CampbellScot
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2006
- Messages
- 2,833
This chapter was supposed to have LOTS of pictures...but it didn't turn out that way exactly...LOTS of pictures nexchapter!!PROMISE!!
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With our bellies happy and hearts full of joy...we headed back out into the steamy Florida evening. The sun hadn't gone down just yet...and we had one more ride to tackle! One of my all time favorite rides...can y'all guess which one?
That's right!!!
Jay and I had LOVED this ride last year. We went on it three times back to back. Now that is devotion!!
We had conferenced about its appropriateness for the kids and decided that if they could handle Splash Mountain, they could handle Test Track.
Whether they wanted to or not...
*ahem*
We had gotten fastpasses earlier and it was just about time!
Jay and I started the build up.
"Wow guys, it's time for TEST TRACK!!! It's SUCH a cool ride!! Y'all are going to LOVE IT!!! It's really fun!!!"
Teddy was excited! He and I had watched a video of Test Track on Youtube! He had really been looking forward to this ride! It makes sense...we watched it some 20 times!
Sally is so not buying our build up. I hadn't let her anywhere near the Youtube video! She would have worried herself silly about it for MONTHS! She is also well aware that while we are talking with excitement about the upcoming ride, we are also making it clear that we are all going on this ride together.
Sally poked her head out of the kid transporter and said,
"MissCammie, does this ride go fast?"
"Yep. For a little bit. It goes really fast..."
I didn't want to FIB to her!
"But how fast MissCammie?"
"About 84,000 miles an hour..."
well...extreme fibbing is okay...b/c she KNOWS I'm fibbing...it's also called TEASING...
*ahem*
"MissCammie, is this ride scary?"
"I don't think so...it's about cars and how they are tested to make sure they are safe..."
"So they are safe cars then MissCammie right?"
"Safest cars at Disney I reckon..."
Teddy chose that moment to add,
"Unless they get WRECKED!!!!"
stinkPOT!
I thumped the top of the kid transporter which brought about a round of giggles from Teddy.
Never have I met a child who enjoys being naughty so much as Teddy.
We made it to the outdoor queue and handed over the fastpasses.
Sally reluctantly got out of the kid transporter.
I gave her a hug and said,
"You won't get wet kiddo...and there are no big hills or dips really...it's just a bit bumpy and slippery...but it's fun...no worries okay! This is going to be AWESOME!!"
"Okay...but I'm riding with daddy!!!"
We ran through the outdoor queue and ran SMACK into a human wall that was the fastpass line!
We waited a LONG time for this one.
Teddy was fascinated with all the "car stuff" to look at.
Sally continued to worry...it's how she amuses herself...
seriously...
FINALLY we made it to the "movie part" as Teddy calls it!
Sally clutched my hand in fear and asked if we were going to be OUTSIDE?!
no no no...all the fun is INSIDE silly girl!! Well...mostly inside...
When we made it to our car, Sally practically pushed Teddy and I forward so that we would be the ones in the front seat!
A very nice lady sat in the empty seat next to Sally. She must have been nice b/c as soon as the ride started, not only was Sally clinging to Jay's hand, she was clinging to the very nice lady's hand next to her!!
Teddy LOVED this ride!! He SCREAMlaughed the whole way. He was laughing so hard his whole body was shaking with it. In between "tests" Teddy would ask
"What's next MissCammie, What's Next?"
The semi-truck segment elicited the loudest screech from Teddy. He was now hiccuping with laughter. It was just too cute for words.
I never heard a peep out of Sally. She's a lot like me...silent in her terror. Teddy is every bit his daddy, laughing through his fear.
When we made it to the "speed" test, I put my arm around Teddy, thus engaging the "People Seatbelt" b/c I KNEW what he was going to do...
which was throw his little arms into the air!
He did just that and screamlaughed the whole way.
SUCH a daredevil!!
I love this ride too. There is something about that kind of speed that just puts a thrill into your bones. You can't help but feel electrified by the RUSH of adrenaline!!!
Once we made it back through the doors I turned to look at Sally. She was still clinging to Jay, but she was smiling!
WHEW! I was worried!
Teddy was bouncing in his seat ready to go again!!
As we made it through the exit I put my arm around Sally.
"What did you think kiddo? did you like it?"
"Yes?"
"Yes you did like it?"
"Yeah...it was fast and a little scary but it was fun..."
"Do you want to ride it again?"
"NO thank you..."
We waited for our picture to pop up and we all laughed WITH Sally about holding the very nice stranger lady's arm!
I was making a really awful looking face, so that picture accidentally got deleted!
*ahem*
It's MY world...I control the media!!!
After Test Track it was time to head towards the exit. We wound our way through the giant car commercial...with no chance of looking at a car close up...b/c people were actually WAITING IN LINE to see these cars...and jump inside them...like the cars were rides...or Characters...or something of actual interest!
JUST KIDDING...sort of...
I mean REALLY...you can go to a Hummer dealership and do the same dang thing...who wants to look at cars when you have DISNEY things to do?!
not that I'm judging...
*ahem*
Besides...we had another night planned for Epcot, so I wasn't too bummed as we headed for the exit...mostly b/c we were heading for Magic Kingdom and the Spectromagic Parade!!!
I LOVE THAT PARADE!!!!
I reminded the kids that we were going to watch one of the coolest parades EVER and Teddy said,
"I'm SO PSYCHED for it!!!"
Where on EARTH did he hear that term?! He's five...
We made our way through Future World and the kids oohd and ahhd over the fiber optic lights on the ground and had to hop out of the kid transporter so they could step on them.
The sun was going down and there was a breeze...it wasn't particularly cool mind you...but it was a breeze so I wasn't about to fuss!
we wound our way out and towards the monorail.
Darn if we weren't RIGHT ON TIME for our ride! The monorail sailed into the station just as we were arriving! WooHOO!!!
Sadly the monorail smelled just as much like a horse barn as it did the night before!
Seriously...WHY is this?! Does anybody know?
I looked at my cell phone and saw that we had PLENTY of time before the parade started...which was good b/c the last time my husband and I had taken the monorail from Epcot to Magic Kingdom it took pert near an HOUR to get there. Seriously...between the stops and waits for other monorails and the performing of break tests or some such thing...we were on that monorail for WAY too long!!!
We were lucky...THIS time it only took a little over 45 minutes!
I really don't know how long this little trip *should* take...but it seems like it should be quicker than it is.
maybe I'm just massively impatient...
could be that...
probably is...
but that's me!
When we FINALLY *huff* made it to Magic Kingdom, it was good and DARK!
And DANG it was HOT! It was one of those wretched humid nights that just CLOAKS you in sweat. It's ick. And not very attractive.
It does however bring out those individuals who reject antiperspirant in all its many forms and fragrances!
double ick.
All this fussing I'm doing is to *set the mood* for what is to come! Because basically we entered the park in a grump. Sally was tired. I could see it in her little eyes. When Sally isn't smiling, she has a very somber looking face. Like one of those perpetually sad children you seen in moody art pictures...or "Save the Children" ads...
She was WORKING that face this evening.
Teddy was completely wired. He kept jumping out of the kid transporter to kiss my arm...which means he will NEVER be drinking soda EVER again. Somebody had plugged this child IN and he was BUZZING with energy!
While Jay went and retrieved a Kid Transporter the kids and I hunted some cold drinks!
Then I wiped everyone down a with a Wet One and spritzed them with our Misty Mate. Then I fished out the little fans, turned them on and handed them over.
They were SET. Sally looked less hang-dog with her little fan on her face.
Jay arrived and the kids hopped into their ride.
It was time to head on over and STAKE US A SPOT!!!
Last year Jay and I had had a so-so spot for the Spectro Magic Parade. It was over near the Castle. I didn't want to go there again...plus it was already PACKED.
Jay suggested we head back over to Liberty Square.
Show me the way babe!!
As we walked I noticed that Jay looked a little pale.
I asked him if he was okay.
"I'm really hot Cam...it's just SO hot out here..."
YIKES...if this man fell I did NOT think I could catch him. Six feet and two inches of husband falling on five feet and four inches of wife would equal a SPLAT.
So I whipped out the Misty Mate, pumped it up to SUPER SPEED and held it in front of his face.
Basically the humidity completely nullified my attempts.
QUACK!
I bent down in front of the kid transporter and asked Teddy if I could please borrow his fan RIGHT NOW.
He handed it over without question.
good boy Teddy!
When Sally realized what I was doing she asked if I needed her fan too.
Giving little spirits are Sally and Teddy!!!
I held a little fan on Jay's face, which kept him upright...We made it to a pretty good spot JUST IN TIME.
Jay sat heavily on a little brick ledge. He was still POURING buckets of sweat.
gross I know.
It was the polo shirt.
It was just too much fabric for this heat.
So I gave Sally instructions to hold the fan on her daddy's face, and I dashed off in search of cooler T-shirt!
I could hear Jay shouting after me...
"Do NOT buy me a twenty dollar t-shirt that I'll never wear again!!!"
Silly man...he is NOT the boss of me!!!
Of course with Spectro fixin to start any moment, I was a bit stuck. There weren't many places I could go. We were good and roped off!! I figured I'd buy the first t-shirt I saw, regardless of price.
SO THERE!!!
I ran into a little shop that had some random "Liberty Square"...stuff in it. There was a rack of t-shirts under a sign that said "SALE"
SCORE!!!
I scurried over and took a look. They were the most UN-Disney shirts I'd ever seen at Disney. They were ringer tees...y'all know what I'm talking about? The tees with the band of color around the neck and arms? They had screen prints of sports...people...there was a soccer guy...and a football guy...and YAY...a BASKETBALL guy!!! It was the most random tee i've ever seen...but it was basketball and Jay liked basketball...so maybe he wouldn't fuss too much at the price...which was...
oh my gosh...these shirts were only $6.50!!!
I had myself a little dance party right there!!!
I was saving my husband from certain doom...AND spending less on a tee than I probably even would in the REAL world...let alone Disney!!
Double Score for ME!!!
I made my purchase lickety-split and rushed back towards my ailing husband!
Both kids were standing on either side of Jay with their fans on him. Poor guy. He looked wretched. Jay's a pretty sturdy guy, but get him too overheated and he just WILTS!
I handed him the bag with my most triumphant smile!
Jay gave me a look and said,
"How much?"
I toyed with the idea of teasing him a bit...but he looked a little pale and peaked, so I didn't.
I'd wait until later...when he'd cooled off!
*ahem*
I DID put my sassy britches on though, to deliver the news!
"This shirt happened to be a MERE six dollars and 50 cents! Feel free to fall to your knees in worship of my deal finding fabulousness..."
Sally and Teddy applauded.
Jay actually looked impressed.
"AND..." I said with flourish..."it's NOT even a Disney-fied shirt!!! It's got a basketball player on it!!!"
I took the shirt out of the bag and let him gaze upon my shopping greatness.
He said thanks, grabbed the shirt and ran off in search of a place to change.
Jay looked a MILLION times better when he returned. He'd soaked his head...which every man needs to do from time to time...
and he wasn't pouring buckets of sweat anymore...which was good b/c I REALLY wanted to stand next to him!
He looked good in that shirt. Really. He did...
and since I know y'all are DYING to see it...
Here it is...the most random shirt ever to be purchased at Disney...see the button?! Sorry this is a bad shot...but y'all get the point!!
and guess what else...he SO wears this shirt all the time! Mostly when he's painting or has gone on a cleaning bender...but still...he WEARS it!
SO...with our hourly crisis over...*cough* it was time to settle in and watch the parade...with no more drama...
which means OF COURSE there was fixin to be some more drama...
but what can one expect when the MEANEST lady in Disney is standing near you?
It all started when people had begun filling in to already packed spaces. Lots of parents and strollers began grabbing pavement space in front of us...which was FINE...b/c we know what it's like to have wee little ones...Sally and Teddy both made room and smiled indulgently at the little ones in front of them. They were GLAD to be tall enough to see over smaller children. They had NO problem with a littler person occupying the space directly in front of them...b/c THEY COULD SEE OVER the little heads...had an unobstructed view of Spectromagic.
It seems that the MEANEST lady in Disney did NOT share this philosophy of Disney goodwill and appropriate parade manners.
Teddy was getting crowded quite a bit. He was being VERY good and trying to make room for a lady to sit with her small child in her lap next to their stroller that contained a teeny baby. They had been very nice and asked if it was okay to park in front of us. We made room and chit chatted about our day. Everyone was being very pleasant.
But then the parade started. Teddy had JUST enough room to see, when rather suddenly a VERY tall and very broad woman stepped in front of him.
Like he wasn't even there.
This woman was taller than Jay...seriously.
and there was nearly three feet of room in front of her...and to the side of her...the side Teddy was NOT standing on. I should have been tipped off right there...people were unconsciously giving her a wide berth!
BUT...I didn't know yet, what I know now...so I moved through the people surrounding us and asked her, VERY NICELY might I add, if Teddy could please stand in front of her.
I think she must of have misunderstood me. I think she heard me say,
"Hey LADY, can my six foot three inch freakishly tall step son stand in front of you, so that you won't be able to see the parade at all, for even one second...b/c he is so tall...and in your way?"
She rolled her mean eyes nearly out of her head and said in a VERY loud nearly shouting voice,
"Well SURE...BE MY GUEST...GO RIGHT AHEAD...PLEASE STAND RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!!!" while she gestured wildly to the air around her. Then she crossed her arms and started muttering to the woman next to her about the NERVE of people with KIDS...and she spit "kids" out like it was some foul word that she didn't even want coming out of her mouth.
I was actually a little stunned. As were the people around us...Teddy looked up at me with his huge brown eyes and whispered,
"She's probably the MEANEST lady in Disney!"
Indeed!
I mean REALLY! Y'all MUST know by now, that I am NOT one of those people who thinks that my kids are more important than everyone else in the world. Or that their ability to see a parade means more than the ability of others to see...even an adult. Nine times out of ten I'll tell the kids to make the best of it, b/c life isn't always fair.
But seriously...this very tall woman had a TON of space in front of her. A TON! The only reason it hadn't filled up was b/c the parade had started and people stopped looking for places to stand and started watching.
I opened my mouth to say something...but I was so seriously at a loss as to why this woman was behaving so rudely, I did not know what to say...for once...in my life...too bad Jay missed it!
(He was standing a little bit off with Sally and hadn't heard any of this friendly exchange!)
Luckily there happened to be someone near by who's mouth was NOT stuck in a gaping position!
It was the nice lady with the two little ones. She stood up and said ,
"Could you be anymore UNKIND?! My WORD, he's a little boy and this is DISNEY!" She then turned to me and said "He can come sit over here with US! We'll MAKE ROOM!" Her husband was furiously making room for Teddy as he threw daggers with his eyes at the MEANEST lady in Disney.
who acted like she hadn't heard a word.
I asked Teddy if he would like to go sit next to the "stroller lady" as she was later dubbed by Sally! He happily accepted his little patch of pavement and said thank you. I was SO proud of him.
I know that I'm not exactly a "real" mom. I haven't birthed children of my own...but I know that when I see a child in need of help...or even just a place to sit during a parade, I'll give up my seat, or give them a boost...whatever they need...b/c that is what you are supposed to do when you are big and someone else is small and something exciting is about to happen...and they still have the ability to "BELIEVE" in the magic...You don't have to have "KIDS" to know that! I WANT my kids...my Sally and Teddy to learn this...I want them to know that when you have the opportunity to be KIND...just because...you should do it. No matter where you may be...Disney or otherwise.
The Stroller Lady and her family are GOOD PEOPLE.
The Meanest Lady in Disney was NOT. Call it a snap judgment...but that's what life is...first impressions...and hers was UGLY.
Oh I was just fit to be TIED. CLEARLY.
Donald was going off full tilt in my head.
How DARE this woman act so ugly...so rudely towards Teddy...towards ANYBODY...what on EARTH had possessed her to behave that way...
I feared I was about to turn into the Incredible Hulk...
But I happened to look over to where Jay was standing...he was holding Sally...heavy as she is...and they were smiling. Jay was watching Sally watch the parade. Their identical smiles were settled firmly on their faces. They were feeling the love!
I looked over at Teddy, and he too was lit up with excitement. He was pointing out the floats to the little tiny baby in the stroller.
The mad drained out of me by way of tears.
I was weepy for the whole parade!
Not, "Poor Me I'm so Mad" crying...but just "I'm SO full of I-don't-know-what that I'm near to busting and need some relief" tears...and they were quiet and VERY dignified...*ahem*
People can be jerks.
They can surprise you with their venom and ugly actions.
The Campbellscots had had a lot of that this past year.
And the Meanest Lady in Disney pushed that button. I wasn't expecting such a nasty response and it felt like I had been SLAPPED across the face.
Oh well...
Luckily for me the therapy is working well...
Really though, none of that mattered much...Jay and Sally and Teddy were happy. They were living in the moment. They had climbed aboard the Magic Bubble and they weren't letting go!
and that was enough for me. For this moment. Mean people be gosh darned...
There had been kindness amongst the ugliness...and that is what made the impression on the kids. They remember the Stroller Lady...
only MissCammie with her Donald Duck demeanor really remembers the Meanest Lady in Disney...
and I don't even hope she frequently trips in large public forums and embarrasses herself...
much...
*ahem*
kidding kidding kidding
Up next: Reflections of Spectromagic...and MAYBE the start to Animal Kingdom!
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With our bellies happy and hearts full of joy...we headed back out into the steamy Florida evening. The sun hadn't gone down just yet...and we had one more ride to tackle! One of my all time favorite rides...can y'all guess which one?
That's right!!!
Jay and I had LOVED this ride last year. We went on it three times back to back. Now that is devotion!!
We had conferenced about its appropriateness for the kids and decided that if they could handle Splash Mountain, they could handle Test Track.
Whether they wanted to or not...
*ahem*
We had gotten fastpasses earlier and it was just about time!
Jay and I started the build up.
"Wow guys, it's time for TEST TRACK!!! It's SUCH a cool ride!! Y'all are going to LOVE IT!!! It's really fun!!!"
Teddy was excited! He and I had watched a video of Test Track on Youtube! He had really been looking forward to this ride! It makes sense...we watched it some 20 times!
Sally is so not buying our build up. I hadn't let her anywhere near the Youtube video! She would have worried herself silly about it for MONTHS! She is also well aware that while we are talking with excitement about the upcoming ride, we are also making it clear that we are all going on this ride together.
Sally poked her head out of the kid transporter and said,
"MissCammie, does this ride go fast?"
"Yep. For a little bit. It goes really fast..."
I didn't want to FIB to her!
"But how fast MissCammie?"
"About 84,000 miles an hour..."
well...extreme fibbing is okay...b/c she KNOWS I'm fibbing...it's also called TEASING...
*ahem*
"MissCammie, is this ride scary?"
"I don't think so...it's about cars and how they are tested to make sure they are safe..."
"So they are safe cars then MissCammie right?"
"Safest cars at Disney I reckon..."
Teddy chose that moment to add,
"Unless they get WRECKED!!!!"
stinkPOT!
I thumped the top of the kid transporter which brought about a round of giggles from Teddy.
Never have I met a child who enjoys being naughty so much as Teddy.
We made it to the outdoor queue and handed over the fastpasses.
Sally reluctantly got out of the kid transporter.
I gave her a hug and said,
"You won't get wet kiddo...and there are no big hills or dips really...it's just a bit bumpy and slippery...but it's fun...no worries okay! This is going to be AWESOME!!"
"Okay...but I'm riding with daddy!!!"
We ran through the outdoor queue and ran SMACK into a human wall that was the fastpass line!
We waited a LONG time for this one.
Teddy was fascinated with all the "car stuff" to look at.
Sally continued to worry...it's how she amuses herself...
seriously...
FINALLY we made it to the "movie part" as Teddy calls it!
Sally clutched my hand in fear and asked if we were going to be OUTSIDE?!
no no no...all the fun is INSIDE silly girl!! Well...mostly inside...
When we made it to our car, Sally practically pushed Teddy and I forward so that we would be the ones in the front seat!
A very nice lady sat in the empty seat next to Sally. She must have been nice b/c as soon as the ride started, not only was Sally clinging to Jay's hand, she was clinging to the very nice lady's hand next to her!!
Teddy LOVED this ride!! He SCREAMlaughed the whole way. He was laughing so hard his whole body was shaking with it. In between "tests" Teddy would ask
"What's next MissCammie, What's Next?"
The semi-truck segment elicited the loudest screech from Teddy. He was now hiccuping with laughter. It was just too cute for words.
I never heard a peep out of Sally. She's a lot like me...silent in her terror. Teddy is every bit his daddy, laughing through his fear.
When we made it to the "speed" test, I put my arm around Teddy, thus engaging the "People Seatbelt" b/c I KNEW what he was going to do...
which was throw his little arms into the air!
He did just that and screamlaughed the whole way.
SUCH a daredevil!!
I love this ride too. There is something about that kind of speed that just puts a thrill into your bones. You can't help but feel electrified by the RUSH of adrenaline!!!
Once we made it back through the doors I turned to look at Sally. She was still clinging to Jay, but she was smiling!
WHEW! I was worried!
Teddy was bouncing in his seat ready to go again!!
As we made it through the exit I put my arm around Sally.
"What did you think kiddo? did you like it?"
"Yes?"
"Yes you did like it?"
"Yeah...it was fast and a little scary but it was fun..."
"Do you want to ride it again?"
"NO thank you..."
We waited for our picture to pop up and we all laughed WITH Sally about holding the very nice stranger lady's arm!
I was making a really awful looking face, so that picture accidentally got deleted!
*ahem*
It's MY world...I control the media!!!
After Test Track it was time to head towards the exit. We wound our way through the giant car commercial...with no chance of looking at a car close up...b/c people were actually WAITING IN LINE to see these cars...and jump inside them...like the cars were rides...or Characters...or something of actual interest!
JUST KIDDING...sort of...
I mean REALLY...you can go to a Hummer dealership and do the same dang thing...who wants to look at cars when you have DISNEY things to do?!
not that I'm judging...
*ahem*
Besides...we had another night planned for Epcot, so I wasn't too bummed as we headed for the exit...mostly b/c we were heading for Magic Kingdom and the Spectromagic Parade!!!
I LOVE THAT PARADE!!!!
I reminded the kids that we were going to watch one of the coolest parades EVER and Teddy said,
"I'm SO PSYCHED for it!!!"
Where on EARTH did he hear that term?! He's five...
We made our way through Future World and the kids oohd and ahhd over the fiber optic lights on the ground and had to hop out of the kid transporter so they could step on them.
The sun was going down and there was a breeze...it wasn't particularly cool mind you...but it was a breeze so I wasn't about to fuss!
we wound our way out and towards the monorail.
Darn if we weren't RIGHT ON TIME for our ride! The monorail sailed into the station just as we were arriving! WooHOO!!!
Sadly the monorail smelled just as much like a horse barn as it did the night before!
Seriously...WHY is this?! Does anybody know?
I looked at my cell phone and saw that we had PLENTY of time before the parade started...which was good b/c the last time my husband and I had taken the monorail from Epcot to Magic Kingdom it took pert near an HOUR to get there. Seriously...between the stops and waits for other monorails and the performing of break tests or some such thing...we were on that monorail for WAY too long!!!
We were lucky...THIS time it only took a little over 45 minutes!
I really don't know how long this little trip *should* take...but it seems like it should be quicker than it is.
maybe I'm just massively impatient...
could be that...
probably is...
but that's me!
When we FINALLY *huff* made it to Magic Kingdom, it was good and DARK!
And DANG it was HOT! It was one of those wretched humid nights that just CLOAKS you in sweat. It's ick. And not very attractive.
It does however bring out those individuals who reject antiperspirant in all its many forms and fragrances!
double ick.
All this fussing I'm doing is to *set the mood* for what is to come! Because basically we entered the park in a grump. Sally was tired. I could see it in her little eyes. When Sally isn't smiling, she has a very somber looking face. Like one of those perpetually sad children you seen in moody art pictures...or "Save the Children" ads...
She was WORKING that face this evening.
Teddy was completely wired. He kept jumping out of the kid transporter to kiss my arm...which means he will NEVER be drinking soda EVER again. Somebody had plugged this child IN and he was BUZZING with energy!
While Jay went and retrieved a Kid Transporter the kids and I hunted some cold drinks!
Then I wiped everyone down a with a Wet One and spritzed them with our Misty Mate. Then I fished out the little fans, turned them on and handed them over.
They were SET. Sally looked less hang-dog with her little fan on her face.
Jay arrived and the kids hopped into their ride.
It was time to head on over and STAKE US A SPOT!!!
Last year Jay and I had had a so-so spot for the Spectro Magic Parade. It was over near the Castle. I didn't want to go there again...plus it was already PACKED.
Jay suggested we head back over to Liberty Square.
Show me the way babe!!
As we walked I noticed that Jay looked a little pale.
I asked him if he was okay.
"I'm really hot Cam...it's just SO hot out here..."
YIKES...if this man fell I did NOT think I could catch him. Six feet and two inches of husband falling on five feet and four inches of wife would equal a SPLAT.
So I whipped out the Misty Mate, pumped it up to SUPER SPEED and held it in front of his face.
Basically the humidity completely nullified my attempts.
QUACK!
I bent down in front of the kid transporter and asked Teddy if I could please borrow his fan RIGHT NOW.
He handed it over without question.
good boy Teddy!
When Sally realized what I was doing she asked if I needed her fan too.
Giving little spirits are Sally and Teddy!!!
I held a little fan on Jay's face, which kept him upright...We made it to a pretty good spot JUST IN TIME.
Jay sat heavily on a little brick ledge. He was still POURING buckets of sweat.
gross I know.
It was the polo shirt.
It was just too much fabric for this heat.
So I gave Sally instructions to hold the fan on her daddy's face, and I dashed off in search of cooler T-shirt!
I could hear Jay shouting after me...
"Do NOT buy me a twenty dollar t-shirt that I'll never wear again!!!"
Silly man...he is NOT the boss of me!!!
Of course with Spectro fixin to start any moment, I was a bit stuck. There weren't many places I could go. We were good and roped off!! I figured I'd buy the first t-shirt I saw, regardless of price.
SO THERE!!!
I ran into a little shop that had some random "Liberty Square"...stuff in it. There was a rack of t-shirts under a sign that said "SALE"
SCORE!!!
I scurried over and took a look. They were the most UN-Disney shirts I'd ever seen at Disney. They were ringer tees...y'all know what I'm talking about? The tees with the band of color around the neck and arms? They had screen prints of sports...people...there was a soccer guy...and a football guy...and YAY...a BASKETBALL guy!!! It was the most random tee i've ever seen...but it was basketball and Jay liked basketball...so maybe he wouldn't fuss too much at the price...which was...
oh my gosh...these shirts were only $6.50!!!
I had myself a little dance party right there!!!
I was saving my husband from certain doom...AND spending less on a tee than I probably even would in the REAL world...let alone Disney!!
Double Score for ME!!!
I made my purchase lickety-split and rushed back towards my ailing husband!
Both kids were standing on either side of Jay with their fans on him. Poor guy. He looked wretched. Jay's a pretty sturdy guy, but get him too overheated and he just WILTS!
I handed him the bag with my most triumphant smile!
Jay gave me a look and said,
"How much?"
I toyed with the idea of teasing him a bit...but he looked a little pale and peaked, so I didn't.
I'd wait until later...when he'd cooled off!
*ahem*
I DID put my sassy britches on though, to deliver the news!
"This shirt happened to be a MERE six dollars and 50 cents! Feel free to fall to your knees in worship of my deal finding fabulousness..."
Sally and Teddy applauded.
Jay actually looked impressed.
"AND..." I said with flourish..."it's NOT even a Disney-fied shirt!!! It's got a basketball player on it!!!"
I took the shirt out of the bag and let him gaze upon my shopping greatness.
He said thanks, grabbed the shirt and ran off in search of a place to change.
Jay looked a MILLION times better when he returned. He'd soaked his head...which every man needs to do from time to time...
and he wasn't pouring buckets of sweat anymore...which was good b/c I REALLY wanted to stand next to him!
He looked good in that shirt. Really. He did...
and since I know y'all are DYING to see it...
Here it is...the most random shirt ever to be purchased at Disney...see the button?! Sorry this is a bad shot...but y'all get the point!!
and guess what else...he SO wears this shirt all the time! Mostly when he's painting or has gone on a cleaning bender...but still...he WEARS it!
SO...with our hourly crisis over...*cough* it was time to settle in and watch the parade...with no more drama...
which means OF COURSE there was fixin to be some more drama...
but what can one expect when the MEANEST lady in Disney is standing near you?
It all started when people had begun filling in to already packed spaces. Lots of parents and strollers began grabbing pavement space in front of us...which was FINE...b/c we know what it's like to have wee little ones...Sally and Teddy both made room and smiled indulgently at the little ones in front of them. They were GLAD to be tall enough to see over smaller children. They had NO problem with a littler person occupying the space directly in front of them...b/c THEY COULD SEE OVER the little heads...had an unobstructed view of Spectromagic.
It seems that the MEANEST lady in Disney did NOT share this philosophy of Disney goodwill and appropriate parade manners.
Teddy was getting crowded quite a bit. He was being VERY good and trying to make room for a lady to sit with her small child in her lap next to their stroller that contained a teeny baby. They had been very nice and asked if it was okay to park in front of us. We made room and chit chatted about our day. Everyone was being very pleasant.
But then the parade started. Teddy had JUST enough room to see, when rather suddenly a VERY tall and very broad woman stepped in front of him.
Like he wasn't even there.
This woman was taller than Jay...seriously.
and there was nearly three feet of room in front of her...and to the side of her...the side Teddy was NOT standing on. I should have been tipped off right there...people were unconsciously giving her a wide berth!
BUT...I didn't know yet, what I know now...so I moved through the people surrounding us and asked her, VERY NICELY might I add, if Teddy could please stand in front of her.
I think she must of have misunderstood me. I think she heard me say,
"Hey LADY, can my six foot three inch freakishly tall step son stand in front of you, so that you won't be able to see the parade at all, for even one second...b/c he is so tall...and in your way?"
She rolled her mean eyes nearly out of her head and said in a VERY loud nearly shouting voice,
"Well SURE...BE MY GUEST...GO RIGHT AHEAD...PLEASE STAND RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!!!" while she gestured wildly to the air around her. Then she crossed her arms and started muttering to the woman next to her about the NERVE of people with KIDS...and she spit "kids" out like it was some foul word that she didn't even want coming out of her mouth.
I was actually a little stunned. As were the people around us...Teddy looked up at me with his huge brown eyes and whispered,
"She's probably the MEANEST lady in Disney!"
Indeed!
I mean REALLY! Y'all MUST know by now, that I am NOT one of those people who thinks that my kids are more important than everyone else in the world. Or that their ability to see a parade means more than the ability of others to see...even an adult. Nine times out of ten I'll tell the kids to make the best of it, b/c life isn't always fair.
But seriously...this very tall woman had a TON of space in front of her. A TON! The only reason it hadn't filled up was b/c the parade had started and people stopped looking for places to stand and started watching.
I opened my mouth to say something...but I was so seriously at a loss as to why this woman was behaving so rudely, I did not know what to say...for once...in my life...too bad Jay missed it!
(He was standing a little bit off with Sally and hadn't heard any of this friendly exchange!)Luckily there happened to be someone near by who's mouth was NOT stuck in a gaping position!
It was the nice lady with the two little ones. She stood up and said ,
"Could you be anymore UNKIND?! My WORD, he's a little boy and this is DISNEY!" She then turned to me and said "He can come sit over here with US! We'll MAKE ROOM!" Her husband was furiously making room for Teddy as he threw daggers with his eyes at the MEANEST lady in Disney.
who acted like she hadn't heard a word.
I asked Teddy if he would like to go sit next to the "stroller lady" as she was later dubbed by Sally! He happily accepted his little patch of pavement and said thank you. I was SO proud of him.
I know that I'm not exactly a "real" mom. I haven't birthed children of my own...but I know that when I see a child in need of help...or even just a place to sit during a parade, I'll give up my seat, or give them a boost...whatever they need...b/c that is what you are supposed to do when you are big and someone else is small and something exciting is about to happen...and they still have the ability to "BELIEVE" in the magic...You don't have to have "KIDS" to know that! I WANT my kids...my Sally and Teddy to learn this...I want them to know that when you have the opportunity to be KIND...just because...you should do it. No matter where you may be...Disney or otherwise.
The Stroller Lady and her family are GOOD PEOPLE.
The Meanest Lady in Disney was NOT. Call it a snap judgment...but that's what life is...first impressions...and hers was UGLY.
Oh I was just fit to be TIED. CLEARLY.
Donald was going off full tilt in my head.
How DARE this woman act so ugly...so rudely towards Teddy...towards ANYBODY...what on EARTH had possessed her to behave that way...
I feared I was about to turn into the Incredible Hulk...
But I happened to look over to where Jay was standing...he was holding Sally...heavy as she is...and they were smiling. Jay was watching Sally watch the parade. Their identical smiles were settled firmly on their faces. They were feeling the love!
I looked over at Teddy, and he too was lit up with excitement. He was pointing out the floats to the little tiny baby in the stroller.
The mad drained out of me by way of tears.
I was weepy for the whole parade!
Not, "Poor Me I'm so Mad" crying...but just "I'm SO full of I-don't-know-what that I'm near to busting and need some relief" tears...and they were quiet and VERY dignified...*ahem*
People can be jerks.
They can surprise you with their venom and ugly actions.
The Campbellscots had had a lot of that this past year.
And the Meanest Lady in Disney pushed that button. I wasn't expecting such a nasty response and it felt like I had been SLAPPED across the face.
Oh well...
Luckily for me the therapy is working well...
Really though, none of that mattered much...Jay and Sally and Teddy were happy. They were living in the moment. They had climbed aboard the Magic Bubble and they weren't letting go!
and that was enough for me. For this moment. Mean people be gosh darned...
There had been kindness amongst the ugliness...and that is what made the impression on the kids. They remember the Stroller Lady...
only MissCammie with her Donald Duck demeanor really remembers the Meanest Lady in Disney...
and I don't even hope she frequently trips in large public forums and embarrasses herself...
much...
*ahem*
kidding kidding kidding
Up next: Reflections of Spectromagic...and MAYBE the start to Animal Kingdom!
I was so excited! We will have to try Coral Reef on our next trip. I loved the fireplace comment - my dd (4 and 1/2) says "I smell marshmallows" every time she smells smoke from a fire. To her smoke means campfires which mean marshmallows! It cracks us up every time! What makes it even funnier is she won't eat the marshmallows - she just likes to roast them. Great installments as always!
), it goes waaaay too fast. It's a conspiracy, I swear. 
have you changed your name MissCammie? 
