Trip Report It's a Cool Kid Summer!

belledream · Aug 26, 2025

Italy and American Adventure: in and out for Kidcot.
Japan: Katsura Grill, our go-to. However, it’s true what they say. For me, at least. The heat makes you lose your appetite. I was just not feeling anything in particular. But everyone else was ready to eat. And with Katsura Grill's generous portions, I'd fill up on some leftovers.

J got a Chicken Cutlet Curry, and the kids each got a Chicken Teriyaki kids meal. Complete with chocolate chip cookies.

We had a lovely view. Nemo had asked why there were no shishi odoshis around so we also made sure we could see the always-present one by the waterfall.

We'll never pass up an opportunity to watch Matsuriza. I always find it fascinating when I recognize certain performers from previous years. It's gotta be an interesting life.

Nemo's teacher had shown his class a video of the Gundam and it took Nemo's mind by storm. He built two different Gundam models this year and it kicked off a robot obsession. So he was very excited to see this display in the Bijutsu-kan Gallery.

And Mitsukoshi was lively as always, from people doing Pick-a-Pearl to the Play Disney Parks app. Nemo kept wanting to "wait for that thing to pop up again." It gave me the exciting, bittersweet thought that someday soon, we'll be moving on from Kidcot cards to cell phones.

Morocco: It was a ghost town. But we strolled through, appreciating all the little details.

J and I reminisced about eating at Restaurant Marrakesh on our very first Disney trip together.

I miss Tangierine Cafe! I would have been all over that today.

France: Found my lunch!

Thank you, Crêpes À Emporter, for my Vanilla Ice Cream Crêpe that I thoroughly enjoyed while Skyliners flew right above our heads, delighting my children.

belledream · Aug 26, 2025

United Kingdom: And we're back! I remembered that there was a Winnie the Pooh Meet and Greet here that I never made happen. The CM quoted me at five minutes so I stood in line outside while Nemo and Boo hung around the shops some more. They came out and stood there with me for less than 30 seconds before Boo said she had to go to the bathroom and Nemo said "Me too." Argh! J whisked them away and I stepped out of line, but the lady behind me said, "You can keep your spot if you'd like." It was so nice of her (she understood the struggle) and luckily, J and the kids were back before the line started moving. They peered curiously into the doorway before our turn and were so excited to see that they'd be meeting Pooh... in Christopher Robin's room!

In fact, they were so interested in all the toys (that they discovered were immovable) that they almost left Pooh hanging with the autograph book.

Big smiles and hugs, and everyone was happy as we moved to finish out our World Showcase tour.

Canada: Decided that the time had come to finally watch Canada Far & Wide. We just never had the desire to fit it in. But that desire was there today. The coolest, emptiest room in Epcot belonged to us for 15 minutes and was just the respite we needed. The show itself, meh. We hadn't been here since the O Canada! days and I think I remembered that to be a little more entertaining, but Nemo did see a picture of some landscape a few days ago and asked me if it was Canada. So, knowledge imparted.

It was 2pm and we had the relaxing time that we envisioned. But true to ourselves, we were about to pick up the pace. Umbrella, hat, and sunglasses out. Time to powerwalk all the way to Future World (I can't and won't stop calling it that and my kids have followed suit). We walked onto Spaceship Earth and enjoyed the slow, clanking ascent. It made me sleepy. Boo was tired but said she “didn’t want to miss anything.” Our Future videos turned out really well for once. J enjoys closing his eyes and opening his mouth so when his character eats, it looks like he's shoveling food into his mouth. The kids think their Daddy is hilarious, and rightfully so. The racing game was the highlight at the end.

Nemo said, "Wow, that was the first ride we rode today!" May I interest you in a monorail ride?

Or Mission: SPACE [Green]? Boo's first time. She was into it! Though she couldn't reach some of the buttons. And OMG. They resurrected the Advanced Training Lab?! I have not seen this operating in years. I LIVED for this game as a teen. Back in the day, all the stations would be full and Team Triton and Team Orion would go at it. Those were the days.

Teaching Nemo and Boo how to play was seriously a moment for me. Sharing joys and memories as silly as this one means everything to me.

In the shop, Nemo spotted these Hidden Mickeys.

And Boo liked this mural. She’s Minnie.

They are our kids all right.

belledream · Aug 27, 2025

Time to head back to World Showcase for dinner. The kids put their Cool Kid Summer map up against the clear viewing area of the stroller sunshade to help us navigate. When we reached our destination, the kids grabbed hands and ran in circles.

Upon entering Biergarten, the kids went "Woah!" "We're outside again! It's nighttime. It's autumn. A water wheel! THE MOON!"

We were seated right in the front, just in time for the show to begin! I was not wholly surprised to see who the trumpet player was. My parents liked coming here as a kid - probably moreso than anywhere else in World Showcase. I have vivid memories of that guy always being there. Way to go!

Ahh, the food. Now I was hungry. I got all the staples: Beer Cheese Soup, Pretzel Bread, Potato Salad, Sausages, and my favorite...Sauerkraut. Also, those tomatoes were divine. I definitely got another plate just for tomatoes and sauerkraut. J enjoyed some pork and schnitzel, and Nemo ate an entire Pretzel Bread and Boo a sausage during the opening performance. They also downed a glass of milk each. Zicke zacke, zicke zacke, hoi hoi hoi! (Or as it goes in my head, tiki toki, tiki toki, oi oi oi).

They stared and munched away, not taking their eyes off the performance ever. They noticed that the larger bells made lower sounds and the smaller ones made higher sounds. And both of them absolutely cracked up when the Alphorns played the lowest possible note. "It sounds like a fart!"

After we were absolutely sure we had our fill of savory, we moved on to sweet. It hit the spot. The Apple Strudel (with vanilla sauce) was my favorite. I also tried the Black Forest Baumkuchen Trifle, Salted Caramel Cheesecake, and Mini Sacher Cake. The kids just went for chocolate chip cookies, but we felt the meal was very worthwhile. The kids were captivated by "the dinner show" and we got to try a lot of everything for a more modest price than most other buffets.

Maybe it was the events of the previous day catching up to us, or maybe it was the food, but we were all feeling very sleepy. I also kept thinking I was hearing thunder and noticed Moana Journey of Water was closed. I asked our waiter if he knew if it was raining or not and he said, "I'll go check for you." Didn't mean to have him do that but appreciated the proactiveness. He came back and reported that it was not raining, and while I pondered if we should call it a day and head back to the resort, the kids insisted on staying at Epcot until nighttime. As they wish!

For the second day in a row, I enjoyed having dinner and then coming back outside to the feel of evening. My original intent for this day was no (or barely any) rides since I did have Lightning Lanes booked for our second Epcot day (Test Track being the reason), so I thought we'd throw most rides in with that. But with how the crowds were looking, I was thinking we might not need it anymore. And doing more today would leave more time for other things next time. So off we went to Journey into Imagination to see our friend, Figment.

They ran around the musical carpet like the crazy little kids that they are. They got a second wind for sure.

We exited to spend time by our favorite fountains. It's seriously a tradition for us to spend at least a half an hour here each trip. They run after the jumping fountain, stand under it, and watch the monorail go by. I stood here for a moment of zen and felt like I was in some magical grotto. Then Boo told me she had to go to the bathroom. She grabbed my hand and we ran together saying, "Hurry hurry hurry!"

When we came back, Nemo was soaked from head to toe. He had been standing on the ledge of the jumping fountain which soared right into his face, apparently.

belledream · Aug 27, 2025

Well, might as well go to Moana now. I exchanged Nemo's wet tennis shoes for his dry water shoes, and got Boo ready as well.

They led the way and explored each area with semblances of curiosity and vague recognition. Boo had the biggest smile on her face as the water curtain parted for her as she walked through. They said, "Wanna help us Mom?" to get the teamwork wave going. It was very cute.

Then they went wild with the Kakamora jets. Spraying water at each other, kicking it, stepping on it. It must have felt good after a long day. Boo eventually wanted to change so we did that and came back to watch Nemo still going at it. He could've stayed all night. He's something else. Luckily, Boo was very content sitting with us and listening to the music and looking at all the details.

We went to ride The Seas with Nemo and Friends since we were right there. Some friends were feeling the Disney spirit with their Mickey ear hats! Apparently they were 3D printed to celebrate the 50th anniversary. How cute is that?

It was almost 8pm, and we thought we had enough time to visit The Land too. But first, Monorail sighting! My two monorail lovers leaned against the railing and gazed at the monorail in the air above them and the reflection in the water below them.

We waited about 20 minutes for Soarin' which was a good time. The kids played up the flinching during the transitions. Boo yelled, "Baby elephant!" and Nemo raised his arms and shouted, "Epcot!" We crossed the pavilion to head to Living with the Land. It was very empty and had a different vibe at night. J (who never went to Disney until he met me) said, "I really like this pavilion." It's his Disney nostalgia and I thought that was endearing.

We ended with a nighttime Living with the Land ride. I drank in every sight, smell, sound, and feel of the forest raining scene. I am happiest there. Moving into the greenhouse, the kids were confused. Boo said, "Is this the Epcot ball?" Highlights were Buddha's Hand and the Nine Pound Lemon. And the pink Edible Flowers for Boo.

It was cool. but I think I definitely prefer bright Living with the Land more. It was also the slowest ride ever? Which is not a bad thing by any means in the greenhouse. But by the end when there was not much to see, I was like, why is this thing so slow?

It was nighttime alright, and Luminous had just begun. It was actually quite a sight, walking towards the fireworks which looked small in a much bigger sky. I broke out the bubble wands I forgot we had been lugging around all day and the kids used up their bubbles for the entire walk back to International Gateway. We listened and watched on the move. Epcot Anthem has stolen my heart now.

Our original idea was to watch Luminous from the Skyliner, but we ran a little too late. But we avoided the masses and were treated to a different show once we were in the air:

We made it home safely, with Nemo using the empty-but-lighting up-bubble wands as beacons to signal his pets waiting in our room window. He told me his favorite thing today was Living with the Land at night, and that made me feel good. It might not have ended up being the most relaxing day, but everyone was happy, and that’s all that really mattered to me. Boo was asleep before I came out of the shower and Nemo was falling asleep as I gave him a kiss goodnight.

belledream · Aug 28, 2025

Animal Kingdom opened at 7:30am this morning for Early Entry. We could have made that a decade ago, but definitely not now. Everyone slept in til 8ish and munched on breakfast in bed.

We were browsing Everything Pop by 8:50, on the bus by 9am, and in the park by 9:10. It was actually great because we got to see things we usually missed because we were deep into the parks at that point. We were greeted by DiVine upon entering. It really captured Boo’s attention.

We stopped by the Wilderness Explorer's headquarters to pick up our books and complete our first challenge. Caw, caw, roar!

As we approached the Tree of Life, Winged Encounters was about to occur. I was thrilled. It was magical. Colorful macaws soared over the tree and back over our heads, pretty closely! I ducked.

We decided to do things backwards and head to Dinoland. Since it would be our last time here, quality time at The Boneyard was a must-do today. But first, we headed to get a Dinosaur ride in. The line had swelled more than we had hoped. As we waited in the outdoor part of the queue, hot already, I made the decision to modify our future Epcot MultiPasses to Animal Kingdom. It was something I did ponder in preparation for our summertime trip, but decided to play it by ear. Well now, I was feeling that Animal Kingdom's outdoor ride (and show) queues were going to be brutal, and that this would be a worthwhile swap. Especially with how much we got done at Epcot yesterday. With that, we hopped out of Standby and went straight into the Lightning Lane. The kids were happy to be scanning their MagicBands again.

Dinosaur, I loved. I say "We're not gonna make it, we're not gonna make it!" all the time at home. Gonna miss that bumpy, chaotic, terrifying ride. Nemo seemed fine with it. But poor Boo had a tear running down her face at the end. Tried to cheer her up in the shop, but she just stood there holding onto my leg being sad. Back at the stroller, I gave her a sour gummy worm and that did the trick. She ran after her brother through The Boneyard and hopped on fossil prints to make roaring sounds. They navigated their way to Dig Site and went right to work. Nemo was working hard on a mammoth tusk and would look up at me with his big grin a few times. Boo had about 6 buckets full of rocks. I saw her conversing with another girl as they worked together. The fans were working their magic and the kids played nicely and the parents rested happily. Since we had LLMP now, I finagled my way into a pretty perfect rest of the morning. My Type A self felt alive again. We had a seamless day ahead of us.

We ate lunch at Restaurantosaurus for the proximity and the AC. Also oddly, the food. The kids ate like champs. Nemo ate the 1/3 lb Angus Cheeseburger all by himself. He even ate some fries, which prior to this trip, he claimed to not like french fries. Boo ate three Chicken Strips. I ate two (they gave us one extra!) and a ton of fries. And J had his Hand-breaded Fried Chicken Sandwich. I actually think about those chicken strips a lot. They were good. Sometimes you just need it. We sat by the window and Boo would announce when Donald, Chip, Dale, and Goofy walked by in their Dino-Bash costumes.

'Twas a great Dinoland morning! We'll miss you, but looking forward to seeing what Tropical Americas will be like. We walked along our backwards route and LL'ed right into the Finding Nemo show. We had great seats. Last row in the first section right next to the walkway where the performers would race right by us. Boo could see perfectly (though she still sat on my lap sometimes) and we could glance backward at the action in the aisle. Nemo enjoyed the charades scene. Even though I've seen this show a bunch of times, the bubbles at the end were a fun surprise and always add the perfect touch of magic to a great show.

Both kids were resisting the idea of Expedition Everest, but they had no choice. We were going. It would be the first time all four of us did it together and we said our theme song this year is Try Everything from Zootopia. They begrudgingly agreed. We got the first train car and it made me feel like I was flying. I put my arm across Boo’s chest and she held on to it tightly. I will admit it is intense for a little kid, but she made it and I was very proud of her (and feeling a little sorry about the tears again). But I knew the drill now and rewarded her with gummies and we moved forward.

We stopped at an extensive Wilderness Explorer station where they eagerly dove into making leaf imprints, sorting nature things, and playing instruments. They thrive in hands-on play and discovery. The Wilderness Explorer leader here was the jolliest person we encountered. He was so positive and genuine and made Nemo and Boo feel special.

Animal Kingdom is so lush and green. Such a different world than the other three parks. Knowing that my party was very content, I decided to run to Africa to get a Dole Whip from Tamu Tamu. It wasn't the closest, but the time was right. It started melting almost instantly as I powerwalked back, tilting it back and forth to keep the ice cream up. Happy to report that I made it without incident. Everyone had a few bites, but they mainly just wanted to keep playing. Last call before Dad finishes!

belledream · Aug 28, 2025

Up next would be a surprise ride that wasn't on our radar at all. I worked hard to get a favorable Kali River Rapids time and we were gonna do it and make this LLMP worth it. I was purposely vague about what the ride was, but Nemo figured it out and was very receptive to another "family raft ride". Boo was too, and asked about water shoes but I told her we wouldn’t get that wet. We’d have to wait and see…

That line looked just awful and we would’ve never done this without LLMP today, so we were feeling very fortunate. J and I always fight about whether or not we rode this ride together. He thinks he's never been on it and only watched it on Youtube, but we have definitely done it. Sorry. He's wrong.

Nemo was smiling and Boo was intrigued as we set off. The family we sat with was super nice. The man gave Boo a thumbs up and she returned it. He held his hand up for a high five and she declined. She looked so little in a raft full of adults. We didn’t get that wet, but just enough for a little relief and a lot of fun. They both ducked so low to avoid the water jets even though they could have avoided it sitting up. They liked it! Kali River Rapids was surprisingly a highlight. Nemo was very excited to get off and shoot water at people from the bridge.

I was planning on skipping Maharajah Jungle Trek and Gorilla Falls this time around. Nemo saw the Maharajah sign said "Dragons" and he said, "Dragons!?" When I reminded him they were not the kind of dragons he was thinking, he lost interest. The kids were up for an afternoon Kilimanjaro Safari Ride though, so we zoomed our way onto that. They requested that we sit in the front row. It's becoming their new thing. I don’t think we’ve ever sat front row here before and being able to see the driver and out the front window was cool. Boo even saw herself in the rearview mirror and got excited over something small like that.

It was a very lively safari for an afternoon! Boo squealed over the baby giraffe. She is definitely my animal lover. Per usual, Nemo is focusing on things like, "What are the chains for?" and "When are we going to drive in the water?"

It was pretty awesome to see multiple zebras walk right by the side of the truck.

Sleepy painted dogs.

But the lions were awake and enjoying their air-conditioned rocks!

We booked it to catch Festival of the Lion King and got great seats again, sitting dead center of the Lion section. The show was a feast for the soul from start to finish. The Tumble Monkeys are so fun, so impressive. Be Prepared is mesmerizing and chilling. And the birds... me and my girl's favorite. She sat on my lap with laser-focus the whole time. When the boy bird lifted the girl bird into the air, I looked at J and he didn’t even look at me, but just shook his head. Hmph. I felt reinspired to go home and practice. I started getting emotional towards the end of the Circle of Liiiiiiife when the bird puppets wave through the air.

More than anything, I really enjoy watching all the performers' faces, from the Big 4 to the ensemble. Everyone performs with expressions of pure joy, like it's their honor to perform. It truly brings the celebration to life.

belledream · Friday at 9:45 PM

Last up on our grand circle tour of Animal Kingdom was Pandora. Nemo was looking forward to seeing "the floating mountains" and Boo said, "I've never seen flowers like that before."

Nobody was interested in doing Flight of Passage this year, so it'll be saved for next time. We'd just plan to go on Na'vi River Journey in a little bit. We spent a long time in Windtraders, looking at the banshees and all the glow-in-the-dark artifacts they have in there. They still have those light up drums that Baby Nemo was obsessed with. Seeing him tap on them now made me smile. How time has flown.

They spent most of the time making bracelets for their pets. Which we commemorated with photos.

They were excited about the idea of going on "a dark, colorful boat ride" so I was feeling grateful for the LLMP, as we probably wouldn't have bothered without it. They were super into it. Pointing things out, asking what they were, and looking around in awe. It was quite pretty and my appreciation for it grows each time.

Everything I thought they wouldn’t particularly care about (Kali, Na'vi) were probably the highlights today. They are chatty little things, and enjoyed talking to all the Wilderness Explorer leaders. Even though there were points where they looked a little zoned out, they never complained. They handled themselves really well. It was our smallest mileage day by far, and we had so much more we wanted to do this evening. But first, dinner.

When I told my mom we were going to Animal Kingdom today, she said, "Go to that really nice restaurant with the whole fish!" (Tiffin's). I told her, "We're going to Rainforest Cafe. It's that time in our lives." She understood. We used to do it all the time ourselves! I specifically wanted to go to the Animal Kingdom Rainforest Cafe for that good ol' end of AK day nostalgia.

The kids immediately became reenergized by the shop and the explosive change of scenery.

J said we would never see this level of tackiness again in this day and age.

We were seated by the aquarium and gorillas. It was like Budget Coral Reef and I was here for it.

If you looked closely, you could see this anaconda's tongue slither. And when it thundered and lightninged, the kids looked up with... intrigue or alarm… and the gorilla shook the stick wildly.

Service was pretty slow, but at least we were good in the entertainment department. Rainforest Cafe has a substantial kid's menu activity-wise and it kept them busy before and after food.

belledream · Friday at 10:35 PM

Speaking of food, it had no business being this good. Maybe it's because I didn't eat a real lunch again, or maybe it's because everything was from the "if it's good it must be terrible for you" food group. But J and I ordered the Awesome Appetizer Adventure which consisted of Chimi-Cha-Chas, Spinach & Artichoke Dip, Cheese Sticks, and Chicken Strips, and we devoured it all as our meal.

I don't know if I've ever had a chimi-cha-cha in my life and I ate two of them, along with the disgusting color sauces that came with it, with gusto. We killed the spinach dip, and the kids tried the cheesesticks and gave their approval. I also ordered the Python Pasta for them to split. And there were still leftovers for us. All together, it cost $49.98. I had a $50 Rainforest Cafe gift card, so this meal was practically free. I'm sure that contributed to our enjoyment.

We were back at Pop Century around 7pm. Nemo and Boo were still smiling. Laughing, because Boo sprayed Nemo’s head with the spray fan. We were all excited to go to the pool for our first swim this trip.

The Bowling Pin Pool water was disgustingly warm. I felt like I was in a bathtub. The kids didn't mind, but I did. I convinced them to walk to the Hippy Dippy Pool. We were temporarily distracted by the splash pad. We had the place to ourselves for a good long while. It’s what I had been waiting for these past few nights. Sun setting, lights popping on, kids playing, adults resting and watching. Fields of Gold by Sting was playing in the background too. It's one of the few songs I've actually recognized being played at Pop. I had flashbacks to when I used to watch little Nemo play here and he would watch bigger kids play... and now he’s the big one. And Boo... she was so little her first trip and would press the button on the flower shower and run to the water just like she was doing now. It was a kids-growing-up-fast moment.

We hopped into Hippy Dippy which felt slightly cooler, and the water spraying made us feel fresh. Evening swim with lights on was upon us. There was thunder and lightning, but the pool stayed open.

We were doing everything from synchronized cannonballs to underwater gymnastics. Between watching my happy kids and the gorgeous sunset, I was at peace. The orange Pop sign with the colorful flowers once again made me realize, Pop is our home.

After about an hour, we took the scenic route back to our room.

Boo said, "The sky is PINK!"

The hum of the Skyliner, the lit-up bowling pins, the nighttime air... hopefully, an everlasting memory.

We returned to the room to bathe. J and I leisurely took care of things around the room for the first time in three days. The kids ate snacks and watched Bedtime Stories like zombies. Nemo said, "I love you mama" and Boo said, "Love you mom mom" as they fell asleep. Grateful for these beautiful souls and these days we get to spend together.

And grateful for my fireworks view room.

belledream · Saturday at 9:00 PM

Today was Hollywood Studios day! I told the kids if they misbehaved, they would have to go in Tower of Terror. Boo took it very seriously and tattled on Nemo multiple times as we traveled to Hollywood Studios on a divine Skyliner morning.

As we walked down Hollywood Boulevard, Nemo said, “The sign says go.” Today was the first day, probably ever, that we were going to do Hollywood Studios without Lightning Lane. I figured as long as the kids weren’t pressed about Slinky Dog, it was doable. Yes, it’s about the money but also, we made sacrifices to come during one of the least busy times of the year, and I wanted to see how much truth there was to that. For future considerations.

We had planned to Rope Drop Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, but it was unsurprisingly down. We stopped to take our one family picture of the day while we still looked good. Another thing I love about Disney is that people are always happy to take your picture. It's just nice.

We pivoted and headed for Toy Story Land to do Toy Story Mania instead. The kids cheerfully took in all the details of toys and games they recognized in the queue. Most notably, “The Game of Life” which we started playing at home. Also, I don't think we've been in the Standby queue in a minute, so we saw a lot of things we never noticed before.

Boo wanted to ride with J, and I rode with Nemo for the first time since he was a baby and he was just along for the ride. It was giving me time-capsule vibes of 14 year old me riding with my 7 year old brother.

This ride is still so much fun. I remember the days J and I did it 5x a day. We were obsessed.

Top is me and Nemo. Bottom is Boo and J. The kids are improving each year!

After perusing the shop, which had some of the cutest merch we’ve seen so far, we were done with Toy Story Land, with minimal sweat.

Our next must-do was Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, so off to Galaxy's Edge we went. It was only 9:30am and felt empty still. I guess most people were still caught up in whatever morning line they were in.

Smugglers Run posted a 25 minute wait. No biggie.

Again, having never been in the Standby line before, we got to see things differently. We were taken with exploring extensions of this world, in the AC.

belledream · Saturday at 9:34 PM

It was very important that we got to be Pilots, and we were fortunate to get not only that, but our own private ship.

Nemo took his pilot role very seriously. He really gets it now. Boo requested to be a Gunner because “I can’t reach the steering wheel.” She smashed the button enthusiastically. We flew and dove and bumped around and had a great time. And we were in and out in the posted 25 minutes.

We looked through the shops so Nemo could scout out what he wanted. In the favorite Droid Depot, he eyed a little green droid named Clink.

Took this picture for him:

He and Boo had some green vs purple lightsaber battles and looked at the weird creatures in the Den of Antiquities. They were interested in the kyber crystals and I considered buying it for them, but then choked on the cost.

Speaking of cost, I did buy Single Passes for Rise of the Resistance. This ride has been open for six years and I STILL have not ridden it. Nemo and I made it through the queue last time, only for it to break down. At least he was able to successfully ride it with J the year before that. So my child got to ride before me. I have to admit, the hype has been getting to me and I was curious. With Boo on board this year, I would get to ride Rise after all this time. The four of us together would be the best experience anyways.

The queue was extensive and I only had vague ideas of what was going on, but I was excited. Boo wanted me to hold her, and Nemo led the way. While we were being held captive, I tried to teach Nemo how to surreptitiously press buttons by humming a tune and doing it behind his back. He didn't quite get it yet. Now, to the ride.

It was a marvel. Immersive beyond belief. The AT-AT part took my breath away. The lightsaber cutting through the roof. Sorcery. And we did see Kylo Ren in A mode apparently, so that’s good. And I still got a tiny taste of Tower of Terror with the little drop at the end. Saw their little legs fly upward and it was cute. Boo got off and said, "I didn't like that ride" with another tear and needing a hug. Dramatic, but brave little girl.

My kids have always been fascinated by the Ronto Roaster, so we always have to stop and watch it for a bit. Lunch would be at Docking Bay 7. Nemo specifically wanted to sit with a view of this steam thing.

I ordered two Ronto Wraps and J went to grab them and bring them back for us. I loved it last time and definitely thought about it on occasion over the past year. For the kids, The Fried Chicken Tip Yip Youngling Meal is the ideal meal. Chicken, broccoli, and mac and cheese. Anytime they eat great, I feel great.

After lunch, we went back to the Droid Depot to buy Clink. He just loves those under $20 droids and I’m not going to complain about that. We walked out through the tunnel and I felt like I had forgotten that I was in Florida. It had certainly been a morning in Batuu. See, I'm learning!

belledream · Sunday at 11:11 PM

Indiana Jones was coming up so we let those big fans take care of us. I can’t believe how much this show has stayed the same over the years. Nemo kept telling me what was going to happen next. He loves watching the tractors move the sets. Boo had to go to the bathroom because she drank too much lemonade, so she and I missed the last scene, but came back in time to meet up by the tank at the exit.

It was sprinkling slightly so we went to Vacation Fun. We’ve never actually been to the theater part, just Potatoland. But the opportunity presented itself. The kids love these new Mickey cartoons and were hooked. When the short ended and we got up to leave, Boo stayed seated and said, “I want to watch more.”

I got her to vacate her seat by promising Frozen Sing-Along next. We came out to a very crowded Potatoland because it had rained harder. We also found out that even though we parked our stroller under cover, it was wet. Sigh. I put bags on the seat so they could sit, and we put the stroller cover on, and moved on. It was only sprinkling but the kids thought it was fun to be shielded. I feel like we’ve only ever encountered one or two rain days at Disney with them. Our stroller cover hasn’t been unfolded in a few years.

We were all feeling so sleepy, so we took advantage of the down time before Frozen began in those comfy seats. Nemo laughed at the most random things, like Eric saying, “I was sleeping.” The person who laughed the most was J. Boo kept saying, “When is Elsa coming?” and though she was tired, she bolted right up when it was time. “How did she do that? Where did she come from?” The snoap is always so magical. Seeing kids with their outstretched arms and wide eyes and big smiles is precious. It was Boo’s turn to buy a souvenir afterwards. She chose a $34.99 Frozen house play set which was pretty cute and would be her travel toy.

The cloudy skies had cooled things down a little. We wandered to Star Wars Launch Bay and brought Clink along to see all the displays. We hopped in a 10 minute BB-8 Meet & Greet line. Nemo kept grinning at me because he was excited for it. Boo ended up holding Clink and tried to see if Clink could talk to BB-8. It was a slightly awkward but novel Meet & Greet for them. Personally, I am really eager to see this space become The Magic of Disney Animation. I think it will be a hit for our family.

We had meant to catch the next showing of The Little Mermaid but it appeared to be full and queueing up for the next, next showing. So instead, we walked down Sunset Boulevard for the other new show this year: Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After. The theater looked impressive upon entering, and Boo was convinced she was going to be scared, but realized things would grab her attention right away. It started off great with Cruella. I was wondering if we'd get a costumed-Captain Hook and laughed internally about how silly that would look, but the actor was great. And Maleficent is the best villain of all, no contest. Clearly rigged, Cruella won. I would have loved to see more villains in person. The screens were very... New Disney. Glad we got to see it, but left feeling like something was missing.

We sat down at Theater of the Stars for Beauty and the Beast, with a Frozen Pink Lemonade cup that was bought for both medicine and entertainment. Boo went to town on it and we had to cut her off so Nemo could have his fair share. When the music started and the steam began to surface, I remembered why Villains was lacking to me. This is the kind of show I want to see. Not a screen in sight. A whole ensemble of actors, costumes, props, large-scale choreography. Boo is my girl because she was simply captivated. In the Tale as Old as Time scene when the curtains opened, and Belle appeared in her yellow gown, I teared up. Of all things this trip. My cup was filled.

Which is good because we went to Sci-Fi Dine In to see if we could maybe check in for our dinner reservation early. They were running very behind (the norm for them it seems). So we went to Tatooine Traders where Nemo and Boo built their own lightsabers (for fun) with the help of a nice CM from Japan who saw me struggling alone while J had gone all the way back to the Droid Depot to exchange broken Clink. (Yep). Anyways, I felt compelled to give her a cast compliment in the app because she was very helpful and patient so hopefully she gets something good out of it.

When we returned to Sci-Fi to check in again, they were still backed up and we waited for about ten more minutes before deciding to pull the plug. We had to get the kids fed and traded eating in a car for eating with a view of AT-AT Backlot Express. I ordered a 1/3 lb Angus Cheeseburger for each of the kids, the Smoked BBQ Pulled Pork Burger for J, and the Cuban Sandwich for me. I meant to order myself the Teriyaki Chicken Bowl, but mistakes happen during emergencies. No pictures for obvious reasons. Honestly, I thought all the food was pretty bad. I probably ate less than half of my sandwich, which J was all too happy to finish, while asking me what I was smoking. But the kids ate their burgers and it probably wasn't far off from what they would've had at Sci-Fi. Avoided a meltdown, spent a little bit less, and Nemo shouted with glee when he saw the AT-AT move, so it was the right move.

I had been keeping an eye on Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway and noticed by the end of dinner, it had gone down to 25 minutes. We hurried over and ended up in a 35 minute line, some of which was outdoors, but the kids were sooo good. They were definitely tired, but no complaining. Just occasionally held Boo or made a human chair for Nemo to sit on. Things paid off for them by getting an ideal seat on the train.

We struggled to decide what to do next. Stay? Leave? Little Mermaid? Walt Disney Presents? In a perfect world, we would stay for Fantasmic tonight, but I was sensing that even I might not be able to make it. Nemo said stay, so we decided to go to Walt Disney Presents and walk around at our leisure. Well, the kids became super hyper and ran from display to display there. Nemo kept going, but Boo eventually asked to go back to the stroller and I rocked the stroller back and forth like she was an infant. I could have sworn she fell asleep, but after ten seconds, she bolted right up and asked for the boys.

It was about 7:30pm, so we went to Sunset Boulevard to peruse the shops while we waffled back and forth. People were already lining up for Fantasmic and the weather was looking questionable. An announcement was made that Fantasmic may be delayed due to weather. That made our decision easy. Clutching their souvenirs from the day, and proudly wearing Mickey and Minnie headband ears that I again forgot we were lugging around all day, we heeded another Go sign on Hollywood Boulevard, waving at Pluto wagging his tail.

The Skyliner was not running, so we had to take a bus. It's silly, but I felt cheated out of my evening Skyliner ride! But we were just happy to go home. The kids were thrilled to play with their toys in bed while eating snacks and watching TV. Today was a let-the-little things-go day. We had hits and misses, but we took everything in stride, because at the end of the day, we were in Disney World together. Even in the in-between moments, we enjoy conversation or we just rest. Whatever it is, it's a pleasure and a peace that is rare to find anywhere else. We had finished the Park 4 of 4 and were truly looking forward to a real rest day tomorrow, going wherever the wind takes us.

belledream · Monday at 9:15 PM

This morning, I decided to go for a little walk in my PJs while it was still dark as night outside. The air and little lights just does things for me. I walked along the hallway and came across items that someone clearly left behind to pass along. I couldn't remember this really being a thing in the past, or maybe I always didn't care enough to see it and just missed it. But this one caught my eye because it had the cutest colorful Mickey head window decor. I scooped it up and brought it back to the room, along with some packaged snacks (clearly this person flew Southwest Airlines cause we got the same) and sunscreen. When everyone woke up at 8, J thought I was crazy, but the kids were absolutely thrilled that we could decorate our window now.

I originally envisioned us going to the Everything Pop to eat a hot breakfast today, for the food court vibes. But everyone looked so lazy and comfy that I offered to go pick up Mickey waffles and bring them back to the room. It was our rest day after all! It was a good choice. Boo immediately went for some bacon and Nemo went for a waffle. Both were mesmerized by morning TV. Only on vacation. Their new go-to programming was Safety Smart with Timon and Pumbaa. I can't get it out of my head: Safety smart, no doubt about it!

We had a rough idea of things we'd like to do today, but nothing was set in stone. We moseyed onto the Skyliner around 9:30am. The kids both sat on the backwards bench facing the clear glass, just taking everything in. I swear Skyliner rides are cathartic.

We got off at Caribbean and stayed off at Caribbean. A very lovely resort with the best Skyliner route, but honestly, I'd still do Pop every time. I enjoy the extra leg, and the quick walk to the station. This resort is just so big...

We stopped by the Caribbean Cay playground and climbed around a little bit. My kids have high standards for playgrounds and we have some pretty great ones at home, so this was considered mid.

The lobby smelled great and felt refreshing as ever. Both of them always comment about how cool these fans are. I have to agree!

They had cute photo props which the kids picked up the 1st Visit button and asked me to take a picture and I was like, "This is your 6th/5th visit, you sillies!"

We watched some TV, browsed the shop, and thought about lunch, of course.

I decided Riviera was winning that one. We walked along, watching Skyliner cabins from the opposite vantage point.

So quiet and peaceful. It was very welcome after an eventful five days.

belledream · Monday at 9:50 PM

Riviera has grown on me a lot. The towers and terraces did their job transporting me to some magical place in Europe. The huge sparkling windows, the orange and blue accents, the garden spaces, all work and give meaning to luxury. To my kids for sure. They now name Riviera as their dream resort.

It's the Grand Floridian of their childhood. And they went right into "playing" bocce ball. They also played chess. I taught Nemo this past year so he actually knows the rules and I heard him say, "No no no Boo, pawns can only attack diagonally."

But we came here for the food. Not at Topolino's Terrace, though I did consider it at one point. Until J said, "$33 Mickey waffles!?" No, we were going the Primo Piatto route. Aka the better route.

I needed my Tuna Nicoise Salad. Savored every bite of seared tuna, egg, olive, green bean, tomato, and every last bit of lettuce with that delicious vinaigrette. J got the Spicy Italian Sandwich, which despite looking like a Subway sandwich, was also very tasty and hit the spot for him. The kids split the Beef Bolognese which was a pretty high-quality dish for Quick Service. And to top it all off, we ate outside in the wonderful ambiance.

Inside, we did some crafts and explored the little nooks around the lobby. There was a smart table or something there for kids to play Memory on. So cool, and probably one of the reasons Pop may not be cutting it anymore?

Boo spotted this painting of Wall-E and Eve at the very top of the column in La Boutique and said, "Nemo!" and he was ecstatic to see it. There is so much wonderful Disney artwork to see around this resort. Each one I pass, I think to myself, I gotta have it.

We had such a nice time at Riviera. It's definitely a different world for us, but we all agreed that we see the good in both, and that it is quite nice to be able to enjoy these spaces as visitors. I asked Nemo, "Would you rather stay a week in a value resort, or 3 to 4 days in a deluxe resort?" And he answered, "A week in a value resort." It's definitely a conversation we're starting to have more, especially as the kids get older and find value in different things.

We instinctively hopped on the Skyliner to continue on to our next destination.

Speaking of hypothetical would-you-rathers...

Yes.

This one, please.

belledream · Tuesday at 9:16 PM

After testing out every chair and sofa in the lobby, the kids made a beeline for Beach Club Marketplace. They looked at all the same toys they've been looking at for the past five days, but Mama found some unique and compelling options. Not that I bought it, but just noting that I felt totally seen by a piece of merchandise.

I noticed a trivia board by one of the cash registers that had a number of Cars questions. I called Nemo over to see what he could do. All of them, obviously. For that, he earned a big button. Boo answered a few questions (very quietly) and earned her own as well. Well, one thing led to another and I was inspired to buy them lanyards and their very first trading pins. I couldn’t help it. They always seemed to gravitate towards them in the shops, and they have some really ingenious ones. The kids were so happy. Nemo chose a Soarin' and a Hakuna Matata pin, and Boo chose a "Briar Rose" one and the big hulking Marie Aristocat gem one. $70 later, they wore their pins and lanyards proudly.

We walked around the hallways, past Cape May which I contemplated making a last minute reservation for tonight, but I had a feeling we would want to eat earlier than 5pm when it opened. We noticed a lot of people in bathing suits and towels and sure enough, when we went outside, Stormalong Bay was closed. When we stay here, I would need to plan solely around the Stormalong Bay operating weather because I don't think I could ever leave this oasis.

We transitioned into Yacht Club right by Yachtsman Steakhouse and reminisced on eating here on our last night as a Party of 2 and an incoming Hurricane Irma. Now that was a good meal. Food, obviously, but also, intimate, special, and really feeling like we had all the time in the world. For some reason, time just stood still.

The kids sat on the cutest nautical-themed benches and watched some cartoons while we just relaxed and drooled over the lobby, hallways, and light fixtures. I also noticed there was a Max the Sheepdog scavenger hunt so I tried to show the kids how to take a selfie with him and they got another pin for that.

Happy place.

Boo had pointed at Swan and Dolphin from the Skyliner earlier and said, "Can we go there?" So that was the next stop on our agenda. They were in awe of the ginormous fountain outside.

We've taken them here once before when they were younger, but we didn't go inside. J and I haven't been inside since the updates, so coming up off the escalator and seeing the diamond dripping chandelier over the fountain was a stunning sight.

Nemo said "Take a picture of that!" Nevermind he ran right past the actual thing a few days ago.

Boo's Marie pin kept falling off, probably because it was just too heavy, so we ended up exchanging it for another pin right here in the Dolphin shop. It was, you guessed it, another Briar Rose pin.

Nemo also came over and put these in our hands saying he had a gift for us. So very sweet.

belledream · Tuesday at 9:56 PM

It was a ghost town as we walked up the bridge towards Boardwalk. It's been such a long time since we’ve been to these places, yet such a familiar feeling. Can’t believe we’re doing these things with kids now. Big kids at that, not babies/toddlers.

The sky was looking darker.

We spent the majority of our time shopping in Thimbles and Threads, admiring the most creative little details.

Then pin-looking continued and I was tempted to buy them more even though I was still recovering from earlier. I told Nemo, "If you want one more, I will buy you one more." And he said, "No thanks." He was fulfilled and grateful for what he had and I thought that was a beautiful thing.

Couldn't and didn't decide on dinner, which is so unlike me, so Boardwalk Deli it was. And it turned out to be actually perfect. We ate outside for the second time today, with the water rippling and the breeze flowing. With my favorite view in the world, sharing three Ham and Cheese Croissants. Soft, thin, and so delicious that my kids ate until they couldn't eat anymore without putting them down. I had their leftovers, some coleslaw, and a bowl of Tomato Soup (it was still not quite soup weather, but I could manage). We ate happily together.

We started hearing some thunder, so we went to the Wyland Galleries art shop which had a lot of... interesting things to look at. But mainly we were trying to pass the time since we knew Skyliner wasn't running. Ideally, we would have liked to head back to Pop after dinner for campfire and swimming. We moved to Boardwalk Inn so we could get more accurate information but understandably, no one had any information to give other than take a bus to Hollywood Studios and transfer to Pop, call a Minnie Van, or wait it out. I definitely did not want to wait it out, but I was not pleased by the idea of paying $30 for a Minnie Van for something so freakin' close either. J and I deliberated while the kids were just being the angels they are, looking at the moving picture machine, stationary rollercoaster display, and the Merry Go Round. Just being happy. We decided to just pay for the Minnie Van. We were tired, we saved money on food today, and we just wanted to go home. Plus, we could play it off to the kids as, "We get to add another mode of transportation to our list!" And boy, were they excited when they got into the Minnie Van. "IT HAS A TV, I LOVE TV!"

We were Home Sweet Home in no time.

Everything was still on hold due to the weather, so we walked around the other side of the resort that we had not visited yet this trip. J noticed that the Recommended Child Weight for this Big Wheel said 877 lbs.

We stopped by the playground and it was a little wet, but the kids made their own fun and didn't complain once, even though the conditions were less than ideal. I was determined to do whatever it takes to get them in the pool tonight, so that included walking all the way back to our room and waiting it out with snacks, TV, and sending J outside every time I wanted to know if the pool reopened. And it did! We jumped into our suits and headed straight to Hippy Dippy. Hooray!

belledream · Tuesday at 10:44 PM

The water was warm and it was oddly cold when you got out of it, so it felt real good at the end of another day.

Boo did handstands and legitimately looked like a mermaid. Nemo followed the blue line on the ground, and we swam in the darkening sky. I always remembered being a kid and looking at the lights in the pool at night and wondered if they would remember this too.

Nemo eventually decided to go play cornhole so I watched him as he would throw one bean bag, walk over to get it, and throw it back to the other side. He did this for about 20 minutes and only once did he make it in. But when he did, he yelled triumphantly, "I WIN!". In time, he decided to gather all the bean bags on one end by stacking them up to his chin. He smiled proudly at me. Then he bent low so I could only see his behind and he chucked every single bean bag to the other side in rapid succession. Only once did he make it in, but when he did, he yelled triumphantly, "I WIN!" This kid is pure entertainment and I will always remember relaxing in the pool, just watching him, his concentration, his mouth talking to himself, with the sun setting in the background. Dark and purple this time.

It got darker and darker and I was just happy to be there. I felt like I was making core memories as an adult. But we did finally have to pull these tired kids out. While we were in the pool, J kept hinting he might want to grab the Porchetta Burger from the food court for a midnight snack later. Well, he went to get it while I headed back towards the room with the kids. On our way, Nemo said he wanted to see Lady’s house and statue.

Then, we stopped by the jukebox, where he pressed a letter/number combination and I had to guess which song he chose. It was "Penny Loafer Love". Boo wanted to do it too and picked A10, which wasn’t displayed on the front of the machine. Dumbly, I assumed it was just not visible for consumption, but Nemo said, "Let’s check the back." Sure enough, there it was. I was astounded I could have such an oversight and amazed that he just gets it! It was "She’s a Flirt in Her Mini Skirt" by the way. Boo kept laughing, "Flirt in her mini skirt!" without knowing what she was saying at all. Pretty hilarious.

I got their bath set up and I thought it looked so tempting that for some reason, I squeezed into it with them. They thought it was interesting. "Mommy, what are you doing here?!" J was also surprised when he came back to a seemingly adult-less room only to find three people squished into the tub.

This is the Porchetta Burger he brought back. I was literally like, "What is that?" A burger topped with porchetta-style pork, fried egg, herb dressing, and pork crackling. I had a few bites and left the rest to him and he was a happy man.

Got the kids out of the tub and brushed their teeth. It would be one more cartoon and then snuggle straight into the covers and sleep. Our rest day, while consisting of visiting six resorts, was actually still quite restful. It seemed like we didn't do much, but also that we did quite a lot. Whatever it was, it was just what we needed. Boo even told me, "I love this fun day." Me too, baby girl.

belledream · 2025-09-03T21:21:09-0400

We were so eager to go back to Magic Kingdom today. There were some more things we had yet to do, and it was going to be a good day for it. It was a Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party day, the air had cooled a bit, and we were rested and rejuvenated. We continued our play-by-ear, spur of the moment decision mindsets by hopping in a ready and waiting Main Street vehicle for a VIP ride up and down Main Street. The kids laughed when the driver would honk his horn, beep beep beepbeepbeep, beep beep. (Like you would knock on a door). I hope it made them feel special.

And then we took a walk.

I originally did plan to do the Halloween party this year, but decided that we should wait until they're just a tad older and can party til midnight with us. Plus, I thought about all that melted candy... Yup, for now, the seasonal decor was celebratory enough for us.

We headed to Adventureland and waited less than 20 minutes for Jungle Cruise. We pointed out all the funny little details in the line to prepare them for our two week cruise, and not on the Disney Fantasy. They were also obsessed with the moving tarantula in the cage. Wouldn't take their eyes off of it.

I remember being scared of the animals as a kid, wondering if they were actually real, and thinking that they were a little too close for comfort. I think my kids have more life experience already than me in that regard, but it’s still so cute to see them squeal or tremble at the same things. It was very pleasant, a good choice for a morning ride in the summer.

Tiana's, which had a delayed opening, was showing a 5 minute wait when we disembarked. I was definitely planning to ride it again if possible, so we booked it to Frontierland. Nemo was excited about it, or more specifically, the prospect of getting us wet. Boo was not as happy, but I explained to her that sometimes we do things for others, even if it's not our favorite thing to do. She agreed, and said she wanted to sit with me this time.

This ride is so pretty. My eyes feast on all the foliage and my soul wants to sing and dance to the music. Nemo was talking and pointing everywhere, and Boo couldn't hide her interest. I held her little tummy on the way down. We got a lot more wet than we did the first time around, probably because we were in the front instead of the back. Boo realized she made a mistake by sitting with Mom because she said, "I want to sit with Daddy" after I wiped her face off.

I thanked the kids profusely for letting Mommy ride her "old" favorite ride again, and we headed back to Adventureland for their next top pick: Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse. Last year, the water wheel was not working when we visited and it pretty much accounts for the whole vibe of the treehouse, so we were all very happy to see it running once more.

"I found where you're going to sleep tonight!" I said to my bunk bed-loving children.

Those were our must-do's-while-it's-cool list. We walked straight through the Pirates of the Caribbean queue, huffing the blast of smell from the moment we entered. We read the Little Golden Book of this often and they both recalled "The drop! Pirate Redd!".

This is probably their favorite gift shop and we play with a lot of swords, look at a lot of toys, and all the Pirate's Adventure setups. They were eager to do more quests, so we would definitely come back when it opened in the afternoon. But we had done exactly what we wanted to do on this side of the park this morning, and it was easy breezy, just as I had hoped.

belledream · 2025-09-03T22:01:57-0400

We decided to go to Fantasyland to ride the Carousel again. Just because! We sat four in a row and all held hands, admiring the Cinderella Castle where we ate only five days ago. I joked that our meal quality had decreased steadily since then (CRT > Biergarten > Rainforest > QS), but we were doing just fine. Nemo pretended to fall asleep while on his horse and Boo yelled, "Hey, wake up sleepyhead!"

They saw a line for the Sword in the Stone and Nemo said, "I want to do that next." Remember when it would just be there and people would just walk up to it and give it a go? That's if they even noticed it. Now there's a line, umbrella, and PhotoPass photographer just adding pressure to the moment. We saw a little girl a few spots ahead of it do it. No such luck for us, even with Nemo using his leg as leverage. Someday!

We returned to good ol' Columbia Harbor House for lunch. Being here brings such a peace. It's funny what oddball places you think of when you reminisce on the things that make you happy. We had a light lunch that I didn't even photograph, but we split two Trio Platters between the four of us. Mainly the kids. J and I agreed to starve ourselves for dinner.

We made a pit stop at the Tangled area and enjoyed the sound of the waterfall, which oddly wasn't running on our first day. Then we went right to Small World after. The kids were so invested in watching the clock open up so I'm glad we actually stood in line long enough to see it. It’s a ride that makes us all so happy. So much pointing and asking, "Which doll is me?" from the kids, while gazing away myself.

We traveled to the part of New Fantasyland that we hadn't even been to yet and did some touring. I have already decided that Be Our Guest is going to be the crown jewel of our next trip's dining lineup. How that place has survived without my business these past couple years is beyond me. Anyways, Gaston's Tavern fountain would be a highlight for now: "The barrel is leaking into the cup which is leaking into the fountain."

And Bonjour! Village Gifts... I NEED the music that plays in here. Lingered a long time just to listen.

Journey of the Little Mermaid was next. Boo marched down the queue swinging her arms like a little cutie. Nemo was busy stopping to look at the shells and fossils in the ground. Boo wanted to sit with Daddy and every time our clamshells would rotate sideways, she’d see me and say, "Mommy!" or "Hi guys!" And of course, “I love this ride.”

I don't love this ride, but the wait said only 10 minutes and it was now or never. Though it was definitely cooler today, I insisted that everyone wear hats and sunglasses, resulting in Boo looking like a crazy lady driver as she bumped us side to side for the duration of the ride. J said that Nemo was most interested in the reverse: leaving the steering wheel untouched and letting the car bump and turn the wheel that way. They were in the next batch of cars behind us so we got a great look at them from afar.

Continued on with the Blue Ride. Nice day, end car, feeling good. 10/10.

Also, lowkey 10/10? Carousel of Progress. So relaxing. I was hoping someone would nap. Turned out to be J. The kids love the novelty of the moving theater too much. Nemo remarked that "the video game score messed up the oven temperature." Can't wait to see what the updates are to this show!

Our next show would be a new one for the kids. There are so many gems in that waiting room, it deserves more detail.

belledream · 2025-09-03T22:43:17-0400

The kids were very intrigued by what this was all about. I just told them it was a show, but they are semi-aware that there will be a whole land coming in the future. Monsters, Inc. has always gotten two thumbs up from me as a kid, and even moreso now as an adult. I've always dreamed of a door rollercoaster ride, and it's coming true!

They tried mashing the vending machine buttons. J laughed at "Maximum labor, Minimum wage." Too good.

Boo went straight for Wazowski's door. She was the perfect size for it.

They both "woahed" when we walked in the theater. "They look like monster eyes!" Nemo exclaimed.

J was not "That Guy" but he did make the big screen, as one the of two monsters that a lady was sitting in between. Boo said "Daddy!" Nemo always did the Hello Humans Ahhh arms which I was very proud of him for. Boo, on the other hand, does this thing where she always tries to hold down my arms when I try to engage or clap. I don't know why she thinks it's so funny, but the joke has not lost its luster. I was really glad we did this show. It was new and fun for them! Upon exiting, they ran across the way to this photo opp that they spotted from the Blue Ride.

With that, we felt like we did everything we wanted to do, so it was great timing to head back to Adventureland for some more Pirate's Adventures. But first, I grabbed a Strawberry Dole Whip from Aloha Isle to fuel these two little pirates for their quest. Boo is a snack monster. Nemo only wanted a few bites before telling her she could have the rest, and she took it to heart.

We brought along their CRT wand and sword per their request today to help assist them in finding the treasure. Nemo knew where most of the clues were without even using the map. They ran through Adventureland with boundless energy.

They were scaredy cats at some of the checkpoints though. They would scan and then retreat far away as events unfolded. It's so creative and well-done. I'm so glad that they appreciate things like this. Yes, rides are fun, but there's so many other magical little offerings at the parks that tell great stories as well.

It started sprinkling during our adventures, and then it got heavier. We finished our adventures just in time and did a pulse check with them. They were fulfilled. We put the stroller cover over them and walked down Main Street with our single umbrella. I asked them if they wanted to get out and take a rainy Main Street, U.S.A. picture and they both said "Ok!" We ended up with one of the most precious pictures we'll ever have.

Memories made in the rain at Walt Disney World.

And there would be many more to come.

Trip Report It's a Cool Kid Summer!

belledream

Well-Known Member

belledream

Well-Known Member

belledream

Well-Known Member

belledream

Well-Known Member

belledream

Well-Known Member

belledream

Well-Known Member

belledream

Well-Known Member

belledream

Well-Known Member

belledream

Well-Known Member

belledream

Well-Known Member

belledream

Well-Known Member

belledream

Well-Known Member

belledream

Well-Known Member

belledream

Well-Known Member

belledream

Well-Known Member

belledream

Well-Known Member

belledream

Well-Known Member

belledream

Well-Known Member

belledream

Well-Known Member