Nifty Fifty: The Great return of the Sauciers! - April 2022 TR

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

Three Bridges looks delish! What a lovely, relaxing dinner.

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

hree Bridges looks delish! What a lovely, relaxing dinner.

Thanks, it really was nice and relaxing! Just what we needed before our evening out.

 

[BigOnDis]

Morgan taught Gwen and I how to play sabacc.
Sabacc and Snacks

My daughter and SIL love to play games, maybe I can convince them to play this one with this Star Wars Nerd.

 

[amazingact21]

Gwen's plushie collection so far. She set them up to watch us play.

My kids would approve of Gwen's stuffies.

But man, it always amazes me how fast time goes by in Disney. Those 4 hours went by fast!

It really does! I'm certain four hours sitting around at home moves much, much slower than four hours at a Disney resort.

Gwen doesn't like "fizzy" drinks.

Evie and Gwen would get along. Both love stuffies and hate carbonated drinks. Evie hates "the bubbles" as she calls them.

So... Cheers to Vacation!!!!

Love this shot. It just screams "we're having fun on vacation!"

This was really good. I had heard it was one of the best burgers on property. And it is def up there.

I didn't know about this burger. I'll have to add it to my list.



Dinner sounded successful! I know you were hoping to leave earlier, but sometimes sitting around, enjoying good food and drinks, and relaxing can mean so much on a busy trip.

 

[Disney102015]

This may or may not have been half of the reason I wanted to come here.

HA! I have always wanted to try Three Bridges and this flight is probably 75% of the reason why. Looks like you had an awesome meal (and drinks)!

 

[rdkeim]

Just popping in to say I'm enjoying your TR. Your relaxing dinner looks perfect. Smart you arrived early so you could snag the couches!

 

[Paulaparm]

Haven't been around for a while and just got all caught up! Three Bridges definitely sounds like a place to try!

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

Love this shot. It just screams "we're having fun on vacation!"

HA! It is def a sign that our vacation started. OF course we were late but still!

Evie and Gwen would get along. Both love stuffies and hate carbonated drinks. Evie hates "the bubbles" as she calls them.

I think they would!

HA! I have always wanted to try Three Bridges and this flight is probably 75% of the reason why. Looks like you had an awesome meal (and drinks)!

It was a great meal! I am a sucker to a flight of anything, sangria, wine, beer....

Just popping in to say I'm enjoying your TR. Your relaxing dinner looks perfect. Smart you arrived early so you could snag the couches!

Thanks for following. The couches really add to the relaxing feel

Haven't been around for a while and just got all caught up! Three Bridges definitely sounds like a place to try!

Welcome back!!! It really is, but I will admit, I would find it hard to come to that resort JUST to go there. maybe if we did the Sangria University on an adults only trip...

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

Happy Friday Everyone!

The girls go back to school on Tuesday, so this is the last of our official summer. Morgan is spending it trying to finish her summer reading assignment and she has her first football game of the season! It's just pep band tonight, so it will be a good intro.

We also went to freshman orientation last night and the high school is HUGE!!! Poor Morgan has one class literally on one side of the school and the next one almost as far away as possible. But she seems ready!

Day Three: Evening of Fun

I left us off leaving the resort after a great dinner and heading back to Magic Kingdom for the evening!

We got down to the bus stop around 6:10
Waiting for the bus

A bus came fairly quickly, 6:20-ish. BUT it was full. So we had to wait for a second one. (This was the only time this happened to us thankfully.)

Gwen with filters
Gwen killed time with MORE filters!

But we finally did get on a bus.
Bus to Magic Kingdom by Ariella Saucier, on Flickr
And arrived at Magic Kingdom at 7:00.

We headed straight to Peter Pan as the LL I grabbed earlier was ending at 7:15.
Weather Van on top of Peter Pan
Anyone ever notice the Croc up on the roof?

We scanned in at 7:12 and on the ride at 7:19.
Parents on Peter Pan
Andy and I rode together and the girls together.

Girls being left behind
Who looks like they are having more fun?!?!

After the ride, we decided to get the Annual Rapunzel Bathroom Photo! Gwen grew 4” last year, and it had been 2 years since we had been to Disney, so we knew it would be a big change.
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If you are new to my trip reports, this tradition started on our first trip after a magical dinner at Cinderella's Castle and the girls were dressed up and danced around in the area thinking they were really at Rapunzel's courtyard.
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I mean look at these little nuggets!!!

Well, this is them now...
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They basically cover the sign now! Which is crazy as the first photo, they barely made it to the bottom of the sign.
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Andy made a comparison photo. Far left is the very first picture, middle photo is our last trip before Covid, and the far right this day! It's crazy how much they have grown in general, but 2 years!! Holy Cow!!!
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After we got our annual photo we headed to our next LL. Haunted Mansion was next.
Haunted Mansion Pre-Show room
This time we stood in the right place in the stretching room to be the first ones out. It makes all the difference to not be merging. I hate that merge area.
Haunted Mansion Stretching Room

Haunted Mansion Stairs
Haunted Mansion was great as usual.

After HH, we were going to try and ride the people mover, but decided to just check in for the dessert party instead.

I decided at a fairly last minute to do the dessert party. And tickets were already sold out.

Touring Plans doesn't do an alert for the dessert parties, but I remember hearing about Mouse Watcher. Mouse Watcher is a paid service but for just one reservation it was $9. And they did find me one! I got an alert the Friday before our trip. So, it was worth it.

We got in line to check in at 8:09. The line went just around the railings. And didn't take too long to check in.

We got checked in and went to find a spot in the area. There were already A LOT of people in there.We ended up at the back of the fake grass area. And the girls were freaking out that the spot wasn’t going to be good.

People started to stand up around 8:45. Which I don’t know why, there was still 15 minutes away. And why, why stand up?!? Which prompted the girls to freak out even more.
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But once 9:00 hit and we stood up as well. Everyone standing in front of us was kind of bunched right up against the railing and we had a nice space between us and them. And it was enough space for us to see 85% of the castle and the projections.
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This was our view.

It was perfect. There was no way we would have seen that much of the projections if we had not done the party. And honestly we probably wouldn’t have even waited because the crowds would have been too much. So, I was already happy that I had gotten us the tickets.

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The Fireworks.... were ok... I mean they are great fireworks but they def didn't give me all the feelings, you know? But I was glad we got to see it.

After the show we headed over to check in. The sea of people was horrible to get through tonight. Which made me even happier that we had done the party.

There was a couple with a woman in an ECV in front of us in line and she was having a terrible time moving forward as everyone kept cutting in front of her. So, I finally kind of stood to the side of her to block people so she could move forward. She was very thankful, as I could see her visibly getting upset.
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But we got checked in and they escorted us to a table.
Champagne

At 9:26 we were in line to get our first round of treats. I took full advantage of the champagne! Andy and I grabbed one each as they were both there first before desserts. So I drag my first one basically while in line!
Champagne

I think I ended up having 3. Andy had 1 as well.

They had the crepe station, which came with some sort of cooked apples inside. Andy and Morgan love apple pie so this was right up there alley.
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Although we def missed the egg rolls. It was nice to have something savory.

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We all basically just took 1 of each to try and then went back up once for seconds on the ones we liked.

There was a donut hole with a strawberry sauce that was VERY dry. Chocolate covered Strawberries which are always my favorite, and I really should just take a plate of just that.

Some sort of 50th push pop and the girls enjoyed. It was ALOT of icing to cake ratio. I feel old just saying that.. Sigh.

An oreo pudding that Morgan liked, I found it to taste like well chocolate pudding. It wasn’t bad, just nothing special.

Butterscotch pudding with a few pieces of carmel corn on top. I liked that was it was a little different.

Then a crumble thing that I don’t remember and a brownie thing that I don’t really remember either.

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This was the busiest dessert party we have ever been to. It was fine but the other 2 times they were def not this full! All the CM on the far side had come out and sang happy birthday to a little girl. It was very cute.

We tried to relax and just enjoy the treats. It was chilly, so Gwen and I went into the bathroom and threw on capri pants.

We finally headed out around 10:10 to try and do a ride or 2 in Tomorrowland before we left. We hadn’t really done anything in that land yet. We decided to do Buzz first, It was a short posted wait, maybe 10 minutes.

We got in line at 10:13
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and were we basically just walking on the ride but then we were right at the load area where we were held.

There was a poor little girl that had gotten a nose bleed and had literally gotten blood trailed from the ride all the way over to the stand where the person controlling the walkway was. The mom was trying to stop the bleeding with a tiny napkin.

I have Morgan get out her travel tissues from her backpack and I gave the mom a few. And then realized that the poor little girl was bleeding ALOT. So I just gave her the whole pack. She was very thankful. The CMs were scrambling to get towels and disinfectant for the blood. Looked like the CM finally took the little girl and family away. And they worked to clean up the blood. But the girl seriously had gotten blood everywhere!

We chatted with the group behind us. They commented that I came to the rescue with the tissues. She mentioned she was a teacher and had the exact same things to clean up at the school.

Finally they decided to close the ride, And we walked out and given an anytime LL. Since was so late in the night, it was good the next day as well! Woo Hoo!

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

It was 10:30, so we decided to do Space Mountain instead. It was a posted 20 minute wait. Untitled
Andy can’t ride Space anymore with his back so he rode people mover instead. I was slightly jealous…

Andy on the People Mover

Andy riding the People Mover
Andy sent us these photos while we were waiting in line, and I was kind of jealous...

We were on the ride at 10:53.
Ready to Ride

Space Mountain

And off the ride at 10:59. Gwen was hoping we would have been able to hop on People mover together. But didn’t happen.

We met up with Andy after and headed out of the park.
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We stopped for a photo pass photo on the way out.
2022-04-20 - Magic Kingdom Park - Cinderella Castle_15

2022-04-20 - Magic Kingdom Park - Cinderella Castle_15 This pose? Why is this a pose?

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2022-04-20 - Magic Kingdom Park - Cinderella Castle_15
These were better at least.

Tinkerbell Photoshot
Not sure why Andy and I look scared while the girls look happy?

We slowly headed out and finally left the park at 11:18 and on a bus at 11:24
Leaving the Park

And were back at the hotel at 11:46.

We all went straight to bed, watched a little youtube (aka the girls) and snacked a bit on the cookies.

It was a great night. I was def glad we did the dessert party, as I wanted to see the new fireworks but probably won't do another MK dessert party for awhile.

Up next Animals!

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

50 Rides for turning 50
# of Rides: 20 of 50
Miles Walked: 8.4 Miles / 33.46
Total Rides: 8 New Rides / Day Total: 9 / Trip Total: 23

• Jungle Cruise
• Philharmagic
• Big Thunder Mountain
• Festival Of Fantasy Parade
• Peter Pan
• Fireworks
• Space Mountain
• People Mover

Genie+ Thoughts for the Day:
I started the day very frustrated at not getting what I wanted. I think we got 4 LL for the day? Having Peter Pan and Haunted Mansion for the evening did let us do both before the fireworks. And if we came back and didn't do fireworks, we could have probably done alot of rides. But that wasn't our plan. Still didn't feel like we were got our money worth of LL.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

It was 10:30, so we decided to do Space Mountain instead. It was a posted 20 minute wait. Untitled
Andy can’t ride Space anymore with his back so he rode people mover instead. I was slightly jealous…

Andy on the People Mover

Andy riding the People Mover
Andy sent us these photos while we were waiting in line, and I was kind of jealous...

We were on the ride at 10:53.
Ready to Ride

Space Mountain

And off the ride at 10:59. Gwen was hoping we would have been able to hop on People mover together. But didn’t happen.

We met up with Andy after and headed out of the park.
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We stopped for a photo pass photo on the way out.
2022-04-20 - Magic Kingdom Park - Cinderella Castle_15

2022-04-20 - Magic Kingdom Park - Cinderella Castle_15 This pose? Why is this a pose?

2022-04-20 - Magic Kingdom Park - Cinderella Castle_15

2022-04-20 - Magic Kingdom Park - Cinderella Castle_15
These were better at least.

Tinkerbell Photoshot
Not sure why Andy and I look scared while the girls look happy?

We slowly headed out and finally left the park at 11:18 and on a bus at 11:24
Leaving the Park

And were back at the hotel at 11:46.

We all went straight to bed, watched a little youtube (aka the girls) and snacked a bit on the cookies.

It was a great night. I was def glad we did the dessert party, as I wanted to see the new fireworks but probably won't do another MK dessert party for awhile.

Up next Animals!

Wow! If the desert party was crowded, I can only imagine what the hub looked like. The party is a great call on a busy, holiday week.

 

[missjackiemcg]

I adore the then and now pictures of your girls! I can't believe how grown up they are! Especially how much Gwen has grown--Jimmy, too! He sprouted 5" since last school year.

Sometimes a dessert party splurge is totally worth it just to make sure you have a spot. The champagne was a happy bonus, obviously!!

Sounds like a wonderful MK evening despite the crowds. We didn't even give Genie+ a try on our December trip, so at least you tried it out! I'm still not 100% sold on it even reading how some people love it!

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

Wow! If the desert party was crowded, I can only imagine what the hub looked like. The party is a great call on a busy, holiday week.

It def was worth it for this trip! Spring Break crowds are no joke. But I def think out summer trip next year, we won't do it. And I think we won't even watch the fireworks. I can see us using that time to get in a few rides instead.

Sounds like a wonderful MK evening despite the crowds. We didn't even give Genie+ a try on our December trip, so at least you tried it out! I'm still not 100% sold on it even reading how some people love it!

I am def still in the camp of it's a necissary evil. But I def don't love it. I don't think we had a day that I felt like this was totally worth it. Sadly.

I adore the then and now pictures of your girls! I can't believe how grown up they are! Especially how much Gwen has grown--Jimmy, too! He sprouted 5" since last school year.

I know!!!! Why do they keep growing?!?! All the pics of Jimmy on facebook are crazy.

 

[JenLovesMM]

I love seeing those rapunzel area photos each time you write a report, incredible how much they have grown! Those desserts looked really good. We did one dessert party years ago, back then the price was much lower, and it was really worth it.

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

What a great evening! Love the then and now photos. The girls are so cute all dressed up in their costumes. Crazy how much Gwen especially has grown between your last two trips.
I think I might have been jealous of Andy in the PM too even though I love SM.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I've never noticed the crocodile on the roof at Peter Pan! Very cool!! I'll definitely keep an eye out for that next time. Totally agree with you on the merge point in Haunted Mansion. Gives me extreme anxiety. LOVE the Tangled area photos. Am still personally a little bitter that all Tangled got was restrooms but the area is so cute and love all the hidden Pascals. You have me seriously thinking about a dessert party for the fireworks viewing area!

 

[vamassey1]

Anyone ever notice the Croc up on the roof?

I have never seen this but hope to remember to look next trip.

I mean look at these little nuggets!!!

They are sooooo cute! What a precious memory.

They basically cover the sign now! Which is crazy as the first photo, they barely made it to the bottom of the sign.
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I love this progression. This is a great tradition.

It was perfect. There was no way we would have seen that much of the projections if we had not done the party. And honestly we probably wouldn’t have even waited because the crowds would have been too much. So, I was already happy that I had gotten us the tickets.

We did the after party in May 2021. I'm glad we did it to actually see the projections and fireworks. It really helped that the area was not overcrowded.

There was a poor little girl that had gotten a nose bleed and had literally gotten blood trailed from the ride all the way over to the stand where the person controlling the walkway was. The mom was trying to stop the bleeding with a tiny napkin.

Oh dear. I don't do blood at all.

Andy can’t ride Space anymore with his back so he rode people mover instead. I was slightly jealous…

I'm with Andy on this.

We stopped for a photo pass photo on the way out.

These are really fun!

It was a great night. I was def glad we did the dessert party, as I wanted to see the new fireworks but probably won't do another MK dessert party for awhile.

We felt the same after our party. I don't know if I'll do it again for a long while.

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

I never noticed Croc up there before!

Sounds like you are becoming a genie plus pro even though it seems chaotic (for what it is worth-DLR we barely used it and when we did we were like near the ride and on within an hour-standby waits are actually manageable out there)

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

Crazy how much Gwen especially has grown between your last two trip

It really was crazy!!! She complained alot during covid about her back hurting and I think it was literally growing pains!

I've never noticed the crocodile on the roof at Peter Pan! Very cool!! I'll d

I love discovering something like that, that has been there all along and just realizing it!

Am still personally a little bitter that all Tangled got was restrooms but the area is so cute and love all the hidden Pascals.

Have you tried to find all of the pascals? They are hard to find!!! I think they did a little too good of a job!

But I agree, Rapunzel deserves something else.

You have me seriously thinking about a dessert party for the fireworks viewing area!

I personally think the dessert parties are worth it IF you value the place to sit for a good view. It you just look at what they serve at the dessert party, it def isn't. But for us the seating area def has a price too it. The desserts are basically bonus for us. Champagne now helps too

We felt the same after our party. I don't know if I'll do it again for a long while.

Same. It was def a first time back splurge!

I have never seen this but hope to remember to look next trip.

I think Molly shows it in a video somewhere along the way. I was proud that I remembered to look!

Sounds like you are becoming a genie plus pro even though it seems chaotic

Kind of... I think a few more days and I was getting it. But that is why I hate it still. You shouldn't need to have a full week trip to figure it out.

for what it is worth-DLR we barely used it and when we did we were like near the ride and on within an hour-standby waits are actually manageable out there

I can't wait to try it in Disneyland. And our trip in general!