Hey! Let's take a picture in front of the castle...all 28 of us!! UPDATES 10/26

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Pretending to blow out the candles (can't have real ones)

After the party, we did some more of what we do best

Then we headed over to Epcot. Even though most of the family was leaving that day, we had decided that we would go to Epcot since our AK day hadn't happened because of the weather. However, my cousin who's little boy had a fever the day before, still had one, so they left right after the party. As did, my two cousins who had arrived the day before for just the one night. So, party of 24 ready for Epcot on a beautiful, sunny, cold, almost-winter day.

(I apologize for the pictures being different sizes. My video camera ran out of battery, since I had fallen asleep and not charged it the night before, and then my picture camera ran out of battery...I had extra batteries...in the room. So, I just started taking pictures with my cousin's camera; for some reason they come out different sizes.)

 

[Tinker_Tam]

That looks like the best party! Does the Neverland Club only do parties or are there other things that go on there?

 

[Sunset Cliffs]

What a cool idea! I didn't know that you could do birthday parties there. It's nice that you had a lot of people & kids to make it worth it. I would never think to do that for Dylan since it would only be the 3 of us at the party!

It's funny that you mention so many people are leaving and you still have 24 in your group. I still can't believe how smoothly it sounds like this trip went, considering the size of your group!

 

[MEK]

Cool update! I love all the pictures of the Neverland club. I wondered what that was. Can't read everything now. Will check back later. Love the October Halloween plans!

 

[*dreamit*doit*]

That looks like the best party! Does the Neverland Club only do parties or are there other things that go on there?

Hi! Thanks, it was a great party!! I guess in my excitement, though, I didn't mention what the Neverland Club actually is.

I got this from allears.net:

What is the Never Land Club?

This is a special child care experience for children ages 4-12. It is a supervised child care program for WDW guests that features full-sized arcade games, Nintendo, computers, dress-up, arts & crafts and Disney movies. The facility is themed to Peter Pan and includes the Darling nursery, Skull Rock, a pirate ship, and the clouds of London.

From 6 until 8 p.m. a dinner buffet is served, which typically includes pizza, chicken fingers, macaroni and cheese, French fries, hot dogs, corn on the cob, fruit, and dessert. A pudding dessert is served at 8 p.m. and a juice and cookie snack at 10 p.m.

The Club is located in the same building as the arcade and the laundry, between the Rarotonga and Rapa Nui longhouses. Please note that animal programs and character appearances are no longer part of the Never Land Club. Reservations are required, and can be made by calling (407) WDW-DINE.

For currrent pricing and additional information, visit our ChildCare FAQ.

What a cool idea! I didn't know that you could do birthday parties there. It's nice that you had a lot of people & kids to make it worth it. I would never think to do that for Dylan since it would only be the 3 of us at the party!

It's funny that you mention so many people are leaving and you still have 24 in your group. I still can't believe how smoothly it sounds like this trip went, considering the size of your group!

Thanks, Alison! We didn't know either until the day we went to visit and it just came up in conversation with the CM. It worked out perfectly that we were having such a big group, that's why we couldn't pass it up! We also found out that it's not only for WDW guests, they said locals have their parties there, too.

Dylan would love staying as part of the child care program when he's a little older, don't you think? Then you guys could have a date night. I'm waiting for Nerea to be old enough to go and then we can leave the girls; Miren tells us on every trip that she wants to go, but it doesn't make sense if we still have to keep Nerea.

Cool update! I love all the pictures of the Neverland club. I wondered what that was. Can't read everything now. Will check back later. Love the October Halloween plans!

Thanks, Mary Ellen! It's okay, whenever you get to it...I know how it is (I may be a little behind on your TR...and a few others... )

We're excited about Halloween; it's all kind of just coming together!

 

[*dreamit*doit*]

The party at the Neverland Club was from 10am-12pm, so I would imagine we got to Epcot around 1pm.

It was such a gorgeous day!! There were people, and it was crowded, but nowhere near what we had experienced the day before at MK. We talked for a little bit about what we wanted to do: some people were hungry and wanted to see a few things quickly, not wanting to leave late because they had to work the next day, so it seemed like the best thing was to split up into smaller groups, but not before riding Spaceship Earth. I don't remember what the wait time was, but I know we were in line for about 15 minutes...a very COLD and WINDY 15 minutes! It's like a wind tunnel under there while you're in line. One of my uncles insisted I take his jacket as I had left mine in the stroller.

After SE we split into two or three groups (don't remember). Our group was us, my cousin and his family that were staying with us until the next day, and the aunts and uncles. The aunts and uncles actually had tried to stay that night, but POR was all booked. So, they decided just to stay until whenever and then drive home. Those of us that were staying were returning to Epcot the next day (our last day) so we were just taking it easy. We went for a walk around the world, on a quest for hot chocolate and funnel cakes.

We found that here:

As we waited in a loooong line, we heard the Candlelight Processional begin and the narrator was Whoopi Goldberg. We watched it for a little bit, took a bathroom break, and then continued our leisurely stroll around the world.

We stopped for some pics with Marie in France.

This picture is funny because it looks like the top of the Christmas tree is floating away from the bottom...it's the monorail track.

I honestly can't remember what time we left, or what we did afterward. I would imagine we went back to the rooms and packed.

**last day coming up**

 

[mom2mek]

Wow - that party sounds/looks really great!

You guys all look like you are having so much fun together! Love those SE pics! The Marie pics with the girls are adorable!

(psst....check out my ticker....)

Sara

 

[*dreamit*doit*]

Wow - that party sounds/looks really great!

You guys all look like you are having so much fun together! Love those SE pics! The Marie pics with the girls are adorable!

(psst....check out my ticker....)

Sara

AHHHH!!! Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, now you can finish your TR. Going over there now.

 

[MeMom]

What a fun party! I love all the pictures of the kids having so much fun. I hope Grandma is better than I am on those video games. I probably set records for getting 'killed' or eaten or whatever on any kind of video game I ever touch. I have NO expertise on those things!

I can't wait to see all of your Halloween fun very soon. You will have to meet up with Wigd and Shocker - you will love them, and they will dote on your girls. Tell Miren I sure wish Brooklynn was going to be there on party night, too. They could have fun all dressed up and going around for candy. Maybe she can pick a spot to take a picture waving to Brooklynn and saying hello from the Magic Kingdom.

 

[*dreamit*doit*]

What a fun party! I love all the pictures of the kids having so much fun. I hope Grandma is better than I am on those video games. I probably set records for getting 'killed' or eaten or whatever on any kind of video game I ever touch. I have NO expertise on those things!

I can't wait to see all of your Halloween fun very soon. You will have to meet up with Wigd and Shocker - you will love them, and they will dote on your girls. Tell Miren I sure wish Brooklynn was going to be there on party night, too. They could have fun all dressed up and going around for candy. Maybe she can pick a spot to take a picture waving to Brooklynn and saying hello from the Magic Kingdom.

Soooo excited about Halloween - we leave in just TWO days!!!! Very excited to meet Wigd and Shocker, too! We hope to do that on Monday at F&W, but who knows, maybe we'll run into each other before!

Wouldn't those girls just have so much fun together?? I think it's a great idea about the picture; I can send it to your phone and Jill's (if it's not too dark on the camera phone, otherwise I'll take it with my camera and post it on your TR.)

 

[*dreamit*doit*]

So my last update ended with us leaving Epcot and me guessing as to what we had done afterwards...I thought maybe we had gone back to the rooms and packed...that's not what we did AT ALL! I didn't remember because I was going off the pictures, and I didn't have them in my photobucket - why? because my camera had run out of battery, remember? and I was taking pics with my cousin's camera, but I just grabbed them off her folder, so, here's the rest of our night:

We had dinner with a charming prince, a beautiful princess, an evil stepmother and two hilarious stepsisters - yup, 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian. It was our family and my cousin and his family, however, now that I really think about it, the aunts and uncles must have stayed the extra night, because my cousin's DS8 went back to the room with them to work on a Lego. Anyway, dinner was okay...I say "okay" because it's a bit pricey and the food is just "okay" but the experience is what you pay for and that's fine. We had done it once before so we knew what to expect, it was the first time for my cousin's family.

After dinner we walked out of the restaurant and plopped ourselves on the couches in the lobby...and didn't move...for over an hour...

Nerea was asleep in the stroller and the other kids played.

We finally got up somewhere around midnight and walked around the GF a little and saw the gingerbread house.

We went outside...

but it was too cold for a walk...so we went back in.

Then we took the monorail back to our cars. It was after 1am when we got back to our rooms - not a bad way to spend a day: start off at the Poly and finish it off at the GF with a little Epcot in between...no complaints here!!


**Last day coming up next...for real this time**

 

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On our last day, we had a Le Cellier lunch reservation at 1:10pm. Being that we had gotten in late the night before and had to pack up the cars, we were in no hurry to get up and out the door, so we decided we would just meet in Canada around 12:45. We had no real plans for the day, just hang out in Epcot until we decided to drive home.

We checked out

Rode the monorail to Epcot

We arrived at Epcot just in time to walk over to Canada and check-in for our ADR. My cousin and his family arrived just after us, and we were seated within a few minutes.

Hungry kids

Sleepy kids

Notice something missing in the next picture?

His tooth fell out as he was drinking and we thought he had swallowed it, a few minutes later we realized it was stuck in the straw!

See these happy faces? How can you NOT smile after a meal at Le Cellier???

I had the filet mignon with mushroom risotto (the entire meal melted in my mouth - just writing about it makes my mouth water - ridiculously delicious!), Ramon had the New York Strip Steak and he would say the same. We had ordered for the kids the cheddar cheese soup as their appetizers (knowing they wouldn't have it ) so we had that and it was yummy, as well, as were the breadsticks. It was at this meal that Ramon discovered what he did not hesitate to call his "favorite" beer - La Fin du Monde. I'm not much of a beer drinker, but I tried it, and it WAS good. On to dessert:

Chocolate "Moose"

Make-your-own ice cream sundaes for the kids

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So what did we do after a fabulous lunch?

We hung out and talked for a little bit, of course! Meanwhile, the kids went down the walk to start a mask.

Little girls woke up, one of them in a grouchy mood (don't let that smile in the first picture fool ya!)

See what I mean?? Poor baby, though, was coming down with STREP! I knew we'd be going to the doctor when we got home, when my cousin, whose son had been running a fever, called to say she had taken her kids to the doctor and they BOTH had strep.

Well, we decided to split up for a little bit: the guys took the three bigger kids to do some exploring, see Ellen's Energy Adventure and to see if they could ride TT. My cousin's DW and I took the two little girls to do some window shopping and exploring of our own...this is what we saw:

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We met back up in China, I think, and we decided we should probably start heading out...reluctantly and slowly, we did.

And that's the last picture...well, there is one more:

That was my cousin at one of the rest stops on the way home. I was sitting in the car, looked to the side, and that's what I saw. He was trying to get something out of their car; I jumped for my camera. It was a good time for a good laugh, it helped wake us up a bit.

You know how I said we reluctantly and slowly walked out of the park? Well, we went to the Poly to eat at Capt. Cook's. Eating turned into shopping and the arcade and before we knew it...almost midnight! Don't think we didn't consider staying that night, but it was just a couple of days before Christmas and we still had some things to take care of at home, plus my cousin had a meeting in the morning and we actually thought, if we stayed, we may NEVER leave. The next day would have been a repeat of this day, we would have stayed late again, stayed another night, and so on. Not too bad of an idea, actually. The drive home was rough because we were all so tired, but, thankfully, uneventful. We stopped at almost all the rest stops for coffee or soda or ice, the kids slept, my cousin's DW and I called each other several times to make sure the drivers were awake, and we arrived home at 4am.

So, there you have it - our grand gathering, birthday celebrating, rainy and not-so-rainy, colder-than-we-expected, pixie-dusted, Neverland partying, Christmas decorated, Riversiding, marshmallow burning, magical Disney trip! We created tons of memories, laughed a whole bunch, ate a lot, hung out and socialized a LOT, had an incredible time watching the kids do the same, and counted our blessings every step of the way.

Thanks so much to those of you that stopped by, even if you just lurked, and especially thanks to those who stuck with me for the duration - I know it took awhile, I hope you found it was worth your time - thanks again! I don't feel like this is complete without that group castle picture, though, so hopefully the thread can stay open for a little bit longer so I can get that. Also, I'll report back here after our trip and maybe just post some pics, haven't decided on a TR yet...still have that summer trip I haven't gotten to either.

NOW, however, I must go pack! We leave on our Halloween trip in just 2 DAYS!!!! So excited!! Miren knows we are going but she doesn't know about the other families. The other kids don't know that they're going. They're all going to be soooo surprised! We will relive old memories and make tons of new ones! Can't wait!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!​

 

[mom2mek]

Oh wow - what a great report! That last picture had me almost lose my coffee all over my computer screen this morning!!

Too funny how we posted almost the exact same thing about our meals at Le Cellier (down to ordering the soup for the "kids" to have, knowing they wouldn't touch it, LOL!)

It sounds like you guys just have such a ball together! I can't wait to hear all about your Halloween trip (and your summer trip - if you get around to it)!

Thanks for sharing your adorable family with all of us and I will be waiting to see that Castle pic!!!

Sara

 

[MEK]

Totally loved your last few updates! Great pictures of the girls and the Christmas decorations were fab. So many special moments in that last update!

I look forward to hearing about your halloween trip when you get back. Enjoy!!!!!!

 

[DisneyMom14]

It was so much fun reading about your trip! I REALLY think that we were at the Candlelight processional at the same time you guys passed! I've never eaten at Le Cellier but your pics and opinions are making me want to go. I love that you guys just "hung out." I hope you write about the Halloween trip!

 

[TinyDancer]

Great TR. I look forward to ing your other ones also!

 

[MeMom]

We met back up in China, I think, and we decided we should probably start heading out...reluctantly and slowly, we did.

Oh, how a shall miss seeing this guy and all of his holiday friends this year!

I love seeing everyone's newest Disney pictures from trips that are going on now, but when I see those awesome decorations, I just want to be there so badly.

Reluctantly and slowly....
Yep, that is how we walk out, too.

Hope you and your girlies are doing well and are ready for super holiday fun at your house in the weeks ahead!