A Jan 2009 TR... twins, one parent and 103 degree fevers! **UD 11-28 w/ pics**

[cdhale]

I woke up bright and early this Saturday with a suspicious tickle in the back of my throat. Ugh. I took a dose of Sophia's antibiotics and made some coffee in the room. We had no ADRs today and no plan other than DHS. I decided to let the girls sleep in until about 9:00, then got them up, bathed, and dressed. Sophia was feeling SO much better, though she still looked pale. The fever had not returned since yesterday afternoon. I had pop tarts and granola bars in the room, plus left over fruit from our Roaring Forks meals, so we had a quick breakfast and headed down to the bus.

I wasn't sure what the girls would like at DHS. They both said they didn't want to go on RRC, and Hannah was waffling about TT (Sophia was a definite no on TT, too). I wanted to check out TSM and Beauty and the Beast. I knew the girls would want to see Little Mermaid. They also wanted to meet characters and get autographs... and almost as soon as we arrived we ran into Donald! With no one else around!

After the autograph session, we made a huge mistake. Rather than head directly to TSM to get FPs, we rode The Great Movie Ride instead. And man, for how empty the park seemed that day, the line was really long. By the time we made it over to TSM (I had a lot of trouble finding it... DHS is confusing!), it was almost noon and our FP return time was 5:00!! I hadn't planned on spending the entire day in this park, but now we kind of felt stuck there. While over by TSM we went to Voyage. I know I'll get yelled at, but I think this show is completely overrated. H and S agreed.

We did a lot of hanging out by the hat, watching the topiary grow.

And meeting Chip and Dale (Hannah's favorites of the trip-she traded almost all of her pins for Chip and Dale ones).

Continued...

 

[cdhale]

And meeting Goofy and Pluto.

I love how Pluto signs his name!

I really under-utilized photopass on this trip. Next time I'll know better.

And watching the street shows, finding CMs to trade pins with, and generally taking it easy. We had lunch at Hollywood and Vine, the only place we could get in to without an ADR. Not being much of a buffet person, I was not impressed. The girls loved it, however. They are definitely buffet people!

Next it was time to see Beauty and the Beast. I love this production!

Afterwards we went and looked at TT. And looked. And looked. And finally Hannah decided she wanted to go on it. The line was not long (I think we waited about 15 minutes). I wasn't sure what I was going to do with Sophia when we got to the ride, because there was no way I was letting Hannah ride this alone. I don't like TT, I told her she wouldn't like it, but I was going with her. When we got to the turnstiles I explained to situation to the nice CM. She told me it was no problem, she would take Sophia to the end of the ride, where it unloads, and wait for us there. We said goodbye to Sophia and boarded our elevator... front row, center.

I don’t have any pics, but Hannah screamed and screamed and screamed. It was hilarious. I think I still have the marks in my arm where she was digging her fingernails in. When we disembarked, Sophia was right there with the CM, checking out her pins. Hannah said she was never riding TT again, and I bought her a lanyard with a personalized TT tag as a memento.

And we still had almost 2 hours to kill before our TSM FPs...

 

[praisehisname]

I loved the girls' hat session--so cute! Poor Sophia looks like she just wants to be done!

I woke up bright and early this Saturday with a suspicious tickle in the back of my throat.

Oh no!

While over by TSM we went to Voyage. I know I'll get yelled out, but I think this show is completely overrated.

You won't get yelled at by me--I couldn't agree more!

Yay for Hannah riding ToT!!!

Denise

 

[BippityBoo]

Great update I loved all the Mexico pics especially!!

I simply can not believe that your little girl had enough guts to go on TT!! I am 28 and was literally crying while entering the building. Yay for her!!

I wanted to ask you a question. I ordered two thick fleeces for my kids for our Disney trip in January (at the WL!!hehe) I see that your girls wore their pink jackets and that you commented how cold it was one of the nights. Do you think a long sleeved shirt and a high quality fleece would do the trick...or will we need a jacket on top of that? My husband thinks I am over-planning for it and says "it will just be cold..bring a jacket" but to me, there are different variations of cold...especially with children.

SO---I guess I am asking you to try to fill me in on exactly how cold it really was. I am getting their fleeces personalized for them, so I would hate to cover them up!!

Cant wait to read another update! So glad she is feeling better...but we Moms almost always get it next (ha!).

 

[ladybugmom]

Great updates!! I too am impressed ya'll went TT!! I won't even step foot on that ride and neither will my hubby! YIKES!!

 

[BippityBoo]

PS: We made the same mistake of not going to TSM first thing! We rode the Movie Ride first Great minds think alike? Needless to say, we did not stick out the wait till night time b/c of our 10 month old...but we will be the FIRST ones to ride TSM when we go back in January

 

[cdhale]

I loved the girls' hat session--so cute! Poor Sophia looks like she just wants to be done!

Oh, she was done all right. She slept so well that night, too.

You won't get yelled at by me--I couldn't agree more!

Yeah, with shows like B and the B, Nemo, and Lion King going on, this one really looks cheesy. But I know it is also loved by many!

 

[cdhale]

Great update I loved all the Mexico pics especially!!

I simply can not believe that your little girl had enough guts to go on TT!! I am 28 and was literally crying while entering the building. Yay for her!!

I wanted to ask you a question. I ordered two thick fleeces for my kids for our Disney trip in January (at the WL!!hehe) I see that your girls wore their pink jackets and that you commented how cold it was one of the nights. Do you think a long sleeved shirt and a high quality fleece would do the trick...or will we need a jacket on top of that? My husband thinks I am over-planning for it and says "it will just be cold..bring a jacket" but to me, there are different variations of cold...especially with children.

SO---I guess I am asking you to try to fill me in on exactly how cold it really was. I am getting their fleeces personalized for them, so I would hate to cover them up!!

Cant wait to read another update! So glad she is feeling better...but we Moms almost always get it next (ha!).

I'm glad Hannah hated ToT, because we won't have to ride it on our upcoming trip!

With regard to the weather... it was cold/cool for the first two days. I made the girls wear three layers on those days: a t-shirt (long sleeve for Sophia because of her illness), a fleece or thicker long sleeve shirt (you can see our custom pink fleeces, from Lands End, in many of the pictures), and their wind breaker jackets (which are very light weight, but waterproof). When it got warmer, we dropped a layer (on day 3, Hannah only has her jacket and Sophie only her fleece). By day 5 we were in shorts! The coldest temp we were in was the first night, and it was probably in the low 40s. I think a thick fleece would be sufficient, and if it's really cold, bring another shirt to put underneath it. I agonized over bringing their winter jackets, and in the end decided not to becaue I knew we had plenty of layers if it was cold.

Are you going this January? What dates? The WL is soooo beautiful. I wish they would bring the monorail over to it, but that would probably drive the prices WAY up.

 

[cdhale]

Great updates!! I too am impressed ya'll went TT!! I won't even step foot on that ride and neither will my hubby! YIKES!!

If I never went on it again, I wouldn't be sad.

PS: We made the same mistake of not going to TSM first thing! We rode the Movie Ride first Great minds think alike? Needless to say, we did not stick out the wait till night time b/c of our 10 month old...but we will be the FIRST ones to ride TSM when we go back in January

Ride early and often, right? We're going to DHS the day we arrive, so we may be in the same boat as last year. But since we were able to extend our trip, we will probably have a chance to go back for a pm EMH. I think it's now the best ride there.

 

[cdhale]

I just realized I have advanced from "Earning My Ears" to "Mouseketeer!"

 

[cdhale]

Continuing with detailed itineraries for the new and improved 2010 trip...

Saturday, Jan 23

Wake up and head to AK. This is the park we spent the least amount of time in last year, and we have some making up to do.
If we make it to rope drop, head straight to EE for FPs, otherwise
10:00: ADR at TH
We plan to spend the whole day here and have to ride Dinosaur and see Lion King... two things we missed last year.
5:00: AK closes, head to MK
7:00: watch Specto
8:00: ADR at Tony's
10:00: MK closes (if we make it that late), back to Poly for sleep

Sunday, Jan 24

Gran and Pop (my Mom and Stepfather, who live in NC, SC and FL) arrive today! Because we were originally staying at CR, that's where Gran and Pop booked. Even though we moved to Poly, they decided to stay put. So...

8:30: ADR at CM. I guess I couldn't completely avoid the early morning ADRs (we'll meet G and P after, they had enough of CM on our last trip)
Full day at Epcot! Try to get my mom on Soarin' and do the Kidcot stops in WS.
Not sure what to do for lunch... I think it should be QS. What's the best one in WS?
6:00: ADR at Marakesh.
There are EMH at MK this night, but we may skip it. Perhaps we'll go to DTD so my mom can buy us presents Or maybe we'll just go get some much needed sleep.

Okay, that's 4 days down and 4 to go.

 

[cdhale]

Since we had a copule hours, H and S wanted to get their faces painted...

I made Sophia put her ears on in an attempt to keep her bangs out of her face paint, but that didn't last long.

Then we spent some time at the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground...

until it was finally time for our TSM FPs. We headed back over (still having problems finding it) and the girls noticed that Woody and Buzz were available for autographs. So rather than get right on TSM, we stood in line to meet them.

The line was a lot of fun (of course, all Disney lines are).

Sophia finally shows us her smile! She was feeling soooo much better by then.

And we finally meet Woody and Buzz! I love that Buzz uses a stamp to sign his name. And "T-rex" (my favorite) was hanging out in the back. Is there a T-Rex that you can actually meet??

I wish I had taken my ugly (but very useful) jacket off. I have it on becuse all of a sudden I'm really cold. That can't be good.

Coming up... the rest of out Day 3.

 

[ladybugmom]

Awww!! What cute Toy Story pictures!! We didn't do that character spot last trip--we'll definitely need to do it next time. Claire is now obsessed with Buzz after seeing the double feature at the theater.

 

[praisehisname]

Great pictures! You can really tell that Sophia is feeling better. Uh oh with you being cold...

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

sorry I have been away! Just got all caught up on your plans and TR! Some things I noted...

Great character interaction! We really didn't see (or maybe just didn't notice) all those characters around! Maybe this time around...

I agree with you about the Little Mermaid show, and so does the rest of my family! About the only thing they were really impressed with was the bubbles!

DHS IS VERY confusing! I practically memorized the map before we left home so I wouldn't get confused!

Can't wait to hear more!

 

[cdhale]

Awww!! What cute Toy Story pictures!! We didn't do that character spot last trip--we'll definitely need to do it next time. Claire is now obsessed with Buzz after seeing the double feature at the theater.

I think I like the character spots better than the meet and greets in the open... they never seem as rushed (of course, the lines are longer!).

Great pictures! You can really tell that Sophia is feeling better. Uh oh with you being cold...

Sophia was going uphill as I was starting my fast decline...

sorry I have been away! Just got all caught up on your plans and TR! Some things I noted...

Great character interaction! We really didn't see (or maybe just didn't notice) all those characters around! Maybe this time around...

I agree with you about the Little Mermaid show, and so does the rest of my family! About the only thing they were really impressed with was the bubbles!

DHS IS VERY confusing! I practically memorized the map before we left home so I wouldn't get confused!

Can't wait to hear more!

Welcome back! Because we planted ourselves in the open area by the hat for so long, we couldn't help but see the characters. Unfortunatley we missed Daisy and Minnie TWICE, and never caught up with Daisy at all on this trip.

I didn't think I was all alone with my Little Mermaid comments, but you never know who you're going to offend

 

[disney<333]

Subbing!
I'm loving your TR so far! I have to get of the DIS though and go to real life things.
Be back soon.
Barbara

 

[disney<333]

All caught up.
Your girls are so cute.
Poor Sofia, I'm glad she quickly got better. It doesn't sound to good that you were cold. I love the WL. We stayed there in '05.
The TS photo area looks great. My girls love TS and TSM so both are on my list for my trip coming up.

 

[drakes]

I'm joining, I followed you through from our Jan 2010 board. I think we're in Disney at the same time? And we were at WL in Jan 2009 over the MLK weekened / week.

 

[cdhale]

We finally got in line for TSM (here are a few line pictures):

This ride is so awesome! Too bad we had to wait all day to ride it

On the way out of DHS, the girls each picked up a stuffed Zero and we snapped the obligatory hat photo. Unfortunately I waited until it was too dark to get a really good one. They were painting the hat while we were there and it was surrounded by unsightly barrier walls.

Now, for the life of me I can't remember what we did for dinner that evening. I know we ended up back at MK because I have pictures, but I don't think we ate there. We watched Wishes and then left again. Maybe we got something at Roaring Forks? All I know is by the time we got back to our room I had a fever and a sore throat and all I wanted to do was take some Advil and go to bed! My parents were arriving bright and early the next morning and we planned on going to Animal Kingdom.

Some parting shots; Sophia and Zero and Roy and Minnie

Hannah and Zero and Roy and Minnie (too dark!!)

Coming up: how to tour AK when Mommy has a fever and is now responsible for five people, not three!