Zombie Apocalypse and Pixie Dust - A 2 week Disneymoon (PTR link 11/14)

[suorkaterina]

Can't believe you found time to update! You are a super mom! hehe. I love the ride pics. You guys are great at those. Gave me some good ideas for next time =D

 

[kmedina]

Ron really did have a lot of fun with the characters. You got some great shots. I love both of your Test Track pictures. The terrified one is quite funny. That cheese danish looks good. Now, I am hungry.

 

[Skeleton Jack]

Just wanted to say how much I am enjoying this report! The title caught my attention a few days ago, then next thing I know I have read your PTR...and your wedding report...and your wedding PTR...and am caught up on THIS report looking forward to more!

 

[ronnmel]

Claudia is one month old today! And for the first time in a month, I'm home alone! Ron went to visit a friend and brought Claudia with him. Since I have some free time on my hands before they come back, I thought I'd come here and post another update.

In Disney news, I'm seriously considering starting Pin Trading during our next trip. It just looks like so much fun! I'm currently reading the Dis for tips on how to do it and looking into buying a starter set from Ebay.

Great update--- and pictures! I love all her dark hair! She is really one of the cutest babies I have seen recently. =) I enjoyed your update as well. I really need to do the character spot. I have met all those characters before, but haven't met them in their traditional outfits. Definitely something to look forward to next time!

Thank you! And yes, do Character Spot, it's great! And if you go first thing in the morning, you should be out of there early enough to go grab a FP for Soarin' or Test Track.

Can't believe you found time to update! You are a super mom! hehe. I love the ride pics. You guys are great at those. Gave me some good ideas for next time =D

Awww, thanks. I don't think I'm a super mom, I just have a super husband who is a great dad and let's me have some free time. It sure helps that between paternity leave and his vacation, he gets to stay home with me for 8 weeks!!!

Glad I could give you some silly ideas for ride pics.

Ron really did have a lot of fun with the characters. You got some great shots. I love both of your Test Track pictures. The terrified one is quite funny. That cheese danish looks good. Now, I am hungry.

I am very happy that Ron seems to have as much fun as me in Disney and let's his "kid at heart" run free.

Just wanted to say how much I am enjoying this report! The title caught my attention a few days ago, then next thing I know I have read your PTR...and your wedding report...and your wedding PTR...and am caught up on THIS report looking forward to more!

Wow, that's a lot of reading! Glad you enjoyed everything.

 

[ronnmel]

Day 12 part 2 – We’re Stars In Our Own Video Game!
August 22nd, 2011

Our bellies full of a good breakfast, we didn’t stay outside for very long. We went straight into Innoventions to try out some of their games. First up was The Great Piggy Bank.

We worked hard to save our money.

Our efforts paid up, we saved enough for a dream vacation!

The next game we tried was Where’s The Fire?

They hand you a “flashlight” and you run around a house finding all the fire hazards. Our team won!

Smart Planet (I think that’s the name) was our third activity. First you stand in front of a green screen where they ask you to run, jump and dance.

Then you move to a station and you play a videogame in which you are the star! Lots of fun!

We exited that Innoventions (East or West, no idea which one’s which) and went across to the other side. Unfortunately, Sum Of All Thrills was too packed, that waste game I had read about was gone, and we had already done the other stuff 2 years ago, so we left right away. Ron really wanted to see Captain EO, partly to say that we had watched every 3D movie the parks had to offer.

I took the opportunity to take some pictures of the backward fountain and the jumping fountain.

As I suspected, Captain EO did not hold my interest at all. In fact, it made me sleepy. What better way to wake me up then to zoom around a track at top speed? Back to test track we go. We used the single-rider line again and this time were put in two different cars. Ron pointed to the camera.

While I pretended to sleep.

Ron got FPs for Mission Space and then it was time for some World Showcase! We started with Canada, where we got some photos of the beautiful garden.

We got lots more done in Canada (our home country!), but that will have to wait until the next update as I’m running out of space to put pictures.




Up Next, O Canada!
​

 

[Queila]

Claudia is precious. How is motherhood treating you?

I love the Test Trek fun pictures. Specially the one you pretend to be terrified. Super cool!

Q

 

[kmedina]

We missed Innoventions last trip. Seems like you two had a lot of fun there. I cannot wait to see how many total times you rode Test Track. You are going to love Radiator Springs Racers when you get to Disneyland. It is a better version of Test Track.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Starscream275]

The stuff you mentioned about at Innoventions looks and sounds awesome especially the video game thing! I wanna do it now! I wanna do it now! I wanna do it! Yaaaay! (Flails arms like Kermit the Frog)

Not surprised you found Captain EO boring, Mel to be honest with ya it did not do Michael Jackson justice in this movie. Now don't get me wrong, I loved MJ and his music before he died. I mean Thriller, Smooth Criminal, Bad, Beat it, Billie Jean, Black or white those were undoubtably the greatest musical pieces ever made in the late 80s and 90s, he was a genius, a legend among legends just god damn just so incredible of a man full of energy and really knew how to put on a show. Michael Jackson was one of my favourite musicians when growing up and he still is to this very day. But with Captain EO the same just can't be said here. Just looking at it as a whole I'm just thinking: Oh god this movie was made? God help us...."*

It's like going to a REALLY bad kids party at McDonalds or Chucky cheese ya don't know anybody there, ya forced to get a bratty little boy or girl (Take ya poison) to give them a present. Ya know it's gonna be bad, ya don't wanna be there and it's quite unsettling the very moment you walk outta the doors you can sigh with relief and forget about 5 minutes tops.*

And that's pretty much what Captain EO feels like it's very VERY cheesy even by 80s standards it's still pretty bad. The songs are not memorable, the whole plot is a joke and it's nothing more than a cheap cash in to Star Wars. At least when MJ did Moonwalker it had a few good moments in there that being the Smooth Criminal scene but with Captain EO, it's laughably bad that it would make any incarnation of the Power Rangers blush with envy. I mean yeah sure Disney I commend you for paying respects to Michael himself but god damn it why pick Captain EO?! A film in the 80s that wasn't the best of MJ's work to represent his death?! Ya kidding me?!

Ya know what it should've been? A montage of Michael Jackson and his music that's what it should've been why disney decided to choose Captain EO I have no bloody clue on that.

On the bright side at least ya got to do Test Track agai- HEY! HEEEYYY! STOP POINTING AT ME, RON! THAT'S NOT CLEVER! Honestly at least Mel has the common courtesy to- MEL?! WHATTA YA THINK YOUR DOING?! I LEAVE YOU FOR 5 MINUTES AND YOU FALL ASLEEP ON THE RIDE! GOD YOU TWO HAVE NO MANNERS AT ALL!

 

[mickeystoontown]

We haven't spent much time in the Innoventions buildings in several years. Every time I see a post like your's, it makes me wonder why. It sounds like ya'll had a good time there.

Love the pictures of the beautiful gardens in Canada!

 

[PrincessFendi]

Oh my goodness Claudia is so precious! CONGRATS!!!!!!!!

I have really enjoyed reading your TR and am excited to find out about your princesses first trip to Disney (once you make it back down to FL). *No pressure though, I have just found myself laughing or smiling while reading. You did a great job of keeping track of everything and have made me really want to get a PhotoPass package now. Congrats again!

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

Hi Mel! I am very slowly trying to get caught up after not being on the boards in 2 months! As I'm sure you can understand pregnancy has zapped all of my energy! Anyway, the first place I had to come was here to check in on how motherhood is treating you! My goodness, Miss Claudia is just absolutely precious! She looks like she came out ready for her close up! I am so, so excited for you and Ron!

Love the photobook that you created! I did a small one for our honeymoon with the photopass website, and I agree, I wasn't fond of it. I did a wedding one through Shutterfly and loved it so much that I did another honeymoon one there. It turned out much better and was about half the cost of the Disney book. Yours looks great, though! I can tell you put a lot more time into yours than I did with mine. What a great keepsake of your trip!

 

[lovenerds81112]

I love this TR! My DF and I are off for our Disneymoon in just 17 days, and it is great to see a TR taking place at exactly the same time of year! YAY!

 

[ronnmel]

Claudia is precious. How is motherhood treating you?

I love the Test Trek fun pictures. Specially the one you pretend to be terrified. Super cool!

Q

Thanks! Motherhood is treating me well. Sure I'm tired at times, but in all honesty, it's not so bad. With what everyone was telling me, how having a kid changes your life completely, you never sleep, etc. I thought it was going to be way worse than it actually is. Plus, Claudia is a great sleeper at night. How was your trip? Or actually, are you there now? Let me go check... Oops, you haven't left yet! Less than a week though! How exciting! Hope you have a blast!!

We missed Innoventions last trip. Seems like you two had a lot of fun there. I cannot wait to see how many total times you rode Test Track. You are going to love Radiator Springs Racers when you get to Disneyland. It is a better version of Test Track.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

I think Xander would enjoy the "Where's the fire" house, but the rest might be more interesting to him in a couple of years. Still, it's a nice air conditioned place, which is a must in summer.

Radiator Springs racers looks AWESOME! We have watched a few youtube videos and really enjoy it. I'm excited about the new changes coming to Test Track, but it won't have the "racing" part at the end, which looks so cool. Especially since you never know which car is going to win.

The stuff you mentioned about at Innoventions looks and sounds awesome especially the video game thing! I wanna do it now! I wanna do it now! I wanna do it! Yaaaay! (Flails arms like Kermit the Frog)

Not surprised you found Captain EO boring, Mel to be honest with ya it did not do Michael Jackson justice in this movie. Now don't get me wrong, I loved MJ and his music before he died. I mean Thriller, Smooth Criminal, Bad, Beat it, Billie Jean, Black or white those were undoubtably the greatest musical pieces ever made in the late 80s and 90s, he was a genius, a legend among legends just god damn just so incredible of a man full of energy and really knew how to put on a show. Michael Jackson was one of my favourite musicians when growing up and he still is to this very day. But with Captain EO the same just can't be said here. Just looking at it as a whole I'm just thinking: Oh god this movie was made? God help us...."*

It's like going to a REALLY bad kids party at McDonalds or Chucky cheese ya don't know anybody there, ya forced to get a bratty little boy or girl (Take ya poison) to give them a present. Ya know it's gonna be bad, ya don't wanna be there and it's quite unsettling the very moment you walk outta the doors you can sigh with relief and forget about 5 minutes tops.*

And that's pretty much what Captain EO feels like it's very VERY cheesy even by 80s standards it's still pretty bad. The songs are not memorable, the whole plot is a joke and it's nothing more than a cheap cash in to Star Wars. At least when MJ did Moonwalker it had a few good moments in there that being the Smooth Criminal scene but with Captain EO, it's laughably bad that it would make any incarnation of the Power Rangers blush with envy. I mean yeah sure Disney I commend you for paying respects to Michael himself but god damn it why pick Captain EO?! A film in the 80s that wasn't the best of MJ's work to represent his death?! Ya kidding me?!

Ya know what it should've been? A montage of Michael Jackson and his music that's what it should've been why disney decided to choose Captain EO I have no bloody clue on that.

On the bright side at least ya got to do Test Track agai- HEY! HEEEYYY! STOP POINTING AT ME, RON! THAT'S NOT CLEVER! Honestly at least Mel has the common courtesy to- MEL?! WHATTA YA THINK YOUR DOING?! I LEAVE YOU FOR 5 MINUTES AND YOU FALL ASLEEP ON THE RIDE! GOD YOU TWO HAVE NO MANNERS AT ALL!

The video game is so much fun. They even email you a link so you can keep playing at home! It's hilarious to see yourself jumping and dancing. It reminds me of one of those 80s Freddy movies where the people become video game characters. Speaking of 80s, it's really not a decade I like much, but it did have some gems. Captain EO is NOT one of them. Ugh! What a waste of good songs and good dancers.

I know! How dare we fall asleep on such a cool ride as Test Track!

We haven't spent much time in the Innoventions buildings in several years. Every time I see a post like your's, it makes me wonder why. It sounds like ya'll had a good time there.

Love the pictures of the beautiful gardens in Canada!

Innoventions is definitely a place that you have to devote time to exploring slowly. Our first trip we just zoomed through it and didn't enjoy it much, but this time we really tried to check out everything that was in there. It's not the most *exciting*, but it sure is an awesome way to stay out of the heat/rain.

Canada does have some beautiful gardens. Both in Epcot, and in the park 5 minutes from my house.

Oh my goodness Claudia is so precious! CONGRATS!!!!!!!!

I have really enjoyed reading your TR and am excited to find out about your princesses first trip to Disney (once you make it back down to FL). *No pressure though, I have just found myself laughing or smiling while reading. You did a great job of keeping track of everything and have made me really want to get a PhotoPass package now. Congrats again!

Thank you very much. We are very excited about bringing Claudia to Disney. Though giving how "mobile" she is already at only two months, I'm afraid we might have a crawler already by the time we make it there, which will make keeping her confined to the stroller much more difficult. Oh boy!

We love photopass! You have to keep an eye out for the photograph, and take the time to stop, but it's so worth it. Otherwise someone is always missing from the photos. Probably not next trip, but we will for sure try Photopass + in the future.

I'm glad you're enjoying the read. I kept a journal during the entire trip, writing in it waiting for shows, for buses, before bed, etc. That's the only way (that, and taking so many pictures) that I'm able to keep writing this TR a year later. OMG, it's already been a year! A year ago I spent the day in Typhoon Lagoon. Wow, I better finish this TR.

Hi Mel! I am very slowly trying to get caught up after not being on the boards in 2 months! As I'm sure you can understand pregnancy has zapped all of my energy! Anyway, the first place I had to come was here to check in on how motherhood is treating you! My goodness, Miss Claudia is just absolutely precious! She looks like she came out ready for her close up! I am so, so excited for you and Ron!

Love the photobook that you created! I did a small one for our honeymoon with the photopass website, and I agree, I wasn't fond of it. I did a wedding one through Shutterfly and loved it so much that I did another honeymoon one there. It turned out much better and was about half the cost of the Disney book. Yours looks great, though! I can tell you put a lot more time into yours than I did with mine. What a great keepsake of your trip!

Hi Courtney! OMG, I just saw your ticker and you are already at 23 weeks! How time flies!! Do you know if it's a girl or a boy yet? Or are you keeping it a surprise? I hope the second trimester is treating you better and that you have more energy. Claudia is a great baby. Sure there are days she is fussy, and she spent most of summer refusing to nap , but her nights have been GREAT (sleeping 12 hours, waking to eat only twice). She has just started to be more responsive, to smile and coo, and it's amazing. It has left my brain pretty much fried though, which is why I had not logged on in a month. I have lurked a lot though, just did not feel like replying to anything. Too much work. It's so great that in just a few months it will be you and Miguel's turn to experience all of this!!

Thanks for your comments on the photobook. I did put hours and hours of work into it (my last big project before giving birth!) and I'm so glad of how it turned out. But man was it frustrating at times. From now on, it's Shutterfly all the way!

I love this TR! My DF and I are off for our Disneymoon in just 17 days, and it is great to see a TR taking place at exactly the same time of year! YAY!

Congrats! By now you must be in Disney. Hope you are having an awesome Disneymoon! Glad you enjoyed the read.

 

[ronnmel]

Baby Update

Hi everyone! Wow, I haven't logged in in over a month! Claudia has changed so much in that short period of time! Ron got to spend 8 WEEKS with us, which is beyond amazing. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, so he went back to work last week. We had a great summer, visiting friends, taking walks (mostly to the ice cream store...) and just enjoying spending time relaxing at home with Claudia. Here are some pictures, mostly of our little Peanut because I'm a mom and I think she is the most precious girl in the world.

She's only two months, and she's already quite mobile. Here's how I found her one night (and several times since). She moved 90 degrees (she was between the two rolled blankets) while being completely swaddled!!

We did not get Claudia baptized, but instead we had a "Welcome Ceremony". We read our vows to Claudia as parents, named Guide-Parents (my brother and Ron's daughter) who said their own vows, and then we ate. Here's Claudia in her pretty (but not very comfortable) little dress, with her very happy grandma.

And here is the cake I bought.

During the summer in Montreal they have an international fireworks competition. Several countries come and compete. Each must create a 30 minutes fireworks show, synchronized to music. It's at the local Six Flags amusement park, but the park is on an island in the middle of the river so people can watch for free from either shore, or even from the bridge. It's a huge bridge, but they close it to traffic for 3 hours and hundreds of people go on it to watch. That's our favorite spot, as we get to see not only the high fireworks, but also all the low ones on the small lake. Ron and I took turns taking DD13 to them. I tried to take a few pictures with my camera. first, France. (sorry for the metal bars)

When I went back for Italy I got closer to the railing so no metal bars. I think Italy won third place.

It's great! Definitely up to Disney standard, just without the *magical* touch. You can see better pictures at this link:
http://www.internationaldesfeuxloto-quebec.com/en/programmation/calendrier.aspx


Finally, we did a little photoshoot with a friend of Ron who is a photograph. Here are my favorite shots:

She had not napped and it was passed her bedtime, so she was VERY fussy.

We finally got her to fall asleep.

And now, time to post a Disney update!! I can't believe one year ago I was in Disney. Thanks for sticking with me for this very long TR!!​

 

[ronnmel]

Day 12 part 3 – “O Canada!”
August 22nd, 2011


While taking pictures of the beautiful Canadian gardens, this photopass guy approached us and asked us if we wanted to do a little photoshoot with him. We agreed, so he took us all around the pavilion, taking LOTS of pictures of us. It was fun! First, some with the garden in the background.

For some reason, even though we never told him Ron is from the Philippines, he kept calling him “Filipino”. I guess this guy knew his Asian cultures! I thought that was cute of him. He was from France, so he and I also talked a bit of French. Not too much though, we wouldn’t Ron to feel left out. He brought us towards the back and took more photos of us, this time with the waterfall as a background.

I also took my own photo of the waterfall.

Since we were already in the back, we went to watch the movie “Oh Canada”

I think we had just missed one starting as we were the first inside the waiting room. We waited patiently for those doors to open.

We thought the movie was funny and beautiful, and it made us think of home a little. After it was over, we took a few more photos around Canada, then moved on.

We have not eaten here yet.

I took several photos of the view across the lagoon. You can see Mexico.

China

Germany

And Italy

Ron was enjoying the view while waiting for me.

We had already spent a lot of time in UK on a previous day, but we did stop long enough to take a picture of Ron pretending to make a phone call.

And for some reason I felt the need to take a picture of the bathroom. I guess because the building looks nice?

And for some other reason I decided to take another picture of the view of China, but this time with the Characters In Flight balloon from Downtown Disney.

I’ll stop there for now.


Up Next, BEST PIZZA EVER!!!
​

 

[mickeystoontown]

Hey Mel! It's nice to "see" you on the Disboards. I teared up when I saw the picture of your mother and sweet little Claudia. I know that having the new grandchild has been wonderful for her. The family pics of you guys are so sweet. By the way, love the new hair color. Looking good new mom!

Speaking of looking good, very cute Photopass pictures. We've never run into a Photopass guy in that location.

Like I said, it's great to see you again and I'm looking forward to more installments when motherhood allows you time to post again.

 

[Starscream275]

Hoorah, Hoorah, Mel's back! Hallelujah! God I was wondering why you were gone for at least a month but I think it's safe to say that ya mind want: "Ooh, pwetty Clawida!" and then you got distracted along the way. But anyways on with the update.

Canada looks really nice as a pavillion but it'll NEVER beat China's pavillion on how beautiful it is. I never really went to the Canadian pavillion in Epcot but I'll have to go there in future reference that is. (In canadian accent) And now I will not attempt to make the obvious jokes about Canadians, eh? And I wouldn't take the piss out of sweet ol' Mel and her country cuz that's not what I'm aboot!

Joking aside, the Canadian pavillion looks nice and I wish did go there when I went to Epcot. I never knew Martin Short was a canadian, I always thought he was american but then again I haven't seen any of his movies so whatever, the only thing I've ever seen Martin Short in is The Prince of Egypt.

Oh yeah and nothing's more interesting than the toilets at the British Pavillion. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha.

And to be honest with ya Mel, regarding your reply about the 80s not being a decade ya didn't like, I would say the 60s are more the decade to not like because come on it's the 60s, known for the crazy hippies, LSD, Adam West Batman show and the biggest acid trips the side of Bristol for crying out loud. But whatever I mustly associate the 80s with G1 Transformers, Duran Duran, Hall and Oates, Michael Jackson, films like The Breakfast Club, Bill and Ted, Nightmare on Elm Street (The orignial not the remakes by the way), Conan the Barbarian, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Ghostbusters, Planes Trains and Automobiles and even Scarface.

 

[ronnmel]

Hey Mel! It's nice to "see" you on the Disboards. I teared up when I saw the picture of your mother and sweet little Claudia. I know that having the new grandchild has been wonderful for her. The family pics of you guys are so sweet. By the way, love the new hair color. Looking good new mom!

Speaking of looking good, very cute Photopass pictures. We've never run into a Photopass guy in that location.

Like I said, it's great to see you again and I'm looking forward to more installments when motherhood allows you time to post again.

My mom can't stop staring at Claudia every time I go visit. It's her first real grandchild (her new husband has two), so she's very happy. She loves holding her.

Thanks. I like being a red head.

Well the photopass guy was in the front of the Canada pavilion, close to the "main road" around the lagoon. He just decided to have some fun with us and take us around the pavilion and all the way to the back to do a little photo shoot.

Hoorah, Hoorah, Mel's back! Hallelujah! God I was wondering why you were gone for at least a month but I think it's safe to say that ya mind want: "Ooh, pwetty Clawida!" and then you got distracted along the way. But anyways on with the update.

Canada looks really nice as a pavillion but it'll NEVER beat China's pavillion on how beautiful it is. I never really went to the Canadian pavillion in Epcot but I'll have to go there in future reference that is. (In canadian accent) And now I will not attempt to make the obvious jokes about Canadians, eh? And I wouldn't take the piss out of sweet ol' Mel and her country cuz that's not what I'm aboot!

Joking aside, the Canadian pavillion looks nice and I wish did go there when I went to Epcot. I never knew Martin Short was a canadian, I always thought he was american but then again I haven't seen any of his movies so whatever, the only thing I've ever seen Martin Short in is The Prince of Egypt.

Oh yeah and nothing's more interesting than the toilets at the British Pavillion. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha.

And to be honest with ya Mel, regarding your reply about the 80s not being a decade ya didn't like, I would say the 60s are more the decade to not like because come on it's the 60s, known for the crazy hippies, LSD, Adam West Batman show and the biggest acid trips the side of Bristol for crying out loud. But whatever I mustly associate the 80s with G1 Transformers, Duran Duran, Hall and Oates, Michael Jackson, films like The Breakfast Club, Bill and Ted, Nightmare on Elm Street (The orignial not the remakes by the way), Conan the Barbarian, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Ghostbusters, Planes Trains and Automobiles and even Scarface.

There's a little bit of "oh you're so pretty!", but there's also a lot of "what can I do to keep you from crying?". Then at night I just want to stare at a screen (tv, computer) and watch/read, but not write. Takes too much brain cells.

I think they did a great job with the Canada pavilion, but it's not my favorite. I agree that China is gorgeous, and so is Morocco. I'd say those two are my favorite. And Mexico is third, partly for it being air conditioned.

I like certain things of the 80s, but not the feeling of the decade as a whole. Mostly the fashion and looks of it, so not my style. I like the crazy colors of the sixties better. But yeah, Ghostbusters was good.

 

[Starscream275]

There's a little bit of "oh you're so pretty!", but there's also a lot of "what can I do to keep you from crying?". Then at night I just want to stare at a screen (tv, computer) and watch/read, but not write. Takes too much brain cells.

I like certain things of the 80s, but not the feeling of the decade as a whole. Mostly the fashion and looks of it, so not my style. I like the crazy colors of the sixties better. But yeah, Ghostbusters was good.

AAAAAAAAHHHH!!! Are you...trying to annoy me...? BECAUSE YOU'VE SUCCEEDED! YOU CHEAP 60s CANADIAN HIPPIE! GOOOODDDDD! (My yelling is so loud that it's heard from space)
Marvin the Martian: Where's that awful racket coming from?

 

[ronnmel]

AAAAAAAAHHHH!!! Are you...trying to annoy me...? BECAUSE YOU'VE SUCCEEDED! YOU CHEAP 60s CANADIAN HIPPIE! GOOOODDDDD! (My yelling is so loud that it's heard from space)
Marvin the Martian: Where's that awful racket coming from?

Isn't it like 4 in the morning where you are? So I'm just gonna blame this little bit of deliriousness on lack of sleep.