It all started with a secret-KOTS no more!-Video pg1-update-the final chapter...pg 11

[Marshay]

Your phone booth has now made me want to start our own tradition of taking the same picture every trip. I'll have to go back through my album and see what one will work from our last trip, so we can repeat in Sept!

Thanks!

 

[Parla]

I've been thinking of that too. I love our picture from Chef Mickeys and thought we would eat there every trip but I just don't want to take the time to eat at a resort this time around. We are only there for five days and have a lot to squeeze in.

 

[Parla]

Hey Lara, I asked this on the long thread but you had left and prolly didn't see it. You said you came back with an extra suitcase. Did you buy one while you were there. We were thinking of only doing carry-ons and getting out of the airport quicker. We have a rental car and will stop at Wal-Mart and I know we will need more space to pack coming home (DS will try his best to clean out the Lego Store). Just wondering how to work it if we decide to do it that way. Of course I would need a good list to hit Wal-Mart with to get the liquids that we couldn't take with us. Medicines, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, body wash... is it worth it?

 

[LaraK]

Hey Lara, I asked this on the long thread but you had left and prolly didn't see it. You said you came back with an extra suitcase. Did you buy one while you were there. We were thinking of only doing carry-ons and getting out of the airport quicker. We have a rental car and will stop at Wal-Mart and I know we will need more space to pack coming home (DS will try his best to clean out the Lego Store). Just wondering how to work it if we decide to do it that way. Of course I would need a good list to hit Wal-Mart with to get the liquids that we couldn't take with us. Medicines, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, body wash... is it worth it?

We checked luggage going down and back....coming back we realized we didn't have enough space. Luckily, my dad lives a couple of hours from Orlando and was coming to see us on our departure day...I borrowed a small suitcase/backpack of his. Disney also has a great deal where if you spend $50 in a hotel gift shop you can get a really nice tote for $10...that was out other carry on.

 

[Parla]

We checked luggage going down and back....coming back we realized we didn't have enough space. Luckily, my dad lives a couple of hours from Orlando and was coming to see us on our departure day...I borrowed a small suitcase/backpack of his. Disney also has a great deal where if you spend $50 in a hotel gift shop you can get a really nice tote for $10...that was out other carry on.

Yes, I got one of those totes last year and plan to get another one this time. I love that bag. It is the sturdiest bag I ever got for $10. So you borrowed a suitcase. That makes sense.

 

[Marshay]

Parla or Lara, can you post a picture of the tote? I haven't seen this yet. thx!

 

[Parla]

Parla or Lara, can you post a picture of the tote? I haven't seen this yet. thx!

Let me get my camera!

 

[Parla]

Just uploading a pic.

 

[Parla]

This was last years. I had been wanting to ask if they changed them this year so this is a good opportunity... did they change them this year?

 

[Marshay]

Thanks Parla! It looks very much like the bag I got for being a DVC member, except on the front says DVC stuff instead.

I use it for swim gear and it is great!

 

[LaraK]

This was last years. I had been wanting to ask if they changed them this year so this is a good opportunity... did they change them this year?

That looks different than what I have...it's at home, but I'll check tonight.

I forgot to upload pictures onto Photobucket from my next chapter, so I have to come on to do an update tonight anyway.

 

[Parla]

That looks different than what I have...it's at home, but I'll check tonight.

I forgot to upload pictures onto Photobucket from my next chapter, so I have to come on to do an update tonight anyway.

Now I'm excited to see what yours looks like. I'll buy two if they look different! I wish I had bought a second one when I made my final purchase before leaving from our last trip. I have a good friend that loves bags but had asked me to get her a sweatshirt so I didn't get the bag.

 

[LaraK]

OMG! I forgot about my second Focker meeting! On Sunday night (during chapter 8) I met ZDad to do a Flora hand off. It was his 25th anniversary and I got to meet Mrs. ZDad as well. We had a quick lobby "I'm watching you Focker" moment and walked out to the boat together. I have to put some pictures of Flora up for you to enjoy. ZDad is doing his own trip report, and I'd encourage you to take a look….he's SOOOOOO funny! Here's the link!

Here are some pictures of Flora...

bonding with DD

at the dock...

Waiting for ZDad...

 

[popcenturycp07]

yes! the totes are different. this year they are more off white and a different kind of blue. but very similar!

 

[LaraK]

So on Tuesday we left the hotel nice and early to head over to Animal Kingdom for an early ADR. Got to the parking lot before the gates even opened and waited for them to let us in. I may not do the early ADR here the next time. It's frustrating to get in to park (we always rent a car) and you have to wait for forever and a day to be seated. The characters are in and out so fast, you only have one chance to get a picture...kids eyes closed, tough luck! The food is ok at best. One thing I will say is that the chef here was fantastic. My son has food allergies and he wasn't comfortable with him eating anything on the buffet line because they use too many of the ingredients he is allergic too on the grill. So he made my son a special Mickey pancake with preserves from the back....REALLY nice.


Anyway, after we ate, we went out to wait for the rope to drop inside of Dino-Land. DH took the kids and I took off when the rope went down. I'd never been on Expedition Everest (DD too short by an inch) and I'm a coaster junkie. So I take off with the EE crowd to the next hold point with another rope. The CM's are watching the crowd coming in from the main gate. One CM clearly wanted to let us pass sooner than the other. So the CM's finally start backing up and leading us to EE. The one that wanted to let us go says to us...want to ride first? Come this way! Some of the people who were with me were like "no, I just want fast passes"....duh! If you ride first, you can still swing out and get fast passes! I, of course, followed him and ended up being the first person (front seat) on the first train! VERY cool ride. I think I have a new overall favorite!

By the time I got out, DH was just walking up the path towards me. The Monkeys were making a huge racket, so we walked over to watch the monkeys for a few minutes and then strolled over to the Safari. The line was already pretty long, so we grabbed fast passes and walked the trail first. By the time we got out, it was time to use our fast passes.

The Safari was really good, lots of animals (of course, I didn't get lots of pictures). After that we walked over and let my daughter talk is into Bugs Life (she wasn't having a good day, extra whiny). Well, BIG mistake! DD loved it, but DS FREAKED! Poor baby.

After Bugs Life we went over and did the triceratops ride. It was blazing hot by that point and DD was melting down...so we called it a day at AK. We headed back to the hotel for a much needed nap to revive us so that we could go back at it that evening.

Here are a few AK pics...

With Donald...

A few animals I could get pictures of (because they were laying down)...

The kids with a few "wild animals"...

With Flick...BEFORE we saw the movie...

 

[zdad]

OMG! I forgot about my second Focker meeting! On Sunday night (during chapter 8) I met ZDad to do a Flora hand off. It was his 25th anniversary and I got to meet Mrs. ZDad as well. We had a quick lobby "I'm watching you Focker" moment and walked out to the boat together. I have to put some pictures of Flora up for you to enjoy. ZDad is doing his own trip report, and I'd encourage you to take a look….he's SOOOOOO funny!

Aw shucks..... Thanks for the plug. I hope to update my trip report again tonight.

Meeting you guys was great.

 

[tinkerbell3747]

I am planning my next trip for July 08 is so far away my DS(6) has asked if we could go back I have told him yes but did not say when... I wonder if I can still pull off a surprise like that?

I love the video of your daughters reaction and the pictures of WL, WC is on must list of ADR's already glad to hear it was a grand time. Keep posting

Thanks

 

[DisneyJo]

Loving your TR Lara, we did a surprise holiday to Lapland when the girls were 4 & 6 and we got all the way to the airport without them twigging Love the video of your DD she's so cute and 2 dreams too you lucky thing!

 

[*MickeyFan*]

Your kids are sooo Adorable!!!

 

[LaraK]

So after we all took naps on Tuesday, we headed back to Epcot for a relaxing evening. This was one on the only nights of the trip where we didn't have any ADRs. We went on Spaceship Earth (one of our favorites) and then headed over for a trip back in time on Ellen's Energy Adventure. After that we were hungry and stopped for a bite to eat at the Electric Umbrella...not great food, but it filled us up.

After dinner we took a stroll over to the Mexico pavillion to look for a good desert...hit the Three Cabajaros (sp?) ride while we were there...twice! Kids LOVED the new ride (I'll probably always think of it as El Rio De Tiempo). Got some desert and sat watching the fountain for a while. After that we stopped in our favorite store in Disney, Mousegears (second trip in) where the kids bought some ears (DD's lit up...she was soooo excited). Then it was time to go back to the hotel to rest up for MGM the next day.

Coming up, chapter twelve...Tower of Terror, Bear in the Big Blue House and Pushing the Limits too far.