Who Turned on the Heat?! Our sweaty 2 weeks in May! Final Thoughts.

[chicagoshannon]

you didnt mention about the tip from Tusker House... I think i remember you saying that your DH wasnt too happy with the service there. We had to wait 15 minutes for the check it was so annoying!!!!

Didnt you love being in the park before everyone? It is also cool that when you leave Tusker House, you are right at the rope for Safari before the big massive crowd rushes in!!

oh yeah thanks for reminding me! They bring out the bill with 2 suggested tip amounts. I filled in the lesser of the 2 amounts which was pretty high. Eric then saw it and freaked out. He's like I will NEVER tip that much at a buffet no matter where we are! He then changed the tip amount. I think Disney takes advantage of people by putting those suggestions in there. I don't think our "server" came back at all during our breakfast. I know i never got a refill of the juice and it's in such a small glass.

We didn't get out of Tusker House until after rope drop so that's why we had to wait a bit for the safari.

 

[MickeyLover20]

Great update...I love the picture of Madeline "holding" baby Simba, the way she is looking you would think he was really there.

 

[my2disneyboys]

oh yeah thanks for reminding me! They bring out the bill with 2 suggested tip amounts. I filled in the lesser of the 2 amounts which was pretty high. Eric then saw it and freaked out. He's like I will NEVER tip that much at a buffet no matter where we are! He then changed the tip amount. I think Disney takes advantage of people by putting those suggestions in there. I don't think our "server" came back at all during our breakfast. I know i never got a refill of the juice and it's in such a small glass.

We didn't get out of Tusker House until after rope drop so that's why we had to wait a bit for the safari.

Oh!! That is why you waited ten minutes!! I struggle because I didnt like the breakfast all that much, but really like being in the park before everyone... so I feel like there should be another option. (Same for HS, & Epcot- why is there just one breakfast place open before park opening!?)

 

[longing2Batdisney]

All caught up!!! GREAT REPORT!!! so happy ya'll were able to do all that ya'll did...this is my first trip I was not able to get EVERYTHING in.

I love the Chip and Dale pics; the line was too long for them, Daisy, Tigger, Winnie the Pooh, and we never did see Goofy and Donald - later found out where they were...

this was also our first trip w/o my parents (although they have been twice w/o us) it was alot easier for me and Danny. I really think the mountains of CO and TN is the best place for us to travel w/them. For some reason my mom gets under my skin w/ Ashton and to be fair she is doing the same w/him that she did w/the older two--I'm different this time--older & more mature and enjoying him more than I did w/the other two--not that I didn't enjoy them...I know it can be hard to travel w/others even best friends can become a nightmare on this kind of trip--we now save them for beach trips--LOL

our kids did the water parks this go round and really enjoyed
love all your pics and all the tips -- Ashton bought the Potato head this trip also and we loved the Earl of Sandwich (the best Hawiian BBQ)--and they had soup for Ashton major score--next trip we are going to try T-Rex and Rainforest (our older crew went to Rainforest--here we were trying to save on food money and they somehow managed a $150 tab--didn't think I gave them that much money

we had also cancelled our ADR at Tusker House to save money so sorry we did; next trip will have at least three character breakfast

OH! and the toteum poles did not squirt water always I also made that comment when we walked past (Danny & I have a picture in front of the in '85 and I do not remember them squirting in '01)

 

[MaryAz]

Great safari pics. Sorry about Tusker House-sounds like it was not so great for anyone this time.

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Oh! BTW I love all your Epcot pics...you really do have a lot of great pics...
and Ashton loved "Playhouse Disney" and the dance party there...

 

[chicagoshannon]

Great update...I love the picture of Madeline "holding" baby Simba, the way she is looking you would think he was really there.

I actually had my pointer finger sticking out and kept saying "look at mommy's finger". Worked like a charm.

Oh!! That is why you waited ten minutes!! I struggle because I didnt like the breakfast all that much, but really like being in the park before everyone... so I feel like there should be another option. (Same for HS, & Epcot- why is there just one breakfast place open before park opening!?)

yes I was actually thinking of maybe booking a breakfast but not actually going to the breakfast. I'd feel bad though since that would mean someone that wanted the breakfast wouldn't be able to eat. Although at Magic Kingdom they never did check our name.

All caught up!!! GREAT REPORT!!! so happy ya'll were able to do all that ya'll did...this is my first trip I was not able to get EVERYTHING in.

I love the Chip and Dale pics; the line was too long for them, Daisy, Tigger, Winnie the Pooh, and we never did see Goofy and Donald - later found out where they were...

this was also our first trip w/o my parents (although they have been twice w/o us) it was alot easier for me and Danny. I really think the mountains of CO and TN is the best place for us to travel w/them. For some reason my mom gets under my skin w/ Ashton and to be fair she is doing the same w/him that she did w/the older two--I'm different this time--older & more mature and enjoying him more than I did w/the other two--not that I didn't enjoy them...I know it can be hard to travel w/others even best friends can become a nightmare on this kind of trip--we now save them for beach trips--LOL

our kids did the water parks this go round and really enjoyed
love all your pics and all the tips -- Ashton bought the Potato head this trip also and we loved the Earl of Sandwich (the best Hawiian BBQ)--and they had soup for Ashton major score--next trip we are going to try T-Rex and Rainforest (our older crew went to Rainforest--here we were trying to save on food money and they somehow managed a $150 tab--didn't think I gave them that much money

we had also cancelled our ADR at Tusker House to save money so sorry we did; next trip will have at least three character breakfast

OH! and the toteum poles did not squirt water always I also made that comment when we walked past (Danny & I have a picture in front of the in '85 and I do not remember them squirting in '01)

Thanks! I was 99.9% sure the totem poles didn't always squirt. I dont' think they squirted in 2004 either, but not as positive on that one.

Where were Tigger and Pooh? We only saw them at the breakfast at CP.

Great safari pics. Sorry about Tusker House-sounds like it was not so great for anyone this time.

it wasn't horrible just didn't get great service.

Oh! BTW I love all your Epcot pics...you really do have a lot of great pics...
and Ashton loved "Playhouse Disney" and the dance party there...

dance party? Where was that?

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Tigger & Pooh were in front of Pooh play village across from the Pooh ride in MK
they were also at AK right before Dino land to the right

the Dance party is in the same place as Playhouse but it is during EMH after the park closes; if you ever stay on the grounds Madeline would love it

 

[wlwilliams9]

Great update! Animal Kingdom is always so hot! I think it is always about 10 degrees hotter there than anywhere else! We usually only spend a couple of hours there and hit the big rides.

We ate at Tusker House for the first time this trip too, but we booked lunch so we could have priority seating for the Nemo show. The line is always miles long for that show and I had never seen it. Lunch at TH was really good. Mike rates it the best buffet on property! Our server was really good too, but I still won't pay 18% tip on a buffet. Are they kidding? As for the Nemo musical, it was pretty good. Emily thought it was FANTASTIC! I'm definitely glad we got to see it and be in the air conditioning for so long! That may have been the best part!

Can't wait to read more!!

 

[chicagoshannon]

Tigger & Pooh were in front of Pooh play village across from the Pooh ride in MK
they were also at AK right before Dino land to the right

the Dance party is in the same place as Playhouse but it is during EMH after the park closes; if you ever stay on the grounds Madeline would love it

THanks. We'll look for them next time there. I don't think we're doing any character meals in Oct.

Great update! Animal Kingdom is always so hot! I think it is always about 10 degrees hotter there than anywhere else! We usually only spend a couple of hours there and hit the big rides.

We ate at Tusker House for the first time this trip too, but we booked lunch so we could have priority seating for the Nemo show. The line is always miles long for that show and I had never seen it. Lunch at TH was really good. Mike rates it the best buffet on property! Our server was really good too, but I still won't pay 18% tip on a buffet. Are they kidding? As for the Nemo musical, it was pretty good. Emily thought it was FANTASTIC! I'm definitely glad we got to see it and be in the air conditioning for so long! That may have been the best part!

Can't wait to read more!!

I think the Nemo show was extra wonderful due to the a/c! What kind of food do they have at Tusker House at lunch time?

 

[Disneymom3304]

Another great place to find Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore is at Epcot over in the United Kingdom. They are through the back of that gift shop. If you go while the "Beatles" band is playing (sorry can't remember their real name) there is hardly a wait. We walked in and all 3 came over to pose with us, it was great and so unexpected! We had no idea they were over there. Keep up the great work with your report!

 

[KathyRN137]

I wanted to get one special shot before we left though

What a sweet picture for Mother's Day!!


Kathy

 

[chicagoshannon]

Another great place to find Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore is at Epcot over in the United Kingdom. They are through the back of that gift shop. If you go while the "Beatles" band is playing (sorry can't remember their real name) there is hardly a wait. We walked in and all 3 came over to pose with us, it was great and so unexpected! We had no idea they were over there. Keep up the great work with your report!

Thanks for the tip! By the time we got to the UK Eric and my dad had pooped out so we didn't get to look around.

What a sweet picture for Mother's Day!!


Kathy

thanks.

 

[chicagoshannon]

This morning we had a very early breakfast date with Pooh and friends. Our ADR at the Crystal Palace was at 8:10am. I believe we left the condo around 7:15.

When we got to the TTC we were one of the first in the parking lot. We were so close.

The resort monorail is the only one that runs before 8am so we had to wait a couple of minutes for it to come.

We had to wait in a pretty long line to get in. I don't think they let us in until right at 8am.

There werent' any photopass people out quite yet so we headed over to check in. A few minutes later I noticed a couple of them but I was worried they'd call our name while we were taking the picture so we didn't go. Oh well.

Our server here was much, much better and so much more attentive then at Tusker House the day before. We had a enough time to go get some food before the characters reached us.

Piglet was great! She (?) spent so much time with Madeline compared to the day before.
Then came Tigger. Eric wanted in on that picture.

After Tigger they did the little parade. Madeline joined in this time but I didn't get pictures (just video).
While we waited for Pooh and Eeyore we checked out the topiaries.

We headed back to our table to meet Pooh bear.

we saw Piglet again

and then finally Eeyore came over (boy was he slow )

I was really hoping we'd be out of here before rope drop but Eeyore was slow that we didn't make it. SO no empty park photopass photo for us. It was a few minutes after 9am when we got out of the resaurant. How would the Dumbo line be?

 

[chicagoshannon]

continued

We headed over to fantasyland. I sure wish they'd have the walk thru the castle open. Oh well. We went around the left side this time. Eric, Madeline and I hopped in the Dumbo line while my mom went to get Pooh fast passes. We were in for another hot day. I think we had to wait about 20 minutes. All 3 of us sat in one Dumbo. The guy wouldn't let us have 2. I was a bit miffed because I wanted a picture of Madeline on the ride. Oh well. After Dumbo we went to Ariel's grotto. The line wasn't too bad but we still had to wait about 15 minutes. They let a certain number of people inside the cave at a time.

Madeline didn't really respond well to Ariel. I was surprised since she loves her. Oh well.

We still had a little time before our Winnie the Pooh ride so we took a picture in a Dumbo.

Then we headed over to the playground

She loved that bell.

It was now time for Pooh.

Madeline loved riding in the honey pot. She's still talking about it today!

A tea party sounded nice right about then

I was feeling kinda sick from the sugar overload at breakfast and the heat so I let Eric and dad take the ride while I took pictures. Mom doesn't do well with spinning so she sat out too.

Next up we thought we'd let our 2 year old drive a car

she couldn't even see over the stearing wheel.

Eric was dying of thirst so we headed off in search of something to drink. Where would we find it?

 

[leamom2princesses]

Hi Shannon! Just about all caught up. Looks like a hot but wonderful time so far. Loving your report!

 

[MagicShell]

I love Crystal Palace for breakfast. It is so good and so fun. Pooh is one of my favorites. I have never been on the teacups. I think it would make me sick. I hope you find something to drink.

 

[longing2Batdisney]

I love the Crystal Palace; although it's been since the older two were 8/4. It looks the same and from all the pics I've seen, looks like it would still be my fav. Madeline reminds me of Ashton; I love seeing the excitement and wonder in their eyes.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I just can't get over how adorable your daughter is. Makes me wish mine was still little (she turned 22 in April).

 

[lisalonglash]

Wow, great updates! I'm glad you enjoyed your Mother's Day I have early ADRs for both Tusker House and CP planned (btw, NO Sept. hours out yet ) - it was great to read your reviews of them! The picture of you and Madeline with Simba is just