"Let's See What We Can See!"- Surviving WDW With Three Under 3! Update x2 11/19!

[DVCjj]

Absolutely loved your Trip Report with your wonderful family and those adorable children. I was excited each time you posted more to read. So fun.

I also played the Hurricane game at Boardwalk Villas 2 years ago for Hurricane Irma. 2-1/2 park days lost but Disney could not have been greater. I was very impressed. I had no little children (just adult daughter and I) but the kids were having a total ball in the lobby with the characters and fun games. I never felt scared or unsafe at all and I look back at that trip and shockingly, it actually is a favorite a mine. It was a new and different experience and Disney impressed me so much even though I've been going for 50 (yes) years.

I always look forward to seeing your outfits and love them all. But I have to say that the Minnie dress with the huge polka dots is my absolute favorite. If I were many years younger, I would try to find out where you bought it. It was perfect and the colors to me were so strikingly adorable.

 

[ThreeBoyMama]

Goodness that baby is just a little chunk of happy sweetness! The twins with their Mickey bars, LOL . You guys needed a ride on Kali after that! Glad you were able to let go a bit. As a fellow Uber planner I get it. Looks to me like everyone was having a wonderful time so good job!

 

[Woth2982]

you take it personally when the day doesn’t turn out exactly like you planned. However, I tried to remember the one important thing; the kids still had an absolute BLAST even though we “missed” some stuff.

I understand this so much! I always have to remind myself, my kids are so young, they don't know what they are missing yet! Really helps set my expectations!

And, I’m proud to say, this was the last day that I felt any disappointment with the pace of the trip!

Yay! I am glad you were able to reset your mind! It can be so hard for us Type A's!

Imagine our shock when we got a surprise upgrade to the YOSEMITE SUITE!

What an AWESOME upgrade! Such a great start to a special trip! My Disney Bachelorette was one of my favorite trips. Such special memories were made.

I also took a picture of the Magic Cookie Bars, but sadly, did not order one this time

I need to try one of these next time. I keep hearing about them and never get one!

 

[cindianne320]

It's SO hard traveling in a big group. I'm glad you enjoyed your AK day, mostly. I made my hubby go to Nemo when it was just the 2 of us last year, and we took the kids last summer. <3

 

[vamassey1]

You're making me want to go see Nemo again. I haven't been since 2022. It's hard to do this show and FOTK and rides.

I really understand how you were feeling on missing out on doing more. I felt the same way in July. The kids didn't know what we missed and enjoyed what they did do. It really is hard to tour with a large group.

Loved the photos of the twins enjoying their Mickey Ice Cream, that is a rite of passage.

We really enjoyed WL too. You were truly blessed to get the upgrade. The perfect way to celebrate.

 

[missjackiemcg]

Those pictures of Oliver and Evie eating their ice cream bars are just THE BEST!!!! Disney trip perfection right there.

I completely understand your feeling about disappointment with things not going to plan. When we do our family trips to WDW, I always love the planning then feel such pressure and let down when things don't go exactly right! I'm glad you were able to push off those feelings and just enjoy!

Excited for your Artist's Point dinner!! This is one we've done a couple of times and really loved. Despite it being so expensive, I'll pretty much do anything to see my favorite dwarf!!

 

[suse66]

I love the Nemo show. I have to see it once a trip! I think you had so much fun on your September trip that it inspired me to book AKL ~ Jambo in a savannah view room for the last few days of our March trip. Thank goodness for a 35 % discount as our rate was still $558 USD!! It seems really expensive but that's how it rolls these days.

 

[Mollydolly334]

Loving your TR (and the update for your most recent trip)! We also saw the NEMO show for the first time in years during our June trip and loved it!! Will definitely try to see it again. It is so well done!
The Yosemite suite is beautiful! What a wonderful upgrade!
I know how you feel since I am also the planner of all our trips. But it sounds like a great day, even though it turned out somewhat different! Take the win!!
Looking forward to hearing more!

Thank you so much for reading along with ALL of my TRs (I remember you reading some of my very first posts on the DIS and I'm so happy you keep coming back for more)!! A lot has changed since those early mother-daughter trips!

Absolutely loved your Trip Report with your wonderful family and those adorable children. I was excited each time you posted more to read. So fun.

I also played the Hurricane game at Boardwalk Villas 2 years ago for Hurricane Irma. 2-1/2 park days lost but Disney could not have been greater. I was very impressed. I had no little children (just adult daughter and I) but the kids were having a total ball in the lobby with the characters and fun games. I never felt scared or unsafe at all and I look back at that trip and shockingly, it actually is a favorite a mine. It was a new and different experience and Disney impressed me so much even though I've been going for 50 (yes) years.

I always look forward to seeing your outfits and love them all. But I have to say that the Minnie dress with the huge polka dots is my absolute favorite. If I were many years younger, I would try to find out where you bought it. It was perfect and the colors to me were so strikingly adorable.

Thank you so much for reading along!!!

AHHH- we were at WDW during Irma as well back in 2017!! We stayed at AKL and had the exact same experience as you did. We were bummed to miss some park time, but we felt very safe and secure. The lobby games and activities were so fun!!

Awwww thank you so much!! I spotted the dress at Disneyland last year and didn't buy it, then bought it secondhand later in the year because I couldn't stop thinking about it! I spend wayyyy too much money on Disney clothes; it's totally part of the fun of planning for me!

Goodness that baby is just a little chunk of happy sweetness! The twins with their Mickey bars, LOL . You guys needed a ride on Kali after that! Glad you were able to let go a bit. As a fellow Uber planner I get it. Looks to me like everyone was having a wonderful time so good job!

It ended up being a great day all around! Hahaha little Ethan is just the best; he is the chillest and happiest baby ever! Hoping it lasts through his toddler years

I understand this so much! I always have to remind myself, my kids are so young, they don't know what they are missing yet! Really helps set my expectations!

Yay! I am glad you were able to reset your mind! It can be so hard for us Type A's!

What an AWESOME upgrade! Such a great start to a special trip! My Disney Bachelorette was one of my favorite trips. Such special memories were made.

I need to try one of these next time. I keep hearing about them and never get one!

UGH it's so funny too, because I am actually very "Type B" in my social life/personality. But, when it comes to 1. Work and 2. Disney, I am absolutely "Type A" to the max!!! It works because I help keep everything organized, but it's such shock for my family to see me be so take-charge and bossy (usually, that's Haley's role ).

It's SO hard traveling in a big group. I'm glad you enjoyed your AK day, mostly. I made my hubby go to Nemo when it was just the 2 of us last year, and we took the kids last summer. <3

Next trip, I am definitely dragging Jake to see Nemo- I know he'd love it!! Traveling in a big group definitely was tricky (especially on this recent trip in September), but I'm hoping things settle down once the kids get older. Those dang strollers are such a pain!!

You're making me want to go see Nemo again. I haven't been since 2022. It's hard to do this show and FOTK and rides.

I really understand how you were feeling on missing out on doing more. I felt the same way in July. The kids didn't know what we missed and enjoyed what they did do. It really is hard to tour with a large group.

Loved the photos of the twins enjoying their Mickey Ice Cream, that is a rite of passage.

We really enjoyed WL too. You were truly blessed to get the upgrade. The perfect way to celebrate.

First Mickey Bar was definitely a rite of passage! The kids loved it and got another one in September

Seriously, that upgrade was once in a lifetime!! I was already super excited to stay at WL for the first time, but I was in tears when I realized that we had been upgraded. It's such a special memory and makes me want to stay there again sometime really soon! My mom is pulling for a Christmas 2025 WDW trip and really wants to stay there, which I 100% support!!

Those pictures of Oliver and Evie eating their ice cream bars are just THE BEST!!!! Disney trip perfection right there.

I completely understand your feeling about disappointment with things not going to plan. When we do our family trips to WDW, I always love the planning then feel such pressure and let down when things don't go exactly right! I'm glad you were able to push off those feelings and just enjoy!

Excited for your Artist's Point dinner!! This is one we've done a couple of times and really loved. Despite it being so expensive, I'll pretty much do anything to see my favorite dwarf!!

Haha, they were soooooo messy (you can really see it in the pictures at dinner later), but it was 100% worth it They loved them and enjoyed another one in September!

Artist Point dinner coming up next!!

I love the Nemo show. I have to see it once a trip! I think you had so much fun on your September trip that it inspired me to book AKL ~ Jambo in a savannah view room for the last few days of our March trip. Thank goodness for a 35 % discount as our rate was still $558 USD!! It seems really expensive but that's how it rolls these days.

Ahhhh!!! How amazing!! We looooooved AKL this time. It's never really been my favorite resort but we honestly had such a good experience there and it's moved way up in my resort rankings! The CMs were friendly, rooms were wonderful, and it's such a gorgeous resort. I'm so excited for you!!!

Ugh, there's "expensive," then there's "Disney expensive." Disney prices have definitely ruined me; when Jake and I were speculating on vacation destinations for next year, we saw hotel rates that were like $450, and I said "Hmmm, that's a good deal!" Then I realized that that is still SO expensive

 

[Mollydolly334]

Day 7 (The One Where We Get An Intimate Knowledge of Dinoland, and Meet an Evil (Drag) Queen?)- Part 4


We were immediately impressed upon walking into Artist Point. This restaurant is so beautiful with all of the greenery and twinkly lights! It has the perfect “Enchanted Forest” feel. Can you IMAGINE having a wedding reception or something in here???



This was one of the only restaurants where I was able to make just one reservation for 10 people! So, we got to sit at one long table all together. Almost immediately after sitting down, Grumpy joined the party!!



The kids look kind of nervous, but don’t let that fool you. They loved him!!

We ordered our drinks right away, but we ended up getting our appetizers first. I tried a little sampling of everything!



Wicked Shrimp Cocktail, “Hunter’s Harvest” Meatball, and Wild Mushroom Bisque.

I had really high hopes for the mushroom soup, since I ended up LOVING the mushroom risotto at Cinderella’s Royal Table a couple nights ago. However, immediately after I took a spoonful, I almost spit it out. Yep, that reminded me that I actually DON’T like mushrooms. It had a super strong and earthy flavor, and the texture was chunky and mushy. I was NOT a fan. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the other two appetizers; they were very “meh” and also lukewarm.

I even stole some mac and cheese off of the kid’s plate because I was so underwhelmed!



We ended up not getting our drinks until 6:45 PM (30 minutes after sitting down). We could tell that things were going at a snail’s pace today! I was a little concerned, since I was hoping that we’d get some MK time tonight.

I ordered the Enchanted Apple (SKYY Infusions Citrus Vodka, DeKuyper Pucker Sour Apple Liqueur, White Cranberry Juice).



I’m normally not a martini person (they’re too strong for my liking), but I had a feeling I’d like this one. And I was right!! It was nice and tart; perfect to sip on throughout dinner. The sugared rim was a fun touch!

Right after our drinks came out, Snow White stopped by!!







As always, she was very sweet. I loved watching her dance and twirl throughout the restaurant! Dopey wasn’t very far behind…





And Ryan managed to snag this PRECIOUS picture!! This was totally unprompted too; Oliver just loves him some Dopey I guess. He was a huge hit!!

This guy and I were just watching the magic happen!



Our entrees arrived when right Dopey left, around 7:00 PM. I LOVE gnocchi and was eying up the “Stroll Through Nature” dish, but ultimately, I just didn’t want to play Russian Roulette with my stomach (I’m highly intolerant to garlic and will have a REALLY rough time if I consume it). So, taking a picture of Nana’s gnocchi was as close to it as I got.



I decided to order the Magic Mirror’s Slow-Braised Pork Shank instead!



I love pork, so I knew that I would enjoy this. It was delicious! Very rich and tender, and the polenta was a perfect pairing with it. When I saw the polenta swimming in the oil and juices from the meat, I just KNEW that would spell disaster for me. But, I was hungry, so I ate it anyway. Dramatic foreshadowing?

We took our time eating and chatting… and chatting… and we realized that our server was nowhere to be found. Usually, we like to take our time during TS meals, but this was slow-paced even for us. We got to see both Grumpy and Dopey again, which was nice! We were eventually able to flag our server down and ask for the check, but we hadn’t even gotten dessert yet.

FINALLY, at 7:45, we received our dessert.





Fairy Tale Gooseberry Tart, Miner’s Treasures (Cookies and Creme Panna Cotta), and Poison Apple (Dark Chocolate Mousse Tart with Sour Center).



Noooo Kahla! Don’t bite the poison apple!

I’m not sure if the long wait affected my opinion, but I did not like ANY of these desserts. And, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, it’s hard for me to NOT like a dessert.

The Gooseberry Tart and Poison Apple were both wayyyy too sour. And the panna cotta was basically flavorless; it was so bland. I joked that I was eating a blended-up communion wafer.

Ok, we were more than ready to get OUT of there. But, we still had one more special character to meet…



Why, the Evil Queen of course!





The twins were MESMERIZED by her. Loved her!!! She hit them right in their spooky feels. Once again, this was how we knew that they needed a Halloween trip this year. They were fascinated by anything with this sort of dark vibe!



This Evil Queen was perfect. We joked that she had “drag queen energy”- she was so fierce and flamboyant. It was a great way to end the meal!

Side note- we interacted with this exact same Evil Queen on a treat trail at MNSSHP last month, and one again, she was PERFECTION. She was the perfect balance between spooky but also silly and humorous! They need to give her a raise!!

So, the overall dining experience took 2 hours on the dot (we left at 8:15 PM).

Hmmmm… Storybook Dining at Artist Point… one and done for us. it was way too slow-moving, and honestly, besides my drink and pork dish, I did not like the food. I’m not very picky when it comes to restaurant food; so that’s pretty significant that I couldn’t really find much that I liked here! We felt that it was way too expensive for the food quality. But, I’m SO glad we tried it at least once; the dining room is beautiful and the vibe is wonderful.

Our night wasn’t over yet… the twins (and Ethan) were doing well, so we decided to get a couple rides in at MK before the park closed!




​

 

[ambula603]

Hey, I'm back!! I was eager to jump back into your recap. Glad to hear your take on the Snow White dinner, as we have yet to try it and have hesitations about the food. I do think we may try to fit it in because Evil Queen is my home girl, but it's not high on the list. But that suite at WL is to die for!!

The pictures of the twins eating the Mickey bars are pure joy. Oh, to be a kid!

We heard from the whole peanut gallery on the DIS as well as from family and friends the entire time, and it was so unnecessarily stressful. As long as you don't do anything stupid (which I know you wont) and follow all rules/guidelines, you will be safe!!!

Thank you so much for reaching out to me last week. It really calmed my nerves! Just like you said, we ended up having a wonderful trip and a perfect MNSSHP. While it was stressful leading up to it, I never felt unsafe at the Poly. The cast members are the difference makers. After Disney, we headed to Miramar Beach and had the most amazing weather there, too. So it ended up being a near-perfect vacation for us!! I realize it could have gone differently, but I am glad I trusted my gut and listened to others instead of just the people back home making me feel guilty for staying (and wanting to enjoy what was left of our Orlando trip).

This felt SO late to me, since I was so used to rope-dropping this entire trip! But, this really marked a whole new change in touring pace for us. From this point on, we were much more relaxed and slow-paced in our touring due to the kids and extra people. I got a little bit of both styles this trip; heavy-hitting and commando right away, then calm and slow for the last portion.

THIS. I am glad you were able to find a middle ground and enjoy it, but it is definitely hard to adjust when you have a long list of expectations. But as our own family is getting older I have embraced lazier days and sleeping in more. We did that last week at Universal (due to all the rain) and never regretted it!

Auntie Kahla

Ok- is this pronounced Kayla? Just curious!

This is what I struggle with as the life of the planner- you take it personally when the day doesn’t turn out exactly like you planned.

This is why we don't go with anyone else now. I just have too much invested when it comes to my trips! I strive to be more chill when things mess up, but it is a lot of pressure.

I really had to let go of the notion of what I thought we were “supposed” to do and just focus on what we could do. I vowed that from this moment on, I would be like Crush and be more “go with the flow” and just let things happen

SO HARD! But I'm glad you realized it. It sounds like the end of your trip will be more free-flowing!

 

[missjackiemcg]

Yummmm, my favorite, too!!! Except I wish they would fill up the glass more, LOL!

Oh, my heart!!!!!!!! This is the most precious thing ever.

I’m not sure if the long wait affected my opinion, but I did not like ANY of these desserts. And, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, it’s hard for me to NOT like a dessert.

I don't love the desserts here either! I liked it better when you got the little shot glass with layers of cake with "treasure" (candy covered chocolate rocks) instead of that tart thing. Did you not get the chest of chocolate hearts and popcorn/dry ice presentation thing???

Eating here is definitely always a sloooow meal, but I love that Enchanted Apple and the Nature's walk (so sad you couldn't have that!!) I agree it's too $$$$, but it's a nice use of a TS credit if you're on the dining plan, which is what we've done in the past.

 

[vamassey1]

I ordered the Enchanted Apple (SKYY Infusions Citrus Vodka, DeKuyper Pucker Sour Apple Liqueur, White Cranberry Juice).

I had one of these too! I love me some tart.

And Ryan managed to snag this PRECIOUS picture!! This was totally unprompted too; Oliver just loves him some Dopey I guess. He was a huge hit!!

The photos with Dopey are soooo cute!

I decided to order the Magic Mirror’s Slow-Braised Pork Shank instead!

This looks good.

Love this one!

We ate here in 2019 and it took soooo long. The menu was a little different too.

It looks like the twins enjoyed it.

 

[cindianne320]

Oh, bummer! I've only been to StoryBook Dining once and enjoyed the food—but that was way back in 2019! My kids have never been there. We'll see if we make it back, but it's definitely not high on my list.
The kids looked like they enjoyed the characters, at least!

 

[ThreeBoyMama]

That picture of the twins with the Evil Queen might be worth the price and insane length of that dinner!

 

[scrappinginontario]

As the planner for our trips, you're so right to let go of the 'plan' but often good things happen when we do.

When we arrived in Aug my DD was more than a week into a nasty cold but was still feeling rough. Rather than rushing her we took things at a slower pace and it was wonderful. Normally we would RD and this trip only did that twice in 8 days! Letting go and allowing her to rest in the mornings led to a much better trip for both of us than we would have had if I'd followed our normal plan of RD the first 4-5 days.

Lesson learned - plan but, also be willing to ebb and flow as needed. (LOL - one of my favourite days ended up being a hot, sticky, cloudy day when after a brief lunch and visit at DS we skipped our Epcot plan and went back to the room. We were in our PJ's and both hanging out reading/watching TV/chilling by 2 in the afternoon. Unheard of for us but just what we both needed to head back to the parks the next day, fully refreshed!!)

 

[Mollydolly334]

Hey, I'm back!! I was eager to jump back into your recap. Glad to hear your take on the Snow White dinner, as we have yet to try it and have hesitations about the food. I do think we may try to fit it in because Evil Queen is my home girl, but it's not high on the list. But that suite at WL is to die for!!

The pictures of the twins eating the Mickey bars are pure joy. Oh, to be a kid!


Thank you so much for reaching out to me last week. It really calmed my nerves! Just like you said, we ended up having a wonderful trip and a perfect MNSSHP. While it was stressful leading up to it, I never felt unsafe at the Poly. The cast members are the difference makers. After Disney, we headed to Miramar Beach and had the most amazing weather there, too. So it ended up being a near-perfect vacation for us!! I realize it could have gone differently, but I am glad I trusted my gut and listened to others instead of just the people back home making me feel guilty for staying (and wanting to enjoy what was left of our Orlando trip).


THIS. I am glad you were able to find a middle ground and enjoy it, but it is definitely hard to adjust when you have a long list of expectations. But as our own family is getting older I have embraced lazier days and sleeping in more. We did that last week at Universal (due to all the rain) and never regretted it!


Ok- is this pronounced Kayla? Just curious!


This is why we don't go with anyone else now. I just have too much invested when it comes to my trips! I strive to be more chill when things mess up, but it is a lot of pressure.


SO HARD! But I'm glad you realized it. It sounds like the end of your trip will be more free-flowing!

I'm SO glad that you guys ended up having a great trip and that the storm didn't affect things too much!! It looked like you had GORGEOUS weather at the beach- loved all of your pics! And, the Poly is definitely a place where I wouldn't mind being stuck I'm so happy your MNSSHP wasn't cancelled and you were able to do that as well!!

Haha- yes!! It is pronounced Kay-la Kahla always jokes that her mom was being creative with the spelling, but it has led to a lifetime of mispronunciations

Yummmm, my favorite, too!!! Except I wish they would fill up the glass more, LOL!


Oh, my heart!!!!!!!! This is the most precious thing ever.


I don't love the desserts here either! I liked it better when you got the little shot glass with layers of cake with "treasure" (candy covered chocolate rocks) instead of that tart thing. Did you not get the chest of chocolate hearts and popcorn/dry ice presentation thing???

Eating here is definitely always a sloooow meal, but I love that Enchanted Apple and the Nature's walk (so sad you couldn't have that!!) I agree it's too $$$$, but it's a nice use of a TS credit if you're on the dining plan, which is what we've done in the past.

Ooooo that "treasure" dessert sounds way yummier and more up my alley for sure! And yes!!! We totally did get the presentation at the end; I think I was just so ready to get out of there that I didn't take a photo or have any of the popcorn

Eating here on the dining plan is definitely the way to do it!!! We've only done the DDP twice, but I'm thinking on future trips when the kids are older it would be a great deal (especially because we have been doing a TON of character meals and buffets lately)!

I had one of these too! I love me some tart.



The photos with Dopey are soooo cute!



This looks good.


Love this one!

We ate here in 2019 and it took soooo long. The menu was a little different too.

It looks like the twins enjoyed it.

Seems like this is just a long meal in general! I think if we were expecting it to be longer, it would have been ok. Now we just know that in case we go back!! The twins loved all of the character meals so much- the price of these were definitely worth it for this trip because we got to meet so many characters in such a short amount of time!

Oh, bummer! I've only been to StoryBook Dining once and enjoyed the food—but that was way back in 2019! My kids have never been there. We'll see if we make it back, but it's definitely not high on my list.
The kids looked like they enjoyed the characters, at least!

Yes! It was a really pleasant experience overall, but a little too long with food that was too expensive for the quality. I'm so glad we tried it at least once though!! I wish we would have made it over here when this was a signature restaurant with fancier vibes too!

That picture of the twins with the Evil Queen might be worth the price and insane length of that dinner!

OMG I know!!! We love this picture so much that we had it blown up/framed, and hung it in their bedroom!!

As the planner for our trips, you're so right to let go of the 'plan' but often good things happen when we do.

When we arrived in Aug my DD was more than a week into a nasty cold but was still feeling rough. Rather than rushing her we took things at a slower pace and it was wonderful. Normally we would RD and this trip only did that twice in 8 days! Letting go and allowing her to rest in the mornings led to a much better trip for both of us than we would have had if I'd followed our normal plan of RD the first 4-5 days.

Lesson learned - plan but, also be willing to ebb and flow as needed. (LOL - one of my favourite days ended up being a hot, sticky, cloudy day when after a brief lunch and visit at DS we skipped our Epcot plan and went back to the room. We were in our PJ's and both hanging out reading/watching TV/chilling by 2 in the afternoon. Unheard of for us but just what we both needed to head back to the parks the next day, fully refreshed!!)

Oh no!! Your poor DD- great decision to get some more rest and take things slow!! I bet your bodies thanked you so much by the end of the trip The more I go to Disney, the more I realize that taking things slow and having resort time is SO important in order to have a relaxing trip where everyone is in good moods!

 

[Mollydolly334]

Day 7 (The One Where We Get An Intimate Knowledge of Dinoland, and Meet an Evil (Drag) Queen?)- Part 5


Where we last left off, we were heading to Magic Kingdom after a yummy dinner at Artist Point. It was about 8:15 PM, so we had a couple hours to do some of our favorite rides before checking out our new digs at CBR!

Chief decided to head back to Marriott Grande Vista Resort (Thomas and Mel were arriving later that night, and he wanted to pick them up from the airport and help them get all settled in). The rest of us caught a boat to Magic Kingdom!

Wilderness Lodge had ALL of the cozy vibes tonight.



Took a stalker pic of the balcony at the Yosemite Suite.



We also got to see a beautiful sunset on the boat!



I FaceTimed Jake on our boat ride over and we were able to chat for about 15 minutes. I missed him SO much!!

We were entering Magic Kingdom at 8:50 PM!





It was kind of chaotic over there; CMs were roping off areas and trying to get everyone corralled for Happily Ever After! We sped right past them; we weren’t planning on watching the fireworks tonight- we wanted to do some RIDES! Luckily, almost everything was a walk-on since everyone was waiting for the fireworks!





First off, we did The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh! Then, we headed off to Journey of the Little Mermaid, one of the faves this trip.



“Carry me, Auntie Molly!”



We managed to catch some of Happily Ever After on our walk through Fantasyland.



It was 9:30 PM at this point, and the kids were starting to fade. We figured we could do one more ride…



With a wait time like this, how could we resist??

It was sooooo funny; Mom and I rode together, and while we were in the room with Madame Leota, we could see Evie pointing and hear her little voice during the whole “circle.” Both of us where like, “What is she saying???”

After the ride, we asked, and apparently, Evie was pointing at the crystal ball and saying (vehemently), “THAT’S EVIE!!!” Girlfriend just really wants to be Madame Leota. Don't we all.

We grabbed some PhotoPass pics on the way out to document our late night!! The kids were true park warriors!





Then, we used the Tangled potties and made our way towards the exit.



MK was SO photogenic tonight!!







We stopped in the Confectionary for some waters and Powerade, then we caught a bus to CBR.



It was hard to leave this gorgeous park!

In my notes, I wrote “Evie tantrummed on the bus.” I can’t remember what caused the tantrum, but I assume that it had something to do with seating arrangements. The kids are very particular about who they sit with (usually it HAS to be either Mama or Dada), and if they change their mind or can’t sit with who they want, it’s the end of the world. Needless to say, Evie did NOT want to sit with Auntie Molly most of the time.

Luckily, the bus ride was quick, and we were at CBR by 11:00 PM! It did take about 10 extra minutes to get to Aruba; of course, our stop was the very last stop on the bus. Ugh- this is why I don’t like resorts with multiple bus stops!! We were the only ones left by the end, and I think people were relieved to escape Evie’s screeching.



Since Nana and I had done online check-in and had our bags transferred from POFQ, we just called Bell Services from the room to deliver our bags.



I was very happy to be placed in the pretty pink building (my favorite color)!

Here is our room! We were placed in Room #5605 (First Floor, Aruba Building 56).











The room reminded us a lot of our room at POFQ! Perfectly comfortable and exactly what we expected given the price point! I liked the “island” theming; the only other time that we stayed here, Mom and I were placed in a pirate themed room. I much preferred this room; it was a lot brighter and had more space!



We didn’t use the Murphy Bed, but it looked so cute when we pulled it down!

We were in Building 56, which was pretty much directly next to Disney’s Riviera Resort. It was a 3-minute walk to their Skyliner station, which was so convenient for us! We ended up using the buses, Skyliner, and QS over at Riviera way more than CBR! It was a great location, considering how remote CBR can be. It wasn’t too far from Centertown either- maybe a 10 minute walk?

Ugh, I hate saying this, but CBR was far and away my least favorite resort we stayed at this trip (and maybe even one of my least favorite resorts in Disney World?). Haley was REALLY gunning to stay at CBR this trip, and Nana and I reluctantly agreed, even though we weren’t huge fans of the resort back in 2015, To be fair, the updates are a big improvement compared to 2015, and the kids loved the splash pad. The location is also really nice and central to all of the parks, and the Skyliner is a big perk.

But, I just can’t get excited about the overall theming, and the layout is a huge con for me. It seems just very motel-y, and it’s just Way. Too. Big. Even though CSR is pretty much just as big, it just didn’t seem as convoluted and it was easier to navigate than CBR. And, I’m pretty sure that we were ruined after staying at POFQ. They had just as much fun of a splash pad, and its small size would have been a lot easier to navigate than CBR. Lesson learned!

Nana and I stayed with Haley and Ryan to help bathe the twins and get them ready for bed. Bell services was very prompt with our luggage, which was much appreciated!! Then, we were finally able to get into our room and get all settled in. It was late, but we wanted to veg for a little bit before going to sleep!

I had some of my Peanut Butter Cold Brew Cookie from Gideon’s while we watched My 600 Pound Life. Oh, the irony of that statement.



Finally, Mom and I went to bed at 1:00 AM. Quite the late night for us! Luckily, we had a resort and pool day planned for tomorrow, with no ADRs booked! Lord knows we needed it. Nighty night!



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[missjackiemcg]

We totally did get the presentation at the end; I think I was just so ready to get out of there that I didn't take a photo or have any of the popcorn

Oh, man! That was the best part!! LOL the chocolate hearts are delicious, too!

After the ride, we asked, and apparently, Evie was pointing at the crystal ball and saying (vehemently), “THAT’S EVIE!!!” Girlfriend just really wants to be Madame Leota. Don't we all.

This is hilarious!! I love that little spooky heart!

I had some of my Peanut Butter Cold Brew Cookie from Gideon’s while we watched My 600 Pound Life. Oh, the irony of that statement.

I'm glad I'm not alone in my love of absolute nonsense television, especially on vacation!

 

[Mollydolly334]

Oh, man! That was the best part!! LOL the chocolate hearts are delicious, too!


This is hilarious!! I love that little spooky heart!


I'm glad I'm not alone in my love of absolute nonsense television, especially on vacation!

Hahaha, she definitely has a spooky heart!! It's so funny because neither Haley nor I were like that as a kid (I was definitely a scaredy-cat)! But somehow the kids have that innate love for Halloween, haha!

Oh yes... the only time I really watch TLC or LMN is at Disney Although I LOVED Secret Lives of Mormon Wives on Hulu!! I binged that in one day

 

[Mollydolly334]

Day 8 (The One With All of the Sunshine, Pool Time, and Cookie Dough Balls, But NO Diapers To Be Found!) - Part 1


Hi everyone!!! This will be my last update for a week or so, because tomorrow morning, Jake and I leave for 8 nights in sunny California!!!

We CANNOT WAIT and have been counting down the days since we booked this back in January! We are so excited to see all of the fall/Halloween festivities at both Disneyland and all around Southern California! Although we had an amazing time at WDW back in September, this will definitely feel more like a vacation than a trip, and we are really looking forward to having some relaxing and romantic couple time.

Let’s start out with Day 8 of our big family trip! This day was May 16th, 2024.

Needless to say, Mom and I did NOT set alarms for this morning after our 1:00 AM bedtime last night! As expected, I did have some tummy troubles in the middle of the night again; I’m chalking it up to the oily polenta in my pork dish at Artist Point. It was funny; I ordered the pork shank because I was afraid that the gnocchi would upset my stomach, and the pork ended up doing the same thing. Luckily, it passed MUCH quicker this time and didn’t really affect me too much. I’ve become the master of “puking and rallying” while on vacation and never let it get me down.

We woke up naturally at 8:45 AM, refreshed and ready to get going! Mom and I decided to take a walk around the resort and get our bearings, since we had arrived in a cloak of darkness last night. We loved our morning walk so much yesterday, and it was becoming a nice little morning routine for us!







We checked out the Jamaica section. If we hadn’t stayed in Aruba, this would have been my second choice in regards to location!





We also bopped around Centertown and the pool area!





Banana Cabana pool bar was so cute! We took a peek at Sebastian’s Bistro, since we were still deciding on our plans for tonight. But, the menu didn’t thrill us!



Changing around the lobby area was a huge game-changer for CBR. I remember that the check-in space used to be way over on the other side of the resort, away from all of the QS, pool, and gift shops! The lobby smelled so yummy; like coconut and sunscreen!





Looping back around to Aruba!





And here is the lovely view from our room. Doesn’t it just SCREAM “tropical paradise?”



Mom and I walked for about an hour and just enjoyed the scenery! When we got back to the room, we knocked on Haley and Ryan’s door to see what they were up to! They were changing the kids into their swimsuits and getting ready for the day.

Check out this crazy bedhead!



Smiley boy!



Cici and Kahla stopped over from their room, and we were all hungry for some breakfast! We decided to make the easy walk over to Riviera and grab some food from their QS restaurant, Primo Piatto.







I really do love the Riviera Resort so much! I stayed here for one night the month after it first opened in January 2020, and I ended up getting an upgrade to a one-bedroom villa! Then, the next two subsequent trips, I stayed at Riviera for at least one night, so their tactic definitely worked. I wouldn’t say it’s my absolute favorite; it kind of reminds me of a resort on the strip in Las Vegas (like the Bellagio, Venetian, etc.). But the vibes are so peaceful and boujee, and I absolutely love the French music they play around the resort! Plus, it smells like a spa.

Not to mention, Primo Piatto is, hands down, the best quality QS restaurant on Disney property (in my opinion). Every single food item I’ve had here has been delicious and high-quality. We also have amazing service every time!



It was soooo cute; Evie was peeking at a CM through the glass on the bakery case, and they got into such an adorable game of peek-a-boo. It was absolutely precious; they played for a couple minutes, and then, he came out to give her a high-five and some stickers. It made our day. That’s the Disney Difference everyone!

While my heart wanted a loaf of chocolate chip banana bread, my stomach begged to differ. I was REALLY hitting a wall with all of the junk and sweets I had been consuming. So, I decided to be smart today and get some more “normal food.” I went with a breakfast sandwich and a banana with peanut butter.



The breakfast sandwich was delish; it was a toasted bagel with bacon-flavored cream cheese, deli turkey, sliced tomato, and an egg. The banana with PB is an absolute go-to snack for me at home (literally, I eat it probably 5 days a week ).

I could practically HEAR my stomach thanking me; it felt SO good to have some nourishing food and protein in my body!!

We found a nice table over on the back wall! Everyone else ordered some hot options (eggs, Mickey Waffles, Croque Monsieurs, etc.). It didn’t even take that long to get our food, but a CM came on over and gave us two loaves of chocolate chip banana bread, apologizing for the wait!! We were stunned and super grateful!



UGH; the banana bread was TAUNTING me!! OK, I admit, I gave into temptation and had a couple bites.

It was the perfect breakfast; we took our time and just chatted about our plans for tonight! We perused the last minute ADR options on MDE, since we decided that we wanted to do a TS dinner tonight. I found an opening for a table of 12 at Cape May Cafe over at the Beach Club for 8:45 PM, and decided to snag it up! Our group had increased by two people, since Thomas and Mel had arrived late the night before and were staying over at the Marriott Grande Vista with Chief today! But, Haley and Ryan were none the wiser, and we figured that an evening on the Boardwalk would be the perfect setting for the big reveal.

Towards the end of breakfast, Ollie lined up all of his leftover food on the table, and proclaimed, “I’m making a racetrack."



I mean, I can kind of see it?? That boy has a one-track mind!

We finished up around 11:30, and the kids wanted to run around on the lawn/bocce ball courts outside. I decided to head up to the lobby and get my daily caffeine fix- and this was one that I had been anticipating all trip!



Behold… the Almond Cold Brew from Le Petit Cafe!

I tried this on kind of a whim during that first stay here in January 2020, and y’all, it was love at first sip. I’ve shouted its praises to anyone who will listen, and I’m happy to report that many of my friends (Disney and Non-Disney) have grown to love this coffee as well! It’s the perfect balance of potent and sweet. It definitely has a strong essence of almond extract flavoring, which I love. I grabbed one for Haley as well and headed back down!



Another aesthetic picture of one of my favorite drinks on Disney property.

Since the kids were already in their swimsuits, we made an immediate beeline for the CBR pool! Everyone was so excited to have some fun in the sun!!





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