She's sitting next to me on the couch in an Elsa costume if that answers your question I'm now sure if she even knows that CRT exists, but she's never really been enamored with character meals.i would still say skip it unless Casey really really wants it. Has she grown out of the princess phase yet?
How awesome you got some time to yourself. I'm sure it was much needed!Here's my little solo adventure in Epcot. I had a great time, and it was a nice break from having to manage the group all week! I love my family but Disney is also a place where I enjoy being by myself too!
I never remember that this exists. Casey loved the old stuff in Innoventions so I'm sure she'd love it. Is it in the same one Baymax is in or the other one? Asks the person who wouldn't know East from West unless the sun was setting.I walked around what was left of Innoventions and did the little Glidden color wheel thing where you paint with the "magic" paintbrush.
Shocked to see thisMeanwhile here's what everyone else was up to that afternoon:
Oh so happy for her. She looks perfect and both of them look amazing!And yes. Sophie finally got to meet Mulan in her Mulan outfit!! Perfection!
Her expression is everything!They also went to meet Anna and Elsa on the way to Mexico. Love Mimi's "awed" expression!
Was she putting on the face for the camera or is that real?But no one looks as terrified as Chunkysis! Hahahaha.
LOVE all the family pics, especially the one of all the guys!
Look how happy you all are!!!!!
This is such a sweet picture! I love her expression--so happy
Awwww, this should be in a frame for sure! My husband would NEVER actively seek out a PP picture!! Love it!
I love some Disney solo time! Looks like fun!
Great photos as always too.
I had no idea they’d even give out a rider swap at Frozen! That’s neat!
I can relate to loving some solo time! As a mama of 5, it’s nice to get away for a bit
I somehow missed the update before CRT, but caught up now. As always I'm amazed at how well you coordinate with everyone. Happy you got some good solo time.
Great pics! and Sophie and Mulan-perfection!
Bet you were ready for a bit of alone in the park time too
I think Epcot is my favorite park for a little solo time. I try to spend time alone in WS exploring the countries, taking as long as I like.
That photo on FEA is priceless! The bromance pictures are pretty cute, too!
I imagine I'll want some "steal away", me time when we do the big family gig, Oct, 2019. There comes a point when it becomes too MUCH family time.
Aww, look at you!
Fun photo shoot with the guys. Looks like they had a good time too.
I couldn't agree more
Yay!!! And doesn't she look just absolutely adorable!
Of course! Her outfits are perfection, and I always love seeing them
She really likes doing that.
So sad they got rid of that. Never got to try it. Looked like a huge time saver.
"yet" being the operative word.
Huh. I haven't been in a while, so I don't remember the names, let alone which I prefer.
Must fix that next trip.
That stuff is hard to not buy.
Me too. I've done orange... but don't like how I feel afterwards.
Ariel looks a little.... stunned.
Everyone got some great PP pictures!
Glad the kids got to meet so many princesses, they really hit the jackpot today!
I forgot what thread you put your sister's Etsy store on - I got the cards yesterday (ordered a Birthday one for my MiL too, along with the custom for my DD) and OMG they are beautiful!!!!
Just had to put this in here!
She's sitting next to me on the couch in an Elsa costume if that answers your question I'm now sure if she even knows that CRT exists, but she's never really been enamored with character meals.
How awesome you got some time to yourself. I'm sure it was much needed!
I never remember that this exists. Casey loved the old stuff in Innoventions so I'm sure she'd love it. Is it in the same one Baymax is in or the other one? Asks the person who wouldn't know East from West unless the sun was setting.
Shocked to see this
Oh so happy for her. She looks perfect and both of them look amazing!
Her expression is everything!
Was she putting on the face for the camera or is that real?
Can't imagine why!
It's the one thing I miss most...more than Wishes...
I kinda like it pearl-free!
It's all too sweet for me really, but when it's that hot out you kinda don't care!
I may have bought something...
She just misses you.
It would require months of prep for sure! Excited to see what she comes up with for SeptemberShe literally preps like months before a trip. We just booked for September, and she's already purchased a bunch of outfits!
Still rock'n the bun!
Perfect! I love when they match the princess. I love Mulan as a princess to meet. She always seems close to her animated version.And yes. Sophie finally got to meet Mulan in her Mulan outfit!! Perfection!
I just love it. They look so happy.
It's always about Elsa! Anna is fun but Elsa is the show stopper.They also went to meet Anna and Elsa on the way to Mexico. Love Mimi's "awed" expression!
I love the solo time. I am hoping I can do a little one night when we are in Disneyland.
Ha! Too funny.But no one looks as terrified as Chunkysis! Hahahaha.
Both of these are too funny! But seriously great photos of them!
Adorable!
Here's my little solo adventure in Epcot. I had a great time, and it was a nice break from having to manage the group all week! I love my family but Disney is also a place where I enjoy being by myself too!
And yes. Sophie finally got to meet Mulan in her Mulan outfit!! Perfection!
But no one looks as terrified as Chunkysis! Hahahaha.
Great Pictures of the inside of Crystal Palace! Looks beautiful!Day 1 Part 1: And so it begins...an MK morning
When I'm in Disney I usually have an internal alarm that gets me up early, not like race-day early but usually around 7am. But of course on that morning of our first day all I wanted to do was sleep. It was no help that we had a connecting room to CT1 and her family because Caylee and Bryan absolutely LOVED to wake us all up when they woke up. It is actually really cute to be woken up by your niece and nephew who think your room is a new playground. So as I was awoken by their banging on the connecting door, I opened one eye and asked Steve to call the bellhop to deliver our Garden Grocer order and then promptly pulled the sheets up over my head to catch another 10 minutes of shuteye before my niece and nephew decided to pull them off me. It was 8am. Yawn.
Today was a late start, since we had such a late night (later than I anticipated) but we still had to make it to breakfast at Crystal Palace by 10:20am. Chunkysis, who was sharing the room with Steve and I, was already up and about, laying out her outfit for the day. So I got up, showered, and when I got out the groceries had been delivered. We texted everyone to come to our room to pick up the stuff they ordered and that we'd all meet at the monorail by 9:30am. I knew they started the bag check at the monorails now so I thought we should get there with ample time to do so. We found out that Sienna's crib wasn't delivered until 2am which is when she finally went to sleep, and I'm assuming when everyone else in that room did too. Poor family, but Disney calls!
I reminded everyone to wear their magic bands. Chunkysis reminded everyone to bring their 1) Autograph books 2) Sharpies 3) Pennies and quarters for the pressed penny machines. She was on top of that every day. Good thing though as the parents wouldn't have remembered half the time. I also remembered to leave a mousekeeping envelope. My sister hand-makes these for our trip and she handed a bunch of them to every one else too. Each envelope is a different Disney print which is very cute.
We're ready to go!
Where is everyone else?
Amazingly we were all at the entrance to the monorail by 9:35am. Not too shabby. This was after I sent a couple of "Where is everyone" texts at 9:25am.
To my surprise monorail bag check was not too bad. They still had to check like every stroller and bag but it wasn't as painful as I thought it would be because there were far fewer people on line. The best part was being able to skip the park bag check lines which are usually much worse!
Waiting for the monorail
We got on a monorail and got to MK and reached the turnstiles. It's nice that the strollers can fit on the monorails and this was always why my family preferred the monorail over the buses.
At the ticket entrance I had to show the kids how to scan their band, Mickey to Mickey, and do their fingerprint. All the kids seemed to forget which finger they used all the time, I realized. But the first time was the easiest...and we were in!
I was carrying Eva and upon first turning onto Main Street. she saw Cinderella's Castle for the first time. She had a smile on her face.
She was impressed.
So was Caylee.
Whew!
Bryan and Sienna had the same stoic look of "I'm hot and what's going on?" most of the time, haha.
We had a few moments before breakfast so we got some PP pictures. The PP Photographer was very impressed with CS's outfit so she made her knee on the ground in the center. LOL.
After pictures I managed to herd them all through main street and into Crystal Palace in time, although CS wanted to keep taking pictures, but there was plenty of time for that later!
It was hot. Definitely humid, so it's a good thing our first thing to do is...EAT!
We were shown to our two large tables next to each other. It of course takes us 10 minutes to figure out where everyone wanted to sit as some of the kids wanted to sit next to each other and their parent and since this isn't Twister, not every kid can have their wish. Finally it was decided the older kids would sit together with the younger ones next to their parents. This was a trend at every restaurant we went to.
Of course everyone wants to sit next to me. Cos I'm the cool aunt.
(substitute aunt for mom)
4
I'm not a regular aunt, I'm a cool aunt.
Orange juices for everyone and coffees for the adults (yes!) we headed up in batches for the buffet. I told them Tigger was only a few tables away so we had to coordinate their return in time.
Pics of the buffet. I tried to get more but Eva and Sophie wanted to follow me so I had to help them get food too.
Sorry I should have taken pictures when the food was replenished but I just wasn't there at the right time.
This guy though, this guy makes the BEST omelettes! Everyone had an omelet and we all said, wow this omelet is really good. He fries the filling separately from the egg and then puts them all together. It's great.
I got an omelet with bacon, onion, tomato and some cheddar. It was really delicious and the bacon was crispy.
This was the breakfast lasagna which was layers of cake and fruit and pudding, sort of like a bread pudding with bananas and strawberries but not quite as baked. It was pretty good but not like wow good. The puffy french toast was yummy as were the Mickey waffles, of course!
Our first set of character pictures with Tigger!
Everyone remembered to get their autograph books signed too!
There are more pictures of every family but I'm just showing the ones I have on my phone or camera.
Somehow I missed Eeyore! I was at the buffet I think. Oh well. I love Eeyore though.
And finally Piglet!
We had to chase Piglet down because they forgot their autographs and at first the CM wasn't going to let us disrupt Piglet's flow but Kelly's DH's Honyee is one convincing fellow and somehow hemanaged to finagle the signatures for all the autograph books.
You'll notice that Caylee is not in these pictures because she refused take any. She did NOT like characters. She'd tolerate princesses but that's it.
We had a great time at CP. It was our first real meal after our long travel night and airplane food. It was also the first character experience and most of the kids loved it. I thought it was a nice relaxing way to "ease" everyone into the Disney experience! It took an hour and a half total for breakfast - and I had to usher everyone out because our FP for our very first ride, Peter Pan, was about to expire. On to Fantasyland!
Of course nothing is that quick...we have to make sure all the kids go to the bathroom, we have to get everything packed up, have to get the stroller. Have to figure out who actually wants to ride the stroller or who wants to be carried and who wants to walk. All that takes another 15 minutes before we actually leave the restaurant.
But no worries as I was in my Happy Place!
I love this picture of the realities of traveling with small kids...
Sienna and Eva in the double stroller, Bryan with his portable neck fan who wanted to walk on the ledge being helped by CS. Cooling towels worn by almost everyone. Stroller fans at full blast. Disney in the summer is a glamorous time!
Oh yeah, you want to know what a sweat blanket feels like? Go to Disney in August. Good times.
We finally make it to Peter Pan. Oh but guess what, we have to get the kids out of the stroller and park the stroller and then get on line. Well some of us without strollers just got one line.
Eva then decideed she wants to ride with me. So I got to take her on her first official Disney World ride!
Her first words: "I can't see a thing!"
But after she gets off, she decided she LOVES this ride and wants to go back on. I distracted her from the 70 minute wait time by suggesting, wow, Small World is only 15 minutes! So we walk across and ride IASW.
I think we took up an entire boat!
Oh look who's awake!
Coming Up, 7DMT - do I lose Cool Aunt status?
I saw that! THanks for joining in! It's great to have you. I "met" you through Kelly, but sadly she's not around much anymore. I miss her.
Really! Why, if I might ask?
Oh? Care to share?
Or is that coming up later?
Poor thing. I've neglected her so.
Hurrah for some solo time! It has to be a bit overwhelming at times to be “in charge” of such a big group and used to doing your own thing. WDW is so great in that regard because it’s so easy to split up and get back together later. Looks like a fun afternoon at Epcot - that’s where I’d head for “me time” as well. Tell your sis I was a little scared the first time on Frozen as well. The anxiety of not knowing what will happen gets to me, haha. All in all I don’t hate that ride nor do I think it ruined the spirit of WS like I was worried initially. Gives me hope for Ratatouille and the rumored Mary Poppins attraction. Love the bromance shoot!!
It would require months of prep for sure! Excited to see what she comes up with for September
Yay for alone time it's nice to be able to take your time and not feel any pressure to hurry up.
Sofie's picture with Mulan is beautiful.
Love all the family pictures such great memories.
Still rock'n the bun!
Perfect! I love when they match the princess. I love Mulan as a princess to meet. She always seems close to her animated version.
It's always about Elsa! Anna is fun but Elsa is the show stopper.
I love the solo time. I am hoping I can do a little one night when we are in Disneyland.
Both of these are too funny! But seriously great photos of them!
Nice! I'm sure this was exactly what you needed to refresh!
Baymax takes great selfies!
Amazing!!!
And Mimi's shocked expression with the Frozen girls is adorable!!
Great Pictures of the inside of Crystal Palace! Looks beautiful!
Popping in to say hi! Was thinking about you today and thought I’d stop by and see what’s been happening. I had to take a bit of a DIS break, the family was feeling ignored and I got overwhelmed trying to keep up.
When is your next trip Su-Lynn??
Miss you guys
Our next trip is not until Labor Day week. We'll be there from Sept 1-9th.
Maybe if Toy Story land offers previews for DVC and AP, we may head down there in June, but it would only be for the weekend. When is your next trip?
I don't know! Maybe I just like the carriage as-is. Or maybe it's just a matter of time before I get a pearl myself. I honestly could do without the hoopla that is the pick a pearl and maybe just use a pearl I already have.
I ended up buying this t shirt!!
I think you need to make another trip under the sea!
He does! Although his arms are like a t-rex.
We miss you too!Miss you guys