7 AM Extra Magic Hours? We're in!...NEW 12/27 p. 31

[wdwgirl03]

Ha ha! Funny you say that - I'm a water slide weenie and I loved the slides at TL! Probably because they are wimpy and lame!

Yeah, I remember we went on the family raft ride there and at the end thinking, "That's it?!" It was sooo much shorter than Teamboat Springs at Blizzard Beach!

I catch up and your just about done!

We stopped by the Boardwalk area twice on our trip and I now see how amazing it all is! Really, until you go and see it you can't understand. We walked over from Epcot one day and I almost bought DVC right then and there.

We loved riding the Friendship boats! We did on 2 separate days and just really enjoyed seeing the views.

I miss the unobstructed view of the Hat in DHS, now there is a huge stage in front blocking it from the brim on down.

The picture from ToT is neat, I tried that, got a halfway decent one, but I was so afraid of dropping my camera.

I'm sorry your computer died, it's such a hassle.

I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Glad you finally made it over to the Boardwalk and got to see how awesome it is.

Hmm, really? Is the stage for New Year's? That is weird.

Thanks...I was surprised that picture from Tower of Terror turned out!

Ugh, me too but thankfully my new computer is on the way!

Happy Thanksgiving MaryEllen and family!

haha, I'll pretend that says my name. Hope you and Caitlin had a nice Thanksgiving!

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Hey, everyone! Well, I finally ordered a new computer the other day! It is on its way and I should have it by early this week. Then I'll FINALLY be able to post another update on my TR (of course it may take me a while to figure things out since I'm getting Windows 8), and maybe start a new pre-trip report for April since we'll be approaching 4 months. I don't know, I'm still undecided about that...it seems like all my PTRs are the same since we really don't do all that much planning. haha! But it is fun counting down the days until we leave (I think we're at 127 or something like that). Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving..."see" you all again soon!

 

[dawnbu40]

haha, I'll pretend that says my name. Hope you and Caitlin had a nice Thanksgiving!

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ooops! I'm sorry! Guess I opened too many windows at one time and mixed up what I was posting where Anyway, SARAH I hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving too!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Hey, everyone! Well, I finally ordered a new computer the other day! It is on its way and I should have it by early this week. Then I'll FINALLY be able to post another update on my TR (of course it may take me a while to figure things out since I'm getting Windows 8), and maybe start a new pre-trip report for April since we'll be approaching 4 months. I don't know, I'm still undecided about that...it seems like all my PTRs are the same since we really don't do all that much planning. haha! But it is fun counting down the days until we leave (I think we're at 127 or something like that). Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving..."see" you all again soon!

Yay for a new computer!!! And 4 months!!! Your PTRs are always fun and full of memories - plus we DISers always like to hear your ADRs and such anyway. Throw in an update about a bag or shoes and we are good!

 

[wdwgirl03]

ooops! I'm sorry! Guess I opened too many windows at one time and mixed up what I was posting where Anyway, SARAH I hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving too!

haha, it's alright, I've done that before too. Thank you! We did have a nice Thanksgiving.

Yay for a new computer!!! And 4 months!!! Your PTRs are always fun and full of memories - plus we DISers always like to hear your ADRs and such anyway. Throw in an update about a bag or shoes and we are good!

Yes, I am very excited (in fact, it came a day earlier than I thought it would so I am typing on it right now!). Aww, thanks. I probably will do a PTR. Plus I'll have to keep everyone updated on Emma's CP experiences!

 

[jwwi]

Just caught up with your TR. I think you should do a PTR for your April trip. I like how you look back on previous trips to get excited for your upcoming trips. It will also be nice to hear about what your CM sister is doing in the world. How great that you picked to start your last day at DHS. I really like RNRC too, we road it twice on our most recent trip. The ride is so much fun. I road with a first timer, we always ride single rider. She seemed disappointed when it ended. Maybe she thought it was too short of a ride? I had no idea that you can check in for a flight at guest relations in a park, that is a great tip! Happy to hear you were able to replace your computer.

 

[wdwgirl03]

Just caught up with your TR. I think you should do a PTR for your April trip. I like how you look back on previous trips to get excited for your upcoming trips. It will also be nice to hear about what your CM sister is doing in the world. How great that you picked to start your last day at DHS. I really like RNRC too, we road it twice on our most recent trip. The ride is so much fun. I road with a first timer, we always ride single rider. She seemed disappointed when it ended. Maybe she thought it was too short of a ride? I had no idea that you can check in for a flight at guest relations in a park, that is a great tip! Happy to hear you were able to replace your computer.

Yeah, I was thinking for April I could do some flashbacks to our DVC trips and talk about all the resorts since BLT will be the last one I need to stay at!

We almost always do single rider now at RNRC too. Though sometimes the wait isn't all that much shorter. That's too bad the person you were with seemed disappointed. It is a great ride.

I'm glad I was able to get a new computer too.

 

[wdwgirl03]

Hello everybody! It is finally time for a LONG overdue update! I know you're all excited about that. So I won't keep you waiting any longer...here we go!

Friday, April 13, 2012 cont'd (part 2)

When we left Hollywood Studios we decided to take the boat.

Whenever we leave DHS on the boat I always find myself looking over my shoulder a lot. I just can't get enough of that view. But it's a lot sadder when you're leaving the park.

Instead of riding until we got to the Boardwalk stop, we got off at the Swan and Dolphin to walk back the rest of the way. Since we got off there I was able to stop and get my picture taken by the cute Boardwalk sign.

We took a quick break in our room before heading back out. Our destination was going to be Downtown Disney. The bus stopped at Typhoon Lagoon first and there was this family who was so excited about going there. When we got to the park the mother said, "We're here!" to the little girls. It's so cute seeing other people get excited about stuff like that. And then I got a little jealous they were going there (funny because we had been thinking about going to Blizzard Beach...). Some day I definitely have to get back to the water parks!

After that stop at Typhoon Lagoon we arrived at Downtown Disney. There was something there that I had been wanting to do for a long time but we never seemed to be able to do it. And what would that be?

Yes, it was the Characters in Flight balloon ride! There were a few people in front of us so I think we waited atleast 15 minutes before we were able to get on. We ended up getting on with a family who was visiting from out of the country (I want to say Australia or New Zealand?) and the man and my dad somehow started talking about politics. Anyway...when you first get on the balloon everyone has to spread out to kind of distribute the weight. Then once the balloon reaches its peak you can move around and take pictures. There sure are some great views once you're up in the air!

A view of our "home" before we went up!

Planet Hollywood...

Some of the shops on the West Side...

Epcot and some of the Epcot resorts...

Saratoga Springs...

The Magic Kingdom, Contemporary, and Bay Lake Tower (is it April yet???)

After a few minutes up in the air we slowly made our way back down.

If you have never done Characters in Flight, I would definitely recommend it! It's a little pricey (I think it was $18 for adults) but it's one of those things that you should do atleast once. And like I said, the views are amazing!

Once we were back on the ground we walked around DTD for a little bit. We stopped in the Lego store just because I wanted to see what it was like. And it sure was a popular place, especially for families with young kids. They had some pretty cool Lego sets there and I'm not going to lie, I sort of wanted some of these Harry Potter legos.

(continued in next post...)

 

[wdwgirl03]

(continued from previous post...)

From Downtown Disney we decided to visit another new place. As you can tell, we were pretty much without any sort of plan and were just deciding what to do as we went along. Sometimes it's more fun to do that anyway! So, Dad and I like to visit the different resorts and he said something about going to Fort Wilderness. We went to wait for a bus and headed over there. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures, but as we walked around we saw the horse corrals and the hall for the Hoop de Doo show. I'll also say that the place is HUGE! While we were there we wanted to see if we could find the walkway to the Wilderness Lodge. Well, we ended up down by Bay Lake so instead we got on a boat that was going there.

On the boat we saw the landing for the old Discovery Island (did anybody ever go there? We only went once and I remember my sisters and I were terrified because we saw this huge bird in one of the walkways and we didn't want to pass it. ).

There's the lodge!

The first stop on the boat was the Contemporary. As it turns out we ended up getting off there, which I think confused the skipper because we were asking him about the Wilderness Lodge. Oh well. Like I said, we were just going with the flow at that point.

From the Contemporary Dad suggested stopping at the Magic Kingdom for the parade or just going back to the Boardwalk. Since I haven't seen the parade in ages, I decided to go to the Magic Kingdom, where we ended up watching the parade from the train station (something else that we've never done). Of course right as the parade music started I got a little teary-eyed. I don't know why, but I always have a hard time visiting the MK on the last day of the trip. There's just something about seeing the castle for the last time that is so sad. But anyway, it was kind of cool watching the parade from the train station for a change.

Notice the time on the clock? Thanks, KTTK tour for that fun little tidbit!

DOPEY!!! I had to post this picture on Emma's facebook because when she was little she absolutely loved Dopey.

Oh how I wish I was here right now.

How cute is this picture? I love Tiana and Naveen (actually, that's the same Naveen we met a couple years ago!).

We didn't really do anything else at the MK once the parade was over, other than pick up another pack of Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom cards. So even though we didn't do a ton of attractions that day, we were sure able to see a lot of the WDW property. It was nice being able to use that last day to just slow down and enjoy those last few hours in our favorite place.

up next: mini golfing and time to go home

 

[wisblue]

Sarah, you forgot to mention our lunch at Earl of Sandwich. It's gotten to where we almost never visit WDW without stopping there. I think it is one of the best and most reasonably priced places to eat in the whole resort

 

[wdwgirl03]

Sarah, you forgot to mention our lunch at Earl of Sandwich. It's gotten to where we almost never visit WDW without stopping there. I think it is one of the best and most reasonably priced places to eat in the whole resort

Oh yes, how could I have forgotten that?!

 

[Nermel9]

Great updates! Wow you guys are brave for going in the Characters in Flight balloon! I'm not afraid of heights or anything but something about that balloon freaks me out! It looks like the views up there were really nice!

I keep forgetting that I'm staying in BLT in February and you are staying there in April! I can't wait!

Isn't Fort Wilderness cool? It is huge! I'd like to stay in one of those cabins someday around Christmastime, I'd bring so many lights and decorate it like it was my own home!

Discovery Island is creepy! I don't like taking the boat over there at night, it just looks spooky!

Yay for MK and watching the parade! How did you get such close up pictures of the characters? Your camera must be amazing!

 

[marDgreen88]

Characters in Flight, how awesome! I really want to do that someday! I'm glad they still have it!

Your parade pictures are awesome! That one of Tiana and Naveen is definitely adorable.

 

[IheartDDuck]

I agree, writing about the final day is always the worst one. They are a bummer!

I love walking over to DHS from the Boardwalk. Such a perfect location.

I absolutely have to get to Animation Academy in July. It's been on my list forever and ever to do again, and I just keep missing it.

Yay, you did Characters in Flight? That's awesome.

You got some great pictures up there. I'm so jealous.

Yes, I did go to Discovery Island back in the day. I used to love it!

 

[brookelizabeth]

I just love that perspective of the parade! I might have to try that sometime. I honestly don't think we have EVER watched the 3 PM parade though...

How fun to do Characters in Flight too! That hasn't been on my radar, due to the price, but someday - perhaps on a solo trip. I'm scared of heights though and it does freak me out a bit. Is the platform you are standing on enclosed somehow?

 

[wdwgirl03]

OK, I went ahead and did it. Seeing as there are only a couple of updates left for this trip report, I decided to go ahead and start up a new PTR for April! Here is the link...hope to see some of you over there!

6 Down, 1 to go...Completing my DVC mission!

 

[WDWaddictt]

I subbed your new PTR. Thanks for sharing.

After reading all of these PTR, I have decided to write one as well. PTR: Congratulations!! Start planning your vacation!! Surprise you are going to WDW!!

 

[Pinkocto]

Great update. Love that you explored so much and had a nice relaxing day. I have never been over to the Fort Wilderness area. There's just so much to see and do at WDW it's amazing.

 

[jwwi]

Sarah, what great pictures from the balloon. I do hope to do it someday too. Looks like the train station would be an interesting place to watch the parade, with a different view of the characters from up there. Earl of Sandwich is my favorite, we ate there twice on our last trip. I really love the Holiday sandwich and the Caprese. The line is always so long, but the staff really works hard to keep things moving.

 

[Angies1274]

Wow! So cool that you got to experience Characters in Flight balloon ride! You got some amazing pictures!

Love your pictures of the MK parade from the train station! I love seeing it from that perspective!

 

[brookelizabeth]

OK, I went ahead and did it. Seeing as there are only a couple of updates left for this trip report, I decided to go ahead and start up a new PTR for April! Here is the link...hope to see some of you over there!

6 Down, 1 to go...Completing my DVC mission!

On my way!