CJK
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2001
- Messages
- 7,619
The Cast:
Goofy Gal (me) - Obsessive Disney Planner
Goofy Guy (my husband) - Tolerant of the Obsessive Disney Planner
Dapper Dad (my dad) - A fellow Disney lover!
Fanlover (my mom) - Fan of Disney, not fan of the heat
ToT Sis (my sister ) - Likes Disney, but Tower of Terror? Not so much...
Cocoa Bil (my bro-in-law) Likes Disney, especially their hot chocolate
Splashboy (my nephew) age 6 Never been to Disney, excited to try the big rides
Boomer (my nephew) age 4 Never been to Disney, age 4 going on 14
Dining Report
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=901786
Introductory Report
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=903652
Day 1
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=904193
Day 2 - Part 1
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=904890
Day 2, Part 2
Since we booked our trip through AAA/CAA, we received a diamond lot-parking voucher. Basically, with this voucher, we were eligible to park in a lot very close to the handicapped parking, and thus, close to the main entrance. We followed the blue or green line into the ticket & transportation parking lot and flashed the parking lot attendants. Get your mind out of the gutter I meant we flashed the voucher. Sheesh! ToT sis said that she felt like royalty. Bring on the red carpet!
We make the short walk to the Resort Monorail where Goofy Guy asked the closest CM if it was possible for the boys to ride in the front of the monorail. No time like the present to get those boys enthralled in the Disney magic. I figure its best to start young when trying to convert innocent young boys into obsessed Disney maniacs like myself. We were given the green light (oh sure, where was it at the toll station this morning!) and the boys, along with ToT Sis and Cocoa Bil started to walk towards the front of the monorail.
Before boarding their first monorail ride, a very nice CM (Disney must be growing a good crop this year) stopped the boys for a moment. In her hand was one of those big balloons with a picture of Mickey on the front and Minnie on the back. She said to Splashboy that she would give him the balloon if he made a promise to her. Splashboy was listening intently. You could just see the wheels turning. She would let Splashboy and Boomer have this balloon, if they promised to go into the Polynesian and go to the first gift shop and ask for a string. You see, this balloon was full of helium, but attached to no string! I have no idea how that happened, but anyway .it does make for a pretty good story.
Splashboy promised to ask for a string as soon as we arrived at the Polynesian. In the meantime, the CM had Cocoa Bil carry the balloon so that it wouldnt blow away. Both boys agreed to this arrangement and everyone got into the monorail. What an amazing start to the day! But wait, I hadnt thought this all through. We received this balloon at the BEGINNING of the day which meant someone would have to hold onto it ALL DAY! I was placing bets on how long wed be able to hold onto that thing before either:
A) It blew away
B) It accidentally popped
C) Someone intentionally popped it
D) It gets wrapped around a doll in Its a Small World.
It really was anyones guess.
Just as they promised, the boys went into the first gift shop they could find in the Polynesian, and asked for a string. The store didnt have any. We went to the next gift store. Nothing. Hmm, this kind gesture of the monorail CM was quickly becoming a bit of a nuisance! I was now having visions of that kindly CM laughing in a Cruella-de-Ville type voice just daring us to find a string as we pulled away in the monorail. It was time to check-in at Ohanas for the character breakfast. Dapper Dad suggested we all check-in while he searched the hotel for a string. That sounded like a great idea then chaos ensued.
You see, Splashboy was growing weary of having this cool balloon and not being able to hold it. You know where Im going with this dont you? After being given strict orders from Cocoa Bil to pinch the bottom tip of the balloon and not let go, Splashboy was holding the balloon! Success! And he really did love that balloon, for all of 5 seconds. Before we knew it, we were saluting the balloon as it sailed up to the roof. Even before the balloon hit the ceiling, we were dealing with our first tears of the trip. Not bad really, considering wed been together for a few hours already. I was reminded of a story Dapper Dad loves to share about me. When I was about Splashboys age in Disney, I had the same thing happen to me despite my dads insistence that I tie the balloon around my wrist. Sigh I feel your pain Splashboy we must be related!
Thankfully, there was a light at the end of the tunnel. For those of you who have been to Ohanas, you may know that the ceiling is relatively low. There was a chance we could get that balloon back, if we could just get high enough. After all, Dapper dad was still running around trying to find a string for the balloon that had just sailed to the ceiling. We asked a couple nearby CMs if they could help us, and they sent for the manager.
A few minutes later, the manager appears with a short broom with a big piece of double-sided tape at the end of the handle. We were all more than skeptical, but we thought it was worth a shot. Goofy Guy lifted up Splashboy who had stopped crying by now, and got Splashboy to try to touch the bottom of the balloon with the tip of the broom he was holding. He tried once, and then again, but to no avail. It was like watching an Olympic sport. Everyone was cheering him on! On his third attempt, he got it and the crowd went wild!!! In keeping with his photographer role, Cocoa Bil videotaped the whole thing and took a picture of Splashboy, the manager and the infamous broom & balloon. Another crisis averted with some good old-fashioned Disney magic! Cocoa Bil decided to hold onto the balloon until we got our string.
Just then, our name was called breakfast was served. Dapper Dad then appears with a string in hand. We quickly fill him in on the recent events while we tied the string to the balloon. If we didnt have the video to prove it, I doubt he would have believed us! He then smiled and started laughing to himself. Turns out, that in his quest for the elusive string, he asked a manager for some assistance, but the manager said sorry, he couldnt help because he had to go rescue a balloon Little did he know!
We were seated at a large, circular table by the window. The first thing the boys pointed out was Cinderellas castle off in the distance. They were so excited. When we told them that we were going to go there after breakfast, their eyes were positively dancing. Our server was fantastic. He was full of fun and joked with the characters as they all made their way to our table. The boys were delirious as they got the characters to sign their autograph books and pose for pictures. We have so many good pictures of the boys posing with the characters; its almost impossible to pick out our favourites. Even the food was terrific. I like buffets that are served family style so that you can all eat together and not constantly get up to fill your plates. The Mickey waffles were wonderful!
Here are a couple tips for you. If your kids enjoy getting their picture taken with the characters, take them to a character meal at the beginning of your trip! Have the characters come to you while you eat rather than wait in long lines in the steamy parks to get your pictures taken. This was ToT sis' idea and it was a good one! Also, since we booked a late breakfast, we felt we got particularly good service, character interaction, and the boys enjoyed participating in the parade. Our first character meal was a resounding success. After ToT sis saw the expressions of pure joy on her sons faces, and after filling herself with great food and fun, she said that, she could go home now!! Her main mission for this trip was realized! I told her to feel free to go, but the boys and I were going on Peter Pan.
None of us admitted it out loud until now, but we were all still a little bit skeptical over how free the free dining plan really was! We handed over our coveted dining plan cards to our sever, and he came back with 3 receipts. Amazingly, the only other thing he asked from us was our autograph, I mean signature. He said that we were free to go and enjoy the day. I told everyone to go ahead of me Id create a diversion in case this nice man was scamming us like the monorail CM before him . Its off to MK we go!
Goofy Gal (me) - Obsessive Disney Planner
Goofy Guy (my husband) - Tolerant of the Obsessive Disney Planner
Dapper Dad (my dad) - A fellow Disney lover!
Fanlover (my mom) - Fan of Disney, not fan of the heat
ToT Sis (my sister ) - Likes Disney, but Tower of Terror? Not so much...
Cocoa Bil (my bro-in-law) Likes Disney, especially their hot chocolate
Splashboy (my nephew) age 6 Never been to Disney, excited to try the big rides
Boomer (my nephew) age 4 Never been to Disney, age 4 going on 14
Dining Report
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=901786
Introductory Report
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=903652
Day 1
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=904193
Day 2 - Part 1
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=904890
Day 2, Part 2
Since we booked our trip through AAA/CAA, we received a diamond lot-parking voucher. Basically, with this voucher, we were eligible to park in a lot very close to the handicapped parking, and thus, close to the main entrance. We followed the blue or green line into the ticket & transportation parking lot and flashed the parking lot attendants. Get your mind out of the gutter I meant we flashed the voucher. Sheesh! ToT sis said that she felt like royalty. Bring on the red carpet!
We make the short walk to the Resort Monorail where Goofy Guy asked the closest CM if it was possible for the boys to ride in the front of the monorail. No time like the present to get those boys enthralled in the Disney magic. I figure its best to start young when trying to convert innocent young boys into obsessed Disney maniacs like myself. We were given the green light (oh sure, where was it at the toll station this morning!) and the boys, along with ToT Sis and Cocoa Bil started to walk towards the front of the monorail.
Before boarding their first monorail ride, a very nice CM (Disney must be growing a good crop this year) stopped the boys for a moment. In her hand was one of those big balloons with a picture of Mickey on the front and Minnie on the back. She said to Splashboy that she would give him the balloon if he made a promise to her. Splashboy was listening intently. You could just see the wheels turning. She would let Splashboy and Boomer have this balloon, if they promised to go into the Polynesian and go to the first gift shop and ask for a string. You see, this balloon was full of helium, but attached to no string! I have no idea how that happened, but anyway .it does make for a pretty good story.
Splashboy promised to ask for a string as soon as we arrived at the Polynesian. In the meantime, the CM had Cocoa Bil carry the balloon so that it wouldnt blow away. Both boys agreed to this arrangement and everyone got into the monorail. What an amazing start to the day! But wait, I hadnt thought this all through. We received this balloon at the BEGINNING of the day which meant someone would have to hold onto it ALL DAY! I was placing bets on how long wed be able to hold onto that thing before either:
A) It blew away
B) It accidentally popped
C) Someone intentionally popped it
D) It gets wrapped around a doll in Its a Small World.
It really was anyones guess.
Just as they promised, the boys went into the first gift shop they could find in the Polynesian, and asked for a string. The store didnt have any. We went to the next gift store. Nothing. Hmm, this kind gesture of the monorail CM was quickly becoming a bit of a nuisance! I was now having visions of that kindly CM laughing in a Cruella-de-Ville type voice just daring us to find a string as we pulled away in the monorail. It was time to check-in at Ohanas for the character breakfast. Dapper Dad suggested we all check-in while he searched the hotel for a string. That sounded like a great idea then chaos ensued.
You see, Splashboy was growing weary of having this cool balloon and not being able to hold it. You know where Im going with this dont you?
After being given strict orders from Cocoa Bil to pinch the bottom tip of the balloon and not let go, Splashboy was holding the balloon! Success! And he really did love that balloon, for all of 5 seconds. Before we knew it, we were saluting the balloon as it sailed up to the roof. Even before the balloon hit the ceiling, we were dealing with our first tears of the trip. Not bad really, considering wed been together for a few hours already. I was reminded of a story Dapper Dad loves to share about me. When I was about Splashboys age in Disney, I had the same thing happen to me despite my dads insistence that I tie the balloon around my wrist. Sigh I feel your pain Splashboy we must be related!Thankfully, there was a light at the end of the tunnel. For those of you who have been to Ohanas, you may know that the ceiling is relatively low. There was a chance we could get that balloon back, if we could just get high enough. After all, Dapper dad was still running around trying to find a string for the balloon that had just sailed to the ceiling. We asked a couple nearby CMs if they could help us, and they sent for the manager.
A few minutes later, the manager appears with a short broom with a big piece of double-sided tape at the end of the handle. We were all more than skeptical, but we thought it was worth a shot. Goofy Guy lifted up Splashboy who had stopped crying by now, and got Splashboy to try to touch the bottom of the balloon with the tip of the broom he was holding. He tried once, and then again, but to no avail. It was like watching an Olympic sport. Everyone was cheering him on! On his third attempt, he got it and the crowd went wild!!! In keeping with his photographer role, Cocoa Bil videotaped the whole thing and took a picture of Splashboy, the manager and the infamous broom & balloon. Another crisis averted with some good old-fashioned Disney magic! Cocoa Bil decided to hold onto the balloon until we got our string.
Just then, our name was called breakfast was served. Dapper Dad then appears with a string in hand. We quickly fill him in on the recent events while we tied the string to the balloon. If we didnt have the video to prove it, I doubt he would have believed us! He then smiled and started laughing to himself. Turns out, that in his quest for the elusive string, he asked a manager for some assistance, but the manager said sorry, he couldnt help because he had to go rescue a balloon Little did he know!
We were seated at a large, circular table by the window. The first thing the boys pointed out was Cinderellas castle off in the distance. They were so excited. When we told them that we were going to go there after breakfast, their eyes were positively dancing. Our server was fantastic. He was full of fun and joked with the characters as they all made their way to our table. The boys were delirious as they got the characters to sign their autograph books and pose for pictures. We have so many good pictures of the boys posing with the characters; its almost impossible to pick out our favourites. Even the food was terrific. I like buffets that are served family style so that you can all eat together and not constantly get up to fill your plates. The Mickey waffles were wonderful!
Here are a couple tips for you. If your kids enjoy getting their picture taken with the characters, take them to a character meal at the beginning of your trip! Have the characters come to you while you eat rather than wait in long lines in the steamy parks to get your pictures taken. This was ToT sis' idea and it was a good one! Also, since we booked a late breakfast, we felt we got particularly good service, character interaction, and the boys enjoyed participating in the parade. Our first character meal was a resounding success. After ToT sis saw the expressions of pure joy on her sons faces, and after filling herself with great food and fun, she said that, she could go home now!!
Her main mission for this trip was realized! I told her to feel free to go, but the boys and I were going on Peter Pan.None of us admitted it out loud until now, but we were all still a little bit skeptical over how free the free dining plan really was! We handed over our coveted dining plan cards to our sever, and he came back with 3 receipts. Amazingly, the only other thing he asked from us was our autograph, I mean signature. He said that we were free to go and enjoy the day. I told everyone to go ahead of me Id create a diversion in case this nice man was scamming us like the monorail CM before him . Its off to MK we go!
