4 Mini-TRs & a Big Twins' 6th Birthday Report (400+ pics)

[TikiTwinsDad]

The next day, I asked the kids what they wanted to do, the answer was Epcot. Apparently, we were the only people in the world with the same idea. I am always amazed about how absolutely full of throngs of people WDW can seem and then how desolate it can seem without people. I am reminded of this when coming in the International Gateway to go to Akershus early or the Crystal Palace before opening or on the walk from DHS to the Boardwalk area. This morning, it was along the way to Soarin’





Later we checked in on our Blowfish friend and TTB even talked to Crush. Somehow they got on the topic of holding their breath and Crush asked TTB how long he could hold his breath and he said an hour! So, Crush referenced that a couple more times during the show. It was very amusing.



Then it was off to Biergarten for lunch. This is one place we’ve never eaten. TTM has been turned off by the food and neither of us are big fans of the “eat with other people” thing. So, I figured this was my opportunity to try it. I’m happy to report, that we all really liked it. I was shocked. Especially about the kids. The kids really liked the food but loved the entertainment. Here’s a little photo tour









My own plate full of meat.





The server made TTG a ring out of a strawberry

[TikiTwinsDad]

The desserts were a big hit, especially the Bavarian Cheesecake for me and the pudding for the kids



We had to wait a bit for the first show, but it was worth the wait. The band did an awesome job. I was especially impressed with the alpenhorn and the cow bells where the two guys tried to outdo each other like dueling banjoes.















After dinner and the show – the kids insisted on staying the whole time (as an aside, we sat next to 2 Brazilian teenage girls who kept to themselves). We had to get out of there to see American Adventure which we hadn’t seen in a few trips. r.

Before the show, the kids burned off some energy in the rotunda, amusing other guests (and probably not as amusing to TTM when she sees these pictures).



The kids enjoyed the show and we had to leave shortly for the airport. The weather was great in FL and we got the ONLY snow of the season back in Philly, which conveniently melted before our arrival. Perfect timing.

Next up is an EVEN SHORTER side-trip during a long-weekend in Tampa-Clearwater in March.

[Brian5581]

Originally Posted by TikiTwinsDad

Yogi, we love Whispering Canyon. Food is good. Fun times. We've been there many times and are familiar with many of the servers. I'd be curious to hear Brian's thoughts as he was a WCC newbie when he joined us. This trip it wasn't all that exciting, the Mother's Day TR in this 5-for-1 deal we had our most fun meal ever there as we had an awesome server. So, that's a little foreshadowing!

You rang? I enjoyed my first Whispering Canyon experience, of course greatly enhanced by my company. Don't remember my entree too well, some kind of pasta I think, which would have been fine except I didn't realize it was served with tomatoes. So I would choose a different meal next time around. As for when next time will be, it most likely won't be on a solo trip. It's a fun atmosphere, but much more enjoyable with kids there, methinks.

Still impressed that you took the kids down solo, Ryan. I do like your sudden embrace of weekend excursions, will have to do that more often myself...

[janet1106]

Originally Posted by TikiTwinsDad

Yogi, we love Whispering Canyon. Food is good. Fun times. We've been there many times and are familiar with many of the servers. I'd be curious to hear Brian's thoughts as he was a WCC newbie when he joined us. This trip it wasn't all that exciting, the Mother's Day TR in this 5-for-1 deal we had our most fun meal ever there as we had an awesome server. So, that's a little foreshadowing!

We love WC too. We love to bring new "unexpecting" friends too.

All your pictures are great and love how the twins love the blowfish at the Living Seas.

Glad to hear that Sophie and Otis are doing fine.

Tagging along.

[bigbahamadada]

Originally Posted by TikiTwinsDad

We had enough Southwest RR points so the flights (including taxes/fees) were less than $60 TOTAL for 3 of us to fly on short notice. I thought that was awesome too. Of course, being an AP holder, we had no ticket concerns either. As far as I was concerned the trip was free!

Now this is my kind of logic! And I've used the same kind of rock-solid reasoning for many a weekend trip. We also love the bunkbed rooms a WL. What fun.

As for disclosure that you had never been to Biegarten, I'm stunned. I could understand having been there and not enjoying it enough to return. But never? In all those visits?

As for us, we are big fans. Chicken dance, polka, beer, mediocre steam-table German food? What's not to love?

[OttawaWendy]

What fun trips!

You have the most beautiful family Ryan!

[5DisneyFans]

Love all the photos and I'm glad we got a chance to meet up over Christmas. (Especially since we're both members of the MO twins club)

Really enjoting the TR and reliving the New Year!

[riley70]

Great trip reports, keep them coming! I enjoy long weekends in WDW, too, that has become my primary trip plan recently. It is nice to live on the East coast, making that an option.

[TikiTwinsDad]

When I started this 5-TRs-for-the-price-of-1 deal I said I was in WDW at least one day every month from December onward. I mis-spoke (or mis-typed), because really I meant FLORIDA not WDW. Because I was there for a business trip in February to St. Petersburg. I liked it so much, I decided that I’d bring the family back, I just didn’t know when. Around this time, I got a new job (same company, but new job). I knew the job would be more responsibility and stress (and I moved from being a lawyer to being in HR), so I knew I wanted a little refresher before starting. That gave us the opportunity for a long weekend, plus we could catch the [color=”red”]Phillies [/color] last spring training game – count me in! Our itinerary did not have WDW on it, but the call was too great for us to ignore from Tampa (and the new Dumbo just opened), so off we went.

Let’s start with the pre-WDW portion of the trip. We arrived on Friday March 30 in Tampa late and checked into a Homewood Suites. We’ve really grown to like this hotel chain. Always good experiences, clean, friendly and highly-rated on tripadvisor.com. Anyway, on the flight down, we watched “DolphinTale” because on Saturday we were going to visit the star of DolphinTale, Winter, at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. The Aquarium itself was more of a refuge, and clearly they are going from the whole Winter thing, and not much more to do, but still an interesting visit. Here’s a quick tour

We arrived at Clearwter Beach



And, here’s Winter:



She really is amazing. She did not have on her prosthetic tale. She only wears it at most an hour or 2 a day.

We also enjoyed these otters, because as everyone knows, otters can be crazy. Always playing



They had sea turtles too, but this is the only picture I got.



We then took a boat tour which was cool. They trawl nets behind the boat and collect wildlife, count it, and return it. They are a research vessel so they are the only folks who can do this.

The highlight was, of course, another blowfish



We also saw a pirate ship



And stopped on a small island to do some shelling:



After the morning at the Aquarium, it was off to see the Phillies play their final pre-season game. The stadium was beautiful and everyone was friendly. We even got a “character” picture



They had soft-pretzels which TTM enjoyed



The seats were in the third row. Roy Halladay was pitching (having seen him pitch in Colorado last year, this is the third state we’ve seen him).

[TikiTwinsDad]

Then, the clouds gathered on the horizon



It was supposed to end quickly, but it didn’t. So, we had to go. This was TTB’s opinion of sitting in the rain for a while:



We ate a Brio Tuscan Grille which we don’t have near us and came highly recommended. Frankly, it was mediocre at best. The night before we ate at a place called Kona Café (ha!) which we loved though.