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

[ArmyWife3-4]

What a great update! Congrats on the dream FP...that so neat and a great park to get them in. I also love Boma and is always on my must do list.

The picture of you with the DT is great...congrats on it all again.

Looking forward to seeing how the rest of the trip went.

I see from your siggie that you stayed at SOG a few years ago. Did you like it? I am anxious but excited about staying there...

 

[Wingedheart]

Aww, what a great picture! Such wonderful big smiles on everyone You still look great in your poncho! You just look like someone who is at Disney World during the rainy summer season!

 

[luvfigment]

I see from your siggie that you stayed at SOG a few years ago. Did you like it? I am anxious but excited about staying there...

I did enjoy it...the rooms are really big. One of my friends has also stayed there for her DH RnR and they liked it also. The only reason why I haven't stayed there again was b/c DH and I like to do the dining plan and you can't do it while staying at SOG. You can't beat the price for the size of the room. The only other downfall was the transportation but that may have changed in the past 4 yrs...they have their own bus system not the Disney one but it is an easy walk to Poly and you can jump on the monorail to get to MK and that is what we did.

Is that where you are going to stay in April?

 

[jjk]

just found your amazing trip report, brilliant photos , cant wait to read more

 

[ArmyWife3-4]

I did enjoy it...the rooms are really big. One of my friends has also stayed there for her DH RnR and they liked it also. The only reason why I haven't stayed there again was b/c DH and I like to do the dining plan and you can't do it while staying at SOG. You can't beat the price for the size of the room. The only other downfall was the transportation but that may have changed in the past 4 yrs...they have their own bus system not the Disney one but it is an easy walk to Poly and you can jump on the monorail to get to MK and that is what we did.

Is that where you are going to stay in April?

We're going to give it a try! POFQ was booked up, and we figured why not? You can't beat that price. I figure we'll just do the walk to Poly to get the monorail if we can. DH loves the monorail!

just found your amazing trip report, brilliant photos , cant wait to read more

Thanks for the compliments and welcome! This is my first TR so we'll see how it goes! I took nearly 1,000 photos so that helps keep it interesting! I love to take photos even though I've had no formal training. I tried to take tons so DH could see everything and feel a part of it!

 

[scottny]

great pic with dream team

 

[ArmyWife3-4]

Day 3
Animal Kingdom and Epcot

We were up bright and early at 6:30 in order to be at AK for rope drop. I was very excited for this day because we were going to ride the Safari. This is DH's favorite ride, and I was excited to tell him all about it.

Don't Mom and Dad look excited to be getting on the bus. Thank god for coffee!!!

Dad looks like he's in stealth mode!

Mom's excited!

Once we hit AK, I was all about taking photos. I can't get enough of all the details and foliage there. It's just so beautiful. Dad was excited to see it too since it wasn't open last time he was there (Mom and I went for my senior trip with my friend, but non Dad for that trip).

I loved this light fixture at the gate.

We're here!!!

If it weren't for the Kodak sign, this shot would be perfect!

Mom and I are excited!

Once we were at the Tree of Life it was time for Minnie, Goofy, and Pluto to open the park. We weren't in a good spot to see Mickey, but we were right up front for the rest!

Pluto for our baby, Violet, (see my PTR for photos)

One more of the tree before heading to the Safari.

 

[ArmyWife3-4]

Care Package for DH
Sorry I can't write more about our trip tonight. I was up way too late last night updating, and I paid for it today!

Before I head to bed though, I wanted to post photos of DH's care package that I put in the mail today. I am so excited about it!!!

I printed about 100 or so photos from our trip and collaged the entire inside of the box. DH is having trouble viewing our photos online over there so this way he can see a lot of them all at once. I can't wait for it to get there!!! I filled it with the great gifts from the DS and the odds and ends I picked up for him too inculding a pirate eye patch and earing!

 

[scottny]

great update and pics.

that is a great idea with the pics. the box looks great.

 

[midatlanticpower]

Day 2
Magic Kingdom and a wonderful dinner at Boma!

Arriving at MK
Of course, the motto at Disney, as it is in the Army is 'Hurry Up and Wait!' It's the story of my life!

we threw our pixie dust...........................As we were walking out onto Main Street, there was a vintage car just waiting for someone to get on. Everyone kept walking past as the driver asked them to hop on, so I thought, why not?! It was so cool to ride up Main Street to the CAstle!

Wow I am enjoying reading about your trip!!! I hope its OK to ask...but you threw pixie dust...really or is that just a saying??? Also does it cost anything to ride in the cars??

Thanks in advance and I will probably have more questions after I read more about your awesome trip! Congrats on the 1 year.....sorry hubby's not here!!

 

[jjk]

wow your care package for your DH looks amazing

 

[ArmyWife3-4]

great update and pics.

that is a great idea with the pics. the box looks great.

Thank you! I can't WAIT for him to get it!!!!

Wow I am enjoying reading about your trip!!! I hope its OK to ask...but you threw pixie dust...really or is that just a saying??? Also does it cost anything to ride in the cars??

Thanks in advance and I will probably have more questions after I read more about your awesome trip! Congrats on the 1 year.....sorry hubby's not here!!

If you're close to the front of the turnstiles at park opening, the CM's hand out Mickey confetti. They then do a countdown, and when it gets to one (when the parks opens and people are allowed on Main Street) everyone who has it throws their pixie dust to open the park.

The cars don't cost anything at all! It's just another Disney attraction, and we lucked out to be able to get on them right when the park opened. It was an amazing feeling to be driving towards the castle without anyone in front of us!
I just did a quick search, and if you got to this site: http://www.edlfan.org/sg_dlp02.htm you can see photos at the bottom of the page of the different vehicles they have out and about at different times.

wow your care package for your DH looks amazing

Thank you!!! I had so much fun putting it together. I hope he likes it!!! It will get him excited about our April trip too!

 

[tofubeast]

Your DH is going to be so thrilled to get that care package!! Great job!

 

[luvfigment]

Those were some great pictures of the opening of AK. The care package came out great for your DH. I like you you put all of the pictures in the box...did you tell him to be careful when he opens it? Looking forward to reading about the rest of our day!

 

[MEK]

Your castle pictures keep getting better and better and I love your care package for DH.

 

[bellasmommy0]

I LOVE the care package. That is so cute, the 1st thing DH will see is all the pics when he opens it!! How COOL!! Great trippie so far!!

 

[ArmyWife3-4]

After rope drop, we headed straight back to the Safari.

Now, before I post this, let me tell you that my dad, DCousins and I LOVE to people watch. We do crazy things like vote for 'who is most Disney' 'craziest outfit' etc. We mean it in the most good-natured way, but some people at Disney just seem to be in another world . Take, for example, this woman (yes, I took photos of her...please don't think I'm a terrible person....):

Not only was she wearing long, black pants on a 95 degree humid day, but she also had on white pumps with white socks! She definitely took the cake that day! On top of the er....very non-WDW outfit, she did not speak any English, proceeded to stand up on the ride over the rickety bridge, and did not make the CM too happy when she didn't understand 'sit down!'.

But I digress.....We made it onto the second Safari truck. My dad had some major back problems a few years back, so we made sure to sit near the front of the truck where it wasn't so bumpy. Unfortunately, I was on the right side of the vehicle and did not have a good view at all. Thankfully, we went back later in the week and there were tons of animals out and I had a great view!

Here are some photos from our trek:

Here we go!

Hippos!

Not a very good shot but you can see the male and female lions.

Hanging out on the roadside..

 

[ArmyWife3-4]

Alright, time ot back track. I realized I have my days mixed up. DCousins did not join us at AK in the morning on Day 3. They had a sleep in day since they were up late the night before. They had already done a morning at AK before we arrived, and they had an ADR at Garden Grill at 1:00. Sorry! I confused myself!

After the Safari, we took a bathroom break, and I snapped a few photos of the buildings and scenery:

Nothing beats the ambience of AK. It is just so authentic!

We had a bit of time to kill before Festival of the Lion King, and there was no wait for It's a Bug's Life so we treked around the Tree of Life and made our way in. I knew Dad would think the Tree was so cool!

Of course, DH got his own 3-D glasses for this one too!

Doesn't he look excited?!

 

[bellasmommy0]

You took some really good photos. That ladies outfit was hilarious....what was she thinking !! Did you send that pic to DH in the care package.. Cant wait for more

 

[ArmyWife3-4]

After It's a Bug's Life, we were timed perfectly to snag a seat for Festival of the Lion King. I was excited for Dad to see the photos and acts in this show. We had always wanted to see Lion King Broadway show but never made it. I think he was quite impressed.

Hey Pumba! (We were in his section )

Not the best photo, but I am completey entranced with the guys on stilts. Wow!

This photo cracks me up!

After Lion King, we headed straight to Finding Nemo: The Musical. The 10:30 Lion King and 11:30 Nemo are perfectly timed to catch both. DH and I caught both last summer and we were able to do it again this summer.

I do have to say, Nemo is on my life of Disney favorite things. I knew Dad would love the characters. The creativity in this show is just spectacular! I mean, who would have thought to put Mr. Ray on a bike?!!? Incredible!