444 Days w/o my Magical Place ... but we are finally headed back *LIVE* Trip Report
- Thread starter Carterfam
- Start date
Disneylvr
Always Disney Dreaming!
- Joined
- Aug 20, 1999
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- 3,662
I am so glad things are going better!!!! 
How close is the AAA Diamond Parking to the entrance at AK. We have a AAA parking pass that came with our trip package are will be arriving in 7 days. Our DD, although 7, uses a special needs stroller and we are hoping the AAA Diamond parking helps us a bit.
How close is the AAA Diamond Parking to the entrance at AK. We have a AAA parking pass that came with our trip package are will be arriving in 7 days. Our DD, although 7, uses a special needs stroller and we are hoping the AAA Diamond parking helps us a bit.
MickeyisBeast
DIS Legend
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- Apr 25, 2009
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- 37,536
I'm joining in! I love live reports
I'm glad things are getting better!
I'm glad things are getting better!
OhioDisneyLover
DIS Veteran
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- Aug 13, 2006
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- 3,648
So glad to hear that things are better. 
rileyreese
Mouseketeer
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- Aug 16, 2009
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- 199
I am really interested too, I will be going in about 35 days with a 10 month old!
mermaid764
DIS Veteran
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- Jan 19, 2010
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- 1,020
I'm glad to hear that your second day went a lot better than your first. Hopefully the rest of your trip will be fantastic and your boys are adorable.
minnieandfamily
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Oct 5, 2009
- Messages
- 136
Yey! I'm so happy to hear that the second day of your vacation was a big improvement 
It sounds like the boys are adjusting to their new digs ! Good to know that they enjoyed the Kilimanjaro Safari - I was planning on taking our crew on the safari too! It sounds like you had a perfect dinner at Tusker House and a nice night at Downtown Disney too. Hope the race goes (or went) well - good luck! 
It sounds like the boys are adjusting to their new digs ! Good to know that they enjoyed the Kilimanjaro Safari - I was planning on taking our crew on the safari too! It sounds like you had a perfect dinner at Tusker House and a nice night at Downtown Disney too. Hope the race goes (or went) well - good luck! Oh, I'm glad the day went better! As long as you're having fun, no worries!
More
THANK YOU! Things are turning out a lot different then we ever expected, but it is turning into a very magical vacation.
I am so glad things are going better!!!!
How close is the AAA Diamond Parking to the entrance at AK. We have a AAA parking pass that came with our trip package are will be arriving in 7 days. Our DD, although 7, uses a special needs stroller and we are hoping the AAA Diamond parking helps us a bit.
THANK YOU!
The AAA parking is very close to the entrance, but there is not a lot of parking spaces, if it is full they usually let you park on the otherside. No tram required, you walk straight to the gates.
I'm joining in! I love live reports
I'm glad things are getting better!
HOPE YOU ENJOY READING!
So glad to hear that things are better.
THANK YOU
That is excited, is it your first trip with your little one, I can't wait to hear about yours.
Thank you, it is turning out to be one interesting trip, the highs and lows, but it is all worth it in the end. Nothing like we could have ever expected.
Yey! I'm so happy to hear that the second day of your vacation was a big improvement
THANK YOU!
It was a big improvement, from our first day. I was so relieved. Safari is a good attraction to take the young ones, I think they loved being able to see, and ride something, instead of being stuck in that stupid stroller. We were lucky too because our jeep was basically empty. Buffet dinners are great for young ones, especially ours who are working ever so hard on finger foods, we could just get a mixture of what they like, cut it up without having to wait for a server.
The Races are Coming Up next... enjoy.
The alarm(s) went off at 5am, after a better nights sleep. Ryder woke up a few times, but each night was steadily showing improvement. After a quick change, we were off to the races!
We arrived at Epcot quickly, with no difficulty at all and were at the staging area within minutes. They were letting folks in the corrals, so we lined up at the front of the stroller section and waited for the race to begin.
It was during this time that I realized the Helmet policy was a sort of a cover-your-butt thing on Disneys part, it was completely that. About 50% of the people we saw even had helmets for their little ones, and about 1% of them were actually wearing them. We put ours on Ryder and Kyrans head, but they didnt last long.
Finally we were off!
The race course took us through a parking lot (most of the first mile) and into a back entrance of Epcot, bringing us in next to the Mexico Pavilion in the World Showcase. We had a nice run through the WS (with a little jaunt outside via International Gateway, outside the park a bit and then back in just past the UK pavilion), then into Future World, around Spaceship Earth and back out near the Wonders of Life Pavilion.
Along the race route we did find some characters, which was nice. I wasnt sure how much Disney would do for the smaller races, but I should have known it was a lovely race! The characters looked beyond adorable in their royal outfits, but we didnt wait in any lines to see them. Just under 40 minutes after we started, we were back at the Finish. Hooray! The boys even got their own medals, Adorable!
After the race, we wandered a bit during the Kids Races (SO CUTE!) before the Meet & Greer breakfast we had paid for. I was sorely disappointed in this event. It was not a small price to pay, and it had the makings of an absolutely horrible event. The food was worse than your worst catered wedding experience. A few chafing dishes of dry ham some assorted pastries and onions with a few potatoes mixed in. I knew it wouldnt be as lavish as the usual buffets, but at significantly more money than said buffets, I expected something remotely equivalent, with leeway given for the circumstances and location. Also instead of the Princesses coming around to visit, as was advertised, there was a horrendous line to wait in to meet them. Im sorry, not going to happen with crabby boys at their nap time. Pretty much every reason we booked this breakfast was not even close to the way things turned out, but the terrible food is what really got me. Well, and the price.
Anyways, Im done complaining. It had the makings of a horrible event, but it was a lovely breakfast anyway, because we met some lovely people. Finally the time came to head back to the hotel, as the boys got cranky and in need of a nap. As soon as we got back though, there looked to be no sleeping in our future! The boys were WIRED! We let them play for a few minutes, and finally just put them in their tents to hopefully wind down. They wouldnt. Eventually, I gave them a deadline because we were all wasting our time. If they were not asleep by 11:05, wed swim now and sleep later. At 11 they were still jabbering away, so I got dressed, sun screened up and by 11:04 they fell asleep
As the boys and DH napped, I took the opportunity to go and explore! I was more than happy to embark on my own adventure, take time for some photographs, and enjoy the Boardwalk and BWV scenery. It really is gorgeous, even if it is far from our favorite resort.
I checked out the pool, shopped a bit and, after about 90 minutes, headed back to the room. I was quite sure there weren't going to be any long naps this trip! When I got back though, the three of them were just starting to stir. It's a good thing we were set on swimming today!
Even after such a good nap, both boys were fussy, so we just hung out in the room until it was time to head to the Magic Kingdom! We hoped to stay for the evening events, but weren't holding our collective breath considering it was only about 2pm.
We waited a few minutes for the car since we forgot to call ahead, but the boys didn't mind. They enjoyed flirting with the passersby heading into and out of the Boardwalk Inn. At the MK, we grabbed a diamond parking spot (we think, although we weren't quite sure) and headed in!
It was nearing time for the 3:00 Parade, so we grabbed a spot near the Fire Station, our favorite. I ran in to City Hall to ask about the direction of the parade, and found out it was starting in Fronteirland. We knew from experience that it would be entirely too long before it reached us here, and weren't going to risk angering the boys, so we started heading down Main Street. If we found a spot farther up the route that would be great, but otherwise we'd just head for some attractions. We ended up finding a fantastic spot in Liberty Square, but the boys slept through their first parade anyway. Go figure! I might also point out that I sacrificed my chocolate cake from the Columbia Harbour House "lunch" that DH and I split, in favor of Strawberry Yogurt to share with the boyd. Since they were sleeping, I ate a freakin' yogurt as it (and I) melted in sun, when I could have had a chocolate cake. The sacrifices we mamas make!
The parade changes, however small, were cute. It was heavenly watching again!
After the parade, we headed to Fantasyland. Holy Crap. I haven't seen so many people in one place since we were young and crowds did not bother us. We got in line for It's a Small World, but thought we'd probably end up hightailing it out of this place as soon as possible thereafter! The boys adored IASW, and it was nothing short of magical watching them watch everything going on around them! :
By this point they were very cranky again, because they hate that darn stroller. We certainly won't be getting the same one again, they just need to see more than it would allow them to! (Oh, and this seems a perfect time to add that it doesn't even fit through 7/8 of the gates at the Magic Kingdom. Stupid!) We ran into Cosmic Rays for a few minutes break, where the boys and I watched Sonny Eclipse. Afterwards, we headed to the Baby Care Center for a break for them as well, before heading to the Contemporary for dinner.
As we were walking to the CR to eat at the Wave, I was so excited to actually order from a menu! I would not be disappointed. I ordered the Filet Mignon, and it was outstanding. Better than LeCellier (at Epcot), perhaps? Amazing. It literally melted in my mouth, and everything else we ate that evening was to die for as well. And who can complain at a place where the only dessert options are all samplers?!
Kyran and Ryder were well-behaved during dinner, but we knew they wouldn't make it back in the stroller for the rest of the evening. I was sorely disappointed that we'd miss Spectromagic and Wishes (I thought this would be our last opportunity this trip), but it just wasn't worth it.
I dropped DH and the boys off at the hotel and headed to Downtown Disney again, to try and make something of the evening that was still young. We hadn't had much success getting through the shops the first evening, and DH wasn't set on hanging out there anyway, so it seemed a perfect time.
Except, of course, that that would be too simple! The place was PACKED. Every lot was full. I drove around anyway, knowing that "Lot Full" didn't actually have to mean that, but it did. Instead of a relaxing evening shopping, I turned around and headed home to hang out with DH. Anything else just wasn't worth the effort!
I was really bummed at the prospect of not seeing Wishes and Spectromagic, so I took another look at our ever-changing plans to see if we could work it in. It might be possible, so we enjoyed our evening on the balcony, actually catching Illuminations this time, and called it a night.
We arrived at Epcot quickly, with no difficulty at all and were at the staging area within minutes. They were letting folks in the corrals, so we lined up at the front of the stroller section and waited for the race to begin.
It was during this time that I realized the Helmet policy was a sort of a cover-your-butt thing on Disneys part, it was completely that. About 50% of the people we saw even had helmets for their little ones, and about 1% of them were actually wearing them. We put ours on Ryder and Kyrans head, but they didnt last long.
Finally we were off!
The race course took us through a parking lot (most of the first mile) and into a back entrance of Epcot, bringing us in next to the Mexico Pavilion in the World Showcase. We had a nice run through the WS (with a little jaunt outside via International Gateway, outside the park a bit and then back in just past the UK pavilion), then into Future World, around Spaceship Earth and back out near the Wonders of Life Pavilion.
Along the race route we did find some characters, which was nice. I wasnt sure how much Disney would do for the smaller races, but I should have known it was a lovely race! The characters looked beyond adorable in their royal outfits, but we didnt wait in any lines to see them. Just under 40 minutes after we started, we were back at the Finish. Hooray! The boys even got their own medals, Adorable!
After the race, we wandered a bit during the Kids Races (SO CUTE!) before the Meet & Greer breakfast we had paid for. I was sorely disappointed in this event. It was not a small price to pay, and it had the makings of an absolutely horrible event. The food was worse than your worst catered wedding experience. A few chafing dishes of dry ham some assorted pastries and onions with a few potatoes mixed in. I knew it wouldnt be as lavish as the usual buffets, but at significantly more money than said buffets, I expected something remotely equivalent, with leeway given for the circumstances and location. Also instead of the Princesses coming around to visit, as was advertised, there was a horrendous line to wait in to meet them. Im sorry, not going to happen with crabby boys at their nap time. Pretty much every reason we booked this breakfast was not even close to the way things turned out, but the terrible food is what really got me. Well, and the price.
Anyways, Im done complaining. It had the makings of a horrible event, but it was a lovely breakfast anyway, because we met some lovely people. Finally the time came to head back to the hotel, as the boys got cranky and in need of a nap. As soon as we got back though, there looked to be no sleeping in our future! The boys were WIRED! We let them play for a few minutes, and finally just put them in their tents to hopefully wind down. They wouldnt. Eventually, I gave them a deadline because we were all wasting our time. If they were not asleep by 11:05, wed swim now and sleep later. At 11 they were still jabbering away, so I got dressed, sun screened up and by 11:04 they fell asleep
As the boys and DH napped, I took the opportunity to go and explore! I was more than happy to embark on my own adventure, take time for some photographs, and enjoy the Boardwalk and BWV scenery. It really is gorgeous, even if it is far from our favorite resort.
I checked out the pool, shopped a bit and, after about 90 minutes, headed back to the room. I was quite sure there weren't going to be any long naps this trip! When I got back though, the three of them were just starting to stir. It's a good thing we were set on swimming today!
Even after such a good nap, both boys were fussy, so we just hung out in the room until it was time to head to the Magic Kingdom! We hoped to stay for the evening events, but weren't holding our collective breath considering it was only about 2pm.
We waited a few minutes for the car since we forgot to call ahead, but the boys didn't mind. They enjoyed flirting with the passersby heading into and out of the Boardwalk Inn. At the MK, we grabbed a diamond parking spot (we think, although we weren't quite sure) and headed in!
It was nearing time for the 3:00 Parade, so we grabbed a spot near the Fire Station, our favorite. I ran in to City Hall to ask about the direction of the parade, and found out it was starting in Fronteirland. We knew from experience that it would be entirely too long before it reached us here, and weren't going to risk angering the boys, so we started heading down Main Street. If we found a spot farther up the route that would be great, but otherwise we'd just head for some attractions. We ended up finding a fantastic spot in Liberty Square, but the boys slept through their first parade anyway. Go figure! I might also point out that I sacrificed my chocolate cake from the Columbia Harbour House "lunch" that DH and I split, in favor of Strawberry Yogurt to share with the boyd. Since they were sleeping, I ate a freakin' yogurt as it (and I) melted in sun, when I could have had a chocolate cake. The sacrifices we mamas make!
The parade changes, however small, were cute. It was heavenly watching again!
After the parade, we headed to Fantasyland. Holy Crap. I haven't seen so many people in one place since we were young and crowds did not bother us. We got in line for It's a Small World, but thought we'd probably end up hightailing it out of this place as soon as possible thereafter! The boys adored IASW, and it was nothing short of magical watching them watch everything going on around them! :
By this point they were very cranky again, because they hate that darn stroller. We certainly won't be getting the same one again, they just need to see more than it would allow them to! (Oh, and this seems a perfect time to add that it doesn't even fit through 7/8 of the gates at the Magic Kingdom. Stupid!) We ran into Cosmic Rays for a few minutes break, where the boys and I watched Sonny Eclipse. Afterwards, we headed to the Baby Care Center for a break for them as well, before heading to the Contemporary for dinner.
As we were walking to the CR to eat at the Wave, I was so excited to actually order from a menu! I would not be disappointed. I ordered the Filet Mignon, and it was outstanding. Better than LeCellier (at Epcot), perhaps? Amazing. It literally melted in my mouth, and everything else we ate that evening was to die for as well. And who can complain at a place where the only dessert options are all samplers?!
Kyran and Ryder were well-behaved during dinner, but we knew they wouldn't make it back in the stroller for the rest of the evening. I was sorely disappointed that we'd miss Spectromagic and Wishes (I thought this would be our last opportunity this trip), but it just wasn't worth it.
I dropped DH and the boys off at the hotel and headed to Downtown Disney again, to try and make something of the evening that was still young. We hadn't had much success getting through the shops the first evening, and DH wasn't set on hanging out there anyway, so it seemed a perfect time.
Except, of course, that that would be too simple! The place was PACKED. Every lot was full. I drove around anyway, knowing that "Lot Full" didn't actually have to mean that, but it did. Instead of a relaxing evening shopping, I turned around and headed home to hang out with DH. Anything else just wasn't worth the effort!
I was really bummed at the prospect of not seeing Wishes and Spectromagic, so I took another look at our ever-changing plans to see if we could work it in. It might be possible, so we enjoyed our evening on the balcony, actually catching Illuminations this time, and called it a night.
THANK YOU!
Temperatures have definately been cool, when we arrived on Thursday it only got to 58F, it has steadily increased everyday, yesterday it finally reached into the 70s, and that is what it has been like today, so far. I would definately bring light jackets, we have been putting the boys in warm sweaters, and have a blanket we used to cover them in the morning and the evening, because they are stuck in a stroller and not moving like us adults.
Sounds like a nice day! Hooray for the kids loving IASW - perfect.
It is so much fun, watching the boys on IASW, their heads turning every which way, trying to figure out what is actually going on, it is so sweet. I am loving every minute of it.
Thank you for all the goodvibes!
As we woke up for the first time on Sunday, we looked at the clock and saw it was nearly 7:00am! The boys hadnt made a peep. This was perfect because they would be ready for a nap at the exact time the parks would start to open!
On our way to Epcot, I grabbed a Blueberry Mickey Muffin at the Bakery and DH grabbed a mug o coffee at Boardwalk Joes. We took our time and still strolled in just a few minutes after 9. As we headed toward Future World, we could see that the ½ Marathon was still in full swing, which worked to our benefit since people seemed to be avoiding Epcot, but the park was empty! We werent sure how long it would last, but we were going to take advantage of it while we could.
Our first stop was the Land Pavilion. I had been dreaming of riding Soarin again, was so desperate to do so that I could practically smell the Orange Groves when I listened to the soundtrack at home. I grabbed a fastpass and then waited (walked right on) in the Standby Line, grabbing a rider swap pass on the way. We might both get to ride twice, with very little or no wait!
While DH was riding, the boys decided to wake up. They played nicely with their Mickey and Pluto plushies while we waited, and as soon as he returned, we strapped the boys in their carriers, left the stroller behind, and headed for the Seas! Maybe Ryder and Kyran would get to enjoy something too! We walked immediately onto The Seas w/ Nemo and Friends, which the boys found moderately interesting. Im sure it pales in comparison to some dark rides, when you are too distracted by things like jacket zippers to notice fish in distant aquariums! They actually enjoyed the aquariums in the pavilion after the ride much more, because they had time to notice and watch the fish.
Turtle Talk with Crush was just about to begin when we exited the ride, so we walked in to see if the boys would make it through the show. They did well, and Kyran was actually captivated by Crush! Ryder couldnt have cared less, and wanted to get our and go somewhere else, but he stayed very quiet. Thank you, Cheese Puffs!
Next stop was the Imagination Pavilion, to introduce the boys to our friend Figment. They enjoyed the ride, but were as you might expect scared silly with the Blast (no tears those). We stopped in the Kodak Labs to send a quick hello to the grandparents, and 5000 takes later, and we were all at least looking at the camera. It would have to do!
So here we were before lunch, and wed already ridden three rides AND posed for a postcard. What was happening? All the excitement left the boys exhausted, so they got a bottle and settled back into the stroller while DH rode Soarin on the FP. A series of unfortunate events, hysterical babies, etc. would leave me unable to ride again, but its ok. Well go back. I took the boys to the companion restroom to change diapers, then for a walk around to calm down until DH met up with us.
We would have loved to hit Sunshine Seasons for luch at this time, but it would have obviously been impossible while the boys were asleep, since there are no strollers allowed downstairs.
It was at this point, we had decided we would just do our best to hang out wherever the boys fell asleep, somewhere on the go, even if it meant wandering around Mouse Gear until they woke up.
We slowly made our way into World Showcase, and we grabbed lunch at the Lotus Blossom Café in the China Pavilion on the way back to the hotel, eating quickly so we could get back. Since the boys had caught a pretty decent (40 minutes) nap in the stroller, we thought it would be the perfect time to go for a swim! We quickly found out they were just a few inches too small to sit in the baby pool on their own, so most of our time was spent motoring them around the Luna Park pool. They loved every minute of it, even the multiples times we took them underwater.
We stayed in the pool for about an hour, and then headed to the room for baths/showers and naps. As I sat in the room listening to the whimsical sounds of the Boardwalk (seagulls and all), the resort TV music playing softly in the room, and the boys snoring away, I realized that the rip has passed the break even point to Im finally glad we came Perhaps it would even end up a good trip, after all!
Before long, it was ready to head to dinner with Pooh and friends at the Crystal Palace! When we got there, there were dozens of people filling the porch, the walkways all around the restaurant, etc. Still, the boys enjoyed playing (out of the stroller) while we waited, and we were seated in about 15 minutes.
It was during this dinner that we learned Ryder and Kyran really DO like the characters, so long as they havent been up since 4:30am traveling. They loved every bit of interaction with Pooh, Piglet, Tigger and Eeyore. They loved feeling them (Im sure the fact that they are like giant plush helps!). They watched as each one approached the table (including staring as they visited tables before us), interacted with them the entire time they were with us, and watched as they walked away and until they were out of sight.
After dinner, I took Kyran to the Baby Care Center to get changed and wait for DH and Ryder. We made friends with the wonderful cast members, and soon the 4 of us were headed down Main Street to grab a spot for Spectromagic! For whatever reason, things had worked out today and even though the crowd situation wasnt ideal wed get to see Spectro & Wishes after all! I literally had tears in my eyes as it started, I was so excited.
Ryder tried his darndest to stay awake for the parade, and Kyran woke up for a minute here and there. They seemed to be as enamored of it as I am, from what I could tell.
We got one of my favourite spots for Wishes too. What a beautiful night!
It was utter chaos trying to leave, as we expected, but the boys slept and we were actually transferring them to the car by 9:45pm. We were all exhausted when we got back to the room, but couldnt have asked for a better day. Finally!
On our way to Epcot, I grabbed a Blueberry Mickey Muffin at the Bakery and DH grabbed a mug o coffee at Boardwalk Joes. We took our time and still strolled in just a few minutes after 9. As we headed toward Future World, we could see that the ½ Marathon was still in full swing, which worked to our benefit since people seemed to be avoiding Epcot, but the park was empty! We werent sure how long it would last, but we were going to take advantage of it while we could.
Our first stop was the Land Pavilion. I had been dreaming of riding Soarin again, was so desperate to do so that I could practically smell the Orange Groves when I listened to the soundtrack at home. I grabbed a fastpass and then waited (walked right on) in the Standby Line, grabbing a rider swap pass on the way. We might both get to ride twice, with very little or no wait!
While DH was riding, the boys decided to wake up. They played nicely with their Mickey and Pluto plushies while we waited, and as soon as he returned, we strapped the boys in their carriers, left the stroller behind, and headed for the Seas! Maybe Ryder and Kyran would get to enjoy something too! We walked immediately onto The Seas w/ Nemo and Friends, which the boys found moderately interesting. Im sure it pales in comparison to some dark rides, when you are too distracted by things like jacket zippers to notice fish in distant aquariums! They actually enjoyed the aquariums in the pavilion after the ride much more, because they had time to notice and watch the fish.
Turtle Talk with Crush was just about to begin when we exited the ride, so we walked in to see if the boys would make it through the show. They did well, and Kyran was actually captivated by Crush! Ryder couldnt have cared less, and wanted to get our and go somewhere else, but he stayed very quiet. Thank you, Cheese Puffs!
Next stop was the Imagination Pavilion, to introduce the boys to our friend Figment. They enjoyed the ride, but were as you might expect scared silly with the Blast (no tears those). We stopped in the Kodak Labs to send a quick hello to the grandparents, and 5000 takes later, and we were all at least looking at the camera. It would have to do!
So here we were before lunch, and wed already ridden three rides AND posed for a postcard. What was happening? All the excitement left the boys exhausted, so they got a bottle and settled back into the stroller while DH rode Soarin on the FP. A series of unfortunate events, hysterical babies, etc. would leave me unable to ride again, but its ok. Well go back. I took the boys to the companion restroom to change diapers, then for a walk around to calm down until DH met up with us.
We would have loved to hit Sunshine Seasons for luch at this time, but it would have obviously been impossible while the boys were asleep, since there are no strollers allowed downstairs.
It was at this point, we had decided we would just do our best to hang out wherever the boys fell asleep, somewhere on the go, even if it meant wandering around Mouse Gear until they woke up.
We slowly made our way into World Showcase, and we grabbed lunch at the Lotus Blossom Café in the China Pavilion on the way back to the hotel, eating quickly so we could get back. Since the boys had caught a pretty decent (40 minutes) nap in the stroller, we thought it would be the perfect time to go for a swim! We quickly found out they were just a few inches too small to sit in the baby pool on their own, so most of our time was spent motoring them around the Luna Park pool. They loved every minute of it, even the multiples times we took them underwater.
We stayed in the pool for about an hour, and then headed to the room for baths/showers and naps. As I sat in the room listening to the whimsical sounds of the Boardwalk (seagulls and all), the resort TV music playing softly in the room, and the boys snoring away, I realized that the rip has passed the break even point to Im finally glad we came Perhaps it would even end up a good trip, after all!
Before long, it was ready to head to dinner with Pooh and friends at the Crystal Palace! When we got there, there were dozens of people filling the porch, the walkways all around the restaurant, etc. Still, the boys enjoyed playing (out of the stroller) while we waited, and we were seated in about 15 minutes.
It was during this dinner that we learned Ryder and Kyran really DO like the characters, so long as they havent been up since 4:30am traveling. They loved every bit of interaction with Pooh, Piglet, Tigger and Eeyore. They loved feeling them (Im sure the fact that they are like giant plush helps!). They watched as each one approached the table (including staring as they visited tables before us), interacted with them the entire time they were with us, and watched as they walked away and until they were out of sight.
After dinner, I took Kyran to the Baby Care Center to get changed and wait for DH and Ryder. We made friends with the wonderful cast members, and soon the 4 of us were headed down Main Street to grab a spot for Spectromagic! For whatever reason, things had worked out today and even though the crowd situation wasnt ideal wed get to see Spectro & Wishes after all! I literally had tears in my eyes as it started, I was so excited.
Ryder tried his darndest to stay awake for the parade, and Kyran woke up for a minute here and there. They seemed to be as enamored of it as I am, from what I could tell.
We got one of my favourite spots for Wishes too. What a beautiful night!
It was utter chaos trying to leave, as we expected, but the boys slept and we were actually transferring them to the car by 9:45pm. We were all exhausted when we got back to the room, but couldnt have asked for a better day. Finally!
cmp1111
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2006
- Messages
- 7,178
HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm so glad you had a great day!
I just wanted to say thank you, hearing your kind thoughts, and giving us good vibes for the day, really makes my evenings and afternoon. Thank you, for being part of our magical trip.
Ok, so no more late nights. The boys had horrendous nights, taking turns with meltdowns that would last for hours. What seemed to have gone well obviously had a larger impact that we could see, so out the window went plans for Fantasmic and Illuminations (We had discussed each going to one alone, but it was really not worth the hassle, and this was a family trip, maybe next time. So we were off
We were actually heading through Epcot to the Magic Kingdom, not an efficient way to travel, but nice when you have two boys who freak out getting in and out of a stroller!), but got distracted. I ducked into Club Cook for my almost-daily dose of Kinley and we noticed it was perfect timing to hit the Character Connection. We waited about 10 minutes (love the queue area with classic cartoons!) and had a great time with all of the characters.
Finally, we were on our way to the Magic Kingdom via the monorail. We headed straight for Pixie Hollow (This was a mommys must-do, before the boys are too old to care about Fairies and Princesses). When we got to Toontown, the wait times were listed at 15 minutes (Princesses) and 45 minutes (Fairies). I tell you what, Im thinking the princesses are glad to have some people with which share the load, no?
The boys wouldnt care either way, so we hit the Princess line. In about 2.5 minutes flat, we were in! A little off on the wait time! The boys enjoyed meeting the princesses, but were mostly in awe of their dresses! I couldnt believe they sat so still for their pictures. Since the line was only slightly longer for the Fairies, we figured there would be no way it would actually take 45 minutes to get back there, so we hopped in that one as well. Hooray!
We were right, it didnt take 45 minutes. It took about 65. With hungry boys, who we thought would be out long before lunchtime, they were in a fabulous mood, and we got some really cute pics with Tinkerbell, surprisingly.
We made a pit stop at Petes Garage, then sat on Minnies Porch and fed the boys. We made a quick run into her house, but it was SO crowded that we headed back out as quickly as we had entered!
From there, we said our goodbyes, the last time we will probably ever set foot in Toontown, and headed to Frontierland for lunch at Pecos Bills. DH loves their burgers (and the fixins bar), but we dont eat there often because I dont really like anything on the menu all that well. The boys slept while we enjoyed our lunch. My favorite part though, was watching DH spend several minutes meticulously building his masterpiece of a burger, only to watch it immediately topple all over his plate. Crush had said it so well during Turtle Talk the previous day And when something happens that is totally bogus but somewhat humerous, Duuuuuude.
After lunch we watched Philharmagic (it was really blurry) and rode The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. The boys loved it, as we expected. I loved watching DH remind Ryder and Kyran of all the stories we had read from the Classic Pooh Treasury before our trip as we traveled through them!
What a morning! We had accomplished so much already, at least at the pace the trip had been going! We stopped for another Dole Whip on the way out of the Magic Kingdom. For the record, if you are ever at Aloha Isle and you see me, go to the line that is furthest away. It NEVER fails that something goes dreadfully wrong in whatever line I pick, and the entire park gets served before I do. This is not an exaggeration, you have warned. It is still worth the wait, and I enjoyed it very much as we rode the monorail back to Epcot.
When we got there, the boys were sleeping so DH and I wandered through Innoventions for a little while. There is a lot there that is new since the last time we went! We took our time walking back to the resort, even waiting on the Friendship Boat (just for the heck of it). It had been a long morning and we needed to relax in the room for a while!
In the late afternoon, we headed back into Epcot for dinner, the boys were in pleasant moods, it was a bit breezy, and we were starving! Too bad we were going to San Angel Inn.
We are determined to eat at every restaurant on property at some point, so we usually dont repeat them that frequently. This might change, because were running out of really food ones! After making the ADRs for this trip I noticed that aside from The Wave, there is a reason we hadnt eaten a few of the new restaurants on our list!
I ADORE the Mexico Pavilion. It holds such special memories for me, and is one of my favorite places in the World. Apparently, however not as a place to eat. The restaurant was packed in so tight that we could hardly hear our own conversations over those coming from surrounding tables. The food was probably not even good enough to be labeled mediocre, but its cool, weve been there, and we dont have to go back.
After dinner we rode the 3 Caballeros Gran Fiesta Tour, which the boys loved. Ryder especially was hysterical to watch. He stood straight up on DHs lap, and turned his head side to side (and practically in a circle at times) to see what was going on around him. So sweet! We rode again so I could get some pictures of Kyran watching as well, because he enjoyed it just the same. Unfortunately, he was content to stare out his side, so most of the pictures are of the back of his head. The boys were in such a fabulous mood after dinner that we took our time strolling through the World Showcase and along the Boardwalk. We even played for several minutes in the Baby Care Center. (Surprisingly I know).
On the way out, as Kyran was catching a catnap in the stroller, Pluto made a surprise visit! Any bet at what age he will look at those pictures and say its not fair, Ryder got the bonus.
It was absolutely the most gorgeous night thus far, and the Boardwalk was The Place to Be. We watched a magician for a few minutes before heading upstairs, and the boys remained so content. They played a while in the room before going to sleep at about 8:30. What a great day!
It was at this point I realized that our things to do list, was getting to long for the amount of days we had left. I especially wanted to get back to the Animal Kingdom to see the Festival of the Lion King and Affection Section, but the other parks still had so much more for the boys to see, that I made the decision not to try and squeeze anything else in, and pulled out the calendar and began planning a trip for after our Trans-Atlantic Cruise in September!
We were actually heading through Epcot to the Magic Kingdom, not an efficient way to travel, but nice when you have two boys who freak out getting in and out of a stroller!), but got distracted. I ducked into Club Cook for my almost-daily dose of Kinley and we noticed it was perfect timing to hit the Character Connection. We waited about 10 minutes (love the queue area with classic cartoons!) and had a great time with all of the characters.
Finally, we were on our way to the Magic Kingdom via the monorail. We headed straight for Pixie Hollow (This was a mommys must-do, before the boys are too old to care about Fairies and Princesses). When we got to Toontown, the wait times were listed at 15 minutes (Princesses) and 45 minutes (Fairies). I tell you what, Im thinking the princesses are glad to have some people with which share the load, no?
The boys wouldnt care either way, so we hit the Princess line. In about 2.5 minutes flat, we were in! A little off on the wait time! The boys enjoyed meeting the princesses, but were mostly in awe of their dresses! I couldnt believe they sat so still for their pictures. Since the line was only slightly longer for the Fairies, we figured there would be no way it would actually take 45 minutes to get back there, so we hopped in that one as well. Hooray!
We were right, it didnt take 45 minutes. It took about 65. With hungry boys, who we thought would be out long before lunchtime, they were in a fabulous mood, and we got some really cute pics with Tinkerbell, surprisingly.
We made a pit stop at Petes Garage, then sat on Minnies Porch and fed the boys. We made a quick run into her house, but it was SO crowded that we headed back out as quickly as we had entered!
From there, we said our goodbyes, the last time we will probably ever set foot in Toontown, and headed to Frontierland for lunch at Pecos Bills. DH loves their burgers (and the fixins bar), but we dont eat there often because I dont really like anything on the menu all that well. The boys slept while we enjoyed our lunch. My favorite part though, was watching DH spend several minutes meticulously building his masterpiece of a burger, only to watch it immediately topple all over his plate. Crush had said it so well during Turtle Talk the previous day And when something happens that is totally bogus but somewhat humerous, Duuuuuude.
After lunch we watched Philharmagic (it was really blurry) and rode The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. The boys loved it, as we expected. I loved watching DH remind Ryder and Kyran of all the stories we had read from the Classic Pooh Treasury before our trip as we traveled through them!
What a morning! We had accomplished so much already, at least at the pace the trip had been going! We stopped for another Dole Whip on the way out of the Magic Kingdom. For the record, if you are ever at Aloha Isle and you see me, go to the line that is furthest away. It NEVER fails that something goes dreadfully wrong in whatever line I pick, and the entire park gets served before I do. This is not an exaggeration, you have warned. It is still worth the wait, and I enjoyed it very much as we rode the monorail back to Epcot.
When we got there, the boys were sleeping so DH and I wandered through Innoventions for a little while. There is a lot there that is new since the last time we went! We took our time walking back to the resort, even waiting on the Friendship Boat (just for the heck of it). It had been a long morning and we needed to relax in the room for a while!
In the late afternoon, we headed back into Epcot for dinner, the boys were in pleasant moods, it was a bit breezy, and we were starving! Too bad we were going to San Angel Inn.
We are determined to eat at every restaurant on property at some point, so we usually dont repeat them that frequently. This might change, because were running out of really food ones! After making the ADRs for this trip I noticed that aside from The Wave, there is a reason we hadnt eaten a few of the new restaurants on our list!
I ADORE the Mexico Pavilion. It holds such special memories for me, and is one of my favorite places in the World. Apparently, however not as a place to eat. The restaurant was packed in so tight that we could hardly hear our own conversations over those coming from surrounding tables. The food was probably not even good enough to be labeled mediocre, but its cool, weve been there, and we dont have to go back.
After dinner we rode the 3 Caballeros Gran Fiesta Tour, which the boys loved. Ryder especially was hysterical to watch. He stood straight up on DHs lap, and turned his head side to side (and practically in a circle at times) to see what was going on around him. So sweet! We rode again so I could get some pictures of Kyran watching as well, because he enjoyed it just the same. Unfortunately, he was content to stare out his side, so most of the pictures are of the back of his head. The boys were in such a fabulous mood after dinner that we took our time strolling through the World Showcase and along the Boardwalk. We even played for several minutes in the Baby Care Center. (Surprisingly I know).
On the way out, as Kyran was catching a catnap in the stroller, Pluto made a surprise visit! Any bet at what age he will look at those pictures and say its not fair, Ryder got the bonus.
It was absolutely the most gorgeous night thus far, and the Boardwalk was The Place to Be. We watched a magician for a few minutes before heading upstairs, and the boys remained so content. They played a while in the room before going to sleep at about 8:30. What a great day!
It was at this point I realized that our things to do list, was getting to long for the amount of days we had left. I especially wanted to get back to the Animal Kingdom to see the Festival of the Lion King and Affection Section, but the other parks still had so much more for the boys to see, that I made the decision not to try and squeeze anything else in, and pulled out the calendar and began planning a trip for after our Trans-Atlantic Cruise in September!
OhioDisneyLover
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2006
- Messages
- 3,648
I'm really loving your live TR.
Thanks for sharing this with us.
Thanks for sharing this with us.
minnieandfamily
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Oct 5, 2009
- Messages
- 136
It sounds like you and your boys are having a great time! I am impressed by how much you have been able to see and do! I'm glad that the race went well but sorry that the breakfast was so disappointing. We'll definitely have to hit Turtle Talk with Crush - I wanted to go so my daughter could see it but sounds like our boys will enjoy it too! I feel the same way about the Mexico pavilion - it's definitely one of my favorite places in EPCOT - I love the setting. It's sooo disappointing to me that the food is not that good (in my opinion too), especially since I love Mexican food.
You mentioned that you (and the boys!) do not like the stroller you are using and that it doesn't fit through most of the gates at MK. Which stroller is it? Also, which gates are you referring to that they don't fit through? We are planning to bring our Maclaren twin stroller and hoping we don't have the same problem. It fits through doors here at home no problem (at stores, restaurants, etc) - hoping it won't be a problem there.
I like how you are already planning your return trip to Disney - LOL. That sure speaks volumes about how well your trip is going! I'm so happy that it turned around - I was a little concerned after your first post
We are headed for Disney tomorrow - if I remember your itinerary correctly, I think you are departing tomorrow? I hope you enjoy your last couple of days and looking forward to your next post! Thank you for sharing your trip story with everyone - it's been fun to read and very helpful to me as a fellow mom of twins!!
PS - I also went back and read your trip reports from your Disney cruises. Wow - sounds like they were a lot of fun! I enjoyed reading them! We'll definitely have to plan a Disney cruise in the near future - your trip reports sold me on them
You mentioned that you (and the boys!) do not like the stroller you are using and that it doesn't fit through most of the gates at MK. Which stroller is it? Also, which gates are you referring to that they don't fit through? We are planning to bring our Maclaren twin stroller and hoping we don't have the same problem. It fits through doors here at home no problem (at stores, restaurants, etc) - hoping it won't be a problem there.
I like how you are already planning your return trip to Disney - LOL. That sure speaks volumes about how well your trip is going! I'm so happy that it turned around - I was a little concerned after your first post
We are headed for Disney tomorrow - if I remember your itinerary correctly, I think you are departing tomorrow? I hope you enjoy your last couple of days and looking forward to your next post! Thank you for sharing your trip story with everyone - it's been fun to read and very helpful to me as a fellow mom of twins!!
PS - I also went back and read your trip reports from your Disney cruises. Wow - sounds like they were a lot of fun! I enjoyed reading them! We'll definitely have to plan a Disney cruise in the near future - your trip reports sold me on them
I'm really loving your live TR.
Thanks for sharing this with us.
Thank you, for reading, I glade you are enjoying.
Wow, that's a great day! I'm so glad they didn't melt down in the Faerie line.
That's the second "mediocre" review I've read lately of San Angel. Too bad! It is such a pretty looking place...
Can't wait to hear more!
I was so prepared for a meltdown, after 30 mins. I got DH to prepare a bottle, we had cheese puffs ready, but they were phenomenally good, I was thinking who replaced my sons, DH kept joking they wanted to meet the cute Tinkerbell, so they would have to be on their best behavior if they were going to attract her attention.
San Angel... it was so crowded, the price of the food compared to the meal you got was ridicoulous, I got this shrimp enchilada and it consisted of 3 small shrimp with little seasoning in a tortilla with green sauce. No beans or rice... it was just a Rip off!
Thank you for more goodvibes.
It sounds like you and your boys are having a great time! I am impressed by how much you have been able to see and do! I'm glad that the race went well but sorry that the breakfast was so disappointing. We'll definitely have to hit Turtle Talk with Crush - I wanted to go so my daughter could see it but sounds like our boys will enjoy it too! I feel the same way about the Mexico pavilion - it's definitely one of my favorite places in EPCOT - I love the setting. It's sooo disappointing to me that the food is not that good (in my opinion too), especially since I love Mexican food.
You mentioned that you (and the boys!) do not like the stroller you are using and that it doesn't fit through most of the gates at MK. Which stroller is it? Also, which gates are you referring to that they don't fit through? We are planning to bring our Maclaren twin stroller and hoping we don't have the same problem. It fits through doors here at home no problem (at stores, restaurants, etc) - hoping it won't be a problem there.
I like how you are already planning your return trip to Disney - LOL. That sure speaks volumes about how well your trip is going! I'm so happy that it turned around - I was a little concerned after your first post
We are headed for Disney tomorrow - if I remember your itinerary correctly, I think you are departing tomorrow? I hope you enjoy your last couple of days and looking forward to your next post! Thank you for sharing your trip story with everyone - it's been fun to read and very helpful to me as a fellow mom of twins!!
PS - I also went back and read your trip reports from your Disney cruises. Wow - sounds like they were a lot of fun! I enjoyed reading them! We'll definitely have to plan a Disney cruise in the near future - your trip reports sold me on them
This trip has definately had its ups and downs but it is finally levelling off... and I am learning to travel with young ones, like I would never imgained before. I definately recommend Turtle Talk with Crush... it was 50/50 for us, the boys did pretty good, I was impressed, and I as an adult love the show, so I would check it out.
The Mexico Pavilion is going through some renovations right now... I think they should have left everything and just fixed San Angel Inns... I am so disappointed...
We rented our Stroller from A Baby's Best Friend... InStep Dbl. Side by Side Stroller. The gates I am talking about are the ones at the front you enter the park through, there is like one that you can fit through perfectly, all the others it is a tight squish. You should have no problem... I think I will plan to bring the one from home next time, I think the boys would prefer it better because they are familiar with it.
That's me, the planner, I will have the next plan ready to go by the end of April, then a new idea will pop up and I will change it all around, and the list continues... I really could plan one of these trips till I am blue in the face, good thing I have to little ones now to keep me occupied.
Have a fantastic trip, and I can't wait to hear all about it.
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