Basking in the Glow of the (not so) Creepy Clown -2/11-Pictures, Final Thoughts, PTR!

[brookelizabeth]

Thank you so much for the Christmas in New York pictures. I've never been but now I want to watch Home Alone 2 Lost in New York. It's just to pretty and Christmasy.

You're really putting out those updates now, and I'm loving it. The photopass pictures are sooooo cute. I too like the Goofy picture and all the special pictures. I think my favorite is the Simba one. Henry looks so precious. Hopefully someday when he has a baby brother or sister he'll look that way at them.

I'm so sorry Henry shrunk and couldn't ride Soarin'. He really took it well, or course at that age distraction really works well.

What a great time y'all had in Innoventions and on SSE. Love the additions they added to SSE.

I'm so sorry you had such a bad time looking for the Community Hall and getting your drinks refilled. I can just feel that frustration with you.

And now it's been a week since I updated. I was on a roll, but real life took over for a bit. I'm hoping to get an update here tonight or tomorrow since Joe doesn't work! YAY!

Henry - brother, sister??!?! Huh?!?!?!?!



No plans for another one - BUT, yes, if it were to happen, then I do hope he looks at them that way rather than this:

Another great update! There are few feelings more frustrating (for me, at least) than feeling helplessly lost, particularly when you're in a situation where it seems like getting where you want to go should be so easy.

I'm glad your night was redeemed, though, and impressed that Henry made it through nine hours at EPCOT.

Yes! I agree! I despise being lost - esp when I'm tired and have a map! That was one of the many reasons I don't like driving - it helped when we finally got a GPS, but man, I do NOT missing having a car at all! I love being able to just walk or take public transit.

Joe and I were shocked that Henry didn't completely crash out, or have a bazillion meltdowns. He's getting to be a big boy and not needing a nap all the time (though, I like that he takes one!). He did fall asleep during the movie...but so did I.

Fab pics of the city and adorable photopass pics! I think my fav is the one of Henry with Goofy.

Thank you! I hope to put up more pics of the City soon - I just need to get them uploaded.

The meet at the Character Connection was so fun, we will definitely be doing that again in Feb/March.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Finally, the elusive meltdown is explained! And honey, let me tell ya, I'd have been the same exact way! Sheesh, it sounds like you walked more AFTER you left Epcot than while you were in Epcot! You poor thing, and it was raining? Ugh, tired, sore feet, can't locate the stupid Community Hall, carrying flat sodas = a recipe for meltdown. Then to have forgotten the GC only to find out it was empty? I'm sure tears would have been coming if it were me!

I love the sweet shots of Henry with the jumping water! So darling! My 3DD's loved that area of Epcot the 1st time we went to Disney, it ranked right up there with swimming in the resort pool!

The Norway pic is cute, with the statue of the viking. When we were there last Oct., my middle DD asked me to take her pic with that viking. I thought ok, whatever. Then she hopped up under his sword and made a face like she was dead! People walking by were laughing!

I'm glad your night settled down, you finally had some sort of beverage too!

You are probably right - it was more walking at the resort than at Epcot! LOL! It was miserable - I was just wiped. I'm glad I wouldn't be alone in my tears and frustration through it all though!

That is HILARIOUS about your DD and the Viking!!! Oh my word! Did you take the pic???

Wasn't Captain EO a bit of a hoot?! What a trip back to the 80s! Totally see the Star Wars influence of George Lucas in the creatures, which is probably why N LOVED it! (Huge Star Wars fan) He spent some time with my parents at Epcot our second day there and he made sure to bring them to it!

I'd never noticed the tiles on the floor at the bakery in Norway- thanks for pointing that out! I had to laugh when I saw you picked the Sweet Almond Pretzel and Joe got the School Bread... that's exactly how we picked them out last Thursday morning for breakfast!

When it rains, it pours, doesn't it?! Wow, what an evening of wild goose chases for you! I hate it when the world seems against you... especially at Disney! Tears are perfectly acceptable in a situation like that! I would have pitched a fit! Had one of those days yesterday... went to the store to buy the last of the Christmas presents and a new laptop (stores are about a 15 minute drive from our house). Got to the check out at Walmart with the elusive Penguin Pillow Pet N wants, only to find that my wallet wasn't in my purse. Then I remembered I had ordered things from Amazon the night before and it was sitting on the footstool in the livingroom. Grrrr.. I had planned on going to Best Buy to purchase the laptop that I couldn't get anyone to sell me the previous day (the store was uber busy at 10am on a Monday). Went home, ate a late lunch and I picked N up from school and went back to get the laptop... got half-way to the mall and guess what? I remembered I hadn't grabbed my wallet when I went home for lunch!! Double GRRRRRR with capital letters!! Turn around, went home, got the wallet, FINALLY purchased the laptop ! Thank goodness when I went to Walgreens a few blocks from our house today to pick up a prescription, I found the Penguin there. Yeah, when those chain of events keep piling up, it's hard not to lose it!

And just to let you know, your pictures of NYC at Christmas are awesome! Makes me want to plan a trip there over the holidays!!

All that running around over the laptop and Pillow Pet! It is VERY hard not to loose it when all those things happen. I was near tears at the BW. I'm so glad Joe banished me to the room for the night! Also glad you were able to get that elusive Penguin, N will love it (at least he better after all that! )

EO was fantastically retro....so crazy 80s, which made it hilarious and fun. You can see the Star Wars type aliens in there, I never even thought of that!

Great updates, Brook. First, I can totally understand the meltdown...I would have been the same way, probably worse...I probably would have had a crying meltdown. I love the detailed photos you got in World Showcase and the photos of Henry are always welcome. I skipped Captain EO (not a Michael Jackson fan at all), but Mark saw it and said it was a little corny...but he had seen it when it was originally there.

The tears were close - very close! EO was a bit corny, but I kinda thought that's what made it great! A lot of people cheered in the theater, they were QUITE happy with the EO return. I wonder how long it will stay?

I have to admit, I was both chuckling and groaning while reading this last update! You and Joe with the map sounds like me and my mom, respectively. Then I saw your picture of the map, and I was thinking...Hmmm, all the maps I've seen of the Boardwalk have nice little pictures and labels. So I went to allears. Wouldn't this map have been so much nicer?

http://allears.net/acc/boardwalkmap.jpg

Community Hall neatly labeled number 20.

I'm glad you found it alright in the end though! We liked Community Hall at Kidani and wish we could have spent more time there. Camp Rock is not a bad movie, though the "villain" is a bit nastier than in other Disney channel movies. (High School Musical, for example, has a villain that's more funny than anything else).

I'm hoping we get a view of Epcot at BCV next year to see IllumiNations. Ya know, the one night we'll be in our room. The other two we'll be in the park, and the third we'll be watching Hallowishes!

Oh, and that picture of Henry next to that giant ball made me giggle, because I believe my mom wanted to buy one and bring it home. I said something to her like, "Good luck getting that on the plane!"

Looking forward to the next update!

You'd think DISNEY would have a better map than AllEars! Seriously....! At least I know where it is for our Feb/March trip!

We spent a tiny bit of time in the Kidani Community Hall-we always meant to go back, but never did. It was beautiful! Next time we stay there we will schedule more time in there, Henry seems to really enjoy the offerings.

That is a good point about the giant ball! I'm guessing they would deflate it, but how would you inflate it once you got home??? And where in the WORLD would anyone store such a thing?!?!

ETA: I just went back and looked at the map we were given again - it looks ALMOST the same as the AllEars one, minus one crucial item - the numbers!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Oh my gosh, all that walking and searching and retracing of steps! You poor people! I'll bet you slept well that night, unless you aching feet and legs kept you awake.

I slept HARD! I fell asleep during the movie (so did Henry), I was just wiped!

I must say...WOW...you have much more stamina than me!! I would have surely melted down and given up after just a few problems. That is one crazy evening. I hope you got a good nights rest after that

It was a nutty time! We were both aggravated and exhausted. Despite all the trips to the gift shop, I still wanted those jelly beans. How strong that power of sugar can be...

You would have found me sitting in a chair on the porch by the entrance, either crying or growling at everyone until I was able to calm down. Either that or the bar. That CM at the front desk who sent you in the wrong direction may have been a casualty too.

Trip#5 out I would have lost it right in the store!!!!! I would have been so mad at myself, so mad for getting lost and so mad because it was raining. Yup, totally irrational and mad.


I had to count the trips so I could get the full effect.

8 trips in search of something simple like a movie and to refill mugs? Oh yes I would have flipped out.

You need

I came VERY close to going back to that CM with the map and explaining to her what I just went through...however, I know if I would have done it at that moment it wouldn't have been exactly magical.

And I almost did loose it in the store - seriously, I just left the stuff on the counter and walked out. I felt so awful for the CM, but I was D-O-N-E! I told Joe to apologize to the CMs for my behavior when he went down.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Oh yes the other 9 hours at EPCOT? Fabulous. So glad to see a little boy play by the fountains to his hearts content.
Great snack choices in Norway. How do you explain Vikings to a 3 year old? How stinkin cute.

Yes, the previous 9 hours were quite nice! We had a wonderful time.

I honestly think we distracted Henry instead of answering his Vikings question! We'll see how long that will work! I better research and figure out a good way to explain it all....I'm sure because there is a sword he will be drawn to it again like a moth to a flame.

It's so nice to know that other moms have meltdowns at Disney too. My DH and I have had similar problems with maps at Disney World and going the wrong way.

Funny how Henry wasn't interested in the velcro frog, my DS loved it. He also loved those fountains outside Captain EO, just like Henry. It's amazing how they love the small things.

I continue to love the updates. On a side note, with Henry's love for fire trucks, I'm sure you have already gone here, but I wanted to suggest the Fire Museum in NYC. That is if it is still there. I went there back in 2005, my one and only time to NY. Again, I'm sure you know about it, but thought I would mention it to maybe remind you, in case you have forgotten.

Oh yes, it seems Epcot is prone to bring a Mommy Meltdown in one way or another. And you don't even have to be a Mom honestly - it just happens!

I love how the little ones love the small things at Disney. I love to watch Henry chase the ducks, play in the fountains, get excited about a popcorn cart, etc. LOVE IT!

We haven't been to the Fire Museum yet! The Mom's group I belong to did an outing there but we weren't able to attend. We'll def have to go, I wasn't sure if it would be something a 3 year old would be into, or if it was more suited for a 5-7 year old, but with your recommendation, we'll go for it someday! (Hmmmm...Joe has tomorrow off...

Just playing my normal game of DIS catchup! or is it ketchup? Well whatever it is, I am posting here- then going to bed.

I'm glad Henry liked the Piggy Bank Adventure. I wanted to do this but we just ran out of time. What else is new?

I feel so bad for Henry that he wasn't able to ride Soarin'... You gotta teach that kid to stand taller!

Nice try trying to get everyone to drink the Beverly. Juliana drinks water and milk. That's it. So I didn't get her to drink any... but I did get Melody and a pic to prove it!

WOW what drama at the end of your epcot day.. I think you guys walked more getting movies, snacks, drinks, and food, than you did in Epcot! LOL Glad your hubby was trying to help you out.. what a guy!

BTW... we saw cookie monster and elmo in times square last month... what is up with them? Do they think this is LA or something?

When we attempted Soarin' again later in the trip we told Henry, "Think tall! Think tall!" We'll see if it worked!

The Cookie Monster and Elmo thing is weird, isn't it? The Mickey Mouse over near 5th is bad, but that Woody I think takes the cake. Just disturbing. It used to just be the Naked Cowboy, a guy pretending to be a statue and maybe Sponge Bob, but we are flooded with these weirdos now!

I think I might have curled up into the fetal position and rocked some. What a horrible ending to an otherwise pretty wonderful day. I love your pix of WS! I never even considered Kaki to be more than just a sno-cone- now I know otherwise. Hmmm....

I like the dancing fountains over there too, and I'm not even 4. Henry knows quality water works when he sees 'em!

It has REAL flavor! A perfect refreshing treat on a hot day. Sooooo very good. There was a lot of flavor too, it wasn't all drained to the bottom of the dish in a big mess (though, there was some of that), but the flavor retained through every bite.

Henry does know quality water works! I think my favorite is the Fountain of the Nations though, when it's night, and with the music...

 

[brookelizabeth]

You lasted longer than I did, Brook! I probably would have lost it about halfway through! Glad Joe "grounded" you for the rest of the night in the room. You needed to get off your feet.

I was very grateful for Joe banishing me to the room! He knows I'd just keep going and going because we "needed to". (but I'd be crabby and grumbling while doing it!)

your struggles with the gift shop reminds me of my attempt to do laundry on our last trip! I gathered up our dirty clothes to bring down to the laundry room but realized i forgot to pack a laundry sack! So i stuffed them in a bag i had and headed down. I got all the way down there and forgot the soap! Tried to call the room but the ones that were going to go swimming were already on their way down and the others were already napping! So I went back to the room to get the soap and realized i did not have my room key. Banged on the door and no one answered. A few seconds later my son and neice come walking around the bend with their mugs in hand! THANK GOD! Got the soap and made it all the way back down and was 1 stinking quarter short!! I think the poor guy in the laundry room felt so bad for me he gave me a quarter! I thanked him again and again put the laundry in and sat by the pool sipping a wonderful rumrunner drink!

OH MY WORD! All THAT to do laundry!!!!!!!!!! At least all our runs were for enjoyable things like a movie and snacks! What a very, very nice man in the laundry room!

Later in the trip Joe did do laundry - he didn't forget anything but had to make a bazillion trips due to it being busy. He was a bit more than irritated as well...

Ugh, what a rough end to a good day!

We're leaving for BWV tomorrow!!

You are already gone and I hope you are having a WONDERFUL time. I gotta get into your PTR so I can read all about your TR. I hope you enjoy the BWV!

Sounds like a well deserved melt-down to me!

What a bummer that Henry didn't get to ride Soarin' again. Sounds like he handled it like a trooper.

Adorable pictures of Henry playing at the fountain!

He did do really well despite not being able to ride! I'm glad we won't have that issue at all in Feb/March, he's over 40 now even in bare feet.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Oy!!! What an adventure you had!!! BOO to CMs not paying attention and giving you wrong directions!!!!! I would have had a meltdown too!!! At least the evening ended well!! I hope we get a great view like you guys LOL!!!!

Love the pictures of Henry playing in the water!! He is just too cute!!!! You got some great shots of him!!!

I was veryyyy close to going back to that CM! But it would have been pretty ugly! I probably should have gone back to her the next day in case she steered any other guests the wrong way too.

I hope you guys get a great view too - and that you love the resort! It's huge, and sometimes that can be frustrating, but hopefully you don't experience any of that and enjoy it all!

Oh Brooke!! I have to say, I have only ever stayed at the BWV one time- and only for 1 night (although all that is about to change). It was not enough time to get acclimated. I spent the whole time lost, lost, lost! The place is HUGE, but even more than that, it's confusing!!! I kept saying I was a mouse and I just couldn't find the freakin' CHEESE!!!!!! Well, I guess now you know where EVERYTHING is, and you can start directing all the other lost souls over at the BW!

Oh- and I think I would have had to go back to visit the front desk to give some...AHEM....directions to the clueless CM who sent you on the wild Goose chase.

Joe was a sweetie to say you were not allowed out of the room anymore that night. Awww....

And have you heard? It's going up to 38 on Saturday...it's a heatwave!

I love your analogy about the mouse and the cheese! That is true, the Boardwalk is huge and it's so easy to get lost. Joe has a great sense of direction, so I usually just follow him, but let me out on my own and...

I was very close to going back to that CM...I probably should have, but if I had gone right in the heat of it all, it would have been baaaaaaaaaad.

This weather is WARM compared to what we are used to back in Minnesota though-even still, we are above zero, and no snow! But, that wind-holy alkjdlkjklasdf, that is sharp! Yesterday I was walking to a friends house and the wind was coming right off the East River-yowsers!

The pictures of Henry and the other boys playing in the fountain are adorable. The way kids take pleasure in even the smallest things is really touching. I have to ask, where does H get the red hair from? He is soooo cute!

I'm sorry getting a movie, snacks and soda was such a pain. I completely understand your frustration.

I do love how kids find magic in the most simple things - I love to watch Henry doing those things.

Henry gets his red hair from both sides actually! It's recessive on both sides. My Grandma (Dad's Mom) had bright red hair and a kinda-distant relative of Joe's, like a Great Aunt or something. His Dad also has some hints of red. We weren't expecting it at all, but it's been there since day one! I hope it stays.

Great updates BE!

I was a several chapters behind so I got to read your entire Epcot day in one sitting. Love all the photos! Sorry to hear about the endless march of irritation, but I'm glad to hear the day ended well.

It was a great day despite the craziness back at the Boardwalk. Nine hours in Epcot was wonderful, but exhaustingggggggggg!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Ahhh, the Disney Mommy Meltdown. I think we all have them. Mine was at DTD with a over tired, fit throwing 21 month old....let's just leave it at that, if I have to relive it you might find me in a corner rocking and crying

Great Update. I've decided to add Rose and Crown to our plans. Your meal looked so good!

We do all have them! The crying, fitting child is a instant trigger. I had one of those today myself....

Rose and Crown was great! Total comfort food...yum. I hope you enjoy it!

GB!!!!
Glad to have you back.

Oh boy Brook. I cannot begin to imagine going on a wild goose chase after nine hours in EPCOT!!! I really cannot stand it when people do not know the answers to questions AND act like they do.... it doesn't help anyone. Poor poor Brook. I'm glad that Joe stepped in and told you that you weren't aloud to leave the room again. Good, good hubby!

Are you all set for Christmas? We're pretty white here in Northern Kentucky, covered with about five inches! I know, you're from the frozen tundra, so that doesn't really seem like much, but it truly is here! Have you gotten any snow in NYC yet?

It amazes me how people south of us have snow - and yet we don't! Not a bit! It has snowed a couple times, but not enough to stick for more than an hour or two. I think we are supposed to get some on Christmas Day...and I'm just waiting for the giant blizzards, I know they will come, they always seem to!

Minnesota has something like FORTY inches already!

I heart NY!!!!!!!

That last picture from that last update is just lovely. Its perfect! Your room is perfect. Your trek to community hall was comical, although I' sure it wasn't at the time. Then the whole gift shop and mug refill scenario - OMG...UGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH! Well, at least you had a fabulous day and your view from the room. Stellar.

Really enjoyed catching up after being MIA for 10 tens!

Yes, at least we can look back on it now and laugh! At the moment it was horrible. But, looking back.... I was a complete wreck!

We did have a fantastic room and location. I teared up the first time I saw it all. I think that was a huge bit for me falling in love with the Boardwalk!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Hey there Brook! I was insanly behind on your TR, life has been a bit nuts for me over the last month or so and I let the DIS fall by the wayside I won't comment on everything or we'd be here all day, but I did read all your updates and I promise to stay caught up from here on out!! I do have to say though, pizza, snacks & movie SOUNDED like a wonderfully relaxing way to spend the evening after a full day in the park.......yikes though, what a mess, you totally deserved that meltdown!

I so undertand how the DIS falls to the side. It seems like the minute I get caught up, something else pops up and I fall behind again. No worries! The dinner and a movie was a nice idea - and it was NICE when it finally happened, but getting there....blah!

What a fun time in the city. NYC is gorgeous! Oh wow, what a Woody. During the summer they had some characters by the M & M store. I, not knowing anything about cities, thought they were free to take pictures with. So, I had the girls stand with "Mickey" for a picture. Then all the sudden Mickey became very aggressive for a tip. Stupid me doesn't have any cash. I said sorry to Mickey and we start walking away then Amy finds a penny on the floor and puts it in Mickey's bag. I could tell he was not happy with us.
We all have our fair share of meltdowns. I had a similar issue at the Dolphin with having to go back and forth. What a pain. Still sounds like a great night.

Oh your Mickey story makes me laugh out loud! I love it! How awful for Mickey to be so aggressive about a tip, serves him right for getting a penny! I had my pic taken with Sponge Bob back in 2002 before I lived here, he smelled like cigars, Like you, I had no cash, thankfully he didn't get too aggressive since he had a line! He was the only character out there at the time, we've been flooded with them lately it seems.

Bless your heart, I hate it took all of that to finally get your movie, drinks & snacks!

It was an ordeal! But, I was quite happy with my Baked Lays, Diet Coke and jelly beans!

Phew!!! FINALLY caught up!!!
Love all of the photopass pictures....Goofy
Great fountain pictures too!! I love that area too!!
Rose and Crown is such a yummy restaurant....glad you liked the Yorkshire pudding!!! Mmmmm mmmm mmmm!! There is actually a Diser from England that is working there through the program....Samantha. Sweet girl
I am speechless about Community Hall...the refills, snacks, gift card (I have kept old ones in my wallet too...don't know why ) etc That is a lot going on! Happy that you finally got settled and were able to enjoy the rest of your night after having such a great day

Tracy

I loved the Yorkshire Pudding! After hearing JenJolt's description of it, I knew I had to try it. Delish. I would get that meal again in a heartbeat!

That is very cool about the DISer working there! I would have requested her! Ray was nice, and sweet, but....

Despite the ordeal at the Boardwalk, the day outshone it all. Besides, there is always bound to be at least one meltdown of some sort, right?!?!

Awesome photopass pics!

Thank you! I was excited about the ones where Henry posed. He's getting more and more into that.

I can understand grown-up meltdowns. I am on the verge of having one these days. Any day now..or shall I say...any minute now

Uh-oh...what's going on??? I gotta get caught up over on your report, perhaps you explained there...

Back from your trip with lots to catch up on. Just wanted to say HI! and that I hope Henry got his postcard. I sent it the same time I sent a card back home for Brenda and Gavin to get when we got back.... they still haven't came so I hope Henry's has.

Welcome back!!!!!

I haven't gotten a post card from you yet....I'll let you know when I do! We did get one the other day from another DISer, so it's okay if yours takes a while longer...gotta spread out the magic. Sometimes Disney mail is slooooooow too for some reason. I've had trips where I mailed a postcard a few days before we left and it didn't arrive until after we got back!

I love that idea of sending them a post card from Disney, Mickey thanking them for visiting.

I can't wait to hear all about your trip!!!!!!!

 

[k_reile]

I probably will not be on much until christmas...so Merry Christmas to you,Joe and Henry!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Oh my goodness. I don't blame you for nearing meltdown! What a night!! How can a CM not know where the Community Hall is?? And grrr to the gift card drama although I will tell you I have right now probably 3-4 in my "Disney drawer" each with probably less than $1 on them.

LOVE the picture you got of the Boardwalk at night w/ Spaceship Earth in the background. What a view you guys had!!

I always do the same thing - keep a gift card even with pennies on it! I always think I'll remember to use them, and even sometimes write how much is left on them...but having an empty one really irked me!

And yes, that CM almost heard back from me, but I resisted because it wouldn't have been too pretty!

Our view was AWESOME. Both day and night. We couldn't have asked for a better room!

Well, maybe. Floor 3 of that same spot would have the huge balcony and the view.

I didn’t realize you had a new trip report , I have been neglecting the dis a bit. I cant believe that henry could get any cuter, he is so adorable. I must admit I am a little jealous, my dd was 4 years this past trip and only 38 inches (39 with big shoes lol) so she still hasn’t gone on any big kid rides but she is counting down to tower of terror. Her 7 year old brother still hasn’t braved that so I suppose their first trip will be together. I never thought of staying at the boardwalk but your pics have sold me. And my ds thinks that clown slide looks amazing. He is begging me to stay there after seeing the pic of that slide so maybe youre right he isnt so scary after all. The donald duck story makes me laugh because we still affectionately call mickey mouse, ninny nouse. Disney popcorn... dd used more than half our snack credits on that she is an addict. The cookie jar pic in minnies house is just adorable. It could be an ad for disney. So jealous of your upcoming trip, I long to take a trip that is longer than 6 nights. That will be one amazing trip report

Glad you found me!! I understand about the DIS falling to the side sometimes. It seems like if I don't logon for a week, it's all down hill after that! I was off for almost a year at one point when we just had Henry! I so shoulda been here though, getting support!

I hope your DD grows past 40 inches for your next trip! Henry is on the taller end of the spectrum for his age, chances of him being pretty tall are good. Thankfully we won't have to deal with the "tall shoes" issue for the next trip, it's hard when they are on that line!

Thank you for the sweet compliments about Henry!

Just caught up after our trip! I hope I cover everything here!

I’m glad Henry liked TT! I assure you Ryan would have had the same reaction to leaving that shop!!

It is nice that there is something VERY boy there, but ya....I'll be shopping while the boys browse in Feb/March!

LOL! Your Turtle Talk experience is too funny!! Definitely something that will stick in your memory forever!!

I love that Joe rode figment to get back to you!!! LOL!!! Ryan LOVES Figment and we didn’t get an opportunity to get over there on our trip Boo!

I still tease Joe about Figment.

I love NYC at Christmas! We were in Manhattan the middle of Nov and they were just setting the tree up! I wanted to go back to see it lit but with the trip to WDW it wasn’t in the cards! I’d love to go to radio city again too! It’s such a great holiday experience!!!

The City is just soooo beautiful right now! You'll have to make it in next year after the tree is lit! Thankfully it's the same every year, so you don't miss anything! I want to do Radio City sometime too. I think my Mom will come to NYC for Christmas in the next couple of years or so, we'll definitely be doing that!

BTW, That Woody in NYC is super weird! All those characters they have wondering around in Times Square etc are just creepy!!! Some of them are so gross looking too! I do like the Statue of Liberty lady though! Have you seen her? She’s too cool!

ITA! They are so creepy and weird looking. Shudder.

The Statue of Liberty Lady - is she the one dressed up like the statue, with sunglasses on, and you can get your picture taken with him/her? I DO like those! They are very cool and clever. I have two friends that rode their bikes here from Minnesota (crazy!) and they took a picture with one of those Lady Liberty's and she wanted a picture with her own camera too!

Yikes with the service at Rose and Crown! But I’m glad to hear you liked the food so much! I have to eat there!!!

It was delish!! We'll be doing it again on a future trip!

Love the photopass pics! Too darn cute!

AWWW!!! Poor Henry! I can’t believe he couldn’t ride Soarin! Boo! I guess right at the right height can be go either way!

What fun you guys had in Innoventions! That fire truck is a huge hit with my boys (the big one included )

I have never been in Club Cool! I should really take DH in there and try to get him to drink the Beverly!!!

You SO have to trick your DH!!! It will make fantastic pictures!

It sounds like you had a nice, relaxing and yummy stroll through WS!! I love the picture of the little lizard under the Eifel Tower!

Oh my goodness Brook! I totally would have had a meltdown too! That was quiet an ordeal! It also totally sounds like something that would happen to me!

Can't wait for more!!!

The ordeal at the end of the night was awful, but the lovely nine hours prior to it all was great! Thankfully once we were settled we could relax and enjoy the movie---and I slept like a rock that night!

It makes for great pictures!

Brook, I'm looking forward to seeing what these last few days of Christmas hold for you guys. I hope you have a fun week leading up to the big event.
I am enjoying seeing the pictures of Henry's holiday adventures.

the pictures are excellent! Esp of little ones getting their first taste. I will try again with Henry! I will!

We have been having a great time! Henry is about busting at the seams about Christmas. I haven't even brought out most of the presents, just the boxes that have arrived from relatives. It's going to be a very fun day.

I hope to get some more pictures of our happenings posted here soon too - maybe tonight or tomorrow!

That's what I'm thinking! I think there will be a trip to Club Cool with DD in March! There will definitely be one the next time DH is in Epcot

 

[brookelizabeth]

I have a whole slew of "housekeeping" to do here! I want to get an update, or two, done, plus a bunch of other things. Some Christmas pics and happenings, some LOVELY surprises we've gotten in the mail from fantastic people and just some generic stuff. However, I do not have all the pictures uploaded - but am working on it!

I DO have these uploaded though...enjoy.

About a week ago I attended an event in the City with another Mom from my neighborhood (I'll have pics of the actual event in another post), and afterwards we headed over to the "big library" to the Children's room. I never even knew there was a Children's area here -- and much to my delight look at what they have on display! (behind glass, of course)

The ORIGINAL Winnie the Pooh and gang! I hope you can read that plaque, because the story is quite sweet. If it doesn't come out, I'll re-type it.

Winnie the Pooh and Piglet

Eeyore in all his adorableness.

Tigger

Kanga

I was in awe. So very cool!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Yesterday the doorbell rang, it was UPS with 2 packages - Christmas presents for Henry. I went into the house, set them down and literally just as I was about to sit back down on the couch, the bell rang again! 3 more packages from the USPS. One of which was unexpected....and from Germany!

The very sweet, generous, and kind, Katharina and Magdalene sent us a package!

Gummies, chocolate covered hazelnuts and gingerbread.

All of which are disappearing at a rapid rate. Namely the gingerbread. But oh my, how lovely it goes with a cup of coffee in the afternoon!

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Completely unexpected and such a wonderful surprise!!

We'll see if the gingerbread makes it to Christmas even.

 

[tinacaplan]

What a neat suprise to find Winnie the Pooh at the library. Its just so nice when things like that happen. And I know what you mean about gingerbread, it just goes so well with coffee!

Have a very Merry Christmas, too, if I don't post on here before then!

 

[brookelizabeth]

The event that I attended and mentioned above in the Winnie the Pooh post was the Grand Central Holiday Train Show. In the New York City Transit Museum Shop, located in Grand Central (the actual museum is in Brooklyn - and is FANTASTIC!), has a nice set-up of model trains for the holiday season. It's really neat and especially fun for the little ones.

There were, in many spots, several stories of trains. The top train here that is a blur is supposed to be a subway train picking up the waiting passengers at a stop.

Some buildings in the middle of the display to represent the NYC skyline. There were details of people and taxi's within the streets.

A maze of tracks --- not in NYC, you can't find houses like that here!

Not a great picture, but it was really neat when the trains would come flying out of the various tunnels.

They would even occasionally get a red light and have to stop. And yes, the switch really did change from green to red!

The seaport.

Grand Central Station with cabs waiting for the passengers just off the trains.

A little boy in awe.

Brooklyn Bridge

 

[brookelizabeth]

This past Sunday we ventured down to the World Financial Center after church. By the name alone, you can assume correctly that this is right next to where the former World Trade Center stood.

It is still very humbling and emotional to me to walk around in this area, especially so close to the construction. Artist renderings of what the future holds for this area surround it on fences, which is encouraging. The September 11 Memorial will open on September 11, 2011. I look forward to seeing it and will be happy to see a monument finally built honoring all those who lost their lives. There are several current memorials, that are all incredibly moving - but this one will be the official.

The new tower, the Freedom Tower, is right around halfway built in height-none of the exterior is done. It's already a massive structure and it's fairly mind boggling to think it will be DOUBLE the height it currently is. Joe gave me a statistic that they finish 1 floor per week on the building.

I attempted to get some pictures of the Freedom Tower, but it's very difficult to capture something so massive with an iPhone!

It's the building in the back, the one completely under construction.

I was almost laying on the ground for this one - and I still couldn't capture it all.

When we went inside the World Financial Center we were there to see the lights they put up - but, we also found an excellent view of the construction through their massive windows. I'd say this is the best spot to see Ground Zero, I'll be taking future tourists here!

All the diggers were pretty exciting for Henry!

It will be interesting to see the work continue in this area. I'm glad to see an actual structure here - it took so long for them to finalize a design, and then to re-build the transit hub underneath took years.


As far as the lights go, I didn't fully know what to expect. The way I read about these lights I was expecting more. It was a fun afternoon though, and what they did have of lights, was quite pretty.

However, the very BEST part of it all was finding...

PALM TREES IN NYC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All three of us got excited to see those beauties!

I posted a picture on my Facebook and MeMom commented that it looked like MCO to her--and that is exactly what I had thought too!

There is a stage in the back - they have various performances here during the weekday afternoons during the Christmas season.

The windows at the top of the steps are the ones overlooking Ground Zero.

They also had a massive Christmas tree in another area of the mall; however, we had gotten Starbucks by that point, so I was sipping my Carmel Brulee Latte in peace while Henry and Joe checked it out...



I have a couple more "housekeeping" type updates, but that might be it for tonight, I hope to pick up tomorrow!

 

[Poolrat]

Thank you for the tour of those special spots in NYC. All new for me.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Ah, I love seeing Pooh and the gang! You can tell they were very loved! Don't you just love Kanga's pearls?

The train set-up at Grand Central is so neat! We could probably stand there for hours soaking in all the little details!

German gingerbread? Yum! Yum! Yum!

Very moving pictures of the construction being done on the Freedom Tower. It's almost unbelievable to me that we are just months away from the ten-year anniversary. It doesn't seem that long ago.

 

[dawnbu40]

I really enjoyed your update! How fun to see the original Winnie the Pooh and friends! What a nice surprise!

I love the picture of Henry in the cap and sweater. What a cutie!

Thanks for sharing NY with the rest of us! Merry Christmas!!

 

[lovealldisney]

Thanks Brooke for the NY pictures! I sooooo want to come to NY during Christmas! I think after this TR you should start a thread with just NY pictures! That would be fun!!

I bet Henry really loved the trains! My DS so loved trains at that age. We bought him a small wooden train set by Brio (it was pretty pricey) but then I found in a mail order magazine for childrens toys a train set like Brio that was interchangable with it for far less than what we paid. Well needless to say he has a huge rubbermaid tote full of train track pieces! He and my DD would play for hours with it there would be train tracks everywhere! He still has it and it will be something his children will get (well if he ever has children).

I got a special package from Germany too!! I got the same gingerbread cookies! So far I haven't opened them I plan on taking them over to my in-laws on Christmas day and sharing. And the chocolate covered hazelnuts are yummy!!! Those got opened right away my DH LOVES hazelnuts. So nice of Magdalene and Katharina wasn't it? Such sweet ladies

 

[hcmommy]

What fun surprises you all got in the mail!

Love the NY update and Henry looks very stylish rockin' his hat and sweater. I used to dress H like that all the time when he was a little baby, he wore a corduroy hat like that in his very first picture with Santa. I've gotten lazy lately, T's and jeans!

Aren't those Creme Brulee Lattes good?! I'm drinking a Folgers cofee with Creme Brulee creamer right now and while good, it just isn't the same

If you don't make it back in have a very Merry Christmas