Hurry Up, You Brats, or I'm Telling Mickey Mouse! An August 2013 TR THE END 1/18

[blessedmom4]

I know! It's so beautiful! I love the plate details

Thank you!! It was such a wonderful time, I'm glad I got to go!

I am so happy you were able to go as well!

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Your story about your "Grammy" still touches my heart, I hope someday my grandchildren (when I have them) speaks as highly about me as you do about yours. She was a beautiful woman and lives on in you! What a great family photo, you were/are simply adorable.

I am glad you caught your Mom at a "moment of weakness", I think this is a PERFECT way to enjoy the holiday and honor your precious Grandmother!

 

[courtneybelle]

Great update!

Thank you!

Hi Courtney! I am new to your trip report, and I just wanted to post to let you know how much I am enjoying it!

Your story about your grandma is so sweet, and how great to honor her by going back to one of her favorite places. I bet you will treasure her trip journal forever!

I also have to post.....the "guy love" comment had me laughing out loud!! We LOVE Scrubs!!! I even read what you wrote out loud to my husband, and he was cracking up, too!

Hello! I am so happy to have you here and I am glad you are enjoying the report!

Thank you so much the trip journal was a great find! I loved reading through it.

Ahhh I love Scrubs so much. SUCH a great show!

Your story about your "Grammy" still touches my heart, I hope someday my grandchildren (when I have them) speaks as highly about me as you do about yours. She was a beautiful woman and lives on in you! What a great family photo, you were/are simply adorable.

I am glad you caught your Mom at a "moment of weakness", I think this is a PERFECT way to enjoy the holiday and honor your precious Grandmother!

Thank you Judy I know your children and grandchildren will only have wonderful things to say about you! I certainly do! I found that photo shortly after she died and it made me so happy.

I am so excited. I think it's going to be our best Thanksgiving yet.

 

[DVCWDWMEMBER]

I too love the picture of all of you. You looked adorable. It's so nice to look at old pictures and have awesome memories.... Danielle and I have been going through my mom's pictures also and have thoroughly enjoyed them. I am sure you miss your grandma. I know Danielle and I miss my mom.
It's the good memories that helps you on.

 

[courtneybelle]

I too love the picture of all of you. You looked adorable. It's so nice to look at old pictures and have awesome memories.... Danielle and I have been going through my mom's pictures also and have thoroughly enjoyed them. I am sure you miss your grandma. I know Danielle and I miss my mom.
It's the good memories that helps you on.

Losing someone is tough, but finding photos and mementos is the greatest. My mom found all my Grammy's It's a Small World merchandise and I got to hold on to some of that which was amazing.

 

[courtneybelle]

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Hollywood & Vine

We had to rush over to dinner at Hollywood & Vine! This is my dad’s favorite restaurant, and we like doing the Fantasmic! Dining Package, so we’ve been coming here for years.

I was super excited because there was a PIN BOARD in the lobby. SO MANY PINS.

Our waiter, Brian, was so attentive and got us tons of refills on our drinks! He was great.

The food was good! The beef was just okay; it was much better at 1900 Park Fare. I loved the barbecue meatballs and barbecue chicken. The mashed potatoes, tater tots, and corn were all great. Disney mac & cheese is the best, obviously.

Dessert wasn’t as good as I remembered, though. The red velvet cake was the only thing that was outstanding. The chocolate marshmallow was nice, though.

It was looking like rain, so we were worried about the Indiana Jones show, but we decided to try it out anyway!

Continued in next post
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[courtneybelle]

Chapter Twenty-Eight: My Starring Role

You all should know that when I turned 18, what excited me most was not being able to vote or attending college, but officially being old enough to volunteer for the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular.

The first trip I saw it when I was 18, I got in and had a wonderful time. Would I be able to do it again?

Oh hi there!

We’ll take a brief pause to do Getting Into the Indiana Jones Show 101 with Courtney:
1. Sit up near the front. This is probably the most crucial step. This usually means getting there super early. It’s totally worth it!
2. Enthusiasm! They are really looking for people to be silly and over-the-top, so you can’t be embarrassed to jump up and scream. Fortunately, I have no shame and love attention, so I’m a perfect fit.
3. Both times I’ve been selected, I’ve worn very brightly colored clothing, which seems to help me, but I saw people in neutral colors too. It can’t hurt, either way.

I got on stage, introduced myself, and everyone had to act like they were scared!

Then, we went to the top of the theater, signed a waiver, and got our costumes. The guy who won the American Idol show I watched actually was picked as an extra! I told him I saw him in the show, and he said, “Yeah, it’s been an exciting day!” I would love to just go around trying to get into DHS shows one day. Unfortunately I tried out for AI once and got rejected. But you know, ANY WISH IS POSSIBLE.

The casting director told us that the main thing was to act silly! She wanted us to be super enthusiastic and crazy. Interestingly, last time the casting director said a lot more on safety and listening to the directors, but not so much this time, probably because they knew they wouldn't be doing the big explosions with the rain coming.

I AM SO HAPPY TO BE ALIVE AND ONSTAGE AT THE INDIANA JONES EPIC STUNT SPECTACULAR. HELLO MY ADORING FANS, I LOVE YOU BACK.

When we got back onstage, the director put us through an exercise where we had to act happy, scared, confused, etc.

Then, we shook hands with the stunt doubles!

We pretended to shop for a bit, then we watched the stunt show.

Then, something very funny happened, but it has a brief spoiler for the show. If you’ve never seen it and like surprises, skip the next paragraph…



Having seen the Indy show multiple times, I can usually recognize who the plant is from the beginning. This time I knew because he said he came back from an earlier show, and he was acting silly and not paying attention during the instructions. He was standing right next to me at one point, and the casting director jokingly scolded him for not focusing. She then asked if he and I were together, and I said no, but he said yes! The casting director yelled at me for dumping my boyfriend onstage! Haha I still have no idea what happened but I feel bad for breaking his heart.

We then watched and cheered for Indy!

Then, my boyfriend got beat up, and when he hit the ground, the casting director pulled me up to go next since I had dumped him in front of everyone…

The show ended early because it was too dangerous to do the big finale with the weather being so bad.

We got free cups of water, and then I decided to stick around and meet Indiana Jones’s stunt double!

His name was Alex, and he was so great. He met with this little boy who had an Indiana Jones hat and whip, and it was so precious!

Then, I met him and told him I was in the show, and he said, “Fantastic job! I heard you all the way from the top of the building!” We took a picture, and he thanked me for helping out.

WE’RE IN LOVE IT’S FINE.

I looked for my boyfriend to apologize, but he was nowhere to be found. Ah well.

It started raining, so we decided to head over to something I hadn’t done in years…

Continued in next post
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[DVCWDWMEMBER]

Losing someone is tough, but finding photos and mementos is the greatest. My mom found all my Grammy's It's a Small World merchandise and I got to hold on to some of that which was amazing.

Was it's a Small World your grammy's favorite??? My mom loved everything I'ts a Small World. When we would go to WDW without her Danielle and I would always bring back I'ts a small world gifts for her. She loved it.

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

So hoping that FP+ goes back to giving similar benefits like the Fantasmic! Dining Package.

Ok THIS is SO cool that you're IN the show!!!!!!!!

Ah see and you can use the Mike shirt as inspiration on how to scream.

OMG that's too funny with your "boyfriend". I've never seen that one before.

I love seeing this show with newbees to see how long it takes them to "catch on".

So you can meet the stunt double's even if you're not in the show? I had no idea, though I usually leave right away.

 

[IheartDDuck]

Thanksbirthmas. Nice.

Whewie, your uncle did have a sweet handlebar mustache! And you are absolutely adorbs in that picture.

My Grandma's favorite was It's a Small World too. I used to get her as much IASW related items whenever we would go to WDW.

Your Mom is just like mine. I would mention something like that, and she'd be like "yup. Let's see what we can do."

Thanksgiving day flights are definitely the way to go and much less expensive. I'm glad that you found something reasonable.

Ooohhhh, Royal room!

Awesome being picked for the stunt show! I'm jealous. However, I completely agree with your tips to being picked.

That's a pretty adorable Indy stunt double.

 

[lvcourtneyy]

I'm so behind! Catching up now...

Your pumpkins were adorable! I don't like carving them either!

Love your bow! Cute pictures with the MU characters!

That M&M brownie. I need one of those in my life.

Thanks for sharing about your trip to New Orleans. Your pictures are great and those beignets look so yummy. I really want to go there one day. Maybe I'll start by staying at POR/POFQ?

OMG in love with that Belle ears pin!

I don't think I've ever seen the Incredibles... I think I need to fix that.

I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your grandma. I'm sure she would love your plans for the holiday and what a great way to ease the sadness and celebrate your memories with her.

The Osborne lights are literally breathtaking. Your mother is 100% right-- the pictures don't do them justice and they alone are worth the price of the trip.

That's awesome that you got to be in the show! I've never seen it and we really need to get over to it on the next trip.

 

[khertz]

That's so fun that you got to be in the show!!! Shame on you for dumping the plant though just before the show. Way to put a damper on his day, Courtney!!

I also love that they made the audience act scared of you because of your shirt. Disney is just AWESOME.

 

[CarolAnnB]

A repeat in the Indy show! YAY! You are too funny. Last time you got to "shoot" the guy who was dying too slowly and this time you broke a heart. I was glad we stuck around so you got to meet the stuntman. What a cutie!

I liked the addition of the chocolate fountain at H&V. Chocolate on anything makes it better. But I am glad they have a CM doing it and not just letting the public stick their hands in there.

I have to get working on the scrapbook. You are doing so much work here that it should be easy for me to just follow along and keep up, but I am still back on 1900 Park Fare.

 

[courtneybelle]

Was it's a Small World your grammy's favorite??? My mom loved everything I'ts a Small World. When we would go to WDW without her Danielle and I would always bring back I'ts a small world gifts for her. She loved it.

YES EXACTLY! She loved it and we always had to find something It's a Small World related for her!

So hoping that FP+ goes back to giving similar benefits like the Fantasmic! Dining Package.

Ok THIS is SO cool that you're IN the show!!!!!!!!

Ah see and you can use the Mike shirt as inspiration on how to scream.

OMG that's too funny with your "boyfriend". I've never seen that one before.

I love seeing this show with newbees to see how long it takes them to "catch on".

So you can meet the stunt double's even if you're not in the show? I had no idea, though I usually leave right away.

Me too...I'LL FIND OUT FOR YOU IN SEVENTEEN DAYS WHAT.

It's soooo much fun. I've been seeing that show for years and I love it, so to be in it is just a whole new fantastic experience.

I definitely channeled my inner Mike Wazowski.

Yep, I left him behind in the theater, but I'll always remember that magical twenty minutes

Yes! A bunch of people stayed after to meet him. It's definitely cool if you're not in a hurry, but I wouldn't say you should wait a long time to meet them.

Thanksbirthmas. Nice.

Whewie, your uncle did have a sweet handlebar mustache! And you are absolutely adorbs in that picture.

My Grandma's favorite was It's a Small World too. I used to get her as much IASW related items whenever we would go to WDW.

Your Mom is just like mine. I would mention something like that, and she'd be like "yup. Let's see what we can do."

Thanksgiving day flights are definitely the way to go and much less expensive. I'm glad that you found something reasonable.

Ooohhhh, Royal room!

Awesome being picked for the stunt show! I'm jealous. However, I completely agree with your tips to being picked.

That's a pretty adorable Indy stunt double.

It'll catch on, just you watch

DAW thank you Dani. I was a cute kid in my day. I remember being devastated when my uncle shaved it off hahaha.

We did the exact same thing. We always had to find an IASW souvenir for her! I actually got to keep a pin and a figurine that has Mickey riding in the boat.

Disney moms are the best moms. I see so many parallels between you and your mom's relationship and my mom's and my relationship...it gives me hope that even after I graduate and move out we can still have super fun Disney trips like you guys

I am so excited for the royal room. It's going to be majestic.

I was so happy I got picked, it adds a whole new side to the show and it's just fun.

Oh, he is dreamy. So sweet, too.

I'm so behind! Catching up now...

Your pumpkins were adorable! I don't like carving them either!

Love your bow! Cute pictures with the MU characters!

That M&M brownie. I need one of those in my life.

Thanks for sharing about your trip to New Orleans. Your pictures are great and those beignets look so yummy. I really want to go there one day. Maybe I'll start by staying at POR/POFQ?

OMG in love with that Belle ears pin!

I don't think I've ever seen the Incredibles... I think I need to fix that.

I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your grandma. I'm sure she would love your plans for the holiday and what a great way to ease the sadness and celebrate your memories with her.

The Osborne lights are literally breathtaking. Your mother is 100% right-- the pictures don't do them justice and they alone are worth the price of the trip.

That's awesome that you got to be in the show! I've never seen it and we really need to get over to it on the next trip.

Thank you! Yeah, carving is just kind of gross for me.

I always need Disney desserts, always...that M&M brownie did look really good.

Thank you! I've visited POFQ before but now I want to go back and compare it to the real NOLA!

Me too!

The Incredibles is very, very good! I love it. Would definitely recommend.

Thank you I know she's really excited for us.

I cannot wait. I know it's going to be one of the best parts of the trip and I just can't imagine what it's going to be like when they flip the switch!

I love the Indy show! It's a lot of fun.

That's so fun that you got to be in the show!!! Shame on you for dumping the plant though just before the show. Way to put a damper on his day, Courtney!!

I also love that they made the audience act scared of you because of your shirt. Disney is just AWESOME.

It was a blast! And I know, I felt so bad I really wanted to apologize after! But he had disappeared.

Ugh, I know. The crowd was so great. I really got to feel like a star.

A repeat in the Indy show! YAY! You are too funny. Last time you got to "shoot" the guy who was dying too slowly and this time you broke a heart. I was glad we stuck around so you got to meet the stuntman. What a cutie!

I liked the addition of the chocolate fountain at H&V. Chocolate on anything makes it better. But I am glad they have a CM doing it and not just letting the public stick their hands in there.

I have to get working on the scrapbook. You are doing so much work here that it should be easy for me to just follow along and keep up, but I am still back on 1900 Park Fare.

Oh man that was a blast! That stuntman was very cute

I love the chocolate fountain. That was there when Dad and I went in January.

It's okay. At least you finished the December/January scrapbook!

 

[blessedmom4]

COURTNEY!!! You are FAMOUS! I love that you got picked to be in the show again how fun and you DO look very enthusiastic!! And happy! Love your shirt.

I have never eaten at H&V...not sure if I would like it or not, but the dessert plate DID catch my eye.

Your trip is almost here!

 

[CarolAnnB]

Be our Guest, be our guest! Just scored the FP+ Test!

Dec 1st FP+ times opened up. And I did not have to stay up all night to get them.

 

[courtneybelle]

COURTNEY!!! You are FAMOUS! I love that you got picked to be in the show again how fun and you DO look very enthusiastic!! And happy! Love your shirt.

I have never eaten at H&V...not sure if I would like it or not, but the dessert plate DID catch my eye.

Your trip is almost here!

Haha, Lisa and I can have a chat about being Disney celebrities! It was so much fun. Thank you, the shirt was a big hit at DHS that day!

H&V isn't my favorite but it's consistently had good food and we've been going there for years!

I am SO excited!! Before you know it, your trip will be right around the corner as well!

Be our Guest, be our guest! Just scored the FP+ Test!

Dec 1st FP+ times opened up. And I did not have to stay up all night to get them.

SO happy!!

 

[DVCWDWMEMBER]

YES EXACTLY! She loved it and we always had to find something It's a Small World related for her!
It'll catch on, just you watch

DAW thank you Dani. I was a cute kid in my day. I remember being devastated when my uncle shaved it off hahaha.

We did the exact same thing. We always had to find an IASW souvenir for her! I actually got to keep a pin and a figurine that has Mickey riding in the boat.

Disney moms are the best moms. I see so many parallels between you and your mom's relationship and my mom's and my relationship...it gives me hope that even after I graduate and move out we can still have super fun Disney trips like you guys

I can also see parallels between your mom and you and Danielle's and my relationship. We thoroughly likes each others company and love to go on Mother/Daughter trips to Disney.... We have gone many times without the Papadon

 

[courtneybelle]

I can also see parallels between your mom and you and Danielle's and my relationship. We thoroughly likes each others company and love to go on Mother/Daughter trips to Disney.... We have gone many times without the Papadon

Mother-daughter trips are so sweet! We almost did one for the Halloween party this year but decided to do the Thanksgiving trip instead

 

[courtneybelle]

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Our Night in Hollywood

We were off to One Man’s Dream!

Here are some pics of the exhibit:

Thanks for the Florida Project, Uncle Walt.

I would love to go to the Disney parks in Tokyo.

I traded some pins at the pin board, and we watched the movie, which I really loved. I didn’t know how much Walt had struggled financially throughout his life, and I also didn’t know much about Oswald. I would definitely recommend it!

Next, PLOT TWIST we went back to the Animation building to admire some art.

I resisted the urge to buy every Tiki Room product.

This was $800. But it’s every imaginable character in a Disney park. Would you ever need another piece of art?

YES YOU WOULD BECAUSE THESE ARE SOOOO CUTE:

Some MU stuff from the Animation building:

Soon enough it was time for our next TSM Fastpasses, and I did manage to beat my mom this time!

On our way over to Fantasmic!, we saw the Monsters University Pep Rally featuring Scare Supply!

Then, we went to Fantasmic! I got a pretzel, it was really salty. Mom got a frozen lemonade, and I wished I had gotten that instead, it was so good!

The show was delayed briefly because of the weather, but soon enough we were on a journey beyond our wildest imagination. Fantastic Fantasmic! photos courtesy of my mom.

Wishes is the show that gets right to my heart and makes me emotional. Fantasmic! just gives me chills and leaves me in awe.

I was a little bummed because Belle and the Beast didn’t come out on their float! They were both on the boat at the end, so it must have been an issue with the float itself…

Seeing Sorcerer Mickey at the top of the mountain is just the biggest rush. It’s pure magic.

"Some imagination, huh?"

After the show, we made it out of the theater in good time, but my dad was stopped to take a food survey, so the rest of us looked around in shops until he was done.

Then, we headed back to the hotel! We were starting to get really exhausted, but there was much Disney fun left to be had!

Pins of the day:

The Belle mouse ears pin was the best find, but I was also VERY happy to find the No Dancing pin!

Continued in next post
 
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[courtneybelle]

August 22

Chapter Thirty: Be Our Guest!

Today we were back to MK! When we got to the TTC, though, we were stopped because it was an EMH morning for resort guests. As we were riffraff and not resort guests, they held us back. Womp.

I always try to avoid EMH parks when I’m not on property, but this was the only other ASL day at MK of our trip.

But if we had to go, we could at least start at a ride that wasn’t part of EMH, right? Wrong. My dad and sister wanted to go to Space Mountain. When we got there, the wait was 55 minutes. Yeah, that wasn’t happening.

We went over to Big Thunder and I rode with Mom and Kylie while Dad got Splash FPs. Then, Dad and Kylie rode again while I looked around in the Briar Patch store.

We did Splash next, and it was glorious, as always.

I took a picture with my Splash Mountain bow from MickeyWaffles:

Even though it was early, we had an early and huge dinner planned, so we decided to head over to Be Our Guest for lunch!

There was a long line, but once they started letting people in the restaurant, it moved quickly. And yes, I got to hold the umbrella.

Lookin' good, Mine Train:

We finally arrived inside the castle!

The man who helped us order was super nice. I told him we had been here in January, and he asked if I had tried the steak sandwich. I told him it was my absolute favorite thing on the menu and I was so sad they took it off. He said he never tried it, but what he was told was that people had issues with the way it was cooked, and since they’re a QS lunch they can’t really cook each to order. It makes sense, but I still miss it.

We sat in the ballroom, which is my favorite. I just cannot get over how identical it is to the movie. It's complete and total immersion in my favorite Disney movie. I'm obsessed.

I got the croque monsieur, which was my other favorite choice:

It was soooo good. It was warm and cheesy and just glorious.

Kylie and Mom got turkey sandwiches:

Dad got the tuna, but I neglected to take a picture of it. He liked it.

For dessert, Mom, Kylie, and I got chocolate cream puffs, which were absolutely heavenly:

And Dad got a lemon meringue cupcake. He let me try some of the frosting, and it was so light and fluffy:

Continued in next post

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