Wait, weren't you just at Disney World? An August '14 Pre-Trip Report *updated 8/24*

[Villainess]

Joining in!

Yeah! I love CR - when I was young, my parents and I stayed there with a MK view - it was magical and both Peter and Olivia I'm sure will love it!

Congrats on baby Emma - I hope mom-to-be is doing well!

I've never done an edited video either; have stuck to photos and montages set to music, but after watching the video Fantasyland_Mom's DH put together, I'm pondering if I could whip something up 1/2 as good. If you haven't seen it - take a look.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Joining in!

Yeah! I love CR - when I was young, my parents and I stayed there with a MK view - it was magical and both Peter and Olivia I'm sure will love it!

Congrats on baby Emma - I hope mom-to-be is doing well!

I've never done an edited video either; have stuck to photos and montages set to music, but after watching the video Fantasyland_Mom's DH put together, I'm pondering if I could whip something up 1/2 as good. If you haven't seen it - take a look.

Welcome and thanks for joining!

Thank you for asking - Judi is doing quite well. Recently passed her glucose test, which she was happy about.

Thanks for the link - very aware of Jenn's videos, they do a great job! Loved her previous one too - especially the part focussed on the Poly with the song from Lilo and Stitch in the background!

 

[khaleesi]

Using that song is a great idea ... only thing is, that is the song I used the last time behind the photo montage

http://youtu.be/rkE9yLEcW40

Thanks for sharing that!!! That song makes me so freaking happy!

I LOVE the alphabet idea!! Really cool!!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Thanks for sharing that!!! That song makes me so freaking happy!

I LOVE the alphabet idea!! Really cool!!

thanks! I love that song too - as do my kids ... especially the "whoo - hoooo" part

Glad you like the idea -> I've actually started to work on it, just to see if it is possible and I think it will work out well! Challenge will be getting enough Q and X related images. Thinking for at least those I will also just look for letters on signs (like taking the "X" from the "Here you exit .... " sign)

 

[annie170]

Congrats on the Contemporary upgrade! That will be so convenient for you and your family!

Love your alphabet photo idea!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Congrats on the Contemporary upgrade! That will be so convenient for you and your family!

Love your alphabet photo idea!

Thanks! We are really looking forward to it!

I'm excited about the alphabet photo - but starting to get nervous it won't turn out that great after this build up

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Pre Trip Report: Part 15 - Visit to the Museum​

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Thought I would just share some photos form a trip we took this past Sunday into NYC to got to the American Museum of Natural History and then out to dinner.

The kids were very excited to see the dinosaurs and when we mentioned the Butterfly Conservatory part, Olivia got really excited.

We drove in and parked at the Museum - shockingly their $44 charge for parking was fairly competitive for the area.

We had a set slot for the butterflies, so first we had to look at the more boring parts of the museum, but the kids had fun looking at the North American Animals:

Bears:

Jaguars:

and Jack Rabbits - oh my!

They also enjoyed the mineral and gems room as they could run around a bit and go up ramps and down stairs, etc. .... plus they had this giant purple stone that Olivia of course loved:

and then a trip through biodiversity and a huge slice from an old tree and of course the Blue Whale:

Then to see the dinosaurs and other pre-historic bones:

Peter was adamant that he needed to touch the touch-screens:

Eventually it was our time to go into the butterfly exhibit which was really cool as there are just tons of butterflies flying around you which you can't help but photograph, so here are a ton of photos:

This was one of the workers there who showed us up close a butterfly that was drinking from the orange. He also explained that most butterflies don't like fruit but the ones that do like fruit that is old/fermented - so the juice they drink actually makes them drunk and they start flying all wobbly like ... which I found way funnier than I probably should

This was apparently a super rare butterfly from Australia - was very beautiful when it was flying:

It was getting close to time to leave and Olivia was getting distraught that a butterfly had not landed on her yet. Fortunately a nice woman helped pass her one (and the worker knowingly looked the other way) so she got to have one on her finger which basically made her year:

After the butterflies we explored the gift shop - for some reason Olivia was determined to get a rocket set and excitedly told the cashier that the set she was getting came with 5 rockets. Peter got a book and a toy taxi, while Judi and I got some Astronaut ice cream

We then headed to dinner which was just a few blocks away at a place called Sugar and Plumm. Basically it is a fancy ice cream and candy store that also serves really good food and adult drinks

Olivia ordered Chicken Fingers and fries. I had the leftovers a few days later and the chicken was really good!

Peter ordered the mac & cheese with fries. This was really good mac & cheese - it was fairly mild - basically tasted like a really good, really high quality version of Kraft mac & cheese:

For dinner I decided to just get the House Smoked Wings, which are described as "free-range, peanuts, green onion, dry rub, maple bbq" .... OMG these were so good - tons of flavor and the BBQ sauce was super intense!

I also got an adult beverage - the Stay-cation, which is "bacon-infused bourbon, vanilla bean ice cream, chocolate, cold brew coffee" ... my goodness this was good! Strong enough without being overpowering and just tons of great flavors put together. Had to force myself not to drink it too fast

Judi got the Chicken and Waffles which I had a bit of as well. This was excellent - chicken was super moist and it came with a Hot Sauce as well as the maple syrup and I love the whole sweet-and-spicy scenario!

For dessert, the kids each got a cup of ice cream and then Judi got a Cajeta Caramel Crepe which came with goats’ milk caramel, dulce de leche ice cream. She loved this, only issue was they got backed up and it took a long time to come out. Not really sure what they were backed up with as it looked like the crepe area as unmanned at times, but oh well. Definitely worth the wait.

After dinner we headed back home - tired but happy.

All in all it was a really great day - we love getting into the city every couple of months and glad to take the kids to the museum - even if it meant I didn't get to spend as much time with the exhibits as I would have liked.


Oh, and to mention something actually related to the upcoming trip - under 30 days from when I can make FP+

TTFN

 

[Villainess]

What a great day in NYC! I won tickets for admission to the Natural History Museum at a gift auction last month, so a day trip with my kids is in my near future. My daughter would love the butterfly exhibit!

And for the less than 30 days to FP+ ressies!!! I made mine this morning!

 

[emmysmommy]

Hi Phil! I may venture a guess that if start staying Deluxe now you'll justify staying Deluxe in the future! You can't beat the convenience of the monorail resorts. Great choice for that Theme Park View!

Have you seen the resort activities for the CR? They have bonfires and movies under the stars in the evening. Not that you have any extra time in your schedule but if you find any spare time in the evening it may be fun for the kids. I thought of you for the movies since the last time we were there they had Robin Hood in their movie line up.

Dinner at Sugar and Plumm looked really good. People get excited over Disney dining but your dinner looks like something that Disney could aspire to! Judi's chicken and waffles looked much better than the version that I had at Disney's 24 hour party last Friday.

 

[MarbleBob]

Cool mini trip report! I love the giant purple stone. Looks like a chunk of an enormous amethyst geode.

You learn something new every day. I had no idea that butterflies like to get drunk. "Butterfly in the sky... I can go twice as high."

 

[missangelalexis]

Sounds like a great day at the museum, I would love the butterfly exhibit too! The place you went for dinner looks really yummy And yay for being less than 30 days away from making your FP+!!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

What a great day in NYC! I won tickets for admission to the Natural History Museum at a gift auction last month, so a day trip with my kids is in my near future. My daughter would love the butterfly exhibit!

And for the less than 30 days to FP+ ressies!!! I made mine this morning!

The butterfly exhibit really is cool. I love that museum and could spend tons of time there ... little different with two little kids there - they don't really allow you the time to read the details of the exhibits

Hi Phil! I may venture a guess that if start staying Deluxe now you'll justify staying Deluxe in the future! You can't beat the convenience of the monorail resorts. Great choice for that Theme Park View!

Have you seen the resort activities for the CR? They have bonfires and movies under the stars in the evening. Not that you have any extra time in your schedule but if you find any spare time in the evening it may be fun for the kids. I thought of you for the movies since the last time we were there they had Robin Hood in their movie line up.

Yeah Brenda, I am thinking that might happen. Or I could do the truly responsible thing and buy into the DVC

I did see they they offer the bonfires and movies - haven't really looked into the details though. I bet Olivia would enjoy those - maybe if Judi and the baby need a night in I could take the other two down to do that sort of thing.

Dinner at Sugar and Plumm looked really good. People get excited over Disney dining but your dinner looks like something that Disney could aspire to! Judi's chicken and waffles looked much better than the version that I had at Disney's 24 hour party last Friday.

Cool mini trip report! I love the giant purple stone. Looks like a chunk of an enormous amethyst geode.

You learn something new every day. I had no idea that butterflies like to get drunk. "Butterfly in the sky... I can go twice as high."

I think that might be what it was - definitely something amethyst (I am a pretty poor museum visitor for not remembering many details)

Well, you would have know that if you had taken a look .... in a book

Sounds like a great day at the museum, I would love the butterfly exhibit too! The place you went for dinner looks really yummy And yay for being less than 30 days away from making your FP+!!

It was a lot of fun Alexis, thanks! It was quite good - other than the delay in getting Judi's dessert we really liked it!

 

[klacey1]

What a fun day in the city! I also find the idea of drunk butterflies flying around hilarious. Your daughter looks so proud and adorable with the butterfly on her finger!
Those wings look amazing; never tried Sugar and Plumm, but might have to!

 

[Dugette]

Love the NYC update! Fun to see since it's fresh in my memory too. I totally understand not being able to read the signage and all in the museum! Pretty much jogged through the place after Izzy, but we all had a good time. The butterfly exhibit looks neat and Olivia seems to have had a blast. Dinner also looks tasty. I showed Dug your drink and he thought it looked and sounded amazing!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

What a fun day in the city! I also find the idea of drunk butterflies flying around hilarious. Your daughter looks so proud and adorable with the butterfly on her finger!
Those wings look amazing; never tried Sugar and Plumm, but might have to!

The "drunk butterflies" was also super funny just because it was not something expected to hear! Olivia was so happy with it - and we are so glad it happened because, while she was trying to keep it together, she was getting very upset about the idea of having to leave without having a butterfly land on her

The wings were really good - very juicy and spicy without being crazy hot and the BBQ sauce added quite a bit to it! Definitely if you are in the area check it out - it was literally like 1 avenue away from the museum so made it very convenient

Love the NYC update! Fun to see since it's fresh in my memory too. I totally understand not being able to read the signage and all in the museum! Pretty much jogged through the place after Izzy, but we all had a good time. The butterfly exhibit looks neat and Olivia seems to have had a blast. Dinner also looks tasty. I showed Dug your drink and he thought it looked and sounded amazing!

yeah, especially in the mineral and gem room - which is carpeted and has all these ramps and steps and platforms that the kids, especially Peter, just wanted to run around and hide and get me to chase him, etc.

The drink was really good ... didn't get too much bacon flavor but still pretty darn good. Not cheap, but good!

 

[khaleesi]

thanks! I love that song too - as do my kids ... especially the "whoo - hoooo" part

Glad you like the idea -> I've actually started to work on it, just to see if it is possible and I think it will work out well! Challenge will be getting enough Q and X related images. Thinking for at least those I will also just look for letters on signs (like taking the "X" from the "Here you exit .... " sign)

Great idea!! You could pretend "Excalibur" starts with an "x". LOL.

We drove in and parked at the Museum - shockingly their $44 charge for parking was fairly competitive for the area.

That looks like a lot of fun! I love butterfly exhibits. I've been to a couple and got some great pictures at the one I went to in Canada... which reminds me that I really want to watch the DisneyNature movie they did about butterflies. Glad Olivia got to hold one. Super cute!

I love anything with caramel, so glad to hear that Judi's dessert was worth the wait. Nothing worse than waiting an overly long time for something and then being disappointed. She looks great, by the way!

 

[Imagineer5]

The trip to the museum looks like it was a blast! Love butterfly exhibits, they certainly never get old! Speaking of which, one opened up at the providence zoo, I have been meaning to visit! hmm... cute that the employee looked away so she could get have the butterfly on her finger.

So funny about the astronaut ice cream!! OMG! DH thinks I am CRAZY to like it, and it is always a must have for me when going to a museum.

Dinner looks fabulous! I wish Aria would eat mac n cheese! Haha. Chicken fingers are my go-to for her, though I think she'd have really enjoyed the chicken & waffles that Judi had!!

How is she doing??? Almost to her due date!

 

[amberg93]

Museums are so cool. Although I cringed at reading the price. Holy goodness that seems expensive. Then again, maybe I'm just used to things being super cheap. Besides, it seems like it was worth it with how cool it all was.

I'm seriously craving those chicken tenders now though. I want them and that mac and cheese. And the fries. I'd want your drink too but then you mentioned coffee flavored and I'm out

So close for FP+! Got any you're willing to get up extra early for to snatch?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Great idea!! You could pretend "Excalibur" starts with an "x". LOL.

Yeah, there might have to be some stretching on certain letters. Look, a picture of all of us "eXcited"

That looks like a lot of fun! I love butterfly exhibits. I've been to a couple and got some great pictures at the one I went to in Canada... which reminds me that I really want to watch the DisneyNature movie they did about butterflies. Glad Olivia got to hold one. Super cute!

I love anything with caramel, so glad to hear that Judi's dessert was worth the wait. Nothing worse than waiting an overly long time for something and then being disappointed. She looks great, by the way!

Olivia was very excited to get to "hold" a butterfly. Judi was very happy with her dessert - I tried a bit and it was quite good. The salted caramel ice cream specifically was really good. Thanks - I think she looks quite good as well

 

[TheMaxRebo]

The trip to the museum looks like it was a blast! Love butterfly exhibits, they certainly never get old! Speaking of which, one opened up at the providence zoo, I have been meaning to visit! hmm... cute that the employee looked away so she could get have the butterfly on her finger.

So funny about the astronaut ice cream!! OMG! DH thinks I am CRAZY to like it, and it is always a must have for me when going to a museum.

Dinner looks fabulous! I wish Aria would eat mac n cheese! Haha. Chicken fingers are my go-to for her, though I think she'd have really enjoyed the chicken & waffles that Judi had!!

How is she doing??? Almost to her due date!

It really was a fun trip - though I am looking forward to them being a bit older where we can spend some more times with the exhibits but it as still fun! Definitely see about taking Aria to the butterfly exhibit as she will love it and I bet you will be able to put your new photography skills to use!

Oh yeah, we always have to get some astronaut ice cream ... and of course they had a "deal" if you bought three - so, yeah, we bought three

Aria doesn't eat Mac n Cheese? That is one of our kids favorites! Definitely a go to ... and fortunately they are willing to eat like Annie's Organic as well as the Kraft. The chicken and waffles were really good - the chicken had this nice almost beer batter on them. The hot sauce that came with them was great too!

Judi is doing pretty well, though uncomfortable at time. Getting to the point where you can really see her belly move when Emma has the hiccups or something. About 6 weeks out or so. Her due date is July 28th but they have already said they will schedule the c-section for the 21st (she had to have c-sections for the first two kids so no choice for the third ... probably ventured into the TMI zone there a bit)