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

I really enjoyed this installment. I have never been to AK. The last time I was there I was with family and my mom said it was too hot to go to that park. I dont regret it but I also wont skip it next time either. Keep up the good work!
 
Love it as usual. Looks like you guys had a great time at AK and AKL. Where you watched the parade from was awesome! Thanks for another great installment!
 
HEY!...Your braids are gone!?! I just realized in the pic of you & your son that there was no longer the mass amount of braids in your hair! Did you take them out for easier washing or were they bugging you?!?

So many mixed revues on Boma...What to do? What to do? Don't know if that will be our "big" meal or not. No Free Dining Plan for us! (Not offered with land/sea packages)

I am :bounce: "patiently" :Pinkbounc waiting for more!
 
momoftriplets said:
I'm so bummed we didn't get to Boma last time. The main reason I wanted to go was to see AKL. Definately will next time. Loved the pictures. Really piqued my curiousity. LOVED the "Speed Hump" sign. I would have done the same thing! Looking forward to more!
Barb

Boma is nice. I liked it. But at WDW I would rate many other venues above it. However, that doesn't reflect poorly on Boma, not at all...because while Boma was "nice" the others (in my opinion) are "awesome". I think if you are dining at Boma to explore AKL then you are in for a REAL TREAT! That place is just amazing!!

:rolleyes: :lmao: :lmao: :rolleyes: That "Speed Hump" sign cracks me up still when I look at it...WHERE do they call it that?!! Other the WDW, of course. Too funny! And yes, I did think about excluding that from the trip report...but truth be told, I hadn't laughed so hard in a very long time and it is a very funny memory from our trip.
 

Bee said:
I cannot wait to read about your night alone with your oldest at the Happiest Place on Earth. I did that in October of 2005 with my eldest. She was almost 11 at the time and I will tell you, it was one of the best nights :Pinkbounc of my life. I wrote about it in my trip report as well. I wasnt the mom that she knows so well. :furious: I was relaxed and carefree. :love: :rotfl:

Hiya Bee and thanks for reading along! As soon as I finish this monster of a trip report I will have to venture over and read about your night too. I LOVE reading trip reports. And I know JUST what your mean about being able to be so relaxed and carefree! That night was one of the best nights of my life too. Me and my 10 year old Disney fanatic in MK...ahhh....I was beside myself with happiness!!
 
Blaynexox said:
Wow.. the Jammin Jungle Parade looked like a lot of fun! Where were you guys standing that you had all that room?? The AKL looks great.. cant wait to read about your night at MK with Aladdin!


Hmm...let me see, the best way I can describe it is to go to Kilamanjaro Safaris and facing it, look to your left and you will see a fence/gated area. When you do, that is where the parade starts and ends. Facing the gated area you you would stand on the left side of the road (sort of kitty corner from KS). We were standing at the end of road at the side of a small toy stand (at least I think that's what they were selling). Ask a CM what time the parade will be back around. And if you value your time at all...DO NOT WAIT FOR THE FIRST TIME THE PARADE COMES THROUGH...show up about 10-15 minutes after the parade starts and you will have plenty of time to grab a front row spot for the return of the parade along the route.

SORRY I couldn't come up with a better way to tell ya where it is!! It will make sense once you are there...I hope it will at least.
 
jaycns said:
Hmm...let me see, the best way I can describe it is to go to Kilamanjaro Safaris and facing it, look to your left and you will see a fence/gated area. When you do, that is where the parade starts and ends. Facing the gated area you you would stand on the left side of the road (sort of kitty corner from KS). We were standing at the end of road at the side of a small toy stand (at least I think that's what they were selling). Ask a CM what time the parade will be back around. And if you value your time at all...DO NOT WAIT FOR THE FIRST TIME THE PARADE COMES THROUGH...show up about 10-15 minutes after the parade starts and you will have plenty of time to grab a front row spot for the return of the parade along the route.

SORRY I couldn't come up with a better way to tell ya where it is!! It will make sense once you are there...I hope it will at least.


I really appreciate your attempt at explaining. I will just print this and stick it in my passporter and im sure once im there i will understand!! :teeth: Thanks again!
 
jaycns said:
Hmm...let me see, the best way I can describe it is to go to Kilamanjaro Safaris and facing it, look to your left and you will see a fence/gated area. When you do, that is where the parade starts and ends. Facing the gated area you you would stand on the left side of the road (sort of kitty corner from KS). We were standing at the end of road at the side of a small toy stand (at least I think that's what they were selling). Ask a CM what time the parade will be back around. And if you value your time at all...DO NOT WAIT FOR THE FIRST TIME THE PARADE COMES THROUGH...show up about 10-15 minutes after the parade starts and you will have plenty of time to grab a front row spot for the return of the parade along the route.

SORRY I couldn't come up with a better way to tell ya where it is!! It will make sense once you are there...I hope it will at least.


I really appreciate your attempt at explaining. I will just print this and stick it in my passporter and im sure once im there i will understand!! :teeth: Thanks again!
 
I am on page 13 and have to take a break to get something done since it is the week before Christmas. :) But I have to ask, do you get a kickback from Disney for advertising? You're making me want to try the cruise and we haven't done our first trip yet! Thanks for a great report! Your boys are too cute!
 
Polynesian, Day 2, continued...on to EMH at MK...

Okay...dh and two youngest were safely deposited into the quiet pool. They would be finishing up their night of swimming and then the younger boys would be heading off to sleep while dh finished watching a football game on the flat screen tv in the room. I add that it was a flat screen since dh now thinks he must have one...and he was one of the few males I know that hadn't jumped on that bandwagon before our trip. But after staying at the Contemporary (again I must say most awesome resort this side of heaven) and the Polynesian (south Pacific island dream) both with their large flat screen tv's....well....dh is now sold..."We have to have one!!!" UMMM...excuse me....that money will be going towards our next Disney vacation! :rolleyes: Dh will just have to watch those at WDW (actually I am planning on getting him one for Valentine's Day or his birthday). Lucky for me, he NEVER DISs so I can mention stuff like that here. ;)

Anyways, back to the part of report where I tell you all about one of the very best nights of my entire life! Really and truly...I felt so happy that if floating were a physical possibility I know I would have been doing it.

"Aladdin" and I walked away from the pool full of excited energy. Tonight we would be a MK with nobody to tell us they were tired...no little ones to make sure that they weren't getting lost, no dh grumbling about "how about we go back to the room for a bit". Nope...tonight was going to be all about doing the Magic Kingdom with someone who I love more then life itself and who just so happens to love Disney almost as much (and maybe even more!!) then I do!! WOO HOO to MK we go!!!

Our fantastic night started as we walked along the path towards the great ceremonial house (and the monorail platform that was within). "Aladdin" grabbed my hand and the two of us walked hand in hand stopping every so often to give "Aladdin" a chance to snap a picture of anything that interested him. Here is a small look into his world.

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Still hand and hand we entered the GCH and walked up the stairs and past the shops and out on to the monorail platform. We once again asked and were granted permission to ride "up front". THAT was spectacular! We were able to see Wishes going off over the Magic Kingdom!! OH MY GOODNESS!! Talk about a breathtaking sight! Monorail pilots have the best seat in the world!! WOW!!!

Another fun part of the night is that as we were walking off of the monorail and down the ramp and then making our way to the gates we saw almost everyone else making their way out of the park. That felt pretty special. I know, MK was open for all Disney resort guests...but at just that place for just that moment it felt like it was a night planned out just for us!!

As we entered the park, "Aladdin" looked up at me and said "This is gonna be fun!!". That look of pure delight on his face almost brought me to tears. I just stood there gulping (I didn't want to look like a fool crying as her son was beaming) and trying to smile but I was all choked up inside thinking that I was the luckiest mom in the world right at that second. I know my boys are gifts and I know that I only have a limited time with them "little" and I see everyday proof that "Aladdin" is growing into a fine young man(he is already 10)...but I also knew in that very minute that at least for that one night, time had stopped and not only was he not getting any older...but I was being given a pass to journey back to my youth and the two of us were gonna have a great time together!! :love: And all of this is swirling through my mind as we are waiting to get our EMH wristbands. :rolleyes: GEESH...imagine if I had been doing something emotional... :blush:

Another thing that struck me as we entered the park was that I didn't have any backpacks, strollers, bags or anything else to keep track of. Tonight we had left everything in the room but our small camera (which fit in my shorts pocket) and I was wearing our tickets (our Keys to the World) on my pin lanyard in the little attached pocket at the end of it. Tonight we wouldn't be tied down. That feeling of floating was still there! I sucked it all in (again, it just wouldn't do to have me blubbering as we started our most awesome adventure) and we continued into the park. Here are a few of the pictures I took of "Aladdin" on our way in.

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After I snapped these pictures I shoved the camera down into my pocket and sort of forgot about it for most of the rest of the night.

I asked "Aladdin" where he wanted to go and he looked at me and I will never forget what he said..."Mom, let's do it all!! I don't care what we do!! Thanks for taking me to Disney. I love it so much...but I love you more!!"

OKAY...did anyone ever think to warn me to bring Kleenex to this sort of a night?? Sheesh...really, I expected the fun, but not how emotional I got. But...all mush aside, I told him to pick a ride and we would head over. So...he picked PoTC. We walked over and walked on to the ride. It was wonderful to have his, not so little anymore, hand in my own and we swung our arms back and forth as we walked and giggled about everything and nothing at all. While we were on the PoTC ride we sang along with the best of them and didn't even care if the people behind us heard it. pirate:

Once we were done cruising we headed over to BTMRR and SplM. We chose Splash Mountain first. We waited no more then 10 minutes in line and had a nice conversation with the family behind us. It was their first time at WDW and they were so full of excited questions and we were more then happy to try and spread a little helpful info. At least I know they left the line understanding what Fast Pass was! And, they had promised me they would use it instead of waiting in line (their vacation was just starting...this one brief dark cloud did pass over the evening...when they told me that, I thought about how we had only ONE more full day left before we would have to head for home).

Splash at night is even more magical for me then it is during the day. I love the sight of the castle glowing in the darkness. I love seeing all of the lights as you look out for that split second before you drop through the brier patch. We both held our arms to the sky for the big drop!!

Next up we went on BTMRR. The line was posted as 10 minutes and looked even shorter...and it was!! We went on BTMRR three times in a row!! WOO HOO HOO HOO!! BTMRR is another ride I think is only made better by going in the dark! The turns seem faster and the scenes along the track seem to be even more visible because they are lit up and everything else is dark. We rode this ride with both of us holding our arms straight up in the air the entire time! It's been FOREVER since I have done that!! Yes, we did get thrown around a bit but oh my goodness...talk about fun!! Like I said, I was reliving my own youth! It was great!!

After we exited BTMRR we headed over and took a spooky ride through the Haunted Mansion. It was fun. We had a ton of fun picking out little details that sometimes we overlook. We also had a lot of fun when we saw our very own ghost (we got the tall thin one this time). And we spent the next half an hour after he "joined us" talking to him from time to time. YES...we really did. It was just plain silly fun!

In fact, he was the one who cast the final "yes" vote for us to head over to Fantasyland. We thought we would cut through to go to Tomorrowland but upon seeing NO WAIT at some of rides we hopped right on. We took a ride with Pooh (and a hop with Tigger).
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We also flew over the rooftops of London on the Peter Pan ride. That was a lot of fun. We found ourselves making jokes about most of the scenes we passed and really getting into cheering for Peter when he finally defeats Hook in one of the last scenes.

We also took a ride on the Snow White ride (????...don't ask me why, but all of my kids love this one???).

The last thing we did in Fantasyland was to make our way in to see Mickey's Philharmagic. As we were waiting for the show to start (no line there!!) I saw a group of three DISers! Once again, I didn't get their names....UGH...I am too "star struck" for my own good when I see other DISers. We had a nice (yet short) chat while we waited for the doors to open up. I knew they were DISers because they had little lime green Mickey heads attached to their backpacks and one even had them laced on her shoes!! So when I saw them I just sort of couldn't help myself from saying hello. :wave: They said they hung out on the VMK boards. HELLO :wave: and it was great to have met you (if you happen to be reading this report).

After the show we continued over to Tomorrowland and went over to Buzz Lightyear. We rode that ride three times in a row. The first time I rode I got an amazing score!! I was so impressed with myself that I had to take a picture of my score...
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That score was NOT due to my aim but rather once again to the great hints and tips I had read here at the DIS boards and over at TGM and the fact that the ride stopped briefly at just the right spot for me to keep hitting a big number target over and over and over again until the counter wouldn't go any higher!!

After our last go round it was almost time for the park to close (where did the time go???!!!!). We had saved Space Mountain for the last ride of the night...but sadly, upon walking over to it...it was CLOSED...sniff sniff and being as we only had 4 minutes until the park closed there was no way that we were going to get to ride it this night. So we did a speed walk over to the TTA and took one last lazy ride around Tomorrowland before the park closed. A sort of neat thing for us was when the ride went through Space Mountain. The lights were on and we could see the tracks! That was a unique experience.

After getting off of the TTA we slowly made our way to the front of the park and over to the resort monorail platform for our return trip. It was an uneventful ride in all ways but one. DS again broke my heart (in the very best of ways). He told me that he would never forget how much fun tonight was for as long as he lived. As I once again swallowed back the tears I assured him that I would never forget it either. I think a few stray tears did happen to fall..but it was after midnight and I don't think anybody noticed.

Here is a quick picture of my "Aladdin" on the way back to our room.
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As we completed our monorail ride and the short walk back to our long house I held on to his hand for all it was worth...the next day would hold new adventures and delights I knew...but this one night....I never wanted it to end. And as we opened the door to our room I gobbled "Aladdin" up in a huge bear hug and told him he was a wonderful date. :love: :love: He returned the hug and then laughed quietly and with that...the spell was broken as we resumed our normal selves and I tossed him his PJs and told him to brush his teeth and change and I made my way over to dh and flopped down on the bed next to him and started in on telling him each and every thing we had done. By the time I had finished reliving the night...everyone else was fast asleep...including dh :rolleyes: .

So I quickly brushed my teeth, changed and slipped into bed and fell asleep with a huge smile on my face!!

This night had been pure " :wizard: :wizard: :wizard: " for me!!

UP NEXT...our final full day at WDW...
 
DisneyObsession said:
HEY!...Your braids are gone!?! I just realized in the pic of you & your son that there was no longer the mass amount of braids in your hair! Did you take them out for easier washing or were they bugging you?!?

So many mixed revues on Boma...What to do? What to do? Don't know if that will be our "big" meal or not. No Free Dining Plan for us! (Not offered with land/sea packages)

I am :bounce: "patiently" :Pinkbounc waiting for more!
The braids had come out the first night we were at the Poly. While sitting around with our friends on the beach I just started to fool with them and roll them around in my hand. I lost three rubberbands doing this and figured it was easier to just take them all out then to try and find someone to rebraid the three that were starting to come lose. I could not have ever done it myself (not in a million years...I cannot even do one big french braid down the middle of the head...let alone three tiny cornrows).

Thanks for staying with me! I promise, this book does have an end in sight!! ;)
 
Jaycns - I cannot express to you just how spectacular your last installment was! I'm sure all of us moms can feel right down to the deepest parts of our hearts the bittersweet emotions of that evening with your "Aladdin". :lovestruc

My oldest is just 5 but I can already feel the need sometimes to draw her close to my heart and just hug, kiss, squeeze and sometimes even smell (yes, I said smell her. She won't ever smell like a kindergartener again will she??) Your description of this night was so spot on!!! Loved the pics of your night out and you have some of the same favs at night that I do! :cheer2:

Your boys sound like so much fun! I'm sure "Aladdin" truly WILL remember that special night with a very special mom. It's great when you realize you have done something that leaves a little fingerprint on their lives, isn't it!!!

You just added even more warm fuzzies than I already have this time of year.

God Bless and Merry Christmas to your family!

Keep it up - often and with as much detail as possible! You gotta carry me through my move January 6th! :rolleyes:
 
KangaFan said:
I am on page 13 and have to take a break to get something done since it is the week before Christmas. :) But I have to ask, do you get a kickback from Disney for advertising? You're making me want to try the cruise and we haven't done our first trip yet! Thanks for a great report! Your boys are too cute!

Hiya Kanga! :wave: Don't I wish I could get even a tiny cut of Disney's profits...even just on what my family spends with them :rolleyes: . Maybe they should give me a free two week vacation every year if I promise to tell others about it??!! :lmao: ;) ;) Another worth having! :teeth:

Merry Christmas and enjoy the season!! :wizard:
 
dolphinrescuegirl said:
I really enjoyed this installment. I have never been to AK. The last time I was there I was with family and my mom said it was too hot to go to that park. I dont regret it but I also wont skip it next time either. Keep up the good work!
Thanks for staying with me Kim! Ak is one of my favorite parks (hmmm...one of my top 4 at least...I cannot pick favorites with the parks any more then pick them with my kids).

The park does tend to feel "hotter" then the other parks I think. Not as much shade :sunny: (or so it seems).

Also, I must add Expedition Everest is now one of my favorite rides! That one really does rock! :thumbsup2
 
kaysmommie said:
Your pictures from AK are awesome, especially the Safari. I didn't even get pics from the safari because our driver was horrible. Looking forward to your night at MK with Aladdin. DD6 and I got a few hours at MK alone in September and it was so much fun until we got rained on :sad2: .

WHAT CUTE OUTFITS YOUR KIDS ARE IN!! Where ever did you find those? I love that Minnie dress! And those overalls are beyond adorable! Not to mention that two cuties are wearing them! Do you have any trip reports posted that tell about your stays at the WL?

Thanks for reading along.
 
Blaynexox said:
I really appreciate your attempt at explaining. I will just print this and stick it in my passporter and im sure once im there i will understand!! :teeth: Thanks again!
Hopefully it will make sense...if not, just ask a CM...they will point you to a perfect spot! Any of them are great with the parade looping back to it's starting point the route is all but empty near the end!
 
tommygirl79 said:
Jaycns - I cannot express to you just how spectacular your last installment was! I'm sure all of us moms can feel right down to the deepest parts of our hearts the bittersweet emotions of that evening with your "Aladdin". :lovestruc

It was such a bittersweet time...and so carefree and so amazing. I am one blessed woman and oh so very grateful!

My oldest is just 5 but I can already feel the need sometimes to draw her close to my heart and just hug, kiss, squeeze and sometimes even smell (yes, I said smell her. She won't ever smell like a kindergartener again will she??) Your description of this night was so spot on!!! Loved the pics of your night out and you have some of the same favs at night that I do! :cheer2:

I SO get the smell thing! :teeth:

Your boys sound like so much fun! I'm sure "Aladdin" truly WILL remember that special night with a very special mom. It's great when you realize you have done something that leaves a little fingerprint on their lives, isn't it!!! I hope he remembers it and is able to live his very own "dream night" with one of his children one day! It was so amazing!!


You just added even more warm fuzzies than I already have this time of year.

God Bless and Merry Christmas to your family!

Merry Christmas!!! And God bless you and yours!!



Keep it up - often and with as much detail as possible! You gotta carry me through my move January 6th! :rolleyes:


GOOD LUCK! A new adventure!! PM me if ya ever feel like talking moves...I remember when we moved from WI to KY...I was wishing for an ear or two or three!

:wave:
 
What a great night! We're not planning to do EMH because DD4 and DH will be tired, but MAYBE DS8 and I can do it! Thanks for the idea!!! :thumbsup2 It sounds like you had such a great time! :goodvibes

Although I have spent all too much time reading today, I am glad I joined late, I can't handle suspense . . . popcorn::
 
jaycns said:
We really have been blessed as parents. The boys are (for the most part...every little guy does have his moments though) very well behaved. Even our youngest who has sensory integration issues (but again we were blessed and through therapy they are all but gone) is really well behaved most of the time.

Thanks for sticking around for the entire report...it is sort of becoming a book vs. a report... :rolleyes:

OH BUBBLE TEA SOUNDS YUMMY! Not what you describe at WDW but the other stuff. Do you make your own at home? Do you have any tips for doing so? Thanks for the answer!! :thumbsup2


More great installments! Your time with Aladdin sounds so wonderful and magical, it was really nice to read about it. :cloud9:

I've never made bubble tea at home, I go to Chinatown in NYC or a similar area (not Chinatown, but a huge Asian population with many stores, restaurants and shops) to buy it. There are several tea houses that specialize in it. I have seen kits online to make your own, but I don't know how it would come out. :)
 
You wrote it beautifully! I could remember every emotion you had as my own. It has now been over a year ago and my daughter and I still remember it like it was yesterday. On our night my daughter was on a hunt to find Cinderella pins for her sister. I thought it was soooo sweet because she fights with her sister all the time. :rolleyes1 .

We watched the fireworks only long enough to see Tink fly cause she is my daughters favorite.

Now, I want to do this someday with the younger one, it is not fair for the oldest to get everyting.. lol.

I truly was not the same mom. In my regular life I have a short temper and I am a YELLER.. :furious: I hate that, but now when I am STRESSED I try to go to my HAPPY place :bounce: :Pinkbounc :cool1: .

Vant wait to read more.
 








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