jsmla
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2001
- Messages
- 4,498
Okay, this time I have an excuse. First I accidentally deleted my post, then it was New Years and then guess what? You never will, so I'll tell you. It SNOWED!!!!! Actual snow! Here in southern Louisiana! Liz even made a snowman with some of it. There is a rule down here that if it snows, even a little bit, all productive activity must cease. You must sit inside, make gumbo and call everyone you know to discuss this miracle. Oh, and a certain team I am fond of managed to win the Sugar Bowl. It was festive night indeed in Baton Rouge.
Okay, now let's return to an afternoon way back in November when our little cast of characters was happily frolicking in WDW. They are:
Me (41) Your intrepid poster
Sam (16) Mr. Smarty-Pants
Lizzie (14) Snow bunny
Mom/Grandma (pick a two-digit number) The question is : Did she get enough T-shirts?
and
Liya (15) Our Russian, who I am positive would find our childlike enthusiasm for the snow ridiculous. I think they have about 3 snowless months per year.
Monday November 19, 2001 3:00
Much to Mom's distress we decide to forgo the Ziploc bags in favor of a trip to Beaches & Cream. I'm still sucking up to Lizzie and she needs an ice cream fix. We leave Mom behind with her microwave and head out to the Boardwalk. We are given a 3 hour (I think) parking pass. I love this area! If we ever win the lottery this is where I'll stay. We walk over to B&C where we are seated in a booth after a short wait. Liya and I order burgers, Sam gets a Milkyway Sundae and Liz the No Way Jose. (Once again I remind you that these are my children. You can feed yours what you like.) Liz can't finish her sundae so Sam mops it up along with the rest of my burger and fries, the pig!
We still have some time left on our parking pass so we decide to pop into the World Showcase so that Lizzie can get her hand hennaed. I catch my breath when I see the prices but I knew this game wouldn't be cheap when I began it way back at MGM. Sam takes Liya off to look around Morocco while Liz gets painted with the green goo. Miraculously no fighting occurs. (The evening is young) Liz gets a geometric pattern traced around her wrist and Liya buys a papyrus scroll with Osiris and Isis painted on it. Funny, I didn't know they were Moroccan!
It seems we have created a monster. Liya now wants to buy something from every country in the World Showcase. I say tomorrow, she says now. We compromise and she visits France (Eiffel Tower key chain) and Japan (chopsticks) before departing. England was too expensive. How's that for a touch of authenticity? While all the shopping and tatooing is going on I do the unthinkable. I finally have a beer! Mom's not here so I figure what the hay. I just love sitting on a bench in the World Showcase people watching while enjoying a cold one. I am enjoying my Bass Ale (the small size) very much when you'll never guess who shows up. Yes, it's Bill, our vacationing pastor! Since he's around 6'5" and weighs in at the 280 range I spot him before he sees me. I'm afraid to say that I, a grown woman of 41 years, actually hid. It was either that or toss my beer. What is he doing here anyway? He should be sheparding his wayward flock back in Baton Rouge, not wallowing in the hedonism of WDW. There's no telling what the ladies Bible study group is getting up to at this very moment.
Our parking pass is expiring so we drag Liya out of Epcot and drive very carefully to the Magic Kingdom. Now this is better. I just love the MK at night. Our plan is to ride what we can and see the fireworks and the late Spectromagic Parade. We walk over to Adventureland to get Fast Passes for Jungle Cruise. When I reach the machine I discover a stack of passes sitting on top. Goodie! Freebies!! I send the speedy Liz to get passes for Big Thunder Mt. while the slower of us wait on a bench. Next we ride Pirates of the Carribean. We always enjoy this ride since we've named some of the pirates after our nearest and dearest. Sam is the pirate sitting on the bridge swinging his hairy, dirty leg. I'm afraid I'm the um, rather well-padded lady chasing the pirate with an upheld broom. Liz, of course, is the blonde who makes off with the treasure chest. After Pirates we use our purloined FPs to ride Jungle Cruise where Sam shows off by chanting "I love Disco!" along with one of attacking natives. Actually the native chants, Sam YELLS. This amuses our captainette very much and causes the people sitting near us to edge away. The rather hokey charm of the Jungle Cruise escapes Liya.
By now it's time for Big Thunder Mt. Ever since the unsettling Tower of Terror Episode Liya's been a tad reluctant to ride the thrill rides. It seems she doesn't quite trust us when we say "Come on, you'll love it." Lizzie coaxes her on and Liya rides, albiet with her eyes closed. This one rated somewhere between Space Mt. and ToT on the ole Liya-meter. You'll never guess who we saw on our way out of Frontierland. You got it! Pastor Bill! I'd swear this man has gotten a hold of my itinerary. Even though I'm behaving with the utmost propriety we decide to duck. Why change things at this late date? We hop over to Fantasyland to catch a turn on It's a Small World. There's a small line and Liya and Sam make good use of the time by launching into another fight. I'm a wee bit tense from the strain of playing Dodge the Reverend so I unwisely enter the fray. This, naturally, does no good, it never does. Things escalate to the point where everyone, except Lizzie of courrse, is mad at everyone else. Liya doesn't help by declaring Small World slow and stupid. I say a few things which won't bear repeating and we trudge off to Tomorrowland where everyone rides the Tomorrowland Transit Authority in deadly silence.
Well, isn't this fun! After the TTA we go to the Plaza Pavilion to watch the fireworks. Disney is now roping off the best spots for some privileged group or other. I find a good spot where two can stand by the rail while Sam grabs a nearby table. The girls are off to the ladies room. Sam and I agree that Liz and Liya will take the spots near the rail (a beautiful, perfect view) while he and I sit at the table. The girls return and, while Liya has no objections to having the best places held for her, she refuses to stand. Since even I wouldn't make Sam hold a place for Liya, I stand with Liz while Liya and Sam sit. The inevitable happens. Liya demands to go into the roped off area while Sam tries to explain that it isn't allowed. Of course you know the rest. It is resolved when Liya stomps off to stand with Liz and I return to my seat. At least I got to sit. Liz amuses Liya with the ducks until the fireworks which Liya loves. She seems to like this sort of thing the best. Her mood is much improved and Sam is always ready to let go of an angry moment. The mother, however, is still angry. "No, we can't ride anything." "No, we won't see Spectromagic." I refuse to have any fun. That'll teach 'em. I stalk off through the stores, "No, we're not doing any shopping!", bent on being as negative as I can be.
Of course it doesn't last. We emerge into the open air to find ourselves in the most wonderful, perfect spot for parade viewing just as Spectromagic begins. Does this happen to anyone else? It seems every time the trip becomes unbearable something magical occurs. I won't say we all had a group hug or anything after the parade, but Liya was enchanted and I realized how foolishly I was acting. When the last float had drifted past we were perfectly situated for a speedy exit from the park where we caught the ferry boat and drove home. Mom's still awake and offers up something from her stash but I decline in favor of a hot bath and a little time alone. I really, really, really like the private bedroom.
Okay, now let's return to an afternoon way back in November when our little cast of characters was happily frolicking in WDW. They are:
Me (41) Your intrepid poster
Sam (16) Mr. Smarty-Pants
Lizzie (14) Snow bunny
Mom/Grandma (pick a two-digit number) The question is : Did she get enough T-shirts?
and
Liya (15) Our Russian, who I am positive would find our childlike enthusiasm for the snow ridiculous. I think they have about 3 snowless months per year.
Monday November 19, 2001 3:00
Much to Mom's distress we decide to forgo the Ziploc bags in favor of a trip to Beaches & Cream. I'm still sucking up to Lizzie and she needs an ice cream fix. We leave Mom behind with her microwave and head out to the Boardwalk. We are given a 3 hour (I think) parking pass. I love this area! If we ever win the lottery this is where I'll stay. We walk over to B&C where we are seated in a booth after a short wait. Liya and I order burgers, Sam gets a Milkyway Sundae and Liz the No Way Jose. (Once again I remind you that these are my children. You can feed yours what you like.) Liz can't finish her sundae so Sam mops it up along with the rest of my burger and fries, the pig!
We still have some time left on our parking pass so we decide to pop into the World Showcase so that Lizzie can get her hand hennaed. I catch my breath when I see the prices but I knew this game wouldn't be cheap when I began it way back at MGM. Sam takes Liya off to look around Morocco while Liz gets painted with the green goo. Miraculously no fighting occurs. (The evening is young) Liz gets a geometric pattern traced around her wrist and Liya buys a papyrus scroll with Osiris and Isis painted on it. Funny, I didn't know they were Moroccan!
It seems we have created a monster. Liya now wants to buy something from every country in the World Showcase. I say tomorrow, she says now. We compromise and she visits France (Eiffel Tower key chain) and Japan (chopsticks) before departing. England was too expensive. How's that for a touch of authenticity? While all the shopping and tatooing is going on I do the unthinkable. I finally have a beer! Mom's not here so I figure what the hay. I just love sitting on a bench in the World Showcase people watching while enjoying a cold one. I am enjoying my Bass Ale (the small size) very much when you'll never guess who shows up. Yes, it's Bill, our vacationing pastor! Since he's around 6'5" and weighs in at the 280 range I spot him before he sees me. I'm afraid to say that I, a grown woman of 41 years, actually hid. It was either that or toss my beer. What is he doing here anyway? He should be sheparding his wayward flock back in Baton Rouge, not wallowing in the hedonism of WDW. There's no telling what the ladies Bible study group is getting up to at this very moment.
Our parking pass is expiring so we drag Liya out of Epcot and drive very carefully to the Magic Kingdom. Now this is better. I just love the MK at night. Our plan is to ride what we can and see the fireworks and the late Spectromagic Parade. We walk over to Adventureland to get Fast Passes for Jungle Cruise. When I reach the machine I discover a stack of passes sitting on top. Goodie! Freebies!! I send the speedy Liz to get passes for Big Thunder Mt. while the slower of us wait on a bench. Next we ride Pirates of the Carribean. We always enjoy this ride since we've named some of the pirates after our nearest and dearest. Sam is the pirate sitting on the bridge swinging his hairy, dirty leg. I'm afraid I'm the um, rather well-padded lady chasing the pirate with an upheld broom. Liz, of course, is the blonde who makes off with the treasure chest. After Pirates we use our purloined FPs to ride Jungle Cruise where Sam shows off by chanting "I love Disco!" along with one of attacking natives. Actually the native chants, Sam YELLS. This amuses our captainette very much and causes the people sitting near us to edge away. The rather hokey charm of the Jungle Cruise escapes Liya.
By now it's time for Big Thunder Mt. Ever since the unsettling Tower of Terror Episode Liya's been a tad reluctant to ride the thrill rides. It seems she doesn't quite trust us when we say "Come on, you'll love it." Lizzie coaxes her on and Liya rides, albiet with her eyes closed. This one rated somewhere between Space Mt. and ToT on the ole Liya-meter. You'll never guess who we saw on our way out of Frontierland. You got it! Pastor Bill! I'd swear this man has gotten a hold of my itinerary. Even though I'm behaving with the utmost propriety we decide to duck. Why change things at this late date? We hop over to Fantasyland to catch a turn on It's a Small World. There's a small line and Liya and Sam make good use of the time by launching into another fight. I'm a wee bit tense from the strain of playing Dodge the Reverend so I unwisely enter the fray. This, naturally, does no good, it never does. Things escalate to the point where everyone, except Lizzie of courrse, is mad at everyone else. Liya doesn't help by declaring Small World slow and stupid. I say a few things which won't bear repeating and we trudge off to Tomorrowland where everyone rides the Tomorrowland Transit Authority in deadly silence.
Well, isn't this fun! After the TTA we go to the Plaza Pavilion to watch the fireworks. Disney is now roping off the best spots for some privileged group or other. I find a good spot where two can stand by the rail while Sam grabs a nearby table. The girls are off to the ladies room. Sam and I agree that Liz and Liya will take the spots near the rail (a beautiful, perfect view) while he and I sit at the table. The girls return and, while Liya has no objections to having the best places held for her, she refuses to stand. Since even I wouldn't make Sam hold a place for Liya, I stand with Liz while Liya and Sam sit. The inevitable happens. Liya demands to go into the roped off area while Sam tries to explain that it isn't allowed. Of course you know the rest. It is resolved when Liya stomps off to stand with Liz and I return to my seat. At least I got to sit. Liz amuses Liya with the ducks until the fireworks which Liya loves. She seems to like this sort of thing the best. Her mood is much improved and Sam is always ready to let go of an angry moment. The mother, however, is still angry. "No, we can't ride anything." "No, we won't see Spectromagic." I refuse to have any fun. That'll teach 'em. I stalk off through the stores, "No, we're not doing any shopping!", bent on being as negative as I can be.
Of course it doesn't last. We emerge into the open air to find ourselves in the most wonderful, perfect spot for parade viewing just as Spectromagic begins. Does this happen to anyone else? It seems every time the trip becomes unbearable something magical occurs. I won't say we all had a group hug or anything after the parade, but Liya was enchanted and I realized how foolishly I was acting. When the last float had drifted past we were perfectly situated for a speedy exit from the park where we caught the ferry boat and drove home. Mom's still awake and offers up something from her stash but I decline in favor of a hot bath and a little time alone. I really, really, really like the private bedroom.
