We're back from our trip!.. Can I tell you something? I love Disney World. No really, I *LOVE* Disney World. From the moment I enter the “happiest place on Earth” to the moment my vacation ends with the “saddest flight home on Earth,” I feel nothing but magic and peace… I feel like it’s my home away from home.
The new Toy Story Mania ride is awesome!!!... The queue feels like you have shrunk down to Woody’s size and there are larger than life toys and games all around, complete with a talking Mr. Potato Head that interacts and jokes with you. Warning- Spoilers ahead: if you don’t want to know, skip this section! The ride sits 4 people back to back and you have a virtual pop-gun to shoot. The ride is in 3-D so get ready to put the funny glasses on- You are taken into several carnival-like scenes where you get to shoot virtual balls, rings, and darts at many things. It’s all super interactive- if you pop a balloon with your dart, you get misted with water; if you ring toss around a rocket, it zooms at you in 3-D. At the end of the ride you see your score and win a virtual prize ( I won a bunny).
HOT TIP: My dad and my son went through the “single rider lane” and were able to ride several times! It’s a great way to beat the 2-hour wait in line and you don’t have to wait around for your fast pass time.
We had the chance to dine at Cinderella’s Royal Table for the first time and LOVED IT… I’ve never been able to make an ADR before, it’s always booked solid; but on a lucky phone call I got us in for dinner about two weeks before our trip. I took my daughter to the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique across the hall first for a princess makeover (you need a reservation to get in) where they did her hair, makeup, and nails and sprinkled her with gallons of pixie dust. She was feeling very regal and very much a princess by the time we left to eat dinner. HOT TIP: It’s not just for girls; anyone can be made into a princess- no matter how old you are. Mom’s and Grandma’s- don’t be shy and step up- it’s fun!…
Dining in the castle was absolutely fantastic; first you have a photo-op with Cinderella, the photos are included in your dining package. I found a “hidden treasure” here: while you’re waiting in the queue, look up and to your left into the rafters. You should see Cinderella’s mice friend’s Jacq and Gus, they are tiny and are dutifully watching over Cinderella making sure she’s okay. Then you go up a flight of stars to a beautiful and very royal dining area. The menu is pre-set, and you have a choice for your appetizer, entrée, and dessert. The food we had was excellent and we were entertained by the Fairy Godmother and Perla, Cindy’s mouse friend for most of our dinner. I had informed them it was my mom’s Birthday in advance so the Fairy Godmother and our server were tipped off to make her evening extra special. If you can get an ADR for this dining opportunity, I would highly recommend it! It’s worth the money.
My son had his most magical moment at the Jedi Knight Training Academy at Hollywood Studios in front of the Star Wars ride. If you are a Star Wars enthusiast, this show was made for you… A Jedi Master comes out and selects about 10 kids from the crowd to participate, they are all given toy light sabers and he trains them “in the ways of the force” for about 5 minutes. Suddenly they are interrupted by two storm troopers that come out and introduce the one and only Darth Vader. He comes out of a cloud of smoke, larger than life, and tries to lure the kids to join the dark side. Each kid then has the opportunity to use his/her new jedi knight training skills to duel Darth Vader in a one on one mini battle. Of course good conquers evil and the kids win and Darth Vader retreats backstage. There is thunderous applause from the crowd and the Jedi Master gives them all certificates for their successful training. This interactive show was the highlight of my son’s entire trip and I was so excited and thrilled that he had the opportunity to experience and take part in something that he so loves and is such a big fan of. Thanks Disney…
If you have the chance to see the new Monster’s Inc. Comedy Laugh Floor in Tomorrowland, it’s really funny. The show is hosted by Mike Wazowski and it’s funny and very interactive with the crowd. You have the opportunity to text in your own jokes for Mike to share and they have a hidden camera that allows them to interact and gently pick-on the member’s of the audience. There is a huge laugh-o-meter in the corner that they must fill before they will let us leave. It’s a really good show and if you are there when it’s hot outside, it’s a nice place to sit in the air-conditioning for a while.
We stayed at the Pop Century Resort, I think it’s the best out of all the value-resorts to stay at. The theming is really cute as it takes you through the pop cultures of the 50’s though the 90’s. We stayed in the 80’s section next to a huge Rubik’s Cube, our room was not a Preferred Room and yet I thought we were stationed really close to the food court, buses, and pool. –all the things you want to be close to.
HOT TIP: If you are riding on the Monorail, ask a Cast Member if you can sit with the driver. I had the opportunity to ride up front this trip and the views are panoramic and incredible. You’ll receive a Co-Pilot license and get to chat with the driver about their adventures. Note: You can also ask for a Co-Pilot license from your Disney shuttle bus driver as well!
The crowd’s weren’t too bad for July, our normal wait time for a ride was 10-20 minutes. Whew- It was hot! We had to take lots of breaks and went swimming or back to the hotel mid-day to cool off. Since we had rented a car I tried driving one day to the Parks instead of taking the Disney shuttle bus, in my opinion it’s much more convenient just to take the shuttle bus. Once you arrive at your Park’s parking lot (it’s free if you are staying on property to park), you wait for a tram to take you to a Transportation Center where you have the option to ride the Monorail or take a ferry to the Park. It is good to know you have options though.
We had a wonderful time and experienced many, many magical moments together. I loved watching the faces of my children as well as my parent’s as we saw the parades, shows, and characters together. I feel like I blinked and the trip was over, of course I was already planning our next trip in my head before we even left the property. –but for now… I got my Disney fix!!
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