Holy Crap! Just the 5 of us?

[bunkkinsmom]

Today I showed my ignorance. I made a critical error in planning, and boy did we pay for it! I thought in my tiny little mind that the buildings I saw near my room, The Mansions, were in the French Quarter. So in my tiny little mid I figured we couldn't be that far from Floatworks! I really wanted to try the Muffaletta, so I told the fam it was just right around the corner and we headed out. Well, let's just say we earned that Muffaletta! Turns out that "The Mansions" are in Riverside.

Once we made it to Floatworks, we ordered our lunches and quickly found a table. I will tell you that the Muffaletta was A....MAZING!!!! Truly. We split a couple of late night sandwiches from Earl of Sandwich, and frankly I would choose the Muffaletta over those any day.

But we did get on the road to Hollywood Studios, and we had a blast! After the obligatory Tower of Tower journey:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73w8orUmFbw

I waited patiently for my beloved Dorma Nesmond, but alas, it was not to be today. I will have to stalk her before our week is over, as she is one of the reasons that we love Hollywood so much!

We took a little break at The Brown Derby for a snack and it was quite good, check out the dining review thread for more details! After that was the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular. During the stunt show I noticed that there was an interpreter signing for the audience. With 2 deaf Grandparents and a father who has always been high up in State Government with Deaf Services, I was interested in the process for this. After the show I got the attention of the interpreter and he was kind enough to answer some questions for me regarding their services, and he was really informative! Needless to say I will be suggesting this for my now retired dad in case he wants to move down here as part of his retirement!

After that we headed over to the new Star Tours, and let me just say that I was REALLY REALLY IMPRESSED! I am not a fan of 3D, and neither is DH, so he stayed outside and I went in with the kids. It was awesome! and I can't wait to go again. Apparently there are several different scenarios......

By this time it was time for dinner, and it was off to 50's Prime Time. The entree that got the most votes for us to review was Fried Chicken, and DH said it was excellent (Stay tuned for the actual video review over on the dining thread!)

We promised the kids yesterday that we would go to Goofy's tonight, so we loaded the Saratoga Springs bus to hop the boat. But the good man driving took us over to Downtown!!!!! YAY!!! Afterwards we took our first boat ride back over to Riverside. I have to tell you that I love this boat ride! So relaxing...... It has always been one of my favorite parts of our OKW stay, and I enjoy it to POR as well.

So that's all for tonight, see you all tomorrow!!!

 

[HiHoOffWeGo]

To much fun - where you off to today? On the dinning thread could you tell us all meals for the day + snacks?

 

[mouselovenfamily]

Today I showed my ignorance. I made a critical error in planning, and boy did we pay for it! I thought in my tiny little mind that the buildings I saw near my room, The Mansions, were in the French Quarter. So in my tiny little mid I figured we couldn't be that far from Floatworks! I really wanted to try the Muffaletta, so I told the fam it was just right around the corner and we headed out. Well, let's just say we earned that Muffaletta! Turns out that "The Mansions" are in Riverside.

Once we made it to Floatworks, we ordered our lunches and quickly found a table. I will tell you that the Muffaletta was A....MAZING!!!! Truly. We split a couple of late night sandwiches from Earl of Sandwich, and frankly I would choose the Muffaletta over those any day.

But we did get on the road to Hollywood Studios, and we had a blast! After the obligatory Tower of Tower journey:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73w8orUmFbw

I waited patiently for my beloved Dorma Nesmond, but alas, it was not to be today. I will have to stalk her before our week is over, as she is one of the reasons that we love Hollywood so much!

We took a little break at The Brown Derby for a snack and it was quite good, check out the dining review thread for more details! After that was the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular. During the stunt show I noticed that there was an interpreter signing for the audience. With 2 deaf Grandparents and a father who has always been high up in State Government with Deaf Services, I was interested in the process for this. After the show I got the attention of the interpreter and he was kind enough to answer some questions for me regarding their services, and he was really informative! Needless to say I will be suggesting this for my now retired dad in case he wants to move down here as part of his retirement!

After that we headed over to the new Star Tours, and let me just say that I was REALLY REALLY IMPRESSED! I am not a fan of 3D, and neither is DH, so he stayed outside and I went in with the kids. It was awesome! and I can't wait to go again. Apparently there are several different scenarios......

By this time it was time for dinner, and it was off to 50's Prime Time. The entree that got the most votes for us to review was Fried Chicken, and DH said it was excellent (Stay tuned for the actual video review over on the dining thread!)

We promised the kids yesterday that we would go to Goofy's tonight, so we loaded the Saratoga Springs bus to hop the boat. But the good man driving took us over to Downtown!!!!! YAY!!! Afterwards we took our first boat ride back over to Riverside. I have to tell you that I love this boat ride! So relaxing...... It has always been one of my favorite parts of our OKW stay, and I enjoy it to POR as well.

So that's all for tonight, see you all tomorrow!!!

What a great and fun LIVE report you are doing! Thanks so much for allowing everyone along with our trip! You are giving up time on your vacation to bring us along, very nice of you! Getting to ride the TOT, from Missouri while drinking my morning coffee through your links...

Can't wait for more and can't wait to be there soon!!

 

[bunkkinsmom]

Awwww thanks! C'mon over to my Dining Thread and vote for what we should order tonight!!!! It's Grand Floridian Cafe night!

 

[mouselovenfamily]

Awwww thanks! C'mon over to my Dining Thread and vote for what we should order tonight!!!! It's Grand Floridian Cafe night!

I've been watching! I'm a confessed food snob and I really don't like to eat out. We have a ressie for GFC in March so I will vote for sure!!!

Have a great Disney Day!!!!!!

 

[goddesserika18]

how are the buses/ on time? crowded?

 

[bunkkinsmom]

I've been watching! I'm a confessed food snob and I really don't like to eat out. We have a ressie for GFC in March so I will vote for sure!!!

Have a great Disney Day!!!!!!

I really like the GFC! The food and service are always really good, and it's never crowded.

how are the buses/ on time? crowded?

We've only ridden the buses a couple of times, we drove down for the first time. But the times we've ridden have not been crowded at all.

 

[bunkkinsmom]

Two parks in one day? NOOO, it's not possible! Don't start till noon?? I say NAY!

Yup, we did it!

We had lunch here today and it was good. I ordered the Muffuletta, and it was good but I had to ask them to heat it as they served it to me cold. Nothing out of the ordinary, so..... moving on......

We started our day at Animal Kingdom because Kali closes tomorrow for refurb. I changed my dinner reservations to 530 because AK closes at 5, so the plan was to go swimming after dinner. That didn't quite happen.....

Today we found out for sure that DD5 is tall enough for Expedition Everest!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYP2r5tyHXs

She was beyond excited!!!!!!! So she rode it 4 times. Yeah, I was a bit queazy after twice. We got nice and soaked on the Kali River Rapids (video to come soon!!) and my DH got to use his new Go Pro waterproof camera. Afterwards the kids and I decided to take a little safari while dad watched the Gorillas. This is DH's favorite thing to do in AK. Honest, he could sit there for HOURS!

The safari was FANTASTIC, I swear I think we saw everything out there:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcDMFz5RkLw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JH3sn8NJkQ

After the Safari we grabbed a quick snack and then we thought it best to head to the resort for a bit before dinner. Yeah it didn't quite go that way. By the time we got to our resort it was after 5, so we just headed over to our reservation at the Grand Floridian. We handed the valet our keys and headed inside. Dinner was Grand, check out that thread for details!

Afterwards, we decided to wrap up the night at the Magic Kingdom. After all, there really are only a few rides we like there, and if we could knock them all out tonight then no need to go back! So that was the goal. The park closed at 10, it was after 7, and we were on a mission!!! So beginning at 7-ish with leaving the restaurant and ending at 10 with leaving Main Street, we rode Space Mountain twice, Splash Mountain (got stuck for about 10 minutes on that on), Buzz Lightyear, Magic Carpets, and finally, finally, finally rode the Jungle Cruise at night!!! So I can check that off my bucket list. Oh, we rode the PeopleMover too! I thought that was pretty good time, we were moving. FYI, I've been in 2 parks before tonight that were almost empty. Once was Animal Kingdom when a rain storm kicked up right before the parade. The park emptied into all of the stores, and I love the rain. So I took off my shoes and started strolling through the park. I went through Asia, over the bridge and into Africa, and took a right at Tusker House before I saw a single person. It was amazing, like I had it to myself. Then at Epcot we had an early dinner at Akershus before the park opened, and that was very very nice. Well it happened again tonight. Just a tip, if you want to walk on a ride, ride it during Wishes. We walked through half of adventure land and up the hill in frontier land before seeing anyone. We walked into Splash Mountain and right into a log for the ride. Same with Buzz Lightyear. Actually, come to think of it, the longest wait all day was less than 15 minutes!

**YAWN*** Tomorrow, well who knows, we will just have to see how we feel!

 

[bunkkinsmom]

After a very very late night we decided to sleep in a little. You know, because starting at noon is just too early! It was off to Ol Man Island for a dip in the pool around 11. DH and the kids walked over and I drove over to Fulton's to try and find a swimsuit. Nope. No sizes over a medium. Don't even ask about the 2 piece suits, I didn't look

So I thought, self, why not just get some shorts? Nope. No shorts. Hmmmmmm. What's a girl to do? BOXERS! YES!!! A new pair of red mickey boxers.... perfect! DH was a bit embarrassed by my pasty whiteness in a black tshirt and red boxers jumping in the pool, but really, like I'm ever gonna see these people again? I mean Jimmy Crack Corn!

The baby went down the waterslide after much coaxing, and then wouldn't get off the waterslide. Seriously, I had to kick (I mean softly nudge her with my foot ) down the first time, then it was on like Donkey Kong.

After a couple of hours of that we rinsed off, changed, and headed to Epcot. SUNSHINE SEASONS!!!!! We were starving! I had my usual Tuna Noodle salad and it was delish! A quick ride on Mission Space and the traditional spin on Nemo and it was already time to head to Downtown for dinner. Tonight's dinner was Raglan Road..... Interesting.... check out the dining review thread in my siggy for more details

We walked to the West Side for a bit, back to Goofy's for bring home desserts, and tonight I really am going to bed early...... I swear...... I am hoping that tomorrow is a big day and I get to see what I've been waiting a whole year for!!!

What could that possibly be?

 

[vamassey1]

Are you hoping to catch the opening show at MK?

 

[bunkkinsmom]

Are you hoping to catch the opening show at MK?

Maybe........ you'll have to wait and see! ...... or read rather.....

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Hi, jumping over from POR too and enjoying your reports and videos.

I love that your idea of going to bed early works out about as well as mine, LOL.

 

[andrewilley]

I love that your idea of going to bed early works out about as well as mine, LOL.

LOL, as I'm in the UK I'm sometimes just getting up for work when you folks finally turn in for the night.

Andre

 

[andrewilley]

I thought in my tiny little mind that the buildings I saw near my room, The Mansions, were in the French Quarter.

I forgot to ask, while you were exploring those 'French Quarter' mansion buildings did you happen to notice if Oak Manor was already closed and its refurbishment had started? No one has confirmed that as yet, although I assume it must be ny now.

Andre

 

[Moira222]

Did you love the Jungle cruise at night? Don't know why the jokes are just funnier...maybe the CMs are a little slap happy delivering them all day so they just roll them out or something. but DD and I just cracked ourselves up silly on the night cruise.

Your TR is a fun read...sort of feel like I'm there with you (or is that wishful thinking?)

are the mardi gras masks & clowns all over the resort?

 

[HiHoOffWeGo]

A whole week - a whole whole week - sweat mamas! was said by a young man just a week ago and I believe everyone has enjoyed tagging along. I look forward to the pictures of your stay and realize that won't come till after you get home but if I may ask a favor? Could you tel us what meal and venue did you enjoy the most.

 

[andrewilley]

I meant to say and clean forgot... if you want something fun for the kids to try on your last day or two (the adults are welcome to have a go too of course!) I created a Port Orleans Photo Scavenger Hunt a while ago. It's viewable at http://www.portorleans.org/scavenger-hunt.php, where there's also a downloadable PDF version if anyone wants to print one out before they go.

Andre

 

[oopsiDAISY]

I feel like I have missed out on so much fun! I just discovered the POR thread yesterday and your videos and threads today.

We are very similar in a lot of ways. I am 40 and my DH is 35. We have three kids, two girls and one boy..."a boy's boy" as you described yours. We too have chosen to surprise our kids this time. When we were there last March we told them it would probably be about 3 or 4 yrs before we could go back...but VOILA, free dining changed everything! We will be staying in a room for 5, so hopefully we can get one of the refurbed rooms too.

I have LOVED your videos, dining reviews, and now your TR. I actually changed an ADR from Boatwright's to Ragland Road because of your fabuous video of it!

 

[FairyGodmotherJen]

Enjoying your report - we're finally able to book our vacation, now that our school calendar is out, and we have decided to try POR. We're also a family of five. Thanks so much for the video of the Murphy bed - we were wondering how that would work! Though, only the (will be then) 4 year old will be able to sleep in it and we're going to have to ask for a bedrail to keep him in it!

Looking forward to more!

 

[dmoore718]

Love it!! We are another family of 5, torn between POR and AOA for our Jan. 2013 trip...good thing I have a year to obsess over it. We always go the end of Jan. and love it. Enjoy!!!!!