Happily Ever After Begins Here -- An Oct. 2012 TR Three-part updated! 4/15!

[Missyrose]

Originally Posted by PracPerfPatricia

David and his new "crush"



I mean it's not me right? He looks like he thinks she's all that...


Love your Studio Plans... RnRC... Tot, TSM = Good stuff...

& I LOVE Animation Academy not enough people take advantage of it...such a cool opportunity and a lot of fun...

I think you will be great in January... I'll bet you do lots of walk ons...

I loooooove that picture! It's so freaking cute. Animation Academy is the most underrated attraction at DHS. I'd sooooo rather spend a half-hour in there than at American Idol.

[Missyrose]

Day 3 is pretty much all about eating. That’s right, we don’t even have any real park plans, just some big-ticket ADRs.

It’s another early day for us (is there any other kind at Disney?). We have a very important date with some very important people -- the princesses. Yes ladies, the hallmark of a good man is one who puts up with princess dining for you. We have an 8:15 a.m. ADR at Akerhaus, another new restaurant in our Disney repertoire.

We’ll get a picture with Belle in her gorgeous gold dress.



After breakfast we might head for Test Track or Soarin’, or we might take a stroll around the Boardwalk. Or maybe we’ll head to DHS.



Our next ADR will be at that park at 11:30 a.m. Yes, I know a TS breakfast at 8:15 and a TS lunch at 11:30 is a little close together. But lunch is a special event. We’ll be doing the Dine with an Imagineer program at Hollywood Brown Derby.



Franklin is really excited about this lunch. He loves learning how things work, so he’s excited to pick an imagineer’s brain. I have read nothing but absolute rave reviews so I’m very excited to try this Disney experience. I’m also excited to go back to Brown Derby (it’s coming up later in the October TR).

The rest of the day is quite literally unplanned. We could try a few rides at DHS, or maybe hop a bus to Magic Kingdom so I can finally see my castle. Yep, move over Cindy, that castle is mine now.

With two TS meals early in the day, we’ll probably be looking for a more low-key dinner. Perhaps we’ll try Wolfgang Puck Express for the first time and head back to Epcot for Illuminations.



Or maybe Captain Cook’s (Dole Whips!) and watch Wishes from the Poly beach.



As much as I like planning lots of details for our Disney trips, it’s moments like these where I actually look forward to having no plan at all!

What do you guys think of Day 3? Any votes for our low-key dinner?

[teekathepony]

Whew! I finally got myself caught up on the report and the plans! I love your tiara, absolutely perfect. And Franklin's pictures, as always, are phenomenal!~
I didn't like how they used the same clam shells for Ariel's ride. Different park yes, but really, who won't notice that? Come on Disney, just because you had some spare shell cars laying in a warehouse doesn't mean you can't tweak them a little! lol

[Missyrose]

Originally Posted by teekathepony

Whew! I finally got myself caught up on the report and the plans! I love your tiara, absolutely perfect. And Franklin's pictures, as always, are phenomenal!~
I didn't like how they used the same clam shells for Ariel's ride. Different park yes, but really, who won't notice that? Come on Disney, just because you had some spare shell cars laying in a warehouse doesn't mean you can't tweak them a little! lol

Welcome back Wendy! Yes, the clam shells seem to be just a lazy choice by Disney, which is unusual for the company.

[natebenma]

No complaints about your HS plans. I know you are not a fan of the ToT ride- do you go through the queue? I hope so, the theming is just so amazing!

Been a while for us (2008) since we have been to 50's Prime Time. I'll be interested in hearing about your meal.

Isn't it great how easy it is to get to Epcot from the BW/BC resorts? Love your dinner plan for Illuminations/Tokyo Dining. I'm excited for you to try it. I haven't eaten there, but the reviews I have read are usually positive.

[natebenma]

Oh, wow, the Dine with an Imagineer lunch sounds AWESOME! Do you know in advance who you are going to meet? Being an Imagineer was a dream job already, but how cool is it that getting to dine with guests at HBD is part of your job description???

We "met" Alex Wright, the guy who wrote the Imagineering Field Guides to the parks during our class trip. He was interviewed by a Disney CM and then some of our group got to ask him a few questions.

I like the idea of Wishes from the Poly beach for that night. So, for a low key dinner I was going to suggest the Kona Sushi bar, and then Dole Whips for dessert, but you probably had sushi the night before.

What does the sandwich or salad menu from Captain Cook's look like?

If you are over at MK, maybe grab some Casey's corn dog nuggets. Then take one of the resort boats over to the Poly?

[natebenma]

Originally Posted by PracPerfPatricia

David and his new "crush"

Very cute picture!

[Pixel Dust]

Originally Posted by DisneyFreak06

Wow! Thank you for all that information. I will definitely be leaving my camera out a little longer next time. I have a 30mm 1.4, so that's what I'll keep on the camera (I kept my 2.8 most of the time last trip) for ToT. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge.

You're welcome! Yes, the 30mm 1.4 would be great for that.

Originally Posted by Dawgfan81

Loved your pictures, mind telling me the camera your fiance used??

Thanks!

Thank you, so much. This trip I used the Nikon D600.

Originally Posted by teekathepony

Whew! I finally got myself caught up on the report and the plans! I love your tiara, absolutely perfect. And Franklin's pictures, as always, are phenomenal!~
I didn't like how they used the same clam shells for Ariel's ride. Different park yes, but really, who won't notice that? Come on Disney, just because you had some spare shell cars laying in a warehouse doesn't mean you can't tweak them a little! lol

Thanks! Ariel's ride queue is amazing. Then you get to the ride vehicle and have that "wait a second..." feeling.

Originally Posted by natebenma

Oh, wow, the Dine with an Imagineer lunch sounds AWESOME! Do you know in advance who you are going to meet? Being an Imagineer was a dream job already, but how cool is it that getting to dine with guests at HBD is part of your job description???

We "met" Alex Wright, the guy who wrote the Imagineering Field Guides to the parks during our class trip. He was interviewed by a Disney CM and then some of our group got to ask him a few questions.

I like the idea of Wishes from the Poly beach for that night. So, for a low key dinner I was going to suggest the Kona Sushi bar, and then Dole Whips for dessert, but you probably had sushi the night before.

What does the sandwich or salad menu from Captain Cook's look like?

If you are over at MK, maybe grab some Casey's corn dog nuggets. Then take one of the resort boats over to the Poly?

I'm very excited about the Dine with an Imagineer lunch. My thought process is very logical and technical, so I'm always trying to figure out how Disney does things. It's just amazing the level of detail and the thought process to design and bring things to life.

[Missyrose]

Originally Posted by natebenma

No complaints about your HS plans. I know you are not a fan of the ToT ride- do you go through the queue? I hope so, the theming is just so amazing!

Been a while for us (2008) since we have been to 50's Prime Time. I'll be interested in hearing about your meal.

Isn't it great how easy it is to get to Epcot from the BW/BC resorts? Love your dinner plan for Illuminations/Tokyo Dining. I'm excited for you to try it. I haven't eaten there, but the reviews I have read are usually positive.

I've been through the ToT queue a couple of times and it is AMAZING. Each time I've gone through the queue I've always had that moment of "maybe I should ride it, just once." But then I remember how much I panic at the slightest hint of turbulence and I head for the chicken exit.

We love 50s PTC, the food is much better than Sci-Fi (though Sci-Fi is very cool place to eat).

Tokyo Dining has been high on my ADR to-do list for quite some time, can't wait to report back!

Originally Posted by natebenma

Oh, wow, the Dine with an Imagineer lunch sounds AWESOME! Do you know in advance who you are going to meet? Being an Imagineer was a dream job already, but how cool is it that getting to dine with guests at HBD is part of your job description???

We "met" Alex Wright, the guy who wrote the Imagineering Field Guides to the parks during our class trip. He was interviewed by a Disney CM and then some of our group got to ask him a few questions.

I like the idea of Wishes from the Poly beach for that night. So, for a low key dinner I was going to suggest the Kona Sushi bar, and then Dole Whips for dessert, but you probably had sushi the night before.

What does the sandwich or salad menu from Captain Cook's look like?

If you are over at MK, maybe grab some Casey's corn dog nuggets. Then take one of the resort boats over to the Poly?

We won't know who we're dining with until we get there, but I'm sure it will be great!

I was so envious when I read about you meeting the Imagineering Guides author. We love those books! They now live in our Owner's Locker in Florida.

The Kona Sushi bar is a great idea. And don't worry about sushi the night before. Franklin could eat sushi seven days a week.

Although the Casey's Corndog nuggets are my favorite...

[Missyrose]

It’s finally time for Magic Kingdom! We’ll start the day at...



Where Franklin will get his beloved Tonga Toast (which will take him approximately 30 seconds to inhale).



We’ll hop on the monorail...



And cruise on over to MK.



We’ll turn the corner and gaze at this beauty.



Isn’t she beautiful? We won’t get linger all that long because we’ll have places to be. First up?

A trip to space.



And then the wildest ride in the Wilderness!





Splash Mountain will be down during our trip, which surprisingly, Franklin really won’t care about. You see, for the past few trips, Franklin has begun to make excuses of why he doesn’t want to ride Splash. Basically he’d be happy if a Splash Mountain Fastpass would deposit him directly at the top of the final drop. He hates the 13-minute buildup to the last drop and so in our last three trips, he’s ridden Splash once.

We’ll spend some time in New Fantasyland, old Fantasyland and everywhere in between.

Lunch will be at...



Franklin will get some deep-fried seafood goodness



And since it won’t be 100 degrees outside, it seems a little less weird for Franklin to eat the clam chowder.



We’ll attack the rest of the park that afternoon...

Some grim, grinning ghosts perhaps.



Sailing the seven seas.



And a cruise of an entirely different kind.



The big star of the day, however, is dinner. I have been waiting a long time to try this place, I cannot possibly wait any longer. That’s right, it’s time for Be Our Guest! We’ll be sure to try the gray stuff, I hear it’s delicious!

Our only other plan for the night is Wishes, Franklin has plans to shoot the show from a new location. We’ll keep it a secret for now, I want everyone to be surprised!

So that’s our day, a pretty straightforward MK day. But with lots of fun packed in. What do you think of our plans?

[Nermel9]

Your plans for your trip sound great so far! I love that you are Dining with an Imagineer, that sounds like so much fun! As far as a low key dinner, I really loved WPE for dinner, it's surprisingly peaceful and calm in there for a DTD quick service place!

You are going to love Be Our Guest, everything is SO good and just being inside that castle is AMAZING!

[merbobear]

New subscriber! I just took a peek at your Illuminations photos. WOW..Franklin is so talented with his camera! Those pictures are just over the top gorgeous. I am completely blow away!

[CandleontheWater]

I'm caught up!

I'm jealous you will be back so soon and January is such a nice time to go! I think all your plans look great, you definitely have a good balance of park time/food time!

Looking forward to hearing more!

[teekathepony]

Wow, now that sounds like an incredibly magical day. Kona in the morning (which I finally tried, and tonga toast is the yummiest thing ever), MK all day, and BE OUR GUEST for dinner!?!?!? Aaack!

[Missyrose]

Originally Posted by Nermel9

Your plans for your trip sound great so far! I love that you are Dining with an Imagineer, that sounds like so much fun! As far as a low key dinner, I really loved WPE for dinner, it's surprisingly peaceful and calm in there for a DTD quick service place!

You are going to love Be Our Guest, everything is SO good and just being inside that castle is AMAZING!

One vote for WPE, huh? What did you guys eat there? I can't wait to see BOG! I'm counting the minutes.

Originally Posted by merbobear

New subscriber! I just took a peek at your Illuminations photos. WOW..Franklin is so talented with his camera! Those pictures are just over the top gorgeous. I am completely blow away!

Welcome aboard, glad to have you join us!

Originally Posted by CandleontheWater

I'm caught up!

I'm jealous you will be back so soon and January is such a nice time to go! I think all your plans look great, you definitely have a good balance of park time/food time!

Looking forward to hearing more!

Oh my gosh, the baby was born! Congrats Marissa. Do we get to see pictures of Foster?!?!?

I'm excited to go in January. Our first trip together was the first week in February (back in 2009), but I don't think we really appreciated just how crowd-free that trip was.

Originally Posted by teekathepony

Wow, now that sounds like an incredibly magical day. Kona in the morning (which I finally tried, and tonga toast is the yummiest thing ever), MK all day, and BE OUR GUEST for dinner!?!?!? Aaack!

It really is the perfect MK day, isn't it? It's funny, Franklin says he isn't a big breakfast person. But as soon as I say, "Oh, okay, I won't book the Kona ADR." He changes his tune.