There's a First Time for Everything! A Christmas In November TR

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Is it Pirates and Pals cause that cruise is soooo much fun

I don't know .................. we'll see!

Your daughter is such a cutie and well done for facing your flying fears, I can't believe how quickly you got to WDW

Your first day is absolutely fantastic so far, we've always found the GG characters to be great too

Yeah, I'm so glad you joined in! I read your original Mom's Panel TR and I absolutely loved it!!! One of the best TRs I've ever read! You had the most magical experience imaginable. And I must say that I am totally infatuated with England. It is my dream to visit someday. I watch all the Masterpiece Theater movies (English dramas) that come on TV here in the US. I am just addicted to them! I could listen to an English accent all day! I also love the Mom's Panel. It helped me so much in planning my first trip! So I am just trilled to have you on board!

 

[Charleston Princess]

I do think you were wise to avoid World Showcase on a weekend during Food and Wine. The crowds alone would have made it hard to navigate through!

What a fun time you had in Future World -- you rode all my favorite rides!

Farmer Mickey is too cute in his overalls and your DD looks like she is having a blast with all the characters! A great way to start your trip!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Great start, wonderful update!
What a sweet outfit your daughter is wearing!
She is just glowing during her dance with Chip!
I'm going with the Pirates and Pals Cruise too!

 

[praisehisname]

I'm joining in and love it so far!

 

[VAisforDisneyLvrs]

My family ate at Garden Grill in January (last year!) We liked it, and my oldest is trying to get us to go again this year. Chip and Dale are her favorites, but I think we are going to limit our character meals on this trip.

I am hoping that my daughter Johanna will be able to go on Soarin' in the summer. Now, whether she'll want to or not is another question. She's pretty tall, so I don't think that will be a problem. My other daughter, Ruby, rode when she was only 4, but she is a little daredevil. Jo is a lot more reserved and scared of rides. (However, she is NOT shy about talking to anyone and everyone she meets!)

 

[MaryAz]

Great updates. Your pics are really good. GG looks like a fun place for dinner. I may need to add it to my May trip. My DD's also loved LTL. My ODD picked Soarin and BTMR as her 2 favorite rides. I also love the lights in the pavement.

 

[VAisforDisneyLvrs]

I realized after I posted the last post that I only talked about myself! Sorry for being so self-centered.

So, I love your daughter's freckles-They are too cute, and she is very photogenic.

Did you ride Test Track on this trip?

I think the picture of your husband and daughter with your husband's head under the shark's hand is very funny!

 

[wsushocker]

I realized after I posted the last post that I only talked about myself! Sorry for being so self-centered.

 

[DisneyJo]

Yeah, I'm so glad you joined in! I read your original Mom's Panel TR and I absolutely loved it!!! One of the best TRs I've ever read! You had the most magical experience imaginable. And I must say that I am totally infatuated with England. It is my dream to visit someday. I watch all the Masterpiece Theater movies (English dramas) that come on TV here in the US. I am just addicted to them! I could listen to an English accent all day! I also love the Mom's Panel. It helped me so much in planning my first trip! So I am just trilled to have you on board!

Awww you're so sweet, my time on the panel has just finished but I have some great memories, I'm glad the panel helped you plan your trip Make sure you get over to England one day, the dollar to pound is in your favour at the moment so it's a great time to come, you'd also be guaranteed to hear loads of English accents

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

I do think you were wise to avoid World Showcase on a weekend during Food and Wine. The crowds alone would have made it hard to navigate through!

What a fun time you had in Future World -- you rode all my favorite rides!

Farmer Mickey is too cute in his overalls and your DD looks like she is having a blast with all the characters! A great way to start your trip!

I think so too. I'd like to try out F&W like you did, just adults! We did have a great time at GG. I would love that salad right now! It was so fresh and the dressing was so so good. It was a great first day!

Great start, wonderful update!
What a sweet outfit your daughter is wearing!
She is just glowing during her dance with Chip!
I'm going with the Pirates and Pals Cruise too!

My mom bought that outfit (and many others) for her. That's her thing. She loves to buy her clothes that I would never pay that much for! Chip and Dale were great though. They went above and beyond what I expect fom a character meal.

I'm joining in and love it so far!

WELCOME!!! So glad to have you along for the ride!

My family ate at Garden Grill in January (last year!) We liked it, and my oldest is trying to get us to go again this year. Chip and Dale are her favorites, but I think we are going to limit our character meals on this trip.

I am hoping that my daughter Johanna will be able to go on Soarin' in the summer. Now, whether she'll want to or not is another question. She's pretty tall, so I don't think that will be a problem. My other daughter, Ruby, rode when she was only 4, but she is a little daredevil. Jo is a lot more reserved and scared of rides. (However, she is NOT shy about talking to anyone and everyone she meets!)

Just tell her that all she has to do is cover her eyes if she gets scared on Soarin'. I don't even think the seats move that much. I bet she will be fine on it and probably love it!

Great updates. Your pics are really good. GG looks like a fun place for dinner. I may need to add it to my May trip. My DD's also loved LTL. My ODD picked Soarin and BTMR as her 2 favorite rides. I also love the lights in the pavement.

Those are my 2 favorite rides also!! I think GG is a great place if you want something different. We did all the most popular character meals last year, like CM, CP, CRT, etc. so i wanted to try something new. We loved it.

I realized after I posted the last post that I only talked about myself! Sorry for being so self-centered.

So, I love your daughter's freckles-They are too cute, and she is very photogenic.

Did you ride Test Track on this trip?

I think the picture of your husband and daughter with your husband's head under the shark's hand is very funny!

That's ok! We did ride TT later in the trip. We all love that one too! My DH is a nut for sure!

Awww you're so sweet, my time on the panel has just finished but I have some great memories, I'm glad the panel helped you plan your trip Make sure you get over to England one day, the dollar to pound is in your favour at the moment so it's a great time to come, you'd also be guaranteed to hear loads of English accents

I know you are sad that it is over. What a wonderful time you must have had this past year.

I don't know if I will ever make it to England. I would LOVE to but I don't think I could handle that flight.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Awww you're so sweet, my time on the panel has just finished but I have some great memories, I'm glad the panel helped you plan your trip Make sure you get over to England one day, the dollar to pound is in your favour at the moment so it's a great time to come, you'd also be guaranteed to hear loads of English accents

Not to hijack, but Thanks for the $ info. My friend is moving to London in a couple months for 3 years and we are hoping/planning to go visit in 2011. I hope it continues in our favor (no offense!).

GG looks like fun - I've never been there. I MUST get to CRT next trip though. Before my girls start to think it's lame. Only a few years more I fear.

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Not to hijack, but Thanks for the $ info. My friend is moving to London in a couple months for 3 years and we are hoping/planning to go visit in 2011. I hope it continues in our favor (no offense!).

GG looks like fun - I've never been there. I MUST get to CRT next trip though. Before my girls start to think it's lame. Only a few years more I fear.

I don't blame you. CRT was a must for us last year. I wanted to make sure we did that and then worry about the other places on a later trip. I'd do CRT for sure before your kids are too old.

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

So, what was the big surprise? Yes, you guessed it. I paid $53.99 per person for my daughter to be kidnapped by a pirate and my family forced to walk the plank! (I am the queen of all things frugal so the $53.99 per person was quite hard for me to swallow. )

The monorail took us from Epcot to the Contemporary resort where a feast of snacks awaited us. Captain Hook and Mr. Smee were also in attendance and more than happy to sign a few autographs and take a picture or two.

At first, DD was a little unsure about what was in store for her. When I told her we were going on a pirate cruise, this was her reaction.............

Translation: "We are doing WHAT?"

But as soon as I told her to pick out whatever snacks she wanted, she starting thinking that this whole thing might not be too bad after all. I mean, if theses pirates are handing out chocolate coins, they must be ok, right?

Now let me just say that this cruise was the highlight of my trip, BUT I have one beef with the booty. They give each person a pirate cruise bandana and they tell you that you must wear it so they know who belongs on the cruise. Well, let me tell you............. only Tinker Bell could have fit that thing on her head! We had to get VERY creative to make these things stay on! Let's just say, we were one motley crew heading out to the dock!

Our Captains came out and it was time to go.

We were assigned to the Hook boat.

Then it happened. One of those Disney moments that you will never forget. You know, the kind of moment that only seems to happen at Disney. The things that keep us coming back time and time again. The little events that give us that warm fuzzy feeling and makes us fork over $53.99 per person to ride in a boat for an hour.

Of all the little kids standing there waiting to head out on our adventure, Hook walks right up to DD and takes her by the hand. She keeps looking at us like she isn't sure if this is a good thing or not. But I smile, give her the "it's ok" nod, and then she is on cloud nine. She felt so special that he picked her to escort to the dock. She was beaming!

Walking the plank!

Hook walked her all the way from the second floor of the Contemporary resort down to the boat dock. When he left her at the boat, he bowed and kissed her hand. I turned to my DH and the only thing I could muster up to say through the lump in my throat was "priceless". At that moment, they could have charged me $999.99 per ticket, and I would have paid it.

Cont. in next post.........

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Our view from the boat.

BLT

Cont. Resort

MK in the distance

This guy was our Captain, Patch, and I can tell you that he loves his job. He was so funny and had us cracking up the whole time. He just had one joke after another. “Patch” has to be the best CM I've ever had the privilege of spending time with.

He went through and asked everyone on the boat where they were from. We were one of the few families there that was NOT from New Jersey. We were at Disney during Jersey week, which I know many people try to avoid (b/c of crowds), but let me tell you................. it was a party on that boat that night! We had the best time. There were so many people there from New Jersey that the Captain stopped asking "Where are you from?" and just starting asking "What exit are you on the turnpike?" He had us rolling. There was much singing, a little dancing, and a good time had by all.

Then suddenly the lights went out, and Wishes began with a bang. I must say that I am not a weepy person, but when that little girl started to sing "star light, star bright, first star I see tonight...." with her sweet little voice, I nearly lost it. It was just a beautiful, magical, unforgettable moment. I couldn't help but think about how fast my DD is growing up and how precious these moments are. She looked so sweet sitting there on her Daddy's lap with the glow of the fireworks on her face. It really took everything in me not to start blubbering like an idiot.

The ferry boats coming by kept rocking our boat making it hard to get clear pictures.

As always, the show was fantastic. We all felt like we were lost in a fairytale for a few precious moments. But all fairytales must come to an end. It was time for us to head back to the dock, but one more magical moment awaited us. We were the first ones off the boat, and there stood a nice little surprise all wrapped up in green!

Some CR scenery

And with that, day one was done, and with a bang I might add. We headed back to Pop after a most magical day. My surprise was a hit to say the least. If you ever have the chance to do the Pirates and Pals cruise, you should! I just cannot say enough good things about it.

One more thing before we go.................... We had 4 more first this evening. This was our first Wishes cruise and our first time meeting Captain Hook, Mr. Smee, and Peter Pan! So the grand total just for day one is 9!

Up Next: Cockroaches, Kangaroos, and Crocodile Dundee

 

[Charleston Princess]

Oh my goodness! What a wonderful experience you had with the Pirates Cruise! I was all teary-eyed reading about Captain Hook escorting your daughter to the boat! How great!!! I love her looks of being both unsure and delighted!!! So worth the money to have those memories!

 

[Tinkermom76]

That's amazing.. we did the cruise as well and I agree it is worth every penny I paid for it. Did you guys see the EWP from the boat as well?

 

[npierce25]

The cruise looks awsome! I have a question though, how loud is it? my daughter will be turning 4 during our trip and I would love to take her on this, but how loud is it? she likes watching fireworks but not when they are super loud like when you are close! thanks for your help!!! I look forward to hearing more about your trip!!!

 

[DisneyJo]

I did the cruise a few weeks ago and it is fantastic isn't it How great your DD got to hold Hook's hand, so cute. My youngest DD got chosen to carry the flag to the boat and she was so excited. We had a different Patch (we were on Smee's boat) but he was wonderful too. I still have chocolate coins left over from it Unlike you though we were all huddled under blankets

What a fantastic way to end your evening

 

[stace208]

Oh my, very fun update!! Going to check on the cruise now!

 

[praisehisname]

Then suddenly the lights went out, and Wishes began with a bang. I must say that I am not a weepy person, but when that little girl started to sing "star light, star bright, first star I see tonight...." with her sweet little voice, I nearly lost it. It was just a beautiful, magical, unforgettable moment. I couldn't help but think about how fast my DD is growing up and how precious these moments are. She looked so sweet sitting there on her Daddy's lap with the glow of the fireworks on her face. It really took everything in me not to start blubbering like an idiot.

This paragraph got me misty-eyed. The whole cruise sounds like it was fantastic and I love how Hook chose your daughter for his escort!