Trip Report Always two there are. No more. No less. **Completed**

Remember how in the final push for my previous TR when I had to make a bullet point list of the wild events in my last year?

Here comes a list of the things that happened in between writing the end of the last TR and the start of this one.

“How much could have possibly happened in a day and a half BES?!?” you are surely asking yourself.

Well…

• There’s an area rug sized hole in our family room ceiling.
• We have to replace a furnace
• DH decided not to go on the trip (due to above)

There might have been more stuff tbh but I’m too tired to fully process all of this now. More detailed explanations coming later.

So now it’s just me and lil BES on the trip.

I still don’t have full use of my left hand due to my fracture in November. I’ve only gotten a few hours of sleep. And lil BES has thrown some epic tantrums lately.

If I wasn’t sticking with Star Wars themed titles the runner up was:

Special lady time the vacation edition has already commenced.

May the Force be with us all.

Spoiler: Track 1:

 

[Back!Elbow!Shoulders!]

Monday January 27th (Day 5) continued:

I think we originally went to the Communicore area for a snack but stayed for the hot jams. As we neared the DJ stage, extroverted lil BES was transfixed.

“Do you want to dance?”

“Yes!”

Then lil BES attempted to get out of her stroller and pouted her knee hurt too much. (It was a gnarly scrap but she was milking it a little as well)

So I ended up holding her and dancing for a song or two. Eventually she decided she wanted to be put down and miraculously her knee was healed by the power of music.

Lil BES danced for over an hour.

DJ Johnny Tsunami did an excellent job of hyping up the crowd. His target audience consisted of toddlers and tipsy middle-aged ladies.

Finally I could see that lil BES was slowing down and we made our way toward the IG.

We took a stop in the UK to listen to whatever cover band was playing. Lil BES was into it and drummed along on her stroller tray.

Eventually we made it back to CBR and headed to Centertown Market for a late dinner. I got a chicken bowl and lil BES got pizza.

I can’t remember if I have mentioned this previously but I was happy with the QS fare at CBR.

After we ate, it was back to the room. Lil BES was amused by it these guys along the way:

Another successful day complete.

Spoiler: Track #17:

 

[Back!Elbow!Shoulders!]

Tuesday January 28th (Day 6)

We had another slow morning. Lil BES begged me to play with the “Hey Disney” Alexa thing and I gave in.

Ever since their introduction, I unplug them when we arrive. I find Alexas creepy. This trip lil BES was now tech savvy enough to know it could be plugged back in.

At first lil BES was extremely polite.

Lil BES: “Hey Disney which one do you pick?”

Hey Disney: “Let me ask Alexa. I don’t know the answer to that.

Lil BES: “That’s ok Disney.”

Shortly after it devolved into:

Lil BES: “You’re not listening to me Disney! You have to listen!”

And then it was time to unplug Hey Disney again.

Eventually we headed to the Skyliner a little before 10 and with a special bear guest in tow.

First order of business was more popcorn. Second order of business: another dance party.

Dear readers I’ve long rolled my eyes at the amount of dance parties at WDW. No longer. The dance parties are not for you and me. They are for the children. The children of dance.

Now off to Batuu for more popcorn. The best popcorn.

Unfortunately lil BES also likes my favorite Disney snack so I’ll have another person to share with.

Alien Swirling Saucers caught lil BES’s eye. I want to say it was a 30 min wait. Lil BES did beautifully during the wait and loved the ride.

It’s one of the things she keeps telling DH that he has to do on our upcoming trip. Yes nearly a year later she still remembers it fondly.

Another thing that pre-child BES dismissed has done a 180 in my heart. Much like the Wu Tang Clan and dance parties, Alien Spinning Saucers is for the children.

Spoiler: Track #18:

One of lil BES’s current favs

 

[radiorae]

Now off to Batuu for more popcorn. The best popcorn.

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Unfortunately lil BES also likes my favorite Disney snack so I’ll have another person to share with.

Dear readers I’ve long rolled my eyes at the amount of dance parties at WDW. No longer. The dance parties are not for you and me. They are for the children. The children of dance.

I’m so glad Lil BES enjoyed all the dance parties! I LOL’d at “the children of dance”.

 

[Back!Elbow!Shoulders!]

Tuesday January 28th (Day 6) Continued:

Next up is as lunch at our (short lived- R.I.P) favorite QS of DHS- Rizzo’s.

This was our first (and last) time upstairs.

I liked being able to get a salad and a margarita.

Lil BES loved all of the classic wedding dance hits and disco lights. (And also the pizza)

We spent a lot of time here while lil BES danced. There were two little boys from another family that matched lil BES’s dance energy.

When we eventually left, lil BES remarked: “Maybe one of those boys will be my husband when I grow up…”

Next up was Muppets 3D.

One of DH’s favorite WDW attractions. We had a last viewing on his behalf.

Afterwards lil BES commented that:

“My tongue is a little hot…”

My first thought was “Oh no. Is she getting sick?!?”

Nope. This really meant she wanted ice cream but was too polite to ask.

Strawberry for her. Brownie sundae for me.

Girl this is special lady vacation. Ice cream all day.

Spoiler: Track #19:

 

[Back!Elbow!Shoulders!]

Tuesday January 28th (Day 6) Continued:

Given lil BES’s love of Frozen and music, I thought the Frozen Singalong would be a slam dunk.

Lil BES asked to leave partway through.

I debriefed with her after we left. Was it too scary? Too dark? Too long?

Lil BES: “No. I just didn’t like it.”

On our way out of DHS lil BES purchased a baby Stitch lovey with a gift card she received from my brother (her uncle)

Back at CBR we played in the room for a while:

Did you know Disney popcorn buckets are the perfect size to hold flip flops and rocks?

Then went to the Spyglass Grill for dinner. It appears we had turkey sandwiches. I had a Dragon Stout.

There lil BES befriended a little girl. They played just outside of Spyglass while all parents involved took a breather. The family spoke French but the girl spoke English to lil BES.

Eventually the other family had to leave and I convinced lil BES to leave too. Lil BES is looking forward to playing with this particular girl on our next trip. I have prepped her that this probably won’t happen.

Back in the room we got ready for bed and ready for our last full day.

Spoiler: Track #20:

In honor of Stitch- lil BES’s favorite Elvis song:

 

[erstwo]

I laughed out loud at the ‘I wonder if I’ll marry one of those boys…..’. My daughter (now almost 20) routinely said things like that when she was little - I blame the Disney movie fairy tale endings. You can meet a guy and everything might just fall into place in an instant

My daughter once ‘made friends’ with a little girl from France on the playground - her grandparents lived nearby. We saw them a few more times over the years and fast forward to the girls getting together every time they were in the USA (when they came to visit grandparents) and then several trips (for my family) to visit them in Paris. They are friends to this day. It’s something that never would have happened to me in childhood but my daughter seems to live a charmed kind of life
If you run into that family again just accept that lil Bess was born under the same lucky star and book your tickets to France for a playdate

 

[cgersic]

Oh my goodness, she is really something!!! Absolutely nothing wrong with a fairy tale ending!

 

[Back!Elbow!Shoulders!]

Wednesday January 29th (Day 7)

We had a late breakfast at Old Port Royale:

And then hopped a bus to MK.

Both Bear and Stitch joined us:

Made it inside MK around 11 and “rope dropped” ice cream at the Plaza ice cream Parlor as it opened per lil BES’s request.

Based on pictures it looks like we did the Speedway and Dumbo next.

Then Enchanted Tales with Belle. This was a first for both of us. I thought it was cute. Lil BES was feeling shy and did not want to participate at all.

Another loop around the Speedway track.

And then a lunch/dinner at Pinocchio Village Haus.

Somehow I got talked into us sitting upstairs. Which meant getting lil BES, our food and the stroller up there and back down again.

A stop at the Tangled potties was next.

Lil BES was underwhelmed. She loves “Frap-punzel” and this was not enough Tangled-ness for her.

Lil BES also has hot takes on what else is missing a presence at WDW:

• 2004’s Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers
• Gabby’s Dollhouse (not a Disney IP)
• Bluey
• Hello Kitty

She’s going to be thrilled at Mitsukoshi this next trip for Hello Kitty. And at the new Bluey stuff the trip after that.

For 1 and 2 I’m pretty confident it’s a no go.

Spoiler: Track #21:

This song… so many feels post- lil BES

And the world has somehow shifted
All at once, everything is different
Now that I see you

 

[Back!Elbow!Shoulders!]

Wednesday January 29th (Day 7) Continued:

Time for a spin on the carousel, which is supposed to be a low key ride. And it is- once you’ve made the mad dash to secure your child’s desired horse.

I don’t think this was lil BES’s first choice but she handled it well:

Found this awesome photography on my phone:

The castle was actually open!

Lil BES and I checked out the mosaics.

Then the wishing well.

I think this might have been the time lil BES noticed participants of what she has since named “The Princess Styler” aka Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.

I could feel my future money leaving my bank account.

The castle was blocked off for another show and we managed to watch a bit from the side.

We rode the Magic Carpets. And then immediately got back in line for another spin. (I know. I’m just as confused as you)

Jasmine was doing a meet and greet. Lil BES just wanted to stare at her from afar but not actually meet her.

Lil BES also wanted to dance so I apologetically asked one of the guest experience people if MK had any dance parties.

IASW was next.

Looking at the pictures now I can see lil BES was fading fast. But we still had some unfinished Disney business.

Spoiler: Track #22:

 

[cgersic]

I've said it before and I'll say it again - your writing style is SO MUCH FUN! The "negative ghost rider" has been a long time saying in our family

 

[RememberWhen]

I hear you about the BBB $$$$$, BUT it really is magical. Do it. And then do it again. They’re only this big once.

 

[Minnie1986]

Monday January 27th (Day 5):

I only wrote down four quick comments for this day. Only three of which make sense.

The first one, the non-sensical one:

“Who’s going to drink my blood in the morning?”

I mean I’m 100% sure it’s something lil BES said but I don’t remember the context or my response. Mosquitoes related perhaps? (Hopefully?)

Based on pictures we were out the door at a reasonable time this morning.

Also based on the pictures lil BES was eating potato chips on the bus at 9am.

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(Okayest mom of year nominee here. )

Our entry to MK was smooth.

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We were on the Speedway before 10am.

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Lil BES loved it. A lot. The girl likes speed.

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In one of the video clip I took on the Speedway she exclaimed “Beep! Beep! Get out of the way! Sorry!”

She didn’t hear that from me! I promise! My parents have a little kid’s steering wheel toy that says something very similar.

1. why would they have a toy say that?
2. I’m pretty sure that I should be worried for my future car insurance payments.

Next we were off to the teacups. DH declines to ride this. Lil BES was thrilled that I will ride it and said we could spin as fast as she wanted.

View attachment 888242

We were one of the last groups to get a teacup and as we quickly tried to find an open one lil BES tripped and scraped her knee. Hard.

She was teary but still wanted to ride.

Once in motion she forgot about the knee and had a blast.

Off the ride it was back to tears. She didn’t want me to clean it. Didn’t want a bandage. Didn’t want to walk.

Poor kiddo. It was a pretty gnarly scrap right on her knee so I’m sure it did really hurt.

Popped lil BES back into the stroller to started off on a stroll about the park.

We didn’t get far. Lil BES remembered a pretrip promise that I made to her and say a way I could pay up.

Spoiler: Track #14:

“Who’s going to drink my blood in the morning?”

I had no business laughing at this as hard as I did

 

[Minnie1986]

Monday January 27th (Day 5) continued:

So for many months prior to this trip lil BES wanted to eat popcorn. I kept denying this request as it’s a high choking risk food for kids. I didn’t have a clear answer on when it would be ok but it didn’t feel ok yet.

Lil BES, my mom and my MIL:

Over time lil BES, future lawyer, wore me down. It was negotiated that at Disney she could try popcorn.

From her stroller lil BES spotted the popcorn stand in the hub and reminded me of our deal.

I got a popcorn bucket mostly with the intention of it being a sand pail to use at the CBR beaches.

Almost immediately I realized I got the bucket for the refills.

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Popcorn definitely lived up to the hype for lil BES.

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As lil BES chowed down we started toward the castle. It was closed off- again. I inquired with a nearby CM about usual open times.

Her name was Katie (from Delaware) and we just had a great chat. She gave some great tips about best times to see the Cindarella mosaics. And we just shot the breeze for a bit.

I enjoyed having a conversation with someone older than 3. She enjoyed (I think) talking to a very low maintenance guest.

We parted ways and explored and snacked our way through MK.

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Looking back at pictures from the trip it seems like we did a lot of snacking. But I swear we did other stuff too. I think it was just easier to snap pics when lil BES was eating and still.

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I’m pretty sure this was the trip that originated the lil BES catchphrase “Stitch! That guy is everywhere!”

She more recently commented that Jack Skellington was “the Stitch of Halloween”

This kid cracks me up.

Spoiler: Track #15:

She more recently commented that Jack Skellington was “the Stitch of Halloween”

 

[Minnie1986]

I laughed out loud at the ‘I wonder if I’ll marry one of those boys…..’. My daughter (now almost 20) routinely said things like that when she was little - I blame the Disney movie fairy tale endings. You can meet a guy and everything might just fall into place in an instant

My daughter once ‘made friends’ with a little girl from France on the playground - her grandparents lived nearby. We saw them a few more times over the years and fast forward to the girls getting together every time they were in the USA (when they came to visit grandparents) and then several trips (for my family) to visit them in Paris. They are friends to this day. It’s something that never would have happened to me in childhood but my daughter seems to live a charmed kind of life
If you run into that family again just accept that lil Bess was born under the same lucky star and book your tickets to France for a playdate

When I was not too much older than lil BES, I made friends with a girl in the UK whilst there on a family vacation. We kept in touch by writing each other letters (I know, snail mail!), and coordinating visits throughout the years. She and I have been best friends for almost 30 years now, and travel together every year. Friendships like these truly are special

 

[Back!Elbow!Shoulders!]

I've said it before and I'll say it again - your writing style is SO MUCH FUN! The "negative ghost rider" has been a long time saying in our family

Aww thanks! It’s a lot of fun to write these. It really scratches an itch creativity-wise that I don’t get to use in my day job. (Well I did unintentionally make a big wig “laugh so hard he had tears in eyes” during a corporate meeting recently but we’ll get to that later…)

 

[Back!Elbow!Shoulders!]

I hear you about the BBB $$$$$, BUT it really is magical. Do it. And then do it again. They’re only this big once.

Oh we’re doing it. She’s at the perfect age for it.

She rarely is. Never if you ask her.

 

[Back!Elbow!Shoulders!]

Wednesday January 29th (Day 7) Continued:

Now that she had noise canceling headphones lil BES wanted to see fireworks. She hasn’t really experienced much “night Disney” but I figured with it being the last day of the trip I would push it and deal with the consequences later.

As it got darker lil BES was enamored with all of the lights.

Lights on strollers. Necklaces. lil BES needed so many lights.

Duly noted for next trip. At the very least something light up to ID the stroller and something to tag lil BES.

Lil BES soon fell asleep. Usually an evening nap isn’t ideal but today it would allow her to rally for being out later.

I seized this nap opportunity to go to guest services and get DH’s ticket refunded.

Also used this time to go visit some Main Street shops. I would not take an awake lil BES in the Crystal Arts shop.

I had to pee and managed to use a Companion restroom to do so without waking lil BES up.

Also grabbed a pretzel and a coffee before hunkering down for a fireworks spot.

We ended up by purple wall. Approximately location:

“Now approaching monsters inc laugh floor…Now approaching Tomorrowland transit authority station…”

I figured we could see well enough but not so well that it would be crazy. The families around us had the same idea and all were chill.

Then this rude older dude and his wife showed up. He really tried to wedge himself between me and mom next to me to get between our strollers.

He was very loud and had a lot of information to gift us all with. Very little of which was true. He was very interested in seeing “Tink”.

At some point his poor wife just walked away. At first I thought from embarrassment, but it turns out she found a better spot.

The fireworks were delayed. This threw Tink Man for a loop. It looked like someone in the Hub was taken out on a stretcher.

The normal people around explained this to their children and everyone understood, wished that hurt person well and continued to wait. Tink Man expressed his annoyance.

Eventually the fireworks did start. Lil BES had a satisfactory fireworks experience.

As we started our swim of out the post-fireworks park, the mom next to me and I validated that our experience with Tink Man was “weird.”

Finally at the bus stops, I realized my fate. A tired lil BES, a stroller to manage and a very very long bus line to CBR.

Then I noticed a Riviera bus with no line and plenty of seating…

Spoiler: Track# 23:

That photosensitivity warning on this video is no joke!

 

[Back!Elbow!Shoulders!]

Wednesday January 29th (Day 7) Continued:

We immediately boarded the Riviera bus. A gentleman helped me with my stroller. We both got to sit so lil BES could stretch out on me.

There was like 10 people tops on the bus when it pulled away.

Riviera:

Me:

Saw this bus at Riviera:

Seems a little much Disney.

We started towards CBR and caught some of the Epcot fireworks in the distance. Lil BES was thrilled.

We also checked out the mosaics at Riviera. Just stunning.

Got some late dinner from Old Port Royale. Then stopped in the gift shop since it would be easier now than in the morning.

I got a CBR Tervis. (Lil BES told me I didn’t need it because I already had a Tervis )

Lil BES decided she wanted a Little Mermaid light up bubble wand.

It greatly amused lil BES all the way back to the room.

At some point we had to stroll past a group of people having a serious conversation. They were immediately showered in bubbles and lights and music.

I apologized. They insisted they didn’t mind and loved how delighted lil BES was.

Back at the room I got lil BES to sleep and started to pack up.

We were both exhausted but I think we had a perfect final Disney day.

Spoiler: Track #24:

Heard this either on the Riviera bus or walking the grounds.

 

[TheMouseFan]

Lil BES sounds like my husband! "Do we really need another Tervis? We already have a cupboard full!" I'm really enjoying following along!

 

[Swissmiss]

My daughter (20yo) now tells ME that I have to be willing to give up something in the kitchen cupboards before I am allowed to buy more Disney kitchenware.