Aren't Graduations Grand! - May 2015 TR (New 10/30 - MK and California Grill)

SimplyGoofy

"You are not Mickey Mouse... you are a rat!"
Joined
Jul 31, 2011
Aren't Graduations Grand!
The Epic Celebration Trip


May 23 – June 8, 2015


Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy.

You also enter the world of surprises. Many, many surprises.

pixiedust:

First of all, welcome! In case you’re new to our adventures, allow me to introduce us:

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On the left is me, Jenny. I’m a lover of Disney World, Goofy, the Tower of Terror, and the Writer’s Stop’s Carrot Cake Cookie. In the non-Disney parts of the world, I’m also a fan of movies (both Disney and otherwise), reading, wine, good food, and home and kitchen stores.

On the right is my delightful sister, Anika. She loves Princess Anna (in movie form ONLY), the Grand Floridian, the Carousel of Progress, and Mickey Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Sandwiches. She also loves shoes, spending time with friends, and going on vacations where her sister foots the bill. ;)

We also had a third companion for a few days, our uncle, Wade:

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This trip was months (and in some ways, years) in the making. I hatched the idea last summer – what would be the best way to celebrate Anika’s high school graduation?

:idea:

A trip to Disney World, of course!

However, this was going to be no ordinary trip. Not only were we going to celebrate her graduation, we would also be celebrating her birthday at Disney for the second time. The more I thought about it, the more spectacular and wonderful things I kept adding onto the trip. Rather than one week at Disney, why not two? If we're attempting our first split stay, why not stay at four different resorts? I added a dinner show. I signed us up for a tour. I decided another trip to that “other” Orlando theme park was in order. And so on, and so on.

Oh, and did I mention other than our Orlando destination, my sister didn’t know a thing?

:lmao:

I’m thrilled you’re along for the ride!

Up Next: The Overview
 
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Chapter Links:

The Preview

Day 0 - Friday, May 22nd
And So it Begins...

Day 1 - Saturday, May 23rd
We're Leaving on a Jet Plane (continued)
The Awesomeness of Animation (continued)
We're Meeting a Stranger from the Internet?!
Hoop Dee, Hoop Dee, Hoop Dee Doo!
The Monorail is Down!

Day 2 - Sunday, May 24th
Tie-Dyed Cheesecake and the Potato Heads
I Scream for Ice Cream
Fun on the Boardwalk
Getting Tropical at the Royal Pacific
Did You Say Sushi?
And... You Took the Train to Hogsmeade?! (continued)

Day 3 - Monday, May 25th
Enjoying Our First Early Morning Entry (continued)
You're Gonna Get Drenched! (continued)
Welcome to Diagon Alley! (continued)
Escaping from Gringotts

Day 4 - Tuesday, May 26th
More Gringotts, Please!
Time for a Krusty Burger!
A Tour and a Train Ride
Our Last Night at Universal

Bonus! Universal 2017 Mini Trip Report
Back to Universal!
All About the Bays
Water Rides and More
It's a Race!
My Favorite Castle
Not Your Everyday Alley

Day 5 - Wednesday, May 27th
Surprise!
The Traditional First Park is Up!
Lunch in Japan
So, About This Avocado Margarita...
Pizza!
A Night at the Grand

Day 6 - Thursday, May 28th
A Grand Morning?
A Non-Celebratory Trip to Centra Care
Pinkies Up!
Chlorine Will Kill My Germs, Right?
A Table with a View
Relaxing in Grand Style

Day 7 - Friday, May 29th
The Birthday of Yesteryear
Happy Birthday, Dear Anika!
Heigh-Ho!
Dining with Paul Revere
An Afternoon of Fantasy and the Future
A Very Magical Birthday Dinner

Off-Topic
Well, I'll Be... A New Ticker!
I'm Back!
I Went to the Chapel
Bound for the Dark Side
The DIS is Calling
Happy Birthday!
The Planning has Commenced!
 
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The Preview

Here’s what you have to look forward to with our epic adventure…

Stays at four fun and BEAUTIFUL resorts:

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TONS of wonderful food:


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Delicious desserts:

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Many tasty snacks:

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Refreshing beverages:

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A birthday surprise:

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A few great character interactions:

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A few less-than-enthusiastic character interactions:

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Many thrill rides:

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Several attractions that required great concentration:

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And we never forget the classics!

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Finally, a visit to another magical world:

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Add in a few DIS meets, Star Wars Weekends, a key to the kingdom, lots of pool time, and one trip to the urgent care (wait, how did that sneak in there?!).

If you’d like to see a more detailed version of our plans, please check out my pre-trip report:

A Celebration Trip Full of Surprises

I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

Up Next: Surprise #1 - The First Resort
 
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I'm here!

And also enter the world of surprises. Many, many surprises.

This should be fun!

On the left is me, Jenny.

Hi Jenny! :wave:

I’m also a fan of movies (both Disney and otherwise), reading, wine, good food, and home and kitchen stores.

I think we'd get along just fine.

She loves Princess Anna (in movie form ONLY),

Okay! Okay! No real Annas... check.

If we're attempting our first split stay, why not stay at four different resorts?

:faint:

I’m thrilled you’re along for the ride!

Happy to be here! Can't wait!

Stays at four fun and BEAUTIFUL resorts:

Stayed at two out of the four.
Usually I just say "never been", so that's a big deal for me.


Less than enthusiastic???? But... but... but... it's Ariel!!!!


:faint:


Do NOT cross these girls! :scared:


Great shot!

and one trip to the urgent care

Uh, oh.


Sounds like it's going to be one heck of a TR! I can't wait!
 
Hello there stranger!!! Hard to believe that I've been away from the Dis so long and yet somehow managed to make it on page one of your new TR! :laughing: I was so overwhelmed at the thought of catching up on all the TRs/PTRs that I was so far behind in. But... I'm not behind on this one so maybe this will be my jump back onto the Dis :goodvibes Looking forward to hearing all about this!!! :hug:
 


I'm here and SO glad to see you back on here! Can't wait to hear all about this epic trip!
 
Hi Jenny! I'm here!! I can't wait to read along about your trip with your sister!! I'm hoping to do a trip in October 2016 with just me and my little sister (I'm 14 years older than she is), so I will be taking notes!! :)
 
Thanks for the heads up on your report! I have not been "DIS"ing much lately due to being really busy at work (my usual time for reading reports! LOL!) but I will have to go back and read everything tonight on this one! SO EXCITED to read and see everything!

Lynn
 
Following along! Can't wait to hear of your adventures! Sounds like you have quite the amazing trip!! :-D
 
Thanks for the heads up. Super swamped at the moment, but I'll be back later to read and reply. I've been looking forward to this TR for a long time!!!!
 
I'm so excited to follow along! I've been a creepy lurker for awhile on other trip reports, and this time I think I'll stop being so weird. You might be the coolest sister ever!!! Can't wait to hear about this trip!
 

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