The newlyweds head back to AKL Club level! Now Live May 1-10! Update May 10- MK DHS

[LuvEeyore]

Lovin' the live trip report. I look forward to joining you on your trip and hope you are having a great time.

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

Must be fun today. No photo's yet

 

[thumper*]

Rachel loven your TR. Makes me so excited for our stay in Sept.
I too would be super excited to experience DN first WDW trip.

Trying to finish up planning how long does Wishes Last?

 

[RachaelA]

So Wednesday we were at AK in the morning. We didn't do a whole lot because of how spread out everything was. I really miss the old rope drop show. This one is just a cheap version of it.

We did Everest, Kilamanjaro Safaris, saw Nemo (my favorite!!), took some photopass pictures, ate at Restaurantosaurs (sp?) and then went back for our DVC tour. We're going back sunday so I plan to get more done then.
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No pictures from DTD Wednesday night. DH and I are really slacking on the picture taking this trip. Even on the photopass pictures!!

Yesterday we were at MK with DN, DB, and DSIL. We got there halfway through the AM extra magic hour. Now I'm not the one picking the parks this trip so every day we are at the park to avoid. Its killing me!

This trip was a surprise for our niece Aurora. She woke up at Disney when they got in Wednesday and she walked into MK yesterday and saw her Aunt and Uncle (us!). She was very suprised.


We actually did get a lot done. We didn't do any character meet and greets which saved time. Off the top of my head we did Teacups, Barnstormer x2, Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan, Snow White, Dumbo (I can't get over the wait for this ride), Carousel, Big Thunder x2, Splash Mountain, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Aladdin, Tree House, Laugh Factory, Buzz, People Mover, and Carousel of Progress x 2. All of this from 8:45 to 5ish.

I tried to get Aurora to ride Cinderella's Horse, but she wanted one with roses on it so I rode it instead. DH also can't take pictures and cut off my head!

It poured pretty bad for over a half an hour at the end. We jumped on Carousel of Progress before it started and then stayed on it again because it was still raining. We started a trend because about 10 other people stayed on with us. Pirates and SM were down on and off all day.

We ate at Columbia Harbor House. No pictures sorry!

We got back to our room to get ready for dinner and we finally had a giraffe outside our room (and over to the right a bit)! and I saw some more zebras. Finally!

We went up to the lounge for some wine and cheese. I didn't take pictures of the offerings because it was super crowded, but there were lamb and fig tarts, dips and bread, olives, cheese, etc. And of course wine and beer.

Jiko was awesome. I had the BBQ chicken flat bread and a side of goat cheese mashed potatoes (and the side was huuuuuuuuge). We also got cauliflower soup as a thank you for staying at AKL. DH got the filet and mac and cheese. We got a special dessert because it was our first anniversary. A super cute version of the pistachio creme brulee. Then we got the Jiko trio for dessert. Jiko is still a must do every trip.

Dessert #1

Dessert #2

Then our family came over to the Lodge and we used the night vision goggles which were a let down. Nothing really out there.

Plan for today is Epcot and Askerhaus dinner around 5 so Aurora can meet the princesses. This is also a surprise!

 

[sjs314]

Sounds like you had a very fun and full day at MK yesterday. Disney is so much fun when you visit with a lil one.
I feel for DH, I tend to chop off a head or two every now and then and always get picked on for it
Have a great day at Epcot today.

 

[taymacsmom]

Sounds like you had a very fun and full day at MK yesterday. Disney is so much fun when you visit with a lil one.
I feel for DH, I tend to chop off a head or two every now and then and always get picked on for it
Have a great day at Epcot today.

Not hijacking the TR, but I noticed you are in CT. We are in Wethersfield. How about you?

 

[RachaelA]

Finished a bit at Askerhaus. Aurora totally stuck her finger in Jasmine's belly buttom and then she told Snow White that Princess Aurora was her favorite. Oh kids!

 

[tiggrbaby]

Finished a bit at Askerhaus. Aurora totally stuck her finger in Jasmine's belly buttom and then she told Snow White that Princess Aurora was her favorite. Oh kids!

Oh my! How funny! This will be a forever memory!

 

[sjs314]

Not hijacking the TR, but I noticed you are in CT. We are in Wethersfield. How about you?

Waterbury, Hi Neighbor

Finished a bit at Askerhaus. Aurora totally stuck her finger in Jasmine's belly buttom and then she told Snow White that Princess Aurora was her favorite. Oh kids!

Too funny, Aurora sounds adorable......like they say "out of the mouth of babes"

 

[princessallegra]

Your niece is so cute! Terrific that you're having a (mostly) amazing time!! The Jiko dinner looks soooo good! We can't wait to eat there. Have a great rest of your trip!!!! Can't wait to read more!

 

[RachaelA]

We've had a busy bunch of days! With Aurora here we've been at the parks all day which is something DH and I never do!! Its super tiring!

Friday was spent at Epcot. We got a lot done. Rory was tall enough for Soarin' and Test Track this year.

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We introduced our family to Innoventions.
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We did the Disney Visa Meet and Greet again. This time it was Mickey and Pluto and Rory was once again shocked when she went around the curtain. I love this perk for the visa. Its worth having the card just for this. We had over 5 minutes over alone time with Mickey and Pluto.

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We had dinner at Askerhaus and the meal was much better than I thought. This was another surprise for Rory and she was incredibly shocked to see Belle when we arrived. I posted this earlier, but she actually stuck her finger in Jasmine's belly button and told Snow White that Princess Aurora was her very favorite princess.

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Dessert

We didn't leave Epcot until around 9 which made it over a 12 hour day. It was exhausting.

Yesterday we were at DHS and AK for a bit. We used our Volunteer fastpasses which weren't really needed and we didn't even use all of the Donald ones.

We meet lots of characters and saw the Little Mermaid. We called at 10am and got an 11am reservation for 50s Prime Time which we all really liked, but we wished our waiter was into as much as one of the other waitresses. (We ended up not going to Whispering Canyon last night).

Aurora was not a fan of Tower of Terror, but loved Toy Story Mania.

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We left DHS around 230 and booked it to AK and caught the 3:15 Nemo Show and then DB and DSIL rode Everest while we dealt with a little Aurora melt down that was eventually fixed with a Mickey Ice Cream Bar.

DH and I ate at the Mara last night and then did some shopping at DTD. We have almost $500 in Disney rewards and gift cards we need to spend and we still haven't spend all that (including tips!).

We had to drive over to the Contemporary to get my monorail shirt in Spanish in my size so we watched Wishes from the balcony there which was cool. We've never seen it from anywhere other than MK or Narcoosssee's.

The offerings in the club level lounge have definitely been reduced and reduced to the point that we don't plan on staying club level anymore. I don't see spending the extra money just for IPO planning and breakfast. DH and I like the snacks and drinks. DH will miss his African Smoothie, but its just not worth it.

I have more pictures, but I have to go get ready for our last full day at Disney

Today's plan MK for rope drop. Then the family leaves around noon. DH and I are going to run over to DHS to catch Lights Motors Action and use our last volunteer fast pass. We also want to meet Lotso on his first day of meet and greets and then Narcoossee's at 8pm for the fireworks and maybe if we aren't exhausted Fantasmic at 10:30 (which probably won't happen!).

 

[RachelTori]

Rachael,

Sounds like y'all are having a great time! Thanks for taking us along on your vacation!

I'm sorry to hear about the offerings in the Club Lounge, but the last time we stayed (February), the CM's told us they were reducing the evening offerings and we could definitely tell the difference.

 

[sjs314]

I was exhausted just reading about all the running around from park to park you guys did. I am so glad we can do a more lesurely pace now that our kids are grown, I miss having lil ones but not all the added energy one needs. Sounds like you have another full day planned for today....you guys must be sleeping good once you get back to the resort.

 

[RachaelA]

Just met Lotso are DHS. Using our volunteer fast passes and then back to the hotel to resdt. This heat is killing us!!

 

[Bibbidi]

Just met Lotso are DHS. Using our volunteer fast passes and then back to the hotel to resdt. This heat is killing us!!

Have you seen any Toy Story 3 toys in the parks?
How was Lotso at the meet and greet? From what I've gathered he's the villain the TS3, so I was surprised he was the one they'd have out to meet guests.

 

[heaven2dc]

You sure got to do a lot in one day! I can't wait til my co-worker comes back to work tomorrow to tell us how his week was last week there. Is this high of heat unusual for this time of year? I helped this family book this time frame thinking it might be less crowded plus maybe in the upper 70's or low 80's.

 

[RachaelA]

Have you seen any Toy Story 3 toys in the parks?
How was Lotso at the meet and greet? From what I've gathered he's the villain the TS3, so I was surprised he was the one they'd have out to meet guests.

We've seen some Toy Story 3 merchandise, but nothing that is actually of the new characters. It seems to be just be the usual Toys (Woody, Buzz, Jessie, etc) in a box that says Toy Story 3.

Lotso is the villian of the movie, but he did not seem like a villian at all at the meet. He hugged and loved on everyone. We also saw him in Block Party Bash (I'm pretty sure he was the only villian in the parade). And he acted the same way as at the Meet and Greet.

 

[RachaelA]

You're sure got to do a lot in one day! I can't wait til my co-worker comes back to work tomorrow to tell us how his week was last week there. Is this high of heat unusual for this time of year? I helped this family book this time frame thinking it might be less crowded plus maybe in the upper 70's or low 80's.

All the CMs are telling us the heat is unusual. This is usually how it is in June. Its worse that what DH and I experienced on our honeymoon which was the first two weeks of June last year.

We leave tonight and the weather 10 day shows it getting cooler (mid 80s). Of course once we leave!

 

[RachaelA]

Sunday May 9th Mother's Day

We were at rope drop at Magic Kingdom with all 5 of us. The morning was spent doing all the rides that Rory wanted to do one last time.

We rode Big Thunder twice, Snow White, Peter Pan, Teacups, Pirates, Haunted Mansion.

I wanted to meet Ariel, but we had already seen her at Askerhaus so my DSIL decided we should pass. DH and I tried to meet Ariel and Eric (since it was their first day in Adventureland), but they were going on a 2 hour break.

We met Tiana and her Prince, Frontierland Donald and the Fairy Godmother.

The Fairygodmother thanked Uncle Max (DH) when his name is actually Matt which was the winning comment of the day.

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I got my cream cheese pretzel again!

DH and I booked it over to DHS by 1:20ish to meet Lotso. On his first day of meet and greets.

He was cute, but unfortunately not scented like strawberry!
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We met Mr. Incredible and Frozone (Frozo??) for the first time. Then we ate at Pizza Planet again. We used our 2nd set of Volunteer fastpasses and rode Toy Story Mania twice in a row and then Tower of Terror before heading out of DHS. We caught Block Party Bash too somewhere in there.

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We hung out at the Lodge before heading out to our Narcoossee's reservation. We had another wonderful meal there (it was one of our favorite meals from our honeymoon last year). I got the chicken and almond crusted cheesecake and DH got the Surf and Turf and Strawberry Cheesecake.

We watched wishes from the porch/balcony area. It was a nice and relaxing last night.

Today our goal is to finish packing and then head off to MK for one last morning We want to get in a few more rides (still haven't ridden Its a Small World) and meet some characters. I want to meet Ariel and Eric, Mary Poppins and Bert, and hopefully Goofy in his new outfit.

Alice and the Queen of Hearts were out yesterday by the Teacups so if they are out again I might just make DH wait in the insanely long line!.

Then lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern if we feel like it and then we hit the rode!

I'm sad to go home, but I'm ready to go home to our dog. She is the light of our lives and we miss her dearly!

 

[taymacsmom]

Your live TR has been awesome and so much fun to read! It has made it a little easier to wait til next year for our trip! Safe travels home! Thanks for the fun.