Back from Wonderland:wAlice,Madhatter,ChesCat&White Rabbit 11/11Thank You

[praisehisname]

You had a very productive shopping trip in DTD! I love those pretzels and am very sad they are no longer included as a snack. Oh, well...I'm getting them anyway!

Denise

 

[aprilisis]

That is SO awesome about the upgrade to Savannah view concierge. You guys really know how to do the Marketplace- it sounds like you had a blast!! I love those Alice earrings, btw. I look forward to reading more!

 

[lisalonglash]

Madhatter goes into a major type A mode- getting securely onto our flight is a kind of minivictory and he looks at the process as a little strategic battle...

THAT could be written word-for-word about Grumpy too!

Sorry about the rough flight Tigger, Mickey and I all take Gravol before flying, always. No upset tummies and a bonus effect of making us sleepy

Wooohoooo for the double upgrade - now THAT is some great ! AKL sounds gorgeous

The boys and I are looking forward to trying to cram in as many Mr. Potato Head parts as possible into the container - I'm bringing two Mr. Potato Head bodies so we'll have more room for the parts

The Alice earrings are sweet

The Lego store there is otherwise known as "the black hole into which Tigger and Mickey go, and never want to come out"

WPE sounds yummy! We went to WPC for lunch our last day there and it was wonderful!

How much fun is Goofy's Candy Company?! FDD be darned, I'm having the marshmellows again Hey, does that mean I'm a rebel just like you?!

Looking forward to your next update!

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

THE MAGIC KINGDOM REALLY IS MAGIC. ..Day 3-Pt 1

Athough today is day three of our vacatiom its actually the 2nd day at WDW-and the first day we woke up there...there is something blissful about that first day you open your eyes...and slowly it dawns on you were you are...

The beds at the AKL are super comfy and I had opened the curtains before I went to bed knowing that the light would wake us up and that with any luck we would see some animals up and about...


We were in luck...

HELLO MY ZEBRA FRIEND...Smile for my DIS friends...


Since we now had concierge privileges...I sent Hatter-who was the first dressed upstairs with Alice to bring some breakfast back down-I had plans for sitting out on the balcony with my coffee watching the savanna...(that were not going to be interrupted even by the ability to eat in the concierge lounge...the concierge lounge provides a nice little breakfast spread...hot (oatmeal & quinoa) and cold cereals, fruit salad, yogurts, croissants, muffins, juices, milks, coffee and tea, an espresso and cappuccino maker...we really had no need to get breakfast at Mara other than a hankering Rabbit had for Mickey waffles later in the week-(I'd love to find a Mickey Waffle Iron...)

Also I had packed my very own Kenyan coffee from Starbucks to make in the room coffee maker and take to the parks on the buses in the morning...this turned out to be a boon-it was really nice to be able to carry a good cup of coffee down while waiting in line for the bus-and since they had lids- actually on to the buses...

Somehow due to Hatter's early bird catches the worm philosophy-we found ourselves out, down and on the bus by 8 for a 9 MK rope drop...(I am in a constant struggle with Hatter's DW travel philosophy-He is all about getting to the rope drop positioning yourself just so and knowing all about where you're headed-today Fantasy land first up to ride PP and Pooh, IASW and the Teacups...before hitting Frontierland and those Mountains in Frontierland...I applaud the efficiency of this while at the same time I struggle with the urge to get in slowly, stopping to smell the flowers along the way...to which he would respond...we can smell the flowers after we've been on Splash and BTMRR...(he is very polite, he doesn't push...he just makes sure that we "efficiently" make our make to our first "target"...)

Today was going to be David's "official Disney" birthday and he was wearing his birthday button and it just turned out that there was a family with two little boys in front of us with a son that was celebrating his 7th birthday also...we struck up a conversation with the family-just another nice thing about DW is how friendly & polite (mostly) everyone is and how easy it is to get info warm conversation with perfect strangers...

(BTW-I have failed to mention a 5th member of our traveling party who was going to accompany us on our trip: Jedi Mickey-Rabbit had received Jedi Mickey for his birthday and your author, the Cheshire Cat-Chessie for short thought it would be fun to create a story/scrapbook album for Rabbit based on the travels of Jedi Mickey as a souvenir for him-...the fact that this is a shameless copy gleamed from ideas from other trip reportsyou know who you are---frankly bothers me in the least...although I am constantly grateful to the endless creativity and plans of others....


We were pressed pretty close to the front so we weren't in good view of the opening show...(although we could hear it) and with a stern look directed at the Hatter I informed no one in particular that when we came back for a second morning at the MK-I would be stepping back and watching the opening show...

I don't have many photos of Main Street that morning since we were being quickly spirited by Hatter down the street towards our "targets" in Fantasyland...I will say that even though I've seen Main Street at least about 8 times in my life...it never thrills me or fails to make me fail like an eight year old waiting to see Santa Claus...it was a gorgeous sunny morning and everything looked so fresh and bright and Main Street was welcoming like a movie set in the early part of the 1900s-like "Meet Me in St. Louis" and I felt like I just wanted to live there...(it also reminds me a lot of a series of books I read as a kid-the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace-they took place in Deep Valley, MN turn of the century-1900s...and I REALLY wanted to go live with them...)

Up through the castle...(it's funny because I think the Castle is stunning-but I want to live in/on Main Street...)...and into Fantasyland and towards our first goal of the day...Peter Pan's Magical Adventure...

I LOVE this ride...and my 2 favorite parts are towards the beginning when you're flying over London...all those twinkling lights below...Big Ben...(and even now that I've seen the real London...I may love it more because it brings back all those memories too...) and the end when Peter has control of the ship again and they're on the way home...All in all it was a very satisfactory ride...



WE then bumped back over to the Adventures of Winnie the Pooh...(I have a tiny confession to make-when I first rode this ride I wasn't sure if I was going to like it...NOT because I don't like the Milne books or the Disney movies but honestly...........
I find the costumed Pooh characters a little scary...OK a lot SCARY -I mean come on Piglet is tiny in the movie and books and the costumed one is HUGE and REALLY, REALLY PINK...and we won't even get into Tigger and Pooh...I don't where this comes from-I love all the other characters-they aren't to scale either...but the Pooh characters...they just creep me out a bit-like a 4 year old's nightmare...)

...but I love the ride...(I do miss Mr. Toad-I'd have chosen to get rid of Snow White's Scary Adventures and keep Mr. Toad-but no one asked me)...the ride is fun and I love the bounciness and the part where you feel like you've been caught up in the water and are floating in your honeypot...

We then back tracked over to It's a Small World...It's corny but it's also wonderful...so full of history-World's Fair and all that...

At this point...we were thinking about getting on the Train in ToonTown to take us around to Frontierland and the Mountains-Splash and Big Thunder but first we had a date with the teacups...

The Rabbit and are both big teacup fans...we like to spin...Hatter and Alice quite frankly-not so much...they agreed to go on provided that we would keep the spinning to a minimum...I think this ride is so pretty (and it doesn't hurt that I'm a huge Alice in Wonderland fan)...all of those Chinese lanterns and the large tea pot in the middle with the dormouse popping in and out...I always think it would be kind of cool to have a smaller version of this in our backyard-can you imagine the great parties this would lend itself to?

OMG-as we're spinning I SPOT HER-ALICE-the Alice-Alice in Wonderland....we've got to get out and meet her...

She was a very good Alice-great voice and conversations-there was no Mad Hatter though and I was a little bit sad about that (I'll have to book a 1900 Park Fare Breakfast next time to get my Mad Hatter fix or even better I've heard that the whole Wonderland Cast is at the Halloween Party-can anyone verify this?)

We happily made our way over to Toontown and rode the Barnstormer-this is the first coaster that Rabbit ever rode-so it's sentimental and quite frankly it's not a bad little coaster-I scream...and since I rode with Rabbit he laughed hysterically from the fun of the ride and the silliness of mommy screaming on it...

After a restroom/water pit stop...Rabbit, Alice and I went into Mickey's House while Hatter checked in the tent to see what characters where there-the Fairies apparently-with a 75 minute wait...we would not be doing that today-primarily because 1. we can all be impatient and 2. there aren't any major fairy fans in our crew-Tink yes but I kind of like her with the PP crew...

So all aboard the train...methinks the train is highly underated...it is a superb way to save some walking as well as well kind of charming and fun...and a great way to get different perspectives of the park...

so around past Main Street we went...destination Frontierland and Spash and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad...

 

[cjackearl]

Great update! What a piece of heaven to sit out on your balcony, nibbling on free and delicious breakfast choices and watching zebras to begin your day.

When you said you saw Alice and had to get out and meet her, I pictured you hurtling out of your spinning teacup at her! I'm sure you let the teacup stop, though.

Love, love your tee. Is that the one you bought at Tren-D?

I completely agree that the railroad is under utilized. We used it to get from Toon town to Frontierland also.

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Ok, all caught up. Double upgrades?! WOW!! Congratulations. Looking forward to seeing some concierge pictures.

What an adorable picture of DS in the ME. Cute dimples.

I LOVE those Alice earings. I'm sure DD will love them, too. And if she doesn't, I'll PM you my address.

So smart of DH to make a second light saber. Every good jedi needs a foe to battle.

Yes double upgrades-pretty sweet...

The Alice earrings are really awesome-I wouldn't mind them myself...

Yep- and every grown man needs an excuse to play with toys...

You had a very productive shopping trip in DTD! I love those pretzels and am very sad they are no longer included as a snack. Oh, well...I'm getting them anyway!

Denise

You go Denise ...and if you ever need any pretzel enabling don't hesitate to ask...

That is SO awesome about the upgrade to Savannah view concierge. You guys really know how to do the Marketplace- it sounds like you had a blast!! I love those Alice earrings, btw. I look forward to reading more!

The upgrade was magical...they had Alice necklaces too ...

THAT could be written word-for-word about Grumpy too!

Sorry about the rough flight Tigger, Mickey and I all take Gravol before flying, always. No upset tummies and a bonus effect of making us sleepy

Wooohoooo for the double upgrade - now THAT is some great ! AKL sounds gorgeous

The boys and I are looking forward to trying to cram in as many Mr. Potato Head parts as possible into the container - I'm bringing two Mr. Potato Head bodies so we'll have more room for the parts

The Alice earrings are sweet

The Lego store there is otherwise known as "the black hole into which Tigger and Mickey go, and never want to come out"

WPE sounds yummy! We went to WPC for lunch our last day there and it was wonderful!

How much fun is Goofy's Candy Company?! FDD be darned, I'm having the marshmellows again Hey, does that mean I'm a rebel just like you?!

Looking forward to your next update!

Hey-I never thought of bringing the potatoes-great idea-now we have two potatoes but the parts they have are endless-I was eyeing the Mary Poppin parts...hmmm...next time

Yep the Lego store is equivalent to a World Heritage Site to those who are all about the lego... (I don't know if you've ever been to Legoland in CA but you should see THAT store...I thought David would pass out from the excitement of the thing...

BE a rebel - you go get whatever you darn well want from Goofy's...hmmm...actually... I think the marshmallows just might still be covered... because they stack three of them on one stick which is less work than three separate rods to dip...(the change in the plan apparently had to do with the time it takes the CM to make the items...???:

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Yay for meeting Alice! We saw the White Rabbit on our trip to the teacups and I immediately thought of you

How incredibly beautiful it must have been to be able to sit on your balcony with a good cup of coffee and just enjoy. Sigh.

I'm pretty sure you an buy Mickey Head waffle irons somewhere. I think I remember seeing them in the store in MK that has the checker board setup on a barrel.... over where you have the ears embroidered? I'm going to check it out anyway next trip

We love the train too and I'm looking forward to more Jedi Mickey!

 

[Lady Lallie]

I'm all caught up! Yay!!

I can't believe it...a double upgrade! WOO HOO! That is so exciting. So exciting it makes me want to stay at a Deluxe in January just for the hope of an upgrade.

I love that you were able to meet Alice on your first MK morning.

 

[dismagiclover]

It sounds like concierege breakfasts were great. And I'm sure what made them even greater is you weren't paying any extra to be there I'm a little nervous to admit it, but I'm with Mad Hatter on the rope drop thing. I actually like the adrenaline rush of hurtling down Main Street first thing in the morning to get that first ride of the morning. Nothing beats the thrill of being on the very first Dumbo ride of the morning. (Well there are maybe somethings that do, but you know what I mean.) Though I'm with you on loving Main Street. It's my happy place, but I tend to linger there later in the day and evening when the rides have long lines. I totally agree with you on keeping the Toad instead of Snow White. One of the best things about Disneyland is he's still there! I'm so happy you met Alice! Too bad about the Mad Hatter Can't wait for more!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Don't you just love the concierge breakfast spread?! We really enjoy that at GF! We also really enjoyed the evening treats and such as well!

Sounds like you had a great morning in MK!! It's wonderful that you got to met After riding the teas cups! The Mad Hatter at 1900 Park Fare is a riot! Too cute! DD and I went there last year on her B-day for breakfast and we got to met him. DD was a little freaked by him though!

Can't wait to see what the rest of the day had in store!!

 

[mousescrapper]

Wonderful updates Chessie....

We love the Mr. Potato Head parts bins too....we have a few potatoes at home, so we just fill up the boxes We did it in 05 and 08...

just the other day I was finishing cleaning up in the basement, I found some parts to be out away and instead of just putting away I decided to make a special Potato

He had his Hatter on too! Now I have not seen the tea cup....that would be FUN! we may need to get some more parts in our future

Your perched spot drinking your coffee and looking out at the animls...sounds and looks just DIVINE!!!!

Hatter and I would get along I'm afraid w/ the whole Touring plan fanatic scheme...though I'm trying to be more let's just take our time and actually smell the flowers and SEE the MAGIC w/in it all...especially after reading (not done yet) the Hidden Magic of WDW book I got.

I plan to type up a list of stuff I want to try and find...I'll post it w/ the next PTR for the Nov. trip

looking forward to more

and oohh we really need to get those treats at GCC...we have yet to do that

J-

 

[thewesterberg]

Just found my way over to your TR - you're off to a great start! NYC looks like so much fun - it's on our "must get there someday" list! And a double upgrade - you lucky ducks!! No wonder we never saw you around the resort...

Can't wait to read more!!!

 

[jenjolt]

What an awesome update!! I'm so glad you were able to meet up with Alice...isn't she so sweet!! I loved meeting her in January!! From what I have heard yes the White Rabbit and the Queen of Hearts make an appearance at the Halloween Party...I will make sure to take some photos and let you know!!!

Oh and Nobby says to tell you he is dying to ride IASW with Jedi Mickey...so we'll need to arrange that for them LOL!!!!

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Great update! What a piece of heaven to sit out on your balcony, nibbling on free and delicious breakfast choices and watching zebras to begin your day.

When you said you saw Alice and had to get out and meet her, I pictured you hurtling out of your spinning teacup at her! I'm sure you let the teacup stop, though.

Love, love your tee. Is that the one you bought at Tren-D?

I completely agree that the railroad is under utilized. We used it to get from Toon town to Frontierland also.

I miss my balcony...sigh...there really is something to be said for sitting out, drinking your coffee and watching zebras and giraffes...

Ummm...your description of me hurtling out of the spinning cup isn't all that far off......if I had seen any of the other Alice characters with her...I might not have let the tea cup come to a full stop...

Yes-I did buy that shirt at TrendD-I love it-it's really soft cotton-I ddi see it at a couple of stores in the park though also...

I know -the train is a great way to traverse the distances in the park...plus you get views from on there that you don't anywhere else...

Yay for meeting Alice! We saw the White Rabbit on our trip to the teacups and I immediately thought of you

How incredibly beautiful it must have been to be able to sit on your balcony with a good cup of coffee and just enjoy. Sigh.

I'm pretty sure you an buy Mickey Head waffle irons somewhere. I think I remember seeing them in the store in MK that has the checker board setup on a barrel.... over where you have the ears embroidered? I'm going to check it out anyway next trip

We love the train too and I'm looking forward to more Jedi Mickey!

Awww-the White Rabbit-I haven't seen him for ages...I've heard that all the Wonderland Characters are all there on Halloween and if that's true...I'm going (next year)...

Coffee + sitting on the balcony at AKL watching the giraffe=

Well I'm on a mission to track a Mickey waffle iron down...so if you see one let me know...

Jedi Mickey will return...

I'm all caught up! Yay!!

I can't believe it...a double upgrade! WOO HOO! That is so exciting. So exciting it makes me want to stay at a Deluxe in January just for the hope of an upgrade.

I love that you were able to meet Alice on your first MK morning.

LL-welcome back...I'm glad you are recovering...

The upgrade was an amazing surprise and seeing Alice was -I was hoping we'd see her around the teacups...

It sounds like concierege breakfasts were great. And I'm sure what made them even greater is you weren't paying any extra to be there I'm a little nervous to admit it, but I'm with Mad Hatter on the rope drop thing. I actually like the adrenaline rush of hurtling down Main Street first thing in the morning to get that first ride of the morning. Nothing beats the thrill of being on the very first Dumbo ride of the morning. (Well there are maybe somethings that do, but you know what I mean.) Though I'm with you on loving Main Street. It's my happy place, but I tend to linger there later in the day and evening when the rides have long lines. I totally agree with you on keeping the Toad instead of Snow White. One of the best things about Disneyland is he's still there! I'm so happy you met Alice! Too bad about the Mad Hatter Can't wait for more!

The concierge breakfasts were great and the fact that they were gratis...made them extra special...

Yes there is definitely a part of me that wants to score the first ride on Dumbo but its in constant conflict with the slow down and smell the roses part...I guess the challenge for me is to somehow blend them...

I love Toad...in fact I love Fantasyland at DL-except I do think MK's castle is prettier than DL's...

 

[tiggrbaby]

Great update! How magical to see Alice right after the ride!

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Don't you just love the concierge breakfast spread?! We really enjoy that at GF! We also really enjoyed the evening treats and such as well!

Sounds like you had a great morning in MK!! It's wonderful that you got to met After riding the teas cups! The Mad Hatter at 1900 Park Fare is a riot! Too cute! DD and I went there last year on her B-day for breakfast and we got to met him. DD was a little freaked by him though!

Can't wait to see what the rest of the day had in store!!

Hatter and I were very impressed with the both the variety and amount of food in the concierge lounge...in fact I think you could practically eat two meals in there -breakfast and a light dinner and just book a lunch each day...but that would tie up your mobility...

We had a great start in the MK-seeing Alice was a delight...we did the Park Fare Breakfast a couple years ago and I loved it but I could see Hatter getting intense...

we did quite a bit more that morning-coming up...

Wonderful updates Chessie....

We love the Mr. Potato Head parts bins too....we have a few potatoes at home, so we just fill up the boxes We did it in 05 and 08...

just the other day I was finishing cleaning up in the basement, I found some parts to be out away and instead of just putting away I decided to make a special Potato

He had his Hatter on too! Now I have not seen the tea cup....that would be FUN! we may need to get some more parts in our future

Your perched spot drinking your coffee and looking out at the animls...sounds and looks just DIVINE!!!!

Hatter and I would get along I'm afraid w/ the whole Touring plan fanatic scheme...though I'm trying to be more let's just take our time and actually smell the flowers and SEE the MAGIC w/in it all...especially after reading (not done yet) the Hidden Magic of WDW book I got.

I plan to type up a list of stuff I want to try and find...I'll post it w/ the next PTR for the Nov. trip

looking forward to more

and oohh we really need to get those treats at GCC...we have yet to do that

J-

I have to confess I enjoy those potato head accessories a little more than I should...I think I need to keep one on my desk...or maybe not-too tempting...

My AKL Balcony and me=

Yeah Hatter is really a great guy...he's just destination oriented while I'm all about the journey-we actually make a good team as long as we aren't disagreeing...I try to remember that and let the small stuff go and pick my battles...

Aww-the Hidden Magic of WDW-hmm...sounds like another one for my book list...

If you get to DTD-defintely go to Goofy's...

hmm I have to check your list of to do's and see if I want to "borrow" anymore of your ideas...

Just found my way over to your TR - you're off to a great start! NYC looks like so much fun - it's on our "must get there someday" list! And a double upgrade - you lucky ducks!! No wonder we never saw you around the resort...

Can't wait to read more!!!

great to have you over...we have another overnight in NY coming up in November using the last of Hatters' hotel bonus points-one of the very few benefits when he traveled a lot for work...it should be cooler -Autumn is a gorgeous time in NY...

I'm dying to read your TR since our time overlapped -curious to see your take on things...

What an awesome update!! I'm so glad you were able to meet up with Alice...isn't she so sweet!! I loved meeting her in January!! From what I have heard yes the White Rabbit and the Queen of Hearts make an appearance at the Halloween Party...I will make sure to take some photos and let you know!!!

Oh and Nobby says to tell you he is dying to ride IASW with Jedi Mickey...so we'll need to arrange that for them LOL!!!!

Alice is absolutely darling...& OMG-I have to meet the Queen of Hearts...(and the White Rabbit)...I'll be waiting to read your Halloween trippie...I am so there (next year) if that whole crew is there...

Jedi Mickey enjoyed IASW very much-I think he felt quite at home there-everything much more to his scale...I'm sure he'd love to accompany a gnome of Nobby's obvious good taste and adventures...I'm sure they could swap some great stories...

 

[Charleston Princess]

You met Alice!!!!

Okay, now I am going back to the beginning --

How heavenly to wake up to zebras and concierge breakfast goodies! Now that's the way I would like every morning to start for me.

DH and his target rides -- I am afraid I can be guilty of that, but look how many rides you did first thing -- that is awesome!

I, too, would like a teacup ride in my backyard!

 

[KathyRN137]

Awww-the White Rabbit-I haven't seen him for ages...I've heard that all the Wonderland Characters are all there on Halloween and if that's true...I'm going (next year)...

Hi Patricia!

During the MNSSHP the bridge from Toontown to Tomorrowland is Alice and Mad Hatter's Treat Path and you can meet Alice, Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts, Mr. Walrus, White Rabbit, and the Queen's army of playing cards!

Tweedledum and Tweedledee hang out at the Mad Tea Party...

(Guess you're going now, huh?!)

I was thrilled to read about your "double" upgrade at AKL... how amazing! I love the tee shirt, too.

You tell your story so beautifully; I feel as if I'm right there with you! Looking forward to more...


Kathy

 

[hhockman]

What a great update. It looks so awesome to be sitting on the patio just enjoying your breakfast. Most of our breakfasts are planned for in the room, but we'll be eating food we bring and we won't have a patio. They don't even have conceirge at POR. Oh well. We'll still be in Disney!

LOVE your shirt. I'm going to have to look for that one!

I too thought you'd pretty much jumped out of the cups to get at Alice!

Kathy answered your question but here are some pics for you. They're not great, but you can see the characters...well some of them...kinda.

These are from 2007. They aren't in my PTR and I never got that far on the TR from that trip, so I uploaded them just for you!

We aren't doing MNSSHP this year because of $$$. I wish we were, since the boys are doing Pirate League that day, but we had to kind of choose that OR Pirate League not both. LOL You should definitely go, though. It's a lot of fun (and you get a TON of candy-real candy too, not the cheap stuff).

I love Barnstormer. It needs to be a little longer, but it's still fun. On our last trip Christian went (he was just past 2), but Will refused (he was 5 1/2). Thankfully, I think Will is a little more adventurous now (and ironically, Matt made him do Expedition Everest-he didn't enjoy it, but he loved the attention he got for doing it!).

Looking forward to the rest of your fun filled day!

 

[Flossbolna]

What a wonderful start for your first park day! I love having breakfast at AKL on the balcony. Last weekend Katharina was talking about just that. Even though she hasn't been to WDW yet, she has already learned about the most important things like rope drop, breakfast on balcony etc. from me! And what a bonus to be able to get things from the CL.

It just seems so perfect that you got to meet Alice on your first day!