Part 12- 2/12/06- Sunday- Day One
On the bus, we field more probing questions from the kids. Are we going to Mickey Mouse now? Soon, sweeties, but we have to go back to the hotel first for a few minutes. Are we going home? No, no, not yet, sillys! Is that Mickey Mouse? Nope, thats a gas station. Whats that ball? Is it a baseball? Is it a golf ball? No, guys, thats spaceship earth at Epcot. Look that man is picking his nose, thats naaaaaasty. Shhhh, we dont point and talk about others. Jack, sit down. Jack. Jack. Jack, mommy said on your bottom. Now. Sky, dont touch that m & m, put it back down. Ick, Ick. I wanna go to Buzz. I wanna go on the Viking ship. I wanna see the pirates. When will we see star wars? Star tours, Carson. You are excited, huh, bud? Hang on, weve got all week to do all that. This is pretty much how the bus rides went during the week.
We head back to OKW to rest for a time, grab a snack, and get ready for a night at the Magic Kingdom. I hadnt unpacked much this morning, and took a few minutes to put some stuff away, hide the bedspreads and wipe away all the germs. There was dried blood on the front of the vanity. I kid you not. The toilet was running, incessantly. I called to have the toilet fixed and took it upon myself to clean the bathroom a little better than our maid had done. Maintenance came as we were leaving. Does anyone get nervous thinking people will be in their hotel room while they are gone? Not to be mistrustful, but it did make me a little uneasy leaving. But heck, getting to MK was more important than someone rifling through our stuff. So off we went to wait for the bus.
I think our rooms were 1824 and 1825. Building 18 is very close to the bus stop on Millers Road. We stopped there. It is the second to last stop out of OKW. The last stop is the hospitality house, which was a short stop. So we had two spots to pick up the bus. Unmagically, the Magic Kingdom bus did not come very quickly. After waiting at least 30 minutes or so, an Epcot bus pulls up. We ask the driver when the next MK bus might arrive. He encourages us to hop on with him and take the monorail to MK. We decide to do this even if it might take longer, as waiting at the bus stop with three squirming bouncekins is just not much fun.
The trip to Epcot is quick. After getting off the bus, we contemplate just staying here for the afternoon, as we are here. Carson starts pouting as he can see this is not the MK. Sky whines too. Jack continues to request the presence of one large mouse. DJ and I look at one another and up the stairs to the monorail we go. What were we thinking? These little people had endured an entire morning of their parents whimsy. We simply were on the wrong path considering anything other than going to the big K, the big MK that is.
It is not a busy time of day on the monorail here. We spy an empty spot at the front of the monorail. We move towards it. Suddenly a family of four, with teenagers bolts past us and slips into our spot. They were clearly Disers. They knew the ropes, and they were able to move faster than our kids little legs could move them. We were blitzed. So they got the cool ride with the driver. I do not have a sense of entitlement, but it just didnt seem right to be blitzed like that. Oh well, perhaps another time. We sit in the next car back. And the ride was fine.
The kids were holding up. DJ, the strong silent type, was almost showing excitement. Its tough for him, showing much exuberance. He just is not an emotive person. We really are very different people
..I am elated and hardly able to contain my excitement. Being on the monorail, I was transported back to my very first time at Diz in February of 1972. I was 11. The view looked the same. The monorail felt the same. I can see my dads white bell bottoms and my moms shag hairdo. My older brother had on long sleeves and pants, because he was too self-conscious to expose his skinny limbs, and my toe headed baby brother was sitting next to me, all cherubic like. Disney really brings back my childhood. My parents wont come with us anymore. They just dont have any interest. It makes me sad, because I so loved the trips they took us on. My dad is an infectious guy and really made our journeys so much fun. But they have that been there, done that mentality now. So on this day, as we pull into the Magic Kingdom, I stuff the memory of my parents and brothers into my pocket and zip back into the present.
It is late afternoon, and lots of folks are leaving. But it is also EMH, so many are also arriving. No matter, we conquered the Yeti this morning, so whatever we get to do here after we stroll up Main Street is a bonus. We grab a stroller, and woosh! There it is. I am not going to describe the entrance under the railway, as I have nothing new to add to the thrill everyone has described when standing a stones throw from The Castle. Many of us have that feeling. You know, the one that makes your heart beat and your adrenalin flow? Euphoria. This is the feeling.
Main Street is packed and it is tough to get through. Carson has been waiting to rejoin Buzz, the cute aliens, and Zurg since the last time we were here. This was his first request. We head to Tomorrowland. We grab a fast pass For Buzz and go to one of three rides that has no wait. Can you guess the big three? Carousel of Progress, Stitch and Tomorrowland Transit Authority. Which do you think we went to first? If you guessed COP you win! My dad sang that lil tune for years during our Disney days. It was a perennial favorite. So space age back then, so cutting edge. Really cheesy now, really defunct. But I still love it. Auld Lang Syne and all, especially the pup. It is a good place to start as it is not scary, we can set a spell, and I can reminisce. Only problem is delayed gratification for the Jackster. He has it in his mind we are going to Buzz. How can we teach him to be flexible? His older sibs just go with the flow, and we drag our now 626 with us onto that vintage attraction. Sudddenly, I remember the lollipops in the backpack. Phew, major tantrum averted.
Its a great big beautiful tomorrow, starting at the end of every day
Its a great big beautiful tomorrow, tomorrow is just a dream away
We emerge, with three sticky kids and give them a choice, Stitch or TTA. They scream for Stitch and run towards it. Jack has assumed the position in the throne pram. At this point, he has refused to walk even one step. We oblige. We get inside with all the other latecomers to MK and enter 626s domain. Jack is starting to not like going into these dark theaters. I offer to take him out. This child is stubborn! No, I will stay. We get in our seats and those over the shoulder death traps lock us into our seats. Only problem is, Jacks does not come down. I start waving and screaming frantically, fearing for the life of my own Stitch. This is not an attractive look. Who cares. Finally a CM notices and comes over and has to override some system to get Jacks torture device over him. I look at his face. He is most unhappy. I can see he wants out. Too late! The lights go out. Loud hideous laughing ensues, and our seats start vibrating and bouncing.
Okay, stop everything. I am writing this and realize we have again allowed our clueless children to dictate the ride. Again, after what we went through this morning, we dont really think things through. Why did we do this? They rely on us for wisdom. How dumb were we? Looking back, clearly we made a tactical error here. We need to do a preview before our kids go on some of these things. From now and forever we will, I promise, Jack, Sky and Carson. Your Dad and I just get caught up in the frenzy and lose some common sense.
Back to Stitch. Jack somehow got his blanket over his head again. Poor little guy. These rides are just not for him. This was a one-to-four ride. Do you know what that is? One of us loved it, four of us did not. A twenty percenter. A one/fifther. Not a very good outcome for this attraction. We love most rides. Despite the Dino and Bug issues, which were really about our kids being scared, we are actually pretty easy to please. Stitch, and I am a big fan of his, was a bomb. Not
Da bomb, which is fantastic.
A bomb, as in crap. Nope. Imagineers did not nail this one. I think they need a touch of Lilo and Hawaii with Don Ho music, the smell of pineapples and mai tais for every parent. Now that would be a good Stitch ride. Hang Ten, imagineers, and improve this one. I think that building is kind of jinxed, like there is some kind of voodoo curse on it. I have never liked anything in that building.
Luckily it was time for Buzz as we left Stitch. Buzz is the best, Buzz is da bomb! Buzz, Buzz hes our man, I can beat ya I know I can! DJ and I love our chance to grab the lasers and go for the big points. Sky and Jack went with me. Sky wanted to spin us. Remember shes a twirler. Jack got like 3000 points. My laser gun, well, it was broken. I was totally disappointed. I selfishly, but desperately, grabbed Jacks for a minute, just to get a couple of shots out. He began to protest and I grudgingly hand it back to him. Our car was going in circles at a high rate of speed. DJ and Carson were serious and focused. It cracked me up to watch them. High stakes here. No room for smiles, laughter or joy. I am dizzy and just before I think I might lose my cookies, we are coming to the moving landing strip.
It is almost dark. It is freezing. The mercury is falling and it is hovering below 40. People are leaving the park. Oh goodie, I think, more space for us! Go, go on, go get warm with your ADRs, we want this place to ourselves! We get in line for the Speedway. Some crying occurs. Jack and Sky both want to steer. I dont remember who prevailed. I think Jack. I had no solution to come up with to settle this one fairly. My brain was beginning to drain.
We decide to dine at Pinnochios in Fantasyland. We like this little place and score a seat by the windows where you can watch all the Small Worlders departing for their journey. We get chocolate milks, chicken nuggets, and macaroni and cheese for the kids. DJ and I got the salads. $25 -30 bucks for dinner. Reasonable. The kids were thrilled. It was seven oclock or so. The little troopers were still in good spirits. They were starving and finished their plates and milkies. Milky, One of those words we use. Well, me, Dh just does not speak that way. It would be me that says Milky, like creamy (for suntan lotion).
We close the night out with Its a Small World, which the kids enjoyed, the teacups, where I found a Magic Your Way Ticket and returned it to a CM running the teacups, and the Carousel, which we rode several times. We decided to head out and skip the Spectro parade and Wishes, as it had been a really long day, and a very short night. The crowds were thick along Main Street, despite the freezing temperature. We made our way towards the Railroad Station, to return our double stroller and make our way home.
Just as we reached the station, Spectro began. The music started and the brilliantly lit floats came out and my whole demeanor changed. I made DJ stop. He grimaced. He just cant stand when I change a plan. The kids are looking curious, and I am now unable to leave. Couldnt if I wanted to. So DJ, the kids and I abandon the strollers and head to the top of the station to try to see. We score a perfect clearing at the railing. The kids have a table to stand on. The have come alive. All the stars are there. The genie, snow white, the dwarves, Pooh, Minny. We had never seen this spectacle and I was very interested, as I had read a hysterical thread about the Spectro-men. Heres what made me want to see the parade.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1022976&highlight=spectromen
Read up to post #7 to get a flavor of this thread.
I was so curious about the hideousness of these characters, that I had to judge for myself. I must confess, that I am repulsed by clowns. I apologize for offending any of you Kora Temple gents, or Clown University grads, but they weird me out. They did when I was a wisp of a girl and they still do to this day. I was truly disturbed about 11 years ago, when DJ and I had visited his sister and brother-in-law in Durham, NC. They had what was our only nephew at the time and he was about 18 months old. We arrived at night and went out the next morning. Outside their neighbors house was a rainbow painted VW. It was unsettling, but nothing compared to my watching a fully frocked clown in rainbow laughfro with giant red shoes coming out of the front door and stuffing himself into the tiny car. Where was this clown going? How could I protect my beloved nephew from this creepy neighbor?
So this curious fascination drew me towards the Spectro-men. Now was my chance. May I just say the motion of their bodies is indeed bizarre? I do not understand what they are doing in this parade, so I must jot down a reminder to research this. Does anyone know which imagineer came up with these ghouls? I couldnt tear my eyes from them, strangely, despite my repulsion. I realized that I was weirdly attracted to them. I wanted to watch them, and capture the puppet like movements in my mind so I could relive the oddity over and over again. What is wrong with me? Is this not a wee bit freaky? Just like I love the Phantom. Would love to be in the bowels of the Opera with him. Clearly, I have a dark side. Oh, I like Stephen King too.
So back to the glow in the dark parade. The tunes are great. The pageantry is fantastic. All the favorite characters are there. I can see why this is such a popular attraction. It is incredible. DJ is watching and loving it too. Sky is all excited. Carson too. Jack is starting to get really cold, atop DJs shoulders. I hold his tiny little frigid hands. I wrap Skys blanket around her legs. I snuggle up to Carson to share whatever warmth my bigger-than-usual-mommy-body is generating. What an unbelievable day, with this fantastic ending and no meltdowns.
And then it happens. Wardrobe malfunction. The princesses are coming. We see Ariel, the little Mermaid. She is just passing us, when suddenly her right clamshell falls off! Full exposure! She is waving that royal wave with the slight tilt of the hand. She casually tries to use her wig to cover her now bare, well, upper right quadrant. DJ is in heaven! He is cracking up and delights in the indiscretion. A peek of Ariels natural self. Isnt that every Disney dads dream? Was it planned? Just like Janet Jackson? Was Ariel making a pathetic attempt to rise in popularity, above all the other princesses? Or was this merely a simple but sensational, wardrobe malfunction?
I love your reports they are so moving! Can't wait to read more!
Can't wait to read the rest of this ...
