Everything is Satisfactual - A TR (9/22-9/31) Updated 12/9 Last Day

[If U Had Wings]

Plan for Day 3 - Sunday Aug. 24 - Animal Kingdom -

I shudder to think of how hot AK is going to be in August. It's been hot enough when I've been in May and September. We have set a rule though, that since we all know going into this trip that it's August and we will be in Florida so no whining about the heat is allowed. (I'll be doing it in my head though). Luckily though out of the entire family I'll probably deal with it best. My nieces, SIL, and the 2 grandpas sweat like crazy, brother a little less so, and then there is Ma Tink and me. My central a/c has been broken for 2 years now so I'm used to living in an apartment that is about 90-95 degrees in the summer. I'm much more used to dealing with heat than my mom.

Princess Jasmine is dead set on getting Ma Tink to ride Everest this trip. Ma Tink is a ride wimp so I'm not sure this is going to happen. Still the fact that it is Jasmine who wants it may do the trick. Ma Tink and I want to get the princesses on Kali River Rapids, as they've never been on before. They should be well entertained by seeing Ma Tink get soaked.

The princesses will be leaving to eat dinner off site with Minnie, Mickey and Pa Eeyore. The rest of us will be heading over to Boma for dinner after AK closes. This one was a new restaurant for me my last trip as well, and it was a second favorite after the Brown Derby. Ma Tink didn't love it as much when she went, but was willing to go again. We all love AKL so we're planning on enjoying the grounds for awhile and are then going to head over to Pleasure Island/DTD for some shopping and maybe the Adventurers Club. It will depend on how tired we are feeling.

I always have big plans for Pleasure Island, but I crash before I can enjoy it. I miss the old Pleasure Island though, when it was more adults only. It was a nice night out, and I liked wandering around with a drink in hand to the different clubs. I especially liked the bands playing right out in the street, and the nightly New Year's Eve party at midnight. (Or eleven as I remember being there once for.)

 

[buffy0214]

I couldn't live without my a/c. Well, I guess I COULD but I sure wouldn't want to.

I think Everest is one of the most fun rides I have been on in a long time. The ride itself is smooth, not jerky, so I think even those that don't like traditional roller coasters mike like it.

My girls Kahli RR. We did it 3 times last trip.

 

[If U Had Wings]

I've been missing for awhile, but I'm still here. Work has been chaotic. All I want to do when I get home is catch some zzzs! That and this has been occupying my time.

It's my grandmother's old Singer. It's been sitting around collecting dust. (Lots of dust - believe me!) I'm determined to clean it up and get it working again. Much of my free time has been being spent researching restoration and cleaning methods online. I don't really even sew. Haven't since I was forced to take it back in jr. high days, but I have an urge to learn. It's such a shame they don't make things this pretty anymore.

Anyhow, now that I've bored you with non-Disney stuff on to the plans:
Plan for Day 4 - Monday Aug. 25 - EPCOT Center

(Again I know it's just Epcot now, but in my mind it's EPCOT Center - shoot me) Like MGM this is a park that I used to love more. I'll admit it, I'm a geek. I used to love the educational aspects of Epcot, and miss them.

Last year I was there for the 25th anniversary celebration and my BFF and I had a fantastic time. One of the best moments of the trip was when everyone was standing around waiting for the re-dedication ceremony to begin and they were playing all the old Epcot attractions music. When they started playing the Universe of Energy the entire crowd started singing along and suddenly you had a few hundred people having a blast singing. Same when they played "One Little Spark" and "Listen to the Land". It was so spontaneous and heart felt by everyone there. I am so glad I was there to be apart of it all - so many people who just love Epcot and Disney. So much fun to hang back and talk to everyone. When my BFF came back, she brought me one of these:

Very cool as I love Figment. She had managed to snag the last 2 they had. We missed out though on the collector watches and vintage tee's they were selling.


Anyways it's our first night with an ADR for the entire group. We're eating at Biergarten at the Germany pavillion. It's not a place or a cuisine that I would chose myself, but Minnie, Mickey and Pa Eeyore really like it. As long as I can find some chicken on the menu I'm happy. That, and there is always beer in very large steins at Biergarten. Princess Jasmine and Cin love Biergarten for the band and that they can go and dance for awhile. It's tough to get them off the dance floor.

 

[Hedy]

That'ss be fun! I love the Figment!

 

[buffy0214]

I absolutely adore Figment. I remember when EPCOT first opened and I went with my Girl Scout troup. I so wanted a Figment plush. I really enjoyed the educational aspects of the park as well.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

It's my grandmother's old Singer. It's been sitting around collecting dust. (Lots of dust - believe me!) I'm determined to clean it up and get it working again. Much of my free time has been being spent researching restoration and cleaning methods online. I don't really even sew. Haven't since I was forced to take it back in jr. high days, but I have an urge to learn. It's such a shame they don't make things this pretty anymore.

I commend you for doing this. You're right. It is a shame that they don't make things this pretty any more. But apparently, such is the future.

One of the best moments of the trip was when everyone was standing around waiting for the re-dedication ceremony to begin and they were playing all the old Epcot attractions music. When they started playing the Universe of Energy the entire crowd started singing along and suddenly you had a few hundred people having a blast singing. Same when they played "One Little Spark" and "Listen to the Land". It was so spontaneous and heart felt by everyone there.

This sounds amazing and I so wish I could've been part of that. I love all of those songs (and more! - World of Motion theme anyone?) and love to listen to them on Live365.

 

[pajules]

Very cool as I love Figment.

Me too. I remember going to Epcot when it first opened in the 80's and I got a Figment beach towel. I know I still have it somewhere...now I'm going to have to go look for that thing.

 

[If U Had Wings]

I've been very bad at keeping up with my trip report haven't I? My apologies. This spring has been just crazy busy, even though it doesn't feel at all spring like. I can't believe it's nearly June and it's still cold out. I'm beginning to feel as if Connecticut is turning into Seattle, it's been raining continuously for days.

I've had the chance to see the princess's quite often in the past few weeks, so I've been enjoying that. It was Princess Jas's birthday recently so 2 weekends were taken up with that. One was for a party for her friends that I was suckered into assisting with the chaperoning. 10 6-7 year olds running amok at my brother's house. I was pretty much in charge of supervising the trampoline. Sadly I didn't get a chance to bounce myself.

Then we had a family outing for Princess Jas's birthday. If there is anything she loves as much as Disney, it's American Girl dolls. Ma Tink and I surprised her with a trip to NYC with tickets to the show they put on, and dinner at the cafe. Here we all are on the train.

Everyone's doll had to come. Yes, we are a family of big kids. We all have are own AG dolls. Ma Tink was actually the first to have one. She actually has 3, she got Julie and Ivy for Christmas this year. Princess Jasmine told her she loves that grandma is a big kid. ( I got my Molly for Christmas ).

Here's Princess Jas feeding her doll at the cafe. She loved the whole day, and keeps talking about it. Unfortunately for poor princess Cin, she was too young to see the show, although she did get to eat at the cafe with us. She had me laughing at dinner when she was asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, and what has she always wanted to to. Our Cin wants to be a princess and drink beer. Seriously I have no idea where she comes up with this stuff.

She wasn't too upset about missing the show though, because she got to spend some extra time at World of Disney with Pa Grumpy and daddy. They were doing a mini pirate tutorial while we were there and the girls loved it.

Our Birthday Girl

Our pirates. Princess Cin loved her balloon sword. She refused to let go of that thing the rest of the day.

More regular posting from now on, I promise!

 

[If U Had Wings]

Day 5 - Tuesday Aug. 26 - Minnie, Mickey and the princesses are going to Gatorland this morning. The rest of us are plan free! I can't remember the last time I've been to Disney with a plan free day. I'm kind of looking forward to it. Ma Di and Pa Grumpy were toying around with the idea of heading to Universal for the day, but Ma Di is now leaning towards sitting around the pool with a frozen drink. (Pa Grumpy will be sitting in the shade).

I just called this week and made a reservation for myself to to the Keys to the Kingdom tour. My parents, brother and sil all did it last year so there was no one to come along with me. I don't mind though, and as a matter of fact am looking forward to a little alone time at Disney. It will be good practice for the alone trip I hope to take one of these days. I've been dying to do a behind the scenes tour for quite awhile now.

Later that night we have a 5:30 reservation at Ohana for everyone. Mickey and Minnie showed some interest in Ohana after I made the green beans at a family dinner, so I made the reservation for all eight of us. They have yet to decide for sure though so this may change. At the very least, I'll be eating there with my parents.

Ohana was another first time reservation from my last trip. It was our third favorite. (The new choices did very well my last trip). This time I'd like to catch the water parade after dinner if possible, maybe hunt down our totems if they are still around and take pictures of the princesses with them. (Maybe one of me and Mickey with them for old times sake). I love the Poly and love any chance to go back and visit even though I can't afford it.

************************************
Day 6 - Wednesday August 27 - MGM again- The whole gang this time. We shall see if Princess Cin will take on ToT this trip. Princess Jasmine has rode it before and says she likes it going up, but not as much going down. She hasn't decieded if she is going to go on it again. Cin is the daredevil, so I'm sure if she's tall enough this trip she'll be going on. For the size of MGM I find it hard to fit everything in, so a day and a half for us is really a must. It's the show times that really throw off my plans. They never start when I want them to.

Our last ADR for the entire family is at Hollywood & Vine with the Fantasmic package at 3:30. I would rather have just made ADR's at 50's Prime Time, but Minnie and Mickey insist on the Fantasmic package. That is the entire purpose of this ADR. The food there is fine, they have the same yummy pot roast they have at 50's, I just find it a bit loud in there. I also hate that they make you make your ADR's so early just to get the package. I am used to eating my dinner at around 7pm normally. 3:30 is just way too early for me.

 

[Princesskeyblade]

Our last ADR for the entire family is at Hollywood & Vine with the Fantasmic package at 3:30. I would rather have just made ADR's at 50's Prime Time, but Minnie and Mickey insist on the Fantasmic package. That is the entire purpose of this ADR. The food there is fine, they have the same yummy pot roast they have at 50's, I just find it a bit loud in there. I also hate that they make you make your ADR's so early just to get the package. I am used to eating my dinner at around 7pm normally. 3:30 is just way too early for me.

Think of the 3:30 ADR as a chance to have a nice snack later. Our ADR for Fantasmic package is at 4:30 at the Brown Derby. When I mentioned it to the DBF, he was shocked at the early times, but then I told him the upside of being able to snack... he was a happy camper. I love 50's Prime time though.... No chance you could make an ADR for Brunch?

 

[Lady Lallie]

I want to go to AG Store! I have Kirsten from my youth, although I always wanted Molly because she had glasses like me but my bf growing up at Molly so I didn't want to "copy" her.

 

[micandminforever]

Day 5 and Day 6 sounds like fun. You will love the "Keys to the Kingdom" tour. It is the perfect thing to do alone because you are really not alone, you are with a group of people that loves Disney, and wants to know more about Disney.

I am also a big kid, I have an AG doll Felicity, my mother-in-law gave her to me about 15 years ago.

 

[willwriteforears]

Hi I haven't been able to read much of your pre-trippie yet, but I did see your intro--great writing! I hope to get all caught up before I leave for my trip--and then I'll be horribly behind again after I come back, but oh well.

 

[If U Had Wings]

Think of the 3:30 ADR as a chance to have a nice snack later. Our ADR for Fantasmic package is at 4:30 at the Brown Derby. When I mentioned it to the DBF, he was shocked at the early times, but then I told him the upside of being able to snack... he was a happy camper. I love 50's Prime time though.... No chance you could make an ADR for Brunch?

My brother was actually in charge of this ADR. (His choice of restaurant too). I'm going to try to pack my desert "to go" so I can have it later during Fantasmic. Of course that means the princesses will be eating most of it, which will probably be a good thing.

I want to go to AG Store! I have Kirsten from my youth, although I always wanted Molly because she had glasses like me but my bf growing up at Molly so I didn't want to "copy" her.

I was so torn on which one to choose. All I knew was I wanted one of the historical ones. Molly was my favorite, although if they had Julie I may have had to go with her since I was a kid in the 70's.

Day 5 and Day 6 sounds like fun. You will love the "Keys to the Kingdom" tour. It is the perfect thing to do alone because you are really not alone, you are with a group of people that loves Disney, and wants to know more about Disney.

I am also a big kid, I have an AG doll Felicity, my mother-in-law gave her to me about 15 years ago.

I can't wait for the tour. Everyone else loved it. Really when your used to living alone, a week with your family constantly is tough. I'm going to enjoy my day with new people. I could meet a Disney loving single guy on the tour, you never know.

Hi I haven't been able to read much of your pre-trippie yet, but I did see your intro--great writing! I hope to get all caught up before I leave for my trip--and then I'll be horribly behind again after I come back, but oh well.

I'm bad at posting, so I'm sure you won't end up too far behind. Have a wonderful trip!!

 

[Hedy]

I can't wait to hear about the Keys to the Kingdom tour...I loved the Yuletide fantasy tour.
Great AG pictures. I love Mordie and Ferdie, but I really hope I get a great niece who likes AG at some point in the distant future.

 

[If U Had Wings]

I can't wait to hear about the Keys to the Kingdom tour...I loved the Yuletide fantasy tour.
Great AG pictures. I love Mordie and Ferdie, but I really hope I get a great niece who likes AG at some point in the distant future.

Princess Jas was hooked from the moment she saw Ma Tink's doll. When we gave her Samantha for her 5th birthday, she told us she was so happy. She had wanted Samantha "her whole life". Our little drama queen. All 5 long years of her life, to be without a Samantha doll.

 

[Lady Lallie]

I was so torn on which one to choose. All I knew was I wanted one of the historical ones. Molly was my favorite, although if they had Julie I may have had to go with her since I was a kid in the 70's.

I'm partial to the historical ones as well. I think I would get Kit now. I love her hair!

 

[micandminforever]

I could meet a Disney loving single guy on the tour, you never know.

Sounds good.

 

[If U Had Wings]

As I have been dragging the pre-trip plans out forever it seems, I thought I'd finally buckle down to business and post the rest of our preliminary plans.

Day 7 - Thursday August 28 - Another Epcot day. Possibly me, Mickey and Minnie are going to take the Around the World on a Segway tour in the morning. I did it on my last trip and loved it. Mickey is dying to do it, but Minnie doesn't seem so sure. They are pretty much connected at the hip, so if she doesn't want to go neither will he. If they go the princesses will hang out with Ma Tink and Ma Grumpy at the POFQ pool. If they back out Ma Tink said she'd like to give the Segway a try. Pa Grumpy too, but he said at the moment he is right at the weight cut off so wouldn't be able to do it. (I reminded him that if he sticks to his diet like he says he is going to , he'll be a lot less than that by August).

Ma Tink, Pa Grumpy and me have a dinner ressie at 7:05 pm at Le Cellier. Looking forward to the soup and pretzel bread sticks already! I wasn't able to get an ADR here my last trip so I'm looking forward to eating here this time.

Day 8 - Magic Kingdom - Princess Cin and Jasmine are dining with the real Cinderella at 2:30. They are terribly excited. Though Cinderella is Cin's favorite princess she is wearing her Belle yellow dress.

It is her favorite princess dress. She has tried to tell all of us that she needs new princess shoes to go with it. She was not happy when told that she would be wearing her crocs since she has to walk around and princess shoes aren't very comfortable. She is a true stickler for keeping her princess dresses looking perfect. In the winter time, she refuses to wear a shirt underneath her dress up costumes even though it means she's usually freezing. I have a feeling she's not going to let up about shoes to match her dress. She wanted to know if I would go as Belle too to lunch, but in the blue dress to be different from her. She was quite sad that I wasn’t going to eat with them. (So was I ). Oh well one of these days I'll get to eat in the castle.

Princess Jasmine told me sadly that she no longer fits into her Jasmine costume that I had bought for her. I think Minnie and Mickey are going to get her a new one before the trip, but her back up plan is to go as Aurora.

She doesn't have the same shoe issues that her sister seems to have, but she does have hair issues. She'll go as Aurora, but won't be happy about it since her hair isn't blonde. Her hair, she told me, is perfect for Jasmine or Esmerelda. When I went to MNSSHP last year, she told me plainly that I should go as a pirate, as there is no such thing as Belle didn't have short, red hair. When she saw my fake phony tail, she relented and told me she guessed it would be okay. Aunt Belle might be a softy and get her a new Jasmine costume. (Of course this means Princess Cin will have to get something new as well.)

No ADR's for the rest of us. Another evening to just play it by ear.

Day 9 - Saturday Aug. 30 - Our final day! I'm sad already just thinking about it. Minnie, Mickey, the princesses and Pa Eeyore are leaving today for home as they want a couple of days to get the princesses ready for the new school year. For the rest of us, once again, no set in stone plans. (Notice a trend with all our free time?) Probably going to go back and hit any last rides, or stores that we want to catch in the morning before heading back to the resort for the pool. Just an easy going relaxed day. (Or as easy going and relaxed as you get at Disney).

We have our last ADR made for 9pm that night at the California Grill. Hopefully we'll get to see the fireworks. This is our only new restaurant this trip. Ma Tink picked it out, so we are all a bit anxious to trying it out. I've heard so many good things about it. It should be a nice wrap up to our trip.

Day 10 - Sunday Aug. 31 - Our flight home is at 6:30 so we may possibly go back to a park in the morning. I've never left that late before on my last day so it should be fun to get a bit more vacation in before we leave.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

She has tried to tell all of us that she needs new princess shoes to go with it. She was not happy when told that she would be wearing her crocs since she has to walk around and princess shoes aren't very comfortable.

Perhaps a little pair of yellow crocs would be in order? Sorry, it's the shoe queen in me seeing a little shoe-princess-in-training.