Okay, where were we? Ah yes, I'd just been hassled by the CM at the entrance to MK. But, she couldn't stop the Disney magic from touching my heart when I beheld *the castle*
*sigh*
Dad was rarin' to go. Look what a cute tourist he makes.
We stopped for some photopass pictures. Can you tell the sun was in our eyes?
These pictures are so bad! I think Teresa was making a funny when she cropped and decorated them!
Why, yes, I did change Sawyer's shirt. His Mickey shirt was pretty dirty from Chef Mickey's. Why, yes, I DID make that Buzz Lightyear button-up shirt myself. Thank you!
After the photopass pictures, we headed straight to frontierland to grab Fastpasses for Splash Mountain. I still had my handy cards that I was given by a CM at Epcot because 2 of our tickets didn't work in the FP machines. So, I zipped those babies through, along with 1 of our tickets.
Teresa and I wanted to ride Thunder Mountain. But, there was some discussion about this because David wanted to go see The Country Bears. I had no desire to see them again, so I suggested we split up. I know Henry took Sawyer to see them again (he's also a coaster-hater), but I honestly can't remember who else went. We decided to meet back in front of Splash Mountain at our FP time.
Tessa had never ridden on Thunder Mountain before and she was SO excited!!! This was her first "real" roller coaster! She'd been on the barnstormer, but that's it. She was just beside herself with excitement! She put her arms in the air and screamed and LOVED it!! I mean, she LOVED it!! It was so much fun to see her enjoying herself so much. You can see her excitedly pointing at something in this picture.
She reminded me of myself at her age...except I was on the Scooby Doo kiddy roller coaster and I tried to scream, but no sound would come out. Then, I told my mom I wanted to get off. Hmmm....maybe she's not so much like me at her age!
The line was super-short, so we got right back in line and rode it again!! Yee-haw!! This time Tessa sat by Aunt Teresa and Arminda Sue sat by me. Do you see a pattern here? Teresa and Tessa, Heather Sue and Arminda Sue? Yes, they're both named after their aunts!
When we got off the ride, the family was all gathered together and ready to use our fastpasses for Splash Mountain. We got to the front of the line, when I saw.....
I HAD AN INVALID FASTPASS!!!!!!
One of them had worked- the one I used my actual ticket for. The other two said they were invalid. It was only then that I realized that nifty card I was given at Epcot said it was only good for that day, at that park. D'OH!!!
I was hoping this wouldn't be a huge problem. Surely the nice man would see that I was with 12 other people, all with valid fastpasses and I had 1 valid fastpass. I only needed 1 more since Henry wasn't riding. So, I get to the front of the line and very humbly explain how I had goofed and that my tickets don't work in the machine, etc...etc... He said "You'll have to go over there and talk to someone by the fastpass machines."
Okay, the rest of the family waited while I went back to the FP machines. I explained it to the person down there and they said. "Let's just swipe your tickets again and we'll get you some new FP." I explained that I had 12 family members who were waiting to ride and if I got a new FP, I'd have to wait another hour. They then told me I'd have to talk to the guy at the FP entrance about it.
Ooookay....I went up and once again talked to the guy at the FP entrance. He was NOT happy that I was back again and he let me know it. I asked if there was any way he could give me a FP so I could ride with my family and he told me flat out "No." I practically begged the guy and he finally reaches in his pocket and handed me a parent swap pass.
Um...why didn't he just do that in the first place?!?! He was NOT nice about it and it really upset me. I tell you what, these CMs do NOT like big groups of people! It will not be our first run in of the day. I realize it was my fault, sort of (it wasn't my fault that my stupid tickets wouldn't work). But, did he have to be such a big jerk about it?
This whole time my family had been at the front of the FP line, off to the side, waiting for me to get in. So, when the guy gave me my passes, we all went in. Makes sense, right? Well, the people in line did NOT think that made sense at all. They started yelling "Hey, we were here first! What time is on your FP? Ours time is before yours! Etc...etc..." They most certainly were NOT there first, and what difference does it make if their time was before ours? We were 20 minutes into our FP return time at this point. We just continued on our sorta merry way.
Teresa told me once we got furthur up in line that he had just reached in his pocket and handed a FP to someone else in the EXACT SAME situation! He did not give them a hard time or make them run back and forth between the FP machines and the entrance. He just handed them an actual FP, which he had in his pocket THE WHOLE TIME! GRRRRRR!!!!
Okay, I tried to put this behind me at this point. Splash Mountain is my VERRRRY favoritest ride!! I LOOOOOOVE me some Splash Mountain. Love, love, love, love, love Splash Mountain!!! This was Tessa's first time on Splash Mountain and I just couldn't wait to experience it with her!! We had been talking about it for months. We also watched the Singalong song where they ride Splash Mountain and she was SOO excited!
Tessa, Arminda, and I sat in the front of the log.
How cool! I couldn't remember if you got wetter in the front, in the back, I didn't know. But, who cares! It's Splash Mountain and it was so hot it would feel good to get a little wet. We meandered around for a bit and then I got wet. Not a little wet, my whole butt was soaking wet. Then, it hit me...
I HAD VERY LIGHT COLORED, THIN, PANTS ON!!!!
Oh my gosh, did I ever get my "fret" on at that point. Would they be see-through? What color undies was I wearing? WHITE!! Oh no!!! Those would be see-through, too!! Oh, I could just imagine stepping off the ride, my wet hiney showing through my soaking wet pants.
We continued our way through the ride, but I barely saw any of it...
How would I get out of my seat? Was Tessa big enough to cover up my derrier if she stood behind me? No, she's a skinny little thing. How about if I kinda pulled my pants away from my butt as I was walking. Would that help to ease the see-through-ness?
I don't have the diaper bag, so I can't wrap the changing pad around me. I'll have to tell Teresa to walk really close behind me. Yes, that's it. I'll tell her to walk right behind me...
Woo...down the drop we go. I hardly got any wetter and I hardly enjoyed it at all. I mean, people are going to be seeing my backside in just a few moments!
We got off the ride and I told Teresa to walk behind me and look and see if she could see through my pants. She's such a dear sister, so of course she did it for me. She said she couldn't tell because we weren't outside yet. So, she stayed close behind me until we got outside. I took a deep breath and stepped a few paces in front of her so she could take a look. This was the moment of truth....
NO! She said NO! She couldn't see through my pants at all! I was SOOO incredibly relieved!! But, I could never get back Tessa's first time on Splash Mountain.
We took the obligatory redneck photo of a photo. The picture of ours didn't turn out, but here's the rest of 'em.
They look like they're enjoying themselves, without a 2nd thought to see-through pants.
*sigh*
We found Henry having a blast in the play area outside of Splash Mountain.
Well, Sawyer was having a blast, at least!
He was hot and sweaty, but having a grand 'ol time! The other kids played for a while, too.
Next: The It's A Small World Bully