Dancind
Tinkerbell's Mom
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2001
- Messages
- 7,730
Cast:
Me (Cindy, according to the Disney Personality quiz) 40 something, Mom, vacation planner and financier. Not in great shape healthwise, but determined to have fun anyway. MBA with an artists soul, sentimental softy.
DH, (Al) 47 (he doesnt care), gets on the plane when its time. Remodeling Contractor, award-winning homebrewer. (Wheres the beer?)
DD (Tink) 10, thinks shes a preteen, pure Princess. Dancer, artist, soccer mid-Monster, brainiac, comedienne.
Wednesday, Sept. 5, Day 5. Back at home, Al is a morning person, and Tink & I will sleep in whenever the opportunity comes along. So, by Day 5, I had figured out that we didnt need a wake-up call or alarm. The sound of coffee perking was enough. Of course, it also meant no late nights witness our unwillingness to stay for late parades except for Fantasmic. So this day we decided to try another 9 am entry at MGM for more rides on RnR, and attempts at the Hot Seat. Tink is always the last one ready, but as we finally walk out the door, I ask Al do you have the keys and passes? Using the put upon husband voice, he says of course!. As we exit the tram at the MGM gates, Al realizes that he left the APs in the room. There is a funny story in this. Al gets back on the tram, and is the only passenger going back to the parking lot. The hostess asks over the intercom, you forgot something, didnt you? Cute. So Tink and I hang out, watch the little kids with the characters, take a couple of pics of her with characters, look in the tiny gift shop ad nauseum, go potty. Al shows up after about 40 minutes, not too bad. We told him that as punishment, he could walk down for fast passes for RnR while we shopped at the stores along the main entrance. When we hooked up again, we headed over to the Muppet 3D, probably our favorite of the 3D shows at WDW. I cant tell you exactly what we did the rest of the day, but I know it involved several more rides on RnR, and about 3 or 4 tries at Millionaire. There was also some pin buying and trading going on, Tink was getting very good at spotting a CM with a lanyard at 20 paces. We had been doing this most of the week. At first, I had to approach the CMs and ask if she could see their pins, but now she was brazen. She would even tell them, Im sorry, you dont have any pins I want, though she usually wanted to trade something.
The most memorable part of our day at MGM, I guess, is being in Catastrophe Canyon on the Backlot Tour, and not being able to tell the fake rain from the real. When we took off on that tram, it started to rain. By the time we got to CC, it was like being back under the waterfall on the River Raft ride at AK. It was a real downpour, and the 10 or 11 year girl behind us was screaming bloody murder the entire time. We were very relieved to be heading back to the station. Once inside, it didnt seem prudent to go out again. We had panchos, but this was an instant flood with lots of lightning very close by. So, we hunkered down in the museum with lots of other people for at least 45 minutes. When it tapered off, we discovered that we could have walked through a covered area to the food court and gotten a snack. I was glad it was raining then, though, figuring it wouldnt rain as much later when we were due to go on an Illuminations cruise. When we could, we headed over to Millionaire again. We did shows until about 5 pm, then headed back to the room for dinner.
The night we checked into OKW, we went to Publix and bought breakfast stuff, frozen meals for 3-4 dinners, beer and wine, and water. By this point, our 2 gallons of drinking water were gone, so we drove over to Goodings for more before going back to the room. I had been disappointed by the selection at Publix, since I was hoping for some nice ready to microwave or stir-fry type meals that were fresh and looked tasty. We wound up with frozen big name stuff, whatever looked the best. The deli at Goodings had a nice selection of the type of meals we had been looking for, so next time we will probably shop there. Expensive, yes, but cheaper than a restaurant, and we do like to kick back in our room some nights. Lots of nights, actually. BTW, Goodings does not sell gallons of drinking water, we had to buy big bottles of Evian.
After a quick dinner, it was off to the Boardwalk with about an hour to look around before meeting for the cruise at 8:15. We used valet parking at the Boardwalk Villas, free courtesy of our DVC membership. We still tipped, of course. We walked around the BW for a while, and stopped in the sweet shop. I got a piece of dark chocolate, Al some fudge, and Tink got her favorite Toasted Marshmallow Jelly Bellies. We stopped to watch the Australian lady do some lasso tricks, and were surprised that the other family watching were from Albuquerque too! Tink got to twirl the lasso a bit, then it was time to meet our crew. I had arranged to share a cruise with two other couples through the DIS boards, Kristi1357 had made the reservations and posted to share. I spotted her right away from her bright red hair. We chatted with her and her husband for a while, and met our captain, Ryan. We were on one of the pontoons. A call came in that our third couple was over at the Yacht Club marina, so off we went to pick them up. It was drizzling slightly, but we all fit under the awning. Tink thought we were getting off when we got to Yacht Club, she asked me was that all? No, not quite. Ryan gave us a tour of the area, past the Boardwalk, and over to MGM. Tink was the only kid on the boat, and he was very charming with her, inviting her to share the captains seat, and telling her she would get a chance to drive when there were no other boats around. He shared a lot of trivia about the Boardwalk and the area. He knew a lot, since his day job was at the BW! We were all alone in an open area, and he told Tink to drive while he kept talking. It was a lovely night by then, and this was all very pleasant. All of a sudden, I noticed that Tinks head was down by the floor. I said Hey, arent you supposed to be driving the boat? She had dropped some of her Jelly Bellies and was trying to pick them up. She says she told Ryan to take over, but he didnt hear her. No harm done, and we all got a good laugh out of it. There was also some joking about stepping on Jelly Bellies, and more information about the Candy Shoppe. We had missed this entirely since we were focusing on the candy, but theres a picture in there of every Miss America ever. According to Ryan, the next Miss America will be visiting the shoppe, and he cant wait! Back across the lake, and Ryan tells us he wants to be the first to dock. What a great idea this was, we wound up at the right end of the underpass, almost on the lake. The other boats docked behind us, and we all moved to the front of the pontoon. Ryan came forward with towels and dried the backs of the seats very carefully. As he walked away, my stonefaced child called, Hey, you missed a spot! Very cute. He pretended to mop her face with a towel. Well, the shhh sounded, and the magic started. The show seemed different to me from 2 ½ years ago, but some of that could have been our vantage point. I cannot imagine a better view, and it truly seemed that the show was just for us. Illuminations is never going to be the same, we are now completely spoiled. Guess well have to do it again!
Back to the marina, a tip for Ryan, and goodnights all around. What a pleasant group we had on our cruise, lots of sharing and laughter. Before heading home, we had to stop in and check out the Miss America pictures, and had another laugh because all seven of us were in there doing the same thing!
Next report: Last Day (so we thought) at WDW!
Me (Cindy, according to the Disney Personality quiz) 40 something, Mom, vacation planner and financier. Not in great shape healthwise, but determined to have fun anyway. MBA with an artists soul, sentimental softy.
DH, (Al) 47 (he doesnt care), gets on the plane when its time. Remodeling Contractor, award-winning homebrewer. (Wheres the beer?)
DD (Tink) 10, thinks shes a preteen, pure Princess. Dancer, artist, soccer mid-Monster, brainiac, comedienne.
Wednesday, Sept. 5, Day 5. Back at home, Al is a morning person, and Tink & I will sleep in whenever the opportunity comes along. So, by Day 5, I had figured out that we didnt need a wake-up call or alarm. The sound of coffee perking was enough. Of course, it also meant no late nights witness our unwillingness to stay for late parades except for Fantasmic. So this day we decided to try another 9 am entry at MGM for more rides on RnR, and attempts at the Hot Seat. Tink is always the last one ready, but as we finally walk out the door, I ask Al do you have the keys and passes? Using the put upon husband voice, he says of course!. As we exit the tram at the MGM gates, Al realizes that he left the APs in the room. There is a funny story in this. Al gets back on the tram, and is the only passenger going back to the parking lot. The hostess asks over the intercom, you forgot something, didnt you? Cute. So Tink and I hang out, watch the little kids with the characters, take a couple of pics of her with characters, look in the tiny gift shop ad nauseum, go potty. Al shows up after about 40 minutes, not too bad. We told him that as punishment, he could walk down for fast passes for RnR while we shopped at the stores along the main entrance. When we hooked up again, we headed over to the Muppet 3D, probably our favorite of the 3D shows at WDW. I cant tell you exactly what we did the rest of the day, but I know it involved several more rides on RnR, and about 3 or 4 tries at Millionaire. There was also some pin buying and trading going on, Tink was getting very good at spotting a CM with a lanyard at 20 paces. We had been doing this most of the week. At first, I had to approach the CMs and ask if she could see their pins, but now she was brazen. She would even tell them, Im sorry, you dont have any pins I want, though she usually wanted to trade something.
The most memorable part of our day at MGM, I guess, is being in Catastrophe Canyon on the Backlot Tour, and not being able to tell the fake rain from the real. When we took off on that tram, it started to rain. By the time we got to CC, it was like being back under the waterfall on the River Raft ride at AK. It was a real downpour, and the 10 or 11 year girl behind us was screaming bloody murder the entire time. We were very relieved to be heading back to the station. Once inside, it didnt seem prudent to go out again. We had panchos, but this was an instant flood with lots of lightning very close by. So, we hunkered down in the museum with lots of other people for at least 45 minutes. When it tapered off, we discovered that we could have walked through a covered area to the food court and gotten a snack. I was glad it was raining then, though, figuring it wouldnt rain as much later when we were due to go on an Illuminations cruise. When we could, we headed over to Millionaire again. We did shows until about 5 pm, then headed back to the room for dinner.
The night we checked into OKW, we went to Publix and bought breakfast stuff, frozen meals for 3-4 dinners, beer and wine, and water. By this point, our 2 gallons of drinking water were gone, so we drove over to Goodings for more before going back to the room. I had been disappointed by the selection at Publix, since I was hoping for some nice ready to microwave or stir-fry type meals that were fresh and looked tasty. We wound up with frozen big name stuff, whatever looked the best. The deli at Goodings had a nice selection of the type of meals we had been looking for, so next time we will probably shop there. Expensive, yes, but cheaper than a restaurant, and we do like to kick back in our room some nights. Lots of nights, actually. BTW, Goodings does not sell gallons of drinking water, we had to buy big bottles of Evian.
After a quick dinner, it was off to the Boardwalk with about an hour to look around before meeting for the cruise at 8:15. We used valet parking at the Boardwalk Villas, free courtesy of our DVC membership. We still tipped, of course. We walked around the BW for a while, and stopped in the sweet shop. I got a piece of dark chocolate, Al some fudge, and Tink got her favorite Toasted Marshmallow Jelly Bellies. We stopped to watch the Australian lady do some lasso tricks, and were surprised that the other family watching were from Albuquerque too! Tink got to twirl the lasso a bit, then it was time to meet our crew. I had arranged to share a cruise with two other couples through the DIS boards, Kristi1357 had made the reservations and posted to share. I spotted her right away from her bright red hair. We chatted with her and her husband for a while, and met our captain, Ryan. We were on one of the pontoons. A call came in that our third couple was over at the Yacht Club marina, so off we went to pick them up. It was drizzling slightly, but we all fit under the awning. Tink thought we were getting off when we got to Yacht Club, she asked me was that all? No, not quite. Ryan gave us a tour of the area, past the Boardwalk, and over to MGM. Tink was the only kid on the boat, and he was very charming with her, inviting her to share the captains seat, and telling her she would get a chance to drive when there were no other boats around. He shared a lot of trivia about the Boardwalk and the area. He knew a lot, since his day job was at the BW! We were all alone in an open area, and he told Tink to drive while he kept talking. It was a lovely night by then, and this was all very pleasant. All of a sudden, I noticed that Tinks head was down by the floor. I said Hey, arent you supposed to be driving the boat? She had dropped some of her Jelly Bellies and was trying to pick them up. She says she told Ryan to take over, but he didnt hear her. No harm done, and we all got a good laugh out of it. There was also some joking about stepping on Jelly Bellies, and more information about the Candy Shoppe. We had missed this entirely since we were focusing on the candy, but theres a picture in there of every Miss America ever. According to Ryan, the next Miss America will be visiting the shoppe, and he cant wait! Back across the lake, and Ryan tells us he wants to be the first to dock. What a great idea this was, we wound up at the right end of the underpass, almost on the lake. The other boats docked behind us, and we all moved to the front of the pontoon. Ryan came forward with towels and dried the backs of the seats very carefully. As he walked away, my stonefaced child called, Hey, you missed a spot! Very cute. He pretended to mop her face with a towel. Well, the shhh sounded, and the magic started. The show seemed different to me from 2 ½ years ago, but some of that could have been our vantage point. I cannot imagine a better view, and it truly seemed that the show was just for us. Illuminations is never going to be the same, we are now completely spoiled. Guess well have to do it again!
Back to the marina, a tip for Ryan, and goodnights all around. What a pleasant group we had on our cruise, lots of sharing and laughter. Before heading home, we had to stop in and check out the Miss America pictures, and had another laugh because all seven of us were in there doing the same thing!
Next report: Last Day (so we thought) at WDW!
I'm glad you and the other Disers enjoyed your time together. I think doing Disney with Dis friends is just about the most fun you can have. 
