A Mother-Daughter Trip! Now with BONUS BIRTHDAY Trip! (Final Thoughts Coming Soon!)

[RGirl]

We had such a hard time finding Sully and Mike too! We were in the gift shop in front of the M&G when we finally asked someone where it was! Mads got scared of Sully as well, but she wasn't as brave as Willow. She made her dad pinch hit for the photo op

What a nice lady you met at ToT! I'll be that she really enjoyed riding with the two of you. A bit of pixie dust for Willow with that nice CM. Probably a little annoying for mom though!

I'd be sad that the TR is winding down if I wasn't looking forward to the DL trip so much!

Wow I got really smiley happy on this one...

Sully is HUGE - I was a little scared too! Willow made some valiant attempts to conquer her Sully fear at DL! I will leave you hanging for the result.

I think that ToT CM enjoyed undermining my "say no" abilities. That woman was so lovely - she was just kind and sweet. Don't meet a whole lot of people like that everywhere you go!

Willow definitely looks like she is not so sure about being there with Mike & Sully! At least she was brave enough to get some pictures taken.

That is so incredibly sweet of that lady to take y'all back on ToT with her GAC. And then, to have the CM give y'all one more set of FP's....just magical!

I can't believe the next day was y'alls last day! So happy that you have Disneyland next to keep us entertained!

I feel like we met so many wonderful people on this trip - usually just for a minute or two at a time, but they made impressions. I think that is one of my favorite things about a Disney trip! I probably get to enjoy that more than most because I am desperate for adult conversation so usually strike up a little chat with whoever is next to me in line!

I am very about coming up on the last day. Thank goodness we went to DL so I can stretch it out a little longer!

 

[RGirl]

34. A Delicious Dinner and a Bad Night

After a million rides on ToT, I felt the need for another iced coffee beverage, and with that, we headed out of the park at about 4:30. It was a bittersweet walk back to the villa because we were so sad to say good-bye to DD’s favorite ride and park.

But we had some fun plans for the night. DD worked on getting the cotton candy brushed off her teeth.

Once we were all cleaned up and presentable, we headed out. We admired the Hidden Mickeys in the carpets in the hallway.

And then headed out to the Boardwalk and over to Kouzzina. We were really excited about this ADR - we are big Iron Chef fans!

The restaurant is lovely.

DD was having a lot of fun.

We shared the “Crisp Calamari and Lemon - coated in Aborio rice flour with spicy yogurt and garlic yogurt” (except the sauce is now tomato-based - I would have LOVED the yogurt ones). It was a tasty (and huge) appetizer though; I don’t think we managed to eat even half of it.

They served bread with dipping olives oils.

DD had the mac and cheese and even ate some of it.

I had the Fisherman’s Stew - “Scallops, seasonal fish, shellfish, fennel, grilled break, and ouzo butter.” This too was very good, actually quite delicious. (The description does not say this, but it is, again, a tomato-based broth.)

I also enjoyed a wine flight.

DD was still having fun - here, she is showing me what ToT feels like, I think.

I am, as you know by now, not a huge fan of restaurant desserts, but after reading reviews of this place, I wanted to try the loukoumades (Greek doughnuts). So I ordered them, and DD ordered the decorate-your-own cupcake. And then we waited. And waited. And waited. And waited. It was a LONG time - even for someone older than four. Eventually, the desserts arrived. And again, I wished that I would just learn my lesson. These were fine, but sort of dry and dense. I wouldn’t order them again.

DD enjoyed playing with her cupcake.

On the way back to the villa, we enjoyed a few minutes of the magic show.

Over all, we really, really enjoyed Cat Cora’s Kouzzina. The food was great, and the service was quite good up until dessert.

Before we went to bed, I asked DD if she wanted me to keep our breakfast ADR for our last day. She was quite sure that she wanted to go because “they might have pancakes,” and then she drifted off to sleep.

Unfortunately, I woke up in the middle of the night incredibly sick to my stomach. In fact, I got maybe a half an hour of sleep, because I was puking and miserable. I don’t blame Kouzzina - I really don’t think it was food poisoning (I have experienced that enough times to know the difference). I actually think it was just a culmination of all those days of eating stuff that I don’t usually eat. For months before this trip, I had gone off of grains (especially wheat) and felt so much better than I had in a long time. I had gone ahead and eaten things like burger buns, bread, etc. over the last eight days while on vacation, and I just don’t think my stomach could take it anymore. I don’t plan to make that mistake again!!!!

Up next: 35. Will We Make It to Crystal Palace?​

 

[amandaw]

Willow is just so darn cute!

We really want to try Kouzzina one day. But, I want to try breakfast & DH wants dinner. We just can't agree! I have heard sooo many good things about that place. Sorry your dessert was a disappointment, though.

And I'm so sorry to hear you were sick. It's never fun being sick. But, it's especially horrible at Disney. Hope you were feeling better by the morning!

 

[shan23877]

We're big Iron Chef fans as well (though DDs fave is Mario Batali)! We've thought about Kouzina, but never do schedule it. We'll have to keep it in mind for next time.

Poor you!! I hope you survived the last day after being up all night!

 

[librarymouse]

Looks like you guys had a blast at DHS and Kouzzina! We have never been to the boardwalk area and I am eager to check it out next time! You got some great pictures of Willow and your yummy food!

I am SO sorry you were sick at Disney- that is the worst! I hope you felt well enough to enjoy your last day!

 

[pas130]

Can your DD run in high heels too? Willow blows me away with her high-heel ease!

That must be hard for her to watch the siblings go on without her. But it does give you an opportunity to do something special together!

She can run in heels Sorry you got sick your last night...hope you were feeling better for the last day

 

[RGirl]

Willow is just so darn cute!

We really want to try Kouzzina one day. But, I want to try breakfast & DH wants dinner. We just can't agree! I have heard sooo many good things about that place. Sorry your dessert was a disappointment, though.

And I'm so sorry to hear you were sick. It's never fun being sick. But, it's especially horrible at Disney. Hope you were feeling better by the morning!

I would like to try breakfast there one day too. And I would definitely go back for dinner - it was YUMMY. The dessert may have been great - I just don't think I'm a dessert person anymore. The wait for dessert, however, WAS disappointing!

We're big Iron Chef fans as well (though DDs fave is Mario Batali)! We've thought about Kouzina, but never do schedule it. We'll have to keep it in mind for next time.

Poor you!! I hope you survived the last day after being up all night!

DD's favorite Iron Chef is definitely Bobby Flay. Her favorite Food Network star, however, is Guy Fierre. She's all about the boys.

Looks like you guys had a blast at DHS and Kouzzina! We have never been to the boardwalk area and I am eager to check it out next time! You got some great pictures of Willow and your yummy food!

I am SO sorry you were sick at Disney- that is the worst! I hope you felt well enough to enjoy your last day!

We loved the boardwalk! I bet you will too.

She can run in heels Sorry you got sick your last night...hope you were feeling better for the last day

A good DIS'er always powers through, right?

 

[RGirl]

35. Will We Make It to Crystal Palace?


Well, having been up all night sick, I was not really looking forward to our early morning ADR. But when I asked a sleepy DD if she wanted to go or not, she said, “Oh, they might have pancakes - I want to go.” It was our last full day, so of course, we were going to go! So off we went…

In the rain…

We were at the MK by 8:30.

Thanks to Heather’s TR, I had actually thought to throw in a rain cover for the rental stroller when I was packing. This was the only day we used it, but we were mighty glad we had it!

We had a very short wait at CP.

Soon we were waiting for characters. DD was really excited and had an AMAZING time. I didn’t know how much she would enjoy this one (the Pooh characters have never been that popular with her, but I guess she loves them now):

Piglet was up first.

There was a little break in characters, so we got some food. The food here was fine - it might have been great, I don’t know. I ate about 2 bites - wasn’t exactly feeling like eating after the preceding night.... LOL

Then Tigger stopped by.

It looked like there was some time before Pooh would get to our table, so I took DD up to get a made-to-order pancake. We got in line, but some horrible woman cut in front of us - it was bizarre. Everyone standing there was so stunned that none of us said anything! It was taking forever at this point, and DD was getting really worried that she would miss Pooh, so she insisted that we go back to the table. I felt bad that she didn’t get the one thing she had wanted for breakfast. But she had a great time with Pooh!

And Eeyore too!

Up next: 36. A Lovely Last Day in the MK … Or Was It……….​

 

[RGirl]

IT'S DOUBLE-UPDATE NIGHT!!! Woot!

36. A Lovely Last Day in the MK … Or Was It………


As I may have mentioned, this was our last day. We had two big missions for this day in the MK. First up was to find and meet a certain princess whom, for some reason, we had never met before! We quickly found her and got in the short line to meet her. While we were waiting, DD spotted Peter Pan skipping down a nearby path. LOL Soon DD was meeting Princess Tiana - who was fantastic. She chatted with DD for a long time and was just so sweet.

After our visit with Tiana, we crossed the bridge, planning to head into Adventureland, but DD spotted Peter Pan, so we had to get in that line. Peter was VERY in character - almost over the top.

And then our other big mission of the day - meet those darn fairies! Another “never done before” character meet for our last day. The wait was not too terribly bad - probably about 20 minutes. We saw Rosetta and Tink.

And now it was finally time to enjoy a long last day in the MK. I was very excited - this is just the perfect way to end a trip, I think. We rope Aladdin’s Carpets with no wait.

We then hit Pirates. The wait was MUCH longer than I would have expected. But somehow we had missed it on our other MK days, so we waited.

Then it was time for BTMRR! Yay!!! We even grabbed a set of FPs for later.

When we got off BTMRR, DD took me completely by surprise. She told me that she did not want to do anything else at the MK, not even ride BTMRR again later with our FPs.

Up Next: 37. We Do the Last Day DD’s Way​

 

[shan23877]

Love, love, love the photo on the magic carpets! Too cute!

I'm interested to see what you ladies did for your last afternoon. Back to DHS maybe?

 

[RGirl]

Love, love, love the photo on the magic carpets! Too cute!

I'm interested to see what you ladies did for your last afternoon. Back to DHS maybe?

You think?????

 

[amandaw]

DD looks like she was having so much fun with the characters at CP!

Y'all really did meet a lot of different characters on this trip! When we met Peter Pan on the Dream, I found him to be VERY in character too. But, Reid loved it of course.

So, she wanted to leave MK? I have a feeling she had a plan as to what she wanted to do. She's definitely a girl who knows what she wants!

 

[librarymouse]

The CP breakfast looks like so much fun! We had an ADR there for our most recent trip but we changed our minds and didn't go. I wish we had! The food looks yummy- sorry you couldn't really enjoy it!

The pictures with Tiana are great! You left us with quite a cliff-hanger...where will you end up for the last day?? I think I have a good guess...perhaps it involved ToT? ;-)

 

[RGirl]

I should have several more updates posted this week/weekend. And I am working on getting my DLR pics organized so that I can move right into that trip!

DD looks like she was having so much fun with the characters at CP!

Y'all really did meet a lot of different characters on this trip! When we met Peter Pan on the Dream, I found him to be VERY in character too. But, Reid loved it of course.

So, she wanted to leave MK? I have a feeling she had a plan as to what she wanted to do. She's definitely a girl who knows what she wants!

She really did have an amazing time with the CP characters. I hadn't really expected her to love that one so much - had made the ADR thinking we would probably cancel. I think our ADR experience this trip proves that it's a great idea to have quite a few ADRs and then decide as you go! You can't know for sure what you will really want to do until you're there!

DD loved Peter too. I was all, "um, wow - that sure is PETER!"

Yeah, I have a feeling I won't be the planner of our Disney trips much longer!

The CP breakfast looks like so much fun! We had an ADR there for our most recent trip but we changed our minds and didn't go. I wish we had! The food looks yummy- sorry you couldn't really enjoy it!

The pictures with Tiana are great! You left us with quite a cliff-hanger...where will you end up for the last day?? I think I have a good guess...perhaps it involved ToT? ;-)

Yep, I felt pretty ICK at CP (mostly just from no sleep the night before), but I am still really glad we went.

That was quite a cliff hanger, wasn't it???

 

[RGirl]

37. We Do the Last Day DD’s Way

When I last left off, DD had surprised and saddened me by stating that she did not want to do ANYTHING else at the MK.

All DD wanted to do was to hop over to DHS for one last ride on ToT. I really was a little disappointed - I had these great ideas about our last day in the MK - but I got over it. DD should get to do what she loves best on her last day! So we started heading to the front of the park. I offered our FPs to a couple heading in - they seemed a little freaked out and had no idea what FPs were. I sure hope they managed to get over their apparent horror that someone would give them something and figure out how to use them!

We got on the monorail and headed to the TTC.

There, we hopped on a bus to DHS.

When we got there, the wait time for ToT was 50 minutes! What the heck - this attraction seems like it never has much of a wait, but I guess sometimes it does. So we grabbed a set of FPs and went to do something else. What, you might ask. Well, we are who we are - we high-tailed it over to the Phineas and Ferb meet-and-greet of course! This was the longest character wait EVER (well, except for the princesses and their princes). But DD was excited, and they kept the line entertained.

The benefit of the long wait was that our FPs were ready to use, so we headed back to ToT. DD spotted a photo opportunity.

We got our last ride in on ToT.

And then we were hungry for some lunch. We ended up just stopping at the CS place near ToT - I have NO idea what it is called! We got some chicken nuggets to share. It is bizarre to me that these were so much lower quality than the ones we had gotten in AK. That makes no sense - it’s all Disney, right??? Anyway, these were fine, but you can see that the serving size was far smaller than at AK, and the fries were pretty soggy. We couldn’t finish them, so the size was still a lot!

At this point, we needed to head out in order to get laundry done and packed. Plus, we were pretty tired! We grabbed some popcorn on the way out since we had somehow managed to skip popcorn so far! That had to be remedied. Yum.

We walked back to BWV in a little drizzle. We were back in our villa at about 3:00 where I did some laundry and packed. I also took some more pictures of our room.

We were both really tired and ended up just ordering from room service. I forgot to get a pic. I have a vague recollection that it was pretty good, although I don’t remember what it was. We totally vegged!

Up next: 38. Our Last Few Hours of Disney Fun​

 

[amandaw]

That's so great that y'all got one last ride on ToT!

I can't wait for my DS to be able to meet Phineas & Ferb this year. He loves them! Actually, so do my husband & I!

Sounds like a nice, relaxing way to end the trip. I absolutely love that lamp that has the tea cups on it!

 

[RGirl]

That's so great that y'all got one last ride on ToT!

I can't wait for my DS to be able to meet Phineas & Ferb this year. He loves them! Actually, so do my husband & I!

Sounds like a nice, relaxing way to end the trip. I absolutely love that lamp that has the tea cups on it!

Meeting Phineas & Ferb was really exciting - I'm not sure why! DD doesn't get to watch much TV other than our weekend movie nights because there just isn't time, but somehow, we had managed to see a few episodes of Phineas & Ferb before this trip. Somehow that was enough for DD to be totally psyched about meeting them.

I loved that lamp so much! One of the tea cups had Mickey heads on it.

I am totally motivated to get through the painful "last WDW day" update this weekend so that I can share our amazing SURPRISE FIFTH BIRTHDAY trip to DLR!!!!!! We had so much fun that, since that trip, when I put DD to bed and we talk abut what to dream about that night, she always picks DLR now instead of WDW. So sweet.

 

[amandaw]

Meeting Phineas & Ferb was really exciting - I'm not sure why! DD doesn't get to watch much TV other than our weekend movie nights because there just isn't time, but somehow, we had managed to see a few episodes of Phineas & Ferb before this trip. Somehow that was enough for DD to be totally psyched about meeting them.

I loved that lamp so much! One of the tea cups had Mickey heads on it.

I am totally motivated to get through the painful "last WDW day" update this weekend so that I can share our amazing SURPRISE FIFTH BIRTHDAY trip to DLR!!!!!! We had so much fun that, since that trip, when I put DD to bed and we talk abut what to dream about that night, she always picks DLR now instead of WDW. So sweet.

I can't wait to hear all about DLR! That's funny that she now picks it over WDW.

 

[RGirl]

I can't wait to hear all about DLR! That's funny that she now picks it over WDW.

I'm really excited to write it! I can't believe the experience we had! And any WDW vets who are under-wowed by DLR have GOT to re-think that place. There are definitely things about WDW that are "better," but there are just as many things about DLR that are "better." I would never be able to pick my favorite.

And that may soon become interesting. I have decided that we are going to be moving soon - can't wait to find out whether we will be closer to DLR or WDW!

 

[amandaw]

I'm really excited to write it! I can't believe the experience we had! And any WDW vets who are under-wowed by DLR have GOT to re-think that place. There are definitely things about WDW that are "better," but there are just as many things about DLR that are "better." I would never be able to pick my favorite.

I've already been toying with the idea of a Disneyland vacation. Is your trip report going to push me over the ledge? I kind of thought about it for next year. I know my son would probably love the Cars Land that is opening this June. But, I really want to cruise on the Fantasy, too!

And that may soon become interesting. I have decided that we are going to be moving soon - can't wait to find out whether we will be closer to DLR or WDW!

Wow! How exciting! So, do you have any idea of where a move could possibly take y'all?