Okay - first time I have done a trip report, so please be kind, and please be warned it may be looooong.

Cast

Fiona 38
Mark 40
Emma (DD1) 16
Rebecca (DD2) 14

Planning

12th April 2006 - We ran up to our Travel Agents as soon as the prices for 2007 came out, and booked our holiday to WDW, for the first time ever, we decided to go to a WDW hotel, so that was a scary moment!:eek: We always go to the Rodeway Inn Hotel on International Drive, but this year we decided to push the boat out. So with holiday booked and deposit paid, we left the Travel Agent HAPPY!:D At some point after this I noticed online that WDW were offering Free Disney Dining to anyone who booked to go during our timeframe. I went in to the Travel Agent and asked if it could be added to our booking as we had booked so far in Advance, and if not to cancel it, and I would re-book to get the deal. They called WDW for me and guess what? Yes I could get it as long as I bought the 21 day pass for all 4 of us from them, "no problem" says I - go for it.:D

January 2007 - I got a good deal online for car hire through Budget at Sanford Airport, so I booked a 7 seater minivan, which we usually get. I know, I know, there is only 4 of us, but we do have a lot of luggage, and I love the room. I also booked our tickets for Discovery Cove, with the Seaworld/Busch Gardens option, and our 5 day ticket for Universal Orlando.

March 2007 - I got the family together to look at menus for all the table service restaurants at WDW, which I printed from allears. That was hard work! My hubby and DD1 are very picky eaters and I honestly thought I was going to go on holiday without them.....3hrs later, restaurants agreed. I then called WDW and booked my ADR's.

July/August 2007 - Booked our tickets for Cirque du Soleil, I got front seats, so was really looking forward to it.

September 2007 - Hooray!!:D Packed the suitcases, gave the house a spring clean, put the car into the garage for it's service and had the house alarm serviced.

6th September 2007 - We always go out for a family meal at our favourite Chinese Restaurant, so that is what we did. Home by 9.00pm. Went to bed at 12.00pm setting the alarm for 4.00am. What a killer getting up at that time, it was cold and dark outside and I really wanted to curl back up into my covers. Then kerrching....we're going to WDW! Jumped out of bed into the shower and woke up the rest of the family. Hubby loaded the bags into the car, and I checked and double checked the windows, doors and put on the house alarm. On the road by 5.30am. Drove the car to Qpark (airport long stay car park) and jumped on their wee shuttle bus over to Glasgow Airport. Checked in by 6.30am. We did not feel like breakfast, too early, so we all had a nice wee cup of tea. Plane departed on time at 9.15am, and we were on our way. Arrived at Sanford Airport 1.23pm. Through Customs etc with no problems. I waited with the luggage with DD2, while hubby and DD1 went to collect the hire car. I waited, and waited, and waited some more.....where was he? what's happened? i'm hot.........50 mins passed, I was seriously stressed, then I spotted DD1, who told us to follow her. I follow her and spot hubby in a........"what is that?" hubby opens the doors and puts the luggage into the back, we all get in. "Well?" I said...he explains that the budget office was a bit of a mess, and they could not find the keys to the dodge caravan, that they had parked outside, boxes were everywhere and they did not know what they were going to give us. They handed him a set of keys and said that he would just have to take this one, and told him where it was parked. A Chrysler Uplander, ruby red, to me it was a single decker bus on wheels. Well the drive to the hotel was fun....it took him a while to get used to it.

Get to POR at 3.30pm and we were stunned! It's beautiful and peaceful. There were a few people in line before us, so we just stood behind them taking in the architecture. The CM checking us in was lovely, I asked her where we were allocated and she said Alligator Bayou. I asked her if there was any chance to have a mansion building, she explained they were all full, to which I put on my best sad face :( to which she said she would go and speak to a manager. 5mins later out she comes smiling with a room in Magnolia Terrace :D, we could not thank her enough. The room and location was wonderful. We unpacked, washed and changed, and walked around the resort. We had dinner at Boatwrights at 7.10pm, I had paella and everyone else had pork chop. No starters for us, prefer to have desert. Meal was okay, not good, not bad, just okay. Desert was the same.

8.15pm - Drove over to Downtown Disney and did a bit of retail therapy, along with some sundaes. Back at the hotel for 10.00pm with lights out by 10.30pm - we were shattered!!

Fiona - 21 days - you lucky, lucky girl! I can't wait to read the rest!! Glad you got your room change. Will be interested to hear if Discovery Cove is worth the £'sss...

I love the report so far. Sounds like a great way to start the vacation, with the room location you wanted, but not so much on the vehicle. At least you got one and got on your way!

Yeah, a Scottish trip report, complete with "pushing the boat out" and a "wee bit of tea"! Can't tell you how much I am enjoying this report. Keep it comin'!

Thanks fiona -- can't wait for more!!!

Wow, this is great--thanks so much, and can't wait for more!

Jan

I have to admit a smile came across my face when I read "wee bit of tea". I love that you are very detailed too! I never write a trip report because I always go for 2 weeks and who wants to hear me babble because I go into such detail, but now being on the other side of it I am so excited to read 3 weeks worth of a trip report. I will be writing a report when I get back from my week in WDW.


Keep it coming!!

Yay Fiona has started! Can't wait to read more. :)

I have to admit a smile came across my face when I read "wee bit of tea". I love that you are very detailed too! I never write a trip report because I always go for 2 weeks and who wants to hear me babble because I go into such detail, but now being on the other side of it I am so excited to read 3 weeks worth of a trip report. I will be writing a report when I get back from my week in WDW.


Keep it coming!!


I want to hear you babble!! :p If people don't want to read it all, they can skip you. I want to read every word. It's my weekend therapy!

And as for you, Miss Fi, I'm so excited to see that you've begun your trip report! I was looking forward to your big adventures!

I think I'll go make myself a wee cup.....Yorkshire Gold tonight.....Hmmm, maybe not. Perhaps too late and then I'll be up all night! :)

Keep a' writin'!

Great start to your report and I look forward to reading all of it as you are able to write it! I love hearing your story from your point of view complete with all the scottish sayings! SO CUTE! Keep writing! Look forward to more.

Hey Fiona - we're so ready for some more now!! Can't wait for more installments.

:DSaturday 8 September 2007.

Had a wee bit of a long lie in this morning, got up at 8.00am. Breakfast was at 9.20am Boatwrights. OMG! I love this brekkie, it was "pure dead brilliant". I had southern fried potatoes, scrambled egg, bacon and a biscuit (a scone to anyone from the UK), Hubby and DD1 had the same and DD2 had the cinamon french toast (too sweet for me), but this brekkie was a winner.:D

After our brekkie, we hauled our full bellies out and headed over to Magic Kingdom. You know your back when you step foot on mainstreet soil. I could have stood there all day, looking at the castle....(well okay not all day):D We went on splash mountain, big thunder mountain, space mountain, mickey's philarmagic, smallworld, pirates, carousel of progress and buzz lightyear, with a max wait of 10mins! - on a Saturday too!! We left the park at 2.00pm.

Drove to Florida Mall - got to love that air conditioning...spent a few hours window shopping (well my hubby and I did, DD's bought more than a few items). I love the Florida Mall

Got back to POR around 5.30pm, so we hung out in the room for an hour and had burgers and fries at the counter service. Food again was just okay. After burgers we hit Pirate Cove Mini Golf, were of course, I WON! :D Back to POR, had a swim, lights out 10.30pm.

Sunday 9 September 2007.

Up at 7.00am, out the door by 8.45am, and hit Animal Kingdom by 9.00pm. It was really hot today, I am sure my freckles multiplyed by the thousands today.... We hit Mt Everest first, no queue, got on quickly, DD1 would not go on it, but it was great, I must admit I did kinda scream, a lot, quite a lot:D Off the ride and back on again, I love September. We also did dinosaur twice. We had a quick bite to eat at Restaurantsauras, burgers and fries, okay, filled the hole in our bellies. Next was It's tough to be bug, kilamanjaro safari, kali river rapids and finished by the Nemo Show. Now this is the first time we have seen the Nemo show, and I have to admit that the colours and staging are fantastic, but our biggest let down was the songs. There just aren't any good ones. Tarzan had catchy songs that you could sing along to, the ones in nemo "do my heid in". But as I say good costumes:D Won't go again...

We left the park at 3.00pm, back to the hotel for a quick rest and on to Magic Kingdom for our 6.00pm ADR at Liberty Tree Tavern. OMG! It was busy! We walked up and there were people milling around everywhere. Managed to make my way to the counter (without the use of a cattle prod), and gave my name, they told us to wait in the holding area! Holding Area! It was like a cattle market, people everywhere, pushing and shoving for somewhere to stand/sit. I hated it. We waited 45 mins, and finally we were called. The meal though was a winner!:D DD's loved the character interaction, even though they were just a wee bit embarrassed.

We stayed on at MK and did pirates, space, splash, thunder, jungle cruise and peoplemover.

Lights out 12.00pm.

Monday 10 September 2007

Can you guess where we had brekkie this morning? Yip - Boatwrights - I love their brekkie, I love their brekkie, I love their brekkie, did I say - I love their brekkie? Bellies full and happy we decided to go to Downtown Disney for a few hours. Back to POR for a swim, and to top up our tans, or should I say freckles for me.

At MK for 4.30pm, we had a 5.00pm ADR at Cyrstal Palace. Were taken with only a 10 min wait. Now I love the Character Interaction, and the interior of the restaurant, but we are not great fans of buffets, so I can honestly say that we picked at this meal. I did not eat much at all, and neither did hubby or DD's. After our teeny weeny snack, we went on space mountain, peter pan, speedway, treehouse, big thunder, splash and pirates, and stayed for the fireworks. Back to the hotel for a swim and lights out at 11.00pm.

Tuesday 11 September 2007

Up at 7.00am, at MGM by 8.45am. We did TOT, Star Tours, Movie Ride, Muppets 3D, Backlot Tour and Stuntcar Show. Had a quick bite at the commissary, chicken and fries - pretty good. Then on to Little Mermaid and Indiana Jones.

Left the park at 3.00pm - back to hotel for a rest, swim, quick call home etc.

We were at Epcot for 6.50pm - ADR at Le Cellier 7.10pm. Waited a good 30mins for our seat, but OMG! I loved this meal! Didn't have a starter but had the steaks and mashed potatoes, and it was heavenly:D Didn't like the dessert much, had smores, no likey!! But the main meal made up for it - it was sooooo yummy......:D The CM serving us was really funny, he could not understand my hubby too well, being Scottish we can talk quick fast, and he could never get what he was saying, so I was his interpreter!

After Epcot we went to have a look at the Premium Outlets, with DD's pointed out the clothes they would like to take home with them:rolleyes:

Lights out 11.30pm.

Sounds like you are having a great time!! Can't wait to read more!

Great update! Our tradition is to eat our last meal of the vacation at.....drum roll, please......Boatwright's for (as you say) brekkie! YUM!

We'll defintiely have to try Boatwright's for brekkie!
Loving the report Fiona!!

Yeah, more "Scottishisms"! Having so much fun "re-living" your vacation; thanks!

i was at the port 9/7-9/9/07 a great time to be @ the WORLD . p.o.r is the greatest . did you have the chance to see BOB JACKSON ? have met a lot of intresting people from across the pond @ rose & crown pub.

Great report--can't wait to read the rest!

Keep it comin' Fiona! :)

Brekkie- love it!! I am going to use that!

Hi Guys,

Sorry I have not updated my report, but I am studying for exams at the moment (for my work), and have not had a minute, also in the process of buying a new home argggghhhhh...:eek:

I promise I will post again this weekend.....I will make time for you all..;)

Sometimes reality takes over trip reports! We understand, but can't wait to read more!

Good luck on your exams, and Congratulations on your house! :)

Sorry I have taken so long to continue this trip report, but my head has been bursting with other things. Passed my exams! (hooray), move into my new home 10th December!! but still have to sell this one.......(stressful, stressful, stressful).

Enough of my blether, on with my report.

Wednesday 12 September 2007

Up at 6.30am, out the door by 7.30am with arrival at Discovery Cove 7.50am. What a beautiful park this is, we have been before, but this time included in the price is a continental breakfast. It was a lovely day, and not busy at all. We were given our dolphin swim time, along with our park passes, which also allowed us 14 days to Seaworld and Busch Gardens. We were then met by our park guide, who pointed out the cabanas were you went to swim with the dolphins, the showers, toilets, wetsuits and restaurant.

We picked out 4 beds with 2 brollies, near to coral reef, and then went to pick up our wetsuits. I decided not to wear a wetsuit, but a jacket that went over my swimsuit. After seeing my husband trying to get into one, I decided against it. We then waddled over to get breakfast. There was a good selection of danish pastries, croissants, cereal, fruit juices etc. Our dolphin swim time was 10.00am so we just swam in coral reef. Now, I am not a strong swimmer, I only took swimming lessons last year, and am absolutely terrified of the water. My DH told me I would be fine swimming in the reef, it was a dawdle (easy). Well I took a deep breath and started to swim, it was okay at first very shallow, and as I swam a little further along, I knew it was getting deeper and I would not be able to put my feet down. No problems, I thought I can do this, DH is right beside me, there I am swimming along, feeling very proud, when I hear a dull roar, it was getting louder and louder, I glance over at DH and he gives me one of his 'Now I'm for it' looks, as we round the corner I see it........it's a waterfall, that you must swim under. Well what can I say, I wish I could tell you I was really brave, and swam under it no problem, but that would be a lie, I totally lost it, I panicked big time!! I knew I could not go back, it was a one way system, and was saying all kind of things like 'I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm panicking, I'm panicking, I'm panicking'. The next thing I know my DH took me by the shoulders and shoved me through. I had water coming out of my eyes, nose and ears. I was holding my breath and crying like a big baby. I knew I had to keep going so I did, giving my DH the look that said 'Don't you dare come near me!!'. Well can you guess what was round the next corner? ........yes.....another waterfall. So we replayed the first waterfall scenario all over again. At the end of this one though, I really was going to kill my DH, was he glad there was quite a lot of kids around!!

After I dragged my body from the reef, I did not feel like going for a swim with a dolphin, knowing my luck it would be a killer dolphin, and drag me to the bottom.

Well the swim with the dolphin was lovely, her name was coral, and we had over 30 minutes in the water with her. We met another nice family from London, and another wee lady from Texas. I did not take the deep water swim with coral, but I did take the shallow, which was just fine. It was great fun, and the trainer was a fun guy, making fun of DD2's accent.

We spent the rest of the day relaxing, having lunch, feeding tropical birds, and the family swam with tropical fish. We had a fab day, left at 5.00pm.

Back at the hotel for a nap, and for me to kill DH. Had a counter service meal at the hotel around 6.30pm, then went to premium outlets for a little therapy. Lights out around 10.30pm.

Thursday 13th September 2007

Up at 7.00am, out the door at 8.00am and went to Earl of Sandwich for breakfast. Now as you know I love Boatwrights brekkie, but I also love this breakkie sannie also. A quarter of a baquette with egg, bacon and cheese. It was smashing. Fairly filled up our tummies, ready for the day ahead. We were at EPCOT for 9.00am.

We done Soaring x 3, Living with the Land, Test Track x 2, Mission Space x 2 and the Lion King Movie thing....sorry I forgot the name of it. Energy Ellen was down, and we did not want to hang around for it to open.

Then we set about World Showcase. We all love World Showcase, the park was not busy, and we just took our time, going in and out all of the shops. It was really hot today, so the air conditioning was a godsend. DD2 had a water fan with her, so that was great, we kept her busy cooling us all down, it was great.....

We left that park at 6.00pm, and went back to hotel, collected some pizzas and juice and back to the room for our tea.

We got ready and out the door by 8.15pm, and made our way to Cirque Du Soleil. We had front row seats (which I checked online for, for days), and the show was fantastic. No-one should miss it, it is an absolutely amazing show. I could go again, again and again. The girls loved it too.

Lights out 12.00pm.

Friday 14 September 2007

Up at 7.00am and out the door 8.00am. We went to Earl of Sandwich again for fav brekkie no2. We were at Universal Studios for 9.00am. We had Fast Pass Tickets, but did not need them, as the park was really quiet. We done every ride in the park by 12.00pm. On to lunch at Hard Rock Cafe, I had pasta with chicken, along with DD2, DH had steak, and DD1 had a large hamburger. It was good.

On to Islands of Adventure, we did not do any of the water rides, as we did not have a change of clothes or footwear with us, but we done everthing else. Spiderman x 3. We left the park at 5.00pm.

Counter service at the hotel, then we got ready to go to MNSSHP, it had started to rain, and was gradually getting heavier and heavier. We arrived at the Magic Kingdom around 7.30pm, and the rain was stoating (hitting) off the ground. It was wet, wet, wet. The rain was running down my nose and by the time we got into the park, I'm sure my undies were soaking wet too. We stayed on another 2hrs, but they had cancelled all the parades, and there was no sign of the rain letting up, we did get some wet candy though!! YUMMY!!. We stopped off at the Town Hall, and asked them if they could change our tickets to the next week, which they did. By the time we got back to the hotel around 10.30pm, we were soaked right through to the bone. Trainers were squelching...took us ages to dry and heat up. Lights out 11.30pm.

Saturday 15th September 2007

Long lie in this morning. Up at 8.00am. Out the door 9.00am. Had a counter service brekkie at the hotel. It was okay. We decided to have a shopping day today, the girls wanted to get some jeans, and pressies for their pals. We went to The Florida Mall, Premium Outlets, Pointe Orlando and Disney's Boardwalk. We had lunch at the wee bakery at the Boardwalk. It was lovely, we had a nice view, and the weather was very warm.

Back to the hotel at 4.30pm, washed and changed for our ADR at the Concourse Steak House. Arrived at the Contemporary Resort at 5.15pm and was seated for 5.30pm. We all had steak and it was great. For dessert we all had the Key Lime Pie, great service, and great food. Would go again.

Had a wee stroll around the Contemporary Resort, then on to play mini golf, at winter summerland. Lights out around 10.30pm.

Another great few days, huh? Wow! What a lovely time. I was laughing out loud about your harrowing swim with the waterfalls! Your trip to Epcot was terrific! I can't believe how quickly you got through the Future World rides! Good for you!