DON'T Read This TRIP REPORT If You're a Princess Hater!

[kwitcherkicken99]

12/17/10: EPCOT

Anyone ready to move ahead with the trip? Perhaps it's been so long you forgot there WAS a trip?????

Wait... you went somewhere??


Huh...

GAW-JOUS!!! I love the new take on SE. It's refreshing to see a new view!

I like Epcot, but shhhhhhhh........... don't tell anyone............. I just don't get excited about it like so many do.

You can toss me in the with the die-hards! I'd rather be at MK or EP than the other 2...

We have never sat in that area before, next time we eat there I will have to remember to ask for it!!!

You had a great Ariel, I have seen some pretty funny looking ones

I could say the same thing for the Auroras that we have met!

 

[mom2rtk]

We have never sat in that area before, next time we eat there I will have to remember to ask for it!!!

You had a great Ariel, I have seen some pretty funny looking ones

We sat in the main hall on our first visit there in 04. I remember how gorgeous it was, it actually felt like being in a castle. Then every single time since them, we have been right in that first room that just felt like a restaurant, not even remotely like a castle. Heck, if they just seated you in the front and you didn't see the main hall, you'd have no idea how beautiful and roomy it is in there.

We actually had two playful and fun Ariels on this trip. The other one was on our last morning in the Magic Kingdom. Maybe by this time next year, I will have gotten to that day and can post the photos!

Wait... you went somewhere??


Huh...

Ain't that the truth! It feels like this trip was at least a couple lifetimes and hundreds of gray hairs ago.......

GAW-JOUS!!! I love the new take on SE. It's refreshing to see a new view!

Many thanks Jen! I think I'm a little intimidated by Epcot photography. I have seen sooooooooooo many amazing shots posted on the photography board. It's really hard to come up with anything different.

You can toss me in the with the die-hards! I'd rather be at MK or EP than the other 2...

Well, I promise not to hold it against you..... or throw any tomatoes!

Actually I just think we haven't ever given Epcot a real chance. Like I said, we usually rush through on a shorter day. I like to think that one day we will give it the appropriate focus and will enjoy it more.

I could say the same thing for the Auroras that we have met!

I should count the number of Cindys, Auroras Belles and Ariels we saw on this trip. It would probably make a funny scrapbook page. But then it's probably such a pathetic number I won't want to commit to it in print!

As Katie has gotten older, we have started comparing them and rating them over the meal!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Hey there! I followed you over from Jen's report. I have no idea where to begin! I know you have heard this a million times already, but you are a very talented lady! Your pictures and your costumes are equally gorgeous! I couldn't even begin to comment on all the things I was thinking as I read through your report. You had an awesome trip for sure! What fun to just do a mother/daughter major girlie trip! I've loved every minute of it! Can't wait to see the rest of your pictures and hear the rest of the story!

Btw, your daughter is a very pretty young lady. How old is she? I'm quite impressed that she is still very into the princess stuff since she is a little older. I so hope my DD will be the same way. She is 7 1/2 now and still loves it. I just see so many girls nowadays that are done with princesses and only interested in High School Musical by the time they are 4!!! It just amazes me!! We actually went to a bday party for one of DD's school friends when she was in Pre-K (4 years old!) and the mother told me that she didn't like the princesses anymore, just Hannah Montana and HSM!! Maybe I am really out of the loop, but I thought that was weird! Anyway, my point here amidst all this rambling is that it is very refreshing to see your daughter still enjoy the sweet and innocent things! I know that must make you VERY happy!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Ain't that the truth! It feels like this trip was at least a couple lifetimes and hundreds of gray hairs ago.......

You've been busy!

Many thanks Jen! I think I'm a little intimidated by Epcot photography. I have seen sooooooooooo many amazing shots posted on the photography board. It's really hard to come up with anything different.

I know... there aren't very many "other" places to go. The park is just so open!

Well, I promise not to hold it against you..... or throw any tomatoes!

Actually I just think we haven't ever given Epcot a real chance. Like I said, we usually rush through on a shorter day. I like to think that one day we will give it the appropriate focus and will enjoy it more.

I never really "got it" as a kid. My dad still doesn't. He would rather avoid the park altogether. I think the reason I like it so much is that I've been lucky enough to travel to Europe a couple of times in my life and I feel so at home there. Being in EP gives me a little taste of that with some excitement on the side! (Soarin'/TT)

But I also really like the Living Seas and also the Land pavilion. I like what they stand for and what they are doing, especially with the Land. How cool is it for Disney to grow their own food??

I should count the number of Cindys, Auroras Belles and Ariels we saw on this trip. It would probably make a funny scrapbook page. But then it's probably such a pathetic number I won't want to commit to it in print!

As Katie has gotten older, we have started comparing them and rating them over the meal!

That is AWESOME!!! The Aurora we met at Akershus wasn't the greatest and our Cindy reminded me more of Fairuza Balk (Return to Oz, Waterboy, The Craft) than Cindy! But she was really sweet to the kids, especially DD who was so starstruck, she froze in her seat!

 

[mom2rtk]

Hey there! I followed you over from Jen's report. I have no idea where to begin! I know you have heard this a million times already, but you are a very talented lady! Your pictures and your costumes are equally gorgeous! I couldn't even begin to comment on all the things I was thinking as I read through your report. You had an awesome trip for sure! What fun to just do a mother/daughter major girlie trip! I've loved every minute of it! Can't wait to see the rest of your pictures and hear the rest of the story!

Btw, your daughter is a very pretty young lady. How old is she? I'm quite impressed that she is still very into the princess stuff since she is a little older. I so hope my DD will be the same way. She is 7 1/2 now and still loves it. I just see so many girls nowadays that are done with princesses and only interested in High School Musical by the time they are 4!!! It just amazes me!! We actually went to a bday party for one of DD's school friends when she was in Pre-K (4 years old!) and the mother told me that she didn't like the princesses anymore, just Hannah Montana and HSM!! Maybe I am really out of the loop, but I thought that was weird! Anyway, my point here amidst all this rambling is that it is very refreshing to see your daughter still enjoy the sweet and innocent things! I know that must make you VERY happy!

Hi RinkyTinkyTinky! and

Everyone move down a seat and make room for one more! I'm glad you found us!

Many thanks for the kind comments on the gowns and the photos.

I do highly recommend the mother/daughter trip. It's a different sort of bonding than when everyone is along.

Katie is 10. I wouldn't say that she's into princesses any more, unless it involves a Disney trip. I know what you're talking about though. Even if they enjoy them, the other kids at school are busy making fun of anything with princesses on it........ from a very early age. We're actually done with HSM and Hanna Montana here too. But things are just different when you're at Disney. And I love that. I thought this trip would be the end of the costume fun, but as I have offered to do this or that for the next trip, she has jumped right back on board. But then let's face it. She has a mom with her OWN Fairy Godmother costume. The poor kid probably didn't stand a chance!

You've been busy!

Yeah......... ain't that the truth........

I know... there aren't very many "other" places to go. The park is just so open!


I never really "got it" as a kid. My dad still doesn't. He would rather avoid the park altogether. I think the reason I like it so much is that I've been lucky enough to travel to Europe a couple of times in my life and I feel so at home there. Being in EP gives me a little taste of that with some excitement on the side! (Soarin'/TT)

But I also really like the Living Seas and also the Land pavilion. I like what they stand for and what they are doing, especially with the Land. How cool is it for Disney to grow their own food??

I really thought Robbie would love Epcot when we went in 04. He was in middle school and completely geography crazed. He's actually sort of a geography savant. Really. Went to the state geo bee twice, and was the "go-to" geography guy on the school scholar bowl team. But he honestly just couldn't get past the fact that it's Disney.

That is AWESOME!!! The Aurora we met at Akershus wasn't the greatest and our Cindy reminded me more of Fairuza Balk (Return to Oz, Waterboy, The Craft) than Cindy! But she was really sweet to the kids, especially DD who was so starstruck, she froze in her seat!

Oh yeah. And we have fun. But always very quietly, and just to ourselves. Some of those characters have been VERY kind toward us and we would never want to hurt any feelings. There's a thread on the DIS right now where someone was complaining about how terrible their Belle was. And they posted a photo. I don't like that. No need to possibly hurt feelings.

And we practiced math at lunch too. Take the number of Cinderellas we met on this trip and divide by the number of Auroras. Add the number of Snow Whites............ That sort of thing. And we played character 20 questions.

 

[mom2rtk]

12/17/10: Continued

After lunch, we headed for the World Showcase. We wanted to find Belle and the Beast so Katie could change.

A little scenery along the way:

I'm glad I took a decent number of photos here. It was around 2:00 when we got to France. The sun was in the west, and providing a very difficult backlight behind the characters. The situation REALLY needed to have a flash. As the photopass photographer shot, I noticed his flash wasn't going off. I really wasn't comfortable telling the photopass guy that he was doing it all wrong...... so I just made sure I took lots of shots WITH my flash.........

Up next: Our favorite ever Disney character. And she's NOT a princess............. REALLY!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Katie is 10. I wouldn't say that she's into princesses any more, unless it involves a Disney trip. I know what you're talking about though. Even if they enjoy them, the other kids at school are busy making fun of anything with princesses on it........ from a very early age. We're actually done with HSM and Hanna Montana here too. But things are just different when you're at Disney. And I love that. I thought this trip would be the end of the costume fun, but as I have offered to do this or that for the next trip, she has jumped right back on board. But then let's face it. She has a mom with her OWN Fairy Godmother costume. The poor kid probably didn't stand a chance!

I totally get what you are saying. My DD doesn't want princess parties, school supplies or t-shirts anymore (I think mostly b/c other kids would tease her), but she still loves meeting them at Disney and wearing the costumes. Her classmates though would think that was cheesy and I don't get that. They just want to grow up too fast. I'm just really thankful that she still enjoys ALL the Disney characters when we are in the parks. She still loves Mickey and his whole gang too and that really makes me happy. I dread the day that she becomes "too cool" for all that stuff. I think you are doing great to have a 10 year old that will still play along and have fun with it!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

I really wasn't comfortable telling the photopass guy that he was doing it all wrong......

Um, no, I don't think that would have gone over very well with him! I know what you mean though. We had that same problem at that character spot. The sun is really harsh there. I think they could find a better place really. I know the Beast must be cooking in that suit too with the sun on his back!

This picture is my favorite of those. Very cute!

 

[jenseib]

Wow...I think your pictures got even better. They are fabulous.

Did you use an external flash in Akershus? Those are great pictures.

I think Belle in Beast have the worst spot. One trip, all of the Photopass pictures were very over exposed. I was a little disappointed in that. Your are great though. How did the photopass turn out then? Or are some of these them?

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

12/17/10: Continued

After lunch, we headed for the World Showcase. We wanted to find Belle and the Beast so Katie could change.

A little scenery along the way:

Is it just me or does she resemble Joan Cusick a bit?

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I would like to invite you all to "The World's Shortest PTR"

 

[mom2rtk]

I totally get what you are saying. My DD doesn't want princess parties, school supplies or t-shirts anymore (I think mostly b/c other kids would tease her), but she still loves meeting them at Disney and wearing the costumes. Her classmates though would think that was cheesy and I don't get that. They just want to grow up too fast. I'm just really thankful that she still enjoys ALL the Disney characters when we are in the parks. She still loves Mickey and his whole gang too and that really makes me happy. I dread the day that she becomes "too cool" for all that stuff. I think you are doing great to have a 10 year old that will still play along and have fun with it!

That about sums it all up. I'm pretty much on borrowed time with all this. But as long as she want to do it, you know I'm in! It's all gravy from here on out.

Um, no, I don't think that would have gone over very well with him! I know what you mean though. We had that same problem at that character spot. The sun is really harsh there. I think they could find a better place really. I know the Beast must be cooking in that suit too with the sun on his back!

This picture is my favorite of those. Very cute!

This actually WAS a very warm day. The first and ONLY of the entire trip. We were quite toasty waiting for them to come out. So I'm sure the Beast was really warm.

We actually planned 2 stops to see Belle and the Beast that day. What are the odds I could keep my mouth shut TWICE in one day????

None of those I posted are photopass pics. They were pretty much a complete loss. They were every bit as bad as I thought they'd be. It wasn't a huge deal to me since I was taking what I wanted. But I DID feel bad I hadn't spoken up sooner. Everything he took for everyone else that afternoon was probably a complete loss........ well, until we got back in line anyway........

Wow...I think your pictures got even better. They are fabulous.

Did you use an external flash in Akershus? Those are great pictures.

I think Belle in Beast have the worst spot. One trip, all of the Photopass pictures were very over exposed. I was a little disappointed in that. Your are great though. How did the photopass turn out then? Or are some of these them?

Thanks Jen! Maybe I'm just getting better with Lightoom 3 as I go along????

The only character pics where I DON'T use a flash are in shows, and sometimes parades. For meet & greets, I always use a flash, even outdoors. You will notice though that I seldom take a character meal picture from my seat at the table. We were sort of hemmed in near the wall at Akershus, but the middle had tons of open space, so I just asked if we could move away from the table a little. They never minded. I really dislike character meal pics taken from a sitting position and with half-eaten plates of food in the foreground!

Is it just me or does she resemble Joan Cusick a bit?

LOL! Maybe her brother is in the Beast suit!

 

[jenseib]

I always stand too, I'll have to ask about moving more in the future though.

 

[mom2rtk]

I always stand too, I'll have to ask about moving more in the future though.

Just channel your friend Janet. Heck you have a more impressive camera than I do. They'll totally get it! I figure I can always ask, they can always say no. But so far they haven't.

 

[mom2rtk]

12/17/10: Continued:

OK......... here she is.......... our favorite all-time Disney character! And we told her that too.

The Aristocats was our first Disney movie we shared together. Marie and her brothers got us through some long nights up with ear infection pain. To this day, it's usually the movie Katie suggests when I ask if she wants to watch a Disney movie.

We were thrilled to find Marie in Epcot on our first mother/daughter trip in 08. Ready for a Marie flashback???????

She wasn't out on any of our other trips, so we were happy to find her again this time!

She was clearly very tickled at seeing Katie's top:

 

[mom2rtk]

OK, here's where I have to give a shout out to our newest follower........ RinkyTinkyTinky!

So I'm a little slow......... but of course I just figured out where your ID came from! LOL!

Am I right?

And a rinky tinky tinky! EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE A CAT!

 

[Tinkermom76]

We love to visit Marie as well, I like to try and figure out how she stays so bright white with kids toughing her all day long

 

[mom2rtk]

We love to visit Marie as well, I like to try and figure out how she stays so bright white with kids toughing her all day long

LOL! Only a mom would think of it that way!

We'd love it if they'd have Marie's brothers available to meet....... Berlioz and Toulouse. Heck, they should throw in Duchess and Thomas too!

 

[SmallWorld71]

Well, it's not a princess dress, but the Maire outfit is my favorite one so far! I love that movie! Epcot is my favorite park - but I won't hold that against you.

 

[mom2rtk]

Well, it's not a princess dress, but the Maire outfit is my favorite one so far! I love that movie! Epcot is my favorite park - but I won't hold that against you.

Thanks! Katie loved that one too.

Maybe they have a 12 step program for Epcot haters?????

OK....... just kidding. I don't HATE Epcot at all. Far from it. I just feel comfortable short-changing it in lieu of more Magic Kingdom time!