Why, My Little Guppy Has Groupies! - A Dec. 2013 TR *Completed

[amazingact21]

What an amazing lunch! I'm glad that you had such a great server - they can make a huge difference in your experience. Seeing NPH is awesome too! I've never seen a celebrity in WDW, I don't have your luck!

I have come to realize that how good/bad our meal is can depend a lot on how well our server handles Landon. We've had a few who've put hot plates, silverware, glasses within his reach and ended up with a semi-disaster. So 50's was a home run as far as success goes.

Ok, you know how terrified I am of eating at 50's PT...but I think this update kind of made me want to get over it and book an ADR there. Seriously, everything you guys ordered looks SOOOO good!! Especially that fried chicken! And ok, whatever, if they mess with me and put me in the corner or something, I'll just go along with it!

(Haha, I say that now, but wait til I'm there in September, changing my ADR that morning because I'm too terrified! )

That's so cool that you were there at the same time as NPH! I never see anyone famous in Disney!

You know, I really think the Cast Members gauge the people. Their age, attittude, etc and determine how many antics they'll pull based on that. I always watch the tables near me just to see, and there was one family that were completely playing along.
Then, there was another who's kids and father were so unimpressed with the remarks and goads that they just glared at the server. The next time she came back she barely did anything.
So I think you'd be all right.

Wow! 5 characters in 2 hrs at DHS and then an EPIC NPH sighting at 50s PT Café.... incredible!! You have more self control with the fangirl thing than others but that is so cool!

I loved your inner thoughts caption for the Mike and Sully photo... your mom thinking darn it, skipped breakfast again! Too funny!

Going back further.... Happy belated 1st birthday to Landon!! Cute photos with his cake.

A cruise in January sounds like a lot of fun. How exciting for those plans.

Ok, now my turn to say have a great trip and enjoy your time at WDW in May!

I'm already looking forward to the cruise in 2015. Mostly because it'll give me something to look forward to while Alex is gone, and also because I know I'll have grandparents to help with Landon 24/7.

My family has very open expressions, so there's no hiding what we're thinking.

Ahhhh 50's Prime Time! So fun! Your waitress sounds ahhhhhmazing. Could you imagine being on your feet, waiting tables all day, at 6 months pregnant? My sister is a career waitress and she did it right up until two weeks before her delivery and was all, "it's no big deal," but I SO don't believe her.

Neil Patrick Harris is such a cutie! But not as cute as Landon. Just sayin'.

I know! I can't imagine. I was wiped during my pregnancy, and I wasn't even dealing with the crazy Disney crowds. Poor girl.

 

[Dugette]

Good luck with the car! I am crossing my fingers that you do not have to make a depressing call to Disney.

 

[MEK]

How are things with the car?

I just wanted to check in and give you a loose idea of where we will be.

May 12th - pretty much Epcot all day starting at lunch

May 13th - MK from morning until mid afternoon - then we have a spa appt at SSR. We may or may not got back to MK after the spa. We have breakfast at CRT and a late lunch FP for BOG.

May 14th - looks like we will be at Epcot again from lunch straight through to close.

May 15th - We have a Kona breakfast and may DVC pool hop or hit a water park. We are definitely in MK this evening with arranged FP's. GFC for dinner

May 16th - HS pretty much all day

May 17th - AK until departure time.

Please let me know if any of our park days overlap. It would really nice just to get a chance to stop and say Hi and ogle over how adorable Landon is.

 

[amazingact21]

Good luck with the car! I am crossing my fingers that you do not have to make a depressing call to Disney.

How are things with the car?

Thanks for asking. Unfortunately, the car has engine damage, so it's stuck at the dealership.
We had to wait for an insurance adjuster to go check out the vehicle and approve us for getting coverage. They just completed that this morning.

Alex was able to get a rental car yesterday afternoon, which was covered under our insurance.

So now we have a couple options as far as our trip goes.

Option 1: Cancel the Disney portion of our trip completely, since the cost of it would cover our insurance ridiculously high deductable.

Option 2: Say forget it and try and cram everything into our current rental car and just pay for it out of pocket when our car is repaired.(Insurance only covers cost of rental until our vehicle is ready for pickup.)

Option 3: Upgrade to an SUV, have Alex's parents pay the 7.40 to 37.40 a day it would be while we're at their house, then we pay for it the nights we're in the parks. Our insurance only covers a compact car, so if we'd have to pay the difference, but my in-laws did say they would cover the cost while we're with them. This would mean we'd be paying approximetely an extra 150 dollars.


Option 4: Leave my car (which hasn't had a tune up or reliable tires, hence why we're not taking it down to Orlando) with my mother and borrow her car for the trip. While this one seems like the easiest option, both my mom and Alex would have to worry the entire time about not screwing the other person's vehicle up, which can be pretty stressful. Not to mention, we'd be paying about 50 dollars more in gas.


Right now, we haven't made any decisions. It's sort of a wait and see game. Alex is pretty set that he wants to take this trip. He keeps saying that he's going to be gone for 6 months and that it's important to take time with family. His job right now has been kind of stressful, and I think he really needs a few days where he's not having to answer phone calls in the middle of the night or work 12 hour shifts constantly. His peace of mind might just be worth that extra deductable.

So, as of right this moment, come heck or high water (which, ironically, is the case. Harr dee harr harr.) we're going to Disney.

I just wanted to check in and give you a loose idea of where we will be.

May 12th - pretty much Epcot all day starting at lunch

We'll be in Epcot around dinnertime hopefully up to IllumiNations. Maybe we'll cross paths in the World Showcase. I'll be the person pushing the stroller while holding a rum filled dole whip.

May 13th - MK from morning until mid afternoon - then we have a spa appt at SSR. We may or may not got back to MK after the spa. We have breakfast at CRT and a late lunch FP for BOG.

Similar plans for this day. CP breakfast for us, then either a break midday or leaving after dinner. All depends on Landon and napping and the heat.

May 14th - looks like we will be at Epcot again from lunch straight through to close.

We might be in Epcot around lunchtime. Tentative plan is to eat lunch there then wander around while Landon naps.

May 15th - We have a Kona breakfast and may DVC pool hop or hit a water park. We are definitely in MK this evening with arranged FP's. GFC for dinner

Don't think our plans overlap on this day.

May 16th - HS pretty much all day

Originally, the plan was to go to MK, but now that both you and Danielle are going to be DHS, I might have to switch parks!

Please let me know if any of our park days overlap. It would really nice just to get a chance to stop and say Hi and ogle over how adorable Landon is.

We will definitely meet up at some point. I have to add to your epic DISmeet record!
What resort are you staying at? I know BWV is a popular one, but you also mentioned a spa day at SSR.

I'll have my phone on hand all the time, so whenever I'm in a park I know you're planned to be in, I can send you a message on facebook to see where/if you're there.

 

[Dugette]

Well, yay for going to Disney, but boo for the car situation. I can relate to some extent, as Dug had his car in the shop during our NY trip. It was different because we flew there, but it was an insurance claim issue and he had to get an insurance-paid (partly) rental before/after the trip. And note that I said before AND after. They took a LONG time. Most of that was due to the insurance adjuster being slow and having to come out multiple times as new issues were discovered. My point being - with something like engine damage, it seems like his car could be in the shop for quite some time and maybe you won't need to pay extra to keep the rental your whole trip. But you can't count on it, so it's a risk, I guess.

I also understand the big deductible. We had $1000. I very seriously considered changing our NYC hotel to one that I found in NJ that had good bus service into the city. It would have saved us around $600, I think. In the end, we decided not to mess with the trip at the last-minute and just deal with the $1000 through emergency savings and/or other corner-cutting. I was really on the fence, though. In retrospect, I'm glad we did what we did, because we were able to make the most of our trip by being in the locations we stayed in.

Good luck figuring out what to do!

 

[amazingact21]

Well, yay for going to Disney, but boo for the car situation. I can relate to some extent, as Dug had his car in the shop during our NY trip. It was different because we flew there, but it was an insurance claim issue and he had to get an insurance-paid (partly) rental before/after the trip. And note that I said before AND after. They took a LONG time. Most of that was due to the insurance adjuster being slow and having to come out multiple times as new issues were discovered. My point being - with something like engine damage, it seems like his car could be in the shop for quite some time and maybe you won't need to pay extra to keep the rental your whole trip. But you can't count on it, so it's a risk, I guess.

I also understand the big deductible. We had $1000. I very seriously considered changing our NYC hotel to one that I found in NJ that had good bus service into the city. It would have saved us around $600, I think. In the end, we decided not to mess with the trip at the last-minute and just deal with the $1000 through emergency savings and/or other corner-cutting. I was really on the fence, though. In retrospect, I'm glad we did what we did, because we were able to make the most of our trip by being in the locations we stayed in.

Good luck figuring out what to do!

Car troubles are so much fun.


I seriously debated making some changes to this trip, simply because staying at a deluxe resort alone is the same cost as our deductible. But, in the end, I was like you and decided that's what an emergency fund is for.

Our insurance and the dealership said our car would be finished next week, at the latest. So we'll have to pay about 7 dollars a day (the difference between what insurance covers and what's out of pocket) up until that point. While it's not great, at this point Alex and I have accepted it and moved on. We're ready to just go on our vacation and have fun.

 

[amazingact21]

I really wanted to post an update one last time before I went on my trip. As it stands now, I'm on Day 4 out of 8, and it's already 5 months since we got back. I need to put a serious pep in my step if I want to finish this in a timely manner AND write one for the next Disney trip.


Speaking of the trip, Alex and I went back and forth quite a bit on whether or not we should keep our plans exactly as they were. An insurance adjuster went and examined our car and approved the repairs, (about 5,000 dollars worth!) so now all we have to do is sit around and wait for the dealership to get us a new engine.

And we all know they're known for their speed and efficiency.




That being said, Alex and I decided to just bite the bullet and proceed as normal. If our car is ready while we're in Orlando, we'll pay the cost of the rental car. We're already spending major bucks on a deluxe resort and premium dining, what's a couple hundred extra dollars?


So, with that, we're (potentially, if our car's not done by midweek) leaving tomorrow night to start our last family vacation before Alex leaves. Hooray!




Wednesday, December 4th, 2013:


After our grueling, extraneous morning standing in lines for the Disney characters, we all needed to rest up in our room at Pop.

Because I was really banking on a nap, Landon refused to do exactly that. He had all his favorite toys laid out so invitingly on a colorful blanket. No time to rest when there's fun to be had!

As much as I needed some shut eye, I had to settle for kicking back and playing games on the IPAD.


After getting ready for our night out in the parks (during which the baby FINALLY decided to get some shut eye) it was time for us all to head out!



Where was our destination of choice?



The Magic Kingdom!





There's something exciting about spending your evening inside this particular park. I don't know if it's due to the abundance of attractions and shows or the spirit of being inside the original park, but there's that feeling of so much to see and do, so little time.
I always get a kick out of walking from Adventureland to Tomorrowland, trying my best to ride all 3 mountains in one day.

At least, that was how I was a couple years ago. Now, when I visit, I simply try and enjoy as many of the little things within the park as possible.



My mom, Alex, Landon, and I all made our way under the tunnel (what I wouldn't give to have some of those posters!) and came out to a lively Main Street.

The best street in the world!


Balloons were in abundance, naturally.




I'm beginning to associate those helium filled decorations with Magic Kingdom now. It's just natural to spot a Cast Member holding a cluster of them up; allowing for a nice little sneak peek of the castle in between each one.


Clearly, I was in high spirits, despite being halfway delirious from lack of sleep. I was depending heavily on the power of Disney magic to keep me awake and alert, by that point.
It also didn't hurt that my little guy was supporting my love of Pirates along with me:


(I swear, this kid was trying to win an award for best impersonator of Grumpy Cat on this trip.)

Yo Ho, a pirate's life for me!



Just like the previous morning, I turned my group to the left and went into Adventureland.




Honestly, I could visit the Magic Kingdom and just go inside this particular land. It has some of my favorites, and I can't help but almost see Walt's vision from the 1960's. It's cool to go through the Jungle Cruise and know Walt himself played a part in its creation.


Unfortunately, Adventureland was just a means to an end this afternoon. Alex and I had Fastpasses burning a hole in our-well, MagicBands- and my mom had plans of her own to attend to.


Along the way, Alex spotted some guys walking down the street:



Confession Time: I've never seen the Country Bear Jamboree. Shameful, I know. It's just never appealed to me. Maybe when Landon's napping next week, Alex and I will go inside to escape the heat and kill some time.



We also happened to notice that approximately two hundred thousand people had the same idea as us.





It was nuts!

I know I have said repeatedly in previous posts that the crowds were overwhelming, but this was certainly the worst. You would have thought we were trying to navigate our way to Frontierland on Christmas Day. There were just masses of bodies shuffling to and from, taking up stroller parking space, blocking the entrances to rides, yelling at family members because they were hot and tired.


A part of me wanted to turn around right then and there and hightail it back to the monorail. Instead, I sucked it up and walked over to our first Fastpass destination.

My favorite, Big Thunder Mountain!


The entrance line was quite long, extending across the sidewalk and down aways. It made me really nervous as to the actual wait time, but as it turned out, with the new system, it just takes awhile to read everyone's reservations.


When Alex and I got through the queue, we requested front row and were sent to wait a few turns for an available vehicle.

Sweet!



Time to go!

I actually recorded a video of the ride, but it became one that won't be shared due to the audio being me laughing the entire time. Not something anyone else should suffer through.


Alex had the camera again and got another shot of my favorite view:



There's nothing better.



Meanwhile, while the two of us were having fun "just Mom and Dad" time, my mom was off on her own adventure. The last time we'd gone on Thunder, my mom happened to spot The Liberty Square Riverboat and realized that it was something you could go on.


So, she had run off with Landon to take a spin on that.



She said she was able to take the stroller right on, and she parked it near a rail so that Landon could stare out at everything.

It was a win win for everybody. Alex and I got a coaster fix, and my mom had the opportunity to go on a new attraction with just her grandson. A special little memory for her to walk away with.


Actually, all 3 of us adults got the chance to ride something alone with the baby, and I think each of us cherished the memory we made.




Continued in Next Post:

 

[amazingact21]

Continued From Previous Post:


Before my mom walked off with baby in tow, she suggested Alex and I go ahead and use our Splash Mountain Fastpasses when we were done; however, Alex was worried about the camera and phones getting wet, so we ended up waiting for her on the bridge.


My poor mother was in her own little world and never saw us right behind her.



She was not amused...



Our turn on Splash was fun, as always. I absolutely hate the drop but suffer through just to experience the story within the ride. In my opinion, it's one of the best themed attractions in all the parks.

We got on a log quick, but the dump shop to get our ride photo took forever! Nobody could make a decision on which photograph frame to purchase or what size to get. Just pick one! I'm sure you won't regret getting the 5x7 and not the 8x10. Well worth it, though, when we finally could upload our picture to our photopass package.



So much going on in that photo.

The girl plugging her nose, like we were about to descend into the water.

The other little girl ducking for cover inside the log.

The man in glasses waving to a buddy down below.

So hilarious.



The sun had disappeared from the horizon by the time Alex and I escaped the Splash gift shop, and when we found my mother and Landon, it was agreed upon by everyone that a snack was in order.


My mom needed her Dole Whip float fix:




And while I'm normally right there with her in terms of Dole whips, I just wasn't in the mood for ice cream that evening. I opted, instead, to go to the Confectionary with Alex and see the goodies they had to offer.


All four of us made it to the store right as the Castle Lighting ceremony began. We were pretty far back on Main Street and on the sidewalk, but we still had decent views.

Enough to show my mom how amazing the castle looked lit up.




Once you see the lights on the castle turn on, the whole atmosphere of the Magic Kingdom changes. The holiday spirit just sweeps over everything, turning a regular old December day into a festive party feeling. I could almost smell peppermint in the air.

Well, I might have actually smelled peppermint at that point.

Alex and I had just gone inside to buy ourselves some food.

Small details...



The ladies and gentleman working behind the display counter had a ball with Landon. They were pouring adulations on him, giving us multiple free samples, rounding up their coworkers from the back to come out and look at him.

It was very entertaining.

Alex and I ended up spending a good five minutes inside the store. We'd made our purchases in about a minute and a half, but people kept coming up to us and fawning over Landon. We couldn't get away!

I guess if we're ever in need of a pick me up on future trips, we'll just step inside the Confectionary. Those ladies are the sweetest, most talkative gals I have seen.



Up until this point, Alex had never tried an infamous cake pop before and wanted to give it a shot. He said that, while good, not worth it for the size of the dessert compared to price. And I'd have to agree; there wasn't much to it.


I picked a peanut butter cookie:



One that was, naturally, supersized and too big to finish in one sitting.




Our third Fastpass for the evening was nearing its window, so all of us cut across the Tomorrowland Terrace and made our way past the closed palm trees and Cosmic Ray's. Around the Speedway, Landon got fussy and needed to be fed, so we had to pause for that.

You make it so far when touring Disney with a baby.



Eventually, my group was able to continue on. It was really muggy out that night, so we were all getting pretty hot and we had already reached the point of tired.
I won't say any of us were irritable, but we all were in that spaced out emotion you can fall into in Disney. The one where you're just putting one foot in front of the other, passing Landon's 14 pound body around and around, mind wandering off in a million directions. It wasn't a bad way to travel through the park, and out of nowhere something pulled me out of my reverie.

Directly in front of me I saw a mine car go down the hill over the wall of the SDMT!

I got my camera out in case it happened again, but alas, no luck.

But I swear I saw one!


And back in December, when the opening was still 6 months away, that was a HUGE deal!

I tried to convince Alex and my mom that I had really seen one.

For real.

No hallucinations.

They cut me looks that said, "Sure you did, Alicia."

"I did! I'm not kidding."

"We believe you."

Uh huh, sure you do..

Whatever, I knew what I'd seen, and it was exciting and wonderful and such a tease.



On a sneak peek high, I made it to our attraction a few minutes early for our Fastpass window. We stood around and in that time, Landon passed out on Alex.



Of course he did.


We were only about to go on one of the most classic rides in Walt Disney World!

One of the biggest events in a kid's first Disney trip.

And Landon was going to sleep through it.

Aaaahhhh well.


I had all these grand plans about capturing some amazing photographs of my little family of three riding Dumbo high up in the sky, but that plan was diminishing fast.

That's okay.

At least we're going on it. I could still get some photographs to show Landon that he did, in fact, ride Dumbo. Proof.


As we stood in the short line, waiting for our turn, I admired the new look to the attraction.




I hated to admit it, since I never liked Dumbo prior to then, that the water fountains with the changing colored lights and the other Dumbo flying next to the one we were in was really cool. The ride itself looked new and fresh and inviting.

I wished Landon was awake to experience it.

Our turn came due, and it was time to execute this grand plan I had.


Before the trip, I asked my mom if she'd sit in the Dumbo behind us three and take pictures to memorialize the big occasion. My mother was a little worried about being in charge of such an important thing, but I told her not to worry.

My mom's what I like to refer to as an accidental photographer. She just points and shoots and 9 times out of 10 she ends up taking great shots! Better than mine a lot of times!


I wasn't worried at all about our Dumbo pictures. The camera was in good hands.

She began practicing before the ride raised us up:




Okay, okay. A rough start, but they'd pick up.

Surely.

Only...

My poor, poor mother. She never got the hang of the Up and Down portion of the ride.


She'd push the stick up, nothing would happen, so she'd hold it up longer, then she'd shoot straight to the top.

Too high, too fast!

She'd slam the stick down and BOOM, down the very bottom she went!


It was ALL THE WAY UP or ALL THE WAY DOWN for her.

And during all that, she always managed to be in the opposite spot as my Dumbo.


So we got this:






And this:


(The head at the bottom of the picture is Alex.)





I swear, every time I looked back to see my mom, she'd be at the very bottom, shaking her head.


When we got off the ride, she simply handed the camera back to me and shook her head.

"That didn't go so well."



While the whole adventure was exactly the opposite of what I'd planned it to be, I gotta say, I love how it ended up. Between the star of the trip sleeping through it to my mom's erratic elephant to the hilariously awkward photos, it's one of those epic stories I'll remember over some of the others down the road.

You can't plan situations like that, and if you do anything but embrace it and appreciate the humor in it, you're doomed to be disappointed and bitter.


All of us walked away from Dumbo laughing our heads off, replaying the incident over and over with one another. Our weariness was temporarily gone, the weather forgotten, and we'd all caught our second winds.


Sometimes, it was hard to tell if my mom was having a good time or not, mostly because she was battling a cold, but I remember at that point that evening she was in high spirits.

It was a great time to be in the Magic Kingdom. And by then it was 7 o'clock, and most people were either eating dinner or staking out their spot for the nighttime shows.


Luckily, we didn't need to do either of those, so we had all of Fantasyland to explore with little crowds and lots of points of interest.



Let the fun begin!

 

[Marsheliz]

I LOVE MK at night too.. Just something about it!!

Splash is one of my favorites as well... Perfectfully themed and that ride photo is hilarious... The plugged nose?? BAHAHAHA

Can't say I blame mama for the dole whip float! Can't wait to get my hands on one in June!

Dumbo is so beautiful at night.. I hope we get to ride it at night this time.. That blue is just beautiful!!

I hope you have a wonderful, well-deserved trip.. All that mess will be here when you get back... Make magical, wonderful memories that only Disney can bring...

Can't wait to read all about it!! Oh by the way, do you facebook?

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

Alicia I am SO VERY HAPPY that you're still planning the trip. The way I look at it, there are always ways to get back money. What you can't get back is time. Go and enjoy your family time. I promise that's always a decision you won't regret.

Oh yeah. Magic Kingdom has a feel that envelops you no matter what.

FOR SHAME!!!!! No Country Bears????? Please Please Please go say hello to Big Al this week!!! You want sentimental reasons? This may well be the final attraction that Walt himself had a hand in creating.

OMG your Splash photo. The little one plugging her nose is PRICELESS!!!! I have never seen that before. I'm dying, bless her little heart!!!

I'M NOW CRYING at those Dumbo shots!!!

 

[Disney9.9.10]

It's so great that you're keeping your trip plans!

I always look at MK and say "Oh, I love MK in the fresh morning light", until I see pictures of it at night and I think about how magical it is at night lol It''s my favourite any time of the day.

Poor Landon sleeping at Dumbo! At least you had realistic expectations so you were happy in the end

 

[Nermel9]

So glad you're still going on your trip!

Wow, MK was crowded!!! I don't know what was with the crowds this year, but I will seriously never go back that week! Well, I might, if it's the only time I can go or something, but it was crazy!

Haha, I'm not a big fan of Country Bears...I know it's a classic, but it's weird. I suppose if it's hot and you have to kill time, sure why not, but I prefer the Hall of Presidents over that.

Aww, that's so cute that Landon slept on his first Dumbo ride! I mean, it's sad he had no idea what was going on, but maybe on this trip he will stay awake! And your poor mom, not knowing how to work Dumbo!

 

[Dugette]

Ah, no worries on the pace of the TR - you and I are pretty much running neck-and-neck on that. Of course, you've got another trip to WDW happening now and I don't have anything Disney until Aulani in 6 months...

I'm glad you're still going on your trip. It would have been so sad to miss out on that special time together because of an unfortunate weather event. I hope the trip is wonderful. I'm excited to see things through Landon's eyes (or maybe his glasses?) at this point. I bet you'll have a blast!

Back to the report: just like a baby to refuse a nap when the parents really need one. I'm glad you at least got some relax time, though.

Hmmm, I bet he'd make a cute Grumpy Cat at Halloween.

Eh, you're not missing much with Country Bears. I know some love it, but I just found it really odd. But good for A/C, I suppose.

Those are some crazy crowds! Our week, right after yours, was much better, I thought.

That is a super cool view from Big Thunder!

Aw, that's nice that your mom and Landon got to have some time alone together, doing something new.

That is a hilarious ride photo on Splash. It does a nice job of summing up all the different reactions people can have to the same thing.

But, but...you know you can have Dole Whip AND candy, right?

Gotta love that lit up castle!

Free samples?! Note to self: bring Izzy to candy store. Maybe have her wear glasses...

I have never tried a cake pop either. They don't really appeal to me. That peanut butter cookie looks delightful, though.

That's awesome that you saw a mine train! Gosh, I hope you get to ride it on your trip!!

Of course Landon decided to snooze during Dumbo. He'd had to attend to important business during naptime, after all. Actually, we had been really excited to take Izzy on It's a Small World and she passed out right before that, so I can relate (though we did manage to rouse her for the ride).

Your poor mom on Dumbo. She needed a driver! Maybe next time, have her sit in front of you and turn back for pics. She might accidentally get your faces, even from up high when you are low. I'm glad you were all able to laugh about it!

Looking forward to more, but go make some great memories first!

 

[MEK]

Accidental photographer! Yeah - I know all about that! Too bad your mom was never able to get pics on dumbo! Next time!

What a perfect day in MK. Splash, BTMMR, Dumbo, Dole whip, night time events! I think you guys did great considering you were touring with a baby. It looks like he barely slowed you down at all.

And Landon does NOT look like Grumpy Cat! He is far too adorable for that. But I'm sure 14lbs of Landon was starting to get a tad heavy!

 

[afwdwfan]

Right now, we haven't made any decisions. It's sort of a wait and see game. Alex is pretty set that he wants to take this trip. He keeps saying that he's going to be gone for 6 months and that it's important to take time with family. His job right now has been kind of stressful, and I think he really needs a few days where he's not having to answer phone calls in the middle of the night or work 12 hour shifts constantly. His peace of mind might just be worth that extra deductable.

So, as of right this moment, come heck or high water (which, ironically, is the case. Harr dee harr harr.) we're going to Disney.

Although I've been terribly far behind in the TR threads, I've seen some of Alex's posts about all of this in the Disdads thread. I'm glad that you were able to make this trip regardless of any setbacks. It appears to be something that Alex (and you and Landon) really need to do before he heads off for a while. I hope you're having a great time and not worrying about this car or the deductible.

That being said, Alex and I decided to just bite the bullet and proceed as normal. If our car is ready while we’re in Orlando, we’ll pay the cost of the rental car. We’re already spending major bucks on a deluxe resort and premium dining, what’s a couple hundred extra dollars?

I think that is the absolute right call. Just enjoy it and lose yourself for a few days.

I always get a kick out of walking from Adventureland to Tomorrowland, trying my best to ride all 3 mountains in one day.


At least, that was how I was a couple years ago. Now, when I visit, I simply try and enjoy as many of the little things within the park as possible.

I see no reason why you can't have it both ways!

Confession Time: I’ve never seen the Country Bear Jamboree. Shameful, I know. It’s just never appealed to me. Maybe when Landon’s napping next week, Alex and I will go inside to escape the heat and kill some time.

No! Take him when he's awake. He'll love it! More so than his napping parents.

Instead, I sucked it up and walked over to our first Fastpass destination.

My favorite, Big Thunder Mountain!

That would certainly been enough incentive to keep me from turning around and leaving.

I actually recorded a video of the ride, but it became one that won’t be shared due to the audio being me laughing the entire time. Not something anyone else should suffer through.

Audio can be muted...

And I have to admit, I'm relieved. When you said it would be shared due to audio, I thought you were going to say that there was an abundance of profanity or something.

It was a win win for everybody. Alex and I got a coaster fix, and my mom had the opportunity to go on a new attraction with just her grandson.

Absolutely!!! That worked out perfectly!

In my opinion, it’s one of the best themed attractions in all the parks.

With the exception of that whole thing about walking around wet afterwards.

And while I’m normally right there with her in terms of Dole whips, I just wasn’t in the mood for ice cream that evening. I opted, instead, to go to the Confectionary with Alex and see the goodies they had to offer.

Both choices are equally good.

You make it so far when touring Disney with a baby…

My mom’s what I like to refer to as an accidental photographer.


She just points and shoots and 9 times out of 10 she ends up taking great shots! Better than mine a lot of times!

Hey, it is all about the end result!

While the whole adventure was exactly the opposite of what I’d planned it to be, I gotta say, I love how it ended up. Between the star of the trip sleeping throughout it to my mom’s erractic elephant to the hilariously awkward photos, it’s one of those epic stories I’ll remember over some of the others down the road.

You've got that right! That is hilarious... and a far greater memory for you than if Landon would have been awake and everything had gone as planned.

It was a great time to be in the Magic Kingdom.



And by then it was 7 o’clock, and most people were either eating dinner or staking out their spot for the nighttime shows.


Luckily, we didn’t need to do either of those, so we had all of Fantasyland to explore with little crowds and lots of points of interest.

This seems like the start to a perfect evening...

 

[Carable]

Alicia, I'm really enjoying your report so far and I wanted to tell you how wonderful your Disney attitude is...and if anyone needs a flexible attitude it is those who travel with infants!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Hope you're having a wonderful visit!

I know we've spoiled ourselves by visiting Disney during the relatively less crowded times of the year, but that picture of the crowds at BTMRR..... Still love that ride especially now that the kids are totally into it.

Awesome picture on Splash!

 

[amazingact21]

I LOVE MK at night too.. Just something about it!!

Splash is one of my favorites as well... Perfectfully themed and that ride photo is hilarious... The plugged nose?? BAHAHAHA

Can't say I blame mama for the dole whip float! Can't wait to get my hands on one in June!

Dumbo is so beautiful at night.. I hope we get to ride it at night this time.. That blue is just beautiful!!

I hope you have a wonderful, well-deserved trip.. All that mess will be here when you get back... Make magical, wonderful memories that only Disney can bring...

Can't wait to read all about it!! Oh by the way, do you facebook?

Dumbo at night really is cool. And it's great seeing all the castles lit up. a pretty nice view!

Alicia I am SO VERY HAPPY that you're still planning the trip. The way I look at it, there are always ways to get back money. What you can't get back is time. Go and enjoy your family time. I promise that's always a decision you won't regret.
Oh yeah. Magic Kingdom has a feel that envelops you no matter what.

FOR SHAME!!!!! No Country Bears????? Please Please Please go say hello to Big Al this week!!! You want sentimental reasons? This may well be the final attraction that Walt himself had a hand in creating.

OMG your Splash photo. The little one plugging her nose is PRICELESS!!!! I have never seen that before. I'm dying, bless her little heart!!!

I'M NOW CRYING at those Dumbo shots!!!

You will never regret a Disney trip, I agree with that!

Sorry to say, I still haven't seen the Country Bears. One day!

That little girl plugging her nose was hilarious. There was so much going on in that one photo. Thank goodness I made sure to add it to my photopass package!

It's so great that you're keeping your trip plans!

I always look at MK and say "Oh, I love MK in the fresh morning light", until I see pictures of it at night and I think about how magical it is at night lol It''s my favourite any time of the day.

Poor Landon sleeping at Dumbo! At least you had realistic expectations so you were happy in the end

Haha, it's tough deciding which is better, nighttime or daytime MK. I think they are both great in their own special ways.

So glad you're still going on your trip!

Wow, MK was crowded!!! I don't know what was with the crowds this year, but I will seriously never go back that week! Well, I might, if it's the only time I can go or something, but it was crazy!

Haha, I'm not a big fan of Country Bears...I know it's a classic, but it's weird. I suppose if it's hot and you have to kill time, sure why not, but I prefer the Hall of Presidents over that.

Aww, that's so cute that Landon slept on his first Dumbo ride! I mean, it's sad he had no idea what was going on, but maybe on this trip he will stay awake! And your poor mom, not knowing how to work Dumbo!

I agree. I mean, I've never been to Country Bears, but Hall of Presidents is much better. Plus, that big A.C.ed room is NICE.

I think with all the advertising Disney is doing, there are just more people visiting Disney in general. The crowds in May were a little higher than I expected them to be. Not on the level of December, but still busier than normal.

Ah, no worries on the pace of the TR - you and I are pretty much running neck-and-neck on that. Of course, you've got another trip to WDW happening now and I don't have anything Disney until Aulani in 6 months...

I'm glad you're still going on your trip. It would have been so sad to miss out on that special time together because of an unfortunate weather event. I hope the trip is wonderful. I'm excited to see things through Landon's eyes (or maybe his glasses?) at this point. I bet you'll have a blast!

Back to the report: just like a baby to refuse a nap when the parents really need one. I'm glad you at least got some relax time, though.

Hmmm, I bet he'd make a cute Grumpy Cat at Halloween.

Eh, you're not missing much with Country Bears. I know some love it, but I just found it really odd. But good for A/C, I suppose.

Those are some crazy crowds! Our week, right after yours, was much better, I thought.

That is a super cool view from Big Thunder!

Aw, that's nice that your mom and Landon got to have some time alone together, doing something new.

That is a hilarious ride photo on Splash. It does a nice job of summing up all the different reactions people can have to the same thing.

But, but...you know you can have Dole Whip AND candy, right?

Gotta love that lit up castle!

Free samples?! Note to self: bring Izzy to candy store. Maybe have her wear glasses...

I have never tried a cake pop either. They don't really appeal to me. That peanut butter cookie looks delightful, though.

That's awesome that you saw a mine train! Gosh, I hope you get to ride it on your trip!!

Of course Landon decided to snooze during Dumbo. He'd had to attend to important business during naptime, after all. Actually, we had been really excited to take Izzy on It's a Small World and she passed out right before that, so I can relate (though we did manage to rouse her for the ride).

Your poor mom on Dumbo. She needed a driver! Maybe next time, have her sit in front of you and turn back for pics. She might accidentally get your faces, even from up high when you are low. I'm glad you were all able to laugh about it!

Looking forward to more, but go make some great memories first!

This trip was so different than the one in December. It's amazing how quickly babies change in just 5 months. Doing Disnye with a 13 month old sure is interesting. I will have a new appreciation of what you dealt with with Izzy the next time I read your updates.

 

[amazingact21]

Accidental photographer! Yeah - I know all about that! Too bad your mom was never able to get pics on dumbo! Next time!

What a perfect day in MK. Splash, BTMMR, Dumbo, Dole whip, night time events! I think you guys did great considering you were touring with a baby. It looks like he barely slowed you down at all.

And Landon does NOT look like Grumpy Cat! He is far too adorable for that. But I'm sure 14lbs of Landon was starting to get a tad heavy!

Looking back now, we got so much more done with 7 month old Landon versus 13 month old Landon. He was a piece of cake back then!

Although I've been terribly far behind in the TR threads, I've seen some of Alex's posts about all of this in the Disdads thread. I'm glad that you were able to make this trip regardless of any setbacks. It appears to be something that Alex (and you and Landon) really need to do before he heads off for a while. I hope you're having a great time and not worrying about this car or the deductible.

In the end, it was a good decision. You can't replace that time with your family, and even though a bunch of other bad luck events followed us, we don't regret taking the trip.

Audio can be muted...

And I have to admit, I'm relieved. When you said it would be shared due to audio, I thought you were going to say that there was an abundance of profanity or something.

Haha, I do have a video or two like that in regards to Disney. Ironically, most are of my mom on the roller coasters.

You've got that right! That is hilarious... and a far greater memory for you than if Landon would have been awake and everything had gone as planned.

Exactly. I'll take a funny moment over a boring planned outcome any day. Plus, I'll never let my mom live it down, so there's that, as well.

Alicia, I'm really enjoying your report so far and I wanted to tell you how wonderful your Disney attitude is...and if anyone needs a flexible attitude it is those who travel with infants!

Thank you for reading! Appreciate it!
It's impossible to go to Disney with a baby and not have a flexible schedule. You're bound to be disappointed if you don't.

Hope you're having a wonderful visit!

I know we've spoiled ourselves by visiting Disney during the relatively less crowded times of the year, but that picture of the crowds at BTMRR..... Still love that ride especially now that the kids are totally into it.

Awesome picture on Splash!

The crowds were really rough that week. Between Parade Taping, Pop Warner, Cheer Competition, post-Thanksgiving crowds, and cheap DVC point time frame, we hit some massive crowds. Definitely learned not to go during that time again!

 

[amazingact21]

Hi everyone!

I know it has been a long while since I was last on the DIS. Sorry for that!

Alex, Landon, and I got back from our trip yesterday morning, and I think we've just now recovered enough to get back to our normal routine.
The trip was long and crazy and certainly memorable; it had tons of highlights and quite a few handful of rough moments, but overall Alex and I are happy we decided to keep the reservations and visit.


It's amazing how different Landon was on this trip compared to December. Almost like taking an entirely new kid to Disney!


Disney World was magical, as always. Alex and I ate (and drank) way too much, Landon actually experienced the attractions this time around, and we both had several awesome DISmeets throughout the trip! We also got the chance to meet Teresa from the DIS Unplugged Podcast!

Despite this being our 7th trip together, Alex and I discovered and experienced many new things, and we fell in love with our resort for the week.


Hopefully, I can speed up this report and begin one for the May trip. It would sure be interesting!

Thanks for hanging in there while I was gone for 2 weeks. I'll slowly make my way through everybody's updates over the course of the next week or so.