Diary of a Mad Lime Green Woman

[dwheatl]

Day 3- July 28

This is the day we check into the WDW Dolphin, so we get up early to check out of the HoJo. We eat at IHOP one more time (maybe a big French Toast breakfast wasn't the best idea when I'm planning to hit some slides). Next stop-Blizzard Beach. We start with the ski lift to the top and do Teamboat Springs together. We're packed in 6 to the raft, with at least two of the people over 6 feet tall, so it's not the most comfortable ride down the mountain. DH hurts his ankle, so he's ready to just sit the day out. He finds a shady spot, and I go off with the kids. We go to Runoff Rapids next, and neither kid wants to ride with me, which means I have to go down the enclosed tube slide. Remember my claustrophobia from TOT? I'm not thrilled about whizzing down a tube where all I can see are a few tiny dots of daylight flashing past. However, I'm determined not to be the wet blanket, so up and in I go. Two good things about this slide-it's fast, and I get wet. It's pretty hot out, so that second point is a definite plus. Next, we head over to Slush and Gusher, which I remember from 2 trips ago as being mighty wild. There's a big line for the ski lift, so we hike up. As I'm sliding down, I remind myself that his is fun, fun, fun. And it is. I fly up in the air when I hit the bump, I feel a little panicky, but the landing is painless. When I skid to a stop, however, my bathing suit is wedged up so high I wonder if it's better to pull it out from below or if I can reach it better down my throat. The kids ask if I want to do Summit Plummet next, but I tell them it's too hot for me to climb the hill again (good excuse, isn't it?)
I've had about all the thrills I can take for now, so the kids head off while I look for DH. I find him in the shade, but still sweating, so I convince him to hobble over to Cross Country Creek. We go around one and a half times, so we pass the ice gator's house twice, and we make our old joke. You hear ice gator sneeze, and then a fluid shoots out of his house and all over you. We say, "what is that, water?" "No, it's not". It's snot, get it? Very juvenile, I know, and worse when you consider that the kids aren't even with us.

When we get out, we find the kids, and notice that all of the slides are closed. A thunderstorm starts, so we head to Lottawatta Lodge for lunch. I take the locker key from my wrist and put it on my tray so I don't forget it. We eat, and the rain doesn't want to stop, so we decide to go check into our hotel. We are meeting dear friends at the hotel; my roommate from college, her DH and DSS, so I am very excited. We head to the locker, and I realize I DON'T HAVE THE KEY! Did anyone pick it up? No! It's in the trashcan, along with half eaten pizzas, sticky sodas, and drips of chili from chili dogs. How do I know what's surrounding it? Because that's what I have to dig through to find it Thank goodness they have showers available, plus I wash my digging arm with about a gallon of liquid soap. My kids make some blonde jokes, but I contend it could have happened to anyone, right?

When we check into the Dolphin, there is construction going on in the lobby, so it's not quite the magical experience it has been in the past. We get a room on the second floor, so there's no Epcot view, but it looks out on the lake and the Swan, which I enjoy, and it's closest to the stairs, so it's an easy walk to the restaurants, busses, and shuttle boats. That works extra well for DH, who has limited mobility.
We get ready to go to the pool (we love the waterfall and slide) and contact my friend Debbie, who says she'll meet us there. What we don't take into account is, we haven't seen each other in four years, people look different in the water, and the pool area is huge. We miss each other, but with the clever use of a house phone, I find her back in her room, and she and her family come to our room. It's easy to find, because we've posted LGMHPC'S on the front door and sliding door to the balcony, as well as MHPC's on the balcony door (my gift to the kids). It's GREAT to see my friend.
We find our way to the bus stop and just miss the bus to Pleasure Island. I think about running for it, but there are 7 of us, so I decide to wait. Big mistake. It ends up taking us an hour and fifteen minutes to get to P.I.

We eat at Portobello Yacht Club, then make it into the second show at the Comedy Warehouse. I think it's funny, but the humor is a little uneven. Because it's improv, we are all yelling out suggestions. My proudest moment: they ask for life events that you don't usually get a card for, and they pick DS' suggestion of puberty. That's my boy!

We walk through the dance clubs, and the kids are drawn in by the outdoor DJ, then by 8 Trax. We boogie till 11, and it's nice to have a venue where the 40 somethings and teens can dance together. I wish we could have stayed later, as do the kids, but we have to get up early the next day for-
Animal Kingdom! Tune in next time to find out why I keep thinking of one DISer's ticker that says "Herd of Turtles".

 

[MagneticxBoy]

AWESOME.. cant wait to read the rest

 

[stinkerbelle's mom]

Can't wait for more!!!!

 

[ericafny]

Hi Danielle! Thanks for the mention in your first post...although I am not sure I now want to be known as lime green mickey head girl

This is a great report...and we had so many near misses (I checked in on 7/28 too!) I am wondering why the Gods of the Dis didn't have us run into eachother? Can't wait to read the rest

 

[Figment's friends]

ooooh I like this thread


I hadn't heard the Ariel seashell joke before! Do we have a good Disney joke thread anywhere?

 

[GreatBiscuit]

Off to a great start! Looking forward to more! I know what you mean about the green - whenver we fly, regardless of destination, I always look for lime green - never found another DIS'er though. Oh well...if at first you dont' succed...

 

[cynderella]

Lovin' your TR, Danielle! I'm sorry we missed each other on our trips. Maybe next time. Looking forward to all updates!!!

 

[Darian]

Hi dwheatl - Your trip report has been great so far. Can't wait to read more of it! The locker key in the garbage trick... yeah... done that too only in my case it was the car keys. And you know how good that trash smells after being in the heat all day. Nastiness....

 

[nsalz]

Look around when you come down for the last time on TOT. In one cage we saw Talking Tina. In the other, we saw the ventriloquist's dummy from the episode with Cliff Robertson. I feel those are two of the creepiest episodes of TZ.

Great Report...can't wait for more......But I have to know what is TZ?

 

[nsalz]

Great Report...can't wait for more......But I have to know what is TZ?

Duhhhhh...my daughter just told me Soryy stupid moment here

 

[dwheatl]

Well, it's nice to see both new and familiar faces here. It's time for -
Day 4- July 29


Even though we were out late shaking a leg at P.I., we have to be up early because we're meeting our friends who are staying at the Swan at the bus stop to hit the EMH at AK. We have to get there early because a) everyone says that's when the animals are most acitve, and b) we have ADRs at BlueZoo, so we have to leave the park early to shower and dress for dinner.

As usual, each kid takes FOREVER in the shower, and I'm because they will not get a move on. At one point, I shout through the bathroom door to DS (who is nominally an adult) that a trip to Disney is not the time to be high maintenance. Do you think that gets him to move any faster? If so, you have no experience with teenagers.

Once everyone is dressed and ready, DD announces that she cannot find her purse (with room key, driver's license, etc, but thank God I had her let me hold her 7 DAY + WATER PARKS AND MORE ticket). She thinks she left her purse at the dance club, or possibly on the bus on the way back from PI. We start searching the room, but no luck. We're already supposed to be down at the bus stop, so I call Debbie's cell phone (what did we do without them?) and ask her to meet us at the entrance to AK. I'm ready to blow a gasket with DD, who is getting tearful as we try to have her "walk backwards through her mind" to track down the purse. Then, my little Jiminy Cricket conscience reminds me that I threw away the locker key yesterday, so DD doesn't have a monopoly on what we like to call our "blonde moments".
I call the hotel operator to get the number for PI's lost and found as well as Transportation's, and she asks me if I want her to put the call through. Even though I'm tossing away dollars left and right on soda, water bottles, and ice cream on this trip, I'm overcome with a moment of frugality and ask if there's an extra charge to make these calls. There is, so I tell her I'll hang up and call from my cell phone. When I call, it's too early and neither lost and found is open. I save the numbers for later, and we call valet parking to bring up the car.
(The Dolphin charges for parking, which none of the Disney hotels do, plus there's an additional charge for valet parking. However, we were charged the regular parking rate because DH has a disabled placard. )
The car is waiting when we get outside, and we zip over to AK as fast as we can. Parking there is free because we're staying on property, and we park very close to the gate because it is still early (even with all the drama, it's only about 8:15) and because of DH's placard. Our friends have already gone inside to eat, so we meet them at Tusker House, which is the only place selling a la carte breakfast. When they finish, it's time for our safari.
The line for the safari is short because it's still EMH, and we see an amazing number of animals. The lions are sitting out on a rock, the hippos are swimming, and the elephants and giraffes are eating. I try to film all of this, but when I look at it later, it's all jumpy from the jeep ride. At least I can tell what I'm looking at.
Next, we get FP's for EE, then walk right onto Dinosaur. DH, Debbie and I are not up to Primeval Whirl, so we sit it out while the others go on. I find a green Mickey head pin at the little cart near Primeval Whirl, so I buy it and use that to attach my LGMHPC nametag.
When everyone comes off the ride, it's almost time for EE. We head over to Asia to stroll the Maharajah Trek. The fruit bats and tigers are equally amazing in their own ways. We tease DS in the aviary because he was "nailed" by an ibis in the aviary at the old Discovery Island when he was little. He is not amused .
When we get to the end of the trail, it's time to ride EE. It is an absolute hoot; very smooth (my one requirement for roller coasters) and shooting around the curves backwards is a riot. I'm laughing so hard there are tears coming from my eyes (I think there are tears coming from Debbie's eyes too, but not because she's laughing; she says she's glad it's over).
It's getting REALLY hot now, so we get FPs for Kali River, then decide it's time for lunch. I suggest Rainforest Cafe, since it has table service, air conditioning, and vegetarian choices.You actually have to exit the park to go into RC, and at the park exit is the one place I meet a fellow DISer. Snow White's Protege is working the gate, and asks me about my nametag. I tell her what it's for, and she says she mostly hangs out on the DL board because she wants to transfer to DL. We say we'll look for her there, because we get to DL (400 miles away) a lot more often then we get to WDW (3000 miles away).
Rainforest Cafe works out well. Just so you know, it's very noisy, and the portions are huge. Both of those things worked out fine for us, but you might consider splitting an entree if you're not big eaters.
After lunch, it's time to get wet. Everyone in our party gets splashed, but a huge wave crashes over Debbie and me, and we are totally soaked. I go to the ladies room to wring out my lime green shorts and my undies (really) and Debbie goes to buy a new shirt because she is wearing a white shirt and now is showing a little more of herself than she is comfortable doing at a family park. Ladies-don't wear white if you are going on this ride. Gentleman-if you're looking for a place to relax and people watch in AK, the exit to Kali Rapids is quite entertaining.

 

[cynderella]

I try to film all of this, but when I look at it later, it's all jumpy from the jeep ride. At least I can tell what I'm looking at.

Our video of the safari is the same way. It is hilarious. I almost prefer it that way, as we got more kicks out of DH's bad filming than the safari itself! Heh!

I find a green Mickey head pin at the little cart near Primeval Whirl, so I buy it and use that to attach my LGMHPC nametag.

I have one of those, too. I saw it at DLR way back in May, but didn't buy it (I don't know why!!), but DISUNC left one for me before he went away from the Mudderland and I it so much!

When we get to the end of the trail, it's time to ride EE. It is an absolute hoot; very smooth (my one requirement for roller coasters) and shooting around the curves backwards is a riot. I'm laughing so hard there are tears coming from my eyes

I agree...it was awesome; nice and smooth. The only one I thought was even smoother was RR at MGM. Looove those roller coasters!

Super funny TR. Keep it comin'!

 

[dwheatl]

Day 4 continued (I had to submit the previous post because I was afraid I would lose it all before I finished)

Our next experience is where I first REALLY feel the Disney magic on this trip. We find our way to The Festival of the Lion King, and it is absolutley amazing. As Ericafny notes on her TR, the talent is phenomenal. Where does Disney find these people? The four leads have beautiful voices, really stellar, but what I love the most are the monkeys/acrobats. How they can do what whey do so flawlessly is just awe-inspiring. The most touching part of the show, however, is when they bring kids up from the audience. (I'm a little now, just thinking of it.) Many children are brought up to march around and play instruments, including two boys who are brothers. One is developmentally disabled, and he is just the proudest little guy in the world marching around out there. It chokes me up to see the CMs remember to bring out all the kids they can, and I think of what this moment must be like for the boys' parents.
When we go to the restroom after the show, DD and I see a little girl, aged 3, who was the leader for her section of the show. I tell her what a great job she did out there, and she turns to her mom and says, "Did everybody see me?" Adorable .
This is all we have time for in the park, although I wish we could stay for more. We go back to the hotel to get ready for dinner (we're letting the kids go off on their own, and I'm determined to dress like an adult instead of the shorts and sneakers I'm running around in the rest of this trip).
The kids head to Picabu Buffeteria in the Dolphin, and then back up to the room to get on the computer (DH paid $11 a day for a couple of days for internet access so he could get his homework done). We have a lovely, leisurely meal at BlueZoo. The decor is noteworthy, sort of a modern, under-the-sea motif. I have the pasta with crab and shrimp meatballs, which is very rich but truly delicious. This is a nice place for an adult night out, if a little pricey.
After dinner, it's time for the dive-in movie , one of the best things about the Dolphin. On Sat. nights, they turn off the waterfall into the pool and bring out a big screen TV. They show a Disney film (this time it's Monsters, Inc.) and you can watch while floating in an inner tube in the grotto pool. It wouldn't be the best thing if you were solely interested in watching the film, because there are kids playing games and splashing around, so it's hard to hear all of the dialogue, but it's a great way to unwind and cool off after running around in the parks.
When the movie is over, its time to go back to the room and get ready for the next day-Epcot. Oh, and by the way, after calling both lost and founds and having no luck finding DD's purse, it turns out she had hidden it in her suitcase.

 

[Nurse_Mommy4]

When we're leaving I tell my family the seashell joke (you know, why does Ariel wear seashells? Because D shells are too big and B shells are too small) . It's nice to have big kids who get stuff like this.

My DD14 loved that one. Great TR BTW.

 

[stinkerbelle's mom]

So glad your dd found her purse! Sounds like a great trip-- love all the details.

 

[dwheatl]

Here we are on Day 5- July 30

I will add in pictures soon. PhotoBucket is down for maintenance, and I'd like to shrink my thighs a little before I post them.

Debbie's DH and DSS went off to church, so we meet Debbie at the Epcot boat between our hotels. It takes the boat a while to show up, so it's 8:45 before we get to FW (the boat takes you to the International Gateway, but WS is not open first thing in the morning, so we have to scoot across the park). We ride Spaceship Earth first, which, as a former librarian, I love, but the kids think it's dated and boring. Heaven forbid we encounter anything educational. Next up is Mission Space. There have been so many warnings about it, and I am both claustrophobic and prone to motion sickness from spinning, but I just have to experience the orange side just once. DH and Debbie go for the green, and as I look around the orange group, I appear to be the oldest one there. I am really starting to sweat about his, and they keep giving us the opportunity to switch sides, and I'm really thinking about making the switch, when who pops up on the screen but LT. DAN! Yay, it's Gary Sinise! He wouldn't send me anywhere that wasn't safe. Remember what a sweet daddy he was in The Quick and the Dead? And there's Dr. Neela from E.R. These are good people. They'll take care of me. I know it's silly, but having those familiar faces up there actually helps me to calm down. When they close the hatch, I really wish I had gone to the bathroom before getting in line, but I just focus on my job, and the ride is FANTASTIC. When we come off the ride, there's an area to email home a silly space video featuring US! We send them to ourselves, to each other, to people at home we want to make jealous. By now, FW is open to the general public, and lines are building. When we get to Test Track, the line is 50 minutes long. DH is using an ECV, and the regular access through the line is not working, so the CM gives us a handwritten note to come to the exit in 50 minutes to ride.
It's already getting hot, so we decide to buy drinks and go to the Universe of Energy (we're all big Ellen fans, as you might guess by my avatar).
The CM tells us we cannot be in line with the drinks, so we go sit in the shade to wait until it's time for the next show. After about 10 minutes, the CM shouts out, "Last call!" so Debbie throws away about a third of her drink so we can go inside. When we get to the line, the CM tells us it's too late . She knew we were waiting to go on. She could see us sitting and waiting to go in. Could she have let us know in time for us to actually make it inside? Now we have to wait for the next show, and by the time we get in, Debbie's DH and DSS are back from church and at the entrance to the park. Debbie slips out of UoE to find them, and we stay in and enjoy the show/ride.
We meet up at TT in a quandry - the note from the CM says party of 4, but now there are 6 of us. We debate whether we should lie, pour on the charm, or just give the straight facts. I vote for straight facts, and it works. We split up to ride, one car with the kids, one with the adults. We like speeding around the corners, but at the end, we stop for the virtual reality experience, which is a dopey GM commercial. There's 20 minutes of Disney time we'll never get back! DS says the commercial was moderately more entertaining in Portuguese (which he doesn't speak). We stop to look at the car showroom, and here's DD's dream car.

(I tried resizing twice, but this is still what I get). You'll notice DS is wearing his Elton John glasses.
Next, we go to the Land to get FPs for Soarin'. We've seen it in CA, but Debbie and her family haven't, so it's FPs all around. And, lucky us, we get a bonus FP to Living With the Land, which we were planning to do next, but which has a long wait. Must be a Disney watching over us.

 

[crossfamily]

Day 4 continued (I had to submit the previous post because I was afraid I would lose it all before I finished)

Our next experience is where I first REALLY feel the Disney magic on this trip. We find our way to The Festival of the Lion King, and it is absolutley amazing. As Ericafny notes on her TR, the talent is phenomenal. Where does Disney find these people? The four leads have beautiful voices, really stellar, but what I love the most are the monkeys/acrobats. How they can do what whey do so flawlessly is just awe-inspiring. The most touching part of the show, however, is when they bring kids up from the audience. (I'm a little now, just thinking of it.) Many children are brought up to march around and play instruments, including two boys who are brothers. One is developmentally disabled, and he is just the proudest little guy in the world marching around out there. It chokes me up to see the CMs remember to bring out all the kids they can, and I think of what this moment must be like for the boys' parents.
When we go to the restroom after the show, DD and I see a little girl, aged 3, who was the leader for her section of the show. I tell her what a great job she did out there, and she turns to her mom and says, "Did everybody see me?" Adorable .
This is all we have time for in the park, although I wish we could stay for more. We go back to the hotel to get ready for dinner (we're letting the kids go off on their own, and I'm determined to dress like an adult instead of the shorts and sneakers I'm running around in the rest of this trip).
The kids head to Picabu Buffeteria in the Dolphin, and then back up to the room to get on the computer (DH paid $11 a day for a couple of days for internet access so he could get his homework done). We have a lovely, leisurely meal at BlueZoo. The decor is noteworthy, sort of a modern, under-the-sea motif. I have the pasta with crab and shrimp meatballs, which is very rich but truly delicious. This is a nice place for an adult night out, if a little pricey.
After dinner, it's time for the dive-in movie , one of the best things about the Dolphin. On Sat. nights, they turn off the waterfall into the pool and bring out a big screen TV. They show a Disney film (this time it's Monsters, Inc.) and you can watch while floating in an inner tube in the grotto pool. It wouldn't be the best thing if you were solely interested in watching the film, because there are kids playing games and splashing around, so it's hard to hear all of the dialogue, but it's a great way to unwind and cool off after running around in the parks.
When the movie is over, its time to go back to the room and get ready for the next day-Epcot. Oh, and by the way, after calling both lost and founds and having no luck finding DD's purse, it turns out she had hidden it in her suitcase.

Is your daughter still alive or did you strangler her? Great TR. I will remember not to wear white at AK. I love Rainforest. We eat there everytime we go to DW.

 

[dwheatl]

Here's the family at Epcot.

That pin on my chest is a LGMHPC nametag, and there's another one on my fanny pack. We decided to have lunch in the Land, and everyone from vegetarian to carnivore finds something good. I have a Toll House chocolate chip cookie for dessert, and it's gooey-licious Now that we've eaten, we're ready to face the hot trek to World Showcase.
Debbie's DH is an arborist, and he's going to write a letter to Disney, offering his services in Epcot. Crossing that bridge between Future World and World Showcase is like crossing the Sahara. There's just no shade. This takes the stuffing out of my DH, so he decides to go back to the Dolphin and nap while we do WS. We get in line for El Rio del Tiempo, and my phone rings. DH does not have his ticket, so if he leaves, he won't be able to get back in. I tell him to go ahead and nap, and I'll meet him at the gate when he comes back, but he says the moment has passed. He gets a Diet Coke and meets us at the end of Rio. (We had given up caffeine for a few years ago, but it is taking the place of sleep quite often on this trip.) I love ERDT, and I'm wishing I was at that swim up bar right about now.
Next we hit Maelstrom, which is very cute, but the movie at the end gives me the creeps. That oil rig in the North Sea is just so desolate, you might as well be on Mars. We come out into the gift shop, and I have to try on the Viking helmet with the blonde braids. The braids exactly match my hair color, and I can see that DH has taken a fancy to this look. However, the kids are watching, and I don't really want to explain why dad wants mom to get the helmet, so I leave it behind. Maybe some other trip, when it's just the two of us.
When we get to American Adventure, it's more than 30 minutes until the next show. We line up for the Friendship to FW, but when we get to the front we find out the ECV can't go on. DH drives over to FW while we ride the boat.
At Journey Into Imagination, the kids don't have the same fascination with they had last time we were here, but we all enjoy the Kodak picture center, and send morphed pictures home. Here's me as a kitty:

It's time for Soarin' next, and it's just as wonderful here as in CA, and it gets Debbie to thinking she'd like to come visit us and do a trip to Yosemite some time soon. (Of course, we'd have to hit DL as well.) We do LWTL afterwards, and enjoy all of the things growing in the lab.
Debbie made ADRs for 9 Dragons in China, so we head on over. DD doesn't see anything she'll eat, and DS orders the salad in a vase, which is really not big enough for dinner, although it's very pretty. DH and I get the combination dinner for 2 with chicken and shrimp, and it's really good. A downpour starts, and DH's ECV is sitting outside with all of our stuff in it. Some kind soul tried to cover everything with a plastic bag and a tray. Thanks for the , whoever did that. It's one of the things I love about Disney; for every person who cuts in line or says something rude, there are 20 people who go out of their way to be kind and friendly.
The pouring rain cuts down the crowds for Illuminations, so we're able to find a spot on the little island in Venice. The kids go off to find something to eat, so we tell them to meet us on the island when they are finished. The show is beautiful, phenomenal, and the globe comes right out where we can easily see it. The kids show up right at the tail end, which is too bad, but they are not huge fireworks fans like their mom, so it's no tragedy. We catch our boat back to the Dolphin, and are "home" quickly. Tomorrow is Typhoon Lagoon, so we don't have to be up so early. I think everyone is relieved.

 

[stinkerbelle's mom]

Can you make your pictures a little bigger so we can see them? Ok, the cat was a little creepy--sorry. Lovin' this TR, I feel like I'm with you.

 

[Va-bear]

Super great TR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for posting it! You're family is rather small in stature (per the microscopic pic... ) - but you guys have BIG FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm ready for MORE!!!