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[PetiteSirene]

Imagine if you will the scene, its 1997 and a 12 year old girl is given by her mother the Brits guide to Walt Disney World Florida. Her eyes bright with promise and excitement as she pours over the pages over and over, taking the book everywhere with her as she dreamed of dancing with Princess's amongst the colour of Disney.
Unfortunetly her dreams were crushed as her mother turned evil queen told her that she had just bought the book for her to look at. The poor little girl cried for days knowing she wouldn't be able to go to the ball and dance with her Prince.

Now bring yourselves 10 years into the future, that little girl is going to marry her prince, and as a present her no longer wicked mother and aunty pay for her and her Prince to go to Walt Disney World for the week. This is their story...

Sorry guys I know its really cheesy but I really could not resist , I have never written up a review so please bare with me!


We arrived on the 1st September in Orlando Airport and took a shuttle to Orange Lake resort were we were staying for the week. We were both very tired as we had been awake for over 24 hours, but both excited at the same time. We headed out to Downtown Disney after checking in to get to grips with things and to get Dinner.

 

We managed to get a table at the already packed Rainforest Cafe where we started off the celebration of both my birthday and our engagement. We didnt do all that much in Downtown, I bought my Pal Mickey (A mickey plushie that tells you facts as you go round the parks) and some new decorations for my Crocs. I also got given a Birthday badge with my name on it from guest relations, all the staff were wishing me a happy birthday!



First place on our list was Animal Kingdom, in my opinion the most beautiful park out of the 4. Thats where we picked up our lovely hats (Sebastiens hat is a pluto hat he didnt wear it all the time, unlike me!)

We really felt like we had walked into a tropical rain forest, it was lovely, and the tree of life was amazing!



The first thing we headed for was the Safaris for a Fastpass, then we wandered over to Expedition Everest. We took our time looking at the animals and stopping for photos, on the way there we bumped into Baloo and King Louis. ( The bear not the Mod )



At first Expedition Everest was shut, but we managed to get a Fastpass and ride both the safari and Everest in quick succession.

Everest was truely an amazing ride, the theming was amazing both in the queue and on the ride. The mountain can be seen from almost anywhere and I believe it is now the tallest structure in WDW.



We were really lucky as the first week of September is very quite, we managed to ride everything several times. We also got to meet some  of the characters:







We were sad to leave Animal Kingdom as it really was amazing, it was our first taste of Disney for the holiday, but we still had plenty to look forward to in the days to come!

[mtt]

aniaml kingdom is great, never done everest and it wasn't open when I last went but i love the safari

[PetiteSirene]

On our second day we headed over to Epcot, the magic started before we had even entered the park! I was wearing my birthday badge (As I had been told by the cast member to wear it all week!) proudly for all to see. The first thing I did was to grab a map from on of the shop stands outside. The girl noticed my badge and said happy birthday and I got talking to her and the other cast members. One of them asked if I had received a message, I was a little confused and said no and the Cast member insisted that they had a message for me. He picked up the stall phone and dialled a number, talking to someone on the other end then handing the phone to me. I couldnt help but grin, it was Goofy wishing me a Happy Birthday! I went a very bright red after that!!!!



We decided to head off to Soarin first and we waited eagerly at the barrier infront of the Soarin staff ready to be shown to our rides after the opening show! We managed to get on the first ride of the day, it was an amazing experience (I personally wouldnt go on it more than once in a day). After that we headed over to Test Track, but on the way we got distracted by the character meet and greet area:













We finally did make it to test track, there was no queue so we rode on it several times. The last section outside is really cool!

We didnt spend the whole day in Epcot as we really werent all that interested in the world sections. So we hopped on the monorail and headed over to Magic Kingdom.

 
This was our first view of Cinderella's castle from the boat, I think it was at this point that I finaly realised that I had made it to Disney World!



The castle truely was amazing, I was expecting the park to be packed, but once again it was very quiet. We headed up to splash mountain, the one ride I was really looking forward to. I was so excited that I managed to pick up the wrong fastpass and ended up with BTM instead!

After we got a ride on Splash and BTM we were lucky enough to catch the beginning of the Dream come true parade. Everyone was standing on the opposite side out of the sun so there were no people infront of me!




Walt Disney starts the parade!









I managed to get a photo of Cinderella's float infront of her castle!

This ones for you Prince

We managed to go on everything that day, but I was keen to go back there later on in the week. I had all the cast members saying happy birthday to me and I even had birthday wishes written in my book!

But something was about to happen that would put a downer on things...

[The Butlin Boy]

Great report so far

[PetiteSirene]

On our third day we had a non disney day and headed over to Universal Studios. I dont want to go into any details of the park but that was the day it happened.

In my excitement I tripped over the kurb infront of Twister and sprained my ankle. It was fine for most of the day until the queues started getting longer. I got off the Mummy ride half way through the day and I was almost in tears, I was in so much pain!

Now before I had left for Orlando I was upset since I was suffering from backpain and I was scared it would spoil the holiday, that passed but then this! I was really embarrased and they got a paramedic to the ride to look at my foot. I was given an ice pack, some Ibuprofen and a hand down the ramp to an awaiting wheelchair.

I must point out here that I spent the rest of the day in the wheelchair and it was horrible. I felt ignored by the staff when they were loading rides and it really spoiled my day being in the wheelchair.

Of course this changed the next day!

The day after we went to MGM studios. First thing we did was head over to customer relations and we explained what happened. I wish I remembered the cast members name, she was lovely and when we told her what happened she gave us a comp wheelchair pass. I started to feel that maybe the trip wasnt spoiled after all!




Here is the first photo of me in the wheelchair... I decided after meeting Stitch I would get out of the wheelchair for character greets. Though my fiance was determined to get more!


We had lunch in the diner drive in, it was great! It actually felt like we were in a drive in cinema!


I had really thought that we wouldnt be able to spend the full day in MGM, Rockin Rollercoaster was shut and I was way too scared to go on Tower of Terror... At least I had thought so!



I finally got the courage to go on, and I loved it! We went on it almost all day! I got to know the staff really well. The first time we were sitting in the back, we went to purchase the photo and one of the cast members remembered me from earlier. (My fiance had gone on and I waited at the exit for him.) She was really kind and took us through the back so we could get on the front!
Then outside I waited for my fiance as he went to the little boys room, I got talking to the cast member there and he posed for a photo and took one of the two of us.




It was a wonderful day and we ended it by going to see Fantasmic. We headed there an hour before ( I was sad to say goodbye to ToT ) and there were already loads of people taking their seats. We were escorted to our seats by a cast member because I was in a wheelchair, he was really cheerful and asked us about our stay, he gave us the best wheelchair seats in the house, dead centre behind the empty VIP area! I was thrilled!

Unfortunetly non of my photos turned out, but there was one I kinda consider a work of art:



I really enjoyed my day at MGM, there was one day left of Disney, it was going way too quickly!

[PetiteSirene]

Great report so far

Hehe thanks 3 days down 1 to go!

[PetiteSirene]

On our last day in Disney we went to Magic Kingdom. Although we had seen the parade and been on all the rides I wanted it to be this park that I spent my actual birthday in.

I was still in my wheelchair and we still had the comp to use. This time round we spent more time admiring the look of the park, not just the rides.



Once again it was really quiet and there were hardly any queues. It was a great experience getting to see the park both in and out of the wheelchair. It really made me think about people who had to spend their whole time in a chair and how peoples reactions do matter.

This time round I also queued up for more characters, as we werent in a rush to go on the rides:




When Ariel learned that my Fiances name was Sebastien she insisted on him being in the photo too!




We also got to see the Parade again, we were seated in the VIP wheelchair area and it was amazing, all of the characters waved to our side as they passed and would come over to shake our hands. It really was amazing!



This was taken just before Meeko the Racoon came over to kiss my hand





That night we were going to eat at the Crystal Palace restuarant. My fiance had it booked for 9pm, but something unexpected happened. Whilst on Space Mountain my watch came off and I lost it. I had to  buy one in the park so we could tell the time. The woman at the shop said she had set it to the right time, but it was an hour slow! We turned up at 10 and were eating whilst the fireworks went off so we couldnt see them.

I couldnt really complain though! Our waitress covered our table with Mickey Confetti and brought the characters to us as they were about to leave!






And as if that wasnt enough, after our meal our waitress brought out a card signed by all the characters and a wonderful cupcake baked by Winnie the Pooh!





That was our final day in Disney, I was really sad to leave. It had really made me realise that Dreams really can come true, all you have to do is believe!

Thankyou for reading my report hope it wasnt too bad to read! If anyone has any questions just let me know!

xXxPetite SirenexXx

[The Butlin Boy]

Thanks for the report, I really enjoyed reading it, even more than some of the DLRP reports I have to say because I haven't actually been to WDW, although I'd love to :wink:

[PetiteSirene]

Thanks for the report, I really enjoyed reading it, even more than some of the DLRP reports I have to say because I haven't actually been to WDW, although I'd love to :wink:

It really is quite magical, of course the weather does help . I intend to go to DLRP next year so hopefully I can do a report there too

[Soap]

:oops:  I'm so jealous! Want to go there myself! Maybe next year December! Great report, thanks for sharing!

[PetiteSirene]

:oops:  I'm so jealous! Want to go there myself! Maybe next year December! Great report, thanks for sharing!

It was great fun and all the cast members were so helpful, especially when I was in the wheelchair. I was embarassed at first in the wheelchair, but everyone at Disney was so great, they made sure I still had a good time!

I have heard that the first week of december is the quietest and they already have the decorations up by then .

[Soap]

Going there on my honeymoon ( 12-12-08 ), so it will be the middle of december.

[PetiteSirene]

Wow I am sure it would be fantastic! If you do go make sure to pick up the 'Just Married' and 1st Visit badges from any of the Guest relations!

I believe its the last week of December that is the busiest leading up to new year, but not sure!

[minnielover]

Wow sounds like a wonderful time x

[mtt]

Great picks love wdw

decembers great to do, been twice and the crowds are low, plus they have the christmas partys at night, and the osbourne lights at mgm