Family, Friends, & Celebrities- A MAGICAL Birthday TR!!! *UPDATE*8/27! Final thoughts

[tinkgurl]

Okay, I'm glad to see the clock was working! We didn't get to see it go off while we were in line.

 

[nessz79]

Enjoying your trip report! Quite some crowds you had!

 

[xoktenox]

Thats so cute Juliana had to always be in something pink...sounds like me! I'm totally a pink girl

You guys got a good amount of Fantasyland rides done in 2 hrs considering those crowds!

I hope you finally got to meet up with Barry

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Juliana loves the teacups. I get it started and she does the rest. It doesn't matter how fast she spins them- it is never fast enough for her. LOLOL

Madison is a little thrill junkie too. Nothing is ever fast enough.

The kids really enjoyed the ride. They asked if we could ride it again. Like any good parent would say- 'we would try to ride it again later'

Parent's handbook, page 3 paragraph 2 subsection II. "Maybe later" = "Not going to happen." Excellent use of the handbook.

Yes.. that is a 30 minute wait. There were CMs setting up ropes in the walkway. Which was making a huge traffic jam.

It was crazy down there, especially with the construction around Peter Pan making the walkway even narrower.

 

[All7OfUs]

30 minutes is insane for IaSW- Fun, but never that fun! The HM leaves on a vine were some I spotted too last trip. Isn't it fun to actually spy them?!


Was Juliana eating something red just before the pic in the line at IaSW?? Looks like some cherry KoolAid action there.


Glad you wore white to balance out the color spectrum there.

 

[that's nice]

Funny how the girls' pics are so much more colorful than the boys'.

I know.. we were looking pretty plain next to them!!

A mouse pops up? This must be at MK only. I've never heard of anything like it at DL.

He pops out from the kettle in the middle of the ride about every 30 secs or so.

We had a long wait for IASW last year but I had to get the kids on there. Classic ride!

It is a great ride.. how long was your wait? I hope it wasn't 30 minutes!

nice up date tim... she blends in on the tea cups all in pink. i have good news for you!! our dd is 17 and she still loves the tea cups and yes, dw wont go so ive been riding that ride with her for almost 15 years. its a small world will start fading out when she hits 12-13. we still go on it but its one of those thing we only do because we feel we have to.

Juliana was more adventurous this time. She surprised me with some of the rides she went on... one will be in the next update.

I think the teacups are for people of all ages! (if they are able to handle them)

At least you still do small world and she doesn't refuse it! LOL I know some people can't stand that ride but every time I go on it I watch Juliana as much as I watch the rooms- I love seeing her eyes light up!

Good thing Daddy is secure in his manhood and can handle all of the pink. I don't think I can take anymore reports of the tea cups! First Glenn, then you. I'm not feelin' too well. I don't go on those kinds of rides. In fact, in three trips, no one in our family has ever done that ride.

I can take the girls pink- I just don't wear it myself! (I do have a pink tie though)

The good thing about the teacups is you can pin them as fast, or as slow, or not at all. It is still a classic ride.

Hope you get to meet up with Barry!

Me too!!!!!!!

 

[that's nice]

This is such a great pic of Mel and Juliana!

Thanks!! I like that one too!

Very cute photo-shoot! lol

I wonder if the people in line were getting sick of us snapping away?

Great Daddy/daughter pic!

Thank you!

How sweet of that CM to give Juliana "Cindy's" ring!

It was very nice of him... too bad we didn't see her.

Sounds like a pretty good day so far! I can't believe the crowds! Craziness!

I couldn't believe them either.

Okay, I'm glad to see the clock was working! We didn't get to see it go off while we were in line.

It was working!! Not seeing it go off is sometimes a good thing! That means you didn't wait for more than 15 minutes!!!

Enjoying your trip report! Quite some crowds you had!

It was very busy but we fought through the crowds! We still had a great day!

 

[that's nice]

Thats so cute Juliana had to always be in something pink...sounds like me! I'm totally a pink girl

She is a girly girl! I blame her mother!!!!

So your saying I have many more years of pink to go???

You guys got a good amount of Fantasyland rides done in 2 hrs considering those crowds!

We didn't do too bad. We were trying to hit as many as possible!!

I hope you finally got to meet up with Barry

Possibly!

Madison is a little thrill junkie too. Nothing is ever fast enough.

We gotta get the girls on a ride together someday.

Parent's handbook, page 3 paragraph 2 subsection II. "Maybe later" = "Not going to happen." Excellent use of the handbook.

I knew I read that somewhere before! Or was it used on me when I was a kid???!!!????

It was crazy down there, especially with the construction around Peter Pan making the walkway even narrower.

Oh yea.. you can see the construction in one of my pics.. that didn't help.

30 minutes is insane for IaSW- Fun, but never that fun! The HM leaves on a vine were some I spotted too last trip. Isn't it fun to actually spy them?!

I'm glad I had that HM book! It helped out! The back of the koala bears heads are supposed to look like Mickey heads too- I couldn't get a good pic of them.

Was Juliana eating something red just before the pic in the line at IaSW?? Looks like some cherry KoolAid action there.

LOL She had a red ring pop.

Glad you wore white to balance out the color spectrum there.

HAHA EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!

 

[tinkgurl]

It was working!! Not seeing it go off is sometimes a good thing! That means you didn't wait for more than 15 minutes!!!

Haha, true!

 

[yinyanggirls]

He pops out from the kettle in the middle of the ride about every 30 secs or so.

Cool! That is definitely NOT at DL. It will be fun to see if the girls notice him.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

You were willing to wait 20 minutes for IASW?? Wow, you are truly a dedicated father. That's like camping out overnight at the IRS building so you can get audited in the morning.

 

[that's nice]

You were willing to wait 20 minutes for IASW?? Wow, you are truly a dedicated father. That's like camping out overnight at the IRS building so you can get audited in the morning.

Small world is a family favorite!

That analogy is HILL AIR REE US!!!!!!!!!

 

[that's nice]

1) Our first trip to WDW was in March 2008. We went with friends of ours and their two kids 3 & 1 at the time. It was the week before Juliana's 2nd birthday. I bought the Fodor's Walt Disney World with Kids 2008 book. I can remember as I was reading the book there was many moments of 'Huh?', 'What are they talking about?', 'I can't believe there is so much to read about', 'I think I need to re-read that!' For someone who has never been to Disney, the book was a little overwhelming. Once we got there and I could see with my own eyes the scope of Disney and started to understand why you need ADRs & FPs, a general understanding of the park layout and how Disney was run. On the plane home I remember re-reading the book and it all made sense. I can totally see how people can be turned off or not have a 'magical' time at Disney.



2) Going on any trip will be different with your kids- especially when the kids are 2-4 years old. Disney is no exception. There is no staying in the parks till 1am, drinking around the world (OK maybe 1/2 of it though), going to see Yee Haw Bob, or eating at Cali Grill. I can accept that. I'm sure our tastes and touring will change as the kids get older. The thing that was great about this trip was our kids are so close in age that their likes and dislikes were basically the same. In planning for this trip I wanted our friends to have the best Disney experience. While Branda had been to Disney before, the last time she was there was over 15 years ago... (when she was a teenager). Obviously, her tastes would be different this time as well as the parks being different as well. We also had to incorporate non-girly fun for Alex too. Thinking back to the planning stage, I can see they had no idea what was in store for them.



3) When it is just Melody, Juliana, and I touring, we don't have a set plan. We have an idea of what we want to accomplish and even that is subject to change depending on weather, crowds, or how we feel at that moment. I will say our touring style is more of a relaxed-commando type.. we get to the park semi-early and usually stay until it closes or 9ish.. which ever comes first. I felt that our friends would fit our style well. My thinking was to hit all the major kid rides and fit in some adult park fun too. If they had any suggestions I would listen to them and give any advice or tips that I knew. One good thing was we did have 2 days in MK which was a good idea because I knew 1 day wasn't enough... to be honest 2 days isn't enough time to see everything either!



4) I really wanted our friends to experience the best of what Disney had to offer. But more importantly, I wanted their kids to have the trip of a lifetime (even with them only being 2 & 3). I don't think these expectations were too high. I knew I could deliver and Disney would too.




Up next.. the rest of our day at the MK & a MAJOR celebrity!

 

[tinkgurl]

I can totally understand how overwhelming WDW can be for first timers. But, thanks to the DIS and other boards, first timers can be a little more prepared!

I am so excited to take the little guy. It is interesting planning things around his age. Haven't had to do that in a long time.

A major celebrity?! Is it Mickey Mouse?!

 

[that's nice]

I can totally understand how overwhelming WDW can be for first timers. But, thanks to the DIS and other boards, first timers can be a little more prepared!

Wow you are fast!!

I didn't find the DIS till after our 1st trip. Don't get me wrong we did have a great first trip, but I could of been a little more knowledgeable.

I am so excited to take the little guy. It is interesting planning things around his age. Haven't had to do that in a long time.

I'm sure he will have the time of his life!!!!!

A major celebrity?! Is it Mickey Mouse?!

This celebrity makes Mickey look like Bob Goldthwait standing next to Matt Damon!

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Tim -
Thanks for the write up. It really gives me something to think about for our Dec trip. This will be their first time to Disney, and with her being a single parent, it could be their last for quite a while. We want to give them the best experience we can. She's basically said we can plan anything and everything we want and they'll just be happy to go along. A blank slate comes with a lot of pressure! On top of that, she has a son, so there's that dynamic too.

Up next.. the rest of our day at the MK & a MAJOR celebrity!

When you first said this, I thought it might be me!

This celebrity makes Mickey look like Bob Goldthwait standing next to Matt Damon!

And then when you said this, I knew it was!

 

[disney<333]

Cool hidden Mickeys on IASW. I can never find them, I'll probably get the book for the next trip.
Wow, it sure was crowded!! GREAT photopass pictures! I can tell Juliana sure likes her pink. Did you get a pink car on Pooh too? You guys weren't doing too bad for getting things done. The kids are such cuties!!

 

[onelilspark]

My parents have always said that Disney is a great location when you have kids because every year you go back, the kids grow up and have new interests. They said it was like a new trip/experience every year. Then when I turned 21 my Mom and I got margaritas in Mexico and she let out with, "THIS is how you do Disney!"

 

[hesedshi]

How lovely the little girls and how wonderful the pictures you guys take.

 

[burly]

hmnmnmn wonder who it is.....