Trip Report It's the same old, same old......

CAST OF CHARACTERS:

RESORT:

"READING" OF THE SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS:

MATCHING SHOES:

MORNING WALKS:

MDE NOT FUNCTIONING:

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, ANOTHER FLIGHT DELAY...

WHAT'S CHANGED:

WHEN: Tuesday, September 18th-Saturday, September 22nd

WHY: Passholder Play Time

If you're tired of the same old, same old & would like to excuse yourself from this one I get it. No hard feelings, really... Considering this is my third TR in 3 months & not too much changes with us I'm sure you feel like you know my family & I as well as your own!! I guess that could be good or bad...

Anyhow, for those who are going to stick around thanks for reading & welcome!!

 

[Songbird76]

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH

A lady sitting at the table across from us ordered a drink the came with a glow cube. She must have noticed J eyeing it so she took it out of her drink & gave it to him. How nice of her!!

That's really nice! Did you know you can buy the glow cubes loose? You don't have to get a drink that has them. When we were in DLP a year ago, I got a drink with the glowcube and DS was obsessed with it and really wanted one. I couldn't give it to him and not give one to DD, but I saw on the menu that you could just buy the cube. Kids LOVE them, and drinks are so super expensive. I'm not a huge drinker, so I'd rather just buy the cubes loose.

Then there was the family sitting behind us who felt it was alright to leave their sons shoe on the table
View attachment 321813

Eeeuw. Why would someone do this? We watched a family change a baby's diaper on a table at Casey's in DLP. I'm appalled at what people think is ok.

 

[DisneyGigi]

@riverside Don’t know if you tried asking guest services about your fuel rodbut we had to do that our first time when we tried to exchange it. It would not take it. At any of them and they were not empty. They called the fuel rod number because apparently it is an outside thing, we had to talk to them on the phone go back to a machine and they overrode it somehow. My husband did it so he would know exactly what they told him to do but it did give us a new one. It works fine now.

 

[riverside]

That's really nice! Did you know you can buy the glow cubes loose? You don't have to get a drink that has them. When we were in DLP a year ago, I got a drink with the glowcube and DS was obsessed with it and really wanted one. I couldn't give it to him and not give one to DD, but I saw on the menu that you could just buy the cube. Kids LOVE them, and drinks are so super expensive. I'm not a huge drinker, so I'd rather just buy the cubes loose.

I didn't know that you could. I'll have to remember that for next time!! Thanks!!

Eeeuw. Why would someone do this? We watched a family change a baby's diaper on a table at Casey's in DLP. I'm appalled at what people think is ok.

It's just plain gross. I'm the type that takes my shoes off as soon as I walk in the house b/c I don't want to bring in any germs that are on my shoes. So, for me to see a shoe on a table really drove me crazy!!

@riverside Don’t know if you tried asking guest services about your fuel rodbut we had to do that our first time when we tried to exchange it. It would not take it. At any of them and they were not empty. They called the fuel rod number because apparently it is an outside thing, we had to talk to them on the phone go back to a machine and they overrode it somehow. My husband did it so he would know exactly what they told him to do but it did give us a new one. It works fine now.

I may have to inquire about that. At Riverside my issue normally is that it is empty although that wasn't the case this time. I was finally able to get one during this trip but maybe I should inquire about it next time it happens. Thanks!!

 

[riverside]

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH

The day was finally here--the whole reason we went on this trip(as if we need an excuse to go to Disney)--Passholder Play Time!! The day the emails were sent out E noticed it right away. She called & told me so we picked this day then booked our trip around it. You had the option of going 7-8 or 8-9. We picked the 8-9 time slot b/c it would be easier on J. We had already been to Toy Story Land on our previous trip but we were excited to be there with low crowds. Oh, J had decided that he WOULD ride Slinky Dog this time but he wanted to ride with me. Meanwhile, if you remember from my previous TR's I have a fear of heights & I wasn't sure that I wanted to go on to begin with. But, I didn't get off of it shaking last time so I decided I could do it again!!

Our plan was to meet at the East Depot for 7:15. About 6:55 I looked at the "bus wait times" feature on the app(it was actually working for once) & it said the next bus was due at the East Depot at 7:14. I texted E & she said she had to finish getting J ready but she would leave in a few minutes. At 7:02 I left my room & checked MDE again. This is what I was greeted with:

Thank goodness I looked at it earlier but it turned out to be all for naught

E was hurrying so she didn't miss the bus.

When we got to the East Depot this is what we saw.....(BTW we didn't arrive at 7:22-that's when I finally decided to take the picture)

And from there it just got worse......

and worse.....

Now you might be thinking that we missed the 7:14 bus. No way possible. Our rooms were super close to the East Depot. We were so close that you could hear & see the buses from right outside of my room. I had left the room at 7:02 so I would have heard/seen a bus coming through.

Needless to say we were a bit aggravated at this point. Every time a bus would come through J would say, "Is this ours?" He knows his letters so I explained that the MK bus started with M, AK started with A, Epcot started with E & HS started with H. After that he started telling us which bus it was arriving!! So, he identified 2 MK buses, 1 AK bus & 4 Epcot buses!! When the 4th Epcot bus had arrived he proclaimed, "Epcot again?!?!" Funny that the 3 year old could see that something was wrong with that picture!! BTW-Epcot was having EMH that day but really?? Finally, the HS bus arrived at 7:45 & we made it there at 8:02.

Then we had the never ending walk to the park......

There was no line for Passholder Play Time when we got there. If I had to guess we were probably the last to arrive.....

 

[riverside]

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH

Once our bands were scanned we were given bright pink paper bracelets to wear. Since they were already letting people in the park we were told we had to walk on the right side of Hollywood Blvd & someone would let us in at the end of it.

Once they let us in we liked the "no crowds" look so we decided to stop for a few pictures.

R bought E & I our shirts so we decided to wear them on the same day. He tried to get J one but they didn't make them that small.

While looking at all the people anxiously wanting to get in the park I told E that I had to get a picture of it b/c I felt like a celebrity at that point!!

It was so neat to see the park so empty that I took a number of shots while we headed to TSL.

Pretty cool!!

 

[riverside]

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH

We finally made it!!

We stopped for a few PP pictures on the way in.

I love this picture!!

We headed to Slinky Dog.

We parked the stroller & when we got to this point J looked at it and announced that he couldn't go on the ride b/c it was too high. E tried to talk him into it but he wasn't having it so I told her to go on & I would stay with him.

This is actually a pretty cool spot to watch from. We looked for E to come through.

There she is!!

J was excited to see her on it!!

 

[riverside]

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH

One more shot of E.

E enjoyed the ride. When she got off she told me to go on. She was going to take J over to Alien Swirling Saucers. Had I known trying to ride this family friendly coaster would be such a traumatic experience I probably would have passed. At this point it was 8:30 & they opened the park to everyone. As I was attempting to head to the entrance to SDD I swear I thought I was going to get run over. It was seriously like a herd of cattle coming at me.

The other issue was I didn't know where to go. E had gone through the regular line. A CM saw my pink bracelet and told me to go through the FP line. I must say I was quite disappointed in Disney. I know they have a tendency to open the parks early. I would have thought it would have been fine to open the rest of the park early but not TSL. This was supposed to go from 8-9. So for that last half hour we could use the FP lines which was ok but it still took longer to get on the ride that it would have if they hadn't opened the park. The other part that was really disappointing was that the character lines got really long. Not having a FP line you would have to stand in the same line as everyone else. I don't know, had the bus got us there on time maybe I wouldn't have been so disappointed. Overall, our day had not started off on a good note & the trend looked like it was continuing.

I was seated in the first row.

Before I knew it the ride was over. I was actually able to keep my eyes open the whole time!!

I tried taking some video but it didn't turn out so well.

 

[riverside]

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH

One more from SDD.

I headed over to the saucers to meet up with E & J.

They stopped for a few photos before they took their ride.

I love that I was able to get an unobstructed pic of this!!

We decided to go on TSMM. We would have liked to met Woody & Jessie but as I said earlier the character lines got really long.

This green army man(woman) stopped us on our way in.

J was a little unsure at first.

 

[riverside]

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH

J starting warming up to her. She was really good with him!!

She asked him to look out for batteries and to bring them to her if he found any. We may have not got to meet any of the characters but this was a really great interaction that made me smile!!

J loves TSMM so he was really excited to go on this.

He said he wanted to ride with me. He also said he didn't want to wear the glasses--& he didn't.

Not that it's the greatest score but can you guess who won?

I'll give him this though--his accuracy was better than mine!!

E wanted to get his picture in front of the Barrel of Monkeys.

I'm not sure what he was doing or saying at this point but I love this picture!!

It was about 9:00 and TSL had become really crowded so we decided to explore other areas.

 

[riverside]

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH

J really wanted to see Chewbacca & we missed him the last time so I suggested we head there. E doesn't really care to meet characters(especially Star Wars ones) & she wanted Starbucks so she went there while J & I headed to a galaxy far, far away.

We pretty much walked right in. I believe we were his first visitors that day.

The CM asked me if I would like to get in the picture & she took some with my phone.

Chewbacca is so cute!! I really enjoy meeting him!!

 

[riverside]

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH

Here's the PP pictures:

J really enjoyed this!!

 

[Rista1313]

I've heard that Chewy gives the best hugs!

 

[riverside]

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH

After we left Chewbacca J told me he wanted to see Kylo Ren. Wow--he's brave!! He did have me hold him as we were in line(which there really wasn't one-we pretty much walked right through) which means that he was somewhat nervous but I give him credit for wanting to see him. I know I get apprehensive around Kylo Ren!!

There wasn't much discussion(as usual) & that's probably a good thing!! In & out quickly!!

 

[riverside]

I've heard that Chewy gives the best hugs!

He does!! He's so cute!!

 

[riverside]

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH

I figured we might as well do the Star Wars trifecta & go pay BB-8 a visit.

I think J felt a little weird at first. I don't blame him--what really is there to say to a plastic droid?

It looks like we both are searching for the right words to say.....

Look at J's fingers--that's what he does when he gets nervous. Ironically, one of my sisters(not E) does the same thing--it must be genetic!!

Waving bye to BB-8.

J wants to meet Darth Vader in the worst way. Every time we are at HS he asks. We tell him he's only in the show but I'm sure it's hard for him to understand why he can't meet him. So, he asked me to take his picture with this like $3,000.00 whatever you call this thing.

He wanted one with a Stormtrooper also.

We made our way out of the Launch Bay & J wanted to go to the Disney Junior show. I explained to him that it was closed and we moved on.

J was excited to see "real" stormtroopers-not the fake one he just took a picture with!!

 

[riverside]

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH

Since we were on a roll with the character meet & greets & it was close to the time the characters would be coming out in Animation Courtyard I asked J if he wanted to meet any. The only one he showed any interest in was Pluto so we got in his line. E texted me & I told her where we were & she made her way over.

I laughed to myself when I thought about the fact that we went from scary Kylo Ren to Pluto in a matter of minutes!!

J would have stayed there all day if he could. He didn't want to leave him!!

So, even though we didn't get to meet the characters in TSL it turned out to be a successful morning anyways. According to the time on my photos we met Chewbacca at 9:10 and Pluto at 9:35. In 25 minutes time we met 4 characters!! I was quite happy with that!!

We wandered over to the stores on Sunset Blvd. E picked out J's Halloween costume.

Meanwhile, J was picking out cars....

I bought him 2 cars(I kept my promise from the month before I guess). While we were waiting for E he bowled for a bit. A CM had set up bowling pins so he had fun with that.

We planned to see VotLM next. The show was starting at 10 & it was getting awfully close. E was still in line waiting to pay for J's Halloween costume. She told me to go ahead so I could park the stroller & by that time she should be there.

 

[riverside]

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH

I parked the stroller & we headed in. Not 30 seconds later E texted me and said the doors were closed & they wouldn't let her in. We were planning on going to the 10:30 Frozen show so we said we would meet over there.

J was very attentive during the show although he did ask a few times why his mom couldn't watch it with us.

We headed over to meet E.

This show is a hoot!!

I love this part!!

J most likely probably couldn't see that well that is why he is sitting on E's lap. He gets irritated when someone tall sits in front of him. He'll start complaining right away that he can't see. It's almost as if he thinks the person did it on purpose & the world is out to get him!!

After our Frozen fun was over we decided to beat the crowds & get lunch. But first we heard this all too familiar music & had to stop for this.

We had a great spot considering we got there at the last minute!!

 

[Swissmiss]

I gotta tell you: J has a near twin in France. I was standing in line yesterday for IASW in Disneyland Paris and the little boy in front of me looked quite a bit like your recent pictures of J.

 

[LeighM]

Him getting annoyed at tall people sitting in front of him reminds me of what would happen to me in theaters as a child. Mom would always get so angry. The theater would be almost empty but a tall father would always sit directly in front of short me and we would have to move lol. Truly, it never failed. The dad would see us sitting there, make eye contact with Mom, and would still sit directly in front of us - with the dad being in front of a child.

 

[riverside]

I gotta tell you: J has a near twin in France. I was standing in line yesterday for IASW in Disneyland Paris and the little boy in front of me looked quite a bit like your recent pictures of J.

That's neat!! I've heard everyone has a twin out there somewhere!!

Him getting annoyed at tall people sitting in front of him reminds me of what would happen to me in theaters as a child. Mom would always get so angry. The theater would be almost empty but a tall father would always sit directly in front of short me and we would have to move lol. Truly, it never failed. The dad would see us sitting there, make eye contact with Mom, and would still sit directly in front of us - with the dad being in front of a child.

People are something else!!