The Tenth Honeymoon is the Best One of Them All! - May '14 TR - COMPLETED 4/19

[IheartDDuck]

I rarely sleep well on vacation too. But Disney does something to me sometimes. I just doze right off and get a great nights sleep. Bizarre.

I love the fact that the tea and the coffee doesn't use the RFID refill system. Since I don't drink soda, works perfect for me.

Totally keep meaning to watch the Goldbergs!

Aw, man! No talking Mickey!? He's totally supposed to. He talked to us in January. What a bummer. Demand a refund!

 

[nilla]

enjoying this trip so far. sorry your son fell, but thanks for the heads up. I have 5 children that i can see doing that and i am sure that one if not more would have been hurt.

looking forward to reading more.

He ALMOST cleared it! Glad you're enjoying the TR!

I'm sorry there was no talking Mickey, he is awesome! When my oldest met him she was in awe and for the rest of the vacation all she wanted to do was spend time with him.

He looks awesome! We watched videos of him before the trip.

Sorry about the talking Micky not being there. And that you waited around for the opening show that you thought was happening that didn't.

And about Dylan falling on the pole? Sounds exactly like something my husband would do. Yes, you heard me, my husband. Not my kids.

Glad your Magic Bands worked to get into the park. Now to see if they work for FP+...

It was a tough start! It gets better, though

Magic Band test in the next update!

Great report so far. My son used to do stuff like that all the time, but he usually managed to have the accident right BEFORE we left. Then we had to make the decision to actually go on vacation- which we always did! We have traveled with a cast, crutches, various splints, etc. He's all grown up now, and still prone to accidents, but is surviving on his own quite nicely. Although he did show me where he cut himself on a pipe (don't ask) while mowing the other day...and hasn't had a tetanus shot since 7th grade...but does he listen to his mother? Of course not!

Can't wait to read more. Nice pictures, too!

I have an accident-prone wife! That was last year, but I'll tell that story in this one at some point

Your report is awesome as usual.

The rally bar is a candy bar from Caddyshack. It's floating in the pool and they evacuate the pool because they think it's something else.

Your pics of CSR make me homesick. I hope I don't regret booking us at WL this time around. Sorry about Pepper Market. A couple times we picked up lunch from the QS and took it back to our room to eat. It was very good. As always, lots of food.

I was in Bethlehem last year for work. Ate at the brewery one night and the fondue place another time. What a great city. We are from Pa too...north of Williamsport in the PA Wilds.

Can't wait for your next installment.

Oddly enough, I've NEVER seen Caddyshack. Not even once. Bits and pieces, but not even much of that. And it's amazing, since I've seen Easy Money, The Jerk, every Mel Brooks movie, Animal House, etc..just no Caddyshack. I have to at some point. No excuse!

WL is great as well! The boat to MK is a huge plus. A lot of other plusses, too. We'll be there in a few (trip report) nights!

We love Melting Pot, and you'll see four shirts from the Brew Works in this report if you stick around

We had the same thoughts on Pepper Market. Just kind of meh. It did the job satisfying hunger, but not the greatest food around. We are so, so glad that we listened to you guys and tried out Maya Grill this year. We loved it! Not sure if we'll be there next year, as Dan is wanting to go back to Vegas (we were supposed to go there this year to celebrate our 5 year anniversary, but I talked him into Disney again). But, if we do end up in Disney, I'll be talking to Kristin for sure about when y'all are going back.

We, too, will always stay at CSR unless we can afford a deluxe one of these days (we almost booked Old Key West this year, but - again - I talked Dan into going back to CSR).

Looking forward to reading more

Dan can always play Slot-o-Mania from a hammock in the Cabanas!

Great to here you liked Maya Grill! I was baffled by Pepper Market...it was almost like it was in transition to something else. It just didn't seem right.

Ok, now for the updates. Back to the Magic Kingdom!

 

[nilla]

Next stop, Frontierland! Crowds are a bit light right now on Main Street.



And look - no skrim!



But there are walls around the Hub.



Always something at this park, isn't there? We're going to Frontierland by way on Adventureland.



Adventureland is my favorite land of the Magic Kingdom, even though it doesn't have my favorite attraction, restaurant, or...well....anything. I just like the feel of it. And the appearance.

Flashback to a funny moment from last year's trip non-report:

AL now has some Capt. Jack Sparrow adventure/game. The CM running it was standing outside his little booth, near the end of AL. A group walked past.

CM: "Arrgh, would anyone like to go on an adventure with Captain Jack Sparrow?"

(crickets as the group passes)

CM: "I'll take that as a no!"

Fast-forward to 2014, and we're in too much of a hurry to get any more pictures in here. Besides, here is no longer here - or no longer there, because here is Frontierland!

 

[nilla]

And look, it's a FastPass+ kiosk! The first we've seen. Or at least noticed.



It's a row of ATM-like screens manned by CMs with teal shirts. We still have all of our pre-booked FP+s: 9:10 Splash Mountain, 10:20 Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, 1:20 Space Mountain. So we don't need this kiosk yet. On to Splash Mountain!



And our first FP+ scan of...well, ever!



It worked flawlessly! Plus, there are scanners on both sides of the queue, so it doesn't take long at all. Except for when people forget you can use both, but even then, it's not that bad. We get through the queue quickly.



We wait for the front, which only ever takes one extra log to get. Dylan and Emily are in the front, since the water will then hit Kristin and me right in the face as well. And that's really the point, isn't it?



This is the ride that made me fall in love with Disney World. So much to it, beyond the getting wet part. I expected none of it the first time I rode it, and was blown away.







Gridlock!



They turned off the falls in the second-to-last picture at this point, since we were right next to it. I didn't mind when it was on, though.

On a final note about SM, my favorite part of the ride is the first, small hill. After you reach the bottom, the water displaced by your boat rolls over the walkway and banks off the wall, back into the river. I call it, "Water goes up. water goes down". Not sure what it is about this part, but I love it!

So, did we get wet?



Yes, we got wet. Emily got the worst of it!

 

[nilla]

We still have time before our BTMRR FPs, so we decide to take the train once around. On the way, we pass a relic of days passed.



The station is right next to SM. It has a sign! Helpful!



And we're onboard.



"There's a snake in my boot!"



We'll be going on this soon:



Dated-looking things that you only see on the train:



And who's coming down the track, with a smokey stack?



Kristin LOVES the train, because Walt LOVED the train. Well, not this specific train. But he LOVED trains.

But you knew that.

Shortly after passing the ToonTow- um, Storybook Circus station, Kristin starts talking to the woman two rows behind (there's no one between them). She has a castmember son or something and is on the train with her grandson. Kristin will talk to ANYONE, especially at WDW. They're still talking as we pull into the Main Street station.

An older couple sits down in the row directly behind us. Kristin and her new friend are still talking (there is now someone between them). Soon enough, the couple slides down, so they're not directly in the crossfire. I hear the wife say, "they'll probably talk the whole ride, too." Correct! You know my wife very well!

So we ride, and they talk, and we're back in Frontierland. Time to ride the rails! Um - the other rails! The ones on that mountain. That big mountain. That big mountain with the thu- oh, you get it.

 

[nilla]

Emily's only slightly more dry now as we board our second train of the day.



BTMRR is a ride that I've learned to love more and more every time we ride it. Plus, it's my favorite ride for photos. Kristin's got the camera to start, though, so the shots are more than just the scenery. What is she thinking?



Dylan purposely tries to look bored. But he loves it. Any coaster. The people in the rest of the train make that shot, in my opinion.



See! He loves it.



Hey, there's some scenery! And everyone seems to love this ride!



Now, I don't know what that boy is doing.



We gave him crap later in the trip because he wouldn't give Kristin a kiss at Raglan Road. He said he's be "embarassed", but he did dumb stuff like this for a good portion of the trip and wasn't the least bit ashamed.

After the ride, a PhotoPass CM is more than happy to get a sun-in-the-eyes shot of us.





Ok, we sort of had our eyes open on the last one.

 

[nilla]

With two mountains down and the next on deck at 1:20, it seems like a great time to eat. Is it 11:00 yet?

It is! Lunch is at Columbia Harbor House, which is probably our favorite quick service meal at Magic Kingdom. We sit upstairs, as usual, in the now-reopened area over the walkway.

Kristin and I got fried shrimp, which were really good! Especially for quick service.



Dylan got the fish sticks. Also good!



Emily got mac and cheese.



For dessert, I got the blueberry cobbler, which gets swiped from me after Kristin tries it. With my consent, of course



For dessert, I got the Mickey chocolate brownie thing.



I manage to keep this one. Dylan had this one as well. All the desserts were great!

It's 11:30, we're done eating, and there's still no one in this place. That means light crowds outside as well!



I type some notes into Kristin's iPod so I will remember what we did when I'm writing my upcoming trip report. Fast forward to the present - it's working!

Rewind back, to where we pack up and head out, but not until we get a few more photos inside.



That was an official map commissioned and used by Admiral Columbiaharborhouse himself (pronounced, Co-lum-bee-uh-har-bore-hoos). Here are coins he stole from pirates, whose spirits he ultimately angered, placing a curse on the lobster rolls and rendering them "not as good as in Maine".



And here's the Haunted Mansion. With a 15 minute standby line.



Favorite ride? Check.

Short wait? Check.

Time to tell you about it in this update? Uncheck.

But hopefully tomorrow! Stay tuned!


[POST=51562317](next update)[/POST]

 

[WishnDisney]

Yum. Columbia Harbor House is on my bucket list.

I, too, have a 12-year old son. They are embarrassed by their family, but not their own actions.

What a great start to your MK time. Even with the wet Child.

Love the lady on the train complaining about the conversation. Good grief...you are on public transportation...not sitting in Philharmagic.

I will definitely be on the lookout for your Brew shirts.

 

[shan23877]

I'm so glad I found this! I've missed your TRs! Great start so far, but when did Dylan grow up?

 

[laura74]

Nilla, great report so far. I love your photos. They're very vibrant!

We loved CSR the couple times we stayed there. You had a great location. We stayed in the cabana nearest the main building the first time but got stuck with ranchos the second which was kind of drag.

Looking forward to more...

 

[Clarf]

OMG, you've never seen Caddyshack? With all the movies I've seen you quote I can't believe you've never seen that one. Watch it. You'll love it. I think I might have to watch it now.


LOVE the pics Kristin took on BTMRR. THey turned out amazing! Dylan is a goof ball, isn't he? I dread the pre-teen and teen years and the no hugs and kisses stage.

Columbia Harbour House is on our list for sure this year. Your reports have really made me want to try it!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

bummer about it not being talking Mickey and, like you said, the worst part is that you are kind of upset about meeting Mickey Mouse

I agree with you about Adventureland - plus it is my favorite transition when you cross the bridge - just the whole setting changes with the jungle plants and you hear the African drums playing, etc.

Also agree about Splash Mountain and how it makes you love Disney. I think it is because it so epitomizes how they do everything better. Like, it's just a log flume but then it is so much more than just a log fume!

 

[mirage0306]

Omg! You're back! I'm so excited! Going to read now...

 

[nilla]

Yum. Columbia Harbor House is on my bucket list.

I, too, have a 12-year old son. They are embarrassed by their family, but not their own actions.

What a great start to your MK time. Even with the wet Child.

Love the lady on the train complaining about the conversation. Good grief...you are on public transportation...not sitting in Philharmagic.

I will definitely be on the lookout for your Brew shirts.

They're coming! I think the first one is on Day 3.

Not sure why you'd pick a row between two people who are clearly having a conversation. What did they expect?

12 years old is a bizarre time. He tells me about the "cool" kids in school, and it takes all I've got to not scream, "no kids in 7th grade are cool!"

I'm so glad I found this! I've missed your TRs! Great start so far, but when did Dylan grow up?

Sorry about not doing one last year. I tried to pick it back up, but it didn't happen. That why I absolutely have to keep up with this one!

Nilla, great report so far. I love your photos. They're very vibrant!

We loved CSR the couple times we stayed there. You had a great location. We stayed in the cabana nearest the main building the first time but got stuck with ranchos the second which was kind of drag.

Looking forward to more...

I keep thinking about upgrading to a DSLR, but don't want to carry it. Thanks for the compliment! We do what we can with what we have, and our handheld camera does a nice job outside, during the day, which is where must of the photo-worthy stuff is.

We always get a water-view room at CSR, which costs a little more, but you don't get Ranchos that way. Plus, you get a water view

Thanks for reading! More is on the way!

OMG, you've never seen Caddyshack? With all the movies I've seen you quote I can't believe you've never seen that one. Watch it. You'll love it. I think I might have to watch it now.


LOVE the pics Kristin took on BTMRR. THey turned out amazing! Dylan is a goof ball, isn't he? I dread the pre-teen and teen years and the no hugs and kisses stage.

Columbia Harbour House is on our list for sure this year. Your reports have really made me want to try it!

I have never seen Caddyshack, and it's not on Netflix I'll find it.

If it weren't for the 8-year-old who provides and abundance of hugs and kisses, the 12-year-old would be much harder to take! Yep, they're growing up.

I was not that impressed with the Lobster Roll at CHH (got it last year), but everything else is really good. It's also fun to sit upstairs and watch everyone walk under the restaurant.

bummer about it not being talking Mickey and, like you said, the worst part is that you are kind of upset about meeting Mickey Mouse

I agree with you about Adventureland - plus it is my favorite transition when you cross the bridge - just the whole setting changes with the jungle plants and you hear the African drums playing, etc.

Also agree about Splash Mountain and how it makes you love Disney. I think it is because it so epitomizes how they do everything better. Like, it's just a log flume but then it is so much more than just a log fume!

I seriously thought SM was up the hill, down the hill when I first rode it. Imagine my surprise!

My experiences with Mickey get better though. How can I stay mad at the guy?

Omg! You're back! I'm so excited! Going to read now...

Catch up, because there's more coming right now!

Thanks, everyone, for following along!

 

[nilla]

Haunted Mansion! Best ride ever! Yay!



I like the things they added to the queue, but to be honest, I really don't know the story at all. Something about a bride killing her husbands, and a sea captain fits in somewhere. And all of this stuff:



Love the organ!





I read that "Master" Gracey's title was not supposed to imply that he was the master of the house, but a young male. Interesting!



Back to the captain, taking a break from his other role as the Spirit of Adventure over in World Showcase.



Madame Leota! Wait, gotta catch her with her eyes open!



And this thing:



We get through the queue and into the mansion. We're riding with a lot of first-timers, and how do we know they are first-timers? Because they don't stand near the door in the Stretching Room!

Kristin is riding with Dylan this time, and I'm with Emily. In we go, and everything is in it's usual most awesomest greatest thing ever in the history of the universe (and any parallel universes) form, as usual.

I think my favorite part of this ride is the window and outside of the mansion as you "fall" into the graveyard scene. It's rather inconspicuous compared to the rest of the ride, but for some reason, it moves me. Like "water goes up, water goes down", I guess.

We exit, I get more photos.



Ok, now I need to get my tattoo-and-attraction shot:

 

[nilla]

I could fly back to Pennsylvania right now and be satisfied, but I could be a lot more satisfied if we stay in this park and continue our vacation. And continue it we do. To Tomorrowland. But there's a lot to see on the way.



That skywriter guy is at it again, this time behind the castle. I wonder what he spends in fuel?



Hey, look! There's a party! A castle party! If what the dancers say is true, we're all invited, so we should come and join the fun!



Mickey!



I'd say about 95% of the time I say his name, I say it like Randy from "A Christmas Story", when he spots the Mouse in the Christmas parade.

And here's Minnie, in statue form.



Kristin and I are big fans of those statues, but not big fans of this:



Oh well, they have to work sometime. Can't get better on it's own! They're expanding the hub to some degree, and here are the short-term effects:



Yuck! Ok, enough of that...Tomorrowland!

 

[nilla]

What did you say? I said,





Kristin was VERY upset to learn that the WEDWa- um, Tomorrowland People Mover was going to be down for refurb our entire trip. But as we found out on the Train, that's pure nonsense! Kristin is no longer upset, and she's not the only one happy!





More shots FROM the People Mover:









And here's that girl, with shades:



And with a Jessie hat.



If you can't tell, that wasn't taken from the People Mover. It was taken at the bottom of the escalator to the TPM, at the very same kiosk where she got this guy:



Well, his brother, a few years back. This particular Duffy will go to a different home.

We usually ride the People Mover more than once, and this time was no exception. Two times around for us. LOVE that you can do that!

 

[nilla]

After those last photos, a little misting is in order.



We have some time before our Space Mountain Fast Passes come up, so we mill about Tomorrowland for a bit.



There's apparently no water in the base right now, because the ball doesn't move. Conservation!

Kristin missed this in Merchant of Venus:



But I caught this from Star Traders:



Ride it again, people!

We rode Space Mountain, but didn't get any photos of it, outside or inside. Oh well, this Trip Report is long enough anyway.

But speaking of Space Mountain, the ride IS quickly becoming a favorite for all of us. Unfortunately, the shirt I wanted with the astronauts riding Space Mountain IS NOT in the gift shop anymore. I missed it last year by waiting too long, and now, they have a more colorful version I'm not too crazy about. Looks like I need to find a different shirt!

Now that we've used up all three of our FastPasses (it's 1:45), let's see how this "get another" thing works out. We locate the FP+ kiosk outside Buzz and review our options. Our ADRs at 'Ohana make it tough, but we can get Jungle Cruise for 2:40, which is less than an hour from now. Nice!

 

[nilla]

Over to Adventureland, where I hope we don't end up like these guys:



When we reach AL, I'm under the assumption that we're just going to decide on the fly what to do in the meantime, but it looks like Kristin had a plan all along.



No one is complaining!



Dole Whips are the best! Afterwards, it's over to the Jungle Cruise, which means very little story and very many pictures.























I like this ride MUCH better at night. Still great during the day (and it's the first Disney attraction we ever did as a family), but the drivers seem much nuttier at night.

With those FPs used up now, let's see if we can get another! There's an FP+ kiosk right in front of the JC, so we get hooked up with 3:20 FPs for Buzz Lightyear. I LOVE FastPass+!

 

[nilla]

It's just about time for the 3:00 parade, so we walk down Main Street USA (side, not middle) and set up in front of the Emporium. I'm a little bit away from Kristin and the kids, but that's so I can get a clear view for photos. The party's coming down toward Main Street from behind the castle, which is odd. Is that odd? Not sure. I'm use to it going the other way...I think.

But then again, we've never seen this particular parade, so it's irrelevant. The first floats approach:



Hey, look - Cinderella's dress!



Wait - who's behind it?



Cinderella and the Prince, No way!



As rock-solid proof that this parade was designed before last fall, Anna and Elsa are sharing a float with Cinderella. I'd imagine they would have about seven floats were it designed later in the year.





Each float has the B-level characters and themed dancers preceding it, and Tangled has that big mime guy!



The float for Tangled is AWESOME!







Now, it's some aquatic-themed princess. Who will it be?



There she is!





And more dancers...



And some Lost Boys, but not the blood-sucking Brady Bunch kind...



Wow, the float for Pan is AWESOME!







Hey, it's Tick Tock!



Really cool! This whole parade is amazing. They went all out for this. Brave is up next.



And there's Merida.





Hey, check out the bear! A lot of people (i.e., Kristin and the kids) didn't see him.