Disney Dining,DIS Meets,and WAIT-Why is that lady holding..... FINAL THOUGHTS 11/27

[Sleepingbooty]

Hey there Michelle - don't worry about it ! Life happens. I'm glad you haven't been doing too many updates, or it would have taken me forever to get caught up - my life isn't allowing much time for Dising lately either!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Woo hoo! Glad to hear from you! We'll still be here when you have time! I, for one, can understand being to busy to dis!

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

Hey Michelle, it's so good to see your back! It sounds like you are keeping busy these days! I'm definitely looking forward to your next update!

 

[Charlefours]

College Footbal!! So happy it has started.

I've been sewing too. Glad to know I am in good company.

 

[*dreamit*doit*]

Hi Michelle! Hope you're enjoying your weekend!

 

[MHTeacher]

Hey there stranger! Good to see that you indeed, have not fallen off the face of the earth

Check in when you can - we miss you around here.

And, just because you put that reminder in there that college football season has arrived..........BOOMER SOONER!!!

Thanks, Michelle!

I'm pretty sure you watched some college football during the weekend!

We haven't given up...we are here for the long run. When you get it it, you get to it. Have a great Labor Day Weekend.

Thanks, Kathy! I've had a great, relaxing Labor Day. Hope you've had a good one too!

Hi, Michelle! It's good to hear from you! I think this is the first planning period I have actually DISed during since school started!!!

Enjoy your weekend and the start of college football.

Thanks, Jackie!

Other than that little life update I posted the other day, I had not been on the DIS for almost three weeks!

I was actually behind in your updates so I got to enjoy your afternoon of shopping in the MK, fairy visit and Wishes! I agree with the rest of the gang, you got some great shots! I am in the market for a new camera (b/c clearly the quality of my photos is due to the camera not the operator... ) so I will check out this one

Well, then I'm glad that my dragging has helped you to catch up!

We love our camera---wish we hadn't waited so long to upgrade!

 

[MHTeacher]

Looking forward to the rest of your report, but until then ROLL TIDE ROLL.

Thanks!

RTR! WOW to all the new changes in the stadium-----the new closed in South end zone, and all the ribbon boards, and four new big screens in each curve. It looked great!

Oh, I know how you feel, Michelle! I've been super busy since school started as well. My plans have been to DIS at night but I have to wake up at 5:30 and I'm just done before 10.
Have a great weekend.

It's good to know others feel my pain and understand it, Barabara! There just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day, does there?

Hi Michelle!! That is ok, I have been off of DIS for a while now doing the same thing---teaching! Actually, I have been learning to sew, too! I know what you mean about the giant sewing machine chasing you

Can't wait to hear about your trip...OH and TIGER BAIT! GO LSU!!!

That's great Katie about learning to sew! I loved smocking and sewing for my girls when they were younger.

That LSU game was pretty tenseful wasn't it? I'm sure you were glad they came out with the win.

Hey there Michelle - don't worry about it ! Life happens. I'm glad you haven't been doing too many updates, or it would have taken me forever to get caught up - my life isn't allowing much time for Dising lately either!

Glad you understand, Rebecca!

I'm afraid I may never catch up on everyone else's TRs!

 

[MHTeacher]

Woo hoo! Glad to hear from you! We'll still be here when you have time! I, for one, can understand being to busy to dis!

Thanks! An update (finally!) is about to be posted!

Hey Michelle, it's so good to see your back! It sounds like you are keeping busy these days! I'm definitely looking forward to your next update!

Thanks, Courtney! I have an update written and ready to post after I finish up with replies.

I'm dying to know how your Italy trip was! I'll bet it was the most amazing trip!

College Footbal!! So happy it has started.

I've been sewing too. Glad to know I am in good company.

We had a perfect day for the first game of the season, too, Stephanie! It was beautiful!

I'm sure you have been in a sewing frenzy, getting ready for this trip. Lillian is going to look precious in every picture!

Hi Michelle! Hope you're enjoying your weekend!

It's been a good day! I needed today. Hope you've had a good one too!

 

[MHTeacher]

Day 5---Wednesday, May 26

Despite an early evening the night before, waking two teenage girls proved to be a problem on Wednesday morning! (Am I really surprised???) I’m not sure what I was thinking when I made an 8:05 breakfast reservation for that morning? After threatening the girls with their lives, we were finally all out the door at 7:40, and headed over to the International Gateway at Epcot. As we got to the entrance, the security guard told us the park didn’t open until 9 a.m. Kevin spoke up and said, “Oh, we have a breakfast reservation at Canada.” The guard gave us a funny look, until I quickly corrected Kevin that the reservation was in Norway. Bless his heart---He really doesn’t know where we’re eating, or what park we’re touring on any day during our trip. He just flows along, sometimes thinking to ask the night before, “Now, where are we going tomorrow?” I love that man!

It was so great walking through the countries and not seeing anyone else. I wish I’d taken some pictures, but by this point we were walking pretty quickly to make our ADR. We did stop and take a picture in Canada. Despite having gotten up early, Rachel had decided to be bright eyed (Elizabeth, however, a different story!)

We finally made our way to Norway, and I checked in at Akershus.

We waited outside and were called in about 5 minutes. Once inside, we got in line to meet Belle.

After posing for our pictures, we were taken to our table. After a trip to the cold bar, we sat down and started in on our breakfast. Around this time, I saw Becky (ladybugmom) waiting in line with her family to visit with Belle. She waved, and then came over to talk. Pretty soon, we started having visits from the princesses, so Becky returned to her family, and we finished our meal.

Snow White obviously didn’t know where the camera was---(I think she may have been distracted by the apples.)

When we were finished, we all agreed that, unfortunately, Akershus did not live up to our expectations—food quality, that is. If you are the parent of young girls, I do think that it is one of the best ways to meet the princesses, and would be worth the money just for that. Since our girls are older, and Reid doesn’t really care about the princesses (We had to make him have his picture taken with each one!!), we probably won’t eat here again.

Of course, we were on the DDP, but this is an expensive meal to pay for OOP, especially when we weren’t too impressed with the quality of the food.
Before we left, we walked over to Becky’s table, and met her family. We enjoyed talking for a few minutes more, and then we had our picture taken. Here we are---She is just as sweet and cute in person, as she is in pictures!

***CONTINUED IN NEXT POST

 

[MHTeacher]

As we left Akershus, it was 9:15—Epcot had opened at 9 that morning, and we met up with all the people when we arrived at The Land. We grabbed fast passes for Soarin’, and then rode Living with the Land---not my favorite, but Reid sure seemed to get a kick out of it.

We crossed over Future World and went to Mission Space. Now I rode this when it first came out. There was only the one side (the yucky one!). I was the only member in my family during that trip brave enough to try, and let me tell you-I was green when I came off that ride. Since then, Disney began offering the milder side, and Kevin and the kids have all ridden. They have begged me to ride the non-spinning side with them, but I’ve always refused. So this year, I finally gave in, and agreed. They were all so excited, but I was not. I got myself so worked into a nervous state before the ride, but in the end, I made it just fine.

We crossed the park again, and rode Nemo. Afterwards, we spent entirely too much time looking at the dolphins. I’m to blame as much as anyone else. I love watching them!

After catching Turtle Talk, we walked over to Soarin’ and used those great fast passes. It was almost noon, so when we finished, we walked over to Test Track to get fast passes for later. The kids were hungry, so we grabbed some lunch at the Electric Umbrella. Kevin stayed outside to return a call from work, and then caught up with us about 25 minutes later. We waited for him to finish his lunch, and then we walked out toward Spaceship Earth to have some photopass pictures made.

We walked back toward Innovations, and stopped for a restroom break. When I came out, the kids and Kevin were waiting. They were talking to another family who live in the same city we do. In fact, the oldest daughter and my Rachel are in the same grade/same school.

***CONTINUED IN NEXT POST

 

[MHTeacher]

Now around this time, the early hour of the morning caught up with some of my girls (one in particular!). Rachel and Reid wanted to do a KP mission, but Elizabeth didn’t want to. I asked her if she wanted to shop in MouseGears, and volunteered to stay with her if she wanted. She wouldn’t give a definite answer, so I finally just said, “OK, we’ll all go to the KP mission.” That was NOT what Elizabeth wanted, but she wouldn't say any alternatives, either! We were to report to the KP station at the International Gateway, so once again, we crossed what seemed like the entire park of Epcot. Elizabeth was mad at this point, but wouldn’t tell us why. She walked on and refused to come to the station with us to see what our mission was going to be. Instead, she sat across the bridge, all by herself. I took this picture to aggravate her and try to lighten the mood……………………………………..It didn’t work!

Now, before you start feeling sorry for her---DON’T! We tried to get her to join us, but she wanted to sit alone and sulk for a while. The kids were given a spy mission in France, so we crossed over the bridge. Rachel and Reid both tried to get her to help them, but she wouldn’t. It was hot, and Kevin and I were tired, so we sat out on the benches near France. Elizabeth sat by herself about four benches away! We tried the picture technique again, to try to tease her into talking to us………………………..It didn’t work again.

When Rachel and Reid finally finished the France KP mission, we gathered together to see what our next plan should be. By now, I was hot and ill with the teenage attitude. I was just ready to go back to Beach Club and cool off. Rachel and Reid wanted to use the fast passes for Test Track, but I did not relish the idea of walking back to the front of the park again! I knew Elizabeth did not want to, so I asked her if she wanted to go back to the room. I even told her she could go alone and have some quiet time, if she’d like. NO---Apparently, she had some secret vendetta against us, and wanted to stay with us, so she could torment us with the sulkiness!

We walked over to TT, not the happiest family you’ve ever seen in Disney---(We sure didn't look like the happy people in the advertisements!)---and before we got in line, Kevin informed us all that we were going to ride, and we were going to have fun doing it! Evidently, it snapped us all out of our bad moods, and we were glad to enter the coolness of the TT building. We walked through the fast pass line, and immediately were sent into the viewing room. However, there were some sort of technical difficulties, so there was not pre-show. We just passed through the doors, and back into the line. Kevin and Reid started goofing off, and it erased everyone’s bad mood! YAY!

See----even Elizabeth was happy now!

Since we are family of five, we got one single rider. She was a young girl there with her middle school. She said she had never ridden TT before. (Sure hate that her first time had to be with such a crazy family!)

Reid LOVES Test Track!

When we left the TT area, it was cool down time for Reid---

By then, it was around 4:30. We decided we would return to Beach Club for some rest. As we walked back toward World Showcase, and International Gateway, we took some time to stop and smell the flowers---literally.

As we left the park and dragged our tired selves up that hill from International Gateway toward Beach Club, I had a brilliant idea. I realized exactly what we all needed to energize us some more!


UP NEXT----Exactly how do we get energized? No swimming pools or bathtubs are part of this plan!

 

[KatMark]

Great update, Michelle. Sorry about the "sulking" teenager (sometimes they still sulk at 24 and 22 ...but I do love how you tried to get her out of it with the pics. I agree with you...if you have young girls, Akershus, is okay. But, if you don't, it truly isn't worth it. We went for lunch in 2007 because Mark wanted to try the food; we were disappointed in the food and it definitely wasn't worth the price (although the day we were there Aladdin was also there with the princesses so I got a nice picture with him). You certainly accomplished quite a bit. I love the Photopass Family photos.

 

[MaryAz]

Welcome Back great updates. Oh boy, the teenage years, not looking forward to those.....I can't see some of ur pics-little red xs.....

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

Awww, I hate that Elizabeth was in a mood. But, I think sometimes the heat and the walking and the constant "togetherness" can get to us all. I'm glad TT perked everyone up though! I can't wait to see what your energizing idea was!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Sorry that the Norway breakfast was a bit of a disappointment, food-wise. That bill... That dining plan can be a good value!!

I will have to confess to getting into my own sulky moods from time to time on vacation so maybe it isn't a teen thing. I will also say that anyone who took photos of me whilst in my sulky mood might be taking their life into their own hands. I am happy to see it passed quickly!

As to what rejuvinated you... hmmmm. You said you left the park, otherwise I would have said grey goose slushie. Perhaps a kitchen sink at Beaches 'n Cream?

 

[BrooklynnsMommy]

Great update! We did Akershus with Brooklynn when she was 2. She absolutely loved it. We were on free dining on that trip, I definitely would not pay out of pocket for that meal it is super expensive.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Wow! Love the big, long update! How cool that you were able to meet Becky! I think I am more excited over that picture than the one with the princesses! I know all about sulky teenage attitude. In fact, I even had to put up with sulky pre-teen attitude from Connor on this past trip and have the pictures to prove it. Aren't digital cameras wonderful? I am so glad you were able to tease Elizabeth out of her bad mood finally, and the Photopass pictures are very cute! I am going to guess there is nothing like Beaches and Cream to rejuvenate you. Or a nap.

 

[WizardLarz]

Am I right?

 

[swwake]

Wow - a great update! That is awesome that you and Becky got to meet! I hate that Elizabeth was sulking, but I have to tell you, we have seen plenty of that attitude around here. Did she ever say what it was that upset her so badly?

Hmm - someone said Kitchen Sink....I wonder...

It's funny - our one and only blow-out argument on our '08 trip with teens was over the Kitchen Sink. In this case, I wanted to go get one and they DIDN'T! Imagine that!

 

[racefanof88]

OK first things first-----------ROLL TIDE!!!!!!!!! .

Now, back to Disney stuff.......... Love the new update . I can remember Amanda having days like Elizabeth was having . I never had those days as a teen . Honestly, I don't remember having them, but I am sure I did. Amanda still has them at times. I've told her she should have majored in drama .