8 days, 120,000 steps, and a whole lot of fun! Feb '14 TR 12/17/14 **COMPLETE**

[elphie101]

I love your photoshoot pictures, so cute! Especially the one with DH.

Someday I hope to cross seeing Wishes at CG off my bucket list! Looks (and sounds) amazing!

 

[blabbermouth]

I'm really looking forward to staying at AoA in February, thanks for the pics!

That's really awesome that you girls did a photo shoot, such a great idea and a great way to remember your accomplishment. Nice that your DH got in on it too

I'll be heading over to your dining report to read more about Cali Grill. Whenever I check out their menu it doesn't really seem to appeal to me, but almost everyone loves it, so it must shine through in the food, if not in the description.

 

[librarygeek]

I love your photoshoot pictures, so cute! Especially the one with DH.

Someday I hope to cross seeing Wishes at CG off my bucket list! Looks (and sounds) amazing!

Thanks! It's definitely a unique experience to see Wishes from there. Though I will say try not to do it in February - even with a sweater it was windy and chilly up there!

I'm really looking forward to staying at AoA in February, thanks for the pics!

That's really awesome that you girls did a photo shoot, such a great idea and a great way to remember your accomplishment. Nice that your DH got in on it too

I'll be heading over to your dining report to read more about Cali Grill. Whenever I check out their menu it doesn't really seem to appeal to me, but almost everyone loves it, so it must shine through in the food, if not in the description.

Hope you have a fantastic time in AoA, it's such a nice place!

I will tell you, I felt the same way about Cali Grill when I first read the menus. I didn't put my dining review up yet, but I ended up ordering something that I wasn't even sure I would like - and I ended up loving it!

 

[RGirl]

Hi Becky!

Love all the pics around AoA - it looks so fun.

Your photo shoot pics came out great, but I’m not at all surprised because I remember your amazing anniversary pictures.

I’m so glad to hear that CG was great - I know it got some poor reviews after the reopening, so it’s good to hear that yours is positive. I need to check out your dining review too!

 

[scottny]

Great updates and pics.

One day I will get to a water park.

Cali Grill is so good. Did they cover your apps when you went outside? They did that for us and I thought it was a great touch.

 

[librarygeek]

Hi Becky!

Love all the pics around AoA - it looks so fun.

Your photo shoot pics came out great, but I’m not at all surprised because I remember your amazing anniversary pictures.

I’m so glad to hear that CG was great - I know it got some poor reviews after the reopening, so it’s good to hear that yours is positive. I need to check out your dining review too!

Aww, thank you! I love doing photoshoots with David and Vicki because I was not thrilled with the photographer at my wedding, so I need some good photos to make up for it

I had also heard mixed things about the new Cali Grill too, but we really enjoyed it. I'm going to put the dining review for it up hopefully tonight! I really want to try the sushi there because we love sushi, but it's so pricey that it scares me off lol.

Great updates and pics.

One day I will get to a water park.

Cali Grill is so good. Did they cover your apps when you went outside? They did that for us and I thought it was a great touch.

I don't believe they did that with the apps. That's a great idea though!

 

[NinePoundLemon]

Congratulations on the race! What a great accomplishment! I would love to see Epcot early in the morning before opening like that ....that must have been so cool. And your DH with his boxers over his pants! Good man, doing whatever it takes to show some Disney spirit - I love it!!

Typhoon Lagoon is so fun. Did you know what to expect from the wave pool or did it surprise you? When I went in it the first time, I hadn't been watching it at all. I was in only up to my knees and wasn't really paying attention when the huge wave came, and it sent me flying! Like I ended up completely on my butt and under the wave. I swallowed a good amount of water....hopefully everyone was kind that day and no one was peeing in the pool! Once I recovered I thought the wave pool was really fun.

Wishes from the deck at Cali Grill is really nice. If I'm only able to see Wishes once during a trip I prefer to be in the park, but if I get the chance to see it multiple times, it's nice to not be packed in like sardines and the view from Cali Grill is beautiful.

 

[librarygeek]

Congratulations on the race! What a great accomplishment! I would love to see Epcot early in the morning before opening like that ....that must have been so cool. And your DH with his boxers over his pants! Good man, doing whatever it takes to show some Disney spirit - I love it!!

Typhoon Lagoon is so fun. Did you know what to expect from the wave pool or did it surprise you? When I went in it the first time, I hadn't been watching it at all. I was in only up to my knees and wasn't really paying attention when the huge wave came, and it sent me flying! Like I ended up completely on my butt and under the wave. I swallowed a good amount of water....hopefully everyone was kind that day and no one was peeing in the pool! Once I recovered I thought the wave pool was really fun.

Wishes from the deck at Cali Grill is really nice. If I'm only able to see Wishes once during a trip I prefer to be in the park, but if I get the chance to see it multiple times, it's nice to not be packed in like sardines and the view from Cali Grill is beautiful.

Thank you! Epcot was so beautiful in the morning it almost made me wish for a moment I could carry my DSLR while running, haha!

I had observed the wave pool so I kinda knew what to expect, but it's definitely different when you're in there. Your experience is too funny - I'm glad you enjoyed it after all that! I still stayed in about the middle, but DH went out much further than I did!

I agree with you that there is nothing like Wishes in the park, but it's nice to also see it from different perspectives. And it's definitely more relaxing than fighting for a spot. We've really enjoyed the Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party in the past due to that as well.

Thanks for reading!

 

[librarygeek]

Off to the Magic Kingdom... and a bit of a rough start

We were up early to check out of AoA and have our luggage transferred to POR, and then we hopped on a bus and went off to the Magic Kingdom! We arrived just after the opening show - I was a little bummed to have missed it. First up was Space Mountain, since Splash was closed and those are my two favorites.



My experience was a little marred by a rude cast member. I know the two tracks are the same on Space, but for some reason we seem to prefer the one on the right when you come in over the one on the left. They were directing people to the left, so I nicely asked if there was a chance we could go the other way. She not only said no, but continued to lecture us about how the tracks were exactly the same and basically did so in a way that make me feel really stupid and inferior for even asking. To the point where I was almost in tears. But I was in Disney, so I tried my best to get over that, and the ride itself was still fun of course.

Then we did Buzz Lightyear, and tried Astro Orbiter for the first time. It was fine, but I'm glad I experienced something at Disney I hadn't tried yet!





We also went to meet Buzz Lightyear, since we were dressed for the occasion. DH had his Buzz t-shirt on and I had my Jessie dress! I thought it would make for some fun pictures.



We also did Monsters Inc., which is always funny. By the time that was done we were ready to use our Be Our Guest FP+ for lunch!



Lunch was tasty as always - we just love it there. I have to admit that I must have been having an off day, because I dropped my soda on the floor and spilled a bunch of it, and had to let a cast member know so we could get it cleaned up. I'm sure it happens a lot but it's still embarrassing!

We sat in the Ballroom and split the master's cupcake for dessert. While eating I checked our FP+ from my phone and noticed that DH's FP's had disappeared. So we decided to stop by the FP+ kiosks after lunch.





And here's where the troubles began. They just tried to make him new ones at the kiosk, but not all the times lined up with mine and not everything was still available. For instance, they couldn't get him a FP for Wishes that night like I had. They also couldn't make any for the other parks, so we'd have to go through this process every single day when we got to that park. They recommended we go to guest relations to see if they could help us.

And then we had to go through a whole other process. They did a lot of stuff on their computers, trying different things, until they finally figured out what the problem was. It turns out that there were two "copies" of DH in their computer system, due to him being on the room reservation for AoA and for POR. Because he doesn't have a MDE account they weren't linked together (I had the "real" DH on my account, but there was another one when my friend made the AoA reservation). They referred to it as a ghost account. The park tickets were linked to "my" version of DH, but the FP+ had been made on the ghost account. They were able to merge the two accounts but the FP+ still didn't carry over so they had to make all new ones. Luckily at guest relations they had the power to pick any time available, but they still couldn't get us a FP+ for Wishes that night.

It took over an hour for the whole thing to get sorted out and it was beyond frustrating. I actually was in tears by this point, watching my MK day slip away from me. They did give us an extra FP+ to make up for it that could be used for any attraction in any park at any time (though for whatever reason, not for Wishes).

From there we got some Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom cards, and started on that adventure, which fittingly took us to Adventureland!



After that we decided to go meet Woody and Jessie, since we were wearing our Toy Story outfits. We waited on line for about 20 minutes when it started to rain... it was just drizzling but the characters went away.

Will our luck change on this day? We had done a couple of fun things but were having a series of bad luck events! Stay tuned for the next update...

 

[blabbermouth]

I guess there's always one not so good day on a trip! I love that flowery pic of Adventureland though and your disneybounding today.

I hope everything works out with my stuff because my sister booked the trip, but I'm not 100% confident she's put the reservation on her MDE, although she booked the fireworks dessert party through MDE and I can see that. So I will politely ask her if she's added the confirmation number, so when the time comes I can do the FP+s and be sure they're correct!

 

[librarygeek]

I guess there's always one not so good day on a trip! I love that flowery pic of Adventureland though and your disneybounding today.

I hope everything works out with my stuff because my sister booked the trip, but I'm not 100% confident she's put the reservation on her MDE, although she booked the fireworks dessert party through MDE and I can see that. So I will politely ask her if she's added the confirmation number, so when the time comes I can do the FP+s and be sure they're correct!

Thank you! I was trying to get a little artsy with my camera haha, and I loved those yellow flowers in Adventureland!

I think MDE is great if your trip is super straightforward, like just a family booking stuff together. But when you throw in other things, like staying with friends or changing resorts, it seems like things get a little disorganized.

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

Oh wow, what a horrible way to start a day with a rude Cast Member. And you know what... I do believe they are sightly different. Not huge mind you, but one side has a slightly bigger drop and is slightly longer I think because it has to clear the other track or something. Again, very small, but not identical. Something to shove in that CM's face if you should happen upon her again.

Aww you guys look so great!!! Love the outfits.

This is why I'm apprehensive with new technologies. They're great... when they work. When they don't it's a mess. Disneyland has something going right with still using hand stamps is what I'm saying, lol. It's bad enough to spend a day in lines for attractions, but now to have to wait in line and spend loads of time fixing issues, just seems worse to me. I somehow, some way was able to snag a FP for Mine Train, and OH BOY that better not disappear!

 

[elphie101]

I was going to say, I love the picture of DH as Buzz ON Buzz - and then you pointed out your outfits Jokes on me!

I'm sorry your morning seemed to match the weather, between the CM and FP+ issues. I hope your cliffhanger of your meet and greet means there's some pixie dust in the immediate future!

 

[librarygeek]

Oh wow, what a horrible way to start a day with a rude Cast Member. And you know what... I do believe they are sightly different. Not huge mind you, but one side has a slightly bigger drop and is slightly longer I think because it has to clear the other track or something. Again, very small, but not identical. Something to shove in that CM's face if you should happen upon her again.

Aww you guys look so great!!! Love the outfits.

This is why I'm apprehensive with new technologies. They're great... when they work. When they don't it's a mess. Disneyland has something going right with still using hand stamps is what I'm saying, lol. It's bad enough to spend a day in lines for attractions, but now to have to wait in line and spend loads of time fixing issues, just seems worse to me. I somehow, some way was able to snag a FP for Mine Train, and OH BOY that better not disappear!

Thanks for the assurance that one of the SM tracks is slightly different! It really feels that way. Even if that's not the case there's no need to be rude about it :/

And that's exactly how I feel about MDE as well. It's great when it works, but there seems to be so many complications. I think Disney really wanted to be on the forefront of this new technology, but I wish they had waited til they worked all the kinks out.

I was going to say, I love the picture of DH as Buzz ON Buzz - and then you pointed out your outfits Jokes on me!

I'm sorry your morning seemed to match the weather, between the CM and FP+ issues. I hope your cliffhanger of your meet and greet means there's some pixie dust in the immediate future!

I like the picture of him on Buzz with his Buzz shirt too! We had to do lots of Toy Story related things this day

Sometimes you just have an off day, I think - even at Disney! During my solo trip I had one of those days when I went to Hollywood Studios, complete with TSM never opening and dropping a cupcake frosting side down on my flip flopped feet! But that day turned around and we'll see if this one does too

 

[scottny]

I would have reported the CM. It is the only way they learn.

That stinks about the FP's.

Hope your luck does change.

 

[RGirl]

Hi Becky!

Yikes! Sounds like that Space CM got up on the wrong side of the bed or something. Sheesh!!!

The picture with Buzz is perfect! I love it!

What a disaster with the FP+ situation. I really hope they get kinks like this figured out - that’s just crazy.

I sure hope your MK luck turned around for you!

 

[mdsouth]

Welcome to my newest trip report! Yes, this trip was from last February, but I only just got around to posting it now. I hope you will still be interested in following along! soon!

I will be following along. Like you, I just started writing my own trip report from our Feb 2014 trip this week too!

I am not sure why it has taken me so long to do so but I am enjoying reliving our trip.

 

[librarygeek]

I would have reported the CM. It is the only way they learn.

That stinks about the FP's.

Hope your luck does change.

Thanks - you're right, I probably should have reported it and hopefully will next time. It just caught me off guard!

Hi Becky!

Yikes! Sounds like that Space CM got up on the wrong side of the bed or something. Sheesh!!!

The picture with Buzz is perfect! I love it!

What a disaster with the FP+ situation. I really hope they get kinks like this figured out - that’s just crazy.

I sure hope your MK luck turned around for you!

I know! The CMs are usually so great that it really throws you off to get one like that!

The more I get involved with My Magic + and the FP+ situation, the more it frustrates me. Planning my upcoming trip has been a pain because I don't know exactly when I'll be in the parks or even what park I might be in on a certain day - it takes away some of your freedom.

I will be following along. Like you, I just started writing my own trip report from our Feb 2014 trip this week too!

I am not sure why it has taken me so long to do so but I am enjoying reliving our trip.

Awesome, I'll have to go read your TR as well! Even when it's been awhile, it's always nice to relive the trip

 

[librarygeek]

The end of our MK day

Where we last left off, we had been rained out of meeting Woody and Jessie and had had some pretty bad luck. To escape the rain, DH and I decided to finally try the infamous Country Bear Jamboree. If we've communicated on the DIS before, odds are good that you've heard my country bears story, but here goes anyway. On my very first trip to Disney, when I was 8, my dad's boss told him that the one thing he absolutely had to see was the Country Bear Jamboree. So we get to MK at rope drop, and rush with all of the crowds to hit our first attraction - the country bears, obviously! And all these people are rushing with us, and we get there and stop... and they all keep going to Splash Mountain. I think we were the only ones in the theater. We always have to tease my dad about that! So of course I texted him while we were there to let him know we were seeing it. I actually hadn't seen the show since that one time when I was 8, and DH had never seen it.





Okay. I know there are a lot of country bear fans out there. And that's cool. And I completely apologize for what you're about to read. But if you want my opinion? We found the show to be absolutely awful. It was like, "what are we watching?" It was worse than I ever remembered or even imagined. Full of red neck stereotypes and painful jokes. I'm glad we experienced it, but... wow.

The rain had stopped so we went into Adventureland to play some Sorcerers of the MK, and while we were there DH suggested a citrus swirl to cheer me up, since that is my favorite Disney treat of all time. And of course that was absolutely delicious!



After we finished that it was time for our FP+ to meet Rapunzel! She was very chatty and fun, and told us that sometimes Tinkerbell sprinkles pixie dust on Pascal and he flies around the kingdom. Very cute.



We also met Snow White, who asked DH if he was protecting me from villains. He said yes, of course.



After the princesses we went back to see if Woody and Jessie were back, and sure enough they were! Yay! We got our picture, and Jessie was so excited to see my dress.







We also had a FP for Space Mountain so we went to use that, and this time we were on the "good" track. Things were looking up! Except for the stupid crane in this pic:



Once that ride was done it was time to head over to the Poly for dinner at Ohana. The monorail was down, so we waited for the boat for a few minutes before deciding to just take the bus, since no boat was even in sight. Then we were there!



It was DH's first time at Ohana, and the food came out fast! This was a big improvement over the last time I ate there, where it took over 2 hours. I think this time it was under an hour even with all of the courses. Everything was delicious - I think my favorite this time around was the noodles. DH absolutely devoured the dessert:



Our plan was to then head back to MK for Wishes, but the monorail was still down. So we went to wait for the boat. This honestly took a million years. We thought about switching to the bus again but it was one of those things where we felt like if we left the boat would show up right then. We honestly waited for 40 minutes and not one boat appeared - and we finally gave up and went to get a bus. Luckily at that point the monorail was back up and we were over to MK in about five minutes after that. But wow, what a frustrating experience. I was so tired and fed up that I didn't even feel like trekking back into MK to watch my favorite show. So we just caught a bus to POR to check in.

On the bright side, our Royal Room was amazing! I was in love with the themeing. And it was nice to just relax a bit. I watched the Bachelor on TV while DH played around on his computer. All in all there were a lot of things that went wrong on this day, but it was overall still a lot of fun - and we were looking forward to Epcot the next day!

 

[mdsouth]

Your day at MK certainly had its ups and downs.

I am sure you were bummed a bit about missing Wishes that night. I had a similar night like that in that we too returned to the room early instead of seeing Wishes, you just hate to miss a second in the parks but then reality hits and you know your bodies or minds are wiped out and you have to call it quits.

I am glad your day ended on a happy note with your cool room at POR. I love the detailed handle of the sink!