A Tale of [family madness in] Two Cities - Final Thoughts & PTR Link!

[manntra]

Such pretty pictures of Kidani! The bus stop looks so nice with the decorations...they were working on the "lids" that cover you when I was there in October so the bus stop was right out front. Isn't that bed soooo comfortable? A bit high off the ground for me but it is so plush!
Love your Spectro pictures.....ahhh that music!
Ooohh chocolate crossiant! Good companion for hot chocolate!
What an adorable vase. I really, really, like that!! A lot!!

Tracy

 

[brookelizabeth]

Great pictures as usual Brook! I love the one from Spectro of Chip & Dale where you see their reflection in the mirror - very cute! Can you believe I've still never seen that parade

I'm guessing that you did NOT make the 6:30am wake up time....

Thank you!!!
Oh you have GOT to see Spectro on your Mother/Daughter trip! It really is a beautiful parade.

Wow, I totally did the EXACT SAME THING on my first night! Went to the MK for Space Mountain only.. line was 80mins so we did the Haunted Mansion and then stopped at the Main St. Bakery on the way out- I even had the chocolate croissant you pictured Scary, huh?!

Hi, Henry!!!

That's hilarious!!!! Made for a good night, didn't it?!

What an awesome first night! Catching Spectro on the fly with your honey-- you can't beat that! Whenever I look at your photos it makes me want to get my camera out and play some more. Certain things I feel very confident with - others, not so much!

It really was a great way to start the trip. I was so very happy to catch Spectro, I just wish everyone had been there to enjoy it as well.

I'm with on the camera. There are lots of things I am not yet comfortable with/know about. Action shots are very hard for me still - I took WAY more Spectro pictures than what I put here, but due to setting changing/adjusting on the fly, many turned out in a big blur....I keep telling myself to really take the time to learn before the trip, but....!

What I do know for Spectro that I did this time, and the previous time I took a lot of pictures was turn the ISO to the highest (fastest) number you can. Then open the aperture to the largest setting (smallest number) possible. Pair that with a shutter speed of around 1/60 and you can snag some decent shots. I kept playing with the shutter speed, seeing if I could get a better quality with a slower or faster speed. Some turned out because there was enough light, others...not so much.

Such pretty pictures of Kidani! The bus stop looks so nice with the decorations...they were working on the "lids" that cover you when I was there in October so the bus stop was right out front. Isn't that bed soooo comfortable? A bit high off the ground for me but it is so plush!
Love your Spectro pictures.....ahhh that music!
Ooohh chocolate crossiant! Good companion for hot chocolate!
What an adorable vase. I really, really, like that!! A lot!!

Tracy

Ah! There must have been no lids when we explored Kidani in September. I didn't even notice!

The bed was wonderful!!! Joe and I have a nice king size at home that we usually love to come back home to, but we didn't miss it with that one!

Man! You are right, the croissant would have gone lovely with the cocoa! Must remember that for next time we are at MK when it's chilly.

 

[IluvXU]

Great update Brooke. Any visit to Disney without a stroller and bag is different.

As for the bakery treats...
Drool is right... I love love those chocolate croissants... they are for sure my favorite breakfast treat ever. Even Doug knows that is what I want at Disney... no questions ask. Thanks for making me extra hungry!

So when is your next tentative trip?

 

[MEK]

Nothing like Spectro music to get the Disney spirit going. How nice that you got to see the parade unexpectedly. How wonderful for a little time alone (just the two of you). I remember having the feeling of freedom when my kids were little. It makes you feel like a bird. You feel like you can go anywhere and do anything....Love it!

You actually don't look tired at all! Too bad for the 90 space mtn wait.....ugggghhhh....... but I love you pics inside the buildings. I think the firehouse is so cute.

Well, me thinks you might oversleep in the morning, but I just have to wait to find out!

 

[RachelNinja]

The other day I went to the mall with DBF, and we were both getting hungry. We stopped at Nathan's to get fries, but then I saw they had corn dogs and I just had to get one! I didn't grow up eating corn dogs and I've probably only eaten one in my entire life, but when I think about them, I think about you and how much you love the nuggets at Casey's! I remember your CDN ticker!

I will have to get some at Casey's when I go in April. It's a must do because I drool every time you mention them. (The same goes for the apple turnovers that BrooklynnsMommy loves so much!)

 

[CJsMom]

What a great first night! Ooh, those Main St. Bakery goodies look yummy! So cool that you got to see Spectro. It's nice that you and Joe got to take a little time and play by yourselves.

 

[PopArtGal]

Yum! Apple turnovers!!

Those are yummy!

 

[Panotchr]

Just reading that you heard the Spectro music made the Spectro music play in my head and that made me so happy

I LOVE that parade. It is a MUST see for me. Thanks for the great reminder on this cold, winter night

Henry is adorable, as always!

 

[A.Mickey]

What a great night at the MK! I know exactly what you were feeling when you had no bags and no stroller! You need that every once in a while!

Love the Mickey glass vase too, that is awesome!

 

[A.Mickey]

I
Hey there! Thanks for coming over!

If I lived where you did I would be a regular at the Woodfield Mall. I would need my little Disney fix... I remember seeing pics of a DIS meet there - and Todd in the spa tub....and a few people under the covers!

That would be Todd and myself! Jason wasn't at that meet.

 

[micandminforever]

The pictures were wonderful, and watching Spectromagic is the perfect way to start your trip. I agree the corn dog nuggets are magical at MK.

Your FIL did a great job at picture taking also.

 

[Huck Sawyer]

I have never tried these casey corn dog nuggets. I feel like I need to make a trip just to check them out because of all the talk and pictures.

 

[MaryAz]

Great update. Glad you got to see Spectro. What a fun,bagless evening!

 

[All7OfUs]

Hi Brook!

WHAT?! No CDNs!? I sincerely hope for those of us that love them as much as we do, you don't neglect their procuring!

What a fabulous, bag-less night you had. and he added bonus of Spectro is just plain cool!! Love it!

I have to admit, it'd be a toss-up between TTA and Space for me. I love them both. The 90 min wait would def. be a deal breaker for me to.

Yes, those "crisper" pix of Kidani are very nice.

 

[pooh'smate]

I am joining in. I may not comment much if I get really busy but I am reading. Henry is getting so big. I love the new pics in your siggy.

 

[Lovemy3babes]

Brook, I love that you and Joe got a late night together in the Magic Kingdom. It's neat being able to spend a little alone time together, in such a special place. And thumbs up for being able to see an unplanned Spectro! Woot!!

I tried the corn dog nuggets in your honor on our trip. They were pretty tasty.

How does the GAC work? Do you have to prove Joe's eye condition? I'm asking because our youngest has Autism and it's something I've thought about for future trips.

 

[GreatBiscuit]

Hey Brook! I’m behind a bit so I’ll start with commenting on the first set of installments I missed and then go read the next.

This was also their first real vacation in 10 years. Their last vacation was camping. In Minnesota. They are not travelers. Yet.

How awesome that they were able to join you on this trip!

Look honey! It's the fake monorail!

Woohoo!

I looked at Joe. He has a crazy awesome sense of direction, and sure enough, he led us directly to the correct location. No problem. Whew.

Way to go Joe!

But, what matters is that we DID arrive!

Ain’t that the truth!

Everyone wandered the lobby while I checked us in. The CM pulled up my name and mentioned our check-out date of December 28.



Hold up!

Nooooo......

Picturing BE dropping to her knees with both hands lifted high and screaming to chandelier.

Thankfully I had my confirmation numbers (I had FOUR!) written down right in my handydandy Passporter which was in my bag. I scribbled them down for him, he called a manager who hit a few keys on the keyboard and viola! there we were.

Whew! Good job keeping those #’s handy.

We got to our room and dumped our bags. The grocery delivery came up and all was settled and groceries were put away. Our room was "explored". We were all in awe. It felt like the room went on forever and ever between the studio and the master! It was beautiful. Everyone was loving it.

What an AWESOME looking room! Absolutely amazing.

Foreverly washing sippy cups...

I remember those days.

Joe took this one
And a few minutes later I took this one:

Too funny! I wound up a couple of the same pics that my mom had on her camera.

Then he realized the the master and the living room patios are connected...he was shrieking in delight running in circles between the rooms! Soon he requested to climb on top of our bed in the master bedroom. He had been looking forward to something for quite a few weeks....

"Jump on Mah's (Mickey's) bed?"

What a cool arrival activity!

"9-1-1 emergency, do you have a fire or police emergency?"
"No, I'm sorry, I have a toddler!"
"Oh, that's okay, ma'm happens all the time..."

Around 8:30 I shyly whispered to Joe that I wanted to go to MK. He looked at me a little funny and then quickly agreed.

WOHOO! Time to unleash the inner park beast!

 

[GreatBiscuit]

I don't have words for how good it felt to walk in bagless. It was liberating. Camera around the neck. AP and room key in my pocket.

And while you know I love my little boy to pieces, it felt good not having to push a stroller. Real good.

I remember that feeling from my solo morning. It is definitely nice to just walk right in and not have to worry about anything.

And then I heard a few cords of a very familar tune, I grabbed Joe's arm and said, "That's Spectro!"

In my planning for the trip I hadn't expected we'd get to see Wishes (in the park) or Spectro. So this was a very sweet unexpected surprise!

Wohoo! That’s awesome. Unless you’re a parade hater. (cough…Jordan…ahem) Which you are aren’t. So awesome it is.

The best food pic EVER! I laughed as I took this in my sleep-deprived delirium. I sincerely meant to take another sans lid...but....

That’s hilarious!

When the last float went by, we walked into the street, joined the crowd and followed it, kinda felt like we were part of the parade.

I did my best princess wave.

Good form!

We followed it to Tomorrowland where we had one goal.

Space Mountain.

We zigged our way through the crowd and got to the queue.

It was out the door.

90 minutes.

YIKES! That’s like 1980’s SM crowds right there.

Joe's mission this night was dessert. And the location of choice, Main Street Bakery.

It is a good mission and worthy of song.

We were exhausted. It was past midnight by this point and we were surviving on very little sleep. So, one quick dip into the Fire House, since we had never been and it happened to catch our eye that night,

I’m glad you did. I haven’t seen too many pics of this place before.

At Kidani.

The butterfly ornaments had moving wings!

How cool is that?

We both rolled into bed quite quickly, grossly aware of the early time we planned to be up - 6:30 am. But in our sleepy fog no alarm was set...

Did I mention we aren't morning people? And that the king bed in the villa was huge, beautiful and really comfortable?

Uh-oh. I sense an impending disaster young Jedi.

 

[GreatBiscuit]

I don't yet have the files for our Photopass, or for my FIL or SIL's pictures and video...however, my FIL did email a few...so I'll share some up until where we are in the trip.

Awesome job Poppa!

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Nothing like Spectro music to get the Disney spirit going. How nice that you got to see the parade unexpectedly. How wonderful for a little time alone (just the two of you). I remember having the feeling of freedom when my kids were little. It makes you feel like a bird. You feel like you can go anywhere and do anything....Love it!

I love it...I agree with ME...you sound so excited to be going out with out a stroller...and I know you adore Henry...you must have been so thrilled to see Spectro...kind of romantic like a date... I want to see some unlidded Hot Chocolate next time...

too bad about Space...I hope you get on during your trip and that you get some of those corn dog nuggets...