A Disney Dream Come True - Nov/Dec TR ~ Oct10 Another TR :)

[JPFamilyMom]

I can not believe how super late I am to this party

First yippee for your dream come true vacation.

So glad you and Demetri got that special meal

About your bad DHS day I was ready to cry right there with you after reading it all. And my heart sank way down into my stomach when I was reading about Ariana wondering off.

Glad the rest of the trip up to this point has been much more enjoyable. And your DTD day looks like so much fun. You all were really having a great day.

You have a lot of GREAT pictures, and the holidays, oh Joey was really enjoying looking at pictures until he fell asleep...

Can't wait to read what happens next, and now I'll have to go get caught up on the new PTR

 

[mrsksomeday]

I am LOVING all these pictures. I was too cold to get Pop Century pictures, yours are amazing .

The Santa pictures are so precious and so are the hat pictures .

It was so great getting to meet you even if we were being heckled . Your husband is a hoot and I was cracking up when they were yelling at you. I am kicking myself for not getting a picture with you. My brain goes blank when we have spontaneous DIS meets .

 

[blairbear]

I am just joining your trip report! It is getting me super excited for my November trip. I can't wait to read more!! I am defiantly subscribing!!

It looks like you had a great "downtime" day! Sometimes those are the best, the days I remember from our previous trips are the most relaxing ones

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Sounds like you had the perfect day! I love going in all the shops at DTD. I'm happy just looking at everything. We got a lot of the same pictures. I can't wait to hear about your Epcot day.

It was a much needed restful, goofy day off... one in which Alex said he wished we had more of. At the time, note to self: more resort days!

Oh wow I’m so far behind! I started at the beginning again because I don’t think I ever got more then a few updates in!

Welcome back!

Sound like a fabulous trip to so!

Your MVMCP sounds a lot like ours! Not doing all the things you wanted to do! Boo!!! I’m soooooo happy you said that about wishing you had done the party twice! I’m contemplating 2 nights at MNSSHP in Oct! I think it will be easier to get everything in and not be exhausted because of it! I mentioned it to the kids and they liked the idea of getting 2x the candy! LOL!!!

Yay! Glad you can swing two parties, I think it'll make a big difference for us this Oct too.

I’m sooooo sorry that ended up you were so upset! It’s just not magical that thing like this happen on trips to WDW!! I completely, 100%, understand where you’re coming from though!! I’ve been there!

Luckily it was just the one craptacular night.

The Playhouse Disney meal looks so cute!!! I think that will be on our list for Oct! Ryan will love it!!!

It worked out really well.... Demetri had a blast!

WOW you must have felt so completely helpless when Ariana got lost! I remember reading a story or 2 of yours about her wandering before and I can’t even imagine how terrifying it is!

Her wandering is one of the biggest things we still need to work on with her. I'm so thankful she's gotten so much better over the years, but....

I love that Snow White display!!!! So many beautiful, fabulous things!

Ariana loved it

I hope you got to at least enjoy a little of your meal at Boma!!

I surprisingly really liked everything that I had. Though I usually try everything at least once I tend to stick to favorites. I don't think we got to desserts though ... it totally needs a do-over with just me!

I know what you mean about the gangster scene! We’ve only ever seen the cowboy scene once! It’s nice for a change!!! DH thought they had changed the ride!

Next time I'm going to ask ahead of time when the cowboy is coming.


Love you pics of the Osborne Lights!!! Amazingly beautiful aren’t they!?!

Gorgeous!!!

I’ve decided that getting a good picture of the Electric Water Pageant is nearly impossible! I’ve tried numerous times and it just doesn’t workout!

No kidding eh?

Woo hoo for a new trip!!! Woo hoo!!!

I LOVE going at Halloween!!!


It sounds like your breakfast/lunch at Tusker House was great! I love that place!!! Your Jingle Jungle Parade pics look fabulous!! That’s one of things we missed! Boo!

We really liked Tusker and are glad to be going back again this Sept/Oct. In November we had such problems with the dining system going down, I'm looking forward to not having to wait so much!

Woo hoo for all your rides on EE!!! How cool is that!? All your night pics of AK are so fabulous!!!

Soooo glad we got to do that before EMH ended, we had a lot of fun!


Love all your pop pics and I love your pics of Demetri with all the different hats on! Too cute!! It sound like you had a fabulous evening in DTD!!!

We had a lot of fun that day!

Whew, caught up now!

for Demitiri conquering Dinosaur AND EE!!!! That is one brave boy! And how sweet of Kathryn to offer her hand to him on Dinosaur.

And what a great no-parks day - LOVE THAT. Doing laundry at Disney isn't nearly as awful as it is doing at home, right? I found my laundry times were quite relaxing and enjoyable. Seriously, they have to put something in the air there.

I was laughing out loud at you guys being so goofy at Wolfgang Puck's. What an awesome memory and time!!!

We just had a planning session for our Sept/Oct trip, talking about our must-do's in each park, and Demetri was eagerly pointing to Dinosaur to add to the list. He's already forgotten his nervousness and wants to ride again. The rest of us however.....

Isn't it funny that I look forward to doing laundry while at Disney?! You're right, something must be pumped in the ventilation systems!

We can get pretty goofy ..... it's absolutely one of my favorite memories that I'm reminded of most times we sit down for dinner!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

I can not believe how super late I am to this party

WELCOME!!!!

First yippee for your dream come true vacation.

It was fantastic to be there at our favorite time of year. My only wish is if the weather had co-operated a little more but what can you do right?

So glad you and Demetri got that special meal

He LOVED it!!

About your bad DHS day I was ready to cry right there with you after reading it all. And my heart sank way down into my stomach when I was reading about Ariana wondering off.

Thanks Totally a crappy day with a few bursts of yay. I learned alot about planning after that day -- less is definately more.

Glad the rest of the trip up to this point has been much more enjoyable. And your DTD day looks like so much fun. You all were really having a great day.

A much needed relaxing day for sure.

You have a lot of GREAT pictures, and the holidays, oh Joey was really enjoying looking at pictures until he fell asleep...

Can't wait to read what happens next, and now I'll have to go get caught up on the new PTR

Awww, so sweet Joey fell asleep looking at Disney pictures.

I am LOVING all these pictures. I was too cold to get Pop Century pictures, yours are amazing .

The Santa pictures are so precious and so are the hat pictures .



It was so great getting to meet you even if we were being heckled . Your husband is a hoot and I was cracking up when they were yelling at you. I am kicking myself for not getting a picture with you. My brain goes blank when we have spontaneous DIS meets .

I'm glad you're enjoying the pictures! I love taking tons. Another lesson learned for me: take pictures of every DIS meet you have!

I am just joining your trip report! It is getting me super excited for my November trip. I can't wait to read more!! I am defiantly subscribing!!

It looks like you had a great "downtime" day! Sometimes those are the best, the days I remember from our previous trips are the most relaxing ones

Glad you've come aboard!!! You will love Christmas time at Disney. It's funny, some of my best memories are the down time ones too. It can be hard to plan down time in the race to 'do' Disney but it's so worth it when it comes together.

 

[Bethislucy]

Just found your trip report. I had to chuckle to myself when I was reading your hand jive part because I'm watching Greese. It looks like a fun trip can't wait to read more.

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Just found your trip report. I had to chuckle to myself when I was reading your hand jive part because I'm watching Greese. It looks like a fun trip can't wait to read more.

!! Love, love, love that movie... I think I've easily seen it a hundred times! Glad you're reading along and I love the Donald hats in your avatar!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Well my goodness, do I need to get my butt in gear over here or what? Four weeks between updates simply won't do. I shall try to kick it into over drive and wrap this baby up.



Let me quickly mention however that I posted a few fun things over on my joint PTR for Sept 2011 that I'd love for you to check out if you haven't already.

Ariana, Demetri and I went to go see Disney on Ice Let's Celebrate! with Natalie (Tinkermom76) and her girls a few weeks back.... you can catch up on it HERE (Natalie's post about it too is a few earlier than mine).

Also, Demetri and I went to see the Imagination Movers Live In a Big Warehouse Tour show and loved it... you can catch up on that HERE.

We're having a lot of fun with Disney themed family movie nights once a week too, so I'll shamelessly plug for you to come on over and have fun with us.



There, now back to our regularly scheduled programming.




We're up to Day 7 on this Dream Come True of a Trip and we've only now reached our first Epcot day. Amazing I know.

I think George and the gang were off getting park maps when we were getting these few Photopass pics taken. Despite Ariana's calm appearance, she was a bit antzy this morning and so for the first time ever, we asked to use her GAC on Spaceship Earth. The line usually goes so quickly there's never been a need but this morning it seemed to be crawling so we were directed to the other side of the ball to the alternate entrance. Big mistake. Huge mistake. This entrance was not meant for Ariana's needs. We fed thru a line that led to a waiting area outside the exit that dumps you into the games area. Groups of people were being let in at such long time intervals apart, I'm sure we could have gone thru the regular line twice.

Ariana was settled though and not wanting to take her all the way back to the other line again, she made it through fine. Until the ride stopped. People around us were snapping away with flash pictures so yes, I thought what the heck and snuck one myself.

A few more with no flash....

... and we were back in the gaming area. I was soooo ready to move on but the others were having fun.

First grabbing a Kim Possible mission ticket....

We headed on over to Mission Space.

I had no intentions on riding so George and I sat out while the kids all went together. Asking for a "pre-ride pose", here's what they gave me.

Ariana was trying to figure out what Alex was looking at, and the rest of them are giving BRAVE looks. Stunningly creative, aren't they?


CONTINUED IN NEXT POST.....

 

[Mickey_Mom]

While waiting, the weather, though still chilly, had a nice bright, sunny feel to it and we actually enjoyed just sitting and relaxing.


I wandered off for a hot chocolate.....

....mmmmmm, perfect to take the edge off. George wanted an ice cream bar. He wasn't letting no stinking cold weather prevent him from eating those yummy Mickey Head bars!

A few photos in the area and the first of my many attempts to snag the Tronorail....

.... and the kids were back raving about how great it was. Asked for a "post-ride pose".....

Moving on to Demetri's ultimate favorite Epcot ride, I snapped a quick pic of everyone.

Now the kids wanted their own ice creams so we stopped again.

Holding ice creams up to the sun will apparantly help make them a little less cold to the tongue.


Some scenery shots as we moved on to Figment and Captain EO....

.... and I was curious about these two rides we hadn't done before. We weren't very familiar with Figment and I'd heard mixed reviews about Captain EO so who knew what we were getting into.


NEXT UP: Scheduled DIS meets!!

 

[DisMomAmy]

I can't believe this was your first Epcot day!! What a mess at SSE - we've never had to use the GAC there & now we never will!

The kids all look like they were having fun!

Can't wait to hear what you thought of Figment & Captain EO.

 

[Tinkermom76]

YAY and update!!! I love Epcot so much, if I wasn't such a kid it would be my favorite park but I love MK too much

I am totally gonna hold my ice cream up to the sun but in September it might melt

 

[JPFamilyMom]

That really stinks about the GAC entrance to SSE, but glad things worked out ok in the end.

Love the picture of Alex and his friend in front of the Mickey Minnie topiary.

can't wait to hear your thoughts on figment, I've done captain EO in Disneyland so I already have an opinion on that but if you give a good review of figment it might be something we try in the future.

 

[Stefy]

Woo Hoo an update and a great one at that Great pictures, love the pose ones, so cute

 

[20thingamabobs]

Looks like a fun day at Epcot so far! In fact, I'm pretty sure I was at Epcot this day too! Those ice cream bars look yummy and the pic of Alex and Katherine is really cute! I can't wait to hear what you thought of Figment and EO

 

[mousescrapper]

I love the sound of "letting the kids go off and do a ride while we took a break" and now this pix below...so I was scanning up the post and just saw the pix but didn't read the caption below and my first thought was are they rocking out to some Disney song holing up ice cream vs lighters

Holding ice creams up to the sun will apparantly help make them a little less cold to the tongue.

oh and I will be curious what you think about Figment and Captain EO....we loved Figment way back when...it is one ride they just should have never messed around w/ and I think the key to enjoying Captain EO is to have consumed 3 alcoholic slushie drinks

 

[Mickey_Mom]

I can't believe this was your first Epcot day!! What a mess at SSE - we've never had to use the GAC there & now we never will!

The kids all look like they were having fun!

Can't wait to hear what you thought of Figment & Captain EO.

They must have been having issues with SSE stopping and causing the lines to be so long. Definately just stick it out in the main line. About Figment and Captain EO.....

YAY and update!!! I love Epcot so much, if I wasn't such a kid it would be my favorite park but I love MK too much

I am totally gonna hold my ice cream up to the sun but in September it might melt

Maybe we can hold it up there for just a quick minute! Can you imagine us asking a passerby or CM to take a picture of all six of us doing that?

That really stinks about the GAC entrance to SSE, but glad things worked out ok in the end.

Love the picture of Alex and his friend in front of the Mickey Minnie topiary.

can't wait to hear your thoughts on figment, I've done captain EO in Disneyland so I already have an opinion on that but if you give a good review of figment it might be something we try in the future.

We thought about leaving and coming back another time, but Ariana's always asked for SSE first every time we walk into Epcot. Not wanting to start the day off with her being upset, we stuck it out. The things we do for our kids eh?

About Figment and Captain EO......

Woo Hoo an update and a great one at that Great pictures, love the pose ones, so cute

Thanks! They're a fun bunch to take pictures of

Looks like a fun day at Epcot so far! In fact, I'm pretty sure I was at Epcot this day too! Those ice cream bars look yummy and the pic of Alex and Katherine is really cute! I can't wait to hear what you thought of Figment and EO

I ran into you again in a place where I couldn't take you're picture without it being weird.

About Figment and Captain EO.....

I love the sound of "letting the kids go off and do a ride while we took a break" and now this pix below...so I was scanning up the post and just saw the pix but didn't read the caption below and my first thought was are they rocking out to some Disney song holing up ice cream vs lighters

That's awesome, it's totally what they look like they're doing. Channelling their inner rock stars!

oh and I will be curious what you think about Figment and Captain EO....we loved Figment way back when...it is one ride they just should have never messed around w/ and I think the key to enjoying Captain EO is to have consumed 3 alcoholic slushie drinks

Our thoughts on Figment and Captain EO coming up now in my next update.....

 

[Mickey_Mom]

This trip for us was all about enjoying old favorites and trying new things. Some new things were working out, others.... weren't. But you never know when a new thing is going to become an old favorite, so it was time to go see Figment. We'd skipped it every trip before now but with Captain EO to try now too, we thought it was time.

The line was super short and as luck would have it, we were in the front car. George and I sat together in the first seats.

Not really knowing what to expect, it wasn't at all what we expected.

Sadly, (I'm sorry Angie ) we were not feeling it.

At all. Figment did not become an old favorite. Like the Enchanted Tiki Room, I'm glad we did it.... but we won't be doing it again.


That being said, Demetri had fun with the create your own music thingies.

Moving on!

The next show was a bit before it was to start so we enjoyed the fountains in the still nice sunshine. Having skipped this area for several trips, the kids didn't even remember seeing this before.

It wasn't too long of a wait and we were led into the area that you line up in to watch the pre show. Now I'm a big fan of Michael Jackson's early music so I was really hoping to enjoy this.


You all know what I'm going to say, don't you.





We didn't feel it. Now I know this was filmed back in the day and MJ was a singer and dancer, not an actor, but boy. I wasn't expecting to not like it that much. And you know how sometimes things can be such stinkers that it takes on cult status and is a must see? I'd go again only if I took Julie's advice and had those alcoholic slushies.


All that being said, you might be saying to yourself -- Is she bonkers? That show is awesome! I loved it! And that's OK! Let me know if you did.


As we were heading towards the Land for lunch, Alex saw a stand that was selling Captain EO tshirts and sun glasses. He soooo wanted to get a tshirt but instead asked me to take his picture in a Captain EO pose.

I frequently tell my son that he is weird.


Heading off to the Land, it was lunch time and that meant we got to try another new thing, eating at Sunshine Seasons.

Bunny enjoyed his lunch.

Sadly (again!!), I did not.

I couldn't find anything that I wanted to try and the salad I ended up with was not tasty at all. I think I had three bites and skipped it entirely. Gah!


It was now time however, for Ariana's favorite Epcot ride. (I say Epcot ride now because though I used to say this was her favorite of all the parks, Haunted Mansion is giving it a run for its money... )

CONTINUED IN THE NEXT POST......

 

[ZeroToHero]

I frequently tell my son that he is weird.

And I have to agree with you about Captain EO and Figment, but I love Sunshine Seasons! You just need to try something (I didn't think I was going to like it, but now it's my favorite lunch!)

And the GAC set-up for Spaceship Earth is awful... it's mainly for wheelchairs, I think, because the line is usually so short (and indoors, or at least covered) that most people can wait... but every so often you get that rush.

 

[wdwgirl03]

oh and I will be curious what you think about Figment and Captain EO....we loved Figment way back when...it is one ride they just should have never messed around w/

Ugh, AGREED! We all loved the original Journey into Imagination. Gotta love "One Little Spark" and the Dream Finder.

Tracy, trust us, the original version was a million times better than the one now. It's too bad you never got to experience it. I do have to say I am glad they added Figment again and the ending is kind of cute. But yeah, like mousescrapper said, they shouldn't have messed with it.

 

[Mickey_Mom]

I love this ride. LOVE!

Ah Patrick. You make me smile.

An old favorite that we were perfectly content to ride. This was Kathryn's first time of course and it was fun to see it through her eyes. She ducked at the golf ball and gasped at the fireworks and clapped at the end with the rest of us.


Our next ride was of course, Living with the Land. It was cute to see the occasional Christmas touch in here and I always try to find something new I haven't noticed before.

Time for one more thing before our dinner ADR. We can't leave the Land building without seeing the Circle of Life.

It's a cute show but one I'd skip if it were my decision. Ariana however, in keeping with her Lion King obession, must see it.


Slowly making our way towards World Showcase, we had a bit of time before our scheduled ADR. We'd had a small lunch not that long ago at Sunshine Seasons but we all had room for what we were hoping was going to be a most delicious dinner. I was also looking forward to Alex practicing his french.

We checked in and I waited out by the fountain while George, Alex and Kathryn waited in the little vestibule outside the entrance.

They had a space heater in there, the kind that I think looks like a lamp post... and it was cranking out the heat. When I walked past it after we were called in, I had to shield my face - whew!


Led to our table, I loved our spot. Against the windows, next to the spot where the characters walked in and out of. Our whole dinner we all got to wave at them coming and going.

I'd hemmed and hawed a bit in the planning stages of this trip, wondering if I'd be OK with Remy visiting my table. Would it freak me out just a little bit? By the time I was there and sitting at our table, I knew I'd be fine and even felt a bit silly that I'd hesitated. He is sooooo cute!!!

Oh well, yes, the waiter was handsome enough too -- when he wheeled the cart up to our table I got my camera ready and he stopped to pose for a picture -- but I meant Remy is so cute!


(click on it - it's a movie!)




It's tough to hear but Demetri was squeaking away just like Remy and the waiter was telling him how very good he was at it.

Ariana was seated right beside the cart and I was nervous she was going to try and grab him. She did reach for him when saying goodbye but the waiter was awesome and told us all that we really couldn't touch him as he must remain completely sanitary and he had no idea where our hands had been.


Dinner arrived and everything was wonderful.

My plans for this evening were to meet up with a whole host of other DISers for a celebratory drink for Toni's (oregonmommyof2) birthday. Joining were Reese (DevonsDisneyMom), Tracy (mrsksomeday), Whitney (20thingamabobs) and I think also Tammy (Tinker_Tam). Our respective schedules just worked out that way so we were going to meet in World Showcase after dinner for a drinkie or two. During dinner I'd texted Toni to tell her we were wrapping up and she texted back she was enjoying a margarita watching the Chinese Acrobats. I was excited!


George was going to take the kids back to Test Track and I headed to the bathroom. As big as Disney World is, it really is a Small World after all. Who do I bump into in the Les Chefs bathroom? Whitney! Our second (but not last!) chance encounter with one another. I knew she'd had a reservation at Les Chefs close to our time but I'd not seen her until we were leaving. We chatted ever so briefly and said our farewells, hoping to meet up again later that night. No picture of that bathroom DISmeet.


Continued in the next post, enjoy this pictoral view of my walk over to find Toni drinking her margarita.