SSR Trip Report 1/21-1/26

[MarylandMommy]

Maybe my mind is stuck in Kindergarten, but I love a story with pictures! Excellent!!!!!

 

[mackeyapp]

WONDERFUL REPORT! We too just completed our first trip home and still can't get enough of these boards and all the great reviews. Looking forward to reading more.

 

[Fatalbie]

Here is the next install. Thanks for the comments hope you continue to enjoy.
Day 2
Budgeting homework be damned, I have a trip report to write.
A little more background. I stumble on a thread that mentions pin trading. Read a little more about pin trading and figure it sounds like a great way to teach my DD2 some valuable life lessons, giving and receiving, sharing, making choices, and gaining self confidence, assigning value to things that are hers, yadda yadda yadda. So I begin another neat little tab in the three ring binder dedicated to “pin trading”. Now I have to find some pins. I begin the search for information. The search leads me to eBay. I get an eBay account-maybe the last person in the U.S. to sign up, and a paypal account. Ready to go, let the bidding begin!!! I find a great lot of pins with the auction ending in about 15 minutes. I wait until about 3 minutes to go and enter a bid. I hit refresh and to my surprise have already been outbid. Reenter higher amount, same result. Now time is ticking and I am furiously trying to get the winning bid, at this point the life lessons are out the window and I want to WIN!!! Bottom line-I get crushed in the final moments of the first auction as the price rises faster than I can enter a new bid. Only later do I discover you can pre-enter the max bid amount and automatically have bids submitted for you. I successfully navigate the bidding wars and end up with a couple lots of pins, approx 35 pins, for about $60 including shipping. These are quality “LE” and “Cast Lanyard” pins, some “Hidden Mickey’s”. I must confess at this point I have no idea what that means, and will not really understand until my daughter has traded away a lanyard full of Hidden Mickey’s for a lanyard full of cuties. Novice pin traders beware there are sharks in them waters.
Up early to catch the bus to AK EMH in the AM. I’m getting pretty good at the abbreviations, but still can’t read some of the posts here. We get to the bottom of the stairs; I look at my wife and say “oh we left the stroller in the room.” She says “I’ll go get it”, and I say “its not that big a deal lets just see how it goes.” OK remember pre trip as I was gaining “knowledge” by reading these threads? I can not tell you how many say strollers are a must for the little ones. I even got a pm from a poster and one of her pieces of advice was bring a stroller for little legs they get tired, or even the guy I work with who is a Disney veteran saying my kids are grown now but I’ll never make the mistake of not bringing a stroller again. I think you know where I am going with this!!!! Yes DD2 is cute and loveable, right up until about 11:30am when the MELTDOWN begins. Daddy will never forget the stroller again!!!!
We got to the park, sans stroller, and begin our adventure. We get about 50 yards from the bus and I soon realize exactly how much walking we will be doing and the pace difference between me and DD. After a couple of hours, ok it was minutes that seemed like hours, I picked her up and started to carry her around. I then remembered that I had 10 day no expire tickets and a conspiracy underway to purchase DVC. The pace suddenly didn’t matter any more.
None of you has ever seen this one I bet

First up-the Safari
We head right there and wait about 10 minutes in line. DD has no idea what is in store. She loves animals and asks to go to the zoo all the time. She is very excited on the ride and has a number of people in our truck rotf with some of her comments. As we are heading around on the Safari there are a couple of Gazelles, as far as I know, that are “dancing”. Oh well this is Disney and it is the Happiest Place On Earth, why not for a couple of amorous animals!!! No photos of that, lol. We did see lots of animals and took a few photos. Here are a couple shots and a vid clip from the Safari
His head is behind the stump, but I though it was funny

After safari we head over to EE and take advantage of the parent swap, and grab a couple of fast passes for later. Good ride and I was completely disoriented.
The fuzzy green shirt on the left is DW, lol too cheap to buy the photo!!

From there we take a leisurely stroll around and see some of the sights.
The boat with Goofy is the first character sighting of the trip.

Dvine is very interesting and draws a crowd.

The video clips are all taken w/our camera sorry if the quality is a little off. As for the angle in some of the shots, I didn’t realize when I turned the camera the orientation of the video didn’t change.
On to Kali River Rapids
These are my second favorite type of ride. DD got a wristband from the CM at the end of the line and stamped her hand “Captain”. Told her she needed to show the band to get the Captains seat. The seat is a seat that has a special restraint bar for smaller kids. She thought it was super special, just another little thing Disney does to make it fun for the little ones.
At this point we have done some wandering around, missed our fast passes and the park is starting to get a little busier.
We decide to grab a couple more fast passes and get a bite at Tusker House
Tusker House
CS Meal
Fried Chicken sandwich with a soda fries and a dessert.

Nothing outstanding but filling and does the job. It also bought us about another hour of time on the pre-MELTDOWN clock.

We finish lunch and head back for the safari before leaving. MELTDOWN occurs on the way to the front of park to catch a bus, can’t blame the little legs because daddy is feeling it too!!!
DD has been trading pins all day, with CM’s, and everyone is very nice. More than once someone would walk up and ask for the pin DD just traded away. Well on the way out she sees a CM with pins and walks over to trade with him. His name is Tony and he is super nice. He takes a look at the pin she says she will give him and says that’s a hidden Mickey she doesn’t have to trade that one. I say hidden Mickey, what’s that? I get the whole explanation and learn at this point she is trading away some much sought after CM pins. My response, she is getting what she wants and it doesn’t mean anything to me, she is happy. He reaches in his pocket and pulls out a beautiful pin. It is a locket with Aladdin’s Castle on the outside, and Jasmine and a mirror on the inside. He says here is a special pin for a special girl and gives it too her. Thank you Tony. You made a little girls day, and restored some faith in humanity for her dad.
Leaving for the day

Back to the room where we all grab a nap in preparation for the Hollywood and Vine and Fantasmic
More later, I’m trying but reality is tougher than Disney!!
Jim

 

[Fatalbie]

Day 2 Cont
Wake up!!! We need to get ready for the big Fantasmic show. Up and adam.
We hop on a bus and head over to MGM.
I love the way this park looks when you walk in, especially as night is falling.
TS-Hollywood and Vine Buffet
No Photos of this place or the food. I do not know what I was thinking but it must have been eating because I never thought twice about it.
Our server was an older gentleman from Ireland and he was great. Another little extra $$ found its way into his tip and he deserved it. The food is good and the atmosphere is all about family here. Perfect for us with DD2. For a TS you can definitely get your $$
worth and not be disappointed by the selection, IMO.
Great apps including salad and peel and eat shrimp-some people do not like this I do.
Pork in a berry port glaze
Chicken
Carving station w/PR
Chicken Satay w/peanut sauce
Many other sides of veggies and potatoes etc…
The desserts were very good, and they are my SPECIALITY!!!!!
I went up for dessert and saw two empty cobbler trays and returned to the table to wait for new ones to arrive. I spied the manager bringing out the fresh ones and made a bee line for the dessert bar. While I was standing around pretending like it was a coincidence I got totally busted by the manager, and he called me out. We had a good laugh and struck up a conversation as he recognized my accent and is also from the NE. He eventually stopped by our table and chatted with us for a while, super nice guy. He actually came back and got us as we were finishing our meal and proceeded to walk us all the way to our seats at the Fantasmic show. Impressive customer service and also a good thing because I would have never found the “secret entrance” without his help.
Waiting for the show and doing a little dance

Fantasmic is nice but kind of scary for the little ones. There were a few parents forced to take the screamers away. DD talked about it for a few days, but we explained it was a dream. I enjoyed the show and if I visited w/friends or relatives I would do it again. As far as the reserved seating for the dinner show package it is right of center stage, as you look at the stage. Not the best seats, but there really is not a bad seat in the theater from what I saw. I can tell you that the exit is convenient from the reserved seating, and that is key as the crowd lets out. I am attaching a couple of vid captions to give you an idea of what the show is about but they are not of great quality.
The beginning

Near the end

After Fantasmic the park was closed and we headed home. The bus service to and from SSR, and all the parks we went to was fantastic.
View from the balcony of 3323 at night

Early to bed. On the agenda for Day 3
8am Crystal Palace Character Breakfast-OOP
MK day
Dole Whip
TS-Coral Reef

Jim

 

[almousefan]

Thanks for sharing your TR. It's nice to read the details about your trip. Can't wait to hear the rest of the story!

 

[tomandrobin]

Day two seemed like you had a great time.

The pictures are a really nice touch! Makes us miss being at the resort and Disney!

 

[Fatalbie]

Day 3
Up and out for an 8am breakfast at Crystal palace in MK. While waiting in line there was a family with two little girls in front of us. One of the little girls comes back to DD and hands her a tinker bell pin still on that card and says this is for you. Very nice and the beginning of what will be a great day. We are allowed into the park and head for CP.
The Kingdom at about 8am.

Hanging around outside waiting for our table to be ready we have a few photo ops. The one of the three of us outside was taken by a Dream Team member in a white shirt, this is the closest to a YOMD prize we came, but the day did have a very nice surprise in store.

As you enter the building

We are called and seated, DD has no idea what is in store. She is a little unsure at first but looosens up.

The picture of eeyore is him holding her hand and kissing it, but it does look like he is eating it, lol. He was a little scary and didn't stay long, thank you eeyore.
All of a sudden during breakfast some music starts and a parade strikes up in the restaurant. All the kids fall in line behind the characters and proceed to parade around clapping and singing, very cute.

I have nothing to compare this character breakfast to but:
1. The food is fantastic and has a great selection of everything
Traditional breakfast buffet eggs, bacon, sausage, omelets, pancakes etc
Great fresh fruit bar, cereal, grits more than I can remember
2. The setting is really enjoyable
3. The character interaction was FANTASTIC

I'm not sure if it always the case but the characters came out and went to the left, left as you come into the restaurant, and visit all those tables first. It may be worth asking to sit to that side. Keep in mind we are traveling in the lowest season, but if you plan on doing this breakfast get there early and feel like you have the characters, and the park, to yourself!!!
The park didn't open until 9am and we were done with breakfast and ready to go for opening.
We head for the back of the park and hit a few rides.
The special carousel

Dumbo

We head over to ToonTown, I have the "knowledge" so I want to be there for the rope drop. We are the first ones in line. I look at the rope and see that it opens on the left but figure we will stand right in the middle and they will know we were first if they are going to let anyone in early. A few others start to straggle in and I see another couple and their daughter plant themselves firmly next to the rope where it unlatches. I think to myself, what are the chances of anyone getting in early, but I am getting territorial, strange how we adults act sometimes. Well along come a couple of CM's through the crowd and they stop to trade pins with DD. She manages to get a hidden Mickey unicorn pin and a limited edition Disneyworld pin w/Mickey and Minnie on it. The CM looks at me and says how did she know to trade for those pins. I replied she has been trading for one day and just knows what she like not what they are “worth” and we have a good laugh. They continue on their way. About five minutes later another CM comes out and much to my chagrin opens the rope and lets the family by the latch in and closes the rope behind them. I look at my wife and explain why we got here first, and how that could have been us. She laughs out loud and says I’m crazy but she loves me anyway. Pluto comes back for the rope drop.

TBC

 

[Fatalbie]

As everyone starts to move DD decides she wants out of the stroller and tries to get out while moving. I practically run her over and she starts crying. Everyone is rushing by to get to see Mickey and Pluto picks her up and cheers her up and walks with us into ToonTown. We see Minnie standing there and I figure since everyone is heading for the Mickey Tent to see Mickey lets get a photo with Minnie she is right there. We walk up to ask for a photo and the Magic begins. Minnie ushers us into her house and proceeds to take DD, DW, and me on a tour of her house and everyone else behind us has to stay outside. We had no idea what was going on!!! After the tour of the house we figured it was over but nope. She continued to walk us through lines of people, and ushered us into a room for photos.
I took this photo when the whole tour started, and then started to video.

Here is the first of the video clip

Here is the continuation.

After she led us into the room we had a good ten to fifteen minutes of photos just us and Minnie and Pluto and Goofy.

We were in awe. I can tell you that this was better than any dream fast pass or set of ears, and is a memory that will last a lifetime. MINNIE IS NOW THE MOUSE OF CHOICE IN OUR HOUSE. Lol

After we were done with Minnie they sent us directly over to see Mickey w/no wait, and then on to the Princesses.

After the dust settles from our whirlwind tour we continue to hit rides in Fantasy Land all the usual suspects. We are all a little tired and decide to head home to SSR for a nap. My wife is on a mission for a Dolewhip and we head towards Adventure land so we can sate the crave. Dolewhip is a pineapple soft serve ice cream float w/pineapple juice instead of soda. It can be purchased with a snack credit on the DDP. Excellent! No photo.
Back to SSR we take a nap and rise for our ADR at Coral Reef.

TS Coral Reef Epcot
The ADR is for 4:20 and we once again have no problem with bus x-port to get us where we need to be.
Seated at Coral Reef we have a good server and an excellent view of the aquarium. DD is amazed and can’t stop talking about the “big daddy shark” that is swimming by.
I will add a couple of photos inside but they are not good. Better photos of the interior of CR are available in other trip reports.

Bread as a starter
DD making a bread seahorse modeled after the drink coaster. Their minds are amazing places!!!

Appetizers
Caesar Salad-nice presentation and good dressing not to heavy
Shrimp Cocktail-very different served in a martini glass with needles in a soy sauce-good

Entrees
DW-Grilled Mahi-Mahi served over a vegetable couscous, sauce escapes me soy-lemon

Me-Pan Seared Ahi tuna, med rare, served with wasabi mashed potatoes-soy type glaze

Dessert
Chocolate wave- Served warm has a viscous gooey center of chocolate and I think Grand Marnier. White chocolate ice cream with white chocolate shavings and chocolate sauce.
We got two of these because it looked so good-It was EXCELLENT!!
The review overall-I’m torn. I really enjoyed everything we had to eat. The atmosphere was good, but maybe with DD2 not the best even with the aquarium, something was missing and I can’t put my finger on it. Maybe the selection was just not quite what I was hoping for, Mahi and Ahi are pretty common to seafood restaurants. I would recommend the restaurant it was by no means a bad experience, but certainly did not blow me away. Wolfgangs was a far better choice.

After dinner DD and DW returned home to SSR. Daddy got a chance to shoot over to MGM for EMH and run around like a kid for multiple rides on ToT and RnR. Both are very good.

Day 4
Artist Palette for CS breakfast-not the best buy with the DDP
Blizzard Beach-BRRRR
Monorail Co-Pilots
O’Hana for dinner.

Thanks for tuning in
Jim

 

[Fatalbie]

OOPs forgot the dessert photo

 

[Tine731]

I am loving your report. I think the dining review and food pics are a great addition. Thank you for sharing your family vacation.

 

[corinnak]

I had seen the quick version of your report - I am glad you are filling in the details! That was quite a tour of Toontown that you got! Keep it coming!

 

[mello]

OMGoodness your phone picture (and accompanying story) is fantastic! I had to show my family that one! I've been a research-aholic for a couple years now, and didn't know that Mickey would call you on Christmas to tell of your ressie! That's one to file away for my dd who will be 4. Can't wait to hear the rest of your report!

 

[Slakk]

Love the report and the pics of my beloved SSR makes me smile!

 

[mello]

Fantasmic is nice but kind of scary for the little ones. There were a few parents forced to take the screamers away. DD talked about it for a few days, but we explained it was a dream.

Jim

Our dd was 2 when she saw it, and she did fine, but the first comment she made after the show, and repeated for days afterward, was, "Mickey said, 'This is MY dream!'" We could tell she was reassuring herself about that lol. Good ol' Mickey

 

[Fatalbie]

Corinnak I agree with your comments in the "buzz" thread, SSR could benefit from them. Especially the fireworks. When did the DTD fireworks stop. I was trying to get CP for that reason and had no idea. Bring them back!!
Mello I was just telling my wife what your DD2 said. She is floored because it was almost an exact quote of our DD2 comments for the next couple of days. As for the call on xmas I do not remember where I cam across the offer, I think it was on the Disney site but can't be sure.

 

[Boston5602]

thanks for posting

 

[abk96]

Wow!! What a great report. I love the way you surprised your family. And that picture of your DD receiving the phone call is heartwarming.

Getting to tour Minnie's house with her must have been a dream come true for your DD. You are all very lucky.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

First I want to say how impressed I am with you! What a wonderfully fun and inspiring family man you are! The look on your daughter’s face when receiving the phone call is priceless! What a great touch!

Wolfgang Puck’s is a favorite of ours. We love the pumpkin ravioli, too! In fact, we’ve sat at that same exact table twice before. Great view!

You take great photos and I really enjoyed the little videos, too. Your daughter is adorable is obviously having the time of her life!

Cute CP pictures, too. It’s one of our must-do’s. Our DD2 loves the characters and the interaction is some of the best.

BTW – I got a huge kick out of your video of your DD2 and Minnie Mouse. For the entire 3 minutes, she was SO into it that she never even looked back to make sure you were still with her! I love it! What a memory she’s made of that! I don’t think she’ll ever forget it.

We've thought about CR, too...but not sure if the tanks would be enough to occupy DD2 through an expensive meal. We'll try it one of these days, though.

Can't wait for more!

 

[Cheryl N. WI]

Great report and pictures! Reading about your DD and mello's DD reaction to Fantasmic it brought back memories of our first trip with our DD (now 12) when she was 18 months old. At night she must have been dreaming about the fireworks and all the loud things because in her sleep she would start saying "boom boom' and this happened more than one night Disneyworld does seem to be loud for those little ears!

Can't wait to read more.

 

[cocoswife]

I love, love, love your trip report!! Your daughter is adorable.