145 Middle Schoolers: Wicked Awesome or Epic Fail???DeParting-Such Sweet Sorrow p. 76

[Feckless]

Love the photobomb! What else would you expect from a group of middle schoolers????

Loving your TR and especially the view from the top of Splash. I'm always amazed at your presence of mind to get these shots.

 

[Missyrose]

Way to turn the table on the photobomber! That's too funny about the other chaperon not wanting to get his sneakers wet on an obviously soggy day. To each his own, I guess.

Man all those scrims in your Main Street pictures make me sad. It's starting to feel like they're never going to come down!

 

[natebenma]

Backfire indeed! That's awesome.

Wait - I can't believe people in your group actually didn't ride splash. What????? Don't wear new sneakers to WDW if you are going to worry about getting them wet or dirty. Heck - it rains there all the time. Yikes!

As soon as I saw the photo, I showed it to the photobomber and told him I loved it! Ha!

Love the photobomb! What else would you expect from a group of middle schoolers????

Loving your TR and especially the view from the top of Splash. I'm always amazed at your presence of mind to get these shots.

Unfortunately, there is more photobombing coming up and that doesn't end as well!

I can't not take a picture at the top of Splash! It is part of my ride. But on this trip, I was able to get the camera down, away from my face, before the ride photo was taken.

Way to turn the table on the photobomber! That's too funny about the other chaperon not wanting to get his sneakers wet on an obviously soggy day. To each his own, I guess.

Man all those scrims in your Main Street pictures make me sad. It's starting to feel like they're never going to come down!

I totally did an "in your face" to the photobomber. I'm so mature!

Sorry I posted pictures that make you sad. No crying in trip reports! Oh, wait, there's some of that coming up.


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[DisneyMomx7]

Loving your TR and your pictures!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Splash Mountain - you are amazing to get those great shots at the top of Splash!

Can't wait to read more

 

[natebenma]

Loving your TR and your pictures!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Splash Mountain - you are amazing to get those great shots at the top of Splash!

Can't wait to read more

Thanks!

I love how you can see the castle and Space Mountain and the Contemporary from up there. I think the first time I experienced the view I thought "How lucky that you can see all of that through the trees" and it later occured to me that it is not luck at all!

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Ooh, if the hand had been turned the other way, it would look like it was touching or holding on to the monorail.

I really liked it, until I read the next comment about how to improve the photo!

Well Dee I think I may have to have a go doing the new improved version of your monorail shot with my OLD camera Just when I thought a new camera was in my future and I had almost (not quite])forgiven Santa for not bringing me one, got over the shock of cookers exploding(beginning of month) and windscreens cracking (though thankfully costing less than originally expected), my washing machine decides to breakdown!! That makes for a grand total of £1000 unplanned for expenses this month Aw well !Santa at least has plenty of notice to get the elves making my new camera for Christmas 2012

OK back to your trip report now!

 

[natebenma]

Well Dee I think I may have to have a go doing the new improved version of your monorail shot with my OLD camera Just when I thought a new camera was in my future and I had almost (not quite])forgiven Santa for not bringing me one, got over the shock of cookers exploding(beginning of month) and windscreens cracking (though thankfully costing less than originally expected), my washing machine decides to breakdown!! That makes for a grand total of £1000 unplanned for expenses this month Aw well !Santa at least has plenty of notice to get the elves making my new camera for Christmas 2012

OK back to your trip report now!

I am so sorry to hear about all of your unexpected expenses. It is strange (I was going to say funny, but it is NOT funny) how everything seems to go wrong at once.

Hoping things settle down for you.

 

[333disneymom]

So have you been on Space Mountain since the remodel? I want to say that was around 2008-2009.

Sadly, no. The first time I took my DDs it was down for the remodel. Then, the next year when we went, there were 3 adults in our group, so I could have probably snuck it in, but didn't even think about it. Since it was down the year before, I forgot to include it in my plans. (I've sinced become a better planner, and now check to see which rides are being refurbished.) As we passed it the last day, I realized it was open, but it had a 90 minute wait and fastpasses were too late in the day. I was really disappointed. I am hoping my DD will want to ride this year, but she is a little worried about the fact that each person gets their own seat - she still likes to be near Mom.

Love your pictures from Splash Mountain, especially right before the drop. It makes me want to get a waterproof camera for next time.

 

[natebenma]

Sadly, no. The first time I took my DDs it was down for the remodel. Then, the next year when we went, there were 3 adults in our group, so I could have probably snuck it in, but didn't even think about it. Since it was down the year before, I forgot to include it in my plans. (I've sinced become a better planner, and now check to see which rides are being refurbished.) As we passed it the last day, I realized it was open, but it had a 90 minute wait and fastpasses were too late in the day. I was really disappointed. I am hoping my DD will want to ride this year, but she is a little worried about the fact that each person gets their own seat - she still likes to be near Mom.

Love your pictures from Splash Mountain, especially right before the drop. It makes me want to get a waterproof camera for next time.

You definitely need to go next time! I like the re-imagineered version. It seems much smoother than the original and I don't feel like I will be decapitated quite as much as I did before.

 

[natebenma]

I’m not good at downtime. Even when we stay at the Beach Club, I am not accustomed to taking afternoon breaks. We are lucky if we hit Stormalong Bay once or twice during a trip.

We can swim anytime.

There are parks out there!

We arrived back at the resort around 4:30. The plan was for everyone to swim and chill out and then meet back up around 6 for dinner in the food court. According to the Tip Sheet with Park Hours I prepared for everyone, EPCOT was open for EMH tonight, which meant midnight, so most groups were planning on heading there for the evening.

I changed into my swimsuit, took a quick dip, then changed again into some dry clothes. I proceeded to take a photo tour - checking out the other sections of the resort: 101 Dalmations and Mighty Ducks. A tour of Toy Story would have to wait until another afternoon.


101 Dalmations:

Mighty Ducks

I am very impressed with the theming of this resort. Very Disney.

I had my refill mug with me, so I prepared my coffee for the next morning.


Continued in Next Post


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[natebenma]

When it was time to meet up for dinner, I handed out vouchers to everyone and we made our way to the World Premiere Food Court.

I thought that there were a lot of interesting selections. There was a pizza/deli station, burgers/hot dogs and an entrée station with design your own salad and main dishes like carved London broil, turkey dinner, salmon and even chicken pot pie with puff pastry crust.

I decided to go with the turkey dinner with two sides. I chose mashed potatoes and vegetable.

There were lots of selections for dessert- choices from the bakery case, rice crispy treats, make your own ice cream sandwich, an ice cream sundae bar, but I only had eyes for this:

The freezer.

Mickey bars live here!

If you are interested in more pictures of the World Premiere Food Court, here is a link to the post I added to the ASMo picture thread.


World Premiere Food Court


We all enjoyed a leisurely dinner, and by 7 pm, we were ready to “conquer” EPCOT.


Next Up: Cool! He Got a Golf Ball- All I Got Was a Cockroach! and Your Mission, Should You Choose to Accept It

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[MEK]

No down time? OMG - I love down time, especially in the summer. A pool, a book, and a couple adult beverages and I am already to go again.

More cute pictures of Movies. I really would like to stay there some day.

Dinner looks yummy and yeah for Mickey bars!

 

[bookgirl]

Okay so did you eat dessert first or did you scarf down dinner fast enough to avoid Mickey Bar Gespacho?

Personally I say eat the food with the shortest shelf life first.

 

[FairyGodmotherJen]

We stayed at ASMo for our first three trips with the kids (our family is too big for them now!). We enjoyed it each time. We did always pay for a preferred location (twice in Fantasia and once in Dalmatians), which was so handy with little ones. One of my all-time favorite memories was of my now 8-year-old when he was not quite two and he first saw the Toy Story courtyard. Those little eyes couldn't get any bigger, and he spent the entire time with his neck craned back so that he could see them.

We always used the dining plan, so I don't know if your vouchers were different, but they used to have a stamp at the cash register that they would use on your receipt if you wanted to get ice cream for dinner. You just took the receipt back when you were done and got it then. DH and I loved the little bakery counter where they had hard-scoop ice cream. Not very many people carry just plain old chocolate chip anymore, but they did, and you could get it in a waffle cone as your dessert. They FILLED those waffle cones, let me tell you! I'm glad you enjoyed it there - a lot of people don't seem to appreciate it.

 

[jenseib]

FINALLY caught up. I am having internet issues and everything is so dang slow.

Ick for Cosmic Rays...not the worst food ever...been there a few times myself...but when you are in the mood for DHH, it's a big difference.

I do like the Value food coursts though. They usually offer quite a bit more...which I never understand why deluxes don't. I mean they may have a Table service there, but you can't actually eat there without an ADR for the most part anyways.

The photobomb pic is cool. You should frame it and give it to that kid.

 

[michael's mom]

subbing in! Love your photos. I'm definitely going to try for the Splash Mountain shot...but it'll be my little guys first ride so I may have a clingon preventing me from capturing it!

 

[cmcadoo66]

Great pictures of ASMo!! And I love the food court there.....it is one thing I miss staying at BC. Marketplace just doesn't have a great selection. Thankfully, this allows us to eat around the world at EP which is always a part of our plans!!

 

[jmskinner]

Great pictures of the resort! I think you may take more than me, I haven't taken menu pictures...yet.

 

[MHTeacher]

Enjoyed the pictures of Movies---never stayed there, but it looks cute. I really like that the food stations are named after theaters-neat touch Disney!

 

[JanetMom]

Love the photos of the resort. Thanks for the tour!

Not sure I'm ready for an update with cockroach in the title. Blech