The Pursuit of Disney Magic (June 7-14, 2008) ~ UPDATED 9/30 pg. 191

[Jules3Kids]

Your trip sounds like so much fun so far! I can't wait to go back and try all of the restaurants and other stuff I missed out on. Your kids are so cute...I look forward to reading the rest!

 

[LISAMWDW]

Beautiful pics!

 

[julezdisney]

Welcome!!! Thanks so much for reading!!! The next installment is later today.

Yay!!

Hey now!
Us Montanans resemble that remark!
Just because Montana is... ummm.. well... Ok, yeah, really cold most of the time... gets a lot of snow... has horrid wildfires all summer... why do I live here again??

Montana has 4 distinct seasons. Almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction.

Now now! I lived in Gardiner for a summer working for Yellowstone and I can verify that a summer- though brief, does exist!

See, I suspected it was cold there!

I would love to visit Montana sometime -- I read The Horse Whisperer and The Loop years ago and have wanted to go to Big Sky country since then. However, I would so complain 10 months out of the year about being cold if I lived there, and who wants to listen to constant whining.

Plus, it is out of my self-imposed 500 mile radius from WDW.

Oh, that Big Sky is soooooo beautiful and amazing, you MUST get out there someday, esp. with the kids! I was 15 when I saw it the first time and I fell in love. Gotta go in August when it's nice and hot and the only snow is at the top of the mountains.Too much fun when you can throw snowballs while wearing shorts! Watch Legends of the Fall for more scenes of the beautiful Montana landscape- it was filmed out there!

 

[ampc3]

great updates Jackie! sounds like Chelsea acted the same way Joey did at the drawing class..

Connors' bday is the same as Emma's

 

[jordanyosh]

just trying to catch up..

The grounds of the FQ are amazing. It definitely makes me want to try it out.....

Couple of questions that you may have answered somewhere in your TR already

1. How was bus transportation? Average wait time?

2. How many bus stops are there?

3. How was the Food Court?

4. Is there a bar/lounge and if so, how late is it open?

 

[Charleston Princess]

I'm going to have to cast my vote for Teppan Edo, based on comments CP made regarding Marrakesh on my TR.

Smart girl!

My tr will have lots of Muppets scattered about

Your trip sounds like so much fun so far! I can't wait to go back and try all of the restaurants and other stuff I missed out on. Your kids are so cute...I look forward to reading the rest!

Thank you! There is always something to go back for -- I am already planning next year's!

Beautiful pics!

Thank you!

Yay!!

Now now! I lived in Gardiner for a summer working for Yellowstone and I can verify that a summer- though brief, does exist!

Oh, that Big Sky is soooooo beautiful and amazing, you MUST get out there someday, esp. with the kids! I was 15 when I saw it the first time and I fell in love. Gotta go in August when it's nice and hot and the only snow is at the top of the mountains.Too much fun when you can throw snowballs while wearing shorts! Watch Legends of the Fall for more scenes of the beautiful Montana landscape- it was filmed out there!

We actually own Legends of the Fall -- I never knew it was filmed in Montana! I guess I was fixating on Brad too much!

great updates Jackie! sounds like Chelsea acted the same way Joey did at the drawing class..

Connors' bday is the same as Emma's

It's a good day to have a birthday, isn't it?

just trying to catch up..

The grounds of the FQ are amazing. It definitely makes me want to try it out.....

Couple of questions that you may have answered somewhere in your TR already

1. How was bus transportation? Average wait time?

2. How many bus stops are there?

3. How was the Food Court?

4. Is there a bar/lounge and if so, how late is it open?

1. Ummm...never very long...I can't remember a time where we had to wait long at all. So, I would say ten-fifteen minutes, maybe?

2. POFQ just has one and sometimes they would pick up POR -- mainly for DHS. It's the first stop going and coming no matter what. Now for AK, DHS, and Epcot you share a bus stop at the parks with POR, but at MK, POFQ has its own. Also, there are only four bus stops at Riverside, so you had a total of five in the worse case scenerio.

3. Food court was good -- quick, efficient, normal food court choices -- I will say that I think Pop has more and better food choices.

4. They have a pool bar called Mardi Grogs and an inside bar/lounge called Scat Cats with live jazz music in the evenings. Very cool! Not sure how late they stay open though.

5. Also, you can use any of Riverside's amenities also since they are considered sister resorts -- pool, River Roost lounge, Boatwright's table service -- it's about a 10-minute walk from POFQ along the river -- very pretty!

 

[TarzansKat]

Are you updating tonight, hon? I need some fresh readin'.

 

[jordanyosh]

Thanks for the information Jackie.

I was thinking of staying at Pop for the whole trip in June, but now I'm thinking of doing a split stay and either POR or POFQ is at the top of my list....

Your info was very helpful

 

[Charleston Princess]

Are you updating tonight, hon? I need some fresh readin'.

I am as soon as I can lock my children in the dungeon so they don't bother me.

It's about time for me to go back to school.

Thanks for the information Jackie.

I was thinking of staying at Pop for the whole trip in June, but now I'm thinking of doing a split stay and either POR or POFQ is at the top of my list....

Your info was very helpful

Anything else you want to know, just ask -- I know tons about that resort since we have stayed there more than any other.

 

[TarzansKat]

I am as soon as I can lock my children in the dungeon so they don't bother me.

It's about time for me to go back to school.

 

[MRYPPNS]

just trying to catch up..

The grounds of the FQ are amazing. It definitely makes me want to try it out.....

Couple of questions that you may have answered somewhere in your TR already

1. How was bus transportation? Average wait time?

2. How many bus stops are there?

3. How was the Food Court?

4. Is there a bar/lounge and if so, how late is it open?

I'll butt in and share my FQ experience from Jan 2007, which is a slower time then when Jackie went:
1. Wait time was usually 15 minutes
2. We did all 4 stops at Riverside for every park.
3. Pop is better.
4. The bar looked lively everynigth we went by. Plus you can take the boat to DTD...no Pleasure Island but you can hit the restaurant bars. And there are benches on the backside that overlook the river which I think you would enjoy late at night.

 

[willwriteforears]

Smart girl!

Excellent! I think I'd like Teppan Edo, so I'm looking forward to hearing about it!

 

[Charleston Princess]

I'll butt in and share my FQ experience from Jan 2007, which is a slower time then when Jackie went:
1. Wait time was usually 15 minutes
2. We did all 4 stops at Riverside for every park.
3. Pop is better.
4. The bar looked lively everynigth we went by. Plus you can take the boat to DTD...no Pleasure Island but you can hit the restaurant bars. And there are benches on the backside that overlook the river which I think you would enjoy late at night.

I forgot about the boat to DTD!

Excellent! I think I'd like Teppan Edo, so I'm looking forward to hearing about it!

I just looked at my schedule (yes, I have it all written out) and Teppan Edo will be next Monday. You would really like it!

 

[MRYPPNS]

I just looked at my schedule (yes, I have it all written out) and Teppan Edo will be next Monday. You would really like it!

Ugh! Does this mean I might have to keep my ADR for Teppan Edo in November????

 

[MeMom]

I am a retired middle school teacher of math(29 years). A 1 1/2 years of sick leave really help at the end. I found every day an adventure in the classroom. I miss teaching somedays so I help out in the media center of my old school. May you continue to enjoy the adventures of a middle school teacher.

Now I enjoy going to Disney during the off season. For now I have a trip report to read an catch up on before you finish.

Doesn't that qualify one for sainthood????

It has to be so nice to travel during the off season. October, November, and December were much nicer temperature-wise than the summers. Maybe one day I will see retirement and get to do that. One day far, far in the future.

That POR/POFQ river walk is beautiful! So peaceful, too. There is hardly ever anyone there, even though you know you are in the midst of thousands of people on Disney property.

I hope it is okay if I post a couple of pictures of the walk, for those who have not been there. This is from Riverside to French Quarter.

If you don't want the pictures on your post, just tell me and I'll remove them - no problem. I was just thinking it might help some people visualize how they are connected if they have not had the privilege of walking it yet.

 

[Charleston Princess]

At 10:45 we left for Epcot and by 11:00 we were there (that included walking from our hotel room and waiting on the bus).

It was already pretty hot, so we stopped in Club Cool to break up the journey to World Showcase. It gave us a chance to sample all the soda that Coca-Cola makes around the world.

Connor was quick to warn Charles and Chelsea not to drink the Beverly. Aside: Last August we went to the World of Coca-Cola where being the kind of mom I am, I handed Connor a cup of Beverly to try. Cruel? Maybe. Hilarious? Without a doubt.

Charles was slightly suspicious after that and watched me try each flavor at Club Cool before he would try it.

Next stop: World Showcase! Now, let me preface this installment with saying that Charles has a deep dislike of World Showcase. I think it is because he has been dragged through all 11 countries in half a day and forced to look in every shop. I hoped to change his feelings about WS on this trip.

Morocco: My favorite country!!! I had plans for this little gem!

First stop: Canada. Connor and Chelsea saw that totem pole and decided to be their own totem pole.

Quick run through the shops -- nothing we had to have.

Second Stop: Jolly Ol' England. Charles said that we didn't have time for the English shops before lunch.

"Quick, get in the phone booth for a picture!"

I so want to eat here next year!!!

Pretty sure that Chelsea wouldn't be allowed to pose on a real monument in England.

Atmosphere shot.

Why is it that every photo I took that had the possibilty of being a Christmas card, the kids look like dorks???

Third Stop: France. Ah, la Tour Eiffel et ma famille!

La Tour Eiffel, mes enfants, et moi!

Mes enfants dans Paris!

Paris!

Okay, that's about the extent of my French these days. Remember how I said that the Emperor Zurg picture was my favorite of Connor. Well, I forgot about this one. We were in the French gift shop, Connor spied the berets, and voila! I suddenly had a French artist for a son! Look, how he even stood!!! I was cracking up because it was so unexpected, yet perfect.

Chelsea also channeled a French artist -- we won't ask what kind of French artist!

While we were in France, Charles spotted the soccer jerseys. He was all excited that he had found something that he really liked (except he doesn't root for any French teams, he roots for English teams). I happened to say, "You know they have English team soccer jerseys in the English shops." I watched the wheels in his head start to turn as we headed towards our lunch ressie in Morocco.

UP NEXT: In Which Our Intrepid Adventurers Get Lost in Morocco!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Ugh! Does this mean I might have to keep my ADR for Teppan Edo in November????

Yep.

Doesn't that qualify one for sainthood????

It has to be so nice to travel during the off season. October, November, and December were much nicer temperature-wise than the summers. Maybe one day I will see retirement and get to do that. One day far, far in the future.

That POR/POFQ river walk is beautiful! So peaceful, too. There is hardly ever anyone there, even though you know you are in the midst of thousands of people on Disney property.

I hope it is okay if I post a couple of pictures of the walk, for those who have not been there. This is from Riverside to French Quarter.

If you don't want the pictures on your post, just tell me and I'll remove them - no problem. I was just thinking it might help some people visualize how they are connected if they have not had the privilege of walking it yet.

But just think, we get to travel during the off-season one day -- it will be ours!

And if teaching for that long qualifies micandminforever for sainthood, that means we have the joy of canonization to look forward to along with our pensions!

MeMom, your gorgeous pictures are ALWAYS welcome on my TR! I just love them!!!

 

[MRYPPNS]

I like the empty streets! It so pays to be at rope drop...even for World Showcase.
I think Connor has a future in film or print ads! Such an actor!!

 

[MeMom]

Cute pictures of your little French artists! One of my favorite pictures ever of Drew is when he was at Epcot with a beret and blue smock painting a picture. He was about five, I think - a little Korean French artist grinning from ear to ear. It was precious!

I think all of the architecture in World Showcase lends itself to many good pictures, but there's something especially peaceful and quaint about the UK and Canada buildings, I think. It seems like it is quieter over there; at least the times that I've been there.

 

[scottny]

I love the pic of Morocco from across the water. GORGEOUS.

great update and pics.