1st time F&W, MNSSHP, Africa Trek & no kids! (Updated 5/11/14)

[khaleesi]

Yes it was the Bill's game and as a Southern gentleman, I will not repeat the score! BTW, thanks for cutting free safety Jairus Byrd loose. He looks to be a great addition to the Saint's D!

We loved him here! He's a great player and a very community-oriented guy!

The trashiness of female costumes is one of the main reasons why I don't usually dress up. I made mine this year, so that was helpful!

The theming in BOG is top notch.

 

[khertz]

Too bad after all that costume debate, it was too hot for you to wear them!

Dinner at BOG...I'm salivating right now! Such great food there, and the atmosphere is simply incredible. Doesn't get any better than that!

 

[ElenaJane]

Totally agree with the female costume situation!! Why can't I dress up as a nurse, police officer, or even a witch without being the, as you said it "vixen" version?! There is always this years MNSSHP you can dress up for! Don't toss those costumes yet!

Loved the BOG review! I got up at 6am 180 days out to make the BOG ADR for our next trip, but then I kept reading people's negative reviews. Now I am more excited! Still not sure why the Beast is beastly, since the curse was lifted. I'm over thinking it I think...

 

[stacylm]

Loving your trip report! My family is staying at the Beach Club this October. It will be our first time at that resort, going to MNSSHP, and F&W. We are so excited ( some more than others because of the wine )

 

[saintstickets]

Costumes are a tricky thing for sure! I think when dd and her sil went with me a couple years back..they had fun with their costumes. What they wore though was not appropriate for a more mature female like myself. Then there is the heat... the two times I have done the party, I have dressed up...and really tried to remember how warm it would be.

One never knows in the South (and especially Florida) what the weather will be from day to day. It's not unusual here in South Mississippi for the temperature to swing 40-50 degrees in one day! Kinda makes it hard to plan too with a costume.

I cant believe you got right in for your dinner at BOG! We waited for EVER. They were behind and turning people away that were coming up 30 minutes before their adr to check in.

I do like that Beast is out for dinner. It is fun to see him even if he is a tad scary (he is VERY large)

We didn't wait long at all and the whole time I was thinking how glad I was that I wasn't in that costume! There's not much shade on the bridge area.

Subbing in-just found your TR today and am really enjoying it! Dh and I are hoping to hit F&W for the first time this October and I am loving all your descriptions of what you and your wife did last year.
Hoping to be in your shoes in the future when we are empty nesters and able to several times a year to Disney, some with the family and some by ourselves

Welcome, I'm glad you found us! As much as I hate that we were unable to take our kids only one time when they were younger, we are really enjoying taking them now that they are in their late 20's. We REALLY enjoy it when we can go by ourselves too! When are you going in October? We are returning 10/05-10/10/14.

Subscribing Great TR so far! Can't wait to hear about Wild Africa Trek

Thanks for the kind words. WAT is coming soon and it was "as advertised"!

Subscribing too. Your TR is great!

Awwww...thanks.

The trashiness of female costumes is one of the main reasons why I don't usually dress up. I made mine this year, so that was helpful!

The theming in BOG is top notch.

I half way expected it to be difficult to find a costume for me but finding something age and modesty appropriate for DW was even more difficult! I told her she could get one of "those" costumes and just keep it at the house but that didn't go very far and I got THE LOOK that I always get when I say something like that!

Too bad after all that costume debate, it was too hot for you to wear them!

Dinner at BOG...I'm salivating right now! Such great food there, and the atmosphere is simply incredible. Doesn't get any better than that!

Maybe next year on the costumes. BOG was better than expected for us. We are trying to hit every restaurant and repeat as few as possible but we will go back to BOG during our trip this June. It's that good!

Totally agree with the female costume situation!! Why can't I dress up as a nurse, police officer, or even a witch without being the, as you said it "vixen" version?! There is always this years MNSSHP you can dress up for! Don't toss those costumes yet!

We will take them with us just in case. DS1 and DDiL are joining us and I KNOW they will not want to wear costumes. That's okay...they can go with us without costumes or have some alone time that night!

Loved the BOG review! I got up at 6am 180 days out to make the BOG ADR for our next trip, but then I kept reading people's negative reviews. Now I am more excited! Still not sure why the Beast is beastly, since the curse was lifted. I'm over thinking it I think...

I guess some people will complain when they win the lottery that it wasn't enough! The Beast is rather large as you could see in our pic...he's even larger than I am!

Loving your trip report! My family is staying at the Beach Club this October. It will be our first time at that resort, going to MNSSHP, and F&W. We are so excited ( some more than others because of the wine )

Thanks for joining in on the TR! When are you going in October? We will be at BCV from 10/05-10/10/14! We'll get amytech, you and our group together and have a DISmeet!!

 

[stacylm]

Awww bummer we're at BC 10/17-10/25. My sister & bro in law are coming too. You all may have to extend your trip

 

[saintstickets]

Well....I knew I had been away for a while (it's tax time ) but we've gots lot of new subbers joining our little escapade here. Uh oh...the pressure is on to perform with ALL these people watching!

Where were we? After a great meal at BOG and walking around a bit to try to lose 3 or 4 calories, we made our way to the Haunted Mansion. For MNSSHP, they add a bit of spice to greet you as you enter the queue...




And it's even better the darker it gets...






And pics you’ve all seen before





And I'm terrible at dark ride photos so these have been "borrowed" from somewhere....my apologies if they are yours and I didn't credit you but I have no idea where they are from









Careful with those hitchhikers!



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[saintstickets]

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And then outside the HM




Another addition during MNSSHP is a PP opportunity and proof positive I don’t take myself too seriously with this goofy picture (maybe I should?)




Hmmmmm...maybe it's not so scary after all




MK at night. Someone left a light on upstairs






Making our way back down Main Street





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[saintstickets]

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Main Street starts getting a bit congested waiting for HalloWishes










And so it begins




What a smile




Da man himself





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[saintstickets]

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Sorry for the excess of pictures but I can't help myself. According to my camera counter, I took 212 pictures after we left BOG. I'm posting about 20% of them. A weather person on TV is accurate about that percentage so if it's good enough for them and they still keep their job..... I just wish they would take the flagpole down during the parade and Wishes so it would not be in all my pics! The only time it is removed all year is from the week after Thanksgiving when they begin taping the Christmas day parade until after Christmas Day when they take down the Christmas tree that is put up in place of the flagpole.

After the fireworks, we had visitors





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[saintstickets]

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Uh oh…this can’t be a good sign




He was going too fast so I stole…er borrowed another pic




Wanna dance?






And now for the main attraction – the BOO TO YOU PARADE!!









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[annmarieda]

I love that the cm at hm get to "dress up" at MNSSHP! So cool.

Love the pictures! (borrowed or not they are a great addition to your report)

You may laugh, but it took me forever to figure out how you were getting those pictures from an "above" view of main street. You were at the train station, right?

 

[saintstickets]

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This is the hardest parade to take pictures because of the low light and they are in constant motion and it was starting to rain. Most of my pics ended up like this








Hmmmm….I saw this somewhere earlier







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[annmarieda]

but wait there was more! You must be updating while I am reading.

I LOVE that parade! It is the reason to do that party hands down!!! I missed the headless horsemen the first year I did the party... it was too rainy for him. Last year, I think we were not out in time and we missed him again! This year I WILL see him.

 

[saintstickets]

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Then there is this










The Villains are gone and now come some of the good guys






That was it for MNSSHP, HalloWishes fireworks and the Boo To You parade. These pics do not do any of the events justice. It was fantastic and we never did any trick or treating! I did take lots and lots of pictures that night but way too many were blurry. I guess that means we’ll have to go back this October and try again….darn!!!

Oh yeah, those costumes that we had planned on wearing to MHSSHP, here they are

 

[saintstickets]

Awww bummer we're at BC 10/17-10/25. My sister & bro in law are coming too. You all may have to extend your trip

Sounds like a valid reason to me!!

I love that the cm at hm get to "dress up" at MNSSHP! So cool.

Love the pictures! (borrowed or not they are a great addition to your report)

You may laugh, but it took me forever to figure out how you were getting those pictures from an "above" view of main street. You were at the train station, right?

Yes we were...I don't have much luck on the street. It seems others think that since I am fairly tall, they can walk up at the last minute and park themselves right in front of me. It ends up ruining any chance to have decent pictures but on the train station, that is not a worry if you are on the balcony.

but wait there was more! You must be updating while I am reading.

I LOVE that parade! It is the reason to do that party hands down!!! I missed the headless horsemen the first year I did the party... it was too rainy for him. Last year, I think we were not out in time and we missed him again! This year I WILL see him.

This was our first MNSSHP and I missed a lot not knowing what to expect. That just means we'll have to go more often so we don't miss anything!

 

[annmarieda]

Love the costumes! And I agree... missing something one year just means you have to go back and do it the next time. So trick or treating? Is it on your list?

 

[MommaPeel]

Some of those blurry pictures are pretty amazing! Makes them look more spooky! I can't wait to go to MNSSHP this fall!!! It will be my first time ever. I've gone to WDW a ton of times in Sep-Oct but never to the party. I don't know what i've been thinking all those years! Living so close before and never going, this time i'm flying 12000 miles to go!

Thank you for the fantastic trip report. The top gun costumes were superb! definitely wear them someday!

Can't wait for more of your TR!

 

[MEK]

Careful with those hitchhikers!



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WOW! Can I have this picture????? It's awesome! How the heck did you do that?

Holy Mega Update! Love it! The party looks like too much fun! I also love the parade pictures and what an awesome picture of the headless horseman. Nicely done!

Cute costumes. Why did you decide not to wear them?

 

[saintstickets]

Love the costumes! And I agree... missing something one year just means you have to go back and do it the next time. So trick or treating? Is it on your list?

Thanks. We FINALLY found something appropriate for our age. We will definately go trick or treating when we return...nothing like a bunch of sugar to keep you going until closing time!

Some of those blurry pictures are pretty amazing! Makes them look more spooky! I can't wait to go to MNSSHP this fall!!! It will be my first time ever. I've gone to WDW a ton of times in Sep-Oct but never to the party. I don't know what i've been thinking all those years! Living so close before and never going, this time i'm flying 12000 miles to go!

Thank you for the fantastic trip report. The top gun costumes were superb! definitely wear them someday!

Can't wait for more of your TR!

It was our first time to MNSSHP too. I can't wait until we go back this fall. Maybe it will be cool enough to wear the costumes then.

WOW! Can I have this picture????? It's awesome! How the heck did you do that?

Holy Mega Update! Love it! The party looks like too much fun! I also love the parade pictures and what an awesome picture of the headless horseman. Nicely done!

Cute costumes. Why did you decide not to wear them?

Since I "borrowed" the picture (notice real author's signature in the bottom right hand corner), who am I to say you can't use it? My photography skill set is not sophisticated enough to do that pic.

It was just TOOOOO hot to wear the costumes. DW's might have been okay for her since their is so much less to the costume but that jump suit of mine wouldn't cut it in the Florida heat and humidity.