I Can't Believe I Invited My MIL -I'm BAAACK! And determiend to finish this thing!

[jordanyosh]

So... I have a confession to make.

Yes, I love WDW. Yes, I have been there over 15 times. Yes, I jones over trip planning. But.... and this may come as a shock ... I am NOT a WDW expert.

I know little to nothing about how the park was built. I know little to nothing about how things work behind the scenes. Here is just a short list of my Disney shortcomings..

1. I have never looked for a Hidden Mickey. done this
2. I have never had a churro.have, but not at a disney park.
3. I know very little about where characters can be found and which ones are "rare."just starting to understand this world. It' s scary
4. I have no idea where Tony's is ... Why have I never even seen this place?Eaten there.
5. If I won the Cinderella castle slumber party thing, I'd sell it on eBay. Seems like a hassle to go and get your stuff from your resort, and then you're in the park all alone all night... kinda creepy.you're on your own with this one. I'd be on that like a fly...well you get the drift.
6. I have never ridden the Tea Cups.not at WDW
7. I get lost in DHS all the time. HA!
8. I have never resort hopped, though this is not really by choiceit's fun to do.
9. I have never seen the Canada or France shows in EpcotSacrilege.
10. I thought Nemo and Friends was really boring.It's cool as in Air Conditioned and you get to sit down...that's all I care about
11. I have never dined at any of the trendy AKL restaurants. Or any of the the other resort restaurants with a very small number of exceptions.that needs to change. Jiko is awesome
12. I wouldn't recognize Storm Along Bay in a swimming pool line up.great pool area.



I feel so much better now. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.

Do you all still love me?


OK, but seriously, sometimes I read these boards and I am overwhelmed by the breadth of depth of some member's knowledge. How do they do it?

We don't have lives.

 

[Jiminy'sGirl]

I might actually talk like that if I've had a few....



Still waiting for that trip to Japan. Went to China in Feb to visit missionary friends of mine. Never thought in a million years I'd ever stand on the Great Wall. Truly a magical feeling.

China is my next "dream trip..." We're going to London for a conference in 2010, so may 2012 will be China. We'll see.

Thanks Tammie for the kind words.

Frat boy talk? I was GDI in college, but went out with a few sorority girls. Was engaged to a Gamma Phi.

Only Fraternity I ever wanted to be in was not on our campus when I was there.

I guess what I mean by this is that, in my head, you sound young and always up for a good time. My brain just goes straight to fraternity boy. Obviously, neither of us in college anymore, but that is ok. You're like the grown up version of the cool, fun fraternity boy everyone wants to hang with.

We don't have lives.

Trust me, either do I. Especially since moving to TX.

But how come I don't have time on all my many trips to accomplish all you all do? What is up with that? Do you all have flux capacitors or something? Are you driving to DIsney World in your Delorians?

2.22 Jiggowatts!

 

[hucifer]

So... I have a confession to make.

Yes, I love WDW. Yes, I have been there over 15 times. Yes, I jones over trip planning. But.... and this may come as a shock ... I am NOT a WDW expert.

I know little to nothing about how the park was built. I know little to nothing about how things work behind the scenes. Here is just a short list of my Disney shortcomings..

1. I have never looked for a Hidden Mickey.
2. I have never had a churro.
3. I know very little about where characters can be found and which ones are "rare."
4. I have no idea where Tony's is ... Why have I never even seen this place?
5. If I won the Cinderella castle slumber party thing, I'd sell it on eBay. Seems like a hassle to go and get your stuff from your resort, and then you're in the park all alone all night... kinda creepy.
6. I have never ridden the Tea Cups.
7. I get lost in DHS all the time.
8. I have never resort hopped, though this is not really by choice
9. I have never seen the Canada or France shows in Epcot
10. I thought Nemo and Friends was really boring.
11. I have never dined at any of the trendy AKL restaurants. Or any of the the other resort restaurants with a very small number of exceptions.
12. I wouldn't recognize Storm Along Bay in a swimming pool line up.

How do you get lost in DHS?

As long as we're in Confession Mode...I never even heard of the Plaza restaurant until this year. I must have walked by it a billion times in my lifetime and never noticed it or knew it existed. It wasn't until I read a dining review on it that I asked, "Where is the heck is that? Universal?"

 

[Jiminy'sGirl]

I don't know - it just happens!! And I am actually directionally gifted. I swear. I can look at a map on Google Earth and I'll remember it for years to come. But once I get into that darn DHS I get all turned around. To me, the layout makes no sense.. it is all willy nilly and hodgepodgey... Plus, they keep changing the name, so most of the time I am not even sure which park I am in. Not to mention, I have spent so many hours in competiton in that darn Indy theater I think my feet automatically head there regardless of where I am trying to go....

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

So... I have a confession to make.




4. I have no idea where Tony's is ... Why have I never even seen this place? You ain't missin nothing. Count yourself lucky.

5. If I won the Cinderella castle slumber party thing, I'd sell it on eBay. Seems like a hassle to go and get your stuff from your resort, and then you're in the park all alone all night... kinda creepy. no way everyone in the entire state of Floridia would know I had won from my hysterical screaming.

7. I get lost in DHS all the time. It happens, even has to me a few times, but I still play all nonchalont like I meant to go around the long way to Star Tours, I really just wanted to see if Indie was having a show soon. Shhh I won't tell if you won't.

9. I have never seen the Canada or France shows in Epcot- we never had until this last trip. Trust me w/ the kiddos in tow it's not a priority thing, more of a nice slow thing for an adult trip.

10. I thought Nemo and Friends was really boring. ITA, I can't beleive its so popular they even have the dinner packages now. DH and I call it Dinner and a nap.


OK, but seriously, sometimes I read these boards and I am overwhelmed by the breadth of depth of some member's knowledge. How do they do it?

Spend countless hours on here while we should be working

 

[jordanyosh]

Staying 13 days usually allows me to get everything done that I want to do and then some. Traveling solo for part of the trip certainly doesn't hurt either.

 

[Jiminy'sGirl]

Spend countless hours on here while we should be working

Well, geez, I've got that covered.

Staying 13 days usually allows me to get everything done that I want to do and then some. Traveling solo for part of the trip certainly doesn't hurt either.

I think the solo thing might be the key.... I've been thinking back over all my trips and the overriding theme is I AM WORRYING ABOUT SOMEONE ELSE. Either it is how my girls are doing to do in competition, did they get enough sleep, wil lso and so finally get her triple, or did who's her face forget her poms, etc. And if it isn't that, than it is my own children: are they getting tired? Are they right by me? Which ride do they want to ride next.

Used to be I had no urge for a solo trip, but I began reading a TR (MRYPPNS - Hi, heidi!) about a solo and now I am kind of feelin' it. That might be something I need to put on my to-do list.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

I don't know - it just happens!! And I am actually directionally gifted. I swear. I can look at a map on Google Earth and I'll remember it for years to come. But once I get into that darn DHS I get all turned around. To me, the layout makes no sense.. it is all willy nilly and hodgepodgey... Plus, they keep changing the name, so most of the time I am not even sure which park I am in. Not to mention, I have spent so many hours in competiton in that darn Indy theater I think my feet automatically head there regardless of where I am trying to go....

Don't feel bad - we get turned around in there, too. ITA - it is a hodgepodge. You can't get anywhere without back tracking.

 

[stayhomemom77]

Oh my gosh!! I've spent most of the last 24 hours reading TR's and PTR's on here and I'm finally going to speak out!!! You guys are flingin' flangin' hilarious!!! I've read most of Jordan's stuff (love the bathroom ratings and flat Winkers was a fantastic running gag--who came up with that??) and this entire thread and I have to say...I'm not as nuts as I think I am. Or, at least I'm in good company if I am...

I LOVE that you didn't think much of the Nemo Musical. I didn't care for it myself but I had begun to think that I was somehow abnormal for forming that opinion...I'm glad to see I don't have to be abnormal all alone.

When I read the Ariel head in the toilet story I laughed until the tears came and then my DH (who thinks I'm NUTS for obsessing about Disney) and my kiddies DD 6, DS 4 demanded to know what was so funny. I used my own words to explain and something definitely got lost in the telling because they looked as if they knew they were more mature than I am.

My parents took me to Disney when I was 6 and again when I was 13. We did the MK the first time, and the MK and MGM the second time. I think I've finally reconciled myself to calling it Hollywood Studios but it's taken a whole year.

I took my family for the first time in April 2009 (off site) and we had a blast!! We're going again April 2010 on a DVC reservation (we rented points right here on the DIS boards) at AKL and the countdown has begun. We'll be there from April 21st to the 30th.

Oh, we're Canadians by the way and we drive...certifiable, I know...it's an 18 hour drive but we space it over two days. I'm really hoping this trip is not the last...I know for sure we'll go at least once more (gotta go in 2013 again when the new princess castles and Pixie Hollow are all operational), so here's hoping that the DH actually "gets it" this year so we can try for an annual trip.

Thanks for listening...

 

[hucifer]

Time for an update.

But since it's the holidays, I'll be in a generous mood and give you until December 26 to post your next installment.

Merry Christmas!

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

and done.


wow that was alot of reading but i did it.


love you stories and the way you tell em.


cant wait to see what else is in store

 

[Jiminy'sGirl]

My TR needs some lovin'.

I am about to post an update - I promise! This will be some random musings on our LAST DAY in the World, which we spent at AK. Like my Epcot update, I'll do my prose in one post, followed by a picture-centric post. You may have to wait a bit on the pics, though, as we are currently on vacation and I have my laptop with me, while my pics are resting comfortably at home on my desktop.

Ok - away we go to the Animal Kingdom!

 

[Jiminy'sGirl]

When I awoke to the sound of DD's tuneless Ariel singing, it was with a feeling of dread. This was our last day in Disney World, and I knew what was coming: The Disney Hangover. There is no magic pill for this hangover; you can't take 3 Advil before bed, or drink a bunch of water, or slug down some raw eggs and tabasco. No matter what you try, it ain't going away. Maybe for months. All day long it will be in the back of your mind: tomorrow this is all over. Its back to real life. In real life, plates are shaped like circles, not Mickey's noggin. In real life there are phone calls to make, appointments to keep, and meals to cook and clean up. And in comparison to Disney Life, Real Life blows.

When you get home you'll be able to occupy yourself with uploading your photos from the trip to stave off the depression, but that only takes so long. You soon realize just how much of your day was sucked up by Disney planning. You also kinda realize most of that planning was completely superfluous, and that is kind of depressing in itself.

But I digress. This was our last day in WDW and I was determined it was going to be as wonderful as our first 5. But, unbeknownst to me, DS and DD had been hatching a plot in the wee hours of dawn while DH and I snoozed on. As I bounced out of the shower and announced that we'd be seeing "LIONS AND TIGERS AND BEARS, OH MY!" today, DS looked at DD and said,

"You ask her."

Uh oh.

"Mommy, can we spend today at McDonalds?"



As you recall, we were staying at the All Stars, so twice a day everyday we had been driving right past that enticing mecca of grease and salt. Each day they had asked to go, and everyday I had said, "maybe before we leave."

Well, the kiddos knew we were leaving today and dadgummit, they wanted their Mickey D's before we skadoodled on home. I tried to convince them that this McD's was not all that and a Big Mac. Having walked from *** (All Star Sports- sheesh) to the aforementioned McD's many a time, I was well aware that aside from Donald Duck cartoons and the slight price gouging, this was basically like every other McD's you could find in our relatively small South Carolina town.

But, oh no. They INSISTED on going. So, I promised that we would eat there for dinner on our way out of town that evening. I had planned on a meal in the park before making the 6 hour trek back home, but since there were very few restaurants actually open for business during this trip (Nov. 2007, if you recall), I figured McD's would do.

Coming up next... Our family's reaction to the wonderful world of Animal Kingdom.

 

[hucifer]

Kids are like elephants...they forget nothing, as I am unfortunately finding out for myself. I hope you enjoyed your Filet O Fish. (My goodness that sounds good right about now...along with a Shamrock shake.)

 

[logansmummy]

We absolutely avoid this building at all costs! My son will never forget that particular mcdonalds as long as he shall live, the first time that he saw it he was 9 mos, then 18 months and it has stuck like a fossil in his brain! WHY WHY WHYI feel your pain.

 

[winkers]

I hate that McDonalds!

 

[jordanyosh]

 

[hucifer]

That looks good, are you sharing since you have two of them?

 

[Jiminy'sGirl]

That looks good, are you sharing since you have two of them?

Your oh-so-subtle hints have been received. I know, I know. I am falling back into my old slacker patterns.

But the holidays slowed my roll. And now we are MOVING. For the third time. In about 16 months. And while we should be professionals by now, this time we are NOT using a moving company in order to save some dough (so we can spend it at WDW in March!) and YOU try packing with a 9 month old up your butt and tell me how much time YOU have left over for the DIS.

Breathe. Breathe.

Ok, sorry about that. I guess I lied when my Mom asked me if I was feeling stressed this morning. Keep this mind, my friends: you only hurt the ones you love.

OK, so last I left you we were gearing up for our final day of the trip, which we were spending at AK, when ACK - my two little monsters decided they would rather spend the day at the huge, tacky, cholesterol-rising Mickey D's right by the All Stars.

Say what? And I thought I had raised these kids right. Sigh.

Well, I promised them we would eat dinner there on our way out of town, and this mollified them.

This day was different from the others in one way - I rented a stroller for DS, who was 5 at the time. That child had walked and walked and walked and skipped and hopped and bolted and scampered and never said one word all week about being tired, his legs/feet hurting, etc. I was amazed, impressed and slightly stupefied. So when we walked into AK and I spied the stroller rental, I asked,

"Son, would you like for me to rent you one of those big safari looking strollers over there for today?

He hesitated. I could tell he wanted to say yes, but was A. afraid of looking like a baby and B. afraid his buds at school might hear about this. But eventually he shyly (and this kid does nothing shyly) said,

"Ok."

Well, he loved that stroller and I kind of liked pushing it. It is huge and very balanced with a smooth ride. Plus, it is very useful for nipping at the heels of slow pokes in front of you.

TOTALLY KIDDING. I am not one of THOSE people. Much.

But truly, I am not sure if it is the park layout or what, but this was the only day we spent in WDW on this trip where it actually felt "crowded." Wait times were still relatively low, EE aside, but the walk ways were wall to wall and it felt a bit stifling. In fact, as someone who sticks to early Feb. and early Nov., this was the most "squishy-fied" I have ever felt at WDW.

I fully expect this to change on our upcoming trip in March - Spring Break. Oh, horrors.

So, weigh in - why do you think this park feels so crowded??

OK, so nearly everything we did in AK was a hit. Of course we did those Dumbo-esque dinosaurs. We also enjoyed Dinosaur and the Safari. My kids expecially loved the safari and it was a "good animal day," meaning many were out and doing their thing. We started doing the little activity think at the Rafiki Planet dealy-bob, but the kids got really bored. DS got bit on the calf by a particularly frisky baby goat, be he didn't seem to mind. No blood was drawn, so no harm no foul in my book.

DD got to spend quite awhile talking to a recylcing bin, which was super. At some point, after their 15 minute conversation (and she was 3, remember), I said,
"Ok, honey, hug the trash can goodbye..."

To which the saucy little receptacle replied,

"Ma'am, I'm a recycling bin. Hugging a trash can would be weird."

Well, didn't I feel sheepish.

We skipped ITTBAB based on the comments made by many other parents on this board. We still have not seen it to this day. I think the March trip might be the one to take a chance on that show. The kids are now 7 and 5, and DD, who will be nearly 6 on the trip, is not one to be afraid of much of anything. Except maybe eating chicken or beef, but that is a whole 'nother story for a whole 'nother board.

OK - next up will be my pics from this squishy, fun and somewhat sad because it was the last day in WDW day at AK...

 

[winkers]

I think AK always feels crowded because everyone is wandering around slightly disoriented, just like me.

I get so turned around in that park and DHS. I need a gps just to make it out of there.