Baby and the Tramp...and a Pop (half) Century! Where Did It Go???

[DISUNC]

Your pics keep getting better and better. I noticed the miniature train pictures. Do you know if they are still there? I thought I read somewhere that they have been removed.

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

 

[Lovemy3babes]

Your pictures are beautiful MeMom! We didn't have enough time in Epcot on our last trip to even see World Showcase. (the horror...I know.) So, your photos really make me want to take it all in next time!

 

[BrooklynnsMommy]

Brooklynsmommy!!!! Those are great pictures!!!!! I love the find the hidden memom!!
Memom told me you were going to be in Disney in October! We are too!!

We will be there the 4-11. I think we have decided to stay at Pop since we now have to buy airline tickets for Thanksgiving. we will have to try to meet up.

 

[MeMom]

Remember that I last told you we were opening up Magic Kingdom? Keep that in mind when you see the following pictures.

We got up early and made a very quick stop at the food court, which was just barely coming to life.

Brooklynn eating a bite of breakfast on the bus.

We cleaned up every crumb; I promise. You really aren't supposed to eat on the bus, but we made a quiet and unnoticed exception this morning. She didn't get anything on anyone, she only ate part of the one item, and we cleaned up any crumb she did spill.

This is what the rest of our bus looked like.

This is what Magic Kingdom looks like while most of its guests are sleeping.

I kind of like this picture.

The opening show started.

As soon as they let us in, I wanted to get a picture of the streets as empty as possible.

The sun started coming up a little more.

We think it is very worthwhile to get up early and get to Magic Kingdom. We can do all of Fantasyland in no time, and we're heading to Tomorrowland or any other land by the time there is any hint of a crowd at all.

Let's keep that our little secret though, huh?

 

[Lovemy3babes]

MeMom! What time was the MK opening? I've never seen such empty pictures before!

 

[snowbell]

What time did the park open?? Is it dark because of daylight savings??? I am confused. Maybe that is because i had a wine tasting last night... lol

 

[GorshGoofy]

What time did the park open?? Is it dark because of daylight savings??? I am confused. Maybe that is because i had a wine tasting last night... lol

MeMom: I'm curious too! How early did MK open ... talk about EXTRA Magic Hours!!!!!! I'm loving the photos of Brooklyn ... reminds me of my little girl at that age. She is now almost 16 ........ I'm not ready!!!!!!!!

 

[Nicole786]

I know others have asked this but what time did MK open, wow!! I love walking through MK empty, David and I did that last trip with an early Crystal Palace ADR and we are repeating that this trip, can't wait!

 

[TCKK]

I love those pictures. I just told DH I want to try and do EMH at MK while we're there. We really had just planned to do the late night, but now I want to do the morning to get some empty park pictures!! I bet he wishes I didn't look at your post, cause now he'll have to get up real early Oh well, he never sleeps very late anyway. It'll actually be the DD's that won't want to get up probably.

Waiting to get the answer everyone else asked - What time was it anyway

 

[MeMom]

28 days 10 hours 44 minutes
That's what our countdown is saying!

I believe that morning the park opened at 7:00. That seems to correlate with the darkness and sun coming up in the pictures, too, so I believe that is right.

We go first to Dumbo, then to Peter Pan, because those two rides are usually full all day. We walk right on, as you could tell by the pictures. After that, we do the rest of Fantasyland, and in less than two hours, without racing, we are walking away from that area as the regular crowd is starting to file in. We more often go then to Tomorrowland than any other place, and after Tomorrowland, to Toontown. That's our strategy, and it has always worked beautifully for us. We are more apt to do Adventureland and Frontierland later in the day, if we stick around and don't end up going back to the room. We've come to like watching the parades from back that way, too.

If you can get all of your people up, you can do all that and be back at the room in the hottest part of the day for pool time and a good nap before heading back out again for supper and evening fun.

 

[carrieannie]

Your early morning pictures are amazing MeMom!! WOW!!

 

[MeMom]

TCKK - I'm glad you are enjoying the pictures, and I hope it is helping to get you even more excited for your trip in less than ten weeks.

Nicole - You just have to take the time to slow down and see the details, but I think that's something that you tend to do the older you get. When you are young and full of energy, you're flying from thrill ride to thrill ride, but when you're older and slower, you have time to look at the little things.

Jacobsmom00 - I find something new on every trip. Disney is just awesome with creating all that wonderful detail, and I'm happy to photograph it to share with others.

moparop - That's exactly what I want to do with the pictures, so I appreciate that comment. I don't understand people who don't 'get it' when it comes to that special Disney feeling. Not only do I get it/understand the magic - I'm ridiculous about it. And so is my dear eldest child.

declansdad - The trains had been taken out for repairs for a while, and I didn't know if they were coming back, either, but they were there in March.

DISUNC - The trains were back. They need to invent a screaming, hair-raising smilie with lime green hair just for you!

Our trips are almost here. Since we had PMed about a meet, and Saratoga Springs is the only resort I have never been to, maybe we could just meet you there at some point. Just think about your schedule and give us some times you might be hanging out by the pool or doing something around the resort that we wouldn't be interrupting, and we'll run over there real quick. We won't stay but a few minutes. Just long enough to put a name to a face and see Saratoga Springs, but not long enough to intrude on your special vacation time. You can PM something that you think might work.

Lovemy3babes - With three active kids, you wouldn't spend as much time at World Showcase as I would, of course, but you should walk around it once with the kids and do all or some of the Kidcot activities. They would probably enjoy them. One of my favorite pictures of Drew is when he was about five, and he had on a blue smock and black beret and was painting at an easel in France. It is so cute!

BrooklynnsMommy - Sounds like you may have a Dis meet coming with hlrababy.

Enjoy your Saturday sleeping in. I love you! I can't wait to see the December scrapbook. Maybe you can take some pictures of it to put on here.

Lovemy3babes, snowbell, GorshGoofy, Nicole, TCKK - Now you know - it was early early. But it was worth it. Just don't tell the rest of the world, or our plan might not be quite as good. We're counting on the fact that most people like to sleep in on vacation and the strategy will continue to be a good one.

carrieannie - Thanks! It's good to hear from you.

 

[moparop]

That's such an amazing set of pics! You have all of MK to yourself. WAY fun!!

 

[punkin413]

We go first to Dumbo, then to Peter Pan, because those two rides are usually full all day. We walk right on, as you could tell by the pictures. After that, we do the rest of Fantasyland, and in less than two hours, without racing, we are walking away from that area as the regular crowd is starting to file in. We more often go then to Tomorrowland than any other place, and after Tomorrowland, to Toontown. That's our strategy, and it has always worked beautifully for us. We are more apt to do Adventureland and Frontierland later in the day, if we stick around and don't end up going back to the room. We've come to like watching the parades from back that way, too.

that's very similar to our plan! we don't usually get up early (we're just not morning people) but when we do a rope drop we always go to fantasyland first and knock out a few of those rides because that place is CRAZY the rest of the day. then we go to toon town for character meetings because it doesn't open until 10 usually. then either to tomorrowland or take the train to frontierland. it's always good to conquer fantasyland as early as possible!

 

[MeMom]

It is now officially June, which means we are going to go to our happy place this month! Summer school starts tomorrow and will run up until the day before we leave, so it should go fast. However, that also makes my summer go too fast, so I'm sort of having mixed feelings about the speed with which I'd like these days to pass. My prediction is that each of them will last 24 hours, and there's not much I can change about that.

Here are a few pictures from Fantasyland as it got a little lighter.

Brooklynn and Mommy riding Dumbo.

Remember - no crowds. Isn't this a cute little place?

We jumped on the hunny pots.

When I'm riding a hunny pot, it's the only time I ever see elephants carrying umbrellas. For real.

Cute little checkout counter.

Another ride on 'Mall Word' for Brooklynn.

Browsing through shops.

A shopper-in-training.

Back out to the 'horthees'.

Then on to Philharmagic.

We really should have tried to catch Wheezy's show, since it was in it's final squeak and all.
I appreciate Disney humor, don't you?

Except for Stitch's Great Escape. That I don't get.

Details in the stage frame.

After Philharmagic, it was time for us to head to other areas.

 

[SwansLoveDisney]

A zero minute wait?!? That's awesome!

I agree...I do not get Stitch's Great Escape. Not even for a second.

 

[moparop]

That looks like an awesome morning!! I really think wheezy's show would be worth catching. I wonder where you find it?

Are you doing summer school with third graders? Reading and math I assume?

 

[MeMom]

Time to go other places.

Kay and I went on Splash Mountain. Come and ride along with us.

This is your last chance to get off. You have been warned.

Here we go!!!

Ride will be continued in the next post.
Remain seated - no standing.
And keep your hands out of the water!
I'll be back to let you ride down momentarily.

 

[MeMom]

Did you stay seated? Are your hands still dry? Good, then let's continue the ride. (I apologize for the blurry pictures coming up.)

Going down!!!!

Splash!!!

Zip a dee doo dah!

That was fun!

Now get off and let someone else have a turn.

Here's a point where all of our trips sort of run together in my mind. I think we baby-swapped and Jill and Kay went, but I'm not sure. Jill can confirm or deny that. Also, notice the three water bottles in the outside garden? I was thinking Trent and I saw those on our November trip, but obviously I'm wrong.

Next up: Toontown.

 

[TCKK]

Wow, I love that ride. It is so awesome!! I remember the 1st time I rode it with my DD's. The little one was only about 3 or so and I let her ride with her sister who was 6 or 7. I rode behind them. I don't know what I was thinking when I did that, but I prayed the whole ride that she wouldn't fly out of the boat going down the hill. She was so little and I would have enjoyed the ride a lot more if I could've held her in. But since you've seen pictures of her when she's older, you know she didn't fly out and I still love that ride. DH has never ridden it so I'm going to show him your pictures so he can check it out. Thanks for taking and posting them.