Minions take over the MK and cause havoc at Gringott's Update 1/8

[jmskinner]

I have gotten WAY behind on the DIS, both on my reports and everyone elses, but I'm getting caught up.
I need to go catch up on yours now.
First off- you were asking us to think good thoughts for Jonas' job search. How is that going?
No luck yet. Had a two hour interview and still got turned down. Hoping the budget will pass and then people will start calling.
I love that you had a Fast Pass to meet Mickey! I did that during my solo August trip.
I highly recommend it, especially on an arrival day!
Columbia Harbor House is my favorite MK CS spot. They have some really tempting dinner menu items (I'm looking at YOU shrimp and lobster mac and cheese)!
I want to try that next time.
Holy Smokes!!! Is that the line for Peter Pan???
I didn't realize the queue was being refurbed, so that may be part of the reason for line being so long. Park did seem really crowded.
In your shot of the Tangled bathroom, why is that boy hugging a pole? I haven't seen Tangled so I don't know if that is something from the movie or if it is just random?
I didn't even notice him until I uploaded the pics. No, not a reference to anything I know of. Wonder if he was in trouble?
Pretty darned good Little Mermaid photos!
The whole reason I want to get a new DSLR, the one I want has a very high ISO and I will get those dark ride photos!
Earlier in the report, did you mention Jonas might have a bit of "thing" for Ariel?
He has a thing for all red heads. Wouldn't stop for a pic with Mirada this trip because he has gained too much weight.
Your monorail crawl looked fun! I have never had a Lapu Lapu, but I heard that they really pack a punch. In a good way!
That was really a lot of fun and I can't believe I didn't get sick from those different drinks. I was wondering if I should try to eat that pineapple, I bet it soaks up a lot of the alcohol.
The dessert sampler looked super yummy, but I can't believe they couldn't find a piece of plain cheesecake for Jonas I guess everything has to have it's own special twist.
Did seem odd that a piece of plain cheesecake could not be found. I guess that is what the Cheesecake Factory is for.
What a fantastic viewing spot for Wishes and the EWP.
The view really was spectacular.


The picture of the GF rooms, boat and monorail in the background is really cool!
Thanks
I have never seen a photopass photographer in that spot at HM before!
I was thinking the same thing, only during MNSSHP.
You guys look like you really enjoyed Chef Mickey's.
I'm not a big breakfast eater, but with it being at 11, I ate really well. We did have a great time, and Jonas was so happy he got his breakfast. Guessing we will have to do it again some time.
Then what a nice lineup of classic rides:

Space, Buzz, Pirates and Splash.

I always try to get a decent picture of the vultures, too, and I always fail miserably!!!

Again, I want that new camera...someone please hire my hubby.

 

[jmskinner]

After Splash Mountain, it was time for BTMRR, which we had FP's for.

Look what happened by the time we got on the ride....


It was just a little sprinkle at this point, not too bad.

Jonas needed a potty break, and we were thinking Dole Whips, so we cut through Frontierland. I noticed it seemed to be getting darker, so I stepped outside and noticed a huge black cloud. Now, we were smart, we brought our rain ponchos. We are not geniuses though, we put them in a locker...at the front gate.

I looked on my phone and saw this dark cloud was also huge and not moving quickly. So I was going to get Jonas and we could hussle to the locker, but nope, that cloud moved quickly to start raining. I knew it would be awhile, so more new ponchos was the choice.



We stood in line for the Dole Whips and then went around the corner to eat them out of the rain.



We decided to head back to the hotel.

This was now our view...


for several hours.

Next up...will MNSSHP be rained out?

 

[natebenma]

I'm glad you were able to get in your FP on Big Thunder. I absolutely love that ride!

You get the Boy Scout Half-Prepared award- you remembered the ponchos but stashed them too far away. On the class trip, I grabbed my rain coat on the way out the door at home, but didn't bring it the night it poured buckets. Nate refused to wear a poncho, so I have a picture of a group of about 14 people, everyone in proper rainwear EXCEPT my son!

Yum, Dole Whips, no matter the weather! We got Nate a Dole Whip car air freshener for his Christmas stocking. I'm sure he is wishing he would get a car with it, but he will have to settle for that!



Yikes, that view does not look good. How did you get back to the room? Monorail or were the boats running in all that rain?

I hope it clears out for the party, but I am reading a few reports from October where sucky weather is playing a starring role!

 

[jmskinner]

I'm glad you were able to get in your FP on Big Thunder. I absolutely love that ride!

You get the Boy Scout Half-Prepared award- you remembered the ponchos but stashed them too far away. On the class trip, I grabbed my rain coat on the way out the door at home, but didn't bring it the night it poured buckets. Nate refused to wear a poncho, so I have a picture of a group of about 14 people, everyone in proper rainwear EXCEPT my son!

Yum, Dole Whips, no matter the weather! We got Nate a Dole Whip car air freshener for his Christmas stocking. I'm sure he is wishing he would get a car with it, but he will have to settle for that!



Yikes, that view does not look good. How did you get back to the room? Monorail or were the boats running in all that rain?

I hope it clears out for the party, but I am reading a few reports from October where sucky weather is playing a starring role!

I remember that pic of everyone in rain gear except your son.

We took the monorail back, didn't even attempt the boats.

The party is coming up!

 

[jmskinner]

The rain had stopped.

We got in our costumes and off we went. I'm sure you can guess what they were. Knowing it would probably be warm, we didn't want anything heavy, and didn't want to spend too much money. So this is what we decided on:



We made our way into the park. I didn't take the big camera since I was afraid of more rain.

We ended up riding Winnie the Pooh first. Here is a selfie and the Pooh photobombed us



We stopped right outside of Pooh for a photopass pic


We then ended up on Buzz, even Minion Jonas still takes it a little too seriously


Walked on to Space Mountain, I have no idea what I was trying to do in this pic


We had so much fun, we decided to do it again



That was a weird feeling, not being able to see.

We decided to do the Laugh Comedy Floor. Right before this we had the discussion about the parade and fireworks. Boo-To-You is my absolute favorite parade and I love Hallowishes. Jonas didn't want to do either one. I was not a happy camper, but kept trying to tell myself that Jonas has sat through them 3 times before, I have seen them 4 times. It didn't help.

We did have fun with Mike and the gang. We were actually the two headed characters cousins. Wish I had gotten a pic.

From there we headed to the 7 Dwarfs Mine Train.



Way to short, but it is a fun ride.

Then it was time for Jonas' favorite ride and our favorite photo op





We always have to ride Haunted Mansion at night. Seems weird that it is in a building, but at night it just seems darker.

After the Haunted Mansion, we could see the parade. I was not a happy camper. But, I kept going.

We went for one last ride on Pirates, sorry no pics.

Stopped for the pic in front of the castle


We did a little shopping on our way out. I always have to get pins. I wanted the Limited Edition set, but told myself I didn't need it. Would have been so different if Jonas had a job. Those babies would have been mine.

And then we made our way to the GF by Monorail.

Stopped and grabbed something to take back to the room for dinner.

Next up is the Food and Wine Festival.

 

[natebenma]

Great costumes, but um, aren't they characters from "The Park Which Must Not Be Named?"

If you had yellow raincoats, the outfits still would work!

Love your ride photos and photopass pictures.

for riding Mine Train.

for not getting to watch the parade.

Looks like you had a fun time going with the flow, and I'm glad it didn't rain!

 

[jmskinner]

Great costumes, but um, aren't they characters from "The Park Which Must Not Be Named?"

If you had yellow raincoats, the outfits still would work!

Love your ride photos and photopass pictures.

for riding Mine Train.

for not getting to watch the parade.

Looks like you had a fun time going with the flow, and I'm glad it didn't rain!

I did feel like we were traders, but we did get a lot of comments, even from cast members.

I never even thought about yellow ponchos, that would have been great. Will have to remember for next time.

Since you are still following along, I will continue with this TR.

 

[jmskinner]

We had a good nights sleep. Headed over to the quick service place at GF for some coffee and then it was time to head to Epcot for the Food and Wine Festival.

We headed to the monorail, grabbed this shot while waiting




Some quick shots of Magic Kingdom as we swung by




Made it to the T&TC caught the next monorail


This is the shirt Jonas had on this day


I have a Mickey statue depicting this, but can't find a pic at the moment.

I love taking the monorail to Epcot, just for this portion of the ride.





Made it into park




We were early enough that we had to wait for the food booths to open, I didn't book an early FP's on this day just in case we were tired from the night before.

First stop of the day ended up being here


First food booth was here



We had the Fresh Potato Pancake with Scottish Smoked Salmon and Herb Sour Cream.


I ate the salmon since Jonas doesn't eat fish. He said the pancake wasn't very good. I tried it, biggest mistake of the trip. As soon as I did, I knew I was in trouble. Remember I mentioned issues with my stomach. I have been diagnosed with Gastritis. It doesn't end up being anything really gross, but it makes me uncomfortable with stomach pains and just not wanting to eat. The first time I had it, I didn't eat for three days.

Here I am at a Food and Wine Festival and after one bite of this pancake, I am done. We moved to the next booth, I had a bit of some meat, but that was it. It was from the Mexico booth


We continued on our way, I always have to get a pic of Canada



Then the U.K.



Nothing was looking appealing to Jonas yet, so we kept going.

Can't remember where we got this, but it was a dessert, of course I had to eat it (Jonas just swung through and he thought Ireland)


This was from France, I had a little of Creme Brulee'


We then grabbed some photopass pics


I didn't care how my stomach felt, I wanted an Orange or Lemon drink from France, but the booth wasn't open yet.

Made our way around the showcase, Jonas wanted Baklava


Thought about buying one of these for Jacob



Not sure why this caught my eye this time, but it cracked me up because I kept thinking of Ron White and his being drunk in Pu-blic or maybe Pu-blick is more correct.



Italy


Germany



I'll end it there, notice how the food porn has stopped. I just couldn't eat anymore.