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

[lovethattink]

I'm so sorry that 1900PF was a near bust with the characters and running out of food. It's kind of cute that he ended up eating your soup after saying he didn't want any. It's sweet like dessert, how can you not like it, lol? I like bread pudding too.

Ann, take her experience as a warning. If you see something on the buffet you want, grab it right away as it might not be there when you want to eat it later.

We haven't eaten there in years, but we had a blast the last time we did. It was back when they had it as a villians dinner. I took Grumpy, my dad and my niece and nephew. The villians were Prince John, Hook, Smee, the wicked witch from Snow White. You know the "I'm watching you" sign, well from across the dining room we kept sucking our thumbs, or doing crocodile hand motions. They'd run over to us when it wasn't our turn and get in our face. While we had a blast, I feel badly now that we probably ruined someone else's experience like what happened with the high school boys and the step sisters.

 

[taymaesmom]

We also did not like Park Fare, it was a HUGE waste of money for us. We did love the strawberry soup but I honestly only ate it and paella, everything else was just yucky. Plus a little girl threw up by the dessert bar and there was no way I was getting anything from there. The characters were horrid except Prince Charming. He actually got down on the floor with my niece and talked to her and then danced with her. But everyone else barely stopped at the table.

Normally I don't buy the picture thing but it turned out so good and it had all 9 of us so I bought. Later my MIL gave me $10 and took the biggest picture for herself. Grrr.

 

[kimbo0569]

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience at 1900 Park Faire. I did that one with my daughters back in 2008. I thought it would be a nice surprise for my oldest daughter (who was 6 1/2 then) because I couldn't get the Castle. The character interaction at 1900 was good but the food was just so-so. We were on the free dining plan so it wasn't that big a deal but I wouldn't go again.

 

[Nalshersmom]

So sad to hear a bad review of 1900 PF. We have a 6pm ADR there and were so looking forward to it. Hopefully they were just having an off night. At least Cinderella was so great.

 

[momabaarjo]

What's Another Hour, Right?​

We head back to MK via monorail from the GF and I feel myself getting excited for what was about to happen and as we near MK I get a view of the castle and my exciting turns to disappointment. The top thing on my list that I wanted to do was to see the castle being lite in all the little lights. On my previous trip, the one thing that stands out in my mind is watching the castle change colors at dusk until Wishes. I must have taken at least 100 pictures of this event, and now to see the castle draped in lights…but as MK comes into view I see that the castle is already lite up in lights, according to the schedule this was not supposed to happen until 6:15…which is 10 minutes away. I am heartbroken that I did not get to see the ceremony. Instead of rushing into MK now, we find a couple of photo pass opportunities that we would have probably rushed by to get to the castle in time.

We make our way to the hub and all of us stand and stare in awe at the castle before us. Even Jeff was impressed and was taking pictures texting them to friends back at home.

Tearing ourselves away from the castle we head into Tommorrowland to use our fast passes for Buzz Lightyear,

which was a total hit for all members of my family…a little competition runs in our family when it comes to shooting.

​

Afterwards, we decide to try out the Peoplemover

(which is another family favorite) before making way into Adventureland where we board with Jungle Cruise, minus Jeff (who gets tied up in a business call and tells us to go on). I have to say that the Jungle Cruise becomes my children’s favorite ride of the day and for days after. I have no idea how children can memorize and recite jokes that they heard once on this silly ride is beyond me, but my kids did this the rest evening (and still do to this day).

Jeff could not understand how the kids could bust of laughing at each other reciting a joke and by the end of the night was getting quite perturbed with us all. Since we were close to Aloha Isles, Ab decided that she needed another Dole Whip (even though you could feel in the air the cold front coming in), but Goo was not too thrilled and wanted some ice cream bites that he had seen earlier in the day. So we found a meeting spot (near the spoke of the hub that lead into Adventureland) and while Ab went for another Dole Whip Goo

and I headed out to find the ice cream cart that sold what he wanted, which was not too easy since people were lining up and getting ready for the electric light parade. We ended up weaving our way around Frontierland and then finally into Adventureland to find an ice cream cart. With ice cream in hand we made our way back to the bench meeting point to enjoy our treat and I try to convince my family to move closer to the hub so we can watch the Electric Light Parade, but of course they are happy watching the parade afar (and if you ask me not really watching).

Treats eaten, Jeff is ready to leave the park for the evening, but we have stayed this long what is another hour. I want to see Memories and of course Wishes, so I employ stall tactics in full force and convince my family to stay where they are at while I move closer to the hub to find a place for us to view at a closer location. And I find it right at the hub with the spoke going to Adventureland there is a section that is not filled near the bridge that has been chalked off and you are allowed to stand. I send Boo back to get the rest of the family, just as the parade ends and Memories is about to start. There is not a lot of room, but enough for us to stand and not get moved by CMs who keep shooing people away. At one point a group of adults decide to come and stand right in front of us (which was in the walkway, right in front of Goo who can longer see, seriously? Thankfully a CM came around and told them to move, which they were upset about but I was thankful. The castle lights dim and Memories starts

and Jeff is once again mesmerized about the castle in front of him…Disney magic is working on him and Wishes has not even started. And by the end of Wishes, I knew that someday I would get my family back to WDW and this was not a once in a lifetime trip. Thank you Walt Disney for the Castle, something more wonderful than even our imagination could imagine.

With Wishes over and the temperature dropping (upper 30s by this time) it is time to try and make our way towards the bus stations, when Jeff strikes up with a conversation with a couple and he who wanted to leave is now talking non-stop and we are trying to drag him out of the park…

 

[momabaarjo]

OMG they dressed Minnie and Mickey hedges after we left. I'm nearly sure they were "naked" in my picture bar the santa hats.

Funny, I have a picture somewhere of them being dressed, and we thought they were naked!

haha I'm sorry you got sucked into riding the tea cups!! I love that ride so much, but I can only imagine how one would feel on that ride if they don't enjoy spinning! haha You are a good mom!

It is always the mom that takes on for the family in my family...it was fun and I am glad I did it with the boys!

That dole whip looks soooo good! I can not wait to try my first one in November!! I love AB's shirt by the way, too cute!

Careful, dole whips are addicting. I got Abs shirt at the disney store...wanted to do Mickey on our first day in the MK!

I can't wait to hear about your ADR!!


I hope you are having a great week!

Hi!
I haven't posted in a REALLY long time - sorry!! I have been so busy with school and work but I have been reading along. My son LOVES Carousel of Progress - he loved it the first time we did it years ago and now it is tradition and we have to go on it every visit.

I cannot figure for the life of my why a 12 year old would fall in love with this attraction...


Thankfully my son hated Stitch the first time we went on so I have been able to avoid it! I hate to admit this but I have never had a Dole Whip




I am planning on getting one on our next trip.

you better!

I meant to ask you this a long time ago but in your first post you said you were on a Disney planning group on Facebook. I am new to Facebook (hardly ever use it, joined so I could friend my teenager...) but a Disney planning group sounds like heaven - how did you find the group/join the group?

I found the group somewhere in one of the PTR reports area...threads that are started by months you are going or time periods. I have to say I really loved the group until everyone had gone and then it seemed non-disney and lots of DIS bashing...I have a little group OCD planners I met through the DIS and most of us ended up being kicked out of the group or some left because we dared to call people out on the nasti-ness.

I think I want a dole whip right now!

I think I always want one!

on Dole Whips!!!

Wow, you really had some lows and highs at the Park Fare.

So the question is- are you glad you went?

I am not sure that I am glad we went, the only saving grace was Goo and Cinderella...she was beyond amazing with him.

 

[momabaarjo]

wow, I had lots of updates to catch up on this morning. I loved every single one of them as usual

Thanks...glad I could make you smile this morning.

Dole Whips and Haunted Mansion are probably my two favorite things at MK!
I can't wait to hear what ya'll do next!

I love those things 2...but my favorite has to be just staring at the castle (with a dole whip in hand of course!

We had almost the exact same experience at 1900 for dinner. We were rushed, the characters said almost nothing to DD (and it was her birthday....there was a cake on our table and everything) and the waitress was ruder than Lady Tremaine. I was so disappointed.

That is just not right with a birthday cake and all...

Oh my what a bad experience at 1900 Park Fair. I do love love the picture with Cindy though <3

Me too, the saving grace of the night!

Did you mention to anyone about being in that hallway area and how it was difficult to get to the food and characters?

No, I tend not to complain, unless it is just beyond my limits...there were maybe 10 other families in the same hallway...I just dont understand why when we were one of the first ADRs of the night why the food was off and we were seated there...

I love your updates!

Luvin that you are following along

I was really excited to read about your experience at PF. I have an ADR there for the fall. I am really sad it turned out so badly. Gotta say though, I LOVE the princess pic with Goo

Maybe it will be better for you, I try not to judge 1 ADR by 1 persons experience...I like looking at the allears.net reviews and if there is a pattern and a history of the same things, well I try to stay away...

I'm so sorry that 1900PF was a near bust with the characters and running out of food. It's kind of cute that he ended up eating your soup after saying he didn't want any. It's sweet like dessert, how can you not like it, lol? I like bread pudding too.

We found the recipe online last year before our trip and made it...the boys LOVED it, especailly Boo who at the left overs for breakfast days after!

Ann, take her experience as a warning. If you see something on the buffet you want, grab it right away as it might not be there when you want to eat it later.

Great advice!

We haven't eaten there in years, but we had a blast the last time we did. It was back when they had it as a villians dinner. I took Grumpy, my dad and my niece and nephew. The villians were Prince John, Hook, Smee, the wicked witch from Snow White. You know the "I'm watching you" sign, well from across the dining room we kept sucking our thumbs, or doing crocodile hand motions. They'd run over to us when it wasn't our turn and get in our face. While we had a blast, I feel badly now that we probably ruined someone else's experience like what happened with the high school boys and the step sisters.

It happens, characters play with those who play back, we would have but they did not give a chance...and the seating arrangement really hindered the experiences

We also did not like Park Fare, it was a HUGE waste of money for us. We did love the strawberry soup but I honestly only ate it and paella, everything else was just yucky. Plus a little girl threw up by the dessert bar

Oh my...that would totally do in the meal for me...poor thing!

and there was no way I was getting anything from there. The characters were horrid except Prince Charming. He actually got down on the floor with my niece and talked to her and then danced with her. But everyone else barely stopped at the table.

How sweet of the prince, I hope he was cute, too!

Normally I don't buy the picture thing but it turned out so good and it had all 9 of us so I bought. Later my MIL gave me $10 and took the biggest picture for herself. Grrr.

Not a nice move by MIL, if she only knew how much that package cost!

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience at 1900 Park Faire. I did that one with my daughters back in 2008. I thought it would be a nice surprise for my oldest daughter (who was 6 1/2 then) because I couldn't get the Castle. The character interaction at 1900 was good but the food was just so-so. We were on the free dining plan so it wasn't that big a deal but I wouldn't go again.

I wont go back...either.

So sad to hear a bad review of 1900 PF. We have a 6pm ADR there and were so looking forward to it. Hopefully they were just having an off night. At least Cinderella was so great.

I hope that you have a great experience!

 

[natebenma]

What a wonderful, magical night at MK!

A Dole Whip is appropriate, no matter what the temperature is outside.

for Buzz Lightyear, the People Mover and Jungle Cruise!

you got to watch a parade!

I'm glad you had a chance (and a great spot) for the Memories show and Wishes.

Fantastic pictures of the castle throughout this update.

 

[Disneychix]

Loved every picture and word of your last update! You got some lovely family photos this evening. Great stall tactics!

 

[Enchanted88]

That stinks that you didn't get to see the castle lighting!!!
There's always next time!
I'm glad you got to see MM&Y and Wishes, though! I'm glad DH liked it, too!!
It looks like you guys had a great ending to the night!

I hope you have a happy 4th!! We are going to Canyon for all of their festivities!! What are ya'll up to?

 

[momabaarjo]

What a wonderful, magical night at MK!

A Dole Whip is appropriate, no matter what the temperature is outside.

I think I agree, I know Ab does...

for Buzz Lightyear, the People Mover and Jungle Cruise!

you got to watch a parade!

I'm glad you had a chance (and a great spot) for the Memories show and Wishes.

Fantastic pictures of the castle throughout this update.

Thanks...it is so hard to pick just a couple when you have over 100...

Loved every picture and word of your last update! You got some lovely family photos this evening. Great stall tactics!

You make me blush...thanks...

That stinks that you didn't get to see the castle lighting!!!

Still trying to figure out how that happened...but the castle draped in lights was the best thing ever!
There's always next time!
I'm glad you got to see MM&Y and Wishes, though! I'm glad DH liked it, too!!
It looks like you guys had a great ending to the night!

I hope you have a happy 4th!! We are going to Canyon for all of their festivities!! What are ya'll up to?

We are off to our cabin in NM today for a long weekend to celebrate the 4th, hopefully the temp will be a little more pleasant. Enjoy Canyon! One of our friends that are joining us Thursday is a cheerleader for CHS...and has to do stuff for the celebration.

 

[lovethattink]

Enjoy the time at the cabin!!

 

[Bertnie20]

im late, but im reading

 

[FosterA]

Loved this latest update! Was so happy to hear the part where you said you knew it wouldn't be a once-in-a-lifetime trip and that even Jeff was mesmerized by the castle I remember David being very impressed by the castle lighting too and he wasn't impressed by a whole lot so that thrilled me.

Jealous of the night-ride of Jungle cruise though. I really wanted to hit that attraction in the dark one night but we never quite made it.

 

[annmarieda]

I am so glad that Jeff was impressed with the castle. It was impressive , wasnt it?! I am sorry you missed the ceremony

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

Love the DisMeet. People not in the circle of Dis just don't understand!

Lol about Boo loving CoP. It's a favorite of mine for some reason.. and my mom slept through it last time.

I'm sorry about y'all ADR. We had that happen a few times at CP that first morning. We had to stall a bit to wait for a few to come back the way they were suppose to!

We love the jungle cruise too. And if we are far enough away from our CM, joseph and I will answer his jokes before he does them.

Last year was my first dole whip that I can remember. Can't wait to have another!

That's weird that y'all missed the ceremony. Disney is usually very anal about everything being on time.. well except for openings if they get too big of a starting crowd.

I cannot believe your family wouldn't let you sit and watch the parades! We will have to do all of them on Ladies Trip!

So glad your family enjoyed Wishes!

 

[momabaarjo]

A Morning Surprise, and its not the Weather​

After over a week of getting up for early entries and breakfast ADRs, I finally had to give up my last 2 breakfast ADRS, one being this morning at Boma, which hurt because I really wanted to check out AKL. But I knew if I wanted to continue on this trip pushing my family into long days and nights that something had to give…so no zebra domes for me on this trip, instead the kids feasted on cold left over pizza (which they love anyway)

and getting us out the door by 8:15 am for a short walk over to DHS. I warned them that we still needed to get there before rope drop because of the horrors of the TSM Dash that I had been reading about. This morning, however, in many ways proved to be different. First, the cold front had completely moved in and the temps were in the upper 30s…which had us layered in under armor, long-sleeved shirts, and jeans, several pairs of socks, gloves and hats. The walk over to DHS was quiet as there was no one else on the path from the BW and took just about 10 minutes

(on the way we passed the parking lot…is this any way to treat Goofy?).

Upon arrival there of course a few minutes were spent admiring the tree

and noticing that the park appeared to be empty as there was no lines growing…so I pulled out my phone and double checked my touring plans app making sure I did not screw up times again. No, it still was showing that DHS opened at 9:00 am and now it is 8:40 am. We headed up to the entrance and were ushered inside, the CM told us that they had finished opening procedures about 10 minutes ago and decided to go ahead and open the park early! Wahoo, to my relief no TSM dash! We made our way the down the main street, even stopping to take a few pictures of us bundled in our layers.

I decided it was still best to stick with my touring plan and head over to pick up FP for TSM for later in the day and head over to ToT. When we arrived the walk on sign was 5 minutes, so we decided to take advantage of no TSM madness and decided to ride.

It was really eerie walking through the line without anyone around. The only line we encountered was when we made it to the steps to walk into the loading area.

Jeff and Goo went in 1 cart, with Boo behind them and Ab and me in a cart. Of course there was lots of family competition going on, and Ab beat me…but if the truth be told I was too busy taking pictures.

I knew my family would love this ride (we love the Wii game) and coming off the wait time was up to 20 minutes so still being on schedule thanks to the surprise early opening we decided to ride again. This time there was a little bit more of a line, but it gave us some time to stay warm and take in the theming that we had walked past the first time.

Everyone was smiles after our 2nd ride as we made our way in the cold towards the Hollywood and Vine area

(You can see the crowd levels going up…)

and the next stop on our touring plan, ToT! Will we survive the cold and this ride?

 

[momabaarjo]

Enjoy the time at the cabin!!

Thanks...it was a nice time after spending a week in Nashville with record heat it was nice to get into the cool mountain air!

im late, but im reading

Never late...I still have 5 more days to go! I am determined to get this TR done my the end of September so I can start a countdown to my next trip!

 

[addictedtothemouse]

I still haven't ridden TSM. It looks COLD!!!!! No overheating from the crazy running between rides.

 

[momabaarjo]

Loved this latest update! Was so happy to hear the part where you said you knew it wouldn't be a once-in-a-lifetime trip and that even Jeff was mesmerized by the castle I remember David being very impressed by the castle lighting too and he wasn't impressed by a whole lot so that thrilled me.

At least my dh turn around was because of the castle...and not Hoop Dee.... Just teasing you Aimee...I am glad we both are getting more trips in the future!

Jealous of the night-ride of Jungle cruise though. I really wanted to hit that attraction in the dark one night but we never quite made it.


It was fun at night and we basically had the boat to ourselves...

I am so glad that Jeff was impressed with the castle. It was impressive , wasnt it?! I am sorry you missed the ceremony

The castle was AMAZING!

Love the DisMeet. People not in the circle of Dis just don't understand!

Yeah like me going on a trip with 7 people I have never met in person...

Lol about Boo loving CoP. It's a favorite of mine for some reason.. and my mom slept through it last time.

I think I dozed off too...it was nice to sit down!

I'm sorry about y'all ADR. We had that happen a few times at CP that first morning. We had to stall a bit to wait for a few to come back the way they were suppose to!

We love the jungle cruise too. And if we are far enough away from our CM, joseph and I will answer his jokes before he does them.

I think this would be perfect CM job for Boo!

Last year was my first dole whip that I can remember. Can't wait to have another!

That's weird that y'all missed the ceremony. Disney is usually very anal about everything being on time.. well except for openings if they get too big of a starting crowd.

I guess I was expecting it to start at time stated, not end then!

I cannot believe your family wouldn't let you sit and watch the parades! We will have to do all of them on Ladies Trip!

Another thing to add to our list...actually I can do without Electric Light...

So glad your family enjoyed Wishes!