Now a Trip Report!!! Will We Stay or Will We Go? A Thanksgiving Pre-Trip/Trip Report

[Poolrat]

I felt bad after I heard about the extent of the meltdown. I forget the differences in personality sometimes and what I thought was really cool was something that was pretty scary for someone else.

Oops. You try so hard to share experiences and it is kind of hard when something like that backfires. I hope it was shortlived and you were able to move on.

 

[jillyb]

Oops. You try so hard to share experiences and it is kind of hard when something like that backfires. I hope it was shortlived and you were able to move on.

Fortunately it was and the rest of the evening went well.

Update coming up!

 

[jillyb]

Epcot - Monday, November 22 (continued)

It had rained some during our break and we saw this as we were parking:

We also had these:

It was about 5:00 and there weren’t many people there:

Clay got a work related call as we got through the turnstile so I went ahead of him and the girls to get us checked in. Since all of my party wasn’t there yet I had to wait until they arrived to check in. They finally caught up with me so back I went to check in. We had a fairly short wait.

The girls and I got our picture taken with:

We were seated close to the door where the Princesses come out. Our server was very nice and the service was good. We all got something from a Taste of Norway but there was nothing on the menu that Alison really liked so she didn’t order anything. Clay ordered the Traditional Kjottkake (Ground Beef and Pork Dumplings served with Mashed Potatoes, seasonal Vegetables, and Lingonberry Sauce), I ordered the Grilled Pork Chop ( with Potato Gratin, Apple-Raisin Chutney, and Demi-glace) and Hannah ordered a hot dog. We had dessert but I can’t remember what we had and nothing on the Allears menu looks familiar. *shrug*

The first Princess was:

Next was:

There was a lull in the action so I wasn’t watching for the door to open. I was getting ready to take a bite when I heard everyone in the vicinity say “OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!” and I think there was even some cheering. I quickly turned to see who was causing all the excitement and saw:

I got a little giddy myself when I saw her! LOL

And finally:

There was Princess Parade, which Hannah joined in (sorry…no pictures  ) and then it was time to settle the bill and continue our evening. This was a good meal but I don’t know if we’ll eat there again. This meal was for Hannah since she wanted to see the Princesses. By the time we return, she’ll be out of the Princess phase  so not sure if we’d use a TS credit for this meal.

After dinner, we were off to China for some shopping. The girls each got a fan and a panda umbrella (souvenir pictures will be posted later).
A China CM with Flat Stanley:

From China, we headed to Japan.

Earlier in the trip, I had told the girls about the pick-a-pearl in Japan and explained a little about how it worked. They were both interested in doing this so that was our mission in Japan. I found out later I didn’t do a very good job of explaining it.

The girls had to wait their turn so I told them to look over the oysters and to pick the ugliest one they could find. LOL It was finally their turn:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUyX_SiAkTM

Hannah’s pearl was 7 ¼” and Alison’s pearl was 6 ¾”. They both did a very good job of picking their oyster! As I was videoing the ceremony, I wasn’t really paying close attention to the girls. In my excitement, I thought they were both enjoying the experience.

After they each received their pearl, we went around to the settings. Hannah and I are at the counter looking over all the choices. She had the CM pull out a few so she could get a better look. I suddenly realized that Alison wasn’t standing there with us. I turned around and she and Clay were standing way behind us. I tried to get Alison to join me and Hannah but she shook her head “no”. A little while later, Clay came up and whispered in my ear that he and Alison were going outside. Hannah finally picked a clam shell setting and a 16’ chain. I called Clay to let him know Hannah and I were finished and we met back up.

He told me later that the whole experience had freaked Alison out and that she had actually been sobbing while they were waiting for us. It didn’t occur to me that this experience would be something so upsetting. But, I guess with all the hoopla and being the center of attention was just too much for Alison.

(continued in next post)

 

[jillyb]

(continued from previous post)

It was getting late and we still had FPs to use! Walking to the land:

Preparing the stage for the Candlelight Processional:

Soarin’ was fantastic…as always…but we weren’t going to be able to use our other set of FPs and ride Test Track so I gave our other set of Soarin’ FPs to a family in front of us as we were exiting the ride. They were thrilled! After Test Track, we split up. Clay and the girls went to pick up our pictures from Guest Services and I hoofed it back to Japan to get Hannah’s pearl. It was a race against the clock to get there. It was all I could do to keep from breaking out in a run! LOL As it was, the power walking was giving my heart a work out! I got there with 5 minutes to spare. Whew!

Illuminations was getting ready to start so the path back was clear. I took my time walking through and snapped a couple of (bad) pictures along the way.

When I met back up with Clay and the girls, I could tell Hannah and Alison were really tired. The plan for tomorrow was a 7:50 breakfast at Kona then off to the Magic Kingdom to spend time in Toon Town and Tomorrowland, dinner at Whispering Canyon then back to Magic Kingdom for the castle lighting and the MSEP. I knew that would be a long day for us and if everyone was tired it’d also be a miserable day so after talking to Clay and discussing it with the girls we decided to skip the breakfast at Kona and have a sleep in/easy morning the next day. I think we were all asleep before our heads hit the pillows.

Next up: Magic Kingdom!

 

[mousescrapper]

glad to see an update...

your dinner meal in Norway sounds nice...we did breakfast there in '09. I agree unless my youngest wants another meal w/ the Princesses we may be done as there are so many other fun places yet to eat at. Your Ariel looked prettier than ours at CRT

I just posted about meeting Mary Poppins at 1900 PF and how I was giddy like a child too

so sorry the picking the pearl experience was to much for Alison...that is such a shame. I have yet to do that, and asked Matt if I could when we go in Oct later this yr for our anni.

Good call on skipping an early start for the next day. looking forward to more

J~

 

[jillyb]

glad to see an update...

your dinner meal in Norway sounds nice...we did breakfast there in '09. I agree unless my youngest wants another meal w/ the Princesses we may be done as there are so many other fun places yet to eat at. Your Ariel looked prettier than ours at CRT

I just posted about meeting Mary Poppins at 1900 PF and how I was giddy like a child too

so sorry the picking the pearl experience was to much for Alison...that is such a shame. I have yet to do that, and asked Matt if I could when we go in Oct later this yr for our anni.

Good call on skipping an early start for the next day. looking forward to more

J~

I just read your update and posted about my meeting with Mary Poppins! Sometimes those Princesses don't look the part do they?

I think Clay will be glad when the Princess phase is over too! LOL There are so many choices in the WS so I doubt we'll really miss the character meals that much. Although I'll probably want to get in at least one whenever we go back. LOL

I felt so bad for Alison. But, it was my own fault because, like I said, I forget that her personality is so different from Hannah's. Hannah just takes it for granted that she should be the center of attention. I think next time it will be me and Hannah doing pick a pearl. I don't know that Alison would want to do it again unless there was a way they could do it without all the fuss.

 

[Poolrat]

Ahh- The pick a pearl fuss. I would not have thought that would be the cause of upset either.

I am glad you all were able to deal with it and move on without further incident.


Doesn't World Showcase get bigger when you need to race from one side to the other?

 

[jillyb]

Ahh- The pick a pearl fuss. I would not have thought that would be the cause of upset either.

I am glad you all were able to deal with it and move on without further incident.


Doesn't World Showcase get bigger when you need to race from one side to the other?

Yes it does!! I kept thinking "I don't remember Japan being this far!!!"

I kid you not...my heart was actually hurting as I'm speed walking. I thought for sure I was going to have a heart attack before I could get there. That's why the walk back was at a much slower pace. And, of course, I ended up getting caught in the masses when Illuminations ended.

 

[MeMom]

I seem to be experiencing some deja vu here!

I can hardly keep from laughing. These were fun times.

I love this picture, and being silly in Disney World is all a part of the fun!

The question of “where to?” came up. We were going to go to the safari with our FP but when we came to path leading to Camp Minnie Mickey and a CM was trying to gather an audience for the 11 am show of Festival of the Lion King. They looked at me for guidance and I told them it was a good show. The decision was made, we head that way since we will walk right in.

On the outside, you were telling them in a calm manner that this was a lovely little show.

On the inside, you were like this , hoping like heck they would be persuaded to go.

 

[Poolrat]

I seem to be experiencing some deja vu here!
I love this picture, and being silly in Disney World is all a part of the fun!
On the outside, you were telling them in a calm manner that this was a lovely little show.

On the inside, you were like this , hoping like heck they would be persuaded to go.

How'd you do that?

The Dis is doing some bizarre things today.

 

[MeMom]

How'd you do that?

The Dis is doing some bizarre things today.

I think I'm responsible for the bizarre stuff. I was going to reply to you, copied it, then got busy reading over here. Take everything I said back to 'your house' and read it. My dejavuness belongs over there.

My apologies.

 

[Poolrat]

I think I'm responsible for the bizarre stuff. I was going to reply to you, copied it, then got busy reading over here. Take everything I said back to 'your house' and read it. My dejavuness belongs over there.

My apologies.

I think what is funnier is I thought I did that earlier.

 

[MeMom]

I think what is funnier is I thought I did that earlier.

The DIS has fried our brains.

 

[jillyb]

I've turned in to Pat!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Your table at Norway was right about where ours was in 2004 when we had breakfast there. Wasn't it fun to watch the door and wonder who was going to come through next?

 

[wigdoutdismom]

I just showed your Princess and Poppins update to Harper! We have a dinner there in March. She is very excited to see some Princesses!

 

[jillyb]

I just showed your Princess and Poppins update to Harper! We have a dinner there in March. She is very excited to see some Princesses!

Awwww....she's gonna love it! Can't wait to see pictures of her meeting the Princesses!

 

[jillyb]

Magic Kingdom – Tuesday, November 23

This morning was a sleep in/relaxing morning. Yeah…I woke up sometime after 7:00. LOL I went outside to enjoy the view and was going to call to cancel our Kona breakfast. Not long afterwards Clay joined me. The girls were still sleeping. I got to thinking that even with the girls waking up later we still might be able to get a later breakfast at Kona. As close as it was to Thanksgiving I knew it might be a long shot. Clay and I talked about it and he told me to make the call. I called dining and, at first, the CM said there was nothing available. We chit chatted some and she said “Let me try one more thing”. She comes back and tells me she had a 10:30. Book it! So, the 7:50 ADR was cancelled and we now had a 10:30 breakfast at Kona. Yay! I was going to get the Tonga Toast after all!

Hannah had been begging to go see Tramp so we took the long way to the parking lot:

And of course you can’t have Tramp without Lady!

Miscellaneous pictures on our way to the van:

Almost there!

(Funny story about this picture: I intentionally stayed in the middle lane to get this picture and as soon as it was taken I immediately got over in to the shorter lane. LOL)

Saw this t-shirt as we were waiting for the tram:

I’m happy to report they were well behaved and we didn’t run in to any rowdy Brazilian tour groups.

From the main entrance to Magic Kingdom, we walked the long way to the entrance of the Poly. This is the first time we’d been to the Poly and it is such a lovely resort. When we walked in Hannah said “Why aren’t we staying here?” LOL Hannah and I walked around checking out the lobby and, of course, I was taking pictures. I’m not sure what Clay and Alison were doing. LOL

Hannah found the TV and decided to sit a spell to watch the cartoons.

(continued in next post)

 

[jillyb]

(continued from previous post)

I figured she’d be totally absorbed in the TV so I wandered around some more and went in the gift shop to look around.

When I went back to the TV area Hannah was gone. OK…don’t panic. She’s probably with Clay and Alison. About that time, Clay and Alison walk up….but no Hannah. Ok…not going to panic…yet. As we’re walking to the front, a CM, with a crying Hannah, is walking towards us. Apparently, the TV didn’t hold her attention as long as I thought it would and when she noticed I wasn’t anywhere near and Clay and Alison weren’t around she thought we’d left her. Even though I’d never told her what to do if she got lost (bad Mommy!), she did the right thing and found a CM to help her. The CM and I both told her how proud we were of her for doing the right thing by looking for an adult and the CM gave her lots of stickers. I thanked the CM profusely and we went outside to do some exploring.

Ahhh….how I’d love to be sitting on this beach in the warm sunshine today!

Hannah immediately asked if she could go play on the beach. LOL She was not happy with the answer “no”.

We then went back inside to check in for breakfast.

There was hardly anybody in there and lots of good tables available but for some reason we got the last table on the left all the way in the back (the little bar area was right behind me). This seemed to be the case with several of our ADRs. There would be lots of good tables available but we’d always get the crappy table. Not sure what that was all about. Our server came up to take our order and asked if we’d been there before. I told her this was our first time so she went over the menu with us. She wasn’t very enthusiastic and it was hard for me to understand her because of her accent. She probably had a hard time understanding my southern drawl too! LOL

Alison ordered pancakes, Hannah got the kid’s meal pancakes, I got Tonga Toast with bacon and Clay got the Big Kahuna. Clay and I got coffee and we all got the lilikoi juice. The Tonga Toast was sooooooo good! We all liked the lilikoi juice too. I had so many classes I was sloshing when we left! LOL Everyone else liked their breakfast too. Service…not so much. I point this out because a few minutes later our server got another table right beside ours. It was a larger party with several adults and small children. As they were figuring out who was going to sit where, the server came up to them and she was all smiles and laughing and joking with them. Maybe they were staying there or they were “regulars”, but there was a definite difference in her attitude towards them. She saw me watching all this and next time she came back to our table she was a little friendlier. Yeah…thanks.

With the bill settled, we walked out to catch the monorail to the Magic Kingdom.

And we’re here!

And so is everybody else!

That’s what happens when you arrive at the Magic Kingdom after 11:00!

We headed towards Tomorrowland

The time was:

Hello gorgeous!

 

[jillyb]

(continued from previous post)

First thing we did was get FPs for Space Mountain.

The wait times for Buzz and Astro Orbiter were longer than we wanted to wait. Hmmmm…now what? Time for CoP!

We had to wait for the next show to start but it wasn’t a very long wait. This is the first time we’d seen CoP. I’d watched the YouTube video of it before our trip and, quite frankly, thought my crew wouldn’t like it. They liked it! LOL

Hannah and Alison wanted to ride Stitch. Based on comments I’ve heard about this attraction, I didn’t want to ride Stitch. I warned Hannah that I had read that it got dark, that “things” would be touching her and Stitch had a really foul burp. Didn’t deter her a bit. I should have left out the part about the burp. I was going to have to ride Stitch. This was a first for all of us. I think the wait time was posted at 15 or 20 minutes. I know it wasn’t too bad and it didn’t seem to take as long as the posted wait time. Hannah laughed through the whole thing. She said the whispering in her ear tickled. Just my luck, she and Alison loved it. And, of course, they thought the best part was the burp. In all fairness, it wasn’t THAT bad, but it’s not on my must-do list. Next time we go, she’ll be old enough to where I can send her and Alison off to ride it while I do something much more enjoyable!

From there, we went to Monster’s Inc. Another first for us. Loved it! This definitely goes on the must do list! I was hoping that Clay would be picked as “that guy”. He wasn’t but he DID get picked for something else. Sully maybe? I can’t remember now. Whatever it was, the girls and I thought that was pretty funny!

We backtracked and rode the Peoplemover.

After that, we decided to head to the other side of the park. The original plan was to go to Tom Sawyer Island. Yeah…never made it there. Hey! There’s Philharmagic! Let’s go see that! There was a line inside but it moved quickly. I think we were on the 4th or 5th row from the front. Love this show!

After Philharmagic, we go on our merry way towards Liberty Square, talking and trying to doge all the people. It was insanely crowded! I look at Hannah and notice something is missing. Then it hits me and I say: “Hannah…where’s your backpack?”

To be continued.....