Chasing a Dream: September Trip Report Update 12/11 FINAL THOUGHTS/TRIP FAVORITES

[tmkinney]

After we were well rested from our long naps, we head out to EPCOT. It was late hours that night and we also had dinner ressies at LeCellier at 8:40pm.

We arrived as the sun was going down and got in a few pics in front of the ball....

We then started to head to Test Track since none of us had ever ridden before, but when we got there, the line was about 50 minutes long. We didn't want to wait in line because we wanted to make sure we got to our dinner on time. So we decided to go and do Spaceship Earth instead. This was a walk on, and it was a good ride. Here are a couple of pics of the screens. For some reason it didn't take Alan's or Rachel's pics:

After we finished the ride it was getting close to 8:15 so we started to walk over to World Showcase. We get to LeCellier a little early and waited up front to be called. It only took about 5 minutes and we were seated.

The restaurant was really nice, I had heard that it was dark and crowded in there but I didn't think either was really true. We got a great spot back in the corner. We ordered the kids the pirate's punch with the glow in the dark Captain Hook and Tinkerbell, so they had fun playing with those while we waited for the food.

The kids all ordered steak for their meal, and their meal was still appetizer, entree and dessert. So we got them the cheddar cheese soup we heard so much about, and of course they didn't want it so we ate it. It was yummy! I didn't really care for the pretzel bread that I know a lot of people love though.....

Dawn and I both ordered the Mushroom Filet and instead of rice, we got the cream cheese potatoes.

OMG, this is the best steak I have EVER ate!!! It was soooo good! This was by far my favorite meal of the trip, Dawn's too, but the guys still say 'Ohana was the best for them.

Alan got the NY Strip with potatoes, he said it was very good too.

Our waitress was not very good and we were not very happy with the service, but for a party of 7, the tip is added whether you like it or not. So we paid a $25 tip (just for my family) for bad service..... The kids pirate punch was almost $7 each so that's why it was so much. But the food was so good it made up for the bad service.

For dessert, we had the Chocolate Mousse. It was also VERY GOOD!

So after we were all stuffed, we head back out and try to hit Test Track again. On our way back to Future World, Rachel was out:

At this point it was probably around 10:00 or so, but we still went to ride Test Track, it was maybe 30 minute wait. Alan actually saw someone he had went to school with in the line, it was kind of funny. Really is a small world! Rachel woke up and wasn't thrilled about riding this. She clung to me like crazy the whole ride. You can see her holding my arm in our photopass pic:

Here is Dawn and Ray's photo:

Everyone but Rachel LOVED the ride, it is Hunter's new favorite at Disney. Hadley also loved it. They both got Test Track pins by the end of the trip!

So after our ride it was around 11:00 so we decided to head back to the room because tomorrow is our Magic Kingdom day!! We have a breakfast at Crystal Palace scheduled at 8:00am so it would be another early day for us.

Up Next:

Breakfast at Crystal Palace
Finally make it to a Rope Drop!

 

[addicted2dizney]

great update! too funny! when we were there in July we saw friends of ours while we were in line for TT it was a family that cheered on Jenna's team. We have been to Florida several times with them for cheer competitions so it was fitting that we ran into them in Disney!

 

[lmillercrew]

Great update! I've only ridden Test Track once. I know, it's hard to believe, but I can't wait to ride it again! Can't wait to hear about your MK day.

 

[tmkinney]

great update! too funny! when we were there in July we saw friends of ours while we were in line for TT it was a family that cheered on Jenna's team. We have been to Florida several times with them for cheer competitions so it was fitting that we ran into them in Disney!

Great update! I've only ridden Test Track once. I know, it's hard to believe, but I can't wait to ride it again! Can't wait to hear about your MK day.

Thanks! TT was great, I'm ready to ride it again too!

 

[tmkinney]

On Saturday we woke up bright and early for our morning at Magic Kingdom. Rachel was so excited this day had finally come (can you believe we waited until our 3rd day to visit??)....

We had a breakfast at Crystal Palace at 8:00am so we arrived and got to walk the empty streets.

I really wish I was there now..... (sigh...)

We of course had to stop for some photopass pics:

We then head to Crystal Palace for our breakfast. I checked in and it only took maybe 5 minutes to be seated. I told our waitress up front we wanted to settle the check so we could make it for rope drop. Everything went smoothly and the food was great!! I loved the potato casserole and the puffed french toast.

Not long after we were seated, along came Piglet first:

Then Eeyore.... (It was so funny, I don't think Eeyore even saw Rachel the whole time she was standing there! )

Then along came Pooh:

We still had not seen Tigger, but it was getting very close to 9:00 so we decided we would miss Tigger this time. While we were waiting on the men for a bathroom break, we took some pics of the kids in the lobby area:

While we were standing there, Tigger came out and I hate we missed him, he was such a great character. He bounced right on across the lobby (seriously!) and then he started dancing with this lady:

It was so funny, I love when the characters really try to play the part.

The guys were really loving to aggravate me and Dawn and kept saying "ROPE DROP, RUN!!!!!!!!!!" or "DREAM TEAM, RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!". This continued throughout our whole trip. It was pretty funny actually, and in the end, I think they are happy I planned everything out, even though they did like to give us a hard time!

So we head toward the castle and the park is still pretty empty:

It was a beautiful day too, although already hot! We make it up thru the castle and are front and center at the rope to Fantasyland!!! If you have never done this, I highly recommend it. There is nothing like an empty Magic Kingdom!! When we got up to the rope we saw this:

All the workers were riding the Carousel! We started waving like crazy, getting all into the magic (and keeping our fingers crossed we might get picked as Royal Family of the Day!...) Unfortunately though, the lady that came out to pick the family wasn't very friendly and didn't even acknowledge our excitement, and went toward the back to find someone else to be Royal Family. Oh well..... But while we were waiting, this nice lady did come up and visit with us:

Then a few seconds later, they drop the rope and we're off! It was so much fun to see this walking in:

And then a very empty Fantasyland:

Up Next:

Our first rides
Toontown

 

[dddisrunner]

Just catching up! We love LeCellier too, funny though my DH preferred Ohana over LeCellier too! I LOVED that chocolate mousse too, so cute! Poor Rachel on Test Track she was probably really tired! Don't you just love walking up Main St. for those early morning empty park pictures! Sorry you didn't get family of the day. So cool how empty Fantasyland was!

 

[kaysmommie]

Great updates and pics. Finally caught up on your trippie. I wish we would have went to Le cellier but we tried Tuttio Italia this trip. Le cellier is on of my DH's favorites. Those steaks look yummy. We also ate at CP but for dinner, it wasn't very good. I guess breakfast is better. Tigger was the best character when we there though, so funny.

 

[srandsr76]

I am enjoying all of your Photopass pictures - we are trying to decide if we want to do this for our trip in December - we have never purchases before.

 

[addicted2dizney]

Wow! what a great morning at MK! And you haven't even started your day yet! Isn't it just amazing how excited Disney has a way of making you feel? I felt the same way at rope drop! I get chills seeing all the CM's there cheering you on and welcoming you as you enter. There is no other place like it in the World! On our July trip I ran for the FP's at rope drop for Soarin at Epcot, as we made the turn down the steps and around the corner to the FP machines, the entire pathway was lined with CM's cheering us on like we were marathon runners all with their Mickey hands on high fiving us all as we went for our FP's! It was amazing!
I can't wait to read more! I love all your pictures and all your outfits! You were the ultimate Disney family!

 

[pmama]

I love that the cast members ride the carousal before rope drop. What a riot! I also love your his and hers shirts. Too cute!

 

[timandlesley]

Just got caught up and loving it. Loved the Epcot night, we've never been there for EMH, was it super crowded? I'm glad you enjoyed the mushroom filet at LeCellier, it's my favorite by far at Disney, so yummy! Test track is such fun, glad you enjoyed it. You have some great photo pass pics so far, great ones both at Epcot and MK. Great pics of Crystal palace and the empty shots on Main Street, I love that 8:00 Crystal palace ressie time, nothing beats it!!! Sorry you didn't get picked for family of the day but glad you will get to enjoy an empty Fantasyland, can't wait to read more.
Lesley

 

[lmillercrew]

How fun!!! I definately want to eat breakfast at CP so that I can be IN the park at rope drop. How fun to see the cast members having fun and enjoying themselves. I want to work at Disney!!!
Leave it to the men to make fun. Your DH sounds like mine. Just a smart a**.

 

[tmkinney]

Just catching up! We love LeCellier too, funny though my DH preferred Ohana over LeCellier too! I LOVED that chocolate mousse too, so cute! Poor Rachel on Test Track she was probably really tired! Don't you just love walking up Main St. for those early morning empty park pictures! Sorry you didn't get family of the day. So cool how empty Fantasyland was!

Yes, the chocolate mousse was yummy! I loved the empty park, it was awesome!

Great updates and pics. Finally caught up on your trippie. I wish we would have went to Le cellier but we tried Tuttio Italia this trip. Le cellier is on of my DH's favorites. Those steaks look yummy. We also ate at CP but for dinner, it wasn't very good. I guess breakfast is better.

Yes, we had dinner at CP last year, I do think the breakfast is better.

I am enjoying all of your Photopass pictures - we are trying to decide if we want to do this for our trip in December - we have never purchases before.

Thanks! You should check into a photopass share. That's what I've done for my two trips and it worked out great for a fraction of the price!!

Wow! what a great morning at MK! And you haven't even started your day yet! Isn't it just amazing how excited Disney has a way of making you feel? I felt the same way at rope drop! I get chills seeing all the CM's there cheering you on and welcoming you as you enter. There is no other place like it in the World! On our July trip I ran for the FP's at rope drop for Soarin at Epcot, as we made the turn down the steps and around the corner to the FP machines, the entire pathway was lined with CM's cheering us on like we were marathon runners all with their Mickey hands on high fiving us all as we went for our FP's! It was amazing!
I can't wait to read more! I love all your pictures and all your outfits! You were the ultimate Disney family!

Thank you! Yes, it is a magical feeling, that is so funny about the CM's cheering you on.

I love that the cast members ride the carousal before rope drop. What a riot! I also love your his and hers shirts. Too cute!

Thanks! Yes we loved to see the CM's riding the ride, it was great!

Just got caught up and loving it. Loved the Epcot night, we've never been there for EMH, was it super crowded? I'm glad you enjoyed the mushroom filet at LeCellier, it's my favorite by far at Disney, so yummy! Test track is such fun, glad you enjoyed it. You have some great photo pass pics so far, great ones both at Epcot and MK. Great pics of Crystal palace and the empty shots on Main Street, I love that 8:00 Crystal palace ressie time, nothing beats it!!! Sorry you didn't get picked for family of the day but glad you will get to enjoy an empty Fantasyland, can't wait to read more.
Lesley

Thank you! EMH at Epcot is not too crowded. We have done it the last two years and it has worked out great for us. I tried the mushroom filet thanks to your TR, sooo glad I did! An early CP ressie is a must now, being there early is great!

How fun!!! I definately want to eat breakfast at CP so that I can be IN the park at rope drop. How fun to see the cast members having fun and enjoying themselves. I want to work at Disney!!!
Leave it to the men to make fun. Your DH sounds like mine. Just a smart a**.

Yes, you must do an early breakfast at CP, the rope drop is awesome! I want to work at Disney too!! You are right on, my DH is a smart a**!!!!

 

[tmkinney]

So after walking into an empty Fantasyland, we decided to let Rachel pick what she wanted to do first because up to this point, she had pretty much been doing what everyone else wanted, riding rides that she was scared of... So, she picked Small World, that is her favorite ride.

So we head there and we are the first riders of the day! Rachel was in heaven, she was soaking up every bit of the magic! Some pics from our ride:

After Small World, we decided to head for Peter Pan since we had missed this last year. It was a walk on (did I mention that early mornings are awesome?!)

After Peter Pan, we went to Snow White's Scary Adventure. I was afraid Rachel would be scared but she wasn't, she actually enjoyed the ride. Hunter and Alan really wanted to ride Haunted Mansion but Rachel didn't, so everyone else went to ride that and me and Rachel went to the teacups:

After our ride we saw that Alice & Mad Hatter were greeting, so we walked over for a pic. This Mad Hatter was great!

I really wanted to make rope drop at Toontown for a chance to ride Barnstormer with Goofy, so after the teacups, me and Rachel headed that way. It was almost 20 to 10:00, but they had already let people in!! So we walked on in and I said to a CM "I thought you didn't open until 10:00am?" She said "we always open early!" So then I asked her if Minnie was in her house and she said she was with Mickey behind his house. So Rachel and I headed there. Toontown was pretty much deserted, so we walked right up and a CM came to get us and we were back there alone with Minnie & Mickey! It was great!

While we were waiting to go back, Dawn called me and asked where we were. So they started to head over to Toontown too. When Rachel & I left Mickey's house, she wanted to go to Minnie's house. It is a great time to go, there was hardly anyone there!!

While we were in Minnie's house, the rest of our group had made it to Mickey's tent:

So Rachel and I headed over to the gift store to look around. She spent some of her money and bought a Tinkerbell Polly Pocket set. She was one happy girl! After we finished up there we met everyone at Goofy's Barnstormer for a ride. Once again, a walk on!

Then we took the train over to Adventureland and caught up with this show:

We then went for a ride on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. This was something we had missed last year too. This was another great ride! Again, not a favorite of Rachel's....

Then we hit Splash Mountain. Rachel did not want to ride and Alan didn't really want to get wet either so me and Hunter went on with Dawn, Ray & Hadley.

After that we made our way back to Fantasyland for Mickey's Philharmagic:

Then Hunter tried his best to pull the sword out (with no luck! )

After this it was close to lunch so we decided to head back for some rest before Rachel's BBB appointment later in the day.

We ate lunch in the food court and then headed up to the room. When we got there we saw this:

Just another reminder of how great Disney is!! When the CM that checked us in asked if we were celebrating anything, I told him Hunter's birthday and he gave us the birthday button. He did ask about Hunter's favorite character, but he didn't write anything down or make any notes (in front of me anyway). So it was a big surprise to find this in the room. That made Hunter's day and I was glad he got something special too since Rachel did get to do BBB that day.

Up next:

BBB
1900 Park Fare

 

[pmama]

What sort of "show" was going on in Adventureland w/ Toy Story characters? That looks like fun.

 

[addicted2dizney]

You pictures came out so great! Driving home from practice tonight I was telling Jenna all about the special card Hunter got for his Birthday from Lilo and Stitch! Stitch is her fav.. well, that's it, She's decided she HAS to be there on her birthday to get a cool card like that!: Her Birthday is Dec 21 st!

Loved all the empty MK photos too! Can't wait to read more, this trip is just about as perfect as you could get!

 

[lmillercrew]

I can't believe all of the rides you got to ride before lunch! I love EMH's. I don't know that I've ever been there when Peter Pan has been a walk on though. We usually go in June and it's pretty busy. We LOVE Splash Mtn. I don't always like to get wet, but when it's hot, it feels pretty good. Can't wait to see how the BBB makeover turned out.

 

[tmkinney]

What sort of "show" was going on in Adventureland w/ Toy Story characters? That looks like fun.

The show in Adventureland was called Woody's Round Up. It was a very cute show. The kids could get out there and dance the Hokey Pokey with the characters.

You pictures came out so great! Driving home from practice tonight I was telling Jenna all about the special card Hunter got for his Birthday from Lilo and Stitch! Stitch is her fav.. well, that's it, She's decided she HAS to be there on her birthday to get a cool card like that!: Her Birthday is Dec 21 st!

Loved all the empty MK photos too! Can't wait to read more, this trip is just about as perfect as you could get!

Ooohhh, a Christmas/Birthday trip!! I want to go too!!!

Yes, it was a great trip! Stay tuned, our next day is the best day yet!!!

I can't believe all of the rides you got to ride before lunch! I love EMH's. I don't know that I've ever been there when Peter Pan has been a walk on though. We usually go in June and it's pretty busy. We LOVE Splash Mtn. I don't always like to get wet, but when it's hot, it feels pretty good. Can't wait to see how the BBB makeover turned out.

I know, we got to do so much that morning, I was very surprised. It wasn't even EMH, we just got there at 8:00 for the breakfast so were able to be at the rope drop in the park. It definitely makes a difference!!

 

[tmkinney]

While everyone else was resting/napping, Rachel and I got ready to go to her BBB appointment. Her appointment was scheduled for 4:30 so we left the resort around 3:30. We got there in plenty of time, checked in and within 5 minutes we were called back.

It seemed pretty crowded inside, but very cute. Here are some pics of Rachel getting her makeover:

Rachel was a little shy the whole time, and her FG wasn't the best. She was okay, but she kept getting on to Rachel for moving and just wasn't going out of her way to make the experience extra magical.

But in the end, Rachel looked beautiful. Here is her transformation:

She got a gift bag with the leftover makeup and some Ariel stickers. After we finished up, she wanted to go visit with the princesses in Toontown.

So we made our way over, and the line is about 30 minutes long. So we get almost to the front of the line - and of course, Rachel has to use the bathroom!!! Thank goodness there was a very nice couple behind us who had a daughter who also had to use the bathroom, so the man held our place in line while we took over to get to a bathroom. Well, the closest bathroom is at Pete's Garage, and it was soooo HOT outside and I had to carry Rachel because she had on the heeled princess shoes. So here I was about to die running carrying Rachel to get the bathroom and back so we wouldn't miss our place in line! Well all I can say is thank goodness that man was there holding our spot because when we got back, we were the next ones in line. They probably wouldn't have waited any longer for us to get back! So thankfully it worked out, and we head in to visit with these three ladies:

continued in next post shortly......

 

[tmkinney]

So after we visited with the princesses, we headed to do some photo ops at the Rose Garden and at the bridge by the castle. Here are some pics from that:

After the Rose Garden, the Dream Along with Mickey Show was going on so Rachel wanted to stop and watch.

Then we headed to Expo Hall for more pics! There were only a couple people in front of us and it went pretty quick. Here are the pics from that:

After we finished up there we looked around the gift shop for a while and then out to meet Hunter & Alan. I had called Alan after we left BBB and told him he better get up and bring Hunter back to MK, I hated for him to miss out on anything while we were gone. So he did bring him back and Hunter got to ride Buzz Lightyear, Space Mountain, Stitch, etc....

On our way to meet the guys we ran into this character:

We then stopped for a soda and met the boys. By this time it was around 6:30 and we had a ressie at 1900 Park Fare for 7:25.

Coming up next: 1900 Park Fare Dinner
Dawn & Ray's Liberty Tree Tavern dinner