A Northern Family's Southern Getaway -Take 2 Jan 2010 PTR Updated 1/15 SNACKS

[Disney Mommy 3]

Oh Kim!! That is sooo very sweet of you to pray for us!! We will be praying for you too!!! I am gonna try to take a lot of pics for Christmas!! I don't know if you read on my other post (I think the Snowbird one) we aren't doing disney next year. Mike said we can go to NYC!! And EUROPE!!! So,... I am ok with skipping disney for a year or two to do that!!! The kids are big enough to do something longer and a little tougher. So...I gotta take an enormous amount of pictures to get us through till next time!! 4 Days!!! I hope to be mostly packed by Thursday night!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

What the heck was that last post?

I will be taking lots of pictures for sure!! We're very excited, mostly packed. Just a lot of last minute stuff to do.

Ken - I LOVE your maps and comments - you are so funny!
I had a bunch of comments I wanted to make, but have now forgotten most of them! I would be one of the people getting sick watching you on the teacups.

Isn't there a different CD that might have Illuminations and all that? I'll check when I go because I will want that too! I have Fantasmic music as my ringtone on my cell phone.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

What the heck was that last post?I will be taking lots of pictures for sure!! We're very excited, mostly packed. Just a lot of last minute stuff to do.

Ken - I LOVE your maps and comments - you are so funny!
I had a bunch of comments I wanted to make, but have now forgotten most of them! I would be one of the people getting sick watching you on the teacups.

Isn't there a different CD that might have Illuminations and all that? I'll check when I go because I will want that too! I have Fantasmic music as my ringtone on my cell phone.

I know!!! It isnt even all in English!!!!
Ken is hilarious!!!

 

[Disney4nonah]

I'm only on page 1 of your PTR report but i had to stop to post...
WHAT???? LOVERS of Star Wars, Dream Theatre, And Disney!!!!!
SOOOO Coool......as we are lovers of that too!!! LOL ok, i'm fine now *resuming reading of page 1....

Anyhoo we leave from POFQ on the 26th, I'll have to wave at you if we see you... (check out our pics, you can't miss us, we stick out)

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

Oh Kim!! That is sooo very sweet of you to pray for us!! We will be praying for you too!!! I am gonna try to take a lot of pics for Christmas!! I don't know if you read on my other post (I think the Snowbird one) we aren't doing disney next year. Mike said we can go to NYC!! And EUROPE!!! So,... I am ok with skipping disney for a year or two to do that!!! The kids are big enough to do something longer and a little tougher. So...I gotta take an enormous amount of pictures to get us through till next time!! 4 Days!!! I hope to be mostly packed by Thursday night!

WOW, Shawna! That is so cool! NYC AND Europe! How exciting! I think it will be a very long time before we get to Europe! Honestly, there is not a whole lot there that I am even interested in seeing! The only countries that really intrigue me are Ireland and Scotland and maybe a few parts of Germany! Oh and Greece! Gotta see Greece someday!

I think that after this trip we too will be taking a Disney Break!

What the heck was that last post?

I will be taking lots of pictures for sure!! We're very excited, mostly packed. Just a lot of last minute stuff to do.

Ken - I LOVE your maps and comments - you are so funny!
I had a bunch of comments I wanted to make, but have now forgotten most of them! I would be one of the people getting sick watching you on the teacups.

Isn't there a different CD that might have Illuminations and all that? I'll check when I go because I will want that too! I have Fantasmic music as my ringtone on my cell phone.

I guess what ever the post was it's gone now! I didn't even see it!

I think there might be another CD with lots of different music on it! I plan to buy another one for sure!

I will not be getting on the Teacups either! CANNOT handle the whole spinning thing! Hurl city!

I know!!! It isnt even all in English!!!!
Ken is hilarious!!!

Yes. Yes He is! I hope you have the great pleasure of actually meeting him someday! He will have you in stitches within minutes of your first handshake!

I'm only on page 1 of your PTR report but i had to stop to post...
WHAT???? LOVERS of Star Wars, Dream Theatre, And Disney!!!!!
SOOOO Coool......as we are lovers of that too!!! LOL ok, i'm fine now *resuming reading of page 1....

Anyhoo we leave from POFQ on the 26th, I'll have to wave at you if we see you... (check out our pics, you can't miss us, we stick out)

Well Read on and Enjoy! I will look for you and make sure to say hello if you see us!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

On the topic of other travels - my friend told me last night that her husband got a position where they will move to London for three years! when we were kids, her family moved to Brussels for four years for her dad's job. Deja vu! So now I'm planning to take a family trip to England in summer 2011!! I can't believe it! DD8 says, I don't want to fly over an ocean! I said, you don't mind going on a cruise IN the ocean! We're going.

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

I am so sorry that it has been more than a week since I have updated this here PTR! I promise to get something done this weekend! Life has just been UBER busy!

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

My apologies again, my friends!

I have been trying to stay away from the computer these days in the hopes of getting through my checklist of things to do before Christmas! I have accomplished much! However this Poor PTR has suffered a great deal!

I do intend to catch you up on all that has been going on in our househol but for now I will leave you with this.....

WE ARE PAID IN FULL!!!

45 days until we head out on our Adventure!!!

 

[mickeystoontown]

My apologies again, my friends!

I have been trying to stay away from the computer these days in the hopes of getting through my checklist of things to do before Christmas! I have accomplished much! However this Poor PTR has suffered a great deal!

I do intend to catch you up on all that has been going on in our househol but for now I will leave you with this.....

WE ARE PAID IN FULL!!!

45 days until we head out on our Adventure!!!

No need to apologize. I've been neglecting my own trip report lately. Sooooo much to do!

But, I do have time to do the "Paid in Full" dance with you.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Congrats on being PAID IN FULL!!!

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

No need to apologize. I've been neglecting my own trip report lately. Sooooo much to do!

But, I do have time to do the "Paid in Full" dance with you.

Congrats on being PAID IN FULL!!!

Thank you VERY much!

Sorry for the delay folks! Thanks for hanging in there!

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

CHAPTER 6: A Sleep in Day and our Return to Epcot!

This day is going to be a bit different for us! No jumping out of bed at the crack of dawn, no rush for the busses, no jamming granola bars in our faces at 7:30am!

This day will start when we wake up! Sometime after that we will make our way over to The POLY! We have a 10:25am ADR @ 'Ohana! We will be dining Hawaiian Style with Lilo and Stitch this morning! I am so excited about this ADR! I have heard so many great things about it! Ken and the girls are excited to see Stitch and I am SO VERY THRILLED about actually exploring the Poly IN THE DAYLIGHT!!! We had supper there last time but it was already dark out when we got there so...

After we finish our meal we plan to wander around the grounds and Great Ceremonial Hall to check out the Poly and all it wondrous beauty! I have seen so many beautiful pictures of the place, I can't wait to see it with my own eyes!

After our time of exploration, we will walk over to the TTC and catch the Monorail to Epcot!

The Plan for this day is really not a plan at all! We will do whatever we didn't do on our previous Epcot day and revisit the some our favourites! We will definitely be visiting Innoventions at some point because Ken has recently found out about the Sum of all Thrills! He is SO excited to do this! What more could a thrill ride Junkie ask for? First you get to build/design your own roller coaster and THEN you get to ride it! WOW!!!

Emily has made one request for this day as well! She wants to visit France so her little sister can visit with Aurora and Mama can have a Cappuccino and a treat from Boulangerie Patisserie! Have I ever mentioned how sweet this girl of mine is?

Natalie is considering riding Maelstrom but is definitely pushing for a return trip to see the Japanese Drummers! She is also very much excited about Spaceship Earth! She wants to "stop beside the garage again" so "Daddy can see the computers getting built!" Such sweet thoughtful girls I have!

We have a 6:15 ADR for supper @ Biergarten! Now who do you suppose requested the return to this particular place??? Could it have been my wonderful beer and sausage lovin' hubby? Why, YES, it WAS!!! This was his #1 request for ADRs when we dicided we were going back to WDW! What can I say? The man loves him some sausage!

After our German sausage feast, we plan to stroll the WS a wee bit and decide on THE PERFECT place from which to enjoy Illuminations! We didn't see it last time as the girls were completly wiped after a long day of park hopping! The last time I saw Illuminations was MArch of 1994!

Ken and I are both VERY excited to see this! Emily will enjoy it for sure! We are a little nervous about how our little fraidycat Nat will react to the noise! Last year she enjoyed Wishes while sitting in the ground with her fingers firmly planted in her ears! Her fear of loud noises has improved a GREAT deal over the last year but she still has a tendency to react strongly when surprised by sudden loud noises! I really hope that she will be able to enjoy the show!

Once Illuminations has ended we will decide on our exit strategy. If the girls are UBER tired we will more than likely go through the International Gateway and catch a cab from the nearest resort, which I believe is the Beach Club? If they are up to the challenge of facing "The Wall of Humanity" then we will slowly make our way to the exit along with the other thousands of people and wait as patiently as we can to catch our bus back to POFQ! I wonder how many busses we will have to wait for this time? When we left AK last year after PM EMH we had to wait for 3 buses before we could get on!

This will conclude our time at Epcot for this trip so which ever way we choose to leave we will be bidding goodbye to our second favourite park until the next time are able to visit!

Here are some photos from our previous days at Epcot! Enjoy!

up next: a long awaited VERY special breakfast and our last day at MK!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Sounds like a great day Kim! We just got back today and of course, I'm on the boards! Also having a child with a fear of loud sudden noises (also improving), I would advise you to pay attention to where the speakers are around the world showcase when choosing your viewing spot for Illuminations. We sat by Mexico and were RIGHT under a speaker. Thank goodness I brought the earplugs! I'm going to do a TR eventually after I upload my hundreds of pics, so I'll fill you in on all the details! It was a great trip though!

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

Sounds like a great day Kim! We just got back today and of course, I'm on the boards! Also having a child with a fear of loud sudden noises (also improving), I would advise you to pay attention to where the speakers are around the world showcase when choosing your viewing spot for Illuminations. We sat by Mexico and were RIGHT under a speaker. Thank goodness I brought the earplugs! I'm going to do a TR eventually after I upload my hundreds of pics, so I'll fill you in on all the details! It was a great trip though!

SHEREE!!!!! Hey girl! So glad you and the girls are back safe and sound! I cannot wait to hear all about your trip! Thanks for the tip oabout Illuminations! I will definitely watch out for those speakers! When does your hubby arrive home?

 

[Mndisneygirl]

He got back this morning around 9:30. Drove straight through - the maniac! Of course we did that on the way down too. It sucks to be back at work - too busy and my brain is still on vacation!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Sounds like a great day! Sounds very much like our Epcot day. Except we had a 10:30 ADR at Kona Cafe. Then hopped on the monorail to Epcot. It's a neat way to enter Epcot when you are used to entering by bus.

You are going to love IllimuNations!

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

He got back this morning around 9:30. Drove straight through - the maniac! Of course we did that on the way down too. It sucks to be back at work - too busy and my brain is still on vacation!

CRAZY!!! WOW, I don't think Ken would ever be brave enough to drive more than 15 hrs at a time! Our highways up here are a little nutty sometimes! Especially the stretch between here and the Manitoba border - it is only 2 lanes!

I want to know all about your trip down! I know it is silly, but I so desire to drive to Disney some day! What route did you take? where did you stop for food/potty etc? Did you do it all in one shot? 24 hrs straight? Holy Man! I could not do it! You guys are Wayyyy braver then I am!

Hope you can get back into the swing of things at work! Remember to take your coffee breaks!

Sounds like a great day! Sounds very much like our Epcot day. Except we had a 10:30 ADR at Kona Cafe. Then hopped on the monorail to Epcot. It's a neat way to enter Epcot when you are used to entering by bus.

You are going to love IllimuNations!

Thanks Shelly! About how long did your meal take? What time did you arrive at Epcot? We are shooting to arrive for about 1pm! Do you think that is doable? Will we have enough time to eat at a normal pace AND explore the Poly for a while before heading over to Epcot?

Ken absolutely loves riding the monorail! I have never before seen him so excited as when He got on the Monrail for the first time! Just like a little boy again he was!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Thanks Shelly! About how long did your meal take? What time did you arrive at Epcot? We are shooting to arrive for about 1pm! Do you think that is doable? Will we have enough time to eat at a normal pace AND explore the Poly for a while before heading over to Epcot?

Ken absolutely loves riding the monorail! I have never before seen him so excited as when He got on the Monrail for the first time! Just like a little boy again he was!

We arrived to our ADR a bit early. I think it was closer to 10:00. And they got us in within about 5 minutes. I think we were there for 45 minutes to an hour. After breakfast we explored the Poly a bit and did some shopping in the gift shop. I am thinking we got to Epcot around noon. So you should have plenty of time to make it there by 1:00. Ohana might take a little longer than Kona because of the characters. But then maybe not, because we had to order at Kona and at Ohana your food is brought right out to you.

By arriving on the monorail we were able to see the wait time for TT before we even got to the park. Pretty cool!

 

[Monny2AE]

I think that after this trip we too will be taking a Disney Break!

That's it! I'm boycotting!!!!!!

Just kidding. I forgot you had an Ohana breakfast ADR too! This will be our first time eating there for breakfast and I am really looking forward to it!

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

SLIGHT CHANGE IN PLANS!!!

We have decided to extend our DHS day!

Since it will be the ONLY day we will be able to be there we have decided to make the most of it!

Originally I had thought that there would not be enough to keep us there for a full day BUT as it turns out, there IS!!!

The girls WANT to see Beauty and the Beast again, the parade looks like it is worth sticking around for AND I was able to change our ADR @ Sci Fi from a lunch to a dinner! We will now be dining there at 5:55pm! I have been assured that if we want to eat the "lunchtime burger" that IT IS available at suppertime as well!

Now I have to come up with a touring plan for an all day adventure at DHS! I want to make sure that we see everything that we want to!