3/29There's No Crying at the Guest Relations Counter..TheyTook Me Into the Back Room!

[vikster1]

This is great! more... more

 

[appleorchard]

I go through this gate numerous times on every visit. And never-- ever—have I seen the plethora of characters that we ran into this day.

First up was Rapunzel – Rapunzel, right out in the open, wearing the same dress as J, with a waiting line of zero people. I was flabbergasted, but got over it quickly and pushed J into the line before the rest of the boat people caught up with us.

This was – hands down – one of the best character encounters we ever had. Rapunzel wasn’t rushed, the backdrop was beautiful and she and J were wearing matching dresses!

The matching girls

This was far better than our first ever Tangled encounter, where we waited an hour in the sun for the privilege. And had the strangest thing happen.

There’s a point to this long story, so bear with me.

We’d been talking to a mom with a daughter adopted from China who was just J’s age. They had a great time together. Right before our group went in to see Rapunzel, a couple in the late 50s or 60s stepped behind my group and in front of the woman and her daughter.

At first, I thought she was with them—grandparents who had wandered off and just found the place again, or something, because they were talking to the woman. They had a French accent, which seemed weird, but families are often rather mixed up like that, so I didn’t say anything for a few minutes.
But M and I couldn’t stand it. So I finally said,

“Oh, are you with them?” pointing at the woman and her daughter.

No, they said, they were from Quebec and wanted to check out Rapunzel for their grandchildren.

“Well, the end of the line is way back there,” I said, pointing to where the way back end was.

They didn’t move. They just kept talking. And standing there. Our new friend didn’t seem to care; she just kept talking to them, like people cutting an hour-long line was no big deal.

And then she did something that put me to shame. She said to them,

“You can come in with us. You can be my daughter’s temporary grandparents. She doesn’t have them here today, so you can stand in for them.”

I was completely ashamed of myself. I consider myself a charitable Christian, but all too often, my sinful side takes over and I get aggravated, snide and sarcastic. This woman made me feel like the most uncharitable person on the face of the earth.

Did the older couple know that they’d cut a very long line filled with kids who’d been waiting a very long time? I don’t know if they really got it. French was obviously their first language. Maybe this sort of thing is normal in French culture.

But by taking them in with her, the woman behind us saw to it that they didn’t take anyone else’s turn away or delay anyone. She assumed that they really didn’t get it and did something kind.

I wish I were more like that.

But Rapunzel was just the beginning. Cinderella was just a few steps away, also with a short wait. Her hair was a little funny, though. Sort of un-Cinderella-y poufy bangs, not that J noticed.

Cinderella of the slightly too-poufy bangs

Just beyond Cinderella-with-the-funny-hair was Alice, and Mary Poppins was just past her. We waited for Alice, even though J is more familiar with the Tim Robbins version of Alice than the traditional A. Mary Poppins line was closed, but J has really no idea who she is, anyway.

In the Alice line I did something that still really bothers me and dovetails with my earlier Rapunzel story. :guilty: Several South Ameri...st.php?p=47810273&postcount=111"]next chapter

 

[shalom]

So the characters were wonderful, but once again, I admonished myself for taking on the role of line police. I think I’m done with that role. I’m not very good at it.

I mostly don't do lines (because we go off season and I don't care about most of the popular stuff anyhow), but I got caught in one two years ago at SeaWorld where there was a busload of teenagers in front of us for some reason, and I'd promised hubby I'd get the kids all set with the Meal Deal before I let them loose. This couple started moving past us and I growled, "Hey, no cutting!" But they'd been there the whole time and I was just spacing out, so I apologized right off. But, still.

Anyhow, don't feel alone on that one.

And hurrah to the lady who handled the French couple, and how neat that you ran across a line up of characters like that.

 

[Li Li]

I've been silently following your report since the beginning (and loving it!), but I just had to speak up about your story. Wow! How great of that person to take the couple in with her! I would have definitely been the person who would be giving evil looks to the line cutters and possibly saying something. I am definitely going to try to carry this story with me and remember it whenever I start to feel uncharitable about these types of things.

Thanks again (for the story and the great reporting)!

 

[appleorchard]

I mostly don't do lines (because we go off season and I don't care about most of the popular stuff anyhow), but I got caught in one two years ago at SeaWorld where there was a busload of teenagers in front of us for some reason, and I'd promised hubby I'd get the kids all set with the Meal Deal before I let them loose. This couple started moving past us and I growled, "Hey, no cutting!" But they'd been there the whole time and I was just spacing out, so I apologized right off. But, still.

Anyhow, don't feel alone on that one.

And hurrah to the lady who handled the French couple, and how neat that you ran across a line up of characters like that.

I've been silently following your report since the beginning (and loving it!), but I just had to speak up about your story. Wow! How great of that person to take the couple in with her! I would have definitely been the person who would be giving evil looks to the line cutters and possibly saying something. I am definitely going to try to carry this story with me and remember it whenever I start to feel uncharitable about these types of things.

Thanks again (for the story and the great reporting)!

Thank you both! I try to remember to give people the benefit of the doubt and when I don't, wham! God usually hits me across the forehead with a baseball bat.

I need to improve my memory so I don't need so many whacks lol.

 

[ProudMommyof2]

I simply love your story! Your writing style makes me smile and i love how you love and take your family in stride at the same time. What a gift to be able to share Disney with your family!

 

[nonnasally]

I simply love your story! Your writing style makes me smile and i love how you love and take your family in stride at the same time. What a gift to be able to share Disney with your family!

I agree. A total blessing to have family to share Disney trips. I never get tired of tearing up watching wishes with my family around me. Think AO would agree its even more moving with. Grandkids in tow! Makes you forget all about the visa Bills. Cant wait to read on.

 

[Backstage_Gal]

You might enjoy getting FastPass+ when it rolls out to make appointments for Character meets.
More great chapters, thanks!

 

[Rozz]

Just wanted to let you know, I'm following along and really enjoying your trip report! I am drawn to your writing style and sense of humor. Are you channeling Erma Bombeck? Let's face it; if we didn't find a way to laugh at some of the things that happen with us and our families, we'd never make it! If it's not constant vigilance for the safety of Mousey (our Lamby), it's popcorn and DSAs!

 

[appleorchard]

I agree. A total blessing to have family to share Disney trips. I never get tired of tearing up watching wishes with my family around me. Think AO would agree its even more moving with. Grandkids in tow! Makes you forget all about the visa Bills. Cant wait to read on.

Oh, absolutely! I'm really looking forward to DH's and my trip with the other grandkids in May. A completely different trip--older kids, no princesses!- but still the magic.

You might enjoy getting FastPass+ when it rolls out to make appointments for Character meets.
More great chapters, thanks!

No, I want a front row seat to the parade and WISHES lol!

Just wanted to let you know, I'm following along and really enjoying your trip report! I am drawn to your writing style and sense of humor. Are you channeling Erma Bombeck? Let's face it; if we didn't find a way to laugh at some of the things that happen with us and our families, we'd never make it! If it's not constant vigilance for the safety of Mousey (our Lamby), it's popcorn and DSAs!

Glad you're here! You really gotta laugh or cry sometimes--we had a lot of glitches in this trip--one coming up in the report I'm going to do in bit!- but M just said to me yesterday what a perfect trip it was. We forget the bad stuff-thank goodness. Mousey, huh? Another original name lol.

 

[appleorchard]

I hate photobucket--it takes every picture that's taller than it is wide and turns it on its side! So frustrating! So I could only post one picture from this night.

So after that cheery ending to the last chapter, things improved.

We decided to try for two more princesses, Mulan in China and Snow White in Germany. That’s where she lives. Who knew?

On the way there we stopped in Mexico for a boat ride. J thought it was great. M was obsessed with the fact that she didn’t remember the ride being like this at all.

“Why is Donald Duck here?” she kept asking. “How does he fit with Mexico?”
Beats me.

Next we tried Maelstrom – which is a fastpass, you know, but who knows why? – and J and M both hated it. M was obsessed here with how scary everything in Norway was, even the movie. Honestly, I never noticed before how strident some parts of it are.

“These people all look so unhappy,” she kept saying. “And the music is so gloomy.”

Norway wasn’t a hit, in other words.

We did all like the gift shop, though.

By the time we got to Mulan, her line was full, so we decided to seek out Snow White across the world in Germany first. J spent the whole time playing with a little boy and his sister, who were in front of us. Thankfully, no one tried to cut the line, so I was able to keep my mouth shut.

Well, that’s not true. Tons of people tried to cut the line, but the line attendant was very good at keeping everyone under control. After all, this is Germany. You VILL stand in a straight line. Germany is all about order. My daughter thinks the Norwegians are grim; she should go to Germany. Except for Bavaria. That’s a fun place.

Snow White was sweet; Photobucket won't let me post a picture of Mulan, for some reason.

We high-tailed it back over to Mulan and waited for her to come out for her next set. The Chinese acrobats were doing their thing, but I don’t like them as much since they got rid of the younger kids and now have older people—in gymnastics, you’re “older” at 20 – doing the routines. I tried to see a bit of the show but the bushes were in the way.

We had a great interaction with Mulan – Snow White was also very sweet, I forgot to say, not German-acting at all. But we had a whole night of characters still to see—we were eating at the Garden Grill!

Our first dinner here, on our trip with M’s DH, was great. Everybody actually had a very good time, even Mr. Grumpy. For whatever reason, this time wasn’t quite the same. Maybe it’s just that you can’t go home again. It wasn’t our waiter—we had the exact same guy we had last time. I love it when that happens at Disney!

The food was the same, too, so it wasn’t that, either. The characters were good – well, as good as characters that don’t talk ever are. J had a good time; she loves Chip and Dale. It was fun, just not as much as we remembered. Maybe we were charactered out.

Whatever it was, we both walked out thinking it hadn’t been the same. We did have time for a quick flyover with Soarin’ before the fireworks, though, so that made up for it.

We left early to catch the monorail before the crowds descended on it, because J is not a fan of Illuminations; it's too loud. And this is another area where M just can’t get past the fact that it’s nothing like it was in the 90s, so she doesn’t like it either. I love it, but I see it at least three times on my trips with DH. So we left.

And here’s where the evening really went sour.

The monorail was closed.

OK, no really big deal, we’d have to take the bus. Queen M wasn’t happy about unloading the stroller and riding the bus, but we’d make the best of it.

“There will be a bus,” the monorail-guarder guy told us.

If only it had been this easy.

We asked the first knowledgeable-looking person we saw at the bus stop where we should get the bus to the Contemporary, since the monorail was closed. He directed us to a number, where we obediently stood. It was only when we boarded the bus that I realized it was going to the TTC, not to the Contemporary.

Well, I suppose that made sense. That’s where the monorail would have taken us, too. So we’d have to get on a monorail after the bus. We would have had to do that anyway.

Life was still good.

Naturally, J fell asleep on the bus, which was jam-packed with fellow monorail exiles as well as people heading back to the TTC. Well, that was okay. We were getting on a monorail next and could put her in the stroller, which we did.

Then we got on our monorail. Not crowded at all, it was lovely. Leaving a bit early was a good thing.

We stopped at the Polynesian first. And we waited. Then we waited a little more. Finally, we moved down the track to the Grand Floridian.

And that’s where we came to a standstill, somewhere between the Grand Floridian and the Polynesian. We sat and sat and sat. A man came over the loudspeaker and said we were delayed for traffic. Then he said we were delayed some more. Half an hour passed. Then he said we were going to stop at the Grand Floridian and we’d all have to get out.

And walk home, I guess.

Another monorail had broken down at the MK station. We asked how we were going to get home, and he said they’d send a bus.

Oh, no, not another bus. Oh, yes.

There were about 12 of us, a little rag-tag band of monorail exiles, slinking through the Grand Floridian on our way to the buses. The main elevator was broken, so M and I had to trudge around to the other elevator, so we lost our group and were afraid they’d all hop on the bus and leave us there.
We shouldn’t have worried. Buses came. Buses went. We asked each one, like the Little Engine who could,

“Please, oh, please, Mr. Bus Driver, could you please take us home to the Contemporary? Our little coral monorail has broken down and we need to get home before morning.”

They all refused us.

The mood was getting ugly.

Finally, a bus came who was willing to take us home. I don’t know where it came from, but none of us really cared by that time.

We took J from the stroller and got on the bus.

By the time we got to the Contemporary, I was beginning to wonder if we’d boarded the Flying Dutchman. This bus took the longest, most convoluted route imaginable back to the Contemporary. I didn’t think we’d ever get there, but obviously, we did.

We said good night to our fellow exiles and trudged up to our room. J never moved a muscle as I deposited her in the bed. You know where Queen M went.



Next chapter

 

[Deesknee]

I am so enjoying your TR! I am finally caught up. WoW! I love that you hit the character mojo at EPCOT. Never blame yourself for not being good at your line keeper job....it was the staff that trained us.

I quite smoking when I got pregnant with my youngest, about 10 years ago. I have to admit, when I am on vacation at WDW is when I miss it most. My favorite part of the day used to be sitting on the balcony of OKW having a cup of coffee and a cig. Don't get me wrong, I love watching my kids interact with all things disney and I love disney myself. But there is just something about that serenity of the early morning when the dew is on the grass, and the smoke is in my lungs. JK.. I really do miss that. Just not enought to start again.

We walked the walkway from BW to Epcot our last trip. That is so peaceful, perhaps my new morning serenity tradition.

You seem to go many different seasons... which is your favorite?

BTW, you probably now have found out there is a walking trail from MK to BLT. Or was that not possible from where they dropped you off. That is my favorite part of staying BLT...well maybe not my favorite, but it is up there.

Looking forward to your next installment.

 

[appleorchard]

I am so enjoying your TR! I am finally caught up. WoW! I love that you hit the character mojo at EPCOT. Never blame yourself for not being good at your line keeper job....it was the staff that trained us.

I quite smoking when I got pregnant with my youngest, about 10 years ago. I have to admit, when I am on vacation at WDW is when I miss it most. My favorite part of the day used to be sitting on the balcony of OKW having a cup of coffee and a cig. Don't get me wrong, I love watching my kids interact with all things disney and I love disney myself. But there is just something about that serenity of the early morning when the dew is on the grass, and the smoke is in my lungs. JK.. I really do miss that. Just not enought to start again.

We walked the walkway from BW to Epcot our last trip. That is so peaceful, perhaps my new morning serenity tradition.

You seem to go many different seasons... which is your favorite?

BTW, you probably now have found out there is a walking trail from MK to BLT. Or was that not possible from where they dropped you off. That is my favorite part of staying BLT...well maybe not my favorite, but it is up there.

Looking forward to your next installment.

The trail to MK from BLT is the reason we love staying there-- but they left us at the Grand Floridian! No walking trail, sad to say....

Seasons... I love December, early, before the crowds arrive. We've had good weather, though. My sister was there one year when it was FREEZING that week. She's also been through some real monsoon weather... it rained a lot and was hot in August but we found the rain great for keeping the crowds away!

And I love the fall, too.. between Food and Wine and MNSSHP... but the weather is nice in the spring too... obviously, I like all the seasons!

 

[Robbi]

On the way there we stopped in Mexico for a boat ride. J thought it was great. M was obsessed with the fact that she didn’t remember the ride being like this at all.

“Why is Donald Duck here?” she kept asking. “How does he fit with Mexico?”
Beats me.

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Donald Duck in in Mexico because of the 1944 Disney film, The Three Caballeros. Donald opens gifts from his Latin American friends. Among them are José "Zé" Carioca and Panchito.

I'm really enjoying your trip report!

 

[appleorchard]

Donald Duck in in Mexico because of the 1944 Disney film, The Three Caballeros. Donald opens gifts from his Latin American friends. Among them are José "Zé" Carioca and Panchito.

I'm really enjoying your trip report!

There's an actual tie-in? Well, live and learn! I had no idea! I'll look like a genius when we go with my son's family in May lol. Thanks!

 

[Robbi]

There's an actual tie-in? Well, live and learn! I had no idea! I'll look like a genius when we go with my son's family in May lol. Thanks!

Glad to help-you can change your name to appleorchard Einstein.

 

[Deesknee]

The trail to MK from BLT is the reason we love staying there-- but they left us at the Grand Floridian! No walking trail, sad to say....

Seasons... I love December, early, before the crowds arrive. We've had good weather, though. My sister was there one year when it was FREEZING that week. She's also been through some real monsoon weather... it rained a lot and was hot in August but we found the rain great for keeping the crowds away!

And I love the fall, too.. between Food and Wine and MNSSHP... but the weather is nice in the spring too... obviously, I like all the seasons!

Ahhh, I was thinking you got off at TTC. sorry. Glad you knew about it though.
We enjoy November usually. We usually stick to the fall. Oct. Nov. we went once in early Dec. We are going in Aug. this time. I am leary of the heat. Being from the north....
We have gone in late June/July before. Just really leary of aug. temps/humidy.

I think Norway is meant to mean like the Vikings. ? I wouldn't think it was a great lure for tourism for kids with that ride. Personally, I enjoy the ride, but my DD no way.

And like the pp said Mexico is now based on the Three Cabelleros. It changed a couple of years ago. I miss the old version.

Thanks again, for the wonderful TR!

 

[appleorchard]

Glad to help-you can change your name to appleorchard Einstein.

LOLOL!

Ahhh, I was thinking you got off at TTC. sorry. Glad you knew about it though.
We enjoy November usually. We usually stick to the fall. Oct. Nov. we went once in early Dec. We are going in Aug. this time. I am leary of the heat. Being from the north....
We have gone in late June/July before. Just really leary of aug. temps/humidy.

I think Norway is meant to mean like the Vikings. ? I wouldn't think it was a great lure for tourism for kids with that ride. Personally, I enjoy the ride, but my DD no way.

And like the pp said Mexico is now based on the Three Cabelleros. It changed a couple of years ago. I miss the old version.

Thanks again, for the wonderful TR!

I was leery about August, too--we went right before school started last year--going to do it in 2014, too. It was hot, sticky and rainy, and of course we ran smack into hurricane warnings, not in Florida, but up here in Jersey, so we hightailed it out a day early. That's the most worrisome part of late August--hurricane season.

We got evacuated from the Jersey shore in late August the year before due to hurricane warnings-- we haven't had much luck with vacationing that time of year! Of course, this year we got walloped with Sandy in October, so there really is no perfect time to try and get out of the state. In the winter, we worry about snowstorms-- can't win!

 

[Deesknee]

LOLOL!



I was leery about August, too--we went right before school started last year--going to do it in 2014, too. It was hot, sticky and rainy, and of course we ran smack into hurricane warnings, not in Florida, but up here in Jersey, so we hightailed it out a day early. That's the most worrisome part of late August--hurricane season.

We got evacuated from the Jersey shore in late August the year before due to hurricane warnings-- we haven't had much luck with vacationing that time of year! Of course, this year we got walloped with Sandy in October, so there really is no perfect time to try and get out of the state. In the winter, we worry about snowstorms-- can't win!

so true. In NE it is snowstorm and hurricanes. In the south & midwest it is hurricanes & tornadoes. And the west has earthquakes. Plan,, pack & pray I guess. Thanks for the words of wisdom!

 

[6packdoesdisney]

Just read the 1st 8 pages of your TR and am enjoying it very much.
I'm looking forward to more and, of course, THE REAL MELTDOWN @ GR.