A No Snooze Bar Christmas, Harry & Mickey are Waiting..it is done

[annmarieda]

can't wait to find out what line you had to get into.

 

[momabaarjo]

Dinner & A Movie Night
February 18, 2012
The Rescuers

With Mardi Gras season quickly coming to a close (can you believe the start of it we were finishing up the last day of our trip with dinner at Ohana at this time) I thought it would be a great night to pull out Ab's favorite movie when she as 4...The Rescuers! Would you believe that I remember seeing this movie when it came out! With the movie being set in the Bayou...why not make it a Cajun type of night!

Abita Rootbeer

Label says it is made with pure Louisiana Cane Sugar

Jambalaya with some Crusty French Bread

King Cake with Pecan and Prailine Filling

No one has found the baby yet...guess someone will tomorrow since I am not letting them eat the whole thing tonight. My goodness this was yummy!
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[annmarieda]

Did you make the king cake? YUM!

 

[momabaarjo]

Did you make the king cake? YUM!

Yes, I did...if you call making it from a box mix! It was so dang yummy! I had begged Ab all day to do it...but she was otherwise busy....!
I found the mix at World Market...MamPapaul's Mardi Grad King Cake Mix with Praline Filling (I added pecans to the filling).

 

[momabaarjo]

A Round of Butter Beer for All​

Before we get into the line the kids are early waiting for we pass by the next set of store fronts and windows, that of Dogweed and Deathcap...

Dogwoods" are a genus of around forty species of mostly deciduous woody plants growing as shrubs and trees. "Deathcaps" are a poisonous fungus that can be lethal if ingested.​

After exploring these windows, next up is The Hogs Head Tavern and the Butter Beer Cart...

where dad feeling a little better orders a round of Butter Beer for all (all but him, since his stomach is still flying with Harry above Hogwart’s somewhere ).

Jeff gets 2 frozen and 2 regular for us to try. We opted not to get the souvenir mugs (since back at home each of the kids already had one that I had brought back to them and because I did not want to carry them the rest of the day).

The mugs are cute and make a nice memory of WWofHP so I suggest getting one! We find a nice place to sit near Hogs Head Tavern to enjoy our treat. The number 1 question in all of Hogsmeade…Frozen or Regular?

The kids all decide that frozen is the way to go.

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Personally, love them both and am addicted to the butterscotch foam and the cream soda type drink especially when the weather is HOT…however, drinking Butter Beer in December makes one even colder, I sure wish that sun would come out (considering we have now been at IOA now for almost 3 hours one tends to think that it is afternoon). We might all be shivering, but we are sure enjoying this treat! Jeff thinks it is too sweet (such blasmy), for which he gets the evil eyes from his Pot-head children and told to get in the Tri Wizard Spirit. Not wanting to sit still for long, the kids decide it is time to move on and check out…

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

Abita Rootbeer

Label says it is made with pure Louisiana Cane Sugar

It really is. There actually beer has cane sugar in them too. They have a different one for every season and holiday.

Jambalaya with some Crusty French Bread

Tammie.. I promise I'll only giggle to myself for a moment. What mix did you use? I'll have to mail you the best made locally here... all the liquid is suppose to cook out for it to be jambalya.. Otherwise its Gumbo with the rice already in it!

King Cake with Pecan and Prailine Filling

No one has found the baby yet...guess someone will tomorrow since I am not letting them eat the whole thing tonight. My goodness this was yummy!
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Mmmm looks good. I have never attempted to make a king cake. to you! We always buy ours!

Yes, I did...if you call making it from a box mix! It was so dang yummy! I had begged Ab all day to do it...but she was otherwise busy....!
I found the mix at World Market...MamPapaul's Mardi Grad King Cake Mix with Praline Filling (I added pecans to the filling).

Well of course your teenage daughter was too busy to bake I remember being like that too my mom!

 

[annmarieda]

Yes, I did...if you call making it from a box mix! It was so dang yummy! I had begged Ab all day to do it...but she was otherwise busy....!
I found the mix at World Market...MamPapaul's Mardi Grad King Cake Mix with Praline Filling (I added pecans to the filling).

I have to go to one of these markets!! I know there is one somewhere... just not sure where.

I love the butter beer update. I know it was a tad chilly on your trip, but I still would have loved to try this. I too love butterscotch and do not enjoy it near enough.

I am trying to convinced dh and ds to attempt to go to WWOHP on their trip next month. I would love for them to try the butter beer just to tell me what they think..and maybe they could bring me back a souvenir mug.

 

[BrerMama]

Very fun trip report! We're doing Universal and Disney in June, so it's been fun to read about your experiences at Universal. We're also a family of 5 (although mine are a bit older, I think) and staying at Royal Pacific. Can't wait to hear more...

 

[petals]

I've only tried the Frozen Butterbeer but I love it!

 

[Monknmom]

That really is a pretty dress! I love that little tape measure... cat? I bet that felt weird thinking about making it for her prom? When I think of simple things that Damien is going to do in the future it's almost alien to me! I guess that they really want you to buy things from that cart that's right there in front! I add seltzer to apple juice for Damien and that's his "soda" I wonder if that would work for the pumpkin juice? Just to take away some of the sweet? I see! very very sneaky mom! I am pretty sure that is what K was doing sometimes in the bathroom at Disney whenI wanted to go go go! Wasn't there a snow man (or was that just snow) in the movie where Harry snuck on the field trip with the class? MMM that cake looks good. I saw one in the bakery on Saturday but didn't know what it was or anything- had I kept up with your TR I would have known! But very cute movie night! We recently found a pretty easy recipes for it from this youtubel channel Damien likes I will have to make it one day!

 

[momabaarjo]

Not Platform 9 3/4...But Still Cool

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I felt like Molly Weasley trying to get pictures of Goo and Boo in front of Hogwart's Express...

Molly Weasley: [looks at Fred, hoping to get him onto platform 9 3/4] Fred, you next.
George Weasley: He's not Fred, I am!
Fred Weasley: Honestly, woman. You call yourself our mother.
Molly Weasley: [to Fred] Oh, I'm sorry, George.
Fred Weasley: [approaches the barrier] I'm only joking, I am Fred!
[runs through the barrier]​

I am not Boo, he is Boo I am Goo..on so on for a simple picture! Don't you just love those mom moments where you have to run down the entire list of your children and finally the last name is the one you needed!? As you can see my children were not that cooperative in yet another pictures...this is the best one I had...

The Hogwarts Express is the name of the train that makes a run between London, King's Cross Station Platform 9¾ and Hogsmeade Station. It makes this run at about six times a year, and probably more often than that, as needed. It carries students to Hogwarts Castle at the start and end of every term. The train leaves Platform 9¾ without fail on 1 September at 11 o'clock in the morning, arriving at Hogsmeade Station in the early evening. Most students take the train back to King's Cross Station to go home for the Christmas and Easter holidays. It also makes the run back again to London at the end of term in June.

The only thing in Hogsmeade station are those EVIL Universal Lockers that make those who use them act just like He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named!
I really wish that the Hogwart's Express was an actual working train, it would add so much to the whole area! Rumor has it that if the expansion of WWofHP does take the place of Jaws in neighboring USO then possibly the train will become working and take muggles from Kings Crossing in London (Location of Platform 9 3/4) to Hogsmeade.

"Don't talk rubbish," said Uncle Vernon. "There is no platform nine and three-quarters."​

Across from the Hogwart's Boo spies where he has been wanting to go...

 

[reelmom]

I am loving your TR. It is getting me so excited for our trip. It took a while for it to set in that we were not going to Disney. I am over that depression and really looking forward to our trip. We leave in 99 days! My ticker is wrong because I am surprising my boys with leaving early. My DH, Mom, Niece, and Nephew cannot come until June 2. We went early last year to Disney and had a blast with just the 3 of us. Easier to tour that with a bigger group. So this year, I have booked us for our first Universal Onsite stay before the rest of the crew come down. We are staying at the Royal Pacific May 29-June 2. My kids are big HP fans so I think we will probably spend most mornings at Early Entry. I can't wait to tell them. I am thinking about telling them the morning we leave but might do it the night before since I plan in leaving around 6:00 in the morning. We are driving but it is only about 7- 8 hours. Going back to reread your countdown theme nights and present clues to get some ideas for how to surprise the kids.

 

[annmarieda]

I totally know what you mean about going down the list of kids till you get the right name. With 4 kids..plus a son in law... I totally do that. Add in all my kitties and I never know who I am talking to.

Your pictures are great. I think I have never mentioned that I love the sizing on your pics. I forget to take the time to resize mine so they are not so HUGE. Yours are just perfect size. Not too small... everything can still be seen... but not HUGE and taking over the screen (like mine )

 

[ZFamily5]

All caught up!

All of your pictures are making me want to go to Universal very badly! I'm so glad that Ab got picked to find which wand was best for her. The video made it look like a really cool experience! Can't wait to read more!

 

[shocky5]

You're killin' me... you're really killin' me...

In all seriousness... love your TR. I never know where you are going to leave us when you finish updating 'for the day.' And the butterbeer pics are cute! Love the one of Ab with the foam on her lip!

I said this in my TR (a reply to a reader) that I gently brought up the subject of a trip back to Florida in 2013 to include IOA, WWoHP, etc. and Eddie seriously STUCK HIS FINGERS IN HIS EARS. I'm going to keep working on him though... and if not... then I'm adding on some of those "What's another day" to our girls trip and doing it then!

And as for remembering your kid's names... mine also respond to #1, #2, and #3. I can usually get that out if the names escape me...

 

[momabaarjo]

I have to go to one of these markets!! I know there is one somewhere... just not sure where.

Yes you do...they are especially fun around a holiday...I noticed they were getting Easter stuff out and I can't wait to check them out!


I love the butter beer update. I know it was a tad chilly on your trip, but I still would have loved to try this. I too love butterscotch and do not enjoy it near enough.

I love butterscotch...you used to be able to get those lifesavers...sadly I have not seen any lately!

I am trying to convinced dh and ds to attempt to go to WWOHP on their trip next month. I would love for them to try the butter beer just to tell me what they think..and maybe they could bring me back a souvenir mug.

I think they would like USO/IOA more than Disney...be older and males that is!

Very fun trip report! We're doing Universal and Disney in June, so it's been fun to read about your experiences at Universal. We're also a family of 5 (although mine are a bit older, I think) and staying at Royal Pacific. Can't wait to hear more...

Glad you could join us here...thanks for responding in the transportation board for me! I guess SW is getting $500 that they saved me after rebooking. I love my family of 5...but I hate traveling with them...no one really seems to cater to this number in a family...too big for a standard room but too small for the next size up. Thank goodness my youngest is his age because then we still fit in a regular room...and by the time he is too big the 2 older ones will be off and gone! Oh that is sad to think about. I loved the RPR the first time I was there, and so happy to take my kids there.

I've only tried the Frozen Butterbeer but I love it!

What I would give for one right now and be sitting in Hogsmeade!

That really is a pretty dress! I love that little tape measure... cat? Yes, it is one of the magicial things in the window! I bet that felt weird thinking about making it for her prom? Yes, hard to think of her getting close to that age...thank goodness my MIL can sew much better then me...and can make anything. Ab had to go get fitted for a friends Quincera this weekend...oh the altering that will have to be done to get her in that dress...luckily MIL can do that and I wont have to pay someone!When I think of simple things that Damien is going to do in the future it's almost alien to me! I guess that they really want you to buy things from that cart that's right there in front! I add seltzer to apple juice for Damien and that's his "soda" I wonder if that would work for the pumpkin juice? Just to take away some of the sweet? I see! very very sneaky mom! I am pretty sure that is what K was doing sometimes in the bathroom at Disney whenI wanted to go go go! Wasn't there a snow man (or was that just snow) in the movie where Harry snuck on the field trip with the class? I will post an article that I read on opening day in June 2010....that will help explain...it allMMM that cake looks good. I saw one in the bakery on Saturday but didn't know what it was or anything- had I kept up with your TR I would have known! But very cute movie night! We recently found a pretty easy recipes for it from this youtubel channel Damien likes I will have to make it one day!

The cake and the colors have meaning behind them. I learned that Mardi Gras actually starts on Epithany (the end of the 12 days of Christmas) and marks the season between Christmas and Lent.

I am loving your TR. It is getting me so excited for our trip. It took a while for it to set in that we were not going to Disney. I am over that depression and really looking forward to our trip. We leave in 99 days! My ticker is wrong because I am surprising my boys with leaving early. My DH, Mom, Niece, and Nephew cannot come until June 2. We went early last year to Disney and had a blast with just the 3 of us. Easier to tour that with a bigger group. So this year, I have booked us for our first Universal Onsite stay before the rest of the crew come down. We are staying at the Royal Pacific May 29-June 2. My kids are big HP fans so I think we will probably spend most mornings at Early Entry. I can't wait to tell them. I am thinking about telling them the morning we leave but might do it the night before since I plan in leaving around 6:00 in the morning. We are driving but it is only about 7- 8 hours. Going back to reread your countdown theme nights and present clues to get some ideas for how to surprise the kids.

Early Entry at WWofHP is a MUST...I cannot stress that more. You will see in some of my future posts why! I love surprises (as you can tell about this trip). You should do a HP night and announce the trip...I will repost our HP night and some more ideas I have found for another one!

I totally know what you mean about going down the list of kids till you get the right name. With 4 kids..plus a son in law... I totally do that. Add in all my kitties and I never know who I am talking to.

Yep....usually not talking to but yelling at, right?

Your pictures are great. I think I have never mentioned that I love the sizing on your pics. I forget to take the time to resize mine so they are not so HUGE. Yours are just perfect size. Not too small... everything can still be seen... but not HUGE and taking over the screen (like mine )

I resize them only because I put so many in...takes time but then I feel like I can bore you with more pictures!

All caught up!

All of your pictures are making me want to go to Universal very badly! I'm so glad that Ab got picked to find which wand was best for her. The video made it look like a really cool experience! Can't wait to read more!

Hope school is going well for you!

You're killin' me... you're really killin' me...

That is the point...to keep you reading and pretending to be my DIS friend!

In all seriousness... love your TR. I never know where you are going to leave us when you finish updating 'for the day.' And the butterbeer pics are cute! Love the one of Ab with the foam on her lip!

I said this in my TR (a reply to a reader) that I gently brought up the subject of a trip back to Florida in 2013 to include IOA, WWoHP, etc. and Eddie seriously STUCK HIS FINGERS IN HIS EARS.

You won't believe what Jeff did this weekend. I ordered one of those cruise planning videos from Disney and it came last week. I had pretty much decided that it was out of the question for now...the only boat Jeff wants to get on is one that he could fish off of...he did say a few weeks ago, maybe a short one (just to get me off his back)...the weather was yucky and the kids wanted to watch it...so we put it in...guess who sat and watched the whole thing and then decided that it did not look so bad and wanted to know how much the longer cruises cost? WHAT THE HECK? Then we watched the Disney Parks Video on Cruises off of NETFLIXs...but sadly I just dont think we can swing saving that much my summer of 2013...I figure to do WDW and the cruise it will be around $12,000! And that is doing a lot of things cheaply!

I'm going to keep working on him though... and if not... then I'm adding on some of those "What's another day" to our girls trip and doing it then!

What's another day....here we go again...I might just join you....whats another day from work?

And as for remembering your kid's names... mine also respond to #1, #2, and #3. I can usually get that out if the names escape me...

I usually just have to point and yell at the one I need attention or action from!

 

[Sara1Babe]

More more more!!! I long to taste butterbeer. You can enjoy a frosty beverage with a little one in tow right?!

 

[lovethattink]

Loving your updates!! Seems like most people do seem to like frozen. I might just have to take a jaunt over the dark side and try some. Great King cake by the way!!

 

[Monknmom]

You guys are putting me to shame with my TR, I'm trying to catch up to Amy's and I want to get the photopass in my TR now I love the photopass CD!

 

[momabaarjo]

More more more!!! I long to taste butterbeer. You can enjoy a frosty beverage with a little one in tow right?!

Yep, even the little one will enjoy the drink! Nothing adult about it!

Loving your updates!! Seems like most people do seem to like frozen. I might just have to take a jaunt over the dark side and try some. Great King cake by the way!!

Thanks the king cake was yummy! I think a butterbeer is worth a trip to the dark side...but the crowds not so much!

You guys are putting me to shame with my TR, I'm trying to catch up to Amy's and I want to get the photopass in my TR now I love the photopass CD!

I already looked at all your pictures!