Forget the lemonade... Making Margaritas!!!

[chaslaw]

I should have written this long ago but, you know, I'm a slacker it seems. I had kind of figured I wouldn't write but in responding to something else, I gave an abreviated trip report that people seemed to respond to so here goes...

It's just me and my 7 year old, frequently referred to as "the boy". It has been that way since I discovered he was on the way so we're a pretty solid team by now. This was his first real vacation ever and my first since I found out he was on the way. My first return trip to Disney since 1991. (I think I put 2001 somewhere else... don't know what fumes were hitting me when I said that). Anyway, we were all set for four glorious days exploring the World all from our cozy tent at Fort Wilderness. At least... that was the plan.

It was late October 2007. The air in SC was hot and humid as I threw the last few items in our Toyota Echo at 11:30 pm, went back to pick up the now sleeping boy and drop him in the car, and away we drove. Through the night. Come on. It's mostly I-95 and I just didn't care about the scenery. I wanted to minimize the need for staying any place other than Disney. The plan was to get there while he was still sleeping, grab a few hours more of sleep for myself before the parks opened, and then get started. Besides. I'm not a very nice driver. I should probably be banned from driving in polite society. I'm the one you see hanging out of my window shouting "It's the skinny pedal on the right!!! It's called the accelerator because it makes you go faster!!!" (Honestly, road rage is the fault of slow drivers.) But all would be well if I could just get another 1-2 hours of sleep and then go to the parks. It was not to be. He awakened somewhere around Jax and I was peppered with "How much longer?" for the duration. So just to be an old troll, I pulled over and we had a big breakfast. He was not amused but once I pointed out how he couldn't operate the car without me and I couldn't operate the car without coffee and the car couldn't get to the Mouse House without an operater, he "suffered" in relative quiet with only mumbled threats of mutiny. To teach him he better at least fake respect for his mother, for the next 30 minutes I pulled out a CD of 80's dance music and sang it out loud. Not very well, but loud.

So back on the road. We get to Fort Wilderness it was before official check-in but it turned out the campsite was ready so we got to go on ahead. Man, I was feeling the magic. We had our awesome spot there in a preferred spot (Because it was worth it to me to not have to walk. Yes. I am a lazy bovine... Moooooooooo) Yes, indeed. Those magical moments were just busting out all over the place. Right up to the point the tent I bought from Goodwill didn't work.

I gotta take the dogs for a walk right now (I'm dog-sitting a friend's border collie and terrier and they NEED to be walked NOW) but I'll pick this up when we get back.

 

[chaslaw]

Hi, again!

So I had purchased a tent at Goodwill. It was one of those push button/pop and lock--- not what I remembered from girl scout days but it was (allegedly) huge and cost $30. I'm no schlep with tents. I've always been an outdoor sort and had camped plenty but probably not in the past eight or nine years. I must be missing something because how can a tent be broken?? But I could not get the stupid thing to work.

Now those of you who have been to FW already know but for anyone who doesn't, the campers at the Fort are--- well in retrospect I should have been blasting "We Are Family" from the car because quite a few people attempted to help. Nobody could figure it out. We even sought help from the front desk who sent somebody out and they couldn't get the darn thing set up either. It seemed to be twisted somehow but no one could figure out how to fix the problem.

I was not amused. I had expected to partake freely in the whole Million Dreams senario but this was more of a nightmare. I didn't have enough money to pay for a hotel room because I had gone for the DDP and a preferred site. (turns out, those were still good decisions on my part) Anyway, I cursed enough to make a sailor blush for a bit and then I cried for a bit. This was the first day of the rest of my vacation and NOT what I had planned. That's when I got another lesson on the awesomeness that is the FW crowd.

See, the Halloween decorations at the Fort are not to be beat. I mean... you just have to see it. But here's me, no tent, no money to get a hotel, and having come to the conclusion that the best way to make things right is to suck it up and accept that my son and I will be "camping" in our car for four nights. A Toyota Echo Yeah, not exactly luxury but what else was I gonna do... we're on vacation!

Here's where the magic starts. Some of those awesome FW peeps came over bearing gifts. Remember what I said about the decorations? Fellow campers brought over bits and pieces and we decorated the campsite and our car. Our site actually began to look like a real FW site because they took pity on the little redneck girl fighting off a total meltdown and her adorable little boy who just wanted to have fun. They also brought over drinks and vented with me like longtime friends and thus the magic began.

My boy and I hit the parks with smiles on our faces and eyes peeled for pixie dust. Short version: We found lots of it because, darn it, we were at Disney World!!!

Longer version to follow.

 

[chaslaw]

I think I finally figured out the adding pictures deal. Amazing what you can do when you click the tech support link. FYI- There are no pictures of me because I was always taking them. When we go back next...

Anyway- we were on our way to the Magic Kingdom.

Jake loved the boats and with the exception of travelling to and from MNSSHP we never had a problem getting a seat.

And then we got into the MK itself. At this point I knew we were going to have fun. We are not touring plan people. If you are one of those, more power to you. However, my son and I have the combined attention span of a gnat so we were stopping all the time or would be in the middle of heading one place, something else would grab our fancy, and off we go! It works for us. It also works better when you go during a week in the fall.

As soon as you enter the gates, look straight ahead and see it, you know you've arrived...

He was also a big fan of the castle and suggested we live there. I must say, as compared to our two-bedroom apartment it sounds like a solid plan to me. Sadly, Cindy was not available to discuss our plan for new living arrangements. I mean... we're willing to give her back her old job cleaning and cooking and we'll even let her eat at the table with us!

I'm not sure how long we just wandered around being all slack-jawed at everything there was to see. It had been so long since I had been that Jake and I seemed to BOTH be first time visitors. We hit the Teacups and spun as fast as we could. That was so much fun and we almost fell getting out but I'm not sure if it was the spins or because we were laughing so hard. This was gonna be awesome.

 

[chaslaw]

I'm not sure why. My child does not have violent tendencies. For whatever reason, when I told him to go stan beside the bronze Donald, this is what he did...

A very strange child, indeed.

As you can see, Pinnochio fared better

although now that I look at it, Jake may be about to pop him on the back of his head.

You might have noticed that it was raining. Not really raining so much as light to moderate misting. I've come to realize what a bonus that is because apparently my wash-and-wear family is some freakish twist of nature. We don't really care as long as there isn't lightning. It's like being at the waterpark and there is only rain, nothing dangerous, but people freak out and run for shelter. You are at a water park! What? Afraid you might get wet??? We noticed a lot of people ducking under awning or such and some even leaving. I don't get it because it's sugar that melts so my boy and I should be perfectly safe. The upside is that the people who remain are the fun bunch. So the already relatively thin mid-week, 3rd week of October crowds get even smaller. Yes!!! We spent some time making spectacles of ourselves by singing and dancing (Gene Kelly style, swinging on posts and standing on benches) in that little area where the Donald and Pinnochio statues were. There was a lot of laughter (some pointing and possibly a little dialing 911) and it is a moment I've used more than once to remind me of what is really important. We were also walking onto all sorts of rides. Space Ranger Spin quickly became a new favorite.

As you can see, the boy took his duties very seriously. I'm not completely convinced, however, that I should encourage him to become proficient with firearms. I mean, he's already chocked a duck, possibly smacked a puppet. Where will all of this lead???

 

[chaslaw]

It leads to the stockades, of course! If only I had these at home... Of course, I would probably wake up in the middle of the night to find him trying to see if he could lock his hermit crabs in them so it's probably just as well.

All this running wild and sucking up every bit of pixie dust we could find left us feeling pretty hungry so...

It was off to Pecos Bills because you just can't go wrong with chicken nuggets and chocolate milk!

Our bellies full, we bounced all over the place. We jumped in a few puddles just to splash each other and were alltogether silly. I have no idea how many times we rode the Haunted Mansion. This was Jake's favorite ride because he enjoyed trying to figure out how everything works. Hearing a seven year old explain how they think HM works is beyond brilliant. The biggest problem was preventing him from climbing up to get a closer look at the tombstones when we were waiting in line.

By the time we finally left the park and climbed back on the boat, we were exhausted and happy. Given how stressful single parenting can be sometimes and how crabby it can make me from time to time, I was just incredibly blessed to be taking this time to focus on the fun stuff with my boy and remind him that mom's not all cranky.

When we got off the boat we headed straight for Trails End and enjoyed that buffet. God bless the DDP! When we finished, we headed off to our campsite.

Now remember, we are going to be sleeping in the car for the duration so I'm trying to prepare myself mentally. Jake takes his cues from me so if I start to whine it is going to be one loooooooooooooooong night. When we get to our car, it's no longer a light misting but an actual rain. That's when Jake, in all his kid wisdom, announced that it was a good thing we were sleeping in the car because it was raining. Like I said, I'm pretty blessed. We dashed to the comfort station, changed into our pjs, and ran back to the Echo.

I won't pretend my car was suddenly bigger but I will say I've rarely been so happy to be short. Jake sprawled out in the back and I let the seat go back as far as I could without squashing his legs and allowed the rain to lull me to sleep by imagining I was in a barn and the rain was hitting a tin roof. Not perfect but, you know, go with what you've got.

That's how we ended Day One of our Four Day Extravaganza.

 

[disneyaddicted]

I love this. It's a really touching story and I have tears of awwww that's so sweet streaming down my face. Your boy is going to grow up knowing how to always make the best out of a bad situation cause that's what his Momma taught him.

I read what you had posted over on the resort thread and I was hoping to find it here, I knew it would make a good trip report.

 

[chaslaw]

disneyaddicted- Thanks!!! I appreciate that because there have been those (not on Dis, but elsewhere) who have thought I was a moron for not handling things differently and haven't hesitated to tell me. That's part of why I didn't post about the trip to begin with. So, thank you for your kind words!

 

[chaslaw]

I was awakened to the sweet, sweet song of a darling little bluebird who lighted on my driver's side mirror to welcome us to a brand new day. I returned his happy little tune and we formed a bond which has lasted to this very day. Or... not.

I was awakend by a sharp kick to the head from my darling child (who I keep referring to as a seven-year-old because he is now but to correct myself, at the time of our trip he was six). Jake moves a lot when he sleeps and he stretches like a jungle cat. No, I imagine a big, lazy stretch with a cat. Jake was more like a chimp training to star in Rocky XXVIII and I was now fully awake. Foot to the face, knocking into the door, back against the foot-- that will wake you right up! He, however, was still sound asleep because the sun was only just now considering rising. I couldn't just leave him in the car while I took a shower so instead I got out of the car, stretched, got the postcards I had purchased the day before in the MK and my pre-printed labels, and got back into the car.

That's right. Prior to starting day two, I wrote postcards. I used my crank flashlight so I could see what I was writing and that's what everyone got. I do mean, that's what everyone got. I have a great, big Southern family and I couldn't get something for everyone so I did the only reasonable thing, I got everybody postcards. It was either that or stop at one of those "5 Shirts for $10" stands and pay out for t-shirts which MIGHT last through the first washing. No, postcards made the perfect souvenier. It is not like I was going to take any pictures that good!

Once I was done writing all of those I woke up the boy because, if I did not get a hot shower immediately to work out some of the kinks, people were going to think I was already dressed for MNSSHP and I was going as the Hunchback. Jake insisted he didn't need a shower. I threatened to throw him in fully dressed if he didn't do it of his own accord. I only had to follow through on that threat once and that was probably two years prior to the trip. He knew I would do it. Good thing I had history on my side because he has grown significantly since I actually MADE him get in the bath. I'm not exactly sure I could get his struggling butt in there any more. Hose him down? Sure. Get him in by force? Not so much....

For the record, the comfort stations at the Fort rock. I mean, come on, it's Disney camping. Is it life at the Poly? Well, probably not. I couldn't be sure since I've never stayed there but as far as camping goes, I was more than happy with this set-up. Hot showers, toilets (instead of port-a-potties), full sink and mirror deal with electrical outlets-- the Girl Scouts would be horrified at my walk on the dark side... and deeply jealous.

That accomplished and by way of bribery for the day ahead, we donned our ears and headed over to EPCOT for a well-balanced meal.

That's right! I fed my child chocolate cake and milk for breakfast and I am not ashamed!!! Not of his, anyway. My breakfast was more like death by chocolate with coffee on the side and some sugar on top. Oh, yeah, we are ready to take on the day!!!!

 

[chaslaw]

Now one thing which was an absolute must for me was to go to all of the countries. I had been cautioned by many that a mere boy would not be interested in that but I refused to listen because I'm an obstinate so-and-so at times.

That's when I came up with the bright idea of combining EPCOT and one of our favorite shows, The Amazing Race. Keep in mind that my son has been likened to a border collie (smart, active, and attractive-- but prone to destructiveness when bored) so I knew we needed to keep things moving or I was going to hear about it. Besides, if I kept him busy looking for clues in whatever country we were in, I had an opportunity to enjoy the surroundings while watching him have a high time. I determined what the "clues" were and he had to find them. We pretended we were racing against other visitors to the park which yielded some pretty funny results. Especially when we ran hurried past them with Jake shouting "Come on, mommy! We're gonna get eliminated!" When we would pass them, Jake and I would give each other high-fives and generally whoop and holler and the people around just thought we were nuts. At one point, we did have two people join us after I explained what we were doing but then they had to leave for an ADR. We never did manage to find a Philiminator but every time we would get to the entrance/exit to a country after finding all of our clues we would jump onto an immaginary mat and announce, "Patton family, you are number ONE on this leg of The Amazing Race."
Here are a few place shots:

Mommy? Is this one of the trolls you've dated?

Tell the Queen to expect me at six...

Hanging out with THE Donald

Rock the Casbah

Looking for fun in Canada

Stopping to smell the flowers in France

Hola, Amigos!

There's always time to eat in Mexico!!!

You are the WINNER of The Amazing Race... Patton-style

And the day wasn't even over. In the afternoon, we went to Hollywood Studios. More on that, later.

 

[chaslaw]

The boy had done really, really well. I was as pleased as could be. That's why I was hard pressed to refuse when we were finishing up lunch in Mexico and he asked if we could go see the Power Rangers. I told him there was an entire half of EPCOT we had not seen and that included Soarin which he was looking forward to but the Rangers won.

We took the monorail to the TTC and then a bus over to MGM. Sorry. I am still training myself to call it HS. So we make our way over to the giant hat and are greeted with a street party or something. It was some sort of High School Musical going on near the great, big hat. He normally likes shows but we had already gotten directions to the Backlot where the PR make their appearances so this was a boy on a mission.

We stood in line for about 45 minutes just so we could get this.

He was a happy little camper about this one. I was a bit stunned. I could not believe he waited in line for that long without any real complaining. Mind you, there were kids on four different street corners who were lined up for photo ops and the vast majority were practicing their Rangers moves so he was entertained. I was just bidding my time to go on...

The Tower of Terror!!!!
Now, first off, you must understand that I have this crush on Rod Serling. Well, on the idea of him... when he was alive... because I just don't play that other way. So if you have his image pitching something, I will watch. Oh, how I miss the REAL Twilight Zone and Night Gallery. Staying up way past my bedtime to watch re-runs and then be too scared to sleep. Talking Tina. You ended any and all hope that I would play with or collect dolls and my grandmother was a doll-maker so I had access. But I digress.

After obtaining a FastPass we kicked around in the general area of TT and saw some really awful street performances. Sorry. They were just bad. But, you know, props to the folks for delivering the best they could because they were not given good material.

I kept watching the clock. I love rides that go really fast and simulate weightlessness. Finally it was time. We went through the FP line in, maybe, five minutes. Ahhhhh, FastPass. Once we were seated and the ride really started, Jake grabbed my arm and left little bruises where his talons- uh, fingers dug in. It turns out, he was not impressed. From what I could gather, it was the not knowing what is going to happen next or when the ride would end that really got him worked up. The main thing I remember is that when it finally stopped he fairly spat out, "I. Will. NEVER! Ride. That. ... Again!" and off he walked. I absolutely loved TTand have already bribed him to ride it just one time when we return. Anyway, here's how he looked as we left...

We continued to kick around HS until it was time for Fantasmic! which was incredible. We both LOVED it and Jake has already asked that we make sure to see it again when we go back. I'm still not sure how it is that Fantasmic scares some kids but I was just totally impressed. We even had fun during the wait. Of course, there was the wave. Happily, we were seated near this large, fun group and so it was a mini party going on. And we also had the only souvenier Jake got other than his ears-- a String Thing! We had a ball. For those who need something to amuse yourself (or others) while waiting, get a String Thing. It was $20, I think, and we're still playing with that.

Once the show was over we grabbed a quick bite and then made our way back to FW. We spent some time walking around, enjoying all of the decorations. If you are in the World for Halloween (or any holiday, really) make sure you take a trip to the Fort to check out the decorations. Good times.

Finally we were ready to sleep. We changed into our PJs, brushed our teeth, and climbed back into our car. It was still cramped but, hey, we were at Disney World! Good times!!!

So ended Day Two.

 

[Lumpster's Mom]

Looks like you have a heartbreaker on your hands
This report is great and I look forward to hearing the rest of it.

 

[chaslaw]

I know it dawned because I was up to see it. See, when I tried to move my legs, a cramp shot through my calf that brought tears to my eyes and I nearly bit my tounge in half trying not to scream. Sleeping in the car was most certainly not the fun part of the trip. I opened the door and kind of half-rolled out of the car so that I could attempt to stretch it out. The only thing I could do was just sit there, still in my pajamas, on the damp ground ground and try to focus on anything but how much that stupid charley horse hurt. Turns out there are a lot of "critters" at Ft. Wilderness. Not really a surprise but they are easy to miss if you don't sit still for a minute to watch and listen. That's all well and good and I'm actually glad I had a quiet moment but, really, I would rather it had come because I woke from a good night of sleep and just wanted to greet the sunrise. But, you know, what are you gonna do? Once I was able, I got up and started walking around the car. With my wet pajama bottoms. Classy. Enough whine when I've got no cheese, right?

Poor Jake was awakened sooner than he would have been because I only held out for so long. I was dying for that hot shower. That accomplished, we stopped by Trail's End for breakfast before going off to Epcot for the day.

First we took the boat...

Then we jumped on the monorail to the TTC...

And finally we were inside...

I was still a little crabby but things were looking up. Especially once we rode Soarin'. That is such an awesome ride. (Except it loses a little if you aren't sitting on the first row because the dangling feet can be a little distracting.) Jake and I couldn't stop talking about it! We had practically been able to just walk right on but by the time we were finished, there was a huge line. FastPass it is!

While we waited on that, I took him over to check out Figment. See, when I had gone during my freshman year of high school, I had purchased a poster featuring the new Journey Into Imagination with Figment. I still have that poster and I must say, Figment looks very different now. Kind of like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Having said that, Jake LOVED Figment. We both did because, well, I'm just silly that way. We also had a great time at that area after the ride that's all about using your immagination. The day which had not started well was seriously improving.

We bopped around some more until it was time to ride Soarin' again. (That's when we discovered the relative "let down" of not riding in the first row. We agreed that from that point forward, we would always ask to sit in the front and would wait if we had to.) After that we stopped by one of those Photo Spots which is where I took these:

We just bounced around EPCOT for the rest of the day and then went back to grab a nap because tonight we were going to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. I so love The Mouse!!!!

 

[chaslaw]

I never used to be a big Halloween person because when I was younger we lived out in the middle of nowhere and there were no neighbors to speak of for trick-or-treating. When I got older it just didn't happen.

After last October? Halloween ROCKS!

First off, I was totally impressed with the decorations. Man, Disney knows how to fix it up. The special effects were dead on and we had a ball just checking all of those out. The dances and shows were fabulous. It was also pretty awesome to see all of the "bad guys" out. I just hadn't really thought about it before but of course that's who should be featured at MNSSHP! Most of all, I was impressed with the amount of candy we hauled and the ability to simply walk on to normally crowded rides. This party ROCKED!

As for costumes-
I attempted to be a fairy but had multiple problems including the discovery that wings and rides do NOT mix. I gave the wings to some stranger which left me wearing jeans, a white t-shirt, some hair accessories (which were soon lost somewhere in Space Mountain) and carrying a wand. That's what I get for being half-hearted in my own dress-up. This year? It's ON!!!!

Jake dressed as a SWAT team member which was really cool because he didn't just blend in with the sea of pirates and princesses. He got a lot of attention and comments in that costume and some of the characters were hysterical with how they played as if he were a "cop" and they were "busted". Just watching Jake during that party... I felt like the Grinch and my heart grew three sizes that night.

Here you see some of his fun-

However, we did do something that night. Something that will haunt me forever. It has to do with this:

We were both kind of on a sugar high and we got on It's A Smal World and I... I ... I video taped it. The entire ride. I think that's some sort of abomination because now, sometimes on dark nights, I hear the sounds of the multi-lingual chorus and

Jake and I danced and rode and collected candy until we just couldn't boggy no more, you know? Then, just like the previous two nights, we went back to our car and slept.

Tomorrow, day four, would be our last day in the World.

 

[disneyaddicted]

Very nice updates. I would so love to go some time for MNSSHP, but October is a busy month for me with my daughter being a cheerleader and all the homecoming events throught that month. But I will go some day for it. I have been for MVMCP and you are right about decorations, they are amazing.

Jake is such a cutie, he could totally do commercials or better yet be on a Disney show.

Loved the amazing race bit, very smart and creative way to get a child through world showcase. I think it's great that you did that for him and even participated in it with him.

I can't wait to read more.

 

[Bee]

I just love reading this. The whole trip could have been ruined because of a tent. But, jeez your in WDW cant get better than that. I love TAR. To do that with your son... awesome.

When he looks back on this trip... he wont be talking about having to sleep in the car... He will be talking about all the great memories at this most magical place. Yes. I beleve non-dis friends will concentrate on the sleeping situation.. But, us Disney lovers completely get it.

Cant wait for more.

Bee

 

[MichelleVW]

I'm so glad you didn't let the tent episode ruin your trip! It looks like you guys had a blast!

 

[chaslaw]

First lesson learned: Check your darn equipment BEFORE you leave home.

Second lesson I was to learn on Day Four: Don't plan to spend all day at the Animal Kingdom and then expect to drive from there to the SC lowcountry that night. Yup. Not exactly bucking to be MENSA material there.

***********

Saturday morning started off much the same as the previous two- cramped. Add to that the fact that we were both a little bummed about this being the end of our vacation and we were like two sullen children. However, given that only one of us is actually a child, the other one really needs to deal with it.

I was stiff and cranky and ... and.. waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh. You get the idea. Maybe some coffee would help. We get breakfast which Jake decides to just play with and not actually eat so I stop just shy of the "kids starving around the world" speech because by the glazed-over look on his face, he's already ditched me (mentally) and is just waiting for it to be over. Well that annoys the heck out of me. How dare he?!! How dare he? That's pretty easy. He's a six-year-old boy. That's how he dares. Which I recognize in retrospect but I wasn't in the mood right then so I did the really mature, constructive thing... I sulked. Yeah. I know. Nice.

Then we go through the check out process which is annoyingly efficient. I say that because I just did NOT want this to be the last day. So anyway, we check out, leave our car in the overflow lot, and take the bus to AK. (By the way, that was a really looooooooooooong bus ride. It just doesn't seem so far looking at the map but, dang, that took a while.)

We get there (see pictorial evidence attached):

and the first thing I notice is there are A LOT more people than there have been on any of the other days or at the other parks. Doh! It's Saturday. Note to self: Do not go on weekends or school breaks. You are now officially spoiled by lower attendance days.

We are both still grousing a bit and when we finally make our way over to the safari we discover there will be a long wait. Darn it! What do you mean I have to use FastPass?! I don't want to use FastPass! I want to go on this NOW!!!! It's a good thing that machine couldn't b-slap us both because we kind of would have earned it. So we took the pass and started trouping around.

Click. A picture.
Click. Another one.
Stop it, Mommy
Stop what?
Stop taking pictures of me.
But I want to remember this.
I don't want to pose for any more pictures.
What do you mean you don't want to pose for any more pictures? Just stand there and look cute. I said cute! By golly, you will pretend you are enjoying yourself and you will make me believe it!

Click.

"That's better"

We finally went on the safari. I guess it was ok. We were just not in the frame to really appreciate it. I mean, there were some "Ohh Ahh" moments but we probably should have just skipped it.

Then my darling child decided that he no longer wants to ride on anything that will take him backwards (Expedition Everest) or that will get him wet (Kali River Rapids). The very things I am really looking forward to riding. Great. Wonderful. Go to your happy place, Susan. Find the happy place. Maybe some chocolate will help! Sure. We find a vendor selling chocolate covered frozen bananas and I get one for each of us. I have loved those since I was a kid and we would get them at Cromer's Peanuts. THIS will do the trick. Jake barely touches his before announcing that he changed his mind.

What??? Just eat it...
I can't.
Why not?
(he opens his hand wide)- Because I dropped it.

No joke. That little punk just very deliberately, in my face, dropped the snack. So I respond with the maturity of a two-year old:
What did you do THAT for?!!!!
All of the sudden, my appetite is gone, too.

We actually start having a shouting match right there in front of God and the whole Animal Kingdom. Now, leaving aside the fact that a parent who allows themself to be drawn into an argument with a seven year old has already lost- what was I thinking???

I wasn't. That's why we kept bickering like nincompoops and stomping around, probably squishing other people's magic in the process (and I truly feel bad about that!)

But, you know, this is Disney and there are fairy godmothers everywhere.

This one is ours- Eva from Great Falls, MT.

 

[chaslaw]

Eva came out of no where. Well, she came out of somewhere but we were too busy bickering to notice. The point it- she was AWESOME!!!

She came walking up and asked if everything was ok and she came to stand between the two of us. Now she sounded all sweetness and light but there was just something in her tone that told me she was capable and would not hesitate to kick my butt if that was required.

"We're just having an off day" I tell her.
While her reply is going to sound hokey, I swear it was absolutely perfect that day. Jake and I have repeated it frequently since.

Eva said, There's nothing a little Disney magic can't cure.

We ended up spilling our guts about all that had happened and I told her that we had enjoyed a great vacation but that we were both just really tired and were not looking forward to the long drive home.

Eva proceeded to take us on a guided tour of Maharaja's Trek and showed us all of these cool little things we never would have seen. She kept Jake entertained and gave me the chance to just mentally rest for a bit. She explained each and every little thing. Jake really got a kick out of the stuffed bat that she put on his shoulder.

At the end, she even gave him two pins so he could start pin trading. However, one, she said, was for him to keep and to always remember this special trip with his mom. (That's the one he's wearing in the picture of the two of them together.) You better believe I sent a glowing letter to Human Resources, AK, and everyone else I could think of to tell them what a fantastic find they have in Eva!

Then she gave him a certificate (sorry... I need to scan it) commemorating his "Magical Moment". I can't explain it but Eva was just exactly what we needed. Yeah, we were still tired and the parks are absolutely more crowded on the weekends which made for hot, sticky, sweatiness but we were back in the magic zone!

From there we went on Dinasours

- which is surprisingly intense for kids - and Jake really enjoyed having his picture taken with some real Halloween characters:

We walked around some more, ate, and just relaxed.

Good times were had and then we grabbed the bus back to the Fort, got in our car, and drove.

Man, I love The Mouse!

 

[chaslaw]

Never, ever, EVER spend the day in one of the parks and expect to drive 6-1/2 hours after not having a really good night of sleep for any of the previous three nights. Somewhere in Georgia I just totally lost steam and pulled over at the first place I could find.

Thanks, Tom Bodett, for leaving the light on for us!




And thanks to y'all for letting me relive the most awesome vacation I've ever been blessed by.

The Mouse House RULES!!!!!!

 

[chaslaw]

OK, y'all. I was playing around on the computer last night and I created this from last years pictures. I added some music so make sure your speakers or headphones are on. Maybe with this next trip I'll be able to master slightly more professional looking videos.

I hope everyone enjoys it!

http://http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5020999794534618699