A Fourth of Pixie Dust! A Fourth of Fun! A Fourth of Attitude! NEW! 4/6 pg. 26

[Charleston Princess]

Oh dear! Being stuck on any ride is horrible but being stuck that long is even worse. I have no patience for staying in one place either especially if I have somewhere to be. We got stuck on Spaceship Earth last trip. We were in the part where you're going up. I was so scared we were going to miss our diner ADR.

I hope things got better after this.

I have been stuck in that spot of SSE before, too. Grrrr.

Good for you! It's good for the kids to see that side. It tells them to speak up when it's important.

Good point.

It makes me sad that so many attractions go down. I really wish Disney could get a handle on this problem.

Luckily, it was our only mishap of the trip.

I can't help but laugh about Charles--maybe he was going to wade through the water...

There is no telling with that man. LOL.

Yikes! What an ordeal! The only ride- knockonwood- I have ever been stuck on is Haunted Mansion and we had to walk out. I can't imagine what you guys must have been thinking with the CM's in their waders soming to get you. Imagine if you'd been in the scene between the two ships or at the drop like TK described!

Yes, I am thankful that we were in an easy spot to exit.

Good for you for saying something to that woman. I hope someone had taken her fireworks spot by the time she got there. I'm sure everyone was tense and concerned about getting to see the show. What is the matter with people??

It's that tunnel vision that I see in middle school kids of being the most important person. Apparently, some never outgrow it.

For the record, I am at the notion of Charles doing "something drastic" what might that have been? Did he have a plan???

There is no telling. LOL!

Hope the Dolewhip and a DIS meet made up for it and ended the night on a postive note. At least you'll always have the story of when mom tried to fight with the rude lady and dad almost did something drastic...

My poor kids. LOL!

Noooo! That totally stinks that yall were stuck on Pirates for 45 minutes! And even worse that you had pushy people behind you.

I'm glad you stood your ground though! GOOD FOR YOU! I can't stand when people feel like they are entitled to cut through others and be rude.

Boo for the fireworks being canceled, but yay for dole whips!

Not cancelled, just postponed! You'll see!

LOL!! Good for you to speak up. I think I would have done the same thing. I would not have been too happy to be stuck in there either. Especially right before the fireworks!!

And to Charles for thinking of doing something DRASTIC!! I wonder just what was he thinking of doing? Maybe swimming for it?

I think all Charles could focus on was getting away from those teenagers. LOL.

Oh man! That sounds so rough!! I would've been so mad at that lady after all that you had to go through...45 minutes stuck on a ride! That is really unfortunate. And now you leave us hanging? Man!

For two months, no less. LOL. Stupid life getting in the way. Grrr.

Dole Whips make everything better!!!!

I know I would have ended up saying something to the teenagers in the front. Geez!!!! That would have lasted about 5 minutes with me. Or, with Hollie. She might have ended up saying, "mommy, those kids are loud!!" really loudly herself! haha

I did think of you when I mouthed off to the lady. I knew you would have been proud of me. LOL.

I just found your thread via MeMom and Jill. I love it. I can't wait to hear more. I'm not very good about writing trip reports. I always have good intentions but never complete them. I will be starting one for my next trip and am making it my goal to complete it.

Welcome!!! Usually I am very good at updating, but this fall has kicked my tail -- I need a do-over for the last two months.

I hate rude people to and would have done the same thing. A Dole Whip always makes things better. I hope you made it to the fireworks. I haven't seen the fireworks at Magic Kingdom in 2 years. Oh how a miss Wishes! My little one can never make it that long.

Don't despair -- they eventually are able to stay up late enough for fireworks.

I'm so not ready for a teenager.

I think that is why life gives us our children as small beings first. To ease us into the whole adolescent thing. LOL.

Oh my gosh, I can just feel your anxiety about missing the fireworks! I'd be the same way.

I was beside myself!

So sorry you're probably scarred for life with PotC.

By the next trip, we should be able to ride it again -- we will just make sure it isn't before a parade or fireworks.

And don't feel bad - I probably would have done the same thing (or worse) with the rude lady who was trying to pass everyone to get to HER fireworks. I have the same gut reaction to rudeness. I just can't let it go unchecked! I can just see it - me giving that woman the business and Ray standing there completely embarrassed. Is this what happened with Charles, too? If so, I think we are married to the same man and they are married to the same woman!

There are some striking similarities! LOL! You know, I think Charles was more surprised than anything. He hadn't seen that side of me in a long time.

This is probably the same lady that passes traffic on the shoulder of the road b/c she has to be somewhere....because her life is way more important than everyone else's. Hopefully she's also the one that we see sitting in front of a police car with their lights on getting a ticket for doing such an obnoxious thing. I bet she felt stupid when she got where she was going only to find that you were right and the fireworks had been postponed.

Exactly!!!

I would hate being stuck on the ride especially with those teens! The one thing going for it was that it wasn't Space Mountain!

I hate rudeness, so I usually say something which will probably get me in trouble someday!

I would have died if it had been on Space Mountain!!! Yikes!!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

On the subject of responding to rudeness:
My new strategy is to kill them with kindness. And a little saracasm.

For example - in response to the rude lady - In my sweetest voice,
"Oh, I'm sorry, were you going to the fireworks that we all hope to get to go see too? I've heard they will be delayed, but I really hope you can find a spot to watch by rushing and pushing past all these other families."

usually I'm way too cranky to say anything remotely nice though!

I like that strategy! Southerners excel at it.

Hi Jackie! Sorry I'm late to the party - kind of sidetracked with moving - it seems like we will be eternally moving I'm all caught up - It is so nice that so many of your Disney memories are with your mom - it will always make Disney that more special for you! Too bad Connor lost his corn doggies. I hope he managed to get some later in the trip!

Hi, Tammie!!! Moving always takes longer than one anticipates, doesn't it?

I really enjoyed the pics of your Bayou area and the introduction to Louis! It is so cool how Disney went out of their way to really create an atmosphere at some of the resorts!

I love the theming everywhere at Disney!

I would have had to say something to that lady, too! And I would have probably been the faithful Disney informer too - I can't help but help people, even when they probably don't want my help!

It's just too much for me to stay quiet sometimes.

Oh boy Jackie. Not a fun Pirates ride. I'm sorry! I would have also said something to the rude lady. It stinks to encounter that on a vacation you had planned for so long. My kids would then be mortified as everything I do embarrasses them anyway.

Embarrassing my children: story of my life.

Oh My- Space would have been worse and RnR would have been the worst for me. Being harnessed in for 45 min would make me nuts. Not sure I can tolerate 45 minutes of Aerosmith blasting either.

Agggg! Yes, at least we weren't strapped in. That would have sent me over the edge!

This update had me rolling and I heard the whole thing from you on the trip!!!

I was still lit up about it the next day, wasn't I? LOL.

I can totally hear Charles threatening to do something drastic! The only thing better is if he actually had followed through....

Oh my! That would have been too much for me. I would have had to pretend I didn't know him.

Rude woman... I'm so proud of you for standing up to her! Baylor is normally mortified when I do that but anymore I just don't care. I can't stand to see people act that way at Disney. They aren't the only ones in the park. We all are trying to enjoy our vacations.... UGH!

You know, I don't think the kids were embarrassed by me doing that -- they were in such shock that I did that.

Call me strange but I think it would be neat to get stuck on there. I would want nice people with me though.

I hate rude people.

It got old very quickly, Scott. It was neat for the first ten minutes.

Ohhhhh man! Stuck on pirates for 45 minutes? Wow that would really suck! I'd be with Charles -- ready to do something drastic!
Glad you didn't miss the fireworks (well, yet!)
And I bet lots of people on the sidewalk to get out were glad that you said something to the rude woman, even if it didn't make much difference. I bet she felt pretty silly when she got out to find the fireworks had been postponed!

I hope she did! Especially when she didn't believe me.

accckk! about Pirates... my claustrophobia would have kicked in by the second round of yo ho ho's. I would have been adding a shot of Captain Morgan to your Dole Whip Float after that ride!!

I did wish for something a little stronger than a Dole Whip. Maybe we should bring a flask to MK for just such an emergency. LOL.

I finally have the time to get all caught up, so don't mind if this response is really long.

"I puke a little in my mouth when I think about it." That's hysterical.

That's Charles for you.

Charles sounds like my Dad. "That's plenty fast enough". That's what he always said when we gave him a hard time for driving like Miss Daisy.

Listen, when you gotta go, you gotta go, dang the law!

The murphy bed does come in handy with the sleeping situation. Although I would have also been a bit bummed if I didn't get a mansion room.

Very pretty pictures. We only stayed one time and it was in the mansion part, so I've never seen the bayou portion. It's very pretty.

Very fascinating that Louis the lizard.

I quickly fell in love with the bayou section. It was perfect for us!

It's always okay to walk down Main Street with tears running down your face, no matter the reason.

Gah, lost corn dog nuggets! Poor thing. I would have been devastated.

Um, weird cap thief's!

I do tear up even under normal circumstances on Main Street.

Chelsea really was the spitting image of Forsythia! That's hilarious. Teenagers always do things accidentally, don't they?

And I love it when they do!

OMG, no wonder your Pirate's experience left you with PTSD. Clearly, the teenager was succeeding on the loud front. Why is it that they think they're so funny? They're not. They should just realize it now before it's too late.

So true!

"Is that us? How do we know the evac exit?" I wish it was that easy. I wish.

You and me both!!!

Look at you with the crazy lady! Take that crazy fireworks lady! We all have places to be.

Oh my gosh, CMs in Waders? Dudes trying to impressing girls and people threating to jump ship? Wow, now that's not something they show on the Disney Vacation Videos...

Nope, I have never seen that on those Make Disney Memories commercials.

I'm totally with you on the rude behavior. Doesn't it kill you that these people think that the rules, and waiting and lines aren't for them...only for others... It's so annoying and if every one did that just imagine how unpleasant the whole experience would be...those people should be forced to experience an alternative reality dream in which everyone did behave like that...and see how they liked it... I think the Imagineers need to get right to work on it...

I think that should be a new attraction in Innoventions.

Hope you make it to the fireworks...

I hope to get there today!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Okay, I definitely think your Charles and my Charles are practically the same person...my Charles also gets impatient and then anxious in certain situations. He gets particularly anxious when he's in a situation he can't control, so your situation would definitely be one that really set him off!

Yes, yes, yes. That describes Charles perfectly.

I would be freaking out about the fireworks, too. We had a situation on our 2008 trip, when we repeatedly got stuck on Splash Mountain and it was almost time for the fireworks at the Pirate and Princess Party...we did eventually get moving each time, but it was a very stressful ride! So I really, really can't imagine being stuck on Pirates for that long (especially with the company on your boat).

I just kept watching the minutes tick by on my watch and worrying.

Catching up on my dising after the summer!

Your trip sound wonderful so far! Your pirates story is unreal though! CRAZY! I can't even believe that lady did that! Duh lady! I didn't occur to her that everyone wanted to see the fireworks!? Ridiculous! I'm so glad that the postponement worked out for you and that you got a dole whip to help you cool down

It was a blessing that the fireworks had been postponed!

I am enjoying reading your trip report so far. I am mostly a lurker, but had to chime in and commiserate with you as a fellow member of the Pirate's of the Caribbean evacuation club! My experience happened on my trip in May. I already have some childhood trauma from the ride, as I used to hate the room with the exploding cannons. We were stopped at the top of the first hill, and I still don't like to think about the fact that if we had been one boat sooner we would have been stopped in that room! Instead, we got to hear the wind whipping and the skeleton steering the boat saying, "dead men tell no tales" over and over again. Every time that the power was shut down, we would drift backwards and they would reboot and it would feel like we were going down the hill, but knock into the barrier holding us back. Pretty unnerving!! You can see my view after the lights finally came on in the picture below! Our experience only lasted about 15 minutes, and a CM told us our issue was electrical and could not safely be fixed without an evacuation. It sounds like your ride had a similar problem. We didn't get to see much backstage stuff because of our location, but our rescue did involve waders and a rope! There was a boy behind us who was probably around 10 years old that was pretty freaked out and began to cry before the e-vac. I felt bad for him. His sister was making fun of him, but when she realized he was really scared she was much nicer. I did make myself go back on the ride before we left, and am happy to say that we made it through just fine (even though I was pretty nervous the whole time)!

Agghhh! That was our situation almost exactly with the drifting back and forth! I can't imagine being near the skeleton though. It is one of my favorite parts of the ride, but I would have been unnerved being there for that long!

Your story reminds me of a similar one that happened during my second trip to Disneyland in 2009. I was on a boat with a group of people from another Disney form (the DPN or Disney podcast network). The CM didn't really pay much attention to how our boat got loaded and it end up being slightly on the heavy side in some places. Anyway we got stuck at the top of the first drop. At first they had us try and rock the boat to get it to move, eventually they had to send a CM to push us over the drop. We almost got stuck on the second but manged to make our way down it. The entire time we were on it we didn't see a single boat ahead of us. If anyone wants to hear audio of this check out the Mouse dropping podcast episode titled "the pirate shuffle".

Oh my!!! Pretty sure that trumps my experience!!!

Poor Connor, I hope he gets more corn dogs!

Woo hoo for you!! You go girl!! I hate it when people feel they are entitled to do what ever they please at the expense of others! I'm glad you blocked her path and called her out! Hopefully it made her think about her actions later!

Sadly, with people like that, it probably didn't even bother her.

Lol, I loved the 'My Mom is so not cool look", I still get that once in a great while and my daughter is 28. Your daughter will look back on that picture in her twenties and wonder why she got her panties in an uproar!

I completely understand why my mom always said she hoped I had a daughter just like me. I wish the same "blessing" on Chelsea. LOL.

As for hat Mom, I hope her kidlets didn't get lice.

Ewww. That would have been some serious karma.

the entire time I was reading your update! I would have been like you, Jackie-I would have to have spoken my mind to that lady as well!

Glad the fireworks were delayed so that your plans were (hopefully) going to work out!

The teacher came out in me, Michelle!

Wow, what an evacuation!!! That had to be interesting even though it was frustrating.

Way to go!!! Glad you stood up to that lady! I bet your children were about to die.

It was pretty neat to see the procedure and the backstage area.

just read through your report and love it! Especially love how your friend's word would kick that other lady's friend's word's butt! make sense? does to me...

Welcome!!!

I have a 14 yr old - attitude x3 is pretty much right. I've often said with her I can see how mothers in the wild eat their young... either way can't wait for more!

There are times...

Subbed. You're a good writer! I encountered a few people like the shoving lady the last time were there and I reacted the same way (and I usually hate confrontation too). Oh, and the red cap story? That's SO not the Disney way. Those people should be asked to leave and never come back!

Welcome!!! Sorry there has been such a hiatus, but I am hoping to get back on track!

I have to tell you that I now have my own evac story! We were in the Magic Kingdom last week on Splash Mountain near the final drop. Our log stopped & we sat for 20 minutes or so. Had to get out of logs & walk out!

Oh no!!! Did you get anytime FPs, too?

Oh.my.gosh! I just read your last update about your adventure on Pirates, I tried not to laugh, really I did, but I just couldn't help myself! I really am sorry you had to go through all that, but it sure made for a good story.

Keeping my fingers crossed that you find HD and get to see the fireworks!

Michelle, you can always laugh at my updates! It's the only way I can get through some of them -- knowing I can spew it all out in the trip report.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Good morning Jackie!

Hi, Sheree!!! The pixie dust appears to be working -- replies finished.

Working on the update next...

 

[Charleston Princess]

Hi, everyone! Remember me? I really can't wrap my head around the fact that I haven't updated since the beginning of September, and that it is now the end of October. I have decided that I need a do-over for my favorite month of the year. I wouldn't even know that it is October if I didn't have Halloween decorations up and was in the middle of my Edgar Allan Poe unit at school. Evil grad school. At least this time next year I won't have that hanging over me and sucking all my free time away.

Before continuing with an actual update, I wanted to share this picture of Chelsea (although many of you saw it on Facebook). Now, as most of you know, Chelsea has been very wishy-washy about Disney in the past couple of years. I understand that in some ways it is her way of asserting her independence from me. "If Mom likes Disney, then I am not going to because I am my own person," I am convinced is how her subconscious is working. Well, lately, she hasn't been able to keep that up.

For homecoming week, one of the days was a Character Day. What follows was all Chelsea's idea -- including how to design the costume. She was so giddy about it -- I don't think she stopped grinning over herself for 48 hours.

When I last left you, we had been stuck on Pirates of the Caribbean for 45 minutes, Charles and I were unraveling for different reasons, and I was worried that we would miss the Fourth of July fireworks and meeting up with Happydog and her boys. I also think I had mentioned that after our ordeal, we had to stop and get Dole Whips. Well, Charles and I got Dole Whips, Chelsea and Connor had chosen root beer floats.

I do not have many pictures for the rest of the night. In fact, I have two.

With our Aloha Isle treats, we found a seat under a tree near the bridge to Adventureland with the Crystal Palace behind us.

And then, Charles announced he was done.

Raise your hand if you are surprised.

No? No one? Yeah, I wasn't either.

Charles has a low tolerance for the Magic Kingdom as it is, and the Pirates ordeal had used up all of what he did have. He finished his Dole Whip, and we said our good-byes.

Happydog and I continued texting furiously back and forth, and a tremendously helpful CM named Sydney, who was standing next to us, kept me in the loop about the status of the fireworks. They were going to happen no matter what -- they were just waiting for the weather to clear up. I was going to wait all night to see those fireworks, if that's what it took.

Neither of my children were thrilled with sitting and waiting and made this quite clear to me. At one point, I even said to them, "Why didn't you leave with your father?" Connor retorted that no one had asked him if he wanted to leave. Hmm.

Ignoring that.

Happydog, who had a spot on the Tomorrowland side of the Castle, decided to make her way to us. In retrospect, I really wish we had made our way to her because a tree ended up blocking our view more than I would have liked.

You can see that tree in my one bad picture of the Castle. It was taller than those branches should lead you to believe.

I was super excited to be meeting Happydog. In all our trips to Disney, our dates had never coincided, but they did this time! Oh, joy and happiness!!! When I spotted her looking for us, I am pretty sure I waved all goofily to attract her attention. All my natural savoir-faire deserted me -- not that I really ever have any anyway. LOL.

I knew Happydog and I would get along famously, but I wasn't sure about my two darlings given their current moods. They are naturally a bit shy around new people, and Connor was already in a grumpy mood. When he is in one of those moods, he is eerily like his father. He never became very talkative that night even when Griffin, Happydog's older son, regaled us with stories of Annoying Orange -- whom Connor also really likes. Way to make an impression, Connor-man.

Nolyn, Happydog's younger son, was a bit shy at first and went a little ways off to assess the situation. In one of the cutest moments of the trip and one that I never saw coming, Chelsea decided to go and sit down beside Nolyn. Later, she told me that she said to him, "Hi, Nolyn. I'm Chelsea. I am pretty sure we could become good friends."

She was right. Within minutes, she had Nolyn chattering away, and I don't think those two stopped chattering together the entire trip. LOL.

As you can see, even from the side, Nolyn made Chelsea smile the entire rest of the night.

Eventually the fireworks started -- so neat! I do love those perimeter fireworks where no matter where you are looking, you can see them going off. Even from a less than great vantage point, they were amazing, and the perfect culmination to our night and the perfect start to our trip! I am so glad we didn't miss them, and both kids later admitted that they were glad I made them stay.

Afterwards, our group split up with plans to meet up the following day at Epcot -- Happydog and her boys were off to ride Space Mountain, and we were headed back to the resort. It had been a long day. Of course, exiting the park was something of a nightmare since we couldn't walk down Main Street. It was a mess of going through Liberty Square to Fantasyland to Tomorrowland along the back of Main Street. Coupled with fighting the crowds to leave, Chelsea groused at me the entire time about various things -- clearly, she had used her niceness quota on Nolyn. She even fussed at me for getting in the way of a CM who was sweeping up water. In my mind, I imagined becoming one of those parents who snap at Disney. I held it in, though. In hindsight, we should have just stayed and ridden more rides, but I wanted us to be well-rested for our Fourth of July at Epcot.

UP NEXT: Chelsea and Connor continue to keep a tally of Disney rules their mom breaks.

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Before continuing with an actual update, I wanted to share this picture of Chelsea (although many of you saw it on Facebook). Now, as most of you know, Chelsea has been very wishy-washy about Disney in the past couple of years. I understand that in some ways it is her way of asserting her independence from me. "If Mom likes Disney, then I am not going to because I am my own person," I am convinced is how her subconscious is working. Well, lately, she hasn't been able to keep that up.

For homecoming week, one of the days was a Character Day. What follows was all Chelsea's idea -- including how to design the costume. She was so giddy about it -- I don't think she stopped grinning over herself for 48 hours.

You have done well Obi-wan... the force is strong in this one...

Ok... that's it for my Star Wars quotes... I like it-not love- and that's about as far as I'm going get with that...

Chelsea looks absolutely adorable!

But that's awesome... Isn't it too cool when you hear them or seeing them doing something good that you influenced... you have to LOVE it... It's all in there Jackie, all those good memories and positive things you've done and said and it's all just percolating...



Neither of my children were thrilled with sitting and waiting and made this quite clear to me. At one point, I even said to them, "Why didn't you leave with your father?" Connor retorted that no one had asked him if he wanted to leave. Hmm.

Ignoring that.

OMG... I can literally hear David saying that...Literally...

I was super excited to be meeting Happydog. In all our trips to Disney, our dates had never coincided, but they did this time! Oh, joy and happiness!!! When I spotted her looking for us, I am pretty sure I waved all goofily to attract her attention. All my natural savoir-faire deserted me -- not that I really ever have any anyway. LOL.

Yay for Dis meets ... especially ones that were threatened by Pirates going Rogue...

I knew Happydog and I would get along famously, but I wasn't sure about my two darlings given their current moods. They are naturally a bit shy around new people, and Connor was already in a grumpy mood. When he is in one of those moods, he is eerily like his father. He never became very talkative that night even when Griffin, Happydog's older son, regaled us with stories of Annoying Orange -- whom Connor also really likes. Way to make an impression, Connor-man.

Oh boy Connor must have been upset... That would have been David's break through point... (well probably -boy can hold a grudge...) but Annoying Orange-he's the man... well Orange... He's very popular in our house... I've seen it and unwillingly laughed at a couple of bits... Best taken in small doses...

Nolyn, Happydog's younger son, was a bit shy at first and went a little ways off to assess the situation. In one of the cutest moments of the trip and one that I never saw coming, Chelsea decided to go and sit down beside Nolyn. Later, she told me that she said to him, "Hi, Nolyn. I'm Chelsea. I am pretty sure we could become good friends."

She was right. Within minutes, she had Nolyn chattering away, and I don't think those two stopped chattering together the entire trip. LOL.

Awwww... she's got the kid knack... Em's got that too...

As you can see, even from the side, Nolyn made Chelsea smile the entire rest of the night.

Eventually the fireworks started -- so neat! I do love those perimeter fireworks where no matter where you are looking, you can see them going off. Even from a less than great vantage point, they were amazing, and the perfect culmination to our night and the perfect start to our trip! I am so glad we didn't miss them, and both kids later admitted that they were glad I made them stay.

Chalk one up for the mom...

Chelsea groused at me the entire time about various things -- clearly, she had used her niceness quota on Nolyn. She even fussed at me for getting in the way of a CM who was sweeping up water. In my mind, I imagined becoming one of those parents who snap at Disney. I held it in, though.

Niceness quota... I like it... I think I'll even use it...

UP NEXT: Chelsea and Connor continue to keep a tally of Disney rules their mom breaks.

Hmmm... now that sounds interesting... Did you get close to getting thrown into Disney jail...?

 

[Mndisneygirl]

no one is surprised at Charles!!

So happy you made it to meet Happydog and to see fireworks! I know how you feel about being willing to stay all night to see them. After all that, I would have just sat there waiting too!

I love the Minnie outfit! My kids are being trained well too - Paige picked out some new flannel sheets at Target this a.m. and wanted the ones with holly leaves/berries because the berries "looked like Mickeys!"

 

[Native NYer]

Chelsea's costume is so cute!
Glad you finally got to meet up with HappyDog.

I hope the grad school work eases up soon.

 

[teekathepony]

I love Edgar Allen Poe!
Glad you and HappyDog met up! Sounds like a fun Dismeet! How adorable that Chelsea and Nolyn got along so well, what a great memory. Hoping a good night's sleep refilled her niceness quota I know mine runs low when my sleep does.

 

[Wicket's Mom]

Great to see a new update from you!

I know how life gets in the way, I just can't seem to find time to start my TR because of being vey busy!

We did get an anytime fastpass, but it wasn't needed, however we did use it. If I ever get the TR started you will find that we didn't need any fastpasses!

Love Chelsea's costume. My sons don't seem to be a Disney lover like I am. The last trip there for them was 1986! Second son did make it in 2002, but he hated it.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Hmmm... now that sounds interesting... Did you get close to getting thrown into Disney jail...?

Love the Star Wars reference -- we are big Star Wars geeks at our house. LOL! It creeps in more often than one would think into our daily conversations.

Oh, just wait, Connor had many one-liners during the trip. He, too, can hold a grudge like nobody's business.

Well, my kids were convinced that I was going to end up in Disney jail on this trip, but they were all minor infractions.

no one is surprised at Charles!!

So happy you made it to meet Happydog and to see fireworks! I know how you feel about being willing to stay all night to see them. After all that, I would have just sat there waiting too!

I love the Minnie outfit! My kids are being trained well too - Paige picked out some new flannel sheets at Target this a.m. and wanted the ones with holly leaves/berries because the berries "looked like Mickeys!"

I know I wasn't the least bit surprised. He is an early to bed person anyway, and I think Disney wears him out mentally.

I always think holly berries look like Hidden Mickeys, too!

Chelsea's costume is so cute!
Glad you finally got to meet up with HappyDog.

I hope the grad school work eases up soon.

Thanks, Jen! I don't really foresee my grad school work easing up anytime soon since we are in the homestretch. If I never see my action research paper again, it will be too soon.

I love Edgar Allen Poe!
Glad you and HappyDog met up! Sounds like a fun Dismeet! How adorable that Chelsea and Nolyn got along so well, what a great memory. Hoping a good night's sleep refilled her niceness quota I know mine runs low when my sleep does.

Poe is one of my favorites! Chelsea's niceness quota ran rather low the entire trip.

Great to see a new update from you!

I know how life gets in the way, I just can't seem to find time to start my TR because of being vey busy!

We did get an anytime fastpass, but it wasn't needed, however we did use it. If I ever get the TR started you will find that we didn't need any fastpasses!

Love Chelsea's costume. My sons don't seem to be a Disney lover like I am. The last trip there for them was 1986! Second son did make it in 2002, but he hated it.

Wow! How neat to take a trip where you didn't really need Fastpasses! I can't imagine! So sad about your sons.

 

[Poolrat]

So glad you are finally out of that boat and watching fireworks.


I am trying to stay caught up and get back to updating myself.




I am so glad that the fireworks happened, even late always worth it.

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Not one bit surprised about Charles.
So glad you and HD finally got to meet. Yep, I knew you two would get along famously.
From what I saw a bit later, Chelsea charmed both of the boys and perhaps my silly son as well!
What a girl!

 

[MeMom]

Good to see you posting again! Chelsea was too cute in her outfit.

It's always fun to meet up with DIS families. When you get a bunch of DIS kids together, things can really get lively!

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

Love Chelsea's outfit. Too cute!

Glad you had a great dismeet and got to see the fireworks. This was the first year we were not at WDW on the 4th and I really missed seeing them.

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

Chelsea looks so cute as Minnie Mouse!

I'm so glad you were still able to see the fireworks! I have a boy that would have been saying the same things as your children about having to sit and wait for them to start. Yay for a DISmeet, too! That's always fun!

 

[eandesmom]

Now, as most of you know, Chelsea has been very wishy-washy about Disney in the past couple of years. I understand that in some ways it is her way of asserting her independence from me. "If Mom likes Disney, then I am not going to because I am my own person," I am convinced is how her subconscious is working. Well, lately, she hasn't been able to keep that up.

Between the costume and the Cinderella Cookies....she is definitely not keeping up her front!

And then, Charles announced he was done.

Raise your hand if you are surprised.

No? No one? Yeah, I wasn't either.

And in that situation, best he left for all concerned I imagine!

I was super excited to be meeting Happydog. In all our trips to Disney, our dates had never coincided, but they did this time! Oh, joy and happiness!!! When I spotted her looking for us, I am pretty sure I waved all goofily to attract her attention. All my natural savoir-faire deserted me -- not that I really ever have any anyway. LOL.

That is the BEST kind of meet! I'm sure I'd react the same way if I spotted either of you.

I knew Happydog and I would get along famously, but I wasn't sure about my two darlings given their current moods. They are naturally a bit shy around new people, and Connor was already in a grumpy mood. When he is in one of those moods, he is eerily like his father. He never became very talkative that night even when Griffin, Happydog's older son, regaled us with stories of Annoying Orange -- whom Connor also really likes. Way to make an impression, Connor-man.

Nolyn, Happydog's younger son, was a bit shy at first and went a little ways off to assess the situation. In one of the cutest moments of the trip and one that I never saw coming, Chelsea decided to go and sit down beside Nolyn. Later, she told me that she said to him, "Hi, Nolyn. I'm Chelsea. I am pretty sure we could become good friends."

Aw, so cute!

UP NEXT: Chelsea and Connor continue to keep a tally of Disney rules their mom breaks.

Ok now that sounds entertaining!!

 

[Lovemy3babes]

I loved Chelsea's costume when I saw it on FB. She's such a pretty girl! Morghan is 13 and this is the first year I saw her be wishy washy about Disney. It makes me sad.

I'm glad you had a Dole Whip and got to see Wishes. What a great ending to your night Jackie!

 

[vamassey1]

Chelsea's Minnie outfit is so cute. Danielle is dressing as Minnie for Halloween. She bought a Minnie skirt back in Feb.

I'm not surprised Charles left. Dennis really likes Disney but left before the fireworks too. The girls and I enjoyed them just the same.

So glad you had a great meet and that Chelsea made a new friend.

Good luck with school. The end is almost here.

 

[cdotla]

Hey Jackie...no need to apologize (at least to me) for missing almost all of October in posting. I am embarrasingly behind in reading all of the TRs I am supposed to be reading, including yours. I haven't been on the Trip Report boards in weeks, but tonite I got all caught up with yours!

Ugh! What a disaster on pirates. Which then made the perfect exit strategy for an impatient husband. Change the scenario a bit, and I have been there before myself.

More convinced now than ever that you really need to do a solo trip. I love my family trips, but oh...do I ever love my "solo" trips! Of course "solo" is somewhat of a misnomer as I am usually hanging out with dozens of the best type of like-minded Disney folks on these trips. You really do need to join us one of these years!!!