2 Kids,2 Dogs,1200 Miles: 2 More Weeks in FL 2 - Finished with a Blast! P40

[KatMark]

Very nice. Looks like Bambi grew more hair since 2004 and you...well, let's move on.

Barry, please note that I WAS KIND and did not mention this.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Thank goodness Evan saved us all from that Dole Whip monster!! It looks pretty vicious...

(I'd imagine that's what they were taking down from Fort Langhorn...gotta keep the people safe from those frozen non-dairy troublemakers!)

Somehow I don't think it was a chore for him to do that....

Those are some great fireworks pictures!

Thank you!

 

[FreezinRafiki]

WOW....you are an updating machine (you must have been at least "glimpsing" my TR and seeing that I've been updating at a rapid speed!).

I've got to hurry and and get this one done so I can start my Cruise TR before I forget everything!

Thank you, Evan and Madison, for fighting off the bad guys; and Evan for saving the world from the Dole Whip monster.

I have a feeling that if he were to receive a medal for doing that, he'd probably try to trade it in for another Dole Whip.

Great nighttime pictures. I really want to be able to see the evening parade on our next visit (we've missed it the last two years).

You missed it two years in a row?! Make sure you see it in January!

I love the photo of you and Bambi that you took in honor of your first visit...great picture of you two lovebirds.

Thanks.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Wow. I bet hitting a ball to that exact spot is much more difficult than getting a hole-in-one. I think you should give yourself a 0 on that hole.

A 0? Really? But I already marked down a -2 and signed the scorecard.

Lost balls will stay lost in that pond.

Sure, the 75 cent XXX outs can stay. But if I hit a $2 ball in there, I'm going after it!

Two big IFs in that last sentance:
IF I hit a ball in the water
and
IF I were dumb enough to pay $2 for a ball.

Very nice. Looks like Bambi grew more hair since 2004 and you...well, let's move on.

It's OK, you can say it. My hair is the same length as it was.

Whoa! What did all those Mickeys do to get into so much trouble?

New sales tactic:
Kids! Beg your parents to buy you a stuffed mouse or he'll be shredded into chipmunk bedding!

If they ever need a follow-up to the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, I guess we have our villain. Good thing Evan was up to the challenge.

And he didn't even have to cross the streams.

Looks like the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse has to deal with the same rush as the Imagination ride.

As parents, we make the sacrifices of standing in those lines for our kids. It's just what we do. All we ask in return is Dole Whips.

Glad you enjoyed it! It's very underrated, in my opinion.

It was nice - shaddy, not very crowded, and a good place for the kids to run around and burn off energy. And they can't get to far, because, well, it's an island.

They probably saved the fort from all of the invaders attempting to storm the fort by train across the way. Either that or they were shooting at innocent people on the rails.

Either way, it was fun!

As long as the stocks are outside. Not that I would know anything about this.

I guess you let Bambi take that one for the team?

Someone had to stay out and take the picture.

Wow! Your pictures of the parade and fireworks are fantastic! I'll have to ask you some geek questions about settings, etc., but I won't do it hear so everyone else is bored to death. I can just bore you to death later.

I guess it's my turn to take one for the team I guess.

Just kidding, feel free to ask away. Off the top of my head, I can think of at least 7 ways you know of to get a hold of me. Plus smoke signals makes 8.

Barry, please note that I WAS KIND and did not mention this.

I'm not sure what's worse. Mark calling me...whatever it was that he called me...or you pointing out that you thought about it, but didn't.

 

[Poolrat]

Great job on those fireworks pictures.


For a holiday weekend you were able to get a lot done.

I have to take another trip up in the treehouse, it has been far too long since I have been up there.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Great job on those fireworks pictures.


For a holiday weekend you were able to get a lot done.

I have to take another trip up in the treehouse, it has been far too long since I have been up there.

Thanks. We made good use of FastPasses and not passing up lines when they were short.
The treehouse is pretty cool - and clearly a good place to go to get away from the crowds.

 

[preschoolmom]

Hi,

I'm new here (to this trip report, not the Dis, LOL)! I'm loving your trip report!!! You have a beautiful family

We're driving for our next trip as well, but the dog will be at the Kennel (dog camp), not with us, thank goodness, LOL... We consider it a great trip if no one throws up as well!



I'm so, so, so glad Madison was okay after the freaky cliff bike accident

 

[afwdwfan]

Most of the minute details are lost to the fog bank in the back of my mind.

The thought of what might be lost in the fog bank in the back of your mind terrifies me.

I do know that Bambi took the kids swimming while Dean and I went golfing.

Especially when you get to attempt shots like this:

Yeah, you could probably drop a ball or something *cough*kick it8cough* but you did the rigth thing. You have to play that lie, just so you can say you played that lie.

Further along the course, we finally - after probably a dozen rounds of golf in Florida - I finally came across one of these guys

Do you still have both hands?

We found a nice place up on the porch in front of the Town Square Theater. It was a little far back, but the bonus was that I didn't have to lift one (or both) of the kids up on my shoulder for them to see.

I completely agree with this planning. As long as you have a clear view and can see the parade, there's no need to be right up on the curb.

DOLE WHIPS!

You sure buy a lot of those things... and it sounds like you're going to be buying a lot more in the future.

We continued around clockwise and came to our next attraction, another perfect way to cool off in the Florida Summer heat, Splash Mountain!

And how many hours did you have to wait for that one?

First up, Tom Sawyer's Island.

This was on the agenda for our trip to do for the first time too.

SPIN! PUKE! SPIN! PUKE! SPIN! PUKE!

Teacups after Dole Whips! Sounds like a winning plan!

The LCD screens on cameras, camcorders and cell phones made for quite the sea of technology.

That is actually an interesting observation... and a cool picture.

Up Next: Umm..Animal Kingdom. Didn't you read that last sentence?

I thought it meant you were going to go on the Jungle Cruise.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Hi,

I'm new here (to this trip report, not the Dis, LOL)! I'm loving your trip report!!! You have a beautiful family

Welcome! and Thank you!

(It's possible my 7th grade English teach just rolled over in his grave after what I just did...)

We're driving for our next trip as well, but the dog will be at the Kennel (dog camp), not with us, thank goodness, LOL... We consider it a great trip if no one throws up as well!

Have you driven before? We were a bit nervous at first, but it turned out really well. (See the previous "2 kids, 2 dogs, 1200 miles..." reports in my signature for more driving adventures!)

I'm so, so, so glad Madison was okay after the freaky cliff bike accident

It was scary, but luckily everything turned out OK.

The thought of what might be lost in the fog bank in the back of your mind terrifies me.

I forgotten more about ..... whatever it was we were talking about ..... than you'll ever know.


Now where'd I put my keys

Yeah, you could probably drop a ball or something *cough*kick it8cough* but you did the rigth thing. You have to play that lie, just so you can say you played that lie.

Exactly.

Hmmm...I wonder why they call it a "lie"?

Do you still have both hands?

Naaahh. He was just a little feller. Probably won't have given me much more than a flesh wound. (But I certainly wasn't going to give him the chance)

I completely agree with this planning. As long as you have a clear view and can see the parade, there's no need to be right up on the curb.

Planning? Umm...not quite. We just sort of walked out and saw the parade was going on. But, yes, a clear view is all you need. Unless they're throwing candy. Then you need to be on the curb. And boxing out the kids behind you.

You sure buy a lot of those things... and it sounds like you're going to be buying a lot more in the future.

Odds are Tim and my paths won't cross to much at WDW. And when they do, I'm banking on him forgetting.

And how many hours did you have to wait for that one?

I think the standby was 60. But we make very good use of FastPass.

This was on the agenda for our trip to do for the first time too.

I'd ask how it was, but I'm sure you'll tell us in the Trip Report.

Teacups after Dole Whips! Sounds like a winning plan!

That is actually an interesting observation... and a cool picture.

And yes, I do get the irony that my camera has an LCD display as well. But thanks!

I thought it meant you were going to go on the Jungle Cruise.

That sounds like fun too!

 

[E3yore]

 

[KatMark]

Hey, Barry. I'm on Day 8 of my trip with only four days to go. AND I started my PTR for January trip. Bambi's eating popcorn which I'm sure Ryder is loving....but you need to move along here.

 

[Rozz]

Whew! I finally got caught up! I'm enjoying your great trip report! Your photo of the golf ball sitting on the bottom step...I just can't get it out of my mind. So funny! I would have played it from there as well just to see what happened!

About the teacups, no way, no how! Spin and puke is right! Bleh!

 

[FreezinRafiki]

I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN!

I promise. I haven't. Sometimes life just gets in the way. I'm working on the next update, but I can't promise when it will be up.

This Area Is Being Refurbished For Your Future Enjoyment​

 

[afwdwfan]

Wow... you're really starting to be a lot more like your nemesis.


I was afraid of slipping into a rut like you guys... I had to sacrifice work time to make sure I got an update up today.

 

[KatMark]

Wow... you're really starting to be a lot more like your nemesis.


I was afraid of slipping into a rut like you guys... I had to sacrifice work time to make sure I got an update up today.

I rushed over here thinking it was an update. Guess I'll go back to Andy's where there is an actual update.

Perhaps Barry should have been helping Bambi and the kids making those Christmas cookies as the sugar might have helped him get out an update.

 

[Poolrat]

Here you can use this.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Sunday July 3, 2011

On this day we did something that came very unnaturally to us. We slept in. On vacation.

I know, I know. But hear me out. This would be our 9th day in Florida. The previous 8 were a long drive, the beach, a theme park, another theme park, yet another theme park, a water park, a fourth theme park, and the first theme park again, but this time late into the night. So yes, we decided to sleep in and not only miss rope drop, but miss lunch at the theme park. It wasn't completely by plan, however. You may not believe this, but we had some more car trouble. A few miles after leaving the grandparents' house, the radio went out. Everything else seemed fine, just no radio. I pulled over and checked the fuses, but didn't find any that were blown. I was not going to let van problems take another day of vacation, so we pressed on in silence. Because the radio didn't work.

We arrived at Animal Kingdom around 1 pm. We gathered up our stuff and headed toward the parking lot tram. I hit the "lock" button on my key fob and ... nothing. Great, more electrical problems. To heck with it, on with the fun!

After we rode Dumbo...uh..Aladdin's carpet..uh....Astro Orbiter..uh...whatever ride that was (yes, I recycled that joke from a previous Trip Report. But that's why you like mine. Expect the unexpected. Even when the expected was completely expected.)

Either way, after the ride, kids started looking at the pin kiosk and found this:

This is important because Grandpa is a very big UP! fan. And a very big fan of Carl. And he had been complaining that Disney was missing a huge marketing tie-in by not selling Grape Soda pins like the one Carl wore in the movie. Well, they insisted we buy it for Grandpa (he was over in the Dinoland store, so had no idea what was happening). How could we say "no" to that. Grandpa was very completely surprised and very happy to see that pin.

After that fun little surprise, the kids decided they were hungry again, despite just eating. I hadn't ridden Dinosaur in years, so I decided not to pass up the 15 minute wait and made plans to meet up a Pizzafari in a little while.

After the ride, Bambi asked how it went. Well, I replied, I went 5 years between rides. And that sounds about right. I'll see you again in 2016, Dinosaur.

Cat Pose!

We started making our way over to Asia to use the Kali River Rapids FastPasses I had gotten when we first arrived at the park. Along the way, we had to stop and march to the beat of our own drums.

It wasn't quite time to cool of on Kali yet, so we took the Jungle Trek. I could spell out the name of the attraction, but I'm just to lazy to look up the proper spelling of Mahsharanjjajja. See? Never should have even tried to type that.

How hot was it? Well, this tiger couldn't decide between laying in the shade or laying in the water, so he chose both.

Finally, it was time to hit Kali. Well, almost. Even the Fast Pass line was long.

Long, but worth it!

After a little while, the kids decided it would be behove them to watch what was coming up.

But it didn't help.

Afterwards, we showed Evan the button that would soak the riders under us. I fear we have created a monster.

Continued Next Post...

 

[FreezinRafiki]

During our running around the park that afternoon, I was able to score a second set of FastPasses, which the kids decided the best time to use them would be RIGHT NOW!

Well, ok.

We got a little more wet on this ride. Just a little bit.

And now, it was time for the kids to cross a new thrill off their lists.

EXPEDITION EVEREST!

The kids were completely psyched about it. Well, almost.

And what better way to experience a new ride than from the front two rows?

The ride started, and Madison was having a grand time of it. Until we saw this:

Then were were slightly less than excited.

The backwards riding wasn't really high on Madison's "awesome" list. She said she liked it, but didn't really want to do it again. Evan, however liked it and demanded that we get FastPasses for later.

We decided to kill a bit of time at the boneyard.

Ok, enough of that silliness. Back to Everest!

By now it was time to head out and hop over to Epcot for our dinner reservation. We made it back to the van and faced the cold reality that the electric system was having issues. Well, hot reality I guess. It was summer in Florida after all.

I had to manually unlock the doors. What is this? 1980?
Anyway, I gave the fuse panel another once over and finally found the blown fuse. I switched out, locked and unlocked the doors a few times (because I can, that's why) and we headed over to Epcot.

Madison and I in our Jetson's car. It didn't make the bubble sound when it flew, so I had to do it. Madison gave me an odd look.

The kids then tried their hands at keeping the local power grid up and running.
Or they played shuffleboard. Something like that.

Finally we headed over to Garden Grill for our ADR, which appeared to be the last seating of the night.

The restaurant was already pretty empty when we go there. Besides being a character dinner, Garden Grill also rotates. Fast. I almost fell out of the seat a few times due to the spin.

Seriously, just look at how much that background is blurred!*

*Do not pay any attention to the fact that that picture had an exposure time of 30 seconds.

As I said, the restaurant was pretty empty, which meant that the characters were around a lot. I think we saw each one 3 or 4 times.

One time even, Pluto decided to sneak up on Madison. He's a sneaky little dog, that Pluto.

We paid our bill and headed down the hill from the Land to catch the end of Illuminations.

As we were standing there, I noticed that the person standing next to us was a monorail pilot. We started chatting and he said he was on a 15 minute break and was lucky enough to time it watch Illuminations. (Best job perk of the best job ever?)

He also said that Magic Kingdom had topped out at 65,000 people that day. (This is where I would have mentioned that our original plan was to hit MK that day, but I switched it to AK after seeing that MK had Extra Magic Hours that night and would be packed. If I were the type of guy to mention those types of things. Which I'm not.)

I would have loved to watch the show a little closer to the action, but it was nice to be at the front of the exodus wave as the last explosion echoed around World Showcase.

Up Next: Independence Day in Disney World!

 

[Poolrat]

Awesome use of FP and park hopping. Totally understand the late start and I will excuse it this time.

You braved the heat of the day, sorry the van was being a difficult toddler and just selectively shutting down only to make your life miserable.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

How awesome would it be to have a job where you can time your break to watch Illuminations??? That's amazing.

Sorry to hear that the car was giving you so much trouble! But you're not getting any manually unlocking the doors sympathy from me - no fancy keys with buttons here, and my car can't unlock all of the doors when I first open the driver's side door, I have to do that once inside (which drives DBF nuts ).