Where's My Free Cake? No Lines in August and Magical Dreams Come True *All Done!*

[ArmyWife3-4]

After a relaxing afternoon, we headed back to MK for the evening. I just love being there in the evenings!

I had been looking forward to trying Tomorrowland Noodle Terrace for quite some time since it was closed for our honeymoon last year. We headed straight over there upon arriving at MK for an early dinner. I had the noodle bowl (I think!) and it was great!

In a true small world story, while standing in line waiting for our order to come up, I realized that the man in the hat in front of me looked incredibly familiar. I thought, 'no way, I can't be seeing someone I know at Disney!' I proceeded to check out the rest of the family, and then realized that, yes, I did in face know them!!!!! What a small world!!!! The family is very close friends with DH's family back in Michigan. He has mentored DH since he joined the Army, and we are very close with their family. I had no idea they were going to be there the same week!!! I was able to sit with them and have a wonderful dinner and enjoy a nice conversation with them.

We of course took a photo with DH to show him how much fun we had!

After dinner and a nice chat with the family friends, we milled around the park to hit the rides that were easier to hop on with a busy park. We headed over to Adventureland to catch the Tiki Room and Pirates.

I had to take a few more photos of the details in the park...

After a few rides, I had to stop for a much awaited Dole Whip. Mmmm.... While waiting to pay, the CM told me to take it that it was on him for my anniversary. Dole Whips are great, but they're even better when they're free!

Crowd photo!

 

[ArmyWife3-4]

Oh, and I wanted to say thanks for sticking around! I know I feel off the wagon for a little bit, but I'm still here! I'll do my best to keep on track for the rest of our trip!

 

[scottny]

great update and pics.

ok that 2nd crowd photo was i hate crowds.

 

[luvfigment]

Great update!

 

[vfair]

Really enjoying your PT - especially all the photos. Prayers for you and a safe return home for your DH.

 

[AshleyMWC]

I just TR and I love it! I had read about the dream your DH got, a few weeks ago, so I was really excited to see that you had a trip report. Your family sounds like so much fun, and I can't wait to hear more about your trip!

I will you and your DH in my prayers, and tell him thanks for all that he is doing for us over there

 

[luvfigment]

Just checking in to make sure everything is ok...you haven't been around to update lately. Hope you are doing well...and looking forward to hearing from you soon!

 

[ArmyWife3-4]

Welllll.....I HATE when I don't finish things I started...Soooo I am going to try and wrap this TR up. Better late than never right?! I figure in order to get anyone to read our PTR for April, I have to show that I can follow through with a TR from the previous trip, right?

I first have to apologize for being so off the ball lately. Work and this deployment are really getting the best of me. I am planning to quit my job in January to take a few masters classes, spend a few weeks at home in Michigan, and finally get a chance to volunteer a bit more. I love my job, but my boss is from another planet. We do not get along, and it's finally come to the point where I can't take it any longer. With a deployed husband and family far away, a crummy boss is just a bit too much to handle. Sadly, my personal internet time has been almost completely cut off...(Alright, I know...I'm at work not home...but still...I needed a little Dis in my day! ), and this has really limited my time to work on the TR. Needless to say....I am going to work hard at wrapping this up!

If any of you are still here, thanks for sticking around and having faith in me!

 

[ArmyWife3-4]

We spent the rest of the evening tool around MK and enjoying the night. We didn't rush to do much just hopped in the short lines and rode anything we felt like.

After riding what we felt like, Mom, Dad, and I staked out our spots at Tomorrowland Noodle Terrace. Although it's not a dead on shot of the castle, it's a great place to see Tink from. Being a Tink lover, I was thrilled....

While we waited, I walked around and took some photos. I just love the old school lighting on Main Street.

It was so nice to just sit and spend some time with my parents that night. I miss them so much living away, and this trip was just great...

I just love this photo:

Here are a few more from Wishes:

 

[ArmyWife3-4]

We got up bright and early once again, and the kids were stoked to get over to AK and ride Kali River Rapids. Dad and Tony were off to enjoy their birthday present of a Segway lesson at Epcot, so Mom Peg and I took the kids over to AK for AM EMH.

We didn't think to check and make sure Kali was open for EMH, and alas, it wasn't. We decided to change plans and head over to the Safari. You can't ever get enough of that ride, and there's always something new to see. We had great seats, and there were SOOO many animals out and about. If I remember corretly, it had rained the night before, and it was a cool morning so the animals were extra active.

After the Safari, it was nearly time to catch Kali. We stopped by for a tea latte and a tea slush (yum!) and then it was time to get WET!

We hopped in line for Kali and after one ride, we were SOAKED!!!

Don't I look happy???

 

[bayoumama2]

I'm still with you, just loved your TR and haven't given up. I just knew you'd come back and finish. I'm gearing up for our trip in 10 days and am so excited.

 

[ArmyWife3-4]

YAY!!! I'm so glad you stuck around and had some faith in me!

 

[luvmyboys]

Spent the morning reading your entire PT and TR! What can I say? I got sucked in!!!

I'm really enjoying your report, love the pics, and want to say thanks to you and your DH for your service to our country!

 

[ArmyWife3-4]

Spent the morning reading your entire PT and TR! What can I say? I got sucked in!!!

I'm really enjoying your report, love the pics, and want to say thanks to you and your DH for your service to our country!

Thanks! It means a lot to both of us that people are so grateful for his service. I sure am proud of him!

Glad you've joined in!!! Soon enough, I'll wrap this up and suck you into my April PTR for DH's mid-tour leave trip! Let's hear it for 7 nights for the price of 4!!!

 

[ArmyWife3-4]

After Kali, we still had some time to kill before we met up with Dad and Tony again. All S1 could talk about was digging for dinosaurs. All morning long, he kept telling us all he wanted to do was dig. We headed over to the playgroud in Dinoland for S1 and S2 to play, but we didn't see a place to dig. Since there was only on was in and out. We let the kids go, and Mom, Peg, and I just found a place to relax. We all kept an eye on S1 and S2 as we sat to make sure they didn't go too far.

About 15 minutes after arriving, Peg realized that she could no longer locat S1. Mom and I tried to keep her calm saying he clearly didn't leave since we were sitting at the exit. He was probably just up near the top of the playground or sitting inside one of the tunnels. As the next few minutes went along, Peg broke into more of a panic. Mom stayed at the entrance/exit, and Peg and I started climbing. By this point, even I was starting to get a bit nervous.

Once I got near the top, I realized that there was a walkway over the top of the sidewalk below leading over to the area where children could 'dig' for a dinosaur. Sure enough, S1 and S2 were quietly digging away trying to find their own dinosaur....PHEW!

They would have stayed here digging all day long! They were perfectly content, and it was nice to get some peace and quiet from the craziness of the park. Mom and I had a great chat with the CM stationed there while we waited, and we talked all about her job at WDW and how she started working there.

Once we were able to finally draw the kids away from digging, they were covered in the little sandy pebbles. Since they were wet from Kali, they had pebbles everywhere! In there shoes, in their hair, down their pants....

 

[ArmyWife3-4]

After spending the morning at AK, Mom and I split off from Peg and the kids to head to MK to pick up a few things. I wanted to pick up a few small things for DH's care package, Tinkerbell earrings for myself, and a some sort of goodies for the neighbors watching Violet and my co-workers. I didn't realize that the candy apples at MK were just as expensive as the ones at Goofy's but they weren't nearly as fancy. I decided I'd rather swing over to DTD to get some great, fresh apples instead of getting them at MK. We headed back to the hotel for naps and a swim before heading to DTD.

I love the boat ride from POFQ to DTD so I was quiet happy to get one more chance for a ride. It's just such a calm, beautiful trip down the river. I am sure this will all change once the 'tree houses' are re-built, but I enjoyed it while we were there. I also really enjoy chatting with the boat captains. They seem to have some of the most interesting stories, and we really enjoyed riding with each of them.

I took some fun and funky photos while we were at DTD. I managed to snap some decent ones in the midst of salivating over the caramel apples!

After getting our stock pile of sweets and some great Christmas decorations, it was off to MK for the evening. We spent another evening at the Noodle Terrace watching Tink and Wishes for the last time. It's always so bittersweet the last night of a WDW trip. On one hand it's over, but on the other, it's time to start planning the next trip!

 

[ArmyWife3-4]

It's always such a bummer day for me on the last day of our trip. This time though, it was compounded with having to say good bye to my family. I knew I wouldn't see my parents again until Thanksgiving and I wouldn't see DCousins until after the New Year. My family and I are incredibly close, and being away from them gets so hard. Knowing I'd have to say good bye and then go home without DH was enough to make me want to cry before we even got to the airport. I tried to swallow the lump in my throat and enjoy the rest of the day.

We woke up, checked out of our rooms, packed up our luggage, checked in for our flights and got ready for one last ride on Soarin', the best Disney ride in our opinion. What a great way to end the trip! We also hopped on Living with the Land, another favorite, before my incredible, unbelievable experience with the Dream Squad. You can read all about it here: DH and Dream Squad.

I can honestly say this was the most amazing Disney experience I have ever had. Clearly the tears were rolling not only from my family but the Dream Squad as well.

After this wonderful experience, we made a mad dash back to POFQ to finish checking out and catch the MAgical Express. Thankfully, the wonderful Dream Squad experience took my attention off the looming goodbye at the airport.

Once we got to MCO, it took everything in me to hold back the tears. I did alright until we got to the gate, and then it was all over. Thankfully I know I will see them again in just a few short weeks from now.

Overall it was an incredible trip, and it was so fun to re-visit my childhood memories with my parents at WDW once again. Now it's on to planning our R&R trip with DH!!!

Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed my TR even though it took me several months to write! I promise to hopefully do a much better job with our R&R PTR!!!