Trip Report The I'm Ditching the Spreadsheets....an Unrecognizable Trip!

We arrived home around 10pm last night from our Disney vacation. The planning for this trip started in March, but by September it was not even close to the original. So how did it all turn out? Did I make the correct decisions? Was this trip as hectic as the last one? Should I have cancelled so many dining reservations? Did we miss too much because upon arrival I decided to rip up the spread sheets..the same ones that I so painstakingly obsessed over?! I'm thinking about all of this as I am attempting to organize my 609,504,302 photos.

There were a few hiccups, including my Etsy order not arriving in time, sprinting to the Magical Express just as the doors closed, leaving our Elf on the Shelf in the room after check out, getting stuck on a ride, a missing boat captain, broken ornaments, and a horrible 3 hour lunch. All in all it was an amazing trip. I do not regret the decision to change from the original plans, or the second, or the 3rd, or even the plans I had when we were on the plane heading to Orlando. I decided to throw out most of them and take a (semi) wing it approach.

 

[21stamps]

So far in the trip we've had a few hiccups.. but today was about to be a series of unfortunate events.. some minor, some a little more frustrating.

Unfortunate Event #1-

I FORGOT LUKE!!!

I realized it as we were on the monorail heading to the TTC. I almost hyperventilated. How would I explain his absence??? We were about to miss our first FP, but I told T that I forgot something in the room. "What?" "Umm, my drivers license."

We take the monorail all the way around back to GF. I have him go look at the bird cage while I go to the front desk. I explain what I did and ask if housekeeping had been in our room yet..and if I could enter again. The person I dealt with was wonderful!!! She grabbed someone to take me to the room..and said that she would watch T!!! I brought him over and she asked him if he could help her greet new guests. Whew!!
Alright off to the room! Akim ended up being inside when I arrived..Luke was thrown on the floor, so I'm extra glad that I arrived right then!
I thank the CM who walked with me, and then literally sprinted back to the main lobby. Luke stuffed inside my bag..this made me nervous, but oh well..I'll just have to be extra careful today.
I scoop up T, thank the front desk CM again..and off to Epcot we go!!!
Crisis averted!!!!

Goodbye (for real this time) GF!!

Epcot here we come!!
T has cheered up and is ready to go!!

 

[21stamps]

We get a few photos taken. T was extra excited to see Stitch represented.

Then head inside to walk around for a bit, we missed our Mission Space FP, luckily I was able to push it back a little.

We had a 1pm Garden Grill Candlelight Processional Dining Package scheduled.. we had a little less than an hour before we would check in, so we decided to walk around and find Photo Pass spots.

Then, we check in to Garden Grill.
And wait.
And wait.
And wait some more..
Waited 40 minutes to be seated.

Finally get seated!!!
We then wait about 10 minutes for our drinks. But- Luckily a character came around in the meantime.

..and finally.. our salad and bread arrives!!!

 

[21stamps]

Garden Grill Candlelight Processional Package Continued..

The salad and bread was delicious..and good thing it was, it sat on our table for 35 minutes. Every character came around before our main dish was brought out.

Then.. the main course arrived!! Food was good but I'm starting to get worried.
Just then all of the characters made their way around to us again...before we were even close to desert...

This was crazy. We never had refills, and I think we actually saw our server twice during the entire time. Notice our salad bowls in the photo..we never had any dishes cleared during our time there.

When she does come to check on us I tell her that we don't have time for dessert, and I'll just take the check please.

$111.00 before tip.

She brought us this because she didn't think we should leave without dessert...said she wanted T to have cookies to go.
Awesome.
It is now @ 3:30 and our CP time is 5pm.
we're supposed to check in at 4:30.
We have yet to go on one ride.
I never thought that Lunch would take this long!!!

I'm a big fan of Garden Grill, but this was not my best experience while there.

 

[21stamps]

Finally leave Garden Grill and book it over to Mission Space for our FP.
We have less than one hour for Future World!!
Neil Patrick Harris and the Story Tellers were very important to us. (NPH for me-but the idea of the CP for T)

Avoided the play house, but did stop to play a few games and send 2 postcards.

 

[21stamps]

We exit Mission Space around 4:05.
Test Track (T's favorite) has a FP line with a 25 minute wait.

We have a decision to make.

"T, do you want to go on more rides, or do you want to go to the Candlelight Processional?"

"Umm, both."

"We can't do both. We can try to come back here later tonight though, but if you want to do CP and the Storytellers, I just can't promise that we'll have enough time for all of it."

"Fine. Let's just do rides and skip the Christmas Show."

We decide to find 2 people to give our CP tickets to.
First 2 couples that we asked already had a dining package. The 3rd did not. They were thrilled.

At least my overpriced lunch gave someone else a good time.lol

I shake it off. Take a few deep breaths, and decide to put it out of my mind.
Test Track here we come!

 

[21stamps]

As I said, this is one of T's favorite attractions, so we spent quite a bit of time inside.

These photos crack me up- he was trying to look like a "grown up man with a cool car".

As much as I love Neil Patrick Harris, and as much as I wanted to see the Candlelight Processional.. giving our tickets away for this - was totally worth it.

 

[21stamps]

It was now 5:30 and I didn't want us to miss all of the Storytellers..
So we make our way to the World Showcase.

 

[MinnieM123]

Packed up the last of our miscellaneous items and waited for bell services to pick up our luggage. T wrote his final "Thank You" card to our mousekeeper Akim.

I love the note that your son wrote to the housekeeper. That was so thoughtful of him--what a nice boy you have.

 

[21stamps]

I was extremely excited to try all (or as many as I could consume) of the food from the Holiday Kiosks!

I didn't expect the lines to be so long!!
1st I get an adult coffee from a Joffrey's kiosk that only had 3 people in line. T didn't want anything. The holiday coffee was delicious.

Did not want to wait for food in Mexico, and didn't have time for the Gran Fiesta tour yet,, it's time for Norway to see the next scheduled Storyteller.

It was a cute show!

Now we can go back to Mexico for Donald and friends..

 

[21stamps]

We only made it to one other Storyteller, most of the shows had ended already.
We made our way around World Showcase stopping for food and enjoying the sights along the way.
Most of the waits were too long for food, and I completely regret not eating and drinking if France!! I heard wonderful things about it..so maybe it's an excuse to go back to WDW during the holidays again

This caramel drink was delicious..for the first 3 sips. I wish I would have only bought 1 for us to share. We ended up throwing both out without drinking 1/4 of them.

I'm so over his dabs!lol Half of my photos are of this pose

 

[21stamps]

Morocco has always been my favorite pavilion. Tangerine Cafe my favorite QS.
I was thrilled that in 2015 my son fell in love with both as well!!

We enjoy the band, the food, the shops, everything about it. We definitely spend more time in Morocco than any other pavilion.

My only complaint is the children's food choices. Come on Disney, would it be so difficult to have a children's sized falafel or couscous, or something?

Last year we both ordered full meals, this year we just shared one. We've been eating non stop for the past 2 hours.lol

Sorry that I'm so inconsistent with food photos.lol. I remember to take them about 3/10 times

Now France..with the crazy long kiosk lines.

England..

My kid is fascinated with pay phones every time we see one.
Last year in Key West he had to make at least 5 phone calls from one..he thinks they are hysterical. Generation Gap.

 

[21stamps]

I'm doing our photopass pics separately, mostly because they crack me up.

Notice all of the "ghosts" in our photos.

 

[21stamps]

Back to Future World to do a few rides, and then use our Illuminations FP.
I am VERY EXCITED for Illuminations with the Holiday Tag!!!

Dancing to the music and lights

We LOVED the new Soarin'!!!

Nemo

This kid will NOT Move.

The Seas..

T loves Spaceship Earth, so we decide to quickly do that before checking in to Illuminations.

We stop to snap a quick "cheat" photo with Baymax.
Gotta do what you gotta do to get a photo with a character

 

[21stamps]

We board Spaceship Earth..

Then the last UNFORTUNATE EVENT of the day happens.
We get STUCK!!!!!!!
Right here- with the stars.

For 35 MINUTES!!!!
No Illuminations for us.
T takes a nap.

I'm so sad!!!!!!
I'm ready for this day to be over!!!!!!
Missed CP, missed a bunch of the Storytellers, now MISSING ILLUMINATIONS!!!

UGH!!!!!!

We finally move again. Then get stuck on the way down for maybe 3 minutes or so. Then move again.
I take a few photos of our "adventures", and I order an Uber to come pick us up.

Park was closed now. I'm sad, annoyed, and don't want to deal with people on a bus.
I trip over a curb and totally wipe out on the way to the parking lot. In front of hundreds of people. Awesome. Perfect ending to our day here.

I get up, brush the pebbles off of me. Notice that I ripped my leggings, and then go find the white Camry that's picking us up.
Uber takes us to Wilderness Lodge to check in.
T promptly falls asleep on a lobby sofa.

I'm too sad/annoyed to enjoy our surroundings. (Yes I'm pouting)
At this point I'm just ready for bed.
We go up to the room..T gets ready for bed and falls asleep asap.
I wait for Bell Services to deliver our luggage.
Luckily I remember to set Luke on the bottom bunk of T's bed, and then I promptly fall asleep as well.

Ohana and Animal Kingdom tomorrow.

 

[21stamps]

I love the note that your son wrote to the housekeeper. That was so thoughtful of him--what a nice boy you have.

He has his moments
He loved doing it. Every morning when he woke up he would say "I have to make the card for Akim!" He carefully selected the stickers, and would go get money out of the safe to put inside the card..

Akim was Middle Eastern, so hopefully he wasn't offended. I didn't have the heart to tell T that he shouldn't use the stickers.

 

[WDWDarling]

Just binge read your entire report and I'm loving it! Definitely following along. I agree though, writing a trip report is harder (and more time consuming) than I thought it was going to be which makes me really appreciate all of you who take the time to do it!

T is absolutely adorable and I loved reading about all the special moments you had together on this trip.

I'm sorry your EPCOT day was kind of a bummer but it I'm hoping the rest of your trip was good. Thank you for sharing!

 

[Zipadeelady]

We board Spaceship Earth..
View attachment 189397

Then the last UNFORTUNATE EVENT of the day happens.
We get STUCK!!!!!!!
Right here- with the stars.
View attachment 189398

For 35 MINUTES!!!!
No Illuminations for us.
T takes a nap.
View attachment 189399

I'm so sad!!!!!!
I'm ready for this day to be over!!!!!!
Missed CP, missed a bunch of the Storytellers, now MISSING ILLUMINATIONS!!!

UGH!!!!!!

We finally move again. Then get stuck on the way down for maybe 3 minutes or so. Then move again.
I take a few photos of our "adventures", and I order an Uber to come pick us up.
View attachment 189400 View attachment 189401

Park was closed now. I'm sad, annoyed, and don't want to deal with people on a bus.
I trip over a curb and totally wipe out on the way to the parking lot. In front of hundreds of people. Awesome. Perfect ending to our day here.

I get up, brush the pebbles off of me. Notice that I ripped my leggings, and then go find the white Camry that's picking us up.
Uber takes us to Wilderness Lodge to check in.
T promptly falls asleep on a lobby sofa.
View attachment 189402

I'm too sad/annoyed to enjoy our surroundings. (Yes I'm pouting)
At this point I'm just ready for bed.
We go up to the room..T gets ready for bed and falls asleep asap.
I wait for Bell Services to deliver our luggage.
Luckily I remember to set Luke on the bottom bunk of T's bed, and then I promptly fall asleep as well.

Ohana and Animal Kingdom tomorrow.

This post makes me so sad. I feel so bad for you. And I have to tell you that for some deep dark reason people falling makes me laugh, I don't know why but it does but when I read your post all I could do is stare at the computer. What a ty day.

 

[21stamps]

Just binge read your entire report and I'm loving it! Definitely following along. I agree though, writing a trip report is harder (and more time consuming) than I thought it was going to be which makes me really appreciate all of you who take the time to do it!

T is absolutely adorable and I loved reading about all the special moments you had together on this trip.

I'm sorry your EPCOT day was kind of a bummer but it I'm hoping the rest of your trip was good. Thank you for sharing!

Thank you!! The trip was absolutely wonderful, just a few annoying moments.lol

This post makes me so sad. I feel so bad for you. And I have to tell you that for some deep dark reason people falling makes me laugh, I don't know why but it does but when I read your post all I could do is stare at the computer. What a ****ty day.

Ha ha. I wouldn't blame anyone for laughing while watching me completely trip and lunge forward flat on my face.lol
Overall it was still a good day. I wasted a lot of time by having to go back for our Elf. We had an hour later start than planned, but yeah missing Illuminations wasn't on my to do list..I was less upset about that than I was about Garden Grill.
To spend that much on lunch..rush out main course, skip dessert, while being there well over 2 hours.. that was annoying. We had really been looking forward to the CP, but I don't regret skipping it for Test Track and WS. Hopefully the couple we gave the tickets to enjoyed it! I received Pixie Dust at HS, so maybe that was my time to pay it forward.
(It is much easier to feel this way after the fact lol In that moment I was angry, frustrated, and sad)

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Thank you!! The trip was absolutely wonderful, just a few annoying moments.lol

Ha ha. I wouldn't blame anyone for laughing while watching me completely trip and lunge forward flat on my face.lol
Overall it was still a good day. I wasted a lot of time by having to go back for our Elf. We had an hour later start than planned, but yeah missing Illuminations wasn't on my to do list..I was less upset about that than I was about Garden Grill.
To spend that much on lunch..rush out main course, skip dessert, while being there well over 2 hours.. that was annoying. We had really been looking forward to the CP, but I don't regret skipping it for Test Track and WS. Hopefully the couple we gave the tickets to enjoyed it! I received Pixie Dust at HS, so maybe that was my time to pay it forward.
(It is much easier to feel this way after the fact lol In that moment I was angry, frustrated, and sad)

I realize now why you were agonizing about whether or not you wouldt go back down for T's birthday in April. The last day was not the best ending to what was a great trip. Guess you want to have an ending redo. I know I would.

 

[21stamps]

I realize now why you were agonizing about whether or not you wouldt go back down for T's birthday in April. The last day was not the best ending to what was a great trip. Guess you want to have an ending redo. I know I would.

We still have 3 days to go on this trip..so luckily it didn't end in that way! But, yes, I'm concerned with his BDay because I don't want to do the "choose one" again. I felt like we were constantly picking between two "must dos"... it's why I'm still hesitant about the April trip..and why I made sure that it was fully refundable if I decide to cancel.lol