An APRIL Adventure in Autism: 2008 (8/8) Time to Say Good-Bye....

[DisMomAmy]

You missed the parade!

I never would have seen that coming...

I know what you mean about the down side of being a NOTP - I took that approach this year and we missed out on a few things that I'd planned to see.

 

[wvdislover]

You're right. It wasn't really worth getting upset over, now that I look back at it. The time together as a family is worth much more

BTW, those "princess" dresses are like My DD's better not EVER be caught with something like that on! Fortunately, they have developed their own sense of modesty.

 

[preschoolmom]

Great update! As always, it was so nice to be there with your family!

And... Sorry about the parade - but I would have done exactly what you did. That is just the worst feeling! Knowing that you are stuck, and that you don't want to ruin the evening. I totally get it.

(((((hugs))))))

 

[KathyRN137]

Aww....so sad about the parade, but good for you for trying to keep the peace by letting it go. You're right...definitely not worth an upset hubby for the rest of the night. But...on that note.....AWWWWW--you missed the parade! I would have felt exactly the same way you did. And I would have had a hard time letting it go....on our 2007 trip, Dan was not feeling well and asked to go back to the hotel so Jeff took him and they missed Spectro. I was SO disappointed! I think all of us here "feel you"!
:

Yes, it was a bit of a bummer. It's so hard to accept that no matter how hard we try, things just don't always work out perfectly... even at WDW!!

I agree that it wouldn't have been worth a blowout. I guess I'm lucky because I don't think my DH would have cared.

That why a good plan works!

Oh definitely! That's why I'm aiming for a balance between no planning and obsessive planning!

I think Ed was sorry we missed the parade... he just didn't want to get up and rush outside for it. He hates rushing around at WDW (or anywhere else, for that matter.) As long as the kids weren't upset, I could deal.

You're right. It wasn't really worth getting upset over, now that I look back at it. The time together as a family is worth much more

BTW, those "princess" dresses are like My DD's better not EVER be caught with something like that on! Fortunately, they have developed their own sense of modesty.

I know that some girls figure, "If you've got it, flaunt it," but flaunting it at the Magic Kingdom with a whole lotta little ones around wasn't very bright.

But, my grandmother always used to say, "You can't put an old head on young shoulders!" It's so true!


Kathy

 

[KathyRN137]

You missed the parade!

I never would have seen that coming...

I know! I felt like a complete noob! Ah well, nobody's perfect! Even experienced DISers make mistakes!

Great update! As always, it was so nice to be there with your family!

And... Sorry about the parade - but I would have done exactly what you did. That is just the worst feeling! Knowing that you are stuck, and that you don't want to ruin the evening. I totally get it.

(((((hugs))))))

Thanks... funny how it seemed like such a big deal at the moment. But in the grand scheme of things, it really didn't matter... the party was so much fun!


Kathy

 

[Hedy]

You missed the parade! Ok, I was willing to forgive Ed the time of the month question, but this!
(and I hear you on the costumes-I did a search for Ariel costumes once-I swear, I was having "seashell" flashbacks for a week).

 

[KathyRN137]

You missed the parade! Ok, I was willing to forgive Ed the time of the month question, but this!
(and I hear you on the costumes-I did a search for Ariel costumes once-I swear, I was having "seashell" flashbacks for a week).

"Seashell flashbacks"

Ah, no wonder Ed enjoyed The Little Mermaid so much!!

Well, Hedy, it wasn't his fault that I forgot about the parade. And when you've been married a while, you get to know what pushes the other's buttons. Why spoil the evening with an argument??

Come to think of it, this was the first WDW trip that we did not have any blow-ups!! Yay for us!!


Kathy

 

[Dobby]

Now I'm stepping out of lurkdom; I have just spend a good part of my weekend catching up on this TR and the previous one (no, I don't have a life) Great writing style! It's so getting me excited for next year, my first trip to Disney since 1984!

 

[KathyRN137]

Now I'm stepping out of lurkdom; I have just spend a good part of my weekend catching up on this TR and the previous one (no, I don't have a life) Great writing style! It's so getting me excited for next year, my first trip to Disney since 1984!

Terrific!! I'm so glad you dropped in to say Hello!!

I think trip reports are great fun... and it's really no different than reading paperback books!! Not only do they get you pumped up for your next trip, you get to pick up all kinds of tips from other travelers!!

Hope to see you back soon!

Kathy

 

[mrsksomeday]

Those "sassy" outfits , seriously they are in a theme park filled with kids, why don't they think?

Oh no I would have been just like you about missing the parade , it would have driven me insane.

That party looks like so much fun, it is sad they don't do it anymore.

 

[KathyRN137]

.... That party looks like so much fun, it is sad they don't do it anymore.

I agree! I suppose they just weren't drawing as many guests as the MNSSHP and the MVMCP. Oh well, perhaps they'll come back in the future; it would be great for those coming during non-holiday times to have an after-hours party, too!


Kathy

 

[Hedy]

"Seashell flashbacks"

Ah, no wonder Ed enjoyed The Little Mermaid so much!!

Well, Hedy, it wasn't his fault that I forgot about the parade. And when you've been married a while, you get to know what pushes the other's buttons. Why spoil the evening with an argument??

Come to think of it, this was the first WDW trip that we did not have any blow-ups!! Yay for us!!


Kathy

You mean you've never seen the dads gathered around the Grotto in Fantasy land?

 

[mousescrapper]

Sorry about the parade....I think you should have taken your sandwich with you and gone out and watched it. If the others didn't want to, then too bad for them. Splitting up a bit on your next trip may be not such a bad idea.....

I understand...somethings aren't worth getting in a fight over at Disney...but in hindsight...oh well you know what they say.

sorry you missed the parade....

I agree w/ the special stuff first mantra...especially now that the P & P is a possible (or is it a firm) no more...

We 've split up during meals to catch some characters or running short on time to catch a last minute ride...I probably would have said I really want to see some of it, I'm going to catch a peek you guys stay here...ok. THANKS

always room for compromise even for the planners.

Great little Aladdin show, glad you stuck it out. I would have too

looking forward to more!

 

[KathyRN137]

Great little Aladdin show, glad you stuck it out. I would have too

Thanks! We did get off to a bit of a slow start because of all the time we spent waiting for Capt. Jack (and then Aladdin), but things sped up a bit after this!

So many people are sad to see the P&PPs go... I wonder if anyone from Disney is reading this??? We'd all love to see them back!!


Kathy

 

[KathyRN137]

Chapter 23: Magic, Music & Mayhem!


April 23,2008

Magic Kingdom: Pirate & Princess Party (con’t.)


Still smarting after my little parade blunder, I followed the rest of my family as they took off in the direction of the Haunted Mansion. As we left FrontierLand and drew closer to the grim and ominous structure, I was somewhat cheered by the sight of only a few dozen partygoers waiting to enter. The queue was comprised of several lanes that wound around each other in a tightly coiled path to the front door. We made our way around and around through the empty lanes until we came to a stop at the edges of the small crowd. It seemed that Master Gracey had been expecting many more guests that night!


We stood waiting in front of the small graveyard and I estimated that we would surely be admitted into the entrance foyer with the next cycle of guests. As Tricia read the epitaphs aloud, I gazed out on the darkened Rivers of America and admired the way the streetlamps cast their twinkling light onto the water. I took a deep breath and decided to let go of my disappointment and enjoy the rest of the party. I also resolved to take only a small number of pictures for the remainder of the night and instead vowed to focus on simply enjoying the experience.


If the kids wanted to do the rides, then we would do rides. My only request was that we get ourselves situated early for the Magic, Music & Mayhem Fireworks Spectacular. I couldn’t do anything about the parade, but at least I could make sure we didn’t miss the fireworks!


The mansion doors creaked open and we were ushered into the portrait room by a fittingly somber butler. Oh my! Did you know that there are no windows and no doors in there?! The room began to stretch and it would have been just a bit spookier for all if Billy hadn’t suddenly been seized with a prolonged attack of the giggles.

A piercing scream, a glimpse of untimely death, and the monotone command of our butler urged us to leave the stretching room and move on down a darkened, drafty hallway to our waiting doom buggies.

Once more I searched in vain for the Hidden Mickey in the Bride’s attic. (I must dig out that book and study it once more!) If only the ride would stop periodically so we could look around each ghostly scene a bit more! I always get the sense that I haven’t seen everything there is to see…


After waving to the three hitchhiking ghosts and noting the final apparition’s invitation to “Hurry Back,” we stepped carefully onto the moving walkway and picked our way through the dark corridor to the exit. I firmly herded the children away from the haunted hearse and the remaining gravestones toward the heart of Liberty Square. Crowds were already beginning stake claim to benches and gather in clumps along the dimly lit pathways in anticipation of the fireworks spectacular.


The Rusty Cutlass Pirate Band was playing in front of the Riverboat and they “shivered our timbers with music and laughs” as we selected our bench and waited for the spectacle to begin.

We were sitting very close to one of the Treasure Spots; pirate CMs were handing out beaded necklaces down by the water near the Riverboat exit. Because we were sitting right there, I told her she could go. I’m not sure why I didn’t go with her… I must’ve been attending to Billy somehow. Anyway, we had time and she was getting to be a big girl, so I let her go.


Well, after several minutes, she did not reappear and I began to get a bit worried. It was fairly dark and the area was somewhat crowded… could she have lost her way back? No, she couldn’t have I told myself. Besides, she has her cell phone with her; if she got turned around somehow, she would’ve just called me. Well, a couple more minutes passed and I began to regret letting her go off by herself. “Where could she be?” I asked Ed. “I’m going after her!” And with that, I rounded the corner and made my way down the sloped path to the lower level of the Riverboat docking area.


Hmm. There were lots of CMs giving out beads and lots of children collecting them! I quickly passed several and didn’t see Tricia anywhere. Then I realized that the treasure path led to the opposite side of the Riverboat entrance from where we were sitting. Up the graded slope I strode, keeping my eyes peeled for my twelve-year old. She wasn’t there. I went through the exit and past the Pirate Band once more on my way to “our” bench. There she was, the greedy little thing, her neck draped in beads!! The reason she had been so long was that she wanted to collect as many necklaces as possible in all the different colors, so she had stopped at each and every CM along the treasure walk to gather more beads!! Ugh! I should’ve known!


After scolding her a bit for giving us (me) a fright, (“But Mom, I wasn’t gone that long!!”), we settled in to enjoy the remainder of the sugared almonds and sip our water bottles while we waited for the start of the fireworks. These would be special, not only because of the unique Pirate and Princess theme, but because fireworks were set to go off all around the Magic Kingdom, not just around the Castle! That’s why I decided to take a chance on this viewing spot… I hoped to avoid the crowded Main Street area, not to mention that we had a comfortable bench to sit on as opposed to a cold hard curb!


At 9:30, the lights dimmed even more and the show began!! It was spectacular! We could even see fireworks being launched from Tom Sawyer Island! As soon as they started I completely forgot my resolution not to spend so much time taking pictures and I clicked away furiously for the first few minutes until Hubby reminded me that I was supposed to be spending my time enjoying them, not photographing them! Oops! Old habits die hard!


The fireworks made up the shape and outline of the different princesses and pirates in synchrony with the music. It was amazing to look up and... BOOM! “Oooh, there’s Cinderella!” (in blue) and Ba-BOOM!! “There’s Peter Pan and Captain Hook!” (in green and red.)


They were really quite amazing! Unfortunately, the pix I took were horrible! But, if you look really hard and use your imagination, you can see the beginnings of a skull 'n crossbones in this one...

After the incredible fireworks, I decided to give the others free reign and told them we would do whatever they wanted. (I want you to realize that this in and of itself was highly unusual... normally I have a “set” itinerary of which rides to do first, then second, etc.) Drunk with her new power, Tricia selected BTMRR as our next destination and Billy was all for it!


“Hooray!!! Big Thunder Mountain!!”

Here again, the queue was practically non-existant… the ride was a complete walk on!! So, naturally, we went twice in a row!!


Wait Time = 10 minutes... Yeah, Right!!! It was more like five!!

Trust me, it is way cool to do this in the dark!! Tricia then asked for Splash, but Billy’s response was a resounding “NO!!” Secretly, I was glad... I really didn’t feel much like getting wet right then. (We’d save that for another day!) “I want SPACE Mountain!” shouted Billy, which was definitely agreeable to Tricia, so off we went to the other side of the park! The train that normally ran around the park was closed for the night, so we hoofed it out of the Old West and set out toward The “Solaris System” of TomorrowLand.


It was incredible how much the park had emptied after the fireworks... there was still plenty of party time left! Where did everybody go?? I guess all the littlest pirates and princesses needed to be put to bed.


We crossed over to the Hub and I couldn’t resist a couple of Castle shots because it looked so pretty bathed in colored lights!

X Marks the spot for Pirate Treasure, me hearties!


(See Tricia in the lower left corner getting even more loot?!)

Space Mountain was another walk-on... this was fantastic!! The party tickets were worth it, not only for the special entertainment, but for the ability to just cruise through all the queues and hop right onto all of the big attractions!!


Once more, we took advantage of the minimal wait and hurried outside and back around to enter the building for a second ride!!


Wheeeee!!!

Now, on to fight the evil Emperor Zurg with Buzz Lightyear!

On our way over to Buzz we passed a group of futuristic performers that were break-dancing in a little stage area that had been set up in front of the back side of Astro Orbitor. Unfortunately, they were just finishing up their last set and the show ended before we really had a chance to enjoy it fully. The rest of the crowd that had been watching applauded enthusiastically for these talented “break-dancers from beyond.”


No matter.... Buzz Lightyear was waiting for us! Let’s go, Space Rangers! Those little “Z’s” are calling!

After defeating Zurg, we felt brave enough to face a whole theater full of monsters! Through the bedroom closet door we went to visit the hottest, hippest comedy club in Monstropolis...

Mike Wazowski may be the MC, but Roz always seems to steal the show!!


We slowly walked back out to the Hub and down Main Street. It had been quite a night! But we had to start thinking about wrapping things up here and heading back to the resort... the next day we were planning to have a late breakfast with the princesses in Norway!


As we walked along, we were treated to one final piece of party magic. All along Main Street the shops were lit with colored lights and images of pirates and princesses! (We had arrived here during the daylight hours, so we had missed this sight on the way in.)

Ah, almost midnight! We’d better leave before we all turn into pumpkins!

But first, a little re-cap of the night. We arrived sometime around 5pm and in just under seven hours of party time we:

Met Captain Jack Sparrow
Participated in Aladdin’s Royal Guard Recruitment
Met Aladdin
Rode Pirates of the Caribbean
Ate dinner
Rode the Haunted Mansion
Were entertained by a Pirate Band
Saw some amazing fireworks
Let Tricia collect a bunch of beaded necklaces
Rode BTMRR twice in a row
Rode Space Mountain twice in a row
Rode Buzz Lightyear
Saw the show at The Laugh Floor

Not bad! Not bad at all! No wonder we were all a bit sleepy!


Leaving the Magic Kingdom did feel a bit like something out of a dream. A royal red carpet had been laid across the walkway under the Railroad trestle and hidden machines churned out a continuous supply of mysterious fog. Twinkling lights adorned shaped topiaries that had been placed along the carpet for the occasion and majestic red and purple bunting had been draped across the passageways. It was wonderful how the park could be so quickly decorated with all of these special touches to add even more to the festivity of the evening!


Yaawwn!! (Oh, excuse me!)

It was time for these pirates and princesses to get some sleep!

Kathy

 

[mrsksomeday]

If only the ride would stop periodically so we could look around each ghostly scene a bit more! I always get the sense that I haven’t seen everything there is to see…

You have to time it when someone in a wheelchair (Bill) is getting on the ride, they stop it for us .

It sounds like you had an amazing time. You got to do so many great things!! I would have went looking for Tricia too.

 

[mommytothreeboys]

The Pirate and Princess Party sounds like a great success! All the special touches, like special lights, etc, sound FABULOUS!!

BTMRR is SO fun in the dark!

Looking forward to what's next!!

 

[melk]

Thanks for all the great details you brought out about the party. We had done it in August of '07 and honestly, of all our (many) trips to Disney, that is one of my favorite memories with our family. We loved having the park mainly to ourselves, hopping right on rides with no wait. We also stayed until just before midnight, which the kids thought was 'awesome,' I don't think they'd ever been up that late!

Aah, thanks for bringing back some great memories. Really wish they would bring that party back.

 

[chicagoshannon]

That party looks like so much fun! I hope you have as much fun- and catch the parade- at the Halloween party this year!

 

[KathyRN137]

You have to time it when someone in a wheelchair (Bill) is getting on the ride, they stop it for us .

It sounds like you had an amazing time. You got to do so many great things!! I would have went looking for Tricia too.

Sounds like a great idea! I wonder how one would go about co-ordinating something like that? I'd love to have more time to look around in there!

The Pirate and Princess Party sounds like a great success! All the special touches, like special lights, etc, sound FABULOUS!!

I know! Like the MK isn't magical enough as is! The lighting effects were very cool and I forgot to mention that all the music playing in the different sections of the park matched the theme.

It would've been nice to have a special Castle stage show, however. The Dream Along With Mickey show just didn't fit in somehow. (Of course, it's predecessor, Cindarellabration, would have!)

Aah, thanks for bringing back some great memories. Really wish they would bring that party back.

The party was one of our favorite memories from our trip as well! Perhaps someday they'll bring the Pirates and Princesses back!!


Thanks for reading, everybody!

Kathy