SWW, BCR & Technically, we were literally on Mars! New - 8/31 - Final Update

[wiigirl]

Great pics!

 

[BridgetR3]

lol....I have to laugh reading your TR. We even have the same luck with lines!!! DH won't let me pick a line because whichever one I pick is going to suddenly slow down to a stop....no matter if it's a highway lane, or an entrance line or a food line. I just have that luck. Sorry to see that we share that same "luck".

So when I first saw the shield for Swiss Family treehouse, I thought you guys had gone to first aid because of the cross.

You would think that when moving the line the CMs would discreetly move it asking the people to follow in order to the next spot and THEN announce it. Geez.....they should work on that!

How sweet of the CM who gave Gabriel the R2D2 spinner. That was so sweet!

 

[lsenquiz]

What a fabulous day at MK. I'm sure you faced much less crowds than we did at SWW. You ate at our two favorite counter service restaurants. That's great that your son likes history. My oldest one does too, especially Greek and Roman history. The dancing sounds fun. We'll have to check it out on a cool day if they are still doing it then. The R2D2 story is so wonderful. What an awesome sprinkling of pixie dust!

I think Magic Kingdom has some of the best choices when it comes to counter service. IMO DHS has the worst. Gabriel loves to dance so the dance party is definitely a must do for us. The R2D2 spinner just blew me away. It was so awesome.

Aww I love pixie dust! What a nice memory for you guys.

Sounds like those boys mother raised them right. I hate seeing the elderly and small tired children having to stand on the buses.

That R2D2 light spinner will go down in history as the very best souvenier we have ever gotten from Disney.

I told the boys the exact same thing "Your mama raised you right". I think I embarressed them a little with the attention but honestly I see it so infrequently on the buses at Disney anymore it just felt like a big deal.

Great pics!

lol....I have to laugh reading your TR. We even have the same luck with lines!!! DH won't let me pick a line because whichever one I pick is going to suddenly slow down to a stop....no matter if it's a highway lane, or an entrance line or a food line. I just have that luck. Sorry to see that we share that same "luck".

Me too. I sometime even pick the opposite one that I want to pick but my line luck(or lack there of) stays with me.

So when I first saw the shield for Swiss Family treehouse, I thought you guys had gone to first aid because of the cross.

You would think that when moving the line the CMs would discreetly move it asking the people to follow in order to the next spot and THEN announce it. Geez.....they should work on that!

I knew right away when they said they were moving the line that it would not go well. I tried to go with the flow but ended up getting irritated so we just left.

How sweet of the CM who gave Gabriel the R2D2 spinner. That was so sweet!

I still get teary eyed when I think about it. Honestly, the CM could have given us a bar of gold and it would not have meant more.

 

[lvcourtneyy]

I love the idea to print out your TR and make a book! That's such a wonderful memory.

Wow 30 rides on Buzz? That's pretty amazing!

I think it's adorable that your son loves the Hall of Presidents. What a good kid.

That's so great that the CM went out of his way to get Gabriel the spinner he wanted and that he made it a gift! I love stories like that. It's the little things that make Disney so magical.

 

[ohboyx3]

I totally teared up during the light spinner story! What a great memory!

 

[lsenquiz]

I love the idea to print out your TR and make a book! That's such a wonderful memory.

I am so glad I decided to do it. It turned out better than I ever expected.

Wow 30 rides on Buzz? That's pretty amazing!

I am very deligent about my FP availability. We do not ride many rides at MK that need a FP so I make sure I have a FP for Buzz on me at all times. It is one of Gabriel's favorite rides.

I think it's adorable that your son loves the Hall of Presidents. What a good kid.

He really is an awesome child. Kenny, myself and our two older children DS25 & DD21 often say he got the very best of all of us and absolutely none of our bad qualities.

That's so great that the CM went out of his way to get Gabriel the spinner he wanted and that he made it a gift! I love stories like that. It's the little things that make Disney so magical.

This is in the top two memories I have of Disney. The other one also happened this trip but has yet to be introduced into my TR

 

[lsenquiz]

I totally teared up during the light spinner story! What a great memory!

It was an absolutely Magically moment.

 

[indimom]

Ahhh, you are completely making me rethink our plan. I would much prefer MK, or even AK, to DHS... (Why did I pick that park?? lol. I know I had good reasons...)
Sounds like you had a really amazing day, even with your line curse following you around. I love the story about the R2D2 spinner. If that's only one of your magical moments during the trip, I can't wait to hear about the next one.

 

[lsenquiz]

Ahhh, you are completely making me rethink our plan. I would much prefer MK, or even AK, to DHS... (Why did I pick that park?? lol. I know I had good reasons...)
Sounds like you had a really amazing day, even with your line curse following you around. I love the story about the R2D2 spinner. If that's only one of your magical moments during the trip, I can't wait to hear about the next one.

Our favorite park is actually DHS so I think you made a good choice . We had so many moments this trip but two really big ones. The next big one comes near the end of our trip.

 

[lsenquiz]

Today = Monday June 3rd Part 1

Day 11– EPCOT/Chef Mickeys​

We slept in again today but were still at EPCOT by 10:30am. Kenny and I keyed in through the entry gates at the same time and I immediately realized I had used Kenny’s AP and he had used mine. The weird thing is that both came up green . I worried that we might have problems later so I told the CM what we had done and he reset our cards after looking at our IDs. I did wonder at this point if the reason we had had absolutely no problems with our finger scans the entire time we had been there was because they really did not work. I asked the CMs why they did not just come up red when we mixed up the cards and he had no answer.

The next few days were going to be catch-all days for us so we were focused on seeing everything on our must do list that we had not been able to see yet. However, I did want another turn on Soarin so we headed their first to get FPs. While we were there we went ahead and saw Circle of Life (something we had never done before) and then rode Living with the Land. Both had a very minor wait.

After that we managed to get a quick picture in front of the fountain between rain showers.


DSC04064 by Disneyalwaysn4ever, on Flickr

It actually rained quite a bit during the last week of our trip. I honestly thought I would always be the person that was miserable in the rain but actually grew to prefer it over the intense heat. I think the trick is the wear the right shoes. Kenny wears nothing but tennis shoes to the parks and he was pretty miserable walking around in wet shoes a couple of days. I on the other hand always wear my Tiva Mush flip flops and I had no problem at all. I always kept Gabriel’s flip flops in my bag and although he prefers to wear tennis shoes to the parks also he would change when the rain started.

After that we went ahead and grabbed an early lunch at the Electric Umbrella. Neither Kenny or I was that hungry so we split a Mushroom burger. I was very surprised when we got it because of the lack of mushrooms


DSC04075 by Disneyalwaysn4ever, on Flickr

We were sitting upstairs and the place was already getting pretty crowded so I dreaded going back down to ask for more mushrooms. I saw a CM cleaning tables so I asked her if the amount of mushrooms we had gotten was normal. She said no and that she would get us a completely new burger. I offered to give her the one we had but she said she did not need it. Within 5 minutes she brought us a brand new burger complete with fries:


DSC04078 by Disneyalwaysn4ever, on Flickr

After that we rode Spaceship Earth. My father actually worked at EPCOT when it was being built in the early 80’s and he ran all the wiring to Spaceship Earth. Gabriel loves that his grandfather has something to do with building it.


DSC04088 by Disneyalwaysn4ever, on Flickr

We spent a little time in the exit of the ride. Gabriel and Kenny played a game where you try to provide enough electricity to power a city. Your score determines what city you powered. The better the score the bigger the city.


DSC04095 by Disneyalwaysn4ever, on Flickr


DSC04098 by Disneyalwaysn4ever, on Flickr

We headed back to the innovations buildings after that. Gabriel loves this area and could spend hours in there. First we played the Great Piggy Bank game which was actually a lot of fun. The purpose of the game is to teach families the importance of financial planning. Honestly this did not sound like fun at all to me. However, we ended up liking it so much that it has now been added to our must do list.


DSC04106 by Disneyalwaysn4ever, on Flickr

Next we played the Where’s the fire game which we have done before but really enjoy. Our team won!!! Then Gabriel participated in a fire drill. Every other child chose to run out the front door during the fire regardless of where they were in the house. Gabriel went out the nearest window .


DSC04111 by Disneyalwaysn4ever, on Flickr

After that we headed back to the room for a little R&R. Our FPs for Soarin were not until later in the day so we figured we would rest a little then get changed for Dinner, head back to EPCOT for Soarin and then take the Monorail over to the Contemporary where we were eating.

We headed back to EPCOT at 4:30. Our FPs opened at 4:50pm and we arrived at the Soarin entrance with 1 minute to spare.


DSC04114 by Disneyalwaysn4ever, on Flickr

I sat next to a Spanish woman on Soarin who was riding it for the first time and she was terrified. She did not speak much English but luckily Kenny is bilingual and speaks Spanish. Seems that her family had convinced her that the ride had a place in it where you make a huge fast drop. Poor thing. Kenny set her straight and I think she enjoyed the ride much more because of it.

Even in the FP line it takes about 30 minutes to ride Soarin so we made it to the monorail at 5:30pm. Our dinner reservations were for 6:55pm so we had plenty of time.

The monorail was completely empty so we had a car to ourselves the whole time. The Contemporary was the last stop so we got a quick glimpse of the Grand Floridian and the Poly. I think we also stopped at the TTC. Honestly by the time we got there I was wondering if we got on the wrong monorail . Since we were in no hurry it really did not matter and we enjoyed the air conditioned ride.

Our dinner was at:


DSC04118 by Disneyalwaysn4ever, on Flickr

We signed in, got our pager and were sent up right away for our picture:


Photo0201FiveBySeven by Disneyalwaysn4ever, on Flickr

The Photopass photographer took two pictures then Kenny realized that he had his baseball hat on still so we had to ask them to take another one without the hat. They were very nice about it. I went ahead and ordered a drink at the bar while we waited to be seated. I decide to try my luck with the Mojito again. Our pager went off the minute I got my drink. We got a good table right on the other side of the buffet that was half booth half table which Gabriel and I love. We always take the booth side. Sadly my Mojito was no better than the one at Hannah’s so our waiter offered to bring me another drink. He recommended that I not order mojitos anywhere in Disney because they were all bad.

The waiter suggested that we head straight to the buffet but be on the lookout for characters and to come right back to the table if one headed our way. So we went up to the buffet and were about half way through the first station when Goofy started heading to our table:


DSC04129 by Disneyalwaysn4ever, on Flickr
After seeing Goofy we headed back to the buffet. This time we were about ¼ of the way through the second station before we had to rush back for Gabriel’s favorite:


DSC04132 by Disneyalwaysn4ever, on Flickr

We finished getting our food before the next characters came:


DSC04135 by Disneyalwaysn4ever, on Flickr


DSC04140 by Disneyalwaysn4ever, on Flickr

Then it was a bit of a wait before we finally saw Mickey. In fact Goofy, Pluto, Donald and Minnie all came back through for a second round before Mickey came for the first time.


DSC04147 by Disneyalwaysn4ever, on Flickr

It was 8:15 by the time we finished. I had hoped to be able to make it to Magic Kingdom in time to get a spot to see MSEP which started at 9pm since we had missed it the other night due to rain.

Up next, will we make to MK in time to get a spot for MSEP? Will it rain and cancel the parade again?

 

[lovethattink]

Great update! Love the great shot of the Ewok backpack too. Glad you enjoyed the games after spaceship earth. We like them too.

That was a mushroom burger?! LOL. That was nice for the cm to get you a new one. Wonder if someone ordered light mushrooms and they got it mixed up?

That monorail ride on the resort monorail can seem like an eternity. It takes a good 20 minutes to get from the TTC to the Contemporary, sometimes longer.

Looks like great character interaction at Chef Mickey's. Too bad Mickey took so long, but I bet it was fun to see the others again. How was the food?

I was back reading the beginning of your TR. Was the pool the main reason you didn't care for the resort? Or were there other things as time went on? The Beach Club was where we stayed the first 2 times we went to Disney. I loved it there, but the neither my dh nor my kids were ever as sold on it as me.

 

[lvcourtneyy]

I feel like I've heard that the tickets for groups (such as families) will be linked in turns of finger scans so that it doesn't necessarily matter which finger is scanned for which ticket.

Our Epcot pictures from January ALL look like that-- full of rain! But I'm glad you were able to appreciate the rain.

The amount of mushrooms on that first burger was pitiful. It was great of the CM to get you a completely new one!

It's so cool that your father worked on Spaceship Earth and it's great that Gabriel is able to appreciate that!

How sweet of your husband to be able to calm the woman down on Soarin! Love the family picture at Chef Mickey's.

Yuck bad Mojitos. How nice of the CM to advise you that they all suck

I love the character pictures from Chef Mickey's! How did you find the food? I feel like I've heard a lot of mixed things about it.

I hope you made it to MSEP!

 

[BridgetR3]

My DS11's finger scan NEVER worked. He turned up red EVERY time and honestly probably will on the next trips as it's the same AP. No clue what he is doing "wrong" though.....

Your mushroom burger was a bit lacking. How neat that she gave you a whole new burger.

That poor lady whose family scared her about Soarin!!! Geez.....

Sorry to hear about your Mojito bad luck! I actually LOVED their Banana Cabana at the Poly and at our hotel (Beach Club). It was really good!

Chef Mickey's is always fun!!

 

[lsenquiz]

Great update! Love the great shot of the Ewok backpack too. Glad you enjoyed the games after spaceship earth. We like them too.

Gabriel named the Ewok Cricket and he was with us most of the trip. For the price I paid for him he will be with us for a lot of SWW trips to come

That was a mushroom burger?! LOL. That was nice for the cm to get you a new one. Wonder if someone ordered light mushrooms and they got it mixed up?

It was puzzling to me. I have now learned that if you ask the CMs for help even at CS restaurant they are more than happy to help

That monorail ride on the resort monorail can seem like an eternity. It takes a good 20 minutes to get from the TTC to the Contemporary, sometimes longer.

We have spent little time on the Monorail so I wondered if I should have taken the one to MK and then walked to CR? However, that one would have required a transfer at TTC so probably would have been no better.

Looks like great character interaction at Chef Mickey's. Too bad Mickey took so long, but I bet it was fun to see the others again. How was the food?

Honestly with the exception of 50s Prime Time and Sci-Fi none of the food we had at Disney was anything to write home about. However, I will admit that we are not foody people and we absolutely do not care for desserts. Even Gabriel will not touch them so we did not try any of those.

I was back reading the beginning of your TR. Was the pool the main reason you didn't care for the resort? Or were there other things as time went on? The Beach Club was where we stayed the first 2 times we went to Disney. I loved it there, but the neither my dh nor my kids were ever as sold on it as me.

I think our biggest problem was the fact that we have such an attachment to Boardwalk. It will always feel like home to me and I was homesick the entire time. I am so glad we will be back at Boardwalk for our September trip .

 

[lsenquiz]

I feel like I've heard that the tickets for groups (such as families) will be linked in turns of finger scans so that it doesn't necessarily matter which finger is scanned for which ticket.

Not sure. The CM did tell us we would have had trouble if he had not reset our tickets when we got them mixed up.

Our Epcot pictures from January ALL look like that-- full of rain! But I'm glad you were able to appreciate the rain.

The amount of mushrooms on that first burger was pitiful. It was great of the CM to get you a completely new one!

The rain did grow on me throughout the trip

It's so cool that your father worked on Spaceship Earth and it's great that Gabriel is able to appreciate that!

How sweet of your husband to be able to calm the woman down on Soarin! Love the family picture at Chef Mickey's.

The family tried to talk Kenny out of telling her the truth but he was having none of that. I told them that Soarin is not a ride you mess with and that it was important that her first experience be just as magicial as theirs.

Yuck bad Mojitos. How nice of the CM to advise you that they all suck

They do not have simple syrup so they use something in place of it

I love the character pictures from Chef Mickey's! How did you find the food? I feel like I've heard a lot of mixed things about it.

I hope you made it to MSEP!

We are not really foody people. With the exception of 50's Prime Time and Sci-Fi none of the food we had at Disney was anything to write home about . We also do not care for dessert(not even Gabriel) so we did not have any of those.

 

[lsenquiz]

My DS11's finger scan NEVER worked. He turned up red EVERY time and honestly probably will on the next trips as it's the same AP. No clue what he is doing "wrong" though.....

I was actually more surprised when our AP fingers worked for most of the trip than I would have been if they did not work. I am used to having finger scans not work. I was completely shocked when they did work when we had the wrong cards though.

Your mushroom burger was a bit lacking. How neat that she gave you a whole new burger.

Love those CMs!!!

That poor lady whose family scared her about Soarin!!! Geez.....

Sorry to hear about your Mojito bad luck! I actually LOVED their Banana Cabana at the Poly and at our hotel (Beach Club). It was really good!

Chef Mickey's is always fun!!

The spanish lady did end up having an awesome ride. I switched my Mojito out for something else (can not remember what) and the new drink was delicious!

 

[lovethattink]

Gabriel named the Ewok Cricket and he was with us most of the trip. For the price I paid for him he will be with us for a lot of SWW trips to come

It was puzzling to me. I have now learned that if you ask the CMs for help even at CS restaurant they are more than happy to help

We have spent little time on the Monorail so I wondered if I should have taken the one to MK and then walked to CR? However, that one would have required a transfer at TTC so probably would have been no better.

Honestly with the exception of 50s Prime Time and Sci-Fi none of the food we had at Disney was anything to write home about. However, I will admit that we are not foody people and we absolutely do not care for desserts. Even Gabriel will not touch them so we did not try any of those.

I think our biggest problem was the fact that we have such an attachment to Boardwalk. It will always feel like home to me and I was homesick the entire time. I am so glad we will be back at Boardwalk for our September trip .

Cute name for the backpack. They do cost a mint.

After much debate, we broke down and bought the TiW card again. I'd like to try some places we've never eaten before. But we always end up at the same places. Desserts and soups are my weak spot, just can't eat chocolate.

Lol, and I did the opposite, but I can relate. The first time we stayed at the BC the boardwalk hadn't even broken ground. The next time, it was construction and we couldn't see the fireworks from MGM like we did before. Then the next time we stayed at the BWV the year it opened. I did the same thing you did. Wished I was across the lake.

When is your Sept trip? We are going an Aug/Sept trip.

 

[FancyNancy]

We are heading back in January and I am determined to take more time at EPCOT to enjoy doing things like the Piggy Bank Adventure and all the neat stuff after the rides.

 

[lsenquiz]

Cute name for the backpack. They do cost a mint.

After much debate, we broke down and bought the TiW card again. I'd like to try some places we've never eaten before. But we always end up at the same places. Desserts and soups are my weak spot, just can't eat chocolate.

Lol, and I did the opposite, but I can relate. The first time we stayed at the BC the boardwalk hadn't even broken ground. The next time, it was construction and we couldn't see the fireworks from MGM like we did before. Then the next time we stayed at the BWV the year it opened. I did the same thing you did. Wished I was across the lake.

When is your Sept trip? We are going an Aug/Sept trip.

We have the TiW card also so I am making sure we get our moneys worth. However, I do not think we will renew.

Not sure how far you have gotten through my TR but in the Memorial day chapter(I think it is chapter 8) I have a nice chat with Teena the greeter at Beach Club about missing the Boardwalk and she tells me lots of people fall in love with a specific resort and then it is hard for them to enjoy anything else. I think she is so right!

Our September trip is the 14th - 28th. Gabriel has that first week off for fall break and we are taking him out of school for the second week.

 

[lsenquiz]

We are heading back in January and I am determined to take more time at EPCOT to enjoy doing things like the Piggy Bank Adventure and all the neat stuff after the rides.

You will not regret it. We had so much fun! It also kept us out of the rain but still enjoying ourselves.