Diznenut
Is it time to go? Is it? Huh Huh?
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2005
- Messages
- 101
Cast of Characters:
Diznenut ( 38 ) - Lover of all things Disney and obsessive planner
DH ( 39 ) - Work-a-holic, hates planning anything
DD ( 8 ) - The Fuzzy Princess, the ruler of the roost
Extras:
Waitress at the Ponderosa
Ms. Very-Nice-CM at Character Premiere
Mr. Gender Confused
My future son-in-law, the black and white knight
Henry at Cameras Unlimited
Act 2 - Fiddlefartin in Orlando.
Scene 1 - The Writing's in the Sky.
Saturday dawned beautiful and bright. The sky was a pure blue, temps in the 60-70 range. Perfect! DH had threatened me with bodily harm if I went commando on them and rushed everyone around like chickens without heads. I get up, feeling a little better and not so congested so I let them sleep in.. until 9:15 - see I'm getting this whole relax idea!!! What do you want to do today? Since we have nothing planned until 4 pm, lets just fiddlefart around Orlando. Sounds like a plan to me!
While I'm getting ready, DD looks out the window and spots some kind of contraption. Mom - what is that?
I'm not real sure myself. So we watch for a few minutes. OH MY GOD.. those are people on that thing !! Some insane people are strapping themselves into a pod and getting launched into the sky. We can hear the faint screams thru the glass!!!! She looks at me and says - mommy is that Disneyworld?
No baby.
Whew - I don't have to ride that.
I leave her to watch and I finish dressing. Look back and ask - are you ready?
uh that would be a "no"
A note here - DD has the kind of hair that makes people think about going bald. It is frizzy, dry and impossible to manage. What we spend on hair care products would keep a small country in business. This is why she has the nickname "Fuzzy Headed Princess". She wears the title with pride, by the way, taking any and every opportunity to fuzz her hair out as much as possible. I've long ago given up on a "proper daughter"
I wrestled with her head for about 20 minutes and manage to tame the wildness down to a dull roar. We are ready to go! First stop, breakfast.
We stopped next door at the Ponderosa for the all you can eat breakfast. Redneck heaven! They had every kind of breakfast food you can think plus a few you didn't. The waitress cracks several jokes and keeps the empty plates coming. DD just loves her. She was a real hit. After eating, she brings ice-cream for "dessert"
Full tummies and 22.71 lighter, we are ready to take on Orlando. I had been talking for a while about the Outlet stores so we got out the map. I thought they were north (left) from where we were but according to the map, they were south. So we head off south.
And got lost.
We wandered around for about 30 minutes before I said something to DH about how I was thinking they were in the opposite direction. He gives me one of his patented "I-would-kill-you-but-the-kid-would-be-a-witness" look and turns around. We went past our hotel (Cool, wet and wide is right across the street!), go another mile or two and bam - Prime outlet malls. DH drives all the way around each one, looking for a "Disney" sign. Finally he stops and lets me play "dumb blonde" (no offense to the lighter locked people). Inside? Buildings 1 and 2, you say? Thank you so much!
We pull into building 2 and HOLY COW - someone did something right. There's a nice empty spot right close to the door. We park, lock up the car and go inside.
It only took a few minutes and I was knee deep in discounted Disney merchandise. YES! I looked.. I shopped.. I found the cutest little purse that has a picture of Tink on it and says "Naturally spoiled". Of course I had to have it. And at 8.99, it was a bargain. I slipped it on my shoulder and continued shopping.
DD had saved her money all summer and had 80 to spend. I doubled it so she had a total of 160.00. She bought a shirt, necklace, penny book, disney girl doll and a few other assorted items. DH found golf shirts with mickey and goofy on them. We piled our stuff up on the counter, paid and walked over to KB Toys.
DD walked around and shopped for a while. Suddenly she had an attack of sniffles so I grabbed my purse off my shoulder to get her a kleenex.. and.. uh.. this isn't my purse. It's locked in the car.
OH
My
God
I'm a shoplifter!
DH sees my face drain of all color and asked me if I was ok. I started babbling about stealing this Tink purse. I was going to spend my vacation in prison. I'M A FUGITIVE.. but I don't look good in stripes!!!!!!
DH sits me down on the bench outside KB Toys and gets me calm. He says, "Just go in there and tell them what happened. Then pay for the purse. It'll be ok. And if you aren't back in 10 minutes, we'll come visit you on every other Thursday and slip you some smokes to trade".
I was so upset, I didn't have time to give him my death ray look.
So back into the Disney store and to the counter. "Um.. excuse me, see I kinda forgot to pay for this purse and walked out with it by accident. If it's not too much trouble, can I pay for it please? I'm so very very sorry. It was a total accident" I felt like Oliver Twist saying "Please sir, may I have some more?" I look around nervously for the Disney Gestapo to pounce out of a stack of discounted Tiggers and throw me in the deepest darkest pit of the Disney Dungeon usually reserved for storing Dumbo poop.
The lady takes one look at my face and busts out laughing. "Of course you can pay for it. Don't worry about it, it happens. Thank you for coming back and telling us though. I really appreciate it."
After another 3 dozen apologies, she kicks me out of the store and I go back to KB Toys. At this point, I decide I had better sit on the bench to keep my thieving hands from getting too happy again. DH and DD come out after a few minutes and we head out of the building, back into the car and off down International Drive.
No sirens? Whew - I'm sprung!
We stop by Walgreens and stock up on a few needed items - for DH, sodas, donuts and chips. DD needs a lanyard, gum (she had just gotten the privilege back after being grounded for 2 months for falling asleep for the 3rd time with gum in her mouth) and some candy. I got more Nyquil.
I have my priorities right!
I'm looking around at everything on the way back to the hotel and spy something strange in the sky.
Are those words? They are.. L O V E J E S U S and G O D L O V E S U
Aww.. It's good to be reminded that even thieves are loved!
Scene 2 - The Day Her Prince Came
We got back to the room around 1:30 and decided to take a nap. After all, we'd been up all of 4 hours!
I woke up around 3:30 with the gang all snoozing still. Checked my watch and OMG we gotta go. We have to be at Medieval Times by 4:30. Come on people. MOVE IT
I ran a brush through my hair, put a cap on the Princess and drug DH out the door. Settling in the car, I pulled out my handy dandy map and told DH to stay on International Drive until you get to 192. Take a left and it'll be on the right. No problem.. Piece of cake.
*waiting for you Orlando veterans to quit laughing*
Ok.. so you can't get there from here. We ended up taking the more scenic route involving 480 and some small road. I am so proud of DH - without prompting, he asked the toll booth worker how to get there. *sniff* my boy is growing up!
We pulled into the parking lot at exactly 4:45 pm. Only 15 minutes late! Parking was available on the front row so by 4:50 we had our lovely Black and White Paper Crowns and were being shown through the door to have our picture taken. And no - I'm not going to post those pictures. Nobody would believe me as a demure maiden anyway!
We wandered around the castle for a few moments and settled into the pub for a soda. DD was totally enchanted by the special blinking glasses.
Here's a few of the Princess enjoying her Royal Soda.
What a ham!
We just sat there and took in the atmosphere - wenches in low bodices and pages in tights. Not too bad. Half way through my Coke, nature calls so I head to the ladies room. I'm doing my thing and I hear someone come in. I finish and wash my hands, put my hand on the door and look my left. There is something wrong here. Why is that lady facing the toilet? OH CRAP - I'M IN THE WRONG BATHROOM.
I yank open the door and right there, plain as day, it says "LADIES".
The one across the way is "LORDS". I look back and Mr. Gender-Confused is still whizzing away. I shrug my head and go back out the the family. Presently he comes out and I snapped his picture just to be sure I wasn't loosing my marbles.
Nope, its a "lord" - and looking rather dashing with his paper crown on over his baseball cap! Congratulations! You've just embarrassed yourself in front of a few thousand people!
Presently, they call us to dinner and we enter. I paid for the royalty package so we have front row left seats in our section. Excellent!
The knights are presented and DD falls in love. She thinks ours is the cutest!
Dinner is served (please note the gum - I'm sure all the proper princesses had it!)
Falcons and horse tricks are wonderful, The jousting is great. DD is enjoying herself - no silverware so she's in finger smackin heaven! Our knight gives flowers to several of the young ladies in our section. However, when it comes time to pick a maiden for whom to fight, our little princess is selected!
He presents this banner tied to his lance and she picks it off. I think I hear fireworks. The princess is smitten!
Oh NO! Our knight is defeated by the evil captain of the guard! Whatever shall we do? Fortunately another knight rides to the rescue and all is good again in the world.
All the way back down 192, DD is raving about how wonderful it was. "Momma, he was so cute!" DH is laughing, but telling her if she doesnt quit talking about him, he's going to put that knight in a chastity belt! We stop at Wendys for a pit stop and then on to Cameras Unlimited.
I've been wanting a Minolta Maxxum 7-D camera ever since they came out last year. At 1400, the price is a little too steep. But since we were in town, we stopped at C.U. just to check and see. Henry, who is working that night, checks and finds that they can get a camera body only, factory warranted for 222.00. My jaw hit the floor!
Of course they don't have any in stock, but I get his card and assure him I will be calling after the first of the year.
We somehow find our way back to the hotel, avoiding a pretty nasty accident at the corner of International Drive and Sea World (I didnt write down exactly - sorry) and arrive safely back. DH and DD play cards for a while - the princess is a sore looser!
Get everyone ready for bed (YES YOU ARE STILL COUGHING SO YOU WILL TAKE IT - STOP WHINING) and get into bed. We watch the human slingshot through the window until finally we drift off to the knowledge that tomorrow we move onto Disney property.
Next Stop - Disney and Bobby the Kid!
Diznenut ( 38 ) - Lover of all things Disney and obsessive planner
DH ( 39 ) - Work-a-holic, hates planning anything
DD ( 8 ) - The Fuzzy Princess, the ruler of the roost
Extras:
Waitress at the Ponderosa
Ms. Very-Nice-CM at Character Premiere
Mr. Gender Confused
My future son-in-law, the black and white knight
Henry at Cameras Unlimited
Act 2 - Fiddlefartin in Orlando.
Scene 1 - The Writing's in the Sky.
Saturday dawned beautiful and bright. The sky was a pure blue, temps in the 60-70 range. Perfect! DH had threatened me with bodily harm if I went commando on them and rushed everyone around like chickens without heads. I get up, feeling a little better and not so congested so I let them sleep in.. until 9:15 - see I'm getting this whole relax idea!!! What do you want to do today? Since we have nothing planned until 4 pm, lets just fiddlefart around Orlando. Sounds like a plan to me!
While I'm getting ready, DD looks out the window and spots some kind of contraption. Mom - what is that?
I'm not real sure myself. So we watch for a few minutes. OH MY GOD.. those are people on that thing !! Some insane people are strapping themselves into a pod and getting launched into the sky. We can hear the faint screams thru the glass!!!! She looks at me and says - mommy is that Disneyworld?
No baby.
Whew - I don't have to ride that.
I leave her to watch and I finish dressing. Look back and ask - are you ready?
uh that would be a "no"
A note here - DD has the kind of hair that makes people think about going bald. It is frizzy, dry and impossible to manage. What we spend on hair care products would keep a small country in business. This is why she has the nickname "Fuzzy Headed Princess". She wears the title with pride, by the way, taking any and every opportunity to fuzz her hair out as much as possible. I've long ago given up on a "proper daughter"
I wrestled with her head for about 20 minutes and manage to tame the wildness down to a dull roar. We are ready to go! First stop, breakfast.
We stopped next door at the Ponderosa for the all you can eat breakfast. Redneck heaven! They had every kind of breakfast food you can think plus a few you didn't. The waitress cracks several jokes and keeps the empty plates coming. DD just loves her. She was a real hit. After eating, she brings ice-cream for "dessert"
Full tummies and 22.71 lighter, we are ready to take on Orlando. I had been talking for a while about the Outlet stores so we got out the map. I thought they were north (left) from where we were but according to the map, they were south. So we head off south.
And got lost.
We wandered around for about 30 minutes before I said something to DH about how I was thinking they were in the opposite direction. He gives me one of his patented "I-would-kill-you-but-the-kid-would-be-a-witness" look and turns around. We went past our hotel (Cool, wet and wide is right across the street!), go another mile or two and bam - Prime outlet malls. DH drives all the way around each one, looking for a "Disney" sign. Finally he stops and lets me play "dumb blonde" (no offense to the lighter locked people). Inside? Buildings 1 and 2, you say? Thank you so much!
We pull into building 2 and HOLY COW - someone did something right. There's a nice empty spot right close to the door. We park, lock up the car and go inside.
It only took a few minutes and I was knee deep in discounted Disney merchandise. YES! I looked.. I shopped.. I found the cutest little purse that has a picture of Tink on it and says "Naturally spoiled". Of course I had to have it. And at 8.99, it was a bargain. I slipped it on my shoulder and continued shopping.
DD had saved her money all summer and had 80 to spend. I doubled it so she had a total of 160.00. She bought a shirt, necklace, penny book, disney girl doll and a few other assorted items. DH found golf shirts with mickey and goofy on them. We piled our stuff up on the counter, paid and walked over to KB Toys.
DD walked around and shopped for a while. Suddenly she had an attack of sniffles so I grabbed my purse off my shoulder to get her a kleenex.. and.. uh.. this isn't my purse. It's locked in the car.
OH
My
God
I'm a shoplifter!
DH sees my face drain of all color and asked me if I was ok. I started babbling about stealing this Tink purse. I was going to spend my vacation in prison. I'M A FUGITIVE.. but I don't look good in stripes!!!!!!
DH sits me down on the bench outside KB Toys and gets me calm. He says, "Just go in there and tell them what happened. Then pay for the purse. It'll be ok. And if you aren't back in 10 minutes, we'll come visit you on every other Thursday and slip you some smokes to trade".
I was so upset, I didn't have time to give him my death ray look.
So back into the Disney store and to the counter. "Um.. excuse me, see I kinda forgot to pay for this purse and walked out with it by accident. If it's not too much trouble, can I pay for it please? I'm so very very sorry. It was a total accident" I felt like Oliver Twist saying "Please sir, may I have some more?" I look around nervously for the Disney Gestapo to pounce out of a stack of discounted Tiggers and throw me in the deepest darkest pit of the Disney Dungeon usually reserved for storing Dumbo poop.
The lady takes one look at my face and busts out laughing. "Of course you can pay for it. Don't worry about it, it happens. Thank you for coming back and telling us though. I really appreciate it."
After another 3 dozen apologies, she kicks me out of the store and I go back to KB Toys. At this point, I decide I had better sit on the bench to keep my thieving hands from getting too happy again. DH and DD come out after a few minutes and we head out of the building, back into the car and off down International Drive.
No sirens? Whew - I'm sprung!
We stop by Walgreens and stock up on a few needed items - for DH, sodas, donuts and chips. DD needs a lanyard, gum (she had just gotten the privilege back after being grounded for 2 months for falling asleep for the 3rd time with gum in her mouth) and some candy. I got more Nyquil.
I have my priorities right!
I'm looking around at everything on the way back to the hotel and spy something strange in the sky.
Are those words? They are.. L O V E J E S U S and G O D L O V E S U
Aww.. It's good to be reminded that even thieves are loved!
Scene 2 - The Day Her Prince Came
We got back to the room around 1:30 and decided to take a nap. After all, we'd been up all of 4 hours!
I woke up around 3:30 with the gang all snoozing still. Checked my watch and OMG we gotta go. We have to be at Medieval Times by 4:30. Come on people. MOVE IT
I ran a brush through my hair, put a cap on the Princess and drug DH out the door. Settling in the car, I pulled out my handy dandy map and told DH to stay on International Drive until you get to 192. Take a left and it'll be on the right. No problem.. Piece of cake.
*waiting for you Orlando veterans to quit laughing*
Ok.. so you can't get there from here. We ended up taking the more scenic route involving 480 and some small road. I am so proud of DH - without prompting, he asked the toll booth worker how to get there. *sniff* my boy is growing up!
We pulled into the parking lot at exactly 4:45 pm. Only 15 minutes late! Parking was available on the front row so by 4:50 we had our lovely Black and White Paper Crowns and were being shown through the door to have our picture taken. And no - I'm not going to post those pictures. Nobody would believe me as a demure maiden anyway!
We wandered around the castle for a few moments and settled into the pub for a soda. DD was totally enchanted by the special blinking glasses.
Here's a few of the Princess enjoying her Royal Soda.
What a ham!
We just sat there and took in the atmosphere - wenches in low bodices and pages in tights. Not too bad. Half way through my Coke, nature calls so I head to the ladies room. I'm doing my thing and I hear someone come in. I finish and wash my hands, put my hand on the door and look my left. There is something wrong here. Why is that lady facing the toilet? OH CRAP - I'M IN THE WRONG BATHROOM.
I yank open the door and right there, plain as day, it says "LADIES".
The one across the way is "LORDS". I look back and Mr. Gender-Confused is still whizzing away. I shrug my head and go back out the the family. Presently he comes out and I snapped his picture just to be sure I wasn't loosing my marbles.
Nope, its a "lord" - and looking rather dashing with his paper crown on over his baseball cap! Congratulations! You've just embarrassed yourself in front of a few thousand people!
Presently, they call us to dinner and we enter. I paid for the royalty package so we have front row left seats in our section. Excellent!
The knights are presented and DD falls in love. She thinks ours is the cutest!
Dinner is served (please note the gum - I'm sure all the proper princesses had it!)
Falcons and horse tricks are wonderful, The jousting is great. DD is enjoying herself - no silverware so she's in finger smackin heaven! Our knight gives flowers to several of the young ladies in our section. However, when it comes time to pick a maiden for whom to fight, our little princess is selected!
He presents this banner tied to his lance and she picks it off. I think I hear fireworks. The princess is smitten!
Oh NO! Our knight is defeated by the evil captain of the guard! Whatever shall we do? Fortunately another knight rides to the rescue and all is good again in the world.
All the way back down 192, DD is raving about how wonderful it was. "Momma, he was so cute!" DH is laughing, but telling her if she doesnt quit talking about him, he's going to put that knight in a chastity belt! We stop at Wendys for a pit stop and then on to Cameras Unlimited.
I've been wanting a Minolta Maxxum 7-D camera ever since they came out last year. At 1400, the price is a little too steep. But since we were in town, we stopped at C.U. just to check and see. Henry, who is working that night, checks and finds that they can get a camera body only, factory warranted for 222.00. My jaw hit the floor!
Of course they don't have any in stock, but I get his card and assure him I will be calling after the first of the year.
We somehow find our way back to the hotel, avoiding a pretty nasty accident at the corner of International Drive and Sea World (I didnt write down exactly - sorry) and arrive safely back. DH and DD play cards for a while - the princess is a sore looser!
Get everyone ready for bed (YES YOU ARE STILL COUGHING SO YOU WILL TAKE IT - STOP WHINING) and get into bed. We watch the human slingshot through the window until finally we drift off to the knowledge that tomorrow we move onto Disney property.
Next Stop - Disney and Bobby the Kid!
