Can't wait to hear about your dinner at Jiko!
As for Splash Mountain, I have to put on my "teacher voice" for a minute.In the beginning, everything is happy because Brer Rabbit is just a hoppin' all over being Brer Rabbit (and he is slightly full of himself hence the "fun" drops). Then when Brer Fox and Brer Bear capture him that's when the ride turns darker. Brer Rabbit uses reverse psychology on Brer Fox, "Do whatever you want to me but don't fling me in that briar patch!" (Brer Rabbit wants to be flung into the briar patch because that is his home.) Well, Brer Fox does throw Brer Rabbit into the briar patch (the massive drop as you sail down into the briar patch), and then absolute happiness reigns since Brer Rabbit has escaped the clutches of Brer Fox and Brer Bear. (One of my favorite units that I teach in the 8th grade is my Southern folktales unit which includes the original Brer Rabbit stories.
)
But you probably knew all of that already.
I never understood the story line of that ride at all and since the film is not available, I kind of thought there was no way to find out more about it. It never occurred to me that it is an old folktale. 
So what is the Laughing Place, isn't that the part where the frogs jump and your log goes aboít like on a roller coaster???
Ahhhh....I so wish I was in Disney right now. After reading your update I have a major urge to be there RIGHT NOW.
Yes, they did update Haunted Mansion. I am sure Jen can give you more details than that but I know they did update the attic room with the bride.
I'm jealous you met Frontier Donald! He's on my list of characters I must meet.
So glad you liked Hall of Presidents. I can't wait to see the refurb. I love Liberty Square. It is my favorite land in MK. I just feel so at home there. I think I should have been a colonial.
Love the update. We are so kindred spirits. LOVE rollercoaster, free-falling, not so much. Splash Mountain seriously does not bother me, but my anxiety disorder acts up when I go on ToT (haven't been in, uh, several years). Although the weird thing with that ride is that I don't really mind the falling so much. I just get myself so worked up worrying about the falling that I'm a wreck by the time I actually get on the ride. Christian is actually tall enough to ride it now (WHO in their right mind thinks 40" is tall enough for that?!) I told Matt he is NOT allowed (and that way I can hide behind having to stay with him). I don't think Will is going to want to go either, actually, and while I will "allow" Matt to "drag" Will on the coasters, due to my own anxiety problem with ToT I will not let him force Will on ToT. Not just yet anyway. Eventually, I guess, we will all go together. One of these days I might actually have a heart attack (believe me, if it happens it will be before the drops start), but I know eventually I'm going to have to get over myself. I wonder if it's possible to become desensitized to ToT?
I love CHH. It still seems somewhat like a secret. We'll be in MK enough this trip that I think we'll manage Pecos Bill, CHH, and Cosmic Rays (which isn't my favorite, but I love that you get enough to share). Liberty Square is my absolute favorite too. If it wasn't for the whole outhouse thing I'd swear I should have been born in Colonial times. It's been my favorite my whole life (closely followed by the Old West and then King Arthur's era. Yes, I am a history buff that pretends like these times in history didn't have SERIOUS problems we don't have to deal with now).
Wow I can talk about nothing for a long time. I'm sorry Rabbit didn't like HM. I'm a little worried about how Will is going to take it too. Or for that matter Christian. Neither of them is crazy about "scary" stuff. I guess we'll see.
Looking forward to your "rest". I'm glad we're going to make ourselves do that some this time too.
We are kindred spirits more than you know...I had panic attacks in my late 20s but fortunately have it "controlled" now but it can flair up...oh dear I feel another PM coming on...Anxiety isn't funny but sometimes you have to laugh so you don't cry......but it does feel much more secluded and calm than the other CS-especially when you have your food and are in one of the smaller dining rooms...
)What a great update! I'm going to say it again, you have beautiful children.
HM has a darker, more sinister feel now, at least in my view. I still love it, but underneath all of the camp and dark jokes there is the whole creepy story of the bride, which is more front and center since the remodel. I told my kids how the ride wasn't scary, just funny, and they all looked at my quizzically when we got off. My two older ones were not keen on riding again. The short, fat hitchhiking ghost is my favorite!
Jedi Mickey looks very at home on the magic carpets with you all. I hope he didn't get spit on!
I enjoyed CHH thoroughly, even though we didn't eat in the restaurant. The tuna sandwich was great and I really liked the apple pie thing.
I think humans like to be a little "scared" and what a great place to do it......I'll have to come read about your AZ adventure.....
I love your family picture from Greenwich! It really is a great place all around, I love visiting there when I am in London.
Great update!
I can understand your problems with Splash Mountain. I used to be like that as well. But I got so used to that drop that it is now really my favourite ride in the MK. I would just wish that you did not get so wet on it. I always ride with a poncho...
London-and I loved being able to take the kids there......Shoutout for London...and Greenwich...
Sounds like more great fun in MK!!
I love BTMRR! Really, I'm not a huge fan of rollercoasters at all. But BTMRR I really enjoy!! Too fun! DD is a chicken and DH gets motion sickness so DS6 and I ride together. He thinks I'm the coolest mom in the world for riding with himNext month will be our first trip on splash and I can't wait!!! DD swears she's going to go!!
HM is my favorite actual ride in WDW! (Philharmagic is my favorite thing) Yes, they did recently change it! They kind of kicked it up a notch or 3!! I love it even more now! But, I'll let Jen fill you in on the details! I can't wait to ride it on Halloween!!!!!!
We really enjoy CHH as well, especially inside, upstairs! You kind of feel removed from the hustle bustle and more relaxed!!
Anyway, hope everyone got their ears and you enjoyed Jiko!! Can't wait to read all about it!!
...it's actually a fairly gentle ride for all of my whining...-good luck with it...if DD goes she always gets the glory and confidence that she "did Splash"...
Great update! I too love BTMRR. It's the perfect amount of thrills for the kids, plus it is so well themed. Really a perfect mix! And gotta love Pirates, though it isn't near as good at DW as Disneyland's version. But you take what you can get
...I'm with you on Pirates although I do love the one in Fl. cause its the first one I went on but DL's is longer and I love the ride past the Blue Bayou restaurant...(hmmm....look much like what they tried for in the Mexican pavilion at Epcot?... so Wendy could definitely become more interested as she gets older... and I'm just starting and will be thrilled to do a 5K...I am o-fficially all caught up!
I love-love-LOVE Alice In Wonderland so I'm enjoying the heck out of everybody taking on a character's persona. Cannot wait to hear (and see!) more!
, the Disney movie, the Carroll books-such a wealth of great characters and satire there...
Thanks again for the compliment even if it is slightly exagerated...
...you know there's B-T society and they have a house in MN to visit and everything... Hi Triple P (I like the nickname KathyRN gave you
yes it is a bit of a shame that we'll be going practically 1 month apart....but there's always another year for that Dis-meet...
I just love that you guys want and so does Em to celebrate her 16th birthday there! I already have in my Wish List of Trips to celebrate the twins 16th there too, so I hope they'll be excited...otherwise I'll be there celebrating w/ or w/out them....JK
Looking forward to what happens NEXT!
Scrappie (J-)
-if you ever come to Philadelphia-you must let me know...
as much as a drama queen as she can be (albeit a sweet one) she really feels "safe" and happy at Disney...she has some good memories there...and it looks like we are going to get her grandparents to definitely come w/us-which is extra cool because they were with us on her first trip to DWD when she was 3 1/2 -they haven't been back since...Jackie, I LOVE that you know all of that about Splash and actually I didn't know all of it-just pieces and am happy to do so...truly-you know my thirst for knowledge...I have never met anyone else who has read John Bellairs!!!
I feel about Big Thunder the way you feel about Splash Mountain (which I love, love, love).
As for Splash Mountain, I have to put on my "teacher voice" for a minute.
But you probably knew all of that already.
(I'm still a little freaked out by the ride though...
)...got anything else good for a Halloween read?...[SIZE="3
[COLOR="Blue"]Yes we'll meet someday at a DIS meet or maybe on the Chicago trip that DH is hankering to do...
I certaintly would...Michael would love it! he is a huge history buff
I'm so happy for you that you'll be staying at your home, BLT where you can fix yourself a BLT...
it sounds quite corny but I will!
If you can do it, where else better to celebrate the twin's bds...
Yes Emily really wants to celebrate there...
that sounds so wonderful to have the grandparents come too...so sweet! both sets of the kids grandparents came on our first family trip back in 05 too...it was nice. hence one of our reasons to buy into the DVC, we figure by then we'll have more points so we can put them up!
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Mmmm, now you've got me hungry for popcorn and a Dole Whip!
Sounds like you got a lot done at MK!
Denise
and (I think they put pixie dust in it) and the Dole Whips are good but the thing that I really like is the pineapple float...Thanks a lot for posting that!!
...if they were to ever remake one of their films this would be an interesting one to see them remake...As CP pointed out the folktales in the film are a part of American folktale heritage and it would be great to see them preserved without condoning or promoting racial stereotypes and slavery obviously...I love that you know so much about HM-I wonder if the whole story behind it would make a good book...I've never been able to watch the Haunted Mansion movie with Eddie Murphy-the previews just look like it has nothing to do with HM in the park I think I'd be disappointed... The ride is so much fun...down to those maid costumes the CMs wear...its a good scary -if that makes any sense...I thought the changes made for a really good ride...I also noticed that there are footsteps going up a staircase...I didn't notice that before and the wallpaper with the eyes seemed to have more of them-eyes I mean...I'd love to just be able to ride it multiple times back to back to just get all the details down......
I would love to see larger pictures!!
Unfortunately, you cannot make those on Photobucket larger again, you need to upload them again. I always eyport my pictures from IPhoto to a folder on my hard disk and when doing that resize them to 800x600. Then I upload them to Photobucket from that folder and don't have to worry about resizing them there. Also, if you resize them before you upload them, it is much faster (less data to transmit).
Jackie, I LOVE that you know all of that about Splash and actually I didn't know all of it-just pieces and am happy to do so...truly-you know my thirst for knowledge...
I think its great that you do Southern Folk Tales with your students...I'm afraid we let too much of our written heritage/tales/folklore go by the wayside...I'd probably love being in your class...I hope your students realize how lucky they are to have you...
Maybe someday you can explain Faulkner to me...
Bellairs is SO great...so atmospheric...I loved the Clock series...have to look up the Blue Figurine...(enabler...
)
it's not that we are ever barbarians when we eat out (or in...) it's just that because I'm really conscious of the other diners' enjoyment-I want to make sure that David is really minding his Ps & Qs-he really always does-I'm just more conscious of it...and also after a day in the heat...it is also sometimes nice to go a little more casual...for us personally, in the summer-one sig dining is probably about as much as I'd go...now if it were just Eric and I I'd probably feel differently...(we do Boma and Sanaa later in the week so I'll be able to do a bit of compare and contrast...
BTW ..Kathy-you have just sealed the deal-not only do we have Em's 16th to celebrate next year-my anniversary is the following day...we'll have to take advantage of the Columbus Day weekend...(I was already "planning" but as you sealed the deal-you win today's Disney enabling award...hmmm...what do I have for a prize...
Chocolate Cake at Sanaa (sweet)
