Marriage: The Trip Report - Update 2/28 - Final Thoughts & Link to Disneyland TR!

[Poolrat]

Caught up here too.


Uh Oh the case of the missing Mickey ?


waiting for the outcome.

 

[PopArtGal]

It seems that when I give out FP I won't use to people, they don't know what to do with them. I even saw someone put it in the garbage.

 

[merbobear]

Nice pixie dust! I gave away some FP this year and one family was completely flabbergasted by the idea...I had to convince them that they could take them for free and then I explained what the ride was like, how to get it..they spoke little English, so it was a bit of a struggle to communicate, but eventually they were all smiles when they realized they were going to skip the long line at Kilimanjaro Safari

And from the tone of your *dun dun dunnn* I have to guess that Henry lost his little Mickey figurine. Well, I can only hope that he found it again, or maybe some other kid found it and it made their day too!

 

[rachel09985]

Wow, I love that Epcot ball picture in your last update! You take some great pics! What kind of DSLR camera do you use? Do you use any extra lenses?

I am contemplating getting a DSLR camera sometime in the future but not sure what kind.

 

[Self_resqing_princz]

I'm catching up again...
First, congrats on the picture possibly being chosen! Can't wait to hear more! I didn't realize they were already taking pictures for that yet. Its a cute pic.. no wonder they want it!


Also, nice pixie dust! We didn't much on our last trip, but my first trip with my in-laws we were sprinkled about once an hour.. during Disney's Year of a Million Wishes campaign. We each got 2 pairs of the fancy cloudy ears, we got fast passes and got to ride RnR twice in a row! That was a GREAT trip.. and my first on property.. and my first with DH.

Keep on keepin on with the report!

 

[JessicaFaye508]

I am hoping to go to Beaches and Cream on my next visit for lunch... it just looks so cute
Aww how nice somebody gave you those Soarin FP's!! That is SO nice. You guys lucked out!

 

[dmwang9]

Maybe my Disney-starved brain is starting to hallucinate, but the onion rings in the top right part of the photo sorta look like a hidden Mickey to me.....

-- Dave

 

[blessedby3]

Maybe my Disney-starved brain is starting to hallucinate, but the onion rings in the top right part of the photo sorta look like a hidden Mickey to me.....

-- Dave

I agree

 

[brookelizabeth]

What an awesome Soarin' moment!!! That was so nice of those folks!!!

I do love me some Spaceship Earth. Good times, good times!

I love Spaceship Earth too, and I'm so glad Henry enjoys it! I'm AMAZED at how much he has retained from it. One time when we rode (I think it might have been earlier in this same trip?) he asked questions the entireeeeeeee time about it, so I explained everything to him, the best I could, in "toddler speak", and now he tells Joe and I what the ride is about!

Those lights were there last December. I know because I was bit baffled by them as well. They make WS look so pretty but man, don't look directly at them!
Who knows when they made their first appearance Maybe they've always been there but they've recently switched to LED? I could see that change making them more obvious...

Ahhhhhh, I wonder if that is it!! That would make sense!!!

YUM!!! Your burger at B&C looks so, so good! So do your yummy drinks. How awesome to be gifted Soarin' FPs. I love when people do things like that!

I could seriously go for some Beaches & Cream right now. My stomach is growling and I'm itchin' for a vacation.

YUM! Beaches & Cream looks delicious! Especially that root beer float. I always say that we're going to stop and eat there one trip and then we never do. I NEED TO!

It's so good! We love it! It's easy to forget about though, unless you are already in that area. Might be good for dinner on a break from DHS while hopping to Epcot or something....I'll try to remember this tidbit.

Unexpected Soarin' FPs??!! SCORE! Henry must've been so excited!

He was thrilled!!! (and so were Joe and I!) He's so funny, we have the 4 Parks 1 World CD and the instant he hears even just 2 bars from the score he knows what it is!

Yum! I could use some ice cream right about now, it's 85 degrees in WI right now

Aw, thats so nice someone gave some fastpasses for soarin, we did that in Jan only for Space Mountain (my older DD got a headache and didn't want to ride)


I seen Jens plug for her new TR, so I thought I'd throw out that I also have started my TR from our surprise trip last month. Shameless, but efective!

It's warm again here in NYC too! I just love it! But 80s and 90s in the upper midwest this time of year is almost unheard of! ENJOY IT!!!!

Plug away, plug away! I'll be right over!!!!

 

[Poolrat]

Maybe my Disney-starved brain is starting to hallucinate, but the onion rings in the top right part of the photo sorta look like a hidden Mickey to me.....

-- Dave

It is, It is says the girl who sees HM everywhere.


I had that burger and those onion rings ...... YUUUUUUMMMMMYY

 

[CreightonsMomma]

Yum! The cheeseburger looks delish!! I'm so hungry but I'm trying to get my school work finished and i'm too lazy to cook.

I have never noticed those lights before but I can imagine how annoying they may be.

I'm going to send you a message on FB for your address because I don't have it.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Brook, you are KILLING this pregnant lady with the onion rings pictures. Waaah! I really really really want onions rings and I can't get my favorite onion rings anymore because they are at the place I fell. Whoever goes to Disney next needs to fedex me some still warm onion rings, please and thank you.

Moving on....

I'm confused, I thought Henry loved Test Track. I remember you mentioning this, interesting.

I'm worried that little Mickey dude is going to go buh-bye.....

That just stinks that you can't get your favorite onion rings!!!! Could you possibly enlist a friend to do a stealth onion ring mission?

And wouldn't it be fabulous if we could just simply order up our favorite foods from the World?

Yep...Henry did love Test Track in September 2010. He was pumped to ride it here in Feb/March 2011 as well, but after our first ride on it, he started to refuse... At this point in the trip, I was baffled by it (and still kinda am!).

That is some serious pixie dust right there!! WOOT WOOT for Soarin FP!! YAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!

Okay I'm glad I'm not the only one...back in June I noticed those lights and was like say WHAT?!? I never noticed those before...so either you and I are the most oblivious people in the world (and in my case that might be quite true) or those are new!! I'm going to go with the latter LOL!

You are the second person to tell me they just noticed them this year! GOOD!!!!! They are so weird, aren't they? I like the "glitter" affect during Illuminations, but otherwise they are sooooo stinkin' bright.

However, there is still a good chance I've been completely oblivious.

SO UNFAIR!!!! I am back on a diet after all the food we ate on the trip and I am sitting here drooling over those darn onion rings. We have yet to get there and I am determined we will one of these days.

on the FP's for Soarin!

It always seems the perfect timing that a delicious picture on the DIS pops up, doesn't it?! After reading all these responses about the onion rings, guess what I had for dinner???

Great score with those fastpasses!!!

I'm a bit worried about little Mickey too...

Mickey will the the focus on our next update....

Is Henry holding the plastic Mickey in his Spaceship Earth picture? It looks like there might be something in his hand, but it's a little blurry.

So cool that someone gave you Soarin' fastpasses! It's almost as much fun to give them away as it is to get them.

Wow, you are GOOD. Yes, he is! This could totally turn into a "Find Mickey do" game!

And that person gave us FIVE! So we were able to give 2 away still! It was extra pixie dust!

OK, I have got to eat at Beaches and Cream one of these days. Everyone says it's so good and it sure looks delicious!

Yay for someone giving you Soarin fastpasses. The same thing actually happened to us when we were in Disneyland. We wouldn't have been able to ride otherwise (not surprisingly there was a long line there and this was before it was built at Epcot). It was then that we fell in love with the ride. Sorry for that random story...

You do! It's really, really good! I still mean to get the No Way Jose (almost did in August, but our waitress was sloooooooooow and Henry was antsy). I hope to go there just for ice cream one time so I'm not so full!

I like the random story! And I can't wait to go to Disneyland.

It sure is. Small, but so very cute with deelishus foods.

I think it would make a fun snack bar/gameroom theme in a house, too.

Veryyyyy deelishus foods! And I agree! That would be a very cute theme!

 

[Woth2982]

Mmmm Beaches and Cream! I love that place! I went to Friendly's today (had to go before they all disappear). I agree though, you always leave that place stuffed! We went one night and got out when the pool was closing. Got to chat with all the lifeguards. Lots of fun!

 

[tiggrbaby]

Hey, a tech question here! My sister just got an i-phone for work, and would like to download free but useful apps for our November trip. We are only spending one day at Epcot. What would you recommend?

 

[brookelizabeth]

Oh No - Is little plastic mickey about to have an extended stay on Spaceship Earth.

And will there be a meltdown involved?

Those onion rings look delish. I have decided to change a few of my December ADRs now that I can't do a split DxDP and I am reconsidering the Beach Club, if for no other reason than I want to try those O-rings!

Great update!

I love how you busted out the popcorn for the anticipated drama!

I don't think I'm up to speed with your December trip and why you cannot do the split DxDDP - I'm so far behind on the DIS. But regardless, if you end up at the BC, go for the rings! YUM!

I just noticed those lights on the buildings at Epcot this last trip too. We were like what is that??!!!

My 3 yo lost a Star Wars Mickey on our Aug. trip, on Dumbo I think. Cried about it EVERYDAY the rest of the trip and still talks about it today. I hope Henry's Mickey didn't meet the same fate....

Okay, that's four of us now! Those lights have to be new!

That so sad about your DS and his Star Wars Mickey! I hope you are able to find a replacement or something as a surprise!

Beach and Cream! YUM! I stil lthink about that No Wy Jose I had.....I DREAM about it!

I want to try that soooooooooo badly! It looks amazing!

YUM! Beaches n Cream looking good, even at 7:30 am!

Right there with you on the lights in WS. We noticed them in May and someone, I think Jenjolt asked a CM who basically looked at her like she was nuts and said they had always been there. . I am not convinced. I am almost positive they weren't there in Oct 2010 or else they have changed in some other way to make them more noticeable.

Hurrah for Soarin FP's.

And great news on H's picture making the short list. So adorable!!

I am so not convinced after so many of us just noticing them for the first time this year! Either that or they put in LED's like BerrysGirl mentioned. Something has to be different!!

I would have been stuffed, too, after having a root beer float, a burger, and onion rings, but I wouldn't have been able to stop myself -- those are some of my favorite things! Serious yumminess!

Exactly! I couldn't stop myself either...and I could easily go for a root beer float right now!

Love the pictures of the Flower and Garden festival. While I won't be able to get there anytime soon, a lot of it is already up when we go in February. For awhile, I thought that was just what EPCOT always looked like.

So exciting that they might choose Henry's adorable picture. Max saw me looking at the pictures and he said, "Hey...wait...who is that?" So I told him and he said, "He has long hair, just like me. Does he have toys?" I said, "probably." He then said, "Let's visit him now." Too cute.

Love Beaches and Cream. Its on my list of food at Disney that actually lived up to the hype. We had a great meal there in July, I just wish it were bigger.

that is a definite bonus about late February! I was surprised at how much was already out when we arrived this trip.

That is SOOOOOO cute about Max! And yep, he does have long hair! We chopped it before the summer, but it's back to being longer-the way we liked it. And yes, he does have toys. LOL! We'd love to visit with you guys someday. Maybe if you ever adventure into the City for a day trip we can meet up!

 

[Poolrat]

Stopping by to tell you ...
New report is up.
Eat, Run And Celebrate

 

[disneyfan61]

Hey there Brook. Oh my gosh I was so behind on this TR but now all caught up.

I have to say I did get teary eyed when I saw Henry's first day of school pics. Oh how cute he is!! How is he doing now? I bet he is loving it.

Love all the pics of Boardwalk, WL & those pics of you walking in the sand is just precious!!

And I am worried about little Mickey figure also.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Your dinner looks delish!! We have never been to Beaches and Cream. It is so small! I think my family of 6 would just about fill it up
I am still very concerned about that little Mickey. Hope we get to hear more news on him soon
What a bit of Pixie Dust! Dont you just love when people are so nice as to give up their unused fast passes. We always look for a group of people to give ours to. Last trip, we did the DVC tour....they gave us the cards that had 3 instant fp on each. We only used 2 off of each card (I know--what were we thinging), so we had 8 of the cards left with 1 fp on each. I found a family of 8 and handed them over as we were going to load up in the van for the dreary trek home
Cant wait to read more!

It is teeny in there! The booths are oversized, so they fit 6, but it's a tight fit! And there are literally about 5 or 6 little tables. It kinda keeps it novel that it's so small though, I like it.

We always give away our FPs too! And we gave away our DVC cards the time we had them, the family we found had had them before and they were THRILLED! It was a lot of fun!

Mmm Beaches and Cream...so yummy! I went there on our trip and was stuffed after the ice cream as well!

I didn't know that Beach Club still sold the old refillable mugs...good to know

Great SE pics and on the pixie dust! Looks like Henry will be riding Soarin after all

about the mugs! Now lets see if I can get this TR done before the NEXT set comes out!

Caught up here too.


Uh Oh the case of the missing Mickey ?


waiting for the outcome.

The next update will all be mainly about Mickey....

It seems that when I give out FP I won't use to people, they don't know what to do with them. I even saw someone put it in the garbage.

that is awful! I've only ever had one family look at me like I was crazy - they were FPs for TSM too! So I took a few minutes and explained to her the value of them, it clicked--kinda. I'm always surprised at how many people don't understand, or even know about, the FP system!

Nice pixie dust! I gave away some FP this year and one family was completely flabbergasted by the idea...I had to convince them that they could take them for free and then I explained what the ride was like, how to get it..they spoke little English, so it was a bit of a struggle to communicate, but eventually they were all smiles when they realized they were going to skip the long line at Kilimanjaro Safari

And from the tone of your *dun dun dunnn* I have to guess that Henry lost his little Mickey figurine. Well, I can only hope that he found it again, or maybe some other kid found it and it made their day too!

That's awesome that you helped that family! And I'm sure it took quite a while with them not speaking much English. I'm sure they will never forget you - and hopefully they took advantage of the FP system the rest of their trip!

More on Mickey in the next update...

Wow, I love that Epcot ball picture in your last update! You take some great pics! What kind of DSLR camera do you use? Do you use any extra lenses?

I am contemplating getting a DSLR camera sometime in the future but not sure what kind.

Thank you! We have a Canon XSI, and just use the kit lens. Though, we'd LOVE a couple new lenses...someday! We really like this camera, we've had it for a few years now and have been very pleased. When it comes time to buy a new one, we'll probably get the upgraded model of the same line.

I'm catching up again...
First, congrats on the picture possibly being chosen! Can't wait to hear more! I didn't realize they were already taking pictures for that yet. Its a cute pic.. no wonder they want it!

Also, nice pixie dust! We didn't much on our last trip, but my first trip with my in-laws we were sprinkled about once an hour.. during Disney's Year of a Million Wishes campaign. We each got 2 pairs of the fancy cloudy ears, we got fast passes and got to ride RnR twice in a row! That was a GREAT trip.. and my first on property.. and my first with DH.

Keep on keepin on with the report!

Thank you!! I know they have been using pics and videos for the commercials and ads all year, I didn't expect them to make another one at the end of the year - sounds like 2012 will probably continue with the same theme. I will keep everyone posted on what happens, if anything, with it!

Wow! That is awesome about getting all those things during the Year of a Million Dreams! We didn't get a THING! It was fun to see people getting things though!

I am hoping to go to Beaches and Cream on my next visit for lunch... it just looks so cute
Aww how nice somebody gave you those Soarin FP's!! That is SO nice. You guys lucked out!

I hope you make it! IMO, it's definitely worth the time to visit. Yummmmm...save room for ice cream!

Maybe my Disney-starved brain is starting to hallucinate, but the onion rings in the top right part of the photo sorta look like a hidden Mickey to me.....

-- Dave

I agree

I see it too!!!

It is, It is says the girl who sees HM everywhere.


I had that burger and those onion rings ...... YUUUUUUMMMMMYY

Those onion rings are awesome, aren't they?

Yum! The cheeseburger looks delish!! I'm so hungry but I'm trying to get my school work finished and i'm too lazy to cook.

I have never noticed those lights before but I can imagine how annoying they may be.

I'm going to send you a message on FB for your address because I don't have it.

We were lazy tonight - after all this onion ring and burger talk here we went to a local diner for burgers and onion rings! It was pretty tasty, but the atmosphere wasn't quite the same....!

Sounds good about Facebook, thank you!!!!!!

Mmmm Beaches and Cream! I love that place! I went to Friendly's today (had to go before they all disappear). I agree though, you always leave that place stuffed! We went one night and got out when the pool was closing. Got to chat with all the lifeguards. Lots of fun!

I was so sad to hear Friendly's went bankrupt!! Their ice cream is the BEST! I've only ever been to the restaurant once, but we can buy the ice cream here at our local grocery store. If we had a car, I would zip out of the city to eat there too! Are they all expected to close??? Such a shame.

Hey, a tech question here! My sister just got an i-phone for work, and would like to download free but useful apps for our November trip. We are only spending one day at Epcot. What would you recommend?

WDW Waits has really good reviews. I haven't used it yet, I've only used Lines (free app, but you have to have a subscription to Touring Plans). And along with WDW Waits, WDW Hours seems to be good too. I save my day-to-day plans in a PDF and then upload them into Evernote as well - I LOVE that. All my ressie numbers, addresses for postcards, meets, etc. in one doc on my phone. I use just the Notes app (standard on the phone) for TR notes, and instead of carrying around a Times Guide, I snap a pic of the part I care about and toss the paper (or put it back). Then it's right there on my phone instead of keeping track of the paper.

The Maps app I use, WDW Maps by upoint, do cost, but I think they are pretty cheap. But...you probably don't need a map!

I don't think I realized you were going for a quickie in November - that is fantastic!!!!!!!!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Stopping by to tell you ...
New report is up.
Eat, Run And Celebrate

I just checked-in...gotta read though!

Hey there Brook. Oh my gosh I was so behind on this TR but now all caught up.

I have to say I did get teary eyed when I saw Henry's first day of school pics. Oh how cute he is!! How is he doing now? I bet he is loving it.

Love all the pics of Boardwalk, WL & those pics of you walking in the sand is just precious!!

And I am worried about little Mickey figure also.

I am so far behind on everyone's reports it seems! I keep adding more to read too.

Thank you for the kind words about Henry! He LOVES school! It's really fun to hear what he tells me about it. Though tonight he told me he was happy to have a day off from school tomorrow.

 

[Woth2982]

I was so sad to hear Friendly's went bankrupt!! Their ice cream is the BEST! I've only ever been to the restaurant once, but we can buy the ice cream here at our local grocery store. If we had a car, I would zip out of the city to eat there too! Are they all expected to close??? Such a shame.

I know they closed a bunch in RI with only a 20 minute notice! And they closed some in the strip malls. I have been babysitting since the 2nd, so I don't know if my local Friendly's has shut down yet. I am currently not sure if it is all of them or just select stores. I am devastated by this. At my old house we lived a mile from Friendly's so my friends and I would walk there in the summer and get lunch and ice cream. It is very sad, esp since it has such a long history!