Bye Bye, Boys! We'll have fun storming the castle! Jan '16 Mom/Daughter TR

[kcpinwdw]

Thanks everyone! Sorry for the delay in updates, we are in Las Vegas this week visiting family. Hope to start on our last day when I get home this weekend!

 

[kcpinwdw]

Day 4: MK day again

Good morning! We got up early again this morning for another prepark breakfast. I decided that we would take the bus even if i had to wait, it was going to be much warmer today! Sylvie's BBB hairdo held up really well overnight, but after two days in princess dresses she was ready for some matching tie-dyes and jeans. I got my coffee and we wheeled to the bus stop, just as a bus marked "pluto" pulled up. It was really early, like 630. He asked where we were going, and when I said MK he changed over the bus sign and we got a private ride. We we obviously the first bus of the morning to arrive at the bus stop! It was super early and dead quiet. We walked to the bag check area and it was obvious I pulled a Disney First... first guests at the park in the morning! It was pretty cool. Here is a picture of the empty morning light.


We chatted with the guard for a while, and after 15 min or so more people starting trickling in. A lot of them were taking the train tour, which was interesting to hear about. I made "friends" with a couple who were expecting their third baby, and were taking a child-free vacation. We chatted and shared tips while waiting to get in. Sylvie was in a good mood and enjoyed hanging in her stroller and people watching.

Just about 745 we were let into the park.


All by herself! Such a big girl...

One of the two of us... maybe my favorite photo of the trip. Sylvie was not cooperating with the photopass CM but he managed to get a few really good ones.


We checked into BOG and settled in. This morning I ordered the eggs florentine, in the puff pastry.... and I actually took a photo!


Here's Sylvie enjoying BOG

 

[mdsouth]

I love this photo! Yours and Sylvie's smiles say it all! Pure happiness! Wonderful!
WOW! I am thoroughly impressed with the fact that you got yourself and Sylvie ready and out the door by 6:30 and even managed to snag the first bus to make you the first guests at MK! Cool!

 

[kcpinwdw]

Day 4 MK (cont)

We decided to rope drop Winnie the Pooh, though it was clear the CMs thought we were weird waiting there, ha ha. Sylvie played in the tree and we watched everyone line up for 7DMT and waited for the RD crowd to arrive. Eventually the rounded the corner, and the Pooh CM let us on the ride (first again!).



The we decided to head to Storybook Circus, by way of Under the Sea. Since we missed Under the Sea the day before we rode it twice in a row. No one else on the line at all, but it was a pain to walk all the way through for the second time, ha ha!

I tried to get SYlvie to ride Barnstormer but she was nervous, even though she did it last trip. She REALLY wanted to meet Minnie and Daisy since we missed it on our last MK day. But they didnt open until 10 and it was barely 915. So we did Dumbo, even though Sylvie wasnt happy at first to go on it. But of course she loved it, and we did it again!

Here is our "Dumbo Selfie"



We tried to take a picture with the photopass CM but Sylvie was full of beans and wouldnt sit still, and none of them came out even halfway decent. She still wasnt going to go on Barnstormer, so we walked over to the sideshow. It was 940, but we lined up anyway. We played ring-around-the-rosie and held steady as the lined built behind us. At 10am sharp we were surprised when Daisy and Minnie popped out the door and greeted us. Daisy took Sylvie by the hand and walked her through the tent to her meeting area, and Minnie escorted the family behind us. Sylvie was just so cute walking with Daisy, I wish I was in front of them instead of behind!



We had a nice meet and greet with Daisy and Minnie, and the weather was getting gorgeous outside!

We walked to Adventureland and did the Tiki room and the Jungle Cruise. Then I decided we should go take advantage of Stormalong Bay, and we headed back to the buses. Waiting at the bus stop was a nice family with a little guy who was 8, and made friends with Sylvie. They entertained each other the whole way back to Yacht Club. I really was surprised how friendly everyone was, it made me realize that a solo vacation would be a really fun thing to do someday, if the opportunity arose.

We did a quick change into our swim suits and were at the pool deck around noon. It was nice and easy to get loungers right by the sandy area, where Sylvie liked to play. We spent about two hours in the pool, and at the end I could barely get her out! I was starving so we shared a kids meal from Hurricane Hanna's.


After her swim Sylvie pretended to take a nap on the pool deck.



I figured this was because she may actually need a real nap, so we headed upstairs. Her BBB hair was in rough shape so we decided to take a bath and wash it out before our dinner plans. So she got a wash and we got dressed. We had time to go back to MK for a couple hours before our 1900 PF reservation, so we loaded up the stroller and left the room around 230-245 ish.

But before we even got to the bus stop...



I let a few buses go without us, but after about 45 minutes decided to just get on. She stayed asleep in my arms the whole way, and transferred back into the stroller asleep! Tired cookie. So I took advantage of the alone time and popped on the monorail for some resort hopping and shopping. I picked up some gifts for her brother, and spent a boat load of snack credits along the way in packable goods!

Next up: 1900 PF dinner.

 

[mdsouth]

Great updates! Your early breakfast ADR at BOG really paid off!
First at MK park opening
First at Winnie-the-Pooh
First at Meet and Greet for Daisy and Minnie! Wow!
And you were one of the first families on Seven Dwarfs Mine Train for the day!

I love the photo of Sylvie holding Daisy's hand. Precious!

 

[kcpinwdw]

And you were one of the first families on Seven Dwarfs Mine Train for the day!

Nope, we skipped it. I tried to talk Sylvie into it but she wasn't having it. She went last year and said it was fun but too scary!

 

[mdsouth]

Nope, we skipped it. I tried to talk Sylvie into it but she wasn't having it. She went last year and said it was fun but too scary!

I can see it being scary for a little one since it is dark. But the comment is ironic since that Disney Imagineers created this ride to replace Snow White's Adventure since it was considered to be scary to lots of little ones.

I wonder how many other young ones find it scary?

Oh well, skipping Seven Dwarfs allowed you to do other things instead.

It appears that Sylvie is a little fish who loves the water from what I gathered from your update about swimming in Stormalong Bay. I think it is important to remember to take the time away from the parks to relax or do something physical, especially for children, since walking around the parks and standing in lots of lines can be boring and tiring.

 

[Gracefulskinny]

We walked to the bag check area and it was obvious I pulled a Disney First... first guests at the park in the morning!

That's always a cool feeling isn't it?

LOVE!

 

[AinsleyLM]

I'm interested to know how your trips were when your twins were 2? We are taking my twin nieces the month before they turn 3. I am kind of nervous about taking them at such a young age. How did your two handle the long days? Nap time is a must, but I am worried about going back at night and how they will handle it.

 

[cyneswith]

Looking forward to your next entry.

 

[kcpinwdw]

I'm interested to know how your trips were when your twins were 2? We are taking my twin nieces the month before they turn 3. I am kind of nervous about taking them at such a young age. How did your two handle the long days? Nap time is a must, but I am worried about going back at night and how they will handle it.

2 is a great age! We did a long weekend right before they turned 3 and stayed at Animal Kingdom lodge. My advice is to have a good plan but not to overplan... and be prepared to be flexible! Rent a good stroller, like a city mini double. Going back for naps is definitely easier if you are staying somewhere where you do not have to take a bus. When ours were 2 they napped in the stroller just fine (mostly). Try to book some character meals so you don't have to wait in lines to meet them. Hit the parks early and don't be afraid to leave early too! We try not to stretch their normal hours too much, also. Maybe one day if needed, but make sure you have not much planned the next day if it's going to be a long one. Oh, and watch lots of youtube videos with them of the different rides and meet and greets, so you can get a sense of what is excited and what is terrifying! Feel free to PM me too if you have any specific questions! When are you taking your trip?

 

[AinsleyLM]

2 is a great age! We did a long weekend right before they turned 3 and stayed at Animal Kingdom lodge. My advice is to have a good plan but not to overplan... and be prepared to be flexible! Rent a good stroller, like a city mini double. Going back for naps is definitely easier if you are staying somewhere where you do not have to take a bus. When ours were 2 they napped in the stroller just fine (mostly). Try to book some character meals so you don't have to wait in lines to meet them. Hit the parks early and don't be afraid to leave early too! We try not to stretch their normal hours too much, also. Maybe one day if needed, but make sure you have not much planned the next day if it's going to be a long one. Oh, and watch lots of youtube videos with them of the different rides and meet and greets, so you can get a sense of what is excited and what is terrifying! Feel free to PM me too if you have any specific questions! When are you taking your trip?

We are going the weekend before Thanksgiving. Leaving that Wednesday and coming back on the Monday. We took my nephew when he was 3.5 and loved every minute of it! He will be 6 this trip. We definitely aren't going to have a lot of long nights, maybe 1 or 2. I am hoping bite the bullet and book a monorail resort to help with traveling to the parks with the girls. Ours won't nap in the stroller. We plan on doing a couple of character meals for breakfast. Hollywood and Vine is a must. The nephew loved it, and of course, the girls love Sofia! We are probably going to do Chef Mickey's, too. Another possibility is Garden Grill. Thanks for the advice!

 

[T00dles]

We are going the weekend before Thanksgiving. Leaving that Wednesday and coming back on the Monday. We took my nephew when he was 3.5 and loved every minute of it! He will be 6 this trip. We definitely aren't going to have a lot of long nights, maybe 1 or 2. I am hoping bite the bullet and book a monorail resort to help with traveling to the parks with the girls. Ours won't nap in the stroller. We plan on doing a couple of character meals for breakfast. Hollywood and Vine is a must. The nephew loved it, and of course, the girls love Sofia! We are probably going to do Chef Mickey's, too. Another possibility is Garden Grill. Thanks for the advice!

Do they still have Sofia now that h&v has Minnie?

Sorry just checked and saw she's at breakfast and lunch!

 

[NJlauren]

Great start to the day!

I love the MK pic of you both in front of the castle! I also LOVE the pic of her walking with Daisy!

Cutie, napping on the way to MK lucky she stayed a sleep and got to relax! Perfect afternoon!

 

[kcpinwdw]

Okay friends! Where did we leave off?? Oh yes, sleeping beauty napping in her stroller as we wait for dinner at 1900 PF.

Lovely monorail ride around and eventually we come to the GF. I bought some soaps, a few souvenirs for my son, and tried to do a little recon about when the Beauty and the Beast Dooney bags are being released... but of course no one knew anything, not even what I was talking about. I parked the stroller in the lobby and we enjoyed the music and ambiance for a while. Eventually the kid woke up, and was back to full energy!

I was still a bit early for our ADR but we checked in and they said no problem to sit us ahead, which was nice. First we snapped a photo by the mural...

which i will have to add later, because I can't find it!

Dinner this evening was MUCH better than last time we went. I am not sure why. Maybe I just picked better dishes. Sylvie ate like a champion, which is very rare! She had pizza and chicken and fruit and tried a few little chocolate desserts... and of course gummy bears! My favorite was squash ravioli, I think it was?? Yum.

The characters were fun as always. It was a different "friend" of Lady Tremaine then our last visit, but the step sisters were the same. Anastasia was very taken with Sylvie and came to our table a lot of hugs, it was cute. The family next table over was having a birthday and got a custom cake, and it was fun seeing their happiness.

Here are some character photos:



More to come (but not much more, WAHHHH)

 

[mdsouth]

Sylvie looks so sweet in her dress!
Crazy that no one knew anything about the when the new Beauty and the Beast bags will be released. Why is it that people on the DIS are so much more informed about things than a lot of the CMs at the parks? Disney should have notices to CMs about new items and procedures relating directly to their jobs. And then have a standard place where CMs can look up information. It shouldn't be too hard for Disney to do and implement with technology.

 

[kcpinwdw]

And then have a standard place where CMs can look up information

like a disney google.... genius!

I need to do a little post about our trip home, I think.

In other news I booked my airfare for my mommy/son trip so that is officially happening, but I dont think I will be doing a pre-trip report since I've finished all my planning already!