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

[jwwi]

Hi Sarah,
just getting caught up with your TR. Love DHS, how fun that you had a mini unplanned dis meet. I liked the food we had back in Sept at the Commisary, and it was fun to meet your sister too. Maybe I'll have to give the motor car stunt show another try. My first car was a Gremlin, orange with black Levi interior. So I of course had to get a couple of small ones from the Cars line of toys. It's cute that they have it in the show now.

 

[wdwgirl03]

I'm back and trying to get caught up!

Gotta love a surprise DIS-meet. I had a few of those on my recent trip!

Watched an AI finale show, and thought of you!

Welcome back! Hope your trip was good despite the rain.

Yay for DIS meets!

Aww, that's sweet you thought of me at the AIE finale. I'm a little obsessed with that show. hehe

Sounds like a fun DHS day!! Yay for a Dis-meet!! I can't wait to try the drawing class at the Animation Academy!! Your drawing of Pluto turned out great!

You guys will have a great time at the Animation Academy. So much fun!

Ugh, Brandon wants to do that stunt show, and I keep putting it off when we are in DHS...I know, I'm a bad wife, but I feel like I'm going to be bored out of my mind!

The Jedi Training thing had technical difficulties? Weird!

No, I don't think you'll be bored. Like I said, I am not into cars movies at all and I think the show is pretty cool. You should try it. Plus, it's one of the things Stacey mentions on the countdown.

Hi Sarah,
just getting caught up with your TR. Love DHS, how fun that you had a mini unplanned dis meet. I liked the food we had back in Sept at the Commisary, and it was fun to meet your sister too. Maybe I'll have to give the motor car stunt show another try. My first car was a Gremlin, orange with black Levi interior. So I of course had to get a couple of small ones from the Cars line of toys. It's cute that they have it in the show now.

Yes, it was a lot of fun meeting up with Rachel again. That's so great you got to meet my sister when you were there and that you liked ABC.

You should try the stunt show again. I really liked it.

 

[wdwgirl03]

Well, the school year is officially over! My last day was yesterday so hopefully now that I'm done I can get moving on this trip report. I've got a week off before I start teaching summer school. Before I get to the next trip report update, I wanted to share a couple other things.

1. We booked flights for our (possible) December trip. Southwest's fares were actually not too bad for right after Christmas so we ended up booking them. And we've had a studio booked at Saratoga Springs for quite some time now. If we do end up going, it'll be me and Emma but it's all going to depend on if Emma gets into the CP again. If she does get in, she'd be leaving in the middle of January so Dad wants to save up our DVC points for taking her down/making visits. Which means we'd need to cancel the December reservation (and I miss out on the Christmas decorations AGAIN. ). The nice thing about Southwest is that atleast if we couldn't go in December we'd get flight credits and I could go for spring break. So it's a lot of ifs right now. I think the applications for the spring '13 program will go up in August so we won't know anything until probably September. I'm glad we have some plans but I'm not going to get too excited just yet. We'll just have to see what happens.

2. Speaking of my sister, she and Dad just got back from WDW. They went down for a couple days while Emma visited a couple of her CP roommates. I just wanted to share a couple pictures she posted (hopefully she won't mind if I do that).

First up, some more of the Fantasyland construction. It's so interesting to see the progress, even from April.

The second Dumbo is coming along nicely.

So is Prince Eric's castle. I seriously cannot wait until this whole area is open, which is partly why I REALLY want to go in December!

Soooo many walls. I sort of feel bad for the people who go now and it might be their only trip. I know I'd be a little disappointed with all the construction.

Moving to a different park, but still Fantasyland expansion stuff. Dad was talking about this huge model they had at One Man's Dream (we didn't go in their on our trip) showing all of the expansion plans. He said they had some of the existing attractions, like the carousel, so you can sort of picture how it'll all look once it's completed. It's really going to be something and I know we're all eager to see it!

And finally, a couple of pictures she took from the Art of Animation resort. I know there's a couple of you who are going to be staying there soon. It sure looks like a lot of fun! Whenever my next trip is, I'm definitely going to plan on heading over there to see it in person. Everything looks great, especially the Cars and Finding Nemo areas!

I sort of want to live there...love Finding Nemo!

Now back to the trip report (in next post...)!

 

[marDgreen88]

Congrats of being done, for now! Oh man, that stinks that you have to wait so long to know if you're ACTUALLY going. If you do get to go, what are your dates? If we go back again this December (which I'm very hopeful about!!!) we'd probably be there from 12/12/-12/16 or so.

OMG these pictures are awesome! I honestly think I may die as soon as I go into Eric's castle. I'm in love with him and the Little Mermaid ahhhhhhh.

When the Lion King and Little Mermaid sections of AoA open, I really think I may go insane. The whole thing looks just WONDERFUL!

 

[wdwgirl03]

Monday, April 9, 2012 cont'd (part 4)...Singing Birds, Singing Bears, and a Brownie

It had been a great morning at Hollywood Studios but we were ready for a break. We headed back to the Boardwalk, enjoying the walk again.

One of the things I wanted to do since we were staying at the Boardwalk was get a treat from the bakery. So before going back up to our room we made a quick stop there. I had read something about a smores cupcake which sounded really good, so I was looking for that. Well, they didn't have anything like that (I'm wondering if it wasn't the Boardwalk Bakery that had them). They had a couple other types of cupcakes but I ended up choosing a cheecake brownie instead. Yum!

Back at our room I enjoyed my brownie. Dad might've gone down to the pool for a little bit. I stayed back and took a few more pictures of our amazing view. Seriously, you could sit out there all day admiring all the scenery. So pretty.

Don't you just wish you were there right now?

Once we were refreshed, we went back to the Magic Kingdom! There are a couple of interesting stories from before we even set foot inside the park.

1. On the bus over to the MK, there was this woman who was obviously in WDW for the first time. She was so amazed at how many bodies of water there were in Florida. It was funny because then Dad started talking to her and telling her how the land was all swamps when Walt Disney bought it. Then I said something about how the park itself was like the second floor, which she couldn't believe.

2. At the turnstiles, the CM was an older man and he noticed my Brewers t-shirt so he started talking about Milwaukee and Billy Mitchell field. See, in Milwaukee our airport is called General Mitchell International, but I never knew who it was named after so I was a little confused at first. I guess I should have known because the CM then tells me that I need to get out more and gave me a nice little history lesson on Billy Mitchell. LOL. He told me how he was a pilot and had a lot to do with establishing the air force during World War II, among other things. Then as we're walking in, another CM started talking about Billy Mitchell. It was so weird. The things you learn in Disney World!

OK, moving on now...

After learning a little hometown history, we were finally in the park!

Since it was later in the afternoon, we knew we wouldn't be able to do any of the major attractions so we were hoping to do some of the less popular things. Our first stop was the Enchanted Tiki Room.

The show is a little corny but still cute. And it's neat knowing that the Tiki Room was one of Walt Disney's creations.

In sticking with all things corny, we then headed over to Frontierland to see the Country Bear Jamboree, which we have literally not seen in years. I know we have home videos from one of our first trips to WDW way back when my sisters and I were little and that was probably the last time we saw it. So needless to say I didn't really remember much of it at all. Basically it's a bunch of bears singing country songs. The songs themselves are pretty amusing. I don't remember all of the songs but the one lyric that I do remember is something like "all the guys that turn me on turn me down." LOL. Too funny.

This is from the end of the show when all the bears are singing.

So while neither of these are my favorites, I did enjoy experiencing something different for a change. It's so easy to overlook those types of attractions for the more popular ones. Like I said, it's been YEARS since we last saw the Country Bears so even though it's been around a long time, it's almost like experiencing a brand-new attraction.

up next: more at the Magic Kingdom

 

[wdwgirl03]

Congrats of being done, for now! Oh man, that stinks that you have to wait so long to know if you're ACTUALLY going. If you do get to go, what are your dates? If we go back again this December (which I'm very hopeful about!!!) we'd probably be there from 12/12/-12/16 or so.

OMG these pictures are awesome! I honestly think I may die as soon as I go into Eric's castle. I'm in love with him and the Little Mermaid ahhhhhhh.

When the Lion King and Little Mermaid sections of AoA open, I really think I may go insane. The whole thing looks just WONDERFUL!

I know. I just really want to go back and see the Christmas decorations. Is that so much to ask? LOL. If we do end up going it won't be until after Christmas...Dec. 27-Jan. 1. Just in time for the insanity. But I don't care, we've done it before and I want to see the decorations!!

I cannot wait for the ride and the castle looks so cool. I'm also eager to see what the Lion King and Little Mermaid sections look like. Since they open later, there really haven't been any pictures.

 

[marDgreen88]

Whoops... sorry I 'ninja posted' you!

I heard about the s'mores cupcake too, and it was definitely at the Boardwalk Bakery, but maybe it's a seasonal thing? Your brownie looks really good though!

HAHAHA... that song lyric! I've never been to the Tiki Room OR seen the Country Bears so it's always fun to hear about them, corny or not!

 

[MHTeacher]

YAY for being finished with school and for summer vacation!

I know what you mean about all the walls up around in Fantasy Land. I did enjoy peeking over those walls though!

That cheesecake brownie looks delicious! I think I could never get tired of the view looking across the lake at Yacht/Beach Club.

 

[jwwi]

I agree, your pictures from your balcony are so pretty. What a great location! Too bad you didn't get a strawberry shortcake cupcake. It is so good. Although I do think that your cheesecake brownie looks good. I like the Tiki room, the Country Bears not so much. But I do think it is a cute show to take young children.

 

[Caretames1]

I'm so excited to be exploring the Boardwalk in Nov! I have a Beaches & Cream supper ( Ice Cream!) planned and we just want to see it all!


LOL It's funny you go so far away from Milwaukee and get the history of the hometown airport! My Grandpa remembers when it was just a little dusty airfield that he flew his piper cub out of! He still has the propeller from it in his basement!


I'll keep my fingers crossed for you sister to get another CP chance!

 

[IheartDDuck]

I am so looking forward to the Fantasyland expansion to be completed. It's going to be so cool, but you are absolutely right, I would feel a little cheated if that was my only trip and it was not open.

I can't believe you're from Wauk-town and didn't know that the airport was Billy Mitchell? Actually, think the only reason that I knew that is that's what my dad calls it all the time.

 

[Angies1274]

Aww...I love seeing pictures of the Fantasyland Expansion!! I can't wait until it's done. It's going to be amazing.

We haven't seen the Tiki Room or Country Bears Jamboree yet. I'm hoping we get to experience at least one of them on our trip. Glad you were able to see them again.

 

[Terkina]

I remember both the Tiki Room and Country Bears Jamboree from when I was in WDW in 1990. I'm looking forward to see both shows when I visit WDW in February.

 

[wdwgirl03]

Whoops... sorry I 'ninja posted' you!

I heard about the s'mores cupcake too, and it was definitely at the Boardwalk Bakery, but maybe it's a seasonal thing? Your brownie looks really good though!

HAHAHA... that song lyric! I've never been to the Tiki Room OR seen the Country Bears so it's always fun to hear about them, corny or not!

That could be. I just saw a Disney World cupcake guide (created by another DISer, AGPrincess, I think her name is?) and it said something about the smores one. I'm going to have to go back sometime and see if they have it!

Oh I know, the Country Bears was especially cheesy.

YAY for being finished with school and for summer vacation!

I know what you mean about all the walls up around in Fantasy Land. I did enjoy peeking over those walls though!

That cheesecake brownie looks delicious! I think I could never get tired of the view looking across the lake at Yacht/Beach Club.

haha yup, it is cool when you can see what's behind them. But it'll be so nice when they all finally come down. I feel like it's been FOREVER.

The brownie was really good. And big, so I was able to enjoy it on a couple different occasions that week.

I agree, your pictures from your balcony are so pretty. What a great location! Too bad you didn't get a strawberry shortcake cupcake. It is so good. Although I do think that your cheesecake brownie looks good. I like the Tiki room, the Country Bears not so much. But I do think it is a cute show to take young children.

We could not have asked for a better location. So happy that our waitlist came through for a Boardwalk view. I'm going to have to go back to the bakery sometime to try the cupcakes. It does seem like they seem to change.

I'm so excited to be exploring the Boardwalk in Nov! I have a Beaches & Cream supper ( Ice Cream!) planned and we just want to see it all!


LOL It's funny you go so far away from Milwaukee and get the history of the hometown airport! My Grandpa remembers when it was just a little dusty airfield that he flew his piper cub out of! He still has the propeller from it in his basement!


I'll keep my fingers crossed for you sister to get another CP chance!

You will really enjoy the Boardwalk/Epcot resort area. It's so much fun, especially at night.

haha, I know. It was so strange that TWO of the CMs said something! Maybe the second one heard us talking or something.

Thanks...I hope she gets to do it again too but also really want to go in December. I don't think I'll be able to wait until March to go again.

I am so looking forward to the Fantasyland expansion to be completed. It's going to be so cool, but you are absolutely right, I would feel a little cheated if that was my only trip and it was not open.

I can't believe you're from Wauk-town and didn't know that the airport was Billy Mitchell? Actually, think the only reason that I knew that is that's what my dad calls it all the time.

LOL, well I just knew it as Mitchell International...I didn't know the dude's first name.

Aww...I love seeing pictures of the Fantasyland Expansion!! I can't wait until it's done. It's going to be amazing.

We haven't seen the Tiki Room or Country Bears Jamboree yet. I'm hoping we get to experience at least one of them on our trip. Glad you were able to see them again.

Yes it is. It should be pretty impressive.

You should try to see one of them on your trip. It's always nice to try something new.

I remember both the Tiki Room and Country Bears Jamboree from when I was in WDW in 1990. I'm looking forward to see both shows when I visit WDW in February.

That'll be fun to go back and see them on your trip. It was nice to see the Tiki Room back to its original glory.

 

[OhMari]

Thanks for sharing your ds pictures.
Are there going to be 2 Dumbo rides? or are they taking the old one down.
We should go together and see those darn Christmas decorations.

One day I was watching a flight for my dd arrival on Mitchell Internation arrival web page and some how I got on the history of Mitchell Internation Airport. I knew it was named after a pilot, there is actually some history in the airport too. You will have to find it, next time you go to the airport.


My dd's rent went up again, do you know of any houses or apartments around by you? I told them to start looking for houses vs. the apartment complexes. $1300 for a 2 bedroom, ouch.

 

[wdwgirl03]

Monday, April 9, 2012 cont'd (part 5)

OK, so this update might be sort of boring because after the Tiki Room and Country Bears, we didn't really do a whole lot. We mainly went to the Magic Kingdom, thinking we might stick around for the Magic, Memories, and You and Wishes, but if we didn't feel like it, we'd leave early. So really, the rest of the evening we just strolled around the park with no real plan in mind.

At some point, I know we went to Cosmic Ray's because Dad wanted to get something to eat. I wasn't all that hungry so I didn't get anything right away. Later on we went to ride the People Mover, which is always relaxing and a good thing to do when everything else has longer waits. As usual, we walked right on.

Dad asked me what I wanted to do after that, and I suggested we go back to Storybook Circus just to wander around. We took that quiet pathway, the one near the Speedway that was closed for a while when the construction was going on. The nice thing about that pathway is that not too many people notice it so it was less congested than other areas.

Once we got to Storybook Circus we just soaked in all the details. So cute and colorful.

I loved this little Dumbo poster.

A random shot of Dumbo.

We were also able to catch the show at the Laugh Floor, which was hilarious as usual, and the end of the castle show.

Click to play the video! Don't you just love this song? In all our trips I have yet to see this show in its entirety-I've just seen bits and pieces.


In the end, we decided not to stay for the night shows. I know, I'm a bad DISer. Don't get me wrong, I like all of them but I'm not one who has to see them on every single trip. So instead we took a quick peek in a couple of the stores on Main Street, one being the art store where I saw this Rapunzel painting. LOVE THIS.

While we might not have seen Wishes, we still got to see some fireworks that night from the comfort of our balcony.

(click to play)


Another terribly blurry shot.

I love this video because even though there's the noise from the Boardwalk games/activity, if you listen closely, you can hear the Illuminations song.

up next: Epcot!!

 

[Britard]

Wow! That Rapunzel picture is beautiful!!!

 

[wdwgirl03]

Thanks for sharing your ds pictures.
Are there going to be 2 Dumbo rides? or are they taking the old one down.
We should go together and see those darn Christmas decorations.

One day I was watching a flight for my dd arrival on Mitchell Internation arrival web page and some how I got on the history of Mitchell Internation Airport. I knew it was named after a pilot, there is actually some history in the airport too. You will have to find it, next time you go to the airport.


My dd's rent went up again, do you know of any houses or apartments around by you? I told them to start looking for houses vs. the apartment complexes. $1300 for a 2 bedroom, ouch.

Yes, there are going to be 2 Dumbos once the construction is done. haha, well, if Emma gets accepted into the CP and can't go in December maybe you could take her place instead. I love the F&GF, but it's been 4 years since I last saw the Christmas decorations!

I think I know what you're talking about with the history. Sometime I'll have to go look at that stuff.

Wow, $1300 is a lot. There are a couple apartment buildings/town houses near us but I have no idea what they go for. I looked a while ago but don't remember what the cost was. Do they want to be in the city or a suburb?

 

[Caretames1]

I actually like to stroll and take in the details, but it's hard to do at Disney. Sometimes being crowded can have small advantages.

Love the painting!

 

[Nermel9]

OMG that Rapunzel painting is beautiful!!

I need to stay at the Boardwalk, I love that you can see Illuminations from there! I'm sure there are places that you can see it from the Beach Club too, but it seems a little easier to see it from the Boardwalk! Although, if I'm that close to Epcot, I'd probably just go over there and watch it in person!