The Tenth Honeymoon is the Best One of Them All! - May '14 TR - COMPLETED 4/19

[Clarf]

Whoa, you guys had a busy day at DTD. Love the T-Rex pics. We ate there and the food was good! We'll definitely go back.

Our kids suckered us into getting them those tubes full of sour sugar also. They must be delicious, as they ate them all.

Sorry Characters in Flight didn't work out. Maybe next time.

Dinner looked really good! Sorry you didn't get to enjoy it.

I can't imagine being sick at Disney. HOpe you felt better.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

First off, good job Emily in your role as contributing writer! I can see some of your dad's sense of humor coming out in your writing style - so you've got that going for you ... which is nice

That Let's Go Jungle Game sounds fun! I mean, who wouldn't want to blast some ill-tempered butterflies in the name of securing the relationship with the love of your life?!?!?!?!

Bummer about getting sick - and to miss out on the bread pudding at Raglan is a truly sad event.

Love the Bethlehem Brewery shirt! I could go for some of their beer and cheddar soup right about now!

 

[KatMark]

Well, I'm glad to see you are still with us...I was getting worried about you.

Em did a great job with her portion of the TR, and I enjoyed "shopping" with her and Kristin. I'll admit I totally skipped everything about DQ because it holds no appeal to me whatsoever.

Too bad the girls didn't get to go up in the balloon. Both times we've tried it, we've had the same issue--the wind.

I'm sorry you weren't feeling well at dinner. Great seats; and yes, they always have the kids come up with the dancers.

I do love their Fish & Chips. Dylan's dessert looks yummy and I believe it is the Dunbrody Kiss -- Chef Dundon's gift to America--chocolate, orange marmalade centre, add mroe chocolate and then some more

I'm glad the kids got all of their school work done, but sorry you ended up being sick.

Looking forward to the next update and hope you are feeling better in it.

 

[KatMark]

​

 

[MEK]

..

Adorable!

I logged on to the DIS today to see you are still writing this TR. Yay! OK, not really, since I didn't properly catch up. But I enjoyed your last couple updates.

FWIW - the sushi at Splittsville is AWESOME! If you love sushi, you must try it sometime. You can order it outside as well.

Sorry the balloon was not going up. I rode it a couple summers ago and it really was fabulous. Here's a tip, since I know you are early risers - If you go up in the first balloon of the day (at 8:30) you'll get to stay up a little longer. They keep the balloon up until the next costumer comes. Denny and I got to stay up a full 20 minutes and the ride operator chatted his head off. It was great!

Back to your update - fun, fun pictures at DTD. So many great pictures of Emily. She really knows how to work that camera.

Sorry you weren't feeling great after the Raglan meal. I always have a GI issue in Disney. It's a given. I just roll with it.

Nice seat right by the dancers. Very cool that the kids get to participate. I did not know that.

Not sure how much TR you have left, but I'll try to keep up until the end.

Hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

 

[nilla]

Hey, I can use my imagination to name food. It looked yummy and chocolate. Does it really need a name besides "Gone"?

Works for me!

Whoa, you guys had a busy day at DTD. Love the T-Rex pics. We ate there and the food was good! We'll definitely go back.

I've heard good things from a co-worker, too. We may have to try it some time. Thanks!

Love the Bethlehem Brewery shirt! I could go for some of their beer and cheddar soup right about now!

Man, now I can, too. But it's too late

I do love their Fish & Chips. Dylan's dessert looks yummy and I believe it is the Dunbrody Kiss -- Chef Dundon's gift to America--chocolate, orange marmalade centre, add mroe chocolate and then some more

Thanks! I believe that is correct!

Also, thanks for the Thanksgiving greeting

I logged on to the DIS today to see you are still writing this TR. Yay! OK, not really, since I didn't properly catch up. But I enjoyed your last couple updates.

FWIW - the sushi at Splittsville is AWESOME! If you love sushi, you must try it sometime. You can order it outside as well.

Sorry the balloon was not going up. I rode it a couple summers ago and it really was fabulous. Here's a tip, since I know you are early risers - If you go up in the first balloon of the day (at 8:30) you'll get to stay up a little longer. They keep the balloon up until the next costumer comes. Denny and I got to stay up a full 20 minutes and the ride operator chatted his head off. It was great!

Back to your update - fun, fun pictures at DTD. So many great pictures of Emily. She really knows how to work that camera.

Sorry you weren't feeling great after the Raglan meal. I always have a GI issue in Disney. It's a given. I just roll with it.

Nice seat right by the dancers. Very cool that the kids get to participate. I did not know that.

Not sure how much TR you have left, but I'll try to keep up until the end.

Hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

I'm trying to keep going with it. Wrote a ton tonight, and will be posting it shortly.

I will have to try the Splitsville sushi!

Now I want to go on Characters in Flight

Alright, on to the updates!

 

[nilla]

 

[nilla]

Up around 8:00, and fortunately, the fish 'n chips out was a one-time deal overnight. For now. Forever, I hope.

As Kristin and I both tend to do, I force myself to "get better" faster than I really am, this time by choking down a Cliff Bar. Took about 30 minutes to do that.

Emily's working hard on her part of this Trip Report.



Actually, what she wrote that day never surfaced again after that day. I'd love to see it! She winged it when she typed it later.

I'm feeling a lot better than last night (which isn't saying much) and make the daily trip to El Centro. I must not be that great, since I didn't bother to take a single picture along the way. What??

I DID get a shot of the kids' breakfast, though:



We get on the bus to Hollywood Studios and reach the park around 9:30. Not bad for where I was last night!

Still, I plan on taking it easy. At least this morning. But you know me (now) - I don't like slow recoveries.

 

[nilla]

Hey, did I mention it's Star Wars Weekend?





...

...

What's that?

...

"How can it be Star Wars Weekend when it's only Thursday?", you ask?

Ok, I'm busted. It's Star Wars Weekend EVE. Close enough.

Except for the actual Star Wars stuff, of course. Well, there's some of it, but not the character extravaganza that WILL be here, and that we WILL inexplicably miss....again.

Hey, did I mention we're at Hollywood Studios?



Of course - I put that in the day header. Hey, did I mention I was just looking for a lead-in for that last photo?

Now, how's this for a lead-in?

 

[nilla]

Anyone with the "Where in the World" app can tell you that is the outside of the Matterhorn at Epcot. Anyone who has been to Hollywood Studios knows that's inside Tower of Terror.

Anyone who reads my Trip Reports knows that Emily HATES this ride. Anyone who is reading this one knows I don't feel fantastic. Anyone with common sense knows going up and down in this state is probably a bad idea.

Perfect! Kristin and Dylan ride, and Emily and I wait in the gift shop.

(for the record, I don't even understand the motivation behind my "Where in the World" dig. The app is actually very accurate, and a lot of fun. Nevermind me.)

We should eat here sometime:



Oh, wait - I think it's no longer open. Darn.

Kristin and Dylan exit the ride, so now it's Em's turn.

Hold on - I got the chronology messed up. Again.

BEFORE that TOT picture, Emily and I split off and hit Rock 'n Roller Coaster.

"What?"

You heard me. Yes, I know that I don't feel well. And yes, I know this ride is nutty enough when I DO feel well. However, if you had let me finish, you would've known that I simply walked through the single rider line with Emily, then went out the exit at the last minute. Em's on the train, and I'm waiting at the station!

ANYWAY...

The ride completes, Emily is in the train (*phew*), and now we're off to Tower of Terror.

We meet Kristin and Dylan, and then it's over to Star Tours for our 10:10 FastPasses.

It KILLS me to have to skip this one, but I know I have to. Not risking it. Hey, look - hilarity!





It doesn't end.



On the way...Kristin loves Walt!



Emily loves Walt!



Dylan loves Bill Co-


Whoa. Ok, no. Not posting that one! Hey, look - the Whatever Award!



And Lando!



I took the last one for a friend, whose mother actually has authentic, original paintings by Billy Dee Williams and passed them on to her. Who knew he could paint? Besides wikipedia, that is?

 

[nilla]

The rest of the family rides, and since I'm not there, I can't tell you what sequence of scenes they got. I did, however, get this boss picture of the Muppets balloon.



We almost never go to that attraction however. I also got some photos of a very interesting book.





Also a boy one:





My Star Wars-nut friend tells me it's "not canon", meaning not true to the original storyline. He feels that way about the upcoming movies, too. I disagree, and think these books are EXACTLY how the real story went down.

It's time for lunch now (we eat early), and Kristin is excited to try Starring Rolls. We decided on this one well before we got here, but unfortunately, I'm not eating right now. Grrrr!

For some reason, I arrived at SR later than the rest of the family, but was greeted outside by an excited Emily.

"Dad, there's a lady in there who says she loves your Trip Report!"

Wait, really? Hilarious! Kristin eventually comes out and says she was surprised, in line, by someone behind her saying, "I don't want to sound creepy, but I love your husband's Trip Report." She apparently recognized the kids. No way!

I went in, and it was none other than DISBoards legend and current Disney College Program enrollee PrincessCaitlin (read her Trip Report HERE!). She's in a hurry, so it's just a quick "hello" and some TR banter. No time for a photo, which is a good thing, given my mystery pseudo-illness right now. But still - first DISmeet ever!

The food looked REALLY good. Kristin got a ham sandwich and a Butterfinger cupcake:



Emily got a turkey sandwich and a Worms in Dirt cupcake.



You know, the one with the AMAZING pot.

Dylan got the same sandwich as Kristin, but a chocolate peanut butter cupcake instead.

(no photo available)

Oddly enough, Kristin said the food WASN'T that good. Just average. Nothing special. "You didn't miss out." I guess I'll never know...


Alright, enough of this "not feeling well" crap. Let's go have fun.


[POST=52808280](next update)[/POST]

 

[rndmr2]

Nice installment.

I don't blame you for passing on the rides, I would have done the same. Well, I don't ride ToT or RnR at all but I like Star Tours and I would never attempt it with any sort of stomach issues.

That Star Wars book was cute.

So cool that you saw Caitlin! Too bad you didn't get to eat at Starring Rolls. I haven't eaten lunch there as I am not much of a cold sandwich fan (I like a hot sandwich) but I have had that Butterfinger cupcake, it is pretty good but I could never finish it in one seating.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Glad you were feeling at a little better - at least well enough to make it to the parks. Bummer about not being up for the rides though ... especially Star Tours, which is practically required on Star Wars Weekend eve!

I was all sorts of confused about your line about the "Where in the World app" as you mentioned the Matterhorn in EPCOT - guess I am out of the loop with that one

Love that Lando poster and how cool that your friend (via her mom) has paintings by him. Are they self portraits? As Lando and/or with a Colt 45?

We have that Darth Vader and Son book - it's pretty funny. Funny how Disney/Abrams have a very different view of things than your friend as they feel things in the expanded universe are not cannon, but what will be in the new movie will be cannon. Though, if they use something in the new movies that was already in the expanded universe than that becomes cannon.

How cool that you ran into a Fan! And for it to be Caitlin is doubly cool! I am sure the kids felt famous for a moment there.

Bummer about not getting to enjoy Staring Rolls. It is one of my favorites at MGM - though mostly because a) the cubcakes and b) the other counter service options there aren't exactly stellar.

 

[Clarf]

Sorry you still weren't feeling great. I'm glad you at least made it into the parks, though.

Those Star Wars books look fun! I guess I wouldn't care that much if they followed the correct story or not.

Lunch looked decent. Especially those cupcakes! I think I'd eat there just for those.

 

[Britbrie]

Awesome update! I'm sorry you got sick though, that is never a fun experience on vacation!
Emily's update was adorable! Looks like she and Kristen had a lot of fun in DTown Disney!! Can't wait to read more

 

[KatMark]

Jon, sorry I got behind (my mom passed away right before Thanksgiving and life has been crazy lately).

It sounds like a great Studios day (and love that sandwich from Starring Rolls).

Wishing you and your family a

​

 

[nilla]

Nice installment.

I don't blame you for passing on the rides, I would have done the same. Well, I don't ride ToT or RnR at all but I like Star Tours and I would never attempt it with any sort of stomach issues.

That Star Wars book was cute.

So cool that you saw Caitlin! Too bad you didn't get to eat at Starring Rolls. I haven't eaten lunch there as I am not much of a cold sandwich fan (I like a hot sandwich) but I have had that Butterfinger cupcake, it is pretty good but I could never finish it in one seating.

It kills me to miss the rides, but I already hit them on Day 3, so it's not THAT bad. Plus, this stomach bug can't last, can it? We'll see!

Glad you were feeling at a little better - at least well enough to make it to the parks. Bummer about not being up for the rides though ... especially Star Tours, which is practically required on Star Wars Weekend eve!

I was all sorts of confused about your line about the "Where in the World app" as you mentioned the Matterhorn in EPCOT - guess I am out of the loop with that one

Love that Lando poster and how cool that your friend (via her mom) has paintings by him. Are they self portraits? As Lando and/or with a Colt 45?

We have that Darth Vader and Son book - it's pretty funny. Funny how Disney/Abrams have a very different view of things than your friend as they feel things in the expanded universe are not cannon, but what will be in the new movie will be cannon. Though, if they use something in the new movies that was already in the expanded universe than that becomes cannon.

How cool that you ran into a Fan! And for it to be Caitlin is doubly cool! I am sure the kids felt famous for a moment there.

Bummer about not getting to enjoy Staring Rolls. It is one of my favorites at MGM - though mostly because a) the cubcakes and b) the other counter service options there aren't exactly stellar.

Yeah, really? How can I properly celebrate a holiday's eve if I can't even ride the trademark attraction?

"Where in the World" is iPod/smartphone/etc app where you see a close-up of something in WDW and have to identify where it is. It's pretty fun - and challenging.

I don't think the BDW paintings are self-portraits or Colt 45-themed, unfortunately. I know, I know...instant depreciation as a result. Shame.

Dylan has a big book about Star Wars that included the expanded universe, so I'm sure he'll be whining about what SHOULD have been in the movie. He only read one of the books, though.

Kristin didn't give SR a good review, so I'll probably never get to try it

Sorry you still weren't feeling great. I'm glad you at least made it into the parks, though.

Those Star Wars books look fun! I guess I wouldn't care that much if they followed the correct story or not.

Lunch looked decent. Especially those cupcakes! I think I'd eat there just for those.

I think the desserts were what got us there! Hoping I feel better soon - this stinks!

Awesome update! I'm sorry you got sick though, that is never a fun experience on vacation!
Emily's update was adorable! Looks like she and Kristen had a lot of fun in DTown Disney!! Can't wait to read more

On topic, are you there, right now? If so, I am so jealous I refuse to reply to your comment. More than I did already, that is.

Have fun!

Jon, sorry I got behind (my mom passed away right before Thanksgiving and life has been crazy lately).

It sounds like a great Studios day (and love that sandwich from Starring Rolls).

Wishing you and your family a [Merry Christmas]

Sorry to hear about your Mom

Hope you had a great Christmas, however, and thanks for reading! I have some serious catching up on yours as well.

Ok, on to the (recently all-too-infrequent) updates!

 

[nilla]

After lunch (for them, not me), it was off to do some non-fast, non-spinny stuff that even nauseous dads can do. First stop, Voyage of the Little Mermaid!

No pictures, for some reason. I think hitting this attraction was a very spur-of-the-moment decision and materialize rather quickly. We did get one of the entrance to this "land", however:



Anyway, I like this attraction, but can't believe I once liked it more than Fantasmic. What was I thinking?

After the show, it's into the Animation Studios to draw! We've seen the Mushu video 1000 times (more like 2, but even that's enough), so it's right inside. Next seating is still a ways off, so we get some photos of one of my favorite things in HS: the wall off upcoming, soon-to-be-classic Disney movies!



Wait, that's not upcoming! That's been, and boy, has that been. I remember this same poster from last year, though, and wondering what on Earth this film was going to be about. It was about becoming HUGE and making Disney a ridiculous amount of money. And it earned every penny.

Ok, let's see what's NOT out yet!



Alright. I know what you're thinking. YES, that is out now. But NO, it was not out when we were in WDW. By the way, that movie was another winner. Hilarious, with great action to boot!

Disney has at least four out-of-the-parks since they went to the new style of animation: Tangled, Wreck-it Ralph, Frozen, and now Big Hero 6. I'm feeling REALLY good about the Star Wars sequel. Oh, and this:



And this:

 

[nilla]

We still have some time, so Emily and I decide to take the "which character are you" quiz. She gets Lumiere.



Wait, really? No, she didn't get Lumiere. She got some princess. I'm thinkng Ariel?

Dylan got the guy I always get:



Kristin got Tink:



Alright, one more theming pic...



...and it's into the Animation Holding Pen (tm)!

If you've ever sat here, you know the deal - a drawing-in-progress comes up on the screen, and you have to guess who it is. Dylan has a habit of chiming in too early and not being even remotely right.

Anyway, there's a lot of love at this attraction:









That boy is abnormally enthusiastic. No wonder, we love this place!

 

[nilla]

Inside, and we're seated:



The story here is an actual Disney Animator sits down in the front of the room with an overhead projector and shows you how to draw a specific character. For me, the drawings always start out really dodgy, but turn out alright in the end. Kristin is focused:



Part of the fun for us is seeing which character we get. We always hope for ones we haven't had. Really hoping for a Princess.

...

...

Nope, it's Donald Duck as Darth Maul (Duck Maul - rim shot!). I LOVE Donald, and love Star Wars, so I'm digging it. Kristin's not, so she leaves the tattoos off of him and ends up with regular Donald.

Since she loves this attraction so much, she is extremely picky about the characters. And since she's not 100% satisfied with Duck Maul, it's back in line and back inside, for...

...

...

Eeyore!

No!

Nothing against Eeyore (ok, neither of us are big fans), but we've drawn Eeyore here at least twice before. No more!

Unfortunately, we don't have time to do this again, since we have FPs for Toy Story Mania. A REALLY nice thing about FP+ was not having to do the Toy Story run this morning. Again, I'm loving FastPass+!

One more shot of the Studio...



...and it's on to Pixar Place. Inside, I take a photo of a number 9 that I end up not using in my Trip Report:



We took a ton of photos here on Day 3, so the camera stays off for the most part. Ok, onto the ride!

Kristin and I are ultra-competitive at this (and everything else), but I manage to edge her out this time. Dylan beats us both, though. He's just really good at video games. Any video game.

After the ride, the kids pose with some premature Star Wars Weekend props:





...and then it's on to the Backlot Tour.

We're pretty far back in line, but not that bad. We'll get in.

The CM shouts out that they're looking for volunteers to be in the naval battle scene, and Kristin nudges me. Darnit, I'm still not 100%. I'll pass. Darnit.

I tell Kristin to raise HER hand, and she does. And she gets called. At least, we think she gets called. Did she get called?

Yep, they were calling her. She's in! The kids and I get to go up to the front of the line for first entrance (cha-ching!), and Kristin leaves to get ready. Awesome!