[lovemysons]

Aw, look at those sad faces. They look much happier with Dumbo. :)

[Mickeybug]

Day~3

Was still a little tired from the day before and since my feet were still screaming at me I decided we'd take our time about getting out this morning. Didn't do to bad though, had b'fast before we left, out the door- then back in the door....for more clothes. It was f-r-e-e-z-i-n-g!!! Where is the warm sunny Oct Florida wheather? Felt like that guy from the movie Cool Runnings that ran back in the Airport for everything warm he had. Back out to the bus and still made it to Epcot by 10. No biggie, only lost an hour. Jo stayed at the hotel all day. Apparently her feet got wind of all the walking we were planning and after the blisters she'd gotten at MK the day before they just wouldn't let her go.

In the door and first off FP Test Track. Dani & Em had never done this before so we knew it'd be a battle to get them on. Jess couldn't wait. Started slow with Ellen's UoE then on to TT. The girls it and couldn't wait to get back on. Should've noticed that something was up when the line to get fp's was longer than any of the other 3 standbys. I found out later why. Wanted to see what was different about SE since it closed the month after our last trip. Other than no AT&T ads I couldn't tell a difference. Headed over to the Land since Living with the Land was back open again. We love that ride. Decided to wait till Wed for Soarin when Jo came back with us. Hit several other pavillions, back to TT to use our FP's before heading into WS. Then we saw it...
OMG WHERE DID ALL THESE PEOPLE COME FROM??? It was shoulder to shoulder people from Norway to France across the front. The backside was pretty full too but at least I could see an occasional piece of pavement looking across,lol. Well, that just answered our question about most everything in FW being walk-on. Everyone was in WS.

Normally we start at Canada and go counter-clockwise but since the girls were doing Kim Possible we went straight to Norway. 1st mission- Mexico, 2nd UK (NOW dh was happy). Since we hadn't eaten lunch I let the girls take turns with 2 on a mission and 1 eating at our first three countries. I, however feel like I ate at all of them and many booths in between What I did like about KP was after the 1st mission we got to choose from a list which country to do next, otherwise we would've zig-zagged all over WS and been wore out. Between the 2 days we were there only country KP didn't make it to was Morrocco. I really wanted to see Jon Secada but everytime we came close to Amerca the show was well under way. We finally caught the last one. Of course food has to accompany so dh picked up a round of dogs, burgers & barbq for all of us. He wanted to make sure we had dinner tonight after the last two, which later he wished he hadn't. That Bar b q DID NOT sit well with him. There ya go folks...3 for 3.

Every trip we've always caught Illuminations from the Mexico area. I wanted to see what the rest of the world looks like so this time especially since we were already in the back of the park from the concert we decided to look there, around Italy I think. View was the same-just as awesome, but 75% less people and the option to walk up 15 min prior instead of the usual 60-75 min wait. Found our new spot, whoo-hoo!

Some of my favs: Cheddar Cheese Soup in Canada, the Moosehead and sausage wasn't bad but when they say spicy they mean it.
I was most dissapointed with the grand marnier parfait. I really expected it to be in a glass and not a small frozen like patty plopped on a plate with 1/2 oz of compote sauce across the top. They could've done so much more with that.
Cheese was good, it was cheese.
Empanada from Buenos Aris was really good, liked it better w/o the salsa.
Fish & Chips in UK and something from the tap is always a must.
Choc lava cake w/ganache from Ireland was quite tasty.
Choc Creme Brulee in France OMG soo good. A Choc Croissant and champagne while there is also a given. The red slushy with grey goose was I really tried but it had to go! In the trash it went. Not much on sweet syrupy things.
DH & I split a Beer Hop, what I liked he didn't and what he liked I didn't. Don't ask which was which because I really couldn't tell you at this point, and probably couldn't then either.
The cannoli's in Italy were heaven, the cannelonni wasn't too bad either but dh & dd14 are my 2 Italian lovers.
DD14 had a soup from Thai with Chick, coconut, mushroom, lemongrass & ginger. She said it was really good, i'm not a mushroom person though.
The potstickers in China left much to be desired for and some drink they had, a lychee something also made it to the trash.
Germany had a really good brat-in-a-pretzel thing, and of course beer. Norway-beer, nuff said there.
New Orleans was awesome. crawfish etouffe, and the bourbon praline pudding YUM-MY. Had to get 2nds on those. Felt like home
Outside of N.O. my 2nd fav has got to be in Mexico the churros and my new best friend for that trip- Blue Correlajo


A nice surprise entering the park


Brain FREEEEZE at Cool Station


Look what we found in the back of Germany, one of the girls fav character.




1 of the girls new fav rides

[Mickeybug]

um...I think someone had many by this point That's the slushy that ended up in the trash one sip later.


Never could get a pic w/o crowds.





This isn't a great background shot but the girls were having so much fun I had to add it.

[Dopey]

Originally Posted by princesslindsey

I've never had a problem using FPs outside of the listed time, as long as it's after the start time. Is this something new they're enforcing? That's disappointing if it is...

I never even thought about not being there at the appointed time. what good is an appointment if we change the time

[princesslindsey]

Originally Posted by Dopey

I never even thought about not being there at the appointed time. what good is an appointment if we change the time

It just makes it easier if we don't have to be back at a specific time. Otherwise, we'd have to plan around our fastpasses. If I walk all the way back to EE only to find out the fastpasses available are at the exact same time as my ADR, then it would just stink. It's also nice to come back whenever we're near the ride again, rather than hang around that side of the park waiting for our time to come up.

[Mickeybug]

Originally Posted by princesslindsey

It just makes it easier if we don't have to be back at a specific time. Otherwise, we'd have to plan around our fastpasses. If I walk all the way back to EE only to find out the fastpasses available are at the exact same time as my ADR, then it would just stink. It's also nice to come back whenever we're near the ride again, rather than hang around that side of the park waiting for our time to come up.

So y'all are the one's that jammed our FP lines up then j/k

Seriously though, when we see the return time and KNOW right then that we will not be anywhere around at the return time we pass on them to allow someone else that can do it get them. Too many times have I went to a machine mid-day that was already out yet hardly anyone in the fp line later that eve.

[Dopey]

Originally Posted by princesslindsey

It just makes it easier if we don't have to be back at a specific time. Otherwise, we'd have to plan around our fastpasses. If I walk all the way back to EE only to find out the fastpasses available are at the exact same time as my ADR, then it would just stink. It's also nice to come back whenever we're near the ride again, rather than hang around that side of the park waiting for our time to come up.

yes, but that's the reason for the fast pass. Come back at the appointed time so that there are no lines. Why else would they print the time on there if it didn't matter what time you get back. Think about it

[princesslindsey]

Originally Posted by Dopey

yes, but that's the reason for the fast pass. Come back at the appointed time so that there are no lines. Why else would they print the time on there if it didn't matter what time you get back. Think about it

I understand the reason for the fastpass and it's not like I specifically try to come at the wrong time. I would say we show up at the designated time at least 75% of the time. We just have never been turned away if we're late and I like it that way. It makes the day less "planned" not having to keep track of what time all our fastpasses are good for.

Sorry to go off on a tangent, Mickeybug. On with your show!

[WALL]

Sorry to hear about the food... and the "RED" Mariner. Thank God they sell beer at Epcot.

[Mickeybug]

That red thing is the grey goose slush they're selling in France. The Grand Marnier thing wasn't even a drink, but a sauce over dessert. So disappointed on that.
Yes, Epcot beer is a good thing. But, Blue Corellajo reposado was BETTER!

Wall, you belong at F&W fest

[Mickeybug]

Day~4, Mon Oct 19th

Today was our AK day. The original plan was to hit AK early since it was EMH, leave after the parade then hop over to HS to close it down since Tues & Wed we WERE planning to spit those days with a HS-Epcot/waterpark. Since the cold snap had came in we nixed the water add-on and just stuck with the hoppers (which we've still yet to use). Alarm sounded at 6:30, snooze. 6:40, snooze. 6:50-see a pattern here. We're still feeling the F&W from yesterday

Allright, 7:15 everyone up-NOW!!! I'm on vacate, I can sleep when I get home. Eat & out the door by 8:30. Missed EMH but I was just happy to get there before noon. Told the girls they could wear shorts today, they would freeze at first but hopefully warm up later. The high was supposed to reach 70, much better than the 60 high yesterday. Sounds like heaven to some of you northerns but remember, we're from LA and hadn't climatized seasons yet.
We missed the bus by 1 min which meant it'd be after 9:30 before we got to AK so we drove and made it in less than 15.

In the park, head to Safari. Walk-on. Over to Asia to get 6 FP for EE so Jess, Jo & I could ride twice. Walked through trails while waiting for FP. Changed my mind about EE, gave my 2 tics to Jess & Jo and went with Jeff to Camp Mickey to help with the other 2. All met at Tough to be a Bug before heading to Fest of Lion King. That is a MUST on every AK trip. That show is amazing, or maybe it's the song- I don't know but I IT!

After Lion King the girls want pizza, Jo & I want Flame Tree and as usual Jeff doesn't care. To him it's food! Send them to Pizzafari while we grab ours and meet back to eat. Funny, those 2 restaurants don't look that far apart on the map but carrying food through crowds was a forever commute. It was worth it....My Turkey Sandwich was awesome! After lunch we waddle over to Dinoland, and ride all those shakey-hurley-spiny things one would think you wouldn't ride after eating. For some strange reason none of it affected us. The Mouse God was watching over apparently. Went back to river rapids. It was walk-on so the girls ended up riding it twice. Don't think FP for that was ever turned on that day. Head to front for a little shopping before getting a spot for the parade so we could leave with the rest of the heard afterwards.

4:30 back in the car. We decided to slow down at this point or else we'd never make it through the week so we called it a day for parks. On the way back to our hotel we took Jo over to AKL & WL. She goes to Disney often and prefers the deluxe yet had never seen either of these. I forsee a future trip to WL for her, although GF is still her fav. She likes staying on the rail. I talked to her about DVC so who knows?
Back at hotel we decided to try Mangino's since it was closed the other night. Wish it wouldn't been that night too. I ordered Pasta Jambalya (needed my spice fix). It was . Nothing against chef's but please leave LA cooking to LA, and i'll leave ordering LA food to LA. Or better yet, cook it myself It was more like spaghetti/meatballs but with andouille and chick instead of meatballs. DH being the sweetie he is switched with me. He ordered chick fettucini. Later that eve I realized as much as I liked it...it DID NOT like me. OK, i'm ready to boycott dinner on this trip at this point. That was 4 for 4.


Start the day in a warm huddle




Love the background on this pic


Sooo Goofy


These guys were the greatest

[lovemysons]

Originally Posted by Dopey

I never even thought about not being there at the appointed time. what good is an appointment if we change the time

HA! We are women, we are supposed to show up when we are good and ready.

Most of the time, we do show up during the window, but there have been times when logistically we simply could not make it back to an attraction during the specified time.

[Mickeybug]

My Cheetah baby

Festival of the Lion King

Mickey's Jammin Jungle Parade

Girls hangin out at the Wilderness Lodge while Jeff & I were showing Jo around.

Lookie Lookie what escaped from AK while we were there and came back to hang out in our room

(these 3 are the prizes the girls won at the Boardwalk Fri night.)

[Mickeybug]

Day~5, Tues Oct 20th

Today was HS, but before getting off into it I forgot to mention yesterday that since we came in early Mon eve I decided to do a couple loads of laundry. Fam of 5 adds up fast. We used those 3n1 sheets, ours was washeze. I think a generic of Purex but costs 1/2 as much. They worked great. 11:30 laundry done and in bed asleep by midnight only to awake at 2 a.m. for my dinner to haunt me. Back to by 3-FINALLY. 4:15 a.m. the alarm went off. I kept hitting the button but it never would hush. DH ran to the door thinking it was the doorbell (yes, our rooms have doorbells) when we both finally woke up and realized it was a FIRE ALARM!! Just our luck...we're on the 4th floor. 4:45 they give everyone the ok to go back inside, apparently a false alarm. Ok, i'm exhaused, feel like my insides were ripped out and I was just miserable. How could this be, THIS IS DISNEY. Things like this don't happen at Disney

Went straight to sleep for 2 more hours and something really weird happened. It's like the Mouse God sent an angel down to me because I woke up feeling great!!! Not tired, no more tummy ache, no more achy feet and best of all...a forcast for that great FL weather we came to see. No jackets, sweatshirts or hoodies. Even a little humidity was returning so we could breath again. It's going to be a great day!

Catch the 8:30 bus for HS just in time for rope drop. We were a flock of sheep all being herded in 1 direction whether we wanted to or not...TSM. Never been so I couldn't wait to try it. Sent Jo with the girls since it was still walk on while I waited for dh. OMG, the fp distribution lines. Return was an hour so we tried a few other places but ended up at Great Movie Ride. We had 45 min to kill and that was 35 of it. Was worried the girls would feel it was boring but they really enjoyed it. Its always been one of my fav's. Back to our fp. DH beat me both times....yep, he cheated.
Over to get 6 fp's for ToT so Jess & Jo could go 3 times. With 30 min to kill and a 20 min stand-by for RnR the 3 of us went for that. I that ride. While they did ToT I joined dh and the other 2 for Beauty/Beast show. I really wonder if they'll keep that one there after the new Fantasyland in MK opens. It really doesn't fit where it's at now.
Wanted to see Lights, Motors Action and since they only do 2 shows we figured best to find lunch in that direction. Since we planned to go with the flow we went to Sci-Fi but all the cars were full, only round tables open and next opening would've put us missing the show so went to Backlot Express. Wasn't bad-wasn't good, it was food. After lunch the girls had to get faces painted. They looked great!! Really liked how they matched their colors with their clothes. Made our way through the rest of the park, yes had to see the chicken house too. Around 5 we left since crowds were starting to come in for Fantasmic.
Went back to hotel and had dinner at The Garden Gallery. Wasn't too bad, a buffet for $11.95 but much better than the night before. After dinner we walked over to the Poly to watch Hallo-wishes on the beach. The sky really lights up more than regular wishes. Going back a Poly emp. gave us a ride on his golf cart to SoG front door (SoG only goes to the road). Apparently under Disney regulations one is allowed to drive on both resorts but the other is not. Strange since there's lot's of commuting between these 2 hotels. After telling him the "Shady Shuttle" name I suggested they calls theirs the "Poly Putt-Putt" This was a good day AND night.


Girls new fav HS ride

HSM is a really good show



Beautiful Fantasia Gardens

[Mickeybug]

Love those Faces'


Hannah's Chicken House






Emily & Nokie