Post by ilikedonuts on Oct 18, 2014 20:24:59 GMT -5
We drove from Cleveland to Jacksonville yesterday. Then Jacksonville to WDW today. Checked into Bay Lake Tower (BLT) at around 10:30. They messed up our room request and the guy checking us in was able to find one that fit our request.
This is our view! (We used our DVC points and booked a standard view dedicated 2 bedroom). I can post room pictures if anyone wants them.
Our room wasn't ready so we went on over to MK because we had FPs and a BOG lunch FP.
Watched the Castle show. This is DD1's favorite show (she knows all the words).
We did Enchanted Tales with Belle. DD1 was one of the dancing plates. Totally worth using a FP for since the line gets long pretty fast in the morning!
Then we used a Peter Pan FP. Another great use of a FP because it loads slow and the lines get really long as well.
Booked it over to BOG for our lunch FP. I still can't believe how pricey it is! $70 for 3 adult meals, a kids meal, 3 drinks and 3 cupcakes. (Should have skipped one of the adult meals). The ham/cheese sandwich was really good. My best friend had the roast beef and said it was good. Grilled cheese got two thumbs up from the kids. We sat in the ballroom. We should have picked the music box room but DD1 insisted we sit in the ballroom. BOG was a hot mess though. No cups, no ice, no silverware, messes everyone. Totally messed with the beginning of the experience.
Then we used our last of the 3 FPs to meet Ariel (DD1's favorite). Waits for this flucuate, but it was a must do for today so I wasn't going to risk it.
Then we met Minnie/Daisy and Goofy/Donald with 20ish minute waits for each set. Side note, I wish they had these characters in normal outfits at MK. DD2 (just shy of of 1) seemed confused because of their outfits. These are always great character interactions for those looking for good ones. We never feel rushed. Its annoying though that you have to walk out to get in the other line though.
Ran to the FP kiosk and got another one. Note: take whatever you can and then you can go into the app and edit it. You just can't book a 4th one from the app.
Rode the carousel. Rode Winnie the Pooh. Both winners with my girls.
Still didn't have a text that our room was ready and it was 4:15 and we had a 5:10 dinner reservation at the GF. (Got the text on the way to the room).
Had dinner at 1900 Park Fare at the GF. Great way to see a princess (and Prince Charming, stepsisters and stepmother) without spending $$$ or having to use a park ticket (since its not in a park). Food is just standard buffet food. Nothing really that special (other than the strawberry soup that my husband loves).
Now we are back in the room and the kids are sleeping. My best friend and I are going back to MK around 11pm to do all the rides with height restrictions. Park is open until midnight and then 12am-2am is extra magic hours.
Yay thanks for keeping the magic alive for me. On Thursday Mickey and Donald was only for FP in the tent which was a shame because there was hardly anyone on that side.
Yay thanks for keeping the magic alive for me. On Thursday Mickey and Donald was only for FP in the tent which was a shame because there was hardly anyone on that side.
Oooooh I didn't know they ran this as a test! I hate those stupid FP only tests!
If you go to Epcot, mickey, Minnie, and usually goofy are 1 line, usually no/short wait, and are in their regular clothes. I felt the same way as you out first time.
Post by ilikedonuts on Oct 19, 2014 22:30:03 GMT -5
Day 2!
Well the end of day 1, my best friend and I walked over to MK around 10:45. Waited 20 minutes for Big Thunder (so much fun in the dark!,) watched the Electrical Parade, rode Haunted Mansion, rode the Mine Train after a 25 minute wait (AWESOME in the dark!) and then rode Space Mountain! We walked back and got into our room around 1:45am.
DH, the girls and I did MK this morning for a couple hours. Welcome show around 8:40. We let DD1 choose everything we did. So we did Peter Pan 5 minute wait (if we are having issues fitting everything in because of limited fastpasses the best time to do it without a fast pass is definitely when the park opens), Winnie the Pooh 5 minute wait and met Ariel 10 minute wait all by 9:30. Then we used a FP (that wasn't needed) for the Little Mermaid ride. Walked on Dumbo. DH and DD1 rode Barnstormer with a FP. Walked on the Teacups. Met Alice and the White Rabbit. DH and DD1 rode the Speedway (with a FP).
This is why we do rope drop daily. You get so much done before the crowds all pour in around 11am!
So we got a ton done this morning and DD1 was in heaven because she picked almost everything! We booked it over to the Contemporary for a late breakfast reservation at 11:30 with a bunch of families from my first BMB.
Chef Mickey's breakfast is hands down my absolute favorite character meal we've done. We also have done dinner and loved the characters and had no problem with the food, but the breakfast food was all awesome!
We got done around 1:30 and I napped with DD2 and DD1, DH and my best friend went to the pool.
This afternoon, we went to DHS and did Characterpalooza which is always something we try to do 1-2 times a trip! Today we met Gepetto, Tiana, Snow White, Mr. Smee, Mulan and Mushu. They had 2 sets today (same characters at both), but my girls had enough time to meet everyone during the first set. We're going to do this again on Friday. (DD1 is crossing her fingers for Genie!)
Then we met Mr Incredible/Frozone, Mickey, and Wreck It Ralph and Vanellope in the Animation building.
Had a late dinner at Earl of Sandwich at Downtown Disney. Oh man is the construction horrible. Especially on a weekend night! Ugh. We love DTD, but we will not be going back this trip! It was just too much of a mess!
Came back to the room and gave both girls a bath before watching Hallowishes at 9:30pm from our balcony. This is my favorite fireworks show that Disney has and I love that we can watch it every night there is a party from our balcony when we stay at BLT!
Tomorrow is Epcot! Food & Wine for lunch. Akershus dinner. I'm sure the majority of our day will be spent meeting characters.
Post by ilikedonuts on Oct 21, 2014 13:50:47 GMT -5
We just got back from AK. Trying to get both kids to nap before the Halloween party tonight!
We didn't use FPs this morning at AK and we definitely didn't need them. We didn't ride Everest, but we easily could first thing (we were late this morning) at rope drop and been completely fine. We have some MK FPs scheduled for tonight before the Halloween party.
Post by ilikedonuts on Oct 22, 2014 7:53:58 GMT -5
I'm slacking on updating because we definitely are one of those families that go go go.
Monday we went to Epcot. We got a bit of a late start. My plan was to go to Test Track right at rope drop and walk on. We ended up with a 30-35 minute wait for it unfortunately. We got a Rider Swap for DH which we didn't use on Monday so we plan to use it tomorrow (Thursday).
If you plan to do a rider swap for Test Track, have the kids and the person not riding go in the exit of test track and they have all these cars and stuff they can play in along with a bunch of interactive stuff. DH and the girls were the only people in there for the first 20 minutes and they were all completely entertained for the entire time.
Then we went over to the Land and used a FP for Soarin' (and got a rider swap for me that we still have to use before we go home). I got the girls a cookie (at 10:15am MOTY ) while we waited.
Then we walked over to the World Showcase and DD1 met Belle while the baby slept. I got some F&W snacks while we waited. Cheddar Cheese Soup from Canada! The Creme Brulee from France was a let down. After DD1 had a complete tantrum in front of America. Entire body on the ground rolling around. That's Disney at its finest
We met Jasmine/Aladdin and Duffy and then decided the demon child needed a nap so we took the monorail back to the room. Yep nap did not happen! I had hoped that Disney would be magical and she would actually nap when needed... nope!
We worked our way back to Epcot after the baby napped for our princess dinner at Akershus in Norway. We did the Epcot Character Spot with a FP. Mickey, Goofy and Minnie individual pictures. We have some awesome pictures because DD2 is OBSESSED with Mickey and Minnie. Squealing and toddling as fast as she can to them.
Then we met Donald in Mexico on the way to our dinner reservation. Checked in and Akershus and got right in. The food was great. Both girls got a free meal since they were under 3 (we did have to ask to make sure). DD1 got the pizza and DD2 got the Norwegian meatballs. Character interaction was nice. Nothing that stands out too much. They do a "Princess Processional" where the kids walk around the restaurants following the princesses while music plays. It was adorable and DD1 got to hold Aurora's hand while they walked.
After we left the restaurant we got DD1 a light up bubble gun from one of the little carts. Best $12 we've spent this trip and the bubbles last forever (and its $1 for a refill)!
We rode Nemo and Spaceship Earth and headed out. Neither needed FPs that evening (but Spaceship Earth had a 30 minute wait during the day at one point which was crazy).
Overall while I enjoy Epcot, every trip I'm just so overwhelmed by the size of it and how spread out everything is. Its so hard to get stuff done there because you have to walk so much. We're going back for a few hours on Thursday to do a couple more things that DD1 wanted to do.
Some cell phone pictures because I have no idea where the camera is and everyone is still sleeping. My kids were rockstars last night and did the entire (and I mean entire!) Halloween party last night! We closed the park at midnight!
I don't know if you'll see this, but ilikedonuts, what age is your DD wearing the ear muffs? E will be 2 when we're at BLT and I'm wondering if we should look into these if we end up with a good view balcony for the fireworks.
I don't know if you'll see this, but ilikedonuts, what age is your DD wearing the ear muffs? E will be 2 when we're at BLT and I'm wondering if we should look into these if we end up with a good view balcony for the fireworks.
this is last night during the Halloween fireworks. They are the Peltor youth brand. I think Amazon sells them (my husband called a vendor to get them but I'm pretty sure I saw them on Amazon)
this is last night during the Halloween fireworks. They are the Peltor youth brand. I think Amazon sells them (my husband called a vendor to get them but I'm pretty sure I saw them on Amazon)
Oooh, thanks for posting this! I keep thinking we should get some for DD, and then I always forget. Looking them up now.
Post by ilikedonuts on Oct 22, 2014 13:10:47 GMT -5
First haircuts!
I made appointments about 2 months ago and I know they do book up in advance. It was an hour wait today for people without appointments. Our appointments were at noon and we were done by 12:20 including a 5 minute wait. DD1's haircut is really nice. DD2's is fine. Its not perfect, but she cut the parts that I wanted cut. And I'm happy with the cuts overall!
Plus the ears and pictures are adorable!
$18 per first haircut package. $15 for a regular cut. Make sure to bring cash for a tip because you can't charge the tip (to your room or a credit card)
Post by ilikedonuts on Oct 22, 2014 23:09:50 GMT -5
So the MSEP basically stopped tonight for DD2.
Grumpy made a beeline for DD2. She kissed his nose and then he ran off and Doc (who was giving DD1 a high five) then stepped over to DD2 and she actually almost walked off with Doc. Then Grumpy came back over with Snow White (he actually walked across the street to get her to show her DD2). Snow White goes "You are adorable. You look familiar... oh I saw you earlier at dinner!" She says something else. Then they realized that they were so far behind and they had to sprint to catch up and the float behind them had to slow down lol
It was adorable! The guy behind us took this picture and texted it to us.
Post by ilikedonuts on Oct 24, 2014 6:01:07 GMT -5
We did Animal Kingdom on Tuesday morning. Did not book FP for here. We didn't have much that we planned to do other than Safari, Nemo show and meet some characters. We wanted to be gone by 1pm so we could get the kids back for naps since we were going to the Halloween party that night. We were a bit late for rope drop, but still had no issues walking onto the Safari (and could have walked onto Expedition Everest and then still walked onto the Safari afterwards).
The construction walls are crazy here. I feel like it made the pathways just seemed so squished. I was really glad we brought our tandem double rather then renting a side by side (though the majority of doubles we saw were side by sides).
Met Pocahontas, Russell/Dug, Mickey/Minnie. I think this is the only place you can meet Mickey and Minnie together as in one picture with both of them in it. DD2 is obsessed with Mickey and does this weird squeal/panting when she sees him. Its hilarious.
Met Baloo/King Louie. Watched the Nemo show. We had no problem walking up 5 minutes before it started and getting a seat.
We met Daisy at some point as well. Then we had lunch at Pizzafari. It was fine. Nothing special.
We were done by 1:40ish and then we booked it for the parking lot so we could get back to the hotel.
Love reading your posts, we just got back a week ago. One other place to meet Mickey and Minnie together was Mickey's Backyard BBQ at camp wilderness. It was fun, though $140 for 2 adults and 1 child to eat burgers and hot dogs will not be making us run back. The dancing with Mickey, Minnie Goofy and Chip and Dale was fun. Unfortunately, by the time DD warmed up and was ready to dance with the characters, it ended shortly thereafter. You can meet Mickey and Minnie together for a photo but they are in their cowboy/cowgirl clothes. Epcot seemed to be the best place to meet them in their regular clothes.