DON'T CRY OR WE'LL RIDE DINOSAUR AGAIN! A Spring Break TR---Final Thoughts 5/5

[MHTeacher]

Originally Posted by wigdoutdismom

I have to tell you we never would have made it at Christmas with the girls without 3 bathrooms! I'm as bad as they are....

Extra bathrooms would be nice. I remember how much Keeley likes to flat-iron her hair. She and Rachel and Elizabeth would get along nicely.

[MHTeacher]

After catching a bus from EPCOT back to POR, it was almost 11:30 by the time we got back to the resort. The girls and I hurried to our room, and they proceeded to change clothes. We packed a bag with a change of clothes for after their performance. We got in our car and I plugged the address of the hotel into the GPS. I was relieved to see that it estimated I’d be there in 12 minutes. Good thing----it was 11:45 then! After grabbing lunch at a fast food drive-thru for the girls, I got them delivered to the band’s hotel. From there, they were going to ride the bus with the band back to the park, because they use an alternative entrance (BACKSTAGE!!)

I got back to the resort a little before 1 p.m. and decided I’d look around in the gift shop at POR. I saw this little beauty. She made me think of the Poly!



Here were some friends we recognize.



For all you crazy pen lovers:



By now it was almost 2 and my sister and her kids were back from EPCOT. We met up and decided we’d head over to DHS around 3 to catch the band’s performance. When we got there, I saw an old friend. My sister helped me out by taking our picture.



I have to say that I got some pretty strange looks during this photo!

We made our way to the Premier Theater near the back of the Studios.



While waiting on the band’s time, we looked around on the Streets of America. Finally we saw them walking down the street towards the theater. We entered behind them and sat down for the performance. Meg had finally worn out and took a nap. Believe it or not I don’t have a picture of the band! BAD MAMA! I recorded the performance for Kevin to watch later, but I haven’t posted any video. I thought they did a great job. The band director always chooses really challenging music for them to play.

After the performance, the band headed out to their busses, which were parked behind stage. I walked with the girls back to the bus, where they stowed their instruments. The band was going back to their hotel to eat dinner before they returned for the awards ceremony. Because we were going to stay in the park, we had to be escorted by a Festival Disney worker to the front of the park, where the girls had to put in valid park admission. Before that she escorted the girls to a restroom to change clothes, because , in her words, “Disney would rather you not walk through the park in your uniform.”

One funny side note----The girls said that when the bus pulled back stage at the Studios, the Disney rep. gave them a list of rules. The one my girls could remember was , “NO PICTURES BACKSTAGE”. The rep. said it would ruin the Disney magic for others!

Once the girls were “legally” in the park , we took a ride through the movies.



We grabbed a bite of dinner , then headed to the Awards Ceremony at 7:30 p.m. The band got an excellent rating. In fact, every concert band in their division got the same rating, so the judges must have been hard to please. The jazz band received a superior rating.

The park was technically closed, so when we left the awards ceremony, it was practically empty as we exited.



Rachel wanted to stage a picture of her “wearing the hat”. It worked………sorta! I think I was playing with night settings on my camera, so it's kind-of fuzzy.



It was almost 9 o’clock, so we decided to see if an early night would help Meg get to sleep easier! OH WELL----it was worth a try!

Tomorrow was AK day, and there was only a 30% chance of rain predicted……………………………………………..

[lauren_elizabeth]

Hey! Sorry I haven't posted on your trip report in a few days, but I'm all caught up now!

Congrats on their band getting a superior rating! That's awesome they got to see some backstage Disney!

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

Awww, I'm so happy to hear the band did good! What a neat experience - getting to play at Disney! My high school chorus performed at Disney...the year after I graduated!

[Charleston Princess]

Ugh about Meg having a hard time falling asleep!

Michelle, I am definitely going to remember your experience waiting on your girls to get ready and am planning on making sure I give Chelsea plenty of time to straighten her hair and put her make-up on at Disney. I will be beside myself if she slows me down too much.

Congrats on the girls getting superior ratings at the band festival!

Love the picture with Bo!

[MeMom]

Originally Posted by MHTeacher

It was a 5 minute stand-by, practically walk-on, so we headed in for a ride in our clam-shell.

Of course, all the way to the park exit, I told the girls (several times, probably) that if they’d woken up earlier and gotten ready more quickly, then we could have gotten to the park earlier and gotten some more things done. I think they probably shut me out after the tenth time I said it!

When she was little bitty, Brooklynn would say, "Go Atcot. Ride Nemo."
To her, that's all you really needed to do there, anyway.

Of course, now that she's a big three year old, she's all about Test Track.

We shall hope that the rest of the trip brings more success in getting in more than just one ride or attraction per park.

Luau Minnie would look cute in my Polynesian bedroom.

Don't you wonder what Bo thinks of all of us making such a fuss over him these days?

[Figmificent]

Subbing. Awesome report so far. You take excellent photos!

[MHTeacher]

Originally Posted by lauren_elizabeth

That's awesome they got to see some backstage Disney!

Thanks! I just saw that little bit when I went back with them to their bus, and I gotta tell you, it didn't look very magical. Now I'm afraid to go on the Tours to the Kingdom tour. What if it ruins the magic for me?

Originally Posted by SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE

Awww, I'm so happy to hear the band did good! What a neat experience - getting to play at Disney! My high school chorus performed at Disney...the year after I graduated!

Awww, too bad Courtney----I'm sure they would have let you traveled with them. I hope the girls remember this experience for a long time.

Originally Posted by Charleston Princess

Michelle, I am definitely going to remember your experience waiting on your girls to get ready and am planning on making sure I give Chelsea plenty of time to straighten her hair and put her make-up on at Disney. I will be beside myself if she slows me down too much.

Well, Jackie, I'm afraid to tell you that it won't get any better. Miss Chelsea will need plenty of time to primp and preen! But I'm like you----Come on get ready!

[MHTeacher]

Originally Posted by MeMom

When she was little bitty, Brooklynn would say, "Go Atcot. Ride Nemo."
To her, that's all you really needed to do there, anyway.

Of course, now that she's a big three year old, she's all about Test Track.

We shall hope that the rest of the trip brings more success in getting in more than just one ride or attraction per park.

Luau Minnie would look cute in my Polynesian bedroom.

Don't you wonder what Bo thinks of all of us making such a fuss over him these days?

That's just too stinkin' cute about Brooklynn wanting to go to Atcot!

Yes, the week did get better and we did manage to do more than one ride per park each day. That would be just horrible wouldn't it?

I don't know about Bo, but the people standing around were sure wondering what all the fuss was about!

Originally Posted by Figmificent

Subbing. Awesome report so far. You take excellent photos!

Thanks and to my trip report.

I appreciate the compliment on my pictures---I got a new camera back for Valentines, and I'm still learning what to do with it. In fact I realized that I didn't really take many pictures of my girls during this trip. Seems like all I did was take pictures of objects! Oh, well, I'll remember to slow down and take more of the family and the world during our May trip!

[mickeystoontown]

I somehow missed two installments. Too bad you weren't able to get the girls up and moving earlier in the morning. My hubby is a slooooow mover in the mornings. Heck, he's a slow mover all day long.

I think it's the neatest thing that the band was able to see a "behind the scenes" area at Hollywood Studios. Woo hoo to the band for getting an excellent rating! Funny how you guys were escorted to the front of the park. I guess you thought you were special.

[jenniferkeala808]

GREAT UPDATE!! Awww I love those pics of the gift shop! Can't wait to see that for myself! Congrats to the band! Too bad we can't see pics ! Love the pics of the empty park! Can't wait to hear more!

[Brave teacher]

WHat a great update! I am glad to hear the band did well. I would have remembered the NO BACKSTAGE PICTURES rule as well.

Hey, the least I could do was hope that the first morning put a little more pep in the girls in the morning. Even if it was only a pipe dream.

[swwake]

That's interesting that they couldn't wear their uniforms in the park. Maybe Disney thinks they might be seen as cast members. (?) I think it's pretty neat that they got to perform at DHS.

And I see nothing wrong with you having your picture made with Bo. Those other people just don't understand.

[MHTeacher]

Originally Posted by mickeystoontown

Funny how you guys were escorted to the front of the park. I guess you thought you were special.

Not really,Lisa...... I felt more like a criminal..................

Originally Posted by jenniferkeala808

GREAT UPDATE!! Awww I love those pics of the gift shop! Can't wait to see that for myself!

It won't be long, Keala!

Originally Posted by Brave teacher

Hey, the least I could do was hope that the first morning put a little more pep in the girls in the morning. Even if it was only a pipe dream.

Yeah, Megan, it's definitely a dream, or maybe a nightmare for me trying to get them to be ready to go anywhere!

Originally Posted by swwake

That's interesting that they couldn't wear their uniforms in the park. Maybe Disney thinks they might be seen as cast members. (?)

I'm not really sure what the deal is with the uniform. But if you go to the Disney website that deals with these music festivals, there is this entire list of things that are forbidden by Disney. The one that really cracked me up was, "Shoes must be worn at all times by all band members."

[racefanof88]

Ya'll were pushing it for time . I'm glad the concert went well and they got an excellent rating. I can't wait to hear about how bedtime went .