We love Donald Duck, oh yes we do! - Link to the PTR - COMPLETE

[Camster0307]

Great pictures from the Space Center, Brook! (I still can't believe you left the Disney compound,though! ) It looked like a great day for all of you, in spite of the wrong turns and mishaps! Poor Henry - I hope he was feeling better soon. It's so stressful to have worry about a sick child when you're away from home!

That is awful about the birds at Epcot! Ugh. The only time we had problem birds at Epcot was at the Fish & Chips stand in the UK. They just sat there and patiently waited until Henry either dropped something, or we threw something their way....so it wasn't too bad.

The seagulls at Epcot were AWFUL during our last trip. We were outside the America Pavillion having lunch when this poor woman dropped her funnel cake. No exaggeration - about 20 seagulls swooped in and wolfed down that thing in 5 seconds flat! Then, of course, we had the idiot family next to us who thought it would be fun to keep the flock around and proceeded to throw food at them! My poor child was flipping out with all the birds swooping around her!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Sounds great to me! Your description reminded me that I once was trying to figure out what American cheese was since I needed it for a recipe I had found here on the DIS. A quick search on Wikipedia resolved the mystery: it's processed cheese! And what I thought very neat was that the German term for processed cheese could be translated into "melted cheese" and since in school we were always told about America as the big "melting pot" I found it was very apt that American cheese is "melted cheese"!

Oh my - that's so funny! The "melted cheese" is very appropriate!

I told Joe what I said about deep fried processed meat being so American, and only slapping cheese on it would make it more American - he instantly responded back with "make that PROCESSED cheese"!

It's so true...sad...but true!

I'll be looking forward to lots of bad for you good food pics this evening!

I just reviewed the pics - yum!

Great pictures from the Space Center, Brook! (I still can't believe you left the Disney compound,though! ) It looked like a great day for all of you, in spite of the wrong turns and mishaps! Poor Henry - I hope he was feeling better soon. It's so stressful to have worry about a sick child when you're away from home!

The seagulls at Epcot were AWFUL during our last trip. We were outside the America Pavillion having lunch when this poor woman dropped her funnel cake. No exaggeration - about 20 seagulls swooped in and wolfed down that thing in 5 seconds flat! Then, of course, we had the idiot family next to us who thought it would be fun to keep the flock around and proceeded to throw food at them! My poor child was flipping out with all the birds swooping around her!

It was funny, while I was researching SSR a bit, someone suggesting ordering pizza delivery to the room, it's so close to the "real world" that it's a quick delivery. I looked at Joe and said "I never, ever, ever have thought about pizza delivery to our room at Disney. Or anything like that!" It was like bringing the outside into your fantasy world mid-trip...

That's kinda like how it was going off to KSC. Stepping out of our fantasty book and into the real world, and then back again.

While I enjoyed our adventure out, the fantasy land was much more CLEAN!

That is HORRIBLE about the seagulls scaring Lauren! Ugh. It's just Epcot with those dumb birds-probably because the big lake and the food all around it. They really need to do something about them though, it's just getting way out of hand.

 

[lazydoxy66]

I'm glad I caught this before another update. I had to catch up!

Thanks for the 'nerd' alerts. You are too funny!

I love all the pictures. Especially of you enjoying your Shamrock shake and of Wishes.

I'm sorry your MK day didn't go as well as you had planned. The 'groups' definitely put a damper on things.

KSC looks so cool. My DH would enjoy that. That Space pen is very nice. I can see why your DH would want one. I hate to laugh but the GPS story is hilarious. I would have been so freaked by the 'military zone' ordeal. Poor Henry! I do hope that his situation improves.

 

[brookelizabeth]

I'm glad I caught this before another update. I had to catch up!

Thanks for the 'nerd' alerts. You are too funny!

I love all the pictures. Especially of you enjoying your Shamrock shake and of Wishes.

I'm sorry your MK day didn't go as well as you had planned. The 'groups' definitely put a damper on things.

KSC looks so cool. My DH would enjoy that. That Space pen is very nice. I can see why your DH would want one. I hate to laugh but the GPS story is hilarious. I would have been so freaked by the 'military zone' ordeal. Poor Henry! I do hope that his situation improves.

Glad you enjoyed the updates! The groups at MK made it just PACKED. I should have thought about it a bit better and realized it was a Spectro night, so it was gonna be busy. All well! We made up for it later...

The GPS story IS hilarious looking back on it! FULL of drama!

 

[brookelizabeth]

We left off with all of us sleeping soundly after a wonderful day at KSC and the misadventures at Ghetto Gas...

The next morning we woke up around 8:00 to happy little boy noises coming from our living room.

That is the best kind of alarm!

Henry was obviously feeling good, very happy and active and HUNGRY. He hadn't eaten dinner the night before at all.

Since Henry was feeling great that morning and it had been three days since he had thrown up, and he hadn't had any milk products for that long-and very, very few before then, I thought I would be brave and try yogurt.

Looking back, I think my mind was fuzzy. There is ZERO way I would have given him yogurt at home after the episode the night before. Duh.

I chalk it up to Vacation brain, and the hypnotization that Disney seems to do to people...



BUT, he happily ate every single bit of that yogurt and KEPT IT DOWN. No problems at all!



We were thrilled!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another very lazy morning around the villa was in store for us. We finally left when Henry insisted by bringing us our shoes.

Our plans for that day was DHS and a DIS meet with Flossbolna (not sure if she wants her real name broadcast here, so I'll just refer to her by screen name throughout the post). This was no ordinary DIS meet. Oh no my friends! First, this DIS meet was a fellow Jambo! Wildbunch Gang member, and second, this DIS meet was an intercontinental DIS meet! Flossbolna is from Germany, from a town close to where my parents lived shortly after they were married! This was also Flossbolna's first DIS meet and only my second.

Beyond meeting up with Flossbolna, we had no solid plans on what to do at DHS, where to eat, no ADRs. We'd just go with the flow and see how the day worked itself out!

We arrived at DHS around 10:00 am. In a random hope I directed our little family to go toward TSM in hopes for a FP.

Ya, right. No passes, as expected!

All well. I was a tad bummed, but we rode it back in November, we'll get it again on a future trip.

Our DIS meet was scheduled for 11:30 in front of ToT. We had some time to kill before then, so we thought we would head for RnRC and get a FP.

On the way a certain bakery, that I knew served real coffee, distracted us...

Better known as Rice Krispy Treats

Better known as holycrapthatsgood

I think these should have more frosting...

Two delicious muffins later,

I love the big sugar chunks on top of the muffins!

I got a latte - it was "eh". Better than Nescafe, but not great. It was in one of those teeny cups and you pay way too much, but still - better than Nescafe.


it was time for the meet!

We headed over to ToT and lingered near the main gate - not where you actually enter the queue. I wasn't overly familiar with the area, and I wasn't sure if we would meet Flossblona down here, or up where the queue is. We had plans to ride together, so after a few minutes I thought maybe we should venture up the hill to the queue, but just as we were about to go that way, I saw a familiar face waving at me (well, her hand was waving, not her face...) - it was Flossbolna!

Sure enough, she and her friend had been waiting near the queue.

The wait at that time was 30 minutes, and Flossbolna and company had already been on ToT that morning and were okay with not doing it again, so we just chatted instead - which was great!! The park was just packed with the Brazilian tourists, in their matching gear, which Flossbolna and her friend reported caused HUGE lines at everything there at DHS, they were getting ready to hop to another park and get out of the madness.

We chatted for a bit and she gave me some WONDERFUL gifts from Germany!! So, so, so thoughtful! (Which later made me think, if I had brought some gifts from Minnesota, what would they have been? A chunk of cheese? A mosquito farm? Lutefisk? ) I will have pics of the gifts at the end of the TR.

It was really wonderful to meet Flossbolna and her travel companion - the DIS truly brings the world together, doesn't it?

3 Disney World Fans!

Flossbolna also handed me two FPs for ToT! They had gotten them earlier and just weren't interested in riding again, they were ready to leave the craziness of DHS and head for a calmer park.

Our meet was short, but sweet. They went off to hop to another park and Joe and I headed for RnRC and grabbed a FP.

Continued in next post

 

[brookelizabeth]

Continued from previous post

Henry fell asleep shortly after the Delicious Muffin Tasting, and before the international DIS meet, and was still snoozin' so we decided to do some shoppin'!

On the way...

I spotted this quickly fading Mickey



First up, Keystone Clothiers.

I LOVE palm trees!

I believe I might have failed to mention the bag we bought at the Poly after our Kona breakfast just 4 days earlier had ripped clear down the side. I was in the market for a new bag, a good park bag. I liked these, but kept thinking back to my DVC bag, which would work great---and we forgot it at home this trip. So we didn't buy, but aren't these cute?

We didn't buy anything....

Next, Cinema Storage.

There is so much to look at!

I was obsessed with the train hat. I looked at it at EVERY SINGLE store!

Trying on princess crowns - notice Joe had the next one ready - I love that he humors me!

A disorderly princess!

In Cinema Storage we decided to buy our sleeping man a little Donald Duck plush. During our November trip we bought him a Mickey plush and since he was so into Dut Dut this trip, we had to get him one. (Which then was also decided that we would get him a little plush each trip until he had the whole gang) We placed Dut Dut on Henry's lap, so when he should wake up, it would be the first thing he saw.


He woke up about 10 minutes later...looked at Dut Dut,

He looks so much like a baby here. I should really post a current pic of him...sigh.

then picked him up and tried to push his hand.



Remember the $24.00 talking Dut Dut from MK in the shop where we bought him his Mickey outfit? You pushed Dut Dut's hand to make him talk....

Why won't you talk?!


Thankfully, he was fine with the $14.00 non-talking Dut Dut and gave him lots of lovin'. It was very cute and sweet!

Still a bit groggy but excited about Dut Dut!


We continued to do some shopping...I can't recall the store name...

Along with the train hat, I looked at this frame in ever single store--and the airport...did I ever buy it? Nope! But maybe I will in December...

All decked out to pretend I can cook!

On the mug hunt. They did not have the Minnie or Mickey version of "Mornings Aren't Pretty" either.


Continued in next post

 

[brookelizabeth]

Continued from previous post

We watched these guys for a bit.

Then Henry spotted a truck. We had to go check that out!

Many motor noises were heard from the little guy. I couldn't get him to glance at Mommy for a picture for ANYTHING!

And then I spotted Bo! I had to go check him out! Bo is Chelsea's man. (CP's daughter) I can see why she likes him so.... Yow!

I had to get a shot of Bo alone. Joe was getting a tad jealous of all the attention I was giving him...


More wandering, just enjoying DHS and having fun together...

Another car! (and more motor noises!)

Then more shopping...

I was tempted to use this for my Intranet picture at work...

And more brightly clothed tour groups!

Orange today! Thankfully not head to toe.

We headed off to grab a FP for Star Tours and saw the new American Idol building. They were doing a "soft opening" that day, but we knew with a 1 year old it wouldn't be enjoyable, so we didn't try it.

I just realized, I missed a few pics from when we first got to the park, I was so excited to write about the DIS meet!

...so here they are, a "few hours late"...

Looks a bit busy....uh-oh, would this be an MK repeat?

Art in progress

The hat was being painted that day

No TSM FPs!

Up next: A gift from Mickey

 

[IluvXU]

So after the Ghetto Gas and GPS day yesterday.... as I got to this post all I could see was the yummo bakery goods... a clear sign you were back at WDW!


BTW... thanks for more hat pics... I can already see that I will be getting one for Luke... not sure which one though!

 

[Flossbolna]

Our plans for that day was DHS and a DIS meet with Flossbolna (not sure if she wants her real name broadcast here, so I'll just refer to her by screen name throughout the post). This was no ordinary DIS meet. Oh no my friends! First, this DIS meet was a fellow Jambo! Wildbunch Gang member, and second, this DIS meet was an intercontinental DIS meet! Flossbolna is from Germany, from a town close to where my parents lived shortly after they were married! This was also Flossbolna's first DIS meet and only my second.

It was great to meet you, Joe and sleeping Henry, even if it was so short!

The wait at that time was 30 minutes, and Flossbolna and company had already been on ToT that morning and were okay with not doing it again, so we just chatted instead - which was great!! The park was just packed with the Brazilian tourists, in their matching gear, which Flossbolna and her friend reported caused HUGE lines at everything there at DHS, they were getting ready to hop to another park and get out of the madness.

Now I think we should have stayed longer and just went on a different ride together. But we were really not thinking straight that day. My friend and I had been at the Poly bus stop at 8:15 and waited for a bus until 8:50, so we just missed rope drop and ended up waiting for ten minutes for the TSM fastpasses. I really like my early mornings in the parks and don't mind getting up early for it, but I was really annoyed that the Disney bus service ruined my plans. Unfortunately early morning bus service at the Poly really did not work for us!!

This was already a bad start for our morning and the many tour groups did not really make it any better. They weren't loud or anything, they just made the park very crowded! We ended up walking all the way to Epcot via the Boardwalk. Which was a lovely walk, but it felt very hot, so we were quite exhausted by the time we got to Epcot. Fortunately Epcot was practically empty!

We chatted for a bit and she gave me some WONDERFUL gifts from Germany!! So, so, so thoughtful! (Which later made me think, if I had brought some gifts from Minnesota, what would they have been? A chunk of cheese? A mosquito farm? Lutefisk? ) I will have pics of the gifts at the end of the TR.

You know, I would have loved a mosquito farm!!

It was really wonderful to meet Flossbolna and her travel companion - the DIS truly brings the world together, doesn't it?

I can only agree with that!

3 Disney World Fans!

That's a really nice picture of the three of us!

On the way...

I have never seen these flags! You are really good in catching details that I have missed!

I believe I might have failed to mention the bag we bought at the Poly after our Kona breakfast just 4 days earlier had ripped clear down the side. I was in the market for a new bag, a good park bag. I liked these, but kept thinking back to my DVC bag, which would work great---and we forgot it at home this trip. So we didn't buy, but aren't these cute?

I seem to have started a tradition of getting a bag at WDW every time I am there - they really sell very cute bags and I can never resist them!!

[

Those are really cute, I got the for a friend!!

[

On the mug hunt. They did not have the Minnie or Mickey version of "Mornings Aren't Pretty" either.

I am sorry that you never found those mugs, but I can't remember that I saw them on this trip, either.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Great update, as always!!!

SO glad that H was feeling better. Love that he finally brought you your shoes to say "let's get going!"

Your DHS day looks so fun. Isn't the pavement "painting" so awesome? I don't know how they do it! And is it just water?

Hurrah for an international DIS meet. That looks super fun.

Henry and his Donald Dut dut are too cute! What a smart kid pushing his hand!

Love all your shopping pics. I like that picture frame very much too!!

 

[MeMom]

I LOVE palm trees!

Palm trees and bags. Love 'em both!
I will be in this same place one week from today!

 

[Camster0307]

Great update Brook. I love all the details you catch in your photos! I have never noticed those sidewalk drawings in DHS before. I'll be sure to keep my head down next time I'm there!

I believe I might have failed to mention the bag we bought at the Poly after our Kona breakfast just 4 days earlier had ripped clear down the side. I was in the market for a new bag, a good park bag. I liked these, but kept thinking back to my DVC bag, which would work great---and we forgot it at home this trip. So we didn't buy, but aren't these cute?

I literally have to tear myself away from these bag displays when I'm at Disney. I already have more than enough bags w/various Disney logos on them; I certainly don't need any more. But I find them all so stinkin' cute!

I bought the "Girls Rule" shirt w/Maleficiant on it. Very cool!

Remember the $24.00 talking Dut Dut from MK in the shop where we bought him his Mickey outfit? You pushed Dut Dut's hand to make him talk....

Still a bit groggy but excited about Dut Dut!

I was going to buy Amanda that same talking Donald (outside Mickey's Philharmagic, right?); but none of the display Donalds were working right. The voice was really low so I just went with the large plush Donald. He was so soft!

All decked out to pretend I can cook!

Just about spit out my coffee looking at this one! All you're missing are the ears and over-sized yellow shoes!

 

[thewesterberg]

I realized my post about your KSC day got lost, so let me see if I can remember what I wrote...

I love how much Joe loves everything space! DH is the same way - so many cool things to see there!

Aren't GPS the best thing in the world but the most annoying thing too?! "Recalculating" in that annoying voice! Glad you it didn't get you detained or anything!

And the Ghetto Gas Station... oh my! The things you'll do as a mom! You deserve a after that experience!

And now another great update! A Dis meet, more cool pictures, and a happy looking Henry! All the pictures from the bakery are making me drool and want to abandon the healthy eating I'm trying to partake in!! I'm thinking some snack credits are going to be spent on something there!

 

[disneydusted]

I love that you guys surprised Henry with his Dut Dut! He looks so sweet waking up with those pink cheeks focusing in on his new friend!
Your DISmeet was very fun!
I am quite impressed with the road art! I haven't seen this before (maybe because I am a ride lunatic grabbing the FP!! ) That is amazing that the guy can make the characters with his broom, very cool. I will be on the lookout the next time we go.
Starring Rolls brought back happy memories... we would stop there and get a snack and people watch. Certain places at Disney are perfect for people watching!
I love Palm trees too! I think associate them with vacations! The only place we have them here is in the mall!

 

[aceys_h0ney]

I love all the detail you capture. I hope to slow down on our next trip and notice them myself. Henry looked so cute waking up to his Dut Dut. I love your various outfits, and poses in the stores!

 

[SoonerGirl]

It's crazy how crowded it was! I really would have thought that you were going at a slower time of year

I've never noticed the sidewalk 'paintings'! Those are so cool, I'm going to have to keep an eye out for them next time.

My first DIS meet was at ToT too! It was purely accidental though, I recoginized her and her family from her siggy pic here on the DIS and said hello. We rode ToT together and now I have a ride picture of her children and mine on ToT for the first time thinking that they were going to die!

All of your detail photos show me just how much I miss going 90 mph all the time. I think the crowds alone will force me to slow down on our next trip, and now thanks to you, I'm really looking forward to it!

 

[troobabiee7]

Henry's so cute with his new little Dut-Dut! : I love all the pictures... and can't believe how fast TSM ran out of fastpasses!

 

[disneyfan61]

Love the update. That little Henry with the Dut Dut is so cute trying to press his hand!!! Love it. I love the artwork in the streets!! We have never seen that. We are trying to decide if we want to do the American Idol thing when we go in May. I have 2 sons (20 & 16) so probably not & my DH is not into that so I might not get into that this year. Is your DVC with SSR? We are seriously considering buying into it & although Beach Club is my first choice I think we can afford SSR more & that is my second choice.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Great updates once again. Love the Dut Dut. That is very cool you got to meet up with other DISers. Love the shopping pics they are very creative and neat to look at. Cant wait to hear more!!!

 

[PNO4TE]

A heads up... we have seen the sidewalk water art at the MK and Epcot too! First started noticing it last September.