Dreams come true...WDW 8/30-9/16

[LindaBabe]

LOVE parade pictures! Darth IS creepy, Jay. But very cute about Mushu. Never got to see that parade, so I'll live vicariously through your photos.

 

[SoonerGirl]

I love all the parade pictures too! Thanks for posting them. Funny how our 'big' kids don't mind acting younger at WDW isn't it? I think that is one of the reasons I love it there, it keeps my kids kids for a little while longer!

 

[momoftriplets]

Day 6- MGM

After shopping (and the quick change), it was time to head to the 50's Prime Time Cafe for lunch. This was to be our first experience here. I was excited (and a wee bit nervous, I didn't want to have to stand in the corner).



**Warning, ugly guest story**

Finally, I got fed up and told him that NO, he was not going to badger me, coax me, scare me, guilt me or otherwise convince me to move and that if he asked me one more time I was going to motion for a CM to come over and I am sure that they would be happy to help him find seating but that this bench was occupied and was going to continue to be that way until after the parade was over.

We have had many good laughs over it!!

HEY!!!!! I resemble that remark!!! ***Shameless pug*** For those of you unfamiliar with my TR, post #47 shows a picture of me standing in the corner at 50's PT. I guess Jay isn't as "sassy" as I am!!!


Can't BELIEVE the nerve of that family! Good for you, girlfriend, standing (or sitting) your ground. Not only a lesson for their son, but what a lesson for your sons. Stand up for yourselves & don't cave to others. I wonder if those people would have acted like that if your DH would have been there, too?

I really think your DH should have gotten that woman's purse for you...

Loving your report.

Is the next trip still a surprise? How are those plans coming?

Barb

 

[Sneezie]

Ummm...let's see. It was September 3. I only know the date because it was our anniversary. Otherwise, I would have spaced out on that by now.

Ummm.... I don't think so. We didn't get there until September 5th!

 

[swankybeth]

Great updates. I really can't believe the nerve of that family that tried to make you move from the bench.

 

[tinawv]

Jacyns, just caught up with your trip report. Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us. I especially love all the pictures of your boys living in the Disney magic. I can't believe the nerve of that man asking you and your family to move so his family could sit down. How arrogant can (and I must say stupid) can one be. I also thought it was sweet of the AKL staff to have a Birthday cake for your son. It just goes to show that the magic still exists at WDW. Looking forward to more.

 

[MouseTriper]

Wow Jay... I can't believe the nerve of some people. Why they ever thought they deserved the bench over you is beyond me. Very strange and rude. Anyway, sounds like you handled it just right! Way to go Jay!!!

Anyway....I am still loving your TR. I have to admit I haven't gone to the
50's Primetime Cafe for the same reason...I don't want to be standing in a corner on my vacation. Hahaha.

Love the pictures...hurry and post some more will ya!!!??? Hahahaha

 

[jaycns]

Loving the report as usual!! I'm glad you liked 50's, DH and I really liked it a lot. Our server wasn't quite as enthusiastic as yours, but he was great just the same. Wasn't the herb cheese app divine??!!!

I didn't try it...the baby told me I couldn't eat it. Dh and "Goofy" did get to share a bit with "Aladdin" though and both of them loved it.

Sounds like a fantastic lunch at Prime Time. You really have been getting lucky on this trip.

Can't believe that family who tried to get you to move from the bench. I have no idea what people are thinking most of the time that would make them believe that they are superior and more entitled than others.

I think it was more they were not thinking.

LOVE parade pictures! Darth IS creepy, Jay. But very cute about Mushu. Never got to see that parade, so I'll live vicariously through your photos.

Mushu is so cute! I love him (and his attitude too).

I love all the parade pictures too! Thanks for posting them. Funny how our 'big' kids don't mind acting younger at WDW isn't it? I think that is one of the reasons I love it there, it keeps my kids kids for a little while longer!

ME TOO! Including myself and dh as big kids...it helps me feel free to just have fun and leave all of my worries behind.

HEY!!!!! I resemble that remark!!! ***Shameless pug*** For those of you unfamiliar with my TR, post #47 shows a picture of me standing in the corner at 50's PT. I guess Jay isn't as "sassy" as I am!!!


Can't BELIEVE the nerve of that family! Good for you, girlfriend, standing (or sitting) your ground. Not only a lesson for their son, but what a lesson for your sons. Stand up for yourselves & don't cave to others. I wonder if those people would have acted like that if your DH would have been there, too?

I really think your DH should have gotten that woman's purse for you...

Loving your report.

Is the next trip still a surprise? How are those plans coming?

Barb

HAHA HA it was YOUR REPORT that clued me in to be scared! I didn't want to have to sing/stand in the corner/otherwise be punished. It would have been fun...but....

My bet is they wouldn't have had the nerve if dh was there...the dad in that family was a lot shorter.

I don't know if our second trip this year is on or not. I am hoping to hear the OB say yes...but I am not sure that is going to happen. But yes, it is still a surprise.

Ummm.... I don't think so. We didn't get there until September 5th!

HA HA HA then it must have been on the 6th and we must have been heading up to thank them for the cake they left "Goofy" and not the perfume. SORRY. I am trying to get it all down before I forget, I guess sometimes the moments blur together. However, I do remember the crazy lady asking me if I was C-I-S. Hmm...come to think of it...I guess it could have been any time we were there in the afternoon heading up to the lounge in our swim attire. But SSSHHH...pretend with me. I am too lazy to try and figure it out and rewrite it into a later part of my trip report HA HA HA Lazy bones I am!!

Jacyns, just caught up with your trip report. Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us. I especially love all the pictures of your boys living in the Disney magic. I can't believe the nerve of that man asking you and your family to move so his family could sit down. How arrogant can (and I must say stupid) can one be. I also thought it was sweet of the AKL staff to have a Birthday cake for your son. It just goes to show that the magic still exists at WDW. Looking forward to more.

The staff at AKL made our entire stay magical. Way more then the "things" they left for us, the way they treated us made us feel magical the entire time!!

Wow Jay... I can't believe the nerve of some people. Why they ever thought they deserved the bench over you is beyond me. Very strange and rude. Anyway, sounds like you handled it just right! Way to go Jay!!!

Anyway....I am still loving your TR. I have to admit I haven't gone to the
50's Primetime Cafe for the same reason...I don't want to be standing in a corner on my vacation. Hahaha.

Love the pictures...hurry and post some more will ya!!!??? Hahahaha

HA HA HA...funny that my gravy dislikin' friend would have the same "not in the corner" preference. I will update tomorrow!!

 

[heartofdisney]

I am usually not a frequent poster,but once in a while I read a good trip report that I enjoy and want to mention it to the writer,and I am reading yours tonight at work...and it is awesome.You have made me want to stay at the AKL next time my family goes. Oh,and congrats on your little boy coming in January!
I especially wanted to comment on that family who wanted your bench...I just cant get over the audacity of some people out there in this world! When my family and I were in Disney this past January,we had a run in with people like that too...wonder if it was the same family...haha. We were at the Chrystal Palace celebrating my daughters 19th birthday with her favorite characters,and there was a family who sat next to us,after we had been seated,and she had a little boy,maybe a year old or so,and he was terrified of the Pooh characters coming around.Well,she asked them not to appear at her table so her little boy wouldnt continue to be upset.That was fine,but then she would have a fit when they stopped at our table nearby to pay attention to my daughters.They were giving some special attention to my oldest,and this woman freaked out at all of us(the characters included) because her little one was screaming. She was saying that she asked them not to stop around her,because it frightened her little boy! I said excuse me,but we are celebrating my daughters birthday,and she wants to see the characters and get her picture taken with them.Well she says back to me "Dont you think(both my daughters) they are a little too old to want pictures taken with the characters?" "I told her "No..we do this every time we come,it is our tradition,and shows how the girls grow." Then she say back "Well if you already have pictures with these characters why do you really need to take more,when all I am asking is for some common courtesy? I just said " Well,I am sorry,but we paid for this,and if you dont like having the characters near your table,that is fine,but we do,and if it frightens your son,then maybe you should show a little courtesy yourself and leave the restraunt."
She just looked at me and said something nasty too her husband,and I just looked at the Piglet,who was standing there near my daughter,and he raised his arms up like what can you do? LOL.
Maybe I was the one in the wrong,but I dont think I was. I had paid for that character interaction and I wanted it...whether it made a little boy upset or not.We were at our table,and were doing nothing wrong,but playing with the characters and taking pictures with them.....and whether or not we already had pictures of our daughters with these characters from a previous visit ,or what age they were, shouldnt have mattered to anyone.
It is a shame some people out there seem to think that they are more entitled,deserving or better then others.We are all there to have fun and enjoy our families.If it had been me with a frightened little one,I would have taken a walk with my baby until the characters left,or even left the restraunt all together.I wouldnt have expected any other family to skip the character interaction just because they were close by to my scared child! Sorry to go on...that family you encountered at your bench just brought back my annoyance at my own experience..lol. It is a good thing that there are many more decent people at Disney then there are people like they are!

 

[jaycns]

Day 6 continued...

After the parade we did indeed vacate the bench. However, I noticed it was not really sunny anymore and looked up...a storm was brewing. Being as we didn't feel like spending the rest of the day wet or lugging around wet ponchos, we chose our next destination because it was indoors. We were heading to The Magic of Animation area.

This time around we skipped the show (I know, we missed Mushu...however, we also missed the long line ). Instead we entered through the gift shop and went straight to the drawing studio. A class had already started so we waited a few short minutes and it was our turn to enter the studio. Everyone in our family loves this activity! Who wouldn't love a chance to learn to draw your favorite Disney characters? This time we drew, Donald Duck, Minnie Mouse and Stitch. We spent about an hour doing this. When we finished Donald we went straight back around and did Minnie and then upon finishing Minnie, the two older boys and myself headed back in to do Stitch.

Our little "Stitch" and dh missed out on the last drawing lesson because "Stitch" had to go to the bathroom...but that's okay, they found some lonely friends to play with while they waited for us to get done drawing.

Dh said they were the only ones around for a good 5 minutes or so and that they played hand games and tried to teach "Stitch" how to pose that entire time. Dh said Frozone was especially playful.

About the time other people started to approach the characters, we were getting out of our final drawing session. We would have done another but there was no time. We had an ADR at Hollywood and Vine and we didn't want to miss it. So off we shuffled across the park. I should note that the rain had stopped and MGM seemed more beautiful then ever. It was shiny from the rain and everything seemed to glisten in the sunlight.

I didn't have long to enjoy the views as we high tailed it over. Upon arrival we had less then a five minute wait before we were seated. Once seated we took no time in making ourselves at home with the buffet. Hollywood and Vine had not been our planned dinner this night. I had made an ADR at Mama Melrose...but with my cravings not quite being reliable (knowing I would want/could even eat Italian at a certain point in time was a long shot at best) and I had read more then my fair share of mediocre to downright bad reviews of Mama Melrose, I had rescheduled our dinner in the concierge lounge that morning. I am still interested in trying Mama Melrose one day, just not this past trip.

The food at Hollywood and Vine was good. The buffalo mozzarella salad was great. The peel and eat shrimp were cold and tasty. The prime rib was right on and the potatoes au gratin hit the spot. With all of the tasty choices here, everyone found themselves with heaping plateful after plateful! It was a good meal. During our gorging, we spent a lot of time talking about all of the fun we were having. I also warned the boys that I didn't think we would make it until Fantasmic that night (which had been our plan). I was winding down a lot faster then I would have liked and while I wished it was otherwise, I knew a park closing was not going to work for me that night.

Once we were done eating we told each of the boys to pick one final attraction/show and then we would leave. "Stitch" chose the Indiana Jones Stunt Show. We arrived a few minutes late to the last show of the day but walked in to find great seats. Although they have yet to see the movies, my boys play Indiana Jones quite frequently. They run around outside pretending to be fending off snakes with a bull whip, running from a giant ball, rescuing someone and finding treasure.

"Goofy" chose to go and see Muppets 3-D. We walked in just as they were starting to load the theater. That was a lucky break. No standing waiting!! It's sort of a corny show, but we all like it a whole lot anyway.

After seeing Muppets 3-D we hit the store right next to it...to our disappointment, they no longer carry anything "Fraggles". Last year we had seen some Fraggle merchandise there which had reminded me of how much I liked that show as a child. I had ordered the DVDs of the series for my boys to watch and they were all hoping to score something Fraggle while at WDW. Bummer, but no such luck.

Our final stop on our way out of the park was at Star Tours. We were all happy to see a five minute wait posted. "Aladdin" took this ride alone. The younger boys are a bit intimidated about what they think the ride is (I think they would love it if they gave it a try but I didn't want their first attempt to be sans parent and with me pregnant and dh motion sick it was a no go on the parent front). The rest of us looked around the store as we waited for "Aladdin" to return to this galaxy.

The final ride done, we headed off to the Disney bus stop area. And to my happy surprise, an AKL bound bus had just pulled up as we made it to the pick up area. We hopped on board all by ourselves and made our way back to AKL.

Once back we again changed into our swim gear, headed up to the lounge for drinks and then made our way down to the pool area. I rested on a lounge chair while dh and the boys splashed around. At some point I must have fallen asleep because it went from dusk to dark and my water loving boys were ready to head back up to the room before I even knew it.

After a few quick showers the boys fell asleep very quickly. Dh and I (pigs that we are) ordered a quick room service snack. Dh got a sundae while I chose the kid's grilled cheese meal. Everything was tasty once again! After our final meal of the day (which if you are counting was our fourth ) we fell quickly asleep ourselves. I was out so fast, I didn't even have time to wonder what the animals were doing on the savanna below.

UP NEXT a magical day at EPCOT!

To be continued...

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

It is too bad that you didn't make it to Fantasmic but it sounds like you guys had a great evening relaxing by the pool.

 

[PrincessAlways]

Hi Jay. Just got caught up after my "quick" long weekend trip to the World. You were right about CR! It is a great resort! The rooms are beautiful! Anyway.....How rude of that family in the "bench incident"!!! That was just unbelievable! You handled the situation VERY tactfully! I don't know that I would've been able to do the same. Honestly, I think I would have been in shock! I had the opportunity to eat at Prime Time on a "girls" trip. We didn't laugh that hard the rest of our stay! It is certainly a fun place to eat! Speaking of restaurants, I don't think you missed anything by not going to Mama Melrose. We went there once, don't think we'll return! It's nice to read that your boys were so understanding about your physical limitations (being tired) on this trip. Good boys!!

 

[jaycns]

I am usually not a frequent poster,but once in a while I read a good trip report that I enjoy and want to mention it to the writer,and I am reading yours tonight at work...and it is awesome.You have made me want to stay at the AKL next time my family goes. Oh,and congrats on your little boy coming in January!
I especially wanted to comment on that family who wanted your bench...I just cant get over the audacity of some people out there in this world! When my family and I were in Disney this past January,we had a run in with people like that too...wonder if it was the same family...haha. We were at the Chrystal Palace celebrating my daughters 19th birthday with her favorite characters,and there was a family who sat next to us,after we had been seated,and she had a little boy,maybe a year old or so,and he was terrified of the Pooh characters coming around.Well,she asked them not to appear at her table so her little boy wouldnt continue to be upset.That was fine,but then she would have a fit when they stopped at our table nearby to pay attention to my daughters.They were giving some special attention to my oldest,and this woman freaked out at all of us(the characters included) because her little one was screaming. She was saying that she asked them not to stop around her,because it frightened her little boy! I said excuse me,but we are celebrating my daughters birthday,and she wants to see the characters and get her picture taken with them.Well she says back to me "Dont you think(both my daughters) they are a little too old to want pictures taken with the characters?" "I told her "No..we do this every time we come,it is our tradition,and shows how the girls grow." Then she say back "Well if you already have pictures with these characters why do you really need to take more,when all I am asking is for some common courtesy? I just said " Well,I am sorry,but we paid for this,and if you dont like having the characters near your table,that is fine,but we do,and if it frightens your son,then maybe you should show a little courtesy yourself and leave the restraunt."
She just looked at me and said something nasty too her husband,and I just looked at the Piglet,who was standing there near my daughter,and he raised his arms up like what can you do? LOL.
Maybe I was the one in the wrong,but I dont think I was. I had paid for that character interaction and I wanted it...whether it made a little boy upset or not.We were at our table,and were doing nothing wrong,but playing with the characters and taking pictures with them.....and whether or not we already had pictures of our daughters with these characters from a previous visit ,or what age they were, shouldnt have mattered to anyone.
It is a shame some people out there seem to think that they are more entitled,deserving or better then others.We are all there to have fun and enjoy our families.If it had been me with a frightened little one,I would have taken a walk with my baby until the characters left,or even left the restraunt all together.I wouldnt have expected any other family to skip the character interaction just because they were close by to my scared child! Sorry to go on...that family you encountered at your bench just brought back my annoyance at my own experience..lol. It is a good thing that there are many more decent people at Disney then there are people like they are!

THANKS for coming out of "lurk mode" to post. Stick around and visit for a while! Also thank you for such sweet words. Your post really made me smile!

WOW, maybe it was the same family. Same attitude at least! You guys did the right thing. It was a character buffet. You were there to see the characters. That family is just wacky!

What sad people to live their lives so involved in themselves that they miss out on the great things going on around them! The ones I feel the worst for are those little kids. I think they are robbing their children of a lot of happiness. In this life, everything will not always go your way. And sometimes great things happen to other people and not you...and you know what? That's not cause for upset or malice, it's time to smile and be happy for them. I hope those kids gain wisdom as they grow and teach their parents a thing or two about how the world really works. Poor little kids.

It is too bad that you didn't make it to Fantasmic but it sounds like you guys had a great evening relaxing by the pool.

Nope, no Fantasmic for us. And I did miss it...but we always have our next trip for seeing it! And that is something to look forward to!

Hi Jay. Just got caught up after my "quick" long weekend trip to the World. You were right about CR! It is a great resort! The rooms are beautiful! Anyway.....How rude of that family in the "bench incident"!!! That was just unbelievable! You handled the situation VERY tactfully! I don't know that I would've been able to do the same. Honestly, I think I would have been in shock! I had the opportunity to eat at Prime Time on a "girls" trip. We didn't laugh that hard the rest of our stay! It is certainly a fun place to eat! Speaking of restaurants, I don't think you missed anything by not going to Mama Melrose. We went there once, don't think we'll return! It's nice to read that your boys were so understanding about your physical limitations (being tired) on this trip. Good boys!!

I am so glad you liked the CR! I just love it there. And yes, the rooms are so beautiful (at least to me).

I never would have guessed we would love the Prime Time so much. But it's now one of our must do's every trip. Although, I think it may be really hard to ever find a waitress like our last one. She was a real gem!

See, that's the sort of thing I have been reading about Mama Melrose. Over and over again...we really like to try different things...but....we have a lot of other things on our list before we get back to trying out MM.

They were great little guys when it came to understanding. "Aladdin" especially was protective of me doing to much, all by himself. I think it might have been easier on them then a lot of kids in that situation because they were just there the year before and know they will be back again next year...so it's not a do it now or don't get it done at all kind of situation for them. I think it would have been a LOT harder to be so nice to mom if they hadn't been there for a few years and had no hopes of getting back in the semi near future. However, all of that said, I know I am one lucky mom! They were sweethearts all the way!!

 

[jaycns]

Day 7...A day at EPCOT.

This day was one I was really looking forward to! I love EPCOT. The boys love EPCOT. Even dh likes EPCOT. I was really looking forward to this day because other then Test Track and Mission Space, I knew I could do everything we normally enjoy there. As we got ready that morning, I was all smiles.

Of course, the first stop of our morning was the concierge lounge. We really got a LOT of use out of that place. Breakfast was always there, we snuck up for drinks and snacks at assorted times throughout the day and even when they weren't serving food, it was such a peaceful place to just relax and take it all in. Two thumbs way up for the AKL club level lounge! It stars in many of my dreams!

After our peaceful breakfast, we headed down to the buses (I had mainly accepted them as "good" by then...however, I still had that cab fare in my pocket). This morning there was a safari guide at the bus stop with a neat activity for the kids. He was such a great guy. The kids were really having a blast interacting with and learning from him. He was so funny and very knowledgeable as well. He was also VERY nice. As the kids started to play he asked which bus we were waiting for. He kindly offered to help keep an eye out for it pulling up. Another great AKL CM. I think AKL cornered the market on great help!

After each of the boys had a chance to reach into the "blind box" he asked them for guesses about the object they had felt inside. After they had each guessed he brought out the object for them to see and then explained a bit about it. I won't ruin any future games of any of yours by telling you what was inside the box...but it's a really neat, fun and unexpected activity at AKL..so give it a try if you see it and I bet you will enjoy!

In any case, I couldn't tell you what was in the third opening because we only got through two of them before our bus pulled up (and true to his offer to keep an eye out, the guide pointed that out to us as it started to roll in). We were one of handful of families on the bus and it was cool and comfortable. It was so nice to have direct bus service from AKL to the parks. I have a feeling that sharing a bus with another resort would have been such a pain! After a short drive we were dropped off at EPCOT and our family made our way in.

Our first stop? We grabbed fast passes for Soarin'. We had about 45 minutes until our lunch ressie. We hoped that we could grab fast passes for after lunch and get in one ride before it was time to eat. The posted wait was 25 minutes (way over my normal tolerance level...yes, I am off season spoiled and I know it) but being as we (and by we I mean me) didn't want to add to our walking that day, we figured we might as well wait it out. To our very happy surprise...we walked around the first bend, the second bend and all the way to the place where they split you into rows before finally encountering less then a two minute wait. It was the fastest 25 minute wait ever! What an unexpected bonus!! No wait when we thought we would have to do so!

Being as we knew the posted wait was non existent we chose to take another ride on Soarin' before lunch. It was a great treat, to arrive at a park in the very late morning and walk on (twice) to one of the biggest draw attractions! What a bonus!!

Upon finishing our second ride we headed over to the little sales kiosk hoping to score some sort of glider toy...but no such luck. They did have a few Soarin' pins and a couple of t-shirts...but no toys. This surprises me, usually Disney is GREAT at hawking the items people want to buy, but in this case, nary a glider toy is to be found. Strange indeed!

We did find some really cool plants. The plants were in these sealed capsules with a gel bottom for their roots. Each of the plants had been grown for a single cell (that was some of the research they are doing, splicing a single cell off of a donor plant and growing a whole second plant from that). Anyway, we bought three...and they are still alive and growing. And I love looking at them because they remind me of all of the fun we had that day. They are the best plants ever...no watering, no pruning, no nothing. Set them in a sunny spot and enjoy! I don't think even I can kill these things (and my thumb is far from green...it's closer to a shade of black)!

We had our purchase shipped back to our resort and headed off to check in at the Garden Grill. We were early. About 15 minutes before lunch even began...but we checked in anyway. There was nothing else we could have gotten done and been back in time...so we figured a nice seat on the bench and getting to be one of the first seated in the restaurant sounded like fun.

At check in my boys got to visit with the CMs at the podium. One really nice man in particular. I think he may have been a manager or something as he was not dressed like a server or character handler but he was wearing a name tag. "Stitch" and he hit it off (they have the same name so that started a long string of jokes and laughter). Even after we made our way over to the bench with our buzzer, he came out and continued to banter with the boys. I don't think waiting for a meal has ever been so much fun. I don't know why...it makes no sense, but we were just having a good time sitting on the benches. "Stitch and Goofy" had started up singing silly songs together again.

Dh and "Aladdin" were telling each other jokes. I was happy as a clam watching my family interact with each other and have so much fun. This is what vacations are all about. Happy moments of being together. Enjoying the company of those you love. Laughing together. Being silly together. All of us having a great time together. If worry about my dad/the baby hadn't been lurking in the back of my head, it would have been a perfect moment (and as it was, it came pretty darn close).

I was actually a bit bummed when our buzzer started to go off. HA HA HA...what kind of wacko am I? Who gets bummed when there wait is over?! My disappointment was VERY short lived. Upon walking up to the podium we were informed that we had been chosen to have a special magical moment...our family was chosen to be the family of the day at the Garden Grill! Talk about not thinking your day could get any better...and then it did!!

These smiles ALMOST tell you how happy we were about that!

To be continued...

 

[SkyGirl]

I love Fraggle Rock, too!

My daughter and I are going to both Hollywood & Vine and Garden Grill, and are looking forward to both even more after your descriptions!

 

[jaycns]

A most magical meal, day 7 continued...

We were led to a table on the first tier (right next to the glass rail) by our waitress. Upon seating us, she handed us a magical moments certificate and told us that we were in for a very special treat...and she was right, we were!

She took our drink orders and then told us that the chef would be bringing us out a special appetizer (usually you don't get one at the Garden Grill). Sure enough, within a couple of minutes a very sweet, smiling and helpful chef appeared at our table with an appetizer she had created especially for us (YES, I know they probably bring it to every "family of the day"...but it was especially for us that day and we were over the moon about that). She told us to enjoy and let her know if we needed anything else. She really made us feel special. She brought out a platter full of amazingly good cole slaw with some very tasty ribs scattered on top of it. WAY too much for only the five of us to eat. But we didn't stop for lack of good taste! We simply didn't want to be totally stuffed before the rest of the meal even reached the table. Here is a picture of the amazingly nice chef and another of her amazingly good creation (which was more then half gone before I thought to snap a picture)!

Just as soon as the chef walked away, our waitress was back with all of our drinks in tow...and all of our drinks were GLOWING! **Now, if you recall from the beginning of my trip report, I am a HUGE sucker for things that glow and that little glow cube in my drink made me smile as big as I ever have!** Each of us had a glow cube merrily blinking away in our drinks. The boys were *almost* as excited as I was. Dh thought it was a nice touch, but wondered why we were acting like we had just won the lottery or something.

Before we could gush for very long at all, up walked ALL of the characters at once. This was a very special treat indeed! Normally they rotate one at a time to every table in the restaurant. But, for the family of the day, they came over and did a big reunion! We were all ear to ear smiles!!

The characters were actually pulling the boys from each other to themselves. So many smiles and hugs and high fives and even a little bit of dancing that took place!

Try as I might, I couldn't get a picture of all of them at once! There were too many of them (and I was stuck in the booth so there was no where for me to back up). The characters stayed with us for over five minutes.

Just as the characters were about to leave Mickey grabbed one of the crayons and a kid's menu and wrote "To the swellest little boys. Love, Mickey".

I don't know if any of us ever stopped smiling the entire meal! That message really had the boys excited! And as the characters walked away, we just sat there smiling at each other.

Just about then another table was seated nearby. The waitress told them the characters would be around one at a time in short order. And we heard the dad ask if they would all come over together like at our table. The waitress told him we were family of the day and it was a special treat. Unlike the reaction I am sure the bench family would have given, these people got excited for us and came over took our picture!! They then said congratulations and went back to their own table. What a neat family they were! And how funny is it that somewhere we are in someone else's vacation photos!

The "regular" family style meal was delicious (as usual). I love the kid's macaroni and cheese and the green beans. Not to mention everything else. It's all really good, down home cookin'.

Next up we had all of the normal "one on one" character visits. At each of these the boys asked the characters to add to Mickey's note. By the end of the meal we had a whole collection of signatures and sweet sayings!

Our little Chip lover!

Dale spent a good few minutes gesturing how much more fun he was then Chip!

Then who should wander over but a funny yet somewhat mischievous dog, PLUTO!

He kept leaning over with his tag in our faces until I took a picture of it. I guess he is proud of his owner, Mickey Mouse.

In this next picture, you can tell that Pluto would not stand still, he was swaying back and forth. The boys almost couldn't stop laughing long enough to smile!

In the next shot, Pluto is reacting to the boys asking for his autograph, he kept pointing to himself and then to them and acting like he was so honored! When he finally seemed to believe them he pushed "Stitch" right out of the way (what is picitured) and he signed the menu.

But he is one naughty puppy! After signing the menu, he stole all of the crayons at the table and ate them!

I guess the crayon snack just reminded him how truly hungry he was. Because he pushed "Goofy" over and sat right down at our booth!

Once seated he started to do the same thing with french fries that he had done with crayons!!

Finally Mickey walked over and saw how naughty his puppy was being and gave him a finger wagging! Then he stopped to pose with our boys.

Our totally fun, utterly amazingly cool meal ended with a delicious dessert! And because we were the family of the day (yes, I am still excited about that all this time later) our family sized cobbler had a candle in it! How fun! The little boys also got decorate your own cupcakes. YUM! They sure did enjoy those!

As one last final treat our waitress brought us a fast pass good for any attraction, at any time, for our entire party. On that very happy note, our meal came to an end.

Up next, EPCOT after lunch.

TO BE CONTINUED

 

[momoftriplets]

How wonderful for you!!!! What a great time a lunch. Priceless! I really want to try Garden Grill after reading several of your great reviews of it.

 

[Sazzo'sMommy]

How cool for you to be family of the day!

Way to tell the "bench sittin', shade hoggin' wanna be's"...NO WAY! Some people...UGH!

We leave in the morning, so I'll talk when we get back!

 

[LindaBabe]

Wow, Jay! Every day just gets better and better! But, You know what? I'm not surprised - you reap what you sow, and you and your family sow sunshine and smiles!

 

[jaycns]

I love Fraggle Rock, too!

My daughter and I are going to both Hollywood & Vine and Garden Grill, and are looking forward to both even more after your descriptions!

I knew you had good taste! The Fraggles really do rock! While you are at Hollywood and Vine, make sure you taste the cold salads (if you like that kind of thing). They have great pasta salads and other sorts of cold salads. It's "only" a buffet...but it's a pretty good one! I cannot wait to hear all about your very special trip when you return!! Especially how you liked eating at those places!

How wonderful for you!!!! What a great time a lunch. Priceless! I really want to try Garden Grill after reading several of your great reviews of it.

I hope you do get a chance to try it out! We have always had a great time there. And our last meal was out of this world magical.

How cool for you to be family of the day!

Way to tell the "bench sittin', shade hoggin' wanna be's"...NO WAY! Some people...UGH!

We leave in the morning, so I'll talk when we get back!

WOO HOO! Enjoy your trip! Tell lil' Sazzo that "Stitch" says bon voyage! HAVE A GREAT TRIP and make sure you check back in when you get home.

Wow, Jay! Every day just gets better and better! But, You know what? I'm not surprised - you reap what you sow, and you and your family sow sunshine and smiles!

Awww Linda, that is just like you...saying something so sweet! That lunch certainly was sunshine and smiles all the way around!!