(3X Update & FINAL!! 3/24)*~*EVERYBODY DANCE NOW!*~*A Mother/Daughter Feb 2013 TR!

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

You guys were doing great with your 4 parks in 1 day mission!!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Awesome Post!! I want more but don't want your trip to end at the same time.

I'm torn about it ending! I don't want it to, but I'm excited about planning the next trip, so looking forward to starting a new PTR!

You really made the most out of Disney transportation. The kids and I might have to take the boat to EP one day, because it looks like a really nice ride. The new Test Track looks pretty cool! I can’t wait to hear about your time in AK!

It's a nice ride and I like to use the transportation to rest and then go hard again!

I just love how HARD CORE you guys are! Go ladies!!!!

Keep 'em coming.

Thanks! Savannah will enjoy being called hard core!

I have to say, I have yet to take the boat all the way from DHS to Epcot, it just seems like too long when I could just walk ahaha! I usually go up to the Swan Dolphin and walk to Epcot from there! Never noticed the back of France though, and such pretty resorts!

Yum! Avacado on a burger, I’m sold! I’m not so sold on the new test track, it’s the same ride, but more “tron” like. And the whole “design your own car” thing just superbly backs up the line, I miss the old one haha.

I use the transportation to rest so we can keep going and going! The walk looks awesome as well though, if I ever stay at Beach Club or Boardwalk, I know I will enjoy walking to Epcot and DHS! The burger was delish and had a little spiciness to it as well! Yum!

oh that looks like a pofq bus after lunch leaving MGM lol this tr is making me more excited for my May trip AGGGGGHHHH I can't wait

May is SO CLOSE!!!!!!!

Oooooo! It was TOO short! I mean, I KNOW where you're going but I wanna SEE it! Hurrrrry.

Coming right up!!!

You guys were doing great with your 4 parks in 1 day mission!!!

It was a blast and I didn't feel like it was impossible or anything. I guess if we hadn't already been to each of the parks it might have felt rushed or like we were missing everything. It was a really great way to end our trip.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Chapter 21: LOVE those AK lights!

Oh we are getting so close to the end! Wah!!!!! I will say though that I'm a little torn because part of me is ready to wrap it up and start planning the NEXT trip!!! I'm ready to start my PTR and I hope you will all follow me over there when I get it started! People in my real life are so sick of me planning trips and now they get to hear about my running AND Disney at the same time. I never lack in ways to get back to WDW!

Ok, so, onto our 4 parks evening! When I left you, we had already conquered DHS, the pool, and Epcot (two trips there to be technical) and had just arrived at park 3 for the day. Animal Kingdom! I'm SO GLAD we went back. We just love AK and I have never been able to get over there during an EMH and wanted so badly to see it lit up!

We headed straight for EE and saw these lovely ladies dancing on the way. I swear this trip was full of dance!

Standby was 40 minutes for EE, so we decided to grab a FP (which was shorter!) for a return time of 5:15 and headed over to get something to eat. I was hungry, so it made perfect sense to grab some dinner instead of waiting in a line. Savannah wasn't hungry yet, so I just got something. Veggie pizza! YUM. This was really good.

We went in one of the shops and Savannah found a zebra tshirt she wanted. (she loves anything zebra print!) and then it was already time to head to EE! As we walked over there, I noticed the lights were on!!!!!! I cannot explain how excited I was. If you were paying attention earlier, I'm kind of obsessed with the lights at AK.

We walked right through the FP line and rode EE. Naturally, riding once just wasn't enough for this last night, so we hopped right back in standby, which was only 20 minutes! It took 10. Pixie dust AND LIGHTS!

I was willing the sun to go down faster! I wanted it DARK!

After our 2nd ride, Savannah was ready to head to Magic Kingdom to finish off our last night. I was SO resistant! It still wasn't dark and I would have been happy to just stay at AK until it closed. But...Savannah gets what she wants. I took more pictures of the lights on the way out, naturally.

Outside the entrance it was ALMOST dark. Ah well, there's always another trip! I WILL get there in the dark eventually!

We headed to the bus stop and jumped on the bus to the TTC and then the monorail to MK. It was around 6:40 when we got to MK. From the monorail...

We had our last picture proof of the day taken when we arrived. 4 parks in 1 day!

Up next...our last night at our favorite park. *sob*

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Chapter 22: Our whirlwind last night.

I will warn you, I didn't take a lot of pictures until the very end of the night, and hopefully I remember everything we did!

It was 6:40ish, so we headed into Tomorrowland and grabbed FPs for Buzz and then went to Monster's Inc Laugh Floor. The wait was pretty normal, just waiting for the previous show to be over. It seems longer though when they keep announcing "Just 5 more minutes", "Just 3 more minutes" or however they do that! It was hilarious, as always. They actually put us up on the screen in the beginning and Savannah HID!!! Luckily it wasn't actually during the show...we wouldn't have been very funny.

After the show we headed over to the Speedway. Savannah LOVES this "ride" because the first trip we ever rode it, we didn't know what we were doing (I swear something was wrong with our car) and we kept banging back and forth on the railing and jerking around! It's cute b/c I can see that she always wants to "recreate" that moment when we ride it. She kind of pulls the wheel back and forth like she wants that to happen again.

After the Speedway we walked back over to Buzz and rode. We headed into Fantasyland, deciding that we wanted to see Wishes from a different view, and what a fantastic decision that was!!!!! We grabbed some ice cream right as Wishes was starting and found ourselves sitting on the ground against the new castle wall facing Beast's castle. OH.MY.GOSH. I seriously wrote BEST.WISHES.EVER. in my journal! It was so amazing and a totally different way to experience Wishes.

Unfortunately, unless you have a FISHEYE lens, there is just no way to capture the amazingness of it. There were fireworks going off to our left, right, and directly above us. It was overwhelming and so beautiful. We stood up right between the new wall and the construction wall (for the dwarves coaster) and I held Savannah's hand and we looked up and around in awe. I only snapped a few shots (hand held) to try and remember the moment, but honestly, these are just snapshots and don't capture what it was like at.all.
towards Beast's castle:

towards Cindy's castle/new Fantasyland wall...well, more like above our heads:

Overwhelming, beautiful, magical moment. Loved it!

After Wishes, I took a few shots on our way back to Big Thunder! Couldn't finish off our night without riding it again!

BTMRR was busier than the night before and we realized that riding 4 times in 30 minutes was not something you get to do every night! We jumped in the stanby line and it took about 15 minutes, but we didn't feel like waiting again after that.

At this point the reality of our last night hit us. We walked around a little aimlessly, not sure what to do. My back and feet were hurting pretty bad and Savannah didn't seem to know what she wanted to do...just that she didn't want to leave. We walked by Alladin and decided to ride since the line was short. After that we headed into the hub and sat on a bench by Walt and Mickey, trying to decide what to do with our last 30 minutes.

At this point Savannah got teary-eyed. She didn't want to leave but didn't know what she wanted to do. I think just the last night sadness got to us both. We decided that retail therapy was in order and headed into the Main Street stores! Naturally I had to get some balloon shots on the way!

Retail therapy ALWAYS works! Savannah got a few things and we came out feeling better about saying goodbye. We decided to head up to the train station to get some last pictures of the castle and say our goodbyes. Oh and note: there was a HORRIBLE sewer smell in the whole area there (entrance) that night. I have no idea what it was, but it was pretty non-magical.

Up we went! Savannah was taking a million pictures with her phone, she didn't have her camera.

We took our time and as we were standing there they did the goodnight kiss! Perfect ending to our day...

One last mother/daughter shot before we headed out of the park. CHEEK-to-CHEEK we call it!

I prepared myself, as we headed out, for a repeat of the previous night and hour long wait for a bus...



and was pleasantly surprised when we arrived to THIS:

I guess the previous night had been enough to make them realized they needed something MORE! HUGE charter bus taking people back to PoP! We didn't actually get on this, but THREE more regular buses pulled up right after it and we were back at the resort quickly!

After packing up a bit, we decided we were hungry and not quite ready for our night to end, so we went down with the other HUNDREDS of people who were eating at 10:30 at night?!?!? I would have never guessed that many people would be eating that late...but I was doing it, so I guess they were too! We took our food outside and enjoyed our last Disney meal. I think we got our favorites of the trip: Savannah got mac-n-cheese and I got the veggie lasagna.

We headed to bed around 11:30-12am and had to wake at 4am for ME! This is insane as the plane didn't leave until 7something. I always seem to get those middle-of-the-night photos of resort lobby's though, so I took one last shot of Pop as we were waiting...

There were no issues getting to the airport and I will say that although I wouldn't want to get up that early again at the end of a trip, it did make security and the airport VERY easy! Security line was zilch, we got through, got some Starbucks, and enjoyed a quiet hour or so before boarding and heading home! The flight was much nicer since Savannah knew what to expect and wasn't scared anymore. AND, we had Roxie the Fox (Savannah's favorite animal) right out our window for the ride home.

Ah...so sad that the trip is over, but I have another post! I want to wrap it all up with some final thoughts and I also have some of SAVANNAH's photos that I would like to share. The trip through her eyes.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Final Chapter: Through Savannah's Eyes

I thought I would wrap it all up with a few of Savannah's photos from the trip! She is a budding photographer, taking after mama.

She took these and edited them as well, I LOVE the colors that she altered, it makes me feel like THAT is how she sees Disney World. Full of color and vibrancy!
(well, she didn't TAKE this first one, obviously, since she's in it.)

This is one of my favorites. She did this on her phone:

It was a MAGICAL trip, full of pixie dust and uninterrupted time with my girl. I would say it ranks up there with one of my favorite trips. There is less drama with two people, less people to please and more freedom. I can see myself taking many 2-people trips in the future (well, you know I can see myself taking LOTS of trips, period, in the future anyway! LOL)

It was so special and I remember thinking while we watched Wishes over our heads that last night, how very very fortunate I am. There just aren't words to describe how grateful I am to have the family and life that I do and to be able to share it with them in this magical place. It isn't something that everyone gets to do. I cherish every moment.

Sigh. So sad to have it over, but never fear! You knew I couldn't stop planning, for even a moment, right? Head over to my next Pre-trip report! We're headed back on February 21st, 2014...a mere 333 days from today!!!!!!

Losing The Glass Slippers to RUN like a Princess! A serial PTRer strikes again!


Thank you everyone for following along and sharing this trip report with me! I really do appreciate you all! I have no idea what I would do if I couldn't share my obsession with people that understand and love Disney as well!

 

[Pixiedust530]

I've been keeping up to date on my phone mostly so I haven't been posting. Sorry! I'm still here and all caught up. Your 4 Parks in 1 Day is just wonderful!

I love all the pics you took of the lights in AK. AK is actually my least favorite park...but it's on my bucket list to ride EE in the dark! I think that would be SOOOO cool!

Your final evening at MK looks like it was truly magical...minus the sewer smell! EWWW! I haven't been to WDW since New Fantasyland has opened so I'm having a hard time visualizing exactly where you watched Wishes from, but...it looks like a really cool vantage point. There's definitely something magical about fireworks above Cindy's castle, but seeing them over Beast's castle is pretty cool too.

I hope you and Savannah got some cool stuff on your retail therapy excursion down Main St. I'm really bad about rushing down Main St. on my way in the park (gotta beat the crowds to the rides you know) and when I'm ready to leave I am usually in a hurry to head out. I really need to take some time to at least browse the Main St. shops. I don't think I have been "inside" any of the shops since 2006! Definitely need to remedy that!

I'm sad to see your TR wrap up, but I'll follow you over to a new PTR! After all...what else do I have to do besides waste time on the DIS!

 

[cheekypoppins]

GAHHHH!!! okay you're ending to this TR seriously made me cry ,I get you completely.I haven't had a chance to do solo trips with my daughters one at a time but this is the year for that,I'm taking my youngest in May n my oldest in October.I have had it where hubby takes the youngest back to the room for a swim n bedtime while I've stayed in the park with my oldest though,and I love that feeling and one on one time NOTHING beats that!!!Its nice to go as a family and do things together all of us but its so much easier with just 2 and i find you can really focus on the magic with less distraction.

 

[katt789]

Aw man, it's all over?! Sad! I'll definitely pop over to the ptr to keep updated!
Loved the last night in MK, I have to say, I really like Wishes from back in the FLE, I only watched a bit of it from there but it makes it a whole different experience when fireworks are going on all around you!

What a great amazing last night! It's definitely a tradition of mine to go up to the train station to "say goodbye" it's awesome.

Love the way savannah's edited the photos, they look great!!

 

[WDWaddictt]

Sounds like a great trip! Glad you had a great time with your daughter!

Love the pictures!!

Magical trip... Glad to hear you are going back. Good luck in the princess half!

 

[flyergrad09]

Hi there!

I just stumbled across your TR earlier today and I wanted to let you know that your trip sounded fantastic (minus the BTG issues, obviously)! I haven't had the chance to do a mother/daughter trip with my mom, but I hope that I can someday! Your TR has really made me see how great it is to be able to spend so much quality time together, especially in a place you both love so much.

Good luck with your half marathon training!

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

What a Fantastic last day in the parks! That is great you got to ride EE back to back like that! The lights do look really pretty in AK. I’ve never been able to be there that late when the sun was starting to go down. The lights really make AK look like a little village. Cool view of the fireworks! Oh, I love the picture of the Partners statue in front of the yellow castle! Awesome! Wow, the colors are so vibrant in the first few pictures Savannah edited! So cute! Thank you for sharing her pictures and for sharing yours as well! There were so many times that I wanted to just hop into a picture and be in the middle of WDW! I am so happy that you two had such a wonderful trip and that you are headed back for more next year! I’ll hop over to your PTR next!

 

[danimaroo]

Ahh Karen, your TR is over?! NOOOO. I love your TRs. They are always fantastic and full of wonderful photos. I have to say, it seems like the two-person trips are where it's at! Don't get me wrong, going with friends or family is also a great time, but with less people, there's less drama and having to worry about only one person vs. 3 or 4 is way easier.

It sounds like you guys had the trip you envisioned and I'm so happy for you!! Can't wait for your next TR and trip report! I'm just bummed out I won't be there around the same time as you, haha, so our TRs will be slightly off.

 

[DisneyMagicMomma]

What a great trip! I am so happy for you that you were able to do this fun, fun trip with your kiddo. And totally looking forward to DIStalking your PTR! Thanks for sharing with all of us! Can't wait 'til our next trip, TRs get me through until we make our own magic! LOL

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

So sorry to see this TR come to an end!!! I'm so glad you and Savannah had such a magical trip!! Sounds like it was the perfect MK evening to close out your trip!

Can't wait to hear about your next adventures!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I've been keeping up to date on my phone mostly so I haven't been posting. Sorry! I'm still here and all caught up. Your 4 Parks in 1 Day is just wonderful!

I love all the pics you took of the lights in AK. AK is actually my least favorite park...but it's on my bucket list to ride EE in the dark! I think that would be SOOOO cool!

Your final evening at MK looks like it was truly magical...minus the sewer smell! EWWW! I haven't been to WDW since New Fantasyland has opened so I'm having a hard time visualizing exactly where you watched Wishes from, but...it looks like a really cool vantage point. There's definitely something magical about fireworks above Cindy's castle, but seeing them over Beast's castle is pretty cool too.

I hope you and Savannah got some cool stuff on your retail therapy excursion down Main St. I'm really bad about rushing down Main St. on my way in the park (gotta beat the crowds to the rides you know) and when I'm ready to leave I am usually in a hurry to head out. I really need to take some time to at least browse the Main St. shops. I don't think I have been "inside" any of the shops since 2006! Definitely need to remedy that!

I'm sad to see your TR wrap up, but I'll follow you over to a new PTR! After all...what else do I have to do besides waste time on the DIS!

GAHHHH!!! okay you're ending to this TR seriously made me cry ,I get you completely.I haven't had a chance to do solo trips with my daughters one at a time but this is the year for that,I'm taking my youngest in May n my oldest in October.I have had it where hubby takes the youngest back to the room for a swim n bedtime while I've stayed in the park with my oldest though,and I love that feeling and one on one time NOTHING beats that!!!Its nice to go as a family and do things together all of us but its so much easier with just 2 and i find you can really focus on the magic with less distraction.

Aw man, it's all over?! Sad! I'll definitely pop over to the ptr to keep updated!
Loved the last night in MK, I have to say, I really like Wishes from back in the FLE, I only watched a bit of it from there but it makes it a whole different experience when fireworks are going on all around you!

What a great amazing last night! It's definitely a tradition of mine to go up to the train station to "say goodbye" it's awesome.

Love the way savannah's edited the photos, they look great!!

Sounds like a great trip! Glad you had a great time with your daughter!

Love the pictures!!

Magical trip... Glad to hear you are going back. Good luck in the princess half!

Hi there!

I just stumbled across your TR earlier today and I wanted to let you know that your trip sounded fantastic (minus the BTG issues, obviously)! I haven't had the chance to do a mother/daughter trip with my mom, but I hope that I can someday! Your TR has really made me see how great it is to be able to spend so much quality time together, especially in a place you both love so much.

Good luck with your half marathon training!

What a Fantastic last day in the parks! That is great you got to ride EE back to back like that! The lights do look really pretty in AK. I’ve never been able to be there that late when the sun was starting to go down. The lights really make AK look like a little village. Cool view of the fireworks! Oh, I love the picture of the Partners statue in front of the yellow castle! Awesome! Wow, the colors are so vibrant in the first few pictures Savannah edited! So cute! Thank you for sharing her pictures and for sharing yours as well! There were so many times that I wanted to just hop into a picture and be in the middle of WDW! I am so happy that you two had such a wonderful trip and that you are headed back for more next year! I’ll hop over to your PTR next!

Ahh Karen, your TR is over?! NOOOO. I love your TRs. They are always fantastic and full of wonderful photos. I have to say, it seems like the two-person trips are where it's at! Don't get me wrong, going with friends or family is also a great time, but with less people, there's less drama and having to worry about only one person vs. 3 or 4 is way easier.

It sounds like you guys had the trip you envisioned and I'm so happy for you!! Can't wait for your next TR and trip report! I'm just bummed out I won't be there around the same time as you, haha, so our TRs will be slightly off.

What a great trip! I am so happy for you that you were able to do this fun, fun trip with your kiddo. And totally looking forward to DIStalking your PTR! Thanks for sharing with all of us! Can't wait 'til our next trip, TRs get me through until we make our own magic! LOL

So sorry to see this TR come to an end!!! I'm so glad you and Savannah had such a magical trip!! Sounds like it was the perfect MK evening to close out your trip!

Can't wait to hear about your next adventures!

Thank you everyone, so much, for reading! It really was such a special and magical trip. I thought that after this trip I might slow down my Disney planning and maybe have had my fill of Disney for a while...but NOPE! I guess I'm never going to get tired of it, so more trips it is!

I'm excited to be planning our Feb. 2014 trip and I hope everyone will stay in touch on my PTR page. I think that's the worst part of finishing a TR, I feel like I have to say goodbye to all the people I've been chatting with all along!

Thanks again everyone!

 

[Tinker326]

Just finished up after a week off the DIS.

Was sad to see your TR over. But.....will move on to the dreams & wishes of a new one in your PTR!

Great wrap up & great photos & great mother-daughter trip!

 

[lisaviolet]

I LOVE the GROUND at AK.

]

I think I already said I LOVE THIS. Oh well - I LOVE THIS ONE!

Your pics of AK are the best!!

I will simply agree because they are so good Karen that I honestly couldn't pick a favourite this time to post with my thoughts.

Love it.

 

[lisaviolet]

Oooh, lovely! Yep, I'm already planning another (I really thought people were joking when they said it was addicting!) and I'll probably do another shoulder b/c I can cover that with sleeves if needed although I rarely have to cover myself for my job...the dogs and cats don't mind!

NO! Karen, no.

No I'm not your mother.

Here's the scoop. I'm not a tattoo girl - no judgement of them - just not. but I do think yours is very beautiful and love the story behind it.

And I think if you got anything on the other shoulder it would take away from this one. Like the eyes would bounce.

NO KAREN, NO.

and as always, I can never pass up an opportunity to get a shot of balloons!

Balloons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lisa LOVES balloons. Nice shot, Karen. And loved the one of Savannah. It's so cute.

 

[lisaviolet]

Okay, so wonderful.

I'm almost finished but I DON'T WANT TO FINISH. So I'm stopping!!!!

Will be back.

 

[lisaviolet]

Finally finished Karen! LOVED it. Nice memory for you both. Now on to running!