Surprise! We're NOT going to Disney! 9/18-9/25 <<Update 3/24 Page 21>>

[Poolrat]

Nice Job on the pictures, the entrance and the fireworks considering the juggling act you were doing with the kids.

The Fireworks are great but a more open area is needed for viewing.

The bus situation can be crazy sometimes. You dd the right thing meandering in the park a while to let the crowds thin a bit but it seems many others had a similar idea.

 

[jenseib]

I hate those crazy bus lines. We have found a few that long too. It really sucks, especially when you purposely wait to leave in hopes that you are missing the long lines.

 

[Chicago Mo]

Great pictures! even the phone picture!! One of my favorite past times is playing with the camera!!!

the fireworks are beautiful aren't they?!?!

HOLY Mother of all buses! an hour with two sleeping kids?! I cannot even imagine. Glad your MIL and Wife were able to sit at least!

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Then a group of people slipped in-between us and the people we were standing behind.

That’s the kind of stuff that makes me completely nuts.
Either they’re oblivious to the existence of others, or indifferent to the existence of others…
Either way it says: “I’m better then you”, and that’s a direct violation of Civilization Rule #1

<<steps down off soapbox>>.

Hidden Mickey firework!

Cool!
And a good shot.

Fireworks were over. It was just after 9pm. 2 tired small kids. Park was closing but had EMHs. Mass exodus of people. A decision needed to be made... what should we do? What would of you done?

We decided to stick around for a little bit and let the crowd clear out a bit.

Have done precisely that. Sometimes it works well.
Other times…

It seemed liked everyone was heading to ToT so we walked over to RnRC and didn't have to wait too long to ride.

You Win!

Then using a child swap, Juliana got to ride again with Melody and her mom.

Nope, spoke too soon… Julianna Won!!

It was 10:20 and we were going to call it a night. We walked toward the exit and made it to the bus stop. That is when the shock set in. The line was ridiculous. The cue was filled and the line was going back past the adjacent bus stop. I never saw a WDW bus line that long before.

Actually I’ve experience that exact predicament before and specifically at DHS. Don’t know what’s different about the system or conditions there, but it’s one of the reasons I switched to doing my own driving during our last trip. The difference was phenomenal and that spoiled us. I do not foresee myself ever switching back to bus transportation. At least not on purpose.

Now boats and monorails are a different story (and for different reasons), but Dis Buses likely won’t be happening.

If I can help it that is.

 

[afwdwfan]

Good thing you are a little busy right now. Imagine if you were home waiting for my update?

I never hold my breath for your next update.

Then a group of people slipped in-between us and the people we were standing behind.

Did they have a balloon too?

What would of you done?

Depends how long the lines are.

It seemed liked everyone was heading to ToT so we walked over to RnRC and didn't have to wait too long to ride.

That's a win!

Then using a child swap, Juliana got to ride again with Melody and her mom.

She's going to hate it when they're tall enough to ride...

It look almost 45 minutes to get on the bus, which is always fun with bags, stroller, and 2 sleeping kids.

We took the bus a few times on our trip, and I wasn't at all impressed. We used the buses before we had the kids and their stuff to haul around and I don't remember it taking all that long to get places. Recently though, it seems as if the transportation is getting worse.

 

[BebopAngel88]

Joining! I found ths TR while I was reading KatMark's TR. I am so jealous! I would love to do a duo trip with the cruise and WDW. I still have to get to WDW first though, lol. We're on the west coast so we have always gone to DL but after this year, I am determined to just save for WDW. I love all the pictures and your kids look SO adorable!!

 

[CaseFace5]

The Frozen fireworks look awesome! Hopefully the Frozen fever will die down and things won't be so crazy. I love the fake snow! Being from New England I love the snow, but hate the cold so fake snow is the way to go!

RnRC is the best ride to get ride photos on! Love that pic of you and Ana! How fun that you guys braved the crowds and stuck around. Sounds like leaving was a nightmare though..YIKES!

 

[that's nice]

I just can't find any DIS time... sorry I've been MIA. Hopefully I'll have an update done in the next few days.

Nice one! The sky looks really cool there.

Thanks!

They ought to let us carry tasers just for those people.

They don't let us? I haven't seen them pat anyone down on the way into the parks...

Let it snow...let it snow...wait, I'm mixing my songs here.

That's ok... sing away.

Fight crowds or spend more time in the parks? That's easy. The little ones can sleep in the stroller.

True... but we don't like to do that often. We have a nightly routine that has followed for each kid and it helps at bedtime. Being on vacation already messes it up.... we try to stick as close as we can to it. But I guess it's ok not to follow it from time to time.

See? I knew you had it in you.

Guess you should have spent the night in the park.

It would of ben easier consideing we were going back to DHS the next morning.

Hello...did you NOT see the little kids trying to watch? I hate when people do that.

I did see the kids trying to watch... but those other people didn't.

Nice pictures considering you were trying to keep Christopher up.

Thanks!

I really enjoyed them.

We did too... I'm glad we saw them.

They went all out; the snow was a nice touch.

Yea, looked just like home.

Evereyone appears to be getting in Mark's territory.

I don't have many of these pics

I still can't believe she likes that ride.

She says it is her favorite ride.

Wow...I would NOT have been a happy camper about that at all.

No. It wasn't a pleasant experience.

You had a DISmeet years in the making too? What a coincidence.

Yea, who knew?

That did turn out to be a good spot for the fireworks - great pictures, love the "hidden Mickey" one! People do really seem to crowd/smush in - hopefully everyone had a good enough view

We made it work but I liked our pot before we got smushed. I do understand though because there really isn't much room to get an unobstructed view of the fireworks in DHS.

I was going to say that sounded like a smart move to wait the crowds out a bit, but guess you didn't wait long enough or something - an hour to get back is a bit crazy. I am sure you slept well though

Yea, it was just insane. The longest bus line and wait I've ever encountered. I guess we could of waited till 11 to leave but we felt everyone would be heading out at that point.

Hey, your fireworks ain't half bad!! Nicely done!

So what you're saying is they aint half good either?

And I"m glad you added the entrance picture. It's also darn good.

Thank you... I wish I was looking at that right now.

Julianna has good taste in rides!

She does... She's a smart kid.

 

[KatMark]

Maybe ask Mel to write it. She told me on FB yesterday she was going to start reading my TR (which is almost done by the way ).

 

[that's nice]

Nice Job on the pictures, the entrance and the fireworks considering the juggling act you were doing with the kids.

2 was easy... 3? No so easy. It was a good thing we had grammy there to help out.

The Fireworks are great but a more open area is needed for viewing.

I agree! Maybe that is why they are getting rid of that hat?

The bus situation can be crazy sometimes. You dd the right thing meandering in the park a while to let the crowds thin a bit but it seems many others had a similar idea.

I think we made the right call... but I guess others had the same idea too.

I hate those crazy bus lines. We have found a few that long too. It really sucks, especially when you purposely wait to leave in hopes that you are missing the long lines.

If we just drove to the park we wouldn't of had to deal with that non-sense. We learned our lesson.

Great pictures! even the phone picture!! One of my favorite past times is playing with the camera!!!

I really didn't take as many pictures as I normally do at WDW. I had my hands full.

the fireworks are beautiful aren't they?!?!

They were great... almost as good as Wishes.... but not quite.

HOLY Mother of all buses! an hour with two sleeping kids?! I cannot even imagine. Glad your MIL and Wife were able to sit at least!

It was one of those times where the husband has to keep his cool because the wife was flipping out....

 

[that's nice]

Maybe ask Mel to write it. She told me on FB yesterday she was going to start reading my TR (which is almost done by the way ).

Yea right....she wouldn't write.

Maybe she should start reading yours... because she doesn't even read what I write.

 

[that's nice]

That’s the kind of stuff that makes me completely nuts.
Either they’re oblivious to the existence of others, or indifferent to the existence of others…
Either way it says: “I’m better then you”, and that’s a direct violation of Civilization Rule #1

<<steps down off soapbox>>.

Hey I have a soapbox too... feel free to borrow it at any time.

I do agree but what cha going to do.

Cool!
And a good shot.

Thanks!

Have done precisely that. Sometimes it works well.
Other times…

It has worked very well for us in the past but this time was a bust.

You Win!

Wait a sec... I didn't win more snow did I? I have enough of that.

Nope, spoke too soon… Julianna Won!!

She really lucks out.

Actually I’ve experience that exact predicament before and specifically at DHS. Don’t know what’s different about the system or conditions there, but it’s one of the reasons I switched to doing my own driving during our last trip. The difference was phenomenal and that spoiled us. I do not foresee myself ever switching back to bus transportation. At least not on purpose.

Now boats and monorails are a different story (and for different reasons), but Dis Buses likely won’t be happening.

If I can help it that is.

We always rent a car. We just thought using the bus would get us to the entrance a bit faster and leaving 30 minutes before EMHs ended would set us up nicely to get out of there quickly. I have learned my lesson and will drive to DHS, AK, & Epcot when necessary.

I never hold my breath for your next update.

You dead yet?

Did they have a balloon too?

They may as well have.

Depends how long the lines are.

Which lines? Ride lines or bus lines?

She's going to hate it when they're tall enough to ride...

She sure is..

We took the bus a few times on our trip, and I wasn't at all impressed. We used the buses before we had the kids and their stuff to haul around and I don't remember it taking all that long to get places. Recently though, it seems as if the transportation is getting worse.

We never really had any bus issues before... well except trying to leave HDDR one time. But honestly it was just really bad. There has to be a better way than putting 3 big resorts on one bus... not to mention the 3 'flagship' resorts.

 

[that's nice]

Joining! I found ths TR while I was reading KatMark's TR. I am so jealous! I would love to do a duo trip with the cruise and WDW. I still have to get to WDW first though, lol. We're on the west coast so we have always gone to DL but after this year, I am determined to just save for WDW. I love all the pictures and your kids look SO adorable!!

Thanks for reading and joining in!!!

We are talking about heading to DL next summer.. but I'm not totally convinced it will happen. It is so much easier for us to get to Florida.

Thank you for the kind words.

The Frozen fireworks look awesome! Hopefully the Frozen fever will die down and things won't be so crazy. I love the fake snow! Being from New England I love the snow, but hate the cold so fake snow is the way to go!

Hopefully you aren't still shoveling out from Monday. I heard we might get another big storm this monday... oh yea, plus we are getting another 2-3'' here tonight.

Frozen will eventually die down... Not anytime soon in this house though. I think I've seen Frozen over 150 times.

RnRC is the best ride to get ride photos on! Love that pic of you and Ana! How fun that you guys braved the crowds and stuck around. Sounds like leaving was a nightmare though..YIKES!

Juliana & I love RNRC. That is her favorite ride in DHS followed closely by Star Tours & the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Playground.

 

[FidlMom]

Tim -

I stumbled across this Trip Report and realized I was a Fairy GodMailer to your Juliana 6 years ago! I'm thrilled to hear she is doing so well, that you have added to the family, and that you are still vacationing at Disney!

Warm thoughts to you and your family,

 

[that's nice]

Tim -

I stumbled across this Trip Report and realized I was a Fairy GodMailer to your Juliana 6 years ago! I'm thrilled to hear she is doing so well, that you have added to the family, and that you are still vacationing at Disney!

Warm thoughts to you and your family,

Hello!!! Yes I remember!!! How have you been?

We've had added to our family- which now is 5! Disney is still a big part of our family.

 

[FidlMom]

Well, I'm wishing I was in sunny Florida instead of cold and snowy Connecticut!

We had a great trip to see Mickey last month with our 2 college-age daughters. How'd they grow up so fast? And remarkably, I haven't aged at all......

 

[that's nice]

Well, I'm wishing I was in sunny Florida instead of cold and snowy Connecticut!

Looks like we are getting spared on Thursday... but what about Sunday?

We had a great trip to see Mickey last month with our 2 college-age daughters. How'd they grow up so fast? And remarkably, I haven't aged at all......

Sounds like a great time!!! If you still have our address, please send me some of that anti aging cream.

 

[that's nice]

Monday September 22

After our late night at the Studios, it took us a while to get going. We were trying to get to DHS by 9am to meet up with someone but it was taking us a while to get out of the room. I think we spoiled ourselves by having the 1BR at BLT. We could eat in the room at an actual table and have room for everyone.

Gabby chowing down.



Bubba putting on his best breakfast face.



That's a big table for 2 little kids...



We packed our park bags and headed out... I had to take a quick picture of the pool area from the 7th floor.



We (ok Melody put her foot down) decided to drive over to DHS to avoid any potential bus issues. After walking through the gates, we are already stopping so the kids could use the bathroom. We were walking up Hollywood Blvd. at 9:30 which I didn't think was all that bad considering. Hey we even stopped for a picture!



We continued walking toward Pixar Place, where we were meeting some friends of ours. I saw them in the distance so I figured I try to sneak up on them by hiding behind my Olaf fan. I couldn't fool them though. They spotted me right away. I wonder if my head was sticking out from behind the Olaf or if my Yankees shirt gave it away... but we finally met up with Kathy & Mark @KatMark here on the boards. Kathy & Mark have been so good to our family and always send the kids gifts and what not even after I tell her to STOP. She just doesn't listen to me. Of course she brought more gifts for the kids. Thank you so much again Kathy, you didn't have to do that.

We did take a picture which Juliana quickly photobombed.

Gabby was just sitting in her stroller taking in all the shenanigans.



After a few minutes of talking, we walked over to TSM. Kathy & I made a few overlapping FPs so we can hang out and chat for a bit.

Bubba & Juliana were ready to ride!



Christopher rode with Mark (he is somewhere in this picture)



Juliana rode with Kathy...



While my partner in crime, Gabby, wrode with me.

We saw some old friends after riding... the Green Army Guys and had to stop to say hi.





Look who snuck into our picture....



We had another FP together over at the Tower of Terror.





Mark was kind enough to watch Christopher and Gabby while the rest of us braved the freight elevator.




Redneck pic





The ride was good.... but to be honest ToT is nowhere near my favorite ride. I think they need to make it longer or scarier. We came out to Mark playing with the kids. I think Gabby was loving him because he gave her some goldfish..





We hung out and talked for a few more minutes before we went our separate ways. It was great finally meeting them, but this wasn't the last we would see of them. We were spending the next day hanging out together.

We walked back towards Pixar Place because Melody wanted to check out the Frozen merchandise in Oaken's. I thought that was a great idea. Gabby passed out so I sent the girls into shop, which seemed like a great idea to them. It was a great idea for me too....

May I present a Cigar City Jai Alai.



What a beautiful sight.



Up next... More DHS and Does our park hopping plan work?

 

[ashw100]

I've been a little behind lately. Love the pictures from the end of your cruise. You have convinced me that we need to do this. What a sweet surprise that grandma showed up. That picture of Juliana and her is precious. Your experience is what my nightmare has been regarding the fireworks. Three kids too small to see by themselves and only two parents . I am just hoping one falls asleep . I don't even think I will attempt to take pictures or video. Looks like you had a fun day with Kathy and Mark. That beer looks yummy, the one benefit to being with the sleeping baby, yummy adult drinks.

 

[jedijill]

How fun meeting up with Mark and Kathy! You can barely see Bubba's hands in the pic with Mark! Mmmm, beer and a sleeping baby.

Jill in CO