Celebrating w/D23 as they turn 1! March 10: TR finished! Relive the Magic! updt 11/18

[MyMuse]

After the excitement of Ariel, the goddaughter was on a roll. We actually were able to ride Haunted Mansion together and she did so well! Haunted Mansion is one of my and her mom’s favorite rides, so we were happy indeed.

my goddaughter met Ariel so she's now in a good mood
10:49 AM Mar 5th

Haunted Mansion was a walk-on! woot! the goddaughter did well!
10:49 AM Mar 5th

the goddaughter rode carousel on Cinderella's horse! so so so cute!
10:50 AM Mar 5th

It seems that we headed to Hall of Fame tent to meet her princess, Snow White and also Cinderella. According to Mobile Magic, Snow White was supposed to be there. We had a good time talking with others on line. I have never been inside before, so the goddaughter was a good excuse.

Unfortunately when we got there, Snow White was nowhere to be found, but there was Aurora.


we r now at hall of fame tent to meet Cinderella - we missed Snow White but there is Aurora
11:41 AM Mar 5th

Then came Cinderella, and they had a wonderful convo about her shirt...

mother & daughter...

Then Belle.....

She was so happy as pie and chatering away, so we continued on to the judge’s tent to meet Mickey & Minnie and to find my favorite things. *wink*

the godbaby met her aurora, cinderella & belle! then she decided she must say hello to mickey & friends! tooo cute!
12:07 PM Mar 5th


Outside...

Inside....

one of those apples are a little off....

ah....that's why...

there might be a few in this shot...

the watermelon..

..and the cake...couldn't get a great shot

..and the pie!

How-DEEE!

Portrait Gallery

Guess Who?!

I took some of my own as well...

...we finish and out she goes!

Time for Lunch!

 

[If U Had Wings]

Your goddaughter looks like she had a blast meeting the princesses.

I don't think I've ever ridden in any of the cars down Main Street. I may have to put that on the to do list for my next trip.

 

[dawnbu40]

Glad you enjoyed the rope drop and trolley ride! Those are among my favorite things at the MK and I managed to miss them both in March. Being there with the goddaughter must have been really special as there is nothing quite as fun as seeing the MK through the eyes of a child

 

[jenseib]

That ARiel is the best looking one I have seen. She LOOKS like Ariel. She almost has a cartoon look to her. LOL! What a fun morning.

I started a pre-pre-trip report (link in my sig) We don't have dates yet, but if all goes well we should be there in the next year. Claire is really pushing skip on it now. Ok maybe nudge from me too

 

[praisehisname]

Love the HMs on the horse's gear (don't know what it's called). So fun to let your goddaughter direct the activities and order of the day. She's getting to see a lot! And I agree with jenseib--that is the best Ariel!

 

[MyMuse]

Your goddaughter looks like she had a blast meeting the princesses.

I don't think I've ever ridden in any of the cars down Main Street. I may have to put that on the to do list for my next trip.

Oh she was on quite a high. Ariel, all the princesses, then Mickey n Minnie....


The trolley was really very cool. I found out about it by reading dawnb40 trip report.

Glad you enjoyed the rope drop and trolley ride! Those are among my favorite things at the MK and I managed to miss them both in March. Being there with the goddaughter must have been really special as there is nothing quite as fun as seeing the MK through the eyes of a child

Maybe you get do it on the next trip?

The goddaughter was having a blast!

That ARiel is the best looking one I have seen. She LOOKS like Ariel. She almost has a cartoon look to her. LOL! What a fun morning.

I started a pre-pre-trip report (link in my sig) We don't have dates yet, but if all goes well we should be there in the next year. Claire is really pushing skip on it now. Ok maybe nudge from me too

It was a good morning; the goddaughter didn't have a meltdown per se, so that was good. And Ariel was excellent! I think this was one of the last morning the Grotto was there.


Yay! for a maybe trip. It has been awhile,s o maybe he'll give in gracefully.

Love the HMs on the horse's gear (don't know what it's called). So fun to let your goddaughter direct the activities and order of the day. She's getting to see a lot! And I agree with jenseib--that is the best Ariel!

As long as she behaved, we were a-ok. As a person who doesn't have kids, I really have no tolerance for badly behaved children and that includes my own goddaughter. For the most part she was good, but she was up early and we were doing a good job of tiring her out.

 

[MyMuse]

After we leave the Judge’s Tent, my goddaughter jumps in her stroller and we think it is an excellent time to get some lunch.

I want to go to Columbia Harbour House since the only other time I was there was during the Key to the Kingdom tour. It was very cool being a private area and all, but it was a little rushed.

So, off we go and Jennifer gets a table upstairs in relatively quite area and I go and get the food. I decide on fish sticks since I got the chicken strips last time.

And someone decided to fall asleep in her soup. So cute, but glad she’s tired. She naps for a bit while we finish eating.

someone fell asleep in her soup....
12:48 PM Mar 5th

and I did manage to get a food pic! I didn't even realize.


Before we go, I head into the restroom. Normally, I would not tell you this, but the restroom is very small and from what I retained at the Keys to the Kingdom tour, it is technically in Fantasyland since Liberty Square does not have any restroom as per its time.

And, of course, I can’t help but find a few….

it's the map!

After lunch, we headed to the Tiki Room; the goddaughter wanted to see the “talking birds”. We waited a little bit but enjoyed the outside pre-show a bit.

lunch was Columbia Harbor House...got me some fish sticks! lol
1:08 PM Mar 5th

according to mobile magic, the wait times are low..but there is a LOT of people in the park!
1:32 PM Mar 5th via txt

The Tiki Room is okay; I really don’t have to see this, if I’m solo. And, if I do remember from the KTTK tour, the outside, is made out of aluminum even through it looks like palm frounds, or whatever they are.

i really hope the tiki room is better the 2nd time around. sigh. the goddaughter wanted to see the "talking birds".....oiy.
1:36 PM Mar 5th

I don’t take any pictures here at all. Outside isn’t overly interesting and I don’t think you’re allowed to take any inside.

We then head to Tomorrowland! And enjoy their Transit Authority. And the goddaughter enjoys some relax-o time. And she never did take off the sticker she has on her hand. She got that from a CM when she first entered the park.

enjoying the transit authority of tomorrowland....
2:06 PM Mar 5th

And then off to the Speedway! I can’t believe the godbaby wants to go on this but I’m game. I went on it for the first-time last December, so I warn Jennifer the gas pedal needs to some serious weight. Luckily, I was able to go on the car behind them.

Awww...

After this we head for the exit, since the goddaughter should have a nap, Jennifer needs to get home and I should be heading to the D23 dinner soon.

And it’s actually getting hot enough to remove the jacket! Woot!

my goodness! it might be hot enough to remove the jacket.......damm orlando!
3:06 PM Mar 5th

Then some pics of the train station…

just said goodbye to the bff & goddaughter. i do believe i have a date with peter pan...
3:33 PM Mar 5th

While I was at the front of the park, I took some pics as well as get some more PP. Of course.

I can't believe I got PP pics in front of the park, and there is no one behind me! Yay!

At some point in the morning, I got a FP for Peter Pan, one of my fav rides, hence my date.

Off I go back into the Magical Land of Kingdoms.....before joining up with D23 dinner.

 

[dawnbu40]

Nice update! The picture of the bff and goddaughter peeking through the car seat is adorable!

 

[BippityBoo]

Great update!! We LOVED CHH The fish sticks and the shrimp were to die for. Ever had tuna there? I hear it is awesome, too. What a great PP picture with no one behind you! Love your shirt!

 

[praisehisname]

Great update! I love how you captured your BFF and goddaughter looking back from the race cars!

 

[MyMuse]

Nice update! The picture of the bff and goddaughter peeking through the car seat is adorable!

Thank you!

Can't quite believe we pulled that off and that they heard me yelling! LOL

Great update!! We LOVED CHH The fish sticks and the shrimp were to die for. Ever had tuna there? I hear it is awesome, too. What a great PP picture with no one behind you! Love your shirt!

Tuna has to be for next time. I do want to try Pecos Bill.

I felt I should wear a D23 shirt to a D23 event.

Great update! I love how you captured your BFF and goddaughter looking back from the race cars!

Thank you!

 

[MyMuse]

The last I left you was me taking more Photopass pics (of course!) and sad to see my godbaby go, but excited for the D23 day and my date with Peter.

Off I go, did find some of my fav things at Peter's house….

Where can it be?

oh! there!

my ride awaits.....
3:42 PM Mar 5th

I just think this ride is the bestest!


…but absolutely could not find the HM in the Peter Pan sign and trust me, I looked at it for awhile. I’m sure people thought I was, let’s say, special. lol

Then it was time to hit Diamond Horseshoe Saloon and meet up with my dinner companions, fellow DISers Dawn, Caitlyn, Shirlee (see dawnbu40’s TR for her review too!). We had the 4:30pm dinner slot. We got in, found a table and went off to the food lines.

This time, I sat downstairs as opposed to sitting upstairs like last time. The tables were very squished, so obviously there was quite a few people in this party as well as having 2 dinner times. There was another dinner scheduled for 6:30pm, I think.

Steven Clark welcomed us with a glass of champagne to D23’s 1st Anniversary party and showed a restrospective of the last year with slides.

at d23 dinner party & steven clark is onstage welcoming us here
4:47 PM Mar 5th

steve clark giving champagne toast at d23 party
4:52 PM Mar 5th

From what I can remember, food was good and the usual stuff. I remember thinking I was still hungry when I left. I can’t imagine why I didn’t take photos, but probably because there was no room to move and things went quite quickly. I also got to talk with some of the D23 people again. It does give me warm fuzzies that they remember me from a past event.

It was fairly difficult to maneuver around the place, listen and eat at the same time. In fact, the four of us were sill eating when they kicked us out at 5:30pm! They were cleaning up all around us to prepare for the next group.

the d23 dinner was fun & fast with a restropective in slides; food was good! kicked us out at 5:30pm lol!
5:35 PM Mar 5th


After dinner, we split up and there are a few hours until we meet up outside the Hall of Presidents (after Wishes) so we can be walked over to Philharmagic to watch a special showing and learn about the Fantasyland expansion.


I went to Jungle Cruise but the line was super long, so I hit Pirates and it was closed! So, I decided to go back to Jungle Cruise. But before, I do that, I took a quick nip to Swiss Family Robinson to get some shots. I didn’t fully go up. But also got to see uber cool sidewalk art.


have a few hrs b4 d23 continues, went to jungle cruise & line is astonishing! then hit pirates but its CLOSED! ARGH.
5:39 PM Mar 5th

I never noticed they have a cool sign!

I really like their crest; do you ever notice? (the swiss luggage people has one just like it!)

uber cool sidewalk art

hmm...went back to jungle cruise & line now moving...hoping pirates will be open by the time i'm done. have date w/ buzz later
5:48 PM Mar 5th


The line was better at Jungle Cruise, so I hopped on that and totally regretted it. It was the absolutely worst Jungle Cruise I ever went on. The captain was heavily accented and talked too fast. I heard about every 10th word.

that was the worst jungle cruise that i experienced...could not understand him at all..maybe every 10th word
6:19 PM Mar 5th


After, I went to check on Pirates again and it was indeed open, but there was a bit of a wait. I guess the line built up a bit, but I never really had a wait on Pirates before. Which also makes it difficult to look for the HMs. LOL!


pirates is now open! yay! a bit of a wait..first time for me....always a walk on previous times or a low wait; guess it was building up!
6:21 PM Mar 5th


Then I decided to be super brave and did Splash Mountain. At dusk. With no one sitting I front of me. I’m marking this on the calendar. Check out my scream face.

just did Splash Mtn & it is beautiful at dusk at top & then....u get a big surprise! ack!
7:01 PM Mar 5th

After this, I head to Tomorrowland, to use my Buzz FP, which I must have gotten at some point during the day. I completed a decent score. I think.

that Buzz is a tool! so i decided to join the space rangers too
7:25 PM Mar 5th


I went on a Night Stroll on the Transit Authority (I did a daytime romp earlier with the goddaughter) and Carousel of Progress. I’m not really overly found of CoP, so it must have been starting when I walked up. I’m a sucker for no waits.

had a night stroll at the transit authority then visited walt'sbcarousel of progress...came out in time to listen to wishes...live.
8:03 PM Mar 5th



enjoying Wishes fireworks at Magic Kingdom..
8:18 PM Mar 5th

I came out just in time to listen & see to Wishes from Tomorrowland as I stroll to Hall of Presidents to meet up with D23.

 

[MyMuse]

I came out just in time to listen & see to Wishes from Tomorrowland and I stroll to Hall of Presidents to meet up with D23.


Problem. A BIG one.


I cannot get through! It is blocked off, and the CM will not let me through, even though I show the D23 badge. So I go around the other way and THAT SIDE is blocked off also. So, now I can’t get to HoP at all. At this point, I’m getting angry & stressing out over missing D23. I show the badge again and explain, I’m supposed to meet up at HoP. The CM keeps shaking his head and I ask for a manager. I explain again and the manager lets me in, apologizes and walks me (and a bunch of other D23ers) over to HoP. Apparently, the left hand didn’t know what the right hand was doing and stranded a bunch of us.

there was an very unhelpful cast member who would NOT let me get to Hall of Pres. had to get a manager! argh.
8:18 PM Mar 5th

This is not a nice way to start another round of D23 events. Oiy. I got there and now really really realize there are ALOT of people at this event! I can’t find Dawn & her gang for anything. I do talk to a few people and we are waiting for quite some time outside HoP. In the cold.

Finally, we start moving and load into Philarmagic and I end up about 5 rows from the back. We all settle in and get another hello from the D23 peoples.


currently sitting 5th row from the back...
8:41 PM Mar 5th

Guess what?


Philarmagic breaks down! 3 million showings a day and it breaks down. It took quite some time to get it rolling again. Really, it was too funny.

the d23 showing of mickey's philharmagic is about to start!
8:44 PM Mar 5th


After Philharmagic showed, it was time for the gabfest about the Fantasyland expansion. We were so excited to find out what was coming and we got……well, nothing. It was completely underwhelming. The Imagineer kept to the ‘party line’ and basically wouldn’t say anything that was really new new. We did find out that it probably not open until October 2012, princess will be interactive and they will have their own themeing and spaces.

The whole point of the first Anniversary party WAS the Fantasyland expansion explained by an Imagineer portion. It was disappointing. The funny parts were during the Q&A and the Imagineer struggled to give an appripo answer. I wish we could have filmed it, but cameras were a no-no.

The slides of Fantasyland were presented on the big screen (hence having this in Philharmagic) but no pics allowed!!! It was great to see the storyboard.


After our presentation, off to go to Fantasyland, which was closed off for us.

The first thing I see – Bandleader Mickey! Thankfully, there was a CM there and was able to take my photo. I wish Photopass people were around. Just think of the borders!

Let me stay again – it was cold. Really cold. I probably headed for the dessert & hot drinks table at this point. I know I was walking around just taking in the place and checking things out. I did catch more uber cool sidewalk art.

I have to admit, being solo & cold (I couldn’t find Dawn & her gang yet), I was getting a little freaked out. There wasn’t any D23 people around to help you around, say which rides were open, no mingling. It was like we were left all alone to figure it out. It was just weird.

I also couldn’t go to any other characters to take pictures because they were no CMs or PP people that I could see, so I settled on just taking pictures of the characters themselves. I also disappointed that there wasn’t any special surprises. I know we are not supposed to expect them, but since it was Alice in Wonderland opening day, I really expected to see them.

I did ride Snow White and for my first time ever, Dumbo! In a completely empty Fantasyland. I may have been the only one riding it.


..and there is an HM on top of the mirror!

I know I had some awesome dessert & hot cocoa that hit the spot and did manage to meet up with Dawn, Caitlyn & Shirlee again. They were smart enough to bring blankets. I think the best part of the party, was that there was absolutely no lines for any of the rides!!!

I did notice the photos of the Fantasyland expansion were on display in a corner. The ones that we weren’t allowed to take pictures of a mere hour ago. So, I took pictures.

I now present to you that Storyboard of Fantasyland Expansion: *drum roll*

What I didn’t know was the Vilage Haus was open and had merchandise! It would have been nice to be told! And to get warm.


con'd.....

 

[MyMuse]

con'd..

I met up with Dawn & her peeps again and we slowly walk out of Fantasyland. S-l-o-w-l-y. Why rush? It was beautious, dark, magical and completely empty.

We got a ticket for a gift to get the gift before we leave Magic Kingdom. A little weird, but there it is.

As we walk toward Main Street, we stop at the hub, take a few photos and try to take it all in.

the gang...(thank you for the pic, Dawn!)

Heading down an empty Main Street...

a look back....

We finally head out of Magic Kingdom, load up on buses to DTD, then onto POP.

Our gift was a super size first Anniversary pin.

our gift from d23 anniversary party
11:10 PM Mar 5th

end of night tweets....

the d23 anniversary was fun but it was no Magic & Merriment. lol! expanded fantasyland will not open until Oct 2012...
12:25 AM Mar 6th

the best of d23 party was that there was no lines for any of the fantasyland rides! lol i also met bandleader mickey; mascot of d23!
12:31 AM Mar 6th

Tomorrow: The Flowers and The Gardens!

join me tomorrow for Epcot & live radio show of wdwtodaypodcast! flower & garden festival!
1:01 AM Mar 6th

 

[dawnbu40]

Nice update! You did a much better job than we did of getting photos of eveything from the party! We really enjoyed getting to spend time with you there

You rode Splash Mountain?! You are far braver than we are since it was so cold that day!

 

[onelilspark]

I'm joining in! Saw your tweet about updating (I'm @kat228!)

 

[MyMuse]

Nice update! You did a much better job than we did of getting photos of eveything from the party! We really enjoyed getting to spend time with you there

You rode Splash Mountain?! You are far braver than we are since it was so cold that day!

Thank you

I don't know whether I lost photos or whether they kept on saying no photos, no video and I just put the camera away during dinner and again at Fantasyland non-gabfest.

I do love how the photos came out of the formerly-not-allowed-to-take-pictures-of-fantasyland-storyboard came out.

Yes, thank you for a fab time! I was happy to have company at the dinner and again at the dessert party.

Yup, I rode the monster. I'm trying to get over my fear of open heights. I'm still not riding Space Mountain tho. And I'm guessing, I did not get wet. I stopped journalling by that point, but I think I would remember. Plus, the water was probably turned down a bit. It helped to be sitting in the middle.

I'm joining in! Saw your tweet about updating (I'm @kat228!)

Hi!

I'm also attending F&W in October and 2010 Reunion in December!!! WOOT!

I'll head over to your PTR.

 

[jenseib]

great update. It does seem a bit of a downer this time, but still neat. I don't know why those photos were forbidden, they really ddin't show any sectrets or anything that hasn't been shown about the expansion before. They are really pretty though. Thanks for being the rebel!

 

[MyMuse]

great update. It does seem a bit of a downer this time, but still neat. I don't know why those photos were forbidden, they really ddin't show any sectrets or anything that hasn't been shown about the expansion before. They are really pretty though. Thanks for being the rebel!

I don't think anything was released at that point.

I guess they didn't want every camera going off during the Q&A sessions, but they did make a VERY BIG DEAL about it.

All this pics have since been shown on the Disney Parks blog. so, I'm thinking it was no big deal to take photos during the dessert party.

 

[MyMuse]

As you may remember, a few pages back, I went to Tusker House for their Nemo lunch seating package.

I did a review for DisneyFoodBlog - a GREAT site for foodies! - and it has ben since published!

You can read it HERE.

Thank you AJ !!!