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View Full Version : WDW trip with Glen, Elaine and Linnea (DD6)



IluvKingLouis
01-29-2009, 12:37 PM
We arrived late in the day.....about 2:30. We checked into our hotel (Caribbean Beach) and had absolutely no line.

We were thrilled with our hotel room. It was a corner unit, so we had an extra window, plus we were overlooking a tropical court yard. It's one of the newly renovated rooms with the Nemo theme. Linnea loved the theme!

We decided to drive to MK and our first ride (per Linnea's request) was the Haunted Mansion. She doesn't care for the stretch room but loves the ride. After that we did Small World.

It's a Monday, and Glen is on call and has a bit of work to do, so we head over to Columbia Harbor House. Most folks don't know that there's an upstairs level and it's quite quiet. Glen finds a quiet alcove (there are 2 other families up there and probably 150 tables), and sets up his laptop. He has the alcove all to himself.

After Glen is situated Linnea and I take off to do more rides. We did every ride in Fantasyland (except Peter Pan and Dumbo) then headed over to Pirates. By then it was close to 5 and we were suppose to meet up with Glen.

Linnea and I entered Columbia Harbor House and found the staircases (there are three of them) to the upstairs roped off. So I found myself wondering if Glen got the boot and is now somewhere else. I call his cell phone....it's busy. Makes sense; he is probably talking to someone at work.

Then I remembered that the little alcove he is in is part of a bridge that overlooks Liberty Square. Linnea and I step outside and sure enough we can see him through a window. So the two of us find the staircase that's in the most secluded spot (yes we were being sneaky) and step over the rope. Apparently the staff had no problems with Glen working up there. Glen still had some work to do so we decided to meet in Tomorrowland by the fountain with the black ball that floats on water.

Linnea and I took in Monster's Laugh Floor (Linnea's favorite). Once we met up with Glen we did the TTA (aka People Mover), then Buzz Light Year. Both were walk on's.

We ate dinner at Cosmic Rays. We were surprised to see Disney using Christmas themed cups in late January.....I guess the recession is hitting everyone. I had the veggie wrap (which I love). Oh, and no Mickey shaped plates for the kids meal....just an oval paper plate for Linnea's nuggets.

We headed back to the hotel and walked around the beach areas. We met a wonderful family from Canada and visited with them while we watched the fireworks from Epcot. The husband had done the marathon the previous weekend, and it was their first time at Disney. They were loving it. She told me "When we were planning our trip friends told us Disney is so magical. I was like, yeah right....it's just a vacation. Now I totally get what they mean....it is magical."

Day one was probably our best day crowd and weather wise. The rest of the trip was fun, but we had some record cold weather and lots of crowds to deal with.

kristisomer
01-29-2009, 02:04 PM
I worried about you when I heard a freeze warning for FL one morning. Sounds like a great first day. That was nice of them to let Glen complete his work there and even roped off the area. Like he had a mini study to himself.
Can't wait to hear about the rest.

34Angels
01-29-2009, 02:40 PM
Sounds like ya'll had a good first day, too bad Glen had to work all day, but at least ya'll got to have some quality mom/daughter time. I don't think I even saw the Columbia Harbor House, but that doesn't surprise me, there was a lot we didn't "see", we mostly rode rides. We figured our next trip we'll slow down a bit and see things instead of passing them by.

Tink
01-29-2009, 03:35 PM
I like the story about the lady who said her friend told her Disney was magical. That just proves what I tell everyone!
Sounds like a perfect day. So where is the Columbia Harbor House? What food do they normally serve?
When you mentioned first ride Haunted Mansion, second ride Small World I had to laugh. Those two are so much closer together at WDW. It is a very long walk between them at Disneyland - we know - we do it often. :) Alex doesn't mind the stretching room - he just hates all the people that scream because it hurts his ears.
I can't wait to read more!
Leanne

IluvKingLouis
01-29-2009, 03:37 PM
I really enjoyed the mom/daughter time. We rode the carousel together. I swear they plan it so that the ride stops with the horse at the highest position for the shortest riders. I was struggling to get off the ride, and Linnea who was next to me (so her horse was at the lowest point) is like "Come on mom!". :D

IluvKingLouis
01-29-2009, 03:40 PM
Leanne, Columbia Harbor House is in Liberty square...very close to the Haunted Mansion. It's counter service and they have chicken strips, fish and chips, some sandwiches, vegetarian chili, and clam chowder.

I've had the chili in the past. It was good. The downstairs gets noisy, but the upstairs is quite nice, and if you sit by a window you can people watch!

Tink
01-29-2009, 03:44 PM
We probably will never eat there - I would love it, but my boys are the pickiest eaters on the planet. Finding a place where the two of them can find something to eat is the biggest pain on earth. Sounds yummy too :(
Oh - and didn't I tell you not to worry about that alone time with Linnea? I knew it would be great!
Leanne

kristisomer
01-29-2009, 03:56 PM
I love Columbia Harbor House, you will miss it unless you are looking for it. It is right before the arch that leads from Haunted Mansion to Fantasyland. If you hit Peter Pan you went to far. I love their chicken strips.
However my kids really favor getting cheese with their fries since our Spring trip so we ate alot at Pecos Bills.
You have to love that quality mother/daughter thing. It is my favorite thing to do.

Tink
01-29-2009, 04:17 PM
I loved Pecos Bills - the burger bar was fantastic!
I love the quality time with Alex too. It is unexpected fun.
Leanne

34Angels
01-29-2009, 04:35 PM
I love the carousel! I have to ride the ones at every park we go to, have to. And we usually ride it last or close to last. Something really nice about going 'round and 'round and up and down to unwind after a long day at the end of a day running around an amusement park. And I like when the horse stops with me up high, Jake comes over and helps me down like a gentleman and I feel like a princess being helped down. :D

Esmerelda
01-30-2009, 10:47 AM
Gag me. Too mushy! :)
You guys will have to remind me that this is where we want to eat when we go back! We ate at Pinnochios cause we didn't want to walk all the way back to Frontierland or all the way up to Tomorrowland. That spot would have been good! ;)

kristisomer
01-30-2009, 12:25 PM
We don't really care for Pinocchio's Village Haus. Sorry to hijack your report Elaine