WDW: October 3, 2012

Emmersyn and Hartley were up and ready quickly and Ryder actually slept in a bit, so we went on a walk around the resort. We refilled mugs, explored the store, and scored some new balloon animals.

Around 8:30, we were off to the Studios for a little while. The girls got to be the special helpers to open the Voyage of the Little Mermaid show, and were unexpectedly shy. Ariel and Eric gave them special cards, thanking them for their help!

Next we saw the Art of Animation show, which was really cute still after having skipped it for a few years. The Animation Academy, perhaps because it was early in the day, was begging for people - so of course we took them up on their offer! We drew Tinker Bell... or at least a couple of us did. :)

We then stopped to see Donald and Daisy at the Sorcerer Hat, grabbed a soft pretzel with cheese, and went to wait for the Beauty and the Beast show. No pictures there, because my sweet snuggly boy was reaching for some mommy time - and he wins over the camera, every time. The kids all enjoyed the show, as always.
We had accomplished what we set out to do, so we said goodbye to the Studios for this trip!  Hartley was sad to leave her new favorite thing at Disney World - the drawing classes. You might have had to be there, but this was hilarious considering she had gotten very good at ignoring her surroundings and drawing whatever she pleased, instead of what we were being instructed. Alas, it's one of my favorite things - so if I can go more frequently because my kids also want to wait for it, I'll not complain!

Our plan for the afternoon was to eat lunch at Goods to Go at OKW, then play some of the poolside games as a family. My several-day migraine was at its peak though - and the slide was now open, where it hadn't been the night before - so Ryder and I went to the dark, cool hotel room for a nap while the girls swam again. They were thrilled!

 

At about 3, we met back up at the boat dock to go to Downtown Disney for the evening. It was right there waiting for us, and the ride over was quite nice. We got a Doh Bar from Cookes of Dublin, which was the perfect snack, then everyone else headed to the lego play room (which gets unbearably crowded at night, when we're usually there) while I did some shopping.

We had a fabulous dinner at Paradiso 37. The presentation was great, the food was outstanding, the kids meals were wonderful. It was perhaps slightly overpriced for the amount of food, but then again we all eat too much anyway. And if you're utilizing the Disney Dining Plan, it's a no-brainer.

 

 

I stuck around to shop a bit more while everyone else headed back for an early bedtime. It was a very relaxing day, just what we needed between Illuminations the night before and the halloween party to come!

 

Next: WDW October 4, 2012 



WDW: October 2, 2012

It was on this day that I had a minor meltdown - about the sweat and the rain and the fighting and the neglecting of the third child on his first trip. I was thankful the trip was long, but sad knowing it wouldn't be as easy to pull the girls out of school going forward, and really just struggling a bit, despite a relatively good vacation. But since we're focusing on the good around here, we'll move on ;)

After a late night, we were taking the morning much more slowly. The girls played in bubble baths, we got breakfast at the resort, greeted the cast members who were wiping dry the benches and handrails, watched some Resort TV and generally lazed around - until about 9-something, anyway, which is pretty late for us early-risers!

The kids looked particularly cute in their matching surf shirts, so we attempted a picture - which was nearly an epic failure. We entertained a few passersby, though, so that was fun.

It was a Magic Kingdom morning, and we were starting out in Fantasyland. We got fastpasses for Peter Pan's Flight and Mickey's Philharmagic, and took another ride on our still-favorite "it's a small world". The girls were hilariously concerned about Ryder going overboard on bridges, boats, etc the whole trip - they are so silly!

We actually waited in line for Winnie the Pooh for the first time in ages (instead of using a Fastpass), so we finally got to see all of the interactive queue that has been finished for several trips now. It's very cute, and we had fun while waiting.

Emmersyn, Hartley and I went to Peter Pan and Mickey's Philharmagic while Zach took Ryder to Pinocchio Village Haus to grab a nap and a table for lunch. The girls were very impressed with our table that overlooked "it's a small world", so we ended up with a lot of extra food ;)

Next, Ryder and I checked out Big Top Souvenirs (a new favorite - what a great shop!), while Zach took the girls on the Barnstormer. Oh, by the way, it was raining a lot. Shocking, I know. Worked out well to clear lines, though! When they were finished, a few of us rode the teacups, resigned to the fact that Ryder's naps would never line up with him riding much of anything, and then made our way to Tomorrowland.

In the Monsters Inc Laugh Floor, Emmersyn was chosen to be Boo - and then the audience heard the monster say, "and look, she has a stunt double!". So, so cute! Their joke was read again (first, out of a very full audience), so it was a fun day in Monstropolis for the Carter girls.

 

Zach took them on Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin next, while Ryder and I went to our spot for the 3:00 parade. We all enjoyed a Citrus Swirl (less than a Dole Whip, though!) and a Sweet Cream pretzel while waiting.... but it wouldn't be enough, since the parade was delayed more than half an hour due to rain. For the first time, Ryder was going to be awake and playful during a parade, too, squealing with delight at everything in sight. *sigh* Instead, he was really crabby and has yet to really experience much of a Disney parade. I guess we'll have to go back? :) The girls were adorable, talking to all the characters - and hiding, literally scared, from the Queen of Hearts!

 

 

 

We went to the Enchanted Tiki Room next, because pretty much everything else was packed. The crowds were really picking up for Columbus Day, earlier than I had expected. Pirates wasn't a bad line though, so we went on that next. The girls love that ride, which still confuses me to no end. :)

Our last stop at the MK was at the Chapeau, where we learned that a previous Epcot cast member was ignorant - it's absolutely still possible to get the traditional font on Mickey ears in white. So finally, nearing the end of our trip, we remembered to get Ryder his first ears. That's all I'll say about that. That, and that he's super cute!

 

Dinner was a monorail ride away at the Kona Cafe, and I have to say I was quite disappointed. People we know always rave about it, but we found it very mediocre, at least that night. The girls were well-behaved so the experience was a good one - but we'll stick with our beloved Ohana from now on when we want to eat at the Poly!

Back at the hotel, Zach and the girls swam at the feature pool while Ryder and I did laundry again. Don't worry, he'd get to swim eventually!

Next: October 3, 2012



WDW: October 1, 2012 - Happy Birthday Epcot!

That's right, we were there for the big 30th Anniversary/Birthday celebration of one of my favorite places in the world! If you're reading this and that isn't a big deal to you, just pretend - it was to us :) But first things first, major itinerary changes. We realized how difficult it was going to be to leave town as early as planned, so our ridiculous deal on flights was nullified when we changed them relatively last minute. And to make matters worse, our only option - for the first time ever in our time together - was a non-direct flight. It was honestly the lesser of two evils though, because it's one thing to leave home at 4 or 5 am after days to pack and prep - and entirely another to try and pack up a hotel room in the same situation. But that's a story for another day. This particular day was just phone calls, emails to confirm rental car agreement changes, etc. It all went smoothly and we were off to Epcot early and excited! We got there at 8:15 which felt like overkill, but we realized as soon as we were in the parking lot that it was going to be packed! The announcement time was elaborate for the big day, including confetti cannons. Our commemorative maps and buttons were cute, and the girls were just as excited as I was - if for different reasons.

 

There was a mad rush to Mousegear for some exclusive merchandise (seriously - some people waited in line for hours!) and a similarly mad rush to the Festival Center. We made it to the lounge in time for wristbands though, then set out to see if we would be able to get anything accomplished in the crowds. After a quick ride on Journey into Imagination (still a 10 minute wait where there usually isn't another soul around), I grabbed some Soarin fastpasses and fed Ryder while Zach and the girls headed to Living with the Land - which had a 20-minute wait!

We realized then there wouldn't be many attractions without lines, so we decided to head to World Showcase instead. The Food & Wine Festival was in full swing of course, and we hadn't yet sampled anything! We started with beef empanadas and a steak skewer at the Argentina booth, and a paleta at Mexico, before finally getting to play the Agent P World Showcase Adventure game.

Lunch was at Lotus Blossom (plus some extra Potstickers from the Joy of Tea booth!), where they've replaced one of the gross ice creams with a lychee flavor (some sort of Chinese fruit) that is delicious - making it a good counter service option again. We split just two meals so we could continue snacking around the world.

 

Finally the time came to ride Soarin with Emmersyn and Hartley, and I assure you I cried a little. :) There is something magical about that ride, and I finally got to share it with my sweet daughters. They were so precious riding it, I hope I never forget how excited they were with each new scene. I couldn't wait for them to ride it again with Zach! We then took a bus back to the hotel to keep our parking spot, and hung out there for a few hours - knowing it was going to be a late night.

Back at Epcot that afternoon, we got more Potstickers and a Mongolian Beef Bun, rode the Gran Fiesta Tour and spent some time in Norway.  Zach took the girls on Maelstrom (which they surprisingly really liked), and Emmersyn waited in a long, hot line to see Mulan while a sleepy Hartley watched the acrobats.

From there, we got a few things at the Karamel Kuche (where the simple milk-chocolate covered caramel square is still champion) and headed to dinner at Tutto Italia. The girls were most excited about Minestrone soup (thanks to the mention of "Minnie-Strone soup" on an episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse), but everything about the meal was absolutely delicious. We left only to find it pouring rain, and were shocked. Ha.

After ducking in a few World Showcase shops, the rain eventually stopped. I took Ryder to our viewing area while Zach took Emmersyn and Hartley to Soarin. They came back in tears (all of them, very nearly) because apparently Hartley - who had never once been a source of hesitation on a single 40" ride - was "too short". They were heartbroken, as was I.

Zach was an absolute rockstar with the kids as we waited for Illuminations. It was the most spectacular thing I've ever seen (and our view was great). The tag ending for the anniversary celebration was deafening and blinding and simply unbelievable.

 

And we were beyond exhausted by the time we fought the crowds out and made it back to the hotel, but we wouldn't have wanted to miss being there for anything.

Next: October 2, 2012

WDW: September 30, 2012

With a regular 9am open, we had no problem getting to the Magic Kingdom in plenty of time for the Welcome Show and rope drop. Our first stop was to see Tink - and meet her sister, Periwinkle! Emmersyn and Hartley got a lot of sweet attention from Tink and Peri, being twins. (Side note: as I'm writing this, it appears Peri's prediction was right - Ohio actually did get some snow this winter. My girls are thrilled! I'm sure I'll fill you in on our snow play, oh, next Spring. ;)

Our next stop was the Magic Carpets, where we were just one ride away from riding with Aladdin and Jasmine!

 

Then it was time to say hello to Woody and Jessie, before finally riding Splash Mountain! Somehow I ended up riding first, despite Zach waiting years to ride with his girls, and - while they liked it ok - it took some convincing to get them to ride it again with him. I was a bit worried!

We had then planned to try the Citrus Swirl after its famous return, but the machine was down - so we settled for a dole whip ;) while we waited for Ariel and Eric to arrive. That Ariel is one smart cookie, even pointing out Ryder's yellow outfit "just like a little Flounder". Of course I planned it as such, but doubted anyone else would take notice. I always knew I liked her!

 

A very tired Ryder and I went to Columbia Harbor House and got lunch ready while Zach and the girls returned for their ride on Splash (which they loved). Lunch was delicious, and it turned out one of our last "to dos" for the morning, getting an autograph from the Fairy Godmother, wasn't happening today because she was busy elsewhere. We'll have to find her another time!

About halfway through our trip and moving much more slowly with girls out of a stroller, we realized that even with a 10-day vacation we'd have to miss some favorites if we wanted much downtime. We reevaluated and reprioritized on our way back to the hotel. We "rented" Ariel's Beginning from Community Hall, which Emmersyn and Hartley have wanted to see for some time, and rested for a couple of hours.

Hartley actually slept during rest, but it was Emmersyn who apparently needed to do so. She had a huge meltdown as we were about to leave - so it was Hartley's turn for some one-on-one time with Mama. To Epcot we went!

 

After riding Spaceship Earth, Hartley and I went to the Food & Wine Festival Center for a pin and to check out the Chase Members Lounge and try to get our wristbands for the special members-only Illuminations viewing area. We got some free candy and soda, and learned the "rules" about the wristbands. Namely, that we would all have to arrive before noon to get them - and considering the next day, our other option for Illuminations, was Epcot's 30th Birthday celebration? We knew we would not be going to another park first if we wanted them!

Next my little shopper and I went to Mousegear to scout out some souvenirs and buy some 30th anniversary stuff while we waited for Zach, Emmersyn and Ryder to arrive. We watched the fountains dance, and eventually her other half made her appearance. :)

 

 

Once we were all together, we went straight to the France pavilion - but on this particular day of the week Belle was not meeting the last time slot of the day. The girls were disappointed because they had wanted to show her their beautiful new dresses, but they did very well. Dinner at Les Chefs de France, one that we always "almost" choose but never quite makes our final list, was outstanding! After dinner we began an Agent P mission, but didn't even get back to the pavilion where we were to start before the worst downpour of the trip began. We were prepared with ponchos and umbrellas but it was raining so hard - one of those rains that is in every direction, including up from the ground - that we were still soaked in no time at all.

 

 

By the time we made it back to the car, we literally had to strip the kids down to practically nothing because they were saturated - and pouring rain themselves. Blech.

 

The next day's forecast actually called for rain... so we were hoping it was wrong. If these other days were supposed to be dry, we didn't want to see what it might have in store!

 

 

 

 

 

 WDW October 1, 2013 - Happy Birthday Epcot

WDW: September 29, 2012

Once again, we were well rested and out bright and early to start our day! We began at the Animal Kingdom, where we started on Kilimanjaro Safaris. The girls got to be honorary safari guides, and were pretty proud of themselves.

 

 

Ryder was pretty unaware of his surroundings.

 

 

Next we met Dug and Russell from Up!, and played in the Boneyard before walking right into the 11:00 Finding Nemo musical.

 

After watching the show (phenomenal, as always!), we had a delicious lunch at Flame Tree BBQ and headed for the Studios.

It was oppressively hot once again, but the girls were excited to meet Phineas & Ferb, so we waited in a very long, very hot line. They were a lot of fun though, and to watch Emmersyn and Hartley giddy as they danced with them for several minutes was worth it.

 

We got smoothies next, and grabbed a spot for the parade to try and cool off. Emmersyn and I even got to be part of a flash mob filming!  Hartley was a little too shy :)

 

When the parade was over, Zach rode Star Tours while the girls and I cooled off and colored inside the Art of Animation and Ryder got to stretch his legs a bit. What we were waiting for, though, was our new favorite secret - Characterpalooza!

We saw lots of characters, including some rare ones. That particular afternoon we found the Green Army man, Stitch, Minnie, Mary Poppins & Mr. Penguin, Pluto, Frozone, Genie, Chip & Dale. The girls were in autograph heaven, for the most part.

 

That is, except when they had a run-in with the Queen of Hearts. She was utterly terrifying to them, but they bravely followed her orders long enough to get her autograph. And they are still ridiculously afraid of her, even in parade settings. Or animated movies. It's quite hilarious, actually.

Dinner was at the Sci-Fi Dine-in Theater, and the girls were really kind of crazy. They were afraid of the movies, whiny about the food... but eh, it had been a great trip thus far. We cut our losses there and headed back to the hotel for a change of scenery instead of our nighttime plans.

 

The girls and Zach got to swim for a little bit while I did laundry, and they were thrilled. We let them stay up a bit later since they had chilled out some, and I'm pretty sure they were asleep 90 seconds after we turned out the lights!

Next: September 30, 2012