A Birthday Trip without a Birthday - 2/16: Conclusion and Bonus Birthday Tea

[Flossbolna]

Hi Magdalene & Katharina ... LOVE the TR, I'm just getting caught up and immediately went to two of your posts:

Hi and to our TR! It is always great to see new readers posting!!

1st, thank you thank you thank you for the review you gave of MNSSHP ... we'll be at Disney from Oct 20 to 27 of this year and that is one thing I'm really wrestling over. I know they'd enjoy (at age 10) running to the different candy stations ... they would want to skip and character lines (just not their thing to wait in line for the characters) ... they'd enjoy the Halloween theming ... the Hallowishes fireworks - based on your description - would be their favorite part of it. As for the parade, that's the "x-factor" - my kids do enjoy a good parade, but on previous Disney trips, they've always chosen "ride more rides" over sitting down to watch a parade.

So a question posed to you (and anyone else who might want to weigh in) ... does it seem like the extra cost would be worth if for me, Jamie, and the triplets to attend MNSSHP?

Well, for a family of five, the MNSSHP is quite an investment. For me the parade was a lot of fun and had I not enjoyed it, I think the party would not have been worth the money for me.

If you are going with kids, I think you also have to take into account whether you are a family of early risers or whether you like to sleep in.

While the lines for attractions were not too bad, neither were they so short that we could walk on everything. Actually the party felt rather crowded. If you are good at getting to the parks for opening anyway, I feel that the "emptier" MK during the party would add that much. And I also felt that just heading in there for two or three hours and leaving at 10pm would give you very little time to really enjoy it.

And since you will be there towards the end of October, the parties are likely going to be more crowded than the ones they have in September.

To be honest, unless you think your kids will be fine to stay up until 12 am in a rather crowded park, I would rather not spend so much money on party tickets.

Maybe get dinner at the Polynesian one evening when there is a party and go down to the beach to watch the fireworks from there?

The second "chapter" I read in your TR was the last one reviewing your time at IoA. I have to admit, I have NEVER considered leaving Disney property casting back across all of my trips to WDW ... but between your pictures and reading Glennbo's plans, my mind is being tugged ... do we decrease our Disney park days by 1 and make the sojourn?

Oh ... I'm "in" for your TR ... not sure how much more is left to add, but Catching Up will sure be a blast!!

I am really glad to hear that my TR gets people to see that Universal is indeed a really interesting place to visit! It took me quite a few years to finally get there and it was definitely Harry Potter which was the big reason to try it out.

But I was very impressed (final thoughts on Universal will come in a future update) with both parks and would really encourage everyone to try it out. I am not sure how adventurous your kids are, a lot of the rides at IoA are more on the scary side and I know that at 10 I would not have enjoyed a lot of the rides. But then I also hated E.T. because that was a scary movie for me...

You might want to check out Cynthia's (eandesmom) TR, they went to Universal and here Es were around that age then I think. It's this one: Dr Jones and the Spitting Camel

 

[Flossbolna]

Part 10: Another Butter Beer? Of course!

And this then brings us back to Hogmeads and Hogwarts... When we arrived there was a show going performed by students visiting for the Triwizard-Torunament:

Unfortunately we only saw the end of it, but it looked quite interesting and I like it that they have some entertainment there! Like the conductor standing next to the engine of the Hogwarts Express – whose job it seems to be to get his picture taken with tourists and to speak with an English accent as Katharina pointed out...

We still had plenty of time until park closing, it was 4:30 now, so we still had 2.5 hours! We decided that we could use a break and some refreshments. If you are in Hogsmead there really is only one refreshment you can get: Butter Beer! I was briefly tempted to try the regular one, but since the frozen one had been so delicious I did not really want to experiment. However, just to let you now about the crowd levels: One trick to get Butter Beer quicker is to order it inside the Hogs Head because the carts outside have insanely long lines. That is what we did this morning. So once we had decided to get our Butter Beer I was about to head into the pub, but Katharina then pointed out that there was no one in line at the Butter Beer cart right next to us. Yes, it was more or less empty there!!

We once again sat on the terrace behind the Hogs Head and while we were sitting there a lady came to our table which was next to a wall and said that she was wondering whether the box on the wall there was a plug because her mobile was nearly out of power. Of course we had no idea either, but it was and she started to charge her mobile there.

While we were sitting there and enjoyed our Butter Beer it once again started to drizzle, so we moved inside:

And these are the Three Broomsticks the restaurant is named after:

Our next stop was to try the other side of the Dragon Challenge Coaster – we went with the blue dragon this time. And I think I liked the blue side better than the red one. But both are really fun coasters.

And then it was time to start shopping, trying to figure out what souvenirs we wanted to bring home. Also a great opportunity to take more pictures. Like those bins:

Katharina thought about buying this frisbee for her DH:

And then it was time for a final ride on Forbidden Journey:

We once again just walked onto the ride... And then walked back in again. I feel like we had a very special experience because I am sure very few people ever experienced as much time in such an uncrowded WWoHP as we did that day. It was really just perfect! And it still hadn't started to rain...

We finalised our shopping – I ended up buying quite a few souvenirs. Another t-shirt, a lanyard which looks like the Gryffindor school tie which I use at work now for my office keys. We both got some candy. The peppermint toads I got for my colleagues were a huge success, I can really recommend them, they are delicious!

Next: Rain!!!

 

[marvali]

Your Universal updates are getting the boys really excited for a visit!

Thanks a whole lot!

 

[Poolrat]

You had a great experience. Low crowds in the AM and then going back later in the afternoon for another low crowd time.

I may have to add some Universal/ IoA time soon. :

 

[lovealldisney]

LOVE the pictures of Honey Dukes! I think I would spend a fortune there! Nice update and I was thinking you would eventually get rain

Got your email and will reply post haste

 

[marvali]

Okay, now that I've finally finished my New Years TR I guess I should get on to my other two trips last year. I don't want you finishing this one before I can post about at least some of the common parts of our trip! I already let jenbear get ahead of me on hers..........

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

So once we had decided to get our Butter Beer I was about to head into the pub, but Katharina then pointed out that there was no one in line at the Butter Beer cart right next to us. Yes, it was more or less empty there!!

Better safe than sorry. Still, given the stories I've heard about the crowds, it's amazing you had such a great experience!

We once again just walked onto the ride... And then walked back in again. I feel like we had a very special experience because I am sure very few people ever experienced as much time in such an uncrowded WWoHP as we did that day. It was really just perfect!

Again, this is unheard of!

And I admit it: the puking guy in the window made me laugh.

 

[eandesmom]

Fun update! How magical really, with the low crowds, just wonderful that you were able to go back and experience so much.

There are other refreshments though...pumpkin juice...hog's head red and a slew of other things on tap, beer wise. Interesting tidbit. Apparently when the Hogs Head opened, they had a full bar. People apparently imbibed too much or overstayed their welcome so they got rid of all the bar stools (looks like they've since come back in your picture but there were none there when we went) and changed it to beer (and I assume wine) only as the alchoholic offerings.

 

[brookelizabeth]

I am still here and reading along! I had slowly caught up over the past few weeks, reading when I could. Loving your Universal/IoA report! I really want to try this park sometime soon, I know Henry would adore the Dr. Suess area.

This isn't all that uncommon of a sight here in Queens! It usually isn't that much stuff, but I can think of 3 locations, right off the top of my head, that I walk past often with stuff chained to a pole. A grocery cart in one of them, and a stroller in another! The other one is just a bunch of junk. It's a homeless persons' stuff, and they want to keep what they do have as safe as they can. Kinda sad... but interesting that Universal has it as part of their theming! I do wonder if that is there all year long...

 

[My_Pal_Pluto]

Just got a chance to read about "more Butterbeer" ... I'm envious of those reallllllyyy minimal crowds during your visit ... had to be a blast!!

Hi and to our TR! It is always great to see new readers posting!!

Happy to be reading along ... I love the great photos!!

To be honest, unless you think your kids will be fine to stay up until 12 am in a rather crowded park, I would rather not spend so much money on party tickets.

Maybe get dinner at the Polynesian one evening when there is a party and go down to the beach to watch the fireworks from there?

I Really appreciated your input on this ... I'm going to have a solid sit-down with them and run down a "pros/cons" kind of thing!!

I am not sure how adventurous your kids are, a lot of the rides at IoA are more on the scary side and I know that at 10 I would not have enjoyed a lot of the rides. But then I also hated E.T. because that was a scary movie for me...

ET definitely had it's intense moments ... but hey, it helped me LOVE Reese's Pieces so all "intensity" was forgiven!!

Thanks for the great thought on IoA. It would definitely be a "conflicted" trip - both of my boys would be absolutely gung-ho to get on every ride ... so would I ... so would Jamie ... but my daughter would be a "no" to a LOT of them. So we'd definitely end up with some "juggling" on our hands. I'm going to check-out Cynthia's experience ... thanks for the referral.

 

[glennbo123]

Wow, looks like a lot of fun! I can't wait to visit!

Thanks for all of your pictures and posts.

 

[nodnol]

Hi there, I just wanted to remind a certain someone that there still is a TR to write
And I wanted to share with you that I had to mark today in our calendar (we do that when one of us does or says something very much contrary to what he or she did or said before). When I told my DH tonight about a close friend who is planning a trip to Paris and DLP, he said in a kind of jealous voice "Oh, I want to go to Eurodisneyland too" THAT was the first time ever he said he would really want to go to a Disney park Okay, a bad day at work might have helped the wish to just be somewhere else...

 

[lovealldisney]

"Oh, I want to go to Eurodisneyland too" THAT was the first time ever he said he would really want to go to a Disney park

Ummm yeah Katharina is right we are all waiting ...... No pressure or anything.....

 

[tiggrbaby]

When I told my DH tonight about a close friend who is planning a trip to Paris and DLP, he said in a kind of jealous voice "Oh, I want to go to Eurodisneyland too" THAT was the first time ever he said he would really want to go to a Disney park Okay, a bad day at work might have helped the wish to just be somewhere else...

RUN with it!!!! book now before he changes his mind!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Hi there, I just wanted to remind a certain someone that there still is a TR to write
And I wanted to share with you that I had to mark today in our calendar (we do that when one of us does or says something very much contrary to what he or she did or said before). When I told my DH tonight about a close friend who is planning a trip to Paris and DLP, he said in a kind of jealous voice "Oh, I want to go to Eurodisneyland too" THAT was the first time ever he said he would really want to go to a Disney park Okay, a bad day at work might have helped the wish to just be somewhere else...

So what are your dates and which hotel are you staying in?

 

[nodnol]

RUN with it!!!! book now before he changes his mind!

So what are your dates and which hotel are you staying in?

Well, we already have a plan - but very much in the future. We plan to go to France 2013 in the summer, to Normandy and Bretagne with a stop at DLP.

 

[englishrose47]

Well, we already have a plan - but very much in the future. We plan to go to France 2013 in the summer, to Normandy and Bretagne with a stop at DLP.

Of Course you have a plan Katarina , you are a Disser

 

[aadaneboy]

Just joined your TR.....haven't started reading yet, but was curious-and this may be totally CRAZY--but you look very familiar...did we go to school in Danmark together back in 89-90?

if so, please PM me!!!



Todd

 

[nodnol]

Just joined your TR.....haven't started reading yet, but was curious-and this may be totally CRAZY--but you look very familiar...did we go to school in Danmark together back in 89-90?

if so, please PM me!!!



Todd

Hi Todd!

 

[aadaneboy]

Hi Todd!

Hi Katharina! It truly is a small world if we can be reconnected after 20 years on the Disboards! And it was you, not Magdalene, that I recognized right away! (well hoped it was you! )


Todd