3 Generations! 2 Resorts! 10 Days! DxDp! 3000 Pictures! - Saying Good-Bye!

[MamaToDavis]

Wow! I just wanted to thank you for writing such an awesome trip report! We haven't visited WDW since 2009, and I'm (obsessively) trying to plan a trip for Jan. 2012. Your report included the two resorts that I'm torn over...the cabins or CR. We are doing a short 2 night stay at Universal for my Harry Potter obsessed 8 year old son, so a Disney split stay is not in the cards. I am leaning heavily towards the CR, but I think my boys ages 8 and 4 would love the cabins too. Ugh, decisions, decisions!

Anyway, from a fellow Georgia girl, thanks so much for the info! You have a lovely family, and I've really enjoyed your report.

 

[hstrickland]

Magic Kingdom & A Dream Come True Parade
Day 9​

After lunch at Tony’s Town Square, we had to use our FPs for Splash Mountain and see Mickey’s PhilharMagic one more time!!! Love it! Love it! Love it! We were all ready to go back to the CR, but first had to stop and get the infamous Dole Whips!!!! The line was ridiculously long…but oh well…it was a must have!!!!

When it’s 95 degrees outside, ya can’t beat one of these!!!!!

Ok…so now it really is time to go back to the resort. We were trying really hard to get ahead of the parade. If you are ever in a hurry, don’t get caught at the MK by a parade! It’s super hard to get around!


As we were getting ready to walk around the circle and under the railroad, I noticed that it was only 5 minutes before the parade would begin AND there were places to park right on the circle….. hmmmm…..I’m thinking that we have to stay. Bill and Stephen REALLY wanted to take a dip in the pool, so they left, but the rest of us stood in the heat....and glad we did!!!


Who doesn’t like Pinocchio?????!!!

And then there’s the evil Captain Hook that we all love!

The character interaction was really awesome for a parade!! Faith and Jesse were in total amazement the entire time!!! We were fortunate enough to luck out on a terrific spot…most of the characters came right up to us…within an arm’s length.

Now…do you remember a few posts back when I posted this picture??? It was from the morning....

Lady Tremain really played up the part and gave my dad and DH a hard time…and of course they dished it right back. Would you believe this???.....Look!!! It’s the same person playing Lady Tremaine….

And the kicker is this….she remembered us!!!! No lie! I thought I would die laughing! She took one look at my dad and started making snide comments about us following her around the park. Priceless!!!!

The highlight of the parade for Faith was seeing Beauty & the Beast….she loves them!

We were soooooo glad that we stayed for this parade! It wasn’t super long, so standing in the sun wasn’t too bad at all. The kids REALLY enjoyed it! I was kinda disappointed that Stephen didn’t get to see it….he would have liked it, also. Guess the pool sounded better!


Well….we were definitely ready to go back to the CR for a quick swim!!…..well…..kind of………I caught a glimpse of this….

…..and thought….let’s check it out and see what it’s all about. When we went inside, the wait said 10 minutes, so why not??!! Right?!!

Honestly, I wasn’t really sure what this was, but soon found out. Basically it’s Mickey and Minnie’s dressing room….so cute!

Both of the kids were soooooo super excited to see Mickey….and let’s be honest…what Disney Fan doesn’t get excited when they lay eyes on Mickey Mouse??!!

Even MaHopie and Pop were thrilled to have their pictures made with these two icons!

Glad we stopped by to see! This place is kinda hidden in the corner…not sure that people really realize that it’s there. This was a GREAT way to end the day at the Magic Kingdom!!! Soooooooo happy that our curiosity got the best of us! NOW…..we really are headed back to the CR for a swim…..seriously!



Up next…….dinner at Citricos!!!!

 

[amandaw]

What a fun day y'all were having in MK! I love the parade pics...y'all really did get an awesome seat. And that's great that Lady Tremaine remembered y'all. How fun! I really like the new meet & greet area for Mickey & Minnie....it's really cute! I'm wondering if y'all actually made it back to the resort!

 

[hstrickland]

Wow! I just wanted to thank you for writing such an awesome trip report! We haven't visited WDW since 2009, and I'm (obsessively) trying to plan a trip for Jan. 2012. Your report included the two resorts that I'm torn over...the cabins or CR. We are doing a short 2 night stay at Universal for my Harry Potter obsessed 8 year old son, so a Disney split stay is not in the cards. I am leaning heavily towards the CR, but I think my boys ages 8 and 4 would love the cabins too. Ugh, decisions, decisions!

Anyway, from a fellow Georgia girl, thanks so much for the info! You have a lovely family, and I've really enjoyed your report.

Another Georgian!!! Glad you stopped by! And thanks for the compliments.

Hard choice, really....we enjoyed both places for different reasons. You're right...your boys would probably love the cabins The entire atmosphere over at FW is absolutely wonderful. It's also nice to have a kitchen and den area to relax in. Of course the CR beds are the best....love the rooms there. Well...I guess I didn't help at all did I??!! Let us know what you decide! Either will be great, no doubt! January will be here before you know it...ya better get busy planning

 

[hstrickland]

What a fun day y'all were having in MK! I love the parade pics...y'all really did get an awesome seat. And that's great that Lady Tremaine remembered y'all. How fun! I really like the new meet & greet area for Mickey & Minnie....it's really cute! I'm wondering if y'all actually made it back to the resort!

Hey there! We were posting at the same time....and yes....believe it or not, we made it back to the CR for a swim! Did y'all take Reid there to meet Mickey & Minnie? If not....try it next time....super cute!

 

[amandaw]

Hey there! We were posting at the same time....and yes....believe it or not, we made it back to the CR for a swim! Did y'all take Reid there to meet Mickey & Minnie? If not....try it next time....super cute!

That's good that y'all made it back for a swim. There's just so many fun distractions in MK....I wouldn't have blamed y'all one bit if y'all hadn't! I have never taken a break in the day from the parks to go back to the hotel. I have a feeling that will change as Reid gets older.

We did check out Mickey & Minnie's new home in May. I really liked it!

 

[valentinobear]

I've enjoyed reading your trip report....

 

[valentinobear]

great night pics....my son got to march in the parade last year for their spring break...there was no special occasion..the band director just set it up...I didn't get to go because I let my hubby go instead...He did get a cool bag (backpack) with Mickey Mouse on it that you only get for marching...really neat

 

[valentinobear]

your pics are awesome and I loved the stories you have shared with them...I also loved how you took pics of all the food you had.

 

[shan23877]

Great Mickey and Minnie pictures! How lucky to find such a good spot for the parade!

 

[chattadisser]

Thank you for the wonderful trip report! I have been reading your trip reports since ya'll stayed at the Poly CL and they are great reading between trips! Don't stop writing them! Tell your husband you need to go again soon as your peeps want more research!

Reading them also give me a heads up as to what to expect as my kids get older. We're almost a month away from our trip and I feel like a little kid waiting to see what Santa brings on Christmas morning!

 

[onelilspark]

I found a great spot for the parade on my last trip! Maybe not so great for kids because it wasn't at the parade route, but no one was around me!!

 

[pas130]

Great parade pictures heather!!! DH was saying last night all the places we can really enjoy at MK because its just the two of us...I want a pic with Minnie and Mickey

 

[WDWKOOK]

I always get misty eyed when I see photos taken with Mickey and Minnie (and when there's only a ten minute wait).

Love that Lady Tremaine remembered your DH and DF from earlier. Those CMs are really great

 

[hstrickland]

That's good that y'all made it back for a swim. There's just so many fun distractions in MK....I wouldn't have blamed y'all one bit if y'all hadn't! I have never taken a break in the day from the parks to go back to the hotel. I have a feeling that will change as Reid gets older.

We did check out Mickey & Minnie's new home in May. I really liked it!

Yep...bet that will change when he's older and wants to spend the afternoon in the pool!! Also...if you ever get over to the CR, Poly or GF...it's so super quick to go back to the resort from MK....you'll be converted to a monorail resort snob

I've enjoyed reading your trip report....

great night pics....my son got to march in the parade last year for their spring break...there was no special occasion..the band director just set it up...I didn't get to go because I let my hubby go instead...He did get a cool bag (backpack) with Mickey Mouse on it that you only get for marching...really neat

your pics are awesome and I loved the stories you have shared with them...I also loved how you took pics of all the food you had.

That's really awesome that your son had the opportunity to march in the parade...very cool! When my sister was in high school, she had the privilege to march, also. I didn't get to go because I was in college at the time.

Thanks for the compliments....food pics are a must when I'm at WDW...especially for a TR. DH gives me a hard time about all the pictures, but he secretly loves the fact that we have so many

Great Mickey and Minnie pictures! How lucky to find such a good spot for the parade!

No kidding, right?! It wasn't super packed out, so this made it a bit easier to grab the primo spot

Thank you for the wonderful trip report! I have been reading your trip reports since ya'll stayed at the Poly CL and they are great reading between trips! Don't stop writing them! Tell your husband you need to go again soon as your peeps want more research!

Reading them also give me a heads up as to what to expect as my kids get older. We're almost a month away from our trip and I feel like a little kid waiting to see what Santa brings on Christmas morning!

Let me see if your suggestion will work!!! My guess is no, but what the heck...I'll try. Wish I was a month away from our next trip I've been REALLY wanting to go back. Hope y'all have a wonderful trip! Are all your plans in order?

I found a great spot for the parade on my last trip! Maybe not so great for kids because it wasn't at the parade route, but no one was around me!!

Do tell your secret!!! I've got to pop back over to your TR...any pics, yet??!! I'm sure you had a fabulous time!!

Great parade pictures heather!!! DH was saying last night all the places we can really enjoy at MK because its just the two of us...I want a pic with Minnie and Mickey

Aren't you excited about your trip??!! Y'all will be able to do sooooo much with only the two of you. I'm jealous I've always wanted to go in every store on Main Street....taking my time...looking at everything! Not possible with small kids. It will be such a different experience for y'all!

I always get misty eyed when I see photos taken with Mickey and Minnie (and when there's only a ten minute wait).

Love that Lady Tremaine remembered your DH and DF from earlier. Those CMs are really great

I would love to see a 'behind the scenes' tour of the actual dressing room area of all the characters, make-up area, etc. Not sure that's possible...don't recall reading anything about that sort of tour And perhaps that would take some of the Magic away....but still....I'm super curious.

 

[emma212010]

Great parade pictures!! Those came out wonderfully!! Glad you ended up staying!!

 

[hstrickland]

Great parade pictures!! Those came out wonderfully!! Glad you ended up staying!!

Emma! Hope all is well with you and your family! I guess you're back in school, right? Is your mom planning another Disney trip any time soon?!!

 

[emma212010]

Emma! Hope all is well with you and your family! I guess you're back in school, right? Is your mom planning another Disney trip any time soon?!!

Hi! Yes, I'm at school, and I love it!! I do miss my family though! ;-) I haven't heard much about another trip since we've both been so busy, but it definitely could be in the works for next year!!

 

[RGirl]

Wow - how great to luck into such a good parade spot! I am not one to have the patience to sit around and wait for a parade, so I hope we catch a bit of your luck!!!

LOVE the Mickey and Minnie pics. I am really interested to check out this new meet-and-greet. I think there is a princess one there too.

Have you ever done the 1900 Park Fare dinner? I just got an ADR there. I'm sure the food will be dreadful, but the evil stepfamily sounds like they will be so funny.

 

[Bibbidi]

I've really loved reading your trip report. I'm looking forward to hearing about your Citricos dinner. We just booked it as a last minute reservation for our upcoming trip in 10 days. I hope it's worth it!