Ten Sleeps in Disney World!! - An Aug Trip Report *5/9 Departure Day & Final Thoughts

[MinnieNurse]

Yep!!!! I'm not officially booked yet, still working out some stuff, but right now it's looking good! Our paths don't cross . Are you going to have a PTR?

Not sure yet about a PTR. I just took a promotion at my job and am also teaching online college courses, so-I have been crazy. Maybe it will slow down by then.

Also, thinking about just a short (possible) March trip for Spring Break just for DS and I, but still not sure this is possible.

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Yippee for the BB update Tracy!! Love it! It sounds like you guys had a great day! One of these days we have to get to one of the water parks!

Yippee for a December trip too!! I know that's what you really wanted! What are your tentative dates?! Your ticker says 1 months 3 days, mine says 10 months, 1 week, 2 days. I have a feeling we're just going to miss each other! I'm planning on the 4th - 11th, although that could change!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Not sure yet about a PTR. I just took a promotion at my job and am also teaching online college courses, so-I have been crazy. Maybe it will slow down by then.

Also, thinking about just a short (possible) March trip for Spring Break just for DS and I, but still not sure this is possible.

Congratulations! Well, if you don't do a PTR, maybe you can occasionally pop into mine with a detail or two. I'd love to hear it.

Wow! Maybe a March trip! Now that you will definately have to keep me updated on!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Yippee for the BB update Tracy!! Love it! It sounds like you guys had a great day! One of these days we have to get to one of the water parks!

Yippee for a December trip too!! I know that's what you really wanted! What are your tentative dates?! Your ticker says 1 months 3 days, mine says 10 months, 1 week, 2 days. I have a feeling we're just going to miss each other! I'm planning on the 4th - 11th, although that could change!

Ugh, I miss you too? Seriously! Well there are possibilities.... I'm planning on November 28th to December 5th. Just maybe!!

It took us until our fourth trip to get to the water parks but it was sooooo fun! We definately enjoyed ourselves!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Ugh, I miss you too? Seriously! Well there are possibilities.... I'm planning on November 28th to December 5th. Just maybe!!

It took us until our fourth trip to get to the water parks but it was sooooo fun! We definately enjoyed ourselves!

Ohhh! Definitely a possiblity!

 

[Hallowishes]

i must say, im almost caught up with your trip report ... and it is such a joy to read! i try not to get caught up in too mant Trip Reports .. coz they are time consuming! but i wantesd to let you know i am thoroughly enjoying yours! i think the part i most enjoyed is your mother daughter CRT experience. i think that is soemthing id like to do with my mom on our next annual trip im listening to reedycreekradio online and reading your trip report!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Ohhh! Definitely a possiblity!

Yipee!

i must say, im almost caught up with your trip report ... and it is such a joy to read! i try not to get caught up in too mant Trip Reports .. coz they are time consuming! but i wantesd to let you know i am thoroughly enjoying yours! i think the part i most enjoyed is your mother daughter CRT experience. i think that is soemthing id like to do with my mom on our next annual trip im listening to reedycreekradio online and reading your trip report!

Oh thank you! I'm so glad to have made you smile along the way! CRT was most definately a highlight of the trip. Ariana was so well behaved and was in such a state of sheer happiness I sometimes still tear up thinking about it.

 

[Mickey_Mom]

When I left off, Blizzard Beach had been shut down for an impending storm and after waiting an hour to see if it would pass, we opted instead to head back to the Pop and then go to the Magic Kingdom. It was about three in the afternoon when we got to the lockers to pick up our stuff and to turn in Demetri’s life jacket. The skies were grey but the rain still hadn’t yet started and there seemed to be a bit of sun trying to poke thru, so we were hoping it would miss us altogether for a nice night at MK.

We started the walk out to the buses and we noted there were a lot of people who were sticking it out. The announcements were still periodically coming out advising us all to take immediate shelter.

Isn’t the themeing incredible? I felt like I should warn that kid to move away from the sharp and dangerous icicle looming above him!

We headed out to the bus area and lucked out with one arriving not five minutes later. Still no rain, it was looking good.

On the bus ride back, George and I discussed letting Alex go to Disney Quest on his own while we took Ariana and Demetri to Fantasyland. After having been there and seeing the layout and security, I felt fine letting him go. We got back to the Pop and Demetri and I went for a walk to fill up our mugs while everyone else got dried off and ready to go.

Still grey but no storm.

We sent Alex on his way with a firm talking to about strangers and being careful and when to be back to the rooms by, etc. etc. etc and he was a very happy grown up teenager heading off for some independent fun. Then finally, when the rest of us were just gathering our things to head out ourselves, the rain hit. It was a misty blah rain, not the torrential downpour we’d been expecting, so we were still hoping it would clear up.

We reached MK and ran into the shops to pass a bit more time to allow the skies to clear. I really loved these sparkly Minnie ears!

I’ve always loved this display…. I want it for my front hallway, it would fit so perfectly in there. Imagine walking thru your front door every day and being greeted by it!

As I was taking the picture, a CM gently tapped me on the shoulder and pointed up. He whispered, “Tinkerbell is up there… you must get a picture of her too.” Well okay!

A few more shots as we continued down Main Street within the shops….

And we reached Casey’s. We’ve yet to eat there….. another place for the next time list! Not very crowded considering the weather was still not cooperating.

We continued on and took shelter in the castle as the rains picked up instead of passing by.

It was then we decided to call it a day and head out of the Magic Kingdom. We knew the reaction we’d get when we told Ariana and predictably, she was devastated. Rain or not, to be that close to Fantasyland – all we had to do was continue thru the other end of the castle and we’d be there – just to turn around and leave? She was quietly miserable as our plans changed again and we headed over to Disney Quest to meet up with Alex for some indoor fun.

With one last picture of the castle on our way out…..

We tried to convince Ariana we’d be back soon to Fantasyland, not to worry.

When we booted it to the bus area, not being able to go from MK direct to DTD, we decided to just hop on the first bus we got to and see where it took us. Quick scan….. Ok! Saratoga Springs it is! Turned out we didn’t get to see any of the resort though. The bus dropped us off in a shelter area and then after waiting a while in the (thankfully!) covered spot, we were picked back up again by a DTD bus.

CONTINUED IN NEXT POST.

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Off to DTD we went and headed over to Disney Quest to try and track down Alex in a five story building. Surprisingly I found him almost right away in the Nascar section and asked him if he wanted to take a quick trip to the Lego store with us to help make Ariana feel better.

Lego to the rescue!

By this time the rain had passed and we started to meander back towards Disney Quest taking our time. We came up to the Harley Davidson shop and couldn’t resist the photo op.

Crossing the bridge off Pleasure Island, we paused to watch the fireworks across the water. (Would that have been Epcot? At the time we thought it was Wishes, but were we too far away to see Wishes? It was just past nine o’clock.)

Still meandering, I think it was outside Bongos Cuban Café that we came across some musicians playing. A crowd was just starting to form and a few kids were even starting to dance.

We paused and listened for a while and then Alex went ahead to Disney Quest. Demetri was disappointed he couldn’t go with Alex to DQ but around then we realized just how hungry we were, (it was almost 9:30pm!) so we decided to try out Wolfgang Puck Café.

I’d read lots of great stuff about this place so we looked over both menus and decided we wanted to try the table service. Luckily they had a table available for us with no wait.

George and I both ordered the grilled flat iron steak, Demetri the spaghetti and meatballs and Ariana the cheese pizza.

Easily one of the best meals we’ve ever eaten. Anywhere. Highly recommend you try this place. Wonderful service, wonderful food and wonderful atmosphere. Towards the end of our meal, George slipped back over to Disney Quest before it closed to get Alex and he joined us to wrap our dinner up. We got our desserts to go and headed back to the bus area for a ride home. It was eleven o’clock and though our plans had changed a few times, we’d had another great day.

Our favorites and not-so-favorites of the day:

ALEX:
: all of Blizzard Beach and Wolfgang Puck
: getting rained out of BB

ARIANA:
: “when it stopped raining” and “getting Alex”
: no Fantasyland

DEMETRI:
: Blizzard Beach and Lego store at DTD
: not going to Disney Quest with Alex

 

[ZeroToHero]

Yum! Wolfgang was on our list for this upcoming time, and now it definitely will stay on!

Looks great!

That's depressing that you didn't get to get to Fantasyland - were you able to cheer Ariana up at the Lego Store though?

Thank you for updating!

(Sorry you didn't get to see Saratoga Springs - if only we had been a few days earlier, we might have run into each other!)

 

[Angies1274]

Yay!! An update!!

Ahhh...that's too bad that you didn't make to Fantasyland....poor Ariana to be that close. But I remember how it rained when we went in August...UGH!! There was really nothing left to do but find some kind of shelter. I'm glad the Lego store cheered her up!!!

Love the picture of Demetri on the motorcycle....too cute!!!!

Your dinner at Wolfgang Puck's sounds like it was very yummy!!

Can't wait for more!!!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Yum! Wolfgang was on our list for this upcoming time, and now it definitely will stay on!

Looks great!

That's depressing that you didn't get to get to Fantasyland - were you able to cheer Ariana up at the Lego Store though?

Thank you for updating!

(Sorry you didn't get to see Saratoga Springs - if only we had been a few days earlier, we might have run into each other!)

We felt sooo bad that we missed Fantasyland. After the Lego store she was much better but the odd, "I'm sorry Fantasyland!" (meaning, "I WANT Fantasyland!") would pop out as the night wrapped up.

Eventually we'll match up our trips... we'll just have to keep trying !

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Yay!! An update!!

Ahhh...that's too bad that you didn't make to Fantasyland....poor Ariana to be that close. But I remember how it rained when we went in August...UGH!! There was really nothing left to do but find some kind of shelter. I'm glad the Lego store cheered her up!!!

Love the picture of Demetri on the motorcycle....too cute!!!!

Your dinner at Wolfgang Puck's sounds like it was very yummy!!

Can't wait for more!!!

In the end our time in DTD was great and we had the fabulous dinner, but I'd been so looking forward to MK at night. All my plans went right out the window.

I love that pic of Demetri on the motorcycle! His godfather owns a Harley so it was kinda for him we took the picture too.

If you get the chance to go to Wolfgang's -- do it! Yummmmmm.

 

[Hallowishes]

looks like you had a good time at blizzard beach till the weather got lousy! i LOVE BB and i finally got to go there this past september. the year before it was closed for refurb and id already been the Typhoon Lagoon several times! i love the racing slides so much!
glad you enjoyed wolfgang puck's! ive walked by it a zillion times but never tried it so i will make a point to do it next trip...
cant wait to hear more! youve got me hooked!

 

[KathyRN137]

Hi Tracy! So happy to see an update from you tonight!

After the Lego store she was much better but the odd, "I'm sorry Fantasyland!" (meaning, "I WANT Fantasyland!") would pop out as the night wrapped up.

Aww, poor baby! It's so very hard to switch gears like that. Thank goodness for the Lego Store!

Alex must've been thrilled to be off on his own for a bit! His brother and sister missed him, though... I could tell.

I will add WPC to my list of restaurants to try... it sounds wonderful!


Kathy

 

[Stefy]

Its a bummer that the weather put a downer on your Fantasyland visit, but you got some great pics and those grey skies just do not look nice.

So you liked WP? Me and DF are contemplating trying out WPE for a quick bite to eat when we are shopping in DTD. The food looks good

Looking forward to your next update

 

[wdwgirl03]

Bummer about Blizzard Beach having to close early. That's part of the reason why we ended up not going during our trip...we didn't want to get there and then have to leave if one of those summer storms all of a sudden popped up!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

looks like you had a good time at blizzard beach till the weather got lousy! i LOVE BB and i finally got to go there this past september. the year before it was closed for refurb and id already been the Typhoon Lagoon several times! i love the racing slides so much!
glad you enjoyed wolfgang puck's! ive walked by it a zillion times but never tried it so i will make a point to do it next trip...
cant wait to hear more! youve got me hooked!

I'm glad to hear you're hooked... I think I've lost a few readers with this, what.... SIX month long TR?! BB was definately a lot of fun, it was a good call to add the water park & more options to our tickets this time. I can't drool enough over Wolfgang Puck!

Hi Tracy! So happy to see an update from you tonight!

Aww, poor baby! It's so very hard to switch gears like that. Thank goodness for the Lego Store!

Alex must've been thrilled to be off on his own for a bit! His brother and sister missed him, though... I could tell.

I will add WPC to my list of restaurants to try... it sounds wonderful!

Kathy

Hi Kathy! .... I kept giving her hugs and apologizing to her most of the evening. We owe her some mucho Fantasyland time on our next trip for sure!

Alex loved that bit of independence.... I'm slooooowly learning to give him more.

Its a bummer that the weather put a downer on your Fantasyland visit, but you got some great pics and those grey skies just do not look nice.

So you liked WP? Me and DF are contemplating trying out WPE for a quick bite to eat when we are shopping in DTD. The food looks good

Looking forward to your next update

Absolutely try it out. It very much lived up to its reputation.... my hubby is one of the pickiest eaters out there and he's still raving about it!

Bummer about Blizzard Beach having to close early. That's part of the reason why we ended up not going during our trip...we didn't want to get there and then have to leave if one of those summer storms all of a sudden popped up!

We got a lot done at BB so while it was too bad to cut the time short, it gave us a cool memory for the day!

 

[flamestarrdust]

Our plan while George was taking the rental car to Wal-Mart for some room snackies, souvenirs and a stroller, was to have a picture scavenger hunt. I’d found one here on the DIS and selected 20 items from it I thought would be fun and easy enough for us to find and I put a map of the resort on the back of each list. We broke into partners, boys versus girls, and the rules were simple. Each team had a list and a camera and you had to find and take pictures of each partner with as many items as you could. The team back to the room in one hour with the most items found, wins!

With my hand on the door handle and the boys poised to run, I threw open the door and let them out first. Had to give them a small advantage didn’t I? George says I'm very competitive, bah! Just before they’d whispered to themselves where they were going first and when the door opened they shot right out without hesitation. Ariana and I, on the other hand, decided once we approached the stairs to stay on the third level and just boot around to the other side of the building where the bowling pin pool was. We took a lot of pics right from there and crossed off a whole lot of items right off the bat! I’d promised the boys I would take two pictures of everything, with and without Ariana, since she wasn’t going to be able to take pictures of me.

7. Each pool from an upper level balcony!

8. How many icon pictures can you get ?

From there we decided to hit the lobby where I knew at least three more items were located and we took a bunch more pictures in there.

12. How many shadow boxes in the lobby are there ?

2. What is Everything Pop ?

11. Find the refillable mugs !

Then we scooted out one of the back doors of the main building to more areas around the different sections.

6. Find Goofy and his red car !

3. Play a game of Twister 1

We hit the mother lode of icons to take pictures of in the 70's section.

And we ran into squirrels and bunnies, but no duckies.

14. Find a Bunny, Duck and Squirrel !

At this point, we were about half way thru our allotted time and we ran into Alex and Demetri. Alex said he didn’t have very many items crossed off and Demetri was wilting a bit in the sun. Demetri then officially became a member of the girls team so Alex could speed up his game and we continued on. Next item we ran into?

CONTINUED IN THE NEXT POST

Great TR! It is giving me lots of great ideas since we will be visiting around the same time this year. Where on the Dis did you get the picture scavenger hunt? I love that idea especially since it's my kids first time to visit and we don't plan on going into the parks on the day we arrive. It seems like your family had a lot of fun doing that. Thanks in advance for the info.

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Great TR! It is giving me lots of great ideas since we will be visiting around the same time this year. Where on the Dis did you get the picture scavenger hunt? I love that idea especially since it's my kids first time to visit and we don't plan on going into the parks on the day we arrive. It seems like your family had a lot of fun doing that. Thanks in advance for the info.

Well hi and to my TR! We had a great time doing the scavenger hunt, it was the perfect way to explore the resort and take it easy on our first day.

I picked my items from this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31367456&postcount=2264 and then I just listed them on one side with a map of the resort on the back.

Thanks for reading along!