Our Royal Adventure: Nine Nifty Nights in November (Updated 6/4)

[nancipants]

Your daughter is so cute. Looks like you two had a blast together!

 

[PrincessJo]

Joining in! Love the pics!

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

Well done to your DD for riding SM alone.

Since your cruise report I've had my own DD

CONGRATULATIONS! When was she born?

Your daughter is so cute. Looks like you two had a blast together!

Thank you. We did have so much fun. I now want to take my son for a few days. There is something special about having one-on-one parent/child time!

Joining in! Love the pics!

Thanks!

 

[ProudMommyof2]

Great update. It must have been low crowds for your DD to have the Space Mountain car all to herself! Good for her going alone!

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

Great update. It must have been low crowds for your DD to have the Space Mountain car all to herself! Good for her going alone!

Yes! The first three days of the trip were awesome. We didn't even need Fastpasses except for things like Toy Story Mania and a few others. I highly recommend the week before Thanksgiving week! Our trip overlapped this week and Thanksgiving week. The crowds started to pick up on Saturday and were much heavier by Tuesday and Wednesday. But, Thanksgiving is not nearly as bad as Easter or Christmas week!

 

[WildernessExplorer04]

I'm a little late, but joining in!
Your Royal Room looks gorgeous! I love all of the details, especially the magic lamp faucet. I've always wanted to stay in one of those rooms just for that (and of course those stunning headboards)!
Awe, how wonderful you got to have a couple mother/daughter days down in the World! That looks so fun! Especially meeting the princesses, your daughter looks like she could be one!

 

[Chilly]

CONGRATULATIONS! When was she born?

September 11th, right around when you finished your TR.

This was about a month ago:

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

September 11th, right around when you finished your TR.

This was about a month ago:

She is precious!!! I think she needs to go to Disney World!

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

I'm a little late, but joining in!
Your Royal Room looks gorgeous! I love all of the details, especially the magic lamp faucet. I've always wanted to stay in one of those rooms just for that (and of course those stunning headboards)!
Awe, how wonderful you got to have a couple mother/daughter days down in the World! That looks so fun! Especially meeting the princesses, your daughter looks like she could be one!

Thanks for joining. I see you are writing a trip report now as well. I know you are much further along, but I'm going to head over and try to catch up!

 

[Chilly]

She is precious!!! I think she needs to go to Disney World!

I think I'm going to take her end of Oct, beginning of Nov in 2015 so she'll be just over 2. DH said when she's 5, no way am I waiting that long!

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

I think I'm going to take her end of Oct, beginning of Nov in 2015 so she'll be just over 2. DH said when she's 5, no way am I waiting that long!

Definitely. You have to go before she turns three. That's when she's free!

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

After Enchanted Tales with Belle, we headed to Adventureland. DD had an appointment for a mermaid makeover at the Pirates League. She did the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique several years ago. Although she loved that at the time, she no longer wants to wear princess costumes. She does, however love getting her nails and face painted, so the Pirates League was a perfect choice for this trip.

In true Disney style, the cast members at the Pirates League are completely in character. It was loud and fun, and my DD loved every minute. Our wonderful cast member, Pirate Jessica, got my DD in the chair and enthusiastically chatted with her while doing her hair, makeup and nails.

059 by baseballsandbows, on Flickr

064 by baseballsandbows, on Flickr

DD got a cute little plastic treasure chest to hold her nail polish and makeup. She also got a sash, as well as a flower necklace and hair clip that changed colors in the sunlight. After the makeover, she went into a secret pirate room for pictures. (And yes, it is overpriced, but so much fun to do for a special occasion. They no longer list the basic mermaid package on the website. I think we paid about $40. They only list the deluxe mermaid package which includes a shirt and tutu for about $75.)

wdw201332422522100_6891391786 by baseballsandbows, on Flickr

I took the time to take another photo just outside the Pirates League.

071 by baseballsandbows, on Flickr

After the fun makeover, we had time for a few more attractions before our early dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table. We hit the Jungle Cruise (which happened to be the JINGLE Cruise), the Swiss Family Treehouse, the Speedway, and the Carousel. DD also had to make a grand attempt to pull the sword out of the stone. Several years ago, it actually came up for her, but she hasn't been able to do it again. Anyone know the trick?

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She was really concentrating...

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022 by baseballsandbows, on Flickr

We had a 4:30 reservation for dinner with Cinderella and friends. DD was so excited to eat in the castle! We had eaten there when she was just shy of three (the very first time she met any of the princesses), but she doesn't remember it. Since that time, we have always done Akershus in Norway because it uses fewer dining credits. But since the boys weren't with us, we splurged for an extra special princess meal!

Cinderella greeted us in the lobby.

wdw201332422580321_6891391491 by baseballsandbows, on Flickr

Then we made our way up the staircase into the dining room.

095 by baseballsandbows, on Flickr

I know that many people say that the food quality at CRT is so-so, but our meal turned out very well. I had the Castle Salad and Beef Tenderloin, which came with potato and asparagus. It was wonderful! DD was expecting to have pizza as a choice based on some online menus we had seen, but was disappointed to find that it was no longer available. Despite her grumbling, she ended up loving her chicken tenders. She wasn't interested in the desserts on the kids' menu, so our server brought both of us the White and Dark Chocolate Surprise from the adult menu. I liked my main course the best, but the dessert was good, too! (Sorry I don't have lots of food pictures. It drives my DH crazy when I take pics of all the food, so I don't do it often.)

While we were eating, we also enjoyed time with Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Jasmine, and Ariel. Of course, they all commented on DD's makeover, which made her very happy!

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097 by baseballsandbows, on Flickr

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107 by baseballsandbows, on Flickr

No CRT meal is complete without the wand ceremony. DD waved hers proudly! (Moments like these make me so happy. Kids want to grow up so fast, so it's nice to see them hang on to some magic!)

102 by baseballsandbows, on Flickr

Our dinner was perfect, and we were so glad we did this meal! From lunch in Beast's castle to dinner in Cinderella's castle, it was the perfect day for mom and daughter! Coming Up...Lots and Lots of Lights!

 

[ProudMommyof2]

Wow, it does sound like a perfect Mother/Daughter day!

I know I read once that there is a CM somewhere that controls the sword in the stone, but I am not sure.

 

[scottny]

Great updates and pics.

 

[chattadisser]

Yeah another TR! I loved reading your Alaskan TR.

It's so nice to take parent/child trips with each child. It's often hard to do these but when you can, they are worth it! I love reading how others do it to get ideas as well -- and going to WDW for one of these sounds wonderful.

I can't wait to read along!

Christine

 

[Chilly]

Can't wait to have a Mummy/Daughter day like that.

Definitely. You have to go before she turns three. That's when she's free!

That's what I said!

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

Wow, it does sound like a perfect Mother/Daughter day!

I know I read once that there is a CM somewhere that controls the sword in the stone, but I am not sure.

I'll have to look in to that. It would be fun to know!

Great updates and pics.

Thanks!

Yeah another TR! I loved reading your Alaskan TR.

It's so nice to take parent/child trips with each child. It's often hard to do these but when you can, they are worth it! I love reading how others do it to get ideas as well -- and going to WDW for one of these sounds wonderful.

I can't wait to read along!

Christine

Thanks for reading! You are right. My son and I would love to do a day together where we do 4 parks in one day. I hope we get the opportunity at some point!

Sorry I haven't posted in a few days. Sometimes life gets in the way of reliving a vacation. Hoping to post another update later tonight!

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

Following dinner in the castle, we walked over to It's a Small World. We tried to hit attractions during our two Mommy/Daughter days that my DS doesn't enjoy, and this definitely fit the bill! Although DD doesn't want to ride IASW 10 times in a row like she did when she was four, we still enjoy traveling the world and seeing the beautiful costumes and scenery. It's definitely a Disney classic! As we exited, the clock chimed the hour. We had never seen this happen, and DD loved it!


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Since the clock said 6:00, we knew it was time to head to the front of the castle to watch the Fairy Godmother turn on Cinderella's Dream Lights. My DD and I love this show! If you have never had the opportunity or never taken the time to watch Mickey, Minnie, and the gang help the Fairy Godmother and Cinderella decide how to decorate the castle for Christmas, you must do this! The show is precious, and if watching the lights come on doesn't send shivers up your spine, you are Scrooge McDuck, for sure!


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128 by baseballsandbows, on Flickr

After seeing the lights, we moseyed over to the Haunted Mansion. This is one of my favorites, and DD really enjoys the new interactive queue.


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At this point, we had been in the park for almost 11 hours, but DD didn't want to leave without seeing the Main Street Electrical Parade (we planned to see Wishes on the last night, so we didn't stay for it on this evening). We walked up Main Street to claim a place near the entrance because this would enable us to exit quickly. Before grabbing our viewing spot, we stopped for a photo on Main Street. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Main Street at Christmas. The garland is my favorite! I've heard that the new daytime parade (Festival of Fantasy) may have some floats that are too tall for them to hang the garland next year. I hope that's not true!


wdw201332422629044_6891391614 by baseballsandbows, on Flickr

Then, since we were right outside and had snack credits burning holes in our Magic Bands, the Confectionery lured us in with its sweet smells and yummy-looking treats. I got a fruit kabob dipped in chocolate. It was made of chocolate covered grapes, pineapple, and strawberries, and it was DELICIOUS. I had at least one or two more of these during the trip. DD is a sucker for gimmicky treats, and she loves SUGAR. She left with one of these...


026 by baseballsandbows, on Flickr

As we left the Confectionery, we noticed that the wait for Mickey wasn't long, so we stopped in for a visit. It was the first time that we got to experience MICKEY TALKING! He chatted with my DD about the Haunted Mansion, and they posed like hitchhiking ghosts. It was so cute!


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wdw201332522640699_6891428059 by baseballsandbows, on Flickr

By this time, it was almost 8:00, but the crowds were so low that we were able to grab a front row spot near the start of the parade, almost directly across from the barber shop (on the sidewalk in front of the fire station). I have to admit that I like Spectromagic MUCH better than the Main Street Electrical Parade, so I wasn't too excited, but watching DD enjoy the parade made it worth staying!


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139 by baseballsandbows, on Flickr

Wow! It had been a long, but magical day. After the parade, we headed back to Riverside and fell into bed! We had one Mommy/Daughter Day down, and one to go.

Coming Up Next...Hollywood, Here We Come!

 

[wiigirl]

Great pics!

 

[Chilly]

I didn't know Mickey could talk!