My first WDW Trip report!

[mkcoastie]

Hello MiceChatters!
Well, I will try to make this brief, but I think a brief introduction is due. You see, this is not only my first trip report, but also my first real post on Micechat (Yaay!, I quite excited about this). I am a rather recent Disney parks fanatic. About two years ago my wife and I took our son to WDW as a side trip on a visit to family in Florida. Needless to say the trip had a profound effect on me and I became….well possibly a little obsessed with all things Disneyland/World. Since then I have become a loyal reader on MiceAge and have generally driven my wonderfully supportive wife nuts with my new found Disney parks fandom. Unfortunately my occupation (both my wife and I are active duty in the Coast Guard) has pretty much prevented me from being able to take very active role here on MiceChat until my recent transfer off of a cutter and on to land for a while. So here’s to what hopefully will be the first of many posts. So, with that being said, I think it’s time I move on to……….

MY FIRST WDW TRIP REPORT! (part 1 of 4)
WARNING: there are some FANTASTIC photographers that post here on MC.......I am not one of them, please excuse my less than professonal (often including my family) pictures.

My wife and I agreed that now was a good time for a return trip to WDW. Not only where we able to take advantage of the buy 4 get 3 free deal, but my wife had just returned from her first big deployment since the kids have been born and we wanted to….uh…..celebrate her return (how’s that for a commercial?)
So we arrived at the Coronado Springs resort on January 12th. Unfortunatly this first thing to greet me was......


That’s right, at least at this point the year of a million banners was still stubbornly refusing to leave, but I refused to let that dampen my moods. This was my fisrt time at the Coranado Springs and only my second time at a Disney resort (the first being on the above mentioned epiphany trip, when all I could afford was the All Star Movies) I must say that I did like to resort. The lobby was gorgeous



And be sure to look up


The lake, while quiet due to the seasonal closure of the marina, served as a beautiful backdrop for the resort.


But the crown jewel of the resort was the Dig Site, which is where the pool, playground and ect where located.



The only down side is that I can’t say that I was impressed with the fast service restaurant, The Pepper Market, mostly due to the cost vs. value. After eating there numerous times I was looking through some receipts and discovered that our breakfast at Chef Mickey’s was only five dollars more than the average meal we had at the Pepper Market. And I think the big man in the red pants cooks a WHOLE lot better breakfast. Besides, eating at the pepper market I had to sit next a necessary evil when visiting in the off season…….

That's right, we were destined to see many of these signs during our stay

Well, our first day, after a brief dip in the pool, we head off to the MK. There was a large crane behind the castle removing Christmas lights and touching up paint
Since it was afternoon and the crowds where very light we went straight to Fantasy Land and hit it’s a Small World, Snow white and Pooh, ate dinner at Pinocchio’s and played with the little ones at the Pooh playground until just before the fireworks when we rode the Haunted Mansion for what would end up being the first of many times (it was one of my 4 year olds favorites).
We finished the night out by watching Wishes



After an excited almost sleepless night we got an early start the next morning and head off to the magic kingdom again. This time we cut straight over to AdventureLand to try and avoid the crowds this would turn out to be unnecessary because for the next two days the parks would be EMPTY. The longest line we ended up standing in over the next two days would be 15 minutes for Peter Pan. Well, the first AdventureLand ride we caught was Jungle CruiseAfter

then we went to POTC, which was walk on! We then head over to FrontierLand and I took the little Tyke for a walk while mommy and the big tyke rode Big Thunder Mountain. Splash Mountain was dry for refurb, but would re-open on our last day. Then it was over to Tom Sawyer Island. With all the Hubbub surrounding this little piece of land in the corner of FrontierLand, both here and in DL, I was very curious on my first trip to Mr. Sawyer’s Island. Well, let’s just say that my children LOVED it. The loved exploring the caves, running over the barrel bridge, tromping through the trails and generally be-ing free to run around all crazy like, and all of this without the need for a pirate layover-theme. “not relevant anymore” my cave exploring tooshy.


The

Island also offered some great views of FrontierLand and Liberty SquareAfter

all that running around, however, we needed a rest.

We left the Island for an encore journey on Haunted Mansion. It too was walk on, so I had to make my family wait outside to see Leota’s tombstone do it’s little bit of haunting. My oldest thought it was about the coolest thing since chocolate milk (which is REALY COOL). It was leaving Haunted Mansion that I started noticing a very positive trend. Compared to my last trip, there was a lot less generic stuff and a lot more specific stuff in the stores throughout WDW. Now don’t get me wrong, there was still plenty of generic stuff, but all in all I noticed a lot more attraction and land themed items than on my last visit. Positive sign, I’d say.

Well despite the very light crowds these first couple of days, there was no sign of cutting back on street performers. They were out in force, and all taking advantage of the light crowds to do a lot of guest interaction they usually would not get to do with the busy bru-ha-ha of the usual crowds.

Well I’m going to leave it at that for part one, please make sure to catch the remaining chapters, they will include driving the monorail, building progress at the contemporary, and our “Disney Moment” that will be sure to bring a tear to your eye

And now I leave you with this.I don’t know why, I just thought it was kinda cool.

-MKCoastie

[Coheteboy]

What a great TR! You had adorable children too. My first WDW resort was the Coronado and I really enjoyed it... although... my legs got tired getting to my room but boy, I do remember the pool every night!

Gotta agree about the Pepper market though.. not very memorable.

[JoseyDisney]

LOVE IT!! Keep it coming...


p.s. your kids are gorgeous!

[mikeland]

Great TR! Thanks so much.

I also thought that water hydrant thing was interesting too! I love the original WDW logo.

[heirnloo]

great report!

[Lindsy1052]

One of the best reports I've read & seen in a long time. Thank you for sharing your pictures they are great.

The kids are just adorable....

[WDWmemories]

What a terrific trip report! I loved the pictures and the commentary. Thanks!!!!

[tayakaleb]

your boys are so cute! can't wait for more!