A Ferry Merry Christmas Trip

I hope our upcoming trip is as magical as yours seem to be. :wizard:
 
great report - thanks for sharing - I remember reading your earlier report and loving it too.
 
Hi Near By Neighbor! I am in Springdale, right off the turnpike near Harmarville! I just wanted to drop a line and tell you how much I have enjoyed your trip reports! I lived Vicarious thru you during your anniversary trip. Something I want to do for my 15th yr. Since we honeymooned there. Which will be next year, now that I think about it! :rotfl:

Anywho... Just had to say,, HOw much I enjoy this trip reports... Your little one and the stroller:)
I am glad that Shelby's leg is getting better..
 
I’m enjoying your report so much! I’m glad that Shelby began feeling better—no one wants to end up at the hospital instead of the Magic Kingdom!
 

I am glad you all are enjoying the reports so far! They really are fun to write. With the playoffs on all weekend, though, there is barely time to cook and do laundry, let alone finish another installment, but it is on the way, I promise!
 
It was a load off of everyone’s shoulders when Shelby’s leg looked better, no one more so than Zack, who had to take over pushing the wheelchair every time Matt and Chris went off on their own. He was certain that she was able to walk, and should start immediately. We all had a great time at the Animal Kingdom, it is so much easier to tour when it isn’t hot!

Our itinerary for that evening included dinner at Kona Café and nothing else. The boys quickly decided they wanted to go to Downtown Disney. They wanted to see the new King Kong movie and hit Disney Quest. Shelby and I decided we should celebrate her healing and headed for the concierge desk to change our plans.

We were hoping for reservations for Chef Mickey’s or one of the dinner shows. Chef Mickey’s, unfortunately, was full. There was an opening for the late Hoop dee do or the early Luau. Matt and I had seen the Luau years ago, but the girls hadn’t. I had my doubts that they would be able to sit still that long, because I remembered it being kind of long, but Shelby really wanted to go. So, we decided on the Luau and went quickly to change for dinner.

The boys hit the lounge without us tonight for the hot appetizers and said they had enough to eat they didn’t stop anywhere for dinner. They had skewered meat from ‘Ohana and I don’t remember what else, but they said it was really good.

It was while getting ready to leave for the Luau that I made a crucial error in judgement. We weren’t leaving the resort, we were just going over to Luau Cove, so there was no need to drag the stroller along, right? I was pretty sure we would have to park it outside anyway and who wants to be bothered. Miss Zoe is 2 ½ now, a big girl.

“Zoe, do you want to walk to the show or ride in your stroller?”

“I’m big mommy, I want to walk” Great, so the stroller stays in the room tonight, no having to struggle up and down little sets of stairs, just the three of us walking hand in hand watching the sunset. Right.

Well it was that way until we got to the marina, then Zoe decided she had enough walking for tonight and she would prefer to be carried please. NOW. When Zoe wants something now, she claps twice really fast. So if anyone saw a little red headed sprite clapping twice and throwing her hands up screaming “UP” that was us.

Luau Cove is REALLY REALLY FAR from Hawaii. I don’t think the whole island of Hawaii is that big, at least it felt that way when carrying a 40 pound ball of energy and holding Shelby’s hand. After about 2 hours we make it and line up for pictures. Oh goody. I am looking my best right now with sweat pouring off of me. (We end up buying them, of course)

We were seated immediately in what I believe are about the worst seats in the house. We were way in the back, the upside to that, we didn’t have to walk all the way to the front to get to our seats, we were close to the bathrooms, we got our dessert first (yum) and I am not sure if Zoe would have done as well if we were close to the action, especially during the flame twirling.

Our appetizers were brought out right away, as was my wine (I was thirsty after making the 200 mile trek) The girls loved the bread and shoveled it down quickly. Dinner too was a big hit, they both loved the chicken and rice. Our waitress offered to bring them kids meals, but I was proud of them, they ate like grown ups. Neither of them really cared for the ribs, Shelby said they were too fatty. I thought everything was great, but I had consumed three glasses of wine by now, everything was great. Dessert was not what I was expecting, but we liked it, Shelby especially loved it.

Now, on to the show. I was wrong to worry that they wouldn’t sit still. They were both enthralled by the music and the dancing. Shelby went up front with the rest of the kids to learn how to dance and then again when they called for everyone with December birthdays. She has long hair, which she had up in pigtails tonight. That didn’t last long. As soon as the girls came out and started dancing, she took her pigtails out so she could look more like the dancers. I didn’t tease her about it, she is such a sweetheart.( I will mention now that I will be adding pictures later. Our DSL being hooked up on Thursday, I am waiting until after that to upload all the pictures on to the internet since I took over 500 and that would take roughly six years at the current speed of my internet connection.)

I thought the show was decent, and the girls thought it was great and the food was decent. All-in-all I was glad we went, it was a good girl’s night out activity, I don’t think the boys would have enjoyed it as much.

Now, four glasses of wine and too much food later, it’s time to get back to Hawaii. How in the world am I going to get back there with Zoe, the non-walker. I start off confident. She will walk, I won’t even mention carrying her and she will be just fine. I take her out of the high chair and set her down.

Clap, clap “UP” I pretend I didn’t hear her. Clap, clap “UP” I take her hand and start to walk Clap, clap “UPPY UP UP” So much for that, I pick her up and stumble towards Hawaii. We make it back to the lounge in time for the end of the Electric Light Parade, which is silly and we have seen it a million times, but the kids love it. I skip the wine since I have probably had enough already. We take Zoe down to the room because she is totally exhausted, it’s tough work being carried all that way and doing all that clapping, she falls asleep immediately.

Shelby and I really wanted to see the holiday Wishes since tonight was a Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom so we changed into sweat pants and set up the baby monitor in the room. Hot chocolate in hand we walked outside and watched Wishes from the Beach near Sunset Point. It was a beautiful show, especially from that vantage point, and perfect ending to a memorable evening. The perimeter fireworks they set off are awesome!

Shelby asked if I didn’t wish the boys were there to see the fireworks, but I was glad it was just she and I for a change. We were both tucked into bed before the boys got back. We had to be up early, we had a clown to catch in the morning

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The girls at the Luau

Up next: MGM and the elusive JoJo the clown.
 
Thanks for the update! Your reports are so much fun to read!

Our Seahawks are playing in the football playoffs this weekend - wahoooo!

Though we're not HUGE fans of football, one of the players is a good friend of ours from church, so we all cheer him on (and hope that he doesn't get too roughed up). :) :)
 
Wow, sorry I missed your updating. What a nice surprise.

I hope in your next installments there is no more trauma with the leg. My oldest son had that infection and he is allergic to almost all medicines. Just yesterday, he had a hood of a truck somehow hit him on the side of the head. He had to sit with a ice bag for over an hour.

How many times have you had to take your husband to the Dr. to get steal out of his eye. I'm glad safety glasses are a must, plus he now wears glasses.

As someone posted before me:

Clap, Clap! My youngest is the boss of the house too. Only she is 15 now! But I really do enjoy her
 
What a lovely report, boy can I sympathise with carrying a toddler. Why are the stroller parks so far from the actual attractions and why are the lines so long? I swear, my arms were a totally different shape by the time i got home :rotfl2:

Clap clap too!!
Claire xx
 
I am loving these trip reports. I too have four children three DS ages 12,10,and 7 and a DD aged 5. The only time we can go in 2006 is first week of Oct or week before Christmas. I am a die hard fan of TGMike's and have used him three times. Once early Dec 2004 and first week Oct 2004 and Oct 2005. Except for the Dec trip, other people traveled with us and against my better judgement, they wanted to do everything agains TG Mike's advice(they wouldn't read the information before hand or appreciate all my research) so the first week of oct has gotten busier and both trips were hot and crazy. I have always chalked the success of Dec trip to the fact that it was a slow time even though TG mike was right on track. I have always wanted to go at a peak time using his advice and now i am working more hours and can't take off twice in Dec and feel i should reserve my days for when they are out of school. So we are going almost same dates you did so I am so excited to read your reports. I am definately going to trust TG Mike!!
Also, my second DS used to get those red inflamed sores from bites often, as does my nephew. My mom said to put alcohol on his bug bites ASAP, and since he hasn't had any flare ups! Well, I am patiently waiting for your next installment!

Suzanne
 
Goodferry-

where are you? I am dying to read about the rest of your trip! Don't leave us in suspense!

Ha!Ha!

Suzanne
 
Where are you? We want to know what happens next! I hope everyone is healthy at your house!
 
Sorry guys! Playoff football and renovations at work have kept me busy lately. I got a new office, yeah!!! I promise a new installment by Monday, hold me to it
 
I am feeling soooo sheepish, I am sorry this has taken me so long to get back to! So, where were we? Saturday, right? Today we are up bright and early and ready to trek off to MGM. Shelby's leg is much, much better and we are all excited to take Zoebug to see JoJo.

Now is a good time to talk a little bit about my Zackman. He has grown up so much since our last trip. He is 10 now and much more adventurous then last trip.

Zack has not had things easy in his young life. He has a learning disability and had a tendancy to be a little hyper when he was younger, and that sometimes makes it hard for him to make friends. On the flip side he is a brilliant artist, a hard worker and a very affectionate and loving little boy, it isn't always easy, though, to make a young man his age see what they have, it's so much easier to see what they don't.

Anyway, long story short, I am a little protective of my Zack. I don't tolerate people picking on him in my earshot and I don't want him yelled at unless it's for a really good reason.

Zack loves to collect pins. He won't trade a single one of them, mind you, but he loves to collect them and wear his three hundred pound lanyard around his neck.

Another one of Zack's better qualities is that he is extremely responsible. He never looses anything, turns his homework in on time etc, so when he asked me if he could carry his magic gold card in his lanyard.

The kids are all obsessed with being allowed to carry that magic concierge allowing, park entering, charging to the room, buying your lunch, all in one beautiful golden card. I, being the type A, overcontrolling, overplanning mom that I am when we are at Disney, insist on carrying everyone's card most of the time. For some reason, today I agree to let Zack put his golden ticket in his pin lanyard.

Immediately upon arrival at MGM, I grab a schedule. I want to make sure we see Playhouse Disney, Beauty and the Beast and Voyage of the Little Mermaid today, so I know I need to start planning immediately. I want to make sure we make the first Playhouse Disney. Well, we are over an hour early, so Matt and Chris take off for the thrill rides while Zack pushes Shelby in her wheelchair and I push Zoe in her "little Stroller" over to Star Wars.

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Shelby and Zack LOVE this ride and decide when they see there is no line to have a Star Wars marathon. On they pile while Zoe and I wait, they come out excited to ride again. Back on they go, giggling and excited, while I chat with a very nice CM who turned out was originally from our little town of Ligonier, it truly is a small world. I bet you have never heard that one on the Dis!!

The kids come off and announce that they want to ride again. It is then that Zack notices that his pin lanyard is missing. They run back into the ride, he insists he left it in the basket under his seat, but it isn't there. Surely no one stole his pin lanyard, it's Disney World, right? Hello, I am originally from the Bronx, my first thought is some little twerp stole it and is out spending my precious $1500 room charge. We go through all of the ride simulators over the course of the next 10 minutes, no luck, no lanyard. OK, time to think. Matt and Chris join up with us and decide that they will take the kids to see the Muppets while I go up front to Guest Relations to see if anyone has turned in the lanyard and to cancel the room key and get a new ticket for Zack to use until we get back to our room.

Now, let me say that Matt usually is really good at dealing with the normal little ups and downs that come with having munchkins, but this time he wasn't dealing well. He was really giving Zack a hard time and Zack was in tears, poor little bugger. I felt horrible for him. He didn't mean to loose the lanyard and he thought he was doing the right thing by taking it off and putting it under his seat. Plus he is sooo hard on himself when he makes a mistake, he was already beating himself up more than any of us ever could have and I knew that. He was sad he let me down and lost his key, and he was really sad that he lost all the pins he had collected over the years.

To say that the wind was out of my sails as I headed back to meet my family would be an understatement. I was feeling down and afraid of dragging everyone down with me. I was also worried about what Zack's emotional state would be when I met up with them. I stopped at the pin cart under the giant Sorcerers hat and got Zack two new pins to wear and walked back to the Muppet show.

My fears were confirmed, Zack was still in tears and Matt was still in a huff. I sent him off with Chris to use their fast passes on TOT while I took the little ones over to see Playhouse Disney. We have never seen Playhouse Disney and Zoe loves to the point of obsession, JoJo the clown, so I was really excited.

On the way there I gave Zack his new pins and a disposable camera. I convinced him that I needed an assistant photographer and that managed to perk him right up. I got a hug before he ripped open the camera and started shooting.

Playhouse Disney was adorable and watching Zoe was a blast! She was so excited to see her favorite characters up on stage. Matt and Chris came in a minute after the show started and sat with us.

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So we were back on track and ready to see Voyage of the Little Mermaid, which was starting soon. I let Zoe out of her stroller so Matt could take her in to the waiting area with the rest of them while I parked the stroller. I quickly met up with them in the "holding area". We were laughing and chatting while I silently did my head count, two adults, three kids... Wait a minute, there should be four. Where is Zoe, Matt where is Zoe? "I don't know, she was with you." Nooooo she was with you, oh my God, stomach sinks, panic sets in as I run outside.

There is my precious little Zoebug in the arms of a CM at the little spinny things you have to walk through to get in, what are those called anyway??? She is safe and happy, chatting away with the CM, who sees my face and promptly hands her over to me. "She was just wandering around talking and she didn't appear to be with anyone" After many thanks and despite the glares from the other mothers in the area who I could feel judging me, we head in happily to see the Little Mermaid.

Now, I may have mentioned earlier that Zoe hates movies, she does. Can't stand enclosed spaces, doesn't like to sit in a fold up seat in the dark, and, apparently, it doesn't matter if Ariel herself is the star of the show, she will have nothing to do with it. I try convincing her to stay through the first few songs, but she is starting to get really worked up, so, once again, she and I head out to "her little stroller"

So, this day is not going all that well, is it? MGM is PACKED, we lost the lanyard and I am hungry and feeling a little sorry for myself. I try to walk Zoe over to find JoJo at her trailer, but she isn't out. We have a lunch ADR for the Sci-Fi Dine Inn, so as soon as the family exits Ariel, we head over. We have never eaten there, and I know there have been a lot of bad reviews here on the Dis, but we really enjoyed it. I had my doubts, but it turned out to be great. We had a good lunch and everyone was in a much better mood afterwards.

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We had some fast passes for RNR Coaster and I was ready to go, it's one of my favorites. On the way there, I talked Zack in to riding it with me. He was hesitant, but he trusted me and we had a blast!

Next we head over to Lights! Motor! Action! I was surprised, Shelby loved it, and Zack had his pictures done with the Power Rangers, he would probably kill me if he knew I was telling people that, but he loved the Power Rangers when he was a little guy, so he went for the autographs and pictures.
Well, that's all for tonight folks.

On our way out of MGM we stop at Guest Relations again to check on the lanyard, but nothing so far. I was disappointed, I didn't want Zack thinking someone would steal his pins, and right now that was what he thought, no matter what I said. I kept trying to convince him that someone probably found it and thought it was lost and would turn it in on their way out of the parks.

More to come about this evening, including out dinner with Pooh Bear! The next installment won't take so long, I promise!
 
Great report and great pictures. Your kids are adorable! Sorry about Shelby's leg, but looking at the pictures she seemed to have a blast!

Thanks for posting!
 











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