[packerbeth]

We had never been to the Contemporary as a family, although I had stayed there on my very first trip in 1980. Our ADR was at 10:50, which I've decided is my favorite time for a character meal. The breakfast rush is over, and there isn't a whole lot for the characters to do but to visit your table. We ate at Cape May Cafe on our last family trip at about the same time, and it was a really wonderful experience.

We checked in, then I took the girls downstairs to the restroom, and when we returned, we were ready to get our photo taken and be seated! I only wanted the kids to be in the photo, since I had not made shirts for us, and I think they turned out really cute. One thing I didn't know before we bought our first photo package is that while they give you the prints of only one pose, you can add all the photos they took to your Photopass card. There is a code on the corner of the photo; add this to your Photopass account, and when you order your CD, all of the pictures they took will be on there! If you look closely, there are subtle differences between the photos.







Let me just say one thing about Chef Mickey's: we loved it! The character interaction was terrific, the food was good, and we had a lot of fun! I'll let the photos do the talking for me:


Goofy is a family favorite!








Love this interaction!


Apparently, Grace is a big fan of Mickey! It was her first time meeting him this trip, and she was really excited!


Pluto is holding Christian's hand!


Kate has always loved characters' whiskers!


Love how Pluto signs his autograph!


Christian normally does not like things around his face, but he doesn't seem to mind Pluto!




Look at Christian's face; he can't take his eyes off of Donald!


Donald was so sweet to Christian; he was patting his arms and hugging on him. He wasn't cranky at all!


We'd never met Donald before!


See? Donald is still holding Christian's hand! Aww.....




We were celebrating Christian's 13th birthday a month early, so they brought him a cupcake. He needed some help to blow out the candles, so everybody pitched in!


This is one of my favorite pictures!


Bye, Miss Minnie!

I made two layouts to commemorate the fun we had at Chef Mickey's.




I do have a video of when they sang to Christian, but I'll have to find it. I'll add it later when I find it.

To sum up: go to Chef Mickey's for a late brunch seating. It's awesome!

We did a little bit of shopping before heading back to the Poly, but we had a big night planned, so we needed to get back for a little break.

Up next: breaktime and the BBB!

[mickeysgirlz]

Wow! You can feel the excitement from the children in this picture! They are all just SO HAPPY to be there! These are all so great! And your scrapbook pages are wonderful too . . . great memories!

Can't wait to see BBB!

[mickeymotto]

Originally Posted by packerbeth

I actually used the plate from one of our CS meals at WDW (yes we brought it home! ) It worked perfectly!

Great idea!
Next trip......I am so bringing one home too!!!!!

[mickeymotto]

I love your scrapbook layouts! I wish I could find the time to put all my photos together like you. You are really creative!

[lovemysons]

I am so glad to hear you enjoyed Chef Mickeys! It is one of our absolute favorites, and I couldn't agree more with you about the timing. Its a great way to do a character breakfast. Its great to make it to the MK for opening, then hop on the monorail for a later breakfast. :)))

[dznylvr]

We may have to try the late breakfast at Chef Mickeys. We always do the opposite, arrive for early breakfast, usually around 7:15 or so, then head over to MK for rope drop.
We tend to be early risers, so this is no problem for us. If we did the late breakfast,we would have to grab something quick to tide us over. 10:50 is basically lunch time for us!!

[packerbeth]

It definitely counted as lunch for us; we didn't eat again until dinnertime at the Cosmic Ray's about 7 p.m.

[Goofy3230]

I love the photos from Chef Mickeys!! They are so sweet! I love the scrapbook layouts from this as well - you are an inspiration to me to get my book from our last 3 trips finished. They all have some pages done, but I'm going to finish before our next trip!!

I got all my supplies for the t-shirts, too! I'm goint to attempt a tie dye for my DH this weekend, wish me luck!! (I'll post pix if it comes out ok, lol)

Keep this report coming, I love it!

[packerbeth]

First of all, I want to say thanks to all of you who joined me for this trip report, and especially for all the kind and wonderful comments. I like writing trip reports to keep the magic going and to document the trip for my family, but it makes it even more fun when others are enjoying it, as well!

I do have a funny picture from our trip from the Contemporary back to the Polynesian. The girls were pretty tired, so they all pretended to fall asleep on the monorail. You can tell who the best actress of this group is!


Let me say something about the monorail service in regards to wheelchair users. In general, it was very easy to use the monorail, although it was a little inconsistent. When we approached the monorail station, we would be directed to the h/c accessible car. When the monorail arrived, they would put out a ramp, and we would roll Christian right up into the car. Now, if for some reason, there wasn't a CM around, we could easily bump him up into the car; it is only a small lip (maybe 6 inches). Having a ramp makes it a little easier, but it's not a necessity.

Sometimes, the CM would ask us where we were getting off, and he or she would call ahead so that a CM would be waiting with the ramp when we arrived. This didn't happen very often, although it seemed that it did happen whenever we went to Epcot. Again, if we didn't have a ramp waiting, it was no big deal to bump him down onto the platform. So if you happen to have someone in your party who uses a wheelchair, be prepared for inconsistency!

The girls wanted to try out the quiet pool this time, which was right outside our Tokelau house (as Kate liked to call it!). I don't like this pool as well for little kids. I really missed the zero entry aspect of the volcano pool, where I could let Kate play and not have to hold onto her every minute. The girls really liked the pool, though, and they really didn't want to get out when I did! When Kate and I went to get out, we were walking around the pool to where we left our stuff, when suddenly, Kate took a detour toward the pool, right at the deepest part! Bad mommy had gotten a little bit ahead of her, so I wasn't right with her, and when I turned around and saw her headed toward the deep end, I freaked out and yelled at to her to stop! Well, I must have startled her, because she fell down and got another boo-boo! She was more frightened than anything, though, and all was well before too long.

After our pool time, we all had a little rest together, probaby watched a Disney movie on TV, took showers...same old break routine! It was important that the girls get their hair washed, since they were headed to BBB before the party! Their appointment was at 4:40, and we had hoped to get to MK in time to catch some dinner beforehand, but as is usual for our family, we were running late, and barely made the appointment on time. I wanted the girls to put their costumes on once we got to BBB, so we brought them along with us instead.

When we got to the park, we bypassed the wristband stands, because I didn't want to get them until after their BBB appointment, since they'd be getting their photos taken. I couldn't believe the crowds that greeted us! You can get in as early as 4 p.m. with your P & P Party ticket, and I'd heard that folks who are not staying for the party will be heading out about this time, so I didn' t expect crowds like this! We walked as quickly as we could to the castle, leaving Rick and Christian with a sleeping Kate in the courtyard area once we reached BBB.

The crowds we had seen did not prepare me for the crowd inside the tiny waiting area in the BBB! Hoo boy, were the lots of little girls in there whose moms had the same idea that I did! We probably waited for 30 minutes before Princess Rose and Princess Grace were called in for their appointments!

One sad thing: while we waited for our appointment, we struck up a conversation with a little girl and her mom. It turned out that their home had been damaged in a tornado the day before they left for Disney World! Sure made me count my blessings!

Grace's Fairygodmother in Training was Grisella, and Rose's was Danielle, and each of them had another CM to do their nails. Grace turned on the charm for her FGIT (as well as the Photopass photographer) and kept those close enough to hear entertained while they waited! We got lots of PP pictures taken during their session, especially of Grace! Here are some from my camera.













And here are some taken by the PP photographer:





Here is Rose's face when her makeover was revealed:



I think this is when Grace saw her sister's makeover for the first time!






Ready for Grace's reveal? Here we go!







Check out the shoes! Comfort above all else, even for a Princess!



Before we left, the girls got to have their picture taken in the throne.




I wasn't sure that Rick was ready to see how grownup his girls looked; I was ready with my camera so I could catch the moment he saw his future:



Up next: let's get this party started!

[babets]

Such a beautiful TR! Your family is great! Where did you get those white t-shirts made? I LOVE them!! Would love to do something like that for my family. If you have already said and I missed it, sorry for asking again.

[packerbeth]

I requested the designs from folks on the disboards. Just go to the Creative Designs forum at The DIS Discussion Forums - DISboards.com - Powered by vBulletin, find a design that you like and request it. When they post the design on the forum, save it to your computer and print it on t-shrit transfer paper, then iron it on your shirt! Easy and fun!

[JustaT]

I have been swamped at work and was so happy to come on Mousebuzz and read more of your trip report. It just brings the magic back for me You really have some wonderful moments caught on camera.

I am sooooo glad you guys loved Chef Mickey's....we absolutely will put it on our itenerary everytime. We thought they had lot's of great food options and GREAT character interaction. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your pictures from Chef Mickey's.....just priceless.

Your girls look like they had a blast at BBB.

Can't wait to hear more

[missymouse]

Originally Posted by packerbeth

We took a bathroom break afterwards, but since Grace had already gone, she waited outside with Christian and me. There was a store across the way, so she asked if she could go in there while I waited with Christian. I could see the store from where I was sitting, so I told her to go ahead. A female security guard was standing in front of the store, and when Grace tried to go in, the woman told her she couldn't. Being the inquisitive and curious girl that she is, she asked why she couldn't go in. She wasn't being sassy or rude, she just wanted to know what the reason was. "Because I said so!" the woman replied. Hmmmm...I'm sure there was another reason, but there were other stores down the way, so when the rest of the group showed up, we left the grouchy security guard to grump at other people so we could spend our money elsewhere. Believe it or not, this was not the only time we were told this by a Disney employee...

Isn't that just sad? We've encountered some grumpy CMs at what used to be MGM too!

Originally Posted by packerbeth

On our way through the hat area, I noticed there were lots of characters out and about. One in particular caught my eye - Prince John from Robin Hood! This was my favorite movie as a kid; I even had a record of the entire soundtrack, so I knew it by heart. This may have also been the start of my love of the English accent. Alas, I have yet to meet Robin himself, but last year I met Friar Tuck, so perhaps a meet & greet with RH is in my future!

I love Robin Hood too!! It's still my favorite Disney movie! Ooo-da-lolly-ooo-da-lolly, golly what a day!

[mickeysgirlz]

Your pictures from BBB are great! I the reveal . . . they do feel like REAL PRINCESSES at that given moment . . . adorable!

Thanks again for sharing your wonderful trip!

[missymouse]

Your girls BBB pictures are precious! Didn't you have fun just watching them?