There's A Snake In My Boot!!!! PTR April 24th-May 1, 2010 (Trip Report Started!!)

[Cory's Gal]

Zachary calls Kaki Gori a snowcone! But it's definitely more snow than icey... And the flavor is much more concentrated than a regular snowcone. Very yummy!

We'll be at AK the same day!! We won't have a super early start since we're planning to see Illuminations the night before, but we'll head over as soon as we're up and ready to go.

Maybe we'll see you at EE, Dinosaur, The Boneyard or at the parade. We've never seen the AK parade so we might try to catch it this year. We're usually out of the park by then, but since we'll be getting a later start, we might stick around for it. We'll probably try to catch it near the Dawa Bar... I've heard it loops around so you can catch it on the second pass with lighter crowds.

That's awesome that we overlap again on this day Amy! We probably would have been seeing Illuminations on Monday night too but with breakfast so early we have to get to bed earlier on Monday. We love the AK parade! Great tip on wear to view it from! We had a great spot last time but for the life of me I can't remember!!! Here's a couple of pics of it for you! We LOVE the animal ones the best and the music is fun! We had lots of character interaction too!!
This guy is playing drums up there in the elephant!

Some of the parts of the parade remind me just a bit of Tapestry of Dreams with their creativity!

Love your park plans you are posting! I agree with you and others, DHS is the hardest park for me to plan. Do you know about Steve Soares' website? It gives the entertainment schedule including all the shows. Have you looked at it yet to get an idea of time frames/ranges?

Hmmm...I am not sure if I can do a top 10 for all those but here is my go at it:

Top Rides:
-Soarin'
-TT
-Living with the Land
-KS
-BTMRR
-Kali River Rapids (I have always liked these rides)

Top Shows:
-LMA, we have seen it and plan on it again
-Indy but will most likely not see it again
*those are the only ones we have seen but we really are looking forward to FN, FOTLK, Beauty and the Beaust, VOTLM

Top Food:
-I LOVE this chicken salad I got at Coral Reef but it is no longer on the menu ( DH laughs at me because I still talk about this!
-Rose and Crown--yummy! not a food per say but one of our favorites!

I think that is the best I am going to be able to do. All these top lists I have been reading about have inspired me to think about my own version. I will have to update my PTR sometime soon with it!

Thank you so much!! Thanks for reminding me about Steve's site, I had been on their a loooooooong time ago and completely forgot about all the times he has listed! That will be a great help in planning!! Now I have a little better idea of the show times and how to plan those tricky mornings at DHS and AK!!

Love your lists!! We were talking about Rose and Crown the other day and how the things on the menu look so good! Plus DH would love a Black and Tan from there! I will be watching your PTR to see your expanded version!!!!

 

[Cory's Gal]

Back in 2005 when DH and I went by ourselves, we picked up this adorable "My First Mickey Mouse shirt", for Gabe! I will have to dig it out and see the size, hopefully it will fit Helen. Anyone been there recently know if they still sell them and I know at the time they had "My First Minnie" shirt too. Just curious, this is what it looked like. I LOVED it, it was my favorite shirt!

Gabe and my mom waiting for Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade!

 

[DisMomAmy]

That's adorable!

 

[jenniferkeala808]

sooo cute!! your plans sound great!! can't wait to hear more! Maybe we'll bump into each other one day!! That would be cool!

 

[smithpack]

Now I really want to do the Animal Kingdom Parade. I haven't seen it yet, and was so close to seeing it the last time, but everyone else in my family was whining so I didn't get to stay. Whining or not, I am bound and determined to do the parade on our next trip. Now watch me be the one who is whining.

 

[kangaand2roos]

Now I really want to do the Animal Kingdom Parade. I haven't seen it yet, and was so close to seeing it the last time, but everyone else in my family was whining so I didn't get to stay. Whining or not, I am bound and determined to do the parade on our next trip. Now watch me be the one who is whining.

We also really love this parade! We try to see it every visit, but at least every other!

 

[wdwgirl03]

The AK parade is awesome! Of course I love it because on our trip a couple years ago we got to be in it. Soooo much fun!

 

[Angies1274]

Your AK plans look great!!! I just booked Donald's Safari Breakfast for our trip the other day. We're very excited!!!

Love Gabe's first Mickey t-shirt!!! Soooo adorable!!!!

 

[Cory's Gal]

That's adorable!

Thanks Amy! I remember when I first saw it I had to buy it!! I hope it will fit Helen, I have to still dig out that box!!

sooo cute!! your plans sound great!! can't wait to hear more! Maybe we'll bump into each other one day!! That would be cool!

Thanks Keala! That Thursday and Friday we will be doing a lot of park hopping!! That would be awesome to run into eachother!!!

Now I really want to do the Animal Kingdom Parade. I haven't seen it yet, and was so close to seeing it the last time, but everyone else in my family was whining so I didn't get to stay. Whining or not, I am bound and determined to do the parade on our next trip. Now watch me be the one who is whining.

You guys have to see it! We think it's so much fun and it has a great vibe to it! There is no shame in whining!! Especially when it comes to wanting something at Disney!!!

We also really love this parade! We try to see it every visit, but at least every other!

It is a great parade!! It's worth hanging out all day in AK for!!!

The AK parade is awesome! Of course I love it because on our trip a couple years ago we got to be in it. Soooo much fun!

Oh, that would be so much fun!!! I think there were a couple of different families in the parade when we saw it, did you get to wear safari hats???

Your AK plans look great!!! I just booked Donald's Safari Breakfast for our trip the other day. We're very excited!!!

Love Gabe's first Mickey t-shirt!!! Soooo adorable!!!!

Thanks Angie!! I am so glad that you got into the breakfast!!! A lot of people say great things about it so we are looking forward to it!! I will be excited to hear your review after you get back!!!

 

[wdwgirl03]

Oh, that would be so much fun!!! I think there were a couple of different families in the parade when we saw it, did you get to wear safari hats???

haha no, we actually wore Christmas tree hats because we were there in January and they were still doing the Christmas version!

 

[Cory's Gal]

haha no, we actually wore Christmas tree hats because we were there in January and they were still doing the Christmas version!

Well, that's still awesome that you got to be in it!! That would be a lot of fun, did you get to go backstage at all??

 

[Cory's Gal]

I have been starting all my packing lists, and boy do I have a LOT of stuff on it!! My next step is getting our countdown calendar done. I think I will start it at 30 days out so that still gives me about a month to finish, even though I probably will be working on it up until 31 days out...

I think I have our MK day ready here's what I am planning...

Day 4-(Wednesday)-Magic Kingdom
-Hope to be there at rope just as we have planned the other mornings.
-Mad rush to Dumbo and pretty much all of Fantasyland. I hope they haven't started tearing it down yet!!! I plan to park the stroller and just have Helen walk or be carried around.
-Depending on the time, we may hit up Toontown, we all want to meet Cinderella, there is still the Princess line right??? Meet other characters if there are no lines and then take a quick ride on the Barnstormer. Then we may hitch a train ride all the way over to Frontierland.
-If we don't do Toontown this day we will go right from Fantasyland to Frontierland!
-BTMRR and Splash are both on Gabe's list of "big rides" he wants to try! We may have to FP, and I hope to go over to Tom Sawyer Island, we have never been over there! Sometime around 11:30 we hope to be grabbing some lunch at Pecos Bill.
-Hopefully by today Helen will be a stroller napping pro! We will wander over to Adventureland for some Pirates and maybe Aladdin's Carpets. Then shop a bit on Main Street and stake out a great spot for the parade!!
-Go over to Tomorrowland for Space, Buzz, and Monsters Inc for sure! Also the TTA and possibly the CoP!
-WHEW!!!!!!! We probably will head back to POFQ for a quiet late afternoon to regroup and may venture to DTD again or back to WS in Epcot for a bit! Maybe hop on over to see Illuminations this night since we don't have to be up and at em right away tomorrow...

I didn't list EVERY attraction in MK because we will see most of it. Cory and I and the kids will probably skip Haunted Mansion & Hall of Presidents but I know my parents won't. Not into the Tiki Birds or into Stitch. Otherwise all attractions are on our list here!!

As all other days, much will depend on the kiddos and what their energy levels are like and hopefully they will be in good spirits!!! We are only bringing one stroller with, a Maclaren Volo, mainly for Helen but it holds up to 50 pounds so Gabe can still ride in it if he needs to once in a while. If by the end of the week he just can't walk much, we will rent a Disney stroller for him, but the plan is to have him walk! He did great all day at our state fair last summer just walking, but this will be lots of walking everyday! We will just go with the flow!!

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Hi! Beth
signing on!
found someone going to be there the same time we will!
You guys will love POFQ! that is DH's favoirte...we are trying the POP for the first time. Now, I need to go back and read and meet you and your family...thanks for stopping by my PTR!
Connie

 

[wdwgirl03]

Well, that's still awesome that you got to be in it!! That would be a lot of fun, did you get to go backstage at all??

Yeah, we did get to go backstage to get our "costumes" and get on our car...we got to ride on the last one with Mickey. All the CMs were so nice and it was funny because Mickey was dancing along to the music well before we even got out onto the parade route...I guess he had to get into character! That was definitely one of my top Disney memories ever.

Your MK plans look great!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Looks like we might cross paths again on Wednesday! We'll also be at MK for rope drop! Your plans sound great!

I'll be starting work on our countdowns too - Zach wants to do a repeat of last year with a calendar & Alex wants to do a garland... a little something for everyone!

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Hi again! all caught up

you have a beautiful family! you children are so cute!
the loot you bought for their goodies bag is great and I love the minnie dress you have for Helen

I love the photo flashback...I had started that and than never scanned anymore photos...
All your plans look great! and I'm so happy to have read about T-Rex, I wanted to go there and completely forgot.
I have four ADR's I need to decide which ones to keep and which ones to cancel...but, we are keeping Donald's safari, we too are looking forward to this one! (we missed him completely when we went last year).

I spoke with a friend today, who went last year and her dgt was too short. She just put on platforms and no one questioned her once and she was able to ride everything 40" allowed. Too, bad boys don't have that option, I think Ashton is going to be just shy of 40", I hope not.

Look forward to continuing to plan along with you...
Connie

 

[kangaand2roos]

I spoke with a friend today, who went last year and her dgt was too short. She just put on platforms and no one questioned her once and she was able to ride everything 40" allowed. Too, bad boys don't have that option, I think Ashton is going to be just shy of 40", I hope not.

Try cowboy boots! They worked for DD when she was just under 40".

 

[Angies1274]

Great MK plans!! We always try to make rope drop at MK! There is just something about being there first thing in the morning. We love it!!!

How exciting for Gabe to be riding BTMRR and Splash for the first time!!! My boys love those two rides!! They could ride them over and over if I'd let them.

We usually skip Stitch and the Tiki Birds too....they're just not for us! But, we are hoping to hit almost everything else!!

 

[Charlefours]

Thank you so much!! Thanks for reminding me about Steve's site, I had been on their a loooooooong time ago and completely forgot about all the times he has listed! That will be a great help in planning!! Now I have a little better idea of the show times and how to plan those tricky mornings at DHS and AK!!

Love your lists!! We were talking about Rose and Crown the other day and how the things on the menu look so good! Plus DH would love a Black and Tan from there! I will be watching your PTR to see your expanded version!!!!

I am glad to help out in a small way. He posts the upcoming week on Saturdays. I am going to look at the week before and gauge things that way. I also may do a night before check for DHS and AK since I will have internet access because I will be keeping up with my grad school classes while down there.

Rose and Crown--is a favorite we are planning on going back to. We are hoping to get an ADR there when I make them next Friday. I hope you get a chance to read my PTR There have been some great lists posted.

I have been starting all my packing lists, and boy do I have a LOT of stuff on it!! My next step is getting our countdown calendar done. I think I will start it at 30 days out so that still gives me about a month to finish, even though I probably will be working on it up until 31 days out...

-Hope to be there at rope just as we have planned the other mornings.
-Mad rush to Dumbo and pretty much all of Fantasyland. I hope they haven't started tearing it down yet!!! I plan to park the stroller and just have Helen walk or be carried around.
-Depending on the time, we may hit up Toontown, we all want to meet Cinderella, there is still the Princess line right??? Meet other characters if there are no lines and then take a quick ride on the Barnstormer. Then we may hitch a train ride all the way over to Frontierland.

As all other days, much will depend on the kiddos and what their energy levels are like and hopefully they will be in good spirits!!! We are only bringing one stroller with, a Maclaren Volo, mainly for Helen but it holds up to 50 pounds so Gabe can still ride in it if he needs to once in a while. If by the end of the week he just can't walk much, we will rent a Disney stroller for him, but the plan is to have him walk! He did great all day at our state fair last summer just walking, but this will be lots of walking everyday! We will just go with the flow!!

Couple thoughts for you to mull over:

Fantasyland expansion is not slated to break ground until this Fall. Even then they are saying they are going to try to leave everything intact for as long as possible. When my family goes down in September, things may have begun. If so, I will definitely post an update about it on the TR I am planning on doing. (I hope you are planning one as well!!)

Have you thought about renting a double stroller from Orlando Stroller Company? They rent out double joggers that have reclining seats. BippityBoo (Katie) came back from a trip recently and will rave about them!! It would give you the option of allowing both DD and DS to ride without issues. :

Have you thought about doing a custom shirt through Etsy? There are sellers on there would would embroider and applique a shirt for you. Its a thought...

What are you doing for your countdown calendar? I am still trying to figure our calendar out. I am pretty sure we are going to start it at 30 days out too--just long enough for DD but too long I hope.

 

[Cory's Gal]

Hi! Beth
signing on!
found someone going to be there the same time we will!
You guys will love POFQ! that is DH's favoirte...we are trying the POP for the first time. Now, I need to go back and read and meet you and your family...thanks for stopping by my PTR!
Connie

Thanks for reading Connie! It's great we will be there the same week!! I keep hearing great things about POFQ, all the positive feedback always makes me feel good about our decision!!!

Yeah, we did get to go backstage to get our "costumes" and get on our car...we got to ride on the last one with Mickey. All the CMs were so nice and it was funny because Mickey was dancing along to the music well before we even got out onto the parade route...I guess he had to get into character! That was definitely one of my top Disney memories ever.

Your MK plans look great!

Awesome!! What a great experience! Glad to know Mickey is always in character, even backstage!!

Looks like we might cross paths again on Wednesday! We'll also be at MK for rope drop! Your plans sound great!

I'll be starting work on our countdowns too - Zach wants to do a repeat of last year with a calendar & Alex wants to do a garland... a little something for everyone!

I think we have a really big chance of seeing eachother Amy!! Will you be heading back to Fantasyland too right away?? Two countdowns sounds like a great idea!! Take pictures when you get them ready, how many days out will you start them??