4 Parks + 5 Staples in the Baby's Head = 9 Magical Days!! (9/17 The Last Hurrah!)

[nts4wdw]

I'm really enjoying your trip report! Awesome pictures!

 

[reelmom]

Awesome family pictures in front of the big ball and the meet and greet. Sorry to hear they didn't all turn out but the one you got is great.

 

[TheCapellsMom]

OK- I am tired of letting my DH have all the fun writing the trip report!!! So- be prepared for Mom's comments along the way!!! It's amazing how we both went on the same vacation together but our memories and impressions are so different! I guess women just view the world differently! Right Minnie??

 

[shannn]

Oh mom, I'm so glad you're here too. What fun to get both perspectives!!
Wherever did your DD get those cute Mickey ears she's wearing? I love them!!

 

[tinytreasures]

OK- I am tired of letting my DH have all the fun writing the trip report!!! So- be prepared for Mom's comments along the way!!! It's amazing how we both went on the same vacation together but our memories and impressions are so different! I guess women just view the world differently! Right Minnie??

I can't wait to hear it from both point of views
love your dd's ears

 

[reelmom]

I love He said/ She said trip reports. So much fun. I can't wait to hear both sides of the story.

 

[Wherem I Now]

Another Dis Dad checking in and hooked. Especially since TheCapellsMom has joined in to contribute "her side of the story"!

Welcome to the Dis!

 

[Jenvenza]

Great reviews!!! Can't wait for more!

 

[KidGoofy]

That was really good and I am subscribing

 

[BTDTGB]

Where is the Disney Visa photo area? I have been three times since becoming a Disney Visa holder and have never used the free photo pass. I normally get the photo pass and never bothered looking for it. But on our next trip we will have my Niece and Nephew with us (6 and 7) and it would be great to have a little of the character interaction that you guys seemed to have had.

 

[KidGoofy]

It is by the Segway thing inside Innoventions.

We tried doing it last time we went but the line was very long and my 3 year old brother is very impatient

 

[thecapells]

Welcome to everyone just joining us! We had left off outside Spaceship Earth after changing into our dinner attire.

We made our way back through our shortcut ouside Innoventions and over to The Seas for our 6:30 Coral Reef reservation.

We got there about 6:25 but were told there was a ½ hour wait even with ADR’s.
Not fun as everyone was tired and hungry so we decided to make some phone calls.
No one had yet heard the story of X's staples and we figured we should tell the family.
We also had to call my sister and sing “Happy Birthday” since it was actually her birthday that day.
After calling the parents, the parents-in-law, and the grandparents, we were still waiting so we took pics (of course)

And then I took X to wander inside the lobby (being careful not to ruin the surprise of the aquarium). Around 7:10 or so, we were finally seated.
It was worth it as we got a really big booth on the floor looking right at the aquarium.

It was comfy and I think I preferred the booth to being right against the glass.
The kids were excited since they didn’t know about the aquarium ahead of time.
DD was given her personalized menu with all the pics of her and couldn’t quite understand how Disney had all those pictures.
Since I had arranged a Disney Enchanted Call from Ariel (her favorite) on her actual birthday,
DD knew that Ariel was waiting to wish her happy birthday. So the menu read “Happy 4th Birthday Love, Ariel.”
I told her that Ariel wanted this to be a special meal under the sea with her.
But since she couldn’t be here, she sent the menu.

And before our waiter could even talk to us, Ariel sent her 2nd present:

DD was dumbfounded and didn’t know what to do. Ariel had sent divers to say Happy Birthday!
The first diver knocked on the glass, waved, blew bubbles, and even threw sand in the air like confetti.

He then left, got another diver, and she came back with the sign and did it all over again!!

It was great and I even got a special hug from DD for all the surprises.

Now, Mom and I got to enjoy ourselves – our first real meal on the Deluxe Dining Plan which included appetizers! YEAH!
The kids both got butter noodles (mac and cheese is no longer available and they hate red sauce).
DD also stole some of mom’s shrimp, and X picked off everyone’s plates as usual.
Mom had the shrimp and steak skewers for her appetizer and then seafood linguini.

I hade a HUGE Cesar Salad and then my favorite – grilled mahi-mahi. It was soooo good!

DS spent the meal drawing a maze which quickly turned into an awesome map of Future World.
I told him he has to learn it since I expect him to help me plan the next trip!

For dessert, I tried the Chocolate Wave and was a bit disappointed – I should’ve had the mousse.
Mom had the key lime pie and was in heaven and DS had a make-your-own sundae.
DD had a fruit cup with a candle in it for her birthday and then the restaurant sung "Happy Birthday" to her.
DD then surprised us by finding a Hidden Mickey right in the headrest of the booth:

I had told everyone to be on the lookout throughout the trip and they found the obvious ones here and there but this was the first real good catch.

After a nice, relaxing meal, it was late and apparently X needed to make another phone call (sorry for the bad picture - he looks stoned):

So we hit the restrooms and headed back.
We had intentionally planned to miss Illuminations due to the time and mass exodus out of the parks.
However, we couldn’t resist the EPCOT night shots so we took some on Photopass.
I kept our photopass with all 4 Key to the World (KTTW) cards so when I took out the photopass, I realized my KTTW was missing.
I had put the tip on our KTTW and must have left it back at Coral Reef.
So Mom took the stroller and all 3 kids to the bus while I ran back.
They couldn’t find it and I figured I was screwed until I realized I had it in my other pocket.
Okay, so I’m an idiot. On the bright side, I heard the start of Illuminations on my way back and even saw some of it in the sky.
I got back to the buses just as Mom was packing the stroller up and the bus rolled up.

Back at Pop, we had some surprises waiting next to DS’ Pooh Bear:

As well as DD’s Pooh:

It was really late (about 10:00 or so) so we got DD and DS into bed.
X stayed up a bit more before he settled in and then Mom prepped for Day Three.
I downloaded all the pics to the laptop and burned a CD just in case.
I ordered a wake-up call for 5:30 (and one for the kids’ rooms at 6) and we hit the sack.
Tomorrow was Extra Magic Hours (EMH) at Animal Kingdom and we planned to head into the jungle for a Safari!

 

[DisneyMom5]

Haven't read this all yet, but I saw your siggie on the food porn thread and you had me at staples!

I'm amazed that we've been to WDW this many times with injury (if you don't count the horrible stomach bug my dd caught on our first family trip. Ugh.)

Thanks for sharing your report!

 

[thecapells]

Where is the Disney Visa photo area? I have been three times since becoming a Disney Visa holder and have never used the free photo pass. I normally get the photo pass and never bothered looking for it. But on our next trip we will have my Niece and Nephew with us (6 and 7) and it would be great to have a little of the character interaction that you guys seemed to have had.

It's located in Innoventions next to the "Where's the Fire" exhibit.
It's literally a rope in front of a curtain.
People are standing behind the rope in line and a CM directs you in one family at a time.
If you can't find it, ask a CM at Innoventions and they'll show you.
That's we what we did.
And it's open 1:30-4:30. We went back several times but the wait was really long as KidGoofy said (BTW, Welcome KidGoofy!)
I'd estimate 40 minutes or more from where the rope stops (we were about 4th or so and waited about 20 minutes).
So go early to get a shorter wait because there's nothing to do there while you wait.

Once there, the CM gives you a slip for your free 5x7.
You have to pick it up at the camera shop next to Spaceship Earth.
Hope that helps and thanks for reading along!

 

[nts4wdw]

Lovely Pictures! We've got Coral Reef on our summer list, but I've not been so sure. Now, I think we will give it a go!

 

[Sarilas]

Poor X! But it looks like everyone's still having a great time, and I can't wait to read more!

 

[thecapells]

Lovely Pictures! We've got Coral Reef on our summer list, but I've not been so sure. Now, I think we will give it a go!

I highly recommend Coral Reef.
Even without the diver and the menu (both of which were discontinued I hear), it's a great place.
The mahi-mahi is delicious, Mom loved her shrimp, the ambience can't be beat, and the kids are entertained.
I look forward to it every trip to EPCOT and I'd say it's one of our top 3 favorites at WDW.

 

[nts4wdw]

I highly recommend Coral Reef.
Even without the diver and the menu (both of which were discontinued I hear), it's a great place.
The mahi-mahi is delicious, Mom loved her shrimp, the ambience can't be beat, and the kids are entertained.
I look forward to it every trip to EPCOT and I'd say it's one of our top 3 favorites at WDW.

High praise! It's definitely on the list!!

 

[Disney Spaz]

Subscribing to this report. I love all the wonderful things you did for DD.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

Loven the report and the Pictures are Great.

But I have to say that One with X on the Phone looks like a Little Person calling in a Bookie Bet. That is so funny and cool looking.