The Pirates and the Frog (7/17 Welcome to the Next Adventure!)

[portobello_rd]

your family photos turned out so great! love them! how does one go about booking this? it does seem like a good deal with the price and all!

 

[dawnbu40]

Your family photos all came out beautifully! What a wonderful souvenier!

 

[dtr_angel]

That photo session was priceless, those shots were amazing! My DH & I did a session at the GF on our honeymoon, but then the session was only $20-$25. Still $120 and owning all the pictures is a steal for family portraits, especially at Disney World!

 

[MeMom]

What a fun picture!
You got some great family shots..

 

[thecapells]

You got some really, really amazing family shots! I can't say any of them are my favorite because they are all just so super!!

Another thing that popped out at me was the Plaza menu design- I know, random. But that 's the look I'm going for in my house. I would love to get a copy of that- does anyone know who to call to ask ?? Guess services?? disney dining??

Those ice cream sundaes there looked HUGE!! I'll bet they were just as good as they looked!

Thanks for the kind words about the portrait session.
We really liked how they turned out as well.

I thought the Plaza menu was kind of cool, too.
I'd call the Plaza directly - maybe they can send you a menu.

As for the ice cream - it tasted as good as it looked!
Mmmmmm...

 

[HilJoy14]

Your photo session turned out great! I'm sure it was worth it to book the "extended" version. We did ours there a couple of years ago (when it was $25). We got a few good shots, but nowhere near the amount you did! I love the family ones, walking on the beach!

 

[thecapells]

your family photos turned out so great! love them! how does one go about booking this? it does seem like a good deal with the price and all!

Just call the Photopass Desk at the resort: 407-824-1700
They can answer all your questions and give you all the options.

Your family photos all came out beautifully! What a wonderful souvenier!

Thanks!
Made for great Holiday Cards!

That photo session was priceless, those shots were amazing! My DH & I did a session at the GF on our honeymoon, but then the session was only $20-$25. Still $120 and owning all the pictures is a steal for family portraits, especially at Disney World!

Yeah, it was a great deal.
I especially liked being able to add them to our Photopass CD which allowed the borders you see here.
I believe the total is $99.95 for that option plus $20 or so for the "extra add-on session."

What a fun picture!
You got some great family shots..

For some reason the kids really LOVED that speedboat.
It was such a random thing just sitting there by the marina and our photographer just said "jump in!"
And off the kids went!

 

[thecapells]

Your photo session turned out great! I'm sure it was worth it to book the "extended" version. We did ours there a couple of years ago (when it was $25). We got a few good shots, but nowhere near the amount you did! I love the family ones, walking on the beach!

The extended session wasn't too expensive and going from 1/2 hour to an hour really paid off.
We were able to take our time and just wander the resort looking for great spots.
And the photographer was open to suggestions as well - the "walking shot" was actually my wife's idea.
And we had both seen the hammock pics before so that was a must.
We're debating trying the session at a different resort in the future...

 

[thecapells]

After the photo shoot, we were starved!
So we checked in for our 6:25 ADR at ‘Ohana.
We were excited about this – we’ve been to ‘Ohana many times for breakfast but this was our first dinner.

While we waited I had to take a picture of this funny guy in the gift shop:

Then the host called our name without too much wait and showed us the specialties - I was very tempted to order the lapu lapu which I’ve heard so much about.
But it was hot and I was more thirsty and hungry than ready for alcohol.
Instead I had fun with the scenery.

I love the torches…

We were seated alongside the walkway near the corner of the restaurant.
Instead of alcohol, we asked the server for some of that divine concoction served at breakfast – Aloha Juice!
The tikis were with us this evening as the waiter returned with a huge pitcher just for us.
Aaaaaah, Polynesian Heaven.

Then the first course arrived.
Salad, pineapple-coconut bread, chicken wings, and pork fried dumplings.
I didn’t waste my appetite on the salad but the dumplings were really good – especially with the sauce.

Then the macaroni and cheese arrived for the kids – they were now in heaven as well.
X was a little moody though and Mom didn’t feel that great – I think they were a bit exhausted from a long day.
So I think I was the only one who appreciated the onslaught of meat on a stick that was to arrive next.
Cooked over an oak fire and seared to perfection, servers just kept arriving with more and more succulent beef, turkey, shrimp, and pork.

I’m a steak man in general but I think I loved the turkey the best.
During the meal, we were entertained by a CM with a ukulele.

He led a conga line at one point and then played limbo.
This kept the kids happy while the parents stuffed themselves.

But the highlight was the Coconut Races.
Kids were invited up and handed brooms.
Surprisingly before they thought to bash each other over the head with their newfound weapons, they were handed coconuts.
This was going to get ugly.
But, to my surprise, all the coconuts hit the floor and the race was on!
Kids were sweeping their coconuts in every direction trying to get them to the other side of the room.
It was pretty funny and everyone had a great time!

Then we returned to our seats for dessert.
DS and I had ice cream while Mom enjoyed the specialty: 'Ohana bread pudding served a la mode with Bananas and Caramel Sauce

X dove into a cupcake they brought him.

By now it was about 8:00 and suddenly the lights dimmed.
All of sudden familiar music filled the room.
They were piping through Wishes!
And sure enough, we turned our heads and had a clear view of the castle and the fireworks!
I was totally surprised!
I mean I knew they do this but I had lost track of the time and even forgotten to request a table by the window.
I thought if we had time, we’d head down the beach after dinner to watch them.
But here, at our table, with our dessert – this couldn’t be beat!

After Jiminy gave us his final thoughts, we finished up and got ready to head out.
Along the way, DD found this little guy and made me take a picture:

While DS posed with our favorite random object at the Poly –

And then our favorite Hidden Mickey:

We hopped the monorail back to the Magic Kingdom and grabbed a bus back to the Caribbean Beach Resort.
It was a long day and we were wiped.

We still had one more full day at the World and plenty more to do.
Join us for Day Five!

 

[boxmaster]

X dove into a cupcake they brought him.

He's adorable enough regularly, but this is the CUTEST picture I think I've seen of him in a while.

Hmmm...caption contest, anyone?

My initial entry: Mmm... tasty cupcake. Daddy? Wipe me.

 

[dawnbu40]

Glad you all enjoyed your visit to 'Ohana. It's one of my WDW favorites The pictures of X are adorable! He certainly knows how to appreciate a cupcake I also like the picture of the princess from the coconut race. She looks so focused

 

[thecapells]

He's adorable enough regularly, but this is the CUTEST picture I think I've seen of him in a while.

Hmmm...caption contest, anyone?

My initial entry: Mmm... tasty cupcake. Daddy? Wipe me.

Nice. These should be interesting.

Glad you all enjoyed your visit to 'Ohana. It's one of my WDW favorites The pictures of X are adorable! He certainly knows how to appreciate a cupcake I also like the picture of the princess from the coconut race. She looks so focused

The coconut races were really funny.
I was in the middle of it all trying to keep tabs on X and help him get the coconut going in the right direction.
It made for a nice vantage point for photos!

And, yes, 'Ohana for dinner is now one of our favorites as well!

 

[thecapells]

Hey guys - sorry I've been out of touch this week.
Working on finishing up the Photopass stuff from my Jan trip and uploading Day 5 into Photobucket.
I'm shooting for a segment tonight/tomorrow.
But I did get the Photopass CD back from January and it looks great!
I can't wait to start that TR!!

 

[dawnbu40]

Looking forward to the next update and of course to the next TR

 

[thecapells]

Looking forward to the next update and of course to the next TR

Ask and ye shall receive...

 

[thecapells]

We woke up early on Day Five and were at the bus stop by 7AM.
A quick Disney Bus later and we were entering Epcot at 7:30 for Extra Magic Hours.
It still baffles me the amount of people that don’t understand rope drop.
We headed through the turnstiles and people were fighting to get ahead and then running at top speed up the hill around Spaceship Earth.
Do they really not know that they’ll be stopped just before the Fountain of Nations until park opening?
Oh well.

7:50 and we began to get ready for the “walk” to our favorite attraction.
That is, until DS decided he had to use the restroom.
So we headed all the way back by Spaceship Earth and luckily made it back just before rope drop.
But you gotta love the timing of the little one’s bladders.

Opening Ceremony was basically non-existent and I was a bit disappointed.
Last time on my solo trip I was able to see the cute little appearance by Mickey and the gang and I thought the kids would get a kick out of that.
No Mickey today and it was basically just a “it’s 8:00, no running please.”

We followed the flight crew CM’s towards the Land, and down to Soarin’ where we flashed X to the CM’s and grabbed a Rider Swap Pass.

Mom took the kids first as X and I stayed behind.
X decided to run from Fastpass machine to Fastpass machine counting them.
Each machine is actually numbered 1 thru 7 so he ran to each one, pointed, and announced the number.
He counted forwards, backwards, and then ran around randomly to the delight of the CM posted on Fastpass duty.
Finally, Mom came out with the kids in tow and we u-turned so I can head on down the passageway.
I tried to get a glimpse of the big screens and this interactive game I’ve heard so much about.
I’ve never seen it as we ALWAYS use FastPass for Soarin’.
So we settled in for our flight over California and I was able to snap a couple of quick images.
First of DS settling in…

And then our favorite sign.
No Dancing Stupidly

As we arrived back safely, I found Mom, dropped off DD, grabbed DS and took off.
We were headed to the opposite side of the park for DS’ first ride on Mission: Space! (green team of course)
I had told him all about it from my solo trip which was my first time and he was pretty excited.
Nervous, but pretty excited!

Here’s some detail as you enter the queue.
Welcome to the X-2 Simulator…

You can see how nervous he was as we got closer to boarding…

And finally all strapped in…

DS was assigned the role of Commander

While I, of course, was the Engineer.
Even on vacation, I can’t seem to escape my calling…

The capsule leaned back and we took off and I proceeded to act like a kid.
I love to just flip all the switches and press all the buttons.
At one point, I got red lights to flash and some beeping that didn’t sound too good.
This freaked out DS even more.
He was afraid I was messing things up or making it worse.
Which of course made me do it even more.
Finally he loosened up a bit and started enjoying himself.
We had a blast and DS really liked his adventure to Mars.
He had a hop in his step on our exit to find the rest of the gang.
Of course, they were nowhere to be found.
Several phone calls later, I finally got through to Mom.
Apparently they were having adventures of their own…

 

[englishrose47]

You are waaay braver than me NO Mission Space is forseen for me EVER!!!!Sorin; however is a MUST do!!!

 

[thecapells]

You are waaay braver than me NO Mission Space is forseen for me EVER!!!!Sorin; however is a MUST do!!!

Honestly - the green team is nothing worse than the old Star Tours or Body Wars.
It's a basic simulator.
Now I wouldn't be caught dead on the Orange Team with the centrifuge.
Honestly, I probably could handle it but why take the change when I know soooo many people who ended up sick and ruining a day of vacation.

Cough Cough Ahem! - boxmaster - cough cough.

Sorry, something caught there for a moment.
Yeah, not sure who would be insane enough to try orange team with the possibility of getting so sick they would have to stay at the resort the entire next day...

[Author's Note: For the inside joke, tune in to our next trip report!]

 

[dawnbu40]

You two are very brave! I cannot do either of those rides due to motion sickness The expression on L's face just before the ride is priceless! I'm glad he ended up enjoying it!

 

[MEK]

Those are great pics to capture the emotion of your son's first ride on Mission Space. Seriously priceless. What a great moment.

I love that inside picture of MS. I am usually too nervous myself to even think about pictures, but I may have to try.

Wonderful update!