Trip Report The Audrey’s 3rd Birthday Trip Trip Report…!!!!!

Who: myself (Steve), my DWifey of 35+ years (Carolyn), oldest DD (Megan, turned 33 today), DS (Matthew, 31), youngest DD (Sarah, 29), SonIL (Daniel, oldest DDs husband, 34), oldest granddaughter (Emory, “Emmy”, 5) and youngest granddaughter (Audrey, turned 3 during the trip) for who the TR title is obviously dedicated to…!!!

When: June 26th to July 2nd, 2024.

Where: Old Key West Resort. First time ever staying there…!!!

Some initial fave PP pics below…!!!!!

More to come, soon…!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

Morocco was one of my favs as well. Since I haven't been to EPCOT in over 5 years now, do they have any entertainment anymore? I used to love Mo'Rockin' and also the dancer as well. It was so festive, especially in the evenings, strolling through that area. (I know Mo'Rockin' has been gone for some time.)

Yea, Mo’Rockin’ has been gone since 2015, and I haven’t see anything else, in regards to live entertainment in Morocco, during our last 2 trips.

 

[donaldtoo]

Saturday, June 29th, and our EPCOT Center day continued…!!!

Our visit to Japan was sweet, but short…!!!

We really only cruised through Mitsukoshi, and I took this pic of the bridge to the castle/fortress from there…

Emmy did find a few little trinkets she wanted…
Don’t do it, Daniel…….don’t do it…..don’t do it…ooohhhhh nnnnnooooooo…!!!!!!! He gave Emmy the credit card…!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry, couldn’t resist…!!!!!

Up next: Saturday, June 29th, and our EPCOT Center day continued…!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

Saturday, June 29th, and our EPCOT Center day continued…!!!

After Japan, we headed to The American Adventure pavilion…!!!!!

But, we didn’t actually see the show, the Voices of Liberty, etc. as we were mostly there just to share some BBQ to hold us over for a later ADR…

A view of the fountain from our picnic table, and a closer up shot. I love fountains…the sound, the kinetics. Throw some color in at night, and that’s my version of a shiny object…!!!!!

Love the entrance…!!!

Megan, Emmy and Audrey had some vegan snacks Megan brought along, and the rest of us split brisket on Texas toast sandwiches, with onion rings. Nothing to write home about, but good enough…

Love that they have the (a) smoker outside and in view…!!!

The 2 pics below are of some real serious smokers in my Pops hometown, at the VFW hall, that his side of the family has used for family reunions, and other celebrations for decades…smoking sausages and half chickens…!!!!!!!

Up next: Saturday, June 29th, and our EPCOT Center day continued…!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

Saturday, June 29th, and our EPCOT Center day continued…!!!

We then made our way to Norway at about 2:20p for a meet and greet…!!!

After Ratatouille, Audrey took a stroller nap. She napped from France, through Morocco, and then even all the way through Mitsukoshi in Japan.
She had a snack at TAA like the rest of us, but she just wasn’t feelin’ it for this M&G…I’ll just blame it on a nap “hangover”…!!!

Some of my pics below…

And, the rest below are PP pics…!!!

Up next: Saturday, June 29th, and our EPCOT Center day continued…!!!

 

[rshell68]

OMG soooo cute!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

View attachment 814695
OMG soooo cute!!!

Thank you, and I know, right…?!?!?!

I have sooo many pictures to sort through, but I knew that one had to be included…!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

Saturday, June 29th, and our EPCOT Center day continued…!!!

After Norway, we then hopped next door to Mexico…!!!

Although still a little standoff-ish, Audrey had a better time with the Donald M&G…!!!

Then we took a little cruise…!!!

No, not to see these guys…!!!!!

But, to see these guys…!!!

Some cruise pics…!!!

Up next: Saturday, June 29th, and our EPCOT Center day continued…!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

Saturday, June 29th, and our EPCOT Center day continued…!!!

The last few pics from Gran Fiesta Tour…

And, I’ve always thought these colorfully painted skulls were kinda’ cool…just not quite cool enough to buy one…!!!!!

Up next: Saturday, June 29th, and our EPCOT Center day continued…!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

Saturday, June 29th, and our EPCOT Center day continued…!!!

After our fun with the Amigos…..errr..…I mean Caballeros , we then headed back to the land.
But, for a different attraction this time…!!!

Gotta’ love the spiel from Patrick……!!!

Every time I see this, I can’t help thinkin’ he’d be perfect in a remake of the movie “Airplane!”…!!!!!

I just wish whoever made that gif up there woulda’ spelled the first “surely” correctly…!!!!!

Anyway, some ride pics…!!!

Up next: Saturday, June 29th, and our EPCOT Center day continued…!!!

 

[Minnie1986]

Saturday, June 29th, and our EPCOT Center day continued…!!!

Our visit to Japan was sweet, but short…!!!

View attachment 814532

We really only cruised through Mitsukoshi, and I took this pic of the bridge to the castle/fortress from there…

View attachment 814533

Emmy did find a few little trinkets she wanted…
Don’t do it, Daniel…….don’t do it…..don’t do it…ooohhhhh nnnnnooooooo…!!!!!!! He gave Emmy the credit card…!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry, couldn’t resist…!!!!!

View attachment 814540View attachment 814541

Up next: Saturday, June 29th, and our EPCOT Center day continued…!!!

That last pic just gave me flashbacks from when when I took my niece in July. I've never been able to say no to her

 

[donaldtoo]

That last pic just gave me flashbacks from when when I took my niece in July. I've never been able to say no to her

Hahaaa…!!!!!
Fortunately, Emmy and Audrey aren’t spoiled by their parents…..but, us grandparents may be a bit of a different story…!!!
She actually only wanted a coupla’ little good luck (I think that’s what they were) critters. One for her and one for Audrey…

The only merch I ended up with for the entire trip was the cap below, which is all I really wanted…

We’re, generally, not big merch people, other than one or two things here and there.
Although, on our family trips in the summer of ‘12 and ‘13, I was a CM at our local mall Disney Store, so had a discount. I had a 20% discount on our ‘12 trip and a 35% discount on our ‘13 trip, as I had been there more than 3 years, at that point.
We may have bought a bit more Park merch than usual on those 2 trips, especially in ‘13…!!!

 

[John park hopper]

That's the job of grand parents to spoil the grandkids unwritten law.

 

[donaldtoo]

Saturday, June 29th, and our EPCOT Center day continued…!!!

Continuing with…!!!

I, honestly, don’t even know what the above gif is from, but it seemed appropriate…?!!!!!

And, more of my pics…!!!

Hidden Mickey balloons…!!!

Some more…

The Eiffel Tower really needs to see a qualified medical practitioner regarding the below situation…!!!!!

Another Hidden Mickey from the finale, and my final shot…!!!

Up next: Saturday, June 29th, and our EPCOT Center day continued…!!!

 

[Minnie1986]

Hahaaa…!!!!!
Fortunately, Emmy and Audrey aren’t spoiled by their parents…..but, us grandparents may be a bit of a different story…!!!
She actually only wanted a coupla’ little good luck (I think that’s what they were) critters. One for her and one for Audrey…

View attachment 815010

The only merch I ended up with for the entire trip was the cap below, which is all I really wanted…

View attachment 815011

We’re, generally, not big merch people, other than one or two things here and there.
Although, on our family trips in the summer of ‘12 and ‘13, I was a CM at our local mall Disney Store, so had a discount. I had a 20% discount on our ‘12 trip and a 35% discount on our ‘13 trip, as I had been there more than 3 years.
We may have bought a bit more Park merch than usual on those 2 trips, especially in ‘13…!!!

Every year I get a speech about how much I spoil the girls...and then every year I continue to spoil the girls! It's my job as their aunt, but I try to limit it to holidays, birthdays, and special occasions; try being the operative word.

 

[donaldtoo]

That's the job of grand parents to spoil the grandkids unwritten law.

Indeed…!!!
My parents were, and still are, so much more generous to their grandchildren, and now great grandchildren, than they were with us…and, I too plead totally guilty to “Grandparent Prerogative”…!!!!!

 

[John park hopper]

My grands. all live in Gulf Breeze FL just got back from a visit they know when PapaJohn is coming it's doughnut time. There is a doughnut Shop Gulf Breeze doughnuts (So good) doughnuts every morning. My sons just shake their heads. the grands smile ear to ear to see what kinds are in the box

 

[donaldtoo]

Every year I get a speech about how much I spoil the girls...and then every year I continue to spoil the girls! It's my job as their aunt, but I try to limit it to holidays, birthdays, and special occasions; try being the operative word.

Our youngest daughter Sarah (known as Aunt Sassy to our granddaughters ) also does same for Emmy and Audrey…it’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it…!!!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

My grands. all live in Gulf Breeze FL just got back from a visit they know when PapaJohn is coming it's doughnut time. There is a doughnut Shop Gulf Breeze doughnuts (So good) doughnuts every morning. My sons just shake their heads. the grands smile ear to ear to that kinds are in the box

Yep, spoil ‘em and send ‘em home.
I used to roll my eyes when my folks said that, and now I’m them with a huge smile on my face…!!!!!

 

[rshell68]

I can’t wait!! We are less than a month away from our first grandchild. Will definitely be taking full advantage of this grandparent spoiling you’ve all been talking about!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

Saturday, June 29th, and our EPCOT Center day continued…!!!

After Soarin’, we then went to check out Living with the Land again.

Different pics this time around…!!!

The farmhouse and farm always reminds me of my grandparents farms in south-central Texas, although their farmhouses were definitely more modest.
The closest town to my Moms parents farm was Shiner, Texas about 5 miles away, and that’s where she and her 5 siblings went to school.
It’s where Shiner Beer is brewed. From what I’ve read, it’s now distributed in all 50 United States.
Anyhoo, they had horses, cattle, chickens, hounds, cats, large gardens near the house where they grew everything from green beans to watermelon.
Out in the fields, they also grew cotton, corn, sorghum, etc.
Sorry for the life story tidbit, but I have very fond memories of those farms, and this part of Living with the Land brings it all back to me in such a vividly beautiful way…!!!!!

I wonder if touchin’ the sand brings the same “banned for life” punishment with it as hoppin’ outta’ the boat and grabbin’ a cucumber…?!!!!!

And, that’s a lotta’ papaya…!!!

Up next: Saturday, June 29th, and our EPCOT Center day continued…!!!