MsSpinShady
Mouseketeer<br><font color="3d8e33">I'm always lat
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2003
- Messages
- 469
Cast of characters:
Mom (aka Me) -- DW, 39 The Keeper of the Plan and knower of all things Disney
Dad -- DH, 38 I came to Disney and I came.
Mini-Me -- DS, 15 Knows as much about Disney as me (probably more since hes young and can remember stuff better)
Mr. Bobolin -- DS, 12 a childhood nickname that has nothing to do with Disney but may cause some embarrassment should a future girlfriend ever read this report
The Irish Princess -- DD, 4 red curly hair, grey-green eyes, and the ability to turn her face red and blow steam out her ears by clenching her fists and stomping her feet
Baby Abby -- DD, 1 along for the ride (kinda like Daddy!)
**I forgot to list the dates of our trip we went November 4-14, 2004. I know, its taken me a long time to write this, but I was afraid no one would read it
What I found is that it is actually making a nice keepsake for our family, so Im glad I finally got it started.
(Thanks to Michelle for reminding me I hope youre enjoying the story!)
Day 4: She Aint Called The Irish Princess for Nothin!
Today was going to be a very special day. Precisely 90 days prior, I was sitting in front of my computer watching the atomic clock tick down to 6:58 a.m., my finger on the button. It was going to be my third attempt to secure one of the coveted spots at Cinderellas Royal Breakfast. Finger at the ready, beads of sweat running down my face, I could hardly sit still. The clock hit the magic number and away my fingers flew. Thank you for calling we are currently closed Dang. Dial again. Thank you for calling we are currently closed Dang. Dial again. Thank you for calling if you are calling for BINGO!!!
Apparently, I was right at the front of the cue, because the message was immediately followed by a live person saying something like, Thank you for calling Disney Dining. My name is
While shes talking, Im thinking breathe, breathe, breathe remember the right day...ask for a party of two breathe be fast breathe
Yea, I know, pathetic. But when you have a 4-year old Irish Princess, youll do some wacky things. Besides, to be honest, this whole Cindys breakfast thing had become a challenge for me. And as Dad will probably tell you, when I find a challenge, well, Ive found a challenge. (Ok, what he would probably REALLY say is, when she finds a challenge, stand back and enjoy the show. He thinks I can be stubborn. I hope he also thinks thats kinda cute.)
So today we were finally going to have breakfast with Cinderella. The Irish Princess was excited. After a quick consultation with The Plan, we all hopped the Monrail and made our way to the MK. We were supposed to be at the castle at 8:50 a.m. This turns out to be a big bonus for our Clan, because it is an EE day at the MK. In order to make it to the breakfast on time, well have to be IN THE PARK during EE hours!!!
Well, as you can imagine, the breakfast was wonderful. I knew The Irish Princess was having a good time, because she was unusually quiet. As a matter of fact, I believe she stayed in her seat the entire time, except to get up and have her photo taken with the princesses. In fact, she was having such a good time that she also didnt want to eat. It was apparently getting in the way of just watching. So that left the task of eating $30.00 plus tax worth of breakfast to me. Never one to shirk from a good challenge, Im pretty sure it was mission accomplished.
After the breakfast, we met back up with the rest of the crew and, after a few quick rides, started the trek over to EPCOT. Dad and Mini-Me were going to get a chance to swim in the big tank at the Living Seas today (Mr. Bobolin and I would get our turn later in the week). We met the CM from The Living Seas at the designated time and the designated spot, and off they went. (Boy, were getting pretty good at this being on time thing. This is really starting to put pressure on me, because now that Dad sees that I CAN show up somewhere on time, hes going to expect me to keep doing it when we get back home). The CM tells us usually they bring the guests right back to this spot when the tour is over, but if they take their tickets in with them, hell punch them in and we can all met at The Living Seas when their tour is over. This way we wont all have to hike back from the Living Seas to the entrance just to meet up and go back inside the park again. Good plan I think, and off everyone goes.
The tour lasts 2 ½ hours, but you dont actually get in the water until about 1 ½ hours into the program. This gave the kids and I a little bit of time to walk around EPCOT. All we had to do was show up at 1:30 to see them in the water. Ok, remember that little time issue we have? Well, I showed up at the Living Seas 5 minutes ahead of time, very proud of myself for keeping track of the time so nicely. As I approach the building, a pang of worry hits. Isnt this the building with the cue line for an entrance? How will I get there in time? Picking up the pace (but still not really running remember best manners), we head for the door. The dark interior is in sharp contrast to the bright outdoors and as my eyes adjust I see it the cue line. Oh no, now I remember! I have to stand in line, go stand in the waiting area, go watch the movie, go take the Hydrolators I wont get in there until tomorrow morning!!! Determined not to miss the big event, I use my stroller to push my way to the front, yelling at everyone to get out of my way. Babies not only make good door stops, they also apparently make good battering rams.
Ok, just kidding, I didnt do that. I got in line and waited for the doors to open along with everyone else. Fortunately, the wait was only about five minutes. Since they were only going to be in the water for ½ hour, I was now down to only 25 minutes of viewing time. They open the doors, and we head through the turnstiles. Since Im pushing a stroller, I go through the swinging gate. Mr. Bobolin tries to follow. The crotchety CM manning the gates is not having any of that. He barks at my DS to get back there and go through the turnstiles. We stop, stunned. Did he really just yell at my 12-year old? Why, I believe he did. Poor Mr. Bobolin is now frozen, not sure what to do. He looks at me, then back at the crotchety CM, who repeats his rant, then back at me. I look at the crotchety CM, then back at my DS (who is still frozen), then back at the CM. The CM looks at both of us, and repeats his rant again.
At this point, my surprise and anger are overtaken by amusement in his quest to ensure that all 12-year old boys use the turnstile and not the swinging gate, he has caused a huge back-up. My DS, not sure what to do, is standing there blocking the entrance. I motion to him to go back and use the turnstile, and then we are once again on our way (the crotchety CM, however, just turned around and went back to his quest, ready to pounce on the next unsuspecting 12-year old.)
We catch a break here, because I find the Express Hydrolators for those who have already seen the movie. We move over to the left and position ourselves directly in front of the doors. But they dont open. I soon realize that we have to wait until the doors open to the theater before they will allow us to exit the other way. The countdown on the big screen is five minutes. Great, we are now almost ten minutes into their swim time, and were not there! Finally, the Hydrolator doors open and we run in (yea, we did run here, but it was just a little run). Through another set of doors, into the main room and to the tanks. Eek, the viewing platform is upstairs and were down. I send Mr. Bobolin and The Irish Princess up the escalator with strict instructions to stay together, while I take the stroller and search for an elevator. Boy, youd think with all those Hydrolators around I wouldnt have much trouble finding a lift up NOT! Finally, I get up to the second floor, and do a quick tour around the tanks. No sign of Mr. Bobolin and The Irish Princess, but there in the tank are Mini-Me and Dad. Good, just in time to catch their final 7 ½ minutes with the fish. Mini-Me sees me and waves, and then off he goes with Dad. It looks like a lot of fun! As a multi-tasker, I am watching them in the tank while simultaneously looking for the other two I had sent on up ahead. Finally, I spot them in the center of a crowd. They stayed together! What a proud moment for me!
So, remember back when I told you the CM told us he would bring them out when they were done so we didnt have to go back to the park entrance? Well, I remembered, so the kids and I checked out some of the other exhibits, and then at the appropriate time, sat down on one of the benches near what I hoped was the exit they would emerge from, to wait. The waiting started at 2:30 p.m. By 2:35 p.m., The Irish Princess had had enough of that.
The days excitement, along with the fact that it was now 2:35 and shed had no nap, were beginning to take a toll. The Irish Princess has two very distinct personalities. The tired one is the one we try to avoid. That was the one that was here. It started with the whining. Then the crying. Then the whining and crying. Not to be outdone, Baby Abby decides this is a good time to remind everyone that, she too has not had a nap. I start to reason with them, explaining it will only be a few more minutes until they appear and then we will all leave to find something fun and exciting to do. The reasoning went right over Baby Abbys head. The Irish Princess just plain never heard it over her whining. Im feeling a little panicked now. Im trapped in Sea Base Alpha. If I leave, well never find Dad and Mini-Me. If I stay, I expect several kindly CMs will come and ask us to leave. So I decide to try to get them to sleep. It's dark in here and there are lots of cool fish to watch, should be easy, right?
I sit Mr. Bobolin and The Irish Princess down on a bench under the escalators right near the fish. I tell her to lay down, and him to make sure neither of their bottoms leave that bench. Then I take Baby Abby and start doing laps around the Sea Base. Baby Abby is not interested in sleeping, and every time I stop the stroller she yells. So I start pacing back in forth in front of the exits I think they might appear from. Pretty soon, Im sure security will come and ask me to leave. I look like Im casing the joint.
Its now 3 p.m. and were ½ hour into this wait. Where are they? The Irish Princess is still whining and crying, and Mr. Bobolin is pleading with me to take her. So I come up with a new plan. Well move to another bench. Different view. This doesnt work, guess I kinda figured it wouldnt, but a girl can hope, cant she?
By 3:15 p.m. Im desperate. The cry-fest has been going on for 45 minutes, Dad and Mini-Me are nowhere to be found (I hope THEY'RE having a good time!) and Im running out of ideas. Maybe The Irish Princess would like a toy? Yes, thats it, a toy!!! So I gather up the unhappy crew and we head over to the gift shop. I am just about to hand over the entire contents of my wallet for some plastic fish things, when Dad and Mini-Me come bouncing through the door. They saved the cash!!! They look happy, I do not. Apparently, the 2nd CM didnt know what the 1st CM was talking about, and took them back to the entrance to the park. Good grief.
Oh well, at least we still had time to make it to our 4 p.m. PS at LeCellier, so off we went. I didnt realize the restaurant doesnt open until 4, so we check in about 10 minutes early and they tell us to wait outside. No problem. I settle The Irish Princess down in the stroller to rest, while Dad goes to scope out the beer stand. He comes back with a drink for us to split. It is a beer in a skinny glass about 3 feet tall. He hands me the beer and then promptly disappears with the boys to go check out the cave. So Im left standing outside of the restaurant with a crabby 4-year old yelling from the stroller about how shes not tired, why does she need to take a nap, this is so not fair...a 1-year old who senses that now, having been finally released from the confines of the stroller, would be a great time to escape and a giant beer in my hand. Nominate me for mother of the year!
The Irish Princess falls asleep, and then the beeper goes off. In we go, and in my nicest mom voice (Ive given the giant beer back to Dad at this point), I ask if we could park her next to the table while the rest of us eat.
No, that wont work, they say. No room for a stroller, shell have to come out.
No room ANYWHERE in this restaurant?
Well yes, back by the bathrooms. Well park the stroller there for you, please take her out.
Well ok, but I have to warn you, this will not be pretty.
Sorry, stroller by the bathroom.
I at least convince them to give us a booth, thinking maybe I can just lay her across the seat and she can continue to nap on my lap while we eat. Good plan in theory. I drag her out of the stroller and over to the booth, get her settled on the bench, and order another beer (in a smaller glass). She rests for 2 minutes. Then she hears Mini-Me order a shake, and up she comes.
Well, if you have small children who have ever been tired, you can fill in the rest of the story. It goes something like I dont want that, I dont like this, I want what he has, Im not hungry I spilled my shake. Well, dont say I didnt warn them. Fortunately, they must have seen us coming because they had seated us in a corner out of almost everyone elses way. I figure that was to a. keep the noise level down for the rest of the guests and b. allow them plenty of room to bring out the heavy-duty commercial cleaner they were going to need to tidy up after us.
After a fantastic meal (the cheddar soup and bread yum!), we left our poor harried waitress an extra nice tip, made haste with the stroller recovery, and ran for the exit (Im pretty sure we did actually run). Once outside, we decided to go back and get another stroller so that we could tour the Showcase while Baby Abby and The Irish Princess rested. We had plans later in the week to end our vacation with an Illuminations Cruise, so after a few hours of cruising around the World, we head back to the Poly so the kids can swim and then catch Wishes from the beach. Is this place paradise, or what?
Mom (aka Me) -- DW, 39 The Keeper of the Plan and knower of all things Disney
Dad -- DH, 38 I came to Disney and I came.
Mini-Me -- DS, 15 Knows as much about Disney as me (probably more since hes young and can remember stuff better)
Mr. Bobolin -- DS, 12 a childhood nickname that has nothing to do with Disney but may cause some embarrassment should a future girlfriend ever read this report
The Irish Princess -- DD, 4 red curly hair, grey-green eyes, and the ability to turn her face red and blow steam out her ears by clenching her fists and stomping her feet
Baby Abby -- DD, 1 along for the ride (kinda like Daddy!)
**I forgot to list the dates of our trip we went November 4-14, 2004. I know, its taken me a long time to write this, but I was afraid no one would read it
What I found is that it is actually making a nice keepsake for our family, so Im glad I finally got it started.(Thanks to Michelle for reminding me I hope youre enjoying the story!)
Day 4: She Aint Called The Irish Princess for Nothin!
Today was going to be a very special day. Precisely 90 days prior, I was sitting in front of my computer watching the atomic clock tick down to 6:58 a.m., my finger on the button. It was going to be my third attempt to secure one of the coveted spots at Cinderellas Royal Breakfast. Finger at the ready, beads of sweat running down my face, I could hardly sit still. The clock hit the magic number and away my fingers flew. Thank you for calling we are currently closed Dang. Dial again. Thank you for calling we are currently closed Dang. Dial again. Thank you for calling if you are calling for BINGO!!!
Apparently, I was right at the front of the cue, because the message was immediately followed by a live person saying something like, Thank you for calling Disney Dining. My name is
While shes talking, Im thinking breathe, breathe, breathe remember the right day...ask for a party of two breathe be fast breathe
Yea, I know, pathetic. But when you have a 4-year old Irish Princess, youll do some wacky things. Besides, to be honest, this whole Cindys breakfast thing had become a challenge for me. And as Dad will probably tell you, when I find a challenge, well, Ive found a challenge. (Ok, what he would probably REALLY say is, when she finds a challenge, stand back and enjoy the show. He thinks I can be stubborn. I hope he also thinks thats kinda cute.)
So today we were finally going to have breakfast with Cinderella. The Irish Princess was excited. After a quick consultation with The Plan, we all hopped the Monrail and made our way to the MK. We were supposed to be at the castle at 8:50 a.m. This turns out to be a big bonus for our Clan, because it is an EE day at the MK. In order to make it to the breakfast on time, well have to be IN THE PARK during EE hours!!!
Well, as you can imagine, the breakfast was wonderful. I knew The Irish Princess was having a good time, because she was unusually quiet. As a matter of fact, I believe she stayed in her seat the entire time, except to get up and have her photo taken with the princesses. In fact, she was having such a good time that she also didnt want to eat. It was apparently getting in the way of just watching. So that left the task of eating $30.00 plus tax worth of breakfast to me. Never one to shirk from a good challenge, Im pretty sure it was mission accomplished.
After the breakfast, we met back up with the rest of the crew and, after a few quick rides, started the trek over to EPCOT. Dad and Mini-Me were going to get a chance to swim in the big tank at the Living Seas today (Mr. Bobolin and I would get our turn later in the week). We met the CM from The Living Seas at the designated time and the designated spot, and off they went. (Boy, were getting pretty good at this being on time thing. This is really starting to put pressure on me, because now that Dad sees that I CAN show up somewhere on time, hes going to expect me to keep doing it when we get back home). The CM tells us usually they bring the guests right back to this spot when the tour is over, but if they take their tickets in with them, hell punch them in and we can all met at The Living Seas when their tour is over. This way we wont all have to hike back from the Living Seas to the entrance just to meet up and go back inside the park again. Good plan I think, and off everyone goes.
The tour lasts 2 ½ hours, but you dont actually get in the water until about 1 ½ hours into the program. This gave the kids and I a little bit of time to walk around EPCOT. All we had to do was show up at 1:30 to see them in the water. Ok, remember that little time issue we have? Well, I showed up at the Living Seas 5 minutes ahead of time, very proud of myself for keeping track of the time so nicely. As I approach the building, a pang of worry hits. Isnt this the building with the cue line for an entrance? How will I get there in time? Picking up the pace (but still not really running remember best manners), we head for the door. The dark interior is in sharp contrast to the bright outdoors and as my eyes adjust I see it the cue line. Oh no, now I remember! I have to stand in line, go stand in the waiting area, go watch the movie, go take the Hydrolators I wont get in there until tomorrow morning!!! Determined not to miss the big event, I use my stroller to push my way to the front, yelling at everyone to get out of my way. Babies not only make good door stops, they also apparently make good battering rams.
Ok, just kidding, I didnt do that. I got in line and waited for the doors to open along with everyone else. Fortunately, the wait was only about five minutes. Since they were only going to be in the water for ½ hour, I was now down to only 25 minutes of viewing time. They open the doors, and we head through the turnstiles. Since Im pushing a stroller, I go through the swinging gate. Mr. Bobolin tries to follow. The crotchety CM manning the gates is not having any of that. He barks at my DS to get back there and go through the turnstiles. We stop, stunned. Did he really just yell at my 12-year old? Why, I believe he did. Poor Mr. Bobolin is now frozen, not sure what to do. He looks at me, then back at the crotchety CM, who repeats his rant, then back at me. I look at the crotchety CM, then back at my DS (who is still frozen), then back at the CM. The CM looks at both of us, and repeats his rant again.
At this point, my surprise and anger are overtaken by amusement in his quest to ensure that all 12-year old boys use the turnstile and not the swinging gate, he has caused a huge back-up. My DS, not sure what to do, is standing there blocking the entrance. I motion to him to go back and use the turnstile, and then we are once again on our way (the crotchety CM, however, just turned around and went back to his quest, ready to pounce on the next unsuspecting 12-year old.)
We catch a break here, because I find the Express Hydrolators for those who have already seen the movie. We move over to the left and position ourselves directly in front of the doors. But they dont open. I soon realize that we have to wait until the doors open to the theater before they will allow us to exit the other way. The countdown on the big screen is five minutes. Great, we are now almost ten minutes into their swim time, and were not there! Finally, the Hydrolator doors open and we run in (yea, we did run here, but it was just a little run). Through another set of doors, into the main room and to the tanks. Eek, the viewing platform is upstairs and were down. I send Mr. Bobolin and The Irish Princess up the escalator with strict instructions to stay together, while I take the stroller and search for an elevator. Boy, youd think with all those Hydrolators around I wouldnt have much trouble finding a lift up NOT! Finally, I get up to the second floor, and do a quick tour around the tanks. No sign of Mr. Bobolin and The Irish Princess, but there in the tank are Mini-Me and Dad. Good, just in time to catch their final 7 ½ minutes with the fish. Mini-Me sees me and waves, and then off he goes with Dad. It looks like a lot of fun! As a multi-tasker, I am watching them in the tank while simultaneously looking for the other two I had sent on up ahead. Finally, I spot them in the center of a crowd. They stayed together! What a proud moment for me!
So, remember back when I told you the CM told us he would bring them out when they were done so we didnt have to go back to the park entrance? Well, I remembered, so the kids and I checked out some of the other exhibits, and then at the appropriate time, sat down on one of the benches near what I hoped was the exit they would emerge from, to wait. The waiting started at 2:30 p.m. By 2:35 p.m., The Irish Princess had had enough of that.
The days excitement, along with the fact that it was now 2:35 and shed had no nap, were beginning to take a toll. The Irish Princess has two very distinct personalities. The tired one is the one we try to avoid. That was the one that was here. It started with the whining. Then the crying. Then the whining and crying. Not to be outdone, Baby Abby decides this is a good time to remind everyone that, she too has not had a nap. I start to reason with them, explaining it will only be a few more minutes until they appear and then we will all leave to find something fun and exciting to do. The reasoning went right over Baby Abbys head. The Irish Princess just plain never heard it over her whining. Im feeling a little panicked now. Im trapped in Sea Base Alpha. If I leave, well never find Dad and Mini-Me. If I stay, I expect several kindly CMs will come and ask us to leave. So I decide to try to get them to sleep. It's dark in here and there are lots of cool fish to watch, should be easy, right?
I sit Mr. Bobolin and The Irish Princess down on a bench under the escalators right near the fish. I tell her to lay down, and him to make sure neither of their bottoms leave that bench. Then I take Baby Abby and start doing laps around the Sea Base. Baby Abby is not interested in sleeping, and every time I stop the stroller she yells. So I start pacing back in forth in front of the exits I think they might appear from. Pretty soon, Im sure security will come and ask me to leave. I look like Im casing the joint.
Its now 3 p.m. and were ½ hour into this wait. Where are they? The Irish Princess is still whining and crying, and Mr. Bobolin is pleading with me to take her. So I come up with a new plan. Well move to another bench. Different view. This doesnt work, guess I kinda figured it wouldnt, but a girl can hope, cant she?
By 3:15 p.m. Im desperate. The cry-fest has been going on for 45 minutes, Dad and Mini-Me are nowhere to be found (I hope THEY'RE having a good time!) and Im running out of ideas. Maybe The Irish Princess would like a toy? Yes, thats it, a toy!!! So I gather up the unhappy crew and we head over to the gift shop. I am just about to hand over the entire contents of my wallet for some plastic fish things, when Dad and Mini-Me come bouncing through the door. They saved the cash!!! They look happy, I do not. Apparently, the 2nd CM didnt know what the 1st CM was talking about, and took them back to the entrance to the park. Good grief.
Oh well, at least we still had time to make it to our 4 p.m. PS at LeCellier, so off we went. I didnt realize the restaurant doesnt open until 4, so we check in about 10 minutes early and they tell us to wait outside. No problem. I settle The Irish Princess down in the stroller to rest, while Dad goes to scope out the beer stand. He comes back with a drink for us to split. It is a beer in a skinny glass about 3 feet tall. He hands me the beer and then promptly disappears with the boys to go check out the cave. So Im left standing outside of the restaurant with a crabby 4-year old yelling from the stroller about how shes not tired, why does she need to take a nap, this is so not fair...a 1-year old who senses that now, having been finally released from the confines of the stroller, would be a great time to escape and a giant beer in my hand. Nominate me for mother of the year!
The Irish Princess falls asleep, and then the beeper goes off. In we go, and in my nicest mom voice (Ive given the giant beer back to Dad at this point), I ask if we could park her next to the table while the rest of us eat.
No, that wont work, they say. No room for a stroller, shell have to come out.
No room ANYWHERE in this restaurant?
Well yes, back by the bathrooms. Well park the stroller there for you, please take her out.
Well ok, but I have to warn you, this will not be pretty.
Sorry, stroller by the bathroom.
I at least convince them to give us a booth, thinking maybe I can just lay her across the seat and she can continue to nap on my lap while we eat. Good plan in theory. I drag her out of the stroller and over to the booth, get her settled on the bench, and order another beer (in a smaller glass). She rests for 2 minutes. Then she hears Mini-Me order a shake, and up she comes.
Well, if you have small children who have ever been tired, you can fill in the rest of the story. It goes something like I dont want that, I dont like this, I want what he has, Im not hungry I spilled my shake. Well, dont say I didnt warn them. Fortunately, they must have seen us coming because they had seated us in a corner out of almost everyone elses way. I figure that was to a. keep the noise level down for the rest of the guests and b. allow them plenty of room to bring out the heavy-duty commercial cleaner they were going to need to tidy up after us.
After a fantastic meal (the cheddar soup and bread yum!), we left our poor harried waitress an extra nice tip, made haste with the stroller recovery, and ran for the exit (Im pretty sure we did actually run). Once outside, we decided to go back and get another stroller so that we could tour the Showcase while Baby Abby and The Irish Princess rested. We had plans later in the week to end our vacation with an Illuminations Cruise, so after a few hours of cruising around the World, we head back to the Poly so the kids can swim and then catch Wishes from the beach. Is this place paradise, or what?
