Mom...am I supposed to have shoes on?? - August 2013 ***FINISHED 5/5***

[wiigirl]

Great update!

 

[KatMark]

Imagine my surprise when I logged on to the DIS to see responses to my last update from our trip last month to find a MEGA update from you.

What a great update! I loved the photos with Mickey and Minnie...very cute.

And the photopass shots in front of Spaceship Earth are great.

I'm glad Sara liked Illuminations. I'm with you...I prefer Wishes. I don't think we've stayed for Illuminations in at least five years.

Good to have you back.

 

[solana131]

Great update!

Thanks so much!

Imagine my surprise when I logged on to the DIS to see responses to my last update from our trip last month to find a MEGA update from you.

What a great update! I loved the photos with Mickey and Minnie...very cute.

And the photopass shots in front of Spaceship Earth are great.

I'm glad Sara liked Illuminations. I'm with you...I prefer Wishes. I don't think we've stayed for Illuminations in at least five years.

Good to have you back.

Surprise! It's a New Years miracle. I just hope I can carve out time to keep it going. Uploading the next round of pics to Flickr now...

 

[oopsiDAISY]

Finally, one TR I didn't have to spend an hour catching up on!!! So glad you are back, Suzi! I am with you, we like Illuminations, but nothing can top Wishes for our family! I absolutely adore the PP picture of you and Bradey at the end of your post! He looks so tired, but so lovey and cuddly! Just too sweet!!!

 

[DMGeurts]

Great update!!! SO happy to see this here this morning - I needed it.

Loved all of the pictures of all of you in the Character Spot! I love that they have the characters there in their original outfits... Well, most of the characters anyways.

And your Epcot/SSE photos at the end of the night are magnificant! I love how they turned out.

Welcome back! I can't wait to hear about the rest of your trip!

D~

 

[Chicago Mo]

YAY it's Suzi!!!!!

and an UPDATE!!!

i love the pictures! Epcot is beautiful at night pictures just come out amazing!



I am more happy your back!!!!

bring on more updates!!!

 

[solana131]

Finally, one TR I didn't have to spend an hour catching up on!!! So glad you are back, Suzi! I am with you, we like Illuminations, but nothing can top Wishes for our family! I absolutely adore the PP picture of you and Bradey at the end of your post! He looks so tired, but so lovey and cuddly! Just too sweet!!!

He was tired! He is such a trooper down there all the time. We always hit the park at opening and stay up until around 10-11. That is a long day for a 7 year old and he does great.

Thanks Connie, it's nice to be back. Hoping I can keep up with it. Almost time to start a PTR

Great update!!! SO happy to see this here this morning - I needed it.

Loved all of the pictures of all of you in the Character Spot! I love that they have the characters there in their original outfits... Well, most of the characters anyways.

And your Epcot/SSE photos at the end of the night are magnificant! I love how they turned out.

Welcome back! I can't wait to hear about the rest of your trip!

D~

Thanks D. Character Spot was a first for us. I was always been so busy before....it was nice to have them all right there with only one line. Like the Town Square theater and the princesses.

I agree....I love those SSE pics. There is just something so magical about Epcot at night. I cringe when people say they skip Epcot because there aren't as many rides there. I just love walking around WS and playing with the fiber optic pavers in FW at night.

YAY it's Suzi!!!!!

and an UPDATE!!!

i love the pictures! Epcot is beautiful at night pictures just come out amazing!



I am more happy your back!!!!

bring on more updates!!!

You're right, Epcot is amazingly photogenic at night. I can't wait to go with you so we can have some REAL professional ones!

I'm happy I'm back too....and more updates coming. If we can keep our power, I will get to one tonight. Hubby is sick and I have to get supper going. But I will try to get back later. I uploaded all the rest of the pictures to Flickr yesterday and sorted them all into sets according to the days, so the updates shouldn't take so long now.

Be back later....

 

[solana131]

So after our Illuminations showing and a little Future World night time fun, we were up early again. It was a fun day because we had a mid-day break planed with D and her girls at the Poly!

We ate breakfast at Kona, one of my favorite breakfast places of all. We had an ADR, but you hardly ever need one there. We got there a tad before opening, so Sara took a nice picture of the fountain.



It's going to be so sad if they really do take this out of the Great Ceremonial House.

We didn't wait too long and we were seated at the back of the restaurant looking out. Our view



And she really liked the ceiling...



Bradey loves fruit and since we were not on the dining plan he could order off the adult menu. This is what he had



It is a HUGE fruit salad in a pineapple with a banana and banana bread on the side. You know what....he ate the whole thing! Yep, kid loves his fruit. And when I see him eat like that, I don't mind paying the adult price for his breakfast.

Sara and I both had the Macadamia Pineapple pancakes.....YUM! Pictures do not do these justice. They are just so flavorful and delish.



Mmmmm...my mouth is watering just thinking about these pancakes. And the sausage at the Poly is so good. They have those little tiny links everywhere else, but at the Poly...you get the good stuff. And yes, that is the Lilokoi juice. Love that stuff too. We all had a couple glasses of that to get us going.

As usual, we ran back to the room to brush our teeth and pack up our bags for the day. Then it was off to Magic Kingdom. We didn't make it for rope drop, but we were far behind people.

Sara rode Space Mountain by herself while Bradey and I rode PeopleMover. We tried to hear her scream when we went through the mountain....not sure if we did or not.

Hey, speaking of Space and riding alone. Anyone know how the rider swap works here? Like if you get on the ride at a different point from where you get off. One parent is supposed to ride while the other waits with the child, then when the first parent is done they swap off, right? Well if you get off the ride in a different spot from where the second parent and child are waiting...how do you get to them?

Anyway....moving on.

Bradey and I were done first, so we sat on the benches outside of the dump shop. Little tip....they are a really good place to sit on a hot day because the AC from the shop blows directly out to them.

We walked over to Storybook Circus along the back path, which I just love BTW, and rode Barnstormer. It was a first for us...very cute, but way way way too short. Then we walked over to the new Ariel.

My pictures aren't that great, but you get the idea





Sara's favorite...





I know a lot of people do not like this ride, but I thought it was great. Of course, this movie is still one of my favorites and I just love the soundtrack. Plus, I don't have the one at DL to compare it to.

Belle's Tale was too busy and we weren't ready for Fantasyland yet, so we walked back over to Tomorrowland (via our secret back walkway again) and grabbed FPs for Buzz. We watched Monsters Inc and rode People Mover again





then got a sweet tea while we waited for our FP time to come.

We rode Buzz



Bradey was so excited because he was winning. Something appeared to be wrong with Sara's gun, but at the last moment she hit something and her score jumped by the hundreds of thousands! Needless to say...he lost.

Our plan was that D would let us know when they were ready to take a break and we would meet them at the front of the park. We knew we had a little bit, so we jumped in CoP to cool down and relax. I think both Bradey and Sara liked that one.

After we all saw the Big Bright Beautiful Tomorrow shining at the end of our days, we walked up Main Street to meet D, V and A. We walked through the shops and looked around a little. I let Bradey pic a treat from the Confectionary.

With his love of fruit, he picked this



Sorry, I didn't get a picture of that until we got home, so ignore the background. My attention was taken up by this little beauty at the moment...



Oops....temptation got to me before I could get my camera out....

Before I even had my cookie gone, the girls came and we headed out. We took the monorail over to the Poly for a much needed break



We ordered some pork nachos and a flatbread from Captain Cooks then headed out to the pool bar to get a Lapu Lapu. Little did we know, the Lapu Lapu is served upstais at the Tamu Lounge, so back inside we went.



Sara had just turned 21 a couple weeks before we went, so she was very excited for this.



We took our goodies over to the quiet pool and grabbed a table in the shade. The food was really good, but we were so hot and D was starting to feel ill, so we went up to our room to get out of the heat. The girls were very excited to check out a Poly room freshly refurbished. And we all just hung out and got our energy back.

After a while D and the girls left with ponchos and phone chargers in hand and headed back to the MK. We each took showers and got changed up then headed back there ourselves.

Up next.....evening at the MK and the Wishes Dessert Party!

 

[Chicago Mo]

ooooooohhh how i love the poly... your brought us right back there!!!


does not help i am STARVING right now with all your food porn!!! soooooooooooo yummy.. i would KILL for one of those pancakes and fruit!
yet.. WORST DRINK EVER!!! damn thing is EXPENSIVE.. i got sick from it. almost ruined the MVMCP!!!
you all look so cute even if your too hot and yucky!!

still love the fact you were all there together..
one year we will be there!

 

[solana131]

ooooooohhh how i love the poly... your brought us right back there!!!


does not help i am STARVING right now with all your food porn!!! soooooooooooo yummy.. i would KILL for one of those pancakes and fruit!
yet.. WORST DRINK EVER!!! damn thing is EXPENSIVE.. i got sick from it. almost ruined the MVMCP!!!
you all look so cute even if your too hot and yucky!!

still love the fact you were all there together..
one year we will be there!

You are right Mo. "One year" we will be there together!

 

[KatMark]

I spent my "snow day" yesterday catching up on everyone's TR's and PTR's, and then did 3 updates on mine, and somehow missed you did an update. I'm here now, though.

I'm very worried about what is going to happen to the lobby at the Polynesian.

I'm with you...I LOVE Kona breakfast (although not the pancakes...unless I just get them plain). And the juice...almost as good as Boma's.

I often wondered about that with Space Mountain too. Where do you meet your party?

I love the Peoplemover; the picture of you and Bradey is adorable.

You got a few things in before you break...awesome job.

Love the picture of D and girls on the monorail.

Nice that you coudl go back to your room and relax and get out of the heat for awhile.

 

[Chicago Mo]

You are right Mo. "One year" we will be there together! *insert stirring caldron smiley*

this one?

 

[solana131]

I spent my "snow day" yesterday catching up on everyone's TR's and PTR's, and then did 3 updates on mine, and somehow missed you did an update. I'm here now, though.

Oh Kathy....I need to get over and catch up on yours. I think I am way at the beginning. Going over there shortly.

I'm very worried about what is going to happen to the lobby at the Polynesian.

I'm sure it will be gorgeous. Disney wouldn't ruin a good thing. I just hope it isn't too different....the smell, the sound and the relaxing waterfall, I just love sitting there in the comfy couches waiting for fun DisMeets

I'm with you...I LOVE Kona breakfast (although not the pancakes...unless I just get them plain). And the juice...almost as good as Boma's.

Still haven't made it there for breakfast, but we love dinner at Boma. One of my next trips I will stay there and then we will have breakfast. How is Mara for breakfast? Did you guys ever eat there? Do they have Mickey waffles?? I don't think I could ever stay somewhere that doesn't have Mickey waffles. That is why I won't even consider BC/YC/BW.

I often wondered about that with Space Mountain too. Where do you meet your party?

I will have to look it up. There are many rides like that. Rockin Roller is the same way....others too.

I love the Peoplemover; the picture of you and Bradey is adorable.

Thanks. I love it too....it is our traditional first ride when we get there. Never a line and it just feels like "home".

You got a few things in before you break...awesome job.

We did. It was really hot that day too!

Love the picture of D and girls on the monorail.

Thanks. D got tried to get a picture of me sitting opposite her that day, but I am so skinny, I just hid behind the pole. Can't see me at all in her pics

Nice that you coudl go back to your room and relax and get out of the heat for awhile.

It was nice. I wish we had just brought the food up there, it would've been much more relaxing. But Bradey wanted to go in the pool for a bit, so Sara went in with him while I sat and chatted with D & girls.

this one?

That's the one! I found it...just can't put them in from my phone. Yay! I can't wait!!!

 

[solana131]

Okay, I find myself with a little window of time, lets do an update. When we last left you, D and her girls had come to the Poly for an afternoon break and had just left to head back to the MK for a very important dinner at CRT. Did they make it in time??? You'll have to read her TR to find out.

So Sara, Bradey and I all got changed up and hopped on the monorail to get back in the action at MK.

I love getting a PP pic at the entrance with the train station behind us, but it is always so crowded first thing in the morning. So when we saw it empty and a PP photographer just standing there twiddling his thumbs...well we had to jump in.





We walked through the gates and decided to take a ride on the train. This is what Main St looked like.





We had just missed the train, so we poked around and grabbed a couple new pressed pennies then hopped on the next train. It was very muggy and hot this evening. Bradey had a Cooldana around his neck to keep him comfortable.





It had been a while since I had ridden the train in the daytime and a first for Bradey and Sara. So we enjoyed it. When we were back at the Main Street station, we got off and walked down to Mickey's Philharmagic.

On the way we stopped for a couple more shots.



I asked every PP photographer we had about magic shots and this was the only one I got. Very disappointing. I really was on a mission for the Mickey balloons shot.....oh well, next time.



We texted D and the girls and they were done with dinner and near Philharmagic, so they tried to hurry over before the show started. Unfortunately, they just missed it.

They waited for us and we all walked over to meet Gaston. It was sprinkling a little and we were warned that if it started to really rain, Mr High and Mighty would have to go in. But we made it through the small line and he did not disappoint.



He was rude and egotistical and just funny. He was great!



By the time we were done, it was really raining. So we walked the short distance over to the Little Mermaid ride. We had ridden it earlier, but this was D, V & A's first time.



It was just as good the second time around. We all just sang and danced (wait I mean we didn't dance because there is NO DANCING on the rides) the whole way through.

It was still pouring when we got out of there, but we all had ponchos on so we walked over to Storybook Circus together. There was lots and lots of "what should we do now?....I don't know what do you want to do?" But in the end we waited in a very long line to meet the Great Goofini and Donald the Magnificent.

Group shot!!!!



Hey, Suzi...look at the camera will ya??



That's better.



And it was off to Donald. He wasn't too happy that Bradey had Mickey on his lanyard.....oops



See, talk to the hand Mickey



A few of us wanted to meet Minnie and Daisy, but their line was super long too. So we decided to head over to meet the Fairies. On our way we got sidetracked by Tiana and Naveen. But they were actually just wrapping up and leaving for a while.

Sara, Bradey and I were getting kinda hungry, but of course D and the girls ahd just eaten at CRT, so they were full. So we split up knowing we would see eachother in a bit at the Dessert Party. They headed off to the Fairies and since we were in Liberty Square, we headed over to Columbia Harbor House.

This place had been on my list to try FOREVER, but we just never seemed to eat much at MK. It was usually all business then back to the resort to eat. Well this time we hit it just right. We ordered and went upstairs where it was more quiet.

Bradey just had the Uncrustable meal....nothing exciting there. But Sara and I really enjoyed our meals. I ordered the Anchors Aweigh Sandwich - white tuna with lettuce and tomato on multigrain bread with potato chips



And Sara ordered the Lighthouse Sandwich - hummus with tomato & broccoli slaw on toasted multigrain bread with potato chips



They may not look like much, but after so many days of huge meals and fried stuff, these fresh sandwiches just hit the spot. I will definitely be making Columbia Harbor a "must do" from now on. I think the heat was getting to all of us by then and getting in a cool dark place and eating a nice fresh meal was perfect.

After our little pit stop, we were refreshed and ready to go. We walked over to the Dessert Party to line up for check in. On the way there....



We were about 45 mins before opening and there were only a couple other people waiting at another location. From experience, I knew where they let you in, so we just waited there. Once there were a few more people behind us the folks that were int he wrong place came down and got all mad at us because they were there first. She was SUPER RUDE about it. We kept telling her that it was assigned seats and it didn't matter where she was in line. But she was just so rude. She did end up butting in front of us as we entered. Whatever.....not worth losing my cool over, but really....

So this is how Sara and Bradey passed the time as I chatted with Erin and little V. (How do I not have a picture of them???)





Hahahaha...she would kill me if she knew I had these up. Hmmmm, wonder if she is secretly reading this. Guess we will find out!

So we got great seats because I knew it was important to be one of the first to book. That is how they determine where you will be sitting....by who books first. We were almost in the front row and right behind Erin and V. We had been texting with D and girls as they finished up with the Fairies and ran over. They were a little behind us, so we just went up to get our desserts while we waited for them.

Just a few of the desserts.





When D arrived, I could see that she was not feeling good. Once again I wished we had spent more time inside our room at the Poly to give them more of a break in the AC. They all went up and grabbed a little something for dessert and we chatted while we watched the castle change colors.





And we saw the top of the Electric Parade go by. D was really not feeling well. I reminded them that if they wanted to leave, now was the time before the show started. They agreed and apologized up and down about it, but left to go back to POFQ for some much needed rest. I worried about her all night.

It was just the start of their vacation though, so they had plenty of time to see Wishes and at least they got to experience the desserts.

We watched Wishes....sorry no pictures. Then headed out immediately after. We took the boat back this time because the monorail was just absolutely packed. It was a great end to a great day.

Up next is our sleep in and relax day. Of course we still went to a park or two and had a couple Dismeets. But we took it slow for many reasons....some good, some bad. Stick around...if you are still here to be stuck....

 

[DMGeurts]

Loved this update!

We had so much fun that day! Loved spending the day with all of you!

I still feel awful that we skipped out on the dessert party, we were all so looking forward to it. We will try it again some day.

Seeing all these pictures makes me miss you and Bradley all the more... Big hugs to you all... I hope that some day soon, we can spend another day in Disney together. There's nothing better than Disfriends, unless its spending a day in Wdw with them.

D~

 

[Chicago Mo]

Fantastic update Suzi!!!!

The pictures of the Castle just SOLD me on going there for the kids birthday celebration!!!
plus... well... it's DESSERT!!! your supposed to have lots of dessert on your birthday right?!?!

ugh i have to think about this...


I LOVE the pictures of all you kids together!!! Yeah Suzi what were you looking at?!?!

But what takes the cake? Is Sara and Bradey silly shots!!!


I love suzi updates...

 

[solana131]

Loved this update!

We had so much fun that day! Loved spending the day with all of you!

It was fun. Bradey loved your girls and it was nice that we didn't "have" to spend every second together. We separated when we wanted to go in different directions. It worked out well

I still feel awful that we skipped out on the dessert party, we were all so looking forward to it. We will try it again some day.

Oh gosh, it was fine. Once the fireworks started, we all went up to the railing and we wouldn't have been able to talk anyway. It was just too hot for desserts. I thought it was bad the previous year with Dani, but this was much worse. I'm just glad you got to try it out, so now you know what it's like.

Seeing all these pictures makes me miss you and Bradey all the more... Big hugs to you all... I hope that some day soon, we can spend another day in Disney together. There's nothing better than Disfriends, unless its spending a day in Wdw with them.

D~

It was great...except the Lapu Lapus Those were horrid. Live and Learn I guess. The next time we are drinking at the Poly we will know better. And there WILL be a next time.

Fantastic update Suzi!!!!

The pictures of the Castle just SOLD me on going there for the kids birthday celebration!!!
plus... well... it's DESSERT!!! your supposed to have lots of dessert on your birthday right?!?!

ugh i have to think about this...

You could get pictures way way better than that. I can just imagine what yours will look like. The hardest thing about the dessert party is just waiting for it to become available. You definitely want to book early so you get a good table. But people set up tripods along the railing too, so you would be fine no matter where your table is. Honestly, the sweets are yummy, but I would pay the price any time just to have an assigned seat for Wishes. And if you plan it for an EMH night, it is great to be able to leave through the TomorrowLand exit and get ahead of the crowds from Main Street.

I LOVE the pictures of all you kids together!!! Yeah Suzi what were you looking at?!?!

Haha, no idea. It is the only one I have of all of us though. It is up on my desk at work along with Bradey hugging Rapunzel

But what takes the cake? Is Sara and Bradey silly shots!!!


I love suzi updates...

Oh my...yeah, she did that a couple times with his over the vacation. I didn't even know until I downloaded her pics for this report. Too funny.

She leaves for WDW in a couple weeks. We are really going to miss her. I know it's just the college program, but somehow I just know that she isn't going to come back. She will love it and she loves the heat, so the summer weather won't bother her. I just don't think she will be moving back up to Maine after this But that means we will get to visit her often!

 

[Chicago Mo]

Yes now you have MORE reasons to go to WDW!!!

well i really want fantastic pictures of the castle and fireworks.. there are some AMAZING pictures out there already.. I of course want my own...

How early can you book the Dessert party?!? I cannot find too much information on this..

 

[oopsiDAISY]

What a fantastic update! Your PP pictures are so fabulous and magical. All three of you look just adorable, and so very happy!

So stinking jealous that you got to spend the day with D~ and the girls. We only go to spend a few minutes with them. We didn't really know each other all that well at the time. I CANNOT wait to someday see them in person again, because now we have such a history and such a special friendship!

And YOU...and MO....oy, I need some dismeets with my favorite peeps!!!!!! Someday...

We love Columbia Harbor House...so yummy! I just love Disney food!

 

[MEK]

Catching up on your last couple updates.

Breakfast at Kona looks yummy - all that fruit YUM!

Lapu Lapu and nachos by the pool sounds like a total winner.

Nice afternoon and evening in the MK. You got some great PP groups shots. I had the same experience in October - a lot of the photographers did not know how to do the different magic shots.

The DP desserts look really yummy and I love the Anchor's Aweigh sandwich