Island Hopping: A Highly Inappropriate TR. (Boom.)-- Link to NEW TR! 10/8

[Fantasyland Mom]

Hoping for an update soon.

You're in luck! I'm posting one tonight!

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

Today is an "ice day" here in most of Georgia, which pretty much means that there was a teeny-tiny chance of some sleet that didn't even happen, but all the schools were canceled anyway and all the bread and milk was flying off the shelves of the local Publix.

So, with nowhere to go, no kids to drop off at a million schools and activities, I decided that the best use of my time would be a new update! YIPPEEEEE!!!
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I realized after I posted last that I forgot to mention something. When we were headed to bed that night after Epcot, Julia begged and begged for us not to make her wash off her face painting. Now, I hate dirty-faced kids as much as the next obsessive parent, but she just wanted to keep it sooooooo badly, so I gave in. She told me she'd sleep on a towel if she could keep it; how could you deny someone who was willing to have little towel fluff bumps printed onto her skin from sleeping on it?!?

The next morning, Monday, we were headed back to Magic Kingdom bright and early for one of our traditions: a before-park-opening breakfast at Crystal Palace.

Yes, our outfits coordinated again, but this is the second year we've used the dresses for the girls and the shirts Brandon and I were wearing. We're an economy Disney family, for the most part.

We hopped aboard the monorail (or MONDO-rail, as Sawyer calls it) and happily took up an entire section. Perks of being a big family.

I'm not sure why I always feel the need to grab a bar even when I'm sitting, but I guess that's just another Disney tradition for me.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE getting off the MONDO-rail when the parks are nowhere near open. The sun always gleams through the station, and hardly anyone is around to ruin that moment. It's like the magic is just beginning for the day and it's all for you.

We all know that the whole reason to get a before-park-opening ADR, besides the magical Mondo-rail station, is to have a nearly private stroll down Main Street before all the other guests arrive. Well, we went through bag check and turnstiles and made our way onto the street only to find that half of it was blocked due to filming and photography, presumably for Disney marketing. They had a quaint "family of four" holding balloons and walking down the street, trying to give the general public the impression that WDW is an uncrowded utopia where all the families are perfectly groomed and polite. I didn't find that darn family so great because they were taking up half the street and being protected by some serious-looking cast members!! Oh, well. That wasn't going to stop my kids from having their annual run down Main Street USA...or at least half of Main Street USA.

We made it all the way up to where we should have been checking in for our ADR, but we had to squeeze in our family Castle photos! Breakfast would have to wait.

Can't you just feel the love?

And yes, those are restaurant-appropriate dresses. They have classic Pooh in the material. We were all in Winnie-Wear that day.

Even though we were late, the line to check in was very short. I just walked straight up to the window to get our pager. The girls were just hanging out. Literally.

I noticed that Piglet was doing his rounds inside, and I wanted to show Brynn. I told her that there was something special inside and she should peek in. She asked, "Ooooh! Is there a baby bird in there?!" Turns out that she thought the Crystal Palace looked like an oversized bird cage all along! She was still excited to find out that the Pooh characters were there, though a bit confused as to why Owl wouldn't be in a bird cage.

We were called after a brief moment, less than five minutes I'm thinking, and led to a table right in the middle of the right side of the restaurant. Again, this table was tiny. What was with the restaurants on this trip giving a family of five small tables!? And it was REALLY close to the other ones, too. Do you know my wild kids? Hmmm!?! We made do, though.

I have to admit that besides the seating arrangement (I was staring longingly at the table we had last year...so close, yet so far away!), we just flippin' LOVE this place. Forget the food. It's just a beautiful restaurant, and Brandon always takes a million pictures of it to document the ambiance.

"Hi, my name is Julia, and my face is a bit sticky because I just can't part with my sparkly stars."

"Hmmm...maybe if I craft a nest and put some seed in it, baby birds WILL appear..."

After I finally figured out how to work the high chair and forced Sawyer to SIT DOWN, KID, Piglet appeared. He signed our book and was really nice to the kids. In fact, he was so nice that he insisted (you know, through body language) that Sawyer be taken out of his chair to meet him. It was a lot of work, but I was SO glad someone was noticing the baby after the Chef Mickey's incident!! It was a wonderful meeting that all the kids loved!

One of my very favorite pictures.

BABY BIRD!

(PART TWO JUST BELOW THIS! KEEP READING!)

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

(PART 2...Did you miss part 1 above?)

Now remember that we still haven't been up to the food bar yet. But? PARADE TIME!! This is the part I was worried about for Brynn. I thought it would be too loud, too much movement and chaos, too much clapping...but she just joined right in and loved it!

If you know the way Crystal Palace works, you know that after the parade, all the characters go on a break for a few moments. And that equals FOOD. Luckily, I knew this in advance and headed up to the food bar to grab plates for the kids before the lines got long. I was just piling random things up and distributing them when I got to the table. Hey, whatever works, right?!
Tigger decided he'd bounce on over our way soon after.

And he bounced away just as quickly.

It was time to dig in!

Brandon's plate. Is that some sort of healthy granola at the bottom? What a joke!

Sawyer was pretty happy with his bacon, cheese, and pancake.

And Julia got pure orange juice that wasn't cut with water like her mean, healthy mommy does, so she was in wonderland.

MICKEY WAFFLES! Need I say more?

Winnie the Pooh himself, the real deal, the big kahuna, came by next! Brynn wasn't so sure about all this...I mean, he was taking her away from her bacon and sausage, and you don't separate a girl from her breakfast meats. Sawyer sort of forced a quasi-high-five on the bear. It was an interesting moment, just like we're used to.

At this point, we had long since finished eating. Even the kids couldn't be bought off with more pastries and strawberries; we were really and truly ready to go. But where was Eeyore? If we didn't see him, he wouldn't be the only pouty one! I asked a cast member, and they sent him almost immediately to our table.

He even came over and paid special attention to Sawyer, who thanked him by rubbing his dirty breakfast hands all over his face. That's love.

And with that, it was time to change Sawyer at the Baby Center and begin our day. The park had just opened, and we had a whole day ahead of us at the most magical place on Earth!

 

[Cierese]

Winnie the Pooh himself, the real deal, the big kahuna, came by next! Brynn wasn't so sure about all this...I mean, he was taking her away from her bacon and sausage, and you don't separate a girl from her breakfast meats. Sawyer sort of forced a quasi-high-five on the bear. It was an interesting moment, just like we're used to.

HAHAHA!!!! This is like what most of our family photos turn out like! My mom gets so flustered trying to get everyone just right for a shot. I love photos like this, shows personality instead of cheese!

I know all about 'ice day'. We are on that today as well.

 

[Dreamer & Wisher]

Great update! My kids were disappointed there was no ice this morning. They were forced to go to school. I was happy to go about my day doing everything I had been planning to do. Atlanta weatherman sure get worked up. About snow and ice. It only drizzled.

 

[leshunlenese]

Hello there! I just found your TR and I am really enjoying it. You have a beautiful family. I love crystal palace breakfast. I cannot wait to go back. I think that is one thing i loved about growing up in georgia, especially in college as a single mom. When I did not go to school and my job closed..Yes they closed when it snowed and i can enjoy some time snuggled with my baby. Now that i just moved to south georgia, it deos not happen as far as im told and well the hospital never closes regardless. So i guess those days are over. I am so ready for september so go to disney with my DS.

 

[shan23877]

I feel such a kinship with Brynn now-no one better get between me and my breakfast meats either.

Great photos as usual, I love the chaotic ones-they look like real life.

Too bad a fake family was trying to take over your Main Street, looks like you made the best of it anyway.

I love that the CM sent Eyeore over. We waited forevvvvver for Tigger last time, and that's probably what put the nail in the coffin for us. If we'd gotten some help seeing him we'd probably have been much happier.

I can't wait to hear what you did with the rest of the day. I'm guessing a cruise on IASW was in order though...

 

[GrimGrinningStitch]

Yay! A new update! AND I get to read this update while I am actually IN Disney World! So exciting!

I love the Crystal Palace! We did an 8am breakfast this past week as well. It doesn't get any better than an empty Main Street.

That's a great family photo!

Ok, this may just be me, but I feel like the Pooh characters at Crystal palace tend to be some of the best in the parks. They seem to know how to best interact with people, and actually give people time and attention. Tigger is the only one who I'm not a HUGE fan of there, since he seems to be the most in demand, and as a result shows up, is a quick whirlwind of energy/activity, then runs away.

The pictures of Eeyore and Sawyer are beyond cute. As are the parade photos. You can tell Brynn is loving every minute.

Can't wait to read the next update, especially since it'll help get me through the post Disney blues which are sure to hit in, oh, about 48 hours.

 

[JJBEAN]

Just found your trip report tonight and couldn't stop reading! Love, love, love all the pictures! Your children are adorable! Can't wait to read more!

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

HAHAHA!!!! This is like what most of our family photos turn out like! My mom gets so flustered trying to get everyone just right for a shot. I love photos like this, shows personality instead of cheese!

I know all about 'ice day'. We are on that today as well.

Did you survive the big ice storm!?!? Well, you're in TN, so might have actually gotten some. Not us. Not even a smidge.
We have plenty of these family photos! I definitely think you can see each of the kids' personalitles here, even Julia's organizational one! We're a fun bunch. Not sure Pooh thought so, but we are.

Great update! My kids were disappointed there was no ice this morning. They were forced to go to school. I was happy to go about my day doing everything I had been planning to do. Atlanta weatherman sure get worked up. About snow and ice. It only drizzled.

They are so infamous for their overexaggerations, right? Oh, ATL...CALM DOWN! I am fine with having an "ice day" due to no reason, as long as we don't have to make it up later!

Hello there! I just found your TR and I am really enjoying it. You have a beautiful family. I love crystal palace breakfast. I cannot wait to go back. I think that is one thing i loved about growing up in georgia, especially in college as a single mom. When I did not go to school and my job closed..Yes they closed when it snowed and i can enjoy some time snuggled with my baby. Now that i just moved to south georgia, it deos not happen as far as im told and well the hospital never closes regardless. So i guess those days are over. I am so ready for september so go to disney with my DS.

I love having other Georgians on the TR! ...y'all! I know you know exactly what I mean about the so-called "ice storm." It's the only time of year when everyone needs bread and milk in large quantities!

I feel such a kinship with Brynn now-no one better get between me and my breakfast meats either.

Great photos as usual, I love the chaotic ones-they look like real life.

Too bad a fake family was trying to take over your Main Street, looks like you made the best of it anyway.

I love that the CM sent Eyeore over. We waited forevvvvver for Tigger last time, and that's probably what put the nail in the coffin for us. If we'd gotten some help seeing him we'd probably have been much happier.

I can't wait to hear what you did with the rest of the day. I'm guessing a cruise on IASW was in order though...

Ours looked really chaotic compared to the ones in the streets! And I MUCH prefer ours!!
Last year we waited on Piglet forever. It's always somebody at CP. Always.
Who, US? On IASW?!? Who would believe something crazy like that?!

Yay! A new update! AND I get to read this update while I am actually IN Disney World! So exciting!

I love the Crystal Palace! We did an 8am breakfast this past week as well. It doesn't get any better than an empty Main Street.

That's a great family photo!

Ok, this may just be me, but I feel like the Pooh characters at Crystal palace tend to be some of the best in the parks. They seem to know how to best interact with people, and actually give people time and attention. Tigger is the only one who I'm not a HUGE fan of there, since he seems to be the most in demand, and as a result shows up, is a quick whirlwind of energy/activity, then runs away.

The pictures of Eeyore and Sawyer are beyond cute. As are the parade photos. You can tell Brynn is loving every minute.

Can't wait to read the next update, especially since it'll help get me through the post Disney blues which are sure to hit in, oh, about 48 hours.

I never put two and two together to realize why Tigger is always so quick (I just thought that he's bouncy!), but you are exactly right. That's why. Silly me!
You're right, they are great characters. And last year we even had a great chef there. We're just HUGE fans of the CP breakfast. Julia and I were discussing meals for next trip , and she's already put in a request for it, as if I didn't already make a mental note in my head!
Post Disney blues! Tell ya what. Let me help you begin to get over them. See, we're going to show up at WDW on September 13...we'll give you til the 14th just in case you need to make it a Saturday departure...

Just found your trip report tonight and couldn't stop reading! Love, love, love all the pictures! Your children are adorable! Can't wait to read more!

HI!!! So glad to have you here! Did you get to watch the video? Welcome to our wild journey, and thanks for reading along!

 

[GrimGrinningStitch]

I never put two and two together to realize why Tigger is always so quick (I just thought that he's bouncy!), but you are exactly right. That's why. Silly me!
You're right, they are great characters. And last year we even had a great chef there. We're just HUGE fans of the CP breakfast. Julia and I were discussing meals for next trip , and she's already put in a request for it, as if I didn't already make a mental note in my head!
Post Disney blues! Tell ya what. Let me help you begin to get over them. See, we're going to show up at WDW on September 13...we'll give you til the 14th just in case you need to make it a Saturday departure...

Haha, thanks! That'll help! You'll be happy to know a September trip has been a near constant topic of conversation recently. We should know more in the next month or so!

 

[Queenofallthings]

It has been years since we've been to CP and now I want to go....right now....is that wrong

Love the pictures...makes you feel like you're right there! I guess having absolutely adorable children helps!!! Love the girl's dresses!

 

[disneygirl520]

Another amazing update, Julia reminds me of my self, I'm 18 and I still would want to leave on
my Disney face paint.

I'm glad you had a good meal at CP, it's always been a personal favorite for my family.

 

[Cierese]

Did you survive the big ice storm!?!? Well, you're in TN, so might have actually gotten some. Not us. Not even a smidge.
We have plenty of these family photos! I definitely think you can see each of the kids' personalitles here, even Julia's organizational one! We're a fun bunch. Not sure Pooh thought so, but we are.

Yes, we actually did get ice, but it only sticks to things other than the roads. I do live in the middle of nowhere though and I think there's only a handful of main roads they actually treat. I remember when I was a kid the county would be out for a whole week and the kids on my street fell under the 'bus driver discretion' policy and we would end up missing an extra week. They are usually quick to postpone or cancel school due to even a chance we may see flurries.

Love your photos and thoughts on CP! My kids LOVE Pooh and the bunch, but youngest is deathly afraid of characters. I usually let my 2 older kids M&G while Ethan and I sit out. Also as you suggested with Brynn, he's usually meltdown city when it comes to loud group activities. Looks like she did quite well and really enjoyed herself! I want so badly to be able to take my kids to character meals, but I'm worried how he will react.

Ok, I'm going to stop now before this turns into a short story.

Can't wait to hear what happens next on your trip!

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I am so late to this show and almost never read TRs(I have a free Saturday and decided to sit down and read a few).

I NEVER comment on the ones I DO read, but I just wanted to tell you that your family is so cute! I am really enjoying following along with your story!

***Subbing so I can continue to follow along!

 

[Disney9.9.10]

You got so many great pictures in that update! I love how empty MK is, I need to book an early ADR one of these trips. Crystal Palace is one of my favourites too, it is so pretty. It is great that you got good character interactions, and Brynn joined the parade! And you're on vacation, how can you say no to leaving on the face paint!

 

[mxkris]

HAHA! How about that "ice"! We didn't get any over here either! A lot of kids didn't show up at the daycare I work at today because their parents didn't want to drive on ice... seriously!? It never even rained! SO funny! At least your kiddos got a day off. Of course Julia probably wanted to go to school! Love the CP update! We've never been there since we don't usually do character meals since we're usually adults only but I'd still like to try it sometime! And cute pictures as always!!

 

[katt789]

I absolutely adore CP as a pre park breakfast, it's just so amazing!! Heck, it's amazing breakfast place!! Add in the beauty of the restaurant, the characters, the food, the getting into the park early, it's all so great!!

Great interactions with Eeyore & Piglet, I'm glad that Sawyer got some good interactions vs Chef Mickeys the other day, yay!! Excited to read more!!

 

[PartyFromSaturn]

Got to sub! I loved your report! And the video nearly had me in tears.

 

[lvcourtneyy]

Adorable pictures as always!

I'm so with Julia on wanting the leave the face paint on and don't blame Brynn one bit for being a little wary about having her bacon time disrupted

Sounds like we could all be friends

CP looks gorgeous and love that they made sure Sawyer got in on the fun!

We were supposed to go last trip, but switched to 1900 Park Fare at the last minute. Will definitely have to try it in the future!