Heat, Humidity, and Our Favorite Disney Dog Was a Thug! LINK TO NEW PTR!!

[crepemyrtle]

I'm reading along and really enjoying your report. Willow is a cutie pie, and her selfies are adorable. My fav so far is the one of her palm.

 

[magic kingdom park]

I'm trying to educate myself while listening to your trip report which by the way is awesome. World showcase does not open until 11 everyday right. But I guess if you have ADR's then your allowed in can you stay in after your breakfast?

 

[RGirl]

So we love the Boardwalk area and have been through the gate at IG plenty of times. I have walked through England and thought it was empty. Now I know what empty really is. You were the only person in the place! That is awesome! Too funny about the princesses. I wonder why they were in such a hurry. Especially because the restaraunt probably wasn't even full yet. Weird. Aurora really was looking extra pretty that day though.

We really were all alone - it was bizarre!

The princess interactions were so weird. I have no good explanation. You are right - the restaurant was just starting up for the day, so it's not like they were behind or anything. Just bad luck, I guess! After our amazing princess experience at CRT, maybe we were just due for a less-than-spectacular princess meet.

Our Aurora was absolutely beautiful, and I'm pretty sure she was the only princess who was acting normal at this breakfast.

 

[RGirl]

I'm reading along and really enjoying your report. Willow is a cutie pie, and her selfies are adorable. My fav so far is the one of her palm.

I'm so glad you're here - I hope you will stick around! I love the palm selfy too - what in the world is that child thinking???

I'm trying to educate myself while listening to your trip report which by the way is awesome. World showcase does not open until 11 everyday right. But I guess if you have ADR's then your allowed in can you stay in after your breakfast?

That's right - WS does not open when FW opens. The deal with the early Akershus ADR is that only a tiny portion of WS is "open." You can get in at the International Gateway (either for an early ADR or when FW opens), but you can only walk through England to FW - there is a rope keeping you from turning right. Also, nothing in England is open. On the other side, you can walk through Mexico to Norway to get to Akershus, and then there is a rope up after Norway, and nothing is open in Mexico or Norway (except Akershus) until WS opens. I hope that helps a little!

 

[dizneeat]

I cannot believe you were up and going at such an early time again!

But the empty WS looks so pretty. We have been there "early" too and seen it pretty empty, but you had it all to yourself - awesome.
Sorry about the poor princess interaction, but it looks like Willow enjoyed herself none the less.
LOVE her selfies!

 

[chattadisser]

Awesome to have the walk over thru the WS by yourselves! Such a pleasant way to start the morning.

(maybe I was the one who was off since everyone else SEEMED so off to me??? :confused

This litterally made me spit my breakfast bar out! Too funny! I actually think that to myself quite often.

You know how Snow White has that squeaky Snow White voice, and how amazing it is that the Snow Whites in the park have that same voice? No, just me? Really??? Well, anyway, this Snow White did not have the Snow White voice, but seemed like she was trying to - it just didn’t come out right at all. Add to that the fact that she was REALLY loud - which is just not Snow White - and she came to our table in the midst of the announcement about the princess processional, grabbed our autograph book, announced she was going to sign it and then come back later. And she proceeded to sign, not interact at all, and then race off to the processional. It was so weird! She did come back, and gave us enough time for one photo and was gone again.

Up Next: Serious Speed and Character Fun

What a weird princess interaction!?! You would think that at the first seating of the day they would be at their best. Maybe it just wasn’t their day?

It looks like Willow had a good time!

Christine

 

[RGirl]

I cannot believe you were up and going at such an early time again!

I know! Again, what was I thinking?????

But the empty WS looks so pretty. We have been there "early" too and seen it pretty empty, but you had it all to yourself - awesome.

Yeah - I do love that little walk through England after entering at the IG before park opening. It's so peaceful

Sorry about the poor princess interaction, but it looks like Willow enjoyed herself none the less.

She definitely still had a great time. She doesn't really seem to notice too much when we get a less-than-stellar princess.

LOVE her selfies!

She is definitely a child of the times!

Awesome to have the walk over thru the WS by yourselves! Such a pleasant way to start the morning.

It was really nice! We have experienced it like that twice - I guess not that many Epcot resort folks are early-breakfast people or something.

This litterally made me spit my breakfast bar out! Too funny! I actually think that to myself quite often.

Well, you know, it's like when you think everyone you run into is crazy, you have to start wondering if it's really them........

What a weird princess interaction!?! You would think that at the first seating of the day they would be at their best. Maybe it just wasn’t their day?

Yeah, it was truly odd. Maybe they needed some warm-up time or something.

It looks like Willow had a good time!

She definitely did!

 

[Tiggerrn2]

Hi!! I had and unexpected day "on call" today so I had some time to spend DISing all day (since I really can't go anywhere or do too much in case I need to drop everything and head in to work). So I spent the day catching up and adding to my reading pleasure.

I am all caught up on your TR! Loving it! There is so much to comment on though having read it all at once, and now I don't remember most of what I wanted to say.

I am in love with your little autograph books. What a neat idea!! I am most definitely not crafty. So I think this is an especially great idea. You did such a nice job on it.

Willow is adorable. I think all kids that age have their moments when they are hot and tired. It is understandable. Shoot, even us big girls have our moments when it's just time to go back and rest.

I totally agreed with your assessment of DL rides vs. WDW rides. Most are better at DL (with the exception of ToT). I did used to think Wishes was awesome, until I saw Remember Dreams Come True. And when they started with World of Color.....that was it. Nighttime at DL just blows WDW out of the water!

So fun that you get to do all the character breakfasts and sig dining. It is never worth it for us. My kids are so darn picky. And now that they are older and have to be adults...$$$$ the price would kill us. So we are stuck with counter service for the most part.

You both seem to really enjoy your Disney time. Looking forward to continuing to follow along on your adventures.

 

[STLMickeyMom]

I don't know how I totally missed this update! but, I love willow's pics, of course! what's with the hand? clearly, she has artistic vision!

what a bummer the princess' seemed so rushed. our interaction there was just ok but we loved the food! we had lunch there, but breakfast looks even better!

I've always wondered if the person being snow white has a sore throat at the end of the day. I don't think I could talk like that all day. about halfway through, i'd switch to my voice, and be all "listen kid, it's not gonna happen any more! snow white needs a lozenge!"

I don't blame you for freaking out about your PP card. I like to keep our stuff in a pocket or somewhere on me so I can constantly be checking to make sure we still have it. I probably look a little ocd constantly touching my pocket to make sure it's still in there. usually, I end up giving it to my DH, he puts everything in his wallet and buttons it into his shorts pocket. bless him for wearing his cargo shorts at Disney and putting up with my crazy!

 

[DisneyJo]

How strange that the Princesses were weird especially so early!!

What a lovely quiet walk you had through England, it's so magical first thing in the morning

 

[RGirl]

Hi!! I had and unexpected day "on call" today so I had some time to spend DISing all day (since I really can't go anywhere or do too much in case I need to drop everything and head in to work). So I spent the day catching up and adding to my reading pleasure.

An unexpected DIS catch-up day sounds great!!!!

I am all caught up on your TR! Loving it! There is so much to comment on though having read it all at once, and now I don't remember most of what I wanted to say.

That happens to me ALL the time! I always feel terrible because, it comes time to reply, and I'm all, "Uh, wow! That was great. Um, I know there were some specifics I wanted to talk about, but....."

I am in love with your little autograph books. What a neat idea!! I am most definitely not crafty. So I think this is an especially great idea. You did such a nice job on it.

Thanks! You know, I have never been very crafty either. I don't know what happened to me this year - scrapbooking, sewing, what's next?

Willow is adorable. I think all kids that age have their moments when they are hot and tired. It is understandable. Shoot, even us big girls have our moments when it's just time to go back and rest.

Oh, yeah, I had some terrible moments too. And the two of us combined - just ugly at times. Thankfully, more of it was fun than upset.

I totally agreed with your assessment of DL rides vs. WDW rides. Most are better at DL (with the exception of ToT). I did used to think Wishes was awesome, until I saw Remember Dreams Come True. And when they started with World of Color.....that was it. Nighttime at DL just blows WDW out of the water!

It's so true! We haven't really done nighttime DL yet, but I'm hoping to manage it this year!!!!

So fun that you get to do all the character breakfasts and sig dining. It is never worth it for us. My kids are so darn picky. And now that they are older and have to be adults...$$$$ the price would kill us. So we are stuck with counter service for the most part.

Oh yeah, having to pay adult price for Willow will totally ruin it for me. But I think we will do it until we get to that point. Of course, we don't get to visit every year, so I'm guessing that will only be one or two more times.

You both seem to really enjoy your Disney time. Looking forward to continuing to follow along on your adventures.

We really do enjoy it. It is our special time together away from the non-stop go-go-go of regular life. It's so important to have that time!

 

[RGirl]

I don't know how I totally missed this update! but, I love willow's pics, of course! what's with the hand? clearly, she has artistic vision!

I have no idea what she is thinking sometimes with her photography!

what a bummer the princess' seemed so rushed. our interaction there was just ok but we loved the food! we had lunch there, but breakfast looks even better!

We will definitely keep going there - the princess interaction has always been great on our other visits. And it's such a fun place.

I've always wondered if the person being snow white has a sore throat at the end of the day. I don't think I could talk like that all day. about halfway through, i'd switch to my voice, and be all "listen kid, it's not gonna happen any more! snow white needs a lozenge!"

You are so right!!!!! I really don't know how the Snow Whites do it - and, well, this particular Snow White obviously didn't know either!

I don't blame you for freaking out about your PP card. I like to keep our stuff in a pocket or somewhere on me so I can constantly be checking to make sure we still have it. I probably look a little ocd constantly touching my pocket to make sure it's still in there. usually, I end up giving it to my DH, he puts everything in his wallet and buttons it into his shorts pocket. bless him for wearing his cargo shorts at Disney and putting up with my crazy!

I am SO the same way!!!! I have to force myself not to become one of those people who can't leave the house without checking to make sure the stove is off 85 times. I was FREAKING about the PP+ card - I couldn't believe I had forgotten to take a pic of the number on it. It really would have been so bad if I had lost it! Well, wait, given the less-than-stellar quality of our PP pics this year, maybe it wouldn't have been as tragic as I was imagining.

How strange that the Princesses were weird especially so early!!

It really was strange! And definitely not the norm for Akershus in our experience.

What a lovely quiet walk you had through England, it's so magical first thing in the morning

Oh, yes - LOVE that!

 

[RGirl]

Serious Speed and Character Fun​

After our breakfast at Akershus and a quick bathroom break, DD was ready to rush off to TT - another favorite of hers, and we were excited to see it after the refurb. It was about 9:03 at this time, so we were hopeful that we would be able to ride without a terrible wait.

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When we arrived, the line was growing fast. We decided to skip the FP machines and get ourselves in line!

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It was 9:08 when we entered the queue. And it was 9:30 when we were designing our car - 9:40 when we boarded the ride. The queue was SUPER-boring. For us, anyway!

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The Design-Your-Car thing was really cool though! DD designed quite a vehicle for us!

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And we loved the ride as much as we always have. But, man, the line was growing so fast - it was crazy! We certainly wouldn’t get a chance to do it again today.

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After our fun spin on TT, we decided to head over to The Land and get some FPs for Soarin’ as that was obviously the only way we were going to get to ride. There was a lot of complaining from DD here because, although she likes Soarin’, she prefers more exciting rides, and she was VERY excited to be tall enough to do M:S for the first time. But I knew we would be able to do that without FP, so she was just going to have to suck it up and get the Soarin’ FPs first!

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Yeah, a LOT of people were after Soarin’ FPs at this time of day.

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We picked up our FPs at about 10:00, and they were good for 1:25-2:25, which would work out perfectly for us to ride after our lunch ADR.

Up Next: Serious Speed and Character Fun Cont.

 

[RGirl]

Serious Speed and Character Fun Cont.​

Being the brilliant planners that we are, we now intended to walk all the way back over to M:S so that DD could try it out; I had actually never done this before either! On the way, we spotted Chip ‘n’ Dale and decided to get in line. Of course! They did have to leave for a bite of pecan pie, but were back in a jiffy.

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Chip ‘n’ Dale were great! Willow LOVES Chocolate Chip, so she was fawning all over him and ignoring Dale - Dale was miming tears, and then he started curtsying to Willow and pirouetting around and miming that he wanted a tutu. Finally, Willow did give him a hug after we told her that he had been crying, which gave Chip a chance to sign her book. He pretended to try to eat the acorns on his page. While Dale was signing, Chip and Willow danced together. Then they were both kissing her hands, not letting her leave, etc. It was a really great meet-and-greet!

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Dale’s tears

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Dancing

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Poor Dale

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Their page:

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We started back off to M:S but noticed that the wait time for the Character Spot was only 5 minutes! We couldn’t possibly pass that up!!!

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Look who was waiting for us!

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Up Next: Serious Speed and Character Fun Cont.

 

[RGirl]

Serious Speed and Character Fun Cont.​

After bidding farewell to our Character Spot friends, we finally did head over to M:S.

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Willow was very excited for this one! She was measured at the start of the queue and passed. We decided to do the Green side since this was our first time!

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Willow was measured again inside, but the CM wasn’t convinced and got another CM for a second opinion. She passed again! Willow was assigned as our commander , and I was the engineer. We enjoyed it, but it was pretty tame. Willow was pushing hard to do the Orange side, but I was a little nervous what with all the warning signs and others’ descriptions of the ride. However, given how tame the Green side had been, I decided we would go for it!

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We were in line for Orange at about 11:20 with a 20-minute wait time posted, which would mean cutting our ADR time awfully close, but it was do-able.

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Someone was excited!

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When we got up to the front, the CMs minding the line were laughing because they remembered the big second-opinion height-measurement experience from when we had been through the first time over on the Green side. They did not insist that Miss Willow get measured again. On this mission, Willow was the pilot, and I was the navigator. So what did we think of Orange? It wasn’t bad at all! And definitely much more fun than Green!

Up Next: More Steak?

 

[Tiggerrn2]

I was not enamored with TT and its' makeover either. The ride is basically unchanged. And the line is nothing more than a large Chevrolet commercial. Willow really did design quite the car, though!!

Love Chip and Dale. Each encounter I have ever had with them has been sooo much fun.

I am amazed you did green and orange and did not feel bad at all on MS. That orange side left me feeling out of sorts for hours afterward.

 

[Jackiemarie21]

Wow! You guys were brave to try the orange side!

We skipped TT this time but it seems to me like it wasn't really an upgrade. Although the designing your own car part looks neat.
Your EPCOT day is looking like lots of fun so far!

 

[RGirl]

I was not enamored with TT and its' makeover either. The ride is basically unchanged. And the line is nothing more than a large Chevrolet commercial. Willow really did design quite the car, though!!

You know, we really liked designing the car, and the ride was fun (although it seemed like there was less of a story and less to look at ), but that queue!!! Snooze-ville!

Love Chip and Dale. Each encounter I have ever had with them has been sooo much fun.

You know, 100% of our encounters with Chip 'n' Dale on this trip (and, believe me, there were quite a few ) were wonderful.

I am amazed you did green and orange and did not feel bad at all on MS. That orange side left me feeling out of sorts for hours afterward.

I was truly shocked that I was completely unaffected by the Orange side. It was so strange!

Wow! You guys were brave to try the orange side!

Had it been up to Willow, we never would have done the Green side.

We skipped TT this time but it seems to me like it wasn't really an upgrade. Although the designing your own car part looks neat.

The car designing is really fun. The ride is basically the same except that they took out the story line (such as it was). It's still very fun, but I don't quite understand why they made the changes they did other than to advertise a car manufacturer.

Your EPCOT day is looking like lots of fun so far!

Oh, never fear - there's a very good chance that there will be another over-heated Get Us Out of Here! post coming up soon.....

 

[dismagiclover]

Great updates! I actually miss the old Test Track. It now just seems all Tron to me and doesn't make much sense. It is fun designing the test cars though. I love all the characters meets. Chip 'n Dale always crack me up. I think the Character Connection line has gotten lots shorter because you can't see them through the windows anymore so people don't know they are there. I miss Donald and Goofy though. I've never actually gone on the Orange side of Mission Space. Pretty sure I'd come out feeling a bit queesy.

 

[RGirl]

Great updates! I actually miss the old Test Track. It now just seems all Tron to me and doesn't make much sense. It is fun designing the test cars though. I love all the characters meets. Chip 'n Dale always crack me up. I think the Character Connection line has gotten lots shorter because you can't see them through the windows anymore so people don't know they are there. I miss Donald and Goofy though. I've never actually gone on the Orange side of Mission Space. Pretty sure I'd come out feeling a bit queesy.

I miss the old TT too - I don't usually mind change, and I do still like the ride, but it's like they didn't replace the old "theme" with anything really.

I think you're right about the Character Connection! That makes so much sense!!! I definitely prefer the shorter line. But I do miss Donald and Goofy.

I was super-nervous about the Orange side - I still can't believe that it didn't phase me at all.