That's it, moved to FL to be closer to Mickey! Update 2/4 Kidnapped at WDW 10/03/09

[jmskinner]

Hi Melissa

Great pics and report, so funny that Jacob was getting the paddle passengers to surrender....Ben spotted the fact that you can see Splash Mountain when you are on the train last time we were there, really cool. I really enjoy the train as you can relax and see aspects of Disney you dont normally get to see.

So sorry to hear about Mozart. As Di said we had to have Homer put to sleep, Heather still asks about him and I think she did not accept he was gone initially....its difficult to put in a realistic way but not be too harsh when they are young.....it was for the best at the time as he was really struggling with no clear chance of recovery but I was in pieces when the crunch came......anyway....back to happier thoughts, always love seeing your pics as I am so familiar with the parks now that it brings back the happy memories from my last trip and the ones before that........I need to get back !!!!!!

Gordon

I wish you could see more of MK from the train. The TTA lets you see so much and the train you see a lot of trees. Seeing inside Splash Mountain was very cool though.

Ok, let the TR continue.....

When I left off we were in the scary cave. I'll admit, it was a little scary for me also. But we made our way out and found the barrel bridge.

In this pic, it looks like Jacob is holding a coke bottle, but it is actually sitting on a barrel. Can't believe someone left it there.

I started preparing to take pics of the F&G Festival at Epcot:

I loved the pink and orange flowers. So pretty together.

We left TSI and went to use our FP's for BTMRR:

I decided to take pics while riding.

Someone doesn't look too happy.

Half way through the ride I realized Jacob was slouching down with his eyes closed. I told him to open them and look at the scenery. There is so much to see on this ride.

I promise, my camera hadn't been doing any drugs or anything like that.

Ride was over and Jacob survived. We were getting tired and needed to get home to let the dogs out, but still needed to get Jacob's hair cut.

On the way out I noticed this duck taking a nap, do you see it:

Closer view:

We had never seen this band before:

But before heading to Main Street I had to make one more stop:

I always have to stop for a Pinapple Float. Now, I thought I had purchased Jacob a chocolate ice cream here before, but all they had now was vanilla and orange. I told Jacob we could get him some elsewhere, but he said he didn't want any. So off to the barbershop. Of course between the camera, napkins, camera bag, and melting pineapple float I had a hard time getting there, but we finally made it. There was only one other person waiting in front of us, so we waited. Of course, Jacob had to have his DS.

And he didn't want that pic taken:

While we waited, I got to watch a little boy getting his very first haircut. They did a fantastic job, even though he wasn't too happy about it. They gave the family a certificate and wrapped his hair in some nice tissue paper. Both Grandma's were there for the big cut, so it was really sweet.

Now it was Jacob's turn:

The CM doesn't look happy in this pic, but she was actually very nice. We had Jacob's haircut, so now it was time to head home. Another wonderful day at MK and I accomplished what I wanted. One last ride on Space Mountain before the refurb. Which by the way, it was so funny, but Sunday night the local news here would do their little newsbreak trying to get you to watch that evening and Sunday it was, "A popular ride is shutting down at Disney World. Watch at 11:00 to find out!" That was the big news here in Florida I guess. I just thought it was funny.

Next up will be my three hour trip to Epcot. "I went to Epcot and rode one ride!"

 

[ScotsMinnie]

Love the Thunder Mountain pics - my fave ride!!!! So much fun although Jacobs face was funny!

 

[carissanboys]

Awesome pictures taken while on BTMRR!

Very cool that Jacob got his haircut at MK. We tried to get Chuck's cut there that morning, but - well - you'll just have to wait to find out why we didn't.

 

[tinkgurl]

Wow, those are AWESOME pictures on BTMRR. My favorite is the first one!

 

[Finkelstein's Hubby]

Cool pics but Heather would have given you into so much trouble I got pelters for having my flip camera out at the beginning of Splash Mountain "Dad!!!! your not allowed, stop it!!!!" and so forth. I will need to dig out the clip and put it on our never ending tr

Jacob is giving you a quality stare after the chocolate ice cream debacle

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

Sorry to hear about your Homer. Was it hard to explain to the twins? Yes, we have know he didn't have long, just not what we needed right now, but it is never a good time is it. I have lost many dogs in my lifetime, but this is the first time I am having to go through it as an adult. Basically, we have always felt he was our first child.

We felt like that with Homer - he was our 'surrogate baby' before we decided to try for a real one!

I think the twins were too young to really understand what had happened, it was more a couple of years later we had to discuss it with them in greater detail. They still talk about him and his photo is still in Heather's bedroom.

It was a horrible time but it was the best thing to do for Homer - hope all goes well for you and Mozart!

Enjoyed the updates as always. Funny story - Ben was looking at the TR and saw my siggy - DS (Ben) and he thought it meant Nintendo DS Ben cause he likes playing with it all the time! I think he was quite disappointed when I told him it actually stood for darling son!

I think I'll need to get Ben's haircut at the barber shop - that would be really cool!

Di x

 

[jmskinner]

Love the Thunder Mountain pics - my fave ride!!!! So much fun although Jacobs face was funny!

I don't understand why he is scared on this ride. He loves the Judge Roy Scream at Six Flags Over Texas. Looked it up last night, it has a 60 foot drop, I know BTMRR doesn't have that high of a drop.

Awesome pictures taken while on BTMRR!

Very cool that Jacob got his haircut at MK. We tried to get Chuck's cut there that morning, but - well - you'll just have to wait to find out why we didn't.

I can't wait to read why. I wonder if we passed you since we went before we went to TSI?

Wow, those are AWESOME pictures on BTMRR. My favorite is the first one!

Thank you. DH thinks I'm crazy taking so many pics, but you never know when you just might get a really good one.

Cool pics but Heather would have given you into so much trouble I got pelters for having my flip camera out at the beginning of Splash Mountain "Dad!!!! your not allowed, stop it!!!!" and so forth. I will need to dig out the clip and put it on our never ending tr

Jacob is giving you a quality stare after the chocolate ice cream debacle

Uh oh, were you using the flash???? Please post the pic, keep that TR going!!!

I would have walked all the way to Tomorrowland to buy that kid an ice cream. I really thought I bought him a chocolate there before.

We felt like that with Homer - he was our 'surrogate baby' before we decided to try for a real one!

I think the twins were too young to really understand what had happened, it was more a couple of years later we had to discuss it with them in greater detail. They still talk about him and his photo is still in Heather's bedroom.

It was a horrible time but it was the best thing to do for Homer - hope all goes well for you and Mozart!

Enjoyed the updates as always. Funny story - Ben was looking at the TR and saw my siggy - DS (Ben) and he thought it meant Nintendo DS Ben cause he likes playing with it all the time! I think he was quite disappointed when I told him it actually stood for darling son!

I think I'll need to get Ben's haircut at the barber shop - that would be really cool!

Di x

There was a girl getting her hair cut there and not a young girl, she was about 20. Cute story about DS, I have thought that before. "Gave DS the DS." It can get confusing.

Hubby is now home. I was trying to think of something to do tomorrow. Believe it or not, no WDW. Just a little tired of the drive. But, I think we are heading south to Bradenton to check out a state park there. You know I will post some pics.

 

[jmskinner]

On top of tax day, it was my neighbor's birthday, I'm going to call her K for this MTR. We were out walking and discussing how Wednesday was her birthday and the following Monday was her daughters. I mentioned how if she didn't have school she could take her to WDW for free. K made that comment that she should go on hers and we looked at each other and said "Hey, that's an idea!" We couldn't leave until her daughter was at the bus stop and would have to be back in time to get our boys after school, but we could have about 3 hours in a park and it would be free for K. She decided to wanted to go to Epcot.

After taking Jacob to school, I came home, finished getting everything ready to take and got in the truck. Eventually K and her daughter came out and we dropped her daughter off at the bus stop and off we went. Poor K forgot her paper she had filled out for the free pass and her sunglasses. I kept telling her we could turn around, but she didn't want to. We made it to WDW, talking the whole way. Now, K had said I should drive since I know my way around. She shouldn't have said that. We were busy talking and we saw the signs for Epcot Resort area, and I knew that wasn't the correct turn, but for some reason I took it. Did a u-turn, and then missed our turn again. We did finally get there. I felt like such an idiot. We were able to park the closest I had ever parked at Epcot. Didn't even need the tram to get us there. It was about 9:45. Got K's pass and off we went. By the way, the birthday ticket is really cool. It is a plastic card like the KTTW instead of the paper ticket. We made our way through the gate.

Now, K wanted to ride Soarin' and Test Track. Both already had 50 minute waits. She decided she really wanted to ride Soarin' so I thought we would head that way and see what the FP time was. I totally forgot the bulletin boards would give us that information. I tell you, my brain was not working that day.

So, off to Soarin':

We walked into the building and I told her to go left, well you couldn't go left. They had it roped off to keep all the traffic going one way. I had never seen them do this before. Or maybe previously I had just always gone the wrong way.

Here's a quick shot of inside the building, everyone was going the same way.

FP's were for after 2:00, couldn't do that. K really wanted to ride this ride, so we got in line. I didn't care about the wait. I was enjoying being out of the house and at WDW with an adult.

Here are some pics from our line wait:

The above image didn't seem very Disney Magical, it was very dark and kind of scary.

I took a few more of the screens, but you get an idea. Actually, this was the first time I had done this. The previous three times I had ridden Soarin' we always had FP's, so we never got to play the games. Now, one thing to note. We got in line at 10:15am, 50 minutes would have put us getting off a little after 11:00am. At 11:50am this is where we were:

I don't know if a large crowd of FP holders came through, or if the ride broke down but we were in front of those screens for quite awhile.

Oh, I almost forgot. Right before we reached the screens, this family cuts through. Father, Mother, and Son and the father is on the phone looking around like he is looking for someone in the line. Eventually they stop right by us. K and I are both thinking the same thing, "LINE JUMPERS" "CUTTERS!!!!" After about 5 minutes their daughter joins them. She is probably 18 or so. I told K I had never seen a whole family do something like that. We both decided we didn't want to start something, but we did make a point of making sure we ended up in front of them. It was funny because the daughter jumped in on our converstation about Mickey Heads and I bit my tongue but I really wanted to tell her "I would love to discuss Mickey Head's with you, but I am too mad about you and your family cutting in line right now to do so!!!"

Also, about this time I realized we should have tried to get FP's for Test Track. Again, the brain was not functioning. Guess I was out of my routine.

We finally made it to the part of the que where you get your seat row. We got first row. The "line jumping" family got 2nd row. K really enjoyed the ride, so I was happy. It was now after 12:00. We had planned to leave about 12:30, but thought we could stay a little longer so headed over to the WS.

When I saw this playground, I knew I had to bring Jacob back. This was cool!

While K got some popcorn, I snapped some pics.

This is probably how the garden in Canada looks all the time, but thought it was still beautiful.

I want a couple of these for my bedroom. Couldn't find a price though.

Since it was getting late and I saw a boat waiting, we decided to ride the boat back:

And look what we saw:

Back on land:

And the last pic of the day:

So, that was our little 3 hour park day. Only rode one ride. K had fun and kept saying she had to come back. So, hopefully she will get AP's and we can start going with the kiddos.

Next up, another day at the F&G Festival and still only one ride!

 

[ScotsMinnie]

What fun to nip in for a few hours! And nice to have grown up company too! But what a wait for Soarin'!!!! We have only caught the Flower and Garden Festival once and it was lovely. Would love to go back and see it again!

 

[Finkelstein's Hubby]

Hey Melissa

Epcot looks utterly stunning in your pics all jazzed up for the F&G Festival....amzing how we skipped it the first couple of Disney trips but its now become the park we visit most frequently.....The Land is a great are to visit, when I have described it to folk they kinda nod and say "yeah sounds great" in a very unconvincing way but its a place with a great atmosphere

Gordon

 

[jmskinner]

What fun to nip in for a few hours! And nice to have grown up company too! But what a wait for Soarin'!!!! We have only caught the Flower and Garden Festival once and it was lovely. Would love to go back and see it again!

I really did have a great time for such a short trip. Yes, the wait for Soarin' was horrible, but it was fun watching all the people play those games.

Perfect word for the F&G Festival, "Lovely"!!!

Hey Melissa

Epcot looks utterly stunning in your pics all jazzed up for the F&G Festival....amzing how we skipped it the first couple of Disney trips but its now become the park we visit most frequently.....The Land is a great are to visit, when I have described it to folk they kinda nod and say "yeah sounds great" in a very unconvincing way but its a place with a great atmosphere

Gordon

We were the same way. We kept going back, but weren't really impressed. But after Jacob and I finally took the time to really explore, we loved it. I think part of it is the fact it isn't as pretty as the other parks. WS is, but FW isn't. Even DHS has character. I need to explore "The Land" more. We haven't done the "Circle of Life" yet.

I just realized I didn't put in my PTR info for the July trip. So, my BFF and her family arrive July 15 and are staying through July 22.

Our schedule so far:
July 16, they are going to MK
July 17 Animal Kingdom, we arrive that morning
July 18 Epcot with dinner at Garden Grill
July 19 MK breakfast at 1900 Park Faire, Grumpy and Di you got me wanting to eat here
Dinner at WCC.
July 20 Epcot with dinner at Tutti Italia
July 21 DHS with lunch at 50's Prime Time. We will leave that day.

Currently planned without park hopping, BFF was still trying to figure out their tickets. But I figure if we don't PH, we won't kill our ourselves going as commando.

Getting the ADR's was hilarious. Turns out at SoG, even though you are able to attend EMH, you can't do the 90 day reservations for ADR's with the additional 10 day window. So, the first day I called(Saturday), they wouldn't allow me to book and I was trying to book meals for 8 of us and really worried it would be difficult. Then BFF calls, she hadn't made any ADR's either, so then said she would make them all. Well, she got busy and I find out on Monday they didn't get them made and were calling me to see what I had done. So finally, Monday morning I got the ones through WCC, then BFF's DH called and got that info from me and he made the rest. ADR's shouldn't be that difficult should they?

Well, hope everyone has a great week.

 

[ScotsMinnie]

That sounds like a great plan so far. I am also looking forward to breakfast at 1900 park fayre - everyone says it is delicious!

 

[carissanboys]

How fun to be able to decide spur of the moment to head to Epcot with a friend for her birthday!

Too bad about the wait for Soarin'. I loved those scenery screens - I had never seen them before this trip.

A lot of your WS pictures look very familiar.

 

[jmskinner]

That sounds like a great plan so far. I am also looking forward to breakfast at 1900 park fayre - everyone says it is delicious!

I'm not a breakfast eater, but JS is, so got to keep him happy. I'm looking forward to the character interaction.

How fun to be able to decide spur of the moment to head to Epcot with a friend for her birthday!

Too bad about the wait for Soarin'. I loved those scenery screens - I had never seen them before this trip.

A lot of your WS pictures look very familiar.

There are more WS pics to come.

 

[Finkelstein's Hubby]

The Park Fayre breakfast is good, very very good , we had a great time with the Mad Hatter....have to say that Breakfast is when I am my most ready for a buffet.....unlimited sausages, scrambled eggs, bacon........

looking forward to lots of food porn

Gordon

 

[macheath]

All caught up again! I love your pics from F&G. Hope I get there some day!

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

Hi Melissa!

Your plans sound good so far - you'll enjoy 1900 PF! I really hope you get the same Mad Hatter we got! He was brilliant!

Where are you eating at AK? Might I humbly suggest Yak & Yeti?????? You know I just love that restaurant!

Di x

 

[jmskinner]

The Park Fayre breakfast is good, very very good , we had a great time with the Mad Hatter....have to say that Breakfast is when I am my most ready for a buffet.....unlimited sausages, scrambled eggs, bacon........

looking forward to lots of food porn

Gordon

JS is already threatening to tie Jacob up after our breakfast disaster at Chef Mickey's when Jacob was totally exhausted and DH had to leave to take him back to the hotel. Sounds like you and JS are a lot alike.

All caught up again! I love your pics from F&G. Hope I get there some day!

I hope you do also. Maybe that trip in 2011, wasn't that when the DH said you could go back?

Hi Melissa!

Your plans sound good so far - you'll enjoy 1900 PF! I really hope you get the same Mad Hatter we got! He was brilliant!

Where are you eating at AK? Might I humbly suggest Yak & Yeti?????? You know I just love that restaurant!

Di x

I loved your video. That is the whole reason I want to go. I think I forwarded it to BFF and made her want to go also.

We have no plans for AK, but I do plan to try Yak & Yeti sometime. JS loves Chinese food, so we need to go.

 

[jmskinner]

Yes, it's another TR update from me. I realized I was three day trips behind, yes you read that right 3, so here we go.

If you remember on my trip just the previous Wednesday I couldn't wait to come back to check out all of the F&G Festival and also let Jacob play on the playgrounds they had installed for the Festival. Isn't that weird, let's go to WDW to Epcot to play on the playgrounds?

So we took our time and didn't rush to the parks. Actually first I was up at 7:00am to make the ADR's for the July trip. For the meals that 8 of us would be eating together and I was worried about having such a large party. My first attempt the CM hung up on me. The second attempt I learned because we are staying at SoG we don't qualify for the 90 days plus 10 day window, so I couldn't make ADR's until the next day. And even then I could only make the ADR for one day and would have to call back each day. Since it was 6:00am in TX where the BFF is, I emailed her that I didn't make any ADR's.

Per my first photo

we were there at 10:00am. Just an hour after the park opened, not too bad for not rushing.

Now, the one ride Jacob wants to ride at Epcot is M:S. Really the only ride he wants to ride. So we headed that way first and saw this guy on the way

I've said it before, but I can not ride the extreme side. I know they say the lame side doesn't spin, but it does something to my blood pressure, so no way am I doing the extreme side. Jacob was fine with that, he was still getting to ride.

As usual, Jacob pushed and switched every single button he could find, even some of the ones on my side.

When we got off I thought we might explore this area:

But no, he only wanted to shop

Yea, he didn't get it. How many times have I posted about trying to get him to clean his room? He is persistant though.

I'm trying to get new shots.

After M:S I was hungry. Now, Jacob didn't really eat much breakfast, and had promised me he would eat lunch, something he normally doesn't do. So we stopped in the Electric Umbrella for chicken nuggets. The plan was to get the adult meal and share. He decided he wanted the kids meal. Now, I remember him not liking the kids chicken nuggets, but I did it anyway. I purchased the Chicken Cesear Salad. Just as we sat to eat my cell phone rings. I dig around in the backpack and find it just as it stops ringing. It was my BFF. They were going to call to get ADR's for our trip in July, thinking I had already made the ones where all 8 of us were eating. Here's how the conversation went:

Vickie: What ADR's did you get?

Me: You haven't checked your email yet?

Vickie: No, I was just doing that.

So, I explained my emails to her and what occured that morning so she said she would make them all.

Back to the food. Well, I wasn't impressed with my salad, I honestly think I wanted the chicken strips. Jacob took one bite of his chicken nuggets and remembered that he didn't like WDW's chicken nuggets. I made him eat at least one, put the carrots and grapes that came with his, and also my croutons (I know WEIRD, but I like to eat them as a snack) in my backpack and off we went.

Found this sand sculpture, and of course, another butt!

Off to the:

Look at the size of the butterflies!

This one flew right in front of the camera. I aplogize, I couldn't get any good pics, will have to take the zoom lens next time.

I think areas like the pic above are why we weren't too impressed with Epcot the first time we came. The ball is great, and the fountain is cool, but so much open space and not much to look at. Just my opinion folks. We love Epcot now!

The good news is you turn around and this awaits you:

Bird alert Irky:

Actually towards the end of this report, who knows how many chapters it will be, there is a bird experience Irky won't like at all. I didn't appreciate much either.

Didn't the ducks find a lovely spot to enjoy the F&G Festival?

We came across the first playground and Jacob was off, so I took pics while he played:

Finally I figured I should take pics of my boy, who loved the playground and actually kept posing for pics. He would stop, look at me and freeze until I took the pics. Now, how many pics do I have with him all grumpy because I took his pic.

I had found a nice bench to rest on while Jacob played. You guys all know me by now, I am sitting here just snapping away with the camera. The family next to me starts looking at me everytime they hear click. Guess I was taking too many. If only they knew, over 300 this day folks.

This thing Jacob is standing on spins, and he wasn't too happy when he had positioned himself just right to where it would spin when he leaned just a little, but I pushed it for him. I was nice, I moved him where he could do it himself.

So, did we see anymore of the WS, or just spend our day here at the playground? Stay tuned folks....

 

[ScotsMinnie]

That playground looks amazing! My 2 would have loved it. They should have things like that at Epcot all year round.