August Trip Report with costs renamed by Ponkeo

[Ponkeo]

Part 1 - pretrip (sorry for the double post)
My sister and I love Disney. We were there this past September for our memorable September to Remember trip at POFQ. We took the kids of course and husbands! They weren’t crazy about it, but DBIL was extremely well behaved and my DH was coming around by the end of the trip. They did not want to go back, and that is kind of a relief. So DSis and I are trying to figure out how to get back to the World soon, and she finds out she’s pregnant! WooHoo, another DN for me! Thanks guys, I knew you could do it. So the Disney consequence of this blessed event is – we have to get there fast because we won’t be able to go like three months before and 18 months after the baby gets here. That’s a long time no Disney so we need a plan.
Then my DH’s aunt and uncle come to visit us in Memphis while they are in town from Alabama just to stop by and say hey. And aunt says, “What are yall doing for vacation this summer.” I respond with the down trodden “We really can’t afford it, so I don’t know right now, maybe just a weekend trip somewhere close. My sister and I would love to go DisneyWorld, but my oldest DS is going to summer camp, and it’s just too much.” DH rolls his eyes. Then it happens. She says – seemingly in slow motion wind blowing through hair (we have a fan in the living room) – “You know we have a time share down there that we don’t use anymore since the boys are grown and living in Atlanta. Yall are welcome to our week if you think you can use it.” OMG What? A week in Disney for free? Okay, let me calm down and be gracious. DH by now has stood up to leave the room. He can’t believe he has just lost his chance to go on vacation this summer. I can’t believe he never told me his aunt and uncle own a timeshare in Disney (only been married one year – I guess he was getting to that). I thank her several times, then immediately start talking dates. Their week is in October and she will have to call to see if she can trade. October is too close to the baby’s arrival, so anything you can do would be great. She leaves. I wait by the phone. A week goes by – nothing. I have to call her – not home so I leave a very sweet message asking if she has called yet. Another week – okay I call again. Another message – starting to lose hope. She calls back! How about the week of August 12-19th? Oh no – my youngest DS starts Kindergarten on the 14th. I don’t think I can do that to him. Is there anyway you can get it sooner, but with these restrictions - oldest DS’ camp is July 23rd-August 4th, and not in June because my part time second job won’t allow for that. Okay I know I’m pushing it, since this is already June and she is doing her best to get me a free room! But she calls back and it’s perfect – August 5th-12th. We can pick DS up from camp and keep trucking to Birmingham (hometown), meet up with DSis (also a Memphian now) and drive the rest of the way to Orlando. True we have never driven to Orlando before (rode with parents when we were kids, but that seemed easy enough). We couldn’t afford plane tickets, so my DSis was willing to do the drive with me to make it all possible (Oh yeah – and she paid for the $136 trade-your-week fee even when we didn’t know if it would work out yet). You gotta know my sister. She loves Me and she loves Disney.
We wanted my DLilSis (only 6 – by my Dad) to go so badly, but we knew the chances were slim because she starts school on August 11th and they aren’t really big on the whole family vacationing together thing. So we mention it on one of our back home trips to Birmingham, and my stepmom seems interested, but Dad says no way because of school starting. I send DSM the info about the resort when I get back anyway so she can be thinking about it. In the meantime, DSis and I are DISsing our days away, getting so excited that we are actually going to get to go again this year. One day, DSis calls me at work and casually mentions that she has a surprise for me. Now this will never work. I do not like surprises, and she knows we have not been able to keep a secret from each other for 26 years. Why start now? She is so excited, I know I can get it out of her by the end of the day, but I let it drop for now – feigning defeat. I start to talk about making ADRs for something special we haven’t done before, or at least since we were kids, like Hoop-T-Doo (she says Whoop-T-Doo! Not interested) or maybe Ohana. Here it comes. She starts to crack. I can hear her succumbing. DSis- Okay I have to tell you if you’re going to go making ADRs. Me- What? What? Tell Me! DSis – Well, you know how we have always wanted to eat in the castle, and never got to because Dad never made ADRs and we could never get in? Me – you didn’t? DSis – Cinderella’s Castle! Happy Birthday! Okay by now I’m crying. I can’t believe it. I feel just like a princess. I am walking down the street talking on my cell phone smiling huge and crying in my lawyer’s suit. Yes people are staring – I must be a princess. She tells me about the swords and wands and free photos. I can’t believe it. We aren’t even supposed to buy each other birthday gifts, and mine isn’t until September, and that’s so expensive. DSis – I can do whatever I want. True – She is the Big Sister.
Shortly after that she sends me an email “Learn this STAT: Yo Ho Yo Ho, a pirate’s like for me! We pillage and plunder, we rifle and loot, Drink up me hearties, Yo Ho! We kidnap and ravage and don’t give a hoot, Drink up me hearties Yo Ho! Your immediate compliance is expected and nothing less will be tolerated. President, Founder BIGSIS, INC.” Wow! Now I have finally learned the words to this after humming between YoHos since I was two. Mission completed in 10 minutes, Ma’am.
Another big surprise was in store. My DSM called my DSis and told her that she was bringing my DLilSis (Lil) to Memphis to stay with us for a week. This is the first time she has ever left her here in the year that DSis and I have been in Memphis. We are so excited. It is rough with the distance and age difference staying close to her, but this will help and could be a sign that she will do this more often, and could be our chance to convince her to come to the World. No problem, Lil heard us talking about going the first day she arrived, and had convinced her mom that they were going! Okay, how much more perfect can it get? Just you wait!
Once DSM planning ensued, she started looking at the drive and decided they would fly since they can only stay half of the week, and she offered to pay for Me and my two DS’ to fly too ($680 for 3 roundtrip)! DSis says it’s all good because she has enough miles for her and DN, so no more driving and DSM will rent the car when we get there! Sweet! This is truly magical, since my Dad is the one who made it possible for my oldest DS to go to camp this summer too. Now we have a plan!
I don’t want to dampen DS’ first camp experience by telling him about Disney before he goes, and having him miss out on part of the fun by looking forward too much. So it is very hard for us to keep it from him when it is all DSis and I can talk about. We told DN2 (Jo) right away because we knew her concept of time and dates wouldn’t spoil it, and we are always planning to get to Disney this past year, so they never really can tell we’re serious this time. We manage to get DS9 (Dee) off to camp in Alabama without spilling the beans. When we get back, DSis and I tell DS5 (Zay) we are really going to Disney when we pick Brother up from Camp. Okay so his concept of time and his ability to blow off our Disney mania has kind of made this an anticlimactic moment for DSis and I (I feel you Twinkiemama). He says “Cool.” And we are like expecting a huge reaction. Anyway, he misses brother so much that that’s all he’s really concerned about.
We sent little hints to Dee in the mail we sent to camp. By the time we picked him up, after he hugged me, his first words were – is it true, are we really going to Disney World? Tomorrow I say. He hugs me again. Oh I missed him so much I can’t wait to be on vacation with him for a week in the most magical place on Earth. This makes up for Zay’s reaction and now Zay is so happy to have BigBro back he can’t stop smiling either.
My DD and DSM make a steak welcome home dinner for him and we go swimming and spend the night at their house. Lil is so excited. Now DSM is bringing her DN10 too (Char), and they are best buds. 3 adults, five kids and no men. Lets Go! Our plane ride on 8/5 was perfect. SW direct BHM to MCO 10:30-1:00 and no delays. Zay fussed about his ears hurting for a long time on the descent – this was a sign of the pre-kindergarten regression to come.
We were redirected by a gentleman downstairs at MCO to change our car reservations and ended up getting the 8 seater we needed instead of the 7 seater we had reserved for less money ($385/week including extra driver me). It was a 2005 white Astro van, but I thought it was great. The tank has to be returned half full or else charge $4/gallon. Got it. The AC is freezing and much needed.
So let’s get to the timeshare Westgate Vacation Villas (WVV). By the way, thanks Lisa11130 for all the WVV info about her recent trip, she even took pictures of the room for me - gotta love the dis fam. It was not nearly as far as we thought from the airport (one toll out, but two tolls back in – hmm). When we arrived, we were sort of herded like cattle through a line to check in, but some blue and red frozen non-alcoholic mini drinks were being handed out to make you not notice so much. I asked for a ground floor room, and was told okay and then for a credit card, which I did not have, so I had to go get DSM. She went in to deal with it while I stayed out in the van with the kids. When she came out, we followed a golf cart around to a room and were taken to the third floor. No no no. My DSis is prego carrying her two-year-old and after all day exhaustion I think we would all appreciate the room we were promised on the ground floor. So back to the herd, and wait and told no so ask someone else and wait and told no so ask again and told yes we have one. I knew it. We follow another cart around this huge property to LL-106. It’s perfect we think, until we notice a couple of hours later no washer and dryer as was supposed to be included. Oh well we’re not doing it again and there is free laundry on – you guessed it - the third floor.
DSM, Lil and Char take the big room with King bed and whirlpool tub. I will wait on DSis to come in tonight to see if she wants a room with twin beds or the queen pull out in the main room. It’s now 4pm, and we haven’t eaten since breakfast at 8, so we head to MickyDee’s ($14 for me and boys). We did not see the two Publix we were told were so close by, but we found a Winn-Dixie Marketplace not too far off. Now I have to say how impressed I was with this because in Memphis we have the worst grocery stores. I am delighted to see fresh produce abounding and wide isle’s that are easily navigable and lighting that works and wine in the grocery store! Wow! I have a short list from DSis (her and Jo are veggies) and I pick out a couple of things and DSM buys her stuff and ours ($130). Back to the room to unload and gear up for the park! That’s a little more than pre-trip, but it is all pre-World. More later today. Thanks for reading.
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[Ponkeo]

We arrive at MK, very close to the room but slightly more than the 1 mile advertised. The one mile thing is from WVV property to Disney property. You cannot walk to the park, not even when it’s not 100 degrees. $9 (DSM) and into the park by 6. Wow. You know when you see it. Wow. Straight to Pirates. The 30 minute posted wait turned out to be more like 20, and it was great. I love the Davy Jones Mist Screen, and Sparrow’s voice at the end sounds like Depp recorded it. Otherwise it’s the same, they didn’t take out the auctioning women part, which I felt sure would be part of the renovation due to the sensitivities of folks, but now these are pirates and the song includes “kidnapping” like they’re proud of it, so really I’m glad.
Then to Splash Mountain which said 55, more like 45, but still too long and hot to wait. DSM says – you get burned once, it’s Fast passes from now on. Amen. The kids keep asking is this the big one at every climb, and even I can’t predict it. We got stuck for about 8 minutes at the Slippin Falls, so the tension was building. Everybody loves it, but I swear it gets me good everytime. Zay was brave, the girls and I scream real loud. DSM buys 4 4x6 photos b/c only $4 more than 1 big one = $22 I think.
Big Thunder next, only said 30 so we get in line, but that is too long for that hot line with no AC blasts and only a few fans towards the end. The guy in front of us kept telling my boys to move it along mistaking them for his because he didn’t look down. He apologized and I almost let him claim them. We got a big kick out of it, made the wait easier. Zay did not like BTMRR that night. I thought it was great fun whipping around in the twilight, but I mostly had to hug and comfort him because he kept saying I want my daddy. I let him call DH when we got off, and he started to wish he had gone. I definitely want to ride it again at night when I don’t have to say “It’s okay. Look we’re having fun. We’re all together now. Weeee” the whole time. Dee, Lil and Char loved it. CM confirmed Dis tip that this was the best place to watch the fireworks.
DSM bought Dee and the girls pretzels ($15) and I sprung for drinks for the boys ($4). Laura got waters and cokes ($8) and gave me one which we all finished later when the first round was gone. The crowds are now starting to form for the 10pm parade, but it’s only 9. I really wanted to see Spectromagic at first, but I am losing interest on this high crowd Saturday so we head to Tomorrowland to ride something Zay has been craving – Buzz – maybe a 10 minute wait then blast off. We had a great time and I won with 64000, Lil in second 26000.
Next the girls and Dee want to ride the Indy Speedway and Zay wants to do the Astro Orbiter so we split for this (I’m glad I don’t have to ride the Speedway) and wait the usual 20 minutes for the orbiter but talk to some folks from GA and PA to pass the time. Zay is an expert pilot and I am not as scared as I was when I rode in September, but my is it thrilling for such an innocent looking ride and that tilt! Beautiful view at night. Zay is very proud of himself and we walk back over to the Indy exit. Five minutes later they come out saying it was fun but probably won’t ride it again because of people bumping into you and the fumes. I know Dee will go again later in the week. He is a car fanatic.
We thought we would walk right up and hop the train in Toontown, but no such luck they close it down because they shoot fireworks from the tracks says CM. This is very interesting to Dee. He dreams up all sorts of what if scenarios. We turn around and look for a shortcut in the back of TM near COP, but no we have to cross the full bridge into the sea of folks and fight our way back down Main Street before it becomes impossible to leave for another hour.
My DSis’ plane was scheduled to arrive and I haven’t heard from her yet, so I call my DBIL and he says the plane did land 30 minutes ago. I know there is a problem if she hasn’t called me yet. We decide to skip the fireworks and begin the process of leaving MK, crowd squeezing and monorail hopping (peach one) TTC tram waiting and more squeezing to “Pluto What?” kids all say “19” – I drilled em good.
We arrive at the room to discover none of our keys work, so we call security and stand outside for 30 minutes waiting. Finally he arrives and lets us in but he stays another hour and a half trying to fix the lockbox. Indeed DSis did have trouble. They lost her luggage and her carseat. The plane was also delayed, but that turned out to mean that her and Jo got to ride first class – first time for her at 29 and first time for Jo at 2. DSis says Jo was so good on the plane and through all the waiting. So proud of that traveling trooper. We all shower and put the boys to bed in the twins. I sleep with DSis and Jo on the pull out. DSis and I whisper in bed for half an hour “We’re here” and the magic reappears.

 

[Ponkeo]

A little of a slow start this morning for rest of crew – exhausted. Boys and I get up, get food and get dressed. Some trouble putting up the fold out with DSM, but then we get it, and she declares me and her the experts – no not me and you – me and her. Anyway the 3 adults all take a bag this first day and head out in the astrovan. We have entry trouble with DSM and girls tickets most of the trip, and it starts here. I don’t know if it was the finger thing or the magnetic strip, but she had to get her tickets reissued twice, and several times was just let in because most of them worked and I guess she looked befuddled enough. DSis gets a double stroller for the week ($100) and we agree that Zay and Lil can take turns riding with Jo. This works pretty well for several days because they need to walk at least half of it at this age (5&6). Thank you DSis for this luxury.
Here I get a little confused. I hate to blame this on the DIS rather than on my own lack of common sense to follow up and research, BUT I read in a trip report – won’t mention any names – that you could use your fastpass for other rides that took FP as long as it was within that timeframe. So I took the 8 of us over to Mission Space, because it is the closest FP machine, but what we all want to ride first is soarin’. Asked a CM standing there because DSM and DSis are looking at me like they doubt it, and sure enough I’m wrong, so we be Soarin’ much later. I’m embarrassed and this makes the whole morning about the big kids and me because right across the way is Test Track, which they all want to ride but has a 50 min wait. At least the line is inside, so we go for it and show look at the cool car stuff and show each other our tamest body tricks while we wait – rolling our ankles, where we’re double jointed, so far as a line will permit. Lil thinks it’s going to be lame based on the ride, but it is her and Char’s first time and they loved it. Zay is so brave here. Worth the wait, but the good part is just too short – needs to do the loop one more time. DSis, DSM and Jo wait for us that whole hour in the gift shop, but Jo makes the traffic cone Kidcot thing again.
Now it is time for the FP to MS, so we head over and this is the only time Lil chickens out. I think because DSM had read too many things about it and played it up because she didn’t want her to ride it. I know DISers DISagree about this ride, but my own opinion is that it is very tame and lots of fun. I offered to do the tamer version when we came out with Lil, but she was convinced it was a death trap. Well we had four for a crew anyway – Dee (pilot), Char (commander), Zay (pilot because brother was sweet enough to switch with him) and me (navigator). Unlike the first time I rode this in September when I was obviously convinced that I had the power to down the whole mission if I did anything but what I was told, I flipped all the switches and pushed all the buttons and had a ball.
Next we march over to Soarin to get FP for much later and notice that LWTL is 70 minutes. What? We get lunch there in the Land Pavilion (Zay kids meal build your own turkey sandwich, Dee sushi & chips, me turkey mufeletta - $24 shock). We ate every crumb it was so good so I didn’t feel as bad about the cost. I still had water for Dee and me. LWTL had gone down to 30 mins so we hopped in line only to watch it go right back up to 70 after we had waited 10 minutes. We ducked out determined to forget that ride exists. We went to do imagination, one of my faves as a kid, where everybody could ride and there was no wait at all. Very chill and my figment was great. Then we all did Spaceship Earth, also very chill with no wait but a couple of stops for unknown reasons please stay seated, just hanging there looking at the robots and sets with a whole new appreciation for detail. Zay wanted to be scared on this one, but he really couldn’t justify it.
Then we went to see our surprise FP spit out with Soarin for Honey I Shrunk the Audience. Oh Lord. A FP doesn’t help here at all. You still have to wait and go in with everybody else. DSis tried to get out of this one when Jo had to go pee but I went and got her because I knew she wouldn’t fight her way through that crowd for this. We’re in this together. We waited and then watched the extra long Kodak commercial “preshow” while listening to the overhead not-so-great-English CM say, “Once again I need eryone to moo to the far lef of dee teeter,” about 18 times and nobody ever moved. Finally we sit and Zay clowned. I told him before we even got there not to wear the glasses and he would be fine, nothing would come out at him, and he seemed to be cool with that plan. But from the very start, before anything even had a chance to happen, he was holding his ears, turning around in his seat and talking to me really loud (fingers in ears). I’m pretty much telling him to hush and calm down, but then the mice under the seat thing puts him over the edge. He is now balled up on top of the seat, so I put him in my lap only for him to turn it up some more. We left. We will never do that again, which is cool because I don’t even like it. Jo was her usual fearless self on every ride – it’s like she really understands Disney and loves it just like her mom does. Both her and Zay love movies and have seen much scarier things than that even in Disney films, but he had just hyped himself up and wanted to be scared.
Finally, it is time for Soarin FPs and DSis and I baby swap with Jo. We thought she would be tall enough to ride it, but for some strange reason she’s not. This seems like the perfect ride for two-year-olds to me. We still have to wait about 7 minutes, but we get the first row. This is DSM, Char amd Lil’s first time. I leaned forward! DSM says it’s her favorite ride. She gets excited about seeing where she and my dad take Lil skiing every year, and I’m a little jealous, but that’s another story. When it’s DSis’ turn, she takes Lil and Char and they get first row again. Awesome.
On the way out of Epcot, DSM is looking for water so she goes into the character greet thinking it was a counter service. She motions for us to come in and it’s amazing. The whole gang is here and almost no line. Jo really loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse so she can’t believe it – Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Chip and Dale. She is a little worried about Daisy not being there for a couple of days until we see her at MGM looking fab. The not-so-magical CM Kelly made me leave with the stroller in a very I-hate-this-job kind of way. Shouldn’t have let us in with it if you were gonna freak out later. Anyway, Jo’s mouth apparently hung open when she saw Minnie, so Minnie called Jo back after the picture for another hug – how sweet! We leave Epcot happy. While we are returning the stroller Lil gets a Disney mist fan bottle and Char gets some pins or pens (I never saw which). The bottle fan we brought from home just squirted you in the eye and the batteries kept falling out (sorry kids I thought $5 was better than $18). Thankfully, when DSis’ luggage arrives – there are light up fans for all.
But it’s still missing at this point, so anyway we head to AK for our ADR at Rainforest Café. Parking was difficult, but in the end very close. This place is interesting and a good place for kids to stay entertained, but it is loud and not relaxing. Even so, Jo slept through the first half. Food was slow, but it was crowded and our waitress really seemed like she was trying hard to please all and very patient. I had a raspberry frozen drink and then a Lightning Lemonade. DSM had two beers. DSis had an Odouls, but had to explain to Dee first that there was no alcohol because he is the self-appointed protector of that baby when DSis sneaks in a Diet Coke once in a while. We all had a toast “to Disney with family”. Dee – salad, alfredo python pasta, 2 rolls, half my salmon, mud dessert, Lil’s chips (man he can eat); Zay- cheese pizza & mud dessert; Lil- half a turkey wrap & mud; Char – python pasta & mud; Jo – marinara python pasta & mud; DSis – natural burger & fries (which Jo ate half of); DSM – chicken Caesar salad – DSM paid $192 including tip – not bad for 8 and drinks! Kids and I go to the bathroom and wait outside. I let Zay do the penny presser, but I picked out the frog instead of the butterfly he wanted. “It’s okay Mom.” They all threw coins in the waterfall and made wishes. I’m glad we ate here this once, but I don’t really want to come back.
Back to WVV for more luggage drama. Car seat arrives in exchange for the one the airline (Northwest ahem) loaned her, but the green bag they brought was the wrong one. Apparently NW found it, but the independent delivery service lost it again. We all showered and I went to bed with the boys, sharing a twin with Zay. I’m so glad to be here with them. DSis tells me the next day that DSM kept her and Jo and everyone else up for another 2 hours arguing about the luggage on the phone. Just let it go. No sleep til Brooklyn.

 

[Ponkeo]

Boys and I woke at 7, but stayed in bed until rest woke at 8:40. I needed the time to work on my notes for this, so it was good. Breakfast at the condo everyday is a plus – cereal and bagels. We like having a kitchen. Even though we never do cook, it saves some money. We make it to AK by 9:55. We head straight to Expedition Everest after DSM’s ticket problems and getting the stroller. Lil wanted to ride this rom the beginning of the trip. When Char chickened out and did not want to go, we thought sure Lil would do the same, but she was steadfast. The wait was only 25 minutes, so DSis, DSM, Zay, Jo and Char went to get FPs to the Safari so we could go while it wasn’t so hot yet. Lil had to stand by the post to see if she was tall enough and got a stamp that said Yeti on her hand. The line for this ride is the best one I have seen yet. It truly felt like an authentic base camp and then museum showing articles and pictures of yeti sightings and other artifacts from the surrounding villages. It transported me. Anyway, it was two to a seat, so Dee rode with a Mom from the single riders line who had already ridden it with her 8 year old 3 times that morning. I was a little afraid because I thought I had read there was a 200 foot drop. I kept waiting for the big moment that never came. It was just plain fun. Lil was so brave. When the Yeti came out, she raised her fist with the stamp on it and yelled at him “I’m the Yeti!” I laughed and laughed, “you tell him Lil, you’re the Yeti!” That was one of my favorite moments.
We met the rest of out party at the entrance to Kali River Rapids where even Jo was tall enough. Zay got a Kali stamp. The wait was only 20 minutes and moved the whole time. Jo just loved it. Zay got the wettest, but he just laughed and was proud of that title. It was great – DSM’s first time and she laughed too. We are officially having a ball. We went back to Africa to use the FPs for safari – still about an 8 minute wait, but driver (Kali was her name!) was so good. We saw more animals than I remember seeing the last time we did this, maybe the last two times. Zay really liked this. I was taking pics with DSis’ digital cam, and when I missed an animal, he would say, “Mom, pay attention!” I think he was pretty convinced by the bridge trick too, “This is NOT good!”
Wow, thanks to the Unofficial Guide, all the major rides in such a short time. Now for snacks (apple for Jo, pretzel for boys cheese sauce and frozen lemonade for DSis and I to split with a cute Goofy straw spoon - $11). I thought we were going home for lunch, so I say, “I hate snack time.” And I was not very magical from then until we left AK. I don’t know I just got in a funk. We head to DinoLand for some drama = miscommunications about Dinosaur, DSis getting left, lunch at MickeyDee’s again ($16), DSis’ purse getting left in the stroller, making Dee leave the line because Zay chickened out, Zay spilling his sprite, all minor bad stuff, but I was ready to go. On the way to Restaurantosaurus, it rained very hard and very quickly on us. We liked this part. Then it was over by the time we came back out to the table, and the only storm was my face. DSM, Char and Lil liked Dinosaur, but thought it was a little too intense. We leave AK. DSM goes to find van while we wait with the kids at RC. Great news from DSM cell phone – they have found DSis bag! Things are looking up. We pick it up on the way in to the condo and it’s even the right one. She is thrilled not to have to buy a whole new summer maternity wardrobe. Boys and I take an hour and a half nap – well I do and they lay in bed watching Toy Story 2 on the portable DVD.

 

[Ponkeo]

We get up and I get ready for the CRT dinner by dressing up in gauchos, actually some make-up for the only time in the World, and a little sequence on my free flip flops – thank you dahling! DSis’ light up fans are a little bit of a struggle trying to make them all work and getting the batteries together, but they love them and so much cheaper than Disney’s light up cart stuff (2 for $5). Off to MK – park at Minnie 38 and ride tram TTC. Monorail pilot seats are full, but we all get wing stickers. Arrive at MK and Char & Lil’s tickets don’t work again – after just getting new ones as we left AK, so haven’t even been used yet. They convince DSM it is the magnet snap on her purse a few inches away – we’ll see. Glad we didn’t get our tix through Disney – Ticket Mania and MouseSavers (1 adult and 2 children 7 day hoppers for $636 including tax and shipping) and they worked the whole time! When we get the stroller Zay and Lil have been sharing beautifully, we head down Main Street while the Cinderellabration begins and DSM says the castle is announcing Jo’s arrival. Oh yeah – a healthy dose of magic is coming on. Of course, we have to enter through the back of the castle while all of this is going on and check in for our 5:45 ADR. I am holding Jo. She is saying, “Let’s go in there,” and I’m saying “We are. We really are.” And then we do. We wait in line about 15 minutes to take our 2 photo packages with Cindy – one with kids only and one with all of us. Jo cannot even keep her head straight from looking up at her in disbelief, she “just wanna look.” We wait another 15 minutes to be “Now seating the Royal Kelly Family” – chime chime chime. We go up the red carpeted winding staircase. DSM and Lil have done this before, but not us. Can’t believe it’s really here. The Fairy God Mother and the mice are starting their song and dance just as we are seated. The service is great for the tip to be included. We got a table for 8 instead of the two for 4 we were told we might get. The goblets are blue. The kids have veggie plates with grapes and cheese. No alcohol, but none needed. I am ecstatic. We all sing along and clap with the Fairy Godmother. I raise my hand when she asks for birthdays, and she says she loves my flittery wave. DSis has the pasta. All the kids except Lil have the macaroni (Jo’s without beef of course), Lil has chicken strips. DSM gets salmon, and I have the prime rib with gratin potatoes. I ordered it medium rare, but it was pretty dang rare. Still tasted good. We get the pictures and they are pretty good quality, but we weren’t expecting the 4 extra 4x6’s in each one – now we have one of each for all 4 homes represented. I split my little birthday cake between the kids to top their royal crown sundaes. They all sang to me. Waiter gave me a yellow (favorite color) light up Wishing Star, but you can’t wear it. Adults had mousse for dessert – excellent. I asked for the swords and wands DSis was promised when she made the reservation, and the CM Jamee politely gave them to me only on our way out, explaining that they were going to change the only-at-lunch policy at that time, but never did. Didn’t want the whole restaurant to see this special treatment. Zay is attached to his sword the rest of his magical night. We head over to It’s A Small World at Dee’s request, and wait about 10 minutes. Did they just add Don Xiote, or has he always been there? We need an order of countries for next time, because we are a little confused every time. A classic – I love it. DSM gives them pennies to make wishes with. Next to Haunted Mansion, but DSis, Jo, Zay and I get out of line because we need a bathroom break. This is where I think I dropped my cell phone in the toilet. Before I could even stand up, it flushed itself. I told the CM working that bathroom, but she just shrugged. I can’t believe the jet is that strong. DSis says, “Thank God you didn’t even have to make the decision to reach down and get it or not.” This is true. We meet up at the end of HM and go back to Fantasyland. They ride Dumbo while the big kids and I go check the line for Space Mountian – 80 minutes no. So we ride buzz (20 mins) instead. I got 161,000 points! Yes – I think I’m the champion, but will soon be shunned. We meet them at the exit to Dumbo – I think they waited 45 minutes. The wait for Peter Pan is 60 minutes, so we go to Liberty Square to see Spectromagic. We haven’t seen the night parade since we were kids, and the kids never have. We were up on a platform of some kind, so we could see great even though we were only 15 minutes early. Some kid kept trying to make Jo and Zay jealous with his buzz light up spin thing, but Zay had one in September and knows those things don’t last long, so he is showing off his fan. Then the kid starts whacking Zay’s fan with Buzz and then tries to whack Zay. The mom and grandma (I think) are right there not saying anything, so I have to say, “If you’re going to hurt someone, you can’t sit with us.” DSM is trying to get away from this little monster. I pick Jo up because the parade is starting. I put her up on my shoulders not realizing she is now in the branches. DSis says, “I don’t think she likes that!” Oh – right – sorry. I hold her in front and she starts to fuss for her mom a little, but right then Jiminy Cricket comes on and blows out the lights. She is quiet, and when Mickey is on the third float – amazed and fully convinced. You should have seen those eyes sparkle. I was so glad to be the one holding her. She said, “Three little pigs?” I laughed. When it was over, the wait for Peter Pan was 20 minutes so we went for it, and it was more like 10. This is one of DSis’ faves. Zay had his sword swinging around protecting me from the pirates. The dog’s name was Nana – what the kids call my mom. Next we did Pooh and hardly any wait at all. Zay plugged his ears because he thought it was gonna be like POC. When we came out of Pooh, the fireworks were bursting right over our head, some from our left and some from our right. A CM was acting like he was Mickey conducting them, and I thought it was really neat to see him just like a kid in his own magical world – then right back to cleaning up when it was over. We move into the crowd by way of Tomorrowland again and the merge at the circle is horrific. I was so thankful for the stroller. Further down Main Street, it wasn’t nearly as bad. Wonder why? Anyway, we are reflecting on what a magical night we had and meet up with DSM to return the stroller – after snapping a pic of Jo and Zay asleep in it. We take the resort monorail back to the TTC. DSM thinks this is a great secret. We didn’t wait that long – maybe the fifth one and the now typical pink/peach/apricot debate. DSM wants to walk to the car and pick us up at the cab station so we wait, and 25 minutes later she comes walking back saying she can’t get in there, so we all walk together to a spot where she has moved a little closer. I mean we were in Minnie to begin with. I know DSis is dying holding sleeping girl. We get back, chug some water, and head to bed.

 

[Ponkeo]

Boys and I woke at 7:45, put Haunted Mansion DVD on for boys, and I started writing. At 9:30, everybody’s up. Slow start showers because we all just crashed last night, pack our lunch, etc. so we don’t actually get to the MK until 11. You know by now it is scorching hot and a very crowded Tuesday. If you can’t get to the park when it opens in the summer, I think you should just not go at all until dinner time. We get FPs to SM (1:50-2:50), then ride Buzz with a 20 min. or less wait again. I win again for the third time. DSis says Jo is not really into the shooting thing (good), but likes the ride. We find a place under an umbrella but still outside to eat our PBJs, ham & cheese, turkey sandwiches and apples and cookies and water. I have to buy some deodorant because I forgot to put any on even though I had 3 hours to get ready. The only place you can buy it in Tomorrowland turns out to be the Mouse Traders behind the far counter. Maybe too much info or maybe a helpful hint as CM tells me she wishes everyone in the World wore it. Anyway, we all get on the TTA and get to stay on it for another round because Zay asks CM Jim. Lil and Char are getting stoked about SM while we go through it. We debate whether or not to do Cop, but running out of time before FPs. DSis finds DBIL’s Mike Wazowski pins (he is an ophthalmologist who has to do peds sometimes). DSM buys, and DSis says thanks and DSM says thanks for dinner last night. What? Flames are rising on my cheeks because I felt sure DSM would pay DSis back for her and the girls portion of it – and now she is comparing it to the $19 worth of pins she pitched in for. I know I know she paid for a lot, but not for DSis really and that makes me feel terrible that my birthday dinner now cost her almost $400. I kind of trip on DSis because I can’t on DSM, and this just makes me feel worse. Okay, I have to stay out of it. DSis and Zay and Jo head to Mickey’s Toon Town and then do the teacups the rest of us do SM. The FP line takes 20 minutes, so we are not impressed with the FP for this one, but the wait was mostly inside and the kids liked guessing which planets those holograms are. The flames are starting to cool, and then we ride. Lil almost loses a Crocflop and holds it down with her toes the whole time. She is 6 - now that’s impressive. I think those are the only shoes she brought. We take a restroom break, call DSis and meet up at the teacups. I hug DSis and apologize. DSM, Char, Lil and Dee ride the teacups for 15 minute wait. DSis forgives me and says her and the youngest 2 went to Mickey’s house, but the line was just too long to meet him again. She bought them popsicles. I called DH at work just to rub it in and tell him how much fun we’re having. When they get off teacups, we get more snacks (DSis gets our 2 in the stroller some cheetos and water, Dee a Mickey bar & us a water). DSM got Lil a stroller when we got here this morning against my protest that she could ride in the one that was paid for and Zay could walk. I think I took this out on DSis too – stay out of other people’s parenting and pockets and be sweet to my BFF. But Lil gets what she wants, and we now went to several snack stands looking for her cinnamon pretzel. It is really getting hot, so tolerance for picky is low. There is no shade in Fantasyland, so we start to head to Adventureland, but now DSM is ready to go. Sounds good to me. We start to leave, but it must be 3pm because we can’t get through Liberty Square. Jo was glad to see Belle, Cindy and “Fairy Godmother!” but we really weren’t feelin the parade right now. When it passed, the flood behind it was crazy and we just want out. This was DSM and the girls last day in the parks, so she wanted to shop on Main Street. She bought the boys and Jo souvenirs too – Dee remote control Lightning McQueen; Zay transformer Buzz; Jo plush Tink and Cindy hat. Those stores are no fun with that many kids, but Jo and Zay were in the stroller playing with their toys and there was AC, so we waited it out. DSM came out with a cool $250. Thank you. We return the strollerS and grab the first monorail (pink, peach?). We tram over to Minnie 42 on the first one. Damn it’s hot and we’re almost at the end of the aisle. Duly noted never return in August. When we return to the room, we want some chill time, but the kids are hyped up and playing all through the condo. Poor DSis can’t get an ounce of peace because her home is in the front room. I offer her the boys’ room several times, but she declines. I do 2 loads of laundry on the 3rd floor, change our sheets (after realizing on the third sheet delivery that there must not be twin sheets here), tidy up the room, put the laundry up, clean the bathroom and load the dishwasher. DSM orders pizza from onsite Pizzahut. They forget DSis salad to top it all off. The kids are begging to go swimming. Finally, we all get ready and drive to the main pool so I can drink while they swim. It’s closed, but the bar is open so I get a Sex on the Beach and a Long Island Ice Tea to go ($11 plus $4 tip). We go to the pool we tried last time, and DSM and I sit and sip. DSis and kids swim. It’s more crowded at this one now, so we leave after about an hour. All shower and snack. I call Katy for good news about Colby – cancer free 14 year old. Morgan got a free flying lesson in Guntersville. I tell her I flushed my cell phone so I’ll call her when I get to Bham. Boys and I sleep and now it’s three in a twin – Zay, me and Buzz! I have some disturbing dreams, get up and work on this. The boys just can’t be quiet in here while everyone else sleeps in and Mark just called and woke DSis up for real. It’s 8:25 – we gotta get outa here.