Princess-tastic Bday PLUS MNSSHP Date**Updates 1/16 Final Update

[ElsasMom]

Go here for my PTR: PTR Princess-Tastic BFF Birthday Bash

Index of our Adventure:
Meet the Adventurers!
AOA Arrival
Good Morning Disney!
Magical Morning
Having Adventures & Making a Splash
The Wildest Ride in the Wilderness
Bumps in the Road
Time to Boogie!
Only Shoot Targets

Real Life Update

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo! Part 1
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo! Part 2
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo! Part 3
Castle Couture Photo Shoot
Dinner in the Castle Part 1
Dinner in Castle Part 2
Dinner in the Castle Part 3
Almost There!
End of our Park Day
Good Morning Disney

Disney Double Date to MNSSHP
MNSSHP!!
Jack & Sally
Let's Get on Some Rides
Ghosts & Fireworks
Boo to You Part 2
When it Rains in Space
See Ya Real Soon

Here are the birthday princesses:

RR & BB have been BFFs since they were tiny babies. They were born 20days apart and this year they both turn 5!

We booked a room at AOA on 9/16 with plans drive up early that morning, but in the weeks before we added 9/15 too. That way we could drive up the night before our park day and get to MK for rope drop!


We packed up the car and donned our pretty sparkly Magic Bands:

Here's the tutorial (SUPER EASY): http://www.disabledmom.com/2014/09/diy-magic-band-decorating.html

We hit the road after we picked the girls up from school

Are they not the cutest little road trip-ers ever?

My cousin dubbed this beloved landmark "the obvious Mickey"

Who's in?

 

[ElsasMom]

Meet The Birthday Adventurers!

RR
Stats: Age: Just turned 5
Number of Disney Trips: This is her 5th
Favorite Park: MK
Favorite Ride: Splash Mountain
Favorite Movie: Little Mermaid & Frozen
Favorite Disney Food: Mickey Bars!

BB
Stats: Just about to turn 5
Number of Disney Trips: This is her 6th
Favorite Park: MK
Favorite Ride: Splash Mountain
Favorite Movie: Brave & Beauty & the Beast
Favorite Disney food: Cinnamon roll from Gaston's Tavern

D
Stats: BB's Mom
Number of Disney trips: Under 10
Favorite Park: Tie between MK & Epcot
Favorite Ride: Soarin'
Favorite Movie: ?
Favorite Disney Food:Cinnamon roll from Gaston's Tavern

Me
Stats: RR's Mom
Number of Disney Trips: More than I can count
Favorite Park: Epcot
Favorite Ride: BTMRR
Favorite Movie: Sleeping Beauty & Cinderella
Favorite Disney Food: Clock Strikes Midnight dessert at CRT

This trip was huge for me because several Disney bucket list items were accomplished: Staying on property, Seeing rope drop show, Eating in the Castle to name a few.

We started planning our surprise trip for the girls in February. We booked a "Magic Your Way" package through a TA. The package gave us a night at AOA, our park tickets, Deluxe Dinning Plan (for CRT) and Memory Maker. I booked our reservations for BBB & CRT in March.

In early Sept we told the girls about the trip by giving them the shirts in D's picture. Here's the tutorial for those: Disney Shirts Tutorial In early Sept we also added an additional night to our AOA stay, which would prove to be the root of most of our bumps in the road on the trip.

We had FPs for Splash Mountain, BTMRR & Under the Sea-Journey of the Little Mermaid. We changed them quite a bit, but never scored one for the Mine Train or E&A like we'd hoped for.

Now that you're up to speed on the back story, let's get down to business! (Are you singing "To defeat the Huns!" I totally am).

 

[ElsasMom]

When I glanced back at my TR and saw no replies I got the Aladdin quote "I can see that you're only interested in the exceptionally rare." which is a bit random I know, but I figure my TRs (granted this is only my second one ever) are on the boring side compared to the seasoned Dis-ers. On plus side my kid is cute and I have TONS of pictures!

So, ONWARD! Did I mention I've never stayed on property before? I was bursting when I saw this...



And this!



Anyway, HOLY DISNEY BUBBLE , BATMAN! For years and years I've heard people go on and on about the "Disney Bubble" and I totally didn't get it. I mean isn't WDW enough? Here we were not even out of the car yet and I was at Disney!

When we got out of the car there were CMs greeting us, Nemo themed games (like toss the ring around the seagulls) and easels for drawing!

I took a deep breath and entered the lobby. It was pretty empty thank goodness because the birthday princesses were stir crazy and excited!



Time to get all checked in...

A nice young man told us we didn't have to change rooms for our second night! Woohoo! Birthday Buttons were dispersed!



And then the confusion started...

The package we bought through the TA (covering our second night) was in D.'s name, but I had booked the night we were checking in for at the moment. He even produced a second plain gray set of Magic Bands. Sigh, no thanks, I mean have you SEEN ours?!?

At one point he shook his head and said "We never recommend going through a TA". I wish I could accurately describe the feeling of dread that befell me at that moment. He explained how issues from TA mistakes are harder to fix, but anything booked directly though Disney leaves a trail and is easily corrected. If I had only known then what I know now...(we'll get to all that in a bit). He assured us that all was well, we'd have everything combined on our pretty Magic Bands no problem. However, we could not access anything, but our room the first night and so no cups!

He even double checked with a manager to make sure he had given us the correct information. The manager was not so...filled with Disney magic. He gave us the box of plain gray bands, rather than throw them away.

Then he took out the little map and drew an X on the lobby and he said "You're going to swim down the EAC, cross the lion's pride and then go under Ursula."



D. turned to me (you should know I'm the worst at directions. THE WORST.) and said, "I hope you were listening because I have no idea how to get to the room." I laughed and said "Are you kidding?!? We swim down the EAC, cross the lion's pride and then go under Ursula. I'll never forget those directions as long as I live. If all hotels gave directions in Disney landmarks I'd never get lost."

She laughed and said "Lead the way Dory!"

And the true sign that you've arrived at a Disney hotel...Towel Mickey!!



Here is the bathroom wall to which both girls exclaimed "Treasures untold! It's treasures untold!!" I dare anyone to go in that bathroom and NOT sing.




We were pretty tired from the trip and all the excitement, but before we went to bed I had to acquire a coffee mug. D thoughtfully brought a single cup coffee maker, but I neglected to pack my travel mug (oops ). We assumed we'd have our resort mugs, but since that was a no go just yet I had to acquire a new Disney mug (twist my arm, LOL).

My options:



Truthfully, my favorite was the sleepy Tink all the way, but Ariel was slightly cheaper and that way I could remember the Ariel room when I caffeinated in the future.

With my mug acquired and alarms set, it was bed time! Somehow, it was already after 10pm and we wanted to watch the park open in the morning.

 

[PrincePluto]

Subbing!

I like to respond to Trip Report writers, because I know the feeling of not getting responses when you spend so much time composing text and inserting just the right pictures to tell the story, and not knowing if people like it. I know, my last TR, I got a few thousand views, but less than a dozen replies!

But enough about me, now to go back and read what you've typed so far...

 

[nataliej_vk]

Very excited to read your birthday trip tips! This year when we go in 48 days we are celebrating my 7 year olds bday (a few months late but I'm not going in June! I'd die of heat stroke)

 

[hotveggy]

We LOVE AoA! We are staying there for the 3rd time in January...
Enjoying reading along.

 

[ElsasMom]

Welcome Everyone!

PrincePluto: Thanks that makes me feel a lot better!

nataliej_vk: Birthdays at Disney are the BEST!! They know how to make a kid feel special. You're wise to avoid the heat we were melting on our trip in mid-Sept.

hotveggy: AOA was awesome! The perfect choice I have tons of AOA pictures coming up later.

 

[ElsasMom]

I woke up in my clam shell bed before the alarm, I was to excited to sleep any later! I put on my purple tank top and braided my hair with some flower barrettes I borrowed from RR for a little Rapunzel Disney bounding action.

Everyone else was up before I tied my shoes. Why did we even bother with an alarm? The girls donned their matching homemade Disney birthday shirts and pink shorts. We did a braid for BB with my Anna bow on top and pink A&E ribbon at the bottom. RR requested a Cinderella Bun which I tied with pink A&E ribbon.

Here's the Cinderella Bun

It's super easy. Here's the tutorial: http://www.princesshairstyles.com/2009/10/cinderella-hairstyle.html

We all ate some Nutragrain bars & fruit & packed up our Uncrustables & Lunchables for later (thank goodness!-food drama ahead) & headed for the buses.


Let's do this!!

Waiting for the bus in their royal birthday carriage (aka D's sit and stand). We decked it out, not subtle is it? LOL


I was sooooooooooo excited for my first ride on the bus! I was like "Girls we're going to Disney! Waiting for the Disney bus! Woohoo!" and they were giving me the expressions in the next picture.



And then it came!!




The girls doing a fireworks high five on the bus


Next stop...Rope Drop!

 

[luckylady]

What. Cute shirts and love the stroller all decked out.

 

[Iloveyoumost]

Hi! The girls are adorable and I love their shirts and the "carriage." We will be surprising our daughter with her first ever Disney trip in less than 2 months to celebrate her 5th birthday! In the mean time I'll be following along to see how your girls went.

 

[ElsasMom]

Welcome!

Thanks! luckylady I love to get festive.

Iloveyoumost, thanks for joining me. I hope I make your final countdown to Disney more fun.

I popped back over to WDW on Friday to do my first ever MNSSHP just a Disney date with DH.

Soooooo fun! Now back to this TR...

 

[ElsasMom]

After we got off the bus D. gave me push up the hill and handed me all the bags so she could get the girls a spot to watch the show. I thought I was a bag ninja with everything balanced just so, but when they handed them back D.'s purse contents started to spill out and I made a grab causing a bag avalanche!

Luckily, more than one nice family lent a hand and we got everything situated again, just in time!

(Unfortunately, I opted not to carry my camera case to save a little room in my bag so the lens kept fogging up from the contrast between the air-conditioned room and bus to the hot humid morning air. So my rope drop shots are all a bit cloudy even after editing).

We saw: Lady Tremaine, Anastasia, Drizella, Alice, the White Rabbit, Mary Poppins, Minnie, Mickey, Anna & Elsa, Chip & Dale, Pluto, Snow White and Stitch.

Mickey says come on in!

Yay our first (and probably last) rope drop show. The fireworks at the end were a thrill for the girls. Next we followed the rapidly dispersing crowd on their way in and happily all four magic bands turned Mickey green!

Next stop talking Mickey (another first for all of us). We had heavily debated what the first stop of the day should be. Since we couldn't get FPs we initially thought Mine Train, but in our final planning meeting we decided having Mickey sing happy birthday to you first thing on your special birthday trip was the way to go.
Since they let us in a little early we hopped in the tiny line and had to wait for Mickey to get there.

Picking a page in the autograph book I made her for Mickey to sign. RR's never asked characters for their autographs before. Serious business.

McDuck's safe! The CM said if you sing to it it might open. We tried, but no luck.

Almost...

And then is was our turn!!!!

After he said how happy he was to see them, he sang happy birthday!

And the girls loved it! (You can really see the embossed Minnie on her autograph book in this one, Thanks PP Lady)

It was a magical visit!

 

[ElsasMom]

I forgot to mention, while we were in line for Mickey we wrote our cell phone numbers on the inside bottom (like cross your leg over your knee) in Sharpie just in case. It wipes off with nail polish remover later. I even forgot for several days and it still came off. Just thought those of you traveling with little ones might like that idea.

After Mickey we headed of towards Adventure Land, but we made a stop on Main Street first and it's not what you think...

Halloween Minnie!

Halloween & Minnie Mouse are two of RR's favorite things in the world! I love the attitude in this one!

When we got to Adventure Land there was a good surprise (no line for Aladdin) & a not so good one (No Jasmine). We loved Aladdin though what a goof ball! He told us Abu was climbing around in the Swiss Family Robinson Tree House. He told them there were bananas up there and asked if they liked bananas. RR nodded, but BB replied "No! I like...um...APPPLES!!" It cracked him up.

After our visit with Aladdin we headed over to Frontier land for our first FP, Splash Mountain!!

As you can see RR was super excited, but BB was a little worried! They all refused to sit in the front row with me! It was the girls' first time.

Ride photos are one of the best things about Memory Maker!
In the end Splash Mountain was a favorite they asked to go back on it all day!

 

[estephenson]

Love that the girls were up for splash mountain! My DD4 is talking a big game right now, will be interesting to see what she actually goes on and what she chickens out for!

 

[luckylady]

What great interaction they had with Aladdin. Brave girls to ride a Splash. Love the ride hate the drop.

 

[ElsasMom]

Love that the girls were up for splash mountain! My DD4 is talking a big game right now, will be interesting to see what she actually goes on and what she chickens out for!

There was a lot of flip flopping before we left. In fact D told me to change my Big Thunder FPs because there was no way BB would ever ride it & BB decided at the last minute she would. It probably helped that they could talk each other into it though.

What great interaction they had with Aladdin. Brave girls to ride a Splash. Love the ride hate the drop.

Aladdin was a hoot! I didn't even mention his Abu impression, as you can see it was a big hit. I'm with you about Splash Mountain fun ride, not my favorite drop.

 

[ElsasMom]

Without missing a beat it was off to our next fast pass! BTM my all time favorite ever. RR has been on it once before, but BB had refused to go when we were planning the trip and only in the last days before the trip agreed to give it a whirl.

Me & RR off to our favorite ride

The girls loved Big Thunder and who could blame them? It's the BEST ever. When we got off the the wildest ride in the wilderness we hopped in line for Woody & Jessie.

At this point D was wilting and liberated an uncrustable from the cooler and sat in the shade while the girls and I (all amped up from the ride held our spot in line).

The line wasn't horrible, but as you'll see from my pictures (the PP photographer took a hike right before our turn ) it was in direct sunlight with very little shade. It was getting pretty toasty.

The girls looking for pages for Woody & Jessie to sign while we waited. They look so grown up here!

And then we got to the front of the line and they gave the "Woody & Jessie have to go check on Bullseye" speech, but they didn't actually leave?!? Maybe they thought a break was in order until Photo Pass came back, but changed their minds or maybe we were the last visitors?

Autographs! I love how thoughtfully Jessie's reading.

Hugs!

I tried to get Riley to tell Woody he had a snake in his boot, but no dice.

 

[ElsasMom]

After our visit with Woody & Jessie it was time to potty and re-fuel. We decided to hit Gaston's Tavern back in Fantasy Land. I'd never eaten there before. I've gotten a cup of ice or filled my water bottle at the water fountains & of course used the bathroom there. I've said it before & I'll say it again, it my favorite bathroom in MK.

We split up, D. went to order some cinnamon rolls. She'd really talked them up so I was excited. Some time went by & the girls got antsy, despite my best efforts to keep them at the table, first one then the other wandered over to D. The counter was not visible to me at all, but I could hear them. When they had gone between us a few times I started to worry because the line wasn't that long.

When D. finally got to the table she looked flustered, but the girls were hungry so we cut the each of our cinnamon rolls in half & served the girls. She also got a Lefou's Brew (which I immediately recognized from reading Dis board TRs) & an extra cup so the girls could split it.

Once the girls were happily stuffing their faces D. gave me the run down. Remember all the hub bub when we checked in? Well guess what they never did? I bet those of you who have had dining plans already know.

This was our first time EVER having a dining plan. We purchased Deluxe Dining (for dinner at CRT). Because of all the confusion tacking another night's stay onto our package caused we didn't even set a pin! That's right we were in MK with a dining plan it's approaching afternoon and we have no way to use it. AWESOME.

The CM at Gaston's took pity on the poor flustered woman with two birthday girls & just gave D. the food she ordered. The CM told her she had to go to City Hall to set a pin.

While we ate D. sent a text to the TA who should have warned us to make sure we had a pin. Anyway, things happen we were at Disney!

I finished my food & left D. with the girls to go to my favorite bathroom. On my way I passed Gaston himself. When the bathroom door started to open & shut a few times I assumed a little one was struggling to escape. I asked if anyone needed help, but there was no reply. I gave the handle a tug & a little one in an Anna dress appeared & I heard her Dad tell her to "Close the door!" Oops! My daughter always tries to throw open bathroom doors before I'm done. I totally get it.

When I came out of the bathroom D. & the girls were waiting where Gaston had been earlier. D. started to tell me something about how they missed Gaston because RR wasn't following directions. I assumed she was still flustered from the dining plan issue & was frustrated that we had missed something. I suggested we head over to get a spot for Move it, Shake it, Celebrate it. At that point she snapped "you're not listening to me" & stood up.

I was confused. I wasn't sure what I had done wrong, but there's no being upset at Disney?!?! We started walking back towards the castle at that point. We still had a little time so we decided to ride the carousel. I couldn't remember where the accessible entrance for this one was (& I was a little nervous about mounting a horse on my own aka without DH to throw me on) so I got in the regular line. And in a few feet...

CLANG!

I was stuck. I couldn't go any further, no one could get around me & I had no idea how to escape! Sigh... After a minute a CM appeared & helped me get out & pointed me to the exit. When I turned around the CM had vanished. So, we sat at the exit waiting & trying to stay out of the way but visible should a CM choose to acknowledge us at some point. I was completely annoyed

D. tried again to tell me what happened while I was in the bathroom. Apparently RR had pitched a little fit & been pretty rude/defiant. Unfortunately, as I took that in my frustration at the current situation overwhelmed me & (I know it was horrible in hind sight) I cut her off to say "Jeez! Isn't anyone going to come let us on?" to which she replied "I give up!" At that point, I felt awful! First, my kid acts like a brat the minute I'm out of sight & then I come off as completely dismissive to my BFF! Un-Cool! But there was no time to discuss it right then.

We got on & the girls went opposite directions so I stayed with RR & D was a few rows back with BB. Now that I had a grasp on the situation I felt really bad & I was stressed about the dining plan issue. On the plus side, I did manage to get on my horse!

While we waited for the ride to start RR & I talked about her behavior. She "threw her bad attitude away" & promised to apologize to D.

When we got off the carousel we all mended fences. Phew! Before we got more than a few steps away the TA got back to D. TA said she "had no idea" we needed a pin. Hmmmm.... Then she told us there was no need to trek to city hall that we could fix the issue at a FP kisok. We were inches from a kiosk so we went over & asked a CM who said we had to go to City Hall. Darn.

We decided to have a picnic by the castle before the dance party. We ate lunchables from the cooler & tried to cool down.

Spritzer fan fun!

 

[ElsasMom]

I'm super excited DH just gave me the green light for Mother's Day trip with my friends and I think we're finally ready to get me an annual pass! WooHoo!

More on this trip later this week I have some stressful stuff to get through tomorrow and then I'll be happily updating again.

 

[luckylady]

Great time at MK. Love the bag behind your chair. Yea for getting on the horse on your own.