The Tale of the Grow Walk .Hunh?

[JKSWonder]

Prettiest bathrooms in Magic Kingdom. Of course you have to stop there too.

I finally got a kid on Space Mountain this year. Michael, who is 8. He wanted to do it and he loved it! I finally got one. A non-chicken to ride the coasters with me!

Love the sword pictures...very nicely done.

 

[jenseib]

Prettiest bathrooms in Magic Kingdom. Of course you have to stop there too.

I finally got a kid on Space Mountain this year. Michael, who is 8. He wanted to do it and he loved it! I finally got one. A non-chicken to ride the coasters with me!

Love the sword pictures...very nicely done.

Yay! That is such and accomplishment. I am still not sure if Claire will like it because it is so jerky and rough.

 

[jenseib]

Now I really like Haunted Mansion, but Claire still is very leery of this ride. I usually have to beg and plead with her to ride it. Our last trip together we did not ride it at all and I told her she had to ride it this time and basically told her she couldn’t buy her Dumbo later if she didn’t. It’s not scary and I know she can handle it, but in her mind she thinks it is and is fine every single time afterwards…so she did finally agree to ride it with me.



And she was fine and even laughed in the new hitchhiking ghost area.



Next stop…..Pooh!























That was fun and one we always enjoy to ride.

We had a mission next….we needed popcorn and not just any old popcorn….one in a Dumbo bucket.
I had first seen this last summer when my friend Janet had posted her daughter having one. I thought it was the cutest thing ever. I showed it to Claire and she said she needed one too. So at first we were going to buy 2 of them, but the more I thought about it, I knew it would just be a passing fancy for Claire and once we got home, she wouldn’t even do anything with it, so it would then become mine….and it was a good plan too.
We headed off to buy our popcorn….but guess what…that stand closes early. UGH! I told Claire we would get one another day, but we were kind of bummed. We had purposely waited to buy it so we wouldn’t have to carry it around all day and evening.
We even doubled checked in the Big Top Store just to be sure that they didn’t sell any either and they told us no and that the Dumbo stand was the only one that sold it in the park, so we purchased Claire’s stuffed Dumbo and moved on.







He was getting a lot of love from her.







And we then moved on again.





And we again went down the dark path to Tomorrowland…..and then Claire spotted it.



That lady had lied…..Tomorrowland was selling Dumbo popcorn. Woohooooo!!!!

We got in the line, which was pretty long and made our purchase. Claire is a popcorn hog and I only got a few bites, but that was OK, I knew in a few weeks’ time Mr. Dumbo would be ALL MINE!

 

[dolphingirl47]

What a shame that Claire is nervous about Haunted Mansion. The two Dumbos are so cute. What a stroke of luck that you managed to find the popcorn bucket in Tomorrowland.

Corinna

 

[petals]

We really do love BOG. My sister is going at the end of this month and surprising her girls. She booked late, so she couldn't get an ADR there, but she just emailed me today and said she got a lunch FP for it so I am so happy for them!
The Dumbo plushie is so cute...and we had a little mishap with him that caused a lot of panic!

I need to eat there just because of doing the musical... (any excuse.) It's my 30th next year and trying to talk Momma into bringing me to WDW for it I don't think it's working though

Oh nos. Poor Dumbo. I love Dumbo. I have a really old plush of him that my sister got when she worked in DLP. I've seen pics of a Mrs Jumbo with Dumbo and want that now

 

[KatMark]

Great updates, Jen.

I really enjoyed BOG all three times we went there. Llove the soup and the steak; however, I was not a fan of the grey stuff, but give me that chocolate cupcake and I am in heaven.

Great pictures as you hit lots of attractions. I got Mark that Dumbo popcorn bucket during our 2013 girls trip. It proudly sits on his dresser in his room.

I've subscribed to your new TR and will get there as soon as I can.

 

[jenseib]

What a shame that Claire is nervous about Haunted Mansion. The two Dumbos are so cute. What a stroke of luck that you managed to find the popcorn bucket in Tomorrowland.

Corinna

We love the popcorn bucket...and I am going to be redoing/organizing my office in the next few weeks and he will find a place on a shelf in there. Right now he is actually on a shelf in my dining room. Claire has never once asked to put him in her room.

I need to eat there just because of doing the musical... (any excuse.) It's my 30th next year and trying to talk Momma into bringing me to WDW for it I don't think it's working though

Oh nos. Poor Dumbo. I love Dumbo. I have a really old plush of him that my sister got when she worked in DLP. I've seen pics of a Mrs Jumbo with Dumbo and want that now

Sure that is as good of an excuse as any!
I have not seen the Mrs. Jumbo one...that sounds so cute.

Great updates, Jen.

I really enjoyed BOG all three times we went there. Llove the soup and the steak; however, I was not a fan of the grey stuff, but give me that chocolate cupcake and I am in heaven.

Great pictures as you hit lots of attractions. I got Mark that Dumbo popcorn bucket during our 2013 girls trip. It proudly sits on his dresser in his room.

I've subscribed to your new TR and will get there as soon as I can.

My favorite is the strawberry cupcake.
I just love the Dumbo popcorn bucket so much....sooo cute!

 

[jenseib]

Today was an Extra Magical Hours evening, but we were no longer onsite guests. I had heard that at this point in time if you had a band on they pretty much let you stay since off site people didn’t have an option to get bands back then. I heard some rides would scan the band, but for the most part they didn’t. I had debated on trying it….BUT I was tired, Claire was tired, and it was still fairly busy and I just didn’t want to hassle with even trying it out, so we decided it was time to work our way out of the park.







You can see the mass of crowds exiting in this next picture.





We did stop for a photopass shot.













One thing I had noticed all night was that the castle was not changing colors like it normally does at night. I am not sure if that was because the moats are drained or with the work on the actual castle being done while we were there, but as we reached the front I noticed it changed….and the kiss goodnight was being done. I didn’t realize that they did this on nights when they had EMH’s.



We watched a little bit of that and then headed out for the monorail, which was crazy, but luckily the resort monorail wasn’t too bad…and our car was still at the Poly from our breakfast earlier that day.



We made it back to the Poly and headed towards our POC car.





We programmed Siri once again to get us back to the Marriott and took off. I don’t like driving in the dark in unfamiliar places and until we got away from the area I was a little tense. So much traffic and crazy drivers makes it hard for someone who doesn’t know the area very well.
We did make it back in one piece though and I think Claire dozed off while I drove us. We had more issues finding a parking spot tonight and had to park in a lot further away from our building, but it wasn’t too bad and then we headed back to the room and got right to bed. Once again I watched the coverage of the missing plane and still nothing was found…of course each day there was new theories, but nothing ever panned out. I set the timer on the TV and dozed off to dreamland.

 

[KatMark]

Hmmm....I had not heard that about the bands and EMH before off-site guests got the bands. You were probably better off not trying it.

Your pictures exiting the park are beautiful. I love when the castle changes colors. I have yet to see the kiss goodnight.

 

[LuvEeyore]

Great updates Jen!!

 

[mom2rtk]

Getting caught up again.......

You really hit the ball out of the park with your parade shots! Just outstanding! I really can't wait to see this one in person and take some of my own.

Too funny that Claire had to warn you not to make her go play on the stuff at Dumbo. I haven't even been inside there before. We have only done it with FP. But now that we are limited to 3, that's not happening again.

Not surprising Claire wanted to man the controls on Dumbo. Katie actually insists on her own car. I like that because I can get in front of her and get photos of her from above. What a bummer there are so many trees in the way now! Don't they know our camera sight lines are more important than their landscaping?

I'm so bummed on your behalf that Claire didn't get a photo with Belle! Did you ask about a photo even though she didn't participate? Most reports are that if you just get up and join the line you can get a photo without being in the show. I did this when we were there June 2013. I don't think it always works, but most of the time it does.

Love the photo of Claire with the castle in the background. Her shirt matches the castle turrets!

That Mine Train track really just seemed to be taunting you!

Love the gargoyle shots! Of course, my own daughter loves interacting with them too. Claire looks awesome as Merida!

Love the shot of Claire about to stick her finger into her fancy drink!

Great shots of the Beast walking through the Ballroom.

I love the night time sword shots! I'm going to try that myself. Love the blurry castle in the background!

 

[jenseib]

Hmmm....I had not heard that about the bands and EMH before off-site guests got the bands. You were probably better off not trying it.

Your pictures exiting the park are beautiful. I love when the castle changes colors. I have yet to see the kiss goodnight.

I talked to a few people later in the trip who had bands from someone else and did do the late hours, but they said a few places did ask to scan. But this family was also kind of strange....as they "bought" a band or 2 from someone else and were sharing it for it's perks.

I love the castle changing colors too!

Great updates Jen!!

Thanks

Getting caught up again.......

You really hit the ball out of the park with your parade shots! Just outstanding! I really can't wait to see this one in person and take some of my own.

You know how I love this parade....and it was like watching it with you...even though you weren't there.

Too funny that Claire had to warn you not to make her go play on the stuff at Dumbo. I haven't even been inside there before. We have only done it with FP. But now that we are limited to 3, that's not happening again.

Claire is now getting too "cool" for some things. I might have to replace her with Gracie in a few years!

Not surprising Claire wanted to man the controls on Dumbo. Katie actually insists on her own car. I like that because I can get in front of her and get photos of her from above. What a bummer there are so many trees in the way now! Don't they know our camera sight lines are more important than their landscaping?

I should've asked for our own seperate cars...but it was so busy I felt bad about doing so, so I didn't. Plus with her controlling I could try and take pictures.

I'm so bummed on your behalf that Claire didn't get a photo with Belle! Did you ask about a photo even though she didn't participate? Most reports are that if you just get up and join the line you can get a photo without being in the show. I did this when we were there June 2013. I don't think it always works, but most of the time it does.

I didn't ask, but it was so busy that day that I have a feeling they would've said no. It was definitely a more rushed version than the time before when we did it.

Love the photo of Claire with the castle in the background. Her shirt matches the castle turrets!

I like those too.

That Mine Train track really just seemed to be taunting you!

Love the gargoyle shots! Of course, my own daughter loves interacting with them too. Claire looks awesome as Merida!

Of course I got the idea from you! And that is an awesome dress!

Love the shot of Claire about to stick her finger into her fancy drink!



Great shots of the Beast walking through the Ballroom.

thanks

I love the night time sword shots! I'm going to try that myself. Love the blurry castle in the background!

I do love those shots. I need to try and take more of those kinds in the future....I need to write a reminder note.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I probably wouldn't have tried using the bands either and would have called it a night. After all, it had been a long day. I always love seeing the castle all lit up at night and watching the colors change. We have seen the kiss goodight show on one of the nights that we shut the park down.

I am with you on the driving in unfamiliar places. First off, I don't like heavy traffic. Second, if I don't know where I am or where I'm going, then everybody needs to just shut up and let me drive.

 

[Beth D]

Great updates! But what a long day at the park! I love Claire in the Merida dress, and her faces at the gargoyles!

She reminds me of DS - he too still loves all his stuffed friends - they are all currently in little hammocks he made in his bunk bed draping the blankets between the stats. He also loves his popcorn! He can polish off a big one at the theater all by himself, gotta make him share!

 

[jenseib]

I probably wouldn't have tried using the bands either and would have called it a night. After all, it had been a long day. I always love seeing the castle all lit up at night and watching the colors change. We have seen the kiss goodight show on one of the nights that we shut the park down.

I am with you on the driving in unfamiliar places. First off, I don't like heavy traffic. Second, if I don't know where I am or where I'm going, then everybody needs to just shut up and let me drive.

I have seen it once before as well and we stopped about the same spot to watch it.
I agree. Everyone just get off the road and let me drive!

Great updates! But what a long day at the park! I love Claire in the Merida dress, and her faces at the gargoyles!

She reminds me of DS - he too still loves all his stuffed friends - they are all currently in little hammocks he made in his bunk bed draping the blankets between the stats. He also loves his popcorn! He can polish off a big one at the theater all by himself, gotta make him share!

That's how Claire is with popcorn. We get the larger and our theatre has free refills and we refill it at least once every single time.

 

[MEK]

I made this next one into a canvas print.

These turned out really great Jen! Love them! Never thought of doing this. Thanks for the idea!

I love the picture of you and Claire on Buzz. It's really cute.

I know I'm behind again and hope to get caught up tonight!

 

[jenseib]

These turned out really great Jen! Love them! Never thought of doing this. Thanks for the idea!

I love the picture of you and Claire on Buzz. It's really cute.

I know I'm behind again and hope to get caught up tonight!

I can't take credit...I had seen someone elses pictures and that gave me the idea to do it. Now I need to try this on other things.

 

[jenseib]

Day 4, March 24, 2014, Monday

We had another full day ahead of us again. And me being me, I was up early and got myself ready. I also utilized our washer and dryer and got a few things washed.
My foot was already developing a hot spot between my toes and the ball of my foot so I applied some mole skin. Sadly this was too late and I ended up with a huge blister that felt like I was walking on a golf ball the rest of the week. The mole skin did help though.

Of course, since I was up early, I took a little walk and took some pictures around the resort.

























Squirrel!

 

[jenseib]

I never did make it over to the other side of the lake.































I got Claire up and ready as well…we had a new experience this morning. Once we were ready, we headed out. I think my parents were going to head to Hollywood Studios today, but I had a different destination.
First a picture before we left.



Our destination…..the Grand Floridian.



It took me a bit to find the self-parking area as it had moved from the last time we used it. I am not sure if this is a permanent spot or not, but it is now over by the DVC villas.









This is the walkway over to the GF from the Villas.

 

[KatMark]

Jen, great pictures around the resort you stayed at. Did you notice, it looks a bit similar to the Coronado?

Claire looks beautiful in her dress.