We Ditched The Kids! - UPDATE (7/22 - NYC trip)

[Cinderella's Fella]

Blech. Why would you ruin a perfectly good dessert by putting dead grapes in it?

Amen Brother!

 

[dglilbit]

Following along!

 

[MickeyReeds]

Great update!

We were seated inside next to a family of four from the Quad Cities region of Illinois, and across from a nice older couple from Louisiana.

I'm originally from the Quad Cities region, but now I reside in the Des Moines, IA area. Sounds like a great meal with fun entertainment!

 

[Wherem I Now]

Raisins. They certainly have their place. Like trail mix, and, umm, that may be it? They certainly dont mix with apples.

 

[melk]

As I sit here reading your update my kids are upstairs getting ready for school. There's yelling. There's fighting. There's stomping. But I'm sitting here with a cup of coffee and a smirk on my face because in just seven months I too will be on our adults only trip. Thank you for putting me in my happy place for a few short moments this morning.

 

[SoccerDogWithEars]

Blech. Why would you ruin a perfectly good dessert by putting dead grapes in it? I even have some (weird) friends who like raisins, and yet I have still never heard anyone utter the sentence, “Oh, good, this has raisins in it.” It’s always a more neutral, “Oh…this has raisins in it.”

 

[6travel]

So it was just like being at Starbucks, only this coffee wasn’t nasty

I agree. I don't understand the obsession with Starbucks.

We were seated inside next to a family of four from the Quad Cities region of Illinois

That's where I grew up. Meeting people at Disney is fun.

So, it was with great anticipation that I grabbed a piece of apple strudel and dug in. The warm, flaky pastry easily gave way to warm, gooey apple filling in that same combination that makes it a little taste of heaven, especially when you add dead grapes to

Dead grapes.
I actually like raisins but I wouldn't want them in apple strudel.

 

[jhoannam]

I have spent the last couple of weeks reading your TRs, they are awesome! When is your next family adventure?

 

[glennbo123]

Then we compounded the problem because as the clock started ticking down, we started just adding random crap left and right until we got this monstrosity:

Gee, 10 seconds more and you could've designed an AMC Pacer.

Our lunch destination was another new experience for us. We entered the Biergarten.

Ooo, ooo, I've heard this place is good.

I loaded up on sausage, pork schnitzel, cheese spätzle, and of course pretzel rolls with beer cheese sauce. No photos because we were sitting with strangers and give into peer pressure easily. But just picture a plate full of meat and starches and you can pretty much envision any meal I’ll ever eat.

Aw c'mon, do it for the DISers. You will never see those people again. Us, you have to live with. Well, kinda. In a virtual world. If you choose to visit here.

Anyway, the conversation was nice, when we could hear it. The oompah band played in the middle of our meal and pretty much drowned out any hope of a chat, so we just enjoyed the music instead.

That can be a good thing! Just smile and nod.

Blech. Why would you ruin a perfectly good dessert by putting dead grapes in it?

I don't remember raisins in their strudel, but there may have been some. I do remember that their strudel was a bit of a let-down for me, having tasted the real thing in Austria. I think I liked some of the other desserts more, actually.

So, the verdict on the Biergarten was a solid thumbs-up. Julie liked it more than I did, although my judgment may have been biased due to the attempted raisin poisoning. But we both agreed that Boma was tops on the meal ranking thus far.

Great! Glad you liked both of those.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Huh. I've always felt there was a bit of a star treky feel to that soundtrack. guess I know why now.

Well, there you go! Goldsmith was one of Hollywood's greats.

I suppose this could happen.

Well, sure. Not to any of us, but maybe a lesser human being.

We haven't tried Biergarten yet. It keeps getting put on the list of places to try . . . but then getting bumped for some reason or another. I guess we will have to give it a go!

I think it was worth trying, and I'm glad we did. It doesn't rate with my favorites, so I wouldn't go back every year, but it was nice to do something different.

Just joining in! A trip to Disney without kids! I can't even get over how great that must have been. Unfortunately my DH believes Disney is just for kids. I told him when I get older and our kids are grown I'll go without him then.

Thanks for reading along! And yes, if DH doesn't want to go, then you're just going to have to take matters into your own hands!

 

[justafigment27]

We stepped out of the Moorea building and were welcomed by this morning view:

This early morning MK picture really has me wishing I had a WDW trip planned for this year! I love mornings at WDW and this just looks so peaceful and pretty!

The Christmas decorations on Living With the Land looked neat - I would have never expected that, but I guess that's part of the Disney difference.

 

[wasnotafan]

...

It looked like the standby wait was 30 minutes, so this actually turned out well. One thing we noticed with the new FP+ system was that it seemed to be having the desired effect of spreading guests around the park. Of course, this meant that the wait times were greater at almost every attraction. It felt like we were getting less done each day than we did before under the paper FP system. But I’ll talk more about that in the Magic Kingdom chapters later. For now, we were doing well just using our existing reservations and the Rope Drop strategy...

I think the old system was better myself and wish they would go back to it especially since the kids are old enough to do the running.

...
We had a little time before lunch, so we wandered out to the entrance again to see if the Photopass lines had died down. They had, so we got in line for a photo op. The only downside was that the photographer was shooting into the sun at that time of day. Or that might be the reflection off of my ever-growing forehead.

...

Don't worry, as you get older the hair on your back, eyebrows, and ears gets longer and you can use that to cover the expanding forehead.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Exactly! I mean, you could go anyway, but he'd just be pissed off and scream even louder for her!

That's right. I'm trying to make this as smooth and painless for everyone.

Great plan!

And our plans always work!

I don't know... I might get sick of walking outside and seeing that view... after a few decades.

It's hard to say for sure. We should probably try it.

That stinks. Not the least bit surprising though.

"We're holding for clearance from the station..."

There's your first problem.

And I knew it even as we were doing it. We needed to throw balance to the wind.

Pretty good assessment of it. I totally agree. The first version told a story better, but I do like the design studio.

The design studio was a great addition. And at least they kept the fast track at the end.

Honestly, I expected a lower score based on the fact that all of your individual rankings sucked. Over 200 isn't that horrible.

I guess we made a Buick. Ok car, but you'd struggle to name anything that was special about it.

Hmmm... a snow sandman and scarecrows. I thought Disney was more thorough in making those seasonal decoration changes seamless.

Maybe it's a lot of effort to take down. I dunno.

What??? Even better than It... I can't even say it. I'm not that mean.

Thank you for your discretion. And yes, way better than that. Do you even have to ask?

And hence the fact that there's actually a line for Nemo. It really screws with any spur of the moment ideas to ride something standby.

That was the biggest drawback, I think.

I don't know that you get less done, but it certainly feels that way. When you're used to walking on (insert attraction here) with little to no wait for years and now it is suddenly a consistent 20 - 30 minute wait it really feels like you're getting a lot less done.

I think we'd figured out how to maximize the old system and get multiple rides on the headliners. Now...that's not really happening.

Sounds good to me!

I thought that might.

I don't know if I can get sick of Disney World, but I'd love to try!

It would certainly take more than 7 trips in 10 years to do it.

Again, we should research this further. While staying at the Poly.

Are we long lost brothers?

My brother from another mother!

Amen Brother!

Good to see there's one issue we can all agree on!

Following along!

aboard! Glad to have you!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I'm originally from the Quad Cities region, but now I reside in the Des Moines, IA area. Sounds like a great meal with fun entertainment!

They were impressed I knew where it was! It was a nice lunch.

Raisins. They certainly have their place. Like trail mix, and, umm, that may be it? They certainly dont mix with apples.

I was going to say "in the trash can", but hey, to each their own.

As I sit here reading your update my kids are upstairs getting ready for school. There's yelling. There's fighting. There's stomping. But I'm sitting here with a cup of coffee and a smirk on my face because in just seven months I too will be on our adults only trip. Thank you for putting me in my happy place for a few short moments this morning.

I'm glad this could help out! I know those mornings all too well.

Truth.

I agree. I don't understand the obsession with Starbucks.

I don't mind paying a premium for something fantastic. I mean, I travel to Disney World, for pete's sake. But man, I don't like their coffee.

That's where I grew up. Meeting people at Disney is fun.

It is! Unless it's the entitled people trying to cut the line in front of you.

Dead grapes.
I actually like raisins but I wouldn't want them in apple strudel.

You can have mine! I can't name a food they improve. They're like bacon in reverse. The anti-bacon.

I have spent the last couple of weeks reading your TRs, they are awesome! When is your next family adventure?

Whoa, that's a couple of weeks you'll never get back! Are you recovering ok?

We're touring the Midwest this summer. I laid out the general plan in the last TR here.

 

[mcjaco]

I went to WDW three times in one year. The last two trips were within a month of each other. I can honestly say, that I was sick of Disney World by then. Too much, in too short of a time span!

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Chapter 2: I'll Get That Kid To Eat. Where's My Screwdriver And My Plumber's Helper?

My kid brother had not eaten voluntarily in over three years.

No alarm needed. We’re at Disney World. And we’re parents.

Roosters won’t be getting’ up that early.

We’ve lost the ability to sleep in. “Sleeping in” typically means we make it all the way to 7:00 a.m. before the baby starts yelling for someone to get him out of the crib and I have to wake Julie up to have her go deal with the problem.


Well, Drew is always calling for “Mommy”, you know. I’d certainly go if he was calling for me.

Convenient Loophole, that.

we got over-charged to the tune of $18 for breakfast. So it was just like being at Starbucks

Well, with one exception…

only this coffee wasn’t nasty.

…and There ya’ go.
The point that nearly justifies the expense.

Well, that and the fact that you’re at WDW…


Without kids…

We headed straight for the monorail to Epcot, still loving the fact that it was such an easy and convenient walk. And then we were turned right around by the CM’s standing guard who informed us that the monorail wasn’t running yet that morning and they didn’t know when it would be online.

I have a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering, and I work directly in the highway transportation field. I have 17 years’ experience in road design. I know every bit of the engineering process down cold, from concept all the way through construction. And I learned on this morning that I suck at designing cars.

A man's got to know his limitations.

So that meant trying out a hybrid engine, instead of going with our instincts and selecting “plasma burner”.

That doesn’t always work either.
The young’ens chose that power plant last time and ended up being only 1 point better than the parents. You could say that any win is a win, but they went in predicting total domination and dang near got beat.

we started just adding random crap left and right until we got this monstrosity:

Well there’s your problem…
Never start off with a truck. You were handicapped from the start.

I prefer the older version of the ride. Every Disney ride tells a story, and in the previous version, you knew exactly what was going on and why. Now, it’s a lot of Tron effects and noise, but it’s hard to tell what the story is.

But at least you still get to ride just under the speed limit.

The cold truth rears its ugly head

Now you know that there are just some things you ain’t supposed to be pointing out.

It feels much faster, though, doesn’t it?

But the high bank loop and low center of gravity do their jobs very well indeed.

They still had a fall display as well.

Whoa…
Where this to show up on a different type of board, the commentary would be…
shall we say – interesting.

Or am I the only one busted enough to see it that way?

we experienced the magic of flying over California just under someone’s dangling feet.

Adds to the potential aroma magic as well.

Soarin’ gets my vote as best ride music in Walt Disney World. Anyone with me?

It’s certainly in my top three, musically.
I just love that attraction.

Being a movie geek, it helps to know that it was written by the late, great Jerry Goldsmith

Did not know that.
No wonder it works so well.

We decided that Nemo was typically a fast-loading ride, so we hopped in line there.

Deceptive, that one. You’d think it would be quicker but no…
I think the trick to the Seas pavilion it to walk in the exit and just enjoy the aquarium exhibits.
(it’s about the only place where you can actually get away with that kind of thing.)

Since Epcot’s FP+ choices are in tiers, the Tier 2 category leaves you with some slim pickings. We went with Spaceship Earth.

Probably about the best choice in Tier-2.
Always remember to check the stand-by line first though.
Sometimes it’s actually shorter.

That’s a particularly well composed shot, by the way.
Good work by your better half.

As always, you must take the opportunity when riding the Big Golf Ball to class the place up a bit.

Not a fan of that bit of it, if I’m being honest.

The only downside was that the photographer was shooting into the sun at that time of day. Or that might be the reflection off of my ever-growing forehead.

I’m going with Option-B.
Another nice shot though.
Just look how blissfully un-stressed y’all are there.

Our lunch destination was another new experience for us. We entered the Biergarten.

…just picture a plate full of meat and starches and you can pretty much envision any meal I’ll ever eat.

And this local will not disappoint of that count.

We enjoyed talking to the couple across from us, although we did have a slight panic moment when the husband mentioned that he was “getting sick” of Disney.

You mean, that can happen??

They were on Universal’s payroll.
Nothing more than propaganda, I assure you.

This love affair started many decades ago when I was a child and my mom made me my first apple pie.

Pie > Cake
That’s a known fact.

Now I ask for that in place of a birthday cake every year.

In our house, birthday cake has been replaced by Tam’s “Bad Mac”
(but technically, that is pie as well – cheese pie, but pie none the less)

Wait, what is this??


Raisins???


Blech.

Now that’s just wrong.
Thanks for the warning, I’ll be choosing something else off the bar, I do believe.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

I guess we made a Buick. Ok car, but you'd struggle to name anything that was special about it.

It's the one automotive badge that naturally sounds like someone loosing their lunch.

That's special.
(and a bit apropos)

 

[disneyguy4life]

Yeah, you got me. I'm reading along while at work. Hopefully people will hear me typing this and think I am working. I like your writing style. It cracks me up. You mix in the movie references and you've got an instant classic TR. Even as a new dad of a 6 month old... I know exactly what you are talking about and we haven't even been on a long trip yet. Disneyland is coming up in November and that should be a challenge. I congratulate you for making your trip finally happen. I really look forward to the rest of your TR. Take it easy.

 

[Dugette]

We stepped out of the Moorea building and were welcomed by this morning view:

Acceptable!

And then we were turned right around by the CM’s standing guard who informed us that the monorail wasn’t running yet that morning and they didn’t know when it would be online.

Of course. Bummer.

In any case, the ride is still fun. I prefer the older version of the ride. Every Disney ride tells a story, and in the previous version, you knew exactly what was going on and why. Now, it’s a lot of Tron effects and noise, but it’s hard to tell what the story is. But at least you still get to ride just under the speed limit.

Good description - I agree.

Soarin’ gets my vote as best ride music in Walt Disney World. Anyone with me?

I am with you on that!

It was nice to just take our time and wander, listening to Christmas music and checking out the flowers and decorations everywhere.

That sounds wonderful. Nobody to look after, just enjoying the atmosphere.

I loaded up on sausage, pork schnitzel, cheese spätzle, and of course pretzel rolls with beer cheese sauce.

Mmmmm, I really need to get to Biergarten someday. The one time we went there I was recovering from a stomach bug and could barely eat anything. Sounds delicious!

Blech. Why would you ruin a perfectly good dessert by putting dead grapes in it?

I love this! I am not a dead grape fan either.

 

[Steppesister]

And it'll be $1,400.

I admit, I did steal that one from you.

Yes, I did notice that. But I'm happy to share all of my inappropriate innuendo jokes.

It’s not an official Disney vacation unless you ride the monorail, you know.

I do know! Beep, beep. Standing clear.

Oh CRAP, MK is burning down!!

And I learned on this morning that I suck at designing cars.

But had you been leaning on a shovel...

but I can understand the desire for some variety. Still, I didn’t think it was actually possible to get tired of Disney World.

I couldn't have said it better myself!