A Daily Lesson in Parenting and Manners: A TR by a real life Wicked Stepmom!

[Crystal824]

I just stumbled upon your trip report, and I love it. I leave in two days for WDW and am very excited. Your TR is really getting me ready for our trip. You are a fantastic writer, and although I am only on page 17 and I have to get back to work, I look forward to reading the rest of it.

 

[hklatt]

What a wonderful experience you had at Coral Reef!!! I can't wait until our ADR there. I'm glad that you had such good service - sounds like a night to truly remember.

 

[teacup317]

Great installment........oops boss alert LOL

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

Darlings! And the color is beautiful on them. I agree. Oh to have skin the same as Sally's!

"What a ridiculous thing to STEAL..." (Jay gets STUCK on things sometimes...)

So now we know where little Miss Sal gets it from.

and since I'm ALWAYS prepared...*ahem* I reached into my magic park bag and produced a little "changing pad" thingie. My bag was originally intended to be a diaper bag for men...and it came with this impossibly small,for what it was supposed to be, changing pad. Seriously...if a guy tried to change a baby on this "changing pad" and that baby had an ounce of will and the ability to wriggle...there'd be no point in the changing pad all!

But it sure did work as a bum protector from floor dirt!! I plunked it down ...and in the most lady like manner possible, sat myself on it, and then pulled Sally down on to me.

You are seriously the most prepared person ever. You've got EVERYTHING in that bag o' tricks!

BTW--if you ask Sally where steak comes from she will say "The grocery store..." We have not yet given her the full explanation...she loves cows...alive cows!

Well, I'm 28 and I still insist my meat comes from a 'happy place'.

Great as usual!

 

[samc]

aaawwwwww.......that was one of the sweetest chapters ever!! loved your sign surprise!!!

 

[castmemberb4]

What a wonderful dinner! Great job on the surprise MissCammie, and I'm so glad the MEANEST woman at Disney didn't show up at Coral Reef to ruin it for you.
Lynn

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Great chapter! So happy things worked out for you at Coral Reef.
Yay for Leah for giving such perfect service, she is the model of what CM's should be doing. It always kills me when I hear about bad CM's.

Anyway, loved it, and looking forward to the next chapter.

 

[twob4him]

QUOTE=CampbellScot;23608392]Okay...for the SECOND time...

QUACK!

hahaha I love the quacks!

I blame my need to plan outfits on the Disboards actually...more specifically on the Disboutique/ Custom Kids Clothes thread on the Disney for Families board. This group of women...and at least ONE dad...make the most AMAZING outfits for their children...these kids are DECKED out for Disney...themed outfits for each park...from hand curled ribbons to custom painted shoes...they are Disney-fied from head to foot. And the kids don't look over done...they look well loved and well dressed. After looking at page after page of pictures...you start to get a little addicted. The talent and creativity is really phenomenal...we are talking Project Runway for Kids talent. It gets a girl to thinking...maybe I can sew...maybe I should get a sewing machine and start whipping out some darling custom made little outfits for MY kids...

Yahoooo.....we got a shout out!!!! Gotta love fellow Disboutiquers!!!

Teddy looked SO handsome in his little button up shirt. The two kids together were just too darling for words!!!

see how cute?!

Everyone does look great! You know what's funny.... I bought my girls the same thing for the same reason. I didnt sew (I relearned after we returned from Disney) at the time! Here I found a pic after we ate dinner on the way to the busses in front of MK

"My Anninversary button! I left it in the bathroom!"

Uh oh!

Rather suddenly we heard an urgent voice from the entrance to the dining room. It was a CM and she was saying,

"HURRY KIDS!!! MICKEY IS DIVING IN THE TANK!!! HURRY!!! COME SEE!!!"

pandemonium ensued.

Seriously...all 84,000 kids in the small waiting area took off running...along with some adults...towards that impossibly narrow opening to the dining room.

The CM from the France perfume chokery...I mean store.... was obviously sent over here to help out!

"MissCammie...do you think people would get mad if we took their seats?!"

I so would have picked the best seat and gotten off the floor!

I was rather surprised that the CM had called a waiting room full of people into the dining room. There isn't really any EXTRA room to accommodate large groups of people...who aren't seated. I don't think she realized just how FULL the waiting area had been!

no duh....she couldnt see?

Leah reappeared shortly with a tray full of brightly lit, blinking beverages!

The children did not order brightly lit and blinking beverages. I think they actually ordered water!

Leah gave us a brilliant grin and said "Mickey wanted me to bring these over with his congratulations on your anniversary and to tell you he was sorry that your button had been taken!"

She set the drinks down in front of the kids and she set a very brand new anniversary button down in front of Jay!

Oh I am just about crying tears of joy!!!!

"Hey Sal...that sign IS for you and Teddy!!!"

Awwwwwwwwww

"MissCAMMIE LOOK!!! A sign for you and Daddy too!!! How did Mickey even KNOW that?! LOOK!!! Mickey really likes us!"

Jay smiled at me and reached across the table for my hand.

Double Awwwwwwwwwww

"Hey Teddy, how's that mac and cheese?"

He gave his most winning smile and said

"It tastes like the fire place..."

hahahahahahaha

Jay and I got the Chocolate Wave...both had chocolate signs saying "Best Wishes"...I tried to put a picture of it up...but it won't resize...photobucket is currently on my HIT LIST!!!

I will have to go to the food porn thread and look up a picture of this dessert....it sounds devine!

Up next...Spectromagic and the MEANEST lady at Disney!

[/QUOTE]
Oh no....a mean lady! Well I am glad you all made it through dinner. Did your inhaler make your heart race? I always feel jittery for awhile after mine Excellent and very long and fullfilling installment! I am really enjoying it!

What a wonderful dinner! Great job on the surprise MissCammie, and I'm so glad the MEANEST woman at Disney didn't show up at Coral Reef to ruin it for you.
Lynn

Lynn I assume from your name that you must have been a CM. That is soooo super cool!!!!!!!!!!! As a CM did you know there were Dissers out there analyzing and planning and commenting on every aspect of their trips????? I always wonder if CMs know about the Dis? And how much they get mentioned on here by name and pic!!!! Do they know we wear lime green? and walk around the parks with alien green mickey head paint chips absconded from Home Depot??? making "meet the focker" I am watching you signals at each other.....

 

[coteau_chick]

Great update. I think it was so cute that Teddy said the mac and cheese tasted like the fireplace. Where do they come up with these things. He must keep your family constantly entertained.

 

[stagemomx3]

Coral Reef will be our first dinner in Disney World Saturday night, and I've arranged a diver with a sign for DH. I hope my surprise goes as well as yours did.

 

[mdsouth]

THANk YOU Miss Cammie!

I just found your trip report this morning, so I am way back on Chapter 4 - your first day swimming at the pool! I am enjoying your report soo much!

You have such a wonderful talent as a writer! Your Southern bellel voice shines through! My dad grew up in SC and we went back every summer growing up. Now my brother lives there with his family (a Southern belle wife and kids). So, I am truly having fun finding snip-its of southern charm woven throughout your story.

Take Care!

 

[carrie6466]

Great update! We are going to Coral Reef for DH's Bd on 4/2. How did you guys arrange for these signs? Is it something you have to pay for? How far in advance did you have to order? Would I still have time? Sorry for all the questions

 

[eliz72586]

Great writing as always, MissCammie! My boyfriend is starting to think I am going over the deep end with all this time reading on the DisBoards! Sally and Teddy looked to cute in their matching outfits...I should make my boyfriend match me at our next Disney vacation...that would surely be a HOOT!

 

[desamnik]

wait (im) patiently for each new installment.

Your (step) kids are fortunate to have you in their lives. They are SO funny!

What a magical experience you all had at the Coral Reef!

Can't wait to hear about the meanest lady in the world...

Donna

 

[mdsouth]

.

I said a great big forced "HELLO MINNIE, WE ARE SO GLAD TO SEE YOU!!" just to give Sally a little courage. To let her know that it was okay to talk to her.

She took a deep breath and took the plunge.

"Hi Minnie, do you remember me? You picked me to open Toon Town with you when I was 3. I'm 8 now...do you remember me?"

I swear y'all. Time stopped right there at Chef Mickey's. We had all been through SO much this year. This little girl cried more tears than any little girl should ever have to cry. She lost faith in everything she knew to be true..to be REAL. Her whole world was turned upside down. My heart was in my throat as I waited for Minnie to give some sort of sign that she remembered Sally.

I should not have been worried. This is Disney after all.

Minnie put her hand to her mouth in surprise. She nodded profusely and pointed at Sally and gave an excited little jump.

"You remember me? You really do?"

Minnie nodded again and pulled Sally in for a hug.

needless to say, I was weeping. Tears streaming down my face, bawling my eyes out. So was Sally. You could SEE relief pouring out of her in those tears.

This was in Chapter 4 - I am catching up! What a beautiful scene and EXACTLY why Disney is TOPS! The magic lives on and on -- Disney cast members care and want to share joy with others! WAY TO GO MINNIE!!

I also wholeheartedly agree with the following quote as well!

.

Don't get me STARTED on the irresponsibility of parents in today's world. It's an epidemic. THEY ARE YOUR KIDS. THEY MAY BE THE CENTER OF YOUR UNIVERSE, BUT THEY ARE NOT THE CENTER OF MINE OR ANYONE ELSES!!! PARENT THEM. TEACH THEM. GUIDE THEM...PUNISH THEM IF THEY NEED IT....PERIOD.

*ahem*

 

[castmemberb4]

Hey MissCammie
Yes I was a castmember both at a Disney Store here in Atlanta then at EPCOT. But I was there from 1990 - 1994, the internet was not nearly as widely used waaaaay back then. I travel to WDW a lot before I was a castmember and we had to resort to the old fashion way of planning, Guide Books ! But I have to say even when I worked there occasionally there was a guest who knew about something that I didn't, those people must have been the PRE Disers! It amazed me back then coming to the job as a big Disney fan how little a lot of castmembers knew about the company, the parks and mostly the movies, some people I knew had not even been to the other parks, can you imagine, Disney for free and not taking advantage of it!?!?

Lynn

 

[NYPDwife]

Clearly, soda is not something we often allow the children...I know...I'm SUCH a hypocrite...but soda falls under the Do as I SAY, not do as I DO catergory in our house!

I swear, you're so much like my me and my mommy, it's funny!! I grew up listening to the "Do as I say rule". The funny thing is, hubby's mom actually set a good example so he gets mad when I try it on our kids. My kids don't drink soda either, unless it's ginger ale when they're sick and even then I have a hard time giving it to them b/c they don't like the bubbles. Though Michael does try sneaking a sip from a beer bottle now and then. Are beer & soda bubbles different?


Great T/R, can't wait to read the next installment!!

 

[celerystalker]

Wow. I've read your entire trip report over the past day.
LOVE IT!
Write more.
NOW!

 

[disneyeeyorefan]

I have read your trip report as a lurker, but have to say it has been one of my favorites. I appreciate how much you love Sally and Teddy. I had a step-mom who was an absolute nightmare and pretty much cut me out of my dads life so kudos to you for being so great with them and including them in your life.

 

[Enchanted]

"It tastes like the fireplace!"

That Teddy just kills me!

It sounds like you had a lot of fun at the Coral Reef! We've never been there because I've always heard mixed reviews of the place. But other than the charred macaroni and cheese it sounds like you enjoyed the food. And that chocolate wave or whatever sounds SCRUMPTIOUS.

Heck, maybe we should go and just eat dessert.

The sign idea was so cute! I loved your family's reaction, especially Sally's. "Mickey likes us!" So adorable! And Leah sounded like the perfect CM. How cool was she to bring you the fancy drinks and the new button! Awesome! The CM at the front of house who nearly caused a stampede by telling everyone Mickey was in the tank could learn a thing or two from Leah.

Great update!

I'm intrigued by this "meanest woman in Disney" coming up in the next installment. I hope she's not worse than the Perfume Ninja or the Family Farters from Nemo.