Welcome home to Zip A dee doo dah days!!! Updated 7/10 The Plan!

[mommyof2Pirates]

Great update. I am so glad the characters spent some time with the kids, expecially the princess. I bet that made DD2's entire trip. We stayed at AKL for our honeymoon it was beautiful, we had a balcony savanah view. It was amazing to wake up and stand outside 10 feet away from a giraffe. I would agree it has a dark feel to it but it was a wonderful experience. Maybe third time will be a charm at boma unless you have another child and then it might be there turn to make waves at your dinner.

I cant wait to read more, sounds like you had another great day!

 

[flipflopmom]

I'm here!!! I still can't believe that we were in the barber shop at the same time & didn't know it!!!!

That's crazy! I feel like we should have lime green mickey heads in day glow or something, and automatically be able to recognize each other!

Great update. I am so glad the characters spent some time with the kids, expecially the princess. I bet that made DD2's entire trip. We stayed at AKL for our honeymoon it was beautiful, we had a balcony savanah view. It was amazing to wake up and stand outside 10 feet away from a giraffe. I would agree it has a dark feel to it but it was a wonderful experience. Maybe third time will be a charm at boma unless you have another child and then it might be there turn to make waves at your dinner.
I cant wait to read more, sounds like you had another great day!

WATCH YOUR MOUTH GIRL!!!!!!!!! I am trying to talk DH into staying the last couple of days at AKL at our next trip, Boma is a good enticement!

 

[shelbys mommy]

That's crazy! I feel like we should have lime green mickey heads in day glow or something, and automatically be able to recognize each other!

Exactly! Shirts with BIG letters that say I am a DISer are you? Or something to tell us apart from the rest! I was looking at my pics from that day & nope, don't have you guys in them. If I did I would have sent them to you, via email or PM.

 

[flipflopmom]

Exactly! Shirts with BIG letters that say I am a DISer are you? Or something to tell us apart from the rest! I was looking at my pics from that day & nope, don't have you guys in them. If I did I would have sent them to you, via email or PM.

I did the same thing. If you had on orange and pink croc flip flops, I have your feet in one!

 

[shelbys mommy]

I did the same thing. If you had on orange and pink croc flip flops, I have your feet in one!

Yep, that's my feet!!!!!!

 

[camsmomE]

Hi- I subbed first, then read all the way up-to-date, NOW I say hello! (I'll get the hang of this yet!)

Seriously, the restaurant I'm looking forward to the most is O'hana! Your pictures just sealed that theory for me! (Second would be Raglan Road, but I'll have to just wait and see how that goes with a toddler after 8pm...)

Anyways, HI, I'm Stace, and I'm tagging along!

Joni (Shelby's mom) I SWEAR I'm not stalking you It seems we're on all the same threads today!

 

[shelbys mommy]

Joni (Shelby's mom) I SWEAR I'm not stalking you It seems we're on all the same threads today!

That is too funny! Right along with flipflopmom & I being in the barber shop at the same time & not even knowing it at the time!!!!

 

[ksl5f123]

about Wendy and the hair paint! Too cute!

I love your pictures from Toontown. I had had a similar idea to spend some time there soaking it in before it is gone, but just couldn't quite move everyone in that direction.

It sounds like you had a really nice interaction with Tiana and Naveen. I find that when two characters meet at the same time the interaction really improves. It seems they play off of each other. We had a great time with Tiana and Naveen too.

 

[flipflopmom]

Hi- I subbed first, then read all the way up-to-date, NOW I say hello! (I'll get the hang of this yet!)

Seriously, the restaurant I'm looking forward to the most is O'hana! Your pictures just sealed that theory for me! (Second would be Raglan Road, but I'll have to just wait and see how that goes with a toddler after 8pm...)

Anyways, HI, I'm Stace, and I'm tagging along!

Joni (Shelby's mom) I SWEAR I'm not stalking you It seems we're on all the same threads today!

Hey Stace! I guess I really should start using names, DD1 DD2, DH etc is getting old! I'm Taryn! Glad you are along for the ride!

Yep, that's my feet!!!!!!

about Wendy and the hair paint! Too cute!

I love your pictures from Toontown. I had had a similar idea to spend some time there soaking it in before it is gone, but just couldn't quite move everyone in that direction.

It sounds like you had a really nice interaction with Tiana and Naveen. I find that when two characters meet at the same time the interaction really improves. It seems they play off of each other. We had a great time with Tiana and Naveen too.

Sorry you didn't make it over - I had told the girls it would be their last visit to that area, so DD1 - Anna Kathryn - kept asking to make sure we got there!

Night everyone! Hoping I can get the rest of day 2 and at least part of day 3!

Taryn

 

[shelbys mommy]

So I told Ben all about us "meeting" at the Barber Shop, he is floored. He said the chances of that happening again are slim to none! I think that is just way too cool! If only we knew ahead of time!!!!

 

[shelbys mommy]

Ok, so I was looking at the pics on your PB. Pic # 46 is me with the Cinderella clip in my pocket, in the window in the orange shirt is Ben. Pic #52 has Brady walking out, my foot (lmao) & behind Brady is Ben holding Shelby. The kid laying on the bench is Koby & the green hat is his!

 

[flipflopmom]

Ok, so I was looking at the pics on your PB. Pic # 46 is me with the Cinderella clip in my pocket, in the window in the orange shirt is Ben. Pic #52 has Brady walking out, my foot (lmao) & behind Brady is Ben holding Shelby. The kid laying on the bench is Koby & the green hat is his!

Very cool! I guess I just didn't look closely enough! It's a small world after all...It's a small world after all...it's a small, small world!

 

[flipflopmom]

SO after our dinner at Boma, we headed over to AK for EMH. I was really excited for this, as the pictures looked wonderful. Before it actually started, we got in on It's tough to be a bug. Now, we had skipped it last year, due to recommendations that it can be scary. However, DD2 saw a bit about it as we were watching a Disney special we had DVR'd on the Travel Channel last year, and wanted to see it. We prepped her, b/c she hates bugs, but she insisted on going.

We had a relatively small wait, which was good considering the mood of a 3 year old that had not napped!

She ended up liking the show, we all found it amusing. I did not like the final effect of feeling like roaches were crawling under my bum!

After ITTBAB, we went to Festival of the Lion King. This is one of our favorite attractions in all of Disney. A simply AMAZING show! As I mentioned DD1 is a gymnast, and when she found out last year that the Tumble Monkeys were all former gymnasts, I think Olympic, before the show started, she was beyond excited. This year, she couldn't sit still, videoed their performance, and even asked a CM if she could meet one after the show. She was turned down, but she understood. If you haven't seen this yet, DO IT! At this showing, it wasn't at all crowded, and just great! I was too busy taking it in to take pictures, though!

When we came out, it was finally dark, and the park at night is as breathtaking as we hoped. Unfortunately, there were thunderstorms in the area, a bit of drizzle. DD1 and I had a goal of riding Everest in the dark, so we ran over there. DH and DD2 hung out at a table nearby. Let me tell you, it is worth the trip to PM EMH just to ride this in the dark. The view going up, stunning, the ride is RIDICULOUS in the dark. Feels faster, since you are taking away some of the sight sensory experience. Just AWESOME!!!

None of our pictures came out too great, probably b/c we didn't stop long enough to get a nice still shot. But there are all kinds of cool lights you don't notice during the day, and it is very, very, very cool!!!!!!

Here is my one pitiful tree shot:

See, told you they were bad. It just doesn't do it justice. You've gotta go.

DD2 crashed on the bus ride back to BLT. WHILE I WAS STANDING UP AND HOLDING HER. I thought my arms would break, and we would both fall!!! I managed to heft her back to the room, and we all got some rest.

Next installment: MK AM EMH!

 

[flipflopmom]

So after getting back to BLT at 11, it was a little hard to get everyone up for AM EMH at MK. Thankfully, we just had a short walk over, so we made it. We weren't the first in line, though, but near the front.

IT WAS SOOOOOO HOTT!!!! I MEAN SERIOUSLY! 8am, and we are drenched!

We did the Dumbo dash first:

Here is a picture of Fantasyland construction taken from Dumbo:

Then off to the teacups. I HATE this ride. But the girls love it, so I sacrificed myself. DH stayed on the sidelines and took pictures. WIMP!

Look at the back of my shirt. That's sweat, just from the walk from BLT, the Welcome show, walking to Dumbo and riding, and walking to teacups.

After this nauseating experience, we headed for Pooh. It is such a cute little ride! And took a chance on Snow White's Scary Adventures. This is another one we shied away from last year due to reviews, but none of us found it particularly scary. It was... the dark and evil side of Snow White, though. Definitely!

After Snow white, we proceeded to ride Peter Pan, and Small World. We basically knocked out all of Fantasyland by 9am. Left Fantasyland, and took stopped at Haunted Mansion. The girls don't mind this ride. DD2 likes to look at all the details, and can tell you all about different small things we don't notice. She does, however, think they need to clean!!


If you have never done AM EMH at MK, DO IT!!!! You get sooo much accomplished in that hour, it is ridiculous!

Then we went over to Big Thunder, for DD2's first ride. SHE LOVED IT!!! Arms up and yelling the whole way. UH OH!!! We have a daredevil on our hands!!!!!!!! We were in sooo much trouble for the rest of the week!

We got fastpasses for Splash, then headed to Crystal Palace for a less than stellar dining experience. Read more here:Crystal Palace brunch

When we finished, we took DD for her first ever ride on Splash using our Fast Passes. She was absolutely enamored, and called it the "bunny ride" . She loved the frog shadow in the queue, all the "bunny" stuff inside the ride, and the drop just exhilirated her. Up until this point, she had asked to go to swim while we were in the parks. For the rest of the week "I wanna ride rides" "Can we go on the bunny ride today?" "Let's go ride the roller coaster"

As you can see in this picture, the rest of the family was squinting and screaming, and she was trying her best to hold her arms up and was taking the plunge in:: Sorry for the quality, I took a picture of the picture on the screen!

We were thoroughly soaked at this point. We walked back through Adventureland. We saw Woody and Jessie making their way to a character greeting, but the line was HUGE, so we snapped a pic and kept on walking!

Took in Pirates with little wait. By this time, it was close to 1pm, and the park was really starting to fill up! We were all hot, and DD1 was hungry, so we stopped for some snacks: Dole whip pineapple float for me and DH to share. OH MY GOODNESS!!! Seriously one of the best things I put in my mouth all week! Would love to have one right now!!! DD wanted an Itzakadoozie after seeing someone with one, and DD1 wanted popcorn. We took a little break on a bench, drank some water, had our snacks.

We felt refreshed enough to make our way back to the entrance for a trip home to swim! Spent the afternoon at the amazing pool at BLT. I never took my camera down, b/c I didn't want it to get wet or stollen. But it had a really cool waterslide the girls loved, zero entry on one side with little spouts, and a splash area. We spent a few hours just relaxing, cooling off, and having fun!

We took showers, and then made it to the monorail by 5pm to go to Epcot!

 

[ksl5f123]

What a wonderful morning at the Magic Kingdom!! You did get quite a lot done in that first hour! for your DD2 starting to like the rides and enjoying the thrills!

 

[flipflopmom]

What a wonderful morning at the Magic Kingdom!! You did get quite a lot done in that first hour! for your DD2 starting to like the rides and enjoying the thrills!

It's amazing, and well worth getting up early for, especially in the summer heat!

That's why my TR is titled Zip A Dee Doo Dah days. She sang and talked about Splash CONSTANTLY for the rest of the trip! That and asking if "the characters will be there" whenever we went to eat!

 

[flipflopmom]

After getting on the monorail around 5pm, DD2 fell asleep in her stroller on the monorail. This was the real draw for BLT for us, that she could stay in her stroller on the monorail, so 2 parks without buses. After holding her chunky self all the way back from AK standing up, and carrying her to the room, it was even better!

She stayed asleep for about 2 hours, which was fabulous for the rest of the evening's plans.

I was really disappointed that DD1 hadn't gotten to see the Chinese acrobats the year before, and I knew their last performance of the day was at 6:15, so I wanted to make sure we got there in time. We went straight to China, poked around in the shops, and she started her Kidcot mask, as well as one for Sleeping Beauty in the stroller. The temple is really pretty there. Went out and camped out at a spot for the show.

I was a bit anxious, because we had a surprise for DD1 at 7. She is enamored right now with all things French, so we had made an ADR at Chefs de France as a surprise for her. We had to make sure we could watch the show, and get all the way around to the other side of World Showcase in time, which we did without any problems.

Those Chinese girls are amazing! VERY doublejointed and flexible, and STRONG! DD was very impressed! DH had the camera, so no pics, of course! DD2 stayed asleep in the stroller until we got over to dinner.

DD1 was so surprised about dinner. As soon as the performance was over, she begged "I wanna see the Eiffel Tower" and asked if we could find something in France to eat. When we checked in at Chefs, she was ecstatic!

If you want to read about the meal: Chefs

My fav. pics from the meal:

DD2 with chocolate cake teeth!

After dinner, we strolled around France, but not enough. I really wanted to spend more time in the shops, but the girls were wanting to RIDE something. The did do the French Kidcot station.

We started making our way to FW. On our way, we saw people in the red phone booths in the U.K. I had gotten the numbers from Dis, so we spent a few minutes calling people. It was a lot of fun, kind of like Candid Camera. One couple was hilarious, and we ended up spending about 10 minutes talking to them afterwards, and telling them about Disboards!

We skipped Illuminations, last year it made DD really sad thinking about her Poppie, and called and talked to him during it, so she asked if we could just not be anywhere around, it holds too many bad memories!

Went over to Test Track, close to 9pm. The wait was 40 minutes, and the attendant said to come back at 11 and we could walk on multiple times then. So off to the Land we go. Soarin standby was 70 minutes, both were out of Fastpasses. Rode the Land, which is actually really cool in the dark. The plants stand out more. DD1 HATES this ride, DH it!

Went to Nemo and walked on, then went towards Crush. There was NO ONE in the waiting room, and we spent about 10 minutes talking to a CM. When the show started, there were probably 10 kids, if that in the room. He picked on DH, and talked to both of my girls, so they were thrilled!

AFter Nemo, we went upstairs to the observation room for a while, took a Bruce picture, and then rode Spaceship Earth.

We were starting to wipe out, it was close to 11 by this time. So we trudged back over to TT. Guess what - CM WAS SOOOOO WRONG. Standby was now over an hour. Uh. No. We're going to bed!

Back on the monorail, DD went back to sleep, and we all crashed for another day, but a much slower paced one!

 

[mommyof2Pirates]

AK at night even in the not so great quality picture looks beautiful. I am really hopin got experience that some day. I cant believe your DD2 was not freaked out by ITTBAB my kids were so traumatized after that ride. I think you do have a dare devil on your hands.

EMH is so worth getting up early. I cant believe how sweaty and hot it was already that day. Thats too bad about CP brunch. We skipped CP on our last trip because I had heard alot of the same experiences happen to others. I think its hit or miss. Im glad your little one was tall enough to do splash and thunder mountain I bet that made the trip so much more fun.

I am actually considering trying france for dinner one time after your review. I know you said it was ok and you werent thrilled but I thought everything looked super appetizing. Too funny how you all switched plates throughout the meal but sometimes that makes the best dinners.

Im glad you got to do some of your favorite rides at FW. Too bad about TT...what the heck was that CM talking about.

Your kids are so darn cute by the way.

 

[flipflopmom]

AK at night even in the not so great quality picture looks beautiful. I am really hopin got experience that some day. I cant believe your DD2 was not freaked out by ITTBAB my kids were so traumatized after that ride. I think you do have a dare devil on your hands.

EMH is so worth getting up early. I cant believe how sweaty and hot it was already that day. Thats too bad about CP brunch. We skipped CP on our last trip because I had heard alot of the same experiences happen to others. I think its hit or miss. Im glad your little one was tall enough to do splash and thunder mountain I bet that made the trip so much more fun.

I am actually considering trying france for dinner one time after your review. I know you said it was ok and you werent thrilled but I thought everything looked super appetizing. Too funny how you all switched plates throughout the meal but sometimes that makes the best dinners.

Your kids are so darn cute by the way.

Lots to comment on here. Sophie - the 3 year old, is really funny. She seems to just forge in head first. Anna Kathryn, the 10 year old, is so scared to try new things, foods, etc. She did great about riding stuff both years, but is still too scared for single rider lines, etc. I think she was a lot more worried about ITTBAB and Snow White than her little sister!

It was a lot more fun not having to rider swap everything, and it seemed like we got in a lot more family time, instead of time waiting with one or the other.

You should definitely try Chefs de France sometime. I think everywhere that we ate was worth at least one shot. The food was good, I think the fact that we went to the Yachtsman the next day, and had some similar foods that were so excellent, downplayed it a bit. That's one problem of the DxDP. There is so much food that it has to be an absolutely stellar food or cuisine to really stand out.

And thanks. I think my girls are pretty cute, too, most of the time!

 

[flipflopmom]

What in the world? Ok, so I KNOW that yesterday, I spent a lot of time typing up our Wednesday. I put in the pictures, everything. Where in the heck did it go??? I'm so out of it now, I'll just wait a bit to redo it. I wonder if I posted it to another thread or something.