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

[jmskinner]

Love the pirate room! Thanks so much for posting the pictures. And glad you had no issues this time.

Your welcome. Well, I wouldn't say no issues, but more on that later.

I just love the pictures of that room. Hey, but I wouldn't go around telling folks that the Flying Dutchman is really the Black Pearl...Jack wouldn't appreciate it, I'm sure!

I'm curious how much more you actually did have to pay for that room (no need to divulge here) -- isn't it funny how adults tend to appreciate room decor more than kids do?

Oops, I did say Black Pearl instead of Flying Dutchman. I actually had no idea as to how much more I paid, but looking on the website it was $25 more a night for the Pirate room. Something to do one time. Maybe if Jacob was a little younger he would have thought it was cool.

 

[jmskinner]

I'll throw in pics of the resort later, lets get to what everyone is waiting for. MNSSHP! If it didn't cost so much, I would go multiple times per year.

We got there about 4:30pm, so much better than the previous year when we arrived at 7:00pm.




Love the CM's outfits:


And great smiles:








We got our wristbands and our treat bags and were on our way.















Now, if you haven't been to the MK on a MNSSHP before, it is a little shocking to see the CM's divide up Main Street and direct traffic in and out of the park. I find it really sad watching everyone leave as we are entering:







I wish I had asked where this guy got his hat, it has to be an old one because I have not been able to find it:










The little signs the CM's hold directing traffic:


Even though originally this weekend was booked with the free dining, I ended up going room only to save some money. Since we have AP's, we would have had to purchase one day tickets for each of us to get the free dining and also I decided to have a weekend with no ADR's, no real plans. We were going to wing it! We decided on Cosmic Rays. This was in front of the register:


Now, we have eaten here several time, but we have always walked in one door and ate on that side, so Jonas and Jacob never knew about this guy:




Now we were ready to attack the park..ride the rides, trick-or-treat, watch the parade and the fireworks.

 

[thecapells]

The Pirate rooms look awesome!
We're so excited to stay there on our Halloween trip - especially since we're doing Pirates of the Caribbean this year.

And how was the MNSSHP?
We're trying that for the 1st time this year too!

Our countdown is at 19 days!!

 

[jmskinner]

The Pirate rooms look awesome!
We're so excited to stay there on our Halloween trip - especially since we're doing Pirates of the Caribbean this year.

And how was the MNSSHP?
We're trying that for the 1st time this year too!

Our countdown is at 19 days!!

Fantastic, your kids will love the pirate rooms and so will you!

As I said before, I would go back to MNSSHP every chance I had if I could afford to do so. I just love it. I love parks at night, so I guess that is one draw, but love the parade and the fireworks. Love the music! Love it all!!! Your crew is going to have such a great time!

 

[jmskinner]

With our stomachs full we could now PARTY!!! Oops, party didn't start for a couple more hours, so what should we do....ride the rides of course. Even thought the park was still open to all guests, I think you will be shocked by the next couple of pics, first up was:






Positively no wait for Buzz. I was in shock.

Next up was the Speedway. We had maybe a 5 minute wait for this one:







Jacob was practicing driving:


And I of course was having fun taking pics:






This was the week they were tearing down the old Skyway building:


Jacob kept bumping his Daddy, funny how he can't mash the pedal on the track but always manages to long enough to bump Dad:




BRAKE!!!




After the hard work driving, Jacob wanted some ice cream:


Jonas had never been on the Barnstormer, so we headed that way. Check out this sign, it will look different later on:


Believe it or not, Jacob doesn't like this one either:




After the ride:


Afterwards we let Jacob play in Donald's Boat:



Thought this map was cool.



This is when Jonas informs me he really is not feeling well. That food from earlier was still bothering him, but he loves the party also, so he pushed on.

The CM's were getting ready for the trick-or-treating, it was almost time for the party to begin!


We still had time before we could start trick-or-treating, so headed towards Fantasyland. Jonas felt bad enough he didn't even want to do the teacups, which I didn't mind one bit.

First up was Winnie-The-Pooh. It would have been maybe a 5 minute wait, but it broke down. We waited for about 10 minutes and then it started working again. Jonas didn't mind seeing this little treat while waiting in line:


Yup, that would be a "naughty" Dorothy.


Finally we were on the ride:



We felt the same way Tigger.

While we were still in line for Winnie, we noticed the characters coming out, that only meant one thing, the party had begun!!!

 

[kathleen27]

Wow, the Magic Kingdom looks empty there!
Can't wait to hear about the party.

The pirate room looks fantastic!
I think it would be fun to stay there some time!

Your birthday sounds like a lot of fun!
It does sound like the perfect way to spend your 40th birthday!
Those last photos from that day of the tree with the flowers are beautiful!

Star Wars Weekends looks like so much fun.

I have started your other tr but am not through Busch Gardens yet.
Eventually I will catch up.

 

[jmskinner]

Wow, the Magic Kingdom looks empty there!
Can't wait to hear about the party.

The pirate room looks fantastic!
I think it would be fun to stay there some time!

Your birthday sounds like a lot of fun!
It does sound like the perfect way to spend your 40th birthday!
Those last photos from that day of the tree with the flowers are beautiful!

Star Wars Weekends looks like so much fun.

I have started your other tr but am not through Busch Gardens yet.
Eventually I will catch up.

Hi Kathleen! MK was very empty. Planning on going to MK this Friday, hoping it is dead before the party begins. Wish we could stay for the party.

The pirate room was fun. And I did have a great 40th Birthday.

SWW is a blast. I highly recommend it!

Yup, you do have a lot of catching up to do. I have the same problem on a lot of other TR's I've been reading. Ok, on to the party...

 

[jmskinner]

After seeing Winnie and his friends, we decided to stop at our first Trick-Or-Treating stop of the night since it was right there:



It was starting to get dark:




Next up was:








I can't remember the last time we had been on Snow White. I think it was our '08 trip before moving to FL. Jacob won't ever go on. Me and the camera were having issues also.

Saw this in the store:


I went in search of that Jack hat again and the boys went Trick-or-Treating, which is when we realized Jacob had left his bag on Snow White.

Now, check out all of these CM's:


Right before this shot they were lined up to keep people without wristbands from going past that point.

I went to where my boys would be coming out of trick-or-treating and asked the CM for another bag, which then the boys hollered they had already received one, so I gave it back to the CM. I didn't think we needed anymore than 3 bags.

Just another shot showing how empty the park was:


And this was the trick-or-treating area the boys went to:


And check out the wait for Dumbo:


Sadly Jacob would not ride. I should have went by myself since I have never been on Dumbo.



Next up:


And this was the line:


So, do you think it is worth the extra money to do the party? I tried to get some shots on Peter Pan, but need some more practice getting the setting right. People were using their flash, Jacob fussed at them and I did too at one point.

After Peter Pan we headed to Haunted Mansion.


The boys wouldn't go on this one either:


But of course they would this one:








I apologize for the blurriness, me and the camera seemed to be fighting.




We got in line to get our picture with the carriage (I didn't really like how it came out so haven't it purchased it). But check out the ghost:


And the mansion kept changing also:


Next up, the PARADE!!!!

 

[HilJoy14]

The pirate rooms like amazing! Too bad my girls wouldn't like it at all.

I really want to do the MNSSHP. Low crowds! Looks like a blast!!!

I have been enjoying reading your trip reports. (I just recently decided I should stop lurking and start posting!) I just wish I could go back sometime soon!!!

 

[SimmerBaggins]

Welcome, HilJoy! (I probably should have let Melissa welcome you first, but... )

I agree about the low crowdage -- love it!!. My DD just told me the other day that she didn't like it when you could turn right around and ride the same ride almost immediately -- she likes the anticipation! She said it made her feel lonely when there was no one in line...somehow, I understood that.

Okay...I promise to update our dual TR today, Melissa!!

 

[jmskinner]

The pirate rooms like amazing! Too bad my girls wouldn't like it at all.

I really want to do the MNSSHP. Low crowds! Looks like a blast!!!

I have been enjoying reading your trip reports. (I just recently decided I should stop lurking and start posting!) I just wish I could go back sometime soon!!!

Glad you came out of lurkville and joined us. Hope you get back soon and that it is for MNSSHP, ok since that is almost over, hope you get back sooner than that.

I just love MNSSHP, especially the parade. It really is fun.

You know, I just realized they have these great rooms, more for boys, but they don't really have rooms themed towards Princesses.

Welcome, HilJoy! (I probably should have let Melissa welcome you first, but... )

I agree about the low crowdage -- love it!!. My DD just told me the other day that she didn't like it when you could turn right around and ride the same ride almost immediately -- she likes the anticipation! She said it made her feel lonely when there was no one in line...somehow, I understood that.

Okay...I promise to update our dual TR today, Melissa!!

That's ok Vickie, the nice thing about the Disboards is how welcoming everyone is. That's funny about your DD. Have you ever seen the video of the family that one the whole park to themselves. It sounded very lonely to me, but they had all of the characters to enjoy it with, but I would miss seeing kids faces and the parents watching their kids excitement and surprise. Ok, on to the parade!!!

 

[jmskinner]

It was time for the parade and the parade route was already full down Main Street (last year we were over by HoP, but I wanted to be on Main Street this year.) We found a spot by a trash can and let Jacob sit while we stood behind him.

Here was some pre-show entertainment:


Pics of Main Street before the parade (what else am I going to do for 30 minutes):














Now, the Headless Horseman always rides before the parade:





To keep it safe they won't allow any feet off of the curbs, etc. Our little AP Passholder booklet that goes out quarterly states it is the same horse each year and he goes through lots of practice. Also, this horse goes at a good speed, so if you are at the end of the parade route, like we were, there is a long wait for the parade.

Now, I have a video of the headless horseman, but stupid me never uploaded it to photobucket(I don't the ability on Smugmug for videos, so still use Photobucket for that.)

So, my next update will be the videos from the parade and lots and lots of pics from the parade. I promise.

 

[SimmerBaggins]

Wow, the colors are amazing! And I love the Headless Horseman! Looking at the body proportions, that's a pretty interesting sight...

The horse looks like a warmblood. Very pretty. I would have liked to have seen that in person!

 

[jmskinner]

Wow, the colors are amazing! And I love the Headless Horseman! Looking at the body proportions, that's a pretty interesting sight...

The horse looks like a warmblood. Very pretty. I would have liked to have seen that in person!

I took a lot more pics of Main Street and all of the colors. Just love the way they decorate the park.

The horseman is very cool. That poor horse and all of the flashes, the rider too! Ok, I hope to post this evening.

 

[jmskinner]

As promised:




Now, as I said, after the Horseman came through we had a long wait. All of the entertainment came back out but finally we could see it coming:



And it has begun:











[URL=http://s288.photobucket.com/albums/ll170/jmskinner1/MNSSHP%202009/?action=view&current=100_0702.flv][/URL]





















My favortie part:




I'm going to go ahead and post this, but it is very dark(if nothing else, enjoy the music):
[URL=http://s288.photobucket.com/albums/ll170/jmskinner1/MNSSHP%202009/?action=view&current=100_0704.flv][/URL]

Continued in next post.

 

[jmskinner]

[URL=http://s288.photobucket.com/albums/ll170/jmskinner1/MNSSHP%202009/?action=view&current=100_0705.flv][/URL]

Those Hitchhiking ghosts, got themselves a ride on a float:




















You may be asking what in the world about the above photo, well here they are, another favorite of mine:

















And that was the parade!

 

[thecapells]

Great MNSSHP shots!
We can't wait to go next week!!

 

[SimmerBaggins]

Oh, that looks so awesome -- stuff I've NEVER seen! I was surprised to see the Lost Boys, and then Hook's ship!

Thanks for sharing that, and just in time for some people!

 

[jmskinner]

Great MNSSHP shots!
We can't wait to go next week!!

You are going to have so much fun, can't wait to read the TR. Do the kids know you are going?

By the way everyone, read their trip reports, I learned so much!

Oh, that looks so awesome -- stuff I've NEVER seen! I was surprised to see the Lost Boys, and then Hook's ship!

Thanks for sharing that, and just in time for some people!

The only time you see that stuff is at MNSSHP. They have a lot more characters and I think it is so cute to see the characters in costume. So cute!

 

[jmskinner]

Once the parade was over, Jonas announced that he really did not feel well and he was going back to the hotel. He told us to stay.

Before he left he was nice enough to snap a pic of me with the hat he purchased me:



Can you tell I was in a good mood?


So we said goodbye, then Jacob and I headed towards the castle to see the fireworks.

















And I grabbed some videos also:
[URL=http://s288.photobucket.com/albums/ll170/jmskinner1/MNSSHP%202009/?action=view&current=100_0707.flv][/URL]

[URL=http://s288.photobucket.com/albums/ll170/jmskinner1/MNSSHP%202009/?action=view&current=100_0708.flv][/URL]