***Official November 2013 - Part II*** (that's right....we're that popular!)

[CaraMiaBelle]

Hey all, just checking in. I exhausted the whole family already

We spent our first night at Epcot and no one was there. Had dinner at Chefs de France and had a fantastic server, she made the whole meal. The food was good not fantastic, but good. Stayed through IllumiNations, but we barely finished dinner in time so we didn't get a good spot.

MIL wound up with a huge blood blister on her foot after the first night so I convinced her to get a scooter. She rented it at the park the second day, but then we got one from an outside vendor for the rest of the week.

Second day we went to Universal's Islands of Adventure. All I can say is WOW. Themeing was amazing. The crew members there were fantastic. We ate at Mythos which wasn't that good food wise, but our server more than made up for it. He even washed our refillable mug from our butterbeer for us. Hogsmede was perfect, the attention the detail was astounding. We went back to that area at the end of the day and at night it is truly magical. Most rides were walk on except during the height of the afternoon.

Yesterday we hit MK, we got a later start then we wanted because we had to get the scooter. It was pretty busy (for a party day) at MK until around 2. It was so nice having the FP+ for BOG, almost felt guilty walking past the big line. We pre-ordered and we pretty much strolled in. Wow, the ballroom was gorgeous. We ate in the portrait room though, it was quieter than the ballroom and not as dark as the rose room. My youngest 2 went to the pirate's league, so much fun. What a cute experience. We didn't make it to the parade though.

Last night we had dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe, food was very good and service was funny and completely on top of things. The lobby is stunning, just wished we could have seen the tree.

Family decided last night to go to Animal kingdom later today instead of at rope drop. We are suppose to go to Raglan Road tonight, but the weather is a mess. Not sure how the day will play out.

Sounds like things are running smoothly for you guys, despite this rain we have had. We went early to AK today until the kids melted down (from staying up for fireworks), came back to POR to rest a little and then went back but they were still cranky. Today did not go nearly as smoothly as our first night (MK), hopefully tomorrow for Epcot we will be back on track. They were asleep by 8:30 so here's hoping.
Did you make it to Raglan Rd? How was it?
We don't do BOG til the 19th. I was thinking that the other 2 rooms might be too dark/loud and was hoping to eat in the music box room, I assume that is the portrait room?
I can't remember, should I look for you at Epcot tomorrow?

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

We were at Epcot today to. We went to lecellier. We bought Mickey umbrellas lol. Had France few days ago we love eating there. We are at POFQ but spent last night having drinks and delicious appetizers at POR The corn fritters there are unbelievable

Bummer. I was probably back at AK for our second round there.

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

Still no xmas decor at POLY??? It was all up lay year this time!!!!

There's nothing up at POR yet either. : (

 

[ccjmjzh]

We've had a nice final day in spite of the rain. Got a box of potato head parts. A very nice CM offered to pack our box for us and boy did we pack in the pieces! Waiting on the magical express.

Where do you find the potato head parts?

 

[G719]

Where do you find the potato head parts?

The big toy store at DTD. Once upon a toy I think it is. They have cute disney pieces, pirates of the Caribbean, buzz, Star Wars. Stuff a box for $19.99. Don't put the potato head in the box. It's only a few bucks bought on its own and you can fit a lot more in if you leave it out.

 

[Irishlisa]

Checking in too. We got here Friday morning, checked in at Kidani and headed to DTD for dinner. Yesterday we did HS and finally saw the Osborne Lights. Great day.
Today we are hanging out at the pool before heading to MVMCP

 

[wdwnut61]

Thanks so much! We will be there next weekend! My kids love dinosaurs, and although we tried eating there last year... (the dino in front of the restaurant put his head down right by my DD who was 4 last year, she was crying and screaming!!) we feel she might be ready for it this year. Will be interesting to see if DS (2) will be OK with it! lol Wish me luck! lol

Maybe just you or DH can check you in at the podium while everyone else stays just outside away from the big dinosaur until they are ready to seat you
Just explain that when you check in. Once you are back there I'm sure they will be fine. And they have baby dinosaurs in each room

Good luck and enjoy

 

[mrsap]

Maybe just you or DH can check you in at the podium while everyone else stays just outside away from the big dinosaur until they are ready to seat you
Just explain that when you check in. Once you are back there I'm sure they will be fine. And they have baby dinosaurs in each room

Good luck and enjoy

Thanks! I actually just looked up a video on YouTube and the kids seemed really excited pointing out all the dinos!! I hope it's a good experience, looks like a cool place!!!

 

[leshunlenese]

Hey you guys that are there or just left. Is there still a free dining bounceback for September? I'm going back in 3 days and I'm hoping for it or any discount for that matter

 

[Coconuts]

Wow this is the quietest I've seen this thread in months!! A lot of you must be in WDW right now. Enjoy your trips!

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[ammag]

Ok going to do a trip report for you November friends

So we went to ft lauderdale and Miami with my husbands family to attend a bar mitzvah for some wealthy family..as expected the party was over the top and we had fun. Had a fair amount of stress with inlaws and we were So ready to get to Disney! We got in the car by 8:30 am on Sunday (10th) and took off. S halfway we stopped for gas and for a little walk, my husband and I shared an earldom sandwich thanksgiving sandwich, at 10:20 am. Lol! Good thing we did as we didn't make it to DTD.

We got to Orlando and spent a few hours visiting my husbands grandma, recently diagnosed with end stage liver cancer. It was HARD. I just went through this with my uncle this summer and knowing this is the last time we ever see her was heartbreaking. I was supposed to go set up the Disney surprise for the kids in the car so I went before the rest f them, and I sobbed the whole way. She is so sweet and we had a special moment together. I took some breaths and talked myself down. My kids had stuffed animals in the back so I set them both up in my daughters booster seat, wearing the kids east from our first trip last year. I set up a sign I made saying we are going to Disney world! They came down and it went perfectly my daughter lost her mind, told us we are the best parents EVER! My songs only two so he just cheered and didn't know why, what a roller coaster of emotion it was pretty surreal.

As we drove to art of animation we told her the other surprise...that her nana (my mom) would also be with us! More happiness. We drove up to art of animation wow it is so much bigger than I imagined! Last year we stayed off site, this time it was such a different experience and so much fun. Everything abou the hotel was perfect, with the exception of having to wait in a big line every time we had a question to be answered..they need an info desk! Maybe I missed it. We checked in online so it went quickly. Got cards, they were out of band sliders. We were really happy with the room, sure they are a bit small but it was so well themed for little kids. As an adult I wouldn't choose the resort but my kids were in heaven with all of the statues, songs, etc. and I loved the detail they put into everything. We reunited with nana and she took the kids so my husband and I could go to Cali grill! First signature dining too....romantic and lovely our server Jason was awesome!!!! Watching wishes made me teary and the whole experience was just fantastic. We were celebrating our anniversary, and they gave us a crime brûlée (yum) and table confetti. Mickey and Minnie also left us a voicemail! Only bad thing was we got back to the rental car and found someone left their dirty Kleenex, other trash and a note saying "hey a****le nice parking thanks for dinging my car". Of course neither of us did this to anyone's cars, whoever it was definitely had the wrong car. It was so nasty and aggressive kind of out a damper on the night for a bit.

The next day was resort day, we were so tired from the first trip and our romantic night out! We all relaxed, enjoyed the food court breakfast and loved the big pool! So much fun!!!!! We went over ot the cars pool for. Bait because someone left a baby Ruth in the ig one if you know what I mean...while they cleaned it we got to enjoy cars...wow such great theming again! We are not fans of cars movie but it was nice. We ate at the resort again for lunch, relaxed a bit more and went to the poly for OHana!

 

[sunset7132]

Wow this is the quietest I've seen this thread in months!! A lot of you must be in WDW right now. Enjoy your trips!

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I think your right , I saw one disboarder here and I think cara is at the resort next door POR. We are going home tommorow but booked bounce back for next year . Festival of the seasons was jam packed wow

 

[ammag]

Sorry I realized how LONG this is!i will be less wordy. OHana was awesome, food all well cooked, we loved finding hidden mickeys at the poly! Before we got the boat back to Monorail at MK we enjoyed the beach a bit, loved the boat ride back so relaxing. Two new things for my daughter...we have her a full lanyard for pin trading and also the hidden Mickey book. Had a blast with both! The next day we went to magic kingdom, the pan was rope drop until we drop...and we didn't drop until 11pm. Holy bananas 15 hours in the park including waiting for rope drop. It was ridiculous...ly awesome. Mid day it got very crowded even small world had a 45 min wait! But it thinned out and by the time parade and wishes were happening, we walked on to everything! We saw the elec parade last year and had a blast exploring at night. Dumbo is just beautiful at night! We had FP+ for ESTWB (fun), meet with raunzel and Snow White, and big thunder which we changed to jungle, er jingle cruise. We ate yummy things...the cinnamon roll at gastons was NOT remotely warm and ok but won't bother again. Loved getting my Starbucks! We pulled paper fast passes for a few things too which helped a lot. We ate lunch at BOG with our super secret DIS lunch ressie was fantastic. Noticed many. People getting irate and very confused over the fast pass plus, they need more signage for Jon fanatics and non resort guests.

We ate dinner at Columbia harbor house which was good, bigger shrimp than I expected! Was so happy to do irates, haunted mansion and jingle cruise at night what a different perspective. We were walking to the gates around 10:15 and they said either stay and watch second parade or keep moving! We sat right down, one person deep by the Xmas shop and loved the parade! Five characters talked directly to my daughter! Definite plus to the late parade off Main Street....felt almost like it was there just for us! Also we liked the 6:15 cinderellas wish castle lighting show, very magical. We had such a wonderful day!

The next day was animal kingdom and I think we over did it on Tuesday because we were in pain and a bit too tired. MDE and the FP were not working at all, we missed two of our three passes because we could not change them, very frustrating. Couldn't find a cm when we needed them. Did the safari twice because DD was almost in tears, she sat on the right and missed almost every animal. Coincidence or not I don't know but last year and this, three rides total every item the left has been much better animal viewing. We ended up missing the entire maharaja jungle trek which made me sad but there just wasn't enough time. The kids needed to pay so we spent more time in Dino,and. I was sick and too dizzy to accomplish my big goal of doing Everest. I did do dinosaur twice, even took my mom which was so fun! She loved it! We missed e parade....I feel like we only did half of our things. Met Pocahontas, which was great but was a 45 min wait. Did catch the last Nemo show and that was awesome!!!!! It was FREEZING that night so we went to resort instead of DTD...my mom forgot her coat and we were all just exhausted.

The next morning we explored the resort, packed up,and had to leave on the sad bus at 11:15. I was sad it was awesome but way too short! I missed Epcot....wished the Ak day was better but the kids and my nana loved it. I was a miserable sick mess....it was still magical and worth every pain and headache . HIGHLY recommend AoA for families with young kids or adults and older kids who really adore one of the four films. S that's it.....my probably too long trip report. So much for no activity on this lboard eh? . Hope everyone had and will have a fantastic trip!!!!!!!

 

[Coconuts]

Wow Ammag, now that put an end to the thread silence! . Sounds like a great trip but sorry to hear about your family illness.

Glad you liked AoA. It may be one of our stops on future trips since we will have 6 of us the next time we go.

We have never done rope drop or stayed super late at the parks. The kids get too tired, and so do I! I think the latest we ever stayed was 12 midnight at MVMCP.

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[Promomx2]

Checking in. At MVMCP right in front of castlewaiting for fireworks

 

[Promomx2]

Checking in. At MVMCP right in front of castlewaiting for fireworks

 

[G719]

We've been home for a day now. Most of the laundry is done and bags put away. DH keeps saying that now that we've been for summer and the Christmas party, we won't have to go again. Lol. Silly husband! DDs and I are already plotting a girls only trip if that's how he feels.

Some special moments of pixie dust from this past week: on Thursday we went to mini golf by blizzard beach. When we were returning our clubs, the two guys working there asked who won. Of course DD5 raised her hand. So he says let me get you your big check because that's what you get when you win a golf tournament. He comes back with a piece of paper with a big check mark on it. Then he gave both kids a Donald Duck golf ball to keep. Also on Thursday, we went to MVMCP. During the parade Santa says I know you've been good all year and points right at my oldest daughter. The look on her face was priceless. Later, we bought a pretzel and some frozen cokes at the stand in tomorrow land. I paid the lady and she says oh no, I sold you a pretzel and we're all out but they are brining some out from the back soon. No problem I say we'll just wait at the table. It was only a few minutes and they get the pretzels and she brings us not one pretzel but 3! They didn't need to do that but we sure did enjoy the hot pretzels.

It was a great week!

 

[wayneJR]

Having such a nice time the rain didnt put us off wr are from the UK......... entered American Idol yesterday and got to the show...

 

[AMateus]

Ok all you at Hollywood studio with me today! Have fun!

 

[mrsap]

5 DAYS TO GO!!!!! I can't wait!!!!!


To all those leaving today, have a safe trip and a great time!!!