Party of 5's First family trip to WDW! Just back from POR 6/16 *update 8/13 thoughts

[TigerKat]

Great update, I love that Mushroom Filet too!!!!

 

[MeMom]

from ealier in the week at HS

I love Joey's expression in this picture. It looks like one tiny member of your family is not convinced that she sees anything down there!

Wasn't the pretzel bread at LeCellier so good?!?!? I'm like you on the soup. It was good, but not as good as I had built up in my mind from all the talk. I have had better, but the pretzel bread dipped in it was definitely good.

That's a sweet picture of all three kids sitting at the table.

 

[ampc3]

Enjoying your TR!

Welcome to the Dis and to my TR

Great report! stupid question - what's "TT" and "WS"? sorry, I'm so bad at all the abreviations!

Thanks, no problem I felt the same way when I fist saw all the abbrvs...
TT = Test Track
WS= World Showcase

Glad to know LeCellier is just as good at lunch as dinner... I think those steaks are just so yummy. You had a busy morning at EPCOT!

Yes I was alittle worried b/c most of the reviews are always dinner, but it was awesome!!

Saturday we were headed home .

You definitely had a better day than we did!

Emma is so cute with all that blond hair!!! Too bad about Lauren's attitude!

Le Cellier sounds delicious -- one day we will make it there!

Great update!!!

I know how sad departure day is....
Actually overall they were pretty good, and very few "attitude" moments, however they weren't quite as good later in the week as in the begining

Yes you must try Le Cellier if you like steaks...

Another great installment! Love your pictures! And isn't Le Cellier just soooo delicious? Yum!

Allyson

yes Le Cellier is VERY Yummo!!!!

I love their mushroom filet---I wish I could recreate that here! How neat that you were right with Tim and Lesley at rope drop! You had such great luck running into people! Can't wait until the next update! Jen

I know I can't believe I saw Lesley AND Laura twice...

 

[ampc3]

Another great installment! Amazing how they can start getting that attitude at such a young age isn't it? I wonder when my oldest will start pulling that with me at DW (Hopefully not this trip!) I'm sure she enjoyed it, just couldn't admit it after the fact! LOL

I still haven't eaten at Le Cellier, and sounds like we really need to! Mushrooms have become something I love, after a lifetime of hating them! LOL

Yes excatly,she did enjoy it, but wasn't about to say so! Hopefully you won't get any attitude during your trip, if you haven't already experienced it, then I doubt WDW will be the first time to try it out..
Le Cellier was one of my favorites for sure! Best Steak ever...

Love the photo of your DD in the shark, so cute. I can't wait to go back to LeCellier agin in a few weeks, the steak is gorgeous isn't it

Enjoy your Le Cellier ADR when you go, I know you will! yummy... Thanks for the comments on Emma

Great update! Thanks for all your help answering my questions! I thought of a couple more, I'll send you a PM!

No problem, glad I could help, I PMed Lesley and Jenn a ton before the trip...

Finally just getting caught up! Looks like a great time at DHS, all the pics. are so cute! I love the one of Emma eating the Itzakadoozie! Great Epcot morning as well! The pic. of the kids playing looks like their vacuuming. If only they would do that at home! The pic. of Emma in the sharks mouth is precious too! Le Cellier lunch sounds INCREDIBLE!!!

Glad you were able to get caught up, Thanks for all the kind words on my family I like that picture of Emma in the shark too, we were by ourselves and she was having a ball.

Great TR...and great pics of you and your family. The kids are so cute!
We overlapped trips, we arrived on June 15.
Next time I would love to have a DIS sighting...that must have been neat!
Looks like you had so much fun! (how could you not, you were at WDW!)

Thanks so much! I can't believe how many people I ran into considering... it was neat, my Dh thought I was crazy though, but what else is knew I need to pop over to your TR and get caught up...

Great update, I love that Mushroom Filet too!!!!

Thanks ! Le Cellier is definitly one place that meets the hype IMHO..

I love Joey's expression in this picture. It looks like one tiny member of your family is not convinced that she sees anything down there!

Wasn't the pretzel bread at LeCellier so good?!?!? I'm like you on the soup. It was good, but not as good as I had built up in my mind from all the talk. I have had better, but the pretzel bread dipped in it was definitely good.

That's a sweet picture of all three kids sitting at the table.

yes the tinyest member of our family didn't ever want to smile when it was all of us!... Le Cellier is great !!!


working on next update.....

 

[ampc3]

Saturday June 14th ,Day 7 part 2

So we caught a bus out of there and went back to the hotel to go swimming for an hour, so we would have some down time to rest too. Down at the pool I went and checked out the pool bar and got myself a daiquiri of some sorts, can’t remember the name but was yummy. Emma decided to try out the slide for the first time, and loved it. of course I didn’t remember to bring my camera to the pool that time. After swimming we went and rested, then headed back to the park. I think it was about 5:30 or so when we came back. We had no dinner plans, so I had wanted to try some stuff at the WS later…

We checked the FP board and everything was gone, but that was ok b/c we still had most of ours form the morning plus the child swaps we would get so we were ok.

We decided to head over and see Honey I Shrunk the Audience, I don’t think I would wait to see that again, Let me just say that earlier in the day before Lunch I was going to get FP for it, and the CM stopped me and told me not to waste my FP on that show, that we would not have a problem seeing it without a FP. So note to others don’t waste your FP for this..

Anyway it was ok, but after seeing all the other 3d shows, this was pretty outdated. After the show we went and did Journey into Imagination with Figment, was a walk on, very cute also alittle dated, but very cute.. Emma enjoyed it. Then we did some of the image works play stuff. It was almost 7 o’clock and Joey had wanted to do the land before it closed.

So we headed over to the Land, while DH took Emma and Joey on the Land while Lauren and I used our FP from the morning, never once through out the trip did ANY cm every make any comment about our return time. After Soarin, DH and Joey said they really didn’t want to do soarin, they wanted to get over to Test Track . So I tried to give away our Child Swap ticket, since it is just like a FP and people just looked at me like I was crazy or it wasn’t a “real” ticket, finally a family of 3 who had just gotten off the ride, gladly took it off our hands.

So off to Test Track, I was super excited b/c I didn’t get to ride this yet, we had our FP from this morning and the child swap coming our way, so DH took them first ,since I did soarin. While we were waiting I decided to take Emma for one last ride on Nemo, we hurried over there and again a walk on, I just love this ride… Went back to TT and finally it was my turn!!! OMG this ride is awesome!!! I love the part when you go outside. This is right up there with ToT and RnR at HS…

So after this it was about 8:30 remember I really wanted to see Illuminations tonight! It was our only chance, so we headed towards World Showcase trying to find a good spot, We ended up over by Germany near a railing. Then guess what we discovered???

Yep once again this week, we forgot to feed our kids! So Dh went over to Sommerfest and got a Hot dog, Brat and some pretzels to share. To be honest, I thought it was pretty nasty so I didn’t eat much, I think the kids thought it was yucky too, but they were starving…

Illuminations started and was very good, not on the same scale as Wishes I think Wishes is a one of a kind, but none the less it was good.

After wards we worked our way out with the crowds to the bus stop, we were praying that we would not have a repeat like we did Monday night, I was already thinking we would take the monorail over to MK and then catch a bus from there, but luckily there was already a bus there when we got in line and several showed up at the same time shortly after. By this point it never mattered to us anymore if we stood.

I really wish we would have seen more of WS, I guess that will be a must do for next trip..

Up next: Our last full day!!! Boo Hoo… also Father’s day

Where do we decide to spend our last day??

 

[tmkinney]

So sad the last day is coming up... So TT ranks up with TOT and RnRC - I'm even more excited to get to ride it!! Did the Honey I Shrunk the Kids scare Emma at all? I've heard that it scares some kids, so I didn't know how Rachel would do with that one. Did Joey get to build a robot in the Fantastics Plastics? If not, you'll have to take him to do that next time, Hunter did it last year and really enjoyed it. Glad you got to see Illuminations!

 

[dddisrunner]

I think it is so funny that you guys keep "forgetting" to eat. My kids would NEVER let us forget they needed to eat. Especially my older one! Yay for Test Track, it is one of my FAVES! I am sad your TR is about to end, I have really enjoyed it!

 

[momsavealot]

How did you get those pics from TT? was it on your photopass CD? did you buy them there or is this just a picture of the monitor after the ride (and if so, they're so clear!)? They're great!

 

[TigerKat]

I think it is so funny that you guys keep "forgetting" to eat. My kids would NEVER let us forget they needed to eat.

I don't think DH & I could ever forget eating, that's our #1 priority...

 

[Charleston Princess]

Another fun update!!! Illuminations looks gorgeous!!!

Everyone looks like they are having so much fun!

So sad that you only have one more full day!

 

[kimbo0569]

I am LOVING reading the trip report! I also read Lesley's last night and I'm so totally ready for our trip in September! It cannot come fast enough for me
I'm definately the Disney planner in our house. Dh likes it just as much though he will never admit it...lol
This will be our oldest daughters' 2nd trip down to the "World". We took her when she was 2 1/2 (July 04).
This will also be our youngest daughters' 1st trip down to the World. She just turned 3 two weeks ago!

I've been to DisneyWorld many times before but always had the habit of "winging it". Of course this was before I had kids of my own. Now I want to enjoy it with them and see it through their eyes and I've found myself planning for this upcoming trip more than I've ever planned any other trip to Disney that I've taken in the past.

Can't wait to read more!

 

[leeann32]

Where do you get the blue Disney Travel Company "necklace"

 

[MegansMom]

Annette--loved the update!!! You guys looked like you were having SUCH a blast!! I love the pic you took of you and your DH--too sweet! The TT pictures are so great though! I think it is so funny that you guys almost forgot to eat again! It is hard to remember to factor in the usual things like eating and going to the bathroom when there is so much else going on around you that you want to be part of!!! Looking forward to more----as always!!! ;o)

 

[ampc3]

So sad the last day is coming up... So TT ranks up with TOT and RnRC - I'm even more excited to get to ride it!! Did the Honey I Shrunk the Kids scare Emma at all? I've heard that it scares some kids, so I didn't know how Rachel would do with that one. Did Joey get to build a robot in the Fantastics Plastics? If not, you'll have to take him to do that next time, Hunter did it last year and really enjoyed it. Glad you got to see Illuminations!

I know I am sad too, this has been alot of fun to put together..
I loved TT, Yep it ranks up there with the best!
Emma sat on my lap, and she wasn't scared but I could see where some kids would be, to be honest I wouldn't loose any sleep over it, if you missed this ride IMHO.
We must have missed the robot thing there is so much more we need to do at Epcot next time.. that place is huge!

I think it is so funny that you guys keep "forgetting" to eat. My kids would NEVER let us forget they needed to eat. Especially my older one! Yay for Test Track, it is one of my FAVES! I am sad your TR is about to end, I have really enjoyed it!

I know, not the best parenting that went on but I think my kids were having so much fun too, they also forgot..Thanks for following along

How did you get those pics from TT? was it on your photopass CD? did you buy them there or is this just a picture of the monitor after the ride (and if so, they're so clear!)? They're great!

Yes the TT pictures were from the Photopass, I believe TT is the only ride that you can add your PP picture to it, I so wish they would let you add the other rides maybe some day

I don't think DH & I could ever forget eating, that's our #1 priority...

I know we HAD plans to eat, time just got away from us, there were so many CS places I had wanted to try.. it is pretty funny though and my kids would be happy just eating popcorn for dinner

Another fun update!!! Illuminations looks gorgeous!!!

Everyone looks like they are having so much fun!

So sad that you only have one more full day!

Thanks so much! I know only one more full day...

I am LOVING reading the trip report! I also read Lesley's last night and I'm so totally ready for our trip in September! It cannot come fast enough for me
I'm definately the Disney planner in our house. Dh likes it just as much though he will never admit it...lol
This will be our oldest daughters' 2nd trip down to the "World". We took her when she was 2 1/2 (July 04).
This will also be our youngest daughters' 1st trip down to the World. She just turned 3 two weeks ago!

I've been to DisneyWorld many times before but always had the habit of "winging it". Of course this was before I had kids of my own. Now I want to enjoy it with them and see it through their eyes and I've found myself planning for this upcoming trip more than I've ever planned any other trip to Disney that I've taken in the past.

Can't wait to read more!

Thanks so much for joining! YOu will have soo much fun in september and your kids are at the perfect age for it! Enjoy every second of it!

[

Where do you get the blue Disney Travel Company "necklace"

Actually the lanyard is VERY old, it was an American Express gift that my sister got with her package years ago. It was nice thought b/c it had the plastic pouch on the end for our tickets and FP etc..
Thanks

Annette--loved the update!!! You guys looked like you were having SUCH a blast!! I love the pic you took of you and your DH--too sweet! The TT pictures are so great though! I think it is so funny that you guys almost forgot to eat again! It is hard to remember to factor in the usual things like eating and going to the bathroom when there is so much else going on around you that you want to be part of!!! Looking forward to more----as always!!! ;o)

Hey Jen, Thanks, taking those "self" portraits never do turn out very good though, That is the truth about making time to eat and going to the bathroom, we were always on the go. We seemed to eat more when we had actually dinner ADR's as opposed to just Lunch. We just weren't that hungry later after a sit down lunch, and then we didn't want to stop to eat, figured we would get in just one more ride etc.. and then before you knew it , the night was over and we never ate!

 

[lmillercrew]

I was wondering how you use the FP if the time has expired? Can you really use them or do you just hope the CM doesn't check. I've noticed several TR's and people say they used their FP from earlier in the day, but I didn't know how they did it.

 

[ampc3]

I was wondering how you use the FP if the time has expired? Can you really use them or do you just hope the CM doesn't check. I've noticed several TR's and people say they used their FP from earlier in the day, but I didn't know how they did it.

It is alittle of both, it isn't something they truly advertise, but if you ask the CM , they will tell you anytime AFTER.. Now it isn't set in stone, some of the really popular rides if some one WAS going to say something it would be there etc.. But Tour Guide Mike's whole structure is based on using "expired" FP..

We didn't have one single CM even bat an eye the whole week, and even if they would have, they still would let you on, and tell you the whole next time thing... If you think about it, it is really hard to actually use that FP during the window unless you are just sitting around and waiting, think about all the back and forth you would have to do and wasted time if they really enforced it. You could be in the bathroom, eating, left the park etc.. there are soo many things that do take you away from the window.
Now I have heard time and time again, that the CMs are really going to start cracking down etc... and maybe in the future they will, who knows? but for our trip we didnt' have any troubles.

 

[ampc3]

Sunday June 15th, Day 8

Our last full day!!! Boo Hoo…
So we woke up to our last phone call with Stitch. We all were feeling very sad this morning, knowing this was our last day at the parks. We were checking out tomorrow and heading home..

Since it was Father’s day I asked Dh what he wanted to do today etc.. Since we were able to go back to HS on Friday and spent all day at EP yesterday, it was an easy choice (also the right choice) MK it was!!

Tonight was also EMH at MK, that I wanted to go to, figured since it is our last day we would last however long we could all take it. We also had a special dinner planned tonight.

So we once again did our usual morning routine of getting ready and having our breakfast snacks etc, packed up the backpack and we were on our way. We ended up much earlier than I thought we would at the park, it was about 8:20. So we thought since we were there and it was Father’s Day we would try our luck and see if there were any walk ups available at Crystal Palace. We didn’t have any problems going through the character breakfast line either.

Unfortunately, they didn’t have anything and it would be about a 30 min wait, which we didn’t’ want to do and miss rope drop. So we just hung out and walked around and took pictures… Still trying to get a good family picture..

We ended up over at the TL rope drop, the kids got Mickey confetti to help “open” TL up.. Our plan was for DH to get FP’s for SM and take them on standby, while Emma and I got 2 FP for Buzz and rode.

After that we headed over to do FL , it was all still a walk on we did Peter Pan, and Pooh , grabbed some FP for Pooh for later.
Lauren wanted to do Ariel, so we got in line. Emma changed her mind and wanted to see Minnie… So Dh took Joey and Emma over to ToonTown with the sole purpose of seeing Minnie…. You know where I am going with this don’t you??

So Lauren and I waited to see Ariel, I think we only waited about 15 min. We got some cute pictures of this.

We headed over to TT to meet up with the rest of the family.

Once over there I was told, Dh got confused and they ended up in line to see the princesses again! I guess Emma didn’t mind, but was still wanting to see Minnie and of course the line was too long now! while we were waiting in the Judges Tent, Lauren got to see these guys..

So we went and did Goofy, Emma LOVES this ride! After we took the train over to Frontier Land, picked up our new stroller and grabbed our SM and BTMR FP sets.

The standby line wasn’t bad for Splash to DH took them on that, while Emma and I waited, shortly after that, Emma fell asleep in the stroller. First time all week during the day! When they got off Splash we were all hungry and went to have lunch at Pecos Bills, we sat outside, it wasn’t crowded at all yet. I love the fixing bar, however I was putting the nacho cheese on the fries and my burger and thought DH was right behind me with the tray and somehow I turned around (thinking he was behind me) and he wasn’t! and my burger flipped over, which I luckily caught, but got the burning hot cheese sauce all over my hand! Ouch!! I was alittle peeved when I got back to the table and told DH what had happened…

Anyway we enjoyed a peaceful lunch b/c Emma slept through the whole thing.. Of course she woke up as we were leaving, and said she wanted chicken nuggets which they don’t sell… so told her I would find her something else, and got her a box of popcorn to tide her over… We know where this is going also right???

So we went to HM, and the posted time said 20 min so we did that, and I don’t think we waited more than 15.. That ride is soo cool, especially at the end we love to see what ghost is sitting with us!

After that we went and grabbed some FP for PP, and headed back over to Tomorrow Land, Dh wanted to take Joey on TTA. So we did TTA, again hardly a wait that is a very nice relaxing ride. After that we decided to check out Carousal of Progress, a show was just starting.. Again a nice place to relax and get out of the heat!
I soo remembered this ride as a kid, and doesn’t seem like it has changed a whole lot. Surprisingly the kids loved it! I thought they would be bored, but Joey and Emma really liked it.

When we were done, we thought we would try and see some of Belle’s story time which we kept missing… it had already started but they saw the end of it. As they were watching it, I bought a nice big princess beach towel at the stand… This will come in handy later…

So after the show, it was mid afternoon, do we stay and keep going? Do we call it a day for now?? The weather was starting to look a little gray now too.. I knew I really wanted to come back tonight and stay as late as we could, b/c we were going to wake up when ever we woke up tomorrow.

It was decided that Dh take Emma home b/c Joey and Lauren wanted to use their FP for Splash, and BTMR. So we separated and I said we would come back to the room as soon as we were done.

We headed over to splash, the ride must have been down before b/c the FP line wasn’t moving very fast.. I think we waited about 20 min or so before it was our turn.. I was hoping we didn’t get super wet, I hate walking around in wet clothes and the weather was now really starting to turn..

After getting off we went over to BTMR and got through the line real quick with our FP. We sat all together in the last row, it looked like it was going to rain any second… The rain held off a bit, but as were going along on the ride, I felt my hat starting to fall off I tried to reach back and grab it, but it was too late.. There lie one of my favorite hats right in the middle of the track behind us… I was soo bummed, the kids were scared and asked what we should do, and I was like there is nothing we can do.. They kept saying tell a CM , can’t they get it for you?? No, sweetie it doesn’t work like that.
I probably should have told someone just b/c I felt nervous all day like what if the train goes off the track b/c my hat is laying in the middle of it! But figured with all the cameras they have, they would have had to seen it, and I am sure I am not the first person to loose a hat on a ride like that! Luckily nothing was reported of a train derailment! Whew…

So after that , it had started to sprinkle and we were working our way out, the rain started to get heavier and once again, I am left with out our backpack and ponchos! However I do have my brand new big beach towel that fit over my head perfect! The kids loved being in the rain, b/c it was so hot and it wasn’t pouring like last time.. And there wasn’t any lighting.
However, it did start coming down harder so we worked our way into the shops on main street and excited that way.

For those of you who don’t know this, all the stores on main street connect so it is a shortcut tip when exiting etc.. It was pretty crowded in there but we managed our way down. We caught a bus back to the hotel and took a rest.

Up next part 2...our special dinner…and back to MK…

 

[Charleston Princess]

A lovely stary to your last park day!!! You got some great pictures -- both of you and your family and with the characters!!! What a shame about your hat on BTMMR .

Can't wait to read about your special dinner and the rest of your MK day!

 

[IluvXU]

I am sad it is your last day... was it less crowded than the Wednesday earlier in the week- it sure seems so. Sorry about missing Minnie.. that sounds like my DH too.

I love your pictures in the morning on Main street those are so great... and the Ariel and princess ones too!

 

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

Great update...and Great pictures!!! I LOVE the one of you DH and kids...too perfect!