After An Entire Year Of Planning We Winged It! May '10 with 1477 pics 3/26/11 update

[tracisup]

Sorry, no pictures in this next post. Our morning park plans didn't go according to plan and we were too grouchy to snap any pics!

AMEN about being grouchy. He's talking about me. LOL

 

[pwdebbie]

I sure hope you get this trip report finished before I leave for my trip next Sunday. (Yes, that is a hint.)

 

[tracisup]

I sure hope you get this trip report finished before I leave for my trip next Sunday. (Yes, that is a hint.)

like that is gonna happen! LOL

Have a fun trip! JEALOUS!!

 

[adamsup]

I sure hope you get this trip report finished before I leave for my trip next Sunday. (Yes, that is a hint.)

I'll do my best!

Where are you going?

 

[adamsup]

Day 4 (con't) - Let's Skip EPCOT and go to the pool instead!

So after Brooklyn and I rode Test Track, we headed back to the resort to meet up with the rest of the fam, who had already left EPCOT.

Traci and I had learned that we need to have a stroller that has a hood to shield the kids from the sun so we made our minds up to ditch the double stroller for the rest of the trip and instead rent a double stroller. We were excited to try it because of what Jon Gosselin had said about them on that one episode of Jon and Kate Plus 8 when they went to WDW! He went crazy about them, so we'll see.

Brooklyn and I went up to our room, got changed into bathing suits and went down to the pool.

By the time we got there, TRaci, Paris and Max had been on the beach for a short while

By now it was around 3pm (amazing how much time a park can eat up, especially considering we got there for breakfast and then basically left the park after that! I guess the size of the park, the walking distance and the fact we didn't really know our way around really eats up our day).

We were all hungry so we got "lunch" at The Sandbar, hamburgers, chicken nuggets and chicken sandwiches

And of course some ice cream!

This relax time really helped us get back into the groove again. Traci and I felt really bad for the kids earlier because they were sweating and exposed to the sun plus they had just sat in the stroller for ages while we faffed around trying to figure out where to go after Akershus! The pool and beach fun really made up for that little hiccup!

After the pool, we went back to our room and this little guy was waiting for us

We showered and got ready for our dinner reservation at Whispering Canyon. I was really looking forward to this dinner - I have Alan Renfroe to thank for that! I read one of his trip reports a while back and as soon as I saw his BBQ skillet pictures I KNEW that was somewhere we had to go!

 

[pwdebbie]

I'll do my best!

Where are you going?

Now just where do you think?

 

[adamsup]

Now just where do you think?

well I KNOW that! where are you STAYING etc

 

[mauigal]

My daughter and I just found your TR!!! All caught up and loving it!!
You have a beautiful wife and your kids are too adorable!! Can't wait for more!!

 

[spiroff.natasha]

mauigal's daughter here!

I am loving this trip report! You have a beautiful family and I can't get over how cute Max is

Can't wait to read more

 

[tracisup]

My daughter and I just found your TR!!! All caught up and loving it!!
You have a beautiful wife and your kids are too adorable!! Can't wait for more!!

Thanks!

mauigal's daughter here!

I am loving this trip report! You have a beautiful family and I can't get over how cute Max is

Can't wait to read more

 

[pwdebbie]

well I KNOW that! where are you STAYING etc

We'll be at POFQ. Third trip, third stay here. Dh loves it, so I may never get to see another resort. No complaints from me though.

 

[pwdebbie]

Longing to read the rest of this TR!

 

[adamsup]

Day 4 - 5/11/10 - Whispering Canyon for dinner

Hello, sorry for the delay since the last post! OK, where were we? Oh yes - dinner at Whispering Canyon.

We had heard great things about Whispering Canyon and the pictures of the barbecue skillet that Alan Renfroe posted on one of his trip reports totally convinced me we had to try it!

We were excited about the boat ride - we had been riding monorails all week (which we love) but a boat ride was going to be a nice treat.

How old is she? 25? lol

Here's a picture of us walking towards the WL, we had no idea where we were going so we just followed the crowd. Since this trip, we stayed for a week in WL so this is all very familiar to us now.

We checked in and had to wait about 10 mins in the lobby untill our buzzer went off. We loved the theme of this resort, the lobby was breathtaking with it's tall ceilings and rustic cabin decor. Really nice.

As we were getting settled, we realized that the camera was missing (not again!). Traci went out to the lobby and looked around where we sat while waiting to be seated but no luck. She went to the front desk to check the lost and found, meanwhile I had to sit at the table with the kids, so I decided to look again in all our bags and stroller pockets. Found it! It was tucked into a pocket that we NEVER use or our camera. I tried to wave to Traci who was wandering around the lobby looking on all the little side tables and chairs but she didn't see me. Finally, she came back to the table and I was able to surprise her. I think she almost cried, aww.

Once that fiasco was over, we were able to settle down properly and enjoy the experience. Out came the cornbread to munch on while we chose our appetizers.

I ordered the crab cake. It looks like a total mess but it was pretty tasty.

and Traci ordered the chips and salsa and salad. The waitress said this is really massive and wouldn't be needed if you're eating an entree, but we paid for the DXDP so we wanted everything we were entitled to!

For entrees we ordered the barbecue skillet. I have been really looking forward to this for months! I made the mistake of ordering cotton candy milkshakes as my drink, which totally filled me up long before the entrees came out! Ooops

Here is the skillet... makes my mouth water just posting these pics!

We had read about the ketchup thing at this restaurant so of course we had to ask!

KEEEETTTTTTCCHHHHHUUUUUUUPPPPPPP!

The kids got a kick out of that for sure. We didn't realize that WE had to take the ketchup to the next table that needed it though! That was about 5 trips because the girls could only carry one or two bottles at a time!

We were all totally stuffed and couldn't manage our desserts so we put them in to-go boxes (like we're really gonna have room to eat them later on - yeah right!).

Boat ride back to CR - it was late and we were the only ones on the boat so the driver did a few tricks that caused the boat to ride up and down on the waves. The kids enjoyed that unexpected pixie dust.

Home sweet home

It was a long walk from the boardwalk and we couldn't wait to get into our nice, freshly made beds.

 

[adamsup]

Longing to read the rest of this TR!

how was your 'Ohana experience?

 

[tracisup]

As we were getting settled, we realized that the camera was missing (not again!). Traci went out to the lobby and looked around where we sat while waiting to be seated but no luck. She went to the front desk to check the lost and found, meanwhile I had to sit at the table with the kids, so I decided to look again in all our bags and stroller pockets. Found it! It was tucked into a pocket that we NEVER use or our camera. I tried to wave to Traci who was wandering around the lobby looking on all the little side tables and chairs but she didn't see me. Finally, she came back to the table and I was able to surprise her. I think she almost cried, aww.

While I was looking under the cushions of the couch we sat on while waiting, I found a camera. I turned it in to the front desk. Can you believe that? WEIRD!

 

[pwdebbie]

how was your 'Ohana experience?

We had a wonderful meal at "Ohana and it is now on the top of the must-do-the-next-time list. I wouldn't have tried it if it hadn't been for your pics.

 

[adamsup]

Breakfast at Contempo Cafe

Despite our awful experience at Epcot yesterday, we decided to switch our plans around and go back to Epcot again today, rent a stroller and do what we were supposed to do the first time around!

We were supposed to be at a breakfast reservation in Animal Kingdom but we scrapped that idea and got an early start with a quick breakfast at Contempo Cafe.

I had been wanting one of these since the first day!

Next, TTC and after a while on the monorail, there was Epcot

The first thing we did was head to the stroller rental - we weren't making that mistake again! As Traci was getting the stroller, the girls were mesmorized by the little purple flowers that were falling from the sky

We found our way over to The Seas and visited Turtle Talk with Crush and rode the Nemo ride. The girls loved Crush of course! Here is the obligatory shark photo!

We walked around the aquariums too then headed out to make our way to Coral Reef for lunch. Since today was originally planned to be our Animal Kingdom day, Traci got on the phone to WDW-DINE earlier today on the way to Epcot to see if we could get an ADR and luckily Coral Reef was available.

Next up, Coral Reef for lunch and a ferry ride.

 

[adamsup]

After a hot, sweaty time in the park, we welcomed the coolness of Coral Reef. We got a nice big table on the middle tier with a good view of the awesome fish tanks

which the girls couldn't keep their eyes off for long

Max was zonked out from all the park excitement. Traci made a make-shift pillow, which he was not using!

The kids got these cool dolphin decorations on their drinks

and I got a glowtini. I had to (!) after all the fuss I had read about it during one trip report, can't remember whose it was now..

I got the lobster soup, which was really good

Traci got the vegetarian lasagne, which she really enjoyed

and I can't remember what I got but here's a picture of it

Paris got the spaghetti and Brooklyn got a plain old chicken breast

We kept looking over at the aquariums hoping to see one of the sharks. We saw them float by a few times, but never got a good picture... and then...

got one!!

By the time we were about half way through, Max started to wake up, so Traci fixed him a combo meal from our plates

Traci and I really enjoyed the Chocolate Wave

and the kids got their usual sundaes

All in all, this was an enjoyable meal and a nice break from the hustle and bustle and heat of the park.

After we finished, we headed for home. That ride back from Epcot to TTC felt like a hundred miles. We were exhausted! Epcot really takes it out of you and we didn't even do the World Showcase!

As we were heading towards the Magic Kingdom monorail station, we noticed a big ferry in the distance that was also heading to Magic Kingdom.

Exhausted though we were, I coaxed everyone to ride the ferry back, just for the experience of it. I'm so glad we did! It was a very nice ride back, and even though it was sweltering hot, there was just enough breeze to keep it bearable.

There's home! Can't wait to get into our freshly made, cool beds.

Next up, naps (loong naps!) and dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern.

 

[tracisup]

Here is a video of Maxwell with his Sip-tini!

http://youtu.be/ERGixujRjds (I put the glowing bulb in his sippe cup!)

 

[adamsup]

Day 5 - May 12 2010 -Liberty Tree for dinner and Magic Kingdom

After our naps that afternoon, it was time to get ready for dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern. Several baths later, we packed our diaper bag, made sure we had wipies, diapers, bib or Max and a few toys for entertainment, we caught the monorail heading for Magic Kingdom.

We weren't exactly sure where Liberty Tree Tavern was. We passed it up once, backtracked and finally found it tucked away in an unobtrusive corner of Liberty Square.

We had a 15 minute wait but it wasn't too bad, the girls colored at a table and Max gave Daddy some of his best kisses!

Our name was called and we were seated at a nice big, round table. We were looking forward to this experience because we had read lots of good reviews.

The salad came out and so did this bread

We ordered the Patriot's Platter I think it's called - the all you care to eat option of roast turkey, beef, ham, mashed potatoes, macaronie and cheese and gravy. It was sooo good! I ate a huge amount of that delicious beef and everyone else devoured the mac n cheese, turkey and mashed potatoes.

Yummmy apple cobbler and ice cream

We really enjoyed our dinner. We ate too much and the thought of waddling around the park didn't seem like such a great idea now! As we were heading past the castle to go back to the hotel, we heard fireworks and looked up and thought to ourselves... so this is Wishes!

I'm ashamed to say it but we really didn't know about Wishes before this moment. We hadn't planned our dinner around it and it was only by chance that we saw part of it. It's one of my favorite experiences in Magic Kingdom now...

After Wishes, we went to buy me and Max some Mickey ears (the girls already had Minnie headband ears). We were supposed to get them on Day 1 before lunch at Crystal Palace, but if you remember, that first day was such a whirlwind we totally forgot to do what we had planned. So now was the perfect time to stop and do that since there was a big rush for the exists and we didn't want to fight the crowds.

We had a nice evening in the park, it was late and everyone was full and exhausted. With the crowds subsiding now, we got on the monorail back to our resort and our nice big beds!

Tomorrow is May 13th 2010, the plan was Animal Kingdom.... but you know us and plans