I Like Warm Hugs! - Mommy/Toddler Trip ~ Updated 6/20: New Trip Report Link!

[TheMaxRebo]

Clearly I have fallen behind, so .... comments en mass!

Bummer about how things turned out with the Woody/Buzz meet - I actually like the waiting area with the photo op spots so too bad you had to rush through it. I do like the PP photo and how you pointed out it looks like Izzy is looking at the toys in the boarder

It's cool though that you noticed that woman and her child in line at the snow area and that it hit you to not sweat some of the small stuff and be thankful for the blessing you had ... almost like that was there not just by chance but to make you realize that right away after being annoyed about being delayed and in line, etc.

We never made it to the that area but it looks pretty fun (little smaller than I was picturing in my head though). Not surprised it wasn't the best snow but the novelty of being able to "build a snowman" in Disney World in Florida is still pretty cool (pun kinda intended)

Sorry to hear Lauren was sick but glad she made it through the day ... she probably needed a vacation from that vacation by the time she was done.

I would have loved to share that cupcake with Izzy as I hate cream cheese frosting (or anything with cream cheese in it) but love carrot cake - glad things worked out in the end in getting napkins but I can see that moment of panic/worry.

haha, the only thing we did do was the merchandise area. It was nice but nothing that had to be done - that was where they had the "sauna door" though.

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That photopass magicshot video is pretty funny I thought the same thing as it almost comes out looking like you and Izzy are the magic shot for Olaf Would actually be really cool if they did do "Magic Videos" and you were moving in it too

Sounds like for you in your situation where it was the focus of the trip and you had one day there and only had to pay for you the package made a ton of sense. For my family even having to pay for the 3 of us I think it was a bit much since I felt like we still got to see the main things we wanted (plus, doing Fantasmic! as well wouldn't really fit and that was a priority for us)

Does seem a weird process with the rope and letting people in. I bet those "free snacks" felt totally worth the money on a hot day

I did here the parade was pretty short but did look fun and you got a good spot for the show. The little girl with the Elsa doll waving to the real Elsa is pretty cute. Might have just been too much of everything (heat, stimulation, snacks, etc.) for Izzy at that point. Hope she enjoyed the sing-along show later though

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I do like the idea of the living room being the waiting area at 50's prime time

Your food looks good - glad you were happy with your choices. Bummer your waiter wasn't any better. Maybe he noticed Lauren not being in top shape and having ordered the soup so didn't want to push things too much

The TV's there are cool with the old shows and a neat thing you spotted with the “Minneapolis” - guess that is an old spelling? being kinda funny if they had it spelled “Minnie-apolis”

 

[Jackiemarie21]

What a clever title!

Izzy looks so big on TSMM! How cute!

Umm yummy lunch! I would really like to try that fried cheese....looks delish!

When Charlotte was that age she went through a stage where she insisted on a big girl chair and then about 1/4 of the way through the meal she would want to get up and sit in my lap. It drove me crazy, and happened a lot when were in disney. I let a lot of behavior slide there because I wanted a great trip. But I was glad to get her back to sitting in a high chair! I am glad Izzy stayed in the big girl seat!

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

I've heard so many good things about 50's. That waiting area is fabulous.

"Though something odd about seeing people playing on their smart phones while sitting in a '50's living room" Now THAT is a good point.

 

[hokieinpa]

TSMM was our love at HS! But the turns are pretty rough which caught me off guard!

I think my boys played in that same area with the "picnic" table at 50s Prime Time! Except someone had left half empty glasses all over it, so that was just a treat trying to scoop away from them!

I loved the food at 50s PT! I got the sampler - super yummy! Our server wasn't into the act at all which was a bummer. I'm pretty sure we saw that same server on our last visit and he was making a boy about 12 or 13 years old carry a stack of plates back to the kitchen!

Can't wait to hear about your yummy Epcot treats!

 

[Dugette]

I haven't been to 50's PT in forever -- maybe next trip! Funny how the mid-century modern style is back in now, that living room doesn't look so dated anymore

I am so clueless about that sort of thing, so I had no idea.

Looks like a good lunch overall, and fun to get a TV table!! Gotta love any dining experience that has built in entertainment for little ones

Yes, it was a good experience. Nice to get a good table too!

So fun to read about the experiences you had! The walking to the castle photo, I don't remember what we were doing? Maybe about to ride Barnstormer or something, I will have to check photos when I get to it, that was too bad you never got it though

Hey, there! I'm excited to read about what you were doing during that time too! I wouldn't be surprised if you were doing the Barnstormer when I texted - that would make sense. No worries on the picture - having one from 2 months prior makes me feel okay about it.

That day started out so awful, that bug was not nice to me! Those frozen lemonades though were just about the most PERFECT thing you could ask for - I think we went through 4 of them?! Haha. And then to find chicken noodle soup?! The stars were definitely aligned! Lunch was a lot of fun and TSMM was great too. So glad we could spend that day with you. I look forward to our next meet ups! Just no more Disney bugs!

You were such a trooper to still get up early and get to DHS that day! I'm glad the lemonades helped so much - glad you did the package just for the unlimited supply of those! It was fun to meet up and do some things! Yes, no more Disney bugs allowed!

I love 50's Prime Time! We have always had a really good time there with our servers, and the food has always been really good, too. I don't really eat meat very often, but I do love their pot roast, so I understand why your server was pushing that - so good. I had actually made a reservation for Sci-Fi Drive-in (never eaten there) for our April trip, but changed it to 50's PTC, and am excited to return!

If we go back in May (we might - I made an ADR just in case...), I will have to try the Pot Roast, I think. I hope you have a good time there in April! I think that's a good choice with a toddler vs. Sci Fi too!

I love 50's Prime Time - I'm glad you got a chance to go there! I'm a big fan of the pot roast your server was pushing, but the meatloaf isn't too bad, either. If you go again you'll have to try the PBJ milkshake - it's fantastic!

Yes, pot roast and PBJ milkshake it is! I might have to keep that ADR just to fulfill this obligation.

I'm a bit jealous that you got a TV table! I've never been seated at one, but I may request it more strongly next time as we'll have three of us at our ADR.

Yes, request strongly! I think that's what Lauren did. I hope you get one!

 

[Dugette]

Clearly I have fallen behind, so .... comments en mass!

No worries!

Bummer about how things turned out with the Woody/Buzz meet - I actually like the waiting area with the photo op spots so too bad you had to rush through it. I do like the PP photo and how you pointed out it looks like Izzy is looking at the toys in the boarder

I know - I always thought that waiting area looked fun too - and then I didn't have any time to enjoy it or take pictures. I'm sure we'll be back.

It's cool though that you noticed that woman and her child in line at the snow area and that it hit you to not sweat some of the small stuff and be thankful for the blessing you had ... almost like that was there not just by chance but to make you realize that right away after being annoyed about being delayed and in line, etc.

Absolutely. It was a good reminder of how lucky we were just to be healthy and to be there. If we had to wait in a few lines, that was not so awful in the grand scheme of things.

We never made it to the that area but it looks pretty fun (little smaller than I was picturing in my head though). Not surprised it wasn't the best snow but the novelty of being able to "build a snowman" in Disney World in Florida is still pretty cool (pun kinda intended)

That's exactly why we did it. I mean, we could build a snowman at home (we haven't, but we could, darn it!), but something about doing it at WDW is awesome. It was a fun activity - nice to do something different like that.

Sorry to hear Lauren was sick but glad she made it through the day ... she probably needed a vacation from that vacation by the time she was done.

Yes, I don't know how she managed as well as she did - just her and Aria while she wasn't feeling well. I'm sure she needed a rest afterwards.

I would have loved to share that cupcake with Izzy as I hate cream cheese frosting (or anything with cream cheese in it) but love carrot cake - glad things worked out in the end in getting napkins but I can see that moment of panic/worry.

You'd be perfect to split that cupcake! She would be happy to take that darn frosting off your hands. It's hard to know what to do in those solo-parent moments. I felt really weird just leaving her sitting there and knowing others might see her and wonder if she was lost or what. But I was so fast, I honestly was probably gone like 5 seconds. But it felt like a long time.

haha, the only thing we did do was the merchandise area. It was nice but nothing that had to be done - that was where they had the "sauna door" though.

I wish I had gone in just to see that door! I forgot about it. I've seen the pictures and it just seems so cute!

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That photopass magicshot video is pretty funny I thought the same thing as it almost comes out looking like you and Izzy are the magic shot for Olaf Would actually be really cool if they did do "Magic Videos" and you were moving in it too

Maybe they will "plus" Memory Maker and add that. I mean, they should be able to. I have a video of my ToT ride (coming up) on my Memory Maker.

Sounds like for you in your situation where it was the focus of the trip and you had one day there and only had to pay for you the package made a ton of sense. For my family even having to pay for the 3 of us I think it was a bit much since I felt like we still got to see the main things we wanted (plus, doing Fantasmic! as well wouldn't really fit and that was a priority for us)

Yeah, the one day one person combo was important for us. I wanted to make sure we got everything in and it wasn't all that much to do it. And I made sure to take plenty of drinks and treats to offset the cost.

Does seem a weird process with the rope and letting people in. I bet those "free snacks" felt totally worth the money on a hot day

I was so puzzled that they got me all checked off and then just left me standing there. Odd. It was nice having that Mickey bar, even if it did get melty quick. I hadn't had one for quite some time and it was better than I remembered. And the free bottles of water and pop are always good!

I did here the parade was pretty short but did look fun and you got a good spot for the show. The little girl with the Elsa doll waving to the real Elsa is pretty cute. Might have just been too much of everything (heat, stimulation, snacks, etc.) for Izzy at that point. Hope she enjoyed the sing-along show later though

The parade was short and sweet. I think having the package made the experience better, as we were enjoying ourselves while waiting - and not crushed onto a curb with a bunch of people crowding us impatiently.

I loved that little Elsa doll waving. Too cute!

Yeah, I think Izzy was just ready for some A/C at that point. And maybe a bit overwhelmed with everything. The show later will be...interesting. I really want to do that again in May - she can actually sing the songs now!

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I do like the idea of the living room being the waiting area at 50's prime time

It's a very well-themed restaurant. Quite unique.

Your food looks good - glad you were happy with your choices. Bummer your waiter wasn't any better. Maybe he noticed Lauren not being in top shape and having ordered the soup so didn't want to push things too much

True, I've heard they are good at sensing their audience and adjusting their act accordingly. And I didn't really want anything too over-the-top anyway. Just a taste of it was fine.

The TV's there are cool with the old shows and a neat thing you spotted with the “Minneapolis” - guess that is an old spelling? being kinda funny if they had it spelled “Minnie-apolis”

Haha, I wonder if Izzy thinks we live near a city named after Minnie...

What a clever title!

Haha, thanks! You know, I have had to consult a transcript of Frozen MANY times coming up with these chapter titles. But that line couldn't have been more perfect (especially if I'd ordered the pot roast!)

Izzy looks so big on TSMM! How cute!

Disney rides can sure highlight how much the kiddos grow up in a short time. She rode just like a big kid. But without all that pesky game-playing.

Umm yummy lunch! I would really like to try that fried cheese....looks delish!

It was so good! I'd have that again for sure!

When Charlotte was that age she went through a stage where she insisted on a big girl chair and then about 1/4 of the way through the meal she would want to get up and sit in my lap. It drove me crazy, and happened a lot when were in disney. I let a lot of behavior slide there because I wanted a great trip. But I was glad to get her back to sitting in a high chair! I am glad Izzy stayed in the big girl seat!

Yeah, she did pretty well. I found out sometime around this trip that Izzy was sitting in a regular chair for breakfast at daycare and was the BEST of the kids at staying in her chair. So, that's good. She still won't sit in a high chair or a booster seat when we go out. But she's fine in the regular chairs and likes to sit on her knees. Oddly, she ALWAYS uses her high chair at home. Not sure she realizes what it is - just her "special chair."

I've heard so many good things about 50's. That waiting area is fabulous.

It's really a fun place. I've also heard that the bar is really good if you're going solo, because you get all the ambiance and can order off the regular menu too.

"Though something odd about seeing people playing on their smart phones while sitting in a '50's living room" Now THAT is a good point.

It's funny, I didn't even notice in person, but looking at those pictures it really jumped out at me!

TSMM was our love at HS! But the turns are pretty rough which caught me off guard!

It really does have wild turns that you wouldn't expect to find in that kind of ride. But very fun!

I think my boys played in that same area with the "picnic" table at 50s Prime Time! Except someone had left half empty glasses all over it, so that was just a treat trying to scoop away from them!

Oh, no - those glasses would be a pain. Nothing like keeping toddlers away from that.

I loved the food at 50s PT! I got the sampler - super yummy! Our server wasn't into the act at all which was a bummer. I'm pretty sure we saw that same server on our last visit and he was making a boy about 12 or 13 years old carry a stack of plates back to the kitchen!

I've heard that sampler is really good too! That's too bad your server wasn't into it. Maybe they are afraid of toddlers.

Can't wait to hear about your yummy Epcot treats!

Thanks, I can't wait to write about the Epcot part of the day. It was super fun.

 

[cindianne320]

All caught up! 50s Prime Time looked like fun. My DH is nervous to go there, because he doesn't like antics too much, but I think Sci Fi would be hard with kiddos. (We went in June on our solo trip.)

 

[dyalizers]

I'm loving this TR. I also left the hubby and home and took a solo trip with my 2-year-old DS to DHS this winter to see at the fun Frozen stuff (and the Spectacle of Lights). Hats off to you - I was pooped after just one day at the parks! And I didn't even have to do a plane ride to get there!

 

[Dugette]

All caught up! 50s Prime Time looked like fun. My DH is nervous to go there, because he doesn't like antics too much, but I think Sci Fi would be hard with kiddos. (We went in June on our solo trip.)

You know, I'd always been nervous to go there for the same reasons, but I have heard they tend to adjust what they do to the comfort level of the table - and they were definitely not doing too much with us. Maybe you can get our waiter and then just keep your elbows off the table and you'll be all set!

I'm loving this TR. I also left the hubby and home and took a solo trip with my 2-year-old DS to DHS this winter to see at the fun Frozen stuff (and the Spectacle of Lights). Hats off to you - I was pooped after just one day at the parks! And I didn't even have to do a plane ride to get there!

Awesome that you also did a mommy/toddler Frozen trip! (and the lights!) It was exhausting, but I was having too much fun to care! And, with such a short trip, there weren't too many days to wear me out (though I did end up getting plenty of time to recuperate after the trip...darn Disney Bug! )

 

[Dugette]

As we headed out of our lunch at ‘50’s Prime Time, it was about naptime for the girls. They got in their strollers and Lauren was super nice and offered that I could go use my Tower of Terror FP+ and she would wait with the girls. We had intended to Rider Swap this, but she wasn’t up for it, still not feeling 100%. (I should mention - at this point, we were just thinking she had food poisoning from her dinner the night before, as Aria was fine and it came on suddenly. But, based on me getting sick right after the trip, probably the Dreaded Disney Bug). I felt bad leaving her with a not-yet-napping Izzy once again, but she is the Toddler Nap Whisperer, after all – Aria is a pro at stroller naps. She waited in this store, for some A/C:



She told me afterwards that Izzy was playing with the Frozen package lanyard, so she’d had to take that away (forgot I’d given it to her earlier, oops). Then Izzy decided her shoes were tremendous fun, so Lauren removed them and put them under the stroller too. The lack of “toys” helped Izzy settle down for her nap!

Meanwhile, I was on my way to Tower of Terror. It was 1:31pm at that point. There it is:



(Whew, found it – I had made a wrong turn at first, as I am super directionally-challenged and used to relying on Dug to know where we’re going ).

The Standby time listed was something fairly short, like 10-15 minutes, but it sure didn’t look like it by this:



I was so glad I had that Fast Pass+! I basically just walked past all the people in line and right into the library.

Stopped for this on the way:



In the library, I stood right by the door so that I was the first one out. I cruised right up into the boiler room, went left, and was almost immediately on the elevator. Yay, FP+!!

I ended up in the front row. There was a little boy next to me and his mom on the other side. He was really scared as we were starting out and his mom kept saying dismissively, “You’ve ridden this too many times!” And he would respond with, “But you know I’m scared of the dark!” At any rate, he survived and it was a fun ride. Here’s the Memory Maker shot:



Ha, that girl behind me is sure hanging on for dear life.

So, a cool surprise (to me) with Memory Maker was a Tower of Terror video, featuring our elevator:

(click to watch)

By the way, the Photopass time was 1:47pm, so only 16 minutes after I started towards the ToT. Not too shabby. Since it was so quick, I have to admit that it crossed my mind to jump into RnRC Single Rider, but 1.) I didn’t want to keep Lauren waiting any longer than necessary and 2.) That line is NOT always quick. I skipped it, as it was only a fleeting thought. Getting to do ToT was already a bonus on a mommy/toddler trip, after all.

As I made my way out through the gift shop, I took a picture of this cute shirt:



This act was going on as I headed back to meet Lauren:



I was impressed to arrive back to a sleeping Izzy! While we were catching up, some woman was looking at the merchandise behind us and telling us how skeptical she was that she could find anything new. At any rate, I thanked Lauren for working her sleep magic on Izzy and asked if there was anything I could do for her. She was just planning to find some place comfortable to spend naptime. For me, naptime was my opportunity to head to World Showcase, so we said goodbye for a bit. We’d be meeting up later for more Frozen Fun.

I was heading out at 1:58pm:



With this in the stroller:



I stopped to get a glass of ice water on my way out, at a little stand near the entrance. They were really slow (looked like they were training), but I got what I needed (free). I poured the warm second bottle of Diet Coke into the glass of ice once I’d finished the water. With my refreshing cold water in the cupholder of the stroller, I was off:







That walk over is really nice, but I have to say – it is HOT in midday August! I was so happy I’d stopped for that ice water-turned-iced Diet Coke.

My plan was to take a right at the Boardwalk and head for Epcot. However, I remembered having done this walk before and needing to take an elevator, due to the stroller. And it was crowded. So, I was hoping to avoid that and maybe go around the front of the Boardwalk Inn, rather than through it like I had in December. Well, that didn’t work out so well for me. Remember, directionally challenged? I realized, at some point, that I’d managed to just pass up the Boardwalk entirely and was on my way to the Swan and Dolphin. I was moving really fast, but didn’t realize I’d gone THAT far. I surveyed where I was and decided it would take the same amount of time to get back to the Boardwalk and go that way as it would to just keep going around by the other resorts. So, I kept going, sad about the inevitable lost time in our Epcot afternoon. Looks like I was approaching the Beach Club here:



And, finally, the International Gateway:



It was 2:22pm, so about a 25 minute walk, going the long way (at a fast pace). There had not been a boat at the DHS dock when I left, but one somehow managed to beat me to Epcot (just barely, though). I’m sure I would have stayed ahead if I hadn’t gone the wrong way. Oh, well, lesson learned.

As I approached bag check, I realized that I had a bag in the basket under the stroller and I had reclined Izzy – which meant it was not accessible without potential of waking her with the tugging. I decided to ignore it and hope the bag check person didn’t ask for it. And it worked! Whew! Sometimes they insist on seeing them all (and I normally would have put it up there proactively, but I wasn’t ruining that nap without absolutely needing to). I think that was just her spare clothes down there or something.

Once in the park, my first stop was the Fast Pass+ kiosk by the little gift shop just inside the park. I had read that this was an unmanned kiosk, but there was a CM operating it. Luckily, the CM was helpful and nice and I had no problem booking some FP+ with Izzy’s green band that I was wearing (my band had the DHS FP+ and there was still one left, so I couldn’t use it at Epcot).

Given the late time of day, our options were not ideal. Unfortunately, there was NOTHING available for Maelstrom and it was our last chance to ride it before it closed. I figured I’d swing by and check for a short wait time, but it was too long, so we had to skip it. I also couldn’t get the Character Spot until what I felt was too late in the evening (as we were going back to DHS and I wanted to head out by 6:10pm). This is what I ended up with:



After that, my first item of business was to go to France. I stopped for Photopass on the fountain, as there wasn’t a wait:





He also got a shot of Izzy (yes, still sleeping, but with slightly-open eyes):



Up next: “I like the way you roll!”

 

[BecBennett]

Just read your TR (so far) all the way through. I'm loving it! We're taking DD in Feb/Mar and she'll turn 22 months while we're there, so it's great to read about your experiences. DH is coming with me, so it won't be a solo trip, I don't think I could manage it!

I'm not expecting her to like the characters, but if she can sit still for long enough I'm hoping she'll enjoy some rides and shows. I'd still really like a pic of her with Minnie though.

Izzy looks absolutely out of it in those photos! She must have been tired

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

I feel so bad for Lauren. Getting sick sucks, but being sick in Disney is one of my worst fears. My last few trips I've gotten sick immediately after so perhaps I've been bitten my the Disney bug a few times as well. It's a little easier to deal with at home though.

I love FP and the fact that it's free and open to everyone, but to this day I still feel guilty walking in that FP line past everyone. I like the rides where the FP line and the standby line are apart. Much easier on my conscience.

That ride video is such a cool new feature.

Ah, I have that shirt!!

Haha, wow, you really did get lost on your walk to Epcot.

 

[Jackiemarie21]

Oh I love Tower of Terror. So much fun! Poor baby sitting next to you though, last time I was on it. I sat next to a four year old little girl who was so excited but then ended up becoming terrified and hated the ride!

Love the sleeping Izzy pic. She looks so cute and peaceful!

 

[schmass]

Tower of Terror is such a great ride! That was nice of Lauren to watch Izzy (and put her to sleep!) so you could ride!

I am also directionally challenged, so I feel your pain. It is funny though, I seem to have a decent sense of direction in WDW - it's the only place in the world that I can find my way around!

 

[BecBennett]

I seem to have a decent sense of direction in WDW - it's the only place in the world that I can find my way around!

That's because it's your centre

 

[heathsf]

I can't believe how much you have been getting done in just a day and a half....with a toddler! This is quite an accomplishment! You've really been having a magical trip so far

 

[Dugette]

Just read your TR (so far) all the way through. I'm loving it! We're taking DD in Feb/Mar and she'll turn 22 months while we're there, so it's great to read about your experiences. DH is coming with me, so it won't be a solo trip, I don't think I could manage it!

I hope you have a great trip! I really thought this was a fantastic age - for our DD, I felt like it was her best trip (which made it great for me too). It really wasn't bad to be solo with her. There were some moments where having another adult around would have been really nice, but it wasn't bad at all. Though I am looking forward to having Dug along on our next trip!

I'm not expecting her to like the characters, but if she can sit still for long enough I'm hoping she'll enjoy some rides and shows. I'd still really like a pic of her with Minnie though.

Probably good to go in with low character expectations and hope to be pleasantly surprised. Izzy's been really hit-or-miss with them. Dec. 2013 she was pretty good. June 2014 she was VERY shy (but did warm up towards the end of the trip). August 2014 (this trip) was pretty great (improved throughout the trip, though). Nov. 2014 in Hawaii was awesome. Then, yesterday, we met "Anna", "Elsa", and "Rapunzel" at a local event here and she was INSANELY SHY. Wouldn't even high five her Frozen friends, which is usually the one thing she will always be willing to do. She has liked the rides on all trips, though. Shows are a bit hit-or-miss.

Izzy looks absolutely out of it in those photos! She must have been tired

She passed out pretty nicely! Yay for Lauren's Nap Whispering skills.

I feel so bad for Lauren. Getting sick sucks, but being sick in Disney is one of my worst fears. My last few trips I've gotten sick immediately after so perhaps I've been bitten my the Disney bug a few times as well. It's a little easier to deal with at home though.

I felt so bad for her too. I knew what it was like, to some extent, as I got really sick on our January 2010 trip and would never wish that on anyone. But having to be the sole caregiver for a toddler while feeling like that? I don't know how she did it.

You know, I often see people saying that it's better to be sick in Disney than sick at home, but I disagree - you end up missing out on long-anticipated experiences at Disney, but you only miss (usually) an average day or two of work at home.

I love FP and the fact that it's free and open to everyone, but to this day I still feel guilty walking in that FP line past everyone. I like the rides where the FP line and the standby line are apart. Much easier on my conscience.

I do much prefer the lines that don't merge together. I remember once being in the FP line at Peter Pan and it dumps you into the standby. A CM told us to go in, but I was hearing comments from the family behind us about "line cutters" and it really bothered me.

That ride video is such a cool new feature.

Very cool - it would be neat if they did something like that for more attractions!

Ah, I have that shirt!!

Awesome! You have good taste in shirts!

Haha, wow, you really did get lost on your walk to Epcot.

Yeah. Oops. Overshot that one. We'll be staying at Boardwalk in May, though, so I better figure it out by then!

Oh I love Tower of Terror. So much fun! Poor baby sitting next to you though, last time I was on it. I sat next to a four year old little girl who was so excited but then ended up becoming terrified and hated the ride!

Aw, poor kids! I felt bad for that little boy. I hope he ended up having fun.

Love the sleeping Izzy pic. She looks so cute and peaceful!

Thanks - I love sleeping baby/toddler pictures!

Tower of Terror is such a great ride! That was nice of Lauren to watch Izzy (and put her to sleep!) so you could ride!

It was super nice of her! And fun to ride a "big kid ride" too!

I am also directionally challenged, so I feel your pain. It is funny though, I seem to have a decent sense of direction in WDW - it's the only place in the world that I can find my way around!

You're ahead of me, then! I just have no sense of direction. I remember, as kids, on road trips, my dad would ask my brother which direction we were going and he'd always know - like he had a compass in his nose. But I never had a clue. Didn't get that gene, I guess. Still, to this day, when someone tells me to go east or west, I have to think of it as "towards California" or "towards New York".

That's because it's your centre

Guess it's not mine...

I can't believe how much you have been getting done in just a day and a half....with a toddler! This is quite an accomplishment! You've really been having a magical trip so far

I can't believe how much we got done on this trip in general. Although, I really did try to plan in advance to get as much done as possible. Very magical trip, indeed!

 

[hokieinpa]

Glad you got to ride TOT! How fun to get to do a few "grown up" things too! But I feel a little bad for that poor kid next to you!

I'm really directionally challenged in general so I understand the pain and back tracking. I'm much more of a landmark person!

Nice pictures from WS! Can't wait to hear more about your afternoon at Epcot!

 

[Dugette]

Glad you got to ride TOT! How fun to get to do a few "grown up" things too! But I feel a little bad for that poor kid next to you!

It was a nice treat! Yeah, poor kiddo. At least he was riding while it was sunny out, being scared of the dark and all, I guess.

I'm really directionally challenged in general so I understand the pain and back tracking. I'm much more of a landmark person!

I'm glad I'm not the only one! I can follow directions really well, but I just have no sense of direction. Even at Disney, I guess. I'm sure it's embarrassing how many wrong moves I probably made on this trip. Many of which I probably don't even know for sure, but just sensed that I was not being very efficient. Our next day, in particular, I felt that many times. I think I walked WAY more than necessary in Animal Kingdom. Oh, well.

Nice pictures from WS! Can't wait to hear more about your afternoon at Epcot!

Thanks, more coming up!

 

[Dugette]

I forgot to mention that my Photopass photographer said he was “going handheld” for that shoot in France. I think he was bored, actually. Not sure why there was nobody wanting PP at the fountain. Also, the time stamp on those was 2:36pm.

After that, I went straight to my first must-do: L’Artisan des Glaces – the ice cream shop. Foolishly, back in Dec. 2013, we had seen this place and even peeked inside, but didn’t get anything, not realizing the especially unique options they had versus just a scoop of ice cream. I was about to make up for that oversight in a big way by getting two of their specialties, all for myself.

I made it inside pretty quickly. Not surprisingly, there was a nice selection of ice cream:



The first item they made for me was an Ice Cream Brioche Sandwich. For this, they start with a brioche bun cut in half, then add a scoop of ice cream of your choosing, cover it in sauce of your choosing, then put it in a special press that warms it and seals the edges. I went with Mint-Chocolate ice cream and chocolate sauce for this one. Here’s the press they use for the sandwiches:



As they made that for me, I noticed that the other ice cream display looked much cooler with Mickey scoops on top:



The other item I got was the Ice Cream Martini. This is two scoops of ice cream (you choose the flavors) in a martini glass. Then it is topped with your choice of a shot of Grand Marnier, Whipped Cream Vodka, or Rum. I chose one scoop of Hazelnut Ice Cream and one scoop of Caramel Fleur de Sel ice cream, topped with Whipped Cream Vodka. Here’s the finished product:



Receipt says that it was 2:40pm and the total for the two treats was $18.75, in case you were wondering.

Here is one of those times where being solo was a pain. I had to push a stroller and carry a plate and a martini glass out of the store and to a table. The martini kept sloshing around, so I had to stop and sip a bit off so that I didn’t spill it. I think I managed to balance the plate on the parent console of the stroller while I pushed. Luckily, I found a table quickly and parked Izzy facing the wall and sat down with my goodies. Here they are before I dug in:



I would pretty much kill for one of those sandwiches right now, by the way. Instead, I went and found a hazelnut Lindt truffle in our kitchen and called it good. (Okay, AND a peanut butter truffle too).

Here’s my shoeless travel companion:



Partway through and getting melty:



Honestly, this would have been the perfect snack to share. Maybe next trip!

I was really enjoying just sitting there in France, my sleeping toddler by my side, enjoying some unique treats on a beautiful day at Disney World. It was a really nice moment. I attempted to capture it, but this was the best I could do:



Unfortunately, that moment of peace was soon replaced by concern: I overheard people heading to the movie in France and they were saying it was because there was rain on the way and they wanted to get indoors. Really? It didn’t look like rain. But it was afternoon in Orlando – that meant the sky could open up at any moment. So, rather than leisurely enjoying the time, I started eating as fast as I could, in case they were right (and, you know, I had a dining schedule to keep anyway). I decided that I wouldn’t finish my sandwich, as I had other things I wanted to eat in Epcot and needed to save room. Right about this time, it actually DID start to rain. Lightly, at first. I (sadly) tossed the rest of the brioche, but I took my remaining melty martini with me.

I pulled the stroller into the nearby shop, Les Vins de France. I was right by the wine, in a fairly small area. It felt a bit awkward and clausterphobic, though, but I spotted a much larger covered area just across the way. I cruised over there, parked against the wall as close to the middle of the area as I could (and out of the way of doorways and such), then just enjoyed my martini while Izzy continued to nap.

The rain got heavier and heavier and the area got more and more crowded. At one point, a woman passed by and caught sight of the stroller and the martini and said to me, “I like the way you roll!!!” I guess I am one cool mama.

Here’s the view to the right of where I was:



And to the left:



It’s hard to see in those shots that it was raining, but you can see a bit more in this one (and where I came over from):



A little tip if you find yourself needing to wait out some rain in France: this is a good spot, but make sure you are as far from the openings as possible. I was pretty far inside and still was getting rained on more than I would have expected – the rain was blowing right in. You can see how wet the ground was near me:



I turned Izzy away from the mist, but I couldn’t avoid it, despite inching closer to the people next to me.

Unfortunately, all the commotion of the crowds around us woke Izzy up, after only napping for about an hour vs. her normal two hours. And we were trapped in a crowd of people hiding out from the rain. Not cool. I could tell that Izzy was getting impatient and was going to want to get moving and get up soon (just restless and making small noises at first). I didn’t blame her – the rain was going on for too long and wasting our Epcot time.

As I stood there, I thought about what best to do in this situation. I decided that I would really regret missing out on my World Showcase plans due to rain. If I waited for the worst downfall to pass, I could venture back out, as I was prepared. I had the stroller rain cover for Izzy and an umbrella for myself. We could get out and explore, despite the rain. And maybe the movement would lull Izzy back to sleep.

I finished my ice cream martini (note: the alcohol collects in the stem of the plastic glass, so don’t forget to drink it all) and put the empty cup in the stroller cupholder. I put on Izzy’s stroller raincover and the rain seemed to have lightened up from the downpour. I grabbed my umbrella and we headed out to explore Epcot in the rain.

The next stop was here:



I had never really wandered around Morocco before, just to look at it. Why not do so now? It’s really pretty. And, also, if you do need to wait out rain in World Showcase, go here:



See that empty and fully-covered bench back there? Would have been an ideal spot. I think this open top throws people off:



Just so pretty to wander around and admire:



Oh, yeah, I also stole a peek at these celebrities:



Izzy was calm and probably either sleeping or trying to sleep – I wasn’t about to peek in and check, in case it woke her up. So, I kept on moving. I went over to wander the Japanese gardens next, as I never really take the time to do so. Very pretty:









I stopped into the restroom in back and had to wait a bit for the large stall (to fit the stroller). When I came out, the rain had let up for the most part. Izzy was sounding cranky, so I decided to uncover her and sit her up. I think she was hot. Poor kid:





I fell asleep in Frozen World and now I’m in Japan?! Poor, confused kid.

I put the raingear away (under the stroller), as the sky was clearing and turning blue. Yay!

Up next: Mommy/Toddler eating around the world! Or at least Germany...