Our Disney Trip 2010

On the 9th day of the trip, we decided to go to Hollywood Studios. Lee Dewyze (The American Idol) was going to be in a parade in front of the American Idol experience and we thought it would be fun.

We got to Hollywood Studios just after it had opened (it was an early magic hour day) and Jason rushed to get us Fastpasses. The kids and I took our time walking back to the Muppets 3D show and Jason met us there just as we were arriving. We watched the show with about 5 other people (I really don’t know why this is an early magic hour attraction, but it was alright) and the kids enjoyed it. We then went to wait on Chip and Dale to come out at 9 am. By the time 9:15 am rolled around, we decided they weren’t coming. This was a frustrating part of the trip because we asked 2 cast members if the characters were still greeting in front of the hat (even though the parade was going on at 10 am) and they said yes. Oh well.

The kids and I went to meet Buzz and Woody while Jason went to see the American Idol parade. The times guide said that they begin meeting at 9:30 am, but the sign said 10 am. We decided to wait it out and sure enough, it was 9:30. It only took us about 5 minutes wait to meet these cool characters!

After that, we walked over to meet Lightning McQueen and Mater. They were so cute!  And then we went to the Animation Building to meet Sorcerer Mickey. That’s where we hit the jack pot! That is where all the sorcerer hat characters ended up.

Here’s who we met in 45 minutes:

Sorcerer Mickey
Minnie
Goofy
Pluto
Chip
Dale
Stitch
Pooh
Piglet
Lotso

Can you tell the kids LOVE meeting the characters?

After this, we left Hollywood Studios and headed back to the hotel to refresh.

We got to Epcot around 3 pm so we could do the Visa Meet and Greet. We had the best discussion with people while we waited our turn. We only had to wait about 10 minutes in line and it went by fast. We met Mickey, Minnie and Goofy at the meet and greet. The kids had a lot of fun but I was a little irritated at Disney. They advertise it as a private meet and greet, but they had the waiting family stand behind a rope in the same room as us. I don’t classify that as too private.

Next we went to Mexico for the BEST tasting Nachos in all the world. Make sure you don’t miss these. They are so good! We also rode Gran Fiesta Tour (which Jacob LOVED) and tried on the sombreros. Then we rushed to China to meet Mulan (waited 2 minutes) where Jacob received the THIRD kiss of the trip.

Then we ran to meet Snow White (she’s so cute!) before her meet and greet time was over. We had to wait 10 minutes to see her. Apparently she couldn’t find her lipstick.

Then we backtracked back to Norway and rode Maelstrom and stopped in China to eat dinner. While we were eating, it started to rain. So we spent some time browsing in the shops and playing with the Chinese toys. I also bought my grandmother a fan and they wrote her name on it in Chinese. (They do this for free!)

Finally the rain started to let up, so we went on to tour Germany and the United States. Finally we ended up in Japan where I let Emily pick a pearl (it’s $17). She had no idea why she was picking a slimey oyster, but was so thrilled to find it had a pearl inside.

We had just enough time to grab a spot for Illuminations. If you have never seen it, it is absolutely amazing and beautiful!

We left the park and on the way back to the hotel it started to pour. I mean POUR! Jason stopped at the curb and we rushed to get the sleeping kids out of the truck and poor Emily fell flat on her butt in a huge puddle. But at least it didn’t rain on us in the parks! For that we were grateful.

Catch Up

Day 1 morning recap

Day 1 evening and Day 2 morning recap

Day 2 evening and Day 3 morning recap

Day 3 evening

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

We were excited to get back to the parks after our day off. We wanted to go to Epcot again, but they had Early Magic Hours. We usually don’t visit a park that has magic hours, but we decided to try it. There is hardly nothing interesting opened at Epcot at 8 am! There are no characters out, most of the stores are closed. Jason and Emily ran to ride Soarin and Test Track and Jacob and I were left to entertain ourselves.

We ended up in Mouse Gears. It’s this huge Disney merchandise store. We spent some time browsing and traded a few pins. We also found a couple penny press machines. It was enough to entertain Jacob and I got a few sovineers for our family. They give Disney Visa holders 10% off. I love a discount! I also got something really cute to giveaway on the blog. Just wait….

Jason and Emily met up with us and he convinced me to ride Test Track. I had never ridden it before and I loved it! It was so much fun and Emily was so sweet explaining to me what was going to happen next.

We also went over to ride Soarin again. Jason and Jacob snacked on a muffin from Sunshine Seasons while Emily and I rode it. We got behind the most interesting family in line. The woman sat down on the floor and began to read to her 6 and 7 year old from a very advanced novel. They were so engrossed even though she only had time to read 3 pages before we moved up in line. And praise the Lord we got the 3rd row of Soarin. I liked it much better than the top row.

After Soarin it was time to head over to the World Showcase. We breezed through Canada and the United Kingdom (we had started in Mexico last year and never made it all the way around) to make it to France before Belle’s meet and greet. We were first in line! Go us!

We then spent some time touring France. We went in the stores and the kids played a little on the fountain. We found Beast’s library in the back of one of the shops. Be sure you look for it!

When we got done browsing, we spotted Sleeping Beauty. So of course we had to wait to meet her. And then Marie from Aristocats was due soon, so we went to wait in her line. The woman with the book was in front of us! Haha! Marie was too cute. Emily had picked up a baby Marie earlier in the week and was so fascinated to meet the real one.

We had to leave and go meet Amy outside the Nickelodeon Hotel. We had left our bathing suits from the day before. We drove around and looked at a few hotels before heading back to Epcot to do the Visa Meet and Greet. But it was so crowded! We decided to come back the next day instead. I do not like to wait in lines! So Emily and Jason played the Fire game they have there in Innoventions West. It was on her to do list so she was thrilled.

We then headed back to Canada to start touring the countries. We had bought the kids a Passport book that they sell in the gift shops. $9.95 a piece. Biggest waste of money…. It’s really rather pointless in my opinion. You go to the Kidcot stations in each country and the worker writes in the Passport and stamps it. Which is great, but they also give the kids a free mask that they stamp. You take it to each country and get a new ornament for it as well as a stamp. Its difficult to do both and I’d rather do the free thing anyways. Learn from my mistake. ;)

So we went to the Kidcot station and my kids had the best time coloring their masks. They were really excited to head over to the United Kingdom to find their Kidcot station. Well we got there right as Mary Poppins and Alice were coming out! So we waited to meet them both. (Can you tell the kid’s love characters?) And then when we went to find the Kidcot Station, there was Tigger and Pooh! I had no idea that Epcot was such a landmine for characters!

We went back to France and I grabbed us a snack from the French Bakery. The wait was insane! Next time, I will just go to the food stations instead of the actual bakery. We decided to call it a night after we ate and headed back to the resort. We were so tired!

Recap

Soarin (Jason and Emily) – 5 minutes (they were on the first ride!)
Test Track (Jason and Emily) – 10 minutes
Test Track (Kristin and Emily) – used Fastpass. 10 minute wait.
Soarin (Kristin and Emily) – used Fastpass. 10 minute wait.
Belle meet and greet – 10 minute wait. First one in line!
Toured France
Aurora meet and greet – 7 minute wait.
Marie meet and greet – 10 minute wait.
Break
Innoventions West – no wait for the Fire game.
Toured Canada
Mary Poppins meet and greet – 3 minute wait
Alice meet and greet – 8 minute wait
Tigger and Pooh meet and greet – 5 minute wait
Toured United Kingdom
Snack from the French Bakery

Catch Up

Day 1 morning recap

Day 1 evening and Day 2 morning recap

Day 2 evening and Day 3 morning recap

Day 3 evening

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7