jsmla
12-13-2001, 12:41 PM
The group:
Me (41) Mother, daughter, hostess and, today, the evil foe of slumber.
Sam (16) My son.
Lizzie (14) My daughter
Mom/Grandma (over 25) My mom.
and
Liya (15) Our Russian, as yet blissfully unaware of the Tower of Terror.
Friday, November 16, 2001 5:00 am
Yes, I'm awake. Due to the wisdom of East Baton Rouge Public Schools 5:00 is wake-up time at our house. I can't get up till 5:30 so I pass the time worrying myself into a tizzy. All my off-site anxieties surface. How long will it take to get to the Magic Kingdom? Will I even be able to find the TTC? Ferry or Monorail? Will the Mickey police bust me for letting Liya use a day left on an old Park Hopper? (Shhh, that's a secret.) Will Sam's theme be classic characters from Dungeons and Dragons? (Our pastor is also in WDW.) At 5:15 I give up and sneak into the bathroom. At 5:30 I wake the Martha Stewart of personal grooming. Lizzie grumbles a bit till I point out that we only have 1 bathroom for 5 people (Well, actually, 4 1/2. Sam and personal hygiene have only a nodding acquaintance.) and she's outta bed faster than you can say Bath and Body Works. She emerges coiffed and fragrant at 6:00. Mom's up and sneaks in for a few minutes followed by Liya (I make Liz wake her, Liya is NOT a morning person) with Sam bringing up the rear. The theme is.......... um, unapparent to anyone, except Liz who guesses "dork". I remain gratefully silent.
By 6:30 we're on our way to breakfast. I'd read a lot of negative comments about this but it was fine for us. They always had things like fruit, toast, muffins, bagels, eggs, grits and oatmeal and alternated sausage, bacon, pancakes and French toast. Sam ate three platefuls, the rest of us were more restrained. Mom compensates by swiping the extra jelly and tea bags. (Fraudulent ParkHopper use AND petty theft, does Florida know what a bunch of degenerates they've allowed in?)
7:00 am- We're on our way. Despite my fears we're parked and at the TTC by 7:15 am. Yay! We're first in line at the ticket window! Never mind that it's not open, we're first! A window opens a few minutes later and we get 4 day Park Hoppers for Mom and Liya. (The kids and I have annuals) Now it's time for "Fun with the Clueless Mother". The Cast Member remarks "Ma'am, did you know you have poo on your shirt?" I don't get it (I seldom do.) In my current state of anxiety I think he's somehow discovered my plot to use that old hopper, so I respond with a witty "huh?" "You have poo on your shirt." What is this? Why is everyone laughing? Do I REALLY have POO on my shirt? Liz finally takes pity on me and points out that I have my Winnie the Pooh shirt on. Real sharp, eh? "Ma'am do you know you have Pooh on your shirt?" becomes somewhat of a buzz line for the rest of the trip.
7:30 am-We're really ready now! We're going to Disneyworld; we're going to Disneywerrrld, but, alas, not until 9:00. Four pairs of bleary, sleep-deprived eyes turn my way. We're 1 1/2 hours early, an 1 1/2 hour each of them could have spent sleeping. Some of the eyes are growing hostile. Desperately searching for a little pixie dust I chirp "Let's show Liya the Poly!" and troop everyone through the greenery to the Polynesian. We walk up to the Great Ceremonial House, reminisce and look around the lobby before catching the monorail to the Magic Kingdom. The security check is a breeze since there are only about 50 people milling about and, guess what, we're first in line at the turnstile! I seemed to be the only one impressed by this.
8:50 am-The turnstiles are opened! We pull off the Great Park Hopper Caper and rush to the Plaza Pavillion to race for Space. Once again, we are all alone. One other family joins us before the CM drops the rope. Mom and Sam head off to get FastPasses for Space Mt. while Liz and I take Liya on AstroOrbiter as sort of a test run (She has never visited a theme park before). I know some people think this ride is cheesy but I love it. Soaring high above the Magic Kingdom on a beautiful fall morning of the first real day of our trip, it just doesn't get any better. After a few initial jitters, Liya passes with "flying" colors. We meet up with the others at the exit and hurry off to ride Buzz where Sam's video game addiction pays off. He scores 999,999! (Aside: There, Sam, now the dozen or so people who read this will know of your vast superiority over the masses.) Mom and I acquit ourselves poorly and Liz and Liya refuse to divulge on the basis that Sam is being obnoxious. He is walking around with arms upraised in victory shouting out his score at 10 second intervals. He is also the only 6 foot tall person in the park sporting a "Galactic Hero" badge. And, imagine, he's not taken yet girls! We walk into Fantasyland and ride Dumbo and Peter Pan before returning to Tomorrowland, picking up a Fast Pass for Winnie the Pooh along the way. Next is the Speedway where Liz is somewhat gratified to get a really fast car. She derives great glee from lapping toddlers. Liya announces that driving is easy and of course Sam points out that there aren't little metal rails on a real road. A brief, but lively spat ensues until Liz and I separate them. I threaten Sam with certain death if he doesn't stay away from her and point out to Liya that it's not polite to tell your host to shut up. Never mind, it's Space Mt. time! We breeze right past the line and onto the ride with no wait. I'm a little worried about Liya but we give her the front of the car and she loves it! It became her favorite thing at Disney (except for shopping of course). The girls like the TVs on the exit walkway. Lizzie fixes her hair while Liya waves to herself. Sam contents himself with bouncing up the walkway while singing "It's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow". Liya tells him to shut up. In this case everyone but his Grandma seconds the motion. We wander around in Fantasyland until it's time for Pooh. Sam still misses Toad but the ladies all prefer Winnie. We leave Fantasyland for Liberty Square where we ride the Haunted Mansion, one of my very favorites. In order to preserve the peace I ride with Sam while Mom sits with the girls. A ghost sits in Liya's lap! In spite of the bickering, it's fun to watch her reactions to all of these things that are so familiar to us and so different for her.
11:30 am(ish)-What with the early start and all we're ready to return to the hotel. This time we take the Ferry to the TTC. I have never done this and it was very nice. Although the boat was full on arrival we had it practically to ourselves. I wasn't able to get back quite as easily as I arrived (no signs) so we took a little tour of WDW en route. Back at the HIFS Mom bustled about in her kitchenette while the kids played Nintendo and I shut myself in the bedroom. Did I mention how much I liked the separate bedroom? After lunch Liz, Liya and I swam while Mom and Sam read and napped. It had been a busy, but rewarding, morning.
Tonight: The theme is revealed and The Epcot Food and Wine Festival.
ps. Sam read this and forced me to edit. He is a Galactic (not Space) Hero!
Me (41) Mother, daughter, hostess and, today, the evil foe of slumber.
Sam (16) My son.
Lizzie (14) My daughter
Mom/Grandma (over 25) My mom.
and
Liya (15) Our Russian, as yet blissfully unaware of the Tower of Terror.
Friday, November 16, 2001 5:00 am
Yes, I'm awake. Due to the wisdom of East Baton Rouge Public Schools 5:00 is wake-up time at our house. I can't get up till 5:30 so I pass the time worrying myself into a tizzy. All my off-site anxieties surface. How long will it take to get to the Magic Kingdom? Will I even be able to find the TTC? Ferry or Monorail? Will the Mickey police bust me for letting Liya use a day left on an old Park Hopper? (Shhh, that's a secret.) Will Sam's theme be classic characters from Dungeons and Dragons? (Our pastor is also in WDW.) At 5:15 I give up and sneak into the bathroom. At 5:30 I wake the Martha Stewart of personal grooming. Lizzie grumbles a bit till I point out that we only have 1 bathroom for 5 people (Well, actually, 4 1/2. Sam and personal hygiene have only a nodding acquaintance.) and she's outta bed faster than you can say Bath and Body Works. She emerges coiffed and fragrant at 6:00. Mom's up and sneaks in for a few minutes followed by Liya (I make Liz wake her, Liya is NOT a morning person) with Sam bringing up the rear. The theme is.......... um, unapparent to anyone, except Liz who guesses "dork". I remain gratefully silent.
By 6:30 we're on our way to breakfast. I'd read a lot of negative comments about this but it was fine for us. They always had things like fruit, toast, muffins, bagels, eggs, grits and oatmeal and alternated sausage, bacon, pancakes and French toast. Sam ate three platefuls, the rest of us were more restrained. Mom compensates by swiping the extra jelly and tea bags. (Fraudulent ParkHopper use AND petty theft, does Florida know what a bunch of degenerates they've allowed in?)
7:00 am- We're on our way. Despite my fears we're parked and at the TTC by 7:15 am. Yay! We're first in line at the ticket window! Never mind that it's not open, we're first! A window opens a few minutes later and we get 4 day Park Hoppers for Mom and Liya. (The kids and I have annuals) Now it's time for "Fun with the Clueless Mother". The Cast Member remarks "Ma'am, did you know you have poo on your shirt?" I don't get it (I seldom do.) In my current state of anxiety I think he's somehow discovered my plot to use that old hopper, so I respond with a witty "huh?" "You have poo on your shirt." What is this? Why is everyone laughing? Do I REALLY have POO on my shirt? Liz finally takes pity on me and points out that I have my Winnie the Pooh shirt on. Real sharp, eh? "Ma'am do you know you have Pooh on your shirt?" becomes somewhat of a buzz line for the rest of the trip.
7:30 am-We're really ready now! We're going to Disneyworld; we're going to Disneywerrrld, but, alas, not until 9:00. Four pairs of bleary, sleep-deprived eyes turn my way. We're 1 1/2 hours early, an 1 1/2 hour each of them could have spent sleeping. Some of the eyes are growing hostile. Desperately searching for a little pixie dust I chirp "Let's show Liya the Poly!" and troop everyone through the greenery to the Polynesian. We walk up to the Great Ceremonial House, reminisce and look around the lobby before catching the monorail to the Magic Kingdom. The security check is a breeze since there are only about 50 people milling about and, guess what, we're first in line at the turnstile! I seemed to be the only one impressed by this.
8:50 am-The turnstiles are opened! We pull off the Great Park Hopper Caper and rush to the Plaza Pavillion to race for Space. Once again, we are all alone. One other family joins us before the CM drops the rope. Mom and Sam head off to get FastPasses for Space Mt. while Liz and I take Liya on AstroOrbiter as sort of a test run (She has never visited a theme park before). I know some people think this ride is cheesy but I love it. Soaring high above the Magic Kingdom on a beautiful fall morning of the first real day of our trip, it just doesn't get any better. After a few initial jitters, Liya passes with "flying" colors. We meet up with the others at the exit and hurry off to ride Buzz where Sam's video game addiction pays off. He scores 999,999! (Aside: There, Sam, now the dozen or so people who read this will know of your vast superiority over the masses.) Mom and I acquit ourselves poorly and Liz and Liya refuse to divulge on the basis that Sam is being obnoxious. He is walking around with arms upraised in victory shouting out his score at 10 second intervals. He is also the only 6 foot tall person in the park sporting a "Galactic Hero" badge. And, imagine, he's not taken yet girls! We walk into Fantasyland and ride Dumbo and Peter Pan before returning to Tomorrowland, picking up a Fast Pass for Winnie the Pooh along the way. Next is the Speedway where Liz is somewhat gratified to get a really fast car. She derives great glee from lapping toddlers. Liya announces that driving is easy and of course Sam points out that there aren't little metal rails on a real road. A brief, but lively spat ensues until Liz and I separate them. I threaten Sam with certain death if he doesn't stay away from her and point out to Liya that it's not polite to tell your host to shut up. Never mind, it's Space Mt. time! We breeze right past the line and onto the ride with no wait. I'm a little worried about Liya but we give her the front of the car and she loves it! It became her favorite thing at Disney (except for shopping of course). The girls like the TVs on the exit walkway. Lizzie fixes her hair while Liya waves to herself. Sam contents himself with bouncing up the walkway while singing "It's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow". Liya tells him to shut up. In this case everyone but his Grandma seconds the motion. We wander around in Fantasyland until it's time for Pooh. Sam still misses Toad but the ladies all prefer Winnie. We leave Fantasyland for Liberty Square where we ride the Haunted Mansion, one of my very favorites. In order to preserve the peace I ride with Sam while Mom sits with the girls. A ghost sits in Liya's lap! In spite of the bickering, it's fun to watch her reactions to all of these things that are so familiar to us and so different for her.
11:30 am(ish)-What with the early start and all we're ready to return to the hotel. This time we take the Ferry to the TTC. I have never done this and it was very nice. Although the boat was full on arrival we had it practically to ourselves. I wasn't able to get back quite as easily as I arrived (no signs) so we took a little tour of WDW en route. Back at the HIFS Mom bustled about in her kitchenette while the kids played Nintendo and I shut myself in the bedroom. Did I mention how much I liked the separate bedroom? After lunch Liz, Liya and I swam while Mom and Sam read and napped. It had been a busy, but rewarding, morning.
Tonight: The theme is revealed and The Epcot Food and Wine Festival.
ps. Sam read this and forced me to edit. He is a Galactic (not Space) Hero!