Oh Dopey!! - January 2016 Trip Report & VLOGS *updated 02/21

[dancingtodisney]

Day 15 – HS & Wishes from California Grill

Friday 15th January 2016
Part 3 – Quick change of shirt & a great view of Wishes

We continued our adventure around the world and came across the #1 duck in Mexico

I really like this one of me and Rachel

Next up the lovebirds

Family photo

We had someone else we really wanted to meet... I was hoping he'd be up for a fist pump!

Baymax is a really cool character to meet, I love how he walks around just like in the movie!

Next we popped over to the Character Spot to meet yet MORE characters, we stopped off at the bathroom for our layers of clothing, it'll all make sense in our photos!

First up was Mickey:

And one with Mam

Next up was and he was delighted to see our medal

We all got massive hugs:

And time to pose:

Last but certainly not least is Minnie:

And some poses:

And one with Mam

We had such great interactions and I'm so happy with these pictures!

We made our way out of Epcot and back to OKW for some chill time before dinner. We chilled at the room and had a rest before our evening meal.

We had reservations at California Grill and planned to watch Wishes from the observation deck. I just realised now as I review the pictures that I didn't get any of us from the night! I guess we were all photographed out.

California Grill is one of our favorites and it's become one of those restaurants we have to go on every trip.

We ordered what was the best flatbread I've ever had, it's a tomato flatbread and it's unbelievable! The menu has changed since and I believe there is a different flatbread available but all I can say is that this was perfection..

We also got sushi

Sorry these photos are horrific I only had my phone out!

We ordered steak and ravioli to share as well

Before long it was time to pop out and watch wishes... If you've never experienced this before I would 100% recommend it. It's a completely different perspective and great on a busy night to escape the crowds.

I love how they pump the music in and really create a nice atmosphere. My parents were due to fly home the next day so I was started to feel sad about that. I'd been home for Christmas and then in Orlando from the 1st but at the end of the trip I'd be heading back to London and it would be a while before I'd see everyone again.

We were so stuffed after dinner that there was no room for desert, we left and made our way back to our hotel.​

 

[ZellyB]

I love all those character pictures with your medal! Fantastic.

We ate at California Grill back in 2014 when we went and I agree that Wishes viewing from up there is just great.

 

[Sailormoon2]

Fantastic trip report!! Just read through it all!!

 

[rteetz]

I have never met Mexico Donald. I always seem to forget to get my picture with him.

Great photos all around!

I have never done California Grill but it looks lovely.

 

[disneydeegs]

Mexican Donald is my favorite! I've been loving your trip report.

 

[dancingtodisney]

Day 16 – Bye Bye Parents
​

Saturday 16th January 2016​

Part 1 – HS, Pool & MK

This morning myself, Rachel and my Dad went to HS early for a quick ride on Tower of Terror AND to get a very important photo. Basically we planned to get a photo with our Dopey jackets and each of the park icons but we kinda forgot to get one at HS so hense the trip this morning. I'm not one to complain about a bonus ToT ride though!

The ride photo was down AND the ride actually broke down while we were on it! We got to the end bit after all the drops and the lights just stayed off... we sat for a good while waiting on something to happen and eventually we were rescued! We got to go up a cast member elevator and ride again!

We stopped for our photo on the way out

We drove back to AKL and joined Mam at the pool for some chill time. The weather was really nice and the pool was quiet so it was perfect! I love the pool area at AKL!

Poolside posing

It was really nice to chill for a while and chat with my parents before they went home. I was really going to miss them so I was glad we had the down time together.

Later in the afternoon we took a trip to the Magic Kingdom. Dad drove and they loaded their cases into the car so they could head straight to the airport.

My parents had yet to meet talking Mickey so they went there first to say goodbye

Look at Mam popping that foot like a pro!

Goodbye hugs

We wanted to take some nice photos in front of the castle with all of our medals so prepare to be bombarded with bling pics!

There was just time for one last ride before we bid farewell.. we chose Pirates!

We said our goodbyes and I promised to come home soon! ​

 

[ZellyB]

Love all those bling pics. Your parents seem like such fun and it's really great that you guys got to spend this time together!

 

[rteetz]

You guys made excellent use of photopass! So many awesome photos!

 

[dancingtodisney]

I love all those character pictures with your medal! Fantastic.

We ate at California Grill back in 2014 when we went and I agree that Wishes viewing from up there is just great.

Love all those bling pics. Your parents seem like such fun and it's really great that you guys got to spend this time together!

We got some great pics on this trip, I'm so happy with them. I love California Grill it's a must do now for us on our trips. They really did have so much fun on this trip, there was no hesitation when we suggested booking another trip for this year!

Fantastic trip report!! Just read through it all!!

Aw thank you and thanks for reading!

I have never met Mexico Donald. I always seem to forget to get my picture with him.

Great photos all around!

I have never done California Grill but it looks lovely.

I would definitely recommend California Grill it's just amazing. I think this is my first time meeting him normally, I did meet him once before at the W&D after party.

Mexican Donald is my favorite! I've been loving your trip report.

He looks so cute in his outfit! Aw thanks!

 

[dancingtodisney]

You guys made excellent use of photopass! So many awesome photos!

I know!! We have tonnes and I'm not evening uploading all of them here!

 

[Ariel484]

Woohoo bling pics! Love the assist by your mom in the last one with Rachel's medals!

 

[Sailormoon2]

The blings pics are fantastic!! And your poses in the jackets is a brilliant idea too!

 

[dancingtodisney]

Day 16 – Bye Bye Parents
Saturday 16th January 2016
Part 2 – Just the two of us

After saying goodbye I had the perfect distraction... The wildest ride in the wilderness!

I seriously wish there was a ride photo on this! I love this ride... sometimes I think I may even like it more than Space Mountain... But then I go on Space Mountain and I change my mind!

There was a photopass photographer out in front of the ride, I've not seen one here before so took the opportunity to get some different photos

This is one of my favourite photos of me and Rachel at Disney! It's one of those ones that takes me right back to the moment and it just looks like such a beautiful day.

Rachel REALLY liked having the marshmallows at the camp fire in AKL so she was pretty insistent that we made it back on time to have some. I'm pretty sure it started around 5pm and lasted about 45mins or so. We left MK around 4.30 which should be plenty of time right?

We got to the AKL bus stop around and there was a few people in front of us. We waited... and waited... and waited.... A big line had formed behind us and people were getting really annoyed! I think in total we waited about 30mins which was very unusual for AKL and we were both getting very irritated and fed up. We were in a bad mood... I was already not feeling great having said goodbye to my parents so it probably wouldn't have taken much to annoy me anyway.

We pilled onto the cramped bus, luckily we had seats but it was really crowded and it's a long drive from MK to AKL and I knew it would feel even longer as we watched the time tick away hoping that we could still make it to the camp fire.

And then something happened that reminded both of us why we love Disney

Our bus driver was AMAZING!! First he started talking to us and telling us fun facts and throwing out some random quiz questions. After that he started singing! He was singing Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah and then the wheels on the bus with a special Disney twist.

This is why I love Disney... The extra little touches that make you feel like you are in a place of happiness and also make you feel like the cast members genuinely CARE about you and about spreading the Disney magic.

And... we made it with just a few mins to spare

YAH! Marshmallows! I definitely recommend doing this if you are staying in AKL!

We chilled in the room for a bit before getting ready for dinner at Sanaa. I know what you're thinking... we've already been to Sanaa.. BUT IT WAS THAT GOOD! I think originally we had booked Jiko but we swapped the reservations with no problems. I would really like to try Jiko one day but it was coming towards the end of the trip and I was happy to save some money and go for a cheaper option plus we REALLY liked our meal at Sanaa.

We got the shuttle bus from AKL to Kidani and checked in for our reservation. We were a little early so we went outside and got some night vision goggles to check out the animals. This was really cool! Definitely try it if you were ever waiting to be seated at Sanaa at night!

We weren't waiting too long before being called for our table.

Rachel was excited

Can you guess what we ordered for starters???

BREAD SERVICE!!

We still got all the dips even though it was just the two of us because half the fun is trying all the different flavours!

I didn't get a picture of our mains this time but we got the two mains with rice and just ordered two butter chickens because it's EVERYTHING!! There are pictures earlier in the TR of the chicken!

After dinner we were SO FULL but decided to get the bus to MK for a night time stroll! It was super busy as it had been all day so we kinda just wandered around. We went on Space Mountain but I think the ride photo was down.


We decided to pop over to Storybook circus to see if we could meet some characters, we weren't sure if it would still be open but luckily for us it was!

Because it was later in the day (I think close to 10pm) it was really quiet and the characters spent lots of time with us...

Goofy wanted us to dance with him and had us in stitches!

After all that dancing he was happy to pose for a picture

Donald reminded us who was number 1

We didn't get time to see Daisy and Minnie before they closed up for night so we decided we'd go meet Ariel instead! There must have been something in the air that night because Ariel also wanted to dance with us! Maybe this is what happens late at night in the Magic Kingdom?!

First she demonstrated

Then we joined in

She was so much fun to meet!

We took another picture outside when we spotted a photopass photographer, there's not always one here but it makes for a lovely picture at night

We decided to watch Wishes from back here which was really nice! It wasn't at all crowded and it was a very different perspective.

It was nice just strolling around and enjoying MK at night.

The Magic Kingdom was open until 12am but we were really struggling to stay out! We decided to tackle Buzz next to keep the eyes open! ​

Next we both got a Mickey ice-cream for desert:

​

And decided on one last ride on the peoplemover before calling it a night.

We got the bus back to AKL and collapsed into bed... Tomorrow we had an early start at Hollywood Studios!


​

 

[dancingtodisney]

Woohoo bling pics! Love the assist by your mom in the last one with Rachel's medals!

Thanks for stopping by! I am FINALLY getting this TR finished so I can move onto the one for my Fall trip!
Bling pics are the best pics! lol
I know I was thinking that when I put it up!

The blings pics are fantastic!! And your poses in the jackets is a brilliant idea too!

Aw thank you! Yes I'm so glad we took them they made for really cool photos!

 

[rteetz]

BTMRR is my favorite ride! That is a great distraction.

I need to go to Sanaa and get the bread service...

Mickey Bar and People Mover is a perfect way to end the night.

 

[Sailormoon2]

I love Sanaa!!! I love how much you girls packed into each day!! Impressive, especially with all the runs too.

 

[dancingtodisney]

I realised I missed a chunk out of the last night so I've added that into my last post!! OOOPS!!

 

[dancingtodisney]

Day 17 – Last Full Day

Sunday 17th January 2016
Part 1 – Extra Early EMH


We got up SUPER early the next morning because Hollywood Studios was open for normal park hours from 8am and EMH from 7AM!! It was really painful getting up out of bed but I knew ToT and RnR would be waiting for us! We made our way down to the bus stop and it was completely deserted! It was also still really dark out so it felt pretty weird!
We weren't waiting too long for a bus and made it to HS around park opening. We went straight for sunset boulevard!
It was EMPTY.. I LOVED these extra early EMH hours, it made such a difference to the crowds having them from 7am - 8am and as well as that a lot of the regular park guests didn't show up until 9am so you got an extra long stretch of low crowds. This was the same on our first day in MK and I definitely recommend taking advantage

With crowds so low why ride only once...

As you can see from both pics our lifts weren't even full... It was so much fun! We actually rode more than twice but for the first one the ride photo was down.
Rockin Rollarcoasters ride photo was down but you can bet we rode that plenty of times as well. There was a photopass photographer outside the ride on our way out so we snapped some pics ​

We decided we were finished in HS and made our way out to get the bus to MK, stopping of course for more photos! ​

​

 

[dancingtodisney]

I love Sanaa!!! I love how much you girls packed into each day!! Impressive, especially with all the runs too.

Me too! Bread service and butter chicken all the way!! Ye sometimes I think we did a bit too much and it caught up with us all you'll see in the next day of the trip report!

BTMRR is my favorite ride! That is a great distraction.

I need to go to Sanaa and get the bread service...

Mickey Bar and People Mover is a perfect way to end the night.

I'm still torn! I love Space too!

YES! You have to! It's SO GOOD!

Of course, it's the perfect combination!

 

[dancingtodisney]

I HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL!!!!

I started a YouTube channel with my sister Rachel so that we could not only write trip reports about our Disney adventures but also make video diaries (vlogs)!

Somethings are just better captured in a video! We actually started our first ever 'series' of vlogs for this very trip so I'll post a link here to our channel but I'll also link each of the videos back in the table of contents page. We have videos from every day of the trip including footage from each of our runs as part of the Dopey challenge.

If you like vlogs please do subscribe to our channel and keep in touch!

https://www.youtube.com/c/doublethedisney​