July 2010 Big Bdays Family Reunion (Update 9/28 Final Thoughts)

[swwake]

Love the pic of Jerry and Rachel being silly! Marsha, you're so pretty!

 

[Marshay]

Love the pic of Jerry and Rachel being silly! Marsha, you're so pretty!

Ah, <blush>. Thanks!

Sorry Rachel did not enjoy Test Track. Hope to actually get on that this year. Always rains whenever we have tried in the past 2 years

Great photopass pics

WOW...13 hrs in the park...I bet you were tired

Looks like a great couple of days

forgot...that frownie face was hilarious..lol

Ok, so wishing no rain for you at Epcot!

Oh, yeah, that frownie face just cracked me up when I saw the pics. The photographer didn't say anything to me or to her. So it was a total surprise. I thought we were all smiling with delight for our birthday! Silly me!

Marsha, your color coordination really makes for great pictures!!! The girls are sooo cute in their tutus that day!

I love your new fountain picture. It's so great that you keep that a tradition every trip.

Your parents sure DID look bored on that second pic of TT.

Glad Rachel was brave enough to try it!! It sounds like she liked it for the most part, just that ONE little part she didn't!

Just wait til your girls are DRIVING that car one day....ut oh!

oh and my favorite PP picture is the one of Jerry and Rachel being silly...that is priceless!! I love that the PP photographers play along

Ooh I forgot what else I had wanted to say

Thanks -- I'm glad you noticed the color coordination! I started that a few trips ago and now try to do it everytime. This July trip was the most serious, as I actually took the girls clothes to the mall/stores with me to find something to match. I also shopped at Land's End b/c they make the same basic colors for their different style clothes, too.

November's colors are red, black and white!

Yeah, I LOVE, LOVE those tutus! I never was into girlie stuff like that with Rachel (or before) but for some reason, with Elizabeth and Rachel together, I like the tutu skirts. Guess all the "girlie marketing" for the past 5 years has finally worn me down!

I really like our fountain photo, too. For our November trip I don't have us going to Epcot ... but I might try to sneak in an hour -- just to get that photo done!

Great updates Marsha

I understand the school distraction, it's been nutty here too...I'm sure there are other things I should be doing than being on the Dis...but it's a nice unwind!

the PP pictures are very nice...always one sad face in the crowd..my Rachel has yet to go on TT too...she syas she wants to try it, so I hope she likes it...my guess is the turn would scare her too

A day of shopping is always good and 13 hrs...that is a long day...we have done an open to close before too at DHS a few times...but hey your at Disney right

I would totally do commando open to close if it was just me. but with 3 babies (Elizabeth, Rachel and Jerry!! ) they, just really can't do that. So this was a big, big day for us but thankfully, no major meltdowns.

 

[Marshay]

It was cool to meet Lotso. I was wondering how they were going to explain him. If you've seen the movie, you know that Lotso is the unrepentent villain of the story. Well, they had a CM tell everyone that in order for Lotso to make up for his bad deeds in the movie, he has to greet visitors all day long! So we are his punishment!!

Also, note Elizabeth -- she sees right through him!

Here's another one w/o Jerry -- Elizabeth really doesn't trust him at all!

And I think this expression says it all

Me and my girls

Here is Elizabeth not wanting to see Handy Manny

 

[Marshay]

Today is Friday, July 16th

We had a Kona breakfast ressie with my parents at 10:45am so we relaxed in our room and then drove over to the Polynesian.

I love eating at Kona, esp for breakfast. I got the "Samoan" again which is like a brunch -- pork, and egg and hollandaise sauce over a muffin with greens and all together YUMMINESS. I got this last November and raved about it then. It still lived up to my remembrance.

Then we took a boat to MK and went straight to the Harmony Barbershop to get Elizabeth's first haircut and Rachel some pixie dust and haircut.

Elizabeth was extremely well behaved -- in fact, she just kinda sat there taking it all in.

She got black Mickey ears that say "1st Haircut" on the back.

All done! And a teeny weeny smile

After Rachel got her haircut and some of that Pixe dust glitter in her hair, we stepped outside and man, was it hot! So we walked over to the Tiki Birds and saw that, had a Dole Float and watched the Country Bears Jamboree. Oh, did Elizabeth like this! She was just looking and looking and smiling and clapping.

My parents left then and we decided to stay and watch the parade. Rachel was just bouncing around -- she loved all the characters.

Finally we went on PoC, Jungle Cruise and Buzz Lightyear before calling it a day.

This was supposed to be one of our other non-park days but since we wanted to get Elie's haircut anyway...it just made sense to do some rides and parades, too.

Ok, I think these MK photos are actually from the first day we arrived but I'll include them here, since this is a MK day.

Rachel likes going upside down with Daddy!

So we decided to have a little fun, too!

Oh, look, the castle matches Jerry!

 

[cherbear]

Marsha, love the update and your photopass pics!!!

Elie looks SO cute with her first haircut!! Love that you saved it for Disney! I would love to do that with my children if at ALL possible.

Let's see, I counted 9 Mickey stickers on her person

The picture of her sitting on the ground "not wanting to see Handy Manny" is priceless!!!

Did Rachel EVER let go of her Cinderella doll? She seems to really adore her.

 

[Marshay]

Today is Saturday, July 17 and all 10 of us would be together ... well, in the same park -- MK.

We arrived shortly after 9am, got our GAD special FPs and headed to see the Fairies. However, they didn't open until 10am (I learned something new!) so we went to ride Dumbo.

On the way we saw Mary Poppins and Bert, so we quickly went to get their autograph.

Rachel wanted to do Belle's Storytime and Jerry got picked the part to do Gaston. He was great!

 

[Marshay]

Ooops! We interupt this day to bring you exciting pictures from yesterday! I knew I had them...just couldn't find them in time.

Rachel getting her hair cut

Here is Rachel with her Pixie Dust

and Elizabeth with the props

 

[cherbear]

I know you're still writing but that's great about Belle's storytime and that Jerry got picked!!! yay!

I read the other day that they're doing away with Storytime with Belle. I can't remember what is going in its place though.

 

[Marshay]

I know you're still writing but that's great about Belle's storytime and that Jerry got picked!!! yay!

I read the other day that they're doing away with Storytime with Belle. I can't remember what is going in its place though.

A meet and greet with Tangled -- Rapunzel and Flynn Rider. I think that will be cool too. They may bring Belle back once the "hullaballo" with Rapunzel is over.

Belle had actually picked a boy to be Gaston, but he didn't want anything to do with it. So poor Belle, is going, please someone and Jerry saved her!

 

[Marshay]

Ok, back to MK day.

We rode on Dumbo and the Tea Cups and then met the Fairies for the first time. Tinkerbell is always supposed to be one of the fairies but you never know the other two. And now they are going to add Vidia, too, so I guess we'll be waiting in this line again. It's just always sooooo long.

Rachel and Fawn

Actually got a smile out of Elizabeth with Fawn

These fairies are small!

Rachel in her Tinkerbell outfit with her Tinkerbell doll (see Cher, she did let go of Cinderella today!)

Elizabeth didn't really care for Tink

Rachel and Iridessa. She was a sweetie. She even poured "pixie dust" on Rachel.

Tink told Jerry that he didn't get enough pixie dust when entering into Pixie Hollow!

After the fairies we went on Goofy's Barnstormer but when we went to ride it again, Rachel got all scared of it. Now she rode this last year and loved it. So I don't know what's going on. But Jerry was able to calm her down and then they ended up riding it 2 more times...even the front row! But by then I was upset with her (yeah, I know, it wasn't right for me to be) so I took Elie and we went shopping with our 20% off pass at the Emporium. Then Jerry and Rachel joined us and we ate at Casey's hot dogs and miraculously got one of the only 4 tables in this place.

After Belle's storytime (see pic above), Jerry and I went on Space Mountain and Rachel and Elie had fun waiting in the child swap area. At least it was a/c! Then we did Buzz one more time before going back to our room.

 

[cherbear]

what a fun MK day!! The fairies are so great!!!

 

[Trentmom]

Ah, <blush>. Thanks!



Ok, so wishing no rain for you at Epcot!

Oh, yeah, that frownie face just cracked me up when I saw the pics. The photographer didn't say anything to me or to her. So it was a total surprise. I thought we were all smiling with delight for our birthday! Silly me!



Thanks -- I'm glad you noticed the color coordination! I started that a few trips ago and now try to do it everytime. This July trip was the most serious, as I actually took the girls clothes to the mall/stores with me to find something to match. I also shopped at Land's End b/c they make the same basic colors for their different style clothes, too.

November's colors are red, black and white!

Yeah, I LOVE, LOVE those tutus! I never was into girlie stuff like that with Rachel (or before) but for some reason, with Elizabeth and Rachel together, I like the tutu skirts. Guess all the "girlie marketing" for the past 5 years has finally worn me down!

I really like our fountain photo, too. For our November trip I don't have us going to Epcot ... but I might try to sneak in an hour -- just to get that photo done!



I would totally do commando open to close if it was just me. but with 3 babies (Elizabeth, Rachel and Jerry!! ) they, just really can't do that. So this was a big, big day for us but thankfully, no major meltdowns.

thank you.. I appreciate it

No Epcot? You definitely have to sneak over to get your fountain shot

Is your November trip a short one?

 

[Marshay]

After a quick rest at BWV, we went back to MK and took the train to Frontierland. We rode Splash Mountain 2x, ironically, met up with my parents and my sister's family and then rode BTMRR 2x.

Ok, now I have a bit of a confession to make here. Rachel had sort of wanted to ride Splash Mountain ... but for some reason she was afraid of getting wet and <understandably> didn't want to do the big drop. But she wanted to see Brer Rabbitt and Brer Bear and Brer Fox.

So I asked her if she wanted to go on with Daddy or me and she chose me (foolish girl!)

Now she started out nervous but as we walked through all the turnstiles and queues, she is losing it. When we get to the stairs, she cries out that she's not going on it and starts to throw a fit.

Now I really do think she will like it. In fact, I think she'll end up loving it ... but first I got to get her on it.

So, I "handed in" my mommy card and told her that if she doesn't stop crying and carrying on that the people who run Disney World will kick me out of the park for being a bad Mother!!

Yes, I really said that to my 5 year old girl. And not just once

Finally we get on the ride and she tells me that I have to hold her the entire way. Ok, no problem. We are 2nd row and although she is scared, she is loving all the characters and looking all around.

I'm thinking ... whew! I was right. We go down the hill and she is practically sitting in my lap. We go through the end and she is singing the Zippity doo dah song. I'm thinking we passed a milestone.

Nope.

The rest of my family goes on but she won't ride it again.
She says that her head wants to go on it again but her body doesn't want to.

Ok. So I'm a bad mommy ... (But Wait until you crucify me -- check out what Rachel says tomorrow about wanting to ride Splash Mountain)

We stay to watch the parade, ride Peter Pan and eat strawberry shortcakes from Mrs. Potts and see the fireworks.

Here are some Disney photos of the MSEP:

Rachel's favorite part of the parade

Awesome Summer Nightastic Fireworks

After the fireworks, there are just MOBS and MOBS of people leaving MK. Unfortunately, it wasn't an extra magic hours night and EVERYONE left at the same time. We were hoping to beat the crowd but with two strollers, it was nearly impossible to get through and stay together.

We headed out and the line for the monorail was insane so we decided to take the ferry. The lines for the resort boats were jammed too.

As we got about 15' into the ferry mob, we realized that with our strollers, it is going to be horrible waiting until the ferry comes and then everyone is going to be pushing and shoving past us. So Jerry and I turn our strollers around and fight the crowds to get back out.

We decide to walk to the Contemporary and take the monorail there back to the TTC and to our SUV. However, the lines for the busses and ferries are all blocking the path to the Contemporary. The ONLY way to get past is to hop the 4' fence that surrounds the entrance to MK.

And there are many people doing that. So we join the crowd. Now it's really no problem for Jerry and I since we are tall ... but remember we have two strollers, one of which is a jogging (heavier) stroller and both of our girls are in the strollers asleep.

So I go over the fence first and Jerry is going to hand the girls while in their strollers to me.

Somewhere on Earth there is a VERY kind father of a teenage boy who saw our predicament and said to his son, Hey, help that lady with the strollers. And so among all 4 of us, we got the sleeping kids over the fence and were off to the Contemporary.

As we looked back, FINALLY, the Disney CM open the fence up to let people pass by.

Once at the Contemporary, we go to the bathroom and head up to the monorail. We wait about 10-15 minutes and then walk right onto an empty monorail car. We find out that the monorail reserves one car out of each train for just those folks coming from the Contemporary. Oh, this is We have a/c, a seat and are not in the mob!!

Once at TTC, we decide to walk to Grumpy ... yeah, it's a small hike but we can't fold up strollers for the tram with the sleeping girls in them.

We get to the hotel after 1am and collapse.

 

[Trentmom]

What a great day,

Elie looks so cute after her hair cut

Did Rachel like all that confetti in her hair? I could not tell in the pic


The fairy area is so cute. You are right, those fairies are tiny

Love pic with Elie on ground not wanting to see Handy Manny


The picture with Mary Poppins, Bert and Rachel is great. She looks so cute



You are moving right along with your updates. Am loving it

 

[Marshay]

thank you.. I appreciate it

No Epcot? You definitely have to sneak over to get your fountain shot

Is your November trip a short one?

Yeah, we only have 3 full days in the park for November. I was thinking just doing MK and HS since they are the real Christmas parks...but I may try for Epcot, just for a little bit, if we can.

 

[Trentmom]

wow...those parade pics and fireworks pictures are awesome

You so need to send in that first pic of castle with firework going off to allears...Love it!!!!!


That sounds insane what you had to do to get out. Glad someone came to help you guys

 

[Marshay]

what a fun MK day!! The fairies are so great!!!

Except for the long line, visiting the fairies was definitely a highlight. And the decor is really cute with a bunch of puns (kind of like Mickey's house is). I really hope WDW brings back Pixie Hollow into the plans for the Fantasyland Expansion. They could do so much with it!

What a great day,

Elie looks so cute after her hair cut

Did Rachel like all that confetti in her hair? I could not tell in the pic

The fairy area is so cute. You are right, those fairies are tiny

Love pic with Elie on ground not wanting to see Handy Manny

The picture with Mary Poppins, Bert and Rachel is great. She looks so cute

You are moving right along with your updates. Am loving it

Rachel did like the pixie dust in her hair. She just wasn't sure what it was and she is always nervous around new things. So the photo is when she hadn't had time yet to adjust to it (or even see it yet).

yeah, I love the Elie pic of her celebrating -- Not! I actually just posted that on the thread of kids hating the characters.

Definitely moving along. I only have two more full days plus the Autotrain ride.

But I need to finish this so I can add more to my November trip report (esp our parade and fireworks day!)

I'm glad you are enjoying!

 

[Marshay]

wow...those parade pics and fireworks pictures are awesome

You so need to send in that first pic of castle with firework going off to allears...Love it!!!!!


That sounds insane what you had to do to get out. Glad someone came to help you guys

Oh, we didn't take those photos -- they were DISNEY photopass pics. Evidently if you got a picture taken in front of the castle, there was a special bonus and you got free parade and fireworks photos added to your account.

 

[kaoden39]

Wow Elizabeth did not look like she is a Tink fan.

 

[Trentmom]

Yeah, we only have 3 full days in the park for November. I was thinking just doing MK and HS since they are the real Christmas parks...but I may try for Epcot, just for a little bit, if we can.

oh okay

That makes sense then

I love osborne lights