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

[Simba22]

I made it! Finally completely caught up!

And BTW, Catching Fire was really good! Still have to see Frozen, The Hobbit, and Saving Mr. Banks. If it would ever stop snowing around here maybe I could get out to see them!

I called Disney the other day because I found MORE PP pics that were missing from the CD. We did the meet & greet with Donald before going into breakfast at Tusker House and those pics weren't there (and I think it might have been your TR that made me even realize they were missing!) I emailed them first and they said they were loaded to my Photopass Card and should be available next time I log in. No go. So emailed them again and got basically the same response. Still no pics. Finally I called, and waited on hold for 30 minutes. By the time someone answered it was after 6pm and they were technically closed. I told the girl that we didn't HAVE a PP card...we used our Magic Bands. She told me she needed my Magic Band number. So I went digging through the closet to find my backpack, which was still housing the bands. She says "OK try it now." I refreshed, the pics were there, we hung up, I JUST finished saving them when the site auto-refreshed (which it NEVER does) and poof! Gone again! But it was well over 30 days and they still had them so I'm not sure what the true cut-off is.

Anyhoo.... I felt the same way about Be Our Guest! I LOVE the restaurant itself but the service is SLOW and the food was "eh." That update will actually be next in my TR. But yeah...for the cost, I wasn't impressed. Although our server was incredibly nice, I'll give her that... but she also would disappear for long periods of time, and when she WOULD come back, she would visit the tables next to us but not us.

Poor Willow and her little legs! As an adult, we just push through it but it never occurred to me how much MORE walking the little ones do just to keep up with our paces. The stroller was a great idea! I can just imagine her excitement at not having to walk.

 

[Tiggerrn2]

I love looking at all the photos. I try my hardest to spot Hidden Mickeys in all of them.
Looks like you had a wonderful morning at Tower of Terror!!
Fun update!

 

[chattadisser]

Nothing wrong with the occasional stroller ride. I've, uhm... been known to have a 8 year old in one at times... . Truth is, it's just as much for me as it is them, I'll push if it stops the whining!

I love the Hello Kitty selfie!

Christine

 

[Luvchefmic]

Ah the meltdown, listen I remember it even though it was decades ago and no its no fun, can it be embarassing ? Of course, IF we let it, I'm glad that lady was there but I think you handled yourself wonderfully even if you don;'t think you did You got down onto Willow's eye level and talked to her when it started That says VOLUMES about you so you have nothing to worry about

Honestly with the heat and the running around that we all do it speaks volumes about the 2 of you that the temper tantrum or whatever you want to label it didn't happen more often God bless her, she is a mature young lady from everything that we can see BUT my dear ...and she would balk at this ..... she is really a baby when you think about her short little life so far

Good for her that she realized her little legs were tired...amazing she lasted as long as she did and 99.9999999999 % of the time with a smile on her face Again speaks volumes about the 2 of you and good for you that you did the stroller...you'll never be " one of those Moms " she's a petite little pip squeak with little legs indeed

My Dad would have nicknamed her Peanut I know he would have You're a good Mommy

 

[shan23877]

Now that's more like it! Poor kid was exhausted! I understand not wanting to get a stroller, but it's a LOT of walking for anyone. I'd like to be pushed in a stroller.

Yay for a ToT filled morning!

 

[STLMickeyMom]

I agree! if someone offered to push me in a stroller, I wouldn't turn down the offer!

it's funny--our youngest says the same thing about her legs--that they're tired--when she wants us to carry her. I try to tell her my legs are tired too, but it never works....guess you have to be three and adorably cute to get the tired leg sympathy.

LOVE the hello kitty footwear! she would fit right in at our house!

and I am so enjoying your HS pics this morning. after MK (of course), that's my favorite park! I can't believe we'll be at disney 18 days and at Hollywood in 23!

 

[Simba22]

I forgot to mention how much I love that pic of Willow in front of the stained glass window! It looks like one of those pics Disney puts in their brochures!

Love the Hello Kitty shoes!


And please, do NOT feel bad about her meltdown! I don't have kids but I was a full time baby-sitter for a while... The worst meltdown ever was in the bathroom at Walmart....where the screams echoed. Talk about horrifying! All because the toilet automatically started flushing while the poor kid was still sitting on it. Scared him to death and he just couldn't pull himself together after that.

 

[RGirl]

I made it! Finally completely caught up!

You are amazing - I can't believe you took on reading the whole thing! I totally would not have faulted you for just jumping in where I am now.

And BTW, Catching Fire was really good! Still have to see Frozen, The Hobbit, and Saving Mr. Banks. If it would ever stop snowing around here maybe I could get out to see them!

Oh, thanks for letting me know! Approximately two years from now, when it is available through streaming Netflix, I will finally get to see it. I SO want to see The Hobbit (including the first half, which of course, I have not seen) and Mr. Banks. But it won't happen. Willow saw a preview for Mr. Banks the other day and was dying to see it. Too bad it's rated PG-13! Frozen is AMAZING! I am tempted to take us to see it again, but I try to limit our movie-going now that it is so crazy expensive.

I called Disney the other day because I found MORE PP pics that were missing from the CD. We did the meet & greet with Donald before going into breakfast at Tusker House and those pics weren't there (and I think it might have been your TR that made me even realize they were missing!) I emailed them first and they said they were loaded to my Photopass Card and should be available next time I log in. No go. So emailed them again and got basically the same response. Still no pics. Finally I called, and waited on hold for 30 minutes. By the time someone answered it was after 6pm and they were technically closed. I told the girl that we didn't HAVE a PP card...we used our Magic Bands. She told me she needed my Magic Band number. So I went digging through the closet to find my backpack, which was still housing the bands. She says "OK try it now." I refreshed, the pics were there, we hung up, I JUST finished saving them when the site auto-refreshed (which it NEVER does) and poof! Gone again! But it was well over 30 days and they still had them so I'm not sure what the true cut-off is.

Good grief! What a fiasco!!!! Did you ever end up getting them???

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that our Alice pics were post-30 days too, but I'm not sure. They are clearly recoverable longer than that.

Anyhoo.... I felt the same way about Be Our Guest! I LOVE the restaurant itself but the service is SLOW and the food was "eh." That update will actually be next in my TR. But yeah...for the cost, I wasn't impressed. Although our server was incredibly nice, I'll give her that... but she also would disappear for long periods of time, and when she WOULD come back, she would visit the tables next to us but not us.

It's incredibly disappointing, isn't it? I mean, really? You create the most amazing restaurant environment ever and just decide that, because of that, the food and service can be less than mediocre? It makes me sad. The place could be AMAZING! I'm really sorry that you had the same kind of experience - I really hoped that it was a fluke, but seeing the DRs and the comments on my DR update, I'm pretty sure that it is a regular experience.

Poor Willow and her little legs! As an adult, we just push through it but it never occurred to me how much MORE walking the little ones do just to keep up with our paces. The stroller was a great idea! I can just imagine her excitement at not having to walk.

Yeah, when I realized that she was willing to skip park time (the girl is a park COMMANDO) because she was so tired, I almost cried. The joy with which she received the news that she could have a stroller was immense. I don't feel bad about doing it at all! And I'm not going to lie - it was easier for me too.

I love looking at all the photos. I try my hardest to spot Hidden Mickeys in all of them.
Looks like you had a wonderful morning at Tower of Terror!!
Fun update!

Oh, thanks so much! I know I overkill with photos sometimes, but I just love them and love seeing them in others' reports! It was fun to spend the morning just hanging out at Willow's beloved ToT. What the heck - we didn't HAVE to do everything!

Nothing wrong with the occasional stroller ride. I've, uhm... been known to have a 8 year old in one at times... . Truth is, it's just as much for me as it is them, I'll push if it stops the whining!

I think at WDW, you just have to do what you have to do to make it comfortable and fun for everyone. And you are right, I enjoyed that stroller as much or more than she did!

I love the Hello Kitty selfie!

She loves those shoes so much!

 

[RGirl]

Ah the meltdown, listen I remember it even though it was decades ago and no its no fun, can it be embarassing ? Of course, IF we let it, I'm glad that lady was there but I think you handled yourself wonderfully even if you don;'t think you did You got down onto Willow's eye level and talked to her when it started That says VOLUMES about you so you have nothing to worry about

Ruthie, you have such a way of making me feel better when I am feeling like I have had a major parenting FAIL. Thank you!

Honestly with the heat and the running around that we all do it speaks volumes about the 2 of you that the temper tantrum or whatever you want to label it didn't happen more often God bless her, she is a mature young lady from everything that we can see BUT my dear ...and she would balk at this ..... she is really a baby when you think about her short little life so far

You are right - I remind myself of that a lot. And then there's the other side where I freak out about how fast she is growing up. Aww - being a parent is nothing like you think it is when you look in from the outside. There's a lot of angst and way more happiness than you ever could have imagined before it happened.

Good for her that she realized her little legs were tired...amazing she lasted as long as she did and 99.9999999999 % of the time with a smile on her face Again speaks volumes about the 2 of you and good for you that you did the stroller...you'll never be " one of those Moms " she's a petite little pip squeak with little legs indeed

Yeah, I don't really feel bad about the stroller at all. The relief and joy that she expressed when I told her she could have one for those last two days made it clear to me that she needed one. And that's okay! She is a bit of a park commando, so the fact that she was willing to skip her favorite park because she simply too tired to do it was telling.

My Dad would have nicknamed her Peanut I know he would have You're a good Mommy

Aww - that's so sweet. She is a little thing. She was only 4 pounds, 8 ounces when she was born. 5 pounds when I first met her - I had never been in a room with a baby that small. But she was perfectly healthy and not premature - just small. She still is. What's amazing is that she is actually TALLER than her best friend. I think they are the two smallest kids in the first grade though.

Now that's more like it! Poor kid was exhausted! I understand not wanting to get a stroller, but it's a LOT of walking for anyone. I'd like to be pushed in a stroller.

Yeah, I think it was definitely the right decision. And someday, Miss Willow will be pushing me around the parks…….

Yay for a ToT filled morning!

Always a good time for us!

 

[RGirl]

I agree! if someone offered to push me in a stroller, I wouldn't turn down the offer!

Honestly, getting to push a stroller instead of argue with a tired kid was a treat for me as well!

it's funny--our youngest says the same thing about her legs--that they're tired--when she wants us to carry her. I try to tell her my legs are tired too, but it never works....guess you have to be three and adorably cute to get the tired leg sympathy.

It's so true! I remember our 5th birthday Disneyland trip. Willow just insisted on going, going, going. By the end of her actual birthday, I had to carry her back to the hotel. I thought I was going to die!

LOVE the hello kitty footwear! she would fit right in at our house!

HK is great! Willow had a Hello Kitty-themed birthday party last year. It was a lot of fun, except that I lost my mind and decided to make almost everything myself, including the invitations. I hate when I do that.

and I am so enjoying your HS pics this morning. after MK (of course), that's my favorite park! I can't believe we'll be at disney 18 days and at Hollywood in 23!

Thank you! I know I overdo the photos, but I just love park photos so much!!!

So jealous that you are going to be there so soon. Will you be doing a TR?????

I forgot to mention how much I love that pic of Willow in front of the stained glass window! It looks like one of those pics Disney puts in their brochures!

Oh, thank you so much!!! Maybe that's another one I should get framed.

Love the Hello Kitty shoes!

As you might have guessed, Willow is a big fan of those shoes. She is a shoe lover though - I haven't been able to pick out her shoes since she was 2 because she has BIG opinions about what shoes she will wear!

And please, do NOT feel bad about her meltdown! I don't have kids but I was a full time baby-sitter for a while... The worst meltdown ever was in the bathroom at Walmart....where the screams echoed. Talk about horrifying! All because the toilet automatically started flushing while the poor kid was still sitting on it. Scared him to death and he just couldn't pull himself together after that.

Thank you! I know that these things happen - it's just so hard in the moment, you know?

It's amazing how many kids have issues with those automatic flushers. The first time it happened to Willow, I started laughing before she could react and said, "did it flush your butt???" From that moment on, she thought they were the funniest things ever!

 

[RGirl]

Some Italian Dining​

After all those ToT rides, we needed to hustle across the park for our lunch ADR at Mama Melrose - a first for us. Look how crowded!

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It’s really cute in here!

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As with every other restaurant we visited (EXCEPT BoG!), I was able to order a large bottle of sparking water on the DP.

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We really enjoyed the AC!

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Willow's appetizer, which I am sure she didn't eat.

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My appetizer (caesar salad), which I am absolutely certain that Willow DID eat.

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Our service here was very good, and the chef was also very nice. I was able to have PASTA for lunch! YUMMMY!

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Willow had pizza, which I think she really enjoyed.

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Again - this place is so cute!

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The chef even offered up some gluten-free chocolate cake!

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Miss Willow was pretty pleased with this experience too - especially the cupcake frosting (which you can see on her face!).

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Willow took a good pic of her “spaghetti and meatballs” cupcake.

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Up Next: A Few Characters and Get Us Out of Here!

 

[STLMickeyMom]

By the end of her actual birthday, I had to carry her back to the hotel. I thought I was going to die!

Willow had a Hello Kitty-themed birthday party last year. It was a lot of fun, except that I lost my mind and decided to make almost everything myself, including the invitations. I hate when I do that.

So jealous that you are going to be there so soon. Will you be doing a TR?????

That spaghetti and meatball cupcake is the cutest!! We've never been there either. Reading these TRs makes me realize all the things we've missed at the parks. When it was just my DH and me we just grabbed snacks and did whatever--it's amazing how much there really is to see and do and how different your experience can be as adults or with kids. Even more reasons to love Disney!

When we took the kids last year, on our first day, we traveled all day, I could not get anyone to nap when we got to the hotel, we went to chef Mickey for dinner, then did the pirate cruise. On the cruise, Madison fell asleep. My DH carried her from the dock up to the contemporary, to the monorail, to a bus and then to our room because we were not thinking clearly and didn't bring the stroller. His shoulders hurt for the next couple of days. Thank goodness he did the carrying! I can carry all the bags (moms are such good pack mules! ) but carry the limp noodle sleeping kid....it just kills me!

I do the same thing for birthday parties. I usually do their parties together because our youngest DDs b-day is 2 days after Christmas. Since I do them together I feel like I need to go all out. Then halfway through the planning and crafting and cupcake frosting I realize I'm a crazy person!

Yep, I'm planning on doing a TR when we get back. I have a PTR going right now and I really like it! I actually met some other people on here from St. Louis and we all met at the mall so our kids could play and had a little DISmeet. It was so great! I'm so glad I found this website!

 

[Jackiemarie21]

So many updates since my last comment. I promise I have been reading along! I have been out of town and using my Iphone. I tired to comment a few times but it was just too hard on my phone, my internet was slooow!

I love ToT so much and I really think the line is a part of the experience. The line is an attraction in itself. Although with as many times as you guys ride it I can see why you would want to skip it!

I am glad you had a great experience at Mama Melrose. We went there in 2010 and had a great meal. I just love those spaghetti and meatball cupcakes, so clever! Willow got a great picture of the cupcake. It looks HS day turned out better. I learned the same lesson last time we went, some times you just have to take it easy and sleep in. I also think the stroller was a good idea. I would do it in a heartbeat! and it really seems like it helped Willow have a great day.

I keep forgetting you still have a cruise to report on I can't wait to hear all about it!

 

[Mom2m&k]

I just read through your trip report from the start...the two of you look to be having a great time! Really who hasn't had a child have a melt down in the MK! We also ended up getting a stroller for our 6 yrs old on the last trip. He just couldn't quite take all the walking...it was well worth it! Can't wait to read more! Love Willow's haircut!

 

[RGirl]

That spaghetti and meatball cupcake is the cutest!! We've never been there either. Reading these TRs makes me realize all the things we've missed at the parks. When it was just my DH and me we just grabbed snacks and did whatever--it's amazing how much there really is to see and do and how different your experience can be as adults or with kids. Even more reasons to love Disney!

You are so right - there are just endless things to do and try. I love it!

I think I have learned more about WDW and what it has to offer from reading TRs than from anything else.

When we took the kids last year, on our first day, we traveled all day, I could not get anyone to nap when we got to the hotel, we went to chef Mickey for dinner, then did the pirate cruise. On the cruise, Madison fell asleep. My DH carried her from the dock up to the contemporary, to the monorail, to a bus and then to our room because we were not thinking clearly and didn't bring the stroller. His shoulders hurt for the next couple of days. Thank goodness he did the carrying! I can carry all the bags (moms are such good pack mules! ) but carry the limp noodle sleeping kid....it just kills me!

Ugh - carrying those sleeping kiddos is HARD! I am such a total pack mule too - exhausting!

I do the same thing for birthday parties. I usually do their parties together because our youngest DDs b-day is 2 days after Christmas. Since I do them together I feel like I need to go all out. Then halfway through the planning and crafting and cupcake frosting I realize I'm a crazy person!

Yep - I ended up not really like the at-home birthday party thing at all, because it was so much work making everything "perfect" - for a bunch of little kids who would have been just as happy if I had just let them come over and play and eat cake.

Really glad we're going on a trip this year instead!

Yep, I'm planning on doing a TR when we get back. I have a PTR going right now and I really like it! I actually met some other people on here from St. Louis and we all met at the mall so our kids could play and had a little DISmeet. It was so great! I'm so glad I found this website!

You will have to send me a link to your TR when you get back!!!

I am terrible about PTRs - I just can't ever seem to remember to go to that forum. Sorry about that - I totally would have joined in if I weren't so pathetic with the PTRs. That's awesome that you were able to connect with some DIS'ers though!!!

 

[RGirl]

So many updates since my last comment. I promise I have been reading along! I have been out of town and using my Iphone. I tired to comment a few times but it was just too hard on my phone, my internet was slooow!

No worries! I can't stand trying to reply by phone. I'm glad you're still here!

I love ToT so much and I really think the line is a part of the experience. The line is an attraction in itself. Although with as many times as you guys ride it I can see why you would want to skip it!

They definitely did a great job with the queue - very well-themed. And we did enjoy seeing it this trip.

I am glad you had a great experience at Mama Melrose. We went there in 2010 and had a great meal. I just love those spaghetti and meatball cupcakes, so clever! Willow got a great picture of the cupcake. It looks HS day turned out better. I learned the same lesson last time we went, some times you just have to take it easy and sleep in. I also think the stroller was a good idea. I would do it in a heartbeat! and it really seems like it helped Willow have a great day.

I wasn't expecting much from MM, but we really enjoyed ourselves there. I'm glad to hear you have liked it too!

Yep - I think the stroller was the right call. The heat and walking was just ruining the fun for her by the last two days.

I keep forgetting you still have a cruise to report on I can't wait to hear all about it!

I know!!! We still have a whole other vacation to go! And then I think I will tack on our Disneyland birthday trip as well. Maybe.

 

[RGirl]

I just read through your trip report from the start...the two of you look to be having a great time! Really who hasn't had a child have a melt down in the MK! We also ended up getting a stroller for our 6 yrs old on the last trip. He just couldn't quite take all the walking...it was well worth it! Can't wait to read more! Love Willow's haircut!

Thanks so much for taking the time to read my report and to comment! I hope you will stick around.

The stroller was definitely the right call by that point. I think it made our final two WDW days better, and of course, then we had the cruise to rejuvenate us further.

 

[IheartDDuck]

At least Willow has some sophisticated food tastes, preferring caesar's salad over carrots and celery.

How cool! A spaghetti and meatballs cupcake! I'm so easily amused.

 

[RGirl]

A Few Characters and Get Us Out of Here!​

After our tasty Italian lunch, we decided to visit some old friends - Phineas and Ferb - since they were right outside! Holy cow!!! It was SO HOT in this line! Willow had a fun meet-and-greet though.

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After that, we wandered through the streets of DHS.

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Where were we headed?

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To University, of course!!! We loved how they had re-done the meet-and-greet area to the Monsters University theming.

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Somebody was still loving the luxury of a stroller.

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Up Next: A Few Characters and Get Us Out of Here! Cont.

 

[RGirl]

A Few Characters and Get Us Out of Here!​

The line for this meet-and-greet was LONG. But it did move quickly (as, we have found, most character lines do). Before too long, Willow was hanging out with her old monster friends.

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When we were done saying hi to Mike and Sully, it was after 2:00. I was king of hoping that Willow would nap this afternoon so that we could see some fireworks tonight, since we had totally missed out so far this trip. After all, tomorrow was our last WDW day! Additionally, I needed to do laundry before the cruise, and we had a fancy dinner this night. So we decided to head back to the resort.

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We had a nice boat ride back to the BWI.

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We once again chose to walk from the Swan/Dolphin boat dock because it was a lot faster than staying on the boat.

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On our way up to our room, we took a quick detour to find the laundry room - it was just off the elevator lobby on the third floor, so super-easy. When we got back to our room, our awesome Mousekeeper once again had arranged everything super-cute for us.

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I immediately got started on the laundry. Unfortunately, after being allowed to sleep late that morning, there was no way that Willow was going to nap today. Oh well, we had some fun dinner plans and high hopes to somehow manage to see some fireworks!

Up Next: Our Final Signature Dining Experience