CJK
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2001
- Messages
- 7,615
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
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=905052
Day 2 Part 3 Conquering the Magic Kingdom
Having adequately stuffed ourselves and safely escaped security, we were on our way to the Magic Kingdom. But first, a quick stop in the restroom. On previous trips, Goofy Guy and I spend most of the time alone. Why do I mention this you ask? Were used to VERY few restroom breaks! When you are with 8 people, its remarkable how much time you spend in those little stalls. Do our bladders get smaller in big groups or do we just prefer to travel in packs? I may never know. While in the restroom, I decided to take the time and put on my body glide.
Heres another interruption to this trip report to bring you this newsflash. Goofy Guy and I have been married for 7 years and have been to Disney every one of those years. I dont think I have ever, and I mean EVER, returned home without having blisters on both feet and requiring some serious sympathy from Goofy Guy (and a Mickey ice cream bar doesnt hurt either). This year was going to be different. I did my research and discovered teva sandals and body glide. I was skeptical about wearing sandals in Disney, but I was willing to give it a go. If anyone complained about sore feet on this trip, it wasnt going to be me! It was time to find out if my research had paid off.
The boys came as close as they could to turning into Tigger as they were bouncing off the walls. It was quite impressive really. After a quick jaunt on the monorail (we didnt ride in the front this time I guess other people deserve some magic too) we arrived at the Magic Kingdom. We enter Main Street and I felt the familiar tears rising with my first sight of the castle. Pass the Kleenex. What a glorious view. Im a little ashamed to admit that my pure joy was heightened with a sense of smugness. There were a bunch of characters around signing autographs and posing for pictures. We were able to walk right on by with not a single complaint from the boys. Admittedly there were characters there who were not our breakfast companions this morning, but the boys seemed satisfied with the autographs they had. What a sense of freedom!
It was now early Monday afternoon. We knew that it wasnt the ideal time to go to the Magic Kingdom since its traditionally a very busy day and afternoons are always busier anyway. Plus, it was HOT! Fanlover was already giving her fan batteries a real workout. We figured wed just walk around, soak in the atmosphere, and do what we could. First stop was Philharmagic, which only had a 10-minute wait. In our opinion, Philharmagic encompasses all that is good about Disney. There is something for everyone. Incidentally, Im still willing to be Jasmines replacement. Anyone else have a crush on Aladdin?
In case you were wondering, that darn balloon was still following us. Cocoa BIL had tied the balloon to his camera case. He somehow received the pleasure of carrying the balloon for the day. He was starting to rival Dapper Dad as father of the year. I dont think I even heard the boys acknowledge that balloon again that day, but darn it, we werent going to give up that balloon after all we went through to get it! Its a Small World was next in line. I hadnt seen it since it was refurbished so I was curious to see it. The boys seemed to really enjoy it. ToT sis gave Splashboy a running commentary of the different countries and a little trivia about each one. I think she may be available for tours if anyones interested.
We grabbed a fast pass for Peter Pan (something silly like a 60 minute standby wait) and went to the Haunted Mansion. This was the moment of truth. Since ToT sis and I grew up with Disney, we wanted to share that magic with her children and that definitely included the Haunted Mansion. We hadnt figured out our strategy yet for getting the boys on rides that they were a little nervous about. Their little friends from home had been on this ride and really enjoyed it so we knew theyd want to ride too. The stretch room is quite scary isnt it? A few tears were shed here, but nothing too serious. I did calm down eventually.
Both boys bounced off the ride and said they really liked it. Go figure! After a battery change for Fanlovers fan (wed only been here for an hour or so but we were melting), we made it over for the next showing of the Country Bear Jamboree. I was excited to see the show with Dapper Dad again as he has always been Big Als number one fan. Well, it became abundantly clear on this trip that Boomer takes after his grandfather. Yes, as soon as Big Al started to sing, you could barely hear him over Boomers laughter! My dad knew he loved his grandson for a reason! What a touching moment our family bonding over Big Als song about blood on a saddle. Anyone else find that a little disturbing?
The park seemed to be very crowded today (and did I mention hot?) yet we were getting so much accomplished! Admittedly we werent hitting the most popular attractions, but we knew wed hit those later on the trip during the extra magic hour. We practically walked on the Pirates of the Caribbean next. This one was another big hit with the boys. I think I found the pirate with two patches on his eyes. Is he in the big pirate ship? Next stop was the Enchanted Tiki Birds. Our timing was perfect because the pre-show had just ended when we arrived. The show was amusing as usual, though I was struck by how tired I was now. My adrenaline rush was giving way to my two nights of little sleep. I felt like joining Iago in the House of Presidents for a nap.
Just as the show let out, we noticed that the Share a Dream parade had just started. The boys really wanted to watch it so we thought wed try to get a bit closer to give them a better look. A very nice woman allowed the boys to stand in front of her so they had a great view. Aladdin winked at me from the parade. I really need to call my agent.
It was time to go on Peter Pan. This was ToT sis and Cocoa Bils first real introduction to fast pass and they were impressed! She said that when you combine this with the diamond lot voucher from earlier today, we really WERE royalty. Boomer asked if I would ride with him on Peter Pan. I was touched. I was REALLY touched. I mean, this is THE ride of ALL rides that the boys were looking forward to experiencing. I was going to run out of Kleenex. Both boys loved Peter Pan and said theyd like to ride it again. Well, considering how long the wait was, that would have to wait for another day. Any line over 20 minutes is too long for this clan. I was afraid wed melt.
Ice cream time! We found a little cart near the teacups that accepted our dining cards. We split up so that some of us could get ice cream and others could to do the teacups ride. Since there were other adults willing to ride the teacups with the boys, I decided to wait on solid ground and eat my ice cream without having my stomach in my throat. We then wandered towards Tomorrowland, which seemed very busy too. Yet, we still managed to do quite a bit. We walked onto the Carousel of Progress. I sang along and had a grand ole time while Goofy Guy slept. Either he was really tired too, or I need to take singing lessons.
One of Fanlovers favourite rides is the TTA (its still the people mover to me). Its such a relaxing ride and gives such a great overview of Tomorrowland. Just before boarding, a CM stopped Cocoa BIL and said that the balloon was not allowed on the ride. He had to leave it with the CM. That darn balloon!! I was ready to steal a pin from Fanlovers hair Remember that the balloon was attached to his camera case so he was going to have to really trust this CM. Being the good sport that Cocoa Bil is, he surrendered his camera bag and boarded the ride. He had never been on it before and was interested in seeing Space Mountain from the TTA.
We disembarked the TTA and proceeded to look for the CM with the camera bag and annoying balloon. He was gone! GONE! The guy had run off with the camera bag. He probably stomped on the balloon too. What were we going to do? Now, admittedly, these panic-filled thoughts were all experienced in all of 5 seconds. However, there never was a problem. The CM simply went off duty and gave the camera bag and balloon to the next CM to come on duty. Problem solved and Cocoa Bil was fine he never was worried. My Drama Queen self was exhausted. I needed a drink.
Amazingly, there was only a 10-minute wait for Buzz Light year. It was here that I introduced the boys to hidden Mickeys. Splashboy was particularly interested and maintained that interest for the rest of the trip. He even pointed out some hidden Mickeys to me! We knew we werent going to get near Space Mountain today, so we headed towards the Jungle Cruise. On the way, Cocoa Bil asked if we could go up the Swiss Family tree house. Fanlover and Dapper Dad didnt want to do that in this heat, so we told them that wed meet them at the Jungle Cruise once we were finished. Just when you think you know what children will really enjoy or not enjoy, they go and do something to surprise you! Splashboy was fascinated with the plumbing in the tree. He was having so much fun climbing the stairs and finding where the water was leading. Im so glad we went. Sure I was melting, but it was worth it. I think a little rainstorm was coming anyway.
Did I say little? I meant TORENTIAL rainfall!!! We made it to the Jungle cruise queue just before the rain came down in droves. Hopefully it would cool us off a bit since I was convinced Fanlover was going to run out of fan batteries. It actually made the Jungle Cruise tour particularly fun in the rain. Once we left the boat, we all dug into our bags to get our ponchos. We were prepared for weather like this. Lets see I know I had my poncho here somewhere Doh! Its sitting, neatly, in my suitcase that well never see again according to Fanlover, back at the hotel. Perfect! I didnt want to slow everyone else down because of my carelessness, so we decided to brave the rain and walk towards Splash Mountain.
I ducked under any shelter I could find, stepping on anyone and anything that got in my way. But, I had to face facts. I was SOAKED! Thankfully I wasnt wearing a white t-shirt. We decided to take a restroom and water break and reassess our day. Within minutes, the rain stopped. We decided to try Splash Mountain. Heck, I was wet anyway! This ride was going to be tricky. Both boys had heard about Splash Mountain and thought theyd like to ride. Well, wed soon find out. As we walked closer to the mountain, fear was definitely rising in the boys, not to mention Fanlover! We didnt want to become those families who drag their kids kicking and screaming on rides, but we knew Splashboy in particular, would be disappointed in himself if he didnt try it. With our fingers crossed and minds full of positive thoughts, we get in line.
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
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=905052
Day 2 Part 3 Conquering the Magic Kingdom
Having adequately stuffed ourselves and safely escaped security, we were on our way to the Magic Kingdom. But first, a quick stop in the restroom. On previous trips, Goofy Guy and I spend most of the time alone. Why do I mention this you ask? Were used to VERY few restroom breaks! When you are with 8 people, its remarkable how much time you spend in those little stalls. Do our bladders get smaller in big groups or do we just prefer to travel in packs? I may never know. While in the restroom, I decided to take the time and put on my body glide.
Heres another interruption to this trip report to bring you this newsflash. Goofy Guy and I have been married for 7 years and have been to Disney every one of those years. I dont think I have ever, and I mean EVER, returned home without having blisters on both feet and requiring some serious sympathy from Goofy Guy (and a Mickey ice cream bar doesnt hurt either). This year was going to be different. I did my research and discovered teva sandals and body glide. I was skeptical about wearing sandals in Disney, but I was willing to give it a go. If anyone complained about sore feet on this trip, it wasnt going to be me! It was time to find out if my research had paid off.
The boys came as close as they could to turning into Tigger as they were bouncing off the walls. It was quite impressive really. After a quick jaunt on the monorail (we didnt ride in the front this time I guess other people deserve some magic too) we arrived at the Magic Kingdom. We enter Main Street and I felt the familiar tears rising with my first sight of the castle. Pass the Kleenex. What a glorious view. Im a little ashamed to admit that my pure joy was heightened with a sense of smugness. There were a bunch of characters around signing autographs and posing for pictures. We were able to walk right on by with not a single complaint from the boys. Admittedly there were characters there who were not our breakfast companions this morning, but the boys seemed satisfied with the autographs they had. What a sense of freedom!
It was now early Monday afternoon. We knew that it wasnt the ideal time to go to the Magic Kingdom since its traditionally a very busy day and afternoons are always busier anyway. Plus, it was HOT! Fanlover was already giving her fan batteries a real workout. We figured wed just walk around, soak in the atmosphere, and do what we could. First stop was Philharmagic, which only had a 10-minute wait. In our opinion, Philharmagic encompasses all that is good about Disney. There is something for everyone. Incidentally, Im still willing to be Jasmines replacement. Anyone else have a crush on Aladdin?
In case you were wondering, that darn balloon was still following us. Cocoa BIL had tied the balloon to his camera case. He somehow received the pleasure of carrying the balloon for the day. He was starting to rival Dapper Dad as father of the year. I dont think I even heard the boys acknowledge that balloon again that day, but darn it, we werent going to give up that balloon after all we went through to get it! Its a Small World was next in line. I hadnt seen it since it was refurbished so I was curious to see it. The boys seemed to really enjoy it. ToT sis gave Splashboy a running commentary of the different countries and a little trivia about each one. I think she may be available for tours if anyones interested.
We grabbed a fast pass for Peter Pan (something silly like a 60 minute standby wait) and went to the Haunted Mansion. This was the moment of truth. Since ToT sis and I grew up with Disney, we wanted to share that magic with her children and that definitely included the Haunted Mansion. We hadnt figured out our strategy yet for getting the boys on rides that they were a little nervous about. Their little friends from home had been on this ride and really enjoyed it so we knew theyd want to ride too. The stretch room is quite scary isnt it? A few tears were shed here, but nothing too serious. I did calm down eventually.
Both boys bounced off the ride and said they really liked it. Go figure! After a battery change for Fanlovers fan (wed only been here for an hour or so but we were melting), we made it over for the next showing of the Country Bear Jamboree. I was excited to see the show with Dapper Dad again as he has always been Big Als number one fan. Well, it became abundantly clear on this trip that Boomer takes after his grandfather. Yes, as soon as Big Al started to sing, you could barely hear him over Boomers laughter! My dad knew he loved his grandson for a reason! What a touching moment our family bonding over Big Als song about blood on a saddle. Anyone else find that a little disturbing?
The park seemed to be very crowded today (and did I mention hot?) yet we were getting so much accomplished! Admittedly we werent hitting the most popular attractions, but we knew wed hit those later on the trip during the extra magic hour. We practically walked on the Pirates of the Caribbean next. This one was another big hit with the boys. I think I found the pirate with two patches on his eyes. Is he in the big pirate ship? Next stop was the Enchanted Tiki Birds. Our timing was perfect because the pre-show had just ended when we arrived. The show was amusing as usual, though I was struck by how tired I was now. My adrenaline rush was giving way to my two nights of little sleep. I felt like joining Iago in the House of Presidents for a nap.
Just as the show let out, we noticed that the Share a Dream parade had just started. The boys really wanted to watch it so we thought wed try to get a bit closer to give them a better look. A very nice woman allowed the boys to stand in front of her so they had a great view. Aladdin winked at me from the parade. I really need to call my agent.
It was time to go on Peter Pan. This was ToT sis and Cocoa Bils first real introduction to fast pass and they were impressed! She said that when you combine this with the diamond lot voucher from earlier today, we really WERE royalty. Boomer asked if I would ride with him on Peter Pan. I was touched. I was REALLY touched. I mean, this is THE ride of ALL rides that the boys were looking forward to experiencing. I was going to run out of Kleenex. Both boys loved Peter Pan and said theyd like to ride it again. Well, considering how long the wait was, that would have to wait for another day. Any line over 20 minutes is too long for this clan. I was afraid wed melt.
Ice cream time! We found a little cart near the teacups that accepted our dining cards. We split up so that some of us could get ice cream and others could to do the teacups ride. Since there were other adults willing to ride the teacups with the boys, I decided to wait on solid ground and eat my ice cream without having my stomach in my throat. We then wandered towards Tomorrowland, which seemed very busy too. Yet, we still managed to do quite a bit. We walked onto the Carousel of Progress. I sang along and had a grand ole time while Goofy Guy slept. Either he was really tired too, or I need to take singing lessons.
One of Fanlovers favourite rides is the TTA (its still the people mover to me). Its such a relaxing ride and gives such a great overview of Tomorrowland. Just before boarding, a CM stopped Cocoa BIL and said that the balloon was not allowed on the ride. He had to leave it with the CM. That darn balloon!! I was ready to steal a pin from Fanlovers hair Remember that the balloon was attached to his camera case so he was going to have to really trust this CM. Being the good sport that Cocoa Bil is, he surrendered his camera bag and boarded the ride. He had never been on it before and was interested in seeing Space Mountain from the TTA.
We disembarked the TTA and proceeded to look for the CM with the camera bag and annoying balloon. He was gone! GONE! The guy had run off with the camera bag. He probably stomped on the balloon too. What were we going to do? Now, admittedly, these panic-filled thoughts were all experienced in all of 5 seconds. However, there never was a problem. The CM simply went off duty and gave the camera bag and balloon to the next CM to come on duty. Problem solved and Cocoa Bil was fine he never was worried. My Drama Queen self was exhausted. I needed a drink.
Amazingly, there was only a 10-minute wait for Buzz Light year. It was here that I introduced the boys to hidden Mickeys. Splashboy was particularly interested and maintained that interest for the rest of the trip. He even pointed out some hidden Mickeys to me! We knew we werent going to get near Space Mountain today, so we headed towards the Jungle Cruise. On the way, Cocoa Bil asked if we could go up the Swiss Family tree house. Fanlover and Dapper Dad didnt want to do that in this heat, so we told them that wed meet them at the Jungle Cruise once we were finished. Just when you think you know what children will really enjoy or not enjoy, they go and do something to surprise you! Splashboy was fascinated with the plumbing in the tree. He was having so much fun climbing the stairs and finding where the water was leading. Im so glad we went. Sure I was melting, but it was worth it. I think a little rainstorm was coming anyway.
Did I say little? I meant TORENTIAL rainfall!!! We made it to the Jungle cruise queue just before the rain came down in droves. Hopefully it would cool us off a bit since I was convinced Fanlover was going to run out of fan batteries. It actually made the Jungle Cruise tour particularly fun in the rain. Once we left the boat, we all dug into our bags to get our ponchos. We were prepared for weather like this. Lets see I know I had my poncho here somewhere Doh! Its sitting, neatly, in my suitcase that well never see again according to Fanlover, back at the hotel. Perfect! I didnt want to slow everyone else down because of my carelessness, so we decided to brave the rain and walk towards Splash Mountain.
I ducked under any shelter I could find, stepping on anyone and anything that got in my way. But, I had to face facts. I was SOAKED! Thankfully I wasnt wearing a white t-shirt. We decided to take a restroom and water break and reassess our day. Within minutes, the rain stopped. We decided to try Splash Mountain. Heck, I was wet anyway! This ride was going to be tricky. Both boys had heard about Splash Mountain and thought theyd like to ride. Well, wed soon find out. As we walked closer to the mountain, fear was definitely rising in the boys, not to mention Fanlover! We didnt want to become those families who drag their kids kicking and screaming on rides, but we knew Splashboy in particular, would be disappointed in himself if he didnt try it. With our fingers crossed and minds full of positive thoughts, we get in line.
