It's A BuckeyeFortFamily Spring Break 'EGG'stravaganza!!

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

 

Is the AAA thing something you can do even if you have an Annual Pass?

 

 

 

Yes, the AAA thing is a separate parking pass that you can get at your AAA office (if you're an AAA member).  I used to think that it was only available if you bought some kind of package from AAA, but I went in to my local office and asked if they could give me a pass, and they did.  This doesn't get you in to the parking lot- you still have to pay or be a resort guest or have an AP, but it allows you to park in a better area. There are spaces designated in each of the parking lots as AAA Diamond Spaces.  They are limited in number.  You have to show your pass to the parking attendants, and they will direct you.  In the Epcot lot, the AAA spaces are way over where the kennel parking used to be, and the RV parking still is.  There usually aren't any CM's around there in the morning, so BFF would be able to park his truck much closer.  And, if you're there for rope drop, the limited number thing isn't a problem.

 

And, I also give props to BFK2 for the Duffy photo.  I also am not a Duffy fan, but I salute the kid for sticking it to the man.

 

TCD

[GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799]

Great update!

 

How big are the personal size pizzas? I might eat there in July with my mom and Z.

[BuckeyeFortMama 43]

Yes, the AAA thing is a separate parking pass that you can get at your AAA office (if you're an AAA member).  I used to think that it was only available if you bought some kind of package from AAA, but I went in to my local office and asked if they could give me a pass, and they did.  This doesn't get you in to the parking lot- you still have to pay or be a resort guest or have an AP, but it allows you to park in a better area. There are spaces designated in each of the parking lots as AAA Diamond Spaces.  They are limited in number.  You have to show your pass to the parking attendants, and they will direct you.  In the Epcot lot, the AAA spaces are way over where the kennel parking used to be, and the RV parking still is.  There usually aren't any CM's around there in the morning, so BFF would be able to park his truck much closer.  And, if you're there for rope drop, the limited number thing isn't a problem.

 

And, I also give props to BFK2 for the Duffy photo.  I also am not a Duffy fan, but I salute the kid for sticking it to the man.

 

TCD

 

That is great info. We will definitely be getting that for Halloween.

 

At EPCOT we like to go through the bag check on that side anyway because it's always just one guard and no line. So that would be awesome!

 

That's funny- "sticking it to the man," considering 'the man' is my husband!

 

Great update!

 

How big are the personal size pizzas? I might eat there in July with my mom and Z.

 

We didn't see one actually. 

 

We split two of the big pizza's between 3 of us but there were no leftovers. It was just too good.

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

That is great info. We will definitely be getting that for Halloween.

 

At EPCOT we like to go through the bag check on that side anyway because it's always just one guard and no line. So that would be awesome!

 

That's funny- "sticking it to the man," considering 'the man' is my husband!

 

 

Yes, get the pass.  If you're an AAA member, it's free- so why not.  The spaces at Hollywood Studios and AK are great too.

 

Yes, I know in this case BFF is "the man."  When I crack down on my girls for something, they sometimes say something like "Dang the man, always trying to keep a brother down," or something to that effect.

 

TCD

[DaveInTN 3,247]

Those are great VN pics....I could eat that pizza right now!  I am not crazy about a lot of the VN menu...but the pizza is da bomb!

[BuckeyeFortMama 43]

March 24, 2013

 

Good Morning BuckeyeFortFamily.

 

Now we know we are "on vacation."

 

Magic Kingdom rope drop!

 

Let's go kids, shake a leg.

 

Lou.... that picture is just for you.

 

I actually heard your snarky voice in my head as I took it and then I giggled to myself and got those kids moving. 

 

It also shows off one of my favorite aspects of our camper-the huge U-shaped couch.

 

We always celebrate being the first golf cart at the marina with a picture for the trip report.

 

 It's a 7am opening, so of course we are at the dock by 6:15 but we still aren't the first people standing in line. There is always some family that must have walked or taken the bus in front of us. No biggie.

 

We did get down there before they had a chance to clear the sand off the walk.

 

I can't even begin to put into words how much we love this part of any trip. The anticipation of waiting on the boat the first day in the MK is what we work crazy hours for.  And yes Lou... our kids are just as excited as we are.

 

 

The whole trip to the MK is spent planning where to first and second and then.... but we did grab some looks like night but isn't pictures.

 

 

 Good Morning Magic Kingdom

 

 

The dancers have Easter colors on.

 

Wait, what am I thinking. I need to get a picture of the rope for Lou....

 

Darn, I'm too late it's down already.

 

Seconds later we are walking in.

 

I never push or run or even hurry all that much at this point. I realize that just being here means that we will walk onto every ride whether I bust my butt or not.  And besides we are on vacation. So we just go with the flow....

 

Beautiful

 

BuckeyeFortFan and BuckeyeFortKid1 headed for Space Mountain and I took the rest of the kids to get PPFP's. 

 

We couldn't help ourselves on our way to tomorrowland.

 

Here's a better view.  We were the ONLY ones on the ride.

 

It had to be tried.

 

I love this view in the morning.

 

 

I love the empty Magic Kingdom and so do my kids. 

 

It's 7:15 and we are taking our first restroom break. Who am I kidding I have a 3yr old. We stopped to use the potty before we headed off to fight Zurg.

 

Someone is figuring out the whole "showing off for the camera" like her father.

 

I on the other hand have a scaredy cat.

 

Ok, it's 7:30 and we are walking onto Winnie the Pooh after playing tug of war with Gopher.

 

Then Peter Pan in a still empty park.

 

BFK4 and I took the first ship, then BFF and BFK3 took the next one. Their bar never came down so when they got off the ride the Castmember had to stop it to put this rope on it.

 

Which meant we had a great view of the girls (BFK1&2) stuck on their boat.

 

Now that we got those girls off that ride we are gonna take BFK4 on his first coaster.

 

Here we go....

 

The next 2 pictures of the girls are priceless. I just wish the first one wasn't fuzzy, but look at BFK2. 

 

 

Ok, back to the baby of the family. As we pull back into the station his father asked him if he liked it and he tried to do the thumbs down sign.

 

But he couldn't let go of Mama.  I had claw marks to prove his distaste for the roller coaster although now he talks about going on it again. He never cried but did say that we had to take him on Dumbo to make up for that bad ride. 

 

Ok, it's 8:30 and we have already rode most of our favorites. So we head off towards the crazy train (as BFK3 called it when he was much younger), but as we passed BOG there was a crowd brewing.

 

Those girls looked sorta familiar and there were people there just primping their hair and makeup so they must be someone.

 

Then BFK1 in a super star-struck voice yells that's China from Ant Farm. She was right!

 

She's on the right between the green shirt and the plaid shirt and those our her sisters on the other side of the green shirt.

[BuckeyeFortMama 43]

BFF headed for BTMRRFP's and to get more SOMK cards while we headed for Rapunzel's restroom.

 

Here's an interesting touch.  There are all these "horse prints" around that area.

 

Here's the cool thing. That's a light horse shoe (think racehorse or cowboy's horse).

 

Here's Maximus's shoe.

 

A draft horse shoe (think Budweiser Clydesdale) and better yet it's what we call a scotch bottom (with the clip above the I in his name and the clips at the ends of the horse shoe).  That's what we put on a show horse.

 

I love this detail and thought I would share.

 

Our horse connection comes in super handy later in this trip (TCD you will love it when we get to it).

 

Well, it's 8:45am and after potty break 2 it's snack time.

 

Those are my go to snacks in the diaper bag/back pack.

 

While we were snacking China showed back up. They were filming her family walking from the Rapunzel bathrooms toward it's a small world.

 

 My girls were enthralled but my boys not so much.

 

 

They were hunting chameleons.

 

Ok, time to head over to BTMRR. When was the last time the Magic Kingdom was so empty you let your young kids get this far ahead of you?

 

 

It's 9:00am. 

 

Let's do the run down.

 

In 2 hours we have done:

Space Mountain

Rode the carousel

Buzz Lightyear

Winnie the Pooh

Peter Pan

The Barnstormer

Dumbo

Snack and 2 potty breaks.

 

 

[GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799]

And that's why I love RD!

[BuckeyeFortMama 43]

And that's why I love RD!

 

The real kicker is we totally took it easy because we had just been here at Christmas time so we didn't need to ride EVERYTHING.

 

So we kept talking about how much more relaxed this morning was since we were really taking our time.

 

ROPE DROP ROCKSl

 

But I'm preaching to the choir.

[DaveInTN 3,247]

Rope drop does rock.  Great updates!

[Beckers 1,136]

I am too lazy to quote the pic but it looks like your boys are peeing on the fence lol

[alexwyattmommy 181]

Great update.  Rope Drop does NOT SMB.

[BuckeyeFortMama 43]

Yes, get the pass.  If you're an AAA member, it's free- so why not.  The spaces at Hollywood Studios and AK are great too.

 

Yes, I know in this case BFF is "the man."  When I crack down on my girls for something, they sometimes say something like "Dang the man, always trying to keep a brother down," or something to that effect.

 

TCD

 

 We are just starting to get that snarky fun attitude from our girls as they grow out of the little princess stage of life into the tweeners stage.

 

Those are great VN pics....I could eat that pizza right now!  I am not crazy about a lot of the VN menu...but the pizza is da bomb!

Rope drop does rock.  Great updates!

 

Thanks Dave! We thought of you when we took the pizza pood forn pics.  Hope they brought you joy and not sadness.

 

I am too lazy to quote the pic but it looks like your boys are peeing on the fence lol

 

Oh my goodness, I know!

 

But I couldn't get a picture of them chameleon hunting that didn't look like they were doing that.  I tried. Oh well, we were at the Rapunzel restrooms.

[BuckeyeFortMama 43]

Coming up....

 

Major weather at Fort Wilderness

 

A fiend 'kindred spirit' meeting

 

A cool behind the scenes experience at the Fort

 

Easter Egg'stravaganza at the Fort

 

A fiend hero meeting!

 

and of course more BuckeyeFortFamily Fun!

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

Awesome update.

 

First golf cart at the Settlement bragging rights to the BFF family!

 

That's cool that your girls got so see a Disney Channel "star."

 

Thanks for the horseshoe lesson.  I will look more carefully next time.

 

If there is anyone reading along who still does not see the benefit of rope drop, it should be remembered that the BFF family is visiting WDW on Easter Week.  I'm sure that wait times for the mountains were 2+ hours later in the day.

 

TCD

[BuckeyeFortMama 43]

Great update.  Rope Drop does NOT SMB.

 

Of course YOU already know this!!!

 

It's the only way to go!

 

Awesome update.

 

First golf cart at the Settlement bragging rights to the BFF family!

 

That's cool that your girls got so see a Disney Channel "star."

 

Thanks for the horseshoe lesson.  I will look more carefully next time.

 

If there is anyone reading along who still does not see the benefit of rope drop, it should be remembered that the BFF family is visiting WDW on Easter Week.  I'm sure that wait times for the mountains were 2+ hours later in the day.

 

TCD

 

It was a 10 out 10 the whole time we were there.

 

It was crazy busy but look at our pictures and you will see NO CROWDS.

 

We typically do non-peak times, but this year is our year of insanity when the school schedule has driven us to only coming on Holiday breaks.

 

We did Christmas this past year and now Easter.

 

I can easily say it would have a been a horrible vacation had we not known the 'tricks' that are second nature to us now.

 

Do your homework and get up early! It's worth it!  Right ladies?

[alexwyattmommy 181]

A big hell ya!

[GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799]

A big hell ya!

 

And I second it! Take that, Lou!

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

Rope drop does rock.  Great updates!

 

I love rope drop!  My head leaks every time.

 

I am too lazy to quote the pic but it looks like your boys are peeing on the fence lol

 

I thought the same thing! 

[AC in A2......Aaron 693]

Love when we get to let the younglings run ahead in the empty park.

 

No lines and lots of rides in a short amount of time.

 

Rope drop is the only way to go.

[Lou... 3,118]

And I second it! Take that, Lou!

 

I'll take it, but I have no clue why I'm taking it as I don't read TRs.

 

I love rope drop!  My head leaks every time.

 

 

 

 

 

David, Gwens David, tell Gwen to get a grip, it's only a silly amusement park.

[BuckeyeFortMama 43]

A big hell ya!

And I second it! Take that, Lou!

I love rope drop!  My head leaks every time.

 

 

I thought the same thing! 

 

And there's my chorus of rope drop believers!!!

 

Love when we get to let the younglings run ahead in the empty park.

 

No lines and lots of rides in a short amount of time.

 

Rope drop is the only way to go.

 

I'm beginning to see the day when we let them go by themselves and it scares me! They are growing up way too fast.

 

I'll take it, but I have no clue why I'm taking it as I don't read TRs.

 

 

David, Gwens David, tell Gwen to get a grip, it's only a silly amusement park.

 

Not only an amusement park, THE amusement park!!!!!

 

PS thank you for not reading my trip report!

[DaveInTN 3,247]

 

 

Thanks Dave! We thought of you when we took the pizza pood forn pics.  Hope they brought you joy and not sadness.

 

 

 

 

Yes...happy happy joy joy. 

[BuckeyeFortMama 43]

When we left off, we were headed towards Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, AKA crazy train.

 

BFK4 and I headed to this nice empty space with chairs.

 

He played checkers and I had a great view of the ride exit.

 

Well, there they go headed back on to use the baby swap. 

 

Perfect I can

Squirrel

 

Where was I?

 

Oh yeah, now I can make my trip report notes and check fort fiends.

 

Well, they are done with their 2 rides and it's only 9:30.

 

We have some time to kill. Go ahead kids and finish that game.

 

Look what I found over here.

 

I know there were some fiend discussions on the location of these just the week before our vacation.

 

The interesting thing is just where this one is placed.

 

Oh well, time to walk.

 

Starting to get a little crowded but still not bad.

 

Here's the Sleepy Hollow under construction.

 

BOG isn't open yet. What should we do?

 

Oh yeah, this one!!!!

 

This was a first for us. 

 

Now that we have talked BFF off the ledge, for some reason that ride just rubs him the wrong way, we headed for lunch.

 

The kids loved this aspect of lunch.

 

Ok, we will.

 

We ordered and then got a primo spot in the ballroom.

 

Look at how happy my girls are.

 

 Ok, now I'm praying I get all of DaveInTn's pood forn on this post.

 

French Onion Soup. AMAZING!

 

 

 Potato Leek soup. Yummy!

 

Toasted Ham and Cheese-Croque Monsieur fancy name for a great sandwhich.

 

 

 Braised Pork (coq au vin style). THE BOMB!

 

We also tried the kids Macaroni-just ok.

 

Carved turkey sandwhich.

 

He didn't like it so he traded his father for some pork. Smart boy!

 

 

We are just finishing lunch and have a lot more to cover just to get through today. 

 

A lot to look forward to in the rest of this day. 

 

We lose something at the MK and then have some "transportation issues" on the way home. And home has some excitement too. 

 

You'll have to check back in tomorrow when I have time to post.

[DaveInTN 3,247]

That BOG lunch food looks great!  I LOVE french onion soup.  I would definitely get that.  I've seen pics of a turkey sammich on baguette that looks good, but that ham and cheese looks very tasty too.  Darn, now I'm hungry...