15 Years of Magic- see the page 6 for more pics and page 7 for more!

[YCFAN]

Can't wait to read the rest!

 

[WDWLinda]

"a book that didn't start out with "Once upon a time..." The only person I took to the bathroom was me and no one fought over coloring books"

Boy, I can only imagine how that would feel...maybe some day...

Thanks for making me laugh. I'm enjoying your reports. Keep 'em coming!

Nice to see how far you two have come - from a wedding dinner at Taco Bell to the concierge lounge at the Boardwalk!

~Linda

 

[Belle23]

Great report I can't wait for more!!

 

[kathymc]

cute report - hope you get a chance to write some more soon!

thanks for sharing

 

[kar313]

Great report so far. Sounds like you had a great time. I think a trip without the kids is something everyone should do. First, you can do the things the kids never want to or complain if they have to do them (i.e walking around World Showcase, etc) and two, it makes you appreciate them so much more when they are with you.

 

[babytrees]

Loving your report!!

More, More, More

PLEEEEAAASSSSSEEEE

 

[RadioFanatic]

more please!

 

[goodferry]

OK, before I move on, there are a few things you need to know about our last trip in June 2004. First off, last trip I was quite the commando. I had my UG and the little touring plans laminated and we were going to follow it and we were not going to stray and no one was allowed to complain about it and no we could not stop at the Hall of Presidents before we rode Splash Mountain, you get the picture. By the second day, they took the UG and my cute little laminated touring plans and hid them from me.

The second thing is about a particularly intense electrical storm. As you already know, Matt has issues with lightening. When we were there in June, it pretty much stormed the entire time, every day without fail, there would be a big electrical storm. One particularly large storm hit while we were in Tomorrowland. It rained so hard that the water was up over my sandals, they shut down the TTA and had to evacuate the people off the ride, lightening was striking right and left. Poor Matt was a nervous wreck. The kids, of course, thought it was great fun to run through the water and play, and he's yelling "get back, get back, can't you see that everything here is metal, they should call this place Metal Land" I know it's not nice to make fun, because he probably is right, but we all thought that was sooo funny. Tomorrowland was renamed by our family "Metal Land".

OK, on with the report. When we left 'Ohana, the storm was still in the area, so we took the monorail, because we can't ride the boat if there was a chance of that pesky lightening showing up.

It wasn't really raining at this point, more like misting, but you would have thought it was pouring, people were streaming out of MK. Somehow we ended up in Metal Land. Matt kept a cautious eye on the sky while we rode Stitch and Buzz again. Space Mountain was shut down so we headed out of Metal Land, but not before I could get Matt's picture in his favorite place!

We strolled through Magic Kingdom, window shopping and people watching, pretty much just waiting for Wishes to start. There was no evening parade today, and we never did get to see it this trip. They only had it on two evenings and both conflicted with other things on our itinerary.

We picked a spot where we would be able to see Tink if she flew, on the right side as you look at the castle. I didn't think she would since it was still "misting". It was at this point that we had our first debate. Matt didn't believe me that Tink was real if you know what I mean, and that she flew from the castle to start Wishes. He asked every CM he could find, but never could get a straight answer from anyone. This is important to remember because all our debates are settled on Tuesday.

Wishes was beautiful and made me cry, like always. It made me really miss the kids because I have wonderful memories of watching Wishes from the concierge lounge of the Polynesian with them in their pjs and from the pool on our last night there last triip. Illuminations is beautiful, but I think Wishes is my favorite.

I was right and Tink couldn't make it for the fireworks this evening, so this just fueled Matt's fire. He was sure I was wrong and he was right and was acting pretty smug about it.

We didn't really want to participate in the mass exodus after Wishes, so we strolled the path back into Fantasyland, where we found they were holding people from cutting through the castle still. We tried to walk down past IASW into Liberty Square and then out, but there was a CM there telling us we couldn't go that way either. So back we walked through Fantasyland and around the castle. It is so pretty there at night when no one is there. "Can you Feel the Love Tonight" was playing in the background, it was a nice evening.

When we got to the bus stop, the bus was there, and we managed to get right on. This was the only time we had to stand on the bus all week. I have heard numerous complaints about the bus system for the Epcot resorts, but I have to say that it was flawless while we were there. Not one time did we wait more than 10 minutes, and that was on our last day when the bus for the MK had just left before we got there.

Remember me telling you earlier about the UG? Well this trip I subscribed to Tour Guide Mike for my itinerary planning and touring advice and it was AWESOME. We never waited in line for anything the entire week, 10 minutes being our longest wait of the week. On the bus Matt said "You need to show me how to use the internet" (he hates it, so I am a little surprised) "why?" I asked. "So I can email Mike and let him know he is a genius"

Back at the resort, Matt ran down to the lounge to grab us each a drink before it closed. I am sure you remember one of the mantras for this trip from the first installment "free drinks are good"

So as a wrap up of today, what did we learn? A lot! Hitting Epcot for one ride and then going to MK is exhausting and leads to napping, which isn't necessarily a bad thing; the ice cream sandwhiches in MK are huge and wonderful; did I mention that napping is good?; Matt thinks he is a know-it-all, but he will get his in the end; I have made up for no pictures in 15 years in one single day; we like the Boardwalk, but we might be missing the Polynesian; the Pina Coladas at the Tambu Lounge are still awesome; I miss the kids; Lightening is bad, free drinks are still good; commandos can be reformed and Tour Guide Mike rocks!

 

[goodferry]

Radiofanatic, I am originally from Schenectady! My parents live in Saratoga now.

It was definitely a good idea deciding to go on our own. For one thing, and you moms will know what I mean, I was always taking one for the team. "Go ahead honey, ride Space Mountain with Chris (13, almost 14 year old), I'll take the rest of the kids on Buzz for the 10 trillionth time." or "You go spend the day in MGM with Chris and I will take the other three to hunt characters in the Magic Kingdom"

So, this trip I got to ride everything I wanted to, see most of what I wanted to and I truly got to relax. Honestly, I did miss the kids some of the time, especially Chris. He knew where we were going and he wanted to be there to ride with me since he usually goes off with his dad while I keep the younger three.

The good thing is that we are taking them in December, because we could kind of work a plan in our minds what they would like and what they wouldn't and what we had to make sure we did next trip. For example, we went to Tom Sawyers Island this trip for the first time, and I know that Zack (10) will love it there, and we saw a little bit of Cinderellabration, and I know that Shelby (6) will LOVE it. So, even though they weren't there with us, they were definitely on our minds.

What didn't I miss? Pushing a stroller and carrying a backpack!!! Zoe, the youngest, is only 2 so I have many more stroller pushing years ahead of me, but it was nice just this once to walk unencumbered.

The hardest part of going was explaining to people why we chose WDW as our anniversary vacation destination, most people just don't get it!

 

[RadioFanatic]

Hi GoodFerry! Sure is a small world! Your parents must be going crazy with track season now - I try to avoid SS during the month of august! Love your trip report- pls keep it coming!

 

[Pkaroch]

Hi RodioFanatic! It is indeed a small world, my mom was raised in Clifton Park, my grandparents lived there until they passed on. I remember well the SS track season, and SPAC! Concerts just aren't the same down here...

goodferry, I'm loving your trip report so far...keep the installments coming!

 

[eeyore45]

I am also loving the reports - and maybe 'dreaming' just a bit!! DH and I celebrated our 24th yesterday, we've still not managed to be alone for an anniversary trip!!

Its ok though, we do get to do Disney!!

Hope to see more pics, and read more reports!! Altho I'm not quite sure I understand a few of your experiences... mainly reading a book that doesnt start with Once upon a time, something about you took a "nap"? Moms can do that? huh!! Wait, you got to ride WITH your dh??? I must seriously consider the whole vacation without kids!!

 

[CBear]

OK, before I move on, there are a few things you need to know about our last trip in June 2004. First off, last trip I was quite the commando. I had my UG and the little touring plans laminated and we were going to follow it and we were not going to stray and no one was allowed to complain about it and no we could not stop at the Hall of Presidents before we rode Splash Mountain, you get the picture. By the second day, they took the UG and my cute little laminated touring plans and hid them from me.

When my 13 yo DD and I went last May, I was very much in Commando mode. My daughter still tells everyone about our morning at Epcot, when I refused to stop and get her a bottle of water because we had to keep going and get all the 'big' rides done before the crowds arrived. She was hungry and thirsty, and I just kept telling her "just a few more minutes and then we'll find something". I can't believe, now, that I was behaving like that. She thinks it's a pretty funny story to tell now, but she wasn't laughing at the time. Under ordinary, non-Disney circumstances I'm not a bad mother - really I'm not.

I'm really enjoying your reports Goodferry - well done!

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Thanks for another great post, I am really enjoying them. We wen't to WDW for our 10th anniversary and just loved it, it was our first solo trip also. Most of the people i work with and our relatives don't get why we go to WDW too. It just ther loss, WDW is the best place to vacation. Since our daughters are in there 20's now we take alot of trips just the 2 of us and they are awesome. We loved the trips with our kids but it is so different when it's just the two of us. We will be back again Sept. 23- Oct.4 & Dec.1-10. Can't wait to read your next chapter.

 

[ZZUB]

Goodferry,

I am really enjoying your trip report. But the suspense is terrific. This is why I normally wait until the reports are all complete before I start reading them. You've got me jonesing for the next installment.

I like the way you describe your husband's fear of lightening The poor guy witnesses a horrible tragedy and you trivialize it into an "issue." Tsk. Tsk. That's not unlike me describing my wife going through labor as harder on me than her. (She got to lay down in the comfortable bed while I had to stand the whole time).

Seriously, looking forward to more of your report.

 

[OhMari]

I am also loving the reports - and maybe 'dreaming' just a bit!! DH and I celebrated our 24th yesterday, we've still not managed to be alone for an anniversary trip!!

Its ok though, we do get to do Disney!!

Hey, it was my 24th Anniv. on Aug. 22 too. My husband bought me roses at lunch time and took me out for supper. I nearly fell over. Usually he does absolutely nothing. It was so wierd going out on a Monday evening. There were so many other couples in the Backyard Grill. I told my husband, I bet they are all celebrating anniversaries-they all looked about as thrilled as we did going out to eat on a Monday nite. (Sorry, I'm so ungrateful).

I swear to God, next year I will be on a cruise to Alaska or at WDW!

 

[eeyore45]

Hey, it was my 24th Anniv. on Aug. 22 too. My husband bought me roses at lunch time and took me out for supper. I nearly fell over. Usually he does absolutely nothing. It was so wierd going out on a Monday evening. There were so many other couples in the Backyard Grill. I told my husband, I bet they are all celebrating anniversaries-they all looked about as thrilled as we did going out to eat on a Monday nite. (Sorry, I'm so ungrateful).

I swear to God, next year I will be on a cruise to Alaska or at WDW!

awww Happy Anniversary!!

Does this mean next year it will be on a Tuesday!!

 

[goodferry]

OhMari, that's awesome, happy anniversary! I know that my dad just in the last few years started sending my mom flowers on their anniversary and bought her a diamond for Christmas, she doesn't know what to say because it is so out of character!

Anyway, Monday morning we were up bright and early, about 7:30, to get ready to head to MGM. I was both looking forward to and dreading this day. I knew that I would ride the Rock N' Roller Coaster, but I was also pretty nervous about it, I don't like going upside down, or so I thought.

After a quick breakfast in the lounge (still can't believe those words are being written by me, breakfast with four kids is always anything but quick) we headed to MGM by 8:15. We knew you could walk or take a boat to MGM and had decided to walk for some unknown reason, we had no idea where to go.

So, at the front desk, I did the unthinkable and asked for directions . The CM at the front desk told us to walk along the Boardwalk and go to the left. Well, we thought the turn at Jellyrolls was the left he meant and we kept walking, clear past the Swan, to the road. I think we would have just kept walking forever, but a cm finally came along who spoke english and pointed out our mistake. We should have turned left at the canal. Ohhhh.

So instead of walking, we went to the Swan/Dolphin boat stop and rode the boat from there to MGM. It is an EXTREMELY slow boat, one which Matt could easily walk faster than, a fact that he pointed out to me about a hundred times before we got off that stupid, slow and unairconditioned boat. I didn't want to ride the stupid boat in the first place!

Anyway, we were about 10 minutes late for the opening, but we weren't too worried. There isn't a whole lot in MGM that is a must do for us, so we should have plenty of time. We went straight to Tower of Terror and got fast passes and headed to Rock N' Roller Coaster. It was a walk on and it's a good thing. If I had been given too much time to think about it, I probably would have chickened out! I am so glad I rode it, it's awesome. Before the night was over we rode four more times, never waiting in line one time I might add.

We tried to ride the Tower of Terror next, but somehow I had lost my fastpass. Matt was not a happy camper. Anyone who read my last trip report may remember that the Tower of Terror gave us trouble last time. He rode with Chris and Shelby while Zack and I waited with the baby outside. We never found them, we ended up going back to the room and finding them there. We were both sure it was the other ones fault and it is still one of those things of which we don't speak. It was all good today, though, we just got more fastpasses and Matt got over it.

We fit a lot in this morning! We did the Muppets, Star Tours, the Back Lot Tour, walked along the streets of New York, and then we spotted her, JoJo the clown. Zoe (2 year old dd) LOVES JoJo, almost to the point of obsession. I knew I had to get a picture of us with JoJo.

Now Matt does not like meeting characters. It could be because with a last name like Ferry he had to go through his entire life defending his manhood, but he definitely is not comfortable around characters (at least the disney type) We had to walk past her FOUR times (isn't it funny how to get ANYWHERE in MGM you have to walk past JoJo, especially when I am manning the map) but I finally talked him into stopping so I could get a picture with her because there was no line. It was for Zoe, well, that he couldn't resist, he definitely adores his little girl.

After taking three pictures of JoJo and I and one of our feet he takes me by surprise by saying "Me next, Zoe will love it" So here we are with JoJo, and guess what, Zoe did love it. Every morning she wants to sit at the "puter" and look at the pictures of daddy and JoJo.

We saw "One Man's Dream and wanted to go on the Great Movie Ride, but the line was long and we had a no line policy for this trip, we had been on it before and although I liked it, it wasn't worth waiting for. We strolled the Streets of New York, got fast passes for the new Lights Motor Action show and decided to have lunch at Pizza Planet.

Yuk, 'nough said?

After lunch was the new show and then back to the BWI for a swim and a break and to check in at home. Big mistake.

I call the house and then the business as soon as we get to the room. My mom assures me everything is just as good now as it was the last 17 billion times I called, but the news from Tony at the shop was not so good. He had changed the oil in a Mini Cooper on Friday (when we were still there) and something had happened with the oil filter and the oil leaked out and the engine blew up. That's right, it blew up. All I asked for was that nothing blew up, but it did, and on a Mini!!!

So I hung up to calm down and talk to Matt about what we should do. I called our insurance agent and she assured me that she would take care of everything, not to worry. Good, so that is solved, but we both felt like we had run into a brick wall. In 13 years of running the business nothing like this has ever happened, and now it happens while we aren't there to micro-manage the entire event.

Oh well, this should be a good test of how well Tony does under pressure, right? I never yelled or accused or freaked, I called him back, gave him the number for our insurance agent, had him call the customer back and reassure them that we would cover the loss and everything would be fine. I wish I could have felt as confident as I sounded.

So we swim, we rest, we hang out in the lounge and then we got dressed in our Steelers Football gear for our 6:20 Fantasmic Dinner Package. Our beloved Steelers were playing in a Monday night game that evening against the Eagles, and I was willing to miss it because we had never seen Fantasmic and I had promised Matt we would see every firework show this trip.

My rotten little boys called to tell me they were on the way to the game with friends, they were more than happy to use our tickets since we weren't there. Brats. Never mind that I was in Disney world without them.

I am going to go ahead and end this here since it is way past my bedtime, more in the morning about the rest of MGM and one of my favorite meals, I promise!!I will add all the pictures then too.

 

[berly1657]

We went to the world a couple of years ago for our Anniversary too with another couple. We had a riot doing things our kids would not have wanted to do - like sit through the shows. It was great to be at the pool relaxing and not hearing "Mom, watch me..."

The best part is that we surprised our husbands that morning and told them they were not going to work and to pack an overnight bag. We had prepacked their clothes and had them at another meeting spot with my parents who then took us to the airport. The bad thing - I took my husbands shorts that don't fit. Why would you have them on the top in your drawer then? Do you think you can find shorts in FL in Sept.? NO he ended up paying WAY too much at the outlet...

Can't wait to read more!

 

[liquid]

Goodferry - I'm really enjoying your reports!!