Bunny & Mommy Goin' On Vacation, Sunshine & Ice Cream... NEW NEW 3-30-07

[saffranny]

You know, Bunnysmum, as I remember it, just before I asked the CM where the rides were, I Did say "EXCUSE ME" first. Just wanted to set the record straight. Besides, if you recall, Bunny Really DID want to ride something!

 

[Kay7979]

Well, Miss Sweetshoes is sitting up in the tower booth, smiling and waving to all the passengers who float right under her booth en route to the singing dolls. She is such a good sport about it, considering she has to have been doing this for a good part of the day. . . Bunny, of course, loved it. Loved Susie. Hollered at her, “Hello! Hello up there! Hi! Hi! I’m going on a ride! Look at me!”

You notice Miss Sweetshoes doesn't answer her. That's because she can't hear a thing Bunny's saying. She's wearing industrial strength earplugs to block out that awful song, other wise she would go mad in about an hour.

We taunt Hook (“Hook is a codfish!”), we warn Wendy, we greet Peter, we sing “You Can Fly!” And I do so love the pirate ships that you ride through on.

That's cute. I love those little pirate ships, too. Isn't it great that people never get too old to enjoy these things.

As we make our way up the foreboding entrance, I whisper into Bunny’s ear, “You know, the cousins have never even been on this ride! They thought it would be too scary! Are you sure you want to try it?” She said she did, so we got in the very short line.

Great psycology! And it worked.

She would take a taxi, we thought, and since we both had cell phones, it wouldn’t be a problem getting reconnected later in the day.

It was a good plan, we felt. . . .

Cue the ominous foreboding music here. I'm looking forward to hearing your upcoming misadventures.

 

[bunnysmum]

Hiya Saffranny! (She's my Mom, you know! AKA "Nana" and "Bunnysgrandmum")

Welcome aboard! I see I'm your inaugural post, so thanks! Here's to ya.

Kay7979: You're such a loyal reader/commenter! I appreciate it. I would do your laundry for you if I could. (Always wondered just what sort of occasion called for use of this little one?) Afraid you're dead on with the foreboding music. I pride myself of my use of nuance in my writing.
If anyone hasn't read Kay7979's trip report, it is MUST reading. Run, don't walk on over and check it out!

 

[saffranny]

Oh, My! Your trip report has certainly stirred up memories of our adventure together, especially your hilarious account of Bambi. It is so much funnier now than then. While queuing up with you, Bunny and the Bambinator, I must confess, he became quite a source of embarrassment to me (he was irritating as all get out, never once let me go in front of him, and I HAD to talk to him as we waited (at Bunny's insistence) I have to wonder if perhaps she could have reined him in just a little. Hmmmm.?Then when he took up gymnastics, I was horrified : that he would smack into someone's head (possibly someone who was not in the mood for such shenanigans, doing the World wearing new shoes or had a chipped a tooth) He was just so danged unpredicatable. We just never knew what he might do next or when or to whom. You're right about those handrails, I'm sure they have never and Will never sparkle like they did the day (day's) Bambi did the World with Bunny. Well, I won't say I had actually forgottten about Bambi until reading your hilarous trip report but I will say that I had obviously stuffed him into the hindermost region of my brain. I am so glad to have shared this wonderful adventure with you and Bunny and it is such a pleasure to relive the memories by reading your report. This is just one of many, of my favorite memories that that has sent me into hysterics; causing Bunny's Papa to inquire about the comotion coming from my studio. Really! What took you so long to write this

 

[eargal]

Wow! I was gone to WDW for 5 days and I come home to 2 new installments. When do you find the time? Do you ever sleep?

Really great stuff. I love your writing style.

 

[bunnysmum]

Wow! I was gone to WDW for 5 days and I come home to 2 new installments. When do you find the time? Do you ever sleep?

Oooh! Oooh! Do I hear a trip report in the works?? What a great time of year to go! You must tell us all about it. I have another trip in the planning stages for right around this same time next year, so tell all and help me survive 'til then!

Thanks for reading, you are

Hey, is this guy new? He's cute...maybe he could do your illustrations for your trip report, eargal?

 

[Kay7979]

Hey, bunnysmum. What are you doing over on page 2? It's time for you to write another episode. I hate when my thread gets to the bottom of page one and it's holding on by its fingernails, desperately clawing at the last line on the page, struggling to hold on, but noooooooooooo

falling

falling

falling

and landing on page 2.

So I rescued you from page 2 on the condition that you post another segment very soon!

 

[bunnysmum]

The next morning, I was awakened by Mickey/Stitch. Wretched alien. This is NOT my favorite way to be awakened. However nothing can beat being awakened to find that another day at the World awaits. So I quickly adjust my attitude, and hang up on Stitch.

In virtual silence, Bunny and I awoke and dressed in matching hot pink t-shirts sportin’ our favorite gal, Daisy. The plan, remember, was for the two of us to head out to MGM while Nana slept in a bit, and then made plans for getting her chipped molar taken care of.

First, a quick and thrifty in-room breakfast. Milk and cereal for me; Nutrigrain bars for Bunny. She loves ‘em. I told her they were cookies when she was a toddler and she believed me. Because, given her very small toddler-sized frame of reference, what did she know? In fact, they were the only cookie she knew existed until she was three and a half, and her rogue cousins tipped her off.

Properly fed, we collected our bags, lanyards, tickets, digital and video cameras, jackets, and favorite plush touring companions (guess who?). Then we were outta there.

Bunny and I arrived at the gates of MGM a short while later, and encountered a bit of difficulty with my ticket/card. It seems Bunny’s went through fine, and she stood on the other side of the turnstile watching me fight with mine. I started to get a little panicky at the thought of Bunny turned loose at MGM without adult supervision. Remembering it still gives me hives.

It is possible that I started to get a teensy tiny bit hysterical because I couldn’t hold on to Bunny from the other side of the turnstile. And all that had to happen was for a character, any character to appear and Bunny would go groupie on me and then I’d have to jump the turnstile, thus invoking the wrath of the security gods, I mean guards.

It might have been the concerned tone of my slightly raised voice that got the attention of a helpful CM who invited us to follow him to guest services. This young man certainly appeared to be of Helpershoes lineage, at least at first. Then he more or less accused me of improper care of my Keys to the World card.

I was admonished not to keep my card next to my cell phone (I hadn’t) or any credit cards (I hadn’t). I explained to Mr. H. that I hadn’t and I was mystified as to the cause of my card’s sudden demagnetization. I hypothesized that perhaps there had been a build-up of static electricity from sliding the card in and out of the plastic holder I was carrying it in, but surely people did this all the time, didn’t they?

Still, I had purchased that lanyard and transparent plastic sleeve at Target’s Dollar Spot, so maybe it was inferior, hi-static plastic, who knows.

I was getting very antsy about this time, because a leisurely visit to guest services had not been on my touring plan that morning. And even though we were not attempting any wildly popular rides like Tower of Terror or Rockin’ Rollercoaster, we really did need to make the first show of Playhouse Disney if our plan for the day was going to fly right.

Perhaps Mr. H. did not notice that I had begun to hyperventilate and shake as I contemplated the possibility of yet another day’s carefully researched plan shooting straight down the tube. Or maybe he just thought I just really liked him.

As I glanced across the desk where he was working, I noticed a cartoon that one of the CM’s must have placed there. It showed the DisPrincesses all lounging around, looking mildly put-out, and Belle was complaining, “Well, MY husband’s a beast!” I didn’t catch what the others were saying, but I couldn’t help thinking that this little cartoon probably wasn’t necessarily meant for guests’ eyes, and when Mr. H. saw my eyes wandering that way, he gave an embarrassed little laugh and sort of covered it up with his elbow.

After Mr. H. handed me back my card, I heard him saying something about be sure to have our tickets re-issued…something something something….before we headed out the next day, because something was still wrong with my card, something something something…dangerous radioactive waste….blah blah blah…possible side effects…yadda yadda yadda.

Yeah, yeah, we have a show to catch! And now we’re a good 30 minutes behind schedule.

Bunny and I raced to Playhouse Disney, where we were one of the last guests to get into the first show of the day. Woo hoo! Once inside, as my eyes adjusted to the darker interior, I noticed CM’s frantically motioning us to move all the way forward and get close together. Wha? Where are the chairs? Oh drat! I’d forgotten that you gotta sit on the floor!

My endurance of the seating arrangements at Playhouse Disney is a ringing testimony to my love and devotion for my daughter. Not for just anyone would I assume the criss-cross applesauce position on the floor, knee-to-knee with a sea of equally uncomfortable strangers and the occasional bouncing preschooler landing squarely on my ankle.

I gamely maintained the criss-cross position for several minutes, at which point I realized I was going to have to either move my legs or have them removed.

Unaware of my agony, JoJo and Goliath sang onstage. They danced. They juggled. They took a bow, took a bow. I wriggled uncomfortably.

Stanley did his thing with that Great Big Book of Everything. I stealthily threaded my sneakered foot out from under my knee and wended it through assorted nearby limbs, in search of a spot to rest it. I relinquished all hope of maintaining my dignity. I’d be happy with maintaining some semblance of blood flow to the extremities at this point. I no longer cared that I looked like a contorted action figure. Mrs. Incredible I ain't.

Pooh and Tigger appeared and I really couldn’t tell you what happened next because I was too busy just trying to cope with my discomfort. At one point, I noticed a much older man seated very uncomfortably next to me, having similar problems. As I glanced around me, I saw several other adults in various stages of discomfort.

I’m sure the lack of proper seating at Playhouse Disney has to do with their desire to pack as many bodies into the place as possible at a time, and the kids were encouraged several times to get up and dance (where? I wondered? Bunny chose to remain seated, but waved her arms, and clapped and tried to catch the bubbles that rained down on us at one point). And maybe they figure that the parents of kids who are most likely to be in attendance are young and perhaps more flexible?

At any rate, I was not fond of this particular attraction, but only because of the seating. Bunny, however, loved it. Loved especially the spirally orange ribbon that dropped from the ceiling at the conclusion of the show. And yes, it was that same orange ribbon that she used to adorn our buddy Bambi.

Not a moment too soon, we exited Playhouse Disney, and grabbed a couple of fast passes for the Little Mermaid.

Then Bunny spied some action over at the big ol’ sorcerer’s hat. We strolled on over, and saw Piglet! This was very big news, indeed, for Piglet is really and truly Bunny’s probably most very favorite character. We have at least two of his plushy likenesses at home, and one of them talks. Or used to. Until the tragic accident. Oddly enough, toys that talk and otherwise make annoying noises are often the victims of tragic accidents at our house. Not that they are destroyed, mind you, just… creatively silenced.

I had specifically booked lunch at the Crystal Palace later that week because I had heard it was the only place where one could be guaranteed of seeing Piglet. But Bunny sure made the most of this opportunity at MGM, too

Can I just say that all that hype Piglet gives us about his being a “very small animal” is completely unfounded? As is plain from exhibit B below, Piglet is, in fact, a rather tallish sort of animal.



Exhibit B: A tallish sort of animal

And so, we schmoozed with Piglet, Piglet petted Bambi, hugged Bunny, posed for pics, and signed her book.

When we turned around, there were Chip and Dale. Evidently, they’d just arrived, so we waited in a very short line, and got some quality time with the guys.

Throughout this trip, I had great difficulty taking pictures of Bunny because she is very stingy with the eye contact. If you are about to take her picture, and say, “Look here,” she will, but only for three tenths of a second. You gotta act fast to get her looking at the camera.


Not looking at the camera:

Round about this time, Bunny informs me that she is dangerously hungry. Bad things happen when Bunny gets overly hungry. She becomes a major crabcake. Nothing cute or adorable about it, it is unpleasant, unattractive, and unbearable.

Well, we are on the dining plan, and we have plenty o’ snack credits, so we head off in the direction of the scent of popcorn. Sure, it’s only 10:30 or so, but it really does smell good, so I’m all in. Three snack credits later (2 drinks, 1 popcorn), and we’re sitting on a cozy little bench across from Ariel’s place listening to piped in music, enjoying the gorgeous sunny weather (it is once again, a light jacket day), and smiling our faces off at each other in between hugs. It rocked.

I had been a little anxious about tackling a park alone with Bunny because I felt I needed two adults to keep her corralled; however, we had an absolute blast together that morning!

Before long, the popcorn was gone, and it was time to use our Little Mermaid fast passes, so in we went. We were ushered immediately inside a darkened wood-floored room, filled with nautical paraphernalia. Old-fashioned deep sea diver’s suit, ropes, buoys, old-looking maps and such.

Bunny immediately made friends with a few other children, and the three of them lay down on the floor to peruse a map of MGM Studios. That was great; it kept all three of them occupied for several minutes, as they compared notes on who had ridden what already, who hadn't, who hurled, who hadn't, etc.

Once inside the theater, we scored seats in about the exact center of the room. It was a cute show, and I enjoyed all but the shower from the storm at sea scene, though I’m sure that’s a big hit with the summertime guests. Bunny really disliked Ursula’s appearance, which was, I'll grant you, pretty darned unattractive.

We went around the rest of the day singing, “Part of Your World” to each other. It was a banner day, because Bunny actually let me sing. With her.

This is unusual because since she was very little, Bunny has made no bones about her intense dislike of choral music. I try to tell myself that it is the choral singing that she objects to, and not merely the sound of her own mother's voice. Cause I do recall her demanding many a repeat performance of my version of "Itsy Bitsy Spider" when she was much younger. So what gives?

Solos are usually fine with her, although she has been known to send her Papa (BunnysGrandDad) to the basement for singing along with the theme song of Sagwa the Chinese Siamese Cat.

For whatever reason, group singing (live) is often like nails on a chalkboard to her ears. (Bunny is what you might call an"extra active little girl", and has some sensory issues that we are for the most part, able to deal with successfully. Just don’t try to take her into a public bathroom. She goes ballistic if they have “electric toilets”. You know, the auto-flushers. Too unpredictable. Also loud.)

At any rate, when I say that it was a special day because I got to spend it having fun and singing with my small daughter, I really mean it. There must be something magical about a Disney song in a Disney park that made the sound of our voices blending together…bearable for her. I’d go back again even if that was all we got to do next time.

We ran into our man, Donald Duck, who was greeting fans outside his little silver trailer. He seemed to appreciate our matching hot pink Daisy Duck shirts. We ask where Daisy was, and the consensus seemed to be that she must be out shopping with Donald’s credit cards. We also ran into several of Bunny’s closest friends, JoJo, Goliath, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, and a green army guy. It was a regular schmoozefest.

By this time, I had made a very pleasant discovery. Although I had a hard-core plan, the crowds were so light, that there was actually quite a bit of room for some improvisation, which was SO nice. That gave us time for meeting with all of Bunny’s best friends, which took some time, given that she is a certified jabberbox.

We found ourselves in the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Playground around lunchtime. Bunny adored it. Kept escaping from me and ducking into tunnels and zipping down slides. I tried not to worry. I knew where the only exit in the place was, and I saw a CM stationed near it, and hoped that Wayne WatchfulEyes was under orders not to let wayward children slip through.

All this time, I kept smelling tantalizing food products from the nearby Studio Catering Company (which has since been renamed the Flatbread Grill, and possibly opened under new management…or maybe it’s the Flatbread Tiki Grill...or the Flat Grilled Tiki Birds) where I hoped we would have lunch. Bunny was wild about the HISTK area, so I decided to use this down time to check in with Nana...

 

[Kay7979]

Wow! A long and excellent segment. I love a clever turn of phase, and this episode was packed with them.

After Mr. H. handed me back my card, I heard him saying something about be sure to have our tickets re-issued…something something something….before we headed out the next day, because something was still wrong with my card, something something something…dangerous radioactive waste….blah blah blah…possible side effects…yadda yadda yadda.

I gamely maintained the criss-cross position for several minutes, at which point I realized I was going to have to either move my legs or have them removed.

I stealthily threaded my sneakered foot out from under my knee and wended it through assorted nearby limbs, in search of a spot to rest it. I relinquished all hope of maintaining my dignity. I’d be happy with maintaining some semblance of blood flow to the extremities at this point. I no longer cared that I looked like a contorted action figure. Mrs. Incredible I ain't.

We have at least two of his plushy likenesses at home, and one of them talks. Or used to. Until the tragic accident. Oddly enough, toys that talk and otherwise make annoying noises are often the victims of tragic accidents at our house. Not that they are destroyed, mind you, just… creatively silenced.

This is not a comprehensive list by any means, because I was smiling with delight through the whole chapter. This was a nice helping of humor served with some heart-warming mom and daughter moments, too.

I rate this a five bananna episode, my highest rating!

 

[eargal]

I seriously loved this installment. I swear I could almost feel your joy.

You make me think I could run home and kiss my kids' sweet faces right now and barely be repulsed by the oozing trails of milky green crud eminating from them during this cold season, almost.

 

[sweatness]

Another excellent installment.

I noticed the close proximity of the attractions you visited and the order in which you experienced them. You have learned well, young grasshopper.

 

[bunnysmum]

Kay7979, thanks for being such a loyal reader and kind encourager! Have I already mentioned that you rock? You do. I am humbled by your five bananas!

Eargal, here I am, waiting patiently for the first installment of YOUR trip report... Your comments about the cold and flu season made me LOL. I work with children all day long, so I KNOW what you mean!!

Sweatness!! I am so honored to be your inaugural post. Yes, even though I all but threatened you with bodily harm to read this trip report. Sweatness, for anyone who is keeping score, is my DBIL. He is a regular font of helpful Disney knowledge and planning advice, and the fabulous father of my nephews, Huey, Dewey and Louie. AND my darling niece.

Thanks for reading!

 

[eargal]

Eargal, here I am, waiting patiently for the first installment of YOUR trip report... Your comments about the cold and flu season made me LOL. I work with children all day long, so I KNOW what you mean!!

Please, please don't hold your breath. A trip report is unlikely for the following reasons:
1. I work for myself and am ridiculously behind on year-end stuff, you know, from LAST year.
2. I never should have taken the 2 days off work in the first place
3. Although I am quite witty in person , writing is not my forte.

 

[Mcbruns]

As I glanced across the desk where he was working, I noticed a cartoon that one of the CM’s must have placed there. It showed the DisPrincesses all lounging around, looking mildly put-out, and Belle was complaining, “Well, MY husband’s a beast!” I didn’t catch what the others were saying, but I couldn’t help thinking that this little cartoon probably wasn’t necessarily meant for guests’ eyes, and when Mr. H. saw my eyes wandering that way, he gave an embarrassed little laugh and sort of covered it up with his elbow.

I've seen this on some signatures on the boards. If it's the same one, it's cute -- not bad.

 

[bunnysmum]

I've seen this on some signatures on the boards. If it's the same one, it's cute -- not bad.

I'll have to go look for it. I wanted to see what the rest of it said!

No, I didn't mean to imply that I thought it was "naughty", it was just kind of funny because it was obviously not an "Official Disney" kind of thing.

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Bunnysmom, Hi, Kay sent me!

I must say, I love your report, very witty and engrossing. Please keep it coming .

 

[bunnysmum]

Backstage Gal! Thanks for reading. Kay7979 rocks, doesn't she?

 

[bunnysmum]

Inside the ABC Commissary, we found a longish sort of line for lunch. Bunny ordered chicken fingers, and I chose the Cuban sandwich. Since we were on the dining plan, we both also ordered dessert. A strawberry-topped parfait for Bunny and a Haagen-Daz bar for me. I didn’t eat all of the Cuban sandwich because it was very disappointing. Blech.

On the other hand, you never saw such a happy girl where Bunny’s dessert was concerned.

Just as we were finishing up, Nana showed up, and we were so glad to see her! We’d missed having her along, even though we had also really had a nice morning together. We finished up our unremarkable lunch, and left the ABC Commissary. As we strolled by the Great Movie Ride, Bunny declared she wanted to ride it. Oookay. It’s not something that I had planned on, but we have a little flexibility in the schedule, so let’s do it. Man, we had to wait a long time to get on that one! That might have been the longest line of our whole trip. Except for that car rental thing. But that wasn’t officially a Disney ride, so it won’t count.

Luckily, at the Great Movie Ride, they show lots of classic movie clips for your entertainment as you’re waiting in line. Finally, we entered our tram car. And it was pretty interesting. I especially liked the Wizard of Oz scenes. I have to tell you though, that we were on the gangster version of this ride (you either get this scene or a cowboy deal), and when we got to the Indiana Jones scene, where the gangster CM tries to loot the big jewel in the temple, and is vaporized, Bunny was VERY upset indeed by this unfortunate turn of events. I believe that most everyone on the ride knew it, too.

Now I had not carefully researched this ride, because I hadn’t planned on doing it, so I did NOT realize there is a scary scene from the movie “Alien” in this ride. Now, I’m not sure if something was malfunctioning, or if none of us on the ride happened to notice the alien that was allegedly hovering and dripping over us, or if we experienced a small miracle of mercy, but Bunny was not scared witless by this, because she never even saw it!

I did kinda realize what movie scene we were in (not because I’d seen the movie, I just recognized it from the hype), so about that time, I took the opportunity to engage Bunny in an urgent and thorough "shoe inspection", and since the ride actually seemed a little dull at that point (we might even have been stopped for some reason), she went for it. With her head tucked down by her feet, she never even had a clue that a foul, slavering alien was lurking just inches away from her head. THANK HEAVEN! Because as you know, Bunny is sometimes afraid even of the laundry room, remember? (Which, in retrospect, seems pretty darned insightful for a seven year old, I must say.)

After the Great Movie Ride, we schmoozed with Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and Jessie out at the Toy Barn. Now Bunny had been briefed on a few things she might try saying to the characters. But she would not say them herself. Oh, no. “Do it Mommy!! Say it, pleeeeeeeaaaase???? Pretty please Mommy, pleeassse!!!”

That is the story of how I came to approach Buzz and point behind him with a panicked expression, saying, “Buzz, look! An alien!” Do you think Buzz fell for it? No indeedy. Apparently Buzz has been around the block a time or two. He simply gazed at me steadily and silently shook his big head “no”. Wasn’t falling for it. Wasn’t even the tiniest bit amused by it. Well dadgum, Buzz, you’re no fun.

He only LOOKS like a good time...

What happened next might well have been one of those disruptions of the space-time continuum that have been known to unexpectedly affect unsuspecting trip reports. Either that or I forgot to change my watch when we entered the Eastern Time Zone. Or something.

I recognized that it was getting to be later afternoon, and when I looked at my watch, and saw that it was 5:00, I announced that we needed to start heading in the general direction of Mama Melroses’ for our 5:45 ADR. Drat! We’re going to miss out on Beauty and the Beast! I’d really wanted to see that. But if we miss our ADR’s for dinner, will we be able to get in anywhere else.

Only problem is…we’re not really hungry yet, since we were still full from our mediocre encounter at the Commissary. I called to see if we could maybe change our ADR’s to a little later, but no deal. I asked if there was anything available at the Sci-Fi Café. No deal. Hollywood & Vine? No deal. And the only reason we weren’t eating at the 50’s Prime Time Café is because it was closed for refurb at the time. The only other option I could think of was another counter service meal and that held about as much appeal as a grade school cafeteria meal.

Remember those? “Fish square on bun, peas, cake, bread, butter, milk”. Yeah, that was back in the old days. Before carbohydrates and trans-fats were invented. What I find incredible is that they could put so much fat, sodium, and sugar into a meal, and still have it come out tasting so bad. Oh, wait, wait, wait! I’d almost forgotten about an old cafeteria menu “favorite”….the dreaded “Tuna Bunstead”. Ackkkk!!!! Did anyone else have this atrocity growing up, or was I just special?

For those of you who aren’t in the know, a Tuna Bunstead consisted of tuna salad, spread into a hot dog bun, and (I am NOT making this up!) toasted in the oven. Mmmmm. Anybody hungry?

All right, all right. We start walking back toward Mama Melrose’s, making plans to share an entrée, perhaps, and take a looong time deciding what looks good on the menu. Yes, we will engage in a little premeditated dawdling while our appetites try to catch up...

Preparing to dawdle:

 

[nan1217]

Can't wait to dawdle and hear what you thought of MM's food. Considering that for our next trip.

 

[NMAmy]

For those of you who aren’t in the know, a Tuna Bunstead consisted of tuna salad, spread into a hot dog bun, and (I am NOT making this up!) toasted in the oven. Mmmmm. Anybody hungry?

I can't say I've ever had the pleasure. Blech.

I'm loving your trip report, bunnysmum. Bunny is just a cutie patootie! I can't wait to read more.