First of all - Wow what a horrid experience from the weather to witnessing the udderly bad parenting! I hate that you guys didn't like HDDR but I had a similar experience last year at Via Napoli. We were drenched and really wanted to head back to the resort but had an ADR for Via Napoli at 6 pm and it was only 4:30. So we decided that we would stop by and asked if there was a chance to be seated earlier which they did. We were soaked, exhausted and had the most obnoxious couple sitting beside us, so needless to say we really hated Via Napoli which is blasphemy as well. It really tainted us and we will not likely go back anytime soon so I know how you feel!
It really was a pretty horrid experience. I'm so sad you had that experience at Via Napoli! It's one of our favorites. But I totally understand how no matter how much hype you hear about a place, if something muddies your experience, it really just can't live up to expectations. We had a similar experience at San Angel Inn. It tainted us too and we probably won't be returning anytime soon. But, understandably that's just San Angel Inn and not Via Napoli.
Sorry to hear that your HDDR experience wasn't great - rain really screws things up sometimes!
And that bus story ... I will be the first to say that I'm not a kid person and I lose my patience with kids very easily. But seriously ... that is not a way to treat any human being, whether it's your child or a random stranger. I can't even grasp what this woman was doing ... it makes no sense to me. I really hope that she was just at the end of a terrible day and that's not her normal way of handling the kids.
I was kind of bummed about our response to HDDR. I will say, I didn't dislike it like Joe did. I would return, I think it's cute. But I do agree that it is a huge pain trying to get over there and if it's raining it really makes it even worse.
Right? That bus story still haunts me. I felt terribly for those kids. Here they were at the "happiest place on Earth"...or not. It really worried me that she was behaving that way in front of a bus full of people. I don't want to imagine her behavior when no one is around
. I agree, I truly hope that was an out of the ordinary experience and it was a combination of exhaustion and lost patience.
Hello. I am coming in late for the party! Because of that, this will be a long post to get me caught up. =) I found your TR link from another that I was reading. So glad I did.
I am in that "between trips" funk and have been taking advantage of other peoples magic! My last trip was in December this past year... and my next isn't until Avatar land opens in 2017.(if it opens then!) DH say's I have to go somewhere else for 2016! I tried to argue with "where else can you go and visit 9 countries in 1 week" but it didn't work. He loves Disney and all, but he says he would also like to go else where sometime too. I just don't understand that statement! So Disney withdraw begins! But 2017 will be a HUGE trip as it will be my DD's 18th birthday so we are going to do a lot of "only on special occasion" things and first time things and it is going to be around a 12 day trip since it will be our DD's last trip with us as officially one of the kiddies.
Loving your TR. My kids and DH have been laughing their butts off at me as I sit and read and they glance over and I am wiping tears off my cheeks. So where to begin!
First and most important!
Congratulations to both of you on the engagement! How exciting to have it happen at your favorite park during you favorite show! Something you will never forget.
Then to recap...
So scary about the car and thinking you weren't going to be able to go!
Raglan Road... I have not been there yet, but it is on my list. I just have never been sure if it would be something my kids would enjoy or a proper environment for them. I tend to stay away from the restaurant/pub environments with them.
You have convinced me that I need to add Boma to my next trip as well
BOG is just amazing. We went in December and requested the West Wing for dinner. I am so glad we did. The whole atmosphere in there is a bit different. Even the waiter we had fell into the "scared of the beast" role. It was something to experience. Some people don't like it because it is darker and a bit louder... but the ambiance is so worth it.
Loved your pics of Minnie. LOL I never tried the animation academy. I was going to in December, but I crammed way to much in to our trip and we missed it. Was going to go for sure next trip... but now that isn't possible with it being closed. I went to 50's Prime Time when I was there as a teen...have been debating going back. The food did not impress me then and I am afraid my kids would not be impressed now. The atmosphere is amazing and I am sure they would enjoy that part of it, but the fear of leaving hungry with the cost has kept me from going back. So cool that Joe was the Rebel spy! I will have to have my DS try your trick next time we go!
Epcot has always been one of my favorite parks. Just something about the wonder of walking in and seeing that amazing ball. From the first time I stepped into that park in 1989 I was mesmerized. Contrary to your fiance (doesn't that sound amazing!) I grew up ( I say that... but yet I was 15 the first time I laid eyes on that beauty) LOVING Figment! However, this version of the ride is nothing like it used to be. I also remember spending hours in the imagination works back when it was 2 floors and playing in the water fountain outside.
Sorry your Qwest experience wasn't what you thought it would be. I have never, nor have any of my kids, had any interest in it, but I have read a lot of people who have enjoyed it. At least it gave you the opportunity to take it easy a bit.
Cali Grill meal looked amazing, but not to sure how a meal watching MK fireworks could be bad. It could taste like rubber tires and probably wouldn't notice. LOL
I had to see Enchanted tales with Belle 1 x too... just for that mirror! Other than that, I can leave it. Nice Knights in shinning armor though!
I am sorry about the rain delays you had and that it put a damper on your mood! I have found one of my fondest memories to be in MK when it was a down poor. Our July of 2012 trip was rain after rain day. the rain was so bad when we got back to our resort one night, they had people at the concierge desk asking for refunds because they could not leave for days at a time. (amazingly, they could not refund the cost of park tickets, but they were giving them refunds for their hotel costs due to the weather??? WHAT???) The one day we went to MK, I just laughed, pulled up my hood on my poncho and I and the family waddled along like ducks in a row. It was the weirdest feeling to be walking around MK and no one else was around. I mean NO ONE. It was raining so hard it was like sheets of rain and we just kept going. WE walked on EVERY ride at MK in seriously 7 hours. Because we were the only ones, the CM's were making such a big deal out of the kids because they were the ONLY GUESTS. There was not a single wait any where! Then as we were walking up to leave....there was a CM standing under his umbrella in front of the castle and I asked him why he was standing there and he said "Have to control the fireworks crowds" with a great big grin. I couldn't believe my ears. Fireworks???? In this Monsoon... He said, "RAIN OR SHINE, The show must go on!" I couldn't believe it. So My DD, Myself, and a friends daughter that was there with us, stood right smack dab in front of the castle, NO ONE ELSE to be seen but the CM and watched the fireworks (the lights didn't go, but the music did) through the down poor. It was our own private viewing of the fireworks. I wish I could have taken pictures of the empty park and watching the fireworks, but it was raining so hard, I didn't even want to try with my phone let alone my camera. It just took something that could have been so awful because of the weather and made it the best memory ever!
I am SO glad you're reading and thank you so much for your awesome response
!!! Reading TRs helps SO much with that Disney depression!
Raglan Road...I think you should give it a try! I don't think it's your standard pub type environment, simply because it IS in Disney. I saw a LOT of kids when we were there. The Irish dancers actually call up any kids who want to learn how to do their dances and they go on stage and do a little show - it was very cute. The entertainment there is great and the food is even better!
The West Wing at BOG was SO cool! I sat there for lunch and the ballroom for dinner but haven't sat in the other room so can't really compare but those two rooms are breathtaking!
Definitely try that rebel spy trick! I couldn't believe it worked.
Epcot is one of my favorite parks too! There's so much about it I love. I always fine myself looking forward to our Epcot days almost as much as our MK days! I feel like there's so much to explore, especially in World Showcase. Next trip, we're going for Food and Wine which I'm REALLY excited about!
I LOVE your story about the rain. Sometimes you dread those moments that you feel will put a damper (no pun intended...) on your trip and they can end up being some of the best moments! You seem like you really live life to the fullest and don't let things get you down - I love that!
Thank you for reading and more is on its way
!!
I CANNOT Imagine what that was like! I'm an educator, former nanny, lots of grad work in behavior and child development, too. Sometimes I really want to step in, and wonder "What if I don't know the whole situation"? and hesitate. It's so awkward, and tragic.
That stinks that you're HDDR was such a crappy experience. I've never done it (one of the few shows I haven't seen) and have always wanted to. The trip to Ft. Wilderness is certainly time consuming - they should consider shuttles to resorts, just like they do from the show back "home". Can't wait to see how your next day redeems this rainy, child abuse, cloudy filled day.
Ah, see you're just like me! I was teetering on the line of "should I step in?" and "is this my place?" the whole bus ride. It was truly terrible to witness and much worse for the kids themselves I'm sure.
It really did stink that our HDDR experience didn't live up. I actually kind of liked it, more than Joe at least - but that probably wouldn't take much! I think it's a cute show but I guess for whatever reason I just don't LOVE it. I see why people do though! It is time consuming getting there and I think that partly put a damper on our experience. It would be awesome if they started doing shuttles to the resorts!
The next day DEFINITELY made up for all that!
first, glad to hear the conversion is going well .... and nice timing getting Toy Story now knowing Toy Story land is coming.
Congrats on getting the great deal on the camera! Hope it works out well for you for the upcoming trip!
Ugh, that rain sounds terrible. I always go into a WDW vacation knowing rain will happen but there is like normal Florida rain and like the rain Noah is used to seeing. Glad it seems like you weren't really late in the end and while it sounds stressful to be at your table at 6:25 (with some food waiting) seems pretty good!
Definitely can understand what you are saying about the seating. I think it is good they have the balcony seating for people who want to be more observers than "in" the show but I can get how that might make you feel less involved.
We have yet to do HDDR as kinda waiting until my kids were a little older. I hear very great things especially from people who love the "classic" Disney vibe - but I definitely think if my first experience was like yours it would sour me as well. Seems like one of those things you have to really commit to going with and if you are "off" or distracted by the weather, not prime seats, wet socks, etc. it's just not going to be the same. Maybe give it another try in a few years when, hopefully, things will be a little dryer
and wow, that situation on the bus. It's always tough as an outsider to truly know what was going on and what led to that point, but yeah, seems over the top no matter what and can understand wanting to do more .... though (and this probably isn't an excuse) but what would she have said/done to you if you tried to do something? If that is how she treated her kids how would she treat you? Honestly, not sure what the best course of action is? Maybe instead of trying to correct or fix just ask the mother if she could use a hand or something? I don't know - tough situation, especially coming off the not so great dinner experience.
Oh well, hopefully this just helped shine a light on how great the other days were
Oooo I didn't even think about that Toy Story Timing! We still haven't had a second to watch it since we got it - I think you just motivated me to have us watch it tonight!
I think there was a lot of things that muddied our experience at HDDR and that seating and the rain definitely contributed. I agree with you - I think it's good they have that seating for the reason you listed. If we do it again, we will definitely try for Category 1 or 2 knowing we like being more in the action! I think you should give it a try. It gets so much hype and I do understand why, I guess it just wasn't for us for whatever reason. I, personally, didn't dislike it like Joe did. I think it's cute, I just don't LOVE it like a lot of people do. But I definitely understand why people do. It IS a great and entertaining show. And you can't really beat unlimited beer and sangria...
The bus situation was just awful. It really was tough as an outsider. Everyone on the bus felt SO uncomfortable and awkward. I do understand that sometimes things happen and I try REALLY hard not to judge anybody because, like you said, you truly just don't know the situation. I guess I just have a really hard time thinking of a situation where it would ever be okay to treat your children like that and in front of a bus full of people. I like your suggestion of asking if she needed a hand. That's a great idea!
This makes me a bit worried for our Mickeys BYBQ in October! I've never been to Fort Wilderness but I can imagine it takes up a pretty decent chunk of time, especially having to make the trek in the rain!
Hopefully Joe's washboard solo made it all worth it...? lol
I hate seeing children getting screamed at in Disney. Not exactly "magical".
Oh, don't worry about Mickey's BYBQ! I really think our experience was a fluke and it was a combination of a LOT of things that tainted our experience I think. It really is what you make it and usually I'm not one to let a couple negative things muddy my experience especially in Disney. I think it really was just the combination of a lot of things. You'll have a GREAT time!
Joe's washboard solo did make up for everything
!!
Watching that mother definitely was not the most magical thing I've seen in the World...
Best trip report I have read yet! My daughter just surprised her two youngest tonight with the news we're going to Disney. It took a few minutes for it to sink in. They thought it was just her going! ??? No idea why!! She told them a week longer so she can surprise them the day of yet
Congratulations to you both on the engagement and wishing you a "Magical" wedding
Oh my gosh you're SO sweet! Thank you
!!!
AWWW!!! I love watching the Disney surprise reveal videos. They're always so funny because I feel like it's never the reaction the parent was hoping for because it takes a few minutes to sink in
!
Thank you for the congrats, I really appreciate it
!!!
Hey Candace!
I am SO SO SO embarrassingly behind (like, just drooled over your Cali Grill dinner, behind...) - I have been wanting to go there but my fiance is so picky I don't know that I can justify the price for something he may not like!
And now I want to eat at BOG right now.
Lunch was one of our best meals too!
HI!! Girl, don't even worry. I'm behind on every TR I'm reading. I'm pretty sure most of them have started another TR since the one I'm behind on
Cali Grill...ah it really is amazing. Take a look at the menu and have your fiance too and see if there's anything he would get. It really is such a great meal and watching Wishes from the top of the Contemporary seriously cannot be beat! But, it IS expensive. We usually do it on the dining plan so we don't have that sticker shock since it's already paid for but...yeah it isn't cheap that's for sure.
We have a lot left to do but we're slowly but surely creeping to that departure date! One month from today we'll be at Animal Kingdom having a WILD TIME! Hopefully. 
. This has sure gotten popular in the past few years! I'm REALLY bummed they closed this although I have heard they are planning to reopen it in a new area where there is more space to address the popularity of it. I sure hope that's true. 
. 
!!!
I think we were both starting to feel a little sad that the trip was starting to wind down. BUT I think it's very silly to start getting sad about your trip ending when YOU'RE STILL ON YOUR TRIP. It makes no sense to me! So I pushed those thoughts away - we still had a whole day of Epcot in front of us AND a day 'off' tomorrow! 
!
. K, that emoticon is a bit dramatic.
.
! 
