Double October Birthday Palooza-Lots New 5/12 & Now Complete!!!!!

[SoonerGirl]

Glad you guys encouraged me to continue. Yeah the Wave isn't going to be a repeat for us either probably.....just too many places that we know are good to go back to one that is just so so. And, I have subbed to your report now I have 18 pages to catch up on........I haven't been dissing much & see all that I miss when I do....sheesh.

Oh good! I'm glad your coming over to read I've got links to my updates in the first post if you want to skip all the chit chat and catch up faster

We've done the Winter side of Winter/Summerland before too - it's so cute!

Your dinner at Raglan Road sounded good, and it was great that you were able to meet up with some old friends!

 

[Jennifer48]

for continuing!

I still haven't seen Princess & the Frog...I really need to.

I've read mixed reviews of The Wave on the DIS.

I love no park days at Disney. Makes you stop and smell the roses a bit more.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Your relaxed day sounds so relaxing, it's making me sleepy! We've stayed at SSR twice and I don't think we've truly explored yet. Raglan Road looks so delicious, and so fun that you got to meet up with your touring friends!

 

[Disneygrl36]

the wave is where my parents are taking parker while candi and i are at the luau on our trip, i hope they like there meals better than you.

and i bet the chicken was rubbed in a coffee mixture before they grilled it.

It wasn't a bad meal, it was just meah.............
You are probably right about the chicken....I didn't like the flavor it gave the lettuce wraps. We love them at PF Changs, but these not so much.

Isnt' the Winter Summerland course so much fun! We did the winter side the last time we were there. We would have done the other side but I was recovering from food poisoning and decided to go see a movie instead. I am glad that you had fun with Milred and Sakina. I can't wait to see them this year!

I know you will have a great time when you get to see them. They are such fun girls & I was really glad that we could make the time to get together.

the sheppards pie does look really good, was the veggies in it, could not tell.

I think it did have veggies in it Dan maybe carrots & peas or something.

Oh good! I'm glad your coming over to read I've got links to my updates in the first post if you want to skip all the chit chat and catch up faster

We've done the Winter side of Winter/Summerland before too - it's so cute!

Your dinner at Raglan Road sounded good, and it was great that you were able to meet up with some old friends!

Raglan Road got 2 thumbs up from us!!!! I wish we had been able to hang around as just when we were leaving a couple of guys were starting to sing. I bet it gets fun in the later evening with the live entertainment.

for continuing!

I still haven't seen Princess & the Frog...I really need to.

I've read mixed reviews of The Wave on the DIS.

I love no park days at Disney. Makes you stop and smell the roses a bit more.

YES go see the Princess & the Frog........we loved it.
This was the first trip that we actually planned days to stop & smell the roses & we loved it.

Your relaxed day sounds so relaxing, it's making me sleepy! We've stayed at SSR twice and I don't think we've truly explored yet. Raglan Road looks so delicious, and so fun that you got to meet up with your touring friends!

SSR is a beautiful resort. There is tons to see since it is so big.

Sorry that last post didn't get to be continued........as I was doing it the computer messed up & we just got it figured out........so on with the show.

 

[Disneygrl36]

After we left Mildred & Sakina, we caught a bus to the Grand Floridian & then the monorail to Magic Kingdom. We were heading in to see the regular Wishes show as this was really the only night that we would be able to see it because of the various halloween parties. We decided to see if we could watch from the train station as this is a spot I have always wanted to watch from. It really wasn't too crowded up there & we were treated to being able to watch Spectromagic up there as well. This would really be the perfect spot to watch parades & fireworks if Disney could come up with a way to make the flagpole go up & down like the periscope of a submarine.
It was an added treat to get to see Spectromagic as we hadn't planned on having enough time to see it as well.

After the parade was finished, a bunch of people left the train station area & I was able to squirm myself into a chair by the rail with Eric standing behind me. SWEET!!!!!
Here's the crowd pilling into Main Street to watch Wishes.

The next thing we knew, they dimmed the lights & Jiminy Cricket was telling us all about Wishes.

I really love Wishes & was so glad we were able to see it. After the fireworks, we walked over to Tomorrowland to ride the TTA & got a snack. Soon after, it started to rain so we headed back to SSR & enjoyed a nice little bottle of wine in our room.

Perfect day!!!!!!!!!!

Up next......MGM oh darn I mean DHS

 

[SoonerGirl]

Spectro and Wishes sounds like the perfect way to end the day!!

(I still catch myself calling it MGM too........)

 

[Jennifer48]

They should sell tickets up on the train station, that is really a great vantage point

 

[jns]

Hi Melanie
How u both getting on

Just catching up with r report
looks like you had a great holiday
Thanks for sharing

 

[Disneygrl36]

Spectro and Wishes sounds like the perfect way to end the day!!

(I still catch myself calling it MGM too........)

It's kinda like the peoplemover Michelle.....it took me forever to call it the TTA. Maybe DHS will grow on me.

They should sell tickets up on the train station, that is really a great vantage point

Don't give them any ideas Jennifer.......you know how they love to charge us for the extras.

Hi Melanie
How u both getting on

Just catching up with r report
looks like you had a great holiday
Thanks for sharing

Hi Jackie....nice to have another friend along.
We are doing well.....hope to be cruising again for the first time since our Halloween cruise in August. Hope all is well with you & your family.
We had a blast on our trip as usual!

 

[Disneygrl36]

We ate a quick breakfast in the room before grabbing a bus to head to MGM/DHS for the day.

After having a few photopass pictures made in front of the hat because it is rumored that it may be disappearing, we made our way to Toy Story Mania to get a fast pass.

This was our first time seeing this new area & I really liked the way they made it look like the PIXAR studios. We had planned to ride but the wait was already 40 minutes, so we headed on over to Rock N RollerCoaster instead.

We saw a famous band & a cool Hidden Mickey before heading off in our stretch limo.

Next we went to the beautiful Hollywood Tower Hotel.

They really need to dust in here though.

The theming & details like in ToT is why I love Disney so much. This was in the library.

Whilst there, we were beckoned by some ghosts to join them.....

Thank goodness we made it out alive & saw a lovely Halloween display in the hotel windows.

We then made our way to One Man's Dream which is a must do for us because without Walt there would be no Walt Disney World.

We channeled our best inner Walt's.

I took a million pictures in here because I am fascinated with anything that belonged to Walt, but won't bore you with all of them.

Me with the Jolly Holiday dress.

Eric playing with the audio-animatronic.

After watching the movie about Walt & wiping away a bit of a tear, we headed over to the Streets of America.

We watched a performance by Mulch, Sweat & Shears & they were really good. Fun to watch!!!!

Detail of their truck.

Audience participation........thank goodness they didn't pick me-but she did a pretty good job rocking the blow up guitar.

Then we headed back to use our fast pass for Toy Story.

What great fun this ride is....when we went to Disneyland last December a member of our group called it Pixar crack & that is true. You just want to play over & over.

Great theming here as well, with nods to the Pixar shorts.

Continued in next post.....

 

[Disneygrl36]

We were going to ride the Great Movie Ride next, but it was down. These windows decorated for the Mary Poppins premiere that happened at Graumanns were something I had never notice before.

So instead of riding the movies, we went on a voyage under the sea with Ariel.

Then, it was time for lunch at the Brown Derby.

I really love the elegance & old Hollywood charm of this restaurant & it was so nice to come in & cool off & enjoy a great meal.

We both had the Baby Greens Salad - with grape tomatos, candied pecans, Midnight Moon goat cheese and cabernet vinaigrette.

For our entrees Eric chose the Grilled Atlantic Salmon - with baby spinach, cannellini beans, ugli tomato, warm bacon vinaigrette and Meyer lemon aioli & I had the Spiced-rubbed Black Grouper - with sauteed hericots verts and sunchokes, rainbow carrot slaw and citrus butter. Both, were excellent with the fish cooked perfectly. The grouper is the closest in the picture.

I love the lighting in here.

We even found a Hidden Mickey giving a nod to Jimmie Dodd of the Mickey Mouse Club on our way out.

After our wonderful lunch, we rode the Great Movie Ride, but not before stopping for a moment for Eric to channel Grumpy.

We had seen Graumann's in Hollywood & so wanted to tour the inside when we were in Hollywood, but it just didn't work out, so this was a nice consolation prize.

Gorgeous costume from Shakespeare in Love in the lobby.

My favorite scene....I have no idea why?

Wow, is this thing heavy....

You killed my sister...........

So now it was about time to get an up close look at Disney Animation. We saw some concept art & maquettes from the Princess & the Frog.

This made me pine for the days when you could see real artists at work at the Studios.

We drew Carl from UP.

And then we got to meet him too. I love how they even have his walker.

This was a fun meet & greet. Russell even held my hand.

After having fun with the UP characters, we headed to the Backlot tour. This prop is from Pirates.

A Hidden Mickey at Catastrophe Canyon.

The skeleton ball from Pirates.

Davey Jones organ in the Academy building after the tour.

continued in next post

 

[Disneygrl36]

Our next exciting event, was meeting the stars of Monsters Inc.

This was our first time meeting them & I was a little star struck.

Then, we headed over for a visit with Kermit & Co.

Love these guys....

In the Muppet shops....once again it's all in the details.

We also saw 2 of our favorite Cars.

We rode Toy Story again & then walked over towards the Sunset Blvd area for some ice cream & another couple of rides on our favorites.

After those fun rides, we browsed in some shops & then went to get our seats for Fantasmic. The sky was looking really dark & cloudy so we were a bit worried that it might be cancelled. It was so humid out there that we were sweating like crazy. We passed the time chatting with the people sitting around us & the family in front of us had a brand spankin' new baby that was there to see his Mommy in the show.
Thank goodness the rain held off & we were rewarded with an awesome show.

Some Imagination Huh?

On the way out we found this reference to Mortimer Mouse.

And then said Goodbye to the Studios.

We walked over to the Boardwalk because we did not want to wait on a boat. It's a long walk when your feet are tired.
We headed to the ESPN zone for some dinner.

We had never eaten there before & the food was simple but good & plentiful. I had a hot dog & Eric had a chicken sandwich of some sort.

After dinner, we went to one of our favorite spots to relax & have a drink--the Bellevue Room at the Boardwalk.

We ordered a drink & played a game of Scrabble. Classic!!!!

What a long & fun day!!!!!!!!!!

Up next.........Tigers & Meerkats & Bugs oh my

 

[SoonerGirl]

WOW! You did have a full day!

I was cracking up at your picture of the 'bugs', 'bigger bugs' & 'Florida bugs' on the back of the Mulch, Sweat & Shears truck - I've never noticed that before - too funny!

I really need to take some time to look at all the details on Streets of America - we always just tent to walk right down the street without really taking it in.

 

[Aburns8]

What a great update Melanie! You took some amazing pictures. I love the Walt: One Man's Dream display. It is one of my favorite places to visit every time we visit. Brian makes us do the walk from Hollywood Studios to The Boardwalk all the time. I am so used to it now, but when you walk all day that is the last thing you want to do. I can't wait for more!

 

[Jennifer48]

We were going to ride the Great Movie Ride next, but it was down. These windows decorated for the Mary Poppins premiere that happened at Graumanns were something I had never notice before.

This is the 2nd TR I've read that had pictures of that window. I can't believe I've never seen it before! I'm a huge MP fan too!

Love this pic!

 

[jns]

another great day

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

i have already though of taking better pictures on our trip of detail like you have just shown, i love seeing that detail in stuff, and it makes for a better trip report and pictures in the future.

i am really enjoying all the detail in the last few posts thanks

 

[Disneygrl36]

WOW! You did have a full day!

I was cracking up at your picture of the 'bugs', 'bigger bugs' & 'Florida bugs' on the back of the Mulch, Sweat & Shears truck - I've never noticed that before - too funny!

I really need to take some time to look at all the details on Streets of America - we always just tent to walk right down the street without really taking it in.

We did have a full day. It's kind of amazing when you start writing these things & you realize all you accomplished in a day....makes me tired.

What a great update Melanie! You took some amazing pictures. I love the Walt: One Man's Dream display. It is one of my favorite places to visit every time we visit. Brian makes us do the walk from Hollywood Studios to The Boardwalk all the time. I am so used to it now, but when you walk all day that is the last thing you want to do. I can't wait for more!

I love One Man's Dream too. I hope they always leave it there as a tribute to Walt.

This is the 2nd TR I've read that had pictures of that window. I can't believe I've never seen it before! I'm a huge MP fan too!
It's amazing to me that as many times as I have been to WDW every time I go I see something I have never seen before.
Love this pic!

Thanks!

another great day

It really was a great day......thank goodness the weather held out for Fantasmic.

i have already though of taking better pictures on our trip of detail like you have just shown, i love seeing that detail in stuff, and it makes for a better trip report and pictures in the future.

i am really enjoying all the detail in the last few posts thanks

Thanks Dan........I just love the Disney details!!!!

Working on next update.....

 

[Disneygrl36]

As you probably guessed from the title, this was our Animal Kingdom day. My plan had been to get there at opening, but we just didn't get up quite early enough. We had a quick breakfast in the room & then headed out.

We made a bee line for Expedition Everest. We got a fast pass & the stand-by line was only 10 minutes so we went for our first ride with the scary Yeti.

After that, we timed it just right to see Nemo & Friends. I just love this musical. It is so colorfully done.

One of my favorite things to say on my journey in life is "Just keep swimming" so here is a bit of that part of the show.


After Nemo, we rode EE again. Yippee!!!!!

We got a nice refreshing glass of ice tea as it was so hot & we were parched.

Then we took a walk along the Jungle Trek. We saw this cute bat with an inverted hidden Mickey

And then we saw a tiger taking a poo.

And some cool scenery....

And a really weird bird....

And some really cute gazelles

And a duck with no head....

And a pretty bird....

All in all, a pretty good trek through the jungle.

 

[Disneygrl36]

We stopped to listen to this band on our way to lunch. That instrument he is playing fascinates me.

We had lunch at Pizzafari. The salad & pizzas were good & it was nice & cool in the Nocturnal room where we chose to eat.

After lunch, it was time for our safari through darkest Africa.

Nod to Joe Rhode.....Imagineer extrodinaire.

Cool bird in the queue

This was the best view we have ever had of the lions.

We also saw some African musicians. They were fun.


Then we did the Pangani trail which is my favorite because I love the gorillas.

This is the biggest ugliest toad I have ever seen.

Whatcha think these turtles are doin?

I call this one the Lookout

I have the shortest neck........I envy this animals long, graceful neck.

We didn't see too many that day...there were none past the first viewing section with the glass.

I was disappointed but Eric was probably glad because I will stand & watch them for ages.