Stop Making Me Laugh Or I'll Pee My Pants! Go Back! I Lost My Shoe! Trip Report!

[mickeystoontown]

I have never seen the country bears... gonna add that to the must do list for this year.
I can't believe you next trip is almost hear already.. you are so luck, we have to wait till December

I can't wait to see Tom Sawyer Island pictures, again another thing we haven't done... my list is getting really long

It's a corny hokey kinda show but it's one that we never miss.

I am beyond ready to get to Disney again.

I was hoping to get my Tom Sawyer pictures posted already but haven't had time enough to stop and post. I promise to get them up either this afternoon or tomorrow.

Those parade pictures are AWESOME!!! I will definitely have to check that area out for parade viewing. We watched the Boo to You Parade at MNSSHP from the Liberty Square area...it was a great spot, and we only had to wait about 20 minutes (we could have waited even less if we'd have realized how low the crowds were).

Ok, I have to admit- I was so excited to see Bernard and Miss Bianca on the Aladdin float!!! I loved them when I was a kid - no kidding, the various members of my extended family took me to the theatre to see it at least five times! (This was before VCRs and movie rentals, of course ). I had the stuffed animals and carried them with me everywhere for a while. Any time I see them, I have to get a little excited!

I love Bernard and Miss Bianca too. I still remember my going to see the movie when I was a kid. As a matter of fact, my Mama still calls dragonflies Evinrude like in the movie.

It's hilarious how your kids got the characters to dance with them! Is it a coincidence that Hunter is wearing a boombox?

Great! That means another awesome TR!

Wow, those parade pics are awesome!!!

Thanks! My kids love hamming it up with the characters!

Good afternoon Lisa!

Cute Country Bears pics. We went in 2007, but the sound quality was HORRIBLE! We could barely understand what they were saying. I was disappointed because it was the first time for my boys...needless to say they were not impressed and it didn't make the cut for the next trip.

I have only seen it once for the same reason. And when we went, you could hear the clicking of the animatronics' movements better and louder than the sound system. Has it gotten better Lisa?

I wonder if we didn't notice the sound quality problems or the clicking because we were seated towards the back?

 

[mickeystoontown]

Great Geppetto shot!
I love parade pictures!
I've been so behind lately. all cought up now. YAY! Well with your TR at least. LOL!

Still working on Skip. I keep doing stuff to try and get a Dec pin.

Here' one I heard to do.. Got to disney site, log in, Then mouse over where it says "My Disney Vacation" (there's a little Mickey suitcase icon) and a little box will pop up. The second item listed in the box says "Itinerary" Then click on the page where it says "Build A New Itinerary" You'll have to name the itinerary and select the dates you want to visit and enter in your travel party info and stuff. It asks, "Do you need accommodations?" If you select "No" it will give you a drop down menu asking you where you're staying. I selected "Non Walt Disney World Resort Hotel"

Supposedly people have done this and then gotten a pin in a few days. Of course not everyone.

Girl, I've tried every trick in the book to get a pin and haven't gotten one yet. I still keep trying though.

I wish you'd get this super duper awesome pin that Skip just can't say no to.

Incredible parade pictures!

Thanks!

Love love love the parade pics! We missed the afternoon parade last year you bet that won't happen again the year. We also skipped country bears last year but its on the agenda for this time. Can't wait to see what your up to om Tom's Island!

We've skipped the afternoon parade several times but since we were right there and the parade was about to start, we figured we'd stay and watch it.

i am only on your 10th update, but slowly catching up.......I am here though...

Hey there! So glad and honored that you came over for a read.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Gepetto in your face!


No, but it's a great shot of the dancer in red!



I don't think I've ever commented over here. Oops!

We loooove sitting in Pinocchio Village Haus & waving at the people on Small World too!

How cool that Hunter spotted that Hidden Stitch. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for it in May!

I'd love to be one of those dancers, sweating & smiling in a Disney Parade.

Never have been to that Country Bears show....

I find myself reading trip reports all the time but forget to post so don't worry about it. I'm just glad that you're reading.

Isn't that the coolest that Hunter found Stitch hiding in Frontierland? It's right behind the register.

You should do the Country Bears at least once. It's a nice way to escape the heat if nothing else.

That was really a very interesting and nice compilation of your trip, a true labor of love!

Thanks! I hate that my trip report is finally winding down. I always hate the last day.

We took the girls during not this last trip, but the one before it. Once was enough for us.

We usually see it twice. Once because it's been a whole year since we've seen it and the second time so John can catch a couple of winks.

I found your trip report a couple of days ago and am all caught up now! My husband thinks I've lost my marbles, as I've spend countless hours this weekend sitting at the computer! Like a good book, I couldn't put it down! We are planning our 3rd Disney trip for the end of August this year. Two of our biggest concerns are heat and those summer storms. Seems like the heat is pretty bad, but we are planning to take midday pool breaks (never done that before) to combat it. But I noticed you never mentioned any storms. Were there none or were they just short and not really a problem? Keep the updates coming...I"m hooked!!

So very glad that you found my report. I love having new readers and am honored that you've sat and read the entire thing.

We were okay with the heat except for on our first day at the Magic Kingdom. It was just so darn hot that we went back to the resort to swim and rest. On the other days, we were fine. The only day that we encountered rain was it showered a little on us when we were about an hour away from Disney and then it rained a little on our Epcot day. Other than that, we didn't have any rain. In 2008, we went the first week of August and it rained a couple of times but it wasn't bad either.

I originally booked us at All Star Music, but then canceled to rent DVC points at Kidani. When I called to cancel, they asked me if I needed to rebook, and I said no, we already booked at Kidani. Since then I've gotten at least 4 PINS, two for free dining and two for the 30/40/50.

I wish I would get a pin code. I would probably be jumping up and down if I got one even if I couldn't use it.

 

[mickeystoontown]

We left the Country Bears and crossed the street (Street? I guess that's what you'd call it if you're in the middle of a theme park?) so that we could get on the wooden walkway that leads to the raft dock.

Thanks to Missy (mommytothreeboys), I knew that there was a fort on Tom Sawyer Island. We had never been able to find it before but, by golly, we were bound and determined to find it this time.

John insisted that he had seen people crossing a bridge to the island somewhere near the exit of Big Thunder Mountain. The rest of us hadn't seen them but John said he had. I really really didn't think that there could be any other way over to the island other than the raft but, like a good woman, I followed along. Now, don't take that to mean that I thought he was right, I just said I was being a good woman and following along.

We get to the exit of Big Thunder Mountain and ran smack into the smoking area. Not the way to some secret bridge to Tom Sawyer Island. Here's the family looking a bit put-out that they had walked past the raft loading area to a virtual dead end.

Boy oh boy, what's a good woman to do in a situation such as this? Lead her man back to the raft docking area and wait for the raft to pick us up and take us to the island. The riverboat was coming 'round the bend and I took pictures:

Soon, the raft had made it's way over to the loading/unloading area and we were getting on for our ride to the island. I have to tell you that I was disappointed to see trash floating around in the water. There were empty cola bottles, paper and straws. Can't people just wait until they come upon a garbage can instead of throwing their trash in the water? That's so trashy to me. (no pun intended)

When we got to the island, I told everybody that we had to continue to the left because that's what Missy told me to do. So, off to the left we went. With me, of course, snapping a few pictures:

We crossed over the barrel bridge with the kids bouncing the entire way. I was holding on tight 'cause I do not have the best balance in the world. I don't know how I used to roller skate because now I can't even stand up on the things. Anyway, I held on tight while the kids bounced us around. I told the troops to continue on to the left because "that's what Missy told me to do".

And, then, I saw it......IT.....the sign that told us that we had found IT...the fort on the island. Thank you Missy!

For those of you who need the information....there's a bathroom at the fort. Umm, yep, I had to try it out because it had been at least an hour since I had made a pit stop.

***Continued in next post

 

[mickeystoontown]

I was so excited that we had found the fort. I kept saying "Missy told me to keep left". I know that my family was sick and tired of "Missy told me" by the time we left the island.

Some pictures I took around the fort:

***I need to stop here and upload some more island pictures to photobucket. At least I was able to give guys a taste of Tom Sawyer Island.

 

[pocahontasgal87]

very kool pictures of the fort, i wanna visit it now

 

[jenseib]

Love the pictures. It's been more than 120 years since I've been over to the island. I remember Paige and Michael loving it there. I might have to take Claire over one of these times.

 

[FairyGodmotherJen]

Cool pictures - it'd be worth it just for the view of BTMRR alone!

 

[jusero]

Did you know if you go over to the island early in the day and find a paint brush, you can get a prize? If I understand the rules, if you find a paint brush, you take it to one of the shops in Frontierland and you get some kind of prize. I don't know what, since I have never tried to find one, but thought I would pass this info along.

 

[youyou588]

Everyone to share their journey of life, and beautiful photos, I want to send some photos who can tell me how to send photos in here thanks.

 

[youyou588]

 

[Angies1274]

Hi Lisa!! Wow! I didn't realize I had gotten so far behind. Let's see if I can remember everything I wanted to comment on.

Love the parade pictures!! You guys really had a great spot!

We still haven't made it to the Country Bear Jamboree... hopefully one of these trips!!

I'm glad you found Tom Sawyer Island!!

 

[lomaha]

Hi Lisa, just wanted to tell you how much I've enjoyed reading this TR. We are looking forward to our 2nd WDW trip in June. Last time we stayed at POR but this time we decided to try CBR, then I came to Disboards and found your TR and now we are really excited. I love how friendly people are here. I also love how detailed your TR is. Do you keep a journal during your stay to help you remember all this stuff? I think I might try to write a TR after this trip.

 

[Mombits]

My son is very, no make that VERY, excited to go to Tom Sawyer Island. And now thanks to you, I'll go left !

 

[jusero]

My son is very, no make that VERY, excited to go to Tom Sawyer Island. And now thanks to you, I'll go left !

And make sure he looks for the paint brushes!

 

[mommytothreeboys]

YAY!! You found the fort!!!

My boys absolutely love it there! They love the rifle roosts and the secret escape passage. I think if they could have it all to themselves, they could spend hours there playing and not get bored!

Thanks for all the shout-outs! Tell the family Missy says HI!

 

[Nettaboo]

How cool that you found the fort!!! I am going to have to write this down because my oldest nephew would love it!

 

[longing2Batdisney]

I'm so happy you guys found the fort...if we have extra time on Sunday I may ride over there with Ashton...than again my mom would have a really hard time getting through there...last time we were there Dayne was 8! I think Ashton would like that next go round; I love how you can line your sights on BTMRR to cool!
Great find!

 

[aprilisis]

I am definitely going to have to go over to the island after those photos!! I may have to steal you parade viewing area, too- that was a great view!!!

 

[haleofafamily]

Just wanted to let you know that I have had so much fun reading your trip report and a couple of others that I started one of my own. Thanks for the inspiration!