Sew much to do, sew little time - but it was worth it! New PTR link posted! ~~~~~~~~~

[DMGeurts]

When we had left off, The girls and I had just seen FOLK (or Festival of the Lion King, for those of you lacking coffee this morning).

We walked out of Camp M&M, and decided to look for the trail under the ToL. We walked it on our last trip - and it was such an enjoyable experience - it was a must do on this trip. We were having issues finding the entrance on the Africa side of the park, and had managed to get almost to the front of the ToL, we finally found a CM, and she told us where it was. Problem was, we wanted the other entrance, so we could come out on the Dinoland side of the park... So, we back tracked and finally found it... We think? I am not really sure, because in the end, we came out at the Exit of ITTBAB? We enjoyed it anyways, and took LOTS of pictures.

I love this pic of Alli:

I love this shark... I had never seen it before, and it's just so real looking - all of the animals are.

And I really love this ToL picture - I love the way the sun is shining through the tree, it just looks so majestic...

We decided, since we were at the exit of ITTBAB, we'd go see it... I had some now n' then pictures to take there, so it was the perfect opportunity. I managed to take a few pictures inside the theatre, but because of the 3D (obviously) they really didn't turn out. LOL

OK - This is it... Right here... This is the awesome part...​

After the girls and I exited ITTBAB, we decided to head over to Dinoland, I really wanted to ride Primeval Whirl. The last time we were in Disney, PW was being refurbed, and Victoria has never ridden it, because she was too little in 2003.

We stopped on our way, because I had spotted the Pepper Jack Stuffed Pretzel stand... So, we all had one (Alli had a plain pretzel with cheese sauce) and we found a bench nearby and out of the way - so we could enjoy our wonderful snack in the shade and people watch for a few minutes.

We were headed to Dinoland after our snack, just as we were passing the Character Landing (you know, where Pooh and his friends are in AK), and the CMs had just changed the sign to read that they'd be back at 1:00. Victoria spotted pins - and well - she is a pin trading fanatic! The girls and I stopped, and started talking to the CMs there, so V could do her pin trading with them, as she was doing that - Allison and I were asking they usual - How's your day? Are the characters still out? While we were standing there, the CM started asking us questions... Strange questions... How are you? What are your plans for later today? We told him we had a Boma ADR at 4:30 He turned to the other CM, saying "I don't think they'll have time..." You know me, and the girls, all nosey... "What??? Time for what?? What are you talking about? Please tell us?" Finally, all defeated, the CM asked us if we would please be in the parade that day! WHAT!!! Are you serious???? He asked us like it was some sort of huge inconvenience... The girls and I were nearly jumping out of our clothes at that moment (I know, bad visual - but you know what I mean)... We were extatic! Can you believe it??? Us?? In a parade??? So, we asked him all sorts of questions, and he told us what would be expected of us. He told us what time we were to meet him later in the day, and where. Then he took down my ADR information, and assured me that he would "take care of it"... Wheee!!!! We are going to be in the AK parade... What an amazing ammout of Pixie Dust in our favorite park on a beautiful day!!! Finally, I asked this wonderful CM if I could take his picture with my girls - because he just made our day super magical - and we wanted to remember him. He seemed so honored - and so uncomfortable at the same time... LOL - He probably doesn't get that very often.

Anyways, here's the photo of the girls with Demetrius - The CM who made our trip extra special!

According to Demetrius - he chose us, because we looked happy to be there that day. Which kind of made me snicker - glad he didn't see us earlier that morning.

After our chat with Demetrius - we decided to head down to see Tigger, Pooh and the gang. There was no line - as they were just headed back in for their break - we were the last family to see them. All the while, walking down into the Character Landing, I was texting FB and Josh... Josh (my loving and non-Disney DH) was immediately online from work, trying to read up all the info on the AK parade. LOL And the messages from FB were making my phone go nuts! Literally, the girls and I were bouncing all over. As a matter of a fact - the only pics we got with Tigger, Pooh and gang are on PP - because I forgot to take pics. LOL

As we were exiting the Character Landing, Demetrius assured us that he had "taken care" of our dinner reservations. He had changed them to 5:00pm, and told us that they'd take care of us - even if we were later. Cool!

This was turning out to be an amazing day - and it was only going to get better.

We decided that we still wanted to do PW - since we had about 2 hours until we had to meet up with Demetrius again. The girls and I felt so special - for 2 hours in Disney - we were famous - and it was amazing!

My phone was still going crazy... Josh was texting me non-stop about the parade, what to expect, what kind of vehicle we would be in... He also told us that there would be a few other families there with us.

V wanted a snack... So we stopped for a Mickey Bar:

And we really wanted these Mickey Ears to wear in the parade - Demetrius told us that they'd give us hats and vests to wear, so we opted not to buy them. Now I kind of wished we would have, because they would have been cute - even if we didn't wear them in the parade.

And that's it... The next installment - you'll get to hear all about our parade experience, and how much fun it was...

Link to Day 5 Part D

D~

 

[mommy2mrb]

think I'm caught up!

fun days at DHS - never drawn Tink, you all did great! way to go mom for going on RnRC and ToT....someday know I will have to brave them when Megan wants to try them!
bummer about getting the grumpy waitress at PTC, but looks like you enjoyed your meals!

good thing V changed her attitude later in the morning, you might not of been picked for the parade can't wait to see your photos and hear about the parade...talk about pixie dust!

congrats to Josh on the promotion...hope he gets to keep the better work shift!

Max is getting so big, hope the puppy class will help with his training!

 

[oopsiDAISY]

I just now got a chance to read your AK updates. I am SO not looking forward to my girls' teenage years! I had a friend that always said when they turn 12 you need to put them in a barrel with an air hole in it and not to let them out until they are 18! Glad A was able to whip V back into shape!

We saw Devine last year when we went, but not this year. And of course, I don't think DH took any pictures of her when we saw her last year either. She is so mesmerizing to watch!

We wanted to do Primeval this time (it was going to be a first), but DS wanted to do it so badly and he was not tall enough. He cried about it, so we couldn't bring ourselves to take turns going on it without him. That will have to be on the must-do list for next year.

I cannot wait to hear how it was being in the parade!!! Those "floats" are tall~ I am sure it gave you a whole new perspective of AK in more ways than one!

Do not get me started on that Figment bag!! That thing is AWESOME! I love everything about it...the colors, the patterns, EVERYTHING! I shall one day have you make me a Daisy bag...someday!

 

[solana131]

How incredibly cool! And what a fun job for a CM to do...walking around picking people for surprise stuff like that

I am hoping to spend more time at AK on this next trip. We didn't love it in Feb, but I think it was because it was our first day and being first-timers it was kinda overwhelming. My cousin loves animals (in fact she is going to school to be a vet) so she will love this park.

Can't wait to see/hear all about the parade!

 

[DMGeurts]

OK... So - how bad is it that the girls are on Spring Break next year from March 6th - 15th, and I want to take them back to WDW again??? And probably - since Easter is so early next year, there will be no FD... ACK!!!!

The bad part is that the girls really want to go too... We had the BEST time - truly.

D~ <---- Smacks head against a wall... M u s t r e f r a i n f r o m p l a n n i n g a n o t h e r t r i p . . . . . .

 

[BrerMama]

How fun to be in the parade! We just love AK, by far our favorite park. Completely jealous.

 

[sjs314]

If you want to plan a trip for next March Do It!!! I still havenot decided for sure whether to go in March or the fall, As of now I am thinking of booking March when the 2013 rates come out then change the dates later if I need to.

How exciting to be in the parade

 

[nowellsl]

The way I see it, it never hurts to plan I don't have any trips planned until Sept. but I was pricing rooms today for a quick 1 or 2 night stay sometime this month. Our passes expire on 4/30 and I'd really like to go one more time on them The new royal rooms at Port Orleans look pretty cool! I decided to sleep on it, so we'll see!

I'm lucky I only live 2 hours away!

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

How awesome for you to be in the parade!!! I can't wait to read about it!!!!

 

[mommyof2princesses]

Finally found your trip report! YEAH!

 

[mphalens]

Okay - I probably shouldn't have read this before going to bed . . . now I'm all hopped up and excited and you were in the parade almost a month ago

 

[ChildAtHeart82]

That's so exciting that you got to be in the parade!! I really liked your pictures of the Tree of Life.

 

[DMGeurts]

I have been waiting.

But then again, I want you in your sewing room...

Oh the dilemma. Entertainment vs. Goodies....

LOL - see - I can accomplish 2 things in one day.

think I'm caught up!

fun days at DHS - never drawn Tink, you all did great! way to go mom for going on RnRC and ToT....someday know I will have to brave them when Megan wants to try them!

It's not about when Megan wants to try them - it's about after she's tried them and she dares you to... LOL And drags you on... And insists you will live to tell the tale... And won't let you take the chicken exit...

bummer about getting the grumpy waitress at PTC, but looks like you enjoyed your meals!

Yes, we did enjoy our meal - we just went on with it like we were having a grand ol' time. The girls and I have decided that if we ever eat there again - we'll pretend we've never been there before.

good thing V changed her attitude later in the morning, you might not of been picked for the parade can't wait to see your photos and hear about the parade...talk about pixie dust!

I know - that's what I was thinking.

congrats to Josh on the promotion...hope he gets to keep the better work shift!

I hope so.

Max is getting so big, hope the puppy class will help with his training!

I know - shoot - that reminds me, I still need to call about it.

I just now got a chance to read your AK updates. I am SO not looking forward to my girls' teenage years! I had a friend that always said when they turn 12 you need to put them in a barrel with an air hole in it and not to let them out until they are 18! Glad A was able to whip V back into shape!

ROFL.... I need a friend like that.

We saw Devine last year when we went, but not this year. And of course, I don't think DH took any pictures of her when we saw her last year either. She is so mesmerizing to watch!

I know... And she knows it too. LOL

We wanted to do Primeval this time (it was going to be a first), but DS wanted to do it so badly and he was not tall enough. He cried about it, so we couldn't bring ourselves to take turns going on it without him. That will have to be on the must-do list for next year.

Poor guy - I did forget how jearky it was though - worse than TSM.

I cannot wait to hear how it was being in the parade!!! Those "floats" are tall~ I am sure it gave you a whole new perspective of AK in more ways than one!

It was amazing - that's for sure!

Do not get me started on that Figment bag!! That thing is AWESOME! I love everything about it...the colors, the patterns, EVERYTHING! I shall one day have you make me a Daisy bag...someday!

ACK!!! A Daisy bag would be so awesome! I've had a lot of great requests for bags lately, and I am super excited to make all of them!

How incredibly cool! And what a fun job for a CM to do...walking around picking people for surprise stuff like that

I know - I want that job! Seriously!

I am hoping to spend more time at AK on this next trip. We didn't love it in Feb, but I think it was because it was our first day and being first-timers it was kinda overwhelming. My cousin loves animals (in fact she is going to school to be a vet) so she will love this park.

Can't wait to see/hear all about the parade!

Sounds like Allison - she has wanted to be a vet her entire life. We love AK... there are some out there that just hate it, I think it's because they are expecting a zoo and that's not it at all. AK is seriously a toss up to MK for us - for different reasons - so they'll always be equally fun.

How fun to be in the parade! We just love AK, by far our favorite park. Completely jealous.

Yay - someone else that loves AK... It's definately a 2 day park for us, and we've still yet to see and do everything.

If you want to plan a trip for next March Do It!!! I still havenot decided for sure whether to go in March or the fall, As of now I am thinking of booking March when the 2013 rates come out then change the dates later if I need to.

How exciting to be in the parade

Seriously debating on it... I wouldn't even consider it - but the girls have sooo many days off in a row... Almost 2 weeks (if you count the weekends). And after the last trip - I know for a fact that we can get to the parks early and get a lot done, then go back later and get a lot done. I am seriously considering it. Besides - I wouldn't have to work quite as hard this time, because I could start saving now, instead of in Sept - like last time.

The way I see it, it never hurts to plan I don't have any trips planned until Sept. but I was pricing rooms today for a quick 1 or 2 night stay sometime this month. Our passes expire on 4/30 and I'd really like to go one more time on them The new royal rooms at Port Orleans look pretty cool! I decided to sleep on it, so we'll see!

I'm lucky I only live 2 hours away!

I sooo wish we lived close enough to do that. I just always feel that we have to go for longer trips to justify the price and time of flying. I hope you get to take your quick trip before your passes expire.

If we are going to take this trip in March - it might have made sense for us to do an AP, but doesn't it expire one year from activation? So, technically - it would expire before we got back anyways?

How awesome for you to be in the parade!!! I can't wait to read about it!!!!

I can't wait to tell you all about it! I'll probably lose half my readers now, because all the suspense will be gone.

Finally found your trip report! YEAH!

YAY!!! WELCOME!!! Glad you found it!

Okay - I probably shouldn't have read this before going to bed . . . now I'm all hopped up and excited and you were in the parade almost a month ago

ROFL Marianne! I know I can always depend on your to be excited. LOL

That's so exciting that you got to be in the parade!! I really liked your pictures of the Tree of Life.

Thanks Dave!

I had a full day yesterday. I spent a good portion of it with MM. He is doing really well - such a smart little guy. He tends to get really bitey (is that a word?) when he's hungry and when he's tired. There have been many times where we have put him in his kennel so he can calm down (we need to learn how to help him calm down - there's an article for that) - and I don't like dong that, because the kennel isn't supposed to be used for "punishment".

I also spent a full day in my sewing room, I got started on my next bag - which I am super excited about! I made a great deal of progress on it, and hope to be done by the end of the week. If only I didn't have to work today...

Believe it or not - I think I am going to try to do a parade update this morning. It might have to go into 2 updates, just because I have the photopass pictures and I have our pictures.

D~

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

You definitely got an extra dose of pixie dust. Being in a parade!!! Awesome! I can't wait to read all about it.

 

[VBAndrea]

I love the latest set of AK photos. We barely spent any time at AK which really bummed me out because I had never been there before. The one evening we were there the kids spent so much time in the dinosaur dig play area -- but they were having fun. And we really barely did a thing that night. I rode Everest by myself and we saw FOTLK. And the morning we went there we had more time but still didn't see everything you did -- we at breakfast at Tusker, rope drop for the safari ride, spent a lot of time with petting area in that section you take the train too -- I don't even remember what it's called and then it started pouring and it was the ONLY day I didn't pack our ponchos because it was not supposed to rain that day -- and it was the only day it did rain! I really need to go back. I really need some $$$$!

So are we ever going to hear about your meet with Donald at Tusker? I am hoping you had a good Donald!

I'm excited to see the parade pics.

Someone over on Disbout was asking if you were going to sell a pattern for your bags -- I think you decided against it since that other bag is similar, but I told her to ask you just in case b/c it sounds like she'd prefer yours to the other one.

 

[DMGeurts]

We were told to meet Demetrius at 3pm at the DVC booth across from Pizzafari.

The girls and I got there a bit early, so I took a few pictures of them around the booth:

Demetrius was prompt at 3pm, and he took all of the families (5 total) back to a gazebo behind Pizzafari (it looked like it was additional seating).

When we got back there - he explained the rules to us all in detail.
1. All of our personal items were to be put into a locker
2. They would give us vests and hats to wear for the parade - and a special photopass card including all the photos of us taken by photopass photographers on the parade route.
3. Absolutely positively NO photos in any back stage area - or they would confiscate our camera and memory cards, no questions asked.
4. We were not allowed to interact with any of the CMs or Characters while we were back stage (as in no photos or autographs)
5. We must wave and smile.
6. We could take as many photos as we would like while on the parade route.
7. Once we were at the end of the parade, the vehicle would stop and let us off, Demetrius would be there to escort us back stage to retreive our belongings, help us return our hats and vests to costuming and give us our certificates.

Here we go...

While in that gazebo, the costuming CMs came in, and took each family aside to choose their vest and hat...

While we were there, we chatted with the other families - we offered to take pictures of them (we were allowed in the gazebo, because we weren't back stage yet) in turn - they took pictures of us.

A short time later, Demetrius called each family by name, we were given our Photopass card (with the name of our float on it) and the face characters/dancers from our individual floats came to escort us back to our float.

This was extra exciting for me - because Demetrius had told me that we were part of the Donald Duck float... I was telling our escorts this - in which they promptly turned around and brought us back to the gazebo... We had accidentally been sent with the Goofy CMs (which would have been find too). Because of this little fiasco - it would confuse things later with our Photopass card (we didn't know that yet though). So, the CMs brought us back to the gazebo - where we traded with the Donald CMs.

So, we walked back stage - passing the lockers with our items in them. We were behind Pizzafari, we came out the back gates, and we were on a back stage road with the parade lined up on it.

They loaded the floats with guests from the front to the back of the parade - since Donald is 2nd to last in the line up, we were second to last to load.

We chatted with the CMs that were loading us, and we chatted with the CM driving our float - his name was DJ - I know that and remember it, because that was my nick name growing up. He was a nice guy - and I remember feeling sorry for him, because our float was powered by pedal, so he had to pedal me around the park. Eek! I told him that I was so sorry. Rolleyes... And he just laughed...

It wasn't until we started moving, that I noticed that pedals were actually the power drive for a motor. Cool.

While we were waiting for the parade to begin, Donald's float was right behind us... He kept waving at V every time she turned around - and doing goofy things to get her attention. It was so funny - and she was laughing at him the entire time. From then forward, every time she turned around and he saw her - he did something funny to make her laugh.

Once the parade starting moving, the back stage road was lined with CMs - all dancing and waving at us - probably to get us in the mood to be waving non-stop for the next half hour. LOL

There were normal things back stage... Pallets of water, and soda... Air conditioning units... Bike racks with lots of bikes... Lots of signing about being cautious and responsible because the CMs are important. There was also a plain building back there - I assumed it was some sort of CM break area, because we saw lots of CMs making their way back there. Despite the fact that we were back stage - they made every effort to keep the magic alive. None of the costumed CMs were with out their costumes (as in Mickey and gang never took off their heads), and they all played their parts just like they do on stage. Over all it was neat to see - nothing too exciting - and we still left the experience with all the magic intact. Great job Disney!

The parade moved counter clockwise around AK - starting between the bridge in africa and Pizzafari (there's a large gate there).

We waved and smiled...

Views from our float:

The CMs in orange were our escorts.

Our float after we exited:

Donald's float:

Mickey's float behind us - such a wonderful family. They gave me their email to send these pictures, but they have not responded to me.

Stay tuned for Photopass pictures.

Link to Day 5 Part E

D~

 

[oopsiDAISY]

OOOH Yay! I was the first to see these! LOVIN this update. V has the prettiest, brightest smile! You all look great~like naturals, up there waving to your adoring fans! And how freakin' awesome was it to get picked for the Donald float?!? This was definitely a magical thing for you and your girls!

 

[Terkina]

You got a lot of great pictures from the parade. I'm really looking forward to see the photopass pictures from the parade. A great update and it sounds like you all had an amazing time

 

[mommy2mrb]

HOW FUN!!!!!!!!!!!! you all look so excited and cute in your outfits! what a wonderful treat for you ladies
can't wait to see the photopass pics too!


FYI - started our HI cruise TR....link in my siggie...

 

[spiroff.natasha]

I love this trip report! Just read all of the updates Victoria's Goofy dress was awesome!

I'll be there next month and taking my cousin for her first time! (she's 24) We are also eating at Crystal Palace, 50's Prime Time and Boma...so your pictures are getting me all sorts of excited

How fun to be in the AK parade!! A few years ago we were picked to be in the MK parade with a few other families...such a fun experience

Can't wait to see your pictures!!