Star Wars Opening Weekend...Was the force with us?

[ckret01]

Great TR...Loving your pictures!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

What great updates. I think we may have to try Kona and the Tonga toast. That looks really yummy!
I am sorry to hear about the Pop we have always wanted to try to stay there. At least the room was clean.

I love the Tonga Toast but honestly it is way too much for one person. It's a great item to share!

I do have to say that the room was super clean. I did of course wipe down the bathroom with my Clorox wipes but honestly, I think it was the cleanest room we've ever stayed in.

Great TR...Loving your pictures!

Thanks! I'm glad you joined.

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

We got off of the Monorail and wandered the shops at the Poly. I really love the Poly and hope to be able to stay there some day. I'm not too sure that it's the budget but it sure is on my list.

I love this bag. I debated on getting one the entire trip. If I didn't have a zillion of them at home I probably would have. It is just so hard for me to justify the purchase!

I love the Mickey-Jack pin!!!!

After browsing in the shops I was gong to ask the Photopass people about how the new photo sessions work. It is so dang complicated. Every time I read about it on the DIS, I get more confused. It seemed like DH and DB were pretty ready for a break so I decided against it. I'm just going to have to call and see if I can get better information via telephone. We did this last year and were able to combine these pictures with those of the photopass photographers but I hear we can't do it this year. I dunno, but I have to figure it out!

We made our way to AKL....yeah, it was time for my zebra domes!! We had stayed at AKL three times before so we knew where we were going, etc. We were NOT prepared for their new set up...meaning that the guard house was way before the right turn and the lodge sign now reads Jambo House. We had to explain to the guard why we were visiting since we were not staying at AKL. ..... dude, I need my fix man!

DH parked in the handicap parking and off we went. There was no exploring the property, no time for sightseeing, I was on a mission baby.....right straight to The Mara for me.

As much as I wanted to go inside their shop, I resisted the urge and marched straight to the elevators and downstairs to the ground level!!!

My cell phone rang just as we were about to enter Mara and it was my sister. She was home taking care of my furbabies. I was not in the mood for yapping as I had only one thing on my mind................... THESE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I got myself an order and DB got one too so that he could try them. There was no way in he** that I was giving up even one of mine to anyone! Ended up that he ate one of his, DH had I think two and guess who polished off all of the rest of mine and his? I was so dang full afterwards that I wanted to explode and I was cursing stupid POP for not having refrigerators so that I could load up for the next couple of days. Diet or no diet, I LOVE THOSE THINGS and am working at least one or maybe two stops during our September trip to get them. Which reminds me......I need to confirm if CSR has refrigerators!!!!!!!!

After leave AKL we headed back to POP. I wanted to change my shoes which is something that I like to do at least once I day. I find that if I change shoes half way through the day I do much better.

We did a bit of chillaxin before heading over to DHS for our 4:25 ADR at Brown Derby. Now I picked BD because it was the ONLY place I could get a Fantasmic package!

We got there a bit early and while we were waiting we went over to the Animation building. I so wanted to stand it line to see this guy but we did not have enough time. Dangit, there is always September though!

We also saw these guys..........

To pass the time I took a few more pictures. Here are a few.

Jenn, this one is for you........

My favorite is Beauty and the Beast. You have no idea how much I wanted to buy this! If I only had a bigger house.....

Mom loves Lady and the Tramp so I took this for her.

By the way, mom is a lurker here people. I sent her the link to my TR this morning. I think she just wanted to see my brother since he hasn't been home for like two years. Forget the report.....let's see my son!

Continued on next post............

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

It was finally time for our ADR, or close to it. We made our way to BD and the skies were clear. I was hoping it would stay that way. There was no one even in the lobby when we got there and we were seated right away. Our CM explained their Fantasmic package and I have to say that I was a tad bit pissed off that now that I finally had my TIW card in hand, I COULD NOT USE IT for the package! It was $46 for each of us! Dang it.

We placed our drink orders and then went over the menu. It was limited but we all decided on the steak. I got a goat cheese salad as my starter and they both got the scallop with squash risotto. I had just had the zebra domes so I figured I had to stick with salad instead. My diet was already trashed but I tried.

Forgive the craptastic pictures. I didn't want to turn the flash on and it is so dark in that dang place.

The stead was actually pretty darn good.

So before the CM brought our meal she brought over this phone and plugged it into the wall. She told DB that there was a call for him. It was Goofy welcoming him since this was his firtst visit.

I thought that was so sweet. DB on the other hand just humored me and allowed me to take a picture...crappy as it is I didn't want to dare ask to take another.

All three of us had the grapefruit cake for dessert.

I have always loved the grapefruit cake but this time I thought that there was something funky going on. I could not figure out for the life of me what it was. The CM came over and asked how we liked it. I told her that we had it before and were looking forward to having it today. She said "did you notice that we changted the recipe? It's much more moist now." I wanted to say, and it takes like dirty diaper today too. It was gross people....gross. I was so depressed over that.

DB had gotten up to use the men's room or something and all of a sudden...............I hear the freaking thunder and see the lightening. All I could think of was crap, the freaking ponchos are in the darn CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I did however have two of the el cheapo ponchos in my backpack. You know, the ones that are like saran wrap????? DH had gone to use the restroom and DB and I debated on what we should do next. There were people ALL OVER the lobby. The floors were wet and slippery and I was waiting for someone to fall on their you know what! DB decided he'd take the saran wrap poncho and make a run for the shop outside of the Little Mermaid and get us yet another set of ponchos. He made a run for it while I wanted for DH. A man had left his hat and sunglass clip on the pay phone but the place was so packed there was no way to find him. There were times that you could not move and what was totally gross..............wet smelly people...........I'm telling you, it was worse than wet smelly dog!!!!!!!!!!!!! UGH!

We pretty much decided that we were not going to stand outside in the Fantasmic line an hour to an hour and a half before the show. We made a run for the car as soon as the rain let up some. We were still pretty wet when we got to the car and I actually did not even dare to take off my poncho at all. I have really curly hair and when I go to Disney I try my best to either straighten it for as long as it lasts or put it up. Needless to say, my hair was a total disaster. I looked like a dork!

We got back to the resort and it was around 6:30 or so. We decided to hang out to "see what happens" and maybe we'd go somewhere in a bit. I noticed this on the table. No clue why I didn't see it until then.

We all sat down to just wait out the rain. Yeah, that was a joke. DB was asleep before 7 and I was asleep a few minutes later. Poor DH sat there til like midnight listening to us snore and trying to watch tv. Neither one of us got up until the next morning! Can you believe it!!!!!!!??????????

Next up DTD and EPCOT. Did we shop til we dropped? Did we get rained on again? Did we get to see Illuminations?

Stay tuned and find out.........

 

[wdwgirl03]

Just found your TR and am going to join in. I am loving all your pictures so far...they're great! I see you live in Bay Village, OH. Is that near Cleveland? I'm pretty sure one guy I went to college with was from there. And another one of my friends was from Avon Lake, though now she lives in Shaker Heights. Anyways, can't wait for more of your TR!

I have that frame!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Just found your TR and am going to join in. I am loving all your pictures so far...they're great! I see you live in Bay Village, OH. Is that near Cleveland? I'm pretty sure one guy I went to college with was from there. And another one of my friends was from Avon Lake, though now she lives in Shaker Heights. Anyways, can't wait for more of your TR!



I have that frame!

Hi, and welcome to my TR!

Bay Village is right next to Avon Lake.

I have to have that frame! It's on the list for our September trip!

 

[AlohaPolynesian]

Ugh! Rain ruins the fun yet again! I seriously think there was something going on this weekend because we were SO tired the whole time. I mean, usually I sleep really well when I am at Disney but this time I could've slept forever! Anyways, that's so cute that the BD brought out that phone for your brother!!!!! I love the way you guys eat. I see you had some of the zebra domes you told me to try in March!! SO JEALOUS! Those things are awesome. Both of the friends I went to WDW with are little skinny things and didn't even eat three meals a day, let alone snacks. Plus, when they did eat, it wasn't very much. I felt like I couldn't enjoy myself so I can't wait to go w/my mom and try everything!! (Well, apparently NOT the grapefruit cake!!)

 

[Synndy]

Mmmm... I can't wait to try zebra domes & tonga toast! Mmmmm...

Don't worry about your diet. There's no such thing as a diet in Disney! That's WHY I'm dieting now so I can eat my weigh in Awesome Dis food.

I hope I'll get to see the up characters in September! I saw it today with my best friend Steph & it was sooooooo cute!

Question for ya... Is the Fantasmic package really worth it? Were thinking of doing Mama. Melroses but I'm wondering if it's really worth doing it? We wanna do 50s & Sci-Fi.


Yay for park hours being listed soon & ADR time is coming up! Yay!

Can't wait to meet you

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Ugh! Rain ruins the fun yet again! I seriously think there was something going on this weekend because we were SO tired the whole time. I mean, usually I sleep really well when I am at Disney but this time I could've slept forever! Anyways, that's so cute that the BD brought out that phone for your brother!!!!! I love the way you guys eat. I see you had some of the zebra domes you told me to try in March!! SO JEALOUS! Those things are awesome. Both of the friends I went to WDW with are little skinny things and didn't even eat three meals a day, let alone snacks. Plus, when they did eat, it wasn't very much. I felt like I couldn't enjoy myself so I can't wait to go w/my mom and try everything!! (Well, apparently NOT the grapefruit cake!!)

As you can see my family is Pooh sized. Yeah, we need to cut back but we're doing that at home...not at Disney! I'm doing weight watchers but that went right out the window at Disney.

I couldn't get over how tired we were. I think it might have been the rain. Rain makes me want to sleep.

Oh and the grapefruit cake....OMG.....it was so freaking disgusting!

DB was so unexcited about the phone thing. Here's me...all excited, wanting to take pictures.....and him just staring at my like I was a freak!

Mmmm... I can't wait to try zebra domes & tonga toast! Mmmmm...

Don't worry about your diet. There's no such thing as a diet in Disney! That's WHY I'm dieting now so I can eat my weigh in Awesome Dis food.

I hope I'll get to see the up characters in September! I saw it today with my best friend Steph & it was sooooooo cute!

Question for ya... Is the Fantasmic package really worth it? Were thinking of doing Mama. Melroses but I'm wondering if it's really worth doing it? We wanna do 50s & Sci-Fi.


Yay for park hours being listed soon & ADR time is coming up! Yay!

Can't wait to meet you

The whole diet thing has been an issue for me for years. Last year even after all of the food I consumed at Disney I gained only a pound which to me was incredible!

Zebra domes are awesome. I can't get over how much I like them. THe Tonga toast is good but it is waaaayyy too much for one person in my opinion.

We were planning on doing the Fantasmic package at Melrose too. WIth the recent changes that they made and not being able to use the separate entrance, I'm not sure it's worth it. I plan to read more and research to see just how many people did not get a seat anyway. I was reading about it on All Ears. Someone wrote in and said that even getting there an hour early and having the special ticket, they didn't get a seat.

 

[lisalonglash]

I'm so behind on everyone's PTRs/TRs - two boys in baseball and rugby equals a very very busy spring!

I'm sorry the show was rained out I those Mickey Mouse head frames - so adorable! I've never had a zebra dome - I'm so deprived lol I agree with the others - there is no dieting in Disney, that's why I do it before we go lol!

GREAT pictures!

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

What a shame you didn't get to see Fantasmic - hopefully your brother got to see it another night!?
You must have been really tired to sleep like that - but hopefully you woke up refreshed and ready for action!!!

Di x

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

I'm so behind on everyone's PTRs/TRs - two boys in baseball and rugby equals a very very busy spring!

I'm sorry the show was rained out I those Mickey Mouse head frames - so adorable! I've never had a zebra dome - I'm so deprived lol I agree with the others - there is no dieting in Disney, that's why I do it before we go lol!

GREAT pictures!

Sounds like you have a busy spring!

I'm not even sure if the show was actually rained out but I'd be surprised if it was not.

You must have a zebra dome! It's worth a stop at AKL!

What a shame you didn't get to see Fantasmic - hopefully your brother got to see it another night!?
You must have been really tired to sleep like that - but hopefully you woke up refreshed and ready for action!!!

Di x

Di,

No, we didn't get to see Fantasmic. It's another thing to add to the list for my DB's next trip.

We sure were ready to go the next day after all those hours of sleep!!!

 

[msgrimm23]

im in. was at the first weekend of star wars weekends too

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

I missed a lot of pics too. I didn't care if the kids cameras got a little wet but I wasn't about to pull out the SLR. I don't know how many pics we took....probably about 4000. In your new post I love that Mickey/Jack pin. I have to find it next time. We try to buy 10-15 per trip. Eventually we'll get up a nice collection.

I tried not to stress out too much over the dining. I didn't book Kona for breakfast this time. It was hard to pass but I can not deal with that server again and I know we'd end up with her. I hope she doesn't work during dinner!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

im in. was at the first weekend of star wars weekends too

I wish I would have known how many DISers were there! We could have organized a meet!

Thanks for joining and welcome!

I missed a lot of pics too. I didn't care if the kids cameras got a little wet but I wasn't about to pull out the SLR. I don't know how many pics we took....probably about 4000. In your new post I love that Mickey/Jack pin. I have to find it next time. We try to buy 10-15 per trip. Eventually we'll get up a nice collection.

I tried not to stress out too much over the dining. I didn't book Kona for breakfast this time. It was hard to pass but I can not deal with that server again and I know we'd end up with her. I hope she doesn't work during dinner!

I don't blame you for not wanting to take out the SLR because the rain was unreal. I was just not prepared to risk it! I'm checkin' out the background of your pics to see if we're in any of them.

I thought the Mickey/Jack pin was so dang cute! I think we came home with about 10 pins this trip. I have to get another book because mine is overfilled right now. I also have a list of pins so that I don't get duplicates but I have not updated the list in probably 5 trips. We always make a run for the pin station at DTD and under the hat to get our AP only pins. I keep forgetting to check them out at MK. I'm such a dork!

This trip we didn't stress too much about dining...at least not like I am stressed about September.

I just love Kona.

 

[Nix]

My fiance loves the beaker t-shirt, I think he's now planning on getting one for himself when we visit. Great trip report!

 

[inkedupmomma]

That tie-dye mickey sweat shirt was BRIGHT! I love that Mickey-Jack pin <3 I have the Minnie-Sally one, and Pluto-Zero ones too! It's too bad you didn't get a chance to ask about the photo pass thing ;/

I am so so sooooo looking forward to zebra domes! like REALLLLY looking forward to them!

I am also stoked to meet the Sorcerer Mickey! I love his hat

DO you know if the UP characters will be there in September?

I want that framed pic of Jack and Sally.. bet it costs 50000000!

So Brown Derby looks yummy. Shame that you missed fantasmic though So is the grapefruit cake good? was good? That does not sound appealing to me at ALL!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

My fiance loves the beaker t-shirt, I think he's now planning on getting one for himself when we visit. Great trip report!

The only place we saw these shirts was at the store near the Muppets. I was surprised that we didn't see them at World of Disney.

Thanks for joining my TR!

That tie-dye mickey sweat shirt was BRIGHT! I love that Mickey-Jack pin <3 I have the Minnie-Sally one, and Pluto-Zero ones too! It's too bad you didn't get a chance to ask about the photo pass thing ;/

I am so so sooooo looking forward to zebra domes! like REALLLLY looking forward to them!

I am also stoked to meet the Sorcerer Mickey! I love his hat

DO you know if the UP characters will be there in September?

I want that framed pic of Jack and Sally.. bet it costs 50000000!

So Brown Derby looks yummy. Shame that you missed fantasmic though So is the grapefruit cake good? was good? That does not sound appealing to me at ALL!

Sweatshirt was kinda cute. I could have spent a fortune on freaking pins this time!

And yes, we WILL get us some domes!

I want to get a pic with Sorcerer Mickey too. Joe won't stand in the line but I intend to! Not sure about the UP characters. They were right next to Mickey.

Cake was DISGUSTING!!!!!!!!!!!! The new recipe sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[inkedupmomma]

Grapefruit and cake are 2 things that do not belong together!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

We last left off after a rainy day at DHS. DB and I both zonked when we got back to POP but we were up and ready to roll the next morning….well, almost ready to roll. It apears that DB has to have his coffee in the morning. Who knew?

Off we went to DTD. I of course made the boys stop here for pictures. I take pictures here EVERY SINGLE TIME we visit DTD…even if it’s during the same trip!

Here is DH and I ... I have on what my DB calls my "bug glasses." Nice, eh? They are prescription and I need to get as much coverage as I can but I have to say, he's right. If I can afford it, I'm gettin' new ones before our next trip!

We planned on a simple breakfast at MickeyD’s (like the Disney reference…lol). DB found this guy while we wer walking over and ordered himself and DH and froo-froo coffee as I call them.

Not a girlie coffee but one of those jobbies with a long name…tall, mocha, grande, who the heck knows what they were?

We got to MickeyD’s and the place was packed. Not crowed. Ridiculously packed.

Going here for dessert in September....

Since Mickey D's was packed we had to pick somewhere else for breakfast. So, where did we go? Earl of course!

Crappy picture of DH, but here it is anyway.

We saw this thing in the air and as much as I want to try it, I am scared to death!

After Earl we began our shopping adventure. I think we started at the Christmas store since it’s petty close to Earl. Our niece is graduating this year so DH ordered her a mouse ear graduation cap. We had to leave it so that it could be embroidered. I saw this cool stuff in the back part of the store.

Jenn, close your eyes if you don’t want to see the Jack stuff!!

I didn’t buy as much as I normally do because I was bummed out. They had only two different box set ornaments! I could not believe it. Since our tree is 100% Disney I normally go nuts in that store and we end up at UPS to get it all home. I got a Tink ornament and a Lenox Mickey and that was it! I’m telling you, I wanted to cry. I had planned to add to some of the stuff I already had and last year told myself, oh I will get it next time. Yeah, don’t do that people. It’s not there “next time!” I also managed to get a Mickey flag for outside. I have not put it up yet but when I do, I will take a picture and post it. It is a red/white/blue patriotic flag.

We passed by here too....something odd about a winter scene in FLA.

I wanted to go in here, but we didn't.........

We saw this guy and I have no clue if he was hurt of what. I felt bad though.

Next was Once Upon a Toy on a mission for Star Wars stuff. Strike out again! They didn’thave half as much as they have had in the past. I don’t know if it is the economy or what but the stores just didn’t seem to have what they normally do. Who knows.

From there we went to Team Mickey. DB got a Browns helmet. I got my sister’s boyfriend an ESPN shirt. DH engaged other customers in Steeler’s talk while we were there too! Gotta love it!

Next up was World of Disney.

Check out my dorky glasses....up close this time. HA HA And as you can see it was so frickin hot already that my dang bangs were glued to my forehead. I have TERRIBLE hair in FLA...just God awful!!!!!!

I zipped out my shopping list and set off on my mission. I found just about everything that I was looking for except for my sister’s bathing suit cover up. I was holding out for the 10% AP discount at WoD but I ended up not being able to get it there. Mom wanted fridge clips like ones we saw last year but of course, no go. Didn’t have them! I had to get what they did have. I also got her a pad of paper for the fridge that was made from recycled materials. Speaking of recyled, I never did see my purse people! Yeah this one!!!!!!!!

I am totally pi**ed that I could not find this purse! I hope that they have it in Septemer because I HAVE to have it. I didn't get the bag I wanted either. Ugh.........

I got my nephew the Jamaican (spelling) ears…with the breads or whatever they are? He loves that thing and tries it on every time we go so we got that for him. I also got 3 boxes of Mickey Roni and Cheese. It is pretty good. I got it only so that I could come home and be reminded of shopping at WoD.

I was also looking for scrapbooking stuff but they didn’t have anythng new. Ended up getting that somewhere else too.

So, nearly $200 later we left there and went over to Basin, where coincidentally, I get an AP discount too. They have half of what they had last September and didn’t have any of the large bath bombs. $60 dollars later….,yeah, I got a bar of soap with a fishy inside that cost me $10 bucks…nuts, eh? I got bath bombs for gifts for my cousin and her girls and then of course, a couple of them for me.

We left DTD and headed back to POP to dump off our loot before heading over to Epcot. I changed my shoes of course because that’s what I do to try and keep my tootsie’s from getting blisters! Off to EPCOT we go!

Next up. Where did we eat? Was the food good? Did we get rained on? What’s up with the CM at the American Adventure? Did we stay for Illuminations?????

Stay tuned……