We Shared a SWW...and more! Done...At Home! (10/17)

[TinksThree]

This post made me tear up...I love Mickey and Minnie's houses and the next time I go, they will not be there! And then you posted the picture of Jordan sitting on the quilt and it made me remember the one I have of Madison at 4 and the 13 when she no longer fit. Thanks for completely depressing me!!

The lines really are so long and it can be so crowded in the houses! The last time we actually went inside, it was so crowded I couldn't get any decent pictures of the little things that make the houses so wonderful!!

 

[SimmerBaggins]

This post made me tear up...I love Mickey and Minnie's houses and the next time I go, they will not be there! And then you posted the picture of Jordan sitting on the quilt and it made me remember the one I have of Madison at 4 and the 13 when she no longer fit. Thanks for completely depressing me!!

The lines really are so long and it can be so crowded in the houses! The last time we actually went inside, it was so crowded I couldn't get any decent pictures of the little things that make the houses so wonderful!!

Awww... I wish I knew where Jordan's 1st quilt picture was -- she was in kindergarten when we first took her. It's so hard to believe that this will be an "era" of this park that took our children from preschoolers to teenagers!!

We felt the same way about the houses...we would kind of wait a little bit to clear out some of the people so we had time to look at the things, but it was frustrating, and hot. That is why you won't see us go into Mickey's house...although now I kind of regret that.

 

[SimmerBaggins]

As mentioned earlier, due to the crowds and heat, we decided after roaming the backyard, we had enough of the distress and would seek a/c.

Found it here:

This place rivals many others in terms of selection of merchandise. It is usually very crowded, but if you're looking for a gift, you might find it here.

It looks as if Jordan is grabbing Natalie to say, "Be careful -- we can get lost in here..."

This is the dad-gummed biggest apple I've ever laid eyes on...no wonder it won an award.

We split up, initially, then I found the girls making a Mr. Potato Head. You all remember that, right?

They made them, took pictures of them, and then left them. No money left in their Mickey gift cards! My DH made one, too.

They frequented the pin area...

And then, my DH and I got tired of waiting and went outside to sit and people watch. I like that they don't let strollers in the store.

And that, my friends, was our stint in Toontown. We went around the park toward Tomorrowland, noted the times were pretty steep on the waits, with the exception of Stitch's Great Escape, so we got in line for it.

You can't tell the commander's face on the screen, but this was a surreptitious picture, anyway -- shhh!!

It was nice to end the park day with some kind of "ride" like that -- more of an attraction, really -- I wonder whose idea it was to make the Stitch ride like that?

On our way out...I cried for ice cream.

I couldn't help it. I wanted it so badly, that we were PAST the store, and I stopped, turned around, and told Robert that we had to go back for it.

No one argued.

Least of all, my DH...

I had found the tables down by the water were largely empty, and there were a couple with some large umbrellas, to keep away the burning rays of the sun...we indulged.

Then, our stomachs full of cool ice cream, we said good-bye to Magic Kingdom, and headed back to Animal Kingdom Lodge.

 

[jmskinner]

Can you believe I have not been through Minnie's house? Tried once and got so overwhelmed with the people we left. Wait a minute, change that, we had to walk through for trick or treating Saturday, but we were looking for candy so we didn't stop to look at the house. Which is funny, because it was so empty. I feel really stupid now for not slowing down.

So, how do you feel about Stitch? Jacob hates it. He always comments anytime we see people waiting for it, "Can't believe they are wasting their time with that." My Mom loved it.

The ice cream looks wonderful. Somehow I didn't know about the waffle bowl. I have an idea for our next trip.

 

[ScotsMinnie]

That ice cream looks amazing!!! Just what you need on a hot day like that!

 

[TinksThree]

It is so sad that that "era" is ending...and DD is getting ready to go to her first Homecoming Dance...with a date! I am SO not ready for this!!

Every single time we go into the "big tent shop" (that is what Madison calls it) I lose her and we spend more time wandering around the store looking for each other than anything else! And of course our phone service always stinks in there so we can't even call each other!

That ice cream looks so good!

 

[SimmerBaggins]

Can you believe I have not been through Minnie's house? Tried once and got so overwhelmed with the people we left. Wait a minute, change that, we had to walk through for trick or treating Saturday, but we were looking for candy so we didn't stop to look at the house. Which is funny, because it was so empty. I feel really stupid now for not slowing down.

So, how do you feel about Stitch? Jacob hates it. He always comments anytime we see people waiting for it, "Can't believe they are wasting their time with that." My Mom loved it.

The ice cream looks wonderful. Somehow I didn't know about the waffle bowl. I have an idea for our next trip.

Stitch is one of my favorite characters -- even if I really don't care too much for the attraction, I still like seeing him, and I don't mind the "scary" part of not knowing if you'll get sprayed, etc. It's even more fun to take someone who doesn't know what to expect! But it was disappointing that it doesn't "do" anything. My DGD hated the chili dog smell, and talked about it all the time, last year!!

I love waffle cones...and love it more that they can put it into a bowl and make it less sloppy!

That ice cream looks amazing!!! Just what you need on a hot day like that!

It certainly cheered us up!!

It is so sad that that "era" is ending...and DD is getting ready to go to her first Homecoming Dance...with a date! I am SO not ready for this!!

Every single time we go into the "big tent shop" (that is what Madison calls it) I lose her and we spend more time wandering around the store looking for each other than anything else! And of course our phone service always stinks in there so we can't even call each other!

That ice cream looks so good!

Oy...a dance date? I am so not ready for that -- my DD asked if she could pal around the mall with a bunch of friends from her old school, yesterday. It ended up being 3 girls & 3 guys, but just all friendships from growing up together. They spent a couple of hours together and had a blast.

That's where I am, so far!!

And you know -- I think our phone service was bad in that tent, too...think it's a ploy so you can't retrieve your kiddos?

 

[SimmerBaggins]

Can you believe, this is our last evening at WDW? It was so long ago, now... (sigh)

When we would get to AKL, our quick way in was usually through the store, the door of which is much closer to the bus stop than the lobby entryway. When we walked in, we saw the Pin King!

(or, maybe the King Pin?? )

Anyway, he was a special CM who came out only to trade pins, and the girls had to walk up the little red carpet to approach him!

He was very jolly.

He had a special bag of pins...the girls were ultimately not impressed with what he had for them (they were both looking for some of the same pins), but they still enjoyed the experience.

We rested a bit.

We got up a bit later to have a bite from the Concierge offerings -- there wasn't a lot, but we still enjoyed it.

A view of the roof:

A view of the late afternoon, from the 6th floor:

A view of my DH, enjoying a little food with his wine.

What the concierge floor has set up for offerings...if you can read and understand it:

The main course:

What it looked like on my plate, before it disappeared. I really enjoyed these, although if you had told me what it was before I tried it, I'm not so sure I would have...

The sun setting over the savanna:

One lone zebra...

We decided we would do something altogether different, on our way back to Magic Kingdom...stay tuned.

 

[TinksThree]

Oy...a dance date? I am so not ready for that -- my DD asked if she could pal around the mall with a bunch of friends from her old school, yesterday. It ended up being 3 girls & 3 guys, but just all friendships from growing up together. They spent a couple of hours together and had a blast.

That's where I am, so far!!

And you know -- I think our phone service was bad in that tent, too...think it's a ploy so you can't retrieve your kiddos?

I haven't thought of Disney using that to their advantage...hmmm...I definitely sense a ploy there!!

Yes...I am not ready! Keith is having the worse time though! He mentioned going and buying a gun this weekend so he will have something to clean! It is nice when they have friends to hang out with that have been around most of their lives! I like it like that!!

The last night?! It is so sad that it is coming to an end!!

 

[SimmerBaggins]

Sorry I've been gone so long -- funny how I'm almost at the end of the trip, and then I quit for a while. Just a LOT going on, and I have a women's conference my family is gearing up to support, plus trip to a wedding this weekend -- so next week will be spent catching up!

Anyway, I know most of the people I started off with have finished their TRs, and are putting their Disney thoughts away until they begin another PTR...speaking of which, I'll have one after this! (insert non-existent cabbage-patch smilie)

Anyway, just some rambling musings (perhaps to myself) that I will, at some point, finish this off...just maybe not soon.

 

[jmskinner]

Yes...I am not ready! Keith is having the worse time though! He mentioned going and buying a gun this weekend so he will have something to clean! It is nice when they have friends to hang out with that have been around most of their lives! I like it like that!!

The last night?! It is so sad that it is coming to an end!!

about your DH. My DH is throwing a fit right now. My stepdaughter is at college now and has a new boyfriend. She posted on Facebook how he was coming up to see her Saturday and then posted Sunday when he left.

Sorry I've been gone so long -- funny how I'm almost at the end of the trip, and then I quit for a while. Just a LOT going on, and I have a women's conference my family is gearing up to support, plus trip to a wedding this weekend -- so next week will be spent catching up!

Anyway, I know most of the people I started off with have finished their TRs, and are putting their Disney thoughts away until they begin another PTR...speaking of which, I'll have one after this! (insert non-existent cabbage-patch smilie)

Anyway, just some rambling musings (perhaps to myself) that I will, at some point, finish this off...just maybe not soon.

Glad you found some time for yourself this week and shared a little moment with us. The week is almost over. Hope the wedding is nice and they have some good food and alcohol for ya.

 

[SimmerBaggins]

On our way back to MK, we decided to do something different. Not since our TS meal at O'Hana had we ridden the monorail, and we REALLY wanted to be able to say we rode the Tronorail!

The girls were in FINE spirits, as usual!

No, despite their looks, the "spirits" were not alcohol-related.

So, we took the bus to Epcot, and found ourselves waiting on the Tronorail. It was rather crowded.

A blurry scene from our waiting point.

Instead of taking any further pictures, I took a video of the monorail getting to us, and our acting silly, waiting on it.

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Of course, the Tronorail took us to the Transportation Center...and we were almost about to swap for the MK monorail, when it dawned on us -- we should take the big boat! (Yes, we were trying to squeeze in all kinds of things at the last night!!)

So, we did. As we got close to the boat, they were about to take off -- so we ran!! It was a funny feeling, trying to get the hubby to hurry...but we made it ok. We scampered up to the front of the boat, where the captain was. This, unfortunately, is the best place to hear the horn. It was rather startling...TWICE! Once when you leave, and once when you are about to dock. The girls had a great time on the boat.

They were bringing out the floats as we crossed over.

Once again, I got video, mostly, but I haven't posted it. It was a great experience, that late at night, with the girls in a great mood. We arrived at MK and went straight away to -- BTMRR!!

For all of you who have said this ride really rocks at night, you are RIGHT!! It seemed very different, so it's a must-do, twice.

I didn't get good photos of the ride, but did snoop around the Splash Mountain store, afterward. The fireworks were going off, so we watched them from that angle of the park, and then went in to the store. It was extended hours night, so we were just taking our time. That was a nice feeling...really, the whole night of "just taking our time" was a pretty good feeling.

The one thing I noticed about the store: it doesn't have much merch about Ber Anybody. There was like one little shelf of the characters, and that was it. I guess it might be a while before they try to resurrect this story and really beef up the $$-factor on it...maybe wait until they think it will be politically correct?

Since I've run out of pictures for the moment, I've kind of run out of the story...will try to pick it up tomorrow!!

 

[jmskinner]

Glad you got to ride the Tronorail. Funny how we all want to do that, we still haven't though. The conversation waiting on the Tronorail cracked me up.

You know, I haven't taken pics inside Splash's store, something else I need to do. See, you've done something I haven't.

Everytime we go on Splash Jonas comments how he can't believe Disney went with this story. His Mother has the book Brer Rabbit.

 

[SimmerBaggins]

Glad you got to ride the Tronorail. Funny how we all want to do that, we still haven't though. The conversation waiting on the Tronorail cracked me up.

You know, I haven't taken pics inside Splash's store, something else I need to do. See, you've done something I haven't.

Everytime we go on Splash Jonas comments how he can't believe Disney went with this story. His Mother has the book Brer Rabbit.

It is truly strange to think, after all this time, we've done things you haven't! I like the decor in the Splash Mountain store, and how it looks like Brer Rabbit's house. One lady remarked to me when she saw what I was doing, "Wow! I would have never looked up & saw that if I hadn't seen you taking pictures!" That was pretty cool.

I think we read Brer Rabbit in elementary school, out loud. It's pretty entertaining. It's funny -- the other night I was at choir practice, and someone in charge remarked that we would have to do something (that we all really WANTED to do)...we all smiled at each other and giggled/talked, and I said out loud, "Oh, no sir -- don't throw us in the briar patch!"

 

[TinksThree]

I love it when I get the opportunity to really take in the different types of transportation!

And I agree....BTMRR is Awesome at night!!

 

[SimmerBaggins]

I love it when I get the opportunity to really take in the different types of transportation!

And I agree....BTMRR is Awesome at night!!

It's like a freebie, isn't it? When nothing else is really free at WDW, you can enjoy riding around in all sorts of transportation! (I told my DD, "Well, Jordan -- you were wanting a cruise...here it is!!")

 

[SimmerBaggins]

We decided afterwards to take a trip to the HM at night...another way to experience the same ride in a different way!

Afterward, we went to the castle, since we really hadn't shown it to Natalie. It was dark and mysterious!

I often wonder how they painted these murals on the wall -- the golden background looks textured, but it isn't! And it looks very rich...wish I've had more time (and fewer people getting in the way) to look at it all.

Mice detail!!

I MADE Natalie go to get this picture...and then I blurred it.

Outside...

Inside the shop window behind the castle:

(did you see me in the mirror?)

Has anyone ever noticed...the DUNGEON ENTRANCE????

Next up: a great spot to view the parade...and unfortunately, be food for mosquitoes.

 

[jmskinner]

It's like a freebie, isn't it? When nothing else is really free at WDW, you can enjoy riding around in all sorts of transportation! (I told my DD, "Well, Jordan -- you were wanting a cruise...here it is!!")

I can just see Jordan's reaction to you calling that a cruise.

I think we read Brer Rabbit in elementary school, out loud. It's pretty entertaining. It's funny -- the other night I was at choir practice, and someone in charge remarked that we would have to do something (that we all really WANTED to do)...we all smiled at each other and giggled/talked, and I said out loud, "Oh, no sir -- don't throw us in the briar patch!"

And another great update. Funny how so many of the rides are so different at night. Even the indoor ones seems darker, but how is that?

And love the little details, I had never noticed those. Especially the fountain. Seen the fountain, have pics of the fountain, but why haven't I noticed the mice? Funny how our eyes see so differently.

 

[SimmerBaggins]

And love the little details, I had never noticed those. Especially the fountain. Seen the fountain, have pics of the fountain, but why haven't I noticed the mice? Funny how our eyes see so differently.

There are mice all over that castle!! In the room where you meet Cinderella (before going up to the dinner), they are up at the top of the room, looking down at her from a column in different places -- too cute! Seems like I have pictures of them when we went to that meet & greet/dinner.

While I was doing that update last night, Jordan was watching me. We both got curious about Song of the South, so I pulled it up on YouTube, and we watched most of the movie!! It's in 10 sections. I had no idea it was like that -- I always thought of the scene of Uncle Remus singing that song with the bluebird, but never remembered the real story around it.

If you get some time, you might watch it. We only got through 8 video shorts of it last night, so will probably finish it tonight.

 

[TinksThree]

It's like a freebie, isn't it? When nothing else is really free at WDW, you can enjoy riding around in all sorts of transportation! (I told my DD, "Well, Jordan -- you were wanting a cruise...here it is!!")

It is like a freebie!

I bet Jordan rolled her eyes...I can just see it. I know mine would do that to me!!

We both got curious about Song of the South, so I pulled it up on YouTube, and we watched most of the movie!! It's in 10 sections. I had no idea it was like that -- I always thought of the scene of Uncle Remus singing that song with the bluebird, but never remembered the real story around it.

If you get some time, you might watch it. We only got through 8 video shorts of it last night, so will probably finish it tonight.

I am definitely going to check this out! I can't even remember that movie! I know I watched it but it was ages and ages ago!!

I have explored the castle once but it was one of the first trips I went WDW. I really didn't know what I "know" now! The mice are actually kind of cute all froxzen in stone like that! I need to add this part to my "to-do" list!!