Sand and Sun ~ Trip Number Ten Was Lots of Fun! Clearwater Beach & YC, August 2013

[Momof2Disneyboys]

After the whole POTC debacle DH knew I was upset and suggested a Dole Whip!! So we stopped for that and then the kids wanted some Casey's corndog nuggets for their snack! The line in there was huge. But I didn't care, I was eating my Dole Whip!

We had about an hour to kill before Wishes at 10:00, so we went over to see Monster's Inc Laugh Floor. We hadn't done that in awhile. It was a lot of fun! But I didn't realize how long it took. When we came out of there it was 9:45! So we walked very quickly towards the castle.

The castle projection show had just started. Holy cow was is packed!! There were so many people it was hard to even move.

Continued in next post...

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Continued...

I just love that show!! So beautiful! After it was done we decided to head further down Main Street and out of that terrible crowd. We had watched it from the right side of the castle, the Tomorrowland side. We started moving towards Main Street, or so we thought. The crowds were so bad that it was literally disorienting. It was like we were being moved by the swarms of people and some how we ended up on the left side of the castle, in front of the Crystal Palace.

We finally made our way out of that mess and onto Main Street.

It was slightly less crowded about half way down Main Street, so we found a spot and waited for Wishes. And pretty soon it started!! Awesome as always.

As soon as Wishes ended we headed out the exit to the bus and back to the YC.



Up Next: A Morning at Epcot

 

[ddluvsdisney]

A dole whip and wishes- can't beat that!!

I too LOVE the castle show!! I love the picture you got of the castle all different colors during wishes!

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[momofboyz3]

Wow ~ I just read your whole TR (up to this point)! I love it. Thanks for writing it and looking fwd to your next post

 

[JoBird]

A dole Whip is the cure for what ails ya!!!
It seriously makes everything much better. We need a never ending dole whip machine hooked up in the house so when I'm grumpy and grouchy I can just go get one.

I love the laugh Floor. Have any of you ever been chosen? I can't remember. It's one of our favorites. It's the funnest fun time ever.

Okay so that crowd after the projection show--- THAT'S how it feels at Christmas, only it's in every walkway, everywhere. There were times that I felt like if I picked my feet up the crowd would hold me up and take me with them.
It's an awful feeling for sure.

Anyway--- love Wishes. A great way to end a night that started out not so nice!!!!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

A dole whip and wishes- can't beat that!!

I too LOVE the castle show!! I love the picture you got of the castle all different colors during wishes!

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You sure can't!!

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the pics!

PS - so sorry I haven't gotten back to you on the other thing. I just remembered the other day. Things have been completely insane around here. Working everyday at the school lately, plus our agency Labor Day 2014 Exclusive came out this week and it is crazy low rates and we are swamped with quote requests and bookings!! Which is a great thing! But I feel like I haven't even talked to my family all week!

Wow ~ I just read your whole TR (up to this point)! I love it. Thanks for writing it and looking fwd to your next post

Thank you so much!! Glad you are enjoying the report!

A dole Whip is the cure for what ails ya!!!
It seriously makes everything much better. We need a never ending dole whip machine hooked up in the house so when I'm grumpy and grouchy I can just go get one.

I love the laugh Floor. Have any of you ever been chosen? I can't remember. It's one of our favorites. It's the funnest fun time ever.

Okay so that crowd after the projection show--- THAT'S how it feels at Christmas, only it's in every walkway, everywhere. There were times that I felt like if I picked my feet up the crowd would hold me up and take me with them.
It's an awful feeling for sure.

Anyway--- love Wishes. A great way to end a night that started out not so nice!!!!

It is!!

Nope, we've never been chosen at the Laugh Floor. One time a long time ago, they put the boys up on the screen before the show and had some kind of joke about them!

Well, you sure can't beat the funnest fun time ever!!

That crowd was insane!! That's how I felt. Like I wasn't even walking, I was just being carried along.

Wishes was great as always.

 

[T*Bird]

Hi Shelly! Reporting in from the World! We have been here since Wednesday afternoon. We went to DTD Wednesday evening and then went over to MK from about 8:00 until it closed at 10:00. Yesterday was Epcot all day, and today was DHS. I have not learned from you how to take it at a more comfortable pace, but I guess part of that is we are only here for 5 days. I thought of your family many times, when I would see places where you have taken pics. Thought of you and Jodi at the Poly. and the pic of all your kiddos together. Saw Osborne lights tonight for the first time ever and loved it! The weather was cloudy but just the right temp until this evening when it rained a little. Tomorrow doesn't look so promising. The crowds aren't bad, but since I haven't been here in 7 years I don't have much to compare it. To.

I love your Wishes pics in the latest update. And also the castle projection show. We saw them Wednesday night - loved it! I didn't know anything about the projection show ahead of time, so it was a complete surprise. I will make it a point to try a Dole Whip on Sunday, since I missed it at DL this summer. Your pic sure makes it look yummy! Talk to you later!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Bummer about the wasted time on POTC!
But a dole whip helps, right?

The crowds around wishes make me crazy. But I love the castle show too. so it's worth standing in a herd to see it. I just don't try to leave the park around the end of Wishes. We hang back and let everyone else stampede. It's too scary for kids.


We are at 110 days from DL! I need to add a ticker and get organized. I'm reading the Unofficial guide now. Just need to familiarize myself with the park layouts etc.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Hi Shelly! Reporting in from the World! We have been here since Wednesday afternoon. We went to DTD Wednesday evening and then went over to MK from about 8:00 until it closed at 10:00. Yesterday was Epcot all day, and today was DHS. I have not learned from you how to take it at a more comfortable pace, but I guess part of that is we are only here for 5 days. I thought of your family many times, when I would see places where you have taken pics. Thought of you and Jodi at the Poly. and the pic of all your kiddos together. Saw Osborne lights tonight for the first time ever and loved it! The weather was cloudy but just the right temp until this evening when it rained a little. Tomorrow doesn't look so promising. The crowds aren't bad, but since I haven't been here in 7 years I don't have much to compare it. To.

I love your Wishes pics in the latest update. And also the castle projection show. We saw them Wednesday night - loved it! I didn't know anything about the projection show ahead of time, so it was a complete surprise. I will make it a point to try a Dole Whip on Sunday, since I missed it at DL this summer. Your pic sure makes it look yummy! Talk to you later!

Glad you are having a nice time.

Bummer about the wasted time on POTC!
But a dole whip helps, right?

The crowds around wishes make me crazy. But I love the castle show too. so it's worth standing in a herd to see it. I just don't try to leave the park around the end of Wishes. We hang back and let everyone else stampede. It's too scary for kids.


We are at 110 days from DL! I need to add a ticker and get organized. I'm reading the Unofficial guide now. Just need to familiarize myself with the park layouts etc.

It was a crazy night!! But yes, a Dole Whip did seem to make things so much better.

We always head out right after Wishes. We tend to migrate towards the train station towards the very end, that way we are at the beginning of the stampede!


Wow that's awesome!! I still need to nail down my DL dates... IDK why this is so hard. It's the unknown I guess!!

 

[disny_luvr]

Love your pictures of Wishes! That is my favorite night time show and the one show I try not to miss. Unfortunately, my boys were afraid of the fireworks on our last trip so I watched Wishes as best I could from inside shops and while waiting in line for rides. BTW, what is the castle show called that shows the pictures on it before Wishes? I've never seen it and don't even remember there being a show like that.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Love your pictures of Wishes! That is my favorite night time show and the one show I try not to miss. Unfortunately, my boys were afraid of the fireworks on our last trip so I watched Wishes as best I could from inside shops and while waiting in line for rides. BTW, what is the castle show called that shows the pictures on it before Wishes? I've never seen it and don't even remember there being a show like that.

Thanks! I hope you get to see Wishes next time!!

I think it's called Celebrate the Magic. It starts about 15 minutes before Wishes and it's really neat!

 

[JoBird]

Did you see that there's a tier on the FP+ now? Not sure I like that at all….

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Did you see that there's a tier on the FP+ now? Not sure I like that at all….

I read on another thread that they think it might just be for really peak times of year. I hope so bc I don't like ANY of it.
I wish they didn't change FP at all.

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[mickeystoontown]

Yowza! The line at Casey's is crazy long. Thank goodness all you had to do is sit back and relax with your Dole Whip. Speaking of crazy, look at the crowds on Main Street. Oh wait, you did look at the crowds. I meant, holy crap at the crowds.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Did you see that there's a tier on the FP+ now? Not sure I like that at all….

Yes. I'm not sure if it's going to be permanent or just during this test phase, since during the test phase people not staying onsite can't participate and have been complaining about all the FP's being gone before they get to the park...

I read on another thread that they think it might just be for really peak times of year. I hope so bc I don't like ANY of it.
I wish they didn't change FP at all.

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I will find out soon. In about 9-10 days I can make my FP+ and I'm not going at a busy time of the year at all. It looks like we will only be able to get a FP for either Soarin OR TT, but not both. And either TSM OR RNRC, but not both.

Yowza! The line at Casey's is crazy long. Thank goodness all you had to do is sit back and relax with your Dole Whip. Speaking of crazy, look at the crowds on Main Street. Oh wait, you did look at the crowds. I meant, holy crap at the crowds.

It was a crazy night at MK! Not what we are used to. Wednesday night at MK is usually not crowded at all!

 

[CleKait]

Hi Shelly! Nice report so far. A dole whip is on my top 10 list of things I want to do/try at Disney in January. And staying for Wishes. I've never stayed for Wishes.

Did you see that there's a tier on the FP+ now? Not sure I like that at all….

Yeah, I'm kind of iffy on this FP+. Last year in January my grandma and I only had to fast pass Test Track and Peter Pan. We stood in a 30+ minute ride for Soarin' at the end of the day. But those three rides seemed to be the only ones that ever had lines!! So I'm just hoping to be able to sign up for those for FP+

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Hey Shelly! I have finally gotten caught up here. I hadn't missed as much as I thought.

I have to agree with you on BoG. We REALLY enjoyed that meal! Very good food, awesome atmosphere, and the BEAST! How can you beat that! DH got the steak and fries (fantastic!) and I got the pork and fancy mac n' cheese. All of it was really, really good! And our waitress was the best one we've ever had. Loved the snow falling, the napkins folded like roses, the grey stuff.... it was just a great experience all around. I'm glad you guys enjoyed it too. Your chicken dish looked really good! I think I'll try that next time.

I hate to hear how frustrating your MK day was. I've been there too and it does make you nutty! I have found that weather and crowds absolutely make or break a trip for our family. If it's super hot, rainy or crazy crowded it just makes things... not very magical. I know I sound like a spoiled brat for saying that. I mean it is Disney World no matter what, but it's definitely not the same when everything has a long line and people are packed in like sardines. We found that people are much more rude and irritable when it's crowded and hot too. We saw several arguments break out during this last trip because of that. I thought two ladies were going to go to blows on the monorail one day and I really think it was just because it was really hot and really crowded. Anyway, I'm glad you at least had a good meal, a good Dole Whip and enjoyed Wishes. And let's be honest... a Dole Whip can fix almost anything!

Glad to be back reading along! I'm missed your TR!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Hi Shelly! Nice report so far. A dole whip is on my top 10 list of things I want to do/try at Disney in January. And staying for Wishes. I've never stayed for Wishes.


Thanks Kait! Good to see you again!

You've got to have a Dole Whip!!

Yeah, I'm kind of iffy on this FP+. Last year in January my grandma and I only had to fast pass Test Track and Peter Pan. We stood in a 30+ minute ride for Soarin' at the end of the day. But those three rides seemed to be the only ones that ever had lines!! So I'm just hoping to be able to sign up for those for FP+

Yeah, I'm thinking January won't be too bad, so any FP+ we can get will be a plus!

Hey Shelly! I have finally gotten caught up here. I hadn't missed as much as I thought.

I have to agree with you on BoG. We REALLY enjoyed that meal! Very good food, awesome atmosphere, and the BEAST! How can you beat that! DH got the steak and fries (fantastic!) and I got the pork and fancy mac n' cheese. All of it was really, really good! And our waitress was the best one we've ever had. Loved the snow falling, the napkins folded like roses, the grey stuff.... it was just a great experience all around. I'm glad you guys enjoyed it too. Your chicken dish looked really good! I think I'll try that next time.

I hate to hear how frustrating your MK day was. I've been there too and it does make you nutty! I have found that weather and crowds absolutely make or break a trip for our family. If it's super hot, rainy or crazy crowded it just makes things... not very magical. I know I sound like a spoiled brat for saying that. I mean it is Disney World no matter what, but it's definitely not the same when everything has a long line and people are packed in like sardines. We found that people are much more rude and irritable when it's crowded and hot too. We saw several arguments break out during this last trip because of that. I thought two ladies were going to go to blows on the monorail one day and I really think it was just because it was really hot and really crowded. Anyway, I'm glad you at least had a good meal, a good Dole Whip and enjoyed Wishes. And let's be honest... a Dole Whip can fix almost anything!

Glad to be back reading along! I'm missed your TR!

Welcome back Rinky!! We sure missed you around here. You probably haven't missed too much. I haven't done a ton of updates. The TR has been really slow and not a lot of readers, so I have been contemplating ditching it. Plus I have been so busy with the TA stuff and work at the school lately!

I can't wait to hear all about your trip. Will you be doing a TR??

Glad you enjoyed BOG so much too, it's awesome!! I recommended it to and made reservations for lots of my February clients, so I sure hope they have a great experience too.

So why in the world were the two women fighting on the monorail???

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Welcome back Rinky!! We sure missed you around here. You probably haven't missed too much. I haven't done a ton of updates. The TR has been really slow and not a lot of readers, so I have been contemplating ditching it. Plus I have been so busy with the TA stuff and work at the school lately!

I can't wait to hear all about your trip. Will you be doing a TR??

Glad you enjoyed BOG so much too, it's awesome!! I recommended it to and made reservations for lots of my February clients, so I sure hope they have a great experience too.

So why in the world were the two women fighting on the monorail???

Well, I know what you mean about a TR taking a lot of time and when you have a bunch of stuff going on, it's hard to juggle it all. BUT, I do hope you can manage to find time to keep your TR going. I would really miss reading along. I've pretty much been reading on one of your TRs constantly for about 5 years now. I'll be lost without it!

But to answer your question, no I'm not going to do a TR. I mostly took video this time because I want to try making a vacation video, so I don't even have enough pictures to do a TR. Most of the pictures that I took were of CSR since that was our first time staying there.

As for the women on the monorail... . It was pretty hot that day and MK was SOOO crowded!! There was a HUGE line for the monorail to leave MK in the afternoon because one of them had broken down on the track and the whole system was backed up. So there was a MASSIVE amount of humanity waiting to get on and it was about 85 degrees and we were waiting in the direct sun. Not a pleasant set up. And we waited and waited and waited, and the crowd just kept getting bigger and bigger. When a monorail finally came, people were pushing and stampeding like a bunch of idiots to get on. Well apparently one lady pushed or bumped into this other lady and then she plopped down really fast and took the only open seat in the section of the monorail that we all piled into. Well that ticked the other lady off and so she yelled at her for pushing her and told her that 'you plopped down so **** hard with your big *** that you almost crushed my daughter!' Well then it turned into a full fledged cat fight. Insults were hurled back and forth for a few minutes until a male passenger told them both to shut up. It wasn't pretty.

 

[disny_luvr]

Oh, please don't ditch your TR. I'm reading along but don't always post. I'd be sad if you didn't finish.