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

[April7901]

I am loving this review. I'm making my first (ever) Disney trip in October with my mom (who has also never been), and even though our experiences will likely be very different - it's still so much fun to read so much detail!

 

[crzy4mickey]

I just discovered your TR the other day so i am trying to catch up. I just had to say AWESOME JOB on the video! I loved it! I even watched it twice! ok just wanted to say good job...now back to catching up!

 

[nannye]

Autofocus. There's enough fiddling with things just adjusting the manual focus!! Plus, things move so fast that you don't really want to waste much time. Autofocus doesn't detract from the quality of the shot. Focus on the focus, so to speak.
Also, don't trust the online price!! We got ours at BrandSmart for about $300 LESS than the listed price. Just look around!

Thanks, I was pretty sure autofocus, I couldnt imagine manual focus but.... you never know! Just trying to figure out what is easiest.
Thanks.
I've never heard of Brandsmart (I'm in Canada) but I will look around! I'm also considering used.

Thanks
Erin

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Sigh... I'm glad I found your TR again... I had somehow become unsubscribed... but I remember reading the first half of your TR... and your lovely family (plus as a mom of a child with Asperger's, I'm always interested in seeing how other families handle it...)

Wow... I just loved your Crystal Palace photos...(we have our first breakfast there ever this summer... I'm really looking forward to it...) It really looks lovely...

I think that Brynn's observation was right on...the CP does look like a large, pretty bird cage... I wouldn't mind seeing Owl either... (she has a poetic soul...)

OMG... I love that Julia wanted to keep her face paint and that you let her... what little girl didn't want to keep something like that the next day...? What a great memory that you let her....

I had to laugh about the Orange Juice... I water down ours too... but the funny thing is they sell "light... less sugar... lower calorie OJ now... and Guess what... if you read the label... it's basically watered down orange juice...

Lovely, lovely interaction with Titiana... I haven't seen her... and I absolutely adore the Princess and the Frog... Honestly not only is she a great character, I think her dress is one of the prettiest...

Rambling Rose is an awesome name for a horse...

Oh my gosh, I love Julia's expression on the Splash Photo... that about sums up my feeling when I see that drop...

Love Laugh Floor (& Monsters Inc) ... David thinks it is totally hysterical and is desperate to have one of his jokes chosen...

Heaven Help us but your server at Cindy's sounds demonic... That's awful... I felt so angry for you... that whole experience wasn't what it should have been...(maybe she was one of the Stepsisters now forced to work in the Castle...

I was really glad to hear what a great experience you had a H&V... I know how excited my kids would have been when they were younger to have met some of those characters... not too many years ago, David would have been thrilled to see Handy Manny and June from Little Einsteins... (Oslo and Jake (?) the Pirate are newer...

will have to check out your video...

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

I am loving this review. I'm making my first (ever) Disney trip in October with my mom (who has also never been), and even though our experiences will likely be very different - it's still so much fun to read so much detail!

YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so glad you're here to read. I hope you'll do a TR after your trip, too, so I can read about a first-timer's experiences!

I just discovered your TR the other day so i am trying to catch up. I just had to say AWESOME JOB on the video! I loved it! I even watched it twice! ok just wanted to say good job...now back to catching up!

So happy you liked it...twice! Thanks for reading .

Thanks, I was pretty sure autofocus, I couldnt imagine manual focus but.... you never know! Just trying to figure out what is easiest.
Thanks.
I've never heard of Brandsmart (I'm in Canada) but I will look around! I'm also considering used.

Thanks
Erin

We just got Brandsmart around here in the last couple of years...in fact, I'm not sure if it is anywhere but Georgia?! I'm just saying that the listed prices online are not accurate. We've seen it at Target (oh..Canada?) and Best Buy and Walmart for less.

Sigh... I'm glad I found your TR again... I had somehow become unsubscribed... but I remember reading the first half of your TR... and your lovely family (plus as a mom of a child with Asperger's, I'm always interested in seeing how other families handle it...)

Wow... I just loved your Crystal Palace photos...(we have our first breakfast there ever this summer... I'm really looking forward to it...) It really looks lovely...

I think that Brynn's observation was right on...the CP does look like a large, pretty bird cage... I wouldn't mind seeing Owl either... (she has a poetic soul...)

OMG... I love that Julia wanted to keep her face paint and that you let her... what little girl didn't want to keep something like that the next day...? What a great memory that you let her....

I had to laugh about the Orange Juice... I water down ours too... but the funny thing is they sell "light... less sugar... lower calorie OJ now... and Guess what... if you read the label... it's basically watered down orange juice...

Lovely, lovely interaction with Titiana... I haven't seen her... and I absolutely adore the Princess and the Frog... Honestly not only is she a great character, I think her dress is one of the prettiest...

Rambling Rose is an awesome name for a horse...

Oh my gosh, I love Julia's expression on the Splash Photo... that about sums up my feeling when I see that drop...

Love Laugh Floor (& Monsters Inc) ... David thinks it is totally hysterical and is desperate to have one of his jokes chosen...

Heaven Help us but your server at Cindy's sounds demonic... That's awful... I felt so angry for you... that whole experience wasn't what it should have been...(maybe she was one of the Stepsisters now forced to work in the Castle...

I was really glad to hear what a great experience you had a H&V... I know how excited my kids would have been when they were younger to have met some of those characters... not too many years ago, David would have been thrilled to see Handy Manny and June from Little Einsteins... (Oslo and Jake (?) the Pirate are newer...

will have to check out your video...

I have seen the "lighter" apple juice that is the same way !
Brynn does have a poetic soul; well put! Such a sweetheart.
We have never submitted a joke, even in all the times we went to Laugh Floor this trip (and you'll see, it was A LOT). Not sure how that happened! We will try next trip. The kids really want Brandon to be "That Guy," though, so I think that was our focus .
Glad you found us again, and I hope you enjoy the video!

 

[April7901]

YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so glad you're here to read. I hope you'll do a TR after your trip, too, so I can read about a first-timer's experiences!


So happy you liked it...twice! Thanks for reading .

I hope I do, too! Luckily it won't be tax season, so I might actually have time to do it

 

[merbobear]

So the day after I read your last update, I still couldn't stop thinking about Play & Dine..so I just went ahead and booked it! Our ADR time is 9:20 and park hours start at 8am (it's opening day of Star Wars Weekend though, I have read that they open the gates earlier than that, even). So I figured that would give us a little bit of time to run for a TSMM FP and kind of soak in that "We're in DHS" feeling before we have to head to the restaurant. I'm excited!

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

So the day after I read your last update, I still couldn't stop thinking about Play & Dine..so I just went ahead and booked it! Our ADR time is 9:20 and park hours start at 8am (it's opening day of Star Wars Weekend though, I have read that they open the gates earlier than that, even). So I figured that would give us a little bit of time to run for a TSMM FP and kind of soak in that "We're in DHS" feeling before we have to head to the restaurant. I'm excited!

Oh, I am so glad you did! That sounds like an ideal set-up to me, especially during SWW . HAVE FUN!

 

[merbobear]

Oh, I am so glad you did! That sounds like an ideal set-up to me, especially during SWW . HAVE FUN!

Thanks, I am sure we will. Dd is 5 and I am trying to get all of the things for little kids done in the next couple years, before she outgrows Disney jr!

 

[SoccerDogWithEars]

So I've spent the last week reading all of your last TR, then catching up on this one! And I think I've fallen in love with your family. I think y'all are pretty awesome.

My mom is in love with Columbia Harbour House too. It's her one request whenever we go. We were devastated last trip in Oct when we learned it wasn't open for MNSSHP. But we ended up at PVH instead, for the first time, and I had the same reaction you did to the caprese flatbread...good, but hard to eat.

Even at 22, I still love IASW. To me, it's just the epitome of Disney...all happy and love. My favorite part is the koalas, but that's because of a joke between my boyfriend and me

I am sorry to hear that you ran into such bad CMs. I would have been so angry after CRT, but I doubt I would have had the self-control to walk away. I also probably would have punched the guy in Epcot too....not that I'm overly agressive, I promise. I just have inherited my Bostonian grandmother's attitude of "if at first you don't succeed, get loud and stern." Good thing the rest of me is sweet Southern girl!!

 

[Tinker326]

I stumbled into your trip report & I have to say... I am loving it!!! GREAT writing, pictures & everything!!!!

I also have a daughter that falls on the autism spectrum (high functioning- PDD) as well.

Thanks for sharing your story!

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

Thanks, I am sure we will. Dd is 5 and I am trying to get all of the things for little kids done in the next couple years, before she outgrows Disney jr!

That's our plan, too! And when they're older, we're gonna go all-out fancy in lodgings and restaurants.

So I've spent the last week reading all of your last TR, then catching up on this one! And I think I've fallen in love with your family. I think y'all are pretty awesome.

My mom is in love with Columbia Harbour House too. It's her one request whenever we go. We were devastated last trip in Oct when we learned it wasn't open for MNSSHP. But we ended up at PVH instead, for the first time, and I had the same reaction you did to the caprese flatbread...good, but hard to eat.

Even at 22, I still love IASW. To me, it's just the epitome of Disney...all happy and love. My favorite part is the koalas, but that's because of a joke between my boyfriend and me

I am sorry to hear that you ran into such bad CMs. I would have been so angry after CRT, but I doubt I would have had the self-control to walk away. I also probably would have punched the guy in Epcot too....not that I'm overly agressive, I promise. I just have inherited my Bostonian grandmother's attitude of "if at first you don't succeed, get loud and stern." Good thing the rest of me is sweet Southern girl!!

Thank you SO MUCH for your sweet words . My family is a bit crazy, I'll admit, but I do think we're lots of fun, if I do say so myself!
I think the same thing about IASW. I would love it just as much even if Brynn wasn't obsessed with it! And now I'm curious about that inside joke...

I stumbled into your trip report & I have to say... I am loving it!!! GREAT writing, pictures & everything!!!!

I also have a daughter that falls on the autism spectrum (high functioning- PDD) as well.

Thanks for sharing your story!

I am so glad to meet someone with a GIRL on the spectrum--it is so rare! I am glad your here. Feel free to chime in with any comments or tips you have!

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

We thoroughly enjoyed our breakfast at Hollywood and Vine, but due to the fact that it took so long to get through the turnstiles and be called for our ADR, we finished eating after park opening. In fact, it was nearly 9:30 after we had paid our bill and taken a potty break for all (very important when you have so many little bladders in your crew...I'm including myself in that...). It was okay, though, because we were determined to have a casual day and relax.

We mosied over to take a look at Toy Story Mania, only to find that the wait was already 45 minutes standby. And this was a slow day. We pulled FPs for it, and those had a return time of 12:30. Sigh...we'd be cutting it close with our lunch ADR, but we had to get them.

Turning to the other side of the street, we saw that the line to meet Buzz and Woody was 45 minutes, as well...sooooooo, that was out. Our plan was already off. The plan was going out the window, I decided, and we chugged along to Animation Courtyard.

We were going to wait until the next Disney Jr. Live on Stage performance, but since we saw that a new Voyage of the Little Mermaid show was starting in two minutes, we hopped over to that line. It didn't look long at all, and it immediately started moving into the theater. And then they stopped the line literally right at us. Chained in. Stuck. We were debating whether or not we should hop out of line (we don't wait in lines) when the gentleman working the chain opened it and let us into the waiting area.

I was sort of scared at first. VOTLM's waiting area has a low ceiling, is small, is dark, and is PACKED. All that is a formula for disaster when it comes to Brynn. However, we were directed to follow a line on the floor that blocked off a small area along the wall as both a handicapped and alternate waiting area. It was right next to all the other people packed in, and it was small, but it ended up being perfect for us. We sat Brynn down facing the wall and gave all the kids some Nemo toys. We were the first ones in that line, and we sat in the corner, blocking us off from the world with our bodies, and enjoyed the air conditioning and the moment off of our feet. Aside from the kids fighting over who got which toy, it was quite pleasant! The seventeen minutes went quickly, and I ended up being very happy we decided to wait.
Then it was time for Brynn's favorite princess, ARIEL!

We were sitting in the very back in our own little clump of chairs, and it was a great spot for us.

Most people have pictures of Ariel. We've got Ursula.

As usual, we loved the whole thing, but Brandon and I giggled at all the huge holes in the performance. The movie itself is sort of odd when you think about it too hard, but having it condensed is laughable! If you didn't know the story, I could see how you could be pretty confused. But, hey, there are bubbles and songs and lasers and puppets. You can't go wrong with all that.

Literally two minute after that show ended, Disney Jr. Live on Stage began. We hustled straight across the courtyard and held our breath that they wouldn't close the doors on us! Luckily, we were let in and found a place in the back!

In the very back.

You know I'm one to be honest, so I'm gonna tell you how it is: MY KIDS WERE WILD. And I don't mean "wild" like the other kids in the audience, who danced and clapped at appropriate times. Oh, no. Wild like they wiggled and stretched and laid in the floor and tried to run away. Obviously they had been able to sit through one show, but sitting through another back-to-back was a bit much. Don't get me wrong--they LOVE this show! But their attention was strained...until there were bubbles, of course.

After Jake, "gold dubloons" dropped from the sky, and my kids ran to grab them and hoard them. Pirates.

With that done, we had no plans. We began our walk through the park, glancing around to see what we could see and decide on what to do.
The Great Movie Ride was out--it had a wait time of 35 minutes, and I'm just not willing to wait for that one. I knew it would be a better time later (and it was). Brandon decided to photograph it anyway, which ended up being a good decision (foreshadowing!).

DHS is Brandon's favorite park to photograph, I think. He loves the atmosphere. I have to admit that I do, too, though it's definitely not my favorite park.

And then this happened, and my geeky little heart nearly exploded with pride!

We ended up at MuppetVision 3D, and my kids were bursting with excitement! We are a Muppet-lovin' family for sure! We were rushing to fit this in before our too-early ADR, so I only have some video to prove we were there, but we spent some quality time with the fountain later.

It was at this point that we figured out that the rain cover given to us with our rental stroller did not actually fit. We tried it a million ways before we realized that it was most definitely made for a different stroller. The clouds were rolling in, so we covered it as best we could and put our own cover on our single stroller before making our way in to laugh at our Muppet friends and their 3D antics.

And boy did we! Along with being spectacularly cute, we are also spectacularly LOUD!

I quickly ran over to grab FPs for Star Tours since our window was finally open, and then we had to high-tail it over to our lunch ADR at Sci-Fi DIne-In. We were ten minutes late (and that's pretty good, considering we go by the philosophy that we're allowed five minutes late per child...we were early!), and the check-in girl (and I say girl because she looked about ten) told us that since we were late that we would not be seated in a "car."
Brandon was not happy. We weren't even hungry yet, but we wanted this for the atmosphere. We decided we'd just get milkshakes and get out of there since a regular table wouldn't appeal to our kids. When we were led to our table one minute later, though, it WAS a car. Color me confused.

Whoever decided that ten minutes late meant missing out on our table must have changed her mind. Or someone realized that she was being a bit ridiculous, considering the place was less than full.

We decided we would eat, after all, but Brandon and I would split the reuben we'd loved last year. We all got milkshakes since they are so phenomenal here, and the kids had...I don't know. Hot dogs? Cheeseburgers? I don't recall. What I DO recall is that Brynn wouldn't take a single bite, yet insisted that even though she had no room for real food that she had just enough room for her ice cream sundae at dessert time. I made her count bites. It worked, and we ended up mostly fueled on ice cream products, which isn't much of a change from our normal life. The reuben was great again, by the way.

This is bright enough to see the menu, don't you think? I've heard lots of complaints about it, but I've never had issues.

During the time we were eating, we heard thunder so loud that it shook the restaurant! A few minutes later, people started piling in in soaked clothes. Nobody was leaving during this downpour! The nearly-empty restaurant was getting pretty full now!

Side note about this photo--we laughed when we got home because we seem to get this shot on every trip of Tom! Just so happens the film is in that place when Brandon gets up to take a photo walk!

Julia enjoyed the movies, and Brynn enjoyed her ice cream. Soon we couldn't put off leaving any longer.

We made it to the waiting area to see that it was downpouring still. Brandon decided to go grab the strollers.

Well, the good news is that Brynn's stroller was in perfect condition since it had been under our own cover!

The bad news is that half the rental stroller was wet because the cover they gave us didn't fit. Sawyer and Julia had damp booties the rest of the day, and I had a pressing need to contact the stroller rental company. This trip was obviously going to be wetter than our past trips, and we needed a good cover!

Our first set of Fastpasses, Toy Story Mania, were about to expire, so we made our way over to Pixar Place and parked our strollers again. It was time for yet another potty break--I only mention this because when we were in there, we met two sisters named BRYNN and JULIA!! HOW FREAKIN' WEIRD IS THAT!?!

We walked through the FP line until it got near the part where you go up the stairs. At that point, we walked Brynn to the alternate entrance. Yes, this alternate entrance ALWAYS ends up taking waaaaaaaaaay more time than the regular line...a GAC is definitely not a way to get places faster, as some people seem to think. But if you've been in that area of the line, you know that it is striped red and white and the line is packed in and winding. The sound is loud, as well, since it is closed in. I knew that wouldn't fly with Brynn, so we opted to wait longer.

There were only a couple of groups in front of us, but one could not transfer. In that case, they have to wait for a certain special car to come around that will hold a wheelchair. The cast members were having trouble lining up something on the ride car correctly, so it wouldn't move. That took a good chunk of time, and in that time, Sawyer wet through his diaper on me AGAIN. That makes two times. I was not amused.

We were the only family without a wheelchair (not even our stroller wheelchair), but nobody thought anything of it. I guess it must have been obvious that she needed some space. The kids waited wildly, and I informed them that gymnastics on the rails was highly inappropriate (my favorite thing to say this trip).

Soon it was time for us to board! Brynn was with Brandon, and I had Julia and Sawyer.

And this was the score from Brandon and Brynn:

Yep, she had 1% accuracy. But, hey, at least she took some shots this year!
I don't remember exactly what Julia and I scored (I assure you that mine wasn't good...I have no coordination), but we had to let her think she won, of course. Her logic was that Brandon had Brynn "helping" him, so they had to divide his score in half so she'd win. And since I was holding Sawyer, I had to divide my score in half, as well. Somehow this kid always wins...OR ELSE!

It was now mid-afternoon and the rain was falling. Did we care? NOPE! We trudged on...

(until next time, )

 

[kimbo0569]

Just finished your entire TR so far and looking foward to reading more. I'm so sorry you had such a crappy time at CRT. I would have felt the same way.

Our favorite character meals were also Crystal Palace with Pooh & Friends, as well as Garden Grill. My youngest daughter (who was 3 on our last trip) was nowhere near interested in princesses whatsoever loved these two meals! My oldest who was 6 1/2 on our last trip was all about the princesses so I booked the Cinderella dinner at the GF, which the character interaction was awesome. The food was good, not fantastic but it was fine. We're planning to go down again in the fall, not sure what character meals, we'll do, now that the girls are older. my oldest is 11 now and my youngest will be 8 so we shall see!

 

[GrimGrinningStitch]

How is it that no matter what time of year it is, Hollywood Studios is always, always packed?

I've actually never seen any of the shows at Hollywood Studios! It's funny you mention the story thing about the Little Mermaid show, because the new ride has the same issues. It's like someone read the wikipedia synopsis and then condensed it to 2 or 3 sentences.

Yay for Star Wars pictures! I love that speeder bike. In fact, I love the entire exterior of Star Tours.

Sci Fi! Yet another place I've never been. We really need to go at some point.

I think Julia's logic is flawless! Clearly it's only fair to divide all the scores (except hers) by two.

Also, I really don't mind the rain in WDW. Now, part of this is growing up a Seattleite, you just learn to roll with the rain. But I love how it just clears things out in WDW, so you can just go out and do whatever you want. Just throw on a poncho and go.

Can't wait for the next update!

 

[katt789]

Aw man, that sucks that plans went out the window, but at least breakfast was awesome!!

Glad you guys got your own little place for Voyage, and oh god the plot holes in it are hilarious!! It makes me laugh so hard! Yay for two shows back to back, I honestly kinda want to go to Disney Jr next time I’m down there, especially with Sofia in it now! Love her!

DHS definitely has a bunch of awesome stuff to photograph, I have to agree!! That is odd that they were all “no car” but then you got one..odd…but good! Sci Fi definitely is one for the atmosphere, I simply ordered a grilled cheese when I was there, nothing on the menu appealed to me! Hha!

OH MY GOD THAT RAINSTORM!!! We were stuck in it over at AK that day! Running through the park with a broken umbrella trying to make it to Tusker House, and that clap of thunder that rumbled Sci Fi hit when we were running across the bridge into Africa, it was terrifying being outside in that!!

That is so weird to meet sisters with the same names as your kids, awesome!! Ha! That’s a pretty good “not amused” face while waiting for TSM!

 

[shan23877]

How annoying that the rain cover didn't fit! I can't imagine anything less comfortable than being damp all day.

I've never given a ton of thought to the GAC lines, but I guess you're right-I did always think they moved a little faster than the regular lines. When you have 3 little ones, I'm sure that's kind of hard.

On our last trip Buzz and Woody's line was always at least 45 minutes! We never did meet them.

I think I'm going to have to see Disney Jr Live this trip. Is it at least cute?

I wonder what was up with the 12 year old hostess? Power trip? At least you got a car!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

I was a couple of updates behind, but I'm caught up now!

LOL at Julia's TSMM logic...I'm totally stealing it because I'm awful at that ride, and it's the the only way I'll ever win!

DHS is a lot of fun to photograph...I love the old Hollywood vibe even though it's my least favorite park.

 

[HappyGal]

Okay, this is the rain I remembered from our trip.

Another set of sisters named Julia and Brynn? I love coincidences like that!

 

[ronnmel]

You updated too??!!!! I guess February 20th was International Updating Day.

It sucks when plans are derailed, but you guys seem to bounce back okay. Boo to the non-fitting rain cover. We had a slightly similar problem as you'll see on day 4 of my TR, but it was our fault.

I can imagine how two shows back to back would be a bit much for children to sit through.

I remember in the past they used to pack us in the striped section at TSM. However our experience was different this time. Each and every time we went on TSM they stopped most people at the merge point. Once past that point we would walk almost all the way to boarding, stopping just at the stop of the last set of stairs you go down before boarding. So we would only wait a few minutes in that section of the queue. I'm pretty sure Brynn would have been fine with that. Maybe next time you can ask the CM at the merge how long the regular line is at that point, and make a decision on which way to go based on that?

Leaky diapers suck.