Disney Dreamin for Beginners - Our First Trip to WDW Nov/Dec '08

[caz1712]

After we were done getting Papa Noel’s autographs and pictures we decided to have a look around Canada.

We ended up at the Circle-Vision 360 show hosted by Martin Short. It wasn’t as boring as we thought it might be and the kids liked the fact that it was “Jack Frost” from The Santa Clause 3!
When it was done it took us out into the Kidcot Station and here the kids made some masks and got their first stamps in their Epcot Passports!

We headed out of Canada and round to United Kingdom! We spotted the famous Rose and Crown pub

Where Paddy started his Beer around the world game!
We had a look around the shop in UK where they seem to think that all we do is drink Tea and listen to the Beatles!LOL Mum got a few bits and pieces in here for my Stepdad who is THE worlds biggest Beatles fan!
We then headed over to the toy shop!

Paddy thought he looked great as a “Bobby”!

We had intended on trying a hat on in ever y country but this never really happened I’m afraid! LOL
Kieran started to act up a bit and Aaron had fell asleep by this point. Aidan had spotted the Character meet with Pooh and Friends and was refusing to leave until he had gotten a photo and autograph – even though we already had them from Crystal Palace!LOL
SO I took Kieran and Aaron outside to wait while Paddy waited with Aidan!
I had the camera with me so we just got Photopass pics:

As we were walking around the UK pavilion we noticed the meet and greet for Alice and Mary Poppins! I honestly thought that it was just Mum and I that wanted to meet them but again the boys’ were desperate to wait in line! I was pretty long and I didn’t think they would want to wait, but we were lucky as a few people left in front of us so it wasn’t as long to wait!

We decided to have a little seat , Kieran had spotted entertainment ! I think it was something to do with King Arthur? How terrible is that I can’t remember what it was – to be honest it was only the boys who were watching it! Mum, Paddy and I just had a seat in the sun and had a breather really!

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The entertainment finally finished and we decided to head over to France!

We watched the French Father Christmas tell his story Pere Noel

And then got autographs and pictures with him!

We wandered round the streets of Paris and then decided to have a sit down and something to eat at the bakery in France.
I have the receipt for this one! Paddy, Mum and I all had Ham and Chesse Croissants, Paddy had a beer, Mum a Hot Chocolate, Me a Sprite, Kieran and Aidan had a milk.
The boys had a Cookie each and Mum and I had a strawberry tart and Cheesecake for afters!LOL
All came to $33.48 in total.
It was all yummy and it was lovely to get in out of the hot sun and a bit of cool air conditioning!
Kieran and Aidan spotted a photopass photographer taking pictures of them as French Artists which they just had to have done!

We we had all finished and had had a look around the little gift shop, we made our way back outside. It was after 3pm by this time and we still had so much to see and do! As we were walking along we noticed a line forming! It was Belle and the Beast!
We just had to stop and meet them!
Was a long line but we took the opportunity to get everyone sorted with more sun cream!
Belle was lovely! Asking the boys’ if they were having a good time and giving them little kisses! Then Beast and Kieran were having a who has the best roar competition as well which was funny!

I just had to sneak in on a picture too!

We moved onto Morocco, Mum and I had a little look inside the Bazzar which had lots of beautiful vases and things but I wouldn’t risk trying to get anything back to the UK!

We were so lucky as we spotted a line to meet The Genie!!! I had hoped we would be able to meet Aladdin and Jasmine too but the Genie was soo much fun he more than made up for it!

Kieran was so happy he tried to do the splits! LOL

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We stopped and watched the guy with the football and the whistle in Italy! Aidan absolutely LOVES any sort of slapstick humour so this was right up his street! Why we didn’t take any pictures though I have no idea! The guy was really funny though!
Another couple of pictures around Italy!

We now moved onto Germany!
Paddy still continued with his beer around the world challenge he had set! LOL
We didn’t spend much time here as time was getting on and the sun was going down!

We started to walk round to China…

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We walked past Lotus Blossom café and the smell was lovely so Mum, Paddy and I all wanted to try something from there. We knew the boys wouldn’t eat anything so we said we would get them hot dogs or chicken or something when we found somewhere. They weren’t all that hungry anyhow.
I can’t remember what we all had – a stab in the dark I think I had the Beef Noodle bowl, Mum had the sweet and sour Chicken? And Paddy I think had Prawn curry? Could be wrong but we all agreed it was absolutely delicious!
Suitably filled we headed out…again we seemed to keep missing things! There seemed to be an acrobatic show in China which we only saw them finishing but it looked like it would have been fun to watch!
Norway next!

The effects of Paddy’s beer around the world had started to set in I think!LOL

We headed straight for Maelstrom first! I think it was safe to say it may be one of those ride only once things!LOL
We were lucky though and managed to avoid the film at the end!LOL

We got our pictures taken with the Viking Hats – well you just have to don’t you?LOL

Last but not least it was Mexico! Aaron was really acting up by this point so Mum and I took him and went for a seat while Paddy took the boys into the Three Caballeros thing!

Paddy left the camera with me so no photos again I’m afraid!
Mum and I just took in the view and people watched which seemed like forever as the boys took ages to come find us!

A very tired Aaron

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[caz1712]

The boys eventually came to find us and we headed round to have a look around the Christmas shop!
We got a few bits and pieces in there for family back home and I also got a Scrapbooking kit with lots of papers and stickers. Because I was spending so much we got offered the blanket again and Mum really wanted one so she got this! She was feeling cold so she opened it up and wrapped it around her!LOL
We got the kids some Chicken nuggets and Hot dogs and went to find a spot for Illuminations! We found a great little spot which was close to the disabled viewing area. We stood back a bit so as to let wheelchairs get passed us with the intention on moving forward when it was about to begin! We were there for nearlly an hour beforehand! Paddy took the boys to Mousegear for a look around as it was just too long for them to wait.
As time was going by people started to fill in the gap we had left for wheelchairs to get by which consequently meant we were pushed further and further back, it really annoyed me as we were doing the courteous thing and leaving the space. The cast members kept having to tell people to move I just thought it was really inconsiderate.
Anyway as it was time to begin and Paddy and the boys came back there was practically no room left and then this really ignorant woman pushed my buggy out of the way in order to squeeze herself in front! Oh for goodness sake! Paddy and I started to film and take pictures the best we could but it was only made worse by this 7ft tall man that had been sat with his little girl in the Disney buggy at the front beside the railing that no-one had noticed decided to stand up!!!! ### there was absolutely no way I could see anything never mind the poor kids! I tried to hold Aidan up and Mum tried to hold Kieran while Paddy took pictures but they are just so heavy it was impossible!
We got a couple of pictures before we gave up! I think this probably would have been a great display but we just couldn’t enjoy it!

We started to head back to the car before it had even finished!

I think it had been another long day which we had really enjoyed but we were all just shattered and bit deflated about not being able to see Illuminations properly.
I was worried about driving the beast at night but as we drove off I thought to myself “ oh this is easy….” The effect of all the beer Paddy had been drinking meant he drifted off and I only had to rely on the TomTom to guide myself out of the World! Needless to say Mr TomTom Directed me straight out onto the I4!!!!! OMG I starting to pee my pants! I was shouting “Paddy, Paddy wake up…I’m on the bloody interstate!!!!! HELP!!!!”
LOL I can laugh now but I was terrified! It wasn’t too busy though so I coped ok and we were only on it for about a mile before the TomTom directed me off it!LOL
We got on the right road eventually and were home by around 10pm again.
IT was an early bed tonight as we had to be up and about early as tomorrow was Paddy’s Richard Petty Drivealong and we had to be there for 9am!

Next up Paddy and the Racing Car!

 

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Day 11 - Richard Petty, Hollywood Studios and Downtown Disney

Friday 5th December

Today was the morning of Paddy’s Richard Petty Ridealong experience! He was really looking forward to it and we were up and ready really early! So we managed to get there before 9am!
We arrived and Paddy was directed to the hanging suits and was told to find one in his size and to put it on

We headed on out to the speedway and only had to wait a matter of a few minutes. Most people were there for the full on driving experience where they get to drive ( sorry babe just couldn’t afford it – maybe next time!) so there was only Paddy waiting.
So off he went :

Getting into the car:

Before we knew it they were off!

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And then before we knew it again – he was back!!!

Paddy enjoyed the thrill of it but I know he would have much rather have driven himself and to be honest it was over soo quickly! Paddy says to say that it was good but he would say to anyone who is up for it to save their money and try to go for the full on driving experience!
A few pictures of the boys with the Nascar!

Ok so because we were done within half an hour we decided that we would head on over to Hollywood Studios and do the few things that we hadn’t done yet!
So first things first we decided to head to Tower of Terror – Aidan wanted to do this but Kieran didn’t.
So Paddy, Aidan and I went on first! While Mum waited with Kieran and Aaron. OMG!!! Aidan is our little thrill seeker but he does get spooked out by scary ghosty kinda things if you know what I mean? So the first bit of going through the “Twilight Zone” freaked him out quite a bit. But when it came to the drop he just burst out laughing!LOL
We thought it was a great ride! Mum really wanted to have a go and we thought maybe Kieran would come this time but he didn’t so Mum and I went on together!
Just as we got into the drop section I turned and said to mum “There is a wee haaaaaaaaaaaaa.........” I never got a chance to finish the sentence before we plummeted!LOL I was intending on telling her that there was a wee handle on the seat if she wanted to hold onto!LOL Never mind! She loved it as well!
Ok so with that done, Aidan was desperate to do Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster again but we said we would come back before we left as we wanted to see Backlot Tour first, he seemed ok with that so off we went!
On the way Kieran got himself arrested!

This guy was hilarious!
Then just outside Toy Story Mania the boys spotted the Green Army Men! We just had to get pictures with them as Kieran’s HeadTeacher has a picture with one of them up on the wall in his office and he told Kieran if he could find one of them and get his picture taken then he would put it up in the “Hall of fame” in the school corridor!LOL

Having stopped right outside Toy Story Mania the kids were desperate to have another go! To be honest so were the adults!
So we decided to use the GAC again to have one last go and boy was it better the second time! We just love this ride sooo much it is definitely a family favourite!
Ok we finally reached the Backlot Tour! There was a bit of a wait – maybe 20mins or so but that was fine and we stood in the line and looked at all the models and pictures.

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We finally went in and it was great fun! We didn’t take alot of pictures as we were too busy enjoying looking at everything!LOL

When we came out the boys wanted to spend their money on getting their pictures taken – can’t remember what you call it but you know the ones where their faces are superimposed onto a character?
Kieran got his put onto Anakin Skywalker and Aidan got his put into Dash from the Incredibles – his just looks like his park ticket actually!LOL I don’t have pics of them but I will try to take pics of the posters and post at the end with the Photopass pics!
We took one last walk round the Streets of America

Then walked by the Star Wars area and the kids got their pictures on the speeders:

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Ok so Aidan was still itching to ride Rock’n’ Roller Coaster so we decided to take one last burl on it!

We headed down there and went up to the fastpass entrance to use the GAC. It was just Paddy, Aidan and me again. Kieran still didn’t want to ride and mum was wanting to leave it this time. We got to the entrance and showed the cast member the GAC and she said we need to just check the little one’s height – sure no probs I thought!

Now Aidan was soo excited that he was flapping and tip toeing and trying to get him to stay still was quite difficult. I explained to the cast member that he was Autistic and he is the right height and had been on it a few times already but she was still insistent on making him stand still to be measured. Ok I thought she is just doing her job I totally understand that.

Aidan finds verbal direction very difficult to understand especially when he is excited and flapping. So I tried to get him to give me eye contact so that I could explain what he was to do with his feet and to stand tall and straight.

The cast member just pushed me out of the way and said “Ma’am I’l do it” and I said “ No he is Autistic and he finds this difficult and I know how to deal with him” Everytime she was trying to get him to stand straight she was pushing down on his shoulders and he was freaking out – she was trying to push down on him and put his head under the metal marker when he was clearly just the same height as it! When I said this to her she said he was under it so no he couldn’t go on! Well Aidan just went into total meltdown and was screaming and flapping and biting himself.

I said you have to understand that he does not understand why you are saying no, especially when he has already been on it and she wasn’t giving him a chance to stand still and straight to be measured properly. The people behind me started shouting at her saying just let the kid on he is tall enough! I asked for her to get her supervisor down as this was totally out of order!

If Aidan had have been too small then that would have been fine I would have taken him to a quiet spot until he had calmed down and explained but he was definitely tall enough as we had been measuring and measuring before we left as this was such a big deal to him!

So the supervisor came down and I explained the problem he said “No probs Ma’am we will wait unitil you have him calm and I’l let you explain what he needs to do” Ok so thats exactly what we did and what do you know he was exactly the right height! Now if your colleague had just let me do this the first time this wouldn’t have happened!

I was soo fuming mad with her – I mean how many times did I have to explain to her? Never mind we got on and Aidan had a blast – he asked as soon as we got seated on the car if we can go again after this but we said no one time only and he accepted this well!

This is definitely a great ride!

We got Mum and the boys and decided to head on out of the park and go back onto the 192 for some lunch!
We waved goodbye to Disney Hollywood Studios as this was the last we would be here and headed on back to the car!

We decided to give Ponderosa a go for lunch. It was ok...not the best food in the world but for only around $45 for us all couldn’t really complain!
We spotted this little guy at the car on the way out!

The boys’ were desperate to have a go in Disneyquest and I still had some souvenier shopping to do so we decided to go back to Downtown Disney!
Paddy and the two big boys went to Disneyquest and Mum, me and a sleeping Aaron went for a wander round the shops!

It was lovely and relaxed I managed to get all the little things I wanted to get to send a box of goodies to my friend Natalie from the disboards for her kids to say thanks for all the wonderful designs she had made for me! So that was good.

Once Aaron woke up we took him to Ghiradelli’s again for an ice cream! Boy are they good in here!

We then went back to World of Disney where we must have spent another good hour in here – you really could stay in there all day couldn’t you?LOL Before long it was getting dark and I think Aaron was getting hungry. I called Paddy to see if they were done and he was finding it difficult to get the kids out of there!LOL

He finally got them to leave and we got the kids a McDonalds for their tea and we just grabbed a pizza on the way home!

We got back and just vegged on the sofa watching movies for the rest of the night! It was great!

Tomorrow is a chill out day and Date night!

 

[caz1712]

Thats all I have so far but hope that will keep you all going for now!

I hope to get the last few days up over the next couple of weeks!

Hope you all enjoy reading!

Carreen
xxx

 

[caz1712]

Oh I am loving your report!

What fantastic pictures! I even loved the Manchester Airport stuff as we flew from there to WDW last August - I think I had the same meal as you!

I totally get your weepy moment when Kieran met Stitch - those really are magical moments aren't they?

I also loved your gift baskets you had waiting for you - I'd love more info about ordering them!

Can't wait to hear more!

Sharixx

Hiya! Thanks for joining in! I'm glad your are enjoying it so far! I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post links here or not so will just say to you that if you google Memories by Betsy her website of the same name will come up and all I did was email her what I was thinking and she came back with lots of ideas - she was just lovely and superfast getting back to me considering the time difference!

Hope you enjoy the rest!

Carreen
xxx