Divas, Zebra Domes, and Pixie Dust! A Week in an African Paradise! New TR Link Pg.145

[PracPerfPatricia]

Hey Jackie,

Loved your update!

DS was sitting next to me on my bed why I was reading this and drinking my coffee and wanted to know who was that boy standing next to those Starwars Weekend signs-and Disney has that...and boy is he lucky...(I told the boy's name was Connor-and he was there but not during the Star Wars Weekend-so he said "bummer" and he should come with him...

1. I didn't know DS was planning a trip to one of the Disney Star Wars Weekend-I don't think he even knew about them-but he does now...

2. I'm wondering how he figures he's going to get in touch with Connor and set the whole thing up... (I guess he can ride down south on 95 and bike up Connor on his bike...

(I see a Star Wars Weekend in our future...)


Ah-I'm not sure whether to tell DH about when (time) you left Zawadi Marketplace...to get to the Studios-but I will because TSM is really a priority for us...(taking the food to go and have in line...was a good idea...)

Btw-I'm all about the healthy breakfast and I would have the same struggle-but I would go towards "vacation mom" too..(I'm all about the oatmeal... .(I've already come to the conclusion if I order a Disney B-Day cake for David-the leftovers will probably wind up becoming breakfast for him and DH...)

Gorgeous pictures of Hollywoodland-it is extra pretty in the morning...

Anxious to read more---btw Jackie do you ride RnRoller Coaster or ToT?-just asking-I'm planning to try RnR-but not sure if I'll do ToT-DH loves it, DD won't even look at it and DS-might except he thinks the theming is creepy (but he'll ride Space Mountain and thinks HMansion is creepy..)...

 

[Native NYer]

Toy Story Mania is great! Glad you got to do it first thing.

I don't know how Chelsea and Charles do RnRC. I would be sick!

Did you get to the American Idol Experience?

 

[jmamom]

Great plan to ride TSM, instead of waiting for fast passes, I bet that line was longer than the ride line! I can't wait to check out Pixar Place, the theming is so cute. I love the muppets, too, but my kids are kind of eh on them, I'll have to figure a way to talk them into it. Great update!

 

[MRYPPNS]

I don't know what I'm more excited about in your update....you making DHS for rope drop or that Charles is at the park with you.

 

[xoktenox]

Ahhh what a nice morning at AKL...for you and Charles at least, not for the drunk sleeping man

I love DHS in the morning, I even love the TSM run! I made a promise to myself we will stop and smell the coffee more on our next trip there and do more things like checking out gift shops and getting pictures with characters instead of the "ride the ride and move on" method.

I'm ashamed to say I don't know where that quote is from! Is it the GMR?

 

[MEK]

Tuesday morning Charles and I woke up super early and snuck down to the Mara for coffee. While I am no fan of the Nescafe that is served throughout Disney, my need for caffeine far outweighs any coffee snobbery I might have.

I can totally relate to this degree of caffiene addiction because I wake up with headaches if I don't drink the right amount the day before. I can't get to hot caffiene quick enough!

As we walked along the pool in the early morning light, we were astonished to see someone sleeping on one of the lounge chairs! We assumed it wasn’t a case of an early morning riser as he was fully clothed, snoring, and there was a tell-tale beer bottle beside him. Wonder if anyone was missing him???
I wonder if that's where my DH spent the night?????


On the way to the bus stop we stopped in Zawadi’s to pick up something quick for breakfast. The kids chose chocolate bars and chocolate milk. Really? For breakfast? In my head Responsible Mom warred with Laid-back Vacation Mom.
Breakfast of Champions!

By 8:25 we were at Disney Hollywood Studios with a lot of time ahead of us to wait.Wow - you go girl!

Connor posed by the Star Wars Weekend sign. We wouldn’t end up actually being there on a SWW day, but we saw all the photo backdrops and props set up around the park.

Very cute!

We were the second family in line at the turnstiles on the far right.
The only time I ever got anywhere this early (except our first trip) was my solo trip!

About ten minutes to nine, we were let through the turnstiles and walked as fast as we could towards the rope at Hollywood and Sunset where we stood and waited some more. The sun was beating down on us, and it was quite apparent that it was going to be another hot, hot, hot day. For a Change, huh?


Lots of people were lining up for Fast Passes, but Chelsea urged us forward into the stand-by line. We hardly paused for breath as we went through the queue, grabbed our 3-D glasses, and loaded into our little vehicles. Chelsea and Connor rode together and there was no Toy Story Mania moment this year. Whew! I don’t remember who won, but I am sure it wasn’t me. Now that's the way to do it!



We went and grabbed Fast Passes for Rock n’ Roller Coaster so Charles and Chelsea could ride it that evening, and then Connor chose where we headed next…

What....No RnR for you CP????? What about the foot trick - oh yeah....it's too dark in there!

Great update CP! Loved it!

 

[TarzansKat]

for an early day and getting right on to Toy Story Mania!

I can only hope to be some ambitious. My intentions are always good, I swear it. And boy, do I need to take a tip from laid back vacation mom! She lets you eat chocolate for breakfast?

 

[KathyRN137]

Tuesday morning Charles and I woke up super early and snuck down to the Mara for coffee. While I am no fan of the Nescafe that is served throughout Disney, my need for caffeine far outweighs any coffee snobbery I might have.


I'm always so glad that I'm a tea-drinker when I come to WDW!! All you poor coffee drinkers!



As we walked along the pool in the early morning light, we were astonished to see someone sleeping on one of the lounge chairs! We assumed it wasn’t a case of an early morning riser as he was fully clothed, snoring, and there was a tell-tale beer bottle beside him. Wonder if anyone was missing him???




On the way to the bus stop we stopped in Zawadi’s to pick up something quick for breakfast. The kids chose chocolate bars and chocolate milk. Really? For breakfast? In my head Responsible Mom warred with Laid-back Vacation Mom. Laid-back Vacation Mom won. Chelsea and Connor were ecstatic that I was allowing them to have a junk food breakfast -- hey, we were on vacation --


Oh, what the hey!! (You can bet that they'll remember that years from now!)



We were the second family in line at the turnstiles on the far right.

You go, girl!!



Chelsea and Connor settled down to eat their oh-so-delicious breakfast and work on The Lost Journals of Walt Disney World. I was so glad that I had thrown that into my bag because it kept them busy the entire time we waited.


Oh! I knew I had read about them in other reports... yours is one of them! I'm hoping Tricia and Catie will enjoy them, too!


We knew we wanted to hightail it straight to Toy Story Mania, so we went ahead and said hi to Bo -- separated though we were by the turnstile. Chelsea leaned as far as she could over and shouted to Bo that she would come back later.

Hi Bo!!


UP NEXT: “It’s time to play the music, it’s time to light the lights…”

Yay! I love the Muppets!!

Fantastic start to the day, Jackie!


Kathy

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I am dreading rope drop for TSM. Not b/c it's not a fabulous attraction... because it SO is. But something just feels wrong to me that I have to wake at the butt crack of dawn and run with the bulls to get a ride. Perhaps I was spoiled by the DIS event last Dec when I rode maybe 20+++ times without waiting more than a few seconds in line?

I really don't know how I'm going to handle this in Sept. I love the attraction. But is it worth all the effort?

Looking forward to hearing about your dinner at Brown Derby! And the Muppets!

 

[MomofCKJ]

The Lost Journals, I have that book! I got it for my solo trip last year. I didn't finish so Belle and I are bringing it on our trip to work on it some more!

Allyson

 

[Charleston Princess]

You're very own drunk story!!!!

That's what I was thinking at the time! I have another one that happened the next day that is even better!

Did you look closely...maybe it was me...

Nah, but it might have been your Mafia friend!

I have yet to ride TSM...even the one here at DCA..I bet the first time will be at WDW....

You will like it!

What a nice mom--- that is a breakfast I would like to eat(and sometimes do). That is creepy about the person sleeping at the pool.

Great job getting there early and being in front of the TSM mob!

LOL! I sometimes eat similar breakfasts, but I try to make the kids eat healthy -- unless it is the day after a birthday (cake for breakfast) or Christmas or Easter morning.

I was so super proud of myself that we were so far up at rope drop.

I am still astonished at the passed out guy at AKL! I wonder what the CMs do when they encounter such a situation...

I wondered if a CM had awakened him while we were getting coffee.

Chocolate for breakfast! Go Vacation Mom! Henry asks me for "choc choc" almost every day for breakfast, I think on vacation I will say "YES!" one day too. But just one.

If you can't eat chocolate at breakfast on vacation -- when can you eat it? But I do agree -- just once for Henry -- you don't want him to think it is a regular thing when you get home.

And about getting to the park so early that you didn't even have a wait for TSM! Isn't the themeing in that area great?

Love the theming -- it always makes me wish I was a toy in Andy's room!

YAY!! You were there for rope drop! I didn't realize that HS had an opening show. We didn't make it for rope drop either day we were there. I see you're heading to Muppets 3-D. Unfortunately that's the only thing we were disappointed with our entire trip. Girls like it--us, not so much.

They do -- it all revolves around the filming of a movie. It's cute but nothing as elaborate as the Magic Kingdom opening show.

I think the film is beginning to show its age at Muppets, but I love it from a nostalgic standpoint.

I totally agree about getting to TSM FIRST thing, so GREAT to get in and get out! We didn't stop and enjoy Pixar Place, we will do that FOR SURE next time! Too funny about you convincing Connor to wait on the barrel of monkeys, I have a similar story that almost came back to bite me in the you know where!

I read that on your TR and now I am super worried about the R2D2!

I'm surprised the FP line for TSM was so long when you got out! You must have been some of the first ones to ride.

We really were one of the firsts -- I have never walked that fast for a ride before -- it was just short of running.

Great update Love all the pictures of DHS ! Toy Story Mania is such a great ride DS wanted to ride it a 2nd time but we never got back to do it because of the waits Glad to see your family really enjoyed it too Soo creepy about the guy at the pool !

Thank you! Last year Connor was disgruntled that he had to ride with his sister and refused to play the first time we rode it -- he did play the second time -- this year he didn't pull anything like that!

Charles and I were just like when we saw the guy -- it was more funny than anything else.

I love Hollywoodland!

Me too!

Rope Drop at DHS is so worth it in regards to TSM!

No kidding -- I was thrilled to check it off my mental list first thing in the morning.

I am so excited to hear about your Brown Derby dinner!

One of the highlights of the trip for me!

I'll bet Chelsea and Connor remember their breakfast of champions for a long time. Those out of the ordinary things are what great vacation memories are made of.

I thought the same thing, too, that's why I let them do it.

Isn't that TSM dash crazy?! Great job getting there for rope drop and great pictures of Pixar Place. I wish I'd taken more. The speak and spell hanging from a jump rope is my favorite.

Yes, I think everyone in the park heads straight for that now -- at the other parks, there is at least one other ride that seems to draw some of the crowd, but I truly think everyone heads for TSM. I saw very few people veering towards the right for RnRC or ToT.

Next time I hope to slow down enough to get some pictures in the queue line of TSM.

Hey Jackie,

Loved your update!

Thank you!

DS was sitting next to me on my bed why I was reading this and drinking my coffee and wanted to know who was that boy standing next to those Starwars Weekend signs-and Disney has that...and boy is he lucky...(I told the boy's name was Connor-and he was there but not during the Star Wars Weekend-so he said "bummer" and he should come with him...

1. I didn't know DS was planning a trip to one of the Disney Star Wars Weekend-I don't think he even knew about them-but he does now...

2. I'm wondering how he figures he's going to get in touch with Connor and set the whole thing up... (I guess he can ride down south on 95 and bike up Connor on his bike...

(I see a Star Wars Weekend in our future...)

That is too cute! Is DS developing the fascist ways of your DD and DH by mandating when you are going to go on vacation?

I can just see Connor and David on David's bike heading towards Pennsylvania! They would make quite the pair!

Ah-I'm not sure whether to tell DH about when (time) you left Zawadi Marketplace...to get to the Studios-but I will because TSM is really a priority for us...(taking the food to go and have in line...was a good idea...)

It helped pass the time. The only thing I didn't like was the family in front of us had Starbucks (they were either staying offsite or at the Swan and Dolphin) so it was kind of cruel to watch them sipping their good coffee.

Btw-I'm all about the healthy breakfast and I would have the same struggle-but I would go towards "vacation mom" too..(I'm all about the oatmeal....(I've already come to the conclusion if I order a Disney B-Day cake for David-the leftovers will probably wind up becoming breakfast for him and DH...)

What I didn't know at the time was Tuesday morning marked the start of the junk food breakfasts for the rest of the week...

Gorgeous pictures of Hollywoodland-it is extra pretty in the morning...

Thank you! I think so, too!

Anxious to read more---btw Jackie do you ride RnRoller Coaster or ToT? -just asking-I'm planning to try RnR-but not sure if I'll do ToT-DH loves it, DD won't even look at it and DS-might except he thinks the theming is creepy (but he'll ride Space Mountain and thinks HMansion is creepy..)...

Oh, no, I don't ride either of those -- Charles and Chelsea are all about them, but Connor and I don't bother with them.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Toy Story Mania is great! Glad you got to do it first thing.

I don't know how Chelsea and Charles do RnRC. I would be sick!

Did you get to the American Idol Experience?

I don't think I will ever get up sufficent nerve to ride RnRC.

Nope, we don't watch Idol, so see the AIE wasn't one of our priorities. I have heard lots of good things about it though.

Great plan to ride TSM, instead of waiting for fast passes, I bet that line was longer than the ride line! I can't wait to check out Pixar Place, the theming is so cute. I love the muppets, too, but my kids are kind of eh on them, I'll have to figure a way to talk them into it. Great update!

Thank you! Chelsea and Connor are not huge Muppets fans, but they got hooked on the 3D films with Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, so Connor wanted to do the Muppets one as well.

I don't know what I'm more excited about in your update....you making DHS for rope drop or that Charles is at the park with you.

Enjoy it while it lasts!

Ahhh what a nice morning at AKL...for you and Charles at least, not for the drunk sleeping man

I just don't know how he could have slept there! Even drunk, I would have been waking up, I think.

I love DHS in the morning, I even love the TSM run! I made a promise to myself we will stop and smell the coffee more on our next trip there and do more things like checking out gift shops and getting pictures with characters instead of the "ride the ride and move on" method.

I'm ashamed to say I don't know where that quote is from! Is it the GMR?

After many, many, many trips I still have to tell myself to slow down -- it's hard to do.

The quote is one of the lines from The Muppet Show theme song.

Great update CP! Loved it!

Thank you!

I found if I put a whole lot of creamer and even more sugar into the Nescafe, I could make it drinkable.

Yeah, it's too dark in RnRC for the foot trick to work! LOL!

for an early day and getting right on to Toy Story Mania!

I can only hope to be some ambitious. My intentions are always good, I swear it. And boy, do I need to take a tip from laid back vacation mom! She lets you eat chocolate for breakfast?

The funniest thing about this morning was that we weren't even trying to get anywhere fast -- it just kind of happened like that.

Yes, laid-back vacation mom lets you eat whatever you want for breakfast because it's vacation and a week won't do any harm.

Yay! I love the Muppets!!

Fantastic start to the day, Jackie!

Kathy

Thank you, Kathy! We love the Muppets as well! Well, I do anyway. The book is really great when you are standing in line and waiting. The kids were always pulling it out to pass the time.

I am dreading rope drop for TSM. Not b/c it's not a fabulous attraction... because it SO is. But something just feels wrong to me that I have to wake at the butt crack of dawn and run with the bulls to get a ride. Perhaps I was spoiled by the DIS event last Dec when I rode maybe 20+++ times without waiting more than a few seconds in line?

I really don't know how I'm going to handle this in Sept. I love the attraction. But is it worth all the effort?

Looking forward to hearing about your dinner at Brown Derby! And the Muppets!

Just remember you can always just get a Fast Pass for TSM and then you don't have to run with the bulls. That's what we did last summer when we got to DHS around ten.

Oh, how I loved the Brown Derby!

The Lost Journals, I have that book! I got it for my solo trip last year. I didn't finish so Belle and I are bringing it on our trip to work on it some more!

Allyson

I remember you got the Lost Journals for your solo trip which made me get it for our trip. We didn't come close to finishing it, either, so it will be making a few more trips back to WDW with us.

 

[jordanyosh]

My Mafia Friend.....ah yes... and a little too.

 

[SwansLoveDisney]

Jackie!

It took me all day (due to many interruptions), but I'm all caught up on your TR!

I have so many things to comment on, but I'll stick to the big ones...

1. Chelsea is SO photogenic. I'm jealous!

2. The giraffe encounter on the safari was AWESOME! I can't believe it got SO close!

3. I don't blame you for your diva moment in China. Hunger + Disney + people not following the plan =

4. You seem to do very well with Charles heading back to the hotel a lot...it's much the same for me and my DH!

5. I love your TRs! Can you go on 4 trips each year, please?!

 

[jordanyosh]

jackie!

It took me all day (due to many interruptions), but i'm all caught up on your tr!

I have so many things to comment on, but i'll stick to the big ones...

1. Chelsea is so photogenic. I'm jealous!

2. The giraffe encounter on the safari was awesome! I can't believe it got so close!

3. I don't blame you for your diva moment in china. Hunger + disney + people not following the plan =

4. You seem to do very well with charles heading back to the hotel a lot...it's much the same for me and my dh!

5. I love your trs! Can you go on 4 trips each year, please?!

julie!!!!!

 

[SwansLoveDisney]

julie!!!!!

yo!

 

[jordanyosh]

yo!

are you going to update us on your 1 day at WDW?

 

[SwansLoveDisney]

are you going to update us on your 1 day at WDW?

If anyone still wants to read about it, then YES!

I have been such a bad DISer this year!

 

[jordanyosh]

if anyone still wants to read about it, then yes!

I have been such a bad diser this year!

fo sho

 

[Charleston Princess]

My Mafia Friend.....ah yes... and a little too.

No kidding -- it made for great TR material, but I am not sure I would want to have had that conversation!

Jackie!

It took me all day (due to many interruptions), but I'm all caught up on your TR!

JULIE!!! How was your trip down to Florida???

1. Chelsea is SO photogenic. I'm jealous!

Thank you! It makes me jealous, too -- I don't know where she gets it from because nine times out of ten, Charles and I look like trolls in pictures.

2. The giraffe encounter on the safari was AWESOME! I can't believe it got SO close!

Truly a highlight of my trip!

3. I don't blame you for your diva moment in China. Hunger + Disney + people not following the plan =

I had just had enough at that point.

4. You seem to do very well with Charles heading back to the hotel a lot...it's much the same for me and my DH!

Sometimes it is just easier to let Charles go back instead of listening to him complain.

5. I love your TRs! Can you go on 4 trips each year, please?!

Thank you! I love writing them and wish I could go to Disney four times a year -- that would be perfect!

julie!!!!!

You had the same reaction I had!

are you going to update us on your 1 day at WDW?

Yes, please do, Julie!

If anyone still wants to read about it, then YES!

I have been such a bad DISer this year!

I want to read about it (and the rest of your Thanksgiving trip)!