PRINCESS Palooza 2011! 9/9 Update: Departure Day

[Yzerbear19]

We love DL and have enjoyed the character meals there as well. I reall like Goofy's Kitchen since the characters are sort of a surprise. You never know who might be there. We haven't done the Plaza in some time, but plan to next time we get out there. And Katie and I had a lovely lunch at Ariel's Grotto on our Summer 2010 trip. I just wish there were more character meals there. We really enjoy staying in a Disney resort, playing in the parks, and eating with the characters. For us, it truly is ALL immersive (is that a word????)

One time we ate at Goofy's Kitchen, there were NINE characters that came to our table that night!

The last time we went in April 2008 I think we had like 9-10 characters that stopped by our table at the Plaza Inn including the Fairy Godmother. It was awesome. We did Goofy's Kitchen last time and didn't really care for the food. It had been for dinner, but we decided to skip it this time. The characters were fun though. I think we saw like 6-7 characters there.

 

[mom2rtk]

The last time we went in April 2008 I think we had like 9-10 characters that stopped by our table at the Plaza Inn including the Fairy Godmother. It was awesome. We did Goofy's Kitchen last time and didn't really care for the food. It had been for dinner, but we decided to skip it this time. The characters were fun though. I think we saw like 6-7 characters there.

Of course, I'm sorry to tell you that wasn't the REAL Fairy Godmother. Because you now she's just at WDW, right? I really want to do the Plaza Inn. Do they have ADR times before park opening? I never did figure that out before our last trip and we never ate there.

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Sorry Janet! I got a couple of updates behind. Life's been busy!

As usual, all your pictures are wonderful! That picture of the reflection in the bakery window on Main Street... AWESOME! You have a real talent. I know I tell you that over and over, but you really do. I loved all the MK pictures though. Looks like a wonderful morning you guys had.

I'd like to know the mystery of the family of the day too. It does always seem to be that perfect family of four. I want to know what you have to do to get picked. There must be some secret to it.

Your morning pics of Pop are great too. I did some of that early morning sneaking out for pics also and am so glad I did. It's a great time to get some nice shots without people in them.

 

[babynala]

Hmmm, I never really thought about how the view from Dumbo would change when they moved it to the new Fantasyland. I was just thinking that with 2 the line would be shorter and that would be a good thing. We were there in October but there were some scrims up near Dumbo and the construction made the view less then stellar. My DH did enjoy getting a peak at what was going on in the construction area. That is a great shot of Fantasyland in the dark from Dumbo.

 

[francis6306]

I'll PM you on the 12th!



One time we ate at Goofy's Kitchen, there were NINE characters that came to our table that night!

Sounds good!! And NINE characters? Wow! That is so cool! I wonder how Cortlyn would do with Characters now… The girl LOVES her some fireworks after watching Illuminations at EPCOT.

 

[mom2rtk]

Sorry Janet! I got a couple of updates behind. Life's been busy!

As usual, all your pictures are wonderful! That picture of the reflection in the bakery window on Main Street... AWESOME! You have a real talent. I know I tell you that over and over, but you really do. I loved all the MK pictures though. Looks like a wonderful morning you guys had.

I'd like to know the mystery of the family of the day too. It does always seem to be that perfect family of four. I want to know what you have to do to get picked. There must be some secret to it.

Your morning pics of Pop are great too. I did some of that early morning sneaking out for pics also and am so glad I did. It's a great time to get some nice shots without people in them.

What a sweetie. Thanks for the kind words. It really was a great morning. One of the best mornings I've had in a long time. 09 it was ugly hot, last year bitter cold every day. This was probably my first "just right" MK morning since 08. Absolutely heavenly! It did warm up close to 80 that afternoon, which slides it into the "hot" category in MY book....... but not bad at all.

I do read stories occasionally about them choosing someone other than a mom, dad and 2 or 3 kids, but not very often. I watched reports all last year on the DIS.... you know...... to prepare for this trip..........

Hmmm, I never really thought about how the view from Dumbo would change when they moved it to the new Fantasyland. I was just thinking that with 2 the line would be shorter and that would be a good thing. We were there in October but there were some scrims up near Dumbo and the construction made the view less then stellar. My DH did enjoy getting a peak at what was going on in the construction area. That is a great shot of Fantasyland in the dark from Dumbo.

Thanks for the kind comment. That's one of my favorite photos ever, and I pretty much just got lucky. We were trying to be ON Dumbo during Wishes, and I was ticked we had just missed. I'm glad now we did.

I'll try Dumbo out when we go back, but I'm not holding out too much hope. I do think the view will be too different for me. But we'll see. Maybe the view of the finished new Fantasyland will surprise me.

Sounds good!! And NINE characters? Wow! That is so cool! I wonder how Cortlyn would do with Characters now… The girl LOVES her some fireworks after watching Illuminations at EPCOT.

Well, if you guys want to hang with us, she's going to have to be over her character phobia. I'm guessing it was just her age. Tell her she has to set a good example for her sister! They all do go through something at that age though don't they?

Yeah for loving Illuminations! Tell her she's seen it more than I have now!

Yep........ I did it again.......... completely shortchanged Epcot.

 

[Scraps-of-heaven]

More please.... Reading your report is like a mini trip to Disney and I really need an escape from these kids who have been home on Christmas break for WAY too long.

 

[francis6306]

Well, if you guys want to hang with us, she's going to have to be over her character phobia. I'm guessing it was just her age. Tell her she has to set a good example for her sister! They all do go through something at that age though don't they?

Yeah for loving Illuminations! Tell her she's seen it more than I have now!

Yep........ I did it again.......... completely shortchanged Epcot.

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?

Okay, well, now I want to make you camp out at EPCOT to make sure you see it!!!! Scrap that DL trip!!!

She was so weird about the characters. I think she needed to see Daisy and Minnie to be okay with the rest of them, because the LAST day (after ALL THOSE CHARACTER MEALS!!!!!!!) we were parked over at Camp Minnie-Mickey and met every single character there was! I plan on showing her all the fun, smiling character pictures over and over again before our next trip! I'm sure she will be fine!

 

[mom2rtk]

More please.... Reading your report is like a mini trip to Disney and I really need an escape from these kids who have been home on Christmas break for WAY too long.

LOL! So you're saying I shouldn't have sat around eating bon bons all day today?? Of course, Gretchen is the only one here who knows I spent 6 hours finishing an Aurora gown early today, then a few more hours cleaning 20 years of ...... unmentionables........ from under our old fridge so the new one can be delivered tomorrow.

Your break is coming....... tomorrow if I'm not mistaken. When you can sit around and eat a few bon bons of your own! I have to say..... getting 2 of 3 kids out the door to school last week DID help my frame of mind. I never wanted to be the mom who celebrated when the kids went back to school..... but man..... that was a long break........

Alas, I think it will be a couple more days until I get get another update posted. We'll see......

 

[mom2rtk]

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?

Okay, well, now I want to make you camp out at EPCOT to make sure you see it!!!! Scrap that DL trip!!!

She was so weird about the characters. I think she needed to see Daisy and Minnie to be okay with the rest of them, because the LAST day (after ALL THOSE CHARACTER MEALS!!!!!!!) we were parked over at Camp Minnie-Mickey and met every single character there was! I plan on showing her all the fun, smiling character pictures over and over again before our next trip! I'm sure she will be fine!

I know.... I know......... but will you still be my friend?????? We had one day planned at Epcot and it rained all day so we really shortchanged it again. Of course, it doesn't help that we keep going to late night parties at the MK on our trips, so I never want to be out late at another park.

I remember reading about the character issues in your TR. Man, she was just taunting you on that last day. I bet she'll be ready to roll on this next trip. Stock up on autograph books!

We did Camp Minnie-Mickey the day we left this time, and got to see tons of characters too. Did she "get" the autograph thing?

 

[Scraps-of-heaven]

LOL! So you're saying I shouldn't have sat around eating bon bons all day today?? Of course, Gretchen is the only one here who knows I spent 6 hours finishing an Aurora gown early today, then a few more hours cleaning 20 years of ...... unmentionables........ from under our old fridge so the new one can be delivered tomorrow.

Your break is coming....... tomorrow if I'm not mistaken. When you can sit around and eat a few bon bons of your own! I have to say..... getting 2 of 3 kids out the door to school last week DID help my frame of mind. I never wanted to be the mom who celebrated when the kids went back to school..... but man..... that was a long break........

Alas, I think it will be a couple more days until I get get another update posted. We'll see......

Okay, I guess I can hold off a couple more days. :0) My Bon Bons will have to be eaten while I create 25 custom club Valentine outfits tomorrow though. No rest for the working Mama's.

I'll definitely take my Valentine customs over cleaning under the fridge though!

 

[mom2rtk]

Okay, I guess I can hold off a couple more days. :0) My Bon Bons will have to be eaten while I create 25 custom club Valentine outfits tomorrow though. No rest for the working Mama's.

I'll definitely take my Valentine customs over cleaning under the fridge though!

Your instincts are good, especially considering that you didn't even SEE under that fridge.

 

[dara00]

hey Janet, speaking of that family of the day thing...so I think I might stay for one more day at the MK with just the kids. (brave, I know). this will entail taking dh to the car care center at 6 am so he can get a car to go to tampa. which means I can be at mk very very early. any chance of a mom w 3 kids being the family of the day? also, is there anything to eat for breakfast outside the park at that hour?

 

[mom2rtk]

hey Janet, speaking of that family of the day thing...so I think I might stay for one more day at the MK with just the kids. (brave, I know). this will entail taking dh to the car care center at 6 am so he can get a car to go to tampa. which means I can be at mk very very early. any chance of a mom w 3 kids being the family of the day? also, is there anything to eat for breakfast outside the park at that hour?

You know, I think as long as you can take your time and plan which rides you can do with the 3 kids, you'll be just fine. You'll probably have a grand time. Heck, do the rides while DH is along, and spend the day alone with the kids character huntin and watching the shows and parades. I think that's a great plan and would make your day with DH a lot less rushed. That's really not vastly different from what we did on this trip. That first day with my husband along we did rides, then the characters and stuff when it was girls only.

Sadly enough, I think you stand a better chance at FOTD if you have your DH along. Which is hard I know, because mine would never want to get there early enough for that.

And prepare in advance. There is nothing right outside the park to eat. So put some snacks in your bag and you'll be good to go!

 

[dara00]

well I guess we could just go back to the hotel to get ready after we leave him then! and eat there. (we're staying at the country inn & suites).

and yes, I plan to not worry so much about missing stuff that first day and then on the 2nd we'll do what the kids want, plus whatever priorities we might have missed!

 

[francis6306]

I know.... I know......... but will you still be my friend?????? We had one day planned at Epcot and it rained all day so we really shortchanged it again. Of course, it doesn't help that we keep going to late night parties at the MK on our trips, so I never want to be out late at another park.

I remember reading about the character issues in your TR. Man, she was just taunting you on that last day. I bet she'll be ready to roll on this next trip. Stock up on autograph books!

We did Camp Minnie-Mickey the day we left this time, and got to see tons of characters too. Did she "get" the autograph thing?

I'll let it slide… this time. But by golly, if you go to WDW again and miss it then we will have to have a serious discussion!

We didn't bother with the autograph thing and honestly, I'm not 100% I'd be willing to do it with another toddler in tow. I'll probably see if Cortlyn wants to do it. I was already carrying so much and with her flipflopping on the characters… it wasn't worth it yet. If she wants to do it, then we will let HER carry it in a backpack or something. who am I kidding?!?!

 

[jenseib]

I'll let it slide… this time. But by golly, if you go to WDW again and miss it then we will have to have a serious discussion!

We didn't bother with the autograph thing and honestly, I'm not 100% I'd be willing to do it with another toddler in tow. I'll probably see if Cortlyn wants to do it. I was already carrying so much and with her flipflopping on the characters… it wasn't worth it yet. If she wants to do it, then we will let HER carry it in a backpack or something. who am I kidding?!?!

Claire was 4 before we did the autograph books. Now she likes them, but before that, she really didn't know any different. But She knew by the time we went when she was 4 and it was a big thrill for her. I already have one bought for our upcoming cruise, though I guess we coul've probably reused the last one. I don't think we got "that many" signatures in it yet.

 

[scrapbookersdis]

That's a real contest-winner!

I guess from here on out, I'll just have to remember Dumbo the way it was in the summer of 09 in one of my favorite Disney shots ever:


Dumbo DELIGHT! by mom2rtk, on Flickr

 

[francis6306]

Claire was 4 before we did the autograph books. Now she likes them, but before that, she really didn't know any different. But She knew by the time we went when she was 4 and it was a big thrill for her. I already have one bought for our upcoming cruise, though I guess we coul've probably reused the last one. I don't think we got "that many" signatures in it yet.

Well, that makes sense. I think she would have wanted to sit down and color with the characters if she had a book at 2.5…

 

[joy13]

I'm late on reading your update. Those scrims weren't up around the carosel when we were there. Wonder what they were doing? Sounds like you had a very nice morning!