Trip Report Disney Land & Sea is the place to be! COMPLETED

MotherofaPrincessLover · Oct 21, 2015

I love how you guys pack so much into your days. I'm all about getting things done when I go on "vacation"

belledream · Oct 21, 2015

MotherofaPrincessLover said:
I love how you guys pack so much into your days. I'm all about getting things done when I go on "vacation"

Same! We're all for relaxing and having a good time, but often 'having a good time' = playing til we drop! Though this would prove to be the catalyst for really relaxing when we stepped on the cruise later...

belledream · Oct 21, 2015

Just a few hours later, we were awake and ready for our epic day at the Magic Kingdom! 8 AM breakfast reservations and evening Extra Magic Hours with an 11 PM park closing time? 17 hours at Magic Kingdom!? Let's do it.

We've never done real breakfast at Disney before, so we were very excited to observe MK pre-park opening.

We were blown away. It was quiet, the air felt so fresh, and the pavement was basically glowing!

The emptiness was almost unnerving.

We lingered for a bit before heading through Fantasyland towards Be Our Guest. It seriously felt like we were the only two people in the World...

We returned to my home and it was glorious.

I really cannot get enough of the chandeliers. NEED THIS IN MY HOUSE...NOWWW!

But I was soon distracted by the arrival of food. (What's new?)

Breakfast started off with a plate of pastries. I didn't touch the cinnabon...let's just say I got too friendly with some Fireball at my bachelorette party and it still hurts...but the rest were very edible!

I got the Croissant Doughnut, aka Cronut. I went for the sweet breakfast! And sweet it was, though the cronut I had at EPCOT's Refreshment Port was far more crunchy and piping hot on the inside. This one, not so much. I liked the bananas, sugar, and whipped crème on top though. Good addition. But cronut lovers should stick to EPCOT.

J ordered the Open-Faced Bacon and Egg Sandwich which had bacon, brie, arugula, and poached eggs on a toasted baguette. It was delicious. Now I know savory is my preferred route here!

We finished breakfast a little before 9, and headed back out to enjoy what was left of our early early morning.

belledream · Oct 21, 2015

We figured, if there was a time to ride Peter Pan, it would have to be now. We didn't feel right FPing it, and LOL if you think you're going to get it as your 4th, so we headed there. And then it dawned on me that we have spent very minimal time in the standby queue for this ride, and I just remembered they revamped the queue! So I was actually excited to stand in it.

However, the line actually moved too fast that a lot of my pics are not very good...as you will see.

It was like stepping into the Darling's household...I immediately fell in love with the idea.

John's bedroom

Nana!

The way Disney makes the queue more 'interactive' without really doing anything...

Wendy's bedroom...I've always wanted a 4-poster bed like this and I really wanted to lie there.

Anyways, the ride itself is so enchanting as you rise up and fly over London. I can see why children love it. But no way am I waiting more than 5 minutes for this.

Sure enough, as we came out, the wait time was already posted at 35 minutes and it was probably 9:05 AM. We decided to avoid the masses and head over to Liberty Square. Along the way, we made a stop at one of my favorites:

Where in the World are we? This should make it fairly obvious.

belledream · Oct 21, 2015

From the creepy corridors of the Haunted Mansion, we headed over to Tomorrowland to take a spin on Buzz Lightyear and to ride the fave: Space Mountain.

Love the cool air and sudden darkness of this queue. We didn't ride this ride once without a FP this entire trip...which means running through the queue like children. Also, being a party of two often feels pretty special here.

Then we went shopping. Would've bought these but they were something like $25 each and lord knows I have enough stuffed animals.

Then before we knew it...it was time for our lunch. Yep...we had lunch reservations at Be Our Guest...two hours after we ate breakfast there. We didn't feel that hungry (I wonder why...) but we knew what we signed up for so it was back to New Fantasyland we went!

This time, we chose to sit in the West Wing to complete the trifecta of BOG seating areas. The atmosphere is definitely more unique than the other two, and we thoroughly enjoyed the thunder and lightning, Adam's portrait, and the petal slowly falling from the rose.

As for the food...I had previously pondered whether or I should give the Braised Pork a third try. I want to like it, I really do...but it was always so fatty and surprisingly bland? Have I just bludgeoned my taste buds to obscurity over the years with the amount of spicy foods I've eaten or something? Anyways, I ended up with my beloved Tuna Nicoise Salad again and I did not regret it.

You are so beautiful. :')

J pulled the shocker this time around and did not, for the first time ever, get the Roast Beef Sandwich. He went for the Croque Monsieur, which was essentially grilled cheese with ham. But it was YUMMY grilled cheese with ham. Sure it was slightly salty, but it was definitely good to branch out from our usual picks.

I did choose a different dessert - I went for the Éclair à l’Orange because it looked pretty delectable. Orangey-chocolate...such a good combo.

J stuck with his usual Master's Cupcake, and that was lunch!

belledream · Oct 21, 2015

Two meals in two hours, so what's next on the list?

To ride Splash Mountain of course!

This time around, we paid a lot closer attention to the details of Frontierland's architecture. There's something about the shops that feels so homey!

The entire Splash Mountain area is a feast for the eyes. It really transports me to another place.

Splash used to be my favorite ride as a kid. Now that I'm older, I have a better understanding of how dirty that water is. And sitting down and getting my underwear soaked is no longer an indication of how soaked I'm about to get and is also no longer exciting. But how can you miss Splash Mountain!? The answer is you can't. The ride is too detailed, too immersive, and has too many fun drops to miss out on. So on we went, and I fell in love all over again.

We didn't end up getting terribly wet, which pleased me. I'd dry off soon on Seven Dwarves Mine Train anyways!

After that was when we noticed...it was getting kinda crowded. It was a Saturday on a EMH day after all. Saw a lot of sororities and bachelorette parties and we were like noooo thanks so we went to our happy spot:

From here, it doesn't even look too bad. Blue Ride, always a pleasure.

Then it was about that time...nap time! Just kidding, I actually really enjoy Hall of Presidents. Proud to be an American!

A nice and cool break on a long day.

We grabbed a FP for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and were ready to go soon after. The rain scene is my favorite!!

And of course, no ride on Winnie the Pooh is complete without a stop at One Hundred Acre Goods.

*Awww!*

BJones82 · Oct 21, 2015

belledream said:
Too bad we had zero room in our suitcases for souvenirs, much less anything fragile.

We just got back from our disneymoon and we had to keep saying memories before things lol...

belledream said:
Canada was kind of deserted. Maybe it's because the waterfall wasn't running? Boooooo. That thing is beautiful.

It was so sad about the waterfall not going

This is one of our favorite places to sit and relax, especially during a crowded food and wine night

belledream · Oct 21, 2015

BJones82 said:
We just got back from our disneymoon and we had to keep saying memories before things lol...

It was so sad about the waterfall not going This is one of our favorite places to sit and relax, especially during a crowded food and wine night

Good quote! Very much agree.

And exactly! That place is so beautiful. We literally used to take naps there.

ScarletBegonias · Oct 22, 2015

You guys are getting so much done! It must be nice going without having to worry about a child that needs a nap! LOL

belledream · Oct 22, 2015

ScarletBegonias said:
You guys are getting so much done! It must be nice going without having to worry about a child that needs a nap! LOL

Welllll we still took naps haha, just unconventional ones lol! But yeah, we are savoring traveling as adults, but we also can't wait to take our kids! Wouldn't mind paying for deluxes if it meant pool breaks and the like.

ScarletBegonias · Oct 22, 2015

belledream said:
Welllll we still took naps haha, just unconventional ones lol! But yeah, we are savoring traveling as adults, but we also can't wait to take our kids! Wouldn't mind paying for deluxes if it meant pool breaks and the like.

It's a different experience with kids for sure! Last time I went sans children, I was 18, so I wasn't really into Disney. I was just along for the ride. We loved AKL and loved going back mid day and swimming! It was a really great pool and we loved the zero entry.

belledream · Oct 22, 2015

So we seem to spend a lot of time in the shops, yes? But have we bought anything yet? Nope. That should probably change, but what could we get that was unique and memorable to our Disneymoon?

We decided to get our silhouettes done! It's funny...I saw these everyone as a child and never gave them a second thought, but it just seemed like an opportune moment to obtain a storytelling piece that could help define our Disneymoon. I've never lingered around these booths to see how it was done. Did they like, take a picture of your side profile and then do some quick photoshop?

Absolutely not. The CM sat us in a chair at side profile and took a piece of black paper...and just started cutting it. Shaved bits and and pieces here and there, and was done in less than five minutes. I went first and even though I couldn't see J, I knew he was standing there with his jaw-dropped. The end product was so unique and wonderful, and we were thrilled.

Sky was looking mighty cool as we strolled through New Fantasyland on our way over to Storybook Circus.

Why Storybook Circus? Because we just had to ride Goofy's Barnstormer! Our baby Goofy would not let Mommy and Daddy miss his ride.

We tend to walk everywhere when we're in MK, so we were right back in New Fantasyland, enjoying the sights and sounds. And I really love the red patches of flowers on the top of the mountain. Such a Disney touch!

Knock knock! We're baaack...

Be Our Guest for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It was happening. Even the CMs judged us, so you can go ahead and do that now if you want. Somehow, J ended up talking to a waiter and telling him that we were here for lunch, and the CM was like "wow, that's crazy" and then J told him we were also here for breakfast and the CM was like "...wow...that's crazy..."

Anyways, let's talk about food.

I got the Herb-crusted Lamb...a choice we always end up with, whether I order it or J orders it. While it was always delectable in the past, I wasn't feeling it as much today. The breading stuck together a little too much and that was slightly annoying. But I still ate everything.

J went back to his Grilled Strip Steak which he loves. I think it's the butter.

With my pick of the Triple Chocolate Cupcake, I am inching closer to having tried all the BOG desserts. Will have to get that Lemon-Raspberry Cream Puff sometime...this was good, very rich, and I still prefer my Strawberry Cream Cheese Cupcake.

The Grey Stuff for J...per usual. There is something mysterious and attractive about the grey stuff though. Cookies n' cream, yes please!

We absolutely love sharing food. It allows us to try more things, get more pretty pictures, and just spice up meals with all sorts of goodies. And eating is especially fun at Disney where indulging in whatever-your-heart-desires is basically like a matter of survival right!? How am I supposed to last 17 hours at Magic Kingdom without all this nutrition?!

belledream · Oct 22, 2015

ScarletBegonias said:
It's a different experience with kids for sure! Last time I went sans children, I was 18, so I wasn't really into Disney. I was just along for the ride. We loved AKL and loved going back mid day and swimming! It was a really great pool and we loved the zero entry.

We spent some quality time visiting AKL last year and it was AMAZING! Amazing views and GREAT food. I bet your daughter loveddd the animals.

belledream · Oct 22, 2015

We had already done so much today, so we just wandered and indulged in that "we're at Disney World" feeling of utter joy and comfort.

We popped in for another showing of Mickey's Philharmagic...the pie, flying through Agrabah, the jewels, all so so much fun!

Then it was time for a dusk-is-coming ride on the Blue Ride. Pure bliss.

As we crossed the hub, the trees lit up and started sparkling. Seriously, some of my favorites things going on here right now.

Popped into a few shops in Adventureland before continuing of leisurely tour of MK at sunset.

We passed by a food stand in Frontierland that was selling popcorn and drinks in a Country Bear Jamboree themed jug. It took some serious restraint to not buy it just for the jug...but that is really such a cute idea!

This tree in Liberty Square deserves an annual picture. Well, basically everything does, but this tree is a work of art. And those lanterns just complete it.

And we were back in busy Main Street, U.S.A. The sky just engulfed us in it's beauty. It was so blue and everything felt so serene. Even amidst all the hustle and bustle!

We ended up settling in Frontierland to watch Main Street Electrical Parade.

This post just shows how we can get lost in wandering. We walk circles and circles without even knowing it, just seeing where our senses take us. It's my favorite part.

belledream · Oct 22, 2015

Main Street Electrical Parade isn't my favorite. I really really miss SpectroMagic. The way the floats changed from white to color, color to white, the music that makes my heart burst with love...I miss it.

MSEP gets me excited in a different way I suppose. The way the music starts off makes me kinda want to bop to the beat. My favorite float is the processional after Cinderella's carriage. The ladies and gentlemen with their sparkling outfits dancing under lights...I enjoy that. None of my pictures turned out that great, so I'll spare you the details.

Now...Celebrate the Magic. I ADORE this. From the colorful splashes of characters to the silliness of the Cheshire Cat and circus sequence to the princesses, I am transfixed by all of it. My absolute favorite is the Rapunzel lantern scene though. The way the music starts off so quietly and with a single lantern, it almost catches you off guard. And then everything grows ever so slightly and it turns into a full out crescendo of music and lanterns and feels. I shuddered with goosebumps when it happened.

And what's a night without Wishes? Beautiful soundtrack full of pure voices.

And the fireworks aren't too shabby either.

While we had a great time viewing fireworks from Polynesian and Contemporary, nothing really compares to standing up right in front of the castle. The fireworks are so big, so close, and the darkness that surrounds you makes you feel like it's just you, the castle, and the fireworks. Even though there's tons of people around you. The way the fireworks frame the castle...perfection.

Wishes was over...and that meant...EMH TIME!!! Evening EMH is the very best at Magic Kingdom, and we were hit with a newfound wave of energy to make the very most of it! So we hit it off by heading to Pirates of the Caribbean, which was closed on our first day here. The smells...yes...breathe it in. Favorite scene: the first one where you're in the middle of the ship and walls. BATTLE!

Amazing reflection. Someone knew what they were doing when they laid this place out!

Heck yeah we're riding the Carousel at night! What kind of 25-year olds don't do this!? I get my pretty lady horse with flowers and J gets his manly horse with armor and stuff.

We made a pit stop by Gaston's Tavern to appreciate the intricacies of this fountain.

But we didn't linger too long. More shenanigans were to be had!

belledream · Oct 22, 2015

We rode Dumbo, because it was my first love at age 5, and because glowing water attracts me.

I let J control so I could just obsess.

I also let him spin us on the Mad Tea Party because I didn't feel like working that hard. This did not make me feel great.

And THEN, because I hate driving with a passion, I let him chauffeur me on the Indy Speedway. Doing this at night is now a requirement. I don't know why we found it so entertaining...we do this all the time. But we just giggled the entire time.

Tomorrowland nights are the best. Everything feels so ALIVE and the music loop gets my adrenaline going. Remember, it was like midnight and we have been here since 8 AM...well, we knew what we signed up for and we were glad to do it!

As we finished up all the rides, we decided to chill. We went back to the hub and sat on one of the new grassy areas with a nice view. While we were relaxing and talking, I also swear I saw a rat creepy-crawl nearby and freaked out. NONONO I do not rats! "But Mickey Mouse is a mouse..." I KNOW I KNOW BUT NO.

Besides that, this moment was one for the memory books.

After a while, we decided we needed some fuel. So we were the last guests in line for Sleepy Hollow before it closed and got ourselves a piping hot funnel cake.

Crowds looked to be filing towards the exits, and we had no desire to be a part of that. So we sat in solitude enjoying our funnel cake. It was quiet. There wasn't even any music going on which now that I think about it, is weird. But this was so enjoyable. We had all the time in the world.

It was only about midnight meaning we had another hour in the park, but we eventually vacated our spot and made our way towards Main Street. Stopped to pay a visit to my fountain friend.

Then we decided, we didn't want to leave just yet. So we again, sat at some empty tables in one of those Main Street corridors and listened to some ambient sounds of a couple talking on the second floor, looking in the shop's window displays, and enjoy the lights and music.

It was a good ending to the day that I couldn't have planned. Sometimes you just have to see where the wind takes you!

By the time we got on the bus, it was essentially 1 AM. 17 hours at Magic Kingdom was in the bag! Good times we won't ever forget.

Mindy16 · Oct 22, 2015

3 x Be Our Guest?! I love it! Your pics are persuading me to try it on my next trip!!

belledream · Oct 22, 2015

Mindy16 said:
3 x Be Our Guest?! I love it! Your pics are persuading me to try it on my next trip!!

Yeah it sounds kinda crazy...but each meal does have a different menu and you can eat in 3 different areas so it the experience does change! But yeah, essentially we are addicted to it.

BJones82 · Oct 23, 2015

belledream said:
Yeah it sounds kinda crazy...but each meal does have a different menu and you can eat in 3 different areas so it the experience does change! But yeah, essentially we are addicted to it.

We always end up here on our trips, this year we got a breakfast ADR the morning of

We always love it and we have now eaten in all three rooms

ScarletBegonias · Oct 23, 2015

Wow. What a day!!! It sounded so amazing.

Trip Report Disney Land & Sea is the place to be! *COMPLETED*

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Trip Report Disney Land & Sea is the place to be! COMPLETED