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

[OhMari]

Hey,
your little guy is getting so big. (oxymoron?)


I did a little house cleaning on my board today, and I noticed your last TR on page 11 and remembered you finished it awhile ago, and then I found your new one today on the first page.



Small hi-jack-I was in your new state, not the city, for a whole afternoon.
We managed to see all 5 great lakes.

We started our vacation in Michigan. On Labor Day we walked the Mackinac Bridge. The next day we headed up to Sault St. Marie, Ontario Canada. I never knew Ontario Canada was like that. I thought it was more like Wisconsin. I kept laughing and telling my dh, that the movie in "O Canada" really captures the beautiful scenery. I'm glad he talked me into going. I wanted to go to WDW-but he got to pick the vacation this year.


Next day we drove to Niagra Falls-Canada side. Drove over to the U.S. side for the afternoon and headed home. We had 3 more days of vacation and my dh asked me if I wanted to go to NYC-ugg no. My dh loves driving-I hate it.

Hi-jack over.

What a first great day. I agree, the day can be really exhausting. Love the Boardwalk. You had a great room-We got a Studio Room, over-looking the Valet Parking lot.

 

[KristiMc]

We will be arriving in Orlando on 3/25 for our cruise on the Magic that leaves on the 26th. Too bad we are not going to the parks - that would have been great to meet you guys.

You asked about the movie Moonstruck. It's from 1987 with Cher and Nicolas Cage. You don't see much of the fountain. Great movie if you have not seen it.

 

[MHTeacher]

Well, somehow, you have snuck and started a trip report, and not only that, but it is now 25 pages long!!!

Now that I'm subscribed, and can find you, I must go back and get caught up! I've got to get off the DIS right now and get dinner ready and get my family ready for church tonight---I PROMISE I will be back to read more!

 

[TyRy]

That's a nice long WDW vacation - I bet it will be a blast on St. Patty's Day

 

[KatMark]

Love the update Brook. I can't believe you forgot the Mexican counter service was closed (I can report it is open and running now and was doing a brisk business when we were there on Monday). I love that Henry made height for Soarin' and you can just tell in his eyes that he enjoyed the ride (and I love the family shot on the ride).

 

[disney<333]

Mark me down for March 13-19th! I'm so excited now. By the sounds of it there will be a lot of disers there.
I'm so jealous of BLT. We'll be at the Dolphin then.

 

[Vexorg]

Man, I can't keep up with these things... Just had to go through 11 pages to catch up. On my one visit to WDW I only managed one ride on Soarin' mostly because the lines were just way too long, and even with the Fastpass it took a good 20 minutes of waiting to get on.

Of course, Soarin' over California at California Adventure has a single rider line, which. if you're a solo traveler, is basically that 5-minute line whenever you want it. I've got pictures from my last Disneyland trip of standing in a practically deserted single rider line on Soarin' next to a far longer standby line. Indiana Jones Adventure and Splash Mountain have these too (although Splash Mountain was closed for a rehab when I was there in May) and it practically felt like cheating to use the things.

 

[Stasieki]

We are already talking about changing our dates to early March...again! Much re-hashing/schedule switching/calendar looking being done in this household tonight...I'll report back later.

Not that I have a vote, but I vote for early March. I just made ADR's and got everything I wanted. I couldn't believe it.

 

[photographymom517]

Okay, okay, I'll spill!

We are currently booked for March 20-27 at BLT, Lagoon View!

AND

We will be adding on Pop Century for March 17-20! (just gotta wait for payday to put down the deposit!)

That means TEN DAYS in Disney during the Flower & Garden Festival!!!!!!!!!



All you DISers who went during the F&GF had me really itchin' for a trip during this time, I'm so excited!

So, who all is going during that time too?

Brook it sounds amazing!!! BLT Lagoon view AND Pop Century AND Flower & Garden Festival....WOOHOO!!!!

 

[anbouk]

Hi Brook! That is awesome news about booking BLT and POP! How FUN!!! Did you know that only 19% of BLT Rooms are Lagoon View, you are so lucky it was available! Look forward to our lil' coffee/dismeet...let me know. Anna

 

[ptcrn]

Hey there Brook!

Here are my long overdue pictures of David getting his postcard! He loved it! Thank you again!!

He was being a little shy and wouldn't look at the camera!

We will be sure to send one to Henry when we go to Disney TOMORROW!

 

[MEK]

10 Days at Disney - You are soooooooooooooo lucky. Don't you just love having an AP???????

The BLT lake view is so beautiful. Our lake view was on the side of the building so we could see the lake and the castle. So great!

 

[GreatBiscuit]

Man, I can't keep up with these things... Just had to go through 11 pages to catch up. On my one visit to WDW I only managed one ride on Soarin' mostly because the lines were just way too long, and even with the Fastpass it took a good 20 minutes of waiting to get on.

Of course, Soarin' over California at California Adventure has a single rider line, which. if you're a solo traveler, is basically that 5-minute line whenever you want it. I've got pictures from my last Disneyland trip of standing in a practically deserted single rider line on Soarin' next to a far longer standby line. Indiana Jones Adventure and Splash Mountain have these too (although Splash Mountain was closed for a rehab when I was there in May) and it practically felt like cheating to use the things.

Vexorg!

What's up dude?

Been a while.

Hope all is well out your way.

 

[MaryAz]

COngrats on the March trip!! We went during the flower and garden fest in 09-really beautiful. Great updates, love the pics. Especially the one of Joe and Henry loooking at the fountain-H had a Mickey sticker on his back

 

[PopArtGal]

We went during spring break, so early march. Like the first week of March.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Sorry for the delay on replies/lack of update here. I have been battling a cold and off and on awful headache (migraine?) this week. It's been rough-this morning I felt fine, but the throbbing headache came back around 3:30. On top of all that we have been making a few phone calls to Disney and looking over schedules....dates have changed....

Pop and BLT! F&G, color me jealous! Sounds like heaven, 19 days as north winters just won't end... LOVE it!

I LOVE the timing of this trip. Just as it's starting to almost turn spring, but not quite quickly enough - we dash off to Florida. It better be warm!

We'll be there in March - but leaving on March 6th.

Well...

Wow! What a great trip you will have. Sounds awesome. BLT looks so cool. Maybe Henry can play down in the kids center one night and you can enjoy a grownups dinner at CG during Wishes. Not that I have ever thought about doing that the SECOND all of mine are 3 and up.

I actually hadn't even thought about putting him in a kids center! I suppose he's old enough now at 3 years old! Do they have to be potty trained? He completely refuses it, but perhaps by March...

I can see Joe and I instead grabbing some CS somewhere and hitting all the thrill rides we can fit in!

Well, we booked last night for 2/26-3/6 to get a better deal and try out Free Dining instead of going for our Spring Break (no free dining and close to $1,000 more). This is the last year I am willing ot take Abby out of school since she is in pre-k. I would have been there the exact same time as you. I am a bit sad now. I would have LOVED to have met you. I was already imagining a Casey's Corndog Meet.

Congrats on your trip!

Don't be sad! I love me a Corn Dog Meet!!!

Sounds like a fabulous trip. We saw Flower and Garden in 2007. I wish I had taken more pictures.

Henry will love the pop jet area at POP.

I am sooooo stinkin' excited to see the F&GF. Joe is gonna have to peel me outta there. I love flowers any time of the year, but in March when everything is still dead and cold here...oh it's gonna be nice!

Hey BE!

Your photos just keep on getting better and better every time. (And as good as they were last time, that's saying something.) Your Epcot shots ROCKED! Total, full on, shake what your mammy gave you, ROCKED.

Good job!

Oh and the writing was nifty too!

So glad Henry got his first ride on Soarin and that it was a hit.

Thank you!!! It's kinda fun trying to grab different shots of things we don't already have...new angles, different settings, etc. I played around with the camera settings some on this trip, which burned me a couple times when I forgot to change them back - but overall, it had some good results!

I only just found this TR today, so I haven't had a chance to read all the way through yet. But I just had to say that on trip this past July, I stayed in the room 2 doors down from yours at BWV. As I was looking at your photos of the view from the room, I thought, "Hey, that looks a lot like the view I had!" And then I saw the photo of your door, and sure enough, we were in the same hallway.

That is funny that our rooms were so close! Wasn't it a great location - and that view...ahhhhh!

Woot woot!! YAY for getting BLT and then on top of that extending your trip.... I can't wait to hear about any changes that might be on the horizon!

Changes are very, very good.

We hope to be there on the morning of the 13th. Jill will probably have to leave Tuesday night, but I am hoping she can get Wednesday, too.

We could never hate a Mop! Jill is the biggest Cracker Barrel fan in the bunch. I do like their food, too, but she's the one who likes it best. I think there is not one near her, so she likes it when she comes here and there are two very close.

What musicals have you liked best?

No matter what our dates I think we will just miss each other. I do hope our paths cross again at some point though!

I agree, we could never hate a Mop! I am a Cracker Barrel fan, but I only get it once every few years (or even less than that!) - when traveling between Minnesota and Illinois. It's kind of a novelty place for us to stop, brings back lots of traveling memories.

I am going then but you already know that! Looks like the only day we will overlap is the 26th which is when we get there. Are you leaving early on the 27th or later? On the front end of your trip you'll be overlapping my parents and sister by a day. LOL!

Well...with the changes I'm not sure sure we will meet up now. I cannot remember your dates off the top of my head, gotta go back and check.

Ten days at Disney plus a lagoon view at BLT for part of it sounds lovely!!!

We wanted standard view to save on points, but all they had was lagoon. Oh darn, twist my arm.

 

[brookelizabeth]

March Trip!!! I have always wanted to go in a non-holiday season, Flower & Garden is one of my hope to trips. BLT Lagoon view, YUMMY! Much picture taking will be done!

Question, and just tell me if I'm being impertinent. Did you sell your DVC? For some reason, I thought you and Joe were talking about doing that, and since you stayed at BWV and up next is BLT, just wanted to make sure I've got my facts straight. You can, of course tell me it's none of my business......

I have always wanted to do F&GF and this year I read so many TRs on it, I think I told Joe about 2804 times I wanted to do F&GF! He got the hint.

Oh no! Don't worry about it - it was part of the beginning of my last PTR - we ended up NOT having to sell it. Joe landed a very nice job here in New York City, even before we moved here, which has enabled us to KEEP DVC (and live a whole lot less tight! ) It's been such a blessing and relief!

Ok, color me green. I am so excited for you to get to go a split stay in POP AND BLT!!

You are going to LOVE F&G- hands down a VERY fun thing to do! So many little extras for kids just Henry's age!

Well now it's a split, but between BLT and WHAT?

I didn't even think about all the extras for the kids! They have playgrounds at Epcot during this, don't they? Ooooh, I'm so excited!

YAAAAA for another trip!!! That sounds like a great time to go. For me it would be getting out of the snow too that would be great that time of year!

It's such a great time to escape to Florida! It better be warm!

I found a great code to get the tickets for 1/2 off. Then ticketmaster adds all their fees and it is not as good as a deal. But I still saved about $125 though. I got $75 tickets for $37.50... add all the fees and the total was $150. It still isn't horrible.

That is a possibility.
Are they moving the Disney store or just remodeling it? I hope we have time to check out FAO since we missed out on it last year when we went to the Princess & the Frog premiere.

OK here is something funny. Our friends who we went with in March are considering going 3-19 to 3-27 and asked us if we want to go. So now we are throwing around this idea.....

Oooh, that is a good deal! Not bad at all!

The Disney Store on 5th Ave closed a while back and the new Disney Store on Times Square is going to be their new "interactive" type store, it sounds amazing - with a Castle inside the store among other things. I can't imagine it NOT being open for the holiday season! We might be in that area this weekend, I'll try to remember to peek in on the progress. He he.

Okay, if you are tossing around this idea for real - keep me posted! Especially on that first set of dates (which has lower crowds!).

Woo hoo for March! A split Pop and BLT trip sounds very cool!


We're going to miss each other by 4 days! 4 days! DD and I are there March 9th - 13th!

Well....

Wow! for another trip!

Yep! I'm super excited! It's still a long ways away, but it always feels good to have another on the books shortly after coming back from one.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Just joining in!

Need to catch up.

Kathy

Thanks for reading Kathy!

10 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that sounds fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!! Even if you move dates it's a great great 1st plan. I know how that schedule juggle goes. for flower and garden!

10 days is fabulous...but what could be BETTER?

Yay for another trip and to BLT no less!! This is our favorite resort since staying there this past May
You will just love it! We also had a bay lake view, dead center of the building, 12th or 14th floor (I cant remember for sure).
Here is a preview of you early morning view of the sunrise-you will get to see this when you are up at the literal crack of dawn for rope drop
We saw it everyday (much to the dismay of some of my kiddos)

Here is a shot of my unwilling participants!! I had to drag them out of bed, but everyone agreed later in the day that rope drop is the way to go-they just dont see that when the sun is rising!

We were also chosen as family of the day and had full access to the CR club level lounge for our whole trip I am hoping to get a trip report started soon!!

Wow oh wow! Love that sunrise! We'll see if we ever see it. Ya never know now - this past trip was a bit different! Usually we don't even roll into the parks until 10:00 or later.

Do they always do a Family of the Day? That is so amazing!!! Post your TR link here when you start it!

I just booked my first official DVC trip!! March 6-10 at BWV, preferred view. So if you do happen to change your dates, let us know!! But geesh, BLT Lagoon view is unreal, hard to pass up!!

Congratulations on the first trip booked!!! F&GF at the BWV! I LOVE the sound of THAT. Oh and we aren't passing up BLT....but dates have been changed...

Are you doing a Studio at BWV?

A March trip.

But I am so jealous. I'm trying to convince my DH that we need to go on our planned trip in November and book again for Feb or March, since my DS starts kindergarten in the fall. Gotta get the trips in before we have to go by his schedule. Don't know if it is going to work, because I also want to go next October during my DS's fall break.

We went during March 15-21, two years ago for mine and my DS's birthdays. I was worried that it would be too hot and too crowded and was pleasantly surprised. Of course there were more people than in November. But we still accomplished alot and had a great time. We actually stayed at Pop that trip. We liked it.

That is actually one of my reasons for being gung-ho on March. Henry will start pre-K this September, and while yes, it's just pre-K, I certainly don't want him missing the first bit.

How was the weather in March? I'm really hoping it's warm, but not hot. The crowd levels do look a bit frightening for later March, after the 17th, but there are always ways around that.

Woohoo for a March trip (no matter what the dates end up being)! I remember when the Flower & Garden Festival went through the last weekend of May. Now, we miss it by just a week.

Oh man! That STINKS! I wonder why they shortened it? I'm so, so excited to see it. I hope they have all the beautiful topairies again this year!

Ok, I'm super late to the party but I'm here, finally. I'm glad we're still on day 1. Yay!! Thank you for the super handy links to get caught up quickly Brook. What an AMAZING first/travel day you all had. Cannot wait to read more!

You are welcome! Thank you for reading! That first day was so, so smooth - it was unreal. A zillion things could have gone terribly wrong making the day so much more exhausting, but it was literally near perfect!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Hey,
your little guy is getting so big. (oxymoron?)

I did a little house cleaning on my board today, and I noticed your last TR on page 11 and remembered you finished it awhile ago, and then I found your new one today on the first page.

Small hi-jack-I was in your new state, not the city, for a whole afternoon.
We managed to see all 5 great lakes.

We started our vacation in Michigan. On Labor Day we walked the Mackinac Bridge. The next day we headed up to Sault St. Marie, Ontario Canada. I never knew Ontario Canada was like that. I thought it was more like Wisconsin. I kept laughing and telling my dh, that the movie in "O Canada" really captures the beautiful scenery. I'm glad he talked me into going. I wanted to go to WDW-but he got to pick the vacation this year.

Next day we drove to Niagra Falls-Canada side. Drove over to the U.S. side for the afternoon and headed home. We had 3 more days of vacation and my dh asked me if I wanted to go to NYC-ugg no. My dh loves driving-I hate it.

Hi-jack over.

What a first great day. I agree, the day can be really exhausting. Love the Boardwalk. You had a great room-We got a Studio Room, over-looking the Valet Parking lot.

I forgot to PM you about closing it, didn't I?! Sorry about that! But, glad you found the new one.

That is a very cool vacation! I would love to do that sometime. My DSIL and a good friend have both done Niagra Falls recently (along with MEK here on the DIS), so I've seen a ton of pictures lately and they are just amazing. It's such a short trip, hopefully it will be one we take in the next few years when Henry is a bit older to enjoy it.

No NYC? Come on! It really is a beautiful City in more ways than one - but it's not for everyone. Driving here - NO WAY. I'm a public transit girl! I don't like driving either.

We will be arriving in Orlando on 3/25 for our cruise on the Magic that leaves on the 26th. Too bad we are not going to the parks - that would have been great to meet you guys.

You asked about the movie Moonstruck. It's from 1987 with Cher and Nicolas Cage. You don't see much of the fountain. Great movie if you have not seen it.

Oh - if our dates hadn't changed we could have met up outside of the parks too!! What a VERY nice trip you have planned though. A cruise is my dream vacation at the moment. Someday...

Ooooh, I'll have to look into that movie, I usually like most anything with Nicolas Cage in it. The fountain now though is a new one, so you must have seen the old one in that movie - which was also beautiful though!

Well, somehow, you have snuck and started a trip report, and not only that, but it is now 25 pages long!!!

Now that I'm subscribed, and can find you, I must go back and get caught up! I've got to get off the DIS right now and get dinner ready and get my family ready for church tonight---I PROMISE I will be back to read more!

Glad you found me!! Take your time reading - and handy links in the first post. It's a lotta pictures, so you'll be caught up in no time!

That's a nice long WDW vacation - I bet it will be a blast on St. Patty's Day

I don't even know when St. Patty's Day is - but now I think we are gonna miss it. 10 days is long, but you know what's even longer?

Love the update Brook. I can't believe you forgot the Mexican counter service was closed (I can report it is open and running now and was doing a brisk business when we were there on Monday). I love that Henry made height for Soarin' and you can just tell in his eyes that he enjoyed the ride (and I love the family shot on the ride).

You ate there? I'm so excited to read your review! I hope it's good! We love Mexican, to have good Mexican on vacation would be a very, very nice thing.

Henry had so much fun on Soarin' - he still talks about it! That and Dumbo, Test Track and "the horses" (the carousel). It's so funny what leaves an impression on kids. He brings up Dumbo a lot, when I ask him what he's going to ride next time at Mickey's, he always says "Umm...maybe Dumbo!", he must have thought it was really special riding in a flying elephant! I know I do!

Mark me down for March 13-19th! I'm so excited now. By the sounds of it there will be a lot of disers there.
I'm so jealous of BLT. We'll be at the Dolphin then.

Oh... With the date change. We are gonna miss each other.

I knew that was gonna happen. Bah!

You have plans to meet up with MeMom and crew? They will be at Pop.

Man, I can't keep up with these things... Just had to go through 11 pages to catch up. On my one visit to WDW I only managed one ride on Soarin' mostly because the lines were just way too long, and even with the Fastpass it took a good 20 minutes of waiting to get on.

Of course, Soarin' over California at California Adventure has a single rider line, which. if you're a solo traveler, is basically that 5-minute line whenever you want it. I've got pictures from my last Disneyland trip of standing in a practically deserted single rider line on Soarin' next to a far longer standby line. Indiana Jones Adventure and Splash Mountain have these too (although Splash Mountain was closed for a rehab when I was there in May) and it practically felt like cheating to use the things.

The Soarin' FP is not very fast at all. That is kinda a bummer. September is such a great time to go - the crowds were like that all week!

At CA with the Single Rider Line do you get to skip the pre-show? They should have put one of those in at WDW too, makes a lot of sense!

Not that I have a vote, but I vote for early March. I just made ADR's and got everything I wanted. I couldn't believe it.

I have made only 2 ADRs so far...and no problems on either! Gotta love that. The crowd calendar for early March looks really, really nice.

Brook it sounds amazing!!! BLT Lagoon view AND Pop Century AND Flower & Garden Festival....WOOHOO!!!!

What resort could be better with F&GF?

Hi Brook! That is awesome news about booking BLT and POP! How FUN!!! Did you know that only 19% of BLT Rooms are Lagoon View, you are so lucky it was available! Look forward to our lil' coffee/dismeet...let me know. Anna

I did not know that! I thought it was more! There was a lot of Lagoon open for our dates, which gives me even MORE hope that the crowds will be low!

I totally meant to PM you this week, but due to not feeling well off and on, plus some other stuff I had on the calendar, I wasn't hardly on here at all. This week!!!

Hey there Brook!

Here are my long overdue pictures of David getting his postcard! He loved it! Thank you again!!

He was being a little shy and wouldn't look at the camera!

We will be sure to send one to Henry when we go to Disney TOMORROW!

So stinkin' cute! It's like he's playing Peek A Boo with the card. I hope you have had a smooth travel day and are enjoying the World! I look forward to hearing all about it!

 

[brookelizabeth]

10 Days at Disney - You are soooooooooooooo lucky. Don't you just love having an AP???????

The BLT lake view is so beautiful. Our lake view was on the side of the building so we could see the lake and the castle. So great!

YES! I love, love, love having an AP. It makes it so easy to go on a trip. Paired with DVC its so dangerous.

I want your view!!! Please tell me you remember your room number!

COngrats on the March trip!! We went during the flower and garden fest in 09-really beautiful. Great updates, love the pics. Especially the one of Joe and Henry loooking at the fountain-H had a Mickey sticker on his back

That boy had stickers everywhere! He'd peel them off one by one and give them to me as gifts. Pretty soon I would be covered too! It was very sweet.

We went during spring break, so early march. Like the first week of March.

And it was cold??? How cold? We've done Disney in 35 degree weather, I DON'T want to repeat that!