CupoTea
07-05-2007, 05:24 PM
Travel Dates - 25 May - 2 Jun
Resort - Shades of Green (SOG)
Transportation - Family Van
Cast - Husband Billy – 50
Me-Mom (Family trip planner) - 44
Daughter Princess8 (P8) - 8
Daughter Princess6 (P6) -6
WDW Experience - First Time for all
Advance planning - Made reservations at SOG a year in advance
5 months before - ADR at Cinderella’s Round Table (Lunch)
1-2 months before - ADRs at Liberty Tree Tavern, 50's Prime Time Cafe, Fantasmic pkg at Hollywood and Vine, Breakfast at Crystal Palace, The Garden Grill
I got card stock and had it spiral bound at Kinkos then the girls put Disney stickers in them. These were their autograph books for the trip. (Something different and was a fun activity for the girls to do before the trip).
Planning mistakes - not enough days, if I had it to do again I would add at least four more days to the trip. But honestly no matter how many days we stayed I think we would have thought it was too short.
25 May - Having made a trip in the Odyssey van from our home outside of San Antonio, TX to California (San Diego) and the Grand Canyon in previous years, driving to Orlando wasn’t such an undertaking. We like to drive; the journey is half the adventure as they say and we are blessed with good travelers (and a DVD system). We set off at 4:30am. The trip through TX was good – thank you whoever invented HOV lanes – it made Houston a breeze! We got to MS about mid-afternoon we took a short detour through Biloxi to see how it was faring since Katrina. My husband was stationed there for his first AF assignment and we both had TDYs to the base over our careers but neither had been back in over 7 years. They had cleaned up a lot from the pictures we had seen & some of the beach had been restored but several houses still needed porches/roofs & even more had been destroyed. The Casinos had moved into the hotels & so far no barges had been brought in to build new ones. There were signs everywhere announcing new condos being built right where the old condos & restaurants stood. (Not sure I would want to invest in those). The Air Force base looked good & most of the damage had been fixed. We were there about an hour then hit the road. For the most part, the route along I-10 was very beautiful – tall pines (don’t have those in south-central TX), green grass, lots of bridges and swamps (OK not so beautiful as they are interesting). We reached Pensacola around 6 pm & stayed the night there.
26 May - The next morning we got up early again (4 am) & hit the road. Thankfully we did not experience the heavy traffic into Orlando we had heard about. We arrived at SOG around 2:00. Our room was ready (Room 2112 overlooking the mini marina area) and they got us in the section closest to the parking garage so we had a very short walk to our rooms. (For those DoD employees thinking about SOG for your next trip I highly recommend it. First the price is unbeatable, the rooms were big, very clean and the staff was great. We had heard people had issues with the bus system (had one problem see May 27th) but we found it pretty good though crowded most days which I have heard about most of the transportation and the schedule easy to follow (plus they give you a schedule to take with you). When we were there the buses ran like this MK and Epcot bus takes you to Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC) every 20 minutes starting at 0830, MGM and AK buses along with the water park buses leave every hour on the half hour.) After checking in, unpacking & we got our tickets. We knew there was no way we could hang around the resort and not go to Disney so we had already decided to go to MK that afternoon. We got there around 4:30pm. What a sight! Nothing prepares you for your first walk down Main Street. I felt like a kid. The castle was so much better than in pictures & everything was so clean (even the trash cans) & yes ‘magical’. Our first ride was the Jungle Cruise which was fun. The cast member was corny but I have to admit I laughed at everything he said. I had made ADRs at Liberty Tree Tavern to kick off to our trip so we headed over there. It was crowded but we got in 5 minutes before our reserved time. The meal was good, Thanksgiving fare served family style, great service and we were visited by Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Chip & Dale at least twice each. After dinner, we road the Pirates of the Caribbean & Thunder Mountain Railroad. You can really see how far they have come with animatronics when you see the Jack Sparrow character compared to the other pirates. He is amazingly life-like. TMR was a big hit with the girls & from then on they wanted to ride fast rides. We did the Haunted Mansion which we found out would close soon for refurbishment so it was nice to see it before the changes were made (loved the ghost riding with you in car at the end – WOW). We ended the night with ‘It’s a Small World’ a walk on at 8:30. And all the reports on this ride didn’t prepare me for how enchanting it was. What made it even better was seeing the look on P6’s face. She loved it. Her favorite part was the winter scene with everyone in white. Of course, we got the song stuck in our heads as P6 sang it the rest of the night down Main Street, in the monorail and on the bus. It was after 9:00 and everyone was pretty tired so we left as the parade started but we had plans to see it later in the week so no one minded. Summary of the day – WOW!
27 May – SOG has the Express Café right where the bus picks you up so we got breakfast there then took the 9:30 bus to MGM arriving around 1000 allowing everyone a bit more sleep but still getting there in time to enjoy smaller crowds. Mickey’s hat in the center of the park was very awesome. We stopped to take pictures & then went to the Star Wars ride. As we were getting on the ride a storm trooper walked up so we didn’t get a picture with him. I am a Star Wars fan and would like to come back for a SW weekend. After that we went to the Backlot Tour. They needed volunteers to be in the stunt show so the girls & I volunteered Billy. He did great as the PT commander. They put him in a suit & started the rain & water blasts from the ‘torpedoes’. Later they put stock film to what the ‘actors’ did & it was like a scene from a WWII movie. Very cool! I got some great pictures. That morning we also rode Great Movie Ride (the explosion and water cannons were exciting but the rest of the ride didn’t keep the girls attention), afterwards we caught the Car Stunt show which was well done. We walked the Streets of America and took lots of pictures. It was time for our ADR at the 50’s Prime Time Café. It was packed but they got us in about 10 minutes after our reserved time. That was the longest wait we had for any of our ADRs. Billy & P8 were both scolded for elbows on the table & Billy was told he couldn’t get dessert unless he ate his bread. Both girls really liked their dinner - noodles for P6 and hotdogs for P8. Billy and I had meatloaf which was good. Our waitress had three tables in a room together and really worked them all. Yelling across the room at us and making us all share the ketchup. All the kids in the room (9 in all) really enjoyed seeing their Dad’s get in trouble. After lunch we caught the Beauty & the Beast show which was very good & colorful and went to the Hollywood TOT. Before getting in line the girls were approached by two cast members who asked if they would help them pass out Disney stickers to other children. The girls of course agreed & after they were done they were given stickers of their own and the cast members asked if they could treat the family to Mickey Mouse ice creams. We of course agreed and they wrote out a coupon for us to have when we were ready. Not sure if that was a Millions Dreams moment but it was definitely a great special treat for us all. Unfortunately I didn’t get the cast member’s names but we got a picture of them with the girls. After that excitement, we rode the TOT (20 minute wait on a Sunday-which I hear is good) the ride was awesome. I love how Disney spends bucks on the waiting areas and sets the mood for the ride. P8 wanted to ride it again immediately. Since we were coming back the next evening we told her we would ride it then. P6 said ‘That was great. I never want to ride it again’. She only weighs 37 lbs so I am sure she was about a foot off the seat during the falls. The girls had wanted their faces painted so we made it back to the painter (across from the Star Tours Ride) and she did an awesome job. All free hand – amazing to watch her. We also took this time to get our Mickey Ice Creams and got our picture taken in front of the magic hat with our ice creams. We did Narnia (a commercial for Narnia II very disappointing), Sounds Dangerous (good place to sit down and sleep), Under the Seas with Ariel (very good) and Muppet-vision (3-D very good). Both girls were too short to ride RNR Coaster so we passed on that one. We checked out some of the shops and then left the park after 9 pm and the bus to SOG was on time and not too crowded. Day 2 Summary – TOT is a great ride – I’m really appreciating the extra touches Disney puts into their attractions. I am especially thankful to the Cast members who go the extra mile to make your visit special.
May 28th – We took the first bus to AK and arrived before opening. We couldn’t see the opening ceremony but once they dropped the ropes we went to the Kilimanjaro Safaris (10 minute wait). Most of the animals were out so we got to see a lot. Everyone enjoyed it so we got FS to ride it again in an hour. In the meantime we got snacks for breakfast at Tusker House. Got to say the food was good and fresh even the eggs. We decided to sit outside and found the Dawa bar closed but the tables were available to use. After we had been there a couple of minutes an African band started to set up next to us and invited the girls over for pictures. P8 went over and played on the drum and had her picture taken. P6 was a bit shy so one of the band members just talked to her at the table. They began to play and invited people up to dance. It was very upbeat & a great way to start the day. We headed over to the Safari & rode it again. This time the lion & lioness were out too so we were happy we took the second ride. We checked out the Tree of Life which is amazing & got pictures in front. Since it was Memorial Day we all wore matching Old Navy flag shirts and I wanted a couple family pictures. The one in front of the Tree is my favorite. I ran over to the Asian side to get FS to Expedition Everest (almost 3 hours away) & then we watched the Flights of Wonder bird show. Very well done! Our favorites were the large owl & the American eagle. The girls really wanted some autographs so we went over to Camp Mickey & met with Goofy, Donald Duck, Minnie & Mickey, got pictures & autographs. We ate lunch at Flame Tree Barbeque & sat in the area behind the restaurant next to the pool. It was beautiful & the food was really good. We had chicken sandwiches and the girls had hotdogs. The really nice thing about the kid’s meals at WDW is that they get fruit with almost every meal and carrots are offered as a free side. In all the parks water was available everywhere as was fresh fruit. Of course we indulged a bit everyday but it was nice that they offered a healthy snack if you were so inclined. Afterwards it was time to head to Expedition Everest where we found out P6 was an inch too small to ride. She was very disappointed & while we were discussing what we going to do a cast member came up & asked how we were & where we were from etc. He noticed P6 was upset & asked why. We told him about the height restriction. He asked P6 if ice cream would make her feel better and she said yes. So he asked us if he could treat the family to MM ice cream bars. P6 answered yes immediately and he wrote a coupon for free ice cream for the family. What a sweetie! Again don’t know if this was one of the million dreams or not but P6 was thrilled and didn’t mind missing EE after that. We decided to have me ride with P8 first & then Billy rode with her. The ride was awesome but I was so busy watching P8’s reaction to the ride that I missed the Yeti. Bummer! The parade had started so we cashed in our ice cream coupon and watched the parade. I know we missed a lot of AK but we were due back at MGM for the Fantasmic dinner pkg. We caught the bus to MGM and made it to MGM before 6 pm. Our ADR was for Hollywood & Vine was at 6:30 so I inquired about our reservations. There was a mix up. They had us down for the week before not sure how that happened since I had made ADRs for three places during the same phone call but the hostess was very accommodating and told us she would get us in and get the Fantasmic entry too. While we waited I ran to get TOT FPs so we could ride it before the show. They got us into H&V at 6:25 and honestly we were still full from lunch. None of us wanted too much to eat which was fine since the buffet wasn’t the best. But we all got something to eat & got our pass for Fantasmic. We headed over to TOT and P6 said she didn’t want to ride it. I rode it with P8 and when we were done Billy said he was too full to ride and would rather check out some of the sites so we gave the two FPs to a couple going into the standby line. They were quite pleased. We slowly made our way to the stadium entrance for Fantasmic – taking pictures along the way. Fantasmic was wonderful. I had read split reviews but for 8 and 6 year olds it was great. The girls got to see many of their favorite characters and they didn’t find the show too dark or scary. We left the park around 9:30 pm and waited for the SOG bus. It was over 20 minutes late and the crowd waiting to get on was more than would fit on the bus so we decided to walk over to the park buses and catch the TTC bus back to the TTC center. It arrived within 5 minutes and as we passed the SOG stop the people were still waiting. Not sure what happened there. That was our only mishap with SOG’s bus service. Once at the TTC we caught the SOG bus there which was on time but crowded. The girls were sound asleep by the time we got to the hotel. Day 3 Summary – Would like to go back to AK and see everything we missed. Very happy with the WDW bus system. Love those cast members!
29 May - The next morning I promised everyone they could sleep in a bit. I always get up around 6:30 so I took the time to do laundry and get everyone breakfast at the Express Café. I got everyone up by 9:00 and we got on the 9:30 bus. The line at TTC to get on the monorail was long and it took about 15 minutes to get to the platform. We got to MK at 1030. Our first order of business was to get P8 a new hat. Billy had put her’s in his waist band after the Fantasmic show the night before and it must have fallen out in the crowd. She got a really cute blue one with glitter and Minnie on it. P6 had decided she wanted to get a couple pins as her souvenirs so she started looking at those. We had ADR at Cinderella’s Round Table for lunch so while Dad and the girls took pictures of the castle I ran to get FPs to TMR. We checked into the castle 10 minutes early and they sent us in immediately to meet Cinderella. Cinderella was very special. The costume was very authentic to the movie and she spent time with each child but still managed to keep the line moving. She made a comment on how she liked the girls’ autograph books which made the girls very happy. She posed for the picture and hugged them both then we went upstairs to the restaurant. The girls had decided they did not want to dress up for the meal. When we were there it was about 50/50 on dressing up and there were many tables with just adults in attendance. The food was great. We met Belle, Snow White, Jasmine (a highlight for P8 since she is her favorite Princess) & the Fairy Godmother. The girls got magic wands & a wishing star to make a wish during the ‘wishing ceremony’. They brought us the Cinderella pictures with the girls which turned out very good. Everything was done very nicely – the kid’s sundaes had a chocolate crown on top which the girls wanted to save, of course with it being 84 degrees outside that wasn’t going to happen so they ate a bit and left the rest- the adults got a part chocolate cake and part cheese cake with chocolate ice cream on top (it was great - yes I ate the whole thing) & the castle was just beautiful. I got to say it was a childhood dream of mine to see Cinderella’s castle so I think I enjoyed it as much as the girls. If you ask me was it worth $120? I have to say-Yes! If you don’t go to any of the meals at the castle you still need to see the mosaics on the first level of the castle. They are amazing. After lunch is was time for our FP to TMR & then went to Peter Pan’s ride (very sweet despite a 50 minute wait but FP returns were 6 hours away). Ariel’s Grotto was open with a 50 minute wait but the girls declined and said they preferred to go to a show or ride. I guess meeting the princesses at lunch was enough for the day. We got FP to Mickey’s Philharmagic before PP so we walked over it and had a 5 minute wait until they let us in. We really enjoyed the show. The Fantasyland was packed so we headed over to Tomorrowland and rode the Indy Speedway cars (the girls got to drive while we pushed the gas pedal so they loved them) , TL Transit Authority (relaxing and rather enjoyable) and watched the Carousel of Progress which we all enjoyed though I can’t really pinpoint why. By the end of the show we were all singing that song which I can’t recall a word of now but you know it if you have been. We went to Astro Orbiter and had our one and only line cutter experience. A woman and her about 10 year old son cut in line at one of the turns just behind us. We of course thought they were with the folks behind us. When a couple about 10 or so people back realized the cutters weren’t with us and they weren’t with the folks in line behind us they went to tell the cast member who by that time couldn’t do much since he was putting people on and off the elevator. The weird thing is they only cut about 2 minutes off the wait and sadly the only one who really suffered was the 10 year old who looked mortified during the rest of his wait and probably didn’t think the whole ordeal was worth it. I mean really, Astro Orbiter is not an E ticket ride. As a Mom I got to ask why would you set that type of example? Ok back to the fun…We ate dinner at Cosmic Rays which was good (roasted chicken) and watched Ray do his very corny act. The girls wanted to know is he an animal, an alien or an alien animal? We walked over to Space Mountain(SM) which didn’t issue FS that day and the wait was about 35 minutes but P6 couldn’t ride (height again) so she & Billy rode TLTA again and checked out the arcade while I rode with P8. Afterwards P6 & I rode the Mad Tea Party & Goofy’s Barnstormer while Billy rode SM with P8. We had gotten FP for Buzz Lightyear rode that then came out and found the wait was 10 minutes so we rode it again (everyone enjoyed it – my score both times was pitiful). P6 requested one more ride on It’s a Small World. So we walked over and found it to be a walk on. Just as good the second time around. Before going home, we stopped in Liberty square to get their Chocolate Chunk cookies which were wonderful and saw the tail end of the parade. We were back at SOG by 10 pm. Day 4 Summary – MK has lived up to my expectations and then some.
30 May – We had ADR at the Crystal Palace. Since the buses didn’t start running until 8:30 we decided to walk to the Polynesian and take the monorail to MK. The valets in front of SOG told us they could take us in a golf cart to the end of the property which takes about 10 minutes off the walk. So we took advantage of the offer since we had a full day planned and thanked the valet with a tip of course. The monorail took us directly to MK so we were there around 8:15. Billy asked the CM where we go to get in for the breakfast and she just raised the rope and let us in even though our ADRs were for 9:00. What a treat to be in the park with only about 50 other people. We traded cameras with another family and got really good pictures of the castle and the Walt and Mickey statue. The park was extra clean and peaceful at that time. The girls watched the ducks walk around the castle and then retreat into the ponds. We were let into the CP at 8:50 and had a wonderful waitress. I had read reviews on this site that the CP breakfast was really good and I completely agree. Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet came around to the table signed autographs and posed for pictures. Although the tables were very close the atmosphere was very nice and as I said the food was good. Afterwards, we rode the train to Mickey’s Toontown so P6 could introduce Dad and P8 to Goofy’s Barnstormer(GBS) while I went to get FP to Stitches Great Escape(SGE). I joined them again to ride GBS and then we visited Mickey’s and Minnie’s houses. They were so cute. Again a lot of thought and detail were put into these. We stopped for the multi-colored popsicles which had become P8’s favorite and then went to SGE (probably the worst ride/attraction at MK). We got FP to Buzz and then went to the Monster’s Inc Laugh Floor. When we went in they flashed P8, P6 and Billy on the screen and captioned it Daddy’s little monster. The show was really very clever and funny. Afterwards we rode Buzz, had our pictures taken at the castle and then went to POTC again since P6 really liked that one. I love the waiting areas for POTC, a lot of thought was put into it, and the 20 minute wait wasn’t bad. I ran to get FP for Splash Mt which had a return time of 6 pm. We decided to do the Country Bears (sorry think it needs some updating). Everyone was getting hungry so we went to eat at Casey’s Corner where we got a table inside (it was probably 2 pm and rather hot at the outside tables). Hotdogs were huge and good. Afterwards we caught the Hall of President’s show. This was really quite something, if you watch the presidents who aren’t talking and they still make gestures and not the same ones over and over again. Next, we decided to do our big souvenir shopping at the huge Main Street shop and then have it sent back to the resort (we took advantage of this service several times). We spent enough and then some to get each of the girls the Pirates watch and lithograph. We hopped on the train at main street and rode the train around 2 ½ times to rest and then got off at Frontier land when it was time to ride SM. I loved all the inside stuff and the extras that SM had – it’s not just a log ride. Thankfully we only got damp and we did buy the picture because everyone looked so funny. We got popcorn for the girls and cookies for us then staked out a place to watch the parade and fireworks. We also needed some downtime too. We decide to get a table at the train station so if we needed to leave early we wouldn’t have to walk over everyone. We were there about 1 ½ hours early which was fine since everyone was tired. We took turns shopping, getting drinks, going to the restrooms etc. P6 reminded me that she didn’t get the pin she wanted which was the pirates treasure pin. They didn’t have it at the main street shop so I ran over to Liberty square where we had seen it and got it for her and also stopped into the Christmas shop to get a couple of ornaments for the tree. The parade was worth the wait and WOW! The dragonflies were amazing and of course Cinderella and her coach were just awesome. We met several nice people while we waited for the fireworks to start so the time flew by and the fireworks started. Amazing! We had two extremely tired girls on our hands so we left about 10-15 minutes after the fireworks started. We got back to the resort around 10:45 and collapsed into bed. Day 5 summary – Another amazing day.
31 May – Epcot had late night hours so we got there just after opening. I ran ahead to get FPs for Soaring and Billy and girls met me in The Land where we road Living with the Land – really a unique ride that everyone enjoyed, P6 needed a snack so we went to Sunshine Seasons to grab a couple of things (honestly can’t remember what we had), we walked over to The Seas with Nemo which was cute (I loved the birds yelling ‘Mine, mine’ before you entered) but the girls enjoyed the aquarium the best so we spent a lot of time in there. We had about 45 minutes before Soaring so we went back to the Land to watch The Circle of Life (very nice theme). It was time to go to Soaring which as everyone has said is Amazing. What a wonderful feeling-we got the front row so it really felt like you were hang gliding – can’t say enough good things about that experience. We had an ADR at the Garden Grill and were seating within 5 minutes of our scheduled time. The food was good and the server brought a whole new platter before we finished the first. The girls liked cupcakes that they decorated themselves and we were visited by Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale, at least twice. We were on the first level so we got to see the scenery very well. The waiter brought us a cup full of gummy worms for snacks later. I highly recommend this restaurant. We got FPs for test track with a reporting time of 8:30 pm and then stopped to hear a band that plays trash cans. They were wonderful. We then headed to SpaceShip Earth which was really fun and different (absolutely no wait at 2 pm). We then went to Honey I Shrunk the Audience (I jumped out of my seat on the mouse part) and then went to Journey with Figment (hum) then made postcards in Imageworks. The girls played with the fountains outside and then we headed to the World Showcase. We passed on O Canada when we discovered there were no seats and we would have to hold the girls for them to see – benches please! We took pictures in Canada and then went to UK where I visited the Twinings Tea shop then we watched street performers in the UK which were very funny. We stopped in France to get pastries which were good. We shared an éclair and cheesecake and the girls got some kind of ice cream. We stopped in Morocco to listen to a band then walked through Japan. Peter Noone from Herman’s Hermits was playing at the American Theatre so we stopped to listen to the last of his show. Of course it was full so we stood outside and could hear really well. After that we decided to see the American Adventure – very well done. We made it around to the other countries and stopped in Mexico for a margarita and soda’s for the girls. I need a full day just for the World Showcase. There is so much I would have liked to linger over and Billy said the same. So we will just have to come back! It was time to go to Test Track which broke down when we got in line so the wait was about 30 minutes but it was well worth it. What a rush! I also like that you could put your pictures on your Photopass and order them once you got home. We headed to Mission space which posted a 20 minute wait for the orange side. P8 and I went to ride it since P6 was too little and Billy passed on it. When we got inside we found it was a walk on for the orange side so that was a bonus. It is one awesome ride. I made sure I looked straight and didn’t close my eyes as I was told but P8 did it all and proudly proclaimed it did not make her sick. By this time Magic hours had started and the girls were hungry so we went to the Electric Umbrella and they liked the food there (Turkey and cheese pinwheels and chicken nuggets). We missed Illuminations so we have another reason to return. Exhaustion had overcome us so we left the park around 10pm and made it back to SOG around 10:30. Day 6 Summary – Need more time at Epcot. We all thought the rides there were some of the best.
1 Jun – Got up and ate breakfast at the SOG’s Garden Gallery restaurant buffet. (Not the best buffet). Then shopped at the AAFES store for a few last things. We went to load up the van and found that one of the reading lights had been left on so the battery was dead. We called the front desk who got us in touch with security. Security was there in about 10 minutes and jumped the battery (no charge). We loaded up and left around 9 am. Made it to Baton Rouge LA and stayed the night.
2 Jun – Got up around 8 and made it home around 3pm. We already miss Disney!
SOG – As you can see we only slept there and didn’t take advantage of the pools. Recommend the Express Café and Java café – quick for breakfast and snacks. AAFES store was nice and you could also get Disney merchandise there too. The rooms were really nice and the staff was very friendly. The grounds were very nice.
Resort - Shades of Green (SOG)
Transportation - Family Van
Cast - Husband Billy – 50
Me-Mom (Family trip planner) - 44
Daughter Princess8 (P8) - 8
Daughter Princess6 (P6) -6
WDW Experience - First Time for all
Advance planning - Made reservations at SOG a year in advance
5 months before - ADR at Cinderella’s Round Table (Lunch)
1-2 months before - ADRs at Liberty Tree Tavern, 50's Prime Time Cafe, Fantasmic pkg at Hollywood and Vine, Breakfast at Crystal Palace, The Garden Grill
I got card stock and had it spiral bound at Kinkos then the girls put Disney stickers in them. These were their autograph books for the trip. (Something different and was a fun activity for the girls to do before the trip).
Planning mistakes - not enough days, if I had it to do again I would add at least four more days to the trip. But honestly no matter how many days we stayed I think we would have thought it was too short.
25 May - Having made a trip in the Odyssey van from our home outside of San Antonio, TX to California (San Diego) and the Grand Canyon in previous years, driving to Orlando wasn’t such an undertaking. We like to drive; the journey is half the adventure as they say and we are blessed with good travelers (and a DVD system). We set off at 4:30am. The trip through TX was good – thank you whoever invented HOV lanes – it made Houston a breeze! We got to MS about mid-afternoon we took a short detour through Biloxi to see how it was faring since Katrina. My husband was stationed there for his first AF assignment and we both had TDYs to the base over our careers but neither had been back in over 7 years. They had cleaned up a lot from the pictures we had seen & some of the beach had been restored but several houses still needed porches/roofs & even more had been destroyed. The Casinos had moved into the hotels & so far no barges had been brought in to build new ones. There were signs everywhere announcing new condos being built right where the old condos & restaurants stood. (Not sure I would want to invest in those). The Air Force base looked good & most of the damage had been fixed. We were there about an hour then hit the road. For the most part, the route along I-10 was very beautiful – tall pines (don’t have those in south-central TX), green grass, lots of bridges and swamps (OK not so beautiful as they are interesting). We reached Pensacola around 6 pm & stayed the night there.
26 May - The next morning we got up early again (4 am) & hit the road. Thankfully we did not experience the heavy traffic into Orlando we had heard about. We arrived at SOG around 2:00. Our room was ready (Room 2112 overlooking the mini marina area) and they got us in the section closest to the parking garage so we had a very short walk to our rooms. (For those DoD employees thinking about SOG for your next trip I highly recommend it. First the price is unbeatable, the rooms were big, very clean and the staff was great. We had heard people had issues with the bus system (had one problem see May 27th) but we found it pretty good though crowded most days which I have heard about most of the transportation and the schedule easy to follow (plus they give you a schedule to take with you). When we were there the buses ran like this MK and Epcot bus takes you to Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC) every 20 minutes starting at 0830, MGM and AK buses along with the water park buses leave every hour on the half hour.) After checking in, unpacking & we got our tickets. We knew there was no way we could hang around the resort and not go to Disney so we had already decided to go to MK that afternoon. We got there around 4:30pm. What a sight! Nothing prepares you for your first walk down Main Street. I felt like a kid. The castle was so much better than in pictures & everything was so clean (even the trash cans) & yes ‘magical’. Our first ride was the Jungle Cruise which was fun. The cast member was corny but I have to admit I laughed at everything he said. I had made ADRs at Liberty Tree Tavern to kick off to our trip so we headed over there. It was crowded but we got in 5 minutes before our reserved time. The meal was good, Thanksgiving fare served family style, great service and we were visited by Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Chip & Dale at least twice each. After dinner, we road the Pirates of the Caribbean & Thunder Mountain Railroad. You can really see how far they have come with animatronics when you see the Jack Sparrow character compared to the other pirates. He is amazingly life-like. TMR was a big hit with the girls & from then on they wanted to ride fast rides. We did the Haunted Mansion which we found out would close soon for refurbishment so it was nice to see it before the changes were made (loved the ghost riding with you in car at the end – WOW). We ended the night with ‘It’s a Small World’ a walk on at 8:30. And all the reports on this ride didn’t prepare me for how enchanting it was. What made it even better was seeing the look on P6’s face. She loved it. Her favorite part was the winter scene with everyone in white. Of course, we got the song stuck in our heads as P6 sang it the rest of the night down Main Street, in the monorail and on the bus. It was after 9:00 and everyone was pretty tired so we left as the parade started but we had plans to see it later in the week so no one minded. Summary of the day – WOW!
27 May – SOG has the Express Café right where the bus picks you up so we got breakfast there then took the 9:30 bus to MGM arriving around 1000 allowing everyone a bit more sleep but still getting there in time to enjoy smaller crowds. Mickey’s hat in the center of the park was very awesome. We stopped to take pictures & then went to the Star Wars ride. As we were getting on the ride a storm trooper walked up so we didn’t get a picture with him. I am a Star Wars fan and would like to come back for a SW weekend. After that we went to the Backlot Tour. They needed volunteers to be in the stunt show so the girls & I volunteered Billy. He did great as the PT commander. They put him in a suit & started the rain & water blasts from the ‘torpedoes’. Later they put stock film to what the ‘actors’ did & it was like a scene from a WWII movie. Very cool! I got some great pictures. That morning we also rode Great Movie Ride (the explosion and water cannons were exciting but the rest of the ride didn’t keep the girls attention), afterwards we caught the Car Stunt show which was well done. We walked the Streets of America and took lots of pictures. It was time for our ADR at the 50’s Prime Time Café. It was packed but they got us in about 10 minutes after our reserved time. That was the longest wait we had for any of our ADRs. Billy & P8 were both scolded for elbows on the table & Billy was told he couldn’t get dessert unless he ate his bread. Both girls really liked their dinner - noodles for P6 and hotdogs for P8. Billy and I had meatloaf which was good. Our waitress had three tables in a room together and really worked them all. Yelling across the room at us and making us all share the ketchup. All the kids in the room (9 in all) really enjoyed seeing their Dad’s get in trouble. After lunch we caught the Beauty & the Beast show which was very good & colorful and went to the Hollywood TOT. Before getting in line the girls were approached by two cast members who asked if they would help them pass out Disney stickers to other children. The girls of course agreed & after they were done they were given stickers of their own and the cast members asked if they could treat the family to Mickey Mouse ice creams. We of course agreed and they wrote out a coupon for us to have when we were ready. Not sure if that was a Millions Dreams moment but it was definitely a great special treat for us all. Unfortunately I didn’t get the cast member’s names but we got a picture of them with the girls. After that excitement, we rode the TOT (20 minute wait on a Sunday-which I hear is good) the ride was awesome. I love how Disney spends bucks on the waiting areas and sets the mood for the ride. P8 wanted to ride it again immediately. Since we were coming back the next evening we told her we would ride it then. P6 said ‘That was great. I never want to ride it again’. She only weighs 37 lbs so I am sure she was about a foot off the seat during the falls. The girls had wanted their faces painted so we made it back to the painter (across from the Star Tours Ride) and she did an awesome job. All free hand – amazing to watch her. We also took this time to get our Mickey Ice Creams and got our picture taken in front of the magic hat with our ice creams. We did Narnia (a commercial for Narnia II very disappointing), Sounds Dangerous (good place to sit down and sleep), Under the Seas with Ariel (very good) and Muppet-vision (3-D very good). Both girls were too short to ride RNR Coaster so we passed on that one. We checked out some of the shops and then left the park after 9 pm and the bus to SOG was on time and not too crowded. Day 2 Summary – TOT is a great ride – I’m really appreciating the extra touches Disney puts into their attractions. I am especially thankful to the Cast members who go the extra mile to make your visit special.
May 28th – We took the first bus to AK and arrived before opening. We couldn’t see the opening ceremony but once they dropped the ropes we went to the Kilimanjaro Safaris (10 minute wait). Most of the animals were out so we got to see a lot. Everyone enjoyed it so we got FS to ride it again in an hour. In the meantime we got snacks for breakfast at Tusker House. Got to say the food was good and fresh even the eggs. We decided to sit outside and found the Dawa bar closed but the tables were available to use. After we had been there a couple of minutes an African band started to set up next to us and invited the girls over for pictures. P8 went over and played on the drum and had her picture taken. P6 was a bit shy so one of the band members just talked to her at the table. They began to play and invited people up to dance. It was very upbeat & a great way to start the day. We headed over to the Safari & rode it again. This time the lion & lioness were out too so we were happy we took the second ride. We checked out the Tree of Life which is amazing & got pictures in front. Since it was Memorial Day we all wore matching Old Navy flag shirts and I wanted a couple family pictures. The one in front of the Tree is my favorite. I ran over to the Asian side to get FS to Expedition Everest (almost 3 hours away) & then we watched the Flights of Wonder bird show. Very well done! Our favorites were the large owl & the American eagle. The girls really wanted some autographs so we went over to Camp Mickey & met with Goofy, Donald Duck, Minnie & Mickey, got pictures & autographs. We ate lunch at Flame Tree Barbeque & sat in the area behind the restaurant next to the pool. It was beautiful & the food was really good. We had chicken sandwiches and the girls had hotdogs. The really nice thing about the kid’s meals at WDW is that they get fruit with almost every meal and carrots are offered as a free side. In all the parks water was available everywhere as was fresh fruit. Of course we indulged a bit everyday but it was nice that they offered a healthy snack if you were so inclined. Afterwards it was time to head to Expedition Everest where we found out P6 was an inch too small to ride. She was very disappointed & while we were discussing what we going to do a cast member came up & asked how we were & where we were from etc. He noticed P6 was upset & asked why. We told him about the height restriction. He asked P6 if ice cream would make her feel better and she said yes. So he asked us if he could treat the family to MM ice cream bars. P6 answered yes immediately and he wrote a coupon for free ice cream for the family. What a sweetie! Again don’t know if this was one of the million dreams or not but P6 was thrilled and didn’t mind missing EE after that. We decided to have me ride with P8 first & then Billy rode with her. The ride was awesome but I was so busy watching P8’s reaction to the ride that I missed the Yeti. Bummer! The parade had started so we cashed in our ice cream coupon and watched the parade. I know we missed a lot of AK but we were due back at MGM for the Fantasmic dinner pkg. We caught the bus to MGM and made it to MGM before 6 pm. Our ADR was for Hollywood & Vine was at 6:30 so I inquired about our reservations. There was a mix up. They had us down for the week before not sure how that happened since I had made ADRs for three places during the same phone call but the hostess was very accommodating and told us she would get us in and get the Fantasmic entry too. While we waited I ran to get TOT FPs so we could ride it before the show. They got us into H&V at 6:25 and honestly we were still full from lunch. None of us wanted too much to eat which was fine since the buffet wasn’t the best. But we all got something to eat & got our pass for Fantasmic. We headed over to TOT and P6 said she didn’t want to ride it. I rode it with P8 and when we were done Billy said he was too full to ride and would rather check out some of the sites so we gave the two FPs to a couple going into the standby line. They were quite pleased. We slowly made our way to the stadium entrance for Fantasmic – taking pictures along the way. Fantasmic was wonderful. I had read split reviews but for 8 and 6 year olds it was great. The girls got to see many of their favorite characters and they didn’t find the show too dark or scary. We left the park around 9:30 pm and waited for the SOG bus. It was over 20 minutes late and the crowd waiting to get on was more than would fit on the bus so we decided to walk over to the park buses and catch the TTC bus back to the TTC center. It arrived within 5 minutes and as we passed the SOG stop the people were still waiting. Not sure what happened there. That was our only mishap with SOG’s bus service. Once at the TTC we caught the SOG bus there which was on time but crowded. The girls were sound asleep by the time we got to the hotel. Day 3 Summary – Would like to go back to AK and see everything we missed. Very happy with the WDW bus system. Love those cast members!
29 May - The next morning I promised everyone they could sleep in a bit. I always get up around 6:30 so I took the time to do laundry and get everyone breakfast at the Express Café. I got everyone up by 9:00 and we got on the 9:30 bus. The line at TTC to get on the monorail was long and it took about 15 minutes to get to the platform. We got to MK at 1030. Our first order of business was to get P8 a new hat. Billy had put her’s in his waist band after the Fantasmic show the night before and it must have fallen out in the crowd. She got a really cute blue one with glitter and Minnie on it. P6 had decided she wanted to get a couple pins as her souvenirs so she started looking at those. We had ADR at Cinderella’s Round Table for lunch so while Dad and the girls took pictures of the castle I ran to get FPs to TMR. We checked into the castle 10 minutes early and they sent us in immediately to meet Cinderella. Cinderella was very special. The costume was very authentic to the movie and she spent time with each child but still managed to keep the line moving. She made a comment on how she liked the girls’ autograph books which made the girls very happy. She posed for the picture and hugged them both then we went upstairs to the restaurant. The girls had decided they did not want to dress up for the meal. When we were there it was about 50/50 on dressing up and there were many tables with just adults in attendance. The food was great. We met Belle, Snow White, Jasmine (a highlight for P8 since she is her favorite Princess) & the Fairy Godmother. The girls got magic wands & a wishing star to make a wish during the ‘wishing ceremony’. They brought us the Cinderella pictures with the girls which turned out very good. Everything was done very nicely – the kid’s sundaes had a chocolate crown on top which the girls wanted to save, of course with it being 84 degrees outside that wasn’t going to happen so they ate a bit and left the rest- the adults got a part chocolate cake and part cheese cake with chocolate ice cream on top (it was great - yes I ate the whole thing) & the castle was just beautiful. I got to say it was a childhood dream of mine to see Cinderella’s castle so I think I enjoyed it as much as the girls. If you ask me was it worth $120? I have to say-Yes! If you don’t go to any of the meals at the castle you still need to see the mosaics on the first level of the castle. They are amazing. After lunch is was time for our FP to TMR & then went to Peter Pan’s ride (very sweet despite a 50 minute wait but FP returns were 6 hours away). Ariel’s Grotto was open with a 50 minute wait but the girls declined and said they preferred to go to a show or ride. I guess meeting the princesses at lunch was enough for the day. We got FP to Mickey’s Philharmagic before PP so we walked over it and had a 5 minute wait until they let us in. We really enjoyed the show. The Fantasyland was packed so we headed over to Tomorrowland and rode the Indy Speedway cars (the girls got to drive while we pushed the gas pedal so they loved them) , TL Transit Authority (relaxing and rather enjoyable) and watched the Carousel of Progress which we all enjoyed though I can’t really pinpoint why. By the end of the show we were all singing that song which I can’t recall a word of now but you know it if you have been. We went to Astro Orbiter and had our one and only line cutter experience. A woman and her about 10 year old son cut in line at one of the turns just behind us. We of course thought they were with the folks behind us. When a couple about 10 or so people back realized the cutters weren’t with us and they weren’t with the folks in line behind us they went to tell the cast member who by that time couldn’t do much since he was putting people on and off the elevator. The weird thing is they only cut about 2 minutes off the wait and sadly the only one who really suffered was the 10 year old who looked mortified during the rest of his wait and probably didn’t think the whole ordeal was worth it. I mean really, Astro Orbiter is not an E ticket ride. As a Mom I got to ask why would you set that type of example? Ok back to the fun…We ate dinner at Cosmic Rays which was good (roasted chicken) and watched Ray do his very corny act. The girls wanted to know is he an animal, an alien or an alien animal? We walked over to Space Mountain(SM) which didn’t issue FS that day and the wait was about 35 minutes but P6 couldn’t ride (height again) so she & Billy rode TLTA again and checked out the arcade while I rode with P8. Afterwards P6 & I rode the Mad Tea Party & Goofy’s Barnstormer while Billy rode SM with P8. We had gotten FP for Buzz Lightyear rode that then came out and found the wait was 10 minutes so we rode it again (everyone enjoyed it – my score both times was pitiful). P6 requested one more ride on It’s a Small World. So we walked over and found it to be a walk on. Just as good the second time around. Before going home, we stopped in Liberty square to get their Chocolate Chunk cookies which were wonderful and saw the tail end of the parade. We were back at SOG by 10 pm. Day 4 Summary – MK has lived up to my expectations and then some.
30 May – We had ADR at the Crystal Palace. Since the buses didn’t start running until 8:30 we decided to walk to the Polynesian and take the monorail to MK. The valets in front of SOG told us they could take us in a golf cart to the end of the property which takes about 10 minutes off the walk. So we took advantage of the offer since we had a full day planned and thanked the valet with a tip of course. The monorail took us directly to MK so we were there around 8:15. Billy asked the CM where we go to get in for the breakfast and she just raised the rope and let us in even though our ADRs were for 9:00. What a treat to be in the park with only about 50 other people. We traded cameras with another family and got really good pictures of the castle and the Walt and Mickey statue. The park was extra clean and peaceful at that time. The girls watched the ducks walk around the castle and then retreat into the ponds. We were let into the CP at 8:50 and had a wonderful waitress. I had read reviews on this site that the CP breakfast was really good and I completely agree. Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet came around to the table signed autographs and posed for pictures. Although the tables were very close the atmosphere was very nice and as I said the food was good. Afterwards, we rode the train to Mickey’s Toontown so P6 could introduce Dad and P8 to Goofy’s Barnstormer(GBS) while I went to get FP to Stitches Great Escape(SGE). I joined them again to ride GBS and then we visited Mickey’s and Minnie’s houses. They were so cute. Again a lot of thought and detail were put into these. We stopped for the multi-colored popsicles which had become P8’s favorite and then went to SGE (probably the worst ride/attraction at MK). We got FP to Buzz and then went to the Monster’s Inc Laugh Floor. When we went in they flashed P8, P6 and Billy on the screen and captioned it Daddy’s little monster. The show was really very clever and funny. Afterwards we rode Buzz, had our pictures taken at the castle and then went to POTC again since P6 really liked that one. I love the waiting areas for POTC, a lot of thought was put into it, and the 20 minute wait wasn’t bad. I ran to get FP for Splash Mt which had a return time of 6 pm. We decided to do the Country Bears (sorry think it needs some updating). Everyone was getting hungry so we went to eat at Casey’s Corner where we got a table inside (it was probably 2 pm and rather hot at the outside tables). Hotdogs were huge and good. Afterwards we caught the Hall of President’s show. This was really quite something, if you watch the presidents who aren’t talking and they still make gestures and not the same ones over and over again. Next, we decided to do our big souvenir shopping at the huge Main Street shop and then have it sent back to the resort (we took advantage of this service several times). We spent enough and then some to get each of the girls the Pirates watch and lithograph. We hopped on the train at main street and rode the train around 2 ½ times to rest and then got off at Frontier land when it was time to ride SM. I loved all the inside stuff and the extras that SM had – it’s not just a log ride. Thankfully we only got damp and we did buy the picture because everyone looked so funny. We got popcorn for the girls and cookies for us then staked out a place to watch the parade and fireworks. We also needed some downtime too. We decide to get a table at the train station so if we needed to leave early we wouldn’t have to walk over everyone. We were there about 1 ½ hours early which was fine since everyone was tired. We took turns shopping, getting drinks, going to the restrooms etc. P6 reminded me that she didn’t get the pin she wanted which was the pirates treasure pin. They didn’t have it at the main street shop so I ran over to Liberty square where we had seen it and got it for her and also stopped into the Christmas shop to get a couple of ornaments for the tree. The parade was worth the wait and WOW! The dragonflies were amazing and of course Cinderella and her coach were just awesome. We met several nice people while we waited for the fireworks to start so the time flew by and the fireworks started. Amazing! We had two extremely tired girls on our hands so we left about 10-15 minutes after the fireworks started. We got back to the resort around 10:45 and collapsed into bed. Day 5 summary – Another amazing day.
31 May – Epcot had late night hours so we got there just after opening. I ran ahead to get FPs for Soaring and Billy and girls met me in The Land where we road Living with the Land – really a unique ride that everyone enjoyed, P6 needed a snack so we went to Sunshine Seasons to grab a couple of things (honestly can’t remember what we had), we walked over to The Seas with Nemo which was cute (I loved the birds yelling ‘Mine, mine’ before you entered) but the girls enjoyed the aquarium the best so we spent a lot of time in there. We had about 45 minutes before Soaring so we went back to the Land to watch The Circle of Life (very nice theme). It was time to go to Soaring which as everyone has said is Amazing. What a wonderful feeling-we got the front row so it really felt like you were hang gliding – can’t say enough good things about that experience. We had an ADR at the Garden Grill and were seating within 5 minutes of our scheduled time. The food was good and the server brought a whole new platter before we finished the first. The girls liked cupcakes that they decorated themselves and we were visited by Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale, at least twice. We were on the first level so we got to see the scenery very well. The waiter brought us a cup full of gummy worms for snacks later. I highly recommend this restaurant. We got FPs for test track with a reporting time of 8:30 pm and then stopped to hear a band that plays trash cans. They were wonderful. We then headed to SpaceShip Earth which was really fun and different (absolutely no wait at 2 pm). We then went to Honey I Shrunk the Audience (I jumped out of my seat on the mouse part) and then went to Journey with Figment (hum) then made postcards in Imageworks. The girls played with the fountains outside and then we headed to the World Showcase. We passed on O Canada when we discovered there were no seats and we would have to hold the girls for them to see – benches please! We took pictures in Canada and then went to UK where I visited the Twinings Tea shop then we watched street performers in the UK which were very funny. We stopped in France to get pastries which were good. We shared an éclair and cheesecake and the girls got some kind of ice cream. We stopped in Morocco to listen to a band then walked through Japan. Peter Noone from Herman’s Hermits was playing at the American Theatre so we stopped to listen to the last of his show. Of course it was full so we stood outside and could hear really well. After that we decided to see the American Adventure – very well done. We made it around to the other countries and stopped in Mexico for a margarita and soda’s for the girls. I need a full day just for the World Showcase. There is so much I would have liked to linger over and Billy said the same. So we will just have to come back! It was time to go to Test Track which broke down when we got in line so the wait was about 30 minutes but it was well worth it. What a rush! I also like that you could put your pictures on your Photopass and order them once you got home. We headed to Mission space which posted a 20 minute wait for the orange side. P8 and I went to ride it since P6 was too little and Billy passed on it. When we got inside we found it was a walk on for the orange side so that was a bonus. It is one awesome ride. I made sure I looked straight and didn’t close my eyes as I was told but P8 did it all and proudly proclaimed it did not make her sick. By this time Magic hours had started and the girls were hungry so we went to the Electric Umbrella and they liked the food there (Turkey and cheese pinwheels and chicken nuggets). We missed Illuminations so we have another reason to return. Exhaustion had overcome us so we left the park around 10pm and made it back to SOG around 10:30. Day 6 Summary – Need more time at Epcot. We all thought the rides there were some of the best.
1 Jun – Got up and ate breakfast at the SOG’s Garden Gallery restaurant buffet. (Not the best buffet). Then shopped at the AAFES store for a few last things. We went to load up the van and found that one of the reading lights had been left on so the battery was dead. We called the front desk who got us in touch with security. Security was there in about 10 minutes and jumped the battery (no charge). We loaded up and left around 9 am. Made it to Baton Rouge LA and stayed the night.
2 Jun – Got up around 8 and made it home around 3pm. We already miss Disney!
SOG – As you can see we only slept there and didn’t take advantage of the pools. Recommend the Express Café and Java café – quick for breakfast and snacks. AAFES store was nice and you could also get Disney merchandise there too. The rooms were really nice and the staff was very friendly. The grounds were very nice.