
Resort: Caribbean Beach Resort
Accommodations: Standard room, (Aruba, building 55)
Ages Represented in Group: 37(x2) & 6
Disney Resort Experience Represented in Group: DLR (1997, 1998, 2000, 2004) WDW (2001) DLP (2006)
Cast of characters: Bob (me), Mary (Planning Division), & “The Girl”
Planning: Trip preparations began upon our return from DLR-Paris in May of 2006. (Yes, we are crazy that way.) Eighteen months of research and planning culminated in our readiness for ten days of all-out guerilla vacationing.
Day 1 – Travel
Our day started at 5:00 a.m. PST to make our way to the airport shuttle for an 8:30 a.m. departure from SeaTac Airport. Arriving in Orlando at 5pm EST, our Disney’s Magical Express coach was waiting for us, and 15 minutes later we were on our way to the World! We arrived at the Customs House at the Caribbean Beach Resort, in the middle of a photo-op for a wedding party. Check-in went smoothly (thank you, Planning Division) and we made our way to the concierge for our park tickets. I arrived with a voucher for an Annual Pass (my first one-WOOHOO!) and Mary had enough leftover days from our last visit, so we had only to purchase admission for The Girl, and we were off to dinner at Shutters-Old Port Royale. Mary had seen several reviews that reflected poorly on the food there, however, we had invested in the Deluxe Dining Plan, and wanted a convenient table service dinner for our first night. A very pleasant server offered his recommendations and soon after, one of the better meals we had during our trip arrived. (Grilled Snapper, New York Strip, and Meaty Macaroni). A nice walk around the resort and back to the room to find the first of many towel animals!
Day 2 – EPCOT 1
We arrived at EPCOT at 8:30, and were inside the park for the rope drop festivities. Our first ride of the trip was a flight on Soarin’. A counter service breakfast at Seasons at The Land, and we were off to tour Living with the Land, and Circle of Life. Before leaving The Land, we found our first KidCot Fun Stop. Next was The Seas with Nemo, riding the clam mobiles, Turtle Talk with Crush and the aquarium. Lunch was at the Biergarten in Germany, so it was a mad dash across the park to make our 12:45 reservation. The buffet was good, and the Christmas-themed show was fantastic! After lunch, we met Mulan & Mushu for a PhotoPass opportunity. Then off to Norway for Maelstrom. Back to Imagination for Journey into Imagination with Figment, Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, and ImageWorks. A quick trip to Canada to kill time before returning to the Garden Grill for our first character meal of many.
Day 3 – Magic Kingdom 1
Once again at the park for rope drop, this time for a sprint to Space Mountain. This was Mary’s first ride on SM, (she doesn’t do well with motion sickness). The Girl thought it was OK, but didn’t want to do it again. A quick trip back to Main Street for breakfast at the Bakery, and back to Tomorrowland for Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, and the Laugh Floor (hilarious!) Off to Fantasyland for the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan, Philharmagic and It’s a Small World. We carefully planned our route through Fantasyland to avoid Dumbo… I’ve waited in that line before! Lunch was counter service at Columbia Harbor House in Liberty Square, standard quick service quality. A trip through the Haunted Mansion settled our lunch nicely before a trip on the Rivers of America. Viewing the Country Bear Jamboree brought back memories of my childhood visiting Disneyland. I, for one, am glad that show has not gone the way of the Tiki Room! We took The Girl over to Tom Sawyer Island to burn off some energy before returning to Main Street for some window-shopping. Then Back to Tommorowland for the TTA, and another round on Buzz, before our character dinner at the Crystal Palace. Sadly, this is the only place at the World to meet the Pooh characters.
Day 4 – Blizzard Beach
Swimming in December? You bet! Tike’s Peak was a nice warm up, and became our ‘base camp’ for the day as we rode Cross County Creek, challenged our agility at the Ski Patrol Training Camp, screamed down Teamboat Springs, before settling in at Melt-Away Bay. I ventured out for several trips down Runoff Rapids, Toboggan Racers, and Snow Stormers. The day capped off with dinner at Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Jiko, probably the best meal of the trip. Can anyone say Coffee BBQ ribs?
Day 5 – EPCOT 2
Back again for rope drop, and the sprint to Test Track. The Girl and Mary loved it! Then over to Mission: Space where both Mary and The Girl chickened out, allowing me to switch over to the Orange Team. I am not normally disposed to motion sickness myself, however I definitely felt the effects of the ride for several hours afterwards! A nice quiet ride through Ellen’s Energy Adventure helped to settle the stomach. Our only day of inclimate weather settled in for the morning, and as I was in only a t-shirt & shorts (It really was warm when we left the resort!), I returned to the room for a jacket and jeans. Mary & The Girl remained and toured China. Upon my return, we toured Mexico, then to Norway and Askerhaus for lunch with the Disney Princesses. After lunch, a special PhotoPass stop to have our picture taken with the crew of the Northwestern (Sig & Edgar Hansen of Discovery’s Deadliest Catch) and another round on Maelstrom. On around to Japan (The candy maker was a big hit.), Morocco, France, and the UK. A trip through Spaceship Earth filled the time before our 8:30pm dinner reservations nicely. The plan worked perfectly to sit outside on the patio at the Rose & Crown, enjoying dinner, the patio heaters and having dessert served just as the first fireworks for Illuminations were fired. Having a front row seat (note the word seat!) for the show was most enjoyable. Try the potato and leek soup! (YUMMY!)
Day 6 – Animal Kingdom
This was to be an ‘easy’ day, although, we were in the park at Tusker House for a character breakfast at 8:30! Breakfast with Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy was a hit for The Girl, and the buffet was one of the better breakfasts. After our meal, a quick sprint to Expedition Everest yielded a five-minute wait in line. As I exited the ride (Mary & The Girl again opted out), I saw the line was still only 15 minutes…around I went again! Definitely worth the wait! Afterwards, we needed a ride for The Girl, so off to Dinoland, USA for Primeval Whirl. Only one side was open, so we had a forty-minute wait (longest line of the trip!). Then back to Asia for Kilimanjaro Safaris. The weather was in our favor by being on the cool side, so the animals were all out and active during the day. Exiting the safari, we walked the Pangani Forest trail. We then decided to see It’s Tough to be a Bug. The Girl has liked ‘A Bugs Life’ and in general, is not afraid of bugs so we thought that the show would be fun. Wrong! She couldn’t get out of that theater fast enough! You never know when your child will be the one who freaks out. Lunch was calling, so we stopped at the Flame Tree Barbeque. Afterwards, we were between showings of the Lion King and Nemo, so we decided to walk the Maharajah Jungle Trek. Just inside the entrance, we passed a cast member wearing a blue, pinstriped outfit. Around the corner, two more were blocking the path. At the appointed time, the announced that we all had been invited to attend an extra hour party as part of the Year of A Million Dreams! So much for our short day! We finished the jungle trek, and then went to the Yak & Yeti to change our dinner reservations so we could attend the party. The party started in Dinoland, so we hung out there, watched some of the street performers, until the festivities started, then rode TriceraTop Spin, Dinosaur, and then off to a special showing of the Lion King. Then on the bus back to the resort. A full sized bed never looked so good!
Day 7 - Magic Kingdom II
Knowing that we had a late dinner reservation, and that we would be back at the MK, we actually slept in! We had breakfast at the resort, and then rented a SeaRaycer for half an hour. This was The Girl’s first ride in a powerboat and she LOVED it! Off to the park at about 11, and on to Splash Mountain. The jungle cruise was next. The jokes never get better there, do they? But something about it never changing makes it a favorite. The big hit of the trip was The Girl’s first ride on Big Thunder Mountain. On previous trips, and on the travel shows, she has been intimidated by the ride, even though it is one of my favorites. Waiting in line, she seemed a bit scared, and when we went up the first lift chain, she wanted to get off because it was ‘too dark’. Once we crested the first hill, and broke out into the daylight, she produced a grin that comes back anytime someone mentions Big Thunder Mountain! We ended up riding it six more times on this trip. Mickey’s Toontown Fair was PACKED! I think most of the people in the park were visiting Mickey’s house, or riding Goofy’s Barnstormers that day. Autotopia was next, giving The Girl a chance at driving a red racecar. If this is any indication, she won’t get her driver’s license until she is 37! Dinner reservations at Chef Mickey’s for the end of our day. Another good buffet, and the entertainment of a character meal make for a good way to wind down. Walking back to the MK bus stop for transport back to the resort, we got to see the fireworks over the castle.
Day 8 – Rest & Shopping
Rest being a relative term! Breakfast at Old Port Royale, then a kids-only Pirate Adventure at our resort! The Girl got to go on a two-hour boat ride and treasure hunt around our resort. She had a great time and gave Mary and I some time for shopping. A quick trip by the room for a change of clothes for The Girl, and we were off to Downtown Disney. Lunch at Ragland Road, and shopping at World of Disney, before The Girl got her makeover at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. A photo shoot was included in the package (worth the cost of the PhotoPass CD in itself!) and dinner at T-Rex café. Alert! Not included in the Disney Dining Plan. T-Rex was good, but fairly expensive for average-quality food. Décor is nice, but LOUD! If you’ve been to a Rainforest Café, you’ve already been there, done that. (Got the t-shirt, too!)
Day 9 – Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Only one thing to say…get to Toy Story Mania EARLY!!! We went to Rockin’ Roller Coaster first, then had a nice breakfast at Starring Rolls Bakery. We strolled over to Toy Story only to find a 50 minute wait, with fastpasses being issued with a return time of 4:00pm! Later in the day we saw the wait time at 90 minutes! Hollywood & Vine for lunch with the Playhouse Disney Characters, Dinner at the Hollywood Brown Derby (worth the double dining plan points!) and viewing the Osbourne Family Lights before returning to the room.
Day 10 – Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Since we knew we had a late night, we had a late character breakfast at the Cape May Café (Beach Club Resort). Then back to the resort to swim in the very cool pool before trekking to the MK at 4:00pm for dinner at the Liberty Tree Tavern. Crowds were already light, so we took advantage of the short lines in Adventureland and in Tommorowland. The Christmas Parade was spectacular, and we enjoyed the hot cocoa and cookies. Viewing the fireworks was enjoyable, except for trying to get out of Tommorowland! It took 30 minutes to make our way across the circle and back into Adventureland. Most of the people in the park were on Main Street for both the parade and fireworks.
Day 11 – Travel
We had an early morning to make our 8:30 reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table. A quick photo shoot with Cinderella, before being escorted to our table. We finished our meal just as the park opened, and took advantage of the light crowds and got in a few last rides before saying goodbye to the parks and making our way home. Departing Orlando, the temperature was 82°. Arriving home in Seattle, we were met with 22°, and the heaviest snowfall in recent memory.
General Impressions
Resort – The Caribbean Beach is a great resort, with great amenities. Shutters, the table service restaurant, has been given average to low marks, however, our experience there was very good. We would definitely stay there again.
Dining Plan – We took advantage of the Deluxe Dining Plan, and found that we could not eat everything we were entitled to. On the last day we had 35 snacks, and 10 meals left over. We were able to purchase candy bars and treats to use up the snacks (Great stocking stuffers!) and use up four meals by getting bagels, fruit cups and drinks for the plane ride, but we had to leave six meals unused. We did schedule more table service meals than we would have gotten on the Standard Plan, and we still came out ahead as compared to paying cash, so the value was still there for us. Next trip we will probably go with the standard plan. The Girl will be a bit older by the time we come back, so the character meals probably won’t be such a big deal at that point.
Disney’s Magical Express – The driver we had from MCO to the Caribbean Beach has no business behind the wheel of any vehicle, let alone a bus with 50 passengers. As a former professional driver myself, I do tend to be critical of a driver’s technique however. This was on a generic Mears bus, and not one of the regular DME bus. Our luggage also did not arrive at our room until 12:30am. I felt this to be a bit excessive as we checked in at 6:15pm. Our return trip went off without a hitch although we found it to be a hassle to have to return to our hotel to get picked up. Since we spent the day at MK, it would have been a lot easier to simply be picked up from the Grand Floridian. But that wasn’t an option.
Disney’s PhotoPass – We pre-purchased the PhotoPass CD prior to our departure, and took advantage of the service at every opportunity. The highlight was the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique photo shoot. One thing to watch out for: you can add your Askerhaus and Cinderella’s Royal Table portraits to your CD, but you have to do it after you get back. They won’t just take your PhotoPass card at the time. So, we missed out on adding it to our CD and will have to make do with their computer printer pictures when we could have had them printed on archive-quality paper here at home.
In all, this was an awesome adventure, definitely living up to the expectations of a Disney experience.
Travel method: Alaska Airlines
Resort: Caribbean Beach Resort
Accommodations: Standard room, (Aruba, building 55)
Ages Represented in Group: 37(x2) & 6
Disney Resort Experience Represented in Group: DLR (1997, 1998, 2000, 2004) WDW (2001) DLP (2006)
Cast of characters: Bob (me), Mary (Planning Division), & “The Girl”
Planning: Trip preparations began upon our return from DLR-Paris in May of 2006. (Yes, we are crazy that way.) Eighteen months of research and planning culminated in our readiness for ten days of all-out guerilla vacationing.
Day 1 – Travel
Our day started at 5:00 a.m. PST to make our way to the airport shuttle for an 8:30 a.m. departure from SeaTac Airport. Arriving in Orlando at 5pm EST, our Disney’s Magical Express coach was waiting for us, and 15 minutes later we were on our way to the World! We arrived at the Customs House at the Caribbean Beach Resort, in the middle of a photo-op for a wedding party. Check-in went smoothly (thank you, Planning Division) and we made our way to the concierge for our park tickets. I arrived with a voucher for an Annual Pass (my first one-WOOHOO!) and Mary had enough leftover days from our last visit, so we had only to purchase admission for The Girl, and we were off to dinner at Shutters-Old Port Royale. Mary had seen several reviews that reflected poorly on the food there, however, we had invested in the Deluxe Dining Plan, and wanted a convenient table service dinner for our first night. A very pleasant server offered his recommendations and soon after, one of the better meals we had during our trip arrived. (Grilled Snapper, New York Strip, and Meaty Macaroni). A nice walk around the resort and back to the room to find the first of many towel animals!
Day 2 – EPCOT 1
We arrived at EPCOT at 8:30, and were inside the park for the rope drop festivities. Our first ride of the trip was a flight on Soarin’. A counter service breakfast at Seasons at The Land, and we were off to tour Living with the Land, and Circle of Life. Before leaving The Land, we found our first KidCot Fun Stop. Next was The Seas with Nemo, riding the clam mobiles, Turtle Talk with Crush and the aquarium. Lunch was at the Biergarten in Germany, so it was a mad dash across the park to make our 12:45 reservation. The buffet was good, and the Christmas-themed show was fantastic! After lunch, we met Mulan & Mushu for a PhotoPass opportunity. Then off to Norway for Maelstrom. Back to Imagination for Journey into Imagination with Figment, Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, and ImageWorks. A quick trip to Canada to kill time before returning to the Garden Grill for our first character meal of many.
Day 3 – Magic Kingdom 1
Once again at the park for rope drop, this time for a sprint to Space Mountain. This was Mary’s first ride on SM, (she doesn’t do well with motion sickness). The Girl thought it was OK, but didn’t want to do it again. A quick trip back to Main Street for breakfast at the Bakery, and back to Tomorrowland for Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, and the Laugh Floor (hilarious!) Off to Fantasyland for the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan, Philharmagic and It’s a Small World. We carefully planned our route through Fantasyland to avoid Dumbo… I’ve waited in that line before! Lunch was counter service at Columbia Harbor House in Liberty Square, standard quick service quality. A trip through the Haunted Mansion settled our lunch nicely before a trip on the Rivers of America. Viewing the Country Bear Jamboree brought back memories of my childhood visiting Disneyland. I, for one, am glad that show has not gone the way of the Tiki Room! We took The Girl over to Tom Sawyer Island to burn off some energy before returning to Main Street for some window-shopping. Then Back to Tommorowland for the TTA, and another round on Buzz, before our character dinner at the Crystal Palace. Sadly, this is the only place at the World to meet the Pooh characters.
Day 4 – Blizzard Beach
Swimming in December? You bet! Tike’s Peak was a nice warm up, and became our ‘base camp’ for the day as we rode Cross County Creek, challenged our agility at the Ski Patrol Training Camp, screamed down Teamboat Springs, before settling in at Melt-Away Bay. I ventured out for several trips down Runoff Rapids, Toboggan Racers, and Snow Stormers. The day capped off with dinner at Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Jiko, probably the best meal of the trip. Can anyone say Coffee BBQ ribs?
Day 5 – EPCOT 2
Back again for rope drop, and the sprint to Test Track. The Girl and Mary loved it! Then over to Mission: Space where both Mary and The Girl chickened out, allowing me to switch over to the Orange Team. I am not normally disposed to motion sickness myself, however I definitely felt the effects of the ride for several hours afterwards! A nice quiet ride through Ellen’s Energy Adventure helped to settle the stomach. Our only day of inclimate weather settled in for the morning, and as I was in only a t-shirt & shorts (It really was warm when we left the resort!), I returned to the room for a jacket and jeans. Mary & The Girl remained and toured China. Upon my return, we toured Mexico, then to Norway and Askerhaus for lunch with the Disney Princesses. After lunch, a special PhotoPass stop to have our picture taken with the crew of the Northwestern (Sig & Edgar Hansen of Discovery’s Deadliest Catch) and another round on Maelstrom. On around to Japan (The candy maker was a big hit.), Morocco, France, and the UK. A trip through Spaceship Earth filled the time before our 8:30pm dinner reservations nicely. The plan worked perfectly to sit outside on the patio at the Rose & Crown, enjoying dinner, the patio heaters and having dessert served just as the first fireworks for Illuminations were fired. Having a front row seat (note the word seat!) for the show was most enjoyable. Try the potato and leek soup! (YUMMY!)
Day 6 – Animal Kingdom
This was to be an ‘easy’ day, although, we were in the park at Tusker House for a character breakfast at 8:30! Breakfast with Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy was a hit for The Girl, and the buffet was one of the better breakfasts. After our meal, a quick sprint to Expedition Everest yielded a five-minute wait in line. As I exited the ride (Mary & The Girl again opted out), I saw the line was still only 15 minutes…around I went again! Definitely worth the wait! Afterwards, we needed a ride for The Girl, so off to Dinoland, USA for Primeval Whirl. Only one side was open, so we had a forty-minute wait (longest line of the trip!). Then back to Asia for Kilimanjaro Safaris. The weather was in our favor by being on the cool side, so the animals were all out and active during the day. Exiting the safari, we walked the Pangani Forest trail. We then decided to see It’s Tough to be a Bug. The Girl has liked ‘A Bugs Life’ and in general, is not afraid of bugs so we thought that the show would be fun. Wrong! She couldn’t get out of that theater fast enough! You never know when your child will be the one who freaks out. Lunch was calling, so we stopped at the Flame Tree Barbeque. Afterwards, we were between showings of the Lion King and Nemo, so we decided to walk the Maharajah Jungle Trek. Just inside the entrance, we passed a cast member wearing a blue, pinstriped outfit. Around the corner, two more were blocking the path. At the appointed time, the announced that we all had been invited to attend an extra hour party as part of the Year of A Million Dreams! So much for our short day! We finished the jungle trek, and then went to the Yak & Yeti to change our dinner reservations so we could attend the party. The party started in Dinoland, so we hung out there, watched some of the street performers, until the festivities started, then rode TriceraTop Spin, Dinosaur, and then off to a special showing of the Lion King. Then on the bus back to the resort. A full sized bed never looked so good!
Day 7 - Magic Kingdom II
Knowing that we had a late dinner reservation, and that we would be back at the MK, we actually slept in! We had breakfast at the resort, and then rented a SeaRaycer for half an hour. This was The Girl’s first ride in a powerboat and she LOVED it! Off to the park at about 11, and on to Splash Mountain. The jungle cruise was next. The jokes never get better there, do they? But something about it never changing makes it a favorite. The big hit of the trip was The Girl’s first ride on Big Thunder Mountain. On previous trips, and on the travel shows, she has been intimidated by the ride, even though it is one of my favorites. Waiting in line, she seemed a bit scared, and when we went up the first lift chain, she wanted to get off because it was ‘too dark’. Once we crested the first hill, and broke out into the daylight, she produced a grin that comes back anytime someone mentions Big Thunder Mountain! We ended up riding it six more times on this trip. Mickey’s Toontown Fair was PACKED! I think most of the people in the park were visiting Mickey’s house, or riding Goofy’s Barnstormers that day. Autotopia was next, giving The Girl a chance at driving a red racecar. If this is any indication, she won’t get her driver’s license until she is 37! Dinner reservations at Chef Mickey’s for the end of our day. Another good buffet, and the entertainment of a character meal make for a good way to wind down. Walking back to the MK bus stop for transport back to the resort, we got to see the fireworks over the castle.
Day 8 – Rest & Shopping
Rest being a relative term! Breakfast at Old Port Royale, then a kids-only Pirate Adventure at our resort! The Girl got to go on a two-hour boat ride and treasure hunt around our resort. She had a great time and gave Mary and I some time for shopping. A quick trip by the room for a change of clothes for The Girl, and we were off to Downtown Disney. Lunch at Ragland Road, and shopping at World of Disney, before The Girl got her makeover at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. A photo shoot was included in the package (worth the cost of the PhotoPass CD in itself!) and dinner at T-Rex café. Alert! Not included in the Disney Dining Plan. T-Rex was good, but fairly expensive for average-quality food. Décor is nice, but LOUD! If you’ve been to a Rainforest Café, you’ve already been there, done that. (Got the t-shirt, too!)
Day 9 – Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Only one thing to say…get to Toy Story Mania EARLY!!! We went to Rockin’ Roller Coaster first, then had a nice breakfast at Starring Rolls Bakery. We strolled over to Toy Story only to find a 50 minute wait, with fastpasses being issued with a return time of 4:00pm! Later in the day we saw the wait time at 90 minutes! Hollywood & Vine for lunch with the Playhouse Disney Characters, Dinner at the Hollywood Brown Derby (worth the double dining plan points!) and viewing the Osbourne Family Lights before returning to the room.
Day 10 – Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Since we knew we had a late night, we had a late character breakfast at the Cape May Café (Beach Club Resort). Then back to the resort to swim in the very cool pool before trekking to the MK at 4:00pm for dinner at the Liberty Tree Tavern. Crowds were already light, so we took advantage of the short lines in Adventureland and in Tommorowland. The Christmas Parade was spectacular, and we enjoyed the hot cocoa and cookies. Viewing the fireworks was enjoyable, except for trying to get out of Tommorowland! It took 30 minutes to make our way across the circle and back into Adventureland. Most of the people in the park were on Main Street for both the parade and fireworks.
Day 11 – Travel
We had an early morning to make our 8:30 reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table. A quick photo shoot with Cinderella, before being escorted to our table. We finished our meal just as the park opened, and took advantage of the light crowds and got in a few last rides before saying goodbye to the parks and making our way home. Departing Orlando, the temperature was 82°. Arriving home in Seattle, we were met with 22°, and the heaviest snowfall in recent memory.
General Impressions
Resort – The Caribbean Beach is a great resort, with great amenities. Shutters, the table service restaurant, has been given average to low marks, however, our experience there was very good. We would definitely stay there again.
Dining Plan – We took advantage of the Deluxe Dining Plan, and found that we could not eat everything we were entitled to. On the last day we had 35 snacks, and 10 meals left over. We were able to purchase candy bars and treats to use up the snacks (Great stocking stuffers!) and use up four meals by getting bagels, fruit cups and drinks for the plane ride, but we had to leave six meals unused. We did schedule more table service meals than we would have gotten on the Standard Plan, and we still came out ahead as compared to paying cash, so the value was still there for us. Next trip we will probably go with the standard plan. The Girl will be a bit older by the time we come back, so the character meals probably won’t be such a big deal at that point.
Disney’s Magical Express – The driver we had from MCO to the Caribbean Beach has no business behind the wheel of any vehicle, let alone a bus with 50 passengers. As a former professional driver myself, I do tend to be critical of a driver’s technique however. This was on a generic Mears bus, and not one of the regular DME bus. Our luggage also did not arrive at our room until 12:30am. I felt this to be a bit excessive as we checked in at 6:15pm. Our return trip went off without a hitch although we found it to be a hassle to have to return to our hotel to get picked up. Since we spent the day at MK, it would have been a lot easier to simply be picked up from the Grand Floridian. But that wasn’t an option.
Disney’s PhotoPass – We pre-purchased the PhotoPass CD prior to our departure, and took advantage of the service at every opportunity. The highlight was the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique photo shoot. One thing to watch out for: you can add your Askerhaus and Cinderella’s Royal Table portraits to your CD, but you have to do it after you get back. They won’t just take your PhotoPass card at the time. So, we missed out on adding it to our CD and will have to make do with their computer printer pictures when we could have had them printed on archive-quality paper here at home.
In all, this was an awesome adventure, definitely living up to the expectations of a Disney experience.