hey all! We had quite a day yesterday! First of all, I did not sleep at ALL the night before. I tried, but just could not fall asleep. I had my alarm set for 5:30am, wanted to get up, get myself ready, run out and get some breakfast, get everyone else up, and be out of the house by 6:30 or so. Well, I could NOT fall asleep, as hard as I tried, so I finally came downstairs at 3:30, thinking that even if I fell asleep then, there is no way I would get up at 5:30. I am strange that way, I would rather get no sleep than 2 hours, which would leave me even more tired! Anyway, I was so excited to go to DL, since we haven't been in a while, that I wasn't even tired. We didn't leave the house until 7am, but that was ok. I expected loooong lines in the parking garage due to Nemo, but it wasn't too bad at all. We got on the first tram to the parks. Right as we walked in, we booked it to Nemo, but the wait was already 2 hours (this was at 8:15am, 15 min. after the park opened!
) I said no way, and we rushed over to Pirates and just walked on!
I love the park in the morning! Then we walked over to Haunted Mansion, just walked on too! Then DH and kids went on Splash Mountain, wait was 5 minutes. I don't like water rides so I stood and waited for them to come down the drop so I could take pictures!
Then headed right over to Winnie the Pooh. Again, no lines. We wanted to get done as much as we could! Now, here's my gripe...I guess Winnie the Pooh is a ride geared towards smaller children, but by golly, parents go on with their kids!! DH is 6'2" and I am 5'10", so we are both tall. We had like NO leg room on this ride. I have a knee injury in my right knee and basically cannot kneel on that knee. My knees were jammed to the front of the ride and I was hurting BAD! I was glad when it was over! Went and picked up FP for Indiana Jones for kids and DH. My knee hurt still, and I was not in the mood for it at that point, all the jerking around and stuff...We went on the Jungle Cruise which only had a short wait. Headed over to Tomorrowland and I went to the gift shop while DH and the kids went on Star Tours. I just wasn't in the mood for certain rides yesterday. I felt a bit "off", not sure if it's because I hadn't slept or hadn't eaten (I wasn't hungry in the morning so I didn't get breakfast for myself). I think I was a bit dehydrated too, because I kept wanting water! It was getting warm by then and I remembered why I didn't like DL in the summer! But the gift shop, oh so nice and cool!
It was time to go back to Indiana Jones for the FP, but we wanted to get FP for Space Mountain first, so we did that! Line of Nemo was still to outer space! Crazy people, I thought!
We went back to Indiana Jones, and I sat in the shade while DH and kids went on and people watched! I LOVE people watching at Disney. I could sit there for hours. There are some strange characters in the world, I tell you. And what is it with people screaming and their kids? Kids wanted to go up Tarzan's Tree House, but DH and I decided to stay down. Climbing all those stairs didn't sound appealing, did I mention it was getting hot? Then we saw Rafiki outside the Treehouse, so the kids had their pic taken with him. We decided to take a bit of a break and caught the train at New Orleans square and rode it all the way around and then some to Tomorrow Land. Kids and DH went on Autopia. DD wanted DH to go with her, and DS rode it by himself. Again, gift shop here I come
And more water! Stopped for a quick snack of veggies and frozen lemonade for the kids. Then it was time for the Space Mountain FP. I always get butterflies in my tummy before I go on there. This was DD's first time. She sat in the very front with DS, DH and I behind her. I screamed the whole time, it's part of the fun for me...to just sit there and scream my lungs out. It's good for the stress!
We get out and DD was NOT amused. Apparently, she was really scared! We went and looked at our picture, I was screaming (of course), DH and DS just sat there with this "OMG" look and DD looked TERRIFIED!! I felt bad! One of us should have sat with her! We headed outside and saw that the line to Splash Mountain wasn't TOO bad (30 min.) so DH and the kids got in that, and in a moment of weakness, I told them I would go stand in Nemo and they can join me later after they are off the ride. Yes, we were one of THOSE people who have ONE person in line, and then a gazillion others come to join that one person. Well, it was only 3 people in our case, at least! Waiting for Nemo was miserable!! Part of it was standing in the sun, DD got really crabby and eventually fell asleep on my DH shoulder for a bit. I have to say that the wait was absolutely worth it though! It's an awesome ride!! I read over on the DL Resort board that people waited 3 - 5 hours to get on it some days. Now THAT is crazy! We waited about 1 1/2! You know, I hate it though when people are being told no flash photography and they snap away anyway! The sub is pretty much completely dark and you look out your porthole. It's really bothersome when a certain someone keeps snapping pictures and lights the entire thing up with the flash! Why can't people just follow the rules and enjoy the ride? Oh, while in line, a CM started talking to us and gave us FP for Buzz Lightyear. That was our "Year of a Million Dreams" moment! I guess he did not realize there were 4 of us, and only gave us 3, but I wasn't going to complain
So DH and kids went on that while I sat in the shade and people watched
I was just not in the mood to go on a lot of rides for some reason. Kids wanted to go on the Astro Orbitor, line was short, so DH and I stood and watched. I noted Ariel was in her Grotto, so I stood in line for DD and DH and the kids joined me after the kids got off the ride. DD visited with Ariel, then we walked over to Peter Pan's Flight and stood in line. I wanted to see the parade this time which was at 6:30. It was 5:30 now. Kids wanted to go on Mr. Toad's. The no sleep was REALLY starting to catch up with me by then! I went and scoped out a spot for us by the parade route, and sat there with a beverage while I waited for the kids. The parade was great, but short, I thought. At this point, we decided to just do some shopping, and try to get a table at Rainforest Cafe for dinner. It was around 7 by then and I was REALLY, REALLY getting tired! Kids were absolutely exhausted too, esp. DD. How do people stand going to WDW in Florida in the summer time? It's not even humid here in CA, I could not imaging walking around the parks in the humidity! We went back to the shop in Tomorrowland, since DS wanted to get a few Star Wars things, then we headed down Main Street, hit a few more shops, the firestation, and left the park. We were sad we didn't get to go to Toon Town, but we were too exhausted. DH and DS walked to the Rainforest Cafe, while DD and I finished out shopping at the World of
Disney store. DH called and said our wait would be an hour and I told him I'd meet him there. Bought up a storm. I bought myself a new snow globe. I collect those. Bought some pins and a Tinkerbell dress for my DD that she insisted on having and then changing into, just to change back out of it at the Rainforest Cafe!
As we walked to the Rainforest Cafe, I missed a call from DH. He left me a voice mail that our table was ready. Perfect timing. We had a great dinner, but I was about to fall asleep! DH drove home. The kids watched a DVD in the car, and fell asleep almost right away. I was kinda jealous. I wanted to sit back there too, with my seat reclined, watching a movie! We all went to sleep right away at home. I was SO exhausted, I was almost delirious! It was weird! I am up early, DH woke me as he got ready for work and I couldn't go back to sleep. It's hot already but I am too cheap to turn the AC on at 8:45am!
Anyway, sorry this got to be so long. I got sort of carried away. I don't think we'll go back until October or November. We don't normally go this time of year, and while the crowds weren't TOO bad, the heat was killing us. Thank goodness we took plenty of sunscreen, so we didn't get burned but ugh, the heat people...the heat!!
Kids are still sleeping! Going to do laundry today and then get my car washed. Have a great day and a great week!
Won't even attempt to get on Nemo, I heard the lines are 3 - 5 hours long. Although, Sunday isn't Early Entry, so if we hurry and get there right at 8am we may be able to swing it. We'll see... 
Well, another late nite. Kyler and I just went for a walk on the beach. We saw 5 sea turtles. Two were spooked by someone/something, two were preparing to lay their eggs, and we watched one camouflage her nest and return to the sea. 
Hope everyone has a great day!
