Trip Report - TTFN_71 & LUVALLDISNEY

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Trip Report - TTFN_71 & LUVALLDISNEY

mickey mickey This is our first attempt at a trip report. I'm not quite sure how many days it will take to post our trip but I am sure that it will take numerous posts with pictures. mickey mickey

Sunday December 9th 2012 - It's way too early to wake up at 4 am but for WDW it is worth it. We get to Akron Canton Airport by 6 am for our 7:15 flight. We already have our boarding passes printed and just have to drop off our checked bag and get through security which is a breeze. Good thing that we have plenty of time for our flight because we boarded and took off by 7am. Hooray for early arrivals. Flight is smooth and we land in Orlando at 9:10. Abby heads right to the Disney store for her first pin trade opportunity. We then go to the Magical Express for our ride to WL. We arrive at WL and find a longer than normal line at the check in desk. Checked in with a room ready right away is always great. Guest rooms at WL have been upgrade to RFDI entry with the key to the world card. We dropped our carryons in our room in the north wing and head to Roaring Fork for a quick serve of angus bacon cheese burgers before heading out to Epcot. In Epcot by 12:15 and get fast passes for Test Track. More on that later. We walk around trying to figure out what to do first. We decide to head over to France so Abby can get the Grey Goose Slushy so she can check it off her bucket list. I'm happy with a Yuengling draft. We walk around World Showcase while she checks for more pin trading. Stop by the Koi pond in Japan for more pictures and inspiration to a hopeful upgrade of our Koi pond in the future. Finding ourselves in Mexico it's definately time for a 3 Caballeros ride. This ride is always fun for me however I can't believe JeffC didn't find it until his last visit. LOL Next is a visit to Nemo and the aquarium. Check on standby line for Soarin but at 90 minutes I am not willing to wait and fast passes are all gone which I already figured as much. By this time it's around 4:30 and our Fast Passes for TT is 6:45 but the cappachino caramel cupcake at Pizza Planet in HS is calling to me so we decide to give our Fast Passes to a nice younger couple and head out by boat to HS. Sorry Mase but no new report on TT today. Once in HS we check out a few shops to see the new merchandise and go to Pizza Planet for pepperoni pizza, salad and that sweet cupcake. We noticed the wait time for the new POTC attraction was long on our way to Pizza Planet so we head back over there and find a short line. We love the POTC movies and were looking forward to check out this attraction but after it was over we both looked at each other and said is that all there is. Really disappointing and I second the comments of angels444 on another post from this great site. It's finally time for the dancing lights which I have been waiting for all day. It's a must do for my first night at xmas time. I can't get enough of the lights and this year is awesome. I'll attach some pics I took this year. It's getting late and we have been going all day so we head back to WL for some rest because tomorrow is another day.

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Wow, what a great start!! Take off my 7:00 am and at Epcot by 12:15!! Excellent!

And I know! Major fail on my part on the 3 Caballeros ride for all those trips I missed it! What fun. Oh well, I get smarter with every trip. Usually. Sometimes...

Can't wait to hear about Test Track!

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We decided to do our report together! I must say the Grey Goose Slushy was awesome!!! I can't believe I never knew about it until I read some Food and Wine trip reports. eek I decided to try the Lemonade one, instead of the orange. I figured I would wait on the orange until later. I also decided to play a round of Stoopid Shoes. And let me tell you, Epcot is prime Stoopid Shoe territory. Lol. laugh I have some pics to post too, but we are having trouble getting the pics to post. Not sure if it's the site, our connection or what. All pics are way under the 5MB limit. Not sure if there is a post on here or not, but would like to know all the ins and outs of Stoopid Shoes. Kev and I disagree on what classifies as a Stoopid Shoe.

Becca1005

So fun with both of your perspectives! Can't wait for the rest of the report!

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That's the other thing I forgot to mention.....I usually do online check in, but for this trip I didn't get around to it. Boy, was that a mistake. Usually there isn't much of a line, so I figured it wouldn't matter. Won't make that mistake again. We waited forever to check in. I would say atleast 25-30mn.

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Becca1005 wrote:
haha! You might have been checking in as we were checking out. Reception was crazy that morning! The new cards are cool. Our mantra throughout the trip (as we were staggering in, exhausted, at midnight or later every night) was "Put the castle on the mickey" laugh

Can't wait for the rest of the report!

biggrin biggrin Yep getting in to your room is almost too easy. It should make getting into the parks alot better when they fully intergrate the cards for the turnstiles. They were beta testing the new turnstiles in Epcot when we were there. clapping clapping Too bad though that we didn't get to meet you at the crazy check in desk.

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The official originator and arbitrator of Stoopid Shoes on this forum is Ollie. When in doubt, just post the pics.

Great report!

Regarding pics, my technique is to compress the pics prior to posting.

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Great first day... Can't wait to read the rest... And isn't that cupcake just to die for

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Damn that elusive cupcake! I can't believe I missed it in October. Great trip report. Keep it coming!

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Osborne Family Lights 2012

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Stoopid Shoes Round 1! First pic I was trying to get a pic of these orange/yellow shoes, not a good pic of those, but the flats are def not park shoes either. And Kev and I disagree about the boots in the 3rd pic. But come on, it's Florida and it was in the 80s that day. Are those winter boots really comfortable in 80 degree weather?! Can we say Stoopid Shoes???? Who's with me? And Platforms????? Really????

Gotta love the Mickey drain on the Koi pond!!!! Isn't it cute?! muchlove

And I must show the Cappuchino Cupcake!!! Doesn't it look yummy! Oh so good!

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You can't see it very well, but the 5th pic of the lights is none other than the infamous Leg Lamp!!!!! A Christmas Story is our all time favorite Christmas movie and I admit we turn it on and just about watch it for the 24hrs that it runs on TBS from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day!!! So I was super geeked to find it in the display back in '09. I am trying to upload a slightly better pic of it into the other thread, but so far with no success.

Completely unrelated.... I always love the Magical Express ride to the resort. And they finally updated the video a bit with some new material which is nice. It always makes me full of emotion and I usually end up with a little tear here and there. Just love watching that video. Does anyone else get emotional from the video? It always hits me when they show the "surprise, you're going to WDW/DL".

Becca1005

LuvAllDisney wrote:
You can't see it very well, but the 5th pic of the lights is none other than the infamous Leg Lamp!!!!! A Christmas Story is our all time favorite Christmas movie and I admit we turn it on and just about watch it for the 24hrs that it runs on TBS from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day!!! So I was super geeked to find it in the display back in '09. I am trying to upload a slightly better pic of it into the other thread, but so far with no success.

Completely unrelated.... I always love the Magical Express ride to the resort. And they finally updated the video a bit with some new material which is nice. It always makes me full of emotion and I usually end up with a little tear here and there. Just love watching that video. Does anyone else get emotional from the video? It always hits me when they show the "surprise, you're going to WDW/DL".

We saw the leg lamp too! I was jumping up and down pointing at it and yelling FRAGEEELAY! It must be Italian! rolling Not sure Sean wanted to admit to knowing me at that point! laugh laugh A Christmas Story is on constant rotation at our house from Thanksgiving through Christmas and it's quoted all. the. time. throughout the year!

Oh yeah, I always tear up on the ME. The week before our trip, I was tearing up just thinking about the ME!

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Monday December 10th 2012 - The day starts out like most days at WL on our trips which is I wake up around 6:30 - 6:45 with no alarm no matter what time I went to bed the night before. Grab a shower and get ready for the day. Head out to RF with our resort mugs for much needed coffee for both of us. Drop coffee off in room for Abby and walk around WL while she gets ready and a second mug of coffee for me. I say this here because it's the same all the time. Morning ritual I guess but will not detail it further due to the repetitiveness. The only other thing to add to the morning ritual is that when my niece stayed with us a couple of days I got her hot cocoa in her mug. Once I figure that Abby is about ready I head back to the room to grab my backpack with camera, our WDW rain jackets because it seems to rain at least once a day there and we head out on our adventure for the day.

This day we try to get a boat to MK but it's really foggy out and the boats are not running but you wouldn't know because there is no message board at the dock. We hang out on the dock for about 5 minutes when I realize I didn't hear the boat horns that morning so we go get a bus to MK. The bus is faster from WL to MK than the boat but who doesn't like a good boat ride? Once we arrive at MK it's my favorite "ride line" of the day the ever so adventureous bag check line. LOL We get through the turnstiles and go straight for "new" fantasyland with some pin trading in between. Once there we find out that the Mermaid ride has not opened yet and the CM's are pointing everyone to the fast pass line which is next to Mickey's Philharmagic. We get fast passes and go to one of my two favorites rides at Mk...The Haunted Mansion. This ride never disappoints. After HM we walk over to Frontierland to the MK pin store where Abby trades some pins while I purchase a couple of new limited edition pins and a "uncle walt" day pin for her. After the pin store we grab a short line for photo passes with chip n dale. How cool is that? Our FP for the mermaid is about 45 minutes away so we head over there but this is were I will end this post and we will start up the next one with "new" FL and Be Our Guest Restaurant for lunch. Stay tuned.

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Random MK pics

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I'll have to look for the lamp next year. that's too funny. There were so many people there the night I walked through the lights I couldn't see a lot.

good stoopid shoes pics.

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BuffaloBill wrote:
The official originator and arbitrator of Stoopid Shoes on this forum is Ollie. When in doubt, just post the pics.

Great report!

Regarding pics, my technique is to compress the pics prior to posting.

Awwww. . . Shucks, BBill!!! laugh

And I so agree that the fuzzy boots are the STOOPIDEST!

But the cupcakes had me at Drool!!! yay

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Ollie wrote:
BuffaloBill wrote:
The official originator and arbitrator of Stoopid Shoes on this forum is Ollie. When in doubt, just post the pics.

Great report!

Regarding pics, my technique is to compress the pics prior to posting.

Awwww. . . Shucks, BBill!!! laugh

And I so agree that the fuzzy boots are the STOOPIDEST!

But the cupcakes had me at Drool!!! yay

Ollie wrote:
BuffaloBill wrote:
The official originator and arbitrator of Stoopid Shoes on this forum is Ollie. When in doubt, just post the pics.

Great report!

Regarding pics, my technique is to compress the pics prior to posting.

Awwww. . . Shucks, BBill!!! laugh

And I so agree that the fuzzy boots are the STOOPIDEST!

But the cupcakes had me at Drool!!! yay

I wholeheartedly agree about the boots. WHY OH WHY in Florida of all places. Of course there is a young lady (12 yo) in my church who wears short shorts to church in 30 degree weather. Go figure!

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LuvAllDisney wrote:
You can't see it very well, but the 5th pic of the lights is none other than the infamous Leg Lamp!!!!! A Christmas Story is our all time favorite Christmas movie and I admit we turn it on and just about watch it for the 24hrs that it runs on TBS from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day!!! So I was super geeked to find it in the display back in '09. I am trying to upload a slightly better pic of it into the other thread, but so far with no success.

Completely unrelated.... I always love the Magical Express ride to the resort. And they finally updated the video a bit with some new material which is nice. It always makes me full of emotion and I usually end up with a little tear here and there. Just love watching that video. Does anyone else get emotional from the video? It always hits me when they show the "surprise, you're going to WDW/DL".

I cried like a baby on the ME on the way to our resort once that video started. I'm a huge sap though so I might not be the best judge. That cappachino cupcake looks fantastic, it makes me really regret skipping that one last time we were there. There's always next time, though!

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BuffaloBill wrote:
The official originator and arbitrator of Stoopid Shoes on this forum is Ollie. When in doubt, just post the pics.

Great report!

Regarding pics, my technique is to compress the pics prior to posting.

Thnx BB! I figured since they were under the 5MB limit they would go, but compressing them is working! More report and pics to follow!

Jess wrote:
Great first day... Can't wait to read the rest... And isn't that cupcake just to die for

Thnx Jess! And yes!!!! That cupcake is sooo Yummy!!! It is so rich and sweet, we both were only able to eat half of it. So we easily could have split just 1.

Becca1005 wrote:

Oh yeah, I always tear up on the ME. The week before our trip, I was tearing up just thinking about the ME!

Allie wrote:

I cried like a baby on the ME on the way to our resort once that video started. I'm a huge sap though so I might not be the best judge. That cappachino cupcake looks fantastic, it makes me really regret skipping that one last time we were there. There's always next time, though!

I am so happy to know that I am not the only one that cries on the ME!!!!!!

Ollie wrote:

And I so agree that the fuzzy boots are the STOOPIDEST!

But the cupcakes had me at Drool!!! yay

Ollie, thnx so much for Stoopid Shoes!!!! I am curious to know, do you have "rules"? And yes, the fuzzy boots were a plenty and I just don't get it! They definately are the STOOPIDEST! laugh laugh

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JoAnn C wrote:
I'll have to look for the lamp next year. that's too funny. There were so many people there the night I walked through the lights I couldn't see a lot.

good stoopid shoes pics.

There were a lot of people there for us too. And it doesn't help that they are filtering the crowd through in 1 direction. I didn't like that this year. Made it feel more crowded, I thought. We spent what seemed like atleast an hour walking around in just plain awe in '09. That's when I first found the lamp and it is funny! Also Jack is over near the funeral home! That's funny too!

Thnx! More stoopid shoes pics to follow!

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LuvAllDisney wrote:
Ollie wrote:

And I so agree that the fuzzy boots are the STOOPIDEST!

But the cupcakes had me at Drool!!! yay

Ollie, thnx so much for Stoopid Shoes!!!! I am curious to know, do you have "rules"? And yes, the fuzzy boots were a plenty and I just don't get it! They definately are the STOOPIDEST! laugh laugh

laugh Rules. . .we don't need no stinkin' rules. . .So the rules are WAY flexible - and as creative as the situation allows!! You can assign points for spotting the best "Stoopids", loser buys the beverage/cupcake/whatever. You can make some categories. . . Bonus points if the shoes match/clash. . . Like I said, flexible!!! I've even played 'remotely'. Each player takes pictures and then you compare at the end of the day and decide the winner. In my games, loser buys the beer. Or the Grey Goose slushy!

I do have to say that it is WAY more fun to point them out live, though, and share the snorting and giggles! awesome

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Kris1971 wrote:
Damn that elusive cupcake! I can't believe I missed it in October. Great trip report. Keep it coming!

It was so sad Kris.... I didn't get one this year either Sad I tried twice and pizza planet was closed both times

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Fast Passes!!!!!!!

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Moday December 10th 2012 - Part 2 - We head over to the new FL expansion and take alot of pics plus a photo pass pic or two with extra magic. We check out Gaston's Tavern and the merch store next to it. By this time it's about ten minutes for our fast pass for the mermaid ride and we hang out waiting. Ten minutes really goes by sooooo slow but it's over and we show our passes and head into the ride.

Really short wait in line for the clamshells. This ride is themed really well and has many of the Imagineers tricks from other rides. I bet Abby will talk alot more about this ride. The mermaid story is not a favorite of mine so this ride goes down in the been there done that category for me. I'm really looking forward to the new mine ride. After looking over the fences at the progress so far with this ride I know it is going to be a massive ride. My overall experience with that side of the expansion is that I was more interested in the construction of the mine ride.

After the mermaid ride it's lunch time. We go to Be Our Guest and find a long line to even get into the building. Not a big suprise a long line since it hasn't been open that long. We talk to another couple who said they were there for lunch the past week and it take around 30 minutes to get in to order lunch. Thirty minutes doesn't sound too bad to me so we wait. The line actually goes by fairly quickly and we are in the hallway with the suits of armour who are "talking" to each other and the crowd which is humorous to me. We get our plastic puck thingy with the RFDI tag in it and are escorted to an ordering kiosk. A CM guides us through our order and suggests that it is easier for us to place two seperated orders since we wanted to add the french onion soup as snack credits. Now we have two plastic puck thingies. Abby orders the braised pork roast and I get the grilled ham n cheese with fries. For dessert Abby gets the triple chocolate cupcake and I get the lemon raspberry puff.

Our order is made so we look for a place to sit down and eat. We get a table in the rose gallery which has very many open seats. Abby grabs my camera to get pics of the west wing because her point and shoot takes bad dark pics. I hang out with the plastic puck thingies and check out the decore which is very nice. At this point I am glad we are not seated in the ballroom because it's a zoo of humanity. I am really suprised a few minutes later when a CM with rolling cart in tow stops and places our meals on the table and takes one of the pucks. A minute or two later our french onion soup shows up and the last puck disappears. The soup to me was ok since I have had way better. The ham n cheese was really good. My lemon raspberry puff was not very good and since then I figured out it was gluten and sugar free which explains it all. Abby really like her pork roast, veggies, potatoes and triple chocolate cupcake. Finished lunch and I took many pics. We leave Be Our Guest full and happy that we got to experience this new "quick serve" even though it did not feel like any other QS. The day isn't even half over so I will have to start a new post for the rest of the days activities. Stay tuned!!

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Random Pics new FL

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Mermaid ride pics

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B O G - pics

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Ollie wrote:
laugh Rules. . .we don't need no stinkin' rules. . .So the rules are WAY flexible - and as creative as the situation allows!!

And this is just one of the reasons we love Ollie! YEAH! We don't need no stinkin' rules!! yay yay yay

The fuzzy boots are my stoopid shoes winner of the bunch.

Loving all your pictures - thank you so much for sharing them clapping clapping

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Jess wrote:
Kris1971 wrote:
Damn that elusive cupcake! I can't believe I missed it in October. Great trip report. Keep it coming!

It was so sad Kris.... I didn't get one this year either Sad I tried twice and pizza planet was closed both times

Oh no, Jess! That does make me sad!

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Great shots of the new FL!

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