Another August Adventure: Fun, Family, Friends and Firsts - COMPLETED 11/2 with Final Thoughts! - Page 32 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Sounds like a great day! I wish I'd kept an eye out for you, since we were in Epcot that day, too. Glad you got to hang out with Terri! And I love the pictures taken that day!
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
Sorry I've been MIA, but I'm all caught up now! Great pictures and if I hadn't seen the pics, I don't know if I would have been able to believe WS was that empty! We had to move our trip back a week due to my sister-in-law's wedding shower, but now I'm upset We would have been there the same week as you and Sharon and had much lower crowds than we experienced the week before! AND we could have went to the PP meets!
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Stacey
Why do these kids look so pathetic?
Find out in: A New Grade, A New House, and A Surprise!Final Thoughts 01/30
What an awesome day at Epcot! I can't believe how few stray folks are in your (or should I say Jasmine's) photos. Being able to walk to Epcot is the coolest advantage of BWI, BC & YC. I really that ! Let Jasmine know her photos are wonderful! (and she has a beautiful smile, too!). We really enjoyed Biergarten and will probably go back this coming June, though like you it will go on a rotation among the many that we enjoy. I hate to see your trip coming to an end.
I think the "walk" to Epcot was the winning factor. I still love our POR, there is just something so warm and peaceful there, and there are so many other resorts I would love to try, namely AK, but that walk to Epcot is really hard to beat
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Originally Posted by EmilyJ
LOVE it!! Love the pictures!
Thanks Emily, Jasmine has really gotten good at taking the pictures, she seems to have a good eye.
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Originally Posted by chezp
What a wonderful day! I love the shot of Jasmine and your sunset pictures are just stunning.
Thanks Cheryl, I have to give Jaz the credit on those, I think picture taking is probably one of her favorite parts of the trips. She has the camera in her hand all the time
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Originally Posted by Kenny
So cool to have Epcot almost to yourselves! That is a great picture of Jasmine. And several good ones of all of you.
The last day...
Thanks Kenny, I don't think we have ever had Epcot so empty before, we have had some decent days but both days this trip we really did not have any crowds at all. The only thing that I think made the first day a bit better was the weather. This day was HOT, but luckily there are enough places to cool off at Epcot so whenever it got to hot we ducked inside for some retail therapy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
What a great day Meg! Love all the pictures! Glad you had a great time with Terri as well, and were able to enjoy an empty Epcot!
It was great to meet Terri, the girls adored her and it was nice to wander the WS with her.
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Originally Posted by lazanya
Great day at Epcot!
It ranked among one of our favorites of the trip.
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Originally Posted by Pinkyt177
What a great couple of updates, You had such a magical Epcot experience, how fun. The Pics are so beautiful. Glad you got to have such a fun passporter meet, how wonderful!
The meets were great, everyone is so nice and after you "get to know" so many wonderful people here on the boards, it is nice when you get to meet some of them once in awhile.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PrincessSharon
Sounds like a great day! I wish I'd kept an eye out for you, since we were in Epcot that day, too. Glad you got to hang out with Terri! And I love the pictures taken that day!
We tried to keep an eye out for you as well, just kept looking for a big group, some cute kids and Sharon leading the pack. We must have just kept missing each other
Quote:
Originally Posted by sc507
Sorry I've been MIA, but I'm all caught up now! Great pictures and if I hadn't seen the pics, I don't know if I would have been able to believe WS was that empty! We had to move our trip back a week due to my sister-in-law's wedding shower, but now I'm upset We would have been there the same week as you and Sharon and had much lower crowds than we experienced the week before! AND we could have went to the PP meets!
That last week I think really makes a difference, last year we were supposed to go the week that you went this year, but we had to change. I know a few people who did go and it was hot and crowded. Same thing this year...I think that one week, the locals going back to school, some of the other states starting school before Labor day just really changes the crowd levels on that last week.
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I have been gone for so long and am so far behind. Just ever since school started back up, I haven't been on the boards nearly enough and look what I've missed.
Okay, I'm up to page 20...
Great start to the trip. Love that Jasmine is smiling in the photos!! And how great that Angel got picked as princess of the day. I absolutely LOVE your sig pic too!
You have added so much since I last reviewed this that it will be hard for me to remember my comments...here goes...
Wow! I cannot believe Angel's dessert party plate!! I looked at the pic before reading about it, and assumed that it was for all, with the sorbet for her...but NO! I cannot believe that all of those things are dairy free! Amazing!
Way better than my comment ont eh allergy plate pic you had above--chicken rice and fruit looked just like all of Delaney's meals...
About your morning pic on mainstreet where it felt you had the park to yourself---in looking at all of your pictures it looked that way! Oh how I wish I could experience WDW duringa down time...I work in a school so it is not just about taking the kids out of school for a vacation....
I think I had more comments....Keep posting and I will try to keep up better!
So I left off with the girls wanting to go to the MK on our last day...so the MK it was going to be. We all got up and we had the girls to a last minute check of the room. After being assured that nothing had been left (remember this) Juana and I headed to the lobby to check in for our flights and check in our luggage. We told the girls to finish getting ready and we would be back to collect them shortly.
So we go to check in and the computers are down, so they get on the phone with Jet Blue to try to get us checked in but it just was not working so bell services took our luggage for us, we were told to check back with them in about 15 minutes to see if the computers were running and we headed back for the girls.
We found them ready, enjoying the last of Angel's cake for a snack and we headed to the bus. On the way we stopped back to see if the computers were up and running but they were still down and we decided to go enjoy...we would just check in at the airport...
We jumped on a MK bus and suddenly Angel cries out....Oh mommy, Chocolate is still in our bed (now you do remember that they said they checked everywhere and nothing was left right? ). Now who is Chocolate you might ask, well one night at the arcade Jasmine won her sister a teddy bear in one of those crane games and she anmed it Chocolate and slept curled up with it every night.
So I called the BW and they switched me over to housekeeping. I told them what happened, they took my number and said they would send someone down to our room to look for it. Before we even made it to the MK I got a call back saying Chocolate was safe and sound and I should just stop at the concierge when we get back.
We made it to the MK and headed to our first stop, the MSB for the last of our "unhealthy" breakfasts, first taking some pictures of some more decorations
We stopped for some PP pictures at the castle...
We headed to Tomorrowland first. Juana and Isamar took Angel to Space Mountain for a couple of rides while I hung out with Jasmine. We did Buzz Lightyear twice and a trip on the TTA (PeopleMover). We met up with our other half and it was already getting hot....we decided to take a cool break and enjoy COP.
Jasmine wanted to ride BTMRR again (remember her new favorite ride) and Angel wanted one last ride on SplM so we headed towards Frontierland, stopping in Fantasyland to have one last visit to Philamagic and PPF. When we got to Frontierland Angel and I rode SplM, no wait and luckily we did not get too wet and then we all headed over to BTMRR for two last rides. Jasmine loved it more and more each time we rode.
As we walked back towards Liberty Square we all realized we were tired, I think the trip had finally caught up with us and it was balzing hot today. We were all hungry so we headed over to Adventureland as Jasmine said why don't we eat at Peco Bill's. Now we had eaten here once before, years ago and it was ok and maybe we were all hungry but we all enjoyed our meals today. Jasmine, Juana and Angel all had taco salads, and Isamar and I had hamburgers with all the fixings. No one was in the mood for dessert so we packed them (not that they kept well, it was just too hot to be carrying desserts around) and took one last ride on POC.
We decided to enjoy one or two more rides and head back to the resort to do some last minute shopping and just relax before our 5:45 DME pick up. We all chose the HM and then we wrapped up the trip with a nice break in the HOP (I love this attraction).
On the way out we saw there was almost no line for Princess Tiana, Angel has been dying to meet her and so had Isamar so we headed over in that direction. She was beautiful and so sweet and the girls had a great time visiting with her and her "frog" as Angel stated.
We took one last look at the castle as we headed out. Jasmine mentioned that while she really loves our August trips (the crowd levels I think are what does it for her) she hates how we always miss the MNSSHP, which has lead me to think that we might skip the August trip next year (plus with Jasmine starting college next year the end of August might be just too much) and do a shorter October trip and enjoy the F&WF and MNSSHP.
Of course Angel fretted that she will miss our long trip....but I told her we would go back to our August trip in 2012 (and if things go my way I might actually surprise Angel with a weekend trip for her birthday just the two of us) so there are definitely plans to start thinking about (but isn't that the best way to end a WDW trip).
We made it back to the BW and while Juana took a break relaxing on a nice chair under the covered area in the back of the BW the rest of us headed over to pick up some last minute gifts. We all needed a snack so we grabbed a few things (and the actual last Key Lime Pie of the trip ) and headed up to the lobby.
We needed to make a few luggage changes so we grabbed our suitcases while Angel and I headed over to the concierge. Maria, she was the helpful Cm from our first day at the BW was there again. She finally got to meet my "Angel" as her son is an "Angel" too and we explained to her about chocolate.
Well she went downstairs to housekeeping and came back, now she had Chocolate stuffed behind her back and she told Angel she was not sure if she could find it, that Angel needed to give her a full description. The poor girl looked like she was going to break out in tears as she described the bear to her...and suddenly she said, so Chocolate looks something like this?" and she pulled out the bear. Angel had the biggest smile and Maria told her all about her son's favorite toy and how he would not go to bed without it either.
It was the perfect way to end the trip, and another reason why I just fell in love with the BW, the staff was amazing. We had a little bit of time until our DME pcik-up. Jasmine and Isamar were beat so they relaxed in the lobby and Juana and I went out to take some last pictures.
Before long our DME bus was there, what was great is that as sad as we all were that the trip was over, we did everything we had wanted and more. There was no dissappointment...I think we were all ready to head home.
Now we get to the airport and go to the little kiosk to check in except that I guess when they tried to check us in, it did, except for Isamar. The attendant was of no help (I think I understood the machine better) and he was just no a friendly person, he acted more like he got stuck on "guard duty" and instead of ruining the end of what was a perfect trip we decided to head over to full service. It was about a 10 minute wait, not bad at all and within minutes we were all checked in.
Our flight was delayed due to the nasty weather (the remenants of Hurricane....ok I forgot which one) but we had about a 45 minute delay so instead of heading through security which was crazy at the moment we found some seats and headed to the Disney Store . Juana ended up surprising Isamar with a charm bracelet, I found myself a key chain and a charm for Jasmine's charm bracelet and a 2010 pin for Angel with Tinkerbell.
Once security calmed down we headed through and found some seats at our gate. Everyone was hungry by now so while I sat at the gate the rest of them headed out to find nourishment, I think Jasmine and Angel grabbed mcDonalds and Isamar ended up with soup.
Before long we were on our plane and taking off and we made up time so our 45 minute delay ended up getting us in maybe 20 minutes late. We grabbed our bags, said our goodbyes to Juana and Isamar (as Juana's husband and son was waiting outside for them) and Jasmine and Angel and I met my dad who brought us home.
I was kind of glad that we came home on Friday, as with Labor Day on Monday it gave us a nice long weekend to just relax and unwind until we had to head back to reality.
I am really sad to see this trip come to an end. I "met" you and your girls with your TR last year. It's great to be able to keep up with things and see how they have grown. I think you should blow this picture up and put it on the wall: Miss Hollywood (in her dark glasses), the smiling Jasmine, and the Proud Mom; a beautiful family in the Place full of Magic, Happiness, and Dreams.
What is really nice is to have a vacation place where it is a top priority to make your trip as magical and carefree as possible. RE: the chefs attention to allergies and the housekeeper and concierge CM's efforts to make sure Angel's Chocolate made it home.
I have enjoyed following along with your adventures again, including revisiting Isamar and the addition of Juana. With this picture, I think I have the Frog figured out, but I'm still trying to decide just who the Princess is... I'll have to get back to you on that!
I'm glad the ride home was "relatively" uneventful, and I, too, like a day or two to recover and get things ready to get back into reality after a journey into Fantasyland!
Can't believe Tiana had no line! We had to come back a second time because the first time we came by, 30 minutes before she came out, her line was already full!
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Last edited by mom to 3 princesses and 1 prince; 10-26-2010 at 11:54 AM..
LOVE the story of "chocolate" and how it was handled by the BW staff! I instantly related to that as my girls personfiy their stuffed animals as well. I am always amazed at how quickly new "friends" are named and welcomed into the "family."
Great finish, Meg! And I'm really glad Chocolate wasn't left behind. I'm especially glad to hear that you liked the BWV, my new home. I've yet to stay there myself, but judging by your TR, I'm sure I'll love it. It was so wonderful to read about all the good times. Thanks for sharing with us!
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
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We would have been there the same week as you and Sharon and had much lower crowds than we experienced the week before! AND we could have went to the PP meets!
that ! Let Jasmine know her photos are wonderful! (and she has a beautiful smile, too!). We really enjoyed Biergarten and will probably go back this coming June, though like you it will go on a rotation among the many that we enjoy. I hate to see your trip coming to an end.
I love the shot of Jasmine and your sunset pictures are just stunning. 
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