Well, this trip was....different. UPDATE - 9/1!

[catherines_mama]

Happy Belated Birthday Amanda!! Hope your boys treated you to a great one!

 

[amandaw]

I am back...sorry!! I know I must be the most boring person ever to keep saying this but Reid is so cute. Those star wars pictures are wonderful. I totally get how tired you are at the end of the day, even if there is something you still want to see. Your body just says no more!!

No worries...glad to have you back!

Thank you! I really like those Star Wars pics of Reid.

It's so true about being too tired. I just couldn't go anymore at that point. When we sat down in our room to eat, I was very glad that we had not gone to AoA for dinner.

I'm on time for this update. for getting on TSM three times after all the breakdowns.

I love Reid's Star Tours' photopass pictures....his smile is great!

I was so happy we ended up getting to ride TSMM so many times!!

Thank you!!

Hooray! I'm so glad that TSM was back up... three rides in one day on ANY day is a success, so yall had a MAJOR success!

We really did! I was so happy!

I love Reid's Star Wars pictures. SO PRECIOUS!

Thanks!!

I'm glad it was an overall good day! I can't wait to see what you did the next day, too!

I would say this ended up being one of my favorite days of our trip.

I am so impressed that you were able to do all that and STILL be in bed by 9pm!

Thanks...I really needed an early bedtime that night. I found I couldn't go as much on this trip as I normally do.

Love that you got some extra pixie dust in the form of extra fast passes....

It was so exciting! And I was happy for Ed that he could ride ToT more than once since it's his favorite ride.

and riding TSM 3 times in one day is quite impressive on a good day, but one where it had been down so much? AWESOME!!!

Right?!? I was very happy about this.

Yay for 3 rides on TSMM! I just love that ride.

It's a big favorite of ours as well. I was so happy to get in 3 rides!

Amazing Star Wars pictures of Reid! The lightsaber makes them even better. Does Reid play with it all the time? We bought 2 for uncle Cory on Maddie's first trip and they play with them all the time.

Thank you! Reid plays with it a lot! And especially since Santa brought him a Darth Vader mask. He really wants to be Vader.

Glad that you guys got a good nights sleep. I think you guys had earned it after the beginning of the trip.

I just couldn't go anymore and that night it really started to take a toll on me.

3 TSM rides I love ths Star Wars Jedi Reid pics

I keep reminding myself..DO NOT SKIP DHS NEXT TRIP

Thank you!!

DHS really can be a lot of fun. I know the park is lacking a bit in rides/attractions. But, you can still make a pretty full and fun day there.

 

[amandaw]

Finally!!!!

Indeed!

Of course not, but if you had an end destination that included plans requiring him to be awake, he'd have been out like a light.

You are so correct!

Oh, wow. Not cool!


Funny, but not cool.

I felt so bad for the kid. But, it was rather hilarious.

Why did you even ask at that point???

I know, right?!?

He looks like he was having a blast posing with his light saber.

He had so much fun posing on that thing. And he was so happy to have his own light saber.

I don't think I've ever had a hotel mini fridge that would even get cold enough to do that. Most of them are just slightly less than room temperature on the highest setting.

I didn't even look at the setting when I had put them in because I didn't think it would ever get even close to being cold enough for coke explosions. Be warned if you stay at OKW....check the temp setting.

Great updates, Amanda! I love all the pictures - especially the ones of Reid with his new light saber!

Thank you!!

So glad to see that Phineas and Ferb are still there. And relieved to hear that your wait wasn't long - that was the longest line we waited in last year (not counting the princesses with their princes at MNSSHP).

It really wasn't bad at all for us. But, I have heard other people say the wait was really long.

I am so glad that Reid loved Star Tours, but I'm not surprised!

I know, right?!? I am glad he enjoyed the ride since he had really been looking forward to finally being able to ride it this year.

Over all, looks like a very good DHS day.

It really was!

Sounds like a very successful day at DHS! I'm glad you guys got to ride TSM finally! 3 time none the less!!

Thanks! We really ended up having a very fun day!

I had no idea you get pics on that Star Wars prop! I will have to do that this year. DS did the Jedi training last year and has been Star Wars crazed ever since!

Oh, then you definitely got to get the Photopass pics there. Those are some of my favorite from our trip.

Fast pass pixie dust is one of the best kinds out there!

Indeed! And I was glad it was for Ed's favorite ride.

 

[amandaw]

nice update. your sons star wars pics are really cute. i hope you got to visit art of animation soon after.

Thank you!!

I did end up visiting AoA during our trip. But, it was at the end of our trip.

I just caught up on several posts, I have been getting behind on all of my subscribed TR's lately! I love the PP pics of Reid outside of Star Tours, the border makes it look like he's really flying through space!

It's so easy to get behind on the DIS, right?

Thank you....I really love the Star Wars photopass pics. They're some of my favorites.

 

[amandaw]

Happy birthday Amanda!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I saw you post your birthday on Heather's TR

Hope you have a magical day with Ed and Reid

Happy Birthday Amanda!!

Happy birthday Amanda! Hope you have a great day!

Happy Birthday

AHHH was it your birthday yesterday?

...

HAPPY (belated) BIRTHDAY!!!!!



Hope it was wonderful!

Happy Belated Birthday Amanda!! Hope your boys treated you to a great one!

Thank you all so much for the wonderful birthday wishes!!

I had a really nice birthday weekend.

Friday night, my guys took me out to an early birthday dinner at one of my favorite local Italian restaurants. And then we had cookie cake at home.

Saturday (my actual bday), we had a low-key day at home, watching Disney movies on ABCfamily. And that night, my sister was kind enough to pick up Reid on her way home from Target (we live maybe a mile apart) and took him to her house. He spent the night there and had a sleepover with his cousins, which he was super excited about. And Ed took me out for a nice dinner. We grabbed some coffee and then watched a movie at home.

It was a very nice and quiet weekend. Which is practically perfect in my book!

 

[jennyjinx3]

Sounds lovely!

 

[creativeamanda]

Everywhere I read today, it's loaded with good experiences at DHS, which are making me think I'm not giving the park a fair shake.

Drats to all of you--I'm going to have to change my plans next month. I know where I will, and it means a noon start at DHS, but I think with that and an EMH, it's doable.

Anyway, I love the pictures of Reid with the Star Wars stuff. That is absolutely too cute! My son loves the make your own lightsabers, as well, and saves his money for it. I also can't believe the CM with that little boy! That is awful!

 

[t_daniels]

Happy late birthday!! I've neglected my reading on here...

 

[eandesmom]

really not sure how I missed this one but will work to get caught up! Probably just in time for you to finish lol!

 

[BellaBaby]

Just found your TR yesterday and I'm up to your DHS day. I'm enjoying it very much and Reid is so darn cute!!

 

[TinksThree]

What a great day at DHS!! TSMM 3 times and ToT (plus Pi9xie Dust FPs!!) and RnR plus all the others....I got excited for you just reading about it all!!

And Happy Belated Birthday!! I am glad you had a great one!!!

 

[KatMark]

Sorry I didn't get her to post a Happy Birthday to you (I did on FB), had a very busy weekend. Sounds like a perfect birthday weekend.

 

[emma212010]

I am finally all caught up!!

Cute! All those character meets were awesome!

That seemed like such a fun DHS day! You had some amazing pixie dust with your TSMM and ToT FPs!! That's always awesome!

Wow, too bad about the Coke explosion! What a nice guy to clean it up for you!

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!

It sounds like you had a great couple of days of celebration!

 

[pas130]

Sounds you had the PERFECT birthday Amanda

 

[MEK]

Love the ending to your day. I'm glad you got a nice ride partner on ToT. I ended up with a father, too. I think all his teens were paired up with each other.

The worse thing you can do is take the chicken exit. Then you'll never ride. It's going to take a lot of that kid to overcome that. Poor thing.

Love Reid's star war pictures.

A fun and full day like that definitely deserves a quick and yummy "to go" meal in the room!

 

[amandaw]

Sounds lovely!

It really was!

Everywhere I read today, it's loaded with good experiences at DHS, which are making me think I'm not giving the park a fair shake.

I wouldn't say it's my favorite park but we do have fun when we go there. And some times we end up spending more time than I expected, like this trip.

Drats to all of you--I'm going to have to change my plans next month. I know where I will, and it means a noon start at DHS, but I think with that and an EMH, it's doable.

Don't you hate it when the DIS makes you change up all your plans?

Anyway, I love the pictures of Reid with the Star Wars stuff. That is absolutely too cute! My son loves the make your own lightsabers, as well, and saves his money for it. I also can't believe the CM with that little boy! That is awful!

Thank you!!

As bad as I felt for that boy, it was really funny too. He looked relieved when he walking out.

Happy late birthday!! I've neglected my reading on here...

Thank you!!

No worries....I know how hard it can be to keep up here some times.

really not sure how I missed this one but will work to get caught up! Probably just in time for you to finish lol!

It should still be a few more weeks before I finish. I do have links in the 2nd post, if that helps.

Just found your TR yesterday and I'm up to your DHS day. I'm enjoying it very much and Reid is so darn cute!!

and thank you!!

 

[amandaw]

What a great day at DHS!! TSMM 3 times and ToT (plus Pi9xie Dust FPs!!) and RnR plus all the others....I got excited for you just reading about it all!!

Thanks! It really ended up being one of the best days of our trip!

And Happy Belated Birthday!! I am glad you had a great one!!!

Thank you!! It really was a nice birthday!

Sorry I didn't get her to post a Happy Birthday to you (I did on FB), had a very busy weekend. Sounds like a perfect birthday weekend.

Don't worry about that! I appreciated your FB wishes! I really had a nice birthday weekend.

I am finally all caught up!!

Isn't it crazy how easy it is to get behind on the DIS?

Cute! All those character meets were awesome!

Thanks!

That seemed like such a fun DHS day! You had some amazing pixie dust with your TSMM and ToT FPs!! That's always awesome!

We really ended up having a great day at DHS! I never would have thought we'd stay there all day but we just got to do so much.

Wow, too bad about the Coke explosion! What a nice guy to clean it up for you!

Yeah....he's pretty good. Guess I'll keep him for at least another 13 years or so.

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!

It sounds like you had a great couple of days of celebration!

Thank you!!

It was really such a nice weekend!

Sounds you had the PERFECT birthday Amanda

Thanks! It was such a nice birthday!

Love the ending to your day. I'm glad you got a nice ride partner on ToT. I ended up with a father, too. I think all his teens were paired up with each other.

Thanks! It ended up being a great day.

The worse thing you can do is take the chicken exit. Then you'll never ride. It's going to take a lot of that kid to overcome that. Poor thing.

I know...I felt so bad for the boy. Although, it was really funny at the same time.

Love Reid's star war pictures.

Thank you!!

A fun and full day like that definitely deserves a quick and yummy "to go" meal in the room!

I was really glad that I made the decision just to go back to OKW for dinner. By the time we got in our room with the food, I realized just how tired I really was.

 

[amandaw]

I woke up at 7 am this day and started getting ready. The guys actually woke up on their own around 7:15 am and had breakfast in the room before getting ready. We decided to drive yet again this day. It was just so much easier and quicker than the buses. So, we were in our car by 8:30 am and were headed to EPCOT.

We arrived, parked and got through bag check by 8:45 am. Then, we just had to wait for the park to open. Reid was planning our day:



Then, it was finally time to enter the park!

This picture cracks me up...Reid had dropped the map and Ed was picking it up for him. But, it looks like they’re both checking out the CM’s backside.





I was really excited about getting to experience Food & Wine Festival for the first time.



Our first order of business was to head here:



No, we weren’t getting a 2nd breakfast. We were grabbing our FPs for Soarin. Our return time was 9:55 am. After that we headed on over to the Character Spot. Luckily, there were only a few families in front of us so the line didn’t take too long. There was a very nice mom and son from Alabama behind us so we chatted with them while we waited. And then it was time to meet some old friends!











This is one of my favorites:









Once we were done visiting with our friends, we headed here:



Reid was getting tired of me wanting to take pictures:







So, I agreed to go inside and ride Nemo. It was a walk-on thank goodness. I don’t think I could ever wait for that ride. Once we were off Nemo, I decided to go see how long the wait was for Turtle Talk with Crush. We had never done this before and I wanted to see it. It was only a few minutes before the next show, so we waited around.

Once they let us in, Ed and I found seats on the 2nd row of benches. Reid found himself a spot on the floor with the other children. Of course, I knew my child would make sure to find a spot at the very front.

The show started and as soon as Crush came out, Reid started raising his hand to talk to him. I knew he would do this. He loves to talk - whether or not he has anything to say. My only worry was that there was no telling what he would say if he were called upon by Crush.

After a little bit of talking, Crush finally decided to call on the “little dude in the front row”. Yep, it was my little dude. I held my breath waiting to hear what he would say. Crush asked him his name and he answered, “Reid”. Crush told him he had a cool name. Then, he asked where he was from and Reid answered, “Louisiana”. Crush said, “Cool! Never heard of it.” And then he let Reid have his moment - his turn to ask a question. Surprisingly, he actually had a good question, “How fast can you swim?”. Crush answered him but I don’t remember what the answer was.

After that, Crush asked Reid who had brought him today and Reid said, “my parents.” Uh oh! I knew what was coming. While our child may be an extrovert and love being the center of attention, Ed and I are the exact opposite. Well, Crush asked for Reid’s “parental units” to raise their hands. So we did....along with a few other parents. Crush was understandably confused and said, “A lot of people want to be Reid’s parents.” Then, he asked again and we were the only ones to raise our hands this time.

The CM working the show came over to us with her microphone and, thank the heavens, started talking to Ed. Crush asked Ed his name and then started calling him “the Edmeister”, etc. He asked Ed if he liked being a parent but Ed didn’t hear him at first so it took him a moment to answer, “yes”. Needless to say Crush pointed out to him that he took a little long to answer.

It was all really fun but we were glad when Crush moved on to talking to other people. I would definitely recommend going to the show if you’ve never done it before. We did enjoy ourselves.

After our talk with Crush, Reid wanted to play in Bruce’s SubHouse for a little bit.





Then, Reid (much to our dismay) asked to ride Nemo...again. Since it was a walk-on, we obliged. But, I got him out of there after that ride.

By then, it was time to use our FPs for Soarin...so we headed there next.



Now, this was the 1st time for all of us on this ride. So what did we think? We liked it. I think Reid liked it more than Ed and myself. I do think the screen is really in need of a refurb. The black spots all over it interfere with the experience. Now, I’m going to say something that may get me banned from the DIS but here it goes......

I just don’t see what the big deal is with this ride. I enjoyed the ride but I don’t see why so many people rave about it and love it so much. I would never wait more than 15 minutes to ride it.

After Soarin, I wanted to go ride Living with the Land but the wait was about 25 minutes. Yeah, I don’t think so. Instead we took a potty break and then headed here:



This is a big favorite of myself and Reid. The wait was about 10-15 minutes. It wasn’t too bad once we were in the shade. But, at one point, we were in the sun and let me tell you that sun was out in full force this day. It was H-O-T!!!

Once we returned from our journey to the past and future, I had one destination in mind:

The World Showcase!

I was ready to get my grub on and try out some F&W offerings. So, we started making our way there, taking in some sights along the way.



We saw the Red Queen by the fountains. I had never seen her there before so was kind of surprised to see here there.

Looking back at Spaceship Earth:



Passing the Cranberry bog:



Finally, we were in the World Showcase and it was time to EAT!

 

[shan23877]

Your character spot photos are amazing! Love all of them, but the Pluto and Goofy ones are my faves.

I'm so glad that you guys did Turtle Talk! Isn't it the cutest show? I was LOLing at your description of your personalities vs. Reid's. We're the same way. I hold my breath every time we're in a show that requires participation hoping I won't get picked.

Too bad you didn't love Soarin. I like it and consider it a must do,but I'd rather ride Test Track.

Ohhh the Red Queen! Cool!

Can't wait to hear about Food and Wine!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Awww, what sweet character photos! I especially like the one with Pluto...too cute!

Ah, the dreaded Nemo ride...not my favorite and yet I get suckered into riding it every time. It's amazing what we'll endure for the short people we love!

Turtle Talk is a favorite of ours. When my niece was about 8 years old, Crush asked her what she liked to eat; and she said sushi. Poor Crush was appalled and asked a CM to escort her out of the building!