Trip Report **COMPLETED** The Tail of Slinky Dog

Hey everyone!
We have been back for a week now so I suppose it is time to start our TR!

Who
Just my Mom and I (Mary and Megan)
This is a picture from our last trip!

When?
July 9-July 16 2018

Why?
To celebrate my 30th Birthday

Where?
The Grand Floridian - thanks to a pretty good bounce back or AP deal (I can't actually remember which one )

The title?
We are obsessed with Slinky Dog Dash - plain and simple

Day 1 July 9, 2018
I had to work most of my usual day before we headed to the airport. Why is this day of work always the LONGEST day of work?
My Dad was actually out of town for work so he couldn't drive us to the airport, but my brother in law Nick kindly offered to drive us (thankfully)
I was super stressed about leaving on time (I thought our flight was earlier than it was ) hence my flushed cheeks

Oh hey Nick

Of course we made it to the airport, checked our bags and made it through security in little to no time
We decided to eat dinner at our usual airport dinner place - Anchor Bar

We shared the appetizer sampler and some fries. Wings, boneless wings, mozzarella sticks I realize now this isn't the best of pictures to actually show the food

After our delicious dinner we headed to the gate to wait to leave.
Petey was ready to go

Soon enough we were on the plane!

Next up: finishing Day 1 (quick day!)

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 5 July 13, 2018
It's Birthday Day! (I look....thrilled?)

After eating some breakfast we headed to the MK. There were EMH this morning so it was already open but only Fantasyland, Main Street and Tomorrowland. Is that new? I feel like the whole park used to be open
Apparently my Mom took a picture.

We decided to head right to Peter Pan's Flight. A Mom and her (teenage) son cut us in line - like literally sped up to cut us off My Mom and I literally could not believe it and then proceeded to talk about it loudly the rest of the line

The park still wasn't open to all yet so we headed to Dumbo next

Then we rode the Barnstormer

We wanted to ride HM so headed there just as the park opened. Luckily it was still a pretty short wait!

Next up: more MK

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 5 continued
A HM light for you...

This was another ride where everyone cut us in line but luckily for us I know where the stretching room exit is and we were way ahead of everyone else in the end
After HM we got a PP picture (not a great one I may add) then headed to IASW

I was about to lose it with my ears (they were super loose for some reason) and the heat with my hair down so we got some PP pictures before my hair went up and a hat went on

Next up: more MK

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 5 continued
Oh, I also wanted to get a quick Purple Wall photo...because...when in Rome...

My Mom wanted this rock wall photo

Anyway, we finally ventured over to Tomorrowland

Still have not seen Incredibles 2...
Finally we headed to Space Mountain for our first FP!
I fell asleep...this was not on purpose....I tried too keep my eyes open too long and they gave out

Weird fake exit from Space Mountain

Can you see my Mom somewhere in that crowd?

Next up: more MK duh!

 

[eliza61nyc]

lol, over 17 years of disney and I've yet to ride Dumbo. I think that sacrilegious

 

[ScarletBegonias]

lol, over 17 years of disney and I've yet to ride Dumbo. I think that sacrilegious

Every single time I ride it, it's wonky. Never goes up or down. Every time! I'd say you aren't missing much

 

[Songbird76]

Every single time I ride it, it's wonky. Never goes up or down. Every time! I'd say you aren't missing much

I thought you controlled whether it went up or down yourself with buttons....? But, I haven't ridden it since I don't like heights, so I can't say for sure.

 

[blreinsel]

The thing I love most about your reports is that you guys ALWAYS try something new.. it's never the same restaurants, experiences, etc. You would think that as a local I would do the same.

 

[Zipadeelady]

We thought the same thing about EMH @Doc Disney I remember going over to Adventureland the last time, or at least I thought it was EMH. If it's new, I don't like it! We always go to the left!

 

[Doc Disney]

lol, over 17 years of disney and I've yet to ride Dumbo. I think that sacrilegious

Oh man you are really missing out We even dragged my Dad on once!

Every single time I ride it, it's wonky. Never goes up or down. Every time! I'd say you aren't missing much

I thought you controlled whether it went up or down yourself with buttons....? But, I haven't ridden it since I don't like heights, so I can't say for sure.

You do control it yourselves. If you have a little one with you, though, they do limit how high you can go until the end when everyone goes up.

 

[Doc Disney]

The thing I love most about your reports is that you guys ALWAYS try something new.. it's never the same restaurants, experiences, etc. You would think that as a local I would do the same.

It is hard not to gravitate towards the favorites though

We thought the same thing about EMH @Doc Disney I remember going over to Adventureland the last time, or at least I thought it was EMH. If it's new, I don't like it! We always go to the left!

Ok! I am not crazy!!! We used to go to BTMR first!

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 5 continued
Our next FP was for BTMR but it was closed It actually was closed for at least 4 hours due to some weird flooding issue.
So, instead of waiting for our window to open we used our replacement FP for Splash Mountain !

Despite being in the back we still got soaked!!

We were getting hungry so we headed to lunch at Pinocchio Village Haus - my favorite quick service!
My Mom got chicken nuggets and I got the caprese flatbread

After lunch we headed out of the park and back to the hotel.

We got a cupcake treat (for my Mom) and Cheetos for me. We took a picture with my "birthday cake" and then took a picture with what I really wanted for a Birthday treat

After our treats we headed to the pool. We somehow got stuck between a large family who was there for a wedding but I loved it. It was like a real life reality show with all the drama
Eventually we got too hot and headed back to the room to relax.

Next up: an evening in MK!

 

[Doc Disney]

P.S. saw Christopher Robin last night. Cried through about 90 % of the movie - half out of sadness/half out of adorableness

 

[LadyBelle]

P.S. saw Christopher Robin last night. Cried through about 90 % of the movie - half out of sadness/half out of adorableness

Me too. On both seeing it yesterday and the tears.

 

[ScarletBegonias]

I thought you controlled whether it went up or down yourself with buttons....? But, I haven't ridden it since I don't like heights, so I can't say for sure.

You do! and it never works for me!

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 5 continued
After our break we got dressed to head back to the MK

We stopped for a PP right away - of course

Then we decided to take the train to Fantasyland

Actually I insisted we could go around again but my Mom wisely said to get off because we would have run out of time
We had a FP for Enchanted Tales with Belle since we haven't done it in forever!

Next up: more MK!

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 5 continued

Such a cute attraction!!
After Belle we headed towards dinner

Next up: more MK

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 5 continued

We checked in and quickly went inside and got our picture with Cinderella

Despite our quick entrance into CRT we waited almost 30 minutes to be seated. I only noticed because we were starving!!
We were seated in this huge booth. It was super nice!

Our waiter was super sweet and brought us over wands and stars right away

For an appetizer I got the charcuterie plate (of which the cheese is hidden in the photo )

My Mom got the castle salad

For entrees we both got the beef and shrimp

Next up: more CRT

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 5 continued

Everything was delicious! The beef was amazing - it was always great but something was extra great about it! I don't know the food never gets good reviews here but we have always enjoyed it!
Soon enough the princesses showed up!

They were all super sweet!!!
I got a Birthday cupcake!

Despite how hot out it was I still felt the need to get tea and it came in this cute little teapot

Next up: CRT

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 5 continued
Anyway for dessert my Mom got the Jaq and Gus: Amaretto Cheesecake with an Almond Crust, Macerated Peaches, and Hibiscus Meringue. My Mom said it was just OK

I got the Lady Teralyn's Citrus Chiffon Cake: Citrus Chiffon Cake, Mascarpone Cream, Raspberry Purée, and Coconut Brittle
It was pretty good!

We had another lovely dinner. We did not feel rushed at all which was nice. I was happy I chose it for my Birthday dinner (the second year in a row )

We had a FP for POTC so we headed in that direction

While on POTC I got a text from @blgauger that she was in MK and we planned on meeting up in Tomorrowland so we headed over there!
We found @blgauger and @wishes2013 getting off Buzz! We chatted for awhile and somehow our conversation turned into a conversation about bugs and why I could never move to Florida Anyway, it was so nice to meet Brooke @wishes2013 !!!!
It turns out we all had FPs for Buzz so we all went on together!
The ride actually got stuck in the absolute perfect spot so I maxed out pretty quickly then immediately turned to my Mom to help her find the target so she could get Galactic Hero too! CHECK! 2 GALACTIC HEROES!

@blgauger and @wishes2013 were stuck behind a beam and did not benefit the the stoppage unfortunately

Next up: more Buzz!

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 5 continued
More Buzz

So after Buzz we headed to the desk to get our Galactic Hero stickers.
I said to the CM: We got Galactic Hero can we have a sticker
CM: You want to see your ride photo?
Me: no....I want a Galactic Hero sticker
CM: we sell the ride photos
Me: no...sticker
CM: OH! Sticker --- and then she brings over Mickey stickers
Me: No - GALACTIC HERO! THEY MAKE STICKERS FOR IT
CM: finally finds them behind the counter - oh this? and gives me one
Me: can I gave another one my Mom got it too ?
CM: got what too?
Me: **just give me the sticker** GALACTIC HERO!!!!
What. The. Heck. How does a CM who works at Buzz not know what Galactic Hero is?! I turned around and was grateful that everyone else witnessed this exchange because it was so bizarre!

Anyway, we had planed on using our Space Mountain "golden ticket" and sadly it only said for 2 people so we said our goodbyes here. In the end SM was actually closed so we rode the Peoplemover then headed to Main Street to watch Happily Ever After
I did not take any pictures but between that and Galactic Hero it was seriously the best ending to the day ever. I did not take any photos -we just enjoyed the fireworks and headed back to the GF via boat. When we landed we heard a kid say "look a leech" and it turned out it was actually just one of those gross cockroach type things @blgauger and @wishes2013 were telling me about!
All and all (besides the bug) I had the absolute best 30th Birthday!!! It was even better than I could have ever imagined

Next up: more Toy Story Land!