"Let's See What We Can See!"- Surviving WDW With Three Under 3! Updated 1/12!

[vamassey1]

So sorry for your tummy issues. I hope you get some answers soon. Danielle had problems in high school and it ended up being some kind of bacteria in her gut. It took a stomach gas test to get that confirmed. Now she stays away from gluten and that seems to help.

You have made me very hungry and green with envy with all the snacks and drinks posted in WDW and DL.

I hope both your trip are fabulous.

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

So exciting that you have 2 trips coming up!!! I haven't booked anything for us for July but I am still hoping we are going to get to Disneyland this summer.

 

[suse66]

Hi everyone!! I can’t believe that summer is already winding down and fall is approaching. I got my first Pumpkin Spice Latte on Friday, but I had to get it iced because it’s been in the 90s all week over here! I’m super eager for that crisp weather and all things fall… I LOVE this time of year and I think that fall has officially become my favorite season! It’s also giving me ALL of the nostalgia for our wedding and honeymoon that happened around this time last year.

it's been so hot here that I can't even think of PSL! I still have the AC on in mid September which is very unusual. Maybe an iced one would be good. I'm ready for sweater weather too.

Another seasonal milestone- Evie and Ollie had their first day of 3K last week!

So cute!!

I also purchased an Individual Lightning Lane for Cosmic Rewind for Mom, Haley, and I from 1:05- 2:05. We were trying to balance out our ride times today and do this ride in “shifts,” so that there would always be multiple people to sit with the kids while the others rode. I communicated this in our group chat, and the rest of the crew said that they would prefer me to help them with the virtual queue at 1:00 rather than purchase an ILL!

You are definitely the Julie McCoy for the group!

There is something about early mornings at the WDW resorts that is SO calming to me. One thing that we noticed about this resort in particular was how peaceful and quiet it was. Many times throughout our stay at POFQ, we commented that we felt like we were the only guests here! It was SUCH a nice change from CSR.

I loved that at POFQ too! Such a charming and relaxing resort.

After our fun ride, we decided to get a ride in on Soarin’ before the kids arrived, since they’re still too short for this. We stopped to get a couple PhotoPass shots in front of the Figment flower topiary!!

Such great pics! is that the Tommy Bahama dress? It looks great on you!

I was SO excited to try my treat. I decided on a Raspberry Lime Macaron!

I love those but they have gotten SO expensive!

Since Haley, Ryan, and Nana had the ILL, their ride on Cosmic Rewind didn’t take too long. They met us back at Connections at 2:15, and were RAVING away! Mom was able to ride this on my bachelorette party back in July 2023, but Haley wasn’t able to ride because she was pregnant, so it was her and Ryan’s first time! They got Disco Inferno, and their faces say it all…

Awesome!

I understood, since it was everyone’s favorite ride… but frankly, I was just SICK of hearing about this ride. I felt like it was all everyone could talk about, and that our day solely revolved around being able to ride this ride (and me being the planner, it was up to ME to make it happen). I understand that I am in the minority here, but I REALLY don’t get the hype around this ride. I felt like I was going to explode if I heard the words “Cosmic Rewind” one more time.

Oh dear...it's not for everyone. I am hands down obsessed with this ride so I would have been one of the annoying ones.

FINALLY- at 6:40, the crew came rushing in. They all had great rides!! Nana and Haley got “I Ran,” and Ryan, Kahla, and Cici got “September!”

You really took one for the team looking after the kids so they could ride. I am sure everyone was so grateful for your help.

I handed Ethan off to Haley and he calmed down immediately- he just wanted his Mama. Nana saw my face, and immediately commented, “Oooo, someone’s salty." To be honest, I totally was. However, I knew that I was partially just hangry, and I was REALLY hoping that our meal at San Angel Inn would salvage my mood!!

It was a really long time to wait and have a little sweet pea who needed mama.

I have a doctor's appointment on September 18th, where I will hopefully get some bloodwork/other testing done and be referred to a GI specialist. I’m really hoping to have some answers to this soon. Food is my love language, so this has been really hard on me! Positive thoughts and good vibes are much appreciated.

Oh no! I am so sorry to hear this. Really hoping the appointment this week goes well and you have some answers soon.

Lamington- Australia

My favourite from F&W last year!

I was SO thrilled to snag this baby up. Hopefully, this will guarantee that we have inside seating! We are so pumped to try DL’s version of Trader Sam’s, since we’ve been to the WDW location many times before!

Fun!

As far as snacks go, I was SO disappointed with the line-up when it came out last month. There were so many (I repeat, SO MANY!) snacks that sounded so yummy… EXCEPT… They ALL have cream cheese frosting or are cheesecake-adjacent!!!!! I mean, seriously?? What does DLR have against a good old fashioned vanilla buttercream???

I like both but too much cream cheese based stuff gets really heavy after a while.

 

[TheHulamuffins]

Future Trip Updates: WDW and DLR Eats and Treats Part 2!


DLR- October 29- November 3rd, 2024

Over Labor Day weekend, I was able to book some ADRs for Jake and I’s Disneyland Trip! We have park-hoppers, so we will be doing a good amount of bouncing between DL and DCA on our park days. This is our current line-up:

October 29th (Arrival Day and Oogie Boogie Bash Evening)

GCH Craftsman Bar at 1:50 PM



This was one of our top restaurants from our trip last year, so we’re so excited to eat here again! I figure this will be a nice and convenient lunch at our resort before we head to OBB at 3:00.

October 30th (Park Day)

Blue Bayou at 2:00 PM



Honestly, Jake and I are finding it really hard to get excited about this restaurant. It is EXPENSIVE, and we’re not crazy about the menu. But, the ambience is unmatched, and I feel like this is definitely a rite-of-passage ADR!

October 31st (Resort Day)

Goofy’s Kitchen Celebrates Halloween Breakfast at 8:40 AM



This place was our #1 table-service restaurant last year!!! We are suckers for breakfast buffets, and all of the food here was delicious!

Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar at 3:00 PM



I was SO thrilled to snag this baby up. Hopefully, this will guarantee that we have inside seating! We are so pumped to try DL’s version of Trader Sam’s, since we’ve been to the WDW location many times before!

This evening, we are also really hoping to snag a spot at the new Din Tai Fung at Downtown Disney for dinner. They don’t take ADRs, so it’ll be a last-minute Hail Mary!

November 1st (Park Day)

Carnation Cafe at 8:00 AM



This place right on Main Street USA always looks so cute and calm! And a good way to get my Mickey Waffle fix.

Carthay Circle at 4:30 PM



Similar to Blue Bayou, we are still a little hesitant due to the price and menu. We were planning on getting a table at the outdoor “alfresco” lounge, since that menu looks a little more our speed. But, I really want to eat inside and enjoy the ambience here… this restaurant looks BEAUTIFUL and so stylish!

November 2nd (Final Park Day)

Mickey’s Autumn Adventures Brunch Buffet at Storyteller’s Cafe- 1:00 PM



I’m really excited to check this place out, since it’s right at our hotel! The woodsy theming is perfect for fall and I want to keep the breakfast buffet love going strong!

I might cancel a couple of these the closer we get to the trip…I always try to over-book since I get so excited and want to try ALL of the restaurants!

As far as snacks go, I was SO disappointed with the line-up when it came out last month. There were so many (I repeat, SO MANY!) snacks that sounded so yummy… EXCEPT… They ALL have cream cheese frosting or are cheesecake-adjacent!!!!! I mean, seriously?? What does DLR have against a good old fashioned vanilla buttercream???

You all know that I DESPISE cream cheese in desserts, so sadly, that limits my options for seasonal eats. Jake, however, is one happy camper (he loves cheesecake).

These are the fun Halloween snacks and treats that I’m hoping to try during our time at DLR!

Peanut Butter Cold Brew- Cappuccino Cart



Mickey Pumpkin Spice Cupcake- Pooh Corner



Mango-Habanero Chicken Strips- Flo’s V8 Cafe



Jack O’ Lantern Mickey Pumpkin Macaron- Jolly Holiday (this has “cheesecake” filling but looks a little less tangy than the other options?)



Pumpkin Tiramisu- Wine Country Trattoria



Blueberry Corn Dog- Little Red Wagon



Cantaloupe Agua Fresca- Rancho Del Zocalo



Autumnal Harvest Flatbread (Hold the Garlic Miso!) and the Enchanted Pumpkin Stuff - Red Rose Taverne





Taro Bread Pudding- Aunt Cass Cafe



Loaded Fries and Banana Pudding- Hungry Bear Jamboree (Hoping it’s open in time!)





Matcha Chai Madness Churro- Churros at Hollywood Land



Witch’s Hat Sundae- Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream



Asian-Inspired Pork Tacos- Studio Catering Company



Peanut Butter Chocolate Churro and Ube Soft Serve (YES!!)- Cozy Cone





Whew- that’s a lot of sugar and spice!!! Fingers crossed that my stomach is cooperating by then so I can enjoy some of these fun snacks!

​

Coming a bit late to the comments on this, but Blue Bayou is so much fun and it is unique to Disneyland (unless outside the US). So I think you should definitely go there at least once, and an anniversary trip is a great time for it. My daughter and I were there in 2006, and I still have great memories of that meal.

 

[Mollydolly334]

Yay for upcoming trips! We're just over two weeks away from ours, it's coming up so fast.

I'm so sorry to hear about your stomach issues, hopefully the doctors can figure it out so you can enjoy all the food again!

There are so many items at food and wine this year that look amazing, I feel like they did a really good job this year with some of these additions. Definitely looking forward to Bramblewood Bites, Forest and Field, and Earth Eats. Plus a ton of others!

SO EXCITED!! I'll DM you soon with our plans- I definitely want to say hi at some point!

What food item are you most excited for?? You're a F&W expert so I fully trust your opinion!!

I'm so sorry that you've been having stomach issues. That sounds miserable.
I've never been to DL, but all those restaurants are making me want to go- it reminds me a lot of the dining we had at Disneyland Paris, though.

Thank you Cindi!! Yeah- TS service restaurants at DL aren't as good as the ones at WDW. But, their snacks are way better than WDW! I'm really hoping to make it over to DLP soon!

Sorry about your stomach issues. I hope you get some answers and things get better for you!
All of that food looks amazing!!

Crossing my fingers that I get some answers tomorrow!!!!

Elizabeth and I both have stomach issues a lot. After doing an elimination diet for Elizabeth we found that she has an issue with High Fructose Corn Syrup. This puts a bit of a damper on what she likes. She will still have some of it every once in a while but just knows she will be sick that night.

I have an issue with MSG. This took many, many years to figure out. I was told this whole time that I have IBS but I knew that wasn't it as I could the foods they told me not to eat and not get sick. It was only by chance that we figured it out. We had such a plain dinner one night and I was sick. It was just plain chicken sprinkled with rotisserie seasoning, steamed carrots and rice. Jeff put it together. The rotisserie seasoning has MSG. I can have some now after a few years but I still need to watch.

My mom also has celiacs that was misdiagnoses for like 20 years as IBS.

Stomach issues are horrible. I hope you figure out what is causing them.

I'm really hoping I don't have to do an elimination diet... that would be so hard!! I'm pretty positive that I'm not celiac or lactose intolerant which is good.... dairy and crackers/cookies/bread have been a staple for me during this time!! I'm thinking it might be FODMAP related... certain fruits/veggies (stonefruits and alliums in particular as well as eggs, alcohol, and anything too spicy or oily seem to be triggers for me).... Really hoping I get some answers soon!

Hooray for all the Disney Fall excitement coming your way!!! I'm excited for all of your ADRs at Disneyland, even if you end up canceling some, you got some amazing ones!

Sending all the good vibes and pixie dust your way for a doctor's appointment that leads to some answers for you, and allows you to enjoy every single morsel you have your hopes set on this fall!

Thank you for the well wishes Jackie I'm starting to feel a bit better so I'm really hoping that continues and I get some answers!! I want to try ALL of the Disney snacks!

Excited for your Disneyland plans! We LOVE Carthay Circle and feel it's 100% worth the price. Blue Bayou not so much, but I agree that the theming there is amazing and you should at least go once. Are you going to Lamplight Lounge? That's another one of our favorites!

Thank you so much for following along and your insight!! We will probably keep both at this point- they are definitely "bucket list" ADRS for us We ate at Lamplight Lounge last year, and to be honest, were suuuuuper underwhelmed It was our #1 anticipated ADR and we were so surprised!! So, not this time, but I will definitely book it for our next trip. Just wanted to try some new restaurants this time!

Just reading through your trip report (really enjoying it!) and wanted to let you know that Din Tai Fung DOES take reservations! We just returned from our first Disneyland trip last month and were able to make Din Tai Fung reservations before we went; just not through the Disneyland app. We loved it! I love your food reviews so hoping you do a TR for your Disneyland trip as well.

Din Tai Fung Anaheim

OMG thank you so much for this!! You're a lifesaver!! Looks like they book 30 days in advance so I'll be anxiously awaiting when they open up our date

Yes! We leave a week from today! Only 4 full work days to go! I have to finish packing this weekend. I am trying to get our stuff into as few bags as possible due to traveling with 4 adults 2 kids and 2 car seats! Oh and a stroller.

This is like number 1 on my F&W list this year! I love lemon.

we are doing an early breakfast ADR for this reason. Load up on food early, walk it off, then stuff ourselves silly the rest of the day/night!

AHHHH have such a blast- I'll be stalking your Insta for pictures and all of the deets!!

Man oh man I started to read this earlier but knew I wouldn't have the proper time to "digest" in (see what I did there!?) so I came back to read it slowly. SOO many yummy food options. I tried not to get too excited because we will only be at the MNSSHP so all the Epcot stuff was just a tease. And same for DL - as we will be there next summer so most of this won't be around. But I do love all the options you have selected! I sincerely hope you get your stomach issues straightened out by your trips! Maybe you can at least have some licks or tastes if you aren't able to eat the entire dish.


So here me out - I don't like cajun food. But this was one of the best meals we had last trip. We DID get the best table in the place so that definitely helped! But the bread was delicious and Jason and I shared a giant bowl of gumbo and it was sooo good. Now, I don't love "real" cajun food so maybe the people that don't love the menu are real cajun lovers...but we were all very happy with our food.


I need to get Goofy's Kitchen. I can't wait to hear all about it. I imagine it to be similar to the character breakfast at Contemporary?


AGREED. Say no to cream cheese desserts!

Overall I am just counting down the days until you get to go to both coasts and compare all of it for us!

I'm really hoping to get some answers at my appointment tomorrow! Overall, I've been feeling better which is good. I just have to be really careful of my "triggers" (take your probiotic, no under/overeating, no spicy or oily food, eat plenty of carbs, make sure to eat breakfast but also not eat too close to bedtime...). It's a work in progress

OK thank you so much for your review on Blue Bayou- we're definitely going to stick with it for now and maybe just share some Gumbo or the Monte Cristo!! And yes! Goofy's Kitchen is a lot like Chef Mickey's! I'd say they're pretty equal in vibe and quality. Before our May trip, I would have said that Goofy's edges out Chef Mickey's. But, we had a FANTASTIC dinner there in May so they're tied for now!!

I am so hooked on this trip report! I love travelling with all my family and the little ones but it is so intense and there are so many moving parts. This trip report feels very relatable to me, so many moments of chaos intersperced with moments of magic

When you mentioned the peacefulness of an early morning at a Disney resort, I actually felt that in my bones.

Thank you so much for reading and for your kind words!! YES- chaos, but magical chaos for sure! There were so many magical moments, but sometimes we just had to stop and take a deep breath to realize that they were happening, you know?

So sorry for your tummy issues. I hope you get some answers soon. Danielle had problems in high school and it ended up being some kind of bacteria in her gut. It took a stomach gas test to get that confirmed. Now she stays away from gluten and that seems to help.

You have made me very hungry and green with envy with all the snacks and drinks posted in WDW and DL.

I hope both your trip are fabulous.

Thank you Vanessa!! I'm thinking it is a bacteria issue as well- I take a probiotic so that helps a lot but I have a gut feeling (no pun intended ) that that's what it is! Luckily, I don't think gluten is an issue for me- bread, cookies, pasta, crackers... any bland grains are actually my "safe foods" that never give me trouble! I'm hoping they are able to figure something out tomorrow and we can take some action

So exciting that you have 2 trips coming up!!! I haven't booked anything for us for July but I am still hoping we are going to get to Disneyland this summer.

Fingers crossed for you guys that you can make it over to DL!!!

it's been so hot here that I can't even think of PSL! I still have the AC on in mid September which is very unusual. Maybe an iced one would be good. I'm ready for sweater weather too.

So cute!!

You are definitely the Julie McCoy for the group!

I loved that at POFQ too! Such a charming and relaxing resort.

Such great pics! is that the Tommy Bahama dress? It looks great on you!

I love those but they have gotten SO expensive!

Awesome!

Oh dear...it's not for everyone. I am hands down obsessed with this ride so I would have been one of the annoying ones.

You really took one for the team looking after the kids so they could ride. I am sure everyone was so grateful for your help.

It was a really long time to wait and have a little sweet pea who needed mama.

Oh no! I am so sorry to hear this. Really hoping the appointment this week goes well and you have some answers soon.

My favourite from F&W last year!

Fun!

I like both but too much cream cheese based stuff gets really heavy after a while.

Thank you, Susan!!! Hoping I get some answers tomorrow. Luckily, PSLs don't seem to give me too much tummy trouble I actually prefer the iced ones to the hot ones!!

Awwww, I love the "Love Boat" reference Nick at Nite used to show that all the time (along with Gilligan's Island, Three's Company, The Brady Bunch, The Facts of Life, and Diff'rent Strokes). It was such a core memory watching those shows with my parents growing up.

It's nice to hear from someone who is on the "dark side" and loves Cosmic Rewind!! I totally understand that I'M the crazy one when it comes to this I so wish that I did like this ride, because I love the idea of the mystery song and everything else about it!! Just can't do the screens

Coming a bit late to the comments on this, but Blue Bayou is so much fun and it is unique to Disneyland (unless outside the US). So I think you should definitely go there at least once, and an anniversary trip is a great time for it. My daughter and I were there in 2006, and I still have great memories of that meal.

Thank you so much for reading along and your insight!! We'll definitely keep Blue Bayou I think. Even just to have a drink or dessert... that restaurant is SO cool!!

 

[Mollydolly334]

Day 6 (The One Where Someone Gets a Shiner, and Cosmic Rewind Has Everyone in a Chokehold!)- Part 4


After the Cosmic Rewind group rushed over to the Baby Care Center to grab Ethan and I, We sped off to the Odyssey to relieve Chief (the twins were starting to get squirrely). We managed to make it to San Angel Inn by 6:50!

Luckily, the CMs here were SUPER nice and sat us right away. We were both at booths right across from each other! Chief, Ryan, and Evie were at one table, and Me, Kahla, Cici, Haley, Mom, and Ollie were at the other table.

I was still grumpy, but I hadn’t really had a true meal all day, so I knew that this would help my mood. I was debating on ordering a virgin Margarita (I don’t like drinks with tequila in them), but who am I kidding, I needed ALCOHOL. I decided on a Mojito!



This was a VERY good Mojito! I’m quite the Mojito connoisseur; it was my signature drink at our wedding!

Cheers to another day at Disney World!



For an appetizer, we decided to get the guacamole with pork rinds. We also got some queso dip and salsa with chips!!





This absolutely hit the spot. I always think it’s weird that the guac here comes with pork rinds instead of tortilla chips, but it actually was a really good combination! I sent pictures to Jake; he’s a sucker for queso and I knew he’d love this place. He has always wanted to eat here; it’s definitely on the list for next time! This is one of the main reasons why we booked an ADR at Blue Bayou in DLR- it has very similar vibes to San Angel Inn!

I could tell that I was really hungry; EVERYTHING was just tasting so good tonight. If it were up to Nana, we would barely stop to eat and just snack all day long. Ryan’s family is the opposite and would do 3 TS meals a day if possible. I’m somewhere in the middle- I’m a huge snacker, but I really like having at least one TS meal a day to slow down and take a breather!

Today was Kahla’s first time meeting Ethan! So, naturally, she wanted ALL the snuggles.



To eat, I decided on the chicken enchiladas! These came with a side of roasted and seasoned plantains topped with sour cream and cotija cheese. I also stole Haley’s side of refried beans, since she’s not a fan of them!



This meal greatly exceeded my expectations. I’ve eaten here a couple times before, and while I’ve always remembered the food to be good, it’s never been a “stand-out” meal. We mostly choose it for the atmosphere (plus the chips, salsa, and fun drinks). But, the food tonight was all really great quality. The enchilada was super tasty, but the plantains were the star of the show! I’ve never really had plantains before, especially ones that were savory, but they were SO good. The enchiladas and plantains filled me up nicely but didn’t give me any digestive distress either, which is sometimes a problem with Mexican restaurants. This meal improved my mood immensely!

As we were eating, we decided that we would stay for the 9:00 show of Luminous. The kids were doing really well and didn’t seem to be losing steam at all!

We were out of San Angel Inn by 8:15! Since we still had some time before the fireworks, we decided to ride Gran Fiesta Tour! It was a walk-on (of course). I was really happy that the kids were able to get another ride in before the day was over!

We also did a bit of browsing in the pavilion. This little princess LOVED the tiara selection.





We decided to just try to find a fireworks spot near Mexico! That’s the nice thing about Epcot fireworks; you don’t need a perfect view to enjoy them!!





We found a spot right next to the Port of Entry shop! Kahla and I decided to do a bit more browsing, since the show was starting in about 10 minutes, and Kahla bought this really cute light-up princess wand for Evie! Since Ollie had gotten his stuffed shark earlier in the day, it was only fair that Evie got a prize too.

Kahla and I made it back just in time for the fireworks to start!!



This trip, Evie was WAY more into the fireworks than Ollie was. It’s not that Ollie didn’t like them, but after a few minutes, he was like “Ok, whatever, I’m good.” Evie was ENTHRALLED!



It was ADORABLE; Evie would wave her wand in rhythm with the fireworks, and she truly believed that she was the one making them go off! DISNEY MAGIC!







I love this picture so much. Sassy girl!!



Overall, my opinion on Luminous was “meh.” I think I’m in the minority when I say that I preferred Harmonious to Epcot Forever AND Illuminations. This show was cute, but the music didn’t give me chills or emotion like Harmonious did.

I did appreciate the inclusion of the song “So Close” from Enchanted; this is such a beautiful song and underrated movie! I shared my opinions with Haley after the show, and she instantly agreed, so I was happy that my opinion was validated, haha! Luminous was pretty good, but definitely not something I’d go out of my way to see.

After the fireworks, we made a beeline for the bus stations.



Once again, the twins were absolute CHAMPS today. No tantrums, no signs of over-tiredness... they just took everything in and were happy as clams. We were kind of expecting this, since the kids love to be busy and out doing things, but we were still so pleasantly surprised by their park-commando nature! And, as always, Ethan was a gem.





Nana and I headed to the bus stop, but since the rest of the crew was still at Marriott Grande Vista Resort for one more night, we bid them goodbye at the park exit (they had driven their rental van to the park today). We were excited to check into Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort tomorrow and be all together again!

Finally, while in line for the bus to POFQ, I decided to air my grievances with Nana. I was still stewing after the Cosmic Rewind fiasco.

I mean, the park was DEAD today and we only did 4 rides for the 12 hours we had been there. Just writing down that statistic alone almost made me break out in hives. We didn’t even make it on Spaceship Earth, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Living with the Land, Moana’s Journey of Water…all things that the kids would have loved... and I feel like Cosmic Rewind directly contributed to this. So, needless to say, I kind of have beef with that ride.

I understood that I was projecting my anger a bit; it was nobody’s “fault.” I also really didn’t want to make Mom feel guilty either; it was her trip as much as it was everyone else’s, and she deserves to have fun along with everyone else!

But, I knew that it would just eat me up if I didn’t say anything. It was just kind of a lose-lose situation and I was frustrated at how it played out.

I’m happy to report that it was a SUPER productive and mature conversation!!! Both Nana and I are very sensitive souls and tend to go on the defense when it comes to conflict. But, this conversation was handled very well, and we ended with a big hug and no harm done. Phew, I immediately felt so much better after getting that off my chest!

A bus came soon enough, and Mom and I were back at POFQ by 10:15 PM!

We saw a giant roach by the bus station, EEK!



We were really sad that it was our last night at POFQ; we did NOT want to leave!! This resort had charmed us so much and was quickly becoming a favorite. You cannot beat the peacefulness and price!

After my shower, I decided to eat my MYO Caramel Apple from Goofy’s Candy Company that I had gotten the night before!



This was delish; I hadn’t had a caramel apple in SO long. The PB chips and Butterfinger candy went so well with it too. Apples and peanut butter are a perfect pairing! I wish I could have had it cut up into slices though; it was kind of hard to bite into at times.

I also had a few more bites of frosting from my Gideon’s Golden Oreo cake. This cake slice was LOADED with buttercream and it tasted so good after being in the fridge all day!

Nana and I packed up our suitcases and decided to watch an episode of “Mom” before going to bed. Jake DESPISES this show for some reason, but I actually really like it (I love Anna Faris, and a lot of people have told me that I look like her)!

I had been texting Jake throughout the evening, but he wasn’t answering. I assumed that had fallen asleep, and sure enough, he texted me this at 11:00.



How did that man survive before he met me? Clearly, it’s chaos when I'm not around. Chaos, I tell you, CHAOS!



We were asleep by 11:30 PM. There was a rocky bit in the middle there; but, to be fair, there's always some drama on every family trip. Once again, I was really proud about how we handled it this time, and it dissipated a lot faster than it usually does. And that’s on inner growth. Goodnight!


​

 

[piglet1979]

I'm really hoping I don't have to do an elimination diet... that would be so hard!! I'm pretty positive that I'm not celiac or lactose intolerant which is good.... dairy and crackers/cookies/bread have been a staple for me during this time!! I'm thinking it might be FODMAP related... certain fruits/veggies (stonefruits and alliums in particular as well as eggs, alcohol, and anything too spicy or oily seem to be triggers for me).... Really hoping I get some answers soon!

It was really hard on Elizabeth. We never made it the full 6 weeks before adding stuff back in. She was doing really good right before Easter and my mom had only stuff that she was able to eat (partially due to her not being able to have gluten). Elizabeth drank a few sips of orange pop and then was sick. This was how we figured hers out. You will figure it out. It might just take time.

f it were up to Nana, we would barely stop to eat and just snack all day long. Ryan’s family is the opposite and would do 3 TS meals a day if possible. I’m somewhere in the middle- I’m a huge snacker, but I really like having at least one TS meal a day to slow down and take a breather!

We like to have 1 seat down a day at WDW. This is usually dinner. Jeff will eat breakfast but I usually skip it unless I can have Mickey waffles. We usually eat this at the food court before heading to the parks. Lunch is a quick service somewhere. We are really bad at snacking at WDW.

Overall, my opinion on Luminous was “meh.” I think I’m in the minority when I say that I preferred Harmonious to Epcot Forever AND Illuminations. This show was cute, but the music didn’t give me chills or emotion like Harmonious did.

I was not a fan of Illuminations. It was ok but I was always kind of bored during it. I don't think we ever saw Harmonious (that was the with the barges that were permanently on the lake right). I think we saw Luminous when we went in April of 2023. It was right after they ended Harmonious (if I am think of the right one). I really liked this one. I also really like the lazar light show from back in the late 80's early 90's (I went when I was in 5th grade).

I am glad you worked it out with your mom. I would have stewed over it. I am the sensitive one in the family. I would have been told to get over it and that would not have helped.

 

[vamassey1]

For an appetizer, we decided to get the guacamole with pork rinds. We also got some queso dip and salsa with chips!!

This looks so good. Pork rinds with a dip is a little more common here. We have a place here with a crawfish cheese dip that is served with pork rinds and I'm drooling just thinking about it.

I could tell that I was really hungry; EVERYTHING was just tasting so good tonight. If it were up to Nana, we would barely stop to eat and just snack all day long. Ryan’s family is the opposite and would do 3 TS meals a day if possible. I’m somewhere in the middle- I’m a huge snacker, but I really like having at least one TS meal a day to slow down and take a breather!

It's amazing how different everyone is when it comes to eating in Disney. I like the one sit down meal a day.

We also did a bit of browsing in the pavilion. This little princess LOVED the tiara selection.

So cute! My youngest Princess, who is 25 loves the tiaras too. We always have to stop so she can try them on.

It was ADORABLE; Evie would wave her wand in rhythm with the fireworks, and she truly believed that she was the one making them go off! DISNEY MAGIC!

This warms my heart so much!

Overall, my opinion on Luminous was “meh.” I think I’m in the minority when I say that I preferred Harmonious to Epcot Forever AND Illuminations. This show was cute, but the music didn’t give me chills or emotion like Harmonious did.

I have yet to see Luminus but I did enjoy Harmonious. Danielle loved Harmonius and hated to see it end. She was working In Epcot when it premiered so she heard and saw it every workday.

I did appreciate the inclusion of the song “So Close” from Enchanted; this is such a beautiful song and underrated movie! I shared my opinions with Haley after the show, and she instantly agreed, so I was happy that my opinion was validated, haha! Luminous was pretty good, but definitely not something I’d go out of my way to see.

I love this song and movie. It was great that you and Haley were on the same page.

Once again, the twins were absolute CHAMPS today. No tantrums, no signs of over-tiredness... they just took everything in and were happy as clams. We were kind of expecting this, since the kids love to be busy and out doing things, but we were still so pleasantly surprised by their park-commando nature! And, as always, Ethan was a gem.

What a Blessing! I wish I could say we didn't have any meltdowns on our trip.

I mean, the park was DEAD today and we only did 4 rides for the 12 hours we had been there. Just writing down that statistic alone almost made me break out in hives. We didn’t even make it on Spaceship Earth, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Living with the Land, Moana’s Journey of Water…all things that the kids would have loved... and I feel like Cosmic Rewind directly contributed to this. So, needless to say, I kind of have beef with that ride.

I can totally feel you on this. There is just too much to do in all the parks and not enough time especially when you have something that steals too much of that precious time.

I’m happy to report that it was a SUPER productive and mature conversation!!! Both Nana and I are very sensitive souls and tend to go on the defense when it comes to conflict. But, this conversation was handled very well, and we ended with a big hug and no harm done. Phew, I immediately felt so much better after getting that off my chest!

This is great that you didn't let it fester. My daughters tell me they don't want me to always try to fix things but just need to listen to them sometimes.

We saw a giant roach by the bus station, EEK!

Is this a roach or cricket?

We were asleep by 11:30 PM. There was a rocky bit in the middle there; but, to be fair, there's always some drama on every family trip. Once again, I was really proud about how we handled it this time, and it dissipated a lot faster than it usually does. And that’s on inner growth. Goodnight!

Great ending!

 

[missjackiemcg]

Oh goodness, I can't stand the cuteness of Evie thinking she's shooting off the fireworks with her new wand! Disney Magic at its finest!

I'm so glad you were able to talk out the annoying-ness of the day with your Mom and get past it. I would have been SO bothered, too, so I completely understand how you were feeling. It's so nice that it didn't ruin the rest of your night or your trip!!

 

[VAtink]

SO EXCITED!! I'll DM you soon with our plans- I definitely want to say hi at some point!

Awesome, it would be great to meet in person! I love seeing DIS-ers in the World!

What food item are you most excited for?? You're a F&W expert so I fully trust your opinion!!

Oh goodness, there are so many! I think basically everything at Bramblewood Bites, the short rib at Earth Eats, the pumpkin ravioli at Forest and Field, the wagyu sushi at Japan, and the tostada and the flauta at Mexico are on my absolute must try list!

 

[ambula603]

I’m somewhere in the middle- I’m a huge snacker, but I really like having at least one TS meal a day to slow down and take a breather!

This is me. I love all the food but I really just need the sit down and chill time. Plus, its when we always recap our day or make plans for the night.

I’m happy to report that it was a SUPER productive and mature conversation!!! Both Nana and I are very sensitive souls and tend to go on the defense when it comes to conflict.

I am so glad you included this. When I see/read about trips with extended families I always get a little jealous when it appears to go without conflict. We went once with my parents and sister (right before her cancer diagnosis, so that was a blessing to have that time together) but it ended up being fireworks of the negative kind. After that, I said never again. My mom and I get along great until we don't...and it costs a lot of money to be fighting at Disney! So hearing that you guys had a bump but handled it maturely is great news!

How did that man survive before he met me? Clearly, it’s chaos when I'm not around. Chaos, I tell you, CHAOS!

This is Jason. He goes on work trips and is in bed at 7:30. Which makes me SO JEALOUS! But grateful he is not one to be out and about late at night when we aren't together!

I love San Angel Inn. I had the best tortilla soup of my life there. We had the best table, too. I am glad you are going to try Blue Bayou since the ambiance is similar!

 

[sunnysideup3]

WHEW. So I came over after you commented on my PTR. Love the Milwaukee connection and so glad to hear another person that could just chat about their upcoming trips non stop and not be tired of it! If you every want to yap about plans at brunch somewhere, I'm down!

I admire you for taking on all that planning and all those people. My husband's family is huge and it's floated around a bit to do a big family vacation sometime, but the idea gives me hives. 2 grandparents, 4 kids and their spouses and 9 grandchildren (ages from 17 to 1 1/2). So what you did and continued to do during the vacation is commendable.

We're big DLR people too, and we loved the Disneyland Hotel, but were SOOOOO spoiled staying at the Grand Californian!

Loving all the snacks and food and all the Gideons! <3

 

[cindianne320]

Your dinner looked delicious! I'm glad things settled down and you could vent to your mom! I hope the next day was even better!

 

[Mollydolly334]

It was really hard on Elizabeth. We never made it the full 6 weeks before adding stuff back in. She was doing really good right before Easter and my mom had only stuff that she was able to eat (partially due to her not being able to have gluten). Elizabeth drank a few sips of orange pop and then was sick. This was how we figured hers out. You will figure it out. It might just take time.

We like to have 1 seat down a day at WDW. This is usually dinner. Jeff will eat breakfast but I usually skip it unless I can have Mickey waffles. We usually eat this at the food court before heading to the parks. Lunch is a quick service somewhere. We are really bad at snacking at WDW.

I was not a fan of Illuminations. It was ok but I was always kind of bored during it. I don't think we ever saw Harmonious (that was the with the barges that were permanently on the lake right). I think we saw Luminous when we went in April of 2023. It was right after they ended Harmonious (if I am think of the right one). I really liked this one. I also really like the lazar light show from back in the late 80's early 90's (I went when I was in 5th grade).

I am glad you worked it out with your mom. I would have stewed over it. I am the sensitive one in the family. I would have been told to get over it and that would not have helped.

Thank you! I feel like I'm on an upward turn, or at least I'm able to more easily foreshadow which foods will give me trouble. The doctor is having me get a full blood panel after our trip, and if the problem persists, a colonoscopy I'm hoping it doesn't have to come to that, but if it gets things figured out, I'll do it in a heartbeat!!

I think the show you saw in April 2023 was Epcot Forever!! We did a fireworks cruise for that show in July 2023 and I really liked it!! I loved all of the vintage attraction music!

This looks so good. Pork rinds with a dip is a little more common here. We have a place here with a crawfish cheese dip that is served with pork rinds and I'm drooling just thinking about it.



It's amazing how different everyone is when it comes to eating in Disney. I like the one sit down meal a day.



So cute! My youngest Princess, who is 25 loves the tiaras too. We always have to stop so she can try them on.



This warms my heart so much!



I have yet to see Luminus but I did enjoy Harmonious. Danielle loved Harmonius and hated to see it end. She was working In Epcot when it premiered so she heard and saw it every workday.



I love this song and movie. It was great that you and Haley were on the same page.



What a Blessing! I wish I could say we didn't have any meltdowns on our trip.



I can totally feel you on this. There is just too much to do in all the parks and not enough time especially when you have something that steals too much of that precious time.



This is great that you didn't let it fester. My daughters tell me they don't want me to always try to fix things but just need to listen to them sometimes.



Is this a roach or cricket?



Great ending!

Haha, oh we're not out of the woods on meltdowns yet I feel like each day we were in the parks got a little trickier, probably due to exhaustion!!

My sister and I are the exact same as your daughters!! My mom would always try to interfere when we were bickering, especially as kids, and feel like she needed to "save the day" and end the argument. But, sometimes, disagreements are productive and she was actually making things worse! Us girls just need to vent sometimes

Living in the south, I trust your judgment, so it's probably a cricket We saw SO many roaches in Hawaii last year so I'm kinda desensitized them now, haha!

Oh goodness, I can't stand the cuteness of Evie thinking she's shooting off the fireworks with her new wand! Disney Magic at its finest!

I'm so glad you were able to talk out the annoying-ness of the day with your Mom and get past it. I would have been SO bothered, too, so I completely understand how you were feeling. It's so nice that it didn't ruin the rest of your night or your trip!!

I know right??? That's like commercial-level pixie dust

I'm so glad we were able to figure things out! I think we've learned from our past mistakes; we've let arguments fester on past trips and it's put a damper on the whole day (sometimes multiple days even)! And I REALLY didn't want that to happen this time!

Awesome, it would be great to meet in person! I love seeing DIS-ers in the World!

Oh goodness, there are so many! I think basically everything at Bramblewood Bites, the short rib at Earth Eats, the pumpkin ravioli at Forest and Field, the wagyu sushi at Japan, and the tostada and the flauta at Mexico are on my absolute must try list!

See you soon!!! REALLY hoping this weather situation calms down

This is me. I love all the food but I really just need the sit down and chill time. Plus, its when we always recap our day or make plans for the night.


I am so glad you included this. When I see/read about trips with extended families I always get a little jealous when it appears to go without conflict. We went once with my parents and sister (right before her cancer diagnosis, so that was a blessing to have that time together) but it ended up being fireworks of the negative kind. After that, I said never again. My mom and I get along great until we don't...and it costs a lot of money to be fighting at Disney! So hearing that you guys had a bump but handled it maturely is great news!


This is Jason. He goes on work trips and is in bed at 7:30. Which makes me SO JEALOUS! But grateful he is not one to be out and about late at night when we aren't together!

I love San Angel Inn. I had the best tortilla soup of my life there. We had the best table, too. I am glad you are going to try Blue Bayou since the ambiance is similar!

I was hesitant to write about it, but I really appreciate hearing that you liked reading about it I'm definitely a glass half-full type of person and I avoid conflict like the PLAGUE, so I really hate when stuff like this happens on a trip.

We all have trips where you leave the trip, and you're like, "Huh, not the best vacation I've ever had" That was September 2019 for me. I was in the middle of a very big life change, we were dealing with a tropical storm and some park closures, and Haley and I were in a phase of really not getting along. I remember leaving the trip and feeling so depressed, since I felt like all Haley, my mom, and I did was bicker. It ended up affecting 2 of our days and I just wish that it would have played out differently. So, that's why I was so gung-ho about riting this ship!!

WHEW. So I came over after you commented on my PTR. Love the Milwaukee connection and so glad to hear another person that could just chat about their upcoming trips non stop and not be tired of it! If you every want to yap about plans at brunch somewhere, I'm down!

I admire you for taking on all that planning and all those people. My husband's family is huge and it's floated around a bit to do a big family vacation sometime, but the idea gives me hives. 2 grandparents, 4 kids and their spouses and 9 grandchildren (ages from 17 to 1 1/2). So what you did and continued to do during the vacation is commendable.

We're big DLR people too, and we loved the Disneyland Hotel, but were SOOOOO spoiled staying at the Grand Californian!

Loving all the snacks and food and all the Gideons! <3

Thank you so much for reading!! Yes!! It's not often that you see DISers from our area so I always feel like I have to pop by and comment when it happens

Don't get me wrong, it was so much fun, but I really appreciate the acknowledgement It can be so hard being "cruise director" sometimes; there were some days where I felt like I was answering the same question millions of times! But, I'm really lucky that all members in our party are super go-with-the-flow and really trusted me to make all the decisions and take the wheel. I know that a lot of other families wouldn't have been as laid back, so they made my job a lot easier! It ended up being SO much fun and I'd do it again in a heartbeat... but maybe not for a couple years

We are SO excited for Disneyland and all of the snacks there!

Your dinner looked delicious! I'm glad things settled down and you could vent to your mom! I hope the next day was even better!

Yes!!!! We ended the day on a great note and it only went up from there, phew!

 

[piglet1979]

Thank you! I feel like I'm on an upward turn, or at least I'm able to more easily foreshadow which foods will give me trouble. The doctor is having me get a full blood panel after our trip, and if the problem persists, a colonoscopy I'm hoping it doesn't have to come to that, but if it gets things figured out, I'll do it in a heartbeat!!

Colonoscopy's are not bad at all. It is just the prep but because I have had so much stomach issues it didn't bother me much. The prep is much better now then it was before Covid. Now it is just Gatorade mixed with MiraLAX. Fingers crossed that you can figure it out with the blood work.

 

[Mollydolly334]

Day 7 (The One Where We Get An Intimate Knowledge of Dinoland, and Meet an Evil (Drag) Queen?)- Part 1


Hi everyone! Well, today’s the day… in just a few short hours, we fly out to WDW!!



I’m excited, but also slightly nervous due to all of the weather musings. If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know that we are no strangers to hurricanes while at WDW.

At one point this weekend, we just stood back and laughed. I mean, REALLY??? We have the worst luck with September trips. Please send good vibes that the weather stays away and we make it to MNSSHP!!!

Us going into this week be like…



But, back to May 15, 2024! Nana and I were awake at 7:30 AM this morning!

Today, the whole crew was planning on going to Animal Kingdom! However, we decided to not buy Genie + today and take the park at a leisurely pace, so it was really nice to wake up and not have to rush to a park. We wanted to savor the last of our time at Port Orleans French Quarter (we were transferring to CBR with the rest of the group today), so we decided to take a walk!

Mom and I are kind of “famous” for our walks in my childhood neighborhood. My mom LOVES to power-walk; she walks for 4.5 miles at a time at least 1x per day! When I lived at home, Mom and I would walk every day. Nowadays, I live about 20 minutes away from my mom, but I try to walk with her at least once per week. I swear, it’s like walking with someone famous! Everyone is stopping her, saying hi; she’s a walking machine and meets so many people along the way.



Always my walking buddy!!

One thing about my mom’s walks is, even on vacation, they are NOT leisurely! She keeps up quite the pace!



Two gifs from Malcolm in the Middle in one post?? Aren't you guys lucky??

Once again, it was an amazingly quiet and tranquil morning over here. We loved walking around the river!





Hi, Port Orleans Riverside!



I may have mentioned this before, but we stayed at POR way back in 2000 on my first trip to WDW (I was 6 years old and in first grade)! We had briefly visited this resort once in 2017 to transfer buses to Disney Springs, but this was my first proper visit to this resort in 24 years! Instantly, I remembered the Riverside Mill lobby and food court area with the giant wheel.





The whole Alligator Bayou and Magnolia Bend areas also looked SO familiar; I’m pretty sure we stayed in this area. We have so many pictures of Haley and I in the quiet pool at Magnolia Bend!



Once we made it to the Ole Man’s Isle pool, it started to sprinkle, and we realized that the skies were bound to open up any minute! So, we rushed back to Riverside Mill.



Looking pretty ominous!



We decided to peek in Fulton’s General Store. This was a cute gift shop, but we liked the one at POFQ better!



I took this picture to send to Haley; I was resting my mug on my fanny pack, and it reminded me of Haley’s “Tush Baby” contraction!



Haley used her "Tush Baby" (basically a giant fanny pack-like carrier for the kids) all trip, and it worked so well! It was super supportive and really saved her from any back pain or discomfort.

Mom decided to get some hot chocolate in her resort mug. At first, I teased her, because it was so humid out. But, the more I thought about it, the better it sounded, so I ended up getting some too

We snagged some rocking chairs right outside the lobby, sipped on our hot chocolates, and watched the storm.



We sat like this for about 30 minutes, and I have to say, this was one of my favorite moments of the trip. We just rocked along, talked about our trip so far, and reminisced on past Disney trips as well (Mom and I have quite the Disney history together)! It was a perfectly peaceful start to the morning!

Once the rain stopped, we were able to finish up our tour of POR!





The mansions are so beautiful and regal!! But, overall, we definitely preferred POFQ. This resort was just too spread-out. We loved walking this resort for fun when we were still energized in the morning, but it wouldn’t be as fun to have a long walk back to the room after a tiring park day! I was NOT really excited to transfer over to CBR today for this very reason; Mom and I were already regretting not staying at POFQ for the entire time!

We were back in the room by 9:30 AM and decided to call Haley. The Marriott Crew wasn’t going anywhere fast this morning, so Haley encouraged Mom and I to head to Animal Kingdom whenever we wanted, and they would meet us there.

The twins were dressed in Moana gear today!! I remember that Haley had bought Evie that outfit on our last trip in July 2023, so it was really cute to finally see her be able to wear it 10 months later.



Mom and I weren’t feeling like rushing off to a park, either! We decided to take our time and enjoy the last little bit of room time at POFQ. I had a few bites of Golden Oreo Cake and about ½ of my Dark Coffee Cake Cookie from Gideon’s before calling it quits and tossing the rest (very nutritious breakfast, Molly ).





I did save my Peanut Butter Cold Brew Cookie and had it transferred over to CBR with the rest of our luggage! Mom and I finished up packing, lounged around the room, and got all checked out right at 11:00 AM.



Bye, POFQ! You will be VERY missed!! We were so glad that we stayed here; it ended up being one of our new favorite resorts and will be our go-to when we can’t find any good deals for Deluxes!

We hopped the bus to Animal Kingdom, and were entering the park right at 11:30 AM!



​

 

[piglet1979]

The mansions are so beautiful and regal!! But, overall, we definitely preferred POFQ. This resort was just too spread-out. We loved walking this resort for fun when we were still energized in the morning, but it wouldn’t be as fun to have a long walk back to the room after a tiring park day! I was NOT really excited to transfer over to CBR today for this very reason; Mom and I were already regretting not staying at POFQ for the entire time!

We stayed in the mansions once and loved it. We were in the middle building right next to the building with the royal rooms. I would never stay in the other section. The mansions have a close walk to the main pool and the main building. The bus stop was right out the back of the building too so it wasn't a long walk at all. I never even realized how it was since we never ventured to the other section.

I hope you have a great time at Disney and that the storm is not that bad in Orlando. I have been following the thread here on the Dis about it. We leave next week for our cruise and I have been keeping an eye on the Bermuda area. We are only going to Bermuda. We may just miss all the rain we will get here from Helene though.

 

[ambula603]

Instantly, I remembered the Riverside Mill lobby and food court area with the giant wheel.

I stayed there in the late 90s when I was in middle and high school, and I LOVED the giant mansions and the Riverside Mill lobby! I haven't been back since but this is making me really want to try it out sometime. I am curious which one we would love since I have memories of the PORS (It was "Dixie Landings") when I was there. I wish I had more photos! I know we did a Surrey bike of some sort with my cousins, that was a core memory!

I am crossing all my phalanges that you guys have good weather. Sometimes you have the best park days when the weather is bad!

 

[missjackiemcg]

Hi everyone! Well, today’s the day… in just a few short hours, we fly out to WDW!!

YAY!!!! I'm super not jealous....like at all...even a little bit!! (Do you believe me?)

One thing about my mom’s walks is, even on vacation, they are NOT leisurely! She keeps up quite the pace!

This made me laugh because it's exactly what Rob says about walking with me!! I don't feel it, just suddenly I'm zooming, and he's half a block behind me. I can't help it!!

Have the most amazing trip--I know you will!!! Be safe, and I'll cross all my parts that the weather doesn't effect your stay in any major ways! Enjoy every magical moment.

 

[disneyAndi14]

I hope the storm stays away as well as the crowds! Have a wonderful trip!
We love POFQ. It is a definite favorite