Mom/Daughter Disney Fanatics : 2016 Year of Trips, Events, and Very Exciting News!

[mousetravel]

We are a traveling team made of Mom & Daughter! We're pretty much the only Disney crazy fanatics in our family, so we just go by ourselves, and it's the best!! I really wouldn't have it any other way!

I've made several TR's from previous trips, but I've been away from the boards for a while, maybe a year. Last year was a tough year, and we didn't get to take our yearly Disney trip.
But this year definitely made up for it!!

Hope my regular Dis-friends (and hopefully new ones) join me in more adventures coming up!!


I can't wait to share our adventures from this year, so far:


March: Disney World and first time ever to Discovery cove and a Disney water park!

June: DD's birthday trip to Hilton Head!

August: Disney World and BOTH water parks!

(And the exciting news I'll share a little later on!)

 

[Pinkocto]

Yay! So glad to see you back on here can't wait to read about your trips and hear the exciting news!!!

I'm in Florida now, so whenever you come back down I'd love to meet you at Disney. Or anywhere else for that matter.

I've heard amazing things about Discovery Cove.

Sorry last year was a tough one

 

[mousetravel]

This trip was full of "firsts"!! We've been on 12 Disney trips, but it seems like we always do something for the first time there!

For our March trip, we decided (for the first time) to go with Southwest from Atlanta to Orlando. When we fly, we usually go with GSP to Sanford and get a rental car. So for this trip we didn't have a car, so it was very different!

We had a great, quick (little over an hour) flight

We hopped aboard Disney's Magical Express and we were on our way!

 

[mousetravel]

More coming up.... (having computer issues)

 

[mousetravel]

Another first…….We got a room upgrade!!!

We booked a preferred room at All Star Music. And we got upgraded to the family suite!


Our room was in the Calypso section




It was really nice to have the extra space, little kitchen, and 2 bathrooms!!




Bedroom:













Cute little kitchen area:




After checking into our room and getting settled, we took the bus to Disney Springs. Did a little shopping, and went to our favorite places there!!




Yummy!








While at Disney Springs, we also got a glimpse of a rocket launch! That was pretty neat!

(Can’t really tell much from this pic, though)





So we spent the rest of our day shopping and checking out the new areas of Disney Springs. Before we left, we wanted to eat at Rainforest Café (no reservations), but of course they were packed, so at the last minute I called the Disney dining line, and told the CM that we really wanted to find somewhere to eat, and it was already about 8pm. To my surprise, she said they had an open reservation…………if I could make it in 30 minutes!!!

Coming up: Last minute reservations, and a day at Discovery Cove!!

 

[mdsouth]

Sounds like you have the perfect travel companion!
My last trip was a combination of mother-daughter only for four days and then my hubby and son joined us for the last three days. I really liked how the trip turned out. It was fun to just focus on my daughter and getting to do things for just the two of us.

I am looking forward to reading about your experiences.

What a fantastic surprise for you to be upgraded to the Family Suite! Very cool!

 

[Pinkocto]

I had no idea they even had suites at the All Star resorts, too cool! It looks really nice, and upgrades are always awesome.

Yummy choices at DTD. I hope you were able to make it to dinner

 

[mousetravel]

Yay! So glad to see you back on here can't wait to read about your trips and hear the exciting news!!!

I'm in Florida now, so whenever you come back down I'd love to meet you at Disney. Or anywhere else for that matter.

I've heard amazing things about Discovery Cove.

Sorry last year was a tough one

Thanks for joining in! I need to get to your TR, noticed you had a new one. I didn't even think to contact you before we went in August about meeting up. Was you already in Florida then?
Discovery Cove was amazing!!

Sounds like you have the perfect travel companion!
My last trip was a combination of mother-daughter only for four days and then my hubby and son joined us for the last three days. I really liked how the trip turned out. It was fun to just focus on my daughter and getting to do things for just the two of us.

I am looking forward to reading about your experiences.

What a fantastic surprise for you to be upgraded to the Family Suite! Very cool!

Thanks for joining in! I love our mom/daughter trips!

I had no idea they even had suites at the All Star resorts, too cool! It looks really nice, and upgrades are always awesome.

Yummy choices at DTD. I hope you were able to make it to dinner

Just the All Star Music Resort has the suites. It was really nice!

 

[mousetravel]

So, I called the Disney Dining #, to try to get in a last minute reservation while we were at Disney Springs. The CM said if I could make it there in 30 minutes, we could get a reservation at Chef Mickey’s!!


So we headed out of there as fast as we could, and hopped on a bus to the Contemporary!























As we headed out, here comes Mickey again! He even posed for me!








We had a great time there, but we were ready to get to bed, since we planned a very early arrival day at Discovery Cove!!!

 

[Pinkocto]

Chef Mickey's!!! How cool that a last minute reservation was available!!! I've only been there for breakfast but I loved it!

Yes, I was here in August, sorry I missed you. Next time I hope we can get together

 

[heaven2dc]

Good to see you back again!! Always enjoy reading about your trips You really lucked out so far on your trip - room upgrade and last minute dining res (and at Chef Mickey's too!!)

 

[mousetravel]

Chef Mickey's!!! How cool that a last minute reservation was available!!! I've only been there for breakfast but I loved it!

Yes, I was here in August, sorry I missed you. Next time I hope we can get together

I always liked the character interaction there! I'd love to meet up next time we're there! We've been talking about dates,but not sure when it's going to be!

Good to see you back again!! Always enjoy reading about your trips You really lucked out so far on your trip - room upgrade and last minute dining res (and at Chef Mickey's too!!)

Thank you for joining in! Glad you enjoyed my TR's!!

 

[mousetravel]

We got a taxi to Discovery Cove. When we arrived, we went through the entry way, and that's where you check in and receive your ID badges, which they put on a lanyard for you.

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After you pass through check-in, there's a photographer there and you'll receive a complimentary photo at the end of your day.

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Walked through some beautiful scenery as we made our way to the buffet for breakfast.

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Entering buffet area

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They have all kinds of foods on the buffet, and it's included in your package price.

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Very yummy!!!!

We walked around a bit, checking out how beautiful this place is!!

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More pics coming up!

 

[Pinkocto]

Discovery Cove looks beautiful! What time do you have to get there in the morning?

 

[mousetravel]

Discovery Cove looks beautiful! What time do you have to get there in the morning?

I think I remember they opened at 8 or 9, but they let you arrive about 7:30 so you can get checked in and get breakfast before all the water activities start.

 

[Pinkocto]

I think I remember they opened at 8 or 9, but they let you arrive about 7:30 so you can get checked in and get breakfast before all the water activities start.

Is it worth it to get there early?

Happy New Year!!!

 

[mousetravel]

Is it worth it to get there early?

Happy New Year!!!

Yes! Definitely get there early!!

Hope you had a great New Year too!

Also, I'm trying a new photo sharing site because photobucket has been awful lately! It's taking forever to download pics and that's why I haven't been posting much. But hopefully this new one will work and I can get this TR moving along!!!

 

[buzzrelly]

Joining in! I love that you travel with your daughter. My dd is just as Disney-crazy as I am and I hope it always stays that way!

Can't wait to see and read more about Discovery Cove

 

[mousetravel]

After breakfast, we walked around some more, as we made our way to the area where you pick up your wetsuits and snorkel gear (also included in the admission price, AND you get to keep the snorkel gear, which comes in a convenient mesh drawstring bag)

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One of several snack stations
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I didn't have a camera to use in the water, but I did take a gopro but for some reason it wouldn't charge up enough, so I only have a few pictures in the water.

So we got our wetsuits on and headed in the water! With it being early March, it was a little chilly out, but they keep the water heated (except for the snorkeling waters).
There's several different swimming areas and a lazy river. It was so relaxing! I loved this place!!


As we looked into their "excursions" we decided to do a "SeaVenture" which is where you have the scuba type gear, only on your head, and you can walk under water. It was really neat, but kinda claustrophobic for me!

More coming up!

 

[Pinkocto]

The grounds are gorgeous!!! Reminds me very much of Mexico. How lovely you get to keep the snorkel gear.