This one was almost too long...
Jan 31, 2023 15:21:53 GMT -5
annamaria, jedimom3, and 3 more like this
Post by DougUSMC on Jan 31, 2023 15:21:53 GMT -5
Ever since buying our first contract ~ 6 years ago, the trips have been getting longer and more extravagent. This year definitely took the cake though, with 6 of us going for a total of 11 days! It was a bunch of moving, a TON of fun, and pretty tiring! We went down for the WDW running festival, even though I decided to bail on the marathon a month or so before it. The plan was for time at Disney, the marathon, a 4 day Wish cruise, MORE time at Disney, then a day over at Universal.
High level details:
Myself
DW
DS (23)
DD (8)
DS (6)
Au Pair (23)
Jan 6-8: Copper Creek Villas: This was our first Home Resort, and is still my favorite. We alternate between here and Riviera every year (our second Home, and DW's favorite). It was really nice here, though the temps were in the 50s in the morning and mid 60s at night. Perfect weather for the marathon I *didn't* run.
It was a great stay, no problem with the room (2BR), and we got into Storybook Dining one of the nights after using an online "find a reservation" website service. (I don't know the rules here, can I mention that site by name here?)
DD and DS with his favorite character
Jan 9-12: Disney Wish: We had done one Disney cruise years ago, with older DS, and he loved it. This was the first time with DD and younger DS, and they *loved* it!! We checked out the kids' area when we first boarded, and I think they ended up going back at LEAST 10 times after that. They wanted to be dropped every night after dinner, something neither of us minded.
The Wish is a beautiful boat, we had 2 adjoining staterooms, and they were both good sized. The port calls were less than amazing, but there's not much we can do on a 4 day than one island and Castaway Cay. We had a really great time, and took advantage of the "leave a deposit while on board and get 10% off your next trip.
DS and DD loved the play area, here are the Star Wars and Marvel sections. The VR games DD is playing is amazing!
We had dinner at Enchante, and it was pricey but worth it!
13 - 15 Jan: Villas at Grand Floridian: This is our 3rd, and most recent Home, and we stayed here for a bit after the cruise. We both love it here, the kids really dig it, and it's SO easy to get back and forth to MK from here.
We did a bunch of park hopping in the last few days, taking all of the pictures we missed the first time around.
I've taken a picture at Crystal Palace every year with this crew, so that was one of the first stops:
We hit my favorite ride at WDW, and met a great old friend for the ride:
Of course, had to smuggle a bit of cargo:
And lastly saved the galaxy again (you're welcome)
All in, the last few days were EXHAUSTING!
So, we did the most logical thing, and changed resorts again!!
Jan 15: Hard Rock Cafe Hotel: We checked out of VGF and went over to the Hard Rock at Universal, to spend a day at Harry Potter World. It's the kids' first trip over there, and we wanted the lightning lane. For any who haven't been, it's a bit of a culture shock after being "all Disney" for 10 days, but was a cool trip. I just realized I have zero pictures of that saved off, so I'll have to check with DW on that one.
Short version: It was PACKED!
I know it was a holiday, but it was a mob scene. Staying in one of their resorts, we have lightning lane, which is their version of Genie. You get front of the line privileges, but (unlike Genie) it's for all rides, all day. I don't know if that helps or hurts, but even LL was backed up...
Either way, it was a good trip. I can even say (surprisingly) we flew Southwest there and back (Baltimore to MCO) and didn't have any problems. We had a car service from the airport to the resort (still miss Magic Express), and used the Disney transfer to/from the cruise. All of the travel went well, the only thing I forgot was to book a car from VGF to Hard Rock. Let's just say "6 people + all our luggage = at least 2 Ubers"...
High level details:
Myself
DW
DS (23)
DD (8)
DS (6)
Au Pair (23)
Jan 6-8: Copper Creek Villas: This was our first Home Resort, and is still my favorite. We alternate between here and Riviera every year (our second Home, and DW's favorite). It was really nice here, though the temps were in the 50s in the morning and mid 60s at night. Perfect weather for the marathon I *didn't* run.
It was a great stay, no problem with the room (2BR), and we got into Storybook Dining one of the nights after using an online "find a reservation" website service. (I don't know the rules here, can I mention that site by name here?)DD and DS with his favorite character
Jan 9-12: Disney Wish: We had done one Disney cruise years ago, with older DS, and he loved it. This was the first time with DD and younger DS, and they *loved* it!! We checked out the kids' area when we first boarded, and I think they ended up going back at LEAST 10 times after that. They wanted to be dropped every night after dinner, something neither of us minded.
The Wish is a beautiful boat, we had 2 adjoining staterooms, and they were both good sized. The port calls were less than amazing, but there's not much we can do on a 4 day than one island and Castaway Cay. We had a really great time, and took advantage of the "leave a deposit while on board and get 10% off your next trip.
DS and DD loved the play area, here are the Star Wars and Marvel sections. The VR games DD is playing is amazing!
We had dinner at Enchante, and it was pricey but worth it!
13 - 15 Jan: Villas at Grand Floridian: This is our 3rd, and most recent Home, and we stayed here for a bit after the cruise. We both love it here, the kids really dig it, and it's SO easy to get back and forth to MK from here.
We did a bunch of park hopping in the last few days, taking all of the pictures we missed the first time around.
I've taken a picture at Crystal Palace every year with this crew, so that was one of the first stops:
We hit my favorite ride at WDW, and met a great old friend for the ride:
Of course, had to smuggle a bit of cargo:
And lastly saved the galaxy again (you're welcome)
All in, the last few days were EXHAUSTING!
So, we did the most logical thing, and changed resorts again!!
Jan 15: Hard Rock Cafe Hotel: We checked out of VGF and went over to the Hard Rock at Universal, to spend a day at Harry Potter World. It's the kids' first trip over there, and we wanted the lightning lane. For any who haven't been, it's a bit of a culture shock after being "all Disney" for 10 days, but was a cool trip. I just realized I have zero pictures of that saved off, so I'll have to check with DW on that one.
Short version: It was PACKED!
I know it was a holiday, but it was a mob scene. Staying in one of their resorts, we have lightning lane, which is their version of Genie. You get front of the line privileges, but (unlike Genie) it's for all rides, all day. I don't know if that helps or hurts, but even LL was backed up...
Either way, it was a good trip. I can even say (surprisingly) we flew Southwest there and back (Baltimore to MCO) and didn't have any problems. We had a car service from the airport to the resort (still miss Magic Express), and used the Disney transfer to/from the cruise. All of the travel went well, the only thing I forgot was to book a car from VGF to Hard Rock. Let's just say "6 people + all our luggage = at least 2 Ubers"...
