17 Days of Wishes Come to Life- A Sept. 08 WDW and DCL Adventure 3/27 new link posted

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

I love Japan, one of my favourite pavilions!

 

[29apr00]

WOW Japan looks great!! I never knew about any of that stuff!! It's now on my list of things to do too!

Can't wait to hear about the suprise!!

 

[NotSoEvilStepmother]

Wow, what a fun day! I didn't get much of a chance to explore Japan earlier this year but now I'm really interested. CM's are just amazing-they can make a totally horrible day seem a hundred times better (well, the good ones). It's all just a part of what makes Disney so magical.
Can't wait to hear about the suprise.

 

[Illini4ever]

Another great installment Jay! I regret we weren't able to explore the Japanese pavillion very long because we ran out of time. I used to live in Japan with my extended family and it truly is an amazing country. I loved watching the video showing her making the creations! I could hear your kids oohing and aahing in the background......too cute.

Looking forward to reading about the upcoming surprise!

 

[pmama]

Great update. I love your leisurely afternoon. Wow, makes me feel like we really missed a lot in Japan. That's why I love reading others TRs. Gives me ideas for next time. We do have a pic w/ the exact same lady at the Japan Kidcot in my TR. My kids did the passport this year.

 

[momoftriplets]

I was right!!!! I KNEW it was Japan!

I remember the candy making from your previous trips.

I would love to see her making her creations.

 

[momoftriplets]

I have NO clue why I have a horn sticking up from the top of my head. That did NOT happen the first time we did it. Nor did I have a horn made of hair (or anything else) sticking up. The clip was still fun, so I have included it...hair horn and all.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eLbS3teE2s

After our second ride, we wanted to go again (your clip changed based on the answers picked and we wanted to try it yet again with different answers) but we noticed that our fast past window was almost closed and more importantly that if we wanted to ride Soarin' before lunch, we were really going to have to hustle. Our morning had been a busy one so full of rides that we hadn't noticed the time flying by us.

2 things.......

I finally got a chance to watch the video clip from Spaceship Earth. I think you have "horn hair" because it's a play on the Jeston's, right? That's how Judy Jetson's hair is. They were making you look like her. *That's my theory anyway!*

RE: the fastpass window - You can use your Fastpasses any time after the Start Time listed. You just can't use them BEFORE the Start time. Otherwise you can use them anytime on the same day. At least that's my understanding. If I'm wrong, I'm sure someone will jump all over it. If I'm right - I can't believe I knew something about WDW that YOU didn't. I'm always learning new things from you.

How's the little guy?

 

[DisneyJo]

Wow I didn't know about the origami or robots in Japan how cute, also how brave trying shrimp candy

 

[disneydusted]

Another day of stopping and taking it all in. Good for you guys!
I agree with momoftriplets about the Fastpasses. We were told at TOT that they were good any time that day after the start time. I was so surprised to hear that but we kept that little nugget in mind for the rest of our trip and really used those Fastpasses to our advantage. Best kept secret???? Might be... we asked several other CMs and they all said the same thing. Good to know!

 

[jaycns]

I am still laughing at the "Horn Hair" part of your story.
I swear, I have never heard anything so funny.
I still have tears in my eyes by the casual way you
refer to it as "my horn",,,Soooooooooo Soooooooo Funny!
This one goes down in history,,,you should recieve an
award.....Usually this is the part when I am pretty funny,
but I am not even going to try,,,not with this material of yours!!!!!!!!!

See, I was able to amuse someone...so owning up to my horn and loving it lmao: ) did have a purpose.

Wow Jay....love all the neat stuff you guys did in Japan. We have never really explored Japan as we ran out of time. I am definitely going to have to do this on our next trip. We have seen Miyuki and I agree she is just amazing!!!

How sweat of that CM to take the extra time with your Little Prince!!! He looks so cute in that picture.

Ohh and I think I would be more than happy if my DH has decided to sit out while I shopped...much easier for me to spend money that way. Hahahahahah....!!!

I was happier that dh was sitting out for just that reason. I think he would have flipped over the prices on those Monchichi dolls.

Love touring with you and your family, Jay! In January, I *will* make a point to be early for Miyuki! Thanks for the reminder.

Is Baby prince feeling any better today?

Plant yourself front and center and wait for the candy goodness to happen! Really, her show/demonstration is one of those attractions that I could not imagine tiring of. She is so talented and I always walk away amazed with her creations.

He is feeling better today! Thanks for asking! I hope we have finally hit upon a solution!

Another "must do" on my list is Miyuki! I never even knew about her until your last report and right then and there decided we had to see her next time. The Tin Toy Store looks really cool! I almost gushed to DH about how neat it looks, but I know he will really enjoy that store, so I'm keeping it as a little surprise on the trip for him to enjoy.

The toy robots and oragami-how neat! Too bad Henry is too little yet...maybe they'll let a "big kid" play a bit too...

I hope Little Prince is doing better!

We really enjoy it too! I don't think they would have a problem with mom or dad helping little Henry to make something. Just stop by the kidcot fun stop in the tin toy musuem. On the right hand side, you will see the origami and robots displayed. HTH

Another fun installment! I can't wait to explore Epcot, especially with my oldest. Last time we were there she was only 5 and not too interested. I have almost a year to find out about all the neat stuff to discover, so keep your stories about your favorite places coming!

Although the boys didn't do it this year, make sure you have her grab a free mask (if she is still young enough to be interested in that) and take it to each kidcot fun stop (a different one in every country). They will stamp it and add a "charm" (paper usually but sometimes plastic) in each country. You can also make your own passport to bring or buy one there and then have them stamp it and write in it at each kidcot stop. They will write things like facts from their country, greetings in their native language or even write your daughter's name in another language or in China, they will write down what birth year (like year of the rat or tiger or rabbit or whatever) you were born in. It's a lot of fun!

Great update. We also love Japan. Miyuki is the best, so very talented. Kaylee got to choose and animal so she made a Tiger for her brother who was sick in the room . Unfortunately he did eat the tiger and that was pretty much all he atee the whole day. Last year he saved the monkey she made him. I love the pictures of the boys dressed up like Vikings in Norway. I don't blame you for skipping Rose & Crown in favor of a quiet room service dinner and EWP .

I loved the pictures of them in Norway too. I wonder how many people have that same pose among their vacation pictures.

I love Japan, one of my favourite pavilions!

It is a huge favorite here! We just love it because there is so much to do. We have promised ourselves to stop and investigate at least two different countries in depth next year.

WOW Japan looks great!! I never knew about any of that stuff!! It's now on my list of things to do too!

Can't wait to hear about the suprise!!

The surprise will be up in the next installment! I LOVE SURPRISES!!

 

[jaycns]

Wow, what a fun day! I didn't get much of a chance to explore Japan earlier this year but now I'm really interested. CM's are just amazing-they can make a totally horrible day seem a hundred times better (well, the good ones). It's all just a part of what makes Disney so magical.
Can't wait to hear about the suprise.

The CMs are just amazing (with very few exceptions). They make the magic come to life. Every time we travel to another destination I find myself (not on purpose) holding those employees to my "Disney standard". It is NOT often that someone measures up to that level of "happy magic making" (I know it is a weird sounding term, but I couldn't come up with a better way to put it ).

Another great installment Jay! I regret we weren't able to explore the Japanese pavillion very long because we ran out of time. I used to live in Japan with my extended family and it truly is an amazing country. I loved watching the video showing her making the creations! I could hear your kids oohing and aahing in the background......too cute.

Looking forward to reading about the upcoming surprise!

MAKE TIME FOR JAPAN! Seriously though, DO! It is so worth it. The whole crowd was oohing and aahing over her works! She truly is very talented.

Great update. I love your leisurely afternoon. Wow, makes me feel like we really missed a lot in Japan. That's why I love reading others TRs. Gives me ideas for next time. We do have a pic w/ the exact same lady at the Japan Kidcot in my TR. My kids did the passport this year.

I willl have to visit your TR! I love reading other TRs. I just need to get a bit ahead in writing this one first. I am multi tasked to the limit at this point. But I will be looking forward to seeing that picture AND reading all about your trip! Japan has so much to offer. We didn't even scratch the surface! We want to have dinner there next time, take more pictures and make sure to catch the drum show and story teller again.

I was right!!!! I KNEW it was Japan!

I remember the candy making from your previous trips.

I would love to see her making her creations.

I KNEW you knew! I am always sure to not miss Miyuki's show!

2 things.......

I finally got a chance to watch the video clip from Spaceship Earth. I think you have "horn hair" because it's a play on the Jeston's, right? That's how Judy Jetson's hair is. They were making you look like her. *That's my theory anyway!*

RE: the fastpass window - You can use your Fastpasses any time after the Start Time listed. You just can't use them BEFORE the Start time. Otherwise you can use them anytime on the same day. At least that's my understanding. If I'm wrong, I'm sure someone will jump all over it. If I'm right - I can't believe I knew something about WDW that YOU didn't. I'm always learning new things from you.

How's the little guy?

HA HA HA...nice try to make me feel like I am not a deformed unicorn. I don't know, WHAT that really was, but I didn't have one in the first clip. Maybe you are right and the cropping was done the second time by someone with a sense of humor who wanted me to feel a bit more "in character" for my Jetson's like adventure.

I knew about the fast pass thing...we just needed to take another ride after lunch as well (greedy ride hogs that we are). BUT thank you for posting that great tip! The way I wrote that part of my trip report made it sound as if I was worried about that (really I was motivated by that terrible ride greed ) and I wouldn't want to steer anyone wrong. SO EVERYONE- Barb is right! **Not all of the time, she sometimes thinks it is okay to hide from me**:rotfl: That is one of the best kept Disney secrets!!

AND thanks for asking...he is doing a LOT better with the allergy meds!

Wow I didn't know about the origami or robots in Japan how cute, also how brave trying shrimp candy

All you have to do to make one is ask at the kidcot station (if they have the robot parts out on the table next to the kidcot one, she said they often run out cause they don't have many people that do it but once someone sees one person doing it, then they get lots of requests in a row). I KNOW I was brave to try it! I can honestly say, once was enough!

Another day of stopping and taking it all in. Good for you guys!
I agree with momoftriplets about the Fastpasses. We were told at TOT that they were good any time that day after the start time. I was so surprised to hear that but we kept that little nugget in mind for the rest of our trip and really used those Fastpasses to our advantage. Best kept secret???? Might be... we asked several other CMs and they all said the same thing. Good to know!

I have only had one problem doing the fastpass thing. Once, we went back to Winnie the Pooh and we were told we were too late to use it (the fast pass window had expired three hours prior). I had the CM get confirmation from another person working there (she had an "earning my ears" badge on) and then we were allowed in with no problem. THANKS for posting these tips!! I think sharing tips is the best part about trip reports! I know I learn so much from reading them!! Then again, I spend way too much time reading them too!

 

[MouseTriper]

I was happier that dh was sitting out for just that reason. I think he would have flipped over the prices on those Monchichi dolls.

 

[xoktenox]

I want to know what the surprise at the room was!!

 

[justliketink]

Just caught up. I love your trip report! It really gives me a lot of ideas of what my family can do at WDW this April. We usually head down to Disneyland, so I love, love, love all the details you are putting in your report!

 

[Figment's Friend]

First off, I'm so glad the Little Prince is feeling better! I still say he's too cute to ever be sick!

I'm with Disney Jo -- you were very, very brave to try the shrimp candy! Loved the video of Miyuki creating the edible orange scorpion! Can't wait for more!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Mental note: SLOW DOWN AND ENJOY ALL THAT EPCOT HAS TO OFFER!!! I didn't know anything about that cute tin toy museum. And although I've heard of Miyuki (probably from your previous reports) we've never taken the time to be sure and see her.

We always seem to be in such a hurry to get to the next place! I'm determined to make our next trip more laid back. Thanks for all the great insights you always have in your reports, Jay!

 

[jaycns]

I want to know what the surprise at the room was!!

Hee hee hee...that is coming right up!

Just caught up. I love your trip report! It really gives me a lot of ideas of what my family can do at WDW this April. We usually head down to Disneyland, so I love, love, love all the details you are putting in your report!

Thank you so very much! I hope someone gets at least a few ideas from it. I know how much reading the trip reports of others has done for our trips! I would love to hear all about Disneyland (we are thinking about it for next year or the year after). Do you have any trip reports written?

First off, I'm so glad the Little Prince is feeling better! I still say he's too cute to ever be sick!

I'm with Disney Jo -- you were very, very brave to try the shrimp candy! Loved the video of Miyuki creating the edible orange scorpion! Can't wait for more!

Thanks FF! I am happy he is on the mend as well. I hate it when one of my little ones is sick. It just breaks my heart.

And it was very something. There's a fine line between brave and stupid...I am not sure just what side of that line I was on. I should have shot a clip of us trying out the shrimp pellet wafers (as the boys called them). The footage from that would have been priceless...our faces must have been so funny right about then!

 

[jaycns]

Day 4...A Relaxing Evening at the Lodge

Upon our return to the WL we valet parked the van (no sense in taking extra steps when you don't have to ). As we approached the door to our room, we could see brightly colored ribbons sticking out from under the door...WHAT would be on the other side of the door once it was opened?!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
It was a trail of ribbon...

Which led the boys down the hall, through the vanity/sink area and into the bedroom of the suite. Once in the bedroom the ribbons continued up on to the bed where this treasure (complete with it's own towel wagon) awaited the boys:
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Months ago I had started the wheels turning on this surprise. We had a huge surprise planned for our boys the next day and we wanted to kick it off right. So I had given the IPO a dollar amount and asked them to buy Indiana Jones toys and shirts for the kids. I had no idea what they would chose. I was VERY happy with what they ended up picking!

Seeing our boys faces light up when they saw the piles of treasure that were waiting for them on the bed was priceless. Whoops of laughter, shrieks of delight, jumps of joy and many many thank yous poured out of our boys. Goofy even said that it was better than Christmas morning (other than getting a savior out of that holiday). I was laughing so hard at that comment and also really struck with what a good kid he is way down deep.

Even better than all of that was a small, ragged piece of paper sitting in the lap of a towel frog on the other bed. It was the key to the rest of our big surprise for the boys. Here is the frog.

And here is a picture of the wonderful message perched upon his lap...

What would that message lead us to? Well, that is not for this installment to say. What would the fun be in ruining the surprise early? The only clue I will share is that it was the day that I had been referring to for months as "my day dreams come true".


But back to what was then our present. I stopped to snap a few pictures of the Mickey heads on the comforter.

I also stopped to snap the adorable way that the mousekeeper had posed our Little Prince's first Disney bear.

After we started to calm down a little bit (we were all more than a wee bit excited at this point), we made our way up to the club lounge. While dh and the boys started to snack on a few of the evening offerings, I made my way over to the staff desk area and thanked them profusely for setting up the gifts we had arranged for in such an amazing fashion. They could have just left them sitting there...but they went WAY above and beyond. The thought of someone on their hands and knees taping down all of that ribbon...I don't even have words. I was just very grateful for their energy, imagination and thoughtfulness!

Here are some random pictures from the 7th floor. The first is of the front of the kuku clock in the club lounge serving area.

This next picture is of a figure near the front elevators.

After we had snacked a bit, given our thanks to the CMs and double checked on a missing item, we took a stroll around the grounds of the WL and just soaked it all in. **The missing item was their was supposed to be an infant toy for our Little Prince. I am glad the missing item was for him since he didn't have a clue that it was missing. **

We finished our stroll up and made our way back to our room we were all getting very rumbly in the tummy. We wasted no time in grabbing the menu and the room phone and placing our orders. With the deluxe dining plan we had plenty of credits left over to splurge on room service numerous times throughout our stay. And after the delicious meal that was to come, we were ever so happy that we did!!

Up next, a tasty room service meal.

TO BE CONTINUED...

 

[AZMickeyfans]

Hi, I followed you from Nichole's TR (kaysmommie) I'm way too tired to read tonight but I want to subscribe to catch up in the next couple of days. So I'm joining in a little late to the party!!!

Shawna

 

[LindaBabe]

What a great way to be surprised! You must never sleep, Jay, dreaming up all these wonderful things for your boys.!