In the Spirit of the Season

[dizneeat]

Ann, isn't it time for bed for you now?

BTW ..... am heading out to work in a few minutes, so no updates, while I am gone!

 

[annmarieda]

Ann, isn't it time for bed for you now?

BTW ..... am heading out to work in a few minutes, so no updates, while I am gone!

Oh, Karin... yes, yes it is. However, Zoe spiked a fever and we had some sort of weird power malfunction that I had to get Steve (who is still in FL) to help me diagnose....so I am juuuust about to go to bed.

No updates tonight. I am too tired.

 

[oboedm]

Wow! That cake pop looks great! I still need to try my hand and making some. I haven't gotten up the courage! Maybe when I do, I will try the Mickey Mouse shape!

 

[KatMark]

Love the photo of Zoe with Santa.

So glad the phone was found and activated in a timely manner. I'm glad you liked the new Star Tours...I did too.

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Yay! You got your phone back. I would be sick without mine...

It is a shame that DHS doesn't offer many options for breakfast. We enjoy writer's stop. Sometimes we just pop in there for a snack (dh and I like our coffee) and other times, we grab breakfast.

I'd love to try the Wave; maybe this trip. I had to optimize the dining plan last trip, so I think every TS was a buffet.

Hope Zoe is better, and the two of you are enjoying some girl time. She is so photogenic!

 

[annmarieda]

Wow! That cake pop looks great! I still need to try my hand and making some. I haven't gotten up the courage! Maybe when I do, I will try the Mickey Mouse shape!

That cake pop was delish... although I should have taken a picture of the inside... cause even now I am forgetting... white or chocolate cake inside.

If you do make some, be sure to post a picture!!! Especially if you do a Mickey Mouse one

Love the photo of Zoe with Santa.

So glad the phone was found and activated in a timely manner. I'm glad you liked the new Star Tours...I did too.

I wish I had more of her taken with the various santas/storytellers..etc.

The phone was a minor crisis but it seemed like ti was forever that I was without it.

Start Tours is much better now...It will be on my fall to do list.

Yay! You got your phone back. I would be sick without mine...

It is a shame that DHS doesn't offer many options for breakfast. We enjoy writer's stop. Sometimes we just pop in there for a snack (dh and I like our coffee) and other times, we grab breakfast.

I'd love to try the Wave; maybe this trip. I had to optimize the dining plan last trip, so I think every TS was a buffet.

Hope Zoe is better, and the two of you are enjoying some girl time. She is so photogenic!

Being without my phone was making me a bit crazy.

Breakfast options at DHS were only a problem because I was too lazy... ill prepared or just ill.

I want to also take a look at the menu for the Wave again. I might be able to do it next trip... but maybe not.

Zoe has had a bit of a rough 24. With no fever or symptoms this morning I sent her to school. Well, that didn't last. By the time I got to the school to pick her up (only 30 minutes after the call to come get her) her fever was up to 102. I got her into the doc to make sure it wasn't strep (I didn't think it was her normal stuff) By the time we were there the temp was almost normal. Off and on all day it would go up...then down. Last time it was up I took her temp and it was 102.9 under her tongue. I keep having moments like I am feverish...then not. I wonder if I am coming down with it.

 

[annmarieda]

Little by Little, the day wore on-Part One

It wasn't long after I began to eat my muffin from Writers Stop that I began to feel icky. My stomach was really misbehaving and I feared the worst. I toughed it out though... even though I did have to make a few trips to a restroom.

Our next stop (other than restroom) was to the Great Movie Ride. Why do I love this ride so? I think it is among my favorite rides in WDW. We took some time to walk through the line.

I think I take a picture of this every trip. Something about how sparkly it is always catches my attention.

It wasn't long until we were in our seats and seeing this.

Then we saw him

In all of my times riding GMR (ok so not a ton but enough to think that maybe the cowboy version didn't truly exist) I had never seen him. I was super excited.

The difference in the show? I think it was this.

Flames and an explosion. I was just thrilled... and forgetting, for the time being, how much my tummy hurt.

As the flames died down, we continued on..

Time to pose for the camera before the witch came out..

The witch scared away, everything was going to be ok. One of my favorite scenes not only in the ride... but the movie.

Once we were done with GMR it was time for another tribute to the movies. Well, a tribute to ONE movie. The Indiana Jones Stunt show. Sadly, we got there pretty late and so we had horrid seats. I knew though that if we didn't go to this show then, we would miss it entirely. So we went.

 

[annmarieda]

Little by Little, the day wore on- Part Two


Once the show was over we were all starting to feel a bit hungry. (yes, even me despite my stomach, which was still hurting and making me feel like I needed to be aware of my nearest exits ) In my notes, I put this down as lunch number one on this day. It is so funny that we did this a couple times on the trip. Had one meal only to have a more elaborate or less elaborate meal later on.

This one was at backlot express. We decided to split a cs meal. I figured chicken nuggets with fries would be the easiest to split (and it was) I can't remember who got the drink (probably Zoe) and then we got free waters for the other two of us. What a way to make a cs credit stretch, eh?
But what did we get for dessert. I knew there were holiday sweets throughout the parks. This one was on my list to try.
A ginger bread cupcake

Good grief it was not good. Pretty.. but horrid tasting. (and it wasn't just my tummy) The bow was so heavily saturated with coloring that all you could taste was the food coloring. Zoe ate some of it only to have her tongue dyed a brilliant pink for hours.

I had really and truly hoped that Steve would make it to the park for what was next on our list to do. He had never done it and I thought he would enjoy it. We made our way to Backlot Tour despite the fact he was not with us.

No one volunteered for the preshow... and I was disappointed. Not to give anything away to readers of my dd's TR...but her dh was able to be a volunteer for this. How cool is that???

By now my tummy was really hurting so I took pictures of just about anything just to keep my mind off of it.

Finally it was time for us to board our tram.

But I was still needing to take lots of pictures

Then came time for the great moment. The one I wanted Alex on the outside for. (he too had never rode this)

Coming off the ride I had to take some more pictures.

Once off the ride/attraction... I made a beeline for the nearest bathroom. This is a story that Zoe LOVES to tell. I brought her in with me to the family restroom. I am going to completely embarrass myself, but we are all friends here, right? I got Zoe and I through the door and locked it. I quickly flung my purse/bag in the sink and proceeded to make my way to the toilet rather urgently. (ok, so I yoinked my pants down before I was in front of the toilet. ) Just as I was getting ready to sit... I see Zoe is pointing and hysterically laughing.. and as I right this I know you must be thinking we are not alone. No..nothing THAT horrible. However, those sinks are automatic. And.. my purse has somehow triggered it and is blocking its ability to drain. In that short amount of time I have now caused the sink to be overflowing and my purse to be soaked. (along with our left over pastries from Writers Stop) Quickly with pants around my ankles and my ever pressing need to complete a most urgent task still causing me grief... I rushed back to the sink, removed the purse, hobbled back to the toilet and FINALLY got to sit down.

By this point, Steve was gong to head to DHS since we had a couple ADRS here and he didn't want to miss out.

We decided to wait for him while Zoe played in HISTK Play Area.

It was a mad house, so we did not stay long.

Next Chapter: Fantastic Fantasmic Evening

 

[shocky5]

Little by Little, the day wore on- Part Two


Once the show was over we were all starting to feel a bit hungry. (yes, even me despite my stomach, which was still hurting and making me feel like I needed to be aware of my nearest exits ) In my notes, I put this down as lunch number one on this day. It is so funny that we did this a couple times on the trip. Had one meal only to have a more elaborate or less elaborate meal later on.

This one was at backlot express. We decided to split a cs meal. I figured chicken nuggets with fries would be the easiest to split (and it was) I can't remember who got the drink (probably Zoe) and then we got free waters for the other two of us. What a way to make a cs credit stretch, eh?
But what did we get for dessert. I knew there were holiday sweets throughout the parks. This one was on my list to try.
A ginger bread cupcake

Good grief it was not good. Pretty.. but horrid tasting. (and it wasn't just my tummy) The bow was so heavily saturated with coloring that all you could taste was the food coloring. Zoe ate some of it only to have her tongue dyed a brilliant pink for hours.

I had really and truly hoped that Steve would make it to the park for what was next on our list to do. He had never done it and I thought he would enjoy it. We made our way to Backlot Tour despite the fact he was not with us.

No one volunteered for the preshow... and I was disappointed. Not to give anything away to readers of my dd's TR...but her dh was able to be a volunteer for this. How cool is that???

By now my tummy was really hurting so I took pictures of just about anything just to keep my mind off of it.

Finally it was time for us to board our tram.

But I was still needing to take lots of pictures

Then came time for the great moment. The one I wanted Alex on the outside for. (he too had never rode this)

Coming off the ride I had to take some more pictures.

Once off the ride/attraction... I made a beeline for the nearest bathroom. This is a story that Zoe LOVES to tell. I brought her in with me to the family restroom. I am going to completely embarrass myself, but we are all friends here, right? I got Zoe and I through the door and locked it. I quickly flung my purse/bag in the sink and proceeded to make my way to the toilet rather urgently. (ok, so I yoinked my pants down before I was in front of the toilet. ) Just as I was getting ready to sit... I see Zoe is pointing and hysterically laughing.. and as I right this I know you must be thinking we are not alone. No..nothing THAT horrible. However, those sinks are automatic. And.. my purse has somehow triggered it and is blocking its ability to drain. In that short amount of time I have now caused the sink to be overflowing and my purse to be soaked. (along with our left over pastries from Writers Stop) Quickly with pants around my ankles and my ever pressing need to complete a most urgent task still causing me grief... I rushed back to the sink, removed the purse, hobbled back to the toilet and FINALLY got to sit down.

By this point, Steve was gong to head to DHS since we had a couple ADRS here and he didn't want to miss out.

We decided to wait for him while Zoe played in HISTK Play Area.

It was a mad house, so we did not stay long.

Next Chapter: Fantastic Fantasmic Evening

Ann! There's nothing worse than that feeling you were feeling in making a beeline for the bathroom! I'm sorry about your purse though! I guess it being soaked wasn't too big of a deal??

I'm impressed you made it as far as you did without 'issues.' I can honestly say I scare myself trying to do that!!!

 

[annmarieda]

Ann! There's nothing worse than that feeling you were feeling in making a beeline for the bathroom! I'm sorry about your purse though! I guess it being soaked wasn't too big of a deal??

I'm impressed you made it as far as you did without 'issues.' I can honestly say I scare myself trying to do that!!!

The purse was no big deal. Made of nylon so it dried quickly. The pastries...they did not survive. I did survive though... issues and all.

 

[dizneeat]

Oh Ann, so sorry to read that you had tummy issues and your little bathroom "mishap"

That cupcake definitely looks cute - sorry, it was yucky! And I admire you for doing all those rides with your tummy issues!

 

[oboedm]

Ha! What an awful bathroom story. I am laughing at the fact that Zoe loves to tell it, though.

I can't believe you got the cowboy side! I know that the gangster side scares some kids... do you think the cowboy side is more or less scary?

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

I'm sorry to hear you were feeling so poorly! And pretty much at the exact last place you'd want to be! (Although, at least it is a place with plenty a bathroom!)

That's too bad about the gingerbread cupcake being a disappointment. Too much food coloring is so gross!

 

[KatMark]

Ann, sorry to hear you were having stomach issues, but good that you were able to keep going. That is a funny story about the purse (sorry ).

It's a shame Steve wasn't there for Backlot Tour (and glad Josh got to volunteer; our oldest did it in 2009 and had a blast).

That cupcake looks good, but I don't like the flavoring so would have skipped it.

I like The Great Movie Ride too, but I think it needs an update.

 

[annmarieda]

Oh Ann, so sorry to read that you had tummy issues and your little bathroom "mishap"

That cupcake definitely looks cute - sorry, it was yucky! And I admire you for doing all those rides with your tummy issues!

Well, none of the rides were too vigorous... so it wasn't bad.

The cupcake was very pretty and I am thankful that we were on the dp. I really enjoyed trying it..even if it turned out it was gross. I didn't feel like I wasted money when I threw it out.

Ha! What an awful bathroom story. I am laughing at the fact that Zoe loves to tell it, though.

I can't believe you got the cowboy side! I know that the gangster side scares some kids... do you think the cowboy side is more or less scary?

The cowboy side was a bit more scary because the explosion (if that is in fact different.. I think it is ) However, the interaction with the cowboy himself wasnt so intense.

I'm sorry to hear you were feeling so poorly! And pretty much at the exact last place you'd want to be! (Although, at least it is a place with plenty a bathroom!)

That's too bad about the gingerbread cupcake being a disappointment. Too much food coloring is so gross!

I think some people dont' taste the food coloring as much and so could handle this. I just am one of those people who can taste it.

Ann, sorry to hear you were having stomach issues, but good that you were able to keep going. That is a funny story about the purse (sorry ).

It's a shame Steve wasn't there for Backlot Tour (and glad Josh got to volunteer; our oldest did it in 2009 and had a blast).

That cupcake looks good, but I don't like the flavoring so would have skipped it.

I like The Great Movie Ride too, but I think it needs an update.

I agree, some updating could be nice on TGMR.

How cool that your oldest got to volunteer. What part did he play?

 

[KatMark]

How cool that your oldest got to volunteer. What part did he play?

He played one of the guys on the main boat. He was with his 13-year old baseball team that he coached and they all "volunteered" him. They videotaped it and the kids still give him heck about it.

 

[vikkil70]

Sorry to hear about your tummy troubles, hope you were feeling better soon after for your ADRs.

We love the GMR also, though I agree that it can use some updating. We were only on it twice and both times had the gangster episode so it would be fun to see the cowboy side.

We did the Backlot tour on our honeymoon trip in 2003 and got picked to volunteer, we had so much fun running around the ship pretending we were being shot at. The only downside was that it was just us so we had no one to record it and never got to see how silly we looked. That same day we also got picked to be in the Indiana Jones show, which was also lots of fun....guess wearing those bride and groom hats help .

Not good about the icky tasting cupcake. I love cupcakes and hate to hear about them not tasting good. Just reading your DHS day report is making me hungry for a cupcake from Starring Roles.

 

[annmarieda]

Fantastic Fantasmic Evening

Mama Melrose's has been almost a tradition each trip. We do it not entirely because we love the food, but because of the three options for the dinning package for Fantasmic, it seems to be the best fit for us. Brown Derby is 2 credit (dont' want to use 2 for it) and H&V is does not appeal to us. So MM it has been.

When Steve finally arrrived at DHS, we checked in for our ADR. They were running behind schedule. We waited and waited. We couldn't go far because they assured us it could be any time. (it wasn't) I let Zoe play around near by as Steve and Alex sat outside the restaurant and waited.

After about an hour we finally got in and were seated for our "2nd" lunch of the day. We started with our appetizers.
Zoe and Steve split the antipasto for 2.

I got the ceasar salad.

Alex got the mozzarella and tomatoes.

It was nice to see both the guys enjoying their meal and having fun.

A more serious picture

Next came our main dishes.
Alex and I each got the chicken parmigiana. He got his with red sauce and I had them substitute the alfredo/white sauce on mine. Oh... that is HEAVENLY. If you like alfredo sauce this is a must to try.

Steve got the Chicken Campanelle

Zoe got the Grilled Chicken Flatbread

For dessert Alex and Zoe each got the Chocolate Amarettini Cheesecake

I got the No Sugar Added Mascarpone Pound Cake

Steve got what I wrote down as being Tiramisu. Looking at allears, I am not sure this is what they currently have listed on the menu as Mama's Panna Cotta

At the end of dinner, we got to witness a slightly awkward exchange between our server (who was also a neighboring table's server) and the guest at the near by table. We were not trying to listen in, but they got a bit loud. Basically, the person was on the dp. and when the cm brought the bill to sign she noted where the person could add the gratuity and that she could put down a cc or have it billed to KTTWC. This set the guest off since she had the dp and shouldn't have to pay anything for the meal. They went rounds and rounds. I am a believer that gratuity is in fact optional, but really... always paid. (unless something SERIOUSLY bad happens) I think it is odd for the cm to come and say.. you have to pay gratuity (unless it is established..like with parties over 6) But even then.. I think you can dispute the auto 18% if you want. However, it was rude of the guest to say she didn't want to pay as well. It was just a weird situation. In the end, I dont think the server got a tip. The guest left very hot.. The server came to us very flustered and almost hesitantly gave us our bill. Poor thing.

After lunch, we thought we would have time to go to BLT to let Steve have a chance to see it. Sadly, it closed at 5pm (why earlier than the park, I am not sure) So we did not get to see it a second time. Instead though, Zoe was able to meet one of the Green Army Men. She wasn't too thrilled, but now has that autograph in her book.

We let Alex go on without us so he could go and ride RNRC. When we made it down to the line for Fantasmic, we found that the 6:30pm show that we had our dinning package for was already at capacity. So we were not let in. It worked out fine though since we had to wait for Alex. His ride took longer than the expected wait til.

Once Alex was back with us, we got into line for the next Fantasmic showing. Normally, when we have had the dp for fantasmic the preferred seats are not all that great. This time though, they were dead center. We could have sat in the very front row, but (thankfully) we sat a few rows back.

It was an awesome spot with a Great View. It did however get us pretty wet from water spray. It was cold that night, so it was a bit uncomfortable. The view made up for it though.

I tried to get some pictures, but as always this is hard for me to do with my little camera. Still, here are some...

And this... this is water spray...

Next Chapter: Late Night Dinner at the Movies

 

[annmarieda]

He played one of the guys on the main boat. He was with his 13-year old baseball team that he coached and they all "volunteered" him. They videotaped it and the kids still give him heck about it.

That is too cool!!! I bet that is a memory that he can't forget (and won't since the kids still give him a hard time )

Sorry to hear about your tummy troubles, hope you were feeling better soon after for your ADRs.

We love the GMR also, though I agree that it can use some updating. We were only on it twice and both times had the gangster episode so it would be fun to see the cowboy side.

We did the Backlot tour on our honeymoon trip in 2003 and got picked to volunteer, we had so much fun running around the ship pretending we were being shot at. The only downside was that it was just us so we had no one to record it and never got to see how silly we looked. That same day we also got picked to be in the Indiana Jones show, which was also lots of fun....guess wearing those bride and groom hats help .

Not good about the icky tasting cupcake. I love cupcakes and hate to hear about them not tasting good. Just reading your DHS day report is making me hungry for a cupcake from Starring Roles.

I think sometimes pixie dust seems to follow people..regardless of hats or pins. How cool you got to volunteer for both. Steve and I...neither of us are really the volunteer kind. Dd's husband though... he LOVES the attention.

The cupcakes.. I have to say, it wasn't just the icing. The cake itself was gingerbread and it was a STRONG gingerbread. That didn't help matters.

 

[dizneeat]

Great new update, Ann!

Good to hear that you had an enjoyable meal at MM! I really must try that Chicken Parm some time, I always have something else.

Wow - you seemed to have gotten some great seats for Fantasmic! Love the photo of the boat with all the characters!