My daughter is two and this is her third trip. Surprise Dress Up!

[sherylcin]

Wow! You are off to such a great start! Sounds like you had a great first night even "unplanned" I have to agree with you about Illuminations! It's been my favorite since I first saw it. I'm pretty much a sucker for any fireworks show though.

Your view at Jambo is awesome. We were on the opposite side of the hall with a parking lot view. Can't wait to read more!

 

[jgazda]

We ended up at...
Hollywood Studios!



They have this beautiful tree up in front before you walk in


We got there at about 9 or 9:30 and we could tell already it was busy. Here is a shot of the front area



We knew we were coming back another day during the week so we didn't worry too much about the crowds or wait time. We headed over to TSM right away and got fast passes. Our time was at 3:15! Yowzer! We noticed that Buzz and Woody were out doing meet and greets so we got in that line and had fun with the movie props:








To be continued...

 

[jgazda]

And then at last, there they were...





Our daughter LOVES Buzz so she was really thrilled to see him. And very sad to have to say goodbye



After that we decided to head over to the Animation Studio and see the Up characters. They weren't quite out yet so we saw this guy instead:



There were maybe 5 people in front of us to see him. Crazy! Unfortunately we weren't nearly us lucky with the UP characters. After Mickey we headed over there and it was at least 20 families deep. Not people, families! But it was worth it. THe characters were adorable and very personable.



When we came out we ran into


and...


It was a character frenzy! They were everywhere. Unfortunately my charming little daughter had had enough of getting her picture taken and decided the only thing she would let us take a picture of was this...



And they say the terrible two's are bad.

We took a break from meet and greets and went over and saw the Muppet 4-D Movie. I love this one and for the first time my daughter wore the glasses and finally got the concept as she was reaching out for different things as the movie was playing. Yet another milestone.



By that time we were ready for lunch and since we knew we were going to see the Lights Motor Action stunt show we ate at the Backlot Express. What a great place! My mom and I shared the salad and my husband had a cheeseburger (you will find this to be the norm throughout the trip).

After lunch we went over to see the Lights Motor Action show. I didn't think I was going to like it but it was really an interesting show. I found myself really liking it alot. My daughter thought it was a ride because when the show was over she said it was her turn to drive. Goofball.

After the show we kept in the automobile theme and went to see...



This was the only thing the whole day we didn't have to wait in line for. There was NO ONE over by the Cars. The photopass guy kept telling her to just stay and hang out and she loved it. This went on for about 8 minutes and then one other little boy came over. I could get used to that!

continued...

 

[jgazda]

By that time we were ready to ride something but it wasn't fast pass time yet so we went on one of my favorites instead...



The series of drops they did was awesome. We were weightless several times and it was just great. Still makes my heart jump every time because you never know what to expect.

We were walking around then wasting time before our FastPass time came and found this "little" guy...



After that we headed over to TSM and rode that and then decided to head out and back to the hotel since we had switched to Kidani that day and still needed to check in. On the bus on the way back my daughter was very eager to check out the autographs in her book


Coming up...checking in and the view from our room

 

[smkohn]

dang, that's one adorable daughter you have there

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

Boy, you've got one lucky little-lady! She's getting all kinds of autographs and she hasn't even been there 2 full days yet!!!

 

[jgazda]

Boy, you've got one lucky little-lady! She's getting all kinds of autographs and she hasn't even been there 2 full days yet!!!

We definitely hit the jackpot in the character department. Her book was so full there wasn't room for anymore.

 

[jgazda]

We arrived at Kidani and checked in, process went very smoothly. We were given room 7726 which is on the third floor. Got up to our room and went out on the balcony and saw this...





You really feel like you are on an African Savannah. We saw giraffe, zebra, ostrich, cattle, stork, and a couple others I can't remember at the moment. They were out morning noon and night too. I didn't sleep well the first few nights and I would sit out on the balcony and watch them. And no you don't smell anything. Ever. Even when it rained.

After we sat and watched that for quite some time we decided to let our daughter hit the water. She LOVES the water play area at Kidani. I have proof...







We had dinner at the Mara that evening. I had the shrimp platter, hubby had the cheeseburger, mom had the African stew (awesome) and the little one had mac and cheese. After dinner we turned in early so we could get up the next day for the Magic Kingdom!!!

 

[jgazda]

We woke up early, had breakfast in the room and set out for the Magic Kingdom.

I have to give a small shout out to Garden Grocer for bringing our groceries to the hotel. What a great service!

We walked in to the Magic Kingdom and there were a ton of characters out. We didn't wait to see any of them but there were Pinocchio, Daisy, Snow White, and Pluto. We made our way over to Fantasyland and rode Dumbo


The teacups


And a variety of others with little waits. We got fast passes for Peter Pan because no matter the short wait times for every other ride that was still listed at 30 minutes.

We then went over to Adventureland to ride pirates and the magic carpets and ran into these two...


We then made our way over to Liberty Tree but stopped briefly at the umbrella store to have a personalized umbrella made for one of the dresses to wear for tomorrow's breakfast. While we were waiting to be called for our ADR we saw a little bit of Tiana's Showboat Jubilee and it is really cute. I still can't get that song out of my head!

Liberty Tree never dissapoints as a great lunch place. My husband had the clam chowder and cheeseburger and I got the turkey dinner and shared it with my daughter. Everything was fantastic and the service was great too. I love that place!

Coming up...our Bippity Boppity Boutique appointment

 

[TxMickeyLover]

Look at you go! I'm way behind with mine. Between being sick, then having company all last week, I haven't had a chance to get past day 1.

It looks like you had a great time! Way to go with all of the characters. We got lucky finding some as well.

Can't wait to read more!

 

[smkohn]

i love the slightly confused look she has on Dumbo. your pictures make me wanna go back sooo bad.

 

[jgazda]

****Warning****Warning****Warning****Warning****Warning****

This post is going to be chock full of pictures. I may even need two posts! We had a 1:30 appointment for the Bippity Boppity Boutique. Before we left I had considered cancelling it several times. She is a fresh 3 and HATES having her hair cut so I was really quite nervous about the whole experience and didn't think she would sit through it. Even at lunch right before the appointment I had considered giving it to my cousin so her 5 year old could do it because she really wanted it and understood what it was. Boy was I glad I didn't do either of those things.

We got there and checked in. We had brought our own Cinderella dress with shoes so we just did the middle package which gets you your hair done as well as your nails and makeup. They brought us back to the changing room and we got her into her gown and then waited to be called. After about 5 minutes we were brought over to our FGIT and my daughter was terrified of her. She wouldn't sit in the chair and as much as I tried to coax her she wasn't going to get anything done. Imagine my dissapointment. Right as we are about to say forget it, the FGIT that was next to ours was working on another little girl's hair and asked my daughter if she could please do hers next. My daughter says Yes. What!?!?!? Not sure why she liked that FGIT over the first but we anxiously waited hoping she wouldn't change her mind again once she was ready for her.

She didn't! Once that FGIT was done my daughter climbed right up in her chair.


Then the FGIT got to work straigt away...









The lip pucker


She wasn't having any fun at all ...


The first time she got to see herself all done up...




And then the true excitement really set in...



She got to keep the comb, 2 bottles of nailpolish, the makeup kit and the remaining face stickers as well as the sash, tiara, and mickey clip


I will plan these vists on every subsequent trip until she tells me she's had enough. It was such a great expereince for her and us that I just can't imagine not doing it again.

Of course after appointment we had to introduce Cinderella to little Cinderella


More to come...

 

[AlternateEgo]

So my sister just called and said she is expecting in May. Woo Hoo. Get to be an aunt for the first time! Another little one to bring to Disney!!

Was just reading along... when I came across this. I was in Disney sometime 9/8 when I received a call from my sister ... who is also expecting in May... and i will be a first time Aunt too

 

[jgazda]

Look at you go! I'm way behind with mine. Between being sick, then having company all last week, I haven't had a chance to get past day 1.

It looks like you had a great time! Way to go with all of the characters. We got lucky finding some as well.

Can't wait to read more!

They were out in full force all week it was crazy. The only ones I wanted to see but didn't were Miss Bunny and Thumper. I thought about going back to Animal Kingdom before we left but decided not to. Oh well.

I feel like I am slacking too. We came home with my husband being really sick on that Saturday and then Monday night my daughter came down with the stomach flu and was sick for two days and then my husband got worse and ended up at the doctor by Thursday and then the following Tuesday my daughter had an ear infection. Blah! It's barely December and all this sickness. Hope you are feeling better and hope to get to read your report soon.

 

[jgazda]

Was just reading along... when I came across this. I was in Disney sometime 9/8 when I received a call from my sister ... who is also expecting in May... and i will be a first time Aunt too

It's really exciting isn't it! She goes to the doctor on the 9th to find out the sex so now we are all on the edge of our seats waiting to find out.

 

[smkohn]

Her auntie just loves the fact that they let her keep the make-up kit and that she brings it out everytime I'm there to make me look pretty

 

[jgazda]

Her auntie just loves the fact that they let her keep the make-up kit and that she brings it out everytime I'm there to make me look pretty

She does love making you look extra beautiful.

 

[TxMickeyLover]

I love all the BBB photos! It looks like she ended up having a great time afterall. Next time, you should do it with her!

 

[jgazda]

I love all the BBB photos! It looks like she ended up having a great time afterall. Next time, you should do it with her!

I didn't know you could. I don't know I just loved watching her go through the experience. Next year when we go I think we are going to do the full package and let her get the Sleeping Beauty dress that she has always wanted. That's the only one her great aunt won't make. We also have a 4 year old boy coming with us and I think I am going to surprise him with a pirate makeover.

 

[praisehisname]

All caught up and loving it!