yepod
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2001
- Messages
- 2,578
Sun Oct 27th
Cast of characters: DD-Emily, 3 ½ yo, I have Peter Pan wrapped around my finger
DW-Jody, 40, Pixie dust thrower
Me-John, 50, Official map carrier & CM w/ lanyard knocker downer
Emily was getting tired of hearing Mickeys wake-up call! Let me sleep, Mickey! We head to the MK for a recommended breakfast at the Bakery! (Thanks Trekker!) Uhmmmm doooonuts! After pigging
out on one of everything, we run into Liver Lips, Genie, Big Al, Shaker, Max & Pinocchio for P&A near City Hall! Since dad loves (is) Goofy, Emily loves his movies! So Max is her favorite son! After he signs her book & as I move her away, Max turns my Goofy cap sideways! Emily loves the interaction! Silly daddy! (NO, silly Max!) Its now time for our Family Magic Tour.
I forgot where to go for the tour, so I asked at City Hall & was told to go next door. I go to the art gallery which is the 'next door'. They told me the tour was in the courtyard BETWEEN city hall & the gallery! Boy can I be too literal (& thick) sometimes! LOL
We met our tour guide, a clever young lady named Regina, she was excellent! While waiting for the other 2 families that had scheduled the tour, were told wed be doing this alone! At the last minute (actually 15 minutes late) another family shows up with a 5 yo DD. The kids are pulled together in a tight group & told Mickey is entrusting them to a secret that only they are allowed to hear! She tells us Peter Pan has stolen the Captain's hook & he is so mad that unless the tour finds the hook & gives it back, the Captain will shut down the MK (taking all the magic, princesses & everything)!
The kids & their parents are GRILLED to ensure none of us are pirates that will reveal the secret to Hook! (Its ironic that I WAS a pirate two nights ago, but I didn't reveal this to the group & spoil the fun! Thankfully Emily didn't say anything!!! I would have thrown a strop if not allowed to go along!) We had to introduce ourselves & tell where we came from & our DDs were asked to swear that their parents weren't pirates!!!
We proceeded first with all of us sprinkling Mickey Dust (you know those neat Mickey Head sparklies) over our heads
& then using a cloth scroll map created with clues by Peter Pan to direct us throughout the MK to find the hook!
The tour traveled from land to land in a zigzag pattern (per the maps directions) to find various clues throughout the park! We did this in walking (baby steps, side steps, giant steps!), hopping, skipping, crawling (through Cosmic Rays in front of Sonny Eclipse!) & sneaking patterns (hid behind a wall in Adventureland) all over the park! This is in front of all the other guests who were giving us funny looks, so we had to be prepared to act like the kid you should always be at the MK! The first clue was to go to the land of the future & look for a stone ball with a picture inside 2 circles. Well can you guess what that is? You walk by it every time you're in Tommorrowland. There is a granite ball with an etched castle inside a small circle inside a large circle. This is a clue to go to Cindy's castle! When we passed through TL, Regina reminded us to get Fastpasses on Buzz as we went by! She also showed us many hidden Mickeys
along the way! The next clue was to look for a picture of Cindy in rags wearing a crown. So we go through the castle hall looking at the mosaic pictures & there is no Cindy with rags & crown! Do you know the secret? Its the fountain (behind the side of the castle) that has a bronze sculpture of Cindy in rags! If you look on the wall behind Cindy, there's a crown! This stuff was SO cool to learn!
We finally wound up (after about an hour of searching) at a dead end next to Liberty square (behind the Christmas shop). Peter Pan & Wendy surprised us! Peter had the hook hiding behind his back, so Regina scolded him for being so childish (what did she expect, it's Peter) LOL
They thanked us for searching so well & then after private pictures & autograph time, we were all taken to front of the line to ride Peter's ride! The kids rode with Peter & Wendy! An added perk was when Emily asked Peter if he would take her & her new friend on IASW & he said sure! So thanks to my DDs innocence, we got two front of the line rides with the characters!
Peter showed us some hidden Mickeys on IASW! It was funny how many guests & their kids tried to line up for pictures! I wanted to tell them it was a very 'dear' private viewing, so if they wanted to contribute, they could join in! What a cheapskate! LOL
They used our camera to take pictures of the kids riding with Peter & Wendy! I can't sing enough praise about how much Emily loved this experience! Even though the running around liked to have killed this OLD kid, it was fun for the adults too! I thought our guides enthusiasm was just awesome! I gave her a tip afterwards & she wanted to refuse, but I was taught another little known rule at WDW. If you want to tip a CM who normally isn't allowed to take a tip (like custodial or ride tenders & such), you have to offer it to them three times & then they cannot refuse! Regina was reluctant until I reminded her about the 1,2,3 rule! I told her not only had she made my DDs day, she had shared many secrets & hidden Mickeys with all of us too! Another nice perk about either this tour or the Behind/Scenes Tour (originating from the courtyard) is free bottles of cold water!
Well, Emily decided shes tired & starts to throw another strop!
We had held off as long as we could about telling Emily we would be seeing Katie again! Now was the time to use this reward ploy! Bad parents! We had intended to head back to POR for R&R, but had agreed to meet Ron & Katie at Epcot around 5 for their dinner PS at Tempura Kiku later in the evening. We decided there wasnt time, so hopped on the monorail for Epcot. You forget about the car ploy when it comes to getting Emily to nap when youre in the world! The monorail worked like a charm! We rode two laps between the MK & Epcot & all got some rest!
I had to eat at the Rose & Crown (well actually I was on a much more important mission). I enjoyed my usual fish & chips, Jody had Chicken pot pie & salad & Emily mac & cheese! My mission was to hoist one for Oldkicker,
since I wont be able to be at his mini-meet during DISCon II (Im counting on you Glo to hold up my schooner!) http://worldzone.net/travel/oldkicker//oldkicker/yepodbrewadj.jpg While Emily & mom went looking for Ron & Katie for our later dinner date, I went into the gift shop to look for CarolynUs CM son Simon! I tried to give him a USA pin, but the good lad gave me one back from a lanyard he produced! (Honest I didnt knock him down & force the trade, he insisted!) Hes a good honest gentleman & you should all look him up at the UK if youre in World Showcase soon! (Please dont scare him during drink around the world)!
When I met up with my family & Trekkers, we found out the PS had been moved up to add us to Rons PS! Oh no, We had just finished lunch at R&C & now were eating in 2 hours! (I can handle this, Im on vacation!) We had time to kill, so we walked over to Norway to all ride Maelstrom. Ron & Katie were big into the rides. This was good in that I like them where as Jody thought Emily would be scared. We pin traded on the way over. I had to push Katie out of my way several times when she got in my way for a good pin trade with a CM. (Her dad had taught me the trick!)
Well do you remember me forcing Emily to endure the bugs in ITTBAB at AK? I thought it was a good test of her strop-o-meter! We didnt have any trouble with Emily, but Ron was scared to stay for the short film afterward. Actually he was bored & only wanted to do the ride, so I asked a CM if we could get out early. She told us we could just walk through the theater section before the film started. We pin traded all the way back to Japan. We had a lovely dinner with Ron, Katie & a nice couple celebrating their 53rd anniversary! I had sushi, as well as the seafood grill, which was great.
Jody had chicken & shrimp IJW EXCELLENT Emily had chicken & ate it with chop sticks including her rice! The staff had rigged them with a rubber band to help the littlies utilize them! We will definitely do this restaurant again! We waddled out to find a spot to view ToD.
I had to try a Kakagori for TC! I like the American snow cone flavors better!
While Ron & I guarded a bench (I had to sit down having just consumed 2 great meals in 3 hours!) the girls went chocolate shopping in Germany. (I know Poohshoney, its not the GOOD chocolate!) Katie bought Emily a cute teddy bear! What a sweetie! As we sat there, Ron & I engaged a custodial CM in pleasant conversation. As we exchanged where we all came from, Ron mentioned the DIS & the CM named Beth said Oh my gosh Im Swankybeth! I was too stuffed to be totally lucid, so had missed her obvious CM name tag! I told her I had her on my look up list (some troublemaker DISers call it my stalker list)!
What a cool coincidence! We then enjoyed the great parade (my personal WDW favorite, ever since the original where my Emily got such good interaction 2 years ago from the CMs in ToN)! I was not disappointed, as the puppeteers again stopped to play with her!
We then called it a night & left Ron & Katie who were staying for Illuminations! Emily threw yet another strop because we left her Katie behind!
Day 6 Will this ever end?
Cast of characters: DD-Emily, 3 ½ yo, I have Peter Pan wrapped around my finger
DW-Jody, 40, Pixie dust thrower
Me-John, 50, Official map carrier & CM w/ lanyard knocker downer
Emily was getting tired of hearing Mickeys wake-up call! Let me sleep, Mickey! We head to the MK for a recommended breakfast at the Bakery! (Thanks Trekker!) Uhmmmm doooonuts! After pigging
I forgot where to go for the tour, so I asked at City Hall & was told to go next door. I go to the art gallery which is the 'next door'. They told me the tour was in the courtyard BETWEEN city hall & the gallery! Boy can I be too literal (& thick) sometimes! LOL
We met our tour guide, a clever young lady named Regina, she was excellent! While waiting for the other 2 families that had scheduled the tour, were told wed be doing this alone! At the last minute (actually 15 minutes late) another family shows up with a 5 yo DD. The kids are pulled together in a tight group & told Mickey is entrusting them to a secret that only they are allowed to hear! She tells us Peter Pan has stolen the Captain's hook & he is so mad that unless the tour finds the hook & gives it back, the Captain will shut down the MK (taking all the magic, princesses & everything)!
The kids & their parents are GRILLED to ensure none of us are pirates that will reveal the secret to Hook! (Its ironic that I WAS a pirate two nights ago, but I didn't reveal this to the group & spoil the fun! Thankfully Emily didn't say anything!!! I would have thrown a strop if not allowed to go along!) We had to introduce ourselves & tell where we came from & our DDs were asked to swear that their parents weren't pirates!!!
We proceeded first with all of us sprinkling Mickey Dust (you know those neat Mickey Head sparklies) over our heads
The tour traveled from land to land in a zigzag pattern (per the maps directions) to find various clues throughout the park! We did this in walking (baby steps, side steps, giant steps!), hopping, skipping, crawling (through Cosmic Rays in front of Sonny Eclipse!) & sneaking patterns (hid behind a wall in Adventureland) all over the park! This is in front of all the other guests who were giving us funny looks, so we had to be prepared to act like the kid you should always be at the MK! The first clue was to go to the land of the future & look for a stone ball with a picture inside 2 circles. Well can you guess what that is? You walk by it every time you're in Tommorrowland. There is a granite ball with an etched castle inside a small circle inside a large circle. This is a clue to go to Cindy's castle! When we passed through TL, Regina reminded us to get Fastpasses on Buzz as we went by! She also showed us many hidden Mickeys
We finally wound up (after about an hour of searching) at a dead end next to Liberty square (behind the Christmas shop). Peter Pan & Wendy surprised us! Peter had the hook hiding behind his back, so Regina scolded him for being so childish (what did she expect, it's Peter) LOL
They thanked us for searching so well & then after private pictures & autograph time, we were all taken to front of the line to ride Peter's ride! The kids rode with Peter & Wendy! An added perk was when Emily asked Peter if he would take her & her new friend on IASW & he said sure! So thanks to my DDs innocence, we got two front of the line rides with the characters!
They used our camera to take pictures of the kids riding with Peter & Wendy! I can't sing enough praise about how much Emily loved this experience! Even though the running around liked to have killed this OLD kid, it was fun for the adults too! I thought our guides enthusiasm was just awesome! I gave her a tip afterwards & she wanted to refuse, but I was taught another little known rule at WDW. If you want to tip a CM who normally isn't allowed to take a tip (like custodial or ride tenders & such), you have to offer it to them three times & then they cannot refuse! Regina was reluctant until I reminded her about the 1,2,3 rule! I told her not only had she made my DDs day, she had shared many secrets & hidden Mickeys with all of us too! Another nice perk about either this tour or the Behind/Scenes Tour (originating from the courtyard) is free bottles of cold water!
Well, Emily decided shes tired & starts to throw another strop!
I had to eat at the Rose & Crown (well actually I was on a much more important mission). I enjoyed my usual fish & chips, Jody had Chicken pot pie & salad & Emily mac & cheese! My mission was to hoist one for Oldkicker,
When I met up with my family & Trekkers, we found out the PS had been moved up to add us to Rons PS! Oh no, We had just finished lunch at R&C & now were eating in 2 hours! (I can handle this, Im on vacation!) We had time to kill, so we walked over to Norway to all ride Maelstrom. Ron & Katie were big into the rides. This was good in that I like them where as Jody thought Emily would be scared. We pin traded on the way over. I had to push Katie out of my way several times when she got in my way for a good pin trade with a CM. (Her dad had taught me the trick!)
While Ron & I guarded a bench (I had to sit down having just consumed 2 great meals in 3 hours!) the girls went chocolate shopping in Germany. (I know Poohshoney, its not the GOOD chocolate!) Katie bought Emily a cute teddy bear! What a sweetie! As we sat there, Ron & I engaged a custodial CM in pleasant conversation. As we exchanged where we all came from, Ron mentioned the DIS & the CM named Beth said Oh my gosh Im Swankybeth! I was too stuffed to be totally lucid, so had missed her obvious CM name tag! I told her I had her on my look up list (some troublemaker DISers call it my stalker list)!
We then called it a night & left Ron & Katie who were staying for Illuminations! Emily threw yet another strop because we left her Katie behind!
The family magic tour sounds like so much fun! And I do have to agree with Poohshoney -- no such thing as "bad chocolate"!
