Does the Pixie Dust count if you don't KNOW about it? Finally Finished :( 11/24

[Tnkrbelle565]

MGM…oops I mean DHS…day

This day started out like most. DD and I lazed about in the room while DH went to the gym at AKL. The plan for today was to hang out at the resort for a few hours and then head over to DHS late afternoon, have dinner, meet up with Karen (KareBear), and go so Fantasmic. I’ll spoil it now…NONE of that happened!

First, as I’ve mentioned many times, my family refuses to relax on vacation. I’m seriously questioning ADD in both of them! So, that plan was scratched in favor of going to DHS all day. Since DH had gone to the gym, we didn’t get to the park until about 10am. Luckily, DD happened to mention to the security guard that she was excited for Toy Story Mania. He gave us the tip that we better head straight there because the line was still really insane.
We stopped for a few Photopass pics and then headed to TSM. Here is the shot of all of us. The pic of DD pointing at Stitch is just a pic of DD pointing at the ground. Apparently the photopass guy forgot to add Stitch in…oh well!

So we got over to TSM and the standby wait was already 50 minutes! We got Fastpasses (first ones we have EVER used in all our trips to Disney) . The return time was 5 ½ hours later!!! So we head off to explore DHS. I should mention that this is my least favorite park. I do like several things here but I find this park terribly confusing for a variety of reasons. 1) the layout is weird and 2) the characters all appear at the SAME time which is also the SAME time as all the shows. You really have to have a touring plan for this park. More than any other park, I wonder if TGM would be helpful for DHS because it’s a huge pain to me to figure out the timing.

After we got our Fastpasses, we headed thru the new Pixar Place area. The Toy Story characters were not out. The Cars characters were just finishing up and were not coming back out for another hour and a half. So we continued on. Backlot Tour…shut down. Lights Motor Action…being rehabbed. This was not a good start to the day! We wondered around the Streets of America (Kim Possible…not out yet) and finally got over to Muppets 3-D. Finally, something was open!!!! So we did that. We found a family checking under the mat for the key. I then felt the need to tell them about the net full of Jell-O when we walked into the waiting area.
After that, we headed over to Star Tours. I was duped into going on this one last year, I would not fall of it again. So I waited outside, got out my map and show schedule and plotted our course of attack (and had a diet coke cuz it was VERY hot that day!) I also got some shots of the Jedi Training.

After DH and DD got off the ride (and I managed to convince her that she did NOT need a lightsaber for MNSSHP), we headed over to see if Mike and Sully were out. They had moved since our last visit and I have to say, they aren’t that easy to find. But in my plan of attack, we had just enough time to see them before Indiana Jones started. So we headed to find them. On the way, we managed to find the Singing in the Rain umbrella. We didn’t stop for a photo op because there was quite a line.

Finally we found Mike and Sully. I like their new area AND because they were so tricky to find, there wasn’t a huge line.

After that, we got some more drinks and headed off to Indiana Jones. We had never seen this show before and I did find in enjoyable. The one thing that stinks about the DHS shows is that once you’ve seen them once, there’s no surprise left. SPOILER ALERT- skip to the next paragraph if you haven’ seen the DHS shows- You know that the guy who doesn’t speak English is part of the show and that the stagehands in Beauty and the Beast are singers.

I went overboard with the pics of this show. Here are a few.

After that excitement , DD just had to try on the Indiana Jones hat!

As we were exiting, the Green Army Men were starting their recruitment session and pulled DD (and Puppy) in!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

We had some fun with the Army men but we quickly had to bid them goodbye to get over to Beauty and the Beast in time. The good thing about the show is that it gives you a nice half hour to rest! I got an especially good rest because right as the “Stage Crew” came out, my camera battery died. That’s okay because my back up was fully charged. Or maybe it wasn’t. I had charged it overnight but it wasn’t working. I had never used the backup battery since I bought the camera so what I didn’t know was that I had a defective battery. It kept saying charged but wasn’t! So, I actually got to sit back and watch the show instead of photographing it! ( I’m going to have to use last year’s B&TB pics for this year’s scrapbook!)

After the show, we decided now would be a good time for a lunch break. DD and DH HAD to go to Pizza Planet so again, we had to cross the confusing park! On the way, we took some more pics.

We got into Pizza Planet the fun twins went to get a table/play games while Mommy juggled the stroller and a tray of food! Here is a tip for anyone NOT using the DDP. Pizza Planet is a great place to split meals. The meals come with an “individual” pizza, salad, and a bag of chips or Mickey head rice krispie treat AND a drink. I was planning to split even on the plan but we were on Day 7 at this point and had plenty of CS credits left (on the days we had a TS breakfast and dinner, we never ate lunch). So I made a warring couple happy. I went up to get utensils and condiments and there was a couple who WAS splitting their meal arguing over what kind of salad dressing to use. I handed them DD’s salad (cuz let’s face it, DD wasn’t going to eat it) and made the wife very happy. She really wanted that Italian dressing!!!

I got the table and found that DH that genius had found a table next to an outlet. I had my battery charger in my Baggallini so I tried charging the backup battery. Yup, said it was fully charged. Stupid battery pack. So I charged the originally one while we ate and they played games. It worked out well because it gave me enough power to get through the rest of the park day.

Food was okay as always. Not the best pizza you are ever going to have but it works. Luckily DH was starving so he ate his pizza and BOTH salads. We saved the chips for later. DD took a couple of bites of her rice krispie treat

After lunch, they headed downstairs to play some more games while Mommy went around and made the pressed pennies for DD’s collection. I found that I did that a lot. I got stuck making them while she was off doing something else!

After that, we had enough time to take a slow walk back over to Pixar Place to ride Toy Story Mania

This time, Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable were out

I didn’t take many pictures of Toy Story Mania except the sign (afraid my batteries would die again)

The ride itself was fantastic. Now, had I waited 50 minutes (the line when we got to the park), 70 minutes (the line when we rode the ride) or 90 minutes (the line by the end of the day), I don’t know that I would be saying the same thing. It is a short ride so be prepared for that. But what I loved about it is that is just SOOOOO much better than Buzz. DD LOVES Buzz so we ride it a LOT. And what annoys me about it is that you can’t figure out where your laser is pointing. Toy Story Mania has completely fixed that issue. You can see right where you are shooting. I loved that! (Doesn’t hurt that I won!)

After TSM, the Toy Story characters were getting ready to start a meet and greet. So we waited for that. The line has some cute photo-op things along the way to entertain you.

When we got done with Buzz and Woody, I figured that our plans for the day were completely shot and that we might has well finish the park as best we could. So we headed over to the Playhouse Disney area. The skies were getting mighty dark at this point so they were really rushing people to get the characters inside. But we did get to see Handy Manny and Quincy

The Playhouse Disney show was about to start so we headed into that. I thought maybe DD would declare it babyish but she really loved it! Tip: I would not wait until the end of the day to do this attraction. Those cement floors are pretty painful by that point of the day. I think the show is well done and all the kiddo seemed to really get into it.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

When we got out of there, it was drizzling a bit. I really wanted to see the Incredibles because we had never seen them so we went into the Art of Animation building. I wish we had spent some more time in there. There were a lot of cool things to see and do (like the animation lesson) but we kinda flew through it.

Congrats on all the Oscars Walt Disney!

When we walked out of the art building, this was our view

We weighed our options and decided that we would wait it out a bit. So we threw on our ponchos and ran for Voyage of the Little Mermaid. The sign said that the show was starting in 20 minutes but they were rushing people in. I think they decided to up the number of performances to give people something to do in the rain.

Get ready for way too many pictures of Ariel. I was so loving that I had a camera that I could use w/o a flash that I think I took over 100 pics just of this show!

After Little Mermaid, we discovered that the rain was still coming down hard but the driving gale force winds had died down a bit. So we ran for it again! It was a wet wait for the bus back to AKL. We debated going back for Fantasmic. I called several times to see if they were going to have it but all they could tell me is that they wait right until show time to make the decision. At that point, we were all comfy back in our turned down beds! So we decided not to move! But now that we had completed DHS in one day, what shall we do tomorrow????

 

[Lady Lallie]

I love updates!! That first picture of you three is too cute. I love your braids! I can't pull off the braid look.

I love DHS but it is confusing and I get confused everytime I go. I love Sulley & Mike's new area, it's the best! We only found it because we had gone on the backlot tour and seen the area.

I love the pictures from meeting Buzz & Woody. I wish we had waited in the line to see them, next time I guess.

What a bummer about your back up battery, have you gotten a new one?

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I love updates!! That first picture of you three is too cute. I love your braids! I can't pull off the braid look.

I love DHS but it is confusing and I get confused everytime I go. I love Sulley & Mike's new area, it's the best! We only found it because we had gone on the backlot tour and seen the area.

I love the pictures from meeting Buzz & Woody. I wish we had waited in the line to see them, next time I guess.

What a bummer about your back up battery, have you gotten a new one?

Thank you! Can't pull off the braids anymore cuz I chopped my hair but they are an easy Disney hair option

I haven't gotten a new battery and I have to do it. The issue is that I bought the battery back in May but never used it. So I can't return it (bought from Amazon and they only have a 30 day return policy). I emailed Canon and they won't do anything. So I'm out $80 ($40 for the original broken battery and $40 for the new one I have to buy!)

 

[Lady Lallie]

Thank you! Can't pull off the braids anymore cuz I chopped my hair but they are an easy Disney hair option

I haven't gotten a new battery and I have to do it. The issue is that I bought the battery back in May but never used it. So I can't return it (bought from Amazon and they only have a 30 day return policy). I emailed Canon and they won't do anything. So I'm out $80 ($40 for the original broken battery and $40 for the new one I have to buy!)

Ugh! That's ridiculous. Stupid battery!

I also meant to say that you got great Little Mermaid pics. My pic of the kiss at the end was all blurry. I am going to have to borrow yours!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Ugh! That's ridiculous. Stupid battery!

I also meant to say that you got great Little Mermaid pics. My pic of the kiss at the end was all blurry. I am going to have to borrow yours!

Borrow away! I've borrowed plenty of yours!!!

 

[sohappy]

Another great update! I swear the more that I read, the more we have in common- diet coke, hello?!!

I don't know that I have ever seen a bad pic of that cutie of yours! She is so photogenic and seems truly happy in every picture I have ever seen.

I thought we had the same camera, but I have NO IDEA how to use mine without flash. . .

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Another great update! I swear the more that I read, the more we have in common- diet coke, hello?!!

I don't know that I have ever seen a bad pic of that cutie of yours! She is so photogenic and seems truly happy in every picture I have ever seen.

I thought we had the same camera, but I have NO IDEA how to use mine without flash. . .

Yes, it's true....I have a diet coke addiction. I gave it up for two months this summer and started right back up in Florida. My concession is that I only drink one a day now and don't buy any for my house so I'm not tempted to drink more....it's very sad!

And Ash takes plenty of bad pictures...I delete them I actually have taken pictures of her tantruming and threaten to show them to people. Usually gets her over the tantrum quickly!

I have a Canon Rebel XT (DSLR). It that what you have? If you put it on a manual setting, the flash automatically turns off unless you tell it to flash.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

Okay fess up.

Whose pressed penny collection is it really?


I know I say our penny collection is my kids but really and truly it is


ALL MINE!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Okay fess up.

Whose pressed penny collection is it really?


I know I say our penny collection is my kids but really and truly it is


ALL MINE!

Clearly it IS mine since I made 90% of them

Now...what to do with them

 

[mistymouse5001]

I can't believe how much stuff we missed. As happy as your trip makes me, I still get really depressed at urs lol.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I can't believe how much stuff we missed. As happy as your trip makes me, I still get really depressed at urs lol.

AAHHH that's the gimic of Disney. They know that you can't doing everything in a week. So they make you want to come back

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Since we had finished DHS yesterday, we left it up to DD to pick where we would go this morning. Tonight was MNSSHP so I made a deal with DD that she could pick the park but we needed to leave by 1pm to go back and get some rest before MNSSHP.

SOOOO, what did she chose? She quickly asked what park had Soarin’. We told her that it was Epcot. She became really excited. She asked if the countries would be open today (we had never gone back into World Showcase on our last Epcot day). We told her that they would and that she could go to all of them and finish her mask.

So off we set to Epcot- wearing the outfits that I had made for us to wear to Fantasmic!

DD wanted to ride Spaceship Earth but there was a huge line…which was really concerning to me. If the park was this packed, we’d never get on Soarin. So we went passed Spaceship Earth and headed straight to Soarin’. There was only a 10 minute wait. Go figure. DD was very excited to go back on.

We rode Soarin’ twice and convinced DD that it was enough. She then decided that she wanted to go back on Livin’ with the Land. Okay that’s one of those rides that’s nice when you are hot and tired but it’s really not THAT thrilling! But we agreed to go on again. We did get to see the Mickey Pumpkins again which was nice

After Living with the Land, we went over to the Seas to ride Nemo about 30 more times. Seriously, does this ride ever have a line?? We did stop for some pics that we could get the last time due to crowds

See these sunglasses??? Pay close attention to them because it will be the last time you or I ever see them

Presumably, they are somewhere in the Seas. We just couldn’t find them. DD tried to get the attention of the ride operators for Nemo to see if they could check the Clamshells. Suddenly our knight-in-shining-khaki shorts and light blue shirt arrived. He asked why DD was crying and DH was trying to enter Nemo through the exit. DH explained that DD had lost her sunglasses. Wish guy asks DD if they were her favorite sunglasses and if she got them at Disney. She told him that Tinkerbell brought them to her house for our Disney trip. I’m sure that this confused him greatly but he went along with it. He asked if a new pair of sunglasses would make her happy. She said yes. So he wrote out a gift certificate for $25 to get her a new pair of sunglasses. That was extremely generous. We ended up buying sunglasses and one of those stings to go around your neck so that she wouldn’t lose them again. We also got some Goofy’ Co jellybeans. YUM!!!

At that point, World Showcase was finally opened. So we decided to start in Mexico. While we were there, we rode the new and improved boat ride. Still incredibly corny but again, fun to do if you are tired and hot. Then we continued on the entire path to hit every country. DD was in her glory. She loved it. Needless to say, 1pm came and went and we did not leave. 2pm came and went and we still didn’t leave. At 2:30 I said we really had to get going.

While in World Showcase, we finished the masks, made lots of pressed pennies, watched people choosing pearls, and checked out the views in general. This was the first time that we actually took our time going through the countries.

Like for instance, I’ve never seen the mask collection in Italy before. How gorgeous

I took some photos around the Lagoon. Doesn’t it look like SUCH a beautiful day???

Finally my family agreed to start heading out. I grabbed a Grand Marnier Slushie in France and downed that. My poor DH looked at me SHOCKED. But in my defense, it was cold and I was VERY HOT.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

We stopped on the bridge for some photos (while I nursed a pretty serious brain freeze from downing that slushie!)

On the way out, I did agree to stop to ride Spaceship Earth. I did want to check out the changes. It was well worth it. How fun that ride is now!

By the time we got out of Epcot, it was 3pm…one HOUR and we could enter MK for MNSSHP. And we weren’t napped or in our costumes. Whatever are we going to do????

 

[coteau_chick]

You made me laugh out loud with the remark about taking a good look at the sun glasses. I know the feeling. When we went to that ride we posed for a photpass picture and then walked to the clam shell ride. While we were walking I noticed Grace lost her shoe. Dh back tracked and a man was holding it asking if anyone lost it. We just let her go barefoot after that. She couldn't walk yet anyway.

It sure sounds like you had a good day. I can't wait to hear about the party.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

We lost something too and got Cash to replace it. Got to love that for customer service.

I love the fantasmic outfit. Course I've loved all the outfits. It must break your heart when she outgrows something.

Yes I have seen lineups at the NEMO ride. In fact I have been in them.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Oooh I love a good cliff hanger!!

What do you & DH's shirts say? I can't make it out. I love DD's outfit, too precious!

 

[Diamondintheruff]

What do you & DH's shirts say?

I was wondering too. Plus I love the bright orange.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

You made me laugh out loud with the remark about taking a good look at the sun glasses. I know the feeling. When we went to that ride we posed for a photpass picture and then walked to the clam shell ride. While we were walking I noticed Grace lost her shoe. Dh back tracked and a man was holding it asking if anyone lost it. We just let her go barefoot after that. She couldn't walk yet anyway.

It sure sounds like you had a good day. I can't wait to hear about the party.

Thanks for reading. Ya, i could never keep shoes on DD when she was little, I can barely keep them on her now! Thank God for Crocs!

We lost something too and got Cash to replace it. Got to love that for customer service.

I love the fantasmic outfit. Course I've loved all the outfits. It must break your heart when she outgrows something.

Yes I have seen lineups at the NEMO ride. In fact I have been in them.

Lines on Nemo??? I'm so sorry. They obviously get them since the line area is so huge but we have always walked right on.

DD has a little cousin who gets her Disney hand-me-downs so at least I know that they will get a little wear

Oooh I love a good cliff hanger!!

What do you & DH's shirts say? I can't make it out. I love DD's outfit, too precious!

The shirts said "Celebrating Another Incredible Year of Marriage at WDW"

I was wondering too. Plus I love the bright orange.

Thank you!