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
Thanks! There's much more to come, including New Fantasyland!!
Yea, it was a bad one and after was just as bad, with gas lines and no power for days and weeks. Glad we were there & not here! You said you were there on the 6th? Are you going to do a TR?
Frank Rizzo
Member
I had not planned on it, but maybe since I took in the upwards of 3,000 pictures, I know I am crazy, I will as it will let me relive my trip in a certain way. Great Idea!
Do it!!! I can't wait to see!!!
I took just under 3000 (2730!) I feel like Disney makes you take that many! I'm glad it's not just me!
disneygirl1024
Well-Known Member
I cant wait to see the pics and read more about it !
Frank Rizzo
Member
The craziest part about the pictures is that the next time I go, I will for sure take the exact same ones, and have just as much fun doing it. Another fun thing about the pictures is I now use them all for my screensaver so I am always reminded of the fun times we had this trip.Do it!!! I can't wait to see!!!
Day 5 Epcot finally (continued) -
So, after lunch we headed on to Norway & our next Perry mission...
battled some trolls,
then decided it was time to head back to Future World so we didn't miss dinner at the Garden Grill
but 1st we stopped to see Duffy
then Universe of Energy, the dinosaurs freaked them out a little, guess we won't be riding Dinosaur any time soon!
and over to the Seas with Nemo & Friends - Mine, mine, mine, mine
By this time, we were ready for dinner
We love the Garden Grill! I really feel like the characters spend more time with you here than most other character meals. Plus the food is really good, a lot of it comes from the Living with the Land green houses (and you revolve through the scenes - don't like the view from your table, don't worry it will change in a few minutes!)
Chip checking out Connor's teeth - he thought it reminded him of someone... maybe Dale!
i have always loved Pluto's whiskers!
reenacting the Lion King ...
time for some dessert
and Birthday cards signed by all the characters!
Next onto Living with the Land so we could see where our food came from
I love Epcot at night!
We were headed over to watch Illuminations, so naturally we needed some light swords!
After breezing through Canada, we hung out in the UK pavilion. Did some shopping and some coloring at the Kidcot station then went out to listen to the band - what are they calling themselves these days? It has changed a few times hasn't it?
Anyway, they were pretty good!
Then we got a nice spot to watch Illuminations just before the bridge to France
So, after lunch we headed on to Norway & our next Perry mission...
battled some trolls,
then decided it was time to head back to Future World so we didn't miss dinner at the Garden Grill
but 1st we stopped to see Duffy
then Universe of Energy, the dinosaurs freaked them out a little, guess we won't be riding Dinosaur any time soon!
and over to the Seas with Nemo & Friends - Mine, mine, mine, mine
By this time, we were ready for dinner
We love the Garden Grill! I really feel like the characters spend more time with you here than most other character meals. Plus the food is really good, a lot of it comes from the Living with the Land green houses (and you revolve through the scenes - don't like the view from your table, don't worry it will change in a few minutes!)
Chip checking out Connor's teeth - he thought it reminded him of someone... maybe Dale!
i have always loved Pluto's whiskers!
reenacting the Lion King
...
time for some dessert
and Birthday cards signed by all the characters!
Next onto Living with the Land so we could see where our food came from
I love Epcot at night!
We were headed over to watch Illuminations, so naturally we needed some light swords!
After breezing through Canada, we hung out in the UK pavilion. Did some shopping and some coloring at the Kidcot station then went out to listen to the band - what are they calling themselves these days? It has changed a few times hasn't it?
Anyway, they were pretty good!
Then we got a nice spot to watch Illuminations just before the bridge to France
I didn't want to be among the thousands heading to the buses, so we shopped (again) for a bit and got an almost empty bus back (look how awake they are! This was taken at 11:10 pm)
Bed time as soon as we got back to Pop, right?
Wrong! Time for bread sticks!
Then time for bed, but while they slept, I formulated a little plan. Tomorrow - 4 parks in one day plus a sit down dinner! If my calculations were correct - it would work.
Bed time as soon as we got back to Pop, right?
Wrong! Time for bread sticks!
Then time for bed, but while they slept, I formulated a little plan. Tomorrow - 4 parks in one day plus a sit down dinner! If my calculations were correct - it would work.
accord99cutie
Premium Member
Loving your report It is giving me hope that I will be able to take both my kids by myself next year at ages 3 & 8! Can't wait for more
It is giving me hope that I will be able to take both my kids by myself next year at ages 3 & 8! Can't wait for more
Thank you. Going with just the 3 of us was so great - so special. I know I will remember it always, I think they feel the same way too. I hope you get to go with just your kids. I don't know how to explain it, it was just really the best trip ever!Loving your report
Day 6 - 4 parks in 1 day or I think Mom might actually be crazy-
So I know that by day 6 most people are starting to slow down a little. Sleep a little later, move a little slower - just take it easy a little bit. Well WE are not most people! We decided to do just the opposite! 4 parks in 1 day! We opened Hollywood Studios and closed the Magic Kingdom (which, by the way was open until 1am!) It was epic!
Following is our fly like the wind, hold onto your hats, slow pokes out of our way - we are on a mission 4 parks in 1 day extravaganza!
So as I was saying, while the boys slept I took out the park maps and watched the "park hours" channel and calculated and planned our attack. I decided to start out with Hollywood Studios first, then to Animal Kingdom, next Epcot, stopping for dinner at Whispering Canyon and last Magic Kingdom. On paper it seemed like it just might work.
That is, if I could wake these boys up!
Once awake, we hit a little speed bump - apparently a nor'easter was passing up the coast & the day was supposed to be a complete wash out - especially after lunch. Now, while I do believe in Santa & magic and fairies, I don't believe in bad weather on vacation so we grabbed the ponchos & hoped for the best.
Sometimes I like to just sit back and watch their conversations
On line for Toy Story Mania before 9am! So far so good!!!
by the time we got off the fast pass return was already between 12 & 1!
Hustle on over to Star Tours
a quick pull of the rope
and we were back on the bus and heading to Animal Kingdom by 9:30
Hit Kilimanjaro Safaris straight away - I was hoping that the cooler, less sunny weather would make the animals more active but that wasn't the case. They all seemed pretty sleepy.
The gorilla area in Pangani Trail the other day was packed, so I wanted to get up close today. I could watch them for hours!
Holy Teeth!
see I told you they were sleepy
yup - out comes the "photographer" in me again
So after we watched It's Tough to be a Bug we were back on the bus and headed over to Epcot by noon. Since we had really done Future World the other day, we hightailed it over to World Showcase. Bypassing Canada & UK and saving France and Morocco for later, we headed straight to Japan for lunch & kakigori (yum!!!)
as we sat by the lagoon & ate at least 10 people stopped to ask what it was & where they could get some! I was starting to think we should get some sort of referral fee! Now, as I look at this I am wondering where I can get some in my area - I guess we were pretty good advertisements!
I love the drums in Japan, they always get people dancing
The most nail biting game of toss across ever
So I know that by day 6 most people are starting to slow down a little. Sleep a little later, move a little slower - just take it easy a little bit. Well WE are not most people! We decided to do just the opposite! 4 parks in 1 day! We opened Hollywood Studios and closed the Magic Kingdom (which, by the way was open until 1am!) It was epic!
Following is our fly like the wind, hold onto your hats, slow pokes out of our way - we are on a mission 4 parks in 1 day extravaganza!
So as I was saying, while the boys slept I took out the park maps and watched the "park hours" channel and calculated and planned our attack. I decided to start out with Hollywood Studios first, then to Animal Kingdom, next Epcot, stopping for dinner at Whispering Canyon and last Magic Kingdom. On paper it seemed like it just might work.
That is, if I could wake these boys up!
Once awake, we hit a little speed bump - apparently a nor'easter was passing up the coast & the day was supposed to be a complete wash out - especially after lunch. Now, while I do believe in Santa & magic and fairies, I don't believe in bad weather on vacation so we grabbed the ponchos & hoped for the best.
Sometimes I like to just sit back and watch their conversations
On line for Toy Story Mania before 9am! So far so good!!!
by the time we got off the fast pass return was already between 12 & 1!
Hustle on over to Star Tours
a quick pull of the rope
and we were back on the bus and heading to Animal Kingdom by 9:30
Hit Kilimanjaro Safaris straight away - I was hoping that the cooler, less sunny weather would make the animals more active but that wasn't the case. They all seemed pretty sleepy.
The gorilla area in Pangani Trail the other day was packed, so I wanted to get up close today. I could watch them for hours!
Holy Teeth!
see I told you they were sleepy
yup - out comes the "photographer" in me again
So after we watched It's Tough to be a Bug we were back on the bus and headed over to Epcot by noon. Since we had really done Future World the other day, we hightailed it over to World Showcase. Bypassing Canada & UK and saving France and Morocco for later, we headed straight to Japan for lunch & kakigori (yum!!!)
as we sat by the lagoon & ate at least 10 people stopped to ask what it was & where they could get some! I was starting to think we should get some sort of referral fee!
Now, as I look at this I am wondering where I can get some in my area - I guess we were pretty good advertisements!
I love the drums in Japan, they always get people dancing
The most nail biting game of toss across ever
Note they sky - see I told you I don't believe in bad weather on vacation!
Spent some time in Italy. The boys enjoyed watching the street performer.
Then over to Germany for another Agent P mission
and a little snack...
waiting for the clock to chime
Next stop, China -
For some reason China was looking particularly pretty & I took a BUNCH of pictures
while the boys completed another mission
It had turned out to be such a pretty day
At this point it was about 4:30 so we back tracked to Morocco
and France (for just one more mission, please Mom!!)
a few last pictures on the way out
Such a pretty evening! I probably would have stayed longer - but remember we were on a mission, and keeping really good time!
We ran out of time for Journey into Imagination the other night so we made a little detour
Spent some time in Italy. The boys enjoyed watching the street performer.
Then over to Germany for another Agent P mission
and a little snack...
waiting for the clock to chime
Next stop, China -
For some reason China was looking particularly pretty & I took a BUNCH of pictures
while the boys completed another mission
It had turned out to be such a pretty day
At this point it was about 4:30 so we back tracked to Morocco
and France (for just one more mission, please Mom!!)
a few last pictures on the way out
Such a pretty evening! I probably would have stayed longer - but remember we were on a mission, and keeping really good time!
We ran out of time for Journey into Imagination the other night so we made a little detour
a brief stop to watch the fountains
and a quick drink...
before we headed to dinner-
Charge!!!!
We decided to take the monorail over to the TTC because given the choice, who wouldn't! Then the ferry over to the Magic Kingdom and the boat over to the Wilderness Lodge.
Luckily I had booked a late ADR that night, which worked out really well since we decided to be maniacs that day and we didn't wait long for a table at all.
I think the boys were a little disappointed though, they would have enjoyed more time to build with their new friends
of course we asked for ketchup! We ended up with 14! Notice, not a drop on his plate!
After we did the Hokey Pokey and the boys had a hobby horse ride around the restaurant we finished our dinner at about 8:30. Don't forget we had one more park to visit to accomplish what we had set out to do, but it was feeling late because we had set the clocks back the night before & we had been going since 7am. I put it up to a vote - head back for a swim & a good nights sleep OR head to Magic Kingdom and stay until it closed at 1am! Here's where I learned that both boys are just as crazy as me because it was unanimous, Magic Kingdom here we come!!!!
While we were busy at the other parks the Magic Kingdom had switched over to Christmas!!
The castle looked so beautiful - I had never seen it for Christmas before & it took my breath away!
I must have taken more than 100 pictures just of the castle! It was so impressive - I felt like a little kid seeing it for the first time!
A friend of mine was also at WDW during our stay, we had hoped to meet up a few times, but it just never seemed to work out. Her daughter did swim with us one night & we watched Festival of the Lion King with them but up to this point that was about it. Which is a shame because my boys LOVE her daughter. She is older (almost 12) and every time they were around her they would go nuts! I think she thought they were pretty funny too. As it turned out they were over by the Tomorrowland Speedway so we headed straight over so the kids could ride together.
Two things I learned:
1. do not let a 7 year old drive, it's just a bad idea and
2. do not ride Tomorrowland Speedway more than 4 times in a row!
Maybe the fumes got to her or maybe she had bad food earlier that night but either way she needed to sit and rest a bit. Not that I'm happy she felt ill, but what happened next was so special, I was happy we were in the right place at the right time.
and a quick drink...
before we headed to dinner-
Charge!!!!
We decided to take the monorail over to the TTC because given the choice, who wouldn't! Then the ferry over to the Magic Kingdom and the boat over to the Wilderness Lodge.
Luckily I had booked a late ADR that night, which worked out really well since we decided to be maniacs that day and we didn't wait long for a table at all.
I think the boys were a little disappointed though, they would have enjoyed more time to build with their new friends
of course we asked for ketchup! We ended up with 14! Notice, not a drop on his plate!
After we did the Hokey Pokey and the boys had a hobby horse ride around the restaurant we finished our dinner at about 8:30. Don't forget we had one more park to visit to accomplish what we had set out to do, but it was feeling late because we had set the clocks back the night before & we had been going since 7am. I put it up to a vote - head back for a swim & a good nights sleep OR head to Magic Kingdom and stay until it closed at 1am! Here's where I learned that both boys are just as crazy as me because it was unanimous, Magic Kingdom here we come!!!!
While we were busy at the other parks the Magic Kingdom had switched over to Christmas!!
The castle looked so beautiful - I had never seen it for Christmas before & it took my breath away!
I must have taken more than 100 pictures just of the castle! It was so impressive - I felt like a little kid seeing it for the first time!
A friend of mine was also at WDW during our stay, we had hoped to meet up a few times, but it just never seemed to work out. Her daughter did swim with us one night & we watched Festival of the Lion King with them but up to this point that was about it. Which is a shame because my boys LOVE her daughter. She is older (almost 12) and every time they were around her they would go nuts! I think she thought they were pretty funny too. As it turned out they were over by the Tomorrowland Speedway so we headed straight over so the kids could ride together.
Two things I learned:
1. do not let a 7 year old drive, it's just a bad idea and
2. do not ride Tomorrowland Speedway more than 4 times in a row!
Maybe the fumes got to her or maybe she had bad food earlier that night but either way she needed to sit and rest a bit. Not that I'm happy she felt ill, but what happened next was so special, I was happy we were in the right place at the right time.
As we sat on a bench, along came a young man. He looked like any other guy sweeping up after a long night but as we looked closely, his broom was tied tight at the end by a rubber band and his dust pan was filled with water! He began to paint pictures with his broom.
it was fun to guess who each picture would turn into and a little crowd had begun to gather.
After he had made both Minnie & Donald, he stepped back and said, Humm, I am missing someone. He then turned to us and said - Connor (he had his birthday pin with his name on it), come help me make Mickey!
He then, took Connor and gave him an art lesson on how to paint a Mickey on pavement with water.
I don't know if you can see it in the photos, but he was so great with Connor. Not just like, ok let me grab a kid & make them help me because that is what I'm supposed to do. He was really teaching him... first get the water and come over and make this part and this shape here. It was really touching to watch. Then after they were done he told Connor to sign his work - let the whole Magic Kingdom know that HE made this!
If you don't have kids, I can't really explain the feeling you get when they experience something special or you see in them that they feel proud of what they have accomplished. This was above all that. After he had signed his work, Connor came over to me and said, very quietly, Mom - why did he pick me? I feel so special. I told him it was because he was special and this was a very special trip. We both had tears in our eyes. In all the magic, I didn't get his name and I would love to write a letter - for a lot of reasons but I would really like to mention him by name so if anyone knows it - please let me know!
it was fun to guess who each picture would turn into and a little crowd had begun to gather.
After he had made both Minnie & Donald, he stepped back and said, Humm, I am missing someone. He then turned to us and said - Connor (he had his birthday pin with his name on it), come help me make Mickey!
He then, took Connor and gave him an art lesson on how to paint a Mickey on pavement with water.
I don't know if you can see it in the photos, but he was so great with Connor. Not just like, ok let me grab a kid & make them help me because that is what I'm supposed to do. He was really teaching him... first get the water and come over and make this part and this shape here. It was really touching to watch. Then after they were done he told Connor to sign his work - let the whole Magic Kingdom know that HE made this!
If you don't have kids, I can't really explain the feeling you get when they experience something special or you see in them that they feel proud of what they have accomplished. This was above all that. After he had signed his work, Connor came over to me and said, very quietly, Mom - why did he pick me? I feel so special. I told him it was because he was special and this was a very special trip. We both had tears in our eyes. In all the magic, I didn't get his name and I would love to write a letter - for a lot of reasons but I would really like to mention him by name so if anyone knows it - please let me know!
After that we were feeling pretty good, as you can imagine, so any sign of sleepiness was wiped away! And we got our second wind (or maybe by this point it was our 3rd or 4th). Unfortunately, our friends were not feeling as recharged as us, so they went back to the hotel (actually, the daughter ended up getting sick and it caused them to miss a few days)
Finn didn't get to Storybook Circus the 1st day, because of his meltdown, so we headed there next...
the new Dumbo is so pretty at night!
It was pretty chilly, so no splashing by Casey Jr
So we went right over to Goofini...
I love their faces in this picture! The park was pretty empty, so we rode 4 times in a row!
Then we went over to Space Ranger Spin - no line at midnight! They look like zombies in this picture!
To be fair, it was about 12:30 so we headed to Main Street and got to see the kiss good night
and then it was time to head back to the hotel feeling pretty proud having accomplished 4 parks in 1 day (as well as pretty full and pretty sore and pretty sleepy) but also pretty special - this was a trip we would remember for a long time to come!
)
Finn didn't get to Storybook Circus the 1st day, because of his meltdown, so we headed there next...
the new Dumbo is so pretty at night!
It was pretty chilly, so no splashing by Casey Jr
So we went right over to Goofini...
I love their faces in this picture! The park was pretty empty, so we rode 4 times in a row!
Then we went over to Space Ranger Spin - no line at midnight! They look like zombies in this picture!
To be fair, it was about 12:30 so we headed to Main Street and got to see the kiss good night
and then it was time to head back to the hotel feeling pretty proud having accomplished 4 parks in 1 day (as well as pretty full and pretty sore and pretty sleepy) but also pretty special - this was a trip we would remember for a long time to come!
SDisney90
Well-Known Member
AMAZING Trip report, I loved it. You had a very magical trip, the street artist teaching your son how to draw Mickey must have been the icing on the cake for your trip. I hope someone recognizes him, he deserves a recognition letter. I cannot wait for my trip in January ah!
Thanks! It was so wonderful!! I hope you enjoy your trip!
yup! 1st thing is the way to go - grab a fastpass on the way to the line & on you go (twice!)
Day 7 - in Which I Completely Loose my Mind... and Give my Children Candy for Breakfast -
After the busy day we had the day before, we did sleep in a bit. So much so I was in a rush to get moving so instead of stopping for breakfast we headed straight to Downtown Disney.
A quick picture for the Christmas card hopefully (I actually took a better one later - you'll see it in day 8) before we find something to eat.
Unfortunately, this is what we found first...
and somehow, it seemed reasonable. After all, it wasn't like it was 7am (more like 11) and we were having such a great time & I was completely caught up in the cheers of "best mom ever - candy for breakfast!" that I just didn't care. This wasn't going to be the thing that booted me out of the "responsible mom club", I'm pretty sure I wasn't in that club to begin with. My kids refer to me as a "kid grown-up", we get homework done & have a regular bed time and a family dinner every night but the fact is I much prefer to put up a tent in the living room and have a camp "in" or go out to breakfast in our pajamas or get birthday cakes for the heck of it & sing happy birthday to nobody. That and I'm sure keeping them out until 1am the night before wasn't considered "responsible" either.
So in we went, to the candy store, for breakfast!
Connor choose the "create your own treat" option, marshmallows dipped in milk chocolate, topped with Reese's Pieces, drizzled with white chocolate.
In his defense, he did choose milk to drink to balance it out
Finn, on the other hand, went full crazy - gummy worms (in a haunted mansion coffin) and Cherry Coke!
perhaps delirious from sugar, the coffin doubled as a phone
while I decided to go with a rice crispy treat dipped in chocolate & Reese's Pieces and a coffee (you didn't think I was going to let them have all the fun, did you??)
Can you really blame us? Look how good all this stuff looks!
You can't really tell in the picture but these are huge!!!
So after our nutritious breakfast we did some shopping
I love to watch people get squirted by Stitch!
The boys love Legos so we always spend a bit of time there...
They built some cars to race...
After the busy day we had the day before, we did sleep in a bit. So much so I was in a rush to get moving so instead of stopping for breakfast we headed straight to Downtown Disney.
A quick picture for the Christmas card hopefully (I actually took a better one later - you'll see it in day 8) before we find something to eat.
Unfortunately, this is what we found first...
and somehow, it seemed reasonable. After all, it wasn't like it was 7am (more like 11) and we were having such a great time & I was completely caught up in the cheers of "best mom ever - candy for breakfast!" that I just didn't care. This wasn't going to be the thing that booted me out of the "responsible mom club", I'm pretty sure I wasn't in that club to begin with. My kids refer to me as a "kid grown-up", we get homework done & have a regular bed time and a family dinner every night but the fact is I much prefer to put up a tent in the living room and have a camp "in" or go out to breakfast in our pajamas or get birthday cakes for the heck of it & sing happy birthday to nobody. That and I'm sure keeping them out until 1am the night before wasn't considered "responsible" either.
So in we went, to the candy store, for breakfast!
Connor choose the "create your own treat" option, marshmallows dipped in milk chocolate, topped with Reese's Pieces, drizzled with white chocolate.
In his defense, he did choose milk to drink to balance it out
Finn, on the other hand, went full crazy - gummy worms (in a haunted mansion coffin) and Cherry Coke!
perhaps delirious from sugar, the coffin doubled as a phone
while I decided to go with a rice crispy treat dipped in chocolate & Reese's Pieces and a coffee (you didn't think I was going to let them have all the fun, did you??)
Can you really blame us? Look how good all this stuff looks!
You can't really tell in the picture but these are huge!!!
So after our nutritious breakfast we did some shopping
I love to watch people get squirted by Stitch!
The boys love Legos so we always spend a bit of time there...
They built some cars to race...