9 days 2 resorts FREE Dining Christmas Lights & a bouncing Tigger who stole my heart

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Tuesday November 10th continued ~


After One Man's Dream we went onto the Backlot Tour. Wait time was about 10 minutes. We watched the show, walked through the props, and got on the tram. We all really enjoy this ride. We reminisced about how DH was chosen to be in the show back on our May 2008 trip. DH, the guy who doesn't really care for water/swimming was the guy in the show who had the however many gallons of water dumped on him!! The kids were sad that he wasn't asked to be in it this time! I'm pretty sure DH would have declined if asked again anyway. He didn't really think it was as funny as the kids & I did!!!

From there we went out to check out the Streets of America and see all the lights and decorations and get an idea what we were in for tonight when they turned everything on. We saw some neat stuff, but it was nothing compared to what we saw later!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Continued. . . .


We made a quick stop at Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground. It was very crowded in there. I've never been very fond of this place since we nearly lost DS10 (6 then) in there in 2005. And it was just as crowded and as crazy as it was that time. I told the kids to hurry and do a few things and we were leaving!

Up next was Muppet Vision 3-D. The kids just love this show! I think it's just okay. I guess since I really love Philharmagic nothing else compares for me! DS8 watches every 3-D show without the 3-D glasses. Doesn't like things jumping at him I guess!

We had not gotten our picture taken in front of the hat yet, so we did that next!

We did a little shopping and DS10 & I headed back to RNRC to use our other 2 fastpasses we had hung onto all day since RNRC seemed to be having technical difficulties earlier in the day. DS8 & DH went back to ride Star Tours again. We got up to RNRC and DS was very excited!

Then we walked over to get in the fastpass line and there was a CM there telling people that RNRC was CLOSED!! Guess the problems only got worse. Although the CM wasn't offering up any information. People were asking when it would be back up and she was not the friendliest and just spoke in a monotone voice and said -- I don't know. Go play in other parts of the park and come back later. So that was VERY disappointing. As we walked away all sad I thought I would take advantage of this opportunity and give it one more try with DS10 and TOT!! So there we stood outside of TOT negotiating. . . He finally agreed to give it a try -- get this -- for $5!!!

The kids had brought their own spending money to WDW. They always do. They save their own money and that is what they use for their souvenirs. Well DS8 happened to have $5 more than him this time. And I knew that was bothering him ever since we got there. He likes things to be even!

He was still very hesitant the whole way though the line. But I kept pointing out the kids in the line that were younger and smaller than him and telling him he would be just fine. And he was!!

He LOVED it!! I knew he would. As we were on the ride, going up and down, he yells out -- I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M GETTING PAID FOR THIS!!!!! He wanted to ride it again right away. But after the way I felt from riding EE twice in a row I knew I probably shouldn't ride TOT twice in a row! So I promised him that we would ride it again before the trip was over. And we headed to meet back up with DH & DS8.



Up Next: More DHS, dinner at Sci-Fi, and the Osborne Lights!

 

[Jane-in-PA]

Great update and pics, Shelly!

Too bad about RNRC, but I'm so happy that you were able to "convnce" DS10 to go on TOT! It's so frustrating when you just know your kids will like something (food, ride, whatever) and they won't try it. Ah, bribery, it's way underrated. I just paid my DS22 to get his hair cut! Paid for the cut, as well as a bonus for doing it for me!

I love the "Home Alone" pic of DS10 as he is in line at TOT. That is so cute!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Great update and pics, Shelly!

Too bad about RNRC, but I'm so happy that you were able to "convnce" DS10 to go on TOT! It's so frustrating when you just know your kids will like something (food, ride, whatever) and they won't try it. Ah, bribery, it's way underrated. I just paid my DS22 to get his hair cut! Paid for the cut, as well as a bonus for doing it for me!

I love the "Home Alone" pic of DS10 as he is in line at TOT. That is so cute!

Thanks!

Convince/Bribe. . . what's the difference?!

I try bribery on DS8 all the time with his food issues. But it never works with him. He is better at saving his money than DS10 is, so I guess he figures the money just isn't worth it to try a new food.

I am so glad DS10 finally rode TOT. He just loved it! And now he is wishing he would have tried it years ago. So maybe that will teach him that I really do know what I am talking about and he should listen to me a little better!

 

[JoBird]

Ahhhhhh, what an absolutely WONDERFUL update!!!!!

I am so happy he rode TOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HM and TOT-- all in the same trip! Life will never be the same. And he was right-- getting paid to ride it---LOL!!!!

That really stinks about RNRC. It's terrible that the CM was nasty acting. Where's the pixie dust?

AND--- omgosh-- that nativity! Someone stole the Baby Jesus!!!!! Did you notice that???

Too bad your DH wasn't chosen again for the Backlot Tour. I know how much he LOVED it last time.


Great update. It made me feel like I was there!

I'd like more please.
Jo

 

[Dancegrl624]

Yeah for DS10 going on ToT!!! I went on it for my first time EVER in January!! When I was about 15 yrs old, it had just opened and I wanted to ride it. But, I kept chickening out. We didn't go back to WDW until I was pregnant with Maddie, so obviously ToT was out of the question. On Maddie's first trip in 2006, we only went to MK so no ToT yet again. So, 12 years after I had chickened out, I FINALLY got to ride it!!!! It is definately one of my favorites.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Hey shelly! I am home and just caught up where I left off! I love you Christmas tree and nativity set....love your dog under there!! Is he eating a candy cane? ha!!
We have stayed at the BC 3 times...we LOVE it there!! For us, sleeping 5 it was a better deal than the BWI..unless they have changed the rates..so we never have stayed at that resort. We do love that area and the the buses to MK are usually pretty quick. Its wonderful to walk through that back area to the WS for dinner. We looooove SAB..it's not hard to keep up with them I didn't think! They pretty much found one little area to swim/dig in the sand and just stayed there..my older son did the slide, but he is old enough I don't have to watch him as hard.
RnR..same songs as you mentioned...
I think that is the same kind of little frogs we have here...small, green, slimy looking...that don't get in often tho'...kinda weird...they do give me the heebie jeebies tho!!!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Ahhhhhh, what an absolutely WONDERFUL update!!!!!

I am so happy he rode TOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HM and TOT-- all in the same trip! Life will never be the same. And he was right-- getting paid to ride it---LOL!!!!

That really stinks about RNRC. It's terrible that the CM was nasty acting. Where's the pixie dust?

AND--- omgosh-- that nativity! Someone stole the Baby Jesus!!!!! Did you notice that???

Too bad your DH wasn't chosen again for the Backlot Tour. I know how much he LOVED it last time.


Great update. It made me feel like I was there!

I'd like more please.
Jo

Thank you!

Most the CM's we came across on this trip were very nice and friendly. We did unfortunately run into a few who forgot their pixie dust. This one at RNRC and the CM at the POR marina.

OMG I didn't even notice the missing baby Jesus. Not when we were there or even now when I posted the picture. Yikes! I sure hope he was replaced before the big display that evening. We didn't make it back up to that end of the street that night.

Yeah for DS10 going on ToT!!! I went on it for my first time EVER in January!! When I was about 15 yrs old, it had just opened and I wanted to ride it. But, I kept chickening out. We didn't go back to WDW until I was pregnant with Maddie, so obviously ToT was out of the question. On Maddie's first trip in 2006, we only went to MK so no ToT yet again. So, 12 years after I had chickened out, I FINALLY got to ride it!!!! It is definately one of my favorites.

I like TOT too! I'm always afraid that it is not going to stop though. I am always so relieved when it is over!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Hey shelly! I am home and just caught up where I left off! I love you Christmas tree and nativity set....love your dog under there!! Is he eating a candy cane? ha!!
We have stayed at the BC 3 times...we LOVE it there!! For us, sleeping 5 it was a better deal than the BWI..unless they have changed the rates..so we never have stayed at that resort. We do love that area and the the buses to MK are usually pretty quick. Its wonderful to walk through that back area to the WS for dinner. We looooove SAB..it's not hard to keep up with them I didn't think! They pretty much found one little area to swim/dig in the sand and just stayed there..my older son did the slide, but he is old enough I don't have to watch him as hard.
RnR..same songs as you mentioned...
I think that is the same kind of little frogs we have here...small, green, slimy looking...that don't get in often tho'...kinda weird...they do give me the heebie jeebies tho!!!

Welcome back Shawna! So glad you are all caught up on my TR already. I can't wait to read yours!

When I price out the BC, YC, and BWI they all come up the same exact price. For some reason I was thinking that the BWI was a little less. But it's not!

Did you see the Osborne Lights??? That will be in my next update!! We had the best time watching the lights dance to the music and we even danced a little too!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Hey shelly! I am home and just caught up where I left off! I love you Christmas tree and nativity set....love your dog under there!! Is he eating a candy cane? ha!!

Sorry, forgot to answer this!

Yep, that's a candy cane! It's a candy cane dog bone!! We sell them at Santa's Workshop at the school. So he gets a bunch of them for Christmas every year. The kids thought it would be funny to hang one from the tree and see if he could find it. They hung it on the bottom branch and sure enough he sniffed it out in no time and ripped it off the tree and laid down and ate it!

 

[JoBird]

Sorry, forgot to answer this!

Yep, that's a candy cane! It's a candy cane dog bone!! We sell them at Santa's Workshop at the school. So he gets a bunch of them for Christmas every year. The kids thought it would be funny to hang one from the tree and see if he could find it. They hung it on the bottom branch and sure enough he sniffed it out in no time and ripped it off the tree and laid down and ate it!

Awwwww- Hot Dog found his bone. He must've been a really good Doggie this year!

 

[NewCrew42]

AND--- omgosh-- that nativity! Someone stole the Baby Jesus!!!!! Did you notice that???

Jo

Now that I have made it up to the land of the living on the TR, I feel like I can comment!

I noticed this too, immediately.

Around here, there is now a big debate as to when you put little baby Jesus (or LBJ as he known in our house) in the manger of your navity set. Many people think you do not display him until Christmas day, others think that you can put him out when you set up your Christmas decorations as we do not know the exact date of Christ's birth.

Another hot topic for discussion is whether or not you display the Wise Men with your navity as they didn't visit Christ when he was a baby in the manger.

Should LBJ be placed in the manger prior to Christmas Day?

Should the Wise Men be displayed at the scene of Christ birth?

You be the judge...



Oh No,

Shelly I may be opening a can of worms on your thread.

No offense to anyone...

I was just wondering as well why LBJ wasn't in the manger.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Awwwww- Hot Dog found his bone. He must've been a really good Doggie this year!

He's always a good doggie! Okay, well maybe not always but he's definitely better behaved than the children!

Now that I have made it up to the land of the living on the TR, I feel like I can comment!

I noticed this too, immediately.

Around here, there is now a big debate as to when you put little baby Jesus (or LBJ as he known in our house) in the manger of your navity set. Many people think you do not display him until Christmas day, others think that you can put him out when you set up your Christmas decorations as we do not know the exact date of Christ's birth.

Another hot topic for discussion is whether or not you display the Wise Men with your navity as they didn't visit Christ when he was a baby in the manger.


Should LBJ be placed in the manger prior to Christmas Day?

Should the Wise Men be displayed at the scene of Christ birth?

You be the judge...



Oh No,

Shelly I may be opening a can of worms on your thread.

No offense to anyone...

I was just wondering as well why LBJ wasn't in the manger.

Interesting. . . I've never heard that discussed/debated before. . .Around here baby Jesus is always in the nativity scene.

 

[seacrestpromo]

Hey Shelly - Fantastic report! That is so great that you and your son rode TOT! I laughed about the $5.00 bribe part - too funny. Tell your son that if wants to ride TOT over and over again, any member of our family would gladly be his riding partner. Our record is seven times in less than 2 hours - LOL.

Can't wait to see your Christmas light pictures.

Sea

 

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

Thanks!

Convince/Bribe. . . what's the difference?!

I try bribery on DS8 all the time with his food issues. But it never works with him. He is better at saving his money than DS10 is, so I guess he figures the money just isn't worth it to try a new food.

I am so glad DS10 finally rode TOT. He just loved it! And now he is wishing he would have tried it years ago. So maybe that will teach him that I really do know what I am talking about and he should listen to me a little better!

YAY!!!!!
Now he should know that mama is ALWAYS right! (good luck with that)!

TOTALLY off topic, but semi-related to your BWI/BC discussions...Andy and I went to Branson for a night of shopping and got suckered in to one of the time share tours (they bribed/convinced us with $100)! So as we're sitting there, they're telling us we can use the week for a week at Disney (ME: uh, yeah right, you're probably talking about the outside-the-gate hotels). Nope, you could use it for all the Disney villas. WHAT?? Andy thought I as a goner at that point, he was ready to sign the papers. Me being the cheapskate knew better, but found that very interesting. Well, after we said NO about a dozen times, they bring the manager "to get you your money", then HE starts in on the hard sell. By that point, we weren't really listening because we were ready to get our cash and get the heck out of there, but then after he was done explaining how they have re-sales and you just pay the leftover mortgage, I'm pretty sure he said it would only cost $1??? Did I hear that right? Now, I know you still have the maintenance of $601 or whatever they said, but if all I'm paying is $601/year to stay a week every year at the Boardwalk? Surely I must've misunderstood???

 

[Monny2AE]

Catching up again!

Illuminations is my favorite! I'm glad you finally got to see it. And One Man's Dream ! We skipped it last time and I missed it.

How old were your boys when they first rode Star Tours. DS loves Star Wars but does not like roller coasters so I think it may too much for him this time around. He'll probably be happy enough in the store spending his gift cards!

I agree with the CS food choices. My DS is picky picky too. He eats burgers minus the burger. Fries without ketchup. PB&J hold the J. I'd love to see more CS choices especially for picky kids. He was so tired of room temp applesauce and grapes last trip. This time I'm packing some snacks I know he likes to make the week easier.

Welcome! Congrats on the December trip. Everybody should see Disney at Christmas time at least once!

This is what I'm telling DH when I book our next trip!

 

[heaven2dc]

"Another hot topic for discussion is whether or not you display the Wise Men with your navity as they didn't visit Christ when he was a baby in the manger."

I have never heard this before until now But I just read on a website that they came into a house and saw a young child, not a stable and saw a baby. Wow - I won't go into any debate on this and will keep my beliefs as I've always pictured them on seeing them with the baby Jesus but guess you can take what you read in any context you wish.

I never noticed that the baby was missing in that pic either but would have guessed it was because it wasn't Christmas Day yet.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

WOW! I've got a lot of catching up to do!! Was I gone that long? Sure doesn't feel like it! I'm hoping to do a TR once I get all the pics etc. sorted out.
You have lots of great pictures!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Tuesday November 10th continued ~

After TOT we met back up with DH & DS8 over by Star Tours. There was a Jedi Training Academy going on. We had passed by it several times this day, but each time was VERY crowded. And seeing that both the boys were chosen to do it back in January we decided to skip it this time.

From there we went over to the Voyage of the Little Mermaid. Something I had always wanted to do, but the boys have never been interested. But I told them we were doing it this time! And DS10 was in no position to argue with me after his TOT lesson!

I really enjoyed the show. And I took a few pictures. Again, with the flash off!

The boys really enjoyed the show too. Even though they wouldn't admit it!

After that we had a little time to kill before our Sci-Fi Dine In ADR. So we went over by the hat and looked around and then had a seat somewhere near the hat and had a little rest. DS10 called our neighbor boy and was telling him all about our trip!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Continued. . . .

Soon enough it was time for dinner!

We had been to Sci-Fi for lunch a few years back and had a very good experience. We just had sandwiches though, and were looking forward to trying something else this time. And it did not disappoint. I'd have to say that this was unexpectedly the best meal of my trip!

We checked in and were asked if we wanted a table or if we wanted to wait for a car. The kids yelled -- Wait for a car!! So we were told it would be "awhile". We were called not 5 minutes later and seated. We were seated in the same spot we were the last time. Right there by the entrance.

Our server came over and asked for our camera and said he would be back. He was gone for about 5 minutes and I was starting to think that he actually didn't work there and that some guy had just stolen my camera!! But he came back eventually and apologized and said that he just wanted to get the perfect shot. And said that he would be back and it would "be all about us then". . .

Here is the shot he took ~

He came back to take our orders. We all remembered how good the milkshakes were and ordered some! DH ordered the "Butcher Steak - with a red wine glaze, seasonal vegetables, and potato". I ordered the "Beef and Blue Salad - Sliced butcher-tender steak with a Wedge of Iceberg Lettuce with Blue Cheese Dressing, Tomatoes and Bacon", but with ranch instead of blue cheese dressing, and no bacon! DS10 ordered the kids pizza and DS8 ordered the hot dog meal.

Some shots we took while waiting ~

Pretty soon our milkshakes came. And they were so good. Never had a better shake in my life!!

Then our food came.

DH's ~

Can't find a pic of DS10's. Oh well, I guess all kids pizza's at WDW look pretty much the same!

DS8's ~

And mine. Before ~

And after I added some cheese and fries. This is how we make a steak salad here in Pittsburgh! ~

Oh it was so good. Wish I had one now.

After dinner our server came back and asked for the camera again. Then he took lots of pictures of us and even made us kiss!

Desserts ~

We used 4 TS credits and the total bill was $86.


Up Next: The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights! I promise!