joedisney
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2000
- Messages
- 70
With Episode 10 I have finally completed the tales of our wonderful trip to Disney. Only 7 months after our return! I never intended on creating such detailed reports, but the warm response of the first few episodes helped to remind me how much I enjoy writing. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading all of your comments and I hope that you have enjoyed reading my reports as much as I have enjoyed writing them. I have just begun planning our trip for next January (AKL and YC), whether I will write another detailed trip report is yet to be decided.
As a reminder: I'm Joe, the Dad and 38. Kathy, the Mom is 34. Christopher (map boy) is 8, Connor is 5 and the famous "Octopus" from Episode 1 is 18 month old Alex and how could I forget the precious Caley Elisabeth who at the time was negative 4 months.
Episode 10: Magic
A trip to Disney can be a grand adventure. A breeding ground for memories that will last a lifetime. After months of planning, I knew I had done everything within my power to ensure we would have a good time. I was looking for more however, I wanted magic. The Magic I had experienced when I was a boy coming to Disney with my family. Was I expecting too much? Was I setting myself up for disappointment? Would my lofty expectations be unrealistically unattainable? Or, would Disney come through and provide that secret ingredient? Would it come from one or more of the wonderful cast members that we would meet on our journey? Would it be a special moment, an unexpected gift or would it come from Walt himself. The planner in me was a little annoyed that I couldnt schedule in a big dose of Disney magic. Down deep I knew we would have a good time. I knew Disney would provide the grandest of settings for our family vacation. I still wanted more, I wanted magic. As the end of our vacation neared, I realized how silly I had been. Would I find magic? Of course I would. But where would it come from? Sometimes the most difficult questions have the most obvious answers. Read on and see if you can spot the magic
Its Thursday January 18th, today we are planning on breakfast at the boardwalk before spending the day at the pool. We immediately rule out the bakery since we would have to eat outside with the birds. Not this family. As we stroll down the boardwalk, Christopher spots Spoodles and thinks we should give it a try. I think the Map Boy is getting very hungry and just wants to eat anywhere. Anywhere with no birds that is. Im a little nervous as we enter the restaurant. The place is very nice, but there arent many people. Overpriced? Bad food? Soon after we are seated, our friendly waiter takes our drink order and explains the details of the buffet. So far, Im pleasantly surprised. The buffet selections are numerous, varied and look delicious. Starting with the classic American fare, there were Scrambled eggs, waffles, French Toast, ham, bacon and sausage. You could choose from several different pastries, bagels, croissants, muffins and toast. They had homemade yogurt and granola that was out of this world. There was fresh fruit and smoked salmon. They also had three choices of Fritattas. Spoodles gets a thumbs up from everyone in the group. We are now fully fueled and ready for our day at StormAlong bay.
For the next five hours, we splash, slide, spin and play at the Yacht Clubs spectacular pool. We start by getting both Connor and Christopher a life vest. The life vests are great as they allow both of the boys to swim on their own (with their Dad close by, of course), even through the deep winding sections of the pool. The babe is a total pool freak. He loves going down the small slide with his big brothers. Dad is the only one brave enough to try the big water slide. Christopher was afraid of going under and opted not to give it a try, especially after he found out that the life vests were not allowed on the slide. We spend our entire day in the water, coming out for a light lunch at hurricane Hannahs before heading right back in. Mom and the babe do take a break for a mid-afternoon nap, but are soon back for more pool time. The babe loves sitting in the baby pool that sprays water over his head from every direction. I can still picture the little guy with a look of shear joy as he sits in the pool with water pouring down his face. Hes not happy when we tell him its time to go.
After a quick shower, we are all dressed and ready for a night at Epcot. Staying at the Yacht Club is such a treat. We pack up the stroller and enjoy the warm night air as we make our way to Epcot. We start out with some delicious Beaver Tails before setting our sights on Future World. The boys have been wondering what exactly is in that big golf ball, so we start with Spaceship Earth. After the ride we explore the Global Neighborhood. Lots of fun stuff to play with here, but we have a lot to see and Im already feeling a bit pressed for time. There are so many places to explore at Epcot; I make a mental note to schedule in much more time during our next trip. The boys have a great time exploring Innoventions. Again, there is so much to see. At the IBM exhibit, we send an e-mail photo of our entire crew back home to Aunt Janet. Its not easy getting two adults, two kids and an octopus to all look in the same direction at the same time. At the Wonders of Life Pavilion we grab a bite to eat. Christopher and I take in Body Wars. After riding several of these rides, Im beginning to realize that Im not a big simulator ride fan. The Test Track, on the other hand, is much more entertaining. There was a mechanical failure, however, that resulted in our longest wait during our stay at Disney. After the test track we walk back towards the Land Pavilion. The boys find these really cool multi-color lights in the ground outside of Innoventions. The boys spend several minutes running around enjoying the lights. After a wonderful ride on Living with the Land (I always forget how entertaining and informative this ride is), we find a good spot to watch the fireworks. Watching IllumiNations from the Future World side of the Lagoon is a totally different experience than watching it from the other side of the lagoon. While we enjoyed the show from Germany a few nights before, the sites from this side are much more spectacular. We begin our walk back to the hotel as the last of the lights and sounds of another perfect day at Disney fade from the fleeting moments of today into the lasting memories of tomorrow.
Friday, January 19th: Today, Christopher and I sneak out early to get in a few rides at MGM before the little ones awake. After a light breakfast at the Boardwalk Bakery (the birds werent too bad this morning), we decide to try out the new walkway leading to MGM. A brisk walk from the Boardwalk to MGM takes about 20 minutes. On our way we chat about school, friends, Nintendo and what a great time we are having at Disney. We arrive just as the park is opening and go directly to the Rockn Roller Coaster. With no lines, we ride three times before my equilibrium starts to give way. Next we do the Tower of Terror Twice. Christopher still cant decide which ride he likes best, but gives a slight nod to the Tower of Terror. We have a little over thirty minutes before meeting up with Mom and the rest of the crew, so we decide to do the backstage walking tour. I find the tour very entertaining; Christopher seemed a little bored. After meeting up with the rest of the gang, we snag some key autographs and Alex shares a few nice moments with Eeyore. After Star Tours and the parade, we take the boat back to the hotel for lunch and some more pool time. We have a great lunch at Beaches and Cream and finish it off with Sundaes all around. Back in our room, the big boys and I get on our suits and start to leave for the pool. All is going well until the Octopus looks down and notices his suit is not on. Always quick on his feet, he turns and waves goodbye to his Mom and starts to follow us out the door. This is one angry Octopus when he realizes hes staying in for a nap. Soon enough hell be joining us for another great day on StormAlong Bay. We spend our last night at Disney at Epcot. Once again enjoying the many wonders of this great park. We see a Living Statue in France, we have more Kaki-gori in Japan and we catch an amazing live show at the outdoor America Gardens Theater. If anyone tells you that an eighteen-month old is too young for Disney, block your ears. Alex is again totally absorbed by all that surrounds him. This is a boy that loves action. Dancing in the streets, mesmerized by the live shows, chomping on the yummy treats, Alex is having the time of his young life. He may be too young to remember any of this when he gets older, but there is no doubt he is having as much fun as any of us. And we are sure having fun watching him.
So, did you spot the Magic? Obvious, huh? The Magic isnt hidden in the pockets of the many wonderful Cast Members. Its not built into any of the rides. Its not nestled under the seats at any of the magnificent shows. It isnt stored in the giant orb of Spaceship Earth. Its not nesting in the Tree of Life. It isnt even hidden within the walls of the castle itself. I came to Disney looking for magic. Fully caught up in this quest, however, I had overlooked the obvious. As I stood in the family center on that fateful first day at the Magic Kingdom, it all became quite clear. We had endured a cancelled flight, an extra long plane ride, a too small rental car and a super sized order of octopus poop. Just as our vacation appeared to be spinning out of control, just as I was about to lose any hope of finding any magic, it hit me. The magic was there all right. Right there in front of me. It glowed bright in Connor and Christophers twinkling eyes as they told their tale of swarming bees and stolen hotdogs. It spilled out all around me as the babe was skipping about with nothing on but a diaper and a great big smile. It swept me away as I locked eyes with my wife as we shared a moment of disbelief, a moment of laughter, a moment of magic. Im quite sure that Kathy didnt realize it then, with the smell of octopus poop so fresh in her mind. I, on the other hand, spotted it immediately. The obvious. I came to Disney looking for magic and there it was all around me. I had been searching so hard, I almost missed it. We had it with us all along. Just as Dorothy had the magic within her heart as she clicked her shiny red shoes and wished for home. The real magic at Disney comes from the hearts of families and friends as they share special moments together. Disney is truly a magical place. Disney provides a most wonderful backdrop for the real magic to take place. The magic created by that wide-eyed five-year old as he holds out his autograph book waiting for Tigger or Buzz or Mickey himself. The magic of a moment created as an eight year old boy and his Dad chomp on burgers while discussing their plan for attacking the rides under the colorful canopy of fireworks bursting overhead. The full court, all out blitz, take no prisoners magic created by an unencumbered 18 month old as he experiences the sights and sounds of Disney for the first time. The magic experienced by a mom and dad lucky enough to stop and remember where to look.
As our plane sets down on the frozen runway, our magical journey has come to an end. On our first night home we are welcomed with a howling storm that blankets our cozy home with a foot of fluffy snow. The next morning, as I start up the trusty snow blower, I laugh at the thought of swimming in the warm Florida sun just two days before. My Dad had once read that if you yell while operating loud equipment, it would do less damage to your hearing. At least that his how he justified his practice of singing noisily while operating his snow blower. I have opted for the proven method of wearing ear protection. I do, however, still sing at the top of my lungs as I clear the driveway. My neighbors surely think Im nuts, but it somehow just feels right. As I sing along happily, I think of the magic that surrounds me. How Connor will stop and kiss his brother on the cheek and say, I love you babe. How cute the Octopus can look in those little Pooh pajamas with feet. How Christopher describes how his Disney vacation, just wouldnt be the same with out his brothers around. The powerful magic of that tender kiss, from my beautiful wife, upon returning home from a long day at work. I went to Disney looking for magic. I came home remembering I had it with me all along.
As a reminder: I'm Joe, the Dad and 38. Kathy, the Mom is 34. Christopher (map boy) is 8, Connor is 5 and the famous "Octopus" from Episode 1 is 18 month old Alex and how could I forget the precious Caley Elisabeth who at the time was negative 4 months.
Episode 10: Magic
A trip to Disney can be a grand adventure. A breeding ground for memories that will last a lifetime. After months of planning, I knew I had done everything within my power to ensure we would have a good time. I was looking for more however, I wanted magic. The Magic I had experienced when I was a boy coming to Disney with my family. Was I expecting too much? Was I setting myself up for disappointment? Would my lofty expectations be unrealistically unattainable? Or, would Disney come through and provide that secret ingredient? Would it come from one or more of the wonderful cast members that we would meet on our journey? Would it be a special moment, an unexpected gift or would it come from Walt himself. The planner in me was a little annoyed that I couldnt schedule in a big dose of Disney magic. Down deep I knew we would have a good time. I knew Disney would provide the grandest of settings for our family vacation. I still wanted more, I wanted magic. As the end of our vacation neared, I realized how silly I had been. Would I find magic? Of course I would. But where would it come from? Sometimes the most difficult questions have the most obvious answers. Read on and see if you can spot the magic
Its Thursday January 18th, today we are planning on breakfast at the boardwalk before spending the day at the pool. We immediately rule out the bakery since we would have to eat outside with the birds. Not this family. As we stroll down the boardwalk, Christopher spots Spoodles and thinks we should give it a try. I think the Map Boy is getting very hungry and just wants to eat anywhere. Anywhere with no birds that is. Im a little nervous as we enter the restaurant. The place is very nice, but there arent many people. Overpriced? Bad food? Soon after we are seated, our friendly waiter takes our drink order and explains the details of the buffet. So far, Im pleasantly surprised. The buffet selections are numerous, varied and look delicious. Starting with the classic American fare, there were Scrambled eggs, waffles, French Toast, ham, bacon and sausage. You could choose from several different pastries, bagels, croissants, muffins and toast. They had homemade yogurt and granola that was out of this world. There was fresh fruit and smoked salmon. They also had three choices of Fritattas. Spoodles gets a thumbs up from everyone in the group. We are now fully fueled and ready for our day at StormAlong bay.
For the next five hours, we splash, slide, spin and play at the Yacht Clubs spectacular pool. We start by getting both Connor and Christopher a life vest. The life vests are great as they allow both of the boys to swim on their own (with their Dad close by, of course), even through the deep winding sections of the pool. The babe is a total pool freak. He loves going down the small slide with his big brothers. Dad is the only one brave enough to try the big water slide. Christopher was afraid of going under and opted not to give it a try, especially after he found out that the life vests were not allowed on the slide. We spend our entire day in the water, coming out for a light lunch at hurricane Hannahs before heading right back in. Mom and the babe do take a break for a mid-afternoon nap, but are soon back for more pool time. The babe loves sitting in the baby pool that sprays water over his head from every direction. I can still picture the little guy with a look of shear joy as he sits in the pool with water pouring down his face. Hes not happy when we tell him its time to go.
After a quick shower, we are all dressed and ready for a night at Epcot. Staying at the Yacht Club is such a treat. We pack up the stroller and enjoy the warm night air as we make our way to Epcot. We start out with some delicious Beaver Tails before setting our sights on Future World. The boys have been wondering what exactly is in that big golf ball, so we start with Spaceship Earth. After the ride we explore the Global Neighborhood. Lots of fun stuff to play with here, but we have a lot to see and Im already feeling a bit pressed for time. There are so many places to explore at Epcot; I make a mental note to schedule in much more time during our next trip. The boys have a great time exploring Innoventions. Again, there is so much to see. At the IBM exhibit, we send an e-mail photo of our entire crew back home to Aunt Janet. Its not easy getting two adults, two kids and an octopus to all look in the same direction at the same time. At the Wonders of Life Pavilion we grab a bite to eat. Christopher and I take in Body Wars. After riding several of these rides, Im beginning to realize that Im not a big simulator ride fan. The Test Track, on the other hand, is much more entertaining. There was a mechanical failure, however, that resulted in our longest wait during our stay at Disney. After the test track we walk back towards the Land Pavilion. The boys find these really cool multi-color lights in the ground outside of Innoventions. The boys spend several minutes running around enjoying the lights. After a wonderful ride on Living with the Land (I always forget how entertaining and informative this ride is), we find a good spot to watch the fireworks. Watching IllumiNations from the Future World side of the Lagoon is a totally different experience than watching it from the other side of the lagoon. While we enjoyed the show from Germany a few nights before, the sites from this side are much more spectacular. We begin our walk back to the hotel as the last of the lights and sounds of another perfect day at Disney fade from the fleeting moments of today into the lasting memories of tomorrow.
Friday, January 19th: Today, Christopher and I sneak out early to get in a few rides at MGM before the little ones awake. After a light breakfast at the Boardwalk Bakery (the birds werent too bad this morning), we decide to try out the new walkway leading to MGM. A brisk walk from the Boardwalk to MGM takes about 20 minutes. On our way we chat about school, friends, Nintendo and what a great time we are having at Disney. We arrive just as the park is opening and go directly to the Rockn Roller Coaster. With no lines, we ride three times before my equilibrium starts to give way. Next we do the Tower of Terror Twice. Christopher still cant decide which ride he likes best, but gives a slight nod to the Tower of Terror. We have a little over thirty minutes before meeting up with Mom and the rest of the crew, so we decide to do the backstage walking tour. I find the tour very entertaining; Christopher seemed a little bored. After meeting up with the rest of the gang, we snag some key autographs and Alex shares a few nice moments with Eeyore. After Star Tours and the parade, we take the boat back to the hotel for lunch and some more pool time. We have a great lunch at Beaches and Cream and finish it off with Sundaes all around. Back in our room, the big boys and I get on our suits and start to leave for the pool. All is going well until the Octopus looks down and notices his suit is not on. Always quick on his feet, he turns and waves goodbye to his Mom and starts to follow us out the door. This is one angry Octopus when he realizes hes staying in for a nap. Soon enough hell be joining us for another great day on StormAlong Bay. We spend our last night at Disney at Epcot. Once again enjoying the many wonders of this great park. We see a Living Statue in France, we have more Kaki-gori in Japan and we catch an amazing live show at the outdoor America Gardens Theater. If anyone tells you that an eighteen-month old is too young for Disney, block your ears. Alex is again totally absorbed by all that surrounds him. This is a boy that loves action. Dancing in the streets, mesmerized by the live shows, chomping on the yummy treats, Alex is having the time of his young life. He may be too young to remember any of this when he gets older, but there is no doubt he is having as much fun as any of us. And we are sure having fun watching him.
So, did you spot the Magic? Obvious, huh? The Magic isnt hidden in the pockets of the many wonderful Cast Members. Its not built into any of the rides. Its not nestled under the seats at any of the magnificent shows. It isnt stored in the giant orb of Spaceship Earth. Its not nesting in the Tree of Life. It isnt even hidden within the walls of the castle itself. I came to Disney looking for magic. Fully caught up in this quest, however, I had overlooked the obvious. As I stood in the family center on that fateful first day at the Magic Kingdom, it all became quite clear. We had endured a cancelled flight, an extra long plane ride, a too small rental car and a super sized order of octopus poop. Just as our vacation appeared to be spinning out of control, just as I was about to lose any hope of finding any magic, it hit me. The magic was there all right. Right there in front of me. It glowed bright in Connor and Christophers twinkling eyes as they told their tale of swarming bees and stolen hotdogs. It spilled out all around me as the babe was skipping about with nothing on but a diaper and a great big smile. It swept me away as I locked eyes with my wife as we shared a moment of disbelief, a moment of laughter, a moment of magic. Im quite sure that Kathy didnt realize it then, with the smell of octopus poop so fresh in her mind. I, on the other hand, spotted it immediately. The obvious. I came to Disney looking for magic and there it was all around me. I had been searching so hard, I almost missed it. We had it with us all along. Just as Dorothy had the magic within her heart as she clicked her shiny red shoes and wished for home. The real magic at Disney comes from the hearts of families and friends as they share special moments together. Disney is truly a magical place. Disney provides a most wonderful backdrop for the real magic to take place. The magic created by that wide-eyed five-year old as he holds out his autograph book waiting for Tigger or Buzz or Mickey himself. The magic of a moment created as an eight year old boy and his Dad chomp on burgers while discussing their plan for attacking the rides under the colorful canopy of fireworks bursting overhead. The full court, all out blitz, take no prisoners magic created by an unencumbered 18 month old as he experiences the sights and sounds of Disney for the first time. The magic experienced by a mom and dad lucky enough to stop and remember where to look.
As our plane sets down on the frozen runway, our magical journey has come to an end. On our first night home we are welcomed with a howling storm that blankets our cozy home with a foot of fluffy snow. The next morning, as I start up the trusty snow blower, I laugh at the thought of swimming in the warm Florida sun just two days before. My Dad had once read that if you yell while operating loud equipment, it would do less damage to your hearing. At least that his how he justified his practice of singing noisily while operating his snow blower. I have opted for the proven method of wearing ear protection. I do, however, still sing at the top of my lungs as I clear the driveway. My neighbors surely think Im nuts, but it somehow just feels right. As I sing along happily, I think of the magic that surrounds me. How Connor will stop and kiss his brother on the cheek and say, I love you babe. How cute the Octopus can look in those little Pooh pajamas with feet. How Christopher describes how his Disney vacation, just wouldnt be the same with out his brothers around. The powerful magic of that tender kiss, from my beautiful wife, upon returning home from a long day at work. I went to Disney looking for magic. I came home remembering I had it with me all along.
sniff, because your reports are finished, 
