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

[LoJoDisney]

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!

Yes I am so spoiled now after being there in September! It will be hard to go back any other time!

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

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.
That's a really good idea, I'm sure people would pay for it.

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

"Under the Sea- Journey of the Little Mermaid" is a ridiculously long name ... we tend to just call it "Ariel's ride"
Haha, much better! After thinking about it, Disney has quite a few with really long names... "Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin!"


Yeah for your first Dole Whip! I love the pineapple (usually get the swirl in pineapple juice).
I loved both of the ones we got, I want to try and make one at home!


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
Haha, I will have to give Jungle Cruise another try- maybe I will like it knowing that it was meant to be like this!

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

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

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
I agree- people would definitely pay for it!
2 - I love the breakfast pictures. And that orange/lemon hidden mickey is awesome! Breakfast was awesome & super nice that they had water outside for people waiting!
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.
I know, I don't know how I hadn't seen it!
4 - I watch a lot of Disney specials on TV, and one of them covered some of the technology that they use in Enchanted Tales with Belle ... it really is cool. Lumiere especially is really impressive.
Agree!
5 - Little Mermaid is my favorite princess movie too, and I love the ride because it's just like riding through the movie!
Yes, I was singing along the whole time!
6 - I can't believe Joe lost his MagicBand ... at least he got a replacement without having to leave the park! I KNOW! Thank goodness because I may have more upset if we had to leave!
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.
It really made it more fun with Stitch being so silly!
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.
You need to go on it!! It's my favorite!!
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!
Thank you! When you see baloons on mainstreet it just makes you feel happy!

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

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

Hi Katie! Thanks!! That's awesome you were there at the same time, it was a GREAT time with the weather and crowds!

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

I hope you are having a great end of your vacation!

I really like the new rooms at the Caribbean...they look great!
They did a great job! It was beautiful!

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.
Agree.

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. Ahahaha, I guess he'll have to put up with me then! It made it better that we walked right on- I don't think I would do it if we had to wait.

I love Joe's shirt.
Thanks! He picked a good one out.

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).

They did! The second time we rode it, I loved it even more. And I wish it was longer too.

What a great update!!! You look SO HAPPY going to MK! I LOVE THIS!!!
I WAS SO HAPPY! I wish I could be that excited at 6AM every morning!

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..
Stitch was so much fun! He makes an appearance later too- he's a new favorite. We just bought Lilo & Stitch on Blueray when we got home, haha!

Nothing beats a mickey waffle NOTHING! What was Joe's favorite from MK??
I bought one of those mickey shaped pancake/egg makers and we've made them but I really want to get a Mickey Waffle maker..maybe for Christmas
His favorite ride at MK was Splash Mountain!

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

oh no! Then I really hope you didn't have to ride it a bunch of times while you were there!

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.

Ahh have a great trip!! That is so funny our first dinners/breakfasts were swapped! I hope you have a wonderful time!

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?

There was a cast member walking with the characters, which was great!

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

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. )
They did sell a lot of accessories for the MB's. They had the little plastic things you could stick in the holes of the band, the plastic sliders for the bands, and they also had fabric covers that goes around your band that were really cute! They had a ton of MB's in general for sale and sometimes I Would see a special MB for sale, like at HS they have a Frozen one. I didn't see any Halloween ones, but I also wasn't looking or at MNSSHP at all.

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.

I'm willing to give JC another shot next time we are there!

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.....
I want to try it for lunch or dinner sometime!

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!
Go in the beginning of September! I couldn't get over how low the crowds were!

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Life update!

Still have the Disney Blues. Pretend plan a trip once a week and text Joe daily to bring me back

I'm really hoping we will go back again next year! We want to try renting DVC points and staying at AKL!

This weekend we are going Apple Picking at a place in Wisconsin. They have a WONDERFUL breakfast buffet too!

Sunday after church and the BEARS game we are going to have an early dinner with my Dad, Stepmom, and Joe's parents! It's the first time they are meeting! It was my parents idea and I am so nervous!!

Ok back to doing a Disney update!

 

[LoJoDisney]

We left the Magic Kingdom a little after 4 and were back at our resort before 5. We relaxed for a bit and then got ready for Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue!

My Dad and I had done this dinner show two years in a row when I was 9 and 10. I didn't remember a lot about it other than that we both loved it!

Our show was at 8:30 and we were told to get there a half hour early. The plan was to take the bus to the MK and take the Ferry over to Fort Wilderness. We went out to get on the bus at 6:45. There were a ton of people waiting for MK bus all dressed up in costumes as this was the one of the first nights of MNSSHP!

Busses kept coming and coming but for everything BUT MK. People were starting to get frustrated and apparently some had been there for awhile before we even got there. I was getting nervous because I really thought it was important to get there 30 minutes before. I also knew once we got to MK it would still take some time to get to Fort Wilderness if we had to wait for the Ferry.

SO around 7:25 Joe used the phone at the bus stop to call the front desk and get a cab. They said a cab would be in front of our building within 5-10 minutes. We left the bus stop and went to wait by our building for our cab. About 1 minute before our cab showed up (so probably around 7:30) a MK bus pulled up (of course) but even by then I was thinking, we wouldn't make it to FW on time so I was fine with taking a cab.

We got to Fort Wilderness around 7:40 and then took an internal shuttle to get to Pioneer Hall where the show was held. We checked in and got our tickets and began to walk around since we were so early. There was hardly any one there.



It was drizzling a tiny bit and there was a small outdoor shop and I wanted to buy ponchos. Joe kept saying it would be bad luck if we bought them because we hadn't needed them yet. I wanted them..JUST IN CASE. I'm a planner, can you blame me? So we got 2 ponchos and a cute 101 Dalmatian Pin for a girl I work with who really loves 101 Dalmatians!

We went to stand underneath the building attached to Pioneer Hall since it was drizzling a tiny bit. Turns out there was a walk up window where we could order drinks! It was Crockett's Tavern and Joe got a Beer and I wanted to try a Pina Colava! SO yummy! We sat at the picnic tables and waited for our show.



People started gathering under the roof by Pioneer Hall's entrance and we saw a Photopass person taking pictures so we got some pictures taken. Usually they are taken by the Hoop-Dee-Doo barrels I am in front of above but since it was drizzling they must have decided to take them on the porch.



We went in and it looked exactly like I remembered! A lot of memories came back too! We were seated really close to the front at a small table for 2.



There was cornbread and salad at the table:



Our server came to take our drink orders, she was super friendly!

Unlimited Beer, wine, and SANGRIA! Yay!



The show began and it was wonderful! It was really entertaining, funny, and they make you feel part of the show!





The Pioneer Hall Players sang songs, danced, told jokes..they even personally wished anyone a happy birthday who was celebrating! When the food would come out they would sing and then take a break while you ate.

This guy played the fiddle while we enjoyed dinner!



This was all brought to our table (and you can have more if you finish this!)




Eventually it is dessert time and the servers are all up on stage with the Pioneer Hall players singing a song about Strawberry Shortcake! They bring out these HUGE plays of the best tasting dessert ever. Even Mr. "I don't eat anything with Fruit on it" loved it!



By the end of the show everyone is waving around red napkins and strumming spoons on washboards that are past out to you! It was so so much fun!



I HIGHLY recommend everyone to try Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue!! The food was great and so was the show!

They have busses ready for all of the resorts to take you back home, which was really nice! Our bus went to Pop and CBR. We were home around 11:30 and went straight to bed!!

While we waited for the bus stop each morning Joe and I would talk about our favorite parts of the day before so I have notes on my phone for each day!

These are my notes for Day 2- Magic Kingdom/Hoop-Dee-Doo

Joe's Favorite part of the day: Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue
My favorite part of the day: Also Hoop-Dee-Doo

Joe's favorite thing to eat: Ribs at Hoop-Dee-Doo
My favorite thing to eat: Mickey Waffles at Breakfast

Joe's favorite moment of the day- walking down Main Street
My favorite moment- Being in the park before opening, showing Joe around MK, and remember where everything was

Joe's favorite ride of the day- Splash Mountain
My favorite ride of the day- Splash Mountain



Up Next: Have you ever dipped her before?

 

[MissMaryQC]

Hopp-Dee-Doo looks like such fun! Your photos are great too; you and Joe are a very cute couple. Can't wait for day two's adventures, seems like there may a Dole Whip surprise involved, yum!

 

[SarahDisney]

Still have the Disney Blues. Pretend plan a trip once a week and text Joe daily to bring me back

I sometimes check hotel prices randomly to see if I can book a trip and then start planning everything ... and then realize that I can't go. So I know how you feel.

Sounds like you guys had a lot of fun.

I like that you took the time to write down notes. We do that as things happen sometimes, but I think it's really nice to do it at the end of the day and be able to reflect on your day.

I can't wait to read about day 3!

 

[LoJoDisney]

Hopp-Dee-Doo looks like such fun! Your photos are great too; you and Joe are a very cute couple. Can't wait for day two's adventures, seems like there may a Dole Whip surprise involved, yum!

It really was so much fun, I highly recommend it!

Thank you so much!

 

[LoJoDisney]

I sometimes check hotel prices randomly to see if I can book a trip and then start planning everything ... and then realize that I can't go. So I know how you feel. Sounds like you guys had a lot of fun. I like that you took the time to write down notes. We do that as things happen sometimes, but I think it's really nice to do it at the end of the day and be able to reflect on your day. I can't wait to read about day 3!

Haha, that's funny we both keep trying to plan trips.

I'm not sure what made me start writing the notes in my phone. I think I started asking Joe is favorite parts because I was curious and then thought "hey, I should write this down bc I have an awful memory!!" Haha

 

[KatMark]

Lauren, in over 25 visits, we have never done HDDR. It looks like good food and it looks like you had a great time. I'll have to see if I can get it on the list next time.

 

[Chicago Mo]

Glad you got there in time!! PHEW! I have never done hoop de doo! I was so close in booking this time around yet.... I didn't. Hopefully next time! I never hear a bad thing about it..

So far So FANTASTIC! a Disney lover IN THE MAKING!

 

[dekkerdisneydreamer]

Looks like you both had a great time at the show! I have seen many reviews that are as positive as yours, but cannot bring myself to pay the price for it....

After such a long day, I imagine you fell asleep as soon as your heads hit the pillow!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Hopp-Dee-Doo looks so great! I really want to do this one trip. I think recently all trips my wife has either been pregnant or nursing so I figured she wouldn't take advantage of the all your can drink sangrias

Also, with having little kids, not sure the best age to first take them.... but definitely one of these years!

Glad you enjoyed it so much and that it brought back those memories - that is definitely one of the benefits of returning to Disney vs going different places every year and only doing Disney once.

That is a great idea to do that "favorite things from previous day" each morning!

 

[LoJoDisney]

Lauren, in over 25 visits, we have never done HDDR. It looks like good food and it looks like you had a great time. I'll have to see if I can get it on the list next time.

I really hope you can fit it in the next time you go, I think you & Mark would enjoy it!

I also can't wait to have over 25 visits to Disney!

Glad you got there in time!! PHEW! I have never done hoop de doo! I was so close in booking this time around yet.... I didn't. Hopefully next time! I never hear a bad thing about it..

So far So FANTASTIC! a Disney lover IN THE MAKING!

YES! Next time you all should go! I think I was 10 & 11 when I to Hoop-Dee-Doo with my Dad so Meg, Matt, & Zach are the perfect age!

Looks like you both had a great time at the show! I have seen many reviews that are as positive as yours, but cannot bring myself to pay the price for it....

After such a long day, I imagine you fell asleep as soon as your heads hit the pillow!

It is a little pricey, but for a great dinner and show I think it's worth it. We had free dining too so we just used 2 table service credits for it. There's not a bad seat there either so you can always pick the lowest priced section!

It was a long day and I definitely fell asleep on Joe's shoulder on the bus ride home (this was a nightly occurance )

Hopp-Dee-Doo looks so great! I really want to do this one trip. I think recently all trips my wife has either been pregnant or nursing so I figured she wouldn't take advantage of the all your can drink sangrias

Also, with having little kids, not sure the best age to first take them.... but definitely one of these years!

Glad you enjoyed it so much and that it brought back those memories - that is definitely one of the benefits of returning to Disney vs going different places every year and only doing Disney once.

That is a great idea to do that "favorite things from previous day" each morning!

That is too funny about your wife not being able to take advantage of the sangria! I was so happy when I found out about that part of the dinner since I obviously wasn't drinking them the last time I had been there (I was 11!) There were kids of all ages there and the show would be entertaining for all ages. I think the themeing is so good that kids would love it. I've heard you can also order some more kid friendly options (no extra charge) like mac n cheese!

I never thought about Disney that way, it's so true that returning brings back so many memories and happy times!

The favorite things lists are going to be very helpful with this trip report! I also listed what we did each day in order in case pictures didn't jog my memory well enough!

 

[UGAFan0829]

Wow, what an amazing day y'all had! First off, I love that you had breakfast at Crystal Palace! It's one of my most fave breakfasts! I'm so glad that you were able to experience an empty Main Street! So, so awesome! And my gosh y'all were on a roll with all the attractions that you were able to get in!!

Sorry that the bus for MK took so long, but good thinking about calling the cab! I'm glad y'all made it in time...just reading that made me nervous!

Hoop De Doo looks awesome! I really want some of that dessert now!

 

[ChanFO]

Hoop-de-Doo is one of those things that sounds so corny, and it is, but it's totally fun and it looks like you guys really had a blast!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

reading along...

 

[LoJoDisney]

Wow, what an amazing day y'all had! First off, I love that you had breakfast at Crystal Palace! It's one of my most fave breakfasts! I'm so glad that you were able to experience an empty Main Street! So, so awesome! And my gosh y'all were on a roll with all the attractions that you were able to get in!!

Sorry that the bus for MK took so long, but good thinking about calling the cab! I'm glad y'all made it in time...just reading that made me nervous!

Hoop De Doo looks awesome! I really want some of that dessert now!

http://www.disboards.com/images/editor/menupop.gif
I am so glad we went to CP in the morning, that was honestly one of my most favorite parts of the trip! Walking down Main Street while it was empty for the first morning we were there was awesome.

We literally walked on every single ride we went on the whole week. It was so great!

You need to do Hoop Dee Doo if you haven't!!

Hoop-de-Doo is one of those things that sounds so corny, and it is, but it's totally fun and it looks like you guys really had a blast!

That's so true! It was such a blast!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weekened/Life Update!

Weekend:

Saturday Joe & I went up to Lake Geneva. I didn't realize we only lived 45 minutes away! We walked around, had lunch, went to a few shops, and then on our way home we went to an apple orchard and bought apples, apple cider, and cinnamon donuts! One of the shops we went to was a resale shop where people had booths set up with things they were selling- mostly vintage/antiquey things. One of the booths had a TON of Disney things, so of course I had to take pictures.









While we were driving we passed by these Wild Turkeys! I just LOVE animals I needed to stop and look/talk to them. I may have gobbled a few times...




On Sunday, Joe & I took Sophie to a field near our house so she could run around and play catch. After about 5 minutes of running like a crazy person (or dog?) she was pooped and just laid down. She wouldn't even get up to walk back to our house!



Sunday night Joe's parents & my Dad and stepmom all went to dinner. I was nervous how it would go since it was the first time they were meeting but it went super well. It was so nice to all have dinner together. I love Joe's family so much so it was nice for my Dad to finally meet them.

LIFE UPDATE!

SO this is why I haven't been on the DIS much this week.....



Monday night I was driving to NIU to help with a program that my grad school did. Something happened to my eye and I had no idea what but my eye got so red and watery and was SO painful all night. I had an hour and half drive back home and it was so scary because my eye was in so much pain.

I managed to go to work the next day even though my eye looked like this...



My manager eventually told me to leave because I obviously needed to go to the dr. Which I did, and I have a ulcerated cornea. Basically something scratched my eye deep enough and it got infected. So I am stuck putting antibiotic eye drops in my eyes for another week and stuck in my glasses and no makeup for 2 weeks! Today it is feeling a bit better, still painful but it isn't watering constantly!

Ok- so back to Disney update in a few minutes!

 

[KatMark]

Lauren, sounds like a fun weekend at Lake Geneva.

I'm glad the dinner went well with both sides of the family.

Oh my...your eye LOOKS painful. I'm so sorry that you are going through that.

 

[kaelalala]

Hiiii! I found your trip report through a comment on someone else's, so I followed the link and I'm loving following along now!! You and Joe are so adorable and I love reading about what you all get up to ^_^

it's so fun to see things through a first-timer's eyes! seems like you guys have had a great time so far, and I love that he wore his new Mickey shirt right away

I can't believe I've never been to Hoop-Dee-Doo! It's number 1 on my to-do list, everyone's pictures always look so amazing!

can't wait to read more

 

[LoJoDisney]

Lauren, sounds like a fun weekend at Lake Geneva.

I'm glad the dinner went well with both sides of the family.

Oh my...your eye LOOKS painful. I'm so sorry that you are going through that.

Thanks Kathy, luckily it is healing quickly and isn't as red/watery anymore!

Hiiii! I found your trip report through a comment on someone else's, so I followed the link and I'm loving following along now!! You and Joe are so adorable and I love reading about what you all get up to ^_^

it's so fun to see things through a first-timer's eyes! seems like you guys have had a great time so far, and I love that he wore his new Mickey shirt right away

I can't believe I've never been to Hoop-Dee-Doo! It's number 1 on my to-do list, everyone's pictures always look so amazing!

can't wait to read more

I'm glad you are following along.

You must go to Hoop-Dee-Doo, it's such a fun time!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Sounds like a fun trip! We have wild turkeys like that on the property my office is on ... we sometimes have to wait for them to cross the road to get our of the complex. They are less exciting after like the 100th time you see them

Sorry about your eye - hope it gets better soon! I can't stand putting anything in my eye (I can't even contemplate wearing contacts, so glasses all the time for me) so having to put drops in all the time would annoy me to now end

 

[LoJoDisney]

September 10th, 2014 was Hollywood Studios day!

We had bad luck with buses again this morning unfortunately. We saw every

bus come by probably twice before a HS bus came by! We still made it to the park by 8:45 and they were just letting people in. We took some photopass pictures on our way in...





The photographer taking the pictures was really funny. In the one above of us kissing, he told us to kiss and then kept saying ok a few more seconds hold it a few more seconds...and so we just stood there for a while and once we finally opened our eyes we realized he was just standing there with the crowd of people laughing he had already taken the pictures but was just teasing us!

We didn't have fastpasses for Toy Story Mania so that was first on our agenda. I think when we got there it said 20 or 30 minutes on the sign but we probably waited less than 10 minutes!



I have never been on this and we both loved it!

We hadn't eaten breakfast yet and decided to check out Starring Rolls. We had a non conventional breakfast, but it was amazing!



We were walking towards Rock N Roller Coaster and decided to take some more photopass photos...







The photographer then asks Joe... have you ever dipped her before? And he says..."No???"...and he tells him to dip me. We were so uncoordinated, clumsy, and I just stumbled and basically fell to the floor. We were cracking up but somehow during this he snapped this picture!







After Rock N Roller Coaster (which Joe really liked!) We went on Tower of Terror....





Then we walked over to Art of Animation. We walked around then we went into the drawing class. I had heard a lot of times the instructor will take a vote on who to draw but this time he just decided and only one person in the room even knew who the character was!

We drew Ray, the firefly from Princess & the Frog. This is one Disney movie i have yet to see. It was still fun, I just wish we would have drawn someone we knew!



After that we watched the Voyage of the Little Mermaid show and we walked through One Mans Dream. We both really liked this!

We found the Oakens Trading Post and walked in to look around. Joe and I both LOVE Frozen but we didn't really partake in any of the Frozen activities going on (I'm not really sure why?) The only thing I wish we would have done was the Sing Along- but I was confused on how to do it, where it was so we didn't really try.

We did take some fun magic shots with Olaf...and one with the Aurasma app!





Next we went on the Studio Backlot Tour. I know I have done it before but I didn't really remember it. I'm so glad we did it though since it is closed now






We were getting hungry at this point but we had early dinner reservations so we just grabbed a jalapeno pretzel and a cinnamon sugar pretzel on the Streets of America! We sat down and ate our pretzels...there was no one around us!

The jalapeno pretzel was amazing!



We had another fast pass for Tower of Terror I believe so we walked that way and road Tower of Terror and Rock N Roller Coaster a few times!






Continued in Next Post