An obsessive planner learns to go with the flow... Finished and a Link to new PTR

[DrMomof3]

I think the way we went in knowing it might be crowded and we might not accomplish much at MK was a great way to do it. If a trip has you visiting MK in the middle of the week then a few hours on the first day should be enough to jumpstart a vacation.

AK wasn't bad. I didn't feel uncomfortable for the animals and I really want to love this park but honestly I can see why people think they can skip it. If we had it to do over we'd do the Safari, Kali, FotLK, and take advantage of the shorter character lines then call it a day. Live and learn I guess.

I'm not an AK fan at all. I agree that Safari, Kali, FotLK are great. I imagine I'd like Expedition Everest if I ever get to ride it! We liked Rafiki Planet Watch the one time we made it over there. The kids like that Triceratops ride (Dumbo with dinosaurs?). And despite persistently bad reviews we actually *like* Rainforest Cafe. Go figure. (Then again, we've had 2 decent dinners at San Angel Inn, too.) I'm sure that we'll skip AK when we go in January since it's a short trip to begin with.

Amanda

 

[-Hope-]

I know, I know- my udates are so long how could I have possibly left anything out! But I really I wanted to share another magic moment that Kya and I shared (I had some with Jace too, don't worry. I'll try to remember to include those as well.)

I mentioned earlier that we got to meet Lilo and Stitch first thing in the morning and that Kya LOVES Stitch. I only posted one pic from this encounter earlier because I wasn't pleased with the technical qualities of the shots but I the moment they captured. She was just radiant when she got to hug him...

Well, she was already in heaven and then when she was getting autographs the two characters were goofing around and took this interaction up a notch (the line was still really short, only one child waiting behind us). In the course of the goofing around Lilo playfully swatted Stitch when he wasn't paying attention. Well, when Stitch turned around Lilo pointed at Kya and blamed her! It was HILARIOUS!

Kya turned it back around and said no it wasn't her but was laughing the entire time. It was a really special moment for her.

Well, if that wasn't magical enough later in the day as we were leaving we passed the place where Lilo and Stitch greet people. Kya looked at me and giggled and wondered if Stitch would still be mad at her from earlier in the day. This is a child who has started staying in her room for long amounts of time, listening to music way to loud and just generally turning into a pre-teen girl. But now for the second time in two days she had done something that let me have a glimpse that my little girl is still in there. I had many moments like this with both of my kids all week and I know if we'd done our standard beach or mountain vacation I wouldn't have gotten these moments.

 

[mom of 3 (or 4) boys]

New here...and more of a lurker than a poster, but your pics are great! Saw you have a Canon, what lens are you using for the majority of your pics?

So fun to read a report from a first time family!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Subbing! I am really loving your TR! Your pictures are awesome!

 

[-Hope-]

New here...and more of a lurker than a poster, but your pics are great! Saw you have a Canon, what lens are you using for the majority of your pics?

So fun to read a report from a first time family!

Thank you! I have a 28-135 IS that I used for all my shots at Disney. I recently upgraded from a kit lens and sold it since it didn't do anything this one doesn't. Now I'm saving up and waiting to get a 50mm prime lens. No one warned me what an expensive hobby this would be.

Glad you're enjoying the report!

 

[-Hope-]

When I left off we were leaving AK and heading out to the buses. Let me just say that the bus stops for the Value resorts are a LOOOONG way to walk! The trek to and from transportation eventually took it's toll on us (as you'll read later) but even on this first day I just couldn't believe how exhausting it was to get back to our room. At first we were happy to rely on Disney transportation but between Kya's panic attack, the exhaustion of flying/transferring, and the treks to and from the bus stops I think if I had it to do over again we would have driven.

When we got back to our room I noticed that everything had been cleaned up but that Stitch was still holding the Mousekeeping envelope! I guess whoever cleaned our room hadn't realized it was a tip. I felt so bad, I figured I'd find a way to fix it later but for now the kids really wanted to go swimming and we didn't have much time since we had an ADR for dinner.

During the bus ride back to the room I just kept thinking that all I wanted to do was collapse on the bed for a couple of hours but a little voice in the back of my head (that sounded suspiciously like Karen ) kept telling me that a dip in the pool would refresh me. So, when we got back to the room the kids and I changed into our suits and headed to the pool while Robbie stayed in the room to relax.

I have no pics of our pool time (with one exception) because I didn't want to have to worry about my camera while we were swimming so, I'll just have to tell you about it. There are two pools at ASMu, a large guitar shaped pool with lots of music and activities and a smaller (but still a good size) piano pool that is much quieter. The piano pool was closest to our room so we headed over to it and it quickly became our preference. We walked past the guitar pool going to and from our room and visited it a couple of times but really loved the piano pool. By the time we were ready to go swimming each day we'd already had lots of activity and we used the pool time to relax a bit so the quiet won out over the activities, even for the kids. We also thought, though never asked to confirm, that the piano pool might have been on a salt chlorination system instead of the standard chemicals. The salt has a different smell (and taste if you happen to get water in your mouth, lol) and it also generally leaves my skin feeling softer instead of dried out. I'm pretty sure they've converted the piano pool over to this system but again, I didn't ask.

After a quick swim I was feeling much better and we headed back to the room to get ready for dinner. I still wasn't used to it taking so long to get ready since the only place for people to change was the one bathroom so we were running a bit behind. We left our room at 5:05, took a bus to MK then the monorail to the Grand Floridian. The kids really enjoyed the monorail. When we walked into the GF we weren't sure where to go and by the time we found the restaurant and waited in line it was 6:10 and we had a 6:15 reservation! But, no worries we'd made it and that was all that mattered!

I saw right away that had our special dessert ticket order laid out so I was happy that I didn't have to ask about that in front of the kids. I knew immediately that our celebration hadn't been added though because the woman checking us in asked if this was a party of 6. Now, originally my parents were going to come on this trip with us so when I made the ADR I'd booked it for 6. However when my parents decided not to come I called and changed the reservation and also added a first visit celebration. Well, I figured if they hadn't changed the number of people they probably hadn't added the celebration either. Oh well, as you'll soon read this was a great dinner anyway so it didn't matter much in the end.

They gave us our buzzer and said their goal was a 20 minute wait. We went into the lobby where a piano player was playing and found some comfy chairs and a couch. The piano player finished up and a brass band started playing! The music really added to the atmosphere! So, we waited. I called my mom to check on our dog, called Karen to fill her in on our trip so far, and just chatted with the kids. I got a pic of Kya in the lobby in her special outfit...

I don't know if you can see her shirt well but it has a pic of Cinderella and the glass slipper and says, "The right shoe can change your life." She'd also had a sequined and feather tiara that she got from Savannah that was super cute but it got broken in our luggage (along with the Minnie ears for her costume). No worries though because she still looked super cute!

FIFTY minutes later our buzzer finally went off and we were ready to dine with Cinerella and the Royal family at 1900 Park Fare!

Up next: Was dinner worth the wait?

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

Hi, Hope! I’m really enjoying reading your TR so far. The pictures you posted are just gorgeous! That was really funny about Robbie getting put off by that Standby Line time before you explained about the Fast Passes! Also, that moment you captured with Kya hugging Stitch was wonderful. She had a look of pure joy on her face That was interesting about the tip you left for Mousekeeping. Something similar happened on our first trip. I didn’t have time to put the tip in an envelope one day and I just left it on the nightstand. When I got back to the room, I saw that the tip was still there! I felt so bad! Then I realized that they probably have to be in an envelope or something that specifically said “Mousekeeping” or “Housekeeping” and that Mousekeeping must not be able to assume that cash lying around is for them I had to straighten out the tip situation later too. Finally, I can’t wait to see how the dinner at 1900 Park Fare went! It looks like you guys had a wonderful time!

 

[-Hope-]

Hi, Hope! I’m really enjoying reading your TR so far. The pictures you posted are just gorgeous! That was really funny about Robbie getting put off by that Standby Line time before you explained about the Fast Passes! Also, that moment you captured with Kya hugging Stitch was wonderful. She had a look of pure joy on her face That was interesting about the tip you left for Mousekeeping. Something similar happened on our first trip. I didn’t have time to put the tip in an envelope one day and I just left it on the nightstand. When I got back to the room, I saw that the tip was still there! I felt so bad! Then I realized that they probably have to be in an envelope or something that specifically said “Mousekeeping” or “Housekeeping” and that Mousekeeping must not be able to assume that cash lying around is for them I had to straighten out the tip situation later too. Finally, I can’t wait to see how the dinner at 1900 Park Fare went! It looks like you guys had a wonderful time!

Hi Erin! Glad you're here!

It was pretty funny when Robbie finally 'got' the fastpass. I'd explained it to him before but I don't think he was really listening. I love that pic of Kya and Stitch- she was so excited!

I thought about that with the Mousekeeping- that it needed to be clearly marked. The envelopes I printed from the DISign boards did say "Thank you mousekeeping" or something similar on each one but I realized that I'd faced the side that said "All Star Music" face up and the side with the note for mousekeeping face down. I did get it straightened out and never had another issue after I turned the envelope over.

We had fun at our 1900PF dinner- I'll be posting about it soon!

 

[Momofthreemen]

Great trip report. Can't wait to read about the dinner with Cinderella.

 

[ronnmel]

Like Kya, Stitch is my favorite and I have a picture of me hugging Stitch with that same look of joy on my face.

 

[-Hope-]

Great trip report. Can't wait to read about the dinner with Cinderella.

Thank you and

Like Kya, Stitch is my favorite and I have a picture of me hugging Stitch with that same look of joy on my face.

 

[lexmas]

Alright, I stayed up so that I could get caught up and wouldn't fall too far behind again!

Your time at AK sounds wonderful! I'm not crazy about the Nemo show either, I expect to be skipping it. I'm glad you loved FOTLK and that the safari was fun and didn't bother you. It sounds like you had a wonderful time, even though you didn't get everything done that you had planned! It's so sweet that you got to see those glimpses of your kids still as little kids...I'm sure that was so very wonderful!

A dip in the pool sounds perfect. I much prefer the quiet pools over the main pools. I'm hoping to stay near the computer pool at Pop, and DS always tells me that he wants to swim in the flower pool when he sees pictures. I try to sell him on the computer pool, because I do not want to bother going over to that one! Too many people, too crowded...I like to have a "private" pool experience!

I can't wait to hear about dinner. Kya's outfit looks great...too bad you had things break in your luggage, that is very sad. What a long wait to get in! I hope it was worth it!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Loved the update. I'm with you on the Nemo show.

I can't believe the hike to the buses at DAK. While we don't use the bus system (we're usually parked in handicap due to DH's disability), I see everyone walking there and it's quite the hike!

I'm really enjoying your TR.

 

[DrMomof3]

Wow Hope! 50 minutes is a LONG wait for an ADR. I don't think I've ever waited that long!!!
I had added celebrations to all of our dinner ADRs and none of them were noted. We didn't care but I thought it was interesting that there's a place to add celebrations without any acknowledgement by the restaurant. Although when we went in April and I put Tom's birthday on all the ADRs, they sang happy birthday at each meal. Maybe they only acknowledge "standard" celebrations like birthdays and anniversaries?

Amanda

 

[-Hope-]

Alright, I stayed up so that I could get caught up and wouldn't fall too far behind again!

Your time at AK sounds wonderful! I'm not crazy about the Nemo show either, I expect to be skipping it. I'm glad you loved FOTLK and that the safari was fun and didn't bother you. It sounds like you had a wonderful time, even though you didn't get everything done that you had planned! It's so sweet that you got to see those glimpses of your kids still as little kids...I'm sure that was so very wonderful!

A dip in the pool sounds perfect. I much prefer the quiet pools over the main pools. I'm hoping to stay near the computer pool at Pop, and DS always tells me that he wants to swim in the flower pool when he sees pictures. I try to sell him on the computer pool, because I do not want to bother going over to that one! Too many people, too crowded...I like to have a "private" pool experience!

I can't wait to hear about dinner. Kya's outfit looks great...too bad you had things break in your luggage, that is very sad. What a long wait to get in! I hope it was worth it!

My kids only wanted the guitar pool when they looked at pics but they actually preferred the quiet once we were there. There's just so much other activity during the day and no one has any privacy in the room that our pool time became our much needed down time!

It was definately worth it- I'm about to post about it so you'll see!

Loved the update. I'm with you on the Nemo show.

I can't believe the hike to the buses at DAK. While we don't use the bus system (we're usually parked in handicap due to DH's disability), I see everyone walking there and it's quite the hike!

I'm really enjoying your TR.

The hike to the buses was exhausting and we were already tired! We made it though.

And I'm glad you're enjoying my rambling!

Wow Hope! 50 minutes is a LONG wait for an ADR. I don't think I've ever waited that long!!!
I had added celebrations to all of our dinner ADRs and none of them were noted. We didn't care but I thought it was interesting that there's a place to add celebrations without any acknowledgement by the restaurant. Although when we went in April and I put Tom's birthday on all the ADRs, they sang happy birthday at each meal. Maybe they only acknowledge "standard" celebrations like birthdays and anniversaries?

Amanda

Yes, it was a really long wait. I think free dining may have something to do with it and we kept ourselves occupied but still. I specifically made the reservation earlier than we normally eat because on the dining boards they said to make the ADRs before 6:30 to avoid long waits. Now I think that maybe that recommendation needs to be revised!

That's interesting that your celebrations didn't happen either. I just assumed it didn't get noted since the reservation wasn't changed and I did both at the same time. Perhaps they do only acknowledge the standard celebrations like birthdays and anniversaries but then why even bother to offer it for other things? Oh well, it was a fabulous dinner anyway!

 

[-Hope-]

So, I left off as we our pager buzzed after a FIFTY minute wait for our ADR at 1900 Park Fare.

We went up to be seated and were offered the opportunity for a photopass pic before we went in. We were all cleaned up for dinner and I thought it would be a nice family photo but Robbie made a face and was already irritated by the long wait so we skipped it. We walked to the entrance where the CMs were standing. Let me just say that they make even the entrance special! The doors to the restaurant are frosted and they wait until your stopped in front of them before they swing the door open (at least they did for us, I don't know if this is standard). When the door swung open Cinderella was standing at a table very near the entrance and the entire dining room was beautiful. The combination of all those things and the way the doors swung open it immediately had the feel of that moment in Titanic when they swing the doors open to the grand ball room. And Kya was so excited to spot Cinderella- as we passed she said good evening to us and Kya was all smiles!

There are three sections (that we could see) to the dining hall and we were in the middle. It was PERFECT! We were near the buffet and even better our server told us that we were the sixth table that the characters visited after they were announced! This was great because if we were at the buffet table and an announcement was made we knew that we needed to get back to our table. Our server was very enthusiastic and helpful. After she took our drink order the kids and I went to get our food while Robbie waited at the table with my camera- I'm sure it would have been fine but we both felt better not leaving it sit on the table and I didn't want to worry about keeping it out of the food at the buffet either! We finally had our food and were able to eat a bit before characters started coming out. Because we were all coming and going at different times to the table I only got a pic of my own plate...

I had the salmon which was very good and the strawberry soup was delicious! I've had it once before (on the cruise we took for our honeymoon) and knew I'd like it. It's basically a smoothie in a bowl so what's not to like!

The kids had pizza and mac-n-cheese from the kids buffet. Neither of them could find anything but mashed potatoes on the adult buffet they wanted to try. Robbie had the roasted prime rib and didn't care for it at all. It was a so-so dinner but we weren't really here for the food anyway...

We were finishing up our first plate of food when Prince Charming was announced. Kya started bouncing up and down in her seat and giggling- she was literally shaking she was so excited. It's not that Prince Charming is super special to her but the idea that the characters were coming was just so exciting. She looked and squealed- "He's coming to our table!!!"

Continued...

 

[-Hope-]

He had a few stops before he made it to us and we had our first glimpse of some of the stepsisters antics. Drucilla had been in the first part of the dining hall but when PC was announced she ran in and swooned over him from afar- leaning on chairs with a dreamy look, batting her eyelashes- it was hilarious!

Finally the prince came to our table and signed the kids autograph books. He noticed that Kya was dressed in blue like Cinderella and told her she looked lovely.

Cinderella was announced while PC was at our table and he excused himself to dance with her then came back to finish up. So, we didn't have long to wait until Cinderella was at our table...

I was impressed that she remembered she'd already said hello to us once and when she came to our table she said it was lovely to see us again. Those little touches really make it special and magical. She asked the kids what they'd done that day and when they told her we'd been to Animal Kingdom she asked the kids what their favorite animal is and she told us hers was mice!

Next up was Lady Tremaine. Kya noticed that she told a little boy that she does NOT bend down for pictures and she thought that was hilarious! When she finally came to our table she was a hoot! Jace was sitting there very calmly and smiled at her, she told him he needed to contain himself! I had gotten Natalie's autograph pages from the DISign boards and she noticed that Lucifer was on her card. She loved that and commented about the 'rodent problem' in Cinderella's kingdom and that they grow to 5 feet and wear clothes. When it was time for a picture she snapped her fingers at Jace and told him to come. When they tried to wrap their arms around her waist like they had with the other characters she informed them that she is not an armrest.

Jace kept trying to go get more food at this point and it seemed every time he got up a character would be announced. I assured him I'd give him plenty of time to eat after he met everyone- there were only two left after all! Anastasia was next and she was fun as well! She asked Jace if this was his first visit and then told him how lucky he was to get to met her on his first visit.

Last but not least was Drucilla. We'd had a little glimpse of her antics earlier so we were excited to meet her. She noted that Kya's outfit was the same beautiful color as hers but was 'ruined' by that picture (of Cinderella)!

Continued...

 

[-Hope-]

I don't think I can really capture in words how much fun all of these characters were. They never broke character and just really hammed it up, each in their own unique way. It made for a really special dinner that Kya was just THRILLED by. I was so glad we'd come. She'd loved Cinderella as a little girl and even dressed as her for Halloween one year...

I knew she'd kind of outgrown the princess phase but by choosing the dinner with the stepsisters and all their antics it helped preserve it just a little. Even Jace got into the fun and loved the outragousness of the royal family. A few other things we witnessed as the characters interacted with others:
-Anastasia polished a bald man's head before posing for a picture.
-When Lady Tremaine was announced everyone booed except two little girls who cheered. She looked at them stoically and said, "Yes, I know."
-Cinderella kissed a little boy (about 4) who wiped it off then refused to stand near her for a picture.

​

I did still have one more trick up my sleeve to make sure this night was extra special...

Kya loved this white chocolate slipper- Jace seemed unimpressed and didn't even taste it. He had ice cream for dessert instead. Oh well, more for me! This might possibly be the BEST thing I've ever eaten! The white chocolate had a nutty flavor that was complimented by the richness of the mousse and it was just heavenly! Kya loved it too and we ate it all! The slipper is actually pretty small and I'd purposely only gotten one plate of food from the buffet to save room for it. It was the perfect ending to the perfect meal.

We took the monorail back to MK. It was VERY full and when Robbie made a face I practiced my new mantra, "I am not responsible for his good time." He can be very negative when it comes to things like crowds- I tell him that no one likes crowds but I think their worth it for the fun things you get to do. He doesn't, he'd rather sit at home and avoid the crowds. That's fine I guess, just a difference in personalities but I have a tendancy to take it personally when he doesn't enjoy things I've planned. I'm trying to let go of that and found myself repeating that mantra to myself a few times during the week. When we got home he did admit that he'd had some fun moments and that he was glad the kids got to have the experience and he got to see them have it. It just wasn't his thing. That moment on the monorail just reminded of that and that I didn't have to try to force him to have a good time.

Up next: our first day at EPCOT

 

[lexmas]

Dinner sounds WONDERFUL! What great character interactions. For that kind of fun they could have fed you all cardboard. (Well, other than the slipper. The slipper looks great!) Well worth waiting 50 minutes!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

I'M HERE!!! I FOUND YOU!!!