I don't think you took a picture of that....yet! (Updated 2/24)

[Where'sPiglet?]

When I last left off (at the beginning of August ), I had eaten my Pop waffle for breakfast and then we had pulled out of the resort at 7:30am. We had an ambitious goal of packing up, leaving one resort, driving to another, checking in, and taking Disney transit to make rope drop at the Magic Kingdom.

I have to hear the song. You know the one. Good morning, good MORning! It's great to stay up late! Good morning, good MORning to YOU! and you and you and you....

So anyways, I am SO EXCITED and I just want to get to the parks! We made sure to use Google maps on my iPhone this time so we could go the shortest route and not take the Grand Tour of WDW roads at 35 miles per hour. We hit every red light possible, but then we saw the sign for Riverside and we thought we were home clear!

NOT!

Leave it to me to get stuck behind the street sweeper!

Since we didn't yet have our room keys, we had to speak to the guard and we couldn't use the automated gate in the other lane.

We made it into the parking lot, found a nice spot, and went inside. The whole atmosphere of this resort is so much more relaxing than Pop. I like Pop for what it is, but I FAR prefer the moderates, and I do believe I have found a new favorite resort!

The theme throughout all of Walt Disney World has been "Let the Memories Begin!" I really liked this theme, and I definitely needed a photo of the sign as we entered the resort!

The lobby was under renovation while we were there, and you can see they are in various stages of painting. I never actually saw them doing any work, but I did see progress throughout the week, so the workers must be nocturnal.

I had requested a mansion room, and I was hoping for a room in Magnolia Terrace because I think the location is a little closer to the pool and food court. At check in, the room was not ready but we were told that we would have a room on the 2nd floor in Magnolia Terrace.

Here is a link to a map of the resort. This website is run by the same DIS member who does the POR info/FAQ thread on the resort board. The thread and his website provided me with a LOT of information, and the photos helped to get me so excited to stay at Riverside! (Thank you!)

Since our room wasn't ready, we left the stuff in the car and went to the bus stop. We caught the bus at about 8:15. We actually made it to the morning show!! Just thinking about it now has the song stuck in my head....Casey Junior's comin' round the track...time for lemonade and Cracker Jack, Casey Junior's back, Casey Junior's back!....

I am trying to upload a video of the morning show. I don't know why (well I do know...I'm bad at filming), but the video makes it look like Florida had an earthquake during the morning show. I'll post the link if/when the thing ever finishes uploading.

 

[PrincessInOz]

And so this TR transmission resumes......and WHAT a resumation (is that even a word??).


I love POR. It was the first on-site resort I stayed at and you know how it is....that first time is always a sentimental memory.

I know it's big; but I love that it's green and spacious and it just feels so restful.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

And so this TR transmission resumes......and WHAT a resumation (is that even a word??).


I love POR. It was the first on-site resort I stayed at and you know how it is....that first time is always a sentimental memory.

I know it's big; but I love that it's green and spacious and it just feels so restful.

Thanks!

The first time....

My first resort was Yacht Club. We had a water view; I believe we looked out at that lighthouse. You can tell by my signature when my dad stopped paying for the resorts and when I started becoming responsible for that kind of thing.

I do really like the Yacht Club, but the prices have becoming increasingly outrageous over the years!

I agree with your feelings about POR. It really does have fantastic landscaping. The resort is huge...not large enough to explain taking an hour to get cocoa in the mornings....I blame that on the relaxing, meandering pathways! The restful feeling is the best. It was especially noticeable coming directly from the over-stimulation extravaganza that Disney aptly named Everything Pop!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Where's Piglet? 7

Where did we go for lunch on our first park day?

 

[PrincessInOz]

That really looks like Neptune's fountain at Epcot.

Did you eat at Via Napoli???

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

That really looks like Neptune's fountain at Epcot.

Did you eat at Via Napoli???

It is and we did!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

So when Webshots shut down, it took down all my photo links with it. I'm working on uploading the photos again and changing out the links. It's slow going - almost as slow as doing the posts the first time.

 

[PrincessInOz]

We'll probably still be here waiting for you when you're ready..

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

When I left off, we had gotten on the bus at 8:15am at Riverside. We made it to the Magic Kingdom in time to see the morning show. Actually, we got there with a few minutes to spare and we got to see them doing the final preparations before opening the park.

I enjoyed looking at the details that Disney includes.

Almost time!

Finally, it begins! I just love this show! I haven't seen rope drop at all the parks yet, but I really try to catch the Magic Kingdom morning show at least once a trip.

Here is the video I took of the morning show. I mentioned earlier that it seemed like I took it during an earthquake because it was so shaky. Well, it was my first video I've ever uploaded to YouTube, and what luck! YouTube fixes the shakiness for you!

CLICK ME for the Morning Show!

They introduced the Family of the Day....and Mickey's "Very Sleepy" look :

Finally, I got a photo of Mickey without him looking like he needed a nap.

We joined the herd on the walk down Main Street. We got our first glimpse of the castle from around that giant box they had built around the Main Street Bakery. I'm glad that was a temporary thing, because it was a rather large obstruction.

We made our way to Tomorrowland to our FIRST RIDE of the trip:

Yes, you saw that correctly! We went on Astro Orbiter first! Honestly, I love this ride. I love feeling the wind in my face, I find the ride vehicles to be relatively comfortable (they're sort of like sitting in a bathtub), and the view is great! The major downside to this ride is that it's very slow-loading. The best time to ride it really is first thing in the morning....so that's what we did...and none of you guessed Astro Orbiter!

Here's a view from the ride....it's not quite so crooked in real life.

After we got off the Astro Orbiter, we stayed in Tomorrowland for a little bit. What ride do you think we went on next?

 

[PrincessInOz]

Nice to see you back updating and what an update it is. Love the pictures of the opening and also that you went on Astroblasters first!

With the clue of the Robo Newz vendor, I'll guess you went on the Peoplemover next.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Nice to see you back updating and what an update it is. Love the pictures of the opening and also that you went on Astroblasters first!

With the clue of the Robo Newz vendor, I'll guess you went on the Peoplemover next.

Yes, yes we did go on the People mover next!

I just noticed you have a trip report....from HONG KONG DISNEY!!

.....and it's already 75 pages long. I have some catching up to do!


Now that the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras are over, life is settling back in to something that vaguely resembles a routine.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

After Astro Orbiter, we went on the TTA Peoplemover.

I like the view from this ride also. I like to pretend I am zipping around a cosmopolitan city in the future.

Then we went on Space Mountain, which was a walk-on at 10am. This is one of my favorites. It’s classic Disney, and I like that it’s in the dark.

Once, in 2005, my family had just boarded the ride when it broke down. We had to get evacuated by cast members off the ride. While I missed out on riding the ride that time, it was a unique experience. Being the Disney lover that I am, I was somewhat upset that we were only a few feet from the loading area. It would have been really cool (although perhaps quite scary) to be evacuated from somewhere much deeper in the ride. They had the lights on and were assisting passengers out of each ride vehicle in a very organized and calm manner. It was interesting.

This morning, however, the ride was operating properly (yay!) and we had gone through the building in the dark on the Peoplemover, and we enjoyed a typical, fun ride on Space Mountain.

We then used our first snack credit on a pretzel that we shared. I am surprised the pretzel was a normal shape. I’m not sure I’ve ever had a pretzel at WDW before, but it was pretty good. I think it would be cuter to be shaped like Mickey, but I suppose the classic pretzel shape is much easier to make.

We then walked across the Hub and through Adventureland to get to Splash Mountain. The weather was looking great, so of course I took a few pictures on the way.

Splash Mountain was also a walk on; the day was off to a great start! When we got off, the line had backed up, so I am wondering if perhaps the ride had been down and had just opened before we got there.

We had perfect timing and walked right on to the train in Frontierland.

We rode it around to Main Street. We rode past Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which unfortunately was closed for refurbishment throughout our entire trip.

We got off at the Main Street Station. Of course, I wanted to get a few photos from this vantage point, and I also wanted to stay dry, since it had started to rain. The Celebrate Parade was passing at this time, so I was able to enjoy part of the parade.

All of a sudden, I sensed a crowd building near me. I looked to my left, and there was Snow White!

We were having a great morning in the Magic Kingdom, but we had to leave the park because we had lunch reservations in the World Showcase! Because it was at the back of Epcot, we decided to take the bus to the Beach Club and walk through the International Gateway. I really like this entrance; it’s very rarely busy. The only downside is that the entrance is not as grand as the main, front entrance. Also, during the Flower & Garden Festival, if you take the back entrance, you miss seeing the giant display they have at the entrance.

World Showcase was far less crowded than the Magic Kingdom, and we enjoyed seeing some of the topiaries that were on display for the Flower & Garden Festival.

 

[jpmandan]

I'm in for your TR.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Love the pictures. Nice to see the topiary and Snow White.

I just noticed you have a trip report....from HONG KONG DISNEY!!

.....and it's already 75 pages long. I have some catching up to do!

The Hong Kong trip report is finished. I was there in April 2012 and we had a great time in HKDL as well as the city.

Thanks for noticing.

 

[rachelmarisa]

I also just joined!! I love your Piglet

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I'm in for your TR.

Love the pictures. Nice to see the topiary and Snow White.


The Hong Kong trip report is finished. I was there in April 2012 and we had a great time in HKDL as well as the city.

Thanks for noticing.

Thank you! I'm glad you are loving the pictures.

The Flower and Garden Festival is one of my favorite times of year.

Awww, I missed it! I was reading through some of the chapters. The hotel looked amazing! I read about your first (partial) day in the park; it seems small. I'm going to have to find a time (ha!) to go back and read more of it.

I also just joined!! I love your Piglet

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

We arrived in Italy at 12:15. In hindsight, I suppose I could have titled this trip report “Time Travel & World Travel, It’s What We Do” but I guess all that warping around warped the more creative side of my brain.

Our reservation at Via Napoli was for 12:45, but we checked in anyways. We had a short wait, but I noted that our food arrived at 12:43, so we were seated before our ADR time.

I love the light fixture in the lobby. It’s just fun.

The podium was turning away people who were trying to walk up without reservations. I had never eaten here before, but it was one of the meals I was really looking forward to.

My husband had the veal and I had the pizza.

The menu says that they use their own water and imported ingredients for the pizza. I wonder what the pizza would taste like with standard WDW water.

The pizza was just about how I imagined it would be. There’s a pizza place in Brooklyn that does coal fired pizzas in brick ovens, and I was really hoping the Via Napoli pizza would compare. It wasn’t exact, but it was close enough! I was very pleased with my meal.

This is a picture of the pizza from Grimaldi’s, the place in Brooklyn.

Sigh. Now I want some…..but I’m not actually in Brooklyn right now.

I had chocolate gelato for dessert. It was so rich and creamy. I would totally do this meal again. My DH had the tiramisu, it was also fantastic.

We were so full. One meal into the DDP, and we were stuffed!

 

[ronnmel]

I subscribed to your TR a little while ago, but never found the time to comment before today. I like your "Where's Piglet" idea at the beginning.

I love the pizza at Via Napoli! I want to try to find a place with a similar pizza nearby. How lucky are you to have one!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Gorgeous food porn. I was thinking of heading to Via Napoli in October. I think I might stop thinking about it and lock it in when my dates become available.

 

[EJ4Disney]

Bethany could you please point me in the direction of your Princess Half Marathon Trip Report. My kids and I are going to run the 2014 and I would love to read your report. It isn't in your signiture and I can't find it.
Thanks,
Ellen