Happiness and HAAAAmony

[sharkB8HooHaHa]

Our afternoon was filled with all of the “must do’s” of the first day at Magic Kingdom. Little Bite 3 can finally bash his head into the 40 inch bar, so we were flip-flopping between Splash and “the wildest ride in the wiiiiiiilerness!” I’d get soaked on Splash Mountain, then head over to BTMR to dry off. Back to get drenched. BTMR. And so it went. Until we decided to ride Pirates.

We were fortunate enough to take advantage of a soft opening of pirates over 4th of July weekend, so we were familiar with the updated ride. It’s good. But not worth riding if you are forcing your children to ride something so that you can take pictures of a fake Johnny Depp, as was the woman in line behind us. Some people make me realize that I am not the wicked witch of the west, and she was one of them.

I could not possibly be the wicked witch of the west, because SHE was outside the ride. See, while we had done Pirates before, we had yet to enjoy the pirate tutorial. It was something I really wanted to see, and I thought little bites 1, 2 and 3 would have a blast. And seeing as how I came into the park (through the left) without grabbing a time schedule, I had no idea when we might partake in a parley.

There were 3 CMs lined up outside the ride. To this day I don’t know why they were there. There was no line to manage, and they certainly were not interested in being helpful. BUT, I approached the one on the end who was not engaged in conversation and asked, as I am prone to doing, about “the pirate swash-buckling thing”. I can only assume that it was my lack of proper Disney nomenclature that prompted the look on the CMs face. If dead-pan had blonde hair, it would have been in front of me. She grunted. I kid you not. I had asked if she knew what I was talking about, and she grunted.

“The thing were the kids learn how to be a pirate?” I asked with residual Main Street happiness.

“Yeah,” she said. At least I got more than a grunt.

“Could you tell me when they do it?”

“Yeah, she said with a snap of her gum. This was no ordinary “yeah” followed by the requested information. This was smart mouth “yeah, I COULD tell you, but I won’t, because I have power and you are merely on vacation and you want something and I can keep it from you and tourists come here thinking they own the joint and some of them don’t wear enough deodorant and why didn’t you get the times guide on your way in you stupid old lady!” I saw it in her face. She hated me. She hated her job. She hated her pirate ensemble.

DH persisted with a kindness I must have left on the bus. She caved. But only after I looked at her co-workers and said (with the snide tongue of a seventh grade girl) “She is SO helpful!” I know, not a shining moment for me.

We learned that the “Pirate TUTORIAL” is at twenty past almost every hour. We also learned the hour we were approaching was not one of the “almost”, so we pressed on with our day, vowing to come back another day and look for the wicked witch (oh, and be tutored in the ways of pirates.)

We had dinner reservations at Spoodles. DH is a big fan of Spoodles and an even bigger fan when we are on the dining plan. We took the bus over to the Boardwalk and found it was taking longer than we had planned. We were pushing the ten minute window as we pulled up to the resort. I had some concerns about just how crowded the restaurants were going to be as a result of the free dining, and my lack of sleep was starting to make me a little crabby at the idea of having to beg for a table. I asked DH to high-tail it to tell them we were, in fact, there and ready to eat, and I dealt with bites 2 and 3 and the stroller. Little Bite 1 was told to stay and help his mother, but I think he heard “Why don’t you weigh your options and decide which parent you want to go with” because the next thing I know, he’s off and running to catch up to DH. I think (at least I’d LIKE to think) that he didn’t really hear anything, and panicked, as he is likely to do, and took off for fear he was going to get left behind or forced to ride the bus all night. He has little faith in his parents.

Just as DH was walking out to wait with his light up beeper, I panted up to the door. I think I said “hey” and we were blinking and buzzing. Time to be seated.

Dinner was good. Dinner there is always good. DH loves the seafood stew and I got the lemon chicken. But what I was waiting for was dessert. Okay, it sounds SO gross on the page, but the chocolate/apricot/pistachio cake is FANTASTIC! Last year when we were on the dining plan, I looked over the dessert menu with much hesitation. I am a dessert person. I could easily have a salad, skip the meal completely and make up the calories in dessert (plus some!) I’m not a dessert snob. Ice cream is just as tasty as cheesecake, brownies will work as well as soufflé. It’s all at the top of the food pyramid, and there for good reason. So when we were at Spoodles last year and I was looking for chocolate, this cake was my only option. But the apricot/pistachio thing made me a little nervous. It came with raspberry sherbet, so I figured if the cake was yuck, I could peal off the chocolate frosting and eat the raspberries. I was determined to make it work. But in the end, there was no need.

The cake is chocolate, and dense and wonderful. It’s like a brownie without the crusty top. It is topped with a thin layer of apricot – thicker than a puree but not sticky like preserves. It offers just the tiniest hint of apricot, which is just the right amount. Poured on the top of the three by three inch square cake is the most luscious chocolate frosting…not even frosting but a ganache of sorts. It is rich and thick and scrumptious. The pistachios are incognito, but their flavor is there. It is by far one of the best desserts I have ever had. YUM!

We were happy. Our bellies were full. We had welcomed dinner as a chance to reflect on our day and plan for the days ahead. We broke bread, nearly broke a plate or two, and were ready for Saturday, and all it had to offer.

 

[missj1975]

I just found your trip report and I think it is great!!! Thanks for sharing

 

[Syds-Mom]

..your trip report. I'm mostly a lurker. I really have very little time to respond, but I wanted to let you know that I am hear and reading and enjoying your trip.

Sandy

 

[DebIreland]

If dead-pan had blonde hair, it would have been in front of me.

You have a wonderful way with words. I'm loving this! Keep up the good work.

 

[sharkB8HooHaHa]

YEAH! Welcome to Bee, MissJ, and Syds-Mom! I'm so happy you have let me know you are out there and you're enjoying.

NMommy, isn't it awful to "leave your mark"? Coney Island in NY was the worst for me. It was one of those spinning rides where the centrifugal force pins you to the wall and the floor drops out from beneath you. Ugh. I think they may have outlawed those rides....too many people come off green. I couldn't find the garbage can fast enough. Needless to say, I'm a "less intense" recruit on Mission: Space. (But don't ask the CM for the "woosie" version, they seem to get annoyed).

And Deb! You are too sweet!

 

[mlill]

Hi! I'm a little late, but I made it! I've really enjoyed reading your TR so far! Your last installment is making me re-think my ADRs! I don't have Spoodles on my list and am wondering if I should squeeze it in somewhere!?! It sounds like you had a great meal there. Anyway, keep up the good work!

Happy Holidays!
-Michelle

P.S. I've got to tell you, I think you have one of the best screen names on the DIS! I love it!

 

[sharkB8HooHaHa]

Michelle,
Thank you, thank you. And welcome! I'm glad you made your way over here.

I would recommend Spoodles to anyone. It's easy to get to by boat if you are in Epcot, the atmosphere is great, and the food is consistently good. It can be a bit pricey, which is why it's a favorite for us when we are on the DDP (that dessert I spoke so fondly of is $7.95 (yikes, but so worth it!)). We also have never had a problems getting ADRs there. Let me know what you decide. I'd love to hear your experience.

Thanks again!

 

[sharkB8HooHaHa]

To those of you readers waiting patiently, thank you. I have had company all week and as much as I WANTED to sit down and write, I was unable. BUT, company has a 6 am flight out tomorrow (better her than me!) so I hope to get here by Monday with my next bit of babble.

THANKS!

 

[DebIreland]

Looking forward to the next chapter.

 

[sharkB8HooHaHa]

I discovered that the cure for my lack of sleep at POR was to compromise with the AC unit. I allowed it to churn all day, making as much noise and artic air as it wanted, and it allowed me to turn it off at night, using only the fan to keep the cool air circulating the room. We were both happy.

So we woke early on Saturday, ready to take advantage of EMH at MGM/Disney’s MGM/Disney Studios. Much like my left sided entry into the Magic Kingdom, I had grown accustomed to calling it MGM and honestly don’t even know when it changed it’s name on me. Again, it’s not that I am adverse to change, but I don’t like it when it sneaks up on me. And that’s what MGM did when I wasn’t looking.

I must confess, of the four parks, this is my least favorite. I have had miserable experiences here in the past, and those experiences have stuck with me. What I dislike most about the Studios is the separation it enforces. Having a ten year old Little Bite who loves Tower of Terror and RnR, and a three year old Little Bite who not only can’t do those things, but insists on seeing Stanley, we are forced to split up. I love my family, and we go on vacation to be together, not apart. But the Studios creates a divide that doesn’t exist in any of the other parks.

Much like me and the air conditioning unit, in Animal Kingdom, while the bigger bites are on EE, Bite 3 and I can look at flowers or play eye spy with the funky bus while we wait. At Epcot, we can play in the Mars tunnels or sit in countless GM cars while the bigger bites ride Mission: Space or Test Track. And Magic Kingdom is full of stuff for everyone. But the Studios makes us pick meeting spots, set watches and plan to reconnect later. I think I resent the park for that. That and how hot it gets. Am I crazy or is that the hottest park EVER?!?!? Those back streets are like an oven on broil. Needless to say, I wasn’t super excited about the day before me.

Our journey to the park was uneventful. We were crammed into a packed bus and the smell of sunscreen was overwhelming. I was already getting irritated. And then it happened. It was one of those moments where all becomes right with the world at one single instant. Little Bite 1, who adores the Studios for it’s rides, announced that today was going to be a family day and he was going to forego his rides so that we could stay together. I was shocked, and proud. I told him it wasn’t necessary, that I knew how much he had been looking forward to Tower of Terror and Rock n’Rollercoaster, but he insisted. He said he knew we’d be back later in the week, and he could ride just as easily then as today, so he’d wait. He wanted to be together as a family. My Little Bite is growing into a thoughtful young man. His decision changed my demeanor immediately. I felt myself exhale. It didn’t even matter that all of those sunscreened bodies on the bus with us would soon be entering a park that was already full of other sunscreened bodies. If he could put off his fun for a few days, surely I could stop crabbing.

And the park was packed. But we got to Lights, Motors, Action! early and got seats out of the sun. We had lower level seats for Indiana Jones which brought us closer than we had ever been. We got to see Beauty and the Beast (one of my favorites which is often put off so rides can be ridden) and had great seats for that, too. It was the day of great seats. The boys rode Star Tours several times because Little Bite 3, who is tall enough, loves the fact that he is tall enough. And I got to sit in the shade and wait for them and watch people go by. I was forever on the lookout for lime green, but saw no one. I got to have my picture taken with the cardboard Roz. We were disappointed by Narnia, but had a great time with Mr and Mrs Incredible. We finally strolled through One Man’s Dream, which is not only inspirational but touching. And no day at MGM/Disney’s MGM Studios/Disney Studios would be complete without the Muppet’s.

We skipped all the big kid stuff and all the little kid stuff and found that there actually is common ground in the park. And common ground we could all be happy with. Much like me and the air conditioner.

 

[Nurse_Mommy4]

Awwwwwww!

That was so thoughtful of Little Bite 1 to think of his family first.

DS12 will shock me like that once in awhile (when he's not fighting with DD14).

I always think, now there's a good DH in the making!

 

[PrincessV]

I discovered that the cure for my lack of sleep at POR was to compromise with the AC unit. I allowed it to churn all day, making as much noise and artic air as it wanted, and it allowed me to turn it off at night, using only the fan to keep the cool air circulating the room. We were both happy.

So THAT's the trick! I was doing just the opposite - turned it off all day and listened to it turning on and off all night - and it was misery. Thanks for the tip, 'cause I loved this resort and I want to go back

Our journey to the park was uneventful. We were crammed into a packed bus and the smell of sunscreen was overwhelming. I was already getting irritated. And then it happened. It was one of those moments where all becomes right with the world at one single instant. Little Bite 1, who adores the Studios for it’s rides, announced that today was going to be a family day and he was going to forego his rides so that we could stay together. I was shocked, and proud. I told him it wasn’t necessary, that I knew how much he had been looking forward to Tower of Terror and Rock n’Rollercoaster, but he insisted. He said he knew we’d be back later in the week, and he could ride just as easily then as today, so he’d wait. He wanted to be together as a family. My Little Bite is growing into a thoughtful young man. His decision changed my demeanor immediately. I felt myself exhale. It didn’t even matter that all of those sunscreened bodies on the bus with us would soon be entering a park that was already full of other sunscreened bodies. If he could put off his fun for a few days, surely I could stop crabbing.

Awww! And you know what his actions show? Awesome parenting - you guys rock!

 

[sharkB8HooHaHa]

After what was one of my better experiences at the park formerly known as MGM, we headed to World Showcase for dinner. We had ADRs for San Angel Inn, a return visit for us because we enjoyed it very much last year. On the issue of seats, last year we were seated in the corner nearest los banos. Not great seats, convenient for our bladders, but too much information about the countless other guests who were in need. But we were a party of twelve last year, so we took what we could get. Last year, the food was good, the staff outstanding, and the desserts were excellent.

This time, not so much. Our seats were much better, but the food was obviously prepared for the masses. But, for those of you who have been reading along, you know I wasn’t there for the entrée.

I ordered one chicken item and my DH ordered a different chicken item but they came to the table looking like fraternal twins. Only the color of the sauce was different. Even the plates were the same. It was a bit disappointing, but I had dessert on the brain and was looking toward the future.

Our table was cleared and we were handed the dessert menu. And there it was, up at the top, the caveat that should have been emblazoned across the archway to San Angel:

MODIFIED DESSERT MENU

My dessert loving world was about to crumble. I pictured a week of modified dessert menus throughout WDW. I was mourning decadent chocolate cakes, longing for mousses that would never happen, crying inside for lost flambes. Then I started to plot. How would I manage to change all of our ADRs for the week to Spoodles, home of chocolate/pistachio/apricot BLISS?

I was so busy plotting that I barely noticed my selection arrive at the table.

Flan.

Remind me never to order flan again.

On the way out of Epcot, we used snack credits to satisfy my dessert demon. Mickey ice cream on a stick. Happiness AND harmony.

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

I just found this little gem of a trippie! I hate being late to the party! And look... all my fave peeps are here!

I love your style! Looking forward to more!

 

[sharkB8HooHaHa]

DisMama,
Better late than never! Welcome I hope you enjoy.

Mommy4 and V,
Thank you for the kind words about Little Bite 1. Yes, he's a kind soul. And he made my day, that day as well as many others. (But yesterday?...THAT is a different story

 

[sharkB8HooHaHa]

Day three put us back in the Magic Kingdom. Now, I know what you are thinking. Why on earth would we go back to the Magic Kingdom on day three having not ventured into either of the two other parks? Simple. The spread sheet said that Magic Kingdom was where we were going, so we went.

I know that I am not alone in the obsession that comes with planning. We ALL are, after all, registered Disneyophiles. We read whatever we can get our hands on, we sign up for e-newsletters and enter contests, we pride ourselves on our Disney trivia successes, we search every Hallmark Greeting Store within a reasonable driving distance for an Ariel Christmas ornament (but I digress). DebIreland was kind enough to show a snippet of her plan in her TR. V has spoken of planning and replanning and replanning again, and we all know that takes a certain amount of record keeping. I am a sheet(s) of paper kind of gal. I can use reams of paper to plan a week in the world. DH likes the spread sheet.

It’s color coded. At first I laughed. And I was intrigued by his choice of colors. Purple is the Magic Kingdom. Green is Animal Kingdom. Light blue is the park formerly known as MGM, and light green is Epcot. Orange is hotel time. Yellow is Downtown Disney. Red is travel time. White is leisure time at the hotel, although I’m not sure why it isn’t orange. I guess sleep time is different than pool time. All of these colors are broken down into sub-categories of time. So on this particular day, our spread sheet color was purple at 8 in the morning, a full day of purple with lunch scheduled at Pecos Bill’s between 11:30 and 12, and dinner at Tony’s at 5:30 (with the reservation # included in the allotted space). What makes the Magic Kingdom purple is beyond me. Green for AK makes perfect sense, but I don’t get the rest. I don’t know if the colors were intentional or had meaning, but I know that it became our PLAN and there was little to no diverting from it. Not in a tyrannical kind of way, but it just became set in stone.

So we were purple for the day, and off to the Magic Kingdom again. It was crowded but wonderful. An amazing thing happens when you have Annual Passes and are fortunate enough to go several times within a year. Pressure disappears. Urgency is completely removed from the vacation, making just that, a vacation. It’s like being a butterfly in a sea of honey bees. Everyone rushing frantically to get where they wanted to go, doing their busy dance of Disney World, and I was able to sit back on my flower and slowly take in the wonder of it all. I love that feeling. It’s that feeling that makes me want to drop the $400 per person so we all have APs again next year. How’s that for brilliant marketing?

Our day was much like our opening day. We did all our favorites. We had an awesome ride on the Jungle Cruise. Captain Jack (I kid you not) didn’t stick to the script and he was FUNNY. I love it when they are courageous enough to throw in their own material. We got to see Genie by the Magic Carpet ride. And Stitch was running amuck in Tomorrowland. DH maxed out his buzzer on Space Ranger Spin while I (naturally) hit the galactic glass ceiling and remain a Planetary Pilot.

Our knowledge gathered from the scurvy wench outside Pirates two days prior got us to the Pirate Tutorial on time. I won’t spoil it for anyone, but I will tell you that I think you should find time on your spread sheets to see it, especially if you have little kids. The Captain Jack Sparrow we saw was a dead ringer for the film version. He was great, so long as he didn’t speak. He needed to work on his slur a bit. (I never thought I hear myself say THAT about a person). The big kids get left out on this one, a disappointment for Little Bite 1 who is big for his age, but it’s a lot of fun to watch. Someday, when I am smarter and less terrified of technology, I will post photos. We have a great one of Jack.

Our day ended with yet another MODIFIED DESSERT MENU and Tony’s. I love to eat at Tony’s for two reasons. One: the view of the beginning of Main Street and the square is fantastic. Two: It is one of only four sit down restaurants in the Magic Kingdom and after a long day I like to sit on my seat and have someone bring me my food. They do that there. Honestly, I don’t remember what I ordered for my entrée. I seem to have an entrée block. I was, as always, focused on dessert. This time, I was given NO CHOICE. Not even a selection of three or four items as I was the night before. I was presented with a plate, and on that plate was a cannoli, a cheesecake square, and a cookie. The boys were given bowls of vanilla ice cream. This MODIFIED DESSERT MENU was starting to effect my dessert happiness.

We headed to Philharmagic as our last attraction of the day. It had long lines all day, but it was approaching 7 and it was a walk up. What an amazing trip for the senses. I have to look away during Donald’s ride on the carpet….that whole wobbly stomach thing gets to me even while sitting down sometimes. I find it inspiring that there are people in the world whose brains can think so creatively. It is a magical 10 minutes that makes me want to learn to paint or sculpt or sing on key. It makes me want to leave a creative mark on the world. I am in awe.

And it makes me want apple pie.

I had a Mickey Ice Cream instead. Happiness back in balance.

 

[PrincessV]

Your spread sheet descirption sounds an awful lot like mine! My colors were different though, and I suspect brought about by pat Disney marketing schemes: MK was pink, like the cake/castle from a few years ago; EP was purple, like the logo used to be. Great minds think alike!

An amazing thing happens when you have Annual Passes and are fortunate enough to go several times within a year. Pressure disappears. Urgency is completely removed from the vacation, making just that, a vacation. It’s like being a butterfly in a sea of honey bees. Everyone rushing frantically to get where they wanted to go, doing their busy dance of Disney World, and I was able to sit back on my flower and slowly take in the wonder of it all. I love that feeling. It’s that feeling that makes me want to drop the $400 per person so we all have APs again next year. How’s that for brilliant marketing?

Works for me! I agree – I love that feeling of “Oh well, if the line’s too long, we’ll just do it next time.”

I had a Mickey Ice Cream instead. Happiness back in balance.

 

[sharkB8HooHaHa]

We wanted to take advantage of some of the things to do around the resort, so we scheduled some down time(spread sheet white time) and got up at 6:30 to make it to the fishing hole by 7. (How is it that scheduled down time requires a person to get up and out even earlier than if we had been going to the park for the morning?) POR has a designated fishing area where you can pole fish in 30 minute increments. We got there about 7:20, a bit behind spread sheet schedule, but early none the less, and found a yawning young lady who was more than eager to have some business. We each got a pole, we were handed a bucket of worms to share, and we were told the policy of the resort: this was a catch and release fishing spot. Who on earth would want to KEEP these little fish? What exactly would one DO with them? We had a mini-fridge in the room, but it hardly kept leftovers cold, let alone sticking fresh fish in there. Can you imagine?

At any rate, I am the fisher-woman in the family. Not by choice, but by luck. Of the few times we’ve gone fishing, I am the only one who has ever caught a fish. Little Bite 1 caught a blue crab once, but that’s it. Just me. So imagine my delight when bite 2 caught something within minutes of putting his pole in the water! DH hadn’t even put worms on all the hooks and he was rushing over to take a picture and then re-worm. Then I caught one. Then more camera flashes and re-worming. Then bite 1 caught one. Photo and new worm. Even little bite 3 got one. Everyone caught something, except DH, who was so busy taking pictures and putting worms on hooks that I don’t even think he stuck the fishing pole in the water. In 30 minutes we caught 7 fish, none of them to my DH. They were the tiniest little fish, with spikes down their backs to rival a deep water angler fish. But they were fish, vacation fish, DISNEY fish for that matter, and we caught them. The pride with which we returned our fishing poles was obscene. You’d think we wrestled the Kraaken.

And then we were on to the surrey.

The appeal of the surrey is a strange one. As you walk past them as they sit quietly, waiting for passengers, you can’t help but think that they look like a tremendous amount of fun. The romantic idea of riding through the resort as a family on this bicycle built for 6 somehow makes you think that you will befriend every person you pass, waving and smiling as you peddle by. That all anger and hatred in the world will dissipate with every dinging of the bell. It is so worth world peace that the $36.95 for 30 minutes seems like the deal of a lifetime, until you sit your rear end on the seat and realize not only do you have to haul to make it around the path in 30 minutes, but little bite 3 has a hold of the string which rings the bell and he does so INCESSANTLY!

Careful to follow the map and the “Surrey Traffic” signs, we peddled that thing as if we were in a spinning class. Little Bite 2, who was sitting next to me, was having a terrible time keeping his feet on the pedals if he sat properly on the seat, but slid off the seat if he managed to work the pedals. Little Bite 1 was in the front with DH, pretending to drive the fake wheel, and Bite 3 thought that the bell was there for him to use only when he was able to ring it at the last possible minute and startle pedestrians. We hit a traffic jam at the ducks. No one seemed to care that if we went over our allotted time, that we would OWN the surrey, and that was an expense I wasn’t ready to handle. We were ignored completely, until Bite 3 hit the bell. He rang that thing like a cook on a ranch calling the ranch-hands to dinner. He just wouldn’t stop. He got not only the people to move, but he ducks took refuge in the water.

We were back on pace in no time. We made it to the bridge, crossed the river, and headed back to surrey headquarters. We were greeted by the woman who took our life history (and credit card number), who told us we had time to go around again. Off we went. We raced around the lake once again, birds still in the water, Bite 3 still on the bell. Up and over the river, and back. We had time to spare, but not enough to go again. Furthermore, I was exhausted. And I needed another shower.

To think we had a full day of Epcot ahead of us.

As we walked away from our morning of down time, Bite 3 asked if we could buy a surrey when we got home.

Only if we can find one without a bell.

 

[sharkB8HooHaHa]

I wanted to thank you all who read for following along with me as I write this TR. I know I don't have masses of people, but a handful who are sticking it out with me. Thank you for hanging in there.

I wanted to wish you all a very happy holiday, whatever holiday you choose to celebrate, and health and happiness in the New Year.

Enjoy, and be safe.

 

[Nurse_Mommy4]

Right back at cha SharkB8!!!!