Photo Trip Report: My 6 and 4 year-old park commandos -- How we conquered the World!

[jake&samsmom]

Just found your TR. Really enjoying it. Your boys are adorable and those wedding pics look beautiful. Very tropical! I'm sure that was a fun trip!

Thanks for reading along!
Jen

 

[jake&samsmom]

When we left Turtle Talk, DH rang me on the cell phone and asked what all men frequently ask their wives, "Where/when do we eat?" I told him our lunch ADR was for Garden Grill in thirty minutes! I assumed he was still at ASMu, so I was positive he was going to be late for lunch

The boys and I got to GG early, so they had time to color at one of the Kidcot stations located right outside GG. In a few minutes, DH showed up! Wow, that was fast! Here they are coloring some pyramid shaped things:

They call to seat us in a little while. I had a preconcieved notion that GG's rotation would be very subtle and unnoticeable. I was wrong! I got dizzy the first 5 minutes we were there! I had to run out to our stroller parked outside the Land pavillion to get my dramamine in the backpack! I didn't complain much about it though, because I didn't want to spoil things for the boys...

Here are photos of the boys with the GG characters:

Is it Chip or Dale? (see bottom for answer)

Chip is the (slightly) more intelligent one with the brown-black nose, and Dale is the one with the red nose and gapped teeth and is prone to smart-aleckness.


Chip waves goodbye!

Here's Dale.....

Pluto and the boys:

Can we get your autograph please?

I LOVE this next picture because it shows Jake so happy to see Mickey, and his arms are up and ready to embrace him So sweet

Mickey gestures to Jake that he likes the YOAMD Mickey ears Jake has on:

Posing with Mickey:

Chip comes over again, and DH gets in the photo:

In spite of the motion sickness, I loved GG. The food was good. They had yummy flank steak, the potato casserole was delicious, turkey was a little on the dry side (not a turkey lover anyhow), fish was cooked well, green beans were OK.

Character interaction was awesome - less tables, less diners and more time with the characters.


More to come soon!

 

[Nicole786]

Yay! Im so happy you updated!

I'm 21 and my brothers 16 and we both LOVED turtle talk! haha its not just for kids!

 

[jake&samsmom]

Yay! Im so happy you updated!

I'm 21 and my brothers 16 and we both LOVED turtle talk! haha its not just for kids!

Hi Nicole! Glad to see ya back here!

 

[jake&samsmom]

We quickly finished our lunch because it was almost time for our Fastpass return to Soarin'....

We had one small problem though, since DH came to EPCOT later in the day, he did not have a FP!

We got to the entrance of Soarin' and show our 3 FP's to the CM. She hears me telling DH to "wait there, we'll be looking for you after the ride" She asks why he wasn't riding with us, and I reply because we only have 3 FP's

Another great Disney moment: the CM tells my DH to come back (he had started to walk away) and hands him a Soarin' FP so he can ride with the family! She tells us this is the only time she's going to do this for us, because this is Disney afterall, and families should stay together. I don't know her name, but if you are out there reading this, thank you again for your kindness.

We ride Soarin' - this time we sat on the topmost row of seats! I took my crocs off, which seemed to embarrass the kids Also, the boys loudly ask, "Mom, can you not scream this time?"

I now definitely believe the people here on the DIS when they say the top row is the best row in Soarin'...its a whole new experience to ride it without feet dangling overhead No pics here (not allowed)....

Ater Soarin' we go up the escalators once more and pose by the Sunshine Seasons' hot air balloons:

DH and Jake now plan to ride Mission Space! Sam and I beg off because we are scared of the spinning. Well, at least I am. Sam just kinda follows my lead.

I decide that Sam and I are going to head to Mousegears while Jake and DH go make themselves sick on Mission Space

On the way to Mousegears, we chance upon a CM with this giant bouncing ball toy, and Sam joins in on the fun:

 

[MousekaMaddi]

nice job, keep it coming!

 

[Lucky'sMom]

I just found your report today, and I have enjoyed it so much. Your family is beautiful, your boys are adorable, and I am so impressed with the amount of photos and captions you have put into this!

 

[kath1210]

Welcome back!!

 

[jake&samsmom]

Thanks for tuning in, MouskaMaddie, Lucky'sMom, and Kathy!

 

[jake&samsmom]

DH and Jake head off to MS, while Sam and I peruse through Mousegears. This is one of the nicest stores in EPCOT, and their selection of Disney clothing, home items, and toys is

We meet up with the MS riders by the door (Jake says, that wasn't scary at all! - they rode the milder version, though ), and head to the bus stop to go back and rest a little bit in the resort prior to attending MNNSHP. See, I planned one resort rest break! (Although I had a wee voice in my head saying "you shoudda packed the boys' costumes with you and monorailed it from EPCOT to MK )

ASMu busses were excellent, very little wait times. The only disadvantage was that the stop for the all-stars are located awaaaaaay from the front gates of all 4 parks. It was always a long walk to get to the entrance, and the anticipation just killed 'ya.

While the boys rest on the beds, I neatly folded their costumes to place in the backpack. Jake was black spiderman (he has been a spidey fan since 2 y/o), and Sam chose a Transformers Optimus Prime costume. I didn't want them to get sweaty on the way to MK. Their costumes were long-sleeved and it was so humid outside, so I decided they would costume-up when we get to MK.

DH and I wore matching Jack Skellington and Sally T-shirts

On the way to the bus stop, and as the bus is pulling up, I remembered that I had brought matching trick or treat baggies for them to use! I forgot them upstairs in the suitcase ! I ask DH to get them, and me and the boys proceed to get on the bus. I tell DH to meet us at the hub in front of the castle. Thankfully, my DH is a sweet guy, and doesn't complain. Not much anyhow.


Next installment: MNSSHP!

 

[jake&samsmom]

We ride the bus to the MK at around 4:45pm, I learned on the DIS that you will be allowed to get in earlier than 6pm which is the official start time of the party.

A family of 2 preteen girls, their Mom and Dad were riding the bus with us. The Dad was dressed as Jack Sparrow, and the girls were ribbing him about wearing too much eyeliner! I thought it was cute...

So the boys and I get off the bus at the MK around 5:15pm, get our purple wristbands from the CM's waiting in front. We are also handed 3 small trick or treat bags, and we are told that stroller rentals were free for all MNSSHP attendees

We get our strollers fom underneath the main street train station. We proceed to the hub in front of the castle and wait for DH. While waiting, the boys layer their costumes over their shorts and thin shirts.

We notice the multitude of people making a mass exodus towards the exit. They were very strict about only having people with MNSSHP tickets/wristbands present in the park.

DH finally arrives with the trick or treat bags I brought from Houston

Jake and DH pair off to ride Space Mountain. Sam and I decide we want to stay in front of the castle to watch Dream Along with Mickey (the show that was cancelled yesterday because of the rain).

While waiting for the show to start, Sam poses by the statues around the hub:

And in front of the castle:

Some pictures of Dream Along with Mickey:

 

[Nicole786]

Cute!! Can't wait to hear about the party...that costume is too cute!!

 

[jake&samsmom]

DH and Jake ride Space Mountain. Jake says there was a long line, but it went fast.

Here's Jake in the preshow area:

Getting settled in his seat:

Notice how tiny the leg room appears to be...(Jake is 47 inches tall):

Jake loves this ride (I didn't let him ride it when we were at DL a few months before this trip, I thought it was too dangerous - but DH wanted Jake to experience it this time, so Mom was overruled )

Jake exiting Space Mountain:

 

[jake&samsmom]

After Dream along with Mickey, DH calls me on the cell phone to tell me to meet him and Jake by the bridge from the hub to Tomorrowland. Sam and I walk briskly to meet up with them, and were stopped twice by CMs who were checking for purple wristbands.

(A confession now from the commando-in-chief: I was getting tired of running around at that point, and needed a little bit of rest My knees had taken on more miles in the past 4 days than they had ever had in a whole month! )

So, I tell DH to bond with the boys while I rest/watch the Villains Mix and Mingle show in front of the castle.

Jake, Sam and DH go off to explore Tomorrowland. Since Stitch is Sam's favorite character, they ride Stitch's Great Escape:

Then they see Monster's Inc, Laugh Floor:

DH also says they went trick or treating around Tomorrowland for a little bit.


I, on the other hand got a great spot in front of the castle, and had an excellent view of the Villains' show:

This is the only decent picture I took, because the show was dark and smoky, and the rest of the pics didn't turn out so well

After the show, I call DH and the boys on the cell and tell them to come claim their parade viewing spot because the crowd was starting to build up all around me.

I took a picture of the halloween balloons for sale (wanted to buy one but thought it impractical to take back home to Texas, so decided against it):

Around 15 minutes before the parade starts, some CMs entertain the kids in the audience with limbo rock in the dark....

Sam and Jake are 4th and 5th from the left: (I love seeing cute costumes on the little children )

Almost their turn:

Jake has had plenty of Limbo rock practice from the Carribean cruise we had just recently been on prior to this trip

Up next: Mickey's Boo to You Halloween Parade!

 

[jake&samsmom]

Cute!! Can't wait to hear about the party...that costume is too cute!!

Hi Nicole! Glad you're here

 

[foodrocksluver]

I'm so glad you're back with all your fantastic pictures!!

I noticed in your siggy that you're going to be staying at OKW in July. I am too and was wondering what days you would be there. Maybe we would end up being neighbors!

 

[jake&samsmom]

I'm so glad you're back with all your fantastic pictures!!

I noticed in your siggy that you're going to be staying at OKW in July. I am too and was wondering what days you would be there. Maybe we would end up being neighbors!

Oh my, that would be so cool! We are staying at OKW from July 29 to 31, then off to the Omni Orlando for a company-sponsored conference from August 1 to 4

When are y'all going? Did you have a specific room location request? (btw, we requested a main pool view studio at OKW, but ya never know what you'll get

Thanks for keeping up with my trippie!

 

[jake&samsmom]

(The headless horseman on his steed preceeds the parade. No photos are allowed, flash photography frightens the horse.)

In the beginning.....

Dopey, Snow White and Alice:

Here come Mickey and the gang in the gazebo:

Mickey in a harlequinn costume:

Daisy as a Princess:

Super sleuth Pooh bear:

Pooh and pals tree float:

Peter, Wendy and the lost boys:

Captain Hook and his pirates follow Peter closely:

Look at the detail on Captain Hook's ship:

A blurry Captain Hook:

Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock:

So long, Neverland Pirates!

Now come Captain Jack and the Caribbean Pirates:

 

[jake&samsmom]

The Groundskeeper of the Haunted Mansion and his bloodhound:

The Haunted Mansion ghosts come out to socialize:

(I wasn't able to take a picture of the grave diggers' shovel dance...I was mesmerized by the sparks created when they'd scrape the ground with the tips of their shovels -- one of the highlights of the parade! If someone out there has a photo of it, can you please post it as a reply here? Please? )


Jack o' lantern on his spinning spectromagic-type ball:

Here come the Villains!:

I love how the evil queen did her make-up:

Jafar with the mean stare:

Goodbye magic mirror...

Hello hyenas!

Pluto in Goofy's car:

Goofy at the end of the parade (his assistants hand out candy to the kids lining the streets):

What a unique parade!

 

[Nicole786]

Awesome pics! I want to go to the halloween party now, no fair!!