This is your 24th Anniversary? But you're so young!~A 5/12 TR!*PTR link pg 49, 9/14!*

[Nermel9]

The One with the Tower of Terror!​

Wednesday May 9, Part 2

Ugh. I'm really losing any creativity I might have had with these chapter titles, huh? I'm hoping to finish up the trip portion of this TR today, but we'll see how that goes!

So we were finished with our first park of the day and on to our second...Hollywood Studios! If you remember from the beginning of our trip, I didn't get to ride the Tower of Terror on our EMH night because it was broken, so I had to ride it a couple of times before we went home! That was really the only reason I wanted to go to DHS!

We got there, parked, and hopped on the tram, and what do you think happened when we got on? It started pouring! I'm thinking "oh great, now it's going to be thundering and everything, and they're going to shut ToT down AGAIN!" But luckily by the time we went through bag check and got in to the park, the rain slowed down to a drizzle. Woo hoo!

We ran over to the Tower of Terror

and went through the queue, where there was pretty much no line! It would have been a good day to spend a few hours at DHS because there was no one there, but unfortunately, we didn't have much time! We rode my beloved Tower once and then got right back in line again!

There were a few more people waiting this time, so I took some pictures of the waiting area, I love it, it's so perfectly themed!

This is one of those queues where I just want to jump over the ropes and explore every little corner, but I'm guessing the CM's wouldn't like that too much!

Soon we were in our doomed elevator again and the 2nd ride was even better than the first! Ahhh so much fun, I love that ride SO much!

When we were walking out I saw this shirt:

WANT. I thought about buying it, but then I said to Brandon "I'll wait til we come back in November." I'll never learn my lesson and just buy something when I see it, will I?

I'm sure I wanted to ride one more time, but then I remembered that Brandon sometimes gets weird after riding ToT too many times in a row and I didn't want to risk him not feeling well for the rest of the day, so we decided to make our way out of the park!

On the way out we took some awful Photopass pics and then had to get a picture of Flat Stanley with the hat

and then finally went to our car! Goodbye DHS!

See you in November!

We drove over to Epcot and were there within a few minutes, I love how close these 2 parks are! I actually thought about walking, but I didn't want to have to walk back when we were ready to leave, so we drove over!

Walking in Epcot is where I started to feel a little sad that our trip really was over. We always end our trips with Epcot, so realizing there wouldn't be any more parks after this was kind of depressing.

Of course, how can you stay depressed when you're in the presence of a Disney duck AND a Disney bunny??

We didn't have any plans, no idea what we wanted to do, but we were getting kind of hungry. I really wanted pizza for some reason, so we decided to walk over to Via Napoli, just to see if we could get in.

On the walk over, Brandon got a beer from Norway and I kind of wanted one too but decided against it. We would be getting on a plane in a few hours and there's no way I was going to risk having a migraine while flying home!

We arrived in Italy, and Brandon went in to Via Napoli to see if we could get in, and I stayed outside to take some pictures of Italy. Honestly, Italy is probably my least favorite pavilion in Epcot, yes, it's pretty, but there's not much to it!

Brandon came back out and said we could have a table in a few minutes, so we went inside to wait! I thought it was weird that there were tables available because I looked at the Disney dining website and it said Via Napoli was booked, but maybe that was because it was the same day? I don't know, I was just happy we were going to be able to eat there!

Brandon got some kind of linguini with seafood that I didn't take a picture of, and I got the personal sized pepperoni pizza, yum!

It was really good, I'm glad I got it! I really like Via Napoli, I just wish the servers would calm down a little, I feel like they are constantly asking if everything is ok, and if you want anything else...I know some people appreciate that, but I don't like that, I hate being bothered when I'm eating! They're all very nice, don't get me wrong, I just get uncomfortable when people are constantly hovering, that's all!

Since we paid OOP for Via Napoli, we didn't bother with dessert, which was good, because there was somewhere else I wanted to go to get a snack before we left...

(I will try to finish Epcot up tomorrow, I'm already running out of time today! This update took a lot longer than I thought because I got caught up in editing some pictures!)

Up next...Epcot and going home!

 

[Mrs T 2009]

Yay! Glad you got to ride ToT a couple times!
And another flat Stanley picture too!!

Ah Epcot is a great park to end a vacation in!
Never been to Via Napoli yet, but maybe someday soon!

I'm trying to think of where you want to get a treat... I have a few ideas!!! Haha

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Yay for getting to ride TOT before you left!!!

Epcot is pretty much the last park of our trips too. And the first park. And the one we frequent the most in between...

 

[marDgreen88]

I'm so glad you got your ride on Tower of Terror!!!

Ughhhhh ugh ugh I hate leaving. SO MUCH. There are few things that I hate. But that is one of the few. SIGHHHHH!

Omg, how cool that you could get into Via Napoli! Your pizza looks really good!

 

[407-W-DISNEY]

Yeah for you getting to ride ToT. I am too afraid of ToT..lol
We loved via napoli, yummy. And yeah for the walk-up. On our last trip I noticed that you could walk into a few restaurants and get seated. My dh thinks maybe they are starting to hold more tables for walk-ups????
The last day is so sad. I hate the last day! Thats awesome you have a late flight home! It really makes a difference...
I hope you find all the items you want in november, and if you see something new that you like, get it!!!

 

[wdwgirl03]

Yay for one last ride on Tower of Terror! I love that shirt.

Mmmm, Via Napoli pizza sounds good right about now.

Sad it's almost over but atleast your next trip isn't too far off.

 

[MEK]

Yeah - you got to ride ToT twice. That's awesome. Cool picture of ToT with the tree in front of it. I like that. Nice!

How can is already be D-day? Didn't you just get there???

 

[DisneyDreamerMN]

That pizza looks so good! I am glad it ended up being a good last minute decision.

Oh the last days are so hard! I wish we could all fast forward the whole airport thing and just be home so you can get started on missing Disney.

 

[KatMark]

So happy that you got to ride TOT twice. I'm with you on this one, Jen, as I too love TOT.

Glad Flat Stanley got his picture taken with the hat.

You really got lucky getting into Via Napoli as a walk-in; your pizza looks yummy (how I wish I could eat pizza ).

I have a feeling I know where you end up for dessert.

 

[jenseib]

mmmm....I coul gop for some pizza right now

 

[Shannon84]

That pizza look sooo good!!

I always want something at ToT, but I can never find the right item

 

[smile4stamps]

The Via Nappoli Pizza looks so good! I just think that is winning out over Le Cellier in which ADR I will keep for next month (so exciting to be able to say NEXT MONTH!)

So glad you got to ride ToT And with minimal waits! Even sweeter!!

 

[Self_resqing_princz]

The only place I've ever eaten in Epcot is 7 dragons and the fish & chips place in England... I think I may have had something from the bakery- and go ahead with the pitchforks- but nothing there ever looks that good to me.

I would love to eat in France... do they have a place to eat there? How terrible am I that I don't know?! I've had an orange slush from the cart in France and a margarita from a stand in Mexico, but that's it. I usually eat at seasons. I just like the atmosphere in there.

 

[Missyrose]

I'm totally loving this "best of the parks" final day dash. That would be fun for each of us to pick one attraction in each park for the last day and hit all four parks for it. It would be awesome, exhausting, but awesome.

The pizza from Via Napoli looks delicious, I'm excited to FINALLY eat there in October. I'm sure the linguini looked equally as amazing.

I like the idea of finishing every trip with the same park. That's one of my favorite things about reading TRs, finding out everyone's own Disney traditions.

 

[Dugette]

Glad you got in a couple of rides on your beloved Tower of Terror!

Very cool that you got a walk-in at Via Napoli! We love it there, the pizza is so good!

Sad that you're on your last park of the trip, though.

 

[IheartDDuck]

Three parks in one day before an 8pm flight? That's crazy! And impressive I must say. I don't think I would even attempt that.

That was a great idea to visit your home away from home for breakfast on your last day. And avoiding MK parking is always wise.

Mmmmm.....cheese danish.......my favorite.

Great balloon picture!

A wall of Donalds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You know I'm dying inside.....they look soooooo flipping cute!

I want one of those pillow pets so badly. I look at them every time.

It's really hard to keep the chapter creativity going, isn't it? I'm always like....uuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhh.........

Woo hoo, Tower of Terror! Who cares about rain!?

I never learn my lesson with the buying of things at Disney either. I always think they'll have it again.

Bunny butt!! That picture was just so cute.

I'm super excited to try Via Napoli in November.

 

[Nermel9]

Yay! Glad you got to ride ToT a couple times!
And another flat Stanley picture too!!

Ah Epcot is a great park to end a vacation in!
Never been to Via Napoli yet, but maybe someday soon!

I'm trying to think of where you want to get a treat... I have a few ideas!!! Haha

Yay, me too!

I love ending our trips at Epcot! It would be weird not to! Via Napoli is really good, you should definitely try it someday!

Haha, well I am pretty predictable!

Yay for getting to ride TOT before you left!!!

Epcot is pretty much the last park of our trips too. And the first park. And the one we frequent the most in between...

Yay, I'm so glad we went back just to do that!

Haha, yeah, that's how we are with Epcot...I love the other parks, but I just have to be in Epcot the most!

I'm so glad you got your ride on Tower of Terror!!!

Ughhhhh ugh ugh I hate leaving. SO MUCH. There are few things that I hate. But that is one of the few. SIGHHHHH!

Omg, how cool that you could get into Via Napoli! Your pizza looks really good!

Yay, me too! I would have been so sad if we left and I didn't get to ride it!

Ugh I know. Leaving Disney is the worst!

Via Napoli is so good, I loved that pizza! It was nice that we could get in without an ADR!

Yeah for you getting to ride ToT. I am too afraid of ToT..lol
We loved via napoli, yummy. And yeah for the walk-up. On our last trip I noticed that you could walk into a few restaurants and get seated. My dh thinks maybe they are starting to hold more tables for walk-ups????
The last day is so sad. I hate the last day! Thats awesome you have a late flight home! It really makes a difference...
I hope you find all the items you want in november, and if you see something new that you like, get it!!!

Haha, oh no, you're afraid of ToT? You should really try it, nothing bad will happen, there are lap belts and things to hold on to and everything! it's so much fun!

Huh I never thought of that, maybe they are! That would be good if they were doing that, since everything books up so quickly!

Thanks! All I really want in November is one of those pillows...and maybe an ornament or two...

Yay for one last ride on Tower of Terror! I love that shirt.

Mmmm, Via Napoli pizza sounds good right about now.

Sad it's almost over but atleast your next trip isn't too far off.

I know that shirt is so cute! I really need to own some Tower of Terror merchandise, all I have is a mug!

I love Via Naploli, it would be nice if I could squeeze it into our November trip!

I know, only a couple more months!

 

[Nermel9]

Yeah - you got to ride ToT twice. That's awesome. Cool picture of ToT with the tree in front of it. I like that. Nice!

How can is already be D-day? Didn't you just get there???

I'm glad we went back to ride ToT, I don't think my trip would have been complete without a couple of rides on there! Thanks!

Haha, well, it's still 2 months away! I wish it was tomorrow or something! I'm ready to go!

That pizza looks so good! I am glad it ended up being a good last minute decision.

Oh the last days are so hard! I wish we could all fast forward the whole airport thing and just be home so you can get started on missing Disney.

It was really good, I'm glad we decided to go there!

I know, the last day at Disney is the worst! I'm glad we were able to spend some time in the parks though, instead of just going home!

So happy that you got to ride TOT twice. I'm with you on this one, Jen, as I too love TOT.

Glad Flat Stanley got his picture taken with the hat.

You really got lucky getting into Via Napoli as a walk-in; your pizza looks yummy (how I wish I could eat pizza ).

I have a feeling I know where you end up for dessert.

Thanks! Isn't ToT the best ride ever?

I know, I couldn't believe we just got right in to Via Napoli! Isn't didn't seem very busy, the first time we went there, there were so many people waiting to be seated, and this time there was no one!

Haha, I'm sure! Like I said, I'm so predictable when it comes to Disney!

mmmm....I coul gop for some pizza right now

Haha, me too! I wish I was in Epcot!

That pizza look sooo good!!

I always want something at ToT, but I can never find the right item

It was really good!

I know, I need more ToT stuff! My problem is, I always run through that shop so I can get right back in line for ToT! I never take the time to look and actually buy something!

 

[Nermel9]

The Via Nappoli Pizza looks so good! I just think that is winning out over Le Cellier in which ADR I will keep for next month (so exciting to be able to say NEXT MONTH!)

So glad you got to ride ToT And with minimal waits! Even sweeter!!

Via Napoli is really good! It's no Le Cellier though! If you have an ADR at Le Cellier, you should really keep it! Le Cellier is amazing!!!

Me too, I love my ToT!

The only place I've ever eaten in Epcot is 7 dragons and the fish & chips place in England... I think I may have had something from the bakery- and go ahead with the pitchforks- but nothing there ever looks that good to me.

I would love to eat in France... do they have a place to eat there? How terrible am I that I don't know?! I've had an orange slush from the cart in France and a margarita from a stand in Mexico, but that's it. I usually eat at seasons. I just like the atmosphere in there.

Haha, well that's ok if you don't think anywhere in Epcot looks good! There are a few places I would never go unless Brandon dragged me kicking and screaming!

There are 2 restaurants in France, I've only eaten at Les Chefs, it was really good from what I remember, but I had a blinding, horrifying migraine when I ate there, so I didn't really appreciate it like I wanted to! Sunshine Seasons is good, nothing wrong with eating there!

I'm totally loving this "best of the parks" final day dash. That would be fun for each of us to pick one attraction in each park for the last day and hit all four parks for it. It would be awesome, exhausting, but awesome.

The pizza from Via Napoli looks delicious, I'm excited to FINALLY eat there in October. I'm sure the linguini looked equally as amazing.

I like the idea of finishing every trip with the same park. That's one of my favorite things about reading TRs, finding out everyone's own Disney traditions.

Haha, thanks! I only wish we had time for Animal Kingdom, 4 parks in one day would have been awesome!

You're going to love Via Napoli, everything I've had there is so good!

I sometimes think I'd like to end a trip at the Magic Kingdom, but then I'd be too sad not to be in Epcot on our last night! It would be nice to say goodbye to the castle one last time though!

Glad you got in a couple of rides on your beloved Tower of Terror!

Very cool that you got a walk-in at Via Napoli! We love it there, the pizza is so good!

Sad that you're on your last park of the trip, though.

Thanks, me too!

I was so happy we got in to Via Napoli, I really liked the pizza!

I know, it is sad this trip is almost over, I'm glad November is almost here!

Three parks in one day before an 8pm flight? That's crazy! And impressive I must say. I don't think I would even attempt that.

That was a great idea to visit your home away from home for breakfast on your last day. And avoiding MK parking is always wise.

Mmmmm.....cheese danish.......my favorite.

Great balloon picture!

A wall of Donalds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You know I'm dying inside.....they look soooooo flipping cute!

I want one of those pillow pets so badly. I look at them every time.

It's really hard to keep the chapter creativity going, isn't it? I'm always like....uuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhh.........

Woo hoo, Tower of Terror! Who cares about rain!?

I never learn my lesson with the buying of things at Disney either. I always think they'll have it again.

Bunny butt!! That picture was just so cute.

I'm super excited to try Via Napoli in November.

I actually liked running around to each park and only staying for a little while on the last day, gave me something to focus on and not get too sad that we were leaving later!

I love visiting the WL! I have a feeling we will probably do it on this trip as well!

I love the walls of stuffed animals! I really need to buy a stuffed Daisy someday, she's so adorable! I want a pillow pet too!

Haha, yeah, I don't know what I'm going to do for chapters on my next TR!

When are you going in November? Probably not while I'm there, right?

 

[Nermel9]

The One When We Go Home! ​

Wednesday, May 9, Part 3

Hi everyone! This will be my last actual trip update! I'm sad it's over but at the same time, I'm so looking forward to starting my PTR! And I still have one more update after this one to do the wrap up about this trip and souvenirs and all that!

Brandon and I just finished up our lunch at Via Napoli, and we only had a couple of hours left at Epcot before we had to leave for the airport. I was getting a little sad at that point, and I wanted to drown my sorrows a little bit, but not with alcohol...with caramel. Yep, most people drink to feel better, I eat caramel!

So we stopped by the caramel shop in Germany and I got this lovely little piece of heaven:

Milk chocolate caramel with sea salt. Is there anything better than caramel and salt? YUM!!!

When we left Germany, I thought for some reason I was hearing Illuminations music, but then I thought my mind must have been playing tricks on me or something, because it was only like, 4:00 in the afternoon...then we looked out across the water and saw the bridge was open, and they were bringing out the Illumination barges!

I'm not gonna lie...it was a pretty magical experience for someone who loves Illuminations as much as I do! Hearing the music and seeing them get ready for it later was amazing! I'm never in Epcot at that time so it was a nice surprise!

Once the bridge was back down, we kept walking and decided to go on the Gran Fiesta Tour one last time. We had to do at least one attraction while we were in Epcot, and all of the popular things had wait times that were too long. That's part of the reason I love the Gran Fiesta Tour, it's so reliable. You know it's always there, with little or no wait time, ready to take you on your journey through Mexico!

When it was over, we walked back toward Future World. I was thinking maybe I could talk Brandon into Mission Space, but he hates it, so I didn't even bother asking. Then we noticed the Fairy Garden! I loved this part of the F&G festival 2 years ago, so we had to go in and look around!

It is SO cute! It's where Tink and all of her fairy friends hang out, and it's probably the most beautiful part of the Flower and Garden Festival! It has gotten so much bigger and more detailed since I saw it 2 years earlier too, it's amazing!

(Sorry I know that's not the Fairy Garden, I just really liked that picture, it was right next to the fairies!)

Tink!!

Disney Bunny!

I'm not sure who she is, she might be Tink's wintery sister, the one you can meet in MK now?

LOOK! I found the source of where pixie dust comes from!

A pixie dust tree!

I don't know who she is either, but she's purple so I like her!

Sorry for so many Fairy Garden pictures, I just thought that area was really pretty!

When we finished visiting Tink and her friends, it was almost time to leave. We only had time for one more thing, and that was to do some last minute shopping in Mouse Gear.

I love this store! It might be my favorite store in all of the parks, it has everything!

Someday...someday I'm going to buy this snow globe! It is SO beautiful!

I know I bought a few things here, but I can't remember what right now, so hopefully I have pictures!

Unfortunately, after looking around for a little while and making a couple last minute purchases, it really was time to go!

I took one last pictures of my beloved Epcot on the way out

and sadly walked to our car.

Leaving Disney is the worst! Seriously, if I didn't have another trip already planned, I don't know how I would ever be able to leave. I swear, the only reason I'm ever able to drag myself off of Disney property is because I know when I'll be back. I don't know what I'm going to do in February when I go with my sister and niece, because after that, I have no idea when I'll be back!

We left Epcot and within minutes we were already off Disney property. No more purple signs, directing you to the parks or resorts, just boring green signs telling you how to get to the airport.

We arrived at the airport around 6:30 and dropped off our car and grabbed some Chik-Fil-A for dinner, and then went to find our Gate. We didn't have to wait long until we boarded and were on the plane. We sat all the way in the back, the very last row of the plane, which was a huge mistake. There was horrible, horrible turbulence for most of the flight, and sitting it the back makes it seem SO much worse! It was so bad that the pilot even made the flight attendants sit down and wear their seat belts, which of course, I thought was a bad sign, so I freaked out! How I didn't have a full on panic attack is beyond me, but it was probably the worst flight I've ever been on! Lesson learned...sit in the middle of the plane!

Somehow about halfway through the flight I managed to calm myself down, and before i knew it, we were home. Sad to be away from Disney, but again, I'm always happy to get home and sleep in my own bed and see my kitties! AND I already had my next trip booked, so I could just jump right into planning that! There wasn't really any time for post-Disney depression to sink in with this trip, since I already had this November trip booked! If I could always book a bounceback trip, I'd be a happy girl, it almost totally eliminates that dark feeling of despair you get on the drive home from the airport!

And there you have it! Another trip in the books! I'm going to save my thoughts about this trip for my final trip wrap up post which I will do in a couple of days, and then it's on to my November PTR!