A first time planners TRIP REPORT! Sept 2014 Final Update 5.19!

[LoJoDisney]

sounds like a fun evening to take the monorail around and check out the different resorts.

I had the Lapu Lapu for the first time last trip and it is really good - plus how often can you drink out of a pineapple?!?!?

We've never done Chef Mickey's - mostly for the atmosphere and the food hasn't excited us, but probably should take the kids there some day

It was really fun & you're right- it is not everyday you get to drink out of a pineapple!

Looks like a fun time all around! Although I'm kind of with you - Chef Mickey's always seemed a little ... not Disney? Not themed properly? I don't know how to explain it. It's just out there in the middle of the CR and it doesn't seem right to me somehow.

Love the monorail trip, and that you caught your mistake at the TTC and hopped back on (though you COULD have walked to the Poly from there if you had to).

You can already tell Joe is enjoying it all by his face in the pictures!

It was fun, even though we didn't LOVE Chef Mickeys we still enjoyed it! I just think it was our least favorite of our trip (still better than anything at home though!) I am with you though, its hard to explain what exactly I didn't like about it.

I'm sorry to hear that you didn't love Chef Mickey's. I can understand why you felt a little awkward with the characters at first. Mike and I definitely felt that way on our first couple of trips. But please don't be shy about trying it again without kids--it can be a lot of fun. It does stink that it's sometimes hard to get photos when it's just two of you. I don't know why they sometimes have attendants with the characters and sometimes they don't.

I don't think opening the door with MagicBands ever get old. Every time Mike and I would go to open ours we'd take turns and have to remember whose turn it was. Where else but Disney can you get excited about opening a door!!!

I think we warmed up to the characters during our first meal! It will be fun trying to find more of them on future trips.

I'm glad you and Mike found opening the doors fun too! Joe told me we need to somehow create a way for it to work at our house too, I wish!

That's why I haven't tried Chef Mickey's yet. I love all the other character meals I've tried -- which is probably most of the ones available -- but every time I've ridden through that area on the monorail, Chef Mickey's is packed with screaming kids, giving the impression that it's the least adult-friendly of all the character meals. Also I've seen many comments that their food isn't very good. Someday I may try it out of curiosity, but it seems pricey for a place with that many screaming kids, and apparently mediocre food....

Great character meals for adults include Tusker House, 1900 Park Fare, Garden Grill, etc. Not saying there aren't kids there, but the noise level is more normal and less crazy.

I didn't mind the food at Chef Mickeys, but I would have if we weren't on free dining since it is so expensive!

I really want to try Tusker House on our next trip.

HA! a 2 years old B-Day party!! that is SO TRUE! Right on the head you called it!
But i do like Chef Mickey's..

That was the best way I could describe it! I think it would be a lot of fun with kids, especially if they are celebrating a birthday!

My dream is to one day own DVC at VGF. I'm lucky enough to own at SSR, so it's truly a pipe dream. The resort is just so elegant and beautiful.

Love the Lapu Lapu!! I am going to try and get one of those in March for sure.

Aww, too bad about the button! He would've gotten so much attention! I suppose that might be why he didn't wear it!

I've only been to Chef Mickey's once, and I agree with your description completely. It's so loud in there no matter what, and you feel rushed in some strange way. I'd only go back if Maddie wanted to.

I am with you on your dream at VGF!! I am just a bit behind because I still am dreaming about being a DVC member. We are thinking about renting points for our next trip so we can be pretend DVC members for a week!

DEFINITELY try a Lapu Lapu!!

great start. Keep up the good writing!

Love that your boyfriend loved Disney. Can't wait to here more details.

We are not fans of Chef Mickey's either. We like the breakfast buffet at Boma at Animal Kingdom Lodge, no characters, but a nice breakfast.

Thank you! I've heard good things about Boma, need to add that to my future "to eat at" list!

 

[LoJoDisney]

I enjoyed reading about the start of your trip! Can't wait to read more.

Thank you! Glad you are reading along!

 

[CaseFace5]

Love the TR so far! So funny that your BF was right into everything the second you got there!! I can only hope mine does the same!

We were thinking about doing Chef Mickey's so I'm glad to hear your thoughts on it, because it doesn't sound like something we would be into. I would love to get the pictures with the fab 5 too.. but maybe somewhere else will work better for us!

Can't wait to read some more!

 

[ladylyons]

Ahhh! You two are so cute!!! I still remember the day I walked into Disneyland with my husband (10 years ago) and saw the magic take place!! We have now been to Disneyland 19 times together, WDW once and Disneyland Paris once!!! Our next trip is Disneyland again for Christmas but we're really hoping to get on a Disney Cruise to Alaska soon. Glad you had a fun first day!!!

 

[SarahDisney]

I can't believe he didn't want to wear the pin!

I like the idea of stopping by all of the monorail resorts ... I probably would have also gotten off at the wrong place, I have no idea what the order of the stops is.

I love all the pictures of you guys and the characters! I always feel a little weird as an adult doing character things ... until I actually get to see the character, then it's fun. I've never done Chef Mickeys, but I've been thinking about looking for a reservation for our upcoming trip ... maybe I'll hold off and do it on a future trip. I have heard a lot of mixed reviews, but I'm always interested in hearing/reading more personal experiences. I really don't like places that too kid-centric, so I may hold off on Chef Mickey's for now.

And I still think opening doors with the MBs is super cool ... I don't think I'll ever get sick of that (or at least not for a long time). Seriously, where else can you open a door with a wristband?

Looking forward to reading more!

 

[DaisyDuck001]

And I still think opening doors with the MBs is super cool ... I don't think I'll ever get sick of that (or at least not for a long time). Seriously, where else can you open a door with a wristband?

This is similar technology to opening a door at work with an employee badge, which is very common at many companies.

 

[dekkerdisneydreamer]

I am with you on your dream at VGF!! I am just a bit behind because I still am dreaming about being a DVC member. We are thinking about renting points for our next trip so we can be pretend DVC members for a week!

DEFINITELY try a Lapu Lapu!!

Ooh, I've had a Lapu Lapu, but only once. I just need to get ANOTHER one when I go in March!

Be careful with renting points, once you do you'll never want to go back. We started out renting points and then we were hooked. We were a Pop Century kind of family, and then got spoiled way too quickly. It's worth it for us just because we know that we don't have to worry about where we are going to stay.

 

[ach222]

You guys are adorable and it looks like you were having a blast!



I can see where Chef Mickey's might be a bit odd to do as an adults only thing, we are going with our 5 year old in Jan and it's definitely a 'for him' thing - glad you went and got your character pics/autographs though!

Excited to read the rest!!!

 

[LoJoDisney]

Love the TR so far! So funny that your BF was right into everything the second you got there!! I can only hope mine does the same!

We were thinking about doing Chef Mickey's so I'm glad to hear your thoughts on it, because it doesn't sound like something we would be into. I would love to get the pictures with the fab 5 too.. but maybe somewhere else will work better for us!

Can't wait to read some more!

Thanks for reading along! I think Chef Mickey's would be a lot of fun with kids, I just don't think we would do it again just the two of us. If you are going during a non-busy time, seeing the fab 5 in the parks shouldn't be too bad!

Ahhh! You two are so cute!!! I still remember the day I walked into Disneyland with my husband (10 years ago) and saw the magic take place!! We have now been to Disneyland 19 times together, WDW once and Disneyland Paris once!!! Our next trip is Disneyland again for Christmas but we're really hoping to get on a Disney Cruise to Alaska soon. Glad you had a fun first day!!!

Aww thanks! That's so awesome you have gone together so many times!! The Disney Cruise to Alaska looks AMAZING.

I can't believe he didn't want to wear the pin!

I like the idea of stopping by all of the monorail resorts ... I probably would have also gotten off at the wrong place, I have no idea what the order of the stops is.

I love all the pictures of you guys and the characters! I always feel a little weird as an adult doing character things ... until I actually get to see the character, then it's fun. I've never done Chef Mickeys, but I've been thinking about looking for a reservation for our upcoming trip ... maybe I'll hold off and do it on a future trip. I have heard a lot of mixed reviews, but I'm always interested in hearing/reading more personal experiences. I really don't like places that too kid-centric, so I may hold off on Chef Mickey's for now.

And I still think opening doors with the MBs is super cool ... I don't think I'll ever get sick of that (or at least not for a long time). Seriously, where else can you open a door with a wristband?

Looking forward to reading more!

I know, what a stinker. ALSO he mentioned more than a couple times while we were there and back home we should have our honeymoon there (we aren't even engaged! Lol) and I said something like well they have pins for that too and he said he would wear his pin then. hahaha!

I do think it was a little kid-centered and we still had fun I just really enjoyed so many other places we went more.

I know- the MB opening the door is just so fun. So easy being able to use your MB for everything!!

This is similar technology to opening a door at work with an employee badge, which is very common at many companies.

Haha, thats true I didn't even think about that. Too bad going to work is no where near as fun and exciting as being in Disney, haha!

Ooh, I've had a Lapu Lapu, but only once. I just need to get ANOTHER one when I go in March!

Be careful with renting points, once you do you'll never want to go back. We started out renting points and then we were hooked. We were a Pop Century kind of family, and then got spoiled way too quickly. It's worth it for us just because we know that we don't have to worry about where we are going to stay.

Ohhh! Good, yes drink more lapu lapus! have one for me too!

I could see how renting could become addicting. I liked CBR and would like to try POR/POFQ but after that all of the resorts I want to try are deluxe. When pricing out AKL for next year (if we rented) it was the exact same price as CBR was a night for a studio Savannah room, so at least we won't be spending a ton more, we just won't be able to do Free Dining.

You guys are adorable and it looks like you were having a blast!



I can see where Chef Mickey's might be a bit odd to do as an adults only thing, we are going with our 5 year old in Jan and it's definitely a 'for him' thing - glad you went and got your character pics/autographs though!

Excited to read the rest!!!

Thank you!! We had a great first day!!

 

[LoJoDisney]

Tuesday September 9th, 2014 may have just been my favorite day of our trip!

We woke up around 6:15 to get ready for our 8AM reservation at the Crystal Palace! I made coffee in our room and we are at the Jamaica bus stop by 7!

Me being overly excited waiting for the MK bus!


Joe waiting at the bus stop...




We were lucky and a MK bus showed up very shortly after we got to the bus stop. We got the MK at 7:30 and went to check in with someone holding a "TOUR AND RESERVATION" sign.

WE WERE FINALLY HERE. I was already filled with excitement and getting teary eyed.



Using my magic band for the first time to get into the park!



We had to wait about 10/15 minutes before they let us begin our walk down Main Street. Once we were in I just kept looking at Joe, looking around, telling him things I remembered. It was awesome! I have never been there in the fall and I LOVED all of the Fall decorations everywhere! We stopped by a few photopass people to get some pictures. Unfortunately the crane was up. I need to find someone with photoshop to help me edit it!

Empty Main Street





I want these for my house!




In front of the castle!



One of my favorite pictures from our trip!


Joe took this picture on his phone & its perfect!



We got to Crystal Palace to check in for our reservation. It wasn't that busy at all. It was so pretty inside and a few memories started coming back from when I had been there with my Dad. We had a really sweet waitress which made the experience even better.

Us at our table before getting food- see how there's hardly anyone there!


My FIRST plate of MICKEY WAFFLES!! I was looking forward to this!



They also had some type of breakfast lasagna/casserole that was SUPER good, but I didn't take a picture!

The characters started to come by and we were much more relaxed at breakfast than we were at dinner the night before!

Winnie the Pooh came by first and gave me this HUGE hug. I asked Joe if he had hugged him and he said no. I went on rambling about how he really needed to because I loved the hugs and it just makes you so happy when you get a big hug from a character! He was laughing and said "you just went from 25 to 6 in 2 minutes!" haha it was really funny and I'm pretty sure he gave some hugs after that.

Here are our character pictures from breakfast!









We both LOVED this breakfast and will have to make this a tradition for each trip. It was fairly quick to as we left breakfast around 8:45!

As we were leaving I took this picture of the cute hidden (maybe not so hidden) Mickey in the water outside of Crystal Palace!



Our plan was to do all of fantasy land this morning! First up was Peter Pan's Flight! We walked right on.



I've been on this before but I just watched Peter Pan for the first time a few months ago with Joe (We watched probably 30 Disney Movies in the months before our trip!) So this was fun for us since we had just seen the movie!

We then did It's a Small World and I'm pretty sure we were the only ones on it.

empty line!




A boat to ourselves! Actually, a whole ride to ourselves!


Joe wasn't a huge fan, but I still think I have to do It's a Small World once a trip because I like it. I'm a sucker for the classics!

Continued in next post

 

[LoJoDisney]

(Continued from last post)

We then went to Enchanted Tales with Belle (we had tried earlier but there was no one in line at all and they have to wait for a minimum of 20 people... so we didn't wait!) I really liked this because Beauty & the Beast is one of my favorites and the technology they used is so awesome!



Some more pictures from walking around:



Next we went on "Under the Sea- Journey of the Little Mermaid" (way too long of a name!) I loved this because the Little Mermaid is my favorite princess movie!



Check out Joe's shirt he bought the night before! I love it!


Next we went over to Dumbo, which I don't think I've ever done before.



And now comes probably the most dramatic part of our trip....

I really should have named this post "RIP RED MAGIC BAND"


While we were in line for Dumbo (for 5 minutes) I looked down at my MB and said to Joe "I keep looking at my MB because I'm so scared it's going to fall off, we need to be careful not to lose them!" After Dumbo, we walked into one of the shops and we were looking around. I noticed Joe took his MB off (he is fidgety sometimes) and I said something like "Put that back on!!" We then took a bathroom break and started walking towards Tomorrowland and Joe all of a sudden says "WHERES MY MAGIC BAND!" and the downhill spiral begins. We're going back and forth looking for it because he swears he JUST had it in his hands....He's looking for it a little over 10 minutes so I finally go back to the store and talk to a CM who tells me we'll probably have to go back to our resort to get another one...I tell Joe that he is a 5 year old for losing it and we walk to guest services where a nice CM tells me not to worry or be too mad at him and gives him a gray one. THANK GOODNESS. Problem solved. I felt bad at getting upset at him when he lost it but then it just became a big joke the rest of the trip. He would lose his MB the first 2 hours at MK!

Ok...back to our scheduled day! We walked back to tomorrow land and did Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin. After Buzz, we saw Stitch walking and followed him. He was so funny and interactive when he realized we were walking right behind him.



Joe took the picture above and then Stitch pointed at him to come take some with us so the women with Stitch took some of both of us!





We then headed back to Fantasyland for Mine Train!
We walked right on with our FP and had a lot of fun on this ride! I think I thought it was going to be more of a thrill ride because of all the hype, but I really enjoyed it!



We went back to Tomorrowland since we had a FP for Space Mountain coming up. We were so lucky with the crowds this day, we didn't wait longer than 5 minutes for anything and didn't really need our FP's for anything but Mine Train.

Before our FP for spacemountain we went to Monsters Inc Laugh Floor which we both loved! Then we rode Space Mountain twice!








We decided to go towards Frontierland because we had a Splash Mountain FP and we wanted to eat lunch first.

On our walk over there we stopped to watch the Dream Along with Mickey show!



We had lunch at Pecos Bill's- I had a Taco Salad and Joe had a Deluxe Cheese Burger. We both really enjoyed our meals but Joe wished he had gotten the Taco Salad. They had A TON of toppings which was wonderful- sauteed onions and mushrooms even!





After that we went to my FAVORITE ride, Splash Mountain! I for some reason thought if you sat in front you got less wet- I don't know why I thought this and we got off the ride completely SOAKED. More soaked than I ever remember getting on it!! We both loved it though.







After that we decided to walk around to dry off a bit so we walked into Adventureland. We eventually got in line for Pirates...which meant walking straight on to the ride!

After Pirates, we got to experience another first together- DOLE WHIPS! I had never had one and LOVED the Dole Whip float I got. Joe doesn't like pinapple (or any fruit for that matter- weirdo) so he just got vanilla and even that was amazing.

Joe took a picture of me originally by myself but a CM saw and asked if we wanted her to take one of us together!





After our Dole Whips we headed to the Enchanted Tiki Room. When I was here last, the Tiki Room was still "under new management". I LOVED the restored old version this time so much more! Joe liked it too, I think only because the past few months I've been walking around our house singing "In the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room" and he finally realized what I was singing!

Last up we did Jungle Cruise, which we both agreed was a little annoying. I remember liking Jungle Cruise, but the CM doing the "tour" was really just too much. She never stopped talking and making so many corny jokes.

We were ready to head back to our resort to rest because we had a fun night ahead of us! On our way out we stopped to take some more photopass pictures.








UP NEXT: Hoop Dee Doo!

 

[JAMIESMITH]

Awesome trip report so far! We went during the second week of September a few years ago and the parks were so great and the crowds were really nonexistent!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

wow - you guys got so much done. It is so great when there are little to no lines.

Pre-park opening ADR's at MK are the best because you can just not beat an empty main street and unblocked view of the Castle - well, other than the crane. Disney really should offer to photoshop out the crane in PP pictures - or at least decorate the crane so it fits in better.

And don't worry about going from 25 to 6 ... as Walt says, Adults are just grown-up kids anyway.

"Under the Sea- Journey of the Little Mermaid" is a ridiculously long name ... we tend to just call it "Ariel's ride"

Yeah for your first Dole Whip! I love the pineapple (usually get the swirl in pineapple juice).

Sorry you didn't like Jungle Cruise more - we love it when there are like non-stop bad puns. I recently watched the video I took from our last trip and realized I said the punchline to like half the jokes before the skipper said them

Excited to hear how you enjoyed Hoop-Dee-Doo ... that is definitely on our Disney Bucket list

 

[SarahDisney]

Okay, I'm going to try to respond in an orderly manner (I like lists and things with numbers):

1 - I feel like Disney should offer a service where they Photoshop your pictures for you ... take out the crane, random people, or anything you don't want in the picture ... they'd probably charge extra for it, but I think a lot of people would use it
2 - I love the breakfast pictures. And that orange/lemon hidden mickey is awesome!
3 - I can't believe you had never seen Peter Pan before! That's one of my favorite movies, and I really love the ride.
4 - I watch a lot of Disney specials on TV, and one of them covered some of the technology that they use in Enchated Tales with Belle ... it really is cool. Lumiere especially is really impressive.
5 - Little Mermaid is my favorite princess movie too, and I love the ride because it's just like riding through the movie!
6 - I can't believe Joe lost his MagicBand ... at least he got a replacement without having to leave the park!
7 - I love when the characters are extra interactive ... it makes the trip extra magical. Stitch looks like he was having fun with you guys.
8 -One of my great fears about Splash Mountain (I've never been on it) is that I'll end up getting soaked ... I guess maybe I just have to avoid the front row.
9 - I love the picture of you guys in front of the balloons - for some reason, it seems like the balloons are just a great Disney background. You really got some great PhotoPass pictures!

I'm looking forward to reading about Hoop Dee Doo!

 

[TheLittleKatie]

Hey Lauren Great TR so far! My boyfriend and I were at WDW at the same time as you guys! I'm excited to see more

 

[KatMark]

I'm trying to catch up on a few TR's while we are relaxing in Marco Island.

I really like the new rooms at the Caribbean...they look great!

We haven't done Chef Mickey's since 2004 when our oldest son graduated from high school. You described it perfectly...a little kids themed party. And the food ain't all that good.

What a fun first day at the Magic Kingdom. You got some really great photopass pictures (I love the one with the balloons). I'm with Joe...if I didn't have to please my husband, I'd be skipping it's a slow boat to China every trip.

I love Joe's shirt.

And I'm glad you liked the Mine Ride. I knew it wouldn't be a thrill ride because of it's location, but I think they did a great job on it (I just wish it was a tad longer).

 

[Chicago Mo]

What a great update!!! You look SO HAPPY going to MK! I LOVE THIS!!!

My favorite picture is the Balloons!!! So sweet! and yes. everyone goes back to about a 5 year old in Disney. it's inevitable! Sorry about the lost MB.
I am one of the very few who LOVE stitch!!! His interactions are the BEST! along with Daisy..

Nothing beats a mickey waffle NOTHING! What was Joe's favorite from MK??

It's a small world is a nightmare for me..
(fear of dolls)

 

[Valstew]

I'm loving your report so far. It's getting me so excited for our trip only 5 days left. It's funny our first dinner is crystal palace and first breakfast is chef mickey.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

Glad you guys had a great character meal at CP to make up for the not so great one at CM. Did your server take the pictures of you and Joe with the characters at CP, or was there someone going around with the characters to take pictures?

Like others who have commented, I also really like your balloon pictures.

Did you happen to notice, were they selling Magic Band covers with characters on them, like Daisy, Donald, etc.? How about Halloween-themed Magic Band covers? (I'm going later in October. )

Some of the Jungle Cruise skippers are funnier than others. There are certain things they all say but also they each have some different jokes. I do like the bad puns, but I realize that's not everyone's thing.

 

[dekkerdisneydreamer]

Love me some Crystal Palace! I don't care if it's breakfast, lunch or dinner. That's one of my favorites. Tiger has absolutely nothing to do with that.....

You achieved so much in so little time! I hope that one day I can get to the parks and have that level of success!

Can't wait to see how you like the Hoop Dee Doo.