These Kids Make Me Wish You Could Curse on the DISBoards (May '11 Trip) - DONE 9/14

[nilla]

We decided the Jungle Cruise would be the last ride of a very full day, so we walked over to the castle, where the "Magic, Memories and You" show was just starting. All I can say about this is "wow". Well, I can say a little more than that, so I will right here:

When I heard about this and got past the initial "they'd better not get rid of Wishes!" anger, I read more about this and it sounded alright. Photopass pictures projected onto the front of the castle. That might be cool if we got up there, but I don't really care about seeing other people's kids since there are thousands of people in this park, and I only know 3 of them.

The show starts, and to my surprise, it's not just pictures that are projected, but an entire, castle-sized graphic onto the full front of the castle. The image changes with the music, and all sorts of crazy effects are done. It was far, far more than I had expected, and made me feel guilty for doubting Disney. VERY impressed.

After that, Dylan (and secretly, me) wanted to stay for Wishes, but Emily was done. We walked right down the middle of whatever that street is in the middle of the park, and prepared to exit.

But hold on; Kristin has an idea. Since everyone else is watching the fireworks, now might be a great time to the Town Square Theater or whatever name they made up for Exposition Hall to meet the Mouse. Emily is game, so we make a pit stop into Expo - um, I mean the new place, and I feel slightly depressed. I miss sitting in here by ourselves, watching "Flowers and Trees". They need a replacement.

It's time to get over this, though, because we're going to see the Big Guy, and I hear he can smell depression. And fear. And cheese.

The line is relatively short, so in about 15 minutes, we're in. In the meantime, we read the portraits:

Some of them are actually video screens, and shift around occassionally. Pretty cool

We get inside, and I try my best to get some snaps, but the lighting issue rears it's ugly head, and we get this:

But enough scenery, let's meet the Big Cheese! The backstory is that he's a magician, apparently:

We got many more shots than that, but they are unfortunately on the Photopass CD. We'll get back to them later.

This was a GREAT interaction because Mickey spotted Emily's Duffy, grabbed it from here, and started to hug the crap out of it. He was ECSTATIC to see his bear. Emily loved it, and it was a really fun moment for everyone.

After that, we decided to finally head back to CSR, where our beds awaited us. What an amazing day - with relatively light crowds and some touring prowess, we got to get on just about everything we wanted to, and at least saw a small part of Wishes. We'll be back here twice more, though, so there'll be plenty of time for that.

Up next, Day 3 and Epcot!

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[nilla]

Wow, that was a LONNNNNG first park day! I'll try to be back tomorrow for the next one. Thanks for reading!

 

[emma212010]

Great update!! I'm glad you enjoyed Cinderella's Royal Table! Sounds like your day was a lot of fun!!

 

[TeresaG]

All caught up! Great first day! I really enjoy reading your report and it's getting me very excited for my upcoming trip.

You know, no matter how many reports I hear about CRT I can't help but want to go back. I guess it's the girl in me. My son won't care and my daughter is too young to care, but darnit, I want to eat at CRT again. Oh well.


Looking forward to Day 3!

 

[MEK]

OK - I'm not even going to try to read until I can see your pictures.

I'll Be Back!

 

[jenjolt]

Now that's what I call a GREAT first day!! You rocked MK like nothing else!! I don't think you could say much didn't get done!!! WOOT WOOT!!!! I'm so glad I was able to catch up before I left, because with me leaving my laptop who knows when I'll get to sneak a peak here, but I love your writing style and I look forward to more!!!!!!

 

[nilla]

Great update!! I'm glad you enjoyed Cinderella's Royal Table! Sounds like your day was a lot of fun!!

What a way to start the trip! Here's a quick summary, with acronyms:

IASW, HM, Splash, CoP, Space, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor (which has a pretty silly acronynm), SGE, TMS, TPM (formerly TTA), PPF, PotC, MAoWtP, SWSA, Carousel, JC. 15 attractions in about 12 hours, and that's not including time spent with characters and eating. Can't ask for much more than that.

You know, no matter how many reports I hear about CRT I can't help but want to go back.

I'd be much quicker to want to go back if it weren't for the 2-meal cost. That makes a big difference, especially with us trying to hit Sci-Fi for lunch on our HS day.

OK - I'm not even going to try to read until I can see your pictures. I'll Be Back!

We'll leave the light on

Now that's what I call a GREAT first day!!

It seems like it took FOREVER to document this day, but I guess that's because we did so much. The updates should be a little more brief when we get to the "got a drink in Morocco, then chugged it on my way to France to get another drink" days. Then again, knowing this audience, those are probably the kinds of things they DO want extensive detail about!

 

[jegsnakkernorsk]

hmmm - your kids still seem like perfect angels to me. when does this TR start to earn it's name?

 

[TanzUnited99]

Love the castle shots (both inside and out!)

I'm glad we are trying Akershus over CRT but looks like you all had fun. Love the pics of the princesses with the kids and the Lords bathroom!

I hope I get to experience Snow White before it closes.

Yay on getting to meet Mickey and having a great interaction with him!

 

[mimiecp]

Great update! Enjoyed seeing CRT. Do they always have the curtains closed? Emma and I ate there in 2005 before they had the princesses at all the meals and I think we sat by the window and had a nice view (but that was 6 years ago and so I might just be imagining that ). Looking forward to Day 2.

 

[nilla]

hmmm - your kids still seem like perfect angels to me. when does this TR start to earn it's name?

I said it before...patience! Dylan's eating at this meal is just the start. It will all get worse. Either that, or I'll end up looking really whiny

I'm glad we are trying Akershus over CRT but looks like you all had fun. Love the pics of the princesses with the kids and the Lords bathroom!

I hope I get to experience Snow White before it closes.

Akershus (I almost NEVER spell it correctly, even if I look it up) is definitely a better meet-and-greet experience, and I like the food, too. The brown cheese is amazing (I do not recall the "technical" name for it, so we'll just go with brown cheese for now), and the kjottkake pronunciation (which the waitress demanding I pronounce) is funny. Kristin thought the waitress was just messing with us, until I proved her wrong with some online research. Plus, it's only costs one meal on the dining plan.
Snow White is a fun ride - it almost feels like you've gone back in time, because it lacks the modern bells and whistles of the newer dark rides, but it still has that Disney magic. I'll definitely miss it.

Do they always have the curtains closed? Emma and I ate there in 2005 before they had the princesses at all the meals and I think we sat by the window and had a nice view (but that was 6 years ago and so I might just be imagining that ).

The day we were there, there was a huge refurb facade on the back of the second level of the castle, which I'm assuming was blocking the view. It was gone later in the trip, so I think the park view came back with its absence. Kristin said she preferred the curtains closed, however, since it felt less like you were in the middle of a theme park.

 

[onescgirl]

You have a very adorable family.
I'm enjoying reading your TR!

 

[nilla]

You have a very adorable family.
I'm enjoying reading your TR!

Thanks, and welcome!

My brother is a Clemson grad, and my sister moved her family to Greenville a few years ago. I also went to high school with the guy who was the Tiger in the early 90s, so I have some ties to that area, even though my parents never lived anywhere south of Maryland

 

[manntra]

Adorable pictures of posing Emily and her dress with the princesses And peeking over the top of the steering wheel on the race track That is one old ride....I have a picture of myself somewhere with me in pigtails driving my Dad around circa early 1970 something or other.
I can't control myself when eating at Disney Although Dylan and I share the same love of mayo and hamburgers
So cute about Mickey grabbing Duffy....I guess he really does like that bear although I swear I never heard anything about it before they started rolling out the bears and character meet I am wagering that Emily has a well dressed bear by the end of your trip
Ummmm sure we would like more detail about your drinking days in WS you have the perfect audience for that

Tracy

 

[PirateKate]

Dinner at CRT looks like a lot of fun. Nothing like actually being inside the Castle. I can understand how it would be frustrating to have a kid who didn't want to eat the food there.

Did you try looking for Cinderella's horse among the inside horses? I always had a hard time spotting it because I was assuming Cinderella's horse would be prominent on the outer ring. I haven't looked for it since the name change, though, so it may just be gone.

 

[MEK]

Wow - I agree with Jen. You really did rock the MK. I am so glad I waited for the pictures because the first I saw were your gorgeous shots of the outside of the castle.

CRT - I have never done it. I have always wanted to. I am actually toying with the idea of doing it in December, but think I'll do the Cali Grill instead. Still, it does look like fun. I guess I need a grand-daughter. Wait???? What am I saying??????

So Dylan is a picky eater? That's how LJ was when we took him to the world. Wait - I think you missed that TR cause it was two summers ago. LJ is my nephew who was 9 at the time and he ate hardly anything. It was scary, but I believe kids internal clocks know what they need. Still, kind-of a waste of money for him, huh?

Really looking forward to your next day. I am tired already!

 

[Wicket's Mom]

I found your TR while reading MEK's. I really liked your last TR so count me in!

 

[nilla]

Adorable pictures of posing Emily and her dress with the princesses And peeking over the top of the steering wheel on the race track

Yes, it's very cute when you're in the car in front of her. Not so cute (or comfortable, for that matter) when you're in the car with her. But more on that later...

So cute about Mickey grabbing Duffy....I guess he really does like that bear although I swear I never heard anything about it before they started rolling out the bears and character meet

Apparently, it all started in Tokyo, which explains why many of the Japanese girls we saw on our trip were really into Duffy. In my book, if Japanese girls think it's cool, it's cool, since we always LOVE to see what unique Disney clothing, bags, and merch they are carrying. The Tokyo parks are my dream vacation.

Did you try looking for Cinderella's horse among the inside horses? I haven't looked for it since the name change, though, so it may just be gone.

Kristin used to be able to find it fairly easily, but could not on this trip. I think it was removed or changed when it became whatever they're calling it today.

So Dylan is a picky eater? That's how LJ was when we took him to the world. Wait - I think you missed that TR cause it was two summers ago. LJ is my nephew who was 9 at the time and he ate hardly anything. It was scary, but I believe kids internal clocks know what they need. Still, kind-of a waste of money for him, huh?

He's already showing signs of improvement, but it's been a rough 9 years on the dinner front. I keep telling myself that he'll eat us out of house and home when he reaches his teen years.

I really liked your last TR so count me in!

Welcome back! IIRC, you were one of the first to follow my TR last year, turning it from "is anybody out there?" to "I can't let my fans down!" Hopefully, I won't disappoint you this year.

I have some updates in the pipeline for later tonight, but I think Kristin wants to catch up on some TV, so it may be a bit later. There WILL be updates, though.

 

[nilla]

Ok, Kristin's on the phone, so that should give me a good 3-4 hours to do whatever I want to do. On to the updates!

 

[nilla]