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

[MaryAz]

I am sad your trip to coming to a close..Great pics. I am glad ur last day was so fun!

 

[GreatBiscuit]

Our method worked out. There were so many people waiting and jamming onto the non-ECV bus, our bus actually ended up leaving before it and we had seats! Score!

Patience is a viture!

In the Stroller Parking I spotted this and still giggle when I think about it. I think I would really like the people who's stroller this was.

That's a riot! I'd love to meet the owners of that one as well.

And...I BEAT JOE! Joe was happy the picture barely turned out-he attempted to convince me to delete it. HA, RIGHT! I WON! I WON! The pic is good enough to prove it!

At least he didn't demand a recount and court appeal!

Next stop, TTA! I was pumped.

I'm sad TTA and SM will be closed this summer. Not bitter, but bummed.

Check out H-Man's hair

Bibbidy Bobbidy Boutique couldn't have done a finer job!

Before they started letting the rest of the people through, I asked the CM, “Can I sit with him?” and quickly looked at the guy and said “I just want to ride in front!” He responded with a “Me too! My wife is outside with the baby-she doesn’t want to ride.” (or you know, it went something like that, this was 4 months ago! ) The CM let me sit with him and we became ride buddies-I told him my hubby was outside with the baby too. So naturally, we talked babies! Eventually they let the other people into the rows. I have no idea why there was the pause, but I’m grateful for it because I got to ride in front! I can’t say it’s really all that different than most places on that ride because there is a “train engine” in front of you. But, it was still a good experience and a fun ride with my ride buddy. We both loved it. We walked out together, Joe was no where to be seen, so I stopped and met his wife and adorable little girl. They were a sweet family; it was fun to meet them all! I soon spotted Joe and said my good-byes to the family and caught up with Joe.

I've never interacted with guests who were not part of my touring group. That's somethign I hope to change this time around. I'll be spying out the lime green for sure!

Ha, right! It’s our last day! Casey’s is the winner ONCE AGAIN. Surprisingly I didn’t order the Corn Dog Nuggets – I just got a regular dog. While it was good, it wasn’t Corn Dog Nuggets. I’m glad I tried it, so I know I’m not missing out. You will be mine again Corn Dog Nuggets. Oh yes, you will be mine again.

Surprised at the local? Not so much. Surprised by the menu selectio? Slightly.

Does anyone ever want to leave?

Not anyone who’d show their face on this site!

We still had a bit of time to spare, so I suggested more food.

Good Call!

And soon I was eating my cone. As I took that last bite and aimed for my mouth, I missed and dropped it.

DOH!

Up next: Meeting myself in 30 years.

 

[Donald is #1]

Wow, it looks like Henry grew so much in just 2 months!

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

Hi Brook! I'm a fairly new member, although I've been a lurker for awhile. I've read some of your reports off and on and I have to tell you that you're definitely one of my favorites!! I love how you incorporate the pictures right with your reports and your writing is hysterical.

Your family is beautiful and I love how protective you are over your son - I'm a little nutty that way too! When I saw the recent picture of Henry and him sleeping in his stroller, I immediately thought to myself that it was such a "baby pose" because I remember when my son would keep those hands in perfect Karate poses so I was giggling...

Thanks for sharing with all of us!

Heather

 

[princess&her4princes]

Hi Brook,
What a wonderful last day....I loved reading all about it....it was a magical ending!! I love your writing, it truly makes me feel like I'm right there with you....

There were so many things I loved reading about....

1) Henry's Mickey outfit--yay, he wore it again!!
2) The foot picture...too cute!!
3) You beating Joe's score on Buzz...even if you 'cheated'...lol!!
4) Henry's hair coming off of TTM..cute!!
5) You losing your last bite of Disney food...what a sin!!
6) Your riding in the front of the train, woohoo!!!
7) I can't believe how BIG Henry got in two months with the Zurg pic....it's so sad how fast they grow up!!!! But love the new pic.....what a cutie patotie!!
8) Karate chop sleeping pic....adorable!!

Thanks for sharing, Brook, looking forward to hearing the ending and seeing yourself in 30 years....you have me intrigued!!

 

[KathyRN137]

Awww. Sleeping babies are so precious and sweet!

You did have the perfect afternoon!!

I was feeling wistful looking at your Main Street pix... as if I were the one leaving the park!

Kathy

 

[brookelizabeth]

I love the foot picture! TOO CUTE! And his sleeping karate chop and his "look" . Henry is beyond adorable!

It's sad to drop your last bite of the cone. I feel for you.

I think I am finally caught up! Yea for me! Instead of going back and commenting on everything I spent the past few days catching up on, let me just say you did another GREAT JOB!

Thanks Jay!
Dropping that last bit of Disney food was a serious bummer. I just stood there and stared at it in disbelief.

Then Joe laughed at me.

Then I snapped the pic.

"You took a picture?!"

"Yes." Sigh.



No worries on skipping over the commentary, I do that on a lot of TRs otherwise there is no way I'd ever be able to read it all!

Yay! Great update! But sad your MK time is over. The photos of Henry on the TTA are sooo cute! I love his little lightning McQueen shoes!

I have my ice cream in a cup too!! It takes the hurry out of it! AND you can eat the cone sooner!

He got so many comments on those shoes-it was fun! And he loved them so much, we recently bought him the next size up. He looks at them, "Car, car, vrrroooooooom!" When he wears them he says "car" all day long to E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E. It's so stinkin' cute.

I'm glad I'm not the only ice cream in a dish person! Joe doesn't get it!

What a wonderful last morning at WDW! Congratulations on that great score at Buzz!!! The pictures of Henry behind bars are adorable, are you planning on getting one on every trip?

Your Main Street pictures are once again really good. I love the ones of the Confectionary window from outside and inside. You really have a talent for photgraphy!

Yep! We are planning on doing Henry behind bars for each trip. Back in November I hadn't really thought of a spot to do that in, but after being back home and looking through my pics I decided that would be a great spot.

Thanks for the comment on the pics! Main Street is such a fun place for detail. I recently saw a cool pic of the park reflected in a pair of sunglasses that were for sale over on the Photography Board. I think I'm gonna try to do something like that in December, it was an amazing shot!

FANTASTIC updates! Brook I so love your TRs!! You tell such a good story and take such great pictures.

What a perfect last day in Disney. I love that you were able to soak up every last bit! You had some great ride/line mojo going!

I agree. I would be friends with the owners of the millenium falcon stroller too!

Also love the foot picture. Space Mountain looks creepy with the lights on!!

I can't get over the change in H in just a few months. You'll have to continue taking the same pictures behind the bars to mark his growth. I think that's one of my favorite tips I've picked up on the DIS- what a neat way to mark time in our favorite place. Now I just need to have kids b/c I sure don't want to mark my growth!

It was a great great last day. I couldn't believe the lines-esp in comparison to what we were dealing with on our MK day before.

SM is WAY creepy with the lights on! It's like a complete maze of track. It's really dark and bizarre...but neat to see at the same time.

I know what you mean about that change in Henry! It's unbelievable how much he changes and how quickly he changes. I loved the idea of marking his growth by something in Disney World too - now we just have a problem if they ever change Buzz! Probably should have done the tea cups or It's a Small World instead...all well! Where do you think you want to have your future kids "marked"?

YAY for Happy-Magical-Yummy Food-Favorite Ride-Adorable Kid Days, especially when they happen at the Magic Kingdom! (and BOO! to bad Cracker Jack prizes - what's up with that?!)

And way to beat DH!!! I don't stand a chance against mine on that ride. He figured out how to max out his score... even when he rides with Junior.

How did your sale/showing go?

I gotta read up on the Buzz tips and how to get the mega point targets then I can beat Joe for real.

The sale went alright-it was City Wide Garage Sales here and Saturday was slower than average, I heard that from several other people having garage sales too. So the open house went slower than I had hoped, but almost every person that came to the sale at least commented on the house for sale...so who knows-that could generate some great word of mouth at least!

The showing we had on Wednesday went great-they loved our home, said it was beautiful, very impressed -BUT, our 2 car garage they thought might be too small. We had a ton of stuff in there for our garage sale, so that might have done it. Maybe we are still on their list though...we'll see!

Aww, as always, your Henry photos are adorable.

I'm sad that you're coming to the end of the trip report. It's so hard to leave the parks for the last time!

That trip report was closed because I accidentally abandoned it for too long. Oh well! I'm not sure if I'll try again this time around. Perhaps if I write it ahead of time. Anyway, I'm beyond excited about my trip this Friday. It's hard to believe I'll be back in just a few days!

It is very hard to leave the parks for the last time. Joe and I really took a long time to exit-we sloooooooowly walked along Main Street both saying "I don't want to go!" but, at least we know we'll be back!

That is a bummer about your TR being closed! You could ask the Mods to re-open it if you want to finish it...I've been tempted with my Disneymoon from 2006, but I think I'll just "finish" it as part of my upcoming PTR!

Please share some details of your trip! And some pics from when you get back - or just write (or attempt to) a TR.

 

[brookelizabeth]

What a great husband to go back to MK for a few hours on the last day! You sure did a lot in not much time. Love the behind the bars pick.. Henry lost some of the baby look in those two months. Sad this is coming to an end!

He IS a great hubby! I really, really appericated our last minute dash to MK - esp since it turned out so great and we were able to hit quite a bit in the short time, and eat at Casey's one last time.

He did loose a lot of baby when he began to walk on his own regularly-which was right between the trips. He was already skinny and got even skinnier! His one little chub roll on his thigh disappeared!

I am now drooling for a Casey's hot dog. I can't wait until July!!!!!!

Henry is super adorable with Zurg!

And you are going to finally be able to get your apple turnover!

a hot dog sounds good now! I'm supposed to be on a diet!! I'm sad that your report is almost over but you get to start another one soon...so hurry up and go on your next trip because that will make my next trip come so much faster! I'm dying here (metaphorically I mean)...I want to go soo bad NOW!!

I know what you mean! I live through the TRs/PTRs until my trip. Earlier today I was thinking "MeMom will have her current TR done, be done with ANOTHER trip and done with that TR, THEN it will be my turn." Makes it seem so stinkin' far away, but at least we have the DIS!

I'm with ya on the hot dog too

My DH has Henry's oufit!!! Well, the top at least. They sell this in an adult size jersey! It's one of his favorite pieces of Disney clothing. He even wears it to MLB games!

Okay, I'm not a fan of hot dogs or corn dogs, but the way that you covet them makes me think I might be missing something. . . .

Favorite pics: Henry behind bars, not looking at mommy, the karate chop sleeping position, and the poor, busted up ice cream cone. I truely hope that you get to go back sometime in the near future, like within a year. Your trip report is the first one I read when I first joined the Dis, and it's encouraged me to perhaps write one after our November trip. Thanks for all the great pictures, details and Disney magic you've shared with us!

P.S. Thank you soo much for the information on SSR. I've pasted that post into a word doc and put it in my trip planning folder! That is definitely the best information I've gotten on SSR so far. You're the best, Brook!!

That's so neat that they sell that shirt in adult sizes! I might buy the next size up for Henry and a matching one for Joe...I better clear that with Joe first though.

I generally do like hot dogs, but sometimes corn dogs can be a bit mushy. Casey's are DEEP FRIED and it makes the outside a bit crunchy. If you aren't a fan normally, you probably won't like 'em much at all...but other people RAVE about the fries with cheese sauce.

Oh yes, we are going back this year! December! I hope you write a TR-if you do, and you follow me onto my PTR, please feel free to share a link when you get back, I would love to read it.

I'm so glad I was able to help with SSR too! Please feel free to ask ANY other questions you might have, it's all overwhelming when you go to a new resort.

Great pictures as always Brook!

You had me cracking up at your reaction to dropping your last bite of Disney food I really wish this report wasn't coming to an end, but I'll have your December PTR to look forward to, right????

I can't believe the change in Henry in just 2 short months, he really looks so much more like a big boy instead of a baby, they just grow and change so fast.

Yes! There will be a PTR for December, I'm ITCHING to start planning too, but I've pretty much resisted so far. There is a lot to plan!

They do grow so fast, it's unreal. This past month has been learning new words, both sign language words and saying them. His newest word is "truck" which comes out like "trush trush" (always saying it twice!)

Awww!! Your last day. I think MK is the perfect place to be on the last day of vacation. And what great luck you had while there. I love your shoes! What kind are they? Were they comfortable for mucho walking? I love the foot picture. Cute idea.

My shoes are CROCS! So yep, very comfy for walking and a nice basic gray/silver color. I wear them all the time...I cannot remember the style...Ah Google to the rescue, it's the Malindi: http://shop.crocs.com/pc-825-4-malindi.aspx?navcategories=3,142

more lovely pictures, glad you enjoyed your last day of magic xx

Thank you! It was a great way to spend our last day!

LOVE the age progression pics! What a great idea!

I got it straight from the DIS.

Know about it? Yes. Understand it? Not exactly. Tolerate it? Most of the time.

That's gonna take some 'splainin Lucy!

It was basically an interactive workshop program. You picked a program you wanted to do and spent anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days going through it. The program still exists, but only for corporate conventions, and it no longer has a dedicated facility. The Treehouse villas were once a part of the institute which prompted my response to your mention of them. I always wanted to try the TV production and photography workshops.

Here is a condensed excerpt from Wikipedia:

The Disney Institute was a resort and learning center at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Opened in 1992, the center was a pet project of then Disney CEO Michael Eisner who saw it as a way for families to learn and play together, as well as a way to tap into and share Disney employees' creative talents and renowned reputation for customer service....In 2003 its main public campus closed to become Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, a Disney Vacation Club resort.

Programs included:

Celebrations - Guests are taught how to prepare and present themed buffets for a variety of occasions.

Culinary Techniques - Basic cooking principles.

From Field to Plate (6 hours) - healthy, vegetarian fare.

Healthy Cooking - menus (including desserts) featuring nutritious ingredients guests can use to make healthier meals.

Lunch and Learn - detailed introduction to a selected culinary topic ranging from garden salads, paella, and tapas to grains, cooking with flowers, or foods of Provence.

Magic Kingdom Workshop - Guests learn the techniques used in the creation of beautifully decorated bakery cakes.

Romantic Dinners (3 hours) - Meals for two including food preparation and presentation, table settings, music and wine selection.

Studio Bakery - basic concepts and techniques of baking

Taste of the World - dishes of selected countries represented in the World Showcase at EPCOT Center.

Wine, Wonders and Song - learn about wine and how to pair it with certain foods.

Disney Architecture - a 4 hour tour of Disney hotels and buildings by noted architects

Faux Finishing - a class devoted to creating faux marble and other finishes with paint

Canoeing - a water tour through the back canals of the Disney property

Imagineering - a class devoted to exploring creative solutions

Computer Interior Designing - guests used high end, yet very simple 3D modeling programs to develop living spaces

Animation - there was a whole host of various animation classes

Story Telling classes

Genealogy Classes

Television Production - Guests worked as a team to produce a news cast.

Photography - After an in-class session on using Nikon Digital SLR's, guests were taken to Epcot's World Showcase to take photos before the area opened to the public.

Wow! Thanks for the info GB! The Disney Institute sounds like it was really cool! I wonder why it closed? Was it one of those good things that Disney smushed, or was it not very popular? I would have liked to take the Disney Architecture class, the Story Telling, Television Production and Photography.

I am sad your trip to coming to a close..Great pics. I am glad ur last day was so fun!

Thank you! It was a really great way to say good-bye to Disney World!

Patience is a viture!

That's a riot! I'd love to meet the owners of that one as well.

At least he didn't demand a recount and court appeal!

I'm sad TTA and SM will be closed this summer. Not bitter, but bummed.

Bibbidy Bobbidy Boutique couldn't have done a finer job!

I've never interacted with guests who were not part of my touring group. That's somethign I hope to change this time around. I'll be spying out the lime green for sure!

Surprised at the local? Not so much. Surprised by the menu selectio? Slightly.

Not anyone who’d show their face on this site!

Good Call!

DOH!

I hope you can meet a few people too! It's really fun having "ride buddies". It's fun to see them again later in your vacation-that happened to us with two families back in November. Saw them again on another day, in another park!

I laughed out loud at your BBB comment!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Wow, it looks like Henry grew so much in just 2 months!

He did! It's fun to watch him grow, but so sad at the same time!

Hi Brook! I'm a fairly new member, although I've been a lurker for awhile. I've read some of your reports off and on and I have to tell you that you're definitely one of my favorites!! I love how you incorporate the pictures right with your reports and your writing is hysterical.

Your family is beautiful and I love how protective you are over your son - I'm a little nutty that way too! When I saw the recent picture of Henry and him sleeping in his stroller, I immediately thought to myself that it was such a "baby pose" because I remember when my son would keep those hands in perfect Karate poses so I was giggling...

Thanks for sharing with all of us!

Heather

Hi Heather!
Thank you for reading, I'm glad you enjoy it-and am flattered to be a favorite!

Thank you for your nice words about my family too, that is so sweet. Don't you love those Karate poses? I once saw a pic of a baby who fell asleep in her swing with her arms literally out to the side. I have NO idea how babies do it, but it's ADORABLE! Joe and I were both all mushy in seeing Henry do a karate pose-he hadn't done one in so long!

Hi Brook,
What a wonderful last day....I loved reading all about it....it was a magical ending!! I love your writing, it truly makes me feel like I'm right there with you....

There were so many things I loved reading about....

1) Henry's Mickey outfit--yay, he wore it again!!
2) The foot picture...too cute!!
3) You beating Joe's score on Buzz...even if you 'cheated'...lol!!
4) Henry's hair coming off of TTM..cute!!
5) You losing your last bite of Disney food...what a sin!!
6) Your riding in the front of the train, woohoo!!!
7) I can't believe how BIG Henry got in two months with the Zurg pic....it's so sad how fast they grow up!!!! But love the new pic.....what a cutie patotie!!
8) Karate chop sleeping pic....adorable!!

Thanks for sharing, Brook, looking forward to hearing the ending and seeing yourself in 30 years....you have me intrigued!!

You are too sweet!! It was a really fun update to write.

Awww. Sleeping babies are so precious and sweet!

You did have the perfect afternoon!!

I was feeling wistful looking at your Main Street pix... as if I were the one leaving the park!

Kathy

There really is something about a sleeping baby, isn't there? I love gazing in at Henry in his crib during his nap and Joe and I take turns retreiving him in the morning when he's all cuddly.

It was a great afternoon-I was THRILLED to leave Disney in the way we did...of course leaving Disney is never ever fun, but a great day made it a teensy bit easier. Now I hope we can pull off a quick dip in the parks again on our last day in December too.

 

[MeMom]

Does anybody ever want to leave?
Not us!
We walk slowly, and in my mind, as I am taking my last pictures, I am saying goodbye, light post and goodbye, balloon man and goodbye, little Disney duck....we will be back as soon as possible!!!

I have enjoyed all the pictures - Main Street, Henry and Zurg, pretty views, mint chocolate chip ice cream....just everything. It's nice to have a way to enjoy 'being there' through each others' reports when we are not able to really be there.

 

[shebaxric]

You are going back? Wow, how on earth did I miss that?? Well, hooray for you and Joe and Henry!!! How old will Henry be by then? I will try to write a TR when I get back, from those I've read, I don't know how I could compare! I will look for your PTR, or will you be posting it in your siggy?

 

[PopArtGal]

I also went on BTM by myself and they gave me the seat by myself.

I loved it hehehe

 

[k_reile]

I know what you mean! I live through the TRs/PTRs until my trip. Earlier today I was thinking "MeMom will have her current TR done, be done with ANOTHER trip and done with that TR, THEN it will be my turn." Makes it seem so stinkin' far away, but at least we have the DIS!

So the order goes : Memom (July), MeMom(isn't she going in October??), BrookeElizabeth (December), MeMom (December) and then FINALLY k_reile (Feb 2010)!

Wow...that looks wierd that memom will have 3 possible trips in before mine! Ahh...makes for some reading to pass the time....9 mos I keep on telling myself is not really that long! But it seems like FOREVER! (Edited to add since its now 9 mos today...that its like a pregnancy...my pregnancy seemed like it went by really fast so maybe this 9 mos will too!)

 

[disneydusted]

Brook, your last day was wonderful! I loved that you could just jump onto rides and there was little wait time.
Henry looked like such a big boy sitting across from you on the TTA. Does he still do "the look"?
Your pictures you took as you left MK were so nice... I could imagine the smell of chocolate chips cookies coming from the bakery, I could imagine the sound of the music that plays on Main Street and children laughing, I could imagine the feel of the warm sun and think why am I not there?? Someday!
I am looking forward to your new PTR! Keep us posted as to when you start it. You might have to share some "Henry growing up this summer" pictures.
Thanks for taking us all on your amazing trip!

 

[marieNJkitty]

It is so sad to see your TR coming to an end. I look forward to your future ones!

We just got back from WDW Sunday night. I didn't end up taking as many pictures as I wanted to (as usual). It is so hard to keep up with the kids, I forget to take pictures. I hope it gets a little easier when they get older. I did post a link to a slideshow of the pictures I did take.

The weather was beautiful! We stayed at Beach Club for 6 nights. We drove 4 days, yuck!!! Beach Club was amazing! The pool was fantastic, the lake beautiful and the location was wonderful!!!. We went to Epcot almost everyday. The flower and garden festival was so beautiful! I could take a walk through Epcot every day!

We went to the Magic Kingdom and the studios both twice. Once we walked through Epcot and took the monerail to TTC, then to Magic Kingdom (and back). It was a long journey! We also walked to the studios and back. My legs were so sore by the end of the weak.

We ate at Beaches and Cream. The food was good, but the table was to small for all of it! I wish we had room for dessert, but the kids couldn't sit down that long anyway. Later that evening we ate at the restaurant in Mexico. DH didn't like his food, my soup and salad was good. But the kids were too antsy to stay seated very long, despite my best efforts. We had to leave our unfinished Margaritas behind. After that we decided not to go to anymore table service meals again.

We did go to Cape May Cafe for the character breakfast. It was my favorite meal. DS loved the characters, DD was scared of them.

DS loved going on all the rides. DD liked the play areas the best, but went on every ride with no problem.

The drive back was difficult. DS threw up in the car just past Atlanta. He must have eaten the wrong food or something. He was fine afterwards, but the smell wasn't so great the rest of the trip.

My favorite parts of the trip were the location, cinnamon sugar nuts, ice cream sunday at MK, all the rides and flowers. My least fav parts were the tantrums, long stinky car ride, too much fast food and not being able to go table service meals.

Vacation time goes by way to fast! I look forward to our next trip in October. We will be traveling with my parents, sister and her family.

 

[jenseib]

WHEW! I just got caught up again. You've been a posting fool! LOL!
Great pictures. What a wonderful way to end your trip. I wish my DH would like to linger like that. On the day we left, DH sprung out of bed all excited to be going home. He slept in on all other days. He has a good time, don't get me wrong, but he just hates being away from the farm very long. I swear it's farmer mentalility. My dad is the same way.

I love the karate chop sleeping pose. I always laughed at each of my kids doing that.

 

[MRYPPNS]

Thanks for the super long update. I loved your pictures of Main Street....I love exploring all the nooks and crannies there.

 

[Lady Lallie]

I finally got to read your latest installment with the pictures.

I can't believe the difference in Henry in the Zurg pictures!

I can't believe you didn't get the corn dog nuggets at Casey's!

The last day at Disney is always so bittersweet.

 

[MeMom]

We just got back from WDW Sunday night. I didn't end up taking as many pictures as I wanted to (as usual). It is so hard to keep up with the kids, I forget to take pictures. I hope it gets a little easier when they get older. I did post a link to a slideshow of the pictures I did take.

The flower and garden festival was so beautiful! I could take a walk through Epcot every day!


We did go to Cape May Cafe for the character breakfast. It was my favorite meal. DS loved the characters, DD was scared of them.

When they're grown, they just leave you behind when you stop to take pictures.
I end up taking a blurry picture on the run to catch up with them.

It could be that they're trying to lose me, now that I think about it!

I've thought the same thing so many times. I'd love to take an afternoon walk around Epcot at the end of a school day!

It's good to hear about Cape May. We'll be having my birthday breakfast there this summer. Can't wait to see the characters in their cute beach clothes!


Brook, you made some comment about me finishing two trip reports before you go again. You know how long I take to finish a report. You must not be going again until Henry is in kindergarten!!!

 

[marieNJkitty]

When they're grown, they just leave you behind when you stop to take pictures.
I end up taking a blurry picture on the run to catch up with them.

It could be that they're trying to lose me, now that I think about it! :

That is funny! I think I remember doing that to my parents! My how things change when we become the parent.