Introducing My Princess to the Magic of WDW 05/03-05/09 Completed 08/12

Ok, see, it is borg thing!!! ::yes:: I just jumped on from home to check my e-mail, and look who's posted!!! They might have split us up at work so that we don't work the same days anymore, but they can't take away our DIS boards!! Although I will admit it just wasn't as fun surfing the boards or reading Mel's trip report without you reading the same thing across the room today. Miss you already!!! :(

Great installment...I admit I got a bit weepy reading it, especially at the end. Not only are you one lucky lady, but you're dh is pretty lucky to have you too! :cloud9: Now I get it about the WP express. But do yourself a favour next trip and make ADR's for WP West Side. TS. It's awesome!!! :thumbsup2
 
After lunch and a quick photo of the pin lanyard in case of further losses, we decide to go back to MK. We grab the bus to the Contemporary (sound familiar?) and want to take the monorail, but maybe relax this time. (Monorail, monorail, monorail, monorail – yes we are still singing it!) A CM greets us and informs us that the best way to the MK is to walk. (where were you on Friday?) We thank him, but tell him we want to ride the monorail anyways – last ride for this trip. Once on the Monorail, we meet up with a lady who is asking how long it will take to get to MK – she is late for CRT. Hey – we know this one! (She must have missed the guy in the lobby!) Get off at the next stop – TTC, and switch to the express monorail. We tell her our story, and assure her we were able to get in without a problem. I still wonder if she made it? She was meeting others in a large group…
Siri had to have her snack box for bag check again. The guard carefully inspected her snack box, and focused in on the M & M’s. He asked her if they were for him. She wasn’t quite sure how to respond. This is a guy in uniform doing a security check, but that was her chocolate. She managed to tell him no. A meek little no, but with enough certainty that she wasn’t giving up chocolate for ANYONE. We got a stroller, and discovered about the stroller rental following you from park to park during the day. Good to know – not that it had mattered to us…at this point.
We headed out and saw Baloo and King Louie there. After that photo op, we made a bee-line up Main Street. The parade was about to start, and we had already done that… Siri decided she wanted to go on Buzz hmm…Can’t help but wonder if that has anything to do with Connor’s gift and his favorite character being Buzz? I am just glad she was looking for something different. Less than a 20 minute wait – no worries. Siri decided Daddy should drive so she could play – we had squeezed into one car. :crowded: With the 6 foot dude in the middle. Hee hee! We came out just as the parade was ending – we had tried to locate our picture, but never did. Siri was running out of patience. We headed over to the Teacups, and the Honey Pots. The Honey Pots were our longest wait – again no Fast Pass co-ordination. I think DH will be more agreeable to these things next time. :idea: We waited 30 minutes. (I think I forgot that bit when I go back and read the earlier installments – sorry!) I also didn’t know until sometime on this trip that DH really likes Poohbear. He bought a Poohbear t-shirt on our Honeymoon. He was so insistent on that trip to not buy useless souvenirs, that I figured he bought it because it was on a clearance rack for only $5. He bought a Poohbear hat on our first full day of this trip – aha! pooh: (Next trip Crystal Palace for sure!)
We stopped to use more snack credits and have more ice cream. I also picked up one of those water bottle lanyards. We have an older Epcot one, and had picked up a new one at Epcot, but I decided since Siri liked it so much she needed her own. This way hers is different too. We headed off to Toontown after our snack, and Goofy’s Barnstormer. This is her new favourite ride. After finally getting the hang of this place, she is becoming a Daredevil. She loved it. She rode with Daddy so I sat in front of them and snapped a picture going up the first hill. Daddy was ducking & squirming. Apparently that is a high hill. For him. Not for us short folks! ;) At least next time, I may actually ride Space Mountain. Have I mentioned that in 5 trips, I have NOT made it on to Space Mountain? I was too chicken as a child, my sister was pg and too chicken in ’94 and on the honeymoon, it was closed due to a bird inside. Yep – saw it with the lights on riding the TTA. Maybe next time.
Anyways, back at the barn, we have to go again. Then we mosey on out to try for some dinner. Dinner at Pinocchio’s – I don’t know why I do this. I don’t really enjoy the food there. But yet I have probably eaten there every single visit. Bizarre tradition? Who knows. After dinner we head over to the shop in the Castle. Carl still hasn’t replaced my anniversary present and is insistent on doing so. Looking through the character sketches, I found my favourite. Goofy - you might think. No, Goofy is my hero, but “Our Hero” is my all time favourite. He is the flamingo with the yo-yo :yo-yo: in Fantasia 2000. The story line is called “Our Hero and the Snotty Six”. This movie was in theatres at a time when I was stressed beyond belief. Carl took me and for that flamingo storyline- I was laughing so hard I had tears streaming down my face and couldn’t stop. I love watching that bit, or listening to the music. The kind of release I got from the first viewing of it was huge. So now I have a sketch of my dude and it makes me smile and think of DH’s efforts to get my mind off my troubles. :cloud9: (My ever-splurging hubby got me a pair of crystal earrings there as well... :love: )
We move on to the Enchanted Tiki Room. One of my favourites. I have the original song on my MP3 player but I don’t mind the New Management either. The Princess had a catnap on the way over but was anxious to see the Tiki birds. Once she wakes up. I have played the song quite a bit I think. She got a little nervous at the Tiki Goddess but she did ok. She was dancing & a little mesmerized. Then a quick carpet ride and a few pin trades – she finally got the hang of that and even chose a Buzz pin from one CM – I swear it was all because of Connor! We figured it was time to head back. It would be an early morning to fly home. One last picture at the Mickey garden below the train station on the way out. Then a melancholy bus ride back to pack up. Why does DH even bother looking at me?? He should realize there will be misty eyes at the thought of leaving MK!! Deep breath - we will be back, 2009 (unless... :rolleyes: )

We still had one counter service credit left. 2 of our group had lunch on a certain stressful day. Carl decided during the packing that he couldn’t let it go. He went over and got a chicken strip meal at 9:30. Once the packing was done, and his “snack” finished. He decides he shouldn’t leave it in the room for us to smell all night. His hand was on the door when he realized his “jammies” were not the best bet for heading out of the room. With all the extra plastic bags, he tied it off & that worked. Time for lights out!!

Up next: the journey home.
 
The last day always makes me sad too! The two worst things are leaving the last park of your visit and checking out...watching all of those happy people coming in for their first day...thinking, they are soo lucky!
 

The last moments are truly sad... makes me sad reading about other ppl's last moments...
 
aGoofyMom said:
The parade was about to start, and we had already done that… Siri decided she wanted to go on Buzz hmm…Can’t help but wonder if that has anything to do with Connor’s gift and his favorite character being Buzz? ...Then a quick carpet ride and a few pin trades – she finally got the hang of that and even chose a Buzz pin from one CM – I swear it was all because of Connor!

It was all part of a master plan....mmmmmwwwwwwhhhhaaaaahhhhaaaa! :smooth:

Seriously, one of us has to buy into DVC pretty soon...this is going to get ridiculous!!! I'm not buying any trader pins for the October trip...dh said I'm not allowed to...can't wait to see what we end up spending on pins at retail!!! I'm sure I can sneak another couple home to magically appear in Siri's xmas stocking or something...hehehe!! :rolleyes1

Another great installment! Sorry it's coming to an end. Guess that means I'd better get another installment posted on mine soon! ;)
 
Thanks to everyone still reading & espcially those taking the time to reply - I love reading from you.

I figured I had better wrap this up before I head up north. Ok here goes nothing...
 
May 8/Day 7

Up early to catch the Magical Express at 6ish. Ya know what? Even for morning person, there is nothing Magical about heading home that early. After Florida had been 45 days without rain, it looked like they wouldn’t be waiting much longer. DH cashed in a snack credit to get me a coffee (mugs were packed). We left 5 snack credits behind. Oh well. (a little math :teacher: after the fact and we still saved $100.) Siri was being a real trooper again. She was told she had to stay awake until we got on the plane. Then she could go back to sleep. The bus arrived and we found our seats. That was about when the rain started. I got all teary pulling away from ASMu. :sad1: One more stop at All Star Sports and we are headed to the airport. As we drove away from the Disney property – the princess still couldn’t wrap her head around how big the place is – I start to cry. :sad: Carl is sitting across the aisle trying to re-assure me we are coming back.
They started playing a movie about your next trip with Disney. You just can’t deny the Mouse and his marketing skill. Siri was pretty drowsy but promised to walk through the airport on her own. She was half watching the movie, and as she drifted off, she asked “When we come back Mommy, where will we stay?” I said I wasn’t sure, but we thought maybe Caribbean Beach, or the Contemporary, maybe the Grand Floridian or the Poly – why? She answered “Oh. I want to stay at All Star Sports.” She promptly fell asleep before I could ask why. If they had a glowing Mom smilie I would put it here. :goodvibes This guy will do. I got all teary again :sad: – Carl was getting bewildered. :confused3 I was fine again by the time we got to the airport.
Of course by then it was a complete downpour. Our driver announced that he would like everyone to stay on the bus and stay dry. In the time it took him to get soaked and get our luggage off, another bus had pulled up, emptied and pulled out. That’s ok – I was dry! We checked our luggage in and made our way to the gate. OH CRUMBS. Security again. Siri had woken up on the bus, and had pulled her little self together enough to manage her own carry on. Siri got very nervous. :scared: We talked, I encouraged and comforted. Scar was the comfort of choice for the day. Then, the guard said nope – we need a picture of your kitty. Beg Pardon? I tried to gently get it from her. The guard was behind the machine, reached over, past me and literally SNATCHED IT from her arms. :furious: Every parent, heck anyone who has seen a child knows what came next. HYSTERICS. Ok scoop her up and let’s go. She was beyond inconsolable. She was tired, and in no mood to have her comfort snatched away like that. The line was not that bad – the guard could have given me another chance to coax it from her. Ok – off to the side and calm down again. Off to the gate, and find a seat. I noticed a place just close to the gate with a fruit bowl on the breakfast menu. Exactly what the princess and I need. We sit down with food & coffee for Mommy with plenty of time. Siri is dividing her time between the older couple sitting across from us and just dancing :dance3: around – she has found her second wind after the fruit. In one of the many trips to the garbage can, I heard someone call my name. I turned around, and there is one of the girls from the front office of the Fire Department back home. NO WAY! She recognized my daughter first. Figures – I wasn’t in uniform – I know how that goes. So we chat – she had spent some time at a Condo with friends. She shared part of a sandwich with Siri. She had to be back at work the next day. I still had until Sunday. Yippee – back to work on Mother’s Day. And, we check out the plane – cool it is painted up as Shamu. We decide to line up for pre-boarding a little earlier this time. Once boarded, and the princess has chosen our seats, we relax and settle in for a snooze. After a peaceful, uneventful flight, we arrive in Buffalo 15 minutes early. The flight attendants sang “We love you, you love us, ‘cuz we’re faster than the bus” (every parent knows that tune!) and reminded us that had they been 15 minutes late, we would have told everyone we know, so make sure we tell everyone they were early. You have been told that Southwest Airlines provided a phenomenal service to us. And my DD is STILL singing that version of THAT song. :bitelip: (At least the plane wasn’t painted purple!!)
Once we gather luggage – hey it’s WET!!! We head out for the hotel shuttle. We wait. Everyone else gets their shuttle and goes. Now I am positive I was told by the hotel in Buffalo that their shuttle runs every 30 minutes. We have waited 30 minutes – no shuttle. I find a receipt, Carl calls. Oh – why didn’t we call sooner? Turns out we were supposed to call for pick up. Thanks for that. They will have someone there in no less than 20 minutes. I hope so - it is a 10 minute drive. Another 30 minutes later we are about to call back to advise them to expect a cab fare to be paid by them upon our arrival and the shuttle arrives. No apology or explanation offered. Oh – where are you parked, I will drop you off at your car. Great – keeping us away from the front desk & manager? You know what? At this point, I don’t care. Siri sees the front of the car and is completely disgusted-she is very vocal about how gross the bugs on the car look. She actually refused to get in for a bit. She wanted nothing to do with the “buggy car”. We finally manage to get her in and we have to get moving to avoid rush hour traffic at the bridge, and the highway home. An uneventful ride home and we unload the car. I wanted to open the suitcases right away. Good thing. The top layer or two of my suitcase were soaked as well. Remember the downpour at MCO? Well it really soaked our suitcases. Nothing but clothes got wet, thankfully. I am just so glad my sketch wasn’t damaged. Something to remember next time I pack!

So the princess never made it in to the Haunted Mansion. Next time I think we will be there several times. (After all she wants to try Scooby’s Haunted Mansion at Canada’s Wonderland later this week!)


My Magical Wishes Moment – the highlight of the trip for me? Turns out it was also the highlight of the trip for Siri –At the end of the school year she brought home a journal they had drawn pictures in every month. Her drawing for May – watching Fireworks with Mommy & Daddy – and she drew the Castle. Awesome! pixiedust:

Just the other night, Carl was coming up with ideas on making sure we visit WDW for MNSSHP and MVMCP – ok not this year, but whatever the celebration sometime soon. I think we have an official convert. :smooth: We will have to see if he appears here. But I won’t hold my breath. At least on him reading this or anything else here. He works on computers all day and won’t touch them much at home. (glad he’s not a chef – I would never eat!)

And re-creating all those pictures? I intended to put them together somewhere. Connorsmom had given me a tip about putting together a collage at the Walmart photo finishing area. My Walmart didn’t have that and hers, although closer to work, I just haven’t gotten there. Instead I went to another place and put my pictures together for a photo book. As I was putting it together, I realized it is 30 years since my first trip to Disney. I put together pictures of my first meeting with Disney, and the second and the third, along with Siri’s first meeting with Mickey. I have pictures of me & my sister on Dumbo together with Siri & DH on the same page… The book is going to be bound as a hardcover book (coffee table style book, not to look like a coffee table but like a published book) with 21 pages of 30 years of Disney Magic. I have one page with a picture of me, my sister and our Grandparents with Chip (or was it Dale?) from 1978. A picture of my sister & I with our parents & Pinnochio from the same trip & a picture of our family with Cinderella from this trip. I am hoping this book will be incentive for my parents to join us on our next trip. We have invited DH’s Aunt & Uncle (the in laws are beyond anything that can be mentioned here, and his Aunt & Uncle are close enough to be that almost second set of grandparents.) I should have the book in two weeks. Complete with it’s purple suede cover. (I didn’t choose purple – Siri did, with Daddy's help. Interesting how things work out isn't it :rolleyes: )

So until next time…hopefully next year…I will be living through everyone else’s magic here! :teeth:
 
Oh sure, make me cry here at work...the new co-worker is already thinking I'm nuts, lets just rub it in!!! Miss you btw...Disneyspeak just doesn't have the same effect when I say it here...who we talkin' 'bout?!?! :lmao:

Wonderful installment...I hope you never lose that Disney magic that you've captured here. And I'm sure dh will poke his nose in here sometime...curiosity will get him, just like the cat. Can't wait to read the next trip report...and the next...and the next...

Get your list ready...what's my ticker reading now??
 
awwww so sweet, thanks for sharing your memories with us :)
 
What a great trip report. I really enjoyed it. It's always helpful to hear of others trips with their preschoolers, meltdowns and all. Also loved the pics. Your princess is adorable. I am envious of you and your coworker. I am travelling to WDW with my Disney Sister-in-law who is a lurker on the boards, and I wish she would join. It would be so fun to share our love of disney on the Disboards. Maybe some day I'll see you here Krumpette. Thanks for sharing your magical memories.
 
Great report! I hate it that your trip is over now, but at least you'll have that nice book coming in a couple of weeks so that you and Siri can relive the magic until your next trip.

Lisa
 












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