9/16-10/3 The trip that dreams are made of....

[Cass]

Nice instalment, the highs and the lows and the stress and the joys - it had it all.. a rollercoaster.

 

[momoftriplets]

OM Gosh!!!! I was so stressed out waiting for you to find your things at TL!!! I know I wouldn't have handled it so calmly. Extremely happy things worked out for you! Loved the unbirthday celebration! Great report! Barb

 

[jaycns]

OM Gosh!!!! I was so stressed out waiting for you to find your things at TL!!! I know I wouldn't have handled it so calmly. Extremely happy things worked out for you! Loved the unbirthday celebration! Great report! Barb

We didn't really have a choice...it was either try and remain calm and wait and see what happened OR flip out and wait and see what happened. It was one of those things that was totally out of our hands. Nothing we could do would get us that green waterproof case back. Nothing we could say would make it appear...so we tried (at first only for the kid's sakes...they were starting to look a bit shell shocked at talk of not being able to board the Disney Magic) to just let it go and relax. A B-I-G part of being able to do that was knowing that we had our own personal Disney hero helping out on our side...if it could be found, Christopher, the security CM was going to be sure it was and if it was found, he was going to get it back to us as soon as anyone possibly could. Even in the advent we had not found the case it would NOT have been for lack of him trying or for lack of him hoping it would make it's way safely back to us.

 

[sharonW]

Great TR! It is so nice to know that
disney does so many magical things for families.
That pixie dust is the most awesome stuff! It is
so much fun reading about your special moments
with your family. Its reminds me of the many wonderful
trips I had with my boys when they were youngsters and
we too stayed at the contemporary. Can't wait to hear more!

 

[swankybeth]

Great installment! I'm happy you found your case at TL and I'm glad things worked out at Chef Mickey's.

 

[lucky978]

...it is then that dh makes a horrible discovery...the little green box Disney Water Parks box that he is wearing around his neck? IT IS GONE. OH NO!! Our van key was in there(we had taken it off the ring so it would fit), all of our tickets that we had long ago bought at the Disney Store (and had remaining days)were in there, our room keys (that you could charge on and had our current theme park tickets were in there and worst of all, dh had his driver's license in there.....

Oh My! The same EXACT thing happened to DH and I when we were there in 1997! Same park, same episode. It was before we had kids, but we were sharing a rental car with friends who we had dropped off at Epcot for the day. We were planning on picking them up at 6pm. Of course, this was before cell phones. We searched and searched and thankfully some wonderful person had found the case and turned it into lost and found. I was so nervous and had no idea how we were going to reach our friends. Thankfully it all worked out for you (and us). I wonder how many of those cases get lost and found each day???

Also - I know exactly how you feel having a child with asthma. Both my daughters have it. One worse than the other - and we have taken a few trips to Disney during her episodes. When we visited in Dec one year I carried her nebulizer in the park with me and would stop into First Aid every four hours so she could have a breathing treatment. They were always very accommodating there. I don't think we could have finished our trip without them! I always bring the nebulizer and all her meds with us just in case. Thankfully last trip we didn't have to use it, but I felt more comfortable having it with us just in case.

I'm loving your trip report and have read every word. Your family is beautiful and I can't wait to hear more about this wonderful adventure.

Thanks so much for sharing it with us.

 

[Poohbear77]

What a sweet gesture from the photographer. I am so glad your littlest guy was able to overcome his fears and have good time.

Who couldn't love Disney?????

 

[jaycns]

Day 5 continued...

After celebrating "Stitch's" very happy unbirthday we took a walk down to the beach. The kids dug in the sand and dh and I just swung on the hammocks. The boys also ran around shouting "Look, it's the governor's daughter" over and over and over again. Part way through their fake pirate battles it became apparent that they needed swords (what boy doesn't?!) so we figured it was time to arm our children for their future battles.

Even though it was already after 9:00 PM we loaded up the van and went to DTD. We didn't have much time but we made the most of what we had. We did a bit of pin trading in the pin pavilion. *Side note: We very rarely buy pins at Disney. Instead I load up on them via eBay at a much reduced price and then we trade for what we want all vacation long. This trip found each of us with about 30 to trade. All in all we had 120 pins (dh didn't have any). We paid about 1/4 of the cost of that same number of pins in the park and by trading (which is so much fun in itself) we were able to get pins we loved! If you want to pin trade...buy before you go!!*

Our boys were able to outfit themselves for a proper pirate battle and then our time ran out. DTD closed. So back to the Contemp. we went.

Once back it was time for a pit stop at the F&FC. First we played around in the arcade for about 1/2 hour. Then we got some snacks (I of course picked the to die for chocolate cake) and went back to the beach. While the boys went on their pirate adventures, dh and I swung away on the hammocks and spent a long time talking about everything and nothing...all at the same time. It was a great night. Nothing fancy. Just great.

I think it was almost 1:30 AM before we finally got back up to the room, got everyone cleaned up and settled into bed. It had been a late night...but a fun one. The memories of the boys running wild across the white sand beach pretending to be pirates are such funny ones. I think we all needed a bit of time to just relax and play (even if it were so late at night). We loved watching the different boats pull in and out and pass us by. It was a moment that stands out not because of magic that Disney created...but because of the magic of just simply "being" with the ones you love the most.

Best Moments of the Day: Christopher, the TL security CM, returning our lost case. Celebrating "Stitch's" unbirthday. The wave pool at TL. "Goofy" finding the stuffed Pluto under his pillow which 'Tinker Bell' had exchanged for his lost tooth. All three boys getting the trivia questions correct. The late night pirate battles that took place on the beach.

Worst Moments of the Day: LOSING OUR WATER PROOF CASE!! The horrible headache I got on the way back from TL. The fit "Stitch" threw upon learning we were going to Chef Mickey's and nobody was having a birthday.

All in all...WAY more good then bad!! And looking back...the "worst" doesn't even seem all that bad anymore! However, the "best" seems even better upon reflection!

 

[jaycns]

I have just found yet ANOTHER day of pictures missing from our discs...this is surely dh's fault He was in charge of downloading our pictures into his laptop every night and then burning them on to a disc.

Okay...maybe I could have misplaced the discs once they were given to me...but ummm...well...it's so much easier to blame someone else .

No...I will not be divorcing dh...although this is grounds for severe punishment...at least two days worth of my Disney photos are gone. POOF...not here. In trying to track the photos down I have become familiar with how helpful the lost and found operators are.

Next up will be EPCOT. It was a day full of great photos...but sadly, I think they are gone for good. Either that or somehow they are still in the lining of a suitcase or at the bottom of a yet to be finished sorting pile of stuff brought back with us from WDW and the cruise.

Please bear with me through the next installment which will hopefully be the very last day EVER without photos.

If the photos are located I will add them on at the end of the report. Here's for hopin'!!

 

[MouseTriper]

Ohh I LOVE your TR. Your boys are adorable and I love hearing all about your adventures. I must say I think the "unbirthday" party was such a great idea! From the pictures of Stitch, it sure looks like he had a blast. What a little cutie!

So glad you also found all your stuff!!! How stressful.

I can't wait to read more!!!

 

[paigevz]

Well, I told you what I thought about most of this day in my email. It is nice to see the pictures, though.......yep, they've got photobucket blocked too.

Your kids are adorable, as always ........how come there aren't any pictures of you on here?

I'm sorry you can't find your pics, but I"m sure they'll show up sooner or later. Sure hope I get to read more tomorrow!

But I do just gotta say, I''m getting slightly irked that you didn't bring me any of that cake you keep throwing in our faces!

 

[jaycns]

The Cast of Characters-

Me- a 30 something mom who loves Disney.

Dh- a 30 something dad who does not love Disney but does love his family enough to humor us!

Aladdin-(aka Prince Ali aka ds1) is now 10 years old. Lucky for us, he is still a Disney addict and still loves everything about WDW...including the characters!

Goofy-(aka Goof aka ds2) turned 7 on our vacation. Loves Disney, period.

Stitch-(aka Stitchity Stitch Stitch aka ds3) is 5 years old and the magic is all still "real" for him. He loves Disney but has trouble with "new things".

Our plans- 9/15 depart for WDW drive to Valdosta, GA and stop for a quick sleep. Continue to WDW arriving early on 9/16. 9/16-9/23 stay at Disney's Contemporary Resort. 9/23-9/30 cruise aboard the Disney Magic. 9/30-10/3 arrive at Disney's Polynesian Resort.



Day 6...off to see the world...via Epcot of course!!

This day must have started with a sunrise but nobody in our family could actually confirm that. We slept in until about 9:00 AM. After our late night pirate beach battles we were in need of some rest!! Plundering is hard work!!

By 10:00 AM we were entering EPCOT. Our first stop was Spaceship Earth. No wait...so we walked right on. Then it was on to the bakery for some fruit smoothies. With those in hand we stopped to watch the fountain for a bit. It never gets old. The water leaping in time to the music. We all enjoy watching, what our boys call, "the dancing water".

This trip we were lucky enough to catch Kristos. Just about as soon as we had finished up our smoothies and started across the plaza we saw them setting up...so we stayed to watch them and WOW...they are out of this world amazing! How does a body bend like that? They must be some of the strongest 'aliens' this world has ever known!! And hot...they must be hot too. In those suits. UGH. I was broiling wearing my shorts and sleeveless tee. After the show we stopped to tell them how amazing we thought they were and one of the women posed with "Aladdin" for a photo. Now, my boys are tall...but he's not 'that tall'!! "Aladdin" was TALLER then one of the women by about two inches!! She didn't look that little up on the pedestal but standing next to our son she looked tiny. Not only was she shorter...but her body was so compact!! Our son is no couch tater...he plays soccer 6 days a week and is in great shape. He doesn't have an extra ounce on him and he looked "wide" standing next to her! She was all the more amazing because she had so much strength packed into such a slight frame!! WOW!!

After chatting with the 'aliens' for a bit we heard another show and wandered over and saw a bit of the JAMinator's show. We liked them...but truth be told...we had already slept in late, ridden Spaceship Earth, stopped for smoothies, watched water dance and aliens pose and it was high time we actually went on a "big" ride...so after a few minutes (even though they were highly entertaining) we made our way past the show and over to Soarin. YEP...we had to do that one again. The 6 times we had gone on it earlier in the week had not been enough for us!! So we approached, scared of the wait we might find and we found a 5 minute wait. Ahh...no brainer...we will do it!!

**SIDE NOTE...I seriously don't think I could ever again handle going to WDW during the busy season...how spoiled are we that we can wake up at park opening, stroll over to a "big draw" ride while watching shows and snacking along the way and end up there in the late morning...only to find a VERY short line?!. Nope, I am quite sure we would not survive busy season. I guess that is why we will have to stick to winter (apart from all holidays) or hurricane season. **

After Soarin' we did Test Track and Mission Space (again very short if any lines). Then it was time to head back to the World Showcase. We had already spent a full day exploring the front of the park and it was now time to head back. We took the route from Canada over to Japan...we didn't have time to stop for much...we had to get over to see our favorite candy maker...Miyuki! That woman is gifted! Watching her turn blobs of white goo into beautiful little edible sculptures is just flat out amazing! She is so good at what she does that she makes it look easy...and I know it's not!! Heck, I cannot even make a dog out of Playdough! Well, I can, but last time I tried my kids thought it was either a lion, a lizard or a frog.

Along the way we did stop to pose with the Country Bears, Rabbit from Winnie the Pooh and a Penguin from Mary Poppins. WHY OH WHY OH WHY did we have to lose these pictures??!! I have never seen any of those characters before and all of a sudden we met them all within 10 minutes!! And of course, this is the day that we cannot find the photos from. Figures!!

We got to Miyuki's stand about 15 minutes before her show was to start. The boys were hot from hoofing it high speed around half of the showcase so they sat down in the shaded area in front of her stand. Dh stayed with them while I ran into the department store. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Botan Ame Rice Candy!!!!!! YUM!! YUM!!! YUM!!!!! I love the little edible inner wrappers. I love the gooey candy inside. I love the hint of citrus...I simply love the stuff. I ended up buying $20 worth of it!! And sadly, we are already all out. Did I mention that I was not good at hiding treats? My kids found them and they disappeared faster then money at WDW!! Try some!! They are delicious!!

All loaded up with my most important purchase of the day, I met the family back out at Miyuki's stand. Her show was going to start in a few minutes. So we broke out the rice candy and had ourselves a little, pre candy show, candy treat. Just about the time we had finished off our second box of the candy (it only has six little candies in each box and we each had two...well okay, I finished off the extra two as well ) Miyuki appeared. She always seems so friendly! She was beaming great big smiles at the crowd that was now starting to gather. The first person she asked to pick a creature was "Goofy". He chose a dragon. A yellow dragon. His yellow dragon had red tipped scales and looked very fierce! The next person to chose was a little girl who chose a dolphin. It was very graceful looking and seemed to shimmer with the silver highlights Miyuki gave it! Next up? Lucky little "Stitch". He chose a lion. While making his lion Miyuki kept saying "roar, little Simba, sharp teeth...ouch". She did a great job of making him look sweet and scary all at the same time! She even gave him a patch of grass to stand on! If I had to pick one, I think he was my favorite one of her creations that session. Next up a little boy picked a dinosaur. THAT was neat looking!! I couldn't believe how quickly she brought that one to life!! Then she turned to "Aladdin" and he picked a shark. The shark she made had large gill slits, tall fins and SHARP teeth! The details were amazing! And he really did look like an apex predator!! The last two children chose birds...a flamingo and an eagle. WOW!! The speed at which she makes the wings with her little scissors is well, I know I have already over used this word...but amazing! I would love to have an entire afternoon spent watching Miyuki craft her creations....maybe someday that is what I will do. Return to show after show and watch her cut, snip and pull those little animals to life. She rates #1 on our must see World Showcase list! She is great!!

TO BE CONTINUED...

 

[serendipity]

sorry to hear about your pictures! The shows in EPCOT seem really fun. We've never stopped to see any of them, I'll definately make sure to next time!

 

[Poohbear77]

Heck, I cannot even make a dog out of Playdough! Well, I can, but last time I tried my kids thought it was either a lion, a lizard or a frog.
..

Too funny!! I don't even try to tell my kids what I have made anymore. I just say" what do you think it is" and whatever they say it is I just agree.

I couldn't believe you had posted again already. Your fast!!! Great job as always.

 

[jaycns]

Too funny!! I don't even try to tell my kids what I have made anymore. I just say" what do you think it is" and whatever they say it is I just agree.

I couldn't believe you had posted again already. Your fast!!! Great job as always.

I think I may have to try it "your way" from now on...it's getting down right " " to try and explain and convince my own children what my creations are!! Who knew that a dog could look like a frog?

Thanks for reading along!

 

[jaycns]

sorry to hear about your pictures! The shows in EPCOT seem really fun. We've never stopped to see any of them, I'll definately make sure to next time!

We love the little things. So the "small" shows always interest us. The JAMinators are awesome. They remind me of The Blue Man Group. My boys think they are funny.

And Miyuki's candy making show is one of my favorite activities at any of the theme parks. She is just so talented and it's just so much fun to watch her in motion!

We are still looking for our photos. I am hoping they are found...but not counting on it at this point.

Thanks for reading!

 

[jaycns]

Your kids are adorable, as always ........how come there aren't any pictures of you on here?

Well...somebody has to take the pictures! I really am in more pictures this trip then in the past...I just hate to be the one in front of the camera.

I'm sorry you can't find your pics, but I"m sure they'll show up sooner or later. Sure hope I get to read more tomorrow!

I sure hope that they do surface. Some of my favorite pictures from the entire trip are among the missing. If not, I have the memories...and those will last a lot longer anyway! That and the almost 1300 OTHER pictures that didn't get lost I guess I will survive!!

But I do just gotta say, I''m getting slightly irked that you didn't bring me any of that cake you keep throwing in our faces!

I wish I had brought some back with me...although, I must admit, I don't know if I could have made myself share...that cake...OH that cake!! Even if you don't stay at the Contemporary take a monorail ride over and get a piece...OH SO GOOD!!

 

[jaycns]

Oh My! The same EXACT thing happened to DH and I when we were there in 1997! Same park, same episode. It was before we had kids, but we were sharing a rental car with friends who we had dropped off at Epcot for the day. We were planning on picking them up at 6pm. Of course, this was before cell phones. We searched and searched and thankfully some wonderful person had found the case and turned it into lost and found. I was so nervous and had no idea how we were going to reach our friends. Thankfully it all worked out for you (and us). I wonder how many of those cases get lost and found each day???

Dh and I have come to a decision...NO MORE WATERPROOF CASES...EVER!! BAD idea. From now on, I am looking for swim trunks with zippers on the pockets...that way dh can just zip the important stuff away and we know it will be there at the end of the day!

I am glad you found your case as well! Aren't other guests amazing? Really, I should have said this before, but THANK YOU to the kind guest that took the time to turn it in! Without another guest being nice enough to pick it up and turn it in...it might not have made it's way back.

Thanks for reading and posting and especially for the kind words!!!

 

[Kat in GA]

What a ride -- I am all caught up on your report. Thanks so much for sharing -- and I really hope you find those pictures!

 

[JJClemson]

Jay- Still loving your TR Looks like you were faced w/ many stressful situations, but you handled them all so well! I am glad you were able to find your water proof case, thank goodness! Stitch's "unbirthday" was too cute. It's so great to see how considerate some CMs are