Fun, Sun, and Mickey Mouse! An August 2009 TR...new 11/19 p. 34

[wdwgirl03]

Hope you had a good Halloween Sarah

I think I want to try those KP missions when we're there at the end of the month! They sound pretty cool and its another way to explore the WS. So sad about your last day though

Thanks Kristen.

AHHHH, the end of the month, that is crazy how fast your trip is coming up! I'm sure you guys would like the KP missions and it really is interesting to explore the countries.

 

[Goofy22]

OMG! I can't believe you are on your last day! We did Character Spot also it was pretty neat and the line moved fairly quickly. Soarin is one of the rides that we always do and never gets old! That Kim Possible sounds really cool! I think we are going to have to try it this time since we wont be in any rush since on our upcoming trip DFIL purchased our tickets as a surprise and he got use a 4 day Magic you way ticket. So we are doing 1 park each day I have never had this type of ticket so anyone with any info please share! I know I can only goto one park a day but I can come and go as I please for the day from that park right? Because we are not doing Free dining as we rented ponts for AKV Kindani Village so we are basically eating in our room except the night we do Teppan Edo! Also Sarah I posted the pics of the Safari GG pin and the illuminations GG pin on my TR ! I'm getting ready to do part of Sept 1st there is just to much to do all of it though.

 

[wdwgirl03]

OMG! I can't believe you are on your last day! We did Character Spot also it was pretty neat and the line moved fairly quickly. Soarin is one of the rides that we always do and never gets old! That Kim Possible sounds really cool! I think we are going to have to try it this time since we wont be in any rush since on our upcoming trip DFIL purchased our tickets as a surprise and he got use a 4 day Magic you way ticket. So we are doing 1 park each day I have never had this type of ticket so anyone with any info please share! I know I can only goto one park a day but I can come and go as I please for the day from that park right? Because we are not doing Free dining as we rented ponts for AKV Kindani Village so we are basically eating in our room except the night we do Teppan Edo! Also Sarah I posted the pics of the Safari GG pin and the illuminations GG pin on my TR ! I'm getting ready to do part of Sept 1st there is just to much to do all of it though.

I know, I can't believe it either. But it's about time I finish this TR. It's taken forever.

We've always had park hoppers so I'm not sure what it's like doing one park a day. We like to have a break in the middle of the day to just relax a bit. One of my friends was planning on just doing the MYW tickets but I convinced her to get the park hoppers instead.

Going over to your TR now...

 

[RachelNinja]

I spent the last 3 days reading your TR! And now I'm bummed that it's almost over. It would get me all excited to work on lesson plans or to grade papers because I'd finish one assignment and then read an installment! Haha, it was my reward system. I'm happy to know that I can still follow your PTR even after this is over!

The Kim Possible missions sound really fun! I can't wait to try that out! I know my younger bro will enjoy it too because he doesn't like World Showcase (not that I blame him since he's only 11!).

So now I'm left to anticipate your next installment but also dread the end ... I hate that feeling!

 

[klacey1]

I'm subscribing so I can read later! I want to be able to fully devote my time!
We stayed the same exact dates as you guys--Aug 20-25!! DBF thought that was the perfect amount of time, but honestly, I'd love to squeeze in one more night. Neither of us have been to Animal Kingdom yet, but we didn't want to waste half a day there when we only had 4 full days. With 5 full days, I'd feel more comfortable!
Can't wait to read the report and maybe see if DBF and I are lurking in any pictures!! Haha

 

[brookelizabeth]

Oooh yeah, those New Year's crowds can be crazy! We were there on NYE in '07 and some of the waits were over 200 minutes...

ugh. I am NOT looking forward to that. Our current strategy is Morning EMH, break, evening EMH. No parks on NYE. I hope it works well!

I think I do recall reading there are several missions for each country, which is nice because you can do it all more than once.

 

[wdwgirl03]

I spent the last 3 days reading your TR! And now I'm bummed that it's almost over. It would get me all excited to work on lesson plans or to grade papers because I'd finish one assignment and then read an installment! Haha, it was my reward system. I'm happy to know that I can still follow your PTR even after this is over!

The Kim Possible missions sound really fun! I can't wait to try that out! I know my younger bro will enjoy it too because he doesn't like World Showcase (not that I blame him since he's only 11!).

So now I'm left to anticipate your next installment but also dread the end ... I hate that feeling!

Aww, thanks for reading! I'm bummed it's almost over too but like you said, atleast now I have my PTR to work on.

I'm sure your brother would love the KP missions. All the kids seemed to be having a blast!

I'm subscribing so I can read later! I want to be able to fully devote my time!
We stayed the same exact dates as you guys--Aug 20-25!! DBF thought that was the perfect amount of time, but honestly, I'd love to squeeze in one more night. Neither of us have been to Animal Kingdom yet, but we didn't want to waste half a day there when we only had 4 full days. With 5 full days, I'd feel more comfortable!
Can't wait to read the report and maybe see if DBF and I are lurking in any pictures!! Haha

Welcome! That's funny you were there the same time as us! I agree, one more night would've been nice...luckily that's what we're doing when we go again in April. I know to some people 5 days isn't a lot but since most of our trips lately have been on the shorter side this one seems like it'll be so long!

That would be so crazy if you found yourself in some of my pictures!

ugh. I am NOT looking forward to that. Our current strategy is Morning EMH, break, evening EMH. No parks on NYE. I hope it works well!

I think I do recall reading there are several missions for each country, which is nice because you can do it all more than once.

Sounds like a good plan. We always did morning EMH and we were always able to do what we wanted. Can't comment on the evening EMH though. I think no parks on NYE is a good idea too. On a couple different trips we were in the parks in the morning/early evening but left by 9:00 or so. They just got to be so crowded.

 

[Angies1274]

We always miss so much when we are in the WS. The last couple visits the boys just haven't been very interested. But, I'm hoping with the KP missions, that will change! We ran out of time in August but it's on the very top of our must-do list for next trip!

So sad having to say good-bye to Epcot. But.....I'm sure you are so excited to be heading back very soon!! Which reminds me....I've been meaning to head over to your PTR. I must do that today!!

 

[wisblue]

DFIL purchased our tickets as a surprise and he got use a 4 day Magic you way ticket. So we are doing 1 park each day I have never had this type of ticket so anyone with any info please share! I know I can only goto one park a day but I can come and go as I please for the day from that park right?

Wow, a 4 day park ticket is a wonderful and generous gift.

All of the Disney park tickets are "Magic Your Way" tickets. If you have the 4 day base ticket without a park hopper option you can go to one park each day, but you can leave that park and re-enter the same park later that day. That's perfect for spending one day in each of the parks.

We always get 10 day passes with both the park hopper and the "no expiration" option because we like to visit more than one park each day (usually one at rope drop and a different one in the late afternoon or evening after a pool break) . Because we make regular trips to WDW, the "no expiration" option lowers our per day cost. Without that option you have to use all of the days on your ticket within 14 days of the day you first use it.

 

[wdwgirl03]

We always miss so much when we are in the WS. The last couple visits the boys just haven't been very interested. But, I'm hoping with the KP missions, that will change! We ran out of time in August but it's on the very top of our must-do list for next trip!

So sad having to say good-bye to Epcot. But.....I'm sure you are so excited to be heading back very soon!! Which reminds me....I've been meaning to head over to your PTR. I must do that today!!

Do your boys have one of the WS passports? That's another thing that makes visiting the countries more interesting. Even though my sister and I got ours pretty recently, it was cool having each of the CMs stamp/write something in their native language in our passports.

Yes, I can't wait for April!

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

Hi Sarah!

Finally all caught up now! The KP missions sound really good fun, I think they're a great way to properly check out the pavilions in WS! I think we'll be doing quite a few missions ourselves next year! LOL!

Your last full day! Always so sad!

Di x

 

[AlohaPolynesian]

Yes I said Bucks as in Buckeyes! How are you a Wolverine fan in WI?! Anyways, your Kim Possible missions look like fun. I'll have to convince my mom to do one when we go!

 

[wdwgirl03]

Hi Sarah!

Finally all caught up now! The KP missions sound really good fun, I think they're a great way to properly check out the pavilions in WS! I think we'll be doing quite a few missions ourselves next year! LOL!

Your last full day! Always so sad!

Di x

Hey Diane, haven't seen you in a while! How are you?

The last day is the worst.

Yes I said Bucks as in Buckeyes! How are you a Wolverine fan in WI?! Anyways, your Kim Possible missions look like fun. I'll have to convince my mom to do one when we go!

haha, well, my dad went to Michigan for law school so he kind of turned me and my sisters into Wolverine fans. It's a little bit interesting with the rest of our family being Badger fans...

Hopefully you can convince your mom to do one of the missions. Like I said, they really don't take all that long.

 

[joy13]

All caught up now! Those Kim Possible missions look fun! We should have tried one!

 

[wdwgirl03]

All caught up now! Those Kim Possible missions look fun! We should have tried one!

Welcome back! How was your trip?! Can't wait to read your TR.

 

[joy13]

Welcome back! How was your trip?! Can't wait to read your TR.

I know, I need to get cracking!

 

[wdwgirl03]

I know, I need to get cracking!

haha, so do I, I need to get mine finished!

 

[Beauty & the Best]

I finally got caught up on your TR!

Sounds like the trip was really fun....I want to know how you're going to fit in MK and DHS in 1/2 of the day!

Also, that chocolate cake at AK, I know the one you mean and it is delicious! I remember thinking that any dessert that comes from a plastic container like that can't be good, but it is so chocolately and yummy!

Can't wait to hear the rest

 

[wdwgirl03]

Well, I think it's about time I go ahead and finish this TR.

August 24, 2009 (part 4)

After a short break we decided to head out to the parks one last time. This was the night I had planned for a DIS meet over at Hollywood Studios but we decided to visit the Magic Kingdom first.

When we got to the park we made our way over to the attractions board to see what the wait times were like. We were hoping to get to take one last ride on some of our favorites. In general I don't think the waits were all that bad but Splash and Thunder Mountain were both around 50 minutes. So our first stop was Fantasyland (I think...I'm probably remembering this all out of order now). Dad wanted to see Philharmagic so we went there. The next show was just about ready to start so we had pretty good timing. Funny story from Philharmagic: During the Little Mermaid part, the lady behind us shouts out "NEMO!!!" I think somebody she was with must've finally told her it was Flounder and she was like "Oh, I thought it was Nemo." As usual it was a great show but it kind of made me sad because I knew we were getting closer and closer to the end of the day (meaning it was almost time to go home )

After Philharmagic we decided to head over to Frontierland to see if the waits were really that bad. On the way over there I heard another interesting thing. I'm giving this person benefit of the doubt that maybe I just missed part of the conversation but as we were walking over the bridge near the Rivers of America, this boy in front of us was asking his dad if that was where you could swim with the sharks. WHAT?! Swim with the sharks?! Like I said, maybe I didn't hear everything these guys were talking about but Dad and I were so confused. Anyways...as we were continuing on our way we noticed that Splash Mountain was down so we couldn't have done that if we wanted to. Instead we went to grab some fastpasses for Thunder Mountain. We could do that as one of our last rides.

So from Frontierland we took the train over to Toontown and then walked over to Tomorrowland. I was getting kind of hungry and wanted to eat something before going over to DHS. I remembered reading in Lady Lallie's last trip report that she had gotten one of the cream cheese pretzels in Tomorrowland so I decided to try one for myself. Mmmmm, it was really good! Warm, soft, kinda sweet...definitely different. After finishing my snack Dad suggested we go see the Carousel of Progress, something we haven't done in years. Plus it wasn't very crowded at all.

It actually was a pretty neat show and it's cool knowing that it's one of the attractions that Walt Disney designed. Oh yes, and then there's that catchy theme song too..."There's a great big beautiful tomorrow...shining at the end of every day!"

After COP we made our way back to Frontierland to use our Fastpasses for BTMRR.

That turned out to be my last ride at the Magic Kingdom and it didn't disappoint. One of my favorites. Since it was a little after 7:00 when we got off I decided it was time to say good bye to the MK and start heading over to Hollywood Studios. I always hate walking out of the MK for the last time on a trip. It's so depressing and this is going to sound really stupid/pathetic but I kind of almost get a knot in my stomach. Ugggghhh I hate that feeling! I'm getting kind of depressed just thinking about that...

Sorry I don't have very many pictures in this post. Dad and Emma ended up staying at the MK for a while so I'll leave you with some of the pics that Emma took:

cont'd in next post...

 

[wdwgirl03]

While Dad and Emma stayed at the Magic Kingdom, I was looking forward to my first DIS meet! Before our trips, Kirsten (WDWRocksMySocks), Colleen (Goofy22), and I had planned to meet up for Evening EMH at Hollywood Studios. I decided the easiest way to get there would be to walk over to the Contemporary and take the bus from there. I had never taken the walkway from the MK to the Contemporary before but it was a nice walk. I couldn't resist taking this picture of the main tower:

Pretty much as soon as I got to the Contemporary a bus for Hollywood Studios showed up. Nice! I'd have plenty of time to get to the Studios before 8:00 which was when we planned to meet.

When I got to DHS I had a little trouble getting into the park. My stupid ticket wouldn't read and then I think the CM was getting mad at me. Like it was my fault! I tried putting my card in every way I could think of. She finally decided to let me in.

Since it was a little before 8:00 I walked toward the American Idol Experience because I knew the finale would be going on. They have the big screen outside the theater and there were actually pretty many people standing out there watching.

They were down to the final two contestants and were about to announce the winner. It ended up being the girl. I was kind of bummed it was already over but oh well. I decided to head back towards the attraction board and just hang out there. I waited until 8:15 or so but didn't see Colleen or Kirsten. I kind of figured they must've gotten hung up on a ride or something...I knew Colleen and her family were having dinner at Downtown Disney too.

So I decided to head into some of the shops for a bit and got a Powerade. Even though it was getting dark it was still pretty humid out! I also got this pretty cool shot of the Tower of Terror. Love how it's all lit up!

I took my drink back over to the attractions board and just sort of people-watched. Again I was feeling kind of sad seeing all the families having fun, and then there was me who was going home the next day. Sigh. I decided to wait a few more minutes to see if I could meet up but sadly it didn't work out. Colleen, I think you said in your TR you ended up not getting over to DHS and Kirsten, we must've just missed each other! So bummed I couldn't meet you ladies. Hopefully on a future trip!

Since I needed to pack up, I decided to get the bus back to the Wilderness Lodge. One last picture of the Sorcerer's Hat...Good-bye, Hollywood Studios!

(I love how you can see the moon right above the hat in this one!)

up next: departure day