Ain't Nobody Got Time For That - Yucky Neighbors! (1/3)

[Hollywoodhaha]

I had that iPad thing happen to me as well in March. It was awkward because I was just walking off of magical express and already was checking in, I was like..well, ok, this is new!

 

[Happy Duck]

I love your room! I stayed back at AKL back when I was 12 and those pics just bring it all back! The ambiance of the room is just fabulous. Great view! (Even with the people pens!)

 

[jecskc]

Joining in !! Enjoying so far !! Looking forward to more !!

 

[My sister's princess]

Define "all planned" LOL..... I have flights booked, ADRs made, mousekeeping envelopes done and filled. I have one resort booked, but not sure if I'm switching or not. Still a lot to figure out!
AKL is one of the ones in the running, so I am looking forward to all your resort info and pics

We LOVE it. I would encourage anyone to stay there!!!!

I had that iPad thing happen to me as well in March. It was awkward because I was just walking off of magical express and already was checking in, I was like..well, ok, this is new!

We thought it was very welcoming, and made things much faster. Did you feel like it slowed you down?

I love your room! I stayed back at AKL back when I was 12 and those pics just bring it all back! The ambiance of the room is just fabulous. Great view! (Even with the people pens!)

We really enjoyed it!

Joining in !! Enjoying so far !! Looking forward to more !!

VERY soon. I have the next few updates written, just waiting for a few more photos that I should have fairly soon

 

[danceintherain]

How fun! I'd love to stay at AKL again one day.

 

[surfergirl602]

are the photopass pictures back yet? hint hint

 

[My sister's princess]

How fun! I'd love to stay at AKL again one day.

Me too! It just screams Disney to me now!

are the photopass pictures back yet? hint hint

They came TODAY!!!!!! Here come the updates people!

 

[jenniferreich]

Thanks for sharing your wonderful trip report! We are staying at AKL in November, so I look forward to hearing what you thought!

I loved what you said: "I don’t watch media coverage of things like that. I can’t handle it. My heart is soft, and I am OK with that. " I'm the same way, and I never heard it put so well.

I like your blue Mickey shirt--I have the same one!

Most importantly, thank you to your husband (and to you!) for his service to our country!

I hope you're having a great day! Jennifer

 

[My sister's princess]

We had a plan for this afternoon. We were going to take out time checking in, and then after getting settled we would head to Magic Kingdom and hang around Liberty Square and Frontierland. Before we got going I wanted to check my spreadsheet to make sure I had the right reservation time…. This is when I discovered that I never printed our spread sheet and pressed penny list! Thankfully a quick call to the best house sitter ever, and I knew it would be in my email!

We hopped on the bus and were on our way!!!
When we got to the Magic Kingdom I was very happy to see the line at guest services was very short, because we had to get our tickets still! We are VERY thankful to Disney for offering the Stars and Stripes tickets to military families, and had a great chat with the girl working the window. She was excited by how excited I was, and proceeded to make me my own special 5th visit button, and Josh a 4th visit button. He then threatened to go down without me to catch up!!!

We stopped to get a photo in front of the train station.



We entered through the left hand side and I told Josh about how the popcorn cart was there to make it feel like you are entering a movie!

We strolled down Main St. for a bit taking a few photos. I don’t know if you can tell from this photo, but I was a little happy to be there!



We were surprised when we so quickly got offered a magic shot!



And of course, at long last, the return of Josh’s surprised face, which is kind of a big deal in my trip reports!



And then went AGAINST every grain or our plan and headed to the new Fantasy Land.

We found this amazing machine, and I couldn’t resist a photo!



We headed into the new shop, and explored a bit!





Stepping outside we were able to see the adorable new fountain!



Both Josh and I got a kick out of the dedication.



We wandered all the way down to the end of the area, taking a few photos as we went. I LOVE Ariel, and the Little Mermaid as a whole, so this area blew my mind!





The wait time to go in and see Ariel was only 15 minutes so Josh suggested we go ahead and go in! I about died I was so excited. When we walked in the Cast Member at the beginning gave me a red card to carry through.



I took a TON of photos in the queue area…



I LOVED the seaweed gates, and light fixtures!





Everything in this area made you feel like you were in an ocean cave.



The first area that you go into is much bigger than I thought it was going to be. Compared to the old grotto area this is heaven. It is nice and cool, and it is covered completely from the sun. The first time I met Ariel, my sister and I stood in the sun for almost an hour. It was crazy.



One of the little details that really make this an ocean cave is the floor. It looks just like sand, and has seashells embedded through the whole area.



Even the toppers on the gating were seashells!!



Right before you are taken to Ariel’s area you see these really neat light fixtures!



Of course Ariel was very sweet, as was the person who kept everyone in line. She and I chatted about her earrings. She told me that the new things in the shop don’t even tempt her anymore because she has so many Disney items… HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE!?

We had a very nice chat with Ariel about how tired we were and that seeing her was the first thing we were doing on this trip.
Here, Ariel and I confused each other.



And she made me laugh, while Josh was confused



LOVE the terrible photos, sorry honey!



And a good one!

 

[My sister's princess]

Thanks for sharing your wonderful trip report! We are staying at AKL in November, so I look forward to hearing what you thought!

I loved what you said: "I don’t watch media coverage of things like that. I can’t handle it. My heart is soft, and I am OK with that. " I'm the same way, and I never heard it put so well.

I like your blue Mickey shirt--I have the same one!

Most importantly, thank you to your husband (and to you!) for his service to our country!

I hope you're having a great day! Jennifer

We LOVE AKL, I have a TON more photos to post later in the report, I took some really detailed shots

I am a big fan of owning who you are, and I know I am a soft heart, and what I have to do in order to keep it from ruling my life

LOVE my blue shirt, I wear it all the time!

I will pass on your thank you to him, he is pretty wonderful.

Have a good one yourself!

 

[afwdwfan]

We had a plan for this afternoon. We were going to take out time checking in, and then after getting settled we would head to Magic Kingdom and hang around Liberty Square and Frontierland.

Good plan.

Before we got going I wanted to check my spreadsheet to make sure I had the right reservation time…. This is when I discovered that I never printed our spread sheet and pressed penny list!

All that effort... only to leave it at home.

And then went AGAINST every grain or our plan and headed to the new Fantasy Land.

Ok... great plan, poor execution.

Both Josh and I got a kick out of the dedication.

I love that! The fountain and this plaque may just be my favorite things about the new Fantasyland. It is 100% Gaston.

Kind of off topic, but do you ever notice how Captain Hook and Gaston are pretty much pure evil in their movies, but now Hook with his Jake and the Neverland pirates persona, and the Gaston persona in the new FL make them these lovable egocentric goofballs?

The first time I met Ariel, my sister and I stood in the sun for almost an hour. It was crazy.

She told me that the new things in the shop don’t even tempt her anymore because she has so many Disney items… HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE!?

Price X amount of stuff she already has = credit card debt?

Here, Ariel and I confused each other.

Gotta love those completely random pictures the PP photographers get.

 

[wiigirl]

Awesome pics!

 

[My sister's princess]

Good plan.

If we had followed in

All that effort... only to leave it at home.

I was so upset. Again, thank goodness for our amazing house sitter!

Ok... great plan, poor execution.

Yeah, gotta work on that...

I love that! The fountain and this plaque may just be my favorite things about the new Fantasyland. It is 100% Gaston.

Agreed, I could see him saying that!

Kind of off topic, but do you ever notice how Captain Hook and Gaston are pretty much pure evil in their movies, but now Hook with his Jake and the Neverland pirates persona, and the Gaston persona in the new FL make them these lovable egocentric goofballs?

Very much so, then again they have changed the look of all the princesses, so I guess they dont' worry about it too much

Price X amount of stuff she already has = credit card debt?

Good call, I guess I can understand that one

Gotta love those completely random pictures the PP photographers get.

ME TO, I have to wonder how many bad ones like this they take to get the perfect one of the little princesses beaming!

Awesome pics!

Thank you!

 

[My sister's princess]

After our meet and greet we strolled all around the new Little Mermaid area, and I got ridiculously excited. I wanted to see it all!!!
I was very excited to see they have Photopass set up in this area!







The photographer was not as excited as I was, and didn’t really seem like he wanted to be there, but he wasn’t rude, so not a big deal!
It was starting to get close to time for dinner, so we decided to head over and see if we could check in a little early.

We stopped to look around the new Rapunzel area! (AKA I had to use the bathroom and the one in new Fantasyland had a big line). I had read about the hidden Pascales in the area and wanted to see if I could find one!
We looked around for a few minutes then spotted this sign that explains the hidden Pascales!




We did our best, but I don’t think we found them all! I will just share a few!













So, where were we having dinner…




We strolled up and saw this encouraging sight… There was not a crowd outside waiting to get in!




We were very happy when they told us that they could take us about a half an hour early and found a place to sit and wait. I checked in on Facebook at 6:18 with “Time for some Ye Old Noms!”

You can read my full review HERE in my dining report.

We waited in the lobby area, chatting with a VERY nice couple who was in-between our parents’ and grandparents’ age who had been to Disney too many times to count! They were chatting with us about how we would get there, and what they like to do while they were on vacation. I can SO see that being Josh and I someday, it made me smile.

We were seated not too much later, and were next to a really big party, where one of the gentlemen was having a birthday! One thing that I don’t like about Disney restaurants sometimes is that their tables for two tend to be in a weird place, and often makes you feel like you are either in the way, or eating dinner on top of another family.
We were given the bill of fare!




And for some reason they seemed to think that we were celebrating so we got confetti on the table?

Handsome husband who was super excited and hungry!




Me being excited to make it through this meal without getting sick!




This meal was super delicious!




We decided it was time to head back to the room, having learned on an earlier trip that trying to do too much on the first day would have bad results! But, first we would stop and get our Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom cards. I really wanted to try the game, and I knew that every day you went into Magic Kingdom you get a pack of cards for each ticket. To get the most cards we stopped and activated (learned how to use the portals) on the way out.

After learning how to save the Magic Kingdom we headed back to the room, and then to the hot tub! On our way we stopped at the Mara to pick up our refillable mugs, and enjoyed a cold beverage in the hot tub. I chose pink and Josh chose blue. Even though we already have several of these mugs they are starting to get a little beat up, so these will be used at home! I keep a spare in my desk at work, I have a real talent for dropping my coffee mug in weird places like trash cans?




We went back to the room and showered, and I ran down to print our lists! Again our house sitter is pretty much a life saver. The area that they have for guests to use the computer is actually behind the desk, so you have to escorted back. It is a small room with a nice FAST computer and a printer and you are left to do as you please. At last we had everything we needed! And I could head to bed!

 

[afwdwfan]

I was very excited to see they have Photopass set up in this area!

Great place for a picture. They did a fantastic job on the architcture there.

I had read about the hidden Pascales in the area and wanted to see if I could find one!
We looked around for a few minutes then spotted this sign that explains the hidden Pascales!

Well... this is the first I've heard of those. Looks like a fun little addition to the area!

I checked in on Facebook at 6:18 with Time for some Ye Old Noms!

You can read my full review HERE in my dining report.

I don't tend to read dining reports.
I already know I like LTT anyway.

ETA: Ok, I read the LTT part. I don't want spoilers for the rest of the TR though. I agree with you about the dessert there. It isn't something that based on the description I'd ever be too excited about, but once you taste it, it is amazing!

And for some reason they seemed to think that we were celebrating so we got confetti on the table?

Maybe they had some leftover from the birthday party at the big table.

Me being excited to make it through this meal without getting sick!

Always a good goal.

I keep a spare in my desk at work, I have a real talent for dropping my coffee mug in weird places like trash cans?

Ok... story time. Gotta hear this one.

 

[My sister's princess]

I don't tend to read dining reports.
I already know I like LTT anyway.

ETA: Ok, I read the LTT part. I don't want spoilers for the rest of the TR though. I agree with you about the dessert there. It isn't something that based on the description I'd ever be too excited about, but once you taste it, it is amazing!

I feel silly copying and pasting, so I will prob link to all of them... just don't read ahead, you will be ok!!!!

Ok... story time. Gotta hear this one.

I don't know how it happens, I drop my coffee mug in the weirdest places, like the trashcan

 

[My sister's princess]

We woke up bright and early to be at Magic Kingdom to try and do something I have never managed to do…. But first we had to eat breakfast!
We headed down to the Mara where I got my precious Mickey waffles!!!




You can read more abov gut this meal HERE in my dining report!
I was a little surprised as the dining room was CRAZY empty.




Apparently not everyone was trying to make rope drop that morning!
I used this as a chance to get some photos without people thinking I was too strange…

The condiment area




The air powered sauce station




Our room was super close to the Mara/pool area so we headed back up to grab our bag and to drop off our mugs.
We were running a touch early, so we stepped out onto the balcony and noticed several hot air balloons in the distance.




And of course a few animals!




We headed down to the bus stop where luckily we didn’t have to wait too long for a bus. And arrived with PLENTY of time to stake out a great spot for the Welcome Show!
We got a few photos




And I met a DISer…. (IF YOU ARE HERE SAY HI!!!)




The family behind us was singing with the music so of course I joined in!
Here you can see the crowd starting to gather and people trying to get photos with the sign




There was a mom who took about 16534635406345 photos and had a BIG line of people waiting behind her that she just ignored. She would move a strand of hair, fix a bow, beg for a smile, then start all over. People around us started to get really upset at them. She had her kids positioned so that no one else could get a photo around them, it was kinda bizarre…

While we were standing waiting another DISer I have been DYING to meet checked in on the monorail saying she was headed our way. It became a game of trying to catch each other online because my phone kept losing reception!

Very soon the show started, and a weird man looking for his family stood directly in front of me. I looked at Josh, and said “I can’t see” the man looked at me and said “you will be fine” and then stood in front of me for almost the whole show, with his back turned to the train station, looking for someone. You can see him on the right in this photo, VERY close to me.




Oh Look, here he is, LITERALLY in front of me




If this is you, or your family, let them know that they could have stood behind me, and found you because you were running late because you couldn’t find your shoe in the room (I kid you not)
OK RANT OVER.

YAY for family of the day!







Opening the park!

 

[SCHBR'smom]

After our meet and greet we strolled all around the new Little Mermaid area, and I got ridiculously excited. I wanted to see it all!!!
I was very excited to see they have Photopass set up in this area!

This is my favorite!

 

[My sister's princess]

This is my favorite!

I like that one too!

 

[afwdwfan]

I don't know how it happens, I drop my coffee mug in the weirdest places, like the trashcan

That must take some skill...

The air powered sauce station

I love those things.

And in regards to your dining review: Fruit at Disney World is a complete rip off. I never get it there. And I like fruit.

There was a mom who took about 16534635406345 photos and had a BIG line of people waiting behind her that she just ignored. She would move a strand of hair, fix a bow, beg for a smile, then start all over. People around us started to get really upset at them. She had her kids positioned so that no one else could get a photo around them, it was kinda bizarre&

This is why the term "photobomb" was invented.

Very soon the show started, and a weird man looking for his family stood directly in front of me. I looked at Josh, and said I cant see the man looked at me and said you will be fine and then stood in front of me for almost the whole show, with his back turned to the train station, looking for someone.

You'll be fine???? Really????
What a donkey*.

* The Dis didn't like the other word for this animal that I used.

Oh Look, here he is, LITERALLY in front of me

I hope you were using your flash.

If this is you, or your family, let them know that they could have stood behind me, and found you because you were running late because you couldnt find your shoe in the room (I kid you not)
OK RANT OVER.

YAY for family of the day!

Now what would have been awesome, would have been if his family was Family of the Day and he missed it because he was too busy turning around looking the wrong way.