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

[mickeysmyboy]

It sounds like you had a lovely time in the city!!

I'm so jealous you went to the MOMA!! THe Met and The Guggenheim! It's been years since I've been to any of them and really would love an art trip to the city!

I've tried several time to get DH to take me to the city for my birthday to go to the Met. But he's not an art person! My "if I can go to hockey games you can go to an art museum" argument has never gotten me very far. Maybe I'll try again for my next birthday...

I love the Hidden Mickey on a bender comment! I totally see it

 

[Rebecuberduber]

Ooh, last day. It's sad to see it end. I'm so sorry about the camera scare. That's an unfortunate thing to consume your last day. It's nice when the last days get to be serene and laid back. However, it's so wonderful and miraculous almost that you found it, again! I'm SO glad there are still enough decent people in the world to do things like going out of there way to take the precious camera to a CM. Three cheers for good samaritans, that one in particular!
The plaza sounds fun. I've never eaten there, but I do love Main Street and spending time in the shops around that area. I love the idea of eating there. And I love burgers.
Too bad about Space Mountain. We recently found out Splash Mountain will be closed when we're there. I know you don't particularly like the ride, but it's our family favorite so we're all exceedingly bummed out. So, anyway, I empathize.
Also wanted to say that we successfully booked the pirate cruise for my three sisters. That will be the perfect birthday surprise for them, since they all have birthdays close together and right around our trip dates. I'm so excited to send them. I'm so excited that I heard about it from you! I would have never known there was such a thing! And the price is really reasonable, too, for Disney.
Thanks for your trip report and for sharing your experiences for us all to enjoy and learn from! I look forward to your closing post, and then your PTR for the next trip! It's sad to see this one end, but it's a nice consolation to know there will be a new one starting, soon!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Crap - hate when I can't see pcitures at work!

Grrrr... me too. Although I have this weird visual in my head of what it will be.

 

[Charleston Princess]

We did have a fun if sleepy time... when did you get your Alice doll...do you have any others?...-those little ones are really cute...we saw the Queen of Hearts and the White Rabbit too...

Last year or the year before -- my mom gave her to me for Christmas. I really like the Queen of Hearts, too.

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Oh my goodness but those Alice dolls were lovely! Looks like a fabulous weekend. Patricia, you might have felt tired but, looked great!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Since you asked about it: Halloween really isn't celebrated in Germany as it is in the US. But October 31 is an important day in quite a large part of Germany as it is reformation day. Supposedly Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on October 31. Since large areas of Germany are Lutheran, it is widely celebrated (and a public holiday in some areas). In more catholic areas November 1, All Saints Day, is celebrated. It is a tradition to visit the family grave and to decorate it with heather or such.

Halloween is only adopted from the US. Some people tend to dislike it as it is mainly commercially driven. Especially it isn't common to go trick or treating.

Trick or treating is connected with another holiday here in Germany: Saint Martin's Day on 11/11. The story of Saint Martin (not to be confused with Martin Luther) is that he cut his coat in half on a very cold day and gave it to a beggar so that the beggar would not freeze to death. Children make lanterns for this and sing songs. They used to go from house to house performing their songs and getting treats. Today nurseries and churches will have their "St Martin's parade" where all the children walk through town with the lanterns and end up at the nursery/school/church for a small party. Oh, and people eat goose for St Martin.

Ok, now we have the trick and treating and the lanterns taken care of - the costumes take place in January/February: Carnival or Mardi Gras (we call it Fasching, pronounced liek fushing) between Christmas (or to be precise after Three Kings Day on January 6) and Ash Wednesday. Costumes are less scary and more fun, very often they are overdone uniforms as this was the only time ordinary people could make fun of the king without getting repression.

Ok, I guess you did not expect an essay on German holidays...

I love this! It's completely fascinating to me, thank you for sharing!

Eric thought this sculpture looked like a hidden Mickey who'd been on a bender......I kind of see it...

It does!!!! Henry even just pointed to it and said "Mickey". What is it supposed to be...if anything?

Okay, now Henry is calling it a train. Nope, back to Mickey.

I think he's confused.

Sounds like a really fun, but exhausting time! The party with all the teenagers sounds particularly exhausting...

 

[TyRy]

I'm so sad your TR has come to an end..it was wonderful. And thank goodness you guys got your camera back, so there is still some good out there! I love that the MK has to be visited on the last day, I think we always try and do that as well just to "say goodbye to the castle."

And I absolutely agree - the picture is Mickey after a long night out with the boys!

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

I love the Hidden Mickey on a bender! Hilarious!!

The Alice dolls are just beautiful too!

I kind of want one of those dolls...

Crap - hate when I can't see pcitures at work!

uggh...that would be frustrating......everyone seems to agree with the Mickey on a Bender...poor artist...

It sounds like you had a lovely time in the city!!

I'm so jealous you went to the MOMA!! THe Met and The Guggenheim! It's been years since I've been to any of them and really would love an art trip to the city!

I've tried several time to get DH to take me to the city for my birthday to go to the Met. But he's not an art person! My "if I can go to hockey games you can go to an art museum" argument has never gotten me very far. Maybe I'll try again for my next birthday...

I love the Hidden Mickey on a bender comment! I totally see it

Some people just don't like museums......but I think a lot of people also just had bad school experiences...

A couple of years ago the Guggenheim did a motorcycle retrospective-that would have been fun...I'll bet they got a more diverse crowd than usual-I was story to have missed it...and the MOMA is opening a Tim Burton exhibit later in the month-does he like Nightmare Before Christmas, etc...? that runs through April...(you could go there, sneak in some extra art... and get the combo ticket With the Top of the Rock...(have you been up there-fab views-better than Empire State Bldg IMHO... and then have lunch or dinner...

Ooh, last day. It's sad to see it end. I'm so sorry about the camera scare. That's an unfortunate thing to consume your last day. It's nice when the last days get to be serene and laid back. However, it's so wonderful and miraculous almost that you found it, again! I'm SO glad there are still enough decent people in the world to do things like going out of there way to take the precious camera to a CM. Three cheers for good samaritans, that one in particular!
The plaza sounds fun. I've never eaten there, but I do love Main Street and spending time in the shops around that area. I love the idea of eating there. And I love burgers.
Too bad about Space Mountain. We recently found out Splash Mountain will be closed when we're there. I know you don't particularly like the ride, but it's our family favorite so we're all exceedingly bummed out. So, anyway, I empathize.
Also wanted to say that we successfully booked the pirate cruise for my three sisters. That will be the perfect birthday surprise for them, since they all have birthdays close together and right around our trip dates. I'm so excited to send them. I'm so excited that I heard about it from you! I would have never known there was such a thing! And the price is really reasonable, too, for Disney.
Thanks for your trip report and for sharing your experiences for us all to enjoy and learn from! I look forward to your closing post, and then your PTR for the next trip! It's sad to see this one end, but it's a nice consolation to know there will be a new one starting, soon!

Yep good vibes to my good samaritan...

Splash Mountain has kind of grown on me...it's hard not to like something that is giving your family so much pleasure...it's kind of a "take one for the team" thing for me now...

Yeah for you on the pirate cruise-prepare to have a really fun time...

Awww...thanks for reading...

Grrrr... me too. Although I have this weird visual in my head of what it will be.

sigh...Welcome to my world...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Last year or the year before -- my mom gave her to me for Christmas. I really like the Queen of Hearts, too.

Yep...the Queen of Heart had lots of fun......mean but fun...mean fun...

Oh my goodness but those Alice dolls were lovely! Looks like a fabulous weekend. Patricia, you might have felt tired but, looked great!

Those dolls were really pretty...I love the dolls in there......well thanks for the compliment...you are now my new BFF...

I love this! It's completely fascinating to me, thank you for sharing!



It does!!!! Henry even just pointed to it and said "Mickey". What is it supposed to be...if anything?

Okay, now Henry is calling it a train. Nope, back to Mickey.

I think he's confused.

Sounds like a really fun, but exhausting time! The party with all the teenagers sounds particularly exhausting...

Henry is a little smartie as well as cutie...you know I've read that modern art is supposed to more accessible to children since they are more open to it...obviously true...

Aggghhhh...the teens...tiring....hmmm...thinking about posting some of those party photos in my ptr if Emily won't kill me...

I'm so sad your TR has come to an end..it was wonderful. And thank goodness you guys got your camera back, so there is still some good out there! I love that the MK has to be visited on the last day, I think we always try and do that as well just to "say goodbye to the castle."

And I absolutely agree - the picture is Mickey after a long night out with the boys!

Aww. thanks...

hmm...if Mickey was out with the boys...next time I'll have to look for Goofy and Donald...

 

[mousescrapper]

Girl...you have been a busy Mama....

and I love it that no matter where you are something reminds you of Disney

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Wrapping up this trip to Wonderland...

It has become clearer and clearer to me from my time on these boards that I am probably a bit of Disney lunatic just the way Scrooge accused his nephew Fred of being one of those "Christmas lunatics' in a Christmas Carol. Having admitted that, each trip to DWD is similar in some ways and unique in other ways...you could probably have 100 different trips to Disney based on where you stayed, where you ate and what you experienced...

I just wanted to go through a couple of the moments that made this trip special and unique from previous trips and possibly from future trips...

(It really was a lovely trip I can't seriously complain about anything...other than I would have obviously preferred not to have "lost the camera" and August is really a HOT month to go to WDW...I will try to not do August trips when posssible...but having said that if that was the only time that would work for us...I'd rather go in August than not go at all...(and there is always those great pools...)

Staying at the AKL and getting an upgrade to Sananna and Concierge was absolutely magical...AKL is a really special, really unique property...you kind of get two vacations in one...WDW and this amazing "feeling" of being somewhere in Africa...the theming is that special and unique...Even if you aren't staying there and you don't think the African theming is your cup of tea...you owe it to yourself to at least go over to the resort and have a meal and check everything out...

Favorite Dining Experiences...(this trip)

Jiko-for the quality and presentation of the food

Sanaa-for the overall whole experience-view, food, service

Boma-for the variety of different food items to try

YES the AKL Trifecta of Food...then

Tusker House Breakfast-for the fun of the characters in safari gear

Yak and Yeti-because I had low expectations...and we had a lot of fun here (very Indiana Jones inside) and the food was tasty

Sci Fi-because eating a burger and fries while watching those old film clips
is too much fun...

Favorite Ride Experiences

The Haunted Mansion-because I love the scary but not too gross scary, creepy fantasy feeling of it...

Splash Mountain-I have learned to love it because it's my family's favorite and I want to share it...

Pirates of the Caribbean-it's old, it's new...it's all good

Expedition Everest-I love that I did it...survived and it was fun...I'll do it again!

Kali River Rapids-just fun...wish it was longer...

Toy Story Mania-Like being inside a video game-but even better...plus Toy Story theme...nuff said

Test Track-Going 60 mph feels so much faster in those cars than when you are driving on the road in your own car...

Best Attractions/Experiences

Jedi Academy-how often does your son get to fight Darth Vader and win?

Pirate's League-so fun watching the transformation into pirates...kept waiting for Captain Jack to show up...

Pirates and Pals Cruise-how often to you get to watch Wishes from the Water with a wacky pirate?

Hanging at the Lodge...just great to kick back and enjoy those AKL surroundings...

Wandering Worldshowcase...

Best Character Interactions

Alice with Baloo-she finally got to meet her childhood favorite...

Rabbit with Darth Vader-nuff said

Me with Alice-never gets old...

All four of us with the Safari Dressed Fab 4 at Tusker House...

NEXT AND LAST UP: A THANK YOU TO MY READERS AND A LINK TO MY NEW PTR-BACK TO WONDERLAND W/ A SIDE OF FRENCH FRIES...

 

[jillyb]

Great memories! Anxiously awaiting the link to your PTR!

 

[MEK]

It DOES look like a Hidden Mickey on a bender! It DOES....It REALLY DOES!


Oh....poor Mickey....he looks so....so .....so....hungover!

I love you last update. I can't believe your TR is over, but I am very happy that you are starting a PTR. And you DO NOT look exhausted in your NY pictures, but you are not smiling. I can only say this because I am the great nonsmiler!

I think I still have to catch up on a couple of your later installments, so I'm going back to see what I missed!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Lovely wrap up! People often ask me why I go back to Disney year after year. They've never been, or they went once as a young child and only have fleeting memories of crowds, lines and heat. Each vacation was different and special in its own way. Thank you for sharing yours!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Awww, that was a really lovely wrap up!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

You had such a lovely trip -- thanks for sharing it with us, and you know I will be around for the PTR!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Very nice comments on your trip! Watching and waiting for the new link....

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

I am shamelessly putting in a plug for the start of my new PTR- Back to Wonderland with a side of French Fries...link in my signature below...

 

[praisehisname]

What a great ending to your report!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Awww, I don't want it to end! You guys had such a great trip and you wrote such an amazing TR!!

I'll definitely be stopping by your new PTR...