Rope Drop is Tip #1!! A June 2016 TR...updated 10/31 pg 19 post 373 THE END!

[c3h3a3r]

Enjoying your report so far

 

[ArielSRL]

Enjoying your report so far

Thank you so much for reading!

 

[vamassey1]

Hello!
I just had to read your report when I saw the title, yes that is the #1 tip. I'm a rope drop girl every chance I get. It really throws me off when I miss it. I'm also real interested in the time of your trip. We're booked for around this time next year too. Not looking forward to the heat but it's a graduation trip for my youngest.

Your boys are adorable. It looks like they are enjoying their trip. I'm feeling on your parents and their less that enthusiastic approach to touring. We go from one thing to the next and really should take a more laid back touring approach but my DH like to go from one ride to he next.

 

[ArielSRL]

Hello!
I just had to read your report when I saw the title, yes that is the #1 tip. I'm a rope drop girl every chance I get. It really throws me off when I miss it.

I'm very envious! But imma be a rope drop girl next June!

I'm also real interested in the time of your trip. We're booked for around this time next year too. Not looking forward to the heat but it's a graduation trip for my youngest.

Not to scare you but it was really hot this year! Our last trip was mid July and I swear it was just as hot this year in the beginning of June. But if you do RD (I know you will!!!) then you'll beat some of the heat and the crowds!

Your boys are adorable. It looks like they are enjoying their trip. I'm feeling on your parents and their less that enthusiastic approach to touring. We go from one thing to the next and really should take a more laid back touring approach but my DH like to go from one ride to he next.

Thank you for the compliments on my boys. They certainly CAN be adorable, when they want to be! Lol. Oh my goodness...my parents. I really think my mom would've done it my way but she's so used to conceding to Dad (she probably keeps her sanity that way) that she wasn't much help!

I really think RDing would've led to a more relaxed touring. As it was, we were always playing catch up!

Thanks for reading!!

 

[vamassey1]

Not to scare you but it was really hot this year! Our last trip was mid July and I swear it was just as hot this year in the beginning of June. But if you do RD (I know you will!!!) then you'll beat some of the heat and the crowds!


Oh my goodness...my parents. I really think my mom would've done it my way but she's so used to conceding to Dad (she probably keeps her sanity that way) that she wasn't much help!

I really think RDing would've led to a more relaxed touring. As it was, we were always playing catch up!

We went late June in 2009 and Memorial Day 2007 so I hope we can stand it. We do live in South Louisiana so not new to heat and humidity.

If it makes you feel any better my DH is also a "It's my way or the highway" kind of guy. We have to work around him.

 

[ArielSRL]

We went late June in 2009 and Memorial Day 2007 so I hope we can stand it. We do live in South Louisiana so not new to heat and humidity.

If it makes you feel any better my DH is also a "It's my way or the highway" kind of guy. We have to work around him.

My DH is from west (Lafayette) LA! I'm from GA so I'm somewhat familiar with heat and humidity, too (it's between 95 and 100 here these days), but I try to stay out of it as much as possible when home!

My DH can be stubborn, as can I, but Disney is my area of expertise so he knows to bow to me!

 

[ErinF]

I made it back and got all caught up, whew!!! Sorry for being out of the loop...we're about to go on another vacation to Idaho and Montana, and I've been very busy with PTA stuff....and well, it's just not as fun to come here when we don't have another trip planned (it will probably be 2 more years ). I am loving reading all about your experiences and thinking about where we were and what we were doing at the same time. And this was pages back, but I totally got your Knufflebunny reference, I loved those books!

 

[ArielSRL]

I made it back and got all caught up, whew!!! Sorry for being out of the loop...we're about to go on another vacation to Idaho and Montana, and I've been very busy with PTA stuff....and well, it's just not as fun to come here when we don't have another trip planned (it will probably be 2 more years ). I am loving reading all about your experiences and thinking about where we were and what we were doing at the same time. And this was pages back, but I totally got your Knufflebunny reference, I loved those books!

Thank you for coming back! I do understand being busy and definitely understand the no planned trips thing. I'd probably do the same.

I'm glad I can help you to recall some of your wonderful Disney memories!

Oh and I'm so glad someone got the Knufflebunny reference!

 

[patches07]

Enjoying your report so far

 

[ArielSRL]

Enjoying your report so far

Thank you!

 

[ArielSRL]

Day Three 6/6/2016 ~ Cape May Cafe

After getting to bed around 1:20am the night before (no need to worry...everyone else went to bed before me), my alarm went off around 6:45. I know for a fact that I did not get up that early. I'm fairly certain it was closer to 7:15 or 7:30. I know that I got myself ready and eventually the boys. Mom got ready and, as usual, we were waiting on Dad. Our ressie was originally scheduled around 10 and I was hoping to get to DHS by 11:30. But I kept wondering if that would be early enough so I eventually moved it to 9:25 a few weeks before the trip. But, of course, we arrived late. I have 9:35 in my notes but it took us about 5 or 10 minutes to get inside and get through the line, so we checked in closer to 9:45, I think. We had to wait a bit to be called. It was probably close to 10 when we finally got seated. I think I went up for some food for the boys first, before the characters came over. And here is where I became a bad Diser. No food photos. None at all. And barely any character ones, too. I think my mom took some and I didn't get those from her. I do have a couple and I have a video.

Here's the photos I do have:


So it does look like the boys had some eggs, fruit loops, strawberries, and a Mickey Waffle.

Here's the video of the boys meeting Donald:

I know we all made a few trips to the buffet because the food here was delicious! I do remember that we loved the beach theme and we loved the character interaction. This was one of our faves! I specifically remember they had a crepe station - which was wonderful, along with your regular breakfast fare. I originally put it on the list for next year, but now I have decided against it. One - its expensive considering the boys eat nothing and we are paying OOP. Two - I really want to try Les Halles and Garden Grill for our breakfasts on our Epcot days. Three - I've heard so much about Via Napoli, I want to try that so I have to "trade out" another TS and Cape May is the one that it works out to be.

I also toyed with trying to stay at BCV for our June 2017 trip. And it probably is still second on my list behind WL. But it was a tad stuffy in the lobby, which turned me off somewhat. However, it looked wonderful outside by the pool and beach area.

So we finished up here around 10:50. I'm sure there were some restroom breaks involved and then we headed out to valet to get the car. I had toyed with taking the boat over during my planning phase, but we just decided to stick with the car.

Thus far, I had pretty much been the navigator while at Disney, with Dad driving. But we decided to ask one of the CMs the best way to get to DHS since he was right there and obviously knew more than us. Right??? Wrong! He told us to take a right out of the resort.....wrong answer. I should've just used Google Maps on my phone as I had been doing the entire time. But I didn't, so we went in the wrong direction and had to end up turning back around at some point.

We arrived at DHS around 11:30, just as I had hoped/planned. Good thing I moved up the ADR. In any case, I know this was kind of a stinky update, but this is where I will stop for the night.

Next up: Day Three 6/6/2016 ~ Hollywood Studios (part 1)

 

[ErinF]

Those are GREAT photos of the boys with Minnie and Goofy!!! Not always an easy feat with little ones.

Glad you enjoyed the food, it looks and sounds delicious!

 

[ArielSRL]

Those are GREAT photos of the boys with Minnie and Goofy!!! Not always an easy feat with little ones.

Glad you enjoyed the food, it looks and sounds delicious!

Thank you! I can't believe my lack of photos for that meal, though!

 

[vamassey1]

You really did get some good character photos. And the video is cuteness overload! I've never done the breakfast here but we did try the dinner once. It was pretty good. I know what you mean about shuffling TS. I really want to try Via Napoli too, but I'm being overruled for now. I loved the boys shirts too.

 

[ariane37]

Those pictures are cute! For some reason I just haven't seen/ read many reviews of the CMC breakfast. Hope we enjoy our dinner there in November as much as you enjoyed breakfast!

I'm voting yes to trying the GG breakfast next trip, it was SO good last year, hence why we're doing it again this year. And even though 2 characters missed us the 2 we got were great and all reports are that the characters are consistently great meets there. And Les Halles........ One of the worst parts about Disney trip planning is fitting in everywhere you want to eat!

OMG on the resort CM's directions. I've found they aren't always good about things like that. I guess he knew how to drive himself to work, and maybe that's it lol?? You would think being right there he'd know a bit more

 

[ArielSRL]

You really did get some good character photos. And the video is cuteness overload! I've never done the breakfast here but we did try the dinner once. It was pretty good. I know what you mean about shuffling TS. I really want to try Via Napoli too, but I'm being overruled for now. I loved the boys shirts too.

Thank you! The breakfast was really good. Like I said, definitely a fave. I mentioned doing Via Napoli and the new PizzaRizzo coming to DHS to my DH and he said, it won't hurt my feelings...so I am already getting meals set....way before ADR time...lol.

Those pictures are cute! For some reason I just haven't seen/ read many reviews of the CMC breakfast. Hope we enjoy our dinner there in November as much as you enjoyed breakfast!

I've heard dinner is excellent! I am certain we will try it at some point! Maybe an adults only trip so I don't have to pay for children who eat nothing!

I'm voting yes to trying the GG breakfast next trip, it was SO good last year, hence why we're doing it again this year. And even though 2 characters missed us the 2 we got were great and all reports are that the characters are consistently great meets there. And Les Halles........ One of the worst parts about Disney trip planning is fitting in everywhere you want to eat!

Fortunately I am scheduling two mornings (one full and one half day) at Epcit, so I can fit both those in. But I had plan penned Cape May for one if those mornings, so another reason to nix it...it really doesn't fit in anywhere else.

OMG on the resort CM's directions. I've found they aren't always good about things like that. I guess he knew how to drive himself to work, and maybe that's it lol?? You would think being right there he'd know a bit more

Yeh, I guess it is a big place but yes, DHS is right there! And he sounded so sure! Idk. Another lesson learned, this one I was able to apply right away, and not wait til June 2017!

 

[ArielSRL]

Day Three 6/6/2016 ~ Hollywood Studios (part 1)

So, last I left you we were headed into DHS. We grabbed some Photopass photos:


One of my faves from the trip:

A fun one:


We walked a little further in and grabbed a couple more:


As you can see, AJ is still making lovely faces for the photos!

As we walked even a little further in, I grabbed this one:


Dad, AJ, and myself all had FPs to TSMM. Mom, not a fan of the spinning, had one for GMR. She easily spotted her attraction and went to ride. The rest of us...not so much. As the navigator, I messed up. I steered us down by ABC Commissary...but most of you reading will know that was wrong! So that was the second time that day we were lost!

We ended up having to backtrack and I had to ask a CM to point us in the right direction. We finally made it...though the FP line was out into the street. It moved fast though. Here are my cuties in their glasses:

I rode with AJ. Here's our scores:

Obviously, I beat my 4 year old at the game...what an accomplishment...lol. We all enjoyed the ride!

So our next FPs were for 12-1 and it was about 12:15. I had texted Mom to meet the boys and me at Muppets because Dad had a FP for Star Tours. I initially booked AJ for ST as well, but he opted for Muppets so I changed his. We didn't really need one for Muppets, however, we weren't planning to stay very long, so I just went ahead and made that our choice. Here is where a problem arose.

After we "dropped off" Dad at ST, I got the boys to Muppets. I parked the stroller and looked around for Mom. Well, instead of waiting outside, she had already gone INSIDE the attraction! So here I was, with a two year old and a four year old, by myself. Not a huge deal normally, but not the easiest thing to do at an extremely crowded, popular theme park! So I got us all inside the attraction and Mom had already went into the theatre. Ugh! I have no idea why she didn't wait for us...outside the building, inside the building, where ever! Just wait for us! But she didn't...so here I am waiting in line, standing in the pre-show for however many minutes it is, with Will wanting me to hold him or else he was going boneless on the floor and with trying to make sure I didn't lose AJ. It was the worst! It was all crammed in with people and it was so HOT! Yuck!

We finally made it into the theatre and of course Will wanted to sit on my lap, then he didn't, then he did. He wanted to wear the glasses, then he didn't, then he did. OMG. Thank goodness AJ was interested in the show and was very well behaved. Afterward, I got them out and had to walk them all the way around the building to the front, where I finally found Mom and Dad waiting on us. What an experience!

I'm not sure what time it was at this point but we had planned to run by and do the Disney VISA Kylo Ren meet, then hit up BatB, and finally ToT for Dad and I. Well, the timing wasn't going to work for all that, most specially BatB. So we decided to stop for some Mickey bars and figure out what to do. The receipt says we got two, i think one for Dad and one for AJ, because Mom and I planned to grab a cupcake from Starring Rolls at some point before heading out of DHS.

Well, right about when the ice cream was finished, the bottom fell out! It started pouring! We were right by Olaf and the outside waiting area was covered so we decided to jump in line. I had heard the line hadn't been too long for him, but I think several people had the same idea as us so it ended up taking us about 20 minutes or so. It was a great interaction! The boys absolutely adored him!

A Photopass photo:


Continued in next post...

 

[ArielSRL]

*Continued* Day Three 6/6/2016 ~ Hollywood Studios (part 1)

Another Photopass photo:

And then a few from my iPhone:




This was a great meet and greet. I'm so glad we got a chance to do it and I hope it doesn't become too terribly popular as to increase the wait times for our next trip.

When we exited, it was still raining slightly but not nearly as much as before so we headed out to grab our stroller. Uh oh. I thought I had adequately covered our stroller with the rain cover, but apparently not as well as I thought. Both boys seats were wet. We had to get creative and use some of the ponchos as seat covers. Then we were on our way; we had decided we needed a little Star Wars in our lives....

Next up: Day Three 6/6/2016 ~ Hollywood Studios (part 2)

 

[vamassey1]

These are really great! I'm loving your Olaf pictures.

Amazing how some of the most unexpected and unplanned events can turn out to be the best.

I'm really sorry for the miscommunication with your Mom. I think we have one of these every trip. Luckily I've never had 2 young kids to handle on my own. Kiddos to you for doing it.

 

[dnllmz]

Wrangling 2 kids and keeping them together is no easy task. I know how stressful that is. I'm loving the Olaf meetup. The pics are adorable!