The Darling Family June Beach Club Trip:Hugging Ewoks and Finding Peter Pan

[dismagiclover]

Love your parade pictures!

Aren't you glad you don't have a little robot roaming your house now that you're home? The pictures of you guys as the characters was a perfect compromise. You and your DH make a perfect Han and Leia.

We must, must, must make it to SWW some year.

I really am glad we got the character pictures. They make me chuckle everytime I look at them. You really go need to go to SWW one year. Your DS would love it!!!! (and I bet your DH would too.)

We celebrate the anniversary of our first date too!!! We call it our dativersary. We just celebrated our 20th dativersary in May by going to get a couples massage and pedicure. Loving your TR so far, can't wait to read more.

I just read your first MK day. I love the pics, but had to laugh at the expression on your DS4's face! Priceless. The tink pics are great and I hope my DD gets one as good as she is a huge tink fan!

Dativersary Love that! DS4 is a character. There is rarely an in between with him. He is either happy and adorable or grumpy and a trouble maker. He's worth keeping around though

Hmmm...is there another counter service place at DHS than Toy Story Pizza Planet??? I wouldn't know, since that's the only place my boys ever want to eat. I must admit they do give pretty good size portions and the food is not bad but a change would be nice!! (maybe I can convince them in August)

Okay... that is one scary creature!! What is going on with his hands... very strange!!!

Love the SW pictures that put you guys in the movies. Wow!! They are so cool.

Eating somewhere besides Pizza Planet. That is one of my dreams I never did figure out what that creature was. Some strange stuff with some of those SW characters

I'm going to try to remember everything I wanted to say...
Green guy=Kit Fisto. I found out by asking my ds who it was...then he asked "where are these pictures from??" Now he knows about SWW and my fingers are double crossed that they have them later in June again!

All of your parade photos are fantastic! In fact, everything about SWW looks wonderful.

Uh, we HAVE that R2D2 right here at home. Went through a whole mess of trouble to find it and surprise DS with it on this trip (he's wanted it since he was 5). It's actually really neat and quite cute!

Can't wait for the next installment!!

Kit Fitso. Thanks But now you really are in trouble. I'll keep my fingers crossed that they will change the dates back to late June for you. The only reason it worked for us this year is we didn't use all of our snow days so we got out 3 days earlier.

I just love seeing everyone's star wars shots. You got a great parade location for pictures. I didn't even think there was a spot that had no people on the other side. Great thinking!!

The mama/baby sand people were cool - didn't see that one during our parade day. I loved all the characters just roaming around, they seemed to be in bunches - either you got a whole lot of them, or nobody was around.

Great pics!

I read about that parade location on the DIS before I left and I was excited it was still available The mama/baby sand person was interesting. I don't even think that was in the movies

 

[dismagiclover]

It was time to leave the Star Wars Galaxy and enter into Narnia. Wendy enjoys both the books and the movies, so she’d mentioned she wanted to meet Prince Caspian. And here we were walking right by the entrance to Narnia. We decided to bypass the attraction and go straight for the good part: meeting the Prince himself. I loved the way this Meet n Greet was set up. We walked up to the CM waiting outside the entrance and he said we were next. We just had to wait for the previous group to exit. Three giggling girls came out the exit (that should have been a hint we were in for a treat) It was then our turn to enter Narnia.
We walked into the room and were immediately greeted by the Prince. He was such the gentlemen and so charming I really wasn’t prepared to be a tad bit smitten, but both Wendy and I were. John conversed with him a bit too, but wasn’t too interested. DH pointed out Prince Caspian’s sword, but even that didn’t interest the boys

You can tell Wendy is crushing and John doesn’t really get the fascination. We tried to introduce Michael, but he wasn’t talking. Prince Caspian noticed his shirt and apologized that there were no ewoks in Narnia Wendy took a solo shot

Doesn’t he look charming? Unfortunately, it was time to leave the Prince and he very gallantly bid us adieu. After we walked out I mentioned to DH that I didn’t take any pictures. (The ones here are photopass.) DH said, “Yea. I kept telling you to take a picture and you never did.” I looked at DH with a bit of surprise. I had no memory of DH speaking at all while we were in Narnia. I think I was too smitten by Prince Caspian. I said something to that effect to Wendy and she gushed, “I know. Wasn’t he cute?” If any of you are Prince Caspian fans (or even if you just like charming gentlemen in Prince clothing) I highly recommend this meet ‘n greet.

After leaving Narnia we decided to stop by the Animation Academy for a quick visit. We went through the store so that we could avoid the movie. Though we didn’t mind watching it last trip, no one had any desire to see it again. The kids saw the computers and immediately began playing. I scanned the room to see what characters were available. The Up characters were there, but since we haven’t yet seen the movie, no one was interested. Frozone was out as well, but we met him last trip. The character I really wanted to meet was there. The line was long, but the computers were there to entertain the kids so I hopped in to wait. After about 20 minutes it was our turn. Michael went first.

Then John’s turn

Then Wendy had another visit with the Big Cheese.

All 3 of the kids together

And finally the family group shot.

We’d never met Sorcerer Mickey before so I was excited to get the family shot. I like family shots with Mickey in his different wardrobe choices. He is one well dressed mouse!

Well, it had been a full day at the Studios and the kids were getting tuckered out. However, there was something I still wanted to do. I had never been on the Great Movie Ride and really wanted to go this trip. However, I knew the line would be long this time of day and from what I’d read I wasn’t sure how the kids would react to it. My loving DH agreed to take the kids back to the hotel for a rest and I stayed to take a ride through the movies. I really liked the ride. Especially the Wizard of Oz scene. It’s like you’re right in the middle of Munchkinland. I’m glad I didn’t take the kids though. That alien coming out of the ceiling is scary stuff.
My time at the Studios was over and I caught the boat back to the Beach Club. It was a hot ride back. Those boats really need air conditioning.

Up next: A swim break and a Magic Kingdom evening.

 

[cjackearl]

I have fond memories of reading all of the Chronicles of Narnia books to my girls when they were younger, and we love the movies, so meeting the prince would have been fun. Plus, he's awfully darn cute! Too funny that you didn't hear your husband talking to you.

We got some very, um, interesting pictures with Sorcerer Mickey. Yours are darling.

 

[Angies1274]

The pictures of your daughter with the Prince were very sweet!!!

We didn't get the chance to meet Sorcerer Mickey on our last trip. It's definitely on the top of our list when we go back to DHS--(and the UP characters!!! We loved that movie) All of your pics w/Mickey turned out great.

How wonderful that your DH took the kids back to the hotel, so you could ride the Great Movie Ride!! I haven't rode it yet, but from what I have read I think it would scare my boys too. (maybe I can convince my DH to do that for me.)

 

[Lynn5700]

Aww really cute pictures!!! Wendy sure is blushing. lol!! Cute!

Yeah the boats would be nice if they had air. I can imagine how hot they get in the summer months.

 

[kshattuck]

WOW! You were very well-organized for the SWW! I am impressed! So great that everything worked out -- meeting Darth Vader, perfect parade spot, Mommy-solo time......good work!

The pictures of Wendy with Prince Caspian are precious. She is so smitten; what a cutie!

I loved what you wrote about loving WDW after your kids are grown, seeing little ones get so excited about their favorite characters. I think about that even while mine are still so little...sigh

Your TR is fantastic! All of the pictures are great; looking forward to reading more!

 

[micheleq]

Great pictures! Keep 'em coming!

Thanks for the advice about June My little one won't be ready for SW for a while, but DD4 did insist on me fixing her C3PO yesterday so she could prominently display him on her bookshelf!!

 

[dismagiclover]

I have fond memories of reading all of the Chronicles of Narnia books to my girls when they were younger, and we love the movies, so meeting the prince would have been fun. Plus, he's awfully darn cute! Too funny that you didn't hear your husband talking to you.

We got some very, um, interesting pictures with Sorcerer Mickey. Yours are darling.

You'll have to stop by Narnia next trip. I can't wait to see your "interesting pictures" on your trippie

The pictures of your daughter with the Prince were very sweet!!!

We didn't get the chance to meet Sorcerer Mickey on our last trip. It's definitely on the top of our list when we go back to DHS--(and the UP characters!!! We loved that movie) All of your pics w/Mickey turned out great.

How wonderful that your DH took the kids back to the hotel, so you could ride the Great Movie Ride!! I haven't rode it yet, but from what I have read I think it would scare my boys too. (maybe I can convince my DH to do that for me.)

Wendy was cute with Prince Caspian. She still giggles a bit everytime she see the pictures I do have a great DH He's still good to me even if I ignore him when charming boys dressed in prince clothing are around

Aww really cute pictures!!! Wendy sure is blushing. lol!! Cute!

Yeah the boats would be nice if they had air. I can imagine how hot they get in the summer months.

She sometimes still blushes if I mention Prince Caspian

WOW! You were very well-organized for the SWW! I am impressed! So great that everything worked out -- meeting Darth Vader, perfect parade spot, Mommy-solo time......good work!

The pictures of Wendy with Prince Caspian are precious. She is so smitten; what a cutie!

I loved what you wrote about loving WDW after your kids are grown, seeing little ones get so excited about their favorite characters. I think about that even while mine are still so little...sigh

Your TR is fantastic! All of the pictures are great; looking forward to reading more!

Lots of the SWW info came from right here on the DIS. It makes it so much more enjoyable to have a plan Wendy read the report about Prince Caspian and said, "Mom I was more than a little smitten." I hope I never get tired of watching little ones experience the Magic

Great pictures! Keep 'em coming!

Thanks for the advice about June My little one won't be ready for SW for a while, but DD4 did insist on me fixing her C3PO yesterday so she could prominently display him on her bookshelf!!

Uh oh. It sounds like you may have a Star Wars fanatic on your hand and SWW may be in your future

 

[dismagiclover]

When I arrived back at the room everyone was chilling out in front of the TV. I asked who wanted to go to the pool and heard a loud chorus of “Me!” We spent another fun couple of hours at SAB. Just love that place John was getting tired so I agreed to take him back to the room while DH, Wendy and Michael went down the waterslide a few more times. (They never got tired of that!) When we arrived back at the room, John complained of being cold (that Florida air conditioning). So I told him to sit out on the patio to warm up. When I came out to check on him this is what I found.

I guess he really was tired.

Everyone else returned from the pool. We had a split evening planned. First a brief report on the boys’ evening.
They had dinner at Hurricane Hannah’s and the boys loved the pail and shovel that came with their meal. After dinner they went over to the arcade to use the card that came with our package. They played “bowling, air hockey and some racing games.” They had a great time. DH had them back in the room watching a movie by 8:10 and by 8:20 both John and Michael were sound asleep

Now on to the good stuff: Wendy and I had an evening at the Magic Kingdom ahead of us. After a quick bus ride, we walked through the gates and what did we see? A photopass guy! We’d never actually seen a photopass guy here because normally we walk through here at 8:45 am and have places to hustle to. Here is what we got

We wandered onto Main Street and I felt that happy feeling. Main Street USA is definitely my happy place We snapped a picture with this character.

Then we headed further down the street and what did we do? You guessed it. (I love the sky in these pictures)

This photopass photog seemed a bit distracted so after we finished with him we headed to the other guy that was about 10 feet away. Good thing Wendy likes to get her picture taken. He took another set of pictures and was a little less distracted.

I look slightly insane (which is probably my true self) in this picture

In these pictures it looks like Tinkerbell is holding on to another Tinkerbell

After our photo shoots we checked in for dinner. Anyone want to guess where?

 

[cmfranklyn]

I never thought to do a "split evening"... hmmm, I'll have to save that idea for next trip

 

[Villainess]

I've done split mornings. My dad has taken DS to Crystal Palace for breakfast with Pooh and friends and then some of his favorite rides while my mom, DD and I have breakfast at CRT.


Hmmmm ... I can take a guess where dinner was?

 

[Angies1274]

I didn't realize that they had a Photopass photographer in front of Train Station as you walk in. We are always in such a hurry to get inside. I guess I need to pay more attention!!

Love the pics w/Tinkerbell!!! You both look so surprised!! Very cute!!

 

[stace208]

I love the photos of Wendy with Prince Caspian...very smitten I love the books and movies but neither of my kids has shown much interest yet. Perhaps in years to come.

I love the fact that you guys did a split night. We did a little of that this trip for a morning but I can see how we might do some more in the future.

I think dinner is at CRT!

 

[vassar36]

Hi
Just found your TR this morining, and I LOVE it
so glad you took the time to write this....can't wait for more

 

[Disneyvirg]

Caught up again! I loved the last two segments.

So funny that you were both so smitten with Prince Caspian. I really love that you had no idea you DH was speaking to you!

The split evening idea is great. We may borrow that idea!

 

[dismagiclover]

I never thought to do a "split evening"... hmmm, I'll have to save that idea for next trip

Split evenings work great for us. DH gets a little park break and Wendy and I get to stay up later than the boys would make it

I've done split mornings. My dad has taken DS to Crystal Palace for breakfast with Pooh and friends and then some of his favorite rides while my mom, DD and I have breakfast at CRT.


Hmmmm ... I can take a guess where dinner was?

My last trip we did a split morning one day. I took my youngest to an early Crystal Palace breakfast while the others slept a bit later. It was so fun to be on an empty Main St. with a 3 year old. All he wanted to do was jump the rail tracks

I didn't realize that they had a Photopass photographer in front of Train Station as you walk in. We are always in such a hurry to get inside. I guess I need to pay more attention!!

Love the pics w/Tinkerbell!!! You both look so surprised!! Very cute!!

I don't know how often the Photopass guy is in front on the Train Station. We'd never seen one there before either. And yes my DD and I are quite the thespians

I love the photos of Wendy with Prince Caspian...very smitten I love the books and movies but neither of my kids has shown much interest yet. Perhaps in years to come.

I love the fact that you guys did a split night. We did a little of that this trip for a morning but I can see how we might do some more in the future.

I think dinner is at CRT!

My DD just got into Narnia this past year, but Prince Caspian is now one of her favorites Love split nights. We did some on a previous trip as well and it so much fun to be in the park with just one of the kids. The kids are great ages for it and they still think I'm a fun, cool mom (especially at Disney)
CRT is a great dinner guess, but we did it on our last trip (on a split night). It was fun, but because it's so pricey it's not an every trip thing. The answer will be up shortly.

Hi
Just found your TR this morining, and I LOVE it
so glad you took the time to write this....can't wait for more

Thanks for the compliments! It's been lots of fun to write so I'm glad there are a few people who like reading it too

Caught up again! I loved the last two segments.

So funny that you were both so smitten with Prince Caspian. I really love that you had no idea you DH was speaking to you!

The split evening idea is great. We may borrow that idea!

Poor DH. His poor wife ignores him when a handsome prince is around. I think sometimes even he wonders why he likes me so much

 

[cjackearl]

You know there were several times this past trip that I thought about how much fun it would be to take one of my kids at a time to WDW. Splitting up for a little bit might be a good compromise. A dinner ADR in the Magic Kingdom, hmm...Tony's?

I love the picture of John on the porch! Poor little tuckered out man.

 

[dismagiclover]

And for dinner we went to (drum roll please) . . .

The Plaza. I bet none of you guessed that! This was a 1st time visit for us.
After checking in we waited at a table outside the restaurant.

It looked like rain (as you could probably tell from the skies in the castle pictures on the previous post.) The wind really started to pick up and the balloon man was having a tough time of it.

I was hopeful the rain would come while we were eating dinner and be all done by the time we were. That didn’t happen. Instead it never actually rained
We were called into dinner. This is a quaint little restaurant. The décor was perfect for Main Street. It felt like we were in an early 20th century dining room and the windows let in tons of light. The view from my table was the castle. What could be more perfect? I had the cheese steak and it was yummy and fresh. In fact, the only place I’ve had better cheese steaks is Philly. (And no cheese steak is ever going to beat that.) Wendy ordered the turkey sandwich and it came like this.

These are my only food pictures of the trip. I just couldn’t resist because it was so cute and I’d never seen this on the boards. Cutting into the Mickey shape removes the crust and creates a perfect kid sandwich. Genius. Here are a few more shots.

For dessert Wendy had the Mickeylodeon (choc ice cream with a cone and cookies for Mickey ears.) What kid wouldn’t like that? I splurged and had a banana split. Of course I couldn’t eat it all, but it was one of those things I’d been craving for a while and it was delish. Wendy and I both give the Plaza an enthusiastic thumbs up. I think I’ve discovered my favorite restaurant in the Magic Kingdom. The food was simple, but fresh. The decor was light and airy. Very laid back vibe and a view of the castle. We are definitely bringing the boys back next time.

After dinner I asked Wendy what she wanted to do next. I was a tad bit surprised when she said she wanted to meet the princesses. Of course I was hoping I’d get to see them this trip, but as Wendy prepares to leave the nursery, the princesses are one of the things she has left behind. Sad, but I guess that is part of growing up. At Disney though no one has to grow up, so I was happy she wanted to visit them again. We walked through Tomorrowland so we could walk to Toontown via the “secret path.” Although I guess it isn’t so secret because it’s actually on the map (unlike the Noodle Station cut thru). I’d never been this way before and it was pretty empty back in this part of Tomorrowland because Space Mountain is closed. After a short walk by the stinky and loud motor cars (not a fan of the Speedway) we arrived by the Toontown train station. (I’ve yet to ride that train.)
After making sure there were no characters in the “secret” character place I’d read about on the DIS (the teardrop) we headed into see the princesses. The line for the fairies read 60 minutes (no surprise) while the Princess line was only 20. Good choice Wendy. Here she is waiting.

After our relatively short wait we entered the Royal Room. Here are the pictures:

Wendy had a nice chat with Belle. They always seem to have a lot to talk about it. They have quite a bit in common. They both to love read and some other stuff too Every time we’ve met Belle she has proclaimed Wendy her twin. Cute.

After our brush with royalty we walked by the Fairy line again. The CM stopped us and asked if we’d met them yet. When we said no, he really encouraged us to go (I think it was because of our shirts). The line was still 60 minutes long but he said it was so worth it. I gave Wendy the choice, explaining if we did it we would miss Spectromagic, but would still make Wishes. What did she decide?

 

[dismagiclover]

You know there were several times this past trip that I thought about how much fun it would be to take one of my kids at a time to WDW. Splitting up for a little bit might be a good compromise. A dinner ADR in the Magic Kingdom, hmm...Tony's?

I love the picture of John on the porch! Poor little tuckered out man.

Taking a kid alone for just a night really is fun. The kids just love their Mommy time and the logistics of it all is so much easier. I highly recommend it! Tony's is a good guess, but well . . . the answer was revealed above. (We were posting at the same time)

John was tired out. Overall it's pretty amazing the kids go as long as they do in Disney World with so few meltdowns. I guess sometimes you just have to crash

 

[cjackearl]

Cute Princess photos. I love those photopass borders. Hmmm..I really hope she wanted to meet the fairies. They're definitely worth the wait, but missing Spectro? Looking forward to hearing which she picked!