WDW vs. the terrible twos- and the verdict is... trip update 2/12

DH and I had played a few rounds of SotMK on our April trip and really enjoyed it. I was surprised at how much fun I had, because that type of game is usually not my thing. I was also interested in attempting to collect a complete set of cards, so I needed to pick up a new pack every time I entered the MK.
I think I might have to give this a shot when we go. About how long does it take to do each mission?

I am the worst mother ever
(no I did not buy him a sword)
:rolleyes1

This ride was pretty much a walk on, and I wanted to get it over with, because DS can’t walk by it without wanting to ride.
:headache: I think we're going to be the same way this time with the Dumbo/Carpets/Triceratops. I wouldn't have thought he'd remember our trip last year that well, but he knows we're going soon and all he talks about is how he's "cited to ride Dumbo."

While we were on the ride a photopass photographer was snapping pictures of us riding, which I didn’t realize until we got off the ride.
That's kind of cool! :thumbsup2

So, I resorted to a bad mom moment. I got the paci out of the diaper bag and gave it to him. Immediately there was a 360 change in his behavior, all tears ceased and suddenly he was very interested in watching the show. I’m not proud of it, but sometimes at Disney, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. It didn’t help that it had been a long day and he didn’t get a great nap.
:confused3 I can't fault you for that. You've got to do what you've got to do. Otherwise you're the evil, horrible parent who is bothering everyone else around you. :headache:

Truthfully, I wish we had somethig like this we could resort to for DS. He was never much of a paci taker. I don't think he ever used one after he was about 1 or 1 1/2. Sometimes it would be nice to have that magic "plug" to stick in there when we're on the verge of a meltdown. :rolleyes1

DD on the other hand, reminds me of Maggie Simpson. She'll probably still have hers when she's 10.:rotfl2:


All in all, I'd say it was a good afternoon at the MK. I just hope the stroller didn't disappear while you were exploring Adventureland.
 
Glad you enjoyed your solo time in the MK. We haven't tried out the Sorcerer's of the MK game yet, but it sure looks like fun!

I'm not sure how I feel about the water features either. My major problem is that I usually only bring one change of clothes for DS. So if he plays in them once- fine. But what happens if we walk by them a second time!?!?

I hope you find that stroller! And I hope its just the usual case of 'Disney moved it' and not really missing! I always walk back to exactly where I left it expecting it to be right there, and it never is!
 
What a nice afternoon (meltdowns aside-but that's living with a toddler right?)!

I've heard of the pin stroller at AK, but never at MK-I think it's pretty funny.

We've got to SoMK next trip. It sounds like a lot of fun. Criss crossing Main Street on a busy days sounds like it could be a nightmare though.

I totally understand your purse dilemma. DH hates shopping for purses with me because I'm the same way. Disappointing when you're expecting to love one though. That new design is awesome-I was hoping that they'd have some less expensive ones so that we could get one for MiL for Christmas (I love her, but am not going to drop $250 on her Christmas gift :lmao:)

Love that they were taking PP pics on the ride! That's great for families with younger kids. We never get any ride photos because Maddie is too short - or too scared- of all the PP rides.

Awesome JC pixie dust too!

Welcome to the bad moms club. We don't use a paci anymore-just sugar. :rotfl:
 
SotMK sounds like a great way to kill time while your DS napped. Alex and I have gotten the cards for it twice now, but we've never actually played it. Maybe one day I'll actually have to give it a try...:confused3


How fantastic that you had a great JC experience. That attraction really depends on a good skipper, and when you do land one, it makes for such an entertaining ride. :goodvibes
 

Owww... Disney goes crazy with their stroller moving...

Nice CM getting you on JC...:goodvibes

I've been eyeing Dooney's for a while... waiting for the "perfect" one... the pattern on those is great... curious to see if you get one...

Mean Mommy making Everett taking pictures before getting on the ride...;) and to think he doesn't realize he has years of this ahead of him... He is too cute...
 
Episode 4: Panic! at the stroller parking

If you guys remember, we had last seen my stroller before riding the magic carpets. I parked it in the stroller parking by the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, in the area clearly marked STROLLER PARKING, in faux bamboo lettering. I had also taken the precaution of locking one of the back wheels to the frame, so that it would be a PITA to roll long distances and hopefully a foil to any would be thief.

Imagine my surprise when I walked back over to the stroller park, and did not see hide nor hair of my stroller. I looked around, I walked around the corner, I walked down near JC, but NO STROLLER! There were other strollers, but not mine. At this point I began to silently panic, “oh my gosh, I’ve lost my new stroller within the first hours of my trip, Mark is going to kill me after all the money I spent, what am I going to do with no stroller for the rest of the week, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!”

Logically I knew I had locked it, but really the g-luxe is such a lightweight stroller, it could be very easily carried away, without even rolling it. You could have probably folded it up and just carried it out of the MK easy-peasy. :scared:

At this point my phone is ringing and its my mom, she is standing in front of the CP and wondering where we are. My words come out all in one giant rush- “OHMYGOSH I LOST THE STROLLER, IDON’TKNOW WHERE IT IS, IT MIGHT BE STOLEN” ! At which point my mom tells me to calm down and that she would come help me look for it. I started wandering further afield, down past the dreaded water tikis of doom, down to the stroller parking outside of Pirates (nope not there) and eventually wandered under the awning of pirates, in a last ditch effort to find my stroller.

There, off to the left, in a kinda obscure corner, was my stroller! It was like the clouds parted and the angels sang and I was *this close* to getting down on my knees and hugging it! Oh stroller, let us never be parted again!

It still baffles me why some CM decided to drag my stroller (with the locked back wheel) all the way from the legit stroller parking at the treehouse, to the dubious looking stroller parking at pirates. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen CM moving strollers OUT from under the over hang at pirates to the clearly marked stroller parking outside. Why on earth would someone do the opposite!

Oh well, I called my mom to let her know that the stroller was safely recovered and we met up on the bridge to adventureland en route to CP.

We were a little early for our ADR ,which I managed to snag at the very last minute due to extreme ADR stalking (airing on TLC this fall :rotfl2:)- but Everett was fading fast and I went to check us in to see if they could seat us early.

The woman was very nice about it, and told us she would see what she could do, and not two minutes after receiving our pager it was going off and we were ushered inside.

Now, I know I should have been taking pictures, but I was hungry (third trimester- don’t judge! :p), and I knew we had a limited window with Everett being amenable to eating, so I put the camera away and concentrated on getting everyone fed.

The characters started coming around quickly, but honestly, Everett wanted to part of them. It wasn’t that he was scared, he was just tired and cranky, and frankly not interested- which pretty much persisted throughout the trip. If I asked him if he wanted to meet a character his response was always “No, I fine”, but if a character went up to him, he very happily interacted with him. This might be a spoiler, but the Chef Mickey characters were much better at this than the Pooh characters at CP. The characters at CP just seemed so rushed that I waved them on, not even bothering to try.

I made my first trip to the buffet for DS, bringing back kid friendly staples such as mac and cheese and chicken strips. I got the DVD player set up, and DS chose the Aristocats, and very happily ate his food while watching his beloved kitty cats. While I started feeding DS, my mom when and got her first plate and then we switched.

IMG_0579.jpg


I had never had dinner there before, and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it . I didn’t have high expectations, but I loved the edamame salad with ginger and seaweed, and the peel and eat shrimp weren’t bad either. The buffet wasn’t anything overwhelmingly spectacular, but it wasn’t awful and I’d certainly eat there again. My mom pretty much agreed with me, even though she stuck with more pedestrian fare like salad and roasted turkey.

IMG_0578.jpg


One part Everett really did enjoy was the Friendship day parade. At first he didn’t seem like he wanted any part of it, but when he saw the other kids lined up and marching, well that sealed the deal. He always wants to do what other kids are doing. He and my mom got up and marched around with Pooh and friends, and he had the biggest grin on his face.

We then had dessert (once again I blanked on what we were eating, what can I say, dining reviews aren’t my thing), settled the bill and were on our way. I’d say we were in and out in a little over an hour, we’d probably have been out earlier if I wasn’t dead set on eating my weight in shrimp (third trimester- don’t judge!) .

Me and DS on the way out
IMG_0580.jpg


When we left the Halloween party had started so we made our way out quickly. I did make one stop at city hall to buy the tickets for the Halloween party on the 28th, and I’m really glad I did because it ended up selling out! I was able to buy five tickets with the military discount, for me, my mom, and my friends Bryan, Amy and Shane.
We then hopped on the monorail and in no time we were back at our CR room (oh how I was spoiled!).

Now came the trickiest part of the evening- putting Everett to bed. While me and DS were at the MK, my mom had set up the daybed, cleverly using all available furniture to rig a bedrail across the top of the daybed (so he wouldn’t fall out the top), and also one on the side of the daybed (so he wouldn’t fall out the side). He seemed pretty happy with the results and climbed right in.

The only problem was that he showed no sign of actually wanting to lay down and go to sleep. He kept talking and singing and popping his head up to look at me, and finally I got the idea that if I pretended to go to sleep, he might do the same. My mom had already left the room to go sit in the lounge log into work and she what she missed in the evening, and I turned out all the lights and got into bed myself.

That did the trick, even though he tossed and turned for a bit, he did lay down and eventually fell asleep- success!

My mom came back a little later and both of us were able to go outside on the balcony to watch Hallowishes, which was indescribably awesome. Being able to watch from the comfort of your balcony, with your little man tucked away in dreamland inside was beyond my wildest expectations. I did worry a little that the fireworks would wake him, but he slept right through.

I couldn’t believe that I managed to stay awake that late after an early morning and busy afternoon, and I soon joined DS in snoozeland. I did have a nagging worry in the back of my head that he wouldn’t sleep through the night, but my fears were unfounded, I didn’t hear a peep from him until 7am! Which is very close to a world record sleep in for my DS!

Next up- a whole day at MK!
 
I think I might have to give this a shot when we go. About how long does it take to do each mission?

:headache: I think we're going to be the same way this time with the Dumbo/Carpets/Triceratops. I wouldn't have thought he'd remember our trip last year that well, but he knows we're going soon and all he talks about is how he's "cited to ride Dumbo."

:confused3 I can't fault you for that. You've got to do what you've got to do. Otherwise you're the evil, horrible parent who is bothering everyone else around you. :headache:

Truthfully, I wish we had somethig like this we could resort to for DS. He was never much of a paci taker. I don't think he ever used one after he was about 1 or 1 1/2. Sometimes it would be nice to have that magic "plug" to stick in there when we're on the verge of a meltdown. :rolleyes1

DD on the other hand, reminds me of Maggie Simpson. She'll probably still have hers when she's 10.:rotfl2:

All in all, I'd say it was a good afternoon at the MK. I just hope the stroller didn't disappear while you were exploring Adventureland.

It probably takes about 20 minutes to do a mission, but that can be increased if you are doing it doing a popular time and there are lines at the portals.

Those spinner rides are like capnip to toddlers, it is a pitfall!

Oh my gosh, Everett is totally going to be Maggie Simpson, I'll have to be wrestling that paci out of his hands when I send him off to college! :rotfl2:

Glad you enjoyed your solo time in the MK. We haven't tried out the Sorcerer's of the MK game yet, but it sure looks like fun!

I'm not sure how I feel about the water features either. My major problem is that I usually only bring one change of clothes for DS. So if he plays in them once- fine. But what happens if we walk by them a second time!?!?

I hope you find that stroller! And I hope its just the usual case of 'Disney moved it' and not really missing! I always walk back to exactly where I left it expecting it to be right there, and it never is!

SotMK is really fun, I'd suggest giving it a try! I hear you about the extra outfits, I usually bring only one too. I would bring his bathing suit if we were planning on playing in the water features for an extended period of time.

What a nice afternoon (meltdowns aside-but that's living with a toddler right?)!

I've heard of the pin stroller at AK, but never at MK-I think it's pretty funny.

We've got to SoMK next trip. It sounds like a lot of fun. Criss crossing Main Street on a busy days sounds like it could be a nightmare though.

I totally understand your purse dilemma. DH hates shopping for purses with me because I'm the same way. Disappointing when you're expecting to love one though. That new design is awesome-I was hoping that they'd have some less expensive ones so that we could get one for MiL for Christmas (I love her, but am not going to drop $250 on her Christmas gift :lmao:)

Love that they were taking PP pics on the ride! That's great for families with younger kids. We never get any ride photos because Maddie is too short - or too scared- of all the PP rides.

Awesome JC pixie dust too!

Welcome to the bad moms club. We don't use a paci anymore-just sugar. :rotfl:

Have you checked disneystore online- they might have one of the new ones in the mini barrel size for about $100, that still isn't cheap though!


SotMK sounds like a great way to kill time while your DS napped. Alex and I have gotten the cards for it twice now, but we've never actually played it. Maybe one day I'll actually have to give it a try...:confused3

How fantastic that you had a great JC experience. That attraction really depends on a good skipper, and when you do land one, it makes for such an entertaining ride. :goodvibes

You guys should give it a shot, I bet you'd enjoy it, and if you don't you could just stop at anytime.

Owww... Disney goes crazy with their stroller moving...

Nice CM getting you on JC...:goodvibes

I've been eyeing Dooney's for a while... waiting for the "perfect" one... the pattern on those is great... curious to see if you get one...

Mean Mommy making Everett taking pictures before getting on the ride...;) and to think he doesn't realize he has years of this ahead of him... He is too cute...

Poor kid, I think he thought I wasn't going to let him ride. I may be mean, but I'm not that mean! :rotfl:
 
Ooohh..I didn't know PP photgraphers took photos of people whilst on rides. That's really cool that they did that.

I can't believe that they moved your stroller so far away. I would have been panicking too, at least you found it eventually, phew!

Not been to Crystal Palace before and have booked it for a brunch on our flight home day. I have booked so many character meals so I hope my two are ok with the characters, they were fine in February this year but they are both so fickle and change their minds about what they like and don't like constantly!
 
I think you are so brave going to WDW with a 2 yr old and also being pregnant. I am not sure I would have been able to handle that. Those military tickets provide an amazing discount. My sister's DH flies helicopters in the Army and she could get this amazing discount, but I just can't get her to go. Just not what she wants to spend her money on. I am glad WDW provides those for our military and their families. I saw through my sister how hard it is for your husband to be deployed for so long. And I would like to thank you and your family for your time and sacrifice for our great nation.
 
I can't believe your stroller disappeared like that. I would have been thinking the same - DH is going to kill me for losing it. So glad it turned up.

I love CP. It's my favorite buffet. Too bad that Everett wasn't really into the characters, but its great that he still interacted with them. Big thumbs up to lots of shrimp :thumbsup2 No judgement here!

I love the way you tricked him into going to sleep and then got to watch hallowishes from the balcony. Perfection.
 
Glad you found your stroller! I would have been freaking out too!

I've only been to CP for breakfast. I enjoy it but just feel that you don't get as many options there as other buffets for the price.

I'm a big Pooh fan though and I love the before opening ADR's so I'm still a sucker for it! LOL
 
Oh gosh. That stroller drama doesn't sound fun! That's just bizarre that someone would move it. :confused3

Glad you enjoyed your CP dinner! Yum!

Watching Hallowishes from your balcony sounds perfect. AHHH. :cloud9: That Contemporary.
 
I fell a couple of updates behind but am all caught up now. How great that DS slept and you got to do the Sorcerer's game.

I have to agree with you. I had planned on one D&B bag, if not two. I was not in love with any of them. And for the price they charge, if I'm not in love, I'm not buying.

Sorry to hear the stroller went missing, but glad you found it. Why in the world the CM would move it if it was in a legit spot is beyond me. Unless someone moved yours and put theirs in that "legit" spot and yours ended up elsewhere because of it.

So glad you and DS got on a few rides that afternoon before your dinner.

And how great that you and mom got to see Hallowishes from your balcony.
 
Your stroller being moved sounds like a scary moment!!! Thankfully you found it!

Hahahahaha I would ABSOLUTELY watch Extreme ADR Stalking!!! It sounds like it would be an excellent show!! :thumbsup2

Glad to hear you had a good meal at CP!!
 
Ooohh..I didn't know PP photgraphers took photos of people whilst on rides. That's really cool that they did that.

I can't believe that they moved your stroller so far away. I would have been panicking too, at least you found it eventually, phew!

Not been to Crystal Palace before and have booked it for a brunch on our flight home day. I have booked so many character meals so I hope my two are ok with the characters, they were fine in February this year but they are both so fickle and change their minds about what they like and don't like constantly!

I thought it was pretty cool too, I wish they would do it at dumbo!

I enjoy CP breakfast, and I have found that the characters are really understanding if they kids are wary. They had no problems doing a quick wave and then bypassing our table. Actually I think they were pleased, because the handlers looked so frazzled and behind schedule! :scared:

I think you are so brave going to WDW with a 2 yr old and also being pregnant. I am not sure I would have been able to handle that. Those military tickets provide an amazing discount. My sister's DH flies helicopters in the Army and she could get this amazing discount, but I just can't get her to go. Just not what she wants to spend her money on. I am glad WDW provides those for our military and their families. I saw through my sister how hard it is for your husband to be deployed for so long. And I would like to thank you and your family for your time and sacrifice for our great nation.

My DH is a helicopter pilot too! He is on a non-flying deployment this time around, but he did two prior flying deployments. It is really great that the military extends discounts to the military, it does give us options (like staying at the contemporary) that otherwise would not be open to us. Its too bad your sis doesn't want to go, I'm sure you all would have fun!

I can't believe your stroller disappeared like that. I would have been thinking the same - DH is going to kill me for losing it. So glad it turned up.

I love CP. It's my favorite buffet. Too bad that Everett wasn't really into the characters, but its great that he still interacted with them. Big thumbs up to lots of shrimp :thumbsup2 No judgement here!

I love the way you tricked him into going to sleep and then got to watch hallowishes from the balcony. Perfection.

Dh wasn't thrilled with me buying a new stroller anyway (he figured the one I had would suffice) and the thought that I had lost it after just a few hours, he would have been angry! :furious:

Sometimes I feel like Everett is smarter than me, but at least this time I was able to outsmart him. :rotfl:

Glad you found your stroller! I would have been freaking out too!

I've only been to CP for breakfast. I enjoy it but just feel that you don't get as many options there as other buffets for the price.

I'm a big Pooh fan though and I love the before opening ADR's so I'm still a sucker for it! LOL

Yes, it is expensive, and I'm glad we did it once. I wanted to do sit down meals this times so I could try to keep up a balanced diet (vegetable are scarce at CS), but I also had to make sure where we were eating was fast and very kid friendly. CP was really convenient and he wasn't the worst behaved kid there! :rotfl2:
 
Oh gosh. That stroller drama doesn't sound fun! That's just bizarre that someone would move it. :confused3

Glad you enjoyed your CP dinner! Yum!

Watching Hallowishes from your balcony sounds perfect. AHHH. :cloud9: That Contemporary.

I'm so glad that you also share my Contemporary love! :lovestruc

I fell a couple of updates behind but am all caught up now. How great that DS slept and you got to do the Sorcerer's game.

I have to agree with you. I had planned on one D&B bag, if not two. I was not in love with any of them. And for the price they charge, if I'm not in love, I'm not buying.

Sorry to hear the stroller went missing, but glad you found it. Why in the world the CM would move it if it was in a legit spot is beyond me. Unless someone moved yours and put theirs in that "legit" spot and yours ended up elsewhere because of it.

So glad you and DS got on a few rides that afternoon before your dinner.

And how great that you and mom got to see Hallowishes from your balcony.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who felt that way about the new D&B prints. I've pretty much loved every one that they have released previously (except for the multi-colored Mickey), so I was surprised I wasn't "wowed" by the new print. The colors just didn't appeal to me along with the size, and I completely agree, if I don't LOVE something, I'm not going to spend $200+

Joining in!
I'll try not to lurk too much.....

Thank you for joining in! I understand if you lurk, sometimes its tough to keep up! :)

Your stroller being moved sounds like a scary moment!!! Thankfully you found it!

Hahahahaha I would ABSOLUTELY watch Extreme ADR Stalking!!! It sounds like it would be an excellent show!! :thumbsup2

Glad to hear you had a good meal at CP!!

We're going to need people to star on our new TLC show, will you and Wingnut be willing to sign up! ;):rotfl2:
 
All caught up missed episode 3 somehow,but thanks for putting links on the first page, VERY helpful! Is the SoMK a long game? It seems like what you described wasn't too terribly long. Maybe something I'd like to try.

The missing stroller! I've never had more anxiety then thinking our stroller might go missing. From the gate checking before boarding the plane to holding my breathe walking off the plane praying it is in one piece. And don't get me started on the stroller parking! I'm the first one to want to ditch the stroller to go on a ride, but then again more breathe holding to make sure it is there when we return!
 
I hate when they move the strollers, and Adventureland is the worst! Last trip we spent so long searching all of the Pirates area 'parking lots' for ours. I'm really glad that you found it.

I'm glad you enjoyed your dinner at CP! Too bad Everett didn't care much about the characters, but at least you had a good meal.

How wonderful to watch the fireworks from the comfort of your room. Awesome that Everett slept so well for you too!
 
There, off to the left, in a kinda obscure corner, was my stroller!
That is so frustrating. I'm glad you were able to find it though. I always try to put our stroller in the very back of the stroller parking against a rail/wall/etc and in a corner if possible. I've found that they aren't as likely to move it in those situations as they are if it is in a row that isn't against anything. My theory could be proven completely wrong in a few weeks too though.:confused3

I made my first trip to the buffet for DS, bringing back kid friendly staples such as mac and cheese and chicken strips. I got the DVD player set up, and DS chose the Aristocats, and very happily ate his food while watching his beloved kitty cats.
Great idea... :thumbsup2

(third trimester- don’t judge!)
I'm sensing a pattern here... :rotfl2::rotfl::lmao:

Don't worry, I won't judge. I do the same thing and your excuse is a heck of a lot better than "I'm on vacation."

My mom came back a little later and both of us were able to go outside on the balcony to watch Hallowishes, which was indescribably awesome. Being able to watch from the comfort of your balcony, with your little man tucked away in dreamland inside was beyond my wildest expectations.
That sounds like a perfect end to the day. Gotta love that room upgrade! :thumbsup2
 














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