Our 2006 Disney Adventures ~ NEW, 1/20 pg 13!

[silverangel879]

You are so GOOD with this report things!...I LOVED THEM!!! Keep them going....please

 

[aimb5377]

Hey V
I can totally relate to you on so many aspects. Can't wait to hear the rest of your report. You are hilarious.
Aimee

 

[fizz13]

I know we're being pushy, but I REALLY need to know who it was Great report as always,
Claire xx

 

[lillygator]

we're back! I have to say - I loved BWI, we did quite a few new sit downs and even hit the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boooootique!! Which we will definitely be doing again for Samantha's birthday!!

Hope to get more up soon!

 

[lillygator]

Thursday May 18th ~ Visit your relatives day….(hmmm, not a chance!) ~ “It’s the good girls who keep the diaries; the bad girls never have the time” Tallulah Bankhead ~ ummm, is this really a “diary”? Uh oh, Bad Girl status is in trouble!



So after pouring over the DIS, TGM, Touring Plans, and anything else out there that halfway resembled any ramblings on what park to tour when, I decided that today would be Epcot. Not because it was recommended but because we had a Behind the Seeds tour booked for 10:30 this morning. (or so I thought) We had an uneventful middle of the night – meaning Samantha = no more Zzub’ing and everyone slept soundly until that ole Stitch called. Well, truth be told, he only woke me up. My family seems to think vacation means sleeping in!!



Finally we were up, ready and at Epcot by the time they opened, but silly me forgot about being the first to be by the CM barricade that leads you to the now ever popular “the Land”! So it appears our family was not the only one who had the bright idea to choose Epcot today and Soarin’ as their first ride….see….

Oh and that’s Samantha up there…I am usually bringing up the rear. (notice the orange and blue?)



We head straight for Soarin’, Charming and Samantha go right in and I park, get Haley out and meet up with them. Charming goes first but we are sure to get a Baby Swap pass….the CM’s want Samantha to come “measure up” and YES! She is very tall so she makes it. She decides to ride with me only....silly girl!!

I decide it’s a bit to early to head down to Sunshine Seasons for a Smirnoff, but it is 5 o’clock somewhere isn’t it? No mind, we walk over to the tour check in desk and I thought our tour was for 10am, but it was actually 10:30…I asked if we could change it and we could!! Yippee!! (help speed things along this morning)



We go back over to the Soarin’ exit to wait for Charming. We do a few Power Ranger or Kim Possible poses and then it’s the girls turn!!

We skate on through, no baby swap pass taken and since I have never been on this, its all new to me. I never realized how LONG the entire queue area was….oh my, now I will definitely heed those wait times when Charming wants to skate off on his own on the ride and leave me alone in the land with two babies! We were walking fast and I had to carry Samantha part of the way – we were trying to hurry…I was sweaty by the time we got to the end…we got in line and finally – IN~ and we got the end seats on the front row!!


I had chills and tears during this ride, it is so awesome. So hard to begin to describe…I loved watching Samantha thinking she could dip her toes in the water or sticking her arms out like Wendy through the clouds..”mom, we have Pixie Dust on”!! Yes, dear we do…she loved it! It's funny how life changes you, even your family - my sister often comments on what "the girls" would think about a ride. I truly think Haley could have sat in my lap or even been in the Baby Bjorn carrier on there…I am not sure the height restriction unless they are just afraid of a child falling out?



By the time we get out there is no time for either of us to go again, but enough time to hit the bathrooms and check in for our tour. We are all give very cute Lion King character name tags and the girls are given butterfly tattoos and stickers. We are a small group – just our family and two women – from Tampa. Now we step into a side door by Soarin’, where wheelchairs, strollers and small storage is kept. If you have ever been in a greenhouse you know its HOT in there. So this room was just as hot and the tour guide introduced himself and then droned on and on and on…asking where everyone was from, getting to know each other. Now this is something both DH and I are very interested in and really wanted to do. Our girls are completed used to "tours" around the yard - we have over 500 pineapple plants, many mangos, many tropicals and basically we are in the yard as much as possible. (ok, them - I am on the PC) BUT... The girls were ancy due to the length of the introduction and I was as well. We then stepped into the greenhouse and were shown about the insects used for different things as well as shoe washing. The girls were not settling down and I didn’t want to have the Tampa girls writing about us on the DIS so I opted to leave. I was kind of pissed about it though. I wish it had just been us, I mean it would have been great. When we met up again Charming said that once passed that room the girls would have been fine since this was a room before the actual greenhouse. I still stand that I wouldn’t have been so ancy if our guide hadn’t talked so much about himself in the first 10 minutes. Charming also said that the guide did that through the entire tour, more about what “he has grown”, what “he has done” (at home) not about what the greenhouse is doing. Since the tour is not scripted and has different guides we will definitely be doing it again. But here are some pics of the greenhouse…also the tomato that is so well advertised as producing 25,000+ tomato’s, well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but….





it died.



Here are a few pics....

Mark - for you!!!

nothing like our pineapples...and if you want directions how to grow - pm me!! This is DH's favorite treat!!




While Charming was off having an hour of fun, I decided that the girls and I were going to go explore. We headed over to the Imagination pavilion and walked on to the Figment ride. I have not been on this “new” version (actually I was probably 12 the last time I went on this!) and it was cute, nothing I needed to see again, but the girls LOVED it. Samantha talked about the little purple dinosaur all day – ok, we know it’s a dragon, but whatever. Next we trucked over to Turtle Talk with Crush, we lined up and made it in with about a 10 minute wait. We were on the back row though and that is not such a great spot for little one, especially behind and next to a bunch of adults. And there was definitely WAY more adults than kids, not that that’s a bad thing but it seemed for every 5 adults there was one child/tween/teen. Crush came out and was like way cool dude and then not 5 minutes into the show Samantha announces she has to go potty. COME ON!!! Oh dear, we head out the automatic doors, you know, the ones that open automatically and thus if forced open wouldn’t close..sorry folks, yep that was us. At first I was shoving the foors open and then I am trying to shove them closed!!! Not a pretty sight!



We make it to the potty and then we walk around looking at some of the tanks. We head outside, gather the stroller and realize that Haley is missing one of her shoes…these aren’t just any shoes, they are princess glittery pink shoes that tie with a satin ribbon…darn, we’ll never see that again (note to self – call lost and found). They are gorgeous though! We walk around to Coral Reef and check out the lunch menu as we may dine here…it has hardly ANY seafood on it so I decide we are sticking with our ADR for Rose and Crown.



So now officially being the Cinderella, having lost our glass slipper, we head back to scoop up our Charming - which is this day and age is perfectly appropriate you Bad Girls! His tour has not let out yet, wowsa finally he appears with all kinds of seeds, magnifying glasses, techniques and all kinds of goodies. Oh and a big smile, a HUGE smile, he, my plant boy, loved the tour and can’t wait to do it again.



We start to head to the world showcase and make a stop in Tinkerbell’s garden.

We head on over to Rose and Crown.....but.....



Rose and Crown is not quite ready for us to check in so we belly up to a table in the “Pub”. Hayley – (notice not the way we spell Haley) is our “Pub”keep and I request a “Love Potion” which was a concoction they had one year during February. She has no clue what it consists of, nor do I so I alter up our order. Our good morning Epcot drink order consists of a milk, a Sprite, a Rum and Coke and a Cosmo. I’ll let y’all figure out who gets what. Forgot to use DDE card and the total before tip was $20.38 – 0.38 Charming loves that, those are his numbers…3 and 8 in any form as his birthday is 8/3…J

Up next ~ Rose and Crown review!~~~~!!!

 

[averill94]

So glad that you are back! I am comforted to know that after numerous trips, there are still attractions that you havent experienced at WDW. I cant wait for Soarin- I didnt even think about my DD not being tall enough.

As usual the pics are great!

 

[kimwim8]

Hey V! Thanks for another GREAT installment. You know I love the pics!

BUT - what's up with the guy at the pool?? How much longer do we have to wonder???

 

[SmithFamily2003]

Glad your back! Great installment. Can't wait for more!

 

[ShellyBelly]

Good to see you back and updating again! Who is the "Pool Boy"?

 

[suffolkprincess]

your TR is LOTS of fun!!

 

[lillygator]

Thanks - I need to get the rest dusted off and posted I see!

Didn't think anyone read this anymore!

 

[PaulDavid's mom]

Oh we're waiting! You betcha! Can't wait for more

 

[luciloo]

Yes, still waiting to read rest of your great TR, also can't wait to see who celeb is at the pool.

 

[Pollito916]

We're still reading as long as you're still posting!

 

[lucky978]

I'm waiting, too.

 

[BellesBeast]

More! More please!

 

[redheaded mama]

I love your posts. I look forward to reading all your bad girl adventures. Please, please, please tell us more.

Linda

 

[ShellyBelly]

Come back lillygator!!! Come Back!!

 

[lillygator]

still Thursday…..

I went to check in and request a seat outside near the water. The CM gives me a pager and not long after returning to our table in the “Pub” it goes off. Drat – the Pub was nice and COLD and considering how early it was no one was in there….I was sad we wouldn’t be spending more time in there….but then, I don’t want the girls to think this is “normal”. Their Grandparents are European though – that should count for something!



We are directed to a lovely table outside in the corner of the patio. The view was great!

A Kim Possible or possibly a Power Ranger pose!

There was hardly anyone in the restaurant, but then again they had just opened. Great thinking on my part. I was pleased and maybe a little buzzed. From the cosmo….it was a nice and strong treat, especially after missing a tour to entertain two kids alone, having to leave Turtle Talk in the middle of the show to use the potty even though she had been asked a million times before hand, being embarrassed because we went out the automagic doors and they wouldn’t close, drawing even more attention to the “trying to keep under wraps potty goers”, losing Cinderella’s slipper and finally meeting up with Charming and acting like a wonderful adventure had just taken place. Yes…I deserved more than a Cosmo, but hey, I’ll take what I can get.



So here we were…seated with a great view and no one around. Now this is our second time at the Rose and Crown. Last time, it was horrid…I swore, as did Charming, we would never be back…..go figure….Francis approached us to take our order. Since I was a bit disappointed we weren’t able to enjoy the lounge a bit more to make up for that I immediately ordered another round. Or maybe Charming did, no matter, I am very agreeable. Usually.



We sat enjoying the view and me being the voyeur and nosy person I am, I sat and gazed around the restaurant wondering about the few tables that were occupied. Were these people having fun, did they like Epcot, did they know WDW secrets? They obviously knew to book lunch early – or maybe they were just hungry. There was a couple behind us who kept looking at us….my mind was racing….were they DIS’ers, were we being obnoxious, was Samantha being loud and annoying – but then they asked about Haley and commented on how cute she was….ahhh I could relax for the time being.



For lunch we decided upon shrimp cocktail as an appetizer – or was that cocktail shrimp? Fish and Chips for Samantha, Haley and I and Cottage Pie for Charming. Francis took our order and brought out some Mickey butter and some rolls….Samantha went crazy with the butter, eating it right out of the dainty butter dish. Yes, we do feed her occasionally. Just butter.

Drinks came – whoo hoo and then the appetizer…..”Prawn Cocktail” – now, being from Florida, growing up on sea food (and beans on toast) not to mention the fact my mother worked for a shrimp company for 10+ years…I know what a PRAWN is. The dish arrived and it was “salad shrimp” – teeny tiny shrimp….but what do I care – DH ordered it for himself. Even All Ears has a different description for lunch and dinner but I think neither of us paid attention to the description in the menu….but petite bay shrimp and prawns are definitely two different things….no matter, it was pretty darn good! But in all actuality you can get this same dish in the Publix premade seafood salad…and a lot cheaper! But hey, it’s vacation who cares what it costs!

Right. That’s my motto and if I can get Charming a few Rum and Coke’s it quickly becomes his motto as well. Just wait until you hear what I did after a night at PI!!



The entrees arrived and well I could tell by Charming’s wounded look he had higher expectations for his cottage pie ~ meaning it to be more than a small cereal bowl….I don’t know where he puts it all but this man can eat! Not that any one person needs to eat so much, but I think he loves the look of a FULL plate, especially meat and potatoes. He did just about lick the bowl clean so it must gave been ok – although he did grow up in the type of family that made you eat what you didn’t finish at dinner for breakfast, so maybe him cleaning his plate is not such a great thing to relate to.

Now the fish and chips – they are the same as the walk up outside and Samantha’s and mine were pretty much the same size! I couldn’t finish mine, neither could she and between Haley and Charming we still left some! Me, I am not so worried about wasting food, bad characteristic it may be.

After the DDE but not including tip the total was $50.70. Not bad at all!



We sat and pondered what to do next for a few minutes and I thought we should walk around for a bit and then get back to our room for naps…tonight was our big Wishes cruise!! We rolled out of Rose and Crown and headed into the shops to see if any characters were there….lo and behold…V knows her stuff. We saw Pooh. Tigger and Eeyore. Now Haley is not used to the fur characters yet – goodness knows, she’s been going since she was 4 weeks old – she should be!! …she gets the rigid shakes…and call HRS now, but oh my goodness, it is really almost comical. Charming and I think she is doing it purposefully because after a minute she is smiling and cooing and almost flirting. I think she already has the Bad Girl thing going and men across the world better beware….even more so now as her hair is turning strawberry blonde! And ya’ll know about us red heads! Men may brake for brunettes, stop on a dime for blondes, but they back up 10 miles for red heads!

Upon leaving we ran into Alice….

And then stopped to see Mary Poppins in the garden. Now this Mary seems to be “our” Mary, and not in the good Whirlwind Trippers kind of “our”….we get stuck with her quite a bit and I know its warm out but she is just so unfriendly and if Samantha wouldn’t have made a scene with me dragging her away from seeing MP I would have tried to sneak by her….no avail.



Next up France….to see my French Lover Pierre ~ now France has a story…well not really France, but I have a French Lover…Pierre, well not really but I’ve always been in love with France and the idea of French Lovers so there has been an inside joke between DH and I about Pierre my FL, which Charming always calls Perrier – you know the water – he thinks he’s being funny, me not so much.



So we head on to France so I can search for my FL, make that a rich handsome FL. Although I came up empty handed in my quest we did run into Aurora, Belle and the Beast.



Now Samantha is at this great age where she wants to go and talk to the characters, ask them specific questions and pretty much hold up the line for everyone else. But amazingly enough, most all of the characters love her and they always fall over themselves to see, touch and talk to Princess Haley – what can I say – Samantha will tell you I am the luckiest mom ever to have two beautiful princesses! Funny thing is, no handler has pushed us on and most characters seem reluctant for us to leave. And truly, I get teary eyed when ever we happen upon characters….I love them…….I love seeing Samantha’s light up and her imagination goes wild with questions. I love seeing Haley fall in love with the princesses and her face light up when they hold her and dote on her.



Now on this occasion we basically had France to ourselves…such a shame there was no FL! Aurora was kind and gracious and chatted quite a while with all of us,

next up was Belle and the Beast…now I think the Beast is adorable, but have you all seen the movie? When he changes back to a “person”? He’s hot! Now how much easier would it be to have a face character for this – and it wouldn’t be so HOT!!

But oh well, Beast kissed Samantha as did Belle, and Samantha is showing it off although it’s pretty faint. Belle must have been kissing a lot that day!

We kept wandering around the World Showcase and before reaching Germany we stopped to get Itsakadoozie pops! Fun stuff….and we happened upon Pinocchio and Geppeto. There was a tiny line but we got in it and I figured we would be finished with the pops by then. I started to rush Samantha letting her know that we couldn’t take them next to the characters and before you know it, our turn and we are not ready…I am trying to fish out the autograph book, hold two popsicles and a camera….I quickly trashed the $20 worth of popsicles.



Now you all may be thinking we see the characters a lot, have their pics and autographs already – why do we need more. But I can safely say each time we happen upon one…it feels like the first time for all of us. We love characters and appreciate them for the joy they bring the girls and me (and even Charming requests his pictures with the babes!).

So we made it through Germany and wandered over to China – I thought this was amazing all done with Bromeliads.

We drug our soaking with sweat bodies over to the wonderfully cool Festival Center and I fell in love with the “flower” stamps!

Since we were right there we decided to hit the Character Connection – because why? Well, I told you, we can’t get enough of these guys!! Saw Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy and Donald….Haley is still slow to warm up to them but Charming goes with her anyway!

By this time, we are all pretty hot, tired and cranky. We decide to head back to AKL, swim and nap before our Kona Café dinner and Wishes Cruise this evening!!

 

[PaulDavid's mom]

I am so happy you're back! I thought maybe you left us for good
Can't wait for more!!