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

[MEK]

Sci-Fi is on my lunch list for next trip, so thanks for the review. glad your pictures all turned out with your wonky camera. I'm dying to try one of their burgers and milkshakes.

I tried to do the backlot tour in May, but one of the trams was down or something. The line did not move for 10 minutes and then it became a choice between my lunch ADR and the backlot tour. I think you know which one won!

 

[feyrerm]

I don't know if the fake streets have any purpose at all, but we generally go every year the day after Christmas through New years eve. These fake streets are decorated with amazing lights and snow effects. It is quite an amazing site. I highly recommend it!

 

[nilla]

Sci-Fi is on my lunch list for next trip, so thanks for the review. glad your pictures all turned out with your wonky camera. I'm dying to try one of their burgers and milkshakes.

I tried to do the backlot tour in May, but one of the trams was down or something. The line did not move for 10 minutes and then it became a choice between my lunch ADR and the backlot tour. I think you know which one won!

Sci-Fi is a lot of fun, and the food is really good, too. The shakes are wonderful, though I did not get one this time.

I would've chosen the ADR, too

I don't know if the fake streets have any purpose at all, but we generally go every year the day after Christmas through New years eve. These fake streets are decorated with amazing lights and snow effects. It is quite an amazing site. I highly recommend it!

I'd love to get down there again around Xmas (last time was when I was a kid).

I think the fake streets actually pose somewhat of a security problem. If someone was trying to elude security, the fake streets would make the PERFECT diversion. If Pee Wee's Big Adventure taught us anything, it's that studio security is easily duped by backdrops.

 

[nilla]

As we exit the backlot tour, we notice an autograph area to the side - Mike and Sully! But they're leaving. Ok, ok, we'll wait. I get some pics as we wait:

Monsters are, evidently, completely ridiculous. But wait - here comes Sully! Awesome! The kids get some great pics:


*****PICTURES MISSING DUE TO NOT HAVING RECEIVED THE PHOTOPASS CD YET*******


Oh, heck. Sorry about that. It was a good one, too. Soon after we meet the big guy, he makes his exit - it's Mike! Whoa, Mike is THE GREATEST!! What a cool character. Does he sign autographs? Are you kidding me? With those hands?? Sully didn't sign either, by the way. We did get some great shots, though!


*****PICTURES MISSING DUE TO NOT HAVING RECEIVED THE PHOTOPASS CD YET*******


Alright, this is bad. I really should've waited to start this TR until AFTER we had all the photos, but I just couldn't do it. It was eating me up. I needed to vent!

Great character experience, though, and they were two more we've never seen. We head over next to the Magic of Disney Animation, where we've usually been able to meet Sorcerer Mickey. Before that, though, why not try drawing a character? We've never done that before, and Dylan's really into drawing lately. We enter the building, grabbing some snaps on the way:

Brave? What's all that then?

We get in line for the art lesson, and in we go.

This was a TON of fun! What a blast. We got to draw Tigger. Dylan's turned out great, as did Kristin's. Mine started out really dodgey, but it all came around and ended up looking fairly decent. Emily's...well, let's just say, "she's five" and leave it at that, ok?

Afterwards, we did meet Sorcerer Mickey. I love this guy, because his scene in Fantasia is one of my all-time Disney features. Of course, anyone who knows me knows this. Or anyone who read my TR from last year, since I'm pretty sure I said the exact thing in that one.

If fact, it might be fun for me to read that one once I'm done with this TR, to see just exactly how much material I rehashed from a year ago. I'm guessing it's a lot. My Day tends to tell the same stories over and over again, and I fear I may be heading down that road, too

In the meantime, we got some great pictures with the Big Cheese:


*****PICTURES MISSING DUE TO NOT HAVING RECEIVED THE PHOTOPASS CD YET*******

Fine, we get it. No Photopass CD. So what did you do next?

 

[nilla]

After meeting Mickey, we hang around and play the "which character are you?" game. Kristin and Emily are apparently both Tink, Dylan is Jimminy Cricket, and I'm Buzz Lightyear. I can deal with that.

We climb the steps and stake out our spot near where Mr. and Mrs. Incredible will be in about 20 minutes. As we wait, Dylan and Emily play with the "spin the 3-sectioned character picture cylinder to make hilarious pictures" thing. If that's not a good enough description for you, here's a picture:

Soon after, Emily gives us a "typical Emily" moment.

While watching two other girls run around the thing, she tells Kristin and me that, "I don't like those girls because they're just running and not playing with it the right way." About 30 seconds later, this is the scene:

That didn't take long! The Increddies finally make an appearance, allowing us to get this shot:

We don't do the family shot often, so these two should feel special.

Actually, right after this was taken, Ms. Incredible gave Kristin a kiss on the cheek, so I think we may have a rather large settlement on our hands in a few years

Once we're done, we step outside again and decide that we should head over the Beach Club for our Cape May Clambake ADRs. But not before getting a random shot of Emily:

We were questioned on the DIS for taking the Friendship boat to BC from Epcot last year, but I think taking it from Hollywood Studios to BC makes much more sense. At least I hope it does. I don't think I can take that kind of abuse on here again!

Relaxing ride, and it seems that every year, we ride this type of craft:

2006: Boat from Port Orleans Riverside to Downtown Disney
2007: Boat from Port Orleans French Quarter to Riverside (for Boatwright's)
2009: Boat from Wilderness Lodge to Magic Kingdom
2010: Boat from Epcot to BC
2011: Boat from HS to BC

If you noticed that I skipped a year, you're not only very observant, but also witness to a literary device known as "I already had it almost completely typed out before I realized that my statement about riding a boat every year was incorrect and was certainly not going to just delete it or retype it." Then again, we DID ride the boat in the Mexico Pavilion in 2008. And in Norway. And in the Carribean.

But let's nip that tangent in the bud, shall we? I think we shall...I think we shall.

So we took these on the ride over:

Kristin put our names in, and I called my Mom (it was Mothers' Day, remember?). She's out in California visiting my brother and his family, and she doesn't answer. I leave a message, though, so I think that counts. Right?

Kristin wanted her picture in this chair, for some reason:

As we wait for the CMC to open, I reflect on this resort...

Wave wash onto the sparkling, sun-bleached sand. The elegant decor inside is almost as extravagant as that of the Grand Floridian.

In other words, outside fun, inside stuffy. The pool is AWESOME, and being by the water is great. I love the Epcot resorts for this, though I've never stayed at one. As many of you know, it would be great to be able to walk to Epcot. I'm just not a fan of the inside. It's too fancy for me. I'm just not feeling it.

Would I stay here? Probably. Ok, definitely. It's worlds above anywhere we've stayed, but it's not happening anytime soon. Boardwalk and the Poly have first dibs, I believe, on the first trip we upgrade from Coronado.

I am brought back to full awareness by Emily, who has done a great job holding the pager while watching cartoons on the other end of the lobby. It's buzzing, so it's time to eat!

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[nilla]

That's all for me for now, but I'm really pushing for Kristin to do a "guest update" for our dinner. She's MUCH more of a foodie than me, and this TR could use something different! If you're in agreement, raise your hand!

 

[mmeb144]

As long as you have pics, Kristin can write all she wants. (Even if it's not writing at all...) I like your writing style. Kristin shouldn't feel intimidated. Just dive in!

 

[minandmick]

:::double hand raise:::

 

[4forWDW]

Hand raised and sitting up on the front of my chair kinda of jumping up and down!!
I didn't know they had a clambake at Cape May - so pleaaassseee write about it!!!

 

[manntra]

Did you save your masterpiece drawings? I really enjoy this too. I can't draw to save my life but this makes me feel like I can This time I drew Eeyore.....I felt bad for MEK...we had just missed each other (she was in the class before me) and he is her favorite character
Great pose with The Incredibles
I am not going to say anything positive about BC in fear of Christine
Great picture of Kristin in "the chair!"
Looking forward to your CMC dinner...haven't eaten there in a few years and we are looking forward to od'ing on clams and crab before MNSSHP

Tracy

 

[PirateKate]

I like the boat ride from DHS to Epcot. I see nothing wrong with taking the boat to the BC.

Sounds like a fun day at DHS. Can't wait to hear about the Clambake.

 

[vleeth]

Okay...I'm all caught up from the last report. Loved it...and loving this one...awesome work.

You having trouble remembering exactly what day some events took place has inspired me to write my own trip report. I want to be able to reread my past years trips from the me with the fresher memory (you know, the one who wrote it last year.) Except, first I need to go on a trip so that I have a trip report to write.

I love how you and your family love Disney. And I'm looking forward to reading the rest of your trip.

 

[vleeth]

Oh and I just wanted to add.....

It's my 500th post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[nilla]

As long as you have pics, Kristin can write all she wants. (Even if it's not writing at all...) I like your writing style. Kristin shouldn't feel intimidated. Just dive in!

She's resisting, but I told her, "just pretend you're talking, only type it." And she can talk. For hours. ESPECIALLY about WDW.

:::double hand raise:::

That's two votes...or is it three?

Hand raised and sitting up on the front of my chair kinda of jumping up and down!!
I didn't know they had a clambake at Cape May - so pleaaassseee write about it!!!

I'll see what I can do!

Did you save your masterpiece drawings? I really enjoy this too. I can't draw to save my life but this makes me feel like I can

We do, and if I'm ever feeling ambitious, I'll scan them. And Emily's MK trip report she wrote on our flight home

...we are looking forward to od'ing on clams and crab before MNSSHP

I would imagine that's the only way to do MNSSHP.

I like the boat ride from DHS to Epcot. I see nothing wrong with taking the boat to the BC.

It WAS sort of silly to take from Epcot to Beach Club last year, though, since it stopped at Boardwalk first. We walked on the way back.

Okay...I'm all caught up from the last report. Loved it...and loving this one...awesome work.

You having trouble remembering exactly what day some events took place has inspired me to write my own trip report. I want to be able to reread my past years trips from the me with the fresher memory (you know, the one who wrote it last year.) Except, first I need to go on a trip so that I have a trip report to write.

I love how you and your family love Disney. And I'm looking forward to reading the rest of your trip.

Thanks!!!! (with extra !!!s). I love reading last year's, two, because it's like a diary. Um, I mean, it's like a journal. That's it - a journal.

Oh and I just wanted to add.....

It's my 500th post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats! This TR is rapidly approaching more views than my first one, so I'm looking forward to that

 

[krhst25]

hand raised-- I've been debating on whether to go to CMC for dinner(loved breakfast). You have picky eaters like me so please do tell!

 

[3sweetpeas]

Hi, I tend to be a lurker and I'm only on page 6 and day 2 but I am enjoying your writing so much I thought I would add to your view count. I'm thoroughly enjoying it and it is making me really miss the world and I have to wait til March 2012. We've only been back a few months. I get way too lazy when I get obsessed with Disney OH well! Keep it coming. You make me laugh

 

[nilla]

Well, I'm sorry to say that Kristin has decided that she is "too good for for this Trip Report", so she will NOT be doing the Cape May Clambake recap. So you're stuck with me. Here goes.


We went two the Cape May Clambak. It wuz good. We ate krabs and other c-food. I likd it alot.


See, THIS is why she should've done the update!

Alright, in all honsesty, she was considering doing the update, but declined in the end. She can (and may) post 1000 excuses why she didn't want to, but the real reason (if you ask me), is that her friend is leaving for Florida tomorrow (not Disney - BOOOOO!!!), and when this particular friend comes over, the wine starts flowing.

But you didn't hear that from me.

One thing IS for sure - I'm not about to drop this. She WILL do a guest update at some point. Not sure when, but it'll happen.

Ok, on with the show. We entered the Cape May Clambake, and I think we were the first ones seated. Our table was right inside the entrance, only about 30 feet from the buffet.

We order our drinks. I got a Dogfish Head IPA, which is the default non-World Showcase dinner beer for me. Emily got a HUGE Shirley Temple:

Dylan got chocolate milk. I don't know what Kristin had - she could probably tell you, but nooooooooo, she didn't want to do this update

We step up to the plate, and I'm not even kidding myself with salad. Instead, I grad some crab legs, some pasta salad thing, mussles, clams, and some fried cod. The others were all obviously good, but the cod bites were the surprise. SOOOOOO good! I could eat about a hundred of them.

I also seemed to have grabbed some sort of fruit, which I'll pat myself on the back for doing right now.

*pat pat*

Ok, done. Dylan was excited about this meal, because he allegedly loves crabmeat, but backed out at the last minute and went mac & cheese instead. Emily did the same.

Kristin also got a variety plate, though she passed on the clams and mussels (she's not a fan of the consistency) and added mac & cheese and potatoes.

She wanted me to tell you that one every run after that, she got nothing but crab legs. Lots of crab legs. But seeing how I'm still mad at her about not writing this update, I'm not going. Wait - I just did. Too late.

Oh well, rather than going through all the hassle of highlighting and pressing that darn Delete key, I'll just leave that in. I got a bowl of New England clam chowder (EASILY the best region for clam chowder, IMO), then stuck with a steady diet of crab legs and fried cod.

AWESOME meal. I love just about every kind of seafood I've ever have (not sold on oysters, however), so this was great for me. Everything seemed really fresh, and as seafood will do, it didn't really get me *too* stuffed.

Which left room for these:

Plagurized from AllEars, here are the desserts:

Cape May's Signature Oreo Bon Bons, Seasonal Cheesecake, Key Lime Tart, Seasonal Cakes, Assorted Cookies, Cupcakes, Fudge Brownies, and Peanut Butter Bars. All delicious. The Oreo things (the brown thing on the right in the first picture) were probably my favorite. The seasonal cheesecake (it was called "pink", I believe. You can find it yourself.) was really good, too.

Great meal, and one that really grew on me this year. This visit locked this in as another "must do" for every visit hereafter. We're accumlating a lot of those; soon, we'll have to start tacking on even more days to our trip to accommodate all the "must dos".

 

[nilla]

After dinner, we went out to the dock to wait for the boat, but Dylan and I had to run back to bathroom (too much crab! too many cod balls!), so we missed the first one. The kids found some other kids to play with while we waited, with the icebreaker being Dylan and Emily's squirter/fan contraptions. We abandoned the Wal-Mart versions for good this year and decided to go nothing but Disney quality on these gems.

Anyway, as the kids squirt each other, I get some pics:

In the meantime, I hear two other families discussing their flights out of Philadelphia. I asked where they were from, and the first was from Reading (about 30 minutes from here), and the others were from closer to Philly. I noticed A LOT of people from Philly this year. Or, at least a lot of Phillies fans. It was like the Saints/LSU fans from last year.

The boat finally arrives, we board, and it's back to Hollywood Studios.

Sitting on two sets of Toy Story FPs, we ride again. This time, Kristin takes the win. She asks if I let her win because it's Mothers' Day, but I say I didn't. "But it would've been nice if you let me win for Mothers' Day." Ok, I guess I know what she's getting at, but shouldn't she be happy that she won on her own merit?

Realizing that it's mostly females reading this TR (and on the DIS in general), I'm guessing that a lot of you are thinking, "it WOULD have been nice for you to let her win on Mothers' Day!" But she DID win! And without me le- alright, I'll drop it. Let's go meet Woody and Buzz!

On the way out, we become the "Fast Pass Fairies" for the first of several times this year. I would prefer to be called something else, like the "Fast Pass Heroes" or something, but in the end, it's just us giving FPs to someone who doesn't have them and would really like them. Here's how it went down:

When we exited TSM, I saw a family of four standing by the stand-by line, which was at least 60 minutes at this point. The Mom, Birnbaum's For Kids in hand, was having some sort of a discussion with the CM. All I could gather from it was that she really didn't want to wait in that line. Meanwhile, I walked over to her husband and asked him if he wanted four FPs. He was shocked at first, but quickly accepted. He thanked us, and they rode. Without waiting 60 minutes. Love it!

I also would like to say that this further supports the theory that if you just stand around and wait for something to happen, it may happen. Notice that I did not offer the FPs to the Mom, who was talking to the CM. She was showing too much initiative. That won't get you anything, even if it IS Mothers' Day.

 

[nilla]

Speaking of long lines, we walked over to the Woody and Buzz meet and greet, where the line wasn't quite as offensive as it was earlier. About 30 minutes, which is ok, especially since it's Extra Magic Hours and we aren't planning on getting up earlier tomorrow. The queue is great:

After all that, we finally meet these two:

Two more new characters for us! We've seen them around individually, but never really bothered with them because of the wait. Glad we got to see them together.

Buzz, while certainly able-handed, used a stamper to "sign" the autograph books. Cheater!

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[nilla]

Well, I thought I had some more in me tonight, but it's getting late. I'll wrap up Day 5 tomorrow.

Good night!