Saturday, April 27, 2013

Week 14 – Week 14 – Girls Make a Splash & Root Beer Float Review

 

Miles –

Date -  April 6, 2013

                          Where Am I?

         (Finding Nemo Edition)

        Level: Mr RayIMG_1468

Level: Dori

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Just keep scrolling, just keep scrolling….

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Finally, after being taunted by numerous days of testing, Splash Mountain’s refurb was complete! I sure have enjoyed listening to other people argue with their parties that it was open, in spite of all the logs being empty and no one standing in line. Our party was seated in the last 2 rows and included the mystery guest.

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And you cannot possibly ride That Mountain and not ride This Mountain!

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I’m loving my new Canon EOS Rebel T3i that is allowing me to take so many pictures that my point and shoot just couldn’t! This means gratuitous shots of Disney just because.

TIP – If you haven’t ridden BTM at night, you really must.  It’s a totally different experience.  During fireworks adds another layer of awesome.  If you’re ever there during a downpour, that’s a whole  new level of crazy. And to remove any doubt, I present the following as evidence:

  BTMrain 

All other arguments are invalid.

 

Here is my new, must-do ride.  Many years ago I was a practitioner of the Unofficial Guide’s “Dumbo Or Die In A Day” touring plan, lining up before early entry to get my kids straight to this slow-loader without a long wait so my little darlin’s could have multiple rides on the uber-popular Dumbo. 

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Now that there are 2, the line has been updated with an air conditioned play/waiting area….

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but most importantly, it has been relocated to give you this view….

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of the continued progress in Fantasyland... long before they gave us windows in the fence because of moments like this:

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Nosy passholders  Guests, like myself, mercilessly clogged the lines at Dumbo enjoyed a view from the Disney classic.  Now I’m riding Dumbo again with my young adult son, husband, and high school daughter after years of it being too much of a kiddie ride.  I love it! When construction is complete, I’ll still be riding Dumbo.

Now, along with a ride on Dumbo, I have to oooh and ahhh over the most interesting shop in the parks.  You can get hats, goodies, toys, everything under the circus tent at Big Top Souvenirs.  At the very center ring is this circle of awesomeness that drags me to it like a tractor beam every time:

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The Sugar defense rests. Case closed!

 

And speaking of sugar….

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Another location passes the test for root beer floats. You might think all Disney root beer floats are the same, and you might be sadly deluded.  Jean and Gale, self-proclaimed root beer float connoisseurs, have reviewed and approved these spots in Magic Kingdom:

  • Sleepy Hollow
  • Auntie Gravity’s
  • Aloha Isle
  • Sunshine Tree Terrace

In Hollywood Studios – No approved locations, particularly AVOID Oasis Canteen (consistently skimpy)

Animal Kingdom – Anandapur Ice Cream Truck

EPCOT – none yet

We are reviewing root beer floats with soft serve and are basing this on portion size, since all the ingredients are the same. It will take time to try every place, but it’s a challenge worth pursuing.  ; ) 

 

When you’re tired and want to leave the park, there’s nothing like hopping on the train for a calm ride and to save the feet! 

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My daughter, Mairyn, (I defy you to pronounce that without Facebooking Chris.) came out from her hoodie, showing her Ariel hair.  Yeah, it’s a different color now. I can’t blog that fast.

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She caused quite a stir for the little ones between her Ariel hair …

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and carrying Perry. I am convinced that the optimum age for Disney is a 4 year old. The way they react is the absolute best!

Interactions we’ve had with 4 year olds have been truly memorable, and that’s the age group that was excitedly yelling, “Ariel” and “Perry” at Mairyn.  I think 4 is a parent’s reward for not giving kids up for adoption during the 2’s.

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And speaking of a Mom’s reward, this was a mom/daughter day right before Jean’s breast cancer reconstruction surgery.  Who wouldn’t need a bit of fun for a mental health break right before that? We went on Saturday, and her surgery was on Monday, so it was a whirlwind. Here’s a get well bouquet of Disney flowers for Jean!  You know that to visit her bouquet, she’ll have to go to Disney.  Dag nab it! Guess she’ll just have to suck it up and put on her big girl panties. 

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Time to say goodbye to our Happy Place for this week! What really makes us happy is knowing we’re always coming back!

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