Easter 2011 Rachau Traveling Crew.

Jeff - Loving husband, father and major financial supporter of this trip. :) Not a thrill ride seeker. Favorite meals this trip, Restaurant Marrakesh, Biergarten, Tusker House and Flying Fish. Best day, our Hollywood Studios day with 3 Toy Story Mania rides's, 2 shows and more while still out shortly after lunch. Favorite unique experience this trip, the Grande 1 Yacht for Wishes fireworks. Favorite attraction, Festival of the Lion King.

Janine - Loving wife, mother and major detailed planner for this trip. :) I have mellowed *a lot* with age and think differently of the thrill rides. :) Favorite meals this trip, Flying Fish, Tusker House and Cape May breakfast. Best day, a perfectly executed activity-packed day in Animal Kingdom with my parents. Favorite unique experience this trip, Easter Sunrise Service at Sea World. Favorite attraction, Soarin'.

Jason - Wonderful, older brother, son and always up for the next activity. Although I know that Jason would enjoy the thrill rides the most of us all, his apprehension of the unknown kept his thrill seeking at a minimum. :) Favorite meals this trip, "everything". He is a growing boy after all!! Best day, the third EPCOT morning or Typhoon Lagoon. Favorite unique experience this trip, "everything". He is a tween boy and not always so forthcoming with lots of information after all. :) Favorite attraction, Test Track.

Kurt - Wonderful, younger brother, son and lover of a good long nights sleep and lots of sweets. (This did affect Mom's ambitious plans, a little). He is a thrill seeker at heart but it is moderated by his propensity to know what he is getting into before making a plunge. Favorite meals this trip, any sugary snack and the one with the Mickey Puzzle dessert, (Flying Fish). Best day, Sea World. (He loves marine animals.) Favorite unique experience, touching a dolphin, a sting ray, penguin and a shark. Favorite attraction, Test Track.

History.

Both parents had been to Disney as children. Dad had been their once and stayed at The Polynesian. Mom went three times: 1974 with her father and brother, late 1970's with mother, grandmother, brother and his buddy; and once 1983, shortly after the opening of EPCOT with a friend. I never stayed onsite before bringing my current family.

November 2007, we made our first trip as a family. Kurt was still napping regularly and in a stroller. Also, the night before Halloween 2007, a pot handle broke from a full pot of boiling water. It gave me serious burns all over my left foot. The burns were still under major care during this trip. Much of the trip, I was in a wheelchair. This was a huge obstacle for us in our ability to get around quickly. However, it was a great Thanksgiving vacation none the less. It gave me confidence that we could take on the Easter crowds of 2011. EPCOT was my favorite park then, and as we traveled around its park in the monorail, I eyed the resorts set off from this park.

Itinerary.

Sat., April 16 -- arrive by plane, Beach Club check-in, EPCOT.
Sun., April 17 -- Magic Kingdom, Blizzard Beach
Mon., April 18 -- EPCOT
Tues., April 19 -- Animal Kingdom
Wed., April 20 -- Magic Kingdom
Thurs., April 21 -- Disney Quest, EPCOT
Fri., April 22 -- Hollywood Studios
Sat., April 23 -- EPCOT
Sun., April 24 -- Sea World
Mon., April 25 -- Typhoon Lagoon, EPCOT
Tues., April 26 -- EPCOT
Wed., April 27 -- Cape May brunch

Sat., April 16 -- arrive by plane, Beach Club check-in, EPCOT.

Trip to Walt Disney World
I woke up at 3:30 AM this morning, which is not so unusual these perimenopausal days. We had an easy car ride and check-in at the airport for a flight departing around 10 AM. Even security went smoothly as the First-class check-in was lightly attended, and we were ushered through their queues.

I found myself craving a non-nutritious cheese steak pizza at the airport, and regretted it, immediately upon biting into it. This is not the best way to start a trip that will be tempting my waistline and depriving me of good nutrition for multiple days.

The plane ride was uneventful and I sat next to a lovely young Mom, who lives close to our hometown. However, in all my excitement, I wasn't thinking things through upon arrival in Orlando. We needed the restroom and then proceeded to baggage claim. Umm,....with Disney's Magical Express you don't need to go to baggage claim. This was just my first mistake. My family trusting me with all my meticulous planning, then followed me to a bus marked Magical Express just outside the Disney's Welcome Center. As the bus driver checked my voucher, he kindly told me that I was trying to board a bus to the wrong resort,...and I realized that I was not following the proper protocol either. I am starting to feel very stupid. We, eventually, get into the proper lines and boarded onto a Magical Express bus heading to the Beach Club Resort.

Room Assignment
I had completed an online check-in, in advance. Upon arrival to the resort, everything is expedited, and we proceed to our room. I had decided to spring for a water-view, and requested lagoon view as opposed to pool view. I, really, wanted an end unit. Our initial assignment was just this. Except, there was a big 'ole crane just in front of our sliding doors on the ground floor. I was extremely disappointed and trying to temper my upsetment. In addition, Jason, who gets fixated on addresses already wanted the room number that we had received. Any talk of switching was upsetting him. Jeff agreed to let me go back to the lobby alone to speak with the reception. He managed Jason's room anxiety and everyone else's hunger and anxiousness to get to the pool.

I decided to go ahead and inquire of the price for an upgrade. Since the hotel was booked, this was not an option. However, I was given keys to a different room. She warned me that it was a long walk from the lobby. (No problem with that for me.)

I gather the family. Our travel worn gang takes a long walk to the furthermost wing on the second floor. Upon arrival, I first notice the tiny, dare to call it a balcony, balcony. Ugg...
I start doing a little agonizing, while the children are getting super-hungry, frustrated and cranky. Jeff understands my diappointment, (being that our last trip he enjoyed Wishes from our Grand Floridian balcony several nights). However, we need to turn this around and put on some rose-colored glasses. The view is nice. On our way to the pool and lunch, we begin to realize the rooms greatest feature,.. location, location, location! Our access to EPCOT is about as good as it could possibly get,...it's perfect, after all!

This is our wing. The EPCOT Spaceship Earth attraction, (the huge golf ball), is to the right in the picture.

This towel, Mickey, was on our bed upon arrival to our room.  

Lunch at Hurricane Hannahs
On our way, down the lake path behind the resort, we see several crane's and notice our first room from the outside. We are grateful to have been moved. But, how did I not know that The Beach Club was having renovations. I later learn that this is not considered renovations but is just maintenance in the due course of resort operations. We get to our counter service booth cranky. The menu board is not clearly defined with meal plan inclusions. As family members are beginning to meltdown, I sort through our choices and place our meal. No tables appear to be available and we start wandering with heavy trays. Around a corner, I see a man sitting at a table with several empty chairs. Another table is nearby without any chairs. I ask if he needs all of his chairs and he offers his table. At last, we are somewhat settled and eating. The food was plentiful and okay. But, we determine that we, probably, won't eat here again. There just weren't enough choices and the atmosphere was not relaxing enough.

Storm Along Bay
The boys love it!!! Mom hopes to use the boys swimming time, during our stay, for time to primp or organize, on occasion. For today, I made my way back to the room to make sure Garden Grocer and the luggage were rerouted to the correct room.

EPCOT - Mexico and La Hacienda dinner
We had dinner reservations for 7:00 with hopes to see Illusions Fireworks from our table. I had plans to come in to EPCOT early, alone while the rest of us were swimming. I wanted to visit the host(ess) at La Hacienda while checking out some of the Flower and Garden attractions, and make a plea for window seating. But, things did not go according to plan and we arrived in Mexico as a family only shortly before our reservation. I made a stop at La Hacinda's check-in, where I politely expressed our hopes to be seated near the window for the fireworks. It was suggested that we come back at our resrvation time and that they would see what they could do. (I did not slide them any incentives, but probably should have tried. ;) kidding) I noticed that several people were being turned down who did not have reservations in advance.

We took a quick ride on the Gran Fiesta tour, hurried through Mexico's Kim Possible mission and were given a booth far from the windows at La Hacienda. I was feeling the need to accept our fate, with or without Pixie Dust, for the rest of the day. In defense of La Hacienda with this report, we are feeling battle worn, yet not to a dramatic degree. However, our positive experiences here are likely to be diminished by the failed attempt for preferential seating, my high expectations, and Jeff and the boy's hunger and tiredness. The boys had cheese wrapped tortilla's and churro's for dessert. I had pork and Jeff had a flank steak. We both thought that our meats were dry. But, our vegetables were super. I had both a zucchini/onion mix and some corn with mango,...YUM - E!! Before our visit, I had read that it was only a "value" with the fireworks. I read that the food was marginal. I have to agree with this assessment overall. Since the family was not running on the adrenaline that I was anticipating, I recommended that we return to our room for a good nights sleep before Illuminations was complete. We exited the park as the firworks show was beginning, and made a beeline for bed.

 

I did take a few pictures in the Mexico ride: