Guilting my sister back to the World

[tarak]

Finally catching up here. Life just been crazy busy. I've had a wedding (my daughter's), a new kitchen fitted (love it but OMG no idea where anything is anymore LOL), a funeral (my uncle) and my mum's Alzheimer's has progressed rapidly since July and at the minute we are searching for suitable respite care until we figure out what next! So yeah busy but settling down and glad to get caught up and hear you're having fun

Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry things are so crazy for you right now. I'm very sorry about your uncle and mom. Alzheimer's is such an ugly, ugly disease.

I've been back home for a week now, so I have a lot to catch up on. I'm better at this when I post a little each day. But since I have a second trip to plan, I can still call this a PTR, right?

Pooh went down about three seconds after I made our FP. I actually love getting that email telling me I can use my FP for anything. Well, unless it's the mine train, because I know that's what we'll use it for. And so will everyone other person who got that email. So with our "almost anywhere" FP, we headed straight for Peter Pan. I like the ride, but really can't understand why it draws such a long standby line. Aria loved it. We also rode the carousel a few times. Aria was put out when she didn't get a pink horse (someone else got there right before I did). I will never be that person who asks someone to turn over the pink horse for my toddler, so I just spent the ride trying to convince her that the horse was more pink than purple. She didn't buy it for a second.

My sister and niece arrived about five, so we got them settled, had some appetizers at the lounge, then headed right back to the Magic Kingdom. Amara had a great time hanging out with her cousin. I can't recall what they rode, but Amara was so excited to have someone to ride the coasters with. We went on the Little Mermaid again. It was a record for me riding that one - at least six times. It grew on me. Or maybe I just convinced myself it wasn't as bad as I thought the first time around.

 

[Li Li]

Sorry, off topic...but I wanted to let you know we tried the new Indian restaurant in Hershey. We went for the buffet last Sunday. We really liked it. Fairly standard fare for Indian buffet but all very tasty. We're looking forward to trying some stuff off the menu especially since they will deliver in town!!

 

[tarak]

Sorry, off topic...but I wanted to let you know we tried the new Indian restaurant in Hershey. We went for the buffet last Sunday. We really liked it. Fairly standard fare for Indian buffet but all very tasty. We're looking forward to trying some stuff off the menu especially since they will deliver in town!!

Not off topic at all. That's good to know. And I am so jealous you can get delivery! I remember visiting a friend in Boston and being blown away that he could get sushi delivered to his apartment. This side of the Susquehanna, it's pretty much Chinese or pizza.

 

[tarak]

So it's been over a month since I updated this sucker. And I think I have to just admit to myself that I probably won't finish out the TR the way I'd hoped to because I just can't remember everything.

Our first full day with the whole party was spent at MK. The crowds were about what I remembered from the previous summer. Not terrible at all. It was definitely hot and much more humid than the prior year. My sister and I took Aria to ETWB while Amara rode Space Mountain with her cousin. Aria was picked to be the pepper shaker (I think - my memory has been blurred by the first six weeks of back-to-school). She enjoyed it and had fun talking to Belle afterwards. But I think we're good with ETWB. It's not really an attraction that holds up to repeat visits.

The highlight of the day? Carousel of Progress. I love this attraction. It's silly and cheesy, but it's a must-do for me. Aria whole-heartedly agreed. The other three members of my party? Honestly, the look on my niece's face every time the stage rotated was priceless. She wasn't sure it would ever end. I'm still not sure I've been forgiven. My husband's comment to that was, "You shouldn't be." Poor COP. It really is a great big beautiful tomorrow, right?

We headed back to the resort around five or so to get something at the lounge. We ended up having a small meal at the Territory Lounge. The caprese flatbread pizza we had there was, hands down, the best meal I had the whole trip. It was just so perfect. My sister turned into a complete pumpkin before 8, so we left her at the room to crash early and the rest of us closed down the MK. Amara got to ride the coasters with her cousin and Aria and I rode LM. Three times, I believe. We didn't even have to get off because that section of Fantasyland was pretty well deserted.

Next up - we move to BC!

 

[NJlauren]

I also love COP, and Hall of Presidents, as does my whole family, i think we are a walking advertisement for underrated attractions!

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Your last update just made me laugh. I love COP too - mostly for the cheesiness and A/C but I bet your niece was worried about it ending lol

 

[tarak]

I also love COP, and Hall of Presidents, as does my whole family, i think we are a walking advertisement for underrated attractions!

I was pushing for the Hall of Presidents or the Country Bear Jamboree, but by the time we made it there, Country Bear Jamboree had closed (I think it closes an hour before the park). Amara and Maddy were determined to ride Splash Mountain and I didn't think Aria would appreciate HOP. I find HOP most entertaining when the president who speaks is the opposite political party of whomever I'm traveling with. My mom is especially pleasant when there's a Republican on board.

Your last update just made me laugh. I love COP too - mostly for the cheesiness and A/C but I bet your niece was worried about it ending lol

She was pretty happy when I said, "Last one, I promise."

Oh, and I forgot. We discovered the Main Street Bypass when we left that night. I read about it on EasyWDW, but forgot about it until we were there. A cast member was holding up an exit sign and it takes you back behind the shops on Main Street. You pretty much bypass all the people leaving through the main exits. Josh has a much better and detailed explanation on his site. If I can find the link, I'll add it. I assume this is a heavy-crowds-only sort of thing.

ETA: found the post. The photos are towards the end of his post. The path wasn't that much more crowded when we used it. There are a few threads on the dis, too. http://www.easywdw.com/uncategorize...rs-completion-magic-kingdom-71315/#more-15962

 

[Li Li]

Aw, my husband and I love COP! Boo to the haters!

I just love Territory Lounge. We've gotten appetizers there before, so I am completely excited to be actually staying at WL so we can take advantage of it some more.

Am I remembering correctly that your next trip is January? Or possibly just making that up?

 

[tarak]

You are right - our next trip is in just under three months. That's the point where I start getting edgy about all the stuff we have to do before we go out of town. We have two cats, three guinea pigs, and a hamster. The hamster is no trouble. We clean the cage and he's more than good for a week. A local pet shop will board the guineas for about $10 a day. Totally worth it. I think we'll board the cats this trip. My mom is more than willing to stop by and check on them, but January weather can be so dodgy and I'd rather not have her driving about for our cats.

I wish I could work in a stop at the Territory Lounge when we're there in January. I'd love to try Trader Sam's, too, and the new Hangar Bar at DTD (I will never get used to calling it Disney Springs, which sounds like the name of a retirement complex, if you ask me). We usually go to DTD our first day there, so the Hangar Bar is a pretty sure bet. I really want one of those fun glasses from Trader Sam's, but I'm not going to knock myself out getting one.