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

[Goofy22]

Sarah,

Bay Lake Tower Looks really cool! I don't know if I would want to stay there as a first choice either I'm with you I like the themeing! That Bridge is an awesome view though!!!

I'm thinking about some of those vinylmations on our dec trip idk though don't want to get hooked lol!

OK! Now for the Toy Story Mania Game??? I'm thinking of Getting it for DS for Christmas! How is it? He loved the Toystorymania ride at DHS and also love Buzz 's space ranger spin and he loves his video games so I'm thinking it's on the list! Was it like $49?

 

[wdwgirl03]

Sarah,

Bay Lake Tower Looks really cool! I don't know if I would want to stay there as a first choice either I'm with you I like the themeing! That Bridge is an awesome view though!!!

I'm thinking about some of those vinylmations on our dec trip idk though don't want to get hooked lol!

OK! Now for the Toy Story Mania Game??? I'm thinking of Getting it for DS for Christmas! How is it? He loved the Toystorymania ride at DHS and also love Buzz 's space ranger spin and he loves his video games so I'm thinking it's on the list! Was it like $49?

Yeah, the different themes are what makes it fun. But someday who knows, maybe I'll change my mind.

LOL! You should get a vinylmation.

I am about to post my new update which will have my review of the TSM game. It's a blast! And yes, it was something like $49.99. I bet your son would love it.

 

[wdwgirl03]

You know what I just realized...it was a month ago today that we left for Disney World. Has it really been a month?! It seems like our trip was ages ago. Anyways...a quick update to finish our first full day…hope you don't mind mostly pictures!

August 21, 2009 (part 5)

It’s not often we spend the evening at our resort but we had been wanting to see the Electrical Water Pageant, something we hadn’t done since our stays at the Polynesian. With the on-and-off rain we were hoping they’d still be able to have it. When we got back from Downtown Disney it was still kind of early so Emma and I decided to go over to the lounges in the villas.

As I mentioned earlier there were little sitting areas and a fireplace near the entrance…very cozy. Again, I have to give credit to my sister, I stole most of these pictures from her!

There were also little tables with built-in checkerboards so we decided to play checkers. I don’t know if I was tired from the day but geez, Emma pretty much kicked my butt in both games. It seemed every time I moved she’d double or triple jump me. LOL! Oh well.

After our games we took a few pictures of the entrance area. I loved all the various animal carvings. The whole atmosphere really makes you feel like you’re in some mountain lodge. Even the elevators were decorated (sorry, no pictures of those though!).

We went back to the room quickly before the water pageant. Love this random shot of the hallway.

When it got closer to 9:30 we started walking down towards the beach. We could hear all these strange noises coming from the woods and the whole time we were there we kept trying to figure out what it was. It was kind of creepy actually. I thought it might be some kind of bird or frogs—I don’t remember who it was but I made a comment about that earlier and someone said it was some type of frog. But those were some crazy noises! There were a few other people waiting on the beach, mostly families with younger kids. As we waited for the show to start I got a few more pictures.

The bike rental...

Kind of blurry but Bay Lake Tower looked pretty cool all lit up.

I was also trying to be artsy again and wrote "Sarah loves WDW" in the sand. Though you can't really tell by the picture.

And then we could see the floats coming into view, the music cued up and the show began.

Here’s a couple videos I took:

When the whale lights up, that song reminds me of one of the old sing-alongs. LOL! I think it's from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea? But they definitely had it on a sing-along!

The only thing I remembered from the Water Pageant was the dragon part so it was a lot of fun to see the show again. It’s definitely classic Disney. Not quite as elaborate as some of the other nighttime spectacles but still neat. Some people may overlook it or just not appreciate it…when it was over I heard one boy say, “We waited all that time for NOTHING?!” But it’s a cute little show and it’s only about ten minutes. If you’ve never seen it, check it out if you’re at one of the Magic Kingdom resorts!

To end our evening we walked back up to the main part of the lodge. We went in the store again and took a couple more pictures of the lobby. These turned out a little better than the ones I got at check-in but they still don’t do it justice.

Then it was off to bed to get rested up for our Magic Kingdom day!
---------
TOY STORY MANIA REVIEW!!
As promised, here’s my review of the Toy Story Mania video game. Warning: possible spoilers!

The game is for the Wii system—I’m not sure if it’s available for any other systems as of right now.

Just like in the ride, there are different types of arcade-style games: the ring toss, darts (popping balloons), egg toss, and breaking plates. Some of the games are taken directly from the ride but there are also several new ones as well, which include other shooting galleries and mini games, like skiball, pinball, and shooting baskets. We’ve found that the mini games are usually pretty easy though there are a couple that are more difficult. There is one called Jessie’s Sasparilla Slide where you have to try to toss cherries onto sodas. That one is a major arm-killer!

There are also two ways to play the games: story mode or just free play. When you do story mode, it’s most similar to the ride. You get a series of shooting games with a couple mini games thrown in between. For each game then, there are certain objectives you need to achieve in order to win the game. For example, you need to score a certain number of points or hit certain targets. For the shooting games there are five objectives and the mini games have two. In order to move on to the next game in the story you have to complete atleast two of the objectives (mini games are one out of two). If you get all five of the objectives you unlock that specific game in the free play mode. Or, as we later found out, you can redeem your tickets you’ve won from the games to “buy” them for free play. The free play mode is when you can simply choose which game you want to play without going through the whole story. Personally I like the stories better. I also like trying to get all the objectives rather than just trying to get the high score.

Oh yes, and some of the games are even in 3D! It came with two pairs of 3D glasses. While the effect isn’t quite as good as the ride it’s still pretty cool—you definitely do get some 3D effect.
So far we’re having a lot of fun with this game (and we’ve all got sore arms to prove it!). We’re still trying to figure out how to get some of the objectives..sometimes we’ll get them but have no idea how we did it. But it was worth the money and is perfect for a little WDW fix. The only thing missing are the 4D effects like the little spritzes of water and blasts of air when you hit a target! haha!

 

[Lynn5700]

Oooh great update!!!!!! BLT looks amazing!!! What a beautiful view!

 

[Beauty & the Best]

Wow! The TSM game sounds so cool! That's one of my favorite rides.

 

[Lynn5700]

I'm going to have to try WL one time.

I love the new TSM game. We played last night.

 

[Goofy22]

Wow! Looks like you had great spots on the beach for the electrical water pagent! Well it sounds awesome I guess I'm definitely putting that on his christmas list he will love it!He has a Wii, Play Station 2 , Nintendo DS, Nintendo SP, Gameboy Mini, and every other gameboy out there! And he wants an XBOX! what is wrong with this boy?

 

[brookelizabeth]

That was the end of your FIRST day??? You guys covered a lot!!!

Every time I see pictures of the WL, I can feel jealousy rise up in me because I want to stay there again! We could see the EWP from our room (normal hotel, not the Villas) and it was seriously one of my favorite things-it was so cute, and so fun to listen to the music every night. And I agree, it is something "classic Disney"! (I teared up at the patriotic part every.single.night. when we watched it on our WL trip )

 

[Vallie]

great updates! what a beautiful resort! i def wanna try and catch the water pagent next time around.

also thank u for reviewing TSM. we've been wanting to buy it but havent seen any reviews. hopefullly gunna pick it up sooN! i need my WDW fix!

 

[onelilspark]

You might be able to pay a neighborhood kid to stand there with a squirt bottle...

 

[tinkgurl]

Aw......the villas! I miss it! Thanks for those pics. We used to sit in that game room late at night and play checkers at those tables.

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

Hey Sarah, great update... Man a month has gone by already?? Wow!!! But I guess that's a good thing, b/c that means I can go on my trip!!! Woo hoo!!! We leave tomorrow!!! Be on the look out for my trip report next week!!!

 

[Angies1274]

Great Update!! Love all the pictures of the resort!! We really hope to catch the Electrical Water Pageant next time---and thank you for the review of TSM. We were very close to picking it up the other day because we are so excited to play it!! But I think we have decided to wait and get it for the boys for Christmas. Although, it's going to be really tough to wait since it sounds like so much fun!!!

 

[wdwgirl03]

Oooh great update!!!!!! BLT looks amazing!!! What a beautiful view!

Thanks!

Wow! The TSM game sounds so cool! That's one of my favorite rides.

It is a lot of fun. And it's one of my favorite rides too!

I'm going to have to try WL one time.

I love the new TSM game. We played last night.

Yeah, you definitely have to try the Wilderness Lodge. It's such a neat resort.

Wow! Looks like you had great spots on the beach for the electrical water pagent! Well it sounds awesome I guess I'm definitely putting that on his christmas list he will love it!He has a Wii, Play Station 2 , Nintendo DS, Nintendo SP, Gameboy Mini, and every other gameboy out there! And he wants an XBOX! what is wrong with this boy?

haha yeah, it wasn't too hard to get a good spot on the beach since it wasn't that crowded. Oh my, that is a lot of vidoe games!! Believe it or not the Wii is the first video game system we've ever owned.

That was the end of your FIRST day??? You guys covered a lot!!!

Every time I see pictures of the WL, I can feel jealousy rise up in me because I want to stay there again! We could see the EWP from our room (normal hotel, not the Villas) and it was seriously one of my favorite things-it was so cute, and so fun to listen to the music every night. And I agree, it is something "classic Disney"! (I teared up at the patriotic part every.single.night. when we watched it on our WL trip )

Yep, we did a lot of stuff in just that one day. Crazy!

I know what you mean, every time I read someone's TR where they stay at the Polynesian I get jealous. Don't get me wrong, we've loved every resort we've stayed at but the Poly is AWESOME. We really really want them to make DVC villas there! I think that's the only way we'd ever add on more points!

great updates! what a beautiful resort! i def wanna try and catch the water pagent next time around.

also thank u for reviewing TSM. we've been wanting to buy it but havent seen any reviews. hopefullly gunna pick it up sooN! i need my WDW fix!

I know, it's just very different than some of the other resorts. I wish I was there right now!

You're welcome!

You might be able to pay a neighborhood kid to stand there with a squirt bottle...

That is hilarious. And you know, I've got atleast a dozen kids to choose from around here...they could all rotate.

Aw......the villas! I miss it! Thanks for those pics. We used to sit in that game room late at night and play checkers at those tables.

I miss it too. Playing checkers there just seemed a lot more fun that it would be otherwise! haha

Hey Sarah, great update... Man a month has gone by already?? Wow!!! But I guess that's a good thing, b/c that means I can go on my trip!!! Woo hoo!!! We leave tomorrow!!! Be on the look out for my trip report next week!!!

Aww you leave tomorrow?! LUCKY!!! My mom is actually going on a trip soon too with my grandma and a couple of my aunts. *sigh*

Great Update!! Love all the pictures of the resort!! We really hope to catch the Electrical Water Pageant next time---and thank you for the review of TSM. We were very close to picking it up the other day because we are so excited to play it!! But I think we have decided to wait and get it for the boys for Christmas. Although, it's going to be really tough to wait since it sounds like so much fun!!!

Glad you liked all the pictures! I still wish I had gotten a few more but oh well. I think your boys will love the game. It would make a fun Christmas present!

 

[tinkgurl]

Playing checkers there just seemed a lot more fun that it would be otherwise! haha

So true!

 

[brookelizabeth]

I know what you mean, every time I read someone's TR where they stay at the Polynesian I get jealous. Don't get me wrong, we've loved every resort we've stayed at but the Poly is AWESOME. We really really want them to make DVC villas there! I think that's the only way we'd ever add on more points!

We've never stayed at the Poly, but it is both Joe and my "ideal" hotel and someday we WILL stay there! I think it was our January trip, as we were exploring the Poly for the first time and walking along the beach I turned to Joe and said, "If they ever build Villas here, we are BUYING IN!"

We strolled through this past trip too, and it's soooooo beautiful. Someday, someday!!!

 

[wdwgirl03]

So true!

Not that I don't like checkers otherwise...haha!

We've never stayed at the Poly, but it is both Joe and my "ideal" hotel and someday we WILL stay there! I think it was our January trip, as we were exploring the Poly for the first time and walking along the beach I turned to Joe and said, "If they ever build Villas here, we are BUYING IN!"

We strolled through this past trip too, and it's soooooo beautiful. Someday, someday!!!

Let's start a petition for DVC villas! Seriously, wouldn't that make a perfect resort to build Vacation Club places?!

It is an AMAZING resort. It's so peaceful too. And if we're on the monorail and stop there I always get jealous of the people getting off there. Ahh love it there sooo much!

 

[aprilisis]

I LOVE the water pageant! I miss seeing that. The Villas looks SO nice. You got some great pictures!

 

[ibedancin824]

Great Update!

I can't seem to see any 3-d effects in TSM hahaha someone said I need to get to a certain point in the game before it will do anything Any btw I am more than horrible at Jessie's Sarsaparilla toss or w.e it is!!!!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Ooo, thanks for the review on the Toy Story Mania game, it's on my list of must buys for Christmas for the kids. They'll all love it. My 10 yr old is already making sure I know that it exists.

Nice update, the water pageant looks very neat, I would like to try and see it next time. We are going to be doing the Wishes cruise and I think i heard that some people have seen it while on that cruise. I hope so.