Part 1: Monday, Destination: MGM Studios

I'm going to post about our week at Disney in "Parts" so you're not so overwhelmed... lots to write about, lots of pictures to share.  So, tonight I'll recap Part 1: MGM.

We started out our day at MGM, and even though it was HOT, it was perfect to start out first thing. The crowds weren’t horrible, we were able to get in and out of places easily and by lunchtime we’d seen pretty much everything we wanted to see in the park. By then the crowds were getting thicker. We headed to Pizza Planet (like in Toy Story) to eat $6 personal mini pizzas and then we just strolled around checking out all the sights. Porter was SO good. The days prior, he had been whiny and cranky, and we were dreading Disney… however, he surprised us and (all week) has been an angel.

Porter meets Goliath (the Rarrrr! from JoJo's Circus)

This picture pretty much sums it up... sweaty, hot, tired.  But having a great time! (we were waiting in line for the Great Movie Ride)

Alyssa cools Porter off with her $17 water bottle fan. 

We couldn’t check into the condo until 4, so we were sort of stuck at MGM all day. Porter finally passed out around 2ish as we strolled in and out of the air conditioned shops. Then the guys went on the Tower of Terror (the only adult ride that actually got ridden all week) and Jess and I took the kids to browse more shops.

We left MGM around 4ish (so, in all we spent the day 9-4 at MGM) and went to our condo at Cypress Pointe Resort Grande Villas. It was SWEET. We got a great discount on it since Ryan P. is in the navy. It’s a three bedroom condo that is actually two units (a two bedroom with 2 baths, a living room, dining area and kitchen) as well as a one bedroom unit (with a huge bathroom and a separate mini-kitchen/living area) that adjoin. We took the one bedroom unit (which we used as a two bedroom… Porter’s room was the living room/kitchen which has a door to separate from the bedroom) and even though we were technically in a separate unit, the door was right off of the foyer area of the larger unit. The set up is perfect for two families. The resort is beautiful and we have a view of the courtyard/pool/miniature golf area.

After we made dinner (baked ziti), we freshened up and headed to Magic Kingdom for the evening. It was a little cooler than the daytime and the crowds were decent also. We checked out Cinderellas Castle and ToonTown where Porter splashed in the fountains at Donald’s Boat.

On our way out we got stuck in the crowd for the parade. At first I thought I wouldn’t care about seeing a parade, but seeing the atmosphere and festivities, I wish we had been able to stay. However in order to get a seat for the parade you have to start grabbing spots on the road at least an hour before it starts. Not my idea of fun. Its kind of sad that you have to waste that much time out of the day just to wait wait wait to see the parade. I wish the did it more often so that the crowds weren’t as bad for it… or make the parade longer so there are more roadways for people to sit on.

Cinderella's Castle at night...

Anyway, enough of my ideas for remedying parade-crowding. We left the park around 10pm and Porter passed out in the car on the way home. Again, he had been such a good boy. He really is surprising us! He’s been full of tantrums and whining and not wanting to sit still lately, but (knock on wood) he was great during the Disney part of our trip.

 

Comments

[kristyn]

Looks like you guys are having TONS of fun! We were considering hitting Disney next summer with Cloey again, but you have made me reconsider(HAHA). Well enjoy that last little bit of your vacation!

[Kristi Sauer]

I HATED the Tower of Terror. I am SUCH A BABY and I was forced to go on it, kicking, screaming and crying like a 2-year-old. Never again!!!
Glad you had fun at the park!