Lightsabers, Mouse Kisses and a Man in a Lucky Shirt! A January 2010 TR

[Northern Disney Girl]

I love your parade pictures! I can't even remember the last time I saw an afternoon parade at the MK. I do think that they're wonderful, but we never stop to watch. 3pm is when we're usually heading out to a park for our evening touring (after our midday break).

BTMRR is one of our favorites. Every time we talk about WDW, Madison asks if we can ride it at all different times of day. I guess she really loved riding it at night back in June! A cinnamon roll from the Main Street Bakery is on the list of things to get on our Sept trip. They are SO delicious!!!

Those are 2 of my goals for our next trip! Get Natalie to ride BTMR and have a whole MSB cinnamon Bun all for meeeeeeeee!

I love these posts!!

Thanks! Glad you are enjoying them! I am very much enjoying sharing them with you all!

More great updates Kim!!
We had a not so wonderful CM on the Jungle Cruise last year. She talked so fast and the sound was so bad we missed half of what she was saying! That's a job where you really have to like the ride to be good as a CM.

Cool that the characters acknowledged Emily's birthday from a parade!

Yes it WAS so very neat! I agree that in order to do a good job piloting a boat on Jungle Cruise you must REALLY like your job!

Great updates!

Philharmagic- We loved it too and were so glad it wasn't down this time!

Jungle Cruise- I wonder if we had the same CM as you. The guy we had wasn't enthusiastic at all and sounded like he was just reading the script. I guess we all have our off days.

Tom Sawyer's Island- I've never heard about hidden paint brushes! Looks like I have some research to do before our next trip.

Snow White- I watched it on YouTube before our trip and decided we'd skip it for a little while. It seems just a little too intense for Em yet.

I'll bet it WAS the same guy! Not very animated at all! The paint brush idea is very neat! Apparently, the CM's hide several paintbrushes on the island and if you find one, bring it to a CM and you will get a Dream FP good for any ride in the park! We skipped Snow White last year for the very same reason! Good decision!

Love the updates and pics, especially the early-morning ones from your breakfast at LTT! That meal sounded so good!

The breakfast was SO yummy at LTT! I dreamed about it the other night!

- lurker here - patiently waiting

WELCOME!!! Thanks for posting! Glad you are here!

 

[Diamondintheruff]

How wonderful for Emily to get noticed by Cinderella.

I've got to try those corn dog nuggets. I haven't tried the cinnamon bun at the MSB but I have had the french toast roll. Not sure what it was called but we called it "darn good".

 

[Dugette]

The paint brush idea is very neat! Apparently, the CM's hide several paintbrushes on the island and if you find one, bring it to a CM and you will get a Dream FP good for any ride in the park!

For what it's worth, we found a paintbrush on our January trip and the FP we got were for BTMR only (which we had just ridden twice w/no lines, ironically).

Sounds like you had a great day in the MK!

Random question: how many corn dog nuggets do you get in an order? I have yet to try them, but I will on our next trip!

 

[KathyRN137]

Hi Kim!

Sounds to me like you have a family of larks... mine are all owls! When we're at Disney I can barely get them out of bed by 7:15, let alone out to the bus stop! And its getting worse as the kids turn into teens...

What a unique experience to be able to have a character breakfast at LTT... it did look yummy. I kinda wish they were offering it all the time.

(Are you listening, Disney??)

Such an early breakfast gave you a great head start on your morning... you were able to see and do so much!

Are the girls excited about all the upcoming changes and additions to Fantasyland?


Kathy

 

[lexmas]

Great Update! Too bad you didn't find any paintbrushes on TSI. I know DS would love the hunting, but he would be crushed if he had to give up without anything, so I think 3 is too young for it!

Great pictures of the parade! And I did not know about Mr. Toad in the pet cemetary...I'll have to look next time! I never rode Mr. Toad at WDW (well, maybe when I was five) but I have ridden it at disneyland.

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

How wonderful for Emily to get noticed by Cinderella.

I've got to try those corn dog nuggets. I haven't tried the cinnamon bun at the MSB but I have had the french toast roll. Not sure what it was called but we called it "darn good".

FRENCH TOAST LOAF!!!!! YUMMY!!!! I ate it once when I was a kid and it was divine! I am highly addicted to MSB's Cinnamon Rolls, it was oh so very hard to share!

For what it's worth, we found a paintbrush on our January trip and the FP we got were for BTMR only (which we had just ridden twice w/no lines, ironically).

Sounds like you had a great day in the MK!

Random question: how many corn dog nuggets do you get in an order? I have yet to try them, but I will on our next trip!

I think there are 12-16 in one order cause we had 2 orders and were each able to have 6-8 I think?? Can't really remember that well! They were VERY tasty though! Next time I want to try a Casey's hot dog!!!

Hi Kim!

Sounds to me like you have a family of larks... mine are all owls! When we're at Disney I can bearly get them out of bed by 7:15, let alone out to the bus stop! And its getting worse as the kids turn into teens...

What a unique experience to be able to have a character breakfast at LTT... it did look yummy. I kinda wish they were offering it all the time.

(Are you listening, Disney??)

Such an early breakfast gave you a great head start on your morning... you were able to see and do so much!

Are the girls excited about all the upcoming changes and additions to Fantasyland?


Kathy

Yes, my children ARE early birds! The are up EVERY DAY at 7:30 am to get ready for school! Even on weekends they don't sleep in much - maybe until 8 or so! I don't mind so much if it means that I can be at the parks early!

We did enjoy the LTT breakfast, but I really did miss the french toast over at Crystal Palace! LTT is so nice and quiet and relaxing, I think I might like to try eating a meal there again sometime!

Great Update! Too bad you didn't find any paintbrushes on TSI. I know DS would love the hunting, but he would be crushed if he had to give up without anything, so I think 3 is too young for it!

Great pictures of the parade! And I did not know about Mr. Toad in the pet cemetary...I'll have to look next time! I never rode Mr. Toad at WDW (well, maybe when I was five) but I have ridden it at disneyland.

Mr. Toad is waaaaaaayyyyyyyy at the very back of the Pet Cemetary! You can just barely see him with your eyes! The picture we took was taken on full zoom power! I think our camera has 8x optical zoom!

Searching for paintbrushes WAS fun, but a bit tiring! Maybe wait for your little man to be abit older! There were some little girls who were devastated that they didn't find one and their mother was carrying BOTH of them back onto the raft afterwards! I felt so badly for them! My girls were fine because we had prepared them for the probable reality that they very well might not find one!

 

[Dancegrl624]

Yes, my children ARE early birds! The are up EVERY DAY at 7:30 am to get ready for school! Even on weekends they don't sleep in much - maybe until 8 or so! I don't mind so much if it means that I can be at the parks early!

Madison is an early bird too. On school days, I set my alarm for 7:30 so I can wake her up. Most of the time, she is already downstairs when I wake up!!! We let her stay up later on weekends to see if she'll sleep in a bit. That doesn't work. She's still up between 7:30 and 8am! The only time she sleeps later than that is if she's up SUPER late. She is never hard to get up at Disney either!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Another set of early risers here too! If my girls sleep much past 7 I start to worry. It is nice to get going early at WDW and enjoy the time we have. Especially this next short trip! We'll sleep in at the beach later!

We have never gone to Tom Sawyer's Island either, but hope to this trip. I'm trying to talk the girls into BTMRR. Sarah will probably do it. Paige, who knows?

 

[disneyshakeygirl]

I love the photos! Now I know where to look for Mr. Toad, thanks to you

 

[cinderella crazy]

Looks like y'all had a great time at MK! I never realized Mr Toad was in the pet cemetery. We'll have to look for him next time! Thanks for the heads up!

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

So sorry to take so long in between chapters!! Life has been a little crazy the last bit! Things are getting quiet now so I will have heaps of time in which to write and up load pics for you!! Hopefully get to the next chapter in a couple of days!

 

[trish4bruce]

I just finished reading all your updates to date and what a great report! Guess what? I think I live in the same town as you - Thunder Bay - right? And I think our girls go to the same school. It really is a small world.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

I just finished reading all your updates to date and what a great report! Guess what? I think I live in the same town as you - Thunder Bay - right? And I think our girls go to the same school. It really is a small world.

Too funny - I smell a DISmeet!!! Having met Kim, I can tell you that she's awesome and you will enjoy spending time with her. Lots of fun! My girls loved her girls. Ken is great too!

 

[lexmas]

Don't worry, we'll still be here when you get around to it.

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

I just finished reading all your updates to date and what a great report! Guess what? I think I live in the same town as you - Thunder Bay - right? And I think our girls go to the same school. It really is a small world.

Yuppers!!! My girls are in Grades 1 & 3 @ Edgewater!! Feel free to PM if you want!!

Too funny - I smell a DISmeet!!! Having met Kim, I can tell you that she's awesome and you will enjoy spending time with her. Lots of fun! My girls loved her girls. Ken is great too!

Awwwww, Sheree! You are the SWEETEST!!

Don't worry, we'll still be here when you get around to it.

Thanks Lex!! I really hope to do an update tomorrow or wednesday!

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

After nearly a MONTH...... (gasp!)

I

AM

FINALLY

WORKING

ON

AN

UPDATE!!!!!!!!



STAY TUNED!!!!!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

CHAPTER 10 – Takin' it easy in the Big Easy!

Now where did I leave us last time??? Oh yes! I believe we were headed back to POFQ for some much needed relaxation time!

When we arrived at the lovely POFQ, the first thing the girls wanted to know was if they could go swimming yet! I figured it was warm enough and our ADR wasn't until 6pm so I told them to get suited up and Dad could take them to the pool for a dip!

I wasn't quite in the swimming mood so I grabbed the refillable mug and the camera and set off to do my own thing. I first paid a visit to the hot chocolate station at Sassagoula and then had a little browse through the gift shop! Lots of wonderful treasures to be found there! I could probably wander around in there for hours!

I decided to then go and check up on my family and see what they were up to! I wandered doen to the swimming pool and on the way took a few shots of these guys...

I found Ken and the girls and they told me that our friends (who were staying at POR) had stopped by and made a date for us to meet up with them after our supper at Boatwright's.

I snapped a few shots of them playing in the water and going down the serpent slide and then wandered around the pool area taking pictures of whatever caught my fancy.

Soon enough it was time to head back to the room to get ready for supper. We literally had to drag the girls out of the water as they were having SO MUCH FUN!!! I hated to do it but I REALLY wanted to eat at Boatwright's.

Quick as a flash we were all cleaned up and ready to go and we had a lovely leisurely stroll along the river over to POR! Twilight was just starting and the lamplights were just coming on – it was so beautiful and serene!

We arrived a few minutes early and took a minute to enjoy the beautiful Lobby! It is quite lovely! Very elegant!

We then walked down the hallway to Boatwright's and checked in. We waited maybe 3 minutes before we were taken to a table near the back of the restaurant. The server noted that Natalie and I both had allergies and said he would send the chef out for a chat! Normally my allergies are not an issue but since we were dining in a restaurant that included seafood with pretty much EVERY entree, I wanted to make sure that I was safe!

The chef came out for a visit and conferred with me about my choice of entree. He assured me that he would personally oversee its creation and make absolute sure there was no cross contamination! We found something on the kids menu for Natalie to eat and we were good to go!

Our server brought our drinks and a basket of corn bread. OH. MY. WORD. Maybe it was just because we were so hungry, but that bread was TO. DIE. FOR. SO YUMMY!!!

Now, while we wait for our dinner to arrive, please allow me to brag about my children for a bit! Ken and I have worked VERY HARD to teach our girls good manners and proper restaurant behavior. We try to take them out to eat at a nice sit down restaurant at least once every other month or so. This is to give them the opportunity to practice their good manners and restaurant behavior.

Now, throughout this meal at Boatwright's, they were very well behaved and I was very proud of them. It had been a long day and they were very tired but they were both being so good! Our server noticed too. When they ordered their food, they looked him straight in the eyes and stated what they wanted to have and said it kindly and politely. Each time he returned to our table (which was actually quite often as it was not very busy there!) the girls greeted him and if they needed something, asked for it very nicely.

Our meals arrived less than 30 minutes after ordering and we plowed in rather quickly as we were quite hungry!

I had the Grilled Tenderloin Medallions with sweet potatoes and asparagus

Ken had the Jambalaya

Natalie had the Kids meaty Macaroni

and Em had chicken nuggets and fries with chicken noodle soup as her appy.

Ken also had a beer flight! Again he found one he did not care and discovered that it was again a Wheat beer!

Now I have heard many people say that they did not enjoy the food here. Not sure why cause WE LOVED IT!!! I will definitely eat here again! The service was outstanding and the food was delicious!! I would say that while the restaurant itself was quiet, clean and spacious it was not anything to write home about. The boat skeleton overhead was neat though!

We finished up and ordered our desserts. Emily got her standard DDP kids ice cream. Natalie had her fruit from her meal, I oredered the no sugar added Lemon Pound cake and Ken, of course, had the Pecan Pie.

Now, a note about the word Pecan. Up here in Canada, we say it PEE-can. I have been told by my DIS friends in the south that our pronunciation is entirely wrong and disgusting too. It is properly said Pe-CAHN. Forgive me my southern friends!

Anyway you say it, that pie was SCRUMPTIOUS!!!!! I was really full after my sinfully delicious supper that I really didn't have much room for my dessert. I managed a few bites though.It was really good but not as good as that pie!

Our server brought us our bill and also brought the girls beads and balloons! He told them that they were the best behaved little girls that he had ever had the pleasure of serving! He told us that we were doing an EXCELLENT job as parents! I think my head swelled a bit just then! It really does feel nice to have your efforts recognized!

We squared up with the DDP and then used the restrooms before heading out to meet our friends! While we were waiting in the Main Lobby, the girls found the little TV area and watched some cartoons!

Not too much later our friends showed up and we talked about what we wanted to do. We decided to take a walk over to their room so they could get their arcade card. We enjoyed a lovely stroll around POR as we meandered our way to Magnolia Terrace where their room was located. POR really is very beautiful at night! It is SO BIG though! Not sure if I would ever want to actually stay there! I really enjoyed the smallness of POFQ!

We retrieved the arcade card and then headed back to the Main building and all the kids used up the free minutes and then some in their efforts at air hockey! When they were done we all decided to walk back towards POFQ as it was getting late for us and our friends wanted to head over to DTD for a while! The kids in that family are a bit older than ours and are quite used to being up late! We had already had a long day and were quite ready for bed!

We walked along the river and parted ways at the POFQ boat dock! After saying our goodbyes, we headed back to our room and got ready for bed! I think the girls watched a bit of TV before falling asleep! It had been a LONG day!

 

[KathyRN137]

We enjoyed our (one) meal at Boatwright's, too! And kudos to you for instilling such good manners in your girls.

That pool and serpent slide were a favorite of our kids, too. Like you said, it was VERY difficult to get them to leave it once they were in the water!

So glad you were able to meet up with friends for a little down time at the resort. Its good to unwind after a long day of fun!

I know you're busy, but I hope its not as long until the next update!


Kathy

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Great update Kim! We thought POR was beautiful too!

I can attest to the fact that the girls are very well behaved! And such nice kids - you should be so proud!!!