We braved the 4th!!! AND the rain...and the crowds??? 7/1-7/8 BOOKED NEXT TRIP!!!!

[Tinkerbellie16]

Great update! I felt patriotic just reading it! You look so happy in the photos. I appreciate your patriotic spirit too. I bet it was amazing to be at Epcot that night. And good call on the bench!!

 

[stacikristine]

Hey Nikki!

I just got all caught up on your TR. It's so great!! It looks like you and Tom had the best trip. Your pictures remind me of mine and Michael's--silly pics are just more fun!

Let me see if I can remember everything I wanted to comment on... Your window is GREAT--and I love the new towel animal additions! Your rain jacket pictures on your first night at Epcot are so cute. And I've never seen Mary, Bert, and the Penguins. Your pictures with them are great! The Hippo story is cute too. We felt the same way about the GF--it's just too nice for us. The fireworks cruise (even though it was raining) looks so nice--I really want to try one someday! I had no clue that the Behind the Seeds tour would be so neat. We might have to look into that too!

And what a perfect 4th of July!!! You look like you were just in heaven! I can't believe the crowds were so low. Maybe the rain kept people away. When I was 15, it rained EVERY day of our trip and it really helped keep the crowds low. Also, I know a lot of people probably wanted to be at the MK for their fireworks... But it looks like Epcot was a perfect choice!!

I'm excited to read more!

 

[nmh209]

I love reading your TR's. You have made me beg my DH to take me back to disney next year!

I feel your pain about the rain, we went last May, it down poured, every day except the day we left!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

TS3 was amazing, I loved it so much and the ending was just perfect. Provided they don't make a fourth, that was the perfect way to end it

Loving the updates, WS was eerily empty that day, love it

I love your idea to just sit and take it all in, Dave does too and wants to adopt that approach one day this year

Wasn't TS3 just perfect!?! I really hope that they DON'T make a 4th one because the ending was just too perfect!

Great update! I felt patriotic just reading it! You look so happy in the photos. I appreciate your patriotic spirit too. I bet it was amazing to be at Epcot that night. And good call on the bench!!

Sitting was the best decision we made the whole trip. And it really made the rest of the night that much more enjoyable!

Hey Nikki!

I just got all caught up on your TR. It's so great!! It looks like you and Tom had the best trip. Your pictures remind me of mine and Michael's--silly pics are just more fun!

Let me see if I can remember everything I wanted to comment on... Your window is GREAT--and I love the new towel animal additions! Your rain jacket pictures on your first night at Epcot are so cute. And I've never seen Mary, Bert, and the Penguins. Your pictures with them are great! The Hippo story is cute too. We felt the same way about the GF--it's just too nice for us. The fireworks cruise (even though it was raining) looks so nice--I really want to try one someday! I had no clue that the Behind the Seeds tour would be so neat. We might have to look into that too!

And what a perfect 4th of July!!! You look like you were just in heaven! I can't believe the crowds were so low. Maybe the rain kept people away. When I was 15, it rained EVERY day of our trip and it really helped keep the crowds low. Also, I know a lot of people probably wanted to be at the MK for their fireworks... But it looks like Epcot was a perfect choice!!

I'm excited to read more!

Thanks so much for joining and for all your comments! I really appreciate hearing how you feel about what went on!

I love reading your TR's. You have made me beg my DH to take me back to disney next year!

I feel your pain about the rain, we went last May, it down poured, every day except the day we left!

Haha, glad I could help with your desire to go back next year! Hopefully you can convince your DH!

The rain reeeeally sucked BUT if that is the reason why the crowds were so low than I really can't complaing.

 

[WLfamily]

I don't know if it's the rain keeping the crowds away or what, but you really got lucky on the low attendence factor and nabbing some great seats! I probably won't be so lucky with the crowds next year but I'll keep my fingers crossed. We're planning on staying at the BC and doing Epcot on the 4th just like you did...at least that way we will be in walking distance even if it's crowded. Love that you got to meet Ben! You may be a dork Nikki, but you sure know how to have a good time! Krista said she bets you're a fun teacher.

 

[Luvmepluto]

I just caught back up on the TR!

I can't believe that crowd level. It is amazing....I hope that we have low crowd levels and no rain. A girl can hope! I know it is unlikely. I graduated from the University of Central Florida and I swear it rained everyday at 4:00 in the afternoon.

I am not a huge fan of Soarin......last year, the fast pass was not working when we went and we waited for 180 minutes. I will NEVER do that again. But if I make it in....we will clap in your honor.

Woot woot!!!

 

[dolfinjuls]

LOVED the update! The lack of crowds is just amazing! It sucks it had to come with rain! But it must have been great to walk around pretty much by yourselves in WS!
I do love that tank on you! She really did a great job...maybe I'll get her to make Christmas colors for our MVMCP!
I'm so glad you guys got such a great spot for Illuminations, I'm sure the two of you deserved it the most!

 

[hellokitty86]

I just wanted to chime in about renting DVC points. I tried to rent from a Diser but like you said I felt kind of shady about it and it just never worked out. I found this website- http://www.dvcrequest.com/ Not sure if you've heard of them before or if anybody else suggested it to you. They are sponsored by the Dis. I tried to rent from them but unfortunately I waited too long and our resort choices were booked up, but next trip I plan on booking early because you can find some great deals on deluxe resorts! I had very fast replies from them.The only drawback is you have to pay for your room in full when you book and I like to save up every month and pay off our trip 45 days before like Disney allows. Just thought I was give you that suggestion.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I don't know if it's the rain keeping the crowds away or what, but you really got lucky on the low attendence factor and nabbing some great seats! I probably won't be so lucky with the crowds next year but I'll keep my fingers crossed. We're planning on staying at the BC and doing Epcot on the 4th just like you did...at least that way we will be in walking distance even if it's crowded. Love that you got to meet Ben! You may be a dork Nikki, but you sure know how to have a good time! Krista said she bets you're a fun teacher.

Yeah we got totally lucky with the lack of crowds. It was completely unexpected!

Tell Krista thanks! I try to be a fun teacher when I can!

I just caught back up on the TR!

I can't believe that crowd level. It is amazing....I hope that we have low crowd levels and no rain. A girl can hope! I know it is unlikely. I graduated from the University of Central Florida and I swear it rained everyday at 4:00 in the afternoon.

I am not a huge fan of Soarin......last year, the fast pass was not working when we went and we waited for 180 minutes. I will NEVER do that again. But if I make it in....we will clap in your honor.

Woot woot!!!

I would NEVER wait 180 minutes for ANYTHING!!!!!! Definitely get a FP next time and your opinion of the ride might change!

LOVED the update! The lack of crowds is just amazing! It sucks it had to come with rain! But it must have been great to walk around pretty much by yourselves in WS!
I do love that tank on you! She really did a great job...maybe I'll get her to make Christmas colors for our MVMCP!
I'm so glad you guys got such a great spot for Illuminations, I'm sure the two of you deserved it the most!

Didn't she do an AWESOME job on the shirt?! There is another one too, you'll see soon!!

I just wanted to chime in about renting DVC points. I tried to rent from a Diser but like you said I felt kind of shady about it and it just never worked out. I found this website- http://www.dvcrequest.com/ Not sure if you've heard of them before or if anybody else suggested it to you. They are sponsored by the Dis. I tried to rent from them but unfortunately I waited too long and our resort choices were booked up, but next trip I plan on booking early because you can find some great deals on deluxe resorts! I had very fast replies from them.The only drawback is you have to pay for your room in full when you book and I like to save up every month and pay off our trip 45 days before like Disney allows. Just thought I was give you that suggestion.

Thank you soooo much for that suggestion! I'll definitely check it out!

 

[MissJanice]

Awesome day at Epcot- rain or not. I hope that the rain stops soon. If I remember correctly it got pretty nice here (45 min west of WDW) the rest of the week! But the shirt is awesome!

 

[mdsouth]

April 2010 - (not at Disney but nobody's perfect )

I apologize for hijacking this thread but I need some help with my hair.

I love your hair in the photo above. My hair is as straight as it can be. It always has been. I would love to have my hair look like yours. If I decide to get a perm, I think I will take this photo of you along with me.



To the OP - I am enjoying the report. I am amazed at how small the crowds were on July 3rd and 4th.

Wow! What a difference a year and the rain makes. We were at Disney around the same time as you were but only in 2009 instead of 2010. The third was super busy!

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

Even without pictures I think you've done a beautiful job of "showing" us the special Illuminations and fireworks. It sounds amazing!!! How great that you got to view it all from such a great spot - I guess it was worth 3 and a half hours of waiting! Wonderful update as always!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Awesome day at Epcot- rain or not. I hope that the rain stops soon. If I remember correctly it got pretty nice here (45 min west of WDW) the rest of the week! But the shirt is awesome!

The rain does eventually get better...but it's not over yet!!!

I apologize for hijacking this thread but I need some help with my hair.

I love your hair in the photo above. My hair is as straight as it can be. It always has been. I would love to have my hair look like yours. If I decide to get a perm, I think I will take this photo of you along with me.



To the OP - I am enjoying the report. I am amazed at how small the crowds were on July 3rd and 4th.

Wow! What a difference a year and the rain makes. We were at Disney around the same time as you were but only in 2009 instead of 2010. The third was super busy!

Her hair is cute isn't it? I think she said it is naturally curly and she has been in denial! Haha. Isn't it funny how people who don't have curly hair want it and people who do, DON'T!

Even without pictures I think you've done a beautiful job of "showing" us the special Illuminations and fireworks. It sounds amazing!!! How great that you got to view it all from such a great spot - I guess it was worth 3 and a half hours of waiting! Wonderful update as always!

It really was incredible. It was totally worth it to wait that long for it. In fact, the wait wasn't even a pain at all, it was perfect to sit and relax!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Day 5 - Sleep in, DHS
July 5, 2010​

We had been saying that we were going to "take it easy" this trip but with my fear of crowds, we really were up so early every morning! So since we had successfully made it through the 4ht of July, I let Tom sleep in this morning!

I used to be the kind of person who could sleep all day if you let me but for some reason, the past few years, I just can't sleep in anymore. So I was up at probably 9 (and that's LATE for me!). I went to get coffee, took my logic puzzle book and went to the quiet pool for some good brain building!

This was the day we decided to go to DHS but since it's our lease favorite park, we didn't really care what time we got there! All we knew was that we couldn't stay long because we had dinner reservations for Paradio 37 at 5:30 and had to be at the MK for our Dessert Party at 9.

We were finally on our way to DHS around noon that day...

Tom's fav thing at DHS is Tattoine Traders so that was our first stop. We were hungry for lunch so once we was done shopping, we tried to find some place to eat. First we went through the Streets of America to the place back by the Honey I Shrunk the Audience playground but they had just sandwiches and they did NOT look delicious! But before we left, Tom got some Sangria! Thought it was cool that they sold this there...

With drink in hand, we decided to find someplace else to eat and ended up at the ABC Commissary. We are HUGE Lost fans so we were excited that there was a menu item named after the show!

We split a double cheeseburger...and of course, I forgot to take a picture of it!

I had just a few things that I wanted to do at DHS and going to the Animation Studio to meet Lotso Huggin' Bear was one of them! I reeeally wanted to do the whole tour and animation class and everything (can you believe we've NEVER done it?) but the schedule said there wasn't much time left to meet Lotso, so we just went in the back way and got in line.

This was probably the longest line we waited on! It was maybe 15 minutes but still....it smelled like strawberries!

I'm pretty sure the first thing we did, before going to Tattoine Traders was go and get a FP for TOT so that's where we went next.....

The TOT photopass pic....

The ride on TOT was AWESOME!!! I think they did a new drop sequence as part of summer nighttastic and it was just great! There were a few times where we were completely weightless and it was VERY relaxing! Haha! I LOVE that ride! It's one of my favorites!

We walked around and looked in some of the stores but couldn't really stay much longer because we had to go back and get ready....

So remember Day 1 when I stopped at the WOD to buy my silver mickey ears but they didn't have them? Well, I haven't been mentioning it, but I had been looking for them every single day with absolutely NO luck! I even asked someone who I saw wearing them and she was NO help! But finally, on day 5 as we were walking out of DHS, I found them at Mickey's of Hollywood! Better late than never! I have a feeling I'm going to bring these puppies on every trip with me from now on!

Okay, so every day (mostly twice a day) we'd do the walk from the bus stop to our room on the sidewalk with the parking lot on one side and some bushes on the other. I swear, on this walk, I was telling Tom about the deadly, poisonous snakes that are said to live in these bushes and, I kid you not, as the words were coming out of my mouth...look who we spotted!!!!

When we got back to our room, Georgina had left one more surprise for us.....this was NOT her last one! Stay tuned!

Up Next: RAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!
Paradiso 37 and Wishes Dessert Party

 

[Nermel9]

I just realized I never commented on your update before your DHS update, but I loved your night at Epcot! I love that little seating area by the water, we sat there in May to eat our fish and chips but I never thought of watching Illuminations from there! It sounds like it was a great night, Illuminations must have been amazing!

On to DHS...I know what you mean about sleeping late, I can't do it anymore either, I don't know why, but especially in Disney! I'm just so excited to be there, I don't think my body allows me to sleep late!

Was that Sangria in a bottle good? I love Sangria, I've never seen that before, I might have to go find it when I'm there in November!

Lotso is so cute...evil, but cute! Your pictures with him are adorable!

I'm glad you finally found the silver Minnie ears! That is pretty much what I went through last year to find the holiday Minnie ears, I saw some girl on my first night there wearing them, sparkly red with a green bow and holly on the side, and I wanted them! I searched everywhere, for days, asked every CM I could find, asked people who were wearing them where they got them, and I could not find them! Finally I found them in Mouse Gears and as soon as I bought them, I didn't take them off for the rest of the trip! They are definitely coming with me this November!

Can't wait to hear about the Wishes Dessert Party!

 

[Stefy]

OMG!!! That would have freaked me out seeing that snake

for finding the ears, they looks really cool

Love the Lotso pics too. Although after having seen TS3 not sure if I want to hug him now

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Oh......my.......GOD, I am so STUPID!! I just spend the last 40 mins writing an update about dinner...and the dessert party and just x-ed it out by accident!!!! UUUUGGGGHHHHH!!! That is soooo frustrating!!! Sorry, but I just can't go on today after that! You'll have to wait for dinner at Paradiso at the dessert party until tomorrow.......

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I just realized I never commented on your update before your DHS update, but I loved your night at Epcot! I love that little seating area by the water, we sat there in May to eat our fish and chips but I never thought of watching Illuminations from there! It sounds like it was a great night, Illuminations must have been amazing!

On to DHS...I know what you mean about sleeping late, I can't do it anymore either, I don't know why, but especially in Disney! I'm just so excited to be there, I don't think my body allows me to sleep late!

Was that Sangria in a bottle good? I love Sangria, I've never seen that before, I might have to go find it when I'm there in November!

Lotso is so cute...evil, but cute! Your pictures with him are adorable!

I'm glad you finally found the silver Minnie ears! That is pretty much what I went through last year to find the holiday Minnie ears, I saw some girl on my first night there wearing them, sparkly red with a green bow and holly on the side, and I wanted them! I searched everywhere, for days, asked every CM I could find, asked people who were wearing them where they got them, and I could not find them! Finally I found them in Mouse Gears and as soon as I bought them, I didn't take them off for the rest of the trip! They are definitely coming with me this November!

Can't wait to hear about the Wishes Dessert Party!

Hey! Thanks for your comments! Tom said the sangria was about what you'd think it is...wasn't terrible but wasn't delicious either.

You WOULD have heard about the dessert party shortly if my stupid mouse didn't accidentally click the tab of my post out!!!

OMG!!! That would have freaked me out seeing that snake

for finding the ears, they looks really cool

Love the Lotso pics too. Although after having seen TS3 not sure if I want to hug him now

Sooo glad to have finally found the ears! I know, Lotso is sooo bad but he was nice when we met him! Although, I imagined his head to be soft (stuffed animal and all) but when I hugged him, my head banged into his costume head sooo hard! Not soft at all!

 

[Stefy]

Lol ouch! Well maybe after what he went through he changed his ways.

Sorry about the update, I hate it when that happens. I had to redo a PM three times because when I scrolled down off of the text box I hit back and it went back to the inbox, argh rage!

 

[JenSop]

Just got back from the World in the wee hours of the morning today. (Why do Disney trips have to go by so fast?!)

So today I'm catching up on some other people's TR's before I get around to starting mine!

I am so glad that you and some of your readers are clappers! As someone who works in theatre, I can tell you that it take SO MUCH energy to get up there and put on a show. The applause helps immensely! It's good energy! (And even clapping for non-live performances are a good way to keep in practice! haha!)

I have to say that you were SO LUCKY to have such low crowds! It was really busy this last week down there. Thankfully, we are Disney experts and know how to handle the FP's and strategize our way through the parks. I felt so bad for an obvious first-timer. I overheard someone say to her DH, "Next time we come, we have to see which rides have Fast Passes and plan to do those first." Clearly, they had missed the boat on many of the rides.

And we're totally right there with ya on DHS - our least favorite park. Although, we rode Star Tours three times, as DH is an insane Star Wars freak. He wanted to ride a bunch before they close it for the remodel. And ToT is one of my absolute favorite rides ever!!! And I totally agree - they definitely changed it for this summer!