A Practically Perfect Princess Palooza! (Completed 4/10!)

[SoNotAPrincess]

I'm sorry your knee was hurting and you had to miss Small World! Hopefully you'll be able to enjoy it on your solo trip!

Hahaha love the gangster Philharmagic pictures!

Hooray for the Crystal Palace! LOVE that place so much!

Yeah, the knee was a downer, but there's no such thing as a bad day at Disney!

LOL...we are SO gangsta!

Crystal Palace is one of my favorite places, too...the food is yummy, and Tigger is there!!!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Jaden looks great as Princess Jasmine! I bet that was a really comfortable outfit for touring the parks, too.

Crystal Palace looks like it was great! I love that place.

The Jasmine outfit was perfect for the park...lightweight, breathable, and princess-approved!

We had so much fun at Crystal Palace...but, really, how could we not?

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

That stinks that you had to skip IASW, but I'm glad that you were feeling better quickly! Not able to convince the group to go right back on, huh?

Yay Crystal Palace! Your pictures from there are so cute!

LOL...yeah once on IASW was enough for them!

It was SO much fun watching Jaden and Jaime with the characters...and the food is good, too!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Too bad you had to pass on iasw
Love the PhilharMagic pics! I love that show!
Crystal Palace looks like it was a very fun meal!

Yeah, I was bummed...but it passed quickly!

I adore Philharmagic...it's not a trip to MK without it!

We had the BEST time at Crystal Palace...definitely the right choice for lunch and a mid-day break!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Hi, everyone...before I get on with this update, I have a not-so-happy real-life update. My knee (which has featured prominently in this report) has finally "blown" for lack of a better word. Which means that the repair surgery I was trying to put off 'til summer is being moved up considerably. Like this month. Soooooo, I'm going to finish this TR as quickly as I can. On the upside, I'll be out of pain, mobile, and fully recovered well in advance of our October trip!

And now on with the show!

With full tummies and rested tootsies, we waved good bye to our Hundred Acre Wood pals and headed for Jaime’s favorite part of MK: Tomorrowland! We passed the teacups, and I tried my very best to gently encourage someone to ride it with me. Sadly, there were no takers. In fact, responses ranged from, “Are you kidding/crazy?” to “You know I love you, but there is no way under God’s Heaven that I’m getting on that thing.”

Kind of ambiguous, right?

I’m a teacups kinda girl, so I was pretty bummed. There may have even been pouting. But, ultimately, I sucked it up (buttercup); and we passed the whirling, twirling nausea-inducing awesomeness that is the teacup ride.

We made a short detour to Rapunzel’s Fairytale Garden, where there was a 65 minute wait to meet the princess. I gallantly (girls can be gallant, too, right?) offered to wait it out with Jaden while everyone else went on Space Mountain, which according to my lines app, had a 45 minutes wait. All parties agreed to the plan, and Jaden and I joined the approximately 85,893 other little girls in line.

Ten minutes later Jaden was bored and didn’t want to wait in line any longer.

Aaargh.

I reminded her that this was her only chance to see Rapunzel (the one thing she talked about the most before the trip). I offered to let her sit on my lap so she didn’t have to stand, but she stuck out her lip and insisted she didn’t care about seeing Rapunzel anymore.

I knew she would regret it. But I also knew that waiting an hour wasn’t going to put her in a prime princess-meeting frame of mind.

So we left the line. I called Jayne, and she said they were getting in line for the Peoplemover and would wait for us; so we hurried to catch up with the gang. I love the Peoplemover and have been known to ride it multiple times where there’s no line. It’s just that cool!

We paged Mr. Morrow, and I shared the little kernel of Disney information that the WEDway Peoplemover was so named with Mr. Disney’s initials. They were in awe of my vast Disney knowledge.

Which is as it should be.

From the Peoplemover, we zipped over to Buzz to get FPs because the return time was soon. We were doing the “what next” thing when Darrell suggested that we do Carousel of Progress.

Carousel of Progress?

Really?

I can’t remember the last time I watched CoP. There’s nothing wrong with it, of course; it’s just not high on my list of Disney must do’s. But this was not MY Disney day, and Jaden was OK with it, so CoP it was.

CoP was a big hit with my compatriots, which I thought was kinda cute. I mean, how many people do you know that say CoP was one of the highlights of their Disney experience? Well, I can name two: Darrell and Jaden!

By the time CoP had finished our trip through the past and back to the present, our Buzz FP window had opened, and we got in line. Now, I haven’t ridden TSM over at the Studios, but I love me some Buzz Lightyear. I totally suck at it, but it’s tons of fun.

It is with great embarrassment that I report that I was severely trounced by everyone. I didn’t write down the scores, just the standings (Jayne first, followed by Darrell, Jaime, and Jaden). In my defense, I was trying to help Jaden; so I didn’t give the game my full attention. Jaden was VERY excited that she had beaten me and was practically bouncing with happiness, which made it pretty much OK to be in last place.

On the way out, Jaden got in jail with Emperor Zurg for and posed for photos…

If only we could get her to come out of her shell a little!

Our intergalactic adventure behind us, we snagged FPs for Space with a return time a couple of hours out, and Jaime led us all back to Fantasyland for PP, one of her favorites…and mine, too!

Up Next: Click here for "Will Jaden Ride HM...or Won't She??"

 

[teekathepony]

Ouch, sorry to hear about your knee On the other hand, I'm glad your surgery will be sooner and you will therefore be pain free sooner!

I love the teacups, I totally would have gone on them with you! lol

I guess Jaden WILL ride HM!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

I'm sorry to hear about your knee!!! Hopefully it is feeling better soon after the surgery!!!

Well, at least you didn't have to brave too much of the Rapunzel line! I definitely can't imagine standing in line for that long for a character meet!

 

[marDgreen88]

I would have ridden the teacups with you.

Uh oh... I have a feeling she's gonna regret not waiting to meet Rapunzel! I hope not though! (I know I would!)

Hmm... I'm guessing... no? Or maybe yes? Haha I guess I'll find out soon enough!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Ouch, sorry to hear about your knee On the other hand, I'm glad your surgery will be sooner and you will therefore be pain free sooner!

I love the teacups, I totally would have gone on them with you! lol

I guess Jaden WILL ride HM!

Thanks! The whole pain-free thing sounds VERY good to me!

It always surprises me when people say they hate the teacups because I love them! I guess there's just no accounting for taste, huh?

The HM mystery to be revealed in the next update!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

I'm sorry to hear about your knee!!! Hopefully it is feeling better soon after the surgery!!!

Well, at least you didn't have to brave too much of the Rapunzel line! I definitely can't imagine standing in line for that long for a character meet!

Thanks! If I can make it through rehab (and I can!), then it'll be full speed ahead for the October trip!

I wasn't loving that line either, but knowing how important meeting Rapunzel was to Jaden, I decided to go for it. I have to admit that I wasn't completely heartbroken when she decided to leave the line!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

I would have ridden the teacups with you.

Uh oh... I have a feeling she's gonna regret not waiting to meet Rapunzel! I hope not though! (I know I would!)

Hmm... I'm guessing... no? Or maybe yes? Haha I guess I'll find out soon enough!

Coolbeans! So many people are anti-teacups that it's always nice to find someone who shares my love for them!

Stay tuned...answers to those burning questions comin' atcha!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

It was starting to cool down a bit as we made our way back to Fantasyland and the fabulousity that is Peter Pan’s Flight. For me, it’s probably the most nostalgic attraction at WDW…I remember riding it as a child, and it’s not a perfect MK day without riding it now. Jaden was excited at the idea of flying over Neverland…really, we all were. Initially, Darrell said he was going to pass on the ride, but we got him a FP anyway, “just in case”, which turned out to be a very good thing. The regular line wait time was, if I remember correctly, 70 minutes. As much as I love PP, I can’t imagine waiting that long for ANY ride. Luckily, the FP return line was only 20 minutes; and soon we were boarding our galleons. PP is enchanting, and Jaden was so captivated by the ride that it made her top five list!

She wanted to ride it again, which, unfortunately, wasn’t going to happen, so we headed for HM to see what the line was like. Jaden started dragging her feet again, but this time Mom and Dad weren’t taking no for an answer. We spent the 15 minutes in line assuring and reassuring her that it’s not really scary, just spooky and that she’d be safe and secure between her parents for the ride. She could tell she was outvoted and gave in grudgingly. She was not amused by the stretching room, especially the clap of thunder and lightning. Jaime and I boarded our Doombuggy, assuring Jaden it wasn’t the last she’d see of us. I pointed out the hidden Mickey on the dining table, and we laughed when the hitchhiking ghosts switched heads with us at the end.

But the real question is…

Did Jaden survive?

And what did she think?

SHE LOVED IT!! Well, duh, of course she did…it is AWESOME after all!

After HM, we kind of meandered back through Frontierland. We watched the Liberty Belle chug by and stopped for Mickey ice cream bars. It was nice to sit and relax while we enjoyed our treats and talked about our day so far and what was left to do. Jaden piped up that she wanted to go back and see Rapunzel, and her bottom lip trembled a bit when I told her it was too late; Rapunzel was gone for the day; but all in all she took the disappointment like a trouper.

Whew! Crisis averted!

We lingered for quite a while, eating ice cream, people watching and discussing what to do next. The Space FPs were still a ways out, so Jaden suggested another ride on Aladdin’s carpet. Needless to say, the adults were not overwhelmed with joy at the idea. I told her that Dumbo was very similar to the carpet ride, plus it was on the way to Tomorrowland; and she agreed to take a whirl on the cutest flying elephant ever.

As we were getting up to go, Darrell noticed that the Country Bear Jamboree had a five minute wait, so we decided to pop in while we were there. I haven’t seen the bears in forever, so it was a blast from the past. I’m pretty sure Jaden and Jaime would have preferred the Rock ‘n Roll Bear Party, but they didn’t complain. Much.

The bears are a little worse for wear. Disney should do some sprucing up at this attraction sooner rather than later!

Because none of my friends would believe I was actually there without photographic evidence, I took a few snaps of the bears at the end of the show.

I don’t know what happened to my picture taking, but I don’t have many from this part of the day. So much for scintillating trip reporting!

We bid the bears good bye and decided that frozen lemonade was just the thing to sustain us on the loooooong trek back to the expanded Fantasyland and Dumbo.

Let me just say that nothing beats the sweet-tart brain freeze of a frozen lemonade!

Up Next: Click here for Dumbo, Club 626, and Junk Food Overload!

 

[marDgreen88]

Aw, Peter Pan sounds great. Somehow I've ended up missing it on every trip so far! It's my mission to finally ride it this summer.

I'm glad that Jaden enjoyed HM and was mature about not meeting Rapunzel!

Can't wait to hear about the updated Dumbo!!!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

I'm glad to hear that Jaden survived HM, and took not being able to meet Rapunzel like a trooper!

I love the Country Bears, but no one ever wants to go with me!

 

[teekathepony]

Glad to hear she loved HM!
The poor country bears do need some attention. I noticed that last year too.

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Aw, Peter Pan sounds great. Somehow I've ended up missing it on every trip so far! It's my mission to finally ride it this summer.

I'm glad that Jaden enjoyed HM and was mature about not meeting Rapunzel!

Can't wait to hear about the updated Dumbo!!!

Run, don't walk, to Peter Pan...it's SO great!!!

I was relieved she took it OK, too. When her bottom lip started trembling, I thought we were in for it, but she got it together. Whew!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Oops...double post!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

I'm glad to hear that Jaden survived HM, and took not being able to meet Rapunzel like a trooper!

I love the Country Bears, but no one ever wants to go with me!

We all heaved a sigh of relief when she avoided a meltdown...so glad we didn't have to be "that" family!

The bears could use some updating, but they're still cool!!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Glad to hear she loved HM!
The poor country bears do need some attention. I noticed that last year too.

She was so pumped after riding HM...like she could do anything having survived it!

Those poor bears! C'mon, Disney...get on the ball!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

When last we met, the gang was headed towards the new and improved Dumbo; and I was pretty excited to see it, having heard about the new water feature and LED lights. The line was longer than I would have liked with a 35-minute wait time posted, but Jayne, Jaime, and Jaden didn’t mind; so Darrell and I found a place nearby to wait while they got in line.

I am so impressed with the revamped Dumbo that words can hardly do it justice. The music, the lights, the dancing water…it is AH-MAY-ZING. I took a bunch of photos, but all of them have strangers blocking the view, so I scoured the Internet for better snaps. The photos provided here are the work of Josh at Easy WDW dot com.

Fantastic right?

I have a confession to make. I’m not good at waiting. In all honesty, I suck at it. And as wonderful and eye-catching as Dumbo is, about 15 minutes into the wait, I was bored. And what’s good for boredom? Why, magical Disney popcorn, of course! I wheeled over to the nearest popcorn vendor and got two (because I certainly wasn’t sharing mine!). The roasted almonds smelled so good that I added a bag of those, too, and scooted back to Darrell with my bounty. The goodies made the wait much more tolerable, and before too long we saw the terrific trio boarding their elephant. The only thing Jaden didn’t like about Dumbo was that it only lasts a couple of minutes, making it way too short. I hope they’ll expand the ride duration once both carousels are up and running.

After Dumbo, we shared our remaining popcorn and nuts and checked out the revamped Barnstormer, starring the Great Goofini; but the line was much too long for a one-minute ride, plus the Space Mountain FP window was open; and Jaime was all about getting there as quickly as possible.

While she and Jayne went on the ride that is second only to Dinosaur for dislocating vertebrae, Jaden got her groove on with the Club 626 Dance Party gang. The crowd was shakin’ their booties, and she was clearly having fun; but I would have preferred a musical selection other than the Bieb’s “Baby”.

After a successful journey to outer space and a safe return to Earth, Jayne and Jaime joined us, and we pried Jaden away from the music. In spite of the popcorn we were hungry, so our next stop was Cosmic Ray’s where we enjoyed burgers and chili cheese fries. I firmly believe that chili cheese fries are a gift to humanity from the gods. They’re just that good.

Departing Ray’s, we headed for the Tomorrowland bridge, which is my favorite Wishes viewing spot. Yes, the hub is prime real estate, but the bridge doesn’t usually have as many people invading my personal space and has the extra benefit of benches. Best of all, it’s the most excellent place to be to see Tink fly.

Since we were early, and because we’d skipped dessert, I suggested one of my favorite treats…funnel cake! Everyone agreed, so Jaime, Jaden, and I headed for Sleepy Hollow while Darrell and Jayne guarded our spot.

The line at Sleepy Hollow was Ka-Ray-Zee!! While we waited, we were bumped, nudged, jostled, and butted in front of. I was having none of that, however, and managed to regain our rightful place without bloodshed. Really, the nerve of some people!

We returned to the bridge loaded down with funnel cakes (one each with cinnamon and powdered sugar), plus a variety of beverages. Thank goodness for the ECV’s basket! On the way back, we passed a cart full of light up necklaces, light sabers, and Mickey bobbers. Naturally, we had to stop and get something for everyone!

Before long, it was time for Wishes, which is easily my favorite thing in the World. Jaden was enthralled from the moment Tink flew from the Castle spire and over our heads. I don’t have photos…I wanted to just be in the moment and not worry about getting good pictures.

I love that feeling of being a part of the whiz-bang-pop-pow of Wishes, and I always cry. Always. Jaime cried, too, and we laughed as we swiped away the happiest tears of all.

Up Next: Click here for "All Good Things Must Come to an End"