Show Me Your Smolder! October 2012 B-Day TR NEW 4/1 Trip Wrap Up & NEW PTR LINK!

[amazingact21]

Wow, your room at Bonnet Creek was really nice. I actually haven't seen too many pictures of the place, and I was pleasently surprised to see how big each room was. Plenty enough room for a toddler to roam around.


Ending your MK day with a parade sounds great; it's so much fun to watch the characters interact with guests. So even though your DS might not have enjoyed the rides or the haircut, at least he had a blast high fiving the characters!

 

[khertz]

Great updates!

I didnt know you could bring a folded stroller on the train, so that is definately valuable info for our upcoming trip

Great pics of the parade.

I am glad to hear you were able to find out what was causing the problems for little Paxton. Must be such a relief.

I had read that about the strollers on the boards awhile back, so maybe they have changed it since then? We saw several people taking folded strollers with not a word from the CM. I'm sure it's in my notes, but I don't think we ever attempted it ourselves. But it's good to know that you can!

Yes, it was definitely great to finally find out what was going on with Paxton! He is getting his ear tubes in a week, and I could not be more ready. I'm so tired of the constant ear infections and antibiotics!!

Poor Paxton..allergic to cats but at least you now know why he was getting sick.

Trains...what is it with toddlers and trains..
devyn is obsessed but that makes up for pirates and the horses


I love the 3pm parade at MK. The first time i saw it last may the fairy godmother wished my a happy birthday from the float and i was obssesed with the princess and the frog so i was yelling at her like a little kid. When we went to meet her later on, she remebered me. She asked if i was the girl yelling in frontierland! Love her!!!

I have no clue what it is about trains, but Paxton is just obsessed with any and all trains!! He is also getting into pirates lately too. At least it makes it easy when it comes time to buy presents for Christmas or birthdays. There is a whole aisle of Thomas & Friends toys at Wal Mart!!

Aww, that is so sweet that Tiana remembered you! We passed by our one opportunity to meet with her in Liberty Square, and I'm really regretting it now. He loves Princess & the Frog (and I do too!). The music is fantastic, and Tiana is a great not-your-typical Princess...I love that she was not at all interested in finding a husband like the rest of the princesses are! And you just can't beat the New Orleans touches in that movie.

Wow, your room at Bonnet Creek was really nice. I actually haven't seen too many pictures of the place, and I was pleasently surprised to see how big each room was. Plenty enough room for a toddler to roam around.


Ending your MK day with a parade sounds great; it's so much fun to watch the characters interact with guests. So even though your DS might not have enjoyed the rides or the haircut, at least he had a blast high fiving the characters!

Bonnet Creek offers a LOT of space, even in their one bedroom units! We have actually found that to be true at almost every Wyndham resort we have every stayed in. It has really spoiled us when we travel, and it is so annoying to have to squeeze into a regular sized hotel room now! The rooms are big so you don't feel on top of the people you are rooming with, and the master bathrooms are HUGE. Plus there is plenty of common room space, so Paxton had tons of room to run around and play.

So true! Him enjoying the character interaction in the parade totally made up for his not so great moments earlier in the day. We found that to be true the rest of the trip as well. His character moments were so great that they made the trip extra special even though he was afraid of other things in other parks too that he had been fine with before.

 

[khertz]

Day 3: Monday October 22nd

We were up and moving for our first day in the parks with my parents at 7 am. DS ate a bowl of oatmeal while DH and I got dressed, and then we got him dressed and ready to go. I wanted to leave for 8 am, and we were in the car exactly then! Since DH and I had the Premier AP's and got free parking, we agreed to split up in the mornings to save my parents some money on parking as well. My mom rode in our rental car with DH and DS while I rode with my dad. As we were driving over to the parks, my dad told me that my mom had been very adamant with him about getting up and out of the room by a certain time (my mom is notoriously late for everything!) because if not, I wouldn't wait around for them and they would have to pay a "$14 fine" for being late because they would have to pay for parking! Whatever the threat was, it worked, because they were ALWAYS ready on time!

Anyway, where were we heading this morning?

Epcot!​

Since Bonnet Creek is SO close to Epcot, we were there in no time and parked in the very first row of the parking lot. After going through bag check, we found a turnstile with only 2 families ahead of us and joined that line. Seriously, I guess people just don't look around because the lines in the middle turnstiles are always really long and the ones on the sides have hardly any people at them!

While waiting, DH and I decided to have our breakfast of a Pop Tart for him and granola bar for me. Someone decided a bowl of oatmeal wasn't a substantial enough breakfast and spend most of the time we were eating begging for bites.

DS was in a very happy mood this morning, and even having to wait at the turnstiles was not bothering him in the least!

While we waited in line, we figured out our morning strategy. With Test Track closed and DH and I not interested in riding Soarin' at all, it made it a little more relaxing for us to plan what we wanted to do in Future World that morning. We decided we wanted to go to the Character Spot first, and that my parents were going to go get themselves FPs for Soarin' and meet up with us there. The turnstiles opened at 8:45 am, and that's where we headed first!

They are doing some kind of rehab of the old Character Spot location, so we had to go around aways before we found the correct entrance. Since it wasn't yet 9 am, we had to wait around a bit until official park opening before the characters came out. DS didn't mind playing around in line though!

That gave my parents plenty of time to get back to us before it was time to head in. At precisely 9, we were able to start moving into the character room! I was disappointed to see not all of the Fab 5 there, but we were still getting to meet Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto.

First up was Mickey! This was our first character greeting of the trip, so we weren't sure how DS was going to react this time. He LOVED the characters last year, and was a little more hesitant around them on our DL trip when he was 18 months old. He was still a little hesitant at first this time, but no tears! Yay!

When I got my Photopass CD, I noticed all of the pictures from meeting Mickey were not there, so I sent in a form for photo recovery and they emailed me saying that due to a malfunction with the equipment they couldn't recover those photos for me. Talk about bummer! But luckily we didn't have that problem with any other Photopass character photos.

After Mickey, we went over to Pluto. I made sure to tell Pluto we had just gotten a new puppy at home who looks a lot like him, and Pluto sure enjoyed hearing that! He also was happy to let DS pet him.

Last but not least was the lovely Minnie Mouse!

Continued in next post...

 

[khertz]

Day 3 Continued: Monday October 22nd

After meeting the characters, we decided to head over to The Seas to look for Nemo.

Love that fountain!

As we walked into the queue, I mentioned to DH he should take some pictures in the queue because it's so detailed. This is what I got.

I didn't mean pictures of ME! He got serious and took some pictures for me though there weren't many because we were zipping through the line. Here's one.

​

In no time we were getting on our clamshells. DS seemed a little hesitant at first as we were sitting down, but once he was on my lap and we were getting to the fish, he was okay.

After seeing Nemo safely home, we decided to go get DS's picture in Bruce's mouth again. They were such cute pictures last time, and I was thinking maybe this could be our place to take his pic every year and watch him grow through our Disney trips...

Ummm...guess I will have to find a new place. He didn't seem to enjoy being eaten by a shark much on this trip!

Instead, we walked upstairs to check out the aquariums.

That is pretty much the extent of our aquarium pictures because there wasn't a whole lot going on. The dolphins and manatees were not out and DS was not very interested in looking at the fish for more than a few minutes.

As we passed through the gift shop, I spotted all of the shirts with the seagulls proclaiming Mine! Mine! Mine! Oh how I wish they had had it in a toddler size (and not a onesie) because I so would have gotten one for DS. This is now his mantra.

Continued in next post...

 

[khertz]

Day 3 Continued: Monday October 22nd

After finding Nemo (do you see what I did there?), we made our way over to Journey Into Imagination.

Of course it was barely 9:30, so there was no line to speak of. In fact, I think the CM's were legitimately shocked that we were coming onto this attraction this early in the morning. Surely they thought we were either lost or Disney noobs.

As we boarded the ride, we tried DH and I sitting in the front row with DS riding with my parents in the row behind us, but DS immediately started freaking so up to the front row with us he came. We actually had to sit and wait there a few minutes for another family to show up so our ride vehicle wouldn't be leaving with only the 5 of us!

There now don't you feel like you just went through the attraction?! I know it is not a popular opinion, but I actually really like Journey Into Imagination. And DS seemed to enjoy everything but being blasted with the skunk smell and the loud train noise.

After the attraction, we stayed to play in the little games area they let you out in.

Playing music with a wave of our arms.

DS (and Nonni & I!) really liked the area where you play different instruments by standing on different spots on the floor.​

We found a little computer station to design your own Figment, so Paxton designed one and we emailed it home to ourselves.

​

We tried some Muppet hats on in the gift shop, and had I known how crazy DS was going to be about winter hats when we got home, I totally would have gotten him one! Which one do you think looks best? I like them all!

After finishing up there, we decided to go check out the wait time for Spaceship Earth, but it was a little crazy. So we decided to split up. My parents were ready to go use their Soarin' FPs and DH and I had spotted some little mischief makers on our way to SE that we thought DS might enjoy meeting, so we headed that way instead.

UP NEXT: So what's the deal with this Beverly stuff?

 

[skier_pete]

Hey, hey...welcome to the world of parenting where your first stop at Epcot is the character spot! Hah hah.

Actually, that's a real bummer that there were only the three of them. We always hit the Character spot as our first stop at Epcot, and usually all 5 are there! If you are really, really lucky and are the first ones in line, they will sometimes let you get a picture with all 5 characters. (Never got it ourselves, but seen it happen.)

He defintely did not like Bruce, did he!

Oops, as I'm typing this, I notced a third page...for Figment. I do like the ride, but don't love it. I think if I listed every ride that I think needed a re-do in order of importance, I would list this one as number 1. With today's technology, I just think they could make such a wonderful interactive ride out of this. I hope with the future NextGen technology they do something with it. (But keep the song! and Figment of course!) It was way higher up on the list than Test Track.

Pete

 

[Chelley00]

Character Spot was closed when we went on Oct 25 You are lucky you went when you did.

 

[khertz]

Hey, hey...welcome to the world of parenting where your first stop at Epcot is the character spot! Hah hah.

Actually, that's a real bummer that there were only the three of them. We always hit the Character spot as our first stop at Epcot, and usually all 5 are there! If you are really, really lucky and are the first ones in line, they will sometimes let you get a picture with all 5 characters. (Never got it ourselves, but seen it happen.)

He defintely did not like Bruce, did he!

Oops, as I'm typing this, I notced a third page...for Figment. I do like the ride, but don't love it. I think if I listed every ride that I think needed a re-do in order of importance, I would list this one as number 1. With today's technology, I just think they could make such a wonderful interactive ride out of this. I hope with the future NextGen technology they do something with it. (But keep the song! and Figment of course!) It was way higher up on the list than Test Track.

Pete

There was a morning, I want to say at Hollywood Studios, when we were planning our morning strategy and basically talking about going to TSM then character meets. I looked over at my mom and she was looking at the map totally confused because she thought we were talking about attractions and she couldn't find what we were talking about on the map! That's Disney World with a toddler for you. Luckily, we love the character meets just as much as Paxton does!

That's great they do that with the first family sometimes! We will definitely have to try to get over there first next year. I think with the meet being in a different and smaller location, they weren't able to fit all 5 in there. I heard that Daisy is replacing Donald there, which is really disappointing since we love Donald and now you won't be able to find him anywhere in his traditional outfit.

Oh, yea, there is so much more they can do with the Imagination ride! I never did see it with Dreamfinder way back when, so I think the people who were really attached to that version of the ride are the ones who passionately hate this one. I just think it's a cute attraction and it's something we can do that is age appropriate for Paxton.

Character Spot was closed when we went on Oct 25 You are lucky you went when you did.

I wonder what they are doing? Maybe getting rid of those horrible backgrounds they had there?! That would be nice. It was a bummer only seeing 3 of the 5, but at least the background was much better in the makeshift room they had the meet happening in. Too bad y'all missed it!

 

[MEK]

Day 3 Continued:
After seeing Nemo safely home, we decided to go get DS's picture in Bruce's mouth again. They were such cute pictures last time, and I was thinking maybe this could be our place to take his pic every year and watch him grow through our Disney trips...

[/I][/SIZE]​

Yummmmm - yeah - not gonna happen. Paxton is NOT loving being in Bruce's mouth - at all! I really shouldn't even jokingly laugh because you never know is going to scare the bejesus out of a little kid. Poor little guy.

All his other pictures are wonderful. You got some great shots with the characters. At least he wasn't afraid of the characters - only Bruce!

And I LOVE the hat shots, especially the first one. Too adorable.

Love DH's pictures inside Nemo. The colors are so perfect!​

 

[khertz]

Yummmmm - yeah - not gonna happen. Paxton is NOT loving being in Bruce's mouth - at all! I really shouldn't even jokingly laugh because you never know is going to scare the bejesus out of a little kid. Poor little guy.

All his other pictures are wonderful. You got some great shots with the characters. At least he wasn't afraid of the characters - only Bruce!

And I LOVE the hat shots, especially the first one. Too adorable.

Love DH's pictures inside Nemo. The colors are so perfect!

You really do not EVER know!! Here's the picture from last year...

You are right about that, I was SO relieved that he wasn't afraid of the characters! I was pretty worried about that given how many other things were making him nervous or upset already!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Our DD6 is just now getting over her fear of Bruce and sharks in general. Last year when we were viewing the shark tank at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, I did my best Bruce voice impression when one of the great white sharks went by - "Hello, my name is Bruce. Fish are friends, not food!" She didn't find it so funny and got pretty upset. Felt a little bad.

 

[Nermel9]

Hi, I'm here! Wanted to sub before I forgot again! I might need a couple of days to catch up, but I'm here!

 

[khertz]

Our DD6 is just now getting over her fear of Bruce and sharks in general. Last year when we were viewing the shark tank at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, I did my best Bruce voice impression when one of the great white sharks went by - "Hello, my name is Bruce. Fish are friends, not food!" She didn't find it so funny and got pretty upset. Felt a little bad.

You mean dad!!

Hi, I'm here! Wanted to sub before I forgot again! I might need a couple of days to catch up, but I'm here!

 

[skier_pete]

Oh, yea, there is so much more they can do with the Imagination ride! I never did see it with Dreamfinder way back when, so I think the people who were really attached to that version of the ride are the ones who passionately hate this one. I just think it's a cute attraction and it's something we can do that is age appropriate for Paxton.

I only vaguely remember the original ride from when I rode it as a teen. I think DW and I rode the intermediate version in '97, but don't remember that at all. So, I have no nostalgia for previous versions, I just think that the concept of imagination could be SOO much more, especially with the fact the Disney is BUILT on imagination.

Maybe they need to get a sponser. How about Apple? They've got gobs of money, and Jobs was a major Disney shareholder.

 

[khertz]

I only vaguely remember the original ride from when I rode it as a teen. I think DW and I rode the intermediate version in '97, but don't remember that at all. So, I have no nostalgia for previous versions, I just think that the concept of imagination could be SOO much more, especially with the fact the Disney is BUILT on imagination.

Maybe they need to get a sponser. How about Apple? They've got gobs of money, and Jobs was a major Disney shareholder.

 

[amazingact21]

Only 3 of the Fab 5 were at the character greet? That surprised me, because I've always heard of all 5 being there at opening. Huh....


Oh, that picture of you and your DS in Bruce's mouth. He does not look happy. At all. I'm sure you'll look back on that picture when he's older and laugh.


I've seen so many kids have a ball at that musical floor station outside of Figment. It seems so intriguing to a toddler. My DH and I commented a few months ago that I'm sure that'll be a regular spot once we take our little one. Glad your DS got a kick out of it.

 

[khertz]

Only 3 of the Fab 5 were at the character greet? That surprised me, because I've always heard of all 5 being there at opening. Huh....


Oh, that picture of you and your DS in Bruce's mouth. He does not look happy. At all. I'm sure you'll look back on that picture when he's older and laugh.


I've seen so many kids have a ball at that musical floor station outside of Figment. It seems so intriguing to a toddler. My DH and I commented a few months ago that I'm sure that'll be a regular spot once we take our little one. Glad your DS got a kick out of it.

The only thing I can guess with 3 of the 5 being there is that the room they were doing the meet in is very small compared to the normal Character Spot location. There really is no way they could have fit all 5 in there with any sense of decorum! So although it was disappointing at first, it was probably for the best. It would have been a madhouse otherwise!

Hmmm...I don't know if HE will ever laugh at the pictures (although I do hope he finds the humor in it as he gets older), but WE already laugh at them now!!

He was SO confused by that floor at first until my mom and I started running around and jumping on the squares and pointing out the music to him. We have always skipped right on through that area, but I can definitely see us spending more time as we continue taking our kiddos.

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Great Epcot updates! I can honestly say...I have never been to Journey -- although I am pretty sure we will end up there later this month...needing something to entertain the little boys.

Seeing Paxton not at all enjoying the pic with Bruce makes me wonder how it will go for us...kids are so funny.

 

[Nermel9]

Finally caught up! Although I'm never going to remember everything to comment on!

I love your pictures of the afternoon parade at MK! I always want to see it and we just never do, because we leave MK before it starts. Someday I'll see it, even if I have to watch it by myself!

Your room at Bonnet Creek looks so nice! Can you do magic hours if you stay there?

Yay for getting to Epcot so early! Glad DS wasn't afraid of the characters, the pictures are so cute! I like the new backgrounds they have at the Character Spot, they're adorable!

Haha, that's funny the CM's seemed surprised that you were riding Figment so early! I really like Figment but that ride is kind of lame! I wish they would switch it back to the original!

 

[khertz]

Great Epcot updates! I can honestly say...I have never been to Journey -- although I am pretty sure we will end up there later this month...needing something to entertain the little boys.

Seeing Paxton not at all enjoying the pic with Bruce makes me wonder how it will go for us...kids are so funny.

Journey into Imagination is really great for little ones, and bonus, it almost never has a line.

They really are so unpredictable, because he loved the pictures we took in Bruce's mouth last year! I don't know what the deal was. We stood there and waited a little while for another family to finish taking pictures and he was fine, but as soon as I put him up there he lost it!

Finally caught up! Although I'm never going to remember everything to comment on!

I love your pictures of the afternoon parade at MK! I always want to see it and we just never do, because we leave MK before it starts. Someday I'll see it, even if I have to watch it by myself!

Your room at Bonnet Creek looks so nice! Can you do magic hours if you stay there?

Yay for getting to Epcot so early! Glad DS wasn't afraid of the characters, the pictures are so cute! I like the new backgrounds they have at the Character Spot, they're adorable!

Haha, that's funny the CM's seemed surprised that you were riding Figment so early! I really like Figment but that ride is kind of lame! I wish they would switch it back to the original!

Yay!

We have never seen the afternoon parade before this trip either because the last trip with Paxton, we were already gone for him to take his nap, and on trips before that, we were riding the attractions while everyone else stopped to see the parade! So it was something new to us, and really fun for Paxton.

No magic hours at Bonnet Creek, and although I was so worried about this the first time we stayed there, it has never been a problem for us. We just pick the other non-EMH parks instead and concentrate on getting there at rope drop. In 3 trips staying there, we have never felt like we missed out by not having access to EMH. Even if we could do them, now that we have Paxton along, we would really only be taking advantage of the morning hours anyway.

Like I said, I never saw the original Imagination ride, so I don't mind this version much at all. I guess if I had seen the original and liked it, I would probably think this version was pretty lame too!