Food, Friends, and Fun! Update x3 and COMPLETED 10/1

[Bell<3Disney]

I got up at 7:05 and draaaaaaged my feet over to the coffee pot to make some GLORIOUS VACATION COFFEE!!! I hopped in the shower while it was brewing and then made some oatmeal and drank my coffee while I finished getting ready. I woke a very sleepy Martin up and we went to meet Todd, Alison and Dylan at the elevators at 8:30.

Todd had been driving us everywhere because they had been there before and knew the way around. However this was our last day in Orlando with them so Todd had Martin drive so we could start to understand our way around. Martin took the keys and we navigated our way to……HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS!

We arrived right at opening and could tell this park was going to busier than any of the other parks so far. It could be that the park is smaller and the streets are more compact that it just seemed like that, because I don’t remember waiting in any particularly long lines, but I do remember actually needing our fastpasses for the big rides.

When we got inside the gates the boys went to get fastpasses for Rockin’ Rollercoaster and Tower of Terror. I’m going to let you in on a little secret... If you have a kid with you and you are going to use the baby swap, you can get two fastpasses for one ride and two for another. The baby swap ticket allows for two people to go through the fastpass line with it. So if Todd and Martin use fastpasses for Tower of Terror and get a baby swap, because Alison and I are waiting with Dylan, then we get to go through the fastpass line for that one too and get fastpasses for something else and do the same thing. Make sense? Does that make us cheaters??? So they got two fastpasses for ToT and two for RnRC. As Alison and I were waiting with Dylan for the boys to get back Dylan realized he had to go potty. Alison took him potty while I waited for everyone to meet back up. Once everyone was back together we headed to Toy Story Midway Mania. We wanted to get it done early, first because Dylan loves it and second because this park seemed busy and that line can get ridiculously long!

While we waited in line Alison asked Dylan if he wanted to ride with her or daddy, and he said “I wanna ride with Genee!” Awwww! ok so my case for being unbiased is getting worse and worse.

Unfortunately while we were waiting in line Dylan started to get a tummy ache so he ended up riding with either Todd or Alison. It was still fun to play with Martin even though he always wins.

When we got out of TSMM we got fastpasses for later and went to use our fastpasses for RnRC. Martin and I went first and when we went to give the cast member our fastpass tickets he saw my birthday button and let me keep them!!! That was my first perk of having the birthday button other than the MANY happy birthday wishes I got from all the cast members around the parks.

Rockin’ Roller Coaster is amazing!!!! By far my favorite ride of all the parks! It is ridiculously intense and fast and I loved that I had no idea what was going to happen because it was my first time!

When Martin got off he had a really bad headache though because it does bump you around quite a bit, and it goes so fast it is impossible to keep your head strait.

While Todd and Alison went on the ride, Dylan and I entertained ourselves by pretending to be rock stars

And making funny faces at each other…

When Todd and Alison got done Rockn and Rollin on the coaster, we made our way to the Hollywood Tower of Terror. I was excited to see how this one was different from the one here in California. The boys went first…

 

[Bell<3Disney]

Then Alison and I went but I didn’t take the camera because Martin was worried I would drop it or lose it. I kept getting frustrated that he was worried about that, I am an adult… (foreshadowing)

I really liked the tower of terror, because I didn’t know exactly what was going to happen it felt really spooky and intense.

After that we were getting hungry so we looked at the map to find somewhere quick and somewhat cheap to have lunch and decided on the ABC commentary. Martin and I shared the fish and chips. They were quite yummy and with the fries it was enough to share.

After lunch we went on the great movie ride…

I thought it was really cool how they have live actors as part of the ride too!

When we got out it was perfect timing to go find a seat for the Indiana Jones stunt show.

The show was really cool! Dylan was sitting with me and I kept asking him if it was too scary and he always said no, but he did sit very close.

I had heard soooooo much on the Dis about Starring Roles café and was really craving a napoleon, since we tried to get one the night before in Epcot but the bakery had closed, so we decided it was the perfect time for a little snack. The cupcakes were calling my name too, but Martin and I were sharing and couldn’t come to an agreement on one we both wanted more than the napoleon so we stuck with our first choice. I am really glad we did because there is nothing better than mass amounts of fresh whipped cream and flakey pastry!!! It was delicious!

When we were done with our snack we walked over to the beauty and the beast show.

Martin loved the show; I have mixed feelings about it. The actress was amazing she sounded identical to Belle from the movie! I absolutely fell in love with Gaston, he was so cute and kinda dorky but still very villain like. However they cut so much of the movie out to keep the play short enough that I felt like some important parts got skipped over. It was still cute and entertaining, and man was that girl’s voice amazing!

One of my favorite things in Disneyland is Fantasmic! we were really bummed to find out the showing for that day had been canceled for some reason. I’ve heard it’s not as good as the Disneyland Fantasmic! but I still wanted to see it and decide for myself. While we were walking back over to Rockn’ Rollercoaster this sign was there just to tease me I swear!

We did round two of RnRC this time in the very back. I loved it again but my head did get bumped around even more. When we got off Martins head hurt extremely bad, he looked it up online and I don’t remember exactly what it said but I remember that all the websites suggested he not go on it again. He was super bummed because he really liked the ride he just knew the headache was not just a regular headache he could ignore.

When we had all had our turns on Rockn Rollercoaster and then ToT we headed over to the American Idol Experience.

We walked in and got the front row and waited for the show to start. When the “pump up the crowd guy” came out to let us know how everything was going to go for the show he asked if he could use Martins seat. He was sitting in between Dylan and I. He started asking Dylan some questions like “whats your name” “how old are you” you know the usual stuff you ask a 4 year old. Then he asked if he had a girlfriend and Dylan said yes! Alison and I looked at each other like WHAT?!?! We all figured he was going to say his little friend from school that he had been talking about all week that was a girl, but when the guy asked what her name was Dylan said “Genee” THAT’S ME!!!!! OH Y WORD!!! TALK ABOUT A HEART MELTING MOMENT!!!! I seriously almost cried it was the cutest thing I have ever heard! The guy asked Dylan if his girlfriend was here with him and Dylan pointed to me, the guy gave him a high five and said “nice choice” or something like that, I don’t even remember what he said because I was still in shock from the cuteness! Ok people I get it, my case for being unbiased about Dylan being the cutest kid ever can be thrown right out the window…..I am probably more biased than his own parents at this point!

Not that anything could top that moment, but I was still excited for 50’s Prime time café. So we went to check in for our ADR.

Cousin Jen did some picture bombing…

Here is what the picture was supposed to be…

Martin and I shared the sampler plate. That way we could try a little bit of everything. It was all so good! There was more than enough food! I discovered at this meal that I LOVE collard greens! I had never had them before and they were peppery and yummy!!! Martin didn’t dare try it; he stays away from the green stuff.

When we walked out 50’s Primetime there was a woman hula hooping so Dylan and I had to give it a try.

We all had full tummies, tired feet, a few of us had headaches and the park was closing at 7 so we decided to shop our way out of Hollywood studios.

Todd and Alison had to pack up their stuff because they were flying out in the morning. We grabbed some snacks and hung out in their condo for a while, all in denial that our time together in Disneyworld was coming to an end. After a while we said goodnight and goodbye, well I did, Martin was taking them to the airport in the morning.

Since it was still early Martin dropped me off at the HUGE outlet mall down the street and he went to stock up on snacks, get gas and change for all the tolls on the way to the airport.

I shopped for a little while and then Martin picked me up and we went home to our condo, took a bath, and watched T.V. for a little while, then went to sleep. Yep you guessed it another perfect day!

Up next my birthday!!!!​

 

[Purple Opal]

Hey Genee!

It's Alison's sister. I'm so excited to have found your trip report. I haven't been on here in ages but I came today and found this! Yay! Subscribing, so I can see photos of your trip together.

 

[Bell<3Disney]

Hey Genee!

It's Alison's sister. I'm so excited to have found your trip report. I haven't been on here in ages but I came today and found this! Yay! Subscribing, so I can see photos of your trip together.

Hey Angie!!! I am so glad you happened to find it!!!!! Welcome along!!!

 

[Bell<3Disney]

Best Birthday EVER!!!
​

Do I still have any readers? Sorry it’s been so long since I have done an update!


Martin had to wake us super early to take Todd, Alison, and Dylan to the airport. When he got back he came back to bed. I got up around 9 and sat out on the balcony and enjoyed my Glorious Vacation Coffee, and watched T.V. in the living room so Martin could sleep in a little more. Then I did some laundry. I loved having a washer and dryer in our room! When Martin finally got up I got in the shower and got ready for the day. Once we were all ready we got in the car and headed for Epcot.

I really wanted to be in the Magic Kingdom on my birthday, but since the forecast said rain we figured we should do a park we had already seen a lot of in case the rain was really bad. It’s a good thing we made this decision because pretty much as soon as we walked in the gates of Epcot it started POURING!

We made a mad dash for cover and the first thing we came across was innoventions. We didn’t get a chance to check it out on our first Epcot day so it kinda worked out. We wandered around checking everything out and then we saw the rollercoaster simulator. How cool is that thing!!! You design a roller coaster to be as easy going or intense as you want, and then it loads it on a card and you take it up and get in this little simulator seat and it takes you on YOUR rollercoaster you just designed.

The best part of all is while you’re on it, on the screen, they show you the other persons face the whole time. So I could watch Martin laughing and yelling while we rode it. It was so much fun!
When we came out of Innoventions it was still raining so we went for a ride on the monorail and figured we would check out all the resorts again.
We caught a glimpse of a very wet Magic Kingdom.

We decided to get off at the contemporary and take a look around. Martin had a plan that I didn’t know about. He asked me if I could eat anywhere in Disney World where would it be. I said Cinderella’s Castle but we knew that was a looooong shot to get a ADR for that night at Cinderellas Castle, but we tried anyway. Nope no luck. So we decided to try the California Grill because we had heard how amazing the view was up there. She told us we couldn’t get a ADR for the restaurant side but if we came back right at 5 we could wait in line to get a spot in the bar area where there were tables by the windows and they served the whole menu. So we decided that would be our plan. We still hadn’t eaten lunch and we had quite a while until dinner so we went down to the Contempo Café and got a burger.

Can you tell I like pickles?
It was still pouring so we took the monorail over to the Polynesian so I could look at the art gallery. Martin and Todd had gone in it the first night but for some reason I was off doing something else and didn’t see it. So we did that, looked around at the Poly some more, then went over to the Grand Floridian and looked around and sat in the lobby enjoying the music for a bit. I looked in the crazy expensive stores and then we headed back to the Contemporary to get in line to get a spot in the bar at the California Grill. There was another couple that got there a few minutes after we did who were doing the same thing. He told us he had done it before and to follow him and he would take us to the best tables. He said if you stay long enough you can watch the fireworks right out the window. We chatted with them until the elevator operator came with his special key to take us up to the 15th floor. I am not kidding you pretty much as soon as we got to the 15th floor and could see the view the clouds parted and the sun came out. I felt like it was Gods birthday present to me.
IT WAS BEAUTIFUL!!! I cant even begin to explain how beautiful it was up there The sun was shining through the clouds and we could see the Grand Floridian out one side and the Magic Kingdom out the other.

We watched the sun go down over the Grand Floridian

And then the lights come on in the Magic Kingdom

 

[Bell<3Disney]

While we sat and enjoyed our view and took about a million pictures I ordered a couple drinks…
This one was kind of like a lemon drop but with grapefruit too I think

And this one was a creamy nutty vanilla-y concoction of goodness

After a little while we ordered a flat bread pizza to share.

We ordered the rotisserie chicken one

It was very yummy!

We sat a little longer and nibbled on bread and then just before the fireworks we ordered our dessert. I don’t remember what the description was exactly, but it was basically a variety of chocolate and coffee. So the cake was a mocha molten cake and the ice cream was kaluah white chocolate or something like that and there was a chocolate espresso sauce all over it. It was a plate full of heaven!

They also brought me a piece of the most moist chocolate cake I have ever tried with raspberry sauce for my birthday.

Since Martin isn’t a huge coffee fan and I am not a huge chocolate cake fan we switched desserts but mostly just nibbled off of both of them.

Heres how much I enjoyed mine…

Right as we finished dessert the light in the restaurant dimmed, and they played the music as the fireworks went off right out our window.

When the fireworks ended we paid and said good bye to our magical table and restaurant, thanked the people that led us to that table and suggested we stay there for the fireworks and got on the monorail to head back to Epcot. We knew we had to hurry because we wanted to make it all the way back to France to buy a souvenir picture frame we had seen the other day. There was a delay on the monorail so when we got to the gate we RAN all the way back to France. Laterally ran, I’m sure we looked like idiots but I wanted my picture frame! We got to the corner….saw them close their doors….and I stood outside the window staring at my picture frame. It was sad. We decided we would try to get it another day but knew we probably wouldn’t have a chance. We never did get to go back and get it but we ordered a different Epcot one online once we got home. So alls well that ends well right?

Since Epcot was closed we got back in our car and went over to Downtown Disney. We walked around and wandered through the shops and enjoyed the music and atmosphere in DTD.

We eventually decided we were tired and went back to our beautiful temporary home and took a bubble bath and went to bed. It was the most amazing day and absolutely the best birthday ever!

 

[Bell<3Disney]

I need comments so I know your out there Disers!

 

[Purple Opal]

Thanks for the info on California Grill. We didn't eat there last time but I really wanted to!!

Your fireworks photo is awesome. Top half of the photo is restaurant reflection and bottom half is sparkly.

what's going on with that performer at downtown disney?

 

[Motocross Tink]

Hey! I just found your TR, and it looks like fun! I'm going back now to catch up and subscribe!!!!!

 

[Bell<3Disney]

Thanks for the info on California Grill. We didn't eat there last time but I really wanted to!!

Your fireworks photo is awesome. Top half of the photo is restaurant reflection and bottom half is sparkly.

what's going on with that performer at downtown disney?

Yeah we almost skipped the California Grill, but I am SO glad we ended up doing it, we will definitely go back next time! The food was great and the atmosphere could not be beat! I wish I could remember our servers name because she was so much fun!

The performer was a statue/robot guy, he mostly stood rediculously still until you were questioning if he was a human or not, and then he would start doing robot moves. It was kinda weird but entertaining.

Hey! I just found your TR, and it looks like fun! I'm going back now to catch up and subscribe!!!!!

Yeah another reader!!!! Thanks so much for letting me know you're there!!!

 

[Motocross Tink]

Wow! Your trip looks like it has been amazing! I love the idea of the Disney air fresheners, I would buy it!! California Grill looked soooo good, i've never been there but would like to!

 

[Windsor Princesses]

Subbing I don't know how I didn't find you until now, but I am loving your TR, looks like you had a fabulous birthday.

 

[Bell<3Disney]

Wow! Your trip looks like it has been amazing! I love the idea of the Disney air fresheners, I would buy it!! California Grill looked soooo good, i've never been there but would like to!

It really was amazing. We made memories we will never forget.
Right?!?!?! They could make a million dollars just off of Disers I HIGHLY recommend trying it next time you go. It will always be MY magic place since we had such a amazing night there on our first trip.

Subbing I don't know how I didn't find you until now, but I am loving your TR, looks like you had a fabulous birthday.

Im so glad you did find me! THere for a while I kinda felt like I was typing to myself, so I am SO glad people are starting to find my TR! It looks like you aren't to far from your next trip! How exciting!!! I think we will be in Disneyland when you are in Disney World. I am super excited to see all the new construction in Disneyland California Adventure!

 

[Bell<3Disney]

Ladies and Gentleman we have an announcement…​

Beep, beep, beep, beep…..snooze!

Although I was REDICULOUSLY excited to go to the Magic Kingdom, especially
since I had to wait yet another day due to the rain on my birthday, the beds
in the Sharaton Vistana Resort just swallow you up in their comfort. Like a
big, warm, soft hug. I seriously just yawned thinking about it.

So in case you didn’t catch on yet, we overslept by a lot! We woke up at
7:45 and our plan was to leave at 8 to give ourselves plenty of time to get to
the gates and see the opening show. Also because the Magic Kingdom was
closing at like 8 or something that night. That just wasn’t going to be enough
time for me! So I wanted to spend every second in the park that I could! I
jumped up and RAN to the coffee pot to make a pot of coffee, jumped in the
shower, gulped down my Glorious Vacation Coffee, and we got in the car and
drove over to the parking lot for the magic kingdom. WE got to the parking lot
around 8:45 and Martin really wanted to take the ferry over, he knew there
would be some pretty cool views of the hotels and stuff surrounding the
Magic Kingdom. I wasn’t going to complain about getting to experience
another mode of Disney transportation, so we boarded the boat. He was right,
it was beautiful!

See the top floor that’s where the California Grill is located.

As you can see in the pictures it was still a little overcast, but it cleared up in
no time!

I heard a couple behind us trying to work up the courage up to ask someone
to take their picture for them, so I turned around and offered. I am such an
eavesdropper, I often wonder when I accidentally overhear peoples
conversations in Disney, and they are trying to figure out how to get
somewhere, or what time Fantasmic or the parade starts, if I should turn
around and answer them. It gives away that I was listening to their
conversation even though it is always on accident, but at the same time I am
sure they would like an answer to their questions…. I don’t know I probably
creep people out, but these people seemed grateful they didn’t have to ask
someone to take their picture. They kindly offered to take ours for us.

You can’t tell but I was pretty much bursting with excitement at that point!

We got off the boat and Martin practically ran through security to start taking
pictures. I got stuck for a few minutes in the bag check, but I wasn’t mad, I
was in the Magic Kingdom!!!

We were ready to “Let the Memories Begin” I LOVE LOVE LOVE that phrase. I
think it totally describes the feeling you have when you are beginning a
Disney trip. That giddy, warm, fuzzy, excited, emotional feeling you get when
you know you are about to have a blast and make memories you will have for
the rest of your life. You guys know what I’m talking about right?!?!

My first impression of Main street was how BIG it was! It looks similar to
Disneyland’s Main Street U.S.A. but all the buildings are much taller and the
paint is brighter. It’s so beautiful! Don’t get me wrong, Disneyland will always
be my favorite park for many reason, but the Magic Kingdom is just so pretty!


Martin had to take a picture of the horse for his little sister, who is in the
obsessed with horses stage. (Shes 12) So every time we see a horse in
Disney Martin has to take a picture to show her when we get home.

We stopped to take a few photopass pictures

And then I saw it….One of the prettiest sights I have ever seen in my
life….Cinderella’s Castle!!

Ahhhhh its so pretty!!!!!


We were super excited to compare all the rides they have in both the Magic
Kingdom and Disneyland so we made our way over to Tomorrowland to ride
Space Mountain.

We are kind of in love with Disney topiaries. Disneyland usually doesn’t have
them, but we had seen them in shows on the travel channel and other
people’s pictures. Someday we will have one in our yard!!! We were super
excited to come across this adorable sight!

We stopped to take a few pictures

We found Space Mountain, the standby wait was about 45 minutes so we got
fastpasses for later and went on the People Mover.

So fun! I wish Disneyland still had it.

When we got off the People Mover we saw that the standby for Space
Mountain had gone down to only 25 minutes. So we hopped in line, and went
to explore space. OH MY WORD!!! Is all I kept saying the whole time we were
on this ride. First of all the line was super fun, I love how they have the little
astro blasters game you can play while you’re waiting in line. However the
ride….its super fun but your head is so close to whatever is above you the
whole time! I had the front, and thought for sure I was going to be
decapitated if I didn’t duck the whole time! I can’t imagine if I was even taller.
Like how would a NBA player ride on that?!?!? I know they have a height
requirement, but it seems like they should have a height limit too! It’s a very
different ride from the Space Mountain in Disneyland. Disneylands is more of a
rollercoaster and it is completely in the dark, except for the stars you can
barely see as you zoom by. They are both super fun though!

Can you tell I am all tense thinking I am going to lose my head hahaha

When we narrowly survived space mountain, we went back to the castle to

take in its beauty again. Heres me doing my happy dance…

And some more of the beauty…

So intricate and just perfect!

After we got our fill of the beautiful castle, we went through to Fantasyland.

Just like on main street, I loved how big and bright it was!

We looked around and ended up at Mickeys Philharmagic.

We LOVED Mickeys Philharmagic! Its one of those things you will absolutely
adore if you have a Disney heart as I like to call it. It has all the classic
characters and is just cute and entertaining. They have some really cool 3D
affects too! It was our favorite thing of the whole park.

After Mickeys Philharmagic I really wanted to go do Winnie the Pooh and see
the new interactive line that I had read so much about here on the Dis. We got in line and I looked around and played with everything. Yeah it was me and the 4 year old playing but oh well, everyone is a kid in Disney right?!?

Then the ride was having some difficulties and the wait kept getting longer
and longer. I figured the ride itself was just like Disneyland’s version so I
mostly just wanted to see the cool stuff in line. So we decided to hop out of
line and come back to do the ride later.

 

[Bell<3Disney]

We walked around the back half of Fantasyland and headed toward The
Haunted Mansion, another ride I was super excited about because I had read
so much about the new line.

It looks so different on the outside from Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion!

I was very pleased to see you could skip the new longer line if you didn’t want to play with all the stuff, but of course I wanted to see what was behind that gate!

Do I look scared?

I had a blast like the Disney Dork I am!

Look at the creepy shadow on the tombstone!

This was one busy guy!

The ride inside is very similar to Disneyland’s and equally as fun!

Next we went over to Liberty square. I kinda love stuff like this. One of my
favorite things in Disneyland is Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. I have always
been fascinated by Abraham Lincoln, when I learned that Lincoln was also
Walt Disney’s hero, it just made me love both men even more! Anyway back
on topic.

After Hall of Presidents we went to an attraction Disneyland no longer has.

Right when we were walking around to Adventureland we heard them make an
announcement over the speakers…. Ladies and Gentleman we are pleased to
announce that the Magic Kingdom park with stay open to everyone for an
extra hour!!! How cool is that?!?! Talk about pixie dust. I had been feeling like our short precious time in the Magic Kingdom just wasn’t going to be enough!

Since we were right next to it when we stopped to listen to the
announcement and we no longer felt like we had to rush, we stopped and
watched people fall down into the briar patch for a few minutes.

Then we entered Adventureland and went to meet some pirates.

Again the line for Pirates in Disneyworld is so much fun! There is so much more
to look at while you wait. However the ride itself in Disneyland is WAY better!


We wandered around the corner, I was of course on the lookout for Aladdin
because well... do I really need to explain why…?


As I was walking I noticed the huge camel and the puddle on the ground but before I
could put two and two together I got hit! Yep I was one of those people, who
saw the puddle and was still surprised when I got sprayed by the camel.

Then we really wanted to do the Swiss Family Robinson Tree House because
in Disneyland it is now the Tarzan tree house which is super cute, but we
remember the tree house from when we were kids as the SFR. It is huge and
so pretty!

After all the climbing up and down the tree house we were quite hungry so we
went in search of lunch.

Next update…where did we decide on for lunch?

 

[Motocross Tink]

I love Philharmagic and the new interactive lines! They are so cool! Sounds like you had a great time even though you woke up a bit late!

 

[Windsor Princesses]

Im so glad you did find me! THere for a while I kinda felt like I was typing to myself, so I am SO glad people are starting to find my TR! It looks like you aren't to far from your next trip! How exciting!!! I think we will be in Disneyland when you are in Disney World. I am super excited to see all the new construction in Disneyland California Adventure!

Oh I am excited for you, we have never been there but we saw the new cars land on Ellen when Sophia Grace and Rosie were one and it looks fabulous . Take lots of pics, we'll live vicariously through you until we get out to CA.

 

[jburgi2505]

The pictures are wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing.

 

[Bell<3Disney]

Oh I am excited for you, we have never been there but we saw the new cars land on Ellen when Sophia Grace and Rosie were one and it looks fabulous . Take lots of pics, we'll live vicariously through you until we get out to CA.

I will definitely take lots of pictures, and do a TR over on the Disneyland side of the Dis!

The pictures are wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing.

Thanks so much for sharing my story with me by reading along and commenting!!

 

[heaven2dc]

I have been sitting here for over an hour catching up on your trip report and am having a blast! I love how Dylan said you were his girlfriend - how cute! and I love the view you had of the fireworks at the Contemporary. What a great way to celebrate your birthday dinner