20 years and 3 kids later trip, Day #1

[Rock'n Robin]

Cast: DH 42
Me, , turned 43 on the trip
DD#1 14, DD#2 11, DS 8

Day #1 July 11, 2006
We got up at 3:15 and threw our last minute stuff in the bags as the car picked us up to take us to Detroit just before 4AM. We live in the Toledo area but airfare is so much cheaper from Detroit, and nonstop, that even getting a car service or hotel room is cheaper for the 5 of us.
Took off on time and arrived in Florida a little early! We were the first ones in the ME line, got right on a bus with some others already on, and left in 5 minutes. Got to the Polynesian one hour after landing. Love ME! BTW stopped at WL and the Contemporary first.
I mentioned this on the reosrts board but I did not get my room request. I had decided not to fax based on so many people saying they never fax and always get what they want. I guess I'm one of those people who doesn't get requests! I asked for Samoa 3rd floor pool view. They gave me rarotonga. I asked for anything in Samoa or Fiji. Girl gets a concerned look, sorry, can't move people around, nothing available with such a big building (Tokelau, I think) under rehab. Even being sweet and reminding them this is our 20th anniversary trip, nothing works. I still am reading people coming back from the Poly who were there when we were who got all their requests and I wonder what the heck--we got here early. On our way to the monorail we walked by Rarotonga--we knew it was a first floor facing the pool, and I was nervous because some of those rooms have massive shrubs right in front of them.
We went over to Mk and we had promised DS our first ride would be the new, improved Pirates. We did have a wait for it, but we really enjoyed it. After that I told DH to get us a spot in Pecos Bills and I ran to get FP's for Splash--4PM times at about 11;30! Pecos Bills was really crowded but we had never tried it before and I heard good things. We got a table and things were fine, it was good food for counter service but really packed to the gills. After that we decided to go to adventureland some more. The kids had never done the treehouse and we could do jungle cruise and Aladdin. Alas, it had started thundering so all of those attractions were closed. We did the Tiki Room, figuring a quick shower would be over by that time--but it wasn't a quick shower. We got ponchose for DD#2, DS and I. DD#1 and DH decided to tough it out. We headed to Fantasyland to do some indoor attractions, but so did everyone else! We waited 1/2 hour for Small World, which I was really impressed by--I hadn't seen it since the rehab. I'd never noticed the little guys coming out of the clock before! And it is so clean and nice and everything works! After that we came out and were able to get FPs for the 3:15 Philharmagic. We all love that. Finally after that the rain had stopped (it went on about 90 minutes I think, and it wasn't sprinkles either) and they were running a delayed "rain parade"--just the characters being driven in vehicles while playing rain-related songs.
We headed to Splash and rode it. They put DH,DS and me in one row--which may have worked last time when DS was 5 and his dad and I weighed less--but I don't think DS's butt was touching the seat!
We got on the monorail and headed back to our Polynesian. We got in about 5. We were in room 1812, like the war. It turned out to be really nice and I had fretted over nothing. We did not have huge shrubs in front of us--in fact we had a wide expanse of grass leading to the quiet pool. We called bell services for our carry-ons as our luggage was already in the room. It did take a while and DH ended up taking DD#2 and DS to dinner at Kona for our 6:20 ADR while DD#1 and I waited--we were about 5 minutes late. Our dinner at Kona was great and Greg is awesome for a server. We rolled out of there stuffed.
We had decided no parks this night--no commando stuff, since we were going to AK for EMH opening the next day. So we enjoyed the pool (watched Wishes in the pool!) and the TV and went to bed by 11.
Robin M.

 

[AnneMcD]

Thanks for sharing! Can't wait to hear more!

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Cast: DH 42
Me turned 43 this trip
DD#1 14, DD#2 11, DS 8

The one thing I had my sights set on this trip was rides we had not done. My target especially was on Expedition Everest. I had seen it on GMA, seen it on the Disney channel, read about it here....I wanted to ride that ride! So when I started planning I found out which day was EMH at AK and went from there. We hadn't been to AK since 2002--our trips in late 02 and in 03 were only 3 or 4 days each, so there wasn't enough time. I wanted to enjoy AK--even though every single blessed time we had been there it had rained buckets.
We walked out to the bus stop (VERY close to our longhouse) and got the first bus to AK. We got to the outside gates, then about 7:40 they let us go in toward the Oasis. Then they did a little skit with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Pluto--the theme being "let the adventure begin!" Then they dropped the "rope". People either went left(Kilimanjaro Safaris) or right (Ex. Everest)--with the great majority going right! I refused to run, as DH doesn't like it when he senses I get into "commando" mode, but we did not stop to get a photopass photo. People were passing but we thought that was OK. When we got to the ride I wanted to get a FP first, but DH wanted to ride and see how it was. We only waited 5-10 minutes. We ALL love this ride! The themeing in the queue was really cool and the ride itself was very well-done. We came out to ride it again (this time I got a FP first). That second time we even bought the ride picture--DH's particular weakness if he thinks it is a good family photo. I have so many ride photos in boxes. But that's another story.
Side note: We got anniversary buttons at MK the previous day. Our actual "day" was in June but we couldn't come until July due to DD#1 being in summer gym. These buttons have a bride and groom Mickey and Minnie on them. We wore them today, and so many people congratulated us--I wonder how many thought we were on marriage #2 and these were someone's stepkids?
It wasn't quite FP time so we rode Kali River Rapids. We last rode this in 2001! DS was barely 38" tall then (he was only 3) but we still did child swap because DD#2 at the time would NOT get wet on rides. This time we all rode together. DH and I got the worst of it, but it was OK because it was humid out and we were cooled off for quite a while. Then we did our FP for Expedition Everest and left Asia.
We headed to Dinoland. We got fastpasses for Dinosaur and then went to do Primeval Whirl. I let the family go without me--spinny rides and I don't get along. Then they rode Triceratop Spin and we headed to Dinosaur. Even I wanted this photo! DS and DD#1 look terrified. DS rode it once before but he doesn't remember, and he did NOT like it this time--had no desire to ride again. This from the kid who rode Millenium Force at Cedar Point with his hands up all the way!
We walked to the center and there was Flame Tree. It had just opened. I said Let's eat--crowds will only get worse. We were the second family to sit in the shaded verandah all the way down by the water. This is really, really good food people! During lunch a boat came by with Minnie, Mickey, Goofy and Pluto, playing music, with a sign that said "The adventure continues"! I don't know when they started this but the kids loved waving to them--hardly anyone else was there! By the time we left the verandah was full and other diners were "circling" looking for an opening--a lady in a stroller saw our table opening and ran for it!
We got DD#1's picture taken with Tigger and Eeyore and then it started looking a little ominous. We discussed our options--I really REALLY wanted to do Lion King. We decided to head on over. We saw a photopass guy but he was just herding people into covered attractions. We never got an AK photo.
Just as we went into Lion King it started pouring. We had our ponchos from the day before so we were OK with it. I really enjoy this attraction. Last time both girls got chosen to dance--but we were in the front row with my parents (dad was in a scooter) and they were more easily chosen. I was hoping DS would get picked but there were no close seats, so he didn't. Oh well.
We finished up and headed out of the park, taking the bus back to the Polynesian. What is it about busses and my children--they all zonk out, especially DS. It's like giving them ambien!
We rested a little while but got back on the bus to go to MGM for our dinner. We saw a quick standby for R&R (45 min) and waited for it. DS was very impatient as he has never been tall enough before. He is 51" now but every time we rode 2 or 3 CM's stopped and measured. We rode it and then headed over to our dinner at the 50s PTC. We stuffed ourselves silly, DD#1 had to put her nose against the wall for fighting with DD#2, then we went back and got FPs for R&R and got in the standby line for ToT. It was only about 30 minutes. We had been given 6 fastpasses by mistake (I only put our 5 passes in) and I heard a family in front of us talking about how only one girl in their party wanted to ride and they were calling a friend to get a FP--I said "hey, we got an extra FP for R&R so you can have it if you want it". We rode ToT and really enjoyed it as per usual. Then we went to R&R--the family was telling the girl "you are lucky because you'd be waiting until 10 if that family hadn't given you the fastpass!" Then we waited again for ToT--I hadn't ridden at night before and it was cool--it was an EMH night so crowds were still around.
Side note--sometimes this upsets my stomach, usually when we go first thing in the AM and I have not eaten--on an overful stomach I was fine. Go figure!
We were going to the last Fantasmic. This was a mess. They had bunches of us herded by the Beauty and the Beast entrance and kept pushing more in. It started at 10:30 and they didn't let anyone budge until 10:16! I though DD#2 was going to pass out. We hadn't seen this show since 2000! We tried in 01 but it was canceled due to technical isues. It is so good! But it didn't seem much less crowded than the 9PM show would have been. Afterward another mess. They wouldn't let us out by Oscar's (right by the exit) but made us go out Sunset Blvd. That late at night, that tired, those extra steps really count. So another bus ride, another nap, and back to the hotel. How am I going to get them up for EMH at MK tomorrow for the big BDay plan?
Robin M.

 

[pumba]

Iknow what you mean about leaving by Oscars filling station....we always leave by the other entrance.......and to me it is another MILE at the end of the day....thanks so much for your report.......

 

[OhMari]

Congradulations on your 20th Wedding Anniv. Love how you are trying not to be in a commando mode, I totally understand.