Trip Report You Can't Beat This Deal...Two Trip Reports for the Price of One! *COMPLETED*

Hi Everyone!

As some of you may know, it's been a very busy, Disney filled, end of the summer for us! After scrambling to find new vacations plans thanks to Hurricane Lane and having just returned from a solo trip to attend the Disney Institute Approach to Quality Service course, I have almost been able to get all of the photos downloaded and I'm nearly ready to report on our adventures.

Both trips we're remarkably different from what our typical Disney trip would look like but both were fantastic experiences and I'm really looking forward to sharing them with you.

I am planning on uploading the last of our pictures from the camera tonight and will start diving into the details very soon!

 

[Matt and Kelly]

Following. And I feel so bad for fussing about our 68 degrees today! Snow? Already?

Thanks for following! Thankfully the snow is all gone, just an early taste of what's to come in a few months I guess. The last few days have been much more fall-like here in Edmonton. Quite nice for late September.

 

[sheriffwoody]

Catching up! I know I've said it before, but your girls are so darn cute! So sorry the Hawaii trip didn't work out, but I'm glad we get to follow along with your Disney adventures because of it

 

[Matt and Kelly]

Catching up! I know I've said it before, but your girls are so darn cute! So sorry the Hawaii trip didn't work out, but I'm glad we get to follow along with your Disney adventures because of it

Welcome to the report! It was a major letdown about Hawaii but at least we were safe and were able to make something fun happen last minute.

 

[Matt and Kelly]

We arrived back at the resort and the girls were ready for some pool time. The moms had to head to the front desk to resolve a MagicBand issue so we made our way back to the room to get ready for a dip.

I figured since Disney implemented the new unlock feature on MDE, I should at least try it once….
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29j2DYc]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

Success! Neat little feature but since my MagicBand is never not on my wrist I’m not sure how often I would use it. Nice to know there is a backup just in case though.

In my last trip reports, I’ve talked a little bit about how I’ve really picked up running over the last year or so and in doing some quick research before we took off for Orlando I was pretty excited to read about the running trails between Riverside and the French Quarter. That said, for some reason, I decided it would be a good idea to head out for a quick run, at 2 pm in the afternoon, in 40 degree temps (Celsius), with humidity you only find in Edmonton if you’re sitting in a steam room at the gym. I figured how hard could a little 3km jaunt around Port Orleans really be? So I quickly changed, made sure I had some liquids to take with me and set off.

It was still a gorgeous day and I really enjoyed running along the bank of the Sassagoula River. As I followed the trail from FQ to Riverside, it didn’t take long for me to start to feel the effects of the temperature and the humidity to kick in. I was sweating like crazy and I wasn’t even one km in. I hit the water bottle quickly and forged on. Running through the Riverside was very nice. The resort is much larger than FQ and I quite liked the changing looks of the lodges as you moved from different area to different area. Great theming throughout.

Eventually, I rounded the river, crossed a bridge and was back on my way towards the FQ. I got a little confused on how far the trials actually spanned so by the time I got back to our room my run was just a shade under 3km and about 17 minutes which is definitely slower than I’m used to.

I had to take a break on the benches near the grass courtyard, replenish my fluids and let the sweat pour outta me before heading back to the room to change for the pool. I was a mess!
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aGwkV6]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

But I did enjoy the quick little breather, taking in some of the great detail around the resort.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29iYNs2]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

In the room the girls had come back to find the Mousekeeping had arranged the stuffies they brought with them. This was the start of a game the kids would play with Mousekeeping every day to see what new set up they would come back to after a day at the parks.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2bdmJGP]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

Len also had some new friends to add to the party.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2bdmGZv]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

From there we all got ready to head to the pool. It was a perfect day to lay in the sun, enjoy a few drinks and grab a quick bite to eat. The kids had uncrustable sandwiches that we ordered from Garden Grocer. It was so convenient to have some lunch stuff ready and available for whenever they might be hungry. Kelly ordered a chicken Caesar wrap from the pool bar and I had a Mickey Pretzel with cheese. Not quite the lunch plans we would have planned if we had more time to schedule our trip in a little more detail but we were comfortable flying by the seat of our pants on this one and enjoying the time we had in Disney.

We spent a couple of hours around the pool before finally making our way book to our rooms to get ready to head to EPCOT. We had a late dinner reservation at Le Cellier and we wanted to get a few rides in before we sat down to eat.

 

[Matt and Kelly]

I forgot to add these earlier but these were the books of choice while spending a little time at the pool.


Kelly mentioned that another poster was reading Beyond the Wisdom of Walt while reading through a trip report some months ago and I really wanted to check it out.

I ended up reading them out of order but was glad I did as it was really cool to walk around WDW having just read so much about the backstory.

Great books and I highly recommend for any Disney fans who want to draw some personal inspiration from Walt and his Disneyland/World dreams.

 

[MegRuss626]

I forgot to add these earlier but these were the books of choice while spending a little time at the pool.


Kelly mentioned that another poster was reading Beyond the Wisdom of Walt while reading through a trip report some months ago and I really wanted to check it out.

I ended up reading them out of order but was glad I did as it was really cool to walk around WDW having just read so much about the backstory.

Great books and I highly recommend for any Disney fans who want to draw some personal inspiration from Walt and his Disneyland/World dreams.

Just downloaded the first one to my kindle app! Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll read it to pass time before our trip in 24 days! Also, for anyone with amazon prime, this first book is included with your membership!

 

[Matt and Kelly]

Just downloaded the first one to my kindle app! Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll read it to pass time before our trip in 24 days! Also, for anyone with amazon prime, this first book is included with your membership!

I hope you enjoy the books as much as I did. Jeffrey is a massive Disney fan and he really does a nice job of using stories and examples involving Walt and the parks as ways to get his lessons/advice across.

Let me know what you think!

 

[Matt and Kelly]

It was @blgauger with the book! Thanks for the suggestion.
Kelly

 

[Matt and Kelly]

After a quick shower and some time to pull ourselves together, everyone was ready to head over to EPCOT for the evening.

We’d been hyping Le Cellier to the moms for the last couple days and we were really hoping they’d enjoy it when it came time to eat. Our reservations weren’t until 830 (park close at 9) so we still had some time to accomplish a few things before we had to check in.

Another pretty quick bus ride had us rolling through security and the main gates in no time. Another “Welcome Home” greeting awaited from the Cast Member who noticed the purple glow after I scanned my finger to enter the park. I enjoyed that added touch.

I always love seeing the Spaceship Earth structure when walking into the park. Such a great icon and always makes for some great photo opportunities no matter where you are in the park.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aBtzxJ]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

We had FP+ for Living with the Land that was now open for us but as we started to walk by SSE the wait was only 5 minutes so we decided to forego the boat tour and jump on SSE.

Lennon has become a massive fan of this ride but the best we can figure is she really just likes having her picture taken at the beginning. Kelly, on the other hand, would be most pleased to skip this ride as much as possible. I’m somewhere in the middle. I enjoy the attraction and am happy to ride it at least once a trip so off we went.

I can’t recall if the moms have ridden on previous trips but I don’t think so. At any rate, it was a nice way to kick off our evening and Amit was a ride guaranteed not to cause any further neck damage to Deb!

When we were done on SSE the kids wanted to ride Journey into the Imagination before that pavilion closed...yay. Before we made our way to see Figment, I was tasked with running to grab a return time for Soarin’ as that was a cannot miss for the moms that evening. I made the walk to the Land to retrieve a time and met up with the group at Club Cool.

I was thirsty but really I wanted to see if the moms would take the Beverly challenge. We sampled a few of the tastier options before I talked them into a taste of Beverly. Expectedly they nearly gagged and while I choked it down myself I enjoyed a laugh at their expense.

From Beverly it was over to figment. We arrived shortly before the pavilion was to close so we did take a rip through the imagination lab. With that extremely catchy tune in our heads and Lennon laughing nonstop at the skunk smell, we left Imagination and made our way towards the World Showcase for a Frozen FP+.

On our way we found a cool PhotoPass spot with no line so we jumped right in.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/PfR2mC]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/28CDx93]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2ai7poh]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2ai7oaL]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

Deb has never been on the rebranded Frozen ride but my mom was able to check it out in April when she was there for her Disney Institute program and she was a fan of the new attraction. Of course, the kids love it and they kept telling grandma Deb how much fun it is but they did warn her about it possibly going backward. With that her panic set in once more!

We arrived at Frozen and made our way through the FP line. I’ve never actually been through the standby line in this ride so I’ve yet to see the full queue but what you do get to see in the FP line is spot on Arendelle.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/LWA5ZT]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

We loaded up on the ride and off we went. I do like the ride but my complaint remains they really could have done more. Too much blank space throughout that likely could have added so much more. I was never a Maelstrom fan so this to me is still better but what could have been I guess.

Deb really liked the ride, even with the backward part. Still nursing that crick in the neck!
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2a1amoX]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

We didn’t really plan our EPCOT visit that well as after Frozen we went back to the Land for Soarin’. Lots of walking back and forth, at least we were getting our steps in for the day.

Soarin’ is a favourite for everyone, except Len. On the last trip she somehow got all freaked out by the whale jumping and a few other scenes that kinda spooked her. She also got it in her head that you get wet. It did take some convincing to get her on but eventually we were all in front of the monitors listening to David Puddy going over the preflight routine. High-five.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29jeMkH]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

Soarin’ continues to be great and Lennon was over her fear pretty quickly. Funny imaginations on those little ones. Deb was a big fan of the new video too. I still miss the old score though!

We were starting to run out of time before dinner but we had just enough to walk over to the Seas and swim through the big blue world with Nemo.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aGoKoz]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

We ended up picking up a few souvenirs in the gift shop before finding our stroller in the dark and heading back home to Canada for a good meal.

As we walked through the pathways it was pretty neat to see all the Food and Wine kiosks and sitting areas getting ready to open later in the week. I’ve never been to Food and Wine but it looks like a very cool setup.

We arrive at Le Cellier around 830 only to find they were running behind and we likely wouldn’t be seated until after 900! We had no other option but to hang out and wait.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/27WqjnC]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

The kids were hungry and Ella’s glucose levels were starting to drop so Kelly took them to find something to eat while we waited. I think they were happy with what they found!
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2bdmGAV]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

As we waited near the restaurant, illuminations started behind us. The moms took the girls up to watch for a bit while Kelly and I waited. Admittedly I have never seen Illuminations before and have been dying to see it at least once, especially after learning it wouldn’t be around much longer. Oh well, it would have to wait until another day I guess.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/Nz3FCq]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/NypWim]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

Finally, we were called in to sit down for our late night meal and everyone but the girls who were now full of donut, were ready to eat!

We were sat in Ontario and quickly informed our server that we were all Canadians which always makes for a fun conversation about where everyone is from.

We browsed the menu for a few minutes and everyone was eventually ready to make out selections. Everyone ordered the filet, but I wasn’t quite feeling like driving a steak into me after 9pm so I went with the cheddar cheese soup and the signature poutine.

One of the unsung highlights of Le Cellier are the pretzel rolls that come in the bread basket and they were even that much better with the soup!
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29jbogc]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

The soup was terrific. Hearty and full of flavour. Almost a meal in itself. The poutine, though quite different than the traditional poutine we enjoy here in Canada was tasty as well. Maybe a tad too gourmet for me but still good.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/27W1GdE]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/NynoiJ]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

The others raved about their steaks and were big-time fans of the risotto. Even with all the hype leading in, Le Cellier didn’t disappoint.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/LWutyH]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

It was after 10 and a bit too late for dessert so we squared up on our bill and made our way out. Ready to head back to the resort after a pretty full day.

As we walked back up towards World Showcase to head to the exit the park was virtually empty. It was so cool to casually stroll towards the gates with nobody else around. We definitely took our time looking around and taking a few parting shots before finally sauntering through the exit and back to the bus stop.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29j482i]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/LWAjyX]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/NySr3d]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

Even with our later start, we still had a very full day and everyone was ready to get home and get some rest. We enjoyed the relaxed start to the day so decided we might as well try it again the next day. We were heading to Animal Kingdom and a return visit to Pandora! By the time we returned to the hotel and settled into the room it was about 1130. Time for some shuteye but it wasn’t exactly the good nights' sleep we were hoping for.

 

[dizfan917]

My oldest son at 6 when he put on glasses for the first time: “Mommy, there are LEAVES on that tree!”


Worst Mom Ever award

whoa! I said the exact same thing... fourth grade. I still think of that when I drive past that same tree once in a while...

 

[Matt and Kelly]

Day Three – Animal Kingdom/Disney Springs

Even after a full day that ended pretty close to midnight, we thought we would have a pretty solid sleep but it was not to be. At some point during any vacation that involves a change in the time zone, inevitably we come across issues with Ella’s blood sugar levels. Changing the time on her pump does affect the levels of insulin given to her throughout the day and it seems we always have one night that we struggle to keep her at a consistent level.

Even with that tasty donut, we spent a majority of our evening trying to get her levels up but she kept dropping into a dangerous level so sleep was limited. When we did finally get her levels back to normal, we were all quick to fall asleep and we enjoyed getting a little extra shuteye in the morning.

Kelly and I were up before the girls to get ready and prepare breakfast. After I was showered and dressed, I made my way to grab a coffee and take in some of the little details around the resort that makes Disney better than everyone else. I quite enjoyed the French Quarter and the job Disney does to create the story is top notch. These little things definitely stood out to me.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/Nz4SRA]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

When I returned with my coffee we woke the girls, got them up and moving and laid out breakfast for them while we packed up our park bag and got ready to meet the moms.

When everyone was ready to go we were out the door and headed to the bus stop to head to Animal Kingdom. Deb had yet to see Pandora and my mom did have the chance to check it out in April but didn’t get the opportunity to ride Flights of Passage. Ella was telling them how much she loved that ride but Lennon was quick to chime in about how she was scared of it and Na’vi River Journey was much better!

We arrived at Animal Kingdom after another quick bus ride, again only about 10 minutes which was great. It was another very warm morning and we were getting pretty sticky. It was a good thing our first FP+ was for Kali River Rapids and wisely the moms and the kids had packed their ponchos just in case. They would definitely come in handy this morning.

As we walked through security and the main gates, I jetted off to Pandora to get a return time for the River Journey while the group went ahead to Kali. I made my way through a pretty big crowd headed to Pandora and secured our return time. As I made my way back to the group I was struck by the number of people and the length of the line of folks waiting to ride FoP. I slowly made my way through that weaving line and tried to get back to the group as quick as possible. I was reminded just how big AK really is and how well it’s themed throughout.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29j2DdK]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/Nz4cKQ]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/NyPKcA]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

I finally made my way back and we were ready to get wet. Len was a little worried but having the ponchos definitely eased the tension. We walked through the FP line and were loaded onto our raft after about 10 minutes or so. We were seated with a few other guests and off we went.

Now Kali can’t hold a candle to Grizzly River Run in DCA and even if it’s fairly short, there is still plenty of time to get soaked. And soaked I got. I thought for sure the giant stream of shooting water right in the middle of the rapids was only there to provide a scare and would eventually shut off as rafts got closer. Nope. It kept flowing and I was directly underneath it. Awesome. Kelly and I were poncho-less and we both got wet, but I took the worst of it. The girls loved it but I did not! At least it was super-hot and I should dry fast.

Still soaked...
[url=https://flic.kr/p/LVVP6z]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

We got off the ride, gathered our stuff from the free locker and headed back to Pandora for the River Journey. The walk was pretty slow but welcome as the sun was helping dry me a little bit. We arrived through the main entrance and Deb was in awe of the detail of Pandora.

Even having been there in the recent past, it is pretty stunning what they accomplished with this area. Those floating mountains really are a sight to see.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/LWwA28]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aBw6EJ]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29B6wzJ]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/LVT6ZR]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

We got into line for the River Journey and were quickly at the front of the line in no time. Lennon was practically vibrating. She fell in love with this ride last trip and was jacked to jump back on. We loaded into our boat and headed down the river. I decided to keep my phone in my pocket and just take in the colour and detail within the ride. I love the little touches throughout like the frogs on the leaves overhead or the bugs crawling around the trees. The moms were blown away to the point where my mom said she was going to make it a point to watch Avatar as soon as she got home to get a better understanding of what they created in AK.

Before we made our next move we made a return time for Flights of Passage and from there we slowly made our way through the rest of Pandora just to take in the beauty. When we were there in December, the two visits we made to Pandora were done so on a very gloomy, cold, rainy morning and a return visit after dark later that trip. The glowing sunshine made the land even more impressive but I will say the illumination of the area at night made for some terrific memories.

We’d return to Pandora in a little bit but we were off to explore other areas of AK and find something to eat.

 

[susan lees]

Day Three – Animal Kingdom/Disney Springs

Even after a full day that ended pretty close to midnight, we thought we would have a pretty solid sleep but it was not to be. At some point during any vacation that involves a change in the time zone, inevitably we come across issues with Ella’s blood sugar levels. Changing the time on her pump does affect the levels of insulin given to her throughout the day and it seems we always have one night that we struggle to keep her at a consistent level.

Even with that tasty donut, we spent a majority of our evening trying to get her levels up but she kept dropping into a dangerous level so sleep was limited. When we did finally get her levels back to normal, we were all quick to fall asleep and we enjoyed getting a little extra shuteye in the morning.

Kelly and I were up before the girls to get ready and prepare breakfast. After I was showered and dressed, I made my way to grab a coffee and take in some of the little details around the resort that makes Disney better than everyone else. I quite enjoyed the French Quarter and the job Disney does to create the story is top notch. These little things definitely stood out to me.
WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr

When I returned with my coffee we woke the girls, got them up and moving and laid out breakfast for them while we packed up our park bag and got ready to meet the moms.

When everyone was ready to go we were out the door and headed to the bus stop to head to Animal Kingdom. Deb had yet to see Pandora and my mom did have the chance to check it out in April but didn’t get the opportunity to ride Flights of Passage. Ella was telling them how much she loved that ride but Lennon was quick to chime in about how she was scared of it and Na’vi River Journey was much better!

We arrived at Animal Kingdom after another quick bus ride, again only about 10 minutes which was great. It was another very warm morning and we were getting pretty sticky. It was a good thing our first FP+ was for Kali River Rapids and wisely the moms and the kids had packed their ponchos just in case. They would definitely come in handy this morning.

As we walked through security and the main gates, I jetted off to Pandora to get a return time for the River Journey while the group went ahead to Kali. I made my way through a pretty big crowd headed to Pandora and secured our return time. As I made my way back to the group I was struck by the number of people and the length of the line of folks waiting to ride FoP. I slowly made my way through that weaving line and tried to get back to the group as quick as possible. I was reminded just how big AK really is and how well it’s themed throughout.
WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr
WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr
WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr

I finally made my way back and we were ready to get wet. Len was a little worried but having the ponchos definitely eased the tension. We walked through the FP line and were loaded onto our raft after about 10 minutes or so. We were seated with a few other guests and off we went.

Now Kali can’t hold a candle to Grizzly River Run in DCA and even if it’s fairly short, there is still plenty of time to get soaked. And soaked I got. I thought for sure the giant stream of shooting water right in the middle of the rapids was only there to provide a scare and would eventually shut off as rafts got closer. Nope. It kept flowing and I was directly underneath it. Awesome. Kelly and I were poncho-less and we both got wet, but I took the worst of it. The girls loved it but I did not! At least it was super-hot and I should dry fast.

Still soaked...
WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr

We got off the ride, gathered our stuff from the free locker and headed back to Pandora for the River Journey. The walk was pretty slow but welcome as the sun was helping dry me a little bit. We arrived through the main entrance and Deb was in awe of the detail of Pandora.

Even having been there in the recent past, it is pretty stunning what they accomplished with this area. Those floating mountains really are a sight to see.
WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr
WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr
WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr
WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr

We got into line for the River Journey and were quickly at the front of the line in no time. Lennon was practically vibrating. She fell in love with this ride last trip and was jacked to jump back on. We loaded into our boat and headed down the river. I decided to keep my phone in my pocket and just take in the colour and detail within the ride. I love the little touches throughout like the frogs on the leaves overhead or the bugs crawling around the trees. The moms were blown away to the point where my mom said she was going to make it a point to watch Avatar as soon as she got home to get a better understanding of what they created in AK.

Before we made our next move we made a return time for Flights of Passage and from there we slowly made our way through the rest of Pandora just to take in the beauty. When we were there in December, the two visits we made to Pandora were done so on a very gloomy, cold, rainy morning and a return visit after dark later that trip. The glowing sunshine made the land even more impressive but I will say the illumination of the area at night made for some terrific memories.

We’d return to Pandora in a little bit but we were off to explore other areas of AK and find something to eat.

I really feel for you with Ella. Our daughter is type 1 from she was 11 and our trips to wdw from UK could really affect her levels. She is 27 now and we will be back over in November and she is staying at a different resort from me and her dad this time and i still worry about her. She is really good at managing her diabetes though and I'm very proud of how she manages. Really enjoying your report

 

[Bullseye1967]

Finally caught up and following. Great TR so far!

 

[Matt and Kelly]

I really feel for you with Ella. Our daughter is type 1 from she was 11 and our trips to wdw from UK could really affect her levels. She is 27 now and we will be back over in November and she is staying at a different resort from me and her dad this time and i still worry about her. She is really good at managing her diabetes though and I'm very proud of how she manages. Really enjoying your report

Thanks for reading along and sharing this about your daughter. It's amazing how big the diabetes community is and how supportive people are. We always seem to run into folks during our Disney trips who are diabetics wearing the same pump or CGM as Ella which results in some very nice conversations. Also lets her see that she isn't alone in having to deal with the issues which goes a long way.

Happy to hear your daughter is dealing with things so well! I have no doubt that even when Ella gets to a point where she is fully managing herself that we, too, will still be worrying just as you do now!

Hope you guys have a great trip next month.

Finally caught up and following. Great TR so far!

Thanks so much! I have to get back to posting here right away. Happy that people are following along!

 

[susan lees]

Thanks for reading along and sharing this about your daughter. It's amazing how big the diabetes community is and how supportive people are. We always seem to run into folks during our Disney trips who are diabetics wearing the same pump or CGM as Ella which results in some very nice conversations. Also lets her see that she isn't alone in having to deal with the issues which goes a long way.

Happy to hear your daughter is dealing with things so well! I have no doubt that even when Ella gets to a point where she is fully managing herself that we, too, will still be worrying just as you do now!

Hope you guys have a great trip next month.



Thanks so much! I have to get back to posting here right away. Happy that people are following along!

Thank you, we can't wait as it's been 20 months since we've been over. The cold weather has set into Scotland now so we will welcome the warm Florida climate

 

[Matt and Kelly]

Thank you, we can't wait as it's been 20 months since we've been over. The cold weather has set into Scotland now so we will welcome the warm Florida climate

We seem to be having quite a chilly fall ourselves. The weather has us longing for some warmth and the WDW bug is hitting again! Kelly and I were debating this weekend whether to keep our April Aulani or look at going back to WDW. I think we've settled on keeping Hawaii but now we have to hunker down for the winter!

Looking forward to hearing about your trip.

 

[Matt and Kelly]

We left Pandora with the sun blazing down on us but we set out towards Dinoland as Kelly was really hoping to find Chip and Dale dressed up as dinosaurs. She found some pictures of them all dressed up leading up to the trip and didn’t want to miss out on that photo op.

As we made our way towards that part of the park we stopped to meet Pocahontas. Her line was about a 15 minute wait but we didn’t mind as it got us out of the sun as we waited in the tree-guarded path leading to the meet and greet.

We had a nice chat with the Cast Member who was working the front of the queue which helped to pass the time before we were let in towards the meeting area. She was asking the girls what questions they had for Pocahontas or what they were going to say to her. It was a nice distraction from them fighting with one another about who would be first or what snack they wanted to eat.

Once we were let through, we were the first family in line so the girls ran right up and gave Poca a big hug. They seemed pretty happy to sit and chat for a bit, plus it was pretty cool in the meeting area with the amount of fans they had running.
WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr
WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr
WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr

WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr

We finally said our goodbyes, made our way back up the path and turned into Dinoland. The first thing we noticed was a relatively short line to meet Donald so Kelly jumped in with the kids while I went to grab some popcorn for them to snack on. The moms followed me as well and we returned to the girls with popcorn for them and beers for us. A very welcome refresher in the hot sun and a significant turn of events. Up until this trip I have ALWAYS been ID’d when buying beer. This was the first time I ordered a beer at Disney and had no mention of checking my ID. I was both very excited and sadly humbled as it signaled to me my boyish good looks have been replaced by grey hair and distinct tired dad look. Oh well, at least I had beer to help me accept my new, haggard appearance.

They made their way through the line and danced it up with Donald when it was their turn. In the meantime, Kelly had spotted dino-Chip and Dale returning to their photo spot after a break. I knew where we were headed next!
WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr
WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr
WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr
WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr

We said goodbye to Donald, turned the corner behind his meeting area and found two lines for character hidden in the shade. One for Daisy and the other for Chip and Dale. The dino line was longer than Daisy so we split up. I took the girls to Daisy and Kelly waited in line for the others.

Didn’t take long for Lenny and Ella to make their way through the Daisy line for some hugs and a few selfies.
WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr
WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr
WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr

Once done with Daisy, Kelly was only a few spots from the front for Chip and Dale so we met up with her and waited for our turn. I admit, seeing the dino costumes in person was pretty cool and since it was a special outfit, we couldn’t pass up the chance to all jump in for some pictures.
WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr
WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr
WDW 2018 (194) by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr
WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr
WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr
WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr

Kelly was happy we were able to take some time to meet some characters before heading to our next FP+…the girls we about to brave Expedition Everest for the first time, but the moms we not feeling as adventurous!

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

I am LOVING your TR!! What an awesome last-minute trip!! I'm hoping you LOVE Aulani! Have you been there before? We went for our honeymoon! Like your girls, my main priority at AK this fall is CHIP And Dale in the dinosaur outfits!!!! Even though we are eating at Tusker House, I think I'm going to need to hang with Daisy and Donald in those Dinoland costumes!!!
Can't wait to hear how the girls love Everest!!!

 

[Matt and Kelly]

I am LOVING your TR!! What an awesome last-minute trip!! I'm hoping you LOVE Aulani! Have you been there before? We went for our honeymoon! Like your girls, my main priority at AK this fall is CHIP And Dale in the dinosaur outfits!!!! Even though we are eating at Tusker House, I think I'm going to need to hang with Daisy and Donald in those Dinoland costumes!!!
Can't wait to hear how the girls love Everest!!!

Thanks for reading...so happy to hear you're enjoying it so far!

We have yet to visit Aulani so we are really looking forward to April. When we were looking at booking a Hawaii trip in the early new year we wanted to book a studio at Aulani but everything was spoken for and we couldn't use our points so we settled for the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Obviously, we never got there but it has given us the chance to get to Aulani sooner than we thought. From all I've seen and read I'm sure we are going to love it once we get there.

 

[Matt and Kelly]

Knowing that the moms would never take on Everest, I ended up changing their FP so that they could ride the Safari while the four of us confronted the Yeti. I had no doubt the moms would get lost on their way to Kilimanjaro and we’d likely find them wandering the park looking for directions after our ride but we set them free and we made our way over to the forbidden mountain.

The girls were getting more nervous with every step we took towards Everest. We kept reassuring them that they would love the ride once they tried it but I was worried they would bail last minute. We got to the FP+ queue and everyone scanned their bands. A good first step!

The queue was pretty busy, though moved quickly nonetheless. It gave us a chance to take in some of the detail throughout the line. The kids seemed to like looking at some of the different stuff around the queue. Lennon was quite fascinated with the different scat on display.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aGzHPv]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29AU6vh]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

Now we were just moments away from loading. Still smiling!
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29B8R5W]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aFYPzP]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

Off we went. Both kids were pretty nervous making that first turn out of the loading area but I think having watched the ride numerous times on YouTube gave them a good idea of what to expect. The nervous looks quickly turned to happy screams and smiles as the ride went along. You could tell as we were ripping backward through the mountain that they were loving it. Even the big drop they enjoyed.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/MCQH6c]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

As we neared the end it was great to actually see the giant yeti. I can’t recall a trip in the past where he actually looked as clear as it did on this occasion. Happy to see they finally gave him the love he needed!

The ride ended and immediately they both screamed: “LET’S GO AGAIN!”. We knew they would be hooked! We couldn’t ride again, the wait was up to about 40 minutes, but we did get some pics before heading off to find the moms, hopefully somewhere near the safari.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aC8N8C]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aGwn8g]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

Walking through AK is so much fun. So many great spots to find cool photo opportunities.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aCaGoN]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

We made it to the Safari but no moms in sight. We found a shady spot near the exit to sit and relax while we waited to meet them coming off the ride. As we waited we got kinda nervous that we either missed them or they really were lost in the park somewhere. Just as we were about to go venture around the entrance and surrounding areas, they came walking down the exit path. Success on all fronts that they actually found the ride on their own and loved the journey as well. Lots of animals out according to them but now our focus turned to grabbing some lunch.

At AK the only lunch option we tend to consider is Flame Tree Barbecue, Kelly’s favourite. As we walked toward the restaurant from the Safari we decided to mobile order as we knew the line would be huge. Kelly, the kids, and the moms found us some seating and I waited for the food.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/27WHYbj]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

Bit of a long wait even after getting a notification that the food was ready for pick up. They only had one Cast Member working the mobile order line and there were multiple guests returning for pick up. Seemed a tad inefficient but we finally got our food and were ready to chow down.

We had packed a lunch for the kids so they were eating that when I returned. Kelly and her mom ordered the pulled pork sandwich and my mom and I ordered the pulled pork fries. We also had a couple of orders of onion rings to split amongst the group, surprisingly one of Lennon’s fave snacks to munch on.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29j3LKX]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aGCwKR]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/LWmr12]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

The food was great. Kelly loved her pulled pork, as usual, and I really enjoyed the fries. For a snack credit on the dining plan this might be one of the best steals you can get in the park.

After our meal was through we knew we could go back to Pandora for Flights of Passage so that’s where we headed. Lennon kept saying she wasn’t going on but we all walked there hoping she’d change her mind. Ella was beyond fired up to show the moms the ride.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/Nz9AHy]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

As we arrived in Pandora we stopped for a few PhotoPass pics.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2ai7V3h]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2boNsbv]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2boNrhX]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2boNqe4]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

From there Lennon was adamant that she wasn’t going to ride so Kelly decided to take her back to the hotel while the rest of us went on the ride. Apparently they also found some photo ops before boarding the bus to head back.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2a1c4R4]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

The four of us went through the FP line and readied ourselves for the flight. As was the norm, the moms were beyond worried about the ride and how it might add to their neck pain but Ella was quick to reassure them that if a 7 year old could handle it, they could too!
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aGAH4F]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

After about 10-15 minutes we were sent into our chamber to begin our flight training. The moms were nervous but excited at the same time.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aGn8Fp]WDW 2018 by Matt Mandrusiak, on Flickr[/URL]

I still dislike the amount of “ums” and “ahs” throughout the preshow but at least the ride itself makes you forget about that really quickly. We were matched with our avatars and ready to fly. I can’t get over how fun that ride is. The detail, the colour, the sights, and smells. All fantastic. And it sounded like the moms agreed. As soon as we were done they both declared this to be the best ride they’ve ever been on and their new favourite.

After a quick tour of the gift shop, it was time for us to head back and join Kelly and Lennon in the pool. A great visit to AK was ending and the moms were excited to come back later in the trip to try and experiences FoP again.

As we made our way towards the exit, the skies grew dark and the clouds opened up just as we arrived at the bus stop. Looked like we were in for another early afternoon dump of rain which we were hoping wouldn’t stick around too long as we really wanted a dip in the pool.