Thanksgiving AKL Kidani TR Updated 12/23

[DisneyMountainWoman]

My son spends a lot time looking at all the star wars props. We just chill and sit in the nice area. This was a great decompression time for everyone.

When my son was ready we went towards mickey run away railroad as our last ride.
We still have some time to wait soo we get a drink. We went to Derby bar and got us some yummy drinks. If we are going to pay disney prices let's get the not batched drinks! They were delicious

Then we check out the xmas decorations while drinking our drinks. And my son was eating is sandwich we packed too. Very nice.



Next we head to mickeys runaway railway and man does my son love this ride. Again another solid banger ride for the whole family.



My son is done with rides now. He does not like any of the scary rides.

We do one last pic.



And we end our day at HS. We got everything in we wanted top things were everything star wars and muppets. Plus my son had no major meltdowns! Yeah succes!

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[DisneyMountainWoman]

Next we drop my mom off at AKL. Then we go disney springs for a very special event.
We were sent a invitation through dvc to watch an early screening of Moana 2 for free!! We were lucky enough to score tickets for it. My parents did not want to watch the movie so they stayed and relaxed at AKV.
The instructions told us we had to come super early and that they oversold it... soo first come first serve... eep. We did two hours early... crazy I know right?
We parked over by the circus show.
And check out the xmas trees. We love these trees.



Then we noticed some photo ops around the movie theater so we take advantage of them.
Also if u notice I am wearing my Moana run disney shirt for this special screening.



Then we ask a cm where the dvc preview line was and was direct it was around the back. We find the line. We got there shortly after it opened up so it was a moving line. We chatted with dvc people around us. My son had fun chatting too. Dvc people are great. Then we pick up our special badge and coupons for free popcorn and drinks!!!
They strictly told us no more photography... or we get kicked out and fined... etc... soo no more pics.
They opened up the movie theaters and had us file in. We got a nice seats and then chilled for a while. My son stayed on his tablet while I went out got our free popcorn and drinks. Soo cool that was included. If u wanted anything else u had to pay for it. And we waited there for about an hour. But hey comfy chair and air-conditioned with bathrooms, unlimited drinks and free popcorn... was great. They started the movie first by doing a behind the secences secrets of the new Poly Tower and had the Moana actress in it too. Yeah they were trying to sell us on the new ploy tower but it was actually really interesting learning all the cool details and inspiration. And I loved them interview the actress and seeing how much she has grown and loves be an inspiration to all the Polynesian kids out there. then we got to watch the movie!!
Man do I love being in a movie theater with disney diehards... we all laugh, cheer and cry together. My son loved the movie and laughed soo hard during it. The music was not as good as the orginal... but squeals are never as good as the original. But this was a great 2nd movie. I loved the story line and how it tied in to the real history of the Polynesian people. My son keeps asking when we can see it again... and I have to keep telling him we are waiting to it is on disney plus now... poor kid.
After the movie ended they led us to the after party! Yes you heard that right, an after party and it was included... talk about getting spoiled.

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[DisneyMountainWoman]

We all head over to the house of blues... there is alot of us. Lol.
They give us a goodie bag when we walk in. Man it is a great goodie bag.


That bottle is a super nice metal bottle. Like really high end feel to it. I am now using it all the time.


Then we head in... I look first for a table. I grab one but it is way too loud for my son... and a waiter said there were tables up stairs... so we go up stairs and find these great seats on the balcony with table and bench! Score.

The atmosphere is really cool here. This is also the first time we have ever done the house of blues before.



My husband guards the seats while we go get food. They had 4 buffet lines. 2 on the bottom and 2 at top. The top ones had a short line soo score again for us.




Nothing fancy all in theme and they were yummy. Hawaiin rolls, pot stickers, coconut shrimp, pork to then make pork sliders if u want and then plain cheese pizza. I love disney always looking out for the kids. Cheese pizza is a safe food for my son and probably many others.. they were also kind enough for me to get a plate for my husband too. Ohh and they had cookies for dessert.
I bring over all of our food which was a great balancing trick and then get drinks. Non alcoholic drinks were included too. I get my husband a coke and I get myself a fun tropical drink. They had no drink specials... so I thought tequila sunrise drink would fit the mood. I order it and then a bunch a people saw my drink and then asked for it too. Lol. It does fit the theme well.



We eat and drink watching the dj get the party started.

After we are done eating my son wants to join in on the fun but only if I join in... soo i guess I am going to go dance




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[DisneyMountainWoman]

Party time!



Yep... am I the full grown women dancing with all the kids... yep that's me... but when your son ask u to go dance with them u do it... cause u never know when it will be the last time. We had a blast!



Some close up selfie of Moana boat.
My son said he was tried now.. so we head out and they have one last photo op area so we check it out.



We had such a great time. All the dvc salesmen were not pushy at all super nice. They kept us entertained and full. They also had a place where u could walk through a model of the tower room but we did not do that... we already have all the amount of points we can afford... esp looking at our dues this year... AKV... how we love u... but your dues went up by alot this year. Good thing we love feeding those animals! Lol.

And we drive back to our home...AKV and head to bed. Man do we love DVC.

The next day, MK!
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[DisneyMountainWoman]

Today is Magic Kingdom day. We picked a party day. We were hoping it would be less crowded. Today instead of driving we took the bus. It was a quick wait for the bus.
I love the castle.

We take advantage of the magic kingdom.
We ride first tea cups.




Next small world a nice short wait.




My son loves this ride.

We got a DAS pass for Peter pan. We head into it. My son is obsessed with this ride.



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[DisneyMountainWoman]

Next bathroom and snack break.
We went to Gaston tavern.

I wanted to try the cinnamon roll.


Sadly a little dry... but my son loved it.

Fun pics though.

Next we ride the little mermaid ride.

I have fun singing the whole time.




Next we got a DAS pass at Seven Dwarfs mine train.



This ride is so wonderful.

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[DisneyMountainWoman]

Next we go ride the barnstormer. Another short line.




We get front row!! My son is soo happy.

My son thinks it is too short though... lol.
Next we ride Dumbo. Again short line.
The play area is not even open.



The simple rides are the best.


Next we head out and we see the step sisters! They are hilarious as always. They loved my dress covered in food.

We have a DAS pass next for Jungle Cruise and on our way we always see Jasmine and Aladdin.


Jingle Cruise is all decorated up for the season.


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[DisneyMountainWoman]

Jingle Cruise is super cute.


Our skipper was funny. My son loves the corny jokes.







I wish they did even more xmas decoration but love what they got.

Next we head to Pirates.. another short line. The lines are soo reasonable on party days.


Another fun ride for the whole family.

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[DisneyMountainWoman]

Then next to Thunder mountain.




Soo much fun.

Then we go chill and get Beignets.
Fresh yummy Beignets. We were able to get a table. These were very good.

Then we ate our packed lunch.

We like saving money where we can...
We spot one of the bears.


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[DisneyMountainWoman]

Next we went on haunted mansion. The crowds are still low for being in the middle of the day on holiday week.

It is great that we can by skip the stretch room. My son has had a meltdown there and now he stays nice and happy





Next we head over to buzzlight year.


We love this ride. We spin and shoot.



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[DisneyMountainWoman]

Next some pics.
Soo I forgot when we did these castle pics... lol



But I know we did these pics after Buzz.




We then go see mickey mouse. We have not seem yet and we need to make sure we see him. Man I love mickey hugs!







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[DisneyMountainWoman]

The plan was to do Tron during the party but my son wanted to do it now. We got a das pass for tron.
We took the train over which is a ride my son looves. And is a great way to get from the front of the park over to tron.



We also chatted with some other people on the train that are just going around and around. I love disney people.
We get pics infront of tron.


And go to the bathroom, shop and chill while we wait for the pass.

Then we head in. The storage are little confusing at first but we got it. Then went in. This is our first time riding it. My son is a little scared about the seats. He put his feat in the wrong spot, so had to fix that. It was intersting getting on this ride in my dress... lol. I was not planning on this ride now.
But we all had fun. It being short was a plus for more son. This is the most intense ride he has been on that he has liked. He also does like video games soo he does love the idea he is in a video game.


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[DisneyMountainWoman]

Now time for the rush... the parade is about to start... so we speed walk over.
We are getting those steps in.
We making before the parade comes and we watch the parade in front of the castle. I find a nice spot for my son to watch next to another stroller so he can see the parade and stand behind him. We gave him his bubble wand to keep him happy while we wait for the parade to make it here.

I liked being infront of the castle to see the parade.

My son looves waiving and calling out the characters. He had a lot of fun.








Such a great parade. A classic.
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[DisneyMountainWoman]

We do some pics infront of the partner statue before we leave..


He we follow the parade down mainstreet. We go through the stores to cut down on the crowds and we exited the store we saw the end of the parade... soo we saw it twice!






Then we head out...

Ohh also forgot about these pics we did some point today...



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[DisneyMountainWoman]

Leaving after the parade is great. We leave before the party crowd can come in and my son was done.



I notice the line was already forming for the party tonight to get in... it was already long!

It was easy getting on a bus back to the hotel with seats.

Now the orginal plans was to eat dinner at in our kitchen to save money. My dad was wanting a good seafood restaurant...
I may have gotten a little grumpy with my dad cause I asked him what places he wanted to eat when I made reservation for restruants and he did not mention this... soo now we look and all the good places are booked...

This is why I plan and do not wing it... so now dad is looking outside the disney bubble for a place... me personally when I am in disney... I do not le a very the bubble... unless it is the best thing ever...

My dad try looking for places and either they already booked suprise... suprise... or since it is a seafood place that is not in disney they do not have any food that my son will eat.

Hopefully my dad learned a lesson... tell me ahead of time what u want... winging it is hard.

Soo after some looking my dad decided on Laundry's seafood... reviews say very expensive... and okay seafood... and that is what we got. When we pulled up there was no one in the parking lot. It was not crowded cause no one else wanted to come here... lol.I would not come here again. The drinks are good here.


These are the most expensive oyster we have ever paid for... and not great..

And the fish tasted good... nothing special but soo expensive.


And desserts... this banana foster sucked don't get it.



This was the most expensive meal we had the whole week... for just okay seafood and atmosphere of a parking lot outdoor mall not in disney. And we had to drive far to get to it.
This is what happens when u wing it.. my dad was happy though... so there is that... and I got to use my Landrys card. Sorry I may still be grumpy about this exp.

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[DisneyMountainWoman]

Soo today is the last day for us to use our passes before they are blacked out so my husband and me go to HS to watch fantastic and to wash away that sucky restaurant exp away. My parents and son stay and relax at the hotel room.

We go in and it feels like xmas. HS at night during xmas is soo pretty.
We do some pics of course.





We check out the line times and they are long... not surprising.
We check out the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster single line and they warn us it could be longer wait than regular line. We wait in it for a little while and it does not move at all... so we dip out. We do a little shopping... they have on sale the gold loungefly bag for 50 and cute dole whip ear for sale too! And the ap discount can go in top of it score!!. Then bag is an xmas present... but the ears I put on right away.

We also buy some cute little stocking stuffer for my son including a key chain and a little r2d2 xmas tree.

We leave it starts snoaping! I love snoap! Soo fun and we watch the projection show on the tower, soo fun.




My husband phone does a better job.


I love how u dont need to ride, rides to have a good time.

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[DisneyMountainWoman]

I get in line to try and get an offical pic with the projection show behind us but it stopped by the time we got uo there.

Next we decide on drinks... and ee go to my fav walk up bar in HS, the outside bar at Hollywood Brown Derby! What can I say I am a creature of habit.

Soo we walk up and I see the times and we are 1 min till closing. I ask can we order drinks before u close... and mentioned we tip well, lol. It can't hurt right. They said yes, we will we their last guests. Score!!

We go sit and enjoy the festive atmosphere with our drinks.

Also we try for pics...

Next we go and get pics infront of the tree.
I love this tree.




We sit and finish our drinks looking at the tree over the lake.
Next we head to Batuu for night time pics.
This place does look soo cool at night.




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[DisneyMountainWoman]

We pick up some of the popcorn and soda for drinks. We have always love those fun shaped drinks here. And got to love this popcorn. It was nice the line was super short at night.


Next we grab a spot for the projection show on the Chinese movie theater. I love how most people sit and stated seated. Why can't we do that for all shows?




Next we head to Fantasmic. We are going for the 2nd showing.

We get in line and slowly move... I feel like cattle... moo.

As we move slowly we make it to the theater. I go to the other side and find a great spot. Near the middle and high enough to be away for the spray.

The 2nd showing is the way to go. They do not fill up the theater.








We snacked up the popcorn and watched the show. Man this show is great!

When it ended, the park is closed... we head out... along with everyone else. Again we feel like cattle... moo. Lol.

But we make it out and head back to the hotel.

A great night.

Tommorow resort day!
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[DisneyMountainWoman]

Wednesday

Our first resort day and also our passes our blocked. It was good to have a relaxing day.

Man will I never get tired of waking up to this view.


My son and husband are sleeping in.

We eat breakfast in our room.

Then I go to the workout area to do some strength training. I am training for rundisney race this January.
While heading out I noticed the xmas decorations are up now.
I love all the decor.




Also I check out the activities to see if we wanted to do anything.



I love the workout here. It is next to the pool. Nice a big with lots of equipment.



My mom and me do our workouts.

They even have towels here too.

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[DisneyMountainWoman]

After we were done with workout. We walk around and check out the pool area. I think we have the best pool area in WDW... esp for small kids cause Stormbay is too big and hard to keep track of your kid.






Next we head back to the room to get into our bathing suits and get the rest of the family to the pool.
I notice another xmas decor.


We head back to the pool. I also make a mimosas to take to the pool too. I used my dvc cup to hold it.


My son jumps in and has fun.

Kids and pools. They love them.

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