A Smile in my Heart–Magical Week of Friends,Fun & Freezing-10/28-COMPLETE!

[stinkerbell007]

(Sing it with me...."star light....star bright....first star I see tonight...I wish I may....I wish I might....")

I actually got a chill when I read the caption to this photo. I can't wait to go back!!!!!!

Linda

 

[mom2mek]

I actually got a chill when I read the caption to this photo. I can't wait to go back!!!!!!

Linda

Woo-hoo Linda! Two weeks!! Two weeks!!

(Take me please....)

Sara

 

[burly]

12 days now...until Stinkerbell007 and i go back. sigh cannot wait. U can come. no kids tho..girls only trip.

 

[Stasieki]

Loved the Wishes pictures! I'm so glad you captured the beginning. I always miss them b/c DD4 still doesn't like fireworks so we are usually hiding out somewhere. I have got to see Wishes all the way through!!!!! We are planning a Spring Break trip, so I'm hoping it works out then.

 

[mom2mek]

12 days now...until Stinkerbell007 and i go back. sigh cannot wait. U can come. no kids tho..girls only trip.

Oh man, I'm so jealous! How I would love to go back to Disney in just a few days - you girls are going to have a blast!!!

Loved the Wishes pictures! I'm so glad you captured the beginning. I always miss them b/c DD4 still doesn't like fireworks so we are usually hiding out somewhere. I have got to see Wishes all the way through!!!!! We are planning a Spring Break trip, so I'm hoping it works out then.

Awww...I hope you are able to see Wishes on your Spring Break trip! Definitely worth it. If she is not a fan of the noise, try them from the Poly beach - still noisy, but certainly less intense.

Sara

 

[Stasieki]

I'm shooting for an Ohana dinner and then making it to the beach in time. My ressie window opens tomorrow (staying off site so don't get teh plus 10). What time do you think I should try for to give us time to get out there in time. Of course, there is no telling what time Wishes will be that time of year, though.

 

[*dreamit*doit*]

Well, here I thought I was behind on your other TR...I was wayyyyy behind here. And, I could have sworn I commented on the LTT breakfast, but don't see it. Anyway, my thoughts on it were: why don't they have this again????? Wow!! Everything sounds sooo yummy!!! A plate full of chocolate croissants! Yes, please.

I love all the pictures of Michael with Pop Pop - they're just best buds aren't they?

The girls BBB pics are just gorgeous!! And the timeline was too cute! Love it!

'Ohana is just so perfectly delicious!!!! Oh, my! The pot stickers and noodles are my favorite, too. Then the dessert. I'm glad the kids had fun with the dancing...and Shawn, too!

Too bad they didn't have that extra night available. But it's awesome that Shawn tried!

So, I have to agree with the others: it is time for a.new.ticker.

 

[mom2mek]

I'm shooting for an Ohana dinner and then making it to the beach in time. My ressie window opens tomorrow (staying off site so don't get teh plus 10). What time do you think I should try for to give us time to get out there in time. Of course, there is no telling what time Wishes will be that time of year, though.

Well, I'm not sure if something will change between now and then, but I'm guessing that Wishes should be at 10:00. An 8:00 ADR should allow you enough time - accounting for the fact that the chance of you getting seated right at 8:00 is unlikely. The meal itself (since it is served family style) takes about an hour or so. Good luck - I hope you are able to get something!

Well, here I thought I was behind on your other TR...I was wayyyyy behind here. And, I could have sworn I commented on the LTT breakfast, but don't see it. Anyway, my thoughts on it were: why don't they have this again????? Wow!! Everything sounds sooo yummy!!! A plate full of chocolate croissants! Yes, please.

I love all the pictures of Michael with Pop Pop - they're just best buds aren't they?

The girls BBB pics are just gorgeous!! And the timeline was too cute! Love it!

'Ohana is just so perfectly delicious!!!! Oh, my! The pot stickers and noodles are my favorite, too. Then the dessert. I'm glad the kids had fun with the dancing...and Shawn, too!

Too bad they didn't have that extra night available. But it's awesome that Shawn tried!

So, I have to agree with the others: it is time for a.new.ticker.

LOL! I'm putting off starting that last day of this trip report so that maybe I will have another ticker by the time I finish!

Thanks for all the comments! I really could go for a chocolate croissant (or a plate full) right about now! They were delicious!

'Ohana is so delicious - I like the meat, but I would be just fine with the appetizers and a big old personal plate of the dessert!

Sara

 

[vamassey1]

I thought about you the other day when I had a chocolate croissant.

My DH is the manager at a LaMadeleine's. They make them every day. When I stop in for some food I try to buy some to take home for breakfast the next day. That is if they didn't sell out by that time. YUM! Check out the menu. http://www.lamadeleine.com/menu/lunch check out the bakery.
http://www.lamadeleine.com/menu/bakery

 

[mom2mek]

I thought about you the other day when I had a chocolate croissant.

My DH is the manager at a LaMadeleine's. They make them every day. When I stop in for some food I try to buy some to take home for breakfast the next day. That is if they didn't sell out by that time. YUM! Check out the menu. http://www.lamadeleine.com/menu/lunch check out the bakery.
http://www.lamadeleine.com/menu/bakery

Oh my word! I could eat everything on that menu! It looks fabulous! Looks like the closest LaMadeleine's would be in DC for me - might have to check it out!!

Sara

 

[vamassey1]

Oh my word! I could eat everything on that menu! It looks fabulous! Looks like the closest LaMadeleine's would be in DC for me - might have to check it out!!

Sara

I love their food! If you get a chance go.

 

[mommytothreeboys]

Good morning Sara!

I'm caught up once again....seems I keep falling behind! Someday I'll get myself back into a good routine and start to fit in more DIS time....

Love the "plastic carriages"! So cute!

'Ohana dinner sounds AMAZING! We've only done breakfast there because my boys are big Stitch fans, but the dinner menu really appealed to me. We'll have to try to do dinner there whenever it is we are able to head back. The pic of Shawn doing the Limbo cracked me up! You go Shawn!!

The Wishes pics are wonderful...but I expect no less from Shawn!

Sorry it's packing up time....the worst part of vacation.

 

[mom2mek]

Good morning Sara!

I'm caught up once again....seems I keep falling behind! Someday I'll get myself back into a good routine and start to fit in more DIS time....

Love the "plastic carriages"! So cute!

'Ohana dinner sounds AMAZING! We've only done breakfast there because my boys are big Stitch fans, but the dinner menu really appealed to me. We'll have to try to do dinner there whenever it is we are able to head back. The pic of Shawn doing the Limbo cracked me up! You go Shawn!!

The Wishes pics are wonderful...but I expect no less from Shawn!

Sorry it's packing up time....the worst part of vacation.

I understand about being away. It's hard to get on all the time when you aren't planning a trip! I'm glad you have stuck with me!

How's your report going, girlie? Would love to read more about your great cruise and your day at the MK!!!

Definitely try for a dinner ADR at 'Ohana - so fun and the food is great!!

Packing up - such a bummer, huh?

Sara

 

[Stasieki]

Well, I'm not sure if something will change between now and then, but I'm guessing that Wishes should be at 10:00. An 8:00 ADR should allow you enough time - accounting for the fact that the chance of you getting seated right at 8:00 is unlikely. The meal itself (since it is served family style) takes about an hour or so. Good luck - I hope you are able to get something!

LOL! I'm putting off starting that last day of this trip report so that maybe I will have another ticker by the time I finish!

Thanks for all the comments! I really could go for a chocolate croissant (or a plate full) right about now! They were delicious!

'Ohana is so delicious - I like the meat, but I would be just fine with the appetizers and a big old personal plate of the dessert!


Sara

Well, my Spring Break trip turning into a Free Dining Trip the first week of March. Less than 6 months, I was in a panic, but I think I got some great ADR's. I got Ohana at 5:15 and Wishes is 8:00 that night. I figure the in between time we can soak in the resort/shop/maybe try a Lapu Lapu

 

[mom2mek]

Day 7 – February 13, 2010
Epcot
Chapter 1

I have been hesitating to start this last day of my trip report for, as you know from looking at my ticker-less ticker, we do not have another trip in the works. I was really hoping that I would be able to move right from my trip report into a pre-trip report about an upcoming visit to my happy place, but alas, it does not look like it is going to happen....at least not in the very near future. So without further adieu, I will forge ahead with my last day of our fabulous February trip. Fear not - I will still write slow!! LOL! Surprisingly though, the details I remember for this last day are very sketchy so I hope I’m not too boring.

When Shawn and I awoke on this last day of our vacation, we were met with the unpleasant task of taking everything out to the car and packing up. Boo-hoo!! What a buzz-kill! I was actually getting ready in the bathroom when Shawn disappeared for the first time so when he came back in the room I mentioned to him that we could have the bellman bring a cart around and load it up to take it out to the front of the GCH for us, but Shawn insisted on doing it himself.

Don't know why, but whatever.

He made a second trip with most everything else except for the overnight bag and a few odds and ends that we were just going to put in Mom's room for the day (they were not leaving until the next day). On his way back to the room, he made a pit-stop at Captain Cook's and grabbed us a couple of breakfast platters (I really could have gone for the Tonga Toast but he didn't ask me ahead of time) and brought them back to the room for us to eat. We still had, even after this breakfast, I think 9 or 10 CS meals to use up this day. With everything packed up, we left the room that had been our home for the last 7 nights and headed over to meet Mom at their room where the kids had spent the night.

The kids were tired since they had stayed up late to watch a movie (BOLT) (another nice perk of staying CL – DVDs in your room, and movies to rent for free from the CL CMs). Everyone was excited to start the day; sad that it was our last, but still excited since we had the entire day ahead of us. The adults were excited since we were ending our trip with a dinner at Le Cellier for the first time!

I had brought the lifejackets that we had used earlier in the week and was hoping that Mom could return them for me as the marina was not open yet. (They are free to use for your entire stay, but if you fail to return them, they charge you a bazillion dollars for them). I had kept them, thinking the kids might want to return to the pool, but it just never worked out, or was warm enough to swim again. My parents were bringing the kids down to get some breakfast from the lounge, so Shawn left to see if the marina was open (or if by chance someone might be there to take them even if it wasn't open yet), and I went and sat in the lounge while they all ate some cereal and oatmeal. Shawn made it back with good news - someone was there to accept the lifejackets and we were all set.

(View while waiting)

(So pretty)

(Katie having her cereal)

(Mom and the kids – take note of Emily and Katie’s cute custom Minnie shirts because they would be covered up the rest of the day. Next time we plan a trip during cold weather, I will only invest in custom outerwear! LOL)


We were already closing in on 9:00 at this point so rope drop began to feel like an improbable task on this, our last day. Funny, we didn't make rope drop on our other Epcot day either. Weird. We did ok on our other Epcot day, getting done what we wanted to get done for the most part, but I wondered what today would have in store for us considering that this was the Friday start to President's Day weekend! I was figuring that crowds would be getting thicker at this point, but the park was still rated green by TGM and out of all the parks, was looking like the best choice for today!

Cue ominous music here......

We slowly made it over to the TTC and up the ramp for the Epcot monorail.

Today, Pop Pop was smartly using the ECV. I'm glad that he had not forgotten the amount of walking that this park entails.

Of course, let's not forget this little equation:

Pop Pop + ECV + Grandchildren = Craziness!!!
(That does come into play later but so far this morning they were behaving themselves).

A monorail arrived almost right away and when we arrived to Epcot, the park had already been open about 30 minutes. But you would have never known that from the crowd at the turnstiles. There was no way I could have imagined what was awaiting us when we got off the monorail and made our way down the long ramp and through security. There was a line that extended out from the turnstiles and wound its way around back towards the security gates and then curved around parallel to the people waiting in line at security, and all the way past the turnstile "area" towards the parking lot (not sure if that is making sense or not).

The reason for this was there were only a couple of turnstiles open - the rest were not only un-manned by a CM, but completely covered up. I couldn't believe it! Why on earth wouldn't there be more turnstiles open, much less a few more CMs? It was madness. Nobody was approaching the other turnstiles since the park was way past rope drop and there was no one around that looked like they were going to be uncovering them. After waiting in the line for a few minutes and hardly moving, I went ahead and told Shawn to go up there anyway, while we waited in the line, just to see if anyone might come up. Well, low and behold, just as he was getting up there, a CM started rushing over to uncover 3 or 4 more turnstiles. Of course, once she did that, people flooded to them in mass quantites so we were kind of split up at that point - Shawn had Michael, I had the girls, and my parents were together but quite a ways back in the line. Still closer than we would have been had we stayed in the astronomical line we were in originally, but we waited for them another 5 minutes after we made it through in order for them to catch up.

Phew.

I had never seen such a post park-opening crowd, and I was kicking myself for not insisting a little bit more for us to get there on time! On top of this frustration, I was just trying to figure out where in the world all these people had come from!!!! We learned later that day that the Disney Wonder had been delayed leaving Castaway Cay the night before due to the terrible storm causing some very high seas. Consequently, all of the people who were scheduled to board the Disney Wonder to leave that day were stuck with no ship, and they sent them all to Epcot that day. Now, combine that with an obscene amount of tour groups that were at Epcot that day and the start of President’s Day weekend and Mardi Gras week, and you had the makings of some serious crowds.

I was sad that we would be enduring the crowded park on our last day but also grateful that we had been blessed with near empty parks for almost the entire duration of our stay.

A little editing on this one – turned out kind of cool, I think:

We made our way over to The Land area first since we all wanted to take a spin on Living with the Land, especially with Pop Pop, as he is an avid gardener! After making it over there, I excused myself to run ahead and grab fastpasses for Soarin since Pop Pop had to wait for the elevator with his ECV. I grabbed fastpasses and headed towards LWTL but they weren’t there yet. Apparently they had to wait quite a while to be able to board the elevator. Geez! This is an indication of the crowds this day - the wait time for LWTL was 25 minutes. TWENTY FIVE MINUTES!! I couldn’t believe it – even over Thanksgiving week I have never seen a line at this ride. Yowzers. However, a nice CM came up to us and showed us where to go with the ECV and we were boarding in less than 5 though, so no complaints. Woo-hoo!

(Sorry – kind of scary looking, but pics are scarce this day for some reason)

(nine pound lemon)

(Loved this tree)

Everyone really enjoyed LWTL and Pop Pop was fascinated and already figuring out things he could try to do in his garden when he got home. (He loved it so much that when they went back in April they did the Behind the Seeds tour and LOVED it!)

With that under our belts, and fastpasses to use later for Soarin, we made our way to the exit of The Land to head over to see Crush. I took Emily and Michael with me and the rest stopped to use the restroom and to ride the elevator back up with Pop Pop and the ECV. While waiting, Emily and Michael were getting a little silly!

It seemed like forever before they emerged, but eventually they did and we made our way over to The Seas to try and catch a showing of Turtle Talk with Crush. We had skipped this on our other day since we knew we would be doing it today as it is one of my Mom’s favorites.

Again, the Seas area was also mobbed but we dodged and weaved around the crowds and stood in a very crowded waiting area for them to open the doors to TTWC. When they opened, we dropped the kids off in the front and had to go the very last row in the back to sit down. It filled up so fast. I’m beginning to think the crowds might be why we don’t have as many pictures on this day. It’s hard to really “see” things when you are so huddled together in mass quantities.

TTWC was awesome as always – I swear that is one of the best shows in Disney – we have never had the same “show” twice. Yes, the standard lines are always there, but Crush’s answers to the kids’ questions always crack me up. Michael raised his hand, but was not selected this time around.

After the show, we decided to split up to get a few things done. Michael wanted to try Sum of All Thrills, and the girls wanted to ride Mission Space again. Then we were going to meet back up for some lunch around 11:30. So, Pop Pop, Shawn, and Michael headed to Innoventions and Mom and I made our way over to Mission Space. The standby line was showing a 60 minute wait already – for GREEN! I was floored. I want to say that Orange was like 90 minutes at that point. Yikes!

Change of plans - I sent Mom over to get 4 FPs for Test Track (which had at least a 60 minute wait at that point as well) and I went over to the Mission Space FP kiosk and got 3 FPs for Mission Space – Green. The return time with the FP was like 45 minutes. Hmmm….let me think about this for a minute. I could wait in this line for an hour to ride it standby, or I could come back in less time (45 minutes) and ride it without waiting at all? That’s a tough one. It’s amazing what people will do.

Mom had gone with the girls to the restroom and to get those TT Fps and was going to meet me back in MouseGears for a little shopping. I searched and searched for her when I got over there and could never find her, so I finally called her. Apparently, there had been a lot of trouble over at the Test Track FP machines, and she was held up quite a while trying to get them. Eventually, we met up again and did a little shopping. Time kind of gets away from you in there, or is that just me? LOL!

Before I knew it, my FP time was up so I went over to Test Track to get FPs with the 3 tickets Mom didn’t have when she got the others. Phew – FPs were in hand for the big 3, so we were good to go at least for one ride on each.

While we were heading back to Mission Space to ride with our FPs, the boys were at SOAT creating a roller coaster:

Here they go:

They really enjoyed this, but Michael said it wasn't as "extreme" as he had wanted it to be!

The girls and I were off on our own adventure to space.

Although it was difficult to do while riding, I held my camera out to try and get a picture of the girls on the ride. Thought it might be helpful for someone with smaller kids to see how they fit into the harnesses!

As we left Mission Space, we were heading to meet up with Grandmommy and then head out to find the guys.

The kids had a little drink they wanted the grandparents to try!

Sara

 

[therussells08]

Oh no...I have been dreading the last day of your TR! I never want it to end!

I love the custom shirts for the girls with the minnie mouse ruffles! So cute!

Hmm...do I see a beverly in the grandparents' future?

 

[lovebuzzandwoody]

Go slower! I don't want you to finish yet!

Did you make the Minnie shirts?!?! If so, can you make me one?

on the crowds!

 

[mom2mek]

Oh no...I have been dreading the last day of your TR! I never want it to end!

I love the custom shirts for the girls with the minnie mouse ruffles! So cute!

Hmm...do I see a beverly in the grandparents' future?

Well, I've put it off long enough - time to wrap this thing up, I guess!

Hmmm....Beverly

Go slower! I don't want you to finish yet!

Did you make the Minnie shirts?!?! If so, can you make me one?

on the crowds!

I don't know which I think is funnier, Nicole - the fact that you might think I made those shirts or the fact that you wrote for me to go slower!!

I don't think I can go any slower....and I can't even sew on a button!

Sara

 

[vamassey1]

The dreaded last day....

The crowds were pretty bad during the week we were there. We waited 25 minutes to ride Living with the Land on our first Epcot day, but we do love that ride. Three FPs in hand, you're set!

 

[stinkerbell007]

So glad to get to read an update before heading out with my sis. Burly and I are on our way "home". Catch up with you when we get back!!!

Don't be jealous. Ok. Go ahead. Be a little jealous....