There's A Human in the Human Tank: A November 2011 Trip Report

So here we are, it’s June, and I’m just now getting around to posting our Thanksgiving trip report. Sigh.

I was MIA on the boards for the first few months of the year mostly due to chaos and craziness at work. Don’t those people know that’s when I get most of my trip reporting done?! While work has slowed down quite a bit since the first of April, we have remained crazy busy at home. We bought and moved into our house in mid-December so quite a bit of time has went into all that that entails, from painting, to making curtains, decorating, purchasing new furniture, etc. But that’s not the only thing that’s kept us busy…

Because, you see, there’s a human in the human tank!

And well, we’ve been doing our best to prepare for the little one over the course of the last few months. So, please forgive me, my time has been spent nesting, buying every adorable baby item I see, and designing/pinning the cutest nursery on the planet.

The details...
- The little monkey is a boy, and we’re keeping his name a secret for now. But rest assured, he does have one!
- I’m at the end of my 37th week… ACK! That means, full-term. So really, he’ll be here any day now.
- He’s due to arrive on July 2nd and he’ll likely be introduced to the world via Instagram! Brett’s account, or mine, you never know.

We’re already planning his first Disney trip. You know, because that’s the first thing you do when you find out you’re having a baby! Granted, after doing the math, it became apparent that he actually came home with us at the conclusion of our Food & Wine Festival trip last fall. And he’s returned twice since, which leads us to this particular trip report – so let’s get to it.

This time around it’s not just Mr. and Mrs. Hollybelle, but Mama and Papa Hollybelle, as well! Also known as Kim and Rick! Here we all are, on one of our previous vacations, at the famed Maho Beach in St. Maarten:

We planned this trip around Thanksgiving because it gave us some vacation days to work with. With Brett’s current job, he gets next to no time off, so we’ve begun to find ourselves at the mercy of ridiculous holiday pricing when it comes to booking vacations. Initially, we had made our reservations for Port Orleans French Quarter, but without an AP rate, the price was a little tough to swallow. So when my mom came across a rock bottom deal for the Dolphin, we jumped on it and switched resorts.

As has been the case with a few of my last reports, this one is going to be heavy on the photos and light on text. Heck, I’m doing good to remember which parks we went to on which days.

So, as the anticipation over upcoming summer vacays mounts, is everyone ready for a healthy dose of holiday spirit and Christmas decoration?!

 

[HollyBelle]

Inside the park we braced ourselves for the great race to Toy Story Midway Mania…

And the guests continued to pile in behind us…

Rather than worry with fastpasses, we just filed along, at the order of the Green Army Men, and queued up for the ride.

There has to be a legitimate reason why they don’t use this portion of the queue in the mornings. I mean, people are always lined up in the walkways outside, so you’d think they’d keep it open.

As we were waiting in line, three fourths of a family came pushing by us to get up to the rest of their party – the lone family member who had gotten in line while the rest of them picked up fastpasses. Personally, this bugs me. It doesn’t bother me so much when the queue is still outside and it is easy for the family to access the person in line, but it irks me when people push their way up through a queue like this. The funniest part; however, was listening to the lady in front of us complain rather loudly about the whole thing. Especially seeing as how her husband had just done the EXACT SAME THING. Pot, meet kettle.

We picked up Bullseye (for our tree collection) upon exiting the ride and then headed over to Star Tours.

 

[HollyBelle]

Oh, hey Goofy, don’t mind the crazy lady with the bag over her face, trying to take your picture:

My mom and I wandered around taking some pictures while dad and Brett rode. Apparently, dad was the rebel spy and didn’t even realize it. Good thing Brett was there to point it out.

They exited the ride around 9am and we moseyed around Echo Lake without a destination in mind.

I’m not sure what it is about her, because she is quite random, but I love Dinosaur Gertie. She’s always so much fun to photograph…

Oh, hey, looks like I’m not the only one…

 

[HollyBelle]

It was time for breakfast and, being unfamiliar with non sit down options, we were kinda unsure where to turn. There was the Writer’s Stop and Starring Rolls, obviously, but I really wanted something a little more substantial, like a breakfast sandwich/croissant. My guess was that we’d find it at the counter service on Sunset. No such luck, as they weren’t open yet… so we turned around and headed back to Starring Rolls.

Looks like it was a coffee for Brett and pastries for everyone else:

After breakfast, Brett went to ride the Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster while the rest of us took in the sights on Sunset…

 

[HollyBelle]

I saw this shirt and thought of Brett immediately, knowing he would love it:

When we got to the picnic tables at the end of Sunset, we found the breakfast croissants… at Fairfaxe Fare. We didn’t go quite far enough in our search earlier. But now we know.

After Brett caught back up with us we debated our options. We had lunch reservations at Mama Melrose’s but didn’t really want to do anything else at the Studios. So we decided to stop by Guest Relations to cancel the ADRs and then head over to Downtown Disney to do a little shopping.

 

[HollyBelle]

Buh-bye Studios:

We parked on the Westside and hit up D Street, the Vinylmation store, before walking over to the Marketplace. A note about D Street… of all the places I have traded VMs, this is by far the most consistently strict when it comes to the “rules” of trading.

Brett picked up another Park Stars while we were there…

And, what do you know!? It was Honest Abe yet again!

 

[HollyBelle]

Portobello was looking pretty good when we got over to the Marketplace, so we sidled up to the bar and introduced my parents to the perfect meatball. As per usual, the meatballs were deliciously cheap. My mom had a Caesar salad that was very fresh and we indulged in some of their garlic spread… all the more indication that we really need to actually have a meal here one day and not just meatballs.

 

[HollyBelle]

After lunch we hit up the Marketplace to do a little shopping. Brett and I had some plush to pick out! The first was another in the Tote A Tail series… the Cheshire Cat with the maniacal grin:

And second, after much deliberation, and without knowing whether or not we’d be having a boy or girl, we decided the little bug’s first plush would be Donald Duck! A big deal…

After wearing ourselves out at the World of Disney store (where Brett gravitated directly toward the Rescue Rangers t-shirt), we grabbed some ice cream from Ghirardelli and spent some time people watching – always an interesting activity.

 

[HollyBelle]

With full bellies we headed back to the resort for another afternoon break. Looks like we made it back to our room around 2pm based on the data for this lone picture.

And we met back up with my parents at the boat launch shorty before 4pm. We decided, instead of driving, to take a stroll through Epcot on our way to the Magic Kingdom. This was most definitely an Epcot kind of trip. Being so strategically located near the Boardwalk made it so easy to enjoy this particular park.

In Canada, I took pictures while everyone else watched “O Canada.” I figured there was no reason to tempt the pregnancy gods with two Circlevision experiences. They very well may have made me puke this time for not learning my lesson the previous night.

 

[HollyBelle]

We picked up our third and final plush for the tree at the gift shop in Canada…

And then off to Future World we went.

Oh Duffy! Let me just tell you… in the last few months I’ve completely fallen in love with Duffy. This coming from a girl who wrote this two years ago. What can I say? He won me over. My mom gifted a Duffy bear to the baby around Christmastime and gave it to Brett and I and since that time we’ve decided he’s the cutest thing ever. Ever. Sigh… Disney how do you do it? I was on to you and yet you still managed to get me to buy into the hype!

In Future World, Brett and dad built themselves a rollercoaster at the Sum of All Thrills and then we made our way to the front of the park.

Dad was a big fan of this attraction. And I think it’s cool that he was able to enjoy something akin to a rollercoaster, since he can’t ride the real thrill rides anymore.

 

[Kristia]

Oooh, you’re doing the Goofy, too?! I can’t keep up with you and Shannon. As for the leggings, they really are great “housewear” - super comfy.

Yes...I think I went temporarily insane and signed the hubbie and I up for the Goofy. I need a better Eeeek! smiley Don't worry though..I think you could keep up with me. I think I will be moving pretty slow especially for the marathon portion! Shannon on the other hand is kicking A$$ on the training lol!

 

[HollyBelle]

We boarded a monorail and arrived to a packed Magic Kingdom just before 6pm.

In Adventureland, we hit up the Jungle Cruise first, followed by Pirates of the Caribbean.

 

[HollyBelle]

Without dinner reservations, we were again at the mercy of counter service. We found ourselves amid the fracas at Pecos Bill’s. It wasn’t fun. By the time we all got our food, found a table, and settled in to eat the majority of our meals were cold… further proof that we should just stick with table service even if they do cost a little more. At least we enjoy the food and we don’t get frustrated by the experience.

In Tomorrowland we did some Vinylmation trading and grabbed fastpasses for BLSRS before riding the TTA and getting in line for the Laugh Floor.

One of mom’s favorite rides…

 

[HollyBelle]

Looking to kill some time before the Magic, Memories, and You and Wishes, we took my parents to the Carousel of Progress. I think they got more of a kick out of the fact that Brett and I were singing along with each scene change than they did out of the attraction itself! Although, I can't blame them, as I've never been super fond of the attraction. I get its nostalgia for some, but it just doesn't do it for me.

 

[HollyBelle]

We parked ourselves in the middle of the hub for the first showing of MMY and anxiously awaited what has quickly become one of my favorite shows on property. Second only to Illuminations in my book these days. Although, I must say, even though I love that they change up the show with each passing season, it kills me that they took out my absolute favorite scene to do so. Sigh. No more Stitch. At first I didn’t think it was that big of a deal because I figured he’d be back after the holiday season. But then the Valentine’s Day version of love came out and now they’ve apparently got the summer version kicking. So I’m afraid he’s gone for good. So sad, as that’s the part that really moved me.

So, Disney veterans that we are, Brett and I have no clue how to pick fireworks viewing locations at the Magic Kingdom. We’re pros at Epcot, because we always tune in for Illuminations, but at the Magic Kingdom we suck. This has only become apparent to us in the last year because we are so enamored with the Magic, Memories and You. And because we’re already in the area, we decide to stick around for Wishes. Well, little did I know, we were so close to the castle that we couldn’t see a thing when it was time for the fireworks. It was actually quite hilarious. And the whole time we have this lady behind us throwing a very loud fit over the fact that no one in front of her will sit down. Really, woman? There’s nothing to see! I think this was the highest burst we saw:

Getting up Main Street was a task all its own, and the perfect justification for why Brett and I tend to avoid Wishes. I told my parents we’d all meet at the Confectionary on the left side of Main Street. It’s easier than trying to stick together. And this approach works for Brett because with his claustrophobic tendencies, it allows him to focus on and maneuver through the crowds without having to worry about whether or not he’s still with his group.

Eventually we all made it to the Confectionary where we picked up some cookies and our last minute goodies before heading out. The buses were a complete mess. All told, it took us over an hour to get back to the resort that night.

The next day was checkout and, being the Sunday after Thanksgiving, we decided we’d be better off to hit the road as early as possible due to expected traffic delays. And it was a good thing we did because what is usually a 7 – 7 ½ hour trip for us, easily took 10 hours.

Overall, it was a fabulous trip and I would definitely recommend staying at the Swan or Dolphin for anyone who is interested in the Boardwalk area but can’t afford to fork over the dough for those deluxe resorts.

I still have one more trip report to write (February 2012) before I’m fully caught up from my whirlwind year of Disney trips. I don’t know when I’ll get around to it, but with this little hiatus in our trips, I’m sure I’ll get to it before we go back. Speaking of… we’ve thrown around a couple of different options for our next trip. I really want to participate in Marathon Weekend 2013, so that is one option. In fact, what I really want to do is the full marathon, but I don’t know whether or not that is truly feasible six months after birthing a human. At the very least I would like to do the half marathon so I’m thinking that trip is on the agenda. The little man will be six months old then, so maybe we can also register for the family fun run!

The other idea we’re toying around with is sometime during the Food and Wine Festival this year. He’ll be 3-4 months old at that time. And Momma likes wine! Don’t worry though, I fully realize that these trips will be at a completely different pace and are for us and not him… but really, I can’t imagine us not taking our child to Disney within the first 6-12 months of his life. No way are we waiting until he’s a full-blown toddler.

Thanks for following along everyone. Until next time!

 

[HollyBelle]

Yes...I think I went temporarily insane and signed the hubbie and I up for the Goofy. I need a better Eeeek! smiley Don't worry though..I think you could keep up with me. I think I will be moving pretty slow especially for the marathon portion! Shannon on the other hand is kicking A$$ on the training lol!

Good for you and the hubs! I have dreams of doing the Goofy one day. You can totally do it - it's all about crossing that finish line.

And hooray for you, Shannon. I hope Princess Craigy can keep up.

 

[Ariel484]

Glad to hear Will is doing much better! And hooray for the Goofy! Do you think Princess Craigy will train for this one? And listen to his nursing podcasts along the course? That is still the funniest thing ever to me – who does that? I would be so NOT motivated.

Who knows with that kid. Actually he's looking to start grad school, so he very well may not get a great amount of training in. We shall see! You're totally right that the nursing podcast thing was bizarre, but it ended up working out for him - he passed the test he was studying for on the first try. Smartypants.

Right now, my thinking is that I will sign up for the full marathon and then if it turns out that I’ve taken on more than I can handle, I can transfer it to the half marathon, which seems like a very manageable and attainable goal six months post-baby. I didn’t know you could do this, and I’m still skeptical about it, but it does say on the website that you can transfer your registration to one of the other events in the same weekend. I need to call and inquire about this. I’m watching the website and noticed that the full is already at 53% capacity.

I think that's a good call. I've never transfered myself, but I know it's done a lot at other races, so if they are offering that service it doesn't seem like it should be an issue. You're smart to call ahead of time. And I just looked on the site...the half is now 51% full, and the full is 57% full! Would Brett be running, or are his distance race days over?

EDITED TO ADD: Eh? Where't the shrugging icon??

Can my race registration be refunded?
Entry fees for the 2013 Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend events are non-refundable. The transfer deadline for all events is December 1, 2012. No exceptions will be made. (due to injury, pregnancy or scheduling conflicts).

I’m totally thinking characters at WWOS. What else could it be? Now, whether or not they’re super rare remains to be seen. As for the course, I hate losing Epcot in the morning, because I enjoyed that pass through Epcot so much more than the one at the end. But the good thing about it is it’ll really feel like progress getting to the MK so quickly. AND if WWOS is a character palooza than that will be a much needed pick-me-up at a very crucial time in the mileage. I remember hating life when I hit the Studios because I was counting on the characters and we were met with so few, so having something exciting to experience during “the wall” would be nice. I haven’t looked closely enough at the course to see how much it winds through that area, but nothing could be worse than the winding Studios during the W&D, so it probably won’t be too bad.

That is true about the WWoS surprise being a good pick-me-up. I'm with you...the part in the Studios was SO disappointing as far as characters go. If I recall correctly, none were new to me.

I’m not entirely sure where she found the discount – I think it was through one of the usual travel sites like expedia.

I like Kona for all three meals, but our most recent dinner there (May 2011) was so-so in comparison to previous meals we’ve had there. And yeah, lunch is pretty fabulous.

AVOID the cream puff at all costs!

Thanks for the S&D tip...sounds like a good option for a last-minute trip. And I will avoid that cream puff! BOO!

Yes...I think I went temporarily insane and signed the hubbie and I up for the Goofy. I need a better Eeeek! smiley Don't worry though..I think you could keep up with me. I think I will be moving pretty slow especially for the marathon portion! Shannon on the other hand is kicking A$$ on the training lol!

Who's doing what now?!

You're doing awesome too...don't think I don't stalk the "What Did You Do?" thread, even if I don't post often.

Good for you and the hubs! I have dreams of doing the Goofy one day. You can totally do it - it's all about crossing that finish line.

And hooray for you, Shannon. I hope Princess Craigy can keep up.

He was in better shape than I was last year, so we'll see.

------------------------

Aw, the report's over already?! Sadness.

Ah, Starring Rolls...so good. Those pastries look delicious! Really strange that you guys had such problems finding breakfast options at the Studios.

Love that Rescue Rangers shirt! I need to find that for Will. Did Brett end up buying it?

Your night shows look really great, they seem to have improved a lot. I really love them!

Again, so glad that you posted this! Enjoy your last few days as a family of 2! [/quote]

 

[imagination30]

ekk thants shannon for the heads up , my friend and i better register this week to beable to get in.. bc i dont want to miss out.. and do all my training for nothing

 

[NewfieFan]

Awww, bummer! I'm going the first part of September. We probably would have waited until later in Sept. to go but we're planning a big family trip again. My parents and my brother (Uncle Matt) and his wife are coming, so we had to work around their schedules. Glad to hear you're planning a trip with your baby. Don't let anyone scare you out of it. Yes, it will be different to what you're use to (but such is life after a child comes along) and it could be difficult... but it will be worth it. If you change your expectations and go at your child's pace you will have a wonderful time! I look forward to hearing when the little dude arrives. Make sure you update this thread or something! Do you have the nursery done? And pics to share? *bats eyelashes*

Great TR and thanks for sharing!

 

[meganw1985]

I'm sad the trip report is over!!! Next one!!! We already have our big family trip in the first stages of planning for next June, BUT I got a free dining pin code for December, and I'm debating on taking them up on that. Mine will be 3 months-ish, and with Ian's job, he wouldn't be able to make it down with me, so it would probably just be me and the kiddos for a few days. Dunno if that would be too much or not, but with Brett going to be ten, maybe not so bad??

Have not yet seen Magic, Memories, and You. Looks beautiful. Illuminations is def my favorite, so it would be difficult to live up to!

 

[MrsWhiffo]

Let’s talk about the leggings, shall we? I totally debated over whether or not it was appropriate for me to buy these. I mean, they’re certainly cute. That can’t be denied. But how cute is it for an old pregnant married chic to be wearing them?! Sure, put them on a 5 year old, or even 12 or 16 year old and they’re super cute. But on me? I don’t know. Disney is for kids of all ages though, right? And that is when I decided to take the plunge and spend a whole $6 on them. I don’t wear them out in public here at home though. Don’t worry.

Those legging rock! Do not deny the fabulousness of them, you must wear them in public!!! They are totally hipster worthy!!