B'rer Karen's June 2003 Trip Report--Day 3, or the Day of being Spit on

[B'rer Karen]

Cast of Characters:
Karen: That’s me. 28 y/o Disney addict who is taking four trips to Disney this
year.
Michelle: aka M, 30 y/o, one of my closest friends in the world who I’ve known
since high school.
Steve: Michelle’s husband, 32 y/o Also known since high school, although I
didn’t really get to know him until after they got married. A great guy
who I also count amongst my closest friends.
Andrew: aka Drew, M and Steve’s 4 y/o son who I absolutely adore!
Nathan: aka Nate, M and Steves’s 3 y/o son and my wonderful godson!


6/3/03
Funny thing heard today:
While walking through a park, from the back of our group, Nate was heard to exclaim, “Wait up for me. I have little feet.”
7:00 am dawned way to early. All this lack of sleep was catching up with me. It wasn’t taking its toll on Nate though. He woke up and said to M, “Mom, we never got our treat last night.” Talk about a memory! Luckily Drew didn’t pipe up that we all got a treat and Nate just slept through it. After we were all clean and dressed, we headed for the bus stop to catch a bus to the Animal Kingdom. While we were waiting, Drew turned to Steve and said, “Dad, did you call to see if Mickey was available to have breakfast with us?” I about busted a gut. Where do they get this stuff? I realized that the day before the boys had seen something on TV about having breakfast with Mickey, and they asked us about it. Someone said, “We’ll have to see if he’s available.” They don’t miss a beat. We hadn’t told them that we had arranged a character breakfast for Wednesday. We had wanted to surprise them. So Steve gets on his cell phone and calls Mickey’s secretary. What do you know; Mickey will have time in his schedule at 10 on Wednesday to have breakfast with Nate and Drew! Steve got off the phone and relayed this message to them. Drew said, “You, mom and Aunt Karen too?” Steve said, “Oh my gosh, I didn’t ask about us. Will you guys take us along?” Lucky for us they said they would! First we headed to Dinoland and got in line for Primeval Whirl. Since neither of the boys was tall enough to ride, we did the child swap. On this ride that mean all of us waited in line together, and then when two adults got on, the other waited with the kids in a holding pen near the exit. First up it was M and I. This is a pretty simple little ride, but it’s fun for what it is. I love to spin. When we exited, Steve and I switched and I joined the kids in their cell. Now as I mentioned, this waiting area is at the end of the ride. So you get to hear the little exit spiel over, and over, and over again. This one rally cracks me up. There is a woman’s voice saying, “Please stand up before exiting. Buh-bye!” I would love for someone to explain to me how you could exit WITHOUT standing up? What’s even more disturbing is that someone must have attempted to do this for Disney to put out a warning. What’d they do, try to roll out? Anyway, after hearing this while waiting, the kids had it memorized. The next day we were still hearing “Please stand before exiting. Buh-Bye!”
By this time the kids were ready to do something that was fun for them. So M and I took them on Triceratops Spin while Steve went in search of coffee. This is basically Dumbo but with dinosaurs instead of elephants. I rode with Drew in the back and M was with Nate up front. They got to control the tilt, but we had the cool job of controlling the up and down motion. Drew liked to take us high. When the ride was over, we ran into two cheesy dinosaur characters. They are really pathetic looking characters, but I guess that’s the point. Some pictures were taken and then we headed for the Festival of the Lion King.
The Festival of the Lion King is my favorite of all the stage shows in WDW. I think it is just so well done. I’ve probably seen it a half dozen times. Every time I see it, I end up in the Lion section. It wasn’t planned, it just happened. So now I’ve got this thing; I don’t know what I would do if I was placed somewhere else! I mean, I can’t make the sound of a giraffe, the warthog is just embarrassing, and the elephant isn’t as cool. I want to be a lion! As we enter the theater, I’m starting to get anxious. Palms sweating, butterflies in my stomach….where will they seat me? Okay, which way is the CM waving us? The Lion section? YES!!! I’ve dodged the bullet again. Right before the show starts, we realize that Nate needs to go to the bathroom. Steve takes one for the team and takes care of Nate. He made it back just a few minutes after the show started, but because it had started, they had to sit in the Warthog section. M, Drew and I laughed at them.
Half way through the show, I feel water spritzing me. I start looking around for someone with a mister, but I don’t see anyone. Then I realize that there is a monsoon going on outside and that is water spraying in the opening behind us. It had been bright and sunny when we came in the theater, so we left the stroller open with the diaper bag on it when we parked it. This wasn’t going to be good. The only bright side was that we were nice and dry inside.
The show was wonderful as usual and I left wishing I could be the bird lady. I also wished we hadn’t left the stroller in the rain. It was soaked. But it had mostly stopped raining. We put one of the boys’ ponchos on the stroller so they can sit and stay dry. We headed to Kilimanjaro Safaris and got Fast Passes. We decided to do It’s Tough to Be a Bug while we waited. But Nate had fallen asleep in the stroller. So M decided to stay with him and shop while Steve, Drew and I saw the attraction. I think Drew was a little apprehensive during a few parts, but he was a trooper.
We met up with M and a now awake Nate and headed back to the Safari. This was one of the best safaris I have been on, mostly because the lion was really active. Normally he just lays there on his rock and sleeps. But he was walking all around and ROARING. He just kept roaring and roaring and roaring. It was really cool. And we saw some other animals J
By this time we were all starving so we stopped in Pizzafari for lunch. We all like the hidden animal mural room. Drew had a little meltdown over wanting an all green chair. The things kids get worked up about. He recovered and we all had a nice lunch before heading out of the park.
We hopped on the bus to the TTC and then took the monorail to the Magic Kingdom. Tonight was E-night and we were all really excited about it. Well, at least the adults were. Drew kept asking when it would be time to ride my favorite ride, and I told him we would get to it tonight. I couldn’t wait to take him on Splash Mountain. Once we arrived in the Magic Kingdom, we decided to take the train back to Frontierland and exchange our e-night passes for wristbands and Splashdown Photos. So that’s what we did. Drew just did NOT want to let the CM put his wristband on. I don’t know what it was, but he wanted no part of it. So the CM gave M to wristband to put on later. Luckily he let her put it on. We decided that the boys (as well as Steve and I) needed naps, so we headed towards the Hall of Presidents. M was a little disappointed because she actually wanted to see the show, and all we wanted to do was sleep. As we walked towards Liberty Square, we passed the big drop of Splash Mountain. I pointed it out to Drew and told him that was my favorite ride. Did he still want to ride it with me? “Yeah!” he responded. I told him we would do it in just a few hours.
When we arrived at the Hall of Presidents, we had about 10 or 15 minutes before the next show started. We spent a little time looking around the George W. Bush memorabilia before plopping on the floor. We were all just sitting and relaxing. Then the funniest thing from the whole trip happened. Drew and I were sitting Indian style, facing each other. He kept puffing his cheeks out. You know, like you’re blowing a bubble or something. Well I looked away, and when I looked back, he had his cheeks puffed again. So I decided to take my hand on either side of his face and squish his cheeks down. Well Aunt Karen didn’t see that he had taken a big gulp from his water bottle. When I pushed on his cheeks this perfect stream of water came shooting out at me and all over me. It was like a water fountain. He couldn’t have done this if he tried. And the look on his face was priceless. It was like “WHAT are you doing Aunt Karen?” I started laughing hysterically. Well unfortunately M and Steve didn’t see what I had done. They only saw Drew spitting on me. They were about to jump all over him. They didn’t raise their children to behave this way. Luckily I realized what they thought happened. I quickly explained that it wasn’t him, it was all my fault. Then we all got a good laugh at my expense. Aunt Karen’s word of advice for the day: Don’t ever squeeze a little kid’s cheeks. You don’t know what’s going to come out!
Now it was time for the Hall of Presidents. Nate tried to sleep on my lap, but couldn’t quite get comfortable. Drew slept on Steve. Now normally when I go to the HoP, I really want to stay awake and watch, but I can’t help myself. I fall asleep. This time I planned on sleeping and I stayed awake the whole time. Go figure. Once the show was over, I ran around the corner to grab Fast Passes for Peter Pan. This was one of the top things the boys wanted to see. Unfortunately they were out of FP’s for the day. We decided to go in the Haunted Mansion instead. Steve sat with Nate and M and I sat with Drew. Neither of the boys liked this too much, but I think that was because we got stopped right passed the ballroom (why can’t I ever get stuck IN the ballroom!) in the attic where they have that skeleton popping out at you and that shrieking scream going off over and over again. We realized there wouldn’t be any more going in the Haunted Mansion after that.
By this time it was time to hit my second must-do item for my trip. It was time for a dole whip, that wonderful frozen pineapple creation. So we all headed to Adventureland and had a treat. We still had a little over an hour before e-night and we wanted to get in some non-e-night attractions while we had a chance. First we went to the Enchanted Tiki Room, then we rode the Magic Carpets of Aladdin, another ride I had never been on. It’s another Dumbo clone, but it’s still kind of neat for the kids. I got a good laugh on this one. M had asked me if I noticed the spitting camels, and I said yes. Even though I had never ridden this, I knew that there were camels that would spit water at you while you rode. So we get on the ride, Drew and I in front and M, Steve, and Nate in the back. Once again we had the cool job of controlling the up and down movement. Well first Drew took us all the way up and we stayed there for a bit. Then he dropped us down about a foot or two. We were going round and round when ‘squirt,’ the camel gets us. M lets out an exclamation at this occurrence, something to the effect of “Hey, I just got spit on.” I thought this was odd since she had just asked me if I had seen the spitting camels. When the ride ends we discussed this and it turns out that all around the base of the ride, there are camels spitting water into the moat that the carpets float above. THAT’S what she was talking about. I thought that was pretty funny. I guess this was the day to get spit on!
We had about a half hour until E-night, and we knew the boys had to do Peter Pan, so we headed over there, bit the bullet, and got in line. If the posted wait time was correct, we would be getting off the ride just as E-night was starting. As we were waiting, Steve says that he wants to go on it’s a small world next. M told him we wouldn’t be able to because it’s not an E-night ride and the park will be closed when we’re done. Now Steve started to have his little melt down, but I put a halt to that. I reminded him that just an hour or so before we asked him if there was anything he wanted to do that we hadn’t done yet and he said, “Go swimming in the pool.” He said nothing about it’s a small world. That was his opportunity and he blew it. J
The boys really liked Peter Pan. M and I were with Drew and Nate was behind us with Steve. I kept trying to look back and see his expression. They both were enthralled. It’s such a short, simple ride, but it is magical. Now it was time for E-night. I told Drew it was time to ride Aunt Karen’s favorite ride, so we all headed to Splash Mountain. M, Drew and I rode together (with Drew between us). He LOVED it! It made me so proud and brought a tear to my eye. And we didn’t even get that wet. While we were riding, I had my funny line of the trip. We had gone up the second hill and were riding around outside where they have different country signs and stuff out. There is this traveling medicine show type vehicle. The sign is describing some miracle tonic and everything it cures. Well I’m reading the sign out loud: “Cures bad breath, headaches,” etc., etc., “ and Fur Balls.” Not furballs. Fur Balls. I didn’t really realize what I was saying until it was already out there. M and I were practically crying we were laughing so hard. Hey, I have to have at least one Karen-ism (usually related to Splash Mountain) each trip. When the ride was over, he wanted to go again. He wanted to go again so much that he didn’t want to get out of the car (I know that feeling!). We promised he could go again, but he had to get out first. Steve was waiting for us, and he went again with Drew while M and I waited with Nate. When Steve and Drew exited, Drew had the biggest grin on his face. They had gotten DRENCHED! He was soaked to the bone. It was so cute.
Next up was Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. First M and I took Drew. I liked having him sitting between us because we didn’t slide all over the place. When we first got in the car, M says to Drew, “Now Drew, watch out for Aunt Karen’s big fat melon head.” Two years ago when M, Jodi, Gina and I went, M and I were riding this ride and at this one twisty part I was tossed left and M was tossed right and our heads clunked together. She has blamed this on me and I am forever going to be known as big fat melon head. Now she’s brainwashing her kid to believe this. The nerve! Drew loved this too, and wanted to go again. So Steve and I took him for another trip.
While we were riding, M was sitting with Nate. Evidently Nate was getting a little PO’d at the fact that we were all having fun and he is just sitting in his stroller. How do we know this? Well he told his mother that he was going to have a picnic, and only little people could come. He was going to have pizza, and marshmallows, and something else, I don’t remember. But only little people could come. When we got off the ride and M told us this, we knew it was time to do something everyone could enjoy. Nate did tell us later that we could come to his next picnic. But just this one time it would only be little people. J
We headed over to Buzz Lightyear, which was definitely something we all could enjoy. This time around I sat with Drew, Steve sat with Nate, and M was the lone gunman. She crushed us. I’m sticking with my excuse that Drew was spinning us all over the place so I couldn’t ever line up a shot. After Buzz, Steve and I rode Space Mountain while M took the boys on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority. Apparently they both liked it, Nate especially, who called it a roller coaster. We met back up and Steve hung with the boys while M and I rode Space Mountain. While we were riding, Steve gave the boys more glow sticks, which they ended up wearing around their necks. When we got off the ride, we still had a decent amount of time left. I asked Drew what he would like to do now. He said, “I want to do what you want to do.” I told M and Steve they had a really well mannered child. So we headed back to Frontierland and M, Drew and I went on Splash Mountain again. This time we got pretty wet at the part where you’re coming around the mountain and the water cannons going off from the boat going over the big hill splash you. Drew let out the biggest giggle. It was adorable.
We had time for one more ride, so Steve and Drew went on Big Thunder Mountain. M, Nate and I were waiting for them near the exit. Steve had put one of the glow sticks around his neck so we were able to spot them as they came rumbling around the mountain. There is this gurgling geyser right where we were waiting that is really noisy and obnoxious. M and I couldn’t even hold a conversation over it. I guess it’s part of the themeing, but they could’ve just had it make noise every 15 minutes or something!
It was just about the end of e-night. We were tired and hungry, so we headed out of the park. I had told M and Steve that I didn’t want to be out late since the next day I would be driving back in the afternoon and I wanted a decent night’s sleep. So if they wanted to go to Pleasure Island, I’d be happy to stay with the boys. They said they’d think about it. But first we needed food. We took the bus back to the hotel, and by the time we arrived it was about 10:40. I didn’t want to waste time, so I went up to the lady working at the front desk and asked her if there were any restaurants still open that were serving appetizers and beer. She said, “Um. Well. Gee. Hmm. I don’t know. Hmm.” This went on for a couple of minutes. Evidently she didn’t know what restaurants were in this hotel. I thanked her for nothing and went back to the group. We looked around but decided we were better off getting room service.
When we got up to the rooms, we put Nate to bed (he had fallen asleep on the way back). M then looked through her room service menu, and I searched my room for mine. I couldn’t find it anywhere. I asked M where she found hers and she said it was under the book about the resort. I had that book. It was on the desk. But the menu wasn’t anywhere. So I borrowed hers. We realized that if we wanted anything with fries, we had to put the order in by 11, and it was close to that. So M called and ordered us 3 burgers with fries, a hot dog with fries for Drew, and 6 beers for us. We all put our PJs on and decided to eat in style. J
At 11:30 we got a call that they had just started the fryers back up and it would just be a little longer. I guess they had shut everything down a little bit early, and then our call came in. I could understand that, but I was tired and hungry, as was everyone else. Finally just before midnight our food arrived. Since Nate was asleep in their room, we ate in mine. We rolled the room service table between the two beds. Drew and I sat on one bed and M and Steve sat on the other while we ate. This is the life. Drew was a trooper, but after eating a little bit, he fell asleep on the bed. M, Steve and I were pretty tired too, but we weren’t wasting those beers. When we finished with our food, we went out on the balcony and just shot the breeze for a little while, enjoying the nice night and our beer. We inadvertently became peeping toms, though. There was a room across the way where the couple hadn’t closed their curtains all the way, so you could see them through the middle. The man started to undress, but still had his pants on. Then the man and woman started to dance. It was sweet. We ended up going to bed before seeing the end of the show. It was still 1 am by the time we got to bed. So much for getting to bed a little early!

 

[Marla Hellwig]

A fun but long day for all - thanks for posting!

 

[Minniespal]

Thanks for sharing - Wonderful reviews!!!!