So that's it, vacation is over. All the planning and dreaming and living and enjoying - done! Now what? Well, in an attempt to relive the BEST TRIP ever. I will retell it to all of you in every Disney detail that only we can appreciate because frankly, I don't think anyone else wants to hear it again. And while WE can look at thousands of pics of "the World" and enjoy each and every one, I don't know how many I can share in the "real world" without completely overwhelming people. So, it is with that thought, sitting on my couch sniffing a bar H20+ blushing orange soap, that I start this trip report.
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the 3 absoutely IS the magic number trip report
- Thread starter kings&giants
- Start date
and some in room & window decorating...
it was time for some much needed rest. After all we didn't know it for sure then, but this was going to be a non-stop, 4 parks in 1 day, candy for breakfast, closing the Magic Kingdom at 1 am kind of vacation!
javy2004
Active Member
And this is what they were given...
For each of them - a pair of custom ears, and a cooler backpack that held in in 2 bottles of water, a disposable camera (I have some CRAZY pictures from them!), a really nice wooden frame & a 50 page photo album!
This vacation was off to a great start!!!!!
I have to admit, knowing you went through all the stress and hardship that Hurricane Sandy brought upon your family and how difficult a time you had when you were trying to book you vacation, I welled up a bit when I saw this pic. They charge a bit for personalized ears and for them to offer everything they included, it's just awesome. Its touches like this that make people want to come back
Your kiddos are cute and I can't wait to see how the rest of your trip went
kimberlymautz
Well-Known Member
This is so cute so far! I can't wait to see the rest!
If you like this, just wait! The real name of this TR should be "I feel so special!" When I say this was the BEST trip, I really mean it! One "special" moment after another! So many great people at Disney that, because they WANT to, not because they are forced to, do that little something that makes your day! We have wonderful memories that will last forever.I have to admit, knowing you went through all the stress and hardship that Hurricane Sandy brought upon your family and how difficult a time you had when you were trying to book you vacation, I welled up a bit when I saw this pic. They charge a bit for personalized ears and for them to offer everything they included, it's just awesome. Its touches like this that make people want to come back
ShookieJones
We need time for things to happen.
Great TR so far. Seeing these surprises totally made my day --- sux you had to go through that experience on the phone, but it looks like Disney did right by you in a big way!And this is what they were given...
For each of them - a pair of custom ears, and a cooler backpack that held in in 2 bottles of water, a disposable camera (I have some CRAZY pictures from them!), a really nice wooden frame & a 50 page photo album!
This vacation was off to a great start!!!!!
Thanks! They really did- above & beyond. It was so great to know that they are not slipping!
Day 2- Fun with Grandma & Grandpa at the Magic Kingdom -
After a good nights sleep we were up and out early (smelling of Blushing Orange)...
So we grabded our ears & we were on our way!
The view from our room (60's building 5, back side on the 2nd floor) Quiet & close to food court & buses - the best of both worlds!
Even the view while waiting for the elevator is fun!!!
After a good nights sleep we were up and out early (smelling of Blushing Orange)...
So we grabded our ears & we were on our way!
The view from our room (60's building 5, back side on the 2nd floor) Quiet & close to food court & buses - the best of both worlds!
Even the view while waiting for the elevator is fun!!!
Good Morning Pop Century!!!
Bring it on!!!!
A quick walk to Everything Pop for some breakfast then on to Magic Kingdom!
Snapping pictures on the way
Breakfast was tasty but not really photo worthy, although they did do a little hidden Mickey with a sausage patty & 2 strawberries
We walked out to the bus stop, just as a Magic Kingdom bus pulled up so we hopped right on. There is something so exciting about that bus trip on your 1st morning!
Bring it on!!!!
A quick walk to Everything Pop for some breakfast then on to Magic Kingdom!
Snapping pictures on the way
Breakfast was tasty but not really photo worthy, although they did do a little hidden Mickey with a sausage patty & 2 strawberries
We walked out to the bus stop, just as a Magic Kingdom bus pulled up so we hopped right on. There is something so exciting about that bus trip on your 1st morning!
lovenerds2012
Active Member
Don't you just love the Magical Express?? (except when it is heading back to the airport)
LOL yes, actually when the Magical Express is taking us back to the airport we re-name it the Craptastic Express!
One of the things I had really wanted to do this trip was be there for the rope drop, since I had never seen it. That was not to be this go around, but we were still there pretty early so the Magic Kingdom was not crowded at all.
The boys taking some pictures with their cameras from "Mickey"
I just LOVE this one...
See there I am! I told you'd see me soon. Thanks Photo Pass People!
Another thing that made this trip so great was, our visit spanned MNSSHP & MVMCP! So when we got there the Magic Kingdom was all decked out for Halloween & by the time we left it had started to change into Christmas!
this go around, but we were still there pretty early so the Magic Kingdom was not crowded at all.The boys taking some pictures with their cameras from "Mickey"
I just LOVE this one...
See there I am! I told you'd see me soon. Thanks Photo Pass People!
Another thing that made this trip so great was, our visit spanned MNSSHP & MVMCP! So when we got there the Magic Kingdom was all decked out for Halloween & by the time we left it had started to change into Christmas!
hahahaha to us it's the Tragical Express!
Main Street was pretty empty since all the lucky rope drop people were already riding Space Mountain for the 3rd time, so we took our time...
Finn Loves Pluto, so he was our 1st stop...
Then over to sit for a moment with Goofy
A quick photo with the Mayor - he's great! After joking with them for a bit, he gave the boys his card.
On to the Castle!
Finn Loves Pluto, so he was our 1st stop...
Then over to sit for a moment with Goofy
A quick photo with the Mayor - he's great! After joking with them for a bit, he gave the boys his card.
On to the Castle!
By this point my parents had joined us (they don't understand the whole crack of dawn on vacation thing, but they were good sports and got there only a little after us). The park was still pretty empty, I think because it was the last day of MNSSHP - but really I don't care what the reason was - NO wait on Peter Pan! WOO HOO!!Look at that queue!!! Empty!!!
See, for anyone that read my pretrip - I told you my parents don't look like that anymore!!
So after hitting everything in Fantasyland, we headed over to the Haunted Mansion -
the boys usually get nervous so I'm never really sure if they will go on, but Grandpa made them feel safe - so on they went!
Love all they've added!!!
Then on over to Frontierland for Country Bears, Splash Mountain & Big Thunder Mountain Railroad - all before lunch!
But 1st we needed to stop for a picture here (I so need one of these at home!) -
For lunch we ate a Columbia Harbor House, again the food wasn't really photo worthy but I thought it was a good choice since trying to keep up with me on a Disney vacation is no small task (you'll see proof of that in a bit) and my parents needed a quiet place to rest.
Then on to Adventureland & Jungle Cruise...
and then on to Pirates! Wait, not onto Pirates? Finn doesn't want to go on? Well no big deal, we'll just go through the line & either he will change his mind or we will kid swap. No big deal. Wait - hold on you don't swap on Pirates? We have to be let out some crazy back door? Ok - still no big deal - this is their vacation too and I don't believe in tricking or forcing them to go on rides they aren't comfoftable with so we will just hang in the shop & wait for you guys. Enjoy!
So we shopped & they got off the ride & we shopped some more and just as we were deciding if we should do Tiki Room or Magic Carpets IT happened - MELTDOWN city!!!! Finn could take no more! This is NOT good, some kids are quick in their meltdowns - Finn's is a slow burn sort of thing. He will go nowhere & do nothing until he has had time to recharge. Ok, in retrospect it had been a crazy week and we had been up really early and at the park for 6 hours already but I am like a sulky 3 year old if you tell me I have to leave the park. Luckily my parents are the best people on the planet, so they graciously offer to take him back to the room for a bit and meet back up for dinner. Truth be told, I think my Dad was just as happy to go back for a rest too but either way - they saved the day.
See, for anyone that read my pretrip - I told you my parents don't look like that anymore!!
So after hitting everything in Fantasyland, we headed over to the Haunted Mansion -
the boys usually get nervous so I'm never really sure if they will go on, but Grandpa made them feel safe - so on they went!
Love all they've added!!!
Then on over to Frontierland for Country Bears, Splash Mountain & Big Thunder Mountain Railroad - all before lunch!
But 1st we needed to stop for a picture here (I so need one of these at home!) -
For lunch we ate a Columbia Harbor House, again the food wasn't really photo worthy but I thought it was a good choice since trying to keep up with me on a Disney vacation is no small task (you'll see proof of that in a bit) and my parents needed a quiet place to rest.
Then on to Adventureland & Jungle Cruise...
and then on to Pirates! Wait, not onto Pirates? Finn doesn't want to go on? Well no big deal, we'll just go through the line & either he will change his mind or we will kid swap. No big deal. Wait - hold on you don't swap on Pirates? We have to be let out some crazy back door? Ok - still no big deal - this is their vacation too and I don't believe in tricking or forcing them to go on rides they aren't comfoftable with so we will just hang in the shop & wait for you guys. Enjoy!
So we shopped & they got off the ride & we shopped some more and just as we were deciding if we should do Tiki Room or Magic Carpets IT happened - MELTDOWN city!!!! Finn could take no more! This is NOT good, some kids are quick in their meltdowns - Finn's is a slow burn sort of thing. He will go nowhere & do nothing until he has had time to recharge. Ok, in retrospect it had been a crazy week and we had been up really early and at the park for 6 hours already but I am like a sulky 3 year old if you tell me I have to leave the park. Luckily my parents are the best people on the planet, so they graciously offer to take him back to the room for a bit and meet back up for dinner. Truth be told, I think my Dad was just as happy to go back for a rest too
but either way - they saved the day.
So then it was just Connor & me - and we are crazy people! He would have no trouble running all over the park with me and hitting as many rides a possible before dinner! So that is exactly what we did. After going on Pirates again since I didn't get a chance the 1st time we hit Magic Carpets, decided to save Tiki Room for another day when Finn was with us and headed over to Storybook Circus - making a pit stop at Winnie the Pooh first.
I love the new Dumbo play area, it's so cute but it must get crazy if the park is crowded.
after playing for a while we actually got to ride!
then a quick run through Casey Jr Splash 'N' Soak
and a peek at the goodies inside Big Top Souvenirs
As we were enjoying watching all the treats being created, a girl behind the counter started on a new treat. She took a marshmallow and dipped it in white chocolate the dipped the bottom into blue sugar and finished it with little red bow - a Donald marshmallow! Then she handed it right right to Connor wishing him a happy birthday! How great is that?? I told you this trip was full of those little extras that made it so special!
Next a spin on Goofini (Connor thought it would be best, since he was still wet from Casey Jr)
we hit Magic Carpets, decided to save Tiki Room for another day when Finn was with us and headed over to Storybook Circus - making a pit stop at Winnie the Pooh first. I love the new Dumbo play area, it's so cute but it must get crazy if the park is crowded.
after playing for a while we actually got to ride!
then a quick run through Casey Jr Splash 'N' Soak
and a peek at the goodies inside Big Top Souvenirs
As we were enjoying watching all the treats being created, a girl behind the counter started on a new treat. She took a marshmallow and dipped it in white chocolate the dipped the bottom into blue sugar and finished it with little red bow - a Donald marshmallow! Then she handed it right right to Connor wishing him a happy birthday! How great is that?? I told you this trip was full of those little extras that made it so special!
Next a spin on Goofini (Connor thought it would be best, since he was still wet from Casey Jr
)
A quick spin on the Tea Cups on the way over to Tomorrowland then a ride on the People Mover to to see what we should ride 1st (and to see if Space Mountain was still to scary)
which it was, as well as the Astro Orbiter - but it was still cool to look at...
So we decided Space Ranger Spin was the way to go -
Why does everyone look so crazy in these photos??
Then on to Laugh Floor and that was going tobe about it, we had ADRs for 'Ohana (for me & the boys) & Kona Cafe (for my parents, I never was able to get them in with us) and we didn't want to be late!
A quick shot of the castle on the way out...
Just as we were about to leave a woman came up to us and asked if it was just us 2. She had 2 extra wristbands for MNSSHP she was going to give us! (again special) UGH!!!!! I was sooooo tempted to blow off dinner, but I thanked her very much and left the park. After all my parents did come all the way, blah blah blah
So we took the monorail over to the Poly & I got to hear my favorite sentence in another language!
Por favor mantengase alejado de las puertas! Love love love it!!!!
Dinner was great! I don't even want to think about how many dumplings Connor must have eaten!
And after some much needed cool down time Finn was back to his normal little happy self
The boys got birthday cupcakes & ice cream so I had the bread pudding all to myself!
This has to be the best dessert on earth, no?
My parents enjoyed their dinner at Kona as well so then it was down to the beach to watch Hallowishes!
What a great way to end the evening!
Once back in the room we were greated my some new towel friends...
and one of these for each of the boys
I would call that a good 1st full day! So after watching the "Must Dos" it was time for bed!
which it was, as well as the Astro Orbiter - but it was still cool to look at...
So we decided Space Ranger Spin was the way to go -
Why does everyone look so crazy in these photos??
Then on to Laugh Floor and that was going tobe about it, we had ADRs for 'Ohana (for me & the boys) & Kona Cafe (for my parents, I never was able to get them in with us) and we didn't want to be late!
A quick shot of the castle on the way out...
Just as we were about to leave a woman came up to us and asked if it was just us 2. She had 2 extra wristbands for MNSSHP she was going to give us! (again special) UGH!!!!! I was sooooo tempted to blow off dinner, but I thanked her very much and left the park. After all my parents did come all the way, blah blah blah
So we took the monorail over to the Poly & I got to hear my favorite sentence in another language!
Por favor mantengase alejado de las puertas! Love love love it!!!!
Dinner was great! I don't even want to think about how many dumplings Connor must have eaten!
And after some much needed cool down time Finn was back to his normal little happy self
The boys got birthday cupcakes & ice cream so I had the bread pudding all to myself!
This has to be the best dessert on earth, no?
My parents enjoyed their dinner at Kona as well so then it was down to the beach to watch Hallowishes!
What a great way to end the evening!
Once back in the room we were greated my some new towel friends...
and one of these for each of the boys
I would call that a good 1st full day! So after watching the "Must Dos" it was time for bed!
Day 3- Animal Kingdom, dinner at Boma and a Little Night Vision -
Once again we were on the move pretty early -
Stopped for a quick pic in the 80's!
then a quick breakfast while waiting for the bus...
and off to Animal Kingdom -
spent a little time in the oasis
I'm not sure why, but every time we go to Animal Kingdom I think I am a wilderness photographer
After It's Tough to be a Bug! it was on into Harambe for our safari
Our guide was good but at some point not far in, everything went a little crazy. Dispite his trying - he could not follow the "script" and started getting slap happy. At one point he just joked that people should shout out an animal & he would see if he could find some.
This probably sounds terrible, but honestly it was really funny! To make matters worse as we approached the Elephant his ummm, well, ummm - you know was out so a guy yelled "look that elephant has 5 legs!" so now kids start asking their parents if elephants really have 5 legs - craziness! I guess the remedy for all things of that nature is to think about sports - so the guide started talking about his favorite college football team - too funny. At this point he has lost all control but is still trying to hold on, giving facts & talking conservation as we go! Just as we round the bend before the zebra he says "didn't someone want to see a zebra? Look Disney magic!" and starts to sing "When you wish upon a... Zebra".
He thanked us passengers for a great, although unusual trip and we were on our way to Pangani Trail, stopping 1st to by this little guy...
who came to be known as Baby Simbi. He was never far from Finn's side for the rest of the vacation (as you will see) and now goes to school everyday in Finn's backpack.
By this point it was getting hot and we were getting hungry. Is it just me or is it 30 degrees hotter in Animal Kingdom than any other place in the world at any given time?
So we headed over to Flame Tree Barbecue for some yummy chicken and ribs and table with a great view!
Hello Yeti, are you home??
Once again we were on the move pretty early -
Stopped for a quick pic in the 80's!
then a quick breakfast while waiting for the bus...
and off to Animal Kingdom -
spent a little time in the oasis
I'm not sure why, but every time we go to Animal Kingdom I think I am a wilderness photographer
After It's Tough to be a Bug! it was on into Harambe for our safari
Our guide was good but at some point not far in, everything went a little crazy. Dispite his trying - he could not follow the "script" and started getting slap happy. At one point he just joked that people should shout out an animal & he would see if he could find some.
This probably sounds terrible, but honestly it was really funny! To make matters worse as we approached the Elephant his ummm, well, ummm - you know was out so a guy yelled "look that elephant has 5 legs!" so now kids start asking their parents if elephants really have 5 legs - craziness! I guess the remedy for all things of that nature is to think about sports - so the guide started talking about his favorite college football team - too funny. At this point he has lost all control but is still trying to hold on, giving facts & talking conservation as we go! Just as we round the bend before the zebra he says "didn't someone want to see a zebra? Look Disney magic!" and starts to sing "When you wish upon a... Zebra".
He thanked us passengers for a great, although unusual trip and we were on our way to Pangani Trail, stopping 1st to by this little guy...
who came to be known as Baby Simbi. He was never far from Finn's side for the rest of the vacation (as you will see) and now goes to school everyday in Finn's backpack.
By this point it was getting hot and we were getting hungry. Is it just me or is it 30 degrees hotter in Animal Kingdom than any other place in the world at any given time?
So we headed over to Flame Tree Barbecue for some yummy chicken and ribs and table with a great view!
Hello Yeti, are you home??
After Lunch we headed over to Camp Minnie-Mickey to watch the Fastival of the Lion King (Baby Simbi especially enjoyed it I'm told)
Look it's the duck versions of us!
(sorry Huey, we had to cut you out to make it work)
and now the real us - hard to tell them apart, huh?
a few more nature photos...
It was over to Asia for Kali River Rapids! I say there is BIG money to be made selling ponchos or even renting them on the line at Kali River Rapids! I can't tell you how may people offered to buy mine from me, but I wasn't giving it up!
then Jungle Trek
Who can resist a basket full of piggies?
As we were leaving Asia, the parade was coming through so we decided to walk along side it back into Africa.
In addition to thinking I'm a wilderness photographer, i also have a thing for taking pictures of places in Disney that should be loaded with people "uninhabited Disney" if you will...
So since we were back in Harambe we hopped on the train to Rafiki's Planet Watch, looked around a bit and then on to our next stop - DinoLand USA
Had some Mickey bars (which in my house are know as Milkey Miltons - I don't even know why!)
and after a SERIOUS clean up, did some playing in the Boneyard
At this point it was about time to head over to Animal Kingdom Lodge for our dinner at Boma. But not before I took a few last pictures...
These trees were FILLED with birds, its a little hard to see in the picture, but I mean completely filled with birds!
Look it's the duck versions of us!
(sorry Huey, we had to cut you out to make it work)
and now the real us - hard to tell them apart, huh?
a few more nature photos...
It was over to Asia for Kali River Rapids! I say there is BIG money to be made selling ponchos or even renting them on the line at Kali River Rapids! I can't tell you how may people offered to buy mine from me, but I wasn't giving it up!
then Jungle Trek
Who can resist a basket full of piggies?
As we were leaving Asia, the parade was coming through so we decided to walk along side it back into Africa.
In addition to thinking I'm a wilderness photographer, i also have a thing for taking pictures of places in Disney that should be loaded with people "uninhabited Disney" if you will...
So since we were back in Harambe we hopped on the train to Rafiki's Planet Watch, looked around a bit and then on to our next stop - DinoLand USA
Had some Mickey bars (which in my house are know as Milkey Miltons - I don't even know why!)
and after a SERIOUS clean up, did some playing in the Boneyard
At this point it was about time to head over to Animal Kingdom Lodge for our dinner at Boma. But not before I took a few last pictures...
These trees were FILLED with birds, its a little hard to see in the picture, but I mean completely filled with birds!
Boma is one of our favorite restaurants, so we were super excited for dinner -
We got seated at a great table
Check out the "hidden Mickey" on the chair
So, if Boma is one of my favorites, it is hands down Connor's absolute favorite!
He loves different spices - He must have had 4 bowls of the coconut curry chicken stew!
then a quick cupcake to celebrate the birthdays...
then out to the savanna for a look at the animals with night vision goggles! So cool!
At this point it was getting late so I was thinking maybe we should just get a cab back to POP, but I figured I'd wait a few minutes to see if a bus came and sure enough a Downtown Disney bus pulled right up. So we got on, along with a couple carrying a sound asleep little girl.
**Special Moment Alert **
The bus driver noticed that we were not your typical going to downtown Disney at 10 pm folks , so he asked if we were planning on transferring to another hotel. To which we both said yes, them to AOA & us to POP. He then radioed to dispatch to ask if it would be ok if he went off his route and brought us both back directly to our hotels! Our very own charter bus! Things like that just kept happening to us. Since we're home I'm trying to keep that spirit going by doing a little something for someone when I can because I know how special it made us feel so why not try it in the real world too?
Although Connor looks like he is out for the night here - he isn't. He is way too big to carry, so I had to disturb him and make him walk back to the room. The bus ride cat nap must have gave him a second wind because then he wanted to go swimming! Connor & I are night owls by nature while Finn is an early bird. So usually on vacation, my husband will go back with Finn, while Connor & I go out exploring. Since it was only me this trip I had to come up with a way to make everyone happy. A-HA! I got it! Connor & I put on our suits and I threw a sweatshirt around the sleeping Finn in the stroller (put his suit in the basket in case he woke up) & headed down to the pool for a midnight swim! Being a Mom is all about making it happen!
We got seated at a great table
Check out the "hidden Mickey" on the chair
So, if Boma is one of my favorites, it is hands down Connor's absolute favorite!
He loves different spices - He must have had 4 bowls of the coconut curry chicken stew!
then a quick cupcake to celebrate the birthdays...
then out to the savanna for a look at the animals with night vision goggles! So cool!
At this point it was getting late so I was thinking maybe we should just get a cab back to POP, but I figured I'd wait a few minutes to see if a bus came and sure enough a Downtown Disney bus pulled right up. So we got on, along with a couple carrying a sound asleep little girl.
**Special Moment Alert **
The bus driver noticed that we were not your typical going to downtown Disney at 10 pm folks , so he asked if we were planning on transferring to another hotel. To which we both said yes, them to AOA & us to POP. He then radioed to dispatch to ask if it would be ok if he went off his route and brought us both back directly to our hotels! Our very own charter bus!
Things like that just kept happening to us. Since we're home I'm trying to keep that spirit going by doing a little something for someone when I can because I know how special it made us feel so why not try it in the real world too?
Although Connor looks like he is out for the night here - he isn't. He is way too big to carry, so I had to disturb him and make him walk back to the room. The bus ride cat nap must have gave him a second wind because then he wanted to go swimming! Connor & I are night owls by nature while Finn is an early bird. So usually on vacation, my husband will go back with Finn, while Connor & I go out exploring. Since it was only me this trip I had to come up with a way to make everyone happy. A-HA! I got it! Connor & I put on our suits and I threw a sweatshirt around the sleeping Finn in the stroller (put his suit in the basket in case he woke up) & headed down to the pool for a midnight swim! Being a Mom is all about making it happen!
