145 Middle Schoolers: Wicked Awesome or Epic Fail???DeParting-Such Sweet Sorrow p. 76

[DrMomof3]

I'm going to come right out and say it. I don't think the FPs for BIg Thunder were a terrible rookie mistake. You're being too hard on yourself! (I can't figure out smilies on this app - but imagine a few).
Can you believe that I haven't been on that railroad since the 1970's???

Amanda

 

[natebenma]

I'm going to come right out and say it. I don't think the FPs for BIg Thunder were a terrible rookie mistake. You're being too hard on yourself! (I can't figure out smilies on this app - but imagine a few).
Can you believe that I haven't been on that railroad since the 1970's???

Amanda

Well, thanks for saying that. I continue to beat myself up a little bit more in the next update, as the impact of the decision to get BTM FPs has more repurcussions.

I don't think Mark and I had ever been on the train as a couple, but Ben enjoys train rides like this so we have been on once or twice in the past few years. Although it is not a super-speedy ride, it is a nice way to get around when you want a little break from the crowds. There are a few things to see along the way.

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Morning Dee. You are a seriuosly early riser

 

[natebenma]

Morning Dee. You are a seriuosly early riser

Good Morning back at ya!!!

Darned internal alarm clock.

Stick around for a few minutes, new update coming soon.

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

YAY I will go make some coffee and then be right back! See I even drink coffee while dis-ing so I'm in the disney mood (ok I will admit I've already drunk my pot of tea so I'm up for coffee anyway)

 

[natebenma]

The video for Toy Story 2 came out in the fall of 2001 and became one of my 3 year old son Nathan’s favorite movies.

Whenever Zurg came on the screen, Nathan would point and say “Bad Cow!” It took us awhile to figure out why he was calling Zurg “Bad Cow”, but this is what we believe. You know the scene in the movie right before the toys all meet Zurg, when they are entering Al’s Toy Barn? The automatic doors “Moo”. Plus, Zurg has horns.

Thus, we have “Bad Cow”- This will forever be Zurg’s name to our family.

So, you have probably guessed by now that my fellow Space Cadets and I visited Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin:

I don’t remember how I did and I didn’t get a redneck picture of me and the other chaperone playing, but I got a really good one of two of the boys (which I won’t post because it shows them clearly) and a good one of the other two boys (which I won’t post because it shows them clearly and includes an obscene gesture.) The people who supposedly monitor the ride photos were obviously on break at that moment!

After a little reprimand, it was time to head back to Frontierland to use our FP for Big Thunder Mountain. Gosh, it truly would have been much smarter to get a FP to an attraction on the way out, rather than having to head all the way to the back of the park, and then exit. But, live and learn.

At some point earlier in the night, the boy who had purchased the lollipop had opened it and started eating it. The problem was, that when he wasn’t eating it, he wasn’t paying attention and was swinging it around and almost impaled or blinded other guests. So I had to confiscate it and ended up carrying it for the rest of the night.

To add to my stress- at one point I decided to count to make sure I had all of the park tickets. I counted to 17 (should be 20). I counted again. Still 17!

I took a breath, then remembered that I had put 3 tickets in the pocket of my shorts (ones I knew had been activated in case I needed to pull more FP).


Continued in Next Post

 

[natebenma]

We had a great ride on BTM which finished a little after 9.

My FP FP (Fast Pass Faux Pas) resulted in an additional issue- the Electrical Light Parade!

Everything was blocked off as we tried to make our exit! We took the boardwalk along the river (where the smoking areas are) and it was packed!!! Wall-to-wall people in both directions made it very slow-going.

We could see parts of the parade as we walked along.

I snapped a few pictures until the woman who was walking behind me asked me not to.

“Could you please not stop every few seconds to take a picture?”

It’s not like we were going any place fast, but I was stunned at the comment and didn’t have a witty or caustic comeback, so I stopped.


We finally made it out to Main Street and a few of the boys wanted to get some fudge and candy so we spent some time in the Main Street sweet shop.

I amused myself by taking pictures while the boys waited in line to purchase some fudge. I loved watching the bakers make yummy treats like a Mickey apple and Mickey Rice Krispie treats.

Purchases made, we exited the Magic Kingdom around 9:50 and made our way to the bus stop.

Next up: Wishing to See Fireworks and Showering Habits of Teens

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Love that Zurg is "bad cow" and how cute is Nate in that photo

I love Buzz Lightyear RS (possibly even more than TSM-please dont ban me from your TR). Look on the bright side at least the teen making rude gestures didn't actually belong to you
You need to stop giving yourself a hard time over the FPFP. I bet you wouldn't be so hard on someone else if they did the same thing!

Love all the pics from the candy store-we bought some treats there and it was an amazing place (the smell alone made me hungry lol).

Sounds like the lady behind you needed some rest (or something)

 

[JanetMom]

Thanks for the updates - what a great way to start the day! So nice of you to rise early and give us something to read before we head off to real life.

Little Nate is adorable! Sooooo cute.

I laughed that the lady told you to stop taking pictures. Doesn't she know who you are and how much your pictures are valued by the rest of us. Next time tell her you are an important phototgrapher on a DisBoard mission and it is not possible for you to allow her to interupt your work any longer.

And finally, oh how I wish I had some fudge for breakfast!

 

[MickeyT]

Love the pictures! Thanks!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

"Bad Cow" I was really trying hard to figure out what that meant. After you explained it, it all makes sense (to a 3 yr old at least).
I wonder what would happen if someone did see him do that on the ride??
Those candy apples look delish!!!

 

[bookgirl]

When the twins were about 2 1/2 we went to Rainforest Cafe and they sat us in the booth surrounded by the gorillas. Super until the first time they 'went off' and then suddenly it was terrified toddlers and screams of "bad monkey, bad monkey". For years the boys would see any kind of primate and look us and ask "bad monkey?"

We didn't go again until they were 5 and then we asked to be away from the animatronics. They loved it that time but still bad monkey cracks us up 11 years later.

Nate's so cute, that's one to hang on to so the first girlfriend can see it.

 

[DrMomof3]

I absolutely love Zurg as Bad Cow! You have changed Buzz Lightyear for my forever!!!
That's so weird about the woman getting annoyed with you taking pictures.

Amanda

 

[eandesmom]

That is a riot on the stick lollipop waving. I hate those things! My kids get them, suck on them FOREVER, don't finish, want to save. Sticky icky mess!

I snapped a few pictures until the woman who was walking behind me asked me not to.

“Could you please not stop every few seconds to take a picture?”

It’s not like we were going any place fast, but I was stunned at the comment and didn’t have a witty or caustic comeback, so I stopped.

"I could, but I'd prefer not to. Then again, you can just go in front of me."

Next up: Wishing to See Fireworks and Showering Habits of Teens

 

[natebenma]

Love that Zurg is "bad cow" and how cute is Nate in that photo

I love Buzz Lightyear RS (possibly even more than TSM-please dont ban me from your TR). Look on the bright side at least the teen making rude gestures didn't actually belong to you
You need to stop giving yourself a hard time over the FPFP. I bet you wouldn't be so hard on someone else if they did the same thing!

Love all the pics from the candy store-we bought some treats there and it was an amazing place (the smell alone made me hungry lol).

Sounds like the lady behind you needed some rest (or something)

Thank you! I just had to share the story of "Bad Cow" and that adorable photo of Nathan. Note that for this portion of the report I am calling him Nathan as this was his name before he entered school. Once he had to start writing his name, and he realized writing Nate was shorter, Nate he became.

No hard feelings on your love for Buzz. But I draw the line at Stitch!

I really like the pictures from the candy store. We don't spend much time there when I am with my family, but since I didn't have to keep saying no since my kids were not there, I didn't mind being there.

EXCELLENT point about the kid making the gesture not being my kid!

Thanks for the updates - what a great way to start the day! So nice of you to rise early and give us something to read before we head off to real life.

Little Nate is adorable! Sooooo cute.

I laughed that the lady told you to stop taking pictures. Doesn't she know who you are and how much your pictures are valued by the rest of us. Next time tell her you are an important phototgrapher on a DisBoard mission and it is not possible for you to allow her to interupt your work any longer.

And finally, oh how I wish I had some fudge for breakfast!

Good to hear that the update was a nice little morning pick-me-up for you.

I am so glad I found that picture. In the same envelope of photos from May 2001 were a few of Ben's first pictures as he made his debut on May 12.

I will have to start carrying around my DIS photo credentials next time.

The fudge will make another appearance in an update in the not-too-distant future.

Love the pictures! Thanks!

Thank you!!!

You know, I think I sent off some of those toys to Jeanne's (Teena's daughter) school last year for her prize box in class, along with a bunch of Disney Happy Meal toys we had collected throughout the years.

"Bad Cow" I was really trying hard to figure out what that meant. After you explained it, it all makes sense (to a 3 yr old at least).
I wonder what would happen if someone did see him do that on the ride??
Those candy apples look delish!!!

"Bad Cow" is such a happy association for us.

I don't know what would have happened, but I do know that my reprimand must not have been strong enough because another chaperone told me he did it again on Everest the next day!

When the twins were about 2 1/2 we went to Rainforest Cafe and they sat us in the booth surrounded by the gorillas. Super until the first time they 'went off' and then suddenly it was terrified toddlers and screams of "bad monkey, bad monkey". For years the boys would see any kind of primate and look us and ask "bad monkey?"

We didn't go again until they were 5 and then we asked to be away from the animatronics. They loved it that time but still bad monkey cracks us up 11 years later.

Nate's so cute, that's one to hang on to so the first girlfriend can see it.

Love the "bad monkey" story.

Oh, I have a whole collection of photos for the first girlfriend!

I absolutely love Zurg as Bad Cow! You have changed Buzz Lightyear for my forever!!!
That's so weird about the woman getting annoyed with you taking pictures.

Amanda

That would be a riot if your kids picked that up!

I was so surprised the woman said something. I do have to admit that my family is pretty annoyed by my habit of stopping without warning to take pictures, too.

That is a riot on the stick lollipop waving. I hate those things! My kids get them, suck on them FOREVER, don't finish, want to save. Sticky icky mess!

"I could, but I'd prefer not to. Then again, you can just go in front of me."

I should have just tossed the pop. I was very annoyed to get stuck with it because it was really unwieldy to carry, but the cheapo in me couldn't bear with with wasting the money.

Love your response to the lady!

Showering Habits of Teens. One of those moments you live through and immediately think "That is SO going in the trip report"

.

 

[MHTeacher]

I love riding BTMR at night!

But, I hate getting caught up in the parade traffic---couldn't believe the lady actually told you that. Wait, yes I can! One football game -Alabama vs. TN-the lady in front of me turned around and told me she wish I would stop shaking my shaker (Believe me, I am a very courteous shaker shaker--I keep it up in the air, and never shake down beside a person's head!) I politely reminded her that I had paid for my ticket just like she had!

 

[pixarmom]

Great photos of Big Thunder at night! Very nice lighting, etc! Our favorite nighttime BTMRR ride was during the fireworks one night - amazing!

And your story about Nate is absolutely heartwarming. Love it!!!! Love the photo of Nate - so sweet! Now you're really in trouble if Ben spills the beans to Nate about your trip report. Still offering a "flat Ben" for our MNSSHP. (My Alice costume arrived today -trying to alter it to make it fit - it's huge!) So I'm hoping to see our flat Ben Cheshire Cat soon!

As for Toy Story, I know exactly what you're talking about and how Nate ended up with "bad cow." Our oldest was a HUGE Buzz fan starting around 15 months (he was two for the release of TS2 and really crazy about Buzz by then!) During his first Disney trip, he cried big huge tears every time the Buzz ride ended. I have photos of him trying to get back in. (And there you have the first in a long line of reasons for my screen name!) We have our old Buzz toy still - our youngest still plays with him - not as fancy as the newer version and our Buzz now lacks hands. But I just couldn't bear to buy a new Buzz, when we already own THE Buzz. And just one Woody (so very loved,) one Jessie, one Bullseye, one Hamm, etc. etc. etc.

Too bad I don't have a witty comeback for you regarding the woman who told you to stop taking photos. I just don't - but really wish I did!

Just had to wave hello to Cynthia - I saw your PTR, but not your TR and I'm looking forward to it! We're less than two weeks away from Alaska on the Wonder!

 

[AprilRenee]

Nate's adorable as a little guy! I wonder if Caden will shorten his name once he gets to school...I'd be ok with Cade. We'll see!

The sweet shop looked so empty in your pics! LOL We only have ever gone in there at the end of the night when we're stalling leaving even though the park has closed. It's packed full of other people doing the same at that point!

 

[MEK]

I'm not caught up yet, but I had to comment on your last update. Someone actually asked you to STOP taking pictures. What??????? You are in a park taking pictures of a parade. Hello? Yeah - I wouldn't have come up with a comeback for that either.

OMG - those 20 park tickets would totally be the death of me. Sticking 3 of them in a random pocket is something I would do!

 

[eandesmom]

Just had to wave hello to Cynthia - I saw your PTR, but not your TR and I'm looking forward to it! We're less than two weeks away from Alaska on the Wonder!

Hi!!!!! We're just getting started on the TR, it was a great trip! I hope you love the Wonder and Alaska as much as we did. While I loved the Dream and CC, the Wonder will always have a special spot and I did prefer the longer cruise. Sending you pixie dust for good weather it's amazing here right now! Seattle sucker weather we call it. Lol!