TR w/4000+ Pics/Disney on Ice w/184 Pics!!

[DizNee Luver]

Tyler got these pics while in line for Gadget's Go Coaster:

He took this one while on the ride:

A few more pics from ToonTown:

So while the rest of the group was out riding rides & getting all those pics~~Mike & I were in line with the twins at Mickey's House. Mickey was doing a meet-n-greet at the front of his house. The twins both have a love for Mickey so we were curious on how they would react. The reaction wasn't surprising.....this Mickey was big & moved.....so they both were a bit freaked out by him. Here's our pics from their 1st meeting with Mickey Mouse!!

Nick, Anthony & Addy rode Gadget's Go Coaster one last time:

One more pic on the way out of ToonTown:

Gonna call it a night!! Tomorrow I will take you to the River Belle Terrace for breakfast......not for real, but in pictures!! *+*+*Food porn*+*+*!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

I love the pictures.

Thank you!!

 

[kaoden39]

And here I was hoping for breakfast cooked for me tomorrow. Darn it.

 

[DizNee Luver]

And here I was hoping for breakfast cooked for me tomorrow. Darn it.

If we were there.....I would take you...I don't like to cook & having it made for me sounds good!

 

[kaoden39]

If we were there.....I would take you...I don't like to cook & having it made for me sounds good!

I love to cook but, there is nothing like breakfast made for you. You know what I mean?

 

[DizNee Luver]

I love to cook but, there is nothing like breakfast made for you. You know what I mean?

Yup Yup!!

 

[caimakale]

So let me comment on the food this time. We were a bit disappointed. Anytime we've gone, the food was kept full & fresh. We noticed a number of holes as we looked around. The pancakes, waffles & french toast wasn't warm & had been sitting there for a while. The sausage was tough to cut into & the scrambled eggs were soupy. The only highlight was the made-to-order omelets....at least you know it was fresh & hot. The service wasn't the best & Derek's birthday was totally ignored.....no mention, no nothing. We were pretty surprised by that....as usually they make a huge deal about birthdays....no matter the age!

Next up will be the characters & our not so great interaction with them.

I'm a little late coming to the party so I'm just catching up on your posts.

I've only been to GK one time, for my daughters 5th birthday. It happened to be during our first ever trip to DL and had a very similar experience to yours.

My daughter had a birthday button, we made sure they knew it was her birthday, and we ordered a birthday bucket for her (which was never delivered), but nobody acknowledged it. During our entire meal, we had three characters visit our table. We were seated by a door and had characters walk by us constantly while leaving but they never stopped or made their way over to our table. I was heart broken because my daughter was so excited for this meal and we were totally neglected by the characters. We've been to every character meal, many of them several times, (except Minnie & Friends, which we have scheduled for our upcoming trip) and the character interaction at GK was by far the worst.

Fortunately, we went to Ariels princess dinner that same night for her birthday and the interaction from the princesses was amazing! It more than made up for horrible experience we had earlier in the day.

We are planning to return to GK for the first time since my daughters birthday (this will be our second time there). It's been 5 years since our first visit and I can say without a doubt that if things aren't better this time, it will be the last time we ever visit GK.

 

[srauchbauer]

I can't believe all the stuff I missed last year in toon town - will have to pay more attention to the small details.

 

[kelmac284]

Nice update Laurie. Loved all the TT pics. Morning Madness is one thing we have never done. I don't know if they didn't have it when the girls were small or we just didn't know about it but they are at the age now where all they want to do is go on the big RIDES. It is sad for me because it is like pulling teeth to get them to even go on some of the fantasyland rides with me And I know the day is coming where they are going to want to go off on their own and not even BE with mom but it looks like it was really cute.

We ate at Riverbelle as well for the first time and enjoyed it and then ironically went back again later in the same trip but not for breakfast. Usually we are always on a mission to get in and get as much done as possible in the morning and collect FP's so we never want to stop and take the time for a sit down breakfast and usually eat something before the park opens but I have to say it was nice last time to stop and take a break and enjoy it. Carnation cafe has great breakfast too and I like doing that one and have never done Minnie's and would like to try that once too!

Anxious for the next installment!!

 

[Belle Ella]

Love the Toontown pics, Laurie! I really enjoyed getting there for Morning Madness last year. It's a lot less crowded than it can get during the day. I'll probably be skipping it this year like I normally do if I don't get my hands on any vouchers, lol. But I really enjoy looking at everything there!

 

[DizNee Luver]

I'm a little late coming to the party so I'm just catching up on your posts.

I've only been to GK one time, for my daughters 5th birthday. It happened to be during our first ever trip to DL and had a very similar experience to yours.

My daughter had a birthday button, we made sure they knew it was her birthday, and we ordered a birthday bucket for her (which was never delivered), but nobody acknowledged it. During our entire meal, we had three characters visit our table. We were seated by a door and had characters walk by us constantly while leaving but they never stopped or made their way over to our table. I was heart broken because my daughter was so excited for this meal and we were totally neglected by the characters. We've been to every character meal, many of them several times, (except Minnie & Friends, which we have scheduled for our upcoming trip) and the character interaction at GK was by far the worst.

Fortunately, we went to Ariels princess dinner that same night for her birthday and the interaction from the princesses was amazing! It more than made up for horrible experience we had earlier in the day.

We are planning to return to GK for the first time since my daughters birthday (this will be our second time there). It's been 5 years since our first visit and I can say without a doubt that if things aren't better this time, it will be the last time we ever visit GK.

Usually our character interaction is great at Goofy's so once you get used to a certain way for things to happen....it can be quite disappointing when it doesn't go that way. I really hope you have a positive experience this time!! And thanx for stopping in......still have a ton to go!!!

I can't believe all the stuff I missed last year in toon town - will have to pay more attention to the small details.

So much to see in ToonTown!! Lots of fun!

Nice update Laurie. Loved all the TT pics. Morning Madness is one thing we have never done. I don't know if they didn't have it when the girls were small or we just didn't know about it but they are at the age now where all they want to do is go on the big RIDES. It is sad for me because it is like pulling teeth to get them to even go on some of the fantasyland rides with me And I know the day is coming where they are going to want to go off on their own and not even BE with mom but it looks like it was really cute.

We ate at Riverbelle as well for the first time and enjoyed it and then ironically went back again later in the same trip but not for breakfast. Usually we are always on a mission to get in and get as much done as possible in the morning and collect FP's so we never want to stop and take the time for a sit down breakfast and usually eat something before the park opens but I have to say it was nice last time to stop and take a break and enjoy it. Carnation cafe has great breakfast too and I like doing that one and have never done Minnie's and would like to try that once too!

Anxious for the next installment!!

The Morning Madness is a Disney Travel thing.....you have to book thru them to get the voucher for entry....so that might be why you'd never done it??

River Belle is a must each trip....knowing it was Walt's favorite & he loved to sit on the terrace & people watch.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Love the Toontown pics, Laurie! I really enjoyed getting there for Morning Madness last year. It's a lot less crowded than it can get during the day. I'll probably be skipping it this year like I normally do if I don't get my hands on any vouchers, lol. But I really enjoy looking at everything there!

It's the best time to be there.....hardly any people & you can basically walk on the rides. It's also the best time to get unobstructed pics!! We used all 10 of our vouchers this trip, otherwise I would have hooked you up!!

 

[Belle Ella]

It's the best time to be there.....hardly any people & you can basically walk on the rides. It's also the best time to get unobstructed pics!! We used all 10 of our vouchers this trip, otherwise I would have hooked you up!!

Hehe. It's all good! I'm still keeping my fingers crossed with the wait list thread, seems to have been working for more and more people since I started keeping it bumped up to the 1st page more often. And if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. At least I got to experience it once! Glad ya'll did too!

 

[DizNee Luver]

When we were done in ToonTown it was time to go get some breakfast at the River Belle Terrace. I called Disney Dining when we were walking out of ToonTown to see if I could Michelle & her daughter added to our Sunday BBQ ressie. We wandered thru Fantasyland, the back path to Frontierland & on to the restaurant.....the whole time being on hold. Now I've usually had to hold a couple minutes to get thru, but this was getting painfully long....especially since everyone was hungry & they had to wait for me to get off the phone. While we waited, we found a couple tables on the terrace by the railing so we could people watch (just like Walt would do) & also watch the Rivers of America. Holding....holding....holding.....Woo Hoo....a person!! I was able to up our ressie to 12 people with no problem....so I texted Michelle to let her know. (total call time: 28 mins)

Ok time for breakfast!!

Addy & Anthony got the Steamboat....but instead of the stack of 3 pancakes...they got a Mickey Mouse pancake:

Mike, Betty & Nick got the Steamboat (choice of bacon or sausage):

Tyler & I got the Mark Twain (choice of bacon or sausage):

Derek got the fruit platter:

While we were sitting & enjoying our meal, we saw the Disneyland Band marching to get on the Mark Twain. I was able to get a couple pics after they sat down & started playing as the Mark Twain pulled out from the dock.

After breakfast, Derek & Tyler went off to do their own thing while the rest of us decided to ride on the Jungle Cruise. There wasn't a huge line, but the twins were some what restless so we actually used our GAC to enter thru the wheelchair entrance. I feel kinda guilty doing it, but I'd much rather get the girls on the ride before they're fussing....loudly.

Here's a few of the pics from that ride:

Next post will have the rest of our adventure & meeting Aladdin & Jasmine in their oasis!

 

[DizNee Luver]

The rest of the Jungle Cruise pics:

After getting off the ride, we noticed a short line for meeting Jasmine & Aladdin in their Oasis. I went to get Anthony & Addy in line.....Nick ended up joining us.

Next post will have Pirates & Tiana!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Our next ride was Pirates of the Caribbean!! This would be the first time the twins had been on this ride. Mike held Michayla, while Nick held Shyann. I took pics. I found it very frustrating not to be able to get a decent picture of Captain Jack....not sure it was due to the movement or too dark or the combo of both....but frustrating non-the-less!!

Michayla did ok except for the drops....she would straighten out like a board. Shyann bobbed her head to the music....so we think she enjoyed it!

When we got off the ride, we could hear a jazz band playing & noticed that Tiana was out & doing a meet-n-greet. We didn't get in the long line...but I was able to snap a couple pics:

Next installment will have Drawn to the Magic!

 

[DizNee Luver]

It was time for the twins to go back to the motel for naps & some playtime. Today Nick & Betty were on baby duty. We returned Betty's wheelchair & got her to the ART pick up spot. Mike helped Nick push the strollers back to the motel. While Mike was gone, I took Anthony & Addy to the esplanade & found some shade. The kids love to run around the area in front of the lockers & monorail columns....so this was some down time for them. When Mike returned, we decided to go spend some time at DCA. I had noticed on the schedule that Drawn to the Magic was starting at 1pm....so we would arrive just in time to catch this show. It's held on the stage in the Hollywood Backlot in front of the Monsters Inc. ride. We had a couple minutes before the show started, so Mike ran to grab a couple Schmoozies. We shared a berry one & a mango/banana one....yum!

The show has 3 artists that each like a different type of character: one loves the princesses, one loves the classic characters while the other like the heroes. They sing & dance & then the character they drew comes to the stage. The characters do a short meet-n-greet after the show is done. We loved this show....the cast members ARE the actual artists....so multi-talented....good at art, good at singing & good at dancing!! Impressive!

Here are some pics from the show:

They pick 3 kids from the audience to come up & represent the 3 styles & Anthony got picked to be the HERO!! (notice the muscles...lol) They introduce the kids & where they're from & ask them to say a popular line from the movie/character. Anthony's character was Woody so he had to say "Reach for the Sky!"....so cute! After the show, they're told to hang out so they can receive a special gift.

Some more pics from the show:

A few more pics from the show & the meet-n-greet coming up next!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Finishing up the Drawn to the Magic:

Meeting Sorcerer Mickey:

Meeting Cinderella:

Anthony's special gift ended up being the sketch of Woody used in the show & signed by the Cast Member/performer. We were told that they do actually do all their own art work....which I didn't know prior to this. So that is very cool!! They told us to take it over to Off the Page to get it packaged so we could get it home safely. While I was in line to do that, Mike took a picture of the portrait we really love & want!! He also took a pic of the Jungle Book.

We got the picture rolled up & wrapped in tissue paper....not really gonna help getting it home without krinkles, but better than having it loose.

We noticed outside the Monster's Inc. ride they have a ride vehicle for photo ops....so here's ours:

We went to catch the next showing of the Muppet 3-D show & took a couple pics of the kids:

I took a picture at the end of the Hollywood area....I noticed on Michele's (kaoden) TR a picture of this & I'm pretty sure this is a new mural. So I had to get a pic for myself:

Next up will be playing in the water & Bug's Land!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

After we left the Muppet 3-D show, we went back over to Monsters Inc. to ride it. I didn't take any pics this trip because I got so many last year....I just rode & enjoyed it. We walked to Grizzly River Run to get FP's & then had to take a side trip to the First Aid office. Addy had a nasty blister on the side of her foot & Anthony had one on his ankle....so band-aid time!! We took the kids to the water play area in the Farmer's Market/Bug's Land area to cool off (probably should have held off on the band-aids until they were done getting wet.....oops!)

We stopped at the Ice Cream Cart as we headed into Bug's Land & got Mickey Bars, Mickey Ice Cream Sandwich & Chocolate Covered Frozen Banana. Tasty stuff!!

After eating our treats, Mike took the kids on Flik's Flyers:

Francis's Ladybug Boogie:

Next would have been the Tuck & Roll Em' Buggies, but the line got long in about a 5 min. time period. So we all went to ride Heimlich's Chew Chew:

Taking a break to go sort more pics!! See you soon!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Well if I had realized this....I could have finished off Day 3 last post. I don't have anymore pics for today. Tyler didn't take his camera & Nick lost interest in snapping pics after Day 2. So here's the report on the rest of our day.

After leaving Bug's Land we headed back to Grizzly River Run so Addy could get her first ride on it....for obvious reasons....I didn't take my camera on this ride. We used our FP's & after about a 15 min. wait we were off & getting wet....not just a little wet....but soaked!! Thank goodness it was a warmer day! Addy loved the ride, as did the rest of us.

We headed back out to the esplanade to meet up with Derek, Nick, Betty & twins. I found out that Tyler was at the motel because he was sick. Tyler doesn't do well with heat, too much sun & lack of enough sleep. He usually gets sick once every time we come to Disneyland. So I wasn't too concerned....I knew he needed rest & lots of fluids. The twins were super stressed out which surprised me since they were just coming back from an afternoon at the motel. Derek & I decided it would be best to take them back to the motel instead of trying to go sit down for a dinner. Derek & I picked up McDonald's on the way back to the motel & also grabbed something for Tyler. Mike, Betty & Nick went & got dinner at the River Belle Terrace. No camera..... They said it was really good. We had McD's....enough said!

Derek & I got the twins to bed at 8pm & then the rest of the family came back to the motel. Everyone seemed to be done for the day, but I was ready to go back...so Mike went with me. I had my eye on some of the Annual Passholder World of Color merchandise so I was on a quest to shop, shop, shop!! We went to the Greetings from California store in DCA where I got the t-shirt & zip-up sweatcoat & special coin......so pretty!!

Here's a couple pics:

My t-shirt:

My sweatcoat:

Collector Coin:

Nick ended up joining us, picking up a few items himself. One thing he bought was a big headed, little body Jack Skellington plush....it was so cute!! He got home & realized they forgot to take the ink tag off of it....what to do, what to do??

We headed to DL Main Street to catch the fireworks show from the Train Station end. I didn't bring my camera back over because I knew we'd be doing rides & didn't want to be carrying my big purse around all night. I sure wish I had......we were able to see Tink & Dumbo flying over the castle & would have loved to capture that!! Well maybe later in the trip I'll get the opportunity to do so.

We did a lot of window shopping that night but did get over to BTMRR for a ride... ok....2 rides on it....lol We went back to the castle & did the Sleeping Beauty Walk-Thru as Derek & Nick headed off to do something else. Mike & I stopped at Coke Corner to get a Cherry Coke & window shop our way out of Disneyland for the night.

Day 4 will include Carnation Cafe, Mommy/Daughter time & PCH Grill's Kitchen Sink!!