There's a Crack in the Sidewalk! Take a Picture! UPDATE 8/13

Yum, Yum kitchen sink!! :goodvibes I hate it that you are having such bad luck with dinner. I hope that isn't a sign to come, but you now know where not to go in August.

This is the end of our bad dinners... thank goodness! Stunk that it happened 2 days in a row though.

That Kitchen sink looks so yummy! I think we are going to try this one night in August or September! :thumbsup2

It is definitely fun with a group! Keep in mind that with 6 or 7 people, you're only getting about a scoop of ice cream, makes it much more size manageable!


Just subscribed to your report. This is my first time subscribing. New to the boards. I am so excited to hear how the rest of the trip went. :)

Welcome to the boards and to the TR! Glad to have you here!
 
April 24. Friday. What's so special about Friday, April 24? Nonna arrives tonight! :dance3:

DD and DS were really missing Nonna. And she was missing them bunches, too. Pop Pop spoke to her when he got up in the morning. Her friend and coworker, Carine, was picking her up at our house and driving her to work with her suitcase. They would be working until 4pm and then Carine would drive her to the airport.

Pop Pop said that from the sound of her voice she was already in vacation mode and add to that the students were prepping for finals, it was pretty quiet on the university grounds. (Nonna works at Monmouth University - where Annie was filmed).

Back at OKW, I was corralling 2 very excited and hyper children to get dressed, brush their teeth, etc. Everyday they would wake up and ask, "Nonna come today?" And boy were they ecstatic to get a, "Yes!"

Today we had lunch ADR's at Sci-Fi. We had done this last year, and it's fun - good burgers, DBIL likes the milkshakes, and the film clips are entertaining. At the bus stop, DS decides to pick some flowers. He likes to pick flowers, which is fine, but I'm trying to teach him that he can't always pick the flowers everywhere.

Not wanting a picked flower to go to waste, I placed it in DD's hair!

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A quick bus ride which consisted of nothing more than musical seats by DS, to get closer to the group of cheerleaders on the bus ... such a flirt!

We headed up to security and DBIL is able to walk through the 'no bags' entrance. Pop Pop takes the stroller through, DSis is next and I get on line with this crabby lady who takes everything out of my purse, opens everything including my wallet and asks me to turn on camera? I give myself a quick scolding for going to the female security guard as I have learned time and time again that they are the worst. The male security guards overall are super friendly, will have a conversation or 2 with your or your kids and are quick and efficient in checking the bags.

OK, now to the turnstiles. What happens? My card is unreadable. Try again. Again. Again. Again. Finally the CM manually overrides it and I'm allowed in.

Everybody in? We walk 25 yards and it's picture time! I tried getting DBIL to move over a bit so the hat looks like it is on his head but no go.

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Then a group photo by the Photopass guy and my obligatory photo of the day (with Sorcerer Hat on!) to prove I was on vacation.
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We met Officer William Club
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while DSis and DBIL were checking out the schedule of performances for American Idol. That was on their must see list for the day. Pop Pop and I don't watch the show; in fact, I've never seen a full episode, so it was a must skip for both of us.

DD and DS weren't too sure of Offcr. Club
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A must do for all of us, however was TSM. We missed the DVC/AP preview by 2 days last year.

The crowds have certainly been light, but given the popularity of this attraction, I was worried about getting a FP for it. It was 10:29am at the bus stop in OKW. DHS was closing at 6pm tonight bc of Senior Night, meaning a few hours less of FP opportunity.

The wait time shows 50min - not too bad, I thought. Maybe FP's would be available?
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Our walk to Pixar Place
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I don't remember it being ridiculously hot, but I guess when you stand in the sun all day, even Mickey topiaries perspire!

I handed off my ticket so the group could walk ahead and grab FP's while I pushed the stroller and took some pictures, of course!

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So were we able to get FP's so late in the morning?
















YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The picture was taken at 11:18am and we got FP's for:
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We had plenty of time before our 12:10pm ADR's at Sci-Fi and Voyage of the Little Mermaid was still allowing guests in for the next show, so I quickly brought the stroller to the parking area and met the group inside. We only waited 3 minutes or so before we were allowed in to find seats.

I made everyone sit close to the front bc I wanted to try taking some photos of Ariel and didn't want people's heads in the picture. We were a bit too far to the right, but I think they turned out pretty good.

DD and DS sat on DBIL's and Pop Pop's laps so DSis and I could take pictures. They loved the show. DS clapped to the music and danced while DD sang along with Ariel, "Aaaaaaaaahhh Ahhhhhaaa!" I don't think she will be trying out for American Idol.

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At the conclusion of the show, we decided to leisurely make our way over to Sci-Fi. Leisurely = stopping to pin trade.

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I bought 2 mystery packet pins and can't remember which ones I got at this moment. They went into my bag to go home bc I didn't have them. Oh well!

Coming Up: AI and the case of the missing car!
 
Your children are absolutely beautiful! Great update and congrats on the TSM fastpasses! Can't wait to hear more!
 
Hi Danielle! I'm finally caught up after being away for 2 weeks! Man..I missed alot!

There is so much to comment on...so I'm not even going to try to remember everything! But of course...your pictures are FANTASTIC! I love that you use them to tell stories..that's what a picture is all about!

The pictures of the popcorn bucket incident and the one of your DS on Main Street watching the Move It, Shake It parade are my favorites. Your Spectro pictures are the best I've ever seen.

You're brave to have your camera out on EE..I'd be afraid I'd drop it!

Sorry about your less than stellar restaurant experiences so far. But I have to agree with you about Tangierine Cafe..it is our FAVORITE CS place and a MUST-DO! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

Cool that you got TSM FPs so late in the day! SCORE! Can't wait to hear how you enjoyed the ride!

Well, now that I'm home and not planning any more long trips, I hope to keep up with your report. And now I have to go over and read your new PTR! :woohoo:
 

Fabulous pictures:thumbsup2 Yours are better than the Photopass. Especially love the details from Pixar Place. And :yay: for getting those TSM fastpasses. Those are like gold!
 
your children are just so darn cute. I was wondering if they really like pin trading or if they are a little too young to really understand it. I have never done pin trading before but always heard about it. I dont even know where to start but I thought maybe this time I would research and start getting into it. My boys are almost 5yr and 2 1/2. What is your opinion?
 
Great update! Little story about our experience with FPs & TSM! DH & I were there on our Honeymoon in Oct. 08. We of course had our Just Married Pins on & our Bride & Groom hats (ears!) Well, we go to get FPs for TSM & they are sold out! What!? We were so mad. I was complaining & a CM overheard me! (she was a cleaning lady I think!) She told us to wait here a min & she will be back with some FPs! Well, she did & we were able to get on!!! We were so excited! And it was def worth it! We loved it!!! Anyway. Just thought I would share! Can't wait to here more!!!!
 
Your children are absolutely beautiful! Great update and congrats on the TSM fastpasses! Can't wait to hear more!

Awww - thanks! :goodvibes I was surprised to get the TSM fastpasses - and grateful! I didn't want it to spoil the day if we didn't get them.

Hi Danielle! I'm finally caught up after being away for 2 weeks! Man..I missed alot!

There is so much to comment on...so I'm not even going to try to remember everything! But of course...your pictures are FANTASTIC! I love that you use them to tell stories..that's what a picture is all about!

The pictures of the popcorn bucket incident and the one of your DS on Main Street watching the Move It, Shake It parade are my favorites. Your Spectro pictures are the best I've ever seen.

You're brave to have your camera out on EE..I'd be afraid I'd drop it!

Sorry about your less than stellar restaurant experiences so far. But I have to agree with you about Tangierine Cafe..it is our FAVORITE CS place and a MUST-DO! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

Cool that you got TSM FPs so late in the day! SCORE! Can't wait to hear how you enjoyed the ride!

Well, now that I'm home and not planning any more long trips, I hope to keep up with your report. And now I have to go over and read your new PTR! :woohoo:

Yeah! You're back! :banana::banana: Last year I took my mom's small fit in your pocket camera on EE to ride bc I had never been on it. After seeing the pics of the DIS photographers here, I knew that I needed to bring my camera on board. I had the neckstrap on so it couldn't get far if it did slip from my hand.

Fabulous pictures:thumbsup2 Yours are better than the Photopass. Especially love the details from Pixar Place. And :yay: for getting those TSM fastpasses. Those are like gold!

Thanks! This year I was disappointed with the Photopass photographers (all except one and her story is coming up), that's why I haven't bothered to post any of the pics. I will post some probably from the princess breakfasts but that's about it.
 
your children are just so darn cute. I was wondering if they really like pin trading or if they are a little too young to really understand it. I have never done pin trading before but always heard about it. I dont even know where to start but I thought maybe this time I would research and start getting into it. My boys are almost 5yr and 2 1/2. What is your opinion?

I did it last year when DD was 1 1/2. Obviously DS at 7 months was too little but we did get some boy pins for the collection board. Pop Pop would take her over to the CMs and they would show her the pins. A little prodding by Pop Pop or myself to get her to point to something she may like (She is the type of girl to walk through a toy store and it's like pulling teeth to get her to pick something out. Only if she really wants it does she say anything). Once she got the hang of it, she would go over to the CMs and tug on their pantleg (her speech wasn't that advanced yet). She would point and say please or shake her head and say no thanks.

This year, she remembered instantly and showed her brother, who being more outgoing got with the program very fast. There was only 1 time that a CM wearing a green lanyard (for kids only) wouldn't trade with them bc DD wasn't 3years old and I guess felt that the adults were getting her to trade for them.

It's a lot of fun and a great way for them to talk with the CMs. I say go for it - DS 5yr. is a great age and if DS 2 1/2 is outgoing (or even shy - maybe help get him out of his shell).

DD has an Aurora collection with a few other princesses, DS has a fab 5 collection, with a few Buzz and cars.

Go on Ebay and purchase a grab bag of them for trading. That's what we do. Get a bag of 100 there are some keepers that fill in to the collections we have, but most go for trading.

I stick with CMs to trade with as I have only encountered 1 person who was a kid friendly pin trader not looking to rip the kids off (I know there are more out there who wouldnt do such things).

Great update! Little story about our experience with FPs & TSM! DH & I were there on our Honeymoon in Oct. 08. We of course had our Just Married Pins on & our Bride & Groom hats (ears!) Well, we go to get FPs for TSM & they are sold out! What!? We were so mad. I was complaining & a CM overheard me! (she was a cleaning lady I think!) She told us to wait here a min & she will be back with some FPs! Well, she did & we were able to get on!!! We were so excited! And it was def worth it! We loved it!!! Anyway. Just thought I would share! Can't wait to here more!!!!

Great story! And some Pixie Dust from the CM who got you the FP's! That's great!

Great pics. Poor DS looks hot and sweety. Can't wait for Sci-Fi pics!

He tends to get red cheeks when he gets hot. With his fair skin I worry about him burning in the sun. So far, with sunblock he has tanned this summer.

Great pics! I can't wait to do TSM!

Thank you! Review of ride will be soon!

Love your pictures!!

What kind of camera do you have?

Thank you! I have a Canon Rebel xTi and I rented a 24 - 70 USM L f/2.8 lens for the trip.
 
While I continue to get the next chapter ready, I thought I would share this with all of you. exDH had the kids this weekend and he took them to the beach on Saturday.

I went shopping :woohoo: While I was at the mall, I began to receive text messages from exDH. It went like this:

ex: DD is getting hit on by 2 boys. As a concerned parent, what do I do?
me: Are they cute?
ex: They are older.
me: Leave her alone.
ex: sends picture
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me: Oh. They're cute.
me: DS is supervising she is fine.
ex: Just like her mom to like the older guys
me: Taught her well
ex:
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Awhile passes by and then:
ex: They are teaching her how to surf!
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I thought it was wonderful! DD has anxiety so it was great to see her playing with kids without having to encourage her - she initiated it herself and was able to communicate and play with some children a few years older. Notice, however, in all 3 pictures DS is keeping a close eye!
 
What a great story! DS is an awesome brother...those boys aren't going to get away with anything on HIS watch! LOL! :rotfl:
 
Okay. I was curious to see who you are so I started looking through your TR's. I will admit I only looked at the pictures. I barely have time for that...since I started the kids back to school this week. I'm trying. Don't hate me.

I can tell one thing from the pics so far...you love Johnny Depp and you have a good camera...you probably mentioned it but like I said...I cheated. What kind of camera/lens are you using? Your pictures are BEAUTIFUL! You definitely have a good eye! :thumbsup2

Oops...never mind on the camera. I was glancing through and saw Canon XTi. Where do you rent the lenses from? I wish we had a place that rented here. Then I could see what I really want to buy.

Your kids are cutie pies by the way! :hug: They're dressed so cute too. That picture of your babies foot in the sand is so stinking cute! Great pix of T Rex! Okay....I'm at the end. No more pics yet. I'm saving the page though. OMG I so need to finish up that May TR. Ugh!. I'm going to clone myself so I can leave one of me on the computer all day...:laughing:

I can't wait to meet ya! Are you doing the cab share with us? (It's not in front of me right this sec so I don't know...if not you should join in!!!) Oh and have we swapped phone numbers yet? I swear...I am so not this clueless....it's just the sun. I blame it on the SUN! :rotfl2:
 
DBIL and DSis walked ahead to check-in at Sci-Fi while I parked the stroller, gathered small children by the hand and grabbed my purse. We would have a short wait so I thought I would take the mandatory “Sci-Fi car” photo.

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But, dun … dun … dun … The car was nowhere to be found! It was missing. As I stood in the empty space the car was once parked in, I noticed that there was an AI contestant trying out or filming something for the show. There was a woman standing nearby which I assumed to be his mother.

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The conversation of choice was the “Case of the missing car!” Where had it gone? Would it be back? Logic told me that since Spring Break just ended the weekend before, it was now removed for refurb – painting and such. It doesn’t take much to amuse us, right? HAHA!

Instead of getting pictures of DS and DD in the car, I got pictures of DS standing on the wall throwing mulch in the direction of the camera!

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DD, on the other hand, had no interest in photos of this nature and chilled inside the restaurant waiting area with DSis and DBIL.

After a group of cheer moms were seated (and the fact that they were cheer moms was given away soley by the bows THEY wore in their hair paired with the team’s shirts they sported) our name was called.

While we had a nice lunch here previously, given our track record at dining the past two days I was nervous about eating. We had a car all to ourselves – one of the actual cars, not the table cars as we had last year.

DD and DS were immediately entertained by the movie clips on the big screen. DD sat in her seat for our entire meal and was quite content watching the clips and silly refreshment commercials.

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She has never been to the movies, but I’m contemplating taking her to see the Princess & the Frog when it comes out. I think she will enjoy it – I think DS, though may not want to sit through it as he can get antsy.

OK, back to Sci-Fi. I took a picture of everyone (minus me) in the car and proceeded to take some restaurant shots while we waited for our drink order to arrive.

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I need to note the servers names better, especially when they really have the Disney magic. I know so many times we focus on the bad, but this server was just delightful. A sort-of aunt or grandma type. So sweet.

As I took pictures, DSis and DBIL started to poke fun at my picture taking, asking if I had taken a photo of this or that. Then they asked, “Hey, did you get a picture of the man eating his cheeseburger?”

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Imagine the surprise when I snapped the picture and calmly replied, “Yes.”

I rented a 15mm fisheye lens for the trip. This would have been a wonderful opportunity to use it, but did I? Noooooooo. Where was it? In my bag – not far from where I was, but at the time I was trying to get as many good shots as possible before our server came back and didn’t feel like switching the lens. Switching the lens takes all of 30 seconds but I was being lazy. I completely regret not using the lens here for some photos. And I regret that this particular lens didn’t get that much use on the trip at all.

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We placed our orders and continued to wait. DS was getting cranky. It was a combination of tiredness, hunger, and being hot. He was a bit clingy to Pop Pop and Pop Pop occupied him by letting him drink out of the kid’s cup with a straw rather than the sippy cup I brought for him.

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This would be the beginning of the end for sippy cups at restaurants.

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DBIL and DSis ordered onion rings which they shared with the group. DD loves onion rings – or rather the onion part. She picks off the friend crunchy breaded outside and eats the onion. I hate the onion, but love the outside, so we shared 2 onion rings this way.

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My drink of choice – unsweetened iced tea with lemon
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Our entrees:
Kids hot dog and fries with salad for the kids
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Mine:
Beef and Blue Salad - Sliced butcher-tender steak with a Wedge of Iceberg Lettuce with Blue Cheese Dressing, Tomatoes and Bacon
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How did it taste?
YUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was fabulous! The steak was perfectly medium and the combination of the crunchy lettuce with blue cheese was a great balance. The bacon was present but didn’t overwhelm the plate and me not being a big tomato fan, didn’t even mind the tomatoes in it! The portion was huge and I didn’t finish it; probably left about ¼ of it.

WOW! That sounded like one of those Iron Chef critiques?

My dad ordered the cheeseburger, DSIS and DBIL shared the cheeseburger and turkey sandwich. Pop Pop didn’t have any complaints about it so that meant it was good. DSis and DBIL both enjoyed their meals.

The kids skipped their ice cream dessert and with a short trip to the restrooms to clean off hands, faces, etc. we were on our way towards the Muppets!



Coming Up - Breaking through the Barricades
 











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