Pin Trading, Pineapple Bars, and Italian Wine, OH MY! Sept. 2010 TR UPDATE 8/20 pg 9

[Belle_princess]

Our wait, like I said, for TSM was 60 minutes. Talking to the Hamons Family made our wait time so much more enjoyable. Here are some pictures of TSM:

Anyone recognize this ball?

We finally got to grab our 3-D glasses and go up the stairs that leads to the loading area! I was very excited!! As we got close to the stairs that descend into the loading area, a CM was walking past everyone looking for a party of 2! Um. . .Yeah! Right here! He selected us to sneak past the line and to the loading area. We were directed to our loading 'dock.'

We were put into our car and sent into the ride. Man, that ride is totally awesome. They have added some of the TS3 characters, but it doesn't change the ride much. The whole time, Nikki and I were yelling and 'whooping'! WE LOVE that ride.

Final Score:

As much as I'd love to say I was sitting on the right, I was not. Yeah, Nikki creamed me. No big deal. She told me the way she did so well- she doesn't move her whole hand to shoot the canon; she just puts two fingers on the string and pulls quickly! Ok, next time, I'll do better! I can feel it now!

I love how it looks like you are going into the box to play the game!

Here is part of the Hamon Family- sorry it is so dark!

What a blast! As we were exiting, we were still talking to the Hamon family. We added each other as friends on Facebook, so we could keep in touch! Isn't technology great!!!!

Nikki and I then headed towards the Little Mermaid. It was close and neither of us had ever seen it! Yeah, I know!

The next showing was about 20-30 minutes away. We decided to go shop at the Animation Gallery store. I shot some pictures of the way-too-cute-merchandise-that-I-couldn't-afford

The cat cracks me up!

LOVE the EPCOT Vinyl

By this time, it was time to return to see the Little Mermaid show! We went back and got in the non-existent line. We traded some pins with the CM there. This is where Nikki first got the elusive Dinning Plan pin. This pin goes in and out of her possession as she trades it for other pins and then trades to get it back.(I don't think she got home with it! OH well!)

My pictures of the show aren't great, but I wasn't using a flash. I was impressed how it 'rained' on stage. I was also impressed at how they shot laser beams and projections over your head to make you feel like you were under the water! Way cool!

. . .more photos on next post!

 

[Belle_princess]

Here are some more shots from the Little Mermaid show:

After the show, we were, of course, dumped into a shop. Nikki and I squished a few pennies and did a little shopping. I was trying to find something where Ariel was reading- preferably a pin- to bring home for a friend of mine who loves Ariel and is a librarian. No such luck here. However, Nikki decided to buy a charm for her charm bracelet.

She got to the register to pay. She gave him her credit card as they talked about her birthday button. On her button, it said '30th.' The CM (who was a young, not-bad-looking guy) told her that there was no way she was 30. We both assured him it was true. He disagreed again and again. Finally, before he swiped her card, he asked to see her ID. . .

He spent some time looking at it before he returned it and shrugged as he swiped her card. Nikki asked if he looked at her birthday to figure out her age. He blushed a little and admitted he had. Nikki laughed and assured him again, that she was 30. (This "there's no way you are 30" thing was a common theme for this trip! So many CMs would make that comment through our stay!)

As we were walking out of the store, I noticed this poster:

Ok, there is a story with this picture. When I first came to Disney World in 92, Beauty and the Beast had just come out in the theatres, and I was IN LOVE with it! When we were at MGM, in this very courtyard, I saw the original movie poster hanging on the other side of the courtyard. I have a picture of it, but it isn't digital. Anyway, seeing this B&B poster up made me feel I'd come around full circle! I had to take a picture of it! It really gave me the warm-fuzzies!! I know, I know! No need in getting sentimental!

We decided to do that Animation Tour because Nikki had never done it and wanted to draw a character. We watched the video with Mushu- yeah, it is the same. Then we got to see a preview for Tangled. After the video, they had a small display of some of the Tangled artwork and concept drawings! Totally fascinating to me! Here are just a few that came out good:

Then we pressed on through the animator area. Do you see all the cool stuff in here???

I haven't seen anyone working in here since 1992! Another full circle thing!!

I want to get paid to paint pictures all day!!!

As we finished the tour, we stumbled into the character meeting area. Look who we got to see:

Yep! The Big Cheese himself! Totally awesome. For me, totally worth the wait. Sweet! I saw Mickey twice in one day!

We got in line to draw Disney characters. They stopped people going in just as we got to the front of the line. The CM seated people and told us we might have to use lap boards in the front. Ok. Well, she came back and said there were two desks available. We went inside. Nikki sat at a desk. I looked around to find the other one, but a little boy had been wandering around and his mom plopped him down at the other empty desk. I went back to Nikki's desk and said I'd just watch.

Then and older gentleman came to me and told me I could use his desk because he wasn't a very good drawer. I asked if he was certain, but he was. He took me back to his seat. It was very nice of him.

The CM lead us in the drawing of "Mad" Donald! Nikki and I did pretty well. Nikki's drawing looked better. Oh well. We had fun!

As we left the drawing area, They had a set up of all the Oscars Disney won. Here is as close as I will ever get to an Oscar:

Then, before the dump-store, they had some artwork up:

We did some shopping, and I found the print of the old photo of the Disney Grounds prior to construction with Walt and the Castle superimposed on them! Score! Nikki and I both bought some things we had sent back to the room.

As we exited the shop, we saw a photopass person standing out by the swirly animation sign. We stopped to get our picture taken. She had been the same person who did our photopass shot with Mickey. We talked to her for a while. She was very nice- although she did seem a little upset to be outside instead of inside.

We left the courtyard in search of lunch. We needed something gluten-free. According to the map, there was a salad place over by ToT, so that is the direction we headed. . .

 

[jenjolt]

YAY for making new memories at DHS!! I love that park!!!

 

[Belle_princess]

YAY for making new memories at DHS!! I love that park!!!

Hi Jen! Yeah, we had lots of fun at DHS! We have even more memories coming up!!

 

[Belle_princess]

Hi all my readers! I'm afraid I'm going to have to put a hold on my updates until November. I just got an email from photobucket that my monthly bandwidth is getting close to the limit. I hate to have to put off my updates, but I really want my pictures to be visible! I hope you understand. Just a few days, and I'll put up a new update!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Hi all my readers! I'm afraid I'm going to have to put a hold on my updates until November. I just got an email from photobucket that my monthly bandwidth is getting close to the limit. I hate to have to put off my updates, but I really want my pictures to be visible! I hope you understand. Just a few days, and I'll put up a new update!

I can almost see why--you have so many pictures! (this is a good thing)

Just wanted to pop in and say I'm still reading along and enjoying it!

 

[Belle_princess]

I can almost see why--you have so many pictures! (this is a good thing)

Just wanted to pop in and say I'm still reading along and enjoying it!

Thanks, Captain. I appreciate that. I guess I didn't read the fine print on Photobucket. I had no idea it would be a problem. Oh well! I'm glad you are enjoying my TR and my photos! I took a TON, and I'm really narrowing it down to the minimum.

Keep an eye on the report. . .new updates coming in November!

 

[IheartDDuck]

Yay for HS! I'm so glad that the Animator's have been back on the Animation tour working. That makes me think so much of going back in the day when they used to work on movies there all the time.

I would definitely recommend going during the Food and Wine festival. It's my favorite time to go. This will be Farrell's first time going, and I told her that the Food and Wine festival was the way to go. You know, because who can resist food and booze??

 

[heathers4um]

I am loving your girls trip!

I have read it all up to here and cant wait for more...

but that will have to wait for me since I will be there!!!

But I promise to return to you!!

 

[tinkgurl]

Hi! I just found your TR and I am loving it! There's too much to comment on now, but can't wait for another update!

 

[Belle_princess]

Yay for HS! I'm so glad that the Animator's have been back on the Animation tour working. That makes me think so much of going back in the day when they used to work on movies there all the time.

I would definitely recommend going during the Food and Wine festival. It's my favorite time to go. This will be Farrell's first time going, and I told her that the Food and Wine festival was the way to go. You know, because who can resist food and booze??

Seeing the Animators working was really awesome. I'm glad to see they are still using the facility for more than just a tour/show!!

I KNOW you two will enjoy the F&W festival! I think that will be my next trip. . .anyone want to come with me. . .probably in another 2-3 years, though. (Money is tight now!)

I am loving your girls trip!

I have read it all up to here and cant wait for more...

but that will have to wait for me since I will be there!!!

But I promise to return to you!!

I'm so glad you are here! Enjoy your time at Disney, and I look forward to seeing your TR when you return!!!

Hi! I just found your TR and I am loving it! There's too much to comment on now, but can't wait for another update!

I'm so glad you've joined the fun. I apologize for the lack of updates, but I've been swamped! However, I'm back and ready to go, and I hope you are, too!

 

[Belle_princess]

Hello all! I'm so sorry I've been gone. It has been TOO LONG since I posted, so I purposefully made some time today amidst all the other "To DO" things to write an update! I hope you will forgive my absence and enjoy the next chapter!

Ok, I left off on Friday, September 24 at DHS. Friday was one of our busiest days as you will see. It will take many, MANY updates before we are finished here!

At DHS, Nikki and I had just finished the Animation Tour and had our photopass (which I still don't have yet) picture taken by the swirly Animation sign!

At this point, we were starving. . .O'hana Breakfast had hit bottom! We decided we had to find some lunch.

We walked out of the Animation Courtyard to see the Block Party Bash parade in front of the Hat. It was the last float, but it was the Bug's Life float. Nikki and I LOVE Heimlich, and we saw him on the float. We had to get pictures, and we both went different directions (unknown to the other.)

Once the parade moved on, I looked around for Nikki. . .Umm. . .Nikki? I couldn't find her. I walked back to where I'd last seen her. . .no Nikki. I looked all around. . .finally, I saw her a little way off in the crowd. She, likewise, saw me. Oh, I got a look. She said she went to take a picture of Heimlich and thought I was behind her. I saw the same thing. OH well. . .great minds thinks alike!

We continued our search for somewhere to get lunch. I checked the map and found that there was a place over by ToT and RnRC that had salads, so we headed that way. We stopped by Staring Rolls only to find that they were a bakery and had nothing Nikki could eat, so we pressed on.

We passed the Villians store. One CM earlier in the day had told us that if you bought something at the Candy place inside the Villians store, and didn't make a big deal about your birthday, and they saw your birthday button, you would get a surprise. We were game. We stood in line. I saw these. .

So cute, but I didn't get one. Here is a picture of the Villians store as we waited in line.

Look at these miniature cupcakes. They were in the little containers like you find when you want to get ketchup at Wendy's:

So adorable, but WAY too expensive! Yikes. . .

So, I'd read online just before we left that they had come out with a peanut butter cookie that was dipped in chocolate. When I saw this. .

. . .I knew I had to get one.

Nikki got some "Mammoth Pecan Pattie" which is the item in the center of this picture:

Yeah, there's nothing like Dessert before lunch. What was the surprise, you ask. . .the surprise was. . .nothing! I don't know if they were too busy or what, but nothing special happened. Oh well.

We continued on to find the salad Counter Service place. It was cloudy and windy, and we had to shoot pictures of the ToT with the ominous cloud behind it!

. . . .OOOOOOOOO. . . . .Spooky!

We spotted the salad place only to find it closed. ARGH! We decided to go back into the center of the park and keep looking.

On Hollywood Boulevard, we saw these guys:

We pressed on looking for lunch and scoping out any CMs with pins! We were on our way to the other side of the park, we suddenly we heard Star Wars music and saw. . .

. . .Darth Vader coming out for Jedi Training. We ran over to the stage to watch! It was we done. We missed the beginning, but the rest was great!

We watched as each Jedi in training defeated Darth Vader! I'm certain my brother and I would have loved this if it was offered when we were young!

Anyway, we were right outside the Backlot Express, so when the Jedi training was over, we walked it to see what they had in the way of food.

As we walked in, we saw all the CMs just standing around. Obviously, this place wasn't busy late in the afternoon. We made our orders. . .yes, they had salads, and then we stood and talked to the CMs for a while. They were all very nice. One saw NIkki's birthday button and drug her over to a phone where Goofy wished her a Happy Birthday. I stood and talked to the CMs. They offered me a chance to hula hoop. . .for a cookie. Umm, ok. . .free cookie. . .bring it on. I hulaed, but not for long. Then, they offered the option to Nikki.

The CMs were very fun to talk to. We talked about all kinds of sports and where the CMs were from. It was fun.

We took our lunch and sat down to eat and make a plan for the rest of the day.

Oh our way out, Nikki saw the Star Wars scooter, so we stopped to shot a few pictures and shop in the store.

We decided we had time to go back to ToT and RnRC before we had to head over the MK for the Main Street Electrical Parade. (Nikki knew that was something that was very important to me. It was on my list of MUST DOs at Disney especially since they extended its stay!)

The waits were nearly non-existent. We sailed through the waiting area for ToT, but were stopped just outside the door into the building. Not too bad.

I think the themeing/decorating in ToT is one of the best! I just love all the little details they include to make the place look abandoned and spooky!

I tried to get pictures inside the ride, but my camera was having trouble with no flash and a dark ride. Here are the mysterious people who were lost:

After the ride (which is awesome every time!), we headed out. Outside, Nikki spotted a coffee stand which she decided she needed. I shot some pictures of the ToT building. It is so detailed and awesome! Just look:

Once Nikki got her coffee, we walked over to see the wait at RnRC. It wasn't bad. I think we decided to do the single rider line again. While we waited, Nikki finished her coffee. Of course, riding RnRC is also awesome every time. . .Yes, this ride was better for me. I had no camera out. I just enjoyed the ride! LOVE it!

We still had time before we had to go to MK, so we headed across the park again! Yeah, we did that a lot!

 

[hollisterluva92]

Hey Kristin, i'm Deva! I'm totally in! I love your TR so far!!! I cannot wait until I can go back next year!!!! Love all of the updates and shopping pics!!!!

 

[IheartDDuck]

Great update. Can't wait to hear about the Main Street Electrical Parade. I love that parade and it reminds me so much of my first trips to the World.

 

[Belle_princess]

Hey Kristin, i'm Deva! I'm totally in! I love your TR so far!!! I cannot wait until I can go back next year!!!! Love all of the updates and shopping pics!!!!

Deva! I'm so glad you are here! We had so much fun at Disney, and I know you will, too, when you get to go back!

Great update. Can't wait to hear about the Main Street Electrical Parade. I love that parade and it reminds me so much of my first trips to the World.

Thanks! The MSEP was AWESOME! I have so many pictures!! We truly enjoyed it. It will be a special memory of this trip for me!!

 

[tinkgurl]

Those treats look so gooooood! You have me drooling!

 

[Belle_princess]

Those treats look so gooooood! You have me drooling!

Hi The treats were delicious! Wish I could have one of those cookies now!

 

[Belle_princess]

Hello! I'm sorry for the lack of updates, but it has been really busy here! A new part-time along with some freelance web design has really sucked up my time!!

When I left you, Nikki and I were headed across the park to see the Muppets 3-D show. I'd heard it had been refurbished, and I wanted to see it.

On the way, we stopped to take pictures with this guy.

and saw this amazing flower:

We saw the Muppets show, but it didn't look any different to me. OH well. You can't go wrong with the Muppets!! As we were leaving the show on our way to the Muppet Store, it had started to rain a little and the line for these guys was short!!!

The last time I was at Disney, the line to see Mater and Lightning was so long that I opted out. This time, not so much! We were waiting our turn as we talked to a CM and was looking at his Pins. Nikki and I traded (I think), and we were holding up the not-so-long-line. The lady behind us was kinda rude trying to either push us on or go ahead of us. We quickly finished with the CM and met the characters. Geez, lady! Yeah, it is raining, and yeah, you have grandkids that want to meet Mater and Lightning, but we are all in the same boat. Chill. . .you are on vacation!

We finished up with Mater and Lightning, and headed to the Muppets store.

Do you see Mickey's pants mixed in there???

Good ole Rizzo! Great stuff. . .

I LOVE the Muppet movie, and these are images from that movie (you know, at the end where they are finally in Hollywood making their movie!) Ok, nostalgia minute is over!

After our shopping excursion, we headed toward the exit. However, we had to try to find some more CMs with pins. We stopped in a coffee shop but were informed CMs that work with food aren't allowed to have pins. Good to know! We headed toward the exit, stopped at the back of the hat to shot a picture of GMR and, of course, check CM pins!

We meandered through several stores on our way out of the park. . .no, we weren't looking for pins! (Are we sad or what???)

We left DHS walking toward the bus stops. I guess we looked lost because a CM asked if he could help. We asked for a bus to MK. He motioned to the nearest stop! SCORE! WE got in line and waited. As we waited, it started raining, so the people in line broke the line up and we all waited under the awning to stay dry. The rain stopped for a while, so we reconnected the line only to stand in the next shower awaiting the bus. Oh well. (I was worried because it was getting closer and closer to the time of the parade at MK!!!) It seemed to take forever, but a bus finally came. It took us to the TTC where we jumped on the Monorail to MK.

We got into MK only to see people sitting on the curbs of Main Street ready for the parade. I figured we'd have a better opportunity to find good seats in Frontierland, so I was making my way through the people. Nikki stopped me and pulled me off the street in front of two of the cute Pumpkin head Scarecrows. There was a little space where we could see because the people sitting on the curb had parked their stroller there. Perfect! We got a spot on Main Street for the Main Street Electrical Parade! It turned out to be a great place to view the parade because no guests could stop in front of us with the stroller there!!

The parade was so magical! I'd grown up with the music because I had an old Disney tape that had it on there. Nikki remembered seeing the parade when she was young visiting Disney WOrld with her family! The first chords of the music sounded, and by Disney magic, Nikki and I went from being in our 30s to being about 10! It was wonderful!

(more pictures of MSEP to come!)

 

[Belle_princess]

continued from last post

One of the most important reasons I wanted to see this parade (aside from the fact I'd never seen it and was ecstatic that Disney extended its stay!) was the fact that I KNEW it had Elliot the dragon in it! This is the only place you can even see Elliot (from Pete's Dragon). Pete's Dragon was a very dear favorite of my family when I was growing up. In fact, my parents wanted my brother and I to come up with a code word that would be our word. That way, if something happened to my parents and someone else had to come get us, we were only to go with them if they knew the code word. The code word we chose: ELLIOT because of how much we loved Pete's Dragon! I really wanted to see Elliot with Pete on his back! It was so magical for me when he came around the corner!

This is Pete in his 'new clothes' with the shoes that shine! (Um, yeah, I watched that movie too many times! Still love it!)

Look, he even has the lamp held by his tail! I LOVE THIS!

After the parade, we decided not to stay for Wishes because Nikki was anxious to get to EPCOT for the EMH. She said she went one time and there was almost no one there. Plus, if we waited to see Wishes, the buses/monorail would be packed. We headed out and on the Monorail to the TTC and then a monorail to EPCOT!

Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen! For those of you with a keen eye, we hit three parks in one day! WOW! Not bad for starting with a character breakfast!

Once we were at EPCOT, our first stop was Finding Nemo. I had no ridden it yet! (In all those days and times at EPCOT, I still hadn't had a chance!) We jumped on the ride with no wait at all! It was cute, but a little underwhelming to me. Bummer.

We watched the animals in the aquarium for a bit and Nikki even found a Hidden Mickey! (She was so excited!)

Then, we played in the learning area after the ride waiting to see Turtle Talk with Crush! We LOVED that! It was so adorable! I videoed the whole thing, so I don't have any pictures! Lots of fun, though! It is incredible the way they do that! However they animate and make Crush work, he really seems real! Thumbs up, Disney! WE LOVED TURTLE TALK!

We shopped a little, and NIkki and I recreated a photo that her phone had lost from a previous day

By this time, we were starving! Our salads from DHS had hit bottom. We decided to head to the Land Pavilion and get some food. Nikki got a salad, and I had some water- I was so thirsty but not as hungry. We sat and relaxed for a little while. After we finished, we noticed the Land ride had no line, so we jumped aboard.

Nikki and I had both ridden this ride, but it had been years for both of us.

We rode the all the educational stuff at the beginning and then into the green house (which was really dark since it was night)

I want some of these in my house- revolving herbs!!

Yep- another Hidden Mickey! Nikki and I spotted it at the same time yelling out that it was there. It was a good thing we had the boat to ourselves!!

As the ride ended, Nikki and I discussed what we remembered. Neither of us remembered the educational stuff at the beginning or the end. We only remembered the green house stuff and the growing of plants in new and unique ways! How funny that we both filtered out the borring parts and remembered the same 'interesting' parts!

We headed out of the Land Pavilion to. . .

 

[IheartDDuck]

Love the pictures of the MSEP. Elliot was always my favorite part of that parade too! We used to watch Pete's Dragon constantly when I was a kid. One of my favorites.