Summer Awakens '16 June 20-28 A Magical BFF Trip
- Thread starter Rivergirl2005
- Start date
ArielSRL
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- Oct 23, 2006
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- 8,157
Finally all caught up - I had to take care of my kids, get one down for a nap, work out, shower, etc before I could settle down to read.
You got so much done! And love the extra FPs!
I seriously thought about a PPO ADR at BOG but I really don't want to pay the prices, nothing looks that good, AND they don't have the strawberry cream cheese cupcake at that time. So we'll do lunch again instead. But, seeing your photos of Main Street! If I did do a PPO ADR, it would be for the photos and the stroll along Main Street, not necessarily for the extra 7DMT ride.
Oh and I love touring plans, as well. I didn't really stick to my plans this past trip but that's because I had someone on the trip (hint...my dad) who refused to get up early and follow my plans. Next year he's staying home though, so I should do better next year.
Love all the character meets! We'll have to do more next year. We did several character buffets this past June but because we are foregoing the DDP next trip -my kids eat practically nothing - I'm only doing a few this next trip.
Sorry about your MM meal, but glad you got a good seat for F!
I'm scheduling 1.5 days at DHS so we can do F! One night and SW another. In fact, I'm hoping to do the SW dessert party.
Great TR so far! Looking forward to more!
You got so much done! And love the extra FPs!
I seriously thought about a PPO ADR at BOG but I really don't want to pay the prices, nothing looks that good, AND they don't have the strawberry cream cheese cupcake at that time. So we'll do lunch again instead. But, seeing your photos of Main Street! If I did do a PPO ADR, it would be for the photos and the stroll along Main Street, not necessarily for the extra 7DMT ride.
Oh and I love touring plans, as well. I didn't really stick to my plans this past trip but that's because I had someone on the trip (hint...my dad) who refused to get up early and follow my plans. Next year he's staying home though, so I should do better next year.
Love all the character meets! We'll have to do more next year. We did several character buffets this past June but because we are foregoing the DDP next trip -my kids eat practically nothing - I'm only doing a few this next trip.
Sorry about your MM meal, but glad you got a good seat for F!
I'm scheduling 1.5 days at DHS so we can do F! One night and SW another. In fact, I'm hoping to do the SW dessert party.
Great TR so far! Looking forward to more!
Rivergirl2005
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2013
- Messages
- 927
Hey! Thanks for joining! Touring plans can help a lot but sometimes its easier to break away from them
I am glad to hear you had fun on your trip! I am so jealous you have one scheduled for next year. Sadly I do not think that will happen for me, but who knows things can change! Did you enjoy your character meals? We only breakfast at 1900 Park Fare, Akershsus and Be Our Guest for the Beast. I guess that is a lot but Akershsus was mainly for the frozen ride! Character meets are still my favorite! I feel like such a kid and I love having a different experience each time! I highly suggest an adr ppo. I loved walking around with practically no one. I enjoyed taking pictures and just taking in view! I hope you are able to do one!!
Rivergirl2005
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2013
- Messages
- 927
Chapter 7- Will a PPO at Akershus help us ride Frozen on the 2nd day it opens?
I was so excited for our 3rd day of the trip. Back in December, I scheduled a PPO for Akershus at Epcot for easy access to the Frozen Ride. However as time got closer, the ride was not opened. We lucked out on our week. Frozen opened on June 21, and our Epcot morning with Akershus was for June 22. Were we lucky or what? The only problem was I had never eaten there before and I was worried for timing purposes. Would we have enough time to walk all the way over to Norway, eat breakfast without rushing, meet all the princesses and get in line before the rope droppers made it? Now I knew rope drop at Epcot is different from Magic Kingdom. Epcot seems to open earlier, 8:45, which meant we had 45 mins to eat before they arrived...oh boy!
We got up around 6:15ish and the goal was to get to Epcot by 7. Ha that did not happen. We ended up leaving our room at 7:10 and didn't arrive until 7:25. I was really nervous on the bus because I just imagined these huge lines. We must have lucked out or many PPO people do not arrive early. We were the third family in line at 7:25. By 7:30 the line was 20 groups behind us. And at this time, there was already a lot of people in line as rope droppers. We had two families in front, both with strollers. Both Rachel and I decided we could walk faster than them and we had to get there first! The goal was also not to stop and take pictures.
They let us in at 7:45. After walking brisk-fully faster around them we were in the lead, and no one was behind us. We reached the fountains behind spaceship earth and still no one. We decided to slow down just a little to grab a couple of shots without people in them.
We arrived at 7:56, ok maybe we did walk rather quickly. However we wanted to be first and man did we achieve it! We walked in took our picture with Belle and was seated in the first room for the visiting princesses. We had enough time to get some fruit and yogurt from the cold bar, and have the server get us juice before anyone else was seated. We were pretty impressed with ourselves and finally relaxed.
By 8:15 our food had arrived. Sorry I didn't take a picture but it was a huge plate of scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon and a potatoe casserole. Due to my onion allergy, I only was able to eat the bacon and eggs. I couldn't believe that the sausage had onions in it. However it was not a big deal. I got a second helping of fruits, yogurt and rolls and by 8:25 the princesses had arrived. We were first visited by Cinderella. We talked about Jac and Gus and how we were to meet her at the ball tonight. She told us she would be happy to share Fairy Godmother for the tonight since we had not packed any appropriate dresses. We really enjoyed her!
After Cindy, Aurora stopped over for a nice chat. Aurora is Rachel's favorite princess, so they had a wonderful conversation about Prince Phyllip, and the three fairies. She was wonderful! Very animated and I love how she took extra time with us because I told her Rachel had been dying to meet her! 
Ariel came over next to discuss how her father have given her special legs. Apparently she can come and go on land or water as often as she pleases. She asked us if we were mermaid, sadly we weren't, but told us her father would love to make fins for us. Rachels would be a purple and mine would be a greenish teal! Ariel was wonderful and was another one of our top meet and greets. She also spent a lot of time with us!
In between princesses, we asked for our check since it was slowly creepy up on 8:40. We wanted to be out by 8:45. We paid for our meal, left a tip, and Snow came over to visit. We didn't spend to much time with her only because the royal parade was about to begin and she needed to run other there. Not her fault and not a big deal because we left right after our quick hello!
We arrived outside of the Resturant by 8:45 and luckily no rope droppers. We were sixth in line, since a couple families did not stay to meet the princesses. Before I go on I just want to say I really enjoyed Akershus. Is it expensive, yes but you get some of the best princesses. All of them were really sweet and on point! You really pay for the atmosphere and the meet and great.
By 8:50, there was a big group of other restaurant goers behind us.
CM's were quickly explaining how they would line up the rope droppers. People in line currently were only from the restaurant Akershus. Imagineers and CM's were running around making sure everything was ready. They didn't have us line up at the front of the ride. We were placed in the front of Norway. 
To our left we could see the Bridge that was located before Mexico. It was filled with people! At 8:55 the roper droppers were slowly walked to the back of our line. 
By the time they reached us it was 9:00 and we were led to the front of the ride! 
Since it was day 2 of the ride opening, it didn't open quite at 9:00. Imagineers were running in and out of the doors. We even talked to a couple who said there was minor issues but you'll love the graphics! At 9:15 were lead in the Standby line by an Imagineer. He talked to us about the queue and some surprises along the way.
We didn't take any pictures on the ride and luckily no one in the boat did either! It was fantastic! The animatronics are amazing and the ride was really cute. So our plan worked! Although we had to wait 20 minutes, we were on really quickly compared to those who had to wait behind us. When we left the ride, we noticed the standby line was all the way behind China. I found out later that Josh from easywdw was there that morning too. We were very happy with morning! Everything worked out wonderfully #Worthit
I was so excited for our 3rd day of the trip. Back in December, I scheduled a PPO for Akershus at Epcot for easy access to the Frozen Ride. However as time got closer, the ride was not opened. We lucked out on our week. Frozen opened on June 21, and our Epcot morning with Akershus was for June 22. Were we lucky or what? The only problem was I had never eaten there before and I was worried for timing purposes. Would we have enough time to walk all the way over to Norway, eat breakfast without rushing, meet all the princesses and get in line before the rope droppers made it? Now I knew rope drop at Epcot is different from Magic Kingdom. Epcot seems to open earlier, 8:45, which meant we had 45 mins to eat before they arrived...oh boy!
We got up around 6:15ish and the goal was to get to Epcot by 7. Ha that did not happen. We ended up leaving our room at 7:10 and didn't arrive until 7:25. I was really nervous on the bus because I just imagined these huge lines. We must have lucked out or many PPO people do not arrive early. We were the third family in line at 7:25. By 7:30 the line was 20 groups behind us. And at this time, there was already a lot of people in line as rope droppers. We had two families in front, both with strollers. Both Rachel and I decided we could walk faster than them and we had to get there first! The goal was also not to stop and take pictures.
They let us in at 7:45. After walking brisk-fully faster around them we were in the lead, and no one was behind us. We reached the fountains behind spaceship earth and still no one. We decided to slow down just a little to grab a couple of shots without people in them.
We arrived at 7:56, ok maybe we did walk rather quickly. However we wanted to be first and man did we achieve it! We walked in took our picture with Belle and was seated in the first room for the visiting princesses. We had enough time to get some fruit and yogurt from the cold bar, and have the server get us juice before anyone else was seated. We were pretty impressed with ourselves and finally relaxed.
By 8:15 our food had arrived. Sorry I didn't take a picture but it was a huge plate of scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon and a potatoe casserole. Due to my onion allergy, I only was able to eat the bacon and eggs. I couldn't believe that the sausage had onions in it. However it was not a big deal. I got a second helping of fruits, yogurt and rolls and by 8:25 the princesses had arrived. We were first visited by Cinderella. We talked about Jac and Gus and how we were to meet her at the ball tonight. She told us she would be happy to share Fairy Godmother for the tonight since we had not packed any appropriate dresses. We really enjoyed her!
After Cindy, Aurora stopped over for a nice chat. Aurora is Rachel's favorite princess, so they had a wonderful conversation about Prince Phyllip, and the three fairies. She was wonderful! Very animated and I love how she took extra time with us because I told her Rachel had been dying to meet her! 
Ariel came over next to discuss how her father have given her special legs. Apparently she can come and go on land or water as often as she pleases. She asked us if we were mermaid, sadly we weren't, but told us her father would love to make fins for us. Rachels would be a purple and mine would be a greenish teal! Ariel was wonderful and was another one of our top meet and greets. She also spent a lot of time with us!
In between princesses, we asked for our check since it was slowly creepy up on 8:40. We wanted to be out by 8:45. We paid for our meal, left a tip, and Snow came over to visit. We didn't spend to much time with her only because the royal parade was about to begin and she needed to run other there. Not her fault and not a big deal because we left right after our quick hello!
We arrived outside of the Resturant by 8:45 and luckily no rope droppers. We were sixth in line, since a couple families did not stay to meet the princesses. Before I go on I just want to say I really enjoyed Akershus. Is it expensive, yes but you get some of the best princesses. All of them were really sweet and on point! You really pay for the atmosphere and the meet and great.
By 8:50, there was a big group of other restaurant goers behind us.
CM's were quickly explaining how they would line up the rope droppers. People in line currently were only from the restaurant Akershus. Imagineers and CM's were running around making sure everything was ready. They didn't have us line up at the front of the ride. We were placed in the front of Norway. 
To our left we could see the Bridge that was located before Mexico. It was filled with people! At 8:55 the roper droppers were slowly walked to the back of our line. 
By the time they reached us it was 9:00 and we were led to the front of the ride! 
Since it was day 2 of the ride opening, it didn't open quite at 9:00. Imagineers were running in and out of the doors. We even talked to a couple who said there was minor issues but you'll love the graphics! At 9:15 were lead in the Standby line by an Imagineer. He talked to us about the queue and some surprises along the way.
We didn't take any pictures on the ride and luckily no one in the boat did either! It was fantastic! The animatronics are amazing and the ride was really cute. So our plan worked! Although we had to wait 20 minutes, we were on really quickly compared to those who had to wait behind us. When we left the ride, we noticed the standby line was all the way behind China. I found out later that Josh from easywdw was there that morning too. We were very happy with morning! Everything worked out wonderfully #Worthit
Last edited:
Rivergirl2005
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2013
- Messages
- 927
Magic shots are so much fun!!! Make sure you ask each photographer, and we found they are available before the sunsets. I don't know why but we couldn't find any magic shots after 8ish. Weird
ArielSRL
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2006
- Messages
- 8,157
Sounds like a wonderful FEA plan! Fortunately we won't have to do that in June because we will do 1.5 days at Epcot. One for FEA and one where we will split FP for TT and Soarin (we have a too short kid so we can get a rider swap pass for both rides). But it does sound like a great meal and I love the princesses. I'll have to file that away for an adults only trip I hope to talk my DH into for 2018 or 2019.
As far as going next year, this past June was a return after a 4 yr absence, so we don't usually go ever year. But then my coworker, who is DVC, decided to skip 2017, so I asked about her renting out her points and she was all for it. So that's pretty much how we lucked out!
As far as going next year, this past June was a return after a 4 yr absence, so we don't usually go ever year. But then my coworker, who is DVC, decided to skip 2017, so I asked about her renting out her points and she was all for it. So that's pretty much how we lucked out!
ConnecticutNonna
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- Joined
- Jun 19, 2015
- Messages
- 2,556
I love following!
And love, love, love your photo!
You planned really really well!
Can't believe you still have your 21 year old autograph book! cool beans!
And love, love, love your photo!
You planned really really well!
Can't believe you still have your 21 year old autograph book! cool beans!
ConnecticutNonna
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2015
- Messages
- 2,556
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