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

[chicagoshannon]

Glad to see you survived riding It's a Small World twice in a row. lol Glad Henry like the CM in the castle. That's one of my favorite parts of the ride along with seeing the people in the restaurant above the ride.

I'll try to hit those targets when we're there in 3 weeks. Although, I can never tell how to aim that gun anyway. lol I just like spinning the car around.

 

[eandesmom]

WOW! talk about some fast pass magic!

My, how opinion changes once a little one is involved! Henry was mystified with the flying ship and seeing Peter Pan and Captain Hook. He sang "Tick, tock, tick tock!" through the ride after seeing him for the first time.

That is so so true and absolutely stinkin adorable.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Awww Henry sounds so sweet with his castle girl! I always make sure to wave to the castle people, but usually I'm not found to be as charming as cuties like Henry .

 

[blessedby3]

Love it!!! I cant believe that was day one only What a magical first day you had! Cant wait for more

 

[tiggrbaby]

Your photos are always so fab! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Softballgirl27]

Oh the camel spit. The #1 reason why the kids think the Flying Blankies are better than Dumbo. Henry found it HILARIOUS that the camel spit!

I haven't read my Twitter today - I will though!! I gotta hear what she's up to in Epcot!



that is so funny! He has pointed out little girls with hair like that and said "She looks like Mickey Mouse!" I have to get back over to your TR - I meant to earlier today, but the minutes slipped right through my fingers.



The wait is tortuous! I am not looking forward to the looooooooooooong wait after my solo trip. Ugh.

yah it is always like that

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Brook, what a wonderful, magical first day! Love the interaction with the Small World CM. Disney is THE BEST!! OMG, butterfinger fudge? Must find that! For as time I spend looking at disney pictures and videos, every once in a while, I see a picture that, for just a split second, makes me remember what it feels like to be there and one of your pictures just did it to me!! When you described that it was time to leave and then I saw that picture of the train station through the castle....my heart literally skipped a beat. I felt it. For just a second.

Oh it's been too long!!!!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Wow, lots of updates. You're on a tear again!

I love that story about Henry and the "castle girl"! So cute.

I also love that picture you took through the castle, where you can see Main Street and the train station in the distance.

I'm trying, I'm trying! Now if I could just stay caught up on everyone elses....

Isn't that a neat shot? I was pretty pleased with that one when it came out! I remember just standing there and thinking, "Ahhhh, so pretty" and soaking it in for a moment.

Great update! I am impressed that Henry lasted so long. Guess he's becoming a real New Yorker.

Your photos are gorgeous! What camera do you have?

Good point on becoming a New Yorker! We stay up way too late and drink way too much coffee! He's got that first one down pat!

Thank you on the pictures! We use a Cannon XSi, it's a digital SLR. It's a great camera, I'm glad we splurged on it a bit a couple years ago. We mostly keep it in the basic point & shoot mode, but on the rides and for fireworks I sometimes change it up.

So cool about the extra FP's. Henry is a good little people person.

I know I'm gonna lose DIS cred's here ...but I love It's a Small World. It is one of 2 rides that I really remember ( the other is Dumbo) from being a little girl @ Disneyland. I probably rode it 50 times from birth to age 4 or 5. From an adult perspective it is kinda lame but it's a childhood memory for me.

Yum on the butterfinger fudge. Good choice

He is a very good people person! He's getting SO talkative with strangers too, its hilarious what he says to some people! He met a gal on the subway a few weeks ago and as she exited he shouted out to her, "I love you!"

I can't say I love Small World, but I do like it! For me, it doesn't hold a childhood memory, but it's just another one of those simple classics. And EVERYONE knows it! Even if they don't know it's in Disney World, everyone has at least heard of it. Plus, watching the eyes of little ones on this ride is pure magic. Meadow will love it!

Joe enjoyed his fudge! I took a nibble, it was good stuff!

Love that you got additional fast passes. The way you used to feel about Pepter Pan is the way we feel now (unnless the line is really short or we get on first thing when the park opens, we pass it up; perhaps after having grandchildren we'll love it again).

I love that Henry has a girlfriend on It's A Small World. However, was that song running through your head ALL night long after riding it twice in a row?

I can see why you feel that way about Peter Pan-there are just so many other things to use those FPs on...we will probably go back to that stance as Henry grows older. Then we'll ride it every now and again to be nostalgic.

Thankfully NO, the song wasn't!! However, another ride-that is quite similar over in Epcot...now THAT song did get stuck in my head. You'll see how many times we went looking for Donald! Henry definitely had his favorite rides this trip!

 

[pinkxray]

I love your Keens I wish I had seen those before, I have been trying to find the perfect shoe for Disney and haven't been able to find anything I love. I am going to just bring my croc flip flops and running shoes.

I can't believe this is all one day You got so much done.

Can't wait to hear about the other 12 days

 

[brookelizabeth]

Oh my goodness Brook!!!!! I was just thinking to myself that you must have the first 2-3 days of your trip done -- UNTIL you mentioned that you still have 12.5 more to go!!!

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I read your other update last night and I swear that I commented, but I just went back through & I noticed that I didn't! It was late & I was exhausted so I guess I just didn't comment! LOL

I loved the story about Henry with the "Castle Girl" -- tooooo cute!!!

I love IASW! I know a lot of people aren't fond of it, but it has a lot of special meaning for me! Its a "must" for me on all our Disney trips! I loved your pictures from there, I never seem to get good ones. I just thought of something -- do you think I should leave my 55-200mm lens on there during IASW or switch over to the lens that came with the Xsi ?? I'm thinking the 55-200mm might zoom too much & I won't be able to get pictures close-up. I know at times, the boat is pretty close to one side or the other. Hmmm....decisions, decisions! LOL

After reading your story about Henry with the castle girl, I thought of Luke! (Don't I always?! LOL) Kids are just so observant! Luke just pointed & said "Hey, mommy, there's a man up there!"

Congrats on scoring all those Fast Passes!!!!

I loved your pictures inside the castle & also the shot from below (looking up towards the castle at night!) Beautiful!!!

The picture of the Walt/Mickey statue in front of the Castle at night is a shot that I always wanted to get! Its been too crowded the past 2 trips, so I'm hoping this trip will be the one!

Your Easter/Mother's Day update was wonderful!!!! I tried to get on DIS & wish everyone a Happy Mother's Day, but sadly I know I missed alot of people The holidays are just always so busy! It was the first nice weekend here in PA so we spent most of Mother's Day outside planting the garden. I plan to write a small DIS update & post pics of Luke helping (and also a few Easter pics of all the kids in the family!) Hopefully I'll get around to it this weekend!

I can't wait to take Luke on the People Mover!!!! I'm not sure what happened in 2009 (I think it was down part of the day on our MK day) and I know last year the line was too long. So this September will be a first for Luke on it!!!! I'm excited -- its just so peaceful & relaxing! And also a great place to get some pictures!!!

Did you bring a chocolate croissant back for me ?? I haven't received it yet in the mail!!!

I'm not sure what to try this year. Butterfingers used to be my favorite candy bar, but now I don't like them. Seeing the giant Butterfinger cupcakes from Starring Rolls & now that fudge from MK, I'm thinking I better try it out!

I have NEVER been on Peter Pan! I honestly don't know why, we're just always doing other things in Fantasyland & never get to it.

I am still in shock that you have 12.5 days left -- but I'm glad because I love reading your reports!!!!

I know! How many pages long is this already and I've got 12.5 days more to go!?!? I really need to pick up the speed a bit!

As for the camera on IASW, we only have the kit lens and that works pretty well on the ride. I had to adjust the settings some-I'm sure I opened the aperture and turned up the ISO,which I don't always like to do-but I really only use my pics here-so it's not a big deal if it's a bit grainy! I would think with a zoom lens you might not get enough light. Some people manage to get some AMAZING shots in there, I have no idea what settings and lenses they use-but they make me jealous!

LOL about the chocolate croissant! Can you imagine how that would ship? Ewwwwwwwwww! They are sold in the bakery right next to my house, it's always a battle to keep on walking past and not step in for one.

You'll have to give Peter Pan a try this coming trip! It's a very unique and fun ride. I bet Luke would love it! It really does feel like you are flying!

64 pages in and your only finished your first day I love it! And what a fantastic day you had with losts of pixie dust and free fast passes!

I know! I've got to pick up speed a bit or we'll never make it! It really was a great evening at the park! We had so much fun just going ride to ride and letting the little man lead.

Peter Pan is one of my brother's favorite rides. He loves the colors!

Henry is quite the flirt

I can see why! It really is a fun ride, and so unique.

He IS a flirt! Completely! He makes eyes at girls all the time and wraps them right around his little finger!!!

 

[Lovemy3babes]

That was a great update Brook! I love that last Main Street photo. The lights, the ambiance. Wish I was there right now!! Your late night treats sure look yummy.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Whaaat, you had only ridden Peter Pan once?! It is always a must-do for us...such a classic and my dad always talks about how it's one of the rides he remembers from his trip to Disneyland as a kid! Glad you enjoyed it.

I know! We made up for it this trip though...we rode SEVERAL more times!

Almost 1000 posts and you are only at the end of of your first full day. At this rate you might need 4 trip reports!

I am so glad you loved Peter Pan. I remember thinking it was such cute the first time I went on it. So glad Henry loved it.

Thanks for posting the Easter and Mother's Day pictures! You got some great pics on the streets of NYC.

Crazy, isn't it?! I have no idea how that has happened! I gotta move it along here a bit!

Peter Pan really is a cute ride-so unique. I enjoyed looking down over the side of the ship at the streets of London.

I am looking forward to reading about your next 12.5 days!!

And hopefully they will come sooner than it took to post about ONE day!

All caught up! Loving it so far.

Thank you! I have yours open, will read ASAP!

I love Peter Pan! Second favorite ride at MK after Mickey's Philharmagic.

We did Mickey's Philharmagic for the second time ever in September and LOVED it! I had forgotten completely about it since our honeymoon -- now it's a must do! Henry is a big fan of both of those.

I LOVE that you're only at the end of your first day. Feel free to extend this TR for as long as you like. Although I guess you do have a solo/girls trip coming up that you can write about as well. As long as I have a Brook TR to hold me over til my next Disney fix in Oct, I'm good!

So, so so glad H liked Peter Pan. That's one of my faves too. And so cute that he found a girlfriend in Small World. Adorable. I think he may be a lady killer when he gets older.

Your night-time shots are fabulous. I especially like the picture through the center of the castle when you can see the Main Street lights in the distance. Seems like the castle is never "open" when I'm in MK. I miss being able to walk through.

I am thinkin' this trip will take a looooooong time to write! Hopefully I can get it done before our next family trip, which isn't until 2012! I haven't decided if I'll just do another TR on the solo/girlfriends one, or just smush in it here. We'll see what works....

The castle is so rarely open, isn't it? This trip we seemed to time it right quite a few times though. Late at night and early morning are about the only times though. Did they used to not have a Castle show when the castle was always open?

Glad to see you survived riding It's a Small World twice in a row. lol Glad Henry like the CM in the castle. That's one of my favorite parts of the ride along with seeing the people in the restaurant above the ride.

I'll try to hit those targets when we're there in 3 weeks. Although, I can never tell how to aim that gun anyway. lol I just like spinning the car around.

I love waving at the people in the restaurant too. It's so fun! Henry loved that when we had eaten there early and was very excited that we were now in the boat that he had seen previously during dinner.

It is VERY hard to see your gun dot in that ride! I always shoot it at a close target a few times until I figure out which dot is mine, then go for it. I still loose it sometimes though. I can't remember what trip it was, maybe later in this one...but I just let H spin us around and around...it was a fun ride!

 

[brookelizabeth]

WOW! talk about some fast pass magic!

That is so so true and absolutely stinkin adorable.

I couldn't believe she was handing me that many FPs either! We didn't fully have plans to get back to MK for the next day, but we were gonna try!

It's amazing how seeing the magic through their eyes completely changes things, isn't it? Right now I can't even imagine a trip without a spin on the teacups or the Speedway, but I'm sure, eventually, he won't care about those and we'll be running to Space Mountain....

Awww Henry sounds so sweet with his castle girl! I always make sure to wave to the castle people, but usually I'm not found to be as charming as cuties like Henry .

I always wave too! One time we had a CM tell us all to wave to the gal up there. It was so fun! I love the CMs that act like big kids while they are at work!

Love it!!! I cant believe that was day one only What a magical first day you had! Cant wait for more

I know! I have soooooooo much more to go! I look through my pics though and I just cannot wait to write about it all!

Your photos are always so fab! Thanks for sharing!

Thank you! I love sharing them all!

yah it is always like that

Why can't we just have a trip every 3 or 4 months?!?!

Brook, what a wonderful, magical first day! Love the interaction with the Small World CM. Disney is THE BEST!! OMG, butterfinger fudge? Must find that! For as time I spend looking at disney pictures and videos, every once in a while, I see a picture that, for just a split second, makes me remember what it feels like to be there and one of your pictures just did it to me!! When you described that it was time to leave and then I saw that picture of the train station through the castle....my heart literally skipped a beat. I felt it. For just a second.

Oh it's been too long!!!!

I so know that feeling!!! I know exactly what you are talking about. I tear up just a bit when at certain things that just trigger that heart need to be there. And yes, butterfinger fudge, right at the confectionery!

I love your Keens I wish I had seen those before, I have been trying to find the perfect shoe for Disney and haven't been able to find anything I love. I am going to just bring my croc flip flops and running shoes.

I can't believe this is all one day You got so much done.

Can't wait to hear about the other 12 days

I am a big fan of Keens. They are such comfy and well-made shoes...and water proof! How are the Croc flip flops? I have a couple different pair of Crocs, but I always shy away from the flip flop style in fear they will give me blisters and rub the top of my foot...

Looking back that the day we did do a LOT! At the time I felt like we didn't though, I felt like we needed to rush more and cram in more things! LOL! I remember thinking that as we went to sleep that night. I need to learn to relax!

That was a great update Brook! I love that last Main Street photo. The lights, the ambiance. Wish I was there right now!! Your late night treats sure look yummy.

I wish I was there too! LOVE the parks at night - so pretty!

 

[All7OfUs]

So cool about the extra FP's. Henry is a good little people person.

I know I'm gonna lose DIS cred's here ...but I love It's a Small World. It is one of 2 rides that I really remember ( the other is Dumbo) from being a little girl @ Disneyland. I probably rode it 50 times from birth to age 4 or 5. From an adult perspective it is kinda lame but it's a childhood memory for me.

Yum on the butterfinger fudge. Good choice

Me too, Dawn!! I love, love, love that ride- there's so much to see, and I confess, I kinda even like the song. But for me also, it goes way beyond to childhood memories.

Brook- great update! I'm with Glenn, I think that shot through the castle is simply AMAZING!!

And YES!!!! You found the HM I spent nearly half an hour hunting for in 2008. Never did find it, even asking a passing CM. I'm so jealous! Good job!!

 

[tinacaplan]

I love that Henry has a girlfriend on It's A Small World. However, was that song running through your head ALL night long after riding it twice in a row?

On our anniversary trip, we rode IASW late at night and for a second I thought we were going to sent through again and we about jumped right out of the boat! But now Max sings that song a lot and I totally get what you mean about perspectives changing when you're with a small child.

Great story about the ride and the castle girl. And while I feel like all I do is say how beautiful your pictures are, you got a few of that castle that are absolutely stunning. The one of the arches is incredible.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Such lovely updates, Brook! Your pictures really make me want to be right there in the Magic Kingdom at night!

Too funny about Henry getting the camel to spit on you, and then wanting to ride Dumbo! He is so cute posing by his blue Dumbo!

The flowers in NYC are just gorgeous! It certainly looks like spring has arrived in all its glory! Happy Belated Mother's Day and Easter to you, too! Looks like you had a lot of fun!

So adorable about the Castle Girl! I love that she played along with Henry!

 

[kschafer]

so I have to wonder what kind of camera you took your pics with this night. They are so clear and rich...I dream of having photos come out like that!

I can't believe you haven't ridden Peter Pan in so long! I admit, it's not my favorite but I love it from a nostalgia aspect. Too cute about Henry and the castle girl...keep a close eye on that little charmer!

 

[TanzUnited99]

I love the It's a Small World story!

Also all the pictures of the castle are awesome! I see the hidden mickey you are referring to in the castle path - which is unusual as I am normally rubbish at spotting them!

I will def let you know if we plan a trip to NY and will be taking you up on the offer to help with our plans. How cool to be able to wake up in such a cool location every day!

 

[stayhomemom77]

Alright...I feel the COMPLETE opposite of you regarding Peter Pan. I'm not sure what it is...nostalgia maybe? but I this ride. It's my Fantasyland fav!! We don't usually go on it more than once each MK day but I it so it's a priority for me!!

I also IASW. Now that I KNOW is nostalgia...my dad told me that when I was six I made him ride it three or four times in a row before he begged for mercy and had us move on to something else (probably Peter Pan ).

So irrespective of my kid's feelings these rides are big with me. Now Pooh's Adventures on the other hand...

That nostalgia thing works in reverse too, unfortunately. My kids have never been to Country Bear Jamboree because I went when I was 13 and HATED it so I told them on our first trip that it kind of sucked and now they always refuse to go. Same thing with the Tiki room (I liked it when I was a kid but HATE that stupid Aladdin bird so I told them I didn't think we'd like that one either and they've refused that one ever since. Oops! I may insist on our next trip that we try both of these so they can draw their own conclusions.

Who knew they would remember and take my opinions so seriously two years later?

You guys always seem like you have the best time (grouchiness over "lost" strollers notwithstanding. ).

Can't wait for more!

 

[jenseib]

I'm so behind again, so I am doing the scan thing. Just read the blankies update. You got some great blur/movement shots on that. I love them. I love your spring pictures too. So cheery. I love all the background scenery of the skyscrapers too. I want to just go a a cool "field trip" ...not anywhere near home, and just take pictures, with out worrying about anyone but myself. I guess I need to play the lottery and WIN! to do that.

Ok, I am still behind, so back to catch up.