Mommy Rainbo calls a Do over.....

[fortpartyof4 108]

Cool tips and train photos!  I have always wondered about the auto train.  After our last N/S round trip, we may just look into this.  Between gas, a hotel for a night, and food, I think it has to be close.  Any overage is MOST definitely worth not having to deal with the traffic, aggressive drivers, construction and weather.

 

Your daughter must have slept pretty good that night!  Her face is making me tired!

[jengarynew adventures 0]

Thanks for the TR, never knew how neat the auto train would be to travel. Hoping there is more photos and TR to come. 

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

Can't wait to read more!!

[EnchantedSurprise 2]

Autotrain  is one of those things I like to consider but it adds up quickly with 6 people.  Nice to see some pics and get some feedback on it though, thanks for sharing the Autotrain pics

[superloopers 2]

Enjoyed everything so far. Hope you get to update it some more.

[YodaGirl 13]

Looks like a fun trip so far.

I've always been curious about Amtrak, but my dad works for the railroad (not Amtrak). He won't ride them because of all the derailments he's seen. After hearing all the stories growing up, I'm hesitant to ride it, as well. It looks like a nice way to travel for the right person.

[mommy rainbo.....Bo 41]

Funny things the way they happen.  I am planning on finishing this TR soon, life got in the way for a while.   My Mom passed at on April 24th which is why this TR ended for a while.  Then we moved.  I just shut down for a while.  I am just starting to feel OK.   I still have some notes and a few pictures.  So give me a few days to organize and we will be off to animal kingdom, just the DD and me.

[twiceblessed....nacole 433]

I'm so, so sorry for your loss.  I think we all can understand, shutting down after something like that.  Tough, tough stuff...

[DaveInTN 3,247]

Bo....I'm so sorry to hear that.  

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss.  Take your time finishing up your TR.  We'll be here when you are ready.

[mommy rainbo.....Bo 41]

Well our stay at the Fort is over.  We switched hotels over to where my husbands conference was located.   It was the Hilton Garden Inn Orlando.  It was right around the corner from Sea World.  It was a very nice complex.  We were in the Tower the only complaint we had was the room smelled moldy/musty.   The rooms were nice and updated but the smell when you first walked in was killer.

DD and I grabbed the Keys and wondered over to Animal Kingdom while Daddy settled in with his work peeps.  I drove back to the Fort, which was only about 15 minutes away and parked in overflow since I had a valid parking pass for the day. Why waist it.  Then we caught the bus. 

 

 

 Animal kingdom.  We had paper passes that Disney gave us due to the fiasco with the elbow last trip, But they are a pain in that they hate to be used.   They always had to call some ipad person over to swipe them multiple time or call a manager like person.   Eventually they were read.    First thing DD wanted was a mickey bar.  

 

URL=http://s676.photobucket.com/user/ravensnestfarm/media/Disney%202013/animal%20kingdom%202013/b37604fb-5007-4518-bbdb-5012a1606a54_zpsv1pflqe5.jpg.html]

 

 

and she got one.  Yummy.  We wondered around looking for something she was interested in.  Shopping.  She wanted a hat.  So we found the perfect one.

 

 

We wondered over to Lion King area looking for the ever-elusive Pocahontas. Remember this is still a stalk the princess trip for DD and at the time she was the only one we did not end up getting an autograph from.   She was not there and DD had no interest in who was there.   So since we were here I decided to see TFOTLK.

I had never seen the show and it was wow.  It was awesome.  What fun.   I can’t wait to bring hubs back to see it.

.

 

We decided it was time to eat.   DD is a very health eater.  She likes Fruit and doesn’t like a lot of the standard Disney fair.   I can’t believe she wanted pizza at Pizzafari.  It must have been good because she ate the entire little pie and drank a power aid so we were ready to stroll.

 

 

. 

 

Wondered around and caught the tail end of a parade.  Sorry no photos.  DD wasn’t impressed.  We tried to see a few show but DD wasn’t interested in Bugs life.  Remember she was still a scaredy cat at that age.  We kept missing the bird show which is something we wanted to see but kept missing the times. 

 

It was mid afternoon and “J” was fading so I said lets go on the safari ride.   She agreed and we were off.

 

The wait wasn’t too bad but definitely not a walk on.  

 

 

The animals were not cooperating at all.  We got stuck waiting a lot and it was HOT.  The trip took over 45 minutes. 

At the start.

 

 

look animals.  Get stuck waiting for a lazy bones to cross the road. Then look animals.  Did I say it was Hot yet?

 

 

wait some more. “Mommy why cant they move the animals like you move the horses at home”.   Me”because it is considered mean to do that to a wild animal”.    DD”oh but at home your not mean are you” (Me thinking I would sooooo be mean if I had the chance to end this hot ride”   Momma melting here. 

 

 

 

 

It would have been a really cool ride if it wasn’t so hot.    When it ended DD decided she was done for the day so we started to head out of the park.

 BUT… we ran into a meet and great that was air conditioned with a small line.

 

Mickey and Minnie… happy times

 

 

 

Autographs

 

 

 

and with that Animal Kingdom was checked off the list of things we missed last trip.

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

I'm so sorry to hear about your mom. That is a tough thing to have to live through.  It's good to hear that you're starting to feel OK.  I think it would be a good thing for you to re-live this fun trip you had by resuming your TR.

 

TCD

[mommy rainbo.....Bo 41]

Thank you everyone.  It has been a tough year, but I am now just surfacing and feeling good again.  A lot of that had to do with the move to our new house.   It took 17 months to buy this one and 23 months to sell the old one but God is good and it all worked out to his plan.  The move, then upkeep on the two properties for the 51/2 months it took to settle with the old house, kept me from drawing in my sorrows about my Mom.   Sold the old house in november.   Then was Thanks giving, then Christmas.  Crazy weather this winter.  Very glad to be here in the new house warm and toasty.      

 

Ok enough about me...lol    it will be a day or two before another update I think..

[mommy rainbo.....Bo 41]

KFK I guess it was so trying I had to say it twice....

[mommy rainbo.....Bo 41]

DD decided that night swimming at the hotel would be a great way to end the very hot day.

The hotel has a small kiddie pool on the other side of the complex so we trekked over.

The place is really nice.  It wasn’t a long walk even with a small child.   Although it was kinda dark.

to say DD loved it was an understatement.

We stayed here for well over an hour.  We had a blast.  I liked that it was quiet and only about knee deep. 

The next day started our EPICOT adventure.   (EP-I-COT) is how DD says it.  

This is a Mommy day.  I am going to ride Soaring no matter what sometime today.  I have missed out due to the long lines that the other half refuses to stand in.   We started at the Nemo ride while DD was still made up in her “Nemo Princess” outfit as she calls it.  It was a fun ride as usual and we went right over to turtle talk with Crush.    The cast members made a fuss over the Nemo Princess and she was called on to ask a question.  I think she asked how old he was.   I have zero pictures of this for some reason.   We then went over and visited Figment.  

I remember this ride from my Senior Trip in 1986.  Wow it was still cute but has really taken a beating over time.

here we go.

 

 

 

my DD thought this part was weird…lol but said Daddy might like it.

 

I liked this one.

 

 

DD liked the interactive area but I wish half of it wasn’t broken.

Next is test track to see if DD has grown up enough to handle the faster rides. 

WEEEEEEEEEEEE

[mommy rainbo.....Bo 41]

The lost Nemo photos.

 

 

 

back to Test Track

The wait was listed at 50 minutes but it was air conditioned. 

 

 

 

 

 

Well she loved it and had her hands in the air around the track part…lol   That was a big step for the normally scardy cat that she is.   I was proud of her.  Next we grabbed some fruit to eat out side of the Land on our way to Soaring.   DD was excited that Mommy was going to finally get to ride her ride.

The wait listed was 110 minutes.  I thought about not doing it again but decided nope I am waiting and wait we did.

 

and wait.

 

and wait.

 Notice the hair bows were a casualty to Test track and Soarings wait time.  But the wait was worth it.   We were center row on the top.  IT WAS AWESOME. 

No photos sorry.

 

We now walked around the countries.   With a stop in Norway.  What I really regret is not pushing her to ride maelstrom before it closed forever…..

 

But on a lighter note we did visit MEXICO!!  Lol  And my daughter now looks like Kenny from  the Mr Mom movie.

 

 

 

 DD was wiped.  So we decided to go to Space ship Earth for the last ride of the day.

Cheesy picture alert.

 

lol  not bad for a 6 yr old that had no idea what I was asking of her. 

Off  to the ride.   DD loved her EPICOT ball.

 

I try to get this shot every time.  0f4405eb245b3_zps12eb65d6.jpg

 

 

I remember TDC’s trick of putting in somewhere remote so you can see your pictures.

then we leave. I call this sunset over epicot parking lot.

 

and one last picture of Kenny.

 

 

 

edited to fix a few photos

Edited July 17, 2015 by mommy rainbo.....Bo

[DaveInTN 3,247]

That sunset photo is spectacular.

[twiceblessed....nacole 433]

Busy day! Looks like y 'all had a really great time :)

[twiceblessed....nacole 433]

Busy day! Looks like y 'all had a really great time :)

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

Did the wait for Soarin' end up being 110 minutes?  I couldn't do that.

 

I'm glad you at least got top row and center.

 

I am glad your DD likes the more thrilling rides.  It opens a lot more things for you to do together.

 

I agree with DIT- that sunset photo is great!

 

TCD

[mommy rainbo.....Bo 41]

Yes. The Soaring did take 75 minutes, but for me it was worth it. I think I remember the cast member saying when we walked up that it wasn't 110 and to go before they change the sign(a lot of people where turning back when they saw how long the wait was, I almost did) Hubs wouldn't have waited even half that time. Which I why the girls made it a must do.    I can't wait for our next trip.  With DD able/wanting to ride more rides the parks are finally fun for Mommy...

[mommy rainbo.....Bo 41]

Working on the final day of our unexpected Disney adventure.  13hrs in the parks.   Then the bonus at sea world.

[mommy rainbo.....Bo 41]

That sunset photo is spectacular.

It was awesome.  Really stunning.  I used my phone for a panoramic.    It was just a great ending to a nice day.

[mommy rainbo.....Bo 41]

We got back to the hotel after dark but not to late to swim again, but no pictures this time.

Then to bed.  I had a big day planned.  Daddy’s conference had a long day for him so I planned for us to do Hollywood Studios then end with a hop to magic kingdom for a final people mover ride.  Little did I know that it was going to be a 13 hr park day.  Amazingly my DD was a very happy partner in crime.   She kept saying I want to stay and see….  So we did.   Princess leaving the hotel

We drove to the Magic Kingdom parking lot then caught a bus to Hollywood Studios.  We were using the last day of our original planes, trains and ambulances trip tickets that included a park hopper.  (this was a nice Disney make up for the EMS issues I had). 

The bus was empty. 

I think since we didn’t get started until after 9:30 this morning we missed the rush. If there was one. 

I had another ride to check off the list.  TOY STORY MANIA!!!!!  My new all time favorite ride ever.    The wait was 65 minutes  We got red carded.  The red card thing happened to us a bunch this trip.  DD thought it was a princess privilege and who was I to tell her otherwise..

Dancing in the line.

Waiting in line

More waiting.

I want to say.  I love, love, love, love this ride.  I am not a laugh out loud kinda girl. I am a smile and watch the world kinda girl.   I laughed and giggled and snorted my way thru this ride.  My DD still remembers Mommy laughing like a little girl with the giggles on this one.  If the wait wasn’t’ so long we would have rode again.

 

We then ate a fast lunch.  No photos again.

Then it was time for the Great movie ride, and the Back lot tour.  

 

 

We ended up in the last seat of one middle cars.

We started the tour,  it stopped near the lights, action car show.  So we got to see them zip in and out of the back area.   Then it started to spit rain.  It was really light and not a big deal.  It then stop.  Then started.  We waited about 10 minutes. Then it started to rain.  Again. I am in the back seat.  (never ever get into the back seat if it looks like rain)

Up until this time the sun has been out and it was a pretty day.  Then the florida afternoon storms came in.   It poured.  I was trying to protect the princess and the camera.   The back seat’s roof gutters empty into the seat on the right and left at the car wiggles back and fourth as people try to stay dry.  I had DD on my lap and the waves from the roof coming in on both sides.  I stood up (we were still not moving) and was immediately told to sit back down by a cast member.  As were other people in other cars in the back seat.   They  finally got the go ahead to finish the ride in the pouring rain.  I scooted back and fourth on the seat trying to keep DD dry as the waves ran back and forth on the seat when the car turned a corner.  It was laughingly miserable.   Remember at the beginning of the tour it was sunny.   20 minutes of waiting made a huge difference.   NO BACK SEATS unless you have checked the weather for the next hour.   The rest of the tour didn’t take that long.   They did have towel for us when we came in but wet clothes are wet clothes.   DD was dry.   Since the rain looked like it was here to stay for a while.

I broke down and bought us a couple of poncho’s.  DD looked cute in hers.

We headed out.  DD decided she wanted to see the Disney jr show.

it was really cute and she loved the falling confetti.  It was a great place to dry off.

We then went to see Beauty and the Beast.  This was a first for us.  I wished I had known that this was a fun and entertaining show.

Where we  ended up sitting after we gave up good seats for a potty run.

 

AWE….

After this  Mommy made an executive decision.   The clouds were gathering again.

On to Magic Kingdom.

 Pixie dust happened.   I had our stroller stuffed the DD and I tried to outrun the rain to the buses.   A bus was waiting for us and just as I tossed the DD onboard , collapsed the stroller and jumped on the rain started and it wailed.   Pixie dust for sure.  

 To be continued  at the Magic kingdom.

[ependydad...Doug 176]

4th page bragging rights!

So much love for losing your Mom. Hugs.

Glad to hear your house woes are behind you.

Glad to see you get to relive through the trip with this TR.

I can't believe you walked into a wait time of 110 minutes and waited 75. I'm so glad that you still enjoyed it! :) 35 minutes is about my limit (so count me in as "DH wouldn't wait 1/2 that long").