*Done! 3/6* Dec 2012 -The awesome now TR report that lacks a catchy title - Done!

[mnmrmustard]

So true on silent TR readers. Your post reminds me that I need to catch up on your TR too.... I have been so busy with life it seems and it has been busy with me too... I have 3 total I need to finish reading (although I have gotten through 2-3 others in the past week or so! I am on a roll!)

I totally felt for your family in your while reading your TR! We were a bunch of sickies and it was me and the kids who had the worst of it during vacation because my husband was the carrier and was sick before we left.... We muddled through it though, this trip was almost 2 years in planning so I wasn't about to let a horrible sinus infection get in the way! Granted my SIL & BIL coming in was planned at the end, but it added to the magic. The girls loved Chef Mickey's and it's just a learning experience, whether you eat or not you are paying! It would have be nice for our server to mention it though. I have never gone to Hollywood & Vine - So far the characters there have not been on my girls favorites.

Oh and 5:30am is generally sleeping in for me! I am an early morning person and don't sleep much as it is.. I am up around 4 most days

So apparently Disney is switching over to Joffery Coffee, which is in the stand alone kiosks that I like... There may be hope for me just yet! We might be able to get a decent cup of coffee if need be!

We are planning a Dec trip in 2014. I swear we will be in total germ free lock down prior to that trip!! The plus is, we are going back for a quick stay in October and I think we are going to do MNSSHP to make up for our failed MVMCP

Hopefully within the next week or so I get caught up on your TR! I want to get caught up on all the Dec Disers before starting my October/Jan PTR/TRs!

If you’re behind on my TR then hold on to something when you check in with it as I’ve been posting like a madman to get it finished this week! You’re doing well if you’ve gotten through 2-3 in a week. I’m slowly catching up with mine but am still not as active as I’d like to be.

Yup, both of our fams were just the sickie bunch, but no, you can never let that get you down. Disney magic happens even when we’re medicated – lol

I don’t see us going back to Hollywood and Vine, it had okay food but was it worth the price and time given we did it for early entry – not at all. And of course we’re past the stage of the ‘playhouse’ characters until the girls get grown up and have wee ones of their own. And that I can wait for.

I thought I was an early bird getting up before 8am on weekends; you got be beat by a long shot! I hope you are right about the Disney coffee, the stuff we’ve had our last 3 trips (both WDW and DLR) have been awful unless we paid for something special from a kiosk.

Dec 2014 should be a great time to go back – the Snow White coaster will be done and if you go to Universal the Harry Potter expansion should be done too. I hope your MNSSHP goes well for you!

 

[SAT887]

If you’re behind on my TR then hold on to something when you check in with it as I’ve been posting like a madman to get it finished this week! You’re doing well if you’ve gotten through 2-3 in a week. I’m slowly catching up with mine but am still not as active as I’d like to be.

Yup, both of our fams were just the sickie bunch, but no, you can never let that get you down. Disney magic happens even when we’re medicated – lol

I don’t see us going back to Hollywood and Vine, it had okay food but was it worth the price and time given we did it for early entry – not at all. And of course we’re past the stage of the ‘playhouse’ characters until the girls get grown up and have wee ones of their own. And that I can wait for.

I thought I was an early bird getting up before 8am on weekends; you got be beat by a long shot! I hope you are right about the Disney coffee, the stuff we’ve had our last 3 trips (both WDW and DLR) have been awful unless we paid for something special from a kiosk.

Dec 2014 should be a great time to go back – the Snow White coaster will be done and if you go to Universal the Harry Potter expansion should be done too. I hope your MNSSHP goes well for you!

Haha totally read your TR last night and did not follow your advice... Hehe

The early bird in us is from our work schedules. Most days we start work by 5 am. I think it will be a while before we go to Universal - at least until my youngest can ride more. To me it looks like they have more "thrill" rides. Also Disney has more than enough for us because of our slower pace with the kids. Although soon enough they are going to be grown I'm sure!

 

[mnmrmustard]

Haha totally read your TR last night and did not follow your advice... Hehe

The early bird in us is from our work schedules. Most days we start work by 5 am. I think it will be a while before we go to Universal - at least until my youngest can ride more. To me it looks like they have more "thrill" rides. Also Disney has more than enough for us because of our slower pace with the kids. Although soon enough they are going to be grown I'm sure!

oh well

Well the upside of those early mornings is you get to enjoy more of the afternoon NOT being stuck at work. My regular schedule is 8:30 am to 5:30pm so until daylight savings time kicks in I'm driving home in the dark. Yay for daylight savings time! But on Fridays we do early morning maintenance on our servers so I'm up at 3am and to work by 4am & work until noon. So once a week I have you beat

We actually chose Universal over Disney waaaayyy back in 2002 because Islands had more rides for wee ones than Disney did at the time. But you're right, Universal will be good for them when they're a bit older. Going with our girls in their teens worked really well.

Your fam does a great job of pacing, sticking to getting the girls their naps and breaking up your park days - very smart

 

[mnmrmustard]

On to your Day 4!

The FP situation for TSM is just crazy! I’m glad they dealt with the standby line okay. Great shot of Zack and Zoey in front of ToT! Sounds like you had a cool interaction with the creepy bellhop. Good call heading back to the room when you did, the little ones looked a bit tired on that PP pic heading out of the park.

Yay for riding the train the full loop! That is a must for me that the family rolls with. It is such a great, classic, scenic ride. Love the pic of Zach and the girls, makes me think back to when mine were that age and they both fit in my lap.

CRT sounded wonderful, so many magical moments! Love the shot of the Cinderella hug! That was soooo funny with Zoey and Jasmine

I’m glad you got a decent spot for the Main Street Electrical Parade; it is a favorite of mine. We missed it this year :-[

Good save with the batteries purchase and yay for Wishes!

What is it with some people using strollers as battering rams???

Day 5!

Good call with your mom, she’s a big girl and can do what she wants and it shouldn’t affect your fam’s fun. The Daisy Duck interaction was great, wonderful smiles. I agree with you on the changes to the Figment ride and old theming, very much missed. Where’s the Dreamfinder? If you remember him there’s a great video from D23 where he (Dan Schneider) makes a reappearance along with Figment and sings with the Disney Legend/Writer of ‘One Little Spark’, Richard Sherman followed by a big sing-along: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWzNjQ0zdHM

It is crazy that the FP line is so bogged down for Soarin’ – the whole point of FP is that you don’t end up stuck there for over half an hour. Nice that the girls had some run around time outside The Seas before your reservation at Coral Reef. If you got one of the bigger booths you may have been in the same spot we were in for our 2008 trip, such a great view from those booths. Yay for the birthday surprise going so well!

Nice that you got a good shady and entertaining spot to feed the girls outside Indiana Jones and that Star Tours went so well (other than not being able to ride it multiple times. Yay for doing a good deed on the ride!

Great shots of the Osborne lights, it is a truly magical experience. Cute pics with Lightning and Mater.

I’m glad you got to spend quality time with your SiL and BiL, so cool that you have such a good connection with them. Roxy and PumpkinGirl ran into the same thing with the ‘soft opening’ of TT – lines were over 2hrs they passed on it also.

Sounds like you all had a wonderful evening in WS though. And then having the energy to tackle mini golf afterwards? Nice! And out until almost midnight – whoohoo!

I’ll circle back around for the rest of the TR next time – loving it!

 

[cmhale]

Loved the trip report. If you are going to eat in Norway with those Princeses, the breakfast is the only way to go. Much better experience. We have done that twice and the supper/dinner once and breakfast by far the best.

 

[4Minnies1Mickey]

Loved it! Sounds like a great time. It really is the happiest place on earth!

 

[SAT887]

Great trip report. The girls are so beautiful and amazing job pushing thru the illnesses. your mil is awesome for always watching the girls. Must have been awesome to get dh to yourself each night. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for reading! I thought I replied to this earlier but I must be mistaken! I was great, it doesn't happen often so our little date nights were great together.

oh well

Well the upside of those early mornings is you get to enjoy more of the afternoon NOT being stuck at work. My regular schedule is 8:30 am to 5:30pm so until daylight savings time kicks in I'm driving home in the dark. Yay for daylight savings time! But on Fridays we do early morning maintenance on our servers so I'm up at 3am and to work by 4am & work until noon. So once a week I have you beat

We actually chose Universal over Disney waaaayyy back in 2002 because Islands had more rides for wee ones than Disney did at the time. But you're right, Universal will be good for them when they're a bit older. Going with our girls in their teens worked really well.

Your fam does a great job of pacing, sticking to getting the girls their naps and breaking up your park days - very smart

You almost have me beat! I am part time so I am done by 10 am However, my husband more than makes up for it being salaried and working a ton... He often starts at 4 or 5 and works a 12 hr shift min.... Coffee is king in our house

Olive is a poor sleeper and ends up with night terrors if she gets too little sleep. Luckily in WDW she was purely exhausted and slept whenever and wherever she could... So much less anxiety! However, we did our best to avoid the inconsolable screaming at 2am.... Better safe than sorry in my book on that one!

On to your Day 4!

The FP situation for TSM is just crazy! I’m glad they dealt with the standby line okay. Great shot of Zack and Zoey in front of ToT! Sounds like you had a cool interaction with the creepy bellhop. Good call heading back to the room when you did, the little ones looked a bit tired on that PP pic heading out of the park.

Yay for riding the train the full loop! That is a must for me that the family rolls with. It is such a great, classic, scenic ride. Love the pic of Zach and the girls, makes me think back to when mine were that age and they both fit in my lap.

CRT sounded wonderful, so many magical moments! Love the shot of the Cinderella hug! That was soooo funny with Zoey and Jasmine

I’m glad you got a decent spot for the Main Street Electrical Parade; it is a favorite of mine. We missed it this year :-[

Good save with the batteries purchase and yay for Wishes!

What is it with some people using strollers as battering rams???

Day 5!

Good call with your mom, she’s a big girl and can do what she wants and it shouldn’t affect your fam’s fun. The Daisy Duck interaction was great, wonderful smiles. I agree with you on the changes to the Figment ride and old theming, very much missed. Where’s the Dreamfinder? If you remember him there’s a great video from D23 where he (Dan Schneider) makes a reappearance along with Figment and sings with the Disney Legend/Writer of ‘One Little Spark’, Richard Sherman followed by a big sing-along: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWzNjQ0zdHM

It is crazy that the FP line is so bogged down for Soarin’ – the whole point of FP is that you don’t end up stuck there for over half an hour. Nice that the girls had some run around time outside The Seas before your reservation at Coral Reef. If you got one of the bigger booths you may have been in the same spot we were in for our 2008 trip, such a great view from those booths. Yay for the birthday surprise going so well!

Nice that you got a good shady and entertaining spot to feed the girls outside Indiana Jones and that Star Tours went so well (other than not being able to ride it multiple times. Yay for doing a good deed on the ride!

Great shots of the Osborne lights, it is a truly magical experience. Cute pics with Lightning and Mater.

I’m glad you got to spend quality time with your SiL and BiL, so cool that you have such a good connection with them. Roxy and PumpkinGirl ran into the same thing with the ‘soft opening’ of TT – lines were over 2hrs they passed on it also.

Sounds like you all had a wonderful evening in WS though. And then having the energy to tackle mini golf afterwards? Nice! And out until almost midnight – whoohoo!

I’ll circle back around for the rest of the TR next time – loving it!

Our MK night was so great, I don't know how people just skip the train!! I have always loved it, since I was a munchkin!! A really great thing about the TR is going back to those really great moments and expressing them No matter how badly I do it!!

I remember the dreamfinder. I am going to have to watch that though! I remember being a kid and going into imageworks and being able to make the funny faces out of your picture... I think that would be better than what they have now! And yep it was a bigger booth all the way to right on the lowest level if you were facing the tank. Great great seats!

I am lucky to have such great in laws - I really can't believe how we let time get in between us for so long!! The fact that your girls got to spend some one on one time together is good Even if it is waiting in line - I find that the best memories are made outside of the attractions with our own magic

I need to finish your TR - I want to see the rest of your last day. It looks like you are starting to trip home... Isn't even depressing after you have already left?

Loved the trip report. If you are going to eat in Norway with those Princeses, the breakfast is the only way to go. Much better experience. We have done that twice and the supper/dinner once and breakfast by far the best.

I have been hearing that - we didn't write it off completely but hopefully it is a better option. I am thinking on our Dec 14 trip when my youngest is a little older And thank you!

Loved it! Sounds like a great time. It really is the happiest place on earth!

It was! Thanks so much!!

 

[mnmrmustard]

You almost have me beat! I am part time so I am done by 10 am However, my husband more than makes up for it being salaried and working a ton... He often starts at 4 or 5 and works a 12 hr shift min.... Coffee is king in our house

Olive is a poor sleeper and ends up with night terrors if she gets too little sleep. Luckily in WDW she was purely exhausted and slept whenever and wherever she could... So much less anxiety! However, we did our best to avoid the inconsolable screaming at 2am.... Better safe than sorry in my book on that one!

I'm salaried too so although the 8:30am is pretty set (I drop Bean off to school Mon-Thur and then come in) the 5:30pm can vary a bit depending on tasks/what fires have to be put out. Some weeks are very normal but some are between 50-60hrs

I'm glad Olive slepts so well, even if it was exhaustion-induced. Amen to better safe than sorry.

Our MK night was so great, I don't know how people just skip the train!! I have always loved it, since I was a munchkin!! A really great thing about the TR is going back to those really great moments and expressing them No matter how badly I do it!!

I remember the dreamfinder. I am going to have to watch that though! I remember being a kid and going into imageworks and being able to make the funny faces out of your picture... I think that would be better than what they have now! And yep it was a bigger booth all the way to right on the lowest level if you were facing the tank. Great great seats!

I'm glad it was, and thinking back on it I am now officially floored as I realized that I FORGOT TO TAKE THE TRAIN!!!! I believe that is the first time in my Disney vacationing life that I have missed it I guess that just goes to show how hectic the trip was. It is a wonderful thing to relive the trip while writing it out and getting to really look at all the pics.

And you did a great job on your TR!

Yay for the Dreamfinder! I agree on the Imageworks stuff, some of the classic stuff was much more interactive.

Yup, those were the same seats we had - yay!

I am lucky to have such great in laws - I really can't believe how we let time get in between us for so long!! The fact that your girls got to spend some one on one time together is good Even if it is waiting in line - I find that the best memories are made outside of the attractions with our own magic

I need to finish your TR - I want to see the rest of your last day. It looks like you are starting to trip home... Isn't even depressing after you have already left?

It is a lucky thing, both my family and my wife's are a mixed bag. Yay for that alone time together I highly recommend the mommy/daughter & daddy/daughter thing when your girls get a bit older. Having that focused time without the static of their sibling creates some really special experiences. Yay for our own magic!

I saw you finished it, thank you

And yes, writing out the trip home and realizing the TR is pretty much done brings on a mini case of the post-Disney blues. But there will be other Disney adventures to share! We're just not sure when at this point. For us it will be a couple of years.

 

[mnmrmustard]

Hiya Sarah!

Back for Day 6, 7 and 8

Day 6

I have heard the wait at CP can be a bear, all those families want to get as much interaction as they can while in there I guess. That is such a great shot of Olive giving Tigger a smooch! Cute pics with Zoey and the other characters too. Funny about the PP photographer trying to get that ‘perfect shot’ with the fireworks but being thwarted. Yay for those classic Adventureland rides – I’m glad Zoey didn’t get scared on PoTC!

I’m glad you had such a good last ½ day with your BiL/SiL, so cool that they were able to spend so much time with your fam there. HDDR sounded like fun despite the time it takes to get out there. Great pics there of the performers – plus Zack getting covered in stickers. I’ve been there as a dad too!

I love Ft. Wilderness - we are big ‘campers’ and haul a 32ft ‘bunkhouse’ style trailer behind our suburban all spring/summer. I wish it wasn’t such a long haul to FL or we’d always stay there. I bet it looked very cool with the RVs all decorated up.

Sorry to hear the sinus thing kicked back in at DTD but YAY for Guest Relations having Tylenol and that it helped! The ornaments you picked up sounded cool. Another coffee fail – darn you WDW and your bad java! Glad you made it to the bakery in time to get those cupcakes

Day 7

The morning at AK sounded very nice despite missing rope drop. It is cool to just take in a part of the park, and great that your time there was so animal focused. I’m sure the girls liked that. We contemplated going to MK on FLE day for about a second and decided ‘no way’. From the sounds of it we made the right choice. I’m glad you had a good time exploring the resorts and despite the wait that you all had a good meal ..except for Zoey Great shot in front of the tree!!!! Love Zoey’s sidelong look

Day 8

Darn that last day, it always comes despite our best efforts to avoid it. So cool that we were both in the same park for what was both of our family’s last day

ETWB was long when we first went by and we passed on it. Then there was no waiting during our MVMCP night and the girls didn’t want to do it. Ah well. I’m glad you got the experience and had fun despite the wait. Lovely shot with Belle and Zoey. I love the theming at Gaston’s! Score that you were complete everything on the attraction list before lunch, plus a pork shank!

So sorry the Akershus experience was so rushed, that is sad when it goes like that. The princesses went through pretty fast for us too, but the timing was better as we were on our second breakfast course by then. The whole thing still felt a bit more ‘assembly line’ fun. Still, given the choice between it and CRT I’d choose CRT over it every time. I’m glad you took the time to e-mail Disney about Akershus.

That last circuit of WS for you and Zack’s last night sounded fun despite the long search for coffee. I’m really looking forward to doing more ‘date night’ stuff with Roxy at the parks. It is something we really haven’t done other than the trip she surprised me with in April ’11. You two really do it up right! I really like that shot of the two of you in front of Mickey & Minnie

Final Thoughts

Glad it was a less stressful trip.

Waffle sandwich?

More pictures on the next one, yes!

Loved all of your faves!

It was a wonderful TR, thank you very much for sharing your family’s fun holiday adventures

 

[SAT887]

Hiya Sarah!

Back for Day 6, 7 and 8

Day 6

I have heard the wait at CP can be a bear, all those families want to get as much interaction as they can while in there I guess. That is such a great shot of Olive giving Tigger a smooch! Cute pics with Zoey and the other characters too. Funny about the PP photographer trying to get that ‘perfect shot’ with the fireworks but being thwarted. Yay for those classic Adventureland rides – I’m glad Zoey didn’t get scared on PoTC!

I’m glad you had such a good last ½ day with your BiL/SiL, so cool that they were able to spend so much time with your fam there. HDDR sounded like fun despite the time it takes to get out there. Great pics there of the performers – plus Zack getting covered in stickers. I’ve been there as a dad too!

I love Ft. Wilderness - we are big ‘campers’ and haul a 32ft ‘bunkhouse’ style trailer behind our suburban all spring/summer. I wish it wasn’t such a long haul to FL or we’d always stay there. I bet it looked very cool with the RVs all decorated up.

Sorry to hear the sinus thing kicked back in at DTD but YAY for Guest Relations having Tylenol and that it helped! The ornaments you picked up sounded cool. Another coffee fail – darn you WDW and your bad java! Glad you made it to the bakery in time to get those cupcakes

To me it seems that they are just always behind in seating people.... Like they always start 15 min late It's worth it though- I love our pictures on a virtually empty main street! FW is great, from where you are from the cost of gas would be insane..... I love the antics of all the decorations people put up! I wish some of those people would do that near my house! knowing that guest relations has that kinda stuff is super helpful too, generally we don't bring Advil or Tylenol for us (just for the kiddos because they always seem to have teeth coming in or something going on)

Day 7

The morning at AK sounded very nice despite missing rope drop. It is cool to just take in a part of the park, and great that your time there was so animal focused. I’m sure the girls liked that. We contemplated going to MK on FLE day for about a second and decided ‘no way’. From the sounds of it we made the right choice. I’m glad you had a good time exploring the resorts and despite the wait that you all had a good meal ..except for Zoey Great shot in front of the tree!!!! Love Zoey’s sidelong look

AK was a great time, we live in NH and I was spoiled by the Bronx and Philadelphia zoo growing up- the one in Boston is not a favorite (especially for the 3 hour drive it takes to get there) I enjoying giving the girls the experience to see the animals and how special they are, and I feel like Disney does a great job taking care of them which to me is very important.... I generally try to avoid places that has questionable practices.....

I loved our resort exploring. I love seeing everything they do! It's great to get the Disney experience with out even going to a park.....

Day 8

Darn that last day, it always comes despite our best efforts to avoid it. So cool that we were both in the same park for what was both of our family’s last day

ETWB was long when we first went by and we passed on it. Then there was no waiting during our MVMCP night and the girls didn’t want to do it. Ah well. I’m glad you got the experience and had fun despite the wait. Lovely shot with Belle and Zoey. I love the theming at Gaston’s! Score that you were complete everything on the attraction list before lunch, plus a pork shank!

So sorry the Akershus experience was so rushed, that is sad when it goes like that. The princesses went through pretty fast for us too, but the timing was better as we were on our second breakfast course by then. The whole thing still felt a bit more ‘assembly line’ fun. Still, given the choice between it and CRT I’d choose CRT over it every time. I’m glad you took the time to e-mail Disney about Akershus.

That last circuit of WS for you and Zack’s last night sounded fun despite the long search for coffee. I’m really looking forward to doing more ‘date night’ stuff with Roxy at the parks. It is something we really haven’t done other than the trip she surprised me with in April ’11. You two really do it up right! I really like that shot of the two of you in front of Mickey & Minnie

I knew ETWB was a must- I have a princess loving 3 year old I can understand your girls not wanting to wait in line, I have a pretty good feeling it will be there for a long time anyway I will try Akershus for breakfast potentially in the future, I think the way they have dinner set up was just not good for us - breakfast might be easier.... I loved all of our date nights and I am so lucky to have a wonderful MiL. While my sister moved up closer to me (long story) I don't have her watch my kids much, so the date nights in WDW helped a ton - we honestly haven't had one since! Between, work, kids and everything it's hard to connect some times, I am sure you understand! We ended up with a ton of pictures of just the two of us- which never happens, makes photo pass worth every penny

Final Thoughts

Glad it was a less stressful trip.

Waffle sandwich?

More pictures on the next one, yes!

Loved all of your faves!

It was a wonderful TR, thank you very much for sharing your family’s fun holiday adventures

Waffle sandwiches look awesome - pure junk food indulgence at its finest!

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2011/11/13/new-waffle-sandwiches-at-magic-kingdoms-sleepy-hollow/

 

[sheila <3 WDW]

i just got all caught up! I've been behind since our trip was earlier this month. Oops.

Great updates. I love that you were still determined to have fun, even with being sick. How awesome that your MIL was able/willing to watch the kids so you could have date nights!! That probably won't happen for us until our 20 month old is potty trained/old enough for kids clubs.

Great idea buying batteries, even if they were expensive. On our first trip my digital camera just died while we were at CHS. I just went to the camera place in the park and bought a new $100 one!! You gotta do what you gotta do! LOL

 

[SAT887]

i just got all caught up! I've been behind since our trip was earlier this month. Oops.

Great updates. I love that you were still determined to have fun, even with being sick. How awesome that your MIL was able/willing to watch the kids so you could have date nights!! That probably won't happen for us until our 20 month old is potty trained/old enough for kids clubs.

Great idea buying batteries, even if they were expensive. On our first trip my digital camera just died while we were at CHS. I just went to the camera place in the park and bought a new $100 one!! You gotta do what you gotta do! LOL

Well I accept a trip to WDW as a very valid excuse! Thanks for reading... : I think about how lucky we were, especially since we haven't had a date night since!! My MiL is great though. It really added to the fun. I haven't looked into the kids clubs much yet, but imagine down the road we will

I look forward to reading your TR!

 

[wiigirl]

Great updates...just got caught up!

 

[SAT887]

Great updates...just got caught up!

Thanks for reading! :