Hold my umbrella while I find your poncho! A May 2012 TR-- NEW-FINALLY! 1/17; pg. 29

[amazingact21]

It's too bad Reid had to forget his pins all the way back in Norway, that can be a long walk when you weren't planning on making it.

Teppan Edo is a good restaurant; I'm glad to see you enjoyed your dinner there.

 

[Nermel9]

Aww, I'm sorry Reid lost his lanyard! I think that's one of the reasons I don't do pin trading, I'm too afraid I'd lose them all!

Yum, Teppan Edo looks so good! I've only eaten there once and for some reason, we weren't impressed with it, but I want to give it another try!

I've never seen the candy lady, I always miss her! Maybe on our next trip! Those little animals are so cute!

 

[MHTeacher]

Am I too late?? Can I join in the fun??? Going back now to catch up!

Of course not! Glad to have you reading!

I'm really enjoying your TR, you guys seem like such a fun family!

I'm so sorry that Reid lost his pin lanyard, was it ever recovered? I once left my pins in a restuarant, and when I realized what I had done I was in an absolute panic (I was wearing my beloved Alice in Wonderland pins ). I was so grateful to the CMs who found it and returned it to me, and I hope the same happened for your son!

Thanks for reading along!

The CM gave him four pins to make up for the four he'd lost, but we had to buy a new lanyard. We got one that night when we back at the Poly. He pinned on his new pins, and decided which ones looked too "girly", and traded those the next few days!

Sort of, just me, my youngest and my mom. Don is done with WDW for awhile and my oldest is at an age where he can take it or leave it. He doesn't want to miss a week of basketball practice, so he elected not to go. I think I'm going to start a pre-TR when I get back from my cruise next week

Sounds like fun! I understand about your older son--As they get older, and more involved in school activities, it's just hard for them to miss any amount of school. Is he driving yet?

I'll be looking for a PTR soon!

Loving your TR so far!! Samoa is the longhouse I want to stay in at the Poly. We're hoping for next fall!! It's my dream resort so I'm super jealous you got to stay there!!!

I feel Reid's pain on leaving something on the ride. I left my camera bag on DreamFlight when I was like 10 (where Buzz Lightyear in MK is now) I was so upset. Luckily someone found it and mailed it back to me (I had gotten bored at the airport and put the little Delta free paper luggage tags on everything we had brought with us so the person just sent it back to me.)

Can't wait to read more!!

We enjoyed Samoa for the location. But the other two times we've been at the Poly, we stayed in Tokelau, and I loved that location too!

DreamFlight---Was that the same thing as the Eastern airlines "If I had Wings"? Good thing you got camera bag back that time!

 

[MHTeacher]

We were there during the same time period. We did have to fight the rain a lot. We were at Epcot on this same day. The first time it rained, we managed to get into The Seas-Nemo attraction. Somehow we manged to avoid the rain all day and didn't have to break out the ponchos and umbrella. Can't say that about the rest of our trip though.

It was great to be able to duck into an attraction and miss that rain. The worst of it that day for us was that hard downpour around 4. But you're right, the next two days were quite rainy!

Wouldn't it be great fun if you saw yourself in one of my pics?

You are so lucky! I have never gotten a really good pic of the lions. Yours are awesome!

Thanks!

I had never gotten a picture of the lions up and moving in ten trips, until that evening safari!

It's too bad Reid had to forget his pins all the way back in Norway, that can be a long walk when you weren't planning on making it.

Uh, yeah....You're telling me!

It seems as if the later it gets in the day, the bigger around World Showcase becomes!

Aww, I'm sorry Reid lost his lanyard! I think that's one of the reasons I don't do pin trading, I'm too afraid I'd lose them all!

Yum, Teppan Edo looks so good! I've only eaten there once and for some reason, we weren't impressed with it, but I want to give it another try!

I've never seen the candy lady, I always miss her! Maybe on our next trip! Those little animals are so cute!

We've liked Teppan Edo each time we've been there. Like I said, it's no more different than any other hibachi type restaurant that you can get at home, but it's more fun because it's at Disney!

You'll have to watch her show next time, Jen---maybe during the trip with your sister. I think y'all would like it!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Is he driving yet?

Yep!

 

[MHTeacher]

Yep!

I understand!

Rachel turned 16 in April, and got her license---the second test time!

 

[MHTeacher]

Tuesday, May 29

Tuesday morning, we were up by 7 a.m., well, at least I was…everyone else staggered out of the bed in phases, and we were all finally ready to leave by 8:30. We didn’t wait for a bus very long, and by 9:05, we had arrived at

We made it through bag check and the gates by 9:15---just fifteen minutes after “official” opening. Not too bad for my family!

We made the walk over to Toy Story Mania first, and the posted stand-by line wait time was 70 minutes! What? We took a fast pass instead, with a return time or 11:15-12:15.

We walked back down Sunset Blvd, and saw that the wait time for RnRC was 50 minutes, so we instead decided to go with the 20 minutes wait at Tower of Terror.

Elizabeth hates this ride, so she decided to look in some shops nearby while we rode. I sure did hate that our first ride wouldn’t all be together. This is Kevin’s favorite ride, and the four of us had fun riding together.

When we finished and found Elizabeth, we used our Disney mobile magic app, and discovered that the wait time at RnRC was now 30 minutes. Since there are really only the three big rides at DHS, we decided that 30 minutes wasn’t that long, and we were willing to stand in a line that long. As we got in the line, it began to rain. Umbrellas up, ponchos out! After about 10 minutes, we finally made it to the part of the line that is covered, and then we were just glad to be out of the rain. We decided we’d gladly wait in line if it kept us dry!

When we finished, we realized that we could probably make the first showing of Beauty and the Beast. So, we got to the theater, a little close to show time, because we didn’t get a great seat. I like to sit in the middle section, but it was full already from people getting out of the rain, so we had to sit in the far left (stage right) section. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this show! Good thing I have two daughters, because if I had all sons who refused to watch this, there would be a revolt by mama!

MAJOR PHOTO ALERT---I tend to go a little crazy taking pictures of this show (and I didn’t even include all I took!)

When the show was over, we walked back to TSM to use our fast passes.

When we finished, we pulled a second fast pass that had a return time of 7 that evening. (It was 12:10 then—I wrote that in my handy, dandy notebook!)

By that time we had about an hour until our lunch reservation, so we decided to walk over to The Magic of Disney Animation. The line for Animation Academy was already full for the next show, and with our reservation, we couldn’t wait for the second. Instead, the kids played—They colored on the “Ink and Paint” screens, and they played around with “Which Disney character are you?”

The line for Sorcerer Mickey was insane, so we decided to skip it, and instead Kevin and I sat on a bench, while the kids played around. Then it happened---My high school graduate, eighteen year old, “I’m going to college in two months”, daughter realized that Pooh was in the meet and greet line, and there was no line! She decided that she had to meet him right then!

Afterwards, the kids all sat down and amused themselves for a few minutes-

By then, it was a little past one, and close enough that we could walk over to check in for our lunch reservation. Where, you ask? We were having lunch at

UP NEXT: I DON’T LIKE THE LOOKS OF THAT CLOUD!

 

[wakica]

WOW!!! I can't beleive how long those waits were so early in the morning!! I'm so glad we get there before opening cuz I just couldn't wait that long and we always feel we need to ride the rides 2 or even 3 times each!!

I can't wait to see what you thought of SciFi!! I've heard mixed reviews on it. We really enjoyed it for the theming when we went and for the shakes and the food was just "meh" but we are not huge "foodies" so we are all about the atmosphere in Disney. So I'm curious to see what you all thought of it.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Fun morning at DHS! I hope I can get my crew moving that early! It might be touch and go.

 

[MHTeacher]

I can't wait to see what you thought of SciFi!! I've heard mixed reviews on it. We really enjoyed it for the theming when we went and for the shakes and the food was just "meh" but we are not huge "foodies" so we are all about the atmosphere in Disney. So I'm curious to see what you all thought of it.

You know, Kim, I agree about the food---It's just average food. The best part about Sci-Fi is the atmosphere-that's what you're paying for. It's a fun place to grab a burger and shake!

Fun morning at DHS! I hope I can get my crew moving that early! It might be touch and go.

Well, as you know Jackie, it's pretty much hit-or-miss with my group whether they get up and move that early! They do good for the first couple of days, and then they tend to go on strike!

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

Great update!! Love DHS! I've got to get my guys over to see that!

 

[amazingact21]

I've never seen the Beauty and the Beast show before, but your pictures make it seem like it's really good. I'll have to keep that in mind the next time I visit DHS.

70 minute wait times after fifteen minutes of park time?! That's just ridiculous. I know TSMM always has a long line, but jeez...


Mmm, Sci Fi has some of the best shakes.

 

[kansasdisneygal]

We were there that morning too. It POURED for a while. We waited it out in the Magic of Disney Animation building before our lunch reservation at 50's PTC. Ponchos were definitely used!!! Looks like you guys were having a good morning so far!! I love Sci-Fi!!!

 

[MHTeacher]

Great update!! Love DHS! I've got to get my guys over to see that!

Thanks!

I've never seen the Beauty and the Beast show before, but your pictures make it seem like it's really good. I'll have to keep that in mind the next time I visit DHS.

70 minute wait times after fifteen minutes of park time?! That's just ridiculous. I know TSMM always has a long line, but jeez....

You've got to watch Beauty and the Beast some time!

I thought those wait times were crazy. Just read on easywdw's blog today, that he (Josh-the writer) believes Disney exaggerates the wait times early in the mornings to force people to other attractions. Makes sense-and usually his info is pretty on target!

We were there that morning too. It POURED for a while. We waited it out in the Magic of Disney Animation building before our lunch reservation at 50's PTC. Ponchos were definitely used!!! Looks like you guys were having a good morning so far!! I love Sci-Fi!!!

You were there too? Wish we'd run into each other! It was a rainy morning for sure!

 

[kansasdisneygal]

Oh Nevermind, did you mean to put Tuesday, May 29th at the top?? I saw the 28th and thats the Monday we were in HS. Which it poured that morning also!!

 

[MHTeacher]

Oh Nevermind, did you mean to put Tuesday, May 29th at the top?? I saw the 28th and thats the Monday we were in HS. Which it poured that morning also!!

I typed the wrong date! Being on vacation causes serious problems between me and knowing the date!

It also rained that Monday that you're talking about. We were at Epcot that morning.

 

[MHTeacher]

Tuesday, May 29-DHS-continued

When I left you, we were headed to our 1:30 reservation for lunch at

Everyone ordered cheeseburgers and chocolate shakes, and enjoyed the dark, cool, and atmosphere.

The girls and I had eaten here during a girl’s only March trip in 2010, but Kevin and Reid had never tried it. I knew that Reid would like the “zoning out” part and watching movies. I knew Kevin would appreciate the atmosphere of the place!

Now, the food here is just average—It’s nothing special to me, but the setting is so fun, it makes up for the so-so food! We had a great server, and she commented on our anniversary buttons. She made a big deal over us celebrating our 22nd anniversary. She went on about how young we were to have been married for that long---Yes, she got a good tip! At the end of our meal, she brought us out an anniversary sundae!

After lunch, we went back to Animation Academy, and this time we were the first ones in line, so we were guaranteed to get in on the next class. We only waited about fifteen minutes, and it was our time. We got to draw a character we’d never tried before---Pluto. Here’s my attempt:

When we finished, we realized that we could get over to Lights! Motors! Action! and catch last show for the day. As we began walking there, it began to rain, just a little at first, and then enough that the umbrellas came up. It seemed like everyone we met was heading to the covered theater.

When we finally got in the bottom dropped. It began to rain-and not just a straight down rain, but a blowing rain. It was blowing in from the open sides. People began to put on their ponchos even though we were all “under cover.” I even opened my umbrella (I was near the top, not in a crowd of people), and held it on one side of my head just to block off the blowing rain.

Sitting there on those bleachers, we watched the storm cloud in front of ToT as it moved right across the park.

The emcee of the show came out briefly, to tell us that the show would be delayed. Of course we had already guessed that. It wouldn’t be very safe to do that show on wet pavement. After about a 15-20 minute delay, the rain eased up to just a slow rain, and they announced they would start a “modified” show. They performed the part of the show up to the big chase scene, where the car jumps the truck. They then announced that they would not be able to do the motorcycle scenes, and would have to call it quits there for safety reasons.

As we began to leave, the rain began again, and people were crowded up at the exit as everyone stopped to put back on ponchos. As we walked past Studio Catering , we got sidetracked by a gift shop. Reid wanted a Perry the Platypus. After finding one, I stood in a long line to pay, while my kids acted crazy as usual—shooting each other, and locking up the other with handcuffs of sorts!

As we walked back toward the center of the park, a lot of people were heading out of the park at this time, but we just decided to stick with it. We walked over to Tower of Tower, and then pulled a fast pass for RnRC afterwards.

We walked back to TSM to use our second fast pass, but got there a little early. We used the restroom, and I found an outlet near the restrooms so I could charge my phone for a little while we waited. I noticed that during this trip, my phone battery was getting zapped every day. I think using that Disney Mobile Magic app used a lot of power every day. The girls found a spot to rest and have a little text break, or instagram break, or facebook break, or twitter break. Whatever--I’m sure it was one of those things!

It had stopped raining again, but it you look to the back right of this picture, you can still see water standing from the last storm that had blown through!

By that time it was between 7 and 8, so we walked down to Catalina Eddies, and shared a couple of pizzas. Then it was time to use our fast passes for RnRC. We were all tired and wet, so we decided that this would be the last ride for the night, and that we’d head out afterwards.

While we were in the line, I spotted a fellow DISer---Lisa—mickeystoontown! I spoke to here as were all being shepherded into our lines for the ride, but we didn’t have much time to talk. When we came off the ride, she was waiting in the gift shop. I had so much fun talking to her, and meeting John, Hunter, Lacey and Jesse!

We left, and headed to the bus stops just a little after 9. We were back to the Poly and in our room by 9:50. It was time for showers, and then everyone went to bed with no complaining!

UP NEXT: I FINALLY MAKE IT!

 

[wakica]

Mmmm! I love those Sci Fi shakes!! Im practially drooling right now. i think I have to try and attempt to make some sort of yummy shake right now. Of course it wont come anywhere close to the quality of theirs but im drooling and need to do SOMETHING about it. lol

LOOOve the Pluto drawing!!! I did animation station once our last trip (we drew Stitch) and dd and dh did it 3 times each!! So its a very popular stop for us at HS. I wish I had gotten to draw pluto - hes so cute!!

 

[PixieMama]

Sci-Fi seems to be hit-or-miss, but we love it! I agree, the food isn't fabulous... but if you stick with burgers and shakes, you'll be fine!

I think your Pluto is very well done!

 

[alabamagirl]

I'm enjoying your TR! I'm also from ALabama and a middle school teacher!! I envy how much you guys can get done in the parks. I have 2 little boys and there is never enough time!