Background
I started this trip report while I was still at Disney three months (!) ago. I’ve debated whether or not to finish it, much less post it. Part of that is due to how late it’s gotten, part of that is due to not wanting the trip to end, and if the report’s not finished … And part of it is because there were plenty of less than magical moments on the trip that I wasn’t sure I wanted to share with the world. I decided to write the report and post it anyway to relive the happy parts, acknowledge all good things must come to an end, share my experience of Disney at Thanksgiving, and share some of the reality of family travel. Let me say this – People here in the forums were so very helpful in my planning. I read a lot a lot a lot of threads, learned great tips and tricks, got feedback on my customized touring plans, and I am convinced that this really added to the quality of our trip. So thanks, neighbors!
Travel group was DH42, DS4, turning 5 on the trip, DS15, spending a portion of the trip with his HS marching band (4.5 days) and a portion with us (3.5 days), and me. This is a 3rd WDW trip for both DH and me; we each went (separately) as teens in the late 80s, and DH and I took DS15 back when he was DS7, in June 2012. This was DS4-5’s first trip. We traveled Friday, Nov. 22 – Friday, Nov. 29 and stayed at CBR in a standard room. We did not do the dining plan but we did buy mugs, first two, then a third, then a fourth, and we more than got our money’s worth. I purchased room only from Disney website, eight day park hoppers from Undercover Tourist, and in using the calculators and reviewing menus, I thought the dining plan would be too much food and not worth the money, and after the fact, I was right about that.
Friday, November 22
DS15 slept over at his friend’s house and they went to airport together to meet the marching band, so the day began for DH, DS4 and me around 3:30 a.m., to allow a one hour drive to the airport and departure on a 7 a.m. flight. Lowlights included staying up packing until midnight, realizing halfway to the airport I’d left the DME luggage tags at home, and getting through security and making it to the gate, to realize I’d left my phone in our car. Highlights included DS4’s excitement about the airport and plane trip. Also, CAK is a small airport and our flight was delayed, so I made it to the car and back in plenty of time. And the delay was short in that we were able to make up time on the way to CLT and arrive in Orlando at noon, as scheduled. The flights themselves were uneventful, DS enjoyed it and slept some on the second leg.
At MCO we collected our luggage and made our way to DME. We waited maybe 5-10 minutes before boarding and were among the last boarded. CBR was the first stop, so all in all it was a quick trip. I was so very excited when we got moving and the video started, only to look down and realize DS was asleep again.
Upon arrival we were headed to Bell Services to check the bags when we were intercepted by a cast member. He helped us get the bags stashed and then ushered us to check-in. I had already checked in online the day before, but we went anyway. We were the first in line and waited about 10 minutes to talk with a cast member. Room not ready, so we went to get something to eat. Can I just interject here that I felt a weird pressure to decline Mousekeeping. The person checking me in must have asked me three times. When I am on vacation, I want the room cleaned, and preferably not by me. With all we’d spent on the trip thus far, the extra cash didn’t seem worth it. But the pressure pitch felt strange.
We got DS4 a brownie from the market while we worked on mobile order for Centertown. We probably didn’t need it at that meal, but I’m glad we figured it out early in the trip because many times, at the resort and in the parks, we mobile ordered and avoided some very long lines.
The selection at Centertown Market is a little limited, but it is themed to the Caribbean, and it was nice to have more than chicken fingers, burgers and fries. We had Cuban sandwiches, the first of several that trip, fries and fruit, and shared some sort of yummy rum drinky-drink and sat outside near the water to relax and enjoy our meal. Shortly after we’d finished lunch, we took a quick walk around Old Port Royale and got the room ready text, Jamaica 4346. Second floor, corner room. It was not the building I requested via TP email at 30 days out, but it was a great building and room. I really wanted second floor and just lucked into the corner with extra window. View was courtyard and other buildings, which was nice. And we were very near the Skyliner, which worked well for us.
The room itself was fine. The furnishings were in good condition given the heavy use. The brown carpet is worn and needs to go; it makes the room feel less clean. I could tell our side table wasn’t completely clean (streaks, fingerprints) and the tub/shower/toilet and surrounding floor could have been cleaner, esp. the floor. It hardly seemed worth calling Mousekeeping about. I wiped a few things down, we unpacked some, and called bell services. They delivered the luggage within 10 minutes of the call. So at that, we were on our way.
The beach is my happy place and to that end, I loved CBR. The grounds felt lush and tropical, so peaceful and relaxing. Yes, it is spread out, but last trip we stayed at CSR, and that resort is also lovely and spread out, too. We played a little on one of the beaches near our room, laid in all the hammocks, and visited the playground on Caribbean Cay, which was great for DS. Probably about 4 p.m. we got moving for our 5:40 ADR at Chef Mickey’s.
DS is a big fan of all things transportation, so we took the bus to MK, DS fell asleep again, and then the monorail to the Contemporary, which he seemed to enjoy. That is sort of the last thing he truly enjoyed that evening until we were back at the resort. I think everyone was tired, esp. DS, and it showed in his behavior, and mine. For example, his reaction when I gave him an autograph book at an early birthday present was not at all characteristic of my sweet boy or what I had expected, and I ended up in tears. Not the way I had hoped to start dinner.
I hadn’t expected much from CM’s but I left pleasantly surprised. The food was actually pretty good, esp. the beef dishes, and there was plenty of choice for picky eaters. My husband and I each had a cocktail; watermelon margarita for me and something with bourbon for him. Both were good. DS would not sit on the outside where the characters could easily reach him, though after the first visit, Mickey, he did sit on the outside of the bench. I kept thinking he or one of the characters would get thwapped by the door, which he may have deserved, but they did not. I was surprised that we had to tell him more than once to be kind of gentle with the characters, but we did. As you know, the Fab 5 rotated through, we got a couple good pictures and a lot of bad to mediocre ones.
After dinner we got back on the monorail and it was so fun to see the castle all lit up at night, which made all of us very excited. When we exited and were headed back to the bus, DS saw all of the people headed into MVMCP and wanted to go in, too. We had an eight-day parker hopper (overkill for an eight day vacation with small children, IMHO) but obviously not party tickets. I had considered it and really wanted to go, but I got advice here to call it an early night so we could be ready to go in the morning, and that was spot-on for us, as the MVPCP near-meltdown proved. We headed back to the room, DS fell asleep on the bus, again, and we were all in bed, lights out before 8 p.m.