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

[nannye]

I am such a bad diser!!!
Congrats on Sara enjoying the college program! I missed the info somewhere, ah i'll just FB you. I am finding it super hard to get any dis time lately. I've been meaning to start a PTR for eons now and I just never get to it.

Oh Epcot - Aladdin & Jasmine - The reason it is closed at 2:15 is because the line was full. We had to wait over 45 min to see them - I had no idea the wait would be that long. I think they were meeting from 4-5 when we were there and we got there late probably 4:10 ish from my pictures. We were the last ones in line. We met them after 5 I think. I remember it being late. People start lining up about 30 min before they are due to come out. This is the same for many characters so you really have to plan to meet many of them. Some are continuous on and off all day and take breaks (some longer like 15 min) and some shorter like (5-pretty sure they are just swapping) but then others are only out for certain times (especially at Epcot) and you have to plan to meet them. Get there 30 before they are due to come out and you'll be early on in line.

We really enjoyed meeting you guys. At the dessert party, I was surprised when you called us right over!

I didn't even notice you had a sore foot Loved Bradeys socks. V had blisters too. I forget what she wore for most of the time. weird as she never gets blisters. That said, bradey walked the whole time, GO B!. V was in a stroller by 4th day lol. Not sure who needed the stroller her or me. I needed it to stand me up lol

 

[solana131]

Thanks, that is definitely good to know. We have one day planned in HS, but we are going to EP three days (F & W...) So, I figure if we like HS maybe we could just hop over for a bit.....

Absolutely. Easy peasy

I am such a bad diser!!! Congrats on Sara enjoying the college program! I missed the info somewhere, ah i'll just FB you. I am finding it super hard to get any dis time lately. I've been meaning to start a PTR for eons now and I just never get to it. Oh Epcot - Aladdin & Jasmine - The reason it is closed at 2:15 is because the line was full. We had to wait over 45 min to see them - I had no idea the wait would be that long. I think they were meeting from 4-5 when we were there and we got there late probably 4:10 ish from my pictures. We were the last ones in line. We met them after 5 I think. I remember it being late. People start lining up about 30 min before they are due to come out. This is the same for many characters so you really have to plan to meet many of them. Some are continuous on and off all day and take breaks (some longer like 15 min) and some shorter like (5-pretty sure they are just swapping) but then others are only out for certain times (especially at Epcot) and you have to plan to meet them. Get there 30 before they are due to come out and you'll be early on in line. We really enjoyed meeting you guys. At the dessert party, I was surprised when you called us right over! I didn't even notice you had a sore foot Loved Bradeys socks. V had blisters too. I forget what she wore for most of the time. weird as she never gets blisters. That said, bradey walked the whole time, GO B!. V was in a stroller by 4th day lol. Not sure who needed the stroller her or me. I needed it to stand me up lol

So when are you going again?? You said PTR, so there must be a plan
I guess I didn't realize how popular Aladdin and Jasmine are. The CM was just so rude about it.

Oh yeah.....Bradey had a stroller the first year when he was 5 and he hardly ever used it. I was a little nervous about not even bringing one just in case. But he did great. We aren't nearly as hardcore as some people. We take it easy and take frequent breaks. We are never open to close in a park. I think if we did that, we would need a stroller. I certainly missed having the space underneath to store stuff!

 

[solana131]

Saturday August 24, 2013 Departure Day

Saddest day of the entire year.....but it helps when your flight is a late one, so you can at least enjoy most of the day. We got up and going around 8:30. Brought our luggage to the airline checkin desk. Then left our carryons with bell services. We hopped on the monorail and headed to the MK for our 9:55 ADR at Crystal Palace.

We were a little early for our reservation, so we walked over to the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse. Sara took Bradey up and I waited it out down below since my foot/leg/ankle was bothering me still. Here's a shot she got of him up in the treehouse



Then it was time to eat. We checked in at Crystal Palace and only waited about 10 mins in spite of there being a million and one people waiting around. We had great seats. When you walk in, take a left and we were back along that back wall with a great view out the window at the castle. It was perfect. The pictures just don't do it justice.....it was bright out and you can't see the castle, but trust me...it is there.



Oh wait...Sara got a good one. See...the castle



Tigger was almost immediately there, so we popped up with him before getting our food





We went up for our first plate. I gotta say....I wasn't real impressed. I don't know if it is because our ADR was kind of at the end of the breakfast hours...but the food was soggy and blah. If I went back again, I would shoot for an earlier time, or dinner maybe. But anyway. Our first plates. Not sure who had what as it was a long time ago now, but here ya go..food porn

Mine


Bradey's


Sara's


Pooh came around next





Well, yes Mommy wants to get in on the action too!



And Piglet was shortly behind him



Sara even wanted a pic with Piglet



We went up for another round while we waited for Eyeore

Mine


Sara's


And Bradey's second helping was just fruit. No pic.

We waited forever.....I mean probably close to 30 mins for Eyeore. Not sure what was holding him up, but this was a recurring theme with our character meals at Disney. The place was almost empty by the time he got there.



Isn't it pretty in there??

Finally...and I gotta say...it was worth the wait. Love this guy.





We settled up the bill and had to stop to get a few pics by the flowers at the door.





Then we headed out for our last few hours. Overall, I was not thrilled with CP. But I would totally give it another try because the characters were great and the building is just so beautiful. Not this year, but sometime I will give it another shot.

I have to run to a PTC meeting, but I will try to finish this up tonight. I have a PTR to start!!!

 

[Iamthequeen]

Departure day is always sad. I try to schedule a late plane too so we can have one last day - and we always spend it at MK.

We are planning to have breakfast at CP in September, but we do have an early time, so I'm hoping the food is good. Can't wait to meet Tigger - he's my favorite!

I think if we did park open to close I'D need a stroller! We take it fairly easy too when we go, knowing that we will be back soon, so we don't have to do everything. Plus we have several days at each park, so we can spread the fun out.

 

[solana131]

Departure day is always sad. I try to schedule a late plane too so we can have one last day - and we always spend it at MK.

We are planning to have breakfast at CP in September, but we do have an early time, so I'm hoping the food is good. Can't wait to meet Tigger - he's my favorite!

I think if we did park open to close I'D need a stroller! We take it fairly easy too when we go, knowing that we will be back soon, so we don't have to do everything. Plus we have several days at each park, so we can spread the fun out.

I love the late flights out. Early in....Late out. But not this trip, the UnMagical Express will pick us up at 6am this summer! Our flight time options around here are getting ridiculously few. But we will make the best of it and just be happy that we got to go back.

I know so many people who love CP. It just wasn't wonderful for me. The food and service were a little bleh....but like I said, I would give it another try.

Disney is so much more enjoyable now that we ahve been a few times and we don't feel the need to go go go. I love spending time mid day at our resort. I hear so many people say "Why spend all that money on a deluxe when you are mostly just sleeping in your room?" We don't just sleep there. We spend a lot of time relaxing at the resort. Disney is so much better when you can take time to smell the roses, or soak up the magic

 

[solana131]

Okay, I am back...boy what a mess this PTC thing has turned into. Early in this year, we found out that the president had been stealing money all of last year. We quickly "dethroned" her and started a police investigation into her, but those things move slowly and we still don't have the money back. At the time, we thought we had found everything she took, but all year this year things have been coming out of the woodwork and we just discovered more money that she took.

Our little school is closing this year and the kids are going tot he larger district school next year. It is sad for all of us, and we want to do some special stuff for the kids this year as it's their last year there. But we have been spending every bit of fund raising money we can get to pay back her debts to all our vendors. It has been a very trying year and we are all so sad for the kids who of course are the real losers here.

Hoping to put together a little something fun for them at the end of the year. We think we have all her debts caught up and now can start focusing on the kids. Wish us luck!

*********************************************************

Okay, so where were we?? Ahhh yes, we had finished breakfast at Crystal Palace and we were on our way.

We headed over to AdventureLand since we were right there. First we stopped at Tinkerbell's Nook, but that had an hour wait. So we continued on. We had never been on the Magic Carpets, and there was a very small line, so on we went. Bradey and Sara sat in front of me so I could get pictures.



This ride has a great theme. I can't believe I never really gave it a second look before. But look at this cute camel!



And the look on my little guy's face is priceless!



We rode Pirates next because there was no line and we all love that ride. After that we checked on Splash, but it was too long. Thunder Mtn only had a 20 minute wait and it was Bradey's favorite ride, so we waited.

He isn't excited about riding the runaway train again is he?



The new "interactive" que isn't that wonderful, but it moved fast.



Next up we decided to check out the Country Bear Jamboree. I thought I remembered this one from my childhood days. Ummm.....does anyone else think some of their songs are slightly inappropriate for children? It was all about women and drinking and just weird. But he liked the talking animals on the wall. Here's a horrible shot of the lady bear swinging.



Then we grabbed a popsicle and walked over to Fantasyland. We rode Dumbo one more time. I took a picture of Sara....



Taking a picture of me....



Taking a picture of her!

Hee hee...it was fun.



After Dumbo, we walked the back way over to Tomorrowland and rode Astro Orbiter, then the PeopleMover (so sad this will be closed this year). Then it was about time to head out. As we walked by the castle one last time I had to get a couple PP shots.





We rode the monorail one last time. As we stopped at the Contemporary I had the perfect shot out the glass side of the building. Until this guy stuck his big old arm in my way! Grrrr....still a semi-cool shot though...



We arrived back at the Poly and grabbed our carryons from Bell Services. D and the girls were coming to say goodbye to us, so we told them we would be in Captain Cooks having lunch.

Bradey's pepperoni flatbread



Sara's cheese flatbread



I ordered the hawaiian flatbread, but turns out they put onions on it. What? No one does that and it was definitely not listed in the description on the menu. I was not happy and they did nothing about it. But I was hungry, and we were flying home shortly, so I wanted lunch. So I just ordered a cheese one instead. I think they should have given that to me for free since they clearly did not state that it had onions on it. Oh well.

So we ate our lunch and waited for D. And waited. And waited. Turns out her luck with monorails was not good that whole trip. They did not show up and it was time to go out front to catch the UnMagical Express.

Sara needed one more picture of the fountain that is no longer



And we went out front. D had texted saying they were finally at the TTC and were just going to run rather than chance another hold up. They made it just in time and we got to say our goodbyes.

The ME bus was late and we were worried about missing our flight but it turns out the flights were delayed as well. We had quite a while to wait in the airport. It was chilly, so I was very happy that I had purchased myself a cute little sweater



We took off about an hour and a half late and got into Manchester around 11:15. Our bags were SOAKED because they had left them out in the rain. So even though it was about 1:30 when we got home, we had to unpack because I just couldn't let the wet stuff sit there anymore. It was a late late night.

It was a wonderful trip and we made some great memories. Spending time with D, Allison and Victoria was definitely my favorite parts. It is great to have friends there, but not really with you so you get to hang out, but still have your own time too. It was amazing.

And in fact it was life changing for Sara. She had never had any dreams of Disney before this trip and now she lives there and works there with no plans to come home. Can't wait to see her again in just 51 days!

Thank you for following along and letting me re-live my trip. These TR are such a great way to bring home the magic.

 

[DMGeurts]

So sad to see uyour TR end.... I loved reliving it with so.

So sad cp was a bust for you, its our favorite.

But your whole last day seems like you were able to get so much done... You looped the entire park and accomplished so much.

I loved seeing all the picture of all of you... Miss you all so much and can't wait to see you in 26 days...

Lasting friendships on the Dis are one of the things I treasure most in my life... We loved spending time with you on our trip... I hope that some day we can do it again.

So glad we got to say goodbye to you... I was nearly crying on the monorail because I thought we were going to miss you. It would have broken my heart.

Sickening that they left your luggage out in the rain... The only up side is that it happened on your way home and not on your way to wdw.

Looking forward to hearing about your next trip.

Love and hugs to you, Bradey and Sara from all of us.

D~

 

[Chicago Mo]

it's over! how SAD!!!! I loved reading along. seeing all your pictures thanks for writing this!!!!

OK. GET TO THE PTR! i wanna see gram!

i am going to miss the Poly so much it hurts...

 

[sweetpeaandevie]

Wow, you got that done just in time for the next one!!!

This is the first time that I have heard anything bad about CP. Bummer. We are going before rope drop so maybe we will have better luck ??????

That is crazy about your luggage....but definitely better to happen on the way home.

I am so sad for you with the school. It sounds like such a horrible situation. Good luck getting everything together to be able to do something great for the kiddos!!!

 

[Iamthequeen]

Great trip report Suzi! I had fun traveling around with you.

I have a wet luggage story too - I went on a travel/study tour of Ireland with my college. It was a great trip and we saw and did a lot with one of my professors as our tour guide. The trip home was awful - the plane was delayed in Ireland. We were to fly to NYC and catch another plane to Baltimore and were due in about 7 pm. Once we got to the US, there were major storms up and down the East Coast. We ended up circling Boston for about an hour before they let us land at Kennedy airport. We had to run to make our connecting flight. Luckily there were about 30 of us that needed to make that connection so we were sure they would hold the plane for us. Well, we got to the correct terminal, just to wait - the plane we were supposed to be on had not even left Baltimore for the trip to JFK. Meanwhile, our luggage was outside on the cart in the rain for hours. Finally the powers that be decided they would charter a bus to take us to Baltimore, so they took our luggage and dumped it on the front sidewalk! We had to stay outside with it. Luckily we were under a canopy at that point. We waited from about 4 pm until about 1 am for the bus to show up. We arrived at the Baltimore airport about 5 am.