No wake up call for us. I have my stomach for that. Its 7 am according to the digital clock next to my head. N is sound asleep. I woke up because I feel AWFUL. Not just lets-see-what-happens-maybe-Im-hungry awful but OH MY I-think-I-better-run-to-the-potty awful. And I do. And yes, this run ends badly. So, now Im sitting on cold tile in the bathroom praying. Why me? This is so unfair. I have this wonderful day planned with N. Today is his actual BIRTHDAY! No time for this! We have a great day planned. Eventually, I drag my very nauseous self off to the bed and force myself to lie there until N wakes up. I talk him into getting ready quickly and not ordering room service. (ohhhh, just the thought....) Luckily, he is in a cooperative mood. Believe it or not, I shower and dress and we make it downstairs to fill THE CUP by 9 am!
The walk to the boat launch has me convinced that this might be a bad idea. I comfort myself by thinking its better to be sick in WDW then anywhere else! N and I make it to the MK boat and sail off for our first day of official park fun!
This is where the photo from MK would be great but it hasnt arrived from Photopass yet so well have to imagine that were standing in front of MK....
I purchase two day, park hopper tickets at the entrance once weve been searched. Its gonna be a hot one. I can feel it burning into my shoulders even though we applied the sunblock. Whew. Our plan is to visit MK today, go back to the hotel for a shower and rest, dinner at GF, then back to MK for the late closing (1am). Then tomorrow we are park hopping from Epcot to MGM. Ambitious plans on a weekend that I feel GOOD, now Im worried. We decide to go straight up the platform to the train and go on over to Frontierland to ride the mountains. This is our usual strategy except we usually grab a FP for Space Mtn. first because we dislike waiting in their line. Well, the train ride over is great. The CMs are all wishing N a happy birthday (hes wearing his pin!) and hes on cloud nine. We arrive at BTMRR and see that stand-by is only 10 minutes. I ask N if he wants to wait or come back after with a FP, he says, Both! Ok, so we do that and as were waiting on the line I start feeling sort of better. Thank goodness. I still dont want to eat, but thats ok. N is hungry! I made him skip breakfast and come to the park and he wants to eat as soon as possible. The ride is wonderful, and now it finally feels like were AT Disney!
As were leaving the ride and heading to Splash mtn. we are delighted to notice that the wait is only 10 minutes here too! Where is everyone??? Its very quiet on this side of the park still. I think they only say 10 minutes because it takes nearly that long to walk from the start of the queue to the ride! We end up riding this with a Grandmother and her GD. They are absolutely ADORABLE! Theyve ridden three times in a row so far!!! So Funny! They are soaked! N and I love this ride and buy the photo!
The walk over from Frontierland to Tomorrowland is practically empty. We encounter a few people once we get to Liberty Square but not many. Our tradition is to enter the park early, ride a couple of the fun rides and then stop at Sleepy Hollow for funnel cakes for breakfast. I know, that sounds rather unhealthy. Well, we ARE on vacation! And we do get strawberries and whipped cream! N devours his and I get a Sprite.
It looks delicious but I feel a jolt of nausea every time I think of eating some. Oh well, Ill feel better soon. We fill up Ns tummy and then walk the rest of the way over to Space Mtn.
**side note** I realize we will miss a GREAT deal of attractions on this day. We DO go every year though so its not a big deal. I thought it was more important to let N do what HE wanted.
Space mountain had a very short wait in stand-by so we got FPs for this (it was time on the other FPs from BTMRR to be able to do this) and got in stand-by. The wait was maybe 20 minutes. Not bad since it was nearing noon, and plenty of people hit this first. This is a good place to say that I really dislike Space Mtn. Every year I ride it *under duress* but usually its only once and then DH takes up the slack for me. Well, no DH on this trip. Its just me. Little old barfing me. Luckily, I survive this ride. We exit the ride and N is just chattering away about how much he loves that ride. I nod and say, I dont love this ride, but I love riding it with you! We have about an hour till our FPs are good at Space Mtn. again. Or its actually time to go all the way BACK to Frontierland to ride BTMRR again. N decides that he would like to ride the Tomorrowland Transit Authority. I have to tell you guys, this is one of my kids favorite rides! Weve deemed it most underrated ride at Disney because its really fun and no one else seems to know!
We do the loop and when we exit we decide to see what the line is like for Indy Speedway. N just got to be able to drive a car by himself this past Xmas so hes all excited to run up to their measuring stick and see how tall he is again. While we are there I notice...................................................................The Dream Team! YUP! There they are! They are just standing and talking amongst themselves with a CM from the ride. Well, I dont think theres much I can do about it. You cant exactly run up to them and DEMAND a wish, right? So, we measure and assess the line and N says, No. Its way too hot in the sun and the line is really, really long. Well, then stuff starts happening. They all look our way. The CM says something to them. She walks towards us and says, Happy Birthday, N!! How old are you? N answers and she says, Did you want to ride this? N answers, Yes, but the line is so long. She says, How would you like to start the race? Confusion. He isnt sure what she wants him to do. She explains that hell go up onto the bridge over where you drive the cars out and wave the flag to start the race. Hes looking interested. He agrees, and says Will I get to ride? She says, Yes, and you wont have to wait in the line either! Yay for the Dream Team!!!!!
This is one of the coolest things thats ever happened to us at Disney so were pretty geeked. She brings to the bleachers on the side (didnt know they were there) above the line. I stay there to photograph things. N goes to the bridge.
Its WAY cute! Then we go to the front of the line where they announce thats its Ns 10th Birthday and everyone in line says HAPPY BIRTHDAY N!!. He gets into his race car and they snap a great photo and then I get in one behind and off we go.
The rest of our time at MK is good too. We decide to skip the 2nd trip on BTMRR and go to Mickeys Philharmagic. I am elated because I LOVE this movie and I need to sit down. Whew. Im feeling pretty bad. Not hungry at all, keeping up the liquids but not hungry. We encounter a funny friend on the way and N has a great time taking photos!
I cant convince N to do anything else at MK except ride Space Mtn. again with our FPs so off we go. Well, that doesnt help my stomach. I ask him what else he wants to do. He says, nothing till tonight. He wants to go back and swim and then shower for our big dinner. So, we exit and I convince him to let me look in the shops for his DB. While we are shopping he says, Isnt the barber shop where I got my haircut around the corner? Yes it is. I want to visit that and see the barber again You want a haircut?? No. Just want to visit. Oh, well thats ok. We end up visiting during the Harmony Barbershops visit! They see Ns birthday button and immediately call him up to them. They sing two versions of Happy Birthday to him and hes glowing!!!
They steal his water fan and start spraying each other and him! And then they pose for this CUTE photo!.
We exit the park (for now) and go off to the hotel for some recuperation. This is just the beginning of the magic!
Check back with us for the conclusion to our day at MK, which includes some very big hearts!